bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Route Planning for Autonomous Mobile Robots Using a Reinforcement Learning Algorithm
Authors: Talaat Fatma M. , Ibrahim Abdelhameed , El-Kenawy El-Sayed M. , Abdelhamid Abdelaziz A. , Alhussan Amel Ali , Khafaga Doaa Sami , Salem Dina Ahmed
Published: December 2022

This research suggests a new robotic system technique that works specifically in settings such as hospitals or emergency situations when prompt action and preserving human life are crucial. Our framework largely focuses on the precise and prompt delivery of medical supplies or medication inside a defined area while avoiding robot collisions or other obstacles. The suggested route planning algorithm (RPA) based on reinforcement learning makes medical services effective by gathering and sending data between robots and human healthcare professionals. In contrast, humans are kept out of the patients’ field. Three key modules make up the RPA: (i) the Robot Finding Module (RFM), (ii) Robot Charging Module (RCM), and (iii) Route Selection Module (RSM). Using such autonomous systems as RPA in places where there is a need for human gathering is essential, particularly in the medical field, which could reduce the risk of spreading viruses, which could save thousands of lives. The simulation results using the proposed framework show the flexible and efficient movement of the robots compared to conventional methods under various environments. The RSM is contrasted with the leading cutting-edge topology routing options. The RSM’s primary benefit is the much-reduced calculations and updating of routing tables. In contrast to earlier algorithms, the RSM produces a lower AQD. The RSM is hence an appropriate algorithm for real-time systems.
Modeling the Impact of Mentoring on Women’s Work-Life Balance: A Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Bahrami Parvaneh , Nosratabadi Saeed , Palouzian Khodayar , Hegedűs Szilárd
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to model the impact of mentoring on women’s work-life balance. Indeed, this study considered mentoring as a solution to create a work-life balance of women. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews with both mentors and mentees of Tehran Municipality were conducted and the collected data were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory. Findings provided a model of how mentoring affects women’s work-life balance. According to this model, role management is the key criterion for work-life balancing among women. In this model, antecedents of role management and the contextual factors affecting role management, the constraints of mentoring in the organization, as well as the consequences of effective mentoring in the organization are described. The findings of this research contribute to the mentoring literature as well as to the role management literature and provide recommendations for organizations and for future research.
Impact of Work–Life Balance on Working Women in the Banking Sector
Authors: Khan Sania , Thomas George , Kunbhar Bisharat Ali , Mohamed Noha Hamdy Mostafa
Published: December 2022

In every organization, employees deal with increasing job pressures. In recent years, women have faced even greater difficulties in such circumstances. This study proposed to investigate how work–life balance (WLB) affects the personal lives of working women in the banking industry of Larkana city, Pakistan. The information was gathered via a standardized questionnaire from 266 female bank employees in Larkana. The ANOVA results showed that a good WLB generally had a beneficial impact on working women’s personal lives. While prolonged working hours (PLWH) had a detrimental impact on women’s personal lives (PL), income packages (SP) and marital status (MS) had beneficial effects. A successful work–life balance in the banking industry will increase female employees’ commitment and productivity, and our study concluded that any positive work–life policies and practices offered by banking companies present additional benefits. This study offers essential intriguing facts and empirical evidence on this little-studied region in the city of Larkana. Moreover, our study emphasizes the practical ramifications of WLB for working women and organizations.
Experimental and Numerical Studies on the Effect of Airflow Separation Suppression on Aerodynamic Performance of a Ducted Coaxial Propeller in Hovering
Authors: Wang Junjie , Chen Renliang , Lu Jiaxin
Published: December 2022

The ducted coaxial propeller (DCP) has great application value in eVTOL aircraft because of its high safety, compactness, and low noise. A numerical simulation method for the DCP is established using the sliding mesh technique. A DCP was designed and manufactured for the lift and power test to verify the numerical method. The characteristics of airflow separation inside the DCP were studied, and the influence of the vortex restrain ring (VRR) on the suppression of airflow separation and on lift augmentation of the duct is analyzed. Results show that, when the tip clearance ratio increases from 0.336% to 1.342%, both the total lift and aerodynamic efficiency decrease by about 11.3%. The influence is mainly reflected in the formation of the tip vortex, airflow separation in the straight, and diffusion sections of the duct. Tip vortex and airflow separation increases DCP energy dissipation and clogs the inner wall of the duct, reducing the effective inner diameter and airflow through the duct. Moreover, the role of the duct is weakened, and the wake is contracted, which increases the induced power loss. By adding a VRR to the diffusion section, the tip vortex and airflow separation can be effectively suppressed, which can increase the aerodynamic efficiency by 5.1%.
Thermal Impact Analysis and Electric–Thermal Coupled Modeling of Photovoltaic/Battery Space Power System with Different Surface Coatings
Authors: Xie Jingyan , Li Yun-Ze , Yang Lizhu , Sun Yuehang
Published: December 2022

Thermal performance has long been recognized as a critical attribute for space systems. Thermal control surface coating is a common method in passive thermal protection. Unfortunately, limited analyzing models and data on the influence of thermal control coatings’ α/ε (absorptivity/emissivity) on the space power system have been published to date. To fill this gap, we proposed a multiphysics model that combined environmental temperature calculating and electrical performance analysis together for the satellite power system. In this paper, different coating materials are applied to the radiator surface and thermal insulation surface, respectively. Additionally, a new concept of energy storage, named energy storage voltage, is introduced. The results are analyzed and parametric fits with different formulas using ordinary least squares are conducted. Finally, the change rules are presented, which will prove particularly useful to the space industry, for example, in thermal designs and on-orbit battery studies.
Numerical Study on Tandem-Rotor Autorotation in Forward Flight
Authors: Wen Jiayu , Song Yanguo , Wang Huanjin , Han Dong
Published: December 2022

This work presents a systematic approach to analyzing the aerodynamic characteristics of tandem rotor forward autorotation considering rotor-to-rotor interference. The single-rotor computational model trimmed from a generic helicopter flight dynamics analysis program was used as the baseline model. The effectiveness of the baseline model is demonstrated by a comparison with data from wind tunnel tests performed in this work. The rotor disk angle of attack and driven moment distribution obtained by the modified model indicate the fact that the rotor acceleration is primarily caused by the higher angle of attack region of the disk. This is of great significance in the rotor blade design, in terms of the drag-to-lift ratio characteristics of the airfoil under different angle-of-attack ranges. The influence of wind speed, rotor shaft angle, and collective pitch on the steady-state rotor speed was then studied. The results show a nonlinear nature of the variation of steady rotor speed with collective pitch, which can cause a thrust control reverse problem during flight operations. To reveal the flow field details of rotor-to-rotor interference, the flow field Navier–Stokes equations of tandem rotor autorotation were solved. Computational results of both rotors’ inflow velocities were considered when deriving the empirical model of interference. The refined interference model was compared to the wind tunnel test data of the tandem rotor autorotation and showed good performance. This synthetical methodology, which combines mechanism analysis with CFD-aided refinement and experiment verification, achieves a balance between computational costs and accuracy and thus can be readily applied to engineering practices.
Data-Driven Exhaust Gas Temperature Baseline Predictions for Aeroengine Based on Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Wang Zepeng , Zhao Yongjun
Published: December 2022

The exhaust gas temperature (EGT) baseline of an aeroengine is key to accurately analyzing engine health, formulating maintenance decisions and ensuring flight safety. However, due to the complex performance characteristics of aeroengine and the constraints of many external factors, it is difficult to obtain accurate non-linear features between various operating factors and EGT. In order to diagnose and forecast aeroengine performance quickly and accurately, four data-driven baseline prediction frameworks for EGT are proposed. These baseline frameworks took engine operating conditions and operating state control parameters as input variables and EGT as predicted output variables. The original data were collected from CFM56-5B engine ACARS flight data. Four typical machine learning methods, including Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN), Radial Basis Neural Network (RBF), Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Random Forest (RF) are trained to develop the models. Four aeroengine EGT baseline models were validated by comparing the after-flight data of another engine. The results show that the developed GRNN models have the best accuracy and computational efficiency compared with other models, and their RE and CPU calculation time on the verification set are 1.132 × 10−3 and 3.512 × 10−3 s, respectively. The developed baseline prediction frameworks can meet the needs of practical engineering applications for airlines. The methodologies developed can be employed by airlines to predict the EGT baseline for the purpose of engine performance monitoring and health management.
Forecasting of Winter Wheat Yield: A Mathematical Model and Field Experiments
Authors: Atamanyuk Igor , Havrysh Valerii , Nitsenko Vitalii , Diachenko Oleksii , Tepliuk Mariia , Chebakova Tetiana , Trofimova Hanna
Published: December 2022

An increase in world population requires growth in food production. Wheat is one of the major food crops, covering 21% of global food needs. The food supply issue necessitates reliable mathematical methods for predicting wheat yields. Crop yield information is necessary for agricultural management and strategic planning. Our mathematical model was developed based on a three-year field experiment in a semi-arid climate zone. Wheat yields ranged from 4310 to 6020 kg/ha. The novelty of this model is the inclusion of some stochastic data (weather and technological). The proposed method for wheat yield modeling is based on the theory of random sequence analysis. The model does not impose any restrictions on the number of production parameters and environmental indicators. A significant advantage of the proposed model is the absence of limits on the yield function. Consideration of the stochastic features of wheat production (technological and weather parameters) allows researchers to achieve the best accuracy. The numerical experiment confirmed the high accuracy of the proposed mathematical model for the prediction of wheat yield. The mean relative error (for the third-order polynomial model) varied from 1.79% to 2.75% depending on the preceding crop.
Revelation of Coupled Ecosystem Quality and Landscape Patterns for Agroforestry Ecosystem Services Sustainability Improvement in the Karst Desertification Control
Authors: Wu Zhigao , Xiong Kangning , Zhu Dayun , Xiao Jie
Published: December 2022

Since the 1950s, the rapid depletion of natural capital due to human activities has led to a growing global demand for ecological and socioeconomic sustainability, driving the development of agroforestry. Although agroforestry ecosystems can maintain sustainable land resources and maximize land productivity, their quality continues to fluctuate. Moreover, there is no clear review of studies addressing the impact of the evolution of agroforestry landscape patterns on their ecosystems, and to fill this gap, we conducted an inclusive review. A total of 163 publications related to agroforestry ecosystem quality and landscape patterns (ELA) that met a set of inclusion criteria were obtained through the Scopus database using the literature review method of searching, appraisal, and synthesis report. The objectives were to summarize the research progress on ELA, reveal the dynamic coupling mechanism between landscape pattern evolution and ecosystem quality, explore the role of landscape pattern optimization in ecological processes and services in agroforestry, and suggest future research and policy directions. Although the understanding of landscape patterns and ecological processes has been deepened, there are limitations in the study of scales, habitats, and other aspects. It is emphasized that understanding the interaction between agroforestry and other landscape elements in spatiotemporal organization is a prerequisite for promoting sustainable benefits, and that the challenges of spatiotemporal dynamics are integrated to scientifically optimize agroforestry landscape patterns. Finally, it is necessary to gain revelations based on the coupling relationship of ELA, through scientific management of agroforestry landscapes, in order to sustainably consolidate the effectiveness of karst rocky desertification (KRD) control and to enhance human welfare.
The Positive Effects of Mechanical and Chemical Treatments with the Application of Biostimulants in the Cultivation of Solanum tuberosum L.
Authors: Zarzecka Krystyna , Gugała Marek , Ginter Agnieszka , Mystkowska Iwona , Sikorska Anna
Published: December 2022

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of mechanical and chemical treatments with the application of biostimulants on the effectiveness of weed infestation reduction and potato yielding. A three-year field research study was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Station Zawady (52°03′ N; 22°33′ E). The field experiment was set up in a split-plot design with three replicates. The first factor was the two edible potato cultivars, and the second was five methods of mechanical and chemical treatments with biostimulants: (1) control object—mechanical weeding, (2) the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC (clomazone + metribuzin), (3) the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC and the biostimulant PlonoStart, (4) the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC and the biostimulant Aminoplant, (5) the herbicide Avatar 293 ZC and the biostimulant Agro-Sorb Folium. Before emergence, the control object was double ridging and single ridging with harrowing and double ridging after emergence. On other objects (2–5) before emergence, two ridgings were applied. The assessment of weed infestation was performed using the quantitative weight method on two dates: about 2 weeks after the application of the herbicide and biostimulants and before the potato tubers harvest. The herbicide and the herbicide with biostimulants applied to the potato crop showed a positive influence in reducing the number and fresh weight of weeds compared to mechanical-only treatments. The highest effectiveness, calculated on the basis of the number and fresh mass of weeds, was found on the fifth object. It was, on average, 70.5 and 71.6% for cultivars, respectively. Research into the use of biostimulants in potato cultivation will continue due to the pro-environmental nature of biostimulants and the importance of this crop. It is certain that the methodology of future field experiments will meet the challenges of sustainable development.
Vibration Performance Analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization Design of a Tractor Scissor Seat Suspension System
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Wei Weizhen , Chen Xiaoliang , Xu Liyou , Cao Yuntao
Published: December 2022

The combination of characteristic parameters is the key and difficult point to improving the vibration attenuation of scissor seat suspension. This paper proposes a multi-objective optimization method based on entropy weight gray correlation to optimize the combination of characteristic parameters with better vibration attenuation. The differential equation of seat suspension motion is derived through mechanical analysis, and a simplified driver seat suspension single degree of freedom model is constructed. The range of spring stiffness and damper damping is calculated theoretically. Through main effect analysis and analysis of contribution, the main influencing factors of seat suspension vibration attenuation are studied, and the influence correlation of the main factors is analyzed. On this basis, the spring stiffness and damper damping are taken as control variables, and the upper plane acceleration, displacement, and transfer rate of the seat suspension are taken as optimization objectives. The Optimal Latin Hypercube Sampling (OLHS) was used to sample the Design of Experiments (DoE), fit the RBF surrogate model, and screen the optimal solution based on the MNSGA-II algorithm and entropy weight gray relation ranking method. The comparative analysis of the performance before and after optimization shows that the vibration reduction performance response indexes of the acceleration, displacement, and transmissibility of the optimized seats are increased by 66.41%, 2.31%, and 8.19%, respectively. The design and optimization method proposed in this study has a significant effect on the vibration reduction of seats, which provides a reference for the optimization of the vibration reduction performance of seat suspension.
Physiological and Nutritional Responses to Ozone Application in Tomato Seedling Plants
Authors: Ruiz-Espin Alba , Garcia-Caparros Pedro , Llanderal Alfonso , Colunje Julian , Moreira Jorge Francisco , Lao Maria Teresa
Published: December 2022

Research on environmentally friendly techniques for the agroindustry is growing constantly. In this sense, the supply of ozone (O3) has been taken into consideration, especially for disinfection because of its high oxidizing power. However, there is not enough information about the application of dissolved O3 via fertigation in crops. For that reason, in this study, two trials were carried out simultaneously to determine the consequences of O3 application on plant growth and quality of tomato plants. The first trial aimed to assess the effects on tomato fertigated with the nutrient solution and the application of O3. The second trial was performed to establish the ideal O3 supply rate for tomato plants. In both experiments, we measured the biometric, physiological, and nutritional parameters of the tomato plant. The results obtained showed that the application of O3 treatment resulted in the highest overall dry weight gain, whereas O3 application decreased leaf proline and total soluble sugars concentrations. There was no clear effect on chlorophyll and total soluble sugars in tomato plants under O3 application. Regarding nutritional parameters, the application of O3 led to a higher content of P and K in tomato plants. These findings indicate that the use of dissolved O3 via fertigation may present several advantages for tomato plants’ growth and quality.
Analysis of Soil Fungal Community in Aged Apple Orchards in Luochuan County, Shaanxi Province
Authors: Xu Xin , Jiang Weitao , Wang Gongshuai , Ding Fengxia , Li Qianjin , Wang Ruolan , Chen Xuesen , Shen Xiang , Yin Chengmiao , Mao Zhiquan
Published: December 2022

The Luochuan area is an important area for apple production in China. With the renewal and transformation of aged apple orchards, the occurrence of apple replant disease (ARD) was inevitable and has seriously affected the sustainable development of apples. Therefore, we randomly selected 14 soil samples from aged apple orchards in the Luochuan area to study the structural changes in the soil fungal community. The results showed that there were significant differences in the diversity of fungal communities between different aged apple orchards. The harmful fungi Gibberella, Fusarium, and Cryptococcus existed in 14 aged apple orchards in the Luochuan area, but their abundances were different in different aged apple orchards. A FUN Guild analysis showed that fungi were mainly present in the aged apple orchards in Luochuan in the saprotroph and pathotroph nutrition modes. Pathogenic fungi were widely present, which increased the risk of disease and seriously affected the growth and development of fruit trees. To sum up, there was a strong correlation between the ages of orchards and the unbalanced microbial community structure. Therefore, pathogenic fungi could be prevented and controlled during the renewal and transformation of aged orchards to reduce the impact of ARD on the apple industry.
Corn Silk Extract: A Potential Modulator for Producing Functional Low Cholesterol Chicken Eggs
Authors: Abbas Ahmed O. , Alaqil Abdulaziz A. , Kamel Nancy N. , Nassar Farid S.
Published: December 2022

The chicken egg is one of the most globally-consumed animal protein sources with high-quality protein value. However, there is a growing concern about the association between excessive egg consumption and the increasing risk of cardiovascular disease incidence. Meanwhile, corn silk extract (CSE) is known to have hypo-lipidemic bioactive properties, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of feeding laying hens three different CSE levels on egg cholesterol content as well as egg production performance and oxidative stress marker levels. A total of 240, 40-week-old, Hy-Line Brown laying hens were divided into 4 symmetric groups (10 hens × 6 replicates). The control group was fed a basal diet while the other three groups were given the basal diet supplemented with 100 mg, 200 mg, or 400 mg CSE per kg feed, respectively. Egg production performance was monitored for eight successive weeks. Internal and external egg quality parameters were also measured. At the end of week 48 of age, blood samples were collected to determine the plasma lipid profile, stress markers, and liver function indicators. Data revealed that supplementation of 200 mg and 400 mg CSE to laying hen diets had a positive effect on egg production performance with a significant increase in egg numbers and egg weight as well as significantly improved feed efficiency. Egg quality parameters were significantly improved with CSE supplementation. Lipid peroxidation levels and inflammation marker concentrations significantly decreased for the experimental groups that were fed 200 mg and 400 mg CSE compared with the control group. Meanwhile, blood total cholesterol decreased significantly with CSE supplementation, along with an increase in high-density and a decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol content. A high positive correlation was found between liver and egg cholesterol contents (r = 0.902, p < 0.0001) which was linearly decreased with the increasing level of CSE supplementation. Egg cholesterol content significantly decreased by 9 to 19% in the CSE-supplemented groups compared with the control group. The present study demonstrated that CSE at 100 mg/kg and up to 400 mg/kg diets can be safely used to improve laying hen egg production performance with a direct effect on lowering egg cholesterol content as well as improving the redox status.
Potential Emissions of Insecticide VOCs and Their Correlations between Agricultural Emissions and Meteorological Factors
Authors: Yang Jingjin , Wu Genyi , Jiang Caihong , Long Wenqi , Liu Wangrong
Published: December 2022

In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that might lead to serious environmental problems, yet few studies relate to the insecticide application during agricultural process. As there appears to be a notable lack of research on the VOCs pollution of insecticides, we aimed to assess the occurrence of insecticide VOCs in the laboratory and during the agricultural process in China that have not been previously investigated. We discuss the estimation of VOCs emission potentials (EPs) and actual emissions (AEs) posed by insecticide applications. For this purpose, nine insecticide formulations were collected for testing and were analyzed via a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and a pump-suction photoionization detection (PID) gas detector. The results showed that the EPs of nine insecticide samples ranged from 12.30% to 81.30%, with a median of 41.59% and a mean of 45.41%. The average actual emission ratio (AER) for the different formulations ranged from 48.76% to 72.12%. AER value was significantly positively correlated with temperature, but significantly negatively correlated with relative humidity and atmospheric pressure. The results of this study provide a technical reference for establishing the corresponding emission inventory and determining the total amount of pesticide VOCs.
Monitoring System for Leucoptera malifoliella (O. Costa, 1836) and Its Damage Based on Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Čirjak Dana , Aleksi Ivan , Miklečić Ivana , Antolković Ana Marija , Vrtodušić Rea , Viduka Antonio , Lemic Darija , Kos Tomislav , Pajač Živković Ivana
Published: December 2022

The pear leaf blister moth is a significant pest in apple orchards. It causes damage to apple leaves by forming circular mines. Its control depends on monitoring two events: the flight of the first generation and the development of mines up to 2 mm in size. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop two models using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and two monitoring devices with cameras for the early detection of L. malifoliella (Pest Monitoring Device) and its mines on apple leaves (Vegetation Monitoring Device). To train the ANNs, 400 photos were collected and processed. There were 4700 annotations of L. malifoliella and 1880 annotations of mines. The results were processed using a confusion matrix. The accuracy of the model for the Pest Monitoring Device (camera in trap) was more than 98%, while the accuracy of the model for the Vegetation Monitoring Device (camera for damage) was more than 94%, all other parameters of the model were also satisfactory. The use of this comprehensive system allows reliable monitoring of pests and their damage in real-time, leading to targeted pest control, reduction in pesticide residues, and a lower ecological footprint. Furthermore, it could be adopted for monitoring other Lepidopteran pests in crop production.
Application of Machine Learning to Study the Agricultural Mechanization of Wheat Farms in Egypt
Authors: Sayed Hassan A. A. , Ding Qishuo , Abdelhamid Mahmoud A. , Alele Joseph O. , Alkhaled Alfadhl Y. , Refai Mohamed
Published: December 2022

Agricultural production can achieve sustainability by appropriately applying agricultural mechanization, especially in developing countries where smallholding farmers lack sufficient agricultural machinery for their farming operations. This paper aimed to study the extent to which small-, medium-, and large-scale farms in the Delta of Egypt use agricultural mechanization in their wheat crop farming operations. K-means clustering was used to aggregate and analyze the scenarios implemented by farmers for wheat cultivation so as to suggest guidelines for each cluster of farmers on how to mechanize their indoor wheat agricultural operations to maximize production. The study is divided into two parts: Firstly, data were collected regarding the percentage of small, medium, and large farms; the cultivated area of wheat crops in small-, medium-, and large-scale farms; and the size of tractors, as an indicator of the mechanization available in the governorates of Egypt’s Delta. Secondly, data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 2652 smallholding farmers, 328 medium-holding farmers, and 354 large-holding farmers from Egypt’s Delta governorates. Based on the surveyed data, 14, 14, and 12 scenarios (indexes) were established for small-, medium-, and large-scale farms, respectively, related to various agricultural operations involved in wheat crop production. These scenarios were analyzed based on the centroids using K-means clustering. The identified scenarios were divided into three clusters for the three levels of farms. The data obtained showed the need for smallholding farmers to implement mechanization, which could be achieved through renting services. These findings, if implemented, would have huge social and economic effects on farmers’ lives, in addition to increasing production, saving time and effort, and reducing dependence on labor.
Effect of Ultrasonic Pretreatment on Radio Frequency Vacuum Drying Characteristics and Quality of Codonopsis pilosula Slices
Authors: Yue Yuanman , Zang Zepeng , Wan Fangxin , Zhang Qian , Shang Jianwei , Xu Yanrui , Jiang Chunhui , Wang Tongxun , Huang Xiaopeng
Published: December 2022

In this paper, the effects of ultrasonic pretreatment on the drying kinetics, bioactive components (polysaccharides, total phenols, total flavonoids and antioxidant), qualitative characteristics (color index, lobetyolin and syringin) and microstructure of Codonopsis pilosula during radio frequency vacuum drying (RFVD) were studied. The average drying rate curve showed that the whole drying process could be divided into three stages: accelerating period, constant drying rate period and falling drying rate period. Deff values ranged from 6.61425 to 9.46745 × 10−8. Analysis of the drying rate constants revealed that different conditions of pretreatment were effective in increasing the drying rate. Ultrasonic pretreatment has a positive effect on the retention of polysaccharide content; low frequency favors retention of total phenols, flavonoids and syringin; and with the increase in ultrasonic time and ultrasonic power, the antioxidant capacity was higher than that without ultrasonic treatment. Ultrasonic pretreatment significantly improved color and microstructure. In summary, the pretreatment condition of ultrasonic frequency 20 kHz and power 60 W for 30 min is suitable, which provides a certain reference for the application of ultrasonic pretreatment technology in RFVD of Codonopsis pilosula slices.
Comprehensive Characterization of Date Palm Fruit ‘Mejhoul’ (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Using Image Analysis and Quality Attribute Measurements
Authors: Noutfia Younés , Ropelewska Ewa
Published: December 2022

An in-depth determination of date fruit properties belonging to a given variety can have an impact on their consumption, processing, and storage. The objective of this study was to characterize date fruits of the ‘Mejhoul’ variety using (i) objective and non-destructive image-analysis features and (ii) measurements of physicochemical parameters. Based on images acquired using a digital camera, more than 1600 texture parameters from the individual color channels L, a, b, R, G, B, X, Y, and Z, and 40 geometric characteristics (including linear dimensions and shape factors for each fruit), were determined. Additionally, pomological features, water content, water activity, color parameters (L*, a*, b*), total soluble solids (TSS), reducing sugars, and total sugars were measured. As a main result, the application of machine vision allowed for the correct detection of ‘Mejhoul’ dates and the determination of the image features. The differences in the values of the histogram’s mean (HMean texture) for individual color channels were determined. The ‘Mejhoul’ date fruit images in color channel a (aHMean equal to 145.88) and color channel b (bHMean: 145.49) were the brightest, and in channel Z they were the darkest (ZHMean: 4.23). Due to the determination of the elliptic shape factor (W1) of 1.000 and the circular shape factor (W2) of 0.110, the elliptical shape of the fruit was confirmed. On the other hand, ‘Mejhoul’ dates were characterized by a length of 47.3 mm, a diameter of 26.4 mm, flesh thickness of 6.25 mm, total soluble solids of 62.1%, water content of 28.0%, water activity of 0.652, hardness of 694 g, reducing sugars of 13.8%, and total sugars of 58.8%. Due to the determination of many image features and other parameters, this paper presents the first comprehensive characterization of ‘Mejhoul’ date fruits using a non-destructive imaging technique linked to some physicochemical quality attributes.
Effect of Harvest Time on the Seed Yield and Quality of Kengyilia melanthera
Authors: Ling Yao , Yuan Shuai , Xiong Yanli , Chen Shuming , Feng Junjie , Zhao Junming , Zhang Chenglin , Lei Xiong , You Minghong , Bai Shiqie , Ma Xiao
Published: December 2022

Kengyilia melanthera is one of the most important forages, and has received significant attention as a desirable ecological pioneer grass for conserving grasslands and mitigating degradation pressure in a region. It is widely distributed in the alpine sandy meadow zone of the Eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP). Therefore, determining the optimal harvest time of this species is critical. A two-year field experiment (2016–2017) was utilized in this study to evaluate the impact of eight harvest times on the seed yield and quality of K. melanthera ‘Aba’. The results show that the fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), seed yield (SY), thousand-grain weight (TGW), accelerated aging germination percentage (AAGP), and dehydrogenase activity (DA) of seeds increased with the extension of harvest time in two trial years, while the water content (WC) of seeds decreased. In both trial years, the germination percentage (GEP), germination potential (GP), and acid phosphatase activity (APA) of seeds increased initially and then decreased with the extension of harvest time. The comprehensive evaluation of the membership function and hierarchical clustering revealed that the 30th day after peak anthesis was the optimal harvest time for both 2016 and 2017. During this time, FW, DW, SY, TGW, AAGP, DA, WC, GEP, GP, and APA reached their optimal value, with 0.815 g, 0.518 g, 1773.67 kg·hm−2, 143.81%, 66%, 16.23 µg·mL−1, 36.01%, 87%, 85%, and 2.50 nmol·min−1 in 2016 and 0.805 g, 0.515 g, 1847.42 kg·hm−2, 133.96%, 65%, 16.52 µg·mL−1, 36.04%, 86.5%, 83.5%, and 2.55 nmol·min−1 in 2017, respectively. This study uncovers several high-efficiency and long-term technological solutions for cultivating high yields and quality production of K. melanthera in East QTP.
Height Estimation of Soil Erosion in Olive Groves Using a Time-of-Flight Sensor
Authors: Lima Francisco , Moreno Hugo , Blanco-Sepúlveda Rafael , Andújar Dionisio
Published: December 2022

The olive groves’ relevance has historically been ingrained in Mediterranean cultures. Spain stands out as a leading producer worldwide, where olive trees are extensively grown in the Andalusian region. However, despite the importance of this strategic agricultural sector, cultivation through the years has given rise to various crop management practices that have led to disruptive erosion processes. The objective is to measure land erosion in over 100-year-old olive groves considering the 3D reconstructed recent relief of olive tree mounds. A time-of-flight depth sensor, namely, Kinect v2, was employed to 3D model the target areas, i.e., trunk and exposed roots, to determine the height as a surrogate of the difference between the historical and recent relief. In three plots in southern Spain, the height of relic tree mounds was measured in olive trees at the upper and bottom parts to determine soil profile truncation. The results were compared and validated with manual measurements (ground truth values). Olive trees were grouped into high, moderate, and low slope gradient classes. The results showed, in all cases, high consistency in the correlation equations (Pearson’s coefficients over 0.95) between the estimated values in the models and the actual values measured in the olive trees. Consequently, these excellent results indicate the potential of this low-budget system for the study of historical erosion. Notably, the Kinect v2 can generate 3D reconstructions of tree mounds at microtopographic scales in outdoor situations that would be challenging for other depth cameras under variable lighting conditions, as found outdoors.
Zinc Stress Alters Sugar Content in Rice Plants and the Reproduction and Trehalose Metabolism in Nilaparvata lugens
Authors: Liu Yong-Kang , Xu Cai-Di , Zheng Xu-Song , Chao Lei , Zhou Yan-Fei , Li Guo-Yong , Wu Yan , Bai Xue-Lian , Zhou Ting , Tang Bin , Xu Hong-Xing
Published: December 2022

Excessive zinc (Zn) is toxic to plants, but the effect of zinc-stressed plants on herbivorous insects is still unclear. Hence, we assessed the effect of zinc-stressed rice plants on its feeding pest, Nilaparvata lugens. The soil–rice–N. lugens system was treated with Zn2+ solution. Sugar content in rice was measured, and the reproduction and trehalose metabolism in N. lugens were assessed. The trehalase activity in rice significantly decreased at 100 mg·kg−1 Zn2+, and the trehalose content increased. The glucose and starch content increased at higher Zn2+ concentrations. The fecundity and trehalose content of N. lugens decreased after feeding on zinc-stressed rice, and the glucose content in the high Zn2+ group was significantly higher than that in the low Zn2+ group. In addition, the soluble trehalase activity of N. lugens significantly decreased under the 125 mg·kg−1 treatment, while the activity of membrane-bound trehalase significantly increased under the 150 mg·kg−1 treatment. Quantitative RT-PCR indicated significantly lower expressions of NlTre1-1, NlTre2, and NITps after Zn treatment. In conclusion, Zn2+ treatment significantly altered the sugar content in rice plants; it also decreased the fecundity of N. lugens, which may be mediated by alterations in trehalose metabolism.
Field Performance of Disease-Free Plants of Ginger Produced by Tissue Culture and Agronomic, Cytological, and Molecular Characterization of the Morphological Variants
Authors: Zhao Xiaoqin , Yu Shuangying , Wang Yida , Jiang Dongzhu , Zhang Yiming , Hu Liu , Zhu Yongxing , Jia Qie , Yin Junliang , Liu Yiqing , Cai Xiaodong
Published: December 2022

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) is an important spice crop valued for its flavored and medical properties. It is susceptible to soil-borne diseases, which can cause considerable economic loss to growers. In vitro culture is feasible for the propagation of disease-free ginger plants, but has several disadvantages when producing seed rhizomes that can be commercially used, such as long cultivation cycles (usually 2–3 years) and occurrence of somaclonal variation. In this study, dynamic changes in the morphological characteristics of in vitro-propagated disease-free plants of ‘Wuling’ ginger were evaluated by continuous observation and measurement at 30-day intervals, and morphological variants were screened and characterized by agronomic, cytological, and molecular analysis at harvest. Results showed that the plants grew rapidly within 120 days after planting, and the most active growth period was from 60 to 120 days. Eight plants with clear and stable morphological differences were screened out from approximately 2000 plants grown in the field, and they could be classified into two groups (VT1 and VT2) based on tiller number, plant height, leaf color, and leaf shape. By flow cytometry analysis and chromosome counting, the VT1 was confirmed to be diploid, with the shortest plant height, the largest number of tillers and rhizome knobs, and the smallest tiller diameter and rhizome size among the three types of plants. The VT2 was mixoploid, consisting of diploid and tetraploid cells, with significantly reduced tiller number and rhizome knobs, significantly larger stomatal guard cells/apertures, and significantly lower stomatal density. SSR analysis detected DNA band profile changes in six out of the eight variants, including one plant of the VT1 and all the VT2 plants. The findings of this study might contribute to the commercial production of disease-free seed rhizomes in ginger, and the characterized somaclonal variants could provide useful germplasm resources for future breeding.
Ecological and Agronomic Benefits of Intercropping Maize in a Walnut Orchard—A Case Study
Authors: Žalac Helena , Herman Goran , Ergović Lara , Jović Jurica , Zebec Vladimir , Bubalo Ante , Ivezić Vladimir
Published: December 2022

The incorporation of trees on traditional agricultural land has the potential for providing beneficial conditions for understory crops by altering the microclimate. Under these assumptions, we conducted a study on maize productivity intercropped in a 14-year-old walnut orchard by measuring growth and yield parameters, and water and nutrient uptake. Overall, we found that walnut trees decreased maximum air temperature and increased air humidity, especially during hot summer months characterized by precipitation deficit. A 30% reduction in maize yield per total area was a result of significantly reduced plant density, which could be a walnut-specific effect due to juglone excretion. Productivity per plant increased as shown by a significantly higher harvest index and 1000 kernel weight. No meaningful differences were found in terms of maize grain nutrient productivity, nutrient recovery, or nutrient use efficiency. On the systems level, we observed an advantage of the walnut-maize system compared to its respective monoculture systems—land and water equivalent ratios showed that for gaining the same yields as in intercropped system, walnut and maize grown separately would need 32% more land and 31% more water. Our study implies there are some beneficial outcomes to growing maize with trees, although further research should focus on investigating walnut as an option, due to its possible allelopathic effects.
Biostimulants Using Humic Substances and Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacteria: Effects on Cassava (Manihot esculentus) and Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Yield
Authors: Canellas Luciano P. , Canellas Natália O. A. , da Silva Rakiely M. , Spaccini Riccardo , Mota Gabriela Petroceli , Olivares Fábio L.
Published: December 2022

Traditional agriculture represents the most-extensive food-producing segment in the world. However, these agroecosystems are widely and closely associated with rural poverty, reflecting the dualism between the subsistence and the commodity-producing sector in the peripheric countries. Therefore, socially adapted technologies may be a reliable and helpful methodology to enhance subsistence crop production. Humic substances are natural organic biostimulants extractable as water suspensions from renewable sources such as agricultural biomass and farming residues. These easy-to-handle extracts may be mixed with plant-growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and used as biostimulants within a low-cost technological application in the circular economy strategy. Few investigations have been focused on the use of biostimulant practices on marginal or subsistence crops. Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) are two essential foods for poor communities of rural territories in tropical and subtropical countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the foliar application of a humic/PGPB mixed biostimulant on cassava and okra crops grown in an agricultural soil with very low natural fertility. In pot trials, the applied biostimulant improved the plant development with a 200% increase of the root weight in cassava, while the preservation of active diazotrophic bacteria was improved by 10- and 100-times in cassava and okra in the mixed formulation with humic acid. In real field systems, the plant treatment increased the yield of cassava and okra by 70% and 50%, respectively thereby allowing a simultaneous nitrogen savings with the best yield performance obtained at the lower N fertilization rate. The use of biostimulants can play a role in the transition process, helping the food security and the autonomy of impoverished farmers. Combining the elements of traditional knowledge and modern science is essential to create innovative technologies enabling the sustainable management of agroecosystems.
Special Microbial Communities Enhanced the Role of Aged Biochar in Reducing Cd Accumulation in Rice
Authors: Deng Xueyun , Long Changzhi , Chen Le , Du Yanli , Zhang Zhengwei , Gan Li , Zeng Yongjun
Published: December 2022

Biochar exhibits a good adsorption ability for heavy metals in soil and has been widely used as a remediation material in Cd-contaminated soil. However, the status of Cd uptake by rice driven by soil physicochemical properties and rhizosphere microbial communities after years of biochar application is not well understood. In this study, the relationship between the rhizosphere microbial community and soil physicochemical properties and rice Cd accumulation were investigated during the main rice growth stages. The results showed that in comparison to the non-biochar treatment (control), a noticeable reduction in Cd content in rice stem sheaths, leaves, rice husks and milled rice with different growth stages were observed in the biochar treatment after four years, which decreased by 38.76–66.18%, 40.93–70.27%, 43.64–47.92% and 31.91–34.38%, respectively. Compared to non-biochar treatment (control), the properties of the soil in different growth stages by biochar treatment of the soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (AP) were significantly increased, which increased by 10.5–16.13%, 8–25%, 75–130.13% and 132.95–191.43%, respectively. The content of available Cd (ACd) concentration in different stages by biochar treatment was significantly decreased, which decreased by 26.57–44.24%. Biochar application after four years changed the rhizosphere bacterial community structure composition (phyla level) in all stages. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Nitrospirae was increased, while the relative abundance of Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria was decreased. Meanwhile, the biochar application enriched Rhodocyclaceae, Burkholderiaceae, Nitrosomonadaceae, Anaerolineaceae, Ignavibacteriales and Bacteroidales, which may contribute to the reduction of Cd uptake and accumulation in rice. These results suggest that biochar treatment after four years changed the rhizosphere microbial community structure and soil physicochemical properties and promoted the colonization of specific microbial populations in the rice rhizosphere to form a special protective system in the rice rhizosphere, which reduced Cd uptake by rice.
The Dynamics of Soil Moisture and Temperature—Strip-Till vs. Plowing—A Case Study
Authors: Gałęzewski Lech , Jaskulska Iwona , Kotwica Karol , Lewandowski Łukasz
Published: December 2022

The dynamics of soil moisture and its temperature is an important criterion for evaluating soil tillage technology in terms of achieving plant production stability. Understanding changes in soil moisture and temperature depending on rainfall and air temperature is necessary to develop application models for agriculture 4.0. A hypothesis was adopted assuming that the dynamics of soil moisture and its thermal properties will depend on the technology of cultivation. Hence, the aim of the research was to learn the dynamics of soil moisture and temperature during a growing season using strip and conventional tillage. Soil moisture was monitored using TDR probes in the row and inter-row of winter barley using plowing and strip-till techniques. Soil temperature was also monitored. Measurements were made every 5 min. In the most important period for the growth and development of barley vegetation, the soil in the strip-till was characterized by greater moisture (3.6% v/v on average) and greater stability than was the case with plowing. The soil in the strip-till was cooler (an average of 0.64 °C), but more stable than in plowing—temporary temperature differences in ST vs. PT reached even more than 5 °C. Strip-till therefore mitigates weather extremes to a greater extent than plowing.