bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of PV power forecast error on the frequency of a standalone microgrid system
Authors: Gupta Priya , Singh Rhythm
Published: July 2024

The need for solar photovoltaic (PV) power forecasting arises due to rapid fluctuations in solar PV output. This variation can cause an imbalance between the demand and generation in a microgrid. This paper attempts to analyze the impact of inaccuracy in predicting PV power generation on the frequency of a standalone microgrid system. For this purpose, two different forecasting models have been studied for two different types of weather conditions, characterized by varying degrees of cloud cover. Moreover, when addressing frequency fluctuations, restoring them to the nominal value becomes imperative, and this is where secondary controllers play a crucial role. This paper further evaluates and compares the performance of three proportional-integrative derivative (PID) controllers for smoothing frequency control. For the considered combinations of two forecasting models and three secondary controllers, the standard deviation (SD) of frequency is the lowest for the long short-term memory (LSTM) forecaster and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) – PID (PSO-PID) controller. The corresponding reduction of SD, after replacing persistence: PSO-PID with LSTM: PSO-PID, in combination with |clear: cloudy| day is |28.43%: 32.12%| for overshoot and |11.87%: 18.36%| for undershoot frequency deviation.
Isotope and morphometrical evidence reveals the technological package associated with agriculture adoption in western Europe
Authors: Araus José L. , Gascón Mireia , Ros-Sabé Eva , Piqué Raquel , Rezzouk Fatima Z. , Aguilera Mònica , Voltas Jordi , Peña-Chocarro Leonor , Pérez-Jordà Guillem , Terradas Xavier , Palomo Antoni , Ferrio Juan Pedro , Antolín Ferran
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to reconstruct the environmental conditions and the crop management practices and plant characteristics when agriculture appeared in western Europe. We analyzed oak charcoal and a large number of cereal caryopsides recovered from La Draga (Girona, Spain), an early (5300 to 4800 cal. BC) agricultural site from the Iberian Peninsula. The carbon isotope discrimination (Δ
13
C) values of oak, the dominant forest species in the region, indicates prevalence of a wet climate at the site. Further, we reconstructed crop management conditions, achievable yield, and crop characteristics through the analysis of Δ
13
C, nitrogen isotope composition (δ
15
N), nitrogen content, and the reconstructed weight of wheat and barley caryopsides, following protocols developed by our team [Araus
et al.
,
Nat. Commun.
5
, 3953 (2014)] and comparison of these parameters with present-day organic agriculture in the region. In parallel, a regional perspective was achieved through the study of wheat and barley grains of seventeen Neolithic sites from the western Mediterranean. The results suggest that rather than small-garden cultivation, a more extensive agriculture was practiced under good water availability and moderate manuring. Moreover, results from La Draga evidence that grain weight and spike morphology were comparable to contemporary cereals. Growing conditions and the prevalence of improved crop traits indicate that agriculture was fairly consolidated at the time it reached the western edge of Europe.
Slow convergence: Career impediments to interdisciplinary biomedical research
Authors: Berkes Enrico , Marion Monica , Milojević Staša , Weinberg Bruce A.
Published: July 2024

Despite the long-standing calls for increased levels of interdisciplinary research as a way to address society’s grand challenges, most science is still disciplinary. To understand the slow rate of convergence to more interdisciplinary research, we examine 154,021 researchers who received a PhD in a biomedical field between 1970 and 2013, measuring the interdisciplinarity of their articles using the disciplinary composition of references. We provide a range of evidence that interdisciplinary research is impactful, but that those who conduct it face early career impediments. The researchers who are initially the most interdisciplinary tend to stop publishing earlier in their careers—it takes about 8 y for half of the researchers in the top percentile in terms of initial interdisciplinarity to stop publishing, compared to more than 20 y for moderately interdisciplinary researchers (10th to 75th percentiles). Moreover, perhaps in response to career challenges, initially interdisciplinary researchers on average decrease their interdisciplinarity over time. These forces reduce the stock of interdisciplinary researchers who can train future cohorts. Indeed, new graduates tend to be less interdisciplinary than the stock of active researchers. We show that interdisciplinarity does increase over time despite these dampening forces because initially disciplinary researchers become more interdisciplinary as their careers progress.
Matrix stiffness-dependent regulation of immunomodulatory genes in human MSCs is associated with the lncRNA CYTOR
Authors: Lim Justin J. , Vining Kyle H. , Mooney David J. , Blencowe Benjamin J.
Published: July 2024

Cell–matrix interactions in 3D environments significantly differ from those in 2D cultures. As such, mechanisms of mechanotransduction in 2D cultures are not necessarily applicable to cell-encapsulating hydrogels that resemble features of tissue architecture. Accordingly, the characterization of molecular pathways in 3D matrices is expected to uncover insights into how cells respond to their mechanical environment in physiological contexts, and potentially also inform hydrogel-based strategies in cell therapies. In this study, a bone marrow-mimetic hydrogel was employed to systematically investigate the stiffness-responsive transcriptome of mesenchymal stromal cells. High matrix rigidity impeded integrin-collagen adhesion, resulting in changes in cell morphology characterized by a contractile network of actin proximal to the cell membrane. This resulted in a suppression of extracellular matrix-regulatory genes involved in the remodeling of collagen fibrils, as well as the upregulation of secreted immunomodulatory factors. Moreover, an investigation of long noncoding RNAs revealed that the cytoskeleton regulator RNA (CYTOR) contributes to these 3D stiffness-driven changes in gene expression. Knockdown of CYTOR using antisense oligonucleotides enhanced the expression of numerous mechanoresponsive cytokines and chemokines to levels exceeding those achievable by modulating matrix stiffness alone. Taken together, our findings further our understanding of mechanisms of mechanotransduction that are distinct from canonical mechanotransductive pathways observed in 2D cultures.
RBE-based dose planning, and calculation of TCP and NTCP with gold nanoparticles for intermediate photon energy in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Khaledi Navid , Karshafian Raffi , Taggar Amandeep S , Alrabiah Khalid , Khan Rao , Gräfe James L
Published: July 2024

Objective. This study simulated the potential of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer cases. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of GNPs on tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) in pancreatic cancer cases undergoing radiation therapy. The work aimed to compare treatment plans generated with a novel 2.5 MV beam using GNPs to conventional 6 MV plans and evaluate the dose-volume histogram (DVH), TCP, and NTCP. Approach. Treatment planning for five pancreatic computed tomography (CT) images was performed using the open-source MATLAB-based treatment planning program matRad. MATLAB codes were developed to calculate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of GNPs and apply the corresponding dose and RBE values to each voxel. TCP and NTCP were calculated based on the applied RBE values. Main results. Adding GNPs to the 2.5 MV treatment plan resulted in a significant increase in TCP, from around 59% to 93.5%, indicating that the inclusion of GNPs improved the effectiveness of the radiation treatment. The range in NTCP without GNPs was relatively larger compared to that with GNPs. Significance. The results indicated that the addition of GNPs to a 2.5 MV plan can increase TCP while maintaining a relatively low NTCP value (<1%). The use of GNPs may also reduce NTCP values by decreasing the dose to normal tissues while maintaining the same prescribed dose to the tumor. Hence, the addition of GNPs can improve the balance between TCP and NTCP.
Investigation of the effect of martensitic phase transition temperature and Curie temperature difference on magnetic and magnetocaloric properties under low magnetic field on Si-doped Ni-Mn-In Heusler alloys
Authors: Kavak E , Cicek M M , Saritas S , Emre B
Published: July 2024

This study examines the impact of substituting Si for Mn on the structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties of Ni43Mn46−x
Si
x
In11 (x = 0.3 and 0.6) alloys. To this end, a range of analytical techniques are employed, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), room temperature x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and magnetization measurements. Above the martensitic transition temperature, the Ni43Mn46−x
Si
x
In11 alloys exhibit cubic L2
1 (space group FM-3M). Below this temperature they adopt a tetragonal L1
0 (space group I4/mmm). The martensitic transition temperature decreased when Si is substituted for Mn. The magnetic field-induced entropy change is calculated from magnetic field-dependent magnetization measurements using Maxwell’s equations. The maximum magnetic field-induced entropy changes for Ni43.16Mn45.56Si0.29In11 and Ni43.51Mn44.82Si0.59In11 alloys are calculated 8.20 J kg−1K−1 and 3.15 J kg−1 K−1, respectively, in the vicinity of the magnetostructural phase transition for a magnetic field change of 18 kOe. It is demonstrated that the temperature differential between the high-temperature austenite phase's Curie point (T

C
) and the mean martensitic transformation temperature (T

M
), namely (T

M
-T

C
), influences the martensitic transition temperatures and, consequently, on the magnetic field-induced entropy change (ΔS

M
).
Performance evaluation of thin film GaSb thermophotovoltaic cells
Authors: Guo Wenli , Chen Hua , Yang Anneng , Li Xin , Wang Yu
Published: July 2024

Economical converters are the key component for the industrial applications of thermophotovoltaic technology. In this work thin film GaSb cells are demonstrated for broadband thermophotovoltaic energy conversion. It is shown that n-on-p configuration is a superior choice for thin film cell due to its larger accessible efficiency. Under the illumination of unshaped blackbody spectrum, the matched spectrum temperature for GaSb thin film cells should be in the range of 2000∼2600 K, With those matched spectra, the optimal GaSb thin film can achieve the efficiency up to 8% or so with V

OC
= 0.55 V, FF = 0.64, J

SC
= 44 A cm−2, thus showing the power density output up to 15 W cm−2 while only having the active layer thickness 4.5 μm or so. These results are well preserved for S

F
no more than 104 cm s−1. With increasing spectrum temperature, a phenomenological model has also been formulated to analytically predict the optimal cell structure at a given spectrum illumination. This work has thus established the fundamental guidelines to develop GaSb thin film cells or subcells for economical thermophotovoltaic energy conversion.
Negative cosmological constant in the dark energy sector: tests from JWST photometric and spectroscopic observations of high-redshift galaxies
Authors: Menci Nicola , Adil Shahnawaz A. , Mukhopadhyay Upala , Sen Anjan A. , Vagnozzi Sunny
Published: July 2024

Early observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed the existence of an unexpectedly large abundance of extremely massive galaxies at redshiftsz≳ 5: these are in tension with the predictions not only of the standard ΛCDM cosmology, but also with those of a wide class of dynamical dark energy (DE) models, and are generally in better agreement with models characterized by a phantom behaviour. Here we consider a model, inspired by string theory and the ubiquity of anti-de Sitter vacua therein, featuring an evolving DE component with positive energy density on top of a negative cosmological constant, argued in an earlier exploratory analysis to potentially be able to explain the JWST observations. We perform a robust comparison of this model against JWST data, considering both photometric observations from the CEERS program, and spectroscopic observations from the FRESCO survey. We show that the model is able to accommodate the JWST observations, with a consistency probability of up to 98%, even in the presence of an evolving component with a quintessence-like behaviour (easier to accommodate theoretically compared to phantom DE), while remaining consistent with standard low-redshift probes. Our results showcase the potential of measurements of high-redshift galaxy abundances in tests of fundamental physics, and their complementarity with standard cosmological probes.
Proprioception enhancement for robot assisted neural rehabilitation: a dynamic electrical stimulation based method and preliminary results from EEG analysis
Authors: Jiao Yuze , Wang Weiqun , Wang Jiaxing , Hou Zeng-Guang
Published: July 2024

Objective. In recent years, the robot assisted (RA) rehabilitation training has been widely used to counteract defects of the manual one provided by physiotherapists. However, since the proprioception feedback provided by the robotic assistance or the manual methods is relatively weak for the paralyzed patients, their rehabilitation efficiency is still limited. In this study, a dynamic electrical stimulation (DES) based proprioception enhancement and the associated quantitative analysis methods have been proposed to overcome the limitation mentioned above. Approach. Firstly, the DES based proprioception enhancement method was proposed for the RA neural rehabilitation. In the method, the relationship between the surface electromyogram (sEMG) envelope of the specified muscle and the associated joint angles was constructed, and the electrical stimulation (ES) pulses for the certain joint angles were designed by consideration of the corresponding sEMG envelope, based on which the ES can be dynamically regulated during the rehabilitation training. Secondly, power spectral density, source estimation, and event-related desynchronization of electroencephalogram, were combinedly used to quantitatively analyze the proprioception from multiple perspectives, based on which more comprehensive and reliable analysis results can be obtained. Thirdly, four modes of rehabilitation training tasks, namely active, RA, DES-RA, and ES-only training, were designed for the comparison experiment and validation of the proposed DES based proprioception enhancement method. Main results. The results indicated that the activation of the sensorimotor cortex was significantly enhanced when the DES was added, and the cortex activation for the DES-RA training was similar to that for the active training. Meanwhile, relatively consistent results from the multiple perspectives were obtained, which validates the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed proprioception analysis method. Significance. The proposed methods have the potential to be applied in the practical rehabilitation training to improve the rehabilitation efficiency.
Exact solution of the nonlinear boson diffusion equation for gluon scattering
Authors: Möhringer L , Wolschin G
Published: July 2024

An exact analytical solution of the nonlinear boson diffusion equation is presented. It accounts for the time evolution toward the Bose–Einstein equilibrium distribution through inelastic and elastic collisions in the case of constant transport coefficients. As a currently interesting application, gluon scattering in relativistic heavy-ion collisions is investigated. An estimate of the time-dependent gluon-condensate formation in overoccupied systems through number-conserving elastic scatterings in Pb–Pb collisions at relativistic energies is given.
Engineering a durable BDDE cross-linked collagen filler for skin rejuvenation
Authors: Wang Qi , Yan Huiyu , Zhang Jingting , Tian Xinyu , Xiao Jianxi
Published: July 2024

Skin aging, characterized by reduced regeneration, chronic inflammation, and heightened skin cancer risk, poses a significant challenge. Collagen fillers have emerged as a potential solution for skin rejuvenation by stimulating collagen regeneration. However, their clinical efficacy is limited by inherent instability and vulnerability to in vivo degradation by collagenase. Chemical cross-linking presents a promising approach to enhance stability, but it carries risks such as cytotoxicity, calcification, and discoloration. Here, we introduce a highly durable 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) cross-linked collagen filler for skin rejuvenation. BDDE effectively cross-links collagen, resulting in fillers with exceptional mechanical strength and injectability. These fillers demonstrate favorable stability and durability, promoting proliferation, adhesion, and spreading of human foreskin fibroblast-1 cells in vitro. In vivo studies confirm enhanced collagen regeneration without inducing calcification. BDDE cross-linked collagen fillers offer promising prospects for medical cosmetology and tissue regeneration.
The Effect of Biofertilizers and Seaweed Extract on the Activity of Cellulase Enzyme and β-Glucosidase in Soil Planted with Broccoli Plants
Authors: Al-Khalidi Alyaa M. A. , Al-Taweel Luma S. J.
Published: July 2024

The research aims to study the effect of biofertilizers and seaweed extract on the effectiveness of the cellulase enzyme and β-glucosidase for the flowering and full maturity stages in soil planted with broccoli plants. The experiment was carried out in one of the fields located in the Al-Nouriya district of Al-Diwaniyah Governorate for the 2023 season in soil with a mixture clay-silty texture, a factorial experiment was carried out according to a randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with three replications. The first factor included adding biofertilizers (Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria and Trichoderma harzianum fungus), which are coded (B and F) respectively, the second factor is adding organic fertilizers at one level (10 tons ha−1) (yellow corn cobs, rice straw, and wheat waste) coded (O1, O2, and O3), respectively, the third factor included adding two levels of seaweed extract (20 and 40) kg ha−1, coded (A1 and A2), respectively, in addition to the comparison treatment (without adding fertilizer). The effect of fertilizers differed significantly on enzyme activity, as the (FO1) treatment achieved the highest activity for the cellulase enzyme for the flowering and full maturity stages, amounting to (227.1 and 264.3) µg geq g−1 dwt 24h−1, respectively, compared to the comparison treatment, which recorded the lowest effectiveness (209.4 and 215.0) µg geq. g−1 dwt 24h−1 sequentially, (BO1) recorded the highest activity of the β-glucosidase enzyme, amounting to (120.3 and 134.5) µg PNP g−1 dwt 1h−1 for the flowering and full maturity stages compared to the comparison treatment, which recorded the lowest effectiveness (106.4 and 119.7) µg PNP g−1 dwt 1h−1µ sequentially.
Economic Estimation of the Long-Run Cost Function and Economies of Scale for the Date Crop in the Holy Governorate of Karbala-Al-Husseiniyah District for the Productive Season (2021)
Authors: Awad Al-Shammari Saadoon Turki , Zanzal Al-Samurai Hassan Thamir
Published: July 2024

This research was conducted through personal interviews with farmers in palm orchards in Al-Husseiniyah District - Holy Karbala Governorate for the productive season (2021). The research aimed to study the cost structure of date production in the study area. The results of the research showed that fixed and variable costs constituted (32.3%, 66.7%) of the total costs of the research sample, respectively, and that the optimal size of production that reduces costs reached (19.148) tons, while the optimal area that can be used to achieve the optimal size is (7.27) dunams, The elasticity of costs reached a value of (1) at the optimal production level. The minimum price at which farmers sell dates was calculated (173,693) thousand dinars/ton. The supply function was derived in the long run, and it was found that there is a positive relationship between the price and the quantity supplied of dates. When the price is greater than (173.693) dinars / ton. The results of the study also revealed the percentage of achieved economies of scale and cost flexibility, and that average costs decrease until they reach below the optimal production level, while the achieved percentage of economies of scale reaches its maximum value (100%) at the same level. The results of the field research showed that the average price of a ton of the date crop reached (550) thousand dinars for the sample studied.
Green Synthesis of Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Leaves Extract of Capparis spinosa L. and Evaluation of their Resistance to Salt Stress of some Aquatic Plants
Authors: Daish Malak Khalaf , Muhammad-Ali Munther Abduljaleel , Tahet Al-Asadi Widad M.
Published: July 2024

Salinity is one of the major biological stressors that has an impact on the growth and development of plants. Because of AgNPs distinct physical and chemical characteristics as well as their huge surface area in relation to their size. Green synthesized of AgNPs was used to reduce the salt stress aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum. AgNPs were biosynthesized by Capparis spinosa L. extract and characterized using UV-Vis, FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques which gave spherical shape of crystal size 44.33 nm. Three concentrations of AgNPs were prepared (0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 g) and used to study the salt stress. The effect on the properties of the aquatic environment was carried out at four weeks for salt pressure. As a result, the study showed that these particles improved the properties of the aquatic environment by reducing the amount of dissolved salt ions. In addition, the growth rate of the C. demersum plant increased, the amount of chlorophyll and the total organic carbon content increased and the proline content decreased So, we conclude from this study that AgNPs is a useful, ecofriendly and interesting application for use in environmental treatments, especially in water treatment.
Using Activated Carbon Prepared from the Salsola Incanescens Plant for Removal of Carboxylic Acids from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Searan Tuka Mahroos , Sirhan Muthana Muhammed , Hussein Hanaa Hassan
Published: July 2024

In current work, activated carbon was prepared by burning a desert plant Salsola incanescens, at 250 C° for 2hrs. H2O2 was used to enhance the porosity of it, various analytical methods, such as (EDX), (FESEM), and (XRD) were used to examine the constituents of activated charcoal. The crystal structure of the activated carbon was revealed by the XRD data, and the surface pore shape was shown by the FESEM images. Furthermore, an elemental composition analysis using EDX was conducted to ascertain the composition of activated charcoal. The prepared activated carbon was employed as an adsorbent surface to remove benzoic and acetic acids. The effect of initial concentration, temperature, adsorbent dose, and contact time on the adsorption removal were studied. The application of both Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms confirmed a satisfactory agreement with the experimental data. The estimated thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔS, and ΔG) show that the adsorption process is exothermic and is enhanced by high temperatures. The process was found to be spontaneous and accompanied by an increase in entropy, indicating that it is less homogeneous on the surface of the adsorbent compared to the solution.
Monitoring of Iraq Vegetation Dynamics Using MODIS Data From 2000-2023
Authors: Al-Daoudi Ahmed. S. , Al-Timimi Y. K.
Published: July 2024

This research paper is made to investigate the vegetation land cover and no vegetation land cover that changes in Iraq during the period 2000-2023 Utilizing the 1-month/1000 m composites of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS; product code MOD13Q1). The period was divided into five years (2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023) and compared with the start year 2000; to calculate changes (increase and decrease) in vegetation cover. The results of the spatial analysis using the ArcGIS program showed that by comparing April (the growing month in Iraq) during 2000 as the start year with each selected year through the interval, the highest value of lands covered by vegetation observed in 2019, where vegetation land reached 223,780.17 km2 (51.2%) of the total area, while the start year 2000 was 63,462.53 km2 (14.5%) of the total area. In contrast, the lowest value of vegetation was in 2009, during this year vegetation land cover value was approximately 61,696.33 km2 (14%) of the total area. Maps also demonstrated that the highest increase in vegetation cover was concentrated in the northern part, moderate in the eastern part of the alluvial plain, and sparse in the southern regions. Overall, the research provides valuable insights into long-term vegetation trends in Iraq, crucial for understanding ecosystem dynamics and informing environmental management strategies.
Molecular Identification of Rhizoctonia solani Isolated from Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and Its Biological Control
Authors: Abd Al-Qader Zainab Adel , Thanoon Ali Hamood
Published: July 2024

At this study, the causative root rot agent was isolate and molecularly identified in cucumber which were grown in Nineveh province, northern of Iraq, in autumn season of 2022. A pathogenic fungus thought to be responsible for Cucumis sativus seedling damping-off disease and root rot. The symptoms of disease are the manifestation from partially yellowing on the leaves of cucumber, seedling damping-off to wilting of plant. Species of fungi isolated of infected plants were further grown on agar in form of potato dextrose which formed aerial mycelia as white to brown. The fungus was identified from the Morphological diagnosis as Rhizoctonia solani, and the pathogen was confirmed by Koch’s hypotheses as well as the results of amplification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nucleotide sequence analysis using BLAST showed that the R. solani isolate was genetically distinct from the R. solani isolates in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Moreover, the complete verified ITS sequences are homologous to the isolates of R. solani in GenBank database having 99% similarity. Therefore, it was recorded in Gen Bank under the accession number OQ231503.1. and the results of the plastic tunnel showed that the Trichoderma harizanum T22 led to a significant reduction in the incidence and severity rate of infection recorded 64.17% and 23.500% respectively
Response of Maize to Bio and Organic Fertilization and the Stages of Spraying Nano-Fertilizer
Authors: Abu Hamad Ammar Hadi Abbas , Hamza Mahdi Abdel , Hussain Abdul Karim
Published: July 2024

A field experiment was conducted in Babylon province / Al-Mussaib project during the 2023 agricultural season to study the effect of bio and organic fertilization and nano-fertilizer spraying stages on Maize. It was applied as a split-split plot experiment according to the R.C.B.D. complete randomized block design with three factors. The main plots included three different stages of spraying of balanced nano-fertilizer NPK (20:20:20) with a concentration of (2) g.L-1, sprayed on the vegetative parts of the plants after one month of planting the seeds. The sub-plots included four levels of organic matter (control treatment, cow waste 8 tons. ha-1, palm frond waste 8 tons. ha-1, cow waste mixture 4 tons. ha-1 + Palm frond waste 4 tons ha-1, the sub-sub-plots included four levels of biofertilizer with the control treatment, without biofertilization (control), fungal biofertilization (Mycorrhizae: Glomus mosseae), and bacterial biofertilization: which are A mixture of three types of bacteria: (Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus mucilaginosus, Pseudomonas fluorescens), a mixture of (fungal biofertilization + bacterial biofertilization). The results showed the excelled of the triple(A3B1C3) interaction of the combination consisting of (spraying stage (S8+S10) with the addition of 8 tons of cow waste ha-1 with the addition of the treatment (bacteria + fungus from the biofertilizer) significantly in yield components traits outperformed and gave the highest average in the Number of rows per cob (19.33 rows. cob-1), Number of grains per row (39.25 grains/row-1), Number of grains per cob (750.6 grains cob-1) and Weight of 500 grains (167.81 g). The study concluded that bio and organic fertilization, either alone or in combination, can stimulate microbial activity and increase the availability of nutrients in the soil, and that the use of bio and organic fertilizers + nano-fertilizers can be used as an alternative fertilizer to reduce the consumption of chemical fertilizers.
Evaluation of the Efficiency of Ordinary and Nano-Chitosan in Stimulating Acquired Systemic Resistance of Cucumber Plants Against the Fungus Fusarium solani Which Causes Root Rot Disease
Authors: Al-Khafaji Hamed Abdzaid , Shamran Zaid Taleb , Mohan Hadeer Amer
Published: July 2024

Under laboratory and greenhouse conditions, the study aimed to use ordinary and nano-chitosan at doses of (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0)% to stimulate acquired systemic resistance and defensive responses in Cucumis sativus L. against the fungus Fusarium solani that causes cucumber root rot. In contrast to the control treatment, where the percentage of seed germination reached 100%, the findings of the pathogenicity assessment of the fungus F. solani revealed a considerable decrease in the percentage of germination of cabbage seeds, with the average percentage of germination reaching 0.00%. In order to evaluate the efficacy of ordinary and nano-chitosan against the fungus F. solani, which causes cucumber root rot, the results also revealed that these additions were made to the culture medium. Results indicated a direct correlation between the concentrations of chitosan addition and the percentage of fungal growth inhibition (F. solani). Fungal growth inhibition percentages reached 88.8% and 72.2%, respectively, when using 2% concentrations of nano- and ordinary chitosan, compared to 0.0% in the control treatment (fungus F. solani). The application of both ordinary and nano-chitosan, along with their combination, to plants infected with the pathogenic fungus under greenhouse conditions resulted in a noteworthy decrease in both the rate and severity of infection when compared to the control treatment. The infection rate was observed to be (48.00, 24.00, and 18.00)%, and the severity was (37.00, 12.66, and 10.00)% for both types of chitosan. Additionally, their interaction was evaluated in relation to the infection rate (100.00) and severity (90.00%), respectively. Additionally, spraying regular and nano chitosan, as well as their combination, increased the cucumber plant’s growth parameters. The intervention treatment outperformed the control treatment (mushrooms) in terms of plant height, fresh and dry weight of the shoot and root system, and plant height, achieving growth rates of 22.52 cm, 15.55, 3.00, 1.75, and 0.63 g, respectively. Results from lab and greenhouse experiments show that nano-chitosan performs noticeably better than regular chitosan. This suggests that nano-chitosan could be used first, and then ordinary chitosan, as an alternative to chemical pesticides in controlling the causes of cucumber root rot disease.
The Bioactivity of Beauveria bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea against the larval Stages of the Cowpea Beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.)
Authors: Akmoosh Noor , Al-Shareefi Ekhlas , Ali Kawther Mohammed
Published: July 2024

Entomopathogenic fungi, with their cosmopolitan existence and rich diversity, present a sustainable solution towards integrated pest management programs. Due to their eco-friendliness and bio-persistence, these entomopathogens are preferred to kill insects at various stages of their life cycle. The Cowpea seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), is an important bruchid pest in cowpea seed storages. The used pesticides against this pest have caused the occurrence of resistant populations and direct toxicity to the users. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mortality effects of two entomopathogenic fungi isolates obtained from fungi isolated from adults of C. maculatus collection, Beauveria bassiana and Isaria fumosorosea, against the larval stages of C. maculatus under laboratory conditions. The mortality percentage of 2nd instar larval mortality peaked at 100% when the B. bassiana spores’ concentration was 4*105. On the other hand, the effect of I. fumosorosea spores’ concentration on 2nd instar larvae peaked at 76.67% when the spores’ concentration was 4*105, while it peaked at 73.33% when the I. fumosorosea extract concentration was 100%. For 4th instar larvae, the results had shown the same pattern of effects by B. bassiana and I. fumosorosea spores and extract, with mortality percentage peaked at 96.67% when the B. bassiana spores’ concentration was 4*105, while it peaked at 83.33% when the B. bassiana extract concentration was 100%. In contrast, the effect of I. fumosorosea extract concentration on 4th instar larval mortality peaked at 70% when the extract concentration was 4*105, while it peaked at 73.33% when the I. fumosorosea extract concentration was 100%. For larvae, the relationship between the mortality percentage and (spores or extract) concentration, with increasing duration of exposure to the fungus spores, was positive, whereas the larval mortality increased when the fungus, spores or extract, concentration was raised.
Soil Sustainability and Its Effect on Free-Living Nematodes and Okra Plant Health
Authors: Shedhan Mohammed A. , Alfadal Fadal A. , Kandouh Basil H.
Published: July 2024

The study aimed to demonstrate the importance of soil tillage practices on soil structure and the density and distribution of free-living nematodes and their impact on the health and quality of soil planted with okra plants. This in order to develop a possible success of a sustainable agricultural system to prevent plant diseases and support plant health. The experiment was conducted in the field for the 2021 growing season after plowing and leveling the soil and divided into furrows, irrigated, and left for 6 months to stabilize and sustain the soil. Then the furrows for the treatments (organic fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, and combination of both) were plowed to a depth of 30 cm while the control furrows were left unplowed. Okra seeds were planted at 30 cm spacing, three furrows (replicates) for each treatment. During and at the end of the season, growth, yield, and plant health indicators based on nematodes diversity and population were measured. It was found that no-tillage led to significantly higher values of plant height, total fruit weight, leaf content of chlorophyll and nitrogen, and exhibiting higher numbers of free living nematodes, which showed significant differences in their populations over time period between the two seasons. A significant increase in all indicators under study were recorded in organic fertilizer treatments compared to the control treatment. Most plant growth indicators showed strong correlation with the number of free-living nematodes, especially at the end of the season.
Effect of Growth Regulators and Explants on Somatic Embryos Production of Crassula in Vitro
Authors: Muhsen Almasoody Mohammed Mehdi , Obaid Omar H. , Ali Jarmat Naba Hassan
Published: July 2024

Crassula plant, includes a large group of beautiful succulent plants which multiply in the same method (leaves and vegetative branches), in this research, was studied effect of growth regulators BA, NAA (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5) (0.0, 0.5, 1.0) mg.L-1 respectively and TDZ, NAA (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5) (0.0, 0.5, 1.0) mg.L-1 respectively in MS media and explants were used in this experiment leaf top and leaf base to embryo production. The results showed that the best explant was the upper part of the leaf and that the highest rate of embryo production was 4.6 embryos at concentration (0.5, 1.0) mg.L-1 NAA, BA, respectively, but it did not differ significantly from all concentrations. No result was seen in the absence of BA, while without adding NAA to The medium affected on number of embryos but did not prevent their formation, the addition of TDZ with NAA clearly affected the number of embryos resulting from cutting the upper leaves, where the highest rate of embryo production reached 8.5 at concentration (0.5, 1.0) mg.L-1 of TDZ and NAA respectively, which differed clearly for remaining concentrations.
Effect of Nutrition Dietary and Protein Supplements in Liquid form During the Summer and Autumn Seasons in the Biological Activity and some Physiological Traits of Honey Bee Colonies Apis mellifera L.
Authors: Nafi Homam S. , Sayed Ghani Mohammed Y.
Published: July 2024

The laboratory study was conducted in the Insect Laboratory, Plant Protection Department, and the Central Laboratory of the College of Agriculture and Forestry - University of Mosul. The field study was conducted in one of the private apiaries in Nineveh Governorate. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of nutrition honey bee colonies with liquid dietary and protein supplements during the summer and autumn seasons on their biological activity and some physiological traits. The results of the study showed that all treatments of nutrition with liquid protein materials and their supplements helped in improving the activity of bees and their physiological traits, especially the treatment of nutrition with super protein, which was distinguished by recording the highest values in (open brood area, closed brood area, bee density, and honey area) with an average of (338.67, 440, 180.67, and 780.3) cm2/colony, respectively. The nutrition treatment with the mixture also recorded good rates in the aforementioned traits with an average of (291.67, 233, 758.7, and 640.3) cm2/colony, respectively. The nutrition treatments varied in the rates of the bee’s biological activity traits, while the whey cheese treatment recorded an average for the above traits of (232.67, 143.3, 663, and 440) cm2/colony, respectively. As a result of the continuous supplementary nutrition process during the summer and autumn seasons, the super protein treatment also excelled in recording the highest rate of physiological traits (wet weight, dry weight, carbohydrates, fats, and protein) at rates of (74.98, 31.02, 15.85, 10.957, and 14.83), respectively. The nutrition treatment with the mixture recorded (73.16, 30.51, 13.17, 9.45, and 14), respectively, while the comparison treatment recorded the lowest rates in the biological and physiological traits of bees of (39.33, 34.7, 137, and 34.7) cm2/colony, respectively. The results of the study confirmed the importance of nutrition bee colonies with the mentioned nutrients during the period of scarcity of nectar and pollen to maintain their activity and prevent their death and deterioration.
The Effect of Using Hydrogel and Some Biological and Chemical Treatments on Controlling Charcoal Rot Disease in Soybeans Under Field Experiment Conditions
Authors: Mahdi Mostafa Mohammad , Ahmed Al-Jbory Awf Abdal-Rahman , Asmaeel Salih Mohammed
Published: July 2024

The study was conducted in the laboratories and fields of the Plant Protection Department / Ministry of Agriculture, Baghdad/Abu Ghraib. The results showed a significant superiority in the use of hydrogel in all the studied characteristics, the organic copper treatment, along with Trichoderma harzianum and fungicide Baltanole, exhibited remarkable superiority in mitigating pathogen-induced damage. These treatments not only reduced infection incidence and severity but also enhanced yield weight per individual plant and the rate of dry root weight. This efficacy was observed whether the treatments were applied individually or in combination. It became evident that the lowest percentage and severity of infection were 10% and 11.10% respectively when using the triple treatment C + T.h + Baltanole with hydrogel under disease conditions, compared to 76.60% and 72.50% when treating the pathogenic fungus alone without using hydrogel. It also appeared that there was an increase in the rate of dry total root weight and plant yield weight with the same triple treatment under infection conditions and hydrogel, reaching 6.50 and 250.18 grams/plant respectively, compared to 4.10 and 337.6 grams/plant respectively in the treatment of the pathogenic fungus alone under hydrogel conditions. Whereas under non-hydrogel use conditions, the rate of dry total root weight and plant yield weight with the same triple treatment under infection conditions was 5.83 and 224.48 grams/plant respectively, compared to 3.90 and 112 grams/plant in the treatment of the pathogenic fungus alone under non-hydrogel conditions.
Evaluation of Chemical Stimulators for Enhancing Pepper (Capsicum annum) Root Defense Against Rhizoctonia solani
Authors: Abed Mohammed M. , Zaki Noor A. , Ibade Khalid W. , Kaya Yılmaz
Published: July 2024

The field experiment conducted in 2023 within the greenhouse of the College of Agriculture, University of Anbar aimed to investigate the impact of various chemical root stimulants against Rhizoctonia solani on hot pepper Capsicum annum L. and their influence on selected vegetative and chemical traits. Results revealed that all treatments contributed to a distinguished reduction in infection severity compared to the pathogenic, with reductions to 0.0% observed in Inicium + Copper, Cinnamomum verum powder and T.harzianum treatments, followed by an 11% reduction in the Disper Root GS + Copper treatment. Conversely, the Control Phyte Si treatment exhibited a 19.4% reduction compared to the pathogenic 91.6%. This phenomenon manifested in vegetative characteristics as plant height, and wet and dry weight of foliage and root. Analogous impacts were noted in biochemical metrics such as chlorophyll content (SPAD), peroxidase enzyme activity, and phenol concentration in pepper foliage. This experiment can be used as an alternative method for managing the disease in place of chemicals.
Detoxification of Aflatoxin Using Ultraviolet, Ozone Gas and microwave in Chickpeas and Lentils
Authors: Abdullah Zainab Yahya , Al-Dulaimi Fahad K. Y.
Published: July 2024

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by a different of fungi. Among these toxins, the most common in animal feed and human food is aflatoxin, which poses a threat to human health, causing cancer. Our study aims to find a way to reduce mycotoxin in some crop using ozone (O3), ultraviolet (U.V.) radiation, and microwave radiation. The results showed that when exposing chickpeas (Iraqi, Mexican, Russian) to ozone gas 10 minutes, there were reductions in aflatoxin concentrations 25.11, 26.72, 33.87 %, respectively, and using U.V. for 60 minutes shown results 15.63, 10.07, 9.67 %, respectively, and microwave showed the highest reduction percentage were 65.87, 65.02, 67.74 % for a period of 20 seconds. While in lentils (black and red), we obtained a reduction percentage of the mycotoxin by using ozone gas for 10 minutes with a reduction percentage of 20.48, 7.69% respectively, and using ultraviolet radiation for 60 minutes with a reduction percentage of 12.04, 5.88% respectively. The highest percentage of reduction was using microwave radiation for 20 seconds 77.10, 74.66%, respectively.
Phenylalanine Controls Blackberry Growth in Sustainable Soilless Culture and Enhances the Content of Phenolic Compounds
Authors: Al-Tameemi Alaa J. A. , Khalil Nazik H.
Published: July 2024

The study was conducted at Research Station A in the Coll. of Agri.Engi. Sci., U. of Baghdad during the 2022-2023, aiming to improve the vegetative growth and phenolic concentration in blackberry leaves by growing the plants in organic substrate soilless culture systems including licorice root residues (C3) and cocopeat (C2) compared to field soil (C1), as well as spraying the plants with phenylalanine (A) at three concentrations (0, 100, 200 mg.L-1). The results showed the superiority of the plants growen in cocopeat sprayed with 200 mg.L-1 of phenylalanine (C2A2) exhibiting the highest N%, P%, plant height, leaves number, total leaf area, increase in protein%, chlorophyll, and total flavonoids in the leaves, while(C3A2) was superior, in leaves beta-carotene and total phenols.
Heritability and Expected Genetic Advance of Three Broad Bean Under Effect of Some Agricultural Treatments
Authors: Al-Hameed Ahmad Mohanad Abd , Hassan Al-Hamadany Shamil Younis , Rasheed Al-Shakarchy Wiam Yahya
Published: July 2024

The study included evaluating the performance of three different source cultivars of broad beans (Histal, Fava da orto, and Luz de otono) and estimating genetic and phenotypic variations, heritability, and expected genetic improvement of the yield and its components in one of the fields of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering - College of Agriculture and Forestry - University of Mosul during autumn season 2019. - 2020, under the influence of some cultivation treatments, which are two treatments, the first is bacillus biofertilizer at two concentrations (no spraying and 1 ml L1) and the second is spraying with boron at three concentrations (no boron and 30 and 60 mg L-1) within a completely randomized block design with three replicates. The analysis of variance revealed that the cultivars had statistically significant mean squares at the 1% probability level for various traits including plant height, biological yield, number of days for 50% of the plants to flower, average pod weight, pod length, weight of green seeds, average weight of 100 seeds, yield of green pods, and total yield of green pods. The cultivars exhibited statistical significance at the 5% probability level for both the number of branches and the percentage of pods set. Significant genetic variance values were observed for all traits, except for the number of green seeds. Similarly, significant environmental and phenotypic variance values were observed for all traits being investigated. The heritability of most traits was high, with values ranging from 0.124 for the number of green seeds to 0.992 for plant height. The anticipated genetic enhancement values, expressed as a percentage of the mean trait, were notably high for the following traits: plant height, biological yield, number of days to 50% flowering, number of flowers, average pod weight, average weight of 100 seeds, green pod yield, and overall yield. Complete set of green pods.