To mitigate the high stubble rates (root residue rates) and plant damage associated with the current mechanized harvesting of Shanghai Green (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis), this study developed and optimized a novel soil loosening and root lifting device. A theoretical dynamic model was first established to analyze the device’s operational principles. Subsequently, a coupled multi-body dynamics and discrete element method (RecurDyn-EDEM) model was established to simulate the complex interactions between the device, soil, and plant roots. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize key operational parameters: walking speed, loosening depth, and vibration frequency. The simulation-based optimization was validated by field tests. The optimal parameters were identified as a walking speed of 0.137 m/s, a loosening depth of 34.5 mm, and a vibration frequency of 1.34 Hz, under which the Shanghai Green pulling force was 35.41 N, yielding optimal extraction performance. Field tests conducted under these optimal conditions demonstrated excellent performance, achieving a qualified plant posture rate of 87.5% and a low damage rate of 7.5%. This research provides a robust design and validated operational parameters, offering significant technical support for the development of low-loss harvesting equipment for leafy vegetables.
The need for efficient approaches to track and assess fish behavior in rivers impacted by hydropeaking is increasing. Nonetheless, employing an automated camera system for underwater monitoring requires that the algorithms function under highly variable environmental conditions, which affect the ability to detect and assess fish size. Additionally, there is a lack of openly accessible freshwater fish classification and size estimation datasets. To address these limitations, we propose a binocular underwater fish monitoring system capable of real-time fish detection and size estimation. The system was deployed and tested over one week in two Portuguese rivers affected by hydropeaking. The week-long analysis also provided new insights regarding wild fish behavior in rivers affected by hydropeaking. Results indicate that hydropeaking strongly influences how fish may use instream flow refuges during hydropeaking. Fish were less frequently detected in the flow refuge during peak flow events, suggesting that the flow conditions created habitat instability and difficulty accessing the flow refuge. In contrast, fish in the non-hydropeaking river consistently used refuge areas, reinforcing their importance as shelter during natural flow variations. This study demonstrates the potential of a computer vision-based pipeline for real-time, fully automated fish monitoring of hydropeaking’s impacts on riverine fish. Additionally, we provide PTFish, an open dataset with 18,523 manually annotated frames featuring infrared and color video frames. These findings emphasize that automated, camera-based solutions for hydropeaking monitoring can be used to develop evidence-based mitigation strategies to sustain fish populations in rivers impacted by hydropeaking.
In agriculture, the application of plant protection products to cropland is important to prevent quality and yield reduction. The use of plant protection products implies negative effects on human health and the environment. Thus, a legal measure towards reducing the use of plant protection products is its restriction or ban especially in sensitive areas.
This is the first national study to use publicly and freely available geodata to access the area of agricultural land located in different types of sensitive areas according to the proposal for a new EU Regulation on the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products (SUR). We assess the impact of different scenarios for a German implementation. In this study we analyse publicly available geodata of CORINE land cover 5 ha of 2018 with geographic information systems (GIS) for different scenarios.
The results show that the impact of a pesticide ban or restriction for sensitive areas differs between regions and the type or combination of sensitive area. Using the CLC5-2018 data we estimate 19.6 million hectares of national agricultural area. Landscape Protection Area, Nature Parks and Water Protection Areas contain the largest proportion of agricultural land. A scenario which considers National Parks, Nature Reserves, Biosphere Reserves, Nature Parks, Natural Monuments, Landscape Protection Areas and Natura 2000 sites with Fauna-Flora-Habitat areas and Special Protected Areas for bird sanctuaries and Ramsar sites would affect 46.6% of the agricultural land use in Germany, ranging from 33.4% to 77.9% across different states.
Comparing our CLC5-2018 results to a similar study from 2023, which used LBM-DE as land use data, we find that there is little difference between the results of identical scenario definitions when expressed as proportions. Whereas different SUR scenario definitions can lead to significantly different outcomes.
Riham A. El-Shiekh, Rana Elshimy, Asmaa A. Mandour
et al.
Abstract Acinetobacter baumannii is without a doubt one of the most problematic bacteria causing hospital-acquired nosocomial infections in today's healthcare system. To solve the high prevalence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) in A. baumannii, we investigated one of the medicinal plants traditionally used as antibacterial agent; namely Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel. The total methanolic extracts of seeds and pericarps were prepared and their anti-bacterial activity was assessed using the agar diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was then calculated as compared to tigecycline. Then, an in-vivo murine model was established which confirmed the promising activity of M. koenigii seeds in demonstrating anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory actions. The histopathological study of lungs, scoring of pulmonary lesions, counting of bacterial loads after infection by multi-drug resistant A. baumannii all provided evidence to support these findings. LC–MS/MS profiling coupled to molecular networking and chemometrics detected the presence of carbazole alkaloids, and coumarins as dominate metabolites of the active seed extracts. Positively correlated metabolites to antibacterial potential were 6-(2ʹ,3ʹ-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-8-prenylumbelliferone, scopoline, and 5-methoxymurrayatin. An in-silico study was also performed on the crystal structure of MurF from A. baumannii (PDB ID: 4QF5), the studied structures of the mentioned extracts revealed good docking interaction at the active site suggestive of competition with the ATP ligand. These collective findings suggest that extracts of Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel seed is a novel prospective for the discovery of drug candidates against infections caused by MDR A. baumannii.
To solve the problem of credit rationing for farmers that shackles the transformation and upgrading of the agricultural industry and to improve the effect of agricultural industry chains in helping farmers, this paper empirically examines the effect of joining agricultural industry chains on supply-based and demand-based credit rationing for farmers, using the probit and tobit models based on the microscopic research data of 991 farmers in Shaanxi Province, China, and explores its specific effect mechanism. The study finds that agricultural industry chains can increase farmers’ credit by reducing the information asymmetry between farmers and banks, reducing agricultural business risks, and forming effective collateral and guarantee mechanisms, and that they have significant mitigating effects on farmers’ supply-based quantity rationing and demand-based price rationing, risk rationing and transaction cost rationing. Credit enhancement mechanisms such as information systems, commercial credit, orders, guarantees, production services and government support in agricultural industry chains have significant effects on alleviating farmers’ credit rationing, while insurance has limited effects on alleviating farmers’ credit rationing. There are differences in the effects of agricultural industry chains on alleviating various types of credit rationing of heterogeneous farmers in terms of scale, and the effects of joining agricultural industry chains on alleviating supply-based and demand-based credit rationing of large-scale farmers are more obvious than those of small farmers. Compared with the existing studies, this paper incorporates the credit rationing produced from farmers’ own reasons into the analysis framework, and introduces credit-enhancing variables of agricultural industry chains to test their specific mechanisms on farmers’ credit rationing. The findings of this study can provide a theoretical basis for promoting the innovation of financial models of agricultural industry chains, which is of great practical significance for improving the system of agricultural industry chains in developing countries, strengthening the role of industrial chains in absorbing small farmers, and promoting the modernization of agricultural industries with financial assistance.
The rapid and nondestructive detection of tea leaf moisture content (MC) is of great significance to processing tea with an automatic assembly line. This study proposes an MC detection method based on microwave scattering parameters (SPs). Through the established free-space electromagnetic measurement device, 901 different frequency points are taken between 2.45 and 6 GHz using a vector network analyzer (VNA). The SPs of tea leaves with different moisture contents (5.72–55.26%) at different bulk density and different sample thicknesses were measured. The relationship between frequency, S<sub>21</sub> amplitude and moisture content, thickness, and bulk density of tea was analyzed using correlation coefficients, significance analysis, and model construction. Back propagation (BP) neural network, decision tree (DT), and random forest (RF) MC prediction models were established with the frequency, amplitude, and phase of the SPs, thickness, and bulk density of the samples as inputs. The results showed that the RF-based model had the best performance, with determination coefficient (R<sup>2</sup>) = 0.998, mean absolute error (MAE) = 0.242, and root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.614. Compared to other nondestructive testing processes for tea, this method is simpler and more accurate. This study provides a new method for the detection of tea MC, which may have potential applications in tea processing.
Toan Nguyen-Sy, Hanh Hong Do, Yen Anh Thi Tran
et al.
The objective of the current study was to examine the impacts of rice straw and garbage enzyme generated from local vegetable and fruit waste on plant growth and carbohydrate or ammonium extraction from paddy soil after one month of growth in a pot experiment. Samples of topsoil were obtained from a depth of 0-15 cm, and the following treatments were applied: control (10 g soil), RS (adding 30 g soil + 0.6 g rice straw), GE (30 g soil + garbage enzyme), and combination (adding 30 g soil+ rice straw and garbage enzyme) maintained at room temperature. The study findings indicated that there were no observable impacts of rice straw and garbage enzyme application on biomass. However, RS addition seems to reduce root length but enhance shoot length. Soil carbohydrates that were extracted ranged from 61 to 207 mg kg−1 soil, and treatments with rice straw addition exhibited significantly higher levels compared to those without it (p < 0.05). The ammonium content was low. It could be concluded that at the initial seedling stage, rice straw has more effects on soil properties and plant growth than garbage enzyme. To fully assess the effects of rice straw and garbage enzyme on soil properties and plant growth, it is recommended that further research be conducted over longer periods
Alnakhli Naseer, Salman Mo, Steven C. Olsen
et al.
Background: <i>Brucella melitensis</i> is recognized as one of the predominant zoonotic pathogens globally. Live-attenuated vaccine Rev 1 is currently the most effective vaccine for controlling <i>B. melitensis</i> in small ruminants. While <i>Brucella</i> inactivated, nanoparticle, and subunit vaccines are less effective and require multiple doses, live-attenuated vaccines are less expensive and more efficacious. Several drawbacks are associated with the administration of current attenuated <i>B. melitensis</i> vaccines, including interference with serological diagnostic tests, inducing abortion in pregnant animals, shedding in milk, and zoonotic infections in humans. In this systematic review, we summarize the current literature (1970–2022) on <i>B. melitensis</i> vaccines and review their advantages and disadvantages in order to support the rationale for a need for new or improved small ruminant brucellosis vaccines. Methods: A systematic search was carried out in Web of Science, CAB Abstracts, and PubMed. The original articles describing the <i>B. melitensis</i> vaccines were included. Review articles, articles not published in English, articles that did not offer full text, editorials, correspondences, case reports, case series, diagnostic tests, duplicate publications, and other <i>Brucella</i> vaccines (e.g., <i>B. abortus</i> and <i>B. suis</i>) were excluded. Results: Out of 3700 studies, we identified 18 articles that evaluated <i>B. meltensis</i> vaccines, including recombinant <i>B. melitensis</i> strains (16MΔhfq, 16MΔTcfSR, M5-90ΔmanB, LVM31, M5-90ΔvjbR, 16MΔmucR, ΔznuA, M5-90Δpgm, M5-90ΔwboA), live <i>B. melitensis</i> strain (Rev 1), nanoparticle vaccines (<i>B. melitensis</i> 16M, <i>B. melitensis</i> OMP 31, FliC protein—Mannosylated Chitosan Nanoparticles (FliC and FliC-MCN), <i>B. melitensis</i> and <i>B. abortus</i> combined, and <i>B. melitensis</i> 16M nanoparticles combined with oligopolysaccharide), subunit vaccines (outer membrane vesicles or outer membrane proteins), and a DNA vaccine based on <i>B. melitensis</i> outer membrane proteins (Omp25 and Omp31). The results from these studies revealed that these vaccines can induce humoral and cellular responses and reduce macrophage survival. However, most of these vaccines were evaluated only in murine models, which may not accurately reflect how they work in natural hosts. Conclusions: The high prevalence of <i>B. melitensis</i> in humans and animals remains an issue in many parts of the world. Human brucellosis can be prevented by controlling brucellosis in livestock using vaccination and test-and-removal strategies. Prospective vaccines have limitations, including interference with serodiagnostics after vaccination, virulence in humans and animals, the requirement of booster vaccinations, and insufficient efficacy in preventing infection or abortion. Moreover, most of these vaccines have been assessed in mice models, which have failed to predict immunogenicity or efficacy in natural hosts. Because of these limitations and the re-emergence of <i>B. melitensis</i> worldwide with a high incidence of human infection, our review suggests a need for additional research into the molecular pathology and immunological properties of <i>B. melitensis</i> infection and the identification of protective epitopes or genes that would allow for the development of improved vaccines for small ruminants.
Elizabeth Walsh, Tran Zen B. Torres, Claudia Rückert
Culex spp. mosquitoes transmit several pathogens concerning public health, including West Nile virus and Saint Louis encephalitis virus. Understanding the antiviral immune system of Culex spp. mosquitoes is important for reducing the transmission of these viruses. Mosquitoes rely on RNA interference (RNAi) to control viral replication. While the siRNA pathway in mosquitoes is heavily studied, less is known about the piRNA pathway. The piRNA pathway in mosquitoes has recently been connected to mosquito antiviral immunity. In Aedes aegypti, Piwi4 has been implicated in antiviral responses. The antiviral role of the piRNA pathway in Culex spp. mosquitoes is understudied compared to Ae. aegypti. Here, we aimed to identify the role of PIWI genes and piRNAs in Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex tarsalis cells during virus infection. We examined the effect of PIWI gene silencing on virus replication of two arboviruses and three insect-specific viruses in Cx. quinquefasciatus derived cells (Hsu) and Cx. tarsalis derived (CT) cells. We show that Piwi4 is antiviral against the La Crosse orthobunyavirus (LACV) in Hsu and CT cells, and the insect-specific rhabdovirus Merida virus (MERDV) in Hsu cells. None of the silenced PIWI genes impacted replication of the two flaviviruses Usutu virus (USUV) and Calbertado virus, or the phasivirus Phasi-Charoen-like virus. We further used small RNA sequencing to determine that LACV-derived piRNAs, but not USUV-derived piRNAs were generated in Hsu cells and that PIWI gene silencing resulted in a small reduction in vpiRNAs. Finally, we determined that LACV-derived DNA was produced in Hsu cells during infection, but whether this viral DNA is required for vpiRNA production remains unclear. Overall, we expanded our knowledge on the piRNA pathway and how it relates to the antiviral response in Culex spp mosquitoes.
<strong>Purpose</strong> Vinasse is produced in large quantities as a by-product from bioethanol production. To ensure environmental sustainability, a beneficial use was sought. Previous study showed that short-term crops grown with vinasse-amended soil provided higher yield than crops treated with chemical NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer. To understand this phenomenon, this study sought to establish the nutrient release rates of vinasse in the agricultural soils of Guyana.<br /> <strong>Methods</strong> Soils representative of the three most common and one futuristic agricultural land in Guyana were fertilized with vinasse, then watered as with normal course of plant growth of cash-crops for twelve weeks. The soil was sampled periodically, and the soil nutrients were determined.<br /> <strong>Results</strong> The nutrient availability from the application of vinasse as a soil amendment was greater for the clay soils than the sandy soil. EC was high while there was high availability of N, Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn during the 6-12<sup>th</sup> week. There was no discernable trend for tiwiwid sand.<br /> <strong>Conclusion</strong> In this laboratory study, high nutrient availability was observed in weeks 6-12 for the three clay soils studied. This period is the fruit and foliage growth phase for most short-term crops; hence, this suggests that vinasse is a good soil amendment for short-term crops in these soils. Vinasse did not improve the fertility of sandy soils; hence, it would be unsuitable as a fertilizer source in the Intermediate Savannahs of Guyana. Further studies should be done to fully determine the soil nutrient dynamics and the nutrient uptake.
Cassava value addition efforts suffer a serious setback in Nigeria despite huge production potentials due to a weak linkage between producers and processors. Psaltry cassava outgrower scheme thus emerged as a model to facilitate the needed linkage and boost farmers' productivity. The need to understand how the Psaltry model has encouraged increased cassava productivity informed this study on the effects of Psaltry cassava outgrower scheme in enhancing smallholder productivity in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Pre- and post-intervention combined with treatment and control group designs were used for the study. Data were collected from 232 outgrower and 49 non-outgrower farmers using interview schedules on their socio-economic characteristics, access to agri-support services, change in cassava productivity due to participation in the Psaltry scheme and challenges faced in the scheme. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis at α 0.05. Outgrowers were aged 46.5±17.3 years, had 2.8±1.1 years of experience with Psaltry, mostly male (65.9%), belonged to farmers group (96.1%) and had at least primary school education (60.8%). Non-outgrowers had close socio-economic characteristics with outgrowers. Assured markets (90.5%) and training on post-harvest handling of crops (69.9%) were most common among the supports received from Psaltry. Long bureaucratic process involved in documentation (2.23±0.7) ranked as the most severe constraint faced in the scheme. Total cassava harvested and productivity among outgrowers increased from 30,950.89±31,133.48kg to 106,116.88±96,926.01kg and 5,649.2±3835.3kg/Acre to 9,143.6±8799.1 kg/Acre before and after participating in Psaltry scheme, respectively. Productivity was higher among outgrowers (9,143.6±8799.1 kg/Acre) than non-outgrowers (1,047.24±4,789.34kg/Acre). Membership of group (β=0.319) and length of involvement in Psaltry scheme (β=0.157) positively and significantly influenced out-growers change in cassava productivity. Psaltry outgrower scheme had stimulated beneficiary’s smallholder farmers towards higher productivity through assured markets for their cassava produce. A scale-up of the Psaltry model has prospects for transforming smallholder farmers to commercial producers.
Herberth G. Maldonado Briones, Mario Melgar Toledo, Nancy Sandoval Paiz
et al.
La Enfermedad por Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) supone un reto sin precedentes para la salud pública. Los médicos deben fortalecer sus habilidades clínicas para combatir esta nueva enfermedad. El objetivo de esta revisión fue describir los signos, síntomas y complicaciones de pacientes con COVID-19. Se realizó una búsqueda en la literatura en la base de datos PubMed incluyendo publicaciones entre 1 de diciembre 2019 y 15 de agosto 2020, sin restricciones de lenguaje, utilizando las palabras clave ‘COVID-19’ cruzada con ‘manifestaciones clínicas’, ‘signos y síntomas’ y ‘complicaciones’. Se incluyeron revisiones sistemáticas y meta-análisis, estudios epidemiológicos y series de casos. Se identificaron 1,066 artículos, de los cuales se seleccionaron 71 de acuerdo a los contenidos previamente definidos por los autores. La COVID-19 presenta un curso de leve a moderado y severo-crítico, específicamente en mayores de 65 años con o sin comorbilidades. Los signos y síntomas no son específicos y usualmente se superponen de acuerdo a la edad y a la fase de la enfermedad. Los síntomas más comunes son fiebre, tos y fatiga. Síntomas menos comunes incluyen escalofríos, dolor de garganta, cefalea, mialgias/artralgias, pérdida del gusto y del olfato, diarrea, nausea, vómitos, congestión nasal, palpitaciones, opresión precordial y dolor pleurítico. La sintomatología en niños difiere de la de los adultos y el curso es usualmente benigno y de baja mortalidad. La evaluación clínica de COVID-19 supone un reto hoy en día. Sin embargo, el conocimiento de la historia natural de la enfermedad permite situar los síntomas comunes e inespecíficos en el contexto clínico correcto
Bruno José Venancio, Mikael Neumann, Marlon Richard Hílario da Silva
et al.
Resumo: O objetivo do experimento foi avaliar a produtividade, o valor nutricional e a degradabilidade da forragem e da silagem de trigo (Triticum aestivum cv. BRS Umbu) e de aveia preta (Avena strigosa cv. Embrapa 139) precedidos de cortes sucessivos, colhidas em estádio de grão farináceo, submetidos ou não ao tratamento com fungicida piraclostrobina. A colheita das plantas foi realizada de forma manual com altura de 0,08 m da superfície do solo, em estádio de grão farináceo, após dois cortes em estádio vegetativo, realizou-se duas aplicações de piraclostrobina, 0,6 L ha-1, antes do primeiro e do segundo corte. A piraclostobina diminuiu as perdas de matéria seca de 21,1% do sistema controle, para 7,7% para o sistema com piraclostrobina, diminuiu a fibsra em detergente neutro de 70,05% para 66,73%, diminuiu a fibra em detergente ácido de 43,37% para 39,96%, diminuiu a lignina de 14,37% para 10,13% e aumentou o valor relativo do alimento de 75,27% para 82,72%, todos na forragem, que resultou em alterações na silagem, com a diminuição de fibra em detergente neutro de 64,00% para 58,46%, fibra em detergente ácido de 38,76% para 35,87%, lignina de 10,11% para 6,78% e incremento do valor relativo do alimento de 85,87 para 97,26. Na avaliação das forrageiras o trigo apresentou as melhores produtividades, com 10.068 kg ha-1, contra 8.238 kg ha-1 da aveia preta, menor fibra em detergente neutro (60,32% contra 76,46%), menor fibra em detergente ácido (34,49% contra 48,84%) e maior valor relativo do alimento (96,04 contra 61,95), dados estes da forragem, que foram refletidos na silagem resultante. Recomenda-se a utilização da piraclostrobina, pois a mesma diminui perdas durante a fermentação, altera a composição da fibra e melhora a degradabilidade do alimento. Dentre as forrageiras o trigo foi mais promissor, frente a aveia preta, devido a sua produtividade, aliada a sua melhor bromatologia e degradabilidade.