Peanuts pods grow underground and mature unevenly, resulting that choosing the correct time to harvest is more complicated than other crops. Pod maturity can be determined by blasting with a pressure washer to remove ...Peanuts pods grow underground and mature unevenly, resulting that choosing the correct time to harvest is more complicated than other crops. Pod maturity can be determined by blasting with a pressure washer to remove outer skin of the pod (exocarp) to expose the color of the middle layer (mesocarp). The mesocarp color changes with maturity from white to yellow, orange, brown and finally black. The sum of percentage from orange, brown, and black mesocarp (OBB) color and black color (BL) represents the kernels that are mature enough to harvest. The goal of this research is to identify methodologies to estimate OBB and BL of the pods using RGB images taken in the field and validate the proposed model using other pod images. The Mahalanobis distance classification method was used to process sets of images and calculate pod area (number of pixels) corresponding to two classes (mesocarp and background) with nine different color groups. The results showed a performance of 94% effectiveness for mesocarp using Mahalanobis distance classification. Statistical regression for OBB and BL was developed based on 315 images of peanut pods taken from the field. The R2 and root mean square error of predicted and actual OBB were 0.93 and 4.1%, respectively. The R2 and root mean square error of predicted and actual BL were 0.88 and 1.8%, respectively. The validation of OBB using other images provided reasonable estimation (R2 = 0.98 and RMSE = 2.73%). This study introduces a novel, cost-effective, and non-destructive method for estimating peanut maturity using RGB imagery and Mahalanobis distance classification in the field. This innovative approach addresses the limitations of traditional methods and offers a robust alternative for real-time maturity assessment.展开更多
The increasing use of traditional agricultural plastic mulch films(PMs)has raised significant environ-mental concerns,prompting the search for sustainable alternatives.Soil-biodegradable mulch films(BDMs)are often pro...The increasing use of traditional agricultural plastic mulch films(PMs)has raised significant environ-mental concerns,prompting the search for sustainable alternatives.Soil-biodegradable mulch films(BDMs)are often proposed as eco-friendly replacements;however,their widespread adoption remains contentious.This review employs a comparative life cycle assessment perspective to evaluate the environmental impact of PMs and BDMs across their production,use,and end-of-life stages,providing strategies to mitigate their impact on agroecosystems.BDMs generally exhibit lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions than PMs but contribute to greater land-use demands.Reported eutrophica-tion and acidification potentials are less consistent,varying based on feedstock types and the scope of assessment of BDM,as well as the end-of-life management of PM.The environmental burden of both mulch types is influenced by the life cycle stage,polymer composition,farming practices,additives,film thickness,and local climatic conditions.The manufacturing stage is a major contributor to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for both PMs and BDMs,despite their shared benefits of increasing crop yields.However,post-use impacts are more pronounced for PMs,driven by end-of-life strategy and adsorbed waste content.While starch-based BDMs offer a more sustainable alternative to PMs,un-certainties regarding the residence time of BDM residues in soil(albeit shorter than PM residues)and their effects on soil health,coupled with higher production costs,impede widespread adoption.For BDM end-of-life,soil biodegradation is recommended.Energy and material recovery options are crucial for PM end-of-life,with mechanical recycling preferred,although it requires addressing eutrophication and human toxicity.This review discusses these complexities within specific contexts and provides action-able insights to guide the sustainable integration of mulch films into agricultural practices.展开更多
Humins,as a group of by-products formed through the condensation and coupling of fragment intermediates during lignocellulosic biomass refining,can cause numerous negative effects such as the wastage of carbon resourc...Humins,as a group of by-products formed through the condensation and coupling of fragment intermediates during lignocellulosic biomass refining,can cause numerous negative effects such as the wastage of carbon resources,clogging of reactor piping,deactivation of catalyst,and barriers to product separation.Elucidating the generation mechanism of humins,developing efficient inhibitors,and even utilizing them as a resource,both from the perspective of atom economy and safe production,constitutes a research endeavor replete with challenges and opportunities.Orbiting the critical issue of humins structure and its generation mechanism from cellulose and hemicellulose resources,the random condensation between intermediates such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural,furfural,2,5-dioxo-6-hydroxyhexanal,and 1,2,4-benzenetriol etc.were systematically summarized.Additionally,the presence of lignin in real biorefining processes further promotes the formation of a special type of humins known as"pseudo-lignin".The influences of various factors,including raw materials,reaction temperature and time,acid-base environment,as well as solvent systems and catalysts,on the formation of humins were comprehensively analyzed.To minimize the formation of humins,the design of efficient solvent systems and catalysts is crucial.Furthermore,this review investigates the approaches to value-added applications of humins.The corresponding summary could provide guidance for the development of the humins chemistry.展开更多
AIM： To investigate whether a fuzzy logic model could predict colorectal cancer （CRC） risk engendered by smoking in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer （HNPCC） patients. METHODS： Three hundred and forty H...AIM： To investigate whether a fuzzy logic model could predict colorectal cancer （CRC） risk engendered by smoking in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer （HNPCC） patients. METHODS： Three hundred and forty HNPCC mismatch repair （MMR） mutation carriers from the Creighton University Hereditary Cancer Institute Registry were selected for modeling. Age-dependent curves were generated to elucidate the joint effects between gene mutation （hMLH1 or hMSH2）, gender, and smoking status on the probability of developing CRC. RESULTS： Smoking significantly increased CRC risk in male hMSH2 mutation carriers （P 〈 0.05）. hMLH1 mutations augmented CRC risk relative to hMSH2 mutation carriers for males （P 〈 0.05）. Males had a significantly higher risk of CRC than females for hMLH1 non smokers （P 〈 0.05）, hMLH1 smokers （P 〈 0.1） and hMSH2 smokers （P 〈 0.1）. Smoking promoted CRC in a dose-dependent manner in hMSH2 in males （P 〈 0.05）. Females with hMSH2 mutations and both sexes with the hMLH1 groups only demonstrated a smoking effect after an extensive smoking history （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： CRC promotion by smoking in HNPCC patients is dependent on gene mutation, gender and age. These data demonstrate that fuzzy modeling may enable formulation of clinical risk scores, thereby allowing individualization of CRC prevention strategies.展开更多
In order to enhance the biomethane production from corn stover, choosing effective pretreatment is one of the necessary steps before starting anaerobic digestion(AD).This study was aimed to analyze the effectiveness o...In order to enhance the biomethane production from corn stover, choosing effective pretreatment is one of the necessary steps before starting anaerobic digestion(AD).This study was aimed to analyze the effectiveness of freezing–thawing with ammonia pretreatment on substance degradation and AD performance of corn stover.Three ammonia concentrations(2%, 4%, and 6%) with two different moisture contents(50% and 70%) were used to pretreat the corn stover at two temperatures(-20 ℃ and 20 ℃).The result showed that an optimum pretreatment condition for corn stover was at the temperature of -20 ℃, moisture content of 70% and ammonia concentration of 2%.Under the optimum pretreatment condition, the maximum biomethane yield reached 261 ml·(g VS)^(-1), which was 41.08% higher than that of the untreated.Under different pretreatment conditions,the highest loss of lignin at -20 ℃ with 2% ammonia concentration was 63.36% compared with the untreated.The buffer capacity of AD system was also improved after the freezing–thawing with ammonia pretreatment.Therefore, the freezing–thawing with ammonia pretreatment can be used to improve AD performance for corn stover.This study provides further insight for exploring an efficient freezing–thawing with ammonia pretreatment strategy to enhance AD performance for the practical application.展开更多
The phytohormone auxin plays crucial roles in nearly every aspect of plant growth and development.Auxin signaling is activated through the phytohormone-induced proteasomal degradation of the Auxin/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID...The phytohormone auxin plays crucial roles in nearly every aspect of plant growth and development.Auxin signaling is activated through the phytohormone-induced proteasomal degradation of the Auxin/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID(Aux/IAA)family of transcriptional repressors.Notably,many auxin-modulated physiological processes are also regulated by nitric oxide(NO)that executes its biological effects predominantly through protein S-nitrosylation at specific cysteine residues.However,little is known about the molecular mechanisms in regulating the interactive NO and auxin networks.Here,we show that NO represses auxin signaling by inhibiting IAA17 protein degradation.NO induces the S-nitrosylation of Cys-70 located in the intrinsically disordered region of IAA17,which inhibits the TIR1-IAA17 interaction and consequently the proteasomal degradation of IAA17.The accumulation of a higher level of IAA17 attenuates auxin response.Moreover,an IAA17^(C70W)nitrosomimetic mutation renders the accumulation of a higher level of the mutated protein,thereby causing partial resistance to auxin and defective lateral root development.Taken together,these results suggest that S-nitrosylation of IAA17 at Cys-70 inhibits its interaction with TIR1,thereby negatively regulating auxin signaling.This study provides unique molecular insights into the redox-based auxin signaling in regulating plant growth and development.展开更多
A projection pursuit cluster（PPC） model was used to analyze the regional partitioning of agricultural non-point source pollution in China.The environmental factors impacting the agricultural non-point source polluti...A projection pursuit cluster（PPC） model was used to analyze the regional partitioning of agricultural non-point source pollution in China.The environmental factors impacting the agricultural non-point source pollution were compiled into a projection index to set up the projection index function.A novel optimization algorithm called Free search（FS） was introduced to optimize the projection direction of the PPC model.By making the appropriate improvements as we explored the use of the algorithm,it became simpler,and developed better exploration abilities.Thus,the multi-factor problem was converted into a single-factor cluster,according to the projection,which successfully avoided subjective disturbance and produced objective results.The cluster results of the PPC model mirror the actual regional partitioning of the agricultural non-point source pollution in China,indicating that the PPC model is a powerful tool in multi-factor cluster analysis,and could be a new method for the regional partitioning of agricultural non-point source pollution.展开更多
Acquisition of plant phenotypic information facilitates plant breeding, sheds light on gene action, and can be applied to optimize the quality of agricultural and forestry products. Because leaves often show the faste...Acquisition of plant phenotypic information facilitates plant breeding, sheds light on gene action, and can be applied to optimize the quality of agricultural and forestry products. Because leaves often show the fastest responses to external environmental stimuli, leaf phenotypic traits are indicators of plant growth,health, and stress levels. Combination of new imaging sensors, image processing, and data analytics permits measurement over the full life span of plants at high temporal resolution and at several organizational levels from organs to individual plants to field populations of plants. We review the optical sensors and associated data analytics used for measuring morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits of plant leaves on multiple scales. We summarize the characteristics, advantages and limitations of optical sensing and data-processing methods applied in various plant phenotyping scenarios. Finally, we discuss the future prospects of plant leaf phenotyping research. This review aims to help researchers choose appropriate optical sensors and data processing methods to acquire plant leaf phenotypes rapidly,accurately, and cost-effectively.展开更多
Screening for drought tolerance is critical to ensure high biomass production of bioenergy sorghum in arid or semi-arid environments. The bottleneck in drought tolerance selection is the challenge of accurately predic...Screening for drought tolerance is critical to ensure high biomass production of bioenergy sorghum in arid or semi-arid environments. The bottleneck in drought tolerance selection is the challenge of accurately predicting biomass for a large number of genotypes. Although biomass prediction by lowaltitude remote sensing has been widely investigated on various crops, the performance of the predictions are not consistent, especially when applied in a breeding context with hundreds of genotypes. In some cases, biomass prediction of a large group of genotypes benefited from multimodal remote sensing data;while in other cases, the benefits were not obvious. In this study, we evaluated the performance of single and multimodal data(thermal, RGB, and multispectral) derived from an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) for biomass prediction for drought tolerance assessments within a context of bioenergy sorghum breeding. The biomass of 360 sorghum genotypes grown under well-watered and water-stressed regimes was predicted with a series of UAV-derived canopy features, including canopy structure, spectral reflectance, and thermal radiation features. Biomass predictions using canopy features derived from the multimodal data showed comparable performance with the best results obtained with the single modal data with coefficients of determination(R2) ranging from 0.40 to 0.53 under water-stressed environment and0.11 to 0.35 under well-watered environment. The significance in biomass prediction was highest with multispectral followed by RGB and lowest with the thermal sensor. Finally, two well-recognized yieldbased drought tolerance indices were calculated from ground truth biomass data and UAV predicted biomass, respectively. Results showed that the geometric mean productivity index outperformed the yield stability index in terms of the potential for reliable predictions by the remotely sensed data.Collectively, this study demonstrated a promising strategy for the use of different UAV-based imaging sensors to quantify yield-based drought tolerance.展开更多
Rainfall and evapotranspiration are two vital elements for food production under rainfed agriculture. This study aims at investigating the combined changes in these variables in the form of aridly index in the souther...Rainfall and evapotranspiration are two vital elements for food production under rainfed agriculture. This study aims at investigating the combined changes in these variables in the form of aridly index in the southern Senegal. The temporal trends in annual and monthly (from May to October) aridity index, rainfall and evapotranspiration are examined and adaptation strategies to the vulnerability of rainfed rice cultivation to the changes are developed. The results show a significant decreasing trend in annual rainfall at all study locations for the period 1922-2015. When analyzing the trends in sub-periods, there are two clear patterns in the annual rainfall series: a decreasing trend for the period 1922-1979 and a reversal increasing trend for the period 1980-2015. An increasing trend is also observed in annual reference evapotranspiration. The results reveal that the region will be drier with a significant increase in aridity at the annual and most monthly series. Appropriate adaptation strategies should be implemented to diminish the adverse influence of the increasing aridity on rice productivity for a sustainable agriculture.展开更多
The tools of synthetic biology can be used to engineer living biosensors that report the presence of analytes. Although these engineered cellular biosensors have many potential applications for deployment outside of t...The tools of synthetic biology can be used to engineer living biosensors that report the presence of analytes. Although these engineered cellular biosensors have many potential applications for deployment outside of the lab, they are genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and are often considered dangerous. Mitigating the risk of releasing GMOs into the environment while enabling their use outside a laboratory is critical. Here, we describe the development of a biosensing system consisting of a synthetic biological circuit, which is engineered in Escherichia coli that are contained within a unique 3D-printed device housing. These GMOs detect the chemical quorum signal of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen. Using this device, the living biosensor makes contact with a specimen of interest without ever being exposed to the environment. Cells can be visually analyzed in the field within culture tubes, or returned to the lab for further analysis. Many biosensors lack the versatility required for deployment in the field, where many diseases can go undiagnosed due to a lack of resources and equipment. Our bioassay device utilizes 3D printing to create a portable, modular, and inexpensive device for the field deployment of living biosensors.展开更多
A total biodegradable elastomer,branched multiblock poly( ε-caprolactone)/poly( D-lactide)( BMCD) was prepared using 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane( IPTS) as a coupling agent.To improve the toughness of poly( L-la...A total biodegradable elastomer,branched multiblock poly( ε-caprolactone)/poly( D-lactide)( BMCD) was prepared using 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane( IPTS) as a coupling agent.To improve the toughness of poly( L-lactide)( PLLA),PLLA/BMCD blends were prepared via a simple solvent evaporation method at various BMCD loadings. Tensile test showed that the elongation at break of PLLA blends increased to 50. 97% and104. 55% at the loadings of 5% and 7%( mass fraction) BMCD respectively, with no sacrifice of their biodegradability. This approach allowed for simultaneous control of mechanical and biodegradable properties of PLLA with a few additives in actual production. Furthermore, UV-VIS test showed that the light transmittance of the films at the loadings of 5%( mass fraction)BMCD was almost the same as pure PLLA at 400 nm.展开更多
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of the FAO Penman Monteith reference evapotranspiration model under limited data and some mine temperature methods of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) un...The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of the FAO Penman Monteith reference evapotranspiration model under limited data and some mine temperature methods of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) under the semiarid and arid conditions in Mali. The results showed that under limited data conditions, the FAO-PM equation achieved accurate estimation of daily ETo when solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind speed are lacking individually with root mean squared errors (RMSE) averaging 0.52, 0.56 and 0.62 mm/day, respectively. Much more accurate ETo was estimated under relative humidity and wind speed missing data conditions with RMSE varying from 0.20 to 0.58 mm/day and average RE, MBE and MAE of 6.7%, -0.25 mm/day and 0.30 mm/day. The Jensen-Haise equation systematically overestimated ETo while the Hansen, Christiansen, and Irmak, and the two Tabari’s equations underestimated ETo at all weather stations. The Abtew equation showed the best performance among the selected ETo equations.展开更多
Reference evapotranspiration is very important parameter in the hydrological, agricultural and environmental studies and is accurately estimated by the FAO Penman-Monteith equation (FAO-PM) under different climatic co...Reference evapotranspiration is very important parameter in the hydrological, agricultural and environmental studies and is accurately estimated by the FAO Penman-Monteith equation (FAO-PM) under different climatic conditions. However, due to data requirement of the FAO-PM equation, there is a need to investigate the applicability of alternative ETo equations under limited data. The objectives of this study were to evaluate twelve mass transfer based reference evapotranspiration equations and determine the impact of ETo equation on long term water management sustainability in Tanzania and Kenya. The results showed that the Albrecht, Brockamp-Wenner, Dalto, Meyer, Rohwer and Oudin ETo equations systematically overestimated the daily ETo at all weather stations with relative errors that varied from 34% to 94% relative to the FAO-PM ETo estimates. The Penman, Mahringer, Trabert, and the Romanenko equations performed best across Tanzania and the South Western Kenya with root mean squared errors ranging from 0.98 to 1.48 mm/day, which are relatively high and mean bias error (MBE) varying from -0.33 to 0.02 mm/day and the absolute mean error (AME) from 0.79 to 1.16 mm/day. For sustainable water management, the Trabert equation could be adopted at Songea, the Mahringer equation at Tabora, the Dalton and/or the Rohwer equations at Eldoret, the Romanenko equation at Dodoma, Songea and Eldoret. However, regional calibration of the most performing equation could improve water management at regional level.展开更多
The development of a (layer of) thatch in turfgrass causes important changes to near-surface eco-hydrological processes. In this study, we investigated the effects of turfgrass thatch, specifically Kentucky bluegrass ...The development of a (layer of) thatch in turfgrass causes important changes to near-surface eco-hydrological processes. In this study, we investigated the effects of turfgrass thatch, specifically Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) on water infiltration, surface runoff, and soil moisture evaporation. The thatches were collected from the field for controlled experiments using packed soil columns under various rainfall conditions. Results indicated that the presence of thatch delayed the onset of infiltration compared with situations without a thatch at the soil surface. Infiltration was delayed for a longer period in thicker red fescue thatch than thinner Kentucky bluegrass thatch. The presence of a thatch reduced runoff by holding more water locally during the rainfall period and allowing a longer period of time for infiltration. Additionally, evaporative water loss was reduced with the presence of thatch than that of bare soil. Our results highlight that the presence of thatch changes the near-surface hydrological processes, which may help improve turf management practices in terms of thatch control and irrigation scheduling.展开更多
Soil arthropods play an important role in nutrient cycling and maintenance of soil structure, and their abundance and diversity provide an indication of the biological quality of soil. Land application of livestock ma...Soil arthropods play an important role in nutrient cycling and maintenance of soil structure, and their abundance and diversity provide an indication of the biological quality of soil. Land application of livestock manure provides crop nutrients and may also impact the soil arthropod community. This study was conducted to quantify soil arthropod abundance and diversity for a period of one year following swine manure application via broadcast or injection. Arthropods were extracted from plot soil samples using Berlese funnels, identified and counted, and the QBS index (Qualità Biologica del Suolo) was calculated for each soil sample. Collembola (Hypogastruridae and Isotomidae) populations were greater (p p in the injection treatment compared to the broadcast and control treatments. Acari populations and the QBS index were not significantly impacted by manure application.展开更多
The study focus was an examination of the hydrothermal pretreatment method applied to the lignocellulosic substrate, represented by the prairie cord grass, and comparison between different conditions based on the yiel...The study focus was an examination of the hydrothermal pretreatment method applied to the lignocellulosic substrate, represented by the prairie cord grass, and comparison between different conditions based on the yield of glucose after enzymatic hydrolysis. The treatment did not involve any chemicals usage. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed in order to examine the amount of glucose which was released from pretreated materials. The most efficient pretreatment conditions were at high temperature and relatively short reaction time (210°C and 10 min), after which the lignocellulose structure was the most available for enzymes actions which resulted in a pretreatment conversion rate of 97%. Temperature had a significant influence on glucose release during the hydrolysis, which was confirmed by the Michaelis-Menten and kinetic models. Kinetic models were used to fit the inhibitors and their conversion rates were related to temperature.展开更多
Quality changes in ready-to-eat,shelf-stable foods,during storage can be influenced by many factors,such as processing,storage conditions,and the barrier properties of the packaging.This research investigated retentio...Quality changes in ready-to-eat,shelf-stable foods,during storage can be influenced by many factors,such as processing,storage conditions,and the barrier properties of the packaging.This research investigated retention of vitamin C and anthocyanin in purple mashed potatoes as influenced by packaging barrier properties and encapsulation during storage after microwave assisted thermal sterilization.Purple mashed potatoes fortified with encapsulated(EVC)or non-encapsulated vitamin C(NVC)were packaged in two high-barrier polymer pouches(TLMO and PAA),processed with a pilot-scale microwave assisted thermal sterilization(MATS)system(F0=10.7 min),and stored at 37.8°C for 7 months.MATS processing caused a significant increase(P<0.05)in the oxygen transmission rates(OTRs)of PAA pouches but did not affect the barrier properties of TLMO pouches.PAA film also had a significantly higher(P<0.05)water vapor transmission rate(WVTRs)than TLMO films,which resulted in a significantly higher(P<0.05)weight loss in the samples packaged in PAA pouches than TLMO pouches.Purple mashed potatoes containing encapsulated vitamin C in both TLMO and PAA pouches showed the highest retention over 2 months of storage at 37.8°C than non-encapsulated vitamin C.Additionally,purple mashed potatoes exposed to 700 lumens light showed a significantly higher(P<0.05)deterioration in the anthocyanin,total phenolic content,color,and vitamin C.Overall,MATS processed purple mashed potatoes in high barrier polymeric packaging can minimize the quality changes when stored in dark conditions during storage and have an extended shelf life.展开更多
A comprehensive kinetic model called anaerobic digestion bacteria algae(ADBA)was developed to describe and predict the complex algae-bacterial system in anaerobic digestion(AD)wastew-ater under mixotrophic growth cond...A comprehensive kinetic model called anaerobic digestion bacteria algae(ADBA)was developed to describe and predict the complex algae-bacterial system in anaerobic digestion(AD)wastew-ater under mixotrophic growth conditions.The model was calibrated and validated using the experimental growth data from cultivating the algae(Chlorella vulgaris CA1)with its indigenous bacteria in Blue Green 11(BG-11)media and different combinations of sterilized,diluted,and raw AD effluent.Key parameters were obtained,including the distinct maximum growth rate of algae on CO_(2)(μ_(a,CO_(2)),1.23 per day)and organic carbon(μ_(a,OC),3.30 per day),the maximum growth rate of bacteria(μ_(b),1.20 per day),along with two noble parameters,i.e.,the algae-bacteria in-teraction exponent(n,0.03)and the growth inhibition coefficient(a_(e)=30000 mg/L per AU)due to effluent turbidity.The model showed a good fit with an average R^(2)=0.90 in all cases adjusted with 25 kinetic parameters.This was the first model capable of predicting algal and bac-terial growth in AD effluent with their competitive interactions,assuming shifting growth modes of algae on organic and inorganic carbon under light.It could also predict the removal rate of substrate and nutrients from effluent,light inhibition due to biomass shading and effluent turbid-ity,mass transfer rate of O_(2) and CO_(2)from gas phase to liquid phase,and pH-driven equilibrium between dissolved inorganic carbon components(CO_(2),HCO_(3)^(-),and CO_(3)^(2-)).Algal growth in the strongly buffered AD effluent resulted in odor removal,turbidity reduction,and the removal of∼80%of total ammonium-nitrogen and 90%of organic carbon.In addition to process parame-ter prediction,this study offered a practical solution to wastewater treatment,air pollution,and nutrient recycling,ensuring a holistic and practical approach to ecological balance.展开更多
文摘Peanuts pods grow underground and mature unevenly, resulting that choosing the correct time to harvest is more complicated than other crops. Pod maturity can be determined by blasting with a pressure washer to remove outer skin of the pod (exocarp) to expose the color of the middle layer (mesocarp). The mesocarp color changes with maturity from white to yellow, orange, brown and finally black. The sum of percentage from orange, brown, and black mesocarp (OBB) color and black color (BL) represents the kernels that are mature enough to harvest. The goal of this research is to identify methodologies to estimate OBB and BL of the pods using RGB images taken in the field and validate the proposed model using other pod images. The Mahalanobis distance classification method was used to process sets of images and calculate pod area (number of pixels) corresponding to two classes (mesocarp and background) with nine different color groups. The results showed a performance of 94% effectiveness for mesocarp using Mahalanobis distance classification. Statistical regression for OBB and BL was developed based on 315 images of peanut pods taken from the field. The R2 and root mean square error of predicted and actual OBB were 0.93 and 4.1%, respectively. The R2 and root mean square error of predicted and actual BL were 0.88 and 1.8%, respectively. The validation of OBB using other images provided reasonable estimation (R2 = 0.98 and RMSE = 2.73%). This study introduces a novel, cost-effective, and non-destructive method for estimating peanut maturity using RGB imagery and Mahalanobis distance classification in the field. This innovative approach addresses the limitations of traditional methods and offers a robust alternative for real-time maturity assessment.
基金supported by the Specialty Crops Research Initiative Award 2022-51181-38325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
文摘The increasing use of traditional agricultural plastic mulch films(PMs)has raised significant environ-mental concerns,prompting the search for sustainable alternatives.Soil-biodegradable mulch films(BDMs)are often proposed as eco-friendly replacements;however,their widespread adoption remains contentious.This review employs a comparative life cycle assessment perspective to evaluate the environmental impact of PMs and BDMs across their production,use,and end-of-life stages,providing strategies to mitigate their impact on agroecosystems.BDMs generally exhibit lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions than PMs but contribute to greater land-use demands.Reported eutrophica-tion and acidification potentials are less consistent,varying based on feedstock types and the scope of assessment of BDM,as well as the end-of-life management of PM.The environmental burden of both mulch types is influenced by the life cycle stage,polymer composition,farming practices,additives,film thickness,and local climatic conditions.The manufacturing stage is a major contributor to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for both PMs and BDMs,despite their shared benefits of increasing crop yields.However,post-use impacts are more pronounced for PMs,driven by end-of-life strategy and adsorbed waste content.While starch-based BDMs offer a more sustainable alternative to PMs,un-certainties regarding the residence time of BDM residues in soil(albeit shorter than PM residues)and their effects on soil health,coupled with higher production costs,impede widespread adoption.For BDM end-of-life,soil biodegradation is recommended.Energy and material recovery options are crucial for PM end-of-life,with mechanical recycling preferred,although it requires addressing eutrophication and human toxicity.This review discusses these complexities within specific contexts and provides action-able insights to guide the sustainable integration of mulch films into agricultural practices.
文摘Humins,as a group of by-products formed through the condensation and coupling of fragment intermediates during lignocellulosic biomass refining,can cause numerous negative effects such as the wastage of carbon resources,clogging of reactor piping,deactivation of catalyst,and barriers to product separation.Elucidating the generation mechanism of humins,developing efficient inhibitors,and even utilizing them as a resource,both from the perspective of atom economy and safe production,constitutes a research endeavor replete with challenges and opportunities.Orbiting the critical issue of humins structure and its generation mechanism from cellulose and hemicellulose resources,the random condensation between intermediates such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural,furfural,2,5-dioxo-6-hydroxyhexanal,and 1,2,4-benzenetriol etc.were systematically summarized.Additionally,the presence of lignin in real biorefining processes further promotes the formation of a special type of humins known as"pseudo-lignin".The influences of various factors,including raw materials,reaction temperature and time,acid-base environment,as well as solvent systems and catalysts,on the formation of humins were comprehensively analyzed.To minimize the formation of humins,the design of efficient solvent systems and catalysts is crucial.Furthermore,this review investigates the approaches to value-added applications of humins.The corresponding summary could provide guidance for the development of the humins chemistry.
基金Supported by a grant from the American College of Gastroenterology
文摘AIM： To investigate whether a fuzzy logic model could predict colorectal cancer （CRC） risk engendered by smoking in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer （HNPCC） patients. METHODS： Three hundred and forty HNPCC mismatch repair （MMR） mutation carriers from the Creighton University Hereditary Cancer Institute Registry were selected for modeling. Age-dependent curves were generated to elucidate the joint effects between gene mutation （hMLH1 or hMSH2）, gender, and smoking status on the probability of developing CRC. RESULTS： Smoking significantly increased CRC risk in male hMSH2 mutation carriers （P 〈 0.05）. hMLH1 mutations augmented CRC risk relative to hMSH2 mutation carriers for males （P 〈 0.05）. Males had a significantly higher risk of CRC than females for hMLH1 non smokers （P 〈 0.05）, hMLH1 smokers （P 〈 0.1） and hMSH2 smokers （P 〈 0.1）. Smoking promoted CRC in a dose-dependent manner in hMSH2 in males （P 〈 0.05）. Females with hMSH2 mutations and both sexes with the hMLH1 groups only demonstrated a smoking effect after an extensive smoking history （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： CRC promotion by smoking in HNPCC patients is dependent on gene mutation, gender and age. These data demonstrate that fuzzy modeling may enable formulation of clinical risk scores, thereby allowing individualization of CRC prevention strategies.
基金Supported by the Key Technologies R&D Program of China(2016YFD0501402)
文摘In order to enhance the biomethane production from corn stover, choosing effective pretreatment is one of the necessary steps before starting anaerobic digestion(AD).This study was aimed to analyze the effectiveness of freezing–thawing with ammonia pretreatment on substance degradation and AD performance of corn stover.Three ammonia concentrations(2%, 4%, and 6%) with two different moisture contents(50% and 70%) were used to pretreat the corn stover at two temperatures(-20 ℃ and 20 ℃).The result showed that an optimum pretreatment condition for corn stover was at the temperature of -20 ℃, moisture content of 70% and ammonia concentration of 2%.Under the optimum pretreatment condition, the maximum biomethane yield reached 261 ml·(g VS)^(-1), which was 41.08% higher than that of the untreated.Under different pretreatment conditions,the highest loss of lignin at -20 ℃ with 2% ammonia concentration was 63.36% compared with the untreated.The buffer capacity of AD system was also improved after the freezing–thawing with ammonia pretreatment.Therefore, the freezing–thawing with ammonia pretreatment can be used to improve AD performance for corn stover.This study provides further insight for exploring an efficient freezing–thawing with ammonia pretreatment strategy to enhance AD performance for the practical application.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31830017)Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB27030207)+1 种基金the Hainan Excellent Talent TeamState Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics (SKLPG2023-22)
文摘The phytohormone auxin plays crucial roles in nearly every aspect of plant growth and development.Auxin signaling is activated through the phytohormone-induced proteasomal degradation of the Auxin/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID(Aux/IAA)family of transcriptional repressors.Notably,many auxin-modulated physiological processes are also regulated by nitric oxide(NO)that executes its biological effects predominantly through protein S-nitrosylation at specific cysteine residues.However,little is known about the molecular mechanisms in regulating the interactive NO and auxin networks.Here,we show that NO represses auxin signaling by inhibiting IAA17 protein degradation.NO induces the S-nitrosylation of Cys-70 located in the intrinsically disordered region of IAA17,which inhibits the TIR1-IAA17 interaction and consequently the proteasomal degradation of IAA17.The accumulation of a higher level of IAA17 attenuates auxin response.Moreover,an IAA17^(C70W)nitrosomimetic mutation renders the accumulation of a higher level of the mutated protein,thereby causing partial resistance to auxin and defective lateral root development.Taken together,these results suggest that S-nitrosylation of IAA17 at Cys-70 inhibits its interaction with TIR1,thereby negatively regulating auxin signaling.This study provides unique molecular insights into the redox-based auxin signaling in regulating plant growth and development.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40830640)the Plan for Innovation of Graduate Students of Jiangsu province (CX09B_168Z)
文摘A projection pursuit cluster（PPC） model was used to analyze the regional partitioning of agricultural non-point source pollution in China.The environmental factors impacting the agricultural non-point source pollution were compiled into a projection index to set up the projection index function.A novel optimization algorithm called Free search（FS） was introduced to optimize the projection direction of the PPC model.By making the appropriate improvements as we explored the use of the algorithm,it became simpler,and developed better exploration abilities.Thus,the multi-factor problem was converted into a single-factor cluster,according to the projection,which successfully avoided subjective disturbance and produced objective results.The cluster results of the PPC model mirror the actual regional partitioning of the agricultural non-point source pollution in China,indicating that the PPC model is a powerful tool in multi-factor cluster analysis,and could be a new method for the regional partitioning of agricultural non-point source pollution.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171790 and 32171818)Jiangsu Province Modern Agricultural Machinery Equipment and Technology Demonstration Promotion Project (NJ2020-18)+2 种基金Key Research and Development Program of Jiangsu Province (BE2021307)Qinglan Project Foundation of Jiangsu province333 Project of Jiangsu Province。
文摘Acquisition of plant phenotypic information facilitates plant breeding, sheds light on gene action, and can be applied to optimize the quality of agricultural and forestry products. Because leaves often show the fastest responses to external environmental stimuli, leaf phenotypic traits are indicators of plant growth,health, and stress levels. Combination of new imaging sensors, image processing, and data analytics permits measurement over the full life span of plants at high temporal resolution and at several organizational levels from organs to individual plants to field populations of plants. We review the optical sensors and associated data analytics used for measuring morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits of plant leaves on multiple scales. We summarize the characteristics, advantages and limitations of optical sensing and data-processing methods applied in various plant phenotyping scenarios. Finally, we discuss the future prospects of plant leaf phenotyping research. This review aims to help researchers choose appropriate optical sensors and data processing methods to acquire plant leaf phenotypes rapidly,accurately, and cost-effectively.
基金funded by US Department of Energy,BER(DE-SC0014395 to DPS)a USDA-NIFA Grant (2021-67021-34417)the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station through the Hatch Act Capacity Funding Program (1011130) from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture。
文摘Screening for drought tolerance is critical to ensure high biomass production of bioenergy sorghum in arid or semi-arid environments. The bottleneck in drought tolerance selection is the challenge of accurately predicting biomass for a large number of genotypes. Although biomass prediction by lowaltitude remote sensing has been widely investigated on various crops, the performance of the predictions are not consistent, especially when applied in a breeding context with hundreds of genotypes. In some cases, biomass prediction of a large group of genotypes benefited from multimodal remote sensing data;while in other cases, the benefits were not obvious. In this study, we evaluated the performance of single and multimodal data(thermal, RGB, and multispectral) derived from an unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV) for biomass prediction for drought tolerance assessments within a context of bioenergy sorghum breeding. The biomass of 360 sorghum genotypes grown under well-watered and water-stressed regimes was predicted with a series of UAV-derived canopy features, including canopy structure, spectral reflectance, and thermal radiation features. Biomass predictions using canopy features derived from the multimodal data showed comparable performance with the best results obtained with the single modal data with coefficients of determination(R2) ranging from 0.40 to 0.53 under water-stressed environment and0.11 to 0.35 under well-watered environment. The significance in biomass prediction was highest with multispectral followed by RGB and lowest with the thermal sensor. Finally, two well-recognized yieldbased drought tolerance indices were calculated from ground truth biomass data and UAV predicted biomass, respectively. Results showed that the geometric mean productivity index outperformed the yield stability index in terms of the potential for reliable predictions by the remotely sensed data.Collectively, this study demonstrated a promising strategy for the use of different UAV-based imaging sensors to quantify yield-based drought tolerance.
文摘Rainfall and evapotranspiration are two vital elements for food production under rainfed agriculture. This study aims at investigating the combined changes in these variables in the form of aridly index in the southern Senegal. The temporal trends in annual and monthly (from May to October) aridity index, rainfall and evapotranspiration are examined and adaptation strategies to the vulnerability of rainfed rice cultivation to the changes are developed. The results show a significant decreasing trend in annual rainfall at all study locations for the period 1922-2015. When analyzing the trends in sub-periods, there are two clear patterns in the annual rainfall series: a decreasing trend for the period 1922-1979 and a reversal increasing trend for the period 1980-2015. An increasing trend is also observed in annual reference evapotranspiration. The results reveal that the region will be drier with a significant increase in aridity at the annual and most monthly series. Appropriate adaptation strategies should be implemented to diminish the adverse influence of the increasing aridity on rice productivity for a sustainable agriculture.
基金support from funding from federal agencies of the United States including, the National Science Foundation (1709238)funding from Office of Naval Research (N00014-17-12306 and N00014-15-1-2502)the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-13-1-0108).
文摘The tools of synthetic biology can be used to engineer living biosensors that report the presence of analytes. Although these engineered cellular biosensors have many potential applications for deployment outside of the lab, they are genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and are often considered dangerous. Mitigating the risk of releasing GMOs into the environment while enabling their use outside a laboratory is critical. Here, we describe the development of a biosensing system consisting of a synthetic biological circuit, which is engineered in Escherichia coli that are contained within a unique 3D-printed device housing. These GMOs detect the chemical quorum signal of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen. Using this device, the living biosensor makes contact with a specimen of interest without ever being exposed to the environment. Cells can be visually analyzed in the field within culture tubes, or returned to the lab for further analysis. Many biosensors lack the versatility required for deployment in the field, where many diseases can go undiagnosed due to a lack of resources and equipment. Our bioassay device utilizes 3D printing to create a portable, modular, and inexpensive device for the field deployment of living biosensors.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51503029)National Institute of Food and Agriculture of U.S.Department of Agriculture,U.S.(No.NEB 37-037)Agricultural Research Division at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,U.S
文摘A total biodegradable elastomer,branched multiblock poly( ε-caprolactone)/poly( D-lactide)( BMCD) was prepared using 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane( IPTS) as a coupling agent.To improve the toughness of poly( L-lactide)( PLLA),PLLA/BMCD blends were prepared via a simple solvent evaporation method at various BMCD loadings. Tensile test showed that the elongation at break of PLLA blends increased to 50. 97% and104. 55% at the loadings of 5% and 7%( mass fraction) BMCD respectively, with no sacrifice of their biodegradability. This approach allowed for simultaneous control of mechanical and biodegradable properties of PLLA with a few additives in actual production. Furthermore, UV-VIS test showed that the light transmittance of the films at the loadings of 5%( mass fraction)BMCD was almost the same as pure PLLA at 400 nm.
文摘The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of the FAO Penman Monteith reference evapotranspiration model under limited data and some mine temperature methods of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) under the semiarid and arid conditions in Mali. The results showed that under limited data conditions, the FAO-PM equation achieved accurate estimation of daily ETo when solar radiation, relative humidity, and wind speed are lacking individually with root mean squared errors (RMSE) averaging 0.52, 0.56 and 0.62 mm/day, respectively. Much more accurate ETo was estimated under relative humidity and wind speed missing data conditions with RMSE varying from 0.20 to 0.58 mm/day and average RE, MBE and MAE of 6.7%, -0.25 mm/day and 0.30 mm/day. The Jensen-Haise equation systematically overestimated ETo while the Hansen, Christiansen, and Irmak, and the two Tabari’s equations underestimated ETo at all weather stations. The Abtew equation showed the best performance among the selected ETo equations.
文摘Reference evapotranspiration is very important parameter in the hydrological, agricultural and environmental studies and is accurately estimated by the FAO Penman-Monteith equation (FAO-PM) under different climatic conditions. However, due to data requirement of the FAO-PM equation, there is a need to investigate the applicability of alternative ETo equations under limited data. The objectives of this study were to evaluate twelve mass transfer based reference evapotranspiration equations and determine the impact of ETo equation on long term water management sustainability in Tanzania and Kenya. The results showed that the Albrecht, Brockamp-Wenner, Dalto, Meyer, Rohwer and Oudin ETo equations systematically overestimated the daily ETo at all weather stations with relative errors that varied from 34% to 94% relative to the FAO-PM ETo estimates. The Penman, Mahringer, Trabert, and the Romanenko equations performed best across Tanzania and the South Western Kenya with root mean squared errors ranging from 0.98 to 1.48 mm/day, which are relatively high and mean bias error (MBE) varying from -0.33 to 0.02 mm/day and the absolute mean error (AME) from 0.79 to 1.16 mm/day. For sustainable water management, the Trabert equation could be adopted at Songea, the Mahringer equation at Tabora, the Dalton and/or the Rohwer equations at Eldoret, the Romanenko equation at Dodoma, Songea and Eldoret. However, regional calibration of the most performing equation could improve water management at regional level.
文摘The development of a (layer of) thatch in turfgrass causes important changes to near-surface eco-hydrological processes. In this study, we investigated the effects of turfgrass thatch, specifically Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) on water infiltration, surface runoff, and soil moisture evaporation. The thatches were collected from the field for controlled experiments using packed soil columns under various rainfall conditions. Results indicated that the presence of thatch delayed the onset of infiltration compared with situations without a thatch at the soil surface. Infiltration was delayed for a longer period in thicker red fescue thatch than thinner Kentucky bluegrass thatch. The presence of a thatch reduced runoff by holding more water locally during the rainfall period and allowing a longer period of time for infiltration. Additionally, evaporative water loss was reduced with the presence of thatch than that of bare soil. Our results highlight that the presence of thatch changes the near-surface hydrological processes, which may help improve turf management practices in terms of thatch control and irrigation scheduling.
文摘Soil arthropods play an important role in nutrient cycling and maintenance of soil structure, and their abundance and diversity provide an indication of the biological quality of soil. Land application of livestock manure provides crop nutrients and may also impact the soil arthropod community. This study was conducted to quantify soil arthropod abundance and diversity for a period of one year following swine manure application via broadcast or injection. Arthropods were extracted from plot soil samples using Berlese funnels, identified and counted, and the QBS index (Qualità Biologica del Suolo) was calculated for each soil sample. Collembola (Hypogastruridae and Isotomidae) populations were greater (p p in the injection treatment compared to the broadcast and control treatments. Acari populations and the QBS index were not significantly impacted by manure application.
文摘The study focus was an examination of the hydrothermal pretreatment method applied to the lignocellulosic substrate, represented by the prairie cord grass, and comparison between different conditions based on the yield of glucose after enzymatic hydrolysis. The treatment did not involve any chemicals usage. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed in order to examine the amount of glucose which was released from pretreated materials. The most efficient pretreatment conditions were at high temperature and relatively short reaction time (210°C and 10 min), after which the lignocellulose structure was the most available for enzymes actions which resulted in a pretreatment conversion rate of 97%. Temperature had a significant influence on glucose release during the hydrolysis, which was confirmed by the Michaelis-Menten and kinetic models. Kinetic models were used to fit the inhibitors and their conversion rates were related to temperature.
基金Funding for this study was provided by USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Research grants 2016-67017‐24597,2016-68003-24840Hatch project#1016366.The authors would like to convey their appreciation and gratitude to the polymer companies for supplying the film pouches.
文摘Quality changes in ready-to-eat,shelf-stable foods,during storage can be influenced by many factors,such as processing,storage conditions,and the barrier properties of the packaging.This research investigated retention of vitamin C and anthocyanin in purple mashed potatoes as influenced by packaging barrier properties and encapsulation during storage after microwave assisted thermal sterilization.Purple mashed potatoes fortified with encapsulated(EVC)or non-encapsulated vitamin C(NVC)were packaged in two high-barrier polymer pouches(TLMO and PAA),processed with a pilot-scale microwave assisted thermal sterilization(MATS)system(F0=10.7 min),and stored at 37.8°C for 7 months.MATS processing caused a significant increase(P<0.05)in the oxygen transmission rates(OTRs)of PAA pouches but did not affect the barrier properties of TLMO pouches.PAA film also had a significantly higher(P<0.05)water vapor transmission rate(WVTRs)than TLMO films,which resulted in a significantly higher(P<0.05)weight loss in the samples packaged in PAA pouches than TLMO pouches.Purple mashed potatoes containing encapsulated vitamin C in both TLMO and PAA pouches showed the highest retention over 2 months of storage at 37.8°C than non-encapsulated vitamin C.Additionally,purple mashed potatoes exposed to 700 lumens light showed a significantly higher(P<0.05)deterioration in the anthocyanin,total phenolic content,color,and vitamin C.Overall,MATS processed purple mashed potatoes in high barrier polymeric packaging can minimize the quality changes when stored in dark conditions during storage and have an extended shelf life.
基金supported by the Applied BioEnergy Research Program Internal Competitive Grant from the Agricultural Research Center at Washington State University,College of Agricultural,Human,and Natural Resource Sciences.
文摘A comprehensive kinetic model called anaerobic digestion bacteria algae(ADBA)was developed to describe and predict the complex algae-bacterial system in anaerobic digestion(AD)wastew-ater under mixotrophic growth conditions.The model was calibrated and validated using the experimental growth data from cultivating the algae(Chlorella vulgaris CA1)with its indigenous bacteria in Blue Green 11(BG-11)media and different combinations of sterilized,diluted,and raw AD effluent.Key parameters were obtained,including the distinct maximum growth rate of algae on CO_(2)(μ_(a,CO_(2)),1.23 per day)and organic carbon(μ_(a,OC),3.30 per day),the maximum growth rate of bacteria(μ_(b),1.20 per day),along with two noble parameters,i.e.,the algae-bacteria in-teraction exponent(n,0.03)and the growth inhibition coefficient(a_(e)=30000 mg/L per AU)due to effluent turbidity.The model showed a good fit with an average R^(2)=0.90 in all cases adjusted with 25 kinetic parameters.This was the first model capable of predicting algal and bac-terial growth in AD effluent with their competitive interactions,assuming shifting growth modes of algae on organic and inorganic carbon under light.It could also predict the removal rate of substrate and nutrients from effluent,light inhibition due to biomass shading and effluent turbid-ity,mass transfer rate of O_(2) and CO_(2)from gas phase to liquid phase,and pH-driven equilibrium between dissolved inorganic carbon components(CO_(2),HCO_(3)^(-),and CO_(3)^(2-)).Algal growth in the strongly buffered AD effluent resulted in odor removal,turbidity reduction,and the removal of∼80%of total ammonium-nitrogen and 90%of organic carbon.In addition to process parame-ter prediction,this study offered a practical solution to wastewater treatment,air pollution,and nutrient recycling,ensuring a holistic and practical approach to ecological balance.
