Increased Carbon Dioxide by Occupants Promotes Growth of Leafy Vegetables Grown in Indoor Cultivation System

Background:Poorly ventilated enclosed spaces pose a risk for airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses. Limited information is available on ventilation in motor vehicles under differing driving conditions.Methods:We conducted carbon dioxide measurements to assess ventilation in motor vehicles under varying driving conditions with 2 to 3 vehicle occupants. During routine driving, carbon dioxide produced by the breathing of vehicle occupants was measured inside 5 cars and a van under a variety of driving conditions with or without the ventilation fan on and with windows open or closed. Carbon dioxide readings above 800 parts per million (ppm) were considered an indicator of suboptimal ventilation.Results:Carbon dioxide levels remained below 800 ppm in all vehicles if the ventilation fan was on and/or the windows were open while parked or during city or highway driving. With the ventilation system set on non-recirculation mode, carbon dioxide levels rose above 800 ppm in all vehicles when the fan was off and the windows were closed while parked and during city driving, and in 2 of the 6 vehicles during highway driving. With the ventilation system set on recirculation mode, carbon dioxide rose above 800 ppm within 10 minutes in all vehicles tested.Conclusion:Carbon dioxide measurements could provide a practical and rapid method to assess ventilation in motor vehicles. Simple measures such as opening windows, turning on the fan, and avoiding the recirculation mode greatly improve ventilation.

Evidence-based nursing practice is essential to the delivery of high-quality care that optimizes patients' outcomes. Studies continue to show improved outcomes when best evidence is used in the delivery of patient care. Despite awareness of the importance of practicing by using best evidence, achieving and sustaining evidence-based practice within practice environments can be challenging, and research suggests that integration of evidence-based practice into daily clinical practice remains inconsistent. This article addresses 4 practice issues that, first, are within the realm of nursing and if changed might improve care of patients and, second, are areas in which the tradition and the evidence do not agree and practice continues to follow tradition. The topics addressed are (1) noninvasive measurement of blood pressure in children, (2) oxygen administration for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, (3) intravenous catheter size and blood administration, and (4) infection control practices to prevent infections. The related beliefs, current evidence, and recommendations for practice related to each topic are described.

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine changes in carbon dioxide concentration and noise levels in classrooms, and to analyze the effects of these changes on elementary school students' attention and problem behaviors. Methods First, To measure the change of carbon dioxide and noise levels in classrooms, theses levels were measured in general classroom, specific subject classroom, and specific subject classroom with ventilation system operating. Second, to analyze the effect of carbon dioxide and noise levels on students’ attention and problem behavior, situations where both carbon dioxide and noise levels are low (cLnL), only carbon dioxide levels are high (cHnL), and only noise levels are high (cLnH), and both carbon dioxide and noise levels are high (cHnH). Results The carbon dioxide concentration in each classroom ranged from 400 to 1951.8 ppm, and the noise level ranged from 12.6 to 96.6 db(A). As a result of analyzing the effects of carbon dioxide and noise levels on attention and problem behavior, it was resulted that the higher the noise level, the negatively correlated with Work instruction comprehension, Selective attention, and Sustained attention. In addition, problem behaviors occurred the least (3 times) in the cLnL group and the most (31 times) in the cHnH group. Conclusions Carbon dioxide concentration and noise levels in the school exceeded the standard. The learning environment can affect not only students' attention and problem behavior, but also their health. To improve this, physical environment improvement is required.

Theoretically, aeroponic cultivation is easy to make plant roots in a better growth environment. In order to give better play to the theoretical advantages of aeroponic cultivation, further optimize the structure of the aeroponic cultivation system, and make the aeroponic cultivation system more scientific and reasonable, a barrel-shaped aeroponic cultivation system is designed. The aeroponic cultivation system is composed of a monitoring and control system, power equipment, nutrient solution storage, and treatment facility, nutrient solution supply pipelines, aeroponic cultivation barrels, and nutrient solution return pipelines. The cultivation system working principle and its technical requirements were analyzed, and its structure for meeting the requirements of large-scale production was determined. A performance test of the barrel-shaped aeroponic cultivation system using cultivated narrow leaved Chinese chives was conducted. The Chinese chives were cultivated to 6 beds of the cultivation barrel. The system supplied nutrient solution every 30 min for 2 min each time. After 5 weeks growth, the length, leaf width, and single weight of Chinese chive ranged from 293-362 mm, 4.1-6.7 mm, and 3.48-5.47 g, respectively, the average length, leaf width, and single weight of Chinese chive were 327 mm, 5.1 mm, and 4.24 g, respectively, and there were no significant differences in the length, leaf width, and single weight of Chinese chive on 6 beds by One-way ANOVA. The test results showed that all the Chinese chive in each bed of the cultivation barrel grew well and uniform, which indicated that the circulation process of nutrient solution supply and return in the system was normal, the process of nutrient solution atomization in the system was uniform, and the aeroponic cultivation system operated normally and stable and could be applied in production. Keywords: aeroponic cultivation, soilless cultivation, facility agriculture, Chinese chive DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20221504.7508 Citation: Qi S H, Ma Y F, Zhang M, Yin B Q, Xu Z Y, Liu S G. Design and experiment of a barrel-shaped aeroponic cultivation system. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2022; 15(4): 90–94.

Somaclonal variation of the two Iranian olive cultivars named Dezful Baghmalek (DB) and Dezful Safiabad (DS) during the long-term propagation among 7 subcultures were evaluated. Morphological traits such as leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves on shoot, the length of shoots, internode distance and rooting percentage were measured. The study results showed that DB affected somaclonal variations more than the DS cultivar, especially rooting percentage, but the DS cultivar had a steady behavior, especially rooting percentage, during several subcultures. Although in all the traits that were fluctuating, irregular and unpredictable changes such as the length of shoots were observed, the most significant trait that was studied with almost a similar vibration in the two cultivars were leaf length and width changes measures. Totally, we could not select any specific subculture period for the creation of the maximum satisfied morphological changes, because it was suitable for increasing the internode distance (DB) and leaf length which were in the second and seventh subcultures that were optimized. Consequently, it was suitable for DS in the seventh subculture. For the purpose of accomplishing the proper morphological changes in the length of shoots, number of leaves and enhancement of rooting percentage in DB cultivar and also, internode distance and leaf width increase in DS cultivar, somaclonal variation during several subcultures will be appropriate. Key words: Olea europaea L., somaclonal variation, Dezful cultivars.

This paper aimed to explore the correlation between Morus alba L. leaf node and its size or mass change and provide a theoretical basis for the development of scientific Morus alba L. cultivation technology. During 2016-2017, the correlation between Morus alba L. leaf node and its size or mass change was investigated and researched. Results showed that through the correlation coefficient analysis, there was a weakly positive correlation between the leaf node and some indicators such as leaf length÷leaf width and petiole length, there was a weakly negative correlation between the leaf node and some indicators such as leaf width,( leaf length+ leaf width), ( leaf length×leaf) width and leaf mass, and there was a weakly negative correlation between the leaf node and the other indicators; there was a highly positive correlation between the leaf mass and some indicators such as Morus alba L. leaf length, leaf width, (leaf length+ leaf width) and (leaf length×leaf width), there was a significantly positive correlation between the leaf mass and some indicators such as petiole transverse diameter in width and petiole mass, and there was a weakly positive correlation between the leaf mass and some indicators such as petiole transverse diameter in thickness. In terms of significant level of difference, it was found that there was not significant difference in the correlation coefficients between the leaf nodes on the Morus alba L. shoots and some indicators such as leaf length, leaf width, (leaf length+ leaf width), (leaf length×leaf width) and leaf mass; there was an extremely significant difference in the correlation coefficients between the leaf mass and some indicators such as Morus alba L. leaf length, leaf width,( leaf length+ leaf width),( leaf length×leaf width), petiole transverse diameter in width and petiole mass; there was not significant difference in the correlation coefficients between the leaf mass and the other indicators. The regression analysis was performed on the leaf node and leaf length, leaf width, (leaf length＋leaf width), (leaf length×leaf width),( leaf length÷leaf width), petiole length , petiole diameter in width, petiole diameter in thickness, petiole mass and leaf mass. Significance F values were 0.4864, 0.1995, 0.2888, 0.3004, 0.2350, 0.2407, 0.8925, 0.5227, 0.7022 and 0.2000, respectively, that is, there was an extremely significant difference between Morus alba L. leaf node and petiole diameter in width, there was a significant difference between Morus alba L. leaf node and petiole mass, and there was not significant difference between Morus alba L. leaf node and the other indicators. The comparative analysis of quadratic curve regression equation and linear regression equation was performed on some indicators such as leaf length, and it was found that the R value between the leaf node and petiole diameter in width was in line with the logarithmic curve regression equation, and the other R values of quadratic curve regression equation was larger than the other R values of linear regression equation, indicating that different Morus alba L. leaf nodes, leaf length, leaf mass and other indicators were in line with the quadratic curve regression equation. It was concluded that by investigating the leaf node on the Morus alba L. shoots and regression equation, we could predict the leaf size, leaf mass and other indicators, and we could take the leaf node on the Morus alba L. shoots as one of the main factors affecting the Morus alba L. leaf size and mass.

95/04255 A study of ventilation and carbon dioxide in an office building

Effects of fuel and forest conservation on future levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide

Effects of fuel and forest conservation on future levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide

This paper determines the effect of an optimum point for energy savings between a variable air ventilation fan using variable speed drive (VSD) and a constant air ventilation evaporator fan. Each reduced speed and thus saved energy. A suitable VSD operation optimum point was determined without disturbing cold room indoor performance. The experiments were carried out in a small cold room 2.5 m long by 2.5 m wide and 3 m high, in which the VSD was mounted on a fan. Air velocity, temperature, and humidity sensors were placed in different positions inside the room and humidity, surface and centre temperature tests conducted to an optimum VSD operation point. The power consumed by the cold room under different evaporator fan speeds, was respectively: 1.319 kW at maximum fan speed, 1.296 kW at 90% fan speed, 1.282 kW at 80% fan speed, 1.271 kW at 70% fan speed, 1.264 kW at 60% fan speed, and 1.257 kW at 50% fan speed. Slowing the evaporator fan speed to optimal produced an energy saving of 26.6 kWh or 33.6% over 79 kWh or 100% of energy consumed per month by the evaporator fan supply.

According to Thompson’s principle of similarity, the area of an object should be proportional to its length squared. However, leaf area-length data of some plants have been demonstrated not to follow the principle of similarity. We explore the reasons why the leaf area-length allometry deviates from the principle of similarity and examine whether there is a general model describing the relationship among leaf area, width and length. We sampled more than 11,800 leaves from six classes of woody and herbaceous plants and tested the leaf area-length allometry. We compared six mathematical models based on root-mean-square error as the measure of goodness-of-fit. The best supported model described a proportional relationship between leaf area and the product of leaf width and length (i.e., the Montgomery model). We found that the extent to which the leaf area-length allometry deviates from the principle of similarity depends upon the extent of variation of the ratio of leaf width to length. Estimates of the parameter of the Montgomery model ranged between 1/2, which corresponds to a triangular leaf with leaf length as its height and leaf width as its base, and π/4, which corresponds to an elliptical leaf with leaf length as its major axis and leaf width as its minor axis, for the six classes of plants. The narrow range in practice of the Montgomery parameter implies an evolutionary stability for the leaf area of large-leaved plants despite the fact that leaf shapes of these plants are rather different.

Interactive effects of ozone and carbon dioxide on plant-pollinator interactions and yields in a legume crop

The quality of hatchery conditions has a crucial impact on the health of hatched chicks. An insight into the spatiotemporal distribution of environmental factors like temperature, humidity, ventilation, and gas concentration within an incubator can be the key to reduce the risk of pathogen spread. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has the potential to provide a better understanding of such complex biological systems. The objective of this study is to create a computational model of the hatcher incubator by using Ansys Fluent software. The goal is to predict the spatiotemporal gradients such as temperature, velocity, and concentration of key species like water vapor (WV) and carbon dioxide (CO2), through transient simulations, assuming egg tray to be fixed. The preliminary results show non-uniform temperature and humidity distribution due to egg and tray obstructions affecting the airflow. The temperature between the eggs in a large incubator depends on proximity to the inlet, fan and the heat exchange between the eggs and the microenvironment. A parametric study is performed to understand the accumulation of moisture and CO2 depending on the fan speed, and to identify computationally cheaper numerical models for fan to reduce computational cost and allow long time simulations. Investigation of varying fan speeds (0–375 rpm) revealed higher fan speeds enhanced flow mixing and scalar variable distribution, emphasizing the significance of meticulous fan speed selection for creating an ideal incubation environment. MRF technique emerged as a cost effective alternative with 60% reduction in computational cost and its potential to allow larger time step establish them as the optimal blade modeling approach for future extended duration simulations.

Impact of nitrogen addition on growth and carbon sequestration potential of Syzygium cumini under different carbon dioxide environment conditions

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) was grown as an understory tree in agroforestry systems where it received inadequate to adequate levels of photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). As atmospheric carbon dioxide steadily increased, it was unclear what impact this would have on cacao growth and development at low PPFD. This research evaluated the effects of ambient and elevated levels carbon dioxide under inadequate to adequate levels of PPFD on growth, physiological and nutrient use efficiency traits of seven genetically contrasting juvenile cacao genotypes. Growth parameters (total and root dry weight, root length, stem height, leaf area, relative growth rate and net assimilation rates increased, and specific leaf area decreased significantly in response to increasing carbon dioxide and PPFD. Increasing carbon dioxide and PPFD levels significantly increased net photosynthesis and water-use efficiency traits but significantly reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration. With few exceptions, increasing carbon dioxide and PPFD reduced macro–micro nutrient concentrations but increased uptake, influx, transport and nutrient use efficiency in all cacao genotypes. Irrespective of levels of carbon dioxide and PPFD, intraspecific differences were observed for growth, physiology and nutrient use efficiency of cacao genotypes.