Artificial Conditions Research Articles

Field Screening of Garlic Genotypes for Identification of Resistant Sources against Purple Blotch Disease

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world and belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. Purple blotch caused by Alternaria porri (Ellis) Ciferri is one such disease which causes a great deal of loss for farmers. The best method to manage purple blotch is to adopt resistant genotypes for cultivation, which is highly necessary in areas with a high incidence. In order to identify resistant sources, 37 genotypes were field screened under artificial epiphytotic conditions at AINRPOG (All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic), MARS (Main Agricultural Research Station), Dharwad during Rabi, 2019 and 2020. Results from two years showed that no genotype was immune to purple blotch. Among the genotypes tested, five genotypes viz., G50, Bhima Purple, DOGR426, DOGR543 and DOGR569 were resistant to infection (1-10%), 17 genotypes moderately resistant to infection (11-20%), while 4 genotypes were moderately susceptible to infection (21-40%). On a scale of 0 to 5, only one genotype (HRG Local) showed susceptible (41-75%) in reaction. Among the remaining genotypes, disease reactions differed between years. The genotypes that are resistant can be utilized by breeders to produce high yielding purple blotch resistant varieties.

Constructing pH-Responsive and Tunable Azo-Phenol-Based o-Nitrobenzyl Photocages.

Multiple triggered-release strategies are widely utilized to control the release of caged target molecules. Among them, photocages with conditional triggers provide extra layers of control in photorelease. In this work, a series of pH-responsive photocages was designed that could be triggered under irradiation and specific intracellular pH values. pH-sensitive phenolic groups were conjugated with o-nitrobenzyl (oNB) to form azo-phenolic NPX photocages with tunable pKa. These azo-phenol-based oNB photocages showed differentiable photoreleasing profiles at pH 5.0, 7.2 and 9.0. By attaching fluorogenic cargos, it was shown that one of the photocages, NPdiCl, could be used to differentiate between acidic pH 5.0 and neutral pH 7.2 in cells under artificial pH conditions. Finally, NPdiCl was identified as a promising pH-responsive photocage for photoreleasing cargo inside acidic tumor cells.

Oxidative assessment of thawed donkey semen with seminal plasma, permeable and non-permeable cryoprotectants

During cryopreservation, donkey semen is exposed to oxidative and osmotic damage that alters the plasma membrane and causes alteration of sperm metabolism. In equids, the elimination of seminal plasma (SP) is a necessary process for the conservation of sperm in artificial conditions such as freezing, however, it is known that SP has an important role in physiological processes for sperm functions such as protection, transport, antioxidant defense, regulation of the inflammatory response in the uterus and interaction with the oocyte. The objective of this study was to evaluate total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential of sperm, with different alternatives for donkey semen cryopreservation with permeable, non-permeable cryoprotectants and SP. Samples of semen were collected from ten Colombian Creole donkeys (Equus asinus), three ejaculates were collected from each donkey, for a total of 30 ejaculates. Eight treatments (T) were used with different combinations of 5% of dimethylformamide (DMF), 200 mM of sucrose (SUC), 1% of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 10% of homologous seminal plasma (SP), as following: T1: DMF, T2: DMF/SP, T3: SAC/BSA, T4: SAC/BSA/SP, T5: DMF/SAC/BSA, T6: DMF/SAC/BSA/SP, T7: DMF/BSA, T8: DMF/BSA/SP. Besides the treatment, sperm was extended in EquiPlus® and 5% of clarified egg yolk, until a sperm concentration of 100 × 106 spermatozoa/mL. Posthawing, TAC was evaluated by the cationic radicalmethod (ABTS) and by the method of oxygen trapping capacity (ORAC) methodologies, total reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, superoxide anion (O2-) and hydroxyl radical (OH-) content were evaluated by spectrofluorimetry; sperm viability and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨM) were measured by flow cytometry. For statistical analysis, a general linear model was fitted for each dependent variable. Normal distribution of variables was validated with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Means were compared by the Tukey's test. Treatments T3 and T4 presented higher TAC (p<0.05) (ABTS and ORAC) compared to T1. For ΔψM, the lowest mean value was 9.1% for T4 (p<0.05), corresponding to one of the treatments without permeable cryoprotectant and SP. For sperm viability, the lowest values were found in both treatments with non-permeable cryoprotectant. Moreover, the treatments that were supplemented with SP showed higher production of ROS (p<0.05). In conclusion, supplementation of donkey semen with seminal plasma for cryopreservation does not alter the total antioxidant capacity; additionally, freezing semen with non-permeable cryoprotectants generates low sperm viability, low mitochondrial membrane potential and a high amount of reactive oxygen species and the composition of the freezing extender for donkey semen with seminal plasma influences the generation of total reactive oxygen species.

Analysis Of Thermal Comfort In L 609 Classroom By Using SST k-ꞷ Turbulence Model

In today's era, more and more people spend most of their time indoors, with artificial climatic conditions, where thermal comfort is a basic factor such as a glazing system (ventilation), both for dimensions and material characteristics, this basic factor is very important because it affects the parameters involved in thermal comfort. One of the requirements for thermal comfort is good air circulation, good air circulation can also prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus that is currently engulfing the world.Therefore, research is needed to analyze the air flow engineering in the room, especially the classroom to get results that will later be seen whether it has met the demands of room comfort, especially thermal comfort. The purpose of this study is to provide recommendations for the configuration of air circulation in the L609 classroom and perform a CFD analysis on air circulation in the classroom which can create thermal comfort. Based on all the simulation results carried out with 2 outlet configurations and 5 different speed fan configurations, the obtained results are in accordance with the ASHRAE 55 standard in 2020 only in the first configuration with a speed of 0.79 m/s. in the second configuration all the simulation results obtained are not in accordance with the thermal comfort limit according to ASHRAE 55 in 2020 because the speed obtained is more than 0.8 m/s and the temperature obtained is more than 297 K. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, there must be circulation air in order to break down the aerosol concentration of the COVID-19 virus itself. Therefore, the author recommends using a classroom configuration with an open door so that air circulation can flow properly.

Development of overall quality index and overall quality map according to tensile mechanical properties and artificial aging heat treatment conditions for cast aluminum alloy using multi-criteria decision-making and multiple regression model

Development of overall quality index and overall quality map according to tensile mechanical properties and artificial aging heat treatment conditions for cast aluminum alloy using multi-criteria decision-making and multiple regression model

Estimating Freezing Injury on Olive Trees: A Comparative Study of Computing Models Based on Electrolyte Leakage and Tetrazolium Tests

Winter frost injury is a major limiting factor for olive cultivation in temperate regions. The response of olive shoots to freezing stress can be used for selecting genotypes resistant to freezing. The electrolyte leakage (EL) and tetrazolium tests (TZ) are commonly used to evaluate dead tissues in cold stress studies. The temperature–response curve of dead tissues to lethal temperature (LT) is measured with models to calculate LT50 and LT90. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy and efficiency of eighteen nonlinear regression models (NLRs) in calculating LT50 and LT90 of freezing stress in different olive cultivars at various stages of dormancy. After evaluating the prediction performance of NLR models, it was found that only eight models were suitable for the purpose of this research out of the eighteen models examined. The 2p-logistic and Gompertz models were selected for modeling EL and TZ, respectively. Our research findings indicate that the Roughani, Kawi, and Zard varieties of olive trees exhibit the best performance under artificial temperature-controlled conditions. Our findings provide valuable insights into selecting frost-resistant cultivars and designing effective strategies for cold acclimation in olive cultivation.

Sclerotia Formation of Phlebopus portentosus under Natural and Artificial Conditions

Phlebopus portentosus is a favorite wild, edible mushroom in the tropical region of China and northern Thailand. P. portentosus is the only bolete in the Boletales order that has been commercially cultivated. Sclerotia produced by the mushroom are often found in its natural habitats and cultivated media. These sclerotia play a key role in its life cycle. However, the regularity and growth characteristics of the sclerotium are unknown. In this paper, the whole process of birth, growth, death and rebirth of the sclerotium of P. portentosus under natural and lab conditions is reported for the first time. Sclerotium formation in nature is due to environmental stress, such as drought or low temperature. The less rainfall, the more sclerotia are produced. It appears that a lower temperature can also initiate sclerotium formation; however, the relationship between sclerotium formation and temperature is not as clear as that between sclerotium formation and rainfall. Under artificial conditions, the sclerotium formation of P. portentosus is related to the fungus’ physiological maturation. The presence of sclerotia is always accompanied by the exudation of liquid droplets on the colony. The results of this study should provide a platform for research on the importance of sclerotium formation in the life cycle of P. portentosus.

A new experimental setup for studying ants and similar-sized insects

Laboratory studies on insects face the dual challenge of maintaining organisms under artificial conditions, and in reduced spaces while mimicking the species’ ecological requirements as much as possible. Over decades, myrmecologists have developed and continuously improved laboratory methods and artificial nests for rearing ants. However, the setups commonly used to house colony fragments of few individuals or even isolated individuals present disadvantages such as insufficient ventilation, difficult access to specific workers, and problems with water delivery. Here, we developed and tested a new setup for keeping ants or similar sized insects in small groups. The setup consisted of a Petri dish containing a piece of plaster connected underneath to a water tank by a sponge. The sponge is immersed in the water on one side and embedded in the plaster on the other side, maintaining the plaster permanently moist and thus offering a water source to the ants. We tested the setup with two ant species of different sizes, Platythyrea punctata and Cardiocondyla obscurior in feeding, starvation, and desiccation conditions. Our results showed that our new setup worked equally well for both species in all conditions in comparison to a more conventional setup with the advantage of reducing maintenance costs and ant manipulation, but also preventing death by drowning and offering water ad libitum. The setup was quick to build, with cheap and reusable materials for further experiments. Therefore, we are confident that it will facilitate future studies on isolated or small groups of individuals and that such a standardized setup will make future studies more comparable.

A scaled boundary finite element method for soil dynamic impedance of pile groups using hybrid quadtree mesh considering horizontal vibration

The numerical modeling of pile-soil dynamic interaction has been a challenging problem in engineering for many years because of the unbounded domain, which typically involves significant computational cost. This paper develops a novel scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) that can accurately calculate the soil dynamic impedance of pile groups with end bearing subjected to horizontal vibration. The three-dimensional (3D) problem is first transformed to a two-dimensional (2D) Helmholtz equation in the horizontal plane, exploiting the analytical solution for the vertical modes using separation of variables. The SBFEM is then applied to solve the 2D computational domain, which is divided into bounded and unbounded domains. Based on the SBFEM, an accurate circular artificial boundary condition (ABC) is formulated to simulate the unbounded domain of the soil. A special hybrid quadtree mesh is devised for this problem, where a high-quality structured quadrilateral mesh is generated surrounding the piles. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified using a single pile problem with known analytical solution. The effects of dimensionless frequency, pile numbers, soil depth and relative distance between piles on the soil dynamic impedance are considered.

Bayesian inference of visibility in fog and smoke artificial conditions from 3D-LiDAR point clouds

3D-LiDARs are heavily impacted by a degraded visual environment (DVE) like rain, fog and smoke which limits their use for perception algorithms. The capacity to retrieve information about the environmental conditions from an embedded sensor can be an asset to improve autonomous driving performances. False positive artifacts in the point clouds caused by aerosols and hydrometeors particles tend to cause perception issues and thus need filtered out. However, those artifacts can also be used as valuable information to infer weather properties and maybe improve filters. This article proposes a Bayesian inference model which can classify discrete values of visibility using 3D-LiDAR point clouds. Gamma and Log-normal distributions are used to model the distance distributions of the noise points and the model is extended using the Random Finite Set (RFS) formalism with the Poisson and Binomial RFS models. Experiments in artificial fog and smoke conditions are presented and the classification model is trained and tested independently for each experiment. The used point clouds are extracted from specific parts of the field-of-view that can be used to generalize the proposed method to any outdoor scenario. The model shows good classification results with increased performances when the RFS extension is used.

3D imaging reveals apical stem cell responses to ambient temperature

Plant growth is driven by apical meristems at the shoot and root growth points, which comprise continuously active stem cell populations. While many of the key factors involved in homeostasis of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) have been extensively studied under artificial constant growth conditions, only little is known how variations in the environment affect the underlying regulatory network. To shed light on the responses of the SAM to ambient temperature, we combined 3D live imaging of fluorescent reporter lines that allowed us to monitor the activity of two key regulators of stem cell homeostasis in the SAM namely CLAVATA3 (CLV3) and WUSCHEL (WUS), with computational image analysis to derive morphological and cellular parameters of the SAM. Whereas CLV3 expression marks the stem cell population, WUS promoter activity is confined to the organizing center (OC), the niche cells adjacent to the stem cells, hence allowing us to record on the two central cell populations of the SAM. Applying an integrated computational analysis of our data we found that variations in ambient temperature not only led to specific changes in spatial expression patterns of key regulators of SAM homeostasis, but also correlated with modifications in overall cellular organization and shoot meristem morphology.

Nutrient dynamics of 12 Sphagnum species during establishment on a rewetted bog.

Peatland degradation through drainage and peat extraction have detrimental environmental and societal consequences. Rewetting is an option to restore lost ecosystem functions, such as carbon storage, biodiversity and nutrient sequestration. Peat mosses (Sphagnum) are the most important peat-forming species in bogs. Most Sphagnum species occur in nutrient-poor habitats; however, high growth rates have been reported in artificial nutrient-rich conditions with optimal water supply. Here, we demonstrate the differences in nutrient dynamics of 12 Sphagnum species during their establishment in a 1-year field experiment at a Sphagnum paludiculture area in Germany. The 12 species are categorized into three groups (slower-, medium- and fast-growing). Establishment of peat mosses is facilitated by constant supply of nutrient-rich, low pH, and low alkalinity surface water. Our study shows that slower-growing species (S. papillosum, S. magellancium, S. fuscum, S. rubellum, S. austinii; often forming hummocks) displayed signs of nutrient imbalance. These species accumulated higher amounts of N, P, K and Ca in their capitula, and had an elevated stem N:K quotient (>3). Additionally, this group sequestered less C and K per m2 than the fast and medium-growing species (S. denticulatum, S. fallax, S. riparium, S. fimbriatum, S. squarrosum, S. palustre, S. centrale). Lower lawn thickness may have amplified negative effects of flooding in the slower-growing species. We conclude that nutrient dynamics and carbon/nutrient sequestration rates are species-specific. For bog restoration, generating ecosystem services or choosing suitable donor material for Sphagnum paludiculture, it is crucial to consider their compatibility with prevailing environmental conditions.

Thermal evolution of graptolite and solid bitumen properties at high maturity under natural and artificial conditions

To refine the use of graptolite and solid bitumen as thermal proxies at overmature conditions, we evaluated their evolution via Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopies, reflectance, and geochemical screening using high-temperature pyrolysis experiments in comparison to naturally matured samples. Naturally matured samples included marine shales from the overmature Upper Ordovician Wufeng-Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formations (herein referred to as Wufeng-Longmaxi) of the Sichuan Basin, China. Immature samples for pyrolysis experiments included Mesoproterozoic (Ectasian) Xiamaling marine shale from Hebei, China (graptolite absent) and graptolite-bearing Ordovician (Tremadocian) Alum marine shale from Grönhögen, Sweden. Pyrolysis experiments at 360 °C for 10 days and 27 days (hydrous conditions), and 450 °C 3 days, 550 °C 3 days, and 550 °C 10 days (all anhydrous) created Xiamaling and Alum residues with solid bitumen and graptolite, respectively, of similar and higher maturity compared to the naturally matured Wufeng-Longmaxi samples. Compositional proxies from IR spectroscopy were inconclusive. Raman spectral properties including Raman band separation (RBS) and the full-width at half-maximum of the G-band (G-FWHM) exhibited robust positive and inverse relationships with increasing reflectance in pyrolysis residues, respectively. RBS values were systematically lower in artificially matured samples versus naturally matured samples with equivalent reflectance values, whereas G-FWHM values were systematically higher. This observation indicates that the limited duration or low internal reactor pressure of pyrolysis experiments is insufficient to allow alignment or ordering of aromatic carbon arrays in both organic matter types, relative to natural maturation occurring at geologic time scales. Reflectance of graptolite was typically higher than co-occurring solid bitumen in Wufeng-Longmaxi samples and the untreated Alum sample, suggesting inherently higher aromaticity. However, aromaticity in pyrolysis residues was systematically higher in solid bitumen compared to graptolite with equivalent reflectance values, indicating a higher kinetic barrier to molecular rearrangement in graptolite versus solid bitumen. These data further clarify differences in the molecular evolution of sedimentary organic matter in natural versus analogue laboratory environments and distinguish the properties of individual organic matter types in response to thermal stress.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PHYTOTRON-GREENHOUSE COMPLEXES

A brief historical analysis of the experience of development of structures and equipment for the study of plants in artificial conditions is given. The analysis of constructions and parameters of modern phytotrons and greenhouses for carrying out scientif

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PHYTOTRON-GREENHOUSE COMPLEXES

A brief historical analysis of the experience of development of structures and equipment for the study of plants in artificial conditions is given. The analysis of constructions and parameters of modern phytotrons and greenhouses for carrying out scientif

Data Acquisition for Estimating Energy-Efficient Solar-Powered Sensor Node Performance for Usage in Industrial IoT

In the era of rapid technological growth, we are facing increased energy consumption. The question of using renewable energy sources is also essential for the sustainability of wireless sensor networks and the Industrial Internet of Things, especially in scenarios where there is a need to deploy an extensive number of sensor nodes and smart devices in industrial environments. Because of that, this paper targets the problem of monitoring the operations of solar-powered wireless sensor nodes applicable for a variety of Industrial IoT environments, considering their required locations in outdoor scenarios and the efficient solar power harvesting effects. This paper proposes a distributed wireless sensor network system architecture based on open-source hardware and open-source software technologies to achieve that. The proposed architecture is designed for acquiring solar radiation data and other ambient parameters (solar panel and ambient temperature, light intensity, etc.). These data are collected primarily to define estimation techniques using nonlinear regression for predicting solar panel voltage outputs that can be used to achieve energy-efficient operations of solar-powered sensor nodes in outdoor Industrial IoT systems. Additionally, data can be used to analyze and monitor the influence of multiple ambient data on the efficiency of solar panels and, thus, powering sensor nodes. The architecture proposal considers the variety of required data and the transmission and storage of harvested data for further processing. The proposed architecture is implemented in the small-scale variants for evaluation and testing. The platform is further evaluated with the prototype sensor node for collecting solar panel voltage generation data with open-source hardware and low-cost components for designing such data acquisition nodes. The sensor node is evaluated in different scenarios with solar and artificial light conditions for the feasibility of the proposed architecture and justification of its usage. As a result of this research, the platform and the method for implementing estimation techniques for sensor nodes in various sensor and IoT networks, which helps to achieve edge intelligence, is established.

The Effects of Humic Acids on the Early Developmental Stages of African Cichlids during Artificial Breeding.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of humic acid (HA) obtained by extraction from alginate on the incubation of roes and fry development in African cichlids, Labidochormis caeruleus, as well as their influence on the stabilization of the physicochemical parameters of water in an aquarium during artificial breeding. The roes were obtained by extruding from a female buccal cavity immediately after fertilization. For the experiment, 4 groups of 40 roes were formed in an incubator with an artificial hatchery. Groups 1-3 were exposed to 1%, 5%, and 10% concentrations of HA, respectively. The control group C was not exposed to HA. In all groups, the mortality and size differences of the fry, as well as the temperature, pH, hardness, nitrite, and nitrate levels in the tanks, were determined during a 30-day monitoring period until the resorption of the yolk sac. The results of this study indicated the ability of HA in 5% and 10% concentrations to reduce nitrite and nitrate levels in the aquatic environment, which significantly reduced the mortality of roes and the survivability of the fry. The determination of the morphological measurements of the fry revealed an increased body length in the groups exposed to 5% and 10% HA concentrations compared to the control group by the end of the monitored period. It was also noted that the yolk sac was resorbed two days earlier in the same groups than in the control. Thus, the results showed that HAs are suitable for use in the artificial aquarium incubation of roes and fry development, which are increasingly exposed to adverse environmental factors. The knowledge obtained in this study and its transfer into practice can allow even less experienced aquarists to successfully breed aquarium fish species that could not normally be bred under artificial conditions without the addition of HA.

Experimental evolution of dispersal: Unifying theory, experiments and natural systems.

Dispersal is a central life history trait that affects the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of populations and communities. The recent use of experimental evolution for the study of dispersal is a promising avenue for demonstrating valuable proofs of concept, bringing insight into alternative dispersal strategies and trade-offs, and testing the repeatability of evolutionary outcomes. Practical constraints restrict experimental evolution studies of dispersal to a set of typically small, short-lived organisms reared in artificial laboratory conditions. Here, we argue that despite these restrictions, inferences from these studies can reinforce links between theoretical predictions and empirical observations and advance our understanding of the eco-evolutionary consequences of dispersal. We illustrate how applying an integrative framework of theory, experimental evolution and natural systems can improve our understanding of dispersal evolution under more complex and realistic biological scenarios, such as the role of biotic interactions and complex dispersal syndromes.

Infiltration and Failure Behavior of an Unsaturated Soil Slope under Artificial Rainfall Model Experiments

Slope disasters often include soil erosion and shallow landslides. These types of slope failure can occur in unsaturated soil. In this study, artificial rainfall is applied to a compacted soil slope in a laboratory to investigate the effects of rainfall intensity, initial moisture content and relative compaction on infiltration and failure behavior of an unsaturated soil slope subjected to rainfall infiltration. Soil moisture probes installed in the soil slope were used to monitor soil moisture content during the experiment. Test results show that the soil saturation at the toe of the slope was observed to be higher than other areas of the slope following the onset of rainfall. Gradually, the saturation advanced towards the crest, resulting in the formation of a wetting band along the slope surface. With increasing rainfall duration, the wetting band progressed further downwards along the slope. The failure of the slope began at the crest and junction of the slope, and the primary cause was soil erosion resulting from high-intensity rainfall. The most significant variable affecting infiltration behavior is relative compaction, followed by the initial moisture content of the compacted slope. During the experiment, the low hydraulic conductivity of the saturated soil caused most of the rainfall on the slope to become surface runoff, which minimized the impact of rainfall intensity on infiltration behavior. Specifically, the hydraulic conductivity of soil compacted at optimal moisture content and 90 R.C. is only 7.041 × 10-5 cm/sec or 2.53 mm/h, which is much lower than rainfall intensities of 80 mm/h and 160 mm/h. In addition, soil saturation contours facilitated visualization and quantification of the infiltration behavior of slopes, enabling a more detailed analysis of experimental results. These results help understand the behavior of unsaturated soil slopes under artificial rainfall conditions and aid in designing effective slope stabilization measures to prevent slope failure and minimize the risk of landslides.

Acid scarification as a potent treatment for an in vitro germination of mature endozoochorous Vanilla planifolia seeds

BackgroundVanilla planifolia is the most widely cultivated species of vanilla with high economic importance. However, seed germination under artificial conditions is difficult and yields low germination percentages. The seeds are adapted to endozoochorous dispersal, and we therefore tried to simulate the conditions in the digestive tract by acid scarification of seeds.ResultsImmature seeds lacking dormancy, used as a control, showed the highest germination percentage. Among the treatments tested for mature seeds, the hydrochloric acid treatments were significantly the best in breaking dormancy and inducing germination, irrespective of the acid concentration and the presence of pepsin. Conventional treatment with a hypochlorite solution induced much lower germination percentage. Sulphuric acid at concentration 50% was too strong and caused damage to the seeds. Important factor is also high cultivation temperature 30 °C as there was nearly no germination at 25 °C.ConclusionsOur protocol significantly improves the efficiency of generative propagation of vanilla and allows for significantly higher germination percentages than previously described. The strongly positive effect of hydrochloric acid may be related to the adaptation of seeds to endozoochorous dispersal.