Biophysical Environment Research Articles

Regeneration and Diameter-Height Distribution Under Irregular Shelterwood System: A Case Study from Banke District

This study was aimed to assess the regeneration composition and status and species diversity of blocks of compartment C4S6 with 8 sub-compartment C4S1, C4S2, C4S3, C4S4, C4S5, C4S6, C4S7, And C4S8 under Irregular Shelterwood System (ISS) based scientific forest management in Samshergunj-Mathebas block forest, Banke district, Nepal. The systematic random sampling method was used for allocating circular sample plots (of radius 1.78 m for seedlings and 2.82 m for sapling) for collecting data from the field. Altogether 40 sample plots were taken to collect the required data from the blocks forest. The total regeneration per hectare in the block is 76870. In the blocks forest the total number of seedlings and saplings per hectare was 65150 and 11720 respectively. The IVI value showed that both seedling and sapling of <i>Shorea robusta</i> was dominant species and <i>Terminalia alata </i>was 1st codominant species in the blocks. Vegetation study is crucial for balancing the ecosystem as well as for biophysical environment. Forest inventories helps to determine the growing stock as well as annual increment in order to balance between harvesting and re-growth. In my study area there is abundant regeneration in the forest but their effective assessment is lacking and research on it is insufficient. Due to the lack of sustainable management, open grazing, illegal harvesting of wood, and forest fire, Productivity of forest is decreasing day by day. And at present, there can be seen Asna (<i>Terminalia alata</i>), and other Sal associates like Botdhairo instead of Sal. Graduation of seedling into sapling with time is key necessity in maintaining sustainable forest regeneration. Thus, this study was conducted for assessing regeneration composition and diameter and height class distribution after implementation of irregular Shelterwood system (ISS) in western terai. This study will be useful for policy makers working in conservation biology.

Mapping membrane biophysical nano-environments

The mammalian plasma membrane is known to contain domains with varying lipid composition and biophysical properties. However, studying these membrane lipid domains presents challenges due to their predicted morphological similarity to the bulk membrane and their scale being below the classical resolution limit of optical microscopy. To address this, we combine the solvatochromic probe di-4-ANEPPDHQ, which reports on its biophysical environment through changes in its fluorescence emission, with spectrally resolved single-molecule localisation microscopy. The resulting data comprises nanometre-precision localisation coordinates and a generalised polarisation value related to the probe’s environment – a marked point pattern. We introduce quantification algorithms based on topological data analysis (PLASMA) to detect and map nano-domains in this marked data, demonstrating their effectiveness in both artificial membranes and live cells. By leveraging environmentally sensitive fluorophores, multi-modal single molecule localisation microscopy, and advanced analysis methods, we achieve nanometre scale mapping of membrane properties and assess changes in response to external perturbation with methyl-β-cyclodextrin. This integrated methodology represents an integrated toolset for investigating marked point pattern data at nanometre spatial scales.

Injectable hyaluronate-based hydrogel with a dynamic/covalent dual-crosslinked architecture for bone tissue engineering: Enhancing osteogenesis and immune regulation

In orthopedic practice, accommodating irregular defects caused by trauma or surgery with traditional preformed bone graft substitutes is often challenging. As a result, injectable hydrogels with seed cells have garnered significant interest in bone repair due to their adaptability and minimally invasive properties. However, they cannot simultaneously achieve injectability and mechanical properties, providing a biophysical and biochemical environment for cell support. In this study, a novel injectable hydrogel system (OA hydrogel) loaded with aspirin and bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was developed to enhance osteogenesis and immune regulation in small irregular bone defects. OA hydrogels possessed self-healing and shear-thinning properties due to dynamic/covalent hydrazone bonds between aldehyde-modified hyaluronic acid methacrylate (ADH-HAMA) and oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA). By photopolymerization of the enclosed HAMA, the OADC hydrogel was further reinforced, making it more suitable for cell proliferation. In vitro, composite hydrogels improved the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Additionally, it promoted the M2 polarization of human monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells. In vivo, the synergistic effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and BMSCs encapsulated within the OADC hydrogel promoted new bone formation in rat calvaria through increased recruitment and polarization of M2 macrophages. These findings underscore the significant promise of hydrogels for bone tissue engineering applications.

GeoNet enables the accurate prediction of protein-ligand binding sites through interpretable geometric deep learning

The identification of protein binding residues is essential for understanding their functions invivo. However, it remains a computational challenge to accurately identify binding sites due to the lack of known residue binding patterns. Local residue spatial distribution and its interactive biophysical environment both determine binding patterns. Previous methods could not capture both information simultaneously, resulting in unsatisfactory performance. Here, we present GeoNet, an interpretable geometric deep learning model for predicting DNA, RNA, and protein binding sites by learning the latent residue binding patterns. GeoNet achieves this by introducing a coordinate-free geometric representation to characterize local residue distributions and generating an eigenspace to depict local interactive biophysical environments. Evaluation shows that GeoNet is superior compared to other leading predictors and it shows a strong interpretability of learned representations. We present three test cases, where interaction interfaces were successfully identified with GeoNet.

Integrated framework for multipurpose UAV Path Planning in hedgerow systems considering the biophysical environment

This study presents a new path-planning framework for precision agriculture, designed for hedgerow systems, which combines cutting-edge technology and data analysis to enhance crop management in light of climate change challenges. The framework creates detailed digital field models by employing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, either with high-precision LiDAR or Structure-from-Motion (SfM) data. Then, these models are inputs for the path planning algorithm, crucial for directing drones on the most efficient paths for surveys or spraying. The key feature is its ability to adjust to the specific conditions of agricultural fields, considering the current biophysical environment, ensuring paths are closely aligned with crop rows and adapting to vegetation changes. This leads to significant efficiency improvements, especially in cases of irregular row spacing or heterogeneous vegetation, achieving paths up to 40% shorter than traditional geometry-based methods. The effectiveness of the algorithm relies on the quality of input data, with LiDAR being recommended due to its higher accuracy despite its longer processing time. Field tests were conducted in a vineyard in Spain to validate the effectiveness of the framework. Integrating drone technology with precise routing and high-quality data, the proposed framework can potentially enhance the sustainable and efficient management of woody crops.

Dense Collagen I as a Biomimetic Material to Track Matrix Remodelling in Renal Carcinomas.

Aims: Renal tissue is a dynamic biophysical microenvironment, regulating healthy function and influencing tumor development. Matrix remodelling is an iterative process and aberrant tissue repair is prominent in kidney fibrosis and cancer. Biomimetic 3D models recapitulating the collagen composition and mechanical fidelity of native renal tissue were developed to investigate cell-matrix interactions in renal carcinomas. Methods: Collagen I and laminin hydrogels were engineered with renal cancer cells (ACHN and 786-O), which underwent plastic compression to generate dense matrices. Mechanical properties were determined using shear rheology and qPCR determined the gene expression of matrix markers. Results: The shear modulus and phase angle of acellular dense collagen I gels (474 Pa and 10.7) are similar to human kidney samples (1410 Pa and 10.5). After 21 days, 786-O cells softened the dense matrix (∼155 Pa), with collagen IV downregulation and upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP7 and MMP8). ACHN cells were found to be less invasive and stiffened the matrix to ∼1.25 kPa, with gene upregulation of collagen IV and the cross-linking enzyme LOX. Conclusions: Renal cancer cells remodel their biophysical environment, altering the material properties of tissue stroma in 3D models. These models can generate physiologically relevant stiffness to investigate the different matrix remodelling mechanisms utilized by cancer cells.

Enabling the circular nitrogen economy with organic and organo-mineral fertilisers

AbstractThe circular nutrient economy repurposes organic (formerly alive, containing organic carbon) and inorganic (mineral) recycled materials as fertilisers and soil ameliorants, and halving nitrogen (N) waste is a global goal. Our focus was unavoidable food waste and garden waste (FOGO food organics garden organics) as suitable feedstock for compost and use for cropping. We hypothesised that to realise benefits of compost, organic and organo-mineral fertilisers (OF/OMF) must be optimised for target crops and biophysical environments. We explored compost and organic recyclates (dried bacterial biomass PPB, chicken litter manure) as N sources for vegetable, fruit and grain crops in controlled experiments with single or combinations of contrasting N release and carbon-to-N ratios of 20, 13.5 (compost), 13.5 (poultry manure), 6.1 (PPB) and 0.5 (mineral N). With standardised N input (0.5–1 g N/pot and plant), compost as the sole N source resulted in less yield than all other N sources, while suitable mixtures of organic recyclates with/without added mineral N matched the yield of crops grown with mineral N. Adding 5% compost to sand growth substrate modulated crop growth and phenology, increased tillering and panicle production, or accelerated fruit ripening. This confirmed effects beyond nutrient supply, likely crop-growth modulating substances are present. Exploring effects of crop species, N source and water supply confirmed statistically significant interactions on yield, biomass and N use efficiency (NUE). This means a robust strategy for optimising OF/OMF is testing target crops with compost and recyclates to identify crop-specific responses. We recommend that applying such strategy allows manufacturers targeting N-efficient OF/OMF to service the expanding market for recyclate-based organo-mineral fertilisers and soil ameliorants for the circular N economy.

Detection of TurboID fusion proteins by fluorescent streptavidin outcompetes antibody signals and visualises targets not accessible to antibodies.

Immunofluorescence localises proteins via fluorophore-labelled antibodies. However, some proteins evade detection due to antibody-accessibility issues or because they are naturally low abundant or antigen density is reduced by the imaging method. Here, we show that the fusion of the target protein to the biotin ligase TurboID and subsequent detection of biotinylation by fluorescent streptavidin offers an 'all in one' solution to these restrictions. For all proteins tested, the streptavidin signal was significantly stronger than an antibody signal, markedly improving the sensitivity of expansion microscopy and correlative light and electron microscopy. Importantly, proteins within phase-separated regions, such as the central channel of the nuclear pores, the nucleolus, or RNA granules, were readily detected with streptavidin, while most antibodies failed. When TurboID is used in tandem with an HA epitope tag, co-probing with streptavidin and anti-HA can map antibody-accessibility and we created such a map for the trypanosome nuclear pore. Lastly, we show that streptavidin imaging resolves dynamic, temporally, and spatially distinct sub-complexes and, in specific cases, reveals a history of dynamic protein interaction. In conclusion, streptavidin imaging has major advantages for the detection of lowly abundant or inaccessible proteins and in addition, provides information on protein interactions and biophysical environment.

Changes in soil arthropods and litter nutrients after prescribed burn in a subtropical moist pastureland

Plant litter decomposition is driven by soil biota and biophysiochemical conditions as well as substrate quality. Prescribed burns can affect the abundance and diversity of soil arthropods and the biophysiochemical conditions in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we examined the effects of a prescribed burn on soil arthropods and litter chemistry in decomposing litter during a total of 469-days field incubation using litter from two grasses, Dichanthium annulatum and Megathyrsus maximus, in a subtropical moist pastureland of Puerto Rico. We found the prescribed burn substantially elevated ultraviolet (UV) radiation and soil temperature; and significantly decreased the diversity of litter total arthropods, especially predators and Mesostigmata mites, during the initial 5 months after the burn. However, the prescribed burn had no effect on either the biophysical environment nor on arthropod abundance and diversity during the subsequent incubation period of >5 months after the burn. Furthermore, the prescribed burn substantially increased the immobilization of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), and decreased sulfur (S) concentration in the decomposing litter. Prescribed burn had no interactions with substrate quality for percent mass remaining (PMR) and elemental release or accumulation. Low substrate quality D. annulatum litter with a carbon to phosphorus (C/P) ratio of 614 was associated with higher microbivore diversity and higher predator density than higher substrate quality M. maximus litter with a C/P ratio of 266 during the entire incubation period. Lower initial concentration of litter P, magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) in D. annulatum resulted in higher immobilization of these elements in decomposing litter than in M. maximus. Our study suggest that prescribed burn can impose short-term changes in biophysiochemical conditions and the diversity of arthropods in litter decomposition during the initial recovery period of about 5 months after a burn, thus highlighting a high resilience of the grassland ecosystem to fire disturbance, and that it can bring lasting changes in the cycling of Fe, Mn, and S in subtropical moist pastureland that can alter ecosystem productivity.

Development of novel osteochondral scaffolds and related in vitro environment with the aid of chemical engineering principles

In tissue engineering, collaboration among experts from different fields is needed to design appropriate cell scaffolds and the required three-dimensional environment. Osteochondral tissue engineering is particularly challenging due to the need to provide scaffolds that imitate structural and compositional differences between two neighboring tissues, articular cartilage and bone, and the required complex biophysical environments for cultivating such scaffolds. This work focuses on two key objectives: first, to develop bilayered osteochondral scaffolds based on gellan gum and bioactive glass and, second, to create a biomimetic environment for scaffold characterization by designing and utilizing novel dual-medium cultivation bioreactor chambers. Basic chemical engineering principles were utilized to help achieve both aims. First, a simple heat transport model based on one-dimensional conduction was applied as a guideline for bilayer scaffold preparation, leading to the formation of a gelatinous upper part and a macroporous lower part with a thin, well-integrated interfacial zone. Second, a novel cultivation chamber was developed to be used in a dynamic compression bioreactor to provide possibilities for flow of two different media, such as chondrogenic and osteogenic. These chambers were utilized for characterization of the novel scaffolds with regard to bioactivity and stability under dynamic compression and fluid perfusion over 14 d, while flow distribution under different conditions was analyzed by a tracer method and residence time distribution analysis.

Hydrostatic pressure drives sprouting angiogenesis via adherens junction remodelling and YAP signalling

Endothelial cell physiology is governed by its unique microenvironment at the interface between blood and tissue. A major contributor to the endothelial biophysical environment is blood hydrostatic pressure, which in mechanical terms applies isotropic compressive stress on the cells. While other mechanical factors, such as shear stress and circumferential stretch, have been extensively studied, little is known about the role of hydrostatic pressure in the regulation of endothelial cell behavior. Here we show that hydrostatic pressure triggers partial and transient endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in endothelial monolayers of different vascular beds. Values mimicking microvascular pressure environments promote proliferative and migratory behavior and impair barrier properties that are characteristic of a mesenchymal transition, resulting in increased sprouting angiogenesis in 3D organotypic model systems ex vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, this response is linked to differential cadherin expression at the adherens junctions, and to an increased YAP expression, nuclear localization, and transcriptional activity. Inhibition of YAP transcriptional activity prevents pressure-induced sprouting angiogenesis. Together, this work establishes hydrostatic pressure as a key modulator of endothelial homeostasis and as a crucial component of the endothelial mechanical niche.

Decoding physical principles of cell migration under controlled environment using microfluidics.

Living cells can perform incredible tasks that man-made micro/nano-sized robots have not yet been able to accomplish. One example is that white blood cells can sense and move to the site of pathogen attack within minutes. The robustness and precision of cellular functions have been perfected through billions of years of evolution. In this context, we ask the question whether cells follow a set of physical principles to sense, adapt, and migrate. Microfluidics has emerged as an enabling technology for recreating well-defined cellular environment for cell migration studies, and its ability to follow single cell dynamics allows for the results to be amenable for theoretical modeling. In this review, we focus on the development of microfluidic platforms for recreating cellular biophysical (e.g., mechanical stress) and biochemical (e.g., nutrients and cytokines) environments for cell migration studies in 3D. We summarize the basic principles that cells (including bacteria, algal, and mammalian cells) use to respond to chemical gradients learned from microfluidic systems. We also discuss about novel biological insights gained from studies of cell migration under biophysical cues and the need for further quantitative studies of cell function under well-controlled biophysical environments in the future.

Biomechanical and biochemical changes in murine skin during development and aging

Aging leads to biochemical and biomechanical changes in skin, with biological and functional consequences. Despite extensive literature on skin aging, there is a lack of studies which investigate the maturation of the tissue and connect the microscopic changes in the skin to its macroscopic biomechanical behavior as it evolves over time. The present work addresses this knowledge gap using multiscale characterization of skin in a murine model considering newborn, adult and aged mice. Monotonic uniaxial loading, tension relaxation with change of bath, and loading to failure tests were performed on murine skin samples from different age groups, complemented by inflation experiments and atomic force microscopy indentation measurements. In parallel, skin samples were characterized using histological and biochemical techniques to assess tissue morphology, collagen organization, as well as collagen content and cross-linking. We show that 1-week-old skin differs across nearly all measured parameters from adult skin, showing reduced strain stiffening and tensile strength, a thinner dermis, lower collagen content and altered crosslinking patterns. Surprisingly, adult and aged skin were similar across most biomechanical parameters in the physiologic loading range, while aged skin had lower tensile strength and lower stiffening behavior at large force values. This correlates with altered collagen content and cross-links. Based on a computational model, differences in mechanocoupled stimuli in the skin of the different age groups were calculated, pointing to a potential biological significance of the age-induced biomechanical changes in regulating the local biophysical environment of dermal cells. Statement of significanceSkin microstructure and the emerging mechanical properties change with age, leading to biological, functional and health-related consequences. Despite extensive literature on skin aging, only very limited quantitative data are available on microstructural changes and the corresponding macroscopic biomechanical behavior as they evolve over time. This work provides a wide-range multiscale mechanical characterization of skin of newborn, adult and aged mice, and quantifies microstructural correlations in tissue morphology, collagen content, organization and cross-linking. Remarkably, aged skin retained normal hydration and normal biomechanical function in the physiological loading range but showed significantly reduced properties at super-physiological loading. Our data show that age-related microstructural differences have a profound effect not only on tissue-level properties but also on the cell-level biophysical environment.

Desiloization and its discontents: the politics of data storage in the age of platformization

ABSTRACT This essay explores how desiloization strategies facilitate the emergence and increasing centralization of private platform power, rather than flattening and democratizing access to and control over data. Drawing on both an original genealogy of desiloization discourses and a case study of the World Bank’s evolving approach to desiloization, we show how the slipperiness of the notion of ‘silos’ obscures the way desiloization efforts reinforce the structural power of ‘Big Tech,’ a key characteristic of the emerging paradigm of platform capitalism. More specifically, we argue that concerns about interoperability often elide its reliance on the products and services of private, for-profit companies, engendering a mode of corporate centralization. In doing so, we build on an emergent interdisciplinary understanding of storage as an ‘infrastructural ecology,’ shifting attention from the biophysical environments to the political environments in which discourses and strategies of desiloization circulate and transpire.

Manufacturing mesenchymal stromal cells in a microcarrier-microbioreactor platform can enhance cell yield and quality attributes: case study for acute respiratory distress syndrome

Mesenchymal stem and stromal cells (MSCs) hold potential to treat a broad range of clinical indications, but clinical translation has been limited to date due in part to challenges with batch-to-batch reproducibility of potential critical quality attributes (pCQAs) that can predict potency/efficacy. Here, we designed and implemented a microcarrier-microbioreactor approach to cell therapy manufacturing, specific to anchorage-dependent cells such as MSCs. We sought to assess whether increased control of the biochemical and biophysical environment had the potential to create product with consistent presentation and elevated expression of pCQAs relative to established manufacturing approaches in tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) flasks. First, we evaluated total cell yield harvested from dissolvable, gelatin microcarriers within a microbioreactor cassette (Mobius Breez) or a flask control with matched initial cell seeding density and culture duration. Next, we identified 24 genes implicated in a therapeutic role for a specific motivating indication, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); expression of these genes served as our pCQAs for initial in vitro evaluation of product potency. We evaluated mRNA expression for three distinct donors to assess inter-donor repeatability, as well as for one donor in three distinct batches to assess within-donor, inter-batch variability. Finally, we assessed gene expression at the protein level for a subset of the panel to confirm successful translation. Our results indicated that MSCs expanded with this microcarrier-microbioreactor approach exhibited reasonable donor-to-donor repeatability and reliable batch-to-batch reproducibility of pCQAs. Interestingly, the baseline conditions of this microcarrier-microbioreactor approach also significantly improved expression of several key pCQAs at the gene and protein expression levels and reduced total media consumption relative to TCPS culture. This proof-of-concept study illustrates key benefits of this approach to therapeutic cell process development for MSCs and other anchorage-dependent cells that are candidates for cell therapies.

Understanding the nexus between traditional brick-making, biophysical and socio-economic environment of Goma Division, Mukono Municipality, Central Uganda

This study aimed to evaluate the environmental and socio-economic impact of traditional brick-making in Goma Division. The research methods included semi-structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, field observation, and focused group discussions. The results indicated that traditional brick-making is causing harm to the biophysical environment in the form of the degradation of wetland vegetation and deforestation (100%), landscape deformation (85%), air and water pollution, whereby DO had reduced by 19.8%, BOD, pH, TSS, TDS, EC and turbidity had increased by 3.8±0.9 ppm, 1.2±0.1, 89.4±0.1 mg/L, 18±0.9 ppm, 70±0.7 µS/cm, and 264±44 NTUs, respectively. Water pollution loads varied from point to point of sampling significantly at p<0.05, with the highest loads found at the tail end or downstream of the site but lowest at a point upstream of the clay mining site. The socio-economic analysis showed that the benefits of brick-making outweigh the costs in terms of magnitude, except for the frequency of responses. All respondents indicated that brick-making had created employment, while 87% reported an improvement in their standard of living. However, the activity is associated with accidents that can result in loss of life or bodily injury. It was concluded that Mukono Municipal Environmental Officers should monitor brick-making mines and site activities to prevent the creation of open pits and caves. The environment should be treated as a borrowed asset to ensure sustainability. The study suggests that financial support and awareness should be available to clay miners and brickmakers to ensure sustainability.

Urban green space preferences for various health-related psychological benefits of adolescent pupils, university students and adults

Previous research has shown that biophysical and social characteristics of urban green spaces (UGS) and individual factors may play a role in preferences for restorative environments. However, little is known about the trade-offs between (bio)physical and social characteristics of UGS on different health-related psychological benefits between different population groups. This exploratory study used an image-based discrete choice experiment, in which 298 adolescent pupils, 159 university students, and 142 adults were asked which urban green spaces they would prefer for general recovery, stress reduction, and concentration improvement. Each of the 128 green space scenarios depicted different attributes of varying levels of recreational infrastructure, numbers of trail users, distances between forest vegetation and trail, traffic noise, background scenery, both in winter and in summer. The results indicate that visitor numbers and traffic noise strongly influenced green space preferences for all study groups, but groups differed in terms of their preferences and trade-offs for the psychological benefits. The biophysical environment was less important for adolescent pupils, while recreational infrastructure was less important for the adults. There were group differences in stated preferences for general recovery, stress reduction, and concentration enhancement. Implications for urban green space planning are presented.

Ensuring Community Development Sustainability on Biodiversity Park Development Plan

Abstract The development of biodiversity parks is increasingly being encouraged as an ex-situ effort to conserve biodiversity in Indonesia. One of the cities that are attempting to build this biodiversity park is Cimahi City in West Java. The development of the biodiversity park will not only be related to bio-physical environment aspects, but also includes other aspects including social, economic, cultural and policy. This article aims to describe the local community’s perception of the development of a biodiversity park, and to assess the community’s readiness in its development. The study that underlies the writing of this article was carried out by applying qualitative cum quantitative design by conducting a survey of 100 community members, conducting in-depth interviews with a number of resource persons and conducting field observations. The results of the study show that because of their ignorance, most of the community members perceive that the construction of the biodiversity park has no risk in their lives. This is supported by measuring the level of community readiness for the construction of a biodiversity park which is in the denial/resistance stage. The communities have no motivation to act on issues and feel that there is nothing they need to do and they should not do anything. Therefore, to ensure the sustainability of the biodiversity park in this location, the proponent (Environment Office of Cimahi City) must conduct intensive socialization, involve local communities in every stage of development, make community members part of the management of the biodiversity park, and as carefully as possible identify various business opportunities and potentials that can be done by the affected community in the location in order to make them be independent.

Impact of institutional overlapping on water governance of Himalayan City, Nainital, India

ABSTRACT This article investigates the current institutional arrangement concerning water governance in Nainital, India, located in the Western Himalayas. It assesses the availability of water resources, the functioning of the supply system, and sheds light on the role of institutions in managing water resources, supply, and distribution. Through qualitative methods (such as focus group discussions and key informant interviews with officials from water management institutions, citizens, etc.) supplemented by a literature review, the study reveals a complex network of institutions and stakeholders involved in water management. This complexity results in overlapping jurisdictions, leading to accountability gaps and various issues. The study identifies that in Nainital, existing institutions operate independently, impacting water governance in terms of water supply, resources, and environmental aspects. Considering the fragile biophysical environment of Nainital, the study also recommends integration of nature-centric approaches into institutional frameworks, which can be helpful in improving the resilience of water systems and promoting sustainable water governance

An aerial framework for Multi-View grape bunch detection and route Optimization using ACO

Typically, commercial orchards and vineyards consist of large fields that encounter similar development phases at once. Thus, it becomes necessary to efficiently fly over all fields to detect fruit and identify their status in a very limited timeframe. For this purpose, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) path planning plays a pivotal role in agriculture as it enables optimal coverage of agricultural fields, leading to enhanced data acquisition and improved precision agriculture practices, for instance, disease assessment and pesticide application. In addition, deep learning techniques offer precise image analysis. On the one hand, object detection has been applied to agricultural fields to carry out a wide range of operations, such as detecting apples and predicting yield in vineyards, with higher detection accuracy when the fruits are fully visible. On the other hand, when crops present leaf-occlusion, the algorithms face difficulties and are unable to adapt to the specific characteristics of the field. Therefore, this study seeks to address this issue by developing a novel framework to enhance UAV path planning for data collection in vineyards, considering the current biophysical environment. To this end, the proposed framework requires two flights: i) a first flight (survey) to acquire insights on the crop structure and environment, and ii) a second flight using the Ant Colony Optimization Max-Min Ant System (ACO-MMAS) algorithm to enhance image acquisition by considering multiple angles to overcome partial leaf-occlusion. Further, the optimisation algorithm can potentially boost the acquisition of datasets for fruit detection by considering single and multiple UAVs flying synchronously while ensuring a safe distance between platforms and efficient coverage. The method was tested in two vineyards with different environmental characteristics, increasing levels of difficulty and acquired during two different growing seasons. It improved the length of the computed paths by up to 24%, compared to a base algorithm that considers only the closest point without any optimisation, improving the decision-making processes and resource allocation in crop management.