Net Bags Research Articles

Expanding access to maggot containment dressings through redesign and innovation.

There are two major styles of maggot debridement dressings: (1) confinement dressings that form a cage around the wound, and (2) containment dressings that completely surround the maggots within a sealed porous bag. For producers and clinicians wanting to prepare containment dressings using readily available polyester bags, it is currently difficult to seal these bags without expensive high-temperature plastic welders. This study aimed to identify simple and affordable methods for sealing maggots within polyester net bags. Heat sealing was the most effective and simplest method to seal the polyester net bags, but the high melting point of polyester required industrial grade heat sealers. An inner lining of polyethylene or polypropylene film at the open side of the bag allowed for complete sealing using low-cost hand-actuated impulse heat sealers. This design even facilitated the addition of plastic zipper-locks, allowing secure closure of the bag without electricity or special equipment. Other sealing methods were identified, but most were time-consuming, required practice or not consistently successful. The maggot containment bag designs and closure methods described herein should prove useful to clinicians without access to contained maggots and to maggot producers without the resources to seal polyester containment bags. Clinical trials are expected to follow.

Manure decomposition in sandy soils fertilized with mineral nitrogen

Potato productivity has declined gradually over the last few years in the micro-region of agreste in Paraiba state due to incorrect soil fertility management, with empirical applications of bovine manure. To aim of supporting the appropriate management of this input, a study was carried out to evaluate the manure mineralization using three methods: CO2 emission in the field, soil incubation in the laboratory and dry matter loss in plastic net bags. The C-CO2 emitted on the soil surface was captured with NaOH solution, using chambers placed on the soil surface, in plots without and with the application of 11 Mg ha-1 of bovine manure. In the laboratory, soil incubation with manure addition (11 mg ha-1), combined or not with ammonium sulfate (60 kg N ha-1), was performed in hermetically sealed 2000 mL (68fl oz) containers containing NaOH for CO2 capture, for 180 days. Decomposition bags with manure addition (11 mg ha-1) with and without ammonium sulfate (60 kg N ha-1), buried at 15 cm depth, were followed for 110 days. In the laboratory assay, the decomposition, estimated by the accumulated C-CO2 emission, was very low, 5 and 3.5% for manure applied alone and with ammonium sulfate, respectively, in 180 days of incubation.

Together with Well Done Crochect, Knitting the Hope of Free Orphaned Middle School Teachers

This community service activity was carried out by a team of lecturers and students from the Faculty of Economics and Business and the Faculty of Engineering, Pamulang University with Well Done Crochet partners with grant funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture of The Republic of Indonesia . The aim of this activity is in line with the first sustainable development goal, namely ending poverty in all forms throughout the world. The focus of this goal is on efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and empower those living in vulnerable conditions. The establishment of Well Done Crochet was initially to provide additional income for free school teachers for orphans. The methods or stages used are Identification of Partner Needs, Design and Procurement of Equipment. Operational Testing of Equipment, Operational Assistance, Technology Dissemination to the community/partners, Training, Mentoring, and Monitoring and Evaluation. After going through several stages of these activities, improvements were achieved, including: (a) increasing the skills of knitting teachers regarding various knitting techniques using sentro knitting machines, knitting net bags and needle punch techniques, (b) increasing teachers' knowledge about Business. Canvas and Design thinking models, (c) increasing the knowledge of Well Done Chrochet students about entrepreneurship. This service activity can be said to have succeeded in increasing the creativity of teachers and students to maximize entrepreneurial activities in the craft sector as additional income

Crops dependency on pollinators to secure pollination success and fruit development: A case study of almond varieties from Morocco

AbstractThe contribution of insects to pollination constitutes a globally important ecosystem service. Due to the increasing demand for entomophilous crops, the nutritional and economic importance of insect‐pollinated crops and the inability of managed pollinators (Apis mellifera L) to meet the high demand for their services indicate that agriculture heavily relies on wild pollinators. Almonds are an economically valuable crop in Morocco. Therefore, it is essential to understand the fundamental pollination requirements of major almond varieties to promote their production. The main objectives of this study were to assess the dependency of three almond cultivars (Espoir, Largueta and Planeta) on insect pollination, and then to evaluate the pollination deficit resulting from the lack of these pollinators. For this purpose, we used insect‐proof net bags constructed around branches of almond trees to compare fruit set and yield with open and open + hand‐pollinated flowers. The results of the fruit set experiment confirmed that all three varieties require insect pollination, as fruit set and yield were significantly higher in insect‐pollinated than insect‐isolated trees. All three almond varieties were categorized as obligatory dependent on biotic pollinators. In addition, two out of the three studied almond varieties showed high pollination deficit resulting from the lower abundance and/or diversity of pollinating insects. The results of the current study highlights the important role of insect pollinators for almond crops and the urgent need for the implementation of sustainable strategies to preserve pollinators within agricultural ecosystems.

Effects of Harvesting Method on Seed Yield and Seed Quality in Urochloa ruziziensis (cv. ‘OKI-1’ and cv. ‘Br-203’)

Two field trials were conducted in Northern Thailand from 2018 to 2020 to determine the best manual harvesting method for maximizing seed yield and seed quality of two Urochloa ruziziensis cultivars, cv. OKI-1 and cv. Br-203. Four manual seed harvesting methods were implicated in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The four methods were as follows: knocking seeds from seedheads into a nylon net receptacle and collecting them once every day (T1); knocking seeds from seedheads into a nylon net receptacle and collecting them once every three days (T2); allowing ripe seeds to fall into a nylon net sheet that was stretched as a receptacle beneath the seedheads and collecting seeds once every five days (T3); and covering the tied seedheads with a nylon net bag and collecting seeds once every five days (T4). The highest pure seed yield was obtained from T3 in cv. Br-203 (333.11 kg/ha), as well as the highest trend in cv. OKI-1 (534.67 kg/ha). T3 produced 22–46% and 11–27% more pure germinated seed yields than the other methods in cv. Br-203 and cv. OKI-1, respectively. As a result, T3 was recommended for higher seed yield, convenient seed harvest, and reduced manual seed harvest time.

ANALISIS STRUKTUR PENDAPATAN DAN POLA PENGELUARAN RUMAH TANGGA NELAYAN JARING KANTONG (TRAMMEL NET) DI KECAMATAN ALUH-ALUH KABUPATEN BANJAR

Fishermen's income is sometimes very fluctuating, especially during the famine season which is usually marked by a decrease in the number of catches. This results in price fluctuations that have an impact on decreasing fishermen's income. The aim of this research is to analyze the income structure and expenditure patterns of trammel net fishermen in Aluh-Aluh district, Banjar district. This research was conducted in Aluh-aluh District, Aluh-Aluh District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan. Realization of the study location was carried out deliberately because the population uses a lot of fishing gear net bag (Trammel Net). The research was conducted from April to December 2022. The method used in this research is a descriptive method which can be interpreted as a problem solving procedure investigated by describing/ describe the condition of the subject/object of research. Total household income of bag net fishermen in Aluh-Aluh District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province. Income from catches from fishermen who own boats is IDR 104,814,532/year and income from farming in the paddy fields is IDR 17,188,750/year. Income from the catch of boat labor fishermen is Rp. 17,616,000/year and income from farming in the paddy fields Rp. 5,500,000/year. The total expenditure of pocket fishermen in Aluh-Aluh District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province consists of the expenditure pattern of fishermen who own boats, namely food consumption (rice, fish, vegetables and milk) and the expenditure pattern of labor fishermen, namely food consumption (rice, fish, vegetables and milk).

Impact of Different Packaging Materials on the Quality and Shelf Life of Kinnow Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)

The experiment carried out on the “Impact of Different Packaging Materials on The Quality and Shelf Life of Kinnow Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)".Under the study the packaging treatments include T1 (Control or no packaging), T2 (Fruits packed in Newspaper), T3 (Fruits wrapped in Brown paper bags), T4 (Fruits packed in Aluminium Foil), T5 (Fruits wrapped in LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), T6 (Fruits packed in Rice stubble), T7 (fruits packed in Perforated boxes), T8 (Fruits packed in Gunny bags), T9 (Fruits packed in Nylon net bags). The main objective of the experiment was to evaluate the effect of various packaging materials on physico-chemical characteristics of Kinnow fruit during storage. The physico-chemical evaluation of the fruits of each treatment was done upto 24 days and all the observations were recorded at every 6 days interval. The Fruit Weight, Polar Diameter, Radial Diameter, Peel weight having the decreasing trend, the highest mean was found in T5 during storage which were (151.70), (57.58), (59.11), (36.08) respectively. The TSS(0Brix) and pH were recorded lowest in the fruits packed in T5 during storage which were (10.45) and (4.02) respectively. Specific gravity of fruits had decreasing trend during storage period and found highest (0.86) in T5 at 24 days while ascorbic acid and titrable acidity had decreasing trend and mean values was found highest (17.89) and (0.89) in T5 respectively during storage. On basis of study results shown by physico-chemical characteristics of kinnow, it was concluded that kinnow fruits packed in T5 LDPE packing has highest overall acceptability at 24 days of storage. These practices may be passed on for obtaining higher returns with B:C ratio of 2.39.

Karakteristik Sampah Makroplastik di Pantai Wisata Lamaru Kota Balikpapan

Marine debris is one of the environmental problems in Indonesia's coastal and marine areas, especially macroplastics. One of the coastal areas with macroplastic problems is the tourist beach, which may adversely affect the coastal ecosystem, biota, and reduce the quality of the coastal environment. The purpose of this study was to identify the type and composition, calculate the total weight, and determine the difference in macroplastic density in two different periods. This study was conducted in March and August 2022 at Lamaru tourism beach, Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan. Transect lines and sampling at the research site were determined by following guidelines from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia. Sampling was carried out in transect areas with a length of 100 metres parallel to the shoreline and following the width of the beach ridge. All data collected were analysed using Microsoft Office Excel and SPSS software. It was found that the types and composition of macroplastic at Lamaru tourism beach were 12 types such as bottle caps, spoons, food and beverage packaging, plastic bags, toys, cigarette butts, plastic basins, net bags, tarpaulins, rope, raffia, and other plastic materials with a total of 142 items. The total weight of macroplastic waste in period I was 5.6792 gr/m2 and in period II was 4.1874 gr/m2. There was no significant effect (p>0.05) between different periods on the amount, weight and density of microplastics at Lamaru Tourism Beach, Balikpapan City. The dominant source of macroplastic at Lamaru beach comes from human activities on land.

Effect of Different Packaging Materials and Chemicals on Shelf Life and Quality of Aonla (Emblica officinalis L.)

To extend the shelf life of Aonla fruits and to regulate marketing for acceptability and profit during distant transportation and storage, Aonla fruits can be coated with chemicals and coating materials which are safe for consumption and packed in packaging materials. So, to find out the effect of different packaging materials and chemicals on shelf life and quality of Aonla (Emblica officinalis L.); a lab experiment was conducted at the Post Harvest Laboratory, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.) during the year 2022-2023. The experiment comprised 13 treatments of different coating materials, viz. untreated fruits, 5% Chitosan Wax, 1% Calcium Nitrate, 400 ppm Cycocel and 0.1% Sodium Benzoate and packaging materials viz. Nylon Net Bags, Poly Ethylene Bags, CFB Box which are replicated three times in a completely randomized design. The objectives of the experiment were to evaluate the effect of different treatments on the shelf life and quality of aonla. From the present investigation treatment T8 (5% Wax + 400 ppm Cycocel packed in Poly Ethylene Bags) was found best with minimum Physiological weight loss %, minimum rotting of fruits and best in terms of Bio-chemical attributes i.e., Total Soluble Solids (TSS 0Brix), Titrable Acidity (%), Ascorbic Acid (mg/100g) and Organoleptic Qualities i.e., maximum retention of Fruit colour and minimum fruit shriveling till the end of storage period.

Study on Subgrade Performance Evolution and Geocell-Reinforcement Effect of Subgrade in a Seasonal Frozen Area

Seasonally frozen soil is widely distributed all over the world. The change of the mechanical properties of the soil in the seasonal frozen area under the actions of freezing-thawing cycles are studied in this paper. Research show that pavement rebound deflection and tensile stress in the pavement both increase with the increase of freezing-thawing cycles times, and the overall performance of the subgrade and the pavement decreases under the actions of freezing-thawing cycles. In order to improve the strength and rigidity of the subgrade in seasonal frozen area, geocell is used in the subgrade. Geocell plays a role of "net bag effect" in the subgrade. Despite undergoing the actions of freezing-thawing cycles, when the subgrade is reinforced with geocell, the pavement rebound deflection reduced by 17.3% compared with that in Condition A. The application of geocell improves the bearing capacity of seasonal frozen soil and the stiffness of the subgrade.

Application of Integrated Postharvest Technology for Maintaining the Quality of Methyl Bromide Fumigated Mangosteen Fruit

Methyl bromide fumigation aims to control insect infestation in mangosteen fruit before export which leads to reduce the fruit quality. Thus, the objective of this study was to control the quality of methyl bromide fumigated mangosteen using integrated postharvest technology. Fruit were prepared by fumigating with 32 g m-3 for 2 hours, washed with tap water, surfaced disinfestation with sodium hypochlorite. The prepared fruit samples were divided to treat with different methods as follows; 1) fruit were coated with ethanolic shellac-modified coconut oil (ES-MCO) and then packed in low density polyethylene (LDPE) bag containing ethylene inhibitor (1-MCP sachet), 2) fruit were coated with ES-MCO and packed in LDPE bag, 3) fruit were treated with ES-MCO and packed in nylon net bag, and 4) fruit were non-coated and packed in nylon net bag (control). All fruit samples were kept at 13ºC for 20 days (as the shipment stimulation) and then transferred to 25ºC for 2 days (as the shelf-life stimulation). The results revealed that after 15 days of storage fruit were treated with ES-MCO + LDPE bag + 1-MCP sachet showed the highest reduction of fruit rot disease and this treatment helped to delay the drying and browning of mangosteen calyx, chlorophyll degradation of the calyx, and reduce weight loss, the respiration rate and ethylene production. However after storage for 20 days, the pericarp of mangosteen in fruit treated with ES-MCO + LDPE bag + 1-MCP sachet became hard, and its shelf-life was 15 days.

Dynamics of Non-Structural Carbohydrates Release in Chinese Fir Topsoil and Canopy Litter at Different Altitudes.

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) are labile components in forest litter that can be released quickly at the early stage of litter decomposition and accelerate the metabolic turnover of soil microorganisms, which is essential for the formation of forest soil organic matter. Therefore, understanding the NSCs response mechanisms to forest litter at different altitudes is critical for understanding nutrient cycling in the forest soil under climate change conditions. In this study, we used the net bag decomposition method to observe the dynamics of NSCs release in Chinese fir topsoil and canopy litter at four altitudes for 360 days based on the climatic zone characteristics distributed vertically along the elevation of Wuyi Mountain. The release of NSCs in Chinese fir litter rise gradually with height increases during the decomposition. The difference of the cumulative release percentage of soluble sugar between different altitudes is more significant than that of starch. The response of the NSC content in different treatment groups at four altitudes are different. The release of NSCs in the leaf canopy litter is higher than that in the leaf topsoil litter. On the contrary, the release of NSCs in the mixture of leaf and twig topsoil litter is higher than that in the mixture of leaf and twig canopy litter. Taken together, this study is of great significance for a comprehensive understanding of the effect of climate change on NSCs during the decomposition of Chinese fir litter.

High-frequency depth changes in Atlantic cod studied with implanted data storage tags

The main aim of this study was to investigate high-frequency depth changes in wild adult Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. The analysis was based on depth measurements collected with implanted data storage tags. The study was part of a ranching project carried out in an Icelandic fjord. In the project, net bags with frozen fish were regularly provided during the daytime at 4 stations where some cod formed distinct ‘herds’ (‘herd cod’) that did not mingle much with the rest of the unconditioned cod in the fjord (‘wild cod’). After tagging, some of the cod resumed life in the herds, whereas other cod left the herds immediately. On 20 subsequent Mondays, the electronic tags were programmed to measure at the highest frequency (every 30 s), and these results were used to study high-frequency depth changes in 4 wild cod and 4 herd cod, the latter as a control group. Several times, rapid cyclical depth changes were observed in both groups. This behaviour, which sometimes lasted for hours, was highest during dawn and dusk in wild cod but peaked during daytime in herd cod after deployment of the feed bags. The occurrence and properties of these vertical undulations varied greatly between fish, dates, and time of day. Most commonly, the periods of the cycles varied between 1 and 4 min and the heights between 2 and 4 m, but there were examples of much larger undulations. The results indicate that wild adult cod swim along vertically undulating paths when searching for prey, most likely to optimize foraging.

Application of kajarula technology to the productivity of seaweed Kappaphycus striatus at Tablolong Beach, West Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

Seaweed Kappaphycus striatus is a potential marine biological resource in Indonesia, but the cultivation uses still the conventional method (long line). The decline in production yields is affected by environmental disturbances, such as pest attacks and release due to strong currents and waves, which are also not environmentally friendly. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new cultivation methods to increase seaweed productivity. This study aims to analyze the productivity of seaweed using Kajarula (Kantong Jaring Rumput Laut, also known as seaweed net bag) technology at Tablolong Beach, West Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. The research design used for observation data was randomized pretest-posttest Control Group Design. Next, this research is a case study that includes interviews, observations, and following the process of production of seaweed using Kajarula technology. The production performance of seaweed cultivated for 42 days resulted in biomass production of 7.54 ± 0.27 kg/units with an average relative growth of 153.41 ± 10.97 %/day, a growth rate of 239.32 ± 21.95 g/day, and a total harvest of 5.82 – 7.45 kg/units. The water quality conditions in these waters are within the optimal range to support seaweed growth. The productivity of seaweed cultivation using Kajarula technology shows optimal growth and yields.

Butterflies

Butterflies

Honeybees affect floral microbiome composition in a central food source for wild pollinators in boreal ecosystems

Basic knowledge on dispersal of microbes in pollinator networks is essential for plant, insect, and microbial ecology. Thorough understanding of the ecological consequences of honeybee farming on these complex plant–pollinator–microbe interactions is a prerequisite for sustainable honeybee keeping. Most research on plant–pollinator–microbe interactions have focused on temperate agricultural systems. Therefore, information on a wild plant that is a seasonal bottleneck for pollinators in cold climate such as Salix phylicifolia is of specific importance. We investigated how floral visitation by insects influences the community structure of bacteria and fungi in Salix phylicifolia inflorescences under natural conditions. Insect visitors were experimentally excluded with net bags. We analyzed the microbiome and measured pollen removal in open and bagged inflorescences in sites where honeybees were foraging and in sites without honeybees. Site and plant individual explained most of the variation in floral microbial communities. Insect visitation and honeybees had a smaller but significant effect on the community composition of microbes. Honeybees had a specific effect on the inflorescence microbiome and, e.g., increased the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from the bacterial order Lactobacillales. Site had a significant effect on the amount of pollen removed from inflorescences but this was not due to honeybees. Insect visitors increased bacterial and especially fungal OTU richness in the inflorescences. Pollinator visits explained 38% variation in fungal richness, but only 10% in bacterial richness. Our work shows that honeybee farming affects the floral microbiome in a wild plant in rural boreal ecosystems.

Design and Experiment of Nondestructive Post-Harvest Device for Tomatoes

This paper proposed a whole process tomato harvester with a nondestructive post-harvest collection operation mode, which was aimed to solve the high damage rate problem during the automatic greenhouse tomato harvesting process. The post-harvest device mainly included the net bag mechanism, the conveying and collecting mechanism, whose structure and materials were carefully designed to satisfy the nondestructive collection principle. Numerical simulation was done to evaluate the damage under three working conditions, which showed that the peak contact stress of tomatoes was 0.107 MPa, 0.098 MPa, and 0.11 MPa, respectively, all smaller than the damage stress of tomato peel tissue. In the postharvest prototype experiment, the degree of mechanical damage based on the shelf life of tomatoes during the color turning stage and red ripening stage was used as the evaluation index. Results showed that when tomatoes were dropped from the 60 mm higher position than the net bag mechanism, and the speed of the conveyor belt was 9 r min−1, the degree of mechanical damage at the color turning stage and red ripening stage was 1.9% and 9.5%, respectively. The harvest time of greenhouse tomatoes was always around the color turning stage, thus the proposed device can well meet the agricultural requirements.

Catch composition of non-target species escaping dredge gear of Rapana fisheries in the western coast of the Black Sea

ABSTRACT Despite the importance of Rapana fisheries in the Black Sea region, few studies have focused on the non-target species, and determined discard rates from hauls on the deck, with no data on organisms that entered and subsequently escaped the fishing net during the dredge fishing. Rapana venosa is harvested along the entire coast of the Black Sea using dredging or beam-trawl fishing. This study adopted the cover net method to assess the composition and proportion of non-target escapees in Rapana fisheries by dredging along the western coast of the Black Sea. In this method, the dredge net bag (codend net) is covered with a second net bag that has a smaller mesh size to retain those individuals escaping from the dredge net bag. Up to 87% of the total ∼1.4×106 individuals per km (ind. km−2) cover net catches belonged to non-target species. Overall, 24 non-target species were caught in the cover net, with 46% of species belonging to the Teleostei (mostly flatfishes), 21% Malacostraca, 17% Bivalvia, 8% Gastropoda, 4% Amphibia, and 4% Ascidiacea. On the other hand, up to 6.8% of the total ∼0.16×106 ind. km−2 catches of the codend net (dredge net) belonged to non-target species. Compared to the cover net, a total of seven non-target species were retained in the codend net, and six of them belonged to Bivalvia. This study demonstrated an apparent negative impact of Rapana fisheries, particularly on escapees that often go unaccounted for their vulnerability to stress and physical damage.

Manta Net: The Golden Method for Sampling Surface Water Microplastics in Aquatic Environments

Microplastics (MPs) (plastic particles < 5 mm in size) have become the most ubiquitous type of anthropogenic litter contaminating aquatic environments worldwide, and are capable of harming aquatic organisms and entering the food web. Microplastic research has rapidly evolved over several decades, with many studies sampling microplastic in surface waters. For sea surface sampling of MPs, different net devices have been used. But although there is an increasing number of studies using these devices to quantifying MPs in different aquatic environments, data comparison is difficult due to the lack of standardised, harmonised sampling methods and data reporting units. The Manta net device is actually the most commonly used method for sea surface sampling of MPs. The three main parts of this net are: the floating/stabilizing part, the opening mouth and the net bag, and each of them can have its own specifications. These specifications, along with the sampling methods, can be critical for the efficiency of the sampling accurate quantification of MPs in the aquatic environments. The use of different mesh sizes, inconsistency in trawling duration, speed and distance, and in the net opening dimensions, make it impossible to compare the studies between each other. This review analyzes the methodologies and characteristics of Manta nets used for MPs sampling, discussing factors that can impact the efficiency of the sampling and the quantification of MPs, and proposes recommendations in order to improve and standardize the sampling protocol.

Comparative study of five commonly used gravity type fish cages under pure current conditions

Gravity type fish cages have been commonly used in marine aquaculture for years. However, only limited research efforts have been made to assess the influences of different design parameters on the structural responses of gravity type fish cages. The present study first develops and validates an open-source numerical library under the toolbox Code_Aster for the structural analyses of fish cages. Then, the newly developed library is employed to conduct time-domain simulations to investigate the effects of the main design parameters on the cultivation volumes and drag forces. In this paper, five circumferences of the floating collar, five depths of the net bag, five weights and nine current velocities are considered in the parametric study of five commonly used fish cages. Moreover, regression functions are proposed based on the large number of numerical results to provide accurate predictions for the most concerning aspects in the design process for fish cages. Based on the parametric study, recommendations for selecting fish cage types and practical guides for cage construction are given. This study should be of value to structural designers as well as researchers wishing to optimise cage design.