Laboratory Analysis Of Samples Research Articles

Assessment of a radioecological situation in Azerbaijan, based on spectral analyses of radionuclides

Radioecological research studies – that is, studies about radioactivity – in the Absheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan, were launched in 1930–1932, initially based on samples taken from soil, water and underground water. It was determined that the main cause of the radioactive pollution in the area is not limited to the effects of radioactive isotopes of natural origin. Rather, pollution takes place also due to the contamination of oilfields driven by technogenic processes and the contact of water solutions of different mineralisation types with rocks and oilfields. However, complete exploration of the area in those times was not possible because of lack of modern equipment and devices and new technologies. It should be noted that despite the critical ecological situation prevalent in the Absheron Peninsula, no comprehensive studies have been conducted on the radiation level of the area and the diminishing of possible radiation risk among the population living and working in the nearby areas. In this paper, the regularities of the distribution of the radiation background in the territory of the Absheron Peninsula were analysed and the most dangerous areas in terms of dwelling and operating were identified with proposal of necessary measures towards such areas. Moreover, the changing of the radioactive background in relationship with the age and type of soil was determined for the first time based on laboratory analysis of samples taken from the area and the fieldworks conducted. In this paper, the radiation background of the Absheron Peninsula was studied, thus determining not only the areas with an average value of the radiation background at 8.5 μR/h but also the areas where it equalled 400–600 μR/h – that is, the dangerous levels for living and working.

Convolutional neural network for predicting the TOC content of source rocks in the Shahejie Formation, Liaohe Western Depression

The total organic carbon (TOC) content is an important index to evaluate the quality of hydrocarbon source rocks. It is proposed that accurate and effective prediction methods of TOC content are beneficial to the progress of conventional and unconventional oil and gas exploration research. The Liaohe western depression is rich in oil and gas resources. Among them, the Shahejie Formation Section 4 is the main oil-generating layer, and a comprehensive and accurate evaluation of its organic matter content can provide ideas for shale oil exploration in this area. Based on this, this article proposes three methods for quantitative prediction of TOC content in the Shahejie Formation Section 4 in the Liaohe western depression: simple linear regression, ΔLogR, and convolutional neural network (CNN) simulation, which has different correlation coefficients of 0.3, 0.55, and 0.88. Compared with the laboratory sample analysis and testing results, the prediction results of the three methods show that the CNN simulation method is more reliable and accurate for predicting TOC content. Therefore, this method is more suitable for evaluating hydrocarbon source rocks in the Liaohe western depression and has great potential for application in the evaluation of hydrocarbon resources in the future.

Dietary habits of lesser bandicoot rat (Bandicota Bengalensis) in an agro-ecosystem, Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan.

Dietary habits of bandicoot rats (bandicota bengalensis) were investigated in the agricultural crops of the Pothwar Plateau, Pakistan by analysing stomach contents. The research activities were conducted in major field crops including wheat-groundnut and in the fallow lands during non-crop season at the field boundaries. The specimens were captured from the fields using kill/snap traps, and dissected to collect their stomach samples for laboratory analysis. Light microscopic slides of the plant material were recovered from stomach samples and the reference materials were collected from the field. Results revealed that the bandicoot rat predominantly fed upon cultivated crops during cropping season but consumed wild vegetation during non-cropping season. There was no significance difference between summer and winter diets. Most frequently consumed crop food items were wheat (Triticum aestivum; 28.57%), groundnut (Arachis hypogea; 11.26%), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor; 10.17%), chickpea (Cicer arietinum; 9.52%), maize (Zea mays; 6.49%), millet (Pennisetum glaucum; 5.84%), barley (Hordeum vulgare; 4.98%) and mustard (Brassica campestris; 4.98%). Among wild vegetation were consumed khbal gha (Cynodon dactylon; 7.79%), baron dhab (Demostachya bipinnata; 7.36%) and Prickly flower (Achyranthes aspera; 3.03%). The study concludes that, in addition to consuming wheat and groundnut crops, the Lesser bandicoot rat also subsists on grasses, weeds, and some fodder crops, as important component of its diet in agro-ecosystem of the Pothwar Plateau.

Characterising Rainwash Nutrient Fluxes and Soil Nutrients under Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae) and Lowland Rainforest: implications for Ecosystem Management

This study aimed to ascertain the relationship between rainwash nutrient fluxes and soil nutrient properties under Anacardium occidentale L. (Anacardiaceae) and lowland rainforest for the purpose of sustainable ecosystem management. Both experimental and quasi experimental research designs were adopted. Samples from rainwash (for 12 months) and soil (from 0–15 cm and 15–30cm) were taken from 12 A. occidentale stands and 12 rainforests within 12 stratified quarters. Laboratory analyses of samples involved standard procedures, while data generated where statistically analysed. Results revealed that from A. occidentale and rainforest, fluxes of nutrients varied between throughfall (Tf) and stemflow (Sf), and between rainy season and dry season. The monthly nutrient fluxes by rainwash is such that Tf > Sf for both A. occidentale and native rainforest. The highest fluxes of nutrients by Tf occurred during dry months, with corresponding Sf fluxes were observed during rainy months. At 0.05 alpha levels, nutrient fluxes between Tf and Sf differed significantly; as well as between soil nutrient contents under A. occidentale and rainforest. Rainwash nutrients correlated positively and significantly with soil nutrients. Over time, A. occidentale add nutrients to soil through rainwash, therefore its cultivation is recommended for agro-forestry and sustainable ecosystem management.

Development of LoRaWAN-based IoT system for water quality monitoring in rural areas

This article delineates the design and deployment of an innovative real-time water quality monitoring system tailored for rural regions, focusing on monitoring the water resource quality parameters. We propose a solar-powered, waterproof, portable, and Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled solution that leverages Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) technology. Central to this system is a sophisticated LoRa node outfitted with an array of sensors for capturing key water parameters, such as pH, total dissolved solids, turbidity and temperature. A conjunction of an Arduino microcontroller-based board and a LoRa shield facilitates real-time data capture and transmission to a LoRaWAN gateway. The acquired data is transmitted to The Things Network server, which is seamlessly integrated with a ThingSpeak web-based IoT server and ThingView mobile applications. We incorporate a solar cell with a solar shield to ensure sustainable energy provision for powering the entire system through a rechargeable battery. This allows users to access vital water quality information online simultaneously and continuously in real-time. As a testament to its robustness, the system was empirically tested at Gambang Lake to demonstrate its effectiveness, functionality, buoyancy, and waterproof capabilities. We further validated the results by comparing them with laboratory sample analysis findings. Experimental evaluations confirmed the system's reliability, as evidenced by the strong agreement between the water conditions measured using our solution and those obtained from laboratory instruments. Moreover, our system efficiently and remotely updated data across multiple IoT platforms using the LoRa radio interface over the LoRaWAN gateway.

In-Situ Bubblepoint Measurement by Optical Spectroscopy

Summary Representative fluid properties are required for a wide range of field life aspects such as initial sizing of reservoir hydrocarbon reserves and production planning. Fluid properties are routinely obtained from laboratory sample analysis, but some fluid properties can also be measured in situ with formation testers. A new downhole bubblepoint technique has been developed to supplement traditional downhole fluid analysis (DFA) measurements. Bubble-initiation pressure is measured on reservoir fluids enabling early estimations and sample representativity. The method outlined consists of two parts—bubble generation and bubblepoint-pressure detection. After the isolation of a volume of contamination-free fluid in the fluid analyzer module of a formation tester, a downhole pump is used to reduce flowline pressure at a low and precise flow rate. Bubble initiation is detected using optical spectroscopy measurements made at a 128-ms data sampling rate. Even very small bubbles scatter visible and near-infrared light directed through the flowline, ensuring that the initiation of bubbles is detected. Flowline decompression experiments are performed in minutes, at any time, and on a range of downhole fluids. Downhole bubblepoint pressure measurements were made on four different fluids. The gas/oil ratio (GOR) of the tested fluids ranged from 90 m3/m3 to 250 m3/m3. In each case, the downhole bubblepoint obtained from the flowline decompression experiment matched the saturation determined by constant composition expansion (CCE) in the laboratory to within 350 kPa. We observed that bubble initiation is first detected using near-infrared spectroscopy. As the pressure drops, gas bubbles coming out of the solution increase in size, and the bubble presence becomes identifiable on other downhole sensors such as the live fluid density and fluorescence, where it manifests as signal scattering. For each of the investigated fluids, pressure and density measurements acquired while the flowline pressure is above saturation pressure are also used to compute compressibility as a function of pressure. This downhole bubblepoint pressure measurement allows optimization of real-time sampling operations, enables fluid grading and compartmentalization studies, and can be used for an early elaboration of a fluid equation-of-state (EOS) model. The technique is suitable for black oils and volatile oils. For heavy oil with very low gas content, the accuracy of this technique may be reduced because of the energy required to overcome the nucleation barrier. Prior documented techniques often inferred downhole bubblepoints from the analysis of the rate of change of flowline pressure. Direct detection of the onset of gas bubble appearance without requiring additional dedicated downhole equipment and validated against laboratory measurements is shown for the first time. The measurement accuracy is enabled by the combination of 128-ms optical spectroscopy with low and accurate decompression rates.

Pengaruh Kepemimpinan dan Motivasi Kerja terhadap Kinerja Karyawan Pt. Cjfm

The progress of the organization is strongly supported by the performance of employees. If employees do a good job, employees will compete for awards, bonuses or be promoted to a better position. There are several problems arising from leadership style and lack of motivation in the Quality Control section, such as, the length of laboratory sample analysis, frequent miss communication with other related sections, to high attendance rates. The purpose of this study is intended so that we know the extent of the influence of management and morale on staff performance at PT. CJFM, The research used in this study is a quantitative descriptive type using questionnaire data collection techniques using 10 samples. The methods used are multiple regression analysis and partial t tests and F tests to determine the free parts that can affect the bound part if the data is analyzed with the SPSS application. The results of this study illustrate that leadership or leadership can have a positive effect and work encouragement has a negative effect on staff performance at PT. The results of the partial analysis of CJFM, management has a significant effect and work encouragement can have a negative and inappropriate effect on the performance of PT. CJFM

A case report of ocular monkeypox

A 35-year-old male patient arrived at the clinic, reporting a persistent issue of his right eye being difficult to open for the past three weeks. Alongside this, he had been experiencing a gradual development of lesions around the eye. Notably, about a month prior to the onset of these symptoms, the patient had engaged in unprotected intercourse with a male partner. The initial manifestation was a papule near the eye, which then rapidly progressed. Laboratory analysis of samples taken from the lesions confirmed the presence of monkeypox through polymerase chain reaction testing. Furthermore, this patient received positive diagnoses for both HIV and syphilis infections. Notably, his absolute CD4 count was measured at an extremely low level of 2 cells/μl.

Smart Farming Revolution: Portable and Real-Time Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus Monitoring for Sustainable Agriculture.

Precision agriculture is crucial for ensuring food security in a growing global population. Nutrients, their presence, concentration, and effectiveness, are key components in data-driven agriculture. Assessing macro and micro-nutrients, as well as factors such as water and pH, helps determine soil fertility, which is vital for supporting healthy plant growth and high crop yields. Insufficient soil nutrient assessment during continuous cropping can threaten long-term agricultural viability. Soil nutrients need to be measured and replenished after each harvest for optimal yield. However, existing soil testing procedures are expensive and time-consuming. The proposed research aims to assess soil nutrient levels, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, to provide critical information and guidance on restoring optimal soil fertility. In this research, a novel chip-level colorimeter is fabricated to detect the N and P elements of soil onto a handheld colorimeter or spectrophotometer. Chemical reaction with soil solution generates color in the presence of nutrients, which are then quantitatively measured using sensors. The test samples are collected from various farmlands, and the results are validated with laboratory analysis of samples using spectrophotometers used in laboratories. ANOVA test has been performed in which F value > 1 in our study indicates statistically significant differences between the group means. The alternate hypothesis, which proposes the presence of significant differences between the groups, is supported by the data. The device created in this paper has crucial potential in terms of environmental and biological applications.

Identifying Original and Restoration Materials through Spectroscopic Analyses on Saturnino Gatti Mural Paintings: How Far a Noninvasive Approach Can Go

This paper presents the results obtained for the mural paintings (XV century CE) in the church of San Panfilo in Villagrande di Tornimparte (AQ, Italy) by means of noninvasive spectroscopic techniques; this research is a part of the project on the Saturnino Gatti pictorial cycle, promoted and coordinated by the AIAr (the Italian Archaeometry Association). Digital optical microscopy (OM), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy in the UV–Vis–NIR range (FORS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the external reflection mode (ER-FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy were performed on the points selected based on the image analysis results and the few available records on previous intervention, with the aim of characterizing both the original and restoration organic and inorganic materials. The synergic application of complementary techniques allowed us to obtain a complete picture of the palette and the main alteration products and organic substances (of rather ubiquitous lipid materials and less widespread resin and proteinaceous materials in specific points). The identification of modern compounds permitted the individuation of restoration areas; this was confirmed by the comparison with multiband imaging results, as in the case of specific green and blue pigments, strictly related to the presence of high signals of zinc. This analytical protocol left only very few ambiguities and allowed to minimizing the number of samples taken to clarifying, by sample laboratory analyses, the few doubts still open.

Bowhead whale feeding in the Alaskan Beaufort Sea, based on stomach contents analyses

This study examined feeding of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) taken by Alaska Natives at Barrow (western Beaufort Sea), Nuiqsut (central Alaskan Beaufort Sea) and Kaktovik (eastern Alaskan Beaufort Sea) during 1969-2000. The objectives were to: (1) identify the proportion of harvested whales that had been feeding; and (2) describe the diet based on stomach contents. Data used were field records for 242 whales whose stomachs were examined and laboratory analysis of samples from 123 animals. There were no significant differences in the proportions of animals that had been feeding during the autumn at Kaktovik (83%) and Barrow (75%), or in sub-adults (78%) versus adults (73%). Copepods occurred significantly more frequently in animals from Kaktovik, while euphausiids and hyperiid amphipods occurred more frequently at Barrow. During the autumn, the percent copepods by volume was greater in animals taken at Kaktovik than at Barrow, while the percent euphausiids by volume was greater in whales taken at Barrow. At Barrow, a larger proportion of animals was feeding in the autumn (76%) than the spring (34%), and copepods occurred more often in the spring. Examination of five whales taken at Nuiqsut in the autumn suggests a feeding pattern similar to that seen at Kaktovik. There were no significant differences in diets of males versus females or of sub-adults versus adults. It is concluded that in the autumn, bowheads feed regularly in the eastern, central and western Alaskan Beaufort Sea, and that feeding during the spring migration is more common than previously thought.

Investigating the capability of Sentinel-2 and Worldview-3 VNIR satellite data to detect mineralized zones at an igneous intrusion in the Koutala islet (Lavreotiki, Greece) using laboratory mineralogical analysis, reflectance spectroscopy and spectral indices

During the last decades, the rapid progress of remote sensing data processing for their utilization in detecting locations of possible sites linked to hydrothermal alteration and ores has gained increasing attention due to significant time and cost savings. In this study, we present the findings of a joint remote sensing and laboratory examination of a mineralization zone induced by a granitoid intrusion onshore the islet of “Koutala”, in Lavreotiki, central Greece. Our objective is to investigate the potential of Sentinel-2 and WorldView-3 VNIR satellite data to detect and map oxidized ore zones and alteration minerals that are detected from laboratory analysis of samples and could be linked to Fe-Mn mineralization. Two approaches are followed, namely reflectance spectroscopy and spectral indices. In reflectance spectroscopy, the spectral signatures of all minerals detected in the study area are retrieved from spectral libraries. The signatures are resampled to Sentinel-2 and to WorldView-3 VNIR spectral bands. Continuum-removal is then applied and the diagnostic absorption features of each mineral are detected for each spectral band configuration. The dataset with the best spectral configuration for mineral detection is then used for the production of mineral maps using the corresponding satellite image. The second approach involves the calculation of spectral indices, namely ferric, ferrous iron and hydroxyl-bearing alteration, on reflectance spectra. The ferric iron index is applied to both satellite datasets while the two other indices require the use of SWIR bands and therefore, they can be only calculated on Sentinel-2 data. All results show that laboratory and satellite data analyses results are consistent and complementary. WorldView-3 VNIR data seem to be sensitive only to the ferric and manganese phase. Sentinel-2 data seem to be capable to detect and map all alteration minerals that are potentially linked to Fe-Mn ore, including both ferric and ferrous phases. The mineral absorption and spectral indices maps show that in the investigated area, there is significant mineralization related to the granitoid intrusion. Hydrothermal alteration is observed on the entire surface of the islet but it seems to be stronger at the eastern part of the islet where the granitoid/schist contact is located. It is the first time that (i) minerals linked to a potential Fe-Mn ore are detected on the islet and (b) the corresponding alteration mineral maps are produced from satellite data, revealing their spatial distribution and providing indirect estimations of the degree of their presence.

Rice Quality and Yield at Various Application Times of Organic Rice Management System

The higher national rice demand encourages various efforts to increase rice production. This increase in rice production occurs in line with increasing public awareness of healthy foods, especially organic rice. Rice field management with an organic system is expected to provide a higher yield and quality of rice. This study aims to determine the effect of the long-time application of an organic rice management system on rice yield and quality. Descriptive exploratory research is supported by laboratory analysis of samples of organic rice plants with three periods (10 years, 7 years, and 4 years), semi-organic and conventional. The parameters observed were dry harvested grain, dry milled grain, the weight of 1000 grains, unfilled grain, protein content, amylum, amylopectin, and reducing sugar. The most prolonged organic rice field management with the application of 10 years gives better results with a protein content of 6.14%, amylum 71.71%, and amylopectin 49.35%. While the application of organic farming for 7 years gives the highest rice yield, the difference is not confirmed with the application of organic 10 years, with the weight of dry grain harvest 10.44 Mg ha-1, dry milled grain 8.15 10.44 Mg ha-1, the weight of 1000 grains 24 g, and unfilled grain 3.8%.

Prerequisites for the formation of gold spreads on the Ukrainian Shield and on its southern framing

The presence of numerous native gold deposits of the Ukrainian Crystalline Shield (UCS), as well as the spread of placer gold manifestations, determines the high probability of the formation of precious metal placers with industrial parameters here. The main factors and geological conditions that contribute to the formation of gold placers are manifested in the UCS. An important reason for the failures of previous geological works is the outdated scientific and methodological platform, which involved the search for typical gold-bearing deposits with metal of gravity classes of size. The possibility of significant movement of placer gold in the clayey water flow and the formation of long-distance placers was not taken into account. The traditional slack method used in the study did not make it possible to determine the actual gold content when particles with a size smaller than 0.25 mm predominate in the sample, which is precisely the particle size of the primary sources of the UCS. The applied means of research could not be effective in the absence of the necessary analytical base for determining the gold content, modern methods of studying the geological structure and tectonics of the territories. The negative results did not provide any real grounds for further specialized large-scale research and prospecting for placer gold. Today, it is becoming obvious that placer gold of small and fine grades can easily move over considerable distances in the water flow and form accumulations not only in boulder-pebble material, but also in pelite sediments. As a result of repeated changes in the tectonic plan of block movements, gold-bearing accumulations could be eroded and redeposited in secondary reservoirs. In this aspect, neotectonic studies (using materials from space surveys) become the main predictive and prospecting method for identifying promising areas of placer gold concentration in the region. Field work should be carried out using drilling and modern methods of laboratory analysis of samples for gold. The results of many years of research give hope for the discovery of real placer gold deposits in the Northern Black Sea region in the near future.

Novel Coagulation Test Detects Anticoagulation Resistance and Is Associated With Thrombotic Events in Pediatric Patients Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

OBJECTIVES:Bivalirudin, an IV direct thrombin inhibitor, and unfractionated heparin (UFH) are frequently used anticoagulants in the pediatric critical care setting. An accurate, specific, point-of-care test to quantify and detect anticoagulation resistance is not currently available. This study evaluates the ability of a rapid (< 10 min), micro-volume (< 50 uL) coagulation test to detect and quantify the anticoagulation effect of bivalirudin and UFH using a functional, clot time endpoint in pediatric critical care patients.DESIGN:Single-site retrospective laboratory sample analysis and chart review.SETTING:A 105-bed pediatric and cardiac ICUs delivering extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.SUBJECTS:Forty-one citrated, frozen, biobanked plasma specimens comprising 21 with bivalirudin and 20 with UFH from 15 anticoagulated pediatric patients were analyzed. Thirteen patients were on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, one had a submassive pulmonary embolism, and one was on a left ventricular assist device.INTERVENTIONS:None.MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS:A Clotting Time Score (CTS) was derived on each sample. The CTS detected patients that had developed a pathologic clotting event with 100% sensitivity and 82% specificity compared with prothrombin time with 25% sensitivity/76% specificity and activated partial thromboplastin time with 0% sensitivity/0% specificity. Additionally, the CTS detected subtherapeutic anticoagulation in response to UFH in patients that were clinically determined to be UFH resistant requiring alternative anticoagulation with bivalirudin.CONCLUSIONS:The CTS appears to be a clinically valuable indicator of coagulation status in patients treated with either UFH or bivalirudin. Results outside of the therapeutic range due to inadequate dosing or anticoagulation resistance appeared to be associated with clot formation. CTS testing may reduce the risk of anticoagulation-related complications via the rapid identification of patients at high risk for pathologic thrombotic events.

Analysis of cryoproteins with a focus on cryofibrinogen: a study on 103 patients.

Cryofibrinogen (CF) is an abnormal protein in plasma that precipitates at 4°C and dissolves at 37°C. Whilst serum cryoglobulins (CGs) analysis is common practice, CF investigation is rarely performed. This study aims to describe the testing methodology developed at our laboratory, potential pitfalls for all analytical phases, the distribution among hospital wards and clinical conditions underlying test requests and clinical conditions in which to order CF analysis is useful. Retrospective analysis of laboratory samples received between January 2019 and June 2021 with CF testing requests. A complete protocol for CF pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases are supplied. Most test requests were received from the rheumatology department for systemic sclerosis or liver transplant screening. Among the 103 in-patients included, CF+ was confirmed in 68 patients (66%). Of observed CF+ patients (n=68) most cases were CGs- (n=44, 67%). Isolated CF was found in 43% of the cases. Among CF- patients (n=35; 34%) only 2 patients had positive CGs (CGs+). Among rheumatology patients (n=66), isolated CF+ was observed in 45% (n=30/66), whilst among patients with systemic sclerosis with CF+ (n=19), isolated CF+ was detected in 79% (n=15/19). Described analytical procedures may be used for the creation of harmonized recommendations and indications for CF analysis. Isolated CF positivity among hospitalized patients, predominantly rheumatology and systemic sclerosis patients, appears higher than rates previously reported in literature. We propose CF test recommendations should be included in investigation protocols for diseases where cryofibrinogenemia may occur.

Comparison of drone and vessel-based collection of microbiological water samples in marine environments

Many water quality metrics cannot be measured in situ and require collection of a physical sample for laboratory analysis. This includes microbiological samples for detection of fecal coliform bacteria in marine and freshwater systems which are a critical component of food safety programs for human consumption of bivalve shellfish worldwide. Water sample collection programs are typically vessel-based which can be time and resource intensive. In Canada, the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program aims to avoid consumption of contaminated molluscan bivalves by monitoring fecal coliform bacteria through vessel-based water sample collection. Uncrewed aerial vehicles or drones are becoming more commonly used for water sample collection given their relatively low cost but are rarely used to support microbiological analyses. A prerequisite for the acceptance of a new collection method for a regulatory program is to determine if the method of sample collection affects results. To assess this potential, we designed, developed, and tested a sampling device attached to the underside of a drone to collect water samples for bacteriological analysis. Drone and vessel-based samples were collected in the same location, at the same 20-cm depth, within a minute apart, at ten different geographic locations in coastal Nova Scotia waters to compare fecal coliform counts. Bacterial count estimates obtained from drone-collected samples were not significantly different than estimates obtained from vessel-collected samples (p < 0.5). Results from this study suggest novel water sampling techniques using drones could supplement or replace traditional vessel-based sampling methods.

Predicting Grape Sugar Content under Quality Attributes Using Normalized Difference Vegetation Index Data and Automated Machine Learning.

Wine grapes need frequent monitoring to achieve high yields and quality. Non-destructive methods, such as proximal and remote sensing, are commonly used to estimate crop yield and quality characteristics, and spectral vegetation indices (VIs) are often used to present site-specific information. Analysis of laboratory samples is the most popular method for determining the quality characteristics of grapes, although it is time-consuming and expensive. In recent years, several machine learning-based methods have been developed to predict crop quality. Although these techniques require the extensive involvement of experts, automated machine learning (AutoML) offers the possibility to improve this task, saving time and resources. In this paper, we propose an innovative approach for robust prediction of grape quality attributes by combining open-source AutoML techniques and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data for vineyards obtained from four different platforms-two proximal vehicle-mounted canopy reflectance sensors, orthomosaics from UAV images and Sentinel-2 remote sensing imagery-during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. We investigated AutoML, extending our earlier work on manually fine-tuned machine learning methods. Results of the two approaches using Ordinary Least Square (OLS), Theil-Sen and Huber regression models and tree-based methods were compared. Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and Automatic Relevance Determination (ARD) were included in the analysis and different combinations of sensors and data collected over two growing seasons were investigated. Results showed promising performance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Spectrosense+ GPS data in predicting grape sugars, especially in mid to late season with full canopy growth. Regression models with both manually fine-tuned ML (R² = 0.61) and AutoML (R² = 0.65) provided similar results, with the latter slightly improved for both 2019 and 2020. When combining multiple sensors and growth stages per year, the coefficient of determination R² improved even more averaging 0.66 for the best-fitting regressions. Also, when considering combinations of sensors and growth stages across both cropping seasons, UAV and Spectrosense+ GPS, as well as Véraison and Flowering, each had the highest average R² values. These performances are consistent with previous work on machine learning algorithms that were manually fine-tuned. These results suggest that AutoML has greater long-term performance potential. To increase the efficiency of crop quality prediction, a balance must be struck between manual expert work and AutoML.

Carbon sequestration and the enzymic latch mechanism in red, black and white mangrove soils of Florida USA

Mangrove swamps are important habitat types providing vital ecological services, such as protection of coastlines from erosion and extreme weather conditions including hurricanes, recycling of nutrients and sequestration of carbon. Mangrove swamps support a wide range of biodiversity, improve water quality, provide fish for local communities. They are also used as a source of wood fuel, medication as well as for harvesting honey for the local population. Soil samples for laboratory analyses were collected from red (Rhizophora mangle), black (Avicennia germinans) and white (Laguncularia racemose) mangroves in Florida, USA to determine the biogeochemistry processes. Results of analyses indicated that the red mangrove soil is the most efficient for carbon sequestration. It had the lowest phenol oxidase activity (206.15 nmol dicq g-1 h-1), highest phenolic concentration (262.33 µg g-1) and lowest hydrolase enzyme activity (β-glucosidase) (3.04 nmol g-1 min-1) and, as a result, the highest concentration of soil organic matter (SOM) (57.9%). It is believed that the high soil water content (84.2%).) of the red mangrove, due to its proximity to the sea, is a key driver of these observations. The 'enzymic latch' mechanism appears to be prevalent in the red mangrove soil, in particular, allowing these ecosystems to be effective at carbon storage hence, could serve as an important natural tool in mitigating the effect of climate change. Preservation and conservation of mangrove swamps is vital in balancing the effect of global warming.

Effectiveness and cost of an incentive-based intervention on food safety and income in \u201cdibiteries\u201d in Dakar, Senegal

BackgroundRapid urbanisation in Sub-Saharan African cities such as Dakar, Senegal, leads to proliferation of informal braised meat restaurants known as “dibiteries”. Dibiteries do not often comply with minimal hygiene and food safety standards. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness and cost of a good hygiene practice intervention, identify factors that incentivize hygiene improvement and how that impacts on dibiteries’ income.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was carried out in Dakar dibiteries. The 120 random samples of braised meat were collected in three phases: (i) one-month pre-intervention, (ii) 2 months post-intervention, (iii) 10 months post-intervention. The trial comprised four groups of 10 dibiteries each: (a) (control) received no intervention, (b) a standardized training module, (c) a hygiene kit, (d) a training module and hygiene kit. Laboratory analysis of samples determined the total aerobic mesophilic flora (TAMF), thermotolerant coliforms (TC) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA). A questionnaire-based survey and focus group discussion were used to identify pre-intervention hygiene practices, and socioeconomic determinants of hygiene management in dibiteries post-intervention, respectively.ResultsSamples were found to be contaminated with TAMF, TC and SA. In phase 1, 27 and 13% of the samples contained TC and SA, respectively. In phase 2, no significant improvement of contamination rates was seen. In phase 3, microbiological quality of samples was significantly improved, with only 11.5% showing contamination with any of the bacterial species analysed (p < 0.1). Compared to the control group, only samples from dibiteries in group (b) had significantly reduced bacterial load in phase 3. The cost of intervention and hygiene improvement was estimated at 67 FCFA ($ 0.12) and 41 FCFA ($ 0.07) / day respectively and did not significantly impact on dibiterie profitability. Incentives to sustainably implement good hygiene practices were mainly linked to access to secure long-term workspaces.ConclusionThis intervention may have worked, but globally the results are mixed and not quite significant. However, continuous training in good hygiene practice and access to secure and sustainable infrastructure for dibiterie restaurants are the incentives necessary to achieve sustainable investments and behavioural change. We recommend further intervention refinement and testing other factors for promoting the adoption of good hygiene practices in the dibiteries in relation to consumers health risk.