Shade Cloth Research Articles

Light Intensity Effects on Bioproduct Recovery from Fuel Wastewater Using Purple Phototrophic Bacteria in a Hybrid Biofilm-Suspended Growth System.

This research looked at how three different light intensities (1600, 4300, and 7200 lx) affect the biomass development, treatment of fuel synthesis wastewater and the recovery of valuable bioproducts between biofilm and suspended growth in a purple-bacteria enriched photobioreactor. Each condition was run in duplicate using an agricultural shade cloth as the biofilm support media in a continuously mixed batch reactor. The results showed that the highest chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate (56.8 ± 0.9%) was found under the highest light intensity (7200 lx), which also led to the most biofilm formation and highest biofilm biomass production (1225 ± 95.7 mg). The maximum carotenoids (Crts) and bacteriochlorophylls (BChls) content occurred in the suspended growth of the 7200 lx reactor. BChls decreased with light intensity in suspended growth, while in biofilm both Crts and BChls were relatively stable between light conditions, likely due to an averaging effect as biofilm thickened at higher light intensity. Light intensity did not affect protein content of the biomass, however, biofilm showed a lower average (41.2% to 43.7%) than suspended biomass (45.4% to 47.7%). For polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) the highest cell concentration in biofilm occurred at 1600 lx (11.4 ± 2.4%), while for suspended growth it occurred at 7200 lx (22.7 ± 0.3%), though total PHB productivity remained similar between reactors. Shading effects from the externally located biofilm could explain most variations in bioproduct distribution. Overall, these findings suggest that controlling light intensity can effectively influence the treatment of fuel synthesis wastewater and the recovery of valuable bioproducts in a biofilm photobioreactor.

Optimizing textile dyeing and finishing for improved energy efficiency and sustainability in fleece knitted fabrics

In the industrial range, optimizing dyeing and finishing energy is important to control environmental pollution. In the Dyeing stage to finishing of textiles gas, electricity, steam, and water are used 260 m3/hour, 591 kWh, 1.2 pounds/hour, and 8.69 tons/hour respectively. If textile professionals do not match the desired shade and quality of fabrics with the use of minimal resources the energy cost will be multiple times higher. This study investigates the change in the shade of fleece knitted fabrics from the dyeing unload to the finish stage and assumes a dyeing recipe adjustment, focusing on the impact of optimized dyeing and finishing processes. Also, it focuses on qualitative changes in properties across various color variations. Identical dyeing recipes for light, medium, and dark shades of red, blue, and navy. Properties such as GSM (grams per square meter), width, color strength, shade (darker/lighter, red/green, blue/yellow), shrinkage, spirality, pilling, bursting strength, and color fastness were analyzed. Dyeing to post-finishing, an increase in color strength (K/S) values was observed, with examples including minimum increases from 2.9 to 3.18 for light red and maximum from 19.3 to 22.9 for dark navy shade. Darker shades (DL*) were observed after stenter 1st pass (among all variants, red: 1.2 % to 8.1 %, blue: 4.5 % to 6.7 %, navy: 1.6 % to 2 %), while lighter shades (DL*) were observed following sueding and napping (among all variants, red: 3.1 % to 19.7 %, blue: 11.8 % to 19.7 %, navy: 14.8 % to 27.6 %). Greenish (Da*) and yellowish (Db*) tones are prominent across all colors in the finishing stages. Besides, other properties shrinkage, spirality, pilling, bursting strength, and color fastness significantly changed. These findings offer valuable guidance for dyeing professionals aiming to achieve the desired adjustment of shades that match the quality standard and produce sustainable fleece fabrics. To compensate for the shade lightening that occurs during the finishing process, it is recommended to keep the fabric shade slightly darker (5.70 % to 23.10 %) at the dyeing stage.

Comparing greenhouse and field biocrust cultivation methods in the Sonoran Desert

Abstract Developing methods to use biocrusts in restoration is becoming more important as land use and climate change impact the health and intactness of high‐stress ecosystems. Methods of cultivation to maximize the production of biocrusts for use in restoration activities are necessary because salvage opportunities are limited. Our objective for this research was to determine an optimal method for scalable biocrust cultivation. We tested two Field and one Greenhouse cultivation methods. The Field cultivation methods had a base layer of weed cloth, soil and irrigation with either (1) shade cloth immediately over the surface (Quesadilla method) or (2) with shade cloth over a 1 m tall hoophouse (Hoophouse method). The Greenhouse method had nested basins with water wicking up to the soil surface and biocrust from below, with shade cloth attached to basins. We crossed these methods with the addition of native soil or sand and with and without a base of jute using salvaged biocrusts from the Sonoran Desert. All methods led to at least doubling biocrust cover in 11 weeks. The Greenhouse method led to the highest cover of cyanobacteria and mosses, whereas the field Quesadilla method and the addition of native soil in all cultivation methods led to higher abundance of lichens. There were interactions of cultivation method and soil type, with Greenhouse cultivation and native soil promoting the highest cyanobacteria cover and chlorophyll a. We measured exopolysaccharide sheaths (EPS) in native soil and all cultivation conditions, finding no differences for tightly bound sheath fractions, but higher quantities of the loosely bound EPS in the Greenhouse. We also quantified native and non‐native plants in cultivation, finding few plants in Greenhouse cultivation, but high abundance in both Field methods, and particularly with native soil and without jute for native plants. Practical implication: Together, these results demonstrate that all three cultivation methods are successful for bulking biocrust materials for restoration, and preference should be given to the method that is the easiest and most accessible for practitioners.

Developing Enhanced SiTiOC/PS/TiO2 hybrid aerogels with excellent mechanical properties and ultra-low thermal conductivity

Ceramic aerogels exhibit an extremely high porosity, low weight, and exceptionally low thermal conductivity, making them suitable as insulating materials for use in challenging environments. The widespread application of conventional ceramic aerogels is typically constrained by the fragile nature of the material and its high-temperature infrared radiation transparency. Here, we successfully prepared SiTiOC/PS/TiO2 hybrid aerogels by effectively synthesizing them using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as the carbon skeleton and reinforcing them with polystyrene microspheres (PS) and PAN nanofibers loaded with TiO2 (TiO2/PAN NFs), and TiO2/PAN NFs as shading material. This was achieved through a combination of the polymer precursor transformation method, sol-gel method, and techniques such as freeze-drying and electrostatic spinning. The findings indicated that the fabricated SiTiOC/PS/TiO2 hybrid aerogels exhibited a lightweight structure, exceptionally high infrared reflectivity, remarkably low thermal conductivity, and outstanding mechanical characteristics. The successful synthesis of the SiTiOC/PS/TiO2 hybrid aerogels offers a novel approach for advancing the production of various thermal insulation materials.

Rural heat island effect of centralized residences in China: Mitigation through localized measures

China has implemented a Centralized Rural Policy since 2004 to enhance energy efficiency. However, this has led to the potential creation of a Rural Heat Island (RHI) effect, which could diminish outdoor thermal comfort and increase building energy consumption during hot summers. While most studies on heat island effect focus on spatiotemporal variations and heat mitigation measures, there is limited research on rural areas, particularly the special layout of rural residences. Additionally, most studies only consider the outdoor environment, overlooking indoor thermal comfort and building energy consumption. Therefore, in order to investigate the RHI effect and assess the efficacy of localized heat mitigation measures, this study analyzed 22 types of courtyard layout patterns in a typical centralized village in northern China through detailed field measurements and performance simulations. The results show an obvious heat island effect in the rural centralized residences, where residential zones recorded average temperatures of 1.6 °C higher than those of rural boundaries. Courtyards featuring a south wing significantly alleviated outdoor thermal stress, reducing the discomfort time of extreme Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) by 1.5 h compared to those courtyards with a wall. Among the four localized heat mitigation measures examined, the featured black fabric shade performs best for its effectiveness in mitigating outdoor thermal stress, capable of reducing the courtyard's maximum Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt) by 21.5 °C and decreasing the duration of extreme PET by 2 h. Photovoltaic modules installed on the roof not only generate energy but also alleviate outdoor thermal stress, reducing the maximum Tmrt by 12.9 °C and lowering 23 % to 28 % daily energy demand, making them highly suitable for deployment in rural areas with high rates of energy poverty. The simulated results indicate that these localized heat mitigation measures mutually reinforce each other in reducing the RHI effect. The combination of four heat mitigation measures can reduce PET by up to 20 % and EUI by up to 44 % compared to the original courtyard. Incorporating these localized strategies into planning practice enables rural planners and policymakers to develop effective interventions against the RHI effect.

Ultraviolet radiation protection factors of livestock shade cloths for free-range pigs.

Protection from solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is paramount in light-skinned pig breeds such as Yorkshire or Landrace to avoid sunburn. Determination of the UVR exposure of a pig and the sun protection abilities of shade cloths with different shade rates. Life-sized plastic model of a Landrace pig. The model was equipped with 20 UVR meters at various anatomical positions that recorded the erythemal effective solar irradiance. A turntable enabled irradiation from different directions. Solar irradiance was measured in direct sunlight as well as under three shade cloths with different shade rates (50%, 75% and 90%) and a camouflage net. The sun protection factors (SPF) were determined as the ratio of unshaded-to-shaded measurements at the same solar elevation. The exposure ratio to ambient (ERTA) was calculated for each body site with respect to ambient irradiance. It allows determination of when pigs are at risk of sunburn and protection is needed. The calculated ERTA values show that some body parts may receive higher values than ambient UVR. Measurements showed that the SPF of shade cloths depends on textile denseness. Selected shade cloths reached values of 3.5 (shade rate 50%), 4.2 (75%) and 5.8 (90%). Protection by the camouflage net was poor. The highest SPF was gained on body sides where ERTA was highest. Shade cloths can protect all body sites effectively and vulnerable sites in particular. The results of our study enable an estimation of when pigs are at risk of sunburn and provide quantitative metrics for sun protection. This allows effective prevention of UVR-caused skin damage and secondary disorders.

Thermal performance of shaded roofs: investigating the impact of material properties and efficacy of building performance simulation

This research investigates the thermal performance of shaded roofs in the composite climate of Roorkee, India, by examining four shading materials (three opaque, one translucent) over an unobstructed roof for eight consecutive days. Using ‘Designbuilder’ software simulations and a mathematical model, the study meticulously triangulates experimental, simulated, and modelled data. The hourly temperature profile of the roof under different shades is analysed and the results showed negligible differences among opaque shading materials, while the translucent material significantly altered the roof’s thermal performance due to solar transmittance. Opaque shades reduced peak heat gain through the roof by up to 77% and 71.5% on cloudy and sunny days, respectively, and reduced nighttime heat loss by 40% and 33%, respectively. This research underscores the importance of considering shading material properties in sustainable building design and confirms the reliability of simulation tools. Highlights The study finds that in parasol roofs, the shading material's thermal properties do not impact the roof's thermal performance, but the solar transmittance does. The study also found that opaque shading could reduce the hourly peak heat gain through the roof by up to 77% and 71.5% on a cloudy day and sunny day, respectively, and reduced the nighttime hourly peak heat loss from the roof by up to 40% and 33%, respectively. Despite considering shading elements in BPS tools to be thermally inactive, the tools perform valid energy simulations.

Assessing the impact of glazing and window shade systems on view clarity

Windows provide access to daylight and outdoor views, influencing building design. Various glazing and window shade materials are used to mitigate glare, overheating and privacy issues, and they affect view clarity. Among them, we evaluated the effect of window films, electrochromic (EC) glass, and fabric shades on view clarity. We conducted an experiment with 50 participants using visual tests adapted from clinical vision tests (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color sensitivity) and images displayed on a computer monitor in a controlled laboratory. Window films and EC glass tints outperformed fabric shades in visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and view satisfaction with the exception of the darkest EC tint state and dark grey VLT 3% shade for color sensitivity and view satisfaction. The EC tints pose internal reflection issues and fabric shades are preferred for visual privacy. Window films and EC glass hinder participants’ blue–green color discrimination while fabric shades also decrease red–yellow color discrimination. Visual acuity predicts view satisfaction and contrast sensitivity is the strongest predictor for visual privacy. Generally, higher visible light transmittance and lower solar reflectance (darker color) enhance human visual performance. The proposed workflow provides an experimental procedure, identifies the primary variables and establishes a predictive framework for assessing view clarity of fenestration.

Modeling Bamboo Window Blinds in Classrooms: Assessing Daylighting Performance by Simulation Incorporating BSDF

ABSTRACT The purposes of this study are 1) providing a rating framework, including model layout, simulation settings and method, for assessing the daylighting performance of fenestration systems in typical Chinese classrooms, 2) exploring if fast-growing plant made shade layer could replace polyester fabric in terms of daylight availability and visual comfort. The rating framework was introduced, and the simulation method incorporating Bidirectional Scattering Distribution Function (BSDF) was validated by a sample case of physical model composing bamboo window blinds. Eight sets of bamboo blinds with varied dimensional parameters and four sets of woven fabrics with varied openness factors were compared in the proposed rating framework. The results show that bamboo blinds with expected parameters outperform shading fabrics on daylighting performance. Besides, bamboo blinds offered a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative, providing a connection to nature and enhancing the overall window view. The findings highlight the potential of bamboo blinds in creating comfortable and visually appealing learning environments while promoting sustainability in architectural design. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of the benefits and design considerations of natural material for building applications.

Estimating the cost-effectiveness of several reservoir evaporation suppression strategies: a case study

Reservoirs often experience significant evaporation, causing a reduction in productive water use and prompting calls to curtail the loss. While efforts to reduce evaporation have predominantly focused on improving efficiencies, there has been a comparatively limited exploration of the associated costs per unit of additional water yield. To address this, a unit reference value (URV) calculation approach was employed in a case study to compare the unit costs of this additional yield through various evaporation suppression methods. The evaluated techniques included chemical monolayers, shade cloth, and both hard and soft floating covers. The URV calculation factored in capital, operating, and maintenance costs over a 20-year term, specified water-saving efficiencies for each technology, and various environmentally driven evaporation and social discount rates. The resulting URVs were compared with those for raising the Clanwilliam Dam, a large-scale groundwater scheme and the URVs for desalination. Notably, monolayers emerged with the lowest URV, but their yield efficiency is severely compromised by their short lifespan and high susceptibility to wind. The URVs of shade cloth proved competitive with those of desalination but are practical only for relatively small areas. In contrast, floating hard and soft covers demonstrated higher per-unit water delivery costs than desalination due to more frequent capital equipment replacements caused by their faster wear and weathering. The findings suggest that current evaporation suppression technologies may be economically unfeasible for agricultural and even domestic water supplies. The URV calculation serves as a valuable tool for comparing the cost-effectiveness of diverse yield-additive strategies.

Morphological and Pigment Responses to Far-Red and Photosynthetically Active Radiation in an Olive Cultivar Suitable for Super-High-Density Orchards.

Plant density is increasing in modern olive orchards to improve yields and facilitate mechanical harvesting. However, greater density can reduce light quantity and modify its quality. The objective was to evaluate plant morphology, biomass, and photosynthetic pigments under different red/far-red ratios and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) combinations in an olive cultivar common to super-high-density orchards. In a greenhouse, young olive trees (cv. Arbequina) were exposed to low (L) or high (H) PAR with or without lateral FR supplementation (L+FR, L-FR, H+FR, H-FR) using neutral-density shade cloth and FR light-emitting diode (LED) modules. Total plant and individual organ biomass were much lower in plants under low PAR than under high PAR, with no response to +FR supplementation. In contrast, several plant morphological traits, such as main stem elongation, individual leaf area, and leaf angle, did respond to both low PAR and +FR. Total chlorophyll content decreased with +FR when PAR was low, but not when PAR was high (i.e., a significant FR*PAR interaction). When evaluating numerous plant traits together, a greater response to +FR under low PAR than under high PAR appeared to occur. These findings suggest that consideration of light quality in addition to quantity facilitates a fuller understanding of olive tree responses to a light environment. The +FR responses found here could lead to changes in hedgerow architecture and light distribution within the hedgerow.

A randomized trial on the effects of heat abatement during the pre-weaning phase on growth and reproductive performance of heifers and health, reproductive and productive performances of cows

Evaluation of heat stress abatement for pre-weaned dairy calves is a rare endeavor. We aimed to assess the impacts of cooling the environment of pre-weaned calves through ceiling fans on their performance after weaning and during their first lactation. We randomly assigned female Holstein calves to one of two treatment at birth (day 0): individual frame-wire hutches in a non-cooled barn ("SH", n = 125) and individual frame-wire hutches in a barn equipped with ceiling fans ("SHF", n = 101). Calves were housed under the same barn, with treatments applied in three alternating sections. Ceiling fans (2.1 m in diameter) were positioned 4.1 m from the ground and 7.6 m apart (center-to-center). Shade cloths were used to separate the sections designated for the SH and SHF treatments. Post-weaning, heifers were commingled. We recorded body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) at weaning, 5, 7, and 10 mo of age. Pregnancy to first artificial insemination (P/1AI), hazard of pregnancy, and the hazard of commencing the first lactation are reported. Body weight at first calving, P/1AI, hazard of pregnancy, and milk yield in the first lactation are reported. No differences in BW (5 mo: SH = 162.9 ± 1.6 kg vs. SHF = 162.3 ± 1.6 kg; 7 mo: SH = 200.8 ± 2.2 kg vs. SHF = 201.1 ± 2.3 kg; 10 mo: SH = 300.5 ± 2.6 kg vs. SHF = 300.0 ± 2.8 kg) and ADG (SH = 0.94 ± 0.02 kg/d, SHF = 0.94 ± 0.02 kg/d) from 5 to 10 mo of age were detected. Treatment did not affect P/1AI (SH = 53.5 %, SHF = 45.9 %) and hazard of pregnancy [SH = referent, SHF – adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 0.87 (95 % CI = 0.65, 1.18)], but heifers in the SHF treatment were less likely to initiate the first lactation (76.2 % vs. 86.4 %). Body weight at calving (SH = 612.4 ± 5.3 kg, SHF = 618.2 ± 5.9 kg) and milk yield (SH = 39.0 ± 0.48 kg/d, SHF = 38.3 ± 0.57 kg/d) were not different, but the SHF treatment resulted in lower P/1AI (38.4 % vs. 51.4 %) and hazard of pregnancy (AHR = 0.68, 95 % CI = 0.49, 0.93) and fewer cows starting their second lactation (57.4 % vs. 72.8 %). In our experiment, providing cooling through ceiling fans during the pre-weaning phase had a negative impact on the reproductive performance of Holstein cows during their first lactation.

The Effect of Shade on Germination and Seedling Growth of Two Dogfruit (Pithecellobium jiringa) Genotypes

Dog fruit (Pithecellobium lobatum Benth, synonyms P. jiringa, Archidendron pauciflorum) is one of the popular tropical plants. The objectives of this research are to determine the best (i) the best genotype for germination and growth of dogfruit seedlings (ii) combination of shade and genotype, (iii) the best percentage of shade and. This research was carried out by direct observation of seed germination and seedling formation. The study was carried out in an experimental garden located ± 255 meters above sea level. The average temperature and mean humidity during the experiment were 27 ºC and 65%, respectively. The experiment used a completely random design consisting of two factors. The first factor was shade (0%, 40%, or 80% shading). The second factor was genotype (bareh and lokan). Data were analysed using analysis of variance and significant differences were further analysed using Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test at the 5% level. Observations for determining the time of radicle appearance, root length, radicular colour, and germination type seeds were germinated in seedbeds. Temperature and humidity were recorded in every observation. The best interaction with respect to leaf area is 80% shade cloth and the lokan genotype. Eighty percent shade cloth is the best for germination and growth of Dogfruit seedlings. The best genotype for germination and growth is lokan. It is recommended to use 80% shade cloth because it provides optimal growth of Dogfruit seedlings.

The effects of substrate temperature on the reproductive success of Caretta caretta on a volcanic beach in the Mediterranean Sea

A five-year of monitoring (2018–2022) of the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta nests in “Pozzolana di Ponente” beach on Linosa Island (Pelagie Archipelago, Italy) is here reported. To explore how temperatures affect the hatching success and the possible occurrence of any malformation in hatchlings, incubation temperature values were recorded using data loggers positioned at depths of 5 and 35 cm (for each nest) from the surface, approximately 0.5 m from the nest chamber. The obtained results highlighted important issues related to the success of hatching and the incidence of body anomalies. The temperatures recorded at different depths near the nests (5 and 35 cm) in some periods of incubation of the eggs were above optimal development temperature (i.e., ~33°C), causing high mortality rates, especially during the first two years of the survey (2018–2019). In the next three years (2020–2022), the implementation of shading cover cloths of the nests increased the survival rate and decreased the incidence of malformed individuals. Furthermore, atmospheric temperature data were extrapolated from the “Copernicus Climate Change” web service and included in our analyses to assess any changes over the timeframe analysed. Over five years (2018–2022), the average atmospheric temperature increased slightly by 1.7°C. In light of global warming, the implementation of effective and low-cost mitigation activities, such as the use of shade cloth covers to protect the nests from overheating, should be considered a suitable conservation action.

Evaluating the Growth and Development of Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) Under Traditional Farming Practices and Controlled Conditions

In Malaysia, specifically Kelantan, there is limited information on the variety of species and optimal production practices for edible Araceae. The study’s objectives are to examine the growth development and survival rates of domesticated edible Araceae species, specifically Cocoyam ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium), cultivated in Kelantan, Malaysia. Two environments were evaluated: a controlled condition using the minisett technique and under natural conditions that using farmers’ traditional management practices. The controlled condition utilized 50% using shade cloth, planted in 20×20 inch polybags, and a mixture of organic soil as the growing media. Fertilizer was applied at weeks 8 and 16, with the control condition receiving twice-daily irrigation. Over 20 weeks, leaf length, leaf width, plant height, stem diameter, and petiole length were recorded weekly for 50 plants. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS. Based on these results, it can be concluded that X. sagittifolium exhibits strong growth performance, with higher growth rates and better overall development under farming conditions compared to controlled conditions. The survival rate of X. sagittifolium was higher under traditional farming practices (92%) compared to controlled conditions (84%). These findings suggest that the traditional farming practices may be more reliable for cultivating X. sagittifolium in Kelantan.

Selecting roller shade optical properties for glare protection

This paper presents a revised method for choosing roller shade properties that can significantly reduce the risk of glare when closed. State-of-the-art daylight modeling is employed to compute direct and diffuse light transmission through shading fabrics using BSDF datasets with the 5 Phase Method plus a peak extraction algorithm for the specular component. The analysis is parameterized by properties listed by manufacturers: openness factor, visible transmittance, and visible reflectance. In this way, we provide recommendations for the upper bounds of properties based on annual discomfort frequency (annual time percentage when daylight Glare Probability <5.5%). We discuss the impact of Radiance-aBSDF and related uncertainties, and the comparison with glare control classes proposed in Standard EN 14501.

PSV-1 Pasture Does Not Impact Pork Quality of Finishing Hogs

Abstract Sales of certified organic pork continue to increase, and an increasing number of young farmers are looking to rear hogs with organic or other niche labeling claims that require outdoor access. There is limited research available to support pastured pork operations in developing best management practices for rearing pigs in outdoor environments. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of housing on swine performance and pork quality and to build best management strategies for raising hogs on pasture. Pigs (n = 50) from the same sire and farrowing cohort were obtained from 10 separate litters. Pigs were grouped into separate treatments according to average body weights (BW) with equal sex rations among both groups: Indoor (n = 25), and Outdoor (n = 25), with 5 hogs per pen within each treatment. The Indoor groups were housed on 7m2 of solid concrete flooring in a ventilation-controlled barn; the Outdoor groups were housed on native grass pasture with pen size being 23m2, and a third shaded with 40% shade cloth. Outdoor pens were rotated to new grass every 14 days to manage soil destruction, while Indoor pigs remained in original pens for the duration of the project. Water access was provided via a nipple drinker system and fed a standard grow-finish ration ad libitum for both groups. All pigs were slaughtered at 26 weeks of age, with the Indoor group averaging BW of 126kg, and the Outdoor group averaging BW of 111kg (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Hot carcass weights were also larger (P &amp;lt; 0.001) of the Indoor group. All pork quality measurements were taken at the 10th rib. Color and marbling scores were not shown to vary between the treatment groups (P ≥ 0.17). Colorimeter values (L*, A*, B*) were similar across treatments as well (P ≥ 0.41). However, loin eye area exhibited a trend with the Outdoor group having a smaller average size (P = 0.07) In addition to this, pH values were also shown to vary at 0h (P = 0.03), 6h (P = 0.01), and 24h (P &amp;lt; 0.01) postmortem, with the Indoor group having the higher ultimate pH. Based on these data, pasture reduced final market size and loin eye area of hogs, but not overall pork quality. Although pH was reduced for the Outdoor group, no values showed a rapid decline in pH that would indicate a PSE pork product. Further, average pH between treatments were within 0.2 at all sampling times. Further research is needed to evaluate efficacy of best management practices to improve efficiency of pig growth rate on pasture and to ensure that pork quality will not be reduced.

The effects of two different net modifications on reducing discards in the trammel net fishery for prawn in Mersin Bay

The discarded species caught in prawn trammel nets damage the nets and cause a serious labor loss problem for fishers. In the present study, a 15 cm high greenhouse plastic film and a greenhouse shade cloth net were fitted between the lower parts of the nets and the lead collars to reduce discards in the trammel net fishery. The modified nets were tested in Mersin Bay with twenty-one fishing operations between September and December 2021. The results showed that, compared to commercial trammel nets, the nets equipped with greenhouse plastic film and greenhouse shade cloth did not significantly reduce the catch of the target species green tiger prawn (Penaeus semisulcatus). However, the total number of discards significantly decreased. The discard rates in the commercial net, greenhouse plastic film net, and greenhouse shade cloth net were 45%, 26%, and 22%, respectively. Furthermore, when the incomes from the nets’ hauls were calculated, the net equipped with greenhouse garden film and the net equipped with greenhouse shade cloth generated 24.77% and 14.41% more profit than the commercial net, respectively.

Shading contributes to Sphagnum decline in response to warming.

Experimental warming of an ombrotrophic bog in northern Minnesota has caused a rapid decline in the productivity and areal cover of Sphagnum mosses, affecting whole-ecosystem carbon balance and biogeochemistry. Direct effects of elevated temperature and the attendant drying are most likely the primary cause of the effects on Sphagnum, but there may also be responses to the increased shading from shrubs, which increased with increasing temperature. To evaluate the independent effects of reduction in light availability and deposition of shrub litter on Sphagnum productivity, small plots with shrubs removed were laid out adjacent to the warming experiment on hummocks and hollows in three blocks and with five levels of shading. Four plots were covered with neutral density shade cloth to simulate shading from shrubs of 30%-90% reduction in light; one plot was left open. Growth of Sphagnum angustifolium/fallax and S. divinum declined linearly with increasing shade in hollows, but there was no response to shade on hummocks, where higher irradiance in the open plots may have been inhibitory. Shading caused etiolation of Sphagnum-they were thin and spindly under the deepest shade. A dense mat of shrub litter, corresponding to the amount of shrub litter produced in response to warming, did not inhibit Sphagnum growth or cause increases in potentially toxic base cations. CO2 exchange and chlorophyll-a fluorescence of S. angustifolium/fallax from the 30% and 90% shade cloth plots were measured in the laboratory. Light response curves indicate that maximal light saturated photosynthesis was 42% greater for S. angustifolium/fallax grown under 30% shade cloth relative to plants grown under 90% shade cloth. The response of Sphagnum growth in response to increasing shade is consistent with the hypothesis that increased shade resulting from shrub expansion in response to experimental warming contributed to reduced Sphagnum growth.

Why Is My Boxwood Orange? Factors That Influence Winter Color Change in Boxwood Foliage in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Abstract Background Winter color changes in boxwood occur when foliage shifts from green to shades of yellow, orange, or red. The degree of winter color change in boxwood may influence the aesthetic value of ornamental plants and raise concerns for plant health care professionals. Methods In 2021 and 2022, 40 cultivars of boxwood, including the speciesBuxus sempervirens, B. microphylla, B. sinicavar.insularis, B. harlandii, B. balearica, and hybrids were evaluated for winter color change. In late summer of 2021, 29 plants representing 8 cultivars with intense color change were covered with 75% shade cloth tents or left in full sun from August 2021 through March 2022. In a separate experiment in fall 2021,B. sempervirens‘American’,B. sempervirens‘Rotundifolia’, andB. microphylla‘Winter Gem’ were fertilized or not to determine if slow-release fertilizer could lessen the winter color change. The study was conducted on the transitional area between USDA Hardiness Zones 7b and 8a. Results In 2021,B. sempervirens(61.0%) and hybrid (65.8%) cultivars had the highest percentage of visible color change, followed byB. microphylla(26.1%) andB. sinicavar.insularis(19.1%).Buxus harlandiiandB. balearicahad negligible color change. Shade significantly (P&lt; 0.001) reduced the winter color change observed in March 2022. Fertilization did not influence the visible color change (P= 0.2401). Conclusions The differences in winter color change across boxwood species, cultivars, and under shaded and fertilized conditions will help horticulture practitioners better select cultivars and sites in the landscape relative to winter color change.