Production Values Research Articles

The results of ecological variety testing of seed peas in the conditions of the Arkhangelsk region

Field peas (Pisum sativum L.) are the most important leguminous crop for the northern regions of Russia, used for green cattle feed. The experience in the variety study of field peas was laid on the basis of N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2021-2023, where the productivity and nutritional value of six new varieties of field peas of various origins were evaluated: Tyumenets, Frigate, Boar, Veles, Tan, Varys. The research was carried out according to the methodological guidelines “Methodology of the State Commission for Variety testing of agricultural crops”. Peas were grown in a single-species crop. The aim of the work was to evaluate varieties of seeded peas of various origins in terms of feed productivity and nutritional value and to identify the most adaptive to the conditions of the Arkhangelsk region. The growing season for the green mass varied from 36 to 41 days, the yield of the green mass from 17.9 to 35.5 t/ha. As a result of the conducted experience, precocious productive varieties of field peas with high biochemical parameters were identified – Veles, Wild Boar, Frigate, Tan. According to the main economically valuable characteristics, the Tan variety stood out. It has been established that it is effective to grow new varieties of field peas for green fodder in extreme climatic conditions.

Impact of Implementing Female Genomic Selection and the Use of Sex-Selected Semen Technology on Genetic Gain in a Dairy Herd in New Zealand

Genomic selection (GS) has changed cattle breeding, but its use so far has been in selecting superior bulls for breeding. However, its farm-level impact, particularly on female selection, remains less explored. This study aimed to investigate the impact of implementing GS to identify superior cows and using artificial mating of those cows with sex-selected semen in a New Zealand Holstein-Friesian (HF) dairy herd (n = 1800 cows). Heifers (n = 2061) born over four consecutive years between 2021 and 2024 were genotyped and their genomic breeding values (GBVs) were estimated. These heifers were ranked based on the Balanced Performance Index (BPI; DataGene, Dairy Australia) Lower-performing cows producing less than 15 L/day (or 20 L/day for older cows) and those with severe mastitis were culled. Cows were mated with HF genetics based on production and udder breeding values, while lower-performing cows were mated to beef genetics. Milking adult cows were mated to bulls with similar BPI value. Annual genetic change was measured using Australian breeding values (ABVg) for milk fat production (FAT), protein production (PROT), fertility (FER), Mastitis Resistance (MAS), and BPI. The genetic merits of the heifers improved annually, with BPI increasing from 136 to 184 between 2021 and 2023, corresponding to a financial gain of NZD 17.53 per animal per year. The predicted BPI gain from 2023 to 2026 is expected to rise from 184 to 384, resulting in a financial gain of NZD 72.96 per animal per year. Using sex-selected semen on the top 50% of BPI-rated heifers in 2024 further accelerated genetic gain. Predicted BPI values for progeny born in 2025 and 2026 are 320 and 384, respectively. These findings revealed that the female GS, combined with sex-selected semen from genomically selected bulls, significantly accelerates genetic gain by improving the intensity and accuracy of selection. The approach achieves genetic progress equivalent to what traditionally would have required eight years of breeding without female GS, and has potential to improve dairy herd performance and profitability.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Decarbonization Potential of Global Fired Clay Brick Production.

Fired clay bricks (FCBs) are a dominant building material globally due to their low cost and simplicity of production, especially in low- and middle-income countries. With a projected rising housing demand, commensurate growth in brick demand is anticipated, the production of which could result in significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Robust models are needed to estimate brick demand and emissions to systematically address decarbonization pathways. Few sources report production values; hence, we present two novel proxy models: (i) a consumption prediction model, relying on country-specific clay extraction data, dynamic building stock modeling, and average material intensity use allowing for projections to 2050; and (ii) a GHG emissions model, using literature-based data and production technology-specific inputs. Based on these models, the current global FCB consumption is estimated as 2.18 Gt annually, resulting in approximately 500 million tCO2e (1% of current global GHG emissions). If unaddressed, this fraction could increase to 3.5-5% in 2050 considering a moderate SSP 2-4.5 climate change mitigation scenario. Consequently, we explored three potential decarbonization pathways: (i) improving energy efficiency; (ii) shifting production to best practices; and (iii) replacing half of FCB demand with hollow concrete blocks, resulting in 27%, 49%, and 51% reduction in GHG emissions, respectively.

Firm Performance on Artificial Intelligence Implementation

ABSTRACTIn recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a focal point in academic and business research. With breakthroughs in learning algorithms, AI applications in business operations are increasingly practical and impactful. AI offers tools for market analysis, decision‐making support, and innovations in business models and processes, presenting a significant turning point for firms. Despite this, questions remain about whether AI implementation yields measurable business value or is merely a trend, challenging enterprises and managers. This study provides a significant contribution by empirically examining AI impact on firm‐level performance through three key indicators: financial performance, productivity, and market value. Drawing on internal financial perspectives, this research reveals that while AI adoption enhances financial performance and market value, the advantages for AI first movers and better performers are not uniformly positive across all indicators. This nuanced analysis offers managers and stakeholders a deeper understanding of the tangible value of AI, guiding more informed implementation strategies.

Does Local Government Debt Affect Corporate Innovation Quality? Evidence from China

This study investigates the impact of local government debt levels on the behavior of individual firms, which is crucial for understanding the systemic risks associated with local government debt and fostering economic vitality. Using data from publicly listed companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges between 2013 and 2022, this study empirically examines the effect of local government debt on corporate innovation quality. The findings demonstrate that local government debt expansion has a significant negative impact on corporate innovation quality. The negative impact remains robust across endogeneity tests and multiple robustness checks. Channel analysis indicates that as local government debt increases, innovation subsidies and procurement funding led toward firms’ decline, while both tax and non-tax revenue demands indicated firm increases. This resource reallocation contributes to the observed decline in corporate innovation quality. Further heterogeneity analysis reveals that regions with lower levels of government intervention and fiscal pressure exhibit a smaller negative effect of local government debt on innovation quality. Finally, examining the economic outcomes reveals that the decline in innovation quality, resulting from current local debt expansion, significantly reduces total factor productivity and firm value in the subsequent year, posing challenges for sustainable corporate development.

Food environmental footprint: Evolution of the countryside species-area relationship (SAR) with new methodologies.

The species-area relationship (SAR) is one of the oldest in ecology, linking the increase in species richness in sampling area. Later, new parameters were incorporated into its equation, such as taxon-specific responses, habitats use by species and species adapted to human-modified habitats, originating the Countryside SAR, a version intended to integrate the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology, which is still inefficiencies when used to evaluate food production systems. Therefore, we present the first attempt to incorporate into Countryside SAR the minimum land demand parameter for food production, the food environmental footprint - EFP, and improve the use of the method within the agricultural sciences scope. To prepare the EFP, we used land cover data for two types of food systems: agriculture (annual crops), composed of nine types of food; and, livestock (pasture), consisting of meat production. They were later tested in inventories for the Western European broadleaf forest ecoregion (ecocode: PA0445). The most important result observed was that the models responded to variations in production values, resulting in higher impact and a more conservative result when EFP is adopted. But as historically integrating a productivity parameter, or performance of production systems, has been left out of the development of SAR, only the first step has been taken. Therefore, incorporating minimum land demand for food production into the Countryside SAR appears to be a new stage in its development, allowing to generate results that consider the "efficiency" of food production, assuming a more agronomic profile. However, this is still the first attempt to include the EFP in the Countryside SAR, and we believe that our models should still be subject to further evaluation.

A systematic review on the trend of transcriptomic study in livestock: An effort to unwind the complexity of adaptation in a climate change environment.

Heat stress has been proven to cause negative effects on livestock leading to lower productivity and economic value. Understanding how heat stress manifests within an animal's body is the first step in devising a heat stress mitigation strategy; transcriptomic studies are one of the methods used. Here, using a systematic literature review methodology, we examine the recent decade of transcriptomics' application to the study of livestock adaptation. We identified 152 studies that met our criteria for using transcriptome methods to heat stress adaptation and were published within the last ten years. Our analysis demonstrates the growing popularity and application of transcriptome approaches in the investigation of the response of ruminants, pigs, and poultry livestock to heat stress. Majority of the works was done in chicken and cattle using multiple organs as the sample, with qRT-PCR as the most employed technique. It has been established that a variety of biomarkers can be used to assess animals under heat stress, such as the HSPs, ILs, and TLRs. Although transcriptomics has lately been employed extensively to uncover the mechanism of heat adaptation, this adaptive feature's complex mechanism remains unclear, leaving many knowledge gaps for investigation. A more complex studies involving more various cell types, organs, or even model organisms using multi-omics approach could be the future research direction in understanding the heat stress effects on livestock better.

The Transnational Flow of Korean Pop Culture: A Case Study of Audience Reception in Romania

This paper investigates the transnational flow of Korean pop culture in Romania, focusing on the reception and influence of K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean films among Romanian audiences. It examines how these cultural products are interpreted, adapted, and integrated into the local cultural landscape, highlighting the dynamic interplay between global trends and local contexts. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the study analyzes secondary sources and primary data gathered from a structured questionnaire distributed to fans. The findings reveal a significant increase in interest in Korean pop culture over the past decade, driven by high production values, engaging storytelling, and active fan communities. Additionally, the research identifies factors such as the role of social media, streaming platforms, and localized fan activities that contribute to the phenomenon’s popularity. Through the lens of cultural exchange theories, the study underscores the complexity of audience reception and the transformative nature of cultural products as they cross borders. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of transnational cultural flows and the impact of Korean pop culture on the evolving cultural dynamics in Romania.

Influence Of Pesticide Use On Agricultural Production In The Years 2006 And 2017 In Paraná

Driven by the Green Revolution, the use of pesticides in Brazil has increased dramatically, transforming the rural complex into an agro-industrial complex, generating large-scale production of monocultures and strengthening agribusiness production chains. Despite the economic benefits, the intense use of pesticides leads to concerns, including a lack of training, technical difficulties and environmental and social vulnerabilities. The study focuses on analyzing the impact of these pesticides on production in the state of Paraná by comparing the census years between 2006 and 2017 and investigates the spatial dynamics of agricultural production using the Moran's I test. The results highlight the influence of neighboring communities on agricultural production values and highlight regional interdependence. The model underlines the importance of sustainable regional planning and highlights spatial lag as a key factor in promoting regional cooperation. Hence, expenditure was positive both in the local effect and for the effect caused in the neighborhoods. Still, the pesticide use variable itself became ambiguous for analyzing production due to its problems.

Empowering Communities of Coffee Farmers via Risk Management and Coffee Berry Borer Control

Background: Coffee farmers in Central Aceh face challenges with coffee berry borer pests, reducing yields and market value. Empowering the Musara Miko farmer group aims to address these issues through education and training in risk management and environmentally friendly pest control. Contribution: The purpose of this community service project is to raise awareness about coffee berry borer pest risk management and control. It is intended that by engaging in this activity, the community will be able to reduce the risk associated with producing coffee while simultaneously increasing output and improving quality. Method: This activity includes socialization, training, and practice. Risk management socialization activities are carried out to provide an understanding of risk management, training activities to make pest control tools using simple materials, then practice controlling coffee berry borer pests in the field. This activity involved 21 farmers as training participants. Results: This empowerment program showed an increase in knowledge about risk management and control of coffee berry borer pests by 71%. Conclusion: The program significantly improved farmers' ability to manage pests, enhancing productivity, quality, and market value, fostering sustainable coffee farming and economic welfare.

Plant growth, fruit production, and total terpenoid production in bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) with guano fertilizer application

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) is valued for its anti-diabetic properties due to terpenoid compounds like charantin, but production struggles to meet market demands. This study aimed to analyze the response of plant growth characteristics, fruit production, and terpenoid compound production in bitter melon fruit by improving phosphorus availability through guano fertilizer application as additional organic fertilizer in organic cultivation. The experiment was conducted from May to September 2024 at the IPB experimental station in Cikarawang, Bogor, Indonesia. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with varying guano fertilizer doses (0, 152, 304, and 456 g per plant). Observations were conducted on 10 sample plants per experimental unit. The observed characteristics included vegetative and reproductive growth, fruit production, and total terpenoid production. Terpenoid analysis was performed using a colorimetric method with an ELISA reader. The results showed that guano fertilizer significantly affected several plant growth and production variables. Higher doses increased several values of vegetative growth parameters, flower numbers, and fruit production. The 304 g guano per plant yielded the highest concentration and production of terpenoids. This study demonstrates the potential of guano fertilizer to enhance bitter melon growth, yield, and terpenoid content, contributing to improved production to meet market demands. Keywords: net assimilation rate; organic; phosphorus; relative growth rate

Investigating the Biomethane Production Potential of Blends of Bovine Manure with Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.) and Sugar Beet (Beta Vulgaris L.) Foliage

The research aimed to evaluate the biomethane (CH4) content of biogas generated from various combinations of cattle waste (CW), three different varieties of Switchgrass (SG) (Panicum virgatum L.) plants (Kanlow (SG1), Shawne (SG2), Alamo (SG3), and sugar beet (Beta Vulgaris L.) leaves (BL). A laboratory-scale biomethane application setup was established to determine the biomethane potential. Three different experimental designs were implemented as the 1st application group, 2nd application group, and 3rd application group within the research framework. Biogas produced in the setup was stored using valves and balloons under optimal storage conditions. The Optima Biogas - Portable Biogas Analyzer device was employed to analyze the biomethane content of biogas samples from the materials and mixtures in the application groups. Biogas values were recorded, and glass reactor-specific methane production values were calculated. The highest glass reactor-specific methane production value was found to be 7.28 m3CH4 m-3 Reactor day in the CW (50%)-SG (20%)-BL (30%) mixture. The components of the biogas produced from the treatment groups were identified, and the highest CH4 (biomethane) yield was obtained from BL (beet leaves) at 58.86% in materials and from the CW-BL mixture at 53.76% in mixtures. Biomethane yields of the materials in other mixtures ranged from 53.42% to 43.12%.

Impact of feed availability on growth performance and amino acid utilization of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) at elevated temperature

IntroductionThis study explored the effects of increased water temperatures and limited feeding on the growth, feed utilization, and nutrient retention in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum).MethodsJuvenile cobia, approximately 5.0 g in body weight, were distributed across two temperature conditions: 34°C, to mimic a global warming scenario, and 30°C, the current local summer average, as controls. The setup included eighteen 200-liter tanks, with 20 fish per tank. Within each temperature regime, triplicate tanks received one of three feeding levels (55%, 75%, and 95% of satiation as determined at 30°C) over a six-week period.ResultsThe findings indicated that cobia exhibited the poorest growth performance at the elevated temperature (34°C) and the lowest feeding level (55%). These conditions also correlated with the lowest protein efficiency ratio and feed intake. The feed conversion ratio worsened with increased temperature and feeding levels, while protein production values decreased at higher temperatures. A lower feeding level caused a lower total lipid retention but led to increased retention of whole body essential amino acids.DiscussionAfter six weeks, a 24-hour post-prandial analysis showed selective retention of some amino acids in muscle and plasma, but significantly higher retention in the liver at the higher temperature. Only a few amino acids' retention was influenced by feeding level. These results suggest that temperature and feeding levels alter the prioritization of amino acid metabolism and retention, as well as the utilization of energy and substrates across different organs of the cobia.

Innovative Enhancements for Hemispherical Solar Stills: Enhancing Performance With Copper Conical Fins and Red Brick Fillings

ABSTRACTThe existence of fins on a basin's flat absorber undoubtedly enhances the thermal efficiency and distillate output by increasing the exposed surface area of water to sunlight. However, the issue of shading caused by the fins hampers the productivity of distillers. Researchers are currently seeking a resolution to this problem. The current study conducted a performance comparison of hemispherical solar distillers using copper conical fins with a diameter of 4 cm and a height of 2 cm. The distillers were also equipped with copper conical fins‐filled red bricks, which were painted black. These fins were placed on the bottom of the basin at various spacing intervals (0, 1, and 2 cm) and a water depth of 2 cm. The experimental data showed that the productivity values of the hemispherical solar distiller using copper conical fins (HSD‐CCF) were 6.00, 5.40, and 5.00 L/m2, while the productivity values of the hemispherical solar distiller using copper conical fins‐filled with red bricks (HSD‐CCF & RB) were 7.00, 6.30, and 5.80 L/m2 at spacing distances of 0, 1, and 2 cm, respectively. The conventional hemispherical solar distiller without fins (CHSD) achieved a peak efficiency of 4.50 L/m2. The HSD‐CCF achieves cumulative yields of 33.33%, 20.00%, and 11.11% when utilizing copper conical fins at spacing distances of 0, 1, and 2 cm, respectively, compared to the THSD. The efficiency of the hemispherical sun distiller using copper conical fins‐filled with red bricks (HSD‐CCF & RB) is enhanced by 55.55%, 40.00%, and 28.89% when compared to the conventional hemispherical solar distiller (THSD), at spacing distances of 0, 1, and 2 cm, respectively. The study discovered that including copper conical fins packed with red bricks improves the efficiency of solar distillers. Furthermore, the study revealed that increasing the spacing between the fins further reduces shading, hence enhancing performance.

Research Regarding the Influence of Some Technological Factors on the Productivity of Some Monoecious Hemp Varieties Cultivated at Agricultural Research and Development Station Secuieni in Romania

This paper aimed to study combinations of some monoecious hemp varieties created at A.R.D.S. Secuieni and evaluate the combined influence of the variety of hemp used, the distance between rows of hemp, and the application of the Secuieni method on seed production. The Secuieni method is a cultivation method for hemp seed that is suitable for mechanical harvesting with grain combined directly from fields. This method consists of reducing the height of plants below 2 m, increasing the field uniformity, increasing seed production (sometimes by over 50%), and reducing the seeding rate from 10–15 kg/ha to 4–5 kg/ha. An experiment was carried out within the Agricultural Research—Development Station Secuieni in an experimental field in the monoecious hemp breeding laboratory. The results obtained during 2019–2023 showed that the influence of the variety led to production increases of 276 Mg·ha−1, which were obtained by the Secuieni Jubileu variety compared to the control variety, Succesiv, which had a yield of 1808 Mg·ha−1. The distance between the rows generated seed yields with values between 1908 Mg·ha−1 and 1967 Mg·ha−1, with statistically insignificant differences. The use of the Secuieni method led to production increases with different degrees of significance compared to the control variant. When analyzing the influence of the interaction between the genotype and the distance between the rows, it was observed that the productions obtained varied between 1767 Mg·ha−1 (Succesiv × 50 cm) and 2121 Mg·ha−1 (Secuieni Jubileu × 70 cm). In the analyzed period, the yields oscillated between 1460 Mg·ha−1 (Zenit × uncut) and 2437 Mg·ha−1 (Secuieni × two cuttings). In the case of the interaction between the distances used and the cuttings applied, the obtained production values varied between 1458 Mg·ha−1 (50 cm × UC) and 2402 Mg·ha−1 (70 cm × c2). At the same time, in the case of the combined influence of the three experimental factors, the application of two cuttings, regardless of the variety and distance used, led to statistically assured production increases compared to the control variant (Succesiv × 50 CM × UC).

Bioenergy Production from Sorghum Distillers Grains via Dark Fermentation.

Sorghum distillers grains (SDGs) produced from a sorghum liquor company were used for generating biohydrogen via dark fermentation at pH 4.5-6.5 and 55 °C with a batch test, and the biohydrogen electricity generation potential was evaluated. The experimental results show that pH markedly affects hydrogen concentration, hydrogen production rate (HPR) and hydrogen yield (HY), in that high acidic pH values result in high values. The HPR and HY ranged from 0.76 to 3.2 L/L-d and 21.4 to 62.3 mL/g chemical oxygen demand, respectively. These hydrogen production values were used to evaluate bioelectricity generation using a newly developed gas/liquid-fuel engine. The results show a new and prospective biomass source for biohydrogen production, bioelectricity generation and simultaneously solving the problem of treating SDGs when producing kaoliang liquor. Applications of the experimental results are also discussed.

Development of Technological Options for the Use of Various Wastes as Alternative Energy Sources Based on Multicomponent Compositions of Solid Fuels

The article considers promising areas for solving problems of energy and resource conservation, as well as issues of rational use of natural and secondary resources generated in industrial and communal activities. The aspects of research and development of technological options for the use of various wastes based on multicomponent compositions of solid fuels as alternative energy sources are presented. Also presented are the main stages of the developed and applied technologies for briquetting and incineration of multicomponent mixtures based on various combustible waste. The developed algorithm for solving the problem under consideration which makes it possible to rationally use substandard combustible industrial municipal waste to obtain multicomponent solid fuel that meets the quality criteria for energy and environmental indicators is reviewed. The results of the applied research directly related to the qualitative assessment of multicomponent briquetted fuels and facilitating achievement of the best production and consumer indicators values of energy quality and environmental friendliness are presented.

Role of the Water Framework Directive in enhancing water use efficiency in the EU

The increasing economic activity, population growth and urbanisation are placing increasing stress on Europe’s freshwater resources. The European Union's Water Framework Directive (WFD) aimed to establish measures to foster efficient use of this valuable natural resource while simultaneously protecting the environment. This study allows for an assessment of the Directive's application of public policies to a natural resource, assuming that the efficiency of water use is measured by water productivity. For the purposes of this investigation, purely economic variables and specific variables pertaining to the implementation of the WFD will be considered. The final econometric model indicates that variables with a positive impact, including research and development (R&D) expenditure and the governance index, necessitate the updating of facilities, the implementation of public control of the resource, and the encouragement of citizen interest in influencing EU policies. Conversely, variables with a negative impact, including population density and water consumption, indicate that as the utilization of a given resource intensifies, the efficacy of that utilization diminishes. The analysis by country indicates that the northern and more industrialised economies have more efficient water use levels. The evolution over time demonstrates that the WFD is being implemented more extensively in regions where it is most needed, resulting in increased productivity values in areas where they are currently lower.

Analysis of work productivity and compatibility of excavation-loading equipment and transport equipment in soil salvaging activities at Katala Hill area of PT. Amman

Abstract PT. Amman Mineral Internasional Tbk in Katala Hill, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, is an open-pit mining company producing copper as its main commodity, followed by gold and silver. The initial stage of mining involves soil removal in land clearing activities for reclamation, waste disposal areas, and construction of other infrastructure. In soil salvaging activities, it is essential to understand the influential factors to productivity and the match factor in mechanical equipment, including work efficiency, delay time, cycle time, fill factor, and swell factor. The objective of this study is to determine the productivity and match factor values of the digging-loading equipment and transportation equipment in soil salvaging activities in the Katala Hill area. This study applied the descriptive quantitative method, involving direct field observations of the digging-loading and transportation equipment activities and interviews with mining workers. Based on the results, the actual work efficiency of the digging-loading equipment was 59% and the transportation equipment was 76%, the actual productivity of the digging-loading equipment was 825.00Bcm/h, the transportation equipment productivity was 611.17 Bcm/h, and the compatibility factor value is 0.7408. After increasing the work efficiency of the conveyance by 83%, the conveyance productivity was 667.46 Bcm/h with the match factor increasing to 0.8090.

Impact of impeller wake on the energy fluctuation characteristics of centrifugal pumps under rotating stall condition

To reveal the impact of impeller wake flow on the internal energy fluctuation of centrifugal pump, in this study, the performance and internal flow structures of centrifugal pumps under various operating conditions have been thoroughly analyzed by combining numerical simulations with experimental validation. The results indicate that the numerical simulation results are highly consistent with the experimental data in terms of head and efficiency, with an error of less than 5%, demonstrating the high accuracy of the simulations. Further investigation reveals a significant increase in entropy production loss under critical and deep stall conditions, primarily concentrated in the blade wake flow and the volute tongue interference region. Analysis of entropy production maps and pressure fluctuations under different operating conditions shows that the breakup of blade wake vortices and their interaction with the tongue are the main causes of high entropy production values. Coherence studies of pressure and entropy production fluctuations in the low-frequency range indicate a bidirectional interference mechanism between the two. Overall, this study provides important theoretical and data support for understanding the performance and loss mechanisms of centrifugal pumps under complex flow conditions.