Yield Improvement Research Articles

The Challenge of E-Spinning Sub-Millimeter Tubular Scaffolds-A Design-of-Experiments Study for Fiber Yield Improvement.

In tissue engineering, electrospinning has gained significant interest due to its highly porous structure with an excellent surface area to volume ratio and fiber diameters that can mimic the structure of the extracellular matrix. Bioactive substances such as growth factors and drugs are easily integrated. In many applications, there is an important need for small tubular structures (I.D. < 1 mm). However, fabricating sub-millimeter structures is challenging as it reduces the collector area and increases the disturbing factors, leading to significant fiber loss. This study aims to establish a reliable and reproducible electrospinning process for sub-millimeter tubular structures with minimized material loss. Influencing factors were analyzed, and disturbance factors were removed before optimizing control variables through the design-of-experiments method. Structural and morphological characterization was performed, including the yield, thickness, and fiber arrangement of the scaffold. We evaluated the electrospinning process to enhance the manufacturing efficiency and reduce material loss. The results indicated that adjusting the voltage settings and polarity significantly increased the fiber yield from 8% to 94%. Variations in the process parameters also affected the scaffold thickness and homogeneity. The results demonstrate the complex relationship between the process parameters and provide valuable insights for optimizing electrospinning, particularly for the cost-effective and reproducible production of small tubular diameters.

Defining the target population of environments for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding in Italy based on historical data

AbstractGrain yield plateau is a serious concern in many countries, including Italy. A specific‐adaptative strategy might apply to contrast this unfavourable condition. This study aimed to investigate the gain in grain yield and yield‐related traits of bread wheat in Italy over a 16‐year period. A historical dataset concerning 105 sites across Italy and observations on grain yield, heading date, plant height and thousand kernel weight was used. The target population of environments (TPEs) were defined using several environmental parameters. The results showed that while there was a general increase in thousand kernel weight over the 16 years, there was no significant improvement in grain yield and heading date. By contrast, plant height showed a slight decrease over the years. The study also identified five TPEs presenting different climate scenarios in Italy. The TPEs showed varying levels of performance for the traits of interest, with the Po valley (TPE4) showing the highest values for grain yield and thousand kernel weight. The study also identified the best‐performing genotypes for each TPE, providing valuable insights for future wheat breeding programmes in Italy.

Synergetic integration of machining metal scrap for enhanced evaporation in solar stills: A sustainable novel solution for potable water production

The global water crisis necessitates innovative solutions for sustainable potable water production. Solar stills represent a promising technology for harnessing solar energy to meet this demand. However, solar stills often face limitations regarding yield and cost-effectiveness. This research addresses the pressing need to augment the performance of solar stills by introducing amendments such as utilizing black-coated metal scrap as a photothermal absorber in the absorber basin. These modifications aim to boost the absorption of solar radiation, thereby increasing potable water yield and improving the system’s economic viability. The study explores the utilization of black-coated metal scrap as a photothermal absorber to modify the absorber basin. Experimental results demonstrate a significant improvement in potable water yield, with a 129.85 % increase on day 1 and 127.21 % on day 2, reaching 3080 mL/m2 and 3090 mL/m2, respectively. Compared to conventional solar stills, the newly developed double slope solar still with an absorber basin featuring metal scrap exhibits a remarkable economic advantage, with a payback period (PBP) of 5.4 months, as opposed to 9.45 months for the traditional system. Additionally, the cost per liter (CPL) of potable water generated by the innovative system is 75.53 % lower than that of the conventional solar still system.

Improvement of yield and phytochemical attributes of Madagascar periwinkle varieties by L- cysteine and melatonin foliar application

Improvement of yield and phytochemical attributes of Madagascar periwinkle varieties by L- cysteine and melatonin foliar application

Machine Learning-Powered Forecasting of Climate Conditions in Smart Greenhouse Containing Netted Melons

The greenhouse environment plays a crucial role in providing favorable conditions for crop growth, significantly improving their quality and yield. Accurate prediction of greenhouse environmental factors is essential for their effective control. Although artificial intelligence technologies for predicting greenhouse environments have been researched recently, there are limitations in applying these to general greenhouse environments due to computing resources or issues with interpretability. Moreover, research on environmental prediction models specifically for melon greenhouses is also lacking. In this study, machine learning models based on MLR (Multiple Linear Regression), SVM (Support Vector Machine), ANN (Artificial Neural Network), and XGBoost were developed to predict the internal temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 conditions of melon greenhouses 30 min in advance. The XGBoost model demonstrated high accuracy and stability, with an R2 value of up to 0.9929 and an RPD (Residual Predictive Deviation) of 11.8464. Furthermore, the analysis of the XGBoost model’s feature importance and decision trees revealed that the model learned the complex relationships and impacts among greenhouse environmental factors. In conclusion, this study successfully developed a predictive model for a greenhouse environment for melon cultivation. The model developed in this study can facilitate an understanding and efficient management of the greenhouse environment, contributing to improvements in crop yield and quality.

Improvement of hydrogen production via aqueous phase reforming of glycerol with Ni-Co catalysts synthesized through controlled urea matrix combustion

The effect of synthesis variable control during the combustion of urea in solution to obtain a Ni-Co/γ-Al2O3 catalyst with a low metallic loads for producting hydrogen by reforming glycerol was studied. Catalysts with the same urea/metal molar ratio but synthesized by controlled or uncontrolled urea matrix combustion were compared. It has been observed that adopting a urea/metal molar ratio between 2 and 6 and a heating rate of 10 °C∙min−1 results in a catalyst with an active surface and high Ni-Co interaction. This leads to significant improvements in H2 yield (from 34 to 50%), glycerol conversion (from 35 to 50%), and H2 selectivity (from 96 to 99%), while maintaining stability during 420 min of reaction. The repeatability of controlled synthesis has shown differences in results of less than 2%. Controlled synthesis is an attractive approach for scaling up the process for treating glycerinous waters, effluents in biodiesel plants.

Weak-light stress at different grain filling stages affects yield by reducing leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolism in fresh waxy maize

Insufficient light radiation is one of the main factors limiting maize yield in southern China. The plum rainy season overlaps with grain filling stage, and intermittent cloudy and rainy weather results in weak-light stress restricting the yield improvement of fresh waxy maize. This study was to assess the impact of weak-light stress at different grain filling stages on yield and leaf carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) metabolism in fresh waxy maize. Suyunuo5 (SYN5) and Jingkenuo2000 (JKN2000) were used to investigate the effects of weak-light at different stages after pollination (1–7, 8–14, 15–21 and 1–21 days, recorded as Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4) on yield, dry matter and nitrogen (N) accumulation, C and N metabolism in leaf of fresh waxy maize from 2021 to 2022. Compared with CK (natural light treatment), weak-light decreased the fresh ear and grain yield, post-silking dry matter and N accumulation, and the decrease was maximum in Z4, followed by Z1. The decrease in JKN2000 was greater than SYN5. RUBPCase and PEPCase activities, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of ear leaves decreased under weak-light, and those were lowest in Z4, followed by Z1. Furthermore, weak-light stress significantly decreased the activities of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, and post-silking N accumulation. The highest decrease was found in Z4, followed by Z1. Weak-light stress also downregulated the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and raised MDA content in ear leaves during grain filling stage, which accelerated leaf senescence process. Weak-light stress after pollination decreased maize yield by affecting leaf C and N metabolism and antioxidant system, and the stress occurred in first week after pollination had a more severe impact than those in middle and later stages, and JKN2000 was more sensitive to weak-light than SYN5. Our results contributed to understanding how weak-light stress could reduce the yield of fresh waxy maize by affecting leaf C and N metabolism, and offered theoretical support for implementing measures to alleviate weak-light conditions in the planting areas of fresh waxy maize.

Improvement of scintillation light yield of Tb:CaHfO3 by Mg-substitution

1.0 % Tb:Ca1-xMgxHfO3 (x = 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1) single crystals were synthesized by the floating zone technique, and their photoluminescence and scintillation properties were evaluated. The x = 0.1 sample showed the highest quantum yield of 18.7 % under excitation at 250 nm among all the samples. All the samples showed scintillation with multiple emission lines originating from the 4f–4f transitions of Tb3+. From the pulse height spectra, the highest light yield was 17,400 photons/MeV in the x = 0.075 sample among the samples, and all the samples outperformed the light yield of the unsubstituted one.

Toward Reducing Casting Defects via 3D Risers via 3D Sand-Printing: A Simulation Study

AbstractThe 3D sand printing (3DSP) process is a binder jetting class of additive manufacturing process that can incorporate complex 3D mold designs and consolidate cores with intricate features that were previously inaccessible. Prior studies in 3DSP mold design have been shown to improve pouring and filling conditions for sand casting. However, the opportunity to improve casting quality by exploring 3D riser designs during the solidification stage has not yet been explored. In this research, three novel 3D riser geometries—ellipsoid, spherical, and a fusion riser (combination of cylindrical and ellipsoid riser) were investigated. The results were compared to the benchmark cylindrical risers to assess casting performance (e.g., reduction in shrinkage porosity, increase in solidification time). Computational solidification simulations have been presented to evaluate the characteristics of the novel risers for three different metal alloys- nickel aluminum bronze (NAB), low-carbon steel A216 (WCB), and aluminum alloy (A319) alloy. From the results of this research, spherical risers were found to provide 45% yield improvement of for the three alloys studied. In addition, the riser neck diameter using a spherical riser experienced up to 77% reduction when compared to the recommended dimensions from previous literature. Finally, one of the spherical riser designs provided 18% improvement in terms of riser-pipe safety height over the benchmark design. Findings from this research will help metalcasting industries to optimize their riser designs for complex casting geometries by implementing 3D riser geometries (via 3DSP) into traditional mold making for yield improvement and defect-free castings.

New uricase producing Stenotrophomonas isolate recovered from a hot well in western south Egypt: Strain identification, Statistical optimization of enzyme production and In vitro application in gout treatment

Uricase, an enzyme catalyzing the breakdown of uric acid into more soluble compounds, holds significant therapeutic potential in managing hyperuricemia and associated conditions like gout. The current study intended to bioprospect new uricase producers in one of rarely studied ecological niches (ground water well that delivers water from 1500 m depth with temperature 50 °C in Al Qasr Oasis, New Valley Governorate, Egypt). Eight isolates were screened for uricase production, and the most potent was identified using phenotypic and genotypic methods as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia with 99% similarity. This is the first record about the ability of a member in the genus Stenotrophomonas to produce uricase, and was thus targeted in subsequent optimization studies. The initial activity of 7.20 U/mL was obtained in medium No. 2 after testing enzyme production in five different media. The uricase production was then enhanced using statistical design and modeling. Plackett-Burman design (PBD) was used to screen and identify the parameters influencing uricase activity. Four of the nine investigated factors were the most significant and were further optimized using Box-Behnken design (BBD). After two optimization cycles using PBD and BBD, the yield was improved to 20.60 and 25.67 U/mL, respectively, indicating a significant 3.5-fold improvement in the enzyme yield. The uricase was partially purified by ammonium sulphate 75% with 2.58-fold increase in activity (final recovered activity of 87.5%). Under polarized light microscopy, the prepared monosodium urate crystals clumps degraded at different levels of the obtained enzyme which encourages its future application in gout treatment.

Influence of transplanting date and integrated weed management in system of rice intensification of aromatic black rice (Oryza sativa)

A field experiment was conducted during rainy seasons (kharif) of 2019 and 2020 at the research farm of School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Nagaland to study the effect of transplanting date and weed management practices on productivity and profitability of aromatic black rice (Oryza sativa L.) under system of rice intensification. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design (SPD) with 3 transplanting dates (D1, 15th June; D2, 30th June; and D3, 15th July) in main plot and 5 weed managements practices [W1, Weedy check; W2, Conoweeding at 20 and 40 DAT (days after transplanting); W3, Pretilachlor @0.75 kg/ha (PE) fb hand weeding (HW) at 40 DAT; W4, Pretilachlor @0.75 kg/ha (PE) fb conoweeder at 40 DAT; and W5, Pretilachlor at 0.75 kg/ha (PE) fb bispyribac-sodium @ 25 g/ha (PoE)] in sub-plot, replicated thrice. Results showed that the most abundant weed flora observed in the experimental field were Fimbristylis quinquangularis (Vahl) Kunth, Cyperus esculentus (L.), Cyperus iria (L.), Rhynchospora colorata (L.) H.Pfeiff., Ludwigia linifolia Poir, Mimosa pudica (L.), Mimosa diplotricha Sauvalle, Scoparia dulcis (L.) and Eriochloa villosa (Thunb.) Kunth. Transplanting on 15th June recorded highest growth and yield of black rice. The improvement in the grain yield was about 39% under 15th June over 15th July transplanting date. Among weed management practices, pretilachlor @0.75 kg/ha at 3 DAT fb HW at 40 DAT recorded minimum density of weeds resulting in higher growth attributes and yield of black rice. Economic analysis showed that highest benefit cost (B:C) ratio was obtained when black rice was transplanted on 15th June along with application of pretilachlor @0.75 kg/ha at 3 DAT fb bispyribac-sodium @25 g/ha at 20 DAT and demonstrated to be the best treatment for profitable production of black rice under system of rice intensification.

Aeration Alleviated the Adverse Effects of Nitrogen Topdressing Reduction on Tomato Root Vigor, Photosynthetic Performance, and Fruit Development.

To explore the compensation effect of aeration on tomato vegetative and reproductive growth in arid and semi-arid areas, a two-year field experiment was conducted with four micro-nano aeration ratios (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) and three nitrogen topdressing levels (80, 60, and 40 kg·ha-1) during the tomato growth period in Ningxia, China. The results showed that increasing the aeration ratio in the range of 0-15% was conducive to the enhancement of tomato root vigor (the ability of triphenyltetrazolium chloride to be reduced, 3-104%) and the leaf net photosynthetic rate (14-63%), favorable to the facilitation of plant dry matter accumulation (3-59%) and plant nitrogen accumulation (2-70%), and beneficial to the improvement of tomato yield (12-44%) and fruit quality. Interestingly, since the aeration ratio exceeded 10%, the increase in the aeration ratio showed no significant effects on the single-fruit weight, tomato yield, and fruit quality. Moreover, with aerated underground drip irrigation, properly reducing the traditional nitrogen topdressing level (80 kg·ha-1) by 25% was favorable for enhancing tomato root vigor (5-31%), increasing tomato yield (0.5-9%), and improving fruit soluble solid accumulation (2-5%) and soluble sugar formation (4-9%). Importantly, increasing the aeration ratio by 5% could compensate for the adverse effects of reducing the nitrogen topdressing level by 25% by improving the leaf photosynthetic rate, promoting plant dry matter accumulation, increasing tomato yield, and enhancing the soluble solid and soluble sugar accumulation in tomato fruits. Synthetically considering the decrease in the nitrogen topdressing amount, leading to plant growth promotion, a tomato yield increase, and fruit quality improvement, a favorable nitrogen topdressing level of 60 kg·ha-1 and the corresponding proper aeration ratio of 10% were suggested for tomato underground drip irrigation in the Yinbei Irrigation District of Ningxia.

Transcription factor ZmDof22 enhances drought tolerance by regulating stomatal movement and antioxidant enzymes activities in maize (Zea mays L.).

The Dof22 gene encoding a deoxyribonucleic acid binding with one finger in maize, which is associated with its drought tolerance. The identification of drought stress regulatory genes is essential for the genetic improvement of maize yield. Deoxyribonucleic acid binding with one finger (Dof), a plant-specific transcription factor family, is involved in signal transduction, morphogenesis, and environmental stress responses. In present study, by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and gene co-expression network analysis, 15 putative Dof genes were identified from maize that respond to drought and rewatering. A real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR showed that these 15 genes were strongly induced by drought and ABA treatment, and among them ZmDof22 was highly induced by drought and ABA treatment. Its expression level increased by nearly 200 times after drought stress and more than 50 times after ABA treatment. After the normal conditions were restored, the expression levels were nearly 100 times and 40 times of those before treatment, respectively. The Gal4-LexA/UAS system and transcriptional activation analysis indicate that ZmDof22 is a transcriptional activator regulating drought tolerance and recovery ability in maize. Further, overexpressed transgenic and mutant plants of ZmDof22 by CRISPR/Cas9, indicates that the ZmDof22, improves maize drought tolerance by promoting stomatal closure, reduces water loss, and enhances antioxidant enzyme activity by participating in the ABA pathways. Taken together, our findings laid a foundation for further functional studies of the ZmDof gene family and provided insights into the role of the ZmDof22 regulatory network in controlling drought tolerance and recovery ability of maize.

Deficit Irrigation-Based Improvement in Growth and Yield of Quinoa in the Northwestern Arid Region in China

Given the current global water scarcity issues, which particularly affect arid regions such as northwestern China, it is crucial to find crop planting patterns that result in efficient water resource utilization. Quinoa, as a drought-resistant and highly nutritious crop, has garnered significant attention from agricultural researchers in recent years. From 2019 to 2020, a series of experimental studies were conducted under non-mulching drip irrigation conditions to investigate the growth adaptability and the response to different irrigation levels of quinoa in an arid region in northwestern China. A comparative analysis of quinoa’s dry matter accumulation, yield, thousand-grain weight, harvest index, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation levels revealed that increasing irrigation significantly enhanced quinoa’s dry matter accumulation and yield. By optimizing the irrigation strategies, we found that the water-saving practice of initiating moderate irrigation in the sensitive water-demanding stages (flowering and fruiting) of quinoa increased the yield. The experiment results showed that, in 2020, the optimal irrigation amount was 3675 m3·ha−1 during a 14-day irrigation cycle, meeting quinoa’s growth requirements while improving water resource utilization efficiency. This study not only provides a scientific basis for the efficient cultivation of quinoa in the arid regions of northwestern China, but also offers new insights into and technical support for agricultural water resource management in the region, contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture in arid areas.

Chitosan gels in the nutrient controlled release: a review

The use of slow and controlled release fertilizers (S/CRFs) has been beneficial in enhancing fertilizer utilization and crop yields, improving food security. However, the massive use of conventional S/CRFs has also polluted soil, water, and air, which poses a challenge to the sustainability of modern agriculture. To address this, a more efficient and environmentally-friendly material for crop nutrition is needed. Chitosan gels have proven to be an ideal carrier for nutrient transport given their biodegradability and high adsorption characteristics. This paper reviews the cross-linking of chitosan gels, preparation methods, nutrient transport, and performance, and how they contribute to sustainable agriculture. In addition, we detail the contribution of chitosan gels fertilizers to greenhouse gas reduction, soil conditioning, and crop yield improvement. In conclusion, although further research is needed on chitosan gels fertilizers as S/CRFs, it is expected that their use could lead to improved nutrient efficiency and reduced environmental pollution from a long-term development perspective.

A spatial transcriptome map of the developing maize ear.

A comprehensive understanding of inflorescence development is crucial for crop genetic improvement, as inflorescence meristems give rise to reproductive organs and determine grain yield. However, dissecting inflorescence development at the cellular level has been challenging owing to a lack of specific marker genes to distinguish among cell types, particularly in different types of meristems that are vital for organ formation. In this study, we used spatial enhanced resolution omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq) to construct a precise spatial transcriptome map of the developing maize ear primordium, identifying 12 cell types, including 4 newly defined cell types found mainly in the inflorescence meristem. By extracting the meristem components for detailed clustering, we identified three subtypes of meristem and validated two MADS-box genes that were specifically expressed at the apex of determinate meristems and involved in stem cell determinacy. Furthermore, by integrating single-cell RNA transcriptomes, we identified a series of spatially specific networks and hub genes that may provide new insights into the formation of different tissues. In summary, this study provides a valuable resource for research on cereal inflorescence development, offering new clues for yield improvement.

Alternative Reactions to Friedel-crafts Acylation on Highly Activated Substrates

Abstract: Friedel-Crafts acylation (FCAcyl) is the most widespread method used to prepare aryl ketones and aldehydes. However, depending on the type of group attached to the benzene, their derivatives influence the electronic characteristics and structural orientations of the compounds during acylation; thus, the groups are very important for the success of the reaction. The existence of strong electron-donating groups, such as polyhydroxy/ polyalkoxyphenols and anilines on the aromatic ring, makes this reaction difficult. To overcome these problems and with the aim of obtaining aromatic ketones from benzene compounds, appropriate methodologies were described. Therefore, this review consists of showing the importance and applicability of the Houben- Hoesch and Sugasawa reactions as alternatives for the Friedel-Crafts acylation of polyhydroxy/ polyalkoxyphenols and anilines, respectively. The main advances used in the original methodologies were also described. The use of these reactions as an alternative to the renowned Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions should be taken into consideration as an important synthetic tool because there is the possibility of reducing steps, with consequent improvement of yield, in addition to optimizing reaction performance.

Tripartite interactions of an endophytic entomopathogenic fungus, Asian corn borer, and host maize under elevated carbon dioxide.

Biological control of insect pests is encountering an unprecedented challenge in agricultural systems due to the ongoing rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) level. The use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in these systems is gaining increased attention, and EPF as crop endophytes hold the potential for combining insect pest control and yield enhancement of crops, but the effects of increased CO2 concentration on this interaction are poorly understood. Here, the introduction of endophytic EPF was explored as an alternative sustainable management strategy benefiting crops under elevated CO2, using maize (Zea mays), Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis), and EPF (Beauveria bassiana) to test changes in damage to maize plants from O. furnacalis, and the nutritional status (content of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium), biomass, and yield of maize. The results showed that endophytic B. bassiana could alleviate the damage caused by O. furnacalis larvae for maize plants under ambient CO2 concentration, and this effect was enhanced under higher CO2 concentration. Inoculation with B. bassiana effectively counteracted the adverse impact of elevated CO2 on maize plants by preserving the nitrogen content at its baseline level (comparable with ambient CO2 conditions without B. bassiana). Both simultaneous effects could explain the improvement of biomass and yield of maize under B. bassiana inoculation and elevated CO2. This finding provides key information about the multifaceted benefits of B. bassiana as a maize endophyte. Our results highlight the promising potential of incorporating EPF as endophytes into integrated pest management strategies, particularly under elevated CO2 concentrations. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Application of ultrasound technology in the washing process of surimi: improvement of meat yield and gel quality

Application of ultrasound technology in the washing process of surimi: improvement of meat yield and gel quality

One-pot microwave synthesize bandgap tunable g-C3N4 for highly efficient photocatalytic H2O2 production

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) faces limitations in photocatalytic application due to its limited light response and high recombination rate of photo-generated charge carriers. Herein, we synthesized a K, P co-doped g-C3N4 (KPCN) with cyano defects via microwave-assisted heating of the mixture of KH2PO4 and melamine in just 7 min. The KPCN exhibits a reduced bandgap of 2.37 eV and introduces a mid-gap of 1.77 eV, which broadens light absorption to the visible-near-infrared (vis-NIR) spectrum with light absorption to 867 nm. Impressively, the co-doped K and P adjust the interlayer and in-plane electron distribution of g-C3N4, enhancing charge separation and transfer. The KPCN exhibits a remarkable improvement in H2O2 yield of 7.74 mM g−1 h−1, demonstrating superior catalytic activity compared to microwave pure g-C3N4 (MCN, 5.1 times) and bulk g-C3N4 (BCN, 19.2 times). The results indicate that the K, P co-doped g-C3N4 synthesized rapidly and efficiently by microwave method has relatively stable and considerable photocatalytic activity, which has great potential application in the industrial production of H2O2.