Agriculture Commons^™

Pando's Pulse: Vital Signs Signal Need For Course Correction At World-Renowned Aspen Forest, Paul C. Rogers

Aspen Bibliography

Upland aspen (Populus spp.) forests contribute significantly to biodiversity in their circumboreal role as keystone species. As aspen ecosystems flourish or diminish, myriad dependent species follow suit. The 43-hectare Pando aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) clone in Utah, USA, is thought to be the largest living organism on earth, but is faltering due to chronic herbivory. Long-term resilience in aspen communities, including Pando, rests on successful recruitment of vegetative suckers that are nutritiously desirable to browsing ungulates. Here, I evaluate aspen reproduction alongside numerous vital indicators of Pando's status in the first trend assessment of this embattled iconic forest. …

Microwave Coupled Hot-Air Drying Control Of Celery Stalks Based On Volatile Compounds Detection, Liu Xu, Song Chunfang

Food and Machinery

Objective:In order to preserve more volatile components of celery and reduce its moisture content. Methods:A hot-air coupled microwave drying system based on aroma detection was designed. An electronic nose (PEN3) was applied to detect volatile components, assisted with GC-MS to measure the specific content of volatile components. Based on constant temperature drying (50, 60, 70 and 80 ℃), sensor 7 and 9 were chosen for subsequent combined control. Results:Comparing with constant temperature drying, the combined control drying using volatile compounds detection could retain more volatile substances, and a good balance had been achieved between the quality of …

Australian Cleotychini Planthoppers: Review Of The Genus Cleotyche Emeljanov, 1997 With Three New Species (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha: Dictyopharidae), Jérôme Constant, Linda Semeraro, Melinda L. Moir

Biosecurity Research Articles

The genus Cleotyche in the monotypic Australian planthopper tribe Cleotychini (Fulgoroidea: Dictyopharidae) is reviewed. The subgenus Griseotyche subgen. nov. is described to accommodate one species Cleotyche blanda Emeljanov, 2011 while the second species, C. mariae Emeljanov, 1997, is retained in the subgenus Cleotyche (Cleotyche) Emeljanov, 1997. Three new species of Cleotyche (Cleotyche) from Queensland, C. (Cleotyche) christinae sp. nov. from Cania Gorge National Park, C. (Cleotyche) francescoi sp. nov. from Eurimbula National Park and C. (Cleotyche) montana sp. nov. from Blackdown Tableland National Park are described and compared to the …

Disagreements And Proper Respect In Farm/Ranch Succession, Allan Vyhnalek

Cornhusker Economics

Adapted from "Does Disrespect Have a Place in Your Ag Legacy?" Volume 6, Issue 1, February 2021, Ag Legacy, by Caleb Carter, consultant to the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics in the University of Wyoming College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Briefly covers disagreements and proper respect in farm/ranch succession.

Evaluating Success Factors And Challenges Among Small-Scale Agricultural Producers: A Texas Case Study, Katie Tritsch, Ken Mix, Michelle L. Edwards, Manuel Piña Jr.

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Literature on small farms in the U.S. is limited though they are the most numerous farm type, generate over twenty percent of agricultural production, and are more likely to be operated by historically underserved (i.e., beginning, minority, veteran, women, young) farmers than large-scale farms. This article details an online survey study of small-scale agricultural producers using a purposive sample from Texas. We used cross tabulations to evaluate qualitative operational and demographic (e.g., age, gender) factors of success, finding several significant variables with moderate effect sizes. Generally, producers regarded quality of life as more important to success than profitability. Producers’ top …

Ungulate Herbivores As Drivers Of Aspen Recruitment And Understory Composition Throughout Arid Montane Landscapes, Elizabeth S. Reikowski, Tyler Refsland, J. Hall Cushman

Aspen Bibliography

Herbivory by wild and domestic ungulates can influence tree recruitment and understory forest communities throughout the world. Herbivore-driven declines in tree recruitment have been observed for quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), a foundation species whose health and management is recognized as a critical priority throughout much of its range. Livestock fencing is commonly used to promote aspen regeneration, but its effectiveness is rarely assessed, especially across large spatial scales. Using a livestock-reduction experiment, we evaluated the effects of ungulate herbivory on aspen in the Great Basin and southern Cascades, an expansive and environmentally heterogeneous region where aspen faces the …

Path Planning Of Food Robot Based On Density Peak Clustering Parallel Sparrow Search Algorithm, Hao Jie, Tang Ye-Jian

Food and Machinery

Objective:In order to improve the efficiency of multi-point moving path planning of food picking robot, a path planning method of food picking robot based on density peak clustering parallel sparrow search algorithm is proposed.Methods:The path planning model of food picking robot was established with the total moving distance, path smoothness between points and moving safety as the evaluation indexes. While ensuring the moving safety of the robot, the path smoothness was improved and the moving distance was reduced as much as possible. The density peak clustering sparrow search algorithm (DSSA) was designed, as the improved density peak …

County-Level View Of Irrigation Trends In Utah And The West, Matt Yost, Britta L. Schumacher, Luree Johnson, Emily Burchfield, Burdette Barker

All Current Publications

We explored water use management and trends in irrigated agriculture in the U.S. West using operator-level USDA-NASS Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (FRIS)/Irrigation and Water Management Survey (IWMS) data aggregated for the first time to the county instead of state scale. Our hope is that this study will guide water managers in developing regional conservation programs, inform extension and research initiatives related to irrigation, promote grower-informed water conservation education, and provide researchers with key information regarding if, how, and why growers consider water conservation in irrigation decision-making.

Dynamic Target Grasping Method Of Food Production Line Based On Delta Robot, Bi Xian-Dong, Wang Zhen, Li Chao-Long

Food and Machinery

Objective:In order to solve the problems of poor accuracy and low efficiency of delta robot in dynamic target grasping in current food production.Methods:A new dynamic target grasping method was proposed for the grasping control of delta robot in food production line. The dynamic position of the target was calculated through the offset of the conveyor belt and the feedback value of the encoder, and the grasping order of the target was optimized. The dynamic target was grasped by combining the door trajectory and the improved trapezoidal acceleration and deceleration algorithm. The control methods before and after optimization …

Food Sorting Delta Robot Positioning And Grasping Technology Based On Binocular Vision, Mi Xi-Feng, Shang Zhan-Lei, Fan Yuan-Yuan, Meng Xiao-Chuan

Food and Machinery

Objective:Solve the problems of poor positioning accuracy and low grasping success rate of the Delta robot in food sorting, and improve the robot's flexible grasping ability.Methods:Based on the existing binocular vision and delta robot technology, a flexible grasping method of delta robot based on binocular vision was proposed. Zhang Zhengyou calibration method was used to calibrate the camera, the target was identified and located by Hough transform at the chord midpoint, and the delta robot was controlled to grasp the dynamic target according to PID tracking and grasping. The feasibility of this method was verified by analyzing …

Design Of Thermal Defect Detection System For Food Storage Room Based On Robotic Arm, Ma Zhi-Yan, Li Ao-Xiang, Duan Yu-Fei, Li Jiang-Hua

Food and Machinery

Objective:To improve the defect detection efficiency of the enclosure structure of food storage devices.Methods:A robotic arm inspection trolley based on host computer control was proposed. The acquisition path was planned according to the area of the enclosure structure. The improved Ostu image segmentation method was used to analyze the acquired thermal infrared images and output the "defect" parts. Size and position coordinates, and finally verify the effectiveness of the detection through the defect detection rate and false detection rate.Results: The detection mechanism can completely scan and collect thermal infrared images of the enclosure structure of food …

New Model Of Functional Food Research And Development: Flexible And Precise Nutrition Intervention System, Zhou Dan, Zheng Jian-Xian, Huang Shou-En

Food and Machinery

Based on the scientific theory of modern nutrition and functional food science, this paper uses biotechnology and information digital technology to establish a more precise, flexible, integrated and digital functional food research and development system-flexible precise nutrition intervention system (FPNIS) which improves the shortcomings of the two common functional food research and development models that are based on traditional Chinese herbal medicines or simple ingredient dietary supplements. Through the establishment of FPNIS, provide a new way to explore the research and development of efficient and precise functional food, and analyze its trend.

Research Progress On The Effect Of Biological And Non-Thermal Processing On The Content Of Phenolic Compounds And Antioxidant Activity In Cereals And Miscellaneous Beans, Ma Zhan-Qian, Zhai Xiao-Tong, Tan Bin

Food and Machinery

Bioprocessing and non-thermal processing can improve the quality of cereals and miscellaneous beans, which significantly increase the content of phenols and antioxidant activities. This study systematically reviewed the effects of bioprocessing and non-thermal processing on phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities of cereal and soybean, and prospected the key research ideas for further development of cereal and soybean processing.

The Effect Of Drying Method On The Physical And Chemical Properties And Antioxidant Activity Of Extruded Wheat Bran, Wu Fan, Wang Zhan, Zhou Jian, Shen Wang-Yang, Jia Xi-Wu

Food and Machinery

Objective:Using wheat bran as raw material, the extruded bran is obtained by extrusion stabilization treatment, and the best drying method for extruded bran is determined.Methods:The effects of three drying methods (fluidized bed drying, microwave drying, hot air drying) were studied on the basic components of extruded bran, water holding capacity, water solubility, swelling power, oil holding power, color value and other physical and chemical properties, oxidation resistance, total phenols and total flavonoids; Using antioxidant, total phenols and total flavonoids as indicators to determine the best drying method for extruded bran.Results:The three drying methods have no …

Determination Of Pantothenic Acid In Infant Milk Powder By Microbiological Method, He Yan, Zhong Fei-Fei, Wang Xiao-Qing, Xu Wen-Yang, Yang Tao

Food and Machinery

Objective:This study aimed to optimize the determination conditions of pantothenic acid content in infant milk powder by microbiological method and provide test data for the subsequent revision of the national standard method for pantothenic acid detection.Methods:The issues covering the determination of pantothenic acid by the national standard method were analyzed, and the key steps in the detection process, including bacterial solution preparation, pretreatment, and absorbance determination, were emphatically studied.Results:Lactobacillus plantarum from ATCC and CICC can be used to determine pantothenic acid. The best results were obtained by directly inoculating 80% bacterial solution concentration into the …

Uncertainty Evaluation On Determination Of Statins In Health Food By Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Gc-Ms), Zhang Li-Xia, Guo Qing-Yuan, Hua Qi-Cheng, Li Xiang-Mei

Food and Machinery

Objective:In presence of measurement uncertainty evaluation, the detection methods, with water-sodium chloride pretreatment, for health food was evaluated.Methods:A mathematical model was established to analysis of uncertainty sources. Then the individual components of uncertainty were evaluated. Finally, the combined uncertainty and extended uncertainty were calculated.Results:The uncertainty caused by several factors, including the fitting of the standard curve, the preparation of solution and standard, the repeatability of measurement, and the weigh of sample.The contents of mevastatin, lovastatin and simvastatin were 0.099 2, 0.101 0, 0.099 5 mg/kg in health foods, respectively. The relative combined standard uncertainties were …

Status And Prospects Of Traditional Health Food Therapy Industry Development, Xiao Jian-Cai, Liu Jian-Gong, Zhao Zi-He, Yan Bin-Bin, Zhang Yan, Yang Jian

Food and Machinery

From the perspective of the development of traditional health food therapy industry, this report illustrates the important position and significance of food therapy industry in the implementation of the general health strategy, outlines the results of product research in the therapeutic food industry, introduces the development effectiveness of food therapy industry in the world, which makes an analysis of the global food therapy market, especially in China, including industry data, market competition mode, supply and demand analysis. Finally, based on the above-mentioned industrial development analysis results, some prediction analysis and development suggestions are proposed.

The Protection Effect Of Dihydromyricetin And Its Acylated Derivatives On Oxidative Damage Of Hepatocytes, Du Bao-Shuang, Chen Shang-Wei, Li Yue, Zhu Song

Food and Machinery

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of dihydromyricetin (DHM) and its derivatives on oxidative damage of hepatocytes.Methods:The hydrogen peroxide damage model of L02 cells was established. DHM derivatives with different lipophilicity were obtained by enzymatic acylation of DHM. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and mitochondrial membrane potential and Caspase 3 were measured to evaluate the protective effect of DHM and its derivatives on damaged hepatocytes.Results:Except for 3-O-lauroyl-DHM, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) the release of lactate …

Analysis Of Volatile Components Of Fermented And Soaked Bayberry Wine, Lu Jin-Hua, Xie Ding, Xian Ling-Zhi

Food and Machinery

Objective:Differences in the composition of volatile substances in bayberry wine were used to distinguish the process of making bayberry wine.Methods:Two different processes of fermentation and soaking were used to prepare bayberry wine, and gas chromatography-ion mobility chromatography was used to analyze the volatile components of the two bayberry wines qualitatively and quantitatively.Results:A total of 59 kinds of volatile substances were detected and characterized in the two bayberry wines, including 18 alcohols, 19 esters, 9 aldehydes, 6 ketones, and 3 pyrazines and their derivatives, 1 acid, 3 others. The alcohols in fermented bayberry wine were more …

Comparative Study On Protein And Frying Characteristics Of Three Surimi, He Li, Li Xi-Mao, Hu Bing-Yue, Xie Dong-Fei, Hu Xiu-Ting, Luo Shun-Jing

Food and Machinery

Objective:The objective of this study isto investigatethe protein and frying characteristics of grass carp, silver carp and pangasius fish surimi. Methods:The frying characteristics of surimi were characterized by measuring porosity, hardness, and water absorption rate, and the dynamic rheological properties, foam stability and SDS-PAGE of surimi were measured to explore its influencing mechanism. Results:Compared with grass carp fish balls and silver carp fish balls, pangasius fish balls had loose tissue, large pores, highest porosity, lowest hardness, and highest water absorption rate. In addition, the gel strength of pasteurized fish surimi was much higher than that of silver …