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Matcha, a powder processed from tea leaves, has a unique green tea flavor and appealing color, in addition to many other sought after functional properties for a wide range of formulated food applications (e.g., dairy products, bakery products, and beverage). The properties of matcha are influenced by cultivation method and processing post-harvest. The transition from drinking tea infusion to eating whole leaves provides a healthy option for the delivery of functional component and tea phenolics in various food matrix. The aim of this review is to describe the physico-chemical properties of matcha, the specific requirements for tea cultivation and industrial processing. The quality of matcha mainly depends on the quality of fresh tea leaves, which is affected by preharvest factors including tea cultivar, shading treatment, and fertilization. Shading is the key measure to increase greenness, reduce bitterness and astringency, and enhance umami taste of matcha. The potential health benefits of matcha and the gastrointestinal fate of main phenolics in matcha are covered. The chemical compositions and bioactivities of fiber-bound phenolics in matcha and other plant materials are discussed. The fiber-bound phenolics are considered promising components which endow matcha with boosted bioavailability of phenolics and health benefits through modulating gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant propagules are crucial flora memory materials in restoration practice. Awakening flora memory from plant propagules (i.e. seeds, root fragments, rhizomes, corms, and tubers) in the translocated topsoil from a donor site is a rapid method for forest restoration on degraded sites globally. However, it remains unclear to what extent manageable measures, such as light reduction and watering, affect flora memory awakening. We employed a quadratic saturation D‐optimal design in a forest topsoil translocation experiment to quantify the effects of light reduction and watering on flora memory awakening. We used the cumulative number and richness of plantlets emerging from plant propagules to represent the extent of flora memory awakening. Our results show that any combinations of light reduction and watering significantly increased both the cumulative number and richness of plantlets across different life forms. Light reduction had a significantly more positive effect on flora memory awakening than watering. Different life forms exhibited different parabolic or positive linear relationships in responses to light reduction and watering. Light reduction of about 60% of the degraded site and watering of about 80% of the donor site resulted in the highest number and richness of plantlets. We concluded that light reduction and watering combinations were effective in kick‐starting the flora memory awakening in a semiarid subtropical forest after topsoil translocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The color of green tea is an important quality indicator. In recent years, shading of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plants has been widely adopted for green tea production to enhance its green color and umami taste. In this study, we identified factors that influence green tea color by (i) examining variation in the chlorophyll content of fresh new tea shoots among cultivars, cropping seasons, and the degree of shading, (ii) investigating the rate of conversion of chlorophyll to pheophytin during the tea manufacturing process, specifically with steaming duration, and (iii) analyzing the effects of the new tea shoot properties and the steaming process on colorimetric values of the steamed new tea shoots.Multiple regression analysis revealed that three factors contributed to the rate of conversion of each chlorophyll type to pheophytin in steamed new tea shoots (ranked by importance): steaming duration > each chlorophyll type (chlorophyll‐a and chlorophyll‐b) content of fresh new tea shoots > pH. The colorimetric hue angle (h) value of steamed new tea shoots was influenced by four factors (ranked by importance): steaming duration > total chlorophyll (chlorophyll‐a + chlorophyll‐b) content in fresh new tea shoots > pH > chlorophyll‐a/chlorophyll‐b ratio in fresh new tea shoots.Differences in the color of new tea shoots can be explained by the aforementioned four factors. The findings will be useful for cultivar selection, and determining the appropriate degree of shading and steaming duration, to produce high‐quality green teas with a good appearance. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light availability and habitat complexity are two key drivers of community assembly. Urbanisation has been shown to affect both, with important consequences to ecological communities. On the intertidal, for instance, studies have shown that light intensity is greater on natural rocky shores than on less complex artificial habitats (seawalls), though different habitats can also experience similar light intensities, for example when shaded by urban structures. Understanding therefore how these factors individually, and combined, affect communities is important to understand the mechanisms driving changes in community structure, and consequently provide solutions to tackle the increasing homogenisation of habitats and lightscapes in urbanised spaces through smart infrastructure designs. Here, we assessed how different light levels affect the recruitment of communities in rock pools and on emergent rock on an intertidal rocky shore. We cleared 30 patches of emergent rock and 30 rock pools and manipulated light using shades with different light transmissions (full light, procedural control, 75%, 35%, and 15% light transmission, full shade) and assessed mobile and sessile communities monthly for 6 months. Effects of reducing light levels were generally stronger on rock than in pools. Fully shaded plots supported double the amount of mobile organisms than plots in full sunlight, in both habitats. Algal cover was higher in pools compared to rock, and at intermediate light levels, but effects varied with site. This study highlights the importance of variable light conditions and different habitats for rocky shore communities, which should be considered in future coastal developments to retain natural biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variation in light within the environment triggers morphophysiological changes in plants and can lead to distinct responses in sun-exposed or shaded plants to glyphosate. The response of Urochloa genotypes subjected to desiccation with 2160, 1622.4, 1080, 524.4, 273.6, and 0.0 g ha−1 of glyphosate was evaluated in full sun and shade conditions. Cayana grass, mulato II grass, and sabiá grass – hybrids recently launched on the market, in addition to palisade grass and congo grass were evaluated. Under full sun, we achieved control of congo grass using 1080 g ha−1 of glyphosate, while the other grasses required 2160 g ha−1. In the low-light environment, sabiá grass was effectively controlled with 524.4 g ha−1 of glyphosate, but the other grasses needed 273.6 g ha−1. In shading, compared to full sun, the savings with glyphosate were 75 and 76% for the control of congo grass and sabiá grass, respectively, and 87% for palisade grass, mulato II grass and cayana grass. Increasing glyphosate doses leads to a decline in the quantum efficiency of photosystem II and in the electron transport rate, especially in the shade. Urochloa genotypes are more sensitive to glyphosate in the shade, which must be considered when determining the herbicide dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary disadvantage of solar photovoltaic systems, particularly in partial shadowing conditions (PSC), is their low efficiency. A power–voltage curve with a homogenous distribution of solar irradiation often has a single maximum power point (MPP). Without a doubt, it can be extracted using any conventional tracker—for instance, perturb and observe. On the other hand, under PSC, the situation is entirely different since, depending on the number of distinct solar irradiation levels, the power–voltage curve has numerous MPPs (i.e., multiple local points and one global point). Conventional MPPTs can only extract the first point since they are unable to distinguish between local and global MPP. Thus, to track the global MPP, an optimized MPPT based on optimization algorithms is needed. The majority of global MPPT techniques seen in the literature call for sensors for voltage and current in addition to, occasionally, temperature and/or solar irradiance, which raises the cost of the system. Therefore, a single-sensor global MPPT based on the recent red-tailed hawk (RTH) algorithm for a PV system interconnected with a DC link operating under PSC is presented. Reducing the number of sensors leads to a decrease in the cost of a controller. To prove the superiority of the RTH, the results are compared with several metaheuristic algorithms. Three shading scenarios are considered, with the idea of changing the shading scenario to change the location of the global MPP to measure the consistency of the algorithms. The results verified the effectiveness of the suggested global MPPT based on the RTH in precisely capturing the global MPP compared with other methods. As an example, for the first shading situation, the mean PV power values varied between 6835.63 W and 5925.58 W. The RTH reaches the highest PV power of 6835.63 W flowing through particle swarm optimization (6808.64 W), whereas greylag goose optimizer achieved the smallest PV power production of 5925.58 W. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoculture systems in South East Asia are facing challenges due to climate change-induced extreme weather conditions, leading to significant annual production losses in rice and oil palm. To ensure the stability of these crops, innovative strategies like resilient agroforestry systems need to be explored. Converting oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) monocultures to rice (Oryza sativa)-based intercropping systems shows promise, but achieving optimal yields requires adjusting palm density and identifying rice varieties adapted to changes in light quantity and diurnal fluctuation. This paper proposes a methodology that combines a model of light interception with indoor experiments to assess the feasibility of rice–oil palm agroforestry systems. Using a functional–structural plant model of oil palm, the planting design was optimized to maximize transmitted light for rice. Simulation results estimated the potential impact on oil palm carbon assimilation and transpiration. In growth chambers, simulated light conditions were replicated with adjustments to intensity and daily fluctuation. Three light treatments independently evaluated the effects of light intensity and fluctuation on different rice accessions. The simulation study revealed intercropping designs that significantly increased light transmission for rice cultivation with minimal decrease in oil palm densities compared with conventional designs. The results estimated a loss in oil palm productivity of less than 10%, attributed to improved carbon assimilation and water use efficiency. Changes in rice plant architecture were primarily influenced by light quantity, while variations in yield components were attributed to light fluctuations. Different rice accessions exhibited diverse responses to light fluctuations, indicating the potential for selecting genotypes suitable for agroforestry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we address the problem of spatially-varying illumination-aware indoor harmonization. Existing image harmonization works either focus on extracting no more than 2D information (e.g., low-level statistics or image filters) from the background image or rely on the non-linear representations of deep neural networks to adjust the foreground appearance. However, from a physical point of view, realistic image harmonization requires the perception of illumination at the foreground position in the scene (i.e., Spatially-Varying (SV) illumination), especially for indoor scenes. To solve indoor harmonization, we present a novel learning-based framework, which attempts to mimic the physical model of image formation. The proposed framework consists of a new neural harmonization architecture with four compact neural modules, which jointly learn SV illumination, shading, albedo, and rendering. In particular, a multilayer perceptron-based neural illumination field is designed to recover the illumination with finer details. Besides, we construct the first large-scale synthetic indoor harmonization benchmark dataset in which the foreground focuses on humans and is rendered and perturbed by SV illuminations. An object placement formula is also derived to ensure that the foreground object is placed in the background at a reasonable size. Extensive experiments on synthetic and real data demonstrate that our proposed approach achieves better results than prior works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that free-floating plants may facilitate the growth of submerged plants under hypertrophic conditions and intermediate plant density. The effects of Lemna presence on the growth of two submerged plants (Elodea nuttallii and Ceratophyllum demersum) over a nitrogen gradient were experimentally investigated. This was complemented with analysing the presence of C. demersum and E. nuttallii in Hungary and in Germany in relation to the density of free-floating plants. Results showed a negative exponential pattern between underwater light intensity and Lemna cover. Ceratophyllum and Elodea relative growth rate decreased with increasing nitrogen concentrations and additional low Lemna density stimulated Ceratophyllum and suppressed Elodea. Elodea decreased linearly with Lemna density while Ceratophyllum showed a unimodal response. Total algal biomass (epiphytic and planktonic) was higher in Ceratophyllum than in Elodea treatments and decreased rapidly with increasing Lemna density. The field studies showed a positive relationship between Ceratophyllum and a negative one between Elodea and free-floating plant cover. This study clearly showed that free-floating plants can have either facilitating or inhibiting impact on the growth of submerged plants depending on cover density and macrophyte species. The facilitating effect on Ceratophyllum is most likely due to suppressing epiphytic algal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the effect of shading on the growth and physiological respond of Menyanthes trifoliata L.and to provide suitable habitat in Beijing area for its protection and utilization. Growth and physiological index of M.trifoliata during different periods were studied under four shading treatments, including full sunlight, 50% shading, 75% shading and 90% shading. The microclimatic factors were also monitored under same conditions. The results showed that height growth, rhizome growh and leaf area growth of M.trifoliata under 50%-90% shading treatment for 60 days during summer were significantly higher than those in full sunlight; SPAD and Fv/Fm of M.trifoliata were effectively increased under 50% shading, compared with CK; moderate shading could effectively reduce light intensity, daily maximum temperatures and increase air humidity. In conclusion, 50% shading of M.trifoliata for 60-90 days in summer is the most favorable cultivation method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3-in-1 vegetable-fish cultivation is an innovative cultivation system that integrates floating and climbing vegetable cultivation with fish culture. This cultivation is a solution to the problem of narrow land in urban areas for vegetable-fish cultivation to create: a) Fish farming in a concrete pool at the bottom position, b) Shadetolerant vegetables cultivated using a floating culture system, and c) Climbing vegetables on a dedicated nettedframes as high as 2 meters above the pool. The dimensions of the pool correspond to the available land. The floating raft was constructed using 69 units of 1.5 L plastic bottles as floaters, assembled into a raft with a surface area of 2 m². The buoyancy capacity of the raft is 120 kg. The raft has been patented with Granted patent No. IDP 000065141. The community service activities are a) Open demonstrations for 3-in-1 vegetable-fish farming installations; b) Socialization and assistance to communities interested in implementing it; and c) Collection of data and information for evaluation and publication materials. Static demonstration activities during one cycle of cultivation and socialization to three potential community groups, namely: a) Urban communities as the primary target; b) Journalists for more enlarging coverage of the dissemination; and c) Agricultural students for the learning process. Urban communities can adopt the dissemination of land optimization through 3-in-1 vegetable-fish cultivation on urban land. Community interest in this cultivation system innovation is outstanding, as represented by the community's enthusiasm for this program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With Liriope spicata, L. graminifolia, L. muscari var.variegata and L. spicata var.prolifera as experimental material, the effects of different shading degrees on the photosynthetic properties of 4 kinds of Ophiopogon japonicus have been studied after 90 d of treatment with dif- ferent shading levels, in order to provide theoretical basis for selecting suitable Ophiopogon japonicus for different lighting environments in gar- dens. The results showed that proper shading could promote the synthesis of photosynthetic pigments. The chlorophyll content of L. spicata and L. graminifolia were the maximum under 25% shading, and the contents were 2.38 and 2.10 mg/g respectively. The chlorophyll content of L. muscari var. variegata and L.spicata var. prolifera were the maximum under 50% shading, and the contents were 1.22 and 1.81 mg/g, respec- tively. The maximum net photosynthetic rate of L. spicata was 11.13 µmol/(m²·s) under 25% shading. The maximum net photosynthetic rate of L. graminifolia, L. muscari var. Variegata and L.spicata var. prolifera were 6.15, 6.82 and 8.01 µmol/(m²·s) under 50% shading respective- ly. All factors considered, the optimal shading degree of Liriope spicata was 25% shading. The optimal shading degree of L.graminifolia was be- tween 25%-50% shading. The optimal shading degree of L. muscari var.variegata and L.spicata var.prolifera were 50% shading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of shading has been a prominent subject of discourse within the realm of photovoltaic (PV) energy harvesting and is recognized as a significant detriment to the system's overall efficiency. Nevertheless, prevailing investigations, which predominantly focus on the hard shading originating from building structures and vegetation, singularly address the umbra shadow phenomenon while overlooking the complexity of shadow properties and their varying intensities. In this context, this present research aims to analyze the impact of shading caused by thin objects, wherein shadow formation deviates from a singular-intensity umbra to a blend of umbra and penumbra, exhibiting diverse intensities. In the initial experimental approach, outdoor trials produced statistically significant findings, identifying both the distance and thickness of shading objects as primary determinants influencing the impact of thin object shading on the power output of PV systems. Furthermore, the analysis of the results revealed that under the specified parameters and assumptions, when considering a thin object with a thickness-to-distance ratio of 2.3 mm/225 cm, the resulting power loss of 1.65% is statistically insignificant. Remarkably, laboratory investigations unveiled a notable correlation between penumbra and power loss, contrasting with outdoor experimentation results. The findings highlight the distinction between indoor and outdoor methodologies, stemming from discrepancies in shadow formation characteristics, thereby emphasizing the necessity of acknowledging and comprehending these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) is a medicinal plant known for its anthocyanin pigment content, which imparts a blue color to its flowers. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of shading on butterfly pea flower growth and production. The research design utilized a randomized complete block design (RCBD) for shading treatments. We replicated each treatment level four times, resulting in 20 experimental units, each containing four plants, for a total population of 80 plants. We conducted the experiment at the Experimental Garden of Gunadarma University Campus F7, implementing shade nets at different intensity levels (55%, 65%, 75%, and 85%), along with a control treatment without shading. We made observations on various plant growth parameters such as leaf count, plant length, days to first flower appearance, flower count, fresh weight, and dry weight. The results indicated that shading significantly influenced butterfly pea plants' growth. Plants without shading tended to exhibit better growth in several parameters, such as increased leaf count, higher plant length, and earlier days to first flower appearance. These findings underscore the importance of sunlight in supporting the growth and production of butterfly pea plants. Therefore, careful consideration of shade management is essential in agricultural practices to ensure optimal growth and maximum yield from butterfly pea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Silicon in plants is a structuring element that promotes water and saline stress tolerance and decreases transpiration. The silica accumulated in the cuticle establishes a physical barrier and helps fight against pests and diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the development of ipê-roxo (Handroanthus impetiginosus) seedlings in different environments, and the application of potassium silicate and its efficiency in mitigating the attack of pests and diseases. Methods: The experiment was carried out in an agricultural greenhouse and under full sun with silicic doses of 0 and 7.15 mg per plant in a completely randomized design arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with 6 replications of 4 seedlings per plot. Plant height, chlorophyll, stem diameter, number of leaves, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, total dry matter, height-diameter ratio, root-shoot ratio, root-plant ratio, Dickson quality index, disease severity, and pest intensity were evaluated. Results: Silicon application did not confer biometric qualities to the seedlings. The application of silicon conferred 24.6% higher protection against disease severity at a 90% probability level. The protected environment promoted 48.8% more protection against the attack of pests on the seedlings. The silicon application decreases the intensity of pests in the protected environment by 36.3%. Seedlings in a protected environment increase the production of chlorophyll but are 29.6% more susceptible to the severity of diseases. The full sun promoted greater diameters, phytomass, and Dickson quality index by 18%, 73%, and 195%, respectively. Conclusions: The best Handroanthus impetiginosus seedlings were obtained under full sun. Silicon mitigated the attack of pests and diseases on Handroanthus impetiginosus seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado is an important tree crop grown in the tropics, including Ghana. Avocados are primarily propagated by seed into trees, which grow to provide shade for young cocoa trees and, subsequently, food and income. Cultivation of this crop as a monocrop is limited in Ghana; hence, there is a considerable risk of losing desirable genetic materials. There has been an effort by scientists at the University of Ghana to collect and curate available avocado germplasm to preserve, multiply, and disseminate to growers. Nurserymen have been tasked with germplasm multiplication through grafting. Unfortunately, the outcome of this grafting practice has been inefficient due to the high incidence of grafting failure. This study assessed the effects of the grafting experiences of four nurserymen under no shade, traditional, and adjusted shade conditions on the graft success of two avocado scions (Fuerte and Hass). The results of this study indicated that the absence of shade led to complete graft failure. Nevertheless, modifying the conventional shade to 70% using shade net resulted in a 10-20% enhancement in graft success. The success of grafting was found to be more associated with the skill of the grafters rather than their age or years of grafting experience. In general, the low graft success rate in avocados was most probably attributed to variations in the skills of individual grafters. Grafter A achieved a graft success rate of 23-29% higher than the other grafters, suggesting variations in the skill levels employed. Significantly (p = 0.05), graft success was higher in the Fuerte cultivar than in the Hass cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FHY3 and FAR1 serve as positive regulators of the phyA-mediated far-red light signal pathway, influencing plant growth and development by regulating the expression of downstream genes. However, little is known about the FAR1/FHY3 family in Brassica species. A total of 21 members of the BnFAR1/FHY3 gene family were identified in the Brassica napus genome, exhibiting an uneven distribution across ten B. napus chromosomes. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the BnFAR1/FHY3 family could be divided into four subfamilies. Putative cis-elements in the BnFAR1/FHY3 promoter regions were also identified, which were potentially involved in phytohormone, light and abiotic stress responses (shading, low-temperature, etc.). Additionally, qRT-PCR results indicated that the expression levels of BnFAR1-10, BnFAR1-11, BnFAR1-21 and BnFAR1-4 decreased under shading stress. The expression of BnFAR1-10, BnFAR1-11 and BnFAR1-21 increased under low-temperature stress, whereas the expression of BnFAR1-4 did not change. In addition, the results of the tissue expression analysis showed that most of the genes exhibited the lowest expression in pollen and the highest expression in the 54-day silique. This study screened a batch of BnFHY3/BnFAR1 gene resources, which will contribute to further research on the functional characteristics of BnFHY3/BnFAR1 family members in growth, development and the stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowers and pod abscission significantly reduces soybean yield. This study aims to identify the main signaling pathways and key candidate genes in soybean leaves that affect flower and pod abscission under shade conditions. This information will be useful for the localization and cloning of genes related to abscission. Two soybean cultivars with different abscission rates (Liaodou 32 and Shennongdou 28) were used in this experiment. The soybean leaves were subjected to 50% shading treatment and the transcriptome and metabolome was sequenced during the light-sensitive period. The effects of weak light at different growth stages on the metabolic pathways of soybean leaves and organ abscission were investigated by analyzing plant phenotype and physiological changes. The results showed that both two cultivars triggered the same molecular mechanism and similar metabolite accumulation mode by shading, but the regulations of the two cultivars were different. The key candidate genes identified for soybean flower and pod abscission caused by shading were DIV, MYB06, MYB44, MY1R1, MYBS3, WRKY6, WRK53, WRK70, WRK40, DOF14, CDF3, CDF2, GATA5, DREB3 and ERF3; the differentially expressed genes that caused the variation between the cultivars were SRM1, MYB16, WRK24, COL16, MYB61 and TRB1. The main metabolic pathways involved in soybean flower and pod abscission caused by shading were secondary metabolite biosynthesis pathway, metabolic pathway, cofactor biosynthesis pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis pathway and amino acid biosynthesis pathway; the DEMs that caused the differences among the cultivars were carbon metabolism, glutathione metabolism, biotin metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, purine metabolism, plant hormone signaling, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, lysine degradation, arginine and proline metabolism, amino sugars and nucleotide sugars metabolism, etc. In conclusion, shading treatment in the light-sensitive period of soybean changed the physiological response and gene expression level of leaves, inhibited carbohydrate metabolism and transport and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and thereby leading to increased competition and hormonal disruption, which promoted the abscission of soybean flowers/pods and reduced grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) is a highly valuable fruit species in Southeast Asia. To regulate the fruiting season, shading is commonly used to induce flowering in wax apple. However, the effects of shading on the growth of wax apple is not well understood. To address this, we conducted a study analyzing the photosynthetic characteristics of wax apple leaves under 40% and 90% shading rates. Our findings revealed that shading had a significant impact on the photosynthesis and branching tip development of wax apple. During shading treatments, the chlorophyll contents of the leaves increased to enhance light absorption efficiency. In the 40% shading treatment, the primary factor causing the decrease in net photosynthetic rate was stomatal limitation, while in the 90% shading treatment, both stomatal and non-stomatal limitations contributed to the decrease in net photosynthetic rate. These results are indications that sheading plays a key role in chlorophyll and photosynthesis in wax apple. These results will have led to a new research direction for genetic crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key factor, it is vital to mathematically model the electrical efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems. This paper investigates the efficient modeling of a 2.5 kW grid-connected PV system, located in Mahan, Kerman, Iran, with respect to different factors like solar radiation, humidity, dust deposition, temperature, and shading. For this aim, different nonlinear models are considered and a curvefitting approach is used to optimally determine the unknown parameters. Over the case study, simulation results show that when the dust deposition is not included in the modeling (solar radiation, ambient temperature, cell temperature, humidity, and shading as inputs), the third-degree polynomial model leads to more accurate result than the other models. By use of the third-degree polynomial model, the value of root mean square error (RMSE) for train and test data sets is obtained 0.0123 and 0.0109, respectively. In this case, the average RMSE value is 0.0116. On the other hand, when dust impact is included in the modeling (solar radiation, ambient temperature, humidity, and number of dusty days as inputs), the accuracy of the exponential model is more than the other ones. In this case, the value of RMSE for both train and test data sets is obtained 0.0018. Sensitivity analysis shows that the system efficiency depends mainly on the radiation, cell temperature, and dust and less on the humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In coding observational and performance data, researchers have favored a focus on interrater reliability (agreement of coders with each other) over scoring accuracy (agreement of coders with expert ratings). Often, an implicit assumption is that establishing interrater reliability implies acceptable scoring accuracy, but this is not necessarily the case. This study reports scoring accuracy of four experienced Rorschachers in coding 155 responses for Form Dominance in Shading and Achromatic Color (FDSHAC) determinants using Viglione’s (2010) guidelines augmenting those from the Comprehensive System (CS; Exner et al., 2001). These determinants were of interest since these (a) are low-base rate and difficult for new learners, and previous findings have been mixed regarding their interrater reliability, (b) have been eliminated by the Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS; Meyer et al., 2011), yet (c) are still considered valuable for inferences related to ego involvement in affect regulation. In this study we compared findings of scoring accuracy to those previously reported on interrater reliability in the same data set (Bram et al., 2023) and found similar patterns. Coders exhibited strongest accuracy in rating the levels of Form Dominance of Texture and Form Dominance of Achromatic Color. Accuracies for Form Dominance of Diffuse Shading and Form Dominance of Aggregate FDHAC were comparatively modest but more than acceptable. The most challenging variable to code accurately was Form Dominance of Vista; and among the levels of the Aggregate and individual FDSHAC’s, Form Secondary was the most difficult to code and had greatest variability. We discuss the need for further refinement of training for coding FDSHAC, and we make a case for increasing attention to scoring accuracy in research and clinical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate growth characteristics of Mombaça grass in silvopastoral and monoculture systems under different canopy heights. Monoculture and silvopastoral systems were evaluated under different height management strategies which were: 70, 80, 90 and 100 cm, in two seasons of the year: rainy and rainy / dry transition seasons. The variables evaluated were LAR (Leaf area ratio), SLA (Specific Leaf Area), LWR (Leaf Weight Ratio), RGR (Relative Growth Rate), CGR (Crop Growth Rate), NAR (Net Assimilation Rate) and LAI (Leaf Area Index). The experimental design adopted was randomized blocks with five replications. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and F test, and the Duncan test was used to compare the systems. The effect of the cutting height was assessed through linear and quadratic regression equations (p> 0.05). The shade cast by the trees affects most of the growth characteristics of Mombaça grass, such as SLA and LWR, which increased to compensate for the lower light intensity reaching the understory. Growth characteristics linked to the efficiency of light assimilation tend to be greater in the silvopastoral system. Characteristics related to production such as CGR and LAI were superior in the monoculture system. The strategy of cutting the forage at a height of 70 cm with residue of 40 cm showed the best growth rates in comparison to the other cutting strategies in the silvopastoral system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study focuses on the impact of environmental conditions and the use of phytogenic additives on dairy cattle performance and cheese production. The research was conducted in Brazil and considered the effects of shade and dietary additives on various physiological and production parameters. The results showed that providing shade to cows can help mitigate the effects of heat stress, although it did not significantly affect milk yield or quality. The use of a phytogenic additive did not yield substantial changes in the parameters studied, suggesting the potential adaptability of the animals to their environment. Cheese production was not significantly influenced by these factors, indicating a consistent yield and quality. This study highlights the need for further research to explore the benefits of phytogenic additives and their impact on animal welfare and product quality. In summary, while shade and dietary additives may offer some advantages, the adaptability of dairy cattle and specific environmental conditions should be considered when implementing strategies to enhance productivity and product quality in the dairy industry. This investigation aimed to assess the physiological parameters and quality of milk and fresh cheeses produced by cows that were housed in paddocks, either with or without shade, and supplemented with a phytogenic additive. Sixteen crossbred cows were allocated in a 4 × 4 Latin square design, dividing them into paddocks with or without shade, and providing or not providing a phytogenic additive in their feed. This resulted in a total of four treatment groups and sixteen experimental plots, each containing four animals, over four periods of 21 days. Various parameters were examined, including haematology, rectal and skin temperature, respiratory rate, milk yield and composition, serum parameters, and cheese yield and quality. It is worth noting that the temperature and humidity, as measured by a black globe thermometer, did not display significant variations between the different environments and exhibited minimal fluctuations throughout the day. Additionally, the supplementation of the phytogenic additive led to a reduction in haematocrit levels (p = 0.011). Furthermore, the analysis showed that whey obtained from cheese production had a higher fat content when cows were without access to shade (p = 0.005). Notably, there was an interaction between factors in relation to the total dry extract content, which was lower when cows had access to shade and received the additive (p = 0.010). In summary, the provision of a phytogenic additive and the presence or absence of shade did not bring about significant changes in milk production and quality or in the yield and quality of fresh cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to clarify the production technology of cigar tobacco leaves with high quality in Zhaotong, by taking the variety of cigar-wrapper tobacco leaves (Yunxue No. 36) as the experimental materials, the field experiment was carried out to study the effects of shading treatment and non-shading treatment, on the growth period, botanical traits, agronomic traits, disease resistance, tobacco appearance quality, chemical composition, yield and quality of Yunxue No. 36 in Jinsha River Basin of Zhaotong. The results showed that: In addition to the shortening of the final harvest period of parietal leaves after the shading treatment, the growth stages in the field were prolonged to di任erent degrees compared with that of the leaves without the shading treatment, and the whole growing period in the field was shortened by 10 days. The agronomic characters of tobacco leaves after the shading treatment were significantly better than those of the tobacco leaves without the shading treatment, which showed the low natural infection rate in the field, better quality of tobacco leaves and thin leaves. Compared with the chemical components in the cigar-wrapper tobacco leaves with high quality at home and abroad, the nicotine content of tobacco leaves after the shading treatment, was higher, the potassium oxide content was lower, while the other chemical components were similar. The output value of tobacco leaves after the shading treatment was 187 093. 80 yuan • hm-2, which was significantly higher than that of tobacco leaves without the shading treatment (being 54 493. 80 yuan • hm-2 higher than that of tobacco leaves without the shading treatment). Therefore, under the climatic conditions of J ins ha River Basin in Zhaotong, it was necessary to carry out the shading cultivation during the field period to produce the raw materials of cigar-wrapper tobacco leaves with high quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is one of the most important medicinal and aromatic plants. Light intensity is an indispensable factor for plants due to its effect on photosynthesis and physiological processes. Here, we investigated the impact of light intensities and harvesting times on the photosynthesis of green and purple basil. The experiment involved subjecting plants to three different levels of sunlight for 12 days: complete—100%, 50%, and 30%—sunlight. In addition, we evaluated the impact of harvest time during the day. The highest levels of photosynthetic and protective pigments were detected under full sunlight conditions in purple basil harvested at noon. The highest levels of soluble and storage carbohydrates were recorded in the purple basil grown under full sunlight and harvested during the early morning. By contrast, the lowest levels were obtained in plants grown under 30% sunlight and harvested at noon time. Under all light treatments, the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (FV/FM) was detected at 4 a.m. in both basil varieties; it decreased at noon and increased again at 5 p.m. Non-Photochemical Quenching (NPQ) was most elevated in the green variety under all light intensities at noon. However, the highest NPQ was detected in the purple variety at 8 a.m. The NPQ was lowest in both basil varieties during the early morning and afternoon. Full sunlight at noon caused temporary photoinhibition and reduced carbohydrates while enhancing pigment concentration and photo-protective mechanisms in basil plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The present paper aimed to investigate the effects of varying light intensities on the photosynthetic, antioxidant and qualitative aspects of cigar leaves. [Method] In the field experiment, 5 treatments were set up using Chuanxue No. 1 as the experimental material( CK: 100% natural light intensity; Tl: 85% natural light intensity; T2: 70% natural light intensity; T3: 55% natural light intensity; T4: 40% natural light intensity). [Result]Under different light intensities, the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid in cigar leaves increased initially and then decreased; The contents of MDA and H202 in cigar leaves increased slowly; The activities of SOD and POD increased initially and then decreased; And the activity of CAT in cigar leaves increased initially and then decreased. Cigar leaves' photosynthetic pigment content, intercellular CO2 concentration, water use efficiency, and antioxidant enzyme activity increased as light intensity decreased, while MDA content, H202 content, net photosynthetic rate, stomata! conductance, and transpiration rate decreased. However, a low-light-intensity environment did not promote the enhancement of cigar leaves' photosynthetic and antioxidant characteristics. The levels of total sugar, total nitrogen, and nicotine in cigar leaves increased at first and subsequently fell as light intensity increased; Chlorine and potassium increased, and reducing sugar, the sugar-alkali ratio, the nitrogen-alkali ratio, and the two-sugar ratio decreased. With insufficient light intensity, the coordination of chemical components in cigar leaves was weak, which was detrimental to cigar leaf quality. [ Conclusion] Moderate low light ( 55 % - 70% natural light intensity) was found to be beneficial in increasing the content of photosynthetic pigment, promoting light energy absorption, maintaining stable photosynthetic characteristics, benefiting cigar leaf growth and development, and increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes all at the same time. Cigar leaf membrane lipid peroxidation damage was minimized, antioxidant properties were strengthened, and the chemical composition of cigar leaves was well coordinated, all of which aided in the production of cigar quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large differences exist in the number of grains per spikelet across an individual wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) spike. The central spikelets produce the highest number of grains, while apical and basal spikelets are less productive, and the most basal spikelets are commonly only developed in rudimentary form. Basal spikelets are delayed in initiation, yet they continue to develop and produce florets. The precise timing or the cause of their abortion remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the underlying causes of basal spikelet abortion using shading applications in the field. We found that basal spikelet abortion is likely to be the consequence of complete floret abortion, as both occur concurrently and have the same response to shading treatments. We detected no differences in assimilate availability across the spike. Instead, we show that the reduced developmental age of basal florets pre-anthesis is strongly associated with their increased abortion. Using the developmental age pre-abortion, we were able to predict final grain set per spikelet across the spike, alongside the characteristic gradient in the number of grains from basal to central spikelets. Future efforts to improve spikelet homogeneity across the spike could thus focus on improving basal spikelet establishment and increasing floret development rates pre-abortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plant architecture of higher plants is regulated through environmental and genetic factors, as well as phytohormones. Phytohormones play a critical role in regulating shoot branching. We determined the branching phenotype of D16 and N99-6, the content of strigolactones, the genetic expression level, and the interaction between auxin and strigolactones. We found that the branching development of the two soybean varieties under shading was significantly slower than that under normal light. The average branch length of N99-6 decreased by 40.9% after shading; however, the branch length of D16 was not significantly affected. Meanwhile, the branch formation rate in D16 was significantly higher than in N99-6. In addition, after shading treatment, the content of strigolactones in D16 and N99-6 axillary buds increased significantly, and the expression of phytochrome genes, PhyA and PhyB, showed opposite changes. However, strigolactone synthesis gene GmMAX4 and signal transduction gene GmMAX2 expression levels of D16 were lower than those of N99-6 after 24 h of shading. In addition, the application of strigolactone inhibitor TIS108 and auxin inhibitor NPA to soybean had no significant effect on the branch phenotype. The expression of the GmMAX2 gene was significantly up-regulated after the external application of the auxin analog, and the expression of auxin transporter gene GmPINI was significantly down-regulated after external application of the strigolactone analog under shade. In this study, we investigated the adverse effect of shade on soybean branching development, which may be due to the interaction of strigolactones with auxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Satellite imagery-based solar irradiance mapping studies are essential for large-scale solar energy assessments but are limited in spatial resolution and accuracy. Despite efforts to increase map resolution by correcting inaccuracies caused by shadows on the terrain, the computational time of these models and the massive volume of generated data still pose challenges. Particularly, forecasting generates large amounts of time series data, and the data production rate is faster than the computational speed of traditional terrain correction. Moreover, while previous research has been conducted to expedite computations, a novel and innovative technology in terrain correction is still required. Therefore, we propose a new correction method that can bypass complex calculations and process enormous data within seconds. This model extends the lookup table concept, optimizes the results of many shadow operations, and stores them in memory for use. The model enabled 90 m scale computations across Korea within seconds on a local desktop computer. Optimization was performed based on domain knowledge to reduce the required memory to a realistic level. A quantitative analysis of computation time was also conducted, revealing a previously overlooked computational bottleneck. In conclusion, the developed model enables real-time terrain correction and subsequent processing of massive amounts of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine the critical period in oats, which is relevant for locating that period under the best climatic conditions. Trials were conducted in the Argentinian Pampas during 2015–2016, using four oat genotypes with different growing cycle. The experimental design was a split-split-plot, with three replications; being genotypes the main plot and the subplots six shading treatments [unshaded control and five shaded treatments during 25 days, from different growth stages [GS31 (first-visible-node), GS32, GS33, GS40 (boot), and GS60 (flowering)]. GY and its components [(number of panicles (NP), grains number per panicles (GNP), grains number per square meter (GN), and thousand kernel weight (TKW)] were determined at harvest. GY was sensitive to radiation limitations, showing falls of 20 to 70%, varying according to shading and genotypes. The shading mainly affected GY between GS32 and a few days after flowering in the short-intermediate cycle genotypes, and from GS33 in those with the longest cycles. Regression analysis showed that GN was the most affected yield component, being GNP more sensitive to stress and closely related to GN than NP. TKW showed less magnitude reductions (4.6 to 17.4%), being the shading at GS40, the one that caused the greatest decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major challenge in fragrant rice production is to improve both yield and grain quality in fragrant rice. Reducing tillage has been singled out as an effective impact to improve grain yield. However, information on the improvement of grain yield and grain quality and their relationship is sparse. This study aimed to assess the influence of different tillage methods on rice growth during the booting stage under shading conditions. The experiments were conducted with rotary tillage and no-shading (RTNS), rotary tillage and shading (RTS), reduced tillage and no-shading (LTNS), reduced tillage and shading (LTS), no-tillage and no-shading (NTNS) and no-tillage and shading (NTS), using two fragrant rice varieties, Meixiangzhan 2 (MXZ2) and Xiangyaxiangzhan (XYXZ). Grain yield, grain quality, Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and antioxidant activities were all investigated. Our results showed that grain yield of reduced tillage and no-tillage were 27.9% and 27.0% higher than rotary tillage, respectively. In addition, with shading applied, grain yield significantly decreased. Moreover, with the application of a shading treatment, the brown rice rate, chalkiness degree and chalk grain rate decreased, while the milled rice rate, amylose content and protein content increased. The results of this study revealed that shading improves the grain quality of fragrant rice but has a negative impact on its yield while reducing tillage effectively makes up for the yield loss resulting from shading and improves rice quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, the background level of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) has increased extremely. One of the decisive factors influencing this increase is the increase in the quality, volume, and speed of voice and data services of mobile operators. This paper deals with the protection of the internal environment from the negative effects of EMFs through elements made of metal materials that absorb this radiation. For the purposes of this research, a series of measurements were carried out on individual days of the week and hours during the day. The results of the measurements were evaluated by the ANOVA method. The aim was to obtain a summary overview of the effects of electromagnetic fields and propose measures for their elimination in the interior. Therefore, measurements of electromagnetic fields were also carried out using shielding elements made of various metal materials, and a comparison of their shielding efficiency was subsequently made. Applications of shading blinds with the highest shading efficiency were recommended to increase safety, protect people's health from its effects, and prevent electromagnetic fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its potential benefits, dual land use for crop growth and electricity generation (agrivoltaics) is not widespread. This study investigates the effect of two types of organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules (red and blue), which differ by spectral characteristics, on greenhouse microclimate and crop performance. The characteristics of the OPV modules were first determined outside greenhouses. Then, experiments involving a tomato crop were done in three greenhouses. Two greenhouses had modules installed above the canopy, at gutter height, while the third served as a control without modules. Radiation transmittance values of the red and blue modules were 32.2 and 28.8%, respectively. The installation of OPV modules resulted in a similar reduction of irradiance at the canopy level, about 38%, in the two OPV greenhouses (OPVGs). Dust accumulation over 11 months of installation inside the greenhouses reduced radiation transmission of the red and blue modules by 2.6 ± 0.8% and 4.9 ± 1.8% (absolute values), respectively. The amount of solar radiation transferred to sensible and latent heat depended apparently on the modules' radiometric characteristics. The level of diffuse radiation in the global solar radiation affected the temperature of the modules. In the control greenhouse, the accumulated yield was higher than in the blue and red OPVGs by 15% and 9%, respectively. Yet, the ratio of accumulated yield to irradiance at the canopy level was higher in the OPVGs. There were no significant differences among the greenhouses concerning the acidity and sugar content of the tomatoes. • Semi-transparent photovoltaic modules (STPMs) can alleviate shading. • STPMs are flexible, lightweight, and easy to install in a greenhouse. • The degradation rate of STPMs inside a greenhouse is lower than outside it. • Dust accumulation during 11 months reduced radiation transmission by less than 5%. • Red and blue STPMs resulted in a higher ratio of accumulated yield to irradiance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare species threatened by climate and land-use change may harbor seeds in soil seed banks for periods of time even if adults have disappeared from the site. Soil samples were collected from sites with current Physostegia correllii populations and from sites with former populations in Lady Bird Lake (a reservoir of the Colorado River, Austin, Texas. A seedling emergence study was conducted under greenhouse conditions, and the presence/absence of seedling emergence was recorded for two years. Seeds germinated from the seed banks of all current and former colonies tested. The presence of seed banks in a historical site (Blunn Creek) of Physostegia correllii suggests that management to encourage the germination of seeds might help to encourage the establishment of populations of this species. The re-establishment of disturbance fugitives might be facilitated by removing overhanging ground vegetation or imposing water management regimes that mimic natural floodplain dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physiological state of overwintering tea leaves is crucial for the growth and quality formation of spring tea shoots. Low temperatures in winter can easily cause damage to overwintering tea plants, leading to leaf chlorosis and abnormal physiological functions. Many pieces of research have shown that shading could promote chlorophyll (Chl) accumulation in tea leaves, but the impact on overwintering tea plants is not yet known. In this study, different shading rates (no-shading, S0%; 30% shading, S30%; 75% shading, S75%) were used to treat overwintering tea plants, which explored the effect of shading on the color and physiological functions of tea leaves. The results showed that Chl, carotenoid, and soluble sugar (SS) contents were S75% > S30% > S0%, and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) was S75% > S30% > S0%. Transcriptome analysis showed that the genes involved in chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism (such as protochlorophyllide reductase POR and zeaxanthin epoxidase ZEP) and photosynthesis (such as photosystem II P680 reaction center D2 protein PsbA and photosystem II CP47 chlorophyll apoprotein PsbB) were significantly up-regulated under shading. In addition, many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in "starch and sucrose metabolism (ko00500)" and "anthocyanin biosynthesis (ko00942)" pathways. In summary, this study provided a theoretical basis and technical support for maintaining green leaves and normal physiological functions of overwintering tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The walnut is an important nut that has numerous uses worldwide. However, due to dwarf and close plantation methods as well as continuous cloudy or rainy days that occur during periods of walnut oil accumulation, the walnut fruit exhibits varying degrees of stress under low-light conditions. However, the effects of shade on metabolites and genes in walnut embryos remain unclear in the literature. The purpose of this study is to investigate the lipid biosynthesis process that occurs in walnut embryos under shade treatment via the use of metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses. The results indicate that the oil content decreases significantly under shaded conditions, while the protein content increases significantly. The expression levels of fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2) and stearoyl-ACP-desaturase (SAD) involved in the lipid biosynthesis mechanism were significantly reduced in the shaded group, which resulted in reductions in oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:2), and α-linolenic (C18:3) acids. The reduced oil content was consistent with the downregulation of genes associated with the lipid biosynthesis mechanism. In the amino acid biosynthesis process, the upregulated cysteine synthase (cscK) and anthranilate synthase beta subunit 2 (trpG) genes promoted the accumulation of L-aspartic acid and L-citrulline. The increase in protein content was consistent with the upregulation of genes related to amino acid biosynthesis. Thus, our study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of shade underlying overall walnut fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the conducted experiments was to determine the impact of the differentiated composition of spectral radiation on the development of spring barley. The experiment was conducted in laboratory conditions using artificial sources of radiation. The habit of the barley was dependent on the spectral composition of the radiation in the growth chambers in which the red to far-red values were in the range of 0.92-10.0. Barley grown with an increased share of far red light produced decidedly longer internodes and taller shoots than the plants radiated with a smaller amount. The leaves of the barley grown in a high red to far-red ratio were positioned less vertically and the plants formed a more dense canopy than in the chambers with a lower red to far-red ratio. The plants grown in the chamber with a low red to far-red ratio produced a greater mass of stems with ears and a lower mass of infertile stems in comparison with the plants grown in radiation with a lower share of far-red. In summary, in these condition it was found that an increase in the number and mass of grains, in the grain weight to stem weight ratio, in the total mass of straw and plants as well as in an increase in the 1000 grain weight. A low red to far-red ratio is an indicator of the existence of competition but observed differences in barley development and yield showed that in these conditions the plants demonstrated adaptive responses to shading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper follows the idea of divide and conquer to propose a multi-exposure fusion network for the unsupervised generation of high dynamic range-like images. We develop a new intrinsic image decomposition (IID) network based on our modified IID model to produce the reflectance, shading, and color components from source images, which respectively represent the texture structure, lighting condition, and visible color distribution of the imaging scene. Three fusion sub-networks are then designed to process these different components, producing pleasing images with rich structures, reasonable lighting, and suitable color. Specifically, we first develop a reflectance fusion network to integrate the reflectance components, in which an adaptive pixel-scale selection strategy is adopted to dynamically guide the network to preserve rich scene textures. Then, a shading fusion network with the adaptive global image-scale weighting strategy is designed to fulfill lighting adjustment, which can generate suitable illumination by defining the lighting adjustment as a game between the illumination of source images. Finally, we propose a color fusion network that embeds both pixel-scale and image-scale strategies, which can guarantee a pleasing scene color distribution with a specifically designed color fidelity loss. Extensive experiments demonstrate the superiority of our method over state-of-the-art methods in terms of texture integration, illumination adjustment, and color fidelity. Moreover, our method can be applied to fulfill tasks of the single low-light image enhancement and the single overexposed image correction with promising performance. The code is publicly available at https://github.com/HaoZhang1018/IID-MEF. • An MEF network based on intrinsic image decomposition is proposed to generate HDR images. • We design a decomposition network to produce reflectance, shading, and color. • We propose three sub-networks to integrate texture, adjust illumination, and preserve color. • Extensive experiments are conducted to verify the superiority of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain chalkiness is an important index of rice appearance quality and is negatively associated with rice processing and eating quality. However, the genetic mechanism underlying chalkiness formation is largely unknown. To identify the genetic basis of chalkiness, 410 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from two representative indica rice varieties, Shuhui498 (R498) and Yihui3551 (R3551), were used to discover quantitative trait loci (QTLs). The two parental lines and RILs were grown in three locations in China under three controlled fertilizer application levels. Analyses indicated that chalkiness was significantly affected by genotype, the environment, and the interaction between the two, and that heritability was high. Several QTLs were isolated, including the two stable QTLs qCGP6 and qCGP8. Fine mapping and candidate gene verification of qCGP6 showed that Wx may play a key role in chalkiness formation. Chromosomal segment substitution lines (CSSLs) and near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying the Wx a or Wx in allele produced more chalky grain than the R498 parent. A similar result was also observed in the 3611 background. Notably, the effect of the Wx genotype on rice chalkiness was shown to be dependent on environmental conditions, and Wx alleles exhibited different sensitivities to shading treatment. Using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9), the Wx a promoter region was successfully edited; down-regulating Wx alleviates chalkiness formation in NILR498- Wx a . This study developed a new strategy for synergistic improvement of eating and appearance qualities in rice, and created a novel Wx allele with great potential in breeding applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) properties make it a promising material for graphene-based applications in areas such as biomedicine, agriculture, and the environment. Thus, its production is expected to increase, reaching hundreds of tons every year. One GO final destination is freshwater bodies, possibly affecting the communities of these systems. To clarify the effect that GO may impose in freshwater communities, a fluvial biofilm scraped from submerged river stones was exposed to a range (0.1 to 20 mg/L) of GO concentrations during 96 h. With this approach, we hypothesized that GO can: (1) cause mechanical damage and morphological changes in cell biofilms; (2) interfere with the absorption of light by biofilms; (3) and generate oxidative stress, causing oxidative damage and inducing biochemical and physiological alterations. Our results showed that GO did not inflict mechanical damage. Instead, a positive effect is proposed, linked to the ability of GO to bind cations and increase the micronutrient availability to biofilms. High concentrations of GO increased photosynthetic pigment (chlorophyll a, b, and c, and carotenoids) content as a strategy to capture the available light more effectively as a response to the shading effect. A significant increase in the enzymatic (SOD and GSTs activity) and low molecular weight (lipids and carotenoids) antioxidant response was observed, that efficiently reduced oxidative stress effects, reducing the level of peroxidation, and preserving membrane integrity. Being complex entities, biofilms are more similar to environmental communities and may provide more accurate information to evaluate the impact of GO in aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nile tilapia is a high-demand commodity in most developing countries including the Philippines, but its production is hampered by fluctuating water temperature (WT) and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, which are mostly influenced by temperature warming. Net shading has been demonstrated to reduce pond temperature and increase the rate of spawning in cultured tilapia. The current study aimed to investigate the potential effects of shading on the water quality parameters, blood indices, and serum biochemical profiles of cultured Nile tilapia. Fish were collected from unshaded (control) and shaded (experimental) ponds in three breeding cycles. WT and DO concentrations were measured, while hematological and biochemical analyses were performed. The results showed that the average WT was considerably decreased in the shaded pond with no significant difference in the DO concentrations. Red blood cells, hemoglobin, and lymphocyte counts were significantly lower in fish raised in shaded ponds, although mean corpuscular volume and neutrophil counts were significantly higher. Likewise, Chole, TP, and Alb values were significantly affected by the interaction of cycle and shading setup. Cortisol, Glb, K+, Cl−, Mg2+, and TCa values showed significant differences and were only affected by the cycle. Similarly, AST and ALT values showed significant differences and were affected by both cycle and shading setup. Water quality parameters (WT and DO), hematological blood indices, and serum biochemical variables were correlated positively with each other. In brief, prior data imply that net shading can reduce WT in aquaculture ponds, reduce stress in Nile tilapia, and lessen the consequences of temperature warming on species production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】 The present paper aimed to explore the physiological and biochemical response of Nymphaea minuta to low light environment, and to provide theoretical basis for seedling breeding and potted flower production management of micro-tropical water lily represented by N.minuta. 【Method】 A completely random experimental design was conducted. The shading treatments were set to 0(total illumination control, CK), 30% (light shading), 50% (medium shading), 70% (heavy shading) respectively by constructing shading nets with different layers. The number of leaves, leaf dry weight, leaf area and other growth indicators were measured by shading treatment for 120 days. The content and composition of photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugar, soluble protein and starch contents were measured by shading treatment for 30, 60, 90 and 120 days respectively. The effects of different shading conditions on leaf growth, photosynthetic pigment content and primary metabolites content of N.minuta were analyzed. 【Result】 During the shading period of 30-120 days, there were no significant differences between the average leaf area, photosynthetic pigment content, and soluble protein content of N.minuta treated with shading rate of 30%, 50% and CK (P＞0.05). After shading treatment for 120 days, the leaf number, average leaf dry weight, specific leaf weight, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content and starch content of N.minuta decreased with increasing shading rate, while total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a content, chlorophyll b content, chlorophyll a/b content and carotenoid content all increased with increasing shading rate. Comparing with CK, the shading rate of 70% at 120 days treatments, the leaf number, average leaf dry weight and specific leaf weight of N.minuta were significantly decreased by 52.9%, 81.3% and 57.8%, respectively (P＜0.05, the same as below), total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a content, chlorophyll b content and carotenoid content were significantly increased by 108.7%, 81.6%, 237.5% and 88.2% respectively, chlorophyll a/b content was significantly decreased by 39.1%, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content and starch content were significantly decreased by 43.4%, 56.2% and 53.2% respectively. The results of correlation analysis showed that the leaf number and average leaf dry weight were extremely positively correlated with soluble protein content (P＜0.01, the same as below), and the average leaf dry weight was negatively correlated with total chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a content, chlorophyll b content and carotenoid content. 【Conclusion】 N.minuta grew well in light and medium shading environments with shading rates of 30% and 50%, showing good light adaptive response and regulation ability. These two shading methods can be used for reference in the breeding of micro-tropical waterlily seedlings and potted flower production management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality, reliability, and durability are the key features of photovoltaic (PV) solar system design, production, and operation. They are considered when manufacturing every cell and designing the entire system. Achieving these key features ensures that the PV solar system performs satisfactorily and offers years of trouble-free operation, even in adverse conditions. In each cell, the quality of the raw material should meet the quality standards. The fulfillment of the quality management system requires every part that goes into the PV solar system to undergo extensive testing in laboratories and environments to ensure it meets expectations. Hence, every MWh of electricity generated by the PV solar system is counted, the losses should be examined, and the PV system's returns should be maximized. There are many types of losses in the PV solar system; these losses are identified and quantified based on knowledge and experience. They can be classified into two major blocks: optical and electrical losses. The optical losses include, but are not limited to, partial shading losses, far shading losses, near shading losses, incident angle modifier (IAM) losses, soiling losses, potential induced degradation (PID) losses, temperature losses, light-induced degradation (LID) losses, PV yearly degradation losses, array mismatch losses, and module quality losses. In addition, there are cable losses inside the PV solar power system, inverter losses, transformer losses, and transmission line losses. Thus, this work reviews the losses in the PV solar system in general and the 103 MWp grid-tied Al Quweira PV power plant/Aqaba, mainly using PVsyst software. The annual performance ratio (PR) is 79.5 % , and the efficiency (η) under standard test conditions (STC) is 16.49 % . The normalized production is 4.64 kWh/kWp/day, the array loss is 1.69 kWh/kWp/day, and the system loss is 0.18 kWh/kWp/day. Understanding factors that impact the PV system production losses is the key to obtaining an accurate production estimation. It enhances the annual energy and yield generated from the power plant. This review benefits investors, energy professionals, manufacturers, installers, and project developers by allowing them to maximize energy generation from PV solar systems and increase the number of solar irradiation incidents on PV modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the objective of applying shadow theory to architectural drawing is usually to obtain one (or several) bitmap images. This a priori innocuous fact leads to vector images being conspicuous by their absence when lighting factors come into play during the modelling and parametric design of architecture and its environment. The present article sets out a methodology to calculate shadows by placing vector drawing not only at the heart of the process but also of the obtained results. We found that in today's context of university excellence, it is essential to apply knowledge, control, as well as possible editing and postproduction of the effects generated by rendering process lighting calculations. Such interventions are also generally useful and effective in our profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation was undertaken to determine whether various light reduction and shoot banding treatments could increase rooting on stem cuttings of Lindera benzoin [(L.) Blume] (northern spicebush), a difficult-to-root woody plant. Stock plants were grown under one of three light conditions (light, shade, or etiolation). Emerging shoots received either no treatment or a banding treatment that involved adhering a hook-and-loop fastener coated with varying concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) around the shoot base to create a localized etiolated zone before taking cuttings. Data on rooting percentage and number of roots per cutting were analyzed using logistic and Quasi-Poisson regression, respectively. Etiolated cuttings treated with a band without IBA had the highest rooting probability and number of roots; however, etiolated cuttings across all banding treatments had similarly successful results. Additionally, there were several significant differences in rooting probabilities and root numbers between banding treatments within the shade- and light-grown groups. This research evaluated asexual propagation approaches for use with northern spicebush and provides a framework for the adoption and development of this taxon as a nursery crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving the yield and aroma content of fragrant rice is the focus of fragrant rice research. Light and Zinc (Zn) management generally cause regulations in the 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP) accumulation in fragrant rice. In addition, Zn promotes rice growth and improves rice yield, which has the potential to compensate for the negative impact of low light on fragrant rice yield. However, the potential of Zn to improve fragrant rice yield and 2AP content under shading conditions has not been verified. Methods: Field experiments were conducted in the rice season (May–September) in 2019 to 2021. Two light i.e., normal light (NL) and low light (LL) and four Zn levels i.e., 0 kg Zn ha− 1 (N0), 1 kg Zn ha− 1 (Zn1), 2 kg Zn ha− 1(Zn2), and 3 kg Zn ha− 1 (Zn3), which applied at booting stage was set up. The grain yield, 2AP contents, Zn content in polished rice, photosynthesis related indicators, MDA content, antioxidant enzyme activity and the biochemical parameters related to 2AP formation were investigated. Results: Shading reduced yield by 8.74% and increased 2AP content by 24.37%. In addition, shading reduced net photosynthetic rate (Pn), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), and increased proline, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (P5C), proline dehydrogenase (PDH), △1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid synthetase (P5CS), malondialdehyde (MDA). With increasing Zn application levels, yield, 2AP, Zn content in polished rice, Pn, proline, P5C, GABA, PDH, P5CS, SOD, CAT and POD increased, and MDA decreased. Significant Light and Zn interaction effect on 2AP content was detected, and both shading and increasing Zn application increased the 2AP content. Conclusion: Shading can increase the 2AP content but reduce the yield of fragrant rice. Increasing Zn application under shading conditions can further promote the biosynthesis of 2AP, but the effect of improving yield is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Field test of cleaning robot's moving shadow on operating PV string. • Much larger power drop for landscape modules than portrait. • Larger power drop for full-cell modules than half-cut. • No cell hotspots created. • Bypass diode heated when module stopped, but not while moving. PV cleaning robots cast a shadow on the PV modules which they are cleaning, if used in daylight. The shadow affects the electrical characteristics (current and voltage) of the module string, and could potentially also create hot spots in modules' cells or bypass diodes. The severity of these effects depends on the layout of cells and bypass diodes and the module's orientation, among other factors. In this study we tested a commercial cleaning robot on strings of two kinds of PV modules with different cell formats, connected to a grid-tied inverter. It was found that the string power was greatly reduced when modules were in landscape orientation, but barely affected in portrait orientation. The robot shadow caused slightly greater power reduction for full-cell than half-cut modules. While the robot was in motion, no heating of cells or bypass diodes was observed, although diode heating did occur if the robot stopped on a module. For the worst case of full-cell landscape modules, a simplified estimate of the energy loss due to one robot pass was roughly equivalent to 0.16% of the string's daily energy production. The results suggest that if PV cleaning robots are used in daylight, the power loss from their shadow could be almost eliminated by installing modules in portrait orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable resources for producing energy for self-consumption are growing, namely solar energy. This work focuses on the comparison of photovoltaic systems for energy production for self-consumption on a property in three different regions of Portugal using traditional and emerging technologies, without batteries' implementation. According to Portuguese law, there is no stipulated value for selling surplus energy produced by a self consumption unit, to the public grid. In order to analyse the economic viability of the project, two scenarios are studied: the delivery, at zero cost of the surplus energy produced to the grid, and its sale. Furthermore, the same analysis is carried out considering partial shading on the photovoltaic generator. The results show that if there is no surplus production sale to the grid, the project becomes economically unviable for the four PV technologies. Otherwise, for the traditional technologies, the project is economically viable, presenting a payback time lower than 10 years. Using emerging technologies, the project becomes economically unviable. When applying partial shading on the generator, the project becomes, in all the scenarios under study, economically unviable. It can be concluded that introducing nanostructures in solar cells to power an infrastructure is not, for now, the best solution from an economic point of view, considering the current legislation. In addition, the shading makes the projects under study unviable, as it is a factor that cannot be controlled in its entirety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy demand forecasted for the next several years has been bench marked due to the massive need for electrical energy. Solar power plants have earned a great marketplace position in recent years, but also face challenges in terms of power dissipation due to the frequent occurrence of shade. As a result, the per unit solar electricity price increases drastically. There is an immense need to ensure the maximum dependable power conversion efficiency of Photovoltaic (PV) systems by mitigating power output losses during partial shading conditions. The reconfiguration of PV arrays is a useful, effective, and promising approach in this context. Though several reconfiguration techniques have been developed in recent years, their applicability to real-time power plants is debatable due to the requirement of many physical relocations, long interconnecting ties, and complexity. This research work proposes a novel row index mathematical procedure followed by a technique in which the reconfiguration matrix indexes are filled with a unique number so that no row number repeats in the same row and column. Additionally, the proposed approach uses small number of switches that reduce the cost as well as the computational complexity. To strengthen the analysis, very recent techniques such as Sudoku, Total Cross Tied (TCT), Chess-Knight, and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) based reconfiguration are compared against five different shading patterns. It has been observed that approximately 68% power loss is mitigated in TCT configuration. It is worth noting that it results in higher PV output power than the existing latest reconfiguration techniques such as PSO, Chess-Knight, Sudoku, and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sphagnum bogs in Australia are small, with a limited distribution, but of high conservation value. They are restricted to cool, wet environments that are typically fire free and are poorly adapted to recover from fire disturbance, unlike most Australian flora. Increased fire activity due to anthropogenic climate change is threatening Sphagnum bogs. This increased threat has stimulated interest in their restoration. Compared with the northern hemisphere, there have been few studies of the ecology of Sphagnum restoration in the southern hemisphere. Here, we report on a field experiment in Tasmania, in an area burned by an extensive fire in 2016. We investigated the role of shade, fertilizer and transplants, factors demonstrated to be important in the restoration of burnt bogs on the Australian mainland. Treatments commenced three to 4 years after the fire. Overall, we found that fire‐damaged Sphagnum recovers very slowly, and that there was no recovery in severely burned areas. The addition of shade increased recovery of damaged Sphagnum, but fertilizer was harmful, even to healthy Sphagnum. Transplants in fire‐killed Sphagnum grew poorly in both moderately and severely burnt Sphagnum areas. Our findings support the use of shading in post‐fire Sphagnum recovery projects, although further work is required to determine the optimal approach and duration of providing shade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]