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Despite the great economic importance of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.), information about clonal plantations and planting conditions of this tree is still scarce. Thus, we evaluated initial field establishment of five clonal yerba mate cultivars, planted at three seasons of the year (summer, autumn, and spring) in a shaded environment, and in the autumn, we also established blocks in a full sunlight environment, to compare both cultivation environments. We evaluated plants at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after planting, counting the surviving plants, shoots number, and measuring height and canopy diameter. At 12 months we also analyzed the caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) contents in mature leaves from different environments. Plant survival and growth were not affected by planting seasons. Cultivars Aupaba and BRS 409 had the highest survival rates in all seasons evaluated. The shaded environment provided greater survival and growth than full sunlight, also showing higher CQA levels in the leaves. Clonal cultivars Aupaba, BRS 408, and BRS 409 presented higher growth in both environments. The severe drought in the first year may have affected survival; however, growth was considered satisfactory and plants’ initial establishment was better in the shaded environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica is the property of Acta Veterinaria Brasilica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Due to the growing requirements for sustainable development and rational use of resources, especially in the context of the European Union's directives on energy efficiency in buildings, there is a growing attention to the development of solutions aimed at ensuring almost zero energy consumption in new public buildings. The article discusses the relevance of introducing energy-efficient technologies in public buildings in accordance with European energy efficiency standards. Particular emphasis is placed on the summer months, when intense solar radiation can lead to overheating of the premises, increased air conditioning costs, and negative impact on health and mood. In particular, the necessity of using passive methods, such as window shading, to reduce energy consumption and increase comfort in the summer months is dis-cussed. The object of the study is a preschool educational institution in Kyiv. The following factors are taken into ac-count in the study: heat gains from equipment, lighting, and people. Using Design-Builder software modeling, the energy demand for cooling and lighting energy consumption was estimated for the option with and without shading, including static shading and roller blinds. The results indicate that static shading is the most effective, and for the representative one reduces the energy consumption for cooling by 74.98 kWh compared to the option without shading, but at the same time leads to an increase in energy consumption for lighting by 4.63 kWh. It is noted that the installation of roller blinds on the inside may be the least efficient solution due to the increase in lighting costs and a slight decrease in energy consumption for cooling The impact of window orientation and shading location on efficiency is evaluated. In addition, the analysis of the effect of shading on radiant temperature shows that static shading contributes to lowering indoor temperatures, improving thermal comfort in summer. [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]

Evapotranspiration of urban street trees is essential in mitigating urban heat islands due to its cooling effect. However, current shifts in rainfall and temperature regimes towards drier and hotter periods in Central Europe have caused substantial water stress for street trees. Quantifying and subsequently managing these changing dynamics as well as estimating evapotranspiration and water availability is necessary but at the same time extremely challenging in urban environments. Both dynamics are influenced by soil sealing and complex shading patterns of the surrounding street canyon, which vary on a small spatial scale as a function of the canyon layout and orientation. In the present study, the diurnal patterns of six typical urban shading types for street trees were derived by considering a large set of street orientations, widths and tree positions within the street canyon. A shading model was integrated into a hydrological urban tree model to assess the impact of those shading types on diurnal patterns of radiation and evapotranspiration rates calculated using the Penman–Monteith approach and the resulting soil moisture conditions for several vegetation seasons and water‐supply scenarios. The modelling results showed that the six shading patterns significantly influenced the simulated hourly, daily and seasonal potential and actual evapotranspiration rates and water availability. Shaded trees have a substantially reduced, simulated water stress period, regardless of initial water supply, and are able to provide a longer‐lasting cooling function during dry periods due to higher evapotranspiration rates later in the summer season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 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.

Photooxidative damage causes early leaf senescence and plant cell death. In this study, a light-sensitive rice cultivar, 812HS, and a non-light-sensitive cultivar, 812S, were used to investigate early leaf photooxidation. Leaf tips of 812HS exhibited yellowing under a light intensity of 720 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1, accompanied by a decrease in chlorophyll and carotenoids, but 812S was unaffected. The photosynthetic performance of 812HS was also poorer than that of 812S. The H2O2, O2*-, and malondialdehyde content increased sharply in 812HS, and associated antioxidant enzymes were inhibited. The degradation of core proteins in both PSI and PSII, as well as other photosynthesis-related proteins, was accelerated in 812HS. When shaded [180 µmol(photon) m-2 s-1], 812HS recovered to normal. Therefore, our findings suggested excess light disturbed the balance of ROS metabolism, leading to the destruction of the antioxidant system and photosynthetic organs, and thus triggering the senescence of rice leaves.

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.

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.

Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica) is a common building material and landscaping tree species in northern China, with significant economic and ecological value. Its seedling growth is inhibited by high light intensity, but the mechanism by which light stress affects the growth and development of its seedlings remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the phenotypes, physiological processes, and molecular responses of 3-year-old Mongolian oak seedlings under different light treatments: full light (Sck), light shading (S1; 40% light), moderate shading (S2; 20% light), and severe shading (S3; 3% light). Compared to Sck, the S1 and S2 treatments resulted in higher leaf area, photosynthetic pigment content, photosynthesis rates, soluble sugar contents, and soluble protein contents in Mongolian oak seedlings. The S1 and S2 treatments also promoted seedling height and diameter growth and resulted in lower degrees of membrane lipid peroxidation, cell membrane permeability, and antioxidant enzyme activity. In contrast, severe shading (S3) significantly inhibited seedling height and diameter growth due to the lower net photosynthetic rate, and exhibiting higher degrees of membrane lipid peroxidation and cell membrane permeability. Shading treatments (S1 and S2) alleviated the negative effects of strong light on the growth and development of Mongolian oak seedlings, with the S2 treatment having the greatest effect. However, severe shading (S3) inhibited growth and development. A total of 3726 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in leaves under different shading treatments in RNA sequencing analysis. Among these, 1691, 3150, and 824 DEGs were detected in the Sck-S1, Sck-S2, and S1-S2 comparison groups, respectively. The different shading treatments determined common expression regulation pathways, including carotenoid biosynthesis, photosynthetic antenna proteins, and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction. Shading induced increases in gene expression levels in light harvesting complexes, which are related to changes in gene expression in the photosynthetic system, leading to changes in photosynthetic physiology. The expression levels of genes related to reactive oxygen species signal perception and activation enzymes were upregulated in Sck. Together, these findings revealed the response mechanisms of Mongolian oak seedlings to different shading levels at the physiological and molecular levels, providing a scientific basis and technical support for the cultivation and large-scale production of Mongolian oak seedlings.

The integration of semi-transparent photovoltaics into the roof of greenhouses is an emerging technique used in recent years, due to the simultaneous energy and food production from the same piece of land. Although shading in many cases is a solution to maintain the desired microclimate, in the case of photovoltaic installations, the permanent shading of the crop is a challenge, due to the importance of light to the growth, morphogenesis, and other critical physiological processes. In this study, the effect of shade from semi-transparent photovoltaics on a strawberry crop (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) was examined, in terms of growth and quality (phenolic and flavonoid concentration of fruits). According to the results, in non-shaded plants, there was a trend of larger plants, but without a significant change in leaf number, while the total number of flowers was slightly higher at the end of the cultivation period. Moreover, it was found that the percentage change between the number of ripe fruits was smaller than that of the corresponding change in fruit weight, implying the increased size of the fruits in non-shaded plants. Finally, regarding the antioxidant capacity, it was clearly demonstrated that shading increased the total phenolic content, as well as the free-radical-scavenging activity of the harvested fruits. Although the shading from the semi-transparent photovoltaics did not assist the production of large fruits, it did not affect their number and increased some of their quality characteristics. In addition, the advantageous impact of the semi-transparent photovoltaics in the energy part must not be neglected.

This study determined the content and composition of dill seed (Anethum graveolens L.) essential oil under varying light conditions: non-shaded plants in open fields and plants covered with pearl shade nets (40% shade index). Essential oil was extracted using Clevenger hydrodistillation. The essential oil content was 4.63% for non-shaded plants and 4.81% for shaded plants. GC/MS analysis revealed twenty-one and twenty-two components in dill seed from non-shaded and shaded plants, respectively. The terpenic fraction of essential oil from non-shaded plants consisted mainly of oxygen-containing monoterpene derivatives (53.6%), with carvone (46.1%) as the primary component, followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons (46.4%), predominantly limonene (43.8%). Essential oil from shaded plants contained a higher content of carvone (49.8%) and a lower content of limonene (37.8%) compared to essential oil from non-shaded plants. Non-shaded plant essential oil exhibited stronger antioxidant activity (EC50 value: 26.04 mg mL−1) than shaded plant essential oil (54.23 mg mL−1). Dill seed essential oil showed the most potent antimicrobial activity (disc diffusion method) against Escherichia coli (inhibition zone: 15–18 mm). Shaded plants demonstrated a positive influence of essential oil against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Carvone and its derivatives, as the main components, hold significant potential in the food industry and alternative medicines. A practical implication of this study could be higher plant densities or intercropping of dill, as it thrives with minimal light.

Abstract Light and water availability can impact plant survival and growth, making ecophysiological studies crucial for understanding their tolerance and to single and combined stresses. The aimed of this study was to investigate the physiological and growth responses of Inga vera Willd. plants induced by different water regimes and light intensities. Three water regimes were implemented based on substrate water retention capacity (WRC) - 50%, 75%, and 100%, along with shading levels (SH) - 0% (full sun), 30%, and 70%. Evaluations were conducted at 25 and 50 days after applying the water regimes, and during a recovery period of 30 days when all treatments were maintained at 75% of WRC. Photochemical efficiency, gas exchange, chlorophylls indices, growth, quality of the seedlings and content proline amino acid were assessed. Overall, I. vera plants showed greater sensitivity to increased exposure to light than to low water availability. The interaction of SH + WRC was beneficial for the gas exchange and chlorophylls indices characteristics under SH 70% + WRC 75-100% at 25 and 50 days, with higher results, greater plant growth and higher proline contents for leaves and roots under SH 30% and 70% + WRC 50%, 75% and 100% at 25 and 50 days. There was no recovery effect for seedlings grown in full sun. The plants grown under shade during the recovery period maintained their values for most of the characteristics evaluated. SH 30% + WRC 75% contributed to an increase in photosynthetic metabolism and, as a result, to the quality of the seedlings.

In the article the model of light reflection based on the combination of two cubic bidirectional reflectance distribution functions is developed. The main components of color and the main requirements for reproducing the object`s glares are analyzed. The usage characteristics of Cook-Torrance, Bagher, Oren-Nayar, coupled Shirley reflection models are described. The advantages and disadvantages of the highly productive Blinn-Phong model are considered. The necessity of approximating the Blinn-Phong model by a function of low degree is justified. The characteristics of the cubic polynomial approximation of the Blinn-Phong model are determined. It was established that the main drawback of this approximation is a significant deviation of the function from the reference function in the glare’s attenuation zone. The combined function that combines two cubic functions is proposed. The first cubic function reproduces the glare’s epicenter, and the second replaces the specified function in the attenuation zone. A system of equations for calculating the coefficients of the second function was created. The formula for the connection point of two cubic functions is obtained. A graph of the developed combined model based on cubic functions is obtained. For the combined and original cubic functions a comparison of the maximum relative errors in the glare’s epicenter zone, the maximum absolute errors, and the relative errors at the inflection point was made. A three-dimensional plot of the absolute error of the combined cubic model from the Blinn-Phong model depending on the shininess and the angle value is built. Visualization results based on the combined and the original cubic functions are compared. It is confirmed that the proposed reflection model increases the realism of glare formation in the attenuation zone. The resulting combined reflection model provides a highly accurate approximation of the Blinn-Phong model and is highly efficient because the third power function is used.

IntroductionThe biology of the grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is clearly influenced by the climatic conditions of the growing environment, where temperature and light play a major role in modifying plant physiology. In the scenario of climatic changes, radiative excess, correlated to the increase in temperature, can concretely subject the photosynthetic apparatus to a condition of light saturation and cause a drastic reduction in photochemical efficiency, giving rise to chronic photoinhibition phenomena. Undoubtedly, the ripening behavior also undergo evident alterations; the problem of sugar ripening, which is often strongly accelerated, is induced not only by high temperatures but also by the excess concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), which results in a higher ripening. In addition, high berry temperatures favor a reduction in the concentration of organic acids. The reported trends indicate that the need for urgent action is closely linked to the future environmental impacts that these changes could have on the entire wine sector. In recent years, shade treatments have been applied to the vine canopy to overcome this issue.MethodsThe objective of this study was to determine how artificial canopy shading affects the vines vegetative growth and the ripening processes of Vitis vinifera cv. Nero d’Avola during the 2019-2020 vegetative seasons. Three treatments were established: shading treatment with a green net (shade factor 27%), shading treatment with a white net (shade factor 32%), and untreated vines, thus naturally exposed to light radiation.Results and discussionArtificial shading, applied at full fruit set, interfered with the microclimate of the vines, causing partial effects on the grape ripening processes. At harvest, significant differences were found between the treatments in terms of sugars, also shading treatments increased must acidity and decrease pH. Results obtained on vegetative parameters, suggest that the shading treatment delays leaf fall, with potentially positive effects on the starch accumulation on perennial reserve organs to be exploited at the following season’s sprouting. Shading significantly reduced berry size, with obvious consequences on bunch weight and yield per vine. In 2020, shaded plants showed a delay in all the phenological phases. The total anthocyanins content was not changed by the shading treatment. The results obtained confirm the importance of net coverage on the microclimate of the vines, vegetative-productive activity, and grapes quality. From this point of view, the net covering technique can be a tool for controlling grapes ripening dynamics in the context of climate change.

Anthocyanins exist widely in various plant tissues and organs, and they play an important role in plant reproduction, disease resistance, stress resistance, and protection of human vision. Most fruit anthocyanins can be induced to accumulate by light. Here, we shaded the "Hong Deng" sweet cherry and performed an integrated analysis of its transcriptome and metabolome to explore the role of light in anthocyanin accumulation. The total anthocyanin content of the fruit and two of its anthocyanin components were significantly reduced after the shading. Transcriptome and metabolomics analysis revealed that PAL, 4CL, HCT, ANS and other structural genes of the anthocyanin pathway and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, and other metabolites were significantly affected by shading. Weighted total gene network analysis and correlation analysis showed that the upstream and middle structural genes 4CL2, 4CL3, and HCT2 of anthocyanin biosynthesis may be the key genes affecting the anthocyanin content variations in fruits after light shading. Their expression levels may be regulated by transcription factors such as LBD, ERF4, NAC2, NAC3, FKF1, LHY, RVE1, and RVE2. This study revealed for the first time the possible role of LBD, FKF1, and other transcription factors in the light-induced anthocyanin accumulation of sweet cherry, thereby laying a preliminary foundation for further research on the role of light in anthocyanin accumulation of deep red fruit varieties and the genetic breeding of sweet cherry. [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]

The objective of this study was to identify the physiological mechanisms used by Cistus heterophyllus Desf. Subsp. carthaginensis (Pau) M. B. Crespo & Mateo, a species in critical danger of extinction, to cope with two typical abiotic conditions. During the summer of 2021, plants were cultivated under a shade mesh that intercepted 50% of the incident solar radiation (SHADE) and in natural conditions (SUN). Three irrigation treatments were also applied: control, T1, moderate water deficit; T2, 60% of the control, severe deficit; and T3, 30% of the control. Therefore, there were six treatments (SUN-T1, SUN-T2, SUN-T3, SHADE-T1, SHADE-T2, SHADE-T3). Plants were more affected by solar radiation than by deficit irrigation. Although leaf water potential, stomatal conductance and root biomass decreased by up to 45%, 63% and 65%, respectively, as deficit irrigation increased, plants were able to develop a leaf osmotic adjustment and an improved intrinsic water-use efficiency to maintain their growth and survival rate. Shade conditions improved gas exchange, reduced leaf temperature and induced the synthesis of chlorophylls, regardless of the irrigation level imposed. This indicated that radiation was the most limiting factor in our experiment. Applying 50% of the radiation and a moderate water deficit would help to obtain a good plant development and high survival rate in future recovery and conservation programs for the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of shading on the physiology and canopy structural characteristics of tropical grasses under different woody covers in silvopastoral system in the semiarid region of Brazil, in a region known as the Caatinga biome. The experimental area had nine silvopastoral systems arranged in strips of Caatinga vegetation trees (woody component) with dimensions of 6.0 × 100.0 m, positioned in the north–south direction. Among the strips of Caatinga trees, Urochloa mosambicensis, Pennisetum ciliare and Megathyrsus maximus were planted in plots. The treatments were: forage grown under 46.15% of woody cover (SS46), forage grown under 30.00% of woody cover (SS30) and forage grown under 17.64% of woody cover (SS18), each with three replicates. The gas exchange assessments were carried out in 2018 and 2019 for two consecutive days. Structural and production characteristics were evaluated in 2018 and 2019, considering the east, center and west positions. The system SS46 promoted lesser leaf photosynthesis among Pennisetum ciliare and Urochloa mosambicensis. SS46 favored lower tiller population density on grasses. Total forage biomass was lower in SS46 in comparison to SS30 and SS18. Silvopastoral systems SS30 and SS18 can be adopted without compromising the physiological characteristics of Urochloa mosambicensis and Pennisetum ciliare, and the structural and yield characteristics of Urochloa mosambicensis, Megathyrsus maximus and Pennisetum ciliare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castanopsis hystrix is a major community-building species in the top communities of southern subtropical China, with a high natural regeneration capacity. However, excessive logging and the introduction of exotic tree species have substantially reduced the area of natural forest patches of Castanopsis hystrix, and seedling regeneration is essential for the long-term continuation of Castanopsis hystrix populations. To explore the effects of light intensity on the seedling emergence and early growth of Castanopsis hystrix, shading experiments were conducted under four shading treatments (0%, 40%, 60%, and 80%). The growth, biomass accumulation, and distribution, the quality index of seedlings, the morphology and structure of the root systems of seedlings, and the leaf chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence properties of seedlings under different shading treatments were analyzed. The results displayed the following: (1) Shade intensity impacts growth of Castanopsis hystrix seedlings and biomass allocation, with optimal results observed at 60% shade, leading to the promotion of organic matter production in leaves and the limitation of stem growth. (2) Using a multi-indicator composite index, it was determined that seedling quality for Castanopsis hystrix peaks at 60% shade intensity. (3) Shade significantly impacts the morphology and structure of Castanopsis hystrix's root system, with most root characteristics peaking at 60% shade, indicating a substantial increase in root development compared to no-shade conditions. (4) The D-values indicated the most suitable shade intensity for seedling growth to be 60%, suggesting that Castanopsis hystrix seedlings are sensitive to light and excessive light can be detrimental to their growth. (5) The 60% shade treatment showed the maximum values of chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics and photochemical activity, with variations in energy conversion efficiency and dissipation reflected in parameters like photochemical burst coefficient (qP), photochemical burst coefficient (qN), the actual photometric yield of PSII under light acclimation (YII), and the maximum photosynthetic electron transport rate in photoinhibition (ETR), thereby supporting seedling growth and maintaining the normal function of photosynthetic organs. In conclusion, 60% shade treatment can effectively improve the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Castanopsis hystrix seedlings and promote the accumulation of nutrient elements, ultimately promoting their growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal performance of the building envelope can be improved by applying passive solar systems. The current research aims to investigate the role of a Trombe wall in reducing energy demand in cold and hot periods of the year in low-rise residential buildings of Mashhad. To save energy consumption at the lowest cost and by using a Trombe wall, which is suitable for existing buildings with masonry structures, this research is dedicated to finding the best characteristics of a Trombe wall, including vent dimensions, air gap width, type of glass and construction materials. The present research was carried out using energy simulation. The simulation was performed in an integrated way to create a correlation between different factors to take advantage of the maximum heat in the cold period of the year. With a surface of 12.6 m2 20B–10Al–0.18V–2G and 20C–5Al–0.18V–1G walls, the amount of energy saving increased by 6.5 and 10.5 percent, and the obtained heat is 444 307 and 710 103 kJ, with a payback period of 3 and 19 yr, respectively. Trombe wall alone cannot provide thermal comfort in the interior space when auxiliary systems are off. In October, the predicted mean vote for thermal comfort with 40B–5Al–0.18–2G and 40C–10Al–0.18V–1G walls are, –1.5, –1.9, respectively. To reduce the effect of overheating in hot periods of the year, with brick and concrete materials, the use of internal and external shadings is suggested, when internal vents are closed and external vents are opened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex shading on a photovoltaic (PV) module has a disproportionate impact on its power production. Minimizing power losses is critical in the installation of the PV module since it can greatly diminish the module's performance and capacity to generate electricity. Thorough examination of the consequences of hard shading on the PV modules is necessary to lower power losses and maximize the module's efficacy. This paper presents the background and findings from three different types of PV module (Full Cell, Half-Cut and Shingle PV module) operated under a variety of shading pattern (horizontal, vertical, and diagonal), and obscuring percentage (25, 50, and 75%). Experiments are conducted in a location at Sabah, a state located within Malaysia. Sabah which has a tropical climate with high temperatures and humidity, along with consistent level of solar radiation throughout the year making it well-suited for solar energy production. The experimental technique, which involved testing PV modules under various shading patterns and percentages, was found to be highly accurate in determining the amount of shading loss, particularly in instances of hard shading. The findings are presented by I–V and P–V curve that was traced by using a portable PV power meter (SEAWARD PV200) relating the pattern and percentage of shading to maximum power point (MPP) and power losses of the PV modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Forest Research is the property of Forest Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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]

Vehicle integrated photovoltaics (VIPV) are among the identified solutions to reduce the environmental impacts of the transport sector. The model developed here simulates the VIPV system. It considers various usage patterns and vehicle types, several characteristics of the photovoltaic system and all the losses that may decrease energy yield. Focusing on a passenger car, simulations indicate the order of influence of the parameters on the outputs of the model: geographic locality, shading, thresholds due to extra-consumption needed to charge the vehicle's battery from the photovoltaic (PV) system and occurrence of recharge with the grid. With technology projections for 2030, with 30% shading, VIPV will cover a distance of up to 1444 km per year. This represents up to 12% of the driven mileage. For the best month, it can reach up to 14 km/day. For average Europe and realistic conditions, VIPV cover 648 km per year. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of a solarized passenger car shows a negative balance for a low-carbon electricity mix and average solar irradiance. In favorable conditions, the carbon footprint is up to 489 kg of CO2-equivalent avoided emissions on a 13-year lifespan. Beyond the focus on km and LCA, VIPV may provide useful functions in non-interconnected zones and for resilience in disaster areas. [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]

Intercropping systems are a widely used agricultural practice by smallholder farmers to enhance food security and to use natural resources more efficiently. The objective of this study was to evaluate two lettuce cvs under an intercropping system. Enzymatic growth, yield and economic benefit were evaluated. The experiment was carried out from August to February in Jaboticabal (Brazil) using tomato plants as a main crop and Lucy Brown and Vanda cvs of lettuce as secondary crops. The catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity of lettuce plants was analyzed. Mineral nutrient content, growth, yield parameters and commercial economic benefit were measured. Significant differences in stress and activity enzymatic indicators were found versus cultivars of lettuce. The loss of abiotic factors such as radiation or its effect on enzymatic stress indicators was greater than its effect on yield. Yield loss in the intercropping systems was different for each cultivar system, with cv Lucy Brown showing greater yield loss than cv Vanda. Economic benefit was only found for the Vanda lettuce cv. Although the benefits of intercropping have been demonstrated as very appropriate cultural management, the choice of cultivars involved might be the determining factor for the agronomic success of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Caatinga is the property of Revista Caatinga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Climate plays an important role in design of traditional houses. They are required to achieve human thermal comfort without the use of active systems. These houses have distinct forms and features that responds to local climate. In India, with wide cultural variations, the climatic response takes varied forms in different regions to suit local culture and traditions. Most of the studies while analyzing a traditional house for climate responsiveness lack scientific approach and generally are descriptive without any framework of analysis. With a wide variety of house forms, it is worth analyzing strategies which are used to respond to specific climate. The purpose of this paper is to document and analyze various strategies and house forms designed to achieve ventilation in warm and humid climates. First, based on the review of literature a framework is proposed to analyze climatic response of a traditional house form in warm and humid climate by identifying strategies and resulting features. Second, using this framework, a traditional house in the same climate is analyzed. The results are also triangulated using other methods such as climatic data records and user interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Biológico Agropecuaria Tuxpan is the property of Revista Biologico Agropecuaria Tuxpan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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]

Fluctuant irradiance conditions constitute a challenge in front of a proper battery charging process, when originated from a PhotoVoltaic Array (PVA). The behavior of the PVA under such conditions (i.e., reflected by a disturbed PV characteristic curve) increases the complexity of the total available power's extraction process. This inconvenient fact yields eventually to a decreased overall efficiency of PV systems, especially with the presence of imprecise power-electronics involved circuits. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to design a complete battery solar charger, with Maximum Power Point Tracking ability, emerged from a PVA of 1.918 kWp, arranged in Series-Parallel topology. The targeted battery is of Lithium-Ion (Li-I) type, with 24 VDC operating voltage and 150 Ah rated current. The design began by configuring an interleaved synchronous DC-DC converter to produce a desired voltage level, with low inductor ripple current and low output ripple voltage. The DC-DC converter is in turns condemned by a modified Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm, to ensure efficient maximum power tracking. Progressively, the design encountered a layout of the bi-directional DC-DC converter to ensure safe current charging values for the battery. Under the same manner, the role of the bi-directional converter was to plug the battery out of the system, in case when the Depth of Discharge (DoD) is below 25%, thus sustaining the life span of the battery. The entire setup of the proposed sub-systems then leads to the relatively fastest, safest, and most reliable battery charging process. Results show an effectiveness (in terms of PV power tracking) ranging from 87% to 100% under four swiftly changing irradiance conditions. Moreover, this paper suggested the design's future industrialization process, leading to an effective PV solar charger prototype. [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]