The Sampler Platter: An Introduction to Nine Agricultural and Food Digital Projects

ABSTRACT

Information technologies are offering new ways for Extension personnel to reach a wider audience. Incorporating these technologies into an educational strategy requires an assessment of the propensity of Extension's clientele to use such technologies. Results from a survey of farmers suggest a preference for receiving information through direct communication. This method provides an opportunity for Extension to encourage farmers to use existing information technologies in order to realize greater efficiency gains. The results also suggest that the socio-economic factors examined were not related to the preference for any type of information technology.     

Uncovering the fruit bat bushmeat commodity chain and the true extent of fruit bat hunting in Ghana, West Africa

Harvesting, consumption and trade of bushmeat are important causes of both biodiversity loss and potential zoonotic disease emergence. In order to identify possible ways to mitigate these threats, it is essential to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which bushmeat gets from the site of capture to the consumer’s table. In this paper we highlight the previously unrecognized scale of hunting of the African straw-colored fruit bat, Eidolon helvum, a species which is important in both ecological and public health contexts, and describe the commodity chain in southern Ghana for its trade. Based on interviews with 551 Ghanaians, including bat hunters, vendors and consumers, we estimate that a minimum of 128,000 E. helvum bats are sold each year through a commodity chain stretching up to 400 km and involving multiple vendors. Unlike the general bushmeat trade in Ghana, where animals are sold in both specialized bushmeat markets and in restaurants, E. helvum is sold primarily in marketplaces; many bats are also kept by hunters for personal consumption. The offtake estimated in this paper raises serious conservation concerns, while the commodity chain identified in this study may offer possible points for management intervention. The separation of the E. helvum commodity chain from that of other bushmeat highlights the need for species-specific research in this area, particularly for bats, whose status as bushmeat is largely unknown.     

信息化农村与后喻文化时代的到来

中国农村居民的信息获取方式和沟通方式已经发生了翻天覆地的变化，长辈在信息化的学习和生活方式中失去楷模作用和话语权。信息化时代的到来极大地改变了农村以往的文化传递模式和生活方式，加速了前喻文化时代的终结和后喻文化时代的来临，带来了农村精神文明建设的新契机。     

Serials Redesign: Using Electronic Document Delivery to Reshape Access to Agricultural Journal Literature

ABSTRACT

In response to financial pressures resulting from escalating serials prices and severe budget constraints, LSU Libraries have launched a complete and comprehensive evaluation and redesign of its serials collection. The Serials Redesign Project is an innovative approach to the serials review process using electronic document delivery to facilitate the integration of access and ownership. Library liaisons help promote faculty acceptance and support, which will be crucial to the success of the project. Background information, the project methodology, faculty responses, and preliminary results for two pilot studies and for the Agriculture departments are presented.     

基于建构主义的快乐教学情境创设与应用

根据信息技术课教学培养学生对信息准确及时的把握和实际操作能力等特点,尝试将建构主义的快乐教学情境创设与应用于实际教学中。通过教学尝试,使学生们在快乐的课堂氛围中掌握知识要点,学会灵活地运用新学的知识,增强在生活中的运用能力。     

UV–Visible and Fluorescence Green Waste Composts Monitoring: Material Dependency

ABSTRACT

The most frequent way to survey green waste composts is to monitor the temperature during the composting process. However, if the temperature is a good index for global biological processes, it is not for the chemical stability. In order to identify a reliable index, this work investigates water extraction coupled to spectroscopic indexes such as E₂/E₃, E₄/E₆, and SUVA₂₅₄ ratios, and fluorescence indexes such as Kalbitz, Milori, CP/PARAFAC, and Fluorescence Region Integration. The measurements of these indexes are carried out with six samples from different sites with different green waste material composition. The results show that most indexes depend on the green waste origin more than the composting time; some depend mostly on the material origin while others on compost age. A comparison of these results indicates that the biochemical process occurs more rapidly than expected by the compost producers. The combination of these indicators gives useful information on the processes that take place during composting.     

Comparative effectiveness of several d‐amino acid oxidases

Abstract

Inherent complexity and instability of enzyme preparations make deceptively‐simple enzymic methods more vulnerable to error than methods using pure stable chemicals. Hence, four D‐amino acid oxidase (DAAO) preparations from three commercial sources were compared for enzymatic effectiveness. Per unit of claimed activity, the four DAAO enzyme preparations differed by <2 to >100 fold in apparent ability to oxidize “reactive”; ¹⁴C‐D‐methionine and “unreactive”; ¹⁴C‐D‐lysine in pure solution. The data illustrate how use of such differing preparations on less‐pure soil or plant extracts, which may contain unknown amounts of enzyme‐inhibiting or ‐inactivating components, would produce confounding results and permit erroneous conclusions. Implications are that users of commercially available DAAO preparations must acquire large enough lots of homogenous enzyme to establish effectiveness on the most resistant substrates of interest and still have enough for all experimental assays where direct relative comparisons are required.     

Engagement Through Information: Supporting Technology Commercialization

ABSTRACT

This article provides a framework for encouraging further dialogue concerning the role of information professionals in supporting the technology commercialization efforts of entrepreneurs, researchers, and small businesses. After a brief introduction to the technology commercialization process, the roles of university engagement in commercialization activities are discussed. The paper concludes with questions for consideration focused on the role of the information professional.     

Current Awareness Delivery Options in Food Science and Technology: Their Coverage,Timeliness and Characteristics

ABSTRACT

This study seeks to (1) identify the most productive source for current awareness information for the faculty and graduate students in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Arkansas, (2) identify the update frequency and, hence, currency of information, and (3) identify effectiveness in retrieval. It is also hoped that this research will provide evidenced-based information for subscribing to a particular current awareness database for University of Arkansas food science and technology patrons and will allow us to direct patrons in this subject area to the best and most relevant resource for their current information needs. This paper reports the results of our evaluation of four current awareness sources on three search interfaces. These include Article 1st (First Search); Ingenta Connect; ISI Current Contents: Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences (ABES); and ISI Current Contents: Life Sciences (LS). A listing of journals cited by faculty and graduate students in the Department of Food Science at the University of Arkansas for the period 1987–2003 was used to check against these databases. The extent of coverage of the journals and timeliness of update were used as criteria for the evaluation. The characteristics of the three interfaces are highlighted with respect to their effectiveness in providing a current awareness service.     

Bibliometric analysis of research on soil health from 1999 to 2018

Purpose

Soil health has been a major focus of research by international scholars because it is an important factor that supports human survival and development. However, few scholars have performed bibliometric analyses of research on soil health. This study investigated the current research status and development characteristics of soil health.

Materials and methods

We performed a bibliometric analysis of documents on soil health from 1999 to 2018 in the Web of Science Core Collection. The bibliometric analysis tools, CiteSpace and HistCite software, were applied.

Results and discussion

A total of 1629 documents on soil health in the Web of Science Core Collection were identified. From the research status of soil health, the number of publications will continue to increase. Most of the research institutions examining soil health are located in the USA, and there is little cooperation and communication among countries, neither do research institutions in this field. Each country has its own research labs while lab cooperation within individual countries is relatively close. Most documents on the research of soil health have been published in the journal Applied Soil Ecology. In addition, research directions are expanding from the basic study of soil production, soil health indicators, and soil pollution to the comprehensive study of soil ecosystem.

Conclusions

Bibliometric analysis tools, CiteSpace and HistCite software, provide a comprehensive approach for making predictions regarding trends in the field. This method was used in this study to identify the hotspots, frontiers, and future development of soil health to provide guidance for future research.

     

Networked Computing–A New Collaborative Tool for Making Two Heads Better than One!

ABSTRACT

The size of the United States' coastal population is expected to increase dramatically by the year 2010, with more than 151 million additional people moving into coastal counties. This will result in our nation's coastal population swelling by nearly 27% since 1980. Rising pressures on fragile coastal resources will accompany this population growth. While increased regulation can reduce some anticipated environmental damage, university based outreach is seen as critical to advancing appropriate behavior by residents and visitors. Sea Grant outreach staff conducting this educational programming are spread over 36 states and territories. To overcome the handicap of disparate locations, networked computing is being pilot tested to increase collaboration between these marine Extension staff. Successful experiences to date suggest that emerging information technology can assist a wide variety of outreach professions to integrate their efforts.     

蛋鸡生产参数自动监测系统设计与实现

为了在蛋鸡自然状态下,实现对其采食量、饮水量、排泄量、产蛋时间、蛋质量等生产参数的长期自动采集,克服人工采集工作量大,鸡应激反应造成误差大等问题,设计并实现了基于传感器网络的蛋鸡生产参数自动监测系统。该装置运用人机工程学的设计方法,将传统鸡笼与传感器有机结合,实现了对蛋鸡生产参数无干扰远程监测。该文重点分析了鸡笼的机械结构设计、传感器通信原理、数据采集与分析利用问题。试验结果表明,系统运行稳定,采食量、饮水量、排泄量、蛋质量平均相对误差均小于0.2%。该研究提高了监测数据的精确性,为蛋鸡养殖中科研数据收集、分析和利用提供了新方法和手段,为进一步研究蛋鸡生长过程中生产参数的无干扰自动采集技术提供了参考。     

Rapid uptake of N-ammonium and glycine-C, N by arbuscular and ericoid mycorrhizal plants native to a Northern California coastal pygmy forest

While it is well established that plants are able to acquire nitrogen in inorganic form, there is less information on their ability to ‘short circuit’ the N cycle, compete with microbes, and acquire nitrogen in organic form. Mycorrhizal fungi, known to enhance nutrient uptake by plants, may play a role in organic N uptake, particularly ericoid mycorrhizas. We asked the question—Can mycorrhizal fungi increase the ability of plants to take up organic N, compared to inorganic N? Here, we report on the abilities of three plant species, ericoid mycorrhizal Rhododendron macrophyllum and Vaccinium ovatum and arbuscular mycorrhizal Cupressus goveniana ssp. pigmaea, to acquire C and/or N from an organic and an inorganic N source. All three species are native to a California coastal pygmy forest growing in acidic, low-fertility, highly organic soils. In a pot study, glycine-α¹³C, ¹⁵N and ¹⁵N-ammonium were applied to pygmy forest soil for 17 or 44 h. Ericoid mycorrhizal species did not demonstrate a preference for either inorganic or organic sources of N while Cupressus acquired more NH₄-N than glycine-N. For all species, glycine-N uptake did not increase after 17 h suggesting glycine uptake and glycine immobilization occurred rapidly. Both glycine-N and glycine-C were recovered in shoots and in roots suggesting that all species acquired some N in organic form. Regression analyses of glycine-N and glycine-C recovery in root tissue indicate that much of the glycine was taken up intact and that the minimum proportion of glycine-N recovered in organic form was 85% (Cupressus) and 70% (Rhododendron). Regressions were non-significant for Vaccinium. For all species, glycine-N remained predominantly in roots while glycine-C was transferred to shoots. In contrast, NH₄-N remained in roots of ericoid plants but was transferred to shoots of arbuscular mycorrhizal Cupressus. Since net N mineralization rates in pygmy forest soils are low, our results suggest that organic N may be an important N source for plants in this temperate coniferous ecosystem regardless of mycorrhizal type. Acquisition of amino acid C by these species also may partially offset the carbon cost to plants of hosting mycorrhizal fungi.     

基于PDA和FSM的肉牛养殖可追溯信息采集与传输方法

为提高肉牛养殖信息采集与传输的自动化程度准确性,该文提出了基于个人数字助理（PDA）和有限状态机 （FSM）的肉牛养殖可追溯信息采集与传输方法。利用PDA采集肉牛的日常养殖信息;在信息传到PC的过程中,通过利用有限状态机原理,以事件驱动的方式实现了PDA与PC之间的串口信息传输。重点研究了串口传输过程中有限状态机的建模,该方法改变了肉牛养殖信息传统、人工的采集与传输的方式,实现了养殖场信息的快速、准确的采集与传输。     

桁架式农田高通量信息远程采集平台设计与试验

针对当前作物表型采集平台存在适用性差、采集数据量少、对农田配套设施要求高且需要人工实地采集等问题,该研究设计了一种基于桁架导轨结构的农田高通量信息远程采集平台。采集平台的运动轨道为桁架导轨结构,平台搭载相机、雷达、北斗及集成式环境传感器,可在轨道上进行前后（X轴）、左右（Y轴）、俯仰（P轴）运动,通过4G通信方式实现作物表型信息及农田环境信息的远程多方位采集。田间试验表明,4G远程通信端到端的最大延时不超过60 ms,远程监控端和采集平台端可在极短时间内进行数据交互;在远程监控端下发X、Y、P三轴阶跃运动控制指令,采集平台三轴的运动速度分别为0.5 m/s、0.0769 m/s和1.81°/s,表型传感器可在较短时间内到达目标位置进行信息采集,响应稳态误差分别为0.04 m/s、0.001 m和0.5°,运动过程平滑稳定,保证采集数据质量;Y轴从最左端移动到最右端跨度2 m的过程中,可有效对10行玉米产生近距离有效拍摄,P轴从-60°到60°的俯仰拍摄中,可对玉米苗带行垂直、前侧、后侧等几种不同的方向进行表型采集,且相机图像与雷达点云采集的一致,相机旋转俯仰拍摄的过程中受光照影响较小;对采集到相机及雷达数据融合得到具有颜色信息的三维点云,通过融合后的信息对油菜进行分株及提取株高信息,与人工实际测量株高值对比得到的R²为0.96,表明采集数据效果满足后期实际作物表型参数的分析与处理;单区域的环境信息采集平均耗时10 s,各项环境参数组内无明显差异,与实测数据相比较精度均大于0.95。研究结果表明该采集平台满足对农田高通量表型数据的智能化采集要求。     

New Trends in Pioneer Hi-Bred International,Inc.'s Communication with Rural America

ABSTRACT

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. is a major agribusiness company that communicates in a variety of ways with its rural customers. The following methods are discussed: face-to-face, print media, radio and television, printed materials, telecommunications, on disk, and satellite communication. In addition, key communication trends are identified.     

Beef

ABSTRACT

The study examines the contribution of women scientists to agricultural development in southwestern Nigeria. It specifically determined the personal and job-related attributes of women scientists in Nigerian agricultural institutions, identified their areas of specialization and research needs, and highlighted the problems confronting women scientists in carrying out their research/teaching activities. The study was conducted using a simple random sampling technique to select 73 women scientists from the National Agricultural Research Institutes, Universities, and Colleges of Agriculture in the southwestern zone. Data were collected from women scientists through the use of pre-tested and validated questionnaires. Data were analysed using frequency distribution and percentages. The results of the analysis showed the integration of women scientists into the various agricultural disciplines and their involvement in research, teaching, and supervision. Major areas of research where training is needed are biometry and data analysis, information communication technology, and genetic engineering. Many of them were not satisfied with the number of women scientists in their institutions and suggested attracting women by providing incentives in the form of training and fellowships and by organizing career talks to young girls to encourage them to pursue the profession. The problems faced by women scientists in the course of carrying out their job schedule were inadequate research/teaching facilities, lack and timely release of funds for research, multiple roles of women as career women with family responsibilities, and gender imbalance in administrative and professorial positions.