Commercial farming of anuran species that are declining in the wild raises a need to discriminate wild from farmed frogs.We hypothesized wild frogs might have extended hindlimbs due to greater frequency or intensity o...Commercial farming of anuran species that are declining in the wild raises a need to discriminate wild from farmed frogs.We hypothesized wild frogs might have extended hindlimbs due to greater frequency or intensity of jumping relative to farmed frogs,highlighting a morphometric approach to discrimination of wild from farmed frogs using hindlimb length.In the present study,Dybowski＇s frog（Rana dybowskii） was used to test this hypothesis.We measured body mass（Mb） and hindlimb length（Lh） of 2-year old farmed frogs and wild frogs aged 2 to 5 years.Dybowski＇s frog demonstrated significant dimorphism in Mb and Lh.Mb was significantly greater among farmed 2-year old frogs in both sexes（p=0.000）,while only among females was Lh significantly greater for wild frogs（p=0.000）.Lh/Mb was used as an index for origin discrimination to eliminate the influence of Mb due to variation of husbandry conditions among farms.Mean Lh/Mb for farmed frogs was significantly lower than for wild frogs（p=0.000） in the 2-year old age class.Discrimination correctly classified 84.4% of farmed and 96.3% of wild male frogs.Among females,92.9% of farmed frogs and 90.1% wild frogs were correctly classified.The overall correctness of classification was 92.1% and 90.8% for males and females,respectively.However,Lh/Mb revealed variation with age,resulting in reduced discriminative power for frogs ≥3 years old.We introduced a coefficient Ce to adjust the Lh/Mb of frogs ≥3 years to the level equivalent to 2-year frogs.The adjustment achieved 89.5% for overall correctness of origin for wild males and 92.4% for wild females ≥3 years old.These results show that Lh/Mb is an effective index to discriminate wild from farmed Dybowski＇s frog.Since the physical demands of jumping are common among anurans,this index is also potentially applicable to other anuran species.展开更多
Information of the difference in quality between farmed and wild fish is central to better ensuring fish products produced in aquaculture meet regulatory and consumer requirements. Proximate composition, amino acid an...Information of the difference in quality between farmed and wild fish is central to better ensuring fish products produced in aquaculture meet regulatory and consumer requirements. Proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and toxic elements contents of fanned and wild Chanodichthys mongolicus were established and compared. Significantly higher crude protein content while lower moisture content in farmed fish compared to wild fish were observed （P〈0.05）. The percentages of total amino acids （TAA）, total essential amino acids （TEAA）, total non-essential amino acids （TNEAA） and total delicious amino acids （TDAA） in farmed fish were all significantly higher than those in the wild equivalent （P〈0.05）. Compared to the FAO/WHO recommended reference values, the ratios of TEAA/ TAA （39.84%o-40.33%） were comparable to 40% and TEAA / TNEAA （66.22%-67.60%） were above 60%. Fatty acid profiles in both farmed and wild C. mongolicus were dominated by monounsaturated fatty acid （MUFA）, with farmed fish contained much more MUFA content compared to wild counterpart （P〈0.05）. Notably, wild fish exhibited significantly higher levels of total polyunsaturated fatty acid （PUFA） including eicosapentaenoic acid （EPA） and docosahexaenoic acid （DHA） than fanned fish （P〈0.05）. The EPA （C20：503） and linoleic acid （C18：206） were the predominant PUFA in wild and farmed C. mongolicus, respectively. Moreover, farmed fish displayed an overall lower toxic element levels （As, Cd, Pb and Hg） in comparison with wild fish, and both were far lower than the established limit standard. In conclusion, our results suggest that the nutritional quality of fanned C. mongolicus was inferior to their wild counterpart with respect to fatty acids nutrition, and therefore further studies should focus on the improving C. mongolicus diet in order to enhance the overall nutritional composition.展开更多
Seasonal variations in serological profiles and growth status of farmed and wild Clarias gariepinus were investigated. Serological profiles of Clarias gariepinus can be an effective tool for proper monitoring of stres...Seasonal variations in serological profiles and growth status of farmed and wild Clarias gariepinus were investigated. Serological profiles of Clarias gariepinus can be an effective tool for proper monitoring of stress induced by management practices in intensive fish culture, which may elicit devastating effect on fish. Spectrophotometry procedures were used to analyze serum parameters of Clarias gariepinus. No different seasonal patterns were observed for mean values of albumin, total protein, urea, cholesterol, glucose and alanine amino-transferase. However, aspartate amino-transferase showed different seasonal pattern. Levels of cholesterol and alanine amino-transferase were highly significant in farmed and wild fish, separately. Juvenile fish had high level of urea irrespective of season. Seasonal variations in water quality parameters were observed except for pH which had no seasonal pattern. The growth exponential shows b-values between -0.048 and 7.434 for Clarias gariepinus. Adult female and juvenile fish from the wild had the highest b-value and the least b-value, separately. In this study, b-values were higher in the wild fish than the farmed fish. The condition factor for Clarias gariepinus ranged from 0.422 to 0.698, and was observed to be high in juvenile fish. With a condition factor less than 1, fish may not be doing well, probably due to environmental stress. Some serological parameters varied according to season and environment of fish. Thus, serological profile of fish is an effective and sensitive tool to monitor fish response to stress factors in the environment.展开更多
In this mini review, we systematized current knowledge about the number of Caligus elongatus on farmed Atlantic salmon in relation to the use of lumpfish as cleaner fish. The review was prompted by reports of an unusu...In this mini review, we systematized current knowledge about the number of Caligus elongatus on farmed Atlantic salmon in relation to the use of lumpfish as cleaner fish. The review was prompted by reports of an unusually large number of sea lice(C. elongatus) infestation of farmed salmon in northern Norway, Faroese Islands and Iceland and the urgent need to determine if common lumpfish can be used to reduce the number on farmed Atlantic salmon by actively grazing on sea lice. Available data from Norway clearly indicate that lumpfish grazes on C. elongatus, and it is possible to enhance this grazing with the assistances of livefeed conditioning prior to sea pen transfer and selective breeding. Observations from Iceland, Faroese Islands and Scotland also indicate that lumpfish can effectively lower infestations of C. elongatus on salmon. Overall, this mini review expresses that lumpfish can actively lower the number of C. elongatus on farmed Atlantic salmon.展开更多
Aquaculture,the most rapidly growing food production sector,has exhibited tremendous expansion over the past several decades and it currently accounts for more than half of the global fish production for human consump...Aquaculture,the most rapidly growing food production sector,has exhibited tremendous expansion over the past several decades and it currently accounts for more than half of the global fish production for human consumption.To ensure sustainable aquaculture,it is necessary to breed farmed fish species(strains)with valuable economic traits,such as high production,high quality,disease resistance,and stress tolerance.Modem fish genetic breeding techniques largely rely on key processes including understanding the genetic basis of economically important traits to the generation and selection of favorable genotypes.展开更多
Viral diseases cause serious economic loss in farmed animals industry.However,the efficacy of remedies for viral infection in farmed animals is limited,and treatment strategies are generally lacking for aquatic animal...Viral diseases cause serious economic loss in farmed animals industry.However,the efficacy of remedies for viral infection in farmed animals is limited,and treatment strategies are generally lacking for aquatic animals.Interactions of commensal microbiota and viral infection have been studied in recent years,demonstrating a third player in the interaction between hosts and viruses.Here,we discuss recent developments in the research of interactions between commensal bacteria and viral infection,including both promotion and inhibition effect of commensal bacteria on viral pathogenesis,as well as the impact of viral infection on commensal microbiota.The antiviral effect of commensal bacteria is mostly achieved through priming or regulation of the host immune responses,involving differential microbial components and host signaling pathways,and gives rise to various antiviral probiotics.Moreover,we summarize studies related to the interaction between commensal bacteria and viral infection in farmed animals,including pigs,chickens,fish and invertebrate species.Further studies in this area will deepen our understanding of antiviral immunity of farmed animals in the context of commensal microbiota,and promote the development of novel strategies for treatment of viral diseases in farmed animals.展开更多
This pilot study documented the occurrence and levels of brominated flame retardants in the tissues of farmed and wild salmon in southern Chile.Samples of Coho salmon and rainbow trout were obtained from fish farms,ri...This pilot study documented the occurrence and levels of brominated flame retardants in the tissues of farmed and wild salmon in southern Chile.Samples of Coho salmon and rainbow trout were obtained from fish farms,rivers and lakes in the Patagonia in Aysen Region,Chile.The samples were analyzed by Gas Chromatography Negative Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry for the different polybrominated diphenyl ether（PBDE） congeners.Contaminants were observed in all the samples,and the congeners BDE 17,28,47 and 66 were observed in all both farmed and wild samples.The concentrations were higher in the farmed Coho salmon,presenting significant differences with wild salmon.The levels reached 182 pg/g wet weight（ww） vs.120 ww.In the case of the rainbow trout,the concentrations were lower,although the congener profile was quite similar.The levels reached an average of 100 pg/g ww in the farmed fish versus 110 pg/g ww in wild fish,and no significant difference was observed between the species.In both species,the congener with the highest concentration was BDE 47.Based on this information,the BDE ？ow was estimated for commerce,which is a form of pollutant transport not usually considered in POP pollution studies.A preliminary estimation indicated that the quantity of PBDEs mobilized by commerce was in the order of kg,and in the case of Chile might reach almost 1 kg.展开更多
Aquaculture provides significant contributions to household food security,as the capture of wild fish from lakes,dams,and oceans do not meet the current demand for animal protein in Tanzania.Sustainable aquaculture re...Aquaculture provides significant contributions to household food security,as the capture of wild fish from lakes,dams,and oceans do not meet the current demand for animal protein in Tanzania.Sustainable aquaculture requires well-established regulatory systems and extension services for good pond management practices and maintaining fish health by fish farmers.Fish farming is practiced widely in Tanzania,from small-to large-scale ponds and these farming systems are moving from extensive normal operations(low input demand)to intensive farming(high input demand).However,the industry is largely still operating at a subsistence level with low production.Bacterial infections have been occurring in these fish farms and will continue to be an issue of concern into the future.This review highlights the current challenges,successes,and prospects towards a sustainable aquaculture industry in Tanzania,including:limited extension services mirroring the limited knowledge by farmers regarding pond management practices;the inadequacy of funds to carry out fish disease research or implement a surveillance system;little expertise in fish disease diagnosis and treatment;and poor management options.To minimize disease outbreaks and optimize production in the future,we suggest a strengthening of extension services,augmented with on-farm knowledge transfer.Emphasis should be on pond management practices and fish disease management;the creation of a well-functioning fish disease surveillance system;and strengthening collaborative research on aquaculture between the government research institutions and academia.Establishing small cooperative fish farmer groups within the Aquaculture Association of Tanzania(AAT)for easy access to information is also recommended.展开更多
Duo to fluctuations in atmospheric turbulence and yaw control strategies,wind turbines are often in a yaw state.To predict the far wake velocity field of wind turbines quickly and accurately,a wake velocity model was ...Duo to fluctuations in atmospheric turbulence and yaw control strategies,wind turbines are often in a yaw state.To predict the far wake velocity field of wind turbines quickly and accurately,a wake velocity model was derived based on the method of momentum conservation considering the wake steering of the wind turbine under yaw conditions.To consider the shear effect of the vertical incoming wind direction,a two-dimensional Gaussian distribution function was introduced to model the velocity loss at different axial positions in the far wake region based on the assumption of nonlinear wake expansion.This work also developed a“prediction-correction”method to solve the wake velocity field,and the accuracy of the model results was verified in wake experiments on the Garrad Hassan wind turbine.Moreover,a 33-kW two-blade horizontal axis wind turbine was simulated using this method,and the results were compared with the classical wake model under the same parameters and the computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulation results.The results show that the nonlinear wake model well reflected the influence of incoming flow shear and yaw wake steering in the wake velocity field.Finally,computation of the wake flow for the Horns Rev offshore wind farm with 80 wind turbines showed an error within 8%compared to the experimental values.The established wake model is less computationally intensive than other methods,has a faster calculation speed,and can be used for engineering calculations of the wake velocity in the far wakefield of wind turbines.展开更多
Elevation is one of many components that influence agriculture, and this in turn affects the level of both inputs and outputs of farmers. This article focuses on the productivity and technical efficiency of 100 cocoa ...Elevation is one of many components that influence agriculture, and this in turn affects the level of both inputs and outputs of farmers. This article focuses on the productivity and technical efficiency of 100 cocoa farms using cross-sectional data from areas ranging from 190 to 1021 m above sea level which were classified as low, medium, and high elevation in Davao City, considered as the chocolate capital of the Philippines. Using stochastic frontier analysis, the results showed that the cost of inputs per ha and the number of cocoa trees per ha significantly increase yield. Farms at high elevations were less technically efficient, as this entails lower temperatures and increased rainfall, and cocoa farming in those areas and conditions can be more challenging, especially with changes in farming practices, terrain, and distance to markets. Other significant variables were age of cocoa farms, married farmers, and age of the farmers. Older farms may be more developed, farmers who are married benefit from their spouses being able to readily contribute as farm labor, and lastly, older farmers' inefficiency may likely stem from nonadaptation of newer farming practices. With an average technical efficiency of 0.61, 0.63, and 0.26 in low, medium, and high elevation areas, respectively, farmers therefore have an incentive to improve farm practices and consider topographical variations found in high elevation areas. Recommendations for the improvement of technical efficiency of cocoa farms are better connectivity to markets, enhancing farm practices, and continuation and improvement of government programs on cocoa with an added emphasis on research. For farmers in high elevation areas, mitigating solutions such as sustainable agriculture practices and ecolabelling are key to improving efficiency and minimizing the potential negative impact on upland farming systems. Moreover, such adaptation measures may also contribute to sustainability of cocoa farming in high elevation areas.展开更多
Rice has a huge impact on socio-economic growth,and ensuring its sustainability and optimal utilization is vital.This review provides an insight into the role of smart farming in enhancing rice productivity.The applic...Rice has a huge impact on socio-economic growth,and ensuring its sustainability and optimal utilization is vital.This review provides an insight into the role of smart farming in enhancing rice productivity.The applications of smart farming in rice production including yield estimation,smart irrigation systems,monitoring disease and growth,and predicting rice quality and classifications are highlighted.The challenges of smart farming in sustainable rice production to enhance the understanding of researchers,policymakers,and stakeholders are discussed.Numerous efforts have been exerted to combat the issues in rice production in order to promote rice sector development.The effective implementation of smart farming in rice production has been facilitated by various technical advancements,particularly the integration of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.The future prospects of smart farming in transforming existing rice production practices are also elucidated.Through the utilization of smart farming,the rice industry can attain sustainable and resilient production systems that could mitigate environmental impact and safeguard food security.Thus,the rice industry holds a bright future in transforming current rice production practices into a new outlook in rice smart farming development.展开更多
Multidrug-resistant(MDR)Enterobacteriaceae critically threaten duck farming and public health.The phenotypes,genotypes,and associated mobile genetic elements(MGEs)of MDR Enterobacteriaceae isolated from 6 duck farms i...Multidrug-resistant(MDR)Enterobacteriaceae critically threaten duck farming and public health.The phenotypes,genotypes,and associated mobile genetic elements(MGEs)of MDR Enterobacteriaceae isolated from 6 duck farms in Zhejiang Province,China,were investigated.A total of 215 isolates were identified as Escherichia coli(64.65%),Klebsiella pneumoniae(12.09%),Proteus mirabilis(10.23%),Salmonella(8.84%),and Enterobacter cloacae(4.19%).Meanwhile,all isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics.Most isolates carried tet(A)(85.12%),blaTEM(78.60%)and sul1(67.44%)resistance genes.Gene co-occurrence analysis showed that the resistance genes were associated with IS26 and integrons.A conjugative IncFII plasmid pSDM004 containing all the above MGEs was detected in Proteus mirabilis isolate SDM004.This isolate was resistant to 18 antibiotics and carried the blaNDM-5 gene.MGEs,especially plasmids,are the primary antibiotic resistance gene transmission route in duck farms.These findings provide a theoretical basis for the rational use of antibiotics in farms which are substantial for evaluating public health and food safety.展开更多
The exponential growth of food demand due to the increasing global population has the potential to seriously threaten the quality and quantity of food supplies due to climate change.This study explores the utilisation...The exponential growth of food demand due to the increasing global population has the potential to seriously threaten the quality and quantity of food supplies due to climate change.This study explores the utilisation of green urban spaces for achieving food self-sufficiency by investigating the extent to which sustainable urban farms could be used to reduce the consumption of imported produce in the UK.It also examines urban farming stakeholders'perspective on how food self-sufficiency can help realise the SDGs especially SDG 2(Zero hunger)and SDG 13(Climate action).The study adopts a mixed method approach through a survey with 115 respondents and semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 respondents from 4 different urban farming stakeholder groups.The findings of this study presented a strong correlation between stakeholders who had concerns about where their food came from and the carbon footprint of imported produce.The research shows that,urban farms will no doubt play a vital role in the future of food security in our cities/communities and that the SDGs could be realised through sustainable urban farms implemented within the relevant planning regulations/policies.展开更多
Nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)is a long-lived greenhouse gas that mainly originates from agricultural soils.More and more studies have explored the sources,influencing factors and effective mitigation measures of N_(2)O in rec...Nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)is a long-lived greenhouse gas that mainly originates from agricultural soils.More and more studies have explored the sources,influencing factors and effective mitigation measures of N_(2)O in recent decades.However,the hierarchy of factors influencing N_(2)O emissions from agricultural soils at the global scale remains unclear.In this study,we carry out correlation and structural equation modeling analysis on a global N_(2)O emission dataset to explore the hierarchy of influencing factors affecting N_(2)O emissions from the nitrogen(N)and non-N fertilized upland farming systems,in terms of climatic factors,soil properties,and agricultural practices.Our results show that the average N_(2)O emission intensity in the N fertilized soils(17.83 g N ha^(-1)d^(-1))was significantly greater than that in the non-N fertilized soils(5.34 g N ha^(−1) d^(−1))(p<0.001).Climate factors and agricultural practices are the most important influencing factors on N_(2)O emission in non-N and N fertilized upland soils,respectively.For different climatic zones,without fertilizer,the primary influence factors on soil N_(2)O emissions are soil physical properties in subtropical monsoon zone,whereas climatic factors are key in the temperate zones.With fertilizer,the primary influence factors for subtropical monsoon and temperate continental zones are soil physical properties,while agricultural measures are the main factors in the temperate monsoon zone.Deploying enhanced agricultural practices,such as reduced N fertilizer rate combined with the addition of nitrification and urease inhibitors can potentially mitigate N_(2)O emissions by more than 60%in upland farming systems.展开更多
This study's goal is to present a dynamic portrait of the farm-buildings environment in Occitania,in Southern France,in order to better identify the transitions underway in agri-food chains.To this end,we undertoo...This study's goal is to present a dynamic portrait of the farm-buildings environment in Occitania,in Southern France,in order to better identify the transitions underway in agri-food chains.To this end,we undertook a ter-ritorial diagnosis based on actor statements,using 28 semi-structured interviews across Occitania.This diagnosis was enriched by graphic modelling,which enabled the spatialization of the dynamics described.We show that the process of standardisation of farm buildings prevails in the majority of the territories studied.This phenomenon has intensified in recent years with the development of vast photovoltaic-roofed sheds,accentuating the farm-land conversion and soil sealing.At the same time,in areas with strong environmental,landscape and heritage contexts,a'new adventure in farm buildings'(2022 survey)is taking shape.It is primarily driven by local short food chains,which rely on self-construction,repurposing and refurbishment,the sharing of tools and equipment,and which favour the use and reuse of local resources.This study shows that farm-buildings dynamics crystallise many challenges confronting the reterritorialisation of agriculture and food production.展开更多
With the increased availability of experimental measurements aiming at probing wind resources and wind turbine operations,machine learning(ML)models are poised to advance our understanding of the physics underpinning ...With the increased availability of experimental measurements aiming at probing wind resources and wind turbine operations,machine learning(ML)models are poised to advance our understanding of the physics underpinning the interaction between the atmospheric boundary layer and wind turbine arrays,the generated wakes and their interactions,and wind energy harvesting.However,the majority of the existing ML models for predicting wind turbine wakes merely recreate Computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulated data with analogous accuracy but reduced computational costs,thus providing surrogate models rather than enhanced data-enabled physics insights.Although ML-based surrogate models are useful to overcome current limitations associated with the high computational costs of CFD models,using ML to unveil processes from experimental data or enhance modeling capabilities is deemed a potential research direction to pursue.In this letter,we discuss recent achievements in the realm of ML modeling of wind turbine wakes and operations,along with new promising research strategies.展开更多
To address uncertainty as well as transient stability constraints simultaneously in the preventive control of windfarm systems, a novel three-stage optimization strategy is established in this paper. In the first stag...To address uncertainty as well as transient stability constraints simultaneously in the preventive control of windfarm systems, a novel three-stage optimization strategy is established in this paper. In the first stage, the probabilisticmulti-objective particle swarm optimization based on the point estimate method is employed to cope with thestochastic factors. The transient security region of the system is accurately ensured by the interior point methodin the second stage. Finally, the verification of the final optimal objectives and satisfied constraints are enforcedin the last stage. Furthermore, the proposed strategy is a general framework that can combine other optimizationalgorithms. The proposed methodology is tested on the modified WSCC 9-bus system and the New England 39-bussystem. The results verify the feasibility of the method.展开更多
With the increasing demand for electrical services,wind farm layout optimization has been one of the biggest challenges that we have to deal with.Despite the promising performance of the heuristic algorithm on the rou...With the increasing demand for electrical services,wind farm layout optimization has been one of the biggest challenges that we have to deal with.Despite the promising performance of the heuristic algorithm on the route network design problem,the expressive capability and search performance of the algorithm on multi-objective problems remain unexplored.In this paper,the wind farm layout optimization problem is defined.Then,a multi-objective algorithm based on Graph Neural Network(GNN)and Variable Neighborhood Search(VNS)algorithm is proposed.GNN provides the basis representations for the following search algorithm so that the expressiveness and search accuracy of the algorithm can be improved.The multi-objective VNS algorithm is put forward by combining it with the multi-objective optimization algorithm to solve the problem with multiple objectives.The proposed algorithm is applied to the 18-node simulation example to evaluate the feasibility and practicality of the developed optimization strategy.The experiment on the simulation example shows that the proposed algorithm yields a reduction of 6.1% in Point of Common Coupling(PCC)over the current state-of-the-art algorithm,which means that the proposed algorithm designs a layout that improves the quality of the power supply by 6.1%at the same cost.The ablation experiments show that the proposed algorithm improves the power quality by more than 8.6% and 7.8% compared to both the original VNS algorithm and the multi-objective VNS algorithm.展开更多
This report provides an overall assessment of land fragmentation problems in East Africa. Many parts of East Africa have become highly fragmented, putting development systems and activities in these areas at risk of c...This report provides an overall assessment of land fragmentation problems in East Africa. Many parts of East Africa have become highly fragmented, putting development systems and activities in these areas at risk of complete collapse. Land fragmentation occurs when land gets converted for agriculture, industrialization, or urbanization, invaded by non-local plants, or enclosed for individual use and by subdividing farmlands into subsequent smaller units called parcels with varying average farm sizes. Fragmentation results from inappropriate agricultural development processes and ineffective land use planning that fails to recognize how farmland is used, and the importance of its interconnected areas. Insecurity of tenure and resource rights are key factors in making this possible. Land fragmentation is one of the key reasons why the ability of most resources in East Africa becomes scarcer, and those remaining become “privatized” by more powerful community members—keen to maintain their access to them. Such individualistic attitudes are new and disadvantage the poorest even further by affecting the traditional customary safety nets and agricultural outputs. Neither the government nor customary governance systems effectively protect resource access for the poorest. This review summary report identifies the key causes, measures, and implications, government interventions, and the common remedies to land fragmentation problems in the East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania including neighboring Ethiopia, and the Sudan. The findings indicated from 2005 to 2015, the population kept increasing for all the named countries in East Africa with Rwanda and Uganda having a substantial increase in population density. The study review further explores the trend in the performance of agriculture by average farm sizes within the intervals of five years by highlighting their strong linkages and found that the average farm size has declined drastically, especially for Kenya. This can only mean that small farms kept becoming smaller and smaller and that there were more small-scale farmers. The results further depicted that the major and commonly cultivated food crops among the East African countries include maize, sorghum, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, Irish potatoes, beans, peas, etc., with maize yields (Mt/ha) in 2003 for Uganda being the highest (1.79 Mt/ha) and the lowest in Rwanda (0.77 Mt/ha) respectively. Therefore, from the review results, recommendations are being made as to how the negative impacts of land fragmentation on agricultural productivity can be reduced or mitigated. One way is by community sensitization and awareness about the importance of land consolidation and its proposition on farm productivity.展开更多
基金supported by the Project of Tackling Key Problems of Science and Technology of Heilongjiang Province, China (GB06B205-3)Program of Wildlife Conservation and Breeding of State Forestry Administration of China (2008)Special Fund for Postgraduate Dissertation of Northeast Forestry University (2009)
文摘Commercial farming of anuran species that are declining in the wild raises a need to discriminate wild from farmed frogs.We hypothesized wild frogs might have extended hindlimbs due to greater frequency or intensity of jumping relative to farmed frogs,highlighting a morphometric approach to discrimination of wild from farmed frogs using hindlimb length.In the present study,Dybowski＇s frog（Rana dybowskii） was used to test this hypothesis.We measured body mass（Mb） and hindlimb length（Lh） of 2-year old farmed frogs and wild frogs aged 2 to 5 years.Dybowski＇s frog demonstrated significant dimorphism in Mb and Lh.Mb was significantly greater among farmed 2-year old frogs in both sexes（p=0.000）,while only among females was Lh significantly greater for wild frogs（p=0.000）.Lh/Mb was used as an index for origin discrimination to eliminate the influence of Mb due to variation of husbandry conditions among farms.Mean Lh/Mb for farmed frogs was significantly lower than for wild frogs（p=0.000） in the 2-year old age class.Discrimination correctly classified 84.4% of farmed and 96.3% of wild male frogs.Among females,92.9% of farmed frogs and 90.1% wild frogs were correctly classified.The overall correctness of classification was 92.1% and 90.8% for males and females,respectively.However,Lh/Mb revealed variation with age,resulting in reduced discriminative power for frogs ≥3 years old.We introduced a coefficient Ce to adjust the Lh/Mb of frogs ≥3 years to the level equivalent to 2-year frogs.The adjustment achieved 89.5% for overall correctness of origin for wild males and 92.4% for wild females ≥3 years old.These results show that Lh/Mb is an effective index to discriminate wild from farmed Dybowski＇s frog.Since the physical demands of jumping are common among anurans,this index is also potentially applicable to other anuran species.
基金Supported by the Central-level Non-profit Scientific Research Institutes Special Funds(No.2014A07XK04)
文摘Information of the difference in quality between farmed and wild fish is central to better ensuring fish products produced in aquaculture meet regulatory and consumer requirements. Proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, and toxic elements contents of fanned and wild Chanodichthys mongolicus were established and compared. Significantly higher crude protein content while lower moisture content in farmed fish compared to wild fish were observed （P〈0.05）. The percentages of total amino acids （TAA）, total essential amino acids （TEAA）, total non-essential amino acids （TNEAA） and total delicious amino acids （TDAA） in farmed fish were all significantly higher than those in the wild equivalent （P〈0.05）. Compared to the FAO/WHO recommended reference values, the ratios of TEAA/ TAA （39.84%o-40.33%） were comparable to 40% and TEAA / TNEAA （66.22%-67.60%） were above 60%. Fatty acid profiles in both farmed and wild C. mongolicus were dominated by monounsaturated fatty acid （MUFA）, with farmed fish contained much more MUFA content compared to wild counterpart （P〈0.05）. Notably, wild fish exhibited significantly higher levels of total polyunsaturated fatty acid （PUFA） including eicosapentaenoic acid （EPA） and docosahexaenoic acid （DHA） than fanned fish （P〈0.05）. The EPA （C20：503） and linoleic acid （C18：206） were the predominant PUFA in wild and farmed C. mongolicus, respectively. Moreover, farmed fish displayed an overall lower toxic element levels （As, Cd, Pb and Hg） in comparison with wild fish, and both were far lower than the established limit standard. In conclusion, our results suggest that the nutritional quality of fanned C. mongolicus was inferior to their wild counterpart with respect to fatty acids nutrition, and therefore further studies should focus on the improving C. mongolicus diet in order to enhance the overall nutritional composition.
文摘Seasonal variations in serological profiles and growth status of farmed and wild Clarias gariepinus were investigated. Serological profiles of Clarias gariepinus can be an effective tool for proper monitoring of stress induced by management practices in intensive fish culture, which may elicit devastating effect on fish. Spectrophotometry procedures were used to analyze serum parameters of Clarias gariepinus. No different seasonal patterns were observed for mean values of albumin, total protein, urea, cholesterol, glucose and alanine amino-transferase. However, aspartate amino-transferase showed different seasonal pattern. Levels of cholesterol and alanine amino-transferase were highly significant in farmed and wild fish, separately. Juvenile fish had high level of urea irrespective of season. Seasonal variations in water quality parameters were observed except for pH which had no seasonal pattern. The growth exponential shows b-values between -0.048 and 7.434 for Clarias gariepinus. Adult female and juvenile fish from the wild had the highest b-value and the least b-value, separately. In this study, b-values were higher in the wild fish than the farmed fish. The condition factor for Clarias gariepinus ranged from 0.422 to 0.698, and was observed to be high in juvenile fish. With a condition factor less than 1, fish may not be doing well, probably due to environmental stress. Some serological parameters varied according to season and environment of fish. Thus, serological profile of fish is an effective and sensitive tool to monitor fish response to stress factors in the environment.
基金Financial support was given by the Norwegian Seafood Research Found (Nos. KEKS901539 and 901652EFFEKTIV)。
文摘In this mini review, we systematized current knowledge about the number of Caligus elongatus on farmed Atlantic salmon in relation to the use of lumpfish as cleaner fish. The review was prompted by reports of an unusually large number of sea lice(C. elongatus) infestation of farmed salmon in northern Norway, Faroese Islands and Iceland and the urgent need to determine if common lumpfish can be used to reduce the number on farmed Atlantic salmon by actively grazing on sea lice. Available data from Norway clearly indicate that lumpfish grazes on C. elongatus, and it is possible to enhance this grazing with the assistances of livefeed conditioning prior to sea pen transfer and selective breeding. Observations from Iceland, Faroese Islands and Scotland also indicate that lumpfish can effectively lower infestations of C. elongatus on salmon. Overall, this mini review expresses that lumpfish can actively lower the number of C. elongatus on farmed Atlantic salmon.
文摘Aquaculture,the most rapidly growing food production sector,has exhibited tremendous expansion over the past several decades and it currently accounts for more than half of the global fish production for human consumption.To ensure sustainable aquaculture,it is necessary to breed farmed fish species(strains)with valuable economic traits,such as high production,high quality,disease resistance,and stress tolerance.Modem fish genetic breeding techniques largely rely on key processes including understanding the genetic basis of economically important traits to the generation and selection of favorable genotypes.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFD0900400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31925038,31872584,31972807)。
文摘Viral diseases cause serious economic loss in farmed animals industry.However,the efficacy of remedies for viral infection in farmed animals is limited,and treatment strategies are generally lacking for aquatic animals.Interactions of commensal microbiota and viral infection have been studied in recent years,demonstrating a third player in the interaction between hosts and viruses.Here,we discuss recent developments in the research of interactions between commensal bacteria and viral infection,including both promotion and inhibition effect of commensal bacteria on viral pathogenesis,as well as the impact of viral infection on commensal microbiota.The antiviral effect of commensal bacteria is mostly achieved through priming or regulation of the host immune responses,involving differential microbial components and host signaling pathways,and gives rise to various antiviral probiotics.Moreover,we summarize studies related to the interaction between commensal bacteria and viral infection in farmed animals,including pigs,chickens,fish and invertebrate species.Further studies in this area will deepen our understanding of antiviral immunity of farmed animals in the context of commensal microbiota,and promote the development of novel strategies for treatment of viral diseases in farmed animals.
基金supported by Fondecyt No. 1080294 and Fondecyt 1110719 (R Barra)
文摘This pilot study documented the occurrence and levels of brominated flame retardants in the tissues of farmed and wild salmon in southern Chile.Samples of Coho salmon and rainbow trout were obtained from fish farms,rivers and lakes in the Patagonia in Aysen Region,Chile.The samples were analyzed by Gas Chromatography Negative Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry for the different polybrominated diphenyl ether（PBDE） congeners.Contaminants were observed in all the samples,and the congeners BDE 17,28,47 and 66 were observed in all both farmed and wild samples.The concentrations were higher in the farmed Coho salmon,presenting significant differences with wild salmon.The levels reached 182 pg/g wet weight（ww） vs.120 ww.In the case of the rainbow trout,the concentrations were lower,although the congener profile was quite similar.The levels reached an average of 100 pg/g ww in the farmed fish versus 110 pg/g ww in wild fish,and no significant difference was observed between the species.In both species,the congener with the highest concentration was BDE 47.Based on this information,the BDE ？ow was estimated for commerce,which is a form of pollutant transport not usually considered in POP pollution studies.A preliminary estimation indicated that the quantity of PBDEs mobilized by commerce was in the order of kg,and in the case of Chile might reach almost 1 kg.
基金This work was supported by the African Development Bank(AFDB)capacity building initiatives through Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology.
文摘Aquaculture provides significant contributions to household food security,as the capture of wild fish from lakes,dams,and oceans do not meet the current demand for animal protein in Tanzania.Sustainable aquaculture requires well-established regulatory systems and extension services for good pond management practices and maintaining fish health by fish farmers.Fish farming is practiced widely in Tanzania,from small-to large-scale ponds and these farming systems are moving from extensive normal operations(low input demand)to intensive farming(high input demand).However,the industry is largely still operating at a subsistence level with low production.Bacterial infections have been occurring in these fish farms and will continue to be an issue of concern into the future.This review highlights the current challenges,successes,and prospects towards a sustainable aquaculture industry in Tanzania,including:limited extension services mirroring the limited knowledge by farmers regarding pond management practices;the inadequacy of funds to carry out fish disease research or implement a surveillance system;little expertise in fish disease diagnosis and treatment;and poor management options.To minimize disease outbreaks and optimize production in the future,we suggest a strengthening of extension services,augmented with on-farm knowledge transfer.Emphasis should be on pond management practices and fish disease management;the creation of a well-functioning fish disease surveillance system;and strengthening collaborative research on aquaculture between the government research institutions and academia.Establishing small cooperative fish farmer groups within the Aquaculture Association of Tanzania(AAT)for easy access to information is also recommended.
基金Supported by the Key R&D Program of Shandong Province,China(No.2023ZLYS01)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFC3104200)+2 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12302301)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2023M742229)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation(ZJNSF)(No.LQ22F030002)。
文摘Duo to fluctuations in atmospheric turbulence and yaw control strategies,wind turbines are often in a yaw state.To predict the far wake velocity field of wind turbines quickly and accurately,a wake velocity model was derived based on the method of momentum conservation considering the wake steering of the wind turbine under yaw conditions.To consider the shear effect of the vertical incoming wind direction,a two-dimensional Gaussian distribution function was introduced to model the velocity loss at different axial positions in the far wake region based on the assumption of nonlinear wake expansion.This work also developed a“prediction-correction”method to solve the wake velocity field,and the accuracy of the model results was verified in wake experiments on the Garrad Hassan wind turbine.Moreover,a 33-kW two-blade horizontal axis wind turbine was simulated using this method,and the results were compared with the classical wake model under the same parameters and the computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulation results.The results show that the nonlinear wake model well reflected the influence of incoming flow shear and yaw wake steering in the wake velocity field.Finally,computation of the wake flow for the Horns Rev offshore wind farm with 80 wind turbines showed an error within 8%compared to the experimental values.The established wake model is less computationally intensive than other methods,has a faster calculation speed,and can be used for engineering calculations of the wake velocity in the far wakefield of wind turbines.
文摘Elevation is one of many components that influence agriculture, and this in turn affects the level of both inputs and outputs of farmers. This article focuses on the productivity and technical efficiency of 100 cocoa farms using cross-sectional data from areas ranging from 190 to 1021 m above sea level which were classified as low, medium, and high elevation in Davao City, considered as the chocolate capital of the Philippines. Using stochastic frontier analysis, the results showed that the cost of inputs per ha and the number of cocoa trees per ha significantly increase yield. Farms at high elevations were less technically efficient, as this entails lower temperatures and increased rainfall, and cocoa farming in those areas and conditions can be more challenging, especially with changes in farming practices, terrain, and distance to markets. Other significant variables were age of cocoa farms, married farmers, and age of the farmers. Older farms may be more developed, farmers who are married benefit from their spouses being able to readily contribute as farm labor, and lastly, older farmers' inefficiency may likely stem from nonadaptation of newer farming practices. With an average technical efficiency of 0.61, 0.63, and 0.26 in low, medium, and high elevation areas, respectively, farmers therefore have an incentive to improve farm practices and consider topographical variations found in high elevation areas. Recommendations for the improvement of technical efficiency of cocoa farms are better connectivity to markets, enhancing farm practices, and continuation and improvement of government programs on cocoa with an added emphasis on research. For farmers in high elevation areas, mitigating solutions such as sustainable agriculture practices and ecolabelling are key to improving efficiency and minimizing the potential negative impact on upland farming systems. Moreover, such adaptation measures may also contribute to sustainability of cocoa farming in high elevation areas.
基金The authors wish to acknowledge the Ministry of Higher Education,Malaysia for financial support via the Transdisciplinary Research Grant Scheme Project(Grant No.TRGS/1/2020/UPM/02/7).
文摘Rice has a huge impact on socio-economic growth,and ensuring its sustainability and optimal utilization is vital.This review provides an insight into the role of smart farming in enhancing rice productivity.The applications of smart farming in rice production including yield estimation,smart irrigation systems,monitoring disease and growth,and predicting rice quality and classifications are highlighted.The challenges of smart farming in sustainable rice production to enhance the understanding of researchers,policymakers,and stakeholders are discussed.Numerous efforts have been exerted to combat the issues in rice production in order to promote rice sector development.The effective implementation of smart farming in rice production has been facilitated by various technical advancements,particularly the integration of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence.The future prospects of smart farming in transforming existing rice production practices are also elucidated.Through the utilization of smart farming,the rice industry can attain sustainable and resilient production systems that could mitigate environmental impact and safeguard food security.Thus,the rice industry holds a bright future in transforming current rice production practices into a new outlook in rice smart farming development.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32172188)Science and Technology Cooperation Project of ZheJiang Province(2023SNJF058-3)。
文摘Multidrug-resistant(MDR)Enterobacteriaceae critically threaten duck farming and public health.The phenotypes,genotypes,and associated mobile genetic elements(MGEs)of MDR Enterobacteriaceae isolated from 6 duck farms in Zhejiang Province,China,were investigated.A total of 215 isolates were identified as Escherichia coli(64.65%),Klebsiella pneumoniae(12.09%),Proteus mirabilis(10.23%),Salmonella(8.84%),and Enterobacter cloacae(4.19%).Meanwhile,all isolates were resistant to at least two antibiotics.Most isolates carried tet(A)(85.12%),blaTEM(78.60%)and sul1(67.44%)resistance genes.Gene co-occurrence analysis showed that the resistance genes were associated with IS26 and integrons.A conjugative IncFII plasmid pSDM004 containing all the above MGEs was detected in Proteus mirabilis isolate SDM004.This isolate was resistant to 18 antibiotics and carried the blaNDM-5 gene.MGEs,especially plasmids,are the primary antibiotic resistance gene transmission route in duck farms.These findings provide a theoretical basis for the rational use of antibiotics in farms which are substantial for evaluating public health and food safety.
文摘The exponential growth of food demand due to the increasing global population has the potential to seriously threaten the quality and quantity of food supplies due to climate change.This study explores the utilisation of green urban spaces for achieving food self-sufficiency by investigating the extent to which sustainable urban farms could be used to reduce the consumption of imported produce in the UK.It also examines urban farming stakeholders'perspective on how food self-sufficiency can help realise the SDGs especially SDG 2(Zero hunger)and SDG 13(Climate action).The study adopts a mixed method approach through a survey with 115 respondents and semi-structured interviews conducted with 12 respondents from 4 different urban farming stakeholder groups.The findings of this study presented a strong correlation between stakeholders who had concerns about where their food came from and the carbon footprint of imported produce.The research shows that,urban farms will no doubt play a vital role in the future of food security in our cities/communities and that the SDGs could be realised through sustainable urban farms implemented within the relevant planning regulations/policies.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42161144002)the National Key Research and Development Programs of China (Grant No. 2022YFE0209200-03)+1 种基金the Suzhou Agricultural Science, Technology and Innovation Programs of Suzhou Agricultural Department (Grant No. SNG2022011)the special fund of State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Formation and Prevention of the Urban Air Pollution Complex (SEPAir2022080590)
文摘Nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)is a long-lived greenhouse gas that mainly originates from agricultural soils.More and more studies have explored the sources,influencing factors and effective mitigation measures of N_(2)O in recent decades.However,the hierarchy of factors influencing N_(2)O emissions from agricultural soils at the global scale remains unclear.In this study,we carry out correlation and structural equation modeling analysis on a global N_(2)O emission dataset to explore the hierarchy of influencing factors affecting N_(2)O emissions from the nitrogen(N)and non-N fertilized upland farming systems,in terms of climatic factors,soil properties,and agricultural practices.Our results show that the average N_(2)O emission intensity in the N fertilized soils(17.83 g N ha^(-1)d^(-1))was significantly greater than that in the non-N fertilized soils(5.34 g N ha^(−1) d^(−1))(p<0.001).Climate factors and agricultural practices are the most important influencing factors on N_(2)O emission in non-N and N fertilized upland soils,respectively.For different climatic zones,without fertilizer,the primary influence factors on soil N_(2)O emissions are soil physical properties in subtropical monsoon zone,whereas climatic factors are key in the temperate zones.With fertilizer,the primary influence factors for subtropical monsoon and temperate continental zones are soil physical properties,while agricultural measures are the main factors in the temperate monsoon zone.Deploying enhanced agricultural practices,such as reduced N fertilizer rate combined with the addition of nitrification and urease inhibitors can potentially mitigate N_(2)O emissions by more than 60%in upland farming systems.
文摘This study's goal is to present a dynamic portrait of the farm-buildings environment in Occitania,in Southern France,in order to better identify the transitions underway in agri-food chains.To this end,we undertook a ter-ritorial diagnosis based on actor statements,using 28 semi-structured interviews across Occitania.This diagnosis was enriched by graphic modelling,which enabled the spatialization of the dynamics described.We show that the process of standardisation of farm buildings prevails in the majority of the territories studied.This phenomenon has intensified in recent years with the development of vast photovoltaic-roofed sheds,accentuating the farm-land conversion and soil sealing.At the same time,in areas with strong environmental,landscape and heritage contexts,a'new adventure in farm buildings'(2022 survey)is taking shape.It is primarily driven by local short food chains,which rely on self-construction,repurposing and refurbishment,the sharing of tools and equipment,and which favour the use and reuse of local resources.This study shows that farm-buildings dynamics crystallise many challenges confronting the reterritorialisation of agriculture and food production.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation(NSF)CBET,Fluid Dynamics CAREER program(Grant No.2046160),program manager Ron Joslin.
文摘With the increased availability of experimental measurements aiming at probing wind resources and wind turbine operations,machine learning(ML)models are poised to advance our understanding of the physics underpinning the interaction between the atmospheric boundary layer and wind turbine arrays,the generated wakes and their interactions,and wind energy harvesting.However,the majority of the existing ML models for predicting wind turbine wakes merely recreate Computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulated data with analogous accuracy but reduced computational costs,thus providing surrogate models rather than enhanced data-enabled physics insights.Although ML-based surrogate models are useful to overcome current limitations associated with the high computational costs of CFD models,using ML to unveil processes from experimental data or enhance modeling capabilities is deemed a potential research direction to pursue.In this letter,we discuss recent achievements in the realm of ML modeling of wind turbine wakes and operations,along with new promising research strategies.
文摘To address uncertainty as well as transient stability constraints simultaneously in the preventive control of windfarm systems, a novel three-stage optimization strategy is established in this paper. In the first stage, the probabilisticmulti-objective particle swarm optimization based on the point estimate method is employed to cope with thestochastic factors. The transient security region of the system is accurately ensured by the interior point methodin the second stage. Finally, the verification of the final optimal objectives and satisfied constraints are enforcedin the last stage. Furthermore, the proposed strategy is a general framework that can combine other optimizationalgorithms. The proposed methodology is tested on the modified WSCC 9-bus system and the New England 39-bussystem. The results verify the feasibility of the method.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LY19A020001).
文摘With the increasing demand for electrical services,wind farm layout optimization has been one of the biggest challenges that we have to deal with.Despite the promising performance of the heuristic algorithm on the route network design problem,the expressive capability and search performance of the algorithm on multi-objective problems remain unexplored.In this paper,the wind farm layout optimization problem is defined.Then,a multi-objective algorithm based on Graph Neural Network(GNN)and Variable Neighborhood Search(VNS)algorithm is proposed.GNN provides the basis representations for the following search algorithm so that the expressiveness and search accuracy of the algorithm can be improved.The multi-objective VNS algorithm is put forward by combining it with the multi-objective optimization algorithm to solve the problem with multiple objectives.The proposed algorithm is applied to the 18-node simulation example to evaluate the feasibility and practicality of the developed optimization strategy.The experiment on the simulation example shows that the proposed algorithm yields a reduction of 6.1% in Point of Common Coupling(PCC)over the current state-of-the-art algorithm,which means that the proposed algorithm designs a layout that improves the quality of the power supply by 6.1%at the same cost.The ablation experiments show that the proposed algorithm improves the power quality by more than 8.6% and 7.8% compared to both the original VNS algorithm and the multi-objective VNS algorithm.
文摘This report provides an overall assessment of land fragmentation problems in East Africa. Many parts of East Africa have become highly fragmented, putting development systems and activities in these areas at risk of complete collapse. Land fragmentation occurs when land gets converted for agriculture, industrialization, or urbanization, invaded by non-local plants, or enclosed for individual use and by subdividing farmlands into subsequent smaller units called parcels with varying average farm sizes. Fragmentation results from inappropriate agricultural development processes and ineffective land use planning that fails to recognize how farmland is used, and the importance of its interconnected areas. Insecurity of tenure and resource rights are key factors in making this possible. Land fragmentation is one of the key reasons why the ability of most resources in East Africa becomes scarcer, and those remaining become “privatized” by more powerful community members—keen to maintain their access to them. Such individualistic attitudes are new and disadvantage the poorest even further by affecting the traditional customary safety nets and agricultural outputs. Neither the government nor customary governance systems effectively protect resource access for the poorest. This review summary report identifies the key causes, measures, and implications, government interventions, and the common remedies to land fragmentation problems in the East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania including neighboring Ethiopia, and the Sudan. The findings indicated from 2005 to 2015, the population kept increasing for all the named countries in East Africa with Rwanda and Uganda having a substantial increase in population density. The study review further explores the trend in the performance of agriculture by average farm sizes within the intervals of five years by highlighting their strong linkages and found that the average farm size has declined drastically, especially for Kenya. This can only mean that small farms kept becoming smaller and smaller and that there were more small-scale farmers. The results further depicted that the major and commonly cultivated food crops among the East African countries include maize, sorghum, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, Irish potatoes, beans, peas, etc., with maize yields (Mt/ha) in 2003 for Uganda being the highest (1.79 Mt/ha) and the lowest in Rwanda (0.77 Mt/ha) respectively. Therefore, from the review results, recommendations are being made as to how the negative impacts of land fragmentation on agricultural productivity can be reduced or mitigated. One way is by community sensitization and awareness about the importance of land consolidation and its proposition on farm productivity.
