Development of Mechanized System Model for the Production of Winter Cereal Wrap Silage in the Fallow Paddy Field (4)-Storage property and quality analysis of winter cereal wrap …

arXiv preprint arXiv:2402.15122

Elastic scattering off nuclei in target detectors, involving interactions with dark matter and coherent elastic neutrino nuclear recoil (CENS), results in the deposition of low energy within the nuclei, dissipating rapidly through a combination of heat and ionization. The primary energy loss mechanism for nuclear recoil is heat, leading to consistently smaller measurable scintillation signals compared to electron recoils of the same energy. The nuclear recoil quenching factor (QF), representing the ratio of scintillation light yield produced by nuclear recoil to that of electron recoil at the same energy, is a critical parameter for understanding dark matter and neutrino interactions with nuclei. The low energy QF of NaI(Tl) crystals, commonly employed in dark matter searches and CENS measurements, is of substantial importance. Previous low energy QF measurements were constrained by contamination from photomultiplier tube (PMT)-induced noise, resulting in an observed light yield of approximately 15 photoelectrons per keVee (kilo-electron-volt electron-equivalent energy) and nuclear recoil energy above 5 keVnr (kilo-electron-volt nuclear recoil energy). Through enhanced crystal encapsulation, an increased light yield of around 26 photoelectrons per keVee is achieved. This improvement enables the measurement of the nuclear recoil QF for sodium nuclei at an energy of 3.8 0.6 keVnr with a QF of 11.2 1.7%. Furthermore, a reevaluation of previously reported QF results is conducted, incorporating enhancements in low energy events based on waveform simulation. The outcomes are generally consistent with various recent QF measurements for …

Journal of Stored Products Research

With continued global population growth and current rate of climate change, grain loss during storage remains a major contributor to postharvest losses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Infection with mycotoxin leads to degradation or even discarding of stored grain, causing economic losses and risks to food security. Deep learning models have been used in the agricultural domain for detecting prevalent diseases or contamination; however, data scarcity remains a critical bottleneck for rapid implementation of computer vision in this field. Herein, a compact convolutional transformer (CCT)–based model was applied to classify contaminated wheat by deoxynivalenol (DON) and aflatoxins (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2), which was divided into three main classes: healthy, incipient, and contaminated. The classification was performed based on elevated CO2 respiration rate (≥31.20 ± 0.62 mg CO2 kg−1 h−1) and …

arXiv preprint arXiv:2402.15122

Elastic scattering off nuclei in target detectors, involving interactions with dark matter and coherent elastic neutrino nuclear recoil (CENS), results in the deposition of low energy within the nuclei, dissipating rapidly through a combination of heat and ionization. The primary energy loss mechanism for nuclear recoil is heat, leading to consistently smaller measurable scintillation signals compared to electron recoils of the same energy. The nuclear recoil quenching factor (QF), representing the ratio of scintillation light yield produced by nuclear recoil to that of electron recoil at the same energy, is a critical parameter for understanding dark matter and neutrino interactions with nuclei. The low energy QF of NaI(Tl) crystals, commonly employed in dark matter searches and CENS measurements, is of substantial importance. Previous low energy QF measurements were constrained by contamination from photomultiplier tube (PMT)-induced noise, resulting in an observed light yield of approximately 15 photoelectrons per keVee (kilo-electron-volt electron-equivalent energy) and nuclear recoil energy above 5 keVnr (kilo-electron-volt nuclear recoil energy). Through enhanced crystal encapsulation, an increased light yield of around 26 photoelectrons per keVee is achieved. This improvement enables the measurement of the nuclear recoil QF for sodium nuclei at an energy of 3.8 0.6 keVnr with a QF of 11.2 1.7%. Furthermore, a reevaluation of previously reported QF results is conducted, incorporating enhancements in low energy events based on waveform simulation. The outcomes are generally consistent with various recent QF measurements for …

Inventions

Tractor overturning accidents are a prominent safety concern in the field of agriculture. Many studies have been conducted to prevent tractor overturning accidents. Rollover protective structures and seat belts currently installed on tractors cannot prevent them from overturning. The posture of a tractor was controlled by installing individual actuators. The overturning angles of the tractor equipped with an actuator were compared with those of a tractor with no actuator. For the overturning angles in all directions of the tractor, it rotated 15° from 0° to 345°, and the actuator height suitable for the tractor posture was controlled by establishing an equation according to the tractor posture. Consequently, posture control using actuators was noticeably improved. This study proposes that tractors operating on irregular and sloping terrain be equipped with individual actuators. These results prevent tractor rollover accidents and improve safety and driving stability.

Astroparticle Physics

COSINE-100 is a dark matter direct detection experiment with 106 kg NaI (Tl) as the target material. 210 Pb and daughter isotopes are a dominant background in the WIMP region of interest and are detected via β decay and α decay. Analysis of the α channel complements the background model as observed in the β/γ channel. We present the measurement of the quenching factors and Monte Carlo simulation results and activity quantification of the α decay components of the COSINE-100 NaI (Tl) crystals. The data strongly indicate that the α decays probabilistically undergo two possible quenching factors but require further investigation. The fitted results are consistent with independent measurements and improve the overall understanding of the COSINE-100 backgrounds. Furthermore, the half-life of 216 Po has been measured to be 143. 4±1. 2 ms, which is consistent with and more precise than most current …

Astroparticle Physics

COSINE-100 is a dark matter direct detection experiment with 106 kg NaI (Tl) as the target material. 210 Pb and daughter isotopes are a dominant background in the WIMP region of interest and are detected via β decay and α decay. Analysis of the α channel complements the background model as observed in the β/γ channel. We present the measurement of the quenching factors and Monte Carlo simulation results and activity quantification of the α decay components of the COSINE-100 NaI (Tl) crystals. The data strongly indicate that the α decays probabilistically undergo two possible quenching factors but require further investigation. The fitted results are consistent with independent measurements and improve the overall understanding of the COSINE-100 backgrounds. Furthermore, the half-life of 216 Po has been measured to be 143. 4±1. 2 ms, which is consistent with and more precise than most current …

Applied Sciences

In this study, the physical properties of garlic just before collection were investigated, and garlic-collecting conditions are presented as basic data of design factors that can be utilized during the development of garlic collectors. The physical properties were subdivided into geometrical properties and mechanical properties, and the ecotype of garlic was divided into CSG (cold-season garlic) and WSG (warm-season garlic). Geometrical properties were compared between CSG and WSG by measuring the average weight, length, width, number of kernels, volume, and density of each cultivar, and WSG showed higher geometrical properties in all geometrical properties. In addition, there was garlic on the incomplete side of WSG, and shape non-uniformity was higher than that of CSG. There was no significant difference in the average Poisson’s ratio of mechanical properties. In the case of the modulus of elasticity, Namdo cultivars showed the lowest value at 15.52 MPa. The average allowable compressive stress measured using Hooke’s law was the lowest in the Uiseong cultivar (204.33 kPa) and the highest in the Danyang cultivar (376.42 kPa). The static friction coefficients among the four different materials by cultivar exhibited a commonality of being highest in aluminum and generally lowest in plastic. It is expected that the design of the garlic collector will be carried out in consideration of garlic when developing it using up-to-date physical properties of garlic just before collection.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.07462

We present a comprehensive study of the nonproportionality of NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors within the context of dark matter search experiments. Our investigation, which integrates COSINE-100 data with supplementary spectroscopy, measures light yields across diverse energy levels from full-energy peaks produced by the decays of various isotopes. These peaks of interest were produced by decays supported by both long and short-lived isotopes. Analyzing peaks from decays supported only by short-lived isotopes presented a unique challenge due to their limited statistics and overlapping energies, which was overcome by long-term data collection and a time-dependent analysis. A key achievement is the direct measurement of the 0.87 keV light yield, resulting from the cascade following electron capture decay of Na from internal contamination. This measurement, previously accessible only indirectly, deepens our understanding of NaI(Tl) scintillator behavior in the region of interest for dark matter searches. This study holds substantial implications for background modeling and the interpretation of dark matter signals in NaI(Tl) experiments.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.07462

We present a comprehensive study of the nonproportionality of NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors within the context of dark matter search experiments. Our investigation, which integrates COSINE-100 data with supplementary spectroscopy, measures light yields across diverse energy levels from full-energy peaks produced by the decays of various isotopes. These peaks of interest were produced by decays supported by both long and short-lived isotopes. Analyzing peaks from decays supported only by short-lived isotopes presented a unique challenge due to their limited statistics and overlapping energies, which was overcome by long-term data collection and a time-dependent analysis. A key achievement is the direct measurement of the 0.87 keV light yield, resulting from the cascade following electron capture decay of Na from internal contamination. This measurement, previously accessible only indirectly, deepens our understanding of NaI(Tl) scintillator behavior in the region of interest for dark matter searches. This study holds substantial implications for background modeling and the interpretation of dark matter signals in NaI(Tl) experiments.

Astroparticle Physics

COSINE-100 is a dark matter direct detection experiment with 106 kg NaI (Tl) as the target material. 210 Pb and daughter isotopes are a dominant background in the WIMP region of interest and are detected via β decay and α decay. Analysis of the α channel complements the background model as observed in the β/γ channel. We present the measurement of the quenching factors and Monte Carlo simulation results and activity quantification of the α decay components of the COSINE-100 NaI (Tl) crystals. The data strongly indicate that the α decays probabilistically undergo two possible quenching factors but require further investigation. The fitted results are consistent with independent measurements and improve the overall understanding of the COSINE-100 backgrounds. Furthermore, the half-life of 216 Po has been measured to be 143. 4±1. 2 ms, which is consistent with and more precise than most current …

Agriculture

Hydrogen tractors are being developed, necessitating consideration of the variation in the center of gravity depending on the arrangement of components such as power packs and cooling modules that replace traditional engines. This study analyzes the effects of component arrangement on stability and rollover angle in hydrogen tractors through simulations and proposes an optimal configuration. Stability is evaluated by analyzing rollover angles in various directions with rotations around the tractor’s midpoint. Based on the analysis of rollover angles for Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3 hydrogen tractors, Type 2 demonstrates superior stability compared to the other types. Specifically, when comparing lateral rollover angles at 0° rotation, Type 2 exhibits a 2% increase over Type 3. Upon rotations at 90° and 180°, Type 2 consistently displays the highest rollover angles, with differences ranging from approximately 6% to 12% compared to the other types. These results indicate that Type 2, with its specific component arrangement, offers the most stable configuration among the three types of tractors. It is confirmed that the rollover angle changes based on component arrangement, with a lower center of gravity resulting in greater stability. These findings serve as a crucial foundation for enhancing stability in the future design and manufacturing phases of hydrogen tractors.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.07476

We report a study on the background of the Advanced Molybdenum-Based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE), a search for neutrinoless double beta decay (\znbb) of Mo. The pilot stage of the experiment was conducted using 1.9 kg of \CAMOO~ crystals at the Yangyang Underground Laboratory, South Korea, from 2015 to 2018. We compared the measured energy spectra in three experimental configurations with the results of Monte Carlo simulations and identified the background sources in each configuration. We replaced several detector components and enhanced the neutron shielding to lower the background level between configurations. A limit on the half-life of decay of Mo was found at years at 90\% confidence level, based on the measured background and its modeling. Further reduction of the background rate in the AMoRE-I and AMoRE-II are discussed.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.07476

We report a study on the background of the Advanced Molybdenum-Based Rare process Experiment (AMoRE), a search for neutrinoless double beta decay (\znbb) of Mo. The pilot stage of the experiment was conducted using 1.9 kg of \CAMOO~ crystals at the Yangyang Underground Laboratory, South Korea, from 2015 to 2018. We compared the measured energy spectra in three experimental configurations with the results of Monte Carlo simulations and identified the background sources in each configuration. We replaced several detector components and enhanced the neutron shielding to lower the background level between configurations. A limit on the half-life of decay of Mo was found at years at 90\% confidence level, based on the measured background and its modeling. Further reduction of the background rate in the AMoRE-I and AMoRE-II are discussed.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2401.07462

We present a comprehensive study of the nonproportionality of NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors within the context of dark matter search experiments. Our investigation, which integrates COSINE-100 data with supplementary spectroscopy, measures light yields across diverse energy levels from full-energy peaks produced by the decays of various isotopes. These peaks of interest were produced by decays supported by both long and short-lived isotopes. Analyzing peaks from decays supported only by short-lived isotopes presented a unique challenge due to their limited statistics and overlapping energies, which was overcome by long-term data collection and a time-dependent analysis. A key achievement is the direct measurement of the 0.87 keV light yield, resulting from the cascade following electron capture decay of Na from internal contamination. This measurement, previously accessible only indirectly, deepens our understanding of NaI(Tl) scintillator behavior in the region of interest for dark matter searches. This study holds substantial implications for background modeling and the interpretation of dark matter signals in NaI(Tl) experiments.

Radiation Physics and Chemistry

This work investigates the physical, structural, optical, photoluminescence, and X-ray luminescence properties of Gd1.5MoB2O9: 0.5CeF3 mixed 10ZnO:35BaO:55B2O3 glass with a weight ratio of 1:9. The samples were prepared by heating with microwave synthesis technique varying the time from 5 min to 10 min. The structural studies were analysed using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and the oxidation of cerium atom were analysed using X-ray analysis near edge spectra (XANES). An X-ray diffraction analysis to investigate the structure of samples using by a Shimadzu XRD–6100 diffractometer. XANES spectra of the Ce-LIII edge for samples show peaks at ∼ 5728 eV, confirming the presence of Ce3+ ion and Ce4+ion. A UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer was used to record the absorption spectra (Shimadzu, 3600) in the 200–1000 nm wavelength. The photoluminescence of the sample show overlapping …

Physical Review D

We present results from a search for solar bosonic dark matter using the annual modulation method with the COSINE-100 experiment. The results were interpreted considering three dark sector bosons models: solar dark photons, Dine-Fischler-Srednicki-Zhitnisky (DFSZ) and Kim-Shifman-Vainshtein-Zakharov (KSVZ) solar axions, and Kaluza-Klein solar axions. No modulation signal compatible with the expected from the models was found from a dataset of 2.82 yr, using 61.3 kg of NaI (Tl) crystals. Therefore, we set a 90% confidence level upper limits for each of the three models studied. For the solar dark photon model, the most stringent mixing parameter upper limit is 1.61× 10− 14 for dark photons with a mass of 215 eV. For the DFSZ and KSVZ solar axion, and the Kaluza-Klein axion models, the upper limits exclude axion-electron couplings, g a e, above 1.61× 10− 11 for axion mass below 0.2 keV; and axion …

Mathematics

Accurate measurement of micro-climates that include temperature and relative humidity is the bedrock of the control and management of plant life in protected cultivation systems. Hence, the use of a large number of sensors distributed within the greenhouse or mobile sensors that can be moved from one location to another has been proposed, which are both capital and labor-intensive. On the contrary, accurate measurement of micro-climates can be achieved through the identification of the optimal number of sensors and their optimal locations, whose measurements are representative of the micro-climate in the entire greenhouse. However, given the number of sensors, their optimal locations are proven to vary from time to time as the outdoor weather conditions change. Therefore, regularly shifting the sensors to their optimal locations with the change in outdoor conditions is cost-intensive and may not be appropriate. In this paper, a framework based on the dense neural network (DNN) is proposed to predict the measurements (temperature and humidity) corresponding to the optimal sensor locations, which vary relative to the outdoor weather, using the measurements from sensors whose locations are fixed. The employed framework demonstrates a very high correlation between the true and predicted values with an average coefficient value of 0.91 and 0.85 for both temperature and humidity, respectively. In other words, through a combination of the optimal number of fixed sensors and DNN architecture that performs multi-channel regression, we estimate the micro-climate of the greenhouse.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2312.07957

The scintillation characteristics of an undoped CsI crystal with dimensions of 5.8 mm 5.9 mm 7.0 mm, corresponding to a weight of 1.0 g, were studied by directly coupling two silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) over a temperature range from room temperature (300 K) to a low temperature of 86 K. The scintillation decay time and light output were measured using x-ray (23 keV) and gamma-ray (88 keV) peaks from a Cd radioactive source. An increase in decay time was observed as the temperature decreased from room temperature to 86 K, ranging from 76 ns to 605 ns. Correspondingly, the light output increased as well, reaching 37.9 1.5 photoelectrons per keV electron-equivalent at 86 K, which is approximately 18 times higher than the light yield at room temperature. Leveraging the significantly enhanced scintillation light output of the undpoed CsI crystal at the low temperature, coupling it with SiPMs makes it a promising candidate for the future dark matter search detector, benefiting from the low threshold owing to the high light output. The odd proton numbers from both cesium and iodine provide an advantage for the WIMP-proton spin-dependent interaction. We evaluated the sensitivity of low-mass dark matter on WIMP-proton spin-dependent interaction with the Migdal process, assuming 200 kg of undoped CsI crystals for the dark matter search. We conclude that undoped CsI crystal detectors exhibit world-competitive sensitivities for low-mass dark matter detection, particularly for the WIMP-proton spin-dependent interaction.

arXiv preprint arXiv:2312.07957

The scintillation characteristics of an undoped CsI crystal with dimensions of 5.8 mm 5.9 mm 7.0 mm, corresponding to a weight of 1.0 g, were studied by directly coupling two silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) over a temperature range from room temperature (300 K) to a low temperature of 86 K. The scintillation decay time and light output were measured using x-ray (23 keV) and gamma-ray (88 keV) peaks from a Cd radioactive source. An increase in decay time was observed as the temperature decreased from room temperature to 86 K, ranging from 76 ns to 605 ns. Correspondingly, the light output increased as well, reaching 37.9 1.5 photoelectrons per keV electron-equivalent at 86 K, which is approximately 18 times higher than the light yield at room temperature. Leveraging the significantly enhanced scintillation light output of the undpoed CsI crystal at the low temperature, coupling it with SiPMs makes it a promising candidate for the future dark matter search detector, benefiting from the low threshold owing to the high light output. The odd proton numbers from both cesium and iodine provide an advantage for the WIMP-proton spin-dependent interaction. We evaluated the sensitivity of low-mass dark matter on WIMP-proton spin-dependent interaction with the Migdal process, assuming 200 kg of undoped CsI crystals for the dark matter search. We conclude that undoped CsI crystal detectors exhibit world-competitive sensitivities for low-mass dark matter detection, particularly for the WIMP-proton spin-dependent interaction.

Physical review letters

We search for energetic electron recoil signals induced by boosted dark matter (BDM) from the galactic center using the COSINE-100 array of NaI (Tl) crystal detectors at the Yangyang Underground Laboratory. The signal would be an excess of events with energies above 4 MeV over the well-understood background. Because no excess of events are observed in a 97.7 kg· yr exposure, we set limits on BDM interactions under a variety of hypotheses. Notably, we explored the dark photon parameter space, leading to competitive limits compared to direct dark photon search experiments, particularly for dark photon masses below 4 MeV and considering the invisible decay mode. Furthermore, by comparing our results with a previous BDM search conducted by the Super-Kamionkande experiment, we found that the COSINE-100 detector has advantages in searching for low-mass dark matter. This analysis …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeIn this study, a miniature and lightweight reaper that can harvest vegetable in small plots and does not damage the dedicated stems and roots of plants were designed and constructed.MethodsFor the design of the vegetable reaper, an initial step involved the calculation of the resisting forces for blade movement. Determination of engine power and the pully size of the simple power transmission system were conducted based on knife speed and the required cutting power. To evaluate machine performance, three important performance variables including effective field capacity (EFC), cutting efficiency (CE), and plant damage (PD) were assessed under field conditions. In this evaluation, three variables of forward speed (0.8, 1.2, and 1.8 km/h), knife speed (3 and 4 m/s), and cutting height (3 and 5 cm) were assessed.ResultsThe results indicated that the forward speed had a significant effect on all three …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeCirculating tumor cell separation and analysis have played a critical role in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In this work, we aim to design and investigate a novel biochip that integrates dielectrophoresis, microfluidic technology to separate circulating tumor cells from blood cells. To create a dielectrophoresis-induced non-uniform electric field, a facing-electrode design was proposed and utilized, in which a slanted electrode array and a simple rectangular ground electrode are placed parallel on the top and bottom parts of the microfluidic channel, respectively. This design can reduce the particle position dependence in the microchannel and the complexity of the microfabrication process.MethodsThe separation process, efficiency, and optimization of the proposed device were numerically investigated using the finite element method. Parametric research was conducted to comprehensively …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeMeasurement of draft is important for designing and testing a tillage implement or seeding machinery. This study aimed to develop an instrumentation setup which can be mounted between any category of tractor and different tillage implements for accessing real-time draft values while carrying out tillage.MethodsA novel draft sensing device was developed along with lower hitch attachment for different categories of tractor and implement by measuring horizontal force at each hitch point using three force sensing units. The force sensing unit comprised an S-type loadcell packed between two U-shaped frame and a microcontroller-based data acquisition system. The finite element (FE) simulation was made to examine safety of the designed structure.ResultsThe FE simulation result showed that stress induced on each element of force sensing unit was lesser than the yield strength of the material. The …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeCirculating tumor cell separation and analysis have played a critical role in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In this work, we aim to design and investigate a novel biochip that integrates dielectrophoresis, microfluidic technology to separate circulating tumor cells from blood cells. To create a dielectrophoresis-induced non-uniform electric field, a facing-electrode design was proposed and utilized, in which a slanted electrode array and a simple rectangular ground electrode are placed parallel on the top and bottom parts of the microfluidic channel, respectively. This design can reduce the particle position dependence in the microchannel and the complexity of the microfabrication process.MethodsThe separation process, efficiency, and optimization of the proposed device were numerically investigated using the finite element method. Parametric research was conducted to comprehensively …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeMango is a well-known and widely consumed fruit for its savoury taste and nutritional benefits. However, a lack of efficient postharvest handling prior to its storage could gradually lead to undesirable changes that cause postharvest losses. Dehydration techniques such as hot air drying have shown to minimize the water activity thereby preserving fruit shelf-life. Pretreatment prior drying has the advantage of shortening the drying times, consuming less energy, substituting chemical use, and maintaining the quality attributes of agricultural products. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to assess the application of cold plasma (CP) as a pretreatment step before drying ‘Tropica’ and ‘Keitt’ mango slices.MethodsThe effect of low-pressure cold plasma pretreatment duration (5 and 10 min) and mango cultivar differences was investigated on drying properties, quality attributes, and microbial load. Thin …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeCirculating tumor cell separation and analysis have played a critical role in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. In this work, we aim to design and investigate a novel biochip that integrates dielectrophoresis, microfluidic technology to separate circulating tumor cells from blood cells. To create a dielectrophoresis-induced non-uniform electric field, a facing-electrode design was proposed and utilized, in which a slanted electrode array and a simple rectangular ground electrode are placed parallel on the top and bottom parts of the microfluidic channel, respectively. This design can reduce the particle position dependence in the microchannel and the complexity of the microfabrication process.MethodsThe separation process, efficiency, and optimization of the proposed device were numerically investigated using the finite element method. Parametric research was conducted to comprehensively …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeThis study aims to develop a simple, low-cost, highly disposable paper-based electrochemical device to determine pyridoxine (vitamin B6).MethodsDual-layer paper-based electrochemical devices (PEDs) were fabricated using wax and screen-printing techniques. The electrochemical sensing layer towards pyridoxine detection is prepared by modifying the working electrode with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and electrodeposited polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers. Optimization of electrodeposition time was carried out to uniformly coat PANI nanofibers over rGO-modified PEDs. Surface morphologies of modified electrodes were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and PEDs were electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Chronoamperometric responses of the modified electrode against pyridoxine were …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

In this study, we have developed a web-based management system for greenhouse teleoperation. The remote control system consisted of a database, a web-server, a controller in greenhouse, and clients. The database in the server stored user's information and greenhouse conditions was used to manage user's login and conditioning data. The management system developed by using Java applet, which was a client program for effective and easy management of greenhouse, monitored the greenhouse in real time. Master and driver boards were installed in the greenhouse control unit. Database on flowering to collect and analyze data exchanged data with the server.

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeThe hand tractors produce hand-transmitted vibration, a significant occupational hazard for hand tractor operators. The present study aims to characterize the hand-transmitted vibration of hand tractors under various engine rotational speeds (1400 rpm, 1700 rpm, and 2000 rpm) and soil implements (moldboard plow, rotary harrow, and leveler) and develop work-rest schedules for hand tractor operations.MethodsThe study involved field experiments in soil wet preparation and soil dry preparation operations to measure the vibration acceleration at the handle grip and the operator’s physiological cost of work. The data was then analyzed to obtain the maximum allowable time based on the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) limits and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) calculations.ResultsThe results showed that vibration acceleration was …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

In order to solve the shortage of roughage supply for dairy farm in Korea, winter cereal forage production after harvesting of rice in the fallow paddy field was studied. Two parts are already reported at the previous paper-One was the model development of the mechanized production, and the other was the study of feasibility of the model and its desirable direction in Korea. In this study, the model system is applied for a winter cereal wrap silage production model to practice in Kyungbook National University farm on 3ha scale for 3 years. Results of the research are summarized as followsIt takes 2 or 3 working days to process the wrap silage in middle of May in Daegu region. Also, not much particular problem can be found during the application test of mechanized wrap silage production.

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeOver the past decade, cultured meat has attracted considerable attention as a sustainable alternative. Mimicking highly aligned muscle tissues and adipose tissues to replicate real meat poses a significant challenge to the development of cultured meat. Recently, techniques involving co-culture or post-assembly of different types of tissues have been introduced for cultured meat production. However, there is a need for a more straightforward approach for simultaneously replicating muscle and fat tissues.MethodsIn this study, we developed nano-cultured meat that recapitulates the structural and physiological characteristics of real meat. GelMA was dissolved in an oil-in-water emulsion to create a fat bioink, and a fat scaffold was fabricated using a digital light processing-based 3D printer. Subsequently, the empty spaces within the fat scaffold were filled with myoblast-laden hydrogel, followed by integration …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeGiven their perishable nature, fruits and vegetables (FVs) are lost along the supply chain in most developing countries such as Uganda. This is mainly due to various reasons including a lack of refrigerated transport systems, poor road conditions, and a lack of cold storage facilities. The objective of this study was to quantify and analyze the current level of nutritional and economic losses for selected FV supply chains in Uganda.MethodsLosses along the supply chains of four major FVs (bananas, tomatoes, potatoes, and mangoes) produced and consumed in Uganda, were assessed. A predetermined quantity of FVs was sorted at each stage of the supply chain to determine the amount of FV wastage. Samples were collected and analyzed using proximate analysis for moisture content, Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K) content to quantify the nutritional losses.ResultsThe cumulative produce …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposePredicting the draft requirement for an implement is crucial from the viewpoint of proper machine design. It was hypothesized that the draft requirement for moving the digger forward depends mainly on two major parameters, i.e., rake angle of the digging blade and depth of digging, which could be used to develop a linear regression model for estimating its draft requirement.MethodsA digging blade of a digger cum conveyor (DCC) was typically mounted at an angle (known as rake angle) to remove the onion bulbs from the soil. In this study, a newly designed digging blade was used. A provision was made at both the ends of digging blade to vary the rake angle. Structural analysis of the digging blade was also studied to check the strength in terms of the displacement of each blade component. The rake angle of the digging blade and digging depth were measured using digital protractor and measuring …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

This study was intended to investigate the characteristics of ride vibrations transmitted to tractor operator during rotary tillage and plowing operations. Seat accelerations of a 41 ps diesel tractor in rotary tillage and plowing were measured and evaluated as specified in the ISO 2631-1. Effects of working speed and tilling depth on ride vibration were investigated. The level of ride vibration was also evaluated in terms of health guidance caution zones. Some of the results of the study are as follows: 1. The level of ride vibration in plowing was about 4.3 times greater than in rotary tillage. 2. The effect of working speed in rotary tillage differs depending upon the tillage depth.

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeAn electromyography (EMG) study was conducted during push and pull operations to evaluate the muscle fatigue of agricultural farm workers.MethodsTwelve medically fit agricultural workers were selected for evaluation of muscular activity during push–pull operations, with the help of a laboratory setup, which was developed based on the ergonomic criteria of the uniform force application. The most used muscle during push and pull operation (middle deltoid MD, triceps brachii TR, brachioradialis BR, and biceps brachii BI) was selected for an EMG study. The uniform force or load (50, 100, 150, and 200 N) was applied during the experiment.ResultsThe most activated or used muscles during the pushing and pulling operation were TR and BR, respectively. The activity of the middle deltoid and triceps brachii muscles was more during the pushing than the pulling task.ConclusionRoot mean square (RMS …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

In order to solve the shortage of roughage supply for dairy farm in Korea, winter cereal forage production after harvesting of rice in the fallow paddy field was studied. Two parts are already reported at the previous paper-One was the model development of the mechanized production, and the other was the study of feasibility of the model and its desirable direction in Korea. In this study, the model system is applied for a winter cereal wrap silage production model to practice in Kyungbook National University farm on 3ha scale for 3 years. Results of the research are summarized as followsIt takes 2 or 3 working days to process the wrap silage in middle of May in Daegu region. Also, not much particular problem can be found during the application test of mechanized wrap silage production.

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeAgricultural mobile robots using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)–based signal for navigation can be easily occluded and the position and attitude errors calculated by inertial navigation sensor (INS) will accumulate over time, which will seriously affect functions like localization and navigation.MethodTherefore, based on the above shortcomings, this research uses 2D LIDAR (two-dimensional, Light Detection and Ranging) SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) as the scheme for the outdoor positioning of the mobile robot. The Cartographer SLAM algorithm was selected in this study and was operated under the ROS (Robot Operating System) platform.ResultsAfter a series of comparative experiments, it can be concluded that the positioning accuracy at the normal speed of 1.5 km/h is about 0.2–0.3 m considering the error of human manipulation and the accuracy of attitude around 3–4 …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeThis study aimed at investigating the drying kinetics and nutritional profile of brinjal and bitter gourd using cabinet dryers. Moreover, this study is new in identifying suitable drying conditions of cabinet dryers for drying vegetables since the literature related to this work is very limited.MethodsThe brinjal (BR) and bitter gourd (BG) were dried at different temperatures: 50 °C, 60 °C and 70 °C. The drying kinetics using Page, Henderson and Pabis and Logarithmic models was studied along with changes in physicochemical properties: moisture content, water activity, pH, texture and color; nutritional profile: crude fiber content, ash content, phenolic content, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity for two different vegetables: BR and BG. Finally, sensory evaluation was done to check the quality of dried vegetables.ResultsThe drying temperature had significantly influenced the drying rate of BR and BG. Moreover …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeThe hand tractors produce hand-transmitted vibration, a significant occupational hazard for hand tractor operators. The present study aims to characterize the hand-transmitted vibration of hand tractors under various engine rotational speeds (1400 rpm, 1700 rpm, and 2000 rpm) and soil implements (moldboard plow, rotary harrow, and leveler) and develop work-rest schedules for hand tractor operations.MethodsThe study involved field experiments in soil wet preparation and soil dry preparation operations to measure the vibration acceleration at the handle grip and the operator’s physiological cost of work. The data was then analyzed to obtain the maximum allowable time based on the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) limits and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) calculations.ResultsThe results showed that vibration acceleration was …

Journal of Biosystems Engineering

PurposeThe use of photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture has been considered a potential framework for increasing crop yields. However, studies on the usage of TiO2 NPs for rice (Oryza sativa) production showed disparities in the effects of TiO2. The objectives of this study are to elucidate the effects of TiO2 and to evaluate the use of TiO2 NP for rice production in Thailand, by investigating the influence of TiO2 NP sizes and quantities on the early development of rice.MethodsSeeds of two rice cultivars (cv. Thai Pathum Thani Fragrant and Thai Jasmine 105) were exposed to TiO2 suspensions of varying diameters and concentrations and transferred to Petri plates for early growth observation. The morphology of TiO2 was characterized by electron microscopy (EM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The accumulation of TiO2 was characterized by inductively coupled plasma mass …