Sideritis hyssopifolia L., a perennial plant, is also known as hyssop-leaved mountain ironwort. In its area of origin in north-western Europe, it is valued as an aromatic and medicinal plant and is used in the prevention and treatment of digestive ailments. It has been studied at Plant Genetic Resources Bank Buzau – Romania since 2019, being the subject of intensive acclimatisation and improvement works with the purpose of obtaining new creations with distinct genotypic and biochemical characteristics. The genetic material used was from the centres of origin (Spain, Portugal, Madeira and Canary Islands), and the breeding methods were repeatedly selected individually, followed by negative mass selection. Cultivar G5, which is superior in terms of acclimation and genetic stability, also exhibited distinct phenotypic expressivity. At the same time, specific cultural technology was developed with the aim of promoting it among farmers (see page 181).
Issue 2 (190)/2022
Pumping Pressure and Flow Rate Relationship to Reduce Energy Consumption in Irrigation Systems
Esmeralda Chiorescu
ABSTRACT. In the context of the current energy crisis, electricity consumption, especially by large consumers, must be reduced, rationally, without affecting the quality of services provided. Pressure pumping stations (PPS) in irrigation systems are usually equipped with 4 to 8 electric pumping sets with an installed power that can even exceed 1 MW. Since the PPS serving the irrigation plots must work mainly on demand, the required flow rate in the network can vary widely even during each day of the irrigation period. Also, due to the dependence of the pressure loss on the flow carried in the pipe network, this dependence is usually represented by an increasing quadratic function, and the variation of the required flow also leads to a variation, generally significant, of the pressure required from the PPS. To ensure the necessary flow, the PPS are automated with Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, which optimally control the configuration of the electric pumps in operation and their speed. This article presents a mathematical model and algorithm that facilitate the determination of the correlation between the pressure and flow required from the PPS ((p-Q)C), rendered by an increasing function. The implementation of (p-Q)C in the SCADA system software at PPS 2 in the Trifești-Sculeni irrigation system, in the eastern part of Romania, determined a reduction of energy consumption by up to 16%.
Keywords: Irrigation systems; pressure pumping stations; pressure and flow in pipeline; energy savings.
Effective Diagnostic Techniques in Borrelia Burgdorferi Infestation in Dogs
Maria Larisa Ivănescu, Gabriela Martinescu, Liviu Dan Miron
ABSTRACT. Borreliosis or Lyme disease is a disease transmitted by ixodidae ticks during feeding on blood (Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis in the USA, Ixodes persulcatus in Asia, Ixodes ricinus in Europe) and is widespread in the entire northern hemisphere. In Romania, the geographic distribution and prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was 1.4% in 41 counties, with a prevalence between 0.75–18.8%. B. burgdorferi sensu lato. had a prevalence of 3.8%, being found inside ticks in 55 of 183 localities. Successful treatment and full recovery can only be achieved through early diagnosis. The clinical and serologic diagnosis of Lyme disease is particularly difficult because of the phenotypic heterogeneity within and among spirochete species. A case study is presented in this paper: an eight-year-old male Yorkshire terrier dog, which was diagnosed positive for Lyme disease, based on a test which uses a peptide called C6 and which comes from the VlsE protein of B. burgdorferi, used to detect antibodies in dogs. The results demonstrate the reliability of the commercial SNAP 4Dx Plus Test for B. burgdorferi, which uses C6 to differentiate antibodies produced by natural infection from antibodies formed after vaccination. In addition, using real-time PCR, the diagnosis was negative, confirming the results from the literature, according to which the PCR technique is only recommended for research, the positivity percentage being low, especially when the sample is blood (0.1%). We conclude that the tests for the detection of antibodies specific to Lyme disease are recommended and useful.
Keywords: Lyme disease; antibodies; real-time PCR.
Prevalence, Economic Impact and Therapeutic Efficacy in Acute Infectious Pododermatitis in Sheep
Mariana Grecu, Oana Tănase, Mădălina Elena Henea, Valentin Nastasă, Cristina Mihaela Rîmbu
ABSTRACT. This study assessed seasonal incidence, economic losses, the efficacy of therapeutic protocols, the recovery time of affected animals and specific prophylactic measures applied to sheep with acute infectious pododermatitis. The studies were conducted over a period of 12 months in 3 different sheep farms from private units in the same area. The results of the study showed an increased incidence of the disease in all 3 farms, with an average of 26.94% of the sheep flock. The incidence of the disease was increased in the months of April-May-June-July and September-October (30%), when there were heavy rains. The high morbidity led to economic losses through the decrease in milk production by approximately 30% and the decrease in the weight of the sheep by 10.58% (4.2 kg) of their normal weight. The therapeutic protocol applied locally as well as parenterally, combined with a foot bath with 10% zinc sulphate solution, were effective in treating acute infectious pododermatitis of sheep. The average recovery time (days) was approximately the same in the three groups of sheep (5.25 ± 0.68 days for cases with moderate diseases and 10.2 ± 0.22 for cases with severe diseases).
Keywords: acute infectious pododermatitis; sheep; Fusobacterium necrophorum; Dichelobacter nodosus.
Effect of Moisture Contents and Compression Axes on Some Physical and Mechanical Properties of Dioclea Reflexa Seed
Olakunle Olukayode, Eyitope Israel Alade, Seun Oyelami
ABSTRACT. Interest in unconventional seeds such as Dioclea reflexa is growing in the tropical regions, with the potential for utilisation as food or industrial materials. Researchers confirmed that Dioclea reflexa seed has the potential for clinical use, use as a food source, and as industrial raw material. This research studies the effect of moisture content on the physical properties of Dioclea reflexa seed and the effect of moisture content and compression axes its mechanical properties. Standards methods were used to determine the physical properties, while the mechanical properties were derived from force-deformation curves for the moisture content range 4.8 to 12.1% (wet basis). The mean values of the seed’s length increased by 3.55% (from 31.01 mm), the width increased by 4.13% (from 26.64 mm), and the thickness decreased by 2.48% (from 21.75 mm). The geometric mean diameter increased by 1.68%, surface area increased by 3.68%, sphericity decreased by 1.54% and individual seed mass increased by 10.46%. The physical properties exhibit linear relationships with moisture content. Rupture force increased by 75% (from 0.80 kN) for loading along the major axis; by 84% (from 0.72 kN) for the intermediate axis; and by 41% (from 0.78 kN) for the minor axis. Rupture energy increased from 0.18 J to 1.25 J for compression along the major axis, from 0.087 J to 0.43 J for the intermediate axis, and from 0.080 J to 0.18 J for the minor axis. The mechanical properties were found to be moisture content and loading orientation-dependent. Reducing moisture content reduced both the force and the energy required to rupture the seeds. The data generated will be useful in the design of processing machinery and storage facilities for the seeds.
Keywords: Moisture content; linear dimension; loading orientation; rupture force; rupture energy.
The Aromatic Profile of White Wines Obtained from Biodynamic and Conventional Grown Grapes in Romania
Ana Maria Toader, Cintia Lucia Colibaba, Camelia Elena Luchian, Andreea Popîrdă, Bogdan Nechita, Valeriu V. Cotea
ABSTRACT. This study analyses the differences between wines obtained from grapes cultivated conventionally and those cultivated biodynamically. The wine samples studied were obtained from Rhein Riesling, Italian Riesling, Muscat Ottonel and Chardonnay grape varieties. Among these, four variants (one from each grape variety) were obtained from grapes following conventional cultural technologies, while the rest were from the same grape varieties cultivated biodynamically. All grapes and wines were produced in the Murfatlar vineyard, in south-east Romania. Basic chemical and sensorial analyses were applied to evaluate the differences appearing between the conventional and organic wine samples. All sets of data, PCA analysed, underlined that there are no systematic differences between the two grape cultivation methods and the obtained products.
Keywords: biodynamic grapes; organic vs. conventional wine; chemical composition; sensory profile.
Research on the Acclimatization and Breeding of Sideritis Hyssopifolia L. in Romania
Geanina Negoșanu, Adrian Asănică, Costel Vînătoru, Adrian Peticilă, Bianca Mușat, Camelia Bratu
ABSTRACT. Sideritis hyssopifolia L., perennial plant of the genus Sideritis, is also known as hyssop-leaved mountain ironwort. In its area of origin in northwestern Europe, it is valued as an aromatic and medicinal plant and used in the prevention and treatment of digestive ailments. It has been studied at Plant Genetic Resources Bank Buzău since 2019, being the subject of intensive acclimatization and improvement works with the purpose of obtaining new creations with distinct genotypic and biochemical characteristics. The genetic material used was from the centers of origin: Spain, Portugal, Madeira and Canary Islands, and the breeding methods were repeated individual selection followed by negative mass selection. In order to prevent the biological contamination of genotypes with foreign pollen, insulators with textile material were used. Cultivar G5, superior in terms of acclimation and genetic stability, also exhibited distinct phenotypic expressivity. At the same time, specific culture technology was developed with the aim of promoting it among farmers.
Keywords: genotype; phenotype; culture technology.
Supplements to the Problem Of Energy Consumption in Reducing Lignocelluloses Biomass Size to Produce Energy
Raluca Sfîru, Petru Cardei, Cornelia Muraru-Ionel, Vergil Muraru
ABSTRACT. This article presents complementary results on experimental data on the process of reducing the size of plant biomass by mechanical cutting. According to the source of the experimental data, the problem of statistical modelling of the main parameters describing the process of biomass reduction was approached. A more comprehensive formulation of the list of main system parameters was also attempted, which should be considered in a minimal mathematical model. The results of this article are starting points for a systemic approach to this biomass processing process. A first systematization is fixing 13 parameters that are included in the model of the biomass size reduction phenomenon. The 13 model parameters are divided into three categories: input parameters (5), adjustment parameters (4) and output parameters (4).
The performances of the interpolation formulas are evaluated using the global error and the maximum error, varying between 1% and 0.1% for the prior and 3.8% and 0.34% for the latter. Some mathematical models suggest the existence of optimal operating points. Their exploitation can only come as a result of new high-resolution experimental research, at least in terms of rotation speed.
Keywords: qualitative; characteristics; biomass; size; reduction.
* Abstract published in Conference Programme dedicated to LIFE SCIENCES TODAY FOR TOMORROW
Main Active Components of Goji Berry and Their Nutritional Importance – A Review
Andrei Daniel Tudor, Ciprian Bolohan, Valerica Tudor, Răzvan Ionuț Teodorescu
ABSTRACT. The consumption of fruits, leaves, and roots of Lycium barbarum L. and Lycium chinense (Mill.) species has a long tradition, especially on the Asian continent, due to their health benefits. In recent decades, social and economic factors, along with scientific progress, have stimulated the expansion of the consumption and cultivation of goji plants on a global scale, but mostly in Western countries. The traditional therapeutic properties attributed to goji plants, scientifically demonstrated through clinical and pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo, are due to a diversified content in antioxidants (polysaccharides, flavonoids, carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity). With the development of technological capabilities for the detection and extraction of biocompounds from plant resources (including from secondary metabolisms), the completeness of research on the beneficial and secondary effects of the use of these species in human nutrition has increased. In most of the published studies, the chemical profile of L. barbarum or L. chinense species was analysed in terms of the therapeutic benefits of the variety, the different plant components subjected to extraction, the prior processing of these components, the method of extraction of active biocompounds, and to some extent, the correlation of this profile with geographical origin. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive and updated summary on some chemical compounds with therapeutic effects from Lycium spp. plants, addressing the correlation of the phytochemical composition in relation to their cultivation area, in the perspective of identifying and creating new goji varieties with high adaptability to local pedoclimatic conditions.
Keywords: L. barbarum; L. chinense; chemical profile; cultivation areas.
Statistical Analysis of Preliminary Studies for Hemp Concrete
Laurentiu Adam, Dorina-Nicolina Isopescu, Loredana Judele, Roxana Dana Bucur, Daniel Lepadatu
ABSTRACT. Waste is a major worldwide problem and its recycling has become mandatory in the current context of the decrease in natural resources. The management of recyclable waste improves the efficiency of any economic activities and the impact on the environment decreases proportionally to the quantities reused. With a significant impact on carbon dioxide emissions, the construction sector is one of the largest consumers of energy and raw materials. Hemp, and other biomass waste, are by-products in agriculture, making important contributions to the development of ecological materials by incorporating important quantities of such recyclable waste. This paper presents a series of different hemp concrete compositions that aim to obtain the optimum ratio between the binder and hemp shiv, in order to determine the inflection point towards which the delimitation can be made between insulating materials and materials with improved mechanical resistance. The importance of the work is given by the fact that, until now, the optimal proportion between the binder and hemp wood chips has not been demonstrated. This turning point must be justified by a variation of the mechanical resistance or a variation of the heat transfer coefficient, through the conductivity of the obtained samples. After preliminary testing, the statistical analysis will allow identification of the specific quantities needed to improve the physical-mechanical performance of the hemp-concrete recipe. Thus, by adding a justified amount of binder, an ecological material based on vegetable waste from agricultural crops is obtained. The material will have thermo-mechanical properties designed for a specific situation, required by the minimum performance imposed by the destination for which it will be made.
Keywords: Hemp-binder ratio; hemp concrete recipe optimisation; statistical analysis; agricultural buildings.
* Abstract published in Conference Programme dedicated to LIFE SCIENCES TODAY FOR TOMORROW
Quantitative Genetic Analysis of Phenolic Acids in Oilseed Rape Meal
Florin-Daniel Lipșa, Rod Snowdon, Benjamin Wittkop, Wolfgang Friedt
ABSTRACT. Rapeseed meal, a by-product of oilseed extraction related to the agri-food and biofuel industries due to its favourable composition of essential amino acids, is currently utilised for animal feed. In this study, 166 doubled haploid (DH) rapeseed lines from the segregating Brassica napus doubled haploid population YE2-DH were genetically and chemically analysed for phenolic acids. The relationship between seed colour and phenolic acid fractions in B. napus was investigated using these analyses to improve the quality of rapeseed meal. High-performance liquid chromatography assays were used to estimate phenolic acid content, and the outcomes were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL). Nine quantitative feature loci for three distinct phenolic acid compounds were mapped to seven linkage groups. A minor QTL for sinapine was located on linkage group C05 in the same interval as the QTL for seed colour. On chromosome A09, two loci for phenolic acids colocalised with the main QTL for seed colour. Closely linked molecular markers for the target traits (seed colour, phenolic acids) identified during this study could be useful tools for breeding new oilseed rape cultivars with lower levels of antinutritive compounds.
Keywords: Brassica napus; phenolic acids; meal quality; QTL mapping.
© by the authors; licensee Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment, Iasi, Romania. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
