Artificial intelligence and new business models in agriculture: a structured literature review and future research agenda

Purpose Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a growing technology impacting several business fields. The agricultural sector is facing several challenges, which may be supported by the use of such a new advanced technology. The aim of the paper is to map the state-of-the-art of AI applications in agriculture, their advantages, barriers, implications and the ability to lead to new business models, depicting a future research agenda. Design/methodology/approach A structured literature review has been conducted, and 37 contributions have been analyzed and coded using a detailed research framework. Findings Findings underline the multiple uses and advantages of AI in agriculture and the potential impacts for farmers and entrepreneurs, even from a sustainability perspective. Several applications and algorithms are being developed and tested, but many barriers arise, starting from the lack of understanding by farmers and the need for global investments. A collaboration between scholars and practitioners is advocated to share best practices and lead to practical solutions and policies. The promising topic of new business models is still under-investigated and deserves more attention from scholars and practitioners. Originality/value The paper reports the state-of-the-art of AI in agriculture and its impact on the development of new business models. Several new research avenues have been identified

Auditoría de gestión en la empresa comercial “La Gran Bodega”, de la ciudad de Portoviejo, provincia de Manabi, periodo 2019

El presente trabajo de investigación tuvo como finalidad realizar una Auditoría de Gestión para evaluar el grado de eficiencia, eficacia, economía y ética, en el desarrollo de las actividades de la Empresa Comercial “La Gran Bodega”, de la Ciudad de Portoviejo, Provincia de Manabí, por el periodo comprendido del 1 de enero al 31 de diciembre del 2019. En el desarrollo de la Auditoría de gestión se realizó un diagnóstico empresarial, para recabar toda la información importante de la entidad, donde se utilizó las siguientes técnicas: Entrevista, dirigida al Gerente General de la Empresa Comercial” La Gran Bodega” y la encuesta que fue dirigida al personal administrativo y operativo de la empresa. Para la realización de la auditoría de gestión se procedió a realizar cuestionarios de control interno aplicando el método COSO III e Indicadores de gestión, identificando en cada componente las debilidades existentes y de esa manera reflejar en la hoja de hallazgos cada una de ellas, donde se determinó que no existe un plan de capacitación al personal, manual de funciones, políticas de calidad, políticas de promoción y publicidad; mecanismos de seguridad, un sistema de evaluación de desempeño. A su vez la empresa no cuenta con un plan estratégico y un plan operativo. Por ende, se recomienda al gerente de la entidad Corregir los hallazgos detectados en la Auditoría de Gestión realizada a la Empresa Comercial “La Gran Bodega” de tal manera que puedan realizar una retroalimentación para fortalecer las debilidades existentes en la empresa, ayudando al desarrollo eficiente de la entidad para la toma de decisionesThe present study was aimed to carry out a management audit to evaluate the degree of efficiency, effectiveness, economy and ethics, in the development of the activities of a commercial company called "La Gran Bodega", located in Portoviejo city, province of Manabí, from January 1 to December 31, 2019. In the development of the management audit, a business diagnosis was carried out to collect all the important information of the company, where the following techniques were used: an interview with the general manager of "La Gran Bodega" company and a survey applied to the administrative and operational staff of the company. To carry out the management audit, internal control questionnaires were carried out applying the COSO III method and management indicators, identifying existing weaknesses in each component and thus reflecting each of them on the findings sheet, where determined that there is no staff training plan, functions manual, quality policies, promotion and publicity policies; security mechanisms, a performance evaluation system. Also, the company lacks of a strategic plan and an operational plan. Therefore, the manager of the company is recommended to correct the findings detected in the management audit carried out on "La Gran Bodega" in such a way that they can provide feedback to strengthen the existing weaknesses and improve the efficient development of the company for decision making processe

Evaluation of microfiltration and heat treatment on the microbiological characteristics, phenolic composition and volatile compound profile of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice

BACKGROUND: Since processing technology and storage may influence the sensory and nutritional value as well as the shelf life of pomegranate juice (PJ), mild technologies based on microfiltration may be a promising alternative to heat treatments for fruit juice preservation. In this study, physicochemical and microbiological properties of raw (RPJ), microfiltered (MPJ) and cloudy pasteurized (PPJ) PJ were compared over a period of 4weeks. RESULTS: Data demonstrated that microfiltration was comparable to pasteurization in guaranteeing microbiological stability of the juice, avoiding spoilage of the final product. After treatment, PPJ showed the highest amounts of gallic acid (GA) and ellagic acid derivatives (EAs). During storage, the amount of ellagitannins, EAs and GA similarly decreased in all types of juice. Trends towards variations of monomeric anthocyanins in MPJ and variations of polymeric and copigmented anthocyanins in both MPJ and PPJ were found over storage. CONCLUSION: The optimization of pretreatments and filtration parameters can lead to the industrial scale-up of microfiltration technology for the development of high-quality non-heat-treated PJ. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry

Spatial behaviour of yellow-necked wood mouse Apodemus flavicollis in two sub-Mediterranean oak coppice stands

Strong mutual relationships exist between rodents and ecosystems. By modifying the structure and functioning of ecosystems, human activity can affect rodent behaviour and ecology. The yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis is widespread in Europe and its spatial ecology has been studied in various habitats, but studies are lacking for Mediterranean forests often altered by forest management practices. We investigated the spatial behaviour of A. flavicollis in a sub-Mediterranean deciduous oak forest of central Italy subject to forest management. We radio-tracked 27 individuals in two different coppice stands, i.e. a recently cut area and a high forest, differing in terms of species-specific habitat quality and rodent population density. We analysed the size of home ranges in relation to habitat type and sex. Our results revealed that home range and core area size did not differ between habitat types or sexes. The spatial behaviour of A. flavicollis thus did not appear to be influenced by population density and habitat quality. The lack of sex-related differences confirms the current knowledge on the species’ spatial ecology. Our findings provide the first useful information on the spatial behaviour of A. flavicollis in sub-Mediterranean deciduous oak forests, whose ecological processes may be markedly influenced by this key-species at several trophic levels.acceptedVersio

Recensioni e letture

Rosi Braidotti, Transpositions: On Nomadic Ethics(Nadia Manzo) – Beïda Chikhi, Assia Djébar: histoires et fantaisies (Mena Marotta) – Juan Goytisolo, Contra las sagradas formas (Paola Chiara Santoro) – Lisa Hopkins, Screen Adaptations. Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The relationship between Text and Film (Maria Izzo) – Paul Skandera (ed.), Phraseology and Culture in English (Paola Attolino) – Yoko Tawada, Sprachpolizei und Spielpolyglotte (Daniela Allocca)Rosi Braidotti, Transpositions: On Nomadic Ethics(Nadia Manzo) – Beïda Chikhi, Assia Djébar: histoires et fantaisies (Mena Marotta) – Juan Goytisolo, Contra las sagradas formas (Paola Chiara Santoro) – Lisa Hopkins, Screen Adaptations. Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The relationship between Text and Film (Maria Izzo) – Paul Skandera (ed.), Phraseology and Culture in English (Paola Attolino) – Yoko Tawada, Sprachpolizei und Spielpolyglotte (Daniela Allocca

Aquatic insects from Urugua-í Provincial Park, Misiones, Argentina

Se presenta una lista de insectos acuáticos colectados en el Parque Provincial Urugua-í, en la provincia de Misiones. Se colectaron 136 especies de insectos acuáticos, distribuidas en 75 géneros de 26 familias, correspondientes a siete órdenes. Se mencionan nuevas citas de la provincia y de Argentina, así como la presencia de especies nuevas para la ciencia.This paper presents a list of the aquatic insects collected from Urugua-í Provincial Park. This study aims to improve the knowledge of this protected area located in Misiones Province. One hundred and thirty-six species of aquatic insects in 75 genera, 26 families and seven orders were recorded. New records for the province and for Argentina are listed, and the records of new species are mentioned.Fil: Manzo, María Verónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Tucuman. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Fatima. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Rueda Martin, Paola Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Tucuman. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Molineri, Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Tucuman. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Nieto Peñalver, María Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Tucuman. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, José. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Dominguez, Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Tucuman. Instituto de Biodiversidad Neotropical; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentin

Exposure to hydrocarbons and renal disease: an experimental animal model.

The association between hydrocarbon exposure and chronic glomerulonephritis is still a controversial scientific issue. Recent epidemiological evidence suggests a role of exposure to hydrocarbons in the progression of glomerulonephritis towards chronic renal failure. The present experimental study on rats has been designed to assess the possible role of styrene in the progression of adriamycin (ADR) nephrosis, a well known model of renal fibrosis following nephrotic syndrome induced by ADR. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to styrene, 300 ppm, 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 12 weeks (group 1); treated with ADR, 2 mg/Kg, i.v., twice on day 1 and day 15 of the study (group 2); Additional groups of animals received both the styrene and ADR treatments (group 3) or served as controls (group 4). The urinary excretion of total and single proteins (albumin, Retinol-Binding Protein (RBP), Clara Cell 16 Kd protein (CC16), fibronectin) was measured monthly, whereas histopathology and determinations requiring blood sampling were carried out at the end of the experiment. A progressive increase in total proteinuria, falling in the nephrotic range already by the 6th week was observed in ADR-treated groups. Styrene exposure caused up to a 3- to 5-fold increase as compared to controls. Co-exposure to ADR and styrene also resulted in a proteinuria much greater than that caused by ADR alone. The interactive effect of styrene and ADR was statistically significant for albuminuria and urinary fibronectin. A similar response was observed for glomerular filtration rate at the end of the experiment, styrene-exposed animals showing hyperfiltration as compared to their respective control group. At the end of the experiment, histopathological scoring for interstitial infiltration and fibrosis was also significantly higher in styrene-treated animals as compared to their respective control groups. In ADR-treated rats, low molecular weight proteinuria (l.m.w.p.) was only slightly affected, suggesting minimal tubular dysfunction associated with extensive tubular atrophy. However, styrene-exposed animals showed l.m.w.p. higher than their respective controls. In summary, in this animal model we were able to confirm both styrene-induced microproteinuria, mainly albuminuria and minor increases in l.m.w.p., observed among occupationally exposed workers and the role of hydrocarbon exposure as a factor accelerating the progression of renal disease suggested by epidemiological investigations in patients suffering from chronic renal disease. Whereas in rats exposed to styrene only, microproteinuria was stable over time and minor histopathological changes were noted at the end of the experiment, evidence of a role of solvent exposure in the progression of ADR nephropathy was obtained in terms of both renal dysfunction and interstitial fibrosis. The mechanistic basis of styrene-ADR interaction is unclear. However, experimental evidence is consistent with epidemiological findings suggesting the need to avoid solvent exposure in patients suffering from renal diseases