Object-Based Greenhouse Mapping Using Very High Resolution Satellite Data and Landsat 8 Time Series

Greenhouse mapping through remote sensing has received extensive attention over the last decades. In this article, the innovative goal relies on mapping greenhouses through the combined use of very high resolution satellite data (WorldView-2) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) time series within a context of an object-based image analysis (OBIA) and decision tree classification. Thus, WorldView-2 was mainly used to segment the study area focusing on individual greenhouses. Basic spectral information, spectral and vegetation indices, textural features, seasonal statistics and a spectral metric (Moment Distance Index, MDI) derived from Landsat 8 time series and/or WorldView-2 imagery were computed on previously segmented image objects. In order to test its temporal stability, the same approach was applied for two different years, 2014 and 2015. In both years, MDI was pointed out as the most important feature to detect greenhouses. Moreover, the threshold value of this spectral metric turned to be extremely stable for both Landsat 8 and WorldView-2 imagery. A simple decision tree always using the same threshold values for features from Landsat 8 time series and WorldView-2 was finally proposed. Overall accuracies of 93.0% and 93.3% and kappa coefficients of 0.856 and 0.861 were attained for 2014 and 2015 datasets, respectively

Auxiliary Companies of the Horticultural Sector as a Competitiveness Element: The Case of Almeria (Spain)

The horticultural model of Almeria (Spain) based on the operation of greenhouses is an international reference and has been considered as an economic miracle. Alongside this agricultural development has been the deployment of the diverse productive activity of auxiliary companies. The objective of this article is to understand how these companies operate and analyze their factors of competitiveness, competing needs, and future competitive improvements, taking as reference four of the most important subsectors (machinery, greenhouse infrastructure, plastics, and seeds). The Delphi method was used and through a panel of experts the conditioning factors of each of the variables to be analyzed (factors, needs, and competitiveness improvements) was chosen. Of the 120 companies that were sent questionnaires, 72 participated. The sectors that make up the auxiliary companies are heterogeneous and therefore the results obtained have differed among them. The synergies between the greenhouse crops and the auxiliary companies are an example of diversification of productive activity that can be extrapolated to other production areas worldwide. The future of the auxiliary companies is linked to that of the intensive agriculture and the key variables must be underscored by competitiveness and sustainability

Experimental investigation and modelling of biodiesel combustion in engines with late direct injection strategy

The combination of alternate fuels, such as biodiesel, and low-temperature combustion (LTC) constitutes a promising solution to reduce pollutant emission and to avoid dependence on fossil fuels. However, this concept requires additional research to optimise LTC of biodiesel over wider operating ranges, specifically including the implementation of numerical models to assist in the development of these engines. In this work, an experimental analysis was carried out assessing both thermal performance and emissions derived from the LTC of diesel/biodiesel blends with late direct injection. Furthermore, this analysis allowed implementing a predictive tool to characterise in-cylinder pressure trace under this operation strategy. This model was coupled with an empirical law to simulate heat release during the combustion process. Least squares method was applied to fit this empirical law to experimental data involving different conditions in terms of percentages of rapeseed biodiesel in the fuel blend, rotational speed, fuel/air equivalence ratio and percentages of external exhaust gas recirculation. To build the predictive model, a multiple regression methodology was used to correlate the law parameters with the operating conditions. Finally, a validation process based on the simulation of in-cylinder pressure trace was developed, revealing that the predictions agreed well with the experimental data. This suggests that the proposed model is able to satisfactorily predict the LTC of diesel/biodiesel blends within the test range.Junta de Andalucía - Consejería de Economía AT17-5934-USUniversidad de Cádiz PB2022-04

Genes for asparagine metabolism in Lotus japonicus : differential expression and interconnection with photorespiration

Background: Asparagine is a very important nitrogen transport and storage compound in plants due to its high nitrogen/carbon ratio and stability. Asparagine intracellu lar concentration depends on a balance between asparagine biosynthesis and degradation. The main enzymes involved in asparagine metabolism are as paragine synthetase (ASN), asparaginase (NSE) and serine-glyoxylate aminotransfera se (SGAT). The study of the genes encoding for these enzymes in the model legume Lotus japonicus is of particular interest since it has been proposed that asparagine is the principal molecule used to transport reduced nitrogen within the plant in most temperate legumes. Results: A differential expression of genes encoding for seve ral enzymes involved in asparagine metabolism was detected in L. japonicus . ASN is encoded by three genes, LjASN1 was the most highly expressed in mature leaves while LjASN2 expression was negligible and LjASN3 showed a low expression in this organ, suggesting that LjASN1 is the main gene responsible for asparagine synthesis in mature leaves. In young leaves, LjASN3 was the only ASN gene expressed although at low levels, while all the three genes encoding for NSE were highly expressed, especially LjNSE1 .Innodules, LjASN2 and LjNSE2 were the most highly expressed genes, suggesting an important role for these genes in this organ. Several lines of evidence support the connection between asparagine metabolic genes and photorespiration in L. japonicus : a) a mutant plant deficient in LjNSE1 showed a dramatic decrease in the expression of the two genes encoding for SGAT; b) expression of the genes involved in asparagine metabolism is altered in a photorespiratory mutant lacking plastidic glutamine synthetase; c) a clustering analysis indicated a similar pattern of expression among several genes involved in photorespiratory and asparagine metabolism, indicating a clear link between LjASN1 and LjSGAT genes and photorespiration. Conclusions: The results obtained in this paper indicate the exis tence of a differential expression of asparagine metabolic genes in L. japonicus and point out the crucial relevance of particular genes in different organs. Moreover, the data presented establish clear links betw een asparagine and photorespiratory metabolic genes in this plant.Junta de Andalucía (P10-CVI- 6368)FEDER-Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (AGL 2014 – 54413-R

Professor Buenaventura Delgado Bujalance. Looks and creative teaching

El profesor Buenaventura Delgado Bujalance desarrolló hasta su muerte una dilatada y creativa actividad como geógrafo. De ella, a modo de homenaje y reconocimiento, queremos destacar en este artículo, por una parte, su convicción de la validez del viaje como fuente de conocimiento, sustentado en la sorpresa, el atrevimiento o la empatía. Por otra, el valor del cuaderno de campo como instrumento de comprensión y trasmisión del conocimiento adquirido y como herramienta de aprendizaje y evaluación. El texto plantea, pues, en primer lugar las bases conceptuales en las que Buenaventura apoya su actividad, para después analizar sus cuadernos de campo y terminar presentando algunos resultados de la propuesta didáctica a través del viaje que, junto a él, hemos ido realizando en los últimos años

EXENCIÓN DE LOS GASTOS DE INSTALACIÓN DEL ASCENSOR RESPECTO DE LOS LOCALES DE LA COMUNIDAD DE PROPIETARIOS

El presente dictamen tiene por objeto analizar las posibles soluciones y estrategias a realizar para un supuesto en el que se obliga a una serie de locales comerciales a abonar de acuerdo a sus cuotas los gastos de instalación de un ascensor “ex novo” en la comunidad de propietario, teniendo en cuenta que estos locales no tienen acceso alguno al portal ni a los ascensores. En el caso concreto se procede a estudiar la situación de uno solo de los dueños, el cual será el encargado de interponer en todo caso una demanda, sin que todos los locales actúen en conjunto

Methodology for the estimation of cylinder inner surface temperature in an air-cooled engine

A methodology for the estimation of the mean temperature of the cylinder inner surface in an air-cooled internal combustion engine is proposed. Knowledge of this temperature is necessary to determine the heat flux from the combustion chamber to the cylinder wall. Along with the heat transfer coefficient this parameter also allows almost 50% of engine heat losses to be determined. The temperature is relatively easy to determine for water-cooled engines but this is not in the case for air-cooled engines. The methodology described here combines numerical and experimental procedures. Simulations were based on FEM models and experiments were based on the use of thermocouples and infrared thermography. The methodology avoids the use of data or correlations developed for other engines, providing more reliable results than extrapolating models from one engine to another. It also prevents from taking measurements from inside the combustion chamber, reducing invasion and experiments complexity. The proposed methodology has been successfully applied to an air-cooled four-stroke direct-injection diesel engine and it allows the cylinder mean inner surface temperature and cylinder-cooling air heat transfer coefficient to be estimated.Ministerio de Eduación y Ciencia CTQ2007-68026-CO2-02/PP

Analysis of a new analytical law of Heat Release Rate (HRR) for Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) combustion mode versus analytical parameters

Homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines produce very low NO and soot emissions and alsoimprove engine efficiency when compare to conventional spark ignition engines. The combustion process bases on the self-ignition of a homogenous air-fuel mixture without an external ignition source. The gas temperature is very important to initiate the combustion and to promote the appropriate chemical kinetics. As a result, the heat release rate and heat transfer inside the combustion chamber play a significant role in the HCCI combustion mode. The high relevance of gas temperature on this combustion mode means that heat transferis considered through a dedicated heat transfer model. In this system the forced convection from hot gases to the combustion chamber walls is the dominant heat transfer mechanism. This paper focuses on the relationship between HRR in HCCI combustion mode and the four parameters that are required for an analytical function to model this heat release rate. More specifically, the influences of the fuel-air equivalence ratio, engine speed and EGR on the four parameters that control HRR are examined. The analytical HRR law is validated over a wide range of operating conditions in HCCI combustion mode and shows that these four parameters are directly related to any load condition, including engine speed, fuel rate and EGR. These parameters can therefore be used to characterize this combustion mode.Ministerio de Ciencia y Eduación CTQ2007-68026-CO2-02/PP