Artificial Intelligence in the Water–Energy–Food Model: A Holistic Approach towards Sustainable Development Goals

This study aims to analyze the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus under the lens of institutional, stakeholder, and innovation theories. Specifically, this study focuses on AI as the technology adopted by companies to promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A structured literature review has been conducted on 94 articles published from 1990 to 2021 in ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. This study develops an in-depth review of the literature on the main articles arguing about these issues. The findings highlight the increasing relevance of AI in the water, energy, and food industries individually considered, but the study of AI as a connector between water, energy, and food to achieve SDGs is still under investigation. Research on AI for WEF nexus management has adopted mostly a technical perspective, neglecting the relevance of management tools and the business model concept. Most of the articles did not adopt a specific theoretical lens, but scholars recognize the need to adopt a multi-stakeholder approach and the important role played by AI and other digital technologies to address the WEF nexus challenge. This study proposes an integrated approach for managing the nexus through AI technologies to meet sustainable and responsible business models. The gap between research and policy making could be filled by combining scientific data and policy needs with inclusive tools that are technically viable for sustainable resource utilization

Localizationof the 5S and 45S rDNA sites and CPDNA sequence analysis in species of the quadrifaria group of Paspalum (Poaceae, Panicae).

The Quadrifaria group of Paspalum (Poaceae, Paniceae) comprises species native to the subtropical and temperate regions of South America. The purpose of this research was to characterize the I genomes in five species of this group and to establish phylogenetic relationships among them. Prometaphase chromatin condensation patterns, the physical location of 5S and 45S rDNA sites by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and sequences of five chloroplast non-coding regions were analysed. The condensation patterns observed were highly conserved among diploid and tetraploid accessions studied and not influenced by the dyes used or by the FISH procedure, allowing the identification of almost all the chromosome pairs that carried the rDNA signals. The FISH analysis of 5S rDNA sites showed the same localization and a correspondence between the number of sites and ploidy level. In contrast, the distribution of 45S rDNA sites was variable. Two general patterns were observed with respect to the location of the 45S rDNA. The species and cytotypes Paspalum haumanii 2x, P. intermedium 2x, P. quadrifarium 4x and P. exaltatum 4x showed proximal sites on chromosome 8 and two to four distal sites in other chromosomes, while P. quarinii 4x and P. quadrifarium 2x showed only distal sites located on a variable number of small chromosomes and on the long arm of chromosome 1. The single most-parsimonious tree found from the phylogenetic analysis showed the Quadrifaria species partitioned in two clades, one of them includes P. haumanii 2x and P. intermedium 2x together with P. quadrifarium 4x and P. exaltatum 4x, while the other contains P. quadrifarium 2x and P. quarinii 4x. The subdivision found with FISH is consistent with the clades recovered with cpDNA data and both analyses suggest that the Quadrifaria group, as presently defined, is not monophyletic and its species belong in at least two clades

Investigation on rooting ability of twenty olive cultivars from Southern Italy

The effects of two different types of auxins (660 ppm alpha-naph-thaleneacetic acid - NAA - in liquid solution or 750 ppm alpha-naphthaleneac- etamide - NAD - dispersed in a talcum powder) and cuttings from three differ- ent portions of the shoots (basal, middle and apical) on the rooting ability of twenty autochthonous olive cultivars were investigated in two growing seasons (spring and autumn). The results showed that the autochthonous olive cultivars of the Campania Region are characterized by a wide variability in the potential rhizogenic ability. The two periods of cutting collection (March and September) significantly affected the rooting aptitude of the cultivars, indicating that in some cultivars the cuttings collected in autumn had a higher rooting rate than those collected in spring. The effects of NAA and NAD on rooting strongly depended on interaction with the cultivar, time of collection (autumn or spring) and type of cuttings (basal, medium or apical). Among the twenty cultivars tested, we found only eight cultivars with a satisfactory rooting ability after hor- monal applications (Ortolana, Racioppella, Tenacella, Tonda, Biancolilla, Carpellese, Cornia and Pisciottana). In general, the apical and the median portions of the shoots gave the best rooting results.

Mechanical harvesting of oil olives by trunk shaker with a reversed umbrella interceptor

Trunk shakers are primarily used for the mechanical harvesting of oil olives in intensive orchards. The objective of this trial was to determine the efficiency of mechanical harvesting of olives with a self-propelled trunk shaker with a reversed umbrella interceptor (model F3, SICMA, Catanzaro, Italy), from adult trees of two autochthonous cultivars, ‘Ortice’ and ‘Ortolana’, growing in southern Italy with 6 × 6 m spacing and trained to the vase system. The main characteristics of the trunk shaker were: an engine power of 77 Kw (105 CV), a very-high-frequency vibrating head (1800-2000 vibrations/min), a self-braking system and a 6-meter diameter umbrella opening. The worksite consisted of two workers, one for maneuvering the harvesting machine, and the other for handling the olives. Mechanical harvesting was carried on 30 November 2006 when the fruits of ‘Ortice’ and ‘Ortolana’ had a weight and detachment force around 2.8 g and 3.1 N and 3.8 g and 4.6 N, respectively, and the fruit drop was around 14% and 10%, respectively. Both cultivars had a good production (26.06 and 21.18 kg/tree). The mechanical harvesting yield (percentage of mechanically harvested olives) was very high, reaching values around 97% in both cultivars. Moreover, the low number of workers, the reduced time for the operation (2.5 min/tree), the good yield/tree and the high quantity of harvested fruit allowed a very high work productivity to be obtained: around 302 kg/h/worker for ‘Ortice’ and 246 kg/h/worker for ‘Ortolana’. The quality of the oils extracted from the harvested olives met the requirements set by European law for extra virgin olive oils. The results indicate that the use of a trunk shaker with a reversed umbrella can be an efficient solution for mechanical harvesting of the ‘Ortice’ and ‘Ortolana’ cultivars in southern Italy

Chemical Composition of PM10 at Urban Sites in Naples (Italy)

Here, we report the chemical characterization and identification of the possible sources of particulate matter (fraction PM10) at two different sites in Naples. PM10 concentration and its chemicalcompositionwerestudiedusingthecrustalenrichmentfactor(EF)andprincipalcomponent analysis (PCA). In all of the seasons, the PM10 levels, were significantly higher (p 0.8) was obtained between reconstructed mass and gravimetric mass. PCA analysis explained 76% and 79% of the variance in NA01 and NA02, respectively. The emission sources were the same for both sites; but, the location of the site, the different distances from the sources and the presence and absence of vegetation proved the different concentrations and compositions of PM10

Contrasting patterns of the 5S and 45S rDNA evolutions in the Byblis liniflora complex (Byblidaceae)

To clarify the evolutionary dynamics of ribosomal RNA genes (rDNAs) in the Byblis liniflora complex (Byblidaceae), we investigated the 5S and 45S rDNA genes through (1) chromosomal physical mapping by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and (2) phylogenetic analyses using the nontranscribed spacer of 5S rDNA (5S-NTS) and the internal transcribed spacer of 45S rDNA (ITS). In addition, we performed phylogenetic analyses based on rbcL and trnK intron. The complex was divided into 2 clades: B. aquatica–B. filifolia and B. guehoi–B. liniflora–B. rorida. Although members of the complex had conservative symmetric karyotypes, they were clearly differentiated on chromosomal rDNA distribution patterns. The sequence data indicated that ITS was almost homogeneous in all taxa in which two or four 45S rDNA arrays were frequently found at distal regions of chromosomes in the somatic karyotype. ITS homogenization could have been prompted by relatively distal 45S rDNA positions. In contrast, 2–12 5S rDNA arrays were mapped onto proximal/interstitial regions of chromosomes, and some paralogous 5S-NTS were found in the genomes harboring 4 or more arrays. 5S-NTS sequence type-specific FISH analysis showed sequence heterogeneity within and between some 5S rDNA arrays. Interlocus homogenization may have been hampered by their proximal location on chromosomes. Chromosomal location may have affected the contrasting evolutionary dynamics of rDNAs in the B. liniflora complex

Desempenho de macieiras 'Imperial Gala' e 'Mishima Fuji' em diferentes porta-enxertos

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes porta-enxertos no desempenho das cultivares de macieira (Malus domestica) Imperial Gala e Mishima Fuji. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. Utilizaram-se os porta-enxertos CG.969, CG.874, CG.210, CG.56, CG.008, JM.2 e JM.7, além da combinação de Marubakaido com interenxerto de M.9 (Marubakaido/M.9). Avaliaram-se as variáveis: produção por planta, produtividade, número de frutos por planta, massa de fruto, área da seção transversal do tronco, sólidos solúveis, firmeza do fruto e índice iodo-amido. A produtividade de ambas as cultivares foi maior com os porta-enxertos Marubakaido/M.9, JM.2, CG.008, CG.874, CG.210 e CG.56. Além disso, os porta-enxertos CG.008, CG.874, CG.210 e CG.56 reduzem o vigor da cultivar-copa, mas sem reduzir a produtividade. O teor de sólidos solúveis dos frutos é maior quando se utilizam porta-enxertos menos vigorosos