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BACKGROUND: Different thermoplastic starch (TPS) films were prepared with or without the addition of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) obtained via the melt‐extrusion method, and then the hot‐press method was used to produce environmentally friendly TPS‐based film/paper composites to replace petroleum‐based materials. RESULTS: The paper–plastic composites exhibited good interfacial adhesion from the scannign elctron microscopy images. It was seen that 5 wt.% MCC was added to reinforce the mechanical properties of TPS films, such that it also improved the barrier properties of MCC@TPS/paper composites and extended the path of water vapor through TPS films, which decreased the water vapor transmission rate of MCC@TPS/paper composites. TPS/paper composites and MCC@TPS/paper composites have better physical properties (i.e. smoothness, flexibility and folding resistance) than only paper. In particular, it was found that the water contact angle of MCC@TPS/paper composites and TPS/paper composites were higher than single‐layer paper. Furthermore, MCC reinforced paper–plastic composites demonstrated good barrier properties which can meet the requirement of the need for lower water sensitive materials in the food packaging industry. CONCLUSION: Thermoplastic corn starch‐based film/paper composites have good application properties as a potential source of bioplastic materials. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a paper‐based electrochemical aptamer sensor was developed for the detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) using a combination of MXene–Ti3C2Tx and nucleic acid aptamers. The prepared single‐layer or few‐layer MXene suspension is suction‐filtered onto MXene paper, which is cut to prepare MXene electrodes. To accomplish AFB1 specific detection, an amino‐labeled AFB1 aptamer is mounted on the surface of the carboxy‐functionalized MXene electrode. When AFB1 is present, it particularly binds to the aptamer to form a 3D structure, reducing the efficiency of electron transmission on the sensor surface. The difference in impedance signal change at the electrode/electrolyte interface is used to quantify AFB1. The results indicated that the detection range is 0.05–100 ng/mL, the detection limit is 0.04 ng/mL, and the recovery rate of AFB1 in corn samples is 97.8%–111.52% with the optimal detection conditions. The MXene paper‐based label‐free aptasensor is versatile and can detect different targets by simply swapping out the aptamers of different targets. The sensor also has a wide range of applications in food analysis and environmental testing. Practical applications: A paper‐based electrochemical aptamer sensor was developed to detect aflatoxin B1 using a combination of MXene–Ti3C2Tx and nucleic acid aptamers.The design is based on the preparation of MXene electrodes by pumping and filtering monolayer or multilayer MXene suspensions onto MXene paper and cutting.The MXene paper‐based label‐free aptamer sensor was designed to be versatile, allowing the detection of different targets by simply replacing the aptamer with one from a different targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to evaluate information quality processes and text mining methods that can be used to improve the extraction of numerical information from scientific articles about the commodity agricultural crop corn. Specifically, this paper focuses on extraction of crude protein content of corn, an important special case illuminating the general problem.

Maize stem sculptures, produced during the 16th and 17th centuries in New Spain (today, Mexico) are a clear example of the convergence of the artistic traditions from the American indigenous populations and European influence. This typology of sculptures is not limited to the Americas, as the examples found in European countries have shown. Therefore, a detailed technological investigation is required to correctly classify them. This work presents the interdisciplinary and multianalytical investigation of a 16th-century sculpture made with a maize stem preserved in Guadalajara city, Mexico. We used a set of techniques, such as CT, SEM-EDX, µ-FTIR, and µ-Raman, to study, from a macro to a micro level, the structure, the polychromy, and the modification of the sculpture. The results showed the use of maize stems, paper, and wood in the construction of the sculpture and the use of the traditional polychromy, as well as the numerous modifications that changed its appearance considerably resulting in its misclassification. We were able to associate the statue with the Cortés workshop (Mexico City region), probably produced in the decade of 1580, and track its liturgical use and historical development through the centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Maize varieties that are rich in carotenoids have been developed to combat vitamin A deficiency in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, after harvest, carotenoids degrade and off‐flavor volatiles develop, which affect nutrient intake and consumer acceptance. This study evaluated carotenoid retention and aroma compound stability in provitamin A biofortified maize, variety Pool 8A, as influenced by dry milling and storage in different packaging and temperature conditions. RESULTS: The lowest amount of total carotenoids was found in flour stored in laminated paper bags at 37 °C (only 16% retention after 180 days), attributable to the high storage temperature and oxygen permeability of the packaging material. No significant effect on carotenoid degradation was found for dry milling, either by rotor mill or freezer mill, but the formation of volatile compounds was significantly (P < 0.05) affected. Volatile compounds such as hexanal, 2‐pentylfuran, 1‐propanol, 2‐heptanone, butyrolactone, limonene, and hexanoic acid were found in different proportions after milling. The highest concentration of hexanal was in flour milled by rotor mill or freezer mill, and stored in laminated paper bags at 37 °C after 180 days, and the lowest concentrations were for flour in aluminium bags and double‐layered polyethylene bags stored at 4 °C. CONCLUSION: Maize flour stored in double‐layered polyethylene bags had the highest carotenoid retention and aroma stability. Importantly, the use of these bags is economically feasible in low‐income countries. Overall, our results show that effective control of storage conditions is crucial to prevent carotenoid loss and decrease off‐odor formation. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the applications of fast breeding technologies in crop improvement and functional genomics studies. These technologies, including molecular selection, gene mapping, haploid induction, and genome editing, have greatly expedited the process of modifying crop traits and mapping genes. Examples of these technologies being used include the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to modify crop traits and the development of new haploid inducer lines in various plants. The article also highlights specific research papers on genetic improvement in melon, potato, wheat, rice, and tomato crops using these technologies. Additionally, the document discusses various research papers in the field of plant science, covering topics such as stress tolerance in tomatoes, doubled haploid plants in maize and wheat, and gene exploration in different crops. These papers provide valuable insights into breeding materials, marker development, and the cloning of new genes, contributing to the development of new germplasms and varieties in crops. [Extracted from the article]

The sludge, which is produced from wastewater treatment facilities features concentration of harmful substances, including heavy metals. Therefore, before being used in agriculture, it is necessary to process the sludge in order to meet the requirements of the regulation concerning sludge utilization. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of growing corn using sewage sludge from the paper industry. A two-year experiment was performed with „Kneja 613“variety, which was grown in the field and fertilized by WWTP sludge, two standards - 1000 and 1500 kg/dka. The experiment was displayed on alluvial soil near the town of Stamboliyski (Southern Bulgaria). The following properties were monitored: germination, third and fourth leaves growth phase, phase of fifth and sixth leaves growth, stem thickness, number of the cobs and cob length. The results indicate the dependence of the amount of the deposited precipitate. The growth and development of plants grown at fertilization with 1500 kg/dka sludge showed much higher values of biometric properties than the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seedling picking is important in corn transplantation and can directly influence the efficiency of transplanters. To avoid high injury rate caused by the seedling picking system to separate seedlings and the pot, a pot separator that can cooperate with tube transplanters was designed. First, design requirements of the pot separator were proposed according to corn transplantation demands and the characteristics of the paper pot. Second, based on the transplantation technology of paper potted cultivation, 35-day potted corn seedlings were chosen as test materials. Finally, the cutting characteristics of the paper pot were experimentally studied using a home-made cutting device and a microcomputer control electronic universal testing machine. Results showed that soil with 60%-67% soil moisture content is more suitable for potted corn seedlings. Single paper pot cutting in the shearing mode had the highest integrity and the damage rate was lower than 5%. The conditions to obtain the minimum cutting force of the paper pot were: 63%-67% soil moisture content, 500 mm/min cutting speed, and 30° cutting angle. The cutting force decreased with the increase of soil moisture content, and the maximum cutting force decreased with the increase of cutting speed. Research results provide reference for future optimization of the pot separator and are significant for promoting the development of fully automated corn transplanters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alongside wheat, maize is one of the most important species of cereals used for food and feed as well as in the bioethanol industry. As a result of this fact, maize is today the spotlight of many researchers, constantly trying to increase the productivity of this species, particularly important i from the economic point of view. The main aim of this article is to investigate the efficiency of the Blidar type filter-paper bridges (BFPB) in initiating the maize in vitro cultures for liquid culture media, in comparison with the conventional agarized culture media - solid culture media. In these experiments a modified Murashige-Skoog culture media (1962) (free of AIA and amino acids) supplemented or not with agar, were used. The inocula consisted in caryopsis of Zea mays L. (hybrid Kiskun 4255) and based on the results of these experiments it can be underlined that growth increases for the cultivated vitroplants on liquid culture media provided with filter-paper bridges compared with those conventianlly cultivated on an agarized culture media, as following 5.34% for dry weight and 356.09% for leafs length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sludge which are produced from waste-water treatment facilities represent a serious environmental problem in terms of their storage. However, they also represent an organic reserve, biomass rich in macro and micronutrients for soils. Thus, sludge could be used to recover the balance of organic matter in soils. We aimed in the present study to determine the influence of sludge produced from a pulp factory on the development of mays (Zea mays) in laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new method for detection of Fumonisin B1 mycotoxin in real maize samples. • The method consisted combine MIP membrane and PSI-MS for mycotoxin analysis. • The method exhibits a low detection limit (22.0 μg L-1) and good recoveries (98–105.5%). • A fast and straightforward way determined fumonisin B1 in maize-based products. Fumonisin B 1 (FB 1) is the most abundant and important mycotoxin for agriculture, food, and health among all fumonisins due to its widespread presence and toxicity. This compound is a concern for industries involving maize and maize-based products. This study proposes a new approach using molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) combined with paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PSI-MS) to enhance the sensitivity of analysis of FB 1 in maize samples. MIP was synthesized directly on a cellulose membrane using 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid as a template molecule. The analytical performance of MIP-PSI-MS provided a linear calibration curve with R2>0.99. Precision and accuracy were less than 5.5 % for all analyses. Finally, the MIP-PSI-MS method was applied to quantify the contents of FB 1 in commercial maize samples, and 0.439 ± 0.060 and 0.486 ± 0.061 μg mL−1 were found in two samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely used for sterilization due to their broad-spectrum bactericidal properties. However, there exist the problems of premature releasing and accumulative toxicity when free AgNPs are applied. This study proposed a one-pot hydrothermal strategy to synthesize carbon spheres immobilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs@CS). The synthesis involves with silver ammonia solution as Ag precursor, and corn stalk as green reducing agent and carbon precursor. Furthermore, AgNPs@CS was anchored by cellulose nanofibers (CNF) to obtain the antibacterial composite paper. The obtained CNF/AgNPs@CS paper exhibited superior antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus. Notably, the accumulative release rate of AgNPs from AgNPs@CS was 10.2% in 9 days, while that from CNF/AgNPs@CS paper was only 6.7% due to the anchoring effect of both CS and CNF, which was low for avoiding the cumulative toxicity problem. In addition, the mechanical and barrier properties of CNF/AgNPs@CS paper were also improved by 29.4% (tensile index), 2.7% (tear index), 7.4% (burst index), 10% (folding endurance), 0.8% (water vapor transmission) and 9.4% (oxygen transmission rate), respectively. Therefore, the composite paper has potential application as a medical antibacterial material. • AgNPs were synthesized in carbon sphere (CS) by one-pot hydrothermal strategy. • AgNPs@CS were further immobilized by cellulose nanofibers to obtain composite paper. • The accumulative release rate of AgNPs from composite paper was low and safe. • The composite papers exhibited excellent antibacterial properties on E. coli and S. aureus. • The composite paper showed satisfactory mechanical and barrier properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of maize diseases is frequent but challenging to manage. Traditional identification methods have low accuracy and complex model structures with numerous parameters, making them difficult to implement on mobile devices. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a corn leaf disease recognition model SNMPF based on convolutional neural network ShuffleNetV2. In the down-sampling module of the ShuffleNet model, the max pooling layer replaces the deep convolutional layer to perform down-sampling. This improvement helps to extract key features from images, reduce the overfitting of the model, and improve the model's generalization ability. In addition, to enhance the model's ability to express features in complex backgrounds, the Sim AM attention mechanism was introduced. This mechanism enables the model to adaptively adjust focus and pay more attention to local discriminative features. The results on a maize disease image dataset demonstrate that the SNMPF model achieves a recognition accuracy of 98.40%, representing a 4.1 percentage point improvement over the original model, while its size is only 1.56 MB. Compared with existing convolutional neural network models such as EfficientNet, MobileViT, EfficientNetV2, RegNet, and DenseNet, this model offers higher accuracy and a more compact size. As a result, it can automatically detect and classify maize leaf diseases under natural field conditions, boasting high-precision recognition capabilities. Its accurate identification results provide scientific guidance for preventing corn leaf disease and promote the development of precision agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: China is the largest producer, consumer, and trader of grain. Changes in China's agricultural policies will affect global food trade and thus impact food security. In this paper, we use China's maize subsidy system reform (MSSR) as a quasi-natural experiment to investigate the impact of marketoriented reforms in price support policy on the productivity of grain. Methods: We use official Chinese government panel data on farm households and a PSM-DID model to overcome the endogeneity problem of policy change. Results and discussion: The empirical results show that MSSR can increase maize productivity. The MSSR is divided into two phases: eliminating the maize purchase price and implementing maize producer subsidies. The policy effect of eliminating the purchase price exceeds the implementation of producer subsidies. Further analysis reveals that for farmers with a larger scale of cultivation, higher level of specialization, and higher degree of part-time employment, the MSSR enhances their productivity more significantly. In the high quartile, the MSSR reduces farmers' productivity. In the low quartile, the MSSR raises farmers' productivity, suggesting that the MSSR reduces the productivity differences among farmers. The results of our study suggest that market-based reform of price subsidies is an effective institutional arrangement to mitigate resource mismatch and increase food productivity, and point to the need to continue to improve the MSSR, explore diversified maize producer subsidy policies, and take into account the impact of other subsidies on farmers' maize production behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]