Toward Smart Soil Sensing in v4.0 Agriculture: A New Single-Shape Sensor for Capacitive Moisture and Salinity Measurements

Modern agriculture imposes the need for better knowledge of the soil moisture content to rationalize the amount of water needed to irrigate farmlands. In this context, since current technological solutions do not correspond to the cost or use criteria, this paper presents a design for a new original capacitive bi-functional sensor to measure soil moisture and salinity. In this paper, we outline the design stages from simulation to finished elements of the optimal design to deployment in the fields, considering the mechanical integration constraints necessary for industrialization. The measurement electronics were developed based on the sensor’s electric model to obtain a double measurement. An on-site (field lot) measurement program was then carried out to validate the system’s good performance in real-time. Finally, this performance was matched with that of leading commercially available sensors on the market. This work demonstrates that, after deployment of the sensors, the overall system makes it possible to obtain a precise image of cultivated soil’s hydric condition, with the best response time.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial condition of students in Poland and Ukraine

The article presents the results of research on psychosocial condition among Polish and Ukrainian students during the quarantine. The aim of the research was to verify the impact of the pandemic and its accompanying phenomena on the well-being of youth. In order to achieve this goal, the CAWI on-line survey method with double measurement was used. The first measurement carried out at the beginning of the quarantine resulted in 3659 filled out surveys in Poland and 739 in Ukraine. The second measurement conducted at the end of distance learning brought 1978 filled out surveys in Poland and 411 in Ukraine. The results of research indicate that the quarantine had a negative impact on the psychosocial condition of youth. The deterioration of emotional condition and the increase in mental disorders has been observed. Due to the pandemic and distance learning, the mental health of youth deteriorated significantly. Polish youth were negatively influenced by the pandemic to a greater extent than young Ukrainians.

Blood Pressure and Geometry of the Left Ventricle in Power Sports Athletes of Heavy Weight Categories

To research blood pressure and heart geometry in power sports athletes of heavy weight categories. Material and methods 645 representatives of the power sports (weightlifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding) having sports qualification of CMS, MS, IMS with the average body weight of 102.7 ± 6.4kg were examined. Everything to the examined athletes along with survey carried out the standard electrocardiogram of rest, double measurement of the ABP, a transthoracic echocardiography. Results A survey of 645 athletes of power sports of heavy weight categories showed that 238 (37%) athletes have high blood pressure (systolic blood pressure-157.4 ± 5.6, diastolic blood pressure-91.2 ± 5.3) and violation of left ventricular geometry. Reliably in hypertensive athletes, compared with normotensive athletes, the following heart parameters were increased: TIS by 0.1mm (p<0.01), TPWLV by 0.2mm <0.01), DRV by 4.2mm (p<0.01), LVMM by 32.2g (p<0.01), LVMI by 17.8g/m2 (p<0.01), RWTLV by 0.08mm (p<0.01). And also in the group of hypertensive athletes there was a significantly lower EDD by 0.2mm (p<0.05). Conclusion Thus, the patterns obtained in relation to associations of blood pressure and disorders of heart geometry of athletes of power sports, heavy weight categories, it may be implemented in prevention programs in future with priority focus on the "risk-bearing" groups of men.

A RE-Based Double Measurement Method for Unknown Rotor Profile of Screw Compressor

An accurate and efficient measurement for unknown rotor profile of screw compressor has been a nodus in the field of coordinate measuring machine (CMM) measurement because of its complexity of 3D helical surface, whose normal vectors vary with different measured points, while conventional 2D measuring methods have the inevitable radius compensation. If measured points and corresponding normal vectors are known, a 3D radius compensation then could be applied without a theoretical error. In this paper, a double-measurement method based on Reverse Engineering (RE) is proposed to solve this problem. The first measurement focused on constructing a 3D CAD model as accurate as possible. So, according to the structure characteristics of the unknown rotor, a reasonable WCS is established firstly. Then a DRCH method is presented to eliminate the outliers of measured points. Finally, an indirect method is presented to measure the screw pitch with projection and transformation of measured point sets. In second section, a 3D measurement is planned by DIMS language with setting measured points and corresponding normal vectors, which are calculated according to 3D CAD model constructed in first section. Final experimental analysis indicates that measuring accuracy with this double-measurement method is improved greatly.