Bioprospecting Desert Plants for Endophytic and Biostimulant Microbes: A Strategy for Enhancing Agricultural Production in a Hotter, Drier Future

Deserts are challenging places for plants to survive in due to low nutrient availability, drought and heat stress, water stress, and herbivory. Endophytes—microbes that colonize and infect plant tissues without causing apparent disease—may contribute to plant success in such harsh environments. Current knowledge of desert plant endophytes is limited, but studies performed so far reveal that they can improve host nutrient acquisition, increase host tolerance to abiotic stresses, and increase host resistance to biotic stresses. When considered in combination with their broad host range and high colonization rate, there is great potential for desert endophytes to be used in a commercial agricultural setting, especially as croplands face more frequent and severe droughts due to climate change and as the agricultural industry faces mounting pressure to break away from agrochemicals towards more environmentally friendly alternatives. Much is still unknown about desert endophytes, but future studies may prove fruitful for the discovery of new endophyte-based biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, and abiotic stress relievers of crops.

Maize Tassel Detection From UAV Imagery Using Deep Learning

The timing of flowering plays a critical role in determining the productivity of agricultural crops. If the crops flower too early, the crop would mature before the end of the growing season, losing the opportunity to capture and use large amounts of light energy. If the crops flower too late, the crop may be killed by the change of seasons before it is ready to harvest. Maize flowering is one of the most important periods where even small amounts of stress can significantly alter yield. In this work, we developed and compared two methods for automatic tassel detection based on the imagery collected from an unmanned aerial vehicle, using deep learning models. The first approach was a customized framework for tassel detection based on convolutional neural network (TD-CNN). The other method was a state-of-the-art object detection technique of the faster region-based CNN (Faster R-CNN), serving as baseline detection accuracy. The evaluation criteria for tassel detection were customized to correctly reflect the needs of tassel detection in an agricultural setting. Although detecting thin tassels in the aerial imagery is challenging, our results showed promising accuracy: the TD-CNN had an F1 score of 95.9% and the Faster R-CNN had 97.9% F1 score. More CNN-based model structures can be investigated in the future for improved accuracy, speed, and generalizability on aerial-based tassel detection.

Membrane Disruption Properties of Essential Oils—A Double-Edged Sword?

The emerging literature has suggested essential oils (EOs) as new possible weapons to fight antimicrobial resistance due to their inherent antimicrobial properties. However, the potential pharmaceutical use of EOs is confronted by several limitations, including being non-specific in terms of drug targeting, possessing a high cytotoxicity as well as posing a high risk for causing skin irritation. Furthermore, some EOs have been demonstrated to adversely affect the cellular lipid profiles and permeability of the cell membrane, which may result in undesirable outcomes for the cells. Nevertheless, owing to their naturally complex compositions, EOs still hold undiscovered potential to mitigate antimicrobial resistance, as an alternative to existing antibiotics. To address the issue of overuse in antibiotics for crops which have led to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance globally, EOs have also been proposed as potential biopesticides. Since the perceived advantages of antimicrobial attributes in EOs remain largely unexplored, this review aims to provide a discourse into its current practical usefulness in the agricultural setting. Finally, updated bioengineering techniques with emphasis of the biopesticide potential of EOs as a means to alleviate antimicrobial resistance will be included.

Didymo and Its Polysaccharide Stalks: Beneficial to the Environment or Not?

Didymosphenia geminata diatoms, or Didymo, was first found to be an invasive species that could have negative impacts on the environment due to the aggressive growth of its polysaccharide-based stalks. The stalks’ adhesive properties have prompted park officials to alert the general public to limit further spread and contamination of this algae to other bodies of water. Although the negative effects of Didymo have been studied in the past, recent studies have demonstrated a potential positive side to this alga. One of the potential benefits includes the structural component of the polysaccharide stalks. The origin of the polysaccharides within stalks remains unknown; however, they can be useful in a waste management and agricultural setting. The primary purpose of this study was to describe both the harmful and beneficial nature of Didymo. Important outcomes include findings related to its application in various fields such as medicine and technology. These polysaccharides can be isolated and studied closely to produce efficient solar power cells and batteries. Though they may be harmful while uncontained in nature, they appear to be very useful in the technological and medical advancement of our society.

COVID-19 outbreak among temporary foreign workers in British Columbia, March to May 2020

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, temporary foreign workers (TFWs) provided a critical role to maintaining the food supply in Canada, yet workers faced a number of challenges that made them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological investigation and public health response to a COVID-19 outbreak among TFWs in an agricultural setting in British Columbia from March to May 2020. Methods: An outbreak was declared on March 28, 2020 following detection of two cases of COVID-19 among a group of 63 TFWs employed by a nursery and garden centre. Outbreak control measures included immediate isolation of cases, case finding via outreach screening and testing, cohorting of asymptomatic workers and enhanced cleaning and disinfection. The outbreak was declared over on May 10, 2020. Results: A total of 26 COVID-19 cases were identified among the group of TFWs; no cases were identified among local workers. Cases were primarily male (77%) with a median age of 41 years. Symptom onsets ranged from March 8 to April 9, 2020. One case required overnight hospitalization for pneumonia. Conclusion: This was the first COVID-19 community outbreak identified in British Columbia and the first COVID-19 outbreak identified among TFWs in Canada. This outbreak began prior to implementation of provincial and federal quarantine orders for international travellers. A provincial policy was later developed that requires TFWs to quarantine in government-funded accommodation prior to deployment to agricultural settings.

Assessment of the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a baby-friendly workplace support initiative in rural Kenya: a study protocol

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Employment poses a barrier in achieving the World Health Organization’s recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Effective strategies and evidence to improve breastfeeding for women working in the agricultural sector – the main employer for women in Kenya – is lacking. This study aimed to inform (with evidence) the design and implementation of a scalable model of workplace support for breastfeeding in an agricultural setting in Kenya; as well as investigated the model’s potential operational feasibility and potential effectiveness, and its cost-effectiveness.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study employed a mixed methods approach and participatory methods at the pre-implementation, implementation and post-implementation phases. The pre-implementation phase generated evidence to inform the implementation. Mothers with children under 12 months were interviewed at the pre-implementation (2016) and post-implementation (2018) phase. Managers, supervisors, decision and policy makers, as well as other community members were also targeted. Statistical methods will include analysis of covariance and logistic regression. Additionally, cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses will be done. Qualitative data will be analysed <em>in vivo</em>, using thematic analysis technique.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings from this study aimed to inform the potential feasibility and potential effectiveness of a baby-friendly workplace support for breastfeeding initiative in an agricultural setting with a goal of improving child nutrition and health. The findings also contribute to policy and practice in Kenya by informing the development of workplace support guidelines.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Trial Registration:</strong> ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN 64692465; date of registration: 21 December 2016 – retrospectively registered, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN64692465.</p>

Mesothelioma in Agriculture in Lombardy, Italy: An Unrecognized Risk

Cohort studies showed consistently low risks for malignant mesothelioma (MM) among agricultural workers, however the investigated exposures did not include asbestos. Our aim is to describe sources of asbestos exposure of MM in agriculture. Twenty-six MM cases in agricultural or seed trades workers were identified through the MM registry of the Lombardy region, Italy in 2000–2016. Asbestos exposures were investigated through a standardized questionnaire. The most frequent exposure circumstances were recycled jute bags previously containing asbestos (11 cases) and maintenance and repair of asbestos roofs (12 subjects). Three subjects performed maintenance and repair of tractor asbestos brakes and two used asbestos filters for wine production. Our data suggest asbestos exposure opportunities in the agricultural setting, underlining the need to look for this exposure in subjects affected with mesothelioma.

Addressing organizational climate can potentially reduce sexual harassment of female agricultural workers in California

Workplace sexual harassment (SH) has been highlighted as a key issue for female agricultural workers in the United States. This study investigated how workers' descriptive data (age, job experience, attitudes) and specific organizational variables (how work crews are structured) potentially facilitate SH in an agricultural setting. Harassment was reported by 30% of surveyed female viticulture workers in their current jobs. Harassed women tended to be younger, employed seasonally and working in crews where hostile sexist views were prevalent. Harassment affected worker productivity; harassed women and their male co-workers were less satisfied with their jobs and more likely to seek other employment. Efforts to address SH by restructuring at the level of the field crew may be ineffective. Instead, addressing workers' hostile sexist attitudes and the extent to which an organization tolerates SH appears to have the most promise for reducing SH in agricultural industries.

Child Health Problems in Agricultural Setting

Besuki Residency well known at agricultural feld. Child and infant mortality in this area is high. Child healthproblems of agricultural-oriented at Besuki Residency no one has research yet. This research uses quantitativemethods that are retrospectives that include child health problems since 2017 until 2018. Quantitative methodis used to collect data on patient characteristics (gender, disease, nursing problems, and age criteria) and illnessto the children’s disease based on agricultural that arise due to activities or agricultural climate. The sampleincluded 807 children at seven hospital scattered in several residency areas using quota sampling technic. Dataanalysis uses confrmatory factor analyze (CFA), with parameter data estimation uses analysis of momentstructures. The result of p-values for health problems to gender = 0.033 (p<0.05), health problems to disease= 0.008 (p<0.05), health problems to nursing problems = 0.000 (p<0.05), health problems to age criteria =0.000 (p<0.05). Fit model value indicates that the model is perfect ft. Child health problems, especially such aspneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria in the agricultural area with an agricultural perspective in the Besuki Residencycan affect gender, disease, nursing problems, and age criteria. So that these health problems require specifchealth interventions or programs according to the characteristics of gender, disease, nursing problems, and agecriteria. The nurse should have a mapping of nursing problems and special agriculture-oriented interventions.

Improving of economic mechanism for regulating the system of land mortgage lending

Land-mortgage crediting as an instrument of attracting investments is widely used in the most developed market countries, however in Ukraine the marked type of crediting is on the stage of becoming. A study of question of land-mortgage crediting of agriculture is extraordinarily actual today, as a creation of its integral system gives an opportunity to the agricultural commodity producers to extend a production by means of recreation of material and technical base, technological reequipment due to the mortgage loans and to accelerate turnover of capital and to get an additional profit. On the results of the conducted study the chart of functioning of financial economic instrument of land-mortgage crediting is offered. It is proved that the efficiency of introduction of system of these instruments, as components of a corresponding mechanism of providing the balanced land-use in the field of agroproduction needs the promotion of market turnover of plot of lands of the agricultural setting. The model of system of a mortgage crediting on the security land is offered that provides the transmission of financial resources at the mortgage market from creditors to the borrowers on the security land with an active participation of infrastructural elements. It is substantiated that at the terms of introduction a market of agricultural land, it becomes not only the factor of production but also a motive force of economic development due to the influence on forming the system of financial economic relations and the system of land-mortgage crediting. The State joint-stock land (mortgage) bank must become the central link of the system of land-mortgage crediting. Measures for the increasing the efficiency of use of land of the agricultural setting must be conducted in a complex with the improvement of financial-credit mechanism.