Evaluation of lignin content of soybean seed coat stored in a controlled environment

Breeding soybean for high seed quality is an important approach for developing cultivars for tropical regions, and the lignin content in the seed coat is one of the screening parameters for this trait. Considering that many breeding lines are evaluated in each growing season using the presently recommended method for lignin determination, a long period is required for the evaluation of the whole breeding program. This time limitation may influence lignin content assessment, if lignin is degraded during storage. This research reported was designed to determine whether lignin was degraded in the seed coat of soybean seed cultivars stored for one year in a controlled environment (10°C temperature and 50% air relative humidity). Seeds of 12 selected soybean cultivars that had a range in seed coat lignin content were evaluated. Seeds were hand harvested just after physiological maturity and evaluated for seed coat lignin content at harvest and after one year of storage in a cold room (10°C and 50% RH). The lignin content in seed coats differed significantly among cultivars in both analyses, but for both results the sequence of cultivar classification and the lignin content values of each cultivar did not change. A regression analysis of lignin content at harvest and after one year of storage indicated a direct relationship between both lignin determinations suggesting no differences between the lignin content of each cultivar due to prolonged storage (r² = 0.98***). This indicates that the lignin determination in the soybean seed coat can be performed over a long time period without any bias due to change in its content.

Thermal and moisture content effects on storability and seed dormancy releasing on Brachiaria brizantha cultivars

Brachiaria species normally show a double seed dormancy mechanism, mainly on fresh-harvested seeds, leading to germination percentages lower than those of viability detected by tetrazolium test (TZ) and causing problems as to storage, trading and seed inspection activities. The adoption of the methodology to detect the constants of the viability equation (high storage temperatures and fixed moisture contents) made feasible in this research to isolate the effects of 40, 50 and 65°C on B. brizantha cultivars Marandu, Mulato 1 and Mulato 2 seed dormancy releasing, after storage with moisture contents ranging from 1.9 and 17.8%. Seed samples presented high dormancy levels, detected by TZ and it was complete and partially released by chemical scarification and accelerated ageing test, respectively. No statistical differences were observed as to the speed of germination (T50); however, differences among cultivars were detected as to number of seed per gram. Sorption and desorption isotherm curves were similar for the cultivars. Seed dormancy releasing was better achieved at 40 and 50°C with mc ranging from 7.6 to 10.8%. The temperature of 50°C appears to be adequate for seed dormancy releasing in all mc analyzed. No significant seed dormancy releasing result was observed at 65°C. The cultivar Marandu presented the highest storability throughout the experiment.

Alterations in the lipid and soluble sugar content of melanoxylon brauna seeds during natural and accelerated ageing

The decay of seeds is irreversible and at best can only be delayed by applying techniques that reduce the velocity of the metabolic reactions involved. There is little information on the biochemistry of tropical forest tree seeds related to their storability. It was investigated the influence of the composition of lipids and soluble sugars of two storage compartments, the cotyledons and the embryonic axis, of Melanoxylon brauna Schot. (Leguminosae- Caesalpinioideae), a hardwood known as black brauna, seeds stored at 20 ºC for 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months (natural ageing) and for 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours at 40 ºC (accelerated ageing). The levels of fatty acids and monosaccharides varied differentially in each of the embryo storage compartments. Changes in oligosaccharide levels were similar for both types of ageing, diminishing in both compartments. Ageing can be attributed to the significant decrease of oligosaccharides and the increase of glucose in both types of ageing and both embryo compartments.

Effect of storage period on isoflavone content and physiological quality of conventional and transgenic soybean seeds

The objective in this research was to evaluate the isoflavone content and the physiological quality of seed from conventional and transgenic soybean cultivars before and after 180 days of storage. Twenty one soybean cultivars: CD 202, CD 206, CD 208, CD 213RR, CD 214RR, CD 215, CD 216, CD 217, CD 218, CD 221, BRS 184, BRS 185, BRS 214, BRS 244RR, BRS 245RR, BRS 246RR, BRS 255, BRS 257, BRS 258, BRS 261 and BRS 262, grown in the 2005/2006 crop season, were assayed. The seeds were packed in Kraft paper bags and stored at room temperature under laboratory conditions. Seeds were evaluated with respect to their germination and vigor (first germination count, accelerated aging and tetrazolium test) and their total isoflavone contents and respective aglycon forms (daidzein, genistein and glycitein),glycosides (daidzine, genistine and glycitine) and malonyl conjugates. A completely randomized block design with six replications with the treatments set out within a subplot scheme (21 cultivars x 2 storage periods) was used. The F-test was used to compare means between storage periods and the Scott-Knott test to compare cultivars for each storage period, both with a 95% probability. It was concluded that isoflavone contents differ between cultivars and show a distinct behavior throughout storage.

Plantability and moisture content of naked and pelleted seeds of supersweet (Sh2) corn during cold storage conditions

The supersweet (Sh2) corn seeds have a thin tegument and an irregular shape, which hinder the sowing procedure. As a function of those factors, the significance of using the pelleting process to improve sowing and standardize the stand of plants in the field without the need of thinning within the row is emphasized. Although this technique has already been known for many years, little has been studied on the effect of such procedure on the plantability and on the moisture content of the supersweet corn seeds. Therefore, this research work aimed at evaluating the effects of pelleting on the moisture content of the seeds along the storing process, on the occurrence of gaps on seed deposition and on the dropping of double seeds, with the aid of a testing seeder. Other physical attributes of seeds and pellets were also evaluated through tests of fragmentation, screen retention, mass of a thousand seeds and apparent volume. Results have shown an increase on the mass and on the volume of the pelleted seeds that presented highly resistance to cracks and breaking. The pelleting was efficient on the reduction of gaps and on the deposition of double seeds at sowing, thus providing highly satisfactory results for these attributes. An increase on the seed moisture content was also observed as a function of storage with a significant reduction on this factor after the pelleting procedure. Results allow concluding that the pelleting process reduces seed moisture content and improves plantability, positively affecting the efficiency of the sowing process.

Physiological quality, content and activity of antioxidants in soybean seeds artificially aged

The objective of this study was to evaluate physiological quality, content, and activity of antioxidants, in soybean seeds subjected to accelerated aging during different periods. Seeds of cultivars BRS 258, BRS 262 and BRS 268, subjected to accelerated aging during 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours and non-aged seeds were used. After each aging period, the seed were evaluated by tests of: germination; first count and tetrazolium. The total of phenolic compounds, total flavonoides, total of isoflavones, and activity for eliminating ABTS●+ radicals were quantified. There were differences among cultivars according to vigor and viability only after seeds were aged. Cultivars BRS 158 and BRS 268 have shown better seed physiological quality in each aging period; however, not presenting higher amounts of isoflavones and efficiency in removing free radicals. For all cultivars, the values for total of phenolic compounds, as well as total of flavonoids have shown quadratic positive behavior; the values for isoflavones remained constant and the vigor and viability showed contrary trend to activity of antioxidant agents.

Influence of lignin content in soybean seed coat on the incidence of the storage fungus Aspergillus flavus

Seed quality may be affected by several factors, including permeability, color, and lignin content in the seed coat. This study aimed at evaluating influence of lignin content in the tegument of seed samples of six different soybean cultivars, in which half of each sample was inoculated with the fungus Aspergillus flavus, on the physical and physiological quality, and on the seed health, during 180 days storage period, under cold chamber with controlled conditions of temperature and RH. For that, at each interval of 60 days, samples were removed, and the physiological quality of these seeds was assessed by means of moisture and lignin contents; and by tests of seed health, germination, and electrical conductivity. The moisture content of seeds remained constant during all storage period. In the seed health test, it was found that inoculation was efficient, once the minimum incidence of the fungus in the inoculated seeds was 85%. In the germination test, there was a trend of reduction on percentage germination with the increase in storage period. However, there was an increase on electrical conductivity of seeds assessed. It was concluded that there is no interference of the lignin content in the seed coat on the resistance to infection by the fungus Aspergillus flavus, even after seed storage for a period of 180 days.

The Role of Content Marketing in Company Branding

The purpose of this study is to provide a deep understanding of the concept of content marketing in relation to company branding.

CONSUMER PERCEPTIONS ON A CONTENT-BASED DIGITAL SERVICE. The usage and service quality of Masennusinfo.fi

Kuluttajat käyttävät sisältöpohjaisia digitaalisia palveluita jatkuvasti saadakseen lisää tietoa terveydestään. Samalla he arvioivat käyttämiensä palveluiden laatua. Jotta yritykset voisivat suunnitella ja tarjota parhaita mahdollisia digitaalisia palveluita kuluttajille, yritysten tulisi tunnistaa ja analysoida kuluttajien kokemuksia ja käyttötarkoituksia heidän palveluissaan. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on kuvailla kuluttajien näkemyksiä Masennusinfo.fi:stä, joka on sisältöpohjainen digitaalinen palvelu, ja joka tarjoaa käyttäjilleen tietoa masennuksesta. Päämääränä on selvittää, kuinka kuluttajat kokevat lääkeyrityksen tarjoaman palvelun laadun ja mihin tarkoituksiin sitä käytetään. Tutkimuksen tarkoitus voidaan jakaa kolmeen osa-ongelmaan: • Mihin tarkoituksiin kuluttajat käyttävät sisältöpohjaisia digitaalisia palveluita? • Miten kuluttajat kokevat näiden palveluiden laadun? • Kuinka käyttötarkoitus ja koettu laatu eroavat eri käyttäjäryhmissä? Tutkimus toteutetaan web-pohjaisella kyselytutkimuksella. Mittarit tehdään teoreettisen viitekehyksen pohjalta, joka perustuu aikaisempaan tutkimukseen. Tutkimuksen empiirinen osuus suoritetaan pop-up tutkimuksella, joka sijoitetaan tutkittavalle sivustolle antaen näin kaikille palvelun käyttäjille mahdollisuuden vastata kyselyyn. Tulokset osoittavat, että palvelua käyttävät suurimmaksi osaksi naiset, suhteellisen nuoret 16−29-vuotiaat, tai yli keski-ikäiset 50−65-vuotiaat henkilöt, jotka ovat joko työssäkäyviä tai opiskelijoita ja korkeasti koulutettuja. Masennusinfo.fi nähdään laadukkaana palveluna kaikissa käyttäjäryhmissä sekä sen käytettävyyden että sisällön perusteella. Käyttötarkoituksetkin ovat jokseenkin samankaltaisia eri käyttäjäryhmissä. Yleensä palvelua käytetään tiedon hakemiseen sairauden alkuvaiheessa. Löydöksien perusteella esitetään, että palvelua muokataan vastaamaan yhä paremmin sen käyttötarkoituksia ja tyypillistä käyttäjäprofiilia. Koska muutamia pieniä eroja käyttäjäryhmien näkemyksissä havaittiin, palveluiden tuottaja päättää, minkä ryhmän mieltymyksiä se noudattaa.

Prerequisites for commercialization of tube granulator for fly ash

A large amount of fly ash is produced in power plants and a big fraction of it ends up as waste to landfills. Disposal of fly ash to landfills is expensive for power plants due to for example waste taxation. However fly ash can utilized in different applications. Possibility of utilizing fly ash can be increased by granulation which also removes the dustiness problems of ash. This Thesis deals with the prerequisites for commercialization of a new granulation technique, tube granulation. Tube granulation technique utilizes water, calcium oxide in fly ash plus carbon dioxide and heat from flue gas. This Thesis determines the necessary auxiliary equipment for tube granulation, approaches for process dimensioning and implementation of the granulation process into a continuous power plant process. In addition, the economic benefits of tube granulation are examined from the user’s perspective. A continuous tube granulation process requires the following auxiliary systems to function: ash system, water feed system and flue gas system. Implementation of tube granulation system into a power plant process depends on the specific power plant but a general principle is that fly ash should be obtained to the granulator as fresh as possible and flue gas should be taken from the pressure side of a flue gas fan. Dimensioning of the process can be examined for example in terms of degree of filling and residence time in the granulator or in terms of granule drying. Determining the optimal dimensioning parameters requires pilot tests with the granulator.

Consumer perceptions on a content-based digital service:the usage and service quality of Masennusinfo.fi

Kuluttajat käyttävät sisältöpohjaisia digitaalisia palveluita jatkuvasti saadakseen lisää tietoa terveydestään. Samalla he arvioivat käyttämiensä palveluiden laatua. Jotta yritykset voisivat suunnitella ja tarjota parhaita mahdollisia digitaalisia palveluita kuluttajille, yritysten tulisi tunnistaa ja analysoida kuluttajien kokemuksia ja käyttötarkoituksia heidän palveluissaan. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on kuvailla kuluttajien näkemyksiä Masennusinfo.fi:stä, joka on sisältöpohjainen digitaalinen palvelu, ja joka tarjoaa käyttäjilleen tietoa masennuksesta. Päämääränä on selvittää, kuinka kuluttajat kokevat lääkeyrityksen tarjoaman palvelun laadun ja mihin tarkoituksiin sitä käytetään. Tutkimuksen tarkoitus voidaan jakaa kolmeen osa-ongelmaan: Mihin tarkoituksiin kuluttajat käyttävät sisältöpohjaisia digitaalisia palveluita? Miten kuluttajat kokevat näiden palveluiden laadun? Kuinka käyttötarkoitus ja koettu laatu eroavat eri käyttäjäryhmissä? Tutkimus toteutetaan web-pohjaisella kyselytutkimuksella. Mittarit tehdään teoreettisen viitekehyksen pohjalta, joka perustuu aikaisempaan tutkimukseen. Tutkimuksen empiirinen osuus suoritetaan pop-up tutkimuksella, joka sijoitetaan tutkittavalle sivustolle antaen näin kaikille palvelun käyttäjille mahdollisuuden vastata kyselyyn. Tulokset osoittavat, että palvelua käyttävät suurimmaksi osaksi naiset, suhteellisen nuoret 16−29- vuotiaat, tai yli keski-ikäiset 50−65-vuotiaat henkilöt, jotka ovat joko työssäkäyviä tai opiskelijoita ja korkeasti koulutettuja. Masennusinfo.fi nähdään laadukkaana palveluna kaikissa käyttäjäryhmissä sekä sen käytettävyyden että sisällön perusteella. Käyttötarkoituksetkin ovat jokseenkin samankaltaisia eri käyttäjäryhmissä. Yleensä palvelua käytetään tiedon hakemiseen sairauden alkuvaiheessa. Löydöksien perusteella esitetään, että palvelua muokataan vastaamaan yhä paremmin sen käyttötarkoituksia ja tyypillistä käyttäjäprofiilia. Koska muutamia pieniä eroja käyttäjäryhmien näkemyksissä havaittiin, palveluiden tuottaja päättää, minkä ryhmän mieltymyksiä se noudattaa.

Jätteiden kemiallisten ominaisuuksien spektrometriset online-mittausmenetelmät

Tässä diplomityössä käsiteltiin spektrometrisia online-mittausmenetelmiä jätteiden kemiallisten ja fysikaalisten ominaisuuksien määrittämiseksi. Tavoitteena oli selvittää, mitä ominaisuuksia menetelmillä voidaan mitata ja kuinka luotettavia tuloksia mittauksilla saadaan. Diplomityössä suoritettiin kirjallisuuskatsaus, jossa käsiteltiin kolmen spektrometrisen menetelmän soveltuvuutta reaaliaikaisiin jätemittauksiin. Työn empiirisessä osassa FPXRFanalysaattorilla mitattiin neljän eri jätenäytteen alkuainepitoisuuksia. Mittauksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää, mitä alkuaineita menetelmällä voidaan mitata. FPXRF-analysaattorilla saatuja tuloksia verrattiin ICP-MS-menetelmällä saatuihin tuloksiin regressioanalyysin avulla. Työssä todettiin, että FPXRF-analysaattori sopii parhaiten kaliumin, kalsiumin, ja raudan pitoisuuksien määrittämiseen. Lisäksi lyijyn, sinkin, kromin, kloorin, kuparin, kadmiumin, arseenin, fosforin, molybdeenin ja vanadiinin määrittäminen on mahdollista, mutta tarkan pitoisuuden saamiseksi laboratoriomenetelmien käyttö voi olla tarpeen. Tutkituista jätenäytteistä menetelmä soveltui parhaiten tuhkalle ja kompostille niiden fyysisten ominaisuuksien, kuten homogeenisuuden ja kosteuspitoisuuden takia. Biojätteelle menetelmä soveltui huonosti. FPXRF-analysaattorin luotettavuuteen vaikuttaa näytteen kosteuspitoisuus, homogeenisuus, partikkelikoko, mittaustapa ja laitteen kalibrointi. Työssä tarkastelluilla menetelmillä ei voida tällä hetkellä täysin korvata laboratorioanalyyseja. FPXRF-analysaattoria voidaan kuitenkin käyttää kvalitatiiviseen tai semikvantitatiiviseen haitta-aineiden analysointiin, millä voidaan vähentää kalliiden laboratorioanalyysien tarvetta.

Digital Content Marketing in the Business-to-Business Context. A Case Study on Marketing Communications Agencies.

Marketing has changed because of digitalization. Marketing is moving towards digital channels and more companies are transitioning from “pushing” advertising messages to “pull” marketing, that attracts audience with the content that interests and benefits the audience. This kind of marketing is called content marketing or “inbound” marketing. This study focuses on how marketing communications agencies utilize digital content marketing and what are the best practices with the selected digital content marketing channels. In this study, those channels include blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The qualitative research method was utilized in order to examine the phenomenon of digital content marketing in-depth. The chosen data collecting method was semi-structured interviewing. A total of seven marketing communications agencies, who currently utilize digital content marketing, were selected as case companies and interviewed. All the case companies are from the marketing communications industry because that industry can be assumed to be well adapted to digital content marketing techniques. There is a research gap about digital content marketing in the B2B context, which increases the novelty value of this research. The study examines what is digital content marketing, why B2B companies use digital content marketing, and how should digital content marketing be conducted through blogs and social media. The informants perceived digital marketing to be a fundamental part of their all marketing. They conduct digital content marketing for the following reasons: to increase sales, to improve their brand image and to demonstrate their own skills. Concrete results of digital content marketing for the case companies include sales leads, new clients, better brand image, and that recruiting is easier. The most important success factors with blogs and social media are the following: 1) Audience-centric thinking. All content planning should start from figuring out which themes interests the target audience. Social media channel choices should be based on where the target audience can be reached. 2) Companies should not talk only about themselves. Instead, content is made about themes that interests the target audience. On social media channels, only a fragment of all shared content is about the company. Rather, most of the shared content is industry-specific content that helps the potential client.

Optimal Recycling Combination of Ash in South-East Finland

The present world energy production is heavily relying on the combustion of solid fuels like coals, peat, biomass, municipal solid waste, whereas the share of renewable fuels is anticipated to increase in the future to mitigate climate change. In Finland, peat and wood are widely used for energy production. In any case, the combustion of solid fuels results in generation of several types of thermal conversion residues, such as bottom ash, fly ash, and boiler slag. The predominant residue type is determined by the incineration technology applied, while its composition is primarily relevant to the composition of fuels combusted. An extensive research has been conducted on technical suitability of ash for multiple recycling methods. Most of attention was drawn to the recycling of the coal combustion residues, as coal is the primary solid fuel consumed globally. The recycling methods of coal residues include utilization in a cement industry, in concrete manufacturing, and mine backfilling, to name few. Biomass combustion residues were also studied to some extent with forest fertilization, road construction, and road stabilization being the predominant utilization options. Lastly, residues form municipal solid waste incineration attracted more attention recently following the growing number of waste incineration plants globally. The recycling methods of waste incineration residues are the most limited due to its hazardous nature and varying composition, and include, among others, landfill construction, road construction, mine backfilling. In the study, environmental and economic aspects of multiple recycling options of thermal conversion residues generated within a case-study area were studied. The case-study area was South-East Finland. The environmental analysis was performed using an internationally recognized methodology — life cycle assessment. Economic assessment was conducted applying a widely used methodology — cost-benefit analysis. Finally, the results of the analyses were combined to enable easier comparison of the recycling methods. The recycling methods included the use of ash in forest fertilization, road construction, road stabilization, and landfill construction. Ash landfilling was set as a baseline scenario. Quantitative data about the amounts of ash generated and its composition was obtained from companies, their environmental reports, technical reports and other previously published literature. Overall, the amount of ash in the case-study area was 101 700 t. However, the data about 58 400 t of fly ash and 35 100 t of bottom ash and boiler slag were included in the study due to lack of data about leaching of heavy metals in some cases. The recycling methods were modelled according to the scientific studies published previously. Overall, the results of the study indicated that ash utilization for fertilization and neutralization of 17 600 ha of forest was the most economically beneficial method, which resulted in the net present value increase by 58% compared to ash landfilling. Regarding the environmental impact, the use of ash in the construction of 11 km of roads was the most attractive method with decreased environmental impact of 13% compared to ash landfilling. The least preferred method was the use of ash for landfill construction since it only enabled 11% increase of net present value, while inducing additional 1% of negative impact on the environment. Therefore, a following recycling route was proposed in the study. Where possible and legally acceptable, recycle fly and bottom ash for forest fertilization, which has strictest requirements out of all studied methods. If the quality of fly ash is not suitable for forest fertilization, then it should be utilized, first, in paved road construction, second, in road stabilization. Bottom ash not suitable for forest fertilization, as well as boiler slag, should be used in landfill construction. Landfilling should only be practiced when recycling by either of the methods is not possible due to legal requirements or there is not enough demand on the market. Current demand on ash and possible changes in the future were assessed in the study. Currently, the area of forest fertilized in the case-study are is only 451 ha, whereas about 17 600 ha of forest could be fertilized with ash generated in the region. Provided that the average forest fertilizing values in Finland are higher and the area treated with fellings is about 40 000 ha, the amount of ash utilized in forest fertilization could be increased. Regarding road construction, no new projects launched by the Center of Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in the case-study area were identified. A potential application can be found in the construction of private roads. However, no centralized data about such projects is available. The use of ash in stabilization of forest roads is not expected to increased in the future with a current downwards trend in the length of forest roads built. Finally, the use of ash in landfill construction is not a promising option due to the reducing number of landfills in operation in Finland.

Content-centered method for search engine optimization

Value of online business has grown to over one trillion USD. This thesis is about search engine optimization, which focus is to increase search engine rankings. Search engine optimization is an important branch of online marketing because the first page of search engine results is generating majority of the search traffic. Current articles about search engine optimization and Google are indicating that with the proper use of quality content, there is potential to improve search engine rankings. However, the existing search engine optimization literature is not noticing content at a sufficient level. To decrease that difference, the content-centered method for search engine optimization is constructed, and content in search engine optimization is studied. This content-centered method consists of three search engine optimization tactics: 1) content, 2) keywords, and 3) links. Two propositions were used for testing these tactics in a real business environment and results are suggesting that the content-centered method is improving search engine rankings. Search engine optimization is constantly changing because Google is adjusting its search algorithm regularly. Still, some long-term trends can be recognized. Google has said that content is growing its importance as a ranking factor in the future. The content-centered method is taking advance of this new trend in search engine optimization to be relevant for years to come.