National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Abstract The present research focuses on the hot deformation behavior, microstructure, texture evolution, and fracture mechanisms of wire arc additively manufactured Inconel 625 alloy. The deposited material exhibits columnar, cellular, and dendritic grain structures, with grain widths ranging between 10 to 40 μm and lengths extending up to 150 μm. Deformation characteristics were studied across a temperature range of 700 to 900°C. At medium temperatures, distinct serrations were observed, transitioning from B-type to C-type as the temperature increased. At elevated temperatures, B-type serrations reappeared, attributed to interactions between C14-Ni2Nb Laves phases and mobile dislocations, as revealed by TEM analysis. Conversely, C-type serrations were associated with the nucleation and growth of deformation twins. Grain size and boundaries under varying deformation temperatures were examined using EBSD and TEM, which revealed occurrence of dynamic recrystallization (DRX). It was observed that preferred orientation for DRX nucleation in the Inconel 625 alloy is along the <001> direction. At 900°C, recrystallized grains were prominent, with EBSD results confirming both discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX) and continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX), where CDRX acted as a secondary nucleation mechanism. Below 900°C, cracks primarily nucleate due to stress concentrations near Nb-rich phases. At 900°C, crack initiation was influenced by slip band impingement at grain boundaries combined with stress concentrations around Nb-rich phases. The high-temperature deformation behavior of WAAM-deposited Inconel 625 is strongly influenced by the interplay of DDRX and CDRX mechanisms.

This study evaluated whether compost produced by agricultural residues-mixed livestock manure could improve crop productivity and soil quality while reducing inorganic fertilizer use and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions in upland cultivation of autumn Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.). Direct incorporation of crop residues often provides limited benefits due to slow decomposition and nitrogen immobilization; therefore, residues were aerobically co-composted with livestock manure and applied in combination with inorganic fertilizers. The results showed that treatments receiving the agricultural residue–manure compost significantly increased cabbage growth and yield. In particular, the treatment combining compost with 50% the recommended inorganic fertilizer rate produced higher yields than the 100% inorganic fertilizer treatment alone. Compost application improved soil chemical properties, including higher pH, organic carbon, available phosphorus, and exchangeable base cations, and enhanced nitrogen uptake and nitrogen use efficiency. Moreover, cumulative N₂O emissions were reduced by about 21% in the 50% rate inorganic fertilizer plus compost treatment compared with inorganic fertilizer alone. Overall, these findings indicate that co-composted agricultural residues and livestock manure can serve as an effective soil amendment, maintaining high crop productivity while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing reliance on inorganic fertilizers, thereby supporting more sustainable nutrient management in upland cropping systems. Acknowledgments This study was supported by (2026) the RDA Fellowship Program of National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. RS-2022-RD010368), Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a disabling neuropsychiatric condition characterized by sudden, involuntary episodes of crying or laughing incongruent with mood. It occurs in several neurological disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Dextromethorphan/quinidine (DM/Q) is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapy for PBA, but optimal dosing and safety profiles remain uncertain. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different DM/Q dosing regimens for treating PBA through a systematic review and network meta-analysis. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted through March 2025. Randomized controlled trials reporting outcomes on the Center for Neurologic Study-Lability Scale (CNS-LS), Visual Analog Scale-Quality of Life (VAS-QOL), Visual Analog Scale-Quality of Recovery (VAS-QOR), and adverse events were included. Analyses were performed using R (netmeta package), and bias was assessed with the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Five randomized controlled trials comprising 605 participants were analyzed. DM/Q 20/10mg and 30/10mg significantly improved CNS-LS scores (mean difference [MD] - 2.52 and - 2.45, respectively), while DM/Q 30/30mg produced greater gains in VAS-QOL (MD 17.20) and VAS-QOR (MD 14.90). Dizziness was the only statistically significant, dose-related adverse event. DM/Q combination therapy provides effective symptom control for PBA, with favorable tolerability. Both 20/10mg and 30/10mg doses improve emotional lability, while 30/30mg yields additional quality-of-life benefits. Further studies should assess long-term safety and disorder-specific dosing optimization.

Originating from low and middle latitudes, soybean, common bean, mung bean, and adzuki bean are typical short-day legumes. Through long-term natural evolution and artificial selection, numerous ultra-early maturing varieties adapted to long-day conditions have emerged in these four short-day legumes, becoming a crucial component of agricultural ecosystems in high-latitude regions. Therefore, investigations into the molecular mechanisms governing flowering time and exploration of adaptive mechanisms across diverse short-day legumes are critically essential. In this study, we identified the homologous of soybean key flowering-time genes including E1–E4, GmFT2a, and GmFT5a in common bean, mung bean, and adzuki bean through Blastp. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic relationships, with soybean clustering with common bean, while mung bean and adzuki bean are more closely related. Through cloning of the coding sequences of E1–E4, FT2a, and FT5a homologs in both late and early maturing varieties of soybean, common bean, mung bean, and adzuki bean, natural variations and haplotypes were analyzed and identified. We found that frameshift/nonsynonymous mutations in E1–E4 homologs correlated with early maturity, whereas FT orthologs remained highly conserved in ultra-early maturing varieties of four short-day legumes. Distinct E‑genotype combinations emerged as ecological signatures—ultra-early soybean (e1e2e3e4), common bean (E1e2e3e4), and mung/adzuki beans (e1E2e3e4). Expression levels of E1–E4 in the ultra-early maturing varieties of four short-day legumes were generally lower than in the late maturing varieties, while FT2a/FT5a homologs exhibited the opposite trend. This study reveals the variation hotspots in major flowering genes of short-day legumes and establishes genotype combinations for varieties from different ecological types. These findings provide molecular targets for breeding short-day legume varieties adapted to high-latitude, long-day conditions and offer scientific guidance for expanding the cultivation areas of short-day legumes.

In the last decades, many publicly available large fundus image datasets have been collected for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration, and a few other frequent pathologies. These publicly available datasets were used to develop a computer-aided disease diagnosis system by training deep learning models to detect these frequent pathologies. One challenge limiting the adoption of a such system by the ophthalmologist is, computer-aided disease diagnosis system ignores sight-threatening rare pathologies such as central retinal artery occlusion or anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and others that ophthalmologists currently detect. Aiming to advance the state-of-the-art in automatic ocular disease classification of frequent diseases along with the rare pathologies, a grand challenge on “Retinal Image Analysis for multi-Disease Detection” was organized in conjunction with the IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging (ISBI - 2021). This paper, reports the challenge organization, dataset, top-performing participants solutions, evaluation measures, and results based on a new “Retinal Fundus Multi-disease Image Dataset” (RFMiD). There were two principal sub-challenges: disease screening (i.e. presence versus absence of pathology — a binary classification problem) and disease/pathology classification (a 28-class multi-label classification problem). It received a positive response from the scientific community with 74 submissions by individuals/teams that effectively entered in this challenge. The top-performing methodologies utilized a blend of data-preprocessing, data augmentation, pre-trained model, and model ensembling. This multi-disease (frequent and rare pathologies) detection will enable the development of generalizable models for screening the retina, unlike the previous efforts that focused on the detection of specific diseases.

Purpose. To determine the economic and energy assessment of forage crop rotations including forage grain crops under different fertilization systems and to establish the most effective variants for the zone of unstable moisture on the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine black soils. Methods. Field studies were conducted during 2021-2023 at different variants long-term crop rotations with systematic placement in triplicate. Methods of field and laboratory research in feed production, statistical analysis were used. Results. High-yielding crop rotations including grain crops provided grain productivity from 4.08 to 5.77 t/ha per 1 ha of crop rotation area, and feed units – from 8.70 to 10.47 t/ha. The cost price of grain was 3359-3724 UAH/t, feed unit – 1859-1876 UAH/t, profitability – 122.5-151.1%. The saturation of crop rotations with high-energy crops contributed to the accumulation of energy in the yield up to 698392 MJ/ha, the energy efficiency coefficient (EEC) was 5.4-7.02, which is significantly higher than in the variant with a smaller share of corn (EEC – 3.8). With a corn yield of 10.0 t/ha, the energy accumulation was 150608 MJ/ha, EEС – 8.76, while with a yield of 8.5 t/ha – 129349 MJ/ha, EEС – 7.6. Conclusions. The high efficiency of forage crop rotations on the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine black soils is the result of the optimal selection of crops in the crop rotation. For dairy farms, it is recommended to use high-energy crops such as corn for grain and silage. For pork farms, optimal crops include corn for grain, barley, peas and soybeans. Such crop rotations provide high yields of grain, feed units and energy, as well as high profitability.

Aim. The article analyses the feasibility of using a system of distributed application of insurance herbicides in intensive soybean cultivation technologies. Methods. The aim of the research was to establish the biological and economic performance of two-time consecutive sprayings of soybean crops with reduced norms of Corum herbicide. The three-year (2018–2020) field experiments were conducted in a stationary crop rotation at the separate subdivision of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences "Agronomic Research Station". The effectiveness of the insurance herbicide Corum (l. c., 48% bentazon + 2.24% imazamox) was studied at application rates (1.5; 2.0 and 2.5 l/ha) and two consecutive sprayings of 0.75 l/ha in tank mixtures with the surfactant Metolat (1.0 l/ha). The insurance herbicides Bazagran (a. s., 48% bentazon) and Pulsar (w. s. c., 4% imazamox) were used as reference ones at the recommended application rates of 2.5 and 1.0 l/ha, respectively. Results. The results of the research established that the herbicide Corum together with the surfactant Metolat provided effective control of the dominant segetal vegetation in soybean crops at all rates and methods of application with a biological efficiency of more than 85%, which is by 5–10% higher than the indexes of reference insurance herbicides. A two-time sequential spraying with the herbicide at a rate of 0.75 l/ha was the most effective, which ensured almost complete elimination of dicotyledonous juveniles and 75–92% of cereal annuals, which is equal to the effectiveness of the maximum single rate (2.5 l/ha). The high biological efficiency of Corum herbicide in tank mixtures with surfactant Metolat with two consecutive applications provided the largest increase in the marketable crop of soybeans — 1.46 t/ha or 77% compared to the level of an untreated control in the absence of quantitative changes in the protein and oil content in seeds. Conclusions. A significant increase in crop and low additional investment in the system ensured obtaining a maximum net profit per 1 ha (UAH 12155). At the same time, the profitability of growing the crop reached 49.0% with a six-fold return on the funds invested in the technology. Given the combination of household, economic and environmental factors of the innovative system of distributed application of the herbicide Corum, it is advisable to introduce it into production.

Aim. To develop and scientific and organizational approaches to advertising, consulting support, and the transfer of innovative developments in the agricultural market of knowledge-intensive products in the Kyiv region. Methods. In research were used dialectical, abstract-logical, economic-statistical, system-theoretical, comparative, and retrospective analytical methods. Results. The analysis of market conditions from 2021 to 2023 revealed that foreign varieties of soybeans, winter rape, spring rape, corn, and fodder beet are seriously competing with domestic varieties of soybeans, corn, and fodder beet. Domestic research institutions are leading in breeding varieties of winter wheat, buckwheat, winter rye, millet, beans, oil flax, long flax, and lupine, with the breeding achievements of the IAS NAAS being suitable for distribution in Ukraine. The Institute’s innovative developments in agriculture focus on protecting soils and increasing their fertility. In crop production, they aim to create highly efficient technologies for growing cereals, legumes, and fodder crops. In breeding, the focus is on developing new varieties, hybrids, and lines. From 2021 to 2023, 31 scientific developments were tested, including 2 in the field of agriculture and 29 in crop production. This includes 2 crop production technologies and 27 plant varieties and hybrids. Additionally, 59 innovations were introduced: 3 in the field of agriculture and 56 in crop production, including 18 technologies and 38 varieties and hybrids. To address practical problems in the field of scientific support for innovative agricultural development in the region, our institution developed and conducted several activities related to scientific and advisory support. Scientific and methodological provisions for organizing information and advisory support for the Kyiv region’s agricultural enterprises were developed. The system and methods for promoting and advertising the scientific developments of the IAS NAAS were improved, and a network for disseminating agricultural information and providing advice on various agricultural issues was established. To promote the latest scientific and innovative projects, 9 conferences were held over the past three years, including 5 international and 4 national ones. Additionally, there was 1 scientific and practical seminar, 5 exhibitions (1 international and 4 national), 2 Field Days, and 1 workshop. Conclusions. Scientific and advisory support plays a key role in creating a favorable environment for innovative development, contributing to sustainable economic growth and increasing the competitiveness of agricultural production.

To fully utilize Phellinus igniarius fermentation mycelia, the present study investigated the in vitro antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory properties of four Ph. igniarius strains. Organic solvents were used to extract fatty acids, phenolics, and flavonoids from the selected mushrooms. The composition and bioactivity of the extracts were evaluated. The lipid yield obtained using petroleum ether (7.1%) was higher than that obtained using 1:1 n-hex-ane+methanol (5.5%) or 2:1 dichloromethane+methanol (3.3%). The composition and relative content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the petroleum ether extract were higher than those in other solvent extracts. Furthermore, ethyl acetate extracts had higher flavonoid and phenolic content and better antioxidant activity than other extracts; however, the 70% ethanol extracts had the best α-amylase inhibitory activity. The supernatant from the ethanol precipitation of aqueous and 1% (NH4)2C2O4 extracts could also be biocompound sources. This comparative study is the first highlighting the in vitro antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory properties of the four strains of Ph. igniarius extracts prepared using different organic solvents, which makes the investigated species and extracts promising for biological application.

Justification of the method of thermal mutagenesis for the creation of varieties and lines of winter wheat. Methods. In order to obtain winter forms from spring wheat, spring wheat varieties were vernalized by the method of thermal mutagenesis. Vernalized seeds were planted in early spring for research (the first stage of studying the action of a physical mutagen). Collected seeds (M1) from spring sowing were sown in autumn (second stage) in the second half of the optimal winter wheat sowing period – September 15–20. The next generations of plants (F3-F5) were sown in optimal terms. Using methods of thermal mutagenesis (individual selection from spring wheat during vernalization and winter sowing), a combination of thermal mutagenesis and hybridization of winter parental components (individual selection from spring wheat during vernalization and winter sowing crossed with a winter variety and vice versa) and the hybridization method (a winter variety crossed with a winter variety) for the importance of creating varieties and lines from spring wheat. Results. Using the method of thermal mutagenesis, early-maturing winter wheat varieties Romanivna were created by the method of individual selection from a hybrid combination by sowing the spring wheat sample Long MAI 19″ 2 / Pastor of Mexican origin for winter, medium-ripening Zaotar by the method of individual selection from the hybrid combination of Mexican origin CROC 1| AE SQUARROSA (205)||KAUS spring wheat for winter sowing, Pyryatynka by the method of individual selection from spring wheat of Mexican origin VEE#5 / CBRD // BYY /4/ TNU MU / TUI for winter sowing, Lyubito individual selection from wheat m which spring NEW KEXAN 9*2 / W 175.6 SC 3.3 of Mexican origin for winter sowing. The combination of thermal mutagenesis and hybridization of the winter parental component of the Osyain winter wheat variety by individual selection from the hybrid population Flambord (France, spring wheat for winter sowing) / Myronivska early ripening, Zemlerob by hybridization method: Individual selection from soft spring wheat TW 21311 of British origin according to sowing for the winter / M 64 – 192 (a line selected for resistance against deseases) and many lines that we use in the selection process. The varieties and lines created by this method compete well with the varieties created by the hybridization method Kraevyd, Kesaria Poliska, Vodohray, Myrolyubna, Mokosha, Polisyanka, Namysto, Merezhka, Prestizhna, Rusyava, Fortetsya Poliska, Efektna, Krasunya Poliska. Conclusions. The use of thermal mutagenesis is an effective method for breeding winter wheat varieties from spring wheat and deserves wide use in breeding practice. The use of spring wheat in the hybrid selection process from varieties and lines of Mexican, French, Chinese, German origin allowed to breed high-yielding lines and early-ripening varieties of winter wheat Romanivna, Osyaina and medium-ripening Pyryatynka, Zemlerob, Lyubito, with a productivity of 7-8 t/ha and high winter resistance (7-8 points), which are included in the Register of Varieties of Ukraine. A patent has been issued for the Zaotar variety. The use of spring forms of wheat as sources made it possible to improve the grain quality of winter wheat varieties with a high content of protein and gluten.