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Tag: Research and Innovation

Inauguration of the University Research Facilities at EdUHK

Posted on by eduhk

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held the inauguration ceremony on 27 August for the two University Research Facilities (URFs) – the University Research Facility of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (UDSAI) and the University Research Facility of Human Behavioural Neuroscience (UHBN). The URFs are to promote interdisciplinary research, such as among the fields of artificial intelligence, biology and neuroscience, early childhood education, curriculum and instruction, learning sciences, and linguistics.

The UDSAI is equipped with advanced high-performance computing facilities and strives to leverage the power of computers and information technology to address a diverse range of research questions.

It is led by Professor Xu Guandong, Chair Professor of Artificial Intelligence. His research areas include data science, artificial intelligence, and social computing. Professor Xu’s pioneering research has won widespread recognition, and he has been consistently ranked in the top 2% of the world’s most-cited scientists compiled by Stanford University.

The UHBN has been set up to further explore learning and memory, movement and motivated behaviour, sensation and perception, and emotional well-being, as well as facilitate the sharing of state-of-the-art equipment. It has been established to provide multimodal technological platforms to facilitate a deeper understanding of the integration of biologically based data from visual, auditory, motor, and neural processes.

It is led by Professor Ken Yung Kin-lam, Chair Professor of Biology and Neuroscience leads the UHBN. He and his team have developed nanomaterial-based technologies for harvesting autologous neural stem cells and devices for cell differentiation, which have won over 50 international innovation awards.

The inauguration ceremony was presided over by EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, Vice President (Research and Development) Professor Chetwyn Chan Che-hin, the senior management of EdUHK and scholars from other universities in Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

In his welcoming remarks, Professor Lee stated that over 70 principal investigators and students in UDSAI and UHBN have used the facilities for their research over the past few months. He expressed confidence that, with the two URFs, EdUHK can challenge itself to produce even higher-quality research outputs. “EdUHK is committed to expanding multidisciplinary research and teaching, as well as promoting interdisciplinary knowledge exchange. The University will continue to lead in the field of education and promote strategic development in related areas,” he said.

Professor Chan extended his gratitude to the two Directors of URFs and distinguished scholars for their leadership, contribution and dedication. While reaffirming the spirit of innovation and collaboration embodied in their work defines EdUHK, he believed that the new facilities, as a cross disciplinary research hub, would spark connections across multiple disciplines, facilitate ground-breaking and innovative research for the University, paving the way for a brighter and more technologically advanced future.

Researchers make advances in understanding the role of a novel drug in reducing anxiety-like behavior in mice

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Anxiety is considered a natural response to stress. However, a state of heightened anxiety, called anxiety disorder, prevents thousands of people from living their best lives. While several underlying mechanisms have been therapeutically targeted, much remains to be discovered about this disorder. In an effort to get closer to unravelling the mechanisms that govern this condition, Japanese researchers have identified a drug that reduces glutamate-induced neurotransmission, involved in anxiety-like behaviour.

For a group of Japanese researchers from Tokyo University of Science and University of Tsukuba, endeavouring in this line of research is not new. In a previous study, they used a drug called KNT-127, which acts by activating specific receptors in the brain, called “delta opioid receptors.” The researchers found KNT-127 to reduce anxiety-like behavior in mice. They found that KNT-127 caused the reduction of an excitatory neurotransmitter, called glutamate, in the extracellular regions of a part of the brain that controls several emotional states, called the “prelimbic subregion of the medial prefrontal cortex” (PL-PFC). The researchers went on to study this phenomenon in a new study published in Biochemical
and Biophysical Research Communications

According to Professor Akiyoshi Saitoh, from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, and corresponding author of this study, there is a good reason to have investigated the glutamate levels specifically in PL-PFC. He says, “The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a vital role in the processing of emotional events. It has been shown that activation of the glutamatergic transmission in PL-PFC evoked anxiety-like behavior in rodents.”

Accordingly, Professor Saitoh and his colleagues conducted electrophysiological studies at a single-neuron level in mice. The team measured spontaneous excitatory currents from the glutamate-releasing presynapse region of various important neurons treated with and without KNT-127, in the PL-PFC of mice that had been induced to exhibit anxious behaviour.

For neurons treated with KNT-127, the results showed that the release of glutamate was reduced at the PL-PFC synapses. Since this excitatory neurotransmitter relays information from one neuron to the other, at the synapse region, the corresponding brain activity was also found to be lowered. Interestingly, the team found that KNT-127 treatment made the PL-PFC neurons less excitable. The researchers considered these findings to be a consequence of the anxiolytic effects of KNT-127.

Overall, this study proposes a novel pathway—and a novel drug candidate—that can be targeted for treating anxiety disorder. Commenting on the clinical potential of drugs like KNT-127, Dr. Daisuke Yamada, one of the investigators in the study from Tokyo University of Science, says, “There is a need for the development of new therapeutic agents that have different mechanisms of action from existing drugs. The results of this study are expected to lead to the development of evidence-based antipsychotics with a new mechanism of action, targeting opioid delta receptors.”

EdUHK scholar develops intervention to promote health and fitness

Posted on by eduhk

Urbanisation, technological advances, and increasing convenience in everyday life have restricted the amount of physical exercise most people engage in, resulting in major public health concern. This persistent and growing health-related problem calls for an acute need to develop an intervention programme that can effectively promote physical activities, not only at the individual level but also at the family, community, and citywide levels.

Whether positive psychology concepts can be integrated with health-promotion behaviours among families had largely been unknown until researchers in Hong Kong developed a positive physical activity (PPA) intervention. This has been made possible by using the positive psychology concepts of joy, gratitude, and savouring to promote Zero-Time Exercise (ZTEx) (which involves integrating simple physical activities into everyday life) and improve physical fitness in Hong Kong families.

Dr Henry Ho Chun-yip, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology of The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), together with other researchers and healthcare professionals, worked with different stakeholders during the study, including the government, social service organisations and schools. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted with 1,983 participants in 1,467 families in Hong Kong. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and physical fitness assessments before the intervention and in follow-ups one and three months after the trial.

Social workers and teachers of the participating organisations and schools were trained to design and implement the community programmes. The training workshop was delivered by clinical psychologists, registered social workers, registered nurse, and academic researchers to comprehensively cover the contents of positive psychology, physical activity, programme design and programme evaluation.

The study measured the self-reported frequency of ZTEx both alone and with family members and assessed balance and endurance as indicators of physical fitness. It found that PPA intervention was effective in increasing ZTEx with both groups in each time periods, and in improving balance and endurance in the three-month follow-up.

Semi-structured focus groups added in-depth insights into the participants’ motivational, interpersonal and affective experiences. The findings showed that PPA intervention is a cost-effective way to improve physical activity and fitness and that a community-based collaborative approach was successful in engaging community stakeholders in an active and fruitful partnership for programme development.

The findings support the proposition that health promotion behaviour is maintained when the participants experience positive emotions during the activities. Through the application of positive psychology, the participants associated ZTEx with feelings of enjoyment, which nurtured unconscious motives for this health promotion behaviour, thus leading to a successful lifestyle change and improved physical fitness.

This study has important implications for Hong Kong, where 71% of adults did not meet the WHO physical activity recommendations.

Smart light bulbs for better visibility by Chulalongkorn researchers

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Smart LED light bulbs for the elderly, the latest innovation from Chula and its partners, can do more than emitting light.  They enhance the contrast among the primary colors of light thereby improving visibility and reducing accidents in the elderly.  The product is expected to hit the market in May.

If members of your household, especially the elderly, frequently stub and bruise their toes, knees, or shoulders on doors and furniture, do not be too quick to conclude that it is because of their absent-mindedness, or the clutter around them.  The culprit may be poor lighting in your home.

“Older people and those suffering from low vision have difficulty distinguishing the contrast of objects’ surface or uneven pathway, and often trip and fall, “explained Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada Katemake, a representative of the research team from the Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science, about the rationale behind the ” Living Innovations to Improve Visibility in Seniors and People with Low Vision“ research project supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).

the research team from the Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science
The research team from the Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science

Researchers from various disciplines within Chulalongkorn have been collaborating in this project, namely the Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Faculty of Science; the Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering; and the Department of Housing, Faculty of Architecture with support from the partners, i.e. the Faculty of Medicine, Metta Pracharak Hospital and Lighting & Equipment PCL.

“Our research found that  ‘white light’ — a combination of three-color wavelengths: red, green, and blue can enhance the contrast of different surfaces enabling the elderly and people with low vision to see more clearly and move around with more agility.  It also gives brighter white light that amplifies the contrast between certain pairs of colors as well.

The findings lead to the development of the smart LED lightbulbs of the future, now ready for the public, that transcends the visual limitations of these vulnerable groups.“We have successfully manufactured long LED bulbs and are now expanding our product lines to other types of bulbs.  A field test is scheduled in May 2021 at the Vision Rehabilitation Center, Metta Pracharak Hospital, and the housing for low-vision people.  The field test will be in line with the ethical research process to ensure safety.”

In addition to the smart light bulb project, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada also elaborated on other projects that are currently under development, such as a vision-simulating application for people with low vision. (The Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons Act 2534 B.E. defines people with low vision as those with only 20-feet of visibility compared to 70 feet in people with normal vision).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada Katemake, Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada Katemake
Department of Imaging and Printing Technology, Chula Faculty of Science

“This application simulates low-vision visibility and allows designers to see through that vision, complete with the blind spots, so they can select appropriate colors with noticeable dimensionality and contrasts. The app uses the mobile phone camera to photograph desired areas, so that designers can create safe furniture and home appliances for all ages,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pichayada added.

Also under development is Guide Light – an innovative night light with revolutionized color mix and brightness that does not disrupt the elderly’s sleep when they need to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.  The color palette, combo, and brightness threshold, as well as saturation and contrast values, are chosen for high visibility, with clear indicators on the color values and matching criteria.  This is perfect for home appliance designers — another alternative product for families with elderly or people with low vision.

Russian scientists are developing a sensor to detect toxins in grain

Posted on by OLGA ROMANOVSKAYA

SUSU scientists have studied how effective the electrochemical method is in detecting mycotoxins in grain. Based on this data, a sensor will be created that responds to zearalenone, a toxin produced by moulds. The work will be carried out within the framework of the RFBR grant. The first results were published in the highly-rated magazine FoodChemistry (Q1).

On some crops and foodstuffs, moulds grow, producing mycotoxins—a poison of biological origin. Mycotoxins are dangerous for humans when eaten, they cause intoxication, and in some cases lead to cancer and immunodeficiency.

Mycotoxin detection is a food safety issue in every country. For this purpose, sensors that react to mycotoxins are used in the agrosphere. Using zearalenone as an example, scientists at South Ural State University studied the methods of detecting toxins available today and determined their effectiveness.

Zearalenone is found in corn, barley, wheat, rice, and sorghum. It is produced by Fusarium fungi, mainly Fusariumgraminearum, Fusariumcerealis, and Fusariumculmorum. Analyzes from 2010-2015 showed that in Europe about 80% of grain was contaminated with Zearalenone, in addition, other mycotoxins were added to it.

A literature review was carried out by Oleg Bolshakov, senior researcher at the SUSU Nanotechnology REC, as well as by a research group led by Ph.D. Natalia Beloglazova from the University of Ghent demonstrated that electrochemical sensors are ideal for detecting zearalenone.

“Most electrochemical sensors that respond to zearalenone are voltammetric. There is evidence of high sensitivity of impedance sensors, but they are not the most suitable method for monitoring low molecular weight compounds such as mycotoxins. From this point of view, capacitive sensors are better, but they remain unexplored,” commented Oleg Bolshakov.

The only drawback of electrochemical sensors now is testing only on samples with artificial additives. No analyzes have been carried out on raw materials, although objective studies must be supported by the results of work with samples with natural contamination.

Working with theoretical sources was the first step towards creating your electrochemical sensor. It uses semiconductor materials synthesized at SUSU. Now screening is being carried out for their sensory activity, depending on the basis: molecularly doped carbon nitride, poly-triazine-imide, quantum dots, and others.

“All of these materials demonstrate the required levels of selectivity, signal speed, and, most importantly, reproducibility. Recently, promising results have been obtained on the selective detection of hazardous mycotoxins with materials based on composite microparticles consisting of titanium oxide and carbon nitride,” added Oleg Bolshakov.

The study is carried out within the framework of the RFBR-Chelyabinsk project “Development of ratiometric nanosensors based on modified nanoparticles (quantum and carbon particles) of a new generation for highly selective determination of pollutants in water”.

South Ural State University (SUSU) is a university of digital transformations, where innovative research is conducted in most of the priority areas of development of science and technology. Following the strategy of scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation, the university is focused on the development of large scientific interdisciplinary projects in the field of the digital industry, materials science, and ecology. In the Year of Science and Technology, SUSU will take part in the competition under the Priority-2030 program. The university performs the functions of a regional project office of the Ural interregional world-class scientific and educational center (UMNOTs).

EdUHK Scholar’s recently published study covers humans’ historical adaptation to climate change

Posted on by eduhk

A research team including a scholar from The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has given a new perspective into human adaptation to climate change. The study’s findings were recently published in the prestigious academic journal Nature.

Climate change is an important issue which has been extensively discussed over the past years. While many experts believe that climate change has had a profound impact on human history, to date there has been little discussion about how humans have reacted to these altering circumstances.

With this in mind, a research team of 18 experts from different countries and disciplines undertook a study to understand the interplay between what they have called “History of Climate and Society”. The team sought to examine the role of human resilience to climate change in shaping human history and the complex connection between them.

Led by Dr Dagomar Degroot from Georgetown University, the research team comprised 18 scholars from the Germany, Poland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, mainland China and Hong Kong. Their expertise covers geography, archaeology, history to paleoclimatology. Among the team was Dr Pei Qing, Assistant Professor of the Department of Social Sciences at EdUHK, who contributed to revising the design and framework of the entire study.

To understand the effect of climate change on human history, the team selected different societies across continents for case analysis covering two climatic eras: the Late Antique Little Ice Age around the 6th century; and the Little Ice Age from the 13th century to the 19th century. Among these cases, Dr Pei also contributed to the Asia case study – the rise of the Jianzhou Jurchens during the early 17th century – in collaboration with Dr Cui Jianxin from the Northwest Institute of Historical Environment and Socio-Economic Development of Shaanxi Normal University.

The pair found that although both the Jianzhou Jurchens and the Ming Dynasty were affected by drought through monsoon failure, the former thrived and survived because of their higher mobility, thanks to their tradition of hunting and gathering. This enabled them to adapt through encroaching on cultivated land to the south and controlling trade networks.

The interdisciplinary team also looked into how, in the 6thcentury, people in the Middle East under Roman rule made use of the humid climate to cultivate and expand their territory; how, in 13thcentury, the governments of Bologna and Siena used strategies like food regulations to deal with natural disasters and minimise famine and mortality; and how, in the 17th century, Dutch sailors took advantage of precipitation and prevailing winds to defend themselves against Spanish invasion. These cases showed how human resilience to climate change could help explain the rise and fall of different political regimes or dynasties in human history.

Dr Pei said, “Many studies in the past have demonstrated the impact of historical climate change on human societies, particularly on a long-term and large spatial scale. However, our study provides a new perspective for academic research, indicating that the communities could effectively respond to the challenges of climate change.”

According to Dr Pei, historical cases also tell us that successful adaptation to climate change usually depends on the ability of a community to control or capitalise resources.

Dr Pei pointed out that this study provides insights for the public to reflect upon the resilience of different peoples against climate change. “When a country acts to deal with changing climatic conditions, its measures may bring a negative influence to other countries. When formulating climate actions or related policies, countries should not only consider their own benefits, but also their neighbours, and even the whole world, so as to pursue and realise the equitable principle of combatting climate change.”

The study also uncovered several common criteria of historical societies that coped well with climate change, including strong trade networks, high mobility and the capacity to learn from mistakes. “Human societies’ evolving resilience and historical successes have given us confidence in dealing with global warming. However, we should also carefully consider our relationship with nature and learn the lessons from our history,” Dr Pei said, adding that he hoped this study would provide a solid academic foundation for the scholars to better explore the relationship between historical climate change and human societies in the future.

The original publication can be found in Nature.

Invasive weed may help treat some human diseases, researchers find

Posted on by Hiroshima University

Native to the southeastern United States, a weedy grass has spread northward to Canada and also made its way to Australia and Japan. Andropogon virginicus grows densely packed and up to seven feet tall, disrupting growth patterns of other plants and competing for resources. When burned, it grows back stronger. There is no way to effectively remove the weed once it has invaded. But there might be a way to use it to human advantage.

An international team of researchers has found that A. virginicus extracts appear to be effective against several human diseases, including diabetes and cancer. The results were published in a special issue of Plants last December.

“A. virginicus is an invasive weed that seriously threatens agricultural production and economics worldwide,” said paper author Tran Dang Xuan, associate professor at Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering. “However, no solution efficiently utilizing and tackling this plant has been found yet.”

Researchers found high levels of flavonoids in the samples they extracted from the weed. These plant chemicals have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, according to Xuan. When tested against a variety of cell lines, the extracted plant chemicals bonded to free radicals, preventing damage to the cells. At skin level, this helps prevent age spots by inhibiting a protein called tyrosinase. Among other, deeper healthful actions, this bonding also helps prevent knock-on cellular actions that can lead to type 2 diabetes.

The team also specifically applied the plant extracts to a line of chronic myelogenous leukemia, a rare blood cancer. The extract appeared to kill off the cancer cells.

Xuan said the researchers plan to establish a comprehensive process to isolate and purify the compounds responsible for known biological properties, as well as work to identify new uses.

This story was first published on the Hiroshima University website.

TPU scientists produce cheap and high-quality gasoline

Posted on by Tomsk Polytechnic University

Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) have discovered how to produce high-quality gasoline of all standards from by-products of gas production. According to the authors of the research work, new technology is notable for its simplicity and will enable oil and gas producers to switch to self-sufficiency in fuel. The research findings are published in the Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering.

Stable gas condensates (SGC) are a by-product of natural gas processing. The scientists noted that in most reservoirs, for lack of better use options, they are blended with oil to improve its fluidity and facilitate transportation.

The TPU scientists claim that SGCs are a valuable hydrocarbon feedstock. The scientists believe that processing them into high-octane petrol components using a zeolite catalyst is a more efficient way to use them.

The research of the TPU chemists showed that processing on zeolite enables the octane number of SGC to be increased by an average of 18 points, i.e. to obtain petrol 80 Research Octane Number (RON) in a single technological stage. The scientists also proposed blending formulations for commercial petrol standards: 92 RON, 95 RON, 98 RON based on the by-products of SGC processing.

“We have established the directions of hydrocarbon transformations in the SGC, as well as the impact of processing parameters on the composition and characteristics of the resulting products. This will allow selecting optimal parameters for the most efficient use of condensates of different composition,” Maria Kirgina, Associate Professor of the TPU Division for Chemical Engineering, told Sputnik news agency.

The proposed technology allows extractive enterprises to produce fuel for their own needs, as well as to provide it to a certain territory. Delivering fuel to remote facilities significantly increases the cost of production. Therefore, the scientists believe that the feasibility of moving towards autonomy will prove relevant for a number of regions of the world, for example, for the north of Russia, where many extractive industries operate.

The processing method does not require hydrogen-containing gas or special feedstock preparation, making it possible to implement it even in low-tonnage versions outside large refineries, the scientists stressed.

The advantages of the technology are related to the catalyst used – zeolite, the TPU scientists explained. Zeolites are inexpensive minerals that do not contain noble metals and are resistant to catalyst poisons. The proposed research is the first to implement the processing of stable gas condensates over the ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst.

The Compounding software package developed at TPU was used to develop petrol blending recipes and assess their detonation resistance. The next stage of the project is to create a mathematical model to accurately predict the composition and characteristics of the resulting products, the scientists said.

CityU wins 6 golds at Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days

Posted on by Editorial Team

Researchers from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) received 12 awards, including a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury, five Gold Medals, three Silver Medals and three Bronze Medals at the Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days (IGED) 2021, a virtual edition of the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva.

“An Energy-Free, Low-Cost and High Cooling Performance Passive Radiative Cooling Technology for Building Applications” led by Dr Edwin Tso Chi-yan, Assistant Professor in the School of Energy and Environment, received the Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury.

To provide a sustainable and energy-saving solution to the consumption of electricity in buildings, Dr Tso has developed a passive radiative cooling paint, using the universe as a cooling source.

Unlike traditional air-conditioning systems, the passive radiative cooling paint is an energy-free and refrigerant-free cooling technology that reflects incoming solar irradiance, while emitting thermal radiation to the cold universe and achieving sub-ambient cooling.

This self-cooling technology possesses many advantages, such as a simple structure, easy manufacturing, and low cost. Directly coating this paint on a building’s roof or exterior walls will reduce its surface temperature and save on air-conditioning energy. The technology can be used for cooling automobile, in self-cooling textiles and painting roads to mitigate heat from land.

The following projects by the CityU researchers also won the Gold Medal.

“Aquatic Animal Postmortem Multimedia Analysis Platform” utilises virtopsy techniques such as Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and 3D surface scanning, to provide insights for the assessment of aquatic animal profiles and biological health locally and globally.

“Super Bamboo – Sustainable Structural Bamboo Materials with High Strength and Multi-function”- includes both mechanical and chemical treatments for densifying natural bamboo without destroying key internal microstructure that are critical for superior mechanical performance.

“Youth Sports Education and Management SaaS platform Based on AI & IoT” developed by AI Motion Sports”- uses advanced technology to digitalise K12 youth sports industry and define the standards of next-generation sports education.

“Damage-healable Antimicrobial Coating Made from Natural Materials”-development and applications of coatings with sustained disinfection abilities for long-term prevention of surface fouling.

“Development of new generation anti-metastasis drugs based on endosomal trafficking”- identifies 6J1/6J2 as potent endosomal trafficking inhibitors that can effectively inhibit tumor progression and metastasis in various experimental mouse models with little in vitro and in vivo toxicity.

These awards at such a high international level demonstrate the excellence of the research carried out at CityU.

Betting on drones as smart agricultural tools for pesticide use in farms

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Drones could soon be adopted as essential tools for various agricultural tasks; however, with respect to their use in farm management, research is still lacking. To address this issue, researchers in Japan compared drones to well-established technologies for spraying pesticide over rice paddy fields.

Using statistical data, the researchers explore both advantages and limitations of drones and whether they currently offer an edge regarding costs, capacity, and management efficiency.

“Following recent technological demonstrations and verifications at field sites, there is an increasing need for farm management research of smart agricultural technology including cost and efficiency analyses; this is essential for its implementation in farms,” explains Yuna Seo, who is Junior Associate Professor at Tokyo University of Science, Japan.

In an effort to address this knowledge gap, Seo led a recent study published in MDPI’s
Sustainability in which she, with her student Shotaro Umeda, compared different pesticide spraying technologies using realistic data.

More specifically, the researchers evaluated and compared the costs, working capacity, and management efficiency of drones versus remote-controlled (RC) helicopters and tractor-mounted boom sprayers for preventively spraying pesticides over rice paddies. They made these comparisons for seven different paddy field areas to take into account differences in scale for each method.

In terms of pest-control costs, the UAVs were only slightly less expensive per unit area than the boom sprayers, mainly due to the low price of drones and savings in fuel. In this regard, the RC helicopters were much more expensive.

“Although the purchase cost of boom sprayers is almost double that of UAVs, the fixed costs of both end up being similar because of the high operation, maintenance and repair costs of drones, which are notorious obstacles in UAV introduction and adoption,” remarks Seo.

As for the working capacity, RC helicopters could cover much more area per hour than both drones and boom sprayers. Still, drones had a slight advantage in daily area coverage over boom sprayers.

Finally, to explore the management efficiency of each method, the researchers used a technique called “data envelopment analysis,” which is widely used in economy and operations management to benchmark the performance of manufacturing and service operations.

The results indicated that both boom sprayers and UAVs reached
maximum or near-maximum efficiency for most paddy areas, while RC helicopters
were much less efficient.

Overall, this study showcased the benefits of drones as tools for rice production and compared them to other well-established technologies.   But, the use of drones in agriculture is not without limitations, which should be addressed in the future, such as the modification of aviation laws that forbid higher pesticide payloads on drones, as well as maintenance costs.

“The total costs and efficiency of UAVs would be comparable to that of boom sprayers, which is not a hindrance for farmers wanting to switch to drones. Therefore, technological advances and deregulation are necessary to expand the use of UAVs while meeting safety measures and ensuring applicability,” explains Seo.

In conclusion, this study highlights both the advantages and limitations of using drones as agricultural tools. Still, there is no doubt that smart agriculture as a whole could greatly alleviate the labour shortage problems in countries with a rapidly ageing population, of which Japan is a prime example.