SCI's peer-reviewed journals provide research studies and commentary articles undertaken by top scientists in emerging areas, addressing global audiences by crossing academic, industrial, government and science policy sectors.
Here are some of the highlights from the most recent issues of our journals. To view the full range of SCI's journals, visit our Publications page!
Precision agriculture: State‐of‐the‐art technologies
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.9693
An increasing population is a constant threat to global food security. The result is a paradigm shift towards technology-driven agriculture, which helps to maintain a good quality of life for this increasing population but brings in several negative impacts on the environment. This in turn poses a threat to the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources.
Precision agriculture (PA) is a state‐of‐the‐art concept of site‐specific farm management that helps to overcome this threat in a smart way using modern information and communication technologies. It reduces the indecorous use of resources, pollution and hence improves quality of life, which in turn helps to achieve sustainable development goals.
This systematic review provides an understanding of the present status, benefits, and limitations of the state‐of‐the‐art technologies used in PA.
Re-use of mushroom waste material
Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology DOI: 10.1002/jctb.5897
Mushroom substrate media helps mushrooms to grow but after several uses it is no longer useful and needs to be disposed of. In Malaysia, mushroom production generates approximately 120 metric tons of this waste product a day. Current disposal methods include dumping to landfill or by combustion – methods that create pollution and have an impact on human health. In an effort to reduce and re-use this material, it was decomposed using microwave irradiation. By adding the resultant product to non-waste mushroom substrate its properties were improved, leading to improved mushroom yield.
In focus section: Polyurethane coatings
Polymer International Issue: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/10970126/2019/68/5
Many of the good we use in our day to day lives are coated with a polymer – the paper we write on, the wood that makes up our furniture and the walls of our home.
This In Focus section of Polymer International explores polyurethanes for coatings and adhesive applications for those who are not familiar with this material and application.
These applications include green polyurethane synthesis; water‐based coatings; and automotive clearcoats.