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Cocoon sorting is one of the most labor-demanding activities required both at the end of the agricultural production and before the industrial reeling process to obtain an excellent silk quality. In view of the possible relaunch of European sericulture, the automatization of this production step is mandatory both to reduce silk costs and to standardize fiber quality. The described research starts from this criticality in silk production (the manual labor required to divide cocoons into different quality classes) to identify amelioration solutions. To this aim, the automation of this activity was proposed, and a first prototype was designed and built. This machinery is based on the use of three cameras and imaging algorithms identifying the shape and size of the cocoons and outside stains, a custom-made light sensor and an AI model to discard dead cocoons. The current efficiency of the machine is about 80 cocoons per minute. In general, the amelioration obtained through this research involves both the application of traditional sensors/techniques to an unusual product and the design of a dedicated sensor for the identification of dead/alive pupae inside the silk cocoons. A general picture of the overall efficiency of the new cocoon-sorting prototype is also outlined.

The metabolism of substances such as amino acids and carbohydrates plays a crucial role in the growth and development of silkworms. Analyzing the differential expression of key genes associated with these metabolic processes can help elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying abnormal development in silkworm mutants. This study conducted and compared transcriptome analyses of individuals from the silkworm mutant perforated small cocoon( psc ) and the wild-type XueSong KD(XSKD) at the third-instar larval stage. A total of 716 differentially expressed genes were identified, including 354 upregulated genes and 362 downregulated genes. Functional annotation based on the KEGG database indicates that these differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways related to amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids, as well as pathways involving neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions. Some key enzyme genes involved in substance metabolism and important neuroreceptor genes played a crucial role in the formation of the psc . In addition, by selecting some differentially expressed genes for qRT-PCR verification, the results indicated that the identification of differentially expressed genes were reliable. This study utilized RNA sequencing technology to screen for differentially expressed genes between the psc mutant and the XSKD. These findings provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of the abnormal phenotypes in the psc mutant, and they also have certain guiding significance for the breeding of high-quality large cocoon silkworm varieties.

This article presents the period of wrapping a silkworm in a cocoon during the season of making cocoons, as well as the results of experiments on their collection and analysis, existing problems. Based on the results, proposals were made to improve the system of attracting the population to entrepreneurship and the development of entrepreneurship. In particular, the effectiveness of organizing capacities for the production of raw silk by cocooning a silkworm at home, serving the enterprises of the silk cluster, is explained.

The classification of silkworm cocoons is essential prior to silk reeling and serves as a key step in improving the quality of raw silk. At present, cocoon classification mainly relies on manual sorting, which is labor-intensive and inefficient. In this paper, a cocoon detection algorithm S-YOLOv8_c based on the cooperation of MobileSAM and YOLOv8 for the mountage cocoons was proposed. The MobileSAM with a designed area thresholding algorithm was used for the semantic segmentation of mountage cocoon images, which could mitigate the effect of complex backgrounds and maximize the discriminability of cocoon features. Subsequently, the BiFPN was added to the neck of YOLOv8 to improve the multiscale feature fusion capability. The loss function was replaced with the WIoU, and a dynamic non-monotonic focusing mechanism was introduced to improve the generalization ability. In addition, the GAM was incorporated into the head to focus on detailed cocoon information. Finally, the S-YOLOv8_c achieved a good detection accuracy on the test set, with a mAP of 95.8%. Furthermore, to experimentally validate the sorting ability, we deployed the proposed model onto the self-developed Cartesian coordinate automatic cocoon harvester, which indicated that it would effectively meet the requirements of accurate and efficient cocoon sorting.

This study considers the mechanical response of Bombyx mori silk cocoons to knife stabbing, a simple but controlled way of simulating predaceous penetration. Here, we stab test both entire cocoons (EC) and cocoon wall segments (CWS) statically and dynamically, and note that the process can be broken down in three stages. The first stage involves material deflection, the second is knife penetration, and the third is knife perforation. It is found that ca. 95 % of the kinetic energy is lost during the penetration stage. There are noticeable differences in strain between the equatorial ( = 13 %) and meridional ( = 1.5 %) directions before and after the stabbing of EC specimens (p <0.001). The apparent area of the cocoon is noted to be on average 7 % lower after stabbing than it is prior to being stabbed (p <0.01). It is found that while compression of the cocoon from stabbing results in equatorial expansion (with a Poisson's ratio, ν = 0.25), in the meridional direction the cocoon contracts (ν = ‐0.05) thus displaying auxetic behavior. Force‐deflection curves are different in CWS specimens as compared to EC specimens, and this is attributable to natural curvatures in CWS specimens remaining even after a being flattened for mounting and testing. Differences between EC and CWS specimens are also noticeable in the sizes of the stab footprints, with EC samples exhibiting 33 % smaller footprints than CWS samples (p < 0.001). It is concluded that testing whole cocoon structures provides a more accurate understanding of their properties as compared to cut and flattened structures. This is because flattening cocoon wall specimens induces delamination and multiple failure zones, reducing the natural stab resistance of the material.

In this work, novel polymeric blends were prepared from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and silkworm cocoon waste (SCW), that were defective cocoons excluded during the silk-making process in the ratio 50:50 w/w. These blends were incorporated with moringa seed oil (MSO) as a bio-based plasticizer with different concentrations (1, 2, and 3%) to obtain a final bioplastic with superior antimicrobial properties. The new composites are characterized through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transmission Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurements, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dielectric, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties. Results of the study pointed to improved linking between the blend phases after incorporating 2% MSO. The composites could inhibit the growth of all the tested microorganisms. The conductivity σ dc values increased by increasing the content of MSO in the composite. The results demonstrate the potential of the new MSO plasticized composites as promising candidates for use in hospitals as antimicrobial surfaces.

The antimicrobial properties of spider silk have been a topic of scientific intrigue since ancient times. Despite extensive research, the question remains unresolved due to conflicting findings and methodological challenges. This work revisits and synthesizes current knowledge, proposing that spider cocoons, rather than other spider products, serve as a particularly promising focus for investigating antimicrobial factors. This emphasis arises from their critical role in parental investment and reproductive success, as the maternal care associated with spider egg sacs suggests the necessity for enhanced antimicrobial protection to safeguard offspring. By investigating existing research, we propose that the protective properties of spider egg sacs may derive not only from the silk itself, but also from the eggs contained within, as supported by previous hypotheses. Furthermore, drawing on the body of knowledge, we suggest that potential antimicrobial defense mechanisms may extend beyond intrinsic factors, encompassing interactions with microorganisms, plants, and other possible environmental elements that remain unexplored but may likely be interconnected. This review highlights that the potential interplay of these factors may be complex and possibly influenced by ecological and biological contexts. Unraveling these dynamics requires an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating diverse methodologies and perspectives to address the gaps in current knowledge. By refining the focus and embracing a broader conceptual framework, future research can provide definitive insights into the antimicrobial properties of spider cocoons. Resolving this long-standing question will not only clarify the scientific debate but also deepen our understanding of spider biology and the adaptive strategies that have evolved to ensure reproductive success.

The phytochemicals of high nutritional and functional properties in Lepidium sativum L. (garden cress) seeds have nominated their seed powder (regardless of the concentration used) for enrichment of mulberry leaves in order to enhance Bombyx mori L. larval feeding, and consequently to gain ground in sericulture industry. As expected, B. mori larval feeding on L. sativum- enriched mulberry leaves showed not only a remarkable increase in mean values of certain economic parameters of B. mori , such as cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, pupal weight, and egg yield, compared with the control group, but also showed a phenomenal increase in egg counts (on average, ca. 958–1256 eggs laid per female moth) and a significant increase in egg size (measured as egg surface area and egg volume). Male or female moth larval diet has significantly influenced the reproductive performance or fitness of both sexes of B. mori in terms of large-sized moths (measured as forewing, hind femur, and hind tibia lengths) and highly fecund moths (i.e., increased fecundity and spermatophore counts per female moth, and large-sized eggs). On the basis of B. mori female moth reproductive index, the female moths from L. sativum -fed larvae proved to have a lower reproductive index compared to their corresponding value for females of the control group, indicating more efficient utilization of larval resources for B. mori reproduction. Quantification of the three main physiological resources viz., protein, lipid and carbohydrate in the internal reproductive tract of B. mori female moths at death has nominated the female moth abdomens, or simply their bodies, as being a reasonable natural source of protein, lipid, and carbohydrate, to be involved in certain manufactures (e.g., pet feed formulations) instead of discarding them as a source of environmental pollution. Evidently, the L. sativum seed powder is of considerable interest because it remarkably improves the performance of such an economically important insect, B. mori . This is the first study for evaluating the efficacy of L. sativum seed powder in sericulture field to enhance B. mori productivity parameters.

Artificial diets for silkworms overcome the seasonal limitations of traditional rearing methods with fresh mulberry leaves. However, the current wet artificial diets, steamed at high temperatures, are not favored by silkworms, and they are cumbersome and challenging to preserve. These conditions adversely affected the development of artificial diet-based sericulture production. In this study, we disinfected dry powder diets with radiation and added distilled water without steaming before use. Then, the nutritional value of finished diets and their impact on silkworm development was assessed. Compared with steamed diets, nonsteamed diets were more attractive to silkworms. Chemical assays showed significantly more essential nutrients for silkworms, including L-ascorbic acid, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and urease in nonsteamed diets than in steamed diets. Feeding fifth-instar silkworm larvae with nonsteamed diets significantly improved the ammonia utilization efficiency of the diet and increased the cocoon shell rate and diet/silk protein conversion efficiency by 5.9% and 13.3%, respectively. When fed with nonsteamed diets, the abundance of aerobic microorganisms in silkworm intestines increased and the abundance of pathogenic bacteria decreased. Furthermore, the vitality of the silkworm, measured by the dead worm cocoon rate, significantly improved by 16.90%. In summary, preparing sterile wet diets without high-temperature steaming effectively improved the nutritional value of the diet and enhanced silkworm growth. Graphical Abstract