Building Custom Spreadsheet Functions with Python: End-User Software Engineering Approach

End-user computing empowers non-developers to manage data and applications, enhancing collaboration and efficiency. Spreadsheets, a prime example of end-user programming environments widely used in business for data analysis. However, Excel functionalities have limits compared to dedicated programming languages. This paper addresses this gap by proposing a prototype for integrating Python’s capabilities into Excel through on-premises desktop to build custom spreadsheet functions with Python. This approach overcomes potential latency issues associated with cloud-based solutions. This prototype utilizes Excel-DNA and IronPython. Excel-DNA allows creating custom Python functions that seamlessly integrate with Excel’s calculation engine. IronPython enables the execution of these Python (CSFs) directly within Excel. C# and VSTO add-ins form the core components, facilitating communication between Python and Excel. This approach empowers users with a potentially open-ended set of Python (CSFs) for tasks like mathematical calculations, statistical analysis, and even predictive modeling, all within the familiar Excel interface. This prototype demonstrates smooth integration, allowing users to call Python (CSFs) just like standard Excel functions. This research contributes to enhancing spreadsheet capabilities for end-user programmers by leveraging Python’s power within Excel. Future research could explore expanding data analysis capabilities by expanding the (CSFs) functions for complex calculations, statistical analysis, data manipulation, and even external library integration. The possibility of integrating machine learning models through the (CSFs) functions within the familiar Excel environment.

Effect of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit Dy10 on wheat dough properties and end-use quality

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunits(HMW-GSs) are the most critical grain storage proteins that determine the unique processing qualities of wheat. Although it is a part of the superior HMW-GS pair(Dx5+Dy10), the contribution of the Dy10 subunit to wheat processing quality remains unclear. In this study, we elucidated the effect of Dy10 on wheat processing quality by generating and analyzing a deletion mutant(with the Dy10-null allele), and by elucidating the changes to wheat flour following the incorporation of purified Dy10. The Dy10-null allele was transcribed normally,but the Dy10 subunit was lacking. These findings implied that the Dy10-null allele reduced the glutenin:gliadin ratio and negatively affected dough strength(i.e., Zeleny sedimentation value, gluten index, and dough development and stability times) and the bread-making quality;however, it positively affected the biscuit-making quality. The incorporation of various amounts of purified Dy10 into wheat flour had a detrimental effect on biscuit-making quality. The results of this study demonstrate that the Dy10 subunit is essential for maintaining wheat dough strength. Furthermore, the Dy10-null allele may be exploited by soft wheat breeding programs.

A New Framework for Employing Responsive End-Users Using FAHP and PSO Algorithm

The capacitor bank and synchronous condenser have been the only available sources of reactive power.Nowadays,most of the appliances use a power electronic interface for their connection.Applying a power electronic interface addsmany features to these appliances.One of the promising features is their capability to interact with Volt-VAR programs.In this paper was investigated the reactive power interaction of the end-user appliances.For this purpose,the distribution network buses are ranked based on their effectiveness,followed by studying their interaction in the Volt-VAR program.To be able to consider the uncertainties,Probability Density Function(PDF)curve was discretized to represent different scenarios,and the reduction method was utilized to reduce the situations.

Research progresses and prospects of medicated oil dual-purpose crop safflower based on patent mining

Safflower is widely cultivated and used as a dual-purpose medicinal oil worldwide.This research used the incoPat patent database to search the global safflower patents for nearly 20 years,aiming to reveal the development process and current situation of the safflower industry in China and around the world by analyzing patent application trends,patent technology characteristics,advantageous industries and regions,patent quality,etc.The analysis shows that safflower patent applications are generally increasing,and the period 2010-2016 is characterized by the rapid development of patent applications.The technical features of global patents are mainly concentrated in pharmaceutical preparations,cosmetics,food and health care,various beverages,animal feed,safflower cultivation and harvesting equipment,and safflower seed oil.During the rapid development of patent applications,safflower was further developed in cosmetics,edible oil,and harvesting equipment.In addition,patent applications in rheumatism and bone diseases have increased,with the potential for development.China is the leading region for researching and developing medicinal safflower patents,especially Shandong and Henan provinces.Foreign patents are more focused on the value development of safflower seed oil in food and chemicals.Compared to the major countries and organizations that apply for safflower patents on a global scale,the quality of Chinese safflower patents is medium,and more awareness of patent protection is required.This paper provides suggestions for the subsequent development of the safflower industry,summarizes and analyzes the development trend of safflower patents,and provides new ideas to obtain innovative patent results.

Influence of different nitrogen application on flour properties,gluten properties by HPLC and end-use quality of Korean wheat

This study was performed to identify how the different levels of nitrogen application affected the variances of gluten properties and end-use qualities and the differences of variances among Korean wheat cultivars. Protein and dry gluten content, SDS sedimentation volume and water absorption of Mixolab increased as nitrogen application increased. This ratio of the increase was higher in Korean wheat cultivars for bread than in Korean wheat cultivars for noodles and cookies. The proportion of（α＋β）-gliadin measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography（RP-HPLC） increased, but the proportion of ω-and γ-gliadin decreased as the protein content increased. The Korean wheat cultivars for bread showed a high proportion of（α＋β）-gliadin increase, the Korean cultivars for noodles had a high proportion of γ-gliadin decrease and the Korean wheat cultivars for cookies had a high proportion of ω-gliadin decrease. However, there was no variation of the component in the proportion of glutenin component measured by RP-HPLC, even though the protein content was increased, but all of the protein fractions measured by size exclusion（SE）-HPLC were increased. The soluble monomeric protein showed a high proportion of Korean wheat cultivars for bread by the increase of protein content. Bread loaf volume increased by the increase of protein content but there were no variances in the ratio of increase among Korean wheat cultivars. The cookie diameter decreased with the increase of protein content, and this ratio of decrease was the highest in Korean wheat cultivars for cookies. The hardness of cooked noodles also increased by the increase of protein content but there were no variations in springiness and cohesiveness. The decrease proportion of ω-gliadin affected the increase of bread loaf volume, the hardness of cooked noodles, and the decrease of cookie diameter.

Spatial distribution of Pb and its correlation at different grain positions among wheat varieties for specific end-uses

The relative content of Pb and its correlation were investigated in endosperm, aleurone layer and pericarp respectively among different wheat varieties for specific end-uses (WVFSE) using scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDS). The results showed that Pb contents in grains at different positions followed the order of endosperm > pericarp > aleurone. The differences of Pb contents varied among the WVFSE, and wheat with strong gluten had a highest average content of Pb, while wheat with medium gluten had a lowest one. There were significant third order equation correlations between Pb content in endosperm and that in aleurone layer and that in pericarp, respectively. And good correlation coefficients were obtained. However, the correlation differed at different position among WVFSE, which indicated that Pb contents in endosperm, aleurone layer and pericarp were regulated by each other.

End-Use Properties of Pineapple Leaf Fibre Filled Natural Rubber

The effects of incorporating pineapple leaf fibre (PLF) as a filler on the end-end properties of natural rubber vulcanizates were studied at different filler contents and particle sizes. The pineapple leaf fibre was used within filler contents, 0 to 40 phr at the following filler particle sizes, 75, 150 and 300 μm. The PLF was characterized for filler properties while carbon black (N330) served as the reference filler. The natural rubber vulcanizates were compounded on a two-roll mill. Results showed that the abrasion resistance of filled natural rubber vulcanizates was generally higher than that of the unfilled natural rubber vulcanizate at filler content, 5 phr, and for PLF (150 and 300 μm) and carbon black filled natural rubber vulcanizates, the abrasion resistance decreased within filler content, 5 to 20 phr after which it increased with filler content. CB exhibited better abrasion resistance in the vulcanizates than PLF at filler contents greater than 20 phr. The hardness of filled natural rubber vulccanizates was generally greater than that of unfilled vulcanizate and increased with increases in filler particle size at filler contents, 10 and 20 phr. The specific gravity of the rubber vulcanizates increased gradually with the increase in filler content at filler content greater than 5 phr, and increased with increases in filler particle size at any filler content considered. The swelling index of filled natural rubber vulcanizates in toluene generally decreased with increasing filler particle size at filler contents, 5, 10 and 40 phr whereas the swelling index for PLF (150 μm) filled natural rubber decreased with increases in filler content. CB filled vulcanizates absorbed the highest amount of toluene (2.5%) in the vulcanizates at filler content, 40 phr. PLF (150 and 300 μm) generally gave optimum performances in the end-use properties of the rubber vulcanizates determined within filler contents, 30 and 40 phr. The incorporation of pineapple leaf fibre into natural rubber was found to improve the end-use properties of natural rubber vulcanizates and therefore, has potential in the formulation of natural rubber products.

Effects of Fleckvieh on the Performance of Dual-Purpose Cattle Improved by Hybridization with Local Beef Cows

[Objective] The paper aimed to study the improved effect of local beef cattle with Fleckvieh cattle and provide theoretical basic data for local cattle industry in central plain agricultural area in China. [Method] With 500 local beef cattle as female parents and Fleckvieh cattle as male parents,hybridization improvement was conducted via artificial insemination. The growth performance,slaughter performance,milk performance and milk components of F1 and F2 hybrids were measured. [Result] The birth body weights of F2 were significantly higher than those of local beef cow,but there was no remarkable difference between F1 and local beef cow or F1 and F2. The growth rates of F1 and F2 at different stages were higher than those of local beef cattle. The slaughter performance,such as carcass weight( P < 0. 05),dressing percentage,net meat rate( P < 0. 05),marbling score of F1 and F2 were higher than those of local beef cow. Milk production performance,such as actual milk yield,305 d corrected milk yield and 4% standard milk yield of F2 were signally higher than those of F1 and local beef cattle( P< 0. 05),and F1 was markedly higher than local beef cattle( P < 0. 05). For milk composition,although milk fat percentage,milk protein rate,lactose rate and total solids( TS) of F1 and F2 were slightly lowered compared with local beef cattle at varying degrees,they were still at high levels compared with Holstein cows.[Conclusion]Fleckvieh cattle,as a male parent,can significantly improved growth performance,slaughter performance and milk performance of offsprings. It would also increases the economic efficiency of local beef cattle by higher quality and price,as well as changing production model from beef to dual purpose of beef and milk.

Farm Technical Efficiency under the Seasonal Milk Production of the Dual-Purpose Cattle System in El Salvador

The objective of this research was to calculate the technical efficiency and its determinants in seasonal milk production of dual-purpose cattle system farms of El Salvador （DPCS）. Seasons were classified as rainy （May-October） and dry （November-April）. The stochastic production frontier model through the Cobb-Douglas specification was used to provide the technical efficiency score and its determinants for the production data of the 2009 rainy season and the 2010 dry season of the DPCS farms from South East El Salvador. The results showed that the mean technical efficiency was 14% higher for the dry season than for the rainy season. Moreover, more farms obtained higher efficiency scores in the dry season. In the rainy season, milk production was attributed to labor and farmland, whereas in the dry season, it was attributed to the decrease of herd size. Therefore, we suggest adopting strategies such as increased cow productivity and improved feed quality to increase the overall technical efficiency of DPCS farms.

Screening of Oilseed and Vegetable Dual-purpose Rapeseed Combinations Based on Grey Relation Analysis and Cluster Analysis

To screen out the rapeseed(Brassica napus) combinations that are suitable for the production of both oilseed and vegetable, we carried out a field experiment for 11 new combinations(hybrids) of rapeseed and then performed grey relation analysis and cluster analysis on 12 traits including the yield and quality of young stem,seed yield, and several agronomic traits after harvesting of young stem. The results showed that A11, A7, and A4 had higher main stalk yield than other combinations.The young stem/leaf ratios of A11, A5, A7, A4, A3, and A1 were in line with the quality requirements for young stem commodity. The soluble sugar content of A2,A8, and A10 was higher than that of CK(Fengyou 737), and the seed yields of A4,A3, A2, A1, A5, and A6 were higher than that of CK. The 11 rapeseed combinations were classified into 3 grades by grey relation analysis and cluster analysis. Two combinations, A4(Y20A×95C4R) and A11(3194A×09-5R), showed the weighted relation degrees higher than 0.95, which were clustered into grade I by cluster analysis. They had good agronomic traits and good performance as both oilseed and vegetable. A8, A5, A3, A7, A2, A10, A6, and A1 were clustered into grade Ⅱ and A9 into grade Ⅲ. In this study, the oilseed and vegetable dual-purpose rapeseed combinations were screened out based on grey relation analysis and cluster analysis,which can provide reference for the breeding of oilseed and vegetable dual-purpose rapeseed combinations.

Implementation and Evaluation of Dual-Purpose Normal and Disaster Situations System Based on Delay and Disruption Tolerant Bluetooth MANETs

Dual-purpose systems for both normal and disaster situations are necessary for providing continuous services from normal situations to disaster situations. We have been developing the dual-purposed systems based on the assurance network design principle. The assurance network design principle makes the dual-purpose systems work stably in both normal and disaster situations. This paper proposes a connectivity-dependent data propagation scheme, in which each terminal transfers data adaptively by wireless multi-hop data transfer or store-and-forward data transfer depending on whether the terminal has connections to its neighboring terminals. To verify the resilience against disconnection among neighboring terminals, we show field experimental results on data propagation time. Also we propose the dual-purpose system, in which there are two types of graphical user interface (GUI) for both situations. Whenever each terminal receives a special packet in disaster situations, the GUI automatically switches from one type for normal situations to another type for disaster situations. We have unified these two types of GUI so that users can understand how to use them even when GUI is automatically switched. To validate feasibility of the dual-purpose normal and disaster situations system, we show experimental results on dissemination of assessment information and automatical switching of GUIs.

Enhancing Rice Productivity and Soil Nitrogen Using Dual-Purpose Cowpea-NERICARice Sequence in Degraded Savanna

ISFM （integrated soil fertility management） involving annual sequencing of dual-purpose early-maturing first crop of cowpeas with biomass incorporation before seeding second crop of early-maturing NERICA （New Rice for Africa） was evaluated to enhance rice productivity and soil-nitrogen. Five dual-purpose early-maturing cowpea cultivars and local cultivar （Katche） were seeded early in the wet season in five farmers＇ fields at Ouake （9046＇ N, 1°35′ E, highly degraded-savanna）, Benin. After pod harvest, cowpea residues were minimally worked into the soil using minimum tillage with hand-hoe and seeded with early-maturing, resilient NERICA8 rice that received either 20 kg N/ha or zero-N. Cowpea grain yield averaged 0.1-0.3 Mg/ha, and mean aboveground cowpea biomass produced and recycled was 0.54-0.64 Mg/ha among best cultivars （IT97-568-11 and IT89KD-288）. NERICA8 seeded after cowpea cv. IT97-568-11 and supplied with 20N gave the greatest grain yield of about 2.0 Mg/ha, accounting for 500% heavier grains than fallow-rice rotation with zero-N. Mineral-N dynamics monitored under NERICA8 in year 2 showed that previous IT97-568-11 plots had the highest mineral-N at tillering which persisted till panicle initiation stage. The adoption of an ISFM comprising annual cowpea-NERICA sequence by smallholder rice farmers could enhance productivity and improve N-supply in fragile savannas.

A k-mer-based pangenome approach for cataloging seed-storage-protein genes in wheat to facilitate genotype-to-phenotype prediction and improvement of end-use quality

Wheat is a staple foodfor more than 35%of the world's population,with wheatflourused to make hundreds of baked goods.Superior end-use quality is a major breeding target;however,improving it is especially time-consuming and expensive.Furthermore,genes encoding seed-storage proteins(ssPs)form multigene families and are repetitive,with gaps commonplace in several genome assemblies.To overcome these barriers and efficiently identify superior wheat SSP alleles,we developed"PanSK"(Pan-SSP k-mer)for genotype-to-phenotype prediction based on an SsP-based pangenome resource.PanSK uses 29-mer sequences that represent each ssP gene at the pangenomic level to reveal untapped diversity across landraces and modern cultivars.Genome-wide association studies with k-mers identified 23 Ssp genes associated with end-use quality that represent novel targets for improvement.We evaluated the effect of rye secalin genes on end-use quality and found that removal of w-secalins from 1BL/1RS wheat translocation lines is associated with enhanced end-use quality.Finally,using machine-learning-based prediction inspired by PanSK,we predicted the quality phenotypes with high accuracy from genotypes alone.This study provides an effective approach for genome design based on ssP genes,enabling the breeding of wheat varieties with superior processing capabilities and improved end-use quality.

ACORDE Project:Adaptable Residential Buildings for a New Social Framework

ACORDE project seeks to maximize buildings´flexibility,conceiving a residential building made of legally independent functional units that can be connected to or disconnected from each other with easy,plug-in facilities,in a way that permits to purchase exactly what the user need,as well as allows future changes for buildings to be adapted to the needs of their occupants,the user decides how to best utilize the space by acquiring or separating functional units along the years.For this to be possible,in addition to the legally independent modules concept,a diaphanous and very well organized structure is projected as well as a very solid and efficient envelope to ensure durability and minimal maintenance.The efficient occupancy of space leads to an optimal use of energy.

Enhancing Data Analysis and Automation: Integrating Python with Microsoft Excel for Non-Programmers

Microsoft Excel is essential for the End-User Approach (EUA), offering versatility in data organization, analysis, and visualization, as well as widespread accessibility. It fosters collaboration and informed decision-making across diverse domains. Conversely, Python is indispensable for professional programming due to its versatility, readability, extensive libraries, and robust community support. It enables efficient development, advanced data analysis, data mining, and automation, catering to diverse industries and applications. However, one primary issue when using Microsoft Excel with Python libraries is compatibility and interoperability. While Excel is a widely used tool for data storage and analysis, it may not seamlessly integrate with Python libraries, leading to challenges in reading and writing data, especially in complex or large datasets. Additionally, manipulating Excel files with Python may not always preserve formatting or formulas accurately, potentially affecting data integrity. Moreover, dependency on Excel’s graphical user interface (GUI) for automation can limit scalability and reproducibility compared to Python’s scripting capabilities. This paper covers the integration solution of empowering non-programmers to leverage Python’s capabilities within the familiar Excel environment. This enables users to perform advanced data analysis and automation tasks without requiring extensive programming knowledge. Based on Soliciting feedback from non-programmers who have tested the integration solution, the case study shows how the solution evaluates the ease of implementation, performance, and compatibility of Python with Excel versions.

Enable Excel-Based Basic Cybersecurity Features for End Users by Using Python-Excel Integration

In the digital age, the global character of the Internet has significantly improved our daily lives by providing access to large amounts of knowledge and allowing for seamless connections. However, this enormously interconnected world is not without its risks. Malicious URLs are a powerful menace, masquerading as legitimate links while holding the intent to hack computer systems or steal sensitive personal information. As the sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks increase, identifying bad URLs has emerged as a critical aspect of cybersecurity. This study presents a new approach that enables the average end-user to check URL safety using Microsoft Excel. Using the powerful VirusTotal API for URL inspections, this study creates an Excel add-in that integrates Python and Excel to deliver a seamless, user-friendly interface. Furthermore, the study improves Excel’s capabilities by allowing users to encrypt and decrypt text communications directly in the spreadsheet. Users may easily encrypt their conversations by simply typing a key and the required text into predefined cells, enhancing their personal cybersecurity with a layer of cryptographic secrecy. This strategy democratizes access to advanced cybersecurity solutions, making attentive digital integrity a feature rather than a daunting burden.

Comprehensive Evaluation of New Maize Varieties for Grain and Fodder Based on Membership Function Method

To screen new maize(Zea mays L.)varieties suitable for food and fodder dual-purpose in Du'an Yao Autonomous County of Guangxi,the agronomic characters,yield and quality indexes of 12 new maize varieties were measured,and the correlation between various indexes were analyzed,and the comprehensive performance of tested varieties was evaluated by membership function method.The results showed that Guidan 671 had the highest grain yield and whole-plant biomass at 10908 and 49965 kg/hm^(2),respectively,and the second was Zhaoyu 215 with a grain yield and whole-plant biomass of 10086 and 47175 kg/hm^(2),respectively.Grain yield was highly significantly positively correlated with ear diameter and 100-grain weight(P<0.01),and significantly correlated with whole-plant biomass,starch content,ear length and grain number per row(P<0.05);and the whole-plant biomass was highly significantly correlated with the number of grains per row(P<0.01),and significantly correlated with starch content,panicle length,plant height and panicle height(P<0.05).The comprehensive performance scores of the tested varieties from high to low were Guidan 671,Zhaoyu 215,Guidan 669,Guidan 6208,Guidan 666,Guidan 6205,Guidan 660,Guidan 6203,Guidan 6206,Guidan 162,Guidan 668 and Guidan 673.According to the values of membership function and combined with various indexes,Guidan 671 and Zhaoyu 215 had good comprehensive performance,and could be used as the first choice for food and fodder dual-purpose maize varieties in Du'an Yao Autonomous County.

Breeding and Application of Red-skinned Yun Peanut No.3

[Objective] The aim was to explore the production potential and extension value of Yun peanut No.3 to lay foundation for further extension. [Method] Selection, breeding, characters, yield and the stability of Yun peanut No.3 were analyzed. [Result] Yun peanut No.3 is a new early-mature peanut species bred based on foreign resources and local varieties through sexual hybridization and improvement. It contains 50.32% of fat, 26.5% of protein, 38.93% of oleic acid, 38.88% of linoleic acid, and the ratio of oleic acid and linoleic acid is at 1.00. It is a typical small-scale peanut with red skin, high contents of oil and fat, and constitutes the first one approved by cultivar registration in China. According to related tests, pod yield achieved 3 615.9 kg/hm2 ; kernel yield was 2 570.1 kg/hm2 and oil output was 1 293.3 kg/hm2 . For the production at scale, pod yields would be about 3 000 kg/hm2 ; the production value of fruit would be 25 000 Yuan/hm2 ; the yield per unit area would be maximal at 16 000 kg/hm2 , totaling 64 000 Yuan/hm2 . It enjoys different excellent qualities, such as drought-resistance and barren-resistance. It was approved in Yunnan Province in 2012 and extended at 20 000 Yuan/hm2 in major production lands. [Conclusion] Yun peanut No.3, which is highly-yield and highly-qualified, is suitable to be grown in Yunnan, as well as similar conditions in southern regions in China.

Solutions to Insecurity Problems in Seed Production of Two-line Hybrid Rice

The insecure problems of seed production have seriously hampered the healthy and sustainable development of two-line hybrid rice.The safety issues on seed production of two-line hybrid rice and current research situation were pointed out in this paper.The three main reasons for unsafety in seed production of twoline hybrid rice were unsuitable site selection,high critical sterility-inducing temperature and the drift of critical temperature.In this paper,strategies and measures were put forward based on many years of practice.It could minimize the risk in seed production of two-line hybrid rice by selecting dual-purpose genic male sterile line with lower critical sterility-inducing temperature and long lower temperature resistant time.Based on the climate data and climatic demands of the ＂three safe-periods＂ in seed production,a new idea for determining appropriate bases and periods for seed production was proposed by using computer technology,which solved the aimless selection of sites and periods for the seed production of two-line hybrid rice.Besides,we established a system of single plant selection and identification method and original seed propagation with cyclic cold water,which could reduce the generation number of original seed propagation in seed production and avoid the drift of critical sterility-inducing temperature.This paper improved the seed production safety in the three aspects of seed nature,seed source and seed production site.