bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“ESG score” vs. “ESG rating”: a conceptual model for the sustainability assessment and self-assessment of European SMEs
Authors: Murè Pina , Giorgio Saverio , Antonelli Valeria , Crisafulli Antonino
Published: October 2024

This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse regarding the distinctions and application of scoring and rating systems by presenting a conceptual model designed to assess and self-assess small and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter also “SMEs”) on their sustainability transition. Indeed, SMEs operate in very different economic contexts and have simplified organizational and governance structures. These characteristics can be effectively captured through this conceptual model based on a customized questionnaire tailored to the specificities of SMEs. Following an analysis of existing literature and regulatory frameworks, a conceptual model is proposed that includes a questionnaire that, unlike commonly proposed industry questionnaires, is designed to generate an Environmental, Social and Governance (hereinafter also “ESG”) Score complemented by a forward-looking perspective. This model can be useful for SMEs, as it allows them to self-assess their strengths and weaknesses in the sustainability transition process, highlighting specific needs and suggesting actions to improve their sustainability transition. It also allows banks to make a more accurate assessment of the sustainability of their customers, facilitating the redefinition of green and social credit products according to the needs of SMEs. Additionally, it also supports supply chain leaders in ensuring a sustainable supply chain by facilitating the sustainability assessment of SMEs. This is so that everything complies with the new European Union (hereinafter also “EU”) regulations. Finally, the questionnaire is currently being tested at a local bank and has been proposed to SME suppliers in a specific supply chain. It will be possible to make changes to the questionnaire based on the feedback received during the administration phase.
The One Million Cisterns Programme—a viability assessment of community rainwater management in Brazil
Authors: Cardoso Castro Pedro Pablo , Vachkova Maya , Ravena Nirvia , Veloso Nircele
Published: October 2024

This research investigated the governance of the national community-based rainwater harvesting initiative, known as One Million Cisterns (P1MC), within the local context of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. The initiative aimed to empower communities by providing water collection infrastructures and involved over 3,000 civil society organisations and various local and national bodies. Our study observed that while some communities thrived, others faced challenges in adopting and maintaining the cisterns. Focusing on communities near the city of Belém, Pará, within a specific Protected Extractivist Reserve Areas (RESEX), we explored the factors behind success and failure in managing rainwater systems. By applying Ostrom’s Institutional Analysis and Development Framework (IADF) and Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM), we assessed local institutional arrangements and community self-organisation. Through questionnaires and interviews with 109 end-users between 2018 and 2022, we identified two distinct organisational structures and their associated pathologies. The combined use of IADF and VSM provided valuable insights into the structural and institutional dynamics affecting system adoption, maintenance, and governance. Our findings emphasise the importance of a comprehensive framework integrating these analytical tools for designing effective social programmes in Brazil. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable development and resource management in the Amazon region, highlighting the significance of tailored governance structures and community engagement in addressing complex environmental challenges.
Communicating international politics narratives of security, democracy and human rights in contemporary society: indexing and analysis using online monitoring data
Authors: Olimid Anca Parmena , Georgescu Cătălina Maria , Gherghe Cosmin Lucian
Published: October 2024

Objectives

The role of the current research is to set up a conceptual and analytical framework of the security, democracy and human rights linkage in contemporary society mainly based on the indexing, monitoring and research of online content for the period 1945–2019.

Methods and methodology

Due to the focused timeline outlining the scientific research for the period 1945–2019, the paper favors both quantitative and qualitative approaches that follow a systemic framework of several thematic clusters which act as supporting pillars of analytical research by using Google Ngrams: (a) norms and constitutional values and principles; (b) civil and legal liberties; (c) human and individual approaches; (d) institutional governance and organizational establishment; (e) freedoms, civil and political rights.

Results and discussions

The research results explore the variations in the frequency of appearances of the selected concepts in the specialized literature indexed by the Google platform indicating essential aspects of the conceptual and theoretical evolutions in strict dependence to the significant resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations adopted in the same period and focusing on three central concepts: security, democracy and human rights. The spectrum of research singles out fifteen figures and an integrated analysis of contextual, historical, political, institutional, legal and social factors.

Conclusion

The research aims to expand the field of reference and analysis of the three notions of security, democracy and human rights by integrating the multifactorial and multi-conditional analysis for the interpretation of the results of the fifteen figures. In the broader framework of online monitoring and complementarily with the spectrum of UNSC resolutions, the research will use contemporary topics, intensely debated, used and monitored, focusing on the conceptual and linguistic study and on the relationship between the analytical inventory of scientific research and the international decision-making spectrum. This relationship is mediated by the lexicon of politics and the sociology of international relations, which reflected a growing evolutionary linguistic semantics since 1945, the year of the establishment of the United Nations.
FGF-2 enriched nanofiber scaffold for advancing achilles tendon healing: a comparative experimental investigation
Authors: Turgut Necmettin , Cengiz Çallıoğlu Funda , Bayraktar Aytül , Savran Mehtap , Aşcı Halil , Gülle Kanat , Ünal Meriç
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Achilles tendon rupture is a common and debilitating injury that significantly impacts mobility and quality of life. Effective treatment options that promote faster and more complete healing are needed. Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) has shown potential in enhancing tendon repair. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of FGF-2 in promoting tendon healing in a rat model of Achilles tendon rupture, providing insights into its potential as a therapeutic option.

Materials and methods

Forty-eight rat hind legs with complete Achilles tendon ruptures were divided into four equal groups: the Sham (S) group (tendon repair only), the Polymer (P) group (tendon repair with scaffold wrapping), the Produced FGF-2 (PF) group (scaffold coated with lab-produced FGF-2), and the Commercial FGF-2 (CF) group (scaffold coated with commercially sourced FGF-2). Histological analyses at two and four weeks post-surgery evaluated healing based on nuclear morphology, vascularity, fibril organization, inflammation, and adipogenesis.

Results

At the end of the second week, no macroscopic healing was observed in one rat each from the S and P groups. By the end of the fourth week, macroscopic healing was observed in all groups. The S and P groups exhibited similarly severe fibril disorganization, pathological adipogenesis, and sustained inflammation, particularly at the fourth week. In contrast, the CF group demonstrated improved tendon healing with increased vascularity and extracellular matrix, lower inflammatory cell infiltration, and better fibril organization. Pathological adipogenesis was absent in the CF group, especially at the fourth week. The PF group showed comparable improvements at the second week but experienced a relapse by the 4th week, with increased inflammation and adipogenesis.

Conclusion

FGF-2 coated scaffolds significantly enhanced tendon healing in a rat Achilles tendon rupture model by improving fibril organization, increasing vascularity, and reducing inflammation and pathological adipogenesis. These findings suggest that FGF-2 could be a promising therapeutic option for accelerating tendon repair. Future perspectives on tendon repair will focus on enhancing FGF-2 delivery using innovative scaffolds, paving the way for more effective therapies and improved patient outcomes.
Outcome of Solid Organ Transplantation in Patients With Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: de Rover Ingeborg , Orlandini Lara , Darwish Murad Sarwa , Polak Wojciech G. , Hartley Jane , Sharif Khalid , Sneiders Dimitri , Hartog Hermien
Published: October 2024

Access to solid organ transplantation in patients with intellectual disability is associated with health inequities due to concerns about treatment adherence, survival rates, and post-transplant quality of life. This systematic literature review aims to compare outcomes after organ transplantation in patients with intellectual disability compared to patients without intellectual disability. Embase, Medline Ovid, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Trials, and Google Scholar databases were systematically searched for studies concerning pediatric or adult solid organ transplantation in recipients with a diagnosis of intellectual disability prior to transplantation. Primary outcomes were patient and graft survival rates. Secondary outcomes were acute rejection rate, adherence rates, and quality of life. Nine studies were included, describing kidney (n = 6), heart (n = 4) and liver (n = 1) transplantation. Reported graft survival rates were non-inferior or better compared to patients without intellectual disability, while patient survival was reportedly slightly lower in two studies reporting on kidney transplantation. Although current evidence has a potential selection bias based on including patients with a sufficient support network, intellectual disability alone should not be regarded a relative or absolute contra-indication for solid organ transplantation.
A Comparison of Green Policy Ambitions by Examining Slovak and Hungarian Small Enterprises
Authors: Varga János , Csiszárik-Kocsir Ágnes , Garai-Fodor Mónika
Published: October 2024

Climate change is a problem for all of us and must be tackled as a priority, not just as the responsibility of national economic policies. It has not only environmental but also economic and social consequences. Climate change can change people’s daily lives, strongly affecting their health and mood. It will reshape the way the economy works, affect the way we use our resources, and impact on the state of our environmental assets. Emissions are one of the most important causes of global warming and are largely responsible for adverse changes in the ecosystem. Many businesses will need to fundamentally transform their operations to become climate neutral. Entire sectors will have to innovate and abandon current (polluting) solutions in order to allow businesses to do business in new and greener ways. This requires money, skills, knowledge, innovation and of course, leadership commitment. This paper sets out to examine the business case for greening. The study focuses on the behavior of enterprises and draws conclusions on environmental awareness by comparing two countries. The paper presents the results of quantitative primary research on a Hungarian and a Slovak sample, using a pre-tested standardized questionnaire survey. We analyzed responses from 427 enterprises in the Hungarian sample and 181 in the Slovak sample. The results show which enterprises in each country can be relied on most to implement sustainable, green policies and what the main challenges are in terms of promoting more sustainable behavior among enterprises in the two countries under study.
The Association of Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Problems and Prospective Self with Alcohol and Cannabis Use
Authors: De Geronimo Francesca G. , Stoddard Sarah A. , Huntley Edward D. , Keating Daniel P.
Published: October 2024

Adolescent alcohol and cannabis use pose significant developmental risks. This study examined internalizing and externalizing problems as risk factors and prospective self as a protective factor in relation to alcohol and cannabis use. Self-report data were collected from a diverse sample (N = 2017) of 15–17-year-olds using the Youth Self Report (YSR) for behavior issues and prospective self, a factor-derived variable reflecting future orientation, resistance to peer influence, and academic aspirations. Participants reported on 15 health risk behaviors, including alcohol and cannabis use. Weighted linear regressions evaluated associations between risk and protective factors and substance use. Results indicated a higher externalizing behavior was linked to increased alcohol and cannabis use, while a higher prospective self and internalizing behavior were linked to reduced alcohol use. Higher prospective self was associated with less cannabis use. Interaction terms were largely non-significant, except for the interaction between prospective self and internalizing behavior, where higher internalizing problems and high prospective self were linked to increased cannabis use. The findings highlight the importance of prospective self, especially at clinically elevated levels of behavior problems, and recommend further exploration of the unexpected positive associations between internalizing behavior and prospective self with cannabis use.
Effects of OsLPR2 Gene Knockout on Rice Growth, Development, and Salt Stress Tolerance
Authors: Gu Ying , Fu Chengfeng , Zhang Miao , Jin Changqiang , Li Yuqi , Chen Xingyu , Li Ruining , Feng Tingting , Huang Xianzhong , Ai Hao
Published: October 2024

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a globally staple food crop, frequently encounters growth, developmental, and yield limitations due to phosphate deficiency. LOW PHOSPHATE ROOT1/2 (LPR1/2) are essential genes in plants that regulate primary root growth and respond to local phosphate deficiency signals under low phosphate stress. In rice, five LPR genes, designated OsLPR1–OsLPR5 based on their sequence identity with AtLPR1, have been identified. OsLPR3 and OsLPR5 are specifically expressed in roots and induced by phosphate deficiency, contributing to rice growth, development, and the maintenance of phosphorus homeostasis under low phosphate stress. In contrast, OsLPR2 is uniquely expressed in shoots, suggesting it may have distinct functions compared with other family members. This study employed Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) gene editing technology to generate oslpr2 mutant transgenic lines and subsequently investigated the effect of OsLPR2 gene knockout on rice growth, phosphate utilization, and salt stress tolerance in the seedling stage, as well as the effect of OsLPR2 gene knockout on rice development and agronomic traits in the maturation stage. The results indicated that the knockout of OsLPR2 did not significantly impact rice seedling growth or phosphate utilization, which contrasts significantly with its homologous genes, OsLPR3 and OsLPR5. However, the mutation influenced various agronomic traits at maturity, including plant height, tiller number, and seed setting rate. Moreover, the OsLPR2 mutation conferred enhanced salt stress tolerance in rice. These findings underscore the distinct roles of OsLPR2 compared with other homologous genes, establishing a foundation for further investigation into the function of the OsLPR family and the functional differentiation among its members.
Research on the Antecedent Configurations of Tea Agricultural Heritage Systems for Sustainable Development from a Symbiotic Perspective
Authors: Mao Liyu , Ma Jie , Wu Wenxin , Jiang Wenqiang , Fan Shuisheng
Published: October 2024

Based on the theories of symbiosis and configurational analysis, this study constructs a theoretical framework for exploring the sustainable development of tea agricultural heritage systems, with an empirical investigation of 40 typical cases in China. Utilizing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) and integrating multi-source data, this study delves into the intricate mechanisms underlying its sustainable development. The findings indicate that the sustainable development of tea agricultural heritage systems is not determined by a single factor but results from the interplay of multiple conditions. Specifically, ecological protection performance and regional driving capacity serve as necessary conditions, while research resource allocation, industrial comprehensive strength, and heritage site development level act as sufficient conditions. Furthermore, the sustainable development pathways can be categorized into two types, namely “dual-cycle drive” and “total-factor drive”, encompassing four configurations. The “dual-cycle drive” emphasizes the mutually beneficial symbiosis between ecological and socio-economic sustainability, involving ecological protection, research resources, regional driving capacity, and industrial strength. The “total-factor drive”, on the other hand, reflects the synergistic symbiosis of ecology, socio-economy, and culture, incorporating various combinations of factors such as ecological protection, regional driving capacity, tea culture inheritance, and heritage site development. Lastly, the driving combinations leading to non-sustainable development exhibit asymmetry, suggesting that the formation of non-sustainability is not merely the reverse outcome of sustainable conditions. The absence of key conditions, such as ecological protection or regional driving capacity, results in the emergence of non-sustainable configurations. In conclusion, this study unveils the complexity and multidimensionality of the sustainable development of tea agricultural heritage systems, providing a scientific basis and practical pathways for formulating effective protection and sustainable development strategies.
Corn Yield Prediction Based on Dynamic Integrated Stacked Regression
Authors: Liu Xiangjuan , Yang Qiaonan , Yang Rurou , Liu Lin , Li Xibing
Published: October 2024

This study focuses on the problem of corn yield prediction, and a novel prediction model based on a dynamic ensemble stacking regression algorithm is proposed. The model aims to achieve more accurate corn yield prediction based on the in-depth exploration of the potential correlations in multisource and multidimensional data. Data on the weather conditions, mechanization degree, and maize yield in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province, from 1995 to 2022, are used. Important features are determined and extracted effectively by using principal component analysis and indicator contribution assessment methods. Based on the combination of an early stopping mechanism and parameter grid search optimization, the performance of eight base models, including a deep learning model, is fine-tuned. Based on the theory of heterogeneous ensemble learning, a threshold is established to stack the high-performing models, realizing a dynamic ensemble mechanism and employing averaging and optimized weighting methods for prediction. The results demonstrate that the prediction accuracy of the proposed dynamic ensemble regression model is significantly better as compared to the individual base models, with the mean squared error (MSE) being as low as 0.006, the root mean squared error (RMSE) being 0.077, the mean absolute error (MAE) being 0.061, and a high coefficient of determination value of 0.88. These findings not only validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in the field of corn yield prediction but also highlight the positive role of multisource data fusion in enhancing the performance of prediction models.
Automated Detection of Young Eucalyptus Plants for Optimized Irrigation Management in Forest Plantations
Authors: Santana Jhonata S. , Valente Domingos S. M. , Queiroz Daniel M. , Coelho Andre L. F. , Barbosa Igor A. , Momin Abdul
Published: October 2024

Forest plantations, particularly those cultivating eucalyptus, are crucial for the wood and paper industries. However, growers often encounter challenges, such as high plant mortality, after transplantation, primarily due to water deficits. While semi-mechanized systems combining machinery and manual labor are commonly used, they incur substantial operational costs. Fully mechanized automatic irrigation systems offer a cost-effective alternative that is gaining traction in adoption. This project aimed to develop an automatic system for eucalyptus plant detection to facilitate effective irrigation management. Two real-time eucalyptus plant detection models were built and trained using acquired field images and YOLOv8 and YOLOv5 neural networks. Evaluation metrics, such as precision, recall, mAP-50, and mAP50-95, were used to compare model performance and select the best option for localized irrigation automation. The YOLOv8 model had a mean detection precision of 0.958 and a mean recall of 0.935, with an mAP-50 of 0.974 and an mAP50-95 of 0.836. Conversely, the YOLOv5 model had a mean detection precision of 0.951 and a mean recall of 0.944, with an mAP-50 of 0.972 and an mAP50-95 of 0.791. Both models could serve as support tools for the real-time automation of localized irrigation for young eucalyptus plants, contributing to the optimization of irrigation processes in forest plantations.
Enhancing the Tolerance of a Green Foxtail Biotype to Mesotrione via a Cytochrome P450-Mediated Herbicide Metabolism
Authors: Lan Yuning , Cao Yi , Sun Ying , Wang Ruolin , Huang Zhaofeng
Published: October 2024

Green foxtail is a troublesome weed in crop fields across China. A nova target HPPD inhibitor is widely used to control weeds in agricultural production. Mesotrione, an HPPD inhibitor, cannot control green foxtail effectively under the recommended field dose, indicating that green foxtail is tolerant to mesotrione. Interestingly, a green foxtail biotype that exhibits a greater tolerance to mesotrione (GR50 value 463.2 g ai ha−1) than that of the wild biotype (GR50 value 271.9 g ai ha−1) was found in Jilin Province, China. The HPPD genes isolated from the two biotypes genome were aligned, while no difference was found in the amino acid of the HPPD compared with that of the wild biotype. Through the qPCR experiment, the HPPD gene copy number variation and overexpression were also not found. Cytochrome P450 inhibitors (malathion and PBO), pretreatment, could effectively reverse the tolerance. Compared with the MT biotype, the in vivo activity of P450s was higher after the mesotrione treatment in the HT biotype. Therefore, P450s might be involved in the mechanism of tolerance.
Improving Simulations of Rice Growth and Nitrogen Dynamics by Assimilating Multivariable Observations into ORYZA2000 Model
Authors: Li Jinmin , Shi Liangsheng , Han Jingye , Hu Xiaolong , Su Chenye , Li Shenji
Published: October 2024

The prediction of crop growth and nitrogen status is essential for agricultural development and food security under climate change scenarios. Crop models are powerful tools for simulating crop growth and their responses to environmental variables, but accurately capturing the dynamic changes in crop nitrogen remains a considerable challenge. Data assimilation can reduce uncertainties in crop models by integrating observations with model simulations. However, current data assimilation research is primarily focused on a limited number of observational variables, and insufficiently utilizes nitrogen observations. To address these challenges, this study developed a new multivariable data assimilation system, ORYZA-EnKF, that is capable of simultaneously integrating multivariable observations (including development stage, DVS; leaf area index, LAI; total aboveground dry matter, WAGT; and leaf nitrogen concentration, LNC). Then, the system was tested through three consecutive years of field experiments from 2021 to 2023. The results revealed that the ORYZA-EnKF model significantly improved the simulations of crop growth compared to the ORYZA2000 model. The relative root mean squared error (RRMSE) for LAI simulations decreased from 23–101% to 16–47% in the three-year experiment. Moreover, the incorporation of LNC observations enabled more accurate predictions of rice nitrogen dynamics, with RRMSE for LNC simulations reduced from 16–31% to 14–26%. And, the RRMSE decreased from 32–50% to 30–41% in the simulations of LNC under low-nitrogen conditions. The multivariable data assimilation system demonstrated its effectiveness in improving crop growth simulations and nitrogen status predictions, providing valuable insights for precision agriculture.
Organic Mulching Versus Soil Conventional Practices in Vineyards: A Comprehensive Study on Plant Physiology, Agronomic, and Grape Quality Effects
Authors: Mairata Andreu , Labarga David , Puelles Miguel , Rivacoba Luis , Portu Javier , Pou Alicia
Published: October 2024

Research into alternative vineyard practices is essential to maintain long-term viticulture sustainability. Organic mulching on the vine row improves vine cultivation properties, such as increasing soil water retention and nutrient availability. This study overviewed the effects of three organic mulches (spent mushroom compost (SMC), straw (STR), and grapevine pruning debris (GPD)) and two conventional soil practices (herbicide application (HERB) and tillage (TILL)) on grapevine physiology, agronomy, and grape quality parameters over three years. SMC mulch enhanced soil moisture and nutrient concentration. However, its mineral composition increased soil electrical conductivity (0.78 dS m⁻1) and induced grapevine water stress due to osmotic effects without significantly affecting yield plant development. Only minor differences in leaf physiological parameters were observed during the growing season. However, straw (STR) mulch reduced water stress and increased photosynthetic capacity, resulting in higher pruning weights. Organic mulches, particularly SMC and STR, increased grape pH, potassium, malic acid, and tartaric acid levels, while reducing yeast assimilable nitrogen. The effect of organic mulching on grapevine development depends mainly on soil and mulch properties, soil water availability, and environmental conditions. This research highlights the importance of previous soil and organic mulch analysis to detect vineyard requirements and select the most appropriate soil management treatment.
Experimental Study on the Application of “Dry Sowing and Wet Emergence” Drip Irrigation Technology with One Film, Three Tubes, and Three Rows
Authors: Wang Hongxin , Wang Chunxia
Published: October 2024

In order to alleviate the shortage of water in Xinjiang cotton fields, to ensure the sustainable development of the cotton industry in southern Xinjiang, it is necessary to determine a suitable “dry sowing and wet emergence” water quantity plan for cotton fields in southern Xinjiang to change the current situation. In this study, to explore the irrigation regime of “dry sowing and wet emergence” for cotton in Korla, Xinjiang, by combining field experiments and modeling simulations, the effects of different irrigation amounts on the water–heat–salt and seedling emergence characteristics of “dry sowing and wet emergence” cotton fields were investigated; the soil, water, and salt transport under different irrigation regimes was simulated by using HYDRUS-2D, and the seedling emergence rate of the cotton under different irrigation regimes was obtained through the establishment of a regression model. The results indicated that, in the field experiment, the soil water content of the 0−40 cm soil layer showed an overall trend of first increasing and then decreasing with time, while the soil salt content showed an overall trend of first decreasing and then increasing over time. The soil water content at the drip heads and cotton rows position, as well as on the 15th day, increased by an average of 5.58 cm3·cm−3 compared to before irrigation, and the soil salt content decreased by an average of 2.74 g/kg compared to before irrigation. In the irrigation water range of 675−825 m3/hm2, reducing the irrigation water amount increased the cotton emergence rate by 3.86% and the cotton vigor index by 70.53%. After the model simulation, it is recommended to choose the cotton “dry sowing and wet emergence” irrigation regime with a low to medium water amount (300−450 m3/hm2) at 14-day intervals or a low to medium water amount (300−375 m3/hm2) at 7-day intervals, which can obtain a higher seedling emergence rate.
Comparative Study of Back-Propagation Artificial Neural Network Models for Predicting Salinity Parameters Based on Spectroscopy Under Different Surface Conditions of Soda Saline–Alkali Soils
Authors: Jing Yating , You Xuelin , Lu Mingxuan , Zhang Zhuopeng , Liu Xiaozhen , Ren Jianhua
Published: October 2024

Soil salinization typically exerts a highly negative influence on soil productivity, crop yields, and ecosystem balance. As a typical region afflicted by soil salinization, the soda saline–alkali soils in the Songnen Plain of China demonstrate a clear cracking phenomena. Nevertheless, the overall spectral response to the cracked soil surface has scarcely been studied. This study intends to study the impact of salt parameters on the soil cracking process and enhance the spectral measurement method used for cracked salt-affected soil. To accomplish this goal, a controlled desiccation cracking experiment was carried out on saline soil samples. A gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) was calculated for the contrast (CON) texture feature to measure the extent of cracking in the dried soil samples. Additionally, spectroscopy measurements were conducted under different surface conditions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was subsequently performed to downscale the spectral data for band integration. Subsequently, the prediction accuracy of back-propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) models developed from the principal components of spectral reflectance was compared for different salt parameters. The results reveal that salt content is the dominant factor determining the cracking process in salt-affected soils, and that cracked soil samples had the highest model prediction accuracy for different salt parameters rather than uncracked blocks and 2 mm comparison soil samples. Furthermore, BP-ANN prediction models combining spectral response and CON were further developed, which can significantly enhance the prediction accuracy of different salt parameters with R2 values of 0.93, 0.91, and 0.74 and a ratio of prediction deviation (RPD) of 3.68, 3.26, and 1.72 for soil salinity, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the cracking mechanism in salt-affected soils, thereby advancing the field of hyperspectral remote sensing for monitoring soil salinization. Furthermore, this study also aids in enhancing the design of spectral measurements for saline–alkali soils and is also helpful for local soil remediation with supporting data.
Distribution Characteristics and Pollution Assessment of Soil Aggregates of Cr, Ni, and Cu in a Region of Northern Hebei Province
Authors: Xie Sha , Zhang Jie , Liu Zhijun , Guo Xiaofei , Sun Yuebing , Huang Qingqing
Published: October 2024

In order to understand the distribution, occurrence forms, and influencing factors of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu) in soil aggregates, a five-step extraction method was used to determine their forms in soil aggregates of different sizes in a mountainous area of northern Hebei Province. The ecological risk was evaluated using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and primary and secondary comparison value method (RSP). Redundancy analysis (RDA) was used to identify the main factors affecting the distribution and morphology of Cr, Ni, and Cu in soil. The results showed that in vertical distribution, Cr, Ni, and Cu were concentrated in the surface soil, but there was no clear relationship between soil depth and heavy metal content. The distribution characteristics revealed that Cr, Ni, and Cu in soils mainly existed in relatively stable Fe-Mn oxides and residue states, and their morphology in aggregates did not vary considerably with particle size. Furthermore, the RSP results showed that the pollution risk of Cr, Ni, and Cu was higher, with Cr and Ni posing the highest risk in the 0.5–1 mm and 1–2 mm particle size ranges. The RDA results showed that available phosphorus and soil organic matter (SOM) were the main factors that caused the characteristic difference of 1–2 mm aggregate components. Additionally, hydrolyzed nitrogen, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and calcium exchange have positive effects on the residual state of Cr. For Ni, SOM, CEC and exchangeable calcium have positive effects on the binding state of Fe and Mn oxides and carbonate. For Cu, CEC and exchangeable calcium are the key factors that cause the morphological differences of aggregates. Based on the above results, a theoretical basis has been provided for the prevention and control of pollution in the subsequent research area.
Soil Aggregates and Water Infiltration Performance of Different Water and Soil Conservation Measures on Phaeozems Sloping Farmland in Northeast China
Authors: Yang Tianqi , Zhang Zhongxue , Yu Peizhe , Yin Zhihao , Li Ao , Zhou Xin , Qi Zhijuan , Wang Bai
Published: October 2024

The enhancement of soil erosion resistance via soil and water conservation practices is a necessary venture in the modern agricultural industry. Soil infiltration performance, as a necessary indicator of erosion resistance, is closely related to soil aggregates. However, the relationship between the C/N ratio of soil aggregates and soil infiltration and the overall performance under conservation tillage practices is unclear. Experiments were conducted in 2022 and 2023 to observe the relationship between the soil carbon and nitrogen distribution patterns and soil infiltration of sloping cultivated land under different tillage practices. In this study, ridge tillage and pitting field + subsoiling tillage (RF-S) and contour tillage + subsoiling tillage (TP-S) have been used in a plot experiment, with down-slope cultivation (CK) as the control. The results showed that the stability of soil aggregates, the organic carbon and the total nitrogen contents of soil aggregates of different particle-sizes, and the overall soil infiltration performance were greatly increased under the RF-S and TP-S treatments (up-slope, mid-slope, and down-slope). Compared with CK, RF-S and TP-S significantly improved the stability of soil aggregates at different slope positions (on, in, and under the slope) and the C/N ratio and soil infiltration performance of aggregates with particle sizes of >2 mm and 2–0.25 mm. However, TP-S more effectively reduced the deposition of soil macroaggregates down the slope and can comprehensively improve the stability of soil aggregates and the infiltration performance. The mean weight diameter (MWD) and mean geometric mean diameter (GMD) of soil aggregates can reflect the distribution and stability of soil aggregates and also indicate the stability of soil structure. Compared with CK, the MWD of TP-S soil aggregates increased by 6% to 17.7%, the GMD increased by 9.7% to 27.2%, the average soil infiltration rate increased by 41.8% to 78.3%, the initial infiltration rate increased by 19.1% to 46.6%, and the stable infiltration rate increased by 109.2% to 165.9%. Soil infiltration performance is positively correlated with the C/N ratio of aggregates with particle sizes of >2 mm and 2–0.25 mm and negatively correlated with the C/N ratio of aggregates with particle sizes of <0.25 mm. The results of this study show that reasonable tillage measures are helpful in improving soil water and soil conservation and anti-erosion ability and illustrate the influence mechanism of soil aggregates on soil infiltration performance.
Teacher Comfort in Managing Asthma: A Two-State Study
Authors: Getch Yvette Q. , Schilling Ethan , Neuharth-Pritchett Stacey M. , Hirt Sofia
Published: October 2024

Background/Objectives: This study assessed teacher comfort in supporting the medical management of children with asthma in elementary and middle schools in two southern states in the U.S. Teacher comfort in asthma management is a largely underexplored area yet holds promise to support medical management in schools. Methods: Using survey methods, data were gathered from a random sample of teachers in two southern U.S. states (n = 574). Data from the Teacher Capability and School Resource Scale for Asthma Management scale were used to assess teacher comfort and capability in managing stressful asthma management episodes. Results: Teachers expressed comfort in supporting children with asthma in their classrooms. On the Teacher Capability in Social and Emotional Aspects of Asthma Management (SEAM) factor, the mean rating was 3.89 (SD = 0.83) out of 5, and the mean rating for the School Resources/Institutional Capability for Asthma Management factor was 3.77 (SD = 0.99) out of 5. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that access to school, community, and medical resources; coordinated school-based asthma care plans; and pre-service preparation improve teacher comfort. School nursing support is needed for teacher education.
Evaluation of the Efficacy of Three Newcastle Disease Vaccines Produced at the National Veterinary Institute, Bishoftu, Ethiopia, at Different Temperature Storage Conditions
Authors: Degefa Teferi , Birehanu Mahlet , Mulugeta Demise , Ferede Henok , Girma Endalkachew , Alemu Anberber , Muleta Dassalegn , Aga Abebe Mengesha , Shimeket Debebe , Woldemichael Dereje Nigussie , Akalu Mirtneh , Woldemariyam Fanos Tadesse
Published: October 2024

Newcastle disease, which affects poultry and is endemic in many nations across the world, is caused by Avian Paramyxovirus-1 (APMV-1). This experimental study was conducted from January to June 2021 at the National Veterinary Institute (NVI) to evaluate the virus viability and antibody titer of Newcastle disease vaccines (Hichner’s B1, Lasota, and ThermostableI2) stored at different temperature storage conditions. Chickens (12 treatment groups and 1 control group) were vaccinated and challenged with the virulent ND virus (0.5 × 106.5 embryonic lethal dose fifty (ELD50)). The immune responses (antibody titers) of chickens were evaluated using hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays. The Newcastle disease vaccines (Hachiner’s B1 (ND-HB1), ND-Lasota, and ND-Thermostable I2) stored at +4 °C HI-induced antibody titers of 151 (±103.3), 136 (±53.4), and 145 (±91) on day 14, respectively, whereas on day 21, they increased to 160 (±82) for ND-HB1 and 144 (±74.5) for ND-Lasota. ND-Thermostable I2 showed a decrement to 133 (±44.8). All three vaccines stored at different temperature storage conditions (+4, +23, and +30 °C) used in this experiment induced antibody titers greater than 128 on day 28 post-vaccination, except the Newcastle disease vaccine Thermostable I2 stored at +30 °C. The vaccines collected from private veterinary drugstores (customer vaccines Hachiner’s B1 and ND-Thermostable I2) used in this experiment induced very low antibody titers, less than 128 antibody titers, from days 14 to 21. Statistically significant induced mean antibody titers were observed for chickens that received vaccines stored at different temperature storage conditions for 72 h (p < 0.05), except for the ND-HB1 mean HI-induced antibody titer at days 7 and 28. Further, vaccine protection was confirmed by inoculation of both the vaccinated (treatment groups) and control groups by the virulent ND virus, where the control group started dying three days post-challenge but all chicks that received the vaccines survived. Overall, this study showed the impact of temperature storage conditions on the antibody titer and their effect on the titer of the viable virus in the vaccine, and thereby its protective capacity, warranting appropriate cold chain management of the vaccines along the value chain.
Quantification of Metronidazole in Tablets: Combining Thin-Layer Chromatography in the GPHF-Minilab™ with Image Processing Using Open-Source ImageJ Software
Authors: Harmon Christopher L. , Butts Sean , Sowers Mary Elizabeth , Bethea Ed , Jenkins David
Published: October 2024

The GPHF-Minilab™ is a portable toolkit for performing qualitative methods such as thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on common pharmaceuticals. It is particularly useful in resource-limited locations where it is more challenging to monitor for substandard and falsified (SF) medicines. However, the GPHF-Minilab™ TLC methods are only semi-quantitative at best and thus have issues monitoring product quality effectively. We have improved on the GPHF-Minilab™ TLC method for metronidazole, a common antibiotic, by making it fully quantitative. Sample solutions were spotted on TLC plates alongside three metronidazole standards at different concentrations. After development, plates were imaged in a lightbox with two different smartphone cameras. Images were processed through the open-source program ImageJ and resulting pixel data from the standard spots were used to create a calibration curve, enabling quantitation of the sample. The USP Metronidazole Tablet high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was used as the reference method. We validated this TLC method using 250 and 500 mg metronidazole tablets from different manufacturers and assessed linearity, range, accuracy, precision, intermediate precision, specificity, and robustness. These improvements should enhance the GPHF-Minilab™ TLC methods for metronidazole product screening. Additionally, the procedure is extensible to other analytes, although further validation would be required for each Minilab method.
Research on Cattle Behavior Recognition and Multi-Object Tracking Algorithm Based on YOLO-BoT
Authors: Tong Lei , Fang Jiandong , Wang Xiuling , Zhao Yudong
Published: October 2024

In smart ranch management, cattle behavior recognition and tracking play a crucial role in evaluating animal welfare. To address the issues of missed and false detections caused by inter-cow occlusions and infrastructure obstructions in the barn environment, this paper proposes a multi-object tracking method called YOLO-BoT. Built upon YOLOv8, the method first integrates dynamic convolution (DyConv) to enable adaptive weight adjustments, enhancing detection accuracy in complex environments. The C2f-iRMB structure is then employed to improve feature extraction efficiency, ensuring the capture of essential features even under occlusions or lighting variations. Additionally, the Adown downsampling module is incorporated to strengthen multi-scale information fusion, and a dynamic head (DyHead) is used to improve the robustness of detection boxes, ensuring precise identification of rapidly changing target positions. To further enhance tracking performance, DIoU distance calculation, confidence-based bounding box reclassification, and a virtual trajectory update mechanism are introduced, ensuring accurate matching under occlusion and minimizing identity switches. Experimental results demonstrate that YOLO-BoT achieves a mean average precision (mAP) of 91.7% in cattle detection, with precision and recall increased by 4.4% and 1%, respectively. Moreover, the proposed method improves higher order tracking accuracy (HOTA), multi-object tracking accuracy (MOTA), multi-object tracking precision (MOTP), and IDF1 by 4.4%, 7%, 1.7%, and 4.3%, respectively, while reducing the identity switch rate (IDS) by 30.9%. The tracker operates in real-time at an average speed of 31.2 fps, significantly enhancing multi-object tracking performance in complex scenarios and providing strong support for long-term behavior analysis and contactless automated monitoring.
The Effects of Vessel Traffic on the Behavior Patterns of Common Dolphins in the Tagus Estuary (Portugal)
Authors: Silva Iolanda M. , Jesus Nádia , Castro Joana , Luís Ana Rita
Published: October 2024

The impact of vessels on dolphin populations has been extensively studied worldwide. The common dolphin, Delphinus delphis, has been observed in the Tagus estuary for the past two centuries, and during the last several years, these sightings seem to have increased. This area has high levels of maritime traffic throughout the year, both commercial and recreational. To understand the possible effects of vessel traffic on dolphins’ behavior, land-based observations were carried out from March 2022 to March 2023. For a total of 67 events (48.9 h of dolphin sightings), differences in behavioral budgets were noted. Although “neutral reaction” was the most observed response when vessels were in the vicinity of dolphins, “negative reaction” was also common and five times more abundant than “positive reaction”. The GEE model showed statistical differences between these reaction types (positive, neutral, and negative). Markov chains’ analysis revealed distinct patterns in the behavioral transition probabilities, as dolphins were more likely to switch to a traveling state when vessels were nearby. This study is the first step towards understanding a potential impact source in the area since it is expected that tourism companies expand due to the increase in dolphin sightings in the estuary.
Efficacy of Sustained-Release Formulation of Moxidectin (Guardian SR) in Preventing Heartworm Infection over 18 Months in Dogs Living in a Hyperendemic Area
Authors: Quintana-Mayor Agustina Isabel , Carretón Elena , Montoya-Alonso José Alberto
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the efficacy of a sustained-release (SR) moxidectin microsphere formulation in preventing canine heartworm infection over 18 months in Canary Hound dogs, a hunting breed common in the Canary Islands, which is a hyperendemic region. These dogs typically do not receive preventive treatments and act as reservoirs for the disease. This field study was conducted across 11 hunting kennels with 109 dogs living outdoors, none of whom were receiving heartworm prophylaxis, with Dirofilaria immitis prevalence ranging from 11.1% to 57.1% (average 36.7%). Among these, 20 clinically healthy, heartworm-negative dogs were randomly selected to receive a single subcutaneous injection of moxidectin SR (0.17 mg/kg body weight). Antigen and Knott’s tests were performed at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. All dogs completed the study without adverse reactions and remained heartworm-negative throughout. By the end of the study, kennel heartworm prevalence ranged from 14.3% to 46.7% (average 35.4%). A single subcutaneous dose of moxidectin SR at the recommended dosage may prevent patent heartworm infection in dogs for up to 18 months in hyperendemic regions. Further studies are required to confirm these findings. Extending the efficacy period of moxidectin could improve owner compliance, particularly among those with lower animal health awareness.