bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct Optical and Structural (Nanoyarn and Nanomat-like Structure) Characteristics of Zinc Oxide Nanofilm Derived by Using Salvia officinalis Leaves Extract Made without and with PEO Polymer
Authors: Alrajhi Adnan H. , Ahmed Naser M. , Halim Mohd Mahadi , Altowyan Abeer S. , Azmi Mohamad Nurul , Almessiere Munirah A.
Published: June 2023

This paper reports the optical properties of zinc oxide nanofilm fabricated by using organic natural products from Salvia officinalis leaves (SOL) extract and discusses the effect of the nanocrystal (NC) structure (nanoyarn and nanomat-like structure) on nanofilm optical properties. The surface-active layer of the nanofilm of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was passivated with natural organic SOL leaves hydrothermally, then accumulated on zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs). The nanofilms were fabricated (with and without PEO) on glass substrate (at 85 °C for 16 h) via chemical solution deposition (CSD). The samples were characterized by UV-vis, PL, FESEM, XRD, and TEM measurements. TEM micrographs confirmed the nucleation of ZnO NPs around 4 nm and the size distribution at 1.2 nm of ZnO QDs as an influence of the quantum confinement effect (QCE). The nanofilms fabricated with SOL surfactant (which works as a capping agent for ZnO NPs) represent distinct optoelectronic properties when compared to bulk ZnO. FESEM images of the nanofilms revealed nanoyarn and nanomat-like structures resembling morphologies. The XRD patterns of the samples exhibited the existence of ZnO nanocrystallites (ZnO NCs) with (100), (002), and (101) growth planes. The nanofilms fabricated represented a distinct optical property through absorption and broad emission, as the optical energy band gap reduced as the nanofilms annealed (at 120 ℃). Based on the obtained results, it was established that phytochemicals extracted from organic natural SOL leaves have a distinct influence on zoic oxide nanofilm fabrication, which may be useful for visible light spectrum trapping. The nanofilms can be used in photovoltaic solar cell applications.
Special Issue “Laser Technologies in Metal-Based Materials”
Authors: Manshina Alina
Published: June 2023

The first publication, analyzing the prospects for the use of laser radiation, was published under the authorship of the American physicist Arthur Shawlow in November 1960 (Schawlow, A [...]
Investigating the Supercapacitive Performance of Cobalt Sulfide Nanostructures Prepared Using a Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Alshoaibi Adil
Published: June 2023

In this study, we synthesized cobalt sulfide (CoS) nanostructures for supercapacitor applications via a one-step hydrothermal method. The effect of hydrothermal temperature on the synthesis process was investigated at temperatures ranging from 160 °C to 220 °C. The structural, morphological, and elemental analyses were performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD patterns show the hexagonal phase of CoS, and the samples prepared at 200 °C have high crystallinity. The samples prepared at other temperatures show amorphousness at lower 2-theta angles. EDX indicated that the sample was of high purity, except that the sample prepared at 220 °C had an additional oxygen peak, indicating that sulfur is not stable at high temperatures. In addition, a cobalt oxide (CoO) peak is also observed in the XRD data of the sample prepared at 220 °C. SEM images show that the particles in the samples prepared at 160 °C and 180 °C are agglomerated due to the high surface energy, whereas the samples prepared at 200 °C and 220 °C have a distinct morphology. Electrochemical analyses such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) were performed on all samples. The CoS sample prepared at 200 °C exhibited a high specific capacitance (Csp) of 1583 F/g at a current density of 1 A/g, with low resistivity and high cycling stability.
Neural Networks Applied for Predictive Parameters Analysis of the Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding Process of 6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy Plates
Authors: Bîrsan Dan Cătălin , Păunoiu Viorel , Teodor Virgil Gabriel
Published: June 2023

Refill friction stir spot welding (RFSSW) technology is a solid-state joint that can replace conventional welding or riveting processes in aerospace applications. The quality of the new welding process is directly influenced by the welding parameters selected. A finite element analysis was performed to understand the complexity of the thermomechanical phenomena during this welding process, validated by controlled experiments. An optimization model using neural networks was developed based on 98 parameter sets resulting from changing 3 welding parameters, namely pin penetration depth, pin rotation speed, and retention time. Ten parameter sets were used to verify the learning results of the optimization model. The 10 results were drawn to correspond to a uniform distribution over the training domain, with the aim of avoiding areas that might have contained distortions. The maximum temperature and normal stress reached at the end of the welding process were considered output data.
Approximate Roots and Properties of Differential Equations for Degenerate q-Special Polynomials
Authors: Kang Jung-Yoog , Ryoo Cheon-Seoung
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we generate new degenerate quantum Euler polynomials (DQE polynomials), which are related to both degenerate Euler polynomials and q-Euler polynomials. We obtain several (q,h)-differential equations for DQE polynomials and find some relations of q-differential and h-differential equations. By varying the values of q,η, and h, we observe the values of DQE numbers and approximate roots of DQE polynomials to obtain some properties and conjectures.
Recent Progress in MOF-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Non-Enzymatic Glucose Detection
Authors: Li Ziteng , Zeng Wen , Li Yanqiong
Published: June 2023

In recent years, substantial advancements have been made in the development of enzyme-free glucose sensors utilizing pristine metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and their combinations. This paper provides a comprehensive exploration of various MOF-based glucose sensors, encompassing monometallic MOF sensors as well as multi-metal MOF combinations. These approaches demonstrate improved glucose detection capabilities, facilitated by the augmented surface area and availability of active sites within the MOF structures. Furthermore, the paper delves into the application of MOF complexes and derivatives in enzyme-free glucose sensing. Derivatives incorporating carbon or metal components, such as carbon cloth synthesis, rGO-MOF composites, and core–shell structures incorporating noble metals, exhibit enhanced electrochemical performance. Additionally, the integration of MOFs with foams or biomolecules, such as porphyrins, enhances the electrocatalytic properties for glucose detection. Finally, this paper concludes with an outlook on the future development prospects of enzyme-free glucose MOF sensors.
Age-Related Changes in Post-Translational Modifications of Proteins from Whole Male and Female Skeletal Elements
Authors: Johnston Elizabeth , Buckley Michael
Published: June 2023

One of the key questions in forensic cases relates to some form of age inference, whether this is how old a crime scene is, when in time a particular crime was committed, or how old the victim was at the time of the crime. These age-related estimations are currently achieved through morphological methods with varying degrees of accuracy. As a result, biomolecular approaches are considered of great interest, with the relative abundances of several protein markers already recognized for their potential forensic significance; however, one of the greatest advantages of proteomic investigations over genomics ones is the wide range of post-translational modifications (PTMs) that make for a complex but highly dynamic resource of information. Here, we explore the abundance of several PTMs including the glycosylation, deamidation, and oxidation of several key proteins (collagen, fetuin A, biglycan, serum albumin, fibronectin and osteopontin) as being of potential value to the development of an age estimation tool worthy of further evaluation in forensic contexts. We find that glycosylations lowered into adulthood but deamidation and oxidation increased in the same age range.
Current and Potential Applications of Atmospheric Cold Plasma in the Food Industry
Authors: Khumsupan Darin , Lin Shin-Ping , Hsieh Chang-Wei , Santoso Shella Permatasari , Chou Yu-Jou , Hsieh Kuan-Chen , Lin Hui-Wen , Ting Yuwen , Cheng Kuan-Chen
Published: June 2023

The cost-effectiveness and high efficiency of atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) incentivise researchers to explore its potentials within the food industry. Presently, the destructive nature of this nonthermal technology can be utilised to inactivate foodborne pathogens, enzymatic ripening, food allergens, and pesticides. However, by adjusting its parameters, ACP can also be employed in other novel applications including food modification, drying pre-treatment, nutrient extraction, active packaging, and food waste processing. Relevant studies were conducted to investigate the impacts of ACP and posit that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) play the principal roles in achieving the set objectives. In this review article, operations of ACP to achieve desired results are discussed. Moreover, the recent progress of ACP in food processing and safety within the past decade is summarised while current challenges as well as its future outlook are proposed.
COVID-19 and the COVID-19 Vaccine in Japan—A Review from a General Physician’s Perspective
Authors: Kusunoki Hiroshi
Published: June 2023

More than 3 years have passed since the emergence of COVID-19. On 8 May 2023, COVID-19 in Japan was downgraded to Category 5 by the Infectious Disease Control Law. In Japan, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, cases of infection and deaths from severe disease were few compared with those in Western countries. However, in the medical field, screening for COVID-19 was given top priority, resulting in confusion and proving disadvantageous for many patients. The overreaction to COVID-19 as the most important issue in society can be attributed largely to statements by infectious disease experts. In addition, the mRNA vaccine emerged in 2021, and most of the population was vaccinated up to two times within a short period of less than 1 year because infectious disease experts strongly promoted vaccination. After 2022, when vaccination progressed and the Omicron strain, which is an attenuated strain, became the mainstay of SARS-CoV-2, the number of severe cases of COVID-19 decreased significantly; however, the number of infected people increased dramatically instead. A significant portion of the population is thought to have hybrid immunity due to vaccination plus natural infection and maintains high antibody titer levels. Henceforth, additional vaccination should be given preferentially to those who will benefit most from it. Conversely, measures against COVID-19 caused serious damage to the economy and society. Policies that not only address countermeasures against infection, but also those that encompass the economy and society as a whole, are necessary.
Detection of Defective Lettuce Seedlings Grown in an Indoor Environment under Different Lighting Conditions Using Deep Learning Algorithms
Authors: Hamidon Munirah Hayati , Ahamed Tofael
Published: June 2023

Sorting seedlings is laborious and requires attention to identify damage. Separating healthy seedlings from damaged or defective seedlings is a critical task in indoor farming systems. However, sorting seedlings manually can be challenging and time-consuming, particularly under complex lighting conditions. Different indoor lighting conditions can affect the visual appearance of the seedlings, making it difficult for human operators to accurately identify and sort the seedlings consistently. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a defective-lettuce-seedling-detection system under different indoor cultivation lighting systems using deep learning algorithms to automate the seedling sorting process. The seedling images were captured under different indoor lighting conditions, including white, blue, and red. The detection approach utilized and compared several deep learning algorithms, specifically CenterNet, YOLOv5, YOLOv7, and faster R-CNN to detect defective seedlings in indoor farming environments. The results demonstrated that the mean average precision (mAP) of YOLOv7 (97.2%) was the highest and could accurately detect defective lettuce seedlings compared to CenterNet (82.8%), YOLOv5 (96.5%), and faster R-CNN (88.6%). In terms of detection under different light variables, YOLOv7 also showed the highest detection rate under white and red/blue/white lighting. Overall, the detection of defective lettuce seedlings by YOLOv7 shows great potential for introducing automated seedling-sorting systems and classification under actual indoor farming conditions. Defective-seedling-detection can improve the efficiency of seedling-management operations in indoor farming.
Coarse and Fine Two-Stage Calibration Method for Enhancing the Accuracy of Inverse Finite Element Method
Authors: Lu Jiewei , He Dahang , Zhao Zhenyi , Bao Hong
Published: June 2023

The inverse finite element method (iFEM) is a novel method for reconstructing the full-field displacement of structures by discrete measurement strain. In practical engineering applications, the accuracy of iFEM is reduced due to the positional offset of strain sensors during installation and errors in structural installation. Therefore, a coarse and fine two-stage calibration (CFTSC) method is proposed to enhance the accuracy of the reconstruction of structures. Firstly, the coarse calibration is based on a single-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm (SOPSO) to optimize the displacement–strain transformation matrix related to the sensor position. Secondly, as selecting different training data can affect the training effect of self-constructed fuzzy networks (SCFN), this paper proposes to screen the appropriate training data based on residual analysis. Finally, the experiments of the wing-integrated antenna structure verify the efficiency of the method on the reconstruction accuracy of the structural body displacement field.
Optimizing Electrode Configurations for Wearable EEG Seizure Detection Using Machine Learning
Authors: Gelbard-Sagiv Hagar , Pardo Snir , Getter Nir , Guendelman Miriam , Benninger Felix , Kraus Dror , Shriki Oren , Ben-Sasson Shay
Published: June 2023

Epilepsy, a prevalent neurological disorder, profoundly affects patients’ quality of life due to the unpredictable nature of seizures. The development of a reliable and user-friendly wearable EEG system capable of detecting and predicting seizures has the potential to revolutionize epilepsy care. However, optimizing electrode configurations for such systems, which is crucial for balancing accuracy and practicality, remains to be explored. This study addresses this gap by developing a systematic approach to optimize electrode configurations for a seizure detection machine-learning algorithm. Our approach was applied to an extensive database of prolonged annotated EEG recordings from 158 epilepsy patients. Multiple electrode configurations ranging from one to eighteen were assessed to determine the optimal number of electrodes. Results indicated that the performance was initially maintained as the number of electrodes decreased, but a drop in performance was found to have occurred at around eight electrodes. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis of all eight-electrode configurations was conducted using a computationally intensive workflow to identify the optimal configurations. This approach can inform the mechanical design process of an EEG system that balances seizure detection accuracy with the ease of use and portability. Additionally, this framework holds potential for optimizing hardware in other machine learning applications. The study presents a significant step towards the development of an efficient wearable EEG system for seizure detection.
Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure and Performance in China: Does the Background of Foreign Women Directors Matter?
Authors: Ji Zhe , Abdoune Radouane
Published: June 2023

In the context of economic advancement, developing economy firms are witnessing a growing influx of directors with foreign backgrounds who are joining their corporate boards. Giving the significance of this emerging labor market trend for board members and the particular value of women directors in corporate governance, this study delves into the impact of women directors’ foreign backgrounds on a firm’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and performance. Using a dataset of listed firms on Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges from 2010 to 2019, we find that the foreign education and the work experience of women directors improve firm CSR disclosure and performance. Corporate boards with a higher proportion of women directors with foreign education experience tend to disclose more CSR information. And women directors with foreign work experience have a more pronounced impact on enhanced CSR performance. This study provides new insights into integrating stakeholder, social role, and neo-institutional theories to advance the understanding of CSR engagement in emerging economies.
Transboundary Transitional Waters: Arenas for Cross-Border Cooperation or Confrontation?
Authors: Povilanskas Ramūnas , Razinkovas-Baziukas Artūras
Published: June 2023

The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 evoked academic interest in various aspects of international security and stability. The main objective of this study was to elicit the essential features and indicators for gauging the current state of cross-border cooperation and the risks of confrontation in and around transboundary transitional waters, i.e., those transitional waters where two or more countries share an estuary, delta, or lagoon while having a contiguous border in the territorial waters. The Cooperation and Confrontation Index comprises five facets and 25 indicators spread equally among these five facets. The following are the facets based on the integrated values with which the Cooperation and Confrontation Index for each transboundary transitional water body is calculated: 1. Socioeconomic Cohesion; 2. Environmental Coherence; 3. Cross-border Connectivity; 4. Cross-border Co-operation; and 5. Confrontation Risk. A comprehensive worldwide inventory of transboundary transitional waters was created. The investigation results show that eight transboundary transitional water areas are under high confrontation risk, while six areas are under no confrontation risk. The conclusion is that this risk of confrontation is closely correlated with the level of corruption in a more bellicose country sharing the transboundary transitional water body.
El (des)orden judicial: tensiones entre justicia y política en Centroamérica
Authors: Feoli Marco
Published: June 2023

El aparato judicial constituye un elemento crucial del Estado de derecho y del régimen democrático. Hace cerca de cuatro décadas, inició un proceso de reforma judicial que incluyó tanto el mejoramiento del recurso profesional como la eliminación de formas de control que afectaran la imparcialidad de los jueces. La democracia de América Latina se encuentra en un momento de desafección, lo cual también influye en el desempeño del Poder Judicial. El presente trabajo busca acercar el análisis a la situación de la justicia en cuatros países centroamericanos —Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala y Nicaragua— a partir de criterios como reformas institucionales, nombramientos, sentencias, valoraciones de organismos internacionales o de sociedad civil, etc. Reflexionar sobre la independencia judicial implica poner en perspectiva la calidad de los sistemas democráticos y evaluar las promesas de una reforma judicial para entender dónde se ubica la justicia y hacia dónde deberían dirigirse las nuevas agendas.
On Improving the System of Statistical Indicators of the Secure Use of Digital Technologies
Authors: Karyshev M. Yu.
Published: June 2023

The article presents some results of the study of problems of improving the secure use of digital technologies in the new stage of the development of information and communication technologies (ICT). The relevance is explained by the fact that the use of ICT in the current conditions of the development of the information society and the digital transformation of the economy not only leads to the known positive socio-economic eﬀects but also presupposes the inevitable negative impacts. The objective of protecting the interests of an individual, society, and the state from internal and external information threats is related to the concept of information security. The expansion of its boundaries – from low-level technical measures for the protection of information systems (computer security and cybersecurity) to the strategic management of economic production in this context – has created a new relevant category, digital security, and dictates the expediency of combining these terms into a general concept of «secure use of digital technologies».

The author analyzed the existing methodological approaches to the statistical study of the problems under consideration and developed several proposals for improving the corresponding system of statistical indicators. Methods of descriptive statistics, correlation-regression analysis, and machine learning methods (in particular, various variants of classiﬁcation algorithms based on decision trees) were used in the analysis to achieve this goal.

While studying information and methodological sources which are indirectly related to statistical resources (a well-known web platform that brings together researchers in the ﬁeld of data science and machine learning, Kaggle, was examined), the author analyzed the results of a thematic survey of companies. As a result of modeling the inﬂuence of the «secure use of digital technologies» factor on the eﬃciency of economic activity, it was established that its variation by about a third determines the level of economic eﬃciency of the company within the presented population. The application of machine learning techniques has resulted in acceptable quality predictive models for classifying companies by economic activity in the same factor context.

From a practical point of view, according to the author, the application of the proposed approach to the formation of a system of statistical indicators shall be beneﬁcial for managing processes that ensure the security of the use of digital technologies at the enterprise, region, and country level as a whole.
Development of a Methodology for Assessment and Analysis of the Export Conjuncture of Russian Manufacturing Enterprises
Authors: Lola I. S.
Published: June 2023

The article explains the current methodological approaches to the analysis of the export conjuncture (on the example of Russian ma nufacturing enterprises), including a new methodology for its integral assessment. This assessment is made by modeling the global demand for domestic products and their price competitiveness in the international market.

The importance of the analysis of the current phase of Russia's economic development is emphasized, when a structural transformation of industrial and export policy is taking place and a new contour of foreign economic activity is being formed. This necessitates the improvement of methods for export climate assessment. The author underlines the relevance of using not only qualitative and quantitative indicators, but also their hybrid modiﬁcations in the economic and statistical analysis of export trends. The article presents a new hybrid measure – the Export Climate Index (ECI), which aggregates the indicators of demand for domestic manufactured goods and their price competitiveness in the international market. The methodology for its calculation is based on theoretical developments, adapted to the speciﬁcs of the Russian economy, and the best world practices for measuring and analyzing export trends.

The quantiﬁed results of business and consumer surveys in the countries that are Russia's main trading partners, as well as the real eﬀective exchange rate of the ruble according to the Bank of Russia, are used for empirical calculations.

The calculations results revealed a signiﬁcant leading correlation between the ECI dynamics and the dynamics of the referent – the indicator of export of goods in value terms, conﬁrming the possibility of using the new index not only for an integral assessment of the export climate in Russia, but also as a short-term predictor that eﬀectively supplements statistical measures.
What Do the Dynamics of the Coronavirus Pandemic in the «Large Economies» Have in Common?
Authors: Chetverikov V. M. , Pugacheva O. V. , Vorontsova T. D.
Published: June 2023

The authors analyze the dynamics of infected and deceased from the coronavirus pandemic over 148 weeks in the «large economies» (24 countries). According to the authors, a large economy is a country that, at least within one year from 1980 to 2019, produced more than 1% of the global GDP. Although the organization of the health care system in these countries is diﬀerent, only the general requirements of WHO could provide information on the spread of the pandemic in comparable formats. The change from daily data on the number of infected and deceased to weekly data on these indicators (per 1 million persons of the country's population) made it possible, ﬁrstly, to exclude insigniﬁcant daily ﬂuctuations of these indicators and, secondly, to obtain information in comparable values for countries with widely diﬀering populations.

The paper demonstrates that the frequently used comparison of countries by such integral indicators as the number of infected and deceased at a particular time is not very informative. It is due to the fact that, over time, country-speciﬁc circumstances change dramatically. Nevertheless, it was precisely the introduction for analytical purposes of such characteristics as weekly increment peaks of infected people and weekly increment peaks of deceased that made it possible to identify the four features. First, the number of those peaks is small for all countries: from 5 to 9 over 148 weeks. Second, these peaks cover between 70 and 90 percent of the totals of the integral number of infected and deceased in a given country. Third, most peaks of the infected are accompanied by peaks of the deceased with some delay: from zero to six weeks, but in most cases by two weeks, which is consistent with clinical observations. Fourth, the peaks of infected people in all 24 countries exhibit the statistical property of being quasi-synchronous (the so-called property of the maximums of these peaks to fall within predetermined intervals of weeks with probabilities that are the same for all countries). This fact is proved using the mathematical homogeneity criterion χ2.
Professional and Social Statuses as Predictors of Alcohol Consumption by Working Russians
Authors: Eltsov N. A. , Khorkina N. A.
Published: June 2023

The paper analyses alcohol consumption patterns among working residents of Russia, depending on their professional and social statuses, using statistical methods. The study is based on data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of the National Research University Higher School of Economics for the period of 2013–2019. Sampling included working women aged 16 to 55 and men aged 16 to 60.

The introductory part of the article covers the main trends in alcohol consumption among working Russians with diﬀerent professional and social statuses. The main part of the article presents the results of an empirical study of the statistical relationship between the characteristics of an employee's professional and social statuses and indicators characterizing the probability and volume of consumption of speciﬁc alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, vodka, etc.) and alcohol in general. An econometric analysis of the relationships was carried out based on a random eﬀect panel logistic model and an individual random eﬀect Tobin model. Statistical estimates were made separately for men and women. The regression analysis helped the authors ﬁnd an increase in the probability of consuming alcohol in general, as well as wine and spirits (cognac, whiskey, liqueurs) for workers with the highest professional status (legislators; high-ranking oﬃcials; senior and mid-level executives), as well as women with mid-level qualiﬁcations compared to unskilled workers. At the same time, the authors recognized a downward trend in the probability of vodka consumption for the respondents of both gender groups with the growth of their professional status (most pronounced for women). In addition, with an increase in the professional status of an individual, there was a trend towards a decrease in the volume of alcohol consumption in general and by speciﬁc beverages except for wine. The volume of wine consumption by men from the categories of "clerks and workers in trade and services" and "mid-level professionals; oﬃcials" exceeded the value of the corresponding indicator for unskilled workers. An analysis of the statistical relationship between the social status of working Russians and their predisposition to consume alcoholic beverages revealed an increase in the probability of consumption of selected alcoholic beverages among representatives of both gender groups and the probability of alcohol consumption in general (among men) with an increase in the social status of an individual with more moderate consumption compared to workers with lower social status (for men).

According to the authors, the results of this study can be relevant to the elaboration of speciﬁc alcohol policy measures aimed at reducing alcohol consumption among the employed population of our country.
Using Demographic Survey Results to Target Master Gardener Volunteer Recruitment
Authors: Takle Bryn , Haynes Cynthia , Schrock Denny
Published: June 2023

We conducted a survey of Iowa master gardener volunteers to identify demographics of program participants. Majorities of respondents were female, 50 years old or older, and college educated, similar to participants in previous master gardener studies. Highly engaged older individuals may not be able to continue to participate at their current levels into the future. Consequently, recruitment and retention of younger and/or more diverse participants would be beneficial to sustaining the program and maintaining long-term community connections. Identifying the demographics of volunteers allows program coordinators to focus future recruitment and retention efforts. Additionally, implications of the study may be applicable to volunteer coordinators in other states.
Different Definitions and Great Expectations: Farmers' Market Consumers and Local Foods
Authors: Sneed Christopher , Fairhurst Ann
Published: June 2023

Farmers' markets and local foods are popular among today's consumers. Despite this popularity, researchers have only begun to fully understand the farmers' market consumer. The study discussed in this article involved a sample of 485 farmers' market consumers from across the United States and was designed to provide a better understanding of how farmers' market consumers define the term local food and what characteristics these consumers expect from local foods. Differences among the definitions and characteristics relative to demographic variables were explored. The article concludes with marketing considerations for producers and market managers and implications for Extension professionals.
A Strategic Plan for Introducing, Implementing, Managing, and Monitoring an Urban Extension Platform
Authors: Warner Laura , Vavrina Charlie , Campbell Mary , Elliott Monica , Northrop Robert , Place Nick
Published: June 2023

Florida's Strategic Plan for Extension in Metropolitan Regions reflects an adaptive management approach to the state's urban Extension mission within the context of establishing essential elements, performance indicators, key outcomes, and suggested alternatives for action. Extension leadership has adopted the strategic plan, and implementation efforts are under way. The successful future of urban Extension in Florida lies in fully embracing and monitoring the plan and recommendations therein. In this article, we describe the course of developing the strategic plan, which included the use of a modified Delphi process and a strategic adaptive management format. We encourage others to adapt our methods to develop plans to meet their specific needs and desired outcomes.
Public Value Posters: Conveying Societal Benefits of Extension Programs Through Evaluation Evidence
Authors: Chazdon Scott , Meyer Nathan , Mohr Caryn , Troschinetz Alexis
Published: June 2023

The public value poster session is a new tool for effectively demonstrating and reporting the public value of Extension programming. Akin to the research posters that have long played a critical role in the sharing of findings from academic studies, the public value poster provides a consistent format for conveying the benefits to society of Extension programs and resources. This article provides background on the creation of a public value poster rubric and the implementation of an inaugural public value poster session. This type of session holds enormous potential for building capacity to link program evaluation with public value messaging.
Factors Limiting Youth Participation in 4-H and Other Youth Development Programs in Underserved Communities
Authors: Avent Martellis , Jayaratne K.S.U.
Published: June 2023

The purpose of the study described here was to identify factors limiting children's participation in youth development programs in underserved communities and ways to overcome those limitations. Findings are based on focus group interviews conducted with members of two underserved communities in North Carolina. Lack of awareness about the 4-H program, lack of affordability, program scheduling conflicts, lack of transportation, and felt exclusion were identified as the major limitations to children's participation in programs. Engaging with the community to win members' trust, informing the target audience of programming ahead of time, and making programs affordable are potential strategies for improving the situation.
Prevalent Approaches to Professional Development in State 4-H Programs
Authors: Smith Martin , Worker Steven , McQuitty Lynn , Meehan Cheryl , Lewis Kendra , Schoenfelder Emily , Brian Kelley
Published: June 2023

High-quality 4-H programming requires effective professional development of educators. Through a mixed-methods study, we explored professional development offered through state 4-H programs. Survey results revealed that both in-person and online delivery modes were used commonly for 4-H staff and adult volunteers; for teen volunteers, in-person delivery was most common. Additionally, most professional development efforts were characterized as episodic, expert-led, and group-based (traditional approaches); the least common approaches were described as ongoing, learner-centered, and group-based (reform-based approaches). Interview data supported survey findings. Traditional approaches to professional development are considered ineffective; thus, the implementation of more reform-based professional development opportunities is recommended.
Multiyear Succession and Estate Planning for Farm and Ranch Families
Authors: Hogge Jon , Eborn Ben , Packham Joel , Findlay Reed , Harrison Steve
Published: June 2023

Farm succession and estate planning pose difficult challenges for farmers. Idaho farmers generally do not have a business succession plan or an estate plan. Due to the complexities of farm management, University of Idaho Extension personnel partnered with the Idaho Barley Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency to develop a novel multiyear educational program. This program focused on introducing farm families to succession, retirement planning, and tax management strategies and motivating them to build and implement relevant plans. Findings indicate that participants increased their knowledge of succession and estate planning and completed and implemented major aspects of their management plans.
Psychology's Contributions to Extension: State of the Art and Calls to Action
Authors: Landini Fernando , Méndez Alejandra , Hegedüs Pedro
Published: June 2023

Several psychosocial processes are embedded in the practice of extension. However, there is no Journal of Extension article that systematically addresses how psychology can contribute to the field. Research conducted recently in Latin America addresses this issue and is applicable to those working in U.S. Cooperative Extension. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of possible contributions psychology can make to U.S. Cooperative Extension. These contributions are presented in the context of seven aspects of extension practice that have strong psychological components. Calls to action are presented as well. Essentially, extension organizations need to acknowledge the potentiality of psychology and invite psychologists to be part of their programs and research.
Unique Approach to Creating and Implementing a Social Media Strategic Plan
Authors: Davis Jamie , Dishon Karissa
Published: June 2023

Social media is a valuable communication, outreach, and marketing tool, yet Extension educators often underutilize social media due to concerns related to lack of guidance and perceived risks. This article showcases a unique approach to creating a social media strategic plan that applies best practices from the field of marketing and addresses Extension educators' apprehensions about using social media. The development and implementation of a statewide plan provided opportunities for each Extension educator to support the plan in varying meaningful ways according to his or her time availability, interest, and comfort level.
Preparing Students for Extension Careers and Expanding U.S. Extension Reach Through International Service Learning
Authors: Ebner Paul , Constantinescu Alina , Borlea Florian , Indrea Alexandra , Russell Mark
Published: June 2023

As U.S. Extension broadens its reach around the globe, an increased need exists for Extension professionals who have not only technical knowledge but also the cultural competencies to apply that knowledge in international settings. We describe a course that provides students with the opportunity to develop skills needed for potential careers in Extension, especially those involving international focuses, while advancing U.S. Extension's international efforts. The course also may serve as a model for instructors wishing to integrate Extension concepts into their teaching of undergraduates, thereby preparing individuals to make immediate impacts in Extension careers.
Sustainable social media storytelling: Success stories from SMEs in Ōtepoti Dunedin
Authors:   , Fatima Marie Gaane
Published: June 2023

This research investigated the use of social media storytelling of sustainability as a form of affordable and effective marketing approach for small businesses in Dunedin affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The main target of this research are small to medium enterprises or SMEs. To ensure the case studies provided useful material, initial criteria was utilised in their selection. The chosen businesses have sustainable practices already embedded into their ways of doing business but have practically no social media presence. Five small businesses in Dunedin, New Zealand, provided case studies to develop a framework for social media storytelling. By designing and implementing a 3-month social media campaign, the effectiveness of this framework was tested and evaluated. Varying measures of success for SMEs were identified and used to communicate the business owners’ values. A design enterprise solution was proposed to support SMEs to utilise the use of free tools on Facebook and Instagram platforms to effectively communicate their sustainable practices.
Трансформации геофизических полей и геолого-геофизические признаки золото-кварцевого оруденения на примере Средне-Урканской перспективной площади (Амурская область)
Authors:   North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute n. a. N. A. Shilo, FEB RAS, Magadan, Khasanov I. M. , Muravyev L. A. ,   Institute of Geophysics Ural Branch of RAS, Yekaterinburg, Tkachev A. V. ,   North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute n. a. N. A. Shilo, FEB RAS, Magadan, Makarova D. V. ,   North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute n. a. N. A. Shilo, FEB RAS, Magadan
Published: June 2023

In this paper, the results of the analysis of geophysical fields and their transformants (statistical, filtration) of gold mineralization areas are presented and some of their features are established. A set of geophysical studies and methodological processing techniques that can solve the problems of forecasting gold mineralization are presented. Based on the interpretation of a set of geophysical data and available geological materials, prospecting geological and geophysical signs of raremetal low-sulfide gold-quartz mineralization in the hierarchical sequence ore field - ore zone are offered.
Харгинский золотороссыпной центр Приамурской золотоносной провинции
Authors:   Scientific Research Geotechnological Centre, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Stepanov V. A. , Melnikov A. V. ,   Institute of Geology and Nature Management, Blagoveshchensk
Published: June 2023

The article presents the geotectonic and metallogenic position of the Amur gold-bearing province in the Kharga gold placer centre, in which there are eight ore-placer nodes (RRU) - Unya-Bomsky, Dugdinsky, Malomyrsky, Verkhnestoybinsky, Tokursky, Kharginsky, Sofiysky, and Kerbinsky. The main placers, which yielded about 25 % of the province's placer gold, and the sources of their formation are described. Placer gold production has been analyzed for almost a century and a half. Conclusions are made on the immediate prospects of the Kharga center for the placer and ore gold extraction.
Vegetation Response to the Climate Change in Polar Chukotka from 2.510-2.554 Ma BP
Authors:   North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute n. a. N. A. Shilo, FEB RAS, Magadan, Lozhkin A. V. , Andreev A. A. ,   Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany,   Institute of Geology and Oil and Gas Technologies, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia, Anderson P. M. ,   University of Washington, Department of Earth and Space Sciences and Quaternary Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA, Korzun Yu. A. ,   North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute n. a. N. A. Shilo, FEB RAS, Magadan, Nedorubova E. Yu. ,   North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute n. a. N. A. Shilo, FEB RAS, Magadan
Published: June 2023

The response of vegetation to climate change in Polar Chukotka between 2.510 and 2.554 Ma was determined by a palynological study of sediment cores from Lake Elgygytgyn recovered during the international expedition "El'gygytgyn Drilling Project". Six pollen zones were defined for this interval, which spans marine isotope stages (MIS) 101 and 100. Pollen zones 1 and 2 (MIS 101) as well as zones 3 and 4 (MIS 100) indicate the presence of Larix and Larix-Betula forests during interglaciations. The plant communities reflected in the spectra of zone 3 represent the warmest climates during the early Gelasian Age. During MIS 100, the period of maximum climate cooling is marked by the regional presence of shrub and herb dominated tundra (pollen zone 5). During the interstade (MIS 100, zone 6), the vegetation was dominated by Larix forest tundra. Pollen zones 3 and 4, which have spectra more indicative of interglacial rather than glacial plant communities, are more consistent with climate of MIS 101 and not MIS 100, as suggested by the core's age model. The incorrect age assignment of the boundary between these stages indicates that the Lake El'gygytgyn age model needs revision.
Распространение и формирование подземных содовых вод на водосборной площади Верхней Колымы
Authors:   North-East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute n. a. N. A. Shilo, FEB RAS, Magadan, Glotov V. E.
Published: June 2023

In the Upper Kolyma basin, mostly hydrocarbonate and sulfate waters are distributed with a predominance of alkaline earth metal cations in the composition. Hydro-carbonates with alkali metal cations (Na+ + K+), distinguished as soda, are found only in local areas in fault zones and those of granite intrusion contacts. They are the least mineralized (no more than 100 mg/dm3) in the seasonally thawed layer and river valley taliks, but even there, in separate foci at the elevation of above 1600 m, soda water springs with the mineralization exceeding 200 mg/dm3 occur. Soda waters in Cretaceous coal-bearing deposits within intermountain artesian basins are the most mineralized (up to 3000 mg/dm3). The association of these waters with deep fault zone has been assumingly traced. The sharp increase of the dissolved carbon dioxide and the carbonic acid anions in waters at local river valley sites is offered as the indicator of the current ingress of carbon dioxide into underground waters. Soda waters with mineralization exceeding 600 mg/dm3 , contained in some samples, are referred to balneal. Hydrogeochemical methods are proposed for further study of the role of deep faults in soda waters formation as well as for the possible use of them for curing and preventing diseases.
О сроках сохранения фертильности икры и эмбриональном развитии минтая Gadus chalcogrammus (Gadidae) северной части Охотского моря
Authors:   Institute of Biological Problems of the North, FEB RAS, Magadan, Yusupov R. R. , Yusupov Rus. R. ,   Institute of Biological Problems of the North, FEB RAS, Magadan
Published: June 2023

Experimental work was carried out to find out the timing of the fertility preservation for eggs remaining in the body cavity of the North Sea Alaska Pollock females after spawning, as well as the possibility of their normal course of embryogenesis. It was established that eggs remaining after spawning in the pollock female body cavity are not resorbed simultaneously. 2 months after mass spawning, 2.7 % of them still retain fertility, and, with artificial insemination, they are characterized by high survival, suffering no violations during embryogenesis. Data on the embryonic development of the species, the timing of the steps and main stages of embryogenesis, and the amount of heat required to achieve them are given. It is shown that pollock eggs and pre-larvae from residual fertility are significantly smaller in metric parameters than those from natural spawning, but morphologically are identical to them. Regional features of morphometric indicators for eggs and newly hatched pollock larvae in the northern part of the Sea of Okhotsk were revealed.