bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Lending Requirements and Loan Performance of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Kenya
Authors: Baariu Jotham Gitonga , Njoka Charity
Published: October 2024

Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies play an important role in providing financial services to many Kenyans. SACCOs have been identified as crucial growth engines in many countries across the world. According to the Sacco Society Regulatory Authority (SASRA) Annual report for 2021, the amount of NPLs increased from Kes 25.79 billion in 2019 to Kes 39.86 billion in 2020. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between lending requirements and loan performance of deposit-taking SACCOs in Kenya. The anchoring theory was credit default theory. The study used a causal approach research design with a target population of the study 11 SACCOs in Meru County selected using purposive sampling. Results showed that revealed a strong and positive relationship between the lending requirement and loan performance. The study concluded that lending requirements and loan performance are positively and significantly correlated. The study recommends that DT-SACCOs should have a credit risk management policy that guarantees loan repayment, accurate estimation of loan defaults, and suitable mitigation measures.
Kurver til Belysning af Konjunkturbevægelse
Authors: Instituttet for Historie og Samfundsøkonomi
Published: October 2024

Kul- og Raajærnsproduktion.
Optical Remote Sensing Methods for Floating Marine Debris Detection – Review and Bibliography Analysis
Authors: Duplančić Leder Tea , Leder Nenad , Baučić Martina , Bačić Samanta
Published: October 2024

In the last several decades, the disposal and accumulation of debris in the marine and coastal environment has been one of the biggest and fastest-growing threats to the health of the world's oceans. Marine debris is present in all marine habitats and represents a great danger to global environmental and human health. Therefore, this paper aims to support efforts to achieve Good Environmental Status with respect to marine debris in all oceans and seas. The application of optical remote sensing methods for floating marine debris detection was briefly reviewed and the bibliometric analysis of the professional and scientific literature elaborated upon. In the overview part, previously used marine debris detection methods have been listed. The WoSCC (Web of Science Core Collection) and Scopus databases were considered, and the R Studio Bibliometrix and Biblioshiny software tools used for bibliometric analysis. 209 documents that can be classified into 43 research fields were identified in the two databases. Approximately 20% of the documents were published in two journals: the Marine Pollution Bulletin and Remote Sensing. Marine debris research was mainly published in the USA, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and China. A total of 54 countries participated in the publication of documents and it should be emphasized that all countries have shown great interest in international cooperation during the scientific research on marine debris. Scientific research on marine debris was found to have increased significantly since 2017, which is highly important for the protection of the environment and human health.
Optimization of Legal Protection for the Leato Wreck Site: Discourse on Cultural Heritage Law and Maritime Conservation Law
Authors: Puluhulawa Jufryanto , Puluhulawa Fenty U. , Swarianata Vifi , Harun Amanda Adelina , Puluhulawa Irlan
Published: October 2024

Cultural heritage regulations and maritime conservation area regulations intersect and overlap in terms of legal protection, and nowhere is this more obvious than at the Leato underwater site/Japanese cargo ship wreck, referred to as the Leato wreck site  in this paper. This legal issue later became a stumbling block in optimizing the legal protection of the Leato/Japanese cargo wreck underwater site. The study used two approaches: the statute approach and the conceptual approach. Analysis: a shipwreck can be defined as a catastrophic event that occurred in the past, with potential socio-economic benefits in the future, contingent upon optimal efforts to conserve history and culture, with great socio-economic potential if its exploitation is successfully optimized, with an eye to conservation efforts. The combination of these legally binding regulations is the key to optimizing the legal protection of the Leato underwater site. The maritime conservation area regulations safeguard the shipwreck's location as an integrated and interconnected ecosystem. By contrast, cultural heritage regulations protect the core zone of the Leato underwater site as a maritime cultural heritage from potential natural or human-caused damage. Other important issues that need to be considered are the empowerment of local communities in realizing a sustainable environment and cooperation between institutions in maintaining and preserving underwater cultural heritage.
Note on a quadratic inequality
Authors:   School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Canterbury, Renaud Peter
Published: October 2024

In this note we obtain a quadratic inequality based on a result of Atanassov but in a more symmetric form. Somewhat surprisingly, well-known properties of Chebyshev polynomials can be used to give a straightforward proof.
The flexible stalk domain of sTREM2 modulates its interactions with phospholipids in the brain
Authors: Saeb David , Lietzke Emma E , Fuchs Daisy I , Aldrich Emma C , Bruce Kimberley D , Sprenger Kayla G
Published: October 2024

The microglial surface protein Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2) plays a critical role in mediating brain homeostasis and inflammatory responses in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The soluble form of TREM2 (sTREM2) exhibits neuroprotective effects in AD, though the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Moreover, differences in ligand binding between TREM2 and sTREM2, which have major implications for their roles in AD pathology, remain unexplained. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted the most computationally intensive molecular dynamics simulations to date of (s)TREM2, exploring their interactions with key damage- and lipoprotein-associated phospholipids and the impact of the AD-risk mutation R47H. Our results demonstrate that the flexible stalk domain of sTREM2 serves as the molecular basis for differential ligand binding between sTREM2 and TREM2, facilitated by its role in stabilizing the Ig-like domain and altering the accessibility of canonical ligand binding sites. We identified a novel ligand binding site on sTREM2, termed the ‘Expanded Surface 2’, which emerges due to competitive binding of the stalk with the Ig-like domain. Additionally, we observed that the stalk domain itself functions as a site for ligand binding, with increased binding in the presence of R47H. This suggests that sTREM2’s neuroprotective role in AD may, at least in part, arise from the stalk domain’s ability to rescue dysfunctional ligand binding caused by AD-risk mutations. Lastly, our findings indicate that R47H-induced dysfunction in membrane-bound TREM2 may result from both diminished ligand binding due to restricted complementarity-determining region 2 loop motions and an impaired ability to differentiate between ligands, proposing a novel mechanism for loss-of-function. In summary, these results provide valuable insights into the role of sTREM2 in AD pathology, laying the groundwork for the design of new therapeutic approaches targeting (s)TREM2 in AD.
Direct observation of the neural computations underlying a single decision
Authors: Steinemann Natalie , Stine Gabriel M , Trautmann Eric , Zylberberg Ariel , Wolpert Daniel M , Shadlen Michael N
Published: October 2024

Neurobiological investigations of perceptual decision-making have furnished the first glimpse of a flexible cognitive process at the level of single neurons. Neurons in the parietal and prefrontal cortex are thought to represent the accumulation of noisy evidence, acquired over time, leading to a decision. Neural recordings averaged over many decisions have provided support for the deterministic rise in activity to a termination bound. Critically, it is the unobserved stochastic component that is thought to confer variability in both choice and decision time. Here, we elucidate this drift-diffusion signal on individual decisions. We recorded simultaneously from hundreds of neurons in the lateral intraparietal cortex of monkeys while they made decisions about the direction of random dot motion. We show that a single scalar quantity, derived from the weighted sum of the population activity, represents a combination of deterministic drift and stochastic diffusion. Moreover, we provide direct support for the hypothesis that this drift-diffusion signal approximates the quantity responsible for the variability in choice and reaction times. The population-derived signals rely on a small subset of neurons with response fields that overlap the choice targets. These neurons represent the integral of noisy evidence. Another subset of direction-selective neurons with response fields that overlap the motion stimulus appear to represent the integrand. This parsimonious architecture would escape detection by state-space analyses, absent a clear hypothesis.
Intrinsic dynamics of randomly clustered networks generate place fields and preplay of novel environments
Authors: Breffle Jordan , Germaine Hannah , Shin Justin D , Jadhav Shantanu P , Miller Paul
Published: October 2024

During both sleep and awake immobility, hippocampal place cells reactivate time-compressed versions of sequences representing recently experienced trajectories in a phenomenon known as replay. Intriguingly, spontaneous sequences can also correspond to forthcoming trajectories in novel environments experienced later, in a phenomenon known as preplay. Here, we present a model showing that sequences of spikes correlated with the place fields underlying spatial trajectories in both previously experienced and future novel environments can arise spontaneously in neural circuits with random, clustered connectivity rather than pre-configured spatial maps. Moreover, the realistic place fields themselves arise in the circuit from minimal, landmark-based inputs. We find that preplay quality depends on the network’s balance of cluster isolation and overlap, with optimal preplay occurring in small-world regimes of high clustering yet short path lengths. We validate the results of our model by applying the same place field and preplay analyses to previously published rat hippocampal place cell data. Our results show that clustered recurrent connectivity can generate spontaneous preplay and immediate replay of novel environments. These findings support a framework whereby novel sensory experiences become associated with preexisting “pluripotent” internal neural activity patterns.
The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate ameliorates neurodevelopmental deficits in the GABAergic system of daf-18/PTEN Caenorhabditis elegans mutants
Authors: Giunti Sebastián , Blanco María Gabriela , De Rosa María José , Rayes Diego
Published: October 2024

A finely tuned balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) is essential for proper brain function. Disruptions in the GABAergic system, which alter this equilibrium, are a common feature in various types of neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Mutations in Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN), the main negative regulator of the phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate kinase/Akt pathway, are strongly associated with ASD. However, it is unclear whether PTEN deficiencies can differentially affect inhibitory and excitatory signaling. Using the Caenorhabditis elegans neuromuscular system, where both excitatory (cholinergic) and inhibitory (GABAergic) inputs regulate muscle activity, we found that daf-18/PTEN mutations impact GABAergic (but not cholinergic) neurodevelopment and function. This selective impact results in a deficiency in inhibitory signaling. The defects observed in the GABAergic system in daf-18/PTEN mutants are due to reduced activity of DAF-16/FOXO during development. Ketogenic diets (KGDs) have proven effective for disorders associated with E/I imbalances. However, the mechanisms underlying their action remain largely elusive. We found that a diet enriched with the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate during early development induces DAF-16/FOXO activity, therefore improving GABAergic neurodevelopment and function in daf-18/PTEN mutants. Our study provides valuable insights into the link between PTEN mutations and neurodevelopmental defects and delves into the mechanisms underlying the potential therapeutic effects of KGDs.
Bohccuid dálvebiebman – váikkuhusat bohccuid láhttenvieruide, boazodoalu geavadagaide ja birrasii
Authors: Skarin Anna , Turunen Minna , Eilertsen Svein Morten , Rautiainen Heidi , Horstkotte Tim , Baal Ole Nils Aslak , Blind Leif-Anders , Emanuelsson Ove , Hallergren Ove , Kaddik Anna-Marja , Labba Lars-Tomas , Larsson Helén , Larsson Mikael , Lifjell Tom , Lundgren Johan , Majuri Karoliina , Mustonen Janne , Oskal Helge , Paulsen Majken , Post Laura , Rasmus Sirpa , Risvoll Camilla , Tømmervik Hans , Utsi Nils-Johan , Nejne Vannar Elisabeth , Åhman Birgitta
Published: October 2024

This report is based on the results from a Nordic network project funded by The Nordic Joint Committee for Agricultural and Food Research (NKJ) during the years 2021-2022. This network was created to encourage further cross-border discussions about the prospects of winter feeding of reindeer. In reindeer husbandry winter feeding has increased during the last decades due to competing land use activities and climate change. Herders in Norway, Sweden and Finland have previously raised concerns about the benefits and risks associated to the increasing need of winter feeding of reindeer in all three countries.
The report, published in Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and North Sámi, and covers the main findings from a series of preparatory workshops within each country and a main workshop in Arvidsjaur 8-9 June 2022. During the network activities, reindeer herders, researchers and managers discussed the effects of feeding on reindeer behaviour, herding practices and the environment. The two main topics discussed at the preparatory workshops were 1) the short- and long-term effects of winter feeding on reindeer behaviour, and 2) local to large scale effects of feeding on the environment and the natural pastures. During the main workshop, discussions were held about reasons for feeding of reindeer, the preconditions of feeding in the three countries, how winter feeding is usually performed, and best practices in relation to reindeer behaviour and the environment.
The work aimed at promoting knowledge exchange on winter feeding of reindeer among all participants to help find solutions and mitigation actions to avoid changes in reindeer behaviour and negative effects of feeding on reindeer, reindeer herding and the environment. The report is aimed at herders, managers, as well as other land users, authorities and policymakers to give information on what was discussed and a summary of the challenges related to winter feeding and effects on reindeer behaviour and reindeer husbandry, and the environment.
Rangifer Report No 23 is the North Sámi version of the report. The Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian versions have already been published (Rangifer Report No 18, 19 and 20 respectively).
Sistema diagrid en madera: parámetros de diseño para edificios de uso mixto en Curicó
Authors:   , Cadagan Pérez Santiago
Published: October 2024

La industria de la construcción nos plantea dos problemáticas singulares que han de enfrentarse. Por un lado, esta es responsable de un porcentaje considerable de la energía y materiales utilizados a nivel mundial, asi como de los desechos contaminantes producidos. Por otro, Chile posee un déficit tanto cuantitativo como cualitativo de viviendas. Es por ello que se esta tesis de investigación y proyecto propone un sistema de construcción de módulos volumétricos prefabricados de CLT para la creación de un anteproyecto de un edificio híbrido de vivienda en altura en la ciudad de Curicó, mediante un estudio que combina la arquitectura con la gestión de la construcción de las diferentes etapas que componen el desarrollo de un edificio modular (fabricación, transporte y montaje). La dispocición de los módulos de forma intercalada permite generar espacios utilizando menos módulos, mientras que la integración de módulos verticales de servicios permite solventar los desafios de la integración de los servicios en construcción la modular al mismo tiempo que se aprovechan las ventajas de la prefabricación. Esto tambien permite prescindir de núcleos estructurales de hormigón.Dentro de esta propuesta se toma en cuenta una alta densificación, el encuentro entre espacios de uso público y privado, y la dispocisión de diferentes alternativas de vivienda que puedan cubrir multiples necesidades, se busca hacer de las etapas de desarrollo de la construcción mas eficientes y así, propiciar una construcción que pueda ser tanto sostenible como viable.
Problems on conformal invariance and Yamabe-Type flows
Authors:   , Espinal Florez Maria Fernanda
Published: October 2024

This work is specifically focused on the study of quantities in Riemannian geometry under a conformal change of metric, that is, under changes of metric which stretch the length of vectors but preserve the angle between any pair of vectors. In this context, my thesis work has centered on the study of symmetric polynomials σk of the eigenvalues of the Schouten tensor, which satisfy a tranformation law under conformal changes. This work consists of two parts. The rst problem concentrates on Yamabe-type ows for σk-curvature, which are classic examples of intrinsic non-linear geometric ows. Inspired by work of Daskalopoulos and Sesum [22], we investigate the existence and classi cation of conformally at rotationally symmetric k-Yamabe gradient solitons replacing scalar curvature by σk-curvature. Our rst result reduces the classi cation of k-Yamabe solitons to the classi cation of global smooth solutions of a fully nonlinear elliptic equation. Regarding the existence result, through a phase-plane analysis of an autonomous system of ordinary equations as in [71], we were able to prove local existence of the ow under conditions of admissibility for the initial metric when n ≥ 2k. Additionally, we had to analyze the asymptotic behavior and solution pro le in each case, taking into account, especially the admissibility of the solution. In contrast with the classical case, the fully non-linear nature of the problem requires additional restrictions (to ensure admissibility) and a more delicate analysis. On the other hand, in collaboration with Professor M. González [27] we work on the k-Yamabe singular problem. The research was focused on constructing metrics with constant σ2-curvature and non-isolated singularities. Speci cally, we contructed a complete non-compact Riemannian metrics with positive constant σ2-curvature on the sphere Sn with a prescribed singular set Λ given by a disjoint union of closed submanifolds whose dimension is positive and strictly less than n−√n−2 2 . This is a fully non-linear problem, nevertheless, we show that the classical gluing method (used by Mazzeo-Pacard for the scalar curvature [56]) still works in this setting since the linearized operator has good mapping properties in weighted spaces. The idea to construct this metric is to nd rst an approximate metric with the right asymptotic behavior near the singularity. Even though many of our arguments would work for a general k, we have some computational di culties that restrict our theorem to k = 2.
Clinicomorphological Analysis of Urinary Bladder Lesions with Special Reference to Immunohistochemical Analysis of Grey Zone Lesions using Cytokeratin 20: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Srivastava Ankita , Bansal Rani , Trehan Pooja , Pandey Sanjay , Srivastava Ashok Kumar
Published: October 2024

Introduction: There is a wide range of pathological lesions that can involve the urinary bladder, such as congenital anomalies, inflammatory conditions, metaplastic lesions and tumours which are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Broadly, bladder lesions are categorised as neoplastic and non neoplastic. Some urothelial lesions have mixed features or a tendency to transform into urothelial carcinoma such as metaplastic lesions, inverted papillomas, atypical papillary hyperplasia, Papillary Urothelial Neoplasm of Low Malignant Potential (PUNLMP) and urothelial dysplasia. They are grouped as grey zone lesions. Identifying the malignant nature of grey zone lesions is difficult to identify by histopathological examination. Pathologists are trying to differentiate and classify bladder tumours using Immunohistochemical (IHC) markers such as Cytokeratin (CK) 20, CK-7, p53, Ki-67, etc., to help oncologists take proper decisions regarding patient management. Aim: To study the histopathological lesions of urinary bladder tumours and diagnose the malignant nature of grey zone lesions using IHC marker CK 20. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study of urinary bladder lesions was conducted in the Department of Pathology of Subharti Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India between December 2012 and October 2014. A total of 87 patients with urological complaints were selected for the study. Data related to age, sex, clinical symptoms and personal habits were noted on a working proforma. Biopsy materials were processed and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) for histopathological examination. The intensity of the reaction was determined in different fields, ranging from negative (0) to intense (3). Data thus obtained were analysed and presented in this paper. Results: Out of 87 cases of urinary bladder lesions, 47 (54.02%) were neoplastic, 26 (29.88%) non neoplastic and 14 (16.09%) grey zone lesions. They were more common in males, particularly in the 7th and 6th decades of life, i.e., 27 (31.03%) and 22 (25.28%) respectively. The most common histopathological finding in non neoplastic lesions was inflammatory conditions seen in 21 (80.76%) cases; Papillary urothelial carcinoma-low- grade in 26 (55.31%) cases of neoplastic lesions and PUNLMP in 8 (57.14%) cases of grey zone lesions. The result was positive with CK 20 in 5 (62.5%) cases of PUNLMP, 1 (100%) urothelial dysplasia, and 1 (100%) poorly differentiated tumour tissues but negative in 3 (37.5%) cases of PUNLMP, 2 (100%) of Adenocarcinoma and 1 (100%) case of Nested Variant of Urothelial Carcinoma (NVUC). Conclusion: CK 20 is a good IHC marker for determining the malignant nature of tissues in grey zone lesions. The results will be more reliable when used together with other markers.
Ease of Doing Business and Entrepreneurial Growth in the Face of Global Economic Policy Uncertainty
Authors: Ogbonna Linus, Justin , Lawal Faith Chidimma , Okafor Sunday O.
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the impact of ease of doing business on entrepreneurial growth in Nigeria from 2010 to 2023, particularly in the context of global economic policy uncertainty. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and the World Development Indicator, the study applies an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to analyze the relationship between ease of doing business factors, such as access to credit, contract enforcement, and regulation, and entrepreneurial activity. The findings show that while improvements in the business environment significantly foster entrepreneurship, economic uncertainty hampers its growth. The study recommends that Nigeria should enhance its business environment and create safety nets to mitigate the adverse effects of global economic uncertainties. These insights are valuable for policymakers aiming to promote entrepreneurship and economic resilience in developing countries.
Analysis of Wheat Export Performance in India
Authors: Keerthana,V  , Thangadurai,T  , Raghunath,S  , Nethaji,M  , Ashwini.V  , Bairavi.M  , Dinesh.S  , Kirthana.R.M.S  , Manasa.V.R  , Manoj.R  , Tamilselvan.S
Published: October 2024

Wheat is a plant which is valued highly for its kernel as an edible part and an important source of carbohydrates. India ranks second position in wheat production in the world with a contribution of roughly 13.53 per cent to global wheat output (Naga Latha et. al., 2022). The study analyses the export performance of wheat and examines the trends in the growth performance of wheat in terms of area, production and productivity, export quantity and export value during 1973-2022 which is a period of 50 years. The analysis reveals that the highest compound growth rate in terms of area was 1.16 per cent, production was 4.49 per cent and productivity was 3.29 per cent respectively. The results of the study on the compound growth rates during the study periods have shown positive and increasing value which indicates high potential for the export of wheat from India. In the analysis of instability, there exists a high positive correlation between the export quantity and value of export in the overall period. Wheat area, production and productivity exhibit higher variability and instability in the overall period. Period II shows lower variability and instability, indicating increased stability. Period I exhibits moderate variability and instability. The overall period has the highest instability, suggesting unpredictable production. Instability indices show high instability at 126.97 per cent in Period I and 138.18 per cent overall, while Period II exhibits moderate instability at 101.94 per cent. Market volatility, trade policies, economic fluctuations, weather patterns and production variability contribute to these fluctuations. As of trend analysis, there is a positive and significant increase. The NPC value of wheat during the overall period was 0.051, it indicates that the commodity is not protected. NPC<1 indicates that the commodity is exportable and possesses export competitiveness and hence the hypothesis i.e. Indian wheat has better competitiveness in the International market.
Efficacy of Essential Oils Against Black Bean Aphid (Aphis fabae Scopoli) under Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Pandit Rabina , Dawadi Bishnu , Pandit Amir , Upadhaya Gayatri Kumari
Published: October 2024

The black bean aphid (Aphis fabae), poses a significant threat to cultivated crops, leading to food insecurity and hunger concerns. Essential oils from plants offer promising low-risk alternatives to synthetic chemicals for aphid control whose widespread use has raised serious environmental and health issues. To assess the efficacy of plant essential oils, an experiment was carried out at the Entomology Laboratory of Lamjung Campus, Tribhuvan University following a completely randomized design with three replications using eight treatments including a control (distilled water and ethanol). The essential oils used were Neem (Azadirachta indica), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), Palma rosa (Cymbopogon martini), Citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), Juniper berry (Juniperus recurva), Mint (Mentha arvensis) and control (distilled water and ethanol) at the concentration of 1% and 2% with the exposure time of 12, 24 and 48 hours for contact mortality and 2 µL and 4 µL with the exposure time of 12 and 24 hours for fumigation mortality. The result revealed that individual mortality rate increased with increasing oil concentration and exposure time. Lemongrass with 2% concentration resulted in the high mortality percentage (66.66%) whereas, Neem with 1% concentration demonstrated the lowest (23.3%) in contact assay. Similarly, in fumigation assay, the highest mortality percentage was exhibited by 4 µL Lemongrass (100%) when compared to 2 µL Neem and Juniper berry have lowest mortality percentage (73.33%) after the control. Therefore, Lemongrass with 2% concentration for contact assay and 4 µL Lemongrass for fumigation assay was considerably more effective than other used essential oils. However, more research is necessary with locally available essential oils to assure the long-term effectiveness in field and lab conditions with different concentrations and exposure time. The result could benefit the farmer and gardener by developing essential oils as commercial products to apply natural, eco-friendly and non-toxic management method which is alternative to synthetic pesticides.
Opportunities and Challenges on Natural Farming
Authors: C Dhivya , P P Murugan , M Senthilkumar , R Arunkumar
Published: October 2024

Natural Farming, an ecological and sustainable agricultural practice, emphasizes minimal human intervention and the use of natural resources for crop cultivation. Unlike conventional farming, which relies heavily on chemical inputs, Natural Farming integrates practices such as minimal tillage and organic inputs like cow dung and plant-based preparations. This case study explores Natural Farming practices among farmers in Tamil Nadu, focusing on their experiences, opportunities, and challenges. The study includes detailed case studies of three farmers in Coimbatore District and each farmer employing different natural farming techniques and facing unique obstacles. The findings reveal that Natural Farming offers significant benefits, including reduced farming costs, improved soil health, and enhanced market opportunities for organic produce. Farmers reported that these practices lead to better crop resilience and higher-quality produce, often fetching premium prices. However, challenges persist, including difficulties in weed control, pest and disease management, labor shortages, and delay in certification, which can affect market access and profitability. The study underscores the potential of Natural Farming to transform agricultural practices by promoting sustainability and reducing dependence on chemical inputs. It also highlights the need for supportive interventions, such as enhanced market access, comprehensive farmer training, and government support to address the identified challenges and maximize the benefits of Natural Farming. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of Natural Farming's role in sustainable agriculture and its implications for farmers in Tamil Nadu.
Assessment of Fuel Wood Consumption and Its Effect on Forest Depletion in Dry Deciduous Forest of Haliyal Taluk, Uttar Kannada District, India
Authors: Rathod Chetan Bhanu , Rathod Umesh , K V Murali
Published: October 2024

Forest plays a significant role in extending wood and non-wood resources around the world, Forests provide ecosystem services, such as timber, food, fuel, fodder, non-wood products and shelter, which are essential for human well-being. However the increasing demand and pressure on forest resources majorly like fuel wood lead to degradation of forests. Hence it is important to assess the fuel wood consumption pattern and its impact on the forest for sustainable management of resources. In the present study, Haliyal taluk was selected, the area which is under rapid urbanization, surrounded by dry deciduous forest and the people living in that area depend on forest for fuel wood consumption. The study examined fuel wood collection among different farmer categories: large, medium, small, and landless. Results from the semi structured questioner survey revealed that medium farmers collected the most fuel wood. The total fuel wood consumption in Haliyal taluk was 5232.2 tonnes, with an average household consumption of 2.60 quintals of fuel wood per year. Major preferred tree species for fuel wood were Xylia xylocarpa, Terminalia tomentosa and Lagerstroemia lanceolata, which are valued for their high energy content, favourable burning characteristics and availability. For estimation of forest degradation Randomized Block Design was used and the study classified the forest vegetation into four crown density classes: Very Dense Forest (T1), Moderately Dense Forest (T2), Open Forest (T3), and Scrub (T4). Data was collected from 20 plots (20 x 20 m each) across these classes to measure forest depletion. The results showed that statistically significant differences in degradation levels, with the highest depletion (31.56 m³/ha) in very dense forests followed by moderate depletion (6.75 m³/ha) in moderately dense forests and the lowest (2.4 m³/ha) in scrub forests. This pattern reflects greater anthropogenic pressures and higher fuel wood availability in more dense forest types.
Optimizing Cereal Crop Performance with Nutrient Priming
Authors: Alex Vincy , D. Jacob , P. Shalini Pillai , Raj Sheeja K , Bastian Joby , M.V. Navya
Published: October 2024

The fundamental building blocks for the success of stand establishment for any crop plant are better germination and robust seedlings. Pre-treatment of the seeds is one of the best methods that may possibly improve germination and maintain the uniformity and stability of the seedlings. Primed seeds usually exhibit synchronized and early germination and sometimes greater total germination percentage over a range of environmental conditions. This enhancement has been linked to osmotic correction, metabolic repair during imbibition, and the accumulation of chemicals that promote germination. Nutri-priming is a good alternative to meet plant nutritional requirements. Seed priming with macro or micronutrient (nutripriming) application has been recently done on various agronomic crops including rice, maize and wheat; lead to better germination and establishment. It aims to combine the positive effects of hydro priming with the nutritional aspect of fertilizers. Crop seeds can be primed with either micro or macronutrients, which improves the nutrient content and increases the germination, sprouting, and water uptake efficiency. Primed seeds performed better under diverse environments especially under sub optimal conditions at sowing and resulted in higher yield compared to unprimed seeds. Priming requires specific temperature and time, if it is not followed then the seed can be deteriorated due to embryo protrusion. Due to readily available food during germination, primed seed are better able to complete the process of germination in a short time and cope with environmental stresses including low temperatures. In fact, it may be regarded as a useful method for enhancing crop establishment in regions with unfavourable agro-climatic conditions (rainfed, dry farming, and dry land farming) with increased yield, tolerance to stressful situations, resistance to diseases, crop competitiveness against weeds, and water use efficiency.
Effect of the blending between upland and combing waste on cotton fiber and yarn quality
Authors: Sayed Eman Rashwan El – , Gadalla Abo Baker E.M .
Published: October 2024

Blending of cotton wastes with raw materials to produce different textile products has economically and environmentally beneficial. This study was carried out in Cotton Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center. This investigation aimed to study the impact of blending ratio on fiber, mechanical and physical yarn quality properties to find out the optimum blending ratio that achieves the optimum yarn quality properties. For this purpose, fiber properties, mechanical and physical yarn quality properties of ring spun yarns produced from cotton variety Giza95, Delta pine245 cotton variety (upland cotton) combed cotton waste of Extra Fine Giza93 and six different binary blend ratios were studied. Blended samples were spun into 36s, and 40s, carded yarns at constant twist multiplier 4 on ring spinning system. the results showed that fiber properties, Physical and mechanical properties of yarns produced from Giza95 were better than 100% upland cotton, 100% combed cotton waste and the other blended yarns.65% Giza95-35% combed waste of blended samples recorded higher fiber properties(maturity ratio, fiber length, uniformity index, fiber strength and fiber elongation) than all blended samples.Also,the same blended ratio at 36s, yarn count give better lea count product strength, yarn strength, yarn elongation, evenness, imperfections and yarn hairiness compared with all blended yarns followed by 65% combed waste - 35% Giza95.While, the lowest yarn quality properties recorded by The blended yarn of 35% Giza95-65% Delta pine245. Also, it observed that increasing proportion of G95 cotton variety in blended samples led to improve fiber, mechanical and physical yarn properties
Local Energy of Activation of Conductivity of Phenylene-Based Composite Materials Containing Nickel Nanoparticles
Authors: Baimuratov F. T. , Abdurakhmanov U. , Yurkov G. Yu. , A.V Umarov
Published: October 2024

By measuring the dependence of conductivity on temperature and analyzing this dependence within the framework of the reduced conductivity activation energy, it was found that in composite polymer materials containing Nickel nanoparticles in the region below the classical percolation threshold in the studied temperature range, there are three regions with different temperature dependence. The origin of these dependencies is discussed in terms of a spatial-structural hierarchical model.
Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilization: the Fundamental Principle of Postgraduate Training of International Chinese Education
Authors: Boyan Sun
Published: October 2024

The important discussion of civilization exchange and mutual learning is not only an important way to build a community with a shared future for mankind, an important driving force to promote the common progress of human civilization and world peace and development, but also provides a theoretical basis for the construction of international Chinese education, and effectively solves the academic debate on the nature of international Chinese education. Build human destiny community, civilization exchange mutual learning and international Chinese education constitutes the complete system of the world, build human destiny community is civilization exchange mutual learning and the ultimate goal and fundamental task of international Chinese education, civilization exchange mutual learning and international Chinese education is the concept of building human destiny community guarantee and implementation path, civilization exchange mutual learning is the fundamental follow the international Chinese education, international Chinese education is an important support to promote communication between Chinese and foreign civilizations. Therefore, the international Chinese education should take the important discourse of civilization exchange and mutual learning as the fundamental adherence of the professional construction and the guiding ideology of the curriculum setting, and list it as an important professional course or an important content of the professional course
Explorando os efeitos positivos do exercício físico no manejo da fibromialgia: Uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Souza Jhon Lins Silva de , Gadelha Jhonatan Gomes
Published: October 2024

Introdução: A fibromialgia é uma síndrome crônica caracterizada por dor generalizada, fadiga e distúrbios do sono, entre outros sintomas. O tratamento eficaz da fibromialgia continua sendo um desafio, e o exercício físico tem emergido como uma intervenção promissora. Esta revisão sistemática tem como objetivo explorar os efeitos positivos do exercício físico no manejo da fibromialgia, analisando a literatura existente e identificando modalidades de exercício mais eficazes. Materiais e métodos: Este estudo seguiu as recomendações do método Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), estabelecido em quatro etapas: 1) Identificação; 2) Triagem; 3) Avaliação; 4) Inclusão. As bases de dados utilizadas foram Pubmed, Scielo e Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS), considerando estudos realizados no período de 2013 a 2024. Resultados: Os resultados demonstraram que os programas de diferentes tipos de exercícios, são eficazes na diminuição da dor e melhoram a qualidade de vida, destacando a importância de programas de exercícios personalizados e supervisionados por um profissional de educação física implementando atividades físicas acessíveis a essa população. Conclusão: Conclui-se que, a maioria dos estudos destaca, como principais benefícios, a diminuição da intensidade da dor, a redução do sofrimento psicológico e a melhora da qualidade de vida dos pacientes com fibromialgia
Atendimento Multiprofissional À Mulher Vitima De Violência Por Seu Parceiro Intimo Na Urgência E Emergência: Revisão Narrativa
Authors: Souza Erick Glauber Sayd , Lima Romário Yanes De Carvalho , Blamires Daniele Vieira Da Silva , Santos Rosemilda Francisco Pereira dos , Sousa Ronny Batista de
Published: October 2024

Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar as evidências disponíveis sobre o atendimento multiprofissional à mulher vítima de violência por parceiro íntimo nos serviços de urgência e emergência, por meio de uma revisão narrativada literatura. A busca foi realizada em bases de dados eletrônicas, resultando em 126 estudos inicialmente identificados, dos quais 6 foram incluídos para análise final. Os resultados revelaram que a identificação precoce da violência, a sensibilidade e o acolhimento humanizado são elementos críticos para a efetividade do atendimento. A articulação entre as equipes multiprofissionais foi destacada como essencial para garantir um cuidado integrado, embora a falta de comunicação e de capacitação contínua representem barreiras significativas. A integração com a rede de proteção à mulher e o suporte psicológico também se mostraram fundamentais, mas ainda são desafios, especialmente devido à falta de recursos e à sobrecarga nos serviços de urgência. Os estudos revisados apontaram para a necessidade de fortalecer políticas públicas que orientem e padronizem o atendimento, promovendo uma abordagem intersetorial e culturalmente sensível. Conclui-se que, apesar de avanços, persistem desafios que comprometem a qualidade do atendimento às vítimas de violência por parceiro íntimo, ressaltando a urgência de investimentos em capacitação profissional, infraestrutura adequada e a criação de ambientes seguros e acolhedores para as mulheres atendidas nos serviços de urgência e emergência. A implementação dessas ações é crucial para garantir um cuidado efetivo e integral às vítimas.
O Papel do Brasil como Principal Articulador Político, Estratégico e Ambiental da Amazônia Internacional no Século XXI
Authors: Santos Ana Luiza Luz dos , Santana Guilherme Saldanha , Melo Maycon Henrique Fanzoi de , Santos Diogo de Almeida Viana dos
Published: October 2024

This article deals with three aspects of Brazil's role in International America: political influence, the strategic importance of the forest for national defense and sovereignty, and its environmental protection. The International Amazon made up of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname, is not only an international interest but also a national and strategic desire, and Brazil, having the largest territorial portion of the Amazon and the greatest development compared to other nations, naturally takes the lead in the integration and cooperation of OCTA, the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, in the 21st century.
Direito Ambiental: Perspectivas Para A Adoção De Práticas Sustentáveis Nas Organizações
Authors: Bernardy Tatiane Atanásio Dos Santos , Tavares Thiago Daniel Ribeiro , França Deimyson Alcântara , Martins Amilar Domingos Moreira , Tossani Hemerson Arceni
Published: October 2024

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar as perspectivas para a adoção de práticas sustentáveis nas organizações sob a óptica do direito ambiental. Para tanto, realizou-se uma revisão integrativa de literatura, onde foi possível constatar que o Direito Ambiental desempenha um papel crucial na regulamentação das atividades humanas para preservar o meio ambiente, respondendo aos danos desde a Revolução Industrial. Este ramo do direito evoluiu significativamente, estabelecendo normas complexas para conservação dos recursos naturais e qualidade ambiental. Empresas enfrentam desafios em conciliar desenvolvimento econômico com preservação ambiental, buscando equilíbrio entre interesses comerciais, licenciamento ambiental e conformidade regulatória. Porém, foi possível evidenciar que o licenciamento ambiental atua para regular atividades econômicas, promovendo um processo técnico e imparcial que equilibra o crescimento econômico e promove a conservação ambiental, além
Designing the Climate Observing System of the Future
Authors: Weatherhead Elizabeth C. , Wielicki Bruce A. , Ramaswamy V. , Abbott Mark , Ackerman Thomas P. , Atlas Robert , Brasseur Guy , Bruhwiler Lori , Busalacchi Antonio J. , Butler James H. , Clack Christopher T. M. , Cooke Roger , Cucurull Lidia , Davis Sean M. , English Jason M. , Fahey David W. , Fine Steven S. , Lazo Jeffrey K. , Liang Shunlin , Loeb Norman G. , Rignot Eric , Soden Brian , Stanitski Diane , Stephens Graeme , Tapley Byron D. , Thompson Anne M. , Trenberth Kevin E. , Wuebbles Donald
Published: November 2017

Climate observations are needed to address a large range of important societal issues including sea level rise, droughts, floods, extreme heat events, food security, and freshwater availability in the coming decades. Past, targeted investments in specific climate questions have resulted in tremendous improvements in issues important to human health, security, and infrastructure. However, the current climate observing system was not planned in a comprehensive, focused manner required to adequately address the full range of climate needs. A potential approach to planning the observing system of the future is presented in this article. First, this article proposes that priority be given to the most critical needs as identified within the World Climate Research Program as Grand Challenges. These currently include seven important topics: melting ice and global consequences; clouds, circulation and climate sensitivity; carbon feedbacks in the climate system; understanding and predicting weather and climate extremes; water for the food baskets of the world; regional sea‐level change and coastal impacts; and near‐term climate prediction. For each Grand Challenge, observations are needed for long‐term monitoring, process studies and forecasting capabilities. Second, objective evaluations of proposed observing systems, including satellites, ground‐based and in situ observations as well as potentially new, unidentified observational approaches, can quantify the ability to address these climate priorities. And third, investments in effective climate observations will be economically important as they will offer a magnified return on investment that justifies a far greater development of observations to serve society's needs.