bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Küreselleşme Sürecinde Ulus Devletin ve Kamu Yönetiminin Değişimine Dair Değerlendirmeler
Authors: ÖZER Mehmet Akif , YILDIRIM Serpil
Published: January 2024

Özellikle 21. yüzyılda yaşanan ve hızlı dönüşümlerle karakterize olan küreselleşme, yeni dünya düzenini ve onun temel dayanaklarını açıklamak için kullanılmaktadır. Belli bir alanla sınırlı olmayan bu kavram, gücünü dünya üzerindeki etkisinden almaktadır. Küreselleşme büyük etkisini ise ulusal yapılar üzerinde göstermiştir. Ulusal yapıların siyasi formu olan ulus-devlet, sarmal bir şekilde hem küreselleşme olgusuna zemin hazırlamış hem de onun bir sonucu olarak evrilmiştir. Bu çalışmanın odağında olan küreselleşme ve ulus-devlet arasındaki ilişki tarihsel düzlemde değerlendirildiğinde, bu iki olgu arasındaki etkileşimin liberal ideolojinin ortaya çıktığı 16. ve 17. yüzyıllara kadar gittiği görülmektedir. Günümüzde ise bu ilişki çeşitli mekanizmalar aracılığıyla birbirini destekleyen ve geliştiren yapılar olarak devam etmektedir. Bu iki yapının devamlılığı devletin yönetim sistemini oluşturan kamu yönetimi yapıları ile sağlanmaktadır. Kamu yönetimi bu süreçte küreselleşme ve ulus-devleti birbirine eklemleyen ve uyumlaştıran bir sistem olarak işlev görmektedir. Bu çalışmada söz konusu kapsamda küreselleşme ve ulus-devlet ilişkisinin kamu yönetiminin değişimi üzerindeki etkisi incelenmeye çalışılmıştır. Önce liberalizm ile ilgili temel bilgiler verilmiş; bu ideolojinin bireyci ve özgürlükçü devlet, sınırlı minimal devlet, sosyal refah devleti ve küçük ama güçlü devlet tezleri değerlendirilmiştir. Ardından muhafazakârlık-neomuhafazakârlık, yeni-sağ ve bu gelişmelerin Türk kamu yönetimine etkisi incelenmiştir. Bu kapsamda yönetimde devletin etkinleştirilmesi çabaları, yönetimde sivil toplumun etkinliğinin artması, yönetimde demokratikleşme ve yerelleşme eğilimleri Türk kamu yönetiminde değişim kapsamında tartışılmıştır.
Uluslararası Sürdürülebilirlik Açıklama Standartları IFRS S1 ve IFRS S2’nin Yayınlanmasının Ardından Sürece ve Standartlara İlişkin Bir Değerlendirme
Authors: KÖSE Tunç , ÇETİN Ömer Orbay
Published: January 2024

Uluslararası Sürdürülebilirlik Standartları Kurulu (International Sustainability Standards Board – ISSB), ilk iki küresel sürdürebilirlik açıklama standardı olan IFRS S1 ve IFRS S2’yi Haziran 2023’te yayınlamıştır. Bu standartlar, sermaye piyasalarının ihtiyaçlarına yönelik sürdürülebilirlikle ilgili finansal bilgilerin açıklanmasına ilişkin genel hükümleri belirlemekte ve iklimle ilgili açıklamalar yapmaktadır. IFRS S1, şirketlerin kısa, orta ve uzun vadede karşılaştıkları sürdürülebilirlikle ilgili riskler ve fırsatlar hakkında yatırımcılara bilgi vermelerini sağlamak için tasarlanmış ve bunlara ilişkin açıklama yapmaya yönelik bir dizi gerekliliği sunmaktadır. IFRS S2 ise, iklim ile ilgili özel açıklamaları belirlemek ve IFRS S1’le birlikte uyum içerisinde kullanılmak üzere tasarlanmıştır. IFRS S1 ve IFRS S2 sayesinde ilk kez iklimle ilgili riskler ve fırsatlarla, şirketlerin beklentileri arasında ortak bir dilin oluşacağı öngörülmektedir. Günümüz şirketlerinde sürdürülebilir değer yaratma ve raporlama süreci birbirinden ayrılamayacak iki temel unsur olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Bu iki unsur açısından bakıldığında; IFRS Sürdürülebilirlik Açıklama Standartlarını, ülkemizde yapılan sürdürülebilirlikle ilgili düzenlemeler bağlamında değerlendirmek ve Yeşil Mutabakat Eylem Planı ile eşgüdümlü bir şekilde ele almak bir yol haritası niteliğinde olacaktır. Çalışmada, standartların oluşturulmasında rol alan kurumlar, standartların yayınlanma süreci ele alınmış ve son olarak da IFRS S1 ve IFRS S2 genel hatlarıyla değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmanın amacı, standartlar hakkında aydınlatıcı bilgiler sunmak, sürdürülebilirlik standartları ile ilgili yapılacak çalışmalara katkı sağlamak ve standartların ülkemizdeki sürdürülebilirlikle ilgili diğer çalışmalar ile eşgüdümlü şekilde ele alınmasını sağlamaktır.
İşletmelerde Yapay Zekâ Alanında Scopus Veritabanında Yapılan Çalışmaların Bibliyometrik Olarak Analizi
Authors: KILINÇ Erhan
Published: January 2024

İş dünyası ve dolayısıyla işletmeler, teknolojik ilerlemeleri takip ederek rekabetçi kalmak için sürekli değişmek durumundadırlar. Günümüzde bu değişikliklerin öncü itici güçlerinden birisi yapay zekâ olarak görülmektedir. İşletmeler, büyük veri analitiği, otomasyon ve kişiselleştirilmiş müşteri deneyimi gibi alanlarda yapay zekâyı kullanarak rekabet avantajı elde edebilmektedirler. Bu çalışma, scopus veritabanında yer alan işletme, yönetim ve muhasebe kategori grubunda yayınlanan işletmelerde yapay zekâ ile ilgili yayınların bibliyometrik analizini sunmaktadır. Araştırma verileri scopus veri tabanından 1984-2023 arası yayınlanmış toplam 2802 eserin, yayın başlığı, özet, anahtar kelime ve yazar bilgilerinden oluşmaktadır. Bu veriler VOSviewer (Benzerliklerin Görselleştirilmesi) ve R Studio Biometrix paket programları ve scopus veri tabanında yer alan analiz sonuçları vasıtasıyla incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonuçları, bu konuda araştırmacılar arasında büyük bir ilgi artışının olduğunu göstermektedir. Son beş yılda, bu konuyla ilgili yayın sayısı önemli ölçüde artarak 150'den 520'ye yükselmiştir. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing dergisi bu alanda en fazla yayın yapan ve en popüler dergi olarak öne çıkmaktadır. Araştırma yapay zekâ ile ilgili yayınların ülke olarak Amerika, Hindistan, Çin, İngiltere ve Almanya'nın önde geldiğini görülmüştür. Ayrıca en çok atıf alan yayınların Amerika, İngiltere, Hindistan, Almanya ve Avustralya tarafından yayınlandığı saptanmıştır. Bu çalışma, işletmelerde yapay zekâ kullanımı ile ilgili önemli bulguları sunmakta ve gelecekteki çalışmalara yön vermeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Yönetim Literatüründe Postmodernizm: Bibliyometrik Bir Analiz
Authors: SAVAŞ Yasemin
Published: January 2024

Bu çalışma bibliyometrik analiz kullanarak yönetim alanında postmodernizm kavramının kullanımına genel bir bakış sunmayı amaçlamaktadır. Postmodernizm, çeşitli şekillerde bir “dönem”, bir “perspektif” veya yeni bir “düşünce paradigması” olarak değerlendirilir. Düşünce paradigması rolüyle farklı teorileştirme ve araştırma uygulamalarını içeren, belli bir ortak özelliğe sahip birden fazla parçayı, bölümü veya sınıfları birlikte belirten bir kavramdır. Bu doğrultuda Web of Science Core Collection veri tabanı kullanılarak 1988-2022 yılları arasında yönetim alanında, başlıklarında, özetlerinde ve/veya anahtar kelimelerde 'postmodernizm' teriminin kullanıldığı toplam 201 makale incelenmiştir. İncelenen veriler VOSviewer yazılım programı ile haritalandırılmıştır. Çalışmada öncelikle belirli bibliyometrik göstergelere dayalı olarak 201 makaleye genel bir bakış sunulmuştur. Daha sonra makaleler üzerinde atıf ve ortak atıf analizi gibi bibliyometrik yöntemler uygulanarak irdelenmiştir. Böylece alanın dinamizmine ilişkin kapsamlı bir görüş sunarak ve temel çalışmaları, dergileri, yazarları ve bunların ara bağlantılarını belirleyerek yönetim alanında postmodernizm kavramının kullanımının gelişimini görselleştirilmiştir. Çalışmada elde edilen bulgular, kapsamlı bir kavramsal çerçevenin sunulmasına destek olmaktadır.
Uzaktan Çalışma Modelinin (Hibrit Model) Çalışan Performansı Üzerine Etkisi
Authors: KARAÇINAR Abdullah , FİLİZÖZ Berrin
Published: January 2024

Son yıllarda yaşanan teknolojik gelişmeler ve bu teknolojilerin sağladığı imkanlar ile bilgi ve iletişim teknolojilerinin ortaya çıkardığı uzaktan çalışma şekli, Covid-19 salgını ile birlikte çok daha popüler hale gelmiştir. Uzaktan çalışma, geleneksel ofis ortamından ziyade çalışanlara esneklik, özerklik ve iş-yaşam dengesi gibi bazı avantajlar getirmiş olmasının yanı sıra yalnızlık, sosyalleşmede zayıflık ve iş yoğunluğunun artması gibi bazı dezavantajları da ortaya çıkarmıştır. Uzaktan çalışma şekli olan hibrit modelde çalışanlar belirli günlerde ofisten çalışırken, kalan diğer günlerde ise uzaktan çalışmayı taahhüt eder. Bu çalışmada uzaktan çalışma şeklinin özellikle hibrit model çalışma şekli üzerinde durularak çalışan performansına etkisi incelenmiştir. Bir telekominükasyon şirketinin İstanbul Anadolu yakasındaki genel müdürlüğünde yaklaşık 325 kişi uzaktan çalışmaktadır. Uzaktan çalışan 325 kişiye ulaşılmaya çalışılmış ancak araştırmaya 179 kişi katılmıştır. Örneklem sayısı hata payı %5, güven düzeyi %95 olarak değerlendirildiğinde ulaşılması gereken örneklem sayısı 176 kişidir. Tüm ölçeğin iç tutarlılık katsayısı (Cronbach alfa) 0,873’tür. Sonuçlar uzaktan çalışmanın çalışan performansına etkisinde yapılacak araştırmalarda kullanılabilecek geçerlilik ve güvenirlik sonuçlarına sahip olduğunu göstermiştir. Uzaktan çalışma modelinin alt boyutlarının farklı değişkenlerle ilişkili olduğu ve uzaktan çalışmanın çalışan performansını pozitif yönde etkileyebildiği sonucuna varılmıştır.
ACCESS RULES TO THE ROAD CARRIAGE MARKET IN EUROPEAN UNION
Authors:   SE «State Road Transport Research Institute», Novikova Alla , Dehtiar Zoia
Published: January 2024

The article describes the system of the access to the road transport market in the European Union. Gen-eral principles of European legislative regulation are described. The main requirements for the road carrier, the history of the issue for 20 years is considered: the strengthening of the requirements concerning the occupation of road transport operator through Directives 96/26/EC, Regulation 1071/2009/EC, Regulation 2020/1055/EC and other regu-lations. The basic requirements for a good repute, financial standing and professional competence are described. Risk classification of the road transport enterprises is discussed. The history of legislative initiatives regarding the implementation of European legislation for the road carriage market in Ukraine is presented. The list of normative legal acts that must be developed for the implementation rules for access to the road transport market in Ukraine has been defined. Keywords: European Union, directive, regulation, market access, good repute, financial standing, manager, certifi-cate of professional competence, electronic register, risk rating.
SOURCES AND CONSEQUENCES OF RISK OCCURRENCE WHEN ORGANISING THE DELIVERY OF SPECIAL CARGO BY ROAD AND AIR
Authors:   National Aviation University, Vasylenko Ihor
Published: January 2024

The scientific paper is devoted to the study of the sources and consequences of emerging risks in the organisation of delivery of special cargoes in road-air transport. A critical analysis of scientific research on the occurrence of risks in road transport of cargo, as well as in the interaction of transport modes has re-vealed the lack of a comprehensive study on the analysis of sources and consequences of risks in multimodal de-livery involving road transport In order to achieve the aim of identifying the sources and implications of risks in the special cargo deliv-ery organisation in road and air transport, the scheme of sources and consequences of risks in organising the special cargo delivery by road and air transport was proposed. The scheme was described and characterised in detail. A critical analysis of risk management methods has made it possible to assert that each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the scope of practical use, which is most appropriate. A typification of managerial decisions was also carried out and an assessment of the possible consequences of risk situations in the organisation of delivery of special cargoes in the road-air transport was carried out, with allocation of methods, managerial decisions, determination of possibilities of practical implementation, as well as the rele-vant consequences. A detailed description of risk transfer methods has made it possible to talk about their limited use in the delivery of special categories of cargo, since not all types of risks are transferable. The considerable limitations of the insurance instrument are noted, since not all types of cargo can be insured. The active use of risk reten-tion methods can be economically feasible only if the probability of a risk situation occurring is low and is mostly associated with additional costs. Keywords: risks, delivery, special cargo, connection, consequences, costs.
EXTERNAL NOISE REDUCTION “NOVATOR” ARMORED CAR USING A HIGHLY EFFICIENT SILENCER
Authors:   National Transport University, Fedorov Volodymyr , Korpach Oleksii ,   National Transport University, Yashchenko Dmytro ,   National Transport University, Bosenko Volodymyr ,   National Transport University
Published: January 2024

Armored vehicles are widely used for combat operations, for which it is extremely important to be as inconspicuous as possible. There are different types of masking, one of which is reducing the level of external noise. For the Novator armored car, a highly effective muffler of the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine was devel-oped. The Novator armored car has a pickup-type body, a gross weight of 9,000 kg and a Ford F8 turbodiesel engine with a power of 300 hp. The uniqueness of the developed muffler is that it seeks to return all the sound waves that entered it back to the intake pipe. This effect is achieved due to the specific structure of the silencer housing. The case is an ellipsoid of rotation.At the same time, the section of the intake pipe (the pipe that goes into the muffler) is placed in the first focus of the ellipsoid of rotation, and the sound waves propagate to the inner wall of the elliptical body, reflect from it, con-verge at the second focus, and then continue to move to the opposite wall, reflect from it, converge in the first focus and spread further back into the intake pipe. In the intake pipe, there is partial interference of the reflected sound waves when they meet the incoming waves, and the final absorption by the sound-absorbing material. At the same time, exhaust gas-es, bouncing off the walls of the muffler, leave the latter through the exhaust pipe. At the same time, the exhaust pipe exits the ellipsoid of rotation coaxially with the intake pipe, which enters the pipe tel-escopically with a gap. Taking into account the directional diagram of sound energy radiation at the exit from the ex-haust pipe, a proposal was made to create a muffler not as a full ellipsoid of rotation, but in the form of a half ellipsoid of rotation. Such a solution will make the muffler significantly cheaper and much more compact, which is essential for a military vehicle. Keywords: armored car, “novator”, masking, camouflage, silencer, ellipsoid of rotation, directional diagram, acoustic efficiency, sound waves, sound absorbing material.
APPROACH AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CREATION OF CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN KYIV AND KYIV REGION
Authors:   SE “State Road Transport Research Institute”, Kyslovskyi Petro , Yashchenko Mykola ,   National Transport University, Yashchenko Valentyn ,   SE “State Road Transport Research Institute”
Published: January 2024

The article shows two different approaches to the development of charging infrastructure. The first ap-proach of expanding charging network proposes an average use of the charging point of about 5 percent. This approach focuses on the rapid creation of slow AC charging points (5-22 kW). However, low network utilization is not economically viable in the long term and limits investment by private companies. The second approach to network development is more usage-oriented, where charging points should be used with-in 15%. Also, the difference is fast charging with direct current (50-300 kW). Such a network develops more slowly, being restricted to major transport corridors; but in the future it looks more attractive, and this approach is currently domi-nant in the countries of the European Union. Methodology. The article uses the approach of comparing two ways of deploying the charging infrastructure at dif-ferent loads of one charging point and different power of the charging device. Goal. Possible creation of a charging network under the conditions of an acceptable load of one charging point. Originality. The article proposes an approach that allows using a charging station as a tool for increasing the de-mand for electric vehicles. Practical value. Existing legislation of the European Union on increasing environmental safety of vehicles, pro-vides possible background for installing chargers within the largest roads of the Kyiv region. It is necessary, because number of electric vehicles could stay low without charging infrastructure available. Keywords: motor vehicle, electric vehicle, charging point, charging infrastructure, location of charging station, power of charging point, the cost of connecting a charging station.
From Sequencing to Genome Editing in Cucurbitaceae: Application of Modern Genomic Techniques to Enhance Plant Traits
Authors: Pawełkowicz Magdalena , Zieniuk Bartłomiej , Staszek Pawel , Przybysz Arkadiusz
Published: January 2024

The availability of genome-sequencing and genome-editing techniques has increased the applicability of innovative solutions, opening up revolutionary prospects for developments in horticultural plant breeding. The Cucurbitaceae family is a group of plants of great importance in horticulture due to their high nutritional and economic value. These plants serve as important models for elucidating the principles of plant development and refining yield improvement strategies. While traditional breeding approaches have made significant contributions to the production of cucurbits, they have also been limited by the reduced genetic diversity and lower rates of variation inherent in these species. This comprehensive review summarises the latest developments in genome editing in cucurbits. It covers various aspects of enhancing plant traits to resist biotic stresses such as pathogenic fungi and viruses, as well as abiotic stresses such as adverse climate change, especially stresses caused by drought and salinity. This study focused on improvements in plant quality and on the optimisation of plant architecture, sex determination of flowers and fruit features. This review provides insights that may hold great promise for the future of horticultural crop improvement and serves as an important reference for the advancement of genome-sequencing and gene-editing technologies in cucurbits.
Food Consumption Habits of Hungarian Organic Food Consumers and Their Policy Implications
Authors: Pércsi Kinga Nagyné , Ujj Apolka , Essoussi Wifek , Kis Gyöngyi Györéné , Jancsovszka Paulina
Published: January 2024

Food production and consumption have a major impact on the environment and human health. Therefore, it is important to achieve transformations towards greater sustainability in the food sector. As in other countries around the world, Hungarian organic food consumers are characterised by the fact that they consume organic food primarily for health reasons. Direct forms, including online purchase, are preferred in the choice of channels since direct contact with producers is very important due to mistrust, which is one of the barriers to the further growth of consumption. Empirical tests of well-known and frequently applied theories also shed light on the connections above. First, an examination was conducted through logistic regression to determine if there exists a correlation between organic food consumption and environmentally and socially conscious consumption traits (such as supporting small-scale producers) within the broader sample (1148), encompassing not just organic food consumers. Subsequently, concentrating solely on organic food consumers (944), factor analysis was employed to reveal connections among the analysed variables and to group Hungarian organic food consumers into clusters based on their consumption and purchasing habits. In conclusion, it is reasonable to assume that organic food consumers are more likely to be environmentally conscious, as they are more aware of the environmental impact of their food choices. Three clearly distinguishable groups were obtained using cluster analysis. These groups can be targeted with different means in order to develop the sector.
Water–Salt Migration Patterns among Cropland–Wasteland–Fishponds in the River-Loop Irrigation Area
Authors: Yu Cuicui , Shi Haibin , Miao Qingfeng , Gonçalves José Manuel , Yan Yan , Hu Zhiyuan , Hou Cong , Zhao Yi
Published: January 2024

In order to investigate the influence of freshwater fish ponds on water and salt transport in cultivated wasteland in salinized areas, a typical study area was selected in the middle and lower reaches of the Hetao Irrigation District in China in the Yichang Irrigation Domain, and the temporal and spatial changes in the salinity of soil and salinity of groundwater and fish pond water in the cultivated–wasteland–fish pond system were characterized through the monitoring of the environmental information of soil and groundwater at the boundaries of the cultivated land, wasteland, and fish ponds. Salinity changes and groundwater migration in different periods were determined, and the response of soil salinity to the depth of groundwater burial was analyzed, as well as the effect of fish ponds on soil salinization. The results showed that the amount of groundwater migrating from cropland to wasteland during the simulation period in 2022 was 2700 m3, the amount of groundwater migrating from wasteland to fish ponds was 630 m3, and the amount of groundwater migrating from fish ponds to wasteland during the fall watering period was 440 m3. From an overall perspective, the average soil salinity of wasteland was 1.56 times higher than that of the boundary of fish ponds. Not only do fish ponds play a positive role in the ecosystem, but they also have a desalinization effect that reduces soil salinity significantly. Groundwater depth and soil salinity have an exponential relationship; when the depth of groundwater is greater than 1.75 m, the soil salinity varies little with the depth of groundwater and the soil salinity is less than 0.66 ds/m, which can be determined as the critical depth, and the average depth of groundwater in cultivated land in the study area is 1.5 m. Therefore, it is necessary to reasonably control the water level of fish ponds, so as to make the groundwater depth of cultivated land control between 1.75 m and 2.0 m, and to prevent soil salinization.
Time Series from Sentinel-2 for Organic Durum Wheat Yield Prediction Using Functional Data Analysis and Deep Learning
Authors: Mancini Adriano , Solfanelli Francesco , Coviello Luca , Martini Francesco Maria , Mandolesi Serena , Zanoli Raffaele
Published: January 2024

Yield prediction is a crucial activity in scheduling agronomic operations and in informing the management and financial decisions of a wide range of stakeholders of the organic durum wheat supply chain. This research aims to develop a yield forecasting system by combining vegetation index time-series data from Sentinel-2 L2A time-series data, field-measured yields, and deep learning techniques. Remotely sensed data over a season could be, in general, noisy and characterized by a variable density due to weather conditions. This problem was mitigated using Functional Principal Component Analysis (FPCA). We obtained a functional representation of acquired data, and starting from this, we tried to apply deep learning to predict the crop yield. We used a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approach, starting from images that embed temporal and spectral dimensions. This representation does not require one to a priori select a vegetation index that, typically, is task-dependent. The results have been also compared with classical approaches as Partial Least Squares (PLS) on the main reference vegetation indexes such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Difference Red Edge index (NDRE), considering both in-season and end-season scenarios. The obtained results show that the image-based representation of multi-spectral time series could be an effective method to estimate the yield, also, in the middle stage of cropping with R2 values greater than 0.83. The developed model could be used to estimate yield the neighbor fields characterized by similar setups in terms of the crop, variety, soil, and, of course, management.
Simulation of Winter Wheat Growth Dynamics and Optimization of Water and Nitrogen Application Systems Based on the Aquacrop Model
Authors: Wang Shunsheng , Wang Diru , Liu Tengfei , Liu Yulong , Luo Minpeng , Li Yuan , Zhou Wang , Yang Mingwei , Liang Shuaitao , Li Kaixuan
Published: January 2024

Winter wheat is the main grain crop in the Yellow River Basin, and optimizing water and nitrogen management can not only improve the yield, but also reduce water and fertilizer waste and environmental pollution. Using two years of winter wheat field trials, the Aquacrop model was calibrated and validated, and 36 different water and nitrogen application scenarios were simulated and analyzed. Among them, the field trials were divided into three N application levels, and three lower limits of water control. The results showed that: (1) the model has good applicability to simulate the growth process of winter wheat in the Yellow River Basin. (2) At a constant level of irrigation or nitrogen application, crop yield initially increased and subsequently decreased with the enhancement of either irrigation or nitrogen application. Finally, through response surface analysis of regression equations, the recommended irrigation volume was determined to be between 296 and 303 mm, and the fertilizer application rate was set between 229 and 261 kg/ha. At these levels, the PFP could achieve over 60% of its maximum. This research provides a theoretical basis for the water-saving, fertilizer-saving and high-yield water and fertilizer management system of winter wheat in the irrigated area of the Yellow River Basin.
Comparison of the Virulence of Space Mutants of Aspergillus oryzae XJ-1 against Adult Locusta migratoria
Authors: Fu Xin , Liu Hui , Xu Xiao , Guo Jin , Hu Shaojing , You Yinwei , Zhang Long
Published: January 2024

Biological control methods provide a sustainable approach for reducing agricultural losses caused by locust plagues. Space mutagenesis can generate high numbers of mutations using satellites and spacecrafts, including beneficial and stable mutants. Aspergillus oryzae XJ-1 was recently reported to show high virulence against locusts. We subjected this fungal pathogen to space mutagenesis to obtain more effective strains. Pathogen conidia powder was mutated in the China Space Station for 6 months. We obtained five mutants of A. oryzae XJ-1, TQ201, TQ238, TQ302, TQ549, and TQ555, and all mutants were identified as A. oryzae by molecular techniques. TQ549 showed the highest virulence against adult L. migratoria (LT50: 4.97 ± 0.21 days); the LT50 of A. oryzae XJ-1 was 5.67 ± 0.06 days. Both TQ549 and A. oryzae XJ-1 grew most rapidly at 33 °C on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates. There was no significant difference in the growth rate of TQ549 and A. oryzae XJ-1 at 24 °C. The colony morphological characteristics of the five mutants on PDA plates differed from that of A. oryzae XJ-1. The space mutant TQ549, which showed high virulence against adult locusts, could be used as a biological control agent for the control of locust infestations.
Effect of Fertigation with Struvite and Ammonium Nitrate on Substrate Microbiota and N2O Emissions in a Tomato Crop on Soilless Culture System
Authors: Carreras-Sempere Mar , Guivernau Miriam , Caceres Rafaela , Biel Carmen , Noguerol Joan , Viñas Marc
Published: January 2024

Struvite and ammonium nitrate (AN), as wastewater-recovered products, are possible alternatives as raw materials for nutrient solutions. However, their impact on the rhizosphere microbiota and N2O emissions is scarcely known. Therefore, the present research studies the ecological changes in the bulk-substrate microbiome and its correlation with N2O emissions in a perlite-based system tomato crop under (i) conventional synthetic fertigation management; (ii) fertigation with struvite; and (iii) struvite and AN. A high bacterial diversity and the natural presence of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria in a soilless system are highlighted. However, the different N-NH4+:N-NO3− ratios influence the ecological niches of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB), with a stronger response by AOB community, while AOA kept constant regarding the fertilization applied. Despite this, enrichment of N-transforming bacterial phylotypes was relatively enhanced (mainly Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira, and Nitrospira) concomitant with the production of N2O emissions when ammonium fertilization was overapplied. In the absence of a plant, N2O emissions were positively correlated, respectively, with Nitrosospira and AOB:AOA ratio, suggesting potential indicators for ammonium availability in the substrate. Fertilizer blends using recovered nutrients are a feasible alternative for increasing circularity in horticulture. Nevertheless, optimum fertilizer management is needed due to its influence on rhizosphere microbiota and N2O emissions.
Prevalence of Plastic and Hardware Foreign Bodies among Goats at Malawi Markets
Authors: Airs Paul M. , Tinsley Jonathan H. I. , Mvula Winchester , Ventura-Cordero Javier , Takahashi Taro , Nalivata Patson , van Wyk Jan A. , Morgan Eric R. , Safalaoh Andrews C. L.
Published: January 2024

Smallholder goat production plays a major role in rural livelihoods and food security in Malawi, but suffers from drastic and unpredictable production losses. While goat production is closely linked to small-scale local markets for slaughter and butchering, the perspectives of butchers and their potential as a source of animal health information are largely untapped. Butchers can provide insights into goat health status at slaughter as well as issues that go unseen before slaughter, such as the presence of indigestible foreign bodies (IFBs). IFBs include solid materials such as plastics and hardware (metals, stones, and other hard objects) that cause foreign body syndrome and can lead to impaction, oedema, malnutrition, and death. To estimate the presence of IFBs, 150 market stand butchers were surveyed across five districts in Malawi, focusing on a distinction between hardware and single-use plastics, which are still widely present in Malawi despite bans on production. Most butchers found plastic IFBs (80.7%), with over half (56.7%) reporting plastic IFBs recently among the past five slaughters. Hardware IFBs were less common, reported by 45.3% of butchers. While some butchers commented on the impact of IFBs on meat quality metrics ex-post, the majority observed no differences. While butchers unanimously considered health to be an important characteristic when sourcing goats, 70.7% consider injury status to be less important or not important. Overall, this study highlights the issue of anthropogenic waste pollution on goat production in Malawi and demonstrates the potential for the surveillance of goat health at market.
Chemical Analysis and Investigation of Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities of Prangos trifida (Apiaceae)
Authors: Ušjak Ljuboš , Stojković Dejan , Carević Tamara , Milutinović Violeta , Soković Marina , Niketić Marjan , Petrović Silvana
Published: January 2024

Plants of the genus Prangos are intensively investigated as potential new sources of bioactive isolated products. In this work, the chemical composition of volatile constituents (essential oils and headspace volatiles) and dichloromethane extracts, as well as antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of essential oils and MFDEs (methanol fractions of dichloromethane extracts) of Prangos trifida from Serbia, were investigated. Volatiles of roots, leaves, stems and fruits, and fatty acids and phytosterols in dichloromethane extracts of roots and fruits were analyzed by GC-FID-MS, whereas coumarins in MFDEs by LC–MS and some isolated coumarins by 1H-NMR. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations/minimum fungicidal concentrations (MBCs/MFCs) of essential oils and MFDEs were determined against 13 microorganisms. Antibiofilm activity was assessed against four microorganisms. Additionally, congo red and ergosterol binding assays were conducted to elucidate selected mechanisms of antibiofilm action in the case of Candida albicans. Total of 52 volatile constituents, 16 fatty acids, eight phytosterols and 10 coumarins were identified. Essential oils demonstrated significant activity, surpassing that of commercial food preservatives, against six tested molds from the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma genera, as well as against bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. Most of the oils strongly inhibited the formation of biofilms by S. aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli. MFDEs exhibited noteworthy effects against B. cereus and the tested Aspergillus species, particularly A. niger, and significantly inhibited C. albicans biofilm formation. This inhibition was linked to a marked reduction in exopolysaccharide production, while antifungal mechanisms associated with ergosterol remained unaffected.
The Therapeutic Potential of Two Egyptian Plant Extracts for Mitigating Dexamethasone-Induced Osteoporosis in Rats: Nrf2/HO-1 and RANK/RANKL/OPG Signals
Authors: Saleh Samar R. , Saleh Omnia M. , El-Bessoumy Ashraf A. , Sheta Eman , Ghareeb Doaa A. , Eweda Saber M.
Published: January 2024

The prolonged use of exogenous glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone (Dex), is the most prevalent secondary cause of osteoporosis, known as glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO). The current study examined the preventative and synergistic effect of aqueous chicory extract (ACE) and ethanolic purslane extract (EPE) on GIO compared with Alendronate (ALN). The phytochemical contents, elemental analysis, antioxidant scavenging activity, and ACE and EPE combination index were evaluated. Rats were randomly divided into control, ACE, EPE, and ACE/EPE MIX groups (100 mg/kg orally), Dex group (received 1.5 mg Dex/kg, Sc), and four treated groups received ACE, EPE, ACE/EPE MIX, and ALN with Dex. The bone mineral density and content, bone index, growth, turnover, and oxidative stress were measured. The molecular analysis of RANK/RANKL/OPG and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways were also evaluated. Dex causes osteoporosis by increasing oxidative stress, decreasing antioxidant markers, reducing bone growth markers (OPG and OCN), and increasing bone turnover and resorption markers (NFATc1, RANKL, ACP, ALP, IL-6, and TNF-α). In contrast, ACE, EPE, and ACE/EPE MIX showed a prophylactic effect against Dex-induced osteoporosis by modulating the measured parameters and the histopathological architecture. In conclusion, ACE/EPE MIX exerts a powerful synergistic effect against GIO by a mode of action different from ALN.
Exploring Metabolic and Gut Microbiome Responses to Paraquat Administration in Male Wistar Rats: Implications for Oxidative Stress
Authors: Hernandez-Baixauli Julia , Chomiciute Gertruda , Tracey Harry , Mora Ignasi , Cortés-Espinar Antonio J. , Ávila-Román Javier , Abasolo Nerea , Palacios-Jordan Hector , Foguet-Romero Elisabet , Suñol David , Galofré Mar , Alcaide-Hidalgo Juan María , Baselga-Escudero Laura , del Bas Josep M. , Mulero Miquel
Published: January 2024

In this study, we examined the metabolic and gut microbiome responses to paraquat (PQ) in male Wistar rats, focusing on oxidative stress effects. Rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of PQ at 15 and 30 mg/kg, and various oxidative stress parameters (i.e., MDA, SOD, ROS, 8-isoprostanes) were assessed after three days. To explore the omic profile, GC-qTOF and UHPLC-qTOF were performed to assess the plasma metabolome; 1H-NMR was used to assess the urine metabolome; and shotgun metagenomics sequencing was performed to study the gut microbiome. Our results revealed reductions in body weight and tissue changes, particularly in the liver, were observed, suggesting a systemic effect of PQ. Elevated lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species levels in the liver and plasma indicated the induction of oxidative stress. Metabolic profiling revealed changes in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, accumulation of ketone body, and altered levels of key metabolites, such as 3-hydroxybutyric acid and serine, suggesting intricate links between energy metabolism and redox reactions. Plasma metabolomic analysis revealed alterations in mitochondrial metabolism, nicotinamide metabolism, and tryptophan degradation. The gut microbiome showed shifts, with higher PQ doses influencing microbial populations (e.g., Escherichia coli and Akkermansia muciniphila) and metagenomic functions (pyruvate metabolism, fermentation, nucleotide and amino acid biosynthesis). Overall, this study provides comprehensive insights into the complex interplay between PQ exposure, metabolic responses, and gut microbiome dynamics. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms behind oxidative stress-induced metabolic alterations and underscore the connections between xenobiotic exposure, gut microbiota, and host metabolism.
Gloss Level, Type of Paper and Colour of HDF Boards Finished with the Energy-Saving Acrylic Paint System
Authors: Henke Milena , Krystofiak Tomasz , Salca Emilia Adela , Lis Barbara
Published: January 2024

The global drive to eliminate mercury is stimulating the development of LED lamps for UV curing of coatings. Despite its many advantages, the transition to this system in the furniture industry presents technological issues. This paper aimed to determine the impact of the paint line’s individual technological and process parameters on the coating’s optical properties, such as colour and gloss of furniture components made of white-coloured light-weight boards. Samples were prepared under the conditions of an industrial paint line using LED and traditional mercury lamps at the rate of 50 m/min. The colour was tested using the CIELAB system on a BYK GARDNER spectrophotometer, while the gloss was measured using the PICO GLOSS meter. Based on the data obtained, the optical parameters were found to be highly stable irrespective of the power drop in the LED lamps. The coordinates L*, b* and gloss G were affected by the amount of topcoat and basecoat, the number of coats, the mercury lamps’ power and the panel grinding programs used. The results of the tests showed that high L* and b* values could be achieved by increasing the number of overlays. This solution also ensures less basecoat and topcoat consumption, contributing to large material savings.
Progressing towards Estimates of Local Emissions from Trees in Cities: A Transdisciplinary Framework Integrating Available Municipal Data, AI, and Citizen Science
Authors: Mayer Julia , Memmel Martin , Ruf Johannes , Patel Dhruv , Hoff Lena , Henninger Sascha
Published: January 2024

Urban tree cadastres, crucial for climate adaptation and urban planning, face challenges in maintaining accuracy and completeness. A transdisciplinary approach in Kaiserslautern, Germany, complements existing incomplete tree data with additional precise GPS locations of urban trees. Deep learning models using aerial imagery identify trees, while other applications employ street view imagery and LIDAR data to collect additional attributes, such as height and crown width. A web application encourages citizen participation in adding features like species and improving datasets for further model training. The initiative aims to minimize resource-intensive maintenance conducted by local administrations, integrate additional features, and improve data quality. Its primary goal is to create transferable AI models utilizing aerial imagery and LIDAR data that can be applied in regions with similar tree populations. The approach includes tree clusters and private trees, which are essential for assessing allergy and ozone potential but are usually not recorded in municipal tree cadastres. The paper highlights the potential of improving tree cadastres for effective urban planning in a transdisciplinary approach, taking into account climate change, health, and public engagement.
The Spatial Pattern and Influencing Factors of China’s Nighttime Economy Utilizing POI and Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Yan Guodong , Zou Lin , Liu Yunan
Published: January 2024

The nighttime economy (NTE) is one of the primary measures used by the Chinese government to promote urban consumption and capital flow. Especially after COVID-19, more regulations were introduced by both the central and local governments to accelerate this commercial activity. However, the relationship between the NTE and urban development is controversial. There has been controversy over the relationship between the nighttime economy and urban development. We believe that organizations/individuals embedded in different regional contexts have different behavioral patterns, which, in turn, can make cities develop nighttime commercial activities differently. We wonder whether the nighttime economy’s large-scale development fits the diverse regional development. There is a lack of discussions of the spatial distribution of nighttime commercial activities from an urban geographical perspective, especially the differences and mechanisms of urban systems based on the nighttime economy. Based on existing research arguments, this article collects points of interest (POI) and nighttime light (NTL) remote sensing data (RSD) to spatialize nighttime economic activities in order to provide a reference for reasonable regional and urban economic planning. The nighttime economy (NTE) is one of the primary channels used by the Chinese government to promote urban consumption and capital flow, and the relationship between the NTE and urban development is controversial. Based on existing research, we selected the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region as an example. We found that there are core–peripheral spatial patterns in nighttime commercial urban systems. The core is Shanghai, and provincial-level core cities form the second category, largely overlapping with the administrative urban system. Although the NTE is primarily concentrated in economically developed coastal areas, it spreads in the northwest–southeast direction, indicating that opportunities will arise in the geo-periphery. Although regulations encourage the growth of the NTE, infrastructure cannot fully support large-scale centralized expansion. The interaction of critical factors, such as urban policies, residents’ consumption, industrial structure, and economic foundations, may affect nighttime activities.
Vibration Energy Harvesting from Plates by Means of Piezoelectric Dynamic Vibration Absorbers
Authors: Tonan Michele , Pasetto Alberto , Doria Alberto
Published: January 2024

In this paper, the possibility of harvesting energy from the vibrations of a plate is analyzed. The harvester takes the form of a cantilever dynamic vibration absorber equipped with a piezoelectric layer and tuned by means of a tip mass to the first mode of vibration of the plate. A mathematical model of the coupled system composed of the plate and the harvester is presented. The validity of the proposed harvester is proved by means of simulations carried out with the modal expansions approach. Simulation results highlighting the effects of harvester tuning and location are presented as well. Then, the validity of the harvester is confirmed by experimental tests carried out both with a concentrated impulsive load and with a distributed pressure load. Simulations and experimental tests are performed on the cantilever piezoelectric dynamic vibration absorber and on the same piezoelectric layer directly bonded to the plate surface. Results show an improvement in terms of generated voltage when the proposed novel device is used in place of the simple layer.
Unsupervised Domain Adaptation via Weighted Sequential Discriminative Feature Learning for Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Badr Haidi , Wanas Nayer , Fayek Magda
Published: January 2024

Unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) presents a significant challenge in sentiment analysis, especially when faced with differences between source and target domains. This study introduces Weighted Sequential Unsupervised Domain Adaptation (WS-UDA), a novel sequential framework aimed at discovering more profound features and improving target representations, even in resource-limited scenarios. WS-UDA utilizes a domain-adversarial learning model for sequential discriminative feature learning. While recent UDA techniques excel in scenarios where source and target domains are closely related, they struggle with substantial dissimilarities. This potentially leads to instability during shared-feature learning. To tackle this issue, WS-UDA employs a two-stage transfer process concurrently, significantly enhancing model stability and adaptability. The sequential approach of WS-UDA facilitates superior adaptability to varying levels of dissimilarity between source and target domains. Experimental results on benchmark datasets, including Amazon reviews, FDU-MTL datasets, and Spam datasets, demonstrate the promising performance of WS-UDA. It outperforms state-of-the-art cross-domain unsupervised baselines, showcasing its efficacy in scenarios with dissimilar domains. WS-UDA’s adaptability extends beyond sentiment analysis, making it a versatile solution for diverse text classification tasks.
Multi-Scale Reconstruction of Turbulent Rotating Flows with Generative Diffusion Models
Authors: Li Tianyi , Lanotte Alessandra S. , Buzzicotti Michele , Bonaccorso Fabio , Biferale Luca
Published: January 2024

We address the problem of data augmentation in a rotating turbulence set-up, a paradigmatic challenge in geophysical applications. The goal is to reconstruct information in two-dimensional (2D) cuts of the three-dimensional flow fields, imagining spatial gaps present within each 2D observed slice. We evaluate the effectiveness of different data-driven tools, based on diffusion models (DMs), a state-of-the-art generative machine learning protocol, and generative adversarial networks (GANs), previously considered as the best-performing method both in terms of point-wise reconstruction and the statistical properties of the inferred velocity fields. We focus on two different DMs recently proposed in the specialized literature: (i) RePaint, based on a heuristic strategy to guide an unconditional DM for flow generation by using partial measurements data, and (ii) Palette, a conditional DM trained for the reconstruction task with paired measured and missing data. Systematic comparison shows that (i) DMs outperform the GAN in terms of the mean squared error and/or the statistical accuracy; (ii) Palette DM emerges as the most promising tool in terms of both point-wise and statistical metrics. An important property of DMs is their capacity for probabilistic reconstructions, providing a range of predictions based on the same measurements, enabling uncertainty quantification and risk assessment.
Determination of Hygroscopic Aerosol Growth Based on the OPC-N3 Counter
Authors: Nurowska Katarzyna , Markowicz Krzysztof M.
Published: January 2024

We present the first estimations of single hygroscopic parameter κ for Polish urban area. The results were obtained using an inexpensive OPC-N3 optical particulate matter counter and the ASC 1000 Acoem Aerosol Conditioning System. Our studies were carried out during the winter and spring seasons, between 2020 and 2022 in Warsaw, Poland. We study the difference of κ between these two seasons, as the aerosol has different origins. The mean value of the hygroscopicity parameter for spring (April–June) was 0.13±0.13 and for winter (December-March) it was 0.04±0.04 (obtained using PM1). The mean value of the growth factor for spring (April–June) was 1.52±0.23 and for winter (December–March) it was 1.16±0.13 (obtained using PM1). The values for winter period suggest that during the cold season the aerosol mixture in the atmosphere is dominated by non-hygroscopic particles. However events of higher κ > 0.5 where occurring (mostly for big aerosol particles 1–10 μm in size), when the air mass was coming from North Atlantic carrying sea salt particles. Furthermore, based on κ we propose a method to remove the dependence of PM values on relative humidity on the OPC-N3 optical particulate counter.