bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hyperspectral Imaging of Adaxial and Abaxial Leaf Surfaces for Rapid Assessment of Foliar Nutrient Concentrations in Hass Avocado
Authors: Hapuarachchi Nimanie S. , Trueman Stephen J. , Kämper Wiebke , Farrar Michael B. , Wallace Helen M. , Nichols Joel , Bai Shahla Hosseini
Published: June 2023

Rapid assessment tools are required for monitoring crop nutrient status and managing fertiliser applications in real time. Hyperspectral imaging has emerged as a promising assessment tool to manage crop nutrition. This study aimed to determine the potential of hyperspectral imaging for predicting foliar nutrient concentrations in avocado trees and establish whether imaging different sides of the leaves affects prediction accuracy. Hyperspectral images (400–1000 nm) were taken of both surfaces of leaves collected from Hass avocado trees 0, 6, 10 and 28 weeks after peak anthesis. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were developed to predict mineral nutrient concentrations using images from (a) abaxial surfaces, (b) adaxial surfaces and (c) combined images of both leaf surfaces. Modelling successfully predicted foliar nitrogen (RP2 = 0.60, RPD = 1.61), phosphorus (RP2 = 0.71, RPD = 1.90), aluminium (RP2 = 0.88, RPD = 2.91), boron (RP2 = 0.63, RPD = 1.67), calcium (RP2 = 0.88, RPD = 2.86), copper (RP2 = 0.86, RPD = 2.76), iron (RP2 = 0.81, RPD = 2.34), magnesium (RP2 = 0.87, RPD = 2.81), manganese (RP2 = 0.87, RPD = 2.76) and zinc (RP2 = 0.79, RPD = 2.21) concentrations from either the abaxial or adaxial surface. Foliar potassium concentrations were predicted successfully only from the adaxial surface (RP2 = 0.56, RPD = 1.54). Foliar sodium concentrations were predicted successfully (RP2 = 0.59, RPD = 1.58) only from the combined images of both surfaces. In conclusion, hyperspectral imaging showed great potential as a rapid assessment tool for monitoring the crop nutrition status of avocado trees, with adaxial surfaces being the most useful for predicting foliar nutrient concentrations.
Remote-Sensing-Based Sampling Design and Prescription Mapping for Soil Acidity
Authors: Casanova Joaquin J. , Carlson Jenny L. , LeTourneau Melissa
Published: June 2023

Soil acidification is a major problem in the inland Pacific Northwest. A potential solution is the application of lime to neutralize acidity and raise pH. As lime is an expensive input, precision variable rate application is necessary. However, high-resolution mapping of pH and buffer pH for lime prescription requires costly sampling and analysis. To reduce the amount of sampling needed, remote sensing, which correlates with soil pH and buffer pH, can be used to determine optimal sampling locations and allow optimal interpolation. We used soil and crop data from the Washington State University R.J. Cook Agronomy Farm to develop an optimal sampling plan for a farmer’s property, followed that sampling design, and used the measured pH and buffer pH to fit a Bayesian hierarchical model using remote sensing variables specific to that farmer’s land. Following this, a new model was developed for the research farm with similar covariates. Ultimately, on the farmer’s field, we observed a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.2487 for soil pH at a depth of 0–10 cm and 0.1221 for modified Mehlich buffer at 0–10 cm of depth. For the research farm, where buffer pH was not measured, we saw an RMSE of 0.3272 for soil pH at 0–10 cm of depth and 0.3381 for soil pH at 10–20 cm of depth. The ability make predictions of soil acidity with uncertainty using this technique allows for prescription lime application while optimizing soil sampling and testing. Further, this paper serves as a case study of on-farm research.
Comparison of Training Strategies for Autoencoder-Based Monochromatic Image Denoising
Authors: Jóźwik-Wabik Piotr , Bernacki Krzysztof , Popowicz Adam
Published: June 2023

Monochromatic images are used mainly in cases where the intensity of the received signal is examined. The identification of the observed objects as well as the estimation of intensity emitted by them depends largely on the precision of light measurement in image pixels. Unfortunately, this type of imaging is often affected by noise, which significantly degrades the quality of the results. In order to reduce it, numerous deterministic algorithms are used, with Non-Local-Means and Block-Matching-3D being the most widespread and treated as the reference point of the current state-of-the-art. Our article focuses on the utilization of machine learning (ML) for the denoising of monochromatic images in multiple data availability scenarios, including those with no access to noise-free data. For this purpose, a simple autoencoder architecture was chosen and checked for various training approaches on two large and widely used image datasets: MNIST and CIFAR-10. The results show that the method of training as well as architecture and the similarity of images within the image dataset significantly affect the ML-based denoising. However, even without access to any clear data, the performance of such algorithms is frequently well above the current state-of-the-art; therefore, they should be considered for monochromatic image denoising.
Active Learning Optimisation of Binary Coded Metasurface Consisting of Wideband Meta-Atoms
Authors: Chittur Subramanianprasad Parvathy , Ma Yihan , Ihalage Achintha Avin , Hao Yang
Published: June 2023

The design of a metasurface array consisting of different unit cells with the objective of minimizing its radar cross-section is a popular research topic. Currently, this is achieved by conventional optimisation algorithms such as genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimisation (PSO). One major concern of such algorithms is the extreme time complexity, which makes them computationally forbidden, particularly at large metasurface array size. Here, we apply a machine learning optimisation technique called active learning to significantly speed up the optimisation process while producing very similar results compared to GA. For a metasurface array of size 10 × 10 at a population size of 106, active learning took 65 min to find the optimal design compared to genetic algorithm, which took 13,260 min to return an almost similar optimal result. The active learning optimisation strategy produced an optimal design for a 60 × 60 metasurface array 24× faster than the approximately similar result generated by GA technique. Thus, this study concludes that active learning drastically reduces computational time for optimisation compared to genetic algorithm, particularly for a larger metasurface array. Active learning using an accurately trained surrogate model also contributes to further lowering of the computational time of the optimisation procedure.
Traceable Security-by-Design Decisions for Cyber-Physical Systems (CPSs) by Means of Function-Based Diagrams and Security Libraries
Authors: Fluchs Sarah , Taştan Emre , Trumpf Tobias , Horch Alexander , Drath Rainer , Fay Alexander
Published: June 2023

“Security by design” is the term for shifting cybersecurity considerations from a system’s end users to its engineers. To reduce the end users’ workload for addressing security during the systems operation phase, security decisions need to be made during engineering, and in a way that is traceable for third parties. However, engineers of cyber-physical systems (CPSs) or, more specifically, industrial control systems (ICSs) typically neither have the security expertise nor time for security engineering. The security-by-design decisions method presented in this work aims to enable them to identify, make, and substantiate security decisions autonomously. Core features of the method are a set of function-based diagrams as well as libraries of typical functions and their security parameters. The method, implemented as a software demonstrator, is validated in a case study with the specialist for safety-related automation solutions HIMA, and the results show that the method enables engineers to identify and make security decisions they may not have made (consciously) otherwise, and quickly and with little security expertise. The method is also well suited to make security-decision-making knowledge available to less experienced engineers. This means that with the security-by-design decisions method, more people can contribute to a CPS’s security by design in less time.
Microwave Gas Sensors Based on Electrodeposited Polypyrrole–Nickel Phthalocyanine Hybrid Films
Authors: Pavel Ileana-Alexandra , Lasserre Alexis , Simon Léo , Rossignol Jérôme , Lakard Sophie , Stuerga Didier , Lakard Boris
Published: June 2023

Previous studies have shown that the incorporation of sulfonated metallophthalocyanines into sensitive sensor materials can improve electron transfer and thus species detection. Herein, we propose a simple and easy alternative to the use of generally expensive sulfonated phthalocyanines by electropolymerizing polypyrrole together with nickel phthalocyanine in the presence of an anionic surfactant. The addition of the surfactant not only helps the incorporation of the water-insoluble pigment into the polypyrrole film, but the obtained structure has increased hydrophobicity, which is a key property for developing efficient gas sensors with low sensitivity to water. The obtained results show the effectiveness of the materials tested for the detection of ammonia in the range of 100 to 400 ppm. It is shown by comparing the microwave sensor responses that the film without nickel phthalocyanine (hydrophilic) produces greater variations than the film with nickel phthalocyanine (hydrophobic). These results are consistent with the expected results since the hydrophobic film is not very sensitive to residual ambient water and therefore does not interfere with the microwave response. However, although this excess response is usually a handicap, as it is a source of drift, in these experiments the microwave response shows great stability in both cases.
Plant and Salamander Inspired Network Attack Detection and Data Recovery Model
Authors: Sharma Rupam Kumar , Issac Biju , Xin Qin , Gadekallu Thippa Reddy , Nath Keshab
Published: June 2023

The number of users of the Internet has been continuously rising, with an estimated 5.1 billion users in 2023, which comprises around 64.7% of the total world population. This indicates the rise of more connected devices to the network. On average, 30,000 websites are hacked daily, and nearly 64% of companies worldwide experience at least one type of cyberattack. As per IDC’s 2022 Ransomware study, two-thirds of global organizations were hit by a ransomware attack that year. This creates the desire for a more robust and evolutionary attack detection and recovery model. One aspect of the study is the bio-inspiration models. This is because of the natural ability of living organisms to withstand various odd circumstances and overcome them with an optimization strategy. In contrast to the limitations of machine learning models with the need for quality datasets and computational availability, bio-inspired models can perform in low computational environments, and their performances are designed to evolve naturally with time. This study concentrates on exploring the evolutionary defence mechanism in plants and understanding how plants react to any known external attacks and how the response mechanism changes to unknown attacks. This study also explores how regenerative models, such as salamander limb regeneration, could build a network recovery system where services could be automatically activated after a network attack, and data could be recovered automatically by the network after a ransomware-like attack. The performance of the proposed model is compared to open-source IDS Snort and data recovery systems such as Burp and Casandra.
New Advances and Perspectives of Influenza Prevention: Current State of the Art
Authors: Oberemok Volodymyr , Andreeva Oksana , Alieva Edie , Bilyk Anastasiya
Published: June 2023

The modern world, swaddled in the benefits of civilization, has fostered the development of science and the introduction of products of technological progress. This has allowed serious individual health problems, including those associated with viral diseases, to become targets for prophylaxis, treatment, and even cure. Human immunodeficiency viruses, hepatitis viruses, coronaviruses, and influenza viruses are among the most disturbing infectious agents in the human experience. Influenza appears to be one of the oldest viruses known to man; these viruses were among the first to cause major epidemics and pandemics in human history, collectively causing up to 0.5 million deaths worldwide each year. The main problem in the fight against influenza viruses is that they mutate constantly, which leads to molecular changes in antigens, including outer membrane glycoproteins, which play a critical role in the creation of modern vaccines. Due to the constant microevolution of the virus, influenza vaccine formulas have to be reviewed and improved every year. Today, flu vaccines represent an eternal molecular race between a person and a virus, which neither entity seems likely to win.
Customer Engagement and Customer Relationship Management Capabilities’ Effects on Innovation Performance and Customer Distrust’s Moderating Role
Authors: Binsaeed Rima H. , Yousaf Zahid , Grigorescu Adriana , Chitescu Razvan Ion , Nassani Abdelmohsen A. , Samoila Alina
Published: June 2023

This research aims to investigate how customer relationship management capabilities (CRMCs) improve customer engagement and innovation performance. Customer engagement is also tested as a mediator between CRM capabilities and innovation performance. Furthermore, the distrust moderating role was studied towards the relationship between CRMCs and customer engagement. Data were collected from 491 owner/managers of SMEs working in Saudi Arabia. The findings revealed that CRMCs positively predict customer engagement and innovation performance. Customer engagement directly affects innovation performance and acts as a mediator as well. In addition, the findings proved that distrust moderates on the link between CRMCs and customer engagement. This research adds to the marketing management theory and practices and highlighted the role of CRMCs in achieving innovation performance. It explored, considering the data base collected from SME owners and managers, the mechanism of innovation performance achievement through CRMCs and customer engagement. CRMC improvements allow businesses to have sustainable development and a better integration in the market.
Experimental Study on the Charge Signal Time-Frequency Characteristics during Fracture Process of Precracked Syenogranite under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Liu Yuchun , Ding Ling , Zhao Yangfeng
Published: June 2023

During the process of rock deformation and failure, a significantly large number of charge signals are generated as a result of fracture appearance and crack expansion. The generation of charge signal is the comprehensive embodiment of the coal-failure behavior. The study of charge signal in the process of fractured-rock deformation and failure is of great significance to the prediction of rock dynamic disasters such as tunnel-engineering stability, slope instability and earthquake. In this work, a surveillance system utilizing charge induction is employed to extract precursory information related to the instability and failure of precracked syenogranite. The results reveal a significant influence of fractures on the strength of syenogranite specimens and the number of charge-induction signal events. The position of the charge signal generated is related to the crack dip angle. Furthermore, with the increase of the crack inclination, the number of events and the amplitude and power value of the charge-induced signal increase and reach the maximum in the instability-failure phase. The syenogranite specimen has a relatively large value, medium correlation, or even high correlation charge-induction signal in the phase of rack propagation, which can make an early warning of the deformation and failure risk of syenogranite; with the increase of the fracture degree, the charge-induction signal with large values and high correlations gradually increases.
The Impact of COVID-19 Policy Response on Food Prices: A Case Study in China
Authors: Cui Mingjie , Zhang Yufang , Huo Jinwei , Yang Degang
Published: June 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened human lives and caused an unprecedented impact on the global economy, notably on the global food system. COVID-19 itself and its policy response have severely affected food prices. This paper analyzes the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 cases and policy responses (government response index (GRI), economic support index (ESI), stringency index (SI)) on food prices (Chinese cabbage price (CP), pork price (PP), flour price (FP), rice price (RP)) in China’s major food producing areas and major food selling areas through the autoregressive distribution lag error correction (ARDL-ECM) method and graphical analysis. as the purpose is to provide evidence for food security policy regulation to stabilize food prices and improve the food system’s ability to withstand similar emergencies in the future. This study finds that the short-term impact of COVID-19 policy responses on food prices is larger, while the long-term impact is smaller. The impacts of COVID-19 itself and COVID-19 policy responses on food prices vary by food type and food production and consumption region. For food type, the Chinese cabbage price was most affected by the COVID-19 policy response, followed by pork, and the staple food prices (flour price and rice price) were least affected. For regions, the Chinese cabbage price in food producing areas was more influenced by COVID-19 and the pork price in food selling areas was more influenced by COVID-19. For the single indexes, GRI and SI had uneven effects on different food prices. However, ESI had a significant positive impact on the Chinese cabbage price (CP) and pork price(PP), except in Guangdong and Hubei. Staple food prices were almost unaffected by COVID-19 confirmed cases and policy responses. Then, taking the Chinese cabbage price in Beijing, Shandong, and Hubei as an example, we find that “dynamic clearance” influenced the Chinese cabbage price in the short term, and Chinese cabbage price increased largely in the first stage. Finally, the reasons behind the research results of this paper are analyzed, and scientific suggestions are put forward for the implementation of food supply policies to ensure food price stability and food security in the face of similar pandemics in the future.
Role of Biotransformation of Acacia nilotica Metabolites by Aspergillus subolivaceus in Boosting Lupinus termis Yield: A Promising Approach to Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Gamel Rasha M. E. , Haroun Samia A. , Alkhateeb Omar Abdullah , Soliman Eman A. , Tanash Arafat B. , Sherief Abdel-Dayem A. , Abdel-Mogib Mamdoh , Abdou Ahmed Hassan , Ali Howayda Said Ahmed Mohamed , Al-Harbi Nadi Awad , Abdelaal Khaled , Kazamel Amany M.
Published: June 2023

Biotransformation plays a significant role in sustainable agriculture. This process involves utilizing microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, to transform organic compounds and metabolites into bioactive compounds which have beneficial effects on plant growth, yield, and soil characters. Accordingly, the present study aims to explore the role of biotransformation of Acacia nilotica metabolites by Aspergillus subolivaceus in boosting L. termis yield, as an important strategy in agricultural sustainability. A pilot experiment was performed on five fungal strains (Fusarium oxysporium A. aculeatus, Aspergillus. subolivaceus, Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma viride) which were grown on different parts of plants (A. nilotica leaves; green tea leaves, green pepper fruits and pomegranate fruits), and the results indicated that the most active metabolite for the growth of L. termis seeds was the fungal metabolite of A. subolivaceus growing on A. nilotica. More specifically, we assess how metabolites produced by Aspergillus subolivaceus using A. nilotica leaves affect the biochemical properties and chemical composition of L. termis seeds. A. subolivaceus was grown on leaves from A. nilotica to obtain metabolites and fractionated into four extracts. Two concentrations of each extract were examined by pretreating the seeds of L. termis. The study found that all four extracts contributed to an increase in yield and some biochemical properties of the yielded seeds. The best results were obtained by treating the L. termis seeds with an extract obtained from diethyl ether, which led to a significant increase in total nitrogen, amino nitrogen, glucose and protein contents of the seeds. According to 1H NMR guided GC/MS analysis, our results showed an increase in phytochemicals such as terpenes, fatty materials, and flavonoids including 3′,4′,7-trimethoxyquercetin and 4-methyl-p-menth-8-en-3-one, which have not been stated before from A. nilotica suggesting that biotransformation may have occurred due to the presence of A. subolivaceus.
Measuring Activity—The Picture of Seniors in Poland and Other European Union Countries
Authors: Przybysz Klaudia , Stanimir Agnieszka
Published: June 2023

Three interconnected and mutually supporting priority areas of “Europe 2020”, which will continue as priorities until 2030, constitute the idea of sustainable development based on three pillars—economic, environmental and social. The third pillar, related to social inclusion, aims to protect the interests of various social groups, including the growing group of elderly individuals. In this context, the activity of seniors becomes one of the key elements of sustainable development. For many years, it has been advocated that seniors have to be active, not only in terms of their physical activity, but also in terms of the so-called digital/technological inclusion or exclusion. This article attempts to answer the question of whether seniors’ activity in various areas of life (for example, taking into account the components of the Active Aging Index) can translate into a better assessment of their lives. We compare the activity of Polish seniors with their peers from EU countries. By identifying the differences, we try to pinpoint the causes of inactivity and indicate the areas of action necessary to stimulate their activity. Pointing out the disadvantages of the AAI’s construction, which are related to the cultural schemes, traditions, and social conditions of EU countries, we propose an original active aging indicator, which was created using Hellwig’s method and which is based on the results of a pilot study conducted with Polish seniors in 2020. The values of both indicators (AAI and the original) were also used to examine the impact of seniors’ activity on their general life satisfaction. In this part of the study, we used a comparative analysis and a classification method.
Experimental Study on the Seismic Performance of Seismic Bracing in Important Buildings
Authors: Liu Rongheng , Jiang Tao , Dai Junwu , Yang Yongqiang , Bai Wen
Published: June 2023

Important buildings, such as hospitals and nuclear power facilities, must have basically intact pipe systems to function effectively after an earthquake. To study the seismic fragility and failure mechanisms of different typical seismic bracing system types, this paper conducts a comprehensive series of 34 monotonic and cyclic loading tests on four distinct configurations of seismic bracing. The bearing capacity performance and ductility of the components are evaluated thoroughly by using the area (energy) corresponding to the yield displacement, peak force corresponding displacement, and ultimate displacement of the force–displacement curve in the cyclic loading test. Ultimately, the results comprehensively assess the performance of various test specimens, offering suggestions to address the identified issues.
Urban Planning and Sustainable Land Use
Authors: He Qingsong
Published: June 2023

The main purpose of this Special Issue is to gather the literature from diverse disciplines on contemporary urban planning and land use in different regions, in order to contribute to addressing the global challenges of sustainable urban development [...]
The Nexus between Industrial Parks and the Sustainability of Small and Medium-Scaled Ventures
Authors: Ngwu Robert O. , Onodugo Vincent A. , Monyei Francis E. , Ukpere Wilfred I. , Onyekwelu Phina N. , Mmamel Uche Gerald
Published: June 2023

Investigations on industrial parks appear to be slim with inadequate statistical data in spite of their growing connectedness with sustainability and the importance of their establishment. They were required to curb the overarching challenges of small and medium-scaled ventures (SMVs). To revert the status quo and justify the call for the timeliness of empiricism in this regard, the study investigated the extent to which industrial parks (IPs) impact the sustainability of SMVs. Specifically, it hypothesizes that competition among IP firms affects innovativeness and that government tax incentives impact the cost efficiency of SMVs in Enugu State in Nigeria. Empirical data for the study’s analyses were gathered from the distributive trade, manufacturing, agriculture and allied products, and commerce and tourism sub-sectors of SMVs in the Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria. Adopting a descriptive survey design, 711 staff members from the aforementioned SMV sub-sectors in Enugu State, Nigeria were included as the research population. The regression analytics tool was used to analyze the data, following collection, using a structured questionnaire. The study’s results indicate that competition had a significant positive impact on SMVs’ innovativeness in the Enugu metropolis (R = 0.575, β = 0.283, t = 6.794, p = 0.000 < 0.05), while the government’s tax incentive had a significant positive impact on SMVs’ cost-effectiveness (R = 0.267, β = 0.213, t = 6.472, p = 0.000 < 0.05). Therefore, the study concluded that the pursuit of sustainability stimulated competition, resulting in higher levels of innovativeness, while government support in the form of tax incentives helped to lower SMVs’ costs of operating in the parks. As a result, SMVs can maintain viability through a well-planned structure of the industrial park.
Adsorption of Pb2+ Ions from Aqueous Solution onto Porous Kappa-Carrageenan/Cellulose Hydrogels: Isotherm and Kinetics Study
Authors: Kalaiselvi Karuppiah , Mohandoss Sonaimuthu , Ahmad Naushad , Khan Mohammad Rizwan , Manoharan Ranjith Kumar
Published: June 2023

Heavy metal ion pollution poses severe health risks. In this study, a kappa-carrageenan/cellulose (κ-CG/CL) hydrogel was prepared using a facile one-step method to remove Pb2+ ions from aqueous solutions. The functional groups and crystallinity nature of κ-CG/CL hydrogel have been identified via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In contrast, the porous morphology and size distribution on the surface of κ-CG/CL hydrogel with a pore size of 1–10 μm were identified using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The as-prepared κ-CG/CL hydrogel effectively removed Pb2+ ions, primary environmental pollutants. The effects of pH and contact time on Pb2+ adsorption were studied along with the adsorption isotherms and kinetics of Pb2+ adsorption onto the hydrogels from aqueous solutions. Notably, the aqueous solutions were effectively treated with the prepared κ-CG/CL hydrogels to remove Pb2+ ions. The adsorption results fit well with pseudo-first- and second-order kinetic, Elovich, intra-particle diffusion, and Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Based on the fitting results, the maximum adsorption capacity was obtained with the Freundlich isotherm model of κ-CG/CL hydrogel found to be 486 ± 28.5 mg/g (79%). Reusability studies revealed that the κ-CG/CL hydrogel could remove Pb2+ ions with more than 79% removal efficiency after eight adsorption–desorption cycles. In addition, its mechanism for efficiently adsorbing and removal of Pb2+ ions was analyzed. These findings imply that the κ-CG/CL hydrogel has substantial potential for application in removing and recycling heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions.
Dynamic Optimization of Emergency Logistics for Major Epidemic Considering Demand Urgency
Authors: Zhang Jianjun , Huang Jingru , Wang Tianhao , Zhao Jin
Published: June 2023

In recent years, epidemic disasters broke through frequently around the world, posing a huge threat to economic and social development, as well as human health. A fair and accurate distribution of emergency supplies during an epidemic is vital for improving emergency rescue efficiency and reducing economic losses. However, traditional emergency material allocation models often focus on meeting the amount of materials requested, and ignore the differences in the importance of different emergency materials and the subjective urgency demand of the disaster victims. As a result, it is difficult for the system to fairly and reasonably match different scarce materials to the corresponding areas of greatest need. Consequently, this paper proposes a material shortage adjustment coefficient based on the entropy weight method, which includes indicators such as material consumption rate, material reproduction rate, durability, degree of danger to life, and degree of irreplaceability, to enlarge and narrow the actual shortage of material supply according to the demand urgency. Due to the fact that emergency materials are not dispatched in one go during epidemic periods, a multi-period integer programming model was established to minimize the adjusted total material shortage based on the above function. Taking the cases of Wuhan and Shanghai during the lockdown and static management period, the quantitative analysis based on material distribution reflected that the model established in this paper was effective in different scenarios where there were significant differences in the quantity and structure of material demand. At the same time, the model could significantly adjust the shortage of emergency materials with higher importance and improve the satisfaction rate.
Dissolved Algal Toxins along the Southern Coast of British Columbia Canada
Authors: Shartau Ryan B. , Turcotte Lenora D. M. , Bradshaw Julia C. , Ross Andrew R. S. , Surridge Blair D. , Nemcek Nina , Johnson Stewart C.
Published: June 2023

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in coastal British Columbia (BC), Canada, negatively impact the salmon aquaculture industry. One disease of interest to salmon aquaculture is Net Pen Liver Disease (NPLD), which induces severe liver damage and is believed to be caused by the exposure to microcystins (MCs). To address the lack of information about algal toxins in BC marine environments and the risk they pose, this study investigated the presence of MCs and other toxins at aquaculture sites. Sampling was carried out using discrete water samples and Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) samplers from 2017–2019. All 283 SPATT samples and all 81 water samples tested positive for MCs. Testing for okadaic acid (OA) and domoic acid (DA) occurred in 66 and 43 samples, respectively, and all samples were positive for the toxin tested. Testing for dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1) (20 samples), pectenotoxin-2 (PTX-2) (20 samples), and yessotoxin (YTX) (17 samples) revealed that all samples were positive for the tested toxins. This study revealed the presence of multiple co-occurring toxins in BC’s coastal waters and the levels detected in this study were below the regulatory limits for health and recreational use. This study expands our limited knowledge of algal toxins in coastal BC and shows that further studies are needed to understand the risks they pose to marine fisheries and ecosystems.
Spatial Distribution, Migration, and Ecological Risk of Cd in Sediments and Soils Surrounding Sulfide Mines—A Case Study of the Dabaoshan Mine of Guangdong, China
Authors: Sheng Weikang , Hou Qingye , Yang Zhongfang , Yu Tao
Published: June 2023

Acid mine drainage (AMD) resulting from metal sulfide mining activities can lead to contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) primarily concentrated around the mining area and gradually spreading outward. However, ecological risks do not correspond directly to PTE concentrations, making it challenging to effectively manage the mining environment and accurately prevent potential ecological impacts. In this paper, we analyzed Cd levels in sediments, soils, and corresponding rice grains sampled from four villages near Dabaoshan Mine of Guangdong, China, in 2017. Our results reveal that Cd is the most prominent pollutant element, exhibiting significant enrichment and spatial heterogeneity in both soil and sediments and higher accumulation levels in rice grains compared to other PTEs. Cd concentrations in soil decrease from the tailings pond to the river terrace, with a slight increase after Taiping River joins and flows into the alluvial plain. However, the concentrations in sediments show the opposite trend. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) for Cd in agricultural soil from the river terrace is lower than that from the alluvial plain and the degree of exceeding the maximum permit level (MPL) of Cd in rice grains increases along the river. Mineral transformation and topography are important factors in controlling the geochemical behavior of PTEs. Remediation efforts alter the physicochemical properties of the river, resulting in the release of PTEs during schwertmannite transformation followed by their adsorption by clay minerals. Furthermore, the random forest (RF) analysis highlights that the bioavailability and potential ecological risk of Cd in soils are governed by the occurrence form of Cd in different topographies, mainly controlled by TFe2O3, Mn, and CaO in the river terrace and CaO, Al2O3/SiO2, and Mn in the alluvial plain. Therefore, considering the impact of topography on mineral compositions, physicochemical properties, and occurrence form of PTEs in soil and sediments is essential for assessing ecological risk in mining areas.
Sustainable Agriculture in the Face of Climate Change: Exploring Farmers’ Risk Perception, Low-Carbon Technology Adoption, and Productivity in the Guanzhong Plain of China
Authors: Li Linfei , Huang Yanfen
Published: June 2023

Agriculture is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing carbon emissions in this sector is essential for mitigating global warming. To achieve China’s targets of carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, promoting low-carbon agricultural technology (LCAT) is fundamental. This study examines the impact of farmers’ risk perception on LCAT adoption behavior and its productivity effects with the Ordered Probit regression method, using micro survey data from 531 farmers in Shaanxi Province, China. The results show that farmers with stronger risk perceptions were more likely to adopt LCAT, based on their loss aversion characteristics. Additionally, farmers’ perceptions of yield, market, and climate risks positively influence the adoption of LCAT, with market risk perception having the strongest effect. Adopting LCAT has significant production and spillover effects, improving the output rate of farmers’ operating farmland and neighboring plots by 2.4% and 1.2%, respectively, for each additional measure adopted. This study contributes to the perception and loss aversion literature by examining farmers’ adoption of low-carbon agricultural practices. This study sheds light on the importance of risk perception in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and can inform policies aimed at promoting the adoption of LCAT for achieving sustainable agriculture and mitigating climate change, highlighting the crucial role of sustainable environmental management in the agricultural sector.
The Problem of Selenium for Human Health—Removal of Selenium from Water and Wastewater
Authors: Witczak Agata , Pokorska-Niewiada Kamila , Tomza-Marciniak Agnieszka , Witczak Grzegorz , Cybulski Jacek , Aftyka Aleksandra
Published: June 2023

Selenium is a trace element that can be poisonous in small quantities. The aim of this study was to analyze the change in the content of selenium in drinking water, raw water, as well as treated and raw wastewater in an annual cycle in the city of Szczecin. The concentration of Se in samples was determined using the spectrofluorometric method at a 518 nm emission wavelength and a 378 nm excitation wavelength. The amount of selenium in drinking water ranged from <LOD to 0.007 μg/mL, in raw water, from 0.001 to 0.006 μg/mL, in raw wastewater, from 0.001 to 0.008 μg/mL, and in treated wastewater, from 0.001 to 0.009 μg/mL. The selenium content did not exceed the maximum allowable concentration (MAC), 0.010 μg/mL, in any of the water samples tested.
Development of a Food Safety Training for a Prison Farm: Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Shaw Angela , Helterbran Kara
Published: June 2023

Workers on prison farms in the United States commonly grow produce and row crops and raise livestock. Teaching good agricultural practices to prisoners and prison staff increases the safety of the food produced and reduces the likelihood of an illness outbreak. We developed a food safety curriculum for use on prison farms in Iowa. In developing the curriculum, we encountered many challenges that resulted in modifications in the content and delivery method. We present the content of the curriculum and provide educators with a better understanding of challenges and potential solutions related to working with prison farms.
Developing a Socio-Ecological Approach to Extension Natural Resources Programming
Authors: Warren William
Published: June 2023

This article proposes the concept of socio-ecology as a natural resources programming model in Extension. After a brief review of the concept, I link it with the original vision of Extension and more recent Extension scholarship that addresses the human–environment conundrum. I then suggest socio-ecology as both a guide for programming and a vision for directing Extension leadership in developing a path forward for sustainable, and just, natural resources allocation and use.
Rethinking Service: Visual Arts at the Land-Grant University and in Extension Programming
Authors: Kirkwood Meghan
Published: June 2023

In 2014, land-grant institutions observed the centenary of the Smith-Lever Act, which established the Cooperative Extension program. Traditionally, Cooperative Extension has engaged in and disseminated findings from research in areas such as agricultural sciences and public policy, but rarely the visual arts, despite the prevalence of visual arts departments at land-grant institutions. Faculty in the Department of Visual Arts at North Dakota State University (NDSU) desired to know whether there was potential for collaboration with NDSU Extension. This article addresses findings from the resulting survey-based study and the implications of those findings.
Improving Climate Literacy within Extension by Understanding Diverse Climate-Related Informational Needs
Authors: Clifford Maggie , Monroe Martha
Published: June 2023

Increasing literacy among Extension professionals in every sector regarding potential regional impacts and adaptation strategies related to climate change is key to producing high-quality relevant programs addressing climate-related risks. Professionals in the forestry, agriculture, livestock, and coastal resources sectors attended the Southeast Region Extension Climate Academy in fall 2014. Participant surveys and interviews suggested that some of the agents most confused about climate change gained the most from the workshop. Further, focusing on region- and sector-specific information made climate change relevant to participants who were initially uninterested in addressing the topic.
An Extension Educator Perspective on Trauma-Informed Care
Authors: Small Stephen , Huser Mary
Published: June 2023

Trauma-informed care has become a major priority in recent efforts to address trauma and stress in the lives of children, adults, and families. Interest in trauma-informed care among Extension professionals has grown over the past several years as Extension partners and other child- and family-serving organizations initiate trauma-informed care programs, trainings, and community-wide initiatives. In this article we present a literature review–based overview of trauma-informed care and examination of trauma-informed care principles and assumptions, and we consider implications for Extension professionals.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Impact and Options for Extension Professionals
Authors: O'Neill Barbara
Published: June 2023

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) will affect Cooperative Extension employees and their clientele starting with 2018 tax returns filed by mid April 2019. Some educators will teach or counsel their target audiences about income taxes, and all will either benefit overall from the TCJA or pay more federal income tax because of it. This article describes key features of the TCJA and the content and impact of a workplace seminar designed to help taxpayers take action in response to it. The article concludes with tax planning strategies to consider for adjusting personal finance decisions and work practices in response to the TCJA.
Edible Insect Workshop Engages Public in Sustainable Food Conversation
Authors: Jasinski James , Kulhanek Ashley , Shumaker Kate
Published: June 2023

A 6-hr train-the-trainer workshop focused on introducing the concept that insects may play a significant role in food security as the world population is projected to exceed 9 billion people by the mid 21st century. Workshop topics including cultural, nutritional, culinary, and commercial aspects surrounding edible insects were presented and packaged into a formal curriculum for later use by the participants. A 12-item sensory evaluation of insect-fortified foods provided participants a tangible experience with product palatability. By the end of the workshop, participants had increased various dimensions of their knowledge about edible insects and reported a generally positive perception toward insect-based foods.
Wooden Planks: A Tool for Youth Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Exploration
Authors: Shaklee Harriet , Demarest Diane
Published: June 2023

Wooden planks are a tool for developing youth skills through science, technology, engineering, and math exploration. These are small planks that can be stacked to create complex structures as youths explore math and physical relationships in an applied context. Building with wooden planks also cultivates planning, reasoning, and team skills as youths design and build structures. We developed an event in which adult and youth teams competed to build structures from wooden planks. Our Building Challenge proved to be effective in cultivating youth–adult engagement and expanding Extension's reach to new audiences while also raising funds for youth programs.
Ten Tools for Creating Attention-Getting Social Media Messages
Authors: O'Neill Barbara
Published: June 2023

It is not enough to simply post text in social media messages. Tweets with images garner three times more engagement, such as through likes, retweets, follows, clicks, and comments. Social media messages without accompanying visuals are a missed opportunity. This article describes 10 simple tools and accompanying techniques for creating attractive graphics and videos for use with social media: Canva, Paint, Piktochart, grayed out images, hand-drawn sketches, stock images, personal photos, PicCollage, GIFs, and Boomerang. Visuals should be copyright free and fit the content of a post. Time can be saved through repurposing existing images and videos for use in social media content.
Beyond Evaluation: Using the RE-AIM Framework for Program Planning in Extension
Authors: Balis Laura , John Deborah , Harden Samantha
Published: June 2023

Extension professionals need to apply sound frameworks to program planning and evaluation in order to demonstrate strong population health impact and value. Pragmatic application of the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance) framework addresses the "who, what, when, where, how, and why" of a program's implementation. This article suggests pragmatic questions and example applications for each of the RE-AIM dimensions specifically for Extension professionals. This adapted RE-AIM tool can help Extension practitioners in all disciplines better plan and evaluate their programs and demonstrate the public value of Extension.
Recruitment and Onboarding Resources for Extension in the West
Authors: Angima Sam , Carroll Jan
Published: June 2023

Recruitment and retention of competent Extension professionals is a priority for ensuring that Extension remains relevant in communities. Extension program leaders in the West have developed an online resource to support recruiting and onboarding of new Extension professionals. Components of the resource include summaries and short videos featuring Extension professionals from throughout the region discussing Extension work, Extension's history, community relationships, professional expectations, and program assessment. These elements are intended to support each state's recruiting and mentoring programs and to foster a more cohesive approach across Extension for recruitment, onboarding, retention, and program assessment.
Providing Nutrition Education at a Food Pantry Affects Food-Related Behavior of Participants
Authors: Rublee Marissa , Yerxa Kathryn , White Adrienne , Bolton Jason , Savoie Kathy
Published: June 2023

We investigated effects of nutrition education provided to food pantry clients by trained volunteers. Specifically, we assessed effects on food security, nutrition practices, and food safety by examining the food pantry clients' intent to use beneficial kitchen practices and self-reported behavior following the education. Participants who engaged in at least one educational lesson completed an intent survey after the education. After the 4-month period during which the lessons were provided, participants and members of a comparison group completed retrospective questionnaires. Participants reported both high intent to use resources and behavior change (p ≤ .05). Offering nutrition education in food pantries is useful for participants and constitutes worthwhile Extension programming.
Using Time to Assess Extension Exhibits
Authors: Rollins Jeffrey , Watson Sunnie
Published: June 2023

In addition to other evaluation methods, the amount of time visitors spend at an exhibit may indicate visitors' level of interest and engagement with the exhibit content. We describe methods from the museum field where time is used as a measurement of exhibit effectiveness and discuss findings from a study in which we used time to evaluate an Extension exhibit. This information has implications for Extension professionals interested in using time as a method of evaluating visitors' level of interest and engagement in their exhibits.
Effective Engagement with Latino Youths and Communities
Authors: Moncloa Fe , Carrasco Claudia , Hill Russell , Erbstein Nancy
Published: June 2023

California's 4-H Youth Development Program adopted an asset-based and systematic community development approach to studying successful Latino-serving youth development programs. This effort included a scan of Latino engagement resources and Latino-serving youth development settings as well as key informant interviews. Beyond generating important data, the research process itself facilitated impactful Latino community outreach, relationship building, and engagement, suggesting multiple potential benefits to using a community development approach in research.