bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Photo-driven Interfacial Electron Transfer Reduction of cis-[Co(phen) 2 Cl 2 ]Cl Complex by Heterojunctioned CeO 2 /SnO 2 Nanocomposite with Insight on the Role of Supercapacitance
Authors: Silambarasan R. , Pavalamalar S. , Siva Uttej , Anbalagan K
Published: August 2023

Nano CeO2/SnO2 composite was successfully synthesised using the hydrothermal method. Nano-CeO2/SnO2 is one of the most widely used photocatalysts in metal oxide-semiconductors and has good photocatalytic activity. Experimental and spectroscopic approaches confirmed the structure and shape of the nanocomposite according to X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy results. Spectral peaks are shown to migrate with the CeO2/SnO2 composite in experiments using Raman and opacity (PL). The magnetic properties of SnO2 (20.54 emu/g) are higher than CeO2 (6.875 emu/g) nanoparticles and nanocomposite (4.822 emu/g). The different oxidation states of Ce and Sn, which act as active sites in the electrocatalytic activity of this nanocomposite material, were observed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The capability of the CeO2/SnO2 composite was demonstrated by additional galvanic charge-discharge experiments at various current densities, cyclic voltammetry measurements at various scan rates (the maximum capacitance value of 718 Fg− 1 from CV and 721 Ag− 1 from GCD). Surface absorption of cis-[Co(phen)2Cl2]Cl curve with binary solvent catalysis, measured the rate (k = 0.0032 sec− 1). Reduction of cis-[Co(phen)2Cl2]Cl by nano-CeO2/SnO2 was traced to the production of Co(II) ion, which was shown to be catalytically efficient by UV-Vis response curves. Lattice analysis showed that the catalytic activity was very effective in binary solvent solution (H2O/PriOH) (254 nm and 365 nm lamp, k = 0.0625 sec− 1 and k = 0.0305 sec− 1) and then in pure water (k = 0.0018 sec− 1). Thus, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the nano-CeO2/SnO2 material can be attributed to the excellent charge separation and electron transport for reduction efficiency of the photogenerated charge carriers.
A mild and eco-friendly, one-pot synthesis of 2-hydroxy-N-arylacetamides from 2-chloro-N-arylacetamides
Authors: Radhakrishna Vamshikrishna Y. , Khatik Gopal L. , Vijaya Bhuvaneshwari S. , Nair Vipin A.
Published: August 2023

A mild and eco-friendly one-pot two-step procedure was developed for the synthesis of 2-hydroxy-N-arylacetamides from 2-chloro-N-arylacetamides. The procedure overcomes the cleavage of the amide linkage in 2-chloroacetamides which is usually observed under reflux condition with the hydroxide when the nucleophilic substitution of the halide is attempted. The reactions were performed by refluxing 2-chloro-N-arylacetamides with Cu(OAc)2 and DIPEA in ethanol medium to facilitate an acetate exchange with the halogen. Subsequently by the addition of ethanolic KOH solution to the same reaction flask the ester linkage was selectively cleaved in the presence of the amide taking advantage of the difference in electrophilicity. The procedure affords good yields of the desired products which are valuable intermediates for several biologically active molecules, in short reaction time with ease of isolation The experimental conditions employed are simple and offers the possibility of scale up to higher quantities.
COC use and ESR1 genetic variants associated with the risk of stroke
Authors: Huang Xiaoping , Yue Yuanping , Xu Zhenlin , Li Ying
Published: August 2023

Background Estrogen receptor α (ESR1) gene variation has been considered to be related to the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study is to determine the association ofESR1gene polymorphisms with risk of stroke and stroke subtypes in Chinese women, and further assess the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions betweenESR1gene and combined oral contraceptives (COC) on stroke risk. Methods A population-based case–control study was conducted. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) inESR1were genotyped in 453 first-ever stroke cases and 919 control subjects enrolled from our prospective female cohort, and information of contraceptive use was acquired by a face-to-face interview. Results AA genotype ofESR1rs4870056 compared with GG/GA genotypes was associated with a significantly decreased risk of hemorrhagic stroke (Recessive model:OR, 0.40; 95%CI, 0.20–0.82; qFDR = 0.036), while rs2228480 GA/AA genotype compared with GG genotype was found to be related to a slightly elevated risk of ischemic stroke (Dominant model:OR, 1.42; 95%CI, 1.02–1.97;P = 0.034). In addition, we identified significant gene-environment interactions between rs4870056 and COC use on stroke and ischemic stroke (Pinteraction=0.034 andPinteraction=0.012, respectively), but not on hemorrhagic stroke (Pinteraction=0.590). However, we found that rs4870056 GG/GA genotypes in combination with COC use jointly remarkably increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke (OR, 4.89; 95%CI, 1.82–13.13;P = 0.002). Conclusion Our findings suggested thatESR1rs4870056 polymorphism was significantly associated with hemorrhagic stroke in Chinese women, and the combined effect between GG/GA genotypes of rs4870056 and COC use could greatly increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.
What Type of Vehicles Do Households Own? A Joint Model for Vehicle Body, Vintage, Fuel, and Technology Types
Authors: Hossain Md. Shahadat , Fatmi Mahmudur Rahman , Enam Annesha
Published: August 2023

Households’ vehicle fleet composition has important policy implications in the area of transport-related energy consumption and emissions. With the recent development in different alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) such as hybrid and electric vehicles and advanced technology features in the vehicle, the choice dimensions during vehicle purchase are not just limited to vehicle body and age. Households may also consider fuel and technology types. Therefore, this study focuses to investigate households’ vehicle type choices, specifically vehicle body, vintage, fuel, and technology types utilizing a survey conducted in British Columbia, Canada. A joint multinomial probit model has been developed that accommodates error correlations across alternatives among the different choice dimensions. The model results confirm significant correlations among the unobserved components. For instance, a significant positive correlation exists between alternative fuel vehicles and vehicles with advanced technology. The study also investigates the effects of households’ historical experiences such as historical vehicle fleet composition, and exposure to technology in daily life and vehicles. Historically owning AFVs and advanced technology in vehicles are found to have positive effects on the future preference for vehicles with advanced technology. Transit users and bikers show an inclination towards AFVs, which indicates a need for closer monitoring of the early adopters. The findings of the study provide insights towards targeted marketing to equitably promote the ownership of more sustainable, safer, and fuel-efficient vehicles among diverse age and income groups. Furthermore, the results inform land use and transportation policies to influence vehicle type choices for reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Leveraging Distributed Storage Systems in Conjunction with Blockchain Solutions to Enhance Data Redundancy and Privacy in Organizations
Authors: STANESCU ANDREI BOGDAN , VAJAIALA CATALIN , COCIRLEA DRAGOS
Published: August 2023

In the current digital world, ensuring efficient storage capabilities and increased data privacy, as well as high data availability and redundancy, are critical key performance indicators for organizations striving for customer excellence. To achieve these, a modern two-layer technical architecture is proposed in this study. The core layer of the solution is an InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) Cluster that leverages the distributed storage concept, and the second is an Ethereum-based blockchain that leverages privacy and immutability mechanisms. Next, the two-layer architecture is implemented and deployed to enhance data protection, as well as optimize data storage and access for a mid-size organization. The results reveal the enhancement of IPFS to overcome its privacy concerns via role-based access and cryptographic techniques. Moreover, the benefits of utilizing IPFS for data redundancy, efficient storage, and transfer through its distributed nature were reported. Finally, the integration of the IPFS Cluster with the Ethereum-based blockchain, as well as the overall benefits, we described.
Research on automatic recognition of hand-drawn chemical molecular structures based on deep learning
Authors: Ouyang Hengjie , Liu Wei , Tao Jiajun , Luo Yanghong , Zhang Wanjia , Zhou Jiayu , Geng Shuqi , Zhang Chengpeng
Published: August 2023

Chemical molecule structures are important in academic communication because they allow for a more direct and convenient representation of chemical knowledge. Hand-drawn chemical molecular structures are a common task for chemistry students and researchers. If hand-drawn chemical molecular structures, such as SMILES codes, could be converted into machine-readable data forms. Computers would be able to process and analyze these chemical molecular structures, greatly increasing the efficiency of chemical research. Furthermore, with the advancement of information technology in education, automatic marking is becoming increasingly popular. Teachers will benefit greatly from having a machine recognize the chemical molecular structure and then determine whether they are drawn correctly. In this study, we will investigate the chemical molecular formulas consisting of three atoms C, H, O. Because there has been little research on hand-drawn chemical molecular structures, the first major task of this paper is to create a dataset. This paper proposes a synthetic image method for quickly generating synthetic images resembling hand-drawn chemical molecular structures and improving dataset acquisition efficiency. The final recognition accuracy of the hand-drawn chemical structure recognition model designed in this paper is 96.90% in terms of model selection. The model employs the EfficientNet + Transformer encoder-decoder architecture, which outperforms other encoder-decoder combinations.
Apple Cultivar and Temperature at Cutting Affect Quality of Fresh Slices
Authors: Toivonen P.M.A. , Hampson C.R.
Published: August 2023

The response of four apple (Malus ×domestica) cultivars (Gala, Granny Smith, Ambrosia, and Aurora Golden Gala™) to fresh-cut processing at core temperatures of 1, 5, 13, and 20 °C was investigated. Fruit were cut after a 24-h preconditioning at one of the four temperatures and a commercial antibrowning formulation was applied as a 7% (w/v) dip before packaging the slices and storing them for 3 weeks at 5 °C. Fruit firmness generally decreased with increasing core temperature, except for Aurora Golden Gala™, which maintained similar firmness at all temperatures. Firmness varied among cultivars, but all except Granny Smith apples held at 13 and 20 °C, were at or above a minimum processing firmness standard of 14 lbf. Cut-edge browning of slices, in response to processing temperature, varied among the cultivars. In the extreme, ‘Granny Smith’ was the most responsive, showing the largest variance in surface lightness across the temperature range. ‘Ambrosia’ was the least responsive to temperature, showing no significant difference in L-value despite the temperature at which it was processed. ‘Gala’ and Aurora Golden Gala™ were intermediate in response. The visual quality rating for ‘Granny Smith’ at 3 weeks was poor for slices from all processing temperatures. ‘Ambrosia’ slices maintained acceptable quality ratings over the full test temperature range. ‘Gala’ slices had lower quality ratings when processed at warmer temperatures, whereas Aurora Golden Gala™ showed increased quality ratings with warmer processing temperatures. It was concluded that ‘Gala’ were best processed at low core temperatures, ‘Ambrosia’ could be processed at all tested temperatures, and Aurora Golden Gala™ produced better quality slices when fruit were are room temperature (20 °C) before slicing.
Green Industry Survey of Native Plant Marketing in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Brzuszek Robert F. , Harkess Richard L.
Published: August 2023

Recent studies have shown that the use of native plants by landscape architects and contractors in the southeastern United States has increased as has the clientele interest level in native plants. Recommendations to increase the use of native species by the landscape industry in this region include increasing the number of nurseries carrying native plants and the quantities and species currently available. To understand how green industry professionals view the opportunities and constraints of the current southeastern United States native plant market and to synthesize the connections between landscape architect's demands and the supplies of the nursery industry in this region, a questionnaire was developed and e-mailed to southeastern U.S. wholesale and retail nurseries in six states. The survey included questions regarding nursery stock, demand, and species sold. A total of 129 responses were received, and they revealed that while there is a perceived increase in customer interest in native plants, market demand and enhanced public education play a key role in further development of this growing market.
Overview of the Use of High Tunnels Worldwide
Authors: Lamont William J.
Published: August 2023

High tunnels have been used for many years worldwide, but in the United States, the utilization of high tunnel technology for the production of horticultural crops is a relatively recent phenomenon. Single and multibay high tunnels are used throughout the world to extend the production season. One big advantage of high tunnels in the temperate and tropical regions of the world is the exclusion of rain, thus reducing the amount of disease pressure and crop loss while improving crop quality and shelf life. In temperate regions of the world, high tunnels are used to increase temperatures for crop production in spring, fall, and sometimes winter seasons. The use of high tunnels in their many forms continues to increase worldwide, and many different kinds of vegetables, small fruit, tree fruit, and flowers are being cultivated. One impediment in determining high tunnel usage worldwide is the failure of many authors and agricultural census takers to distinguish between high tunnels and plastic-covered greenhouses. In many instances, they are presented together under the heading “protected cultivation.”
Small Fruit Production in High Tunnels
Authors: Demchak Kathleen
Published: August 2023

High tunnels are a relatively economical form of protected culture, and offer cultural advantages such as protection from the elements and an extended production season. Interest in high tunnels for small fruit production has been increasing in North America. Growers in the United States and Canada are using multi-bay and single-bay high tunnels for production of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus), black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis), blackberry (Rubus subgenus Rubus), strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa), and blueberry (Vaccinium spp.). Research trials using high tunnels are being conducted in numerous places across the United States. In most instances, high tunnels increased yields of berry crops, improved quality, and decreased the incidence of most diseases compared with field production, powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca macularis) being a notable exception. The insect and mite complex encountered in tunnels when growing berry crops has changed markedly, often becoming similar to that which might have been expected in greenhouses, with numbers of two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae), whitefly (Aleyrodidae), and thrips (Frankliniella spp.) reaching high levels without control measures. In studies at The Pennsylvania State University, primocane-bearing cultivars of red raspberry plants produced at least two to three times as much marketable fruit in tunnels as in a previous field study, with substantial summer and fall crops obtained. ‘Triple Crown’ thornless blackberry produced very high marketable yields in the tunnels, even though winter injury historically resulted in a lack of blackberry production in the field. Strawberry production in a plasticulture system using short-day or day-neutral cultivars was found to be viable; however, the primary benefit of high tunnels for strawberry may have been reliability of production rather than a yield increase. Potential reasons for improvements in productivity and quality are numerous and warrant further attention.
Effectiveness of Houseplants in Reducing the Indoor Air Pollutant Ozone
Authors: Papinchak Heather L. , Holcomb E. Jay , Best Teodora Orendovici , Decoteau Dennis R.
Published: August 2023

Three common indoor houseplants, snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), and golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum), were evaluated for their species effectiveness in reducing ozone concentrations in a simulated indoor environment. Continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) chambers housed within a greenhouse equipped with a charcoal filtration air supply system were used to simulate an indoor environment in which ozone concentrations could be measured and regulated. Ozone was injected into the chambers and when concentrations reached 200 ± 5 ppb, the ozone-generating system was turned off and ozone concentrations over time (ozone was monitored every 5–6 min in each chamber) were recorded until about <5 ppb were measured in the treatment chamber. On average, ozone depletion time (time from when the ozone generating system was turned off at ≈200 ppb to <5 ppb in the chamber) ranged from 38 to 120 min per evaluation. Ozone depletion rates were higher within chambers that contained plants than within control chambers without plants, but there were no plant species differences.
Comparison of Shank- and Drip-applied Methyl Bromide Alternatives in Perennial Crop Field Nurseries
Authors: Schneider S.M. , Hanson B.D. , Gerik J.S. , Shrestha A. , Trout T.J. , Gao S.
Published: August 2023

Methyl bromide has been used extensively in open-field perennial crop nurseries to ensure the production of plants that are free of soilborne pests and pathogens. California regulations require that nursery stock for farm planting be commercially clean with respect to economically important nematodes. Under the terms of the Montreal Protocol, the use of methyl bromide by developed countries was phased out 1 Jan. 2005. Although the perennial nursery industry in the United States largely continues to use methyl bromide under critical use exemptions and quarantine/preshipment criteria allowed under provisions of the Montreal Protocol, nursery growers need viable alternatives to this fumigant. Two fumigation trials in perennial crop field nurseries with sandy loam and clay loam soils, respectively, were conducted to compare the efficacy of fumigants applied through standard shank-injection equipment or as emulsifiable compounds applied through drip irrigation equipment. In the garden rose (Rosa multiflora) nursery trial, nematodes were detected at planting in the untreated control, no-tarpaulin 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin, and chloropicrin alone several months after treatment. Nematodes included root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) and stunt nematode (Tylenchorhynchus semipenetrans). At harvest 2 years later, root-knot nematode was detected in rose roots from untreated plots and plots treated with untarped 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin, metam sodium, and chloropicrin alone. In the nut tree (Prunus spp.) nursery field trial, shank-injected treatments typically provided better nematode control than the same chemicals applied via the drip lines, although weed control and marketable trees were similar among treatments.
Peel Fluorescence as a Means to Identify Freeze-damaged Navel Oranges
Authors: Obenland David , Margosan Dennis , Collin Sue , Sievert James , Fjeld Kent , Arpaia Mary Lu , Thompson James , Slaughter David
Published: August 2023

The use of ultraviolet fluorescence to identify freeze-damaged navel oranges (Citrus sinensis) was evaluated using fruit harvested following a natural freeze that occurred in California in Jan. 2007. Navel oranges were harvested after the freeze from 14 sites that were previously determined to have a slight to moderate amount of freeze damage. The fruit were evaluated for the presence of small yellow spots characteristic of freeze damage that fluoresce when viewed under a ultraviolet-A (365 nm) source and were then cut and rated using a method currently used by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to determine the presence of internal freeze damage. The percentage of freeze-damaged fruit in each lot as determined by the CDFA method ranged from 0% to 89%. The accuracy of classifying fruit as freeze damaged in each lot by peel fluorescence averaged 44%, with the fruit lots containing the greatest amount of freeze damage having the highest classification percentages. False-positives occurred at a lower rate than false-negatives among the lots. Although some fading was evident, the fluorescence persisted and was readily visible for at least 9 weeks after the freeze event. Removal of fruit with ultraviolet peel fluorescence was ineffective in reducing the percentage of damaged fruit within the examined lots. In the second part of the test, eighteen lots of potentially freeze-damaged fruit were obtained from a packing house, immediately evaluated for freeze damage using ultraviolet light, and then after 4 weeks of storage, were evaluated again using the CDFA method. Fruit that had a slight to moderate degree of freeze damage were tasted and evaluated for sensory characteristics. Both methods of freeze damage detection were poorly related to the sensory characteristics.
Influence of Cultivar, Growing Media, and Cluster Pruning on Greenhouse Tomato Yield and Fruit Quality
Authors: Hanna Hanna Y.
Published: August 2023

Cultivars and growing media are important components of a successful greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) operation. Two studies were conducted simultaneously and independently in two 30 × 96-ft greenhouses in Spring 2006 and 2007 (January–July) to assist producers in selecting appropriate cultivars and reducing production cost. The first study was conducted to evaluate yield, fruit weight, fruit quality, and shelf life of ‘Geronimo’, ‘Quest’, and ‘Trust’ tomatoes planted in perlite and pruned to three or four fruit per cluster. The second study was conducted to determine the initial cost of perlite, pine bark, and rockwool growing media and their effect on yield of ‘Quest’ pruned to three or four fruit per cluster. ‘Geronimo’ produced the highest total marketable yield and ‘Trust’ produced the lowest. ‘Trust’ produced more cull yield and lower fruit weight than ‘Geronimo’ or ‘Quest’. Pruning clusters to three fruit increased total marketable yield and fruit weight, and reduced cull yield of all cultivars. Only ‘Geronimo’ produced higher early marketable yield at four fruit per cluster. All cultivars produced higher early marketable yield in 2007 than in 2006. Tested cultivars had similar fruit content of potassium and sodium and similar concentration of soluble solids. ‘Trust’ fruit had a higher pH than the other two cultivars. About 92% of ‘Quest’ tomatoes remained marketable after storage at 67 °F for 1 week. ‘Geronimo’ and ‘Trust’ had only 83% and 78% marketable fruit, respectively, under the same conditions. Initial costs to grow greenhouse tomatoes in perlite were higher than in rockwool, and were the lowest in pine bark. Plants grown in perlite produced higher total marketable yield than plants grown in either of the other media. They produced lower cull yield than plants grown in rockwool, but produced similar cull yield to plants grown in pine bark. Pruning clusters to three fruit increased total marketable yield and fruit weight in both studies. Pruning clusters to four fruit increased cull yield in both studies regardless of planting year.
Evaluation of Acetolactate Synthase-inhibiting Herbicides for Weed Control in Transplanted Bell Pepper
Authors: Armel Gregory R. , Richardson Robert J. , Wilson Henry P. , Trader Brian W. , Whaley Cory M. , Hines Thomas E.
Published: August 2023

Field and greenhouse studies were conducted in 2001 and 2002 near Painter, VA, to determine the level of weed control and pepper (Capsicum annuum) tolerance to postemergence applications of the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors trifloxysulfuron, halosulfuron, sulfosulfuron, cloransulam, and tribenuron. Based on measurements of visual injury, heights, dry weights, and chlorophyll content of pepper, the safest ALS inhibitor to pepper was trifloxysulfuron followed by halosulfuron, cloransulam, sulfosulfuron, and tribenuron. In addition, trifloxysulfuron was the only herbicide that provided greater than 86% control of pigweed species (Amaranthus spp.) and carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata) in both years of the field study. Trifloxysulfuron was also the only herbicide evaluated that did not reduce pepper yield compared with the control in both years of the field study.
Evaluation of Growth, Flowering, and Cold Hardiness of Ceanothus in Western Oregon
Authors: Bell Neil C.
Published: August 2023

Thirty-eight species, cultivars, and hybrid selections of ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.) were evaluated for growth, flowering, and cold hardiness in a landscape trial in Silverton, OR, from 2001 to 2005. Plants were only irrigated for establishment in Summer 2001 and were not pruned or fertilized throughout the trial. Several cultivars showed dieback and leaf damage after 22 °F cold events in late October and early Nov. 2002 and 2003, the most severely affected of which were Ceanothus thyrsiflorus var. griseus, C. thyrsiflorus var. griseus ‘Yankee Point’, Ceanothus hearstiorum, and C. thyrsiflorus ‘Snowflurry’. Among the cultivars evaluated, those recommended for early bloom are ‘Ray Hartman’ and ‘Blue Jeans’. Several cultivars are effective drought-tolerant groundcovers, including ‘Wheeler Canyon’, ‘Joyce Coulter’, and ‘Joan Mirov’. Among the smaller-growing plants, Ceanothus cuneatus var. rigidus ‘Snowball’ and Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Heart's Desire’ made effective groundcovers only 0.6 and 0.2 m tall, respectively.
Integrating Hoop House Construction and Operation into an Undergraduate General Education Horticulture Class
Authors: Hilaire Rolston St. , Sammis Theodore W. , Mexal John G.
Published: August 2023

We integrated the construction and operation of hoop houses into a general education course to provide students with basic agriculture skills such as basic agricultural construction, greenhouse crop production, and greenhouse environmental data collection, while immersing them in an experiential learning environment. Students in the class constructed three 12 × 15-ft hoop houses, installed an irrigation system and climate data acquisition system, and grew radish (Raphanus sativus ‘Cherry Belle’) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa ‘Black-Seeded Simpson’) within each hoop house. At the end of the exercise, 86% of students agreed that they knew the basic techniques of hoop house construction, and 89% agreed that they understood the practical application of building a hoop house. More instruction on calculating crop fertilizer requirements would benefit students because only 43% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they understood how to compute crop fertilizer requirements. Climate data demonstrated that air temperature within the unvented hoop houses exceeded the optimal growing temperature for lettuce and radish. We conclude that construction and operation of hoop houses provided practical agricultural skills in an experiential learning environment while revealing subject areas that warrant further instruction.
Control of Fruit Rots of Processing Tomato Using Cover Crop Mulch and Tom-Cast
Authors: Wyenandt Christian A. , Rhodes Landon H. , Bennett Mark A. , Riedel Richard M.
Published: August 2023

The effects of three bed systems [conventional (bare soil), chemically killed, or mechanically killed winter rye (Secale cereale) + hairy vetch (Vicia villosa) cover crop mulch] and five fungicide programs (no fungicide, 7-day fungicide application program, and Tom-Cast-timed fungicide applications at 15, 18, or 25 disease severity values) on marketable yield and soil-borne fungal fruit rot development in processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production were studied. In 1997, marketable yield was higher in both cover crop systems compared with the conventional bed system. In 1997, percentage of anthracnose- (Colletotrichum coccodes) and ground rot-infected fruit (caused by Pythium spp. or Phytophthora spp.) were lower in both cover crop mulch systems compared with the conventional bed system. In 1998, marketable fruit yields were lower in both cover crop mulch systems compared with the conventional bed system. Percentage of anthracnose-infected fruit was lower in 1998 in the chemically killed cover crop mulch system compared with mechanically killed bed system. There were no differences in ground rot-infected fruit between bed systems in 1998. In 1998, percentage of total molded fruit in the chemically killed cover crop mulch system was reduced compared with the mechanically killed cover crop mulch system.
Floral Consumption Values for Consumer Groups with Different Purchase Choices for Flowers
Authors: Huang Li-Chun , Yeh Tzu-Fang
Published: August 2023

Consumption values are theoretically believed to be the antecedents of the outcomes of consumer purchase choice. In the floral market, even though the context of floral consumption values has been explored, the relationship between floral consumption values and consumer's purchase choice regarding floral products remains unknown. This study, however, seeks to address this deficiency by attempting to evaluate the differences in floral consumption values across consumer groups that have different purchase choices for floral products. After collecting data from a consumer survey, which yielded 615 valid questionnaires, the statistical results indicated that consumers who revealed different purchase choices in regard to flowers had different floral consumption values. In descending order, showing care to others, emotion conditioning, and sensory hedonics were the floral consumption values most strongly recognized by the majority of the consumers. However, heavy users of flowers revealed different characteristics in that they more strongly recognized the psychological value of emotion conditioning rather than the social value of showing care to others. The main difference across consumer groups that had purchased flowers with different frequencies or that preferred to buy different types of flowers had to do with the epistemic value (i.e., curiosity fulfillment). The results of this study imply that consumers who have different choice behavior toward flowers possess different evaluative judgments in regard to floral products. Such differences not only lead consumers to have different purchase choices in regard to flowers, but are also very likely to influence the consumer's behavior in regard to information search and variety seeking in the floral market, which in turn, impacts the effectiveness of commercial communication in the floral market.
Employer Attitudes and Perceptions of Job Preparedness of Recent Iowa State University Horticulture Graduates
Authors: VanDerZanden Ann Marie , Reinert Michael
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the attitudes and perceptions of employers who have recently hired Iowa State University (ISU) Department of Horticulture graduates in regard to the graduates' preparedness when entering the workforce and their abilities to complete job responsibilities. A 70-question survey instrument was distributed electronically to 107 employers who hired ISU Department of Horticulture students who graduated from spring semester 2004 through summer session 2007. A majority of the survey questions was directly related to expected learner outcomes from the undergraduate curriculum. These outcomes related to abilities in professional skills (19 questions) and general horticulture (six questions). Twenty-four questions asked employers to rank the importance of skills in the areas of general horticulture and business, at 12 questions each. A final set of nine questions asked employers to rank the importance of work experience, attitude, and job preparedness. The response rate was 45.8%. Results showed that 52.5% of employers felt graduates were more than adequately to exceptionally well prepared for the position for which they were hired, and another 42.5% felt students were adequately prepared. Overall, employers ranked graduates abilities in general horticulture (4.22) and professional skills (4.24) as good to excellent on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = very poor, 2 = poor, 3 = fair, 4 = good, 5 = excellent). Employers ranked all 12 of the general horticulture skills with an average to above average importance (4.26), and the 12 business skills with a slightly lower average ranking (3.84) on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = not important, 2 = below average importance, 3 = average importance, 4 = above average importance, 5 = very important). In the final group of questions related to work experience, attitude, and job preparedness, employers ranked “good work ethic” as the most important skill, giving it an 4.97 on a 1 to 5 scale (1 = not important, 5 = very important). The remaining eight questions averaged 3.83 on the 1 to 5 scale. Results from this research will be used to modify the existing curriculum and expected learner outcomes to better prepare ISU horticulture graduates entering the workforce.
Evaluation of Selected Fine-leaf Fescue Cultivars for Their Turfgrass Quality and Weed Suppressive Ability in Field Settings
Authors: Bertin Cécile , Senesac Andy F. , Rossi Frank S. , DiTommaso Antonio , Weston Leslie A.
Published: August 2023

A series of field studies were conducted from 1999 to 2005 in Ithaca, NY, at the Cornell Turfgrass Research Center as part of the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) to evaluate a collection of 78 fine-leaf fescue cultivars (Festuca spp.) for turfgrass quality, seedling vigor, and ability to inhibit the establishment of common annual and perennial weeds. Using these criteria, we evaluated the overall suitability of the cultivars for use in turfgrass settings, as well as their potential weed suppressive or allelopathic ability. The ability of fine-leaf fescue to displace weeds was visually evaluated by density-wise comparison, and several cultivars of the 78 studied consistently established well and provided good to very good suppression (greater than 70%) of common turf weeds when established at the same planting density. Other cultivars provided moderate (between 35% and 70%) to (< 30%) little weed suppression. Greater weed suppressivity is likely associated with the differential ability of fescue cultivars to establish rapidly and to form a dense canopy, as well as potential allelopathic interference. This study was conducted in conjunction with laboratory experiments that revealed that certain fine-leaf fescue cultivars produced phytotoxic root exudates that were released into the rhizosphere over time. Additional field studies conducted in Ithaca showed that cultivars Intrigue, Columbra, and Sandpiper were consistently more weed suppressive than the other fine-leaf fescues evaluated. Although our understanding of the dynamics of production and degradation of fine-leaf fescue root exudates in the rhizosphere is limited, recent field studies also suggest that allelopathic interference as well as the ability to rapidly establish influence subsequent weed infestation in fine-leaf fescue stands. From a more practical standpoint, certain fine-leaf fescue cultivars, including Intrigue, Columbra, Sandpiper, and Reliant II, could be recommended for use in low-maintenance turf settings in the northeastern United States due to their aesthetic appeal and their limited weed infestation in circumstances where herbicides are not applied.
comunicação via WhatsApp na interação escola e família na educação infantil durante a pandemia de COVID-19
Authors: Leoncio Silvana , Mesquita Zilda , Rabelo Rafaela Silva
Published: August 2023

A pandemia modificou os processos comunicativos na educação infantil. Partindo das experiências das autoras, este estudo objetiva refletir sobre a adoção do WhatsApp como suporte de comunicação entre escola e famílias durante a suspensão das aulas presenciais e as mudanças das práticas decorrentes. Trata-se de uma análise qualitativa com base em investigação documental da legislação estadual e municipal seguida da observação participante em duas escolas públicas. A análise dos resultados tem como aporte teórico a cultura escolar, fundamentada em autores como Dominique Julia e Faria Filho. A incorporação do aplicativo WhatsApp como suporte de comunicação desde a suspensão até o restabelecimento presencial das aulas ocasionou maior eficiência na troca de mensagens e na interação entre as culturas da família e da escola. Nesta imediata inserção do WhatsApp, destaca-se um estreitamento nos processos subjetivos desses grupos sociais em torno das práticas pedagógicas realizadas a serviço da promoção da cultura da infância.
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Orodispersible Film Containing
Desloratadine for Geriatric Use: Formulation and Evaluation
Authors: Al-Oran Aya Yahya Fayez , Yenilmez Evrim
Published: August 2023

Background:

Oral strip is very similar to thin strip of postage stamp in shape, size and thickness. The strip is designed to be placed on the tongue or any oral mucosal tissue which imme-diately gets wet and hydrated after being in contact with the saliva. Desloratadine is one of the bet-ter known second generation antihistamines that has been studied for being effective in relieving the allergic nasal and skin symptoms.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to develop desloratadine orodispersible film (ODF) with fast disintegration time and suitable mechanical strength to treat allergic symptoms in geriatric patients in order to increase compliance and convenience.

Methods:

Solvent casting method using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as the film form-ing polymer was applied. Polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) and glycerol (Gly) were used as the plasticizers and citric acid (CA) was used as saliva stimulating agent. The resultant films were evaluated for disintegration time, folding endurance, surface pH, weight variation, thickness, sur-face morphology using scanning electron microscopy, drug content, content uniformity, moisture loss, moisture uptake, and drug excipient compatibility using DSC and FT IR.

Results:

All the selected films started to disintegrate in less than 14 seconds. Selected optimum films exhibited good mechanical properties with a folding endurance value greater than 100. The uniformity in weight, thickness, and drug content in the selected films was obtained. Surface pH was within the normal range (6.4 6.8). A smooth surface of the films was obtained and drug
excipient compatibility was proved using DSC and FT IR. The dissolution test was done for opti-mum film formulations by simulating the oral cavity physiological conditions using the conven-tional dissolution test apparatus. More than 87% of the drug was released by the 4th minute.

Conclusion:

Orodispersible film of desloratadine was successfully prepared by solvent casting method in order to improve the disintegration/dissolution of the drug in oral cavity and hence better patient compliance and effective therapy.
Elimination of Herbicides after the Classification of Weeds Using Deep
Learning
Authors: Malik Indu , Singh Baghel Anurag
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Herbicides are chemicals that are used to destroy weeds. It is commonly used
in agriculture to kill undesired plants and increase crop yield, even though it has negative effects on
humans and the environment. Pesticides sprayed on crops must be decreased in the real world to protect
humans, animals, and birds from dangerous diseases such as cancer, eyes, and skin infection. Pesticides
are classified as herbicides. Deep learning is being used in this research to minimize chemical
compounds. Scientists seek to limit the amount of pesticide sprayed on crops to protect humans and the
environment from toxic exposure.

Background:

In this research, A neural network classifier is built using Convolutional Neural Network
(CNN), dropout, rectified linear activation unit (ReLU), the Root Mean Squared Propagation
(RMSprop) optimization technique, and stochastic gradient descent (SGD). The algorithms based on
CNN outperformed the others. This study uses generated dataset (unique dataset and processes it rowwise
through the Neural network) to train a categorized neural network, and the dataset was created
with the assistance of the agriculture professor.

Methods:

This study offers a method for classifying weed images and spraying herbicides solely on
weeds/unwanted plants rather than crops. The model should first be trained using the training dataset
before being tested using the testing datasets.

Results:

This model's training accuracy is 96%, while testing accuracy is 89%.

Conclusion:

This model reduced herbicide (it is a type of pesticide/chemical) spray over the crop
(foods, vegetables, sugarcane) to protect humans, animals, birds, and the environment from harmful
chemicals.
Data Analytics in Human Resource Recruitment and Selection
Authors: Valiyatra Sumi Kizhakke
Published: August 2023

Human resource data analytics are more important now than ever before. An
increasing number of businesses are delving ever deeper into the data they collect about
their employees, their success, and their well-being. Recruitment analytics can assist in
making smarter, data-driven selection, recruiting, and sourcing decisions. This
technology will scan hundreds of resumes at once to provide the best possible fit for a
particular job opening. An organisation can submit automated emails with an interview
appointment that automatically sinks with the work calendar using modern recruiting
software. The organisation may use automated disqualification of unqualified
applicants to automatically screen application forms and exclude candidates who aren't
qualified. Effective recruitment is a mix of science and art. It necessitates the
implementation of repeatable processes that produce consistent results.
Mortality burden and its spatial heterogeneity due to ambient temperature in a low latitude plateau area: a time-series study in all 129 counties of Yunnan province (Preprint)
Authors: Zhang Qingying , Chen Yang , Zhou Lidan , Zha Yuanyi , Wang Kai , Lu Lvliang , Wang Yujing , Guo Pi
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

The relationship between climate change and human health has become one of the major worldwide public health issues.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the effect of ambient temperature on the mortality burden of non-accidental deaths in Yunnan Province and further explored its spatial heterogeneity among different regions.

METHODS

We collected mortality and meteorological data from all 129 counties in Yunnan Province from 2014 to 2020, and 16 prefecture-level cities were analyzed as units. A distributed lagged nonlinear model was utilized to estimate the effect of temperature exposure on years of life lost (YLL) for non-accidental deaths in each prefecture-level city. The effect of ambient temperature on the total attributable fraction (AF) for death was calculated. A multivariate meta-analysis was applied to obtain an overall aggregated estimate of effects and spatial heterogeneity among 16 prefecture-level cities was evaluated by adjusting the city-specific geographical characteristics, demographic characteristics, economic factors, and health resources factors.

RESULTS

The temperature-YLL association was nonlinear and followed slide-shaped curves in all regions. The cumulative extreme cold and mild cold effects along lag 0–21 days on YLL due to non-accidental deaths were 166.96 (95% empirical confidence interval [eCI] 45.76–288.17) and 47.57 (95% eCI 3.58–91.55), respectively. The AF for non-accidental deaths due to daily mean temperature was 5.99% (95% eCI 3.15–8.37). Cold temperature was responsible for most of the mortality burden (4.29% [95% eCI 2.78–5.67]), while the burden due to heat was low and non-significant. The vulnerable subpopulations include males, age <75, farmers, ethnic minorities, and patients with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. Moreover, 48.2% heterogeneity in the effect of mean temperature on YLL was found after considering the inherent characteristics of the 16 prefecture-level cities.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the cold effect dominated the total effect of temperature on mortality burden, and its effect was heterogeneous among different regions, which provides a basis for spatial planning and health policy formulation for disease prevention.
Research on the Protection and Development of Traditional Villages in Xijie Village, Zhuxian Town, Henan Province in the Context of Rural Tourism
Authors: Meng Yanjun
Published: August 2023

Traditional villages are the crystallisation of the development of China’s agricultural civilisation, carrying profound historical and cultural values. However, under the wave of urbanisation and informatisation, traditional villages in China have suffered considerable impacts, with some of them being destroyed and many difficulties arising from their development. As a wing of mass tourism, rural tourism, inspired by the national rural revitalisation strategy, plays a powerful role in promoting rural revitalisation. Developing tourism with traditional villages is both a protection strategy and a development opportunity. On the occasion of the announcement of the list of six national traditional villages, this paper selects Xijie Village, the only remaining national traditional village in Kaifeng City, Henan Province, as the research object. On the basis of research on the basic situation of Xijie Village, it analyses the current situation of its protection and development, and finally puts forward corresponding suggestions and strategies for its protection and tourism development.
The Anti-Functional Creativity: Obsolete Objects in “The Castaway”
Authors: Anyi Luo
Published: August 2023

In Derek Walcott’s “The Castaway,” the ambiguous images and isolated castaway evoke the sordid colonial memory and its aftermath of the Caribbean cultural predicament, while, in poetic creation, they also elicit a sense of creative vitality. The interreaction between the negative content and the positive effect is activated, intriguingly, right by those images—sandflies, feces, entrails, decaying objects, etc., whose meanings are often degraded since their disvalued representations in the tangible world. Francesco Orlando once discusses functionally repressed physical things, basically capitalistic-evaluate, as “obsolete objects”, and proposes that these objects can achieve an anti-functional return in literature. This suggests the disvalued images can be excited artistically by their ambivalences. Based on Orlando’s discussion, this paper focuses on the ambiguous images, proposing that these “obsolete objects” subvert the pervasive negation, through their multiple connotations and the intertextuality in Walcott’s works. Besides the postcolonial echo of self-help communicated by the poet’s appropriation of Robinson Crusoe, it is these images replace the predicament presented in the poem with the artistic newness of natural self-sufficiency. This also raises a reflection on utilitarian and anthropocentric ideas of the highly commodified and functional today.