bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benefit Sharing Governance Framework: Pathways for Financial Benefit Sharing in Traditional Communities
Authors: Santarlacci Angelo de Sousa , Angelo Humberto , Souza Álvaro Nogueira de , Lima Maria de Fátima de Brito , Joaquim Maísa Santos , Miguel Eder Pereira , Carneiro Júlia de Oliveira
Published: March 2024

This article proposes the creation of a participatory governance framework for traditional communities, focusing on financial benefits sharing, whether they come from compensation, indemnification, or socio-environmental projects. The proposed governance framework was developed based on a series of governance principles and the perceptions and needs of fourteen traditional communities in the Brazilian Amazon. The results demonstrated that applied experiences were successful. In this way, the proposed framework presents itself as a mechanism that can be adapted to the specifics of managing financial resources in community contexts.
The Role of Digital Transformation, Corporate Culture, and Leadership in Enhancing Corporate Sustainable Performance in the Manufacturing Sector of China
Authors: Asif Muhammad , Yang Liu , Hashim Muhammad
Published: March 2024

The Chinese manufacturing industry faces many challenges to sustainable development. This study examines how transformational leadership, corporate culture, and digital transformation affect Chinese manufacturing organizations’ sustainability. It will also examine the moderating role of environmental dynamism and the mediating effect of innovation capabilities. A self-administered survey was distributed to 350 manufacturing companies’ owners, managers, leaders, and employees, etc. Participants were selected via convenient sampling. This data collection effort validated findings and empirically tested theories. Smart PLS structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), quantitative research, and cross-research are used in this study. The findings suggest that corporate culture, transformational leadership, and digital transformation significantly affect organizations’ sustainability. Innovation capability does not affect the relationship between corporate culture and sustainability. However, it mediates the relationship between transformational leadership, digital transformation, and business sustainability. Innovation capabilities and business sustainability performance are moderated by environmental dynamism. This study contributes to sustainable corporate performance theory by showing managers how transformational leadership, digital transformation, and corporate culture can help manufacturing companies grow indefinitely. The findings have major implications for China, a highly industrialized nation. This study could benefit regulatory authorities, academic institutions, industry, government agencies, and researchers.
Food Systems and Access to Healthy Food in an Amazonian Context
Authors: Maluf Renato S. , Burlandy Luciene , Cintrão Rosângela P. , Tribaldos Theresa , Jomalinis Emilia
Published: March 2024

The article aims to identify how systemic, multi-scale dynamics influence access to adequate and healthy food and eating and how food is produced and circulated in the Amazonian context of the Metropolitan Region of Santarém (PA). We conducted a literature review, qualitative interviews with key actors, discussion groups and visits to food retailers to address the following research questions: how do socio-economic and political dynamics, especially those related to the soy-meat agroindustrial complex, create or reproduce social inequalities, injustices and inequities, and how do they affect the access to adequate and healthy food? Our findings suggest that the expansion of large-scale soybean growing and livestock, forming the industrial soy-meat complex, contributes to the impoverishment of certain social segments of the local population, accompanied by the erosion of the base for food production. Smallholder farmers and Indigenous and traditional people are among the main affected groups, while violence in rural areas contributes to restricting access to adequate and healthy food. The novelties of our study lie in approaching food systems, taking access to food as the entry point and linking adverse effects of the soy-meat complex to inequalities in access to healthy food. The study also discusses value conflicts between “traditional” and “modern food” (e.g., ultra-processed food), reflecting intergenerational disputes between ways of life and culture, which are also nurtured by the expansion of the soy-meat complex. These multi-scale dynamics have significant repercussions on how food is produced and circulated and highlight the relations between local food politics and conflicts, as well as their connections with processes beyond the local scale. Finally, the article calls for advancing integrated and multi-scale analysis of food production and access to address challenges of social injustices in food system transitions, fostering sustainability, human health and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
A Study on the Dust Retention Effect of the Vegetation Community in Typical Urban Road Green Spaces—In the Case of Ying Tian Street in Nanjing City
Authors: Sheng Qianqian , Guo Yuanhao , Lu Jiani , Song Shuang , Li Weizheng , Yang Ruizhen , Zhu Zunling
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to investigate the association between the plant community structure, leaf surface microstructure, nutrient element content, and the dust-retention capacity of garden plants in urban road green spaces. The plant community located along Ying Tian Street in Nanjing City was selected as the focal point of the investigation. Random sampling was performed on the urban road green spaces, determining the amount of dust trapped in plant leaves. Subsequently, the microstructure of the leaf surface was observed, and the content of nutrient elements in the plant leaves was determined. The study also entailed an analysis of the interrelationships between the leaf surface microstructure, plant nutrient element content, and the dust-retention ability of the plants. The findings of this study revealed notable variations in the dust-retention capacity of garden plants and the community structure observed along Ying Tian Street. Among the tree species, Cedrus deodara and Ginkgo biloba exhibited a remarkable dust-retention ability per unit leaf area. Among the shrub species, Abelia × grandiflora and Loropetalum chinense displayed a strong dust-retention capacity per unit leaf area. Similarly, Ophiopogon japonicus and Cynodon dactylon exhibited a robust dust-retention ability per unit leaf area among the herbaceous plants. Furthermore, the dust-retention ability of the plants exhibited a strong positive correlation with the dimensions of leaf stomata, specifically the length and width, while displaying a moderate positive correlation with the width of grooves on the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. Conversely, the thickness of the leaves did not exhibit a significant correlation. Additionally, the nitrogen content of the leaves exerted a significant influence on the dust-retention ability of the plants (p < 0.05), although the phosphorus and potassium content factors did not exhibit a significant influence (p > 0.05). Based on the findings, it is recommended to prioritize the utilization of plants with robust dust-retention abilities, such as C. deodara, A. grandiflora, O. japonicus, and C. dactylon, and implement a mixed planting approach encompassing a combination of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants within urban road green spaces.
Barriers and Challenges Affecting Quality Education (Sustainable Development Goal #4) in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030
Authors: Zickafoose Alexis , Ilesanmi Olawunmi , Diaz-Manrique Miguel , Adeyemi Anjorin E. , Walumbe Benard , Strong Robert , Wingenbach Gary , Rodriguez Mary T. , Dooley Kim
Published: March 2024

Education is a fundamental human right and a crucial tool for sustainable human capacity development, which can advance the economic growth of a country. Yet for many children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), quality education remains out of reach. This study aimed to identify the barriers and challenges to enacting Sustainable Development Goal 4: “Ensuring Inclusive, Equitable, and Quality Education and the Promotion of Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All”. Through a content analysis of the relevant literature, we identified three themes: funding constraints, access and inclusion, and teacher education. Regarding funding, issues of resource allocation, technical capacity, and accountability were identified as primary factors requiring intervention strategies to become fully realized in SSA. When exploring access and inclusion, we found that incorporating students with disabilities, gender disparities, physical barriers, and inadequate curriculum are essential factors limiting quality education in SSA. Finally, teachers’ conditions and training emerged as crucial challenges to reach quality pedagogy. Some SSA countries have improved their efforts for quality education, but these barriers and challenges continue to impact education for all children. A new perspective on mitigating these impediments can address several factors responsible for the exclusion of diverse groups from accessing quality education in the SSA region.
Visualizing the Maximum Energy Zone of Wind Turbines Operating at Time-Varying Wind Speeds
Authors: Chioncel Cristian Paul , Spunei Elisabeta , Tirian Gelu-Ovidiu
Published: March 2024

Wind turbines are one of the leading renewable sources of electricity. They are located in areas where the energy potential of the wind is high and more or less permanent. Their efficient operation depends on certain technical characteristics of the entire wind system (wind turbines, generator, automation system, regulation, and control). This paper analyses experimental data from wind turbines, WT, in the Dobrogea area: wind speed, v, velocity, n, and power, PEG, at the electric generator, EG. These are used to identify the local maxima of wind turbine power at different wind speeds. Based on this, a mathematical model for wind turbines and the power losses caused by inefficient control are determined. The mathematical model is used to visualize the maximum energy zones. At the end of this study, an algorithm is given that allows for the visualization of the optimal energy zone. The algorithm resulting from the analyzed case studies can be implemented by the control system in order to maximize the produced electricity with any variation in wind speed.
Digital Technologies and the Internationalization of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Authors: Yordanova Desislava , Dana Leo-Paul , Manolova Tatiana S. , Pergelova Albena
Published: March 2024

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make important contributions to sustainable economic growth, employment, poverty alleviation, local development, and human wellbeing in developed and developing countries [...]
Integration of Technology in Agricultural Practices towards Agricultural Sustainability: A Case Study of Greece
Authors: Kalfas Dimitrios , Kalogiannidis Stavros , Papaevangelou Olympia , Melfou Katerina , Chatzitheodoridis Fotios
Published: March 2024

Agricultural technology integration has become a key strategy for attaining agricultural sustainability. This study examined the integration of technology in agricultural practices towards agricultural sustainability, using Greece as a case study. Data were collected using a questionnaire from 240 farmers and agriculturalists in Greece. The results showed a significant positive effect of technology integration on agricultural sustainability, with p-values indicating strong statistical relevance (types of technology used: p = 0.003; factors influencing technology adoption: p = 0.001; benefits of technology integration: p = 0.021). These results highlight the significant effects that cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), and precision agriculture have on improving resource efficiency, lowering environmental effects, and raising agricultural yields. Our findings cast doubt on the conventional dependence on intensive, resource-depleting farming techniques and point to a move toward more technologically advanced, sustainable approaches. This research advances the conversation on sustainable agricultural practices by showcasing how well technology integration may improve sustainability results in Greek agriculture. The study emphasizes the significance of infrastructure investment, supporting legislation, and farmer education in order to facilitate the adoption of agricultural technology.
Impact of Digital Government on Digital Transformation of Enterprises from the Perspective of Urban Economic Sustainable Development
Authors: Li Hui , Xu Jiaqiang
Published: March 2024

Enterprise digital transformation stands as a pivotal driving force for urban economic sustainable development. Investigating the role of digital government policies in fostering urban economic growth through enterprise digital transformation is essential for guiding governments in a more targeted pursuit of urban development policies. Utilizing the establishment of the urban big data administration bureau as a quasi-natural event and leveraging data on A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2022, this study scrutinizes whether the construction of digital government effectively stimulates enterprise digital transformation and, consequently, promotes urban economic development. Benchmark regression results unequivocally demonstrate that digital government policies significantly propel enterprise digital transformation. Mechanism analysis elucidates that digital government facilitates enterprise digital transformation by enhancing the urban business environment and mitigating the influence of information search costs. Heterogeneity analysis underscores the influence of factors such as the city’s area location, administrative level, and economic development level on policy effects. Notably, the impact of digital government policies is more pronounced in central and western cities, provincial capitals, and cities with lower economic development. Economic consequence analysis reveals that digital government policies play a crucial role in fostering urban economic sustainable development by fostering the digital transformation of enterprises.
Spatio-Temporal Evolution Characteristics and Driving Factors of Typical Karst Rocky Desertification Area in the Upper Yangtze River
Authors: Gao Weijie , Zhou Siyi , Yin Xiaojie
Published: March 2024

Karst rocky desertification (KRD) has become the most serious ecological disaster in the southwest of China and is a major obstacle to the sustainable development of the karst region in the southwest. Remarkably, scientific understanding of the spatial-temporal evolution of rocky desertification and the corresponding driving mechanism is the primary prerequisite crucial to controlling rocky desertification. Hence, the typical rocky desertification area of Qujing City, located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, was selected as the research object. On the basis of the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform and decision tree classification, the spatial-temporal evolution process of rocky desertification in Qujing City from 1990 to 2020 was investigated, and the driving factors of rocky desertification were explored in terms of the natural environment and socio-economic aspects. Consequently, over this period, the area of rocky desertification had decreased by 1728.38 km2, while the no rocky desertification area had increased by 1936.61 km2. Notably, the major driving factors of rocky desertification were fractional vegetation cover (FVC) (q = 0.41), land use type (q = 0.26), slope (q = 0.21), and land reclamation rate (q = 0.21). Typically, rocky desertification is likely to occur in areas with moderate or low FVC (<0.7), a low slope (0–8°) or high slope (35°–80°), a land type of cultivated-land or grassland, and a land reclamation rate of 10–70%. In addition, all two-factor interactions acted as drivers that exacerbate rocky desertification. Furthermore, FVC ∩ slope (q = 0.79) and slope ∩ land use type (q = 0.56) were two interacting drivers that promote rocky desertification strongly.
The Relationship between Climate, Agriculture and Land Cover in Matopiba, Brazil (1985–2020)
Authors: Araújo Mayara Lucyanne Santos de , Rufino Iana Alexandra Alves , Silva Fabrício Brito , Brito Higor Costa de , Santos Jessflan Rafael Nascimento
Published: March 2024

Climate change has been at the forefront of discussions in the scientific, economic, political, and public spheres. This study aims to analyze the impacts of climate change in the Matopiba region, assessing its relationship with land cover and land use, soybean crop production and yield, and ocean–atmosphere anomalies from 1985 to 2020. The analysis was conducted in four parts: (1) trends in annual and intra-annual climate changes, (2) the spatiotemporal dynamics of land cover and use, (3) the spatiotemporal dynamics of soybean production and yield, and (4) the relationship between climate change, agricultural practices, land cover and use, and ocean–atmosphere anomalies. Statistical analyses, including Mann–Kendall trend tests and Pearson correlation, were applied to understand these relationships comprehensively. The results indicate significant land cover and use changes over 35 years in Matopiba, with municipalities showing increasing soybean production and yield trends. There is a rising trend in annual and intra-annual maximum temperatures, alongside a decreasing trend in annual precipitation in the region. Intra-annual climate trends provide more specific insights for agricultural calendar planning. No correlation was found between the climate change trends and soybean production and yield in the evaluated data attributed to genetic and technological improvements in the region. The North Atlantic Ocean shows a positive correlation with soybean agricultural variables. Evidence suggests soybean production and yield growth under climate change scenarios. This study highlights soybeans’ adaptation and climate resilience in the Matopiba region, providing valuable insights for regional agricultural development and contributing to further research in environmental, water-related, social, and economic areas of global interest.
Sustainable Adaptation Plan in Response to Climate Change and Population Growth in the Iraqi Part of Tigris River Basin
Authors: Saeed Fouad H. , Al-Khafaji Mahmoud Saleh , Al-Faraj Furat A. Mahmood , Uzomah Vincent
Published: March 2024

Climate change and population growth play crucial roles in the planning of future water resources management strategies. In this paper, a balancing between projected water resources and water demands in the Iraqi Part of the Tigris River Basin (TRB) was evaluated till the year 2080 based on RCPs 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5 and population growth. This paper examined a sustainable adaptation plan of water resources in the TRB considering three scenarios; (S1) as no change in the current strategy, (S2) as improved irrigation efficiency and (S3) as improved irrigation and municipal water use efficiency. The results showed a decline in streamflow will occur in the range from 5 to 18.4% under RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5, respectively. The minimum increase in water demand is expected for RCP 2.6 (maximum increase for RCP 8.5) by 51.8 (208.2), 9.9 (42) and 1.2 (7)% for the municipal–industrial, irrigation and environmental water demands, respectively, compared with the RP. The main finding indicated that S1 is the worst scenario, with water stress in four provinces, especially on the warmest RCP. Whereas, under S2 and S3 conditions, water stress can be eliminated. Increasing ambition towards adaptation becomes obligatory for developing sustainable water sources, supporting water food securities and increasing resilience towards climate change.
The Juxtaposition of Our Future Electrification Solutions: A View into the Unsustainable Life Cycle of the Permanent Magnet Electrical Machine
Authors: Paterson Leigh , Miscandlon Jill , Butler David
Published: March 2024

Electrification is increasing in prevalence due to the importance placed on it for achieving global net zero targets. This has led to the proliferation of electrical mobility, including the wide-scale production of passenger vehicles, personal mobility devices and recent announcements regarding electrically powered aircraft, as well as in energy production. Electrical machines provide a cleaner source of energy during operation in comparison to their traditional fossil-based alternatives. The uncertainty and lack of transparency hanging over these green credentials can be attributed to how these products are manufactured and then disposed of at the end of their life. For them to be a truly sustainable solution, improvements need to be made across their entire life cycle. With the projected increase in their numbers due to the advancement of electrification, this current life cycle is not sustainable, directly opposing the intention of these products. This paper will introduce the current demand and challenges. It will also present these motors broken down into their constituent parts and follow each through their typical lifecycle. This paper presents the typical current life cycle of permanent magnet electrical machines, demonstrating the environmental issues associated with the current linear life cycle, and proposing alternative practices, to ease the environmental burden.
Enhancing Sustainability in Italian Water Supply Pipes through Life Cycle Analysis
Authors: Simion Isabela Maria , Pennellini Sara , Awere Eric , Rosatti Alessandro , Bonoli Alessandra
Published: March 2024

The primary concern regarding the sustainability of the urban water cycle remains the performance of water supply systems. This, in turn, is determined by the functionality and sustainability of the system components, such as the pipe networks, pumps, and other appurtenances, which must be analyzed from an environmental perspective. The aim of the present study is to analyze the sustainability of two different types of water supply pipe materials that are commonly used, polyvinyl chloride and high-density polyethylene, using a comparative Life Cycle Analysis methodology. The functional unit was established in accordance with the water supply system that serves an Italian metropolitan city with a dimension of 9240 km, as one meter of water supply infrastructure, with 40 years as a life span. A cradle-to-gate analysis was conducted, starting from the production phase of the water pipelines to the maintenance phase, excluding the end of life and disposal phases. The chosen methodology was CML, justified by the fact that the results are more understandable and reproducible. Results comparison revealed a higher environmental impact during the production phase, while the maintenance phase had a very low impact. Notably, PVC pipe in comparison with HDPE material had a higher impact, except in two categories of impact: abiotic depletion and photochemical oxidation. The study contributes to the future development of alternative approaches for sustainable and eco-efficient water supply infrastructure designs and materials.
Citizen-Centric Governance: Enhancing Citizen Engagement through Artificial Intelligence Tools
Authors: Pislaru Marius , Vlad Ciprian Sorin , Ivascu Larisa , Mircea Iulia Ioana
Published: March 2024

The public sector presents important steps for digital transformation. Digital transformation uses a series of tools and methods to improve the relationship with citizens and improve benefits. This paper explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in governance processes and provides public institutions with insight regarding the impact of integrating chatbot communication tools when interacting with citizens. The present research provides an analysis of the socio-economic factors that determine the use of artificial intelligence tools, i.e., the propensity to interact more with the public administration as a result of improved communication through virtual assistants, and highlights the implications of AI in improving services towards civil society by determining the degree of satisfaction on aspects such as reduced waiting times in queues, access to information regardless of the traditional working hours of civil servants, quicker execution of operations, et al. The results, derived from an analysis of 507 sets of responses obtained from an online questionnaire, indicate that a number of variables, such as residential environment, employment status, household income and education level, significantly impact the effectiveness of artificial intelligence in mediating citizen communication with government.
Energy Efficiency of Conifer Cones and Seed Extraction Residue Biomass
Authors: Kwiatkowski Jacek , Sztejna Zdzisław
Published: March 2024

Sustainable forest management, which accounts for the multiple roles played by forests, includes seed collection from selected areas for forest renewal and regeneration. The process of harvesting conifer seeds generates considerable amounts of waste biomass that can be used as a source of energy to supplement the local solid fuel market. Therefore, their quality is an important consideration. The mass fraction of Scots pine seed extraction residues was determined in this study. The thermophysical properties and elemental composition of the residues and spent Norway spruce and European larch cones (after seed extraction) were evaluated. An analysis of Scots pine seed extraction residues revealed that only cones had practical application. They accounted for more than 99% of total residue biomass and were characterized by the lowest content of ash, sulfur, and chlorine. The calorific value of cones of the analyzed tree species ranged from 17.08 to 18.29 MJ kg−1, the chlorine content was 0.010–0.041% DM, and the sulfur content was 0.019–0.043% DM. Due to the specificity of the extraction process, the generated waste, including cones, had a very low moisture content of 6.86–10.02%, which significantly increased their value as solid fuel.
Travel Characteristics of Urban Residents Based on Taxi Trajectories in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Wuhan
Authors: Chang Xueli , Chen Haiyang , Li Jianzhong , Fei Xufeng , Xu Haitao , Xiao Rui
Published: March 2024

With the advancement of urban modernization, more and more residents are flocking to large cities, leading to problems such as severe traffic congestion, uneven distribution of spatial resources, and deterioration of the urban environment. These challenges pose a serious threat to the coordinated development of cities. In order to better understand the travel behavior of metropolitan residents and provide valuable insights for urban planning, this study utilizes taxi trajectory data from the central areas of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Wuhan. First, the relationship between daytime taxi drop-off points and urban amenities is explored using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). Subsequently, Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) techniques were applied to identify spatial differences in these urban drivers. The results show that commonalities emerge across the four cities in the interaction between external transport stops and commercial areas. In addition, the average daily travel patterns of residents in these four cities show a trend of “three peaks and three valleys”, indicating the commonality of travel behavior. In summary, this study explores the travel characteristics of urban residents, which can help urban planners understand travel patterns more effectively. This is crucial for the strategic allocation of transport resources across regions, the promotion of sustainable urban transport, and the reduction in carbon emissions.
An Improved Strategy to Effectively Manage Healthcare Waste after COVID-19 in Republic of Korea
Authors: Kim Min-Jung , Park Yoon-Soo , Kim Taesung , Choi Hyo-Hyun , Yoon Young-sam , Jeon Tae-wan , Um Namil
Published: March 2024

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, 24,289 tons of infectious waste was generated in 2021 in Korea, a 320% increase compared to that generated in 2020 (5788 tons). The disposal of other healthcare waste has been delayed because COVID-19 infectious waste must be disposed of first, leading to long-term concerns related to the lack of healthcare waste disposal capacity. To solve this problem, this study investigated healthcare waste classification systems in Korea and overseas. We analyzed the current state of healthcare waste in Korea and compared the treatment methods and healthcare waste treatment systems by country. The results showed that Korea has a strict healthcare waste management system compared to other countries, which relies on dedicated incinerators and transport. It is difficult to expand incinerators exclusively for healthcare waste due to site selection issues because they incinerate infectious waste. Therefore, to solve the healthcare waste disposal problem, Korea should improve its management system to reduce treatment amounts. This study suggests that general healthcare waste that is considered less infectious should be excluded from healthcare waste-exclusive treatment and that sterilization/grinding as an intermediate treatment method should be allowed.
Evaluating Carbon Emissions during Slurry Shield Tunneling for Sustainable Management Utilizing a Hybrid Life-Cycle Assessment Approach
Authors: Shi Xiaodong , Kou Lei , Liang Huiyuan , Wang Yibo , Li Wuxue
Published: March 2024

The construction sector is one of the principal contributors to carbon dioxide emissions (CDEs) and has a vital role to play in responding to the issue of long-term environmental sustainability. This research proposes a process-based hybrid life-cycle assessment (LCA) method depending on a process-based LCA and an input–output LCA. The process-based hybrid LCA model provides a supplementary method to quickly estimate carbon emissions that are not considered in the system boundary due to the limitation of inventory data. The proposed hybrid method was applied to a carbon emissions assessment in a slurry shield tunnel. The results suggest that 93.88% of emissions are from materials. Of the materials contribution, 55.9% comes from steel and 34.55% arises from concrete. It has also been found that emissions during the tunneling stage are negatively correlated with the efficiency of tunnel construction. Recommendations for carbon emissions reductions in tunnel construction are provided for promoting sustainable transportation and management.
Adaptive Silviculture and Climate Change—A Forced Marriage of the 21st Century?
Authors: Szmyt Janusz , Dering Monika
Published: March 2024

Climatic changes significantly impact forest ecosystems, inevitably affecting forestry and forest-related industry. Considering that most forests are actively managed, there is a need to define the future risks and set a strategy for forestry and silviculture in a changing world. This review provides insight into the new challenges and opportunities forest management and silviculture face in the coming decades. There is sound recognition of risk factors expected from climate change, yet great uncertainty exists in the predictions of the response of forests to new conditions. Additionally, the stakeholders’ interests in the goods and services offered by forests are changing, and this also needs to be taken into account in future forest management. Undoubtedly, the goal of future forestry and silviculture in the 21st century will be primarily to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the forest. Sustainable use of goods and ecosystem services from forests will be directly related to the continuity and sustainability of the forest in the future. Adaptive forest management aims to promote the adaptive capacity of forests to new conditions resulting from climate change. If adaptation efforts are effective, adaptive forest management should be a kind of risk management. There is no one-fits-all strategy for adaptation to uncertain future conditions. Silviculture in the 21st century is expected to be more conducive to adapting forests to changes. Operational silvicultural activities should focus on ensuring the resilience and adaptation of forests to future environmental conditions. Modern silviculture offers activities that fall within the scope of contemporary close-to-nature silviculture practices. However, some of the currently applied practices will require review and modification to be applicable under new conditions. This review also identifies the need to fill knowledge gaps in order to develop more effective and flexible adaptation strategies to foster sustainable forest development and, thus, sustainable forestry.
Spatio-Temporal Variation Analysis of Soil Salinization in the Ougan-Kuqa River Oasis of China
Authors: Du Danying , He Baozhong , Luo Xuefeng , Ma Shilong , Song Yaning , Yang Wen
Published: March 2024

In order to investigate the mechanism of environmental factors in soil salinization, this study focused on analyzing the temporal-spatial variation of soil salinity in the Ogan-Kuqa River Oasis in Xinjiang, China. The research aimed to predict soil salinity using a combination of satellite data, environmental covariates, and advanced modeling techniques. Firstly, Boruta and ReliefF algorithms were employed to select variables that significantly affect soil salinity from the Sentinel-2 satellite data and environmental covariates. Subsequently, a soil salinity inversion model was established using three advanced strategies: comprehensive variable analysis, a Boruta-based variable selection algorithm, and a ReliefF-based variable selection algorithm. Each strategy was modeled using a Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), an Extreme Learning Machine (ELM), and a Support Vector Machine (SVM). Finally, the Boruta-LightGBM strategy was proven to be the most effective in predicting soil electrical conductivity (EC), with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.72 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 12.49 ds/m. The experimental results show that the red-edge band index is the foremost variable in predicting soil salinity, succeeded by the salinity index and soil attribute data, while the topographic index has the least influence, which further demonstrates that proper variable selection could significantly improve model functionality and predictive precision. Furthermore, the Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model was utilized to reveal the influence and temporal-temporal-spatial heterogeneity of environmental factors such as soil organic carbon (SOC), precipitation (PRE), pH value, and temperature (TEM) on soil EC. This research offers not just a viable methodological framework for monitoring soil salinization but also new perspectives on the environmental drivers of soil salinity changes, which have implications for sustainable land management and provide valuable information for decision-making in soil salinity control and mitigation efforts.
Elderly Patients’ Outcomes following Emergency Laparotomy—Early Surgical Consultations Are Crucial
Authors: Gefen Rachel , Abu Salem Samer , Kedar Asaf , Gottesman Joshua Zev , Marom Gad , Pikarsky Alon J. , Bala Miklosh
Published: March 2024

We aimed to study the relationship between mortality following emergency laparotomy (EL) in elderly patients and admission to a hospital facility, hypothesizing that patients initially admitted to a general surgery service have a better outcome. A retrospective review of the medical records of all the elderly patients (≥65 years) who underwent EL over three years was conducted in a single tertiary medical center. The outcomes evaluated include postoperative morbidity, mortality, discharge destination, and readmission. A total of 200 patients were eligible for this study; 106 (53%) were male, with a mean age of 77 ± 8.3 years. The mortality rate was 29.5% (59 patients), and 55% of all patients were discharged home after initial admission. Bowel obstruction was the most common indication for surgery (91, 45.5%). Patients undergoing an operation from non-general surgical services had higher readmission, unfavorable discharge and mortality rates, a greater incidence of stoma formation, and required a tracheostomy or were TPN-dependent (all p < 0.001). The mortality rate is higher in elderly patients needing an EL when initially admitted through a non-general surgery service. A correct and rapid initial diagnosis and decision are crucial when treating elderly individuals; initial admission to a general surgery service increases the probability of discharge home.
An Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm for Coordinated Scheduling of Production Jobs and Flexible Maintenance in Permutation Flowshops
Authors: Ladj Asma , Benbouzid-Si Tayeb Fatima , Dahamni Alaeddine , Benbouzid Mohamed
Published: March 2024

This research work addresses the integrated scheduling of jobs and flexible (non-systematic) maintenance interventions in permutation flowshop production systems. We propose a coordinated model in which the time intervals between successive maintenance tasks as well as their number are assumed to be non-fixed for each machine on the shopfloor. With such a flexible nature of maintenance activities, the resulting joint schedule is more practical and representative of real-world scenarios. Our goal is to determine the best job permutation in which flexible maintenance activities are properly incorporated. To tackle the NP-hard nature of this problem, an artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm is developed to minimize the total production time (Makespan). Experiments are conducted utilizing well-known Taillard’s benchmarks, enriched with maintenance data, to compare the proposed algorithm performance against the variable neighbourhood search (VNS) method from the literature. Computational results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in terms of both solution quality and computational times.
Impact of Environmental Conditions on the Concentrations of Trichothecenes, Their Glucosides, and Emerging Fusarium Toxins in Naturally Contaminated, Irradiated, and Fusarium langsethiae Inoculated Oats
Authors: Oluwakayode Abimbola , Greer Brett , Meneely Julie , Berthiller Franz , Krska Rudolf , Medina Angel
Published: March 2024

Trichothecenes produced by Fusarium species are commonly detected in oats. However, the ratios of the concentrations of free trichothecenes and their conjugates and how they are impacted by different interacting environmental conditions are not well documented. This study aims to examine the effect of water activity (0.95 and 0.98 aw) and temperature (20 and 25 °C) stress on the production of T-2 and HT-2 toxins, deoxynivalenol and their conjugates, as well as diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS). Multiple mycotoxins were detected using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry from 64 contaminated oat samples. The highest concentrations of HT-2-glucoside (HT-2-Glc) were observed at 0.98 aw and 20 °C, and were higher than other type A trichothecenes in the natural oats’ treatments. However, no statistical differences were found between the mean concentrations of HT-2-Glc and HT-2 toxins in all storage conditions analysed. DAS concentrations were generally low and highest at 0.95 aw and 20 °C, while deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside levels were highest at 0.98 aw and 20 °C in the naturally contaminated oats. Emerging mycotoxins such as beauvericin, moniliformin, and enniatins mostly increased with a rise in water activity and temperature in the naturally contaminated oats treatment. This study reinforces the importance of storage aw and temperature conditions in the high risk of free and modified toxin contamination of small cereal grains.
Effects of a Curcumin/Silymarin/Yeast-Based Mycotoxin Detoxifier on Redox Status and Growth Performance of Weaned Piglets under Field Conditions
Authors: Papatsiros Vasileios G. , Papakonstantinou Georgios I. , Voulgarakis Nikolaos , Eliopoulos Christos , Marouda Christina , Meletis Eleftherios , Valasi Irene , Kostoulas Polychronis , Arapoglou Dimitrios , Riahi Insaf , Christodoulopoulos Georgios , Psalla Dimitra
Published: March 2024

The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate the effects of a novel mycotoxin detoxifier whose formulation includes clay (bentonite and sepiolite), phytogenic feed additives (curcumin and silymarin) and postbiotics (yeast products) on the health, performance and redox status of weaned piglets under the dietary challenge of fumonisins (FUMs). The study was conducted in duplicate in the course of two independent trials on two different farms. One hundred and fifty (150) weaned piglets per trial farm were allocated into two separate groups: (a) T1 (control group): 75 weaned piglets received FUM-contaminated feed and (b) T2 (experimental group): 75 weaned piglets received FUM-contaminated feed with the mycotoxin-detoxifying agent from the day of weaning (28 days) until 70 days of age. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), protein carbonyls (CARBs) and the overall antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed in plasma as indicators of redox status at 45 and 70 days of age. Furthermore, mortality and performance parameters were recorded at 28, 45 and 70 days of age, while histopathological examination was performed at the end of the trial period (day 70). The results of the present study reveal the beneficial effects of supplementing a novel mycotoxin detoxifier in the diets of weaners, including improved redox status, potential hepatoprotective properties and enhanced growth performance.
Jets Studies in Central and Forward Regions at Current and Expected Large Hadron Collider Future Energies
Authors: Mahmoud M. A. , Hamdi Somaia , Radi A. , El-Borie M. A. , Tayel E. A.
Published: March 2024

The present work presents a study of jet production in the central region (|η| < 2.5) and the forward region (3 < |η| < 5) in proton–proton collisions at different energies: s = 13.6 TeV, s = 20 TeV, and s = 27 TeV. These energies are the present and expected future energies of the Large Hadron Collider. In addition, the measurement of dijets—where the dijet selected is the one leading the jet in the central region and the second jet is the one with the sub-leading role in the forward region—was investigated with the same collision energies. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-kT (R = 0.5) algorithm in the transverse momentum range pT = 15–1000 GeV/c. Different Monte Carlo event generators were used: PYTHIA, HERWIG, and EPOS-LHC. The momentum, multiplicity, energy, pseudorapidity, and azimuthal angle of the jets were measured. In addition, the dijet multiplicity and the difference in the azimuthal angle were measured. The generation of events was carried out using the Rivet analysis framework. It is observed that, when the energy of the collision increases, the production of the jets in the central and forward regions and the dijets multiplicity increase; overall an agreement is observed between the three event generators. The disagreement between the different generators points to potential areas for development or additional study.
Multi-Gene Recombinant Baculovirus Expression Systems: From Inception to Contemporary Applications
Authors: Bissett Sara L. , Roy Polly
Published: March 2024

Many protein expression systems are primarily utilised to produce a single, specific recombinant protein. In contrast, most biological processes such as virus assembly rely upon a complex of several interacting proteins rather than the activity of a sole protein. The high complexity of the baculovirus genome, coupled with a multiphase replication cycle incorporating distinct transcriptional steps, made it the ideal system to manipulate for high-level expression of a single, or co-expression of multiple, foreign proteins within a single cell. We have developed and utilised a series of recombinant baculovirus systems to unravel the sequential assembly process of a complex non-enveloped model virus, bluetongue virus (BTV). The high protein yields expressed by the baculovirus system not only facilitated structure–function analysis of each viral protein but were also advantageous to crystallography studies and supported the first atomic-level resolution of a recombinant viral protein, the major BTV capsid protein. Further, the formation of recombinant double-shelled virus-like particles (VLPs) provided insights into the structure–function relationships among the four major structural proteins of the BTV whilst also representing a potential candidate for a viral vaccine. The baculovirus multi-gene expression system facilitated the study of structurally complex viruses (both non-enveloped and enveloped viruses) and heralded a new generation of viral vaccines.
The Glycan Ectodomain of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Modulates Cytokine Production and Expression of CD206 Mannose Receptor in PBMC Cultures of Pre-COVID-19 Healthy Subjects
Authors: Barbati Cristiana , Bromuro Carla , Vendetti Silvia , Torosantucci Antonella , Cauda Roberto , Cassone Antonio , Palma Carla
Published: March 2024

The ability of recombinant, SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein to modulate the production of two COVID-19 relevant, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IFN-γ) in PBMC cultures of healthy, pre-COVID-19 subjects was investigated. We observed that cytokine production was largely and diversely modulated by the S protein depending on antigen or mitogen stimulation, as well as on the protein source, insect (S-in) or human (S-hu) cells. While both proteins co-stimulated cytokine production by polyclonally CD3-activated T cells, PBMC activation by the mitogenic lectin Concanavalin A (Con A) was up-modulated by S-hu protein and down-modulated by S-in protein. These modulatory effects were likely mediated by the S glycans, as demonstrated by direct Con A-S binding experiments and use of yeast mannan as Con A binder. While being ineffective in modulating memory antigenic T cell responses, the S proteins and mannan were able to induce IL-6 production in unstimulated PBMC cultures and upregulate the expression of the mannose receptor (CD206), a marker of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage. Our data point to a relevant role of N-glycans, particularly N-mannosidic chains, decorating the S protein in the immunomodulatory effects here reported. These novel biological activities of the S glycan ectodomain may add to the comprehension of COVID-19 pathology and immunity to SARS-CoV-2.
Vaccine Responses in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: From the Immune System to the Gut Microbiota
Authors: Airola Carlo , Andaloro Silvia , Gasbarrini Antonio , Ponziani Francesca Romana
Published: March 2024

Vaccines prevent a significant number of deaths annually. However, certain populations do not respond adequately to vaccination due to impaired immune systems. Cirrhosis, a condition marked by a profound disruption of immunity, impairs the normal immunization process. Critical vaccines for cirrhotic patients, such as the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), influenza, pneumococcal, and coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), often elicit suboptimal responses in these individuals. The humoral response, essential for immunization, is less effective in cirrhosis due to a decline in B memory cells and an increase in plasma blasts, which interfere with the creation of a long-lasting response to antigen vaccination. Additionally, some T cell subtypes exhibit reduced activation in cirrhosis. Nonetheless, the persistence of memory T cell activity, while not preventing infections, may help to attenuate the severity of diseases in these patients. Alongside that, the impairment of innate immunity, particularly in dendritic cells (DCs), prevents the normal priming of adaptive immunity, interrupting the immunization process at its onset. Furthermore, cirrhosis disrupts the gut–liver axis balance, causing dysbiosis, reduced production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), increased intestinal permeability, and bacterial translocation. Undermining the physiological activity of the immune system, these alterations could impact the vaccine response. Enhancing the understanding of the molecular and cellular factors contributing to impaired vaccination responses in cirrhotic patients is crucial for improving vaccine efficacy in this population and developing better prevention strategies.