scholarly journals Post-emergence seedling damage due to vertebrate pests and its impact on soybean establishment

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e11106
Author(s):  
Jay Ram Lamichhane
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Lepus Europaeus ◽  
Field Crop ◽  
European Hare ◽  
Crop Establishment ◽  
Vertebrate Pests ◽  
Yield Quality ◽  
The Common ◽  
Wood Pigeon

The quality of field crop establishment is an indicator of the productivity and yield quality of a given crop. Several biotic and abiotic factors, as well as cropping practices, affect the quality of field crop establishment. More specifically to soybean, recent studies quantified pre-emergence seedling losses and identified the associated causes of non-emergence. However, little is known about post-emergence seedling damage, mainly due to vertebrate pests, which represent an important problem for growers. A 2-year field observation was conducted to quantify near- and post-emergence seedling damage due to vertebrate pests. The common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) and the European hare (Lepus europaeus) were associated with this kind of damage. The characteristic damage due to the common wood pigeon consisted of either partially-damaged cotyledons during emergence or completely uprooted seedlings at emergence. In contrast, damage due to the European hare consisted of chewed seedling or seedling parts. There was significant effect of year (p < 0.001) on the final rates of post-emergence seedling damage due to the wood pigeon but not on those due to the European hare. The final rates of post-emergence damage due to the wood pigeon were higher (32% for 2018 and 22% for 2020) compared with those owing to the European hare (18% for 2018 and 17% for 2020). The severity of damage due to vertebrate pests was related to the type of seedling damage that, in turn, affected the capacity of soybean to compensate for post-emergence seedling damage.

scholarly journals Crop Establishment SIMulator: A Qualitative Aggregative Model to Predict the Role of Phytobiomes on Field Crop Establishment

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Ram Lamichhane ◽  
Ming Pei You ◽  
Martin J. Barbetti ◽  
Jean-Noël Aubertot
Keyword(s):  
Generic Model ◽  
Field Crop ◽  
State Variables ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Crop Establishment ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Input Variables

The definition of phytobiomes can be transposed to any agroecosystem and applies to any phase of crop cycles. Here, we study the crop establishment phase using a generic modeling framework to assess the potential role of phytobiomes on field crop establishment. We first developed a generic model called Crop Establishment SIMulator (CESIM) that takes into account cropping practices, seed and seedling characteristics, seedbed components (physical chemical and biological), and weather, as well as their interactions. All these variables were integrated in a qualitative aggregative hierarchical network to predict the quality of field crop establishment. CESIM has 38 basic (input variables) and 20 aggregated (19 state variables and 1 output variable) attributes for a total of 58 attributes. The prediction quality of the model was evaluated for a dataset of 231 field observations across four states of Australia and experimental results obtained in the last 40 years. Accuracy of predictions of the final attribute (i.e., crop establishment) was 91% and explained 29% of variability of the dataset, as described by the quadratic weighted Cohen’s κ. CESIM represents a unique and original generic model capable of taking into account a large number of variables and their interactions to predict the quality of field crop establishment. This model is flexible, transparent, and user friendly and, therefore, is suitable both for academic and nonacademic users. CESIM can be used across a wide range of situations to perform not only the ex-ante assessment of potential establishment quality of a given crop but also ex-post assessment.

The concept of motivation for effective credit risk management

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 2567-2593
Author(s):  
M.V. Pomazanov
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Economic Modeling ◽  
Type I ◽  
Credit Risk Management ◽  
Curve Modeling ◽  
Business Functions ◽  
The Common ◽  
Lending Decisions ◽  
The One

Subject. The study addresses the improvement of risk management efficiency and the quality of lending decisions made by banks. Objectives. The aim is to present the bank management with a fair algorithm for risk management motivation on the one hand, and the credit management (business) on the other hand. Within the framework of the common goal to maximize risk-adjusted income from loans, this algorithm will provide guidelines for ‘risk management’ and ‘business’ functions on how to improve individual and overall efficiency. Methods. The study employs the discriminant analysis, type I and II errors, Lorentz curve modeling, statistical analysis, economic modeling. Results. The paper offers a mechanism for assessing the quality of risk management decisions as opposed to (or in support of) decisions of the lending business when approving transactions. The mechanism rests on the approach of stating type I and II errors and the corresponding classical metric of the Gini coefficient. On the ‘business’ side, the mechanism monitors the improvement or deterioration of the indicator of changes in losses in comparison with the market average. Conclusions. The study substantiates the stimulating ‘rules of the game’ between the ‘business’ and ‘risk management’ to improve the efficiency of the entire business, to optimize interactions within the framework of internal competition. It presents mathematical tools to calculate corresponding indicators of the efficiency of internally competing entities.

scholarly journals Development of a Multidisciplinary Aerodigestive Program: An Institutional Experience

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 535
Author(s):  
Seung Kim ◽  
Mireu Park ◽  
Eunyoung Kim ◽  
Ga Eun Kim ◽  
Jae Hwa Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chart Review ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Multidisciplinary Management ◽  
Neurologic Disease ◽  
Institutional Experience ◽  
Swallowing Difficulty ◽  
The Common ◽  
Chronic Comorbidities

We share our experience on the implementation of a multidisciplinary aerodigestive program comprising an aerodigestive team (ADT) so as to evaluate its feasibility. We performed a retrospective chart review of the patients discussed at the monthly ADT meetings and analyzed the data. A total of 98 children were referred to the ADT during the study period. The number of cases increased steadily from 3.5 cases per month in 2019 to 8.5 cases per month in 2020. The median age of patients was 34.5 months, and 55% were male. Among the chronic comorbidities, neurologic disease was the most common (85%), followed by respiratory (36%) and cardiac (13%) disorders. The common reasons for consultation were suspected aspiration (56%), respiratory difficulty (44%), drooling/stertor (30%), regurgitation/vomiting (18%), and feeding/swallowing difficulty (17%). Following discussions, 58 patients received active interventions, including fundoplication, gastrostomy, laryngomicrosurgery, tracheostomy, and primary dilatation of the airway. According to the questionnaire of the caregiver, the majority agreed that the main symptoms and quality of life of patients had improved (88%), reducing the burden on caregivers (77%). Aerodigestive programs may provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary management for children with complex airway and digestive tract disorders.

scholarly journals Influence of Bagging on the Development and Quality of Fruits

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 358
Author(s):  
Muhammad Moaaz Ali ◽  
Raheel Anwar ◽  
Ahmed F. Yousef ◽  
Binqi Li ◽  
Andrea Luvisi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Consumer Choice ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Market Value ◽  
Quality Attribute ◽  
Export Markets ◽  
External Appearance ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Main Determinants

Fruit quality is certainly influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, and a main quality attribute is the external appearance of the fruit. Various possible agronomical approaches are able to regulate the fruit microenvironment and, consequently, improve fruit quality and market value. Among these, fruit bagging has recently become an integral part of fruits’ domestic and export markets in countries such as Japan, China, Korea Australia and the USA because it is a safe and eco-friendly technique to protect fruits from multiple stresses, preserving or improving the overall quality. Despite increasing global importance, the development of suitable bagging materials and, above all, their use in the field is quite laborious, so that serious efforts are required to enhance and standardize bagging material according to the need of the crops/fruits. This review provides information about the effects of bagging technique on the fruit aspect and texture, which are the main determinants of consumer choice.

scholarly journals Mind the Gap: Why the Landscape Planning System in Sardinia Does Not Work

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7300
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Colavitti ◽  
Alessio Floris ◽  
Sergio Serra
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Planning ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Local Planning ◽  
The Common ◽  
Regional Landscape ◽  
Landscape Protection

In Italy, after the introduction of the Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape in 2004, the Regional Landscape Plan (RLP) has acquired a coordination role in the urban planning system, for the implementation of policies for landscape protection and valorisation. The case study of the RLP of Sardinia is a paradigmatic application to the coastal area of the island, which is considered most vulnerable and subject to settlement pressure. The objectives of preservation and valorisation of the territorial resources should be transferred into local planning instruments by adopting strategies aimed at the preservation of the consolidated urban fabric, at the requalification and completion of the existing built-up areas according to the principles of land take limitation and increase in urban quality. The paper investigates the state of implementation and the level of integration of landscape contents in the local plans that have been adapted to the RLP, using a qualitative comparative method. In addition, the results of the plan coherence checks, elaborated by the regional monitoring bodies after the adaptation process, have been analysed to identify the common criticalities and weaknesses. The results highlight the lack of effectiveness of the RLP, after more than a decade since its approval, considering the limited number of adequate local plans and the poor quality of their analytical and regulative contents in terms of landscape protection and valorisation. Conclusions suggest some possible ways to revise the RLP, focusing on the participation of local communities and the development of a new landscape culture.

scholarly journals A Mathematical Study of Barcelona Metro Network

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 557
Author(s):  
Irene Mariñas-Collado ◽  
Elisa Frutos Bernal ◽  
Maria Teresa Santos Martin ◽  
Angel Martín del Rey ◽  
Roberto Casado Vara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clustering Analysis ◽  
Transportation Network ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Statistical Point ◽  
Transport Services ◽  
Urban Public Transport ◽  
The Common ◽  
Subway Stations ◽  
Metro Network

The knowledge of the topological structure and the automatic fare collection systems in urban public transport produce many data that need to be adequately analyzed, processed and presented. These data provide a powerful tool to improve the quality of transport services and plan ahead. This paper aims at studying, from a mathematical and statistical point of view, the Barcelona metro network; specifically: (1) the structural and robustness characteristics of the transportation network are computed and analyzed considering the complex network analysis; and (2) the common characteristics of the different subway stations of Barcelona, based on the passenger hourly entries, are identified through hierarchical clustering analysis. These results will be of great help in planning and restructuring transport to cope with the new social conditions, after the pandemic.

QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION (LITERATURE REVIEW)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
OLGA MOSKALENKO ◽  
ROMAN YASKEVICH
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Current Problem ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Quality Of Life Assessment ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Satisfactory Quality

A review of the literature on the current problem of medicine is presented. Arterial hypertension is one of the common chronic diseases for which the current goal of therapy is not recovery, but improvement of circulatory function with a satisfactory quality of life. The study of QOL and the factors influencing it can contribute to an increase in the individual effectiveness of treatment and complex rehabilitation of patients suffering from this pathology.

Creative Participation and the Expansion of Political Engagement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannis Theocharis ◽  
Joost de Moor
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Political Engagement ◽  
Research Topic ◽  
The Common ◽  
Catch Up ◽  
Ongoing Assessment ◽  
Do So

Creative participation refers to citizens’ invention of, and engagement in, new action forms that aim to influence, or take responsibility for, the common good in society. By definition, these action forms are constantly evolving and cannot be listed or summarized. Yet some, like guerrilla gardening, have over time become more established in political repertoires, and specific arenas are known to be particularly productive sites for their development. These include in particular the Internet, and lifestyles and consumption. The constant changes in how citizens become active represented by creative participation present considerable challenges for scholars of political participation—both in terms of theory and methodology. In particular, such forms test our ability to distinguish political from nonpolitical activities. However, how political creative participation is, is often subtle and implicit, and therefore hard to establish. Yet being able to do so is essential for an ongoing assessment of the quality of participatory democracy. With conventional forms of participation declining and creative participation becoming more common, scholars must be able to agree on definitions and operationalizations that allow for the comparison of participatory trends. For instance, a key concern has been whether creative forms of participation crowd out more conventional ones, like voting or lobbying politicians. Developments in survey research have been able to show that this is not the case and that creative participation may in fact increase conventional participation. In addition, qualitative research methods like focus groups and ethnography, allow for more open-ended explorations of this elusive research topic. As to who participates, creative participation has enabled traditionally underrepresented groups like women and young people to catch up with, and sometimes overtake, those older men who have long dominated conventional political participation. Still, education remains a key obstacle even to creative participation. The COVID-19 crisis that took hold of the world in 2020 has compromised access to collective action and public space. It has thereby once more put the onus on citizens to engage creatively with ways to influence, and take responsibility for, society. At the same time, the crisis presents a need and opportunity for political participation scholarship to engage more deeply with theoretical debates about what it means to be political or to participate.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document