Aims Of Project Research Articles

Training On Cervical Cancer And HPV Vaccine For 9-13 Years’ Adolescent Girls, A Community Service

The aims of this community service project was to raise awareness about cervical cancer and the importance of HPV vaccine for 9-13 years old girls and their parents. The training was designed to address the knowledge gap regarding cervical cancer and HPV vaccine among 9-13 years old girls and their parents, we can empower them to make informed decisions about vaccination. Before implementation of training, community survey was conducted. The findings of the survey were help us to identify gaps in knowledge and attitudes and inform the development of training as an intervention. Through training & distributed training materials the outcome of the community service was achieved. The knowledge of school adolescent’s girls was evaluated and improved. The uptake HPV vaccination were increased and all unvaccinated school girls were vaccinated after training. Training participants were empowered to correct any misconceptions with in the community.

Optimization of Ship Design for the Effect of Wind Propulsion

International regulations as well as strong market demand for zero-emission transport call for a radical change in the shipping industry. One very promising zero-emission propulsion system for shipping is wind propulsion. In this context, the EU-funded Orcelle Wind project (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101096673) aims at using wind as the main source of ship propulsion and to demonstrate the effectiveness and viability of Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) by a retrofitting and new building demonstrator. In this paper, we explore the effect of wing sails on the concept design of a VLCC tanker in the frame of a newly parametric ship design optimization procedure.

Enhancing Security Within Restricted Hospital Zones by Integrating Finger Vein Authentication

The integration of finger vein authentication technology to enhance security measures within restricted zones in hospital environments, is the aim of this project. An advanced biometric technique called finger vein authentication uses each person's individual vein patterns to confirm their identification. It is especially desirable for applications where security is critical, such financial transactions, healthcare, and access control, because it provides a very safe and non-intrusive means of authentication. Although there has been considerable success with traditional finger vein authentication methods, deep learning techniques have completely changed this field. A branch of artificial intelligence called deep learning has shown impressive results in pattern recognition and picture analysis, which makes it a prime contender for improving the precision and dependability of finger vein authentication systems. Finger vein authentication utilizes biometric characteristics unique to everyone, providing a highly secure method of identity verification. By implementing this technology, hospitals can bolster access control, prevent unauthorized entry into sensitive areas, and safeguard patient information and critical resources. The project aims to implement finger vein authentication systems to regulate access to restricted areas such as operating rooms, medication storage areas, and patient information sections. Authorized personnel will undergo authentication via finger vein scans for entry, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access these zones.

A Novel Framework on Real Time Chat Interface

In this extensive research paper, we delve deeply into the intricate process of developing a real-time chat interface website utilizing cutting-edge web technologies such as ReactJS, Chat Engine, sockets, hooks, props, JavaScript, and APIs. The primary aim of this project is to cater to the evolving demands for efficient communication and collaboration platforms in the contemporary digital landscape. Through meticulous analysis, detailed experimentation, and critical evaluation, we explore the functionalities, design principles, social relevance, and future implications of the developed application. This research paper serves as a comprehensive guide, providing in-depth insights into the utilization of modern web technologies for constructing interactive and engaging web applications, while also shedding light on the broader societal impacts and implications for the future of digital communication. The advancement of web technologies has facilitated the development of real-time communication platforms that transcend geographical barriers. This research paper delves into the comprehensive development process and technical intricacies involved in creating a real-time chat interface website using modern web technologies, including ReactJS for the frontend, Chat Engine for the backend, and auxiliary technologies such as sockets, hooks, props, JavaScript, and APIs. The project aims to address the growing need for efficient communication and collaboration platforms in today's digital landscape. Through detailed analysis, experimentation, and critical evaluation, this paper explores the functionalities, design principles, social relevance, and future implications of the developed application

Delegation of insulin administration: a survey of community nursing teams in England.

In community nursing, the administration of insulin for people with type 2 diabetes can be delegated by registered nurses to healthcare support workers. Although a voluntary framework in England provides national guidance, little is known about its uptake. The project aim was to determine the roll-out, characteristics and support needs in relation to the delegation of insulin administration in community settings. An online survey was disseminated to community nursing services in England via social media and nursing networks. Of the 115 responding organisations, 81% (n=93) had an insulin delegation programme, with most initiated since 2018. From these services, 41% (n=3704) of insulin injections were delegated daily, with benefits for patients, staff and services reported, along with some challenges. Delegation of insulin administration is an established and valued initiative. Awareness of the national voluntary framework is increasing. National guidance is considered important to support governance arrangements and safety.

Application of intraoperative structured light scanning to enable post-operative evaluation of digital and 3D-printed penile models

Penile phenotype in hypospadias is currently assessed visually or manually (e.g., ruler, goniometer) for clinical, education, and research applications. However, these methods lack precision and accuracy across raters and cannot be reevaluated retrospectively following a surgical repair. The project aim was to evaluate the precision and reliability of penile dimensions obtained from digital and three dimensional (3D) printed models created from intraoperative (OR) structured light scans (SLS) during primary pediatric penile procedures. Boys ages 1 month to 6 years underwent first- or single-stage penile surgery at a single institution were enrolled in this prospective study (IRB #20-000143). For each patient, immediately following placement of a stay suture under consistent manual tension, intra-operative dimension measurements with a ruler were obtained. A digital 3D model was created prior to penile repositioning using an Artec Space Spider scanner and Artec Studio 13 software. Following the case, two different raters completed 10 digital measurements of each generated model in Autodesk Fusion 360. These digital models were subsequently 3D printed and two different raters completed 10 manual dimension measurements of each 3D printed model using a ruler. A one-way random effects intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) evaluated measures of agreement between and within raters, respectively. Analyses were conducted in R version 4.2. Six scans were obtained (hypospadias: 4, circumcision: 2). Intra-rater assessments showed excellent precision across repeated digital measurements; manual measurements of 3D printed models had excellent reliability for glans width and penile length but poor to good reliability for glans height. Inter-rater reliability was good to excellent for glans width (0.77-0.95) and good for penile length (0.71-0.88). However, there was poor inter-rater reliability for glans height (0-0.14). Following training regarding glans height location, there was an improvement in precision and repeatability of manual and digital measurements. Digital measurement of OR-derived 3D models resulted in excellent repeatability for each rater and improved between-rater reliability over manual measurement of 3D printed models alone, ensuring that images can be compared by various surgeons both now and in the future. SLS is promising as a novel modality to digitally generate 3D models, thereby informing phenotypic analysis for research and education. Further development of digital measurement methods to ensure consistency between raters for quantitative assessment of additional parameters and assessment of the technology within the pre-operative environment for surgical planning is planned.

HYPERTENSIVE NEPHROPATHY: TRANSCRIPTOMICS OF KIDNEY BIOPSIES PREDICTS LONG TERM OUTCOME AND IDENTIFIES THERAPEUTIC TARGETS

Objective: Hypertensive nephropathy (HN) represents a major cause of chronic kidney disease, but it is incompletely understood why some patients show disease progression. Our project aim is to identify potential markers of disease progression and novel therapeutic targets. Design and method: Adult patients (n=43; n=16 females, mean age 53 years) with biopsy-verified HN were categorized as ’early’ (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >45 ml/min/1.73m2) or ’late’ disease (eGFR <45 ml/min/1.73m2) at the time of biopsy. Patients were further divided into “stable” (eGFR decline <3 ml/min/year) or “progressive” (eGFR decline >3 ml/min/year or start of renal replacement therapy) after median follow-up of 10 years (5-22). TruSeq Exome sequencing was executed after RNA extraction (miRNeasy FFPE kit, Qiagen) at Novogene, Cambridge, UK. Quality control and data analysis was performed using R Studio (v4.2.0) and QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Results: We analyzed the following subgroups of HN patients: early stable (ES, n=11), early progressive (EP, n=11), late stable (LS, n=9) and late progressive (LP, n=12). Differentially expressed genes (DEG, fold change (FC) >1.5 and p-value < 0.05) were identified, with n=265 in ES vs. EP, and n=674 in LS vs. LP. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed separation of ES vs. EP and LS vs. LP, as depicted in Figure 1A and B. K-nearest neighbour (KNN) analysis of DEG identified a 6-gene classifier in LS vs. LP (19/21 samples correctly classified), while IER5L and CNTNAP5 were the top 2-gene classifier in ES vs. EP (20/21 samples). These classifiers, as well as other DEGs such as PER1, YB1, TIMP3, ADAMTS4, IGFBP5 and EGF could represent novel targets to inhibit disease progression. Differentially regulated pathways were associated with regulation of TP53 activity and circadian rhythm involving melatonin metabolism in ES vs. EP, and metabolic processes related to water-soluble vitamins, glutathione and sphingolipids in LS vs. LP. Conclusions: Transcriptomic profiling from diagnostic kidney biopsies with HN can distinguish future disease progression from non-progression and may identify novel therapeutic targets.

Key Learnings from 'Seniors of Canada': A Community Project Aimed to Disrupt Ageism.

Visual representations of aging have historically relied upon binarized clichés: idealized youthfulness versus frailty and illness. To challenge these oversimplified depictions, graduate students developed a community outreach project titled 'Seniors of Canada'. The aim of this project was twofold: (1) share images and stories of people in later life; and (2) challenge dominant narratives and stereotypes of aging. In this note, we outline the prevailing discourse of what aging 'looks like', how we collected stories and images, and implications for knowledge mobilization and research in Canada. This article highlights insights gained since the inception of the project, including three key learnings: (1) Building bridges across academia and community, (2) Intergenerational connection and digital tools, and (3) The power of visual storytelling. We provide a practical overview of a successful knowledge mobilization/community outreach project and showcase the power of bridging academia and community for social change.

Counting butterflies—are old-fashioned ways of recording data obsolete?

Citizen Science projects aim to make data entry as easy as possible and often provide online data recording or data recording with an App. However, many participants cannot or do not want to use these possibilities and record their data the “old-fashioned” way with pen on paper. We ask whether the quality of data recorded in the “old-fashioned” way (transect walkers record their data with pen on paper) is of the same, better or worse quality than data recorded “online” (transect walkers enter their data via an online tool). We use the project “Butterfly Monitoring Germany” as an example, where we identify three different types of volunteers: those who enter their data online, those who send their data to the project coordination via email in different formats and those who send their data to the project coordination via ordinary mail. We observed minor quantitative differences for transect walkers not entering their data online but significant qualitative differences. Transect walkers who send their data via email record significantly more data for some rare or difficult to determine species. This is essential to properly calculate these species’ trends. In addition, the results of a questionnaire showed that “old fashioned” transect walkers did not use the online data entry because (i) data entry takes too long, (ii) is too cumbersome, (iii) they have bad or no internet connection or (iv) lack of technical capabilities. Accounting for different preferences of Citizen Scientists, different ways of data-submission should be made available (e.g. online, via app, or the old-fashioned way on paper). For the future, projects that collect large amounts of Citizen Science data should further develop low-threshold input data pipelines.Implications for insect conservationOur results show that data recorded in the old-fashioned way contributes significantly to increasing data quality. It is therefore very important to continue to enable different forms of data recording in the future. Furthermore, it is crucial to keep in mind that Citizen Science projects are only partly for the sake of science, but also volunteers should benefit by being part of a community and having access to information about (butterfly) biodiversity.

The S-PLUS Fornax Project (S+FP): SExtractor detection and measurement of nearby galaxies in large photometric surveys

ABSTRACT All-sky multiband photometric surveys represent a unique opportunity of exploring rich nearby galaxy clusters up to several virial radii, reaching the filament regions where pre-processing is expected to occur. These projects aim to tackle a large number of astrophysical topics, encompassing both the Galactic and extragalactic fields. In that sense, generating large catalogues with homogeneous photometry for both resolved and unresolved sources that might be interesting to achieve specific goals, imposes a compromise when choosing the set of parameters to automatically detect and measure such a plethora of objects. In this work, we present the acquired experience on studying the galaxy content of the Fornax cluster using large catalogues obtained by the Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS). We realized that some Fornax bright galaxies are missed in the S-PLUS iDR4 catalogues. In addition, Fornax star-forming galaxies are included as multiple detections due to overdeblending. To solve those issues, we performed specific SExtractor runs to identify the proper set of parameters to recover as many Fornax galaxies as possible with confident photometry and avoiding duplications. From that process, we obtained new catalogues containing 12-band improved photometry for ∼ 3 × 106 resolved and unresolved sources in an area of ∼ 208 deg2 in the direction of the Fornax cluster. Together with identifying the main difficulties to carry out the study of nearby groups and clusters of galaxies using S-PLUS catalogues, we also share possible solutions to face issues that seem to be common to other ongoing photometric surveys.

Network pharmacology-based research into the mechanism of ferulic acid on acute lung injury through enhancing transepithelial sodium transport

Ethnopharmacological relevanceFerulic acid (FA) has shown potential therapeutic applications in treating lung diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms by which FA ameliorates acute lung injury (ALI) have not been distinctly elucidated. Aim of the studyThe project aims to observe the therapeutic effects of FA on lipopolysaccharide-induced ALI and to elucidate its specific mechanisms in regulating epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), which majors in alveolar fluid clearance during ALI. Materials and methodsIn this study, the possible pathways of FA were determined through network pharmacology analyses. The mechanisms of FA in ALI were verified by in vivo mouse model and in vitro studies, including primary alveolar epithelial type 2 cells and three-dimensional alveolar organoid models. ResultsFA ameliorated ALI by improving lung pathological changes, reducing pulmonary edema, and upregulating the α/γ-ENaC expression in C57BL/J male mice. Simultaneously, FA was observed to augment ENaC levels in both three-dimensional alveolar organoid and alveolar epithelial type 2 cells models. Network pharmacology techniques and experimental data from inhibition or knockdown of IkappaB kinase β (IKKβ) proved that FA reduced the phosphorylation of IKKβ/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and eliminated the lipopolysaccharide-inhibited expression of ENaC, which could be regulated by nuclear protein NF-κB p65 directly. ConclusionsFA could enhance the expression of ENaC at least in part by inhibiting the IKKβ/NF-κB signaling pathway, which may potentially pave the way for promising treatment of ALI.

Enhanced identification of endocrine disruptors through integration of science-based regulatory practices and innovative methodologies: The MERLON Project.

The prevalence of hormone-related health issues caused by exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is a significant, and increasing, societal challenge. Declining fertility rates together with rising incidence rates of reproductive disorders and other endocrine-related diseases underscores the urgency in taking more action. Addressing the growing threat of EDCs in our environment demands robust and reliable test methods to assess a broad variety of endpoints relevant for endocrine disruption. EDCs also require effective regulatory frameworks, especially as the current move towards greater reliance on non-animal methods in chemical testing puts to test the current paradigm for EDC identification, which requires that an adverse effect is observed in an intact organism. Although great advances have been made in the field of predictive toxicology, disruption to the endocrine system and subsequent adverse health effects may prove particularly difficult to predict without traditional animal models. The MERLON project seeks to expedite progress by integrating multispecies molecular research, new approach methodologies (NAMs), human clinical epidemiology, and systems biology to furnish mechanistic insights and explore ways forward for NAM-based identification of EDCs. The focus is on sexual development and function, from foetal sex differentiation of the reproductive system through mini-puberty and puberty to sexual maturity. The project aims are geared towards closing existing knowledge gaps in understanding the effects of EDCs on human health to ultimately support effective regulation of EDCs in the European Union and beyond.

Comparison of nonlinear trends and influencing factors of carbon sinks in four ecological restoration projects in China

AbstractChina's ecological restoration projects aim to safeguard natural forests, improve the ecological environment, and achieve carbon neutrality. Previous studies at multiple scales have reported that the ecological projects contributed to enhancing carbon sinks. However, the effect of these projects on the carbon sinks has remained uncertain. Thus, we conducted a comparative analysis of nonlinear trends and influencing factors of carbon sink trends in the four ecological restoration project areas. Our findings suggested that the Pearl River shelterbelt program and middle reaches of the Yellow River shelterbelt program areas have experienced significant enhancements in ecosystem carbon sinks. The carbon sink exhibiting monotonically increasing trends and decreasing to increasing trends (positive shifts) accounted for 74.48% and 71.76% in these two shelterbelt program areas, respectively. However, less than half of the carbon sinks (41.38% and 31.80%, respectively) demonstrated monotonically increasing trends or positive shifts in the Yangtze River and Three North Shelterbelt program areas. The high background value of carbon sinks played a crucial role in the monotonically increasing trends of carbon sinks in the four ecological restoration projects. Additionally, in the Pearl River program areas, economic development and urban greening promoted the monotonically increasing trends of carbon sink. In the Yellow River program areas, CO2 fertilization, appropriate warming, and increased precipitation were helpful to promote the carbon sink with monotonically increasing trends. Moreover, the positive shifts of the carbon sinks were attributed to the implementation of these two ecological restoration projects. However, the low temperature and drought hindered the enhancement of carbon sinks in the Three North program areas, and extreme climate (flood and drought) hindered it in the Yangtze River program areas. These findings can provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of ecological restoration projects on terrestrial ecosystems and offer practical guidelines to achieve carbon neutrality.

Radical Urban Classrooms: Civic Pedagogies and Spaces of Learning on the Margins of Institutions

AbstractThis paper investigates the relationship between “civic pedagogy” and institutions, through three case studies: the Live Works Castlegate Co‐Production at the University of Sheffield; a Collective Design Pedagogy at Muktangan School, India; and the School for Civic Action at the Tate Exchange. The projects aim to build citizens’ agency with transformative urban potential by engaging civic pedagogy using different scales, perspectives, and resources: as engagement with schools, higher education institutions, and art practices. Using Pelin Tan's definition of urgent pedagogies as a framework, this paper investigates the alternative alliances, trans‐territorial solidarities, and transversal methodologies of each project, comparing and contrasting methods and techniques. We discuss the potential for a shared decentralisation of learning associated with institutions, by engaging with the urban environment and communities, and propose a series of codependent practices for the initiation and sustenance of civic pedagogy for geographers interested in urban learning and education.

Epidemiology and current management of cardiovascular disease in China.

The Annual Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China (2022) intricate landscape of cardiovascular health in China. This is the fourth section of the report with a specific focus on epidemiology and current management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in China. This section of the report highlights the epidemiological trends of CVD in China. It reveal a concerning rise in prevalence, with approximately 330 million affected individuals, including significant numbers with stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, and other conditions. CVD stands as the primary cause of mortality among both urban and rural populations, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in 2020. Mortality rates are notably higher in rural areas compared to urban centers since 2009. While age-standardized mortality rates have decreased, the absolute number of CVD deaths has increased, primarily due to population aging. Ischemic heart disease, hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes are the leading causes of CVD-related deaths. Notably, the burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease has risen substantially, with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease-related deaths increasing from 1990 to 2016. The incidence of ischemic stroke and ischemic heart disease has shown similar increasing trends over the past three decades. CAD mortality, particularly acute myocardial infarction, has been on the rise, with higher mortality rates observed in rural areas since 2016. The prevalence of CAD has increased significantly, with over 11 million patients identified in 2013. Studies assessing hospital performance in managing acute coronary syndrome reveal gaps in adherence to guideline-recommended strategies, with disparities in care quality across hospitals. However, initiatives like the China Patient-centered Evaluative Assessment of Cardiac Events (PEACE)-Retrospective AMI Study and the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome (CCC-ACS) project aim to improve patient outcomes through enhanced care protocols. Moreover, advancements in medical technology, such as quantitative flow ratio-guided lesion selection during percutaneous coronary intervention, show promise in improving clinical outcomes for patients undergoing intervention.

Abstract 6968: Extracellular vesicles as carriers of signaling factors in cancer

Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small, membrane-bound structures released by cells. They contain various biomolecules and have emerged as mediators of cellular signaling. EVs of various origins can be isolated from body fluids and hold potential as novel biomarkers. However, their clinical implementation as biomarkers is hampered by complex isolation procedures, limited expertise in routine labs, and a lack of mechanistic understanding of signal transfer, particularly in vivo. To better understand how EVs carry oncogenic signaling factors, we performed mechanistic investigations into the role of EVs in WNT signaling as a representative cancer-associated signaling pathway, as well as ex vivo validation experiments analyzing patient-derived EVs. Hydrophobic WNT ligands can use EVs to travel the extracellular space. However, little is known about the quantities of WNT secretion onto different EV fractions and potentially other vehicles. To explore WNT secretory routes and potential functional differences, we generated fluorescently tagged marker constructs of the non-canonical ligand WNT5a, which has context-dependent tumor-suppressing or -promoting functions in cancer. In additional in vitro experiments, we tested how the WNT signaling activation state and cancer-specific WNT mutations, such as CRISPR/Cas9-induced APC truncations, quantitatively and qualitatively affect EV shedding in colorectal cancer cell lines. Further functional testing of EV-bound vs. non-EV WNT ligands is ongoing. For proof-of-concept analyses and to test EVs as biomarkers, we set up the liquid biopsy study EValuate. The project aims for cross-entity analysis of EV profiles and correlation of results to cancer presence, stage, and survival. For quality control and before pipeline implementation, we tested various EV isolation methods and compared different sample pre-processing steps. By combining multidisciplinary expertise in biophysics, molecular biology, and basic and clinical cancer research, we aim to gain a better mechanistic understanding of EV-mediated signal transfer and facilitate the integration of EVs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers into clinical studies. Citation Format: Antonia Schubert, Nadine Winkler, Ajaree Mongkolsittisilp, Matthias Schulz, Oksana Voloshanenko, Meike Schaffrinski, Dominique Kranz, Karin Nienhaus, Dirk Jäger, Lorenz Trümper, Judith Büntzel, Claudia Binder, Gerd Ulrich Nienhaus, Michael Boutros. Extracellular vesicles as carriers of signaling factors in cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6968.

A roadmap for the implementation of a renewable energy community

Environmental problems due to climate change, that have been affecting our planet for years, are the main issues which prompted European Union to establish the ambitious target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This occurrence encouraged all Member States to undergo significant changes of their energy sectors, favouring the extensive use of renewable energy sources. In this scenario, the European Union introduced Renewable Energy Communities, innovative energy systems based on a new model of renewable energy production, consumption and sharing, guaranteeing environmental, economic, energy and social benefits. The objective of this paper is twofold: firstly, to examine the regulatory framework of Member States and, secondly, to present a standardized procedure for the implementation of a Renewable Energy Community, an aspect not yet covered in scientific literature. The roadmap includes four main phases: a feasibility study involving an energy analysis of end users’ consumption and a general assessment; the aggregation of members as producers, consumers or prosumers forming a legal entity, considering different funding opportunities; the operating phase, involving plant construction and project validation by national authorities; the technical and economic management phase. The dynamic structure of the roadmap allows for adjustments to accommodate different regulatory contexts, member typologies and project aim.

Implementation of an ISO15189 accredited next-generation sequencing service with the fully automated Ion Torrent Genexus: the experience of a clinical diagnostic laboratory

AimsNext-generation sequencing (NGS) is integral to the delivery of personalised medicine for targeted cancer therapy. Average turnaround times (TAT) from reference laboratories with advanced expertise in sequencing are typically 2–3...

Time parameters verification of a numerical simulator of an automated store warehouse

The intelligent automated store warehouse (iZMS) research and development project was created to meet the expectations of a modern automatic store. The project concerns the development of the concept and pilot implementation of an automated store warehouse adapted to the autonomous and automatic sales of goods selected by retail chains. One of the aims of the iZMS project is to develop a scalable solution that allows for the simple adaptation of the iZMS to the needs of a potential customer, taking into account their requirements in terms of the quantity and variety of assortment offered within the iZMS. An important requirement in the use of the iZMS system is minimizing the customer waiting time for purchased products. This problem is related, among others, to the placement of products on the shelves of racks and will be solved in the optimizing process. Running optimization tasks requires a simulator that will mimic the features of a physical device faster than in real time in order to generate many proposals of the allocation of goods on storage racks in the shortest possible time and choose the best one, guaranteeing the shortest picking time of a representative basket of goods. A numerical simulator was developed to model the physical structures of food storage equipment and then simulate the sales process. Among the results obtained, the most important are the time parameters of individual operations, which will ultimately be used to optimize the placement of goods on storage racks. After analyzing the needs resulting from the usage of the iZMS system, we decided to develop a dynamic, deterministic simulator with discrete objects and perform the simulation with a controlled time increment and, in some cases, to utilize elements of event-driven simulation, in which the flow of goods is simulated with first-in, first-out (FIFO) queues. Finally,verification of the numerical simulator with a physical model confirmed that it can be employed in optimization processes.

Cocoa agroforestry in Brazil through a public-private partnership

Historically, Brazil was a significant cocoa producer, primarily in the Amazon region, but since the 1970s, cocoa production became increasingly replaced by extensive livestock farming. What production remained, was halted by a fungal epidemic, resulting in Brazil becoming a net importer of cocoa beans. Thanks to recent sustainable development programmes and the emergence of the bioeconomy, Brazil has since experienced renewed interest in cocoa cultivation, especially in cocoa agroforestry. Initiatives such as Mondelez's Sustainable Cocoa Production project aim to promote sustainable cocoa production, with a focus on environmental regulations and good agricultural practices. The project focuses on two regions, Bahia and Pará. In Bahia, efforts are directed towards rejuvenating cocoa crops in cabruca systems, a traditional agroforestry system where cocoa is cultivated beneath native tree canopies. Small-scale farmers received training and experimental plots demonstrated that proper management practices could control fungal disease and increase cocoa production significantly, generating increased income. In Pará, cocoa agroforestry systems are promoted as an alternative to cattle ranching, which destroyed forests to create, now degraded, pasturelands. While restoration efforts are challenging, agroforestry systems showed promising financial returns compared to cattle ranching. Local farmer organisations also benefitted from workshops and ongoing mentoring regarding their management and business capacities. A failure of the project was that in some instances, agroforestry systems were promoted more as a way to produce cocoa than as an opportunity to diversify, which must be the priority. New due diligence initiatives in Europe have also highlighted the importance of traceability and sustainability in cocoa production, posing new challenges for Brazil’s small-scale farmers. The cocoa agroforestry systems in Bahia and Pará have, nonetheless, shown potential for sustainable local development in Brazil. To ensure their success and sustainability in the long term, there must be continued support systems for farmers and value must be ascribed to the immense product diversity of cocoa agroforestry.