Research Institute Research Articles

Introduction

Recent decades have brought the topic of researching East Asian collections in Europe and the world to the forefront of research and academia. The colonial and postcolonial frameworks of collecting practices, the cultural and socio-political settings in which the collectors assembled their collections, as well as the history of displaying East Asian objects in museums and other institutions, were researched both in the political centres of those practices and on their peripheries. In a differently structured approach, the collections of objects themselves came into the focus of the research, including their materiality and their “biographies”, providing a novel perspective on the historiography of collections. The Department of Asian Studies at the Faculty of Arts (University of Ljubljana), Science and Research Centre Koper, Celje Regional Museum and the Mari­time Museum of Piran hosted an international symposium entitled Orphaned Objects: Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to the Research of East Asian Objects at the Faculty of Arts on 18 September 2023. The symposium was organised as part of the project Orphaned Objects: Examining East Asian Objects Outside Organised Collecting Practices in Slovenia (J6-3133, 2021–2025), funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency. This volume includes most of the papers presented during the symposium.

A bibliometric analysis of the economic effects of using artificial intelligence and ChatGPT tools in higher education institutions

One of the main challenges in higher education management is the complexity of resource optimization and increasing volumes of data, which limits the efficiency and accuracy of decision-making. The application of artificial intelligence can address these issues.The present study aims to identify the key trends, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for further research into the economic effects of using artificial intelligence and ChatGPT tools in higher education. For this purpose, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify and screen the scientific articles related to the topic of this study indexed in Web of Science and Scopus from 1986 to 2024. A total of 234 articles were selected, all demonstrating positive growth both in scholarly output and citation count. The study identified the key contributors to scientific research on this topic by region (the United States, China, and India). It concluded that the relevant research centers are still at an early stage of their development. Based on bibliometric clusters formed by co-occurrence relations, three main areas of research were defined: 1) artificial intelligence in education for decision-making; 2) process automation and digital transformation in educational institutions; 3) artificial intelligence technologies and their application in education. The study highlights the main areas of economic effects of artificial intelligence and ChatGPT tools in higher education, including reducing administrative costs, saving time for teachers and students, and improving the quality and accessibility of educational process. AcknowledgmentsThe publication is part of the research topic “Economic Basics of Technology Diffusion into the National Economy of Ukraine Considering Best International Practices” (№0124U003482).

Introducing and Evaluating Key Performance Indicators and Generating Awareness of Competence among Inter-Departments for Quality Performance in Large Academic and Research Institutions

This research article establishes the relationship between key performance indicators and the academic and research quality performance and quality assurance of any large multidisciplinary academic and research institution or university. The indicators being proposed are initially based on benchmarks, and then a strategy and method are proposed to publish results considering internal rankings. Key performance indicators (KPIs) in terms of qualitative and quantitative measures proposed which is specific forms of evidence for quality performance and quality assurance on various parameters defined below. This will certainly contribute to decision-making, follow-up, advanced planning processes, and continuous development and improvement. This will be considered as a new tool for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives and to make comparisons between other participating academic and research departments within the large academic and research multidisciplinary intuition. Some tools are in place to assess the quality of performance, such as world university rankings, domestic rankings, accreditation, external peer review, academic and industry peer perception, and faculty self-appraisal. In this research article, we have discussed a set of KPIs derived and proposed to implement and evaluate the outputs and outcomes for each academic and research department once a year after the academic session is over. We have then proposed to calculate the scores of each sub-indicator under each major indicator, then scores of each major indicator and then overall score for each participating academic and research department on the parameters and weightages, then publish the internal ranking results based on percentiles and the rank obtained as an institution as a whole, and make the provision to nominate for awards and honours for the top three performers every year. Each large institution will have the freedom and choice to define appropriate weights for each major indicator, along with some sub-indicators, according to their regional, financial, and access-to-institutions factors. The whole process will require the entire institution to implement competitions and races among each academic and research department. The whole process will certainly put consistent pressure on each academic and research department to continuously improve their academic and research systems compared with the top three performers every year. In order to achieve this, the academic and research leadership of the large institute will have control and will monitor the quality of performance continuously. Depending on these indicators, it will also require sustainable, appropriate, and effective data collection to calculate these indicators in terms of scores and percentiles and then use them to judge the quality of academic and research performance and future planning. As a result, the whole process will project the institution as a good performer during participation in the world university rankings, domestic rankings, accreditation, and external peer review.

On the need to better integrate the social environment in research on climate change and health: recommendations and thinking tools

Social inequality impacts health, is aggravated by the consequences of climate change, and may be influenced by inappropriate policy responses. These interdependent effects create a self-perpetuating loop exacerbating the impact of climate dysregulation on health in an uncontrolled and poorly understood way. Holistic approaches to public health such as One Health, EcoHealth or Planetary Health are well suited to tackling the considerable and complex environmental and social issues underlying climate dysregulation. However, the extent to which research using such frameworks investigates social determinants of health is not clear. In this paper we discuss the ways in which the social environment has so far been considered in the literature to problematize and analyze the relationship between climate dysregulation and health within holistic frameworks and provide tools and recommendations to facilitate their apprehension. Social factors are investigated empirically only in a minor fraction of studies addressing the relation between climate and health in holistic frameworks, and not systematically. Barriers to such approaches are discussed. This work also provides two analytical tools (a process diagram and a knowledge framework) and a set of recommendations to help include the social environment more meaningfully in such frameworks. They are meant to facilitate our understanding of the current status of this type of research and to encourage trans-disciplinary and trans-sectorial endeavors towards directions which need to be taken to ensure societal factors and inequalities are placed at the center of research on climate and health and the ensuing policy response.

Evaluating the linguistic coverage of OpenAlex: An assessment of metadata accuracy and completeness

AbstractClarivate's Web of Science (WoS) and Elsevier's Scopus have been for decades the main sources of bibliometric information. Although highly curated, these closed, proprietary databases are largely biased toward English‐language publications, underestimating the use of other languages in research dissemination. Launched in 2022, OpenAlex promised comprehensive, inclusive, and open‐source research information. While already in use by scholars and research institutions, the quality of its metadata is currently still being assessed. This paper contributes to this literature by assessing the completeness and accuracy of OpenAlex's metadata related to language, through a comparison with WoS, as well as an in‐depth manual validation of a sample of 6836 articles. Results show that OpenAlex exhibits a far more balanced linguistic coverage than WoS. However, language metadata are not always accurate, which leads OpenAlex to overestimate the place of English while underestimating that of other languages. If used critically, OpenAlex can provide comprehensive and representative analyses of languages used for scholarly publishing, but more work is needed at infrastructural level to ensure the quality of metadata on language.

Bibliometric Analysis of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Research in South Korea.

Current research on nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is multidisciplinary; thus, proper organization is necessary to obtain comprehensive insights. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis was performed to identify NTM research characteristics in South Korea. The Web of Science was searched for NTM articles authored by Koreans at Korean institutions until March 2023. We collected data on authors, publication year, article type, study design, research area, citations, research institutes, and funding sources for analysis. Of the 28,092 articles on NTM, Koreans authored 868. After excluding 167 unrelated studies, 701 relevant articles were analyzed. The first study was from 1992, with publication rates markedly increasing from 2004 onwards. Basic research constituted 41.3% (n=290) of papers, whereas clinical research represented 44.7% (n=313). Basic research consisted mostly of biochemistry studies (n=74, 10.6%), while clinical research primarily involved retrospective studies (n=113, 16.1%). Median citations were highest for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (median 23, interquartile range 15-93). Fifty-four institutions participated in NTM research, with the top five contributing to 71% (n=498) of the publications. The National Research Foundation of Korea was the most significant funding source, supporting 181 studies (32.5% of funded articles). The quality and quantity of NTM research in South Korea has improved. However, it was concentrated within a few institutions and largely funded by few sources. Future research should use more diverse funding sources, be conducted in more institutions, and prioritize prospective study designs to enhance the understanding and treatment of NTM.

Portable Meat Production and Retailing Facility (P-MART): a novel technology for clean meat production from sheep and goats

Context An adequate infrastructure facility is a prerequisite for achieving clean and hygienic meat production from sheep and goats. In India, most of the meat is produced by small-scale producers who cannot afford to establish large-scale abattoirs. Aim The study aimed to develop and test an innovative Portable Meat Production and Retailing Facility (P-MART), designed to meet the specific requirements of small-scale sheep and goat slaughter operations processing less than 10 animals per day. Methods The designing and fabrication of P-MART comprises of animal resting facility, slaughtering and dressing facility, meat cutting and packaging facility, meat retailing facility, and waste management facility. The microbiological evaluation was conducted by collecting meat samples/swabs (n = 6) from various stages of the slaughter of sheep and goats in P-MART. The quality of the liquid effluent from the slaughter process (n = 6) of P-MART was evaluated for different parameters. The gastrointestinal waste was subjected to aerobic composting and compost samples (n = 6) were analyzed for different parameters. The P-MART liquid waste was subjected to anaerobic biomethanation (n = 6) and the quality of the liquid fertilizer was assessed for different parameters. The air quality index in P-MART was analyzed in alignment with Environmental Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI) standards compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Key results The P-MART demonstrated effectiveness in addressing small-scale slaughterhouse needs. Microbiological analysis confirmed the absence of harmful organisms such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria in meat, surfaces and water, showcasing high hygiene standards. The aerobic composting of gastrointestinal waste resulted in composting with nutrient concentrations that met recommended standards and the biomethanation of liquid waste produced nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer and biogas for cooking. Air quality parameters, including particulate matter with 10 μm or less, or 2.5 μm or less, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, were within permissible limits, ensuring a safe environment. Conclusions P-MART design minimizes water use and supports humane slaughter, sustainable waste management and environmental compliance. An application for an Indian patent was submitted (Patent application No. 202111016135) to protect intellectual property. The technology was commercialized to enable upscaling and marketing. Implications The P-MART can improve livelihoods for small-scale meat producers by offering affordable and hygienic slaughter facilities. Its sustainable waste management practices enhance public health and environmental protection.

Enhancing the Trapping of Melon Fruit Fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae Coquilette through Synergizing the Odour and Visual Cues

The melon fruit fly (Zeugodacus cucurbitae Coquillett) poses a significant threat to cucurbit crops with substantial yield losses and challenging sustainable vegetable production. This study systematically investigated efficient color-based visual cues for attracting melon flies and explored the synergistic effects of these visual cues in conjunction with odour cues. This study was conducted in Agricultural College and Research Institute, TNAU, Madurai during 2024. Our studies included investigations on preferred colour by melon fly through olfactometer & insect cage bioassays in no choice & multiple choice conditions. The additive effect of the preferred colour when combined with the fruit fly attractive odour cue was investigated under field conditions. For both male and female melon fruit flies, yellow colour (RBG coordinates - 255:255:0) consistently emerged as the most efficient visual cue followed by white (255:255:255) and red (255:0:0). Field trials also confirmed the attractiveness of yellow colour as it outperformed other colours. The visual cue, yellow colour and odour cue (synthetic blend of four fruit fly EAG active synthetic compounds in a known ratio) were combined and found to be synergistic as this fusing captured significantly more flies than the either cues alone. These results highlighted the yellow colour as the most attractive visual cue for melon flies and combining effective of visual cues with established odour attractant to greatly enhance the trapping efficiency. This integrated approach offers a promising strategy for the management of melon fly and reduction of reliance on chemical pesticides contributing to more sustainable pest control in cucurbit production. The findings have significant implications for pest management strategies, especially in regions facing melon fly infestations that threaten crop yields and export potential.

ІНСТРУМЕНТАРІЙ ВИЯВЛЕННЯ ПЛАГІАТУ В НАУКОВИХ РОБОТАХ: АНАЛІЗ ПРОГРАМНИХ РІШЕНЬ

The article deals with the concept of plagiarism, self-plagiarism and their basic types. It is described a classification of plagiarism automatic detection tools for text documents and the basic methods that underlie their functioning. It is considered a number of popular software and online resources to check text similarity, carried out their detailed analysis, testing and evaluation according to defined software specifications, productivity of functioning and obtained results during the checking. There are presented recommendations of the best tools that can be used by the research institutions and scientific journals’ editors.

Social technology and rescue of native seeds in the Venezuelan Andes Páramo

This study analyzes the recovery and conservation of potato landraces in the Venezuelan Andes Páramo, specifically in the Mérida region. Smallholder potato farmers in the Venezuelan Andes have been actively creating knowledge, processes, and socio-technical artifacts necessary for the recovery of potato seeds and other types of plant genetic resources critical for food and agriculture. This effort has involved diverse socio-technical dynamics, engaging both human and non-human actors, with the support of universities, research institutions, local and national governments, etc. These initiatives counter historical trends, such as the erosion of complex genetic resource systems, genetic resources, the impacts of agricultural modernization, dependency on oil and imported agricultural technologies, and more recent challenges, such as food shortages. Using traditional techniques such as Tinopós—underground caves for seed storage—and social appropriation of technological processes, including genetic improvement, Andean smallholder farmers have successfully rescued ancient potato varieties while developing new ones. Fieldwork conducted in 2019 included a documentary review, thematic analysis, and a technology inventory. The findings reveal a close relationship between the diversity of Andean root and tuber crops, the unique biophysical and climatic conditions of the Páramo, and the traditional knowledge of peasant communities residing in these territories. The study underscores the importance of border relations and cultural translation between different knowledge systems in recovering and conserving native potato seeds. These efforts represent a locally driven initiative to construct social technologies for food sovereignty and sustainable local development.

The Influence of Nitrogen Rates on Yield and Some Quality Parameters of Sweet Corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt.) Growing in Diyarbakır Districts of Türkiye

Sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt), is a maize subspecies with rapidly increasing consumption in the world and in Türkiye both in terms of its nutritional content and various uses in fresh, frozen and canned form. Nitrogen plays a crucial role in promoting most of plants growth and productivity. Plant nutrient recommendations are important to maximise profit and productivity in sugar maize production. The influences of nitrogen (N) fertigation on yield and some quality parameters of sweet corn under South Eastern Anatolia Region (Diyarbakır) conditions of Türkiye were investigated in that trial. Fertigation applications were executed under regional conditions of Diyarbakır on the experimental land of GAPUTAEM (GAP International Agricultural Research and Training Center). “BATEM Tatlı” variety of sweet corn was utilized as the plant material. The trial was arranged as randomized complete block design with 4 replications and five different N applications (0-75-150-225-300 kg ha−1) were implemented to trial plots through a fertigation system. During the 2015 and 2016 growing season that the trial was carried out a total of 520 mm and 476 mm of irrigation water were applied, respectively. According to the study results N levels had a significant effect on fresh grain yield, crude protein (p

Verticutting frequency influences lateral spread of two Paspalum species

AbstractBahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) and dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.) are perennial warm‐season grasses that readily invade home lawns, sports fields, and golf courses. Research was conducted at the Athens Turfgrass Research and Education Center in Athens, GA, during the summer of 2015 to evaluate the response of Paspalum L. species to verticutting. Weeds were transplanted into bare ground from naturally occurring populations and allowed to mature for 3 weeks prior to trial initiation. Treatments were arranged in a factorial design with two Paspalum L. species by four verticutting treatments in a split‐plot experimental design with four replications. The main plot factor was verticutting treatment (no verticutting, one verticutting event, two verticutting events, and three verticutting events). The subplot factor was Paspalum L. species (bahiagrass or dallisgrass). Verticutting had a negative impact on bahiagrass lateral spread, while dallisgrass responded similarly to verticutting as the non‐verticut check. Significant reductions in bahiagrass plant diameter were observed following two and three verticutting events. The asymmetric response of Paspalum L species to verticutting may be attributed to plant morphology. Bahiagrass rhizomes run along the soil surface, making them susceptible to mechanical damage from verticutting, while dallisgrass rhizomes are protected belowground within the soil profile. Although verticutting alone does not control bahiagrass, the incorporation of verticutting into a bahiagrass chemical control program may improve long‐term control by garnering the benefits of both mechanical damage and enhanced herbicidal activity.

End-to-End Framework for Identifying Vulnerabilities of Operational Technology Protocols and Their Implementations in Industrial IoT

The convergence of IT and OT networks has gained significant attention in recent years, facilitated by the increase in distributed computing capabilities, the widespread deployment of Internet of Things devices, and the adoption of Industrial Internet of Things. This convergence has led to a drastic increase in external access capabilities to previously air-gapped industrial systems for process control and monitoring. To meet the need for remote access to system information, protocols designed for the OT space were extended to allow IT networked communications. However, OT protocols often lack the rigor of cybersecurity capabilities that have become a critical characteristic of IT protocols. Furthermore, OT protocol implementations on individual devices can vary in performance, requiring the comprehensive evaluation of a device’s reliability and capabilities before installation into a critical infrastructure production network. In this paper, the authors define a framework for identifying vulnerabilities within these protocols and their on-device implementations, utilizing formal modeling, hardware in the loop-driven network emulation, and fully virtual network scenario simulation. Initially, protocol specifications are modeled to identify any vulnerable states within the protocol, leveraging the Construction and Analysis of Distributed Processes (CADP) software (version 2022-d “Kista”, which was created by Inria, the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation, in France). Device characteristics are then extracted through automated real-time network emulation tests built on the OMNET++ framework, and all measured device characteristics are then used as a virtual device representation for network simulation tests within the OMNET++ software (version 6.0.1., a public-soucre, open-architecture software, initially developed by OpenSim Limited in Budapest, Hungary), to verify the presence of any potential vulnerabilities identified in the formal modeling stage. With this framework, the authors have thus defined an end-to-end process to identify and verify the presence and impact of potential vulnerabilities within a protocol, as shown by the presented results. Furthermore, this framework can test protocol compliance, performance, and security in a controlled environment before deploying devices in live production networks and addressing cybersecurity concerns.

Enhancing Paddy Yields with Advanced Nitrogen Fertilizers: A Study of Neem-coated Urea, Agrotain Urea and Nano Nitrogen

Aims: To evaluate and compare the performance of nano nitrogen, agrotain urea, and neem-coated urea in improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), crop yield, and sustainability in kharif (Vanakalam) and rabi (Yasangi) rice crops in the Southern Telangana Zone of India. Study Design: A field experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with 11 treatments and three replications to assess the effects of various nitrogen sources and application on rice productivity. Place and Duration of Study: The field study was planned from 2021 to 2023 at Institute of Soil Health Management, Agricultural Research Institute, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, from 2021 to 2023. Methodology: The experiment included treatments with varying nitrogen levels applied through nano nitrogen, agrotain urea, and neem-coated urea, including 100% Recommended Dose of Nitrogen (RDN), STCR (Soil Test Crop Response) based nitrogen, and reduced nitrogen doses (50% and 33% RDN). Dry matter yield at tillering, panicle initiation and harvest stages, grain and straw yield were measured at key growth stages (tillering, panicle initiation, and harvest) of rice crop. Results: In the kharif season, the highest dry matter yield at panicle initiation was recorded with 100% RDN using STCR based neem coated urea (7007 kg ha⁻¹), followed by agrotain urea (6199 kg ha⁻¹) and Neem coated urea (6019 kg ha⁻¹). Nano-ntrogen sprays with reduced nitrogen doses (50% and 33% RDN) showed significantly lower yields, with 50% RDN-STCR-based NCU yielding 5826 kg ha⁻¹ and 33% RDN-STCR-based NCU yielding 4899 kg ha⁻¹. In the rabi season, grain yields were highest with 100% RDN from STCR based N-NCU (7382 kg ha⁻¹), Agrotain urea (6741 kg ha⁻¹) and NCU (6561 kg ha⁻¹), while reduced nitrogen doses resulted in lower yields, ranging from 5886 kg ha⁻¹ (50% RDN) to 5142 kg ha⁻¹ (33% RDN) with STCR based N-NCU. Straw yield during kharif was highest with 100% RDN treatments (6540–7422 kg ha⁻¹), with reduced nitrogen doses and Nano-N sprays resulting in lower yields. The system straw yield showed the highest values with 100% RDN-STCR-based NCU (16277 kg ha⁻¹), followed by agrotain urea (14888 kg ha⁻¹) and NCU (14284 kg ha⁻¹). Nano-N sprays alone produced a system straw yield of 8119 kg ha⁻¹, higher than the control (7732 kg ha⁻¹), but significantly lower than 100% nitrogen treatments. Conclusion: Full nitrogen applications (100% RDN) through innovative fertilizers like agrotain urea, and neem coated urea resulted in significantly higher crop yields and nutrient uptake compared to reduced nitrogen doses. The study highlights the critical role of adequate nitrogen in improving nitrogen use efficiency and sustaining rice production systems, with substantial yield gains observed at 100% RDN (up to 44% for grain yield and 37% for straw yield).

Sensors on Flapping Wings (SOFWs) Using Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor (CMOS) MEMS Technology

This article presents a framework of using MEMS sensors to investigate unsteady flow speeds of a flapping wing or the new concept of sensors on flapping wings (SOFWs). Based on the implemented self-heating flow sensor using U18 complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) MEMS foundry provided by the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI), the compact sensing region of the flow sensor was incorporated for in situ diagnostics of biomimetic flapping issues. The sensitivity of the CMOS MEMS flow sensor, packaged with a parylene coating of 10 μm thick to prolong the lifetime, was observed as −3.24 mV/V/(m/s), which was below the flow speed of 6 m/s. A comprehensive investigation was conducted on integrating CMOS MEMS flow sensors on the leading edge of the mean aerodynamic chord (m.a.c.) of the flexible 70-cm-span flapping wings. The interpreted flow speed signals were checked and demonstrated similar behavior with the (net) thrust force exerted on the flapping wing, as measured in the wind tunnel experiments using the force gauge. The experimental results confirm that the in situ measurements using the concept of SOFWs can be useful for measuring the aerodynamic forces of flapping wings effectively, and it can also serve for future potential applications.

Trends in InsurTech Development in Korea: A News Media Analysis of Key Technologies, Players, and Solutions

This study aims to understand how InsurTech has developed in Korea. To achieve this, we collected InsurTech-related news articles published in the Korean media over the past eight years. Using a relatedness analysis based on the TopicRank algorithm, a text-mining technique, we extracted the top keywords associated with InsurTech by year. The extracted keywords were analyzed and discussed in terms of development trends: which technologies gained prominence over time, who the key players were, and what solutions were introduced. The analysis revealed several key trends in InsurTech’s development in Korea. First, regarding changes in InsurTech technology, blockchain and the Internet of Things initially garnered significant attention, but artificial intelligence and big data later emerged as more critical technologies. Second, in terms of market players, government agencies and research institutes initially created forums for discussion, such as seminars to draw social attention to InsurTech. Over time, innovative startups entered the market, general agencies specializing in insurance brokerage gained prominence in the online marketplace, and the entry of Big Tech platforms further diversified the market. Finally, in terms of InsurTech-related insurance solutions, early attention was focused on developing new products. However, the trend gradually shifted toward improving the accessibility and convenience of existing insurance services. Additionally, asset management and payment settlement services—linked to financial services beyond traditional insurance—emerged, along with new concepts such as healthcare, which reshaped the approach to insurance services. This study contributes to understanding how InsurTech has evolved by identifying key trends in emerging technologies, leading market players, and innovations in the insurance value chain. The Korean case provides insights that may help explore similar patterns in other countries.

Progress of treatment and resource utilization for high salinity printing and dyeing wastewater based on bibliometric study

The treatment or resource utilization of high-salinity wastewater from printing and dyeing has received great attention in recent decades due to their negative impacts on the surrounding environment. To improve the direction of research, we analyzed the published papers in the online version of the Science Citation Index Expanded database for 1991–2022—a total of 1090 articles or reviews—using VOSviewer, Python, origin 2023, and the statistical software R. The results showed that the published papers in this field have increased exponentially in the past 17 years. The Journal of Membrane Science, Desalination, the Chemical Engineering Journal, and the Journal of Hazardous Materials are the most important for publishing relevant research. Van Der Bruggen B was the most productive author. Katholieke University Leuven and Donghua University were the main research institutions. There were additional needs to enhance collaboration relationships between different authors, institutions, and countries. At present, research focused on methods that are closer to “real” field or ground conditions, “photocatalysis,” “loose nanofiltration membranes”, and “dye/salt separation” are the research frontier. The present study determines the trends of this field of research by visualizing the current landscape to facilitate future collaborative research.

Unconventional Coastal Structures (Kemit Armor Layer)

ABSTRACTThe growth of the marine sector induces substantial demand to develop new types of coastal structures that have minimal impact on neighboring ecosystems and reduce the environmental footprint. This study aims to introduce and check the efficiency of an innovative armor layer for coastal protection towards fostering sustainable coastal management practices. The proposed truncated cube (named Kemit) design incorporates features such as two hollow opposite elbows, half rings, and incomplete pyramidal shapes to enhance wave absorption and promote marine biodiversity. The proposed armor unit has been investigated physically in the wide wave flume of the Coastal Research Institute Egypt. The armor layer performance was introduced through wave reflection, wave dissipation coefficients, and wave overtopping. Six wave conditions (wave height and wave period) were performed to the armor layer in two states of submergence. A comparative analysis with traditional cube‐armored breakwaters under the same circumstances (wave height, wave period, and water depth) reveals superior performance of the proposed “Kemit” armor layer, exhibiting lower wave reflection coefficients (0.56 to 0.68) and lower overtopping, particularly evident in medium water depths. However, in case of lower water depth, the traditional cubes show better efficiency, lower reflection coefficient (0.46 to 0.68), and higher dissipation (0.74 to 0.89). Moreover, the proposed Kemit armor layer decreased the wave overtopping and run‐up over the breakwater cross‐section due to the Kemit steps and porosity. Furthermore, the adoption of innovative technologies can help policymakers increase the resilience of coastal infrastructure and ecosystems.

The 4m International Liquid Mirror Telescope: Construction, operation, and science

e ge University, Belgium), several Canadian universities (University of British Columbia, Laval University, University of Montreal, University of Toronto, York University, University of Victoria) and the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES, India). After several years of design work in Belgium and construction in India on the ARIES Devasthal site, the telescope saw its first light on 29 April 2022. Its commissioning phase lasted from May 2022 until June 2023 (beginning of the monsoon). The ILMT was inaugurated on 21 March 2023 and has been in regular operation since October 2023. The telescope continuously observes the sky passing at the zenith using the SDSS g^ r^ and i^ filters. This paper describes the ILMT, its operation, performance and shows some initial results.

Weather based prediction model for rice yellow stem borer, (Scirpophaga incertulas Walker) under changing climate scenarios in Cauvery delta zone, Tamil Nadu

Aim: This research was carried out to identify the weather-based prediction model for rice yellow stem borer (YSB) population. The Stemborer incidence was recorded by using the light trap installed at TamilNadu Rice Research Institute (TRRI). The YSB data and climatological data of Aduthurai centre (Cauvery delta zone) from 2012 to 2022 were considered for this work. Methodology: The research methodology involved the conversion of daily light trap catch data into weekly data, which was then organized according to the Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) for model development. Three different predictive models were developed: Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Stepwise Multiple Linear Regression (SMLR), and ARIMAX models. These models were used to forecast outcomes based on the weekly weather data and light trap catches. Results: The results indicated that the ARIMAX model demonstrated the lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) when compared to both MLR and SMLR models, showing superior performance overall. Higher maximum and minimum temperatures negatively affected the YSB population, with decrease of 0.34 and 2.10 units per degree increase, respectively. Conversely, relative humidity had a positive effect, with an increase of 0.29 units per degree rise. This model underscores the significant influence of temperature and relative humidity on the population dynamics of stemborer. Interpretation: The model developed by using ARIMAX performed well than other models. It helps to conclude that weather parameters have can influence on pest population. Moreover, the models created in this research will significantly aid for monitoring and management purpose of the Yellow stem borer population in rice crop. Key words: ARIMAX, Oryza sativa, Rice yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas, Weather variables