Clear Areas Research Articles

A Room-Level Indoor Localization Using an Energy-Harvesting BLE Tag

Energy-efficient and cost-effective localization systems are attractive for large-scale tracking and localization of goods. In this paper, we propose a room-level localization system using energy-harvesting BLE tags to track the targets. We introduce the Dempster–Shafer (D–S) evidence theory combined with fingerprinting technology for location estimation. To reduce the estimation complexity, we divide the indoor environment into clear areas and fuzzy areas. The D–S algorithm is employed to locate the target in the clear areas when the targets are only detected by the anchor nodes within a single room. Conversely, fuzzy areas are characterized by RSSI signals detected by anchor nodes across multiple rooms. Then, the system integrates fingerprint matching to ensure superior positioning accuracy across the deployment. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed system maintains a room-level positioning accuracy above 99% under standard test conditions within an area of approximately 2000 m2 with lots of rooms.

Primary health care models for refugees and the involvement of nurses: A systematic review

Abstract Background Primary health care is key to address the health and social needs of refugees. Nurses are often part of multidisciplinary teams in primary health care, but little is known about their roles and responsibilities in refugee health. Our systematic review aimed to synthesise the existing knowledge about models of care (MoC) for refugees in primary care settings and the involvement of nurses in these models. Methods We searched PubMed, CINAHL and Web of Science for literature published in English, Spanish, French and German. For grey literature, we additionally searched Google Search and Scholar, Microsoft Bing and DuckDuckGo. Eligible publications reported on MoC for refugees in a primary care setting and the involvement of nurses. We extracted and synthesised information about the structure of these models as well as the roles and responsibilities of nurses within these. Results 112 publications met our inclusion criteria. Our narrative synthesis focuses on 61 publications with in-depth insights into existing MoC and nurse involvement. We identified 45 MoC, mainly originating from high-income-countries and with almost a third from Australia. The majority of MoC set up a parallel health care structure that refugees could access for a limited period of time. In most MoC, the role of the nurse is described with a relatively high degree of autonomy and with clear areas of responsibility. Clinical and administrative tasks are only part of the nurse’s role, while educational and coordinating activities are often equally important. Conclusions Despite the significant number of refugees in European countries we identified only few reports on MoC specifically addressing their needs. While parallel care structures may be an appropriate approach for a short period of time, integration of refugees into the regular health system is key. Specially trained nurses are well placed to support refugees through a range of measures, including health education and case management. Key messages • Models of Care for refugees could help to navigate within a new healthcare system and ensure that no one is left behind. However, development of and research on such structures are still scarce. • Specially trained nurses are well placed to care for refugees and to support their integration into regular health systems through a range of measures, including health education and case management.

Open ecosystems restoration: a global review shows biases and mismatches between theory and practice

Ecological restoration aims to recover the structure, biodiversity, and function of degraded ecosystems. However, open ecosystems have been largely overlooked in restoration, and the extent of theory‐based restoration is unclear. We systematically review papers on open ecosystems restoration from 2011 to 2021, examining publication trends with data on restored site age, size, indicators, and assessment frequency. We also explore the relationships between interventions, indicators, and ecological concepts. By analyzing 343 papers, we found that open ecosystems restoration is concentrated in North America and Europe, with nearly 75% of restored areas originating in these continents. Restored areas are small, assessed for a short duration, with a plethora of indicators and no establishment of clear control or reference areas for meaningful comparisons. Common open ecosystems restoration sites interventions involved trees and shrubs management, soil management, seeding, and transfer of plant material as the main interventions. From our analyzed papers, we found that 30% of them mentioned any ecological concepts, with community assembly and succession being the most mentioned ones. Furthermore, our exploratory analysis revealed no relationship between interventions, indicators, and ecological concepts, suggesting a widespread mismatch between theory and practice. As the Decade for Ecosystem Restoration unfolds, we call practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders working on open ecosystems to address challenges and curtail widespread biases. Despite the uniqueness of each restoration project, a clear, well‐planned design encompassing site‐specific variables and solid theoretical bases is expected to enhance restoration outcomes, optimizing costs and biodiversity gains.

Habitat requirements of a critically endangered Ninox hawk‐owl: implications for island‐wide restoration

Small, isolated populations can be especially sensitive to poor habitat conditions due to their limited capacity to adapt or disperse. Management of such populations, with an objective to implement the most effective strategies, is a conservation priority. The Norfolk Island morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata) is a Critically Endangered hawk‐owl endemic to Norfolk Island with an estimated population of 25 individuals. This species faces compounding threats from habitat degradation and loss, as well as inbreeding depression. It presents an exemplar for the development of habitat management strategies for top‐order predators in small, isolated systems. We paired fine‐scale light detection and ranging‐derived habitat variables with tracking data to quantify habitat suitability and the relative importance of environmental variables. Maximum entropy modeling indicated vegetation patch size and canopy height were important habitat variables, with moreporks more likely to be found in larger patches and canopy heights above 7 m. Morepork presence was not strongly influenced by the type of wooded vegetation; rather, the species appears to be a generalist occupier of forested areas. We demonstrate that suitable habitat during the breeding season is currently constrained, with coverage limited to one‐third (34%) of the island and an estimated carrying capacity of 36 morepork pairs. Restoration of native forest in cleared areas adjacent to existing wooded patches, with a specific goal to increase patch size, was the optimized management strategy to increase in situ carrying capacity. This study has demonstrated how habitat suitability modeling can inform targeted habitat restoration to enhance threatened species recovery.

Development of a detailed bathymetry map of the Nhat Le estuary, Quang Binh province by remote sensing image treatment

Multispectral remote sensing images with the advantages of low cost, wide area coverage, and increased resolution have been widely used recently for determining the bathymetry of coastal waters. In this study, the correlation equation is developed based on the Landsat 8 OLI satellite images captured on September 22, 2022, and the survey data measured during the time period of September 12–22, 2022, was used for mapping bathymetry in the Nhat Le Estuary area, Quang Binh Province, a relatively clear area from sediment. The correlation between the image and the field survey data is quite good, with R2 = 0.88. This shows that Landsat 8 OLI data is suitable for mapping sea areas with depths up to 20 m.

Flow past a rotating porous sphere in the existence of a toroidal magnetic field

This model consists of a porous spherical body rotating in an incompressible conducting fluid in the existence of a toroidal magnetic field. The toroidal field is generated by an electric dipole along the axis of symmetry. The model is split into two parts—the clear fluid region and the porous sphere. The clear fluid area is driven by the momentum equation and the permeable sphere region is driven by the Brinkman equation. The study is being done for the scenario where the impact of viscous force is much more than inertia force. The expression is found for fluid velocity and stream function by the superposition method. The results depict the impact of rotational parameters and the Darcy number on separation parameter. It is shown that the separation is low for the highly permeable sphere.

Application of remote sensing in monitoring land degradation: A case study of Stanari municipality (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Abstract The subject of the research represents the application of remote sensing in monitoring land degradation in the municipality of Stanari in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The aim of the study is to identify spatial changes during the research period (2017–2023) by processing remote sensing “products.” Within the changes in land use, the focus is placed on alterations resulting from surface mineral resource mining activities. The total approved exploitation area amounts to 3841.08 ha, covering almost a quarter of the municipality (23.89%). Monitoring changes in land use was conducted through the processing of Sentinel-2 images using supervised classification (SC). The classification results were compared with the Dynamic World (DW) dataset. Results indicate significant losses in forested areas, reduced by −7.23% (DW) or −2.43% (SC) at the municipal level and −11.48% (DW) or −5.90% (SC) within the exploitation area. Spatial extents of deforestation were identified and analyzed based on processing the Hansen Global Forest Data Change dataset. The deforestation area, caused by mining activity in B&H over the research period (2001–2021), amounts to 977.94 ha, with 264.25 ha (27.02%) within the Stanari municipality. Over 90% of the cleared forest area is within the exploitation area. High erosion coefficient values (Z) were recorded within the approved exploitation area, coinciding with the spatial coverage of deforestation. Additionally, results obtained using an empirical method for studying mechanical water erosion (W y) indicate a high intensity within the exploitation area. For the approved exploitation area, possibilities for the restoration of degraded land were analyzed, including an overview of activities conducted so far and mapping some of the previously reclaimed areas. The research contributes to a better understanding of spatial changes resulting from mining activities, and the presented data are significant for numerous practical issues, such as sustainable land use planning, spatial planning, protection of forest ecosystems, and the environment.

Administrative liability for violations of civil firearms circulation rules as a component of state control

The article provides an analysis of the compositions of administrative offenses in the sphere of circulation of civilian firearms. During the research, a number of problematic aspects were identified that could negatively affect the application of the relevant provisions of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses, and a series of proposals were put forward to address these gaps. In particular, the publication emphasizes the need to differentiate in Article 85 of the Code of Administrative Offenses the administrative responsibility for violations of hunting rules depending on the type of animals that have been hunted or attempted to be hunted by the subject of the respective offense, taking into account the rates for calculating the compensation for damages caused as a result of violations of legislation in the field of hunting and game management (except for species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine). The paper also highlights the expediency of differentiation of liability in the aforementioned article of the Law for Fisheries with the use of firearms based on the criterion of causing or not causing damage to ichthyofauna by relevant actions. Furthermore, the author proposes to amend Article 174 of the Code of Administrative Offenses regarding the use of firearms in the following version: ‘Shooting with firearms in an uncleared area of a populated area, in an uncleared area outside a populated area, or in a cleared area in violation of the established procedure’ and to differentiate responsibility in the specified norm depending on the place of commission of the administrative offense as a feature of the objective side. Moreover, with the aim of improving and enhancing the effectiveness of the application of administrative-legal prescriptions, the scientific article focuses on the controversial aspects of the object, objective side, and subject of the composition of the administrative offense envisaged by Article 190 of the Code of Administrative Offenses; normative formulation of the title and disposition of Article 192 of the Code of Administrative Offenses; the circle of persons constituting the subjective composition of administrative offenses envisaged in Articles 191–195 of the Code of Administrative Offenses; sanctions for committing administrative offenses provided for in Parts 1, 2, 4 of Article 85 and Articles 174, 190–195 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

Incorrectly Focused Neodymium:Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (Nd:YAG) Laser Beam Leads to Massive Destructive Effects in Small-Aperture (Pinhole) Intraocular Lenses.

Pinhole intraocular lenses (IOLs) were developed to improve reading by compensating for loss of accommodative function. The IC-8® Apthera™ is a small-aperture presbyopia-correcting IOL that combines the proven principle of small-aperture optics with an aspheric monofocal lens to deliver a continuous range of vision for patients withcataractsfrom distance to near vision. Posterior capsule opacification is the most common sequela after cataract surgery. It is effectively treated by laser capsulotomy. However, if the laser beam is incorrectly focused, the IOL can be permanently damaged (pits/shots). In this experimental study, yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) pits were purposefully created. Defects were analyzed and compared between the periphery of the ring in the clear area of the hydrophobic acrylic lens and at the carbon black (CB)-polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) filtering component (FilterRing™) of the pinhole lens. All defects were made using identical settings/energy levels (2.6mJ). The damage induced to the IC-8® Apthera™ IOL was examined by low-magnification images, light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). YAG defects in the carbon black filter ring were much more severe than those in the clear zone due to the high absorption of the carbon black. Massive defects and destruction of the lens with tearing out of fragments and particles were observed. The missing volume calculated from the micro-CT reconstruction was 0.266 mm3, which is 1.6% of the entire IOL volume, or more than 1000 times the volume damaged in the largest shot in the periphery. Based on the results, we highly recommend using the lowest possible energy levels, posterior offset setting, and circular pattern for maximum safety when performing laser capsulotomy with pinhole implants. Care should be taken to avoid creating irreversible iatrogenic defects that may affect overall quality. The safest area for performing capsulotomy seems to be the periphery of the ring segment. Video available for this article.

Inhibited hydrogen uptake in metasomatised cratonic eclogite

Water occurs in Earth’s interior mostly as trace hydroxyl in nominally anhydrous minerals. Clinopyroxene is known to be an important water carrier in the uppermost mantle, and eclogite, which forms a subordinate part of the cratonic lithosphere, contains some 50% of jadeite-rich clinopyroxene, making this potentially a significant H2O reservoir in the bulk lithospheric mantle. Mantle metasomatism, in particular by small-volume melts like kimberlite, is known to enrich the lithosphere in highly incompatible components, but its effect on H2O contents in cratonic eclogite remains unclear. We report H2O concentrations for clinopyroxene and garnet in eclogite and pyroxenite xenoliths from several African kimberlites, obtained by Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Except one sample showing evidence for minor within-grain variability of H2O concentrations (< 15%), FTIR images demonstrate that H2O is homogeneously distributed in optically clear areas of clinopyroxene fragments mounted for this study. The samples were variably metasomatised by a kimberlite-like melt, as evidenced by elevated MgO contents and abundances of highly incompatible elements (e.g., Sr, Ce, Th). Although metasomatised eclogites and pyroxenites on average show higher H2O abundances than pristine ones, mantle metasomatism decreases the Al2O3 content in clinopyroxene, which is known to enhance hydrogen incorporation in this mineral. As a consequence, hydrogen incorporation is inhibited, and c(H2O) becomes increasingly decoupled from other highly incompatible components, such as LREE. Thus, eclogite – metasomatised or not - does not significantly contribute to the H2O inventory in the bulk cratonic mantle.

Design, synthesis and biological Evaluation of novel chromones having 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one core at C-8 in combination with triazoles: New α-glucosidase inhibitors and anti-bacterial agents

The Biginelli reaction synthesizes dihydropyrimidones through a multi-component reaction. A β-ketoester, aldehyde, and urea or thiourea react in the presence of an acid catalyst to form these dihydropyrimidones. 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-One/Chromone/Triazole hybrids (9a-9l) were synthesized by multiple steps including one pot Biginelli multicomponent reaction depicted in the scheme. An efficient method for the Biginelli reaction of Chromone aldehyde, acetoacetate esters, and urea employed in the presence of ferric chloride is described. In the end, we have successfully synthesized twelve derivatives of 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-One/Chromone/Triazole hybrids and subjected them to testing for Antibacterial activity and α-glucosidase inhibition activity. Among these derivatives, compound 9g (IC50 = 142.92 nmol) and 9e (144.49 nmol) exhibited significant inhibitory activity in comparison to the positive control acarbose (IC50 = 350.91 nmol). Compound 9g demonstrated the most significant suppression against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus, with zone diameters of 8.8 ± 1.35 mm and 9.1 ± 0.23 mm, respectively. Compound 9b displayed a clear area where bacterial growth was inhibited, measuring 7.5 ± 1.25 mm against Klebsiella pneumonia. Compound 9k exhibited a zone of inhibition measuring 8 ± 1.2 mm in radius against Staphylococcus epidermidis. The docking results for the synthesized compounds indicate that compound 9b exhibited the most favorable docking score of −10 kcal/mol, whereas compound 9a had the second-best docking score of −8.7 kcal/mol. Molecular docking was utilized to examine the interactions between the title compounds and α-glucosidase, in order to provide valuable insights. The data obtained revealed significant interactions that contribute to the inhibitory effects of the drugs against α-glucosidase. These compounds exhibit significant potential as attractive initial candidates for the development of new α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Does Fibromyalgia Affect the Structure of the Dentate Gyrus?

Abstract Background The hippocampus is considered an important component of the limbic system of the brain. It is involved in memory and functional diversities. The term hippocampus typically refers to the dentate gyrus and the hippocampus proper, the cornu ammonis (CA). Fibromyalgia is known to cause memory and cognitive function impairment and is characterized by causing chronic widespread muscular pain. Aim of the Work The aim of this work was to study the possible structural and morphometric changes in rats’ hippocampal dentate gyrus induced by repeated intramuscular injections of acidic saline in the left gastrocnemius and to compare it with the control. Material and Methods Fifty-four adult female albino Swiss rats were divided into three equal groups (18 rats each): control group (I), natural saline group (II) and acidic saline group (III). Group I received no medication, group II received two i.m. injections of 100 μl saline (pH 7.4) into the left gastrocnemius muscle at day 0 and 5 respectively under sedation with halothane (2-4%), while group III received two i.m. injections of 100 μl saline (pH 4) into the left gastrocnemius muscle at day 0 and 5 respectively under sedation with halothane (2-4%). Rats of each group were further subdivided into 3 subgroups (a, b, c) 6 rats each. Rats were sacrificed by decapitation at day 7, 14, 21 from the start of experiment and their brains were excised. Results Histological examination of H&amp;E-stained sections of groups I and II showed no difference and were both considered control groups. The dentate region was formed of three laminae: the molecular, granular and polymorphic. The granular cell layer is the principal layer separating the molecular and polymorphic layers and was formed of aggregation of granular cells. They were rounded to oval with large vesicular nuclei and .prominent nucleoli The examination of the H&amp;E-stained sections of rats’ dentate gyrus granular cells (DG) appeared darkly stained with pyknotic nuclei I group III as compared to the control. Glial cells slightly increased especially among molecular and polymorphic layers. Neurofibrillary tangles and vacuolations started to appear in silver-stained sections. The neurodegenerative findings started to be more notable in subgroup (b) then became more prevalent in subgroup(c) together with the appearance of clear areas among the sub granular zone. Morphometric studies detected non-significant difference in mean area percentage of astrocytes between group I and group II subgroups. The statistical analysis demonstrated high significant difference in mean area percentage of astrocytes between control groups and acidic saline groups. Evident gliosis was confirmed in group IIIc when the astrocytes percentage areas become very highly significantly increased compared to groups I and II. Conclusion In conclusion, repeated acidic saline injection induced dentate gyrus alterations obvious but minimal at week 1 and become intense at week 3 after the first injection. This effect ended with neuronal death and gliosis.

Bee diversity and pollination services improve with revegetation effort

AbstractHabitat loss is causing declines in native bees and reducing pollination services. Revegetation can be used to reverse these declines, and this restoration technique attracts growing efforts and resources. However, how the quality of revegetation affects native bee abundance, diversity and their pollination services is not well understood, and this limits opportunities to improve revegetation outcomes. To assess this gap, we surveyed floral and bee diversity in revegetated landscapes ranging in habitat quality, and compared these among each other and to remnant habitat and cleared areas. We also measured pollination services using two native phytometer species, which can be pollinated by native bees only, or by both native and introduced honey bees (Apis mellifera). We found that bee diversity and richness were higher within treatments that were higher in floral diversity. In addition, while pollination services provided by honey bees were uniform across treatments, remnant vegetation supported greater pollination services to the plant species pollinated by native bees only. These results indicate that higher quality revegetation characterized by the establishment of a more diverse set of plant species, has the potential to restore native bee diversity and associated pollination services. However, for the plant species investigated, restoration of pollination services had not occurred and might require more time. These results suggest preserving remnant vegetation should be the highest priority conservation action, and that restoration practitioners and landowners wishing to support landscape‐level bee diversity and pollination services, should aim for revegetation using high flowering plant diversity.

Micropropagation and cryopreservation of the rare endemic Colchicum figlalii germplasm

BACKGROUND: The natural population of Colchicum figlalii (Varol) Parolly &amp; Eren grows in a narrow area of serpentine rock clearings at an altitude of 1900-2100 m in Southwestern Anatolia (Sandras Mountain, Mugla, Turkey). The species is regarded as endangered according to the IUCN Red List Categories. OBJECTIVE: To develop an optimum procedure for in vitro propagation and cryopreservation of germplasm of this rare endemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 281 bulbs were used as in vitro culture starting material and after surface sterilization, clean material was obtained from 157 of them. Woody Plant Medium (WPM), Olive Medium (OM), and Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) were used for in vitro culture establishment. RESULTS: The maximum regeneration rate (˜67.3%) was obtained after four weeks of incubation on OM. The calli were successfully induced by using OM supplemented with 10.7 μM NAA from leaves of in vitro grown C. figlalii bulbs. A PVS2-vitrification procedure was used for cryopreservation of C. figlalii callus tissue. After cryo-storage, the best result for regeneration (66.7%) was obtained from calli treated with PVS2 for 75 min before plunging into liquid nitrogen. All rooted seedlings derived from cryopreserved calli were successfully acclimatized to greenhouse conditions. CONCLUSION: This study is an effective reference for future long-term conservation of similar species that are difficult to cryopreserve.

Genetic Risk For Depression and Quality of Life in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Although patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) have been shown to experience high distress, few longitudinal studies include a comprehensive evaluation of biopsychosocial factors affecting quality of life (QoL), including genetic risk for depression. To identify factors at the time of cancer diagnosis associated with QoL scores at 3 months after treatment in patients newly diagnosed with a first occurrence of HNC. This prospective longitudinal study of 1464 participants with a 3-month follow-up, including structured clinical interviews and self-administered measures was carried out at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at 2 tertiary care McGill University Affiliated Hospitals, McGill University Health Centre, and Jewish General Hospital. Eligible patients were adults newly diagnosed within 2 weeks with a primary first occurrence of HNC, had a Karnofsky Performance Scale score higher than 60, and an expected survival of more than 6 months. Two hundred and twenty-three patients (72%) consented to participate and completed the baseline questionnaire, and 71% completed the 3-month follow-up measures. An a priori conceptual model including sociodemographics, medical variables, psychosocial risk factors, and a polygenic risk score for depression (PRS-D) was tested. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck measured QoL at baseline and at 3 months. Participants were mostly men (68.7%), with a mean (range) age of 62.9 (31-92) years, 36.6% having a university degree, 35.6% living alone, and 71.4% diagnosed with advanced HNC with mostly cancers being of the oropharynx (42.2%), oral cavity (17%), and larynx (16.3%). QoL at 3 months after HNC diagnosis was associated with higher PRS-D (B = -4.71; 95% CI, -9.18 to -0.23), and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder within 2 weeks of an HNC diagnosis (B = -32.24; 95% CI, -51.47 to 13.02), lifetime suicidal ideation (B = -22.39; 95% CI, -36.14 to -8.65), living with someone (B = 12.48; 95% CI, 3.43-21.52), having smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days pre-HNC diagnosis (B = -15.50; 95% CI, -26.07 to -4.93), chemotherapy type (B = -11.13; 95% CI, -21.23 to -1.02), and total radiotherapy dose (Gy) (B = -0.008; 95% CI, -0.01 to -0.002). This study identified the predictive value of a genetic predisposition to depression on QoL and function immediately after oncologic treatments. These findings highlight the potential importance of genetic profiling pretreatment to identify those most susceptible to experience QoL and functional compromise. Depression is a clear area of public health concern and should be a central focus in the treatment of patients with HNC.

Contributions to the Flora of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Andamans and Nicobars are two groups of islands, lying in the Bay of Bengal between the latitudes 6°41' and 13°41' North and longitudes 92°11’ and 94°00' East. The Andamans consist of 204 islands, while the Nicobars are made up of 22 islands.Geology, soil and climate of these islands are discussed. A brief resume of the botanical history of these islands is presented.The vegetation of the Andamans is classified into 1. Mangrove forests 2. Beach forortr 3. Evergreen forests, situated at lower elevations in alluvial land and valleys 4. Deciduous forests 5. Moist evergreen forests at higher elevations 6. Vegetation in cleared lands and open areas. In Nicobars the following types of vegetation are met with 1. Beach forests 2. Evergreen forests 3. Grass lands 4. Marine vegetation. The floristic composition of these vegetations is discussed in detail.A floristic analysis is presented. The approximate number of Phanerogamic species may, amount to 1000 and 700 for the Andamans and Nicobars respectively. The flora has been subjected to the influence of Burma and Malaysia. A number of non-indigenous species have intruded and mixed well with the Andaman flora. A third feature is presence of plants of their own, with a number of endemic species.

Economic effects of a controlled mangrove-to-pond coverage ratio policy on mangrove conservation and shrimp farming: A case study in vietnam using instrumental regression analysis

The mangrove-shrimp farming model in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region was devised to foster mangrove conservation while supporting the livelihoods of small-scale shrimp farmers by allocating them land for both mangrove protection and shrimp farming. However, this model faces challenges as farmers often clear mangrove areas to expand shrimp ponds, seeking greater profits. Based on data collected from structured interviews with shrimp farming households, an Instrumental Variable (IV) regression method is used in this study to examine the economic viability of mangrove-shrimp farming in the Tam Giang Protection Forest of Ca Mau province and predict the impacts of recommended fixed mangrove-to-pond coverage ratios (MPR) on shrimp yield and household income in two different scenarios. Findings reveal that almost half of the surveyed farmers do not meet the recommended MPR, prioritizing pond expansion over mangrove protection, suggesting prevalent noncompliance and ineffective regulatory enforcement. Additionally, the research highlighted the critical role of mangrove-shrimp farming in the livelihoods of these communities, with findings indicating that even minimal increases in pond area can enhance productivity. Conversely, stricter pond coverage regulations could potentially worsen the economic situation for numerous households.

Evaluation of liquid smoke of cocoa bean shell against Escherichia coli and Candida utilis

Cocoa bean shells are one of the by-products produced from chocolate processing. The cocoa bean shells contain polyphenols approximately 5.8%. The study aimed to evaluate the effectivity of liquid smoke produced from cocoa bean shells against Escherichia coli and Candida utilis It is expected that liquid smoke from cocoa bean shells will have the opportunity to replace AGPs. Total phenol, saponin, and tannin compounds were analyzed and were made in three replications. To determine the inhibition of liquid smoke of cocoa bean shells (LSCBS) on E. coli and C. utilis, the diameter of the clear area on the media was measured using a ruler. The antibacterial and antifungal activity test was carried out by well diffusion methods. Ten treatments, i.e. different concentrations of the LSCBS (0, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%/non-diluted), each with four replications were performed, and the growth of the E. coli and C. utilis was observed. Statistical analysis was conducted using a completely randomized design. The results showed total phenol content was 0.17 g/100mL, saponin 0.46 g/100mL, and tannin 0.047 g/100mL in LSCBS. The antibacterial activity with a 10-100% concentration of LSCBS did not show zona inhibition (clear zone) against E. coli. Likewise, antifungal activity with a 10-100% concentration of LSCBS did not show zona inhibition against C. utilis. Not all liquid smoke from plant by-products inhibits bacterial growth. This research showed that the liquid smoke from the cocoa bean shells did not affect the growth of Escherichia coli and Candida utilis in vitro, the possible cause was the very low content of total phenols, saponins, and tannins It means liquid smoke from cocoa bean shells could not replace AGPs.

Exploring Features That Play a Role in Adolescents’ Science Identity Development

Many studies done in the last three decades show that, beginning with adolescence and sometimes even earlier, many adolescents undergo a process of distancing themselves from science as they age. This longitudinal study attempts to deepen our knowledge and understanding of factors that play a role in early adolescents’ science identity development. For 3 years, we followed nine early adolescents at school, at home, and at their after-school activities, interviewing them 162 times. A thematic analysis of the interviews led to the identification of 32 themes. When comparing these themes across different participants, we identified three motifs that distinguished between the participants. Our findings suggest that (A) having a clear area of interest, not necessarily in science, positively affected the participants’ self-efficacy in science and self-assessment of their ability in science studies; (B) being or not being the eldest child in a family with multiple siblings played a role in the participants’ identity development in relation to science; and (C) the participants who were wholly dependent on their grades as an indication of their ability in science rejected the possibility of a future in science and studied science out of compliance rather than out of any internal motive. The implications of our findings are discussed and offer insights into ways that may nurture the positive science identity development of early adolescents.

Change of vegetation cover and land use of the Pómac forest historical sanctuary in northern Peru

The dry forests of northern Peru, in the regions of Piura, Tumbes, Lambayeque, and La Libertad, have experienced significant changes as a result of deforestation and changes in land use, leading to the loss of biodiversity and resources. This work analyzed for the first time the changes in vegetation cover and land use of the Pómac Forest Historical Sanctuary (PFHS), located in the department of Lambayeque (northern Peru). The employed approach was the random forest algorithm and visually interpreted Landsat satellite images for the periods 2000–2002, 2002–2004, and 2004–2008. Gain and loss rates were computed for each period, and the recovery process was assessed using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). Results indicate an expansion of agricultural land during each period, resulting in the deforestation of 102.6 hectares of dense dry forest and 739.9 hectares of open dry forest between 2000 and 2008. The degree of reforestation in the cleared areas was measured using the NDVI and EVI indices, revealing an improvement from 0.22 in NDVI in 2009 to 0.36 in 2022, and from 0.14 to 0.21 in EVI over the same period. This study is expected to pave the way for executing land management plans, as well as the use and conservation of natural resources in the PFHS in a sustainable manner.