Comparative Field Study Research Articles

Urban landscape as a determinant of sarcosaprophagous fly assemblages of sanitary interest: a comparative field study between larviparous and oviparous reproductive strategies.

In Diptera, reproductive strategies vary according to the stage of development of the newly deposited offspring and their abundance. The aim of our study is to establish connections between the reproductive strategies of flies (larviparous or oviparous) and the prevailing local conditions (sun or shade) as well as landscape attributes (low or high urbanization) in an urban setting. We collected flies using 2 baited traps (in the sun or shade) at each of the 13 study sites with varying levels of urbanization. We used generalized linear mixed models to examine the impact of landscape and local characteristics on the diversity (abundance and richness of larviparous and oviparous Diptera) of sarcosaprophagous flies. Our findings indicate that while the abundance and diversity of both larviparous and oviparous flies are affected by urbanization, larviparous flies would be less sensitive to more urbanized environments. Larviparous also exhibit a preference for resources under sun exposure, while the responses of oviparous seem more species-dependent. The observed patterns can be explained by the known biology of the studied groups.

Plant Growth Regulators Enhance Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield under High Density by Optimizing Canopy Structure and Delaying Leaf Senescence

Shaping the canopy architecture and delaying leaf senescence in maize are pivotal strategies for extending the crop’s photosynthetic period and improving yield. The application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is a critical cultivation measure, with the timing of application being of paramount importance. To explore the effects of PGR application time on maize canopy structure, leaf senescence characteristics and yield, a comparative two-year field study was undertaken during the 2019–2020 growing seasons at the Gongzhuling Experimental Station of the Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, utilizing a PGR containing ethephon as the active ingredient. The experiment was structured with two plant densities of 60,000 and 90,000 plants ha−1, and three distinct PGR application protocols: T10 (application of PGR at the 10th leaf stage), T15 (application at the 15th leaf stage), and CK (control group sprayed with water). The result indicated that the yield increased by 5.62% following T15 treatment compared to the CK under high density (90,000 plants ha−1). Furthermore, the kernel per ear and the 1000-kernel weight increased by 3.93% and 5.62% respectively, while the abortion rate decreased. Correlation analysis showed that yield and yield components were correlated with plant morphology, physiology, and aging characteristics under 90,000 plants ha−1. Pollen density was also positively correlated with the top leaf area and the top leaf angle (p < 0.01). Furthermore, relative green leaf area at maturity (RGLAM) showed positive correlations with chlorophyll b, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), peroxidase activity (POD), catalase activity (CAT), and soluble protein content (p < 0.01), while displaying a negative correlation with malondialdehyde content (MDA) (p < 0.01). Spraying plant growth regulators at the 15-leaf stage under high density can effectively enhance the top canopy structure of the maize and reduce the upper leaf area and angle, increase pollen density, and boost the number of grains. Furthermore, it delayed the senescence of leaves, prolonged the functional period of the leaves, increased kernel weight, optimized light resource utilization, and ultimately enhanced the maize yield.

Insights into the electronic and structural properties of cellulose and amylose: A comparative force field study

Insights into the electronic and structural properties of cellulose and amylose: A comparative force field study

The effects of co-invasion by three Asteraceae invasive alien species on plant taxonomic and functional diversity in herbaceous ruderal communities in southern Jiangsu, China.

Invasive alien species can affect plant taxonomic and functional diversity. Multiple invasive alien species can co-invade the same plant community. However, the effects of such co-invasion on plant taxonomic and functional diversity are currently unclear. Our study aimed to estimate the effects of co-invasion by three Asteraceae invasive alien species (i.e., Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronquist, Conyza sumatrensis (S.F. Blake) Pruski and G. Sancho, and Solidago canadensis L.) on plant taxonomic and functional diversity in herbaceous ruderal communities in southern Jiangsu, China. The effects of these three invasive alien species under seven invasion combinations (including invasion by one invasive alien species, co-invasion by two invasive alien species, and co-invasion by these three invasive alien species) on plant taxonomic and functional diversity were investigated in a comparative field study of herbaceous ruderal communities. Niche differentiation mediated the functional divergence between these three invasive alien species and natives under all invasion combinations. These three invasive alien species significantly increased plant taxonomic diversity (especially plant diversity and richness) and plant functional diversity (especially Rao's quadratic entropies) under all invasion combinations. The relative abundance of invasive alien species was significantly positively associated with plant functional diversity (especially community-weighted mean trait values and Rao's quadratic entropy). The number of invasive alien species was significantly positively associated with plant taxonomic diversity (especially plant diversity and richness) and plant functional diversity (especially Rao's quadratic entropies). Thus, co-invasion by these three invasive alien species may synergistically increase plant taxonomic diversity (especially plant diversity and richness) and functional diversity (especially Rao's quadratic entropies).

A Comparative Field Study of Global Pose Estimation Algorithms in Subterranean Environments

A Comparative Field Study of Global Pose Estimation Algorithms in Subterranean Environments

Evaluating university performance in light of total quality management: A comparative field study

Evaluating university performance in light of total quality management: A comparative field study

Different metabolic adaptation strategies after overwintering in Eutrema sp. and Arabidopsis accessions under field conditions in Germany.

Successful overwintering is a prerequisite for high fitness in temperate perennials and winter annuals and is highly dependent on increased freezing tolerance and timely balancing of deacclimation with growth resumption in spring. To assess fitness costs associated with overwintering and elucidate metabolic mechanisms underlying winter survival and the switch from acclimated freezing tolerance to growth resumption, we performed a comparative field study using 14 Eutrema salsugineum accessions, E. halophilum, E. botschantzevii and 11 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions differing in freezing tolerance. Winter survival and reproductive fitness parameters were recorded and correlated with phenological stage and metabolite status during growth resumption in spring. The results revealed considerable intraspecific variation in winter survival, but survival rates of the extremophyte Eutrema were not inherently better. In both Eutrema and A. thaliana, improved winter survival was associated with reduced reproductive fitness. Metabolic analysis by GC-MS revealed intrinsic differences in the primary metabolism of the two genera during deacclimation. Eutrema contained higher levels of several amino and chlorogenic acids, while Arabidopsis had higher levels of several sugars and sugar conjugates. In both genera, increased levels of several soluble sugars were associated with increased winter survival, whereas myo-inositol has different roles in overwintering of Eutrema and A. thaliana. In addition, differences in amino acid metabolism and polyhydroxy acids levels after winter survival were found. The results provide strong evidence for a trade-off between increased winter survival and reproductive fitness in both Eutrema and Arabidopsis and document inherent differences in their metabolic strategies to survive winter.

The Effect of Firm’s Green Marketing Mix on Corporate Reputation and Brand Evangelism: A Comparative Field Study in Mobile Phone Industry and GSM Operators

Yeşil pazarlama, tüketicilerin istek ve ihtiyaçlarının karşılanmasında ekolojik olarak sürdürülebilir, çevreyle uyumlu, geri dönüştürülebilir doğa dostu pazarlama faaliyetidir. Doğal kaynakların azalması, su, hava ve çevre kirliliğin artmasıyla işletmeler hem çevreye olan duyarlılıklarını ispat etmek hem de çevreye duyarlı tüketicilerin bu yöndeki ihtiyaçlarını karşılamak için yeşil pazarlama faaliyetlerini her geçen gün yaygınlaştırmaktadır. Kurumsal itibar; genel olarak paydaşların firma hakkındaki genel algısıdır. Marka Evangelizmi; tüketicinin bir markaya karşı beslediği hayranlık ve tercih ettiği o markayı başkalarının da satın alması yönünde ikna etme çabasıdır. Çalışmanın temel amacı, firmaların yürüttüğü yeşil pazarlama karmasının kurumsal itibar ve marka evangelizmi üzerindeki etkisini incelemektir. Kolayda örneklem yöntemi kullanılmış ve araştırmanın örneklemini 508 kişi oluşturmaktadır. Verilerin analizinde SPSS 22 paket programı kullanılmıştır. Katılımcıların demografik özellikleri incelenmiş, frekans dağılımları, güvenilirlik testleri, t-testi ve regresyon analizleri yapılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, firmaların yürüttüğü yeşil pazarlama karmasının kurumsal itibar ve marka evangelizmi üzerinde etkisinin olduğu görülmüştür. Ayrıca, sektörel olarak karşılaştırıldığında anlamlı bir farklılığın olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.

Enhancing Tourist Experiences in Crowded Destinations through Mobile Augmented Reality: A Comparative Field Study

Mobile augmented reality (MAR) has gained significant attention in the tourism sector as a way to enhance the visitor experience. The rapid advancements in mobile computing and sensor technologies have facilitated the widespread use of geospatial augmented reality (AR) applications by tourists when exploring popular destinations. To analyze the impact of AR technology on the tourism experience, we developed the FEZAR mobile application. This application serves as the focal point of our study, allowing us to evaluate user performance using a comparative experimental approach. To ensure the usability of the FEZAR application, professionals with expertise in mobile technologies, including AR, performed rigorous testing and evaluation of the application. Through their evaluations, significant usability issues were identified and resolved, resulting in the application being well-received by the experts. Subsequently, a comparative field study was conducted in Fez’s old medina, a crowded UNESCO heritage site, involving users (N = 40) who were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups in equal distribution. The results of the study revealed that the proposed AR model had a significant positive impact on user visits. Compared to other forms of media, AR offers more informative and enjoyable experiences. Additionally, it effectively helps locate monuments in crowded tourism settings. The findings of this research make a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion regarding the impact of evaluating MAR user interfaces on increasing visitor engagement with tourist destinations.

A global comparative field study to evaluate the factor VIII activity of efanesoctocog alfa by one-stage clotting and chromogenic substrate assays at clinical haemostasis laboratories.

Structural and chemical modifications of factor VIII (FVIII) products may influence their behaviour in FVIII activity assays. Hence, it is important to assess the performance of FVIII products in these assays. Efanesoctocog alfa is a new class of FVIII replacement therapy designed to provide both high sustained factor activity levels and prolonged plasma half-life. Evaluate the accuracy of measuring efanesoctocog alfa FVIII activity in one-stage clotting assays (OSAs) and chromogenic substrate assays (CSAs). Human plasma with no detectable FVIII activity was spiked with efanesoctocog alfa or a full-length recombinant FVIII product comparator, octocog alfa, at nominal concentrations of 0.80 IU/mL, 0.20 IU/mL, or 0.05 IU/mL, based on labelled potency. Clinical haemostasis laboratories (N=35) tested blinded samples using in-house assays. Data from 51 OSAs (14 activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT] reagents) and 42 CSAs (eight kits) were analyzed. Efanesoctocog alfa activity was reliably (±25% of nominal activity) measured across all concentrations using OSAs with Actin FSL and multiple other aPTT reagents. Under- and overestimation of FVIII activity occurred with some reagents. No specific trend was observed for any class of aPTT activators. A two- to three-fold overestimation was consistently observed using CSAs and the OSA with Actin FS as the aPTT reagent across evaluated concentrations. Under- or overestimation occurred with some specific OSAs and most CSAs, which has been previously observed with other modified FVIII replacement products. Efanesoctocog alfa FVIII activity was measured with acceptable accuracy and reliability using several OSA methods and commercial plasma standards.

Reusing Dredged Material through Stabilization with So-Called Bio-Enzyme Products

Sediments are dredged from waterways to maintain maritime activities and prevent floods. Exorbitant amounts of money are budgeted for the removal of dredged material (DM) and its disposal in landfills. We investigated the potential for reuse of DM as a road construction material using so-called bio-enzyme products as stabilizing agents. To improve the mechanical properties of DM, such as compressive strength, compressibility, Atterberg limits and the California bearing ratio (CBR), mixtures of DM were tested with two different amounts of a commercially available bio-enzyme product, which yielded enzymatically stabilized dredged material (ESDM). Unconfined compressive strength (UCS), compaction and Atterberg limits were measured in accordance with ASTM specifications on all samples. Data show that the addition of bio-enzymes resulted in increases in UCS but did not affect the optimum moisture content (OMC), maximum dry unit weight or Atterberg limits of the DM. A comparative field study was carried out to evaluate the CBR of the CH subgrade before and after treatments with the bio-enzyme product and with lime as a traditional stabilizing agent. The results of the field study supported the laboratory findings. Based on these data and results from the literature, models predicting the effect of bio-enzyme treatments on the value of CBR and of UCS were developed statistically. These models also underlined the importance of the clay fraction and PI values for the improvement of the engineering properties of soil using bio-enzyme additives.

Costs of Growing Coffee (Coffea Arábiga L.) Production, Profits and Unit Cost in the Municipality of Amatepec, State of México. 2023

The vast majority of coffee producers in the different states of the Mexican Republic, when asked how much it costs to produce cherry, parchment or roasted coffee per unit area, do not know and do not keep records of their costs. This leaves them unable to budget effectively and allocate resources during the year, putting them in a vulnerable situation in the face of changing markets and the supply and demand of national and international coffee. With the objective of presenting an overview of coffee costs, profit and unit costs, in the Municipality of Amatepec, a comparative field study was carried out with the producing states of Veracruz, Puebla, and Chiapas, during 2023. To obtain the costs A survey was applied to representative producers of the region chosen in a completely random sampling, then the FIRA methodology was used to determine total production costs in coffee cultivation. The results indicate that for the production season the activity of cultural work 25%, harvest with 24%, then fertilization with 21% and pest control contributes with 14%. As a result of prices and costs, the profits obtained in coffee cultivation are safer in parchment and roasting both for the Municipality of Amatepec, and in the states of Veracruz, Puebla and Chiapas with which the comparisons were made.

The Role of School Social Workers in Governmental and Non-Governmental Preparatory Schools A Comparative Field Study in the Centre of Erbil City

The Role of School Social Workers in Governmental and Non-Governmental Preparatory Schools A Comparative Field Study in the Centre of Erbil City

Seasonal Differences in Leaf Photoprotective Potential between Adults and Juveniles of Two Mediterranean Perennials with Distinct Growth Forms: A Comparative Field Study.

The photosynthetic differences between adult and juvenile Mediterranean plants were previously studied under field conditions, yet the corresponding differentiation of their photoprotective efficiency has not been sufficiently investigated. The present study aims to examine possible differences in the photoprotective potential between adults and juveniles of two native Mediterranean plants with distinct growth forms. Thus, the seasonal variations in individual carotenoids, electron transport rate (ETR), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) were monitored in fully exposed mature leaves from adults and juveniles of the winter deciduous tree Cercis siliquastrum L. and the evergreen sclerophyllous shrub Nerium oleander L. All plants were grown under apparently similar field conditions. In both species, juveniles displayed substantially lower ETR and increased NPQ values than adults in spring, with the differences intensifying during summer drought and diminishing in autumn. Concomitantly, juveniles showed significantly higher chlorophyll-based total carotenoids in spring and summer mainly due to the higher investment in xanthophyll cycle components (VAZ), in combination with an increased mid-day de-epoxidation state (DEPS) and partial retention of zeaxanthin in the dark. In N. oleander, although ETR was lower in juveniles during winter, NPQ was extremely low in both ages. In conclusion, juveniles exhibit enhanced photoprotection potential, especially in the summer, due to their reduced photochemical capacity. The photosynthetic superiority of adults during the favorable spring period may be attributed to the needs of the co-existing reproductive effort.

Investigating the effects of climate on thermal adaptation: A comparative field study in naturally ventilated university classrooms

In educational buildings, adaptive strategies can be adopted for the achievement of thermal comfort and reduction of energy consumption. Since climate can largely affect thermal comfort, there is a need for understanding its role in the definition of different adaptive capacities, thermal neutrality, comfort, and preference.To this end, 17 naturally ventilated university classrooms from 10 different buildings located in two sub-climates of Italy (Mediterranean climate) and France (Continental climate) were analysed. In total, 1377 questionnaires associated with environmental parameters were collected. The same educational stage (i.e. university classrooms) and operation mode (i.e. naturally ventilated during the heating period) were investigated to remove possible biases related to their influence on thermal comfort perception.Field studies show that despite French students performing less adaptive actions, their neutral temperature (TN) was 3.1 °C lower than the Italian ones (TN,ITALY = 23.6 °C and TN,FRANCE = 20.5 °C) and this difference was statistically significant.Adaptation as a function of the sub-climate was evident from the comparison with the PMV-PPD model. Neutral temperatures calculated with PMV were higher than those obtained from TSV, and the difference increased for the French colder climate.Practically, students’ adaptation to colder environments can be deployed to ensure comfort while reducing the heating demand.

Occurrence and concentrations of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in highway stormwater: a comparative field study in Sweden

This study details the occurrence and concentrations of organic micropollutants (OMPs) in stormwater collected from a highway bridge catchment in Sweden. The prioritized OMPs were bisphenol-A (BPA), eight alkylphenols, sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and four fractions of petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), along with other global parameters, namely, total organic carbon (TOC), total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, and conductivity (EC). A Monte Carlo (MC) simulation was applied to estimate the event mean concentrations (EMC) of OMPs based on intra-event subsamples during eight rain events, and analyze the associated uncertainties. Assessing the occurrence of all OMPs in the catchment and comparing the EMC values with corresponding environmental quality standards (EQSs) revealed that BPA, octylphenol (OP), nonylphenol (NP), five carcinogenic and four non-carcinogenic PAHs, and C16-C40 fractions of PHCs can be problematic for freshwater. On the other hand, alkylphenol ethoxylates (OPnEO and NPnEO), six low molecule weight PAHs, and lighter fractions of PHCs (C10-C16) do not occur at levels that are expected to pose an environmental risk. Our data analysis revealed that turbidity has a strong correlation with PAHs, PHCs, and TSS; and TOC and EC highly associated with BPA concentrations. Furthermore, the EMC error analysis showed that high uncertainty in OMP data can influence the final interpretation of EMC values. As such, some of the challenges that were experienced in the presented research yielded suggestions for future monitoring programs to obtain more reliable data acquisition and analysis.

A comparative field study of free-fall cone and sphere penetrometers in soft sediment

This paper describes the field performance of two instrumented free-fall penetrometers (FFPs), which offer the possibility of low cost rapid strength profiling without requiring the equipment associated with conventional CPTs or drilling and sampling. The devices considered are a free-fall cone penetrometer (FFcP) and an instrumented free-fall sphere (IFFS). The performance of the FFPs in assessing soil undrained shear strength was investigated and compared through field trials in the soft sediments of the Swan River, Perth, Western Australia. The penetrometers achieved impact velocities of 1.4–5.8 m/s from drop heights of 0.7–3.0 m above the riverbed, and embedded to depths of up to 1.6 times the FFP length (1.45 m) and 4.5 times the IFFS diameter (0.89 m). The FFP data provided the shear strength indirectly using the acceleration measured from an onboard inertial measurement unit. The accuracy depends on the assumptions made regarding the magnitude of dynamic bearing and shaft frictional resistance. Uncertainty associated with dynamic bearing resistance causes a ±10% and ±13% variation in the calculated strength for the IFFS and the FFcP, respectively. However, the equivalent uncertainty in dynamic shaft resistance can cause a variation in the calculated strength of up to ±76% for the FFcP. The FFcP has higher embedment potential than the IFFS, but the IFFS has the advantage of a simpler interpretation without needing to account for dynamic shaft resistance.

A Comparative Field Study of Indoor Environment Quality and Work Productivity between Job Types in a Research Institute in Korea.

Indoor environment quality (IEQ) evaluation can help improve building satisfaction and productivity of residents. However, for more efficient analysis, it is necessary to gain a large amount of data on the differences between specific groups, such as building and resident work types. In this study, we conducted an IEQ evaluation for administrators and researchers, which are occupational groups of a research institute. The evaluation was conducted using quantitative and qualitative methods to find the relationships between IEQ satisfaction and work productivity for each job type. Our results showed that light environment and office layout were correlated with the work productivity of administrators, and light environment, office layout, thermal comfort, and sound environment were correlated with the work productivity of researchers. In addition, there was a significant difference in layout and thermal comfort items between administrators and researchers. Therefore, this study revealed significant differences in the effect of IEQ evaluation on work productivity between different occupations in a research institute.

The relationship between zooplankton vertical distribution and the concentration of aqueous Hg in boreal lakes: A comparative field study

The production of the highly toxic monomethylmercury (MeHg) is heterogenous throughout the water column. Multiple factors have been identified to significantly affect this process, such as an extended anoxic water layer and a deep-water phytoplankton maximum. However, the role of water column heterogeneity on mercury (Hg) cycling is still poorly known, especially concerning the role of zooplankton grazers. Here, four boreal lakes with contrasting characteristics were sampled (i.e., transparency and the presence/absence of fish) at both day and night in order to maximize the heterogeneity in zooplankton abundance both among and within lakes, and to investigate their potential links with Hg vertical heterogeneity. Diel variation of the concentrations of both dissolved total Hg (DTHg) and total Hg (THg) were observed, with night samples significantly higher than day samples. Although this pattern was not related to diel changes in the vertical distribution of zooplankton, results showed that the presence of large copepods (>1.2 mm) and medium-sized (0.6 to 1.2 mm) cladocerans was significantly associated with lower concentrations of DTHg in the water at a given depth, whereas the presence of medium-sized copepods was significantly associated with the concentration of THg. The presence of cladocerans was significantly associated with the ratio between the dissolved MeHg and DTHg (conventionally used as a proxy of methylation potential). Phytoplankton biomass was directly correlated with the concentration of both dissolved and total MeHg and the methylation potential. At the same time, phytoplankton biomass was inversely related to the fraction of DTHg. These results suggest a potential key role of the heterogeneity of biotic factors in the water column, especially of phytoplankton and zooplankton, in the cycling of total Hg and MeHg in boreal lakes.

Influence of Potamogeton crispus harvesting on phosphorus composition of Lake Yimeng

Harvesting is an important method used to control the overproduction of Potamogeton crispus in lakes. A three-year comparative field study was performed in a eutrophic lake (harvested area) and its connected lake (non-harvested area) to determine the effects of harvesting on the phosphorus (P) composition and environmental factors in the water and sediment. Results revealed that harvesting significantly reduced the dissolved total P and dissolved organic P (DOP) and increased the alkaline phosphatase activity and particulate P (PP) in the water. No significant differences were detected in the water total P (TP), soluble reactive P, chlorophyll-a, pH, and dissolved oxygen between the harvested and non-harvested areas. Sediment TP and organic P (OP) were significantly reduced in the harvested area. Harvesting changed the P composition in the water. In the non-harvested area, P was mainly formed by DOP (40%) in the water body, while in the harvested area, PP was the main water component (47%). Harvesting increased the proportion of inorganic P (IP) in the sediment and decreased the proportion of OP. In the water, the IP to TP ratio in the non-harvested and harvested areas were 58.26% and 63.51%, respectively. Our results showed that harvesting changed the P composition in the water and sediment. In the harvesting of submerged vegetation, our results can serve as a reference for the management of vegetation-rich lakes.