High Demand Research Articles

Identification of bioactive compounds in Amphipterygium adstringens branch bark

Background: Cuachalalate (Amphipterygium adstringens) is one of Mexico’s most commercialised medicinal plants, and its natural populations are mainly found in this country. The high demand for stem bark (SB) has risked its survival, making it necessary to develop sustainable strategies.Aim: This study aimed to identify bioactive compounds in branch bark (BB) and evaluate their antipathogenic and antivirulence capacities.Setting: The study was conducted in the low deciduous forest (LDF) of the State of Puebla, Mexico.Methods: Bioactive metabolites in BB were profiled by high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The chemical composition of aqueous bark extracts was scrutinised by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-EM-SQ-TOF system) and molecular network analysis. The folk method’s antipathogenic capacity was determined in a burn model in mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Finally, the antivirulence properties of bark organic extracts were determined.Results: The BB contained masticadienoic, 3α-hydroxymasticadienoic and anacardic acids, also present in SB. The aqueous extracts showed the presence of flavonoids, catechins and saponins in both barks. The folk method using BB extracts significantly reduced mouse mortality and prevented sepsis development. This might be related to the capability of extracts to block the production of bacteria virulence factors.Conclusion: The similarity in bioactive metabolites and biological activity between SB and BB of cuachalalate suggests that using BB as a medicinal agent could be a practical and sustainable strategy. This approach could potentially prevent the overexploitation of cuachalalate’s SB, contributing to its conservation.Contribution: This study proposes a sustainable strategy for using cuachalalate as a medicinal agent using BB, a renewable source.

Effect of Stretch-shortening Exercise on skill-based physical performance among elite players: A Narrative Review

Background: The Stretch-shortening exercise (SSE), a combination of eccentric and concentric muscle actions, is integral in many sports. Its effect on skill-based physical performance among elite players is of particular interest due to the high demands of their competitive activities. Objective: To conduct a thorough literature review on the effect of SSE on elite players' skillbased physical performance. Methods: Numerous databases were thoroughly searched, including SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. Studies were chosen based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Out of 50 articles identified, 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results indicated that SSE plyometric exercise enhanced shoulder strength, explosive power, throwing accuracy, stability, and power output in sports like rugby, archery, and medicine ball throw, with a positive correlation between arm length and Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST)scores. Conclusions:Elite athletes can improve their skill-based physical performance with the help of SSE.

PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRO-TOURISM ON THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

This article discusses the potential for the development of agro-tourism, which is an industry of the national economy that requires significant investment. Agro-ecotourism is one of the most popular forms of modern recreational activity. Depending on their specific characteristics, natural and climatic conditions, and management practices, various countries of the world organize this activity in different ways. It has been determined in this work that recreational activities are based on agro-landscapes and natural recreational resources. A systematic approach was the basic methodological foundation for this research, specifically the method of factor analysis, which enabled the identification of key questions for surveys that form the basis for prospects for agro-ecotourism development. A sociological survey conducted by KAZTOUR based on the author’s questionnaire revealed population preferences in the field of agrotourism. Among the organisers of tourist trips, 30.9% chose hiking, 24.4% chose enjoying nature, 15.5% wished to get acquainted with agriculture and care for animals, and 13.6% expressed a desire to receive diverse impressions from a business trip. The majority of people (70.4%) preferred a foothill landscape, 26.1% preferred a river-steppe landscape, and only 3.4% preferred a desert landscape. Most respondents, 47.6%, preferred two-day trips with overnight stays, another third, 33%, chose one-day trips without overnight stay, and only 7% of respondents chose a week-long vacation. A program has been proposed for the successful development of agritourism in Kazakhstan at the city or even country level, reflecting factors that will lead to a high demand for agritourism among the population. These factors are listed in the results of the article. As part of the development of the tourism cluster in the republic, priority areas for tourism have been identified: business tourism, ecological tourism, cultural and educational tourism, active and adventure tours. The main tasks have been identified and necessary methods have been proposed to address the issues of popularization and development of agritourism on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Evaluation of Cretaceous-Tertiary Limestones and Clay for Portland Cement in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Due to the high demand for construction in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, it is economically natural resources used to minimize importing from other countries, and to increase working hands. Since, limestone is one of the basic raw materials in the cement industry, for this purpose, in the Harir anticline limestone of the Shiranish Formation was mixed with clay of Fatha Formation, in the Shakrok anticline limestone of the Shiranish Formation mixed with clay of Injana Formation, and in the Binabawi anticline limestone of the Shiranish Formation in mixed with clay of the Mukdadiya Formation, dependent on their suitable nearby site locations for factories from each other. The chemical analysis observed by XRF for specifying the major oxides content of CaO, MgO, SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3. three theoretical mixtures of the cement raw materials showed that they have lower liquid content and higher minimum burning temperature in the burning zone, this problem was solved by adding 0.5% iron ore. The Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy-Dispersive by X-Ray spectroscopy carried out for better observation of clinker phase formation showed that the major phases are alite and belite, which indicates suitable burning conditions. Presence of free lime after burning as shown in SEM is due to high CaO content in the limestone raw material.

Comparative time series analysis of Anatolian water buffalo stock in Türkiye

Water buffalo holds an important place in the livestock heritage in Türkiye. In the current study, buffalo numbers between 2023 and 2032 were estimated by using buffalo number data from 1991 to 2022. In the study, FAOSTAT data between 1961 and 2021 and TÜİK data for 2022 were used to obtain the time series. ARIMA modeling method was used in the study conducted in R programming language. ARIMA is a time series model that can make predictions from time series based on explaining univariate data. According to the results of the analysis made in the study, it is seen that the number of buffaloes in Türkiye will continue to decrease. According to the results obtained, it is estimated that the number of buffaloes will be 157,755 heads in 2023, 96,851 heads in 2027 and 19,136 heads in 2032. The disease resistance of buffaloes, their high adaptability, the high demand for water buffalo products, the preference for high-yielding cows for milk production despite government support payments, increasing mechanization, the reduction of buffalo habitats and the increase in input costs have led to a decline in Anatolian water buffalo populations. To prevent the Anatolian water buffalo from being threatened with extinction, the population decline must be halted and improved. To ensure this, the decline of the pastures that form the buffalo’s habitat must be halted, pasture areas must be increased, and existing pastures rehabilitated, government subsidies for buffalo and calf rearing must be increased and market opportunities for buffalo products must be expanded.

A Prediction Model for Pressure and Temperature in Geothermal Drilling Based on Physics-Informed Neural Networks

With the global expansion of geothermal energy, accurate prediction of pressure and temperature during drilling has become essential for ensuring the safety and efficiency of geothermal wells. Traditional numerical methods, however, often struggle to handle complex wellbore environments due to their high data demands and limited computational accuracy. To address these challenges, this paper introduces an innovative predictive model based on Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs). By integrating physical laws with deep learning, the model theoretically surpasses the limitations of conventional methods. Trained on pressure and temperature data from a geothermal well in the Xiong’an area, the model demonstrates exceptional accuracy and robustness. Additionally, the model was rigorously tested under extreme wellbore conditions, showcasing its strong generalization capabilities. The findings suggest that PINNs offer a highly advantageous solution for geothermal drilling, with significant potential for practical engineering applications.

Optimization Method for Allocating Peak-Period Parking Demand in Hub Parking Lot Clusters

With the expansion of urban scale and the popularization of multi-modal transportation, transportation hubs, as the link of multi-modal travel, are becoming increasingly important in urban development and residents’ lives. In situations of high parking demand, the increase in road traffic volume and parking search delays exacerbates the service pressure on hub parking lots and the traffic congestion on surrounding roads. Therefore, reasonable parking demand allocation is one of the key solutions to this problem. Based on the analysis of the vehicle parking search process, this paper constructs a model for estimating parking search delay on roads outside hub parking lots and proposes an optimization model for parking demand allocation aimed at minimizing the total parking search delay of vehicles. Finally, taking a major transportation hub in Nanjing as a case study, data were obtained through field investigations and simulation experiments to identify peak parking demand periods and calibrate the model parameters. The results show that the average vehicle delay was reduced by 4.5%, with a total reduction of 13,860 s in vehicle delay for parking demands at the hub within one hour. Therefore, by optimizing the allocation of parking demand, the average delay for vehicles searching for parking can be reduced to a certain extent.

An 11-mer Synthetic Peptide Suppressing Aggregation of Aβ25-35 and Resolving Its Aggregated Form Improves Test Performance in an Aβ25-35-Induced Alzheimer’s Mouse Model

There is a high demand for the development of drugs against Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is related to the misfolding and aggregation of Amyloid-β (Aβ), due to the increasing number of patients with AD. In our present study, we aimed to assess the aggregation inhibitory effect of various synthetic YS-peptides on Aβ25-35 to identify an applicable peptide for clinical use for AD treatment and prevention. Suppression and aggregate resolution activities of YS-peptides against Aβ25-35 were evaluated using a Thioflavin T assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Structure–activity relationship studies revealed that YS-RD11 (RETLVYLTHLD) and YS-RE16 (RETLVYLTHLDYDDTE) showed suppression and aggregate-resolution activities. The effect of YS-peptides on phagocytosis in microglial cells (BV-2 cells) demonstrated that YS-RD11 and YS-RE16 activated the phagocytic ability of microglia. In the Aβ25-35-induced AD mouse model, YS-RD11 prevented and improved the deficits in short-term memory. In conclusion, YS-RD11 is a suitable candidate therapeutic drug against AD and uses a strategy similar to that used for antibodies.

Techno-economic and environmental assessment of green hydrogen and ammonia production from solar and wind energy in the republic of Djibouti: A geospatial modeling approach

This study conducts a thorough economic and technical analysis to assess the viability of green hydrogen and green ammonia production using renewable energy sources in the Republic of Djibouti. We explore the economic competitiveness of utilizing wind and solar power for sustainable energy production through various measures including levelized cost of energy (LCOE), hydrogen (LCOH), and ammonia (LCOA). Our analysis incorporates sensitivity assessments and Monte Carlo simulations to predict financial feasibility and environmental impact, focusing on CO2 emission reductions. A cost mapping of electricity, green hydrogen, and green ammonia from solar and wind resources was created to find Djibouti's most cost-effective production sites. The feasibility of exporting green ammonia to neighboring countries with high fertilizer demand was also evaluated using rail and truck transport scenarios. Key findings demonstrate that Moulouhlé, endowed with robust wind and solar resources, presents a strategic site for deploying renewable energy technologies. Wind energy, with a lower LCOE of 0.066 $/kWh compared to solar's 0.093 $/kWh, emerges as a more cost-effective solution for both hydrogen and ammonia production. Notably, wind-powered hydrogen production costs are 2.25 $/kgH2, significantly lower than solar-powered costs at 4.17 $/kgH2. In terms of green ammonia, wind power achieves production costs of 399.76 $/tonNH3, outperforming solar power which stands at 537.11 $/tonNH3. Additionally, our study evaluates the logistics of exporting green ammonia, determining rail transport as a more economically viable option than trucking. This research not only underscores Djibouti's potential as a leader in green energy exportation but also aligns with global decarbonization efforts, showcasing significant CO2 savings—154.94 Mt annually from wind. This work emphasizes the importance of strategic resource utilization in Djibouti, offering insights critical for stakeholders in making informed decisions about investing in renewable energy infrastructures. The outcomes suggest a promising future for regional energy sustainability and economic resilience, fostering a transition towards low-carbon energy systems.

Computational analysis of 1T-MoS2: Probing the interplay of layer-dependent electronic structure, quantum capacitance, charge density and mechanical properties

To meet the high energy demand of society, a conversion to renewable energy sources has become essential and energy should be appropriately stored for future use. This has led to the development of energy-storing devices such as supercapacitors (SCs). To enhance capacitive behavior, the concept of quantum capacitance (CQ) is unveiled, which results from the confinement of electrons in their energy states. In this work, 1T phase of MoS2 is studied as it has received a lot of attention because of its wide applications in the energy storage devices and electronics. Here, the electronic structure, CQ and surface charge density (σ) of one, two and three-layered structures of 1T phase is studied using Density Functional Theory. No bandgap is obtained in the Density of States (DOS) and the bands plot of 1T structure indicates their metallic character and the DOS is continuous in all three layers. The CQ of three-layered structure dominates over the other two layers throughout the potential window. The larger CQ and σ values are obtained as 1718.06 μF cm−2 and -1299.50 μC cm−2 for three-layered structure at −0.27 V and −1 V respectively. For analyzing the mechanical strength, Young's modulus is evaluated for optimized structure by applying uni-axial strain. The value is obtained as 177.37 GPa, which is a measure of elastic deformation behavior. The results suggest that the capacitive performance of 1T MoS2 for SC applications is better and it can function as flexible cathode material for asymmetric SC applications.

Memory T-Cells Contribute to Calcium Release from Bones during Lactation in Mice

Objective: Milk production during lactation places a high demand for calcium that is fulfilled both from maternal bone resorption and diet. While it is known that mammary gland-derived PTHrP drives bone resorption during lactation, the impact of postpartum estrogen loss on bone has been unclear. Methods: We used a case-control study design to test the effect of estrogen loss in lactating mice. Results: In the present study, we show for the first time that estrogen loss during lactation activates memory T-cells (TM) to produce TNFα and IL-17A to aid in bone resorption and calcium release. Our studies reveal a new mechanism for the release of calcium from bone postpartum. The findings provide several new insights. First, the immune system plays a critical role in milk production postpartum. Second, evolutionarily, the pathway serves the physiological purpose of increasing bone resorption to release calcium for breastmilk production postpartum but becomes maladaptive postmenopause, leading to osteoporosis. Finally, these results highlight the crosstalk between the brain–bone–breast–endocrine axis and the immune system during lactation.

Applying vision-guided graph neural networks for adaptive task planning in dynamic human robot collaborative scenarios

ABSTRACT The Assemble-To-Order (ATO) strategy is increasingly becoming prevalent in the manufacturing sector due to the high demand for high-volume personalised and customised goods. The use of Human-Robot Collaborative (HRC) Systems are increasingly being investigated in order to make use of the dexterous strength of human hands while at the same time make use of the ability of robots to carry massive loads. However, current HRC systems struggle to adapt dynamically to varying human actions and cluttered workspaces. In this paper, we propose a novel neural network framework that integrates both Graph Neural Network (GNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) for adaptive response during HRC scenarios. Our framework enables a robot to interpret human actions and generate detailed action plans while dealing with objects in a cluttered workspace thereby addressing the challenges of dynamic human-robot collaboration. Experimental results demonstrate improvements in assembly efficiency and flexibility, making our approach the first integration of iterative grasping and flexible HRC within a unified neural network architecture.

Analysis of the Current Situation of Service Capacity of Medical Social Workers in Shanxi Province and the Conception of Cultivation Pathway

Objective: This study aims to analyze the current status of service competence of medical social workers in Shanxi Province and to conceptualize the cultivation path. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 88 staff members and 120 residents of eight community health service centers in Shanxi Province to understand the population’s knowledge of the connotation of medical social workers and their needs. Results: Currently, the staff and residents of the community health service centers in Shanxi Province have a low level of knowledge and a high demand for medical social workers. It is recommended to expand the scope of practice of medical school students and design a series of training programs for medical social workers to better meet the needs of community healthcare and promote the implementation of the Healthy China Strategy.

The effect of hydrocarbon prices and CO2 emission taxes on drainage strategies

Secondary recovery methods, such as water and gas injection, are effective and cost-efficient techniques for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery; however, they are highly energy-intensive, leading to a large environmental footprint. This study provides insights into the challenge of balancing high hydrocarbon demand with the imperative to reduce CO2 emissions from production by estimating how drainage strategies change under varying economic parameters and CO2 tax levels. An operator’s choice of drainage strategy is assumed to be the drainage strategy yielding the highest net present value (NPV). This paper simulates the drainage strategy of an under-saturated oil reservoir, utilizing reservoir simulations and incorporating a mathematical model that represents the production processing plant. This yields hydrocarbon production, the energy required, and the resulting CO2 emissions, all incorporated into an NPV based on hydrocarbon prices and CO2 emission taxes. The drainage strategy is then optimized to maximize NPV for various hydrocarbon prices and several levels of CO2 tax on associated emissions. The findings of this study indicate that increasing gas prices favor reducing reservoir pressure below the bubble point pressure, thereby releasing solution gas and leaving oil in the reservoir. Although lower reservoir pressure reduces the energy required for injection, the resulting increase in gas production necessitates more energy for gas compression, ultimately leading to higher emissions when gas prices rise relative to oil prices. Additionally, this study reveals that for facilities well designed for the present injection and production volumes (greenfield scenarios), the impact of CO2 tax is limited, leading to a single optimal drainage strategy. In contrast, less energy-efficient facilities (brownfield scenarios) exhibit a more pronounced need to optimize drainage strategies in response to variation in CO2 tax, and oil and gas prices. This study indicates that for fields with efficient production facilities, the ratio of gas to oil prices is more important for the drainage strategy than CO2 tax levels, as income from production tends to dominate emission taxes. This implies that hydrocarbon prices are more important for CO2 intensity than CO2 taxes, e.g., a gas price increase relative to oil price promotes higher CO2 intensity due to a shift towards more energy-intensive gas production whereas realistic tax levels for CO2 emissions have only a minor impact. Thus, increasing CO2 tax levels is mainly a measure impacting emissions from fields with inefficient production facilities.

Current problems of using artificial intelligence inHR management in Kazakhstan

The article provides an understanding of artificial intelligence in the field of HR, and it is said that the digitization of the industry is reflected in the widespread use of artificial intelligence. The theory and history of the field of artificial intelligence is systematized by reviewing the works of researchers. The possibilities of using artificial intelligence are clarified and its efficiency is considered. As a result of the study, it was determined that artificial intelligence is used in four main categories in the field of HR, and it was found that there is a high demand for automated resume search, analysis, and selection services. At the same time, in order to invite candidates for a vacant position, including the identification of qualified talented employees, chatbots, Skype interviews, the use of information on online recruiting platforms such as HeadHunter, notification of vacancies at fairs, and pilot projects introduced by the state will be analyzed. The features of artificial intelligence programs introduced in the Kazakhstan labor exchange, and changes brought to the HR system, the advantages and disadvantages will be discussed. Especially as the most effective programs in the field of artificial intelligence in recent years: IBM's Deep Blue program, Alvinn program for driving, and Microsoft Application and Services Group's talking robot program, the importance of research on the specificity of programs in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals will be analyzed and considered as examples of regional enterprises.

Subnational Differences in Inequality Perceptions and Demand for Redistribution in Russia

The article presents the results of inequality perception assessment for the Russian macro-regions (Federal districts) and the demand for redistribution in the context of gender, age, and socio-economic characteristics. The assessment is based on data from the eighth wave of the European Social Survey (2016). The findings show that people in the Central Federal District were more accepting of inequality, while those from Siberia and the Far East were less tolerant. The perception of inequality plays a significant role in shaping the demand for policies aimed at reducing inequality (redistributive policies). Macro-regions fall into three clusters: 1) a cluster with a high tolerance for inequality and a moderate demand for redistribution (southern Russia, central regions, and the North Caucasus), 2) regions with an average tolerance and moderate demand (the Volga region and the North-West), 3) regions with a low tolerance and high demand (Siberia and the Far East). The results of the study confirm that there is interregional differentiation in the assessments of the importance of social equality and justice, as well as in the demand for redistribution within the regions of the Russian Federation. These differences can contribute to increased interregional disparity, reduced investment attractiveness for regions, and an increase in the concentration and centralization of resources in specific territories, potentially harming uniform spatial development efforts.

Measuring Theory of Mind: a preliminary analysis of a novel linguistically simple and tablet-based measure for children

This study introduces a novel linguistically simple, tablet-based, behavioral Theory of Mind (ToM) measure, designed for neurotypical (NT) and autistic children aged 4–10 years. A synthesis of five comprehensive reviews of existing ToM measures revealed significant gaps in their designs; the weaknesses include a mismatch between the operational and conceptual definition of ToM, high verbal demands in most measures, materials that are minimally interesting for children, and often a lack of psychometric evaluations. These findings call into question the suitability of most of the currently available ToM measures used in children, both with and without developmental disorders, such as children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For example, the assessment of ToM in children with ASD may require reduced reliance on complex language or social interaction that can be part of the diagnostic criteria of the condition. This newly designed ToM measure, developed in line with the “Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing” of the American Educational Research Association, is linguistically simple, tablet-based, suitable for children with ASD, and is available in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. With a sample of 234 participants, including 152 NT children and 82 children with ASD between 4 and 10 years of age, the new ToM measure's psychometric properties were preliminarily evaluated. Descriptive statistics, measures of internal consistency, inter-item correlation, and validity checks were conducted in both groups. Further inspections of the measure's scale- and item-level characteristics were conducted with the help of exploratory factor analyses (EFA), and item response theory (IRT) within the NT children's group. These preliminary evaluations suggest that the newly developed ToM measure possesses good psychometric properties and is both accessible and engaging for children. Further investigation with a larger group of participants is necessary to reinforce these initial results. This will allow item- and scale-level assessments within a wider range of autistic children. For this purpose, the task will be made freely available to the scientific community.

A Scoping Review of Factors Affecting COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Deployment in Global Healthcare Systems

Introduction: COVID-19 vaccines were rapidly developed and deployed on a large scale during a global crisis. A range of deployment strategies were used globally to maximize vaccine uptake. In this scoping review, we identify and analyze the main healthcare system and policy factors that guided and influenced COVID-19 vaccination deployment and uptake globally. Materials and Methods: JBI guidelines, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), and the population, concept, and context (PCC) framework were applied. Studies on individual COVID-19 vaccination factors, such as vaccine hesitancy, were excluded. The search was last conducted in May 2024 yielding 26,686 articles from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and COVID-19 websites. A total of 47 articles and 3 guidance documents were included. The results of the thematic analysis were mapped to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results: The results found the following healthcare system and policy factors as integral to COVID-19 vaccination: types of vaccine products, healthcare workforce capacity, procurement strategies, distribution and cold-chain capacity, partnership, coordination, and leadership, information, communication, and registration strategies, delivery models, organizations, the existing health systems and policies on prioritization of at-risk groups and deployment plans. Discussion: Globally, COVID-19 vaccination programs responded to the pandemic by leveraging and reforming the existing healthcare systems, relying on strong leadership and global cooperation (such as the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Initiative). Deployment was enabled by effective communication and adoption of innovative technologies using data-driven policies to create high vaccine demand while overcoming limited vaccine supply and rapidly adapting to uncertainties.

Tratamiento químico de vinaza de caña de azúcar con peróxido de hidrógeno

[Introduction]: Vinasse is generated as a residue in the production of ethanol by fermentation-distillation of molasses/sugar cane juice, at a rate of 13 L/L of ethanol. It is an acid liquid, brown in color, characterized by high mineralization and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) values of up to 150 000 mg/L, being highly polluting. [Objective]: The objective of this research was to evaluate a vinasse treatment process with hydrogen peroxide as a source of hydroxyl radicals at laboratory scale. [Methodology]: The vinasse samples, from different distilleries in the province of Tucumán, were characterized following standardized techniques of Standard Methods. The oxidation tests were carried out with different peroxide/vinasses ratios, in a semi-batch reactor, under ambient conditions, measuring COD as an indicator parameter of the treatment. [Results]: After 5 days, an 85 % decrease in COD and an increase in the Biodegradability Index were achieved. The kinetics of the oxidative reaction was first order with respect to COD, with an apparent rate constant of 0.3694 1/day. [Conclusions]: Although the COD values allowed by local regulations (250 mg/L) were not reached, the proposed treatment is encouraging due to its simplicity, representing a potential option to the environmental challenge represented by vinaze in Latin America.

Citrus growers' knowledge, attitudes, and implementation towards Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) in Palpa, Nepal

There is a high demand of citrus fruits in mid-hills region of Nepal. To increase its productivity, it is important to incorporate sustainable practices into orchard management. Therefore, the study was conducted in summer 2022 to understand commercial citrus farmers' knowledge on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and correspond production methods of GAP aware farmers with GAP standards in the Palpa, Nepal. Altogether, 64 commercial citrus growers were interviewed with pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires for the data collection. The farmers were categorized into GAP aware and unaware based on the criteria made by the group discussion with the leading farmers and GAP standards. The result revealed that out of ten selected standards, adoption of GAP standards by GAP aware farmers are positive in relation to orchard management practices (99%), plantation (90%), harvest and storage (90%), soil management and fertilization (63%), and hygiene and environment management (61%)— with human welfare (100%) adopted by all of the aware respondents and GAP related to documentation and records (25%) were found to be least adopted. The entire aware respondents agreed to the fact that GAP produced fruit have a better appearance and improved quality, satisfies national and international standards and enhances the export potential of fruits but 97% of respondents didn’t agree that adopting GAP helps in providing incentives or support from governmental organizations. The understanding of GAP among the citrus growers is limited and hence, it is crucial to organize awareness programs and provide supplementary training sessions to enhance their understanding and adoption of GAP practices.