Production Losses Research Articles

Upscaling ecological restoration by integrating with agriculture

Transformative change is needed to align common small‐scale ecological restoration approaches with expectations to restore millions of hectares of degraded lands globally. Currently, most restoration projects target small areas using costly manual methods that cannot be scaled up to meet global commitments. We propose that a judicious integration of agricultural practices into ecological restoration offers an opportunity to address this issue. This transformative process relies on three sequential and interconnected steps: (1) ensure that sufficient land is truly available for restoration; (2) compensate for the loss of agricultural production, income, or land value to encourage landholders to opt for restoration; and (3) develop scalable, affordable, and effective methods for restoring native ecosystems across the pledged hundreds of millions of hectares to deliver benefits to both nature and people. Large‐scale terrestrial restoration will require incorporating agronomic practices into the restoration toolbox to go beyond vague, ambitious promises and wishful thinking.

System dynamic model of water, energy and food nexus for policy implementation

In this study, a spatiotemporal disaggregated simulation model was developed based on water–food–energy (WFE) nexus approach to assess water and food supply security considering ecosystem provisioning services. The main components of the developed model in this study (SD-WFE model) are population, water, agriculture, and energy modules. The model, which was developed using system dynamics (SD) approach, was utilized to simulate effectiveness of sectoral municipal, industrial, and agricultural water and energy consumption management and environmental protection policies in improving ecosystem provisioning services during a 20-year period. Through sensitivity analysis utilizing the Monte Carlo model, the study addresses the formulation of sustainable water resource policies across four main categories: water demand management, water supply management, food resource management, and energy resource demand management. Additionally, it explores the integration of policies within an optimal framework. The simulation of proposed solutions revealed that a combination of water demand management and food resource management yielded the most promising outcome. Specifically, the recommended solution entails enhancing water irrigation efficiency by 18% through the expansion of pressurized irrigation network coverage, adjusting cropping patterns by 14%, reducing agricultural product losses by 8% via improved food supply management, minimizing food demand by 9% due to reduced food consumption losses, and achieving an annual 10% increase in crop performance. These selected policies form the foundation for sustainable water resource management strategies.

Synthesis of 6-bromo-7-arylaminoisoquinoline-5,8-quinones and its effects on Piscirickettsia salmonis infection invitro.

Among the most important aquaculture resources for our country, salmon and trout stand out. Their production has increased significantly in recent decades, making them two of the most valuable resources in economic terms. However, high aquaculture production has allowed many pathogens to proliferate, causing infectious diseases and significant production losses. Piscirickettsia salmonis is a gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacterium that is responsible for causing severe disease in a variety of salmonid fish species. Despite the significant impact of P. salmonis on aquaculture, effective treatments for this disease remain limited. Current prevention and control strategies often include antibiotics and vaccines. However, these treatments have shown varying degrees of efficacy. A promising approach involves synthesizing bioactive analog compounds with antibacterial properties. Quinones, secondary metabolites that are abundant in nature, have become a focal point of interest due to their diverse physiological activities, including antibiotic, insecticidal, antifungal, and anticancer properties. In this study, it is shown the synthesis of series 6-bromo-7-arylaminoisoquinoline-5,8-quinones, the characterization of these compounds using classical spectroscopic methods such as one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), FT-IR (infrared), mass spectrometry, and the biological activity against Piscirickettsia salmonis. The brominated derivative compounds showed no cytotoxicity at any concentration evaluated. Furthermore, the infectivity of P. salmonis after treatment with the analog compounds indicated that derivatives methyl 6-bromo-7-((4-methoxyphenyl)amino)-1,3-dimethy-5,8-dioxo-5,8-dihydroisoquinoline-4-carboxylate (4b) and methyl 7-((4'-amino-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)amino)-6-bromo-1,3-dimethy-5,8-dioxo-5,8-dihydroisoquinoline-4-carboxylate (4g) reduced the bacterial load at 25 μg/mL concentration.

Contribution of Fractional Cover Analysis for Monitoring Degraded Ecosystems at the Watershed Level

The purpose of the research was to use the data generated on degradation and perform spectral mixture analysis to determine the changes in photosynthetic, non-photosynthetic vegetation and soil fractions, in tactically selected sites, verifying degradation and on the other hand to use this analysis to verify the recovery of degraded ecosystem surfaces that have had recovery projects. Fractional coverages were determined through Normalized Difference Fraction Index (NDFI) by analyzing spectral mixtures using Google Earth Engine. In this sense, the degradation identified in the Ponasa watershed is related to specific degradation values indicated by the NDFI values, to prove that in effect the degradation of these ecosystems is linked to loss of photosynthetic activity, increase in bare soil values and non-photosynthetic activity derived from the process of disturbance of the vegetation cover. In the case of the present study, the NDFI finally explains the degradation processes produced by the loss of vegetation cover and the loss of net primary productivity of the ecosystem, but it is not related in the same way in the case of fragmentation. Ongoing monitoring of the NDFI is key to understanding ecosystem degradation and recovery and to making informed decisions.

Foslevodopa/foscarbidopa (LDp/CDp) in advanced Parkinson’s Disease (aPD): demonstration of savings from a societal perspective in the UK

Aims In advanced Parkinson’s disease (aPD), adequate 24-hour control of OFF-time may not be achievable using oral/transdermal therapies. Clinical trials of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa (LDp/CDP) demonstrate meaningful reductions in OFF-time and OFF-related sleep disturbance in aPD. Previous analyses have only considered direct medical costs: this analysis considers a broader societal perspective (direct non-medical costs, informal care, loss of earnings, productivity, and tax). Methods Inputs for the societal impact model were taken from a cost-utility model comparing LDp/CDp with best medical treatment (BMT), accepted by the UK National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Quintiles of normalized OFF-time across a 16-hour waking day in each treatment group were applied to literature-based estimates for direct medical, non-medical, and indirect costs. The resulting state-specific cost estimates were applied to the modelled aPD patient population. Results The model estimates the potential UK population for LDp/CDp at 17,505. Continuous 24-hour delivery of LDp/CDp results in greater time spent in OFF-time states 0–1 (0–4 hours of OFF-time/16-hour waking day) vs BMT alone. Net savings if all eligible patients receive LDp/CDp are £79.1 M in year 1, £235.4 M in year 2, rising to £262.2 M in year 3, declining to £222.9 M in year 4 and £153.7 M in year 5 as disease progresses and the efficacy of LDp/CDp declines. The estimated total net savings are £953 M after 5 years. Results are robust in scenario analyses (excluding costs of excessive sleepiness, earnings loss, productivity, and tax loss). Limitations A NICE-accepted model was used as the economic modelling basis for the societal impact model, however, much of the data was derived from Adelphi datasets, with the potential for inconsistent definitions. Conclusion When considered from a societal perspective, the use of LDp/CDp in aPD patients inadequately controlled on oral therapy is associated with net healthcare and societal annual savings of over £79.1 M vs BMT.

Effects of autism spectrum disorder on parents labour market: Productivity loss and policy evaluation in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan has witnessed a significant increase in the number of Autism Spectrum Disorder cases due to the implementation of mechanisms for early detection. However, despite these efforts, accessing quality services and effective interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder remains challenging. While the government has implemented various policies to address the impact of Autism Spectrum Disorder on the labour market, especially for those with disabilities, the effectiveness of these policies needs to be evaluated. Therefore, this article aims to estimate the loss of productivity by calculating the cost of non-working for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. To achieve this goal, we combine data from official sources with data from our own survey to estimate the loss of productivity using human capital models. In addition, we conduct policy simulations to assess the impact of the existing policy implemented in Kazakhstan that recognises the time of caring for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and disability as working in the paid labour market. Our results reveal that the productivity loss is substantial, with mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder being particularly affected. Furthermore, based on the outcomes of the policy simulations, it becomes evident that policies solely targeting parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and disability are insufficient to address the labour market gaps and the consequent loss of productivity. To effectively mitigate the impact of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the labour market, a more comprehensive approach is needed. This approach should encompass a broader range of interventions and support mechanisms, including those for individuals without disabilities and parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Reducing Phosphorus Loss in Short-Cycle Horticultural Production Using Activated Aluminum-Amended Substrates and Modified Fertigation Practices.

To support growth, short-cycle horticultural crops require readily available nutrients. However, this often leads to nutrient leaching. Implementing best management practices in production decisions like incorporating fertilizer retaining amendments to substrates or modifying fertilization programs can mitigate nutrient losses to the environment and associated costs. This study examined using an activated aluminum (AA) material as a substrate amendment to retain phosphorus (P) within containers while also assessing methods to reduce P fertilization in Tagetes production over a six-week production cycle. A commercial peat moss substrate (PL) pre-loaded with nutrients was amended with AA, enabling comparisons between substrates with and without AA. Enhanced fertilizer practices involved supplementing the initial nutrients by applying a weekly fertigation solution including nitrogen and potassium over the six weeks, but P for either 0, 2, 4, or 6 weeks. The incorporation of AA significantly reduced P leaching losses by 89.5-97.7%, compared to the PL substrates receiving P the entire six weeks. Regardless of substrate or fertilizer management, all Tagetes had equivalent sizes (growth index) and aboveground biomass. The results indicate that amending substrates with AA and/or reducing additional P inputs are effective strategies to minimize P leaching without compromising Tagetes quality.

Assessment of reliability and availability of a system by using a bivariate stochastic model

AbstractIn the present age of industrial revolution where the smart manufacturing and smart production are being used in the developed countries, the production systems are still vulnerable to disruptions and outages that affect the reliability and availability of the systems. Certain scientific and probabilistic approaches are required to study the inter‐failure times and repair times and find the possible solutions for maximum production and minimum losses. In this article, we propose a bivariate Power Pareto distribution to model the inter‐failure times and repair times of a system along with some of its characteristics. The model parameters are estimated by employing the maximum likelihood estimation, Bayesian estimation and ant colony optimization algorithm. A simulation study is conducted for different sample sizes to assess the stability of the model parameters. Moreover, we derive the distribution of convolution from our proposed bivariate stochastic distribution and compute its quantiles that help to determine the total time of availability and recovery of a certain system. To demonstrate the efficacy of our model, we use real data set of inter‐failure times and repair times of a certain system.

ASSESSMENT OF INITIAL RESERVOIR PRESSURE WHEN BRINGING A PRODUCTION WELL INTO OPERATION

One of the «low-cost» methods of the welltests is the analysis of production and pressure in unsteady filtration modes. After interpreting the data on production and pressures in mechanized wells with the availability of information about the pressure at the pump intake, an assessment of the current reservoir pressure and an analysis of the causes of production changes for individual low-permeability reservoirs can be performed. For the implementation of the analysis of production and pressure, information on the initial reservoir pressure is required; therefore, the search for new methods for estimating the initial reservoir pressure is an urgent task. The paper proposes to combine the hydrodynamic study of a well with a stepwise change in operating modes with the stage of putting a mechanized well into operation. This combination will reduce costs and significantly reduce production losses associated with conducting «traditional» welltests with a well shutdown. However, the implementation of a study with a stepwise change of modes when putting a well into operation may lead to a decrease in the reliability of determining reservoir parameters. The paper discusses an approach to determining the scenario for conducting such a study. The approach is based on the generalization of multivariate calculations of various scenarios for putting wells into operation in the hydrodynamic simulator «RN-KIM». Based on the results of the analysis and generalization of data, matrices for evaluating research scenarios have been constructed, according to which it is possible to choose an acceptable option for implementing a study with an assessment of reservoir pressure with a certain reliability. The results of the work also make it possible to assess the reliability of reservoir pressure from wells that have already been removed, in which field dynamic data on pressures, debits, etc. has been recorded. An approach is proposed for replicating matrices for estimating the reliability of the initial reservoir pressure without additional multivariate calculations and using previously calculated matrices.

Systematic Review of the Cost of Illness of Parkinson's Disease from a Societal Perspective.

Previous reviews on the cost of illness (COI) of Parkinson's disease (PD) have often focused on health-care costs due to PD, underestimating its effects on other sectors. This systematic review determines the COI of PD from a societal perspective. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023428937). Embase, Medline, and EconLit were searched up to October 12, 2023, for studies determining the COI of PD from a societal perspective. From 2812 abstracts, 17 studies were included. The COI of PD averaged €20,911.37 per patient per year, increasing to almost €100,000 in the most severely affected patients. Health-care costs accounted for 46.1% of total costs, followed by productivity loss (37.4%) and costs to patient and family (16.4%). The COI of PD strongly varied between different geographical regions, with costs in North America 3.6 times higher compared to Asia. This study is the first to identify the relative importance of different cost items. Most important were reduced employment, government benefits, informal care, medication, nursing homes, and hospital admission. There was strong variety in the cost items that were included, with 55.2% of cost items measured in fewer than half of articles. Our review shows that PD-COI is high and appears in various cost sectors, with strong variety in the cost items included in different studies. Therefore, a guideline for the measurement of COI in PD should be developed to harmonize this. This article provides a first step toward the development of such a tool by identifying which cost items are most relevant. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Solving Neutrosophic Multi-Dimensional Fixed Charge Transportation Problem

In the decision making problems, transportation problem (TP) is one of the most significant applications that aim to optimize the objective function of products shipped from different sources to different destinations. When an additional charge such as toll tax, parking fee, permit fee and so on are included in the transportation cost then the problem becomes a fixed charge TP. If the shipped products are damageable, they are affected by the type of vehicle and the distance of route. So it is quite evident that the vehicle type and the distance of route play a significant role in TP. In reality, along with sources and destinations, the decision maker (DM) desires to consider the parameters such as the mode of transport and routes of transportation that are used for shipment of the products from sources to destinations in order to minimize the loss of damageable products and to maximize the profit. As a result, mode of transport and routes of transportation are added to TP, then the TP becomes a four-dimensional TP. Sometimes, the data/parameters of the problems may not be always precise due to incomplete information, inadequate data or shortage of evidence. To deal with these obstacles, the parameters of the problem can be represented as the single-valued trapezoidal neutrosophic numbers (SVTrNNs). The neutrosophic data facilitate a reasonable and practicable way for DMs to tackle decisionmaking problems by managing indeterminacy and providing an effective framework for analysis and synthesis of complex decision scenarios. In view of this, in this paper we have considered the single objective four-dimensional fixed charge transportation problem (4DFCTP) with parameters, supply, demand, conveyance, transportation cost, fixed charge as single-valued trapezoidal neutrosophic numbers and the distance of routes as real numbers. First, the score function is utilized to transform the neutrosophic parameter into its deterministic parameter in order to avoid the negative values for the decision variable. Then the deterministic problem comprises deterministic parameters such as supply, demand, conveyance, transportation cost with fixed charges and distance of routes. Secondly, a novel approach namely, min zeromin cost approach is introduced for finding the optimal solution to the equivalent deterministic problem in polynomial time. The main objective of this paper is to optimize the breakable products and routing plan of vehicles in a way to minimize the total transportation cost with fixed cost of the business organizations using the proposed min zero-min cost approach. To demonstrate the problem’s validity and relevance, two numerical examples are solved using our proposed approach. To highlight the proposed approach, comparison of the solution with the LINGO software is performed. The obtained optimal solution from the proposed approach is the same as the LINGO software. At last, conclusions as well as future work related to the study are presented.

Exposure to ambient PM2.5 and its association with the loss of labor productivity of manufacturing plants in India

Abstract Evidence of the impacts of ambient air pollution on health in India has been expanding. However, the economic impact of air pollution has rarely been explored. Here, we examined the impact of exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) derived from satellite data at 1 km × 1 km resolution on the productivity of the manufacturing plants using a micro-level dataset for the period 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 across 465 districts in India. Using a system generalized methods of moments techniques, we estimated that for every 10% increase in PM2.5 exposure, labor productivity decreases by 14.8% after controlling for the confounding factors. For exposure exceeding the national ambient air quality standard of annual PM2.5 in India (40 μg m−3), the labor productivity decreases by a bigger margin (20%) for the same margin of increase in PM2.5. We found that labor productivity loss due to ambient air pollution was lower for plants using capital-intensive production techniques. The labor productivity in plants with a higher share of blue-collar workers was more sensitive to exposure to PM2.5 as opposed to plants with a higher share of supervisors or managerial staff. This suggests that plant-level managerial skill and capital-intensive production techniques (including expenditure on pollution control and abatement equipment) will be critical in mitigating air pollution-induced labor productivity loss across manufacturing plants in India.

Hormonal profiles and biomarkers leading to parturition in cattle.

This study aimed to understand the physiological mechanisms regulating parturition and to identify potential biomarkers to predict onset of birth. Additionally, we compared hormone profiles between cows with shorter and longer gestation lengths. Twenty-eight days before due date until 3d postpartum, cows (n = 18) were blood sampled daily. Circulating concentrations were measured for progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) by RIA, testosterone, prostaglandin F2α metabolite (PGFM), cortisol, pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) by ELISA and lactate concentrations by colorimetric assay. At end of gestation, P4 decreased from d-14 to d-4 (from 3.6 to 1.4ng/mL), most likely from rapid loss of placental P4 production (64% of decline in 24h). A second rapid decrease in P4 to undetectable concentrations was observed from d-2 to parturition (from 1.4 to 0.1ng/ml; most likely luteal origin) corresponding to increase in PGFM from d-2 to parturition (249.7 to 2868.4pg/mL). Estradiol and PSPB increased ~8-fold from ~13d before parturition with acute rise in E2 but not PSPB (45% vs 13% in first 24h). Testosterone decreased slightly during the same period. Cortisol and lactate increased only at calving. Comparison of cows with shorter vs longer gestation, when data were normalized to parturition day, a difference was detected in circulating E2 and PGFM patterns, but not P4 and PSPB. Thus, the first significant hormonal changes associated with parturition begin at d-14 with E2 and PSPB as two clear biomarkers of impending parturition. Cows with shorter and longer gestation had hormonal differences indicative of identifiable earlier placental maturation.

Burden of illness and treatment attitudes among participants meeting Rome IV criteria for irritable bowel syndrome: A nationwide survey in the United States.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of gut-brain interaction characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, with patient-perceived dissatisfaction of treatment symptom control. We assessed disease burden, satisfaction with medication use, and impact on activities, in participants with IBS with constipation (IBS-C) and diarrhea (IBS-D). This study assessed data from a large, United States survey of adults querying demographics, comorbid conditions, quality of life, medication use, satisfaction with symptom control, and work productivity. Participants were grouped into the IBS-C or IBS-D cohort if they met Rome IV criteria, with controls matched 1:1 according to age, sex, race, region, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score. All data were self-reported. Nine hundred and ten participants with IBS-C and 669 with IBS-D were matched to controls. The most reported symptoms were abdominal discomfort for IBS-C and abdominal pain and abdominal discomfort for IBS-D. Among the IBS-C and IBS-D cohorts, 74.2% and 65.9%, respectively, took prescription and/or over-the-counter medication for their symptoms. Respondents were more dissatisfied than satisfied with control of their symptoms. Respondents taking prescription medication(s) with or without over-the-counter medication(s) reported better symptom control than respondents only taking over-the-counter medications (p < 0.001). There was significantly higher mean presenteeism, work productivity loss, and daily activity impairment (p < 0.001 for all) in respondents with IBS compared with controls. This study provides insight into respondents' experiences of IBS symptoms, including the impact on daily activity, as well as satisfaction with control of symptoms and prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Analisis Produktivitas pada Mesin BM 206 D-2 Menggunakan Metode Total Productive Maintenanace (TPM) dengan Pendekatan Overall Equipment Efectiveness (OEE) di PT. Berlina Tbk

Productivity is key to success in the manufacturing industry, particularly at PT.BERLINA Tbk, which specializes in plastic packaging manufacturing. This study focuses on enhancing the operational effectiveness of the BM 206 D-2 machine trough the implementation of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and measurement of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) as well as the identification and mitigation of Six Big Losses. The research involves two sampling periods, each spanning two quarters. During the first period, the average OEE value of 66% indicated that the greatest losses were due to machine breakdown or Breakwon Losses, related to deficiencies in operator and technician skills, inadequate planes maintenance, and machine cleanliness. Following the implementation of improvements based on these findings, the average OEE incrased to 71% in the second period. These results underscore the importance of enhancing technical skills, effective maintenance, and strict cleanliness to improve productivity and reduce production losses.

Immuno-pathogenesis study of local infectious bronchitis virus G1-1 lineage variant showed altered tissue tropism in experimental broiler chickens.

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is an acute contagious disease of poultry caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). This study investigated the immunopathogenesis and tissue tropism of an Indian IBV field isolate (IBV/Chicken/India/IVRI/Rajasthan/01/2023) in experimental broiler chickens. This isolate belongs to the G1-1 lineage and is closely associated with the Mass genotype. 106.23 EID50/0.2 mL of the virus was administered intranasally and intraocularly to the IBV-challenge group, whereas uninoculated allantoic fluid was administered to the control group. Clinical signs, gross and histopathological lesions, immunohistochemistry (IHC), viral load, humoral responses, and the relative expression of immune response genes were evaluated at seven observation points. The infected group showed a significant reduction in weight gain from 3 dpi onwards, with clinical signs of varying severity from 3 to - 11 dpi. Gross lesions and microscopic changes were observed in the nasal turbinates, trachea, lungs, and kidneys, mainly representing epithelial degeneration and necrosis with mononuclear infiltrates. The caecal tonsils also showed microscopic lesions at 7-9 dpi. Absolute viral load estimation in the organs corroborated the lesion severity scores and IHC results. The expression of innate immune responses broadly demonstrated higher expression in the trachea and lungs of the IBV-infected group during the early phase of infection, whereas similar responses were observed in the kidneys and caecal tonsils during the later phases of infection. This study suggests that the given IBV isolate may cause significant production losses in broilers and exhibit tissue tropism for both respiratory and non-respiratory tissues, triggering varying innate and adaptive immune responses.

Health, economic and social burden of tobacco in Latin America and the expected gains of fully implementing taxes, plain packaging, advertising bans and smoke-free environments control measures: a modelling study

ObjectiveTo investigate the tobacco-attributable burden on disease, medical costs, productivity losses and informal caregiving; and to estimate the health and economic gains that can be achieved if the main tobacco...

Perceived Social Support and Presenteeism Among Nurses: Mediation of Psychological Capital.

The aim of this study was to explore the mediating role of psychological capital in the relationship between perceived social support and presenteeism among nurses. The concept of presenteeism explored in this study refers to the behavior of nurses who hold on to their jobs despite poor physical or mental health, manifested in poor work productivity and loss of productivity. Perceived social support and psychological capital may help reduce presenteeism. However, there is limited knowledge about the association between perceived social support, psychological capital, and presenteeism among nurses. Data were collected through questionnaires from 468 RNs. Data analysis used Pearson's correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and structural equation model. The results indicated that perceived social support and psychological capital were significantly negatively correlated with nurses' presenteeism. Structural equation modeling revealed that psychological capital mediated the relationship between perceived social support and presenteeism, with a partial mediating effect of -0.191, accounting for 28% of the total effect. These results identified structural relationships between the 3 variables of perceived social support, psychological capital, and presenteeism and provided a theoretical reference for developing strategies to decrease nurses' presenteeism.

Soil quality indicators related to the deterioration of Kikuyu grass Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. ex Chiov.) Morrone

Inadequate grassland management has resulted in the degradation of extensive areas, loss of productivity and sustainability of many of them, reflecting a common reality among livestock farmers in Colombia. Therefore, at the Paysandú Agricultural Station of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, located in the Santa Elena township of the city of Medellín, a study was carried out to determine a soil quality index (SQI) by evaluating the physical and chemical indicators that were most related to the deterioration and dry matter production of kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus). A minimum data set (MDS) was established for the most sensitive indicators, selected by principal component analysis (PCA), and a nonlinear scoring function was used to obtain the SQI. Statistical differences were found between all the treatments in relation to dry matter production (P&lt;0.05: 1.91x10-32). The most sensitive indicators were bulk density BD &gt; total porosity TP &gt; macropores MAC &gt; micropores MIC &gt; penetration resistance PR &gt; effective cation exchange capacity ECEC &gt; pH. As a result, the following formula was obtained: SQI = (0.225×BD) + (0.224×TP) + (0.220×MAC) + (0.218×MIC) + (0.113×PR) + (0.0879×ECEC) + (0.0877×pH). This index should be tested in kikuyu grass-dominated pastures located in the Colombian high tropics. The baseline is critical at values &gt; 0.58 Mg m-3 for BD and &gt; 2.25 MPa for PR. In addition, the optimum pH range for kikuyu grass development was between 5.4 and 6.4.

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Lumpy Skin Disease in Türkiye (2013-2021)

Abstract Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a serious, transboundary disease that affects cattle all over the world and results in considerable productivity losses. Although Türkiye’s first outbreak of LSD was reported in August 2013, there is very little information available about the outbreak’s spatiotemporal distribution or severity. GIS-based data analysis provides crucial tools for describing the spatial epidemiology of the disease by assessing the spatial distribution of LSD across time. This study used information on outbreaks reported to the the World Animal Health Organization (WOAH-OIE) between 2013 and 2021 to conduct a retrospective study on the epidemiology of LSD in Türkiye. Differences in the number of reported outbreaks and cases across different regions, provinces, months, and years were evaluated and descriptive statistics were calculated. In addition, spatial statistical tests (Local Moran’s I and Getis-Ord Gi*) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) were used to assess LSD outbreaks that had taken place at the province level in Türkiye. Possible epidemiological clusters of LSD were identified. A total of 1787 outbreaks and 10109 cases of LSD were reported from 75 out of 81 provinces of Türkiye during the course of the nine-year period. Hotspots for the circulation of LSD were identified in the Aegean, Southeastern and Eastern regions using spatial cluster analyses and it was observed that the spatial autocorrelation of LSD cases is positive across the country. The findings from this study, it may help us comprehend the disease’s spatial character and offer authorities the beneficial information for surveillance efforts.