Regional Production Research Articles

A survey on the implementation of cardiovascular surgery for congenital heart disease in China between 2017 and 2021

Objective: To investigate the inplementation of cardiovascular surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The CHD cardiovascular surgery data collected by the Chinese Society of Extracorporeal Circulation from 2017 to 2021 in 31 provinces (autonomous regions/municipalities) of China were retrospectively reviewed, the implementation of CHD cardiovascular surgery in different provinces, regions, general/specialized hospitals, and different age groups (whether≤18 years old) were summarized, and the correlation analysis between the number of surgeries carried out in each province/region and the gross regional product and the number of the regional population was performed. Results: Between 2017 and 2021, the annual volume of CHD cardiovascular surgery was 77 120, 77 634, 81 161, 62 663 and 71 492, respectively, showing a decreasing trend. Meanwhile, the proportion of CHD patients aged≤18 years who underwent cardiovascular surgery also showed a downward trend, from 79.8% (61 557/77 120) in 2017 to 58.6% (41 871/71 492) in 2021 (P=0.027). The number of surgical cases varied greatly among different provinces, including 4 provinces with≥5 000 cases and 9 provinces with 2 000-5 000 cases. In the five years, the number of CHD cardiovascular surgeries in Central and East China was the largest, accounting for 41.1%-45.5% of the total surgical cases. The proportion of CHD surgery cases≤18 years old was the highest in Southwest China (69.7%-87.4%) and the lowest in Northeast China (28.2%-68.9%). Except for 2021, the number of cases carried out by each region between 2017 and 2020 was correlated with the gross regional product (r=0.929, 0.929, 0.893 and 0.964, respectively, all P<0.05) and the population (r=0.821, 0.893, 0.821 and 0.857, respectively, all P<0.05). Hospitals that performed more than 100 operations (20.5%±1.2% of the total number of hospitals) completed 86.2%±1.2% of the total number of operations in China during the 5-year period. In 2017 and 2021, the number of CHD cardiovascular surgeries preformed in children's/women's and children's specialized hospitals accounted for 24.3% (18 772/77 120) and 23.8% (17 012/71 492) of the total number of cases in China, respectively. Conclusions: From 2017 to 2021, the number of cardiovascular surgery for CHD decreases slightly, but the proportion of surgery for adult CHD patients increases significantly.There is a strong correlation between the number of CHD operations in each region and their economic development status. The scale of CHD cardiovascular surgery performed in children's hospitals/women's and children's hospitals accounts for about a quarter of the total volume in China.

Visualizing Electrochemical CO2 Conversion via the Emerging Scanning Electrochemical Microscope: Fundamentals, Applications and Perspectives.

With the rapid development and maturity of electrochemical CO2 conversion involving cathodic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) and anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), conventional ex situ characterizations gradually fall behind in detecting real-time products distribution, tracking intermediates, and monitoring structural evolution, etc. Nevertheless, advanced in situ techniques, with intriguing merits like good reproducibility, facile operability, high sensitivity, and short response time, can realize in situ detection and recording of dynamic data, and observe materials structural evolution in real time. As an emerging visual technique, scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) presents local electrochemical signals on various materials surface through capturing micro-current caused by reactants oxidation and reduction. Importantly, SECM holds particular potentials in visualizing reactive intermediates at active sites and obtaining instantaneous morphology evolution images to reveal the intrinsic reactivity of active sites. Therefore, this review focuses on SECM fundamentals and its specific applications toward CO2RR and OER, mainly including electrochemical behavior observation on local regions of various materials, target products and onset potentials identification in real-time, reaction pathways clarification, reaction kinetics exploration under steady-state conditions, electroactive materials screening and multi-techniques coupling for a joint utilization. This review undoubtedly provides a leading guidance to extend various SECM applications to other energy-related fields.

Secondary Production of the Central Rangeland Region of the United States: A Study of Yearling Cattle Production

Secondary Production of the Central Rangeland Region of the United States: A Study of Yearling Cattle Production

Physicochemical Characterization, Antioxidant and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activities of Coffea Robusta Monofloral Honey from Dak Lak Province, Vietnam.

Robusta coffee blossom honey stands as a key regional product in Dak Lak province, Vietnam. Despite its significance, there exists a dearth of scientific data for assessing its quality. This study aims to fill this gap by characterizing the physicochemical properties and biological activities of coffee blossom honeys from three distinct sub-regions within Dak Lak province, Vietnam. These activities include ferric reducing power (FRP), DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, as well as tyrosinase inhibitory activities. Moreover, the study compares these honey samples with other popular varieties in Vietnam, such as Lychee and Longan honeys. The physicochemical parameters of the honey samples meet the standards set by Codex Alimentarius 2001. Through UPLC analysis, eleven compounds were identified, with caffeine serving as a marker for coffee honey. Furthermore, by employing multiple factor analysis (MFA), it was observed that certain physicochemical properties correlate positively with tyrosinase inhibitory, DPPH, ABTS free radicals scavenging activities, and FRP. Notably, tyrosinase inhibitory activity exhibited a positive correlation with antioxidant activity. These findings underscore the high quality of Coffea robusta honey, showcasing its potent antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Multi-Scenario Simulation of Non-Grain Production on Cultivated Land in Jiangsu Province, China

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Multi-Scenario Simulation of Non-Grain Production on Cultivated Land in Jiangsu Province, China

Evaluation of strategies to improve the quality of Tanzania grass (Megathyrsus maximum) silage with increasing levels of mata-pasto hay (Senna obtusifolia)

Context Seasonal variations between the rain and dry seasons are the main obstacle to agricultural productivity in tropical regions, making it essential to conserve surplus for periods of scarcity. One of the limiting factors in ensiling grasses is moisture, requiring the use of additives or withering. Using a mixture of grasses and legumes can be an alternative to balance the advantages and disadvantages of both in the ensiling process, and mata-pasto hay (MPH) can be an option. Aims This study evaluated different forms of Tanzania grass (Megathyrsus maximum) and MPH silages, as well as silages with increasing levels of MPH. Methods Silages of Tanzania grass and MPH in their natural form, as well as silages with increasing doses of MPH, were evaluated for nutritional value, degradability in situ. The microbiology was also evaluated. Key results Among the types of silages, natural MPH and wilted MPH were superior to natural Tanzania grass silage. The use of MPH in Tanzania grass silages improves fermentation processes, the population of beneficial microorganisms, resulting in better nutritional value of these silages. Conclusions Natural and wilted MPH hay silages are qualitatively better compared to natural Tanzania grass silage. Increasing doses of MPH improve the quality of the silage. A recommended dose is 30% of MPH hay. Implications Adding MPH to silages is a way to reduce the negative impacts of this weed on pastures. However, further studies with the use of complementary additives are needed.

CaWRKY01-10 and CaWRKY08-4 Confer Pepper's Resistance to Phytophthora capsici Infection by Directly Activating a Cluster of Defense-Related Genes.

Phytophthora blight of pepper, which is caused by the notorious oomycete pathogen Phytophthora capsici, is a serious disease in global pepper production regions. Our previous study had identified two WRKY transcription factors (TFs), CaWRKY01-10 and CaWRKY08-4, which are prominent modulators in the resistant pepper line CM334 against P. capsici infection. However, their functional mechanisms and underlying signaling networks remain unknown. Herein, we determined that CaWRKY01-10 and CaWRKY08-4 are localized in plant nuclei. Transient overexpression assays indicated that both CaWRKY01-10 and CaWRKY08-4 act as positive regulators in pepper resistance to P. capsici. Besides, the stable overexpression of CaWRKY01-10 and CaWRKY08-4 in transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants also significantly enhanced the resistance to P. capsici. Using comprehensive approaches including RNA-seq, CUT&RUN-qPCR, and dual-luciferase reporter assays, we revealed that overexpression of CaWRKY01-10 and CaWRKY08-4 can activate the expressions of the same four Capsicum annuum defense-related genes (one PR1, two PR4, and one pathogen-related gene) by directly binding to their promoters. However, we did not observe protein-protein interactions and transcriptional amplification/inhibition effects of their shared target genes when coexpressing these two WRKY TFs. In conclusion, these data suggest that both of the resistant line specific upregulated WRKY TFs (CaWRKY01-10 and CaWRKY08-4) can confer pepper's resistance to P. capsici infection by directly activating a cluster of defense-related genes and are potentially useful for genetic improvement against Phytophthora blight of pepper and other crops.

Evidence for regional fluid migration in the Eagle Ford Formation, Austin Chalk, and Buda Limestone of south-central and west Texas, USA

Calcite veins hosted by extension fractures and faults are common in the outcrop belt of the Austin Chalk – Eagle Ford – Buda stratigraphic section across south-central and west Texas, and contain aqueous and liquid hydrocarbon fluid inclusions. The hydrocarbon fluid inclusions in these thermally immature rocks indicate long-distance migration of oils from mature source rock down-dip and possibly from deeper units along faults. The widespread spatial distribution and extensive variety of oil types indicated by the fluid inclusion fluorescence suggest a protracted series of migration events – possibly from multiple source areas – rather than a single event. Oil inclusions in fault and fracture hosted calcite veins provide evidence of both strata-bound and cross-stratal oil migration along fault and fracture networks that are pervasive in the Austin Chalk, Eagle Ford, and Buda, as well as stratigraphically deeper units, in the subsurface and outcrop belt.Aqueous fluid inclusion microthermometry of the calcite veins provides evidence for significant exhumation of rocks in the Austin Chalk – Eagle Ford – Buda outcrop belt. Approximately 1.25–1.79 km of overburden was removed along the Balcones fault zone outcrop belt of south-central Texas, while in outcrop belt of the Devils River Uplift as much as 2.44–3.50 km of overburden was removed. In the productive region of the deeper basin down-dip from the outcrop belt, fluid inclusions in a deep core indicate that fluids were trapped during burial, but do not record maximum burial conditions.

Nitrogen and molybdenum fertilization influence on enzymatic activity and productivity enhancement of forage sorghum under water deficit in the Brazilian semi-arid region

Water scarcity, combined with low soil fertility, constitutes one of the main limiting factors in crop productivity in semi-arid regions. However, nutritional supplementation techniques with nitrogen (N) and molybdenum (Mo) can lead to positive enhancements in the production of these crops. The objective was to evaluate the effect of increasing doses of N in the presence and/or absence of Mo on the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the productive increase of forage sorghum subjected to water deficit in the semi-arid region. The experiment was conducted in the field using a randomized block design, with four replications, in a 5 × 2 × 3 factorial scheme, comprising five doses of N (urea): 0, 50, 100, 150, and 300 kg ha−1, two doses of Mo (sodium molybdate): 0 and 160 g ha−1, and three production cycles. The highest yields of green mass (GM) (47.98 Mg ha−1), dry mass (DM) (19.66 Mg ha−1), water use efficiency (WUE) (5.57 kg/m³), and N use efficiency (NUE) (0.26 kg2/g) occurred at the highest N dosage (300 kg ha−1 N). The highest contents and extraction of total N, Mo, chloride (Cl), and potassium (K) were found in regrowth 2 and at the highest N dose (300 kg ha−1). The interaction of N and Mo resulted in higher catalase (CAT) enzyme activity. The meteorological conditions during the cycles strongly influenced the nutrient contents and extraction. The results of the study provide support for producers to use N and Mo fertilization strategies to improve crop productivity, even under water deficit conditions.

Cultivar-specific regulation of antioxidant enzyme activity and stomatal closure confer tolerance of wheat to elevated ozone: A two-year open-field study with five cultivars

Elevated concentrations of tropospheric ozone (O3) pose a significant threat to food production in many regions of the world. We conducted a two-year experiment with five winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, Yangmai16 (Y16), Yangmai23 (Y23), Zhenmai12 (Z12), Yangmai29 (Y29), and Yangmai30 (Y30), to assess photosynthetic traits, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant systems under ambient (A-O3) or elevated (E-O3; 1.5 times A-O3) O3 in a Free-Air O3Concentration Enrichment system (FACE). E-O3 accelerated leaf senescence, manifested by marked reductions in photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, total antioxidant capacity, and photosynthetic pigment content, accompanied by altered antioxidant enzyme activity and a significant increase in malondialdehyde content (an indicator of lipid peroxidation). Most parameters showed significant inter-cultivar differences, as well as interactions between O3 and cultivar. The response of the antioxidant system in wheat flag leaves was influenced by O3 exposure levels. The response of antioxidant enzymes at the grain filling stage and the timely closure of stomata conferred tolerance to O3. This tolerance was associated with higher antioxidant enzyme activity at the anthesis stage but was not related to the size of stomata. This study provides a crucial theoretical foundation for further breeding O3-tolerant cultivars.

Addressing the opportunities of non‐thermal food processing technologies in the ASEAN region context

SummaryThis study aims to explore the opportunities offered by non‐thermal food processing technologies, including high‐pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, ultraviolet light, ultrasound, and microwave that could be viable for the agriculture commodities produced in the ASEAN region. The applications of these technologies across various food product categories (from dairy to fruits and vegetables, meat and seafood, beverages, condiments, fermented foods, edible oil, and ready‐to‐eat meals) focusing on microbial inactivation and mass transfer process enhancement, are systematically discussed to highlight their potential to foster the production of safe, nutritious, and fresh‐like quality food products from the region. The adoption of non‐thermal technologies can face several challenges that hinder the integration of these technologies in ASEAN, including high start‐up costs, limited access to stable electricity and clean water, and inconsistencies in food regulations across countries. Information gaps related to the adoption of non‐thermal technologies within the diverse food‐related scenarios in ASEAN were identified and recommendations were given to improve the state of knowledge in the region. Overall, this work offers critical insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers to consider inclusion of non‐thermal technologies in food production as strategic approaches and tailored solutions to enhance the competitiveness of regional food products globally.

Secondary production of the central rangeland region of the United States.

Rangelands are the dominant land use across a broad swath of central North America where they span a wide gradient, from <350 to >900 mm, in mean annual precipitation. Substantial efforts have examined temporal and spatial variation in aboveground net primary production (ANPP) to precipitation (PPT) across this gradient. In contrast, net secondary productivity (NSP, e.g., primary consumer production) has not been evaluated analogously. However, livestock production, which is a form of NSP or primary consumer production supported by primary production, is the dominant non-cultivated land use and an integral economic driver in these regions. Here, we used long-term (mean length = 19 years) ANPP and NSP data from six research sites across the Central Great Plains with a history of a conservative stocking to determine resource (i.e., PPT)-productivity relationships, NSP sensitivities to dry-year precipitation, and regional trophic efficiencies (e.g., NSP:ANPP ratio). PPT-ANPP relationships were linear for both temporal (site-based) and spatial (among site) gradients. The spatial PPT-NSP model revealed that PPT mediated a saturating relationship for NSP as sites became more mesic, a finding that contrasts with many plant-based PPT-ANPP relationships. A saturating response to high growing-season precipitation suggests biogeochemical rather than vegetation growth constraints may govern NSP (i.e., large herbivore production). Differential sensitivity in NSP to dry years demonstrated that the primary consumer production response heightened as sites became more xeric. Although sensitivity generally decreased with increasing precipitation as predicted from known PPT-ANPP relationships, evidence suggests that the dominant species' identity and traits influenced secondary production efficiency. Non-native northern mixed-grass prairie was outperformed by native Central Great Plains rangeland in sensitivity to dry years and efficiency in converting ANPP to NSP. A more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms leading to differences in producer and consumer responses will require multisite experiments to assess biotic and abiotic determinants of multi-trophic level efficiency and sensitivity.

Characterizing the performances of different observational precipitation products and their uncertainties over Africa

Validation of observed gridded precipitation datasets sourced from satellites or reanalysis over Africa remains a challenge due to the dearth of in-situ products that can act as a true estimate. To address this gap, this study compares the performance of different precipitation products (gauge, reanalysis, and satellite-based) sourced from the Frequent Rainfall Observations on GridS (FROGS) database over Africa. Satellite products are classified as corrected (incorporating gauge observations into their algorithms) or uncorrected, which implies that temporal variations depend entirely on the satellite. The main aim is to identify regions where precipitation products depict minimal uncertainties, supporting the use of the datasets in understanding precipitation variability in the specific regions. This is achieved by applying the triple collocation approach, which takes advantage of three collocated datasets of the same variable to derive the mean square error without requiring knowledge of the true value. The results show that light precipitation (1–5 mm d−1) was prevalent in most regions of Africa during the study duration (2001–2016). Estimating the spatial distribution of daily precipitation greater than the 90th percentiles suggests that extreme precipitation is mainly detected over the Central Africa region and coastal regions of West Africa, where the majority of uncorrected satellite products show consistent performance. The satellite product CMORPH_V1_RAW shows higher estimates of 90th percentile precipitation among the uncorrected satellite products. The ability of precipitation products to detect rainy or non-rainy days shows that corrected satellite products depict notable agreement for probability of detection and false alarm ratio over most regions of Africa. Overall, better performance is demonstrated by the IMERG products, ARCv2, CHIRPSv2 and PERSIANN_CDRv1r1 (corrected), and GPCC, CPC_v1.0 and REGEN_ALL (gauge) during the study period. Among the reanalysis products, ERA5 datasets shows good performance in estimating daily precipitation over Africa. The optimal maps that show the classification of products in regions where they depict reliable performance can be recommended for various usage by different stakeholders.

Simulation and experimental study of grid-connected photovoltaic power plants in a hot desert climate with fixed and dual-axis tracking

ABSTRACT This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the performance of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power plants situated in a hot desert climate. The study employs a combination of simulation models and experimental data to assess the impact of two tracking systems – fixed and dual-axis – on the overall efficiency and energy yield of the PV installations. Through detailed simulations, we analyze the dynamic behavior of the PV systems under varying solar irradiance and the atmospheric conditions typical of hot desert environments. The dual-axis tracking system is compared against the conventional fixed-mount system to evaluate its effectiveness in maximizing energy production and improving the overall efficiency of the PV power plants. Experimental data collected from an actual grid-connected PV facility in a hot desert region is incorporated to validate the simulation results and enhance the accuracy of the study. The observed performance metrics include energy output, system reliability, and the impact of environmental factors on long-term sustainability. In general, in all weather conditions, solar tracking provides better yields than a fixed solar module, generating about 32% and 12% more energy in sunny and overcast weather conditions, respectively. Under sunny weather, the two-axis sun tracking system and a fixed tilt angle produce 333.228 kWh and 247.56 kWh of energy, respectively. The energy yield generated on a partly cloudy day by a two-axis sun tracking system and a fixed tilt angle PV system is 281.496 kWh and 257.856 kWh, respectively. In addition, the highest electricity gain for two-axis solar trackers versus fixed PV plants was found to be 34.6%, and the lowest value was found to be 9.16%. The experimental analysis shows that the efficiency of the polycrystalline PV module is 12% and 14% on sunny days and cloudy days, respectively. The comparison between fixed and dual-axis tracking systems contributes to the optimization of PV installations, enabling more informed decisions for sustainable energy production in regions characterized by high temperatures and intense solar radiation. To support the expanding applications of grid-tied PV systems with a sun tracker in the same or comparable location and climate conditions (Saharan environment), these studies have the practical utility of advising and offering helpful feedback to engineers, system designers, contractors, and investors.

Macroplastics Quantity and Its Influence on Soil Nutrients in Typical Plastic Film Mulching Farmland in Northern Xinjiang

Plastic film mulching (PFM) technology plays an important role in agricultural production in “drought and cold” regions, and macroplastics pollution in farmland has become a major concern affecting the sustainable development of regional agricultural production. However, there remains a lack of research on the effects of film application and macroplastics characteristics on soil nutrients in farmland. In this study, the characteristics of plastic film application and macroplastics, and their effect on soil nutrients in typical plastic film cropland in northern Xinjiang were explored by field research and a review of the relevant literature. It was found that the average annual growth rate was higher in areas where the amount, usage intensity, and proportion of plastic film were lower. The amount of plastic film input was a key factor affecting the amount of macroplastics. The macroplastics amount of plastic film was positively correlated with soil organic carbon content and negatively correlated with soil available phosphorus; however, it had no effect on soil available potassium. It is necessary to take immediate action regarding the characteristics of plastic film application and macroplastics and the impact of macroplastics on soil nutrients, in order to establish a response to the dual challenges of food security and sustainable agricultural development in terms of plastic film pollution prevention and control measures.

Insertion sequence IS6770 modulates potassium symporter kup transcription in Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 under low pH conditions

Enterococcus faecalis is a phylogenetically and industrially relevant microorganism associated with Lactic Acid Bacteria. Some strains of this bacterium are employed as probiotics in commercial applications, while others serve as the principal component in starter cultures for artisanal regional cheese production. However, over the last decade, this species has emerged as an opportunistic multiresistant pathogen, raising concerns about its impact on human health. Recently, we identified multiple potassium transporter systems in E. faecalis, including the Ktr systems (KtrAB and KtrAD), Kup, KimA and Kdp complex (KdpFABC). Nevertheless, the physiological significance of these proteins remains not fully understood. In this study, we observed that the kup gene promoter region in the JH2–2 strain was modified due to the insertion of a complete copy of the IS6770 insertion sequence. Consequently, we investigated the influence of IS6770 on the expression of the kup gene. To achieve this, we conducted a mapping of the promoter region of this gene in the E. faecalis JH2–2 strain, employing fluorescence gene reporters. In addition, a transcriptional analysis of the kup gene was executed in a strain derived from E. faecalis V583 that lacks the IS30-related insertion element, facilitating the identification of the transcriptional start site. Next, the expression of the kup gene was evaluated via RT-qPCR under different pH stressful conditions. A strong upregulation of the kup gene was observed at an initial pH of 5.0 in the strain derived from E. faecalis V583. However, the activation of transcription was not observed in the E. faecalis JH2–2 strain due to the hindrance caused by the presence of IS6770. Besides that, our computational analysis of E. faecalis genomes elucidates a plausible association between transposition and the regulation of the kup gene. Remarkably, the ubiquitous presence of IS6770 throughout the phylogenetic tree implies its ancient existence within E. faecalis. Moreover, the recurrent co-occurrence of IS6770 with the kup gene, observed in 30 % of IS6770-positive strains, alludes to the potential involvement of this genomic arrangement in the adaptive strategies of E. faecalis across diverse niches.

Unveiling the relationships between visibility, information technologies and innovation management for sustainability performance: an empirical study

PurposeThe paper investigates how visibility, information technology and innovation management impact sustainability performance. It proposes a framework explaining the role of visibility in driving firms' sustainable performance and the relevance of innovation management and information technologies in enhancing organisational visibility. This study intends to add to the discussion within the management literature about the potential of innovation management to drive sustainability. It seeks to provide insight into the practices that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can adopt to improve their sustainable performance.Design/methodology/approachUsing empirical methods, the study investigates SMEs in central Mexico. The demographic information in the dataset includes 15 years as an average length of service from firms. Of the surveyed firms, 70% were from the manufacturing sector and 30% were from the service sector, as these are the most representative sectors of the productive region. A variance-based structural equation model approach was used to test the hypotheses, processed with the partial least squares (PLS) regression method.FindingsThe research results show that visibility significantly impacts sustainability performance. Innovation management has a higher influence on visibility than information technologies, emphasising the need to improve the quality of information in firms, not just the tools. The findings support managers in comprehending the crucial importance of visibility in aiding firms to achieve higher sustainability performance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study only examined a sample of Mexican SMEs; therefore, the findings' generalizability must be considered within this context. Secondly, the survey only focused on services and manufacturing firms and a more detailed analysis of the sector could provide further clarity on the relationships between variables. As a result, future research should consider these limitations and explore additional contexts to improve the overall understanding of the topic. Moreover, the scale used to measure the variables was adapted from other researchers with similar context research and reflective variables.Practical implicationsThe results provide helpful information for SME managers about the importance of focusing on innovation management processes and employing information technologies as crucial managerial strategies. This will aid in increasing visibility and supporting the development of sustainability performance in firms.Social implicationsThe world red-code, among others, with climate change and social gaps, has generated the need to contribute to sustainable development, and it has mobilised people on all levels all over the world for the simple purpose of preserving life. Therefore, society, as a crucial group that affects and is affected by this red-code situation, should act in favour of visibility, the use of high-quality information (e.g. transparent, accessible and relevant) and information technologies to promote sustainable practices. This could mean that society should be prepared to incorporate new capabilities and spaces to interchange knowledge as a participatory community that can contribute to better sustainable dynamics that could expand its participation in public decisions. Also, the government should encourage digital democracy (e.g. develop social participation platforms), opening and harmonising rules and mechanisms combining high-quality information with IT to provide flexible and adequate services that support sustainable development, such as efforts towards constructing sustainable and smart cities.Originality/valueThis study explores how innovation management can drive firms' sustainability performance, which is crucial for improving competitiveness. The question of how to enhance sustainability performance through managerial drivers is a critical one. This study empirically investigates the nexus of visibility and sustainability performance, innovation management and information technology with visibility.

Understanding the temporal dynamics of invasive late blight populations in India for improved management practices.

The microbial oomycete pathogen, Phytophthora infestans causes severe epidemics of potato late blight in crops globally. Disease management benefits from an understanding of the diversity of pathogen populations. In this study, we explore the dynamics of P. infestans populations in the late blight-potato agro-ecosystem across the Indian subcontinent. Investigations of the macroecological observations at the field level and microbial ecological principles provided insights into future pathogen behaviour. We use a comprehensive simple sequence repeat allele dataset to demonstrate that an invasive clonal lineage called EU_13_A2 has dominated populations over 14 years across India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Increasing levels of sub-clonal variation were tracked over time and space and, for the first time, populations in Asia were also compared to the source populations from Europe. Within India, a regional pathogen population structure was observed with evidence for local migration, cross-border movement between surrounding countries, and introductions via imports. There was also evidence of genetic drift and between-season transmission of more strongly pathogenic sub-clones with a complete displacement of some sub-clonal types. The limited introduction of novel genotypes and the use of resistant potato cultivars could contribute to the dominance of the 13_A2 lineage. The insights will contribute to the management of the pathogen in these key global potato production regions.

Tree growth potential and its relationship with soil moisture conditions across a heterogeneous boreal forest landscape

Forest growth varies across landscapes due to the intricate relationships between various environmental drivers and forest management. In this study, we analysed the variation of tree growth potential across a landscape scale and its relation to soil moisture. We hypothesised that soil moisture conditions drive landscape-level variation in site quality and that intermediate soil moisture conditions demonstrate the highest potential forest production. We used an age-independent difference model to estimate site quality in terms of maximum achievable tree height by measuring the relative change in Lorey’s mean height for a five year period across 337 plots within a 68 km2 boreal landscape. We achieved wall-to-wall estimates of site quality by extrapolating the modelled relationship using repeated airborne laser scanning data collected in connection to the field surveys. We found a clear decrease in site quality under the highest soil moisture conditions. However, intermediate soil moisture conditions did not demonstrate clear site quality differences; this is most likely a result of the nature of the modelled soil moisture conditions and limitations connected to the site quality estimation. There was considerable unexplained variation in the modelled site quality both on the plot and landscape levels. We successfully demonstrated that there is a significant relationship between soil moisture conditions and site quality despite limitations associated with a short study period in a low productive region and the precision of airborne laser scanning measurements of mean height.

Diagnostics of the influence of medical and demographic indicators on regional socio-economic systems

The article presents approaches to monitoring and assessing social aspects of regional systems with identification of elements of the health system and demographic components that potentially affect the economic efficiency of functioning of territories. The relevance of the article is determined by objective features of the development of mesoterritories. The analysis of spatial features of the systems’ functioning was conducted on the materials of the Central Federal District. The purpose of the study is to assess the features of the regional genesis using regression analysis and the resulting indicator – gross regional product (hereinafter referred to as GRP), which allows us to give a more reliable characterisation of the mesoterritorial transformation. The subjects were grouped according to the quality of medical and demographic characteristics on the basis of the cluster analysis with further allocation of flagship, catching-up and lagging regions. To substantiate the reliability of the territories’ affiliation to a specific cluster group, a statistical analysis was performed on average values with consideration to identification of the level of medical and demographic development. The conclusion is made about the influence of some factor criteria on the regional space with the construction of a scatter plot. It displays the affiliation to the selected confidence interval and distribution of the elements of the set in the plane between the resulting and factor values, describing the dependence of the GRP on the medical and demographic indicator. These econometric and analytical models can be used by regional governments in the process of strategic planning.