Research Site Research Articles

Use of a 3D camera for automated patient positioning for chest-abdomen-pelvis CT scans: Effect on positioning accuracy and patient dose

Introduction3D positioning cameras that automate the positioning of patients with respect to the CT isocentre have been developed and are in common use in CT departments. This study aimed to compare the performance of radiographers and a 3D camera system with respect to positioning accuracy and the effect on patient radiation dose for chest-abdomen-pelvis scans. MethodsPatient positioning and dose data obtained from a dose management system was evaluated over a two-month period for patients positioned with (CAMon) and without (CAMoff) the positioning camera. Median vertical and lateral offset values were compared between the groups whilst doses were evaluated as a function of patient water equivalent diameter (WED) for the thorax and abdomen-pelvis acquisitions for both cohorts. ResultsRadiographers demonstrated high levels of positioning accuracy, however significant improvements in median vertical offset were identified for the CAMon cohort for both thorax (8 mm vs. 17 mm (p = 0.001)) and abdomen-pelvis (7 mm vs. 16 mm (p = 0.003)) scans. The percentage of patients positioned within 5 mm of the isocentre was 39.0% and 16.1% for the CAMon and CAMoff cohorts. For CAMoff scans, 77.4% of patients were positioned below the isocentre, but this was reduced to 45.8% for CAMon scans. No significant changes in dose as a function of WED were identified related to the camera use (thorax: p = 0.569, abdomen-pelvis: p = 0.760). ConclusionUse of a 3D camera delivered significant improvements in the accuracy and reproducibility of patient positioning when compared with radiographers. Implications for practiceImprovements in positioning accuracy were observed at the research site and hence positioning camera use has the potential to become standard practice in CT to help ensure appropriate doses are delivered to patients according to their size.

Do food quality, service quality, and hygiene practices in street food affect satisfaction and behavioral intentions? The role of emotion: in Istanbul and Bangkok

ABSTRACT This study has three main purposes. First, the impact of perceived hygiene practices, food and service quality in street food consumption on satisfaction was examined. Second, the role of positive emotions in these relationships was examined. Finally, the impact of satisfaction from street food experiences on revisit and recommendation intention was studied. The sample for Study 1 was 344 local tourists who experienced street food in Istanbul between July–August 2020. And the sample for Study 2 was 325 local tourists who experienced street food in Bangkok between January-February 2020. To test the research model, a two-study approach was used. For both samples, hygiene practices and service quality in street food were found to positively and significantly affect satisfaction. On the other hand, the impact of food quality was observed in Study 1. In both studies (Studies 1 and 2), no moderator role of emotion was observed in the impact of hygiene practices, food and service quality perceptions on satisfaction. Plus, satisfaction with street food directly affects revisit and recommendation intentions. As consumers’ attitudes and behaviors toward street food consumption were examined in two different research sites and the street foods were significantly different in both regions, the similarities and differences in the findings are valuable. Furthermore, the role of positive emotions on the perceptions that affect satisfaction with street food consumption in two research sites was examined for the first time.

Improving the Growth and Productivity of Two Varieties of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) by using Different Cultivation Methods and Dates

Background: Mung bean is characterized by its ability to withstand water scarcity due to its short life span, so it can be introduced into agricultural rotation systems and despite especially when there is a lack of humidity and contemporary environmental changes. Despite the importance of this crop, its productivity rate in Iraq is still low compared to global production. The dates and methods of cultivation of the mungbean crop must be determined accurately to suit the specifications of local varieties adapted to the changing environmental conditions. Methods: The field study was applied in two fields: the first in Nineveh Governorate and the second in Erbil Governorate / Republic of Iraq. Three factors included, first: two varieties of local mung bean (black and green), second: different cultivation methods (furrow and lines) and the third: planting dates (May 15, June 15 and July 15). The study was designed as a factor experiment a design (R.C.B.D) with three replicates. Result: The first variety superior significantly in the two sites with the qualities of (plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, seed yield, Biological yield and harvest index. From the results of the dates, we note a significant superiority of the first date number of seeds.pod-1 while the third date significantly outperformed the germination percentage for the two sites. First planting method significant superiority in most of the studied characterists and for the two research sites. Significant superiority was recorded for the interactions of research factors and their levels.

Efficient site selection for clinical trials using simulated annealing.

1558 Background: Identifying sites with eligible patients for multi-site oncology clinical trials is challenging given increasingly complex inclusion/exclusion criteria, limited site resources, and the need to ensure diversity in trials. This is a complex systems problem with many factors that present nonlinear behaviors. Given manifold combinations of sites, research capabilities, and study characteristics, artificial intelligence solutions may help research sites and sponsors optimize site selection to achieve enrollment, speed, and diversity of goals. We report on one of the first deployments of a multi-AI model solution to optimize site selection for an ongoing clinical trial. Methods: The clinical trials were translated into a standardized digital form expressed as rules fully encompassing the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A patient cohort was created from the criteria using the ConcertAI oncology research database, including site affiliations. The sites had numerical features specific to the protocol indication, such as physician count and projected patient count. Each site was scored by its features with the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to create higher alignment to the best matched sites. Feature weights allowed TOPSIS to emphasize desirable attributes in an interpretable way. A simulated annealing algorithm, adept with nonlinear objectives, explored site combinations, yielding a high-scoring, constraint satisfying solution. Independent simulations measured convergence and provided a distribution of solutions. Shapley analysis clarified site contributions to score and constraints. The implementation was compiled and parallelized. Results: Utilizing a Multiple Myeloma clinical trial protocol with 7 criteria, we formed a cohort of 15,881 patients across 1,246 US clinical trial sites. Each site had 12 features. The weights optimized patient diversity while enrolling at least 10 patients per month across all sites to achieve the targeted study accrual timeline. The result was a set of 3 sites enrolling 12 patients per month with 51% diversity, in agreement with the optimal solution obtained through detailed, multi-week, manual analysis. As constraints increased, and exact verification became impractical, convergence was gauged by decreasing variance in independent solutions. Conclusions: Our study introduced a robust, efficient, and interpretable approach to clinical trial site selection. It addressed the challenges posed by increasingly complicated protocols, requirements for study participant diversity, and heterogeneous site features. The multi-AI model scalability underscored its practical utility in streamlining the site selection process for clinical research networks, academic centers, industry sponsored trials, cooperative group studies, and investigator-initiated studies.

Implementing ABCD studyⓇ MRI sequences for multi-site cohort studies: Practical guide to necessary steps, preprocessing methods, and challenges

Large multi-site studies that combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data across research sites present exceptional opportunities to advance neuroscience research. However, scanner or site variability and non-standardised image acquisition protocols, data processing and analysis pipelines can adversely affect the reliability and repeatability of MRI derived brain measures. We implemented a standardised MRI protocol based on that used in the Adolescent Brain Cognition Development (ABCD)Ⓡ study in two sites, and across four MRI scanners.Twice repeated measurements of a single healthy volunteer were obtained in two sites and in four 3T MRI scanners (vendors: Siemens, Philips, and GE). Imaging data included anatomical scans (T1 weighted, T2 weighted), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). Standardised containerized pipelines were utilised to pre-process the data and different image quality metrics and test-retest variability of different brain metrics were evaluated.The implementation of the MRI protocols was possible with minor adjustments in acquisition (e.g. repetition time (TR), higher b-values) and exporting (DICOM formats) of images due to different technical performance of the scanners. This study provides practical insights into the implementation of standardised sequences and data processing for multisite studies, showcase the benefits of containerised preprocessing tools, and highlights the need for careful optimisation of multisite image acquisition.

Characterization of cancer clinical trials in the community setting.

e13506 Background: Extending clinical trials to community oncology sites is an imperative to meet accrual goals, ensure generalizable results, and facilitate optimal and equitable clinical care. The types of trials attractive to and successful in the community, however, are likely different from those run primarily at academic centers. We analyzed the characteristics of clinical trials open at a network of community oncology practices across the United States in the last 2 years, in order to inform both sponsors and sites about the studies most well-suited for a community setting. Methods: We analyzed characteristics from every clinical trial entered in OncoTrials, a clinical trial screening and tracking tool utilized exclusively by US community oncology practices, between 9/1/2021 through 10/09/2023 via knowledge of the trial NCT number and data available through API from clinicaltrials.gov. Descriptive statistics, including median and range for continuous variables and percentages for categorical variables are reported. Results: 1,310 clinical trials were open across 64 community oncology practices. Sponsors were classified as 80% industry (n=1,054), 15% NIH (n=195), 1% network (n=13) and 5% other (n=48). 93% of studies were interventional, 5% observational, 1% registry and 1% expanded access. Types of interventional studies (n=1,215) and the number of sites that ran them are shown (Table). The median target enrollment across all studies was 235 patients. Individual trials were open at a median of 2 community practices in our cohort (range 1-22 practices); 521 clinical trials (40%) were open at only one practice and 34 trials (2.6%) were open at more than 10 practices. The mean number of unique trials open at a practice during our 2 year observation period was 54 (median 35, range 1-264). Among these trials, the most commonly associated tumor types were lung (15%), pan-solid tumors (14%), breast (11%), lymphoma (6%), colorectal (6%), prostate (5%), gynecologic (4%), bladder (4%), head and neck (4%) and melanoma (4%). Conclusions: Community oncology practices supported a robust portfolio of clinical trials, most commonly focused on treatment of solid tumors. The vast majority were interventional (phase 2-3) and industry-sponsored. Half of sites ran Phase I trials, and Phase IV trials were uncommon but had broad participation across sites. Notably, a large proportion of studies were only open at one single site in a cohort of 64 community oncology practices. This highlights the opportunity for sponsors to leverage networks, consortia, and further research to ensure that appropriate studies are accessible among a broader range of community research sites. [Table: see text]

Enhancing diverse representation in clinical studies: Recommendations from external subject matter experts (SMEs) and patients to optimize protocols, informed consent and study designs.

e23004 Background: Well-characterized disparities in clinical research have disproportionately affected patients of color, particularly in underserved communities. To tackle these barriers, the Roche-Genentech U.S. Advancing Inclusive Research Site Alliance solicited feedback from external SMEs about recommendations for strategies and tactics to increase Black, Hispanic/Latinx and older adult patient clinical research participation. Methods: Feedback was received virtually and via 1:1 interviews from 13 external SMEs defined as investigators, study coordinators or other clinical research roles that engage directly with patients regarding a Phase III small-cell lung cancer protocol as a use case. Two patients provided recommendations for future clinical study protocols and designs. Additionally, multiple healthcare providers from International Society of Geriatric Oncology provided recommendations for the inclusion of older adults in study protocols. A cross-functional, pan-Roche-Genentech team reviewed the feedback and finalized all materials. Results: Six key themes emerged: (a) use lay terms and humanizing language in patient materials; (b) integrate patient lifestyle realities by allowing flexibility in protocol inclusion/exclusion criteria; (c) improve the ease of patient participation and seek only what is clinically necessary for study assessment; (d) incorporate options for sites to enable them to make the right, and fastest, decision(s) for patients without sacrificing safety or data quality; (e) show commitment to diversity in words and actions such as including target enrollment goals in protocols and incorporating patient input on protocols before protocol finalization; (f) include older patients > 70 years. Patient feedback reinforced the SME themes, except for inclusion of older patients. Patients suggested efficiency, clarity and local community realities be factored into future study designs. Some examples are fewer clinic visits, remote visit options, providing patient transportation and food support in connection with protocol-required visits. Patients also highlighted the importance of explaining the probability of side-effects, clinics being present in the community and the need for greater education and awareness regarding barriers to clinical trial enrollment. One patient relayed the importance of early trial education through general physician offices before a trial is actually needed for a given patient. Conclusions: These SME recommendations provide actionable insights to inform protocol design and patient recruitment strategy and tactics to enhance future protocols from an inclusivity-specific lens. Study teams can use these recommendations to address barriers that make enrollment/retention by underrepresented patient populations difficult.

Optimisation of dose level and vaccination schedule for the VLA15 Lyme borreliosis vaccine candidate among healthy adults: two randomised, observer-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase 2 studies.

Rising Lyme borreliosis incidence rates, potential for severe outcomes, and limitations in accurate and timely diagnosis for treatment initiation suggest the need for a preventive vaccine; however, no vaccine is currently available for human use. We performed two studies in adults to optimise the dose level and vaccination schedule for VLA15, an investigational Lyme borreliosis vaccine targeting outer surface protein A (OspA) serotypes 1-6, which are associated with the most common pathogenic Borrelia species in Europe and North America. Both randomised, observer-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre phase 2 studies included participants aged 18-65 years without recent history of Lyme borreliosis or tick bites. Study one was conducted at nine clinical research and study centre sites in the USA (n=6), Germany (n=2), and Belgium (n=1); study two was conducted at five of the study one US sites. Based on a randomisation list created by an unmasked statistician for each study, participants were randomly assigned via an electronic case report form randomisation module to receive 90 μg (study one only), 135 μg, or 180 μg VLA15 or placebo by intramuscular injection at months 0, 1, and 2 (study one) or 0, 2, and 6 (study two). Study one began with a run-in phase to confirm safety, after which the Data Safety Monitoring Board recommended the removal of the 90 μg group and continuation of the study. In the study one run-in phase, randomisation was stratified by study site, whereas in the study one main phase and in study two, randomisation was stratified by study site, age group, and baseline B burgdorferi (sensu lato) serostatus. All individuals were masked, other than staff involved in randomisation, vaccine preparation or administration, or safety data monitoring. The primary endpoint for both studies was OspA-specific IgG geometric mean titres (GMTs) at 1 month after the third vaccination and was evaluated in the per-protocol population. Safety endpoints were evaluated in the safety population: all participants who received at least one vaccination. Both studies are registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (study one NCT03769194 and study two NCT03970733) and are completed. For study one, 573 participants were screened and randomly assigned to treatment groups between Dec 21, 2018, and Sept, 26, 2019. For study two, 248 participants were screened and randomly assigned between June 26 and Sept 3, 2019. In study one, 29 participants were assigned to receive 90 μg VLA15, 215 to 135 μg, 205 to 180 μg, and 124 to placebo. In study two, 97 participants were assigned to receive 135 μg VLA15, 100 to 180 μg, and 51 to placebo. At 1 month after the third vaccination (ie, month 3), OspA-specific IgG GMTs in study one ranged from 74·3 (serotype 1; 95% CI 46·4-119·0) to 267·4 units per mL (serotype 3; 194·8-367·1) for 90 μg VLA15, 101·9 (serotype 1; 87·1-119·4) to 283·2 units per mL (serotype 3; 248·2-323·1) for 135 μg, and 115·8 (serotype 1; 98·8-135·7) to 308·6 units per mL (serotype 3; 266·8-356·8) for 180 μg. In study two, ranges at 1 month after the third vaccination (ie, month 7) were 278·5 (serotype 1; 214·9-361·0) to 545·2 units per mL (serotype 2; 431·8-688·4) for 135 μg VLA15 and 274·7 (serotype 1; 209·4-360·4) to 596·8 units per mL (serotype 3; 471·9-754·8) for 180 μg. Relative to placebo, the VLA15 groups had more frequent reports of solicited local adverse events (study one: 94%, 95% CI 91-96 vs 26%, 19-34; study two: 96%, 93-98 vs 35%, 24-49 after any vaccination) and solicited systemic adverse events (study one: 69%, 65-73 vs 43%, 34-52; study two: 74%, 67-80 vs 51%, 38-64); most were mild or moderate. In study one, unsolicited adverse events were reported by 52% (48-57) of participants in the VLA15 groups and 52% (43-60) of those in the placebo groups; for study two these were 65% (58-71) and 69% (55-80), respectively. Percentages of participants reporting serious unsolicited adverse events (study one: 2%, 1-4; study two: 4%, 2-7) and adverse events of special interest (study one: 1%, 0-2; study two: 1%, 0-3) were low across all groups. A single severe, possibly related unsolicited adverse event was reported (worsening of pre-existing ventricular extrasystoles, which resolved after change of relevant concomitant medication); no related serious adverse events or deaths were reported. VLA15 was safe, well tolerated, and elicited robust antibody responses to all six OspA serotypes. These findings support further clinical development of VLA15 using the 180 μg dose and 0-2-6-month schedule, which was associated with the greatest immune responses. Valneva.

Association mapping of septoria tritici blotch resistance in bread wheat in Bale and Arsi highlands, Ethiopia

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by the fungal pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici, anamorph Septoria tritici Rob. ex Desm., is an important wheat pathogen worldwide, reported to be major wheat production threating factor, posing considerable yield loss every year. Developing resistant cultivars is an efficient, economical, environmentally friendly and simple approach for managing STB. This study was carried out to evaluate spring bread wheat lines for their reaction to STB disease under field conditions; to associate phenotypic and genotypic data for identification of STB disease resistance; and to identify genomic region(s) associated with resistance to STB in spring bread wheat lines. Two hundred forty (240) spring bread wheat lines were evaluated under field conditions in non-replicated trials, using an augmented design. The trials were conducted at three locations (Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Madda Walabu University Research Site and Sinana Agricultural Research Center) in 2017 main cropping season (July to December). Out of these 240 wheat lines, 123 of them were genotyped with 10263 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) markers and population structure and association mapping analysis was done. The wheat lines showed significant variations in percentage disease severity and area under the disease progress curve at all the three locations they were evaluated. The wheat lines were classified as resistant, moderately resistant, moderately susceptible and susceptible based on the percentage disease severity scored. Five wheat lines were found to be resistant to STB in all the three locations and are recommended for direct release by the national program and parentage purposes in wheat breeding programs. The 123 wheat lines were clustered into 3 subpopulations in which the first cluster contained 99 wheat lines; the second 17 and the last one 7. Among the polymorphic 8127 SNPs markers, 26 markers on chromosomes 7B, 1D, 3A, 2B, 6B and 3D were found to be significantly (P < 0.001) associated with STB resistance so that they can be utilized for marker assisted selection and gene pyramiding in resistance breeding programs.

The effect of an educational program on illness uncertainty in mothers of children with type 1 diabetes: a quasi-experimental study.

The mother is traditionally the primary caregiver for the child, and uncertainty is a major source of psychological distress for parents of sick children. As a result, the current study sought to investigate the impact of an educational program on illness uncertainty in mothers of children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). This is a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design, involving 40 mothers of children with IDDM. After visiting the research site and recruiting eligible mothers, the researcher used the purposive sampling method to randomly assign them to one of two intervention and control groups. Taking into account their needs and conditions, mothers were scheduled for at least three sessions, with a 30-minute interval every other day. The data analysis revealed no significant differences between the two groups in terms of child age and gender, mother age and education level, number of children, and duration of diabetes. There was a significant difference in the total score of uncertainty, total score of ambiguity, lack of clarity, lack of information, unpredictability, and their dimensions between mothers of diabetic children before and after the intervention (P=0.02). Based on the findings, it is recommended that the educational needs of children and their mothers be assessed upon admission and that educational content be prepared and taught accordingly, thereby helping to reduce illness uncertainty in mothers.

The LTAR cropland common experiment in the Lower Mississippi River Basin.

The Lower Mississippi River Basin-Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Site (LMRB-LTAR) encompasses six states from Missouri to the Gulf of Mexico and is coordinated by the USDA-ARS National Sedimentation Laboratory, Oxford, MS. The overarching goal of LTAR is to assess regionally diverse and geographically scalable farming practices for enhanced sustainability of agroecosystem goods and services under changing environment and resource-use conditions. The LMRB-LTAR overall goal is to assess sustainable row crop agricultural production systems that integrate regional environmental and socioeconomic needs. Primary row crops in the region include soybeans, corn, cotton, rice, and sugarcane with crop rotations influenced by commodity crop price and other factors. The field-scale common experiment (CE) includes four row crop farms (26-101 ha) established in 2021 and 2023. Three fields are managed with alternative practices, including reduced tillage, cover crops, and automated prescription irrigation, and three fields are managed with prevailing farming practices, consisting of conventional tillage, no cover crop, and nonprescription irrigation. Treatment effects on crop productivity, soil quality, water use efficiency, water quality, and carbon storage are assessed. Research from the LMRB CE will deliver outcomes linked to overarching LTAR network goals, including innovative agricultural systems, strengthened partnerships, data management technologies, and precision environmental tools.

Fear of Falling: Exploring Associated Factors among Elderly Residents in the Rural Communities of Vietnam.

This research aimed to explore factors associated with the fear of falling (FOF) among community-dwelling older adults in Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five communes in Soc Son, Hanoi, Vietnam, from March to June 2017. We recruited a total of 487 participants, which provided sufficient data for analysis. The outcome variable was fear of falling. Several covariates, including demographics, medical history, general health status, geriatric syndromes, eye diseases, assessment of fall risk environment, timed up-and-go test, and number of standing up in 30 s, were collected. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to determine predictors associated with FOF. The results showed that 54.6% of the participants had FOF. Furthermore, the logistic multivariable regression model revealed several factors associated with FOF among participants in the research sites, including polypharmacy status (OR: 1.79; 95%CI 1.07-2.99), higher scores in quality of life according to the EQ-5D-5L index (OR:6.27; 95%CI: 2.77-14.17), and having fallen during the past 12 months (OR:4.4; 95%CI: 2.39-8.11). These findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between FOF and several associated factors, notably polypharmacy status, quality of life, and having a fall during the past 12 months.

Husbandry Techniques of Lepidochlys olivacea at Raksa Bintana Sea Turtle Conservation, Indonesia

Currently, the threat to sea turtle conservation is still quite high both by natural and anthropogenic (human) factors. Therefore, we try to make efforts in sea turtle conservation, through transferring sea turtle eggs to a semi-natural nest. Subsequently, the rearing of hatchlings that successfully hatched from semi-natural nests. Based on these factors, it is important for us to know how to preserve Lepidochlys olivacea and to analyze the physical and chemical parameters of hatchling rearing. The method of rearing the sea turtles after hatching at the research site has 3 stages, namely moving the newly hatched baby turtles from semi-natural nests to the rearing tanks, 30-day rearing actions in the holding tanks (feeding, changing water, and checking water quality) and releasing the sea turtles to their natural environment, namely the open sea. From the data that has been taken for 30 days, the average temperature results were found to be 26-28oC, for salinity data of 22-25 ppm and for DO data of 7.7-7.9. The measured DO data is still under the range of PP 22 of 2021 Appendix VIII concerning the Implementation of Environmental Protection and Management.

Development Of An Interactive Compensatory Learning Model To Improve The Reading Comprehension Ability Of Grade Xi High School Students In Southeast Maluku Regency And Tual City, Maluku Province

Reading is one of the important competencies in English. So far there are still many high school students who cannot read English texts properly and correctly. Various efforts from the government to improve the quality of education in the field of English through updates to the curriculum, improvement of facilities and improvement of teacher quality. But this is still felt to be unanswered. This research aims to produce a reading learning model product that suits current and future needs in high school. This study used an approach Research and Development. The subjects of the study were 11 teachers and students in 10 schools in the research site. Data collection techniques were carried out using questionnaires, interviews, observations, documentation and tests. Data analysis techniques are carried out using qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques (statistical tests). The results showed that there were differences in students' English learning outcomes for the three groups of good, medium and less who used the learning model interactive Compensatory and conventional learning. This is shown statistically using the t test, where the group of both tcount values (22.58) &gt; ttable (2.02); medium group t valuecount (17.19) &gt; table (2.02); The group lacks tcount value (10.26) &gt; ttable (2.02). Statistically it can be seen that learning using models Interactive Compensatory More effective in improving capabilities reading comprehesion rather than conventional learning. Reading techniques scanning, skimming, bottom-up, top-down In this study produced a reading model Interactive Compensatory.

Assessment of two recent hot dry rock thermal energy production projects

In this paper, we present analyses of laboratory and field data indicating that the current two-well, injection-production system, connected with multiple hydraulic fractures, is a very promising method for extracting heat from hot dry rock (HDR) systems to generate electricity. The current two-well system could be expanded to a three-well system consisting of one injection well and two symmetric producing wells connected via the central hydraulic fracture emanating from the injection well. To improve a uniform distribution of the injected fluid among all hydraulic fracture stages in the injection well, we advocate for field implementation of a newly designed well stimulation technique, the GeoThermOPTIMAL.We first present an analysis of the post-fracturing flow data obtained from an HDR geothermal injection well at the Utah FORGE Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) research field site. The site is adjacent to the Roosevelt hydrothermal (HT) field. The objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of well stimulation in extracting heat from the low-permeability, hot dry granitoid rock in the Utah FORGE research site. The study includes interpreting pressure falloff data obtained during the well stimulation process and employing laboratory-measured core data as a major input in the interpretation of the field falloff data. As a confirmation of the robustness of our analysis in Utah FORGE, we reviewed and analyzed the flow test results published for an injection-production doublet at the Blue Mountain EGS (Project Red) commercial site in Nevada. From the analyses of these two field tests, we have concluded that the interpretation and findings of the Blue Mountain EGS pilot test are consistent with the interpretation and findings from the Utah FORGE field research project test results.In summary, our engineering assessments began with laboratory experiments conducted on various core samples, including those from a granite outcrop and the Utah FORGE geothermal reservoir. These experiments aimed to measure key parameters such as matrix and fracture permeabilities, and porosities (km≈10−18m2, kf,eff≈10−15m2,ϕm≈10−1,andϕf≈10−4). These data served as guides and inputs for analytical and numerical solutions used to match the field pressure response of the geothermal wells. While we did not have core samples from the Blue Mountain EGS wells, we successfully applied the Utah FORGE analysis approach to the Blue Mountain site with cautious optimism.

Assessment on Major Constrains of Enset (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Ensete ventricosum&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) Landrace Production and Management Methods in Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia

Enset (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Ensete ventricosum Cheesman&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;) is important crops in South, South western and Central part of Ethiopia. The assessment was conducted in major enset growing areas of Gurage zone during the 2021 cropping season with the objective of assessing major constrain of enset production and management methods at Cheha and Enemor Enore Woredas. The research site was selected with Gurage zine Agricultural office based on their enset production and cultivation. In each woredas four kebeles and five farmers were selected randomly. Farmers are growing enset landrace as intensive farming methods. In average 5-10 types of enset landraces were planting in their farm land. For propagating from 3-4 years enset landraces were preferred and germinating 50-100 sucker per plant. In both locations disease and wild animal is the major constrain of enset production. At Enemor Enore Woredas both disease and wild animal 60% and disease 25% whereas at Cheha worda disease 47.5% and both disease and wild animal 30% are the major constrains of enset production. In both location bacterial wilt is the major factors affecting enset production. In Cheha woreda 47.6% of enset landraces are tolerant to bacterial wilt reaction while 38.1% is susceptible whereas in Enemore Ener woreda 26.67% enset landraces are tolerant bacterial wilt while 23.33% is susceptible. The higher bacterial wilt prevalence was recorded in Cheha (77%) whereas in Enemore Ener woreda (57%). Among wild animal Porcupine and pig is the major factors for enset production. Therefore, for sustainable enset production, constant pest surveillance, planting a tolerant plant, Burring and rouging of the infected enset landrace, application of manure, removal of infected debris, and awareness creation are recommended to the local farmer.

A study on optimizing public spaces in rural heritage tourist sites from spatial perception: The case of Jinggang historic town

The development of cultural and rural tourism has fostered the expansion of heritage sites while concurrently presenting challenges such as resource wastage and cultural degradation. Optimizing spatial use requires a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics inherent to these sites. An emerging trend involves the integration of human perception technology into spatial perception research. Thus, to examine the correlation between alterations in physical and visual environments, tourists&amp;rsquo; perceived changes, and primary influencing elements in rural heritage tourism sites, Jinggang &amp;ndash; a historic and cultural town in Changsha, Hunan province, China &amp;ndash; was selected as the research site. A comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis was conducted by integrating physical environment data from public spaces. These data include air temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), equivalent sound pressure level (ESPL), visual environment data (including green view index [GVI], sky view index [SVI], road and pavement view index (R&amp;PVI), and construction view index [CVI]), along with biosensing data (level of stress [LS]) collected from tourists. The findings indicate the following: (i) the LS of the public space in Jinggang falls within the normal range but remains generally high, with the humanistic landscape, dominated by traditional architecture, scoring higher than the natural landscape; (ii) regarding spatial perception, the quantity of physical environment elements influencing LS surpasses that of visual environment elements, and the most relevant indicators, including ESPL, R&amp;PVI, and CVI, all contribute to tourists&amp;rsquo; LS; and (iii) ESPL significantly influences LS within the environment domain, where higher environmental noise decibels correspond to tourists&amp;rsquo; increased LS. The study concludes that historic towns possess distinct characteristics as types of rural heritage tourism sites. This study provides valuable insights into enhancing spatial environmental quality and promoting an appealing and sustainable rural setting by implementing public space optimization strategies in rural heritage sites.

Quantifying the Distribution of Evapotranspiration at PV and APV Sites Using Soil Moisture

Solar panels affect the distribution of water and energy reaching the ground causing changes in soil moisture, evapotranspiration and percolation. In the context of Agri-Photovoltaics those changes influence plant growth and yield as well as irrigation demands while large Photovoltaic installations could potentially lead to changes in the water balance of the catchment. In either case, evapotranspiration plays an important role as the installation of panels of any design leads to shading thereby reducing the water loss to the soil through evapotranspiration. As it is difficult to measure evapotranspiration, the authors proceeded using soil moisture observations to quantify evapotranspiration pattern in dry periods. They found on average a 44 % higher evapotranspiration rate over 12 dry periods of varying conditions under the panels compared to a reference area at the research site Pillnitz. However, similar observations at the second site, Weesow show also a reversed behaviour due to reduced soil water availability as a result of the higher evapotranspiration at the reference area.

Parameter Sensitivity Analysis for Long-Term Nuclide Migration in Granite Barriers Considering a 3D Discrete Fracture–Matrix System

As a geological barrier for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal in China, granite is crucial for blocking nuclide migration into the biosphere. However, the high uncertainty associated with the 3D geological system, such as the stochastic discrete fracture networks in granite, significantly impedes practical safety assessments of HLW disposal. This study proposes a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS)-based simulation framework for evaluating the long-term barrier performance of nuclide migration in fractured rocks. Statistical data on fracture geometric parameters, on-site hydrogeological conditions, and relevant migration parameters are obtained from a research site in Northwestern China. The simulation models consider the migration of three key nuclides, Cs-135, Se-79, and Zr-93, in fractured granite, with mechanisms including adsorption, advection, diffusion, dispersion, and decay considered as factors. Subsequently, sixty MCS realizations are performed to conduct a sensitivity analysis using the open-source software OpenGeoSys-5 (OGS-5). The results reveal the maximum and minimum values of the nuclide breakthrough time Tt (12,000 and 3600 years, respectively) and the maximum and minimum values of the nuclide breakthrough concentration Cmax (4.26 × 10−4 mSv/a and 2.64 × 10−5 mSv/a, respectively). These significant differences underscore the significant effect of the uncertainty in the discrete fracture network model on long-term barrier performance. After the failure of the waste tank (1000 years), nuclides are estimated to reach the outlet boundary 6480 years later. The individual effective dose in the biosphere initially increases and then decreases, reaching a peak value of Cmax = 4.26 × 10−4 mSv/a around 350,000 years, which is below the critical dose of 0.01 mSv/a. These sensitivity analysis results concerning nuclide migration in discrete fractured granite can enhance the simulation and prediction accuracy for risk evaluation of HLW disposal.

Assessment of discontinuity related instability potential in a surge pool cavern: kinematic and distinct element approach

Safe and economical subsurface excavation requires a holistic assessment of the ground. Possibilities of stress-induced and structural failures need thorough consideration before excavation. Over-supporting an excavation is uneconomical while under-supporting can lead to disastrous results. Thus, in this research, an attempt has been made to devise the most efficient and reliable support system. An under-construction underground surge pool cavern to store and lift water at the Indian state of Telangana was taken up as the research site. The methodology involved in-depth geological and geotechnical investigations to identify possible adverse features. Rock mass rating and Q-index, were implemented for rockmass characterization. The surge pool was constructed using the Norwegian Method of Tunnelling (NMT) and validated with BIS codes. The stability analysis and support design were carried out with the help of distinct element simulation and wedge analysis for the surge pool heading portion. A right crown portion was found to be most susceptible to failure, which was also confirmed by the both the analysis. A thorough examination led to the most robust and economical support design for long-term stability.