Management Science Research Articles

Evaluation of electrolyzed water to control fungal trunk pathogens in grapevine nurseries.

Grapevine producers demand solutions to control fungal trunk pathogens (FTPs) in nurseries. Adopting integrated strategies combining several control methods has been indicated as the best approach to prevent or reduce infections on grapevine propagation material. In recent years, electrolyzed water (EW) has emerged as a sustainable alternative for disinfection. Thus, the objectives of our study were: (i) to determine the effect of EW on the conidial germination and mycelial growth of a wider selection of FTPs associated with different grapevine trunk diseases; and (ii) to evaluate the efficacy of EW to reduce infections caused by FTPs on grapevine planting material during the propagation process in a commercial nursery. In vitro experiments demonstrated the capacity of different EW products to reduce conidial germination and mycelium survival of selected FTPs belonging to different genera and species, even given that the results were variable depending on the type of product, pathogen evaluated and time of treatment. In two different nursery experiments, conducted in 2021 and 2023, EW-treated plants showed lower incidence of Petri and black-foot associated pathogens when compared with the untreated ones, although these differences were statistically significant only in 2023. Moreover, there were no negative effects of the EW treatments regarding the viability of the grafted plants. Our results about the effect of EW against conidia germination and mycelium survival of FTPs, and the results of the nursery trials, suggest that EW could have promising applications in the grapevine nursery process. This treatment could be integrated with other complementary management strategies and also be extended to nurseries of other fruit and nut crops, in which FTPs are currently becoming important emerging diseases. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Nutrition management program for older adults in Ningxia nursing homes, China: Evidence-based practice and the Delphi method.

To construct an evidence-based practice program for the nutrition management of older adults in nursing homes. The program will provide a basis for improving or solving the nutrition management problems of older adults in nursing homes. Study based on guideline evidence and Delphi method. Comprehensively searched, assessed and summarized the evidence and aggregated best evidence and a preliminary program for nutrition management of older adults in nursing homes. Then used the Delphi method to assess the applicability of the preliminary program and the obstacle factors to modify, supplement and improve the nutrition management program. Baseline survey data were collected from three nursing homes in Ningxia, China, and guideline evidence was obtained through systematic searches of the Cochrane Library, PubMed and other scientific databases, as well as relevant official websites. A total of 350 older adults residing nursing homes and 160 nurses participated in the baseline survey. To ensure the program's applicability and identify potential implementation obstacles, 15 experts from local Grade-A hospitals, nursing homes, and community health centers were consulted for review. A 14-item, 56-best-evidence nutrition management program for older adults in nursing homes was developed based on five guideline evidences and baseline survey findings. This is a systematic and comprehensive nutritional management program for older adults in nursing homes based on guideline evidence, which can provide a standardized basis for the implementation of scientific nutritional management in nursing homes in Ningxia. Managers should promote the translation of evidence into practice in accordance with the specific circumstances of individual nursing homes.

The Soil and Water Conservation Effects of Different Plant Communities and Biological Soil Crust Symbiosis Patterns in the Ecologically Fragile Area of Central Ningxia

Biological soil crusts are complex biological soil layers formed by mosses, lichens, cyanobacteria, and the underlying soil, which together with plants affect rainfall infiltration, surface runoff, soil evaporation, and water movement in the soil. The soil desertification and soil erosion in the ecologically fragile areas of central Ningxia are serious problems, and the ecological environment is extremely fragile. Effective ecological restoration technologies are urgently needed. This study took the grassland in the ecologically fragile area of central Ningxia as the object and investigated the impact of three plant communities and symbiotic patterns of biological soil crusts on soil erosion through field simulated rainfall experiments. The results showed that: (1) At a rainfall intensity of 90 mm h−1, the initial runoff time of each slope was significantly positively correlated with plant community type and biological soil crust coverage, and prolonged with the increase of plant community type and biological soil crust coverage. (2) With the extension of rainfall duration, the cumulative runoff on each slope exhibited an increasing trend. (3) The sediment concentration in runoff on slopes under different plant community and biological soil crust symbiotic patterns was significantly different, with the sediment concentration decreasing as the type of plant community and the coverage of biological soil crusts increased. (4) With the increase in the diversity of plant communities and the coverage of biological crusts, there was a gradual reduction in the volume of accumulated sediment. This study offers scientific management strategies and practical guidance for soil and water conservation efforts in the ecologically vulnerable areas of central Ningxia, highlighting the importance of promoting these symbiotic models within the region.

Ecological integration of Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 in South Korea: a comprehensive study of co-occurrence and interaction patterns with native social wasps.

The spread of Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 (Asian hornet) in South Korea poses a threat to biodiversity and agriculture. Traditional species interaction models often fail to capture the complexity of invasive species dynamics. This study used association rule learning (ARL) and clustering analyses to explore the interactions of V. velutina with native Vespidae species in South Korea, with the aim of uncovering patterns of coexistence and competition. Over 4 years (2020-2023), 304 traps were strategically placed across South Korea to collect data on Vespidae species. Our findings showed that Vespula flaviceps, Vespa crabro, and Vespula koreensis were the most frequently encountered species. V. velutina was also widespread, suggesting its successful integration into local ecosystems. The ARL analysis, using the 'apriori' algorithm, identified significant co-occurrence patterns and potential interactions. The rules generated indicated both competitive and coexistent relationships with varying levels of association strength across different regions. Clustering analyses, including hierarchical and k-means clustering, grouped species based on their occurrence similarities. The distinct clusters formed in the analysis highlighted the unique ecological roles and interactions of V. velutina and other Vespidae species in South Korean ecosystems. This study confirms the successful establishment of V. velutina in diverse South Korean ecosystems and highlights its complex interactions with native species. These findings support the need for nuanced management strategies that consider the intricate ecological relationships of V. velutina. This approach is crucial for the effective management of invasive species and ecosystem conservation. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Population structure, spatial aggregation, and sampling plan for the Texas citrus mite, Eutetranychus banksi (Acari: Tetranychidae) on citrus.

Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is an invasive spider mite native to the Americas. In 2013 it invaded the main citrus-growing area in Spain producing significant damage and requiring chemical treatments. This work examines its population structure, spatial distribution and presents a sampling plan, which will assist in developing an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. There were differences in the population structure on fruits and leaves, as well as between leaves from different flushes with fluctuations over time correlated with variations in sex ratio. No differences in aggregation at the different plant strata were found; however, immature stages showed a higher aggregation than adults, with females being the sex with the lowest aggregation. There was a high correlation between E. banksi motile forms and adult females with the total population, thus both were used as reference stages to develop sampling plans. We recommend binomial sampling of 100 leaves for female monitoring, sampling two leaves per tree on 25 trees per transect regularly spaced along two diagonal transects, the first oriented northeast to southwest and the second northwest to southeast. To be more accurate, it is possible to survey the presence/absence of motile forms. In this case, four leaves per tree in 50 trees per transect should be monitored. This study has resulted in the first sampling plan for E. banksi, one of the most damaging citrus mite species described so far. The binomial sampling plan involves monitoring reference developmental stages, as well as a reasonable sample size that makes it applicable in field sampling for decisions making based on a future intervention threshold. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Receptor interactions of protoxin and activated Vip3Aa structural conformations in Spodoptera exigua.

The Vip3Aa insecticidal protein, produced by Bacillus thuringiensis, has been effectively used in commercial Bt-crops to manage lepidopteran pests. Upon ingestion by larvae, the protoxin is processed by midgut proteases into the activated protein and binds specifically to its receptors in the midgut, leading to insect mortality. Cryo-EM resolution of the trypsin-processed Vip3Aa protein unveiled structural remodelling of the N-terminal region during the transition from protoxin to activated protein. This conformational change has been demonstrated to be crucial for toxicity against Spodoptera exigua larvae, a major global lepidopteran pest. In this study, we investigated the relevance of the structural remodelling for the specific binding to midgut receptors. We conducted in vitro binding assays with radiolabelled proteins and brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from S. exigua, employing structural mutants that lock the protein in either its protoxin or its activated conformation. Our results indicate that both structural stages of the protein share binding sites in the midgut epithelium. Moreover, in vivo competition assays revealed that Vip3Aa is able to bind to functional receptors in S. exigua larvae both as protoxin and as activated protein. Altogether, our findings point to both structural conformations contributing to receptor binding. In vivo, either spontaneous structural shift upon proteolytic cleavage or receptor-mediated remodelling could be occurring. However, the timing and context in which the conformational change occurs could influence membrane insertion and toxicity. Our results show the complex interplay between proteolytic processing, protein structure and receptor interactions in Vip3Aa's toxicity. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Patterns of herbicide resistance in Raphanus raphanistrum revealed by comprehensive testing and statistical analysis.

Raphanus raphanistrum causes $40 million total revenue losses annually in Western Australia partly due to its historically-documented ability to evolve herbicide resistance to multiple modes of action. In this study, 376 field-sampled populations of R. raphanistrum were tested for resistance to 21 herbicides applied at the recommended label rate. Eight treatments were herbicide mixtures with two, three or four modes of action. A total of 7199 individual resistance tests were conducted across 4 years by screening approximately 104 000 individual seeds and seedlings. The mean survival of individuals within a population for all standalone herbicides was 9%, whereas survival was significantly decreased to 3.5% with a herbicide mixture. Some herbicides such as triasulfuron (herbicide Group 2), 2,4-D (Group 4) or diflufenican (Group 12) were highly impacted by resistance, with frequencies of resistant populations being > 50%. Conversely, there was negligible resistance to glyphosate (Group 9) or protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitors (tiafenacil, saflufenacil + trifludimoxazin, fomesafen: Group 14), and pre-emergence herbicides (i.e., atrazine or mesotrione: Groups 5 and 27, respectively) remained largely effective. Binary, ternary or quaternary mixtures of Groups 4, 6, 12 and 27 herbicides reduced the frequency of high-level resistant populations to 7.1%, 3.8% or 0%, respectively. The cost-effective control of R. raphanistrum remains a challenge due to herbicide resistance. Raphanus raphanistrum management relies heavily on herbicide uses not yet compromised by resistance, such as pre-emergence herbicides (atrazine, fomesafen, mesotrione), glyphosate, and mixtures of two, three or four modes of action including bromoxynil, diflufenican, MCPA, picolinafen, pyrasulfotole and topramezone. Strategies that integrate effective herbicide use patterns, novel modes of action and efficiently-mechanized non-chemical weed control options (i.e., seed destructors) can completely constrain the selection of herbicide resistance in this highly adaptable species. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

UV-exposure decreases antimicrobial activities of a grapevine cane extract against Plasmopara viticola and Botrytis cinerea as a consequence of stilbene modifications-a kinetic study.

Stilbenoid extracts, such as those originating from grapevine by-products (e.g. canes), are of interest for use as biopesticides in vineyard owing to their antimicrobial activities. However, stilbenoids are unstable in the environment, especially under light. This study aimed to chemically characterize the effect of UV light on stilbenoids present in a grapevine cane extract (CE), and to evaluate the antimicrobial activities against two major grapevine pathogens (Plasmopara viticola and Botrytis cinerea) of grapevine extracts exposed to UV. Treatment with UV (365 nm) on a grapevine CE led to degradation of stilbenoids (up to 71% after 1 h). The stilbenoid stability depended on their chemical structure: only those possessing CC, as trans-resveratrol and trans-ε-viniferin, were affected with first their isomerization and secondly their oxidation/cyclization. As a consequence, UV-exposed extracts (UV-CEs) showed reduced antimicrobial activities against the two pathogens (mycelium and spores). For instance, regarding P. viticola, an UV-CE exposed during 4 h showed an almost total loss of its activity on oomycete development and a 2.4-fold inhibition of zoospore mobility in comparison to CE. For B. cinerea, the inhibition capacity of the same UV-CE was reduced by only 1.1-fold on mycelial development and by 3.2-fold on conidial germination compared to CE. UV light triggered modifications on the structure of bioactive stilbenoids, resulting in losses of their antimicrobial activities. Photoprotection of stilbenoids has to be considered in the perspective of using them in vineyards as biopesticides. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Agro-input dealers' perspectives on the design of a certification scheme for pesticide risk reduction.

While pesticides are essential for crop protection and food security, they pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Agro-input dealers can play an important role in mitigating pesticide risks, given that they are a major source of pesticides and plant health information for many developing-country farmers. In this article, we assess the willingness of agro-input dealers to offer integrated pest management-based advisory services and promote pesticide risk reduction through a voluntary certification scheme. Using survey data from 557 agro-input dealers in Uganda and a discrete choice experiment, we find that the proposed certification scheme is significantly valued by agro-input dealers, particularly for its potential to provide training opportunities and ensure safety to human health and the environment. Agro-input dealers have a positive attitude towards a certification scheme that restricts the sale of high-risk pesticide products, especially if it stimulates additional income-generating opportunities. Further analysis shows that preferences for voluntary certification attributes are influenced by certification experience, agro-dealership experience, business ownership status and incidence of acute pesticide poisoning. The study findings demonstrate that agro-input dealers are conscious of pesticide risks to human and environmental health and are keen to participate in a certification scheme promoting safer plant protection products. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Ex vivo delivery of dsRNA targeting ryanodine receptors for control of Tuta absoluta.

RNA interference (RNAi) is an endogenous eukaryote viral defence mechanism representing a unique form of post-transcriptional gene silencing. Owing to its high specificity, this technology is being developed for use in dsRNA-based biopesticides for control of pest insects. Whilst many lepidopteran species are recalcitrant to RNAi, Tuta absoluta, a polyphagous insect responsible for extensive crop damage, is sensitive. Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) are intracellular calcium channels regulating calcium ion (Ca2+) release. The chemical pesticide class of diamides functions agonistically against lepidopteran RyR, resulting in uncontrolled Ca2+ release, feeding cessation and death. Resistance to diamides has emerged in T. absoluta, derived from RyR point mutations. RNAi was used to target RyR transcripts of T. absoluta. Data presented here demonstrate the systemic use of exogenous T. absoluta RyR-specific (TaRy) dsRNA in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) to significantly downregulate expression of the target gene, resulting in significant insect mortality and reduced leaf damage. Using a leaflet delivery system, daily dosing of 3 μg TaRy dsRNA for 72 h resulted in 50% downregulation of the target gene and 50% reduction in tomato leaf damage. Corrected larval mortality and adult emergence were reduced by 38% and 33%, respectively. TaRy dsRNA demonstrated stability in tomato leaves ≤72 h after dosing. This work identifies TaRy as a promising target for RNAi control of this widespread crop pest. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Multimodel-based quantitative source apportionment and risk assessment of soil heavy metals: A reliable method to achieve regional pollution traceability and management

To strengthen the control of pollution sources and promote soil pollution management of agricultural land, this study constructed a comprehensive source apportionment framework, which significantly improved the reliability of potential source analysis compared with the traditional single model. The spatial distribution pattern of agricultural soil heavy metals (SHMs) content in Lintong, a typical river valley city in China, was determined and the degree of contamination was evaluated. A scientific source apportionment methodological framework was constructed through correlation analysis methods together with multiple source apportionment receptor models. Finally, the Monte Carlo simulation method was used to derive the results of the human health risk assessment (HHRA). The results revealed the following: (1) Agricultural soils were moderately and mildly polluted, accounting for 28.8 % and 71.2 % of the total number of sampling points, respectively. (2) The overall correlation of heavy metals (HMs) was strong according to the coupling analysis of the SHMs, in which a strong correlation (0.8–1) was reached among Cu, Ni, Pb, Cr and Zn, indicating that these HMs were most likely homologous or composite. (3) Multimodel analysis of the SHMs sources revealed that the first and second principal components were agricultural (41.36 %) and industrial (19.69 %) sources, respectively, and the remaining principal components were road traffic, natural factors, and atmospheric deposition or surface runoff, respectively. (4) The average comprehensive noncarcinogenic health risk indices for adults and children were 4.2259E-02 and 1.4194E-01, respectively, which were within the slight risk range, indicating that the risk caused by SHMs to the human body can be almost negligible. This study adopted a mixed method to reveal the risk of SHMs pollution and its sources, which provides some reference and technical support for traceability analysis, zoning control, and health risk studies of regional pollutants and is helpful for formulating scientific management measures and targeting control policies.

Exploring changes in epibenthic food web structure after implementation of a water-sediment regulation scheme

The water-sediment regulation scheme (WSRS) in the Yellow River is a large-scale initiative to artificially regulate the flow of sediment to the sea, thereby increasing the flood-carrying capacity of the riverbed and reservoirs. Currently, systematic studies on ecological impacts of WSRS at ecosystem-level are still insufficient. This limitation hampers the pursuit of a ‘green’, healthy, ecosystem and sustainable fisheries. This study constructed the topological structure of food webs in the Yellow River Estuary (YRE) before, during, and after implementation of the WSRS, analyzing changes in food web complexity and key species based on fishery independent data collected in June, July, and August 2023. The results showed decreases from 59 to 52 in the number of trophic species, and from 539 to 395 in the number of feeding relationships after WSRS implementation. Increased node density, decreased link density, and decreased structural complexity index also indicated a simplification of the YRE food web structure after WSRS implementation. The relatively low value of the characteristic path length indicated that the YRE food web has high connectivity with short path lengths of trophic interaction. Based on the ranking of various topological indices, Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicas) and mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) persisted as the key species. Our research revealed limited potential ecological effects that WSRS may have on the YRE food web over a short period. The effects did not persist, and omnivorous key species were identified as being critical in contributing to overall system resilience. These omnivores with high complexity, connectivity and low path lengths allowed the food web to quickly dissipate the exogenous disruption from the WSRS. This provides a theoretical basis for assessing the future ecological health and scientific management of YRE fisheries and similar large estuaries for which sediment transport mitigation is under consideration.

Seasonal variations and hydrological management regulate nutrient transport in cascade damming: Insights from carbon and nitrogen isotopes

Reservoirs around the world have significantly altered the natural transport of nutrients in rivers. However, the specific effects of the cascade damming on the migration, transformation, and environmental consequences of these nutrients remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed spatiotemporal variations in water chemistry, nutrient concentrations, stable isotope of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC) and nitrate isotope (δ15N-NO3-) in seven cascade reservoirs along the Wujiang River, each characterized by different regulatory regimes. Our findings reveal that the average absolute changes in concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and silicon dioxide (SiO2) during the wet season (WS, spring and summer) were 2.4, 1.4, and 1.1 times higher than those observed in the dry season (DS, autumn and winter). During the WS, the average apparent retention efficiency (*RETf) values in the Hongjiadu reservoir were 97 % for TN, 98 % for TP, and 95 % for SiO2, indicating substantial nutrient consumption in the cascading reservoirs. Conversely, during the DS, the *RETf values for TN, TP, and SiO2 were negative, suggesting notable nutrient accumulation within the reservoirs. The nutrient fluxes released downstream from the cascade reservoirs in the Wujiang River were significantly greater than the upstream inflow fluxes. These findings help demonstrate how downstream discharge across cascade reservoirs amplifies nutrient flux disparities due to dam construction. Our study enhances the understanding of how cascade dam construction impacts nutrient dynamics, supporting the optimization of reservoir operation models and advancing scientific water resource management and conservation efforts.

Pesticide exposure of operators during mixing and loading a drone: towards a stratified exposure assessment.

This study evaluated operator exposure during mixing and loading phases of drone-based pesticide application, specifically examining potential and actual exposure during handling of concentrated and diluted pesticide products. It aims to clarify the differences in exposure levels between these two scenarios with implications for exposure risk assessment. Results demonstrate that mixing concentrated products poses the primary exposure, while transferring diluted mixtures to the drone tank results in significantly lower exposure figures. Personal protective equipment (PPE) significantly mitigates potential exposure, particularly during mixing. Hand exposure contributes to 50-75% of total exposure. These data facilitate refined exposure and risk assessments by distinguishing between handling concentrated and diluted products, allowing a stratification of exposure for these scenarios and enabling the application of appropriate dermal absorption rates for each scenario. The results also confirm that one layer of work clothing and protective gloves significantly reduce the operator exposure, which highlights the importance of wearing adequate protective clothing and gloves by operators, especially during the mixing phase. These insights contribute to the development of novel science-based safety assessments and improved operator protection in drone-assisted pesticide application. © 2024 Bayer AG. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Soil and Microbial Biomass Response to Land-Use Changes in the Loess Plateau

Vegetation restoration is a critical strategy for addressing ecosystem degradation globally. However, understanding the specific impacts of land-use changes, particularly the conversion of farmland to forestland and grassland, on soil nutrients and microbial biomass in the Loess Plateau remains limited and requires further evaluation. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore how these conversions affect soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and microbial biomass components under various land-use patterns. We studied the SOC, TN, TP, soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) content and their ratios under six land-use patterns (Farmland (FL), Abandoned cropland (ACL), Natural grassland (NG), Alfalfa grassland (Medicago sativa L. (MS)), Spruce forestland (Picea asperata Mast. (PA)) and Cypress forestland (Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (PO))). The conversion of FL to grassland and forestland significantly increased C:N and C:P by 9.82~64.12%, 10.57~126.05%, and 51.44~113.40%, 22.10~116.09%, respectively. The conversion of FL to ACL reduced the C:N and C:P by 5.34~13.57% and 1.51~7.55%, respectively. The conversion of FL to NG can increase soil N:P. The conversion of FL to grassland and forestland increased soil MBC, MBN, and MBP by −31.54~84.48%, −48.39~1533.93%, −46.55~173.85%, and −34.96~17.13%, 68.72~432.14%, −38.39~318.46%, respectively. However, the MBC, MBN, and MBP contents in the soil converted from FL to ACL varied from −28.21~11.95%, 11.17~531.25%, and −82.64~70.77%, respectively. Soil SOC, TN, TP, available potassium (AK), pH, and soil bulk density (BD) are the main factors causing microbial biomass differences. These results indicate that converting farmland into forestland and grassland can improve soil nutrient structure and increase soil microbial biomass and carbon accumulation. The results of this study provide theoretical support for the scientific management of regional land.

Research and practice in occupational and organisational psychology: Are we learning from the lessons of our history?

Up until recently, there has been a trend to artificially separate the history of scientific development from the activities or the ‘doing’ of psychology. However, a movement away from a history of personalities towards a history of ideas in psychology is evident in recent decades. Thus, attempting to write a chronological or ‘great person’ history of organisational psychology has limited value in that it runs the risk of suggesting a neat and linear progression that reveals little of the different forces that have shaped the development of the field. Thus, in the present paper, I will examine some of the key landmarks in the field and reflect on the key historical factors informing our approach to practice and research in occupational and organisational psychology (OP). This selective review of the field is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather the challenge is to reflect on the two major historical narratives that have shaped the field of OP; namely the scientific management and humanistic. These two narratives have valorised different approaches to the research and practice in OP. The paper delineates how they have been contradictory and/or unconnected, and how this intellectual zoo has had deleterious effects on the development of OP. The scientific management tradition has dehumanised and lessened the role of both the individual and context resulting in both reductive research and practice. Conversely, the humanistic approach, rooted in ethics and social justice, has been allowed to either drift towards other disciplines (e.g. sociology, philosophy) or marginalised to the edges of OP. This paper is a call for us to inject our intellectual history directly into the study of OP.

The Effect of Digital Social Influence on Attitudinal Change and Purchase Behavioral Intention of Consumers

Objective: The objective of our research is to study the phenomenon of digital social influence through a set of determinants linked on the one hand to the characteristics of the influencer, such as credibility, congruence and parasocial interaction, and on the other hand to the content disseminated, which must combine originality, uniqueness, reliability and argumentative force. Theorical framework : The article highlights the various theories used to study the crucial role of the social influencer in changing the attitudes and purchasing intentions of Moroccan consumers, such as the credibility model, the electronic word-of-mouth (E-WOM) model, the SOR model and the theory of reasoned action. Method : The methodology adopted to explain this topical phenomenon is based on descriptive methods supported by documentary analysis techniques in order to draw out the various theoretical concepts to clarify and provide answers to the many questions raising the issue of the credibility, homophily and popularity of the source, as well as the nature of the arguments presented in its content and their role in the process of forming consumer attitudes and purchase intentions. Results and Discussion: The results obtained show that the para-social interaction that exists between the influencer and the members of his or her community, social and physical attractiveness, homophily and credibility are basic criteria that, each in their own way, influence the subscriber's attitude and intention to buy. This work also confirms the idea that the perceived uniqueness and quality of publications appear to be crucial in strengthening the perceived trust between influencers and subscribers. Research Implications: This research will be of unprecedented managerial use, firstly by encouraging the regulation of the legal status of the digital influencer in Morocco, secondly by setting up specialised and in-depth university training in content production and social media management, and lastly by encouraging investment in scientific research in this rapidly expanding field, the direction of which is still emerging. Originality/Value: The originality of this research lies in its interdisciplinary nature, combining, on the one hand, the theories of persuasion from social psychology and, on the other, the theories of attitude and purchase intention from management sciences. The added value is the proposal of an appropriate conceptual model to respond to our problem linked to the role of the social digital influencer in the attitudinal change of his subscribers.

AutoGeoFAIR: A framework for evaluating the sharing degree of open earth surface system data based on extended FAIR principles

Expert participation and collaboration are an efficient, transparent, credible and innovative way to implement open scientific data management, evaluation and analytical mining. An unprecedented surge in openly accessible earth surface system (ESS) data across web platforms has emerged. This data is characterized by dispersion, multi-sourcing, heterogeneity, and multi-modality, and predominantly manifests through thematic sharing websites, data services, metadata, and journal publications, particularly data papers. Addressing the pressing need to swiftly evaluate the sharing degree of these openly shared ESS data sets constitutes a new frontier in this domain. Current frameworks and tools designed for open scientific data sharing lack direct applicability to the intricacies of earth surface systems, thereby impeding users’ access to data of high sharing degree. This study introduces an ESS-oriented evaluation tool tailored to assess the sharing degree of open ESS data. Central to this tool are the components of an evaluation metric system and an evaluation model. Leveraging the principles of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), a comprehensive sharing degree assessment index comprising 19 secondary metrics categorized under 5 primary metrics is formulated. Furthermore, a novel evaluation model for quantifying the sharing degree of open scientific data is proposed, integrating hierarchical analysis and the entropy method. This integration effectively captures the nuanced uncertainties and variability inherent in the data, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of evaluation outcomes. The resulting software tool facilitates rapid and quantitative assessment of open scientific data sharing degree within the ESS domain, thereby enabling the recommendation of highly-shared datasets to researchers and modelers alike.

Diversity and ecotourism on multipurpose marine protected areas

Beyond its ecological benefits, there is a growing call for the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) for varied economic activities. Due to the decline in the wild catch, there is an increase in demand for farmed fish and a call for the development of aquaculture production in marine protected areas. In addition, the diversity in marine protected areas is suitable for the introduction of a tourism industry. Therefore, we need to design a clear scientific management system that balances the main goal of marine protected areas with the economic benefits, of aquaculture and tourism activities. This paper aims to determine the optimal size of the marine protected areas, the aquaculture size in the protected areas, and the level of tourism activities that maximize the overall benefit of the stakeholders. This is vital for the co-existence and sustainability of different sectors such as aquaculture production, tourism activities, and open-access fisheries.

Assessment of water retention dynamic in water resource formation area: A case study of the northern slope of the Qinling Mountains in China

Study RegionThe northern slope of Qinling Mountains (NQL) is an important water retention (WR) area in China, which guarantees the utilization of water resources in the plain area. However, the effects of significant changes in climate and land cover on WR have not been quantitatively studied in recent years. Study FocusIn this study, we quantified the relative impacts of climate and land cover changes on WR at NQL and predicted the future changes of WR under different climate scenarios (SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5). New Hydrological Insights for the RegionThe results indicated that WR in NQL has exhibited an overall increase from 1985 to 2020 at a rate of 1.10 mm/a, with climate and land cover change explaining 86.3 % and 13.7 % of this change, respectively. Although precipitation has increased since 1998, the compounding effects of land cover change and precipitation intensity increase have led to a slight decline of WR magnitude and efficiency due to their offsetting impacts. Under future climate change, the WR capacity changes in the SSP2–4.5 are relatively stable, while the significant increase in temperature under the SSP5–8.5 lead to a decreasing trend in WR efficiency. In addition, we proposed an indicator framework to evaluate WR using WR efficiency and baseflow lag time. Our results may provide valuable insights for sustainable utilization and scientific management of water resources.