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The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill) established the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program. The program funded $75M for 5 years, split evenly between the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), both programs within the US Department of Agriculture. The agencies solicited joint programs from states with high densities of feral swine in two phases. In Texas, NRCS and APHIS submitted three multi-county project areas along watersheds for Phase I funding and one eradication effort along with two crop protection projects in Phase II. The eradication project was adjacent to a Phase I project area and after extensive surveillance, it was determined to be successful, the first such project in Texas. All the remaining projects were designed with a direct management effort, a self-help effort through trap loans and a damage assessment process. Landowner in-kind contributions were identified and captured to detail the effects of the program.

Introduction: Due to limited arable land resources, intercropping has emerged as an efficient and sustainable production method for increasing total grain yield per unit land area. Maize-soybean strip intercropping (MSSI) technology is being widely promoted and applied across China. However, the combination of optimal density for achieving higher production efficiency of both soybean and maize remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences in yield, economic benefits, land, and nitrogen (N) efficiency in MSSI systems under different densities. Methods: Five maize/soybean density combinations (67,500/97,500 plants ha-1, D1; 67,500/120,000 plants ha-1, D2; 67,500/142,500 plants ha-1, D3; 60,000/142,500 plants ha-1, D4; 52,500/142,500 plants ha-1, D5) were set under the same N input in the field experiment. Results and discussion: The results demonstrated that optimizing the density in the intercropping system could enhance production efficiency. Increasing the density of soybean and maize significantly increased the total grain yield (D3 > D2 > D1 > D4 > D5). The D3 treatment, exhibiting the best comprehensive performance, also promoted increases in leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, and N absorption and utilization. Path analysis indicated that density had the most substantial impact on maize yield, while grain number had the greatest influence on soybean yield, with contribution rates of 49.7% and 61.0%, respectively. These results provide valuable insights into optimal field density for summer planting in MSSI, facilitating its wider adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean European cities are characterized by high population density and limited space for large-scale implementation of renewable energy installations. This paper addresses the optimization of renewable energy installations in Mediterranean dwellings with the scope of increasing their energy contribution and cost-effectiveness. In a case study for Malta, the three technologies studied were solar photovoltaics, solar water heating, and heat pump water heating. Technical and economic analyses were performed on a number of reference configurations using Polysun software (version 2022.8). Sensitivity analyses were also conducted to study the impact that different technical and economic factors have on the performance of the configurations considered. Finally, comparisons were made between the techno-economic results obtained from the reference and sensitivity analyses. Based on data collected, the presence of renewable energy source (RES) technologies in the residential sector of Malta was characterized and correlated with the types of dwellings considered. Among the results obtained, it was found that although a solar RES installation may experience some shading, this does not mean that it is rendered economically unfeasible. Moreover, from the simulations conducted, electrical energy storage technology was considered as too premature unless strongly subsidized, making economic sense only in specific circumstances. On the other hand, although heat pump water heating technology is also relatively modern, it was concluded to be the most beneficial in terms of both energy yield and economic benefit, generally speaking. Furthermore, it was determined that in a higher occupancy dwelling, solar water heating (SWH) and heat pump water heating (HPWH) result in considerably more attractive energy savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current food crisis has become a serious threat to humanity. Other issues such as climate change, farmer regeneration, and excessive use of chemical inputs at the producer level threaten sustainability in agriculture. The sustainability of agricultural practices among farmers remains questionable due to the small number of organic farmers in Indonesia. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of sustainability of rice cultivation and the factors that influence the sustainability of rice cultivation in various types of cultivation in Yogyakarta. Research on farm sustainability that is analyzed in a multidimensional (5 dimensions) and compares 3 types of cultivation has not been widely carried out in Indonesia. This research was conducted in Bantul and Sleman with 90 respondents. The analysis method used Multidimensional Scaling-RAPFISH and Tobit regression. The results showed interesting findings where the 3 types of rice cultivation are in the sufficient (moderately sustainable) category even though the 3 have differences in the use of inputs, especially in the ecological dimension. The factors of education, frequency of attending extension and activity in farmer groups, the use of good agricultural practices, land ownership, and type of cultivation had a positive effect on increasing the sustainability of rice cultivation in various types of cultivation in Yogyakarta. The results of this research have an impact on agricultural extension field education provided by the government to increase the sustainability of rice cultivation in Yogyakarta. It is recommended that the 3 types of rice farmers to pay more attention to the use of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to increase sustainability.

Long-term excessive use of fertilizers and intensive cultivation not only decreases soil organic carbon (SOC) and productivity, but also increases greenhouse gas emissions, which is detrimental to sustainable agricultural development. The purpose of this paper is to identify organic amendments suitable for winter wheat growth in the North China Plain by studying the effects of organic amendments on the economic benefits, carbon emissions, and carbon sequestration for winter wheat fields and to provide a theoretical basis for the wide application of organic amendments in agricultural fields. The two nitrogen rates were N0 (0 kg ha−1) and N240 (240 kg ha−1), and the four organic amendments were straw, manure, mushroom residue (M R), and biochar. The results showed that, compared to N0, N240 significantly increased the yield by 244.1–318.4% and the organic carbon storage by 16.7–30.5%, respectively, but increased the carbon emissions by 29.3–45.5%. In addition, soil carbon stocks increased with all three types of organic amendments compared to the straw amendment, with the biochar treatment being the largest, increasing carbon storage by 13.3–33.6%. In terms of yield and economic benefits, compared to the straw amendment, the manure and biochar amendments increased winter wheat yields by 0.0–1.5% and 4.0–13.3%, respectively, and M R slightly decreased wheat yield; only the economic benefit of the M R amendment was greater than that of the straw amendment, with an increase in economic benefit of 1.3% and 8.2% in the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons, respectively. Furthermore, according to the net ecosystem productivity (NEP), N0 was the source of CO2, while N240 was a sink of CO2. The TOPSIS results showed that N240 with a mushroom residue amendment could be recommended for increasing soil carbon stocks and economic benefits for winter wheat in the NCP and similar regions. Low-cost M R can increase farmer motivation and improve soil organic carbon, making a big step forward in the spread of organic materials on farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve sustainable development of the tea industry in China, it is necessary to reduce the use of chemical fertiliser rationally. With conventional fertilisation (CF) treatment as the control, five different chemical fertiliser-reduced regimes, including tea-specific formula fertiliser (T1), T1 + acidification amendment (T2), organic substitution based on T1 (T3), urea formaldehyde slow-release fertiliser (T4) and carbon-based organic fertiliser (T5), were conducted and evaluated on a green tea plantation from 2018 to 2021. The results showed that the spring tea yield of T1–T5 increased by 4.65–28.67%, while the free amino acids, tea polyphenols and sensory evaluation scores did not remarkably decrease. In addition, the T1–T5 treatments had a slight effect on soil acidification mitigation (except T2) and maintained the essential nutrients for tea production. Nutrient use efficiency improved, with agronomic efficiency (AE) increasing by 0.01–0.08 kg kg−1, shoot nutrient use efficiency (NUE) by 0.14–0.70% and partial factor productivity (PFP) by 0.05–0.18 kg kg−1. The net economic benefits also improved, with T1 showing a 135.28% increase, followed by T3 (67.53%), T2 (48.65%), T4 (38.07%) and T5 (33.35%). Overall, our results indicated that the T1 treatment could maintain the tea yield and quality while reducing the chemical fertiliser input and maximising the net economic benefit and AE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agronomica Sinica is the property of Crop Science Society of China and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article explores the implementation of Augmented Reality (AR) in retail, focusing on the furniture sector. It outlines the process undertaken to gain Retail business managers' approval for a proof of concept utilizing AR, supported by a Storyboard demonstrating potential business benefits. The proof of concept aimed to illustrate how AR could increase sales and decrease return rates of furniture by allowing customers to visualize products in their own space before purchasing. Metrics for evaluating 3D model suppliers used in the AR platform are also discussed. The company's team developed the platform internally using Google's ARCore technology. This study highlights the practical applications of AR in retail and its impact on enhancing consumer interaction and operational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of excessive nitrogen fertiliser has been found to have a detrimental impact on the growth and development of cotton in Xinjiang, China. This has resulted in a reduction in cotton yield and economic benefit. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for reducing the input of inorganic N fertiliser while maintaining the quality and yield formation of cotton. The objective of this study was to examine the growth, photosynthesis, and yield of cotton crops subjected to varying fertiliser treatments. The experiment was conducted in 2021–2022 with eight treatments in the experiment: no fertiliser (CK); conventional application of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser (T0); T1–T3, with 8%, 16%, and 24% reduction in inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application, respectively; and T4–T6, with organic fertilisers replacing the reduced inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application of T1–T3, respectively. In comparison to T0, T5 demonstrated the most notable agronomical performance and yield components across both years. This is attributable to the spatial distribution of cotton bolls, which was more conducive to the net photosynthetic rate and yield formation. This, in turn, led to an augmented photosynthetic capacity, enhanced biomass accumulation, and an elevated harvesting index. The results of the economic benefit analysis demonstrated that in comparison to the control treatment (T0), the net profit of all treatments except T3 increased. In conclusion, the economic benefit reached its maximum in the range of a 9.90–14.10% reduction in nitrogen and a 16.60–17.60% substitution of organic fertiliser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research deals with increasing agricultural water productivity in Tajen basin of Mazandaran province by using optimal allocation. In the current research, to find the most optimal allocation of water from the available water sources in the study area, the optimization method with genetic algorithm with non-superior ranking was used and SWMM model was used to estimate the runoff resulting from precipitation. Since the model of optimal allocation of water resources is multi-objective and has more than one optimal response, none of which is superior to the other, and the appropriate response is selected based on the management conditions, three responses were selected from the optimal responses in the form of three scenarios to be compared with the current conditions of water allocation. The results showed that the optimization of water allocation caused an increase in agricultural water productivity by 76 percent for citrus fruits, 47 percent for rice, 60 percent for oilseeds, 59 percent for corn, 65percent for wheat, 77 percent for vegetables and 76 percent for cotton for the third scenario. which is a desert scenario. Also, the economic profit has increased by 33 percent on average. According to the results, wheat products, vegetables and oilseeds after rice and citrus have the highest production and yield compared to other products in the study area. The optimal cultivated area for these products is equal to 3200, 2700, 5523 hectares, respectively. By optimizing the allocation of water resources while saving significant water consumption, the production product per water consumption as well as the economic profit can be increased depending on the chosen solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ethiopia, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity remains low because of low soil fertility. However, both plant production and soil fertility benefit from integrated application of fertilizers. Thus, this study investigates the effect of integrated application of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers on selected soil properties and yield components of common bean. A field experiment was conducted at three sites in southern Ethiopia, under two consecutive cropping season (2021 and 2022). The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments included three levels of inorganic fertilizer (Triple Superphosphate, TSP), applied at 0, 42.5, and 85 kg TSP ha⁻1 for Kokate; 0, 29, and 58 kg TSP ha⁻1 for Hawassa; and 0, 35.5, and 71 kg TSP ha⁻1 for Alage, tailored to the specific conditions of each site. Additionally, the experiment incorporated three levels of organic inputs 0, 5 t biochar ha⁻1, and 5 t compost ha⁻1 as well as Rhizobium inoculation (HB-429) applied at 500 g ha⁻1. These treatments were designed to assess the combined effects of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers on soil health and crop performance. Results showed that the integrated application of inorganic, and organic fertilizers significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved soil pH, soil organic carbon, and available P compared with the sole fertilizer application plots. Similarly, the integrated use of inorganic, organic and biofertilizers increased nodule numbers, seed weight, grain yield, and biomass yield. We also found that 23 and 24 % higher grain yield were achieved with integrated applications of TSP fertilizer with compost on Hawassa and Alage sites than sole inorganic fertilizer application. On the other hand, the integrated application of TSP fertilizer with biochar increased by 18 % grain yield on Kokate over the sole application of inorganic fertilizer. The highest economic benefit of 69,460 and 63,250 ETB was obtained from the integrated application of TSP fertilizer with compost at Hawassa and Alage sites, respectively. The highest economic benefit for the Kokate site was 53,583 ETB at TSP fertilizer with biochar application. Overall, the study confirms that site-specific integrated soil fertility management appears to be a prerequisite for sustainable and profitable common bean production over sole fertilizer application in southern Ethiopia.

Building communities in rural areas is an important factor in social and economic development. The purpose of this article is to analyze the benefits of community building in rural areas of Lithuania. The literature review discusses the concept of rural community, examines the content of the benefits of creating rural communities, and the research part analyzes the results of semi-structured interviews collected from communities in rural areas of Lithuania. The study found that building rural communities strengthens social ties and reduces social isolation. The community initiatives such as local markets and craft centers help create new business opportunities and jobs, increasing local income and encouraging entrepreneurship. In addition, communities, in cooperation with local authorities and international organizations, can receive financial support, which allows developing infrastructure and improving the quality of services. From a cultural point of view, organized festivals and other events help to maintain and popularize traditions, strengthen community identity and attract tourists.

Objective The traditional urban rail transit AFC (automatic fare collection) system suffers from maintenance problems such as slow speed, outdated method, unreasonable plan and high cost. It is necessary to adopt digital and intelligent active monitoring and maintenance methods, and build an urban rail transit AFC intelligent operation and maintenance system architecture drive by dual-core of data and model, transforming periodic scheduled maintenance into condition-based and predictive maintenance, so as to improve the efficiency of operation and maintenance and reduce the cost. Method The architecture and main functions of AFC intelligent operation and maintenance system for urban rail transit is introduced. Firstly, the terminal equipment data are collected through multi-sensor fusion and uploaded to the big data platform for processing. Then, the collected data are analyzed by deep learning algorithm and BAS (beetle antennae search algorithm), and the model is optimized to further identify the failure mode and predict the potential equipment failure. In addition, the system uses automated workflow management tools to analyze the execution efficiency of the operation and maintenance tasks, and optimize the routine maintenance and emergency response strategies. Result & Conclusion The system performs well in the trial operation on Shanghai Metro Line 3, and it can realize intelligent maintenance, dynamic equipment history management, remote monitoring, mobile terminal, paperless maintenance and other functions, featuring stable running, convenient operating, and smooth workflow. The benefit analysis shows that the system effectively improves the maintenance efficiency and reduces the operation cost.

This study investigates the feasibility and potential impacts of transitioning Nigeria's aviation industry towards carbon-neutral operations through the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). By examining Nigeria's aviation landscape, international efforts for carbon-neutral aviation, and factors such as feedstock availability, infrastructure, and economic considerations, the paper assesses the viability of SAF adoption. Environmental and economic benefits, including reduced carbon emissions, improved air quality, job creation, and economic diversification, are explored. Challenges such as regulatory hurdles, investment requirements, and public awareness are analyzed, with recommendations provided for policy support, industry collaboration, research and development, and public education campaigns. Despite the absence of specific SAF adoption case studies in Nigeria, insights from international experiences inform the recommendations. The findings suggest Nigeria's potential to lead in SAF adoption regionally, contributing to environmental sustainability and economic growth in the aviation sector, while also offering broader implications for the global industry's transition towards a more sustainable future.

Abundant light and heat in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area in China provide superior natural conditions for agricultural development. To study the maize–soybean planting system of intercropping and determine superior group yield and economic benefits in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area, eight treatments were set up in 2022–2023: maize–soybean intercropping with a bandwidth of 1.8 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M1S3), a bandwidth of 1.8 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M1S4), a bandwidth of 2.0 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M2S3), a bandwidth of 2.0 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M2S4), a bandwidth of 2.2 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M3S3), a bandwidth of 2.2 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M3S4), monocropping maize (M), and monocropping soybean (S). We analyzed the effects of changes in bandwidth–row ratios on photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and interspecific relationships in these treatments during two crop reproductive periods. Our results showed the following: (1) Under the intercropping system, the photosynthetic capacity of maize was highest when the row ratio was 2∶3 and bandwidth was 1.8 m. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) increased by 1.72% to 48.90%, the transpiration rate (Tr) increased by 5.53% to 118.10%, and stomatal conductance (Gs) increased by 2.82% to 86.49% compared with other planting systems. Increasing the bandwidth from 1.8 m to 2.2 m improved the photosynthetic characteristics of soybean, increasing Pn, Tr, and Gs by 3.44% to 74.21%, 3.92% to 53.69%, and 2.41% to 55.22%, respectively. (2) The yield of maize and soybean under monocropping was significantly higher than that under intercropping. In the intercropping treatments, the average yield of crops in the M3S3 system was 16,519.4 kg ha−1, an increase of 6.48% compared with the M3S4 system, indicating that the reduction of one row of soybean in the same bandwidth system increases crop yield; The average economic benefit of the M3S3 system over two years was 35,171.73 CNY ha−1, which increased by 13.3 and 80% compared with the average economic benefit of maize and soybean monocropping, indicating that the intercropping system leads to better economic results for farmers than monocropping. (3) In the two-year experiment, the land equivalent ratio (LER) was highest in the M3S3 model, averaging 1.25 over the two years, showing better land productivity compared with other intercropping systems. (4) When bandwidth was 1.8, 2.0, or 2.2 m, the LER decreased by 8.3, 5.9, and 5.6% when planting an additional row of soybeans, the relative crowding coefficient of soybeans in the respective bandwidths increased by 4.59, 4.72, and 0.75%, the competition ratio of maize (CRM) increased by 22.94, 16.97, and 12.74%, the competition ratio of soybean (CRS) decreased by 20.47, 17.61, and 16.78%, and the competitive power of maize was greater than that of soybean, indicating that the increase in soybean rows in the same bandwidth system would weaken the competitive advantage of soybean, resulting in crop yield and economic benefit reduction. When the row ratio was 2:3 or 2:4, bandwidth increased from 1.8 m to 2.2 m, LER decreased by 3.31 and 0.86%, intercropping maize aggressiveness (AM) decreased by 7.55 and 12.50%, CRM decreased by 18.04 and 24.84%, and CRS increased by 17.32 and 22.77%, respectively, which indicated that the increase in bandwidth under different row ratio systems could improve the competitive advantage of intercropping soybean, thereby improving crop yield and economic benefits. (5) The AHP method, entropy weight method, and TOPSIS analysis showed that M3S3 ranked first, with the highest comprehensive evaluation (0.6017). In conclusion, the M3S3 planting system can better coordinate crop interspecies relationships, with higher land yield and economic benefit, and can be used as a suitable maize–soybean intercropping system in the Hexi oasis irrigation area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Urban Mass Transit is the property of Urban Mass Transit Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Traditional methods of garlic fertilization involve large amounts of balanced fertilizer with equal proportions of N, P, and K, leading to nutrient imbalances, reduced yield and nutritional quality, and elevated risk of environmental pollution. This study for the first time measured garlic nutrient absorption and mineral elements status in garlic fields. In addition, a garlic-specific fertilizer formula and recommended rate were designed and applied in multiple garlic fields during the 2019–21 growing season. We assessed the performance of garlic-specific fertilizer in terms of yield, quality, and nutrient utilization efficiency. We showed that garlic prefers to absorb N and K, and its absorption of P was much lower. Deficiencies in Cl, Mn, S, and Fe are found in 98.7%, 56.1%, 22.8%, and 11.9% of garlic fields. Compared with farmer fertilization, the garlic-specific fertilizers increased sprout yield by 12.9% to 30.5%, bulb yield by 11.0% to 33.5%, and net income by 18.2% to 45.6%. Furthermore, it improved the nutritional quality [vitamin C (Vc), soluble sugar (SS), and soluble protein] of the garlic and reduced the accumulation of nitrate. The formula of special fertilizer was more in line with the law of garlic nutrient absorption, increasing the nutrient utilization effect, reducing the environmental risks. Application of specific fertilizer increased N, P, and K partial productivity by 26.6% to 50.1%, 82.6% to 116.5%, and 54.6% to 83.3%, respectively. These results suggest that replacing balanced fertilizers in the garlic market with garlic-specific fertilizers can improve garlic farmers' incomes and soil health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive fertilizer input, low nutrient use efficiency, soil quality, and environmental degradation hinder greenhouse vegetable production. Integrated agronomic strategies of soil, crop, and nutrient management are needed to sharply improve the vegetable yield and simultaneously maintain sustainable production. A three-season field experiment was conducted from 2015 to 2018, aiming to evaluate the effect of integrated soil–crop system management (ISSM) on the agronomy, environment, and economy of greenhouse vegetable systems in the Yangtze River Basin, China. Three treatments were included in the experiment: (1) farmers' current practice (FP), based on a local farmers' survey; (2) soil remediation treatment (SR), the application of soil conditioner and compost fertilizer instead of chicken manure; (3) ISSM, a combination of soil conditioner, reducing plant density, and using formula fertilizer as well as increasing the fertilization times. The results indicated that ISSM (47.7 Mg ha−1) improved the pepper yield by 17% relative to farmers' current practice (FP, 40.7 Mg ha−1). Soil remediation (SR), as a single approach, mainly made a contribution to improving the yield (by 6.9%) and nutrient use efficiency while reducing apparent nitrogen (N) losses. Higher yields were mainly attributed to increasing the fruit number per plant. On average, apparent N losses were reduced by 245 kg N ha−1 per season for ISSM compared to FP. In addition, higher net profits were obtained under SR and ISSM relative to FP. Overall, both SR and ISSM have advantages for the agronomy, environment, and economy in greenhouse vegetable production, but ISSM would be the optimal choice to achieve higher yields with lower environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated energy system (IES) breaks down barriers between different energy subsystems, enhancing energy reliability and efficiency. However, issues such as uneven equipment capacity allocation and suboptimal scheduling persist in multi-energy flow IES. To maximize economic benefits while ensuring energy balance and the operational characteristics of the equipment, a capacity matching optimization and scheduling strategy model for IES was developed. Firstly, mathematical models for the electricity, gas, and thermal networks within the IES were established. Secondly, considering the efficiency of energy conversion between different forms and constraints of energy storage in the electricity–thermal–gas interconnected energy system, optimization solutions were obtained using regional contraction algorithms and sequential quadratic programming methods. Finally, case studies conducted in a real park demonstrated that, through optimized capacity matching, unit prices for electricity, heat, and gas decreased by 39.9%, 90.5%, and 74.2%, respectively, effectively improving the economic viability of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the yearly increasing market penetration of new-energy vehicles in China, the retirement of power batteries has gradually become a scale, and most of the waste batteries have entered informal recycling channels, which has induced a series of environmental problems. Considering this issue, we introduced the system dynamics (SD), stimulus organism response (SOR), and the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in behavioral economics to establish the environmental economic benefit evaluation model of power battery recycling strategies, and we performed a dynamic simulation analysis on the effect of government subsidy policy, policy advocacy, and other recycling strategies. The results show that: (1) the recovery subsidy policy can improve the formal recycling quantity and economic benefits of recovery, but the effect on the degree of environmental pollution is limited. (2) The combination of environmental awareness promotion strategy and subsidy policy can overcome the shortcomings of subsidy policy and has significant environmental and economic performance. (3) Compared with the benchmark scenario, the formal recycling quantity, the CO2 emission reduction, and the economic benefits of recovery in scenario 4 (high subsidy-high policy propaganda strategy) increased by approximately 112 %, 208 %, and 223 %, respectively, and the degree of environmental pollution decreased by approximately 65 %.

Oilfield treated oil pipeline network is the link connecting the upstream oilfields and the downstream refineries. Due to the differences in operating costs and transportation fee between different pipelines and the fluctuation in the demand and sales prices of the treated oil, there is an optimal flow allocation plan for the pipeline network to make the oilfield company obtain the highest social and economic benefit. In this study, a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is developed to determine the optimal flow rate allocation plan of the large-scale and complex treated oil pipeline network, and both the social and economic benefits are considered simultaneously. The optimization objective is the multi-objective which includes the largest user satisfaction and the highest economic benefit. The model constraints include the oilfield production capacity, refinery demand, pipeline transmission capacity, flow, pressure, and temperature of the node and station, and the pipeline hydraulic and thermal calculations. Python 3.7 is utilized for the programming of the off-line calculation procedure and the MINLP model, and GUROBI 9.0.2 is served as the MINLP solver. Moreover, the model is applied to a real treated oil pipeline network located in China, and three optimization scenarios are analyzed. For social benefit, the values of the user satisfaction of each refinery and the total network are 1 before and after optimization for scenarios 1, 2, and 3. For economic benefit, the annual revenue can be increased by 0.227, 0.293, and 0.548 billion yuan after the optimization in scenario 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

In this study, an operational 8 MW wind farm was analyzed through a statistical approach to determine the wind speed and feeder trip correlation with energy loss and energy production. In December, a higher wind potential was recorded; however, a higher feeder trip was recorded during the low wind potential period of October, with a maximum duration of 1800 min. The box plot and histogram show that a higher feeder trip occurred at a wind speed of 4-6 m/s, indicating that grid voltage and load consumption were the major causes of the feeder trip. The Pearson Correlation method expressed a similar trend for feeder trips associated with energy losses that had a strong positive correlation compared to feeder trip time. To improve the stability of the wind farm’s power generation, a 1-5 MWh battery energy storage system was studied to determine its impact on the grid voltage at the wind farm and the load terminals. It was found that 411071.84 kWh is enhanced for a 5 MWh battery energy storage system compared to the conventional wind farm. This enhancement in power production shows a positive correlation of grid voltage at the factory, village 1, wind farm, village 2, and village 3 with a range of 0.703, 0.873, 0.665, 0.894, and 0.896, respectively. Further, the economic analysis of the 5 MWh battery incorporation increased the annual revenue to 2825585 baht with a payback period of 7.79 years and a return on investment of 0.10 years.

In most investments, businesses, or even organizations, results and their value are calculated in terms of profit and economic terms. But what if you have to calculate the value and work of a social enterprise? What is that thin line that separates one business from another? The way to evaluate the efficiency of a business includes the social contribution and the social footprint of the business. Is it possible for a successful farmer cooperative that wants to increase its activity to remain as a social enterprise, or must it change its legal form? In an agricultural cooperative that shows remarkable success, how aligned are the opinions of the members with the vision of the cooperative and to what extent do the cooperative's vision and its reason to exist change? The above questions were the reasons behind why this study was carried out and the realization of the primary research presented in this article. The research presented herein is based on qualitative research tools, and this study involved carrying out a case study of a women's agricultural cooperative in Agios Antonios, a village in the prefecture of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing fertilizer doses under sustainable agricultural management is possible by increasing nutrient utilization efficiency, which will decrease crop production costs and boost economic return. Soil amendments known as water retention agents (WRAs) are added to the soil to enhance crop growth conditions. We hypothesize that the addition of WRAs may support the soil-retaining nutrients given through fertilization and prevent them from leaching into tropical soils characterized by severe rainfall due to WRAs' exceptional capacities to absorb and store water. Mango trees (Mangifera indica L. cv Tainong No. 1) aged 18 years were fertilized with 100% or 80% of the recommended doses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The experimental design included three treatments, i.e., complete recommended doses of N, P, and K (CRF), 80% of the complete recommended doses (RRF), and water-retaining agent (40 kg ha−1) + 80% of the complete recommended doses (WRARRF). Reducing the fertilization doses by 20% for mango trees in the studied tropical soil significantly (p < 0.05) minimized the nutrient availability in the soil compared to the complete fertilization doses. WRARRF compensated for the nutrient reduction by increasing the availability of N, P, and K. The addition of WRARR increased N, P, and K in mango leaf by 11%, 4%, and 7% in the first year and by 11%, 6%, and 7% in the second year, respectively, compared to CRF. The addition of WRARR increased the partial fertilizer productivity (PFP) value by 36% and 41% in the first and second years, respectively. The highest mango fruit output was achieved by the addition of WRARRF, which resulted in increases in mango fruit yield of 11.9% and 16.5% in the first and second years, respectively, compared to RRF. Fruit quality traits showed the descending order: WRARRF > RRF > CRF. WRARRF produced the maximum economic benefit (USD 7372 per hectare) compared to CRF and RRF. The polyacrylamide/attapulgite water-retaining agent exhibited remarkable improvement in mango fruit yield and economic profit by regulating the release of nutrients in tropical soils. Water-retaining agents are an effective strategy for overcoming the extensive fertilization used in mango orchards, which has resulted in numerous environmental contaminations and the inefficient use of fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effect of organic and inorganic nitrogen on yield and quality of high erucic acid rape-seed, we studied the effects of 6 different treatments (pure organic fertilizer, pure inorganic fertilizer, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% organic fertilizer substitution) on yield, quality, soil nutrients, and economic benefits of high erucic acid industrial rapeseed (cv Mianyou 309). The results showed that compared with pure chemical fertilizer, a certain proportion of organic and inorganic nitrogen could significantly increase rapeseed yield. The yield of 30% organic nitrogen treatment was the highest, reaching 3501.63 kg/hm2, which was 24.84% higher than that of pure organic fertilizer and 23.47% higher than that of pure inorganic fertilizer. Combination of organic and inorganic nitrogen promoted the growth and development of the main stem and branches of rapeseed. Under this treatment, the erucic acid content was not affected but the oil content was also increased, so as to significantly increase the erucic acid and edible oil yield per unit area. It also increased the soil nitrogen storage, so that the soil might maintain a higher fertility level for higher economic and environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As a renewable forest resource, bamboo plays a role in sustainable forest development. However, traditional cutting systems, selection cutting (SeC) and clear-cutting (ClC), result in an unsustainable production of bamboo forests due to labor-consuming or bamboo degradation. Recently, a strip clear-cutting (StC) was theoretically proposed to promote the sustainability of bamboo production, while little is known about its application consequence. Methods: Based on a 6-year experiment, we applied the strip clear-cutting system in a typical running bamboo (Phyllostachys glauca McClure) forest to assess its feasibility and sustainability. Using SeC and ClC as controls, we set three treatments with different strip widths (5 m, 10 m, and 20 m) for strip clear-cutting, simplified as StC-5, StC-10, and StC-20, respectively. Then, we investigated leaf physiological traits, bamboo size and productivity, population features, and economic benefits for all treatments. Results: The stands managed by StC had high eco-physiological activities, such as net photosynthetic rate (Pn), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), and photosynthetic phosphorus use efficiency (PPUE), and thus grew well, achieved a large diameter at breast height (DBH), and were tall. The stand biomass of StC (8.78 t hm-2 year-1) was 1.19-fold and 1.49-fold greater than that of SeC and ClC, respectively, and StC-10 and StC-20 were significantly higher than SeC or ClC (p< 0.05). The income and profit increased with the increase in stand density and biomass, and StC-20 and StC-10 were significantly higher than SeC or ClC (p< 0.05). Using principal components analysis and subordinate function analysis, we constructed a composite index to indicate the sustainability of bamboo forests. For the sustainability assessment, StC-10 had the highest productive sustainability (0.59 ± 0.06) and the second highest economic sustainability (0.59 ± 0.11) in all cutting treatments. StC-10 had the maximum overall sustainability, with a value of 0.53 ± 0.02, which was significantly higher than that of ClC (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The results verified that StC for Phyllostachys glauca forests is feasible and sustainable as its sustainability index outweighs those of traditional cutting systems (SeC and ClC), and 10 m is the optimum distance for the strip width of StC. Our findings provide a new cutting system for managing other running bamboo forests sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity and water-related soil erosion are severely exacerbated by inappropriate human activities and global climate change. Hence, to find a suitable technology to mitigate drought and soil erosion, three consecutive field experiments were conducted to explore the impact of ridge-furrow cropping with biochar amendment on soil water storage, runoff, sediment yield, soil nutrient losses, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L) fodder yield, crop water productivity (WPc), and economic benefit from 2019 to 2021. This experiment was conducted in a split-plot design, taking biochar amendment patterns (no biochar amendment and biochar amendment at a rate of 3× 104 kg ha−1) as a main plot and ridge-furrow technologies (traditional planting, open-ridging, and tied-ridging) as a split-plot. The combination of biochar amendment with ridge-furrow technology, especially tied-ridging technology, increased soil water storage, and captured runoff, sediment, and related soil nutrient losses, consequently increasing alfalfa fodder yield, WPc, and income. During this study, compared to traditional planting, open-ridging depicted an increase in soil water storage by a range of 9.8–39.6 mm, an alfalfa fodder yield boost ranging from 9.8% to 38.6%, and a WPc increase ranging from 0.1 to 16.5 kg ha−1 mm−1. On the other hand, tied-ridging showed greater improvements with soil water storage increasing by 29.1–65.1 mm, alfalfa fodder yield growing by 11.6–44.4%, and WPc advancing by 0.9–17.5 kg ha−1 mm−1. The mean decrease in runoff, sediment, and nutrients (total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and organic matter) loss for open-ridging was 17.9%-37.7%, 46.4%-75.5%, and 40.4%-75.3%, respectively, while for tied-ridging, it was 22.3%-55.5%, 62.1%-87.6%, and 49.0%-87.3%, respectively. Compared to no biochar amendment, soil water storage, alfalfa fodder yield, and WPc for biochar amendment increased by 9.1%-20.4%, 5.8%-52.7%, and 4.6–7.8 kg ha−1 mm−1, respectively, while runoff, sediment, and nutrients loss for biochar amendment decreased by 32.2%-40.9%, 25.5%-55.5%, and 35.9%-53.3%, respectively. Structural equation modeling analysis indicated that the significant direct effect of biochar amendment and ridge-furrow technology on WPc was 0.20 and 0.62, respectively, whereas the significant direct effect of runoff and actual crop evapotranspiration on alfalfa fodder yield was −0.40 and 0.94, respectively. Tied-ridge cropping combined with biochar addition was a highly suggested approach for addressing soil erosion and enhancing alfalfa fodder yields in the Loess Plateau in China. This technology could mitigate soil water scarcity and soil erosion, and give farmers the confidence to invest in this technology in dryland regions.

Electric motorcycle swappable batteries (EMSB) require interoperability standards so that swappable batteries (SB) can be exchanged and operated between brands to minimize investment costs. The stages in standards development have similar characteristics to the open innovation process, namely the involvement of external interested parties: manufacturers, regulators, customers, suppliers, experts, and researchers. For that, in the standards development process, all stakeholders must collaborate to leverage knowledge, expertise, resources, and innovative ideas. This article, therefore, aims to determine the essential parameters that need to be established in interoperability requirements and develop an economic model to estimate the financial impact. The model framework in this research integrated the Framework for Analysis, Comparison, and Testing of Standards (FACTS) and The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Methodology using the dynamic open innovation approach. The sample was 20 respondents representing stakeholders. This research used a semi-open questionnaire developed from the E-Mobility Systems Architecture (EMSA) model on three-layer interoperability (components, communications, and information) and economics benefit standard methodology. This research recommends SB dimensions, SB voltage, connector types, safety, and component compatibility requirements (BMS, sensors, controllers) to be regulated at the component layer. Meanwhile, further consensus is still needed at the communication and information layer. The economic model developed has been successfully applied using hypothetical data.

The expansion of Internet access from urban to rural and coastal areas has changed all aspects of life, including lifestyles and work practices. Although several studies have shown that Internet use is essential in the fisheries sector, more information about the link between Internet usage and subjective well-being among small-scale fishermen is needed. This study is the first attempt to investigate the effect of Internet use on subjective well-being, particularly for small-scale fishers. This study used cross-sectional data from 220 respondents in East Java, Indonesia. Two-stage predictor substitution (2SPS) approaches were used to address the endogeneity issue in the estimation. The results revealed that fishing tools, access to credit, and region positively and significantly influenced small-scale fishers' determination to use the Internet. Savings and off-farm employment significantly and negatively affect adoption decisions. The main findings suggest that Internet use significantly increases small-scale fishermen's subjective well-being (proxied by happiness and life satisfaction). This suggests that improving the Internet infrastructure in coastal areas is needed to support economic activities in the fisheries sector and boost the well-being of small-scale fishers.

Endüstriyel işletmelerde enerji tasarrufu sağlamak ve düşük karbonlu üretim yöntemlerini kullanmak işletmelerin karbon ayak izini düşürdüğü için büyük önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı gıda ve otomotiv sektörlerinde faaliyet göstermekte olan 2 fabrikada yapılabilecek enerji verimliliği uygulamalarını değerlendirmek ve bu uygulamalarla sağlanacak enerji tasarrufu (Nm3/yıl) ile önlenecek karbon emisyon miktarlarını (ton CO2/yıl) ortaya koymaktır. Her iki tesiste yapılabilecek ortak iyileştirmeler; sıcak hatlara izolasyon uygulaması, basınçlı hava kaçaklarının giderilmesi, basınçlı hava sistemi basıncının 1 bar düşürülmesi, kompresör emiş havasının düzenlenmesi, selenoid vana uygulaması ve flash buhar uygulamasıdır. Bunların yanı sıra gıda işletmesi özelinde 2 ve otomotivde 1 adet münferit enerji tasarruf çalışması önerisinde bulunulmuştur. Gıda sektöründe çevresel fayda (48 ton CO2) ve enerji tasarruf verimi (22 TEP/yıl) açısından en verimli uygulamanın flash buhar uygulaması olduğu görülürken, otomotiv işletmesinde ise çevresel fayda açısından basınçlı hava kaçaklarının giderilmesi (152 ton CO2) ve enerji tasarruf veriminde ise sıcak hatlara izolasyon uygulaması (60 TEP/yıl) en avantajlı uygulama olarak tespit edilmiştir. Tüm öneriler değerlendirildiğinde gıda işletmesinde 6 adet uygulama neticesinde CO2 emisyonunda yıllık toplam 121 ton kadar azalma sağlanabilirken, 5 adet iyileştirmenin önerildiği otomotiv işletmesinde bu değer 323 ton seviyesinde olacaktır.

In recent years, the fishery resources in China's coastal and inland waters have declined seriously, along with a significant decrease in the number of economic fish stocks in many natural waters. Enhancement and release are important measures to conserve fishery resources, protect biodiversity and replenish the fishery environment. Since the 1980s, enhancement and release have gradually become an important way to increase fishery resources in China. With the yearly increase in variety, quantity, and scale of enhancement and release, the problem with the low efficiency of enhancement and release has become increasingly prominent. Therefore, a scientific and reasonable variant of the enhancement and release technique is the key to ensure its successful role in resource proliferation, including prior scientific planning as well as an accurate evaluation post release. At present, there are many studies on release assessment methods. Ecopath model method and empirical assessment method are often used to carry out pre-release planning research. Ecopath model method determines the release quantity in the water area by calculating the ecological capacity of the release water area. However, this method, like the empirical assessment method has the disadvantage of an extensive assessment of the capacity limiting its accuracy in planning the release quantity. The commonly used methods for evaluating the effect of post-release include external tagging method and statistical evaluation method. The external tagging method causes certain damage to fish and has poor stability, making it unsuitable for large-scale enhancement and releasing. The statistical evaluation method needs regular follow-up post release, making it manpower-, resources- as well as cost-intensive. In order to formulate scientific enhancement and release strategies and improve the effect of breed enhancement and release, the EnhanceFish model was introduced in this study using Acanthopagrus latus as the research object, Nanlang water area as the research area, and considering the life cycle, growth rate, mortality, sexual maturity, heritability, recruitment, economic cost and effort as the study parameters. The enhancement and release model of A. latus in Nanlang water was constructed, and the optimal release size, ecological capacity, population structure, and economic benefits of A. latus were scientifically evaluated in order to provide scientific guidance for the rational and standardized formulation of enhancement and release strategies.In this study, the effects of spawning stock biomass, profit, and fishing effort on the ecological structure of A. latus were comprehensively considered, and an intuitive data model was constructed to determine the range of release quantity and fishing effort. The results showed that the natural recruitment amount increased with the increase in releasing quantity. When the release quantity was 2 million, the natural recruitment amount reached the progressive value of 1.6 million. Therefore, the number of A. latus released in Nanlang water area was 0-1.6 million. While evaluating the relationship between fishing effort and economic benefit before release, the profit was 1 000 CNY assuming the current fishing effort E=1. When the fishing effort was E < 1, the profit increased with the increase in fishing effort. When it was E > 1, the profit decreased with the increase in fishing effort. When it was E > 2, the profit was 2 000 CNY, which has no research value. Therefore, the limit of fishing effort E is 0-2.

Long-term excessive use of fertilizers and intensive cultivation not only decreases soil organic carbon (SOC) and productivity, but also increases greenhouse gas emissions, which is detrimental to sustainable agricultural development. The purpose of this paper is to identify organic amendments suitable for winter wheat growth in the North China Plain by studying the effects of organic amendments on the economic benefits, carbon emissions, and carbon sequestration for winter wheat fields and to provide a theoretical basis for the wide application of organic amendments in agricultural fields. The two nitrogen rates were N0 (0 kg ha−1) and N240 (240 kg ha−1), and the four organic amendments were straw, manure, mushroom residue (M R), and biochar. The results showed that, compared to N0, N240 significantly increased the yield by 244.1–318.4% and the organic carbon storage by 16.7–30.5%, respectively, but increased the carbon emissions by 29.3–45.5%. In addition, soil carbon stocks increased with all three types of organic amendments compared to the straw amendment, with the biochar treatment being the largest, increasing carbon storage by 13.3–33.6%. In terms of yield and economic benefits, compared to the straw amendment, the manure and biochar amendments increased winter wheat yields by 0.0–1.5% and 4.0–13.3%, respectively, and M R slightly decreased wheat yield; only the economic benefit of the M R amendment was greater than that of the straw amendment, with an increase in economic benefit of 1.3% and 8.2% in the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons, respectively. Furthermore, according to the net ecosystem productivity (NEP), N0 was the source of CO2, while N240 was a sink of CO2. The TOPSIS results showed that N240 with a mushroom residue amendment could be recommended for increasing soil carbon stocks and economic benefits for winter wheat in the NCP and similar regions. Low-cost M R can increase farmer motivation and improve soil organic carbon, making a big step forward in the spread of organic materials on farmland.

In order to achieve sustainable development of the tea industry in China, it is necessary to reduce the use of chemical fertiliser rationally. With conventional fertilisation (CF) treatment as the control, five different chemical fertiliser-reduced regimes, including tea-specific formula fertiliser (T1), T1 + acidification amendment (T2), organic substitution based on T1 (T3), urea formaldehyde slow-release fertiliser (T4) and carbon-based organic fertiliser (T5), were conducted and evaluated on a green tea plantation from 2018 to 2021. The results showed that the spring tea yield of T1–T5 increased by 4.65–28.67%, while the free amino acids, tea polyphenols and sensory evaluation scores did not remarkably decrease. In addition, the T1–T5 treatments had a slight effect on soil acidification mitigation (except T2) and maintained the essential nutrients for tea production. Nutrient use efficiency improved, with agronomic efficiency (AE) increasing by 0.01–0.08 kg kg−1, shoot nutrient use efficiency (NUE) by 0.14–0.70% and partial factor productivity (PFP) by 0.05–0.18 kg kg−1. The net economic benefits also improved, with T1 showing a 135.28% increase, followed by T3 (67.53%), T2 (48.65%), T4 (38.07%) and T5 (33.35%). Overall, our results indicated that the T1 treatment could maintain the tea yield and quality while reducing the chemical fertiliser input and maximising the net economic benefit and AE.

The application of excessive nitrogen fertiliser has been found to have a detrimental impact on the growth and development of cotton in Xinjiang, China. This has resulted in a reduction in cotton yield and economic benefit. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for reducing the input of inorganic N fertiliser while maintaining the quality and yield formation of cotton. The objective of this study was to examine the growth, photosynthesis, and yield of cotton crops subjected to varying fertiliser treatments. The experiment was conducted in 2021–2022 with eight treatments in the experiment: no fertiliser (CK); conventional application of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser (T0); T1–T3, with 8%, 16%, and 24% reduction in inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application, respectively; and T4–T6, with organic fertilisers replacing the reduced inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application of T1–T3, respectively. In comparison to T0, T5 demonstrated the most notable agronomical performance and yield components across both years. This is attributable to the spatial distribution of cotton bolls, which was more conducive to the net photosynthetic rate and yield formation. This, in turn, led to an augmented photosynthetic capacity, enhanced biomass accumulation, and an elevated harvesting index. The results of the economic benefit analysis demonstrated that in comparison to the control treatment (T0), the net profit of all treatments except T3 increased. In conclusion, the economic benefit reached its maximum in the range of a 9.90–14.10% reduction in nitrogen and a 16.60–17.60% substitution of organic fertiliser.

Pumped storage power plants are one of the significant means for regulating power systems， holding crucial importance for their secure， economical， and stable operation. The current research status of economic benefit analysis of pumped storage power plants is introduced， and the static and dynamic economic benefit analysis method of the collaboration between a pumped storage power plant and a thermal power plant is put forward. Moreover， the collaboration between a 4×300 MW pumped storage power plant and a 2×1 000 MW thermal power plant in a region is taken as an example to analyze the economic benefits resulting from their collaboration. The detailed calculation methods for the economic benefits of pumped storage units such as peak shaving and valley filling， frequency modulation， phase modulation， and contingency reserves are presented. These calculations can serve as a rational foundation for the collaboration between pumped storage power plants and thermal power plants.

Abstract Background Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) imposes a significant economic burden on patients, providers, and society. There is no curative therapy for BCRL, but management through self-care can reduce symptoms and lower the risk of adverse events. Main body The economic burden of BCRL stems from related adverse events, reductions in productivity and employment, and the burden placed on non-medical caregivers. Self-care regimens often include manual lymphatic drainage, compression garments, and meticulous skin care, and may incorporate pneumatic compression devices. These regimens can be effective in managing BCRL, but patients cite inconvenience and interference with daily activities as potential barriers to self-care adherence. As a result, adherence is generally poor and often worsens with time. Because self-care is on-going, poor adherence reduces the effectiveness of regimens and leads to costly treatment of BCRL complications. Conclusion Novel self-care solutions that are more convenient and that interfere less with daily activities could increase self-care adherence and ultimately reduce complication-related costs of BCRL.

[Introduction] In the context of the new power system, low-carbon maintenance of wind turbines and coordinated maintenance with conventional wind turbine generator systems (WTGS) need to be solved urgently. In this paper, taking into account the impact of multi-attribute meteorological factors and low carbon and economic needs, an optimization model for wind power, hydropower and thermal power combined low-carbon maintenance based on continuous hidden Markov model is established. [Method] Firstly, dynamic tracking of wind farm maintenance capacity was realized by taking rainfall, wind speed and lightning hazard degree as the observation sequence, taking maintenance capacity as hidden state sequence, and using continuous hidden Markov model (CHMM) process. Then, an optimization model for wind power, hydropower and thermal power combined low-carbon maintenance was constructed by taking the optimal maintenance capacity as the decision-making basis, taking the minimum total cost as the optimization objective, and taking the maintenance constraints and system control constraints into consideration. Finally, took the IEEE30-node system as an example. [Result] The results show that the proposed model has more significant economic benefits and low carbon characteristics. [Conclusion] The research in this paper has high theoretical value for the operation and maintenance of WTGS, and has strong engineering applicability.

The excessive rainfall and irrigation amount in the facility herbal medicine production system (FHmPS) in China leading to a severe root rot disease of Panax notoginseng, which endangers root yield and quality, compromise economic profit and waste resources. Therefore, the objective of our research was to seek optimal irrigation and cultivation management strategy for FHmPS to improve Panax notoginseng production and economic benefit. A three-year (2019, 2020 and 2021) field experiment was conducted on Panax notoginseng under two shelter-cultivation [rain-shelter cultivation (Sr) and unrain-shelter cultivation (NSr)] at three deficit irrigation levels [I1= 65%W, I2= 75%W, I3= 85% W, where W was the irrigation quota when the upper and lower limits of irrigation are (100% ∼ 40%)θFC under shelter-cultivation] to explore the combined practices effects on yield, quality, economic benefit, water productivity (WP) and nutrients uptake of Panax notoginseng, and to obtain the optimal irrigation and cultivation supply practice by the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). The results showed that SrI2 obtained relatively high plant nutrient uptake, net profit, WP, and quality. SrI2 significantly decreased the root rot incidence by 6–17.5% in comparison to other treatments. However, compared with rain-shelter cultivation, unrain-shelter cultivation weaken these effects in Panax notoginseng. Deficit irrigation promoted Sr to obtain higher WP than NSr. According to the result of TOPSIS, the comprehensive ranking of SrI2 and SrI3 were first and second among the practices, regardless of growing seasons and planting years. The SrI2 significantly decreased the yield of Panax notoginseng by 5.4%− 20.8% in comparison to other treatments. SrI2 and SrI3 were highly recommended for facility herbal medicine production system (FHmPS) in the semi-arid area of Southwest China.

IntroductionAs a renewable forest resource, bamboo plays a role in sustainable forest development. However, traditional cutting systems, selection cutting (SeC) and clear-cutting (ClC), result in an unsustainable production of bamboo forests due to labor-consuming or bamboo degradation. Recently, a strip clear-cutting (StC) was theoretically proposed to promote the sustainability of bamboo production, while little is known about its application consequence.MethodsBased on a 6-year experiment, we applied the strip clear-cutting system in a typical running bamboo (Phyllostachys glauca McClure) forest to assess its feasibility and sustainability. Using SeC and ClC as controls, we set three treatments with different strip widths (5 m, 10 m, and 20 m) for strip clear-cutting, simplified as StC-5, StC-10, and StC-20, respectively. Then, we investigated leaf physiological traits, bamboo size and productivity, population features, and economic benefits for all treatments.ResultsThe stands managed by StC had high eco-physiological activities, such as net photosynthetic rate (Pn), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), and photosynthetic phosphorus use efficiency (PPUE), and thus grew well, achieved a large diameter at breast height (DBH), and were tall. The stand biomass of StC (8.78 t hm-2 year-1) was 1.19-fold and 1.49-fold greater than that of SeC and ClC, respectively, and StC-10 and StC-20 were significantly higher than SeC or ClC (p< 0.05). The income and profit increased with the increase in stand density and biomass, and StC-20 and StC-10 were significantly higher than SeC or ClC (p< 0.05). Using principal components analysis and subordinate function analysis, we constructed a composite index to indicate the sustainability of bamboo forests. For the sustainability assessment, StC-10 had the highest productive sustainability (0.59 ± 0.06) and the second highest economic sustainability (0.59 ± 0.11) in all cutting treatments. StC-10 had the maximum overall sustainability, with a value of 0.53 ± 0.02, which was significantly higher than that of ClC (p< 0.05).ConclusionThe results verified that StC for Phyllostachys glauca forests is feasible and sustainable as its sustainability index outweighs those of traditional cutting systems (SeC and ClC), and 10 m is the optimum distance for the strip width of StC. Our findings provide a new cutting system for managing other running bamboo forests sustainably.

This paper defines the evaluation indexes from the aspects of evaluation purpose and standards and, through the hierarchical analysis method of empowerment, completes the construction of the evaluation system of the construction of tourism characteristic professional group, including three first-level indexes, 11 second-level indexes, and 30 third-level indexes. The policy implementation group and the control group were subjected to double-difference regression from the spatial and temporal perspectives, and the economic growth effect of the construction policy of the tourism specialty group was analyzed and verified by combining it with the heterogeneity test. The results show that City Z has realized the original intention of the construction and improved the quality of talent cultivation in the specialty cluster. The weight of the construction capacity of tourism-related specialty groups is the largest at 0.529, which is the core of the construction, followed by the construction effectiveness of tourism-related specialty groups (0.299). In lngdp, the economic effect of tourism characteristic specialty group construction policy in the fourth period after implementation (6.725) is significantly higher than that in the fourth period before implementation (1.0716), and in lnpgdp, it is 1.634 higher after the policy is implemented compared with that before implementation. The economic impact in economically relatively backward areas is significant at the 1% confidence level.

The increasingly competitive market situation in the construction industry requires that construction enterprises strengthen the cost control of construction projects in order to improve the economic efficiency of enterprises. This paper is based on the improved genetic algorithm to realize the optimization of the cost control strategy of the construction project and effectively overcome the problems of weak cost control consciousness and high material procurement cost in the previous cost control. A construction company is selected as the object for the case study, and the genetic algorithm is used to calculate and analyze the cost control of the construction company. The return on investment, net present value, and internal rate of return are used as indicators to measure the economic benefits before and after optimizing cost control strategies. The improved genetic algorithm calculates that among the cost control factors of the construction company, procurement management, and field operation have a high probability of being selected in the genetic calculation, and the final project cost is 36.7849 million yuan through the genetic algorithm, which achieves the goal of project cost control. At the same time, this paper finds that cost control has a significant positive effect on the improvement of economic efficiency, and the economic efficiency of this construction company before and after the optimization of the cost control strategy is significantly improved.

Economic benefit is the basic starting point of all economic activities that further developing financial advantages is helpful for improve the market seriousness of companies. The development of enterprises lessens work utilisation and acquires greatest advantages with the base speculation. Therefore, in this paper, the evaluation indices of economic benefit in enterprises are classified and the analysis model of economic benefit based on K-means clustering is established. According to the principal component analysis method, multi-dimensional analysis is conducted on X Company’s orders, income and expenditure data, loan amount and other aspects, which can help the senior leaders to scientifically manage and control the economic situation of the company, and make a better scientific forecast for future development.

Long-term fertilization management is not only an important source of nutrients to ensure food productivity, but also significantly affects soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) sequestration in agroecosystems, as well as strongly affects soil aggregate structure and microbiological characteristics. Straw incorporation is expected to promote SOC and TN. However, how long-term fertilization managements change soil aggregate distribution, SOC and TN components, and microbiological characteristics in straw-returned dryland fields are unknown, and how the quantitative analysis of the relationship between SOC and TN and biological factors, as well as their relative importance at an aggregate scale, are equally unknown. In addition, whether fertilization management can achieve higher crop productivity and economic efficiency while achieving higher soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration is a topic of greater concern to farmers. A 10-year in situ field fertilization experiment with five N application rates (0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 kg·N·ha−1, denoted as N0, N75, N150, 225, and N300, respectively) was conducted on straw-returned dryland. The wet sieving method was used to investigate the soil aggregates distribution in aggregate fractions (>5, 5–2, 2–1, 1–0.5, 0.5–0.25, and 0.25 mm) and mean weight diameter. Then, K2CrO7-H2SO4 oxidation and Kjeldahl digestion methods were used to determine the SOC and TN contents and calculate the contributing rate of aggregate size fractions in SOC and TN. It was found that most SOC and TN are distributed in macro-aggregate (especially 2–1 mm). N225 significantly increased the SOC and TN in bulk soil and aggregate scale, especially the macro-aggregate contribution rate to SOC and TN. At the same time, chloroform fumigation extraction and the 3, 5-dinitrosalicylic acid method were adopted for the determination of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity. It was found that microbial activity characteristics were consistent with SOC and TN dynamics at bulk soil and aggregate scales. Through further variation partitioning analysis demonstrated microbial biomass and enzyme activities accounting for 26 % and 34 % of the variation in SOC and TN. Finally, by calculating economic benefits, N225 maximizes crop yield and economic efficiency. Overall, reduced N application rate (N225) improves the soil's bioactive functioning, promotes carbon and nitrogen sequestration by promoting aggregation and improving the microbial biomass and enzyme activities in macro-aggregates, as well as enhancing crop yields and maximizing economic benefits in straw-returned dryland fields. These results would provide new insights into fertilization management strategies for improving soil conditions in terms of optimizing the interaction of soil aggregate structure–microbial activity characteristics–SOC and TN sequestration, as well as achieving sustainable agricultural development in straw-returned dryland fields.

The spray pyrolysis method has the disadvantage of nozzle plugging, and the conventional heating model causes a large temperature gradient, which leads to unevenly heated reactants. This study used cerium chloride heptahydrate and Venturi reactor as raw material and core equipment. The technology of microwave heating was combined to prepare single-phase sphere-like cerium oxide. The mean size of the particles was near 80nm. The product was characterized via XRD, SEM, and EDS technologies. The purity, morphology, and energy consumption were compared with the conventional spray pyrolysis. Fluent software coupled with HFSS was employed to simulate the effects of different process conditions on products' purity and temperature field in the reactor. There was good correspondence between experimental and simulated results. The results showed that as gas velocity Vg increased, the tendency of the temperature field distribution did not change. The lowest mass fraction of chlorine element reached 0.13% when the gas inlet velocity reached 1.7 m/s. When the material inlet velocity was 0.05 m/s, the mass fraction of the chlorine element was below 0.1%, which indicated that the reactants had a complete reaction. It has been calculated that the heating cost, energy consumption, and CO2 emission decreased sharply compared with the spray pyrolysis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of β-glucan with vitamin E supplementation on the growth performance, blood profiles, immune response, pork quality, pork flavor, and economic benefit in growing and finishing pigs. Methods A total of 140 growing pigs ([Yorkshire×Landrace]×Duroc) were assigned to five treatments considering sex and initial body weight (BW) in 4 replications with 7 pigs per pen in a randomized complete block design. The experimental diets included a corn-soybean meal-based basal diet with or without 0.05% or 0.1% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E. The pigs were fed the diets for 12 weeks (phase I, 0 to 3; phase II, 3 to 6; phase III, 6 to 9; phase IV, 9 to 12). The BW and feed intake were measured at the end of each phase. Blood samples were collected at the end of each phase. Four pigs from each treatment were selected and slaughtered for meat quality. Economic benefit was calculated considering the total feed intake and feed price. Pork flavor was analyzed through inosine monophosphate analysis. Results The average daily gain and feed efficiency were improved compared to the control when β-glucan or vitamin E was added. Supplementing 0.05% β-glucan significantly increased the lymphocyte concentration compared to the addition of 0.1% β-glucan and the content of vitamin E in the blood increased when 0.02% vitamin E was added. The treatment with 0.1% β-glucan and 0.02% vitamin E showed the most economic effect because it had the shortest days to market weight and the lowest total feed cost. The addition of β-glucan or vitamin E had a positive role in improving the flavor of pork when considering that the content of inosine monophosphate was increased. However, carcass traits and meat quality were not affected by β-glucan or vitamin E. Conclusion The addition of 0.1% β-glucan with 0.02% vitamin E in growing and finishing pig diets showed great growth performance and economic effects by supplying vitamin E efficiently and by improving the health condition of pigs due to β-glucan.

Introduction. The need for electrical energy has been increased sharply due to hasty growth in industrials, social and economic improvements. From the previous studies, it has been agreed that almost 13 % of the total power generated is wasted as heat loss at distribution level. It has been extensively recognized that the node voltage profile along the distribution system can be enhanced under steady state power transfer controlled by proper reactive power compensation. Capacitors have been acknowledged as reactive power compensating device in distribution systems to achieve technical and economical benefits. Novelty of this work is the application of Archimedes optimization algorithm for reactive power optimization in distribution systems so as to obtain an improved solution and also a real 94-bus Portuguese network and modified 12-bus network has been taken and validated for three different load levels which are totally new. Purpose of the proposed work is to maximize the economic benefit by reducing the power loss and capacitor purchase cost at three different load conditions subject to satisfaction of equality and inequality constraints. Methods. The economic benefit has been validated using Archimedes optimization algorithm for three load levels considering three distribution systems. Results. The computational outcomes indicated the competence of the proposed methodology in comparison with the previously published works in power loss minimization, bus voltage enhancement and more economical benefit and proved that the proposed methodology performs well compared to other methods in the literature.

Abundant light and heat in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area in China provide superior natural conditions for agricultural development. To study the maize–soybean planting system of intercropping and determine superior group yield and economic benefits in the Hexi Oasis Irrigation Area, eight treatments were set up in 2022–2023: maize–soybean intercropping with a bandwidth of 1.8 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M1S3), a bandwidth of 1.8 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M1S4), a bandwidth of 2.0 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M2S3), a bandwidth of 2.0 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M2S4), a bandwidth of 2.2 m and a row ratio of 2:3 (M3S3), a bandwidth of 2.2 m and a row ratio of 2:4 (M3S4), monocropping maize (M), and monocropping soybean (S). We analyzed the effects of changes in bandwidth–row ratios on photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and interspecific relationships in these treatments during two crop reproductive periods. Our results showed the following: (1) Under the intercropping system, the photosynthetic capacity of maize was highest when the row ratio was 2∶3 and bandwidth was 1.8 m. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) increased by 1.72% to 48.90%, the transpiration rate (Tr) increased by 5.53% to 118.10%, and stomatal conductance (Gs) increased by 2.82% to 86.49% compared with other planting systems. Increasing the bandwidth from 1.8 m to 2.2 m improved the photosynthetic characteristics of soybean, increasing Pn, Tr, and Gs by 3.44% to 74.21%, 3.92% to 53.69%, and 2.41% to 55.22%, respectively. (2) The yield of maize and soybean under monocropping was significantly higher than that under intercropping. In the intercropping treatments, the average yield of crops in the M3S3 system was 16,519.4 kg ha−1, an increase of 6.48% compared with the M3S4 system, indicating that the reduction of one row of soybean in the same bandwidth system increases crop yield; The average economic benefit of the M3S3 system over two years was 35,171.73 CNY ha−1, which increased by 13.3 and 80% compared with the average economic benefit of maize and soybean monocropping, indicating that the intercropping system leads to better economic results for farmers than monocropping. (3) In the two-year experiment, the land equivalent ratio (LER) was highest in the M3S3 model, averaging 1.25 over the two years, showing better land productivity compared with other intercropping systems. (4) When bandwidth was 1.8, 2.0, or 2.2 m, the LER decreased by 8.3, 5.9, and 5.6% when planting an additional row of soybeans, the relative crowding coefficient of soybeans in the respective bandwidths increased by 4.59, 4.72, and 0.75%, the competition ratio of maize (CRM) increased by 22.94, 16.97, and 12.74%, the competition ratio of soybean (CRS) decreased by 20.47, 17.61, and 16.78%, and the competitive power of maize was greater than that of soybean, indicating that the increase in soybean rows in the same bandwidth system would weaken the competitive advantage of soybean, resulting in crop yield and economic benefit reduction. When the row ratio was 2:3 or 2:4, bandwidth increased from 1.8 m to 2.2 m, LER decreased by 3.31 and 0.86%, intercropping maize aggressiveness (AM) decreased by 7.55 and 12.50%, CRM decreased by 18.04 and 24.84%, and CRS increased by 17.32 and 22.77%, respectively, which indicated that the increase in bandwidth under different row ratio systems could improve the competitive advantage of intercropping soybean, thereby improving crop yield and economic benefits. (5) The AHP method, entropy weight method, and TOPSIS analysis showed that M3S3 ranked first, with the highest comprehensive evaluation (0.6017). In conclusion, the M3S3 planting system can better coordinate crop interspecies relationships, with higher land yield and economic benefit, and can be used as a suitable maize–soybean intercropping system in the Hexi oasis irrigation area.

Excessive fertilizer input, low nutrient use efficiency, soil quality, and environmental degradation hinder greenhouse vegetable production. Integrated agronomic strategies of soil, crop, and nutrient management are needed to sharply improve the vegetable yield and simultaneously maintain sustainable production. A three-season field experiment was conducted from 2015 to 2018, aiming to evaluate the effect of integrated soil–crop system management (ISSM) on the agronomy, environment, and economy of greenhouse vegetable systems in the Yangtze River Basin, China. Three treatments were included in the experiment: (1) farmers’ current practice (FP), based on a local farmers’ survey; (2) soil remediation treatment (SR), the application of soil conditioner and compost fertilizer instead of chicken manure; (3) ISSM, a combination of soil conditioner, reducing plant density, and using formula fertilizer as well as increasing the fertilization times. The results indicated that ISSM (47.7 Mg ha−1) improved the pepper yield by 17% relative to farmers’ current practice (FP, 40.7 Mg ha−1). Soil remediation (SR), as a single approach, mainly made a contribution to improving the yield (by 6.9%) and nutrient use efficiency while reducing apparent nitrogen (N) losses. Higher yields were mainly attributed to increasing the fruit number per plant. On average, apparent N losses were reduced by 245 kg N ha−1 per season for ISSM compared to FP. In addition, higher net profits were obtained under SR and ISSM relative to FP. Overall, both SR and ISSM have advantages for the agronomy, environment, and economy in greenhouse vegetable production, but ISSM would be the optimal choice to achieve higher yields with lower environmental impacts.

Climate change is considered to be a serious threat to crop production around the globe. In the northern Shanxi Province of China (SXN), foxtail millet (or millet) is the main crop and generally grows under rainfed conditions. Existing literature has confirmed the millet yield reductions due to climate change in the past. However, little is known about the impacts of future climate change on millet production in the SXN. The main objectives of this study were to investigate the future climate change impacts under two emission scenarios (SSP245 and SSP585) and the potentials of shifting sowing date combined with supplemental irrigation as an adaptation strategy to climate change for millet production in the SXN using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT). Two supplemental irrigation strategies were tested: one presowing irrigation only (PSI), and two supplementary irrigations (PSGI) adopting one presowing irrigation and one irrigation during the growing season. We found that the air temperature, solar radiation and precipitation during the millet growing season in the future (2021–2060) are higher than those in the baseline (1981–2020). The rainfed millet yield will decrease by 8.6 % (SSP245) and 16.5 % (SSP585) in the future without an adaptation strategy, compared to the baseline yield (2.43 t ha−1) in 1981–2020 under the conventional sowing date. The reduction in rainfed millet yield caused by climate change cannot be reversed by shifting sowing date, but can be slightly mitigated by a suitable advancement of the sowing date. Adopting supplemental irrigation in the future can achieve higher millet yield than the baseline yield, especially PSGI. Compared to PSI, PSGI consumes more irrigation water but has higher irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). There is a synergy between shifting sowing date and supplemental irrigation in coping with climate change, and a later sowing date than the conventional one (30 April) is recommended under supplemental irrigation in the future. In 2021–2060, the best adaptation strategy to climate change for maximizing grain yield, IWUE and economic benefit in the millet production of the SXN is that supplementary irrigation is applied before sowing and on 20 July–30 July combined with the sowing dates of 10 May–20 May.

AbstractThis study evaluated the feed value of sugarcane filter cake (SFC) for broilers. A total of 336 one-day-old Cobb500 were randomly allotted to seven treatments (T) with three replications. A diet without SFC (T0, control) was formulated for the starter (1–14 days), grower (15–28 days) and finisher (29–49 days) phases. The test diets contained sun-dried SFC at two levels (5% and 10%) and varied with feeding periods [(5%SFC (T1)- and 10%SFC-based diets (T2) for the entire period, 5%SFC (T3)- and 10%SFC-based diets (T4) for grower to finisher phases and 5%SFC (T5)- and 10%SFC-based diets (T6) for finisher phase]. Feed intake (FI), final body weight (FBW), total body weight gain (TBWG) and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were not affected (P > 0.05) at the starter phase. However, FI and ADG on 10%SFC diets were reduced (P 0.05) were observed for the finisher and entire periods on 5%SFC-based diets. The overall FI, ADG and FCR did not vary among treatments (P > 0.05) however, TBWG was highest in T5 and T6. The overall feed consumption ranged from 3.86–4.26 kg/bird (P > 0.05). Treatments did not differ in dressed and eviscerated carcasses, cut parts, visceral organs and meat-to-bone ratios (P > 0.05). The 5%SFC- and 10%SFC-based diets resulted in higher net income. In conclusion, up to 10%SFC inclusion in the broiler diet for the whole period or at the finisher phase increases performances and economic benefit.