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Supply chain quality management practices are necessary to improve processes, meet consumer quality needs, and enhance supply chain quality management performance in sustainable food networks. Food supply chain quality management and associated practices are considerably studied in global food systems, less so for alternative food networks. There are salient differences between global food systems and alternative food networks, which may reflect on the applicable supply chain quality management practices in the food systems and networks. This paper reviews the literature on supply chain quality management practices, with a focus on alternative food networks. A systematic literature review methodology is adopted, resulting in the analysis of seventy-eight papers, identifying a total of one hundred and three supply chain quality management practices. The identified supply chain quality management practices were analysed in relation to their link to a) place, production, and producer and b) link to (bio)processes. Emerging themes from the analysis are discussed, and some areas of future research were put forward.

OBJECTIVE:To determine the effect of a linear gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) on the signal intensity (SI) of the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) in a retrospective clinical study on dogs after multiple magnetic resonance (MR) examinations with intravenous injections of gadodiamide and LA-ICP-MS analysis of a canine cerebellum after gadodiamide administration. ANIMALS:15 client-owned dogs of different breeds and additionally 1 research beagle dog cadaver. PROCEDURES:In the retrospective study part, 15 dogs who underwent multiple consecutive MR imaging examinations with intravenous injection of linear GBCA gadodiamide were analyzed. SI ratio differences on unenhanced T1-weighted MR images before and after gadodiamide injections was calculated by subtracting SI ratios between DCN and pons of the first examination from the ratio of the last examination. Additionally, 1 research beagle dog cadaver was used for LA-ICP-MS (Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) analysis of gadolinium in the cerebellum as an add-on to another animal study. Descriptive and non-parametrical statistical analysis was performed and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS:No statistically significant differences of SI ratios, between DCN and pons, were detectable based on unenhanced T1-weighted MR images. LA-ICP-MS analyses showed between 1.5 to 2.5 μg gadolinium/g tissue in the cerebellum of the examined dog, 35 months after the last of 3 MRI examination with gadodiamide (two examinations at a dose of 1 x 0.1mmol/kg, last examination at a dose of 3 x 0.05mmol/kg). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Although the retrospective MRI study did not indicate any visible effect of SI increase after multiple gadodiamide exposures, further studies based on LA-ICP-MS showed that the optical threshold was not reached for a potential visible effect. Gadolinium was detectable at a level of 1.5 to 2.5 μg gadolinium/g tissue by using LA-ICP-MS in the cerebellum 35 months after last MRI examination. The general importance of gadolinium retention of subvisible contents requires further investigation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a combination of ranolazine with different selective inhibitors of the Na+/Ca2+-exchanger (NCX) in an established experimental model of atrial fibrillation (AF). Eighteen hearts of New Zealand white rabbits were retrogradely perfused. Atrial catheters were used to record monophasic action potentials (aPRR). Hearts were paced at three different cycle lengths. Thereby, atrial action potential durations (aAPD90), atrial effective refractory periods (aERP) and atrial post-repolarization refractoriness were obtained. Isoproterenol and acetylcholine were employed to increase the occurrence of AF. Thereafter, the hearts were assigned to two groups (n = 9 each group) and additionally perfused with a combination of 10 µM ranolazine and 1 µM of the selective NCX-inhibitor ORM-10103 (group A: Rano-ORM) or 10 µM ranolazine and 1 µM of another NCX-inhibitor, SEA0400 (group B: Rano-SEA). The infusion of Iso/ACh led to a shortening of aAPD90, aERP, aPRR and the occurrence of AF episodes was significantly increased. Additional perfusion with ranolazine and ORM-10103 (group A) significantly prolonged the refractory periods and aPRR and AF episodes were effectively reduced. In group B, Rano-SEA led to a slight decrease in aAPD90 while aERP and aPRR were prolonged. The occurrence of AF episodes was consecutively reduced. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the effect of ranolazine combined with different selective NCX-inhibitors in an isolated whole-heart model of AF. Both combinations prolonged aERP and aPRR and thereby suppressed the induction of AF.

Water governance and ecosystem function in the Canadian prairies are in a state of crisis. Compounding this crisis, and adding complexity, is the relationship between the water governance authority of the state with Canada's First Peoples. Meaningful engagement of Indigenous peoples in water governance is a necessary requisite to effective water management. This research characterizes the extent and depth of Indigenous engagement in watershed planning in the province of Manitoba, Canada, and examines the degree to which Indigenous rights are incorporated in that engagement. To do so, we analyze evidence of First Nation people's inclusion in water governance, planning, and management processes. We conducted latent and manifest content analyses of watershed plans to identify the themes and frequency of content related to First Nations and Métis engagement and triangulated results with key informant semi-structured interviews and document reviews of water governance policies and legislation. Overall, we find that Indigenous engagement in Manitoba water governance has increased over time but is still lacking adequate recognition and implementation of Aboriginal and Treaty rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Questions about when early members of the genus Homo adapted to extreme environments like deserts and rainforests have traditionally focused on Homo sapiens. Here, we present multidisciplinary evidence from Engaji Nanyori in Tanzania’s Oldupai Gorge, revealing that Homo erectus thrived in hyperarid landscapes one million years ago. Using biogeochemical analyses, precise chronometric dating, palaeoclimate simulations, biome modeling, fire history reconstructions, palaeobotanical studies, faunal assemblages, and archeological evidence, we reconstruct an environment dominated by semidesert shrubland. Despite these challenges, Homo erectus repeatedly occupied fluvial landscapes, leveraging water sources and ecological focal points to mitigate risk. These findings suggest archaic humans possessed an ecological flexibility previously attributed only to later hominins. This adaptability likely facilitated the expansion of Homo erectus into the arid regions of Africa and Eurasia, redefining their role as ecological generalists thriving in some of the most challenging landscapes of the Middle Pleistocene.

Abstract Here, we present the North American Repository for Archaeological Isotopes (NARIA), the largest open-access compilation of previously reported isotopic measurements (n = 28,374) from bioarchaeological samples in North America (i.e., Canada, Greenland, Mexico, and the United States of America) covering a time-frame of more than 12,000 years. This database consists of stable (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O) and radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr) isotope measurements from archaeological human, animal, and plant sources and their corresponding contextual information (e.g., location, chronology, cultural affiliation, etc.). This synthesis of isotopic measurements and other forms of data presents significant research potential for investigating past human lifeways, particularly in the realms of paleomobility, paleoenvironment, and paleodiet. Additionally, it serves to pinpoint spatial and temporal data gaps, offering valuable insights for future research directions.

Abstract This study explores changes in pastoral practices in the Jerusalem region (Iron Age II - Late Hellenistic) through a multi-isotope approach (strontium, carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen). Based on the analysis of 135 sheep, goat, and cattle teeth and bone samples from Givati Parking Lot we demonstrate the value of this method in reconstructing past animal husbandry, revealing adaptation and resilience of pastoral communities amidst environmental and socio-political changes. Isotopic analysis indicates local sourcing for most animals, with intriguing outliers from distant regions up to 150 km away, suggesting regional exchange networks. Notably, the Persian period (5th century BCE) exhibits a wider isotope range, implying increased flexibility and exploitation of diverse grazing lands, potentially driven by climate shifts and political upheavals. Conversely, Late Hellenistic (2nd century BCE) livestock display restricted movement, while showcasing a rise in desert caprines, indicative of increased import compared to the Persian era. These findings highlight the dynamism and adaptability of past pastoral communities, adjusting their strategies in response to various pressures. This study opens new avenues for understanding human-environment interactions in the Levant and underscores the power of multi-isotope approaches in unraveling intricate socio-economic and ecological dynamics of the past.

Abstract The island of Sri Lanka was part of the South Asian mainland for the majority of the past 115,000 years, and connected most recently during the Last Glacial Maximum via the now submerged Palk Strait. The degree to which rising sea levels shaped past human adaptations from the Pleistocene and into the mid to late Holocene in Sri Lanka has remained unclear, in part because the earliest reliable records of human occupation come from the island’s interior, where cave sites have revealed occupation of tropical forest ecosystems extending back to 48 thousand years (ka). The island’s earliest known open-air sites are all much younger in date, with ages beginning at 15 ka and extending across the Holocene. Here we report the earliest well-dated open-air coastal site in Sri Lanka, Pathirajawela, which records human occupation back to ca. 25,000 years ago. We show that humans at Pathirajawela consistently adapted to changing ecosystems linked to sea level transgression and coastal evolution from the Last Glacial Maximum into the Holocene. The presence of anthropogenic shell midden deposits at the site from ca. 4.8 ka, focused almost exclusively on a single taxon, indicates intensification of estuarine resource exploitation, as humans responded to opportunities presented by the formation of new coastal ecosystems.

Abstract The earliest archaeological evidence from northern Africa dates to ca. 2.44 Ma. Nevertheless, the palaeoenvironmental setting of hominins living in this part of the continent at the Plio-Pleistocene transition remains poorly documented, particularly in comparison to eastern and southern Africa. The Guefaït-4 fossil site in eastern Morocco sheds light on our knowledge of palaeoenvironments in northern Africa. Our study reveals the oldest known presence of C4 plants in the northern part of the continent in a mosaic landscape that includes open grasslands, forested areas, wetlands, and seasonal aridity. This diverse landscape and resource availability likely facilitated the occupation of the region by mammals, including potentially hominins. Our regional-scale study provides a complementary perspective to global-scale studies and highlights the importance of considering the diversity of microhabitats within a given region when studying species-dispersal dynamics.

Warrior Elementary is a pubic school within the Navajo Nation. District and school reforms fought against school closure or private restructuring due to pressures associated with repeated failure on standardized tests under the 2001 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Warrior Elementary saw tremendous academic gains on these tests one year after a district-wide standards-based reform. This study documents the perspectives of the school staff on recent academic growth, the factors attributed to the increase in scores, and the implications of NCLB for Navajo students attending Warrior Elementary School. Allegations of fraud and intense test-preparation emerged along with discourses of prejudice against the local Navajo community. Additionally, due to pressures from state agencies acting under NCLB, a new era emerged at Warrior Elementary: achieving standardization.

The application of high-resolution methods to reconstruct the ecology and behavior of large-herbivores within Late Pleistocene contexts in Europe has revealed increasing evidence for variability in diet, habitat preference, ranges and mobility patterns through time and space. This data has major implications for interpretations of hominin subsistence strategies in terms of prey-species selection, which rest to a large extent, on the spatial ecology of these animals and their resulting availability in the environment. To this end, multi-isotope analysis of faunal remains from archaeological sites has been shown to provide direct information in herbivore movements and ranges that move beyond assumptions of consistency in animal behavior through time. The Middle Paleolithic site of Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, Northern Germany, has been put forward as a prime example of specialized hunting of a single taxon – reindeer – by Neanderthals. However, questions remain around the number and season of hunting events. Here we employ strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope analysis in combination with stable oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotope analysis of sequentially-sampled tooth enamel from reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and horse (Equus sp.) to reconstruct the sub-annual dietary and ranging behaviors of these prey-species at Salzgitter. We find that reindeer exhibit parallel seasonal shifts in diet and likely experienced similar environmental conditions. While the majority of the reindeer display the potential for long-distance climate-induced migrations, mobility patterns and seasonal ranges appear to have differed between individuals. This may be indicative of behavioral flexibility, particularly in migratory behavior of reindeer, during this period in Northern Germany. Horses analyzed here likely consumed a graze-based diet year-round, while potentially undertaking more residential movements on a seasonal basis. We briefly discuss potential implications of these findings on Neanderthal hunting strategies at the site. Finally, we discuss the challenges to the application of 87Sr/86Sr as a provenancing tool in Central Europe, and the importance of multi-isotope approaches and development of additional spatial proxies.

Abstract Burgeoning global trade and colonial policies promoted transformations in land use and agriculture throughout tropical regions in the 19th and 20th centuries, but the local and regional ecological consequences of landscape changes are still being identified and analysed. The Philippine Archipelago, which experienced successive colonial regimes across more than 7100 islands, exemplifies the multiplicity of ecological outcomes produced by these transformations. To better characterise diverse landscape change, we use colonial censuses and datasets to assess land use, production and agricultural yields in the Philippines during the late Spanish and early U.S. colonial periods (ca. 1870–1925). Our novel digital, quantitative analysis indicates that, at the national and provincial scales, agricultural production and land use increased for all major crops in both periods, while agricultural yields were mostly constant. Our results suggest that colonial investments to “improve” Philippine agriculture, specifically their efforts to increase production per hectare, were not effective. Our provincial-scale analysis also confirms the importance of distinct labour patterns, geographies and socio-political arrangements in defining this period’s ecological consequences, and we provide quantified and historically contextualised data in a format amenable to ecologists to promote future, localised historic ecological research.

Abstract Medieval Iberia witnessed the complex negotiation of religious, social, and economic identities, including the formation of religious orders that played a major role in border disputes and conflicts. While archival records provide insights into the compositions of these orders, there have been few direct dietary or osteoarchaeological studies to date. Here, we analysed 25 individuals discovered at the Zorita de los Canes Castle church cemetery, Guadalajara, Spain, where members of one of the first religious orders, the Order of Calatrava knights, were buried between the 12th to 15th centuries CE. Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analyses of bone collagen reveal dietary patterns typical of the Medieval social elite, with the Bayesian R model, ‘Simmr’ suggesting a diet rich in poultry and marine fish in this inland population. Social comparisons and statistical analyses further support the idea that the order predominantly comprised the lower nobility and urban elite in agreement with historical sources. Our study suggests that while the cemetery primarily served the order's elite, the presence of individuals with diverse dietary patterns may indicate complexities of temporal use or wider social interaction of the medieval military order.

Abstract Interpretations of Late Pleistocene hominin adaptative capacities by archaeologists have focused heavily on their exploitation of certain prey and documented contemporary behaviours for these species. However, we cannot assume that animal prey-taxa ecology and ethology were the same in the past as in the present, or were constant over archaeological timescales. Sequential isotope analysis of herbivore teeth has emerged as a particularly powerful method of directly reconstructing diet, ecology and mobility patterns on sub-annual scales. Here, we apply 87Sr/86Sr isotope analysis, in combination with δ18O and δ13C isotope analysis, to sequentially sampled tooth enamel of prevalent herbivore species that populated Europe during the Last Glacial Period, including Rangifer tarandus, Equus sp. and Mammuthus primigenius. Our samples come from two open-air archaeological sites in Central Germany, Königsaue and Breitenbach, associated with Middle Palaeolithic and early Upper Palaeolithic cultures, respectively. We identify potential inter- and intra-species differences in range size and movement through time, contextualised through insights into diet and the wider environment. However, homogeneous bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr across large parts of the study region prevented the identification of specific migration routes. Finally, we discuss the possible influence of large-herbivore behaviour on hominin hunting decisions at the two sites.

The triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss necessitates more holistic, comprehensive, and integrated public policy approaches. Within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, this crisis highlights significant conflicts over forms of knowledge and conceptualization, affecting how international policies are formed. Indigenous knowledge systems have become increasingly acknowledged for their vital role in addressing the challenges of the Anthropocene. Conferences of the Parties institutions like the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change emphasize the critical, although not always recognized, importance of Indigenous territories, which contain eighty percent of the world’s biodiversity. Here, we show that research in paleoecology, archaeology and history demonstrates the long-term significance of traditional knowledge and Indigenous land management practices for contemporary ecosystem dynamics. Drawing from these varied studies and perspectives also reveal the socio-economic inequalities resulting from centuries of European colonialism. We showcase three case studies on; (i) pastoralism in eastern Africa, (ii) natural resource management in southeast Asia and (iii) adaptation to sea level rise in the Caribbean, which touch upon highly diverse human resilience strategies across space and time. Despite efforts at the COP28 to accelerate climate action and incorporate diverse knowledge systems, significant challenges remain. The need for a pluralistic knowledge, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, blending scientific language with artistic and narrative forms, is proposed as critical for fostering effective communication and developing more effective and equitable solutions for global environmental governance.

Abstract The newly excavated rockshelter of Yeghegis-1 in Armenia reflects an occupation of five centuries, as attested by radiocarbon dates from ∼ 4100 to 4000 cal BCE in the lowest layer to ∼ 3600–3500 cal BCE at the top. It is a partially collapsed cave in which pastoralists, we hypothesize, wintered with their herds. The stone tool assemblage is predominantly obsidian (92.1%), despite the shelter being > 60 km on foot from the nearest sources. We use obsidian sourcing to investigate two purported trends in the Southern Caucasus during the Chalcolithic Period: (1) occupation of more varied high-altitude environments and (2) more expansive social networks. Our data show both trends were dynamic phenomena. There was a greater balance in use of the nearest pasturelands over time, perhaps linked to risk management and/or resource sustainability. During later occupations, artifacts from distant sources reveal more extensive connections. This increase in connectivity likely played a central role in the shifts in societal complexity that gave rise to widely shared material culture throughout the Armenian Highlands around the start of the Early Bronze Age. In such a model, greater social connectivity becomes a key mechanism for, rather than a product of, the spread of cultural and/or technological innovations.

Abstract The Bronze Age of Central Europe was a period of major social, economic, political and ideological change. The arrival of millet is often seen as part of wider Bronze Age connectivity, yet understanding of the subsistence regimes underpinning this dynamic period remains poor for this region, in large part due to a dominance of cremation funerary rites, which hinder biomolecular studies. Here, we apply stable isotope analysis, radiocarbon dating and archaeobotanical analysis to two Late Bronze Age (LBA) sites, Esperstedt and Kuckenburg, in central Germany, where human remains were inhumed rather than cremated. We find that people buried at these sites did not consume millet before the Middle Bronze Age (MBA) (ca. 1600 BCE). However, by the early LBA (ca. 1300–1050 BCE) people consumed millet, often in substantial quantities. This consumption appears to have subsequently diminished or ceased around 1050–800 BCE, despite charred millet grains still being found in the archaeological deposits from this period. The arrival of millet in this region, followed by a surge in consumption spanning two centuries, indicates a complex interplay of cultural and economic factors, as well as a potential use of millet to buffer changes in aridity in a region increasingly prone to crop failure in the face of climate change today.