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Erbium oxide due to its large polarizability and wide bandgap possesses superior dielectric properties and low leakage current. To study the effect of annealing environments on dielectric properties of erbium oxide, it was annealed under argon and air environments. Complex impedance analysis was performed to investigate dielectric properties, relaxation and conduction processes of the annealed samples. The decrease in grain size and increase in surface area, due to annealing in argon environment, resulted in over 2-fold increase in dielectric constant as compared to conventionally used SiO 2 (Effendy et al., 2017) [1]. The annealing in reducing environment also happened to widen the bandgap energy of erbium oxide. Annealing of erbium oxide in inert environment was proved to be better for the enhancement of dielectric properties, owing to creation of smaller grains with larger grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Human Review is the property of Eagora Science 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.)

Himalayan environments have changed, and are changing, due to the ways in which people have interpreted, sourced, and utilised them. Scholarly analysis of the transformations induced, be it in deforestation, dam building or glacial melt, foreground how man is shaping the world in the Anthropocene. Alternatively, multispecies studies have shown how people invariably depend on, and are being shaped, by the dedicated environments in which they find themselves. Rather than people existing independent of these, their lives are the product of ‘co-becoming’ (Country et al 2016: 1) or ‘becoming-with’ (Haraway 2008: 12) a variety of spaces and species. In relation to the Himalayas, the two angles of enquiry outlined above have so far seldom been combined. In an attempt to engage with this lacuna, the contributions to this special issue scrutinise the changing framing and interpretation of human and non-human relationships, and the way these find expression in everyday life. At the same time, the contributions explore how large-scale interventions instigated by state making, development initiatives and the expansion of commercial ventures have transformed, and continue to transform, mountain spaces and species, generating new societal contexts in which these acquire new meanings.

A line x tester analysis using 10 lines and five testers were carried out to study the stability of 50 hybrids over environments using three different sowing dates for seed cotton yield and its quantitative traits in cotton. The analysis of variance for stability revealed significant differences among the genotypes for all the characters when tested against the pooled error and pooled deviation. The mean square due to environments (E) was also found significant when tested against the pooled error and pooled deviation for all the characters. G x E interactions were non-significant for all the characters except days to 50% flowering, days to 50% boll bursting, seed index and oil content indicating linear response of different genotypes for various traits under varied environmental conditions. The variance due to environments (linear) was significant for all the traits when tested against pooled error as well as pooled deviation. The stability parameters viz., overall mean (X̅), regression coefficient (bi) and deviation from regression (S2di) revealed that the hybrids G.Cot 18 x GSHV 173, G.Cot 18 x GTHV 7/70, G.Cot 12 x GTHV 7/70, G.Cot 12 x G.Cot 20 and GJHV 511 x GSHV 173 were the most widely adapted and stable crosses for seed cotton yield per plant and its components. The parents GJG 101, Deviraj, G.Cot 12, G.Cot 10, GJHV 500, GJHV 511, GJHV 517, GJHV 521, GJHV 536, Suraj, G.Cot 20, GSHV 173 and GTHV 7/70 were identified as the stable genotypes for seed cotton yield and its components and hence, they may be utilized in breeding programmes for incorporation of stability in cotton.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the levels of physical activity (PA) and sleep and to examine specific COVID-19 factors that may be associated with changes in PA and sleep among adults in Russia. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected during the period of tightest restrictions between 26 April 2020 and 6 June 2020. Eligible participants included all Russian adults aged 18 years and over. Participants reported their sleep patterns and problems, frequency and duration of walking, moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA, and muscle strengthening activities before COVID-19 and during the past 7 days. Access to an outdoor green space and fitness centres, use of online resources, adherence to self-isolation recommendations and other preventive measures from Ministry of Health were self-reported. Results The sample included 2432 participants from 62 regions, 83% of who were female. There was a significant decline in the number of days per week participants reported not getting enough sleep (3.21 ± 2.44 to 2.86 ± 2.57; P

Ashwagandha is an important, medicinal, less exploited crop and most of its cultivated varieties are local cultivars. Information related to ashwagandha’s genetic diversity is very limited. Hybrid vigor exploitation may be useful in breaking its yield barrier at a commercial scale. A total of 45 F1 crosses were produced during Kharif 2017-18 by using a line x tester matting design, which included three testers along with 15 lines. A total of 65 genotypes were grown in an RBD design, with three replications in three different environments during Kharif 2018-19, and observations were recorded for 11 different yield-attributing traits that were responsible for the estimation of the magnitude of the heterosis. An analysis of variance showed that a valuable amount of diversity existed in the breeding material. Based on the study, three promising crosses viz., UWS-305 × UWS-10, UWS-305 × RVA-100, and UWS-301 × RVA-100 were identified as superior heterotic materials for the root yield at harvest, whereas for the total alkaloid content, three excellent hybrids viz., UWS-309 × RVA-100, UWS-305 × RVA-100, and UWS-314 × RVA-100 were reported. Out of the above crosses, the cross-combination of UWS-305 × RVA-100 showed a significantly positive and useful heterosis on a pooled basis. Hence, the above crosses may be gainfully utilized in breeding programs for ashwagandha.

The United Kingdom (UK) has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world, and Stoke-on-Trent has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates and highest infant mortality rates in the UK. Vicarious experience of formula feeding, formula feeding culture, and a lack of physical environments to support breastfeeding are known barriers to uptake and maintenance. Improving physical environments and increasing the visibility of breastfeeding in public would help to challenge these barriers. This research employs a participatory approach to understand the facilitators and barriers to breastfeeding in public. Nine breastfeeding peer supporters were recruited as co-researcher for a photovoice study. Co-researchers collated images of features in environments which they felt either supported or acted as a barrier to public breastfeeding. An analysis workshop was held to review the data collected and produce collaboratively agreed findings. Various environmental features were highlighted as facilitators to breastfeeding including family rooms, welcoming signage, supportive staff members, and displays of information about breastfeeding. In addition, poorly designed family rooms, lack of inclusivity within breastfeeding spaces, breastfeeding spaces within toilets and a lack of information were barriers to public breastfeeding. This research illustrates that while some environments are well designed to support breastfeeding many others are not. Environments often lack basic provision and/or make token gestures towards breastfeeding support, such as welcome signage, without providing the infrastructure needed to support breastfeeding. More education about breastfeeding friendly spaces and resources for putting this information into practice are needed for environment owners, managers, and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Canada, every day, contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) are discharged from waste treatment facilities into freshwaters. CECs such as pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs), personal care products (PCPs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and microplastics are legally discharged from sewage treatment plants (STPs), water reclamation plants (WRPs), hospital wastewater treatment plants (HWWTPs), or other forms of wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs). In 2006, the Government of Canada established the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) to classify chemicals based on a risk-priority assessment, which ranked many CECs such as PhACs as being of low urgency, therefore permitting these substances to continue being released into the environment at unmonitored rates. The problem with ranking PhACs as a low priority is that CMP's risk management assessment overlooks the long-term environmental and synergistic effects of PhAC accumulation, such as the long-term risk of antibiotic CEC accumulation in the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. The goal of this review is to specifically investigate antibiotic CEC accumulation and associated environmental risks to human and environmental health, as well as to determine whether appropriate legislative strategies are in place within Canada's governance framework. In this research, secondary data on antibiotic CEC levels in Canadian and international wastewaters, their potential to promote antibiotic-resistant residues, associated environmental short- and long-term risks, and synergistic effects were all considered. Unlike similar past reviews, this review employed an interdisciplinary approach to propose new strategies from the perspectives of science, engineering, and law. • Antibiotics as contaminants of emerging concern are increasing being released from WWTPs and give rise to ARB and ARG. • The current Canadian Chemical Management Plan (CMP) does not include routine monitoring of antibiotic CECs from wastewater. • Knowledge gaps between scientific data and policy need to be addressed. • A precautionary principle needs to be adopted to prevent antibiotic CECs from becoming long term health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the Holocene evolution of the Cávado estuarine coastal system (Portugal) and the adjacent terrestrial areas, using a multidisciplinary approach, which includes geomorphology, sedimentology, palynology, radiocarbon and history. During the Early Holocene, the Cávado environment was characterized by the dominance of coarse sediments especially in the most westward areas, corresponding to fluvial energetic dynamics. During the Middle Holocene, the presence of wetlands dominated especially in the most sheltered areas. The pollen data reflect the predominance of forests during the initial phases of the introduction of agriculture, with a significant presence of humid forests. Between 4240 and 3980 cal BP, a sudden marine flooding took place over the peat. During the Late Holocene, there was a succession of low, high and again low energy fluvial environments in the eastward sheltered areas, while high energy dominated in the Fão channel entrance, with marine influence on the uppermost units. The pollen content reflects a situation of high human influence, with a poor representation of natural forests and a predominance of agrosystems, related to the rise of the Cávado estuary as a port during the heyday of the city of Braga during the Roman and Suevian periods, as described in historical texts and archaeological research. In connection with this growth, the pollen data show the existence of local Pinus plantations related to shipbuilding and repair in the port. During these times, the estuary was larger and open to the sea at Fão. After the 15th century, with the general silting of coastal areas, the inlet closed and the river mouth was displaced to the North. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central China has a rich terrain with a temperate monsoon climate and varied natural environments for the Chinese honeybee (Apis cerana cerana). However, little comprehensive research on population genetic diversity has been done in this area. A population survey of the structure and genetic diversity of Apis cerana cerana in this area is deeply needed for understanding adaptation to variable environments and providing more references for the protection of honeybee biodiversity. In this study, we present a dataset of 72 populations of Chinese honeybees collected from nine sites by whole genome sequencing in Central China. We obtained 2,790,214,878 clean reads with an average covering a depth of 22×. A total of 27,361,052 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained by mapping to the reference genome with an average mapping rate of 93.03%. Genetic evolution analysis was presented via the population structure and genetic diversity based on the datasets of SNPs. It showed that Apis cerana cerana in plains exhibited higher genetic diversity than in mountain areas. The mantel test between Apis cerana cerana groups revealed that some physical obstacles, especially the overurbanization of the plains, contributed to the differentiation. This study is conducive to elucidating the evolution of Apis cerana in different environments and provides a theoretical basis for investigating and protecting the Chinese honeybee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological traits of invertebrates inhabiting freshwater methane seeps are poorly understood. We analysed the relationship between invertebrate abundance and environmental factors such as methane concentration, location of gas hydrates in sediments, sediment composition, and the total number of microorganisms (TNMs), including methanotrophs. The abundance of invertebrates varied greatly (CV 10–136%) across box core samples and stations. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in the abundance of invertebrates were found between stations with sluggish methane discharge, methane concentrations, and gas hydrates located deep in sediments (> 70 cm) and the reference stations. The abundance of meio- and macrobenthic invertebrates reached ~ 130,000 ind. m−2 around gas hydrates ~ 30 cm deep in the sediments. The abundance of nematodes significantly depended on the presence of sulfur bacteria and copepod detritus, while oligochaetes were correlated with the TNMs. Amphipod abundance was dependent on the number of methanotrophic bacteria, while ostracods and copepods showed no dependence on the studied biotic factors. Stable isotope analysis of δ13C and δ15N indicated that oligochaetes and chironomids consumed different proportions of chemosynthetic carbon. Most benthic invertebrates also formed aggregates, possibly enabling the complete utilization of food resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the substantial appeal of the safety condition, Kelp (J Philos Res 34:21–31, 2009; Am Philos Q 53:27–37; Good Thinking. A Knowledge First Virtue Epistemology, Routledge, London, 2018) has raised a difficult challenge for safety-theoretic accounts of knowledge. By combining Gettier-style fake barn cases with epistemic Frankfurt cases, he concludes that no formulation of safety can be strong enough to predict ignorance in the former and weak enough to accommodate knowledge in the latter. In this note, my contribution is two-fold. Firstly, I take up Kelp’s challenge and I show that, once properly understood, safety successfully rises to it. Secondly, I draw a more general lesson on the safety condition: a satisfactory solution to Kelp’s challenge calls for a revision of the standard formulation of safety, which must be indexed to both methods and environments. My conclusion will be that an environment-relative version of safety not only meets Kelp’s challenge, but it also advances our understanding of the safety condition on knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, new trends and methodologies have emerged that greatly favor the education sector. E-learning as an alternative to regular teaching and learning processes has transformed the educational dynamics thanks to the inclusion of MOOCs, personal learning environments, allowing the educational process to be carried out at a personalized level where the focus is on learning styles and the profile of the student. This article presents a review of current works around machine learning mechanisms to make recommendations in the educational environment, where it is found that besides the discovery of the student’s learning style, it is important to know their level of knowledge and learning speed, in addition to the tools used by the student to carry out their studies. Finally, the opportunity for implementation and research of these issues in Colombia is highlighted.

Many professions have struggled to translate their disciplines into a flexible blended learning experience that is adaptive to the recent pandemic constraints and responsive to the changing needs of learners, and which can match the vibrancy of a purely physical place of education. Architecture has been counter-intuitively resistant to a more seamless, adaptive and responsive environment as a digital learning space. This is due to an ambiguity of the tools and elements available to practitioners for positive learning environments that can be usefully transposed to blended learning. For an industry marked as creative, since the mid-2000s it has found itself behind that of service designs’ educational development. Traditionalists in our discipline have continued to focus on the production and craft of artefacts in design over and above process. However, we have sought to balance this craft and process with the appropriate digital ‘places’ and ‘positions’ as an emerging ‘place-free’ praxis for education. We collectively refer to all of these as a ‘terroir’ for new places and alternative positions in education. In this article, we set out the ingredients and tools uncovered to deliver these progressive learning places within the new terroir, which are applicable to any creative industry. We also outline how to successfully promote agency within the learning process to foster creative education in a variety of design fields and assist in developing alternative school positions. The article explores the role that ‘Process-to-strategy’ has in facilitating creativity, while the ‘Construct-a-journey’ section describes the tools that are needed to enable students to fashion an autonomous learning path as a unified experience. Lastly, the ‘Experience-the-terroir’ section evaluates the inherent design possibilities in virtual environments across all themes and strategies to explore specific qualities of experience, which could lead to a greater understanding of the place containing design creativity, spatial illusion and design processes. The specific project that we discuss investigated the qualitative impacts of novel technologies adapted to the practice of architectural education along these four key themes. They are supportive to a peer-led, positive learning, transnational environment as a ‘place-free’ praxis, while providing a structured approach for reflexive educational design in a particular time of flux such as the recent pandemic. The article concludes with a summary of the new architectural terroir.

Human population growth requires food production to increase at a matching pace. Crop productivity largely depends on GEM reciprocity and variation in any factor may potentially alter the overall response. Introduction of improved cultivars causes interactive responses within the farming system which may produce tangible benefits only in the presence of suitable environments and management practices. The yield gap which is defined as the difference between yield potential and average farm yield varies in extent among regions ranging from moderately high to alarmingly high. Variation in environments and management practices impacts both the quantity and quality of produce. The highest gains can be achieved if factors in the interaction model work complementarily. System efficiency indicators are useful for assessing the overall system performance. In the face of new challenges plant breeding is receptive to shifts in objectives and strategy. Extension experts are trained to transfer technology and help farmers optimise for better gains. The extension service is also crucial for feedback to researchers. Better crop management has helped realize the genetic potential of crop cultivars in specific settings. Once a productivity plateau has been reached following optimization of management practices for specified environments, then further improvement of the system can be attained through new genetic interventions. For higher productivity a stronger linkage among researchers, extension experts, and farmers is vital. To help the decision support systems GEM interactions need precise scientific analysis and interpretation. A general account rather than a specific view on GEM reciprocity is presented.

There is an emerging body of literature which explores the short-term impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on education (e.g. Watermeyer, 2021). This short paper responds to the increasing body of evidence which suggests that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will have a disproportionate impact in the longer term, too. The focus of this paper is on the ways in which the global COVID-19 pandemic affected gender equality within education, particularly in the further education (FE) sector. After the initial disruption to the delivery of education in March 2020, when the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK took place, many learning institutions were able to welcome their learners back into physical buildings for the subsequent academic sessions. However other institutions, particularly those within the FE and HE sectors, knew that their doors would effectively remain closed for some time, and had to devise or adapt appropriate ways of delivering education through technological means. This paper explores the changing norms and expectations in terms of technology-enhanced learning for which the COVID-19 pandemic was a catalyst, and the impact of these on gender equality within education. This paper explores how the use of a sociomaterial lens to view education can further our understanding of how these issues can be mitigated. Building on the available literature (e.g. Gourlay, 2021), it considers how viewing learning through a sociomaterial lens provides a framework within which mitigating strategies could be developed. Finally, this paper considers how a sociomaterial lens may be used to support the educational community to further improve issues of gender equality. This 'On the Horizon' piece for the 'Breaking the Gender Bias' Special Issue of JPAAP is a call to action, exploring future avenues for research into improving issues of gender equality within education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (CN) and Oreochromis niloticus (ON) health status were investigated in Asejire Reservoir (AR) and Lagos Lagoon (LL), South-west Nigeria. Fish samples collected were separated into sexes. Growth pattern {length (cm); weight (g), Isometric index, condition factor (K)} were measured. Heavy metals (lead (Pb), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and chromium (Cr) in ppm concentrations were determined in Lagos Lagoon and Asejire reservoir. Results: Fish samples ranged at one male to one or two females. No significant difference in length and weight of O. niloticus between locations. Significant difference in weight occurred in C. nigrodigitatus between locations; highest condition factor was recorded in Asejire Reservoir O. niloticus, (ARON); lowest condition factor was observed in Asejire Reservoir C. nigrodigitatus (ARCN) as this indicated a negative allometric value, normal in Bagridae species. Male species possessed higher condition (K)—factor than female species within locations, between locations, between species, and within species, female C. nigrodigitatus having higher condition factor than male ARCN. Highest isometric value occurred in ARON and lowest in Lagos Lagoon C. nigrodigitatus (LLCN). Male ARON had highest isometric value, and O. niloticus species had higher isometric value (b≤3) and positive allometric (b>3); and C. nigrodigitatus has negative allometric (b<3). Heavy metals Zn had highest value, while Cr ranked lowest value for ARON. Lagos Lagoon O. niloticus (LLON) Zn had highest value while Pb had lowest value. LLCN heavy metals determined revealed Zn had highest value, while Cr had lowest value; and ARCN heavy metals determined revealed Zn had highest value, and Cr had lowest. In all, Zinc (Zn) was top-ranked. Conclusion: Results indicate niche response and performance as species specific; while environmental influence and stressors, food availability and reproduction factors contribute to well-being of fish. The heavy metals influence on the fsh species is of public concern to man to avoid food poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposed Middle Eocene (Bartonian) Qurn Formation along Qattamiya—Ain Sokhna district is measured, sampled and microscopically investigated. Besides, the vertical distribution of the chemical oxides and strontium (Sr) has been determined to identify their petrographic, geochemical characteristics and interpret their depositional environments. The facies analysis (lithofacies, microfacies, and biofacies) of the studied rocks revealed the recognition of three microfacies associations: (1) restricted lagoon facies association (FT1–FT3), (2) open lagoon facies association (FT4–FT7), and (3) shoal facies association (FT8–FT9). Lithofacies and microfacies analysis of Middle Eocene rocks along Qattamiya—Ain Sokhna district reflect carbonate inner ramp regime ranging from restricted lagoon to shoal buildup depositional conditions. These identified inner ramp microfacies are changed eastward to mid-ramp, while they are represented westward by tidal flat and shallow lagoonal facies. The vertical distribution of both CaO and MgO revealed that MgO is related mainly to the dolomitization process rather than primary deposition. The vertical distribution of Sr in the studied carbonate samples matches with that of SiO2, thus may be related to the warm environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the factors affecting the yield of corn varieties due to genotype by environment (G × E) interaction can be helpful in the identification of sites with contrasting environments for effective multi-location trials. Field experiments were conducted for one cropping season in selected corn-growing areas in the Philippines. Corn varieties used were: (i) IPB Var 6, IPB Var 8, LB Lagkitan, IES Lagkitan, and Native corn in Luzon; (ii) IPB Var 6, IPB Var 11, IPB Var 13, and OxL in Visayas; and (iii) IPB Var 6, LB Lagkitan, and OxL in Mindanao. Climatic parameters, such as temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity in each location were determined. Grain yield variability was obtained as affected by the prevailing climatic factors during the growing period. In Luzon, variations in corn grain yield were mainly attributed to the genotypic effect under Type I climate (distinct dry and wet season), and IPB Var 6 has consistently higher grain yields across sites. The effect of the environment on the grain yield of IPB Var 6, IPB Var 8, LB Lagkitan, IES Lagkitan, and Native variety was apparent under Type IV climate and the different corn varieties were not affected by the climatic factors. In the Visayas, relative humidity contributed significantly to grain yield variations of four varieties in different locations with Type I climate. Varietal differences in corn grain yield under Type IV climate were attributed to the genotypic effect and IPB Var 13 variety has consistently higher grain yield. Temperature, genotype, and relative humidity contributed significantly to the variations in the grain yield of IPB Var 6, OxL, and LB Lagkitan in locations with a Type II climate in Mindanao. On the other hand, genotype and relative humidity significantly influenced the yield performance of three varieties grown in different locations with a Type IV climate. In conclusion: (i) IPB Var 6 can be recommended in Luzon under Type I and IV climates, based on yield performance across locations; (ii) IPB Var 13 can be recommended under Type I and IV climates in the Visayas based on grain yield, with IPB Var 11 being the most stable genotype across three locations with Type I and IV climates; and (iii) IPB Var 6 having the highest grain yield under Type II and IV climates in Mindanao, can be recommended in Mindanao, eventhough it has specific adaptations in some locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in closed environments, similar to waiting or exam rooms of healthcare facilities, in the face of exposure to a bioaerosol. Methods: Combinations of words were selected for six electronic databases and for the gray literature. To consider the eligibility of the studies to be included/excluded, the acronym "PECOS" was used: humans and/or experimental models that simulate aerosol (Population); aerosol exposure and the use of masks/respirators (exposition/intervention); controlled or not controlled (comparison); effectiveness of PPE and the receiver exposure (outcomes); and randomized clinical studies or not, observational or laboratory simulation studies (Studies design). Results: A total of 4820 references were retrieved by the search strategy. Thirty-five articles were selected for complete reading, of which 13 articles were included for qualitative synthesis. A surgical mask or N95 respirator reduced the risk of transmission, even over short distances. The use of masks, even those with less filtering power, when used by all individuals in the same environment is more effective in reducing risk than the use of respirators with high filtering power for only some of the individuals present. Conclusion: The use of mask in closed environments is effective in reducing the risk of transmission and contagion of a contaminated bioaerosol, with greater effectiveness when these devices are used by the source and receiver, regardless of the equipment's filtering power. (PROSPERO 2020 CRD 42020183759). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to analyze academic performance in virtual learning environments during the Covid 19 pandemic for Institutions Incorporated into the University located in the State of Mexico. For this, a review of scientific literature was carried out, which is based on current references in specialized databases. A quantitative design of this study based on an experimental study with a sample of 15 institutions, 1200 professors who taught at distance or virtually in the academic period, also 700 students were applied instruments during scholar period of year 2020-2021, 2022. Data collection used different surveys. The information analysis is described narrative and presented by graphic, tables, and diagrams. The results of these surveys shown that, 80% learnt at distance, nevertheless 20% decided to quit the classes. The most used platform was Google classroom, the main communication plataforms used were Facebook, Zoom and WhatsApp. The 70% of the contents of the programs were completed. The 90% consider that academic performance is subjective. The 90% of theachers require developing digital competences 95% consider that access to technology is an oportunity to achieve learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diversitas Journal is the property of Diversitas Journal 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.)

Copyright of Visión Electrónica is the property of Fondo de Universidad Distrital Francisco Jose de Caldas 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.)

Agriculture is characterized by its organic manner of production. Thus, the forms of agricultural production are heavily dependent on natural conditions (weather, geographic features, water supply, etc.), which are peculiar to regions or local conditions. The regionally peculiar characteristics of agriculture are also intensified by the social environment, that is, the lifestyle of the people in the region. Land, labor and capital, which are the essential inputs needed for production, vary qualitatively and quantitatively from region to region. The regional peculiarities bring a different type of development path to local agriculture. This is the basic reason why the same development theory or principle cannot be applied to agriculture although it could be applicable in the case of other industries such as manufacturing. This paper deals with the characteristics of local agricultural development at the provincial level of China, based on statistical analyses of two sets of three-years data of 2009, 2010 and 2011 as well as 1999, 2000 and 2001. The analysis showed clear regional differentiation among the provinces between land-productivity oriented type and labor-productivity oriented type of agricultural development.

Nutritionally, Barnyard millet is an important crop, it is probably originated in central Asia and spread from central Asia to Europe and America. Climate change will alert an extra constrains as many parts of the country are becoming drier with increasingly severe weather patterns. Developing better barnyard millet cultivars is always placing as an important strategy in crop improvement. This study was focused to evaluate the phenotypic diversity and stability of barnyard millet germplasm for yield and its attributing traits. Diversity as revealed by D2 analysis indicated that the trait grain yield had contributed maximum towards the diversity followed by days to maturity. The accessions M5P1, M36P1 and M37P1 exhibited the highest mean values for grain yield per plant, but no significance difference was found comparing checks. Stability analysis revealed that none of the accessions were showed stable performance, indicated that influence of environmental factors played a major role.

At present, the improvement of industrial-type processes aims at having products that meet the highest standards, optimizing resources and responding promptly to any developments that affect their results. In this article, a case of a system of supervision of a remote crop type plant, monitored by means of SCADA type platforms in a workstation distant from the physical location is introduced, with automation equipment that allows to display and adjust variables that are critical for the process, such as pressure, operation of irrigation water pump, failure states or actuator operation (at request of end customer), among others (not limited to these). The information generated is sent through IoT (Internet of Things-Internet of Things) technologies to a workstation where an end user can change or affect the variables of that plant, and thus, take actions to mitigate affectations in the quality of the final product, also leaving improvement plans for future implementations of similar characteristics.

Ticks are blood-sucking arthropods that parasitize most groups of terrestrial or semiaquatic vertebrates. Humans are accidental hosts to the ticks; however, in humans the ticks can cause damages varying from simple irritation to severe allergies, toxicosis, paralysis, and the transmission of pathogens, some of which can be fatal. Central America represents a narrow isthmus between North and South America and is considered a biodiversity hotspot. The importance of tick-borne diseases in this region is manifested by fatal outbreaks caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, severe and mild cases of other rickettsioses, ehrlichiosis, and tick-borne relapsing fevers, in addition to cases paralysis and strong allergic reactions. Even so, this information is scarce in most countries of this region, and there are no epidemiological data. In this article we present a review of the ticks that parasitize humans in Central America, covering data from the 19th Century to the present day. Of nearly 80 tick species reported in Central America, 28 species are reported on humans. This list includes species that thrive within homes, grazing areas and, to a lesser extent, in wild environments, both in lowland and high mountain forests. The most important genus in this region is Amblyomma, followed by Rhipicephalus and Ornithodoros, and to a lesser extent Haemaphysalis, Ixodes and Dermacentor. These data provide information on the tick species most commonly associated with humans in Central America, and highlight the potential for tick-borne diseases in wild, rural and urban regions.

Abstract Fifteen species of sea anemones (Cnidaria, Actiniaria) have been recorded so far in the Colombian Caribbean, comprising approximately 28% of the total number of known species in the Caribbean Sea. Most species recorded are associated with coral reef communities. However, in the region, no records of sea anemones are known from areas with high sedimentation conditions as is characteristic along the coastline of the Atlántico Department, in Colombia. In this area, organisms are exposed to a high degree of turbidity and sedimentation (~143.9x106 t year-1) as a result of their proximity to the Magdalena River mouth and the 26 micro-basins that flow along its coastline. Several observations and collections were made on soft bottoms, rocky, and artificial substrates in the sectors of Puerto Velero and Caño Dulce to determine the fauna that exist under these conditions. Four species of sea anemones were found belonging to the families Actiniidae and Aiptasiidae, and images from living specimens and cnidae are provided. Bunodosoma cavernatum and Exaiptasia diaphana are here recorded for the first time from the Colombian Caribbean. An updated list of sea anemones in the Colombian Caribbean, now comprising 34 taxa (i.e., 21 species and 13 identified at supra-specific levels), is provided.

Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), one of three kinds of photosynthesis, is a water-use efficient adaptation to an arid environment. CAM is characterized by CO2 uptake via open stomata during the nighttime and refixation CO2 via the Calvin cycle during the daytime. Facultative CAM plants can shift the photosynthesis from C3 to CAM and exhibit greater plasticity in CAM expression under different environments. Though leaf thickness is an important anatomical feature of CAM plants, there may be no anatomical feature changes during the C3–CAM transition for all facultative CAM plants. The shift from C3 photosynthesis to CAM in facultative CAM plants is accompanied by significant changes in physiology including stomata opening, CO2 gas exchange and organic acid fluxes; the activities of many decarboxylating enzymes increase during the shift from C3 to CAM; the molecular changes occur during the photosynthesis C3–CAM shift involved DNA hypermethylation, transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional regulation and protein level regulation. Recently, omics approaches were used to discover more proceedings underling the C3–CAM transition. However, there are few reviews on the mechanisms involved in this photosynthetic shift in facultative CAM plants. In this paper, we summarize the progress in the comparative analysis of anatomical, physiological, metabolic and molecular properties of facultative CAM plants between C3 and CAM photosynthesis. Facultative CAM plants also show the potential for sustainable food crop and biomass production. We also discuss the implications of the photosynthesis transition from C3 to CAM on horticultural crops and address future directions for research.

Improving yield is the main aim of plant breeders. In the case of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), a major challenge in this regard is genotype–environment interactions, and a knowledge of these is required to successfully select high-yielding genotypes. In this study, graphical and numerical approaches of diallel analysis have been used to reveal such interactions. Ten different wheat genotypes were crossed using a half-diallel approach. The parents, hybrids, and standard checks were evaluated at the Regional Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat, Anand, India under both standard and late-sown conditions in two separate years (E1 and E2 (normal-18 November 2018 and late sown-10 December 2018, respectively, Rabi 2018–2019), E3 and E4 (normal-18 November 2019 and late sown-10 December 2019, respectively, Rabi 2019–2020)). For each sowing, ‘t2’ values were calculated for eleven phenotypic characteristics: days to 50% heading, days to maturity, plant height, number of effective tillers per plant, length of main stem, number of spikelets per main spike, number of grains per main spike, grain yield per main spike, grain yield per plant, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index. Components of the gene effect revealed that the number of spikelets per main spike in E2 and E4, and the number of grains per main spike in E2 were governed by both additive and dominance gene action across the environments. Other characteristics were the greater influence of the dominance gene effect, except for days to 50% heading in E1, E2, E3, and E4; days to maturity in E2, E3, and E4; grain yield per main spike in E4. Many characteristics exhibited overdominance, an asymmetrical distribution of positive–negative, dominance–recessive genes, and narrow-sense heritability in all environments. In graphical analysis, regression value ‘b’ was unity for days to 50% heading (E1 and E4) and 1000-grain weight (E3 and E4), which revealed an absence of digenic interactions for these characteristics in the respective environments. Therefore, a given population may be improved to isolate superior recombinants for the development of desired parents in future breeding programs.

Maize ( Zea mays L.) is a staple food for many people in Burkina Faso. The cultivation of maize hybrid genotypes plays a crucial role in increasing maize production and productivity. Feeding the growing population of the country, expected to reach thirty million by 2035, using hybrid genotypes of maize is a challenge. The objective of this study was to identify the hybrid maize genotypes having a best adaptability in the agro-ecological context of Burkina Faso. Nine (09) hybrid maize genotypes were evaluated during the 2018/2019 cropping season, in nine locations of the country characterized by a rainfall varying between 800 and 1200 mm. The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The results showed that grain yield of the hybrids varied depending on the genotype nature and the cropping environment. The use of hybrid maize significantly increased the grain yield per hectare in maize production. Among the tested hybrid maize genotypes, SD1 (9.054 tons ha -1 ), SD3 (7.683 tons ha -1 ), and SD6 (9.385 tons ha -1 ) significantly presented higher yields. Based on the grain yield, the best growing environments of hybrid maize are NEBOUM1, BAMA and SOUNGALODAGO. The best genotypes for most of the environments are the hybrids of pure line varieties. The heritability was more than 80 % for all the studied yield traits., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Bougma Lardia Ali reports a relationship with Joseph Ki-Zerbo University that includes: employment. Co-author previously employed by Joseph Ki-Zerbo University If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

In vitro blood vessel models are significant for disease modeling, drug assays, and therapeutic development. Microfluidic technologies allow to create physiologically relevant culture models reproducing the features of the in vivo vascular microenvironment. However, current microfluidic technologies are limited by impractical rectangular cross-sections and single or nonsynchronous compound mechanical stimuli. This study proposes a new strategy for creating round-shaped deformable soft microfluidic channels to serve as artificial in vitro vasculature for developing in vitro models with vascular physio-mechanical microenvironments. Endothelial cells seeded into vascular models are used to assess the effects of a remodeled in vivo mechanical environment. Furthermore, a 3D stenosis model is constructed to recapitulate the flow disturbances in atherosclerosis. Soft microchannels can also be integrated into traditional microfluidics to realize multifunctional composite systems. This technology provides new insights into applying microfluidic chips and a prospective approach for constructing in vitro blood vessel models., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Risky play is defined as thrilling and challenging forms of play that have the potential for physical injury and has been linked to development and health benefits for children in the early years. These benefits include risk-assessment skills, increased physical activity and well-being, and promoting social competencies and resilience. Currently, in a Western context, children's opportunities for risky play are decreasing and at the same time, childhood inactivity and coinciding health concerns are on the rise. Risky play may help ameliorate some current health problems for children. This research aimed to increase understanding of how children use affordances (environmental factors that intersect with and influence human behaviours) for risky play. Physical environmental factors have been found to influence children's affordances for all play, including risky play. The study employed a deductive analysis of participant-observer field notes and focused-video observations in order to identify how children utilize indoor and outdoor environmental features for risky play. Data was interpreted through Gibson's theory of affordances and was then fit to established taxonomies of environments for children's risky play. Research was conducted with children, ages 3–4 years, at a kindergarten in Norway. Findings identified environmental affordances for risky play that were actualized by children in this study. We propose that findings from this study may be useful in considering the physical design of early childhood education play spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over an approximately 1,000-year settlement history, the distribution of Native Hawaiian cultural sites across the landscape has been driven, in large part, by environmental factors. Through an exploration of the precontact ritual, residential, and agricultural sites of Kaupō, Maui, the ways soil nutrients and arable land resulted in discrete zones of production and power can be seen. With the arrival of American and British missionaries in the mid-1800s, however, these environmental influences carried forward in the differential selection of Hawaiian temple sites to be destroyed and rebuilt as Christian churches. As a result, Kaupō's two churches (which remain functional today) can be best understood as a result of long-term ecological processes often overlooked in historical archaeology today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to evaluation the yield stability of twenty bread wheat genotypes that cultivated at two locations (fields of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences of Duhok and Zenawa district) during the 2019 - 2020 with two planting dates in each location using randomized complete block design with three replications. The results of the combined analysis of variance showed that the mean square for each of the environments, genotypes and their interactions were highly significant for all studied traits, and the variations due to the environments were greater than those of each of the genotypes and the interactions for most of the studied traits. The values of broad sense heritability ranged between 44.44% for spike length and 93.27% for grain weight per spike. The results of the stability parameters showed that the genotype Apst-12-85578 was highly stable for grains weight per spike and final grain yield followed by each of Adana, Bora, and Apst-6-85576 genotypes which showed high stability for the grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many older people, both with and without dementia, eventually move from their familiar home environments into unfamiliar surroundings, such as sheltered housing or care homes. Age-related declines in wayfinding skills can make it difficult to learn to navigate in these new, unfamiliar environments. To facilitate the transition to their new accommodation, it is therefore important to develop retirement complexes and care homes specifically designed to reduce the wayfinding difficulties of older people and those with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Residential complexes that are designed to support spatial orientation and that compensate for impaired navigation abilities would make it easier for people with dementia to adapt to their new living environment. This would improve the independence, quality of life and well-being of residents, and reduce the caregivers' workload. Based on these premises, this opinion paper considers how evidence from cognitive psychology, neuropsychology and environmental psychology can contribute to ageing- and dementia-friendly design with a view to minimising spatial disorientation. After an introduction of the cognitive mechanisms and processes involved in spatial navigation, and the changes that occur in typical and atypical ageing, research from the field of environmental psychology is considered, highlighting design factors likely to facilitate (or impair) indoor wayfinding in complex buildings. Finally, psychological theories and design knowledge are combined to suggest ageing- and dementia-friendly design guidelines that aim to minimise spatial disorientation by focusing on residual navigation skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multilocational studies were conducted to evaluate 21 hybrids of tomato in Pratapgarh (Uttar Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Burdwan (West Bengal), India during August-February of 2015-16 and 2016-17. Data on four quality traits viz., total soluble solids, titrable acidity, carotene content and lycopene content were estimated. Combined analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant effects of locations, genotypes, genotype-location interaction and parents vs hybrids-location interaction for all the traits. The significance of combining ability effects (general combining ability and specific combining ability) and their interaction with location revealed environmental influences on combining ability effects for all the traits. The Present study indicated higher estimates of to, lower estimates of heritability and GCA/SCA ratio for quality traitsandthereby implied preponderance of non-additive gene action in determination of quality traits studied. Desirable parental lines were identified for different traits like EC 620438 and BS 24-2 for TSS, BS 24-2 and Superbug for titrable acidity, Columbia, EC 620438 and Superbug for carotene content, and H 86 and EC 620541 for lycopene content. Similarly, desirable specific combiners for different traits were identified. The hybrid combination EC 620438×BS 24-2 appeared good specific combiner for TSS, carotene and lycopene content. The parental lines/hybrids identified in present study will be useful in identifying hybrids adapted to a range of environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick bites in humans are associated with the transmission of pathogens, anaphylactic shock, paralysis, and secondary infections. In this work we described six cases of tick bites in patients from Panama and Costa Rica. These bites were provoked for adults of Ornithodoros puertoricensis, Amblyomma cf. oblongoguttatum, Amblyomma ovale, and Ixodes cf. boliviensis, and a nymph of Amblyomma mixtum. The relationships of these species of ticks with the environment are explained. Among the reactions observed in the patients there are blisters, maculo-papular rash, granuloma, lymphadenopathy, and erythema migrans-like rash, but none referred symptoms compatible with an infectious disease. In the collected ticks a PCR battery was developed to rule out Borrelia, Rickettsia, Anaplasmataceae, and Coxiella diseases to the ticks from the cases 1, 2, 3 and 4, with negative results. Although no pathogen infections were evidenced, these finding indicate that the tick bites constitute a public health problem what goes unnoticed in many countries.

Spiders use various combinations of silks, adhesives, and behaviors to ensnare prey. One common but difficult-to-catch prey is moths. They easily escape typical orb-webs because their bodies are covered in tiny sacrificial scales that flake off when in contact with the web’s adhesives. This defense is defeated by spiders of the sub-family of Cyrtarachninae—moth-catching specialists who combine changes in orb-web structure, predatory behavior, and chemistry of the aggregate glue placed in those webs. The most extreme changes in web structure are shown by the bolas spiders which create only one or two glue droplets at the end of a single thread. They prey on male moths by releasing pheromones to draw them close. Here, we confirm the hypothesis that the spinning behavior of the spider is directly used to spin its glue droplets using a high-speed video camera to observe the captured behavior of the bolas spider Cladomelea akermani as it actively spins its body and bolas. We use the kinematics of the spider and bolas to begin to quantify and model the physical and mechanical properties of the bolas during prey capture. We then examine why this species chooses to spin its body, an energetically costly behavior, during prey capture. We test the hypothesis that spinning helps to spread pheromones by creating a computational fluid dynamics model of airflow within an open field and comparing it to that of airflow within a tree, a common environment for bolas spiders that do not spin. Spinning in an open environment creates turbulent air, spreading pheromones further and creating a pocket of pheromones. Conversely, spinning within a tree does little to affect the natural airflow.

Wheat is one of the main cereals. At this time, the crucial difficulty in improving nutritional traits is the influence on genotypes of different environments. Selecting superior genotypes on the basis of a gene effects analysis for varying environments is demanded. In this study, 10 different genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were used. Parents, hybrids, and two standard checks were evaluated in a complete randomized block design with three replicates in four environments: E1 and E2 (normal and late sown, Rabi 2018-19) & E3 and E4 (normal and late sown, Rabi 2019-20). The analysis of the components of the gene effect revealed that most of the characters were governed by additive and dominant gene actions in the environments; for gluten, the wet gluten (E2) and starch (E3) content were the only dominant components (H1 and H2) with a significant gene effect. Overdominance, asymmetrical distribution of positive–negative and dominant–recessive genes, and narrow-sense heritability were observed in most of the characters in all environments. In a graphical analysis, the regression value b was observed to be in unity among protein content (E1 and E3), sedimentation value (E1, E2, and E3), and starch content (E1), indicating the absence of digenic interactions. Based on the intercept of the regression line on the Wr axis, the degree of dominance for protein content (E1 and E3), sedimentation value (E1, E2, and E3), and starch content (E1) was depicted as overdominance. Therefore, a given population may be improved to isolate superior recombinants for the development of desired parents in future breeding programs.