Search

Since it establishes differentiated socio-legal eligibility categories among different migrant groups, family reunification constitutes a prime example of the internal border. In my article, I investigate how the border is produced and negotiated in the context of family reunification of refugee children and parents by focusing on discretionary practices of German immigration bureaucracy through the lens of counselling actors in the city. Taking the city of Frankfurt am Main as my research site, I identify ignorance, verification, and temporalization as three administrative control mechanisms over descent-based refugee families. I argue that family reunification constitutes a highly selective and culturalized field of border control, in which refugee families are filtered according to their conformity to a certain family norm and European bureaucratic standards. By examining how counselling actors understand administrative practice, I also discuss how they respond to it, including their own participation in de- and (re-)bordering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of fertile soil due to wind erosion has major impacts on the landscape and the environment. Its intensity and extent depend on many factors, where vegetation cover, soil moisture and wind intensity play key roles. Climatic conditions are constantly developing towards a higher extremity. Episodes of drought associated with a higher risk of wind erosion are longer and more frequent. For farmers, this results in higher demands for management in order to increase resistance against the negative effects of wind erosion. Windbreaks effectively protect the soil by reducing wind speed. This paper describes the automation of the current procedure for the evaluation of the spatial structure of windbreaks by means of advanced image signal analysis (2D) and the subsequent use of machine learning for further classification of spatial structure parameters (optical porosity). Software called Windbreak which enables the evaluation of optical porosity, including the assessment of canopy height, has been developed. The program allows working with digital photographs at the original resolution. The output from the Windbreak software can be also used as input values for determining the effectiveness of windbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aimaa G Ghazy,1 Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud,2 Ibrahim A Saleh,3 Mohamed A El-Tayeb,2 Amr A Elsaid,4 Metwally A Kotb,5 Diana A Al-Sherif,6 Heba S Ramadan,5 Ahmed Elwahsh,7,8 Ahmed M Hussein,9,10 Ahmad S Kodous11,121Radiation Therapy Department, Armed Forces Medical Complex, Alexandria, Egypt; 2Botany and Microbiology Department- College of Science- King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Faculty of Science, Zarqa University, Zarqa, 13110, Jordan; 4Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 5Medical Biophysics Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 6Applied Medical Science Faculty, Sixth October University, Sixth October, Giza, Egypt; 7Central Radiology Institute, Kepler University Hospital GmbH, Linz, Austria; 8Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Biology and Genetics, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; 9Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria; 10Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Al Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt; 11Pharmacology Department, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Chennai, TN, India; 12Radiation Biology Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Cairo, Egypt Correspondence: Ahmad S Kodous; Ahmed M Hussein, Email [email protected] ; [email protected] Purpose: The local management approach for node-positive breast cancer has undergone substantial evolution. Consequently, there exists a pressing need to enhance our treatment strategies by placing greater emphasis on planning and dosimetric factors, given the availability of more conformal techniques and delineation criteria, achieving optimal goals of radiotherapy treatment. The primary aim of this article is to discuss how the extent of regional nodal coverage influences the choice between IMRT and 3D radiation therapy for patients. Patients and Methods: A total of 15 patients diagnosed with left breast cancer with disease involved lymph nodes were included in this study. Delivering the recommended dose required the use of a linear accelerator (LINAC) with photon beams energy of 6 mega voltage (6MV). Each patient had full breast radiation using two planning procedures: intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional radiotherapy (3D conformal). Following the guidelines set forth by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), the planned treatment coverage was carefully designed to fall between 95% and 107% of the recommended dose. Additionally, Dose Volume Histograms (DVHs) were generated the dose distribution within these anatomical contours. Results and Conclusion: The DVH parameters were subjected to a comparative analysis, focusing on the doses absorbed by both Organs at Risk (OARs) and the Planning Target Volume (PTV). The findings suggest that low doses in IMRT plan might raise the risk of adverse oncological outcomes or potentially result in an increased incidence of subsequent malignancies. Consequently, the adoption of inverse IMRT remains limited, and the decision to opt for this therapy should be reserved for situations where it is genuinely necessary to uphold a satisfactory quality of life. Additionally, this approach helps in reducing the likelihood of developing thyroid problems and mitigates the risk of injuries to the supraclavicular area and the proximal head of the humerus bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main challenges in super high-density olive is maintaining hedgerow structure suitable for mechanical harvesting. Deficit irrigation strategies (DI) can contribute to this maintenance. In this study, three DI treatments at 50% of the Control (DI-1: budbreak to pre-bloom, DI-2: fruit set to pit hardening, and DI-3: pit hardening to harvest) were applied to 6-year-old Arbequina hedgerows in a semi-arid environment of Argentina over three consecutive seasons. The mean applied water reduction was 12% for DI-1 and 16% for DI-2 and DI-3, compared to Control (100% of ETc throughout the cycle). DI-3 achieved the narrowest hedgerows at harvest, where canopy height was responsive to irrigation and canopy width was affected by fruit load but not by the irrigation regime. DI-1 demonstrated similar fruit and oil yields to Control throughout the experiment, while DI-2 only had comparable yields to Control in Off-season. DI-3 had the lowest oil yields, averaging – 27% in Off and On-seasons. The fruit number was similar among treatments in all seasons, indicating that differences in final yield were related to fruit size and oil concentration. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal duration and intensity of the water deficit for DI-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little has been studied about microclimate and the thermal comfort during the implementation of silvopastoral systems. This study aimed to evaluate the microclimate and thermal comfort during the implementation of High Biodiversity Silvopastoral System with Nuclei (SPSnu). Three treatments were investigated, SPSnu with 5 and 10% of the pasture area with nuclei, (SPSnu5 and SPSnu10, respectively), and treeless pasture (TLP). Each treatment was subdivided into 4 areas: within the nuclei, around the nuclei, around the nuclei with shade and internuclei. The analyzed variables were soil surface temperature, air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, black globe temperature and the Heat Load Index (HLI) at 20 and 120 cm height. We hypothesized that the wind speed reduction associated with insufficient shade projection typical of the first years of SPSs may interfere in microclimate and thermal comfort during the hot seasons. SPSnu5 and SPSnu10 had a reduction in wind speed of 51.58% and 68.47% respectively when compared to TLP at 20 cm. Soil surface temperature and air temperature at 120 cm were higher for SPSnu than TLP. The same effect was observed for the HLI. At 20 cm, HLI indicated better thermal comfort in TLP than in the SPSnu treatments. The lack of shade projection from young nuclei in conjunction with the decrease of wind speed between the nuclei caused a higher air temperature and HLI in the SPSnu treatments, we called this conditions, windbreak countereffect. Farmers must knowledge this effect when implementing SPSs, and when necessary, mitigate with the proper management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Relations among hedgerow structure, biodiversity & ecosystem services are unclear. • We performed a systematic review including 89 studies from Central Europe and UK from 1974 to 2022. • Arthropods & birds, were most often, earthworms & bats least often studied. • Structural diversity, layering & woody vegetation promoted biodiversity. • Connectivity, density & structural complexity improved ecosystem service provision. Agricultural intensification decreases the heterogeneity of the landscape and leads to a decline in hedgerows. As hedgerows provide important habitats for many taxa, this contributes to the loss of biodiversity in agroecosystems. However, the extent to which hedgerows, and in particular their habitat quality in terms of structural characteristics, also influence biodiversity-based ecosystem services is poorly studied. Here, we conducted a systematic review of the Scopus and other literature databases focusing on Central European and UK studies examining (1) the influence of hedgerow habitat quality on the biodiversity of arthropods, earthworms, birds, bats and small mammals and (2) the relationship between selected hedgerow parameters, animal taxa, and ecosystem services such as pollination, seed dispersal, pest and disease control and soil quality regulation. A total of 2260 studies (cut-off date: 13 September 2022) published between 1974 and 2022 were found. After sorting based on inclusion criteria related to the research focus, 89 studies remained for evaluation. Arthropods, birds, and small mammals were studied most frequently, earthworms and bats least frequently. The selected studies showed that structural diversity, layering, woody biomass and density were strongly positively correlated with animal species diversity, while hedgerow length, width and age showed less relevant relationships. Hedgerow connectivity, density, structural diversity, and layering were strongly positive associated with the provision of ecosystem services. We conclude that the structural diversity of hedgerows needs to be increased if their impact on biodiversity and ecosystem service provision is to be improved. It is therefore recommended that hedgerow management measures should specifically consider the ecological importance of the structural diversity of hedgerows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the recent invasion of Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood in North America, there is limited information regarding their distribution and population dynamics in cultivated small fruit crops. Therefore, we investigated the spatial and temporal distribution of S. dorsalis and their natural enemies in commercially produced strawberry fields in Florida. During 2 consecutive strawberry production seasons, 4 and 6 geographically separated strawberry fields were sampled and were divided into grids with 30–40 sampling points per field. At each sampling point, 4–5 leaf and flower samples were collected, and sticky traps were deployed. We quantified the occurrence of S. dorsalis as well as potential natural enemies, including Orius spp. Geocoris spp. and other predators such as long-legged flies. During both years, most of the S. dorsalis and natural enemies were found on field borders, and counts progressively diminished further into the interiors of plots and away from field edges. Cluster and outlier analysis revealed that S. dorsalis formed statistically significant clusters and that these "hot spots" remained in the same general locations throughout the season. There was a strong relationship between the occurrence of natural enemies and the presence of S. dorsalis , but the number of natural enemies was generally low compared to S. dorsalis. Our results indicate that targeting field borders for chemical control or planting strawberries away from natural areas containing potential alternative hosts for thrips may be an effective strategy for reducing agricultural inputs; however, future field assessments are needed to determine if these methods could replace the treatment of entire fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hedgerow growing system is prevalent in new olive orchards worldwide due to its fully mechanized harvesting. Several works have been published to compare cultivars planted in this system, focusing on productivity and oil composition. However, little research has been conducted on the long-term evaluation of cultivars' growth habits when trained in hedgerow systems and on how it affects their interannual productivity. In this work, we report the canopy growth habit, productivity, and their correlation for the 'Arbequina', 'Arbosana', 'Koroneiki', 'Lecciana', 'Oliana', and 'Sikitita' cultivars grown in a hedgerow system in Extremadura, central-western Spain, for 9 years. 'Koroneiki', 'Arbequina', and 'Lecciana' were the cultivars with the highest canopy growth, both in young and adult trees, and the ones with the highest pruning needs from 5 to 10 years after planting. The yield behavior in each of the years evaluated was stable in all cultivars except 'Lecciana'. This alternate bearing was associated with the distribution of total yearly produced biomass between fruits and vegetative growth. 'Oliana', 'Arbosana', and 'Sikitita' were the cultivars with the highest proportion of fruit of the total biomass, and 'Lecciana' showed the lowest. This study indicates that cultivars with higher fruit proportions of total biomass might have better suitability for long-term growing in hedgerow formation, fewer pruning needs, and more stable productivity across the years. In this sense, in the climatic conditions considered here, 'Arbosana', 'Sikitita', and 'Oliana' could be the most suitable cultivars for this growing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salix sand barriers have been widely used in arid and semi‐arid regions of northern China as an environmentally friendly approach to control wind erosion. However, the inherent variability in length and thickness of Salix branches complicates achieving the desired fence porosity, typically resulting in an error of approximately 10% or more. This defect affects the fence's wind protection, thereby limiting their broader application. To address these challenges, we conducted a field experiment in the Hobq Desert, where we established Salix fences with porosities of 23%, 37%, and 44%, and measured the airflow velocities around these fences. The results indicated that the fence with 37% porosity exhibited the most effective sheltering effect, providing a protection distance up to 7.14 times of the fence height. A total of 44% porosity fences are also reasonably effective for practical purposes. On the other end of the spectrum, fences with 23% porosity demonstrated a better sediment interception than its high porosity peers, achieving an interception rate of 81.46%. Therefore, we conclude that organic fences made from Salix branches can serve as efficient windbreaks. Our findings provide foundational data for the application of organic fences in arid and semi‐arid regions of northern China, and potentially similar environments globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present research investigates the activity of Kolberi in the border villages of western and northwestern Iran, specifically in the Kurdish area of Nosud in Kermanshah province. Kolberi, a form of labor in these regions, subjects individuals to severe risks, including painful death or lifelong physical injuries, bringing considerable suffering and hardships to the Kolbers and their families. This study explores the narratives of Kolbers' mothers regarding their children's Kolberi experiences through Pierre Bourdieu's theoretical framework of social suffering. Methods: This qualitative study employs interpretive phenomenology to examine the lived experiences of mothers in the Nosud border area. Twentytwo Kolbers' mothers were selected using purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews and participant observation, continuing until theoretical saturation was achieved. Results: Content analysis of the interviews revealed eight basic themes: (1) occurrence and aggravation of physical and mental complications, (2) reproduction of poverty and misery, (3) marginalization of the field of education in border areas, (4) emergence of structural determinism alongside environmental determinism, (5) weakening of the social status of Kolbers, (6) Kolber and bare life, (7) structural dehumanization of Kolber's position, and (8) unique experiences of mothers regarding Kolberi. Discussion: The findings highlight the unique and often neglected experiences of mothers related to Kolberi, emphasizing the economic struggles in Iran's border areas. These experiences unveil hidden aspects of Kolberi, suggesting potential avenues for further research and contributing to the revitalization of activism among Kolbers' mothers in border regions. The study underscores the importance of addressing the socio-economic conditions that perpetuate Kolberi and its associated sufferings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter cold wave adaptation strategies in hot climates due to climate change didn't receive the deserved attention from previous studies. Therefore, this study comprehensively investigates the impact of various windbreak parameters on mitigating winter cold stress in hot steppe-arid climate. A microclimate model for a residential campus was built and validated through on-site measurement on a typical winter day to assess thirty-two scenarios for tree characteristics and spatial configuration windbreak parameters based on PET, wind speed, and Air Temperature (AT). Moreover, four configurations, that had best results on mitigating cold stress in winter, were tested during typical summer conditions to couple the assessment of cold and hot seasons. Additionally, environmental analysis for all scenarios was conducted. The results revealed that the most effective parameters for mitigating cold stress are tree distribution, Leaf Area Density (LAD), row number, spacing, and shape. Double rows of high LAD and medium height trees with small spacing yielded the best cold stress mitigation effect. Furthermore, the windbreak reduced the cold stress in the morning and night by 19.31% and 18.06%, respectively. It reduced AT and wind speed at night by 0.79 °C and 2.56 m/s, respectively. During summer, very hot PET area was reduced by 21.79% and 19.5% at 12:00 and 15:00, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homestead windbreaks are used on the Ryukyu Islands to protect houses from the tidal water blowing from the sea, strong typhoons in the summer, and monsoonal winds in the winter. The homestead windbreak landscape is believed to have been established approximately 300 years ago in the Ryukyu Kingdom. Garcinia subelliptica (Fukugi in Japanese) was dominant in this windbreak landscape. These windbreaks vanished on several islands soon after World War II. Many trees were burned during the war and removed to extend village roads in rural and recent resort development projects. This study surveyed the present spatial distribution of the remaining homestead windbreaks and conducted a tree inventory survey. We recorded the location and characteristics of trees damaged by the powerful typhoon and tentatively explored the causes of tree and house damage through a case study of Yonaguni Island, where one of the world's biggest typhoons occurred. Homestead windbreaks facing the wind direction, tree characters of cavities, unsound branching, and combined tree trunks were the significant factors contributing to tree damage. The remnant homestead windbreak belts in Yonaguni Island were fragmented and not continuous and may not offer consistent wind protection since there are open gaps between the sections. It suggests windbreaks should be replanted in the direction of the wind, and regular checks of tree health and tree structure are needed to reduce typhoon damage. The results are used to propose guidelines for windbreak management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sport of half-pipe skiing, characterized by its dynamic maneuvers and highspeed descents, often faces challenges posed by unpredictable wind conditions. To address this, an advanced wind-blocking system incorporating an air curtain capable of generating a jet flow is proposed. This pioneering design offers a dual advantage: the system can significantly reduce the windbreak size in the vertical dimension while maintaining a satisfactory wind-blocking effect. A comprehensive study is conducted to analyze the effects of the height of the windbreak and the jet emission angle from the air curtain. When the jet speed is 40 m/s, a 50° emission angle and a 2 m height of the windbreak result in an optimal wind-blocking effect. Furthermore, delving deeper to understand the underpinnings of this phenomenon, we discovered that a counterrotating vortex pair, which forms in the presence of this jet under crossflow conditions, plays a pivotal role in augmenting the wind-blocking capabilities of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cause of recent population declines in some farmland/hedgerow breeding bird species in the UK is related to a lack of cover and food resources in winter. In improved grassland areas some of those declines have been particularly acute and some have been shown to be related to the availability of grass and weed seed in winter. The provision of seed‐bearing crops as part of AES options has been shown to benefit some of these birds. Game crop plots sown on shooting estates for holding and driving gamebirds in autumn and winter have been shown to hold relatively high densities of farmland and wood‐edge birds during the winter. We studied breeding songbirds in hedges in a primarily improved grassland area in the SW of England where there are some large shooting estates that sow relatively large game crop plots (1–5 ha) in the landscape. In this study we found that otherwise similar hedges in terms of size and density near to those winter game crop plots, had between 1.5 and 2 times as many breeding resident songbirds per unit length the following spring compared to hedges further away from game crop plots. This was despite game management in these plots being wound down during February and in many cases, the crops themselves being removed by mid‐March. Hedges within approximately 350 m from game crop plots had more breeding birds. We discuss possible mechanisms and suggest that some passerines preferentially establish breeding territories in hedges near to game crops in late winter. We suggest how to distribute game crop plots to maximise any benefit in an improved grassland landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful, degenerative disease that affects the tissues of the joint spaces, such as the shoulder. Conventional medical treatment options, such as corticosteroid injections and anti-inflammatory medications, are not always sufficient to alleviate the symptoms from this disease. Low dose radiotherapy is a newer treatment option for patients with shoulder osteoarthritis and has shown positive outcomes. However, the problem is that there is a paucity of literature about treatment planning considerations for this new treatment option. The purpose of this case study was to provide an example of treatment planning techniques and considerations for shoulder osteoarthritis. Treatment techniques for shoulder LDRT, such as treatment field borders, prescribed dose, beam arrangements, appropriate beam energy, and special considerations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the development of a new olive cultivar, 'Sultana', specifically designed for hedgerow orchards in response to the growing demand for low-vigor cultivars suitable for superhigh density olive systems. Topics include the breeding program's aim to improve agronomical characteristics like oil content, the evaluation of 'Sultana' against traditional cultivars, and the detailed morphological description and agronomical traits of 'Sultana'.

Copyright of Ecological Applications is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Under the influence of crosswind, when high-speed trains (HSTs) meet on a bridge, they produce complex vortexes, strong aerodynamic loads, and other aerodynamic effects. The purpose of this paper is to reveal the influences of crosswind and windbreaks on the vortexes generated by HSTs, the pressure distributions on the surfaces of the trains, and the aerodynamic load coefficients of the trains when they meet on a bridge, as well as the influence of the pressure waves generated by the trains on the windbreaks. The three-dimensional incompressible improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES) method based on the SST k-ω turbulence model is used for numerical calculation purposes, and the overset grid method is used to realize the relative motions of the trains. The results show that the windbreaks can reduce the negative pressure (NP) imposed on the train surface and effectively improve the pressure distribution; crosswinds have a significant impact on the vortexes generated by trains, and the vortexes generated by the upstream train affect the stability of the downstream train; windbreaks can reduce the aerodynamic load applied when trains meet and thus improve the safety of the trains; and the head and tail waves generated by trains impose pressure on the windbreaks, which affects the reliability of the windbreaks installations. The simulation results can provide a preliminary reference for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of windbreaks on aeolian sediment transport rates, and the size distribution of aeolian sediments transported through them, is important for designing windbreaks to optimize their wind erosion mitigation benefits. This field study determines the size distribution of aeolian sediments upwind (x = −100 m), within (x = 100 and 256 m) and downwind (x = 448 and 560 m) (where x is the distance from the first row of windbreak) of a multi‐row Tamarix windbreak as the basis for further investigation of the influence of vegetation on aeolian sediment characteristics. The volumetric percentage of grains around the peaks of 100 and 20–30 µm showed variability with distance and between the three measured events. We found that the vertical distribution of grain size parameters indicated that mean grain size (Mz) may decrease with height upwind of the windbreak, and inflections were observed in the profiles of sorting (σ1), skewness (SK), and kurtosis (KG) within the windbreak, which may be attributable to blocking and trapping effect of the vegetation. Sediments were poorly sorted with the distributions of grain sizes being fine‐skewed and leptokurtic. The horizontal distribution of grain size indicated that Mz increased from x = −100 m to x = 100 m and then decreased at x = 256 m, indicating that the windbreak was unable to retain small particles. The windbreak could trap particle sizes <50 µm and particles >50 µm transported to downwind region of windbreak. Within the windbreak, SK and KG increased, and σ1 decreased. Downwind of the windbreak (at x = 448 and 560 m), Mz and KG increased, and σ1 and SK decreased. The results of the current study provide preliminary information on the variability of aeolian sediment grain sizes during transport relative to vegetation and suggest that multirow windbreaks could influence downwind particulate matter size concentrations and soil health. Core Ideas: Mean aeolian grain size decreased with height upwind of the windbreak.Sediments were poorly sorted with fine‐skewed and leptokurtic grain size distributions.Mean grain size increased within the windbreak.Skewness and kurtosis increased within the windbreak.Standard deviation in grain size decreased within the windbreak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ongoing declines of bees and other pollinators are driven in part by the loss of critical floral resources and nesting substrates. Most conservation/restoration efforts for bees aim to enhance floral abundance and continuity but often assume the same actions will bolster nesting opportunities. Recent research suggests that habitat plantings may not always provide both forage and nesting resources. We evaluated wildflower plantings designed to augment floral resources to determine their ability to enhance nesting by soil-nesting bees over 3 study years in Northern California agricultural landscapes. We established wildflower plantings along borders of annual row crops and paired each with an unplanted control border. We used soil emergence traps to assess nest densities and species richness of soil-nesting bees from spring through late summer at paired field borders planted with wildflowers or maintained conventionally as bare or sparsely vegetated areas, as is typical for the region. We also quantified soil-surface characteristics and flower resources among borders. Wildflower plantings significantly increased nest densities and the richness of bee species using them. Such benefits occurred within the first year of planting and persisted up to 4 years post establishment. The composition of nesting bee communities also differed between wildflower and unenhanced borders. Wildflower plantings differed from controls in multiple characteristics of the soil surface, including vegetation cover, surface microtopography and hardness. Surprisingly, only vegetation cover significantly affected nest densities and species richness. Wildflower plantings are a widespread habitat action with the potential to support wild bees. The demonstrated benefit wildflower plantings had for increasing the nesting of soil-nesting bees greatly augments their relevance for the conservation of wild bee communities in agricultural and other landscapes. Identifying soilsurface characteristics that are important for nesting provides critical information to guide the implementation and management of habitats for bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental 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.)

The sex-biased dispersal and kinship dynamics are important factors shaping the spatial distribution of individuals and are key parameters affecting a variety of ecological and evolutionary processes. Here, we studied the spatial distribution of related individuals within a population of corn mice Calomys musculinus in a seasonal cycle to infer dispersal patterns. The sampling was carried out from spring 2005 to winter 2006 in field borders of intensively managed agroecosystems. Genotyping data from 346 individuals with 9 microsatellites showed spatial genetic structure was weak for males, but not for females. The results indicate a complex spatial kinship dynamic of related females across all seasons. Which, contrary to our expectations, dispersal distances decrease with the increase of the population abundance. Meanwhile, male dispersal distances were greater when population abundance increased and thus the availability of active females. Males disperse greater distances to mate and sire offspring with distant females as a possible inbreeding avoidance mechanism. This study shows that C. musculinus is capable of much greater scattering distances than previously reported and that dispersal occurs fluidly and without barriers across the agroecosystem. The indirect benefit of dispersal on individual fitness could be related to relaxing the competition in the natal area and increasing the mating rate. Our study highlights the value of combining genetic relatedness, fieldwork observations, and behavioral data to estimate dispersal at a fine geographical scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects provide valuable ecosystem services to agriculture, but their populations are often lower in these areas.We established floral strips on the edges of eight organic and seven conventional crop fields in southern Manitoba. We then compared the capture rates of ground beetles, syrphid flies and bees in floral strips; control (unmodified) field edges; nearby semi‐natural sites; and within the strip and control fields at six distances away from field borders (5–150 m). The effects of farm management and landscape context on insect abundance, diversity and associated species traits were investigated.Capture rates of bees and beetles were significantly higher within the floral strips than the control treatment. However, capture rates of syrphids were significantly higher in the control. Beetles and bees responded positively to blooming forb cover and edge density (0.5 km), whereas syrphids responded positively to non‐rewarding agriculture and negatively to the semi‐natural areas (1 km). We found no significant difference in insect abundance or diversity between organic and conventional management types, and no differences in insect abundances within the fields were detected. No significant associations between insect traits and landscape variables were identified.These results show that floral strips are effective at attracting ground beetles and bees shortly after establishment, but these communities are functionally similar to those present in control fields. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether populations continue to increase over time and become more functionally diverse in fields with floral strips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambitious climate change mitigation goals require novel carbon (C) sinks in agricultural systems. Thus, the establishment of new hedgerows is increasingly attracting attention as a C sequestration measure. Despite hedgerows being a traditional agroforestry system, few studies have been conducted on hedgerow C stocks. Data on below‐ground biomass (BGB) in particular are limited. The aim of this study was therefore to quantify both above‐ground biomass (AGB) and BGB C stocks, as well as litter and soil organic C stocks, of established hedgerow systems by destructive sampling at three sites in northern Germany. The total biomass C (TBC) stock of the sampled hedgerows was 105 ± 11 Mg ha−1 on average. An additional 11 ± 2 Mg ha−1 were found in hedgerow litter and dead roots. Coarse roots (34% of TBC), stumps (22%) and harvestable biomass (20%) were the largest biomass C pools of the hedgerows. The BGB:AGB ratio was 0.7 ± 0.1, showing the importance of BGB in old hedgerow systems. Compared with other woody systems, these old hedgerows seem to have a different biomass distribution, with more biomass allocated below‐ground. About 15% of BGB C stock was stored in fine roots, whereas 85% was stored in coarse roots. The topsoil (0–30 cm) contained 85% of coarse root biomass C and 51% of fine root biomass C. Hedgerow C stock exceeded that of average German forests, and thus demonstrated their large potential for C sequestration when newly planted. This study provides detailed empirical data on C stocks in old hedgerow systems, and thus can be used to take hedgerow C sinks into account in C farming frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land use sector is a crucial pillar in achieving the EU climate goals set for 2050. A significant part of the climate change mitigation potential of the land use sector is inherent to agroforestry. Windbreaks are important agroforestry elements of Hungarian agricultural landscapes. The new and improved agroforestry subsidy system may positively affect the extension of windbreaks in Hungary, making it relevant to assess their carbon sequestration potential. In our study, we examined the carbon sequestration of windbreaks at the country level and in two sample areas of 24,000 hectares based on National Forestry Database volume stock data, as well as information collected from the Hungarian Forest Cover Map using orthophoto interpretation. We estimated the total annual carbon sequestration realized in the aboveground biomass pool of Hungarian windbreaks to be −33.1 ktCO2/year, which is 0.67% of the total annual carbon sequestration of the aboveground biomass pool of all Hungarian forests, as reported by the Hungarian Greenhouse Gas Inventory. On the other hand, according to our estimate, the weighted mean annual carbon sequestration in the aboveground biomass of windbreaks was −2.4 tCO2/ha/year in the 2010–2020 period. This value is very close to the average mean annual carbon sequestration per hectare value of all forests, as reported by the Hungarian Greenhouse Gas Inventory. This means that planting a given area of windbreaks in between agricultural fields can have similar climate change mitigation effects as planting forests in the same given area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating carbon dioxide emissions leading to global climate change are acknowledged as a paramount environmental challenge in the twenty-first century. The significance of land use systems in stabilising carbon dioxide levels and enhancing carbon sink potential has gained noteworthy attention from both the scientific and political communities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emphas ises that agroforestry systems present vital prospects for synergising climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, offering substantial technical mitigation potential. Windbreaks are well-known agroforestry systems in Hungary and form an important part of agricultural landscapes. The improved agroforestry subsidy system in our country makes it relevant to model the carbon sequestration potential of windbreaks. In the framework of the ForestLab project we plan to develop a carbon sequestration model specific for Hungarian agroforestry systems. In this study, as a preparatory step of the model development, we assessed the yield class distribution of Hungarian windbreaks by tree species group and identified variables that had significant effect on yield class based on the data of the National Forestry Database. Our results show that among the examined effects the most important predictor of the yield class of windbreaks was the tree species group, followed by the thickness of the productive soil layer and the hydrology of the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been established that purposeful construction of forest–meadow–bog agricultural landscapes on lands formerly used for industrial peat extraction is the most promising and environmentally-friendly way to restore biospheric functions of disturbed bog ecosystems. Planted forest stands play a special role in the ecological framework of newly-formed agricultural landscapes. Long-term studies showed that Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula) form the basis of future forest plantations. The best results in artificial reforestation were achieved on residually gleyed degraded peat soils where the peat layer thickness does not exceed 20–30 cm, while the drainage rate is 80–100 cm. Conditions in the vicinity of open ameliorative ditches are optimal for the development of all tree and shrub species. In such cases, forest plantations form shelter belts 10–15 m wide. An alternative option is natural reforestation, but it features slower dynamics, and the growth rate of commercial timber resources is insignificant. In addition, the self-recovery process heavily depends on the depletion degree in the residual peat deposit and its water content. The proportion of forests in the structure of postbog forest–meadow landscapes must be at least 20–30%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By combining securitization literature and literature from the field of border criminologies, this article reflects upon the ongoing securitization of intra-EU East–West mobility. The European Union is built on the inherent tension between the (economic) benefits and risks of one of its core principles: the principle of free movement. The two enlargements of the EU that led to the inclusion of several countries located in Central and Eastern Europe further increased this tension and led countries in Western Europe to officially reconstruct intra-Schengen borders. By looking into recent practices of (border) policing in the Netherlands, this article illustrates how CEE nationals are subjected not only to a securitized discourse around their mobility but also to securitized policing practices that aim to create a division between 'core' and 'non-core' Europeans while at the same time distinguishing between possible 'crimmigrant' others and bona fide travellers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Resources & Ecology is the property of Journal of Resources & Ecology 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.)

Territorial ecological restoration (TER) is a critical step for promoting the development of an ecological civilization, as well as a significant strategic task relating to national ecological security and the well-being of a population. However, calculating the ecological restoration potential (ERP) is a key challenge in TER. Using Zhaoping County as an example, this study calculated the ecological restoration natural potential (ERNP), including the vegetation coverage potential, water conservation potential, windbreak and sand fixation potential, and biodiversity potential, and proposed an ERP calculation method based on the correction of ERNP with an ecological security pattern (ESP) and social support (SS). The findings revealed several key points. First, using the similarity habitat method to calculate ERNP highlighted significant disparities in the vegetation coverage, water conservation, windbreak and sand fixation, and biodiversity across Zhaoping County. These variations were contrary to regional ecological service functions. Second, overall, the ESP levels in Zhaoping County were high, accounting for about 60.42% of its total area being classified as high or relatively high level, with the towns exhibiting strong SS abilities primarily located in the northern region. Third, the ERP results which are between 0 and 1 indicated that areas with higher potential were mainly found in the west and northeast of Zhaoping, while lower potential areas were concentrated in the northwest and south; of them, the ERP index value in most regions is between 0.2 and 0.3, accounting for about 43.97% of the area. Finally, suggestions for the TER project layout and measures to enhance the ERP were proposed based on these ERP calculations. This study offers new insights into ERP strategies while providing guidance for identifying critical areas requiring restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the aesthetics of the psychedelic experience. Aldous Huxley's Doors of Perception remains one of the few studies that investigates the aesthetic dimension of the psychedelic experience as profoundly meaningful as such, because it gives direct attention to the nonhuman otherness of the universe that is hard to describe in words, but that can be felt and sensed. Similarly, Deleuze and Guattari have investigated psychedelics as a perceptual, aesthetic, phenomenon. They argue that psychedelic aesthetics offers an experience at the limits of perception to the point of ultimate abstraction of geometric figures and grains. Drawing upon the works of two experimental filmmakers from two different generations and backgrounds, Philippe Garrel's enigmatic Le Révélateur (The Revealer, 1968) and Morgan Quaintance's thought-provoking Surviving You, Always (2021), the borders of the perceptual field by cinematographic means will be investigated. These works are exemplary of how the nonhuman perception of the camera, its 'bodies without organs', and its affective intensity evoke a psychedelic, mind-revealing, experience and an ethics of – in Deleuze's words – 'becoming not unworthy of the event'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dune migration is one of the main processes in arid lands' geomorphology and is important for the design of windbreaks and sand fixation projects and for the monitoring of desertification dynamics. We conducted long-term continuous positioning monitoring of barchan dunes using RTK equipment and wind regime monitoring in the Sanlongsha dune field, which is located in the northern part of China's Kumtagh Desert. We analyzed the wind energy environment of the study area, the migration characteristics of different positions in the barchan dune, and dune shape changes during different periods. We found that (1) comparing the differences in migration distance and direction measured at six positions in the barchan, there existed variations in barchan migration across these positions. (2) The shape changes at the left horn, right horn, and windward slope of barchans were larger than at the center of the leeward toe and brink, so the estimates based on measurements at these four positions had a weaker fit with the resultant drift potential (RDP) and a greater difference from the resultant drift direction (RDD). (3) The shape of the leeward slope on the barchan did not change much during dune migration, so the center of the leeward toe and brink measurements were closer to the actual dune migration distance and direction. Thus, we recommend using the center of the leeward toe or brink as the optimal measurement points to monitor barchan dune migration. This study will provide a reference for the more accurate measurement of barchan dune migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hedgerow is a row of dense and upright vegetation that is planted along the contours of the slope. Among them, the crops can be produced between the hedges. Planting hedgerows on slopes can be the function of soil stabilization and fertilizer preservation, sediment containment and pollution control, soil quality improvement, and biological terrace formation. Particularly, the hedgerow is a vital soil and water conservation for the purple soil sloping farmland in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA). Much effort has been made into the effects of hedgerows on the erosion process, soil and water conservation benefits. However, it is still unclear on the influence of hedgerows on the sediment particle size distribution and sediment sorting, especially for soil with uneven texture, like the purple soil in the TGRA. Taking the purple soil in the TGRA as the research object, this study aims to explore the effects of hedgerows on sediment particle size distribution and sediment sorting. Therefore, the simulated rainfall experiments were conducted with intensities of 60 and 90 mm/h at a fixed slope gradient (15°) for three slope conditions (CK-Control check, P-Hedgerow, and R-Only hedgerow roots). Then, the influence of hedgerows on the particle size distribution of eroded sediment on purple soil slope was evaluated to compare the sediment particle size distribution, enrichment ratio and agglomeration ratio under different slope conditions. The results indicated that the sand was the main particle in the rainfall erosion sediment. The influence of slope condition on particle size distribution was greater than that of rainfall intensity. Compared with the CK, the R slope condition only reduced the loss of clay and silt particles by 0.25%-5.48%, while the P slope condition significantly reduced the loss of sand particles by 30.75%-47.28% percentage points, resulting in a“ diminution effect” of sediment particles. By contrast, the rainfall intensity led to the “coarsening effect” of sediment particles under different slope. The sediment sorting mainly existed at the early rainfall period for the CK slope condition. The influence of R slope condition on sediment sorting for effective particle was more pronounced during early rainfall period, indicating the large value of enrichment ratio of clay, fine silt, and coarse silt, compared with the CK. There was the pronounced influence of P slope condition on sediment sorting for effective particle during the whole rainfall period. But the influence effect was stable with the increase of rainfall duration. In terms of particle transport form, the sediment particles were mainly transported via aggregates on the CK, whereas, more aggregates were broken by raindrops and then dispersed into single grains under the R slope condition. Also, more fine particles were aggregated to form aggregates on the P slope, but the aggregates tended to disperse into single grains in the middle and late periods of rainfall. Overall, the sediment sorting was more outstanding under the hedgerow slope. Therefore, the hedgerow can be cooperated with other measures (such as earth banks, tillage measures, and straw mulching) for better performance. The finding can be used to further understand the effect of hedgerow on the sediment sorting of purple soil slopes. Scientific basis and data support can be offered to construct the regional soil erosion model for the efficient use of soil and water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision agriculture hinges on accurate soil condition data obtained through soil testing across the field, which is a foundational step for subsequent processes. Soil testing is expensive, and reducing the number of samples is an important task. One viable approach is to divide the farm fields into homogenous management zones that require only one soil sample. As a result, these sample points must be the best representatives of the management zones and satisfy some other geospatial conditions, such as accessibility and being away from field borders and other test points. In this paper, we introduce an algorithmic method as a framework for automatically determining locations for test points using a constrained multi-objective optimization model. Our implementation of the proposed algorithmic framework is significantly faster than the conventional GIS process. While the conventional process typically takes several days with the involvement of GIS technicians, our framework takes only 14 s for a 200-hectare field to find optimal benchmark sites. To demonstrate our framework, we use time-varying Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to delineate management zones and a digital elevation model (DEM) to avoid steep regions. We define the objectives for a representative area of a management zone. Then, our algorithm optimizes the objectives using a scalarization method while avoiding constraints. We assess our method by testing it on five fields and showing that it generates optimal results. This method is fast, repeatable, and extendable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge emerging from research funded by the European Union (EU) through its Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation and other funding streams is significantly shaped by different forms of epistemic control exerted by the EU itself. Through the promotion of industry-research-policy cooperation in EU-funded research, and in light of the growing importance attached to 'impact,' this knowledge will often contribute to bureaucratic decisions taken by the European Commission, Frontex, the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems (eu-LISA), and other agencies tasked with border security and control. The circular dynamics surrounding knowledge production, from the calls for proposals to the results of the research, are intrinsically political and contribute to exposing the limits of the EU-promoted principle of Responsible Research and Innovation. Additionally, and due to the centrality of EU funding in the research outlook in contemporary Europe, these processes raise wider questions about the sociology of the academic fields that this article relates to: critical border studies, critical security studies, and science and technology studies. How can we interpret the interplays between the EU's policies fostering development and integration of border security technologies, on the one hand, and the Union's broader principles for free and open research and innovation? Through the use of autoethnographic vignettes, and mediated by an expanded Foucauldian understanding of circulation as a technology of control with performative effects, the article sheds light on the dynamics surrounding knowledge production in the field of border technologies in an EU context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate dispersive wave amplification past a submerged circular sill on an otherwise flat seabed. This phenomenon is important because it can generate large-amplitude waves near the sill, due to spatial focusing and resonant trapping in linear dispersive regime, endangering navigation. Based on the potential flow theory, the velocity potential is solved separately in the ocean region and in the sill region. Matching is then achieved by means of integral equations involving Galerkin expansion of the unknown velocity field at the border between the two regions. The model is successfully validated against known analytical expressions for long waves and a smoothed particle hydrodynamics numerical solution. Our results advance existing theories valid either for non-dispersive waves or for shallow submergence of the sill. We show that, for relatively short waves as compared to the ocean depth, the sill acts as a wave lens focusing energy behind it. Increasing the wavelength of the incident wave promotes transition from wave focusing behind the sill to partial trapping atop the sill. In intermediate water depth, the concurrence of focusing and partial trapping favors the emergence of extreme wave amplitudes that can exceed up to 6 times the amplitude of incident waves. We hypothesize that this phenomenon is the main cause of local peaks in skewness and kurtosis near a submerged circular shoal obtained in recent numerical simulations. Indications for further studies in the nonlinear regime are finally provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in land use in the Pampean region have led to an increase in pastures and cultivated fields and a decrease in native grasslands, which mainly remain at the borders of cultivated fields. In the province of Buenos Aires, there is a trend to increase the size of fields, eliminate the edges between them, and increase the proportion of the area cultivated with soybeans. Borders function as corridors and refuges for native fauna, so this reduction may affect rodent abundance, although this effect may vary according to the habitat affinities of the species. Our goal was to evaluate the effect of the size of fields and the decrease in the proportion of border habitats on the rodent community. The study was conducted in the province of Buenos Aires, in Central Argentina. Rodents were surveyed in 12 fields and their borders. Overall rodent density and both species of Calomys showed negative effects of field size on their abundance, while for A. azarae there were no significant effects. Calomys laucha was more abundant in maize crop fields, and Calomys musculinus did not show an effect on habitat, but its abundance in crop fields increased with weed cover. Akodon azarae showed strong habitat selection for borders. In summary, changes in the agricultural landscape with an increase in cropland at the expense of natural and semi-natural habitats affect rodent communities, and this effect would have consequences through their trophic interactions, both as consumers of plant and insect species as well as food sources for mammalian and avian predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unintended out-of-field dose has been implicated as an important contributor to late health effects following radiotherapy. However, there are gaps in knowledge about organ dose tolerance. Furthermore, the out-of-field dose cannot be estimated accurately by the treatment planning system, but must instead be calculated by time-consuming Monte Carlo radiation transport simulation. Therefore, to support clinical treatment optimization and research on late health effects following radiotherapy, we sought to demonstrate a deep learning approach to predict 3D whole-body dose maps for pediatric patients. We used a database of Monte Carlo-derived whole-body dose maps which were previously reconstructed for 4716 pediatric patients in the National Wilms Tumor Study late effects cohort. The patients in this cohort tended to receive standardized treatments with the field borders determined by anatomical structures. To train and test our model we identified subsets of patients who received a 6 MV AP-PA beam configuration to the abdomen (with or without kidney block), left flank, right flank, or chest (90% patients used for training, 10% for testing). A customized neural network was trained separately for each field configuration with the dose map being normalized by the prescribed dose. The input to our model was: (1) a CT image of a whole-body phantom matched to the patient based on height and weight; (2) a RT structure file containing organ contours of interest; (3) the normalized dose map; and (4) the patient's height, weight, and gender. Next, we extracted multi-level and multi-scale feature maps, the predicted dose map file, from the customized deep neural network final layers. Predicted doses were compared voxel-to-voxel with original doses using different statistical metrics. Dose-volume histograms were made for each organ at risk to visualize differences between actual and predicted doses. The absolute dose map for a patient was calculated by multiplying the predicted normalized dose map by the patient's radiotherapy prescribed dose. The dose maps for patients receiving radiation to more than one location could be predicted separately and added together to get the total from the entire plan. Organ dose was calculated by applying organ contour masks to the predicted dose map. Our quantitative analysis of the test dataset yielded a structural similarity index of 0.89 ± 0.02 (mean ± SD) Confidence Interval (CI): [0.86, 0.90], mean absolute error of 2.57 ± 0.49 Gy (CI: [2.17, 3.40]), and root mean square error of 9.28 ± 1.97 Gy (CI: [7.54, 12.40]). Our results suggest that the algorithm is functional, although further refinement is necessary as error rates for some patients exceed expectations. We are also exploring extending this work to multi-class-based dose prediction considering the additional photon treatment energies (e.g., 4 MV, 10 MV, 16 MV, and Co-60). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind barriers play a vital role in protecting saplings until maturity when planted as vegetative windbreak forests. Most previous studies have focused on the porosity of wind barriers, but no studies have simultaneously examined the effects of the porosity and inclination, despite the potential of the inclination to decrease wind speed. We tested three wind barrier cases in wind tunnel experiments: (1) Case A (porosity of 0% with inclinations (90°, 80°, and 70°)), (2) Case B (porosity of 25% with inclinations (90°, 80°, and 70°)), and (3) Case C (porosity of 50% with inclinations (90°, 80°, and 70°)). The vertical and horizontal wind velocities were measured at three vertical and seven horizontal points behind the barriers. The results demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the correlation between the distance and mean wind velocity for all cases, with up to a six-fold wind protection effect. The wind barrier with 0% porosity and a 90° inclination provided the highest degree of wind protection. However, the wind protection range was limited downwind, and recirculation of wind flow could occur in the leeward direction, potentially damaging saplings. A wind barrier with 50% porosity and 70° inclination sufficiently decreased the wind velocity and prevented recirculation of wind flow, demonstrating that both porosity and inclination considerably impacted the wind protection effect by reducing wind velocity. Our findings offer novel insights into the influence of wind barriers with varying porosities and inclinations and can provide valuable guidance for constructing efficient windbreak forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil amendments with composted organic materials are recommended to increase soil organic matter (SOM) and promote soil fertility. Growing areas of hedged olive groves in the southern Iberia peninsula generate huge amounts of olive leaves, and their potential as an organic soil amendment is not fully studied. An experimental field trial in a hedged olive grove ("Cobrançosa") was set up near Portalegre, Portugal, to test a compost of olive leaves plus sheep manure (with a ratio of 2:1) when applied in a row at the soil's surface. Nominal rates of zero, 2.5, and 5.0 kg m−2 (T0, T1, and T2, respectively) were applied in a complete randomized block setup (three treatments, three replicas, and nine plots), and soil properties of layers between 0–5, 5–15, and 15–30 cm were annually monitored. More expressive results occurred in the soil layer 0–5 cm, and with the dosage T2. After one year, there were significant increases in the total N, carbon of the particulate organic matter, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POX-C), extractable phosphorus, and zinc. After two years, there was 16% more soil organic carbon (SOC), an absolute increase of 0.5 in pHKCl, 1.9 times more extractable phosphorus, and ten times more zinc. The soil's C-stock in the 0–30 cm layer, after two years of T1 and T2 dosages, was 0.11 and 0.35 kg m−2 (~3 and ~9%, respectively), which was higher than with T0. POX-C was the most sensitive SOM-related indicator, showing increases of up to 30 cm deep after one year. This compost improved soil fertility but should be monitored over longer periods of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2010, we initiated research on pollinator habitat gardens (hedgerows) in 8 stone fruit orchards in Brentwood, in northern California. One goal was to install native and non-native plant species in linear gardens to attract native bee species, which we used successfully statewide (Frankie et al., 2005, 2009, 2014). Our 2010-2018 Brentwood research demonstrated that planned hedgerows attracted diverse native bee taxa (144 species), and that many species (23) also visited a variety of crop flowers (Frankie et al., 2018). In our current study, we applied these past experiences to avocado orchards in southern California to examine avocado flower visitors in installed habitat gardens, or hedgerows. Gardens were installed in 3 avocado orchards in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties to evaluate native bee diversity and abundance between hedgerows (treatment sites) and surrounding orchards and wildlands (control sites). Native bees and Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) were monitored at each orchard over 6 years from 2014-2019, with supplemental collections done in 2020-2021. Hedgerow sites had greater bee species diversity, and slightly greater bee abundance. At the 3 orchards, 105 bee taxa were recorded from standardized monitoring periods during avocado flowering season (March-May). Honey bees were found to visit many hedgerow plants, and avocado growers indicated the importance of having floral resources year-round for the bees. 'Lisbon' lemons are often grown in close proximity to avocado trees, and control of Citrus pests, especially the Asian citrus psyllid, was factored into variables impacting avocado visitors. At least 60 insect taxa were recorded visiting avocado flowers. Half of these were native bee taxa, and the rest were flies (especially syrphids), wasps, and beetles. Factors impacting long-term bee monitoring results included unusual weather conditions, wildfires, and possible pesticide drift. Frequent communication with growers was critical for sharing findings, collaborating in plant installations, and addressing questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degree of coupling between canopy and atmosphere, through the decoupling factor Ω, well describes the behaviour of a crop concerning its water use and carbon dioxide exchange. Super high-density hedgerow olive orchard system is in great expansion all over the world and, since it has a complex field structure in rows of adjacent trees, investigations are necessary to assess the Ω patterns, as well as aerodynamic (ga) and canopy (gc) conductances in different water conditions. In this study, in a hedgerow olive orchard (cv. "Arbosana") submitted to full (FI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), cropped under a Mediterranean semi-arid climate (southern Italy), Ω has been determined using gc, as deduced by inverting the Penman-Monteith equation, and ga, by upscaling the wind speed measured in a close station to the canopy; the transpiration has been measured by sap flow thermal dissipation method. The results showed that this olive orchard results very well coupled to the atmosphere, in any soil water conditions; Ω is generally very low, being during daytime equal in mean to 0.021±0.003 ms-1 and 0.018±0.004 ms-1 for RDI and FI, respectively. This condition is linked to ga and gc values; in fact, canopy conductance is much smaller than the aerodynamic one in any water and climatic conditions, except when all canopy surfaces are saturated in water. In this latter case, the gc assumes the highest values due to the contribution of the part of conductance attributable to the structure of the orchard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zpravoday Hnede Uhli is the property of Brown Coal Research Institute, j.s.c. 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.)