Search Results (35,262)

Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand and the second largest city in Southeast Asia. Due to the rapid urbanization and upgrading of economic structures, the real estate market in Bangkok is not only constrained by domestic factors but also fluctuates with international economic cycles. Bangkok’s long history, diverse culture, developed economy, and incomplete land infrastructure make the formation of housing prices particularly complex. In this study, we collected 13,175 residence transaction data from 2076 different neighborhoods in Bangkok and explored multiscale effects of various land infrastructure factors on housing prices in Bangkok at the neighborhood level. Our analysis not only supports land planning departments of Bangkok to make more reasonable facility planning but also provides new insights into driving mechanisms of housing prices in other cities of Thailand and ASEAN countries Full article

Change points caused by extreme events in global economic markets have been widely studied in the literature. However, existing techniques to identify change points rely on subjective judgments and lack robust methodologies. The objective of this paper is to generalize a novel approach that leverages topological data analysis (TDA) to extract topological features from time series data using persistent homology. In this approach, we use Taken’s embedding and sliding window techniques to transform the initial time series data into a high-dimensional topological space. Then, in this topological space, persistent homology is used to extract topological features which can give important information related to change points. As a case study, we analyzed 26 stocks over the last 12 years by using this method and found that there were two financial market volatility indicators derived from our method, denoted as $L_1$ and $L_2$. They serve as effective indicators of long-term and short-term financial market fluctuations, respectively. Moreover, significant differences are observed across markets in different regions and sectors by using these indicators. By setting a significance threshold of 98 % for the two indicators, we found that the detected change points correspond exactly to four major financial extreme events in the past twelve years: the intensification of the European debt crisis in 2011, Brexit in 2016, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and the energy crisis triggered by the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022. Furthermore, benchmark comparisons with established univariate and multivariate CPD methods confirm that the TDA-based indicators consistently achieve superior F1 scores across different tolerance windows, particularly in capturing widely recognized consensus events. Full article

‘Korla fragrant’ pear has a long history of cultivation in Xinjiang, China, with favorable economic and social benefits. The selection of tree growth has a direct impact on improvements in fruit yield and quality. In order to provide a theoretical basis for the efficient and high-quality cultivation of ‘Korla fragrant’ pear, two ‘Korla fragrant’ pear tree growth forms, namely trunk shape and small-canopy shape, were selected as experimental materials to study the differences in the parameters of different tree growth forms, as well as the effect on photosynthetic activity and fruit quality. The results show that the small-canopy-shape trees exhibited significantly improved photosynthetic activity, with a 60.64% higher net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in the upper canopy compared to the trunk-shape trees. Fruit quality was also superior in the small-canopy-shape trees, with increases in single-fruit weight (29.36–46.91%), soluble solids content (13.51–14.39%), soluble sugar content (25.79–27.56%), and vitamin C content (up to 0.4363 mg·100 g⁻¹ in the upper layer). However, the yield per unit area of the trunk-shape trees was significantly higher than that of the small-canopy-shape trees by 19.32% because of the higher number of short fruit branches and increased prevalence of smaller row spacing. In addition, within the same tree growth forms, photosynthetic activity and fruit quality were improved in the upper layers compared to the lower layers. Full article

Grape production is one of the most agronomically important activities worldwide. However, it is threatened by diseases caused by phytopathogenic microorganisms, which cause severe economic losses. The primary strategy to control phytopathogenic fungi is the application of fungicides; however, they affect the environment and induce resistance in fungi. Nanomaterials, especially those green-synthesized, emerge as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to control fungal pathogens. The objective of this work is to evaluate the sensitivity of fungal phytopathogens to biosynthesized copper-oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs). Nanoparticles were evaluated as preventive and corrective treatments in grapevine green tissues and fruits under field conditions, using in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches. Interestingly, corrective treatment was highly effective and showed little accumulation of Cu on the fruits, even less than a commercial copper-based fungicide. Moreover, we report that Aspergillus niger causes lesions in photosynthetic tissues and severe disease symptoms in grapes. We also describe for the first time the presence of Alternaria alternata causing lesions, mainly on the stems and young leaves of grapevine plants in Mexico. These pathogens were inhibited by the biosynthesized CuONPs. All these findings show the effectiveness of using CuONPs to control phytopathogenic fungi, even under field conditions, shedding light on their potential use in agriculture with a less environmental impact than the commercial fungicides and agrochemicals currently used. Full article

Riemerella anatipestifer (R. anatipestifer, RA) is a globally distributed pathogen responsible for duck serositis, an acute multisystemic disease whose infection leads to substantial economic impacts in duck production. There is currently no specific therapeutic drug available for effective treatment. Importantly, the severity of the disease is closely associated with multiple environmental factors, including feeding conditions, management practices, weather fluctuations, and air quality parameters. Furthermore, the prevalence of various serotypes is a matter of concern, and the emergence of multi-drug-resistant mutants through continuous use of various antibiotics is a major challenge. Recently, it has been reported that RA infects domestic ducks, turkeys, geese, wild birds and chicken, which leads to its remarkable influence on the healthy development of waterfowl breeding industry and even poultry breeding industry. Given these challenges, vaccination is essential for disease control. Various vaccine types are currently available, including but not limited to live vaccines, inactivated vaccines, subunit vaccines and vector vaccines. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the development of vaccines for RA. Full article

This empirical qualitative research explores the texts of 14 free trade agreements (FTAs) concluded by Arab Gulf countries individually or as block. The objective is to evaluate if these documents are gender-responsive using an internationally recognised framework that qualitatively measures if the agreements are used effectively as a tool to economically empower women. We find that although most of the agreements contain some gender provisions, gender mainstreaming remains limited to encouraging women-owned and women-led small and medium enterprises. This makes them at best limitedly responsive to addressing the gender inequalities that women in export-engaged businesses face. The conclusion outlines the areas for potential improvements in the dozens of agreements currently negotiated by Gulf economic diplomats. Full article

Improving green total factor productivity (GTFP) is critical for balancing economic benefits and ecological constraints. While most existing studies emphasize the pivotal role of governments in GTFP enhancement, they predominantly treat governments as homogeneous entities, overlooking the fundamental premise of local government attention allocation. Analyzing 2010–2020 data from 285 Chinese cities, this study reveals that increased local government green attention significantly stimulates GTFP through three channels: fostering green technology collaboration among firms, deepening green involvement of public research institutions, and elevating green innovation quality. Heterogeneity analyses demonstrate amplified effects in cities characterized by intense intergovernmental competition, stringent intellectual property protection, robust fiscal capacity, and advanced technological infrastructure, but attenuated impacts in resource-dependent regions with heavy reliance on extractive industries. Full article

Controlling Rhipicephalus microplus is currently one of the main challenges in livestock farming due to the significant economic losses it causes. Traditionally, managing this parasite has been based on the use of synthetic ixodicides, among which fipronil has proven to be highly effective. However, its low water solubility and the limitations of commercially available formulations can affect the bioavailability of this compound, favoring the emergence of resistance in tick populations. In this context, fipronil-loaded nanoparticles were developed using the Eudragit^® E PO polymer (NP_F) (Helm, Naucalpan, Mexico, Mexico), which were physicochemically characterized and evaluated against fipronil-susceptible R. microplus larvae. NP_F had an average size of 143.43 ± 1.88 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.162 ± 0.01, a ζ (P ζ) of 21.16 ± 0.54, an encapsulation percentage (%E) of 7.36 ± 0.30, and an encapsulation efficiency percentage (%EE) of 66.28 ± 3.5%. Free fipronil showed an LC₅₀ of 0.582 µg/mL and an LC₉₀ of 2.503 µg/mL against R. microplus. The NP_F formulation showed an LC₅₀ of 0.427 µg/mL and an LC₉₀ of 2.092 µg/mL. These results suggest that incorporating fipronil into nanoparticles improves its ixodicide efficacy, positioning it as an innovative and promising alternative for the development of effective tick control formulations. Full article

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region has experienced rapid development in its tourism industry, establishing itself as a leading force within China’s tourism sector. However, significant regional disparities continue to hinder its sustainable development. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of domestic tourist flows and tourism industry agglomeration patterns in the region. Using city-level data from 2016 to 2022, the analysis employs a comprehensive methodology including standard deviation, coefficient of variation, standard deviation ellipse, and locational entropy. The main findings are as follows: (1) In the pre-pandemic period (2016–2019), absolute disparities in tourist flows widened, whereas relative disparities narrowed. During the pandemic (2020–2022), absolute disparities decreased, while relative disparities initially increased before contracting. (2) Tourist flows displayed a southeast–northwest gradient, with high-value areas clustered along the southeastern coast. Standard deviation ellipse analysis reveals that tourist flows were primarily distributed along the eastern coastal corridor, parallel to the coastline. Prior to the pandemic, tourism growth showed a tendency toward spatial equilibrium; however, this trend was disrupted during the pandemic, resulting in a more decentralized spatial pattern. (3) Throughout the pandemic, tourism industry concentration increased significantly in most cities. Cities with renowned scenic attractions and diversified economic structures demonstrated stronger resilience, while those heavily reliant on tourism were more vulnerable to the pandemic’s effects. Full article

Over the past decades, women’s participation in horticulture has become increasingly apparent across Africa. Women perform physically demanding agricultural work on family farms, as hired laborers, or as paid workers on other farms. To increase yield and protect crops, pesticides are used, yet the health risks faced by these women remain under-researched. This qualitative exploratory case study conducted in 2023, in four villages in northern Tanzania, explored pesticide exposure risks, gender roles, and awareness among women working on horticultural farms. Data were collected through four focus group discussions with 46 women (mean age, 39 years; mean work experience, 10 years). Data was transcribed and thematically analyzed. Six themes emerged: gender division of labor, limited training and awareness, adverse health effects, unsafe storage and disposal practices, inadequate protective measures, and resilience. Although pesticide spraying was typically performed by men, poor or unmarried women also undertook this task. Women had limited access to training on safe pesticide handling, and protective gear was rarely used. Despite awareness of potential health risks, economic necessity and prevailing gender norms compelled continued exposure. Gender-sensitive interventions including targeted occupational health education and promotion of safer agricultural practices are urgently needed to reduce pesticide-related health effects among women. Full article

Organic fertilizer granulation represents a promising strategy for modifying nitrogen (N) release from compost in soil. Nevertheless, there is a lack of large-scale field trials exploring its impact on tobacco production and soil N supply. This research conducted a preliminary study by employing ¹⁵N tracing technology to investigate the effects of granular compost on soil N transformation and supply; on the yield and quality of tobacco leaves; and on the distribution of granular compost-derived N among the different soil N pools and tobacco plant organs. The results revealed that the 2 cm diameter granule organic fertilizer treatment (G2) significantly increased tobacco leaf yield by 15% compared to conventional fertilization (CK). However, the 4 cm diameter granule organic fertilizer (G4) treatment resulted in a reduction in leaf yield. Notably, the quality of tobacco leaves remained unaffected compared to conventional fertilization treatment; the N content ranged from 15 to 25 g kg⁻¹, which was within the high-quality range. The results also indicated that direct N supply to the tobacco from granular compost was limited. The G2 and G4 treatments provided 2.8% and 2.2% of the N in the fertilizer to the tobacco plants, respectively, with more than 93% of the N in the tobacco plants derived from the soil. Therefore, both of these particle sizes of granular compost facilitated the absorption of soil N by tobacco plants. At the end of the growth period, the N content derived from the G4 granular fertilizer in the soil was significantly higher than that from the G2 fertilizer. This may be due to the slower nutrient release mechanism and longer release period of the G4 fertilizer compared to G2. Our results suggested that granulated compost fertilizer (both G2 and G4) has the potential to enhance soil N supply. Despite the elevated nitrogen levels observed in leaves treated with 4 cm diameter granular fertilizer, an integrated assessment of yield performance demonstrates that the 2 cm diameter granular organic fertilizer delivers superior economic benefits. However, G2 may also have a higher potential for N loss. Further investigations under field conditions are necessary to validate the applicability of granular fertilizer of different particle sizes and its specific mechanisms of impact. Full article

Super-supportive CSR behaviors (SSCBs) are integrative actions devised to enhance the effectiveness of CSR initiatives by harmonizing social, environmental, and economic efforts. Despite their strategic role in business operations, SSCBs remain insufficiently addressed, especially within the construction sector. This study utilizes text mining and association rule mining to analyze 211 CSR reports from Chinese construction firms spanning 2010 to 2021. The key findings highlight the pivotal role of 17 SSCBs in strengthening CSR initiatives, revealing three major characteristics: foundational, synergistic, and triggering. Within the construction industry, SSCBs primarily focus on corporate governance, community development, employee welfare, and environmental sustainability, evolving from isolated practices to integrated systems over time. Notably, construction firms tend to adopt SSCB portfolios instead of standalone initiatives. Furthermore, exceeding a certain threshold of SSCBs may increase challenges in coordination and resource allocation. These insights highlight SSCBs as a dynamic, multidimensional construct and provide construction firms with a practical framework to integrate complementary CSR actions, improving coordination, optimizing resources, and strengthening sustainability outcomes in practice. Full article

Food spoilage and contamination are major global challenges, reducing food quality, safety, and availability, causing significant economic losses. This study evaluates the photodynamic and sonodynamic antibacterial activities of grape leaf extracts from Beer and Hanut Orcha varieties. The extracts were tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli under illumination and ultrasonic activation. The results demonstrated that the photodynamic and sonodynamic treatments significantly enhanced the antibacterial efficacy of the extracts when higher concentrations of the extracts and prolonged exposure led to complete bacterial eradication. Separation of the extracts using RP-18 cartridges (Yicozoo Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Xi’an, China) enabled us to get an active fraction containing components responsible for antimicrobial effects. Singlet oxygen generation measurements confirmed the involvement of reactive oxygen species in bacterial inactivation under illumination. Using HPLC/MS, the active components responsible for the photodynamic properties of the extracts were identified as quercetin 3’-O-glucuronide and pheophorbide a. The findings suggest that these natural extracts, in combination with photodynamic and sonodynamic activation, represent promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Further studies should focus on the isolation of active individual compounds, the improvement of treatment parameters, and the investigation of molecular mechanisms to facilitate the development of practical applications in medicine and food preservation. Full article

Modern energy systems are undergoing a profound transformation characterized by the active replacement of conventional fossil-fuel-based power plants with renewable energy sources. This transition aims to reduce the carbon emissions associated with electricity generation while enhancing the economic performance of electric power market players. However, alongside these benefits come several challenges, including reduced overall inertia within energy systems, heightened stochastic variability in grid operation regimes, and stricter demands on the rapid response capabilities and adaptability of emergency controls. This paper presents a novel methodology for selecting effective control laws for low-inertia energy systems, ensuring their dynamic stability during post-emergency operational conditions. The proposed approach integrates advanced techniques, including feature selection via decision tree algorithms, classification using Random Forest models, and result visualization through the Mean Shift clustering method applied to a two-dimensional representation derived from the t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding technique. A modified version of the IEEE39 benchmark model served as the testbed for numerical experiments, achieving a classification accuracy of 98.3%, accompanied by a control law synthesis delay of just 0.047 milliseconds. In conclusion, this work summarizes the key findings and outlines potential enhancements to refine the presented methodology further. Full article

This study examines the genetic diversity and population structure of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), an ecologically and economically important freshwater species. Samples were collected from 17 sites along the Yangtze River, including LCH, LCS, LJHK, and LXZX, as well as one population from the United States (SV). Restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) generated 759,453 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for population genomic analyses, including genetic differentiation (F_ST), population structure, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay. Genetic variation was primarily found within populations (78.05%), with 21.94% among populations. Most sites exhibited low genetic differentiation (F_ST < 0.05), suggesting high admixture along the river, although a few sites displayed elevated values (F_ST > 0.15). Rapid LD decay in LCH, LCS, and LJZ indicated frequent recombination and moderate to large effective population sizes. These patterns reflect the influence of geographic and ecological factors on population structure. Conservation strategies should maintain genetic connectivity while protecting distinct genetic resources. Populations with high differentiation, such as LXZX and LWZ, warrant targeted management to preserve unique genetic diversity. Full article