Search Results (9,737)

The sugarcane crop is of great economic relevance to Brazil, and the precise productivity estimation is a major challenge in production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the productivity of sugarcane cultivars in different regions, using multispectral sensors embedded in RPAs and biometric variables sampled in the field. The study was conducted in two experimental areas, located in the municipalities of Itirapina-SP and Iracemápolis-SP, with 16 cultivars in a randomized block design. The images were acquired using the multispectral sensor MicaSense Altum, allowing the extraction of spectral bands and vegetation indices. In parallel, biometric variables were collected at 149 and 295 days after planting (DAP). The machine learning models Random Forest (RF) and Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) were calibrated using different sets of variables, and, despite the similar performance, it was decided to use the model derived from XGBoost in the analyses, since it deals more effectively with overfitting. The results indicated a good performance of the model (R² = 0.83 and 0.66; RMSE = 18.7 t ha⁻¹ and 25.3 t ha⁻¹; MAE = 15.7 and 20.2; RPIQ = 3.22 and 2.61) for the validations K-fold and Leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). The correlations between biometric variables, spectral bands, and vegetation indices varied according to crop development stage. The leaf insertion angle presented a strong correlation with near-infrared (NIR) (r = 0.76) and the indices ExG and VARI (r = 0.70 and r = 0.69, respectively). The present work demonstrated that the integration between multispectral and biometric data represents a promising approach for estimating sugarcane productivity. Full article

Policymakers in Chile have focused on educational leadership since the mid-2000s, recognizing its importance for successful school reforms. This article reviews key structural reforms that promote school autonomy while simultaneously regulating public school leaders’ roles to align with policy goals, resulting in a centralization effect through institutional isomorphism. The discussion is divided into four sections as follows: the first addresses historical policies from the dictatorship that transferred public education responsibilities to municipal governments, fostering a quasi-market model; the second examines initiatives aimed at enhancing public school leadership, including defining principal’s responsibilities and strategies for attracting qualified leaders; and the third evaluates the New Public Education (NEP) reform, which reverts municipalization and introduces a new Directorate of Public Education, collaborating with the Ministry of Education to promote school autonomy within the Local Educational Services (SLEP). The fourth section analyzes policies for school leadership development. Despite the intention of enhancing autonomy, the article contends that autonomy is limited due to the pressures of policy alignment, leading to centralization through high-stakes performance assessments and performance contracts. Research shows that while principals may have some decision-making autonomy, it is often curtailed by the necessity to meet centrally defined targets and limited financial autonomy. Full article

Plate heat exchangers are used in heat substations for domestic hot water preparation and building heating in municipal central heating systems. Water from the municipal water supply is heated by hot water from a district heating network. This paper presents a numerical method for simultaneously determining heat transfer correlations on the cold and hot water sides based on flow-thermal measurements of the plate heat exchanger. The unknown parameters in the functions approximating the Nusselt numbers, which depend on the Reynolds and Prandtl numbers, are determined using the least-squares method, so the sum of the squares of the differences in the calculated and measured temperatures at the heat exchanger outlet reaches a minimum. One or two correlations were sought for a plate heat exchanger, and the total number of parameters sought is between three and six. The limits of the 95% confidence intervals for all estimated parameters were also determined. Correlations for Nusselt numbers determined experimentally for a clean plate heat exchanger can be used in the online monitoring of the degree of fouling of plate heat exchangers installed in the substations of a large urban district heating network. Full article

The family Anaplasmataceae comprises etiological agents of infectious diseases of significant importance. This study aimed to achieve the in vitro isolation and propagation of an Anaplasma sp. using tick-derived cell lines. The study was realized in Seropédica municipality, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Blood smears from a naturally infected bovine revealed cytoplasmic inclusions in blood cells. To isolate and propagate the organism, IDE8 and ISE6 tick cell lines derived from Ixodes scapularis were used. Two methods of inoculum preparation were employed: Histopaque^® density gradient and platelet-rich plasma separation. Following infection, cells were maintained in L-15B medium without antibiotics at 34 °C, and infection was monitored weekly by Giemsa-stained cytocentrifuge smears. After achieving ≥ 70% infection, bacteria were subcultured and successfully cryopreserved and resuscitated. PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rDNA, 23S rDNA, rpoB, and groEL genes were performed for molecular characterization. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the isolated strain clustered within the A. platys-like clade. This study reports the successful in vitro isolation, propagation, and cryopreservation of the ‘A. platys-like strain Natal’ bacterium in tick cell lines and provides molecular evidence supporting its phylogenetic classification. These findings contribute to the understanding of genetic variability and host–cell interactions of Anaplasma spp., laying the groundwork for future research. Full article

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) represent the non-material relationships between people and nature, yet their intangible nature poses challenges for spatial planning and policy integration. This study examines CES in Gauja National Park, Latvia, focusing on symbolic, sacred, educational, and cultural heritage values—types often underrepresented in CES assessments. Using a Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) approach, a map-based public survey was conducted via ArcGIS Survey123, enabling respondents to mark and describe places of personal significance. While widely applied internationally, PGIS remains rarely used in Latvia, especially in planning and municipal decision-making. This study explores the use of the PGIS method for the assessment of CES, serving as a pilot application to test its suitability and potential for integration into spatial planning. Points of value were successfully georeferenced and reflect diverse associations. While well-known heritage sites were commonly mentioned, respondents also identified personally meaningful locations, sometimes situated outside the park’s formal boundaries. The findings highlight both the strengths and limitations of digital participatory methods, including issues related to response rates, accessibility, and digital literacy. The study demonstrates that mapping CES with PGIS can offer valuable insights for inclusive landscape governance and supports the incorporation of local perspectives into spatial planning. Full article

Urban livability and sustainable development remain major global challenges, yet the interplay between urban planning layouts and actual human activities has not been sufficiently examined. This study investigates this relationship in Beijing by integrating multi-source spatiotemporal data, including point of interest (POI), Land Use Cover Change (LUCC), remote sensing data, and the railway network. Defining urban functional units as “street + railway network”, we analyze the spatial–temporal evolution within the 6th Ring Road over the past four decades and propose targeted strategies for the urban functional layout. The results reveal the following: (1) The evolution of Beijing’s urban functions can be divided into four stages (1980–1990, 1990–2005, 2005–2015, and 2015–2020), with continuous population growth (+142%) driving the over-concentration of functions in central districts. (2) Between 2010 and 2020, the POI densities of medical services (+133.6%) and transport services (+130.48%) increased most rapidly, subsequently stimulating the expansion of other urban functions. (3) High-density functional facilities and construction land (+179.10%) have expanded significantly within the 6th Ring Road, while green space (cropland, forestland and grassland) has decreased by 86.97%, resulting in a severe imbalance among land use types. To address these issues, we recommend the following: redistributing high-intensity functions to sub-centers such as Tongzhou and Xiongan New Area to alleviate population pressure, expanding high-capacity rail transit to reinforce 30–50 km commuting links between the core and periphery, and establishing ecological corridors to connect green wedges, thereby enhancing carbon sequestration and environmental quality. This integrated framework offers transferable insights for other megacities, providing guidance for sustainable functional planning that aligns human activity patterns with urban spatial structures. Full article

This study develops an open, reproducible geospatial workflow to identify high-potential retail locations across Germany using a 1 km census grid and OpenStreetMap points of interest. It combines multi-criteria suitability modelling with spatial autocorrelation and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR). Using fine-scale demographic and retail data, the results show clear regional differences in how drivers operate. Population density is most influential around large metropolitan areas, while the role of points of interest is stronger in smaller regional towns. A separate gap analysis identified forty grid cells with high suitability but no existing retail infrastructure. These locations are spread across both rural and urban contexts, from peri-urban districts in Baden-Württemberg to underserved municipalities in Brandenburg and Bavaria. The pattern is consistent under different model specifications and echoes earlier studies that reported supply deficits in comparable communities. The results are useful in two directions. Retailers can see places with demand that has gone unnoticed, while planners gain evidence that service shortages are not just an urban issue but often show up in smaller towns as well. Taken together, the maps and diagnostics give a grounded picture of where gaps remain, and suggest where investment could bring both commercial returns and community benefits. This study develops an open, reproducible geospatial workflow to identify high-potential retail locations across Germany using a 1 km census grid and OpenStreetMap points of interest. A multi-criteria suitability surface is constructed from demographic and retail indicators and then subjected to spatial diagnostics to separate visually high values from statistically coherent clusters. “White-spots” are defined as cells in the top decile of suitability with zero (strict) or ≤1 (relaxed) existing shops, yielding actionable opportunity candidates. Global autocorrelation confirms strong clustering of suitability, and Local Indicators of Spatial Association isolate hot- and cold-spots robust to neighbourhood size. To explain regional heterogeneity in drivers, Geographically Weighted Regression maps local coefficients for population, age structure, and shop density, revealing pronounced intra-urban contrasts around Hamburg and more muted variation in Berlin. Sensitivity analyses indicate that suitability patterns and priority cells stay consistent with reasonable reweighting of indicators. The comprehensive pipeline comprising suitability mapping, cluster diagnostics, spatially variable coefficients, and gap analysis provides clear, code-centric data for retailers and planners. The findings point to underserved areas in smaller towns and peri-urban districts where investment could both increase access and business feasibility. Full article

Background: Rural fires represent a significant environmental and socioeconomic challenge in Mediterranean regions, particularly in Portugal, which experiences some of the highest fire incidences in Europe. Understanding the temporal evolution of fire occurrences and their relationship with climatic parameters is crucial for developing effective fire management strategies and adapting to climate change impacts. This study aims to analyze the evolution of rural fire occurrences in Guimarães, northern Portugal, during the period 1980–2020, and to investigate their relationship with climatic parameters, specifically temperature and precipitation patterns. Methods: We analyzed a comprehensive dataset of rural fire occurrences and burnt areas in the Guimarães municipality from 1980 to 2020, along with corresponding climatic data including mean annual temperature and total annual precipitation. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Mann–Kendall trend analysis, Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses, and multiple linear regression modeling. The relationships between fire variables and climatic parameters were examined using both parametric and non-parametric approaches. Results: The analysis revealed significant temporal trends and climate–fire relationships. Mean annual temperature showed a statistically significant increasing trend (Mann–Kendall Z = 3.055, p = 0.002) with a Sen’s slope of 0.032 °C/year, representing approximately 1.3 °C warming over the 40-year period. Rural fire occurrences demonstrated a positive correlation with mean temperature (Pearson r = 0.459, p = 0.003; Spearman ρ = 0.453, p = 0.003), while total burnt area also showed significant positive correlation with temperature (Pearson r = 0.426, p = 0.005; Spearman ρ = 0.466, p = 0.002). Precipitation showed no significant correlation with fire variables. Multiple regression models explained 23.1% of the variance in fire occurrences and 18.3% of the variance in burnt area, with temperature being the primary climatic predictor. Conclusions: The study provides evidence of a significant warming trend in Guimarães over the past four decades, which is positively associated with increased rural fire activity. The consistent relationship between temperature and fire variables suggests that continued climate warming may lead to increased fire risk in the region. These findings have important implications for fire management strategies and climate adaptation planning in northern Portugal. Full article

This study investigates the economic viability of a new composting station dedicated to the recycling of date palm by-products. A field experiential analysis was performed in the Figuig Oasis (Morocco), providing the first evidence on the agronomic quality of the compost. The compost produced from date palm by-product was compared to cattle manure and unamended soil and can be considered as a good-quality amendment, demonstrating its ability to enhance soil fertility. Second, a socio-economic survey was conducted to explore farmers’ perceptions and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. A total of 201 farmers out of 450 farmers registered in Figuig’s municipal administration were surveyed. In terms of fertilisation, farmers preferred locally produced organic fertiliser when available in order to improve soil organic matter content and reduce dependence on chemical inputs. The selling price for the compost was set at 0.14 EUR/kg to reflect the current market price for compost and the willingness of about 38% of the farmers surveyed to buy it. Third, a detailed cost/benefit analysis was performed, with a breakdown of the station’s operational and investment expenses. This illustrates the minimum scale needed to generate a viable business model. Financial projections show that increasing production capacity from 350 tonnes/year to 3500 tonnes/year reduces unit production costs while increasing profits. As illustrated by the application of the Ecocanvas framework, the socio-economic analysis reveals the potential to generate positive environmental, economic, and social impacts, as the circular approach could be replicable and scalable in similar oases agro ecosystems. Full article

This study develops and operationalizes a multi-dimensional framework for sustainable building retrofit that aligns with national 2050 net-zero objectives. First, we conduct a scoping review of international standards (e.g., ISO), sustainability reporting guidelines (GRI G4), and peer-reviewed studies to define an indicator system spanning three pillars—environmental (carbon neutrality, resource circulation, pollution management), social (habitability, durability/safety, regional impact), and economic (direct support, deregulation). Building on this structure, we propose a transparent 0–3 rubric at the sub-indicator level and introduce the Sustainable Building Retrofit Index (SRI) to enable cross-case comparability and over-time monitoring. We then apply the framework to seven countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea), score their retrofit systems/policies, and synthesize results through radar plots and a composite SRI. The analysis shows broad emphasis on carbon neutrality and habitability but persistent gaps in resource circulation, pollution management, regional impacts, and deregulatory mechanisms. For South Korea, policies remain energy-centric, with relatively limited treatment of resource/pollution issues and place-based social outcomes; economic instruments predominantly favor direct financial support. To address these gaps, we propose (i) life-cycle assessment (LCA)–based reporting that covers greenhouse gas and six additional impact categories for retrofit projects; (ii) a support program requiring community and ecosystem-impact reporting with performance-linked incentives; and (iii) targeted deregulation to reduce uptake barriers. The paper’s novelty lies in translating diffuse sustainability principles into a replicable, quantitative index (SRI) that supports benchmarking, policy revision, and longitudinal tracking across jurisdictions. The framework offers actionable guidance for policymakers and a foundation for future extensions (e.g., additional countries, legal/municipal instruments, refined weights). Full article

Atherigona orientalis (Diptera: Muscidae) may be a neglected agricultural pest worldwide since the public generally regards it as a saprophytic and sanitary insect. In fact, A. orientalis can infest over 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables in 26 families listed as quarantine pests in several countries. Regrettably, there are few reports of this pest despite its prevalence in the pantropical regions of many countries. In this study, we reported the distributions, morphological, and biological characteristics, including the host ranges, developmental durations, color selections, and population dynamics changes of A. orientalis in Hunan Province. Currently, A. orientalis has been found in each prefectural and municipal city of Hunan Province, China. Additionally, 15 out of 20 host plants we collected were infested. The developmental durations of the egg, larva, and pupa of A. orientalis ranged from 2 to 3, 5 to 7, and 6 to 8 days, respectively. The results of color selections showed that A. orientalis adults tend to prefer green and yellow colors. Moreover, the population dynamics of A. orientalis in Changsha City showed that July and August were the population peaks throughout the year. Our research supplements valuable data of A. orientalis for pest management and subsequent studies. Full article

As society ages, there is a growing concern about the comfort and health of elderly people. Although populations around the world, including Slovenia, are rapidly aging, evidence that increasing longevity is being accompanied by an extended period of good health is scarce. An increasing number of older adults live with chronic diseases, functional limitations, or frailty. In 2025, Slovenia launched the project Systemic Approach to Frailty with a Focus on Pre-Frailty for Healthy and Hight-Quality Ageing, within the European Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027, aiming to address frailty through multidimensional and community-based interventions. In addition to presenting the project framework, this paper provides an analytical preliminary review of existing literature, critically reflecting on research gaps in the field. The main aim of this paper is to explore the possibilities for creating healthy living environments that support the prevention and management of frailty. The project’s core innovation lies in the integration of public health principles into urban planning and design through a structured, community-based approach and the use of the Living Environmental Assessment (OBO) Tool. This tool enables urban planners, municipalities, and local communities to collaboratively evaluate and co-design living environments (e.g., optimizing walkability, green space access, barrier-free design, and social amenities) to build resilience and independence among older adults. Designing inclusive, accessible, and health-promoting environments can help to prevent frailty and improve well-being across all age groups. Full article

To address the issue of missed detection of abnormal images caused by scarcity of defect samples and inadequate model training that characterize the current substation image inspection methods, this paper proposes a new substation image inspection method based on visual communication and combination of normal and abnormal samples. In this new method, the quality of substation equipment images is first evaluated, and images are recaptured when they are defocused and underexposed. Images are then preprocessed to eliminate the impact of noise on the algorithm. Image feature alignment is then performed to mitigate camera displacement errors that could degrade algorithmic accuracy. Subsequently, normal-labeled images are used to train the model, and a normal sample database is thus established. Built upon visual communication infrastructure with low-level quantization, the visual feature discrepancy between the current inspection images and those in the normal sample database is calculated using the Learned Perceptual Image Patch Similarity (LPIPS) metric. Through this process, the normal images are filtered out while abnormal images are classified and reported. Finally, this new method is validated at a municipal power supply company in China. When the abnormal image reporting rate is 18.9%, the abnormal image reporting accuracy rate is 100%. This demonstrates that the proposed method can significantly decrease the workload of substation operation and maintenance personnel in reviewing substation inspection images, reduce the time required for a single inspection of substation equipment, and improve the efficiency of video-based substation inspections. Full article

Through the Study on the Development of a Sustainable Public Transport System and a Non-Motorized Mobility System, in October 2022, the City of Ludbreg and the local municipalities of Martijanec, Sveti Đurđ, Veliki Bukovec, and Mali Bukovec jointly agreed to develop a sustainable transport system focused on passenger mobility. This agreement included co-financing the Study, which supports local development and promotes the efficient use of EU funds allocated for the 2021–2027 period. The Study emphasizes the integration of public transport, walking, and cycling, alongside the sustainable use of private vehicles, in alignment with European and national strategic frameworks aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions and improving quality of life. However, the City of Ludbreg aims to further enhance the municipal public transport system, not only within the city but also across the entire Northern Croatia region. As a first step, in addition to optimizing the existing public transport service and defining an optimal bus route network, the goal is to establish a modern public transport system that is more attractive to users, offers greater comfort, ensures higher accessibility, and minimizes negative environmental impacts. By improving service quality, the system is expected to attract more users and create new mobility opportunities, contributing to demographic revitalization, employment growth, environmental protection, energy efficiency, lower transport costs, an improved standard of living, and broader economic development in Ludbreg and the surrounding region. Full article

Post-consumer plastic waste poses increasing challenges in urban areas, where recycling heavily relies on consumer cooperation. In Japan, two recycling routes for post-consumer plastic waste from households exist, the municipal recycling route and the retailer recycling route, with the latter requiring more voluntary effort. This study aims to explore the diversity of consumers’ cooperative behaviors in Japan’s post-consumer plastic waste recycling system, with a focus on the retailer route. We conducted an online survey with 758 respondents from Sendai, Kawasaki, and Kyoto in urban Japan, using a structured questionnaire based on the knowledge–attitude–practice (KAP) framework. K-means clustering was conducted to identify behaviorally distinct consumer groups. Three clusters were revealed: Fully Engaged Consumers, Knowledge-Driven Consumers, and Passively Engaged Consumers. These groups exhibited distinct differences in cooperative recycling behaviors and socio-demographic characteristics. Our findings demonstrate the heterogeneity of consumer cooperation and underscore the importance of targeted strategies. By focusing on the retailer recycling route and consumer segmentation, this study addresses key gaps in Japan’s research on urban plastic waste. The results provide a theoretical and empirical foundation for differentiated policy-making, ultimately supporting the transition to a more sustainable and circular economy in post-consumer plastic waste recycling in urban Japan. Full article