The Efficacy of a New AMCOP® Elastodontic Protocol for Orthodontic Interceptive Treatment: A Case Series and Literature Overview

Background: Elastodontics is a specific interceptive orthodontic treatment that uses removable elastomeric appliances. They are functional appliances that produce neuromuscular, orthopedic and dental effects. Thus, these devices are useful in the developmental age, when skeletal structures are characterized by important plasticity and adaptation capacity, allowing to remove factors responsible for malocclusions. Elastomeric devices are generally well tolerated by patients requiring simple collaboration and management. This work can be useful to update all orthodontists already adopting these appliances or for those who want to approach them for the first time. This study aimed to describe four cases treated with new elastomeric devices called AMCOP Bio-Activators and to provide an overview of elastodontics, its evolution, indications and limits. Methods: A total of four clinical cases were presented after a treatment period of 16–20 months to evaluate the clinical and radiological effects of the elastodontic therapy. Results: The effectiveness of Bio-Activators on clinical cases was evidenced with a significant improvement in skeletal and dentoalveolar relationship, and malocclusion correction in a limited treatment period (16–20 months). Conclusions: The Bio-Activators showed clinical effectiveness to achieve therapeutic targets according to a low impact on the patient’s compliance.

Innovative Pulses for Western European Temperate Regions: A Review

In Europe, there is an increasing interest in pulses both for their beneficial effects in cropping systems and for human health. However, despite these advantages, the acreage dedicated to pulses has been declining and their diversity has reduced, particularly in European temperate regions, due to several social and economic factors. This decline has stimulated a political debate in the EU on the development of plant proteins. By contrast, in Southern countries, a large panel of minor pulses is still cropped in regional patterns of production and consumption. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential for cultivation of minor pulses in European temperate regions as a complement to common pulses. Our assumption is that some of these crops could adapt to different pedoclimatic conditions, given their physiological adaptation capacity, and that these pulses might be of interest for the development of innovative local food chains in an EU policy context targeting protein autonomy. The research is based on a systematic review of 269 papers retrieved in the Scopus database (1974–2019), which allowed us to identify 41 pulses as candidate species with protein content higher than 20% that are already consumed as food. For each species, the main agronomic (e.g., temperature or water requirements) and nutritional characteristics (e.g., proteins or antinutritional contents) were identified in their growing regions. Following their agronomic characteristics, the candidate crops were confronted with variability in the annual growing conditions for spring crops in Western European temperate areas to determine the earliest potential sowing and latest harvest dates. Subsequently, the potential sum of temperatures was calculated with the Agri4cast database to establish the potential climatic suitability. For the first time, 21 minor pulses were selected to be grown in these temperate areas and appear worthy of investigation in terms of yield potential, nutritional characteristics or best management practices.

What Drives Climate Change Adaptation Practices in Smallholder Farmers? Evidence from Potato Farmers in Indonesia

The potato is the third most consumed crop globally after rice and wheat, but climate change has often disrupted its production. Therefore, adaptation practices are needed to maintain potato productivity. This study investigates the determinants of on- and off-farm climate change adaptation practices among smallholder farmers in Indonesia, considering adaptation intensity, which has not discussed in previous literature. The cross-sectional data were collected from 302 smallholder potato farmers in East Java, Indonesia, analyzed by a multivariate probit model to estimate the determinants. An ordered probit model was subsequently employed to understand the intensity factors. The findings indicated that the significant factors that affect farmers’ choice of on-farm adaptations were the farmers’ education, their participation in farmers’ groups, agricultural-related infrastructure, and agriculture output prices. Meanwhile, the off-farm adaptations were significantly affected by the farmers’ education, employed family members, agriculture-related infrastructure, and livestock ownership. The ordered probit model also suggested that participation in farmers groups and agricultural-related infrastructure were the most significant factors that encouraged adaptation. Therefore, adaptation planning should consider these factors to optimally improve farmers’ adaptation capacity.

Autonomy, Motivation, and Digital Pedagogy Are Key Factors in the Perceptions of Spanish Higher-Education Students toward Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper proposes a development model of the adaptation capacity of students to digital transformation in university teaching through three constructs: motivations, digital pedagogy, and student autonomy. For this study, an ad hoc scale was created to record the adaptation capacity of students to digital transformation. The sample was 483 students from the University of Seville (Spain), to whom an online survey was administered during the development of online teaching in the period of November 2020 using the Google Forms platform. The findings of this study showed that university student motivation acquired a greater threshold than autonomy, whose threshold in turn, was greater than that of digital pedagogy in the ability to adapt to online teaching and that the capacity of adaptation to the online modality is explained by the perception that university students have of the usefulness, products, and learning outcomes, among others. In conclusion, the lack of adequate and enabled study spaces is key to developing the online model. We consider all these aspects as prospective research objectives.

Examining the Adoption of ICTs for Weather Monitoring and Climate Change Adaptation in Uganda

Information communication technologies can only be beneficial to developing countries struggling to build adaptation capacity if technology adoption frameworks are tailored to suit their specific characteristics. The lack of timely, accurate, and reliable weather data and the increasing rate at which climate-related disasters are destroying lives and property in Uganda is evident of lack of good weather forecasts. The study set out to investigate the factors affecting ICT adoption and determine the technologies being used to respond to climate change effects. Specifically, the study set out the extent of use and the factors hindering or guiding ICT adoption. Factors hindering ICT adoption ranging from poor infrastructure to limited government support were established. The strategies that can be used to resolve challenges of ICT adoption, the major stakeholders, their responsibilities and how ICT adoption and utilisation can be enhanced to benefit other sectors of the economy is presented.

Future Projection of Drought Vulnerability over Northeast Provinces of Iran during 2021–2100

Future projection of drought vulnerability is vital for northern provinces of Iran, including North Khorasan, Khorasan-Razavi, and South Khorasan, due to the highly dependent of their economy on agriculture. The study is motivated by the fact that no research has been conducted to project the future Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). DVI consist of three components of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation capacity. More exposure levels of drought, higher sensitivity value, and lower adaptation capacity lead to a higher amount of vulnerability. Combined ERA-Interim-observation meteorological data, CMIP5 models under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, and national census data are used to estimate DVI in the past and future periods. CanESM2, GFDL-ESM2M, and CNRM-CM5 General Circulation Model (GCM) are selected from CMIP5 based on Taylor diagram results. The delta-change technique was selected for statistical downscaling of GCM outputs because it is most widely used. The study period is regarded as 1986–2005 as observation and four future 20-years periods during 2021–2100. Results indicated that the dissipation of the class of “very low” vulnerability is eminent in the near future period of 2021–2040 under the RCP4.5 scenario, and all provinces would experience a new worse class of “very high” vulnerability at 2081–2100, both under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios.

Innovative Pulses for European Temperate Regions: A Review

In the Global North, there is an increasing interest in pulses both for their beneficial effects in cropping systems and for human health. However, despite these advantages, the acreage dedi-cated to pulses has been declining and their diversity reduced, particularly in European temperate regions, due to several social and economic factors. This decline has stimulated a political debate in the EU on the development of plant proteins. By contrast, in the Global South, a large panel of minor pulses is still cropped in regional patterns of production and consumption. The aim of this paper is to investigate the for cultivation of potential minor pulses in European temperate regions as a complement to common pulses. Our assumption is that some of these crops could adapt to different pedo-climatic conditions, given their physiological adaptation capacity, and that these pulses might be of interest for the development of innovative local food chains in an EU policy context targeting protein autonomy. The research is based on a systematic review of 269 papers retrieved in the Scopus database (1974–2019), which allowed us to identify 41 pulses as candidate species with a protein content higher than 20% that are already consumed as food. For each spe-cies, the main agronomic (e.g. temperature or water requirements) and nutritional characteristics (e.g. proteins or antinutritional contents) were identified in their growing regions. Following their agronomic characteristics, the candidate crops were confronted with variability in the annual growing conditions for spring crops in European temperate areas to determine the earliest poten-tial sowing and latest harvest dates. Subsequently, the potential sum of temperatures was calcu-lated with the Agri4cast database to establish the potential climatic suitability. For the first time, 21 minor pulses were selected to be grown in these temperate areas and appear worthy of inves-tigation in terms of yield potential, nutritional characteristics or best management practices.

Stratégies d'adaptation des producteurs agricoles aux risques hydroclimatiques dans le bassin Béninois de la pendjari à l'exutoire de Porga

West Africa's dependence on the increased impacts of extreme hydroclimatic hazards increases the vulnerability of food production to the resulting risks. This study analyses the adaptation strategies developed by agricultural producers in the Beninese Pendjari basin to cope with hydroclimatic risks. The methodological approach adopted consisted in the use of climatological data (height of daily and monthly rainfall) from the Tanguiéta and Natitingou stations over the period from 1965 to 2017 obtained in Météo-Bénin . Hydrological data consisting of the daily flows of the river calculation of the Pendjari indices at the Porga outlet, over the period 1965–2017 are extracted from the database of DG-Water and ltulization of socio-anthropological data. To better appreciate the adaptation strategies developed, a semi-structured survey that involved 121 people in 21 villages of the Beninese Pendjari basin is conducted according to the CAP approach (Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices). Direct observations in the field have also made it possible to better identify peasant adaptation strategies to the effects of hydroclimatic risks in the Beninese Pendjari basin. The information collected during the surveys was processed with Sphinx software. We studied socio-anthropological data, and we showed that Pendjari watershed in Benin is under the threat of hydroclimatic risks. To reduce their vulnerability, producers in the Benin Pendjari basin are developing several risk prevention and disaster management strategies. These include transplanting crops including sorghum by 100 % of the producers met, the disposal of logs, the enhancement of the shallows. In view of the effectiveness of the strategies identified and the limitations they present, it is important that the authorities develop a policy that is more sensitive to hydroclimatic risks, in order to improve the adaptation capacity of agricultural producers.

Appreciation of tolerance at the impact of thermal stress on photosystem ii activity in the leaves of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) trees of different ecological origin

Extreme weather events with high temperatures and strong sunlight have increased alarmingly in the last few decades, considerable affecting plant photosynthesis. In this study, the impact of thermal stress on photosystem II activity in the leaves of pedunculate oak trees (Quercus robur L.) of different ecological origin was assessed. Four days after the thermal shock application with a temperature of 50°C during 20, 40, 60 minutes, the processes of recovery on photosystem II activity in the leaves of the oak trees in the investigated provenances took place with different speed and fullness. The recovery of the functional state of photosystem II in the leaves of the trees showed that in the environmental conditions of the ,,Plaiul Fagului” reservation territory an advanced thermotolerance to the thermal stress action was specifi c for the origin from the north of the country (Edinet). The leaves of the trees of local and southern origin showed a low resistance to the thermal stress action. The advanced adaptation capacity, the high growth rate of the trees from the northern provenance suggest that the acorn harvested from the oaks of northern origin can be used for the works of extension of the afforestation areas in the central area of the Republic of Moldova.

Vegetation Cover Change Associated With Changes in Hydro-Climatic Variables in Northern Sub-Saharan Africa in Recent Decades.

The environmental change in Northern Sub-Saharan Africa (NSSA) remains a challenge in relation with hydro-climatic variations and the low adaptation capacity of the region. The present study investigates the vegetation cover (NDVI) change associated with variations in hydro-climatic indicators over the period 1982–2015. The conventional statistical techniques such as the linear and multiple regressions, Mann-Kendall test, Sen’slope and the Pearson’s correlation were employed. The vegetation cover based on vegetation (NDVI) and hydro-climatic data were used. Trends in vegetation cover and hydro-climatic variables had monotonically increased except for the soil moisture that had monotonically decreased in the region. The proportion of significant positive (negative) changes were 46.78% (8.10%), 38.13% (0.34%), 52.12% (0.10%), 82.86% (0.00%) and 10.54% (38.27%) for NDVI, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, temperature and soil moisture, respectively. The low vegetation dominated the NSSA region with a proportion of about 32% of the total area coverage. The vegetation classes including low coverage, very high coverage, and extreme high coverage exhibited increasing trends. Meanwhile, moderate coverage and high coverage exhibited decreasing trends. The area-averaged precipitation and temperature were positively correlated with the NDVI; however, the area-averaged soil moisture showed negative association with NDVI. Except the precipitation and Significant positive (negative) correlations of NDVI with the precipitation, temperature and soil moisture at the 5% level occupied 1.67% (11.59%), 3.37%(26.19%) and 10.24% (6.75%), respectively. However, the combine effects of hydro-climatic variables are better for the monitoring of vegetation cover. This confirms that the vegetation cover is influenced by many factors.