Maturity model for evaluating disaster and humanitarian operations

PurposeThis paper proposes a maturity model (MM) for assessing disaster operations and identifying strategies for organisations to evolve their maturity stages.Design/methodology/approachThis study applies a systematic literature review to identify state-of-the-art work related to maturity models for disaster operations. In addition, the study develops a case study to validate the proposed maturity model in a generic scenario and two real-life scenarios.FindingsThe analysis of 158 papers in the literature resulted in identifying 8 maturity models for disaster operations. Based on their structure, the authors proposed a new model with five maturity stages suitable for any of the four phases of the disaster life cycle (i.e. mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery). In addition, the research identified and presents 24 strategies for improving disaster operations according to each maturity stage transition. Finally, the research presents a case study that evaluates the disaster response operations from a Civil Defense organisation considering a response scenario disaster in general, a flood scenario, and the COVID-19 pandemic scenario.Originality/valueThis study provides the following three main contributions useful for academics and practitioners in the disaster operations area: a new maturity model for assessing disaster operations, a strategy guide for improving disaster operations based on a maturity evolution and an empirical study exploring the approximation between academia and professionals involved in real-life disaster operations management.

Allometric relationships of ecologically important Antarctic and Arctic zooplankton and fish species

Allometric relationships between body properties of animals are useful for a wide variety of purposes, such as estimation of biomass, growth, population structure, bioenergetic modelling and carbon flux studies. This study summarizes allometric relationships of zooplankton and nekton species that play major roles in polar marine food webs. Measurements were performed on 639 individuals of 15 species sampled during three expeditions in the Southern Ocean (winter and summer) and 2374 individuals of 14 species sampled during three expeditions in the Arctic Ocean (spring and summer). The information provided by this study fills current knowledge gaps on relationships between length and wet/dry mass of understudied animals, such as various gelatinous zooplankton, and of animals from understudied seasons and maturity stages, for example, for the krill Thysanoessa macrura and larval Euphausia superba caught in winter. Comparisons show that there is intra-specific variation in length–mass relationships of several species depending on season, e.g. for the amphipod Themisto libellula. To investigate the potential use of generalized regression models, comparisons between sexes, maturity stages or age classes were performed and are discussed, such as for the several krill species and T. libellula. Regression model comparisons on age classes of the fish E. antarctica were inconclusive about their general use. Other allometric measurements performed on carapaces, eyes, heads, telsons, tails and otoliths provided models that proved to be useful for estimating length or mass in, e.g. diet studies. In some cases, the suitability of these models may depend on species or developmental stages.

HS-SPME Combined with GC-MS/O to Analyze the Flavor of Strong Aroma Baijiu Daqu

Daqu has gained wide attention because it is an essential source of microorganisms and flavor in baijiu production. In this study, HS-SPME combined with GC-MS/O was used to analyze the volatile flavor components of Strong aroma baijiu Daqu. DI-GC-O was used to choose the best extraction fiber to extract the representative overall aroma profile of Daqu. A total of 139 compounds were identified in the six different maturity stages of Daqu, and these compounds are of different types and concentrations. HS-SPME combined with GC-MS/O was used to analyze the aroma active substances in the finished Daqu, and a total of 43 aroma compounds were identified. The OAVs of 21 aromatic compounds were calculated based on the quantitative analysis results of MHS-SPME. Eighteen compounds with OAVs ≥ 1 made significant contributions to the overall aroma of Daqu, including guaiacol, 4-ethyl-2-methoxy phenol, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, etc.

EFFECT OF MATURITY STAGES ON POTENTIAL NUTRITIVE VALUE OF VICIA CRACCA (L.) HAY

The aim of the current experiment was to determine the effect of harvesting stage on the potential nutritive value. Vicia cracca plant was harvested at three maturity stages (before flowering, flowering and seeding). Vicia cracca plants were dried at 70 °C and grinded in a hand-mill with 1 mm sieve for chemical analysis. Crude protein, crude oil, crude ash, condensed tannin, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) parameters were investigated as the chemical composition. Harvesting stage had a significant (p ≤ 0.01) effect on chemical composition. Dry matter, NDF and ADF contents were increased with advancing maturity whereas crude protein, crude oil, condensed tannin and crude ash contents were decreased. As a conclusion, the nutritive value of Vicia cracca plant decreased with increasing maturity. Vicia cracca hays harvested at three maturity stages were adequate in term of mineral content for ruminant. Therefore, the Vicia cracca plant can be harvested or grazed before flowering and flowering stages due to high crude protein, crude oil and low ADF and NDF.

Effect of temperature and sunshine on the productivity of rice crop

Based on the experimental work with 8 different thermal and light environments, the effect of temperature and sunshine on rice crop (var : IR-36) was studied. It was found that the rice crop grown during winter/summer season experience, extremes of minimum temperature at seedling and vegetative stages and extemes of maximum temperature at reproductive and maturity stages. Correlation coeffcients between the grain yield and maximum and minimum temperature growing degree days and total number of sunshine hours at each of the growth stages.viz:. seedling. vegetative. reproductive and maturity stages were worked out. Multiple regression equation was worked out with 5 parameters upto vegetative stage to predict the grain yield of rice

Crop coefficient and water requirement of Okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus L. Moench)

Based on the result of an experiment conducted from 1997 to 1999 during March-July, a model has been developed for relating crop coefficient of okra with time at Bangalore. The peak value of crop co-efficient was found to be 1.16 on the 9th week after sowing. On an average okra crop consumed about 547 mm of water during the growth. The mean values of crop coefficients are found to be 0.46, 1.29 and 0.66 during seedling, pod development and maturity stages respectively.

Investigation of the Maturity Evaluation Indicator of Honey in Natural Ripening Process: The Case of Rape Honey

Honey maturity, a critical factor for quality evaluation, is difficult to detect in the current industry research. The objective of this study was to explore the changes in the composition and find potential maturity indicators of rape honey at different maturity stages through evaluating physicochemical parameters (moisture, sugars, pH, electrical conductivity, total protein, total phenols, total flavonoids, proline, and enzyme activity), the antioxidant capacity, and volatile components. The relevant results are as follows: 1. As the maturity increased, the moisture, sucrose, and maltose content of rape honey gradually decreased, while the glucose, fructose, and total protein content gradually increased. The activities of diastase, invertase, and β-glucosidase showed a significant increase with the elevation of ripening days, and the activity of glucose oxidase reached the highest before completely capping. 2. The antioxidant capacity of honey increased with the increase in honey maturity. There is a significant and strong correlation between the bioactive components of rape honey and antioxidant capacity (p < 0.01, |r| > 0.857). 3. Thirty-five volatile components have been identified. Nonanal, benzaldehyde monomer, and benzaldehyde dimer can be used as potential indicators for the identification of honey maturity stages. Principal component analysis (PCA) based on antioxidant parameters and volatile components can identify the maturity of honey.

Dry Matter Production and Nitrogen Uptake as Influenced by Irrigation and Nitrogen Levels in Maize

A field experiment was conducted at Agro Climate Research Center, Agricultural Research Institute, P.J.T.S Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India during rabi 2019-20. The field experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The treatments comprising of three irrigation scheduling based on (Depletion of Available Soil Moisture) at 60% DASM, 40% DASM and 20% DASM as main plots and three nitrogen levels viz., 90, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1 as sub-plots. The experiment was laid out in split plot design. The results indicated that, among the different treatment combinations, the crop irrigation scheduled at 20 % DASM in conjunction with 240 kg N ha-1 accumulated significantly more dry matter of 34.2 g, 149.2 g, 233.7 g and 284.8 g plant-1, at 6th leaf, silking, dough and physiological maturity stages, respectively. The nitrogen uptake was found to be more when the crop was irrigated at 20 % DASM in conjunction with 240 kg N ha-1 (67.1 g, 231.8 g, 294.7 g and 305.3 g plant-1) at 6th leaf, silking, dough and physiological maturity stages, respectively.