Evaluating the Presence of Pesticide Residues in Organic Rice Production in An Giang Province, Vietnam

The presence of pesticide residues was investigated in the organic rice production model in An Giang province, Vietnam. A total number of sixteen pesticide residues was been recorded during the investigation. Based on their contamination rate, they are classified as follows. The high-risk group includes tricyclazole (80%). The medium-risk group includes chlorpyrifos (47%), isoprothiolane (47%), difenoconazole (40%), propiconazole (40%), hexaconazole (40%), chlorfenapyr (33%), azoxystrobin (20%), and cypermethrin (20%). The low-risk group includes metalaxyl & metalaxyl-M, paclobutazol, niclosamide, chlorfenson, fipronil, fipronil-desulfinyl, and fenoxanil, which were detected with a contamination rate of 7%. There were seven insecticides, seven fungicides, one snail killer, and one growth regulator.

Developing a robust measurement instrument for the influence of national culture on lean production systems

Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide a robust model to bridge the influence of national culture (NC) on lean production (LP), identifying relationships among their elements and investigating the degree of influence. Design/methodology/approach The culturally sensitive lean production model (CSLPM) is used as a framework to develop a survey questionnaire that captures the information to analyze using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). A case study to validate the model is presented from a subsidiary with operations in Mexico (MX) and the USA. Findings The CSLPM provides a robust framework for the measurement of the interaction between LP and NC. Multi-group analysis facilitated the comparison among the different groups (MX and USA), highlighting the differences of culture and the corresponding LP implementation within the same company. Research limitations/implications The instrument was validated only within two countries and one organization. A higher sample of respondents, countries and organizations could validate the relationships established and the replication of the model. Practical implications The CSLPM can be used for assessment of the evolution of organizations, highlighting strengths and weaknesses of a particular culture when implementing LP, providing focal points for research and training efforts. Originality/value The CSLPM is a robust instrument to measure expectations for LP practices according to their company’s geographical context. The incorporation of higher order variables and mixed directionality within the variables presented a novel approach to PLS-SEM.

Production Splitting Method for Commingled Production Reservoir Based on Automatic History Matching of Single Well

The interlayer interference is very serious in the process of water flooding development, especially when the reservoir adopts commingling production. The implementation of various interlayer interference mitigation measures requires that the production performance parameters and remaining oil distribution of each layer of the reservoir should be clearly defined, and the accurate production splitting of oil wells is the key. In this paper, the five-spot pattern is simplified to a single well production model of commingled production centered on oil well. The accurate production splitting results are obtained through automatic history matching of single well production performance. The comparison between the calculation results of this method and that of reservoir numerical simulation shows that the method is simple, accurate, and practical. In the field application, for the multilayer commingled production reservoir without accurate numerical simulation, this method can quickly and accurately realize the production splitting of the reservoir according to the development performance data.

Pasture weed biology and management in Brazil

The livestock production model historically practiced in Brazil has a strong extractive bias, wherein the premise is to produce livestock with absolutely no concern for the preservation or renewal of environmental resources. The absence of technical criteria for the use of pastures has generated low productivity rates, making the activity unsustainable from both economic and environmental points of view. This scenario led the several sectors linked to the production chain to develop a package of strategies to solve the problems faced by livestock farmers. This package of strategies is conventionally called postmodern or corporate farming, in which the extractive process gives way to the business logic of avoiding waste and recovering profit margins mainly through pasture perpetuation. However, there is still a technical gap in corporate cattle farming related to problems caused by pasture weeds because all the concepts applied are derived or copied from concepts generated in agriculture. Furthermore, few researchers have studied or scientific articles written on elucidating the real problem of weeds in livestock production. Thus, the goal of the present review was to present some aspects related to weed ecology, their interference, and management alternatives in pasture areas, thereby collaborating with corporate livestock farming in Brazil because solutions to weed problems are crucial to increase commitment in all sectors of the production chain.

Producing filler-gap dependencies: structural priming evidence for two distinct types of combinatorial processes in production

A previous model of long-distance dependency production claims that speakers compose clause-taking verbs like believe and the complementizer of their complement clauses (that or the null complementizer) differently when there is a cross-clausal filler-gap dependency crossing the complementizer structure (e.g., Who did the breeder believe (that) the dog bit?) than when there is not (e.g., The breeder believed (that) the dog bit them.). This claim implicates two distinct structures headed by clause-taking verbs like believe. Under a certain assumption about the lexical boost effect, this model predicts that the lexical boost effect for the that priming occurs only when prime and target sentences both contain a cross-clausal filler-gap dependency or when neither does. In the current study, a computational model of structural priming implementing the core claims of the previous filler-gap dependency production model was built to show that this prediction coherently follows from the model. The prediction of the model was then tested in five recall based structural priming experiments. Speakers showed a larger complementizer priming when prime and target sentences share a clause-taking verb (i.e., the lexical boost effect). But the lexical boost effect was selective to when both prime and target sentences contained a cross-clausal filler-gap dependency (Experiment 3) and when neither did (Experiment 1). Critically, the lexical boost effect was absent when only either prime or target sentences contained a filler-gap dependency crossing the complementizer structure (Experiments 2, 4, and 5), confirming the prediction of the model.

Fisheries Reference Point and Stock Status of Croaker Fishery (Sciaenidae) Exploited from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

This research evaluated fisheries reference points and stock status to assess the sustainability of the croaker fishery (Sciaenidae) from the Bay of Bengal (BoB), Bangladesh. Sixteen years (2001–2016) of catch-effort data were analyzed using two surplus production models (Schaefer and Fox), the Monte Carlo method (CMSY) and the Bayesian state-space Schaefer surplus production model (BSM) method. This research applies a Stock–Production Model Incorporating Covariates (ASPIC) software package to run the Schaefer and Fox model. The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) produced by all models ranged from 33,900 to 35,900 metric tons (mt), which is very close to last year’s catch (33,768 mt in 2016). The estimated B > BMSY and F < FMSY indicated the safe biomass and fishing status. The calculated F/FMSY was 0.89, 0.87, and 0.81, and B/BMSY was 1.05, 1.07, and 1.14 for Fox, Schaefer, and BSM, respectively, indicating the fully exploited status of croaker stock in the BoB, Bangladesh. The representation of the Kobe phase plot suggested that the exploitation of croaker stock started from the yellow (unsustainable) quadrant in 2001 and gradually moved to the green (sustainable) quadrant in 2016 because of the reduction in fishing efforts and safe fishing pressure after 2012. Thus, this research suggests that the current fishing pressure needs to be maintained so that the yearly catch does not exceed the MSY limit of croaker. Additionally, specific management measures should implement to guarantee croaker and other fisheries from the BoB.

Co-producing Sea-Ice Predictions with Stakeholders Using Simulation

Forecasts of sea-ice evolution in the Arctic region for several months ahead can be of considerable socio-economic value for a diverse range of marine sectors and for local community supply logistics. However, subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) forecasts represent a significant technical challenge, while translating user needs into scientifically manageable procedures and robust user confidence requires collaboration among a range of stakeholders. We developed and tested a novel, transdisciplinary co-production approach that combined socio-economic scenarios and participatory, research-driven simulation-gaming to test a new S2S sea-ice forecast system with experienced mariners in the cruise tourism sector. Our custom-developed computerized simulation-game ICEWISE integrated sea-ice parameters, forecast technology and human factors, as a participatory environment for stakeholder engagement. We explored the value of applications-relevant S2S sea-ice prediction and linked uncertainty information. Results suggest that the usefulness of S2S services is currently most evident in schedule-dependent sectors but expected to increase due to anticipated changes in the physical environment and continued growth in Arctic operations. Reliable communication of uncertainty information in sea-ice forecasts must be demonstrated and trialed before users gain confidence in emerging services and technologies. Mariners’ own intuition, experience, and familiarity with forecast service provider reputation impact the extent to which sea-ice information may reduce uncertainties and risks for Arctic mariners. Our insights into the performance of the combined foresight/simulation co-production model in brokering knowledge across a range of domains demonstrates promise. We conclude with an overview of the potential contributions from S2S sea-ice predictions and from experiential co-production models to the development of decision-driven and science-informed climate services.

Photovoltaics and Electrification in Agriculture

The editorial introduces a Special Issue entitled “Photovoltaics and Electrification in Agriculture”. Agriculture requires not only tillage and fertilization but also water supply and, in some cases, heating and cooling. These needs go hand in hand with the use of energy, which, increasingly, is electrical energy. An option that has dropped a lot in price in recent years is photovoltaic energy. This type of energy has experienced an explosion in terms of its expansion worldwide and has been revealed as a viable solution to rapidly increase the electrical power of non-fossil origin. However, the use of panels must compete with the use of the soil for cultivation, and in many cases, it could displace the use of the soil for cultivation, something that would not be desirable either from a production point of view or from an ecological point of view. For this, a new concept of soil sharing for crops and energy production is being developed in what is called “agrovoltaics”. This shared production model is analyzed in this document. In addition, the electrification of agriculture allows the introduction of elements, such as sensors, the IoT, and intelligent control. The internet connection opens the doors to technologies such as those based on data, digital control, and what is called precision agriculture, both for cultivation in greenhouses and for regular cultivation. This would not be possible without an electrical energy source that allows powering the inter-connected elements, photovoltaics being the best candidate again. However, above all, we must not forget the issue of CO2 emissions due to the use of energy in agriculture. In this sense, photovoltaic energy can reduce the carbon footprint and provide one of the cheapest energy sources available. All these topics are analyzed in this Special Issue, focusing on photovoltaics and its uses and impact on agriculture.

Relationship between Macroeconomic Policy and Long-Run Economic Growth of Nepal

Background: The paper is an attempt to find the long-run relationship between macroeconomic variables and economic growth in Nepal. The variables in the study are run across the Cobb-Douglas production model. Objective: This paper examines the relationship between Gross Fixed Capital Formation, Population, Trade openness, Money Supply and GDP growth economic growth in Nepal. Method: The ARDL bound test and Error Correction model incorporated in the study to examine the long-run relationship among macroeconomic variables. Conclusion: Based on the Bound Test of F-statistics the Cointegration Result exists among the variable and ARDL (1,1,1,1,1) relation is estimated. Implications: Since the study has found the existence of a cointegration relationship on the variables of the study and the long-term relationship among economic growth is significant with GFCF. The policy should be targeted at investment growth in Nepal.