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Item Structural and epistatic regulatory variants cause hallmark white spotting in cattle(American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2025-11-14) Jivanji S; Wilkinson E; Tang L; Tiplady KM; Yeates A; Harland C; Gray C; Couldrey C; Worth G; Gamache I; Desjardins J; Tabares JAA; Yamanaka N; McNaughton L; Brennan L; Cloutier M-P; Cowan M; Ellison R; Fransen T; Monehan T; Spelman RJ; Snell RG; Charlier C; Yamanaka Y; Garrick D; Mort R; Littlejohn MDDespite being one of the most iconic and immediately recognizable traits in domestic cattle, the variants underpinning the white-spotted coat pattern of Holstein-Friesian and related breeds remain uncharacterized. Here, we report two variants modulating these effects, comprising intronic and long-distance-acting regulatory variants of the MITF and KIT genes. We confirm causality through "Holsteinized" mouse models edited for these alleles and show that these variants are likely responsible for spotting traits in other bovine breeds. These effects include epistatic impacts on other bovine coat patterns, such as fine-scale speckling, "black socks," and reversal of the otherwise dominant, "white-face" trait characteristic of Hereford cattle.Item A history of lameness is associated with reduced proportions of collagen type I relative to type III in the digital cushions of dairy cattle(Elsevier B.V., 2025-12) Wilson JP; Green MJ; Randall LV; Huxley JN; Alibhai A; Ferguson HJ; Rutland CSHoof horn lesions (HHL) are a highly prevalent and recurrent causes of lameness in dairy cattle globally. The digital cushion is composed of 3 cylinders of adipose tissue embedded in a system of collagenous connective tissue, which are designed to reduce the risk of HHL onset. Previous research has identified that animals with a history of lameness and HHL are more likely to have a reduced digital cushion volume in their lateral digits, but the impact on the histological structure remains unknown. Collagen is an important fibril related to adipose tissue structure and function, but its role in the digital cushion is poorly understood. Our study aimed to examine the proportions of type I and type III collagen within the digital cushions of dairy cattle at cull, and to investigate associations with digital cushion volume, lameness, and HHL occurrence throughout the animal's life. This retrospective cohort study resulted in 599 digital cushions being dissected from the hind feet of 54 animals. Digital cushion tissue underwent picrosirius red staining, combined with systematic random sampling and collagen content analysis. The results described the relative proportions of type I and type III collagen. The proportion of type I collagen was used as the outcome variable in multivariable linear regression models. The median (minimum–maximum) proportion of collagen that was type I contained within the lateral and medial digits was 56.2% (23.6%–83.8%) and 59.6% (13.3%–92.7%) respectively. The proportion of type I collagen was lower in animals that had a history of HHL and lameness throughout their lives. Animals with a lower BCS at cull or that were culled at a later parity had less type I collagen in their lateral digits at cull. Animals with a higher digital cushion volume also had an increased proportion of type I collagen in their lateral digits at cull. Our results have highlighted the histological impact that HHL have on the structure of the digital cushion. We hypothesized that localized inflammation associated with HHL was associated with a remodeling of the adipose tissue within the digital cushion, which would predispose the individual to a future of lameness and HHL.Item Sustainable biofuel economy: A mapping through bibliometric research(Elsevier B.V., 2023-06-15) Hasan M; Abedin MZ; Amin MB; Nekmahmud M; Oláh JBiofuels have received a lot of attention as an important source of renewable energy, with number of economic impacts. This study aims to investigate the economic potential of biofuels and then extract core aspects of how biofuels relate to a sustainable economy in order to achieve a sustainable biofuel economy. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of publications about biofuel economic research covering 2001 to 2022 experimenting with multiple bibliometric tools, such as R Studio, Biblioshiny, and VOSviewer. Findings show that research on biofuels and biofuel production growth are positively correlated. From the analyzed publications, The United States, India, China, and Europe are the largest biofuel markets, with the USA taking the lead in publishing scientific papers, engaging country collaboration on biofuel, and has the highest social impact. Findings also show that the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Sweden, and Spain are more inclined to develop sustainable biofuel economies and energy than other European countries. It also indicates that sustainable biofuel economies are still far behind those of less developed and developing countries. Besides, this study finds that biofuel linked to sustainable economy with poverty reduction, agriculture development, renewable energy production, economic growth, climate change policy, environmental protection, carbon emission reduction, green-house gas emission, land use policy, technological innovations, and development. The findings of this bibliometric research are presented using different clusters, mapping, and statistics. The discussion of this study affirms the good and effective policies for a sustainable biofuel economy.Item Non-financial disclosures and sustainable development: A scientometric analysis(Elsevier B.V., 2022-12-25) Saini N; Singhania M; Hasan M; Yadav MP; Abedin MZPressure on companies to report on non-financial dimensions has amplified the interest in sustainability due to increased awareness among stakeholders. While connecting value-related success to financial performance is a niche field among academicians and researchers, the debate is still on “Does it matter the going value of non-financial disclosures (NFD) relevant?” To clarify ambiguous perceptions in existing literature, we examine how NFD connects to sustainable development by conducting an in-depth scientometric analysis to gain insights into evolution, trends, and other multi-dimensional aspects to map centralities and bursts in non-financial sustainability indicators. We used bibliometric data from a pool of 1568 studies from Web of Science published in Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) and Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) journals between 1991 and 2021 to identify the prominent research areas in this stream and the pattern of the interrelationship among various disciplines. The current investigation reveals several novel features of ESG disclosures, such as corporate sustainable performance, environmental performance, environmental disclosures, sustainable supply chains, sustainability indicators, and integrated reporting. This study highlights bottlenecks and suggests the scope of future research on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) to meet sustainable business goals. The findings of this study include 13 major clusters refining ESG for sustainability, concluding with a new theory encapsulating sustainable development through non-financial disclosure in business processes. This study has significant practical implications on the ESG dimension in the corporate world of emerging countries are under the development stage.Item Influence of fermentation on the quality of Fijian Theobroma cacao beans over two harvest seasons(Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-10-01) Raju RN; Heyes J; Archer R; Chen QTheobroma cacao beans are cultivated in Fiji by smallholder farms in low volumes, mainly for export. Cocoa beans are often processed under ambient conditions by farmers and cocoa processors. Postharvest processing includes natural fermentation from six to ten days in wooden boxes, followed by sun – drying in the open for up to 14 days. The impact of fermentation conditions on key quality parameters of Fijian cocoa beans, such as temperature profile, pH, and total extractable polyphenol content (TPC) are presented in this study. The quality of fermentation was assessed using a standard method, such as a cut test followed by fermentation index (FI) measurement. A temperature increase to 40°C and variations in the pH of the bean mass were evident during natural fermentation. TPC in the cocoa beans was sensitive to temperature and pH. Fermentation was variable due to weather conditions between harvest seasons. The dry season had the best conditions for fermentation as the peak temperature of the bean mass was 40°C and the FI was high (1.39 ± 0.04) There is a need to improve fermentation during the rainy season. This can be achieved by providing training to Fijian cocoa farmers on using better fermentation techniques.Item Exploring the role of model classification, complexity, and selection in volcanic hazard forecasting(Elsevier Ltd, 2026-02-01) Scott E; Whitehead M; Procter JThis review examines the current landscape of computational volcanic hazard models, focusing on their creation and application, for a diverse set of end-users’ short-term and long-term forecasting requirements. We provide a comprehensive classification of volcanic hazard models, categorising them according to their theoretical foundations. This is central to understanding the diversity of hazard characterisation and simulation approaches, from empirical models to computationally demanding physics-based numerical models. The classification framework helps contextualise the strengths and limitations of different models and their suitability for specific forecasting demands. We discuss the fundamental principles behind model construction, considering factors such as input parameters, conceptual frameworks, and the incorporation of uncertainties. We also synthesise existing literature on model testing, covering aspects such as model verification, validation, calibration, and benchmarking, and provide a systematic and transparent framework for model selection, considering data availability, computational constraints, and specific forecasting needs. We explore the balance between model complexity, computational efficiency, and accuracy, addressing the uncertainties inherent in both input parameters and model processes. A key focus is the role of input parameters in forecasting and the need to select models that are detailed enough to capture essential hazard dynamics, yet simple enough to minimise error and computational costs.Item Climate-adaptive windcatcher natural ventilation integrated with passive and low-energy technologies: A review of current and future developments(Elsevier B.V., 2025-10-01) Li J; Calautit J; Jimenez-Bescos C; Song W; Riffat S; Chen QThe integration of natural ventilation systems, such as windcatchers, in modern buildings has garnered interest due to rising energy costs and the need for sustainable practices. Windcatchers have been adapted in many regions to enhance indoor air quality and comfort while reducing reliance on mechanical systems and air conditioners. However, extreme climates, such as hot, humid, and cold conditions, pose challenges to effective windcatcher ventilation. Consequently, passive or low-energy cooling, heating and dehumidification technologies have been developed and integrated into windcatchers to improve thermal performance. Despite extensive research, a comprehensive review synthesizing windcatcher integration with passive and low-energy technologies across diverse climates is lacking. Existing studies often focus on specific elements or singular climatic conditions, leaving a gap in understanding the holistic application and optimization of these systems in various environments. This review addresses this gap by analyzing 147 studies on windcatchers and integrating windcatchers with technologies such as evaporative cooling, earth-air heat exchangers, heat pipes, and phase change materials. It evaluates the performance of these systems in hot and arid, temperate, tropical, continental, and polar climates, offering insights into their effectiveness and challenges. Key findings indicate that windcatchers with evaporative cooling effectively reduce indoor temperatures in hot, arid climates, though water scarcity remains a limitation. Earth-air heat exchangers and passive heat recovery technologies enhance efficiency in temperate regions, while indirect evaporative cooling is promising for humidity management in tropical climates. For continental and polar climates, integrating windcatchers with stoves, heat recovery, and solar thermal technologies is proposed, as traditional designs are inadequate in extreme cold. The review offers tailored recommendations for windcatcher designs across climates, guiding future research.Item Transport and sedimentation of Pyroclastic Density Currents across topographic obstacles(Elsevier B.V., 2025-12) Corna L; Lube G; Uhle DH; Brosch E; Jones JR; Manga M; Andrews BPyroclastic density currents (PDCs) can cross significant topographic obstacles. The processes that govern the interaction of PDCs with obstacles remain poorly understood leaving uncertainty in hazard planning and mitigation. Here, we report the results of large-scale experimental PDCs comprising hot volcanic particles and gas propagating across ridge-shaped obstacles. Observations from high-speed video and measurements of the velocity, density and temperature structure of the flows are used to identify the flow processes that occur when PDCs propagate across and become partially blocked by hill-shaped topographic obstacles; and how these characteristics are recorded in PDC deposits. The experiments show that the interaction of PDCs with ridges generate strong local perturbations to the internal flow velocity, density and temperature structure. These flow changes are linked to three main processes: the blocking of the lower, concentrated flow region in front of the obstacle; the compression and acceleration of the non-blocked flow regions on the stoss side; and the flow detachment behind the crest and formation of a turbulent wake before flow re-attachment downstream. Flow-topography interactions result in deposition and erosion rates that vary by three and two orders of magnitude, respectively, which explain the strong asymmetry of PDC deposits across topographic obstacles. The facies architecture of experimental deposits across ridges resembles those of natural PDC deposits from Te Maari and Taupō volcanoes (New Zealand). The findings of this study can guide the interpretation of PDC deposits or be taken into consideration in numerical models simulating the propagation of PDCs across complex topography for hazard forecast.Item Digital Gazetteers: Review and Prospects for Place Name Knowledge Bases(Association for Computing Machinery, 2026-02) Wijegunarathna KI; Stock K; Jones CB; Thai MT; Tong HGazetteers typically store data on place names, place types, and the associated coordinates. They play an essential role in disambiguating place names in online geographical information retrieval systems for navigation and mapping, detecting and disambiguating place names in text, and providing coordinates. Currently, there are many gazetteers in use derived from many sources, with no commonly accepted standard for encoding the data. Most gazetteers are also very limited in the extent to which they represent the multiple facets of the named places yet they have potential to assist user search for locations with specific physical, commercial, social, or cultural characteristics. With a focus on understanding digital gazetteer technologies and advancing their future effectiveness for information retrieval, we provide a review of data sources, components, software and data management technologies, data quality and volunteered data, and methods for matching sources that refer to the same real-world places. We highlight the need for future work on richer representation of named places, the temporal evolution of place identity and location, and the development of more effective methods for data integration.Item How does a teacher sustain collective mathematizing among non-dominant students?(East China Normal University Press and World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd, 2024-10-01) Tupouniua JG; Hunter JIn this paper, we describe a teacher’s attempt to sustain collective mathematizing among non- dominant students in a classroom that emphasizes collective success. Taking a collectivist stance, we conceptualize the featured classroom as one in which the students function as a single learning organism. We analyze three roles that the teacher played within a lesson focused on students’ engagement with repeating patterns. Specifically, we discuss the affordances of the three roles with respect to sustaining three characteristics of a classroom that functions as a single learning organism.
