This study investigates the impact of extreme rainfall events on soil erosion in the downstream Parnaíba River Basin, located in the Brazilian Cerrado. The analysis focused on rainfall erosivity (R factor) and soil erodibility (K factor) as key indicators. The average erosivity in the region was 9051 MJ mm h⁻¹ha⁻¹year⁻¹, with a variation between 7943 and 10,081 MJ mm h⁻¹ha⁻¹year⁻¹, suggesting a high erosive potential, mainly in the rainiest months, from December to April. The soils of the studied area, mainly Ultisols and Chernosols, present high to very high erodibility, with K factor values ranging from 0.025 to 0.050 t h MJ⁻¹ mm⁻¹. Furthermore, fieldwork revealed areas, near highways, with apparently fragile soils, as well as rills and gullies, identified through photographs taken during fieldwork. These locations, due to the combination of high erosivity and susceptible soils, were considered prone to the occurrence of erosion processes, representing an additional risk to local infrastructure. The spatialization of R and K factors, along with field observations, showed that much of the area is at high risk of erosion and landslides, particularly in regions with greater topographic variability and proximity to water bodies. These results provide a basis for the development of mitigation strategies, being important for the effective prevention of landslides.

This paper explores the ritual practices associated with Beiyuan Tribute Tea production in Jianzhou, Fujian, China. Beiyuan Tribute Tea, a historically significant tea, originated in the Tang Dynasty, flourished during the Song Dynasty, and experienced a decline in the Ming Dynasty, reproduced in contemporary times. The tea’s production involved intricate rituals that not only enhanced its quality but also embedded it deeply into the socio-cultural and religious fabric of the time. These rituals, encompassing aspects of religious reverence, craftsmanship, and social etiquette, played a crucial role in the tea’s esteemed status as a tribute to Chinese emperors in history. The study utilized ethnographic methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews with 17 people, and document analysis, to capture the rich, contextual details of the tea production process. The study delves into the historical context, production techniques, and symbolic meanings of the rituals, highlighting their impact on the broader cultural heritage of Chinese tea. The recent revival efforts of these traditions underscore their enduring significance and offer insights into the cultural continuity and adaptation in contemporary tea practices.

The research aims to explore the degree of acceptance of digital work culture among the youth in the Emirati society within the study sample. Additionally, it aims to reveal the relationship between “gender” and “educational status” as sociodemographic factors among the youth in the study sample and their level of acceptance of digital work culture. Furthermore, the study aims to identify prospective trends in digital work culture among young individuals in Emirati society. Due to the nature of the descriptive research, it employed the “sample social survey” approach. The field study primarily utilized a quantitative tool for data collection, namely the “digital questionnaire.” This questionnaire was administered to a purposefully chosen random sample comprising young individuals actively seeking employment opportunities (unemployed individuals) or those new to the labor market. The participants fell within the age group of 15 to 35 years, totaling 184 individuals. Care was taken to ensure that this sample was representative of all youth categories in Emirati society, considering demographic factors such as gender, place of residence, and educational status. The research findings indicate that an overwhelming majority of young individuals in the study sample (97.8%) have no obstacles to accepting job opportunities that necessitate digital and technological skills. Moreover, the study uncovered a direct and statistically significant relation between “gender” and the “level of acceptance of digital work culture,” favoring females. This implies that females are more inclined to accept digital job opportunities compared to males. Additionally, the results highlighted a positive and statistically significant relation between both “educational status” and the “level of acceptance of digital work culture.” In other words, individuals with higher levels of education demonstrate a greater interest in digital job opportunities. Utilizing Step-wise Regression, the study also made predictions about the spread of “future digital work culture” in the United Arab Emirates based on the variable of “education.”

The native peoples of the State of Mexico, especially the Mazahua community, present a high degree of marginality and food vulnerability, causing their inhabitants to be classified within the poor and extremely poor population. The objective of the research is to propose a food vulnerability index for the Mazahua community of the State of Mexico through the induction-deduction method, contrasting the existing literature with a semi-structured exploratory interview to identify the main factors that affect the native peoples. The study population was selected taking into account the number of inhabitants and poverty levels. The sources of information, in addition to documentary sources, were key informants and visits to Mazahua families that facilitated information about the different variables: natural, economic, social, cultural component, degree of adaptability and resilience for the creation and better understanding of the food vulnerability index in the communities under study.

Blockchain technology is poised to significantly transform the corporate world, heralding a new era of innovation and efficiency. Over the past few years, its impact has been noted by leaders, academics, and government representatives around the globe this growing interest underscores businesses’ need to evolve and reconsider traditional operational models. To remain competitive, organizations must embrace this change. Before introducing such ground-breaking technology, it is crucial to assess the motivations of primary stakeholders concerning its implementation. This study looks into what influences the use of Blockchain technology in the oil and gas sector, primarily using a quantitative survey of Iraqi oil and gas companies. A questionnaire was distributed among 250 top-level managers, senior executives, project managers, and IT managers for analyzing the data, the study employs the Structural Equation Modelling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) technique, with Smart PLS for data processing. The findings suggest that the intention to utilise blockchain technology is influenced by one’s attitude towards it. Competitive pressure (environmental factors), functional benefit, and privacy/security (technological factors) significantly affect blockchain adoption intention. Nevertheless, there was no discernible correlation between regulatory backing and the desire to use Blockchain. Additionally, cost concern and perceived risk (organizational factors) two factors contribute negatively to the perception of blockchain technology. Besides the direct relationship, the findings revealed that attitude toward blockchain technology mediate the relationship between cost concern, perceived risk, and intention to adopt Blockchain. Built upon the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) model and the Theory of Reasoned Action, this research offers a comprehensive framework for investigating the intention to adopt blockchain technology. The results enhance both theoretical understanding and practical implementation by providing valuable insights into the emerging area of blockchain adoption intentions.

Agriculture is a determining factor regarding the development of the Romanian economy, noting its importance for population consumption and as a supplier of raw materials for the relaunch of other industries. Agricultural financing consists of credits granted to natural or legal persons for developing agricultural activities, expanding agricultural holdings, and commercializing agricultural production. The objective of this research is the statistical analysis of the determining factors in granting loans to Romanian farms. The study is based on the content analysis of the accounting reports of the 45 Romanian farms included in the research sample, based on which the profile of the farmer from the selected counties (Alba, Cluj, Mures, Sibiu, Dambovita and Prahova) is outlined. The obtained results highlight the fact that factors such as the requested amount (SUSO) are directly influenced by the worked area (TELU), by the turnover (CIAF), R = 0.6228, but also by the total value of the assets (TOTAL) R = 0.454. At the opposite pole, there is a weak correlation between SUSO and current liquidity (LICU), R = 0.2754, and the value of recorded expenses (CHEL), R = 0.3102. Implementing a credit policy that facilitates access to financing sources would support farms in modernization and development, increasing their competitiveness and general viability.