bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Project-based learning in an accounting graduate program
Authors: Duarte Silva Taís , Araújo Leal Edvalda
Published: October 2021

Considering the relevance of choosing a teaching methodology on student learning, this study aimed to identify the benefits and limitations of project-based learning. In order to reach the proposed objective, we investigated the method's application in the Cost Analysis course at a Graduate Program in Accounting. The methodology employed included document analysis, observation, questionnaire application, and a focus group with the students. In addition, the analysis considered the development of all the methodology steps proposed by the literature, descriptively and qualitatively highlighting the students' perceptions. As research results, we verified that the students' opportunity to experience the practice is the benefit most emphasized. Furthermore, we highlight autonomy development, which is essential to solving the problem proposed in the project. Regarding the limitations, the time required to develop the projects stands out, and the need to deal with diverse situations that may arise during the projects' investigation and elaboration process. The results contribute by presenting the project-based learning methodology as an opportunity for students to develop theory and practice, experiencing real issues related to professional practice. Among this study's limitations we highlight the sample size, which included only one class during one semester and evaluated only the students' perspective. It is understood that these limitations may be considered in future studies to expand the sample and make comparative analyses between classes in different periods, also covering the view of teachers.
Cross-country Spatial Patterns in Terms of Human Development Indices
Authors: Okunev Igor Yu. , Barinov Sergey L. , Belikov Aleksandr A. , Polyakova Yana O.
Published: October 2021

The present study attempts to answer the question, which is not considered in the United Nations’ annual Human Development Reports, namely, how spatial patterns of the world countries differ in terms of human development indices. The quantitative research includes three phases. First, functional relations between indices were analysed based on Moran’s I and data fitted by linear regression. Second, clustering of the world countries by human development indices revealed seven spatial clusters. Third, the countries were classified by the types of significant human development problems. The classification distinguished various types of countries: prosperous, problematic and problematic in certain areas. Correlation and spatial dependence analysis demonstrated an important relationship between education and child indicators, in particular, years of education and life expectancy. As a result, the territorial concentration of countries with similar human development was noticed. According to all four groups of indices, 51 prosperous countries (the majority of which are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) are characterised by the lack of serious problems. The group of problematic countries includes 51 territories mostly located in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in Asia, Latin America and Oceania. The findings on relative similarity observed in the identified clusters and groups can be used for developing standard solutions to improve human development. Further research in this direction seems promising.
Regional Innovation Systems in Poland: How to classify them?
Authors: Ciołek Dorota , Golejewska Anna , Zabłocka-Abi Yaghi Adriana
Published: October 2021

The literature emphasises the role of regional and local innovation environment. Regional Innovation Systems show differences in innovation outputs determined by different inputs. Understanding these relationships can have important implications for regional and innovation policy. The research aims to classify Regional Innovation Systems in Poland according to their innovation capacity and performance. The analysis covers 72 subregions (classified as NUTS 3 in the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) in 2004–2016. Classes of Regional Innovation Systems in Poland were identified based on a combination of linear and functional approaches and data from published and unpublished sources. It was assumed that innovation systems in Poland differ due to their location in metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions, thus, the Eurostat NUTS 3 metro/non-metro typology was applied for this purpose. Panel data regressions as models with individual random effects were estimated separately for metropolitan and non-metropolitan groups of subregions. The study identified common determinants of innovation outputs in both NUTS 3 types: share of innovative industrial enterprises, industry share, unemployment rate, and employment in research and development. Next, NUTS 3 were classified within each of two analysed types in line with output- and input-indices, the latter being calculated as non-weighted average of significant inputs. Last, the subregions were clustered based on individual inputs to enable a more detailed assessment of their innovation potential. The cluster analysis using k-means method with maximum cluster distance was applied. The results showed that the composition of the classes identified within metropolitan and non-metropolitan systems in 2004– 2016 remains unstable, similarly to the composition of clusters identified by inputs. The latter confirms the changes in components of the capacity within both Regional Innovation System types. The observed situation allows us to assume that Regional Innovation Systems in Poland are evolving. In further research, the efficiency of Regional Innovation Systems should be assessed, taking into account the differences between metropolitan and non-metropolitan regions as well as other environmental factors that may determine the efficiency of innovative processes.
Transformation of Regional Budgetary Independence and Security: Spatial Analysis
Authors: Naumov Ilya V. , Nikulina Natalia L.
Published: October 2021

The issue of increasing budgetary independence and security is relevant for the majority of territorial systems, both at the regional and municipal levels. It was hypothesised that changes in the structure of regional public debt have a negative impact on their budgetary security. According to this hypothesis, an increase in the proportion of bank borrowing and corresponding decrease in the issue of debt securities by the constituent entities of the Russian Federation leads to a greater overall debt burden on the regional budget. In order to study transformation processes affecting budgetary independence and regional security. We developed a methodology to permit a separate assessment of these concepts. According to this approach, we propose to evaluate the budgetary independence of regional systems in terms of: (1) the balance of the budget (ratio of internal tax and non-tax revenues to budget expenditures); (2) financial dependence on transfers and subsidies from budgets at other levels; (3) budget security, taking into account gratuitous and non-gratuitous transfers. Thus, budget ary security can be assessed in accordance with the public debt dynamics, as well as the level of budgetary debt covered by the region’s own tax and non-tax revenues. The novelty of the presented methodological approach consists in its systematic use of Moran’s I for various spatial weight matrices combined with regression analysis methods based on panel data. Testing this methodology demonstrated the spatial heterogeneity of regional fiscal capacity, highlighting the financial dependence of most regions on federal and other gratuitous transfers. Autocorrelation analysis carried out according to Moran’s I using various spatial weight matrices confirmed the increasing tendency of the budgetary debt of Russian regions towards spatial heterogeneity. Future studies will focus on simulating the influence of various factors on regional budgetary security in order to predict the dynamics of its change.
Genetic Approach to Assessing the Infrastructure Coherence of an Industrial Region
Authors: Myslyakova Yuliya G. , Kotlyarova Svetlana N. , Matushkina Natalia А.
Published: October 2021

In the context of external shocks, socio-economic coherence of an industrial region reflects its ability to function successfully. Many researchers examine economic space, focusing on interaction between entities (including infrastructure) while ignoring territorial boundaries. However, it is necessary to consider a region’s endogenous core, whose historically connected elements generate evolutionary changes under the influence of external factors. This study develops tools to assess regional infrastructure coherence, taking into account the endogenous determinants of its socio-economic development. The research methodology includes: a comparison of absolute and relative territorial characteristics and infrastructure development parameters; statistical, economic and mathematical methods for determining and evaluating the resulting indicators; an expert assessment of the infrastructure potential; a matrix method for identifying the depth of infrastructure gaps. An analysis of Sverdlovsk oblast and neighbouring regions revealed infrastructure gaps of the first level of depth (insignificant, significant, stably significant), violating the integrity of the regional core, as well as gaps of the second level of depth (forming, potentially forming), requiring serious transformations of the core elements. The con ducted research determined the infrastructure coherence characteristics of the regional core. Thus, the most favourable situation is in Sverdlovsk oblast, whose core has strong integrity. The most unfavourable situation is observed in Perm Krai and Khanty- Mansi Autonomous Okrug. Perm Krai’s core is characterised by minor gaps of the first level of depth and potential second level gaps. In Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, significant first level gaps are already established, while second level gaps are still forming. This situation occurred due to the industrial specificity of these regions, as well as the discrepancy between high economic activity (increasing the demand for transport services) and infrastructure development. Further research will focus on the ways to improve the regional connectivity at the intra- and inter-regional levels.
PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION BASED PROBABILISTIC NEURAL NETWORK FOR CLASSIFICATION OF SEVERE ACCIDENT OF NUCLEAR REACTOR
Authors: Pambudi Yoyok Dwi Setyo
Published: October 2021

Due to its danger and complexity, the identification and prediction of major severe accident scenarios from an initiating event of a nuclear power plant remains a challenging task. This paper aims to classify severe accident at the Advanced Power Reactor (APR) 1400, which includes the loss of coolant accidents (LOCA), total loss of feedwater (TLOFW), station blackout (SBO), and steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) using a standard  probabilistic neural network (PNN)  and Particle Swarm Optimization Based Probabilistic Neural Network (PSO PNN). The algorithm has been implemented in MATLAB.  The experiment results showed that supervised PNN PSO could classify severe accident of nuclear power plant better than the standar PNN.
CRITICALITY SAFETY ANALYSIS OF THE DRY CASK DESIGN WITH AIR GAPS FOR RDNK SPENT PEBBLE FUELS STORAGECriticality Safety Analysis of the Dry Cask Design with Air Gaps for RDNK Spent Pebble Fuels Storage
Authors: Artiani Pungky Ayu , Purwanto Yuli , Aisyah Aisyah , Ratiko Ratiko , Rachmadetin Jaka , Heriyanto Kuat
Published: October 2021

Reaktor Daya Non-Komersial (RDNK) with a 10 MW thermal power has been proposed as one of the technology options for the first nuclear power plant program in Indonesia. The reactor is a High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor-type with spherical fuel elements called pebbles. To support this program, it is necessary to prepare dry cask to safely store the spent pebble fuels that will be generated by the RDNK. The dry cask design has been proposed based on the Castor THTR/AVR but modified with air gaps to facilitate decay heat removal. The objective of this study is to evaluate criticality safety through keff  value of the proposed dry cask design for the RDNK spent fuel. The keff  values were calculated using MCNP5 program for the dry cask with 25, 50, 75, and 100% of canister capacity. The values were calculated for dry casks with and without air gaps in normal, submerged, tumbled, and both tumbled and submerged conditions. The results of calculated keff  values for the dry cask with air gaps at 100% of canister capacity from the former to the latter conditions were 0.127, 0.539, 0.123, and 0.539, respectively. These keff values were smaller than the criticality threshold value of 0.95. Therefore, it can be concluded that the dry cask with air gaps design comply the criticality safety criteria in the aforementioned conditions.
Re-orienting occupational therapy: Embracing generative disruption and revisiting a posture that acknowledges human dignity
Authors: Galvaan Roshan
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Amidst the Covid-19 lockdown that commenced in March 2020, while the profession and service-users were coming to terms with its vast implications, the Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa initiated a Webinar series that stimulated provocative discussions and difficult dialogues. The authors of this paper deliver a commentary, critically engaging with the challenges of cogently articulating the contribution of occupational therapy services across various sectors of service delivery during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. The challenges of on the one hand, negotiating the abrupt cessation of rehabilitation services, especially in the public sector and, on the other, advancing the reasoning for accessible, community-based services, are considered AIM: The commentary draws from presentations at and reflections on the webinar hosted on 24 June 2020 titled 'Ethical and Moral Challenges for Occupational Therapy'. In this paper, the competing ethical and moral issues arising from being urged to adopt different ways of thinking and doing occupational therapy during the Covid-19 lockdown are outlined PROPOSITION: It is suggested that experiences emerging from this pandemic are urging the profession to rethink its positionality in the health sector. Two main considerations deserve attention: The first is rethinking how we use occupational therapy knowledge to act from and in relation to local contexts, viewing people who are marginalised as knowledge and action partners through generative disruption. The second is to revisit what it entails to foster a posture that acknowledges human dignity CONCLUSION: Generative disruption includes a continuous and unabashed critical reflection of and on the limits of our practice and knowledge at hand. It means that we need to include service users and community partners in taking necessary steps to render services in local contexts most needed in recalibration toward social and occupational justice. In our knowledge-making partnerships, it is also imperative to revisit the posture of acknowledging human dignity Keywords: Covid-19; occupational therapy; occupational justice; human dignity; generative disruption
Relevance of Norms and Psychometric Properties of Three Standardised Visual Perceptual Tests for Children Attending Mainstream Schools in Gauteng
Authors: Harris Monique , Franzsen Denise , De Witt Patricia A.
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Occupational therapists routinely assess children's visual perceptual and visual-motor integration skills. To determine visual perception and visual-motor integration dysfunction, occupational therapists use standardised visual perceptual assessment instruments. For accurate results, the norms used to evaluate the outcomes of the tests need to reflect the ability of the population on which they are used This study aimed to determine the comparison of scores for a sample of 6 to 9 year old South African children attending schools in middle socio-economic urban areas, to American norms on standardised visual perceptual tests - the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills Third Edition (TVPS-3), the Developmental Test of Visual Perception - Third Edition (DTVP-3) and the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor integration - Sixth Edition (Beery VMI-6). METHOD: A cross-sectional, quantitative design was utilised. Forty-eight children aged 6 years 0 months to 9 years 11 months participated in the study. The TVPS-3, DTVP-3 and Beery VMI-6 were administered to each participant as prescribed RESULTS: The scores for the typical children fell within the American norms reported for all three tests. The DTVP-3, TVPS-3 and Beery VMI-6 were found to show little convergence in the scores but exhibited adequate internal consistency for the South African sample CONCLUSION: The scores on the DTVP-3, TVPS-3 and Beery VMI-6 for South African children were similar to the American norms in identifying visual perceptual and VMI dysfunction and are suitable for use with children attending schools in a middle socio-economic urban area Keywords: Visual perception, visual-motor integration, standardised tests, TVPS-3, DTVP-3, Beery VMI-6.
Learning styles in Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy students: an exploratory study
Authors: Olivier Benita , Jacobs Lizelle , Naidoo Vaneshveri , Pautz Nikolas , Smith Rulaine , Barnard-Ashton Paula , Ajidahun Adedayo Tunde , Myezwa Hellen
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Learning styles of health care professionals are unique and tend to be profession- specific. This study aimed to compare the learning styles of undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy students and to determine the relationship between preferred learning styles, demographic factors, and academic performance METHOD: The study design was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. Undergraduate occupational therapy and physiotherapy students completed a self-developed questionnaire and the Grasha-Reichmann Learning Style Inventory RESULTS: A total of 313 students with a mean age of 19.6±1.58 years participated in this study. The results showed that students preferred the collaborative (75%) learning style, with the first-year students scoring significantly higher in the collaborative style (3.97±0.48; p<0.001). The male students (2.67±0.65) scored higher in the competitive learning style than female students (2.20±0.62; p=0.001, d=0.757). The competitive learning style, when controlling for sociodemographic variables, is a significant predictor of an increase in academic performance in English language (B=2.28, [0.60-3.96]), physics (B=3.62, [0.22-7.02]) and overall academic performance (B=2.12, [0.34-3.90 CONCLUSION: The predominant preferred learning styles are the collaborative and participant styles. The application in the teaching space should be carefully considered for the selection of teaching approaches and activities. This study points to the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy programmes need to align to the collaborative style and respond with a variety of teaching methods. The associations shown between preferred learning styles and demographic variables point to the need to pay attention to diversity when selecting teaching approaches and activities Keywords: Grasha-Reichmann Learning Style Inventory, learning styles, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, undergraduate students
Shaping professional identity: a descriptive qualitative study on Health and Rehabilitation final year students in higher education
Authors: Sonday Amshuda
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Professional identity represents a person's philosophy of their profession. This identity defines what it means to be and act as a professional AIM: This paper will describe the factors that shaped the professional identity of students in Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Communication Sciences Disorders during their four years (2015 - 2018) of studies in the Faculty of Health Sciences in a higher education institution METHODOLOGY: A descriptive qualitative design was used to describe the factors that emerged. Seven participants were purposively selected from the Faculty of Health Sciences. Individual interviews and a focus group with participants were conducted. Data were analysed inductively FINDINGS: The results generated the theme 'The curriculum and experiences within practice and professional environments shape professional identity'. The findings highlighted how critical events in higher education may have influenced the participants to develop a professional identity CONCLUSION: The curriculum played an integral role in defining how the narrative for each participant was played out and how professional and practice environments greatly shaped the students' developing professional self Keywords: curriculum, professional and practice environments, health and rehabilitation sciences, undergraduate rehabilitation education
Postural control in children receiving intervention using the Astronaut Training Protocol
Authors: Katzenellenbogen Gabrielle , Franzsen Denise , van der Linde Janine
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: The vestibular system plays an important role in postural control and an upright posture when seated at a table. Some children have difficulty with their in-seat posture resulting in increased in-seat movement. This research investigated the effect of the Astronaut Training Protocol on a child's vestibular processing and postural control, and by extension their in-seat behaviour METHOD: A case study research design with multiple data sources was used with four participants identified presenting with dysfunction in in-seat posture and in-seat movement. Data were collected over three phases: Pre-Astronaut Training (Baseline), Post-Astronaut Training (Intervention) and Withdrawal. The Pre-Astronaut Training and Withdrawal phases consisted of four sessions of sensory-based occupational therapy while the intervention phase included eight Astronaut Training sessions in addition to regular sensory-based occupational therapy. Four assessments were used to determine vestibular and postural control changes at each phase: Movement ABC one-leg balance, Post-rotary Nystagmus (PRN) test, in-seat posture assessment (designed for the purpose of this study), and in-seat movement through the collection of data using an accelerometer RESULTS: Participants' scores differed, depending on their initial ability to tolerate rotary input. This research showed that change in vestibular function and postural control differed for participants who could tolerate rotary input and those who were over-reactive to rotary input at the start of the study. Generally, the participants who were over-reactive to rotary input showed greater improvement Post-Astronaut Training with continued smaller improvements into the Withdrawal phase. Participants who could tolerate rotary input showed improvement in in-seat posture and in-seat movement during the Post-Astronaut training phase and deteriorated during the Withdrawal phase CONCLUSION: The Astronaut Training Protocol can improve vestibular function and postural control in children with poor in-seat posture and in-seat movement, although the frequency and intensity of the programme still need to be confirmed Keywords: vestibular processing, in-seat movement, in-seat posture, reaction to vestibular input, sensory-based occupational therapy, Astronaut Training Protocol.
Composition of Rift-Related Igneous and Sedimentary Rocks of the Keweenawan Supergroup in the Poersch No. 1, OZ-1, Finn, and Friederich Wells, Northeastern Kansas
Authors: Cullers Robert L. , Berendsen Pieter
Published: October 2021

A series of wells have been drilled up to a depth of 3,444 m (113,000 ft) into the midcontinent rift system (MRS) in northeastern Kansas. The age of a gabbro sill in the upper portion of the Precambrian rocks was determined to be 1,097.5 ± 3 Ma, and the magnetic polarity of the gabbro correlated to the lower Keweenawan rocks in the northern MRS (Van Schmus et al., 1990). The rocks below 2,259 m (7,411 ft) in the deepest well [Poersch no. 1, total depth 3,435 m (11,270 ft)] consist mostly of arkoses with subordinate amounts of shale, siltstone, and basalt. The rocks above 2,265 m (7,431 ft) in the Poersch well consist of basalt with minor siltstone, arkose, gabbro, and felsite. A proposed high-angle reverse fault could have juxtaposed the upper igneous rocks over the lower sedimentary rocks to produce a reversed stratigraphy. This would make the development of the southern MRS similar to that of the northern MRS. Thus, in the initial extensional phase of the MRS, broad subsidence coincided with abundant volcanism and little sediment production. Grabens formed in the later stages of rift development and were filled with abundant sedimentary rocks along with lesser volcanic rocks. The chemical characteristics of the basalts in the southern MRS are similar to those in the north. The southern basalts are subalkalic to alkalic and follow tholeiitic trends; a number of them are high-alumina basalts. Although there is a lot of scatter, Al2O3, Ni, and Cr concentrations decrease and Fe2O3, TiO2, K2O, rare earth elements, Ba, Hf, and Sc concentrations increase with decreasing Mg number. These trends are consistent with plagioclase, olivine, pyroxene, or spinel fractionation from primary basalts. One basalt could represent a primary magma because it has a high Mg number (0.68), high Ni (638 mg/kg) and Cr (233 mg/kg) concentrations, low incompatible element concentrations (e.g., La = 4.2 mg/kg), and a slight positive Eu anomaly. This possible primary magma could have formed by partial melting (20-25%) of an undepleted spinel peridotite at 30-40 km depth. Most basalts have not been contaminated by crustal rocks or silicic magmas. The mineralogy, chemical composition, and U-Pb geochronology of detrital zircons of the arkoses, siltstones, and shales are consistent with their derivation from the surrounding granitoid highlands with little or no input from the basalts. Even siltstones and arkoses within the mostly basaltic sequences are derived mostly from the granitoids, although the siltstones may have some input from the basalts (e.g., higher Ni concentration than the sandstones).
Factors Affecting Nitrate Concentrations in Ground Water in Stafford County, Kansas
Authors: Townsend Margaret A. , Young David P.
Published: October 2021

Nitrate contamination of the Great Bend Prairie aquifer in south-central Kansas is more pronounced at shallower than at deeper portions of the aquifer. Factors influencing the occurrence of nitrate in the shallow ground water include irrigation-well density, subsurface clay lenses, and land-use practices. Ground-water samples were taken from 42 wells, including deep (irrigation) wells and shallow (domestic and stock) wells. Except for one well with an anomalously high concentration due to a point source, nitrate-N concentrations of sampled wells ranged from 1.3 to 13.3 mg/L with a mean of 5.4 mg/L and a median of 4.7 mg/L. Statistical analyses indicate that shallow ground water is more susceptible to contamination than deeper ground water and that lower nitrate-N concentrations are probable in wells with a greater thickness of clay above the well screen. Irrigation-well density showed a statistically significant positive correlation with nitrate-N concentrations of shallow wells. No significant difference in nitrate-N concentrations was found to result from the two irrigation methods (flood versus center-pivot) used in the area. Nor were there significant differences in nitrate-N concentrations between sandy and loamy soils. Land-use practices and subsurface stratigraphy may be better indicators of potential nitrate contamination than the surface soils.
Comparison of Maturation Data and Fluid-Inclusion Homogenization Temperatures to Simple Thermal Models
Authors: Newell K. David
Published: October 2021

Time-temperature index (TTI) modeling is used to establish a simple theoretical thermal maturity for Paleozoic strata in central Kansas. These thermal maturation calculations are based on estimates of likely geothermal gradients and best knowledge of the tectonic history of the region, as derived from stratigraphic thicknesses and estimates of erosion at unconformities. Major uncertainties in the data for the TTI modeling are burial during Cretaceous time and geothermal gradient, thus several models were calculated in which ranges of these two variables were considered. Results of the thermal modeling are then compared to available data on the thermal maturation. These data are principally derived from subsurface samples, on which vitrinite-reflectance, pyrolysis, and fluid-inclusion analyses have been performed.

Vitrinite-reflectance and Rock-Eval maturation measurements indicate that Middle and Upper Ordovician strata (i.e., Simpson, Viola, and Maquoketa formations) in the study area are in initial phases of oil generation. Maturation modeling can match the results of the organic analyses, but geothermal gradients and burial during the Cretaceous have to be maximized.

Although the TTI modeling utilizing very high geothermal gradients and near-excessive thicknesses of Cretaceous strata can match the observed maturation, the modeled results are probably not correct because fluid-inclusion data from saddle dolomites from the Upper Ordovician Viola Limestone indicate this unit reached temperatures 50° C higher than the maximum modeled temperature. A thermal event is inferred to account for the excess maturation and elevated fluid-inclusion homogenization temperatures. This thermal event may be manifested in the erratic increase of vitrinite-reflectance with depth for post-Devonian strata, as well as for pyrolysis measurements in wells for which maturation profiles are available. Flow of heated water onto the cratonic shelf out of the Anadarko basin during the late Paleozoic Ouachita orogeny may be responsible for the maturation anomalies.
Carboniferous–Permian Boundary in Kansas, Midcontinent, U.S.A.
Authors: Sawin Robert S. , West Ronald R. , Franseen Evan K. , Watney W. Lynn , McCauley James R.
Published: October 2021

The placement of the Carboniferous (Pennsylvanian)-Permian boundary in Kansas has been debated since the rocks of this age were first described and named. With the ratification of the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Permian System in the southern Ural Mountains, the Carboniferous-Permian boundary in Kansas can now be confidently defined. Based on the identification of the first occurrence of the conodont Streptognathodus isolatus that definitively correlates the Kansas rock section to the basal Permian GSSP, the Carboniferous-Permian boundary in Kansas can be placed at the base of the Bennett Shale Member of the Red Eagle Limestone.

The Kansas Geological Survey proposes that the Tuttle Creek Lake Spillway section, located in northeast Kansas, be considered for the Carboniferous-Permian boundary stratotype in Kansas. It is further suggested that the stratigraphic position of the Carboniferous-Permian boundary in the Tuttle Creek Lake Spillway section be considered as a potential North American stratotype.

In addition to being a significant biostratigraphic boundary, the Carboniferous-Permian boundary and enclosing strata also have significance because they reflect important geologic events and changes that occurred on a regional and global scale.
Channels Ran Through It—The Lawrence Formation at Lone Star Lake, Douglas County, Kansas
Authors: Enos Paul , Jefferson Robert D. , Goetz Staci L.
Published: October 2021

The upper part of the Ireland Sandstone Member of the Lawrence Formation exposed in the spillway of Lone Star Lake, southwest of Lawrence, Kansas, consists of abundant pinstripe-bedded shales and siltstones; thin, lenticular sandstone and siltstone beds; and meter-scale, channel-form sandstone and mudstone lenses. Soft-sediment-deformation structures, including load casts, ball-and-pillow, and pseudonodules are abundant. The lenticular and pinstripe bedding with bipolar paleocurrents suggests tide-influenced deposition. The crosscutting, channel-form deposits are interpreted as tidal channels in an environment with low energy but rapid sedimentation. The depositional environment was a tide-dominated, muddy upper estuary cut by tidal channels. Gravitational instabilities resulting from rapid deposition of sand over saturated mud produced inverse-density gradients that resulted in soft-sediment deformation.
New Insights on the Sequence Stratigraphic Architecture of the Dakota Formation in Kansas–Nebraska–Iowa from a Decade of Sponsored Research Activity
Authors: Ludvigson Greg A. , Witzke Brian J. , Joeckel R. M. , Ravn Robert L. , Phillips Preston Lee , Gonzalez Luis A. , Brenner Robert L.
Published: October 2021

The Cretaceous Dakota Formation in the areas of Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa contains a rich and well-preserved microflora of fossil palynomorphs. A comprehensive listing of these taxa is presented in this publication as part of a continuing effort to develop a refined biostratigraphic scheme for mid-Cretaceous terrestrial deposits in North America. The Dakota Formation in this region contains four distinctive Albian-Cenomanian palynostratigraphic zones that are used to partition the unit into successive depositional cycles, and each zone records deposition in fluvial-estuarine environments. The late Albian Kiowa-Skull Creek depositional cycle at the base of the Dakota Formation is recognized throughout the study area, and is also recognized in other parts of the Cretaceous North American Western Interior basin. The overlying newly recognized latest Albian "Muddy-Mowry Cycle" is formally defined for the first time in this paper and correlates with depositional cycles recognized by other workers in other parts of the Western Interior basin. The Cenomanian lower Greenhorn Cycle is already widely recognized by many other workers throughout the Western Interior basin. Laterally extensive thin zones of pervasive carbonate mineral cementation are noted in fluvial-estuarine deposits in the Dakota Formation. They are believed to have formed as synsedimentary cements that precipitated below estuarine marine-flooding surfaces in settings related to discharging paleoground waters. The existence of these early diagenetic cementation zones has important implications for the recognition of diagenetic barriers and baffles to modern fluid flow in the Dakota Formation. New stable isotopic data on these authigenic cements are reported in this paper and add to a body of published data on the δ18O of mid-Cretaceous paleoprecipitation in North America.
Treated Wastewater and Nitrate Transport Beneath Irrigated Fields near Dodge City, Kansas
Authors: Sophocleous Marios , Townsend Margaret A. , Vocasek Fred , Ma Liwang , KC Ashok
Published: October 2021

Use of secondary-treated municipal wastewater for crop irrigation south of Dodge City, Kansas, where the soils are mainly of silty clay loam texture, has raised a concern that it has resulted in high nitrate-nitrogen concentrations (10-50 mg/kg) in the soil and deeper vadose zone, and also in the underlying deep (20-45 m) ground water. The goal of this field-monitoring project was to assess how and under what circumstances nitrogen (N) nutrients under cultivated corn that is irrigated with this treated wastewater can reach the deep ground water of the underlying High Plains aquifer, and what can realistically be done to minimize this problem. We collected 15.2-m-deep cores for physical and chemical properties characterization; installed neutron moisture-probe access tubes and suction lysimeters for periodic measurements; sampled area monitoring, irrigation, and domestic wells; performed dye-tracer experiments to examine soil preferential-flow processes through macropores; and obtained climatic, crop, irrigation, and N-application rate records. These data and additional information were used in the comprehensive Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) to identify key parameters and processes that influence N losses in the study area. We demonstrated that nitrate-N transport processes result in significant accumulations of N in the thick vadose zone. We also showed that nitrate-N in the underlying ground water is increasing with time and that the source of the nitrate is from the wastewater applications. RZWQM2 simulations indicated that macropore flow is generated particularly during heavy rainfall events, but during our 2005-06 simulations the total macropore flow was only about 3% of precipitation for one of two investigated sites, whereas it was more than 13% for the other site. Our calibrated model for the two wastewater-irrigated study sites indicated that reducing current levels of corn N fertilization by half or more to the level of 170 kg/ha substantially increases N-use efficiency and achieves near-maximum crop yield. Combining such measures with a crop rotation that includes alfalfa should further reduce the amounts of residual N in the soil, as indicated in one of the study sites that had alfalfa in past crop rotations.
Precambrian Nomenclature in Kansas
Authors: Sawin Robert S. , Franseen Evan K. , Ludvigson Greg A. , Watney W. Lynn , West Ronald R.
Published: October 2021

The informal stratigraphic term "Precambrian" is replaced by formal nomenclature--Proterozoic and Archean Eonothems/Eons--and the informal term Hadean. The Phanerozoic Eonothem/Eon, representing all rocks younger than the Proterozoic, is added. The Proterozoic is further divided into Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic, and Neoproterozoic Erathems/Eras. The name Rice Formation (Scott, 1966) is abandoned, and the use of the informal term "Rice unit" is recommended. The proposed name Rice Series (Berendsen, 1994) is not accepted. These changes are adopted by the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) and the stratigraphic nomenclature of Zeller (1968) has been revised accordingly.
Diminishing Depth to Water in Cambrian-Ordovician Arbuckle Group Disposal Wells in Kansas
Authors: Newell K. David , Peterie Shelby , Killion Michael , DeArmond Brandy , Ridley Carrie , Mandel Rolfe , Buchanan Rex
Published: October 2021

Industrial and municipal wastewater and oilfield brines have been disposed of into the Cambrian-Ordovician Arbuckle Group for decades in Kansas and nearby states in the midcontinent United States. The industrial and municipal wastewater disposal wells (designated Class I disposal wells) are regulated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The oilfield brines are disposed of in Class II disposal wells, which are regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission. Annual testing of formation pressure and static fluid levels in Class I wells compose a body of data that is useful in monitoring movement of water and fill-up of Arbuckle disposal zones. In western Kansas, the depth to water in wells penetrating the Arbuckle can be several hundred to more than a thousand feet (305 m) below ground surface, but in parts of southern and southeastern Kansas, the depth to water locally can be less than 100 ft (31 m). Furthermore, most Class I wells indicate Arbuckle fluid levels in central and south-central Kansas are rising ~10 ft (~3 m) annually, suggesting that at current disposal rates, the Arbuckle may lose its capacity to accept wastewater under gravity flow in parts of the state in the next few decades, principally south-central and southeastern Kansas along the Oklahoma state line. At present in parts of six Kansas counties along the Oklahoma state line, low-density (~1.0 g/cc or slightly greater density) wastewater in a wellbore does not have a sufficient hydrostatic head by gravity alone to force its way into the more dense resident Arbuckle formation water.

In general, Arbuckle formation water flows west to east in Kansas. Arbuckle disposal wells in Kansas collectively dispose of ~800,000,000 barrels (~127,000,000 m3) of wastewater per year, although some of this is recycled from Arbuckle oil production. Declines in oil price since mid-2014 have resulted in less oilfield disposal in the Arbuckle since 2015. The number of Class I wells recording annual fluid rises have also declined since 2015, as has the median of their annual change in static fluid level, but overall, more Class I wells are still recording fluid rises. There is a poor correlation between changes in fluid levels in Class I wells and the volume of fluid disposed in them annually, thereby indicating that more regional characteristics may control water movement in the Arbuckle. More monitoring wells are needed to better understand the movement of water in the deep subsurface and to anticipate any potential problems that may occur with reduced disposal capacity and possible migration of fluids through unplugged or improperly plugged older wells.
Geological characterization of the Patterson CO2 storage site from 3-D seismic data
Authors: Meng Jenny , Holubnyak Eugene , Hasiuk Franek , Hollenbach Jenn , Wreath Dana
Published: October 2021

Approximately 26 square miles of new 3-D seismic data were acquired in July 2019 over the Patterson Site (Kearny County, Kansas) to assess its potential for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. Seismic interpretation revealed that the Patterson Site contains multiple structural closures that lie on uplifted fault blocks, bounded by two reverse faults that strike nearly perpendicular to each other. These faults offset Precambrian through Pennsylvanian sections, including several primary reservoir and seal intervals. Fault displacements are maximum at the Precambrian basement and decrease upward. Data indicated a range of structural and combination traps exists at the Patterson Site in the Cambrian-Ordovician Arbuckle through Mississippian Osagian reservoirs. The three-way closures along the NW–SE fault have structural relief of ~130 ft (40 m), and the four-way closures contain relief of ~60 ft (18 m). Erosional surfaces and multiple basement fractures also are observed on the top of the Precambrian. A Mississippian-aged incised valley system also was observed at the Patterson Site. The incised valleys formed during the Meramecian-Chesteran Stages with an incised depth up to 250 ft (76 m). The motion of the reverse faults likely captured existing meandering and linear channels, causing the current deeply incised morphology. The incised valleys observed at Patterson are similar in age, structural style, shape, incision depth, and seismic attribute properties to incised valleys observed by other workers at Pleasant Prairie South, Eubank, and Shuck oil fields (southwest Kansas). Further research should focus on estimating reactivation tendency and sealing characteristics of the reverse faults to evaluate the seal integrity of the saline reservoirs. This will reduce uncertainty concerning the risk of CO2 migration during injection and storage. Further reservoir description, modeling, and simulation are also underway to characterize the storage potential at the Patterson Site.
Social media: An opportunity to reduce hookah smoke during an outbreak of COVID-19
Authors: Saeed Bashirian , Elahe Ezati
Published: October 2021

The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health warnings in the world, and 8 million people die every year due to smoking, of which 7 million die due to direct smoking and 2.1 million due to exposure to secondhand smoke [1].
A novel framework combining BCI and IOT for the detection of activity of the brain
Authors: B Karthiga , M Rekha
Published: October 2021

Virtual brain research is accelerating thedevelopment of inexpensive real-time Brain Computer Interface (BCI). Hardware improvements that increase the capability of Virtual brain analyse and Brain Computer wearable sensors have made possible several new software frameworks for developers to use and create applications combining BCI and IoT. In this paper, we complete a survey on BCI in IoT from various perspectives; including Electroencephalogram (EEG) based BCI models, machine learning, and current active platforms. Based on our investigations, the main findings of this survey highlights three major development trends of BCI, which are EEG, IoT, and cloud computing. Using this it is completely useful for finding the true state of whether the brain is alive or dead. If it is alive, then the activity of the brain is monitored and stored. Through this anyone can come to conclusion that whether the action done is legal or illegal. And this has an advantage for 2 scenarios. First is for AUTISM affected people and secondly Forgery in asset documents. And if any changes in the status of the brain then it will be send to the specific person in their relation using SMS & Email id.
Animate Orientation Based on Visual Landmarks and Scene Recognition
Authors: Karpova I. P.
Published: October 2021

A biologically-inspired approach to robot route following is presented. The ant of the genus Formica rufa (a red forest ant) is used as a model species. These ants actively use collective foraging, unlike many other ant species. The scout ant remembers the route to food and can transmit information about the food location to foraging ants. Foragers can independently reach this place using this data and return home. The basis of the proposed method is the memorization the way by visual landmarks and fuzzy control. The animate path description model consists of a sequence of scenes and includes compass to account for the direction. The behavior of the animate-scout is implemented using an algorithm that simulates the foraging behavior of ants. The animate-forager performs actions to reproduce the route, applying the developed set of rules. The forager behavior is based on the same principles as that of a scout. But the scout remembers the scenes, and the forager recognizes and compares the visible scene and the scene from the route description. The actions of animates are presented in the form of elementary behavioral procedures. Each behavioral procedure is implemented using a finite state machine. The experiments for solving the foraging problem were carried out using a modeling system based on the ROS framework. The simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method. The method does not require large computing power and advanced sensory capabilities from the robot. It can also be used in reconnaissance and patrol tasks.