bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kawasaki Disease and Vaccination: Prospective Case-Control and Case-Crossover Studies among Infants in Japan
Authors: Murata Kenji , Onoyama Sagano , Yamamura Kenichiro , Mizuno Yumi , Furuno Kenji , Matsubara Keita , Hatae Ken , Masuda Kiminori , Nomura Yuichi , Ohno Takuro , Kinumaki Akiko , Miura Masaru , Sakai Yasunari , Ohga Shouichi , Fukushima Wakaba , Kishimoto Junji , Nakamura Yosikazu , Hara Toshiro
Published: August 2021

The causal effects of vaccines on Kawasaki disease (KD) remain elusive. We aimed to examine the association between vaccines administered during infancy and the development of KD in Japan. We conducted a multicenter prospective case-control study using questionnaires and compared the vaccination status of infants (age: 6 weeks to 9 months) who developed KD (KD group; n = 102) and those who did not develop KD (non-KD group; n = 139). Next, we performed a case-crossover study of 98 cases in the KD group and compared the status of vaccinations between the case and control periods. We also compared the incidence of KD in children for each 5-year period before and after the addition of new vaccines (2012–2013) using data from the Nationwide Survey of KD. In the case-control study, the vaccination status of the KD and control groups did not differ to a statistically significant extent. Multivariable analysis of the vaccination status and patient backgrounds showed no significant association between vaccination and KD development. In the case-crossover study, the status of vaccinations during the case and control periods did not differ to a statistically significant extent. In the analysis of data from the Nationwide Survey of KD, the incidence of KD in children of ages subject to frequent vaccination showed no significant increases in the latter five years, 2014–2018. Based on these prospective analyses, we confirmed that vaccination in early infancy did not affect the risk of KD.
T-Cell Cytokine Response in Salmonella Typhimurium-Vaccinated versus Infected Pigs
Authors: Schmidt Selma , Kreutzmann Heinrich , Stadler Maria , Mair Kerstin H. , Stas Melissa R. , Koch Michaela , Vatzia Eleni , Dürlinger Sophie , Knecht Christian , Spergser Joachim , Dolezal Marlies , Springer Sven , Theuß Tobias , Fachinger Vicky , Ladinig Andrea , Saalmüller Armin , Gerner Wilhelm
Published: August 2021

Vaccination with the live attenuated vaccine Salmoporc is an effective measure to control Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) in affected swine populations. However, the cellular immune response evoked by the Salmoporc vaccine including differences in vaccinated pigs versus non-vaccinated pigs upon STM infection have not been characterized yet. To investigate this, tissue-derived porcine lymphocytes from different treatment groups (vaccination-only, vaccination and infection, infection-only, untreated controls) were stimulated in vitro with heat-inactivated STM and abundances of IFN-γ, TNF-α and/or IL-17A-producing T-cell subsets were compared across organs and treatment groups. Overall, our results show the induction of a strong CD4+ T-cell response after STM infection, both locally and systemically. Low-level induction of STM-specific cytokine-producing CD4+ T cells, notably for the IFN-γ/TNF-α co-producing phenotype, was detected after vaccination-only. Numerous significant contrasts in cytokine-producing T-cell phenotypes were observed after infection in vaccinated and infected versus infected-only animals. These results suggest that vaccine-induced STM-specific cytokine-producing CD4+ T cells contribute to local immunity in the gut and may limit the spread of STM to lymph nodes and systemic organs. Hence, our study provides insights into the underlying immune mechanisms that account for the efficacy of the Salmoporc vaccine.
Molecular Characterization of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Isolated over a 15-Year Period in Switzerland
Authors: Schlicher Jessica , Schmitt Sarah , Stevens Marc J. A. , Stephan Roger , Ghielmetti Giovanni
Published: August 2021

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis biovar Ovis is the etiological agent of the contagious and chronic disease caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in sheep and goats. The economic impact of CLA in Switzerland remains largely unknown, and the transmission modalities, as well as the genetic diversity of circulating strains, are poorly understood. This work presents further characterization data for 215 C. pseudotuberculosis isolates from sheep, goats and a dromedary originating from Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein, collected over a 15-year period. The isolates were classified into the two biovars Ovis and Equi, analyzed for the presence of the diphtheria-like toxin gene and characterized using MLSA. All sheep and goat isolates were classified as C. pseudotuberculosis biovar Ovis. The isolate from a dromedary was classified as biovar Equi. No isolates harboring the diphtheria-like toxin gene were detected. Phylogenetic analysis of the concatenated sequences of four genes revealed the existence of 24 clusters. There was no correlation between MLSA sequence types, year of isolation and the geographical origin of the isolates. These findings confirm the presence of several MLSA sequence types in the study area and over a 15-year period. Moreover, no sheep- and goat-specific MLSA sequence types were found.
Dietary Implications of Detoxified Jatropha curcas Kernel for Clarias gariepinus Fingerlings
Authors: Okomoda Victor Tosin , Musa Sarah Ojonogecha , Tiamiyu Lateef Oloyede , Solomon Shola Gabriel , Alamanjo Cosmas Chidiebere , Abol-Munafi Ambok Bolong
Published: August 2021

Antinutritional components must be substantially reduced to ensure better utilization of unconventional feeds in animal nutrition. Among the different methods of processing, soaking represents a simple and inexpensive alternative. This study attempted to determine the nutritional properties of socked Jatropha curcas kernel (JCK) and the effect of its dietary inclusions on Clarias gariepinus (n = 50; mean initial weight = 6.19 ± 0.52 g). Three treatments of JCK (i.e., soaking 24, 48, and 72 h) were tested alongside a control group. The result showed that soaking substantially improved proximate composition and reduced anti-nutrient compared to the control JCK. A similar trend of improved performance was observed when the treated JCK was included in diets composed of 35% crude protein; a total of 315 kcal g−1 energy and fed to C. gariepinus for 56 days. Alongside the improvement observed in growth, it was also noted that carcass protein and haematological variables were improved with the dietary administration of soaked JCK. Histological examination of the intestine and liver tissues also revealed fewer signs of histopathological degeneration in the fish, consequent upon dietary inclusion of soaked JCK (i.e., 72 h) compared to those raised on the raw JCK-included diets. It was, therefore, concluded that soaking could be a much easier method of nutritionally improving JCK for the administration to C. gariepinus.
Evaluation of Costs and Efficiencies of Urban Low Impact Development (LID) Practices on Stormwater Runoff and Soil Erosion in an Urban Watershed Using the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) Model
Authors: Guo Tian , Srivastava Anurag , Flanagan Dennis C. , Liu Yaoze , Engel Bernard A. , McIntosh Madeline M.
Published: August 2021

Storm events and soil erosion can adversely impact flood control, soil conservation, water quality, the recreation economy, and ecosystem biodiversity in urban systems. Urban Low Impact Development practices (LIDs) can manage stormwater runoff, control soil losses, and improve water quality. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model has been widely applied to assess the responses of hydrology and soil losses to conservation practices in agricultural and forested areas. This research study is the first to calibrate the WEPP model to simulate streamflow discharge in the Brentwood watershed in Austin, Texas and apply the calibrated WEPP model to assess the impacts of LIDs. The costs and impacts of various LID scenarios on annual water balance, and monthly average, and daily runoff volumes, and sediment losses at hillslopes and at the watershed outlet were quantified and compared. The LID scenarios identified that native planting in Critically Eroding Areas (CEAs), native planting in all suitable areas, native planting in CEAs with detention ponds, and native planting in all suitable areas with detention ponds could reduce the predicted average annual stormwater runoff by 20–24% and sediment losses by 86–94% at the watershed outlet, and reduce the average annual soil loss rates on hillslope profiles in sub-watersheds by 86–87% with the lowest costs (USD 2991/yr–USD 5257/yr). Watershed/field characteristics, locations, areas, costs, and the effectiveness of the LID practices were essential in choosing the LID scenarios. These research results can help guide decision-making on the selection and implementation of the most economical and suitable LID practices to strengthen the climate resilience and environmental sustainability of urban systems.
MSFD In-Depth Knowledge of the Marine Environment as the Stepping Stone to Perform Marine Spatial Planning in Greece
Authors: Paramana Theodora , Karditsa Aikaterini , Milatou Niki , Petrakis Stelios , Megalofonou Persefoni , Poulos Serafim , Dassenakis Manos
Published: August 2021

The multiple anthropogenic activities taking place in the marine environment increase and create a high demand for maritime space. The pressures generated thereof on coastal and marine resources require an integrated planning and management approach. The MSPD (2014/89/EU) forms the legislative framework to regulate maritime activities and ensure a sustainable use of the marine environment. Based on the MSFD (2008/56/EC), the present study provides an overview of the state of the marine environment in Greece and the existing pressures while examining the potential contribution of MSFD knowledge to the MSPD implementation, identifying possible knowledge gaps for the subsequent MSP process phases. It is supported that the MSFD constitutes the best available scientific knowledge about the ecosystem and its dynamics, and provides an open access database which should be optimally used in the MSP process. The MSFD data provided concerning Greece can support the implementation of the MSP process, as the MSFD qualitative descriptors of state and pressures feed MSP sectors with environmental data essential for the MSP application, and weigh the intensity of each descriptor contribution to this interrelationship. Considering MSPD requires the adoption of an ecosystem-based approach, it can only attain its goals based on MSFD input and aspirations.
Ecological Study of Aquaponics Bacterial Microbiota over the Course of a Lettuce Growth Cycle
Authors: Eck Mathilde , Szekely Iris , Massart Sébastien , Jijakli M. Haïssam
Published: August 2021

The study of microorganisms in aquaponics is an important topic which requires more research before exploiting the full potential of beneficial microorganisms. In this experiment, we focused on the evolution over time of the bacterial communities in four compartments of an aquaponic system i.e., the sump, the biofilter, the lettuce rhizoplane and lettuce root. We studied these communities over the course of a lettuce growth cycle via regular sampling and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the collected bacteria. We also followed the physicochemical parameters of the aquaponic water throughout the experiment. Results show that a different community could be found in each compartment and that all four communities were stable throughout time and resilient to naturally occurring water parameter changes which characterize functioning aquaponic systems. Furthermore, the communities of the sump and biofilter also seem stable over the years as the predominant taxa (Luteolibacter, Flavobacterium, Nitrospira) observed in our study are similar to the ones previously reported for this aquaponic system. Finally, our results provide proof for similarities between aquaponic and soil borne lettuce root communities (gammaproteobacteria, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonadaceae, Sphingomonadaceae) thus showing that aquaponics can be similar to soil production in terms of microbial life.
MLE-Based Parameter Estimation for Four-Parameter Exponential Gamma Distribution and Asymptotic Variance of Its Quantiles
Authors: Song Songbai , Kang Yan , Song Xiaoyan , Singh Vijay P.
Published: August 2021

The choice of a probability distribution function and confidence interval of estimated design values have long been of interest in flood frequency analysis. Although the four-parameter exponential gamma (FPEG) distribution has been developed for application in hydrology, its maximum likelihood estimation (MLE)-based parameter estimation method and asymptotic variance of its quantiles have not been well documented. In this study, the MLE method was used to estimate the parameters and confidence intervals of quantiles of the FPEG distribution. This method entails parameter estimation and asymptotic variances of quantile estimators. The parameter estimation consisted of a set of four equations which, after algebraic simplification, were solved using a three dimensional Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Based on sample information matrix and Fisher’s expected information matrix, derivatives of the design quantile with respect to the parameters were derived. The method of estimation was applied to annual precipitation data from the Weihe watershed, China and confidence intervals for quantiles were determined. Results showed that the FPEG was a good candidate to model annual precipitation data and can provide guidance for estimating design values.
Spatial Variability of Water Resources State of Regions around the “Belt and Road”
Authors: Huang Yaohuan , Li Zhonghua , Chen Mingxing , Song Xiaoyang , Kang Ping
Published: August 2021

Water resource has become a key constraint for implementing the “Belt and Road” initiative which was raised by the Chinese government. Besides the study of spatial and temporal variability of precipitation, this study created a water hazard risk map along the “Belt and Road” zone through combined flood and drought data from 1985. Our results showed that South-Eastern Asia, southern China and eastern Southern Asia are areas with the most abundant precipitations, while floods in these areas are also the most serious. Northwest China, Western Asia, Northern Africa and Southern Asia are areas highly vulnerable to drought. Furthermore, the potential influence of flood and drought were also analyzed by associating with population distribution and corridor map. It reveals that China, South-Eastern Asia, Southern Asia, Western Asia and Northern Africa have the largest population number facing potential high water hazard risk. China–India–Burma Corridor and China–Indo-China Peninsula Corridor have the largest areas facing potential high water hazard risk.
Parametric Analysis for Underwater Flapping Foil Propulsor
Authors: Mei Lei , Zhou Junwei , Yu Dong , Shi Weichao , Pan Xiaoyun , Li Mingyang
Published: August 2021

This paper researched into the harmonic and anharmonic underwater flapping foil propulsion systems to improve the efficiency of these bioinspired propulsors. The angle of attack, the pitching angle, the heaving amplitude, and the phase difference are parametrically investigated in this paper. A rigid two-dimensional NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) 0012 airfoil is modeled with the aid of a commercial computational fluid dynamics software, FINE™/Marine. Unsteady Reynolds Average Navier-Stokes (URANS) equation is solved together with dynamic mesh to simulate the foil motion. The investigation first verifies the reliability of the developed modeling method against the benchmark data. Then, the systematic investigation is conducted and identifies that the heaving amplitude is most influential factor for the propulsion efficiency. Secondly, phase difference also has a significant influence on efficiency, but this effect is related to the reference working condition, which needs further study. Then, the pitching amplitude has little effect on the maximum efficiency value of flapping foil, while it will affect its optimal speed range. When the heaving amplitude ratio reaches 3 and the corresponding maximum angle of attack is about 9°, the maximum efficiency can reach 87%. The effect of anharmonic motion on the efficiency is very small and varies with the St number, but in summary, it can maintain the peak efficiency over a wider range of operations. In addition, the force and flow field characteristics of different efficiency points are compared and analyzed to distinguish their corresponding relationship with the propulsion efficiency.
Linking Hydrogeology and Ecology in Karst Landscapes: The Response of Epigean and Obligate Groundwater Copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda)
Authors: Di Cicco Mattia , Di Lorenzo Tiziana , Iannella Mattia , Vaccarelli Ilaria , Galassi Diana Maria Paola , Fiasca Barbara
Published: August 2021

Groundwater invertebrate communities in karst landscapes are known to vary in response to multiple environmental factors. This study aims to explore the invertebrate assemblages’ composition of an Apennine karst system in Italy mainly described by the Rio Gamberale surface stream and the Stiffe Cave. The stream sinks into the carbonate rock and predominantly feeds the saturated karst into the cave. For a minor portion, groundwater flows from the epikarst and the perched aquifer within it. The spatial distribution of the species belonging to the selected target group of the Crustacea Copepoda between the surface stream and the groundwater habitats inside the cave highlighted a different response of surface-water species and obligate groundwater dwellers to the hydrogeological traits of the karst unit. Our results suggest that fast endorheic infiltration routes promoted the drift of epigean species from the surface to groundwater via the sinking stream while most of the obligate groundwater dwellers come from the perched aquifer in the epikarst from diffuse infiltration pathways.
Hydrodynamics and Free-Flow Characteristics of Piano Key Weirs with Different Plan Shapes
Authors: Sangsefidi Yousef , Tavakol-Davani Hassan , Ghodsian Masoud , Mehraein Mojtaba , Zarei Reza
Published: August 2021

This paper focuses on Piano Key Weirs (PKWs) as an effective solution for improving the discharge capacity of spillway systems. The flow behavior in inlet and outlet keys is experimentally studied to analyze the discharge capacity of PKWs with different plan shapes (i.e., rectangular, trapezoidal, and triangular). The results show that in outlet keys, the flow aeration regimes extend to higher values of headwater ratios (Ho/P) by increasing the length magnification ratio (B/w) and apex width ratio (A/w). In addition, the local submergence length is a decreasing function of A/w, especially in high flow heads. While the total interference length enlarges by reducing A/w in lower Ho/P values (Ho/P < 0.5), a reverse trend is observed in higher headwater ratios. PKW performance may also be impacted by the flow contraction and recirculation zone in inlet keys, which intensify in higher values of Ho/P, B/w, and A/w. According to the obtained results, while the discharge coefficient is a decreasing function of A/w in Ho/P > 0.4, it may have a reverse trend in lower head conditions. In addition, a trapezoidal PKW has the highest discharge efficiency in a wide range of the studied domain (Ho/P > 0.25 and B/w ≥ 2). It can improve the discharge efficiency by around 5%, while its body volume is almost 7% smaller than the traditional rectangular PKW. However, for low-length and high-head conditions (B/w = 1 and Ho/P > 0.5), the efficiency a rectangular PKW exceeds that of the other shapes.
Evaluation of Past and Future Climate Trends under CMIP6 Scenarios for the UBNB (Abay), Ethiopia
Authors: Alaminie Addis A. , Tilahun Seifu A. , Legesse Solomon A. , Zimale Fasikaw A. , Tarkegn Gashaw Bimrew , Jury Mark R.
Published: August 2021

Climate predictions using recent and high-resolution climate models are becoming important for effective decision-making and for designing appropriate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. Due to highly variable climate and data scarcity of the upper Blue Nile Basin, previous studies did not detect specific unified trends. This study discusses, the past and future climate projections under CMIP6-SSPs scenarios for the basin. For the models’ validation and selection, reanalysis data were used after comparing with area-averaged ground observational data. Quantile mapping systematic bias correction and Mann–Kendall trend test were applied to evaluate the trends of selected CMIP6 models during the 21st century. Results revealed that, ERA5 for temperature and GPCC for precipitation have best agreement with the basin observational data, MRI-ESM2-0 for temperature and BCC-CSM-2MR for precipitation were selected based on their highest performance. The MRI-ESM2-0 mean annual maximum temperature for the near (long)-term period shows an increase of 1.1 (1.5) °C, 1.3 (2.2) °C, 1.2 (2.8) °C, and 1.5 (3.8) °C under the four SSPs. On the other hand, the BCC-CSM-2MR precipitation projections show slightly (statistically insignificant) increasing trend for the near (long)-term periods by 5.9 (6.1)%, 12.8 (13.7)%, 9.5 (9.1)%, and 17.1(17.7)% under four SSPs scenarios.
Seed Halo-Priming Improves Seedling Vigor, Grain Yield, and Water Use Efficiency of Maize under Varying Irrigation Regimes
Authors: El-Sanatawy AbdAllah M. , Ash-Shormillesy Salwa M.A.I. , Qabil Naglaa , Awad Mohamed F. , Mansour Elsayed
Published: August 2021

Water-deficit stress poses tremendous constraints to sustainable agriculture, particularly under abrupt climate change. Hence, it is crucial to find eco-friendly approaches to ameliorate drought tolerance, especially for sensitive crops such as maize. This study aimed at assessing the impact of seed halo-priming on seedling vigor, grain yield, and water use efficiency of maize under various irrigation regimes. Laboratory trials evaluated the influence of seed halo-priming using two concentrations of sodium chloride solution, 4000 and 8000 ppm NaCl, versus unprimed seeds on seed germination and seedling vigor parameters. Field trials investigated the impact of halo-priming treatments on maize yield and water use efficiency (WUE) under four irrigation regimes comprising excessive (120% of estimated crop evapotranspiration, ETc), normal (100% ETc), and deficit (80 and 60% ETc) irrigation regimes. Over-irrigation by 20% did not produce significantly more grain yield but considerably reduced WUE. Deficit irrigation (80 and 60%ETc) gradually reduced grain yield and its attributes. Halo-priming treatments, particularly 4000 ppm NaCl, improved uniformity and germination speed, increased germination percentage and germination index, and produced more vigorous seedlings with heavier dry weight compared with unprimed seeds. Under field conditions, the plants originated from halo-primed seeds, especially with 4000 ppm NaCl, had higher grain yield and WUE compared with unprimed seeds under deficit irrigation regimes. The long-lasting stress memory induced by seed halo-priming, particularly with 4000 ppm NaCl, promoted maize seedling establishment, grain yield, and WUE and consequently mitigated the devastating impacts of drought stress.
Scour Features at Wood Bundles
Authors: Pagliara Simone , Roy Deep , Palermo Michele
Published: August 2021

Structures like blunt-nosed chevrons, log deflectors and double-winged log frames help in modifying the flow regime in the channel by concentrating the flow and increasing navigability. Moreover, they create scour pools in the downstream stilling basin, which can be used either as fish refuge or as an in-stream storage site for previously dredged material. In this respect, the use of wood debris in the channel in the form of wood bundles has gained attention for the ability of these structures to integrate into the surrounding fluvial habitat and to divert the flow partially towards the central part of the channel when placed in curves. Considering the absence of studies dealing with wood bundles as a restoration structure, the aim of this paper is to analyse the scour mechanism and equilibrium scour morphology of wood bundles in straight and curved channels. In doing so, a wide range of hydraulic conditions, structure positions and configurations were tested. Thereafter, dimensional analysis was carried out to derive useful empirical relationships to predict the maximum scour depth and length as well as the maximum dune height based on a novel, equivalent Froude number, which accounts for the effects of channel curvature and structure position. Moreover, the various resulting scour morphology types were classified, and conditions of their existence were determined depending on the abovementioned Froude number and other key hydraulic parameters.
Predicting Macroinvertebrate Responses to Water Abstraction in Alpine Streams
Authors: Consoli Gabriele , Lepori Fabio , Robinson Christopher T. , Bruder Andreas
Published: August 2021

Exploitation of hydropower potential in alpine areas undermines the ecological integrity of rivers. Damming and water abstraction substantially alter the physical habitat template of rivers, with strong repercussions on aquatic communities and their resources. Tools are needed to predict and manage the consequences of these alterations on the structure and functioning of macroinvertebrate communities and resource availability in alpine streams. We developed habitat preference models for taxa, functional feeding guilds, and organic resources to quantify the effects of discharge alteration on macroinvertebrate communities in two alpine streams. Our physical habitat model related an indirect measure of bottom hydraulic forces (FST hemispheres) to the distribution of macroinvertebrate taxa and their resources. We observed that flow-dependent habitat availability for macroinvertebrate communities generally decreased with increasing water abstraction. We were able to relate these changes to near-bed hydraulic conditions. Our results suggest, however, the existence of upper discharge thresholds delimiting optimal habitat conditions for taxa. In contrast, we found weak effects of near-bed hydraulic conditions on resource distribution. Overall, our findings contribute towards predicting the impacts of water abstraction on macroinvertebrate communities in small alpine streams and the benefits of baseflow restoration.
Diversity of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in an Urbanized River: A Case Study of the Potential Risks from Combined Sewage Overflows
Authors: Balasa Gabriella , Levengood Enjolie S. , Battistelli Joseph M. , Franklin Rima B.
Published: August 2021

Wastewater contamination and urbanization contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance in aquatic environments. This is a particular concern in areas receiving chronic pollution of untreated waste via combined sewer overflow (CSO) events. The goal of this study was to expand knowledge of CSO impacts, with a specific focus on multidrug resistance. We sampled a CSO-impacted segment of the James River (Virginia, USA) during both clear weather and an active overflow event and compared it to an unimpacted upstream site. Bacteria resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline were isolated from all samples. Ampicillin resistance was particularly abundant, especially during the CSO event, so these isolates were studied further using disk susceptibility tests to assess multidrug resistance. During a CSO overflow event, 82% of these isolates were resistant to five or more antibiotics, and 44% were resistant to seven or more. The latter statistic contrasts starkly with the upstream reference site, where only 4% of isolates displayed resistance to more than seven antibiotics. DNA sequencing (16S rRNA gene) revealed that ~35% of our isolates were opportunistic pathogens, comprised primarily of the genera Stenotrophomonas, Pseudomonas, and Chryseobacterium. Together, these results demonstrate that CSOs can be a significant source of viable clinically-relevant bacteria to the natural environment and that multidrug resistance is an important understudied component of the environmental spread of antibiotic resistance.
Treatment of Effluent of Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Bioreactor for Water Reuse
Authors: Innes Peter , Chang Sheng , Rahaman Md. Saifur
Published: August 2021

The low-pressure reverse osmosis (LPRO) process is a recent development of reverse osmosis (RO) technology for the reduction in RO energy consumption and operation cost. The goal of this study was to investigate the performance of LPRO processes for the treatment and reuse of effluent discharged from brewery upflow anaerobic sludge blanket bioreactors (UASB). In this study, three different commercially available LPRO membranes were tested to evaluate the water quality that can be achieved under different operational and pretreatment conditions. It was found that the filtration performance and the effluent quality of the LPRO membranes can be considerably affected by the operation conditions and the selection of the pretreatment processes. The ultrafiltration (UF) pretreatment and the control of the operation pressure were found to be essential for mitigating LPRO membrane fouling, which could be caused by Ca2+ associated precipitates and organic gelation, in the treatment of the brewery UASB effluent. Water quality analyses showed that an integrated process of the UASB + UF + LPRO could achieve an effluent quality characterized by concentrations of 10.4–12.5 mg/L of chemical oxygen demand (COD), 1.8–2.1 mg/L of total nitrogen (TN), 1.3–1.8 mg/L of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and 0.8–1.2 mg/L of total phosphorus (TP). The effluent quality and the LPRO performance could be further improved by adding a granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption process between the UF and LPRO processes, which reduced the concentration of COD to 7–10 mg/L and those of TN, TP, NH3-N to below 1 mg/L. For the treatment of the UASB effluent tested in this study, the UF, UF + GAC (retention time 4 hrs), UF + LPRO, and UF + GAC + LPRO, respectively, achieved overall COD removal efficiencies of 89.6–93.7%, 94.5–96.7%, 99.3–99.1% and 99.3–99.4%; TN removal efficiencies of 73.0–78.2%, 89.2–97.2%, 97.1–98.2% and 94.3–99.7%; and TP removal efficiencies of 29.3–46.2%, 77.0–95.4%, 95.9–97.6z% and 98.0–98.3%. This study showed that both UASB + UF + LPRO and UASB + UF + GAC + LPRO are effective treatment processes for treating brewery wastewater toward reuse water quality standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Therefore, the results of this study would help to answer whether a LPRO can treat the brewery UASB effluent to meet the requirements of wastewater reuse standards.
Biological diversity of forest plant communities as a feed resource for beef cattle breeding (review)
Authors: Popov N. A. , Sidorova V. Yu.
Published: August 2021

In the State Forest Fund and forests of rural territories of the Russian Federation the areas of hayfields and pastures are 4,3 and 2,3 million hectares. Annually, 22,5 million tons of herbage are harvested on forest lands, which is 4,5 million tons of hay. Forest soils of the Moscow region are characterized by high acidity, low content of nutrients, they need regular fertilization. In the Moscow region according to the type of soils they are divided into gray forest soils, which make up 6,1 % of all soils and sod-podzolic – 43,4 %. When livestock manure enters the soil during grazing, the pH of the soil becomes alkaline 8,0–9,0. Six-month compost of livestock manure with a moisture content of 80 %, left on forest pastures, exceeds the leaves’ litter in the amount of dry matter by 2,6 times, N (in % for absolutely dry matter) by 6,5 times, the amount of cement carbon (C) by 1,6 times, the amount of total nitrogen (N) by 16,8 times, but is inferior in the content of C (in % for absolutely dry matter) by 1,6 times. Deoxidation of soils promotes accelerated vegetation. The impact of livestock grazing on forest resources has both positive and negative effects on increasing the biodiversity of plant communities. Livestock grazing causes both harm and benefit to forest biological diversity. The harm is caused by unregulated use, the benefit of grazing brings as a source of organic fertilizers, restoring the cycle of C, P, N. Cattle also contributes to the loosening of the soil, the destruction of ticks, and it participates in the change of the plant composition of the forest to more valuable types of trees and shrubs.
Armenia's multi-vector foreign policy: Traditions and new political reality after the "Second Karabakh War"
Authors: Bocharnikov Igor V.
Published: August 2021

The article analyzes the specifics and content of Armenia's multi-vector foreign policy, its results and prospects for further implementation. The article considers the processes of formation and development of the Armenian statehood in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. The years when Armenia was part of the USSR were the period of its highest development. At the same time, along with the achievements in the spheres of socio-economic and cultural development, nationalist public sentiments were formed during this period, which undermined the foundations of the multinational state. The most important catalyst for fundamental changes in the development of the political situation in Armenia, in Transcaucasia and in the USSR as a whole was the events in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region in the late 80s of the XX century, which transformed into an ethno-political confl ict. The most acute phase of the conflict coincided with the collapse of the USSR and the establishment of the statehood of Armenia and Azerbaijan. With the mediation of the Russian Federation, a ceasefire agreement was signed in May 1994, which was generally observed until September 2020 — the Second Karabakh War. The article examines the main stages of the formation of the statehood of Armenia and the formation of its foreign policy strategy, due to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the actual blockade and pressure from Azerbaijan and Turkey. Building allied relations with Russia was carried out along with the implementation of a multi-vector foreign policy, focusing on the United States and the European Union within the framework of the European program "Eastern Partnership". The main factors determining the modern foreign and domestic policy of Armenia are considered. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the processes caused by the results of the" Second Karabakh War " (September — November 2020) and their significance for the formation of a regional security system in the South Caucasus. The main vectors of the development of Armenia's relations with the Russian Federation and other leading countries of the region, the conditions and factors, and the prospects for the development of the military-political situation in the South Caucasus are determined.
Prospects for BRICS industrial cooperation under recent developments in GVCS
Authors: Ponomareva Olga Vladimirovna
Published: August 2021

The development of industrial cooperation creates fundamental and long-term foundations for BRICS current and future economic partnership. It was reflected in recently adopted Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2025. At the same time, realization of the existing potential of industrial cooperation cannot take place without taking into account the development of new global trends. These trends and respective factors influence companies` business strategies and government regulatory policies significantly. As a result, both traditional factors and novel challenges, such as comprehensive digitalization processes in global economy and trade, technical and technological development of different industries and global value chains, the pressure of trade conflicts resulted in accumulation of protectionism in trade policies and the ongoing crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic should be considered thoroughly. In the case of the BRICS countries the existing incentives for the reconfiguration of GVCs and the enhancement of their resilience and reliability can be implemented in the strengthening of trade and industrial ties and the diversification of suppliers and markets through the development of cooperation with the partner countries. To realize these opportunities, it is necessary to ensure favorable regulatory basis both in traditional areas (trade and investment liberalization, convergence in domestic regulation) and in the framework of modern trends that are gaining momentum: increasing cooperation in e-commerce, trade facilitation, developing scientific, technological and innovative cooperation, addressing infrastructural issues in order to reduce transport and logistics costs and expand trade and industrial cooperation..
Perancangan Sistem Informasi Penjualan Dan Jasa Perbaikan Mobil Pada Bengkel Alam Jaya
Authors: Hendri  , Intan Permata  , Fachruddin
Published: August 2021

Alam Jaya Workshop is an individual company engaged in services or repairs of four-wheeled vehicles located on 32 Tidore Street. In processing the data, both sales data, customer data, goods data, purchase data and reports on Alam Jaya Workshop are still not well computerized. The data processing system used in Alam Jaya Workshop is currently still manual, where the service data search process is slow and difficult because the data is not well coordinated, making reports slow if the report is needed immediately, the accuracy of the data is not guaranteed. All these problems arise because of the lack of good organization in processing data and in making reports, it is still recorded in the agenda book, resulting in slow performance. Therefore, this study aims to provide a solution to the problems that occur by offering sales information and maintenance service along with purchasing system using Unified Modeling Language (UML) to design the system modeling such as Use Case Diagram, Activity Diagram and Class Diagram as well PHP programming language, MySQL DBMS with Adobe DreamweaverCS5 editor and waterfall system development method. There are several stages in doing this research that is problem identification, literature study, data collection, data analysis, system design and report writing. The result of this study is a system that can provide effectiveness and efficiency in processing data at Alam Jaya Workshop.
Pengaplikasian Kalman Filter sebagai Pengendali dalam Permainan The Open Racing Car Simulator (TORCS)
Authors: Rendy Andrian  , A  , Victor
Published: August 2021

The Open Racing Car Simulator (TORCS) works as both a playable game and a framework to develop artificial intelligence-based controllers. As a platform for researchers, TORCS has become a platform in controller development with various approaches in artificial intelligence using sensors and actuators provided by the SCR Server. In this research, the author develops a controller using the Kalman Filter, an algorithm to predict and measure states based on previous measurements to determine future trajectory.
Pengembangan dan Implementasi Sistem Informasi Sumber Daya Manusia
Authors: Martono
Published: August 2021

Saat ini, pemanfaatan sistem informasi dalam menunjang berbagai aspek kegiatan pada organisasi merupakan hal yang sudah lazim untuk ditemukan. Hal ini disebabkan dengan memanfaatkan sistem informasi, sebuah organisasi dapat memangkas berbagai aspek, mulai dari segi biaya, ruang penyimpanan, waktu hingga akurasi data yang lebih terjamin. Salah satu sistem informasi yang saat ini sedang dikembangkan adalah sistem informasi sumber daya manusia. Sistem informasi sumber daya manusia merupakan sebuah sistem yang dibangun khusus untuk menunjang berbagai kegiatan yang berhubungan dengan sumber daya manusia yang ada dalam suatu organisasi. Adapun sistem informasi sumber daya manusia yang dibangun dan dikembangkan pada penelitian ini akan digambarkan dengan menggunakan permodelan use case diagram. Sistem informasi sumber daya manusia yang dibangun dan dikembangkan pada penelitian ini memiliki berbagai fungsi, diantaranya fungsi untuk mengelola data karyawan, data surat peringatan, cuti, surat tugas, surat mutasi, surat pengalaman kerja, surat keterangan tenaga kerja keluar hingga mengelola laporan.
PERANCANGAN APLIKASI PEMBELIAN DAN PRODUKSI MINYAK KELAPA SAWIT PADA PT. PALMA ABADI JAMBI BERBASIS WEB
Authors: Hendri  , M. Riza  , Hartoyo
Published: August 2021

Palma Abadi Jambi is one of company which has been located in Jambi which the processes of the dissemination of information and processing the data for purchase palm oil like still use book help. So that problems occur that is spreading information takes a very long time of branch offices to headquarters, often mistakes recording and calculation total money for data buying and selling, the absence of a system that can calculating the cost of oil every day, and preparing reports that takes time relatively long. Because of that, this research have purpose to give solution to that happening problems with offer a application of purchasing and production palm oil with using PHP programming language and MySQL database where writer make development system with waterfall method and using model approach system unified model language with use case diagram, activity diagram, class diagram and flowchart diagram. The new system produce outputs that can showing location data, employees data, product data, purchase data, customers data, selling data, cash data, cost data and reports that can be printed with purpose of can tell us a quick and easier information to the management of data the purchasing and production palm oil.
PERANCANGAN PROTOTYPE SISTEM PENYEWAAN TANGKI TIMBUN (STORAGE TANK) CRUDE PLAM OIL (CPO) DAN PALM KERNEL OIL (PKO)
Authors: Martono
Published: August 2021

In the era of digitalization like now, the use of technology has penetrated into various aspects of life. The utilization of computer systems to support human work has become a commonplace thing. This also applies in the process of leasing a storage tank at PT XYZ. At present the storage tank rental system still uses a general program that only aimed at processing numbers. This certainly causes the currently existing rental system has several shortcomings, such as the unavailability of the function to control and report leasing of the existing storage tank. Based on these problems, the authors conducted a study entitled the prototype design of crude palm oil (CPO) storage tanks and palm kernel oil (PKO) systems. The system to be designed in this study was designed using waterfall modeling and use case diagrams. The rental system designed by this research has the function of changing user passwords, processing data such as user data, tanks, vehicles, customers, recipients, receipts and expenditures of palm oil, as well as reports on oil palm revenues and expenditures.
PENERAPAN KONSEP E-LEARNING DENGAN METODE GAMIFIKASI UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KUALITAS PEMBELAJARAN DI PERGURUAN TINGGI
Authors: Hendri  , Feliks
Published: August 2021

To meet the needs of digital transformation, Indonesia needs young people who are able to compete globally. The education industry has taken advantage of this trend by integrating new methods such as virtual collaboration, mobile learning applications and enhanced learning technologies. In this study, researchers tried to apply the concept of Elearning / distance learning using the gamification method so as to improve the quality of learning in higher education. Gamification method provides additional motivation to ensure students (learners) follow complete learning activities and the ability to solve problems.
ANALISIS ALGORITMA K-MEANS DALAM PENGELOMPOKAN PERKARA PERCERAIAN BERDASARKAN KELURAHAN DI KOTA JAMBI
Authors: Elvi
Published: August 2021

Getting married and living happily ever after is the hope of both brides when carrying out the wedding. During the household, no one expects a disputelet alone an end to divorce. A number of areas in jambi city based on the Annual Report of jambi Religious Court from 2017, 2018 and 2019 are knownthat there is an increase in divorce rates reviewed from the number of cases received by the Jambi Religious Court which each year is always increasing.Therefore, it is necessary to know which areas are experiencing an increase in divorce cases by using one of the methods contained in the data mining,namely the k-means clustering algorithm. From the case, the authors conducted a study to group divorce cases by village in jambi city by applyingquantitative research methods with a sample of 62 data with the aim of knowing the divorce rate in jambi city in order to provide a solution that is ableto map the villages that conduct divorce. The results of this study showed that the highest divorce rate in jambi city for high clusters (C2) as many as11 villages, for medium clusters (C1) as many as 20 Villages and for low clusters (C0) as many as 30 Villages then the results obtained from data testingon Rapidminer with k-means algorithm obtained results that matched displaying three classes of classification results.Keywords: K-Means, Clustering, Divorce , Marriage, Rapidminer
PERANCANGAN PROTOTYPE APLIKASI PEMESANAN PERCETAKAN MENGGUNAKAN ALGORITMA WHATSAPP GATEWAY PADA PT MONICA INTERMEDIA GRAFIKA
Authors: Ahmad
Published: August 2021

The printing purchase order (PO) information system uses the WhatsApp gateway, which aims to provide PO Printing and customer invoicing services. This time, PT MIG is engaged in graphics, which already has regular customers and print routines. The problem that often occurs is the management of customer transactions, where customers make print orders using WhatsApp Messenger more often. So that the admin has difficulty recording it, because the message is deleted or forgot to write it down. The design of this system uses UML (Unified Modeling Language) tools with the Prototype model.

Keywords : Prototype, PO Printing, Whatsapp Gateway.
PERANCANGAN SISTEM NAVIGASI ROBOT SEPAKBOLA BERODA DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE GREEDY
Authors: M.Irwan  , Afrizal Nehemia  , Arjuna Panji
Published: August 2021

Development in the world of robotics at this time is growing where robots can be useful in every human activity, the role of robots at this time canalready help in human work. In Indonesia, robot contests have been held every year at both regional and national levels. One of the categories to bediscussed in this research is the Indonesian Football Robot Contest (KRSBI). In the indonesian football robot contest is divided into two more categories,namely humanoid division football robot and wheel division football robot. In this category, robots must be able to navigate to find the ball and kicktowards the goal. The main objective of this robot is to navigate and search for the ball to reach the opponent's goal. However, at the time of the matchthe robot has problems in the ball search system quickly, so it can slow down in taking the decision to chase the ball because the robot can not knowthe distance of the ball and the robot. One solution that can help the problem in wheeled football robots is to add greedy methods to wheeled footballrobots in taking the best option. So that the robot can vaccinate quickly and can chase the ball well. The test area uses a field of 180cm x 360cm. Thetest is declared successful if the robot can reach the ball and avoid the obstacle. From the test results, the robot managed to reach the ball well, so it canbe concluded that the robot can navigate using the greedy algorithm