bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Students' attitude to anti-epidemic measures against COVID-19
Authors: Орлова С.Ю.
Published: December 2022

Актуальность статьи обусловлена необходимостью проведения профилактических мероприятий против COVID-19 в период пандемии, эффективность которых зависит от приверженности населения к рекомендуемым защитным мерам. Целью исследования является изучение приверженности к профилактическим мероприятиям, включая вакцинацию против COVID-19, студентов различного образовательного профиля. На основании результатов проведенного исследования, выявлена более высокая приверженность студентов медиков к защитному поведению, включая вакцинацию, соблюдение социальной дистанции и ношение масок. Студенты медики более активно интересуются информацией о вакцинах, более уверены в ее безопасности и эффективности, они занимают активную позицию, рекомендуя вакцинацию другим. В ходе исследования выявлено, что информированность является значимым фактором в принятии решения о вакцинации. Показана важность мнения медицинских работников в формировании положительного отношения к вакцинации против COVID-19. Анкетирование показало повышенную заинтересованность студентов к информированию посредством интернета, что позволяет более активно использовать этот ресурс для мотивации к вакцинопрофилактике. Для эффективности популяризации вакцинации предложено привлекать специалистов медицинского профиля.

The relevance of the article is caused due to the need to carry out preventive measures against COVID-19 during the pandemic, the effectiveness of which depends on the commitment of the population to the recommended protective measures. The purpose of the study is to study the adherence to preventive measures, including vaccination against COVID-19, of students of various educational profiles. Based on the results of the study, a higher commitment of medical students to protective behavior, including vaccination, maintaining social distance and wearing masks, was revealed. Medical students are more actively interested in information about vaccines, more confident in its safety and efficiency, they take an active position, recommending vaccination to others. The study revealed that awareness is a significant factor in making a decision about vaccination. The importance of the opinion of medical personnel in the formation of a positive attitude to vaccination against COVID-19 is shown. The survey showed an increased interest of students in informing via the Internet, which allows them to use this resource more actively to motivate them to vaccine prophylaxis. For the effectiveness of popularization of vaccination, it is proposed to involve medical specialists.
Social capital of a non-profit organization as a resource for increasing the efficiency of its activity
Authors: Береговая Е.Б. , Жгенти И.В. , Стукалова О.В.
Published: December 2022

Цель статьи – раскрыть представления о возможностях формирования социального капитала некоммерческой общественной организации. Показано, что в основе формирования социального капитала лежат способности к созданию структурированной общности, готовой к достижению общей цели. Сделан анализ факторов, позволяющих социальному капиталу стать ресурсом повышения эффективности деятельности некоммерческой организации, что предполагает также создание неформального партнерского взаимодействия, которое не только значительно расширяет возможности благотворительной деятельности, но и повышает уровень доверия людей к третьему сектору. Представлены результаты анализа социального капитала Благотворительного фонда содействия развитию социально-культурных инициатив и попечительства «Образ жизни» (г. Москва). Сделан вывод о том, что социальный капитал влияет на уровень применения практик социального партнерства в реализации благотворительных программ, социально-образовательных проектов и обучающих семинаров для сотрудников социальных учреждений и образовательных организаций. В деятельности фонда созданы сети социального взаимодействия в различных регионах Российской Федерации.

The purpose of the article is to reveal the vision about the possibilities of forming the social capital of a non-profit public organization. It is shown that the formation of social capital is based on the ability to create a structured community, ready to achieve a common goal. An analysis is made of the factors that allow social capital to become a resource for improving the efficiency of a non-profit organization, which also involves the creation of informal partnerships, which not only significantly expands the possibilities of charitable activities, but also increases the level of people's trust in the third sector. The results of the analysis of the social capital of the Charitable Foundation for the Promotion of the Development of Socio-Cultural Initiatives and Guardianship "Way of Life" (Moscow) are presented. It is concluded that social capital affects the level of application of social partnership practices in the implementation of charitable programs, social and educational projects and training seminars for employees of social institutions and educational organizations. In the activities of the foundation, networks of social interaction have been created in various regions of the Russian Federation. The article was supported by the Moscow Mayor Grant Competition 2021; Project "On the steps of opportunities", application No. 2021-0490.
Capturing new forms of video footage in remote locations through the design, development and deployment of an autonomous, open source, unmanned aerial system : a case study of South African Enduro motorcycle racers
Authors:   , Burnett Peter Gregory
Published: December 2022

This study explores the use of an autonomous Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), in the capturing of video footage of sporting events, specifically enduro motorcycle racing, in remote areas of southern Africa. Remote areas are defined as those that are far removed from urban centres, are inaccessible by motor vehicle and that have no internet or cell phone coverage. Autonomous UAS refers to drones which are pre-programmed to fly a specific path and thus fly automatically once launched. Conditions of remoteness place unique constraints on the objective of capturing video footage of sporting events in such areas. Traditional means of video coverage, such as those from ground-based camera operators, Go-Pro cameras mounted on the riders, or helicopter-based camera operators, results in video footage which is either limited in range and consists of numerous shots of shorter duration, or otherwise prohibitively expensive. A newer form of video coverage would be the type obtained by a manually flown drone, but even this coverage is limited as it typically consists of the footage acquired solely from a position behind the riders. In contrast, video footage captured from an automated UAS allows for a greater range and an expanded duration of shots. The defining characteristic of video footage captured by an automated UAS is the lengthy, lingering wide shot, which includes multiple camera angles, height changes, and camera movements, all within the duration of a single shot. This constitutes a new form of video coverage of remote sporting events. This research is practice-based and includes three related parts: Firstly, the design, construction and programming of a UAS for use in remote areas with the objective of capturing video footage of enduro motorcycle racing events. An ‘open source’ approach to all the software with which the UAS is programmed is utilised; Secondly, the capturing and editing of video footage which has been gathered from the UAS; And thirdly, a dissertation and practice-based reflection on the process.
Impact of the CPS Computer Science Graduation Policy on Student Access and Outcomes
Authors: McGee Steven , Dettori Lucia , Rasmussen Andrew
Published: December 2022

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) leads the nation in computer science education. Each year 14,000 Chicago Public Schools students graduate with at least one year of computer science. This is the result of a graduation requirement that CPS enacted in 2016. The foundational course that most students completed to fulfill the requirement is Exploring Computer Science (ECS). This evaluation of the impact of the graduation requirement was framed around the CAPE framework. To ensure that a district supports equal outcomes in computer science, they need to develop Capacity for schools to offer computer science, increase Access to computer science, ensure equal Participation, and then examine how computer science Experiences lead to equal outcomes. The analysis was conducted through a CME-funded summer fellowship program, which included advanced graduate students and early career researchers. They found the following results. The ECS professional development program supported a rapid expansion of school Capacity after the enactment of the graduation requirement. At the time the graduation requirement was enacted, roughly half of the schools did not offer any computer science and 2/3 did not have sufficient capacity to support computer science for all students. Larger schools with fewer low-income students and a strong college going climate were more likely to offer computer science just before the enactment of the graduation requirement. Access to computer science expanded significantly after the computer science graduation requirement. Participation in computer science significantly increased across all demographic groups after the graduation requirement. By the time the 2nd cohort graduated after the requirement, the demographics of students taking computer science matched the demographics of the district. Students’ Experiences with ECS led to equivalent course performance between students taking ECS before and after the enactment of the graduation requirement. The number of students pursuing computer science pathways in CPS doubled after the enactment of the graduation requirement.
Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire (DSQ) and Word of Mouth on Patient Satisfaction Educational Dental and Oral Hospital
Authors: Hasibuan Reza Rahmadi , Hasanah Yulia Nur , Qadaar Amiruddin , Anwar Andi Awaluddin , Sihombing Novfitri Landong Namora
Published: December 2022

The realization of satisfied patients provides benefits, including harmonious relationships with patients to hospitals, providing a good foundation for patient loyalty and recommending WOM. The general purpose of this survey is to find out the effect of satisfied patients through the dental satisfaction tools approach on the interest in recommending to others at the Unsoed Dental and Oral Education Hospital. This research is an observational analytic research using cross sectional. With a sample of 106. Methods of data collection research is done by collecting data directly in the field, namely through the questionnaire method. Dental Satisfaction Questionnaire, patient satisfaction and word of mouth. The results of the overall analysis concluded that access factors had a positive effect on patients who were satisfied receiving health services at the RSGMP Unsoed integration polyclinic, pain management factors had a significant effect on patient satisfaction who received health services at the RSGMP Unsoed integration polyclinic, and quality factors had a positive effect on patient satisfaction. receiving health services at the RSGMP Unsoed integration polyclinic, the patient satisfaction factor has a positive effect on the desire to recommend others to use the services of the Unsoed RSGMP. RSGMP Unsoed. Future research is expected to use interview or observation methods other than questionnaires as research instruments so that patient data can be obtained that are outside the sample criteria. Thus the data collected will be more varied.
The Effects of Corporate Pension Plans on Capital Structure: Evidence from China
Authors: Yan Zhao , Fangzheng Sun , Zhiqiang Ye
Published: December 2022

With the increasing aging population in China, corporate pension plans have become an important pillar for the pension system. From the perspective that pension plans can affect employees’ perceptions of bankruptcy risk, we show that corporate pension plans significantly increase the debt ratio, especially for companies in high labor-intensive industries, which generally have higher educated and younger employees. This paper not only enriches the labor economy literature on how labor impacts the financial decision-making of companies, but also provides some practical suggestions to improve China’s corporate pension plan system.
Kent İçi Sanayi Alanlarının Dönüşümüne Dair Nitel Bir Araştırma: İzmir Liman Ardı Bölgesi
Authors: AYİK Uğurcan , ÖGEL Cumali
Published: December 2022

Sanayisizleşme ve fabrika kapatmalar günümüz kentleri için temel bir dönüşüm trendine aracılık eden iki güncel fenomendir. Günümüzde bu iki fenomen üzerine yapılan çalışmalar ağırlıkla makro göstergelerde sanayisizleşme süreçlerini analiz etme ve fabrika kapatma sonrası iş durumlarını, iş yörüngelerini anlamaya odaklanmaktadır. Fakat ilgili literatür, sürecin sonrasındaki mekândaki fonksiyonel değişimi ortaya çıkarma ve yerelin bu değişimden nasıl etkilendiğini açıklamak açısından ise zayıf kalmaktadır. Çalışma bu boşluğu doldurmak amacıyla İzmir’in eski sanayi bölgelerinden olan Liman Ardı’ya odaklanmaktadır. Çalışmanın temel amacı fonksiyonel değişime karşılık gelen fabrika kapatma sonrasında fabrika ile bağı kesilmiş işçilerin deneyimlerini ele almak ve değişimi ana aktörlerin gözünden aktarmaktır. Bunu gerçekleştirmek için Tekel Sigara Fabrikası, Sümerbank Basma Fabrikası ve Halkapınar Cer Atölyesi’nde çalışmış 11 eski fabrika işçisinin kapanma sonrasındaki deneyimlerini açığa çıkarabilmek amacıyla yarı yapılandırılmış mülakatlar gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen görüşmeler transkripsiyon edildikten sonra, MAXQDA 2020 programı vasıtasıyla kodlanmıştır. Görüşmelerden sanayileşme ve sanayisizleşme süreçleri ve İzmir’in gelişim süreci olmak üzere iki tema ortaya çıkmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında Liman Ardı Bölgesi’nde fabrika kapanması sonrasında yerelin dinamiklerini etkileyecek işsizlik, istihdam değişimi gibi süreçlerin ortaya çıktığı tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca çalışma alanında fonksiyonel değişimde baskın bir kullanımın ortaya çıkmadığı, atıl halde duran fabrikaların yanı sıra, eğitim fonksiyonu üstlenmiş alanlar da güncel kullanımda karşımıza çıkmaktadır.
Photolytic modification of seasonal nitrate isotope cycles in East Antarctica
Authors: Akers Pete D. , Savarino Joël , Caillon Nicolas , Magand Olivier , Le Meur Emmanuel
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Nitrate in Antarctic snow has seasonal cycles in nitrogen and oxygen isotopic ratios that reflect its sources and atmospheric formation processes,
and as a result, nitrate archived in Antarctic ice should have great potential to record atmospheric chemistry changes over thousands of
years. However, sunlight that strikes the snow surface results in photolytic nitrate loss and isotopic fractionation that can completely obscure the
nitrate's original isotopic values. To gain insight into how photolysis overwrites the seasonal atmospheric cycles, we collected 244 snow samples
along an 850 km transect of East Antarctica during the 2013–2014 CHICTABA traverse. The CHICTABA route's limited elevation change, consistent
distance between the coast and the high interior plateau, and intermediate accumulation rates offered a gentle environmental gradient ideal for
studying the competing pre- and post-depositional influences on archived nitrate isotopes. We find that nitrate isotopes in snow along the transect
are indeed notably modified by photolysis after deposition, and drier sites have more intense photolytic impacts. Still, an imprint of the original
seasonal cycles of atmospheric nitrate isotopes is present in the top 1–2 m of the snowpack and likely preserved through archiving in
glacial ice at these sites. Despite this preservation, reconstructing past atmospheric values from archived nitrate in similar transitional regions
will remain a difficult challenge without having an independent proxy for photolytic loss to correct for post-depositional isotopic
changes. Nevertheless, nitrate isotopes should function as a proxy for snow accumulation rate in such regions if multiple years of deposition are
aggregated to remove the seasonal cycles, and this application can prove highly valuable in its own right.
Climatology and variability of air mass transport from the boundary layer to the Asian monsoon anticyclone
Authors: Nützel Matthias , Brinkop Sabine , Dameris Martin , Garny Hella , Jöckel Patrick , Pan Laura L. , Park Mijeong
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Air masses within the Asian monsoon anticyclone (AMA) show anomalous signatures in various trace gases. In this study, we investigate how air masses are transported from the planetary boundary layer (PBL) to the AMA based on multiannual trajectory analyses. In particular, we focus on the climatological perspective and on the intraseasonal and interannual variability. Further, we also discuss the relation of the interannual east–west displacements of the AMA with the transport from the PBL to the AMA. To this end we employ backward trajectories, which were computed for 14 northern summer (June–August) seasons using reanalysis data. Further, we backtrack forward trajectories from a free-running chemistry–climate model (CCM) simulation, which includes parametrized Lagrangian convection. The analysis of 30 monsoon seasons of this additional model data set helps us to carve out robust or sensitive features of transport from the PBL to the AMA with respect to the employed model. Results from both the trajectory model and the Lagrangian CCM emphasize the robustness of the three-dimensional transport pathways from the top of the PBL to the AMA. Air masses are transported upwards on the south-eastern side of the AMA and subsequently recirculate within the full AMA domain, where they are lifted upwards on the eastern side and transported downwards on the western side of the AMA. The contributions of different PBL source regions to AMA air are robust across the two models for the Tibetan Plateau (TP; 17 % vs. 15 %) and the West Pacific (around 12 %). However, the contributions from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia are considerably larger in the Lagrangian CCM data, which might indicate an important role of convective transport in PBL-to-AMA transport for these regions. The analysis of both model data sets highlights the interannual and intraseasonal variability of the PBL source regions of the AMA. Although there are differences in the transport pathways, the interannual east–west displacement of the AMA – which we find to be related to the monsoon Hadley index – is not connected to considerable differences in the overall transport characteristics. Our results from the trajectory model data reveal a strong intraseasonal signal in the transport from the PBL over the TP to the AMA: there is a weak contribution of TP air masses in early June (less than 4 % of the AMA air masses), whereas in August the contribution is considerable (roughly 24 %).
The evolution of the contribution from the TP is consistent across the two modelling approaches and is related to the northward shift of the subtropical jet and the AMA during this period. This finding may help to reconcile previous results and further highlights the need of taking the subseasonal (and interannual) variability of the AMA and associated transport into account.
Evaluation of simulated responses to climate forcings: a flexible statistical framework using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling – Part 1: Theory
Authors: Lashgari Katarina , Brattström Gudrun , Moberg Anders , Sundberg Rolf
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Evaluation of climate model simulations is a crucial task in climate research. Here, a new
statistical framework is proposed for evaluation of simulated temperature responses
to climate forcings against temperature reconstructions derived from climate proxy data for
the last millennium. The framework includes two types of statistical models, each of which is
based on the concept of latent (unobservable)
variables: confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models and structural equation modelling
(SEM) models. Each statistical model presented is developed for use with data from a single region,
which can be of any size. The ideas behind the framework arose partly from a statistical model
used in many detection and attribution (D&A) studies.
Focusing on climatological characteristics of
five specific forcings of natural and anthropogenic origin, the present work theoretically
motivates an extension of the statistical model used in D&A studies to CFA and SEM models,
which allow, for example, for non-climatic noise in observational data without assuming
the additivity of the forcing effects.
The application of the ideas of CFA is exemplified in a small numerical study, whose aim was
to check the assumptions typically placed on ensembles
of climate model simulations when constructing mean sequences. The result of this study indicated
that some ensembles for some regions may not satisfy the assumptions in question.
On physical mechanisms enhancing air–sea CO2 exchange
Authors: Gutiérrez-Loza Lucía , Nilsson Erik , Wallin Marcus B. , Sahlée Erik , Rutgersson Anna
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Reducing uncertainties in the air–sea CO2 flux calculations is one of the major challenges when addressing the oceanic contribution in the global carbon balance. In traditional models, the air–sea CO2 flux is estimated using expressions of the gas transfer velocity as a function of wind speed. However, other mechanisms affecting the variability in the flux at local and regional scales are still poorly understood. The uncertainties associated with the flux estimates become particularly large in heterogeneous environments such as coastal and marginal seas. Here, we investigated the air–sea CO2 exchange at a coastal site in the central Baltic Sea using 9 years of eddy covariance measurements. Based on these observations we were able to capture the temporal variability in the air–sea CO2 flux and other parameters relevant for the gas exchange. Our results show that a wind-based model with a similar pattern to those developed for larger basins and open-sea conditions can, on average, be a good approximation for k, the gas transfer velocity. However, in order to reduce the uncertainty associated with these averages and produce reliable short-term k estimates, additional physical processes must be considered. Using a normalized gas transfer velocity, we identified conditions associated with enhanced exchange (large k values). During high and intermediate wind speeds (above 6–8 m s−1), conditions on both sides of the air–water interface were found to be relevant for the gas exchange. Our findings further suggest that at such relatively high wind speeds, sea spray is an efficient mechanisms for air–sea CO2 exchange. During low wind speeds (<6 m s−1), water-side convection was found to be a relevant control mechanism. The effect of both sea spray and water-side convection on the gas exchange showed a clear seasonality with positive fluxes (winter conditions) being the most affected.
Measurement report: Molecular-level investigation of atmospheric cluster ions at the tropical high-altitude research station Chacaltaya (5240 m a.s.l.) in the Bolivian Andes
Authors: Zha Qiaozhi , Huang Wei , Aliaga Diego , Peräkylä Otso , Heikkinen Liine , Koenig Alkuin Maximilian , Wu Cheng , Enroth Joonas , Gramlich Yvette , Cai Jing , Carbone Samara , Hansel Armin , Petäjä Tuukka , Kulmala Markku , Worsnop Douglas , Sinclair Victoria , Krejci Radovan , Andrade Marcos , Mohr Claudia , Bianchi Federico
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Air ions are the key components for a series of atmospheric physicochemical interactions, such as ion-catalyzed reactions, ion-molecule reactions, and ion-induced new particle formation. They also control atmospheric electrical properties with effects on global climate. We performed molecular-level measurements of cluster ions at the high-altitude research station Chacaltaya (CHC; 5240 m a.s.l.), located in the Bolivian Andes, from January to May 2018 using an atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The negative ions mainly consisted of (H2SO4)0–3•HSO4−, (HNO3)0–2•NO3−, SO5−, (NH3)1–6•(H2SO4)3–7•HSO4−, malonic acid-derived, and CHO/CHON•(HSO4−/NO3−) cluster ions. Their temporal variability exhibited distinct diurnal and seasonal patterns due to the changes in the corresponding neutral species’ molecular properties (such as electron affinity and proton affinity) and concentrations resulting from the air masses arriving at CHC from different source regions. The positive ions were mainly composed of protonated amines and organic cluster ions, but exhibited no clear diurnal variation. H2SO4-NH3 cluster ions likely contributed to the new particle formation process, particularly during wet-to-dry transition period and dry season when CHC was more impacted by air masses originating from source regions with elevated SO2 emissions. Our study provides new insights into the chemical composition of atmospheric cluster ions and their role in new particle formation in the high-altitude mountain environment of the Bolivian Andes.
Linking satellites to genes with machine learning to estimate major phytoplankton groups from space
Authors: El Hourany Roy , Pierella Karlusich Juan , Zinger Lucie , Loisel Hubert , Levy Marina , Bowler Chris
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Ocean color remote sensing offers two decades-long time series of information on phytoplankton abundance. However, determining the structure of the phytoplankton community from this signal is not straightforward, and many uncertainties remain to be evaluated, despite multiple intercomparison efforts of the different available algorithms. Here, we use remote sensing and machine learning to infer the abundance of seven phytoplankton groups at a global scale based on a new molecular method from Tara Oceans. Our dataset is to our knowledge the most comprehensive and complete, available to describe phytoplankton community structure at a global scale using a molecular marker that defines relative abundances of all phytoplankton groups simultaneously. The methodology shows satisfying performances to provide robust estimates of phytoplankton groups using satellite data, with few limitations regarding the global generalization of the method. Furthermore, this new satellite-based methodology allows a valuable global intercomparison with the pigment-based approach used in in-situ and satellite data to identify phytoplankton groups. Nevertheless, these datasets show different, yet coherent information on the phytoplankton, valuable for the understanding of community structure. This makes remote sensing observations excellent tools to collect Essential Biodiversity Variables and provide a foundation for developing marine biodiversity forecasts.
Location, biophysical and agronomic parameters for croplands in northern Ghana
Authors: Gómez-Dans Jose Luis , Lewis Philip Edward , Yin Feng , Asare Kofi , Lamptey Patrick , Aidoo Kenneth Kobina Yedu , MacCarthy Dilys Sefakor , Ma Hongyuan , Wu Qingling , Addi Martin , Aboagye-Ntow Stephen , Doe Caroline Edinam , Alhassan Rahaman , Kankam-Boadu Isaac , Huang Jianxi , Li Xuecao
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Smallholder agriculture is the bedrock of the food production system in
sub-Saharan Africa. Yields in Africa are significantly below potentially
attainable yields for a number of reasons, and they are particularly vulnerable
to climate change impacts. Monitoring of these highly heterogeneous landscapes
is needed to respond to farmer needs, develop an appropriate policy and ensure food security, and Earth observation (EO) must be part of these efforts, but there is a lack of ground data for developing and testing EO methods in western Africa, and in this paper, we present data on (i) crop locations, (ii) biophysical
parameters and (iii) crop yield, and biomass was collected in 2020 and 2021 in Ghana and is reported in this paper. In 2020, crop type was surveyed in more
than 1800 fields in three different agroecological zones across Ghana (the Guinea Savannah, Transition and Deciduous zones). In 2021, a smaller number of fields were surveyed in the Guinea Savannah zone, and additionally, repeated
measurements of leaf area index (LAI) and leaf chlorophyll concentration were
made on a set of 56 maize fields. Yield and biomass were also sampled at
harvesting. LAI in the sampled fields ranged from 0.1 to 5.24 m2 m−2,
whereas leaf chlorophyll concentration varied between 6.1 and 60.3 µg cm−2.
Yield varied between 190 and 4580 kg ha−1, with an important within-field
variability (average per-field standard deviation 381 kg ha−1). The data are used in this paper to (i) evaluate the Digital Earth Africa 2019 cropland masks, where 61 % of sampled 2020/21 cropland is flagged as cropland by the data set, (ii) develop and test an LAI retrieval method from Earth observation Planet surface reflectance data (validation correlation coefficient R=0.49, root mean square error (RMSE) 0.44 m2 m−2), (iii) create a maize classification data set for Ghana for 2021 (overall accuracy within the region tested: 0.84), and (iv) explore the relationship between maximum LAI and crop yield using a linear model
(correlation coefficient R=0.66 and R=0.53 for in situ and Planet-derived LAI, respectively). The data set, made available here within the
context of the Group on Earth Observations Global Agricultural Monitoring (GEOGLAM) initiative, is an important contribution to
understanding crop evolution and distribution in smallholder farming systems and will be useful for researchers developing/validating methods to monitor
these systems using Earth observation data. The data described in this paper are available from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6632083
(Gomez-Dans et al., 2022).
OpenMRG: Open data from Microwave links, Radar, and Gauges for rainfall quantification in Gothenburg, Sweden
Authors: Andersson Jafet C. M. , Olsson Jonas , van de Beek Remco (C. Z.) , Hansryd Jonas
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Accurate rainfall monitoring is critical for sustainable societies and yet challenging in many ways. Opportunistic monitoring using commercial microwave links (CMLs) in telecommunication networks is emerging as a powerful complement to conventional gauges and weather radar. However, CML data are often inaccessible or incomplete, which limits research and application. Here, we aim to reduce this barrier by openly sharing data at 10 s resolution with true coordinates from a pilot study involving 364 bi-directional CMLs in Gothenburg, Sweden. To enable further comparative analyses, we also share high-resolution data from 11 precipitation gauges and the Swedish operational weather radar composite in the area. This article presents an overview of the data, including the collection approach, descriptive statistics, and a case study of a high-intensity event. The results show that the data collection was very successful, providing near-complete time series for the CMLs (99.99 %), gauges (100 %), and radar (99.6 %) in the study period (June–August 2015). The bandwidth consumed during CML data collection was small, and hence, the telecommunication traffic was not significantly affected by the collection. The gauge records indicate that total rainfall was approximately 260 mm in the study period, with rainfall occurring in 6 % of each 15 min interval. One of the most intense events was observed on 28 July 2015, during which the Torslanda gauge recorded a peak of 1.1 mm min−1. The variability in the CML data generally followed the gauge dynamics very well. Here we illustrate this for 28 July, where a nearby CML recorded a drop in received signal level of about 27 dB at the time of the peak. The radar data showed a good distribution of reflectivities for mostly stratiform precipitation but also contained some values above 40 dBZ, which is commonly seen as an approximate threshold for convective precipitation. Clutter was also found and was mostly prevalent around low reflectivities of −15 dBZ. The data are accessible at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7107689 (Andersson et al., 2022). We believe this Open sharing of high-resolution data from Microwave links, Radar, and Gauges (OpenMRG) will facilitate research on microwave-based environmental monitoring using CMLs and support the development of multi-sensor merging algorithms.
Feasibility of irrigation monitoring with cosmic-ray neutron sensors
Authors: Brogi Cosimo , Bogena Heye Reemt , Köhli Markus , Huisman Johan Alexander , Hendricks Franssen Harrie-Jan , Dombrowski Olga
Published: December 2022

Abstract. Accurate soil moisture (SM) monitoring is key in
irrigation as it can greatly improve water use efficiency. Recently,
cosmic-ray neutron sensors (CRNSs) have been recognized as a promising tool
in SM monitoring due to their large footprint of several hectares. CRNSs also
have great potential for irrigation applications, but few studies have
investigated whether irrigation monitoring with CRNSs is feasible, especially
for irrigated fields with a size smaller than the CRNS footprint. Therefore,
the aim of this study is to use Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the
feasibility of monitoring irrigation with CRNSs. This was achieved by
simulating irrigation scenarios with different field dimensions (from 0.5
to 8 ha) and SM variations between 0.05 and 0.50 cm3 cm−3.
Moreover, the energy-dependent response functions of eight moderators with
different high-density polyethylene (HDPE) thickness or additional
gadolinium thermal shielding were investigated. It was found that a
considerable part of the neutrons that contribute to the CRNS footprint can
originate outside an irrigated field, which is a challenge for irrigation
monitoring with CRNSs. The use of thin HDPE moderators (e.g. 5 mm) generally
resulted in a smaller footprint and thus stronger contributions from the
irrigated area. However, a thicker 25 mm HDPE moderator with gadolinium
shielding improved SM monitoring in irrigated fields due to a higher
sensitivity of neutron counts with changing SM. This moderator and shielding
set-up provided the highest chance of detecting irrigation events,
especially when the initial SM was relatively low. However, variations in SM
outside a 0.5 or 1 ha irrigated field (e.g. due to irrigation of
neighbouring fields) can affect the count rate more than SM variations due
to irrigation. This suggests the importance of retrieving SM data from the
surrounding of a target field to obtain more meaningful information for
supporting irrigation management, especially for small irrigated fields.
Skillful decadal prediction of German Bight storm activity
Authors: Krieger Daniel , Brune Sebastian , Pieper Patrick , Weisse Ralf , Baehr Johanna
Published: December 2022

Abstract. We evaluate the prediction skill of the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI-ESM) decadal hindcast system for German Bight storm activity (GBSA) on a multiannual to decadal scale. We define GBSA every year via the most extreme 3-hourly geostrophic wind speeds, which are derived from mean sea-level pressure (MSLP) data. Our 64-member ensemble of annually initialized hindcast simulations spans the time period 1960–2018. For this period, we compare deterministically and probabilistically predicted winter MSLP anomalies and annual GBSA with a lead time of up to 10 years against observations. The model produces poor deterministic predictions of GBSA and winter MSLP anomalies for individual years but fair predictions for longer averaging periods. A similar but smaller skill difference between short and long averaging periods also emerges for probabilistic predictions of high storm activity. At long averaging periods (longer than 5 years), the model is more skillful than persistence- and climatology-based predictions. For short aggregation periods (4 years and less), probabilistic predictions are more skillful than persistence but insignificantly differ from climatological predictions. We therefore conclude that, for the German Bight, probabilistic decadal predictions (based on a large ensemble) of high storm activity are skillful for averaging periods longer than 5 years. Notably, a differentiation between low, moderate, and high storm activity is necessary to expose this skill.
DISPERSION MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF CHLORINE: CASE STUDIES OF THREE SELECTED LOCATIONS IN NIGERIA
Authors: Okwuba M.J , Williams A,O,F
Published: December 2022

Chlorine is a toxic chemical that is nonetheless commonly employed for many industrial applications such as disinfection of water in potable water treatment plants. Accidental release of chlorine at such a facility can lead to serious environmental pollution with high adverse health consequence for both personnel and residents close to the facility. Two reported accidental releases of chlorine at water treatment plants were at the Cross River Water Board Plant and the Lamingo Water Treatment Plant which occurred in 2007 and 2015, respectively, and resulted in multiple fatalities and several hospitalizations. This paper, therefore, presents the dispersion modeling of these two cases together with a third one based on hypothetical release scenarios in order to determine the potential consequences of the releases. The modeling was carried out using the Areal Location of Hazardous Atmosphere (ALOHA) software developed and made freely available by the United State Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The Google Earth mapping software, which is also freely available, was employed to graphically display the results of the dispersion modeling from the ALOHA software so that it is easy to identify the areas that could be impacted by the releases. The results showed three threat zones (red, orange and yellow) for all the hypothetical release cases of the three locations. The results also show that the potential for much higher multiple fatalities and hospitalizations exist for the third location. Thus, every effort must be made by implementing measures to prevent the accidental release of chlorine, as well as adequate/robust emergency response plans for mitigation and recovery in the event of a release. The dispersion modeling results are useful for planning emergency response and evacuation/escape routes. Keywords: Dispersion modeling, Chlorine, Toxicity, ALOHA software, Google Earth, Threat zones, emergency response planning.
CURRENT TRENDS AND NEW PERSPECTIVES IN BIODIESEL PRODUCTION: A FOCUSED REVIEW ON INTERESTERIFICATION REACTION
Authors: Aderibigbe F.A , Bello B.T , Adebayo R. O , Olufowora F.O , Saka H.B , Amosa M.K , Karimu O.S
Published: December 2022

The consumption of energy has risen to 12 billion tons/year due to the ever-increasing population and urbanization which has directly led to more energy demand. Hence, there is an obvious need for an alternative source of fuel energy. One of the best alternatives is the use of renewable fuel energy. Biodiesel is an example of a renewable fuel energy which is produced from biomass by different technologies such as direct blending of oil, emulsification, pyrolysis, and transesterification. However, the drawback of these methods has propelled research experts to persistently search for better technologies. Over the years, transesterification reaction methods have been globally identified for in biodiesel production. Nonetheless, its by-product named glycerol has limited its utilization in biodiesel production. Therefore, it has been reported that the integration of glycerol into biodiesel composition may be a better option. In this review, the latest biodiesel production technology discussed is the interesterification reaction. This method integrates the by-product (glycerol) by producing a glycerol free Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME), triacetin which is a useful fuel additive is produced instead. After the production of biodiesel and triacetin through the interesterification reaction route, there is always no need to separate both products which makes this process interestingly more sustainable and economical. The current trends of this production technology are also expounded. Keywords: Energy; FAME; Fuel; Interesterification; Triacetin
ANALYSIS OF BARYTE FROM AZARA DEVELOPMENT AREA IN AWE LGA OF NASSARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Utibe Benedict Edem  , Akuma, Oji  , Ogbonna Friday Joel  , Ayoade Kuye
Published: December 2022

Baryte serves as raw materials in the petroleum and chemical industries for production of several end-products. Its applications are based on its physiochemical and mineralogical characteristics. Still, the primary use of baryte is as a weighting agent for oil drilling operations. In spite of Nigeria’s huge baryte reserves, the multinational oil companies operating in Nigeria neglect its use on the grounds that Nigerian baryte have lower quality compared to imported baryte. This study analyses the physiochemical and mineralogical properties of Azara baryte, located in Nassarawa State, Nigeria. These parameters were examined vis a vis the American Petroleum Institute (API) standards. Results of the XRF analyses reveals that the baryte sample has a BaO content of 8.595%, and SO3 of 7.45%; Thus, equivalent to 15.885% BaSO4 (BaO+SO3). Physiochemical analyses indicate that while the moisture content (0.02), pH (7.2), and metallic contents, were within API specification for drilling, its low specific gravity value of 3.45g/cm3, makes it unacceptable for drilling operations, as it compares unfavourably with the API standards. Mineralogical analysis shows quartz as the most predominant associated mineral. These results indicate the sample’s suitability for paper, glass, paint, and rubber, production. However, it requires further processing to meet globally acceptable specifications for drilling operation. Keywords: Baryte; Specific gravity; XRF; XRD; Azara.
OPTIMIZATION AND KINETIC STUDY OF THE HYDROTHERMAL PRETREATMENT OF COCOA POD HUSKS AND UNRIPE PLANTAIN PEELS
Authors: Jerome Undiandeye  , Joseph Nwabanne  , Silas Kiman  , Haruna Mavakumba Kefas
Published: December 2022

Cocoa pod husks and unripe plantain peels are mass flows that are hugely available in Nigeria without any known industrial application. This study involves the kinetic analysis of the decomposition of hemicellulose into xylose and furfural during the hydrothermal pretreatment of cocoa pod husks and unripe plantain peels within a temperature, time, and solid concentration range of 110 - 140 °C, 5 - 10 minutes and 60 – 100 g/dm3 respectively. The experimentally obtained kinetic constants determined the optimal time for the desired product's (xylose) maximum yield. At the process temperature of 110, 125 and 140 °C, the optimal times were 332, 140 and 79 minutes respectively for the cocoa pod husks, and 210, 117 and 29 minutes respectively for unripe plantain peels. The kinetic models developed from the Response Surface Methodology show that the formation of xylose and furfural from cocoa pod husks and unripe plantain peels depends only on the process temperature and time but not on the concentration of biomass in the reactor. Keywords: lignocellulosic biomass; severity factor; response surface methodology
OPTIMIZATION OF RISERBASE GAS INJECTION FOR SLUG FLOW ATTENUATION
Authors: Adegboyega B. Ehinmowo  , Ndubusi U. Okereke
Published: December 2022

A new approach for the optimization of riserbase gas injection for slug flow attenuation has been proposed. Riserbase gas injection is an established method for slug flow mitigation, however it can be expensive due to the high volume of gas required and the cost of compression. In this study, optimum gas volumes required to stabilise a range of unstable slug flow conditions were obtained using bifurcation maps. The results showed that at the bifurcation point, minimum gas injection volume is required to achieve flow stability. This study established that the optimum gas volume required is dependent on the type of slug flow. For a very high frequency slug flow at high flow rate more volume of gas up to 100kg/s is required to achieve stability while slug flow at moderate flow rate could need up to 30kg/s and slug at low flow rate required about 6 kg/s to achieve stability. The developed approach in this work can help reduce the overall cost of gas injection for slug flow mitigation. Keywords: Slug attenuation; Bifurcation; Gas injection; slug flow; multiphase flow.
PYROLYSIS OF SPENT LUBRICATING OIL USING SIMPLE RECYCLING TECHNIQUE TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Authors: Esther O. Babatunde  , Samuel O.  Ebhodaghe  , Joseph Isaac Adekunle
Published: December 2022

The recycling of spent lubricating oil would reduce the environmental concerns associated with its indiscriminate disposal. Since temperature influences the properties of lubricating oil, this study investigated the effect of temperature on the properties and metals composition of used lubricating oil using simple recycling techniques. The spent lubricating oil after pyrolysis yielded 79.1 % liquid fraction, 18.2 % gaseous fraction and 2.7% solid fraction or char. The properties and composition of the pyrolysis oil were determined using the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometer (GCMS), this shows that the major composition of the refined oil is 34.037 % Octamethyl- Cyclotetrasiloxane (C8H24O4Si4). Results indicated that since the properties of viscosity, pour point and metals composition in the pyrolysis oil were improved upon at a high temperature of 420℃, waste or spent oil is a viable feedstock for lubricant production. Keywords: lubricating oil; pyrolysis; fuel properties; temperature; spent oil.
CHARACTERIZATION OF METAKAOLIN PREPARED FROM UN-TAPPED KAOLIN DEPOSIT AS ALTERNATIVE TO CEMENT IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Authors: Ayuba Bijimi Caleb  , A. S. Kovo
Published: December 2022

In this work, the production and characterization of metakaolin from un-tapped kaolins deposit were carried out and their pozzalanic reactivity in cement replacement were evaluated between 28days and 56days accompanied by a steep decrease of Ca(OH)¬¬¬2 content. The physiochemical properties of the two kaolins and metakaolins were studied by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The properties of cements containing metakaolin were monitored for period up to 56days. Two metakaolins derived from indigeneous Ahoko and Aloji Kaolins were used. Cement mortars and concretes with 0%, 5%,10%, 15%, 20%,30% and 35% metakaolin’s were studied. Water demand and setting time were determined in all samples. The blended cements of the metakaolins demand significantly more water than the relatively pure cement. 10% replacement has the highest water demand percentage .it is concluded that a 10% metakaolin content of Ahoko and 10% metakaolin content of Aloji seems to be generally favorable than the other replacement percentages. The produced metakaolins derived from indigenous kaolins are good pozzolans with respect to setting time and water demand. Keyword: cement; metakaolin; dehydroxylation; pozzolan; setting time
System Assessment Mechanism in Open Distance Learning
Authors: Muhammad Ajmal
Published: December 2022

Present study aims to explore the system assessment mechanism of Open Distance Learning (ODL) system followed by Allama Iqbal Open University. It further purports to find out the perception of teachers and students about the system assessment in instructional design mechanism of ODL. Present study was descriptive in nature and survey design was used. Population of the study comprised students and faculty members of Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. By using convenient sampling technique, data was collected through questionnaire from 100 teachers and 300 students. Three point Likert scale was developed by researchers which consists of five subscales including Course Development, Course Delivery, Admission Procedure, Student Support Service and Assessment and Evaluation. Questionnaire consists of 30 statements and its Cronbach Alpha reliability was .81. Findings of the study revealed that ODL system in AIOU comprised five major dimensions while some of those need improvement. It is recommended that AIOU may develop a framework of assessment based on systematic process of identifying, analyzing and assessing the present needs and issues of students and university by shifting its trend towards online workshops and assignments on Learning Management System (LMS), etc.