bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No detectable influence of the carbonate ion effect on changes in stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) of shallow dwelling planktic foraminifera over the past 160 kyr
Authors: Köhler Peter , Mulitza Stefan
Published: October 2023

Abstract. Laboratory experiments showed that the isotopic fractionation of δ13C and of δ18O during calcite formation of planktic foraminifera are species-specific functions of oceanic CO32--concentration. This effect became known as the carbonate ion effect (CIE), whose role during the interpretation of marine sediment data will be investigated here in an in-depth analysis of the 13C cycle. For that effort we compiled new 160 kyr-long mono-specific stacks of changes in both δ13C and of δ18O from either the planktic foraminifera G. ruber (rub) or T. sacculifer (sac) from 112 and 40 non-polar marine records, respectively. Both mono-specific time series Δ(δ13Crub) and Δ(δ13Csac) are very similar to each other and a linear regression through a scatter plot of both data sets has a slope of ∼0.99 — although the laboratory-based CIE for both species differ by nearly a factor of two, implying that they should record distinctly different changes in δ13C, if we accept that the carbonate ion concentration changes on glacial/interglacial timescales. For a deeper understanding we use the global carbon cycle model BICYCLE-SE to calculate how surface ocean CO32- should have varied over time in order to be able to calculate the potential corrections which would follow the laboratory-based CIE. Our simulations are forced with atmospheric reconstructions of CO2 and δ13CO2 derived from ice cores to obtain a carbon cycle which should at least at the surface ocean be as close as possible to expected conditions and which agrees in the deep ocean in the carbon isotope of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), δ13CDIC, with reconstruction from benthic foraminifera. We find that both Δ(δ13Crub) and Δ(δ13Csac) agree better with changes in  simulated δ13CDIC when ignoring the CIE than those time series which where corrected for the CIE. The combination of data- and model-based evidence for the lack of a role for the CIE in Δ(δ13Crub) and Δ(δ13Csac) suggests to us that the CIE as measured in laboratory experiments is not directly transferable to the interpretation of marine sediments records. We hypothesise that both foraminifera species can optimise their light environments via vertical motion and therefore calcify under nearly stable CO32--concentration. The much smaller CIE-to-glacial/interglacial-signal-ratio in δ18O, when compared to δ13C prevents us to draw robust conclusions on the role of the CIE on δ18O as recorded in the hard shells of both species. However, theory proposes that the CIE in δ13C and δ18O depends both on the pH in the surrounding water, suggesting that the CIE should be detectable in neither or both of the isotopes. Whether this lack of role of the CIE in the interpretation of planktic paleo data is a general feature, or restricted to the two species investigated here, needs to be checked with further data from other planktic foraminiferal species.
MMSeaIce: Multi-task Mapping of Sea Ice Parameters from AI4Arctic Sea Ice Challenge Dataset
Authors: Chen Xinwei , Patel Muhammed , Pena Cantu Fernando , Park Jinman , Noa Turnes Javier , Xu Linlin , Scott K. Andrea , Clausi David A.
Published: October 2023

Abstract. The AutoIce challenge, organized by multiple national and international agencies, seeks to advance the development of near-real-time sea ice products with improved spatial resolution, broader spatial and temporal coverage, and enhanced consistency. In this paper, we present a detailed description of our solutions and experimental results for the challenge. We have implemented an automated sea ice mapping pipeline based on a multi-task U-Net architecture, capable of predicting sea ice concentration (SIC), stage of development (SOD), and floe size (FLOE) using Sentinel-1 SAR data. For model training and evaluation, we utilize the AI4Arctic dataset, which includes SAR imagery, corresponding passive microwave and auxiliary data, and ice chart-derived label maps. Among the submissions from over 30 teams worldwide, our team achieved the highest combined score of 86.3 %, as well as the highest scores on SIC (92.0 %) and SOD (88.6 %). Additionally, our result analysis showcases the effectiveness of various techniques, such as input SAR variable downscaling, spatial-temporal encoding, input feature selection, and loss function selection, in significantly improving the accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of deep learning-based sea ice mapping.
Variability and Predictability of a reduced-order land atmosphere coupled model
Authors: Xavier Anupama K. , Demaeyer Jonathan , Vannitsem Stéphane
Published: October 2023

Abstract. This study delves into the predictability of atmospheric blocking, zonal, and transition patterns utilizing a simplified coupled model. This model, implemented in Python, emulates midlatitude atmospheric dynamics with a two-layer quasi-geostrophic channel atmosphere on a beta-plane, encompassing simplified land effects. Initially, we comprehensively scrutinize the model's responses to environmental parameters like solar radiation, surface friction, and atmosphere-ground heat exchange. Our findings confirm that the model faithfully replicates real-world Earth-like flow regimes, establishing a robust foundation for further analysis. Subsequently, employing Gaussian mixture clustering, we successfully delineate distinct blocking, zonal, and transition flow regimes, unveiling their dependencies on surface friction. To gauge predictability and persistence, we compute the averaged local Lyapunov exponents for each regime. Our investigation uncovers the presence of zonal, blocking, and transition regimes, particularly under conditions of reduced surface friction. As surface friction increases further, the system transitions to a state characterized by two blocking regimes and a transition regime. Intriguingly, periodic behavior emerges under specific surface friction values, returning to patterns observed under low friction coefficients. Model resolution increase impacts the system in a way that only two regimes are then obtained with the clustering: the transition phase disappears and the predictability drops to roughly 2 days for both of the remaining regimes. In accordance with previous research findings, our study underscores that when all three regimes coexist, zonal patterns exhibit a more extended predictability horizon compared to blocking patterns. Remarkably, transition patterns exhibit reduced predictability when coexisting with the other regimes. In addition, within a specified range of surface friction values where two blocking regimes are found, it is observed that blocked atmospheric situations in the west of the applied topography are marked by instabilities and reduced predictability in contrast to the blockings appearing on the eastern side of the topography.
Permutation Entropy and Complexity Analysis of Large-scale Solar Wind Structures and Streams
Authors: Kilpua Emilia Katja Johanna , Good Simon , Ala-Lahti Matti , Osmane Adnane , Koikkalainen Venla
Published: October 2023

Abstract. In this work, we perform a statistical study of magnetic field fluctuations in the solar wind at 1 au using permutation entropy and complexity analysis. Slow and fast wind, magnetic clouds, interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME)-driven sheath regions and slow-fast stream interaction regions (SIRs) have been investigated separately. Our key finding is that there are significant differences in permutation entropy and complexity values between the solar wind types at larger timescales and little difference at small timescales. Differences become more distinct with increasing timescale, suggesting that smaller-scale turbulent features are more universal. At larger timescales, the analysis method can be used to identify localized spatial structures. We found that fluctuation properties in compressive structures (sheaths and SIRs) exhibit a clear locality. Our results shows that, in all cases apart from magnetic clouds at largest scales, solar wind fluctuations are stochastic with the fast wind having the highest entropies and low complexities. Magnetic clouds in turn exhibit the lowest entropy and highest complexity, consistent with them being coherent structures in which the magnetic field components vary in an ordered manner. SIRs, slow wind and ICME sheaths are intermediate to magnetic clouds and fast wind, reflecting the increasingly ordered structure. Our results also indicate that permutation entropy – complexity analysis is a useful tool for characterizing the solar wind and investigating the nature of its fluctuations.
An Optimized and Hybrid Gating Scheme for the Suppression of Very Low Frequency Radios in Transient Electromagnetic Systems
Authors: Khare Smith K. , McLachlan Paul , Maurya Pradip Kumar , Larsen Jakob Juul
Published: October 2023

Abstract. One of the most used approaches for measuring the earth's subsurface resistivity is the transient electromagnetic method (TEM). However, noise and interference from different sources, e.g., radio communication, the instrument, the atmosphere, and powerlines severely taint these types of signals. In particular, radio transmission in the very low-frequency (VLF) range between 3 kHz and 30 kHz is one of the most prominent sources of noise. Transient electromagnetic signals are normally gated to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. A precise selection of gate shapes is required to suppress undesired noise while allowing the TEM signal to pass unaltered. We employ the multi-objective particle swarm optimization technique to choose optimal gate shapes and placements by minimizing an objective function composed of standard error bars, the covariance between gates, and the distortion of the gated signal. The proposed method is applied to both fully sampled synthetic TEM data and to boxcar-gated field data. The best output from the search space of gate shapes was found to be a hybrid combination of boxcar and Hamming gates. The effectiveness of hybrid gating over traditional boxcar and semitapered gating is confirmed by an analysis of covariance matrices and error bars. The results show that the developed method effectively suppresses VLF noise in the middle gates, that is, gates with center times spanning  30 µs to 200 µs and in the late gates, that is, gates with center times spanning  200 µs to 1130 µs. The analysis shows that the average improvement in standard errors obtained for the hybrid gating scheme over boxcar gating is 1.719 and 1.717 on synthetic and field data, respectively.
Sensitivity analysis of numerical modeling input parameters on floating offshore wind turbine loads
Authors: Wiley Will , Jonkman Jason , Robertson Amy , Shaler Kelsey
Published: October 2023

Abstract. Floating wind turbines must withstand a unique and challenging set of loads from the wind and ocean environment. To de-risk development, accurate predictions of these loads are necessary. Uncertainty in modeling predictions leads to larger required safety factors, increasing project costs and the levelized cost of energy. Complex aero-hydro-elastic modeling tools use many input parameters to represent the wind, waves, current, aerodynamic loads, hydrodynamic loads, and structural properties. It is helpful to understand which of these parameters ultimately drives a design. In this work, an ultimate and fatigue-proxy load sensitivity analysis was performed with 35 different input parameters, using an elementary effects approach to identify the most influential parameters for a case study involving the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 5 MW baseline wind turbine atop the OC4-DeepCwind semisubmersible during normal operation. The importance of each parameter was evaluated using 14 response quantities of interest across three operational wind speed conditions. The study concludes that turbulent wind velocity standard deviation is the parameter with the strongest sensitivity; this value is important not just for turbine loads, but also for the global system response. The system center of mass in the wind direction is found to have the highest impact on the system rotation and tower loads. The current velocity is found to be the most dominating parameter for the system global motion and consequently the mooring loads. All tested wind turbulence parameters in addition to the standard deviation are also found to be influential. Wave characteristics are influential for some fatigue-proxy loading but do not significantly impact the extreme ultimate loads in these operational load cases. The required number of random seeds for stochastic environmental conditions is considered to ensure that the sensitivities are due to the input parameters and not due to the seed. The required number of analysis points in the parameter space is identified so that the conclusions represent a global sensitivity. The results are specific to the platform, turbine, and choice of parameter ranges, but the demonstrated approach can be applied widely to guide focus in parameter uncertainty.
OZONE CONTENT OVER THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2023
Authors:   Central Aerological Observatory, IVANOVA N.S. , KUZNETSOVA I.N. ,   Hydrometeorological Research Center of the Russian Federation, LEZINA E.A. ,   Mosekomonitoring State Nature Protection Organization
Published: October 2023

The review is compiled on the basis of the results of operation of the total ozone (TO) monitoring system in the CIS and Baltic countries functioning in operational mode at Central Aerological Observatory (CAO). The monitoring system uses data from the national network equipped with M-124 filter ozonometers being under the methodological supervision of Main Geophysical Observatory. The quality of the functioning of the entire system is operationally controlled in CAO based on the OMI satellite equipment observations (NASA, USA). Basic TO observation data are generalized for each month of the first quarter of 2023 and for the first quarter. Data of routine observations of surface ozone values in the Moscow region are also presented.
ASSIMILATION OF EXPEDITION OBSERVATION DATA ON WATER TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY IN THE REGION OF DRAKE PASSAGE
Authors:   Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, DEINEGO I.D. , BELYAEV K.P. ,   Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences,   Federal Research Center for Informatics and Management, Russian Academy of Sciences, TARAKANOV R.YU. ,   Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: October 2023

Results of numerical experiments on the assimilation of in situ temperature and salinity profiles observed in the region of Drake Passage (the South Atlantic) during the expedition of Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) in the autumn of 2011 into the INMOM model developed by Marchuk Institute of Numerical Mathematics of RAS are considered. The previously developed method of assimilation presented in several publications is used. As a result of some experiments, it has been shown that the structure of the anticyclonic circulation associated with the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence in the area of the Argentine Basin has been mostly affected by the expedition data assimilation. Assimilated fields of ocean temperature on the surface and at various horizons show better agreement with reanalysis data than corresponding fields without assimilation. It is also demonstrated that the influence of assimilation spreads much further beyond the local area of observations and leads to changing all calculated characteristics (not only observed ones).
COMPARABILITY ANALYSIS OF RIVER RUNOFF CHARACTERISTICS BASED ON LONG-TERM OBSERVATIONS AND REANALYSIS DATA: A CASE STUDY FOR THE WESTERN SIBERIA RIVERS
Authors:   Sukachev Institute of Forest, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, FEDOTOVA E.V. , BURENINA T.A. ,   Sukachev Institute of Forest, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: October 2023

Long-term observation series of hydrological and climatic parameters should be obtained to solve the problems of assessing and forecasting the hydrological regime of river basins. In the absence of surface measurements of these parameters, reanalysis data can be used. The paper presents a comparison of the runoff magnitude and the consistency of runoff dynamics based on the observational data of gauging stations and the ERA5-Land and TerraClimate reanalysis data for seven rivers of Western Siberia (the left-bank tributaries of the Yenisei located in the zones of taiga and forest-tundra). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients for seasonal and annual runoff between the data of reanalysis and the actual data are equal to 0.35-0.98. The normalized root-mean-square error of annual runoff according to the reanalysis ranges from 13 to 21%. The values of errors and correlation coefficients depend on geographic location and area of the basins and vary during a season.
ANTHROPOGENICALLY CHANGED WATER ENTERING WATER BODIES IN THE DON BASIN
Authors:   Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, KORONKEVICH N.I. , CHERNOGAEVA G.M. ,   Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences,   Izrael Institute of Global Climate and Ecology, DOLGOV S.V. ,   Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, KASHUTINA E.A. ,   Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, BARABANOVA E.A. ,   Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, LUK'YANOV K.V. ,   Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: October 2023

Based on the data of water balance stations and water management statistics, the total amount of anthropogenically altered water entering the water bodies of the Don basin has been calculated for a period from the 1980s until recently. These are industrial, domestic and agricultural waste and return (collector-drainage) waters entering rivers and water bodies from the so-called point sources and usually containing certain pollution even after treatment, as well as diffuse runoff from agricultural (non-irrigated) lands and urban areas which inflows to the hydrographic network (ravines, gullies, river valleys) with the pollutants washed out from these territories. Diffuse runoff is usually not purified. It is found that the volume of uncontrolled diffuse runoff from agricultural lands and urbanized territories in the Don basin is comparable to the volume of waste and return water or even exceeds it. This largely explains the unsatisfactory water quality in this basin, because water protection measures are mainly aimed at reducing pollution from point sources.
DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES OF DISTRIBUTED DATA MANAGEMENT AT THE SATELLITE CENTERS OF PLANETA STATE RESEARCH CENTER ON SPACE HYDROMETEOROLOGY
Authors:   Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, LUPYAN E.A. , BURTSEV M.A. ,   Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, MILEKHIN O.E. ,   Scientific Research Center of Space Hydrometeorology «Planeta», KRAMAREVA L.S. ,   Scientific Research Center of Space Hydrometeorology «Planeta», KALASHNIKOV A.V. ,   Scientific Research Center of Space Hydrometeorology «Planeta»
Published: October 2023

The issues of evolution of methods for working with Earth remote sensing data for solving hydrometeorological and related problems are considered. A review of existing methods and technologies from the beginning of regular observations of the Earth from space to the present is given, the features of the current situation associated with a sharp increase in the volume of available data and a radical improvement in their quality are analyzed, and the basic requirements for today's technologies are formulated, without which the effective use of data is impossible. In conclusion, examples of the implementation of modern systems are considered, including the unified system for working with data “National Research Center “Planet”, based on the presented approaches and further trends in the development of systems for working with data and their organization into universal multi-level metasystems.
The Effect of Different Finish Line Designs and Material Types on the Periodontal Response of Single Crown Restoration: A 3-year Follow-up Study
Authors: TAKİ Sadık , NİŞANCI YILMAZ Mediha Nur , İNÖNÜ Elif , ÖZTÜRK Caner
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Different restorative materials and marginal finish lines may contribute to periodontal inflammation, in spite of patients' proper oral hygiene habits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different finish line designs and restorative materials on periodontal health.
Materials and Methods: In this retrospective clinical study, the periodontal clinical parameters of 450 crown restorations fabricated with different finish line designs (chamfer, shoulder, knife-edge) and different materials (Metal-ceramic, Zirconia, Glass-ceramic) were evaluated at baseline and at 12th, 24th and 36th months after the cementation. The data were analyzed with Repeated Measures ANOVA and post hoc least significant difference tests were performed (α=.05).
Results: Periodontal clinical parameters significantly increased during the 36-month follow-up period. The marginal finish line and material type had no significant effect on the probing depth and gingival index scores. The highest plaque index scores were observed in zirconia restorations with knife edge finish lines at the 36th month after crown placement.
Conclusions: The periodontal health of the prepared tooth was negatively affected by the increased follow-up duration regardless of the marginal finish line design and material type. The clinicians should consider the favorable effect of the glass-ceramic crown restorations with a chamfer finish line on the plaque control for long-term success.
Role of Learning Disabilities in Academic Performance among High School Students: Significance of Demographic Variables
Authors: Bano Sadia , Yusuf Shazia
Published: October 2023

The progression of any country lies on the educational progress and potential of the students. It is evident that for improving learning and quality of education, uncountable efforts and resources are spent every year but the educational standards do not meet the expected level. The present study was conducted to find out the role of learning disabilities among high school students and it also aimed to find out the relationship between learning disabilities (LD) and academic performance (AP) of high school students. For which 525 students were taken from different public and private sector schools of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. For the assessment of learning disabilities, the Learning Disabilities Checklist (LDC) (Ashraf & Najam, 2014) was used and the percentage of the marks obtained by the students in their class was taken as a representative of his or her academic performance. It was hypothesized that there would be a significant negative relationship between learning disabilities and academic performance of high school students. Results of Pearson correlation indicated that academic achievement was significantly negatively correlated with learning disabilities among high school students. Results also indicated that male students significantly scored high on reading disability as compared to female students. There was a significant positive relationship of the age with mathematical disabilities among male students with learning disabilities whereas the age was significantly positively associated with reading disabilities among female high school students. Results have important implications in the educational sector and for parental counseling and education as well.
Infección urinaria por enterobacterias multirresistentes en un centro de trasplante renal
Authors: Calza Mariela Y. , Badaracco María E. , Aguerre María A. , Maurich Marcela S. , Bangher María C. , Peña Laura
Published: October 2023

La infección bacteriana del tracto urinario (ITU) es la causa más frecuente de complicación en el paciente trasplantado renal.Nuestros objetivos fueron determinar los patógenos mas frecuentes, su asociación al tiempo transcurrido al primer episodio de ITU, los factores de riesgo predisponentes y la sensibilidad antibiótica de los gérmenes.Materiales y Métodos: se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en el que se siguió por un año a los pacientes trasplantados renales entre noviembre de 2006 a febrero de 2012. Se incluyó el primer urocultivo positivo con bacilos gram negativos.Resultados: de 156 pacientes analizados, 63 (40 %) tuvieron al menos un episodio de ITU en el que se caracterizaron los microorganismos responsables. El patógeno más frecuente fue Klebsiella pneumoniae (25/63 episodios, 39 %), seguido por Escherichia coli (23/63, 37 %). Casi la mitad (31/63, 49 %) ocurrieron antes de los 30 días (58 % por K. pneumoniae), un tercio (18/63, 29 %) entre los 31 y 180 días (39 % por E. coli) y el resto (14/63, 22 %) en el medio año siguiente (64 % de ellas causadas por E. coli). Entre las K. pneumoniae, 22/25 (88 %) resultaron productoras de ß lactamasas de espectro extendido. Como factores de riesgo predisponentes se encontraron sexo femenino, litiasis renal previa y utilización de catéter doble J.Conclusión: este estudio confirma que las ITU son una complicación frecuente en los transplantados renales. La asociación de K. pneumoniae multirresistentes con las infecciones inmediatas puede ser considerada como marcadora de infección intrahospitalaria, y señala la posibilidad de realizar intervenciones que modifiquen su incidencia.
ANALYSIS AND IMPACT OF APIA ACTIVITY ON DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN ROMANIA
Authors: Copăceanu Cristina , Mazăre Silvia
Published: October 2023

Agriculture is a very important sector for Romania, providing food and products of vegetable and animal origin, jobs for people in villages and business opportunities for enterprises and investors. Romania's agricultural area is in permanent change, influenced by European money that was attracted through support measures and community policies, and environmental protection and the need to ensure a sustainable development of agriculture in Romania made the activity of the Agency for Payments and Intervention for Agriculture (APIA) stands out as an important factor in aligning modern agriculture with the environment. Through this study, we aim to analyze the way in which APIA promotes sustainable agricultural practices and provides support to farmers to protect the environment and whether the agency's activity has brought benefits to the economic development of Romania and Neamț County. We thus demonstrate the important role that the agency has for the economy, for supporting farmers and agricultural producers in Romania, but also for the country's agricultural policy, the institution participating in the development and implementation of national agricultural policies and strategies, as well as in the process of negotiating subsidies and projects within the European Union (EU) agricultural financing system.
Exploring the Learning Process of Individual Learners in a Student-Centered Activity: A Case of English Presentation Activities at a University in Japan
Authors:   Osaka Kyoiku University, Japan, Shinozaki Fumiya , Sakashita Mami ,   Shijo Elementary School Osaka, Japan, Owaki Yuya ,   Hojo Junior High School Osaka, Japan
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the learning process of university students during English presentation activities. Four students in the course participated in the research. Reflective texts written after each class were analyzed. The result of the correspondence analysis indicated that each participant reflected on themselves from similar or different perspectives. In addition, every single comment was classified into six categories: English, presentation, slide, content, collaborative learning, and active learning. Each comment was also judged whether it contained positive, neutral, or negative emotions. The results were discussed in terms of self-regulated learning based on the participants’ individual differences such as their presentation experiences or public speaking anxiety. The main finding was that despite the course offering the same English presentation activities, there were differences in the process or focus of learning among the participants. It suggests that teachers should focus more on individual-optimal learning in a student-centered activity in which students take the initiative in their learning. Self-regulated learning strategies such as how to reflect on oneself are thought to be effective for goal achievement at a higher level.
Malaysian University Students’ English Academic Reading and Writing Ecology: A Preliminary Description
Authors:   Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia, Loo Daron
Published: October 2023

This study presents a preliminary description of university students’ ecology of academic reading and writing in English. Data was collected through three online discussion forums, where students could post and discuss about their perceptions and experiences in academic reading and writing. Using a grounded approach, data from these online forum posts were thematized. To ensure credibility of students’ responses, the third forum post was used to triangulate data from the first two forums. Findings indicated that the students had specific experiences of reading, through their mention of various academic texts assigned by their lecturers; however, academic writing was found to be rather general, given the lack of specific information and experiences found in students’ responses. Beyond the university, it was found that students may not be reading materials in the English language, and that their reading was of a variety of genres. These findings bring about the assumption that the ecology for reading and writing, especially in the English language, is confined to the educational setting. It is suggested that English language instructors could leverage on materials students encounter outside the university to encourage reading and writing in English.
Effect of Compaction Effort on Penetration Resistance and Shear Strength of Landfilled and Fresh Municipal Solid Waste
Authors: Okonta FN , Mthethwa M.K , Ntshalintshali M.B , Ngankoue F A
Published: October 2023

High quality in-situ compaction of municipal solid waste (MSW) is required to ensure landfill stability. However given the heterogeneous composition of MSW, it is important to assess the potential sensitivity of Dynamic cone penetrometers (DCP) and direct shear apparatus to changes
in compaction effort, composition and aging effect and different specific work per blow of DCP on penetration resistance (DPI) and shear strength parameters of fresh and excavated Johannesburg landfill municipal solid waste. The results reveal that for average density range of 354kg/m3 to
722kg/m3 the mobilized penetration resistance, DPI was 15–40 mm/blow for DCP specific work per blow of 144 kJ/m2 and 10– 33 mm/blow due to reduced work per blow of 92kJ/m2. The friction angle and cohesion of fresh waste and landfilled waste with fibrous content of 45% and 64% respectively
are 19° and 12kPa for fresh waste and 21°and 31kPa for landfilled waste. 24 hours soaking of waste resulted in reduction in friction angle of fresh waste and cohesion of landfilled waste respectively. Controlling the ratio of sand, organics and fibrous content in recycling program
is required to increase the stability of landfilled sites exposed to high tropical rainfall.
Evaluation of Asphalt Produced from Waste Tyre and Polyethylene Terephthalate-Based Bitumen with Paraffin Wax as Rejuvenator
Authors: Olukanni David O. , Adegoke Deborah A. , Akinmejiwa Akinbowale A. , Bassey Daniel E. , Adediran Joel A.
Published: October 2023

During pavement construction and rehabilitation, large amounts of bitumen are often required. As such, the need for material diversification in pavement construction is essential to conserve the non-renewable natural resource deposits. This study assessed the use of Polyethylene Terephthalate
(PET) waste and grounded tyre combined in varying proportions with aged bitumen modifier, and wax as a rejuvenator in the production of asphaltic concrete. A 10% polymer replacement level was maintained for all modified mix batches with three distinct proportions: 6%-PET:4%-GWT, 5%-PET:5%-GWT,
and 4%PET:6%-GWT. The rejuvenator was added in percentages 1, 2, and 3 by the total mass of modified bitumen mix. Results showed that the penetration values of the modified bitumen mixes with wax fall between bitumen grades 20–60, indicating suitability in warmer climates. Ductility
results indicate an increase in ductility upon modification compared to the control mix. The 6%PET/4%GWT samples obtained the highest ductility values (M2 = 23.5 cm, M5 = 12.5 cm, M8 = 22 cm, M11 = 24.25 cm). The highest softening point value (84.5°C) was obtained with M3 (5%PET/5%GWT/0%wax).
The inclusion of wax as a rejuvenator led to massive increases in viscosity values compared to both the control mix and the mixes without wax. Flash and fire point results fell within the same range, implying that the modification and rejuvenation did not yield significant impact on the flash
and fire point properties. Marshall stability results showed that no modified bitumen batch obtained stability up to the control mix. The highest flow value (5.9 mm) was obtained with the M12 (5%PET/5%GWT/3%wax) mix. This was about 47.45% higher than that of the control mix and 23.7% higher
than that of the corresponding mix without wax. The study recommends material diversification as well as dosage variation as essential in the drive towards achieving optimum stability in asphaltic composites.
Direct nanofiltration for drinking water and wastewater treatment
Authors: Fujioka Takahiro
Published: October 2023

Water treatment using a nanofiltration (NF) membrane is an effective advanced water treatment process for achieving high organics removal. This presentation will cover our recent studies examining the feasibility of direct (i.e., no pre-treatment) NF treatment of surface water and wastewater using a submerged flat-sheet NF membrane module. When a direct NF system was employed for surface water treatment, we observed only slight membrane fouling over three months. The separation performance of the NF system remained high: total organic carbon (TOC) removal remained at 80-90% in most sampling occasions. Membrane surface characterization revealed that many substances covered the membrane surface. It was speculated that these substances deposited on the membrane surface provide a small contribution to the hydraulic resistance. Further, the membrane foulant was readily removed by physical cleaning, and the permeability fully recovered. This indicates that the membrane foulant did not penetrate the pores of the NF membrane. The results attained through the on-site test suggest the viability of direct NF treatment of surface water for achieving high water quality and stable system operation. In addition to the drinking water treatment, the presentation will provide the results of applying the direct NF system for wastewater treatment.
Dampak Implementasi Pemenuhan Standar Nasional Pendidikan Terhadap Kualitas Pembelajaran
Authors: Itje Tomi
Published: October 2023

This study aims to 1) obtain a description of the fulfillment of national standards for teaching staff at Inpres Tewil Elementary School, 2) to describe the inhibiting factors in fulfilling the fulfillment of SNP standard teaching staff at SD Inpres Tewil. 3) to find out the efforts to overcome obstacles in fulfilling the SNP at SD Inpres Tewil. Qualitative research with descriptive method. The research instrument used was an interview guide, observation sheets, and documentation. The results of the evaluation of student learning. Data testing was carried out using data triangulation techniques. The data obtained was analyzed based on the following steps: 1) data collection, 2) reduction, 3) data display, and 4) verification and conclusion. The results showed that the National Education Compliance Standards, both teaching and educational staff, infrastructure, content standards and process standards did not fully meet the criteria according to the National Education Standards. Christian Religious Teachers because at SD Inpres Tewil there is only 1 teacher available, while the number of Christian students is 125 students, so teachers experience difficulties in guided learning, which has an impact on the quality of student learning for Christian Religion subjects in character building and faith growth in introduction to Jesus Christ. The obstacle faced by the SD Tewil Education and Culture Office is the lack of responsiveness by the East Halmahera Education and Culture Office in coordinating educators specifically for Christian Religion Teachers, Facilities and Infrastructure. The conclusion is that the school principal continues to coordinate with the East Halmahera Education and Culture Office in fulfilling teaching staff, as well as providing facilities and infrastructure. In addition, the education office also needs to pay attention to other standards, so that the quality of education at SD Inpres Tewil schools can be optimally achieved.
Peran Guru Pendidikan Agama Kristen dalam Membentuk Mental Positif Generasi Milenial
Authors: Tatubeket, Rosanti , Marampa Elieser R , Undras Indraldo , Combi Jemy Saleky
Published: October 2023

Kemerosotan mental pada generasi milenial telah menjadi masalah yang semakin memprihatinkan dalam beberapa tahun terakhir. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk memahami peran guru Pendidikan Agama Kristen dalam membentuk mental positif generasi milenial dalam menghadapi tantangan dan masalah yang timbul akibat perkembang an teknologi. Untuk memperoleh data dalam penelitian ini, penulis menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode penelitian literature review atau studi pustaka. Adapun hasil kajian penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Peran guru Pendidikan Agama Kristen sangat penting dalam membentuk mental positif generasi milenial. Guru Pendidikan Agama Kristen memiliki tanggung jawab untuk memberikan pengajaran dan bimbingan yang kuat melalui: Pembentukan kerohanian, pembentukan karakter, serta melaksanakan pemuridan. Dengan pendekatan ini maka, generasi milenial dapat memiliki mental yang positif dalam menghadapi arus globalisasi.
Developing production models and analyzing timber production variation of Acacia hybrid plantations on different sites in Dong Nai province
Authors:   Forest Science and Technology Association of Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Nguyen Them V.
Published: October 2023

The objective of this study was to analyze the variation in timber production in Acacia hybrid plantations based on age and different sites. Data were collected from 50 standard plots (25 × 20 m) of different plantation ages ranging from 2 to 10 years. The site condition of Acacia hybrid plantations were assessed using 5 site indices from I to V. Site index functions were developed from the height of 50 dominant trees at the age of 10. Production functions at the average tree level were constructed using data from 50 trees at age 10. The research results showed that 5 site indices of Acacia hybrid plantations had values of 28, 25, 22, 19 & 16 m, respectively. Timber production of Acacia hybrid plantations has changed markedly with age and site indices. The age of 2 could be the time when diameter and height of Acacia hybrid plantations change from the fast growing stage to the slow growing stage. By the age of 5, the timber volume of Acacia hybrid plantations changes from the fast growing stage to the slow growing stage. The average timber productivity of 10 year old Acacia hybrid plantations on 5 site indices from I đến V was 38.8, 28.6, 20.2, 13.6, & 8.5 m3/ha per year, respectively. The age of quantitative maturity of Acacia hybrid plantations on 5 site indices was 9 years of age.
Assessment of biomass culturing effectiveness of Artemia in tarpaulin tank in Ho Chi Minh City
Authors:   The Management Board of Ho Chi Minh City Agricultural Hi-tech Park, Vietnam, Truong Hang T. T. , Lam Lai H. ,   Faculty of Fisheries, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Vo Binh T. T.
Published: October 2023

The study was carried out to determine the suitable stocking densities and harvesting methods, and to evaluate the economic efficiency of Artemia biomass culturing in tarpaulin tanks in Ho Chi Minh City. The experiment consisted of 8 treatments arranged in a completely randomized block design with 3 replicates of 2 stocking densities (M1: 1,500 & M2: 2,000 individuals/L) and 4 harvesting frequencies (T1: 1 day/time - 10%, T3: 3 days/time - 30%, T5: 5 days/time - 50% and T14: 14 days collecting 100% amount of Artemia biomass in the tank). The study results showed that the average size of males and females ranged from 9.12 - 9.55 mm and 9.84 - 11.01 mm, respectively. At day 14, the survival rate at a density of 1,500 individuals/L accounted for 63.68 ± 2.50% which was statistically significant (P < 0.05) compared to the density of 2,000 individuals/L (60.95 ± 1.39%). The mean fecundity of female Artemia ranged from 70 to 72 embryos/female and tended to increase gradually from 92 to 101 embryos/female. The harvesting frequency affected Artemia population composition, density and biomass yield. After 29 days, the T3M1 treatment yielded the highest biomass (3.33 ± 0.39 kg/m3) and the most optimal profit with 225.53 ± 9.08 thousand VND/kg. The treatment DCM2 gave the lowest yield (1,22 ± 0.27 kg/m3) with a profit of 78.04 ± 58.58 thousand VND/kg.
Impact of cultivation conditions on biomass yield and lipid content of Scenedesmus obliquus
Authors:   Faculty of Biological Sciences, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Thach Huong T. G. , Tran Hong T. , Nguyen Anh T. V. , Huynh Khang V.
Published: October 2023

Microalgae have currently been considered as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. The accumulation of microalgal lipids is species-specific and largely dependent upon cultivation conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the biomass productivity and lipid content of Scenedesmus obliquus cultivated under nitrogen (N)- and phosphorus (P)-depleted conditions. The highest microalgal density was 38.0 ± 3.5 × 106 cell/mL after 12 days of cultivation in the standard Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM) and significantly decreased with decreasing N conentrations in the media, with the density of 1.4 ± 0.5 × 106, 21.5 ± 1.4 × 106, 25.7 ± 4.9 × 106, and 33.5 ± 1.2 × 106 cell/ mL in the nutrient solutions containing 0, 25, 50, and 75% N, respectively. Conversely, the P concentrations showed negligible effects on the growth of S. obliquus across all treatments. Overall, the lipid accumulation of S. obliquus increased with decreasing N and P concentrations. The results revealed that N-starvation yielded the highest microalgal lipid content of 184.1 ± 17.4 mg/g d.w., whereas that under N-sufficient condition was only 80.0 ± 9.8 mg/g d.w. Likewise, the lipid content was almost double when S. obliquus was grown in the modified BBM containing half of P concentration of the standard medium. Taken together, this study demonstrates that alteration of the nutrients is an effective approach for enhancing lipid accumulation in S. obliquus.
A sad portrait of congenital syphilis in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Case report with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of scrapings from skin lesions and placenta fragment positive for Treponema pallidum
Authors: Passos Felipe Dinau Leal , Guedes Anderlúcia Corrêa , Melo Ariela Gomes de , Varella Renata de Queiroz , Rangel Isabelle Carvalho , Carvalho Ricardo de Souza , Ferry Fernando Raphael de Almeida , Morais Julia Sampaio de Souza , Passos Carolina Varella Leal , Passos Paula Varella Leal , Lopes Márcia Quinhones Pires
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Congenital syphilis is a serious public health problem that causes high rates of intrauterine morbidity and mortality, revealing flaws and weaknesses in the health system. Objective: to report a case of congenital syphilis in a university hospital in the Center-South Region of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Case report: A pregnant woman, aged between 19 and 23 years old, carrying a Pregnant Woman’s Handbook with a record of seven prenatal consultations and a note of the serological reaction for positive syphilis, but without any treatment, hospitalized at the University Hospital of Vassouras (RJ), in labor, gave birth to a newborn (NB) with a clinical picture and serological test of congenital syphilis. The NB required care in an intensive care unit and was discharged 28 days after birth. Scraping of skin lesions of the NB and placenta was performed for analysis by molecular biology (PCR in house) and genetic material of Treponema pallidum was detected. Conclusion: Congenital syphilis is a serious outcome of syphilis during pregnancy, consuming high financial resources and significant emotional distress for the mother, father, the whole family, as well as for the health teams. Our case report was the first that we are aware of in Brazil with a diagnosis by PCR for positive Treponema pallidum of skin scraping and placental fragment. It also showed poor quality prenatal care, a common factor in most cases of CS in our reality.
Water consumption in the production process of the sugar-energy industry: case study in the northwest of São Paulo (Brazil)
Authors: Barroquela Weslei Brito , Bega João Miguel Merces , Anicio Sabrina de Oliveira , Oliveira Jefferson Nascimento de
Published: October 2023

O Brasil é o maior produtor mundial de cana-de-açúcar. É notável a importância da gestão racional, sustentável e eficiente dos recursos no processo produtivo da indústria sucroenergética brasileira, principalmente relacionada ao uso da água. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho buscou analisar, na última década, o consumo de água no processo produtivo da Vale do Paraná S/A Álcool e Açúcar, além de elucidar as tecnologias implantadas na área industrial que contribuíram para a redução do consumo. A metodologia adotada consistiu na obtenção de dados e informações de pesquisas bibliográficas, boletins técnicos e visitas de campo. A usina sucroenergética apresentou redução de 34,88% no consumo de água na última década, obtendo 0,86 (2012) e 0,56 (2021) m3 ton-1 de cana-de-açúcar processada, o que pode ser particularmente importante em períodos intensos de estiagem, como os vivenciados nos últimos anos. As principais tecnologias que contribuíram para essa redução foram: reúso da água; limpeza de cana-de-açúcar a seco; utilização de circuitos fechados; recuperação de condensados; e implantação do sistema de medição de vazão. A companhia atingiu consumo inferior ao requerido para o próximo ano, porém não existe um limite para a redução. No caso da usina em estudo, observou-se que uma atenção especial deve ser dada para os efluentes industriais, principalmente a vinhaça, com possível implantação de mais etapas de tratamento antes da aplicação no campo como fertirrigação.