Environmental quality standards for diclofenac derived under the European Water Framework Directive: 1. Aquatic organisms

Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory human and veterinary medicine widely detected in European surface waters, especially downstream from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Veterinary uses of diclofenac in Europe are greatly restricted, so wastewater is the key exposure route for wildlife. Proposed Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) which include an assessment of toxicity to aquatic organisms are under consideration by the European Commission (EC) to support the aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The EC approach favours the use of a deterministic (single test value and an assessment factor) approach to the derivation of a direct toxicity EQS for diclofenac, resulting in an EQS of 0.040 µg L−1 based on a single mesocosm study. In this paper, we discuss potential issues with this approach with respect to the EC’s own guidance on EQS derivation and derive an evidence-driven alternative EQS of 0.126 µg L−1 using a probabilistic (species sensitivity distribution) approach that accounts for all of the reliable and relevant data and is in accordance with the guidance. Europe-wide freshwater monitoring data for diclofenac are used in an indicative compliance assessment using the EC and the alternative evidence-driven EQS. The implications of using only some data to derive an EQS that does not adhere to the guidance, compared to a guidance-compliant approach that uses all the data available are also discussed.

Modeling of hydrocarbon systems and quantitative assessment of the hydrocarbon potential of Eastern Arctic seas

Background. Three prospective sedimentary complexes — Aptian-Upper Cretaceous, Paleogene and Neogene — are predicted in the waters of the Eastern Arctic seas. Here, the search for oil and gas is associated with harsh Arctic conditions at sea, as well as with high geological risks and significant expenditures under the conditions of poor knowledge of the region. In this regard, the localisation of prospecting drilling objects and the assessment of the geological risks of deposit discovery should be carried out.Aim. To assess geological risks and to determine the probability of discovering oil and gas fields, as well as to identify prospective areas for licensing and exploration in the water areas of the Eastern Arctic.Materials and methods. Structural and heat flow maps along with the results of geochemical analysis, as well as typical terrestrial sections were used as initial materials. Using the method of basin analysis, the modelling of generation-accumulation hydrocarbon systems (GAHS) and the quantitative assessment of its hydrocarbon potential in the Eastern Arctic water area was carried out. The assessment of geological risks and the probability of field discovery was performed using the conventional methodology widely applied by oil companies.Results. The GAHS modelling using a variation approach showed that, regardless of the kerogen type, with average values of Сorg in sediments, potential oil-and-gas source strata (OGSS) were capable of saturating the prospective objects with hydrocarbons. The “OGSS assessment” factor was determined as “encouraging” (0.7). Active geodynamic regime and the manifestation of several folding phases within the study area provided favourable conditions for the formation of anticlinaltraps in sedimentary basins. However, the cap rock quality rating was assessed as “neutral” (0.5). The overall risk for the “Trap assessment” factor was estimated based on the minimum criterion of 0.5.Conclusion. The most prospective areas recommended for licensing were selected, and the recommendations for further geological exploration work in these areas were given in order to clarify their hydrocarbon potential and reduce geological risks.

Online Learning Effectiveness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper is set out to explore the students’ attitudes towards online learning effectiveness using the Blackboard platform in three public Saudi universities (Taibah, Hail, and Al-Baha) during COVID 19 pandemic. It examines the learning activities which ensure the achievement of education quality during unprecedented online learning. The survey based- questionnaire method was used to elicit students’ responses. The numbers of students who participated in the survey are 333. The main section of the questionnaire contains questions about the main online learning activities. The coefficient relation of the p-value is highly correlated when tested using Pearson’s r and Spearman’s. The score of Cronbach’s Alpha is (0.93) which indicates (greater internal consistency) an acceptable level of reliability. The findings positively emphasize the effective influence of online learning on student’s academic achievements in most of learning factors except in an assessment factor where the development of new assessment methods is needed.

Online Learning Effectiveness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This paper is set out to explore the students’ attitudes towards online learning effectiveness using the Blackboard platform in three public Saudi universities (Taibah, Hail, and Al-Baha) during COVID 19 pandemic. It examines the learning activities which ensure the achievement of education quality during unprecedented online learning. The survey based- questionnaire method was used to elicit students’ responses. The numbers of students who participated in the survey are 333. The main section of the questionnaire contains questions about the main online learning activities. The coefficient relation of the p-value is highly correlated when tested using Pearson’s r and Spearman’s. The score of Cronbach’s Alpha is (0.93) which indicates (greater internal consistency) an acceptable level of reliability. The findings positively emphasize the effective influence of online learning on student’s academic achievements in most of learning factors except in an assessment factor where the development of new assessment methods is needed.

Exploration of Islamic Religious Learning Innovation Technology with the iLearning Approach

The field of education has an important role for a country in producing high-quality young generations so that they can be responsible for advancing the country. This important role is in line with the function of education, which is to develop abilities and shape the character and civilization of a dignified nation in order to educate the nation's life. Seeing the importance of education for the nation's next generation, it is necessary to innovate quality learning methods from childhood education to education in lectures. In this study, it will focus on improving the quality of learning methods, especially in Islamic religious lessons with the approach ilearning -which has been intensively developed for several years. Researchers will explore learning application innovations with an assessment focus seen from the feasibility component of learning applications, with the resulting structure covering 4 factors: Parental control, contribution to development skill, efficiency and motivation. In this study, the assessment will be carried out by means of interviews in the form of a questionnaire to 100 data and the population calculation method, namely slovin, will be used in this study. The results of this study found an innovative learning application that meets the four assessment criteria. In this study, the dojo application has met 4 learning application assessment criteria by successfully occupying the first position in the four assessment categories. The assessment of parental control gets a percentage of 47%, the assessment of the role of skill development factors gets a percentage of 28%, the efficiency factor gets a percentage of 31% and the last assessment factor is the motivation factor where in the assessment of this factor the dojo application gets a percentage of 31%. Judging from this assessment, the dojo application can be stated as an application that is close to the learning application criteria in accordance with 4 (four) important factors in a learning application.

Environmental quality standards for diclofenac derived under the european water framework directive: 1. Aquatic organisms

Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory human and veterinary medicine widely detected in European surface waters, especially downstream from Wastewater Treatment Plants. Veterinary uses of diclofenac in Europe are greatly restricted, so wastewater is the key exposure route for wildlife. Proposed Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) which include an assessment of toxicity to aquatic organisms are under consideration by the European Commission (EC) to support the aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). The EC approach favours the use of a deterministic (single test value and an assessment factor) approach to the derivation of a direct toxicity EQS for diclofenac, resulting in an EQS of 0.040 µg L− 1 based on a single mesocosm study. In this paper, we discuss potential issues with this approach with respect to the EC’s own guidance on EQS derivation and derive an evidence-driven alternative EQS of 0.126 µg L− 1 using a probabilistic (Species Sensitivity Distribution) approach that accounts for all of the reliable and relevant data and is in accordance with the guidance. Europe-wide freshwater monitoring data for diclofenac are used in an indicative compliance assessment using the EC and the alternative evidence-driven EQS. The implications of using only some data to derive an EQS that does not adhere to the guidance, compared to a guidance compliant approach that uses all the data available is also discussed.

Impact of Sediment-Spiked Fludioxonil On Benthic Macroinvertebrates And Zooplankton From The Yangtze River Delta, China

In China, the fungicide fludioxonil, that accumulates and persists in sediments, has a widespread agricultural use to control various fungal diseases. Its residues may cause toxic effects to benthic and pelagic aquatic fauna, thereby impacting ecosystem service functions of aquatic ecosystems.To assess the environmental risks of fludioxonil, sediment-spiked single-species toxicity tests with benthic macroinvertebrates as well as a sediment-spiked indoor freshwater microcosm experiment were performed. The microcosm test systems were populated with benthic invertebrates also used in the single-species tests. In all experiments artificial sediment was used. The single-species tests were conducted with 8 benthic macroinvertebrates covering different taxonomic groups typical for the Yangtze River Delta, China. The 28d-EC10 values thus obtained were used to construct species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) and the hazardous concentration to 5% of the species tested (HC5) was used to derive a provisional long-term Tier-2 regulatory acceptable concentration (RAC) for benthic invertebrates by applying an assessment factor of 3.The microcosm experiment was conducted to study treatment-related responses of benthic macroinvertebrates and pelagic zooplankton. The lowest No Observed Effect Concentrations (NOECs) of benthic invertebrate and of pelagic zooplankton populations were used to derive provisional long-term Tier-3 RACs for, respectively, benthic and pelagic invertebrates by applying an assessment factor of 2. The RACs thus obtained were compared with Predicted Environmental Concentrations (PECs) of fludioxonil in overlying water and the sediment compartment of edge-of-field ponds after application of this fungicide in rice, grape, wheat, maize and tomato crops. Overall, the risks of long-term exposure of fludioxonil to benthic invertebrates and pelagic zooplankton species in these Chinese edge-of-field ponds appear to be relatively small, but some risks cannot be excluded for ponds adjacent to rice.

Online Learning Effectiveness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Saudi Universities

This paper is set out to explore the students’ attitudes towards online learning effectiveness using theBlackboard platform in three Saudi public universities (Taibah, Hail, and Al-Baha) during COVID-19pandemic. It examines the main learning activities which ensure the achievement of education qualityduring unprecedented online learning. These activities are online learning preference, efficiency,participation, achievements, success, and assigned assessment tasks. The survey-based questionnairemethod was used to elicit students’ responses regarding online learning effectiveness. The total numberof students who participated in the survey is 333 (entirely regular bachelor’s courses in differentmajors). The main section of the questionnaire contains several questions about leading online learningactivities. The coefficient relation of the p-value is highly correlated when tested using Pearson’s rand Spearman’s. The score of Cronbach’s Alpha is 0.93, which indicates (greater internal consistency)an acceptable level of reliability. The overall mean is 0.20, and the standard deviation for the sampleis 0.095. The findings positively emphasize the significant influence of online learning on students’academic achievements in most learning factors except in an assigned assessment factor, which isstill problematic in the online learning process.

Acute toxicity and ecological risk assessment of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC in ultraviolet (UV)-filters

Ultraviolet (UV) filters are used in cosmetics, personal care products and packaging materials to provide sun protection for human skin and other substances. Little is known about these substances, but they continue to be released into the environment. The acute toxicity of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC to Chlorella vulgaris and Daphnia magna were analyzed in this study. The 96 h-EC50 values of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC on C. vulgaris were 183.60, 3.50 and 0.16874 mg/L, respectively. The 48 h-LC50 of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC on D. magna were 12.50, 3.74 and 0.54445 mg/L, respectively. The toxicity of a mixture of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC showed addictive effect on C. vulgaris, while the toxicity of mixtures of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone and 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC as well as 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC all showed antagonistic effect on C. vulgaris. The induced no-effect concentrations of 4,4’-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,4,4’-trihydroxybenzophenone and 4-MBC by the assessment factor (AF) method were 0.0125, 0.00350 and 0.000169 mg/L, respectively.