Performance Efficiency of Conventional Treatment Plants and Constructed Wetlands towards Reduction of Antibiotic Resistance

Domestic and industrial wastewater discharges harbor rich bacterial communities, including both pathogenic and commensal organisms that are antibiotic-resistant (AR). AR pathogens pose a potential threat to human and animal health. In wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), bacteria encounter environments suitable for horizontal gene transfer, providing an opportunity for bacterial cells to acquire new antibiotic-resistant genes. With many entry points to environmental components, especially water and soil, WWTPs are considered a critical control point for antibiotic resistance. The primary and secondary units of conventional WWTPs are not designed for the reduction of resistant microbes. Constructed wetlands (CWs) are viable wastewater treatment options with the potential for mitigating AR bacteria, their genes, pathogens, and general pollutants. Encouraging performance for the removal of AR (2–4 logs) has highlighted the applicability of CW on fields. Their low cost of construction, operation and maintenance makes them well suited for applications across the globe, especially in developing and low-income countries. The present review highlights a better understanding of the performance efficiency of conventional treatment plants and CWs for the elimination/reduction of AR from wastewater. They are viable alternatives that can be used for secondary/tertiary treatment or effluent polishing in combination with WWTP or in a decentralized manner.

Free Global DEMs and Flood Modelling—A Comparison Analysis for the January 2015 Flooding Event in Mocuba City (Mozambique)

Flood hazard and risk analysis in developing countries is a difficult task due to the absence or scarce availability of flow data and digital elevation models (DEMs) with the necessary quality. Up to eight DEMs (ALOS Palsar, Aster GDEM, Bare Earth DEM, SRTM DEM, Merit DEM, TanDEM-X DEM, NASA DEM, and Copernicus DEM) of different data acquisition, spatial resolution, and data processing were used to reconstruct the January 2015 flood event. The systematic flow rate record from the Mocuba city gauge station as well as international aid organisms and field data were used to define both the return period peak flows in years for different flood frequencies (Tyear) and the January 2015 flooding event peak flow. Both visual and statistical analysis of flow depth values at control point locations give us a measure of the different hydraulic modelling performance. The results related to the Copernicus DEM, both in visual and statistical approach, show a clear improvement over the results of the other free global DEMs. Under the assumption that Copernicus DEM provides the best results, a flood hazard analysis was carried out, its results being in agreement with previous data of the effects of the January 2015 flooding event in the Mocuba District. All these results highlight the step forward that Copernicus DEM represents for flood hazard analysis in developing countries, along with the use of so-called “citizen science” in the form of flooding evidence field data acquisition.

Formulation of Polyherbal Carbonated Beverage Based on Halalan Thoyyiban Principle

Herbal products usually have less palatability on their taste even though they are healthy and nutritious. Thus, this study aims to formulate polyherbal carbonated beverages, followed by the evaluation of sensory, physicochemical properties and their compliances with the halalan thoyyiban principle. Five formulations were prepared by varying the amount of water and polyherbal extracts that were designated using Design Expert 6.0.4 software. The most accepted formulation was formulation 1 (F1), containing 12.50% polyherbal extract and 87.50% water. F1 was characterised for its physicochemical properties, including carbon dioxide volume, pH, and total acidity, with 3.0 g/L, 4.5, and 1.7 %, respectively, and these findings have complied with the halalan thoyyiban principle. The antioxidant properties were evaluated by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), as well as total phenolic content (TPC), and it exhibited 1.25 mg GAE/mL,1.08 mM Fe (II) and 0.39 mg GAE/mL respectively. Eight Halal Control Point (HCP) were identified along with the production. Moreover, the beverage was found to have antioxidant properties and nutritional content (carbohydrate (0.3%) and energy content (2.0 kcal/100g)), which can give health benefits to the consumer and proven safe for consumption (LC50 =1066.60 μg/ mL). To conclude, the formulated polyherbal carbonated beverage is accepted by the consumer and complies with the halalan thoyyiban principle.

Satellite–Derived Topography and Morphometry for VHR Coastal Habitat Mapping: The Pleiades–1 Tri–Stereo Enhancement

The evolution of the coastal fringe is closely linked to the impact of climate change, specifically increases in sea level and storm intensity. The anthropic pressure that is inflicted on these fragile environments strengthens the risk. Therefore, numerous research projects look into the possibility of monitoring and understanding the coastal environment in order to better identify its dynamics and adaptation to the major changes that are currently taking place in the landscape. This new study aims to improve the habitat mapping/classification at Very High Resolution (VHR) using Pleiades–1–derived topography, its morphometric by–products, and Pleiades–1–derived imageries. A tri–stereo dataset was acquired and processed by image pairing to obtain nine digital surface models (DSM) that were 0.50 m pixel size using the free software RSP (RPC Stereo Processor) and that were calibrated and validated with the 2018–LiDAR dataset that was available for the study area: the Emerald Coast in Brittany (France). Four morphometric predictors that were derived from the best of the nine generated DSMs were calculated via a freely available software (SAGA GIS): slope, aspect, topographic position index (TPI), and TPI–based landform classification (TPILC). A maximum likelihood classification of the area was calculated using nine classes: the salt marsh, dune, rock, urban, field, forest, beach, road, and seawater classes. With an RMSE of 4 m, the DSM#2–3_1 (from images #2 and #3 with one ground control point) outperformed the other DSMs. The classification results that were computed from the DSM#2–3_1 demonstrate the importance of the contribution of the morphometric predictors that were added to the reference Red–Green–Blue (RGB, 76.37% in overall accuracy, OA). The best combination of TPILC that was added to the RGB + DSM provided a gain of 13% in the OA, reaching 89.37%. These findings will help scientists and managers who are tasked with coastal risks at VHR.

Study on the Construction of 3D Geological Model of Quaternary Loose Sedimentary Strata Based on the Global Stratigraphic Discrete Points

Accurately depicting the spatial structure characteristics of Quaternary loose sedimentary strata is not only of great significance for the research of Quaternary geological evolution, but also for the analysis of spatial variation characteristics of the inner hydrogeological and engineering geological attributes of the strata. In this study, an approach for constructing a 3D geological model of Quaternary loose sedimentary strata is proposed based on global stratigraphical discrete points. The approach obtains the discrete control point set of each stratum by using limited borehole data for interpolation and encryption, and the contact relationships and intersection modes of adjacent strata can be determined via the analysis of stratigraphic sequence; finally, taking these as the professional basis, the construction of the 3D geological model of Quaternary loose sedimentary strata can be carried out. This application can not only accurately describe the three-dimensional spatial distribution characteristics of the Quaternary loose sedimentary strata, it can also be used to perform a layered simulation of the spatial variation characteristics of the inner geological properties of the Quaternary loose sedimentary strata, such as lithology, porosity, and water content, by taking the three-dimensional spatial framework of each stratum as the simulation boundary. Finally, this study takes the citizen center of Xiong’an new area as an example in order to verify the reliability and advancement of the 3D geological modeling scheme.

Finite element analysis of electroresistive heating of a high pressure apparatus for studying the solubility of GaN in Fe

The advantages and disadvantages of methods for gallium nitride crystals production are considered. The convergence of the solution of the problem of electroresistive heating at determination of a thermal condition of the high pressure apparatus cell is investigated. The thermal state of the high pressure apparatus cell used to determine the solubility of gallium nitride in iron has been modeled and investigated. It is determined that the combined discretization with the use of triangular and quadrangular elements allows to reduce the time of solving the coupled problem of electrical and thermal conductivity under these conditions. The results of calculations are presented by steady temperature fields in various elements of the device. It was obtained that at the temperature in the cell control point of 1800 °С its axial difference in the volume of the investigated sample of iron was 62 °С , the maximum difference was 156 °С. The simulated cell configuration and the heating conditions defined for it are acceptable for experimental studies of the solubility of GaN in contact with Fe under conditions of high pressures and temperatures.

Advanced Horizontal Well Correlation Method for Dynamic Update of Subsurface Layers While Geosteering

A new automated approach to well correlation is presented that utilizes real-time Logging While-Drilling (LWD) data and predicted well curve to dynamically update subsurface layers during geosteering operations. The automatically created predicted log and a dynamically updated structural framework provides the foundation of the process. The predicted log is created using vertical sections of the nearby wells, which provide high confidence for determining depth and stratigraphic position of the geosteered well. The results give a better understanding of thickness variation in the horizontal part of the reservoir and maximize the reservoir contact (Sung, 2008). A new advanced methodology introduced in this study involves the creation of a dynamic structural framework model, from which horizontal well correlation is performed using real-time well logs and predicted logs that are generated from adjacent wells. The predicted logs are correlated to the LWD logs using anchor points and an interactive stretching and squeezing process that honors true stratigraphic thickness. Each new anchor point results in the creation of an additional control point that is used to build a more precise structural framework model. This new approach enables more rapid well log interpretation, increased accuracy and the ability to dynamically update the subsurface model during drilling. It also enables more efficient steering of the wellbore into the most productive zones of the reservoir. This study demonstrates how wells with over 10,000 feet of horizontal reservoir contact can be correlated in a real-time geosteering environment in a dynamic, efficient and accurate manner. The proposed process dramatically helps reduce the cost of drilling and the time it takes to dynamically regenerate accurate updated maps of the subsurface. It represents a major improvement in the understanding and modeling of complex, heterogeneous reservoirs by fostering a multi-disciplinary environment of cross-domain experts that are able to collaborate seamlessly as asset-teams. Both accuracy and efficiency gains have been realized by incorporating this methodology in the characterization of multi-stacked reservoirs.

Prevalensi dan Tingkat Kontaminasi Listeria monocytogenes di Tambak dan Unit Pengolahan Udang Vaname (Litopenaeus vannamei) untuk Pasar Ekspor

Listeria monocytogenes adalah salah satu bakteri patogen yang dapat menyebabkan penyakit bawaan pangan. Penolakan ekspor produk udang beku Indonesia karena kontaminasi L. monocytogenes masih terjadi yang berdampak pada kerugian material bagi pelaku usaha. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui prevalensi dan tingkat kontaminasi L. monocytogenes pada produk udang beku untuk pasar ekspor. Sampel yang diambil merupakan udang segar dari tambak dan bahan baku dari bagian penerimaan di Unit Pengolahan Ikan (UPI) serta udang beku sebagai produk akhir UPI, dengan menerapkan sistem ketertelusuran. Lokasi penelitian adalah Sumatra Utara (Medan), DKI Jakarta, Jawa Timur (Surabaya dan Banyuwangi), dan Sulawesi Selatan (Makassar). Identifikasi dan enumerasi L. monocytogenes dilakukan dengan metode MPN-PCR dengan target gen hlyA (~456bp). Prevalensi L. monocytogenes pada udang vaname secara keseluruhan sebesar 6,7% (9/135 sampel), dengan prevalensi di masing-masing titik pengambilan sampel berturut-turut 6,1% di tambak, 9,6% di bahan baku, dan 4% di produk akhir, yang merupakan sampel udang dari batch yang sama. Tingkat kontaminasi L. monocytogenes pada sampel udang vaname berkisar 6,1-1.100 APM/g. Persyaratan L. monocytogenes pada bahan pangan adalah negatif/25g, sehingga sampel udang yang terkontaminasi L. monocytogenes tersebut tidak memenuhi persyaratan sebagai pangan yang aman untuk dikonsumsi berdasarkan regulasi yang berlaku di Indonesia maupun di negara lain. Kontaminasi L. monocytogenes pada udang beku kemungkinan berasal dari tambak ataupun lingkungan pengolahan. Penerapan Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) di lingkungan tambak udang, serta Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) dan Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) di UPI perlu dilakukan dengan benar sebagai upaya pengendalian kontaminasi L. monocytogenes. Selain itu, perlu dilakukan kajian lebih lanjut mengenai sumber dan titik kritis kontaminasi L. monocytogenes di sepanjang rantai pengolahan udang beku mulai dari tambak sampai produk akhir.ABSTRACTListeria monocytogenes is pathogenic bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. Rejection of frozen shrimp exports due to L. monocytogenes contamination still occurs and causes economical losses for the industries. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and the level of L. monocytogenes contamination in frozen shrimp for export markets. Samples collected were fresh shrimp from shrimp culture and raw material from the receiving point of fish processing plants (UPI), and frozen shrimp as the end product, by implementing a traceability system. Study locations were in North Sumatra (Medan), Special Capital Region of Jakarta, East Java (Surabaya dan Banyuwangi), and South Sulawesi (Makassar). Identification and enumeration of L. monocytogenes were carried out using the MPN-PCR method with the target gene hlyA (~456bp). The prevalence of L. monocytogenes in vanname shrimp was 6.7% (9 out of 135 samples), where 6.1%, 9.6%, and 4% of the prevalence were found in samples from shrimp culture, raw material, and end product, respectively. These samples were from the same batch. The contamination level ranged from 6.1 to 1,100 MPN/g. L. monocytogenes in food should be negative/25g, thus the contaminated samples do not meet requirements as safe for human consumption based on food regulation in Indonesia and other countries. Findings from this study suggested that shrimp culture or fish processing environment are potential sources of L. monocytogenes contamination in frozen shrimp. Therefore, the implementation of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) in shrimp culture environment, as well as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in shrimp processing plant are necessary to control L. monocytogenes contamination. Further studies regarding the sources and critical points of L. monocytogenes contamination throughout the processing of frozen shrimp from shrimp culture to end product are also needed.