Random Characteristics of Hydraulic Gradient through Three-Dimensional Multilayer Embankment

The distribution characteristics of hydraulic gradient in embankment are closely related to seepage failure. Seepage failures such as flowing soil and piping will lead to serious damage and even the overall failure of embankment. The hydraulic conductivity has strong spatial variability, which changes the distribution of hydraulic gradient in embankment and increases the difficulty for predicting the embankment seepage instability. In this study, the distribution of soil hydraulic conductivity in a section of Shijiu Lake embankment was obtained by the permeability test. Based on Local Average Subdivision technique, a three-dimensional multilayer random field of embankment hydraulic conductivity was generated. Then, the mean and standard deviation of overflow point height and hydraulic gradient were calculated by the Monte Carlo method, which combined the generated three-dimensional random model and the deterministic analysis method of seepage field. Finally, the coefficient of variation (COV) of hydraulic conductivity (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0), the fluctuation scale in vertical direction (3 m) and the fluctuation scale in horizontal plane (3 m, 6 m, 12 m, 24 m, 36 m, and 48 m) were selected respectively for analyzing the random characteristics of embankment overflow point height and hydraulic gradient under the influence of different COV and fluctuation scale of embankment soil hydraulic conductivity.

Abundancia y ecología trófica del pez león, Pterois volitans, en el Parque Nacional Morrocoy, Venezuela, mar Caribe Sur

La invasión del pez león, Pterois volitans, en la costa Atlántica de los Estados Unidos y el mar Caribe representa una amenaza al funcionamiento del ecosistema marino. En 2010 fue reportado por primera vez en las costas venezolanas, y en 2013 ya era común en zonas arrecifales. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la abundancia y la ecología trófica del pez león en el Parque Nacional Morrocoy, y comparar su abundancia con la de otras especies nativas. En 2013 se realizaron censos visuales y recolectaron especímenes en diferentes hábitats (arrecifes, praderas de fanerógamas y manglares) y estratos de profundidad (1-3 m, 6-9 m, 12-15 m). Los resultados mostraron una alta variabilidad en la abundancia, con una densidad promedio de 46,30 (± 42,31 DE) peces∙ha-1 en arrecifes, mientras que en praderas de fanerógamas y manglares no se observó la presencia de la especie. Su densidad no difirió entre estratos de profundidad y fue significativamente mayor a la de las especies nativas censadas (familias Muraenidae y Serranidae). Su dieta estuvo compuesta de peces y crustáceos, con una mayor proporción de peces en especímenes de mayor tamaño. Las familias de peces más abundantes dentro del parque, Labridae, Haemulidae y Gobiidae, formaron parte de su dieta. Dadas las características del pez león como depredador generalista, un aumento de su población posiblemente afectaría significativamente la abundancia de peces nativos de las familias más representadas en su dieta, y la estructura y funcionamiento de estos sistemas arrecifales.

Ammonia Generation System for Poultry Health Research Using Arduino

An ammonia gas (NH3) generator was developed to maintain a set concentration of ammonia gas in a controlled environment chamber to study poultry physiological responses to sustained elevated levels of ammonia gas. The goal was to maintain 50 parts per million (ppm) of ammonia gas in a 3.7 m × 4.3 m × 2.4 m (12 ft × 14 ft × 8 ft) controlled environment chamber. The chamber had a 1.5 m3/s (3000 cfm) recirculation system that regulated indoor temperature and humidity levels and a 0.06 m3/s (130 cfm) exhaust fan that exchanged indoor air for fresh outdoor air. The ammonia generator was fabricated by coupling ultrasonic humidifiers with an Arduino-based microcontroller and a metallic oxide MQ-137 ammonia gas sensor. Preliminary evaluation under steady conditions showed the average MQ-137 gas sensor accuracy was within 1.4% of the 65.4 ppm concentration measured using a highly accurate infrared gas analyzer. Further evaluation was performed for a setpoint concentration of 50 ppm where ammonia generator reservoirs were filled with 2% or 10% ammonia liquid. For the system tested, it was found that two generators operating at the same time filled with 3.8 L (1.0 gallon) of 2% ammonia cleaning liquid each (7.6 L or 2.0 gallons total) could maintain a gas level of 49.45 ± 0.79 ppm in the chamber air for a duration of 30 h before refilling was required. One generator filled with 3.8 L of 10% ammonia cleaning liquid could maintain 51.24 ± 1.53 ppm for 195 h. Two ammonia generators were deployed for a six-week animal health experiment in two separate controlled environment chambers. The two ammonia generators maintained an average ammonia concentration of 46.42 ± 3.81 ppm and 45.63 ± 4.95 ppm for the duration of the experiment.

CREATION FEATURES OF TOLL ROADS IN RUSSIA

В статье рассмотрено развитие платных автомобильных дорог в России. Целью статьи является освещение особенностей, возникающих при создании платных автомобильных дорог. Особое внимание уделяется рискам реализации автодорожных инвестиционных проектов, в том числе строительным, экологическим рискам и рискам финансирования. Научная новизна состоит в оценке целесообразности строительства платных автомобильных дорог в Российской Федерации. В качестве объекта исследования рассматривается планируемое строительство новой крупной автомобильной дороги М-12 «Москва - Нижний Новгород - Казань». The article considers the development of toll roads in Russia. The purpose of the article is to highlight the features that arise when creating toll roads. Special attention is paid to the risks of implementing road investment projects, including construction, environmental risks and financing risks. The scientific novelty consists in the analysis of the feasibility of the construction of toll roads in the Russian Federation. The planned construction of a new major highway M-12 «Moscow - Nizhny Novgorod - Kazan» is considered as an object of research.

Morphometrical analysis of the canine choroid in relation to age and sex using spectral domain optical coherence tomography

This study determined the choroidal thickness of senior (SN, n = 24) and middle-aged (MA, n = 17) healthy, mixed-breed mesocephalic dogs, both males (M) and females (F), using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). The dogs were divided into two groups for examination: MA dogs (4–7 years old; 6 M, 11 F) and SN dogs (8–13 years old; 12 M, 12 F). Choroidal thickness of the dogs was investigated using SD-OCT radial and linear scans. The software of the device allowed determination of the exact measurement location on the choroid. Measurements of the choroid were taken manually using the SD-OCT calliper function at distances of 5,000–6,000 μm (dorsal and ventral) and 4,000–7,000 μm (nasal and temporal) from the optic disc. Mean (µm ± SD) (MA, SN) dorsal (188 ± 28, 184 ± 33), ventral (116 ± 23, 111 ± 16), temporal (152 ± 31, 151 ± 26), and nasal (135 ± 27, 132 ± 18) choroidal thicknesses demonstrated significant differences (P < 0.02–0.001) between all areas within each group. The choroid was thickest in the dorsal region and thinnest in the ventral region. There were no significant differences based on age. Mean (µm ± SD) (M, F) dorsal (181 ± 32, 190 ± 30), ventral (117 ± 16, 11 ± 21), temporal (150 ± 26, 153 ± 30), and nasal (128 ± 20, 138 ± 23) choroidal thicknesses demonstrated significant differences (P < 0.05) between dorsal and nasal regions. The choroidal thickness in dogs depends on the area assessed independently of their age and sex.

Sensory and Compositional Properties Affecting the Likeability of Commercially Available Australian Honeys

Honey’s composition and appearance is largely influenced by floral and geographic origins. Australian honeys are frequently sourced from supermarkets; however, properties associated with consumer preference and likeability remain relatively unknown. The aim of this study was to complete sensory and compositional analyses on a selection of commercially available Australian honeys. Samples (n = 32) were analysed for visual, olfactory and taste characteristics, with overall likeability assessed by the trained sensory panel (n = 24; M = 12). Compositional analysis included colour intensity (mAU); phenolic content; antioxidant characteristics (DPPH, CUPRAC); and physicochemical properties (pH, viscosity, total soluble solids). There were 23 honey samples that were significantly less liked when compared to the most liked honey (p < 0.05). The likeability of honey was positively associated with perceived sweetness (p < 0.01), and it was negatively associated with crystallisation; odour intensity; waxy, chemical, and fermented smell; mouthfeel; aftertaste; sourness; bitterness and pH (All p’s < 0.05). The price (AUD/100 g) was not associated with likeability (p = 0.143), suggesting price value potentially does not influence consumer preferences. Conclusively, differences in likeability between the honey samples demonstrate that consumer perception of sampled honeys is diverse. Honey preference is primarily driven by the organoleptic properties, particularly perceived negative tastes, rather than their antioxidant capacity or phenolic content.

PEMBINAAN EKSTRAKURIKULER HIZBUL WATHAN SEBAGAI WAHANA PENINGKATAN KOMPETENSI BELA NEGARA PESERTA DIDIK

Tujuan Penelitian ini adalah untuk mendeskripsikan pembinaan ekstrakurikuler Hizbul Wathan (HW) sebagai wahana peningkatan bela negara peserta didik. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Lokasi penelitian di tiga sekolah. Subjek penelitian ini adalah pembina dan peserta didik. Pengumpulan data dilakukan pada bulan Juli sampai dengan Desember 2020, dengan menggunakan teknik observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Untuk meyakini keabsahan data dilakukan triangulasi data.Hasil penelitian. Pertama, kegiatan Ekstrakurikuler HW mengajak seluruh elemen bangsa bersatu, menjalin ukhuwah Islamiyah dan Wathaniyah, serta gotong royong dan menghormati antar sesama. Kedua, dari sisi keaktifan masih perlu ditingkatkan. Di SMA M 12 sekitar 50% yang aktif. Di SMA M 14 sekitar 50% . Selanjutnya di SMK M 12, 65 % yang aktif. Ketiga, kegiatan HW mempunyai landasan yang kokoh bagi peningkatan kualitas peserta didik, terutama dalam pemantapan keyakinan keIslaman dan kecintaan pada oMuhammadiyah. Terakhir, keempat, ditemukan sejumlah kendala dalam peningkatan kompetensi bela negara.

Wearable Edge AI Applications for Ecological Environments

Ecological environments research helps to assess the impacts on forests and managing forests. The usage of novel software and hardware technologies enforces the solution of tasks related to this problem. In addition, the lack of connectivity for large data throughput raises the demand for edge-computing-based solutions towards this goal. Therefore, in this work, we evaluate the opportunity of using a Wearable edge AI concept in a forest environment. For this matter, we propose a new approach to the hardware/software co-design process. We also address the possibility of creating wearable edge AI, where the wireless personal and body area networks are platforms for building applications using edge AI. Finally, we evaluate a case study to test the possibility of performing an edge AI task in a wearable-based environment. Thus, in this work, we evaluate the system to achieve the desired task, the hardware resource and performance, and the network latency associated with each part of the process. Through this work, we validated both the design pattern review and case study. In the case study, the developed algorithms could classify diseased leaves with a circa 90% accuracy with the proposed technique in the field. This results can be reviewed in the laboratory with more modern models that reached up to 96% global accuracy. The system could also perform the desired tasks with a quality factor of 0.95, considering the usage of three devices. Finally, it detected a disease epicenter with an offset of circa 0.5 m in a 6 m × 6 m × 12 m space. These results enforce the usage of the proposed methods in the targeted environment and the proposed changes in the co-design pattern.

Integrated water quality monitoring of Mahi river using benthic macroinvertebrates and comparison of its biodiversity among various stretches

Use of benthic macroinvertebrates has been in vogue as indicator organisms for water quality monitoring since long. Traditional methods of water quality monitoring incorporate mostly monitoring of physicochemical parameters. However, it is the biomonitoring studies that could help in more accurate water quality monitoring. Due to anthropogenic impact at water sources, integrated water quality monitoring has become a necessity. An integrated study comprising physicochemical parameters and biomonitoring using benthic macroinvertebrates was carried out at six sites along the Mahi river basin, the command area of which has witnessed tremendous economic and cultural progress over a period of time. Diversity Score and Saprobic Score were calculated, and Water Quality Class was determined as per Biological Monitoring Working Party score given by Central Pollution Control Board and results in moderate pollution at all locations, whereas Water Quality Class as per ISI-IS 2296–1982 at M-1, M-4, M-7 and M-12 shows slight pollution. Jaccard’s similarity index compared the biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrates at all the sites from upstream to downstream locations. It was maximum, i.e., 52.94% between the locations at M-4 and M-7. Species richness (S) has also been monitored at the said locations. The Diversity Score 0.83 is maximum at the Galteshwar (M-12) location of the Mahi river, which indicates that the location was the most ecologically diverse region among all.