Zero-Valent Iron Filtration Reduces Microbial Contaminants in Irrigation Water and Transfer to Raw Agricultural Commodities

Groundwater depletion is a critical agricultural irrigation issue, which can be mitigated by supplementation with water of higher microbiological risk, including surface and reclaimed waters, to support irrigation needs in the United States. Zero-valent iron (ZVI) filtration may be an affordable and effective treatment for reducing pathogen contamination during crop irrigation. This study was performed to determine the effects of ZVI filtration on the removal and persistence of Escherichia coli, and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in irrigation water. Water was inoculated with E. coli TVS 353, filtered through a ZVI filtration unit, and used to irrigate cucurbit and cruciferous crops. Water (n = 168), leaf (n = 40), and soil (n = 24) samples were collected, the E. coli were enumerated, and die-off intervals were calculated for bacteria in irrigation water. Variable reduction of PMMoV was observed, however E. coli levels were consistently and significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the filtered (9.59 lnMPN/mL), compared to unfiltered (13.13 lnMPN/mL) water. The die-off intervals of the remaining bacteria were significantly shorter in the filtered (−1.50 lnMPN/day), as compared to the unfiltered (−0.48 lnMPN/day) water. E. coli transfer to crop leaves and soils was significantly reduced (p < 0.05), as expected. The reduction of E. coli in irrigation water and its transfer to crops, by ZVI filtration is indicative of its potential to reduce pathogens in produce pre-harvest environments.

Application of Principal Component Analysis of Sows' Behavioral Indicators of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to Determine Main Components of Behavior

Understanding behavior is important in terms of welfare assessments to be able to evaluate possible changes in behavior among different husbandry systems. The present study applied principal component analysis (PCA) to reveal relationships between behavioral indicators to identify the main components of sows' behavior promoting feasibility of welfare assessments by providing possibilities for variable reduction and aggregation. The indicators of the Welfare Quality® protocol's principle to assess behavior were repeatedly applied by two observers on 13 farms in Northern Germany. This included Qualitative Behavior Assessments (QBA) to evaluate animals' body language using 20 pre-defined adjectives, assessments of social and exploratory behavior, stereotypies, and human–animal relationship tests. Two separate PCA were performed with respect to the QBA: (1) adjectives were included as independent variables and (2) adjectives were pre-aggregated using the calculation rules of the Welfare Quality® protocol for fattening pigs since a calculation for sows does not yet exist. In both analyses, two components described sows' behavior. Most variance was explained by the solution with adjectives as independent variables (51.0%). Other behavioral elements not captured as indicators by the protocol may still be important for all-inclusive welfare assessments as the required variance of 70% was not achieved in the analyses. Component loadings were used to determine components' labels as (1) “satisfaction of exploratory behavior” and (2) “social resting”. Both components reflected characteristics of sows' natural behavior and can subsequently be used for variable reduction but also for development of component scores for aggregation. As defined for PCA, component 1 explained more variance than component 2. PCA is useful to determine the main components of sows' behavior, which can be used to enhance feasibility of welfare assessments.

Prediction of flyrock throw distance in quarries by variable selection procedures and ANFIS modelling technique

This study suggests application of variable reduction procedures for flyrock prediction. It was aimed to create robust and non-complex predictive models. Eleven operational blast parameters and rock mass properties were measured in an aggregate quarry. Dominant parameters for flyrock occurrence were determined by multivariate statistical methods. Two parallel ANFIS models were developed for flyrock prediction. The first ANFIS model was constructed based on the results of stepwise regression. Burden-hole diameter ratio, in-situ block size and specific charge are the input parameters of ANFIS 1. The second ANFIS model was created based on the results obtained by factor analysis. Burden-hole diameter ratio, bench height- burden ratio, number of holes and charge weight are used as input parameters for ANFIS 2. The calculated mean absolute percentage errors are lower than eight percent for the ANFIS predictions. The median absolute errors are lower than 5 meters. The study also investigates alternative accuracy measures to evaluate forecasting performance. Standardized errors, normalized errors and Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) were found to be useful for model validation. It is concluded that more than a single model can be created for a specific site. Pre-statistical analysis for variable reduction increases performance of the predictive models. Burden appeared to be a significant parameter for flyrock throw.

East Antarctica magnetically linked to its ancient neighbours in Gondwana

We present a new magnetic compilation for Central Gondwana conformed to a recent satellite magnetic model (LCS-1) with the help of an equivalent layer approach, resulting in consistent levels, corrections that have not previously been applied. Additionally, we use the satellite data to its full spectral content, which helps to include India, where high resolution aeromagnetic data are not publically available. As India is located north of the magnetic equator, we also performed a variable reduction to the pole to the satellite data by applying an equivalent source method. The conformed aeromagnetic and satellite data are superimposed on a recent deformable Gondwana plate reconstruction that links the Kaapvaal Craton in Southern Africa with the Grunehogna Craton in East Antarctica in a tight fit. Aeromagnetic anomalies unveil, however, wider orogenic belts that preserve remnants of accreted Meso- to Neoproterozoic crust in interior East Antarctica, compared to adjacent sectors of Southern Africa and India. Satellite and aeromagnetic anomaly datasets help to portray the extent and architecture of older Precambrian cratons, re-enforcing their linkages in East Antarctica, Australia, India and Africa.

New Magnetic compilation and interpretation of the Bay of Biscay and surrounding continental shelves

Producing accurate structural maps is a pre-requisite to unravel the tectonic evolution of a region. For this purpose, magnetic anomaly maps are helpful data sets for the identification and mapping of geological features. We compiled 154 marine surveys and 7 aeromagnetic campaigns covering the Bay of Biscay, its surrounding continental shelves and western part of the Pyrenees. As the initial data sets had heterogeneous acquisition parameters, we applied a series of transforms before merging the data. We performed a variable reduction to the pole to localize the extrema of the anomaly vertically to their causative sources and facilitate geological interpretations. The resulting intermediate resolution maps compiled at 500 m altitude offshore and 3000 m both on- and offshore, display magnetic trends and patterns. They are enhanced by several potential field operators (analytic signal, tilt angle, vertical derivative) enabling the interpretation of the geometry of the sources causing the anomaly (3D, 2D and 2.5D). The analysis of these magnetic maps allows us to precise the distribution and segmentation of crustal domains previously identified in the Bay of Biscay and its adjacent continental shelves. A series of crustal scale structures mapped onshore and formed during and after the Variscan orogeny show well on this new map compilation, allowing the continuous onshore-offshore mapping of some of them and revealing their role in segmenting the northern margin of the Bay of Biscay. This new compilation notably reveals variations in the magnetic signature of the Ocean-Continent-Transition (OCT) that we interpret as related to an increased magmatic production of the eastern part of the Bay of Biscay OCT during continental breakup. In addition to precise previous structural maps, this new magnetic compilation opens new perspectives for the interpretation of the Bay of Biscay geodynamic setting.