Blue Ground Research Articles

Impact of wet-dry cycles on enhanced rock weathering of brucite, wollastonite, serpentinite and kimberlite: Implications for carbon verification

Enhanced rock weathering is a proposed CO2 removal strategy for mitigating climate change; its implementation can be facilitated by improving carbon verification methods. In this study, weathering experiments exposed brucite, wollastonite skarn, serpentinite, and kimberlite residues (Venetia Diamond Mine, South Africa), to wetting and drying cycles (4/day) for 1 yr to elucidate reaction pathways and rates while evaluating carbon verification tools, including mineral quantification, total inorganic carbon (TIC), and stable and radiogenic carbon isotopes. Two primary reaction pathways were identified: A) silicate and hydroxide dissolution leading to carbonate precipitation (desirable), and B) dissolution and reprecipitation of carbonates (undesirable). The kimberlite residues, containing serpentine (19–33 wt%) and calcite (4–5 wt%), experienced variable and minor changes in total inorganic carbon. The δ13C and δ18O values of the carbonate minerals approached those expected for atmospheric-derived CO2 and are best explained by the exchange of carbonate CO2 with atmospheric CO2 (pathway A) as opposed to net CO2 sequestration. In contrast, the reaction of brucite (1.22% to 5.98%) and wollastonite skarn (0.22% to 1.01%) with atmospheric CO2 was substantial, as indicated by the increases in TIC (pathway B) yet decreases in δ13C values were inconsistent with the incorporation of atmospheric CO2 as a result of kinetic isotope fractionation due to carbonation being CO2 supply limited. The pulverized serpentinite experience insufficient carbonation to be detected by TIC. Unweathered (blue ground) and naturally weathered (yellow ground) kimberlite from the Voorspoed Diamond Mine, South Africa were compared to kimberlite residues used in experiments. Yellow ground contained twice the TIC content compared to blue ground whereas quantitative scanning electron microscopy revealed calcite veinlets that are characteristic of secondary mineralization. While the blue and yellow ground samples were essentially radiocarbon dead (0.03 and 0.05 F14C, respectively), substantial modern carbon was incorporated into the kimberlite (up to +0.27 F14C; CO2 exchange), brucite (+0.55 F14C), and wollastonite skarn (+0.53 F14C; CO2 sequestration) powders during weathering experiments. Although stable and radiogenic carbon isotopes have been used to verify the mineralization of atmospheric CO2, these methods are affected by CO2 exchange and kinetic fractionation effects during weathering that can be misleading and, thus, should not be relied on as sole methods for carbon verification.

Extraction of blue roofs using BRSAM and the newly created spectral index derived from WorldView-2/3 imagery

To extract blue roofs (BRs) from remote sensing images quickly, first, this study used WorldView-2 and WorldView-3 as the data sources and created a new BR spectral area model (BRSAM) using the polygon area difference between the spectral curves of BRs and other image categories in bands 2–8. Then the extraction effect of BRSAM with those of the blue ground object spectral index (BGOSI), blue object spectrum index (BOSI) and maximum likelihood classification was compared; the results showed that BRSAM overcomes the shortcomings of BGOSI and BOSI, i.e. erroneously extracted shadow and white and yellow ground objects as BRs. However, BRSAM has the disadvantage of erroneously extracting some vegetation and green plastic playground as BRs. Considering that the disadvantage of one of BRSAM, BGOSI, and BOSI in extracting BRs can be compensated by the two other spectral models/indices, we combined the three spectral models/indices and used the synthetic spectral model to extract BRs. Notably, the synthetic spectral model overcomes the shortcomings of the three spectral models in BR extraction, and its effect is better than any one of them separately used. Meanwhile, the spectral model/index method used in BR extraction is better than the classification method. The spectral model/index method is a convenient and effective method for BR extraction, which could be used as a reference in the classification of other data.

Pygidial glands of the blue ground beetle Carabus intricatus: chemical composition of the secretion and its antimicrobial activity

Pygidial glands of the blue ground beetle Carabus intricatus: chemical composition of the secretion and its antimicrobial activity

GENOTYPE OF Cryptosporidium spp. ISOLATED FROM BOVINE OF AL-QADISIYAH PROVINCE /IRAQ

The current research included examination of 100 fecal sample from bovine wascollected from AL-Qadisiyah province, from September 2018 until February 2019.TheMicroscopically result showed that oval or spherical shaped with dark pink color or redoocyst on blue ground and 30(30%) positive sample out 100 case . It was recorded thatthe maximum rate 41.66% (5/12) was seen in November, but the lowest rate 18.75%(3/16) was seen in the month of February with no significant differences at level(p<0.05.) According to age the maximum rate of incidence 40%(14/35)was found inthe age group lower than a month, but the lowest incidence was seen in the group( >1years). There is no significant differences at p<0.05.between male and female. In thecurrently study the N-PCR in molecular investigation were used ,the positive samplewas18 (60%) out of 30 fecal sample. Sequencing of a fragment of the(18s rRNA) gene(834 bp) that separated from many distinct area in AL- Qadisiyah governmentrecorded (50%)6/12 sample related to NCBI – Blast Cryptosporidium parvum ,( 33.33%)4/12 sample display deep related to NCBI –Blast Cryptosporidium bovis (this firststudy reported C. bovis in Iraq ) , (16.66%) 2/12 sample showed closed related to NCBI–Blast Cryptosporidiumandersoni.

The native body as blue ground: South Africa’s infrastructural production of race

ABSTRACT South African municipalities increasingly celebrate prepaid water and electricity meters for enabling them to build more resilient cities. This framing has been critiqued for its neoliberal underpinnings, where the discourse of resilience masks the reality that people are being coerced into surviving with consistently diminishing resources. While these infrastructures undeniably materialise neoliberal logics, this paper considers the labour compounds of nineteenth-century Kimberley to suggest such infrastructures also have a racialising function with a much older lineage. The Kimberley compounds were designed and managed by various technical experts tasked with maximising productivity and balancing economic constraints with mortality rates. In so doing, they relied upon and produced racialised theories of the body. Where the experts framed their work as turning on the observation of “the native races,” in fact those experts were producing the very racial truths they claimed only to uncover. The compound, most often studied as an infrastructure of racial domination, has rarely been recognised as productive of emergent notions of “race.” Read through this lineage, continued infrastructural coercion in contemporary South Africa, which relies on the techno-racial expertise developed in earlier eras, reveals itself as critical to race’s continual reproduction.

Water Footprint of Rangeland Beef Production in New Mexico

New Mexico (NM) has been identified as the state in the US that will be most adversely impacted by climate change and associated water stress. Roughly 92% of NM is rangeland, most of which is grazed by beef cattle. We calculated the blue (surface and ground) and green (precipitation) water footprints (WF) of NM beef cattle industry (cow-calf, backgrounding, and feedlot). This analysis indicated that the weighted average WF of NM beef cattle was 28,203 L/kgmeat. The majority of the WF was accounted for green water (82%; 23,063 L/kgmeat) used by rangeland forages. Blue water accounted for only 18% (5140 L/kgmeat) of the total beef WF estimate. The relative contribution of green vs. blue water varied significantly among the different phases of beef production. In cow-calf, green water accounted for 99.5% of the WF whereas blue water, accounted for 100% of beef WF during backgrounding and feedlot. Based on our estimate, NM cow-calf operations is about a third or a quarter of the blue water (m3/year) used to produce corn or wheat, and only 5% or less of the water used to produce cotton or hay. In NM, irrigation accounts for about 84% of freshwater use followed by public/domestic use of 10%. Mining, thermo-electric, livestock production, aquaculture, and industrial uses collectively account for the other 6%.

Generating indicator species for bird monitoring within the humid forests of northeast Central America.

The use of indicator species can simplify bird monitoring by reducing the level of specialized skills needed, which increases the potential pool of participants and reduces training costs and complexity. To facilitate monitoring in the humid forests of northeast Central America, we conducted point count surveys for birds across gradients of disturbance in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize, and analyzed the association of bird species with remotely sensed metrics of forest condition and anthropogenic disturbance using indicator species analysis. Twenty species exhibited significant associations with one or more of these metrics. We propose six species as indicators for anthropogenic disturbance based on our criteria of being associated with anthropogenically disturbed sites, or anthropogenically disturbed and riparian sites with no explicit mention in the literature of an obligate association with riparian habitats, or association of remotely sensed metrics that appeared to reflect disturbance: yellow-olive flycatcher, red-legged honeycreeper, dusky antbird, blue ground dove, buff-throated saltator, and brown jay. We propose the keel-billed motmot as an indicator of undisturbed forest based on its association with forested sites in our analyses. Green shrike vireo, collard trogon, rufous-tailed jacamar, and rufous piha were associated with a specific elevational range but not associated with disturbance, so upward shifts in elevation that might indicate response to climate change would not be confounded with habitat disturbance or degradation. This exercise yielded a much-reduced list of monitoring targets, which will greatly reduce the cost and complexity of forest bird monitoring in the region, as well as reducing barriers to participation.

Extraction of Four Types of Urban Ground Objects Based on a Newly Created WorldView-2 Multi-colour Spectral Index

Fast and accurate extraction of urban ground objects can ensure timely urban environmental monitoring. However, the current technology used to extract urban ground objects has many steps, slow speed and low practicality. In view of the shortcomings of current research, this study takes WorldView-2 as an example, collects typical image categories of urban imagery, conducts spectral curve fitting and characteristic analysis, uses a combination of the addition, subtraction and multiplication operations in some key bands to enhance the information of the target objects and constructs some spectral indices that are beneficial to the extraction of urban red, white, blue and cyan ground objects using the threshold method. The newly created spectral indices can effectively extract four colours of urban ground objects. Among them, the red and blue ground objects have good extraction results, whereas the white and cyan ground objects have poor extraction results. Results show that the new spectral index threshold method can rapidly extract the target ground objects in urban images by colour, which has good practicability.

The First Finding of Basilosauridae (Mammalia: Cetacea) in the Upper Eocene of the Baltic States (Russia, Kaliningrad Region)

Remains of a fossil cetacean, belonging to the family Basilosauridae, are for the first time found in the territory of the Baltic States. This finding is represented by a large vertebra and comes from the Late Eocene amber-bearing “Blue Ground” bed of the Sambia Peninsula in the Kaliningrad Region. The described fossil expands our knowledge on paleogeography and stratigraphic occurrence of Basilosauridae.

144 A modeling framework to assess the impact of the texas beef cattle water footprint on livestock sustainability

Abstract Anticipated growth in the demand for beef products driven by increased protein consumption, brings into question the efficiency, sustainability, profitability, and social dimensions of water use for U.S. beef production. Current assessment of U.S. beef production provides a wide range (695 to 14,191 L H2O/kg) of water footprint (WF) measurements of green (rainfed), blue (ground or surface), and grey (waste treatment) water use, but lacks defined region-specific estimates. The objective of this ongoing study is to develop a dynamic mathematical model for Texas beef cattle WF (TXWFB) that allows users to estimate a Texas WF, evaluate assumptions and parameters of current WF methodologies, identify water-use inefficiencies, and provide policy recommendations for a sustainable WF. The TXWFB was developed using Vensim DSS™ and evaluated with the Model Evaluation System™. The TXWFB model correctly replicated the previously published Chapagain and Hoekstra (2003; CH2003) water footprint results for beef cattle with a 36-month lifespan in both grazing [11,915 m3/t (0.4 t)] and industrial beef cattle [9636 m3/t (0.545 t)] systems. Then, parameters (diet composition and water footprints) from the CH2003 model were used as inputs into the TXWFB model to develop baseline scenarios for Texas, using ten climate regions (36-month lifespan; baseline grazing µ = 26,389 m3/t and industrial µ = 24,615 m3/t). The baseline results were then compared to grazing and industrial scenarios with regionalized Texas parameters for pasture, forage, and crop production (evapotranspiration, drought), diet/phase/region (cow-calf, stocker, and feedlot; 24 months). The TXWFB predictions for regional grazing (µ = 7,591 m3/t) and industrial (µ = 5,948 m3/t) results were 71 to 75% less than the baseline scenarios (P &amp;lt; 0.05). We concluded that the TXWFB estimates were considerably smaller than those previously published, suggesting that current WF methodologies can be refined to more adequately assess beef cattle WF in the US.

Genotype of Cryptosporidiumspp. isolated from human of Al-Qadisiyah province Iraq.

Abstract:&#x0D; The current study included examination of 100 stool sample from human was collected from AL-Qadisiyah province, from September 2018 until February 2019.the Microscopic examination result showed that oval or spherical shaped with dark pink color or red oocyst on blue ground and 22(22%) positive sample out 100 case . It was recorded that the highest rate 30% (3/10) was seen in September , but the lowest infection rate 13.3% (2/15) was seen in the month of December with no significant differences at level (p&lt;0.05.) regarding to age the high rate of infection 26.31%(10/38)was found in the group less than a year , but the lowest infection rate was observed in the group( &gt;12 years). There is no significant differences at p&lt;0.05.between man and women . In this study the N- PCR in molecular examination were used ,the positive sample was13 (59.09%) out of 22 stool sample. Sequencing of a fragment of the (18s rRNA) gene (834 bp) that separated from many different area in AL-Qadisiyah government recorded (75%)9/12 samplerelated to NCBI – Blast Cryptosporidium hominis isolates ,( 25%) 3/12 sampledisplay closed related to NCBI –Blast Cryptosporidium parvum .In Conclusion The current study concluded that phylogenetic tree and the homology sequences identity gives a clear differentiation of the types of Cryptosporidium parasites which can be isolated at high rates of human in AL- Diwaniyah province, which is likely to lead to an outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis in this province.

Contribution to the Study of the Iconography and Meaning of the Sun and Moon in Byzantine and Serbian Medieval Art with Special Interest in the Celestial Luminaries in the Church of St. Nicolas in Pelinovo (1716/1717)

The paper offers an analysis and а description of the scenes of heavenly visions in the art of Byzantium and medieval Serbia. The analysis of the scenes in which they appear, the iconographic features of heavenly luminaries, the specific contexts and the reasons for their depiction are discussed in the present paper. The author especially refers to two frescoes with the representations of the heavenly luminaries, the Sun and the Moon, in the painting of the church of St. Nicholas in the village of Pelinovo in Grbalj, Montenegro (1716/1717; ill. 1–4). Although the appearance of the celestial luminaries, their dimensions and placement in the iconographic program of the church as well as the reasons for their depiction are unique in Serbian painting done in the Byzantine tradition, to this day, the luminaries from Pelinovo did not represent the subject of the scientific research. For these reasons, this paper is dedicated to the above-mentioned issues.&#x0D; In the church of St. Nicholas in Pelinovo, the Moon is depicted en face, in a form of a large yellow sphere with large eyes and nose (ill. 2), without radial rays, while the Sun is portrayed in the same manner, in red color in a form of a fiery globe (ill. 1). The inscription next to the representation of the Sun is destroyed, while the Moon is marked as “Luna” in the Serbian redaction of Old-Slavonic. The Sun is shown as great luminary, and the Moon as a small luminary, according to the biblical narrative (Genesis 1:16). The heavenly aspect of the luminaries is determined by their depiction in the upper part fo the scene – on the blue ground, which symbolizes the sky as well as with their perfect spherical shape. As the figures of the Virgin, of Christ and of St. John the Forerunner in Pelinovo form a Deeisis, it is noticed that the heavenly luminaries are depicted in the scope of that composition (ill. 3–5). Therefore, the history of showing the Sun and the Moon in the Deesis scenes is considered in the paper. Apart from the above-said, it was concluded that the Sun is the symbol of Christ and the Moon the symbol of the Virgin Mary and the Church.

Why hearts flutter: Distorted dim motions.

When a display of red spots or hearts on a blue surround is moved around under dim light, the spots appear to wobble or flutter relative to the surround (the "fluttering hearts" effect). We explain this as follows: Rods and cones both respond to the hearts. Rods are more sluggish than cones, with a latency of ∼50 ms, and they are also much more sensitive to blue than to red (the Purkinje shift; Purkinje, 1825). Thus a red spot oscillating on a blue ground produces a double image: a light spot seen by the cones, followed by a trailing dark spot seen by the rods. These interacting spots of opposite luminance polarity move like "reverse phi" (Anstis, 1970) and this generates the fluttering hearts effect. We find that hearts flutter most markedly at or near mesopic equiluminance, when the red is lighter than the blue as seen by the cones, but darker than the blue as seen by the rods. These same red/blue luminance ratios give rise to two new illusions: the ghostly twin illusion, and the reversal of red/blue grating movement.

The Search for the Perfect Color: Pigments, Tints, and Binders in the Scientific Expeditions to the Americas

In the eighteenth century, the Spanish Crown underwrote several expeditions in order to collect, classify, and describe the newly available natural resources in the Americas. In an attempt to convey scientific information objectively, expedition artists had to depict their specimens with absolute fidelity. Because many of them had not mastered the techniques necessary for botanical illustration, despite their formal training, Jose Celestino Mutis created a school for local artists in the New Kingdom of Granada (present day Colombia). Pigments and dyes that artists could not obtain from Spain or from the major cities in the New World through which they passed were often derived from experimentation with local materials.

A new miniature killifish of the genus Melanorivulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) from the Xingu river drainage, Brazilian Amazon

Melanorivulus rubroreticulatus, new species, is described on the basis of material collected in the lower section of the Xingu river drainage, Brazilian Amazon. It is a member of a group endemic to the region encompassing the southern Amazonas river tributaries and the Parnaíba river basin. The new species is distinguished from other congeners of this group by the presence of broad red bars on the caudal fin in males, bars often interconnected to form reticulations, and short red bars contrasting with intense light blue ground colour on the anal-fin base. It represents the northern-most record for the group, besides being the only species occurring in the Amazon rain forest and possibly is also the smallest one, barely surpassing 25 mm of standard length.

Effects of proteinase inhibitors from Momordica cochinchinensis on several meat-spoilage bacteria

This study aims at primarily investigating the effects of Momordica cochinchinensis proteinase inhibitors (MCoPIs) on several common meat-spoilage bacteria. The obtained results showed that the MCoPIs solution inhibited the growth of 4 studied bacteria: Bacillus cereus, Bacillus cereus 3, Bacillus cereus 81 and Escherichia coli. The proteinase activity (PA) of the bacterial broths supernatants reached the highest level after culturing 48-60 hrs, at 200 rpm and 37oC. The best PA of the studied bacteria was around pH = 7.6. Using PAG containing casein electrophoresis method, several clarified PA bands on dark blue ground were detected from broths supernatants of these bacteria. However, after treatment with MCoPIs solution most of these PA bands were less or disappeared. Treatment of meat with MCoPIs solution showed a positive effect on the freshness of meat. After 16hrs, only the meat samples treated with MCoPIs were remained fresh, while the control samples became rancid. Moreover, the soluble proteins as well as hydrolytic products from samples treated with MCoPIs solution were about 1,5-2 times lower than those of the corresponding control samples. The results indicated an applicable potentiality of MCoPIs solution for protection of meat from bacterial infection and prolonging meat freshness.

Wibro 기반 비행기지 방어전력 위치식별체계 구축 및 실험

This paper proposes a new system to maximize efficiency of Air Base Protection Operations through the development of location identification software. The Wibro-based location identification system for Air Base Protection Force offers Blue Ground Force digitalized character message which is not exposed to enemy. Also, it is possible to automatically provide the location of Blue Ground Force to Air Base Ground Operations Center. The test result proves that this system is very helpful when Air Base Protection Force executes Air Base Protection Operations.

Examination and Treatment of a Set of Klismos Chairs, Attr. To John and Hugh Finlay

This paper describes the examination and treatment of a set of four klismos side chairs, attributed to John and Hugh Finlay of Baltimore, Maryland (1815–1825), in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Xradiographs, detailed drawings of the construction, and comparisons between the four chairs indicated an unusual coordination of work between chair makers, painters, and caners within the Finlay shop. Cross sectional stratification analysis aided in designing the treatment and understanding the decoration, including a puzzling blue ground layer and painted caned seats. Analysis with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry in the scanning electron microscope indicated the use of pigments such as chrome yellow, lead white, Prussian blue, and hematite. The treatment focused on the selective reduction of multiple later layers of varnish in a four-step process with solvent blends based on Keck #2, Pomerantz #3, #4, and Rabin #2, initially creating several levels of cleaning. Condition anomalies, such as a tenacious layer and dirt in a craquelure, were dealt with separately. Losses were filled and inpainted to a level that resulted in a legible decorated surface and a coherent set, without concealing the wear and age of the chairs.

Axiothella isocirra, a new species of Maldanidae (Annelida: Polychaeta) from Belize

ABSTRACT A new species of Maldanidae (Annelida: Polychaeta), Axiothella isocirra, is described from soft bottom samples taken at shallow depth at Blue Ground Range, Belize. The new species is characterized by a combination of few chaetae in the anterior setigers, the presence of four achaetous preanal segments and the equal length of the pygidial cirri. Variability of certain characters is shown, and its utility for taxonomy is discussed.

Effect of the moisture content on compression energy and strength characteristic of lupine briquettes

The aim of the present study was to determine the energy necessary to compress ground lupine seeds to a constant volume, as a function of their moisture content. Produced briquettes were subjected to compression tests, and the changes in their volume were also recorded. The results showed that with an increasing moisture content of ground lupine seeds the energy inputs necessary for the compression of the material to a constant volume decreased for rising strengths and volumes of produced briquettes. Significant differences were observed in the measurements obtained for white and blue ground lupine seeds caused by different chemical compositions of the lupine cultivars.