Current Project Research Articles

Rising groundwater levels in Dare County, North Carolina: implications for onsite wastewater management for coastal communities

ABSTRACT Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are a common wastewater treatment approach in coastal communities. Vertical separation distance (VSD) requirements between the drainfield and groundwater aim to ensure aerated soils for wastewater treatment. When the VSD declines, OWTS can fail. This study evaluated groundwater response to sea level rise (SLR) and the implications for OWTS. A groundwater monitoring network (13 wells) was used to evaluate groundwater depth in Dare County, North Carolina. Groundwater levels were measured with water level meters and pressure transducers. Trends in groundwater depth and SLR were analyzed to evaluate the influence of SLR on groundwater depth. From 1984–2022, mean groundwater levels have risen (∼7.6 mm/year) in response to SLR. Currently, sites at <2.7 m land elevation are most likely to have groundwater depths <1 m and inadequate VSD. Based on current precipitation and NOAA intermediate SLR projections, groundwater depth projections suggest that OWTS at lower elevations are more likely to experience groundwater inundation by 2040–2060. SLR has resulted in reduced VSD causing diminished wastewater treatment capacity in low-lying areas. OWTS VSD requirements are typically static due to regulatory constraints. Future management approaches should consider adapting to rising coastal groundwater levels because of increasing wastewater contamination risks.

Combined effects of climate and land-use changes on the alpha and beta functional diversities of terrestrial mammals in China.

Climate and land-use changes are predicted to impact biodiversity, threatening ecosystem services and functions. However, their combined effects on the functional diversity of mammals at the regional scale remain unclear, especially at the beta level. Here, we use projected climate and land-use changes in China to investigate their potential effects on the alpha and beta functional diversities of terrestrial mammals under low- and high-emission scenarios. In the current projection, we showed strong positive spatial correlations between functional richness and species richness. Functional evenness (FEve), functional specialization (FSpe), and functional originality (FOri) decreased with species richness, and functional divergence (FDiv) increased first and then plateaued. Functional beta diversity was dominated by its nestedness component, in contrast to the taxonomic facet. Potential changes in species richness are more strongly influenced by land-use change under the low-emission scenario, while under the high-emission scenario, they are more strongly influenced by climate change. Changes in functional richness (FRic) were inconsistent with those in species richness, with a magnitude of decreases greater than predicted from species richness. Moreover, mammal assemblages showed potential functional differentiation (FD) across the country, and the trends exceeded those towards taxonomic differentiation (TD). Our findings help us understand the processes underlying biodiversity responses to global changes on multiple facets and provide new insight for conservation plans.

Julia Stauber.

"A good day at work starts with a cup of coffee and a clear plan… A turning point in my current research project was when I successfully synthesized a complex molecule that had been deemed too challenging to make…" Find out more about Julia Stauber in her Introducing… Profile.

Association between summertime emergency department visits and maximum daily heat index in rural and non-rural areas of Virginia (2015–2022)

There is growing evidence that high ambient temperatures are associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. Further evidence suggests differences in rural versus non-rural populations' vulnerability to heat-related adverse health outcomes. The current project aims to 1) refine estimated associations between maximum daily heat index (HI) and emergency department (ED) visits in regions of Virginia, and 2) compare associations between maximum daily HI and ED visits in rural versus non-rural areas of Virginia and within those areas, for persons 65 years of age and older versus those younger than 65 years. Our study utilized 16,873,213 healthcare visits from Virginia facilities reporting to the Virginia Department of Health syndromic surveillance system between May and September 2015–2022. Federal Office of Rural Health Policy defined rural areas were assigned to patient home ZIP code. The estimated daily maximum HI at which ED visits begin to rise varies between 25 °C and 33 °C across climate zones and regions of Virginia. Across all regions, estimated ED visits attributable to days with maximum HI above 25.7 °C were higher in rural areas (3.7%, 95% CI: 3.5%, 3.9%) versus in non-rural areas (3.1%, 95% CIs: 3.0%, 3.2%). Patients aged 0–64 years had a higher estimated heat attributable fraction of ED visits (4.2%, 95% CI: 4.0%, 4.3%) than patients 65 years and older (3.1%, 95% CI: 2.9%, 3.4%). Rural patients older than 65 have a higher estimated fraction of heat attributable ED visits (2.7%, 95% CI: 2.2%, 3.1%) compared to non-rural patients 65 years and older (1.5%, 95% CI: 1.3%, 1.8%). State-level syndromic surveillance data can be used to optimize heat warning messaging based on expected changes in healthcare visits given a set of meteorological variables, and can be further refined based on climate, rurality and age.

Designing a Smartphone Application that Integrates Scientific Inquiry with Gamification Approach: Dr. Science Application as a Model

The current participation aims to review the researchers’ experience in designing an application for smartphones that presents scientific investigation in a fun form based on the general foundations of the gamification approach. The application was called (Dr. Science), which consists of three main sections: I learn, I am a genius, and I am exploring, focuses on 3 main aspects: The first section (I am learning section) focuses on structural gamification, and aims to raise the achievement level of students in an interesting way. The second section ( I am a genius ) , focuses on content gamification, and is based on the idea of raising the student’s achievement level through an interesting game that includes many Of adventures, the third section (I Explore) includes more than 40 scientific investigations for the fourth and eighth grades, and focuses on providing students with scientific investigation skills in conjunction with implementing scientific investigations at home or in the laboratory, in addition to formative evaluation for students. The current participation follows the descriptive approach in reviewing the application, and covers the most important stages of designing the application with the aim of sharing best practices in integrating technology into science teaching and learning. The process of preparing the application went through a number of stages, as the general model for educational design (ADDIE Moodle) was adopted, which consists of five stages: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. The current project was applied to the fourth and eighth grades in the Sultanate of Oman, and it achieved positive results for science education. It also proved its effectiveness during the (COVID-19) pandemic, as the project was applied during the pandemic, and the researchers hope to expand the scope of the application to include grades (1-9) and include most of the educational objectives for the different academic stages in science. Keywords: gamification, mobile application, scientific investigation

Climate change triggered planktonic cyanobacterial blooms in a regulated temperate river

Harmful algae blooms are a rare phenomenon in rivers but seem to increase with climate change and river regulation. To understand the controlling factors of cyanobacteria blooms that occurred between 2017 and 2020 over long stretches (> 250 km) of the regulated Moselle River in Western Europe, we measured physico-chemical and biological variables and compared those with a long-term dataset (1997–2016). Cyanobacteria (Microcystis) dominated the phytoplankton community in the late summers of 2017–2020 (cyano-period) with up to 110 µg Chlorophyll-a/L, but had not been observed in the river in the previous 20 years. From June to September, the average discharge in the Moselle was reduced to 69–76% and water temperature was 0.9–1.8 °C higher compared to the reference period. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and silica (Si) declined since 1997, albeit total nutrient concentrations remained above limiting conditions in the study period. Cyanobacterial blooms correlated best with low discharge, high water temperature and low nitrate. We conclude that the recent cyanobacteria blooms have been caused by dry and warm weather resulting in low flow conditions and warm water temperature in the regulated Moselle. Under current climate projections, the Moselle may serve as an example for the future of regulated temperate rivers.

Integrated Approach to Flood Risk Management: A Comprehensive Thematic Review in the Malaysia Context

This research addresses a need in the literature on flood risk management in Malaysia, particularly as it relates to development projects. Understanding and improving risk management strategies is crucial as Malaysian floods increase. A thematic literature review was used to search relevant 2018–2023 literature. It exhaustively searched scholarly databases, and government, and international organization reports. Multi-thematic analysis was used to understand the flood risk management narrative. The study shows that Malaysian flood risk management strategies need a more holistic and integrated approach. The development of an integrated framework is a significant step forward because it allows for the better coordination of developmental project initiatives with strategies meant to mitigate and manage flood risks. Effective collaboration between the federal government, Malaysian local authorities, urban planners, developers, and construction firms is crucial. Effective flood management requires accurate risk assessment by consultants, developers, and local authorities to integrate current and future development projects in flood-prone areas. Project development requires strategy, overview, and flood risk assessment in planning permission can produce creative and secure results.

A case study on the development of requirements for the comprehensive credits management system project at H University

Nowadays, in order to adapt to informatization and enhance management efficiency, universities have an increasing demand for the development of management systems. This paper conducts an in-depth study on the case of requirements development for the comprehensive credit management system project at H University. Taking the problems existing in software project requirements development management as a starting point, this paper analyzes and researches the issues in requirements acquisition, requirements analysis, and requirements development management processes of the current project development team through the study of relevant theoretical content on requirements development. The paper proposes solutions to problems such as inaccurate identification of software project stakeholders, lack of scientific requirements analysis tools, and absence of prioritization in requirements. Through analysis, this paper, by drawing stakeholder maps and utilizing the KANO model for prioritizing project requirements, ultimately formulates an effective requirements development management solution tailored to the software project of the development team for this particular project.

Analysis of the impact of auniversity distance learning course on digitalization in medicine on students and healthcare professionals.

The public medical universities in Austria (educating 11,000 students) developed ajoint public distance learning series in which clinicians discussed current digital lighthouse projects in their specialty. This study aims to examine the changes in attitude and knowledge of the participants before and after the lecture series to gain insights for future curriculum developments. The lecture series was announced via various channels at the universities, in health newsletters and in social media. Attitudes toward digitalization in medicine were surveyed before and after the lecture series, together with demographic data. The data were analyzed statistically and descriptively for four groups of interest: female medical students, male medical students, faculty members and members from industry and public agencies. Out of 351 subjects who attended at least 1 lecture, 117 took part in the survey before and 47 after the lectures. Most participants had apositive attitude towards digitalization (85.3%). They improved their self-assessment of their knowledge from 34.4% to 64.7% (p < 0.05). After the lecture series 55.8% of participants considered digital medical applications to be important or very important today and 68.6% in the future. The study shows that the presentation and discussion of lighthouse projects improves understanding of digitalization in medicine but does not trigger astrong desire for additional further training.

Modelling and mapping carbon capture potential of farmed blue mussels in the Baltic Sea region

This study applies a regional Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) model, enhanced to include biocalcification processes, to evaluate the carbon capture potential of farmed blue mussels (Mytilus edulis/trossulus) in the Baltic Sea. The research emphasises the long-term capture of carbon associated with shell formation, crucial for mitigating global warming effects. The model was built using a comprehensive pan-Baltic dataset that includes information on mussel growth, filtration and biodeposition rates, and nutrient content. The study also examined salinity, temperature, and chlorophyll a as key environmental factors influencing carbon capture in farmed mussels. Our findings revealed significant spatial and temporal variability in carbon dynamics under current and future environmental conditions. The tested future predictions are grounded in current scientific understanding and projections of climate change effects on the Baltic Sea. Notably, the outer Baltic Sea subbasins exhibited the highest carbon capture capacity with an average of 55 t (in the present scenario) and 65 t (under future environmental conditions) of carbon sequestrated per farm (0.25 ha) over a cultivation cycle – 17 months. Salinity was the main driver of predicted regional changes in carbon capture, while temperature and chlorophyll a had more pronounced local effects. This research advances our understanding of the role low trophic aquaculture plays in mitigating climate change. It highlights the importance of developing location-specific strategies for mussel farming that consider both local and regional environmental conditions. The results contribute to the wider discourse on sustainable aquaculture development and environmental conservation.

Die stand van stedelike en streekgeskiedenis in die RSA

The analysis of research undertaken in respect of a discipline over a certain period of time can be very revealing with reference to the position of a section of that discipline. Although not all current history research projects were included in the analysis the result is, nevertheless, surprising. In this case it appears that urban and regional history are no longer such a neglected field of research as generally accepted.

Assessing the Effects of Thiazole-Carboxamide Derivatives on the Biophysical Properties of AMPA Receptor Complexes as a Potential Neuroprotective Agent.

An optimal balance between excitatory and inhibitory transmission in the central nervous system provides essential neurotransmission for good functioning of the neurons. In the neurology field, a disturbed balance can lead to neurological diseases like epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Autism. One of the critical agents mediating excitatory neurotransmission is α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptors, which are concerned with synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning. An imbalance in neurotransmission finally results in excitotoxicity and neurological pathologies that should be corrected through specific compounds. Hence, the current study will prove to be an evaluation of new thiazole-carboxamide derivatives concerning AMPAR-modulating activity and extended medicinal potential. In the current project, five previously synthesized thiazole-carboxamide derivatives, i.e., TC-1 to TC-5, were used to interact with the AMPARs expressed in HEK293T cells, which overexpress different subunits of the AMPAR. Patch-clamp analysis was carried out while the effect of the drugs on AMPAR-mediated currents was followed with a particular emphasis on the kinetics of inhibition, desensitization, and deactivation. All tested TC compounds, at all subunits, showed potent inhibition of AMPAR-mediated currents, with TC-2 being the most powerful for all subunits. These compounds shifted the receptor kinetics efficiently, mainly enhancing the deactivation rates, and hence acted as a surrogate for their neuroprotective potentials. Additionally, recently published structure-activity relationship studies identified particular substituent groups as necessary for improving the pharmacologic profiles of these compounds. In this regard, thiazole-carboxamide derivatives, particularly those classified as TC-2, have become essential negative allosteric modulators of AMPAR function and potential therapeutics in neurological disturbances underlain by the dysregulation of excitatory neurotransmission. Given their therapeutic effectiveness and safety profiles, these in vivo studies need to be further validated, although computational modeling can be further developed for drug design and selectivity. This will open possibilities for new drug-like AMPAR negative allosteric modulators with applications at the clinical level toward neurology.

Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles by using gelatin as reducing and stabilizing agent under ultrasound irradiation: Application of its catalytic activity and for ameliorating motor recovery after spinal cord injury in the Wistar rat’s model

The current project describes the facile preparation of Au nanoparticles mediated by gelatin as a natural capping and reducing agent in mild condition. The formation of Au nanoparticles stabilized by gelatin (Au NPs/Gelatin) and structural characteristics were studied via UV–Vis, FT-IR, TEM, FE-SEM, EDX and elemental mapping techniques. The evidence shown that gelatin-capped gold nanoparticles resulted in the lowest average particle sizes of 15–25 nm and spherical shapes nanoparticles. Further, newly synthesized Au NPs/Gelatin are used as a nanocatalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) dyes. A UV–Vis spectrophotometer is employed to track the effectiveness of the reduction process. Recyclability in six further degradation cycles is used to assess the sustainability of this catalyst, and the results show a steady and notable degradation activity. In the in vivo experiment, 60 male rats were classified into four groups: control, intact, sham, and Au NPs/Gelatin nanocatalyst (20 µg/kg) groups. The Hematoxylin and eosin staining was conducted to examine the post-injury lesions. Additionally, somatosensory evoked potential experiments were conducted to assess the recovery of neural conduction. The expression of GFAP was evaluated to determine the extent of astrogliosis. Furthermore, the behavioral outcomes of the rats were evaluated using the BBB scores on a weekly basis after the spinal cord injury onset. The results of the research demonstrated that the neuroprotective effects of Au NPs/Gelatin nanocatalyst led to an amelioration in the rat’s model. Electromyography (EMG) data revealed a remarkable amelioration in hindlimb function in the Au NPs/Gelatin nanocatalyst (20 µg/kg) group. The ventral motor neurons number significantly raised, while the cavity areas significantly decreased in the Au NPs/Gelatin group. Moreover, the expression of GFAP was notably reduced in the Au NPs/Gelatin nanocatalyst group. The Au NPs/Gelatin nanocatalyst group exhibited a significant reduction in delayed responses and a significant increase in BBB scores during sensory tests.

A new low-carbon project scheduling problem with renewable and traditional energy: A comprehensive analysis and its solution

Employing multi-energy complementarity in project energy supply proves to be an efficient strategy for accomplishing low-carbon project scheduling. However, current project scheduling problems primarily concentrate on traditional single-energy models. They optimize schedules to reduce energy emissions but often neglect the potential of renewable energy. This paper integrates project scheduling and renewable energy as interrelated aspects. Based on a renewable energy supply model grounded in the generation characteristics of renewable energy sources, a model for MC-MRCPSPM (multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem with multiple complementary energies in the manufacturing context) is constructed and a memetic algorithm is employed for its resolution. The research findings conclusively demonstrate that using renewable energy as a power source during project execution leads to an average reduction of approximately 58.8% in carbon emissions, with a justifiable 14.73% increase in energy costs. Employing a multi-energy complementarity approach in project scheduling effectively reduces carbon emissions while maintaining reasonable energy costs and offers project managers greater decision-making flexibility.

Innovative and practical tools for monitoring and assessing biodiversity status and impacts of multiple human pressures in marine systems.

Human activities at sea can produce pressures and cumulative effects on ecosystem components that need to be monitored and assessed in a cost-effective manner. Five Horizon European projects have joined forces to collaboratively increase our knowledge and skills to monitor and assess the ocean in an innovative way, assisting managers and policy-makers in taking decisions to maintain sustainable activities at sea. Here, we present and discuss the status of some methods revised during a summer school, aiming at better management of coasts and seas. We include novel methods to monitor the coastal and ocean waters (e.g. environmental DNA, drones, imaging and artificial intelligence, climate modelling and spatial planning) and innovative tools to assess the status (e.g. cumulative impacts assessment, multiple pressures, Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool (NEAT), ecosystem services assessment or a new unifying approach). As a concluding remark, some of the most important challenges ahead are assessing the pros and cons of novel methods, comparing them with benchmark technologies and integrating these into long-standing time series for data continuity. This requires transition periods and careful planning, which can be covered through an intense collaboration of current and future European projects on marine biodiversity and ecosystem health.

O-067 An update from the international reproductive health education collaboration

Abstract Most people want children, but many do not achieve their parenthood goals. Research shows that both men and women have limited knowledge about fertility and the factors that affect it. This includes poor knowledge about the impact of age, the most important determinant of the chance to conceive and have a healthy baby. As age at first birth is increasing in many countries, people increasingly seek assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment due to age-related infertility. To allow people to make informed decisions about if and when to have children and to avoid age-related infertility, they need evidence-based and accessible information about fertility. Fertility awareness is defined by the World Health Organisation as ‘the understanding of reproduction, fecundity, fecundability, and related individual risk factors (e.g. advanced age, sexual health factors such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity) and non-individual risk factors (e.g. environmental and workplace factors); including the awareness of societal and cultural factors affecting options to meet reproductive family planning, as well as family building needs’. In 2019, an international collective of reproductive health researchers and health professionals convened to promote fertility education for the public, teachers, and health professionals. Initially called the International Fertility Education Initiative (IFEI), in 2022 the group integrated into ESHRE. In 2023, the group rebranded as the International Reproductive Health Education Collaboration (IRHEC) (www.eshre.eu/IRHEC) to reflect a life course perspective that goes beyond childbearing and includes education about all aspects of reproductive health, from puberty to menopause. The mission statement of the IRHEC is ‘To increase reproductive health awareness using the life course approach, in order to improve reproductive health and facilitate decision-making in family planning among adolescents, people of reproductive age, primary healthcare, education professionals, and policymakers through development, evaluation and dissemination of inclusive educational resources.’ We aim for our website to be a repository for a range of reproductive health educational resources for the public, health and education professionals, and researchers. This includes some resources developed by the group. In this first IRHEC report to the ESHRE conference we will describe the committee structure, the processes for joining the IRHEC Network and for nominations and elections of committee members and introduce current IRHEC committee members. We will also provide updates on completed resources to be launched during 2024 and on current and potential future projects including: • An updated fertility education poster for young people. It is based on a poster developed in 2019 which has been redesigned in response to research conducted with young people in Denmark, Sweden, and the UK. The poster is available in many different languages on the IRHEC website. • Twelve information leaflets with more in depth information on various aspects of reproductive health which have been co-designed with young people. These are also available and free to download from our website. • After years of working with schools, and a public consultation last year, IRHEC has developed a resource to help teachers deliver reproductive health education to students. It is freely available to all teachers around the world and can be used in full or in part depending on teachers’ needs. • Preparations are underway to seek funding to evaluate the teachers’ resource. We plan to use qualitative research in the first instance to explore teachers’ views on the usefulness of the resource, what parts they would use, and whether the topics covered, and the level of detail are appropriate. • We are also examining how social media can be used to deliver reproductive health education. Through this work we want to empower everyone with evidence-based education on reproductive health.

A Pilot Study of Neologisms in Kuwaiti English.

The present work offers insights into lexical aspects of this emerging variety to systematically look into neologisms in Kuwaiti English (KE) using corpus linguistics methods and techniques. Such research results in a deeper understanding of lexical development, productivity, and creativity in the variety under scrutiny, as well as how reciprocal lexical influences develop within a variety (Anesa 3). The study focuses on a written corpus of 337,102 words to see whether or not written English-language texts in Kuwait can provide sufficient data worthy of further exploration. The current project in broad strokes focuses on (i) local neologisms and (ii) L2 neologisms. To flesh out the latter, namely suffixation, compounding, and borrowing, a predetermined list, wildcards, and corpus query language (CQL) were used. For the former, keyness analysis was used, and it was found that this technique provided more insight into indigenous words than suffixation, compounding, predetermined lists, wildcards, and CQL, all of which did not reveal sufficient evidence of neologisms in KE. Overall, keyness analysis was the most successful method in uncovering neologisms in the corpus. As the data indicate, the most productive features of KE seem to be those that are related to culture or religion. It could identify words that were not detected by the other methods. Moreover, more research should be done on more types of neologisms, such as blends, in order to obtain a better understanding of the use of English in Kuwait. According to the study, neologisms are used because they are practical, culturally influenced, and socially acceptable. Additionally, KE neologisms are mainly the result of semantic change, such as semantic restriction. Research on neologisms, especially geared towards understanding cultural or religious concepts incorporated within a variety, seems to be best examined using keyness analysis as it highlights such terms and concepts effectively.

Qualifying uncertainty of precipitation projections over China: mitigating uncertainty with emergent constraints

Predicting future mean precipitation poses significant challenges due to uncertainties among climate models, complicating water resource management. In this study, we introduce a novel methodology to mitigate uncertainty in future mean precipitation projections over China on a grid-by-grid basis. By constraining precipitation parameters of the Gamma distribution, we establish emergent constraints on parameters, revealing significant correlations between historical and future simulations. Our analysis spans the periods 2040–2069 and 2070–2099 under low-to-moderate and high emission scenarios. We observe reductions in uncertainty across most regions of China, with constrained mean precipitation indicating increases in monsoon regions and decreases in non-monsoon zones relative to raw projections. Notably, the observed 30%–40% increase in mean precipitation for the whole of China underscores the efficacy of our methodology. These observationally constrained results provide valuable insights into current precipitation projections, offering actionable information for water resource planning and climate adaptation strategies amidst future uncertainties.

Decolonizing Bioarchaeology in Sudan

Abstract Bioarchaeology, as a subdiscipline, has begun confronting its colonial origins and discussing how to incorporate stakeholders and ethically move forward. Here, we frame this discussion within the context of Sudan and Ancient Nubia. We argue that first we must acknowledge the sordid history of the discipline and then actively take steps to dismantle continuing systems of racism, sexism, and western-centered biases. We begin by discussing the history of the excavation, analysis, and treatment of human skeletal remains from early excavations through to current projects. We then turn to an examination of how we can further decolonize bioarchaeology in Sudan. This will certainly involve working closely with local communities and the National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, as well as a reconsideration of decision-making processes. We are working towards a best care practices document, detailing guidelines for the curation and analysis of human skeletal remains.

Development of the DONOR prediction model on the risk of hypertensive complications in oocyte donation pregnancy: study protocol for a multicentre cohort study in the Netherlands

IntroductionOocyte donation (OD) pregnancy is accompanied by a high incidence of hypertensive complications, with serious consequences for mother and child. Optimal care management, involving early recognition, optimisation of suitable treatment...