Field Program Research Articles

Fast, accurate and accessible calculations of leaf temperature and its physiological consequences with NicheMapR

Abstract Mechanistic predictions of ecological niches are fundamentally based on energy and mass exchange processes that, to be realistic, must be linked to microclimate and incorporate behaviour and physiology. Estimates of leaf temperature and associated transpiration and net photosynthesis rates are fundamental in ecology, agriculture and global change biology. Equations for calculating leaf energy budgets have been available for over 60 years and complex models of stomatal behaviour have been developed. However, user‐friendly ways of estimating leaf temperature under realistic microclimatic regimes, including soil moisture effects, remain limited. Here we show that the integrated microclimate and ectotherm functions of the NicheMapR package for the R programming environment can be used to make fast and effective estimates of leaf temperature and associated rates of water loss and photosynthesis for a wide range of leaf functional types, root depths and microhabitats. Stomatal conductance may be constant or simulated to change dynamically (a) as a function of vapour pressure deficit and CO2 concentration, (b) as a function of soil water potential and (c) as a thermoregulatory mechanism to avoid heat stress. We tested the approach against hourly leaf temperature observations in summer from an arid shrubland in Australia, a temperate woodland in Montana USA, along an elevational gradient in Colorado USA, and at a botanical garden in Florida, USA. National or global gridded data sets can provide the required forcing data but local observational data or some combination of local and gridded data can be used. The global ERA5 and NCEP datasets allow historical leaf energy budget calculations to be made anywhere in the world and a Shiny app has been developed to facilitate use of the model with these datasets. Situated leaf energy budget calculations can be used to design informative field programs to collect much needed detailed temporal data on leaf temperature under natural settings, enabling better predictions and interpretations of how plants respond to environmental change.

Session 16. Oral Presentation for: Optimising CO2 storage resource utilisation: insights from the Otway Stage 4 field program

Session 16. Oral Presentation for: Optimising CO2 storage resource utilisation: insights from the Otway Stage 4 field program

Physical traits and fitness of cold-induced lethargic Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) adults

ABSTRACT The chilled adult technique is a suitable strategy for the mass-release of insects for the area-wide management of insect pests. Chilling may have undesirable effects on the released insects. The relationship between physical traits and the effects of cold-induced lethargy on the fitness of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata has not been fully explored. In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between weight, size, and water and lipid content in D. longicaudata subjected to cold-induced lethargy at 9, 6, and 3°C, and the effects of cold induction on the survival, flight ability, and fecundity of parasitoid adults. During gradual chilling from 15°C to 3°C over a 45 min period, we observed that most wasps became lethargic at 9°C. The tibias of wasps that became lethargic at 3°C were larger than those of parasitoids that became lethargic at 9 and 6°C. Body water and lipid contents were higher in lethargic females chilled at 3°C, but no differences were observed in males. Lethargic males experienced reduced flight ability compared with the control, whereas fecundity was reduced only in lethargic females that had been exposed to 3°C. The survival rate was lower in both sexes. Our results suggest that greater body size and higher water and lipid contents delay the onset of cold-induced lethargy, but do not prevent negative effects on survival, fecundity, and flight ability in D. longicaudata. This study will help the advancement of parasitoid-release field programmes that use the chilled adult technique.

Global Competency Integration in STEAM Fields in Higher Education

The concept of Global Competency (GC) has a growing presence in many collegiate mission statements in the United States. This interconnected, multidisciplinary approach coincides with that of the concept of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education. The focus of this study was to identify what extent GC is present in the classrooms and curriculums, as well as the implementation methods higher education instructors observe and / or utilize in their STEAM field programs. The participants in this study were STEAM-field instructors at higher education institutions in the United States in which GC or an equivalent term is located in their mission or strategic plan. Seventy-six instructors from the midwestern United States completed a survey to generate a GC integration score, and 13 of those also participated in an interview. The quantitative analysis identified a statistically significant difference between the integration scores of Arts and Science instructors and Arts and Engineering instructors. Qualitative analysis identified curriculum and instruction-based strategies of successful integration, common barriers to integration, and the sentiment that integration varies greatly from a regional and sometimes institution-wide setting. The findings of this study can help standardize the concept and integration of GC in higher education as well as provide curriculum developers and administrators with a look at how GC is represented in the current climate of higher education.

Optimising CO2 storage resource utilisation: insights from the Otway Stage 4 field program

The optimised utilisation of storage resources and accelerated commercial carbon dioxide (CO2) storage development is vital for carbon capture and storage to play its important role in reducing emissions at scale. CO2CRC seeks to address this challenge through an international collaboration – the Otway Stage 4 field program – that demonstrates a suite of cost-effective reservoir management techniques with the potential to improve CO2 storage capabilities, particularly in lower-quality reservoirs, maturing them for commercial readiness. Aiming to enhance injectivity, improve sweep, increase model resolution, and develop performance monitoring capabilities, Otway 4 will substantially improve CO2 storage resource usage, furthering economical viability for decreasing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Otway Stage 4 includes acquisition and analysis of CO2 saturation and chemical data during plume migration and trapping, combined with investigation of fine-scale geological heterogeneity’s role in CO2 flow dynamics, to refine modelling workflows and, ultimately, develop strategies for optimising commercial CO2 storage; demonstrating whether CO2 microbubbles (MBs) significantly increase storage efficiency compared to standard CO2 injection, thereby unlocking previously untenable reservoirs for CO2 storage; enhancing seismic monitoring to comprehensively assess storage performance and MB behaviour, including quantitative derivation of CO2 saturation; and demonstrating the capability of Distributed Strain Sensing to quantitatively measure geomechanical changes associated with CO2 injection. In addition to Otway 4’s forward plans, laboratory and modelling work, including core flood analysis, to understand CO2 MB and surfactant behaviour at pore scale, dynamic modelling of CO2 flow through heterogeneous reservoir, and selecting suitable injection intervals at the Otway site are discussed.

Ecological Civilisation and Amphibian Sustainability through Reproduction Biotechnologies, Biobanking, and Conservation Breeding Programs (RBCs).

Intergenerational justice entitles the maximum retention of Earth's biodiversity. The 2022 United Nations COP 15, "Ecological Civilisation: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth", is committed to protecting 30% of Earth's terrestrial environments and, through COP 28, to mitigate the effects of the climate catastrophe on the biosphere. We focused this review on three core themes: the need and potential of reproduction biotechnologies, biobanks, and conservation breeding programs (RBCs) to satisfy sustainability goals; the technical state and current application of RBCs; and how to achieve the future potentials of RBCs in a rapidly evolving environmental and cultural landscape. RBCs include the hormonal stimulation of reproduction, the collection and storage of sperm and oocytes, and artificial fertilisation. Emerging technologies promise the perpetuation of species solely from biobanked biomaterials stored for perpetuity. Despite significant global declines and extinctions of amphibians, and predictions of a disastrous future for most biodiversity, practical support for amphibian RBCs remains limited mainly to a few limited projects in wealthy Western countries. We discuss the potential of amphibian RBCs to perpetuate amphibian diversity and prevent extinctions within multipolar geopolitical, cultural, and economic frameworks. We argue that a democratic, globally inclusive organisation is needed to focus RBCs on regions with the highest amphibian diversity. Prioritisation should include regional and international collaborations, community engagement, and support for RBC facilities ranging from zoos and other institutions to those of private carers. We tabulate a standard terminology for field programs associated with RBCs for publication and media consistency.

Erasable and Field Programmable DNA Circuits Based on Configurable Logic Blocks.

DNA is commonly employed as a substrate for the building of artificial logic networks due to its excellent biocompatibility and programmability. Till now, DNA logic circuits are rapidly evolving to accomplish advanced operations. Nonetheless, nowadays, most DNA circuits remain to be disposable and lack of field programmability and thereby limits their practicability. Herein, inspired by the Configurable Logic Block (CLB), the CLB-based erasable field-programmable DNA circuit that uses clip strands as its operation-controlling signals is presented. It enables users to realize diverse functions with limited hardware. CLB-based basic logic gates (OR and AND) are first constructed and demonstrated their erasability and field programmability. Furthermore, by adding the appropriate operation-controlling strands, multiple rounds of programming are achieved among five different logic operations on a two-layer circuit. Subsequently, a circuit is successfully built to implement two fundamental binary calculators: half-adder and half-subtractor, proving that the design can imitate silicon-based binary circuits. Finally, a comprehensive CLB-based circuit is built that enables multiple rounds of switch among seven different logic operations including half-adding and half-subtracting. Overall, the CLB-based erasable field-programmable circuit immensely enhances their practicability. It is believed that design can be widely used in DNA logic networks due to its efficiency and convenience.

Pendampingan Penyusunan Proposal Program Kreativitas Mahasiswa (PKM) Prodi Manajemen Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Ekonomi Bima

The PKM program is a routine grant program every year which will be participated in by PTN and PTS which is organized by the Belmawa Directorate as a forum for channeling student creative ideas. The hope is that by launching the Student Creativity Program (PKM) in various fields, it will train students to be able to present solutions to problems faced by the government, society, or the world of work/industry, so that the life of the nation and state moves in a better direction. The participation of students and accompanying lecturers in PKM activities can support the achievement of their higher education's IKU. Especially at IKU 1 (graduates get decent work), IKU 2 (students get experience outside campus), IKU 3 (lecturers carry out activities outside campus), and IKU 5 (the results of lecturers' work are used by the community). Apart from that, the output of this PKM program can be in the form of articles that are declared to have passed by reviewers and can be published in a scientific journal, which is a form of dissemination of activities carried out by students and indirectly contributes to progress and technology. However, the problem in 2024 is that there is still low student participation in taking part in PKM grants and low knowledge and understanding of students in preparing proposals and taking part in PKM and difficulty finding ideas to put into writing. The community service method uses a participatory method through a preliminary stage, core stage and advanced stage. The results of the activity show that it was carried out according to the timeline and increased student interest in developing ideas and skills as well as student interest in proposing PKM, this is proven by the increase in the number of PKM proposals proposed in the Simbelmawa system.

Test Security and the Pandemic: Comparison of Test Center and Online Proctor Delivery Modalities

Published information is limited regarding the security of testing programs, and even less on the relative security of different testing modalities: in-person at test centers (TC) versus remote online proctored (OP) testing. This article begins by examining indicators of test security violations across a wide range of programs in professional, admissions, and IT fields. We look at high levels of response overlap as a potential indicator of collusion to cheat on the exam and compare rates by modality and between test center types. Next, we scrutinize indicators of potential test security violations for a single large testing program over the course of 14 months, during which the program went from exclusively in-person TC testing to a mix of OP and TC testing. Test security indicators include high response overlap, large numbers of fast correct responses, large numbers of slow correct responses, large test-retest score gains, unusually fast response times for passing candidates, and measures of differential person functioning. These indicators are examined and compared prior to and after the introduction of OP testing. In addition, test-retest modality is examined for candidates who fail and retest subsequent to the introduction of OP testing, with special attention paid to test takers who change modality between the initial attempt and the retest. These data allow us to understand whether indications of content exposure increase with the introduction of OP testing, and whether testing modalities affect potential score increase in a similar way.

Comparison of a thickness-tapered channel in flow field-flow fractionation with a conventional channel with flow rate programming

The thickness-tapered channel structure in flow field-flow fractionation (FlFFF), recently introduced by constructing a channel with a linear decrease in thickness along its length, demonstrated effectiveness in steric/hyperlayer separation of supramicron particles with improvements in separation speed, elution recovery, and an expanded dynamic size range of separation. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the performance between the impact of field (or crossflow rate) programming or outflow rate programming for the separation of polystyrene latex standards (50 ∼ 800 nm) with a conventional channel having uniform thickness and a thickness-tapered channel without programming. Outlet flow rate and crossflow rate conditions were also varied. Although the particle size resolution of the tapered channel does not surpass that of field programming in uniform thickness channel, it achieves higher-speed separation without a significant loss of resolution and without the need for a complex flow controller system even at a low outflow rate condition. Furthermore, it yielded an improved resolution for particles close to the steric transition regime (400 ∼ 600 nm) in the normal mode of separation. Due to the continuous increase in mean flow velocity down the channel, the tapered channel exhibits flexibility in separating submicron-sized particles at high crossflow rate conditions or low outflow rate conditions, of which the latter can be advantageous when coupled with mass spectrometry in a miniaturized setup.

Pemanfaatan Media Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab Di Sekolah Kalamullah Al-Qur’an And Multilingual School Thailand

Arabic learning literacy at Kalamullah Al-Qur'an and Multilingual School, Pattani, Thailand is currently still lacking. For learning time is carried out only 1x a week. Therefore, there is a need for a medium to increase the attractiveness or interest of students in learning. The media used is in the form of recognizing letters and numbers in Arabic. The use of this media uses calligraphy writing made by madrasah ibtidaiyah teacher education students who carry out the International School Field Program in Pattani, Thailand. After an evaluation was carried out with the use of this Arabic introduction learning media, an increase in the post test was obtained by 22,16%, so as to increase students' interest in learning this Arabic introduction.

Main characteristics of preventive postural hygiene training programs in the educational field

Objective: To determine the state of the art regarding preventive training programs on postural hygiene and back health in an educational context. Introduction: The prevalence of non-specific back pain in population reaches alarming figures and its causes are largely preventable. Adequate training in postural education is necessary along students' academic career. Method: Retrospective descriptive study, using the PRISMA method. Results: 61 original articles published from 2017 to 2021 have been analysed. Discussion: Postural education programs have demonstrated their effectiveness and have provided benefits for the participating students.

Design, deployment, and operation of an experimental offshore seaweed cultivation structure

Seaweed cultivation systems suitable for offshore and exposed locations have the potential to enable expansion of global seaweed production to levels capable of substantially supplementing or offsetting terrestrial agriculture. A demonstration scale, experimental seaweed cultivation system (farm) intended to withstand exposed ocean environments was designed, deployed, planted with kelp (a type of seaweed), monitored and decommissioned. Objectives for the field program included: [1] observation of the farm’s behavior and survivability in exposed ocean conditions, [2] demonstration of novel farm system design features and component technologies, and [3] evaluation of farm operability. Novel design features included a lattice mooring system geometry, multi-shaft helical anchors, and the use of fiberglass rod as a replacement for rope anchor lines and kelp growth substrate in order to mitigate the risk of marine animal entanglement. New hardware was developed for transmitting tension loads to and from fiberglass rods, enabling their use in the farm. A numerical model was used in the design stage to simulate the farm in ocean conditions. Analysis results were used to specify farm components, evaluate sensitivities to installation precision, identify potential issues with component interaction, consider operational constraints and investigate the implications of single point failures. The farm was installed at a Gulf of Maine, USA site and planted with Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp) in November 2021 through January 2022 and monitored for one growth season. Kelp was sampled 3 times and met-ocean conditions were measured throughout the season. Kelp was harvested in May 2022 and the structure was removed June 2022. Recovered components were inspected for wear. The farm survived a series of storm events with significant wave heights greater than 2 m and at least one storm with a maximum wave height of 5.9 m. The farm system experienced only minor corrosion, wear and damage. Farm operations revealed the need for improved accessibility, tension control and anchor placement accuracy. Observations and tests revealed relatively poor kelp holdfast attachment to the fiberglass rope replacement. Nonetheless, demonstration results suggest that the experimental farming system design was suitable for use in exposed settings.

New development of compact magnetic separator for on-site material screening in various geological survey

AbstractMagnetic separation has been recognized as a valuable technique for extracting or separating target materials from mixed heterogeneous particles. In conventional geological research, it has been used to separate ferro- and ferri-magnetic minerals such as Fe–Ni metal, magnetite and ilmenite. Recently, a mixture of diamagnetic and weak paramagnetic particles has been successfully separated into groups of different materials using a compact magnetic circuit; however, the resolution was not sufficiently high to analyze various heterogeneous particles studied in geological research. Here, we show that the resolution has remarkably improved by developing new magnetic separator. Accordingly, the separation efficiency of particles due to magnetic translation increased by a factor of ~ 2.5, and two different materials were definitely resolved when their variance of the magnetic susceptibility exceeded ~ 2 × 10−7 emu/g; previously, limit of the resolution was above 7 × 10–7 emu/g. We also established the orbit simulation program in magnetic and gravitational field, which accurately predicted the actual trajectory due to magnetic translation. The improved separation resolution of the new separator has significantly increased the range of solid materials that can be magnetically separated, and the range of applications has been considerably expanded to include the matrix of primitive meteorites, surface soils of solid planets and satellites, volcanic ash and sedimentary rocks. The newly developed device is compact and requires little electric power, allowing on-site material screening in various geological research.

Differential long-term effects of a language-based professional development program on instructional support quality

ABSTRACT The present study focused on the differential effects of two German PD programs in the ECEC field. We examined whether PD programs are equally effective for all ECEC professionals or whether ECEC professionals benefit differently from these learning opportunities. An experimental pre-post-follow-up study was conducted in the field with random assignment of participants (N = 50) to one of two language-based PD programs. In addition, transfer-relevant factors (transfer motivation, self-efficacy, support from supervisors and colleagues) were taken into account to investigate whether possible differences in changes in the quality of instructional support were related to the transfer conditions. Using longitudinal multilevel analyses, we found that the PD program “Talking with Children”, which focuses on language promotion strategies, is equally effective for all participants. Even with minimal perceived support from colleagues and supervisors, strategies learned in the PD program can be implemented to improve the quality of instructional support. Our results suggest the importance of considering transfer conditions to better support ECEC professionals in implementing what they have learned in PD programs in the future.

Student-Perceived Supervisor Motivation and Grade Pressure as Predictors of German Psychology Students’ Thesis Motivation

Writing a final thesis is an important step for many students. Many thesis programs in research-oriented fields are structured as projects in which there is a one-to-one working relationship with a supervisor. In addition, the thesis’ final grade is often perceived as particularly important. This research uses a cross-sectional survey design ( N = 217) to assess student-perceived supervisor motivation and experienced grade pressure as predictors of student motivation when writing their thesis. Derived from expectancy-value models, valence, expectancy, and instrumentality towards achieving a good thesis grade as well as stress from the thesis work are assessed as mediating variables. The results indicate that, as hypothesized, high student-perceived supervisor motivation is associated with higher motivation components and less stress. Grade pressure is associated with higher valence, but also more stress. In turn, motivational components are positively and stress negatively associated with student motivation. The mediation analysis suggests a partially mediated positive effect of student-perceived supervisor motivation and a suppressed net zero effect of grade pressure on student motivation. Although this research cannot establish causality, the results suggest that motivating supervisors may improve student motivation in thesis writing significantly. Furthermore, the negative effects of high grade pressure may not extend to student motivation.

An Efficient RTL Design for a Wearable Brain–Computer Interface

This article proposes an efficient and accurate embedded motor imagery-based brain–computer interface (MI-BCI) that meets the requirements for wearable and real-time applications. To achieve a suitable accuracy considering hardware constraints, we explore BCI transducer algorithms, among which Infinite impulse response (IIR) filter, common spatial pattern, and support vector machine are used to preprocess, extract features, and classify data, respectively. With our hardware implementation of these tasks, we have achieved an accuracy of 77%. Our system is designed at register transfer level (RTL) targeting an ASIC implementation, which significantly decreases power consumption, latency, and area compared to the state-of-the-art (SoA) architectures for embedded BCI systems. To this end, we fold IIR filters using time-shared and RAM-based techniques and use hardware-friendly algorithms for the implementation of other tasks. The RTL design is realized on 45 nm CMOS technology consuming 4 mW power and 0.25 mm2 area, which outperforms the SoA platforms for embedded BCI systems. To further illustrate the outperformance of our design, the proposed architecture is implemented on Virtex-7 field program gate array as a prototyping platform consuming 6 μJ energy with 1.52% area utilization.

Abstract A034: A new international program to accelerate novel therapeutics for brain tumors: presenting the brain tumor research novel therapeutics accelerator

Abstract Each year, we see many journal manuscripts highlighting successful pre-clinical experiments for potential new brain tumor therapies. Only a few of these therapies move forward into successful clinical trials. Indeed, developing a comprehensive translational program covers many aspects, including but not limited to, medicinal chemistry, blood brain barrier penetration, tumor heterogeneity, delivery, commercialization, and navigating the regulatory environment. Because of this, bringing a successful translational project from bench to bedside requires access to a diverse set of cutting-edge expertise to give promising therapies the best chance of succeeding. Recognizing that this journey is not easy to navigate, the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission has launched an international Brain Tumor Research Novel Therapeutics Accelerator (BTR-NTA). This program is led by an international group of drug development and brain tumor experts who provide independent guidance to researchers to position their therapeutic along a realistic pathway to clinical trials. The BTR-NTA is open to any international academic and industry researchers developing a medicinal product, delivery technology or device for brain tumors. The BTR-NTA welcomes groups at any stage of pre-clinical or clinical work. Academics and smaller biotech’s could benefit from feedback on their pre-clinical studies and plans for commercialization, while larger pharmaceutical companies could benefit from access to brain tumor specific expertise and patient input into clinical trial design. Researchers can apply to BTR-NTA twice a year, and if accepted will go through the following process: 1. Complete an application form covering work to date and future plans under strict confidentiality agreements; 2. Attend an in-person meeting with a tailored group of experts to further discuss their work; and 3. Receive a comprehensive written report from the BTR-NTA committee with feedback on strengths and weaknesses and guidance on next steps. The expert committee dedicates half a day to reviewing the applicants’ work in-person, and extensive time pre- and post-meeting. Throughout the process, applicants receive up to 150 hours of expert input. The multidisciplinary nature of the review committee spans the entirety of the drug development pathway to support longitudinal collaboration and avoid a siloed approach to research. The BTR-NTA was designed after a similar program in another rare disease field yielded impressive results. Thanks to charitable funding, the BTR-NTA is free to academics and at low cost for industry. The BTR-NTA aims to help address barriers for researchers by highlighting potential pitfalls or risks, providing multi-disciplinary feedback on work to date, giving constructive guidance on next steps and strengthening international collaboration in the brain tumor field. The ultimate goal of the BTR-NTA is to enable researchers with therapy for brain tumors to navigate the drug development journey and make it to the clinic in a low-cost and timely way. Citation Format: Nicky Huskens, Charlotte Aitken, Katie Bushby. A new international program to accelerate novel therapeutics for brain tumors: presenting the brain tumor research novel therapeutics accelerator [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Brain Cancer; 2023 Oct 19-22; Minneapolis, Minnesota. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(5 Suppl_1):Abstract nr A034.

Floristic and conservation studies of pteridophytes of Maidan Region, Tirah, Khyber Agency, Pakistan

This study was designed to investigate the floristic diversity of the pteridophytes of Maidan Region, Tirah, Khyber Agency, Pakistan. The research activities were carried out in various phases. Before starting the field-related research activities, a detailed field program was designed. Information regarding the respective taxa was obtained through several field surveys. During field surveys, about 200 specimens were collected with proper information. The collected plant specimens were then authentically identified with internationally well recognized floras. Twenty-nine (29) species were identified under 7 genera and 6 families. Of these, one species, i.e., Asplenium hainanense was new to Pakistan. For families, Aspleniaceae was the dominant family with 17 species (58.62%). For the remaining families, less than 6 species were recorded for each. Asplenium was the largest genus with 17 species (58.62%). Altitude-wise, 7 species (24.13%) were recorded between 600-1500 m and minimum number of species were seen in the range between 4000-4500 m. Some promising threats, i.e., land modification for agricultural purposes, stone excavation, fire in the forest land, overgrazing, and deforestation were identified as causing adverse effects on the species explored. These factors should be reduced in order to protect the taxa from local extinction. Serious conservation measures are necessary to avoid eradication of the species from the study area.

Особенности разработки программного продукта по физической подготовленности студентов «ПНИПУ»

Data processing is the leading direction in mathematical modeling. Increasing the volume of information, storage, accessibility in messengers, translation into related languages, biometric data have become a necessary introduction of new programs in the educational field. Physical fitness of students is one of the indicators of learning curricula. An increase in the number of students and the introduction of TRP standards requires rapid data processing. Search for research methods and modeling of information processes and technologies and design of information technologies for data processing in the field of physical culture, as well as design of automation and control systems and database processing.