Field Visits Research Articles

Physico-chemical quality and toxicity of wastewater from Katiola commune (North-Central Côte d’Ivoire)

In Africa in general and in Côte d’Ivoire in particular, the management of wastewater in the context of sanitation is devolved to cities and municipalities. Katiola commune is no exception. In fact, this municipality faces problems with wastewater management. The objective of this study is to evaluate the physicochemical quality and toxicity of wastewater from this municipality with a view to implementing an appropriate management method. Thus, surveys followed by field visits and wastewater sampling were carried out on six (06) sites. The data from the analyzes were compared to the guide values ​​of the WHO, France and Ivory Coast. The results reveal that populations dispose of wastewater using unconventional practices (90%). This wastewater is considerably mineralized (469 and 663 μS/cm), of domestic origin and easily biodegradable (biodegradability index equal to 2.49) with a normal pH. In terms of toxicology, Katiola wastewater is rich in lead (26.9 to 640 µg/L) and nickel (50 to 779.2 µg/L). As for pesticides, beta-endosulfan and endrin have concentrations lower than the limit value set by the French standard, thus meaning a low impact on humans and their environment.

Field Visits as a Pedagogical Tool to Understand Health Determinants

Abstract Background Medical education often focuses on curative medicine, neglecting health determinants. Field visits, common in other educational contexts, enhance understanding of these factors. We aim to offer insights into pedagogical methods applicable to similar educational settings. Objectives Medical students completing an internship at the Gaia-Espinho Public Health Unit participated in field visits to enhance their understanding of health determinants. Guided through two economically distinct areas within a walkable distance of 2km, students documented health determinants through notes and photos. Discussions were held on-site and after visits integrating the real-world experience with theoretical frameworks. An inductive thematic analysis of students’ satisfaction and pedagogical effectiveness of the activity was performed on the internship reports from the 2023/2024 academic year. Results Out of 18 internship reports, 10 described the activity as positive and enriching, of which six highlighted it as a crucial part of the internship. Thirteen reports noted that the activity led to new perceptions about health determinants, and nine highlighted its practical value. Nine students included photos in their reports, bike paths being the most featured. Seventeen provided a clear description and listed the determinants they were able to detect. Discussions highlighted sensory experiences that are uniquely discernible through physical site visits including unpleasant odours, loud noises, and the cooling effect of blue areas on hot days. Three did not provide any evaluative comments, but correctly listed the determinants identified. Conclusions Field visits may enhance medical students’ understanding of health determinants, being recognized as an engaging pedagogical tool. Potential biases in assessments that rely on student satisfaction reports must be considered. Findings support the continuation and expansion of visits in other Public Health internships. Key messages • Field visits, used as a pedagogical tool, may enhance medical students’ ability to understand health determinants. • User Field visits provide a new perspective on previously acquired theoretical knowledge regarding prevention.

REPORT OF PRACTICAL CLASS IN AGRICULTURAL AREA WITH THE BACHELOR CLASS IN AGRONOMY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TRACUATEUA-PA

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a highly consumed root and a significant source of carbohydrates in Brazil and around the world. In the state of Pará, cassava is vital to the local economy, especially in the municipality of Tracuateua. The culture involves family farmers and serves as an important source of income and subsistence. Different cultivars are used, such as BRS Tapioqueira and BRS Verdinha, which exceed 70 thousand kg/ha with good management. Adequate fertilization, pest control and weed management are essential for high productivity. Irrigation can significantly increase production. On the property of Mr. Benedito Dutra, member of the RENIVA project, the production of seed cassava and cowpea is highlighted. It uses cultivars developed by Embrapa, such as BRS Kiriris, BRS Formosa and BRS Novo Horizonte, which are recommended for industrial use. Dutra also grows cowpeas, using varieties such as BRS Guirá and BRS Natalina, which are highly productive and adapted to local conditions. The property has an irrigated area of ​​23 hectares per central pivot, ensuring crop hydration during dry periods. During the field visit, several areas of experimentation were observed. The experimental plots of cassava and cowpea showed good performance, with a high survival rate and resistance to pests. The integration of advanced soil management, pest control and irrigation practices highlighted the property as an example of innovative agriculture. The experience on Mr. Dutra’s property demonstrated the importance of innovation and adoption of advanced agricultural practices for sustainable and productive agricultural production.

Analisis Biaya Pengurasan Sedimentasi pada Kolam Pengendap Lumpur di PT Bukit Asam Tbk Unit Pertambangan Tanjung Enim Sumatera Selatan

PT Bukit Asam is one of the companies engaged in the coal mining sector which is located in Tanjung Enim, South Sematra. The mining system applied in exploiting coal is open pit mining which produces water called acid mine water (AAT), one of the components of the AAT problem. namely total suspended solid (TSS). At PT Bukit Asam, Bangko Barat, there are several KPLs that are still in use. KPLs that are continuously supplied with mining water certainly produce a negative impact, namely silting. The aim of this research is to analyze the cost of dewatering sedimentation in mud settling ponds. The method used in this research is to use field visits and direct observations. The shallowing itself is caused by rain factors and the long deposition time. To prevent silting, draining is carried out using an excavator and loading of the material using a dump truck. Draining activities in February amounted to IDR 185,634,400.00 handling the mud settling ponds also using chemicals or control methods which are useful for settling mud particles so that the draining process at the KPL runs quickly.

Permanent pastures identification in Portugal using remote sensing and multi-level machine learning

IntroductionThe Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a vital policy framework implemented by the European Union to regulate and support agricultural production within member states. The Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) is a key component that provides reliable land identification for administrative control procedures. On-the-spot checks (OTSC) are carried out to verify compliance with CAP requirements, typically relying on visual interpretation or field visits. However, the CAP is embracing advanced technologies to enhance its efficiency.MethodsThis study focuses on using Sentinel-2 time series data and a two-level approach involving recurrent neural networks (RNN) and convolutional neural networks (CNN) to accurately identify permanent pastures.ResultsIn the first step, using RNN, the model achieved an accuracy of 68%, a precision of 36%, a recall of 97% and a F1-score of 52%, which indicates the model’s ability to identify all the true positive parcels (correctly identified permanent pasture parcels) and minimize the false negative parcels (non-identified permanent pasture parcels). This occurs due to the difficulty in distinguishing between permanent pastures and other similar land covers (such as temporary pastures and shrublands). In the second step, it was possible to distinguish the permanent pasture parcels from the others. The obtained results improved significantly from the first to the second step. Using CNN, an accuracy of 93%, a precision of 89%, and a recall of 98% were achieved for the “Permanent pasture” class. The F1-score was 94%, indicating a balanced measure of the model’s performance.DiscussionThe integration of advanced technologies in the CAP’s control mechanisms, as demonstrated, has the potential to automate the verification of farmers’ declarations and subsequent subsidy payments.

Revisiting <i>Loxanthocereus riomajensis</i>, lectotypification, biogeography and conservation status of an endemic species from Arequipa, Peru

This study aims to clarify the taxonomy of Loxanthocereus riomajensis, as well as to understand its actual and potential geographic distribution, and to present its conservation status. Specialized literature was reviewed, and field visits were conducted. The collected data, including herbarium samples, presence records, and additional information, were used to describe the species in detail, create a geographical distribution map, generate potential distribution models using the MaxEnt algorithm, and assess its conservation status using IUCN considerations. The results demonstrate that morphologically, L. riomajensis is an independent species endemic to the departament of Arequipa, found in the provinces of Condesuyos and Caylloma, spanning an altitudinal range from 1600 to 2100 m asl. The potential distribution covers an area of 1135.3 km2, in the provinces of Condesuyos, Castilla, La Unión, Caravelí, Caylloma, and Arequipa. Regarding its conservation status, it is classified as endangered (EN). Finally, a lectotype is designated.

Observations from the field: On the body, gender, and Al wehdat camp in Amman, Jordan

Coming as a collection of observations from the field, I used this article to reflect on 9 months of fieldwork in Al Wehdat camp in Amman, Jordan. Using feminist research methodologies that make transparent the process of knowledge production, primarily ethnographic field visits and focus group discussions, I relied on the bodies of the camp inhabitants as sites of knowledge to learn more about life in the camp, with all what their embodied knowledge encompasses of ambiguity and the messiness of everyday life, aiming to challenge some of the power structures that otherwise control the process of knowledge production about and in the camp. I also brought myself into the frame of inquiry and used my own body as a tool of investigation, reflecting on my own position as a female researcher that is both an outsider and an insider to the camp context.

Dimensions of human–tiger conflict and solutions for coexistence in the forests of the Khata Corridor, Bardiya, Nepal

Abstract Khata Corridor forest, which serves as a border crossing for wildlife between Nepal and India, is one of the areas in Nepal with the highest incidence of human–wildlife conflict. In recent years both the tiger Panthera tigris tigris and human populations in this region have increased, leading to more frequent conflict. We aimed to determine whether increased conflict risk was primarily from tigers entering human settlements or whether there are additional drivers associated with human use of forested areas. We conducted the study in four settlements that varied in socio-economic status and distance from Bardiya National Park, through field visits and household surveys. Tiger records (sightings, pug marks and attacks) were most frequent far from Bardiya National Park, in settlements without benefits from tiger-based tourism and nearer the periphery of forest, and were rarely associated with the interior of settlements. Human visitation into forests was also highest in the most remote settlement. Our findings suggest that conflict risk is driven by the extent of human activity in forested areas, reflecting an unequal distribution of the conservation benefits of tourism amongst settlements. In the long-term, continued coexistence between people and tigers will depend on minimizing conflict risk across settlements through establishing an equitable distribution of conservation benefits. In the short term, we recommend raising public awareness of tiger behaviour to emphasize that tigers are highly unlikely to enter and occupy the interior of human settlements, mitigating negative perceptions of conflict risk.

Health and environmental impacts of Gaza conflict (2023-2024): A review

The war in Gaza, which erupted on October 7, 2023, unleashed unprecedented assaults from the air, sea, and land, affecting the densely populated area of 360 square kilometers housing 2.3 million people. The conflict claimed over 36 000 Palestinian lives, with women and children making up 70% of the casualties, and resulted in more than 80 000 injuries. The devastation was extensive, with over 70% of homes destroyed, along with six universities, numerous hospitals, communication networks, sewage systems, water desalination plants, roads, wells, and other essential infrastructure. Over a million people were displaced from the northern regions to the southern coastal area of Al-Mawasi, which constitutes less than 3% of Gaza's total area, facing dire shortages of water, healthcare, food, and medicine. The collapse of sewage networks and garbage accumulation led to an increase in flies, mosquitoes, insects, and rodents, contributing to the spread of infectious and non-communicable diseases among the displaced population. This research aimed to study the health and environmental impacts of the war in Gaza through data collection, field visits, and photographic documentation. The findings revealed catastrophic conditions, with the destruction of all infrastructure, including buildings, hospitals, universities, mosques, churches, sanitation, water networks, and communications, and the spread of diseases such as intestinal, respiratory infections, and skin infections due to the complete lack of basic life necessities.

Revitalising a fading oral culture through innovative animation production: an experiment with Bodo oral narratives

PurposeThe paper aims to explore animation as a medium to revive the oral narrative of the Bodo community. The Bodo oral narratives are crucial for preserving the tribe's traditional values, but modernization is endangering their oral tradition. Transmitting folk culture to youth is crucial for its continuity and knowledge retention. The objective of the study was to examine the use of animation design approach for the transmission of oral narratives to the young generation.Design/methodology/approachThis design exploration involves a case study, field visit, user study, expert interaction for authentication and questionnaire-based survey. The approach integrates the animation design process with a popular myth of the Bodo tribe's musical instrument, Serja. This exploration seeks to visually present a reliable version of the story based on expert advice and published articles using instructional animation technique.FindingsThe positive response in the user survey suggests that the animation design exploration effectively represented the traditional and cultural aspects of the Bodo community. Feedback and comments from the participants have confirmed that animation can enhance the storytelling experience by effectively communicating oral stories.Research limitations/implicationsThe exploration in this research tries to establish a visual representation of the oral narratives of the Bodo community for the younger generation.Practical implicationsThe exploration in this research tries to establish a visual representation of the oral narratives of the Bodo community for the younger generation.Social implicationsBy using the digital medium, indigenous communities can sustain a long-lasting legacy of their oral stories.Originality/valueThe paper acknowledges the authentic essence of Bodo culture, rooted in their oral stories. Furthermore, it effectively captured and conveyed this essence using an animation design approach.

CPS response and service factors for the child maltreatment recurrence in South Korea

ABSTRACT This study examined whether the response and service characteristics of Child Protective Services (CPS) in Korea are different between the initial reports and subsequent reports in the context of child maltreatment recurrence and to identify the CPS system factors at initial reports associated with the first recurrence and the second recurrence. Study results from 7,544 maltreatment cases show that children and families of maltreatment recurrence were likely to have more emergency separation, legal action, case closure, out-of-home placement, in-home services, and counselling services for subsequent reports compared to initial reports. Also, reporter type, time to disposition decision, out-of-home placement, caregiver receiving mental health therapy, in-home services, and counselling for family members were associated with the risk of the first recurrence and a number of field visits for investigation and mental health therapy for family members were associated with the risk of the second recurrence. Implications were discussed based on the study findings.

Constructing more comprehensive pollination networks: integrating diurnal and nocturnal pollen data with visitation in a subalpine wetland community.

Sampling for describing plant-pollinator interaction networks has been performed using techniques that either focus on the plants (with flower-visit data) or the animals (with analyzing pollen on the body surface of flower visitors). The differences in the structure of the networks obtained using these methods likely influences our understanding of the contribution of nocturnal pollinators, yet this key finding has yet to be the focus of study. In this study, we conducted an intensive diurnal field survey in the subalpine meadows of the Dajiuhu Wetland and supplemented the data with an analysis of diurnal and nocturnal pollen data to examine the changes in pollination networks. We observed 41 plant and 154 pollinator species, corresponding to 665 specific interactions. Visitation and pollen analyses showed significant differences in the composition and interaction between network plants and pollinators, resulting in important structural changes in the network. Given that the diurnal pollen data showed new links that were preferentially attached to highly connected nodes, the level of asymmetric specialization did not decrease; however, nestedness increased 1.3-fold, and mean pollinator connectivity from 3.1 to 5.1. As the behaviors of nocturnal pollinators tended to be more specialized, the inclusion of nocturnal pollen data led to an increase in the number of extreme-specialist pollinator species. Consequently, nestedness decreased 0.8-fold, but mean plant connectivity went from 14.2 to 16.2. These findings suggest that the structure of pollination networks is influenced by the sampling methods and the level of detail of the investigation. Our study has strong implications for the development of monitoring schemes for plant-pollinator interactions. Due to the practical difficulties of nocturnal field visitation, when conducting research, combining diurnal field visitation with both diurnal and nocturnal pollen analyses is the most convenient and realistic method to capture the full complexity of these networks.

Metodologías innovadoras en la enseñanza de la arquitectura

The study "Innovative methodologies in the teaching of architecture" was based on exploring and analyzing three main innovative approaches currently used in the Architecture program at the Universidad Rafael Landívar; among which are the Academic Poster, the Video Podcast and the Architectural Project of Academic Social Responsibility; to analyze their effectiveness and their positive impact on the teaching-learning process. In addition, various educational methods such as Project Based Learning, Laboratories, Models, Field Visits, complemented with Workshops and Conferences, were addressed in order to demonstrate the great variety and achievements in learning by applying these strategies. The results showed that innovative methods are highly effective in fostering critical thinking, creativity and active participation in students. These approaches contributed to a greater understanding of theoretical concepts and better practical application of acquired knowledge. ILIA: Investigaciones Latinoamericanas en Ingeniería y Arquitectura, No. 01, 2024: 79-89.

Experiencia didáctica para el estudio y valoración de la Arquitectura Vernácula guatemalteca

The didactic experience for the study and valoration of Guatemalan Vernacular Architecture consists of a series of academic activities in progressive phases, which introduce this type of architectura in danger of extinction to 4th grade students of architecture at the Rafael Landivar University, in the course: valoration of architecture and territory. Students are progressively immersed in the topic, from the bibliography to field visits, endingin the scale representation of an architectural model. This experience allows participant to learn about architecture, its compositional elements, its construction technique and materials, all whitin the framework of the appreciation of material and intangible cultural heritage. ILIA: Investigaciones Latinoamericanas en Ingeniería y Arquitectura, No. 01, 2024: 75-78.

Tour guides as facilitators of learning under field trips

ABSTRACT Students embark on museum field trips with the goal of having enjoyable and educational experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting. This study investigated how museum tour guides helped primary school children in Zimbabwe learn school curriculum content while on field excursions. The study employed qualitative research approaches where a sample of conveniently chosen 320 school children, 12 teachers, and 40 museum tour guides was used. It is revealed that there are three different categories of tour guides that are found in Zimbabwean museums and these are: evangelists, dictators, and benevolent demonstrators. It was discovered that students go on field trips in order to engage with and learn about the curriculum. According to the investigation, nine (9) tour guides were classified as benevolent demonstrators, ten (10) as dictators, and twenty-one (21) as evangelists. It was shown that evangelist and dictator tour guides hindered effective learning because they treated students like epistemic slaves. During field visits, benevolent demonstrators used active techniques of content delivery to encourage effective learning. According to the study’s findings, most tour guides fall short when it comes to promoting effective learning, and they should receive pedagogy and customer service training.

A dataset of floating debris accumulation at bridges after July 2021 flood in Germany and Belgium

This paper presents a dataset documenting 71 floating debris accumulations at bridges following an extreme hydrological event that hit Belgium and Germany in July 2021. Data were collected from various sources including public authorities’ documents, public online databases, post event pictures and field visits. The dataset covers bridges geometry, flood conditions and debris accumulation. In particular, it systematically details accumulations dimensions and quantifies accumulations components, which contain a significant portion of anthropogenic objects, in addition to driftwood. This dataset constitutes a unique set of invaluable data to better understand debris accumulation at bridges but also to analyze their impact on both the affected structures and flood conditions.

How Green Space Justice in urban built-up areas affects public mental health: a moderated chain mediation model.

Green and blue spaces, as crucial components of urban ecosystems, significantly impact the physical and mental health of residents. However, the mechanisms through which Green/Blue Space Justice influence residents' health remain unclear. This study aims to explore the impact of green spaces on public psychological responses, physical activity, and mental health from a justice perspective, and to examine the moderating role of blue spaces in this relationship. The research was conducted in selected communities within the Chang-Zhu-Tan urban agglomeration in Hunan Province, China. A total of 801 valid questionnaires were collected through field visits and online surveys. The study uses an improved Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method to assess green space accessibility. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and moderation effect analysis to reveal the relationships between variables. The findings indicate that Green Space Justice has a significant positive impact on psychological responses, physical activity, and mental health; psychological responses and physical activity play crucial mediating roles between Green Space Justice and mental health; and Green Space Justice significantly affects mental health through a chain mediation path involving psychological responses and physical activity. Moreover, Blue Space Justice significantly moderates the impact of Green Space Justice on psychological responses and physical activity, but does not have a significant direct impact on mental health. This study enriches the theory of Green Space Justice by revealing the mechanisms through which it influences mental health via psychological responses and physical activity. It provides a scientific basis for the development of healthy cities. Additionally, it recommends that urban planning should prioritize the equitable distribution and high accessibility of both green and blue spaces to comprehensively enhance residents' physical and mental well-being. Policymakers should consider prioritizing the accessibility of high-quality green spaces for vulnerable communities during urban renewal and expansion processes to reduce social health inequalities and promote broader public health outcomes.

Reflecting on the 1775 Mount Gamalama Eruption: Lessons from Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Development in Ternate Island, North Maluku Province, Indonesia

The volcanic Molucca islands have provided the world with their precious cloves, which have been highly valued in medicinal properties for millennia. Cloves have antibacterial, antiviral, and analgesic characteristics. They were considered silver bullet cures in medieval epidemics and the early COVID-19 pandemic response. Cloves originated from Ternate Island, the center and regional trade hub of the Molucca Islands. Its cloves had reached Babylonia 4,000 years ago, marking its importance in global trade. Qualitative research was conducted on the 1775 Mount Gamalama eruption's impact on indigenous knowledge development. To confirm the findings, I conducted field visits, key informant interviews, field observations, and a literature review. Tolire Lake is an apparent landmark in Takome village, which has a sacred white crocodile, a java plum hill, a lush forest, stunning landscapes, and an underwater mythical village. The residents are testaments to human resilience, preserving indigenous knowledge and turning it into disaster risk reduction tools. They built settlements on safer ground and designated parts areas for conservation-based tourism. In addition, modern science introduction enhances disaster early warning and alert systems and empowers indigenous communities. Understanding indigenous knowledge and wisdom is critical to building resilience and sustainability through disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts. Indigenous knowledge produces lessons in environmental protection, social justice, and economic growth. The world can learn from indigenous and scientific knowledge combined to sustain the island, its people, and its prosperity.

Environmental impact assessment of SONARA's oil sludge landfill in BATOKE, south-west Cameroon

The focus of this study was to assess the environmental impact of the BATOKE oil sludge dump. A field visit was conducted to evaluate the condition of the site, followed by the sampling of oil sludge, BATOKE river water, soil, and locally grown manioc and macabo tubers. Subsequent physico-chemical characterization revealed parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, total hydrocarbons, COD, BOD5, TSS, major cations and anions, as well as heavy metals including iron, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium, lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, calcium, potassium, titanium, zirconium, and rubidium. The environmental impact was assessed using the Contamination Index calculation and the Correlation Matrix. Results indicated that most physical parameters met standards, except for the electrical conductivity of water and soil. However, elevated levels of iron, chromium, lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and ammonium ion were found in the BATOKE River water. The soil showed heavy contamination with various metals, and cassava and macabo tubers were also found to be contaminated. The contamination index calculations confirmed severe pollution in the BATOKE environment, with a risk of further escalation without remediation efforts.

DNA barcoding, pollen and seed characteristics for documentation of four monocot Mediterranean endemic plant species in Egypt

Endemic taxa are critical constituents in the flora of most parts of the world. Recently, most of these taxa have become exposed to extinction. This study aims to increase understanding of four monocot Mediterranean threatened endemic taxa in Egypt (Allium mareoticum Bornm. & Gauba, Bromus aegyptiacus Tausch, Muscari salah-eidii (Täckh. & Boulos) Hosni, Pancratium arabicum Sickenb.) by description of their pollen and seed and authentication of DNA barcoding using rbcL and matK genes. Twenty field visits were conducted from March 2017 till April 2023 including different localities through Mediterranean area for covering the presence of these species. Characterization of pollen grains and seeds were examined using a light (LM) and scanning electron microscopes (SEM). DNA barcoding was carried out for documentation of the four species. Maturase K (matK) and ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) were used as primers for PCR amplification and gene sequencing. The two genes were successful in identifying Allium mareoticum, Bromus aegyptiacus, and Muscari salah-eidii at the genus level and Pancratium arabicum at both species and genus levels for rbcL marker, and the genus level for matK marker. This study is considered a leading study for new barcodes of (A) mareoticum, (B) aegyptiacus, and M. salah-eidii which were initially made available to the NCBI.