Huge Degradation Research Articles

Hydrological Response of Bamboo Plantations on Soil–Water Dynamics in Humid and Semi-Arid Coastal Region of Kenya

Soils and water are major resources that drive a country’s economy, and therefore should be conserved and utilized sustainably. However, in Kenya, these two resources are facing huge depletion and degradation due to anthropogenic factors and climate change. Bamboo species, especially on large plantations, can significantly alter ecological, hydrological, and biogeochemical processes in the long term. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different species of bamboo and tree plantations on important soil–water processes like infiltration, bulk density, runoff, and soil loss in Kenya. The research was conducted at two sites (Gede in Arabuko Sokoke forest and at Baolala, in Kilifi County) managed by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI). The Arabuko Sokoke forest has a hot–humid coastal climate, while Baolala is a hot semi-arid area with little precipitation. The study involved measurement of soil–water infiltration rates using infiltrometers, installing runoff plots to quantify surface runoff and sediment loss, and analyzing soil properties like bulk density for growing periods for different bamboo and tree species. At the Gede forest site, the 30-year-old Thyrsostachys siamensis and Bambusa bambos plantations recorded the highest infiltration rates. Mature bamboo plantations of T. siamensis and B. bambos recorded higher infiltration rates compared to mature plantations of E. camaldulensis and G. arborea. It was observed that the bamboo plantations manifested lower soil bulk density compared to bare land, which recorded the highest bulk density. At Boalala, infiltration rates were significantly higher in the bamboo species compared to grassland and bare land. The painted bamboo (B. vulgaris vittata) had a slightly higher water infiltration rate compared to B. vulgaris. Runoff and erosion patterns reinforced the benefits of more mature bamboo plantations as well. There was a significant correlation between amount of runoff and collected soil loss through erosion. The data showed reductions in surface runoff volumes and sediment loss as the bamboo plantations aged compared to younger species. Therefore, by enhancing infiltration and reducing runoff and erosion, well-managed bamboo plantations can protect valuable soil resources, improve water recharge, and support sustainable land use over the long term. In conclusion, this study showed the strong potential of bamboo as a soil and water conservation tool in Kenya.

Distribution, importance and constraints in gum and resin bearing species in Ethiopia

Dry forest is the largest forest type in Ethiopia that currently covers 55 M ha. These forests are predominantly rich in Acacia, Boswellia and Commiphora species that gives the important export commodities such as gum arabic, frankincense and myrrh. However, these forests are suffering by huge degradation due to anthropogenic pressures also they are shrinking continuously by the expansion of agricultural lands, human settlement, overgrazing, and lack of policy and inappropriate tapping method. The aim of this paper was to review distribution, importance and constraints in gum and resin bearing species in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia expected areas covered by natural gum and resin bearing species in the different regions, the leading one Tigray have 940000 ha coverage, the other Amhara, Oromía, Gam-bela, Somalia, Beneshangul-Gumuz, Nationalities and Peoples of the South (SNNP) and Afar followed Tigray region respectively. The majority of the households in rural Ethiopia make use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for different purposes, extending from food, feed, energy, and medicine to income generation and cultural practices. Among the range of NTFPs, gums and resins are advanta-geous trade commodities with a potential for helping social and economic developments both at rural and urban areas in Ethiopia. Commercial gums and resins are produced in rural areas, traded in urban and utilized by western countries and, hence, touch varied ranges of human lives and cross-sections. Therefore, adequate research and clear action oriented plans, improve tapping methods, clear policy about utilization and conservation gum and resin bearing species and identify method of propagation is recommended.

Effect of multi‐epoxy compatibilizers with branched structures on enhancing mechanical and compatibility of PLA/starch composite

AbstractPolylactic acid/starch (PLA/ST) composites are all sustainable origin, have huge cost advantages and degradation tendency to replace petroleum‐based plastics. However, thermodynamic incompatibility between PLA and starch dragged the performance far below expectations. Considering that ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE), glycerol triglycidyl ether (GTE), and pentaerythritol glycidyl ether (PGE) have branched multi‐epoxy structure, high epoxy value, and excellent wettability, we firstly explored those materials as compatibilizers in PLA/ST composites. The reactive compatibilization between the epoxy groups on EGDE, GTE, and PGE with the hydroxyl groups on PLA and ST is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) analyses. The mechanical properties show that the introduction of only 3 wt% GTE in PLA/ST composites can induce the tensile strength and elongation at break to be increased by 80% and 38%, respectively. The rheological tests indicate that the introduction of only 3 wt% GTE in PLA/ST composites increased the slopes of Han plots from 0.48 to 0.88. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses show that the crystallinity increases with the content of compatibilizer, up to 31%. The reduction of the gap between PLA and starch interfaces characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) demonstrated that the compatibility of PLA and ST was improved. Furthermore, the effects of EGDE, GTE, and PGE with the same epoxy value but different branch chains on the compatibilization of PLA/ST blends are further discussed. The results show that GTE and PGE with star‐shaped branched structure has a better compatibilization effect on PLA/ST blends than EGDE with linear branched structure.

Exploring entanglement resource in Si quantum dot systems with operational quasiprobability approach

We characterize the quantum entanglement of the realistic two-qubit signals that are sensitive to charge noises. Our working example is the time response generated from a silicon double quantum dot (DQD) platform, where a single-qubit rotation and a two-qubit controlled-NOT operation are conducted sequentially in time to generate arbitrary entangled states. In order to characterize the entanglement of two-qubit states, we employ the marginal operational quasiprobability (OQ) approach that allows negative values of the probability function if a given state is entangled. While the charge noise, which is omnipresent in semiconductor devices, severely affects logic operations implemented in the DQD platform, causing huge degradation in fidelity of unitary operations as well as resulting two-qubit states, the pattern in the OQ-driven entanglement strength turns out to be quite invariant, indicating that the resource of quantum entanglement is not significantly broken though the physical system is exposed to noise-driven fluctuations in exchange interaction between quantum dots.

Monitoring the Spatiotemporal Evolution of the Green Dam in Djelfa Province, Algeria

Green walls and green dams are increasingly being considered as part of many national and international desertification initiatives. This paper studies the spatiotemporal evolution of the green dam in the Moudjbara region (Djelfa Province, Algeria), from 1972 to 2019, by using Landsat imagery, Land Change Modeler, and OpenLand package. The future evolution of pine plantations, for the year 2029, was also forecasted, based on an anthropogenic scenario (i.e., anthropogenic pressure is the main driver of the green dam destruction). Our findings revealed that the green dam project was successful for a few years, but, after that, pine plantations deteriorated significantly, due to forest harvesting, livestock overgrazing, and the proliferation of the pine caterpillar processionary, which destroyed most of the reforestation. Land change modeler predicted a huge degradation of pine plantations for the year 2029, and if the deforestation continues at the same rate, the green dam in the Moudjbara region will disappear during the next few decades. Being aware of this threat, the Algerian authorities are now planning to reforest more than 1.2 million ha under the latest rural renewal policy, by introducing new principles related to sustainable development, fighting desertification, and climate change adaptation. We strongly recommend moving away from the singular tree planting focus, to diversifying desertification control methods.

Geopolitical factors affecting childhood nutrition: Iraqi case

In Iraq, child’s health had been deteriorated over three turbulent decades starting from the huge and rapid degradation of the country infrastructure by Iraq –Iran war (1980-1988), Gulf War in 1991, and economic sanction.

Effects of hypoxia stress on the intestinal microflora of juvenile of cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

Hypoxia is one of the most frequently arising stressors in aquaculture. Hypoxia causes huge financial losses and degradation of resources. However, the response of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) to hypoxia stress is not completely understood. In this study, the effects of hypoxia on the intestinal microflora of juvenile cobia were investigated. The diversity and structure of microflora after 4 weeks of hypoxia stress were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 210 fish were divided into two treatment groups, namely, hypoxic stress and normoxic control groups, with 3 replicates per group and 35 fish per replicate. The results showed that the richness and diversity of intestinal microflora increased significantly first and subsequently decreased significantly after invitation of the hypoxia stress (P < 0.05). Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed that hypoxia changed the structure of the intestinal microflora. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, Tenericutes, and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacteria. Compared to the control groups, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria increased significantly (P < 0.05) in H7, H14, and H28 groups, which was opposite to that of Tenericutes. The abundances of Firmicutes and Tenericutes both increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the H14 group. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Photobacterium increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the H7, H14, and H28 groups, while that of Brevinema decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the H1 and H7 groups. Mycoplasma decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at all the time points of hypoxia, while Methylobacterium decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the H7 and H28 groups. In addition, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LefSe) analysis results indicated that hypoxia caused a significant increase in the relative abundance of Actinomyces, Pseudoalteromonas, Staphylococcus, γ-Proteobacteria, Vibrionaceae, and Pseudomonadales, which were the biomarkers of the hypoxia group. These results provide an understanding of the effects of hypoxia stress on the intestinal microflora of juvenile cobia.

Reversely-Synchronized-Stress-Induced Degradation in Polycrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Transistors and Its Suppression by a Bridged-Grain Structure

In this letter, a reversely synchronized stress (RSS) is proposed to simulate the working condition of switching thin-film transistors (TFTs) in active-matrix displays. The reliability of polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) TFTs under RSS is characterized and investigated. RSS brings huge device degradation. A dynamic hot carrier (HC) effect, dependent on transition edges of RSS, dominates the degradation. Combined with a transient simulation, the degradation mechanism under RSS in poly-Si TFTs is discussed and developed. To suppress RSS-induced HC degradation, a bridged-grain (BG) structure is employed in the active layer of poly-Si TFTs. Via BG lines’ reducing the lateral electric field in the channel at source/drain sides, the reliability of BG TFTs under RSS is significantly improved.

MoLoc: Unsupervised Fingerprint Roaming for Device-Free Indoor Localization in a Mobile Ship Environment

Device-free indoor localization may play a critical role in improving passengers' safety in large vessels, particularly for scenarios without equipped radios. However, due to dynamic internal and external influences from the sailing ship such as changing sailing speed, the existing localization systems suffer huge accuracy degradation in a mobile ship environment. The challenges are mainly due to rich and arbitrary ship motions and the resulting complicated impacts on the indoor wireless channels. To address the challenges, in this article, we first propose a ship motion descriptor to extract discriminative latent representation from complex ship motions by leveraging deep-learning techniques. Based on this representation, we then design a novel fingerprint roaming model, i.e., MoLoc, to automatically learn the predictive fingerprint variation pattern and transfer the online fingerprint measurement to adapt to dynamic ship motions in real time. Furthermore, an unsupervised learning strategy is proposed to train the fingerprint roaming model using unlabeled onboard collected data which do not incur any labor costs. We have implemented and extensively evaluated MoLoc on real-world cruise ships, where experimental results demonstrate that MoLoc improves localization accuracy from 63.2% to 92.8% compared to the state-of-the-art localization methods, including Pilot, LiFS, SpotFi, and AutoFi while achieving a mean error of 0.68 m.

Examination of Different PAPR Minimization Techniques for MIMO-OFDM System

In this article an analysis on different PAPR minimizing schemes for MIMO-OFDM based wireless communication systems like clipping, selective mapping (SLM) and Partial Transmit Sequence (PTS) are presented. Several properties of OFDM maintain an appealing modulation scheme to support huge data rates in MIMO-OFDM based transmission used in wireless communication system. Apart from several advantages one principle drawback of the OFDM system is it produces huge values of PAPR. The PAPR can be minimized using few schemes like clipping, coding, peak windowing and tone reservation. Simulation results can give the examination between the different PAPR reduction techniques and can give the scope for analyze the different techniques based on different parameters like CCDF values and BER performance with respect to the variation in number sub carriers used for transmission However, huge number of these plans are not able to give a huge degradation in the PAPR by a low computational complexity, but the SLM technique provides essentially better attainment than the other schemes for MIMO-OFDM systems.

Over Population Shaped Escalation Settlement Acreage Region in Thar Desert, Pakistan

Overpopulation led to the deterioration condition for natural and cultural apprehension that is an alarm to land morphology. Thar desert headed the most populous region in the world in the distribution of the population of 44 people per square kilometres. These dense disseminations upsurge the settlement. The anthropogenic responses were analyzed in SPSS, and it results in a huge land degradation transpired. The GIS investigated a village that is spreading 36 square kilometres during 67 last years. It is directed the alarming situation in future. The study suggested overpopulation creates problems for land, human, the environment and wildlife through different characteristics. In the imminent of time, it caused the geomorphic shifting.

Electrochemically Induced Amorphization and Unique Lithium and Sodium Storage Pathways in FeSbO4 Nanocrystals.

The increasing energy demands have prompted research on conversion and alloying materials, offering high lithium and sodium storage capacities. However, most of these materials suffer from huge volume expansion and degradation over the thousands of charging and discharging cycles required for commercial applications. In this study, we demonstrate a facile route to synthesize FeSbO4 nanocrystals that possess theoretical lithium and sodium storage capacity of 1220 mAh g-1. Operando X-ray diffraction studies reveal the electrochemically induced amorphization of the nanocrystals upon alkali-ion storage. We achieved specific storage capacities of ∼600 mAh g-1 for lithium and ∼300 mAh g-1 for sodium, respectively. The disparity in the lithium and sodium electrochemistry arises from the unique lithiation/sodiation pathways adopted by the nanocrystals. This study offers new insights into the chemistry and mechanism of conversion- and alloying-based energy storage materials that would greatly assist the development of next-generation active materials for energy storage.

A facile microwave stimulated g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 hybrid photocatalyst with superior photocatalytic activity and attractive cycling stability

In this report, we successfully fabricate the ratio-perfect g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 hybrid nanocomposites by regulating the mass ratio between two components via a facile one step hydrothermal route. The hybrid catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence and Brunauer–emmett–teller (BET). The photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 for decolorization of congo-red (CR) and malachite green (MG) was evaluated. The results show that g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 composites exhibit higher photocatalytic performance than the pure g-C3N4 under simulated visible light irradiation. The results demonstrate that g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 with 1:2 mass ratios shows the optimal overall photocatalytic performance such as huge degradation efficiency (95%) towards MG dye. The enhanced photocatalytic activity could be due to the suited band structure and close contact interfaces between g-C3N4 and α-Fe2O3, which lead to the efficient transfer and separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. The improved photocatalytic mechanism of the hybrid g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 hybrid catalysts was also proposed.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Fabrication of Hexagonal Disc Shaped Nanoparticles g-C3N4/NiO Heterostructured Nanocomposites for Efficient Visible Light Photocatalytic Performance

A hexagonal shaped nickel oxide/graphitic carbon nitride (NiO/g-C3N4) heterojunction composite was synthesized via a facile microwave irradiation route joint with succeeding calcination process. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, Raman, UV–DRS, PL and BET analysis. XRD and TEM results exposed that cubic structure and with two dimensional hexagonal discs shaped morphology with sizes in the range of 30–40 nm. The incorporation of g-C3N4 caused a red-shift of the UV–Vis absorption edge of NiO. Moreover, exfoliation of bulk g-C3N4 into two dimensional g-C3N4 nanodiscs offers large surface area (102 m2/g) and exposed active sites, which are beneficial for photocatalytic activity enhancement. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts was analyzed by degradation of congo-red and malachite green (MG) under induced visible light irradiation. The results demonstrates that NiO/g-C3N4 with 1.2 mass ratios shows the optimal overall photocatalytic performance such as huge degradation efficiency (97%), high rate constant (0.02012 min−1) and high stability (only loss ~ 3.5) after 7 cycles test (for MG dye). The superior photoactivity of NiO–g-C3N4 photocatalysts possibly will be recognized to the successful interfacial charge transfer between NiO and g-C3N4, thus suppressing the recombination of the photoexcited electron–hole pairs.

An Efficient Channel Selection Technique for VOIP Traffic using WiMAX and Wi-Fi

Voice over Internet Protocol enables packet based internet protocol to carry digitized voice and it improves both the flexibility as well as the cost involved. A newer technology in mobile WiMAX is expected to work in independent manner as well as in junction with the existing technologies. This provides for an opportunity for wireless heterogeneous networks to achieve desired results. Thus, this paper aims at developing a handover technique that makes decisions both on the received signal strength as well as the quality of service parameters according to the requirements of the user. When a mobile station moves from one cell to another cell, it is observed that there is a huge degradation in the transmission of voice traffic over the existing scenario. Therefore we will use a WiMAX and Wi-Fi integrated network and develop an effective handover to calculate the received signal strength and other quality of service parameters.

Effect of supercooling accompanying the freezing process on ice crystals and the quality of frozen strawberry tissue

Degradation of agricultural product quality occurs hugely during the freezing process, since ice crystal formation with volume expansion and increased osmotic pressure between cell membranes damages their microstructure. Recently, it is studied a freezing accompanied supercooled state for the entire food product, which induces finer and more homogenous ice crystals and improved the quality of soy bean gels after thawing. In this study, texture, drip loss, and microstructural changes were measured in frozen-thawed strawberries prepared by freezing with supercooling. In addition, ice crystals were observed directly using synchrotron X-ray computed tomography in supercooled frozen strawberries. The results showed, although supercooled freezing has the potential to form finer ice crystals in strawberry tissues, the quality of frozen strawberries was not improved compared with conventional slow freezing. It assumed that a higher and momently ice nucleation caused by supercooling was promoted a drastic water migration and huge degradation on strawberry cells by osmotic pressure in the frozen strawberries.

Natural and Anthropogenic Impacts on Forest Structure: A Case Study of Uttarakhand State

Forests are among the most important natural resources in Uttarakhand as they occupy 71% of the geographic area and contribute a good share in state economy. They are rich repositories of biodiversity and are providers of ecosystem goods and services to both regional and global community. People are dependent on forests for fuel wood, grass and other biomass. But unfortunately recent trend of data shows a huge degradation of forestland due to natural and anthropogenic activities. Variations in climatic condition and natural disasters are triggering rate of degradation of forests in Uttarakhand. The present paper reviews the status of forest in Uttarakhand and discusses the major natural and anthropogenic factors responsible for its degradation.

Limitations on Lateral Nanowire Scaling Beyond 7-nm Node

In this letter, we have studied the impact on lateral nanowire transistor’s (LNW) performance of reducing the wire diameter from 7 nm to 5 nm. As technology scaling continues, the LNW device size is scaled here for beyond 7-nm nodes. Reducing the NW’s gate length causes huge degradation in electrostatic control of the device. The degraded electrostatic is improved by reducing the wire diameter. DC and ring oscillator benchmark have been performed for different NW size for sub-7-nm node using TCAD-based compact models. Using the 5-nm-diameter-based LNW at the gate length of 10 nm around 8-mV/decade subthreshold slope improvement is observed as compared with the 7-nm-diameter LNW. This leads to the possibility of improved performances for the 5-nm-diameter-based device. The NW device, with 5-nm wire diameter and 10-nm gate length can provide some area gain. Although the 5-nm-diameter device increases channel confinement, due to the reduced drive current and increased parasitics, overall device speed is lagging behind the 7-nm diameter device.

Petroleum Industry in Nigeria: Environmental Issues, National Environmental Legislation and Implementation of International Environmental Law

Advances in the development of petroleum resources has contributed enormously to the global energy demand and economic development over the past decades, however, it has left profound negative impacts on the natural environment and adverse human health effects in most oil-producing host communities around the world. Apart from the loss of petroleum-derived revenue to corruption and ineffective government's petroleum development policies, the Niger Delta region has experienced a wide range of environmental pollution, degradation, human health risks and socio-economic problems associated with petroleum exploration, development and production. Over the years, several environmental laws have been institutionalized to regulate the petroleum sector in Nigeria. The Nigerian government and other African countries have played tremendous roles in the emergence of international environmental law that regulate the establishment of environmental institutions and legislations as well as strategies for conservation and management of natural resources. However, the existing Nigeria statutory laws and regulations for environmental protection appear to be grossly inadequate and some of the multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region have failed to adopt sustainable practices to prevent environmental pollution. Poor implementation of national and international environmental policies associated with petroleum exploitation and production in the Niger Delta region have resulted in huge environmental costs, degradation and issues of responsibilities from the oil companies. Therefore, this research paper examines some of the contributions of multinational oil companies operation towards environmental degradation and the role of Nigerian Government in the implementation of the petroleum-related environmental policies in the Niger Delta region.

Investigation of the Impact of Ddos Attack on Network Efficiency of the University Of Zakho

In this paper an investigation was conducted to have an insight into the impact of the DDoS attack on the network efficiency of the University of Zakho, in particular, after deploying a fiber infrastructure and a datacenter with services such as web server, email server, and ftp server. Tests were conducted on one of the most popular DDoS attacks, that is, the flooding attack that has many types based on the start-of-the-art research in this field. For the evaluation purpose, two Internet services were chosen which are namely; file transfer service and E-learning video service. OPNET was used as a simulation tool to simulate Zakho University network and to conduct attacks because of its high reliability and reputation in this field. Results showed that DDoS attack has a big adverse impact on the legitimate users’ accessibility for both services. Where the file traffic download reduced from 6000 Bytes/s in the case of no attack into only 500 Bytes/s in the case of attack which makes an approximate of 92% loss in the network traffic. In addition, video throughput is reduced from 180KB/s in the case of no attack into less than 20KB/s in the case of attack which makes around 89% loss that is considered a huge degradation in the network performance.