Sites A2 Research Articles

A two-stage framework for site selection of deep-sea offshore wind-to-hydrogen projects based on GIS - MULTIMOORA method under Pythagorean triangular fuzzy environment

Constructing deep-sea offshore wind-to-hydrogen projects (DS-OWHP) is crucial to solve the problem of offshore electricity storage and consumption. Addressing the uncertainty of the decision-making environment, and the lack of a comprehensive indicator system, this paper proposes a two-stage decision framework based on Geographic Information System (GIS). In the first stage, GIS is used to analyze the suitability of study area and identify alternative sites. In the second stage, the fuzzy MCDM method is used to further optimize alternative sites. Firstly, a comprehensive evaluation indicator system is established, and the Pythagorean Triangular Fuzzy Number (PTFN) is used to describe evaluation information. Then, a combination of stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA), entropy, and game theory is used to determine weights, and the Multi-Objective Optimization on the basis of a Ratio Analysis plus the Full Multipli-cative form (MULTIMOORA) method is used to rank alternative sites. Finally, the feasibility of framework is proved through a case study in Guangdong Province. The results show that average wind speed has the highest weight of 0.149, and alternative site A2 which is close to zhuahai is the optimal choice. Through sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis, the reliability and stability of proposed model is verified.

Maize Dek51 encodes a DEAD-box RNA helicase essential for pre-rRNA processing and seed development

Pre-rRNA processing is essential to ribosome biosynthesis. However, the processing mechanism is not fully understood in plants. Here, we report a DEAD-box RNA helicase DEK51 that mediates the 3' end processing of 18S and 5.8S pre-rRNA in maize (Zea mays L.). DEK51 is localized in the nucleolus, and loss of DEK51 arrests maize seed development and blocks the 3' end processing of 18S and 5.8S pre-rRNA. DEK51 interacts with putative key factors in nuclear RNA exosome-mediated pre-rRNA processing, including ZmMTR4, ZmSMO4, ZmRRP44A, and ZmRRP6L2. This suggests that DEK51 facilitates pre-rRNA processing by interacting with the exosome. Loss of ZmMTR4 function arrests seed development and blocks the 3' end processing of 18S and 5.8S pre-rRNA, similar to dek51. DEK51 also interacts with endonucleases ZmUTP24 and ZmRCL1, suggesting that it may also be involved in the cleavage at site A2. These results show the critical role of DEK51 in promoting 3' end processing of pre-rRNA.

The novel pre-rRNA detection workflow "Riboprobing" allows simple identification of undescribed RNA species.

Ribosomes translate mRNA into proteins and are essential for every living organism. In eukaryotes, both ribosomal subunits are rapidly assembled in a strict hierarchical order, starting in the nucleolus with the transcription of a common precursor ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA). This pre-rRNA encodes three of the four mature rRNAs, which are formed by several, consecutive endonucleolytic and exonucleolytic processing steps. Historically, northern blots are used to analyze the variety of different pre-rRNA species, only allowing rough length estimations. Although this limitation can be overcome with primer extension, both approaches often use radioactivity and are time-consuming and costly. Here, we present "Riboprobing," a linker ligation-based workflow followed by reverse transcription and PCR for easy and fast detection and characterization of pre-rRNA species and their 5' as well as 3' ends. Using standard molecular biology laboratory equipment, "Riboprobing" allows reliable discrimination of pre-rRNA species not resolved by northern blot (e.g., 27SA2, 27SA3, and 27SB pre-rRNA). The method can successfully be used for the analysis of total cell extracts as well as purified pre-ribosomes for a straightforward evaluation of the impact of mutant gene versions or inhibitors. In the course of method development, we identified and characterized a hitherto undescribed aberrant pre-rRNA arising from LiCl inhibition. This pre-rRNA fragment spans from processing site A1 to E, forming a small RNP that lacks most early joining assembly factors. This finding expands our knowledge of how the cell deals with severe pre-rRNA processing defects and demonstrates the strict requirement for the 5'ETS (external transcribed spacer) for the assembly process.

Seasonal Variation, Diversity, and Composition of Planktons in the Ganga River

Plankton are important components of aquatic ecosystems because they contribute to primary production, which sustains fisheries and other ecosystem functions. The study was carried out over a one-year period at three Ganga River sites: Haridwar (Bhadrabad) site A1, Bijnor (Balawali) site A2, and Muzaffarnagar (Bairaj Ganga bridge) site. Bacillariphyceae made almost 65% of the phytoplankton at location A1 14% Chlorophyceae and 14% Cynophyceae. The zooplankton consisted of Protozoa (80%) and Cladocera (20%), with Ulvophyceae accounting for 7%. At location A2, the phytoplankton composition was Bacillariphyceae (79%) and Chlorophyceae (7%). ˃ Cynophyceae (7%). Ulvophyceae (7%), and zooplankton were Protozoa (80%), Rotifera (20%). At location A3, the phytoplankton mix shifted to Bacillariphyceae (70%). ˃ Chlorophyceae (18%) ˃ Cynophyceae (12%) and Protozoa (60%) Rotifera accounts for 40%. The Simpson diversity index (D) value for phytoplankton is 0.58, whereas for zooplankton, the value is 0.53. The mean plankton density at locations A1, A2, and A3 was 2059, 2959, and 3304 individuals per liter, respectively. Only dissolved oxygen in physicochemical characteristics correlated positively with plankton density; all other metrics correlated negatively.

Occurrence and Composition of Fish Species in Three Different Locations of the Ganga River

The freshwater ecosystem's health and fish diversity depend on natural and human interventions. The present investigation was carried out for one year to observe the present physicochemical parameters, fish composition, and abundance with diversity at three selected locations, i.e., A1, A2, and A3. Physico-chemical parameters were exceptionally suitable, and the limnological conditions were favorable for the growth and survival of biodiversity. 39 fish species belonging to 8 orders and 16 families were recorded, and cypriniformes was the most predominant order, followed by siluriformes. Simpson's Diversity Index (D) at site A1 was D=0.73, site A2 D=0.82, and site A3 D=0.87. The highest diversity was found at site A3 and the lowest at site A1. The second most dominant catch of exotics in the landing has adversely impacted the Indian major carps. There should be proper regulations and guidelines for the production and disposal of effluents as well as excessive fishing of indigenous aquatic fisheries.

Mitotic Dysregulation Sensitizes Malignant Stem Cells to CHK1 Inhibition in SF3B1-Mutant Myeloid Neoplasms

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) arise from the acquisition of driver mutations in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Splicing factor SF3B1 mutations are recurrent initiating lesions, found in up to 30% of patients with MDS. SF3B1 mutations are associated with aberrant splicing marked by recognition of alternative 3' splice sites (a3'ss). However, the causal role of mis-spliced genes in disease pathogenesis remains largely unexplored. Although SF3B1 mutations and downstream mis-spliced genes provide attractive therapeutic targets, targeted therapies remain unavailable. Here, we developed a novel method of precise gene editing of CD34 + hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to introduce an SF3B1 K700E mutation at the endogenous locus, enabling stoichiometric expression of mutant protein. An intronic fluorescent marker was introduced upstream of the mutation for isolation of edited cells. Global splicing analysis in SF3B1 K700E knock-in HSPCs recapitulated canonical targets identified in SF3B1-mutant (SF3B1m) MDS patients. Annotation of a3'ss mis-spliced genes showed profound enrichment of gene ontology (GO) terms related to cell cycle regulation, mitotic checkpoint signaling, and chromosome segregation. Consistently, cell cycle analysis of SF3B1m HSCs revealed accumulation of cells in G2/M phase, suggesting a previously unidentified stall in G2/M progression driven by SF3B1 mutations. To identify mis-spliced genes that cause this G2/M delay, we compared a3'ss mis-spliced genes in the cell cycle GO category across multiple model systems. BUBR1 and CDC27 were consistently mis-spliced in all datasets, resulting in reduced mRNA and protein levels. BUBR1 is a mitotic kinase involved in the spindle assembly checkpoint and chromosome alignment, and CDC27 is a component of the anaphase-promoting complex. Knockdown of BUBR1 or CDC27 in normal CD34 + HSPCs recapitulated G2/M delay. BUBR1 and CDC27 are thus attractive therapeutic targets to impair cell cycle progression of SF3B1m cells. While there are no direct inhibitors of BUBR1 kinase, BUBR1 is phosphorylated by CHK1 during mitosis, and its expression is highly correlated with response to a selective CHK1 inhibitor prexasertib in a large panel of cancer cell lines (Blosser et al., Oncotarget 2020). Indeed, SF3B1m K562 cells and CD34 + HSPCs were highly sensitized to prexasertib. Knockdown of BUBR1 or CDC27 in wild-type cells induced CHK1 phosphorylation, especially upon prexasertib treatment, and sensitized normal cells to prexasertib. These data indicate that mis-splicing of BUBR1 or CDC27 delays G2/M progression leading to CHK1 activation, which sensitizes SF3B1m cells to prexasertib. To determine if CHK1 inhibition can eradicate SF3B1m HSCs, we leveraged our gene editing system to test drug responses in CD34 +CD133 +CD38 - primary immunophenotypic HSCs. Prexasertib selectively eliminated SF3B1m HSCs, including high-risk SF3B1/ RUNX1 and SF3B1/ STAG2 genotypes, while control AAVS1-edited HSCs were maintained. Furthermore, prexasertib depleted CD34 + cells in primary SF3B1m MDS patient samples. To test prexasertib efficiency in vivo, we transplanted NSGS mice with iPSC-derived HSPCs reprogrammed from a patient with high-risk MDS and SF3B1/ RUNX1 co-mutations, and treated with a standard preclinical regimen. While all the vehicle-treated mice showed consistent engraftment, none of the prexasertib-treated mice were engrafted. Together, these data indicate that prexasertib selectively targets SF3B1m HSCs in vitro and eradicates SF3B1m MDS in vivo. In conclusion, we developed a precise gene editing strategy of human HSCs to identify prexasertib as a promising therapy for SF3B1m myeloid neoplasms, and implicate the mitotic function of CHK1 as a SF3B1m sensitivity. The safety and toxicity profiles displayed in early phase clinical trials make prexasertib a suitable agent for further clinical investigation in SF3B1m MDS and its advanced stages.

Spatiotemporal variation of physicochemical parameters in Aripal and Watalara streams of Kashmir Himalaya using multivariate statistical techniques.

The sustainability and management of ecological services provided by the stream ecosystem requires regular assessment of its physicochemical parameters. The anthropogenic pressure in terms of deforestation, urbanization, use of fertilizers and pesticides, land use, and climate change are the major factors responsible for the deterioration of water quality. In the present study, we monitored 14 physicochemical parameters at three different sites from June 2018 to May 2020 in both the Aripal and Watalara streams of Kashmir Himalaya. The data was analyzed through one-way ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range test, two-tailed Pearson's correlation, and multivariate statistical techniques like principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). A significant variation (p < 0.05) was observed in all the physicochemical parameters on both spatial (except AT, WT, and DO) and seasonal (except TP and NO3-N) scales. Pearson's correlation revealed a significantly strong positive correlation for AT, WT, EC, Alk, TDS, TP, NO3-N, and NO2-N. PCA's first four principal components were considered significant as they represented the highest cumulative percent variances of 76.49% and 74.72% in Aripal and Watalara streams, respectively. The loading and scatter plots revealed that AT, WT, TP, NO3-N, and NO2-N influence water quality. The strong loading of these parameters indicates the anthropogenic activities in the streams. CA depicted two well-defined clusters, wherein cluster-I is comprised of sites A3 and W3 which indicate poor water quality. In contrast, cluster-II is comprised of sites A1, W1, A2, and W2 which indicate good water quality. The present study could be helpful to ecologists, limnologists, policymakers, and other stakeholders in developing long-term management programs and conservation strategies for water resources.

An accurate strategy for pointing the key biocatalytic sites of bre2691A protein for modification of the brevilaterin from Brevibacillus laterosporus

BackgroundBrevilaterin A-E, a novel class of multi-component cationic antimicrobial lipopeptides, were biosynthesized by a non-ribosomal peptides synthetase (NRPS) in Brevibacillus laterosporus. However, the antimicrobial abilities of different brevilaterin components varied greatly, and this multi-component form was impeding the scale production of the excellent component, and a little information about the brevilaterin biosynthesis mechanism was available to apply in brevilaterin design modification. In this study, we used an accurate strategy that revealed the reason for producing multi-component was the substrate selectivity of bre2691A protein being not enough specific and pinpointed the key design sites to make the specificity of bre2691A enhanced.ResultsBioinformatic analysis revealed that the biocatalytic site of bre2691A, which was an adenylation domain catalyzed and recognized methionine, leucine, valine and isoleucine and thus introduced them into brevilaterins and caused different components (brevilaterin A-E), was consisted of A1 ~ A10 residues named specificity-conferring code. Coupling molecular docking simulations with mutation studies identified A2 and A7 as critical residues, where determined substrate-specificity and impacted activity. The in virto activity assay showed that the A2 mutant (G193A) would lose activity against methionine and have no effect on the other three amino acids, the A7 mutant (G285C) would enhance the catalytic activity against four substrates, especially against leucine at almost a double activity. When the A2 and A7 residues were synchronously mutated, this mutant would be more focused on recognizing leucine.ConclusionsAn accurate strategy that combined with bioinformatics and site-directed mutation techniques revealed the pivotal site A2 and A7 positions of bre2691A protein that could be used to design and modify brevilaterins, thus further providing a reasonable direction of genetic engineering for Brevibacillus laterosporus. A deeper understanding of the function of crucial residues in the adenylation domain would make it get more accurate and highly efficient design and more fully utilized. Furthermore, it would contribute to biotechnological applications, namely for the large centralized synthesis of antimicrobial peptides, or for the optimization of their production.Graphic

Identification of novel inhibitors for mycobacterial polyketide synthase 13 via in silico drug screening assisted by the parallel compound screening with genetic algorithm-based programs.

Identifying small compounds capable of inhibiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis polyketide synthase 13 (Pks13), in charge of final step of mycolic acid biosynthesis, could lead to the development of a novel antituberculosis drug. This study screened for lead compounds capable of targeting M. tuberculosis Pks13 from a chemical library comprising 154,118 compounds through multiple in silico docking simulations. The parallel compound screening (PCS), conducted via two genetic algorithm-based programs was applied in the screening strategy. Out of seven experimentally validated compounds, four compounds showed inhibitory effects on the growth of the model mycobacteria (Mycobacterium smegmatis). Subsequent docking simulation of analogs of the promising leads with the assistance of PCS resulted in the identification of three additional compounds with potent antimycobacterial effects (compounds A1, A2, and A5). Further, molecular dynamics simulation predicted stable interaction between M. tuberculosis Pks13 active site and compound A2, which showed potent antimycobacterial activity comparable to that of isoniazid. The present study demonstrated the efficacy of in silico structure-based drug screening through PCS in antituberculosis drug discovery.

Eco-biochemical responses, phytoremediation potential and molecular genetic analysis of Alhagi maurorum grown in metal-contaminated soils

BackgroundAlhagi maurorum Medik. (camelthorn) is a dominant desert plant indigenous in various habitats, including the Western Desert of Egypt. The plant is especially prevalent in and around economic iron ore deposits. Nutrient and heavy metal levels in A. maurorum tissues and soil samples were assessed to identify associations between heavy metal levels in plants and soil. The objective was to evaluate this species as an indicator of heavy metal pollution. Photosynthetic pigments, protein, proline, alkaloids, flavonoids, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazylscavenging, reduced glutathione, malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes, and stress-related gene expression were assessed to determine their functional roles in metal stress adaptation in ultra- and molecular structure. Additionally, the molecular genetic variation in A. maurorum samples was assessed using co-dominant sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) and inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR).ResultsA substantial difference in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants of A. maurorum was observed in samples collected from three sites. A. maurorum is suited to the climate in mineralized regions. Morphologically, the stem shows spines, narrow leaves, and a reduced shoot system. Anatomically, modifications included a cuticle coating on leaves and stems, sunken stomata, a compact epidermis, and a thick cortex. Significant anatomical-physiological differences were observed with varying heavy metal soil content, antioxidative enzyme activities increased as a tolerance strategy, and glutathione levels decreased in response to heavy metal toxicity. Heavy metal accumulation also affected the expression of stress-related genes. The highest levels of expression of GST, G6PDH, 6PGD, nitrate reductase 1, and sulfate transporter genes were found in plants collected from site A1. However, auxin-induced protein exhibited its highest expression in plants collected from A2. Six SRAP combinations yielded 25 scoreable markers with a polymorphism rate of 64%, and 5 ISSR markers produced 11 bands with a polymorphism rate of 36.36% for three A. maurorum genotypes. The ME1xEM7 primer combinations provided the most polymorphic information content and resolving power, making it the most useful primer for differentiating A. maurorum genotypes. SRAP markers exhibited a higher diversity index (0.24) than ISSR markers (0.16).ConclusionsA. maurorum displayed adaptive characteristics for heavy metal sequestration from mining site soils and is proposed as a strong candidate for phytoremediation.

Method multi-criteria decision-making method for site selection analysis and evaluation of urban integrated energy stations based on geographic information system

As an important carrier of multi-energy coupling of regional integrated energy system, the integrated energy station integrates a variety of energy coupling devices, which can fulfill interconnection and complementarity of energy between regions and enhance the economic and environmental benefits of energy use. In the planning of integrated energy stations, it is necessary to consider the characteristics of regional resource endowments and load energy consumption. In this paper geographic information system (GIS) is introduced into the site selection planning of integrated energy stations, and a location decision model is built based on GIS & improved TOPSIS. In order to verify this for the feasibility of the model, Tianjin, China is selected as a representative case for empirical research. First, according to Chinese national standards and local planning requirements, GIS is adopted to initially screen the distribution and area of exclusion areas and viable areas for construction in the study area. Secondly, a comprehensive evaluation index system is established for nature, economy and society, in which the AHP method is used for calculate the weight of each index to obtain the final optimal alternative with the integration of the GIS geographic layer overlay function. Finally, the improved TOPSIS model is used to rank the alternatives and obtain the ranking results. Sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis is conducted on the ranking results, indicating a higher priority of selecting sites A1, A4, A5 and A11. Analysis result effectively verifies that the improved TOPSIS method can improve the accuracy of the site selection decision for integrated energy stations. This paper can provide support for the site selection and layout of integrated energy stations, effectively improve the decision-making level and work efficiency of decision-makers, and enrich the application space of GIS methods in the energy field.

Spatial and temporal variation in the diversity of malacofauna from Aripal stream of Kashmir Himalaya, India

This paper presents the spatial and temporal variation in the diversity of malacofauna in relation to the water chemistry of the Aripal stream of Kashmir Himalaya. A total of 12 species were reported which belong to four families, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae, and Bithyniidae from class Gastropoda, and two families, Cyrenidae and Pisidiidae from class Bivalvia. The family Planorbidae contributed 34% to the total annual molluscan population followed by Lymnaeidae (28%) and Bithyniidae (18%). During the collection, Gyraulus sp., Planorbis sp., and Bithynia tentaculata were prevalent at all sites, with predominance of Bithynia tentaculata. Species richness and abundance were observed maximum at site A3 (down-stream) and minimum at site A1 (up-stream) while in the case of temporal variation, species richness and abundance were maximum in summer and minimum in winter. Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, Margalef index, and Pielou evenness index were used to calculate the diversity, dominance, richness, and evenness of molluscan species, respectively. Physico-chemical parameters revealed a non-significant spatial variation (P &gt;0.05) except pH, total hardness, and alkalinity while a significant temporal variation (P &lt;0.05) was observed in the physico-chemical parameters except dissolved oxygen. A significant positive correlation was seen between the molluscan species and total hardness. In the present study, the stone mining, channel morphology of stream, habitat heterogeneity, and physico-chemical parameters were also found to promote the spatial and temporal diversity of malacofauna.

Temporal LiDAR scanning in quantifying cumulative rockfall volume and hazard assessment: A case study at southwestern Saudi Arabia

Rockfalls and unstable slopes pose a serious threat to people and property along roads/highways in the southwestern mountainous regions of Saudi Arabia. In this study, the application of terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology was applied aiming to propose a strategy to analyze and accurately depict the detection of rockfall changes, calculation of rockfall volume, and evaluate rockfall hazards along the Habs Road, Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia. A series of temporal LiDAR scans were acquired at three selected sites. Our results show that these three sites have different degrees of hazard due to their geological differences. The mean volume loss of sites A1, A2, and A3 is 327.1, 424.4, and 3.7 L, respectively. Statistical analysis confirms the significance of the influence of site type on rockfall volume, with a probability value of < 0.0105. The rockfall volume and change detection values are then correlated with precipitation, which is a triggering factor. The study also reveals that the use of terrestrial LiDAR could reduce time and effort, increase accessibility, and produce effective solutions. LiDAR could be an indispensable tool for disaster risk assessment, response and recovery process.

English

The study investigated microbial population dynamics in soils of Greater Port Harcourt Area, Nigeria. The study involved the quantification of petroleum pollutants and the enumeration and characterization of culturable fungi and bacteria. Gas Chromatograph FID method was used to quantify total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in the soil while morphological and biochemical tests were used to characterize the microorganisms. The highest TPH was 9,759.37&plusmn;883.36 ppm which exceeded the Department of Petroleum Resources&rsquo; (DPRs&rsquo;) intervention value of 5,000 ppm. The percentage of hydrocarbon utilizing fungi (% HUF) ranged between 1.93&plusmn;0.57 and 66.55&plusmn;5.60 which were observed in sites A1 (Aluu) and CA (Agricultural control), respectively. The percentage of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (% HUB) ranged between 0.12&plusmn;0.01 and 7.89&plusmn;1.25 which was observed in sites A3 (Emuoha) and CU (Urban control), respectively. The most prevalent bacterial species includes Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus lylae, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Alcaligen faecalis. The most prevalent HUB isolate was Bacillus subtilis. The most prevalent fungal isolates were Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Candida torulopsis. A. niger was the most prevalent among the HUF isolates which was identified in 12 sites. It was concluded that the study sites harboured TPH degrading microorganisms that are appropriate for bioremediation of TPH polluted sites. &nbsp; Key words: Total petroleum hydrocarbons, soil pollution, biodiversity, fungi, bacteria.

The Abundance of Odonata Insect in Lebak Swamp, Bukit Baru, Palembang, Indonesia

Lebak swamp in Bukit Baru has been lost largely degraded and lost through reclamation activity. Lebak swamp plays important role as land resource in Bukit Baru, Palembang. The study was sonducted to study the composition of Odonata in lebak swamps in Bukit Baru, Palembang, Indonesia. The transect line (1 km) was used to collect odonata in the study area. This study recorded 8 species during the study period. 8 species were found at Site A1, 6 species at site A2, 3 species at site A3, and 6 species at site A4. The highest diversity of odonata was found in site A1, however the other sites have lower odonata diversity. The highest abundance of odonata was recorded at site A2 and A4 and dominated by Ceriagrion coromandelianum and Orthetrum sabina. Neurothemis ramburii had the lowest abund ance at site A1 and A2, but absent at site A3 and A4. The occurrence of odonate species are lower at site around anthropogenic activity suggests the need to protect the lebak swamp so that such uncommon species will not go into local extinction. Neurothemis ramburii can become potential species to evaluate the rate of disturbed environment.

Diversity and Similarity Gomphocerinae (Orthoptera: Acrididae) Communities in the Brazilian Amazon

Inventories of Amazon invertebrates are relatively incipient and fragmented. The state of Amapá is one of the Amazonian states with a large knowledge gap regarding invertebrate biodiversity. Also, there is no record in the literature of systematic studies that focus mainly on the Acridofauna. Therefore the goal of this study was to understand the diversity and abundance of grasshoppers (Gomphocerinae) of the Environmental Protection Area of the Curiaú river, Macapá - AP. Twelve samples were collected from October 2011 to September 2012 using the active search technique with sweep nets. A total of 508 Gomphocerinae individuals were sampled and classified into five genera and twelve species. The floristic composition of sites A1 and A3, and sites A5 and A6, are considered more similar since the locusts are closely related to the vegetation. This is the first study assessing the diversity of orthopteroides in the state of Amapá. However, this pioneering study is expected to be the basis of future studies.

Improving The Quality of Ground Water in Some Areas of Al-Anbar Governorate by Recharging with Rainwater

Artificial groundwater recharged with rainwater is the most popular technique for groundwater quality and quantity. Nevertheless, it is still a challenge for researchers to provide precise quantification of groundwater quality and quantity enhancement by recharging with rainwater due to variations in groundwater quality factors such as topography, hydrogeological phenomenon, availability of rainwater, land use pattern, etc. An attempt is being made here to extract the improvement of groundwater quality by adding the collected rainwater of known quality parameters into the developed aquifer strata in the laboratory with regulated laboratory setup and under similar conditions to the aquifer area of analysis. The results showed a decrease in the pH at all sites, especially A1, where it decreased from 8.2 to 7.3. As for Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), the results showed a decrease in all sites, especially A1, where it decreased from (2860 to 2390) mg\\lit. Also, for CL-, the greatest decline was in A1, falling from (2.400 to 205) mg \\lit. As for the EC values, the site A2 was the lowest, dropping from )5.6 to 4.29 mS/cm). Regarding hardness, the best result was in site B1, where the decrease was from (286 to 220) mg\\lit and finally nitrate experienced the greatest decrease in site B2, where it was from (122 to 78) mg\\lit.

Geographic information big data-driven two-stage optimization model for location decision of hydrogen refueling stations: An empirical study in China

The promotion of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) is an effective way to decarbonize the transportation industry. However, the shortage and difficulty in the layout of hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are the key obstacles to the HFCVs development. This paper constructs a two-stage location optimization model based on geographic information big data to provide technical support for the HRSs layout. The first stage is suitability analysis led by the geographic information system; the second is decision analysis based on the multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach. First, the analysis elements and indicators used in the two-stage model are respectively given: including ten types of geographic information elements and six evaluation indicators. Then, the key steps and core algorithms of the two-stage model are introduced in detail. Thirdly, this paper takes the Weifang City of Shandong Province as the study area to carry out an empirical case to verify the model. The weight results show that traffic convenience is the key determinant of suitability (more than 25%); the economic development level and public acceptance of the alternative site area are the critical indicators in the decision-making stage (more than 25%). The model gives the suitability score for all available land in the study area. The suitability score is between 3.521 and 8.047 (10 points scale). Taking the median value of 5.784 as the threshold value, eight alternative sites are selected from the green areas suitable for layout based on the distribution of interest points, which are included in the planning for the next two years. The layout priority rankings show that alternative sites A1, A6, and A5 are ranked high. The reliability and uniqueness of the model are proved by comparative analysis. The results of sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis show that the sensitivity preference of decision-makers could significantly affect the priority ranking. The empirical study will provide effective reference and enlightenment for Shandong to develop hydrogen energy strategy.

The Abundance of Odonata Insect in Lebak Swamp, Bukit Baru, Palembang, Indonesia

Lebak swamp in Bukit Baru has been largely degraded due to reclamation activity. Lebak swamp plays important role as land resource in Bukit Baru, Palembang. The aim of this study was to examine the composition of Odonata in lebak swamps in Bukit Baru, Palembang, Indonesia. The transect line (1 km) was used to collect odonata in the study area. This study recorded 8 species during the study period. The highest diversity of odonata was found in site A1. The highest abundance of odonata was recorded at site A2 and A4 and dominated by Ceriagrion coromandelianum and Orthetrum sabina. Neurothemis ramburii had the lowest abund ance at site A1 and A2, but absent at site A3 and A4. The occurrence of odonate species are lower at site around anthropogenic activity suggests the need to protect the lebak swamp so that such uncommon species will not go into local extinction. Neurothemis ramburii can become potential species to evaluate the rate of disturbed environment.ÂÂ

The Effects of Physicochemical Parameters on Analysed Soil Enzyme Activity from Alice Landfill Site.

The soil pollution as a product of xenobiotics, industrial action, agricultural chemicals, or inappropriate disposal of waste can change the natural environment of soil indices and trigger life-threatening situations. Soil enzyme activity is the suitable bio-indicator or parameter for monitoring soil pollution due to their sensitivity that quickly responds to any soil disturbances. Also, they are known to play an essential role in maintaining soil health and a quality environment. This study aimed to determine the levels of enzyme activity in soil from polluted and unpolluted sites and study the relationship between the physicochemical properties and soil enzyme activity to manage soil pollution. Four selected enzymes (Urease, Invertase, Catalase, and Phosphatase) were examined for their activity from forty samples using the assay method for 24 h; the colorimetry spectrophotometer measured their activity. The obtained data revealed that Invertase activity was a predominant enzyme in all soil samples. Whereas, the urease activity had obtained in low amounts for all collection sites, especially on Site A1. Soil pH had discovered to range between 5.8 and 8.51, moisture content values recorded to vary from 0.12% to 9.09%, and soil organic carbon recorded to fluctuate between 0.08% and 1.54%. Urease and phosphatase activity correlated positively with all soil physicochemical properties except for moisture content, which correlated negatively (r = −0.297; p ≥ 0.05). The invertase activity negatively associated all soil physicochemical properties, excluding the moisture content that correlated positively and significantly with invertase activity. We noted that the dumpsite soil contains low enzyme activity levels, which might attribute to the type of waste disposed off. Also, only the phosphatase activity reported correlating positively with all examined physicochemical parameters entirely.