Technology Center Research Articles

Correlation between Rice Weevil Infestation Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus) and Seed Quality Parameters of Maize (Zea mays. L) Seed

The experiment was conducted at the Seed Research and Technology Centre, PJTSAU, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, to investigate the impact of Sitophilus oryzae on the seed quality parameters of maize. Samples weighing 500g of maize variety DHM-117 were placed in plastic jars in three replications S. oryzae adults of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 pairs were separately released into each replicate of the maize seeds then these jars were placed in an incubator set at 25°C and 75% humidity. These jars were covered with lids equipped with aeration facilities. The adult emergence, germination percentage and moisture content were evaluated every two months six months. An inverse correlation was observed between adult emergence with germination percentage and seedling vigour index while, adult emergence showed a positive correlation with moisture content.

Galaxy Groups as the Ultimate Probe of AGN Feedback

The co-evolution between supermassive black holes and their environment is most directly traced by the hot atmospheres of dark matter halos. The cooling of the hot atmosphere supplies the central regions with fresh gas, igniting active galactic nuclei (AGN) with long duty cycles. The outflows from the central engine tightly couple with the surrounding gaseous medium and provide the dominant heating source, preventing runaway cooling. Every major modern hydrodynamical simulation suite now includes a prescription for AGN feedback to reproduce the realistic populations of galaxies. However, the mechanisms governing the feeding/feedback cycle between the central black holes and their surrounding galaxies and halos are still poorly understood. Galaxy groups are uniquely suited to constrain the mechanisms governing the cooling–heating balance, as the energy supplied by the central AGN can exceed the gravitational binding energy of halo gas particles. Here, we provide a brief overview of our knowledge of the impact of AGN on the hot atmospheres of galaxy groups, with a specific focus on the thermodynamic profiles of the groups. We then present our on-going efforts to improve on the implementation of AGN feedback in galaxy evolution models by providing precise measurements of the properties of galaxy groups. We introduce the XMM-Newton Group AGN Project (X-GAP), a large program on XMM-Newton targeting a sample of 49 galaxy groups out to R500c.

Impacts of inter-satellite links on the ECOM model performance for BDS-3 MEO satellites

Inter-satellite link (ISL) plays an essential role in current and future Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). In this study, we investigate the impact of ISL observations on precise orbit determination for BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3) Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites based on different Extended CODE Orbit Models (ECOM). Thanks to the better observation geometry of the Ka-band ISL data compared to the L-band data for BDS-3 MEO satellites, the ISL solution substantially reduces Orbit Boundary Discontinuity (OBD) errors, except for C30, which suffers from unstable Ka-band hardware delay. From the external quality analysis, ISL significantly enhances the reliability of the orbit of MEO satellites manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). The standard deviation (STD) of the satellite laser ranging (SLR) residuals is approximately 2.5 cm, and the root mean square (RMS) is reduced by 10–23% compared to L-band solutions. Besides, the Sun-elongation angle dependent systematic error in SLR residuals nearly vanishes based on the reduced 5-parameter ECOM (ECOM1) or extended 7-parameter ECOM (ECOM2) with ISL data. This is because the ISL reduces the correlation between state parameters and solar radiation pressure (SRP) parameters as well as those among SRP parameters, leading to a more accurate estimation of both orbit and SRP perturbations, particularly those along B direction. This confirms that the deficiency of the SRP models for BDS-3 CAST satellites can be compensated by using better observation geometry from ISL data. On the other hand, for the satellite manufactured by Shanghai Engineering Center for Microsatellites (SECM), the ISL allows for a more accurate estimation of the Bc1 parameter in the ECOM1 model. This only reduces linear systematic error, possibly because the impact generated by the satellite bus cannot be entirely absorbed by the B-direction parameters.

Possible jet contribution to the gamma-ray luminosity in NGC 1068

NGC\,1068 is a nearby, widely studied Seyfert II galaxy presenting radio, infrared, X-ray, and gamma -ray emission, along with strong evidence for high-energy neutrino emission. Recently, the evidence for neutrino emission was explained in a multimessenger model, whereby the neutrinos originate from the corona of the active galactic nucleus (AGN). In this environment, gamma -rays are strongly absorbed, so that an additional contribution is necessar, for instance, from the circumnuclear starburst ring. In this work, we discuss whether the radio jet can be an alternative source of the gamma -rays between about $0.1$ and $100$ GeV, as observed by Fermi-LAT. In particular, we include both leptonic and hadronic processes, namely,\ accounting for inverse Compton emission and signatures from $pp$ as well as $p interactions. In order to constrain our calculations, we used VLBA and ALMA observations of the radio knot structures, which are spatially resolved at different distances from the supermassive black hole (SMBH). Our results show that the best leptonic scenario for the prediction of the Fermi-LAT data is provided by the radio knot closest to the central engine. For that to be the case, a magnetic field strength of $ mG $ is needed as well as a strong spectral softening of the relativistic electron distribution at $(1-10)\ GeV $. However, we show that neither such a weak magnetic field strength, nor such a strong softening is expected for that knot. A possible explanation for the sim 10 GeV gamma -rays could potentially be provided by hadronic pion production in case of a gas density $ cm $. Nonetheless, this process is not found to contribute significantly to the low-energy end of the Fermi-LAT range. We conclude that the emission sites in the jet are not sufficient to explain the gamma -rays across the whole Fermi-LAT energy band.

Cluster behavior in dental implant failure - A scoping review.

To provide an overview of cluster behavior in dental implant failure including the reported prevalence in modern roughened surface implants as well as the risk factors associated with cluster failures. An electronic search for articles in the English language literature published from January 1, 2000, to March 8, 2023, was performed using PubMed, Embase, Dentistry and Oral Sciences, ProQuest, and Central search engines. Using a standardized systematic search process and predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria in three stages, the final list of selected articles reporting on cluster behavior in dental implant failure was obtained. Cluster behavior was defined as the failure of two or more implants in the same patient within a 2-year period irrespective of the site. Data from the selected articles were reviewed, critically analyzed, interpreted, and reported. The initial electronic search resulted in 948 titles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, the systematic search process resulted in five clinical studies reporting data on cluster behavior of dental implant failure with modern roughened surfaces. These five studies reported on a total of 9986 implants with 858 reported failures (early and late) over varying periods. Out of the 858 implant failures, 217 implants (25.2%) exhibited cluster behavior. The overall prevalence of cluster behavior of modern roughened surface implant failure was 2.1%. The most common location risk factors reported were posterior maxilla, history of previous implant failures, poor bone quality, and occlusal overload. Cluster behavior occurs in 25% of modern roughened surface implant failures which is significantly less than machined surface cluster implant failures. Nevertheless, the overall prevalence of cluster pattern of implant failure of modern roughened surface implants is reasonably low at 2%.

Unveiling the periodic variability patterns of the X-ray emission from the blazar PG 1553+113

The search for periodicity in the multiwavelength, highly variable emission of blazars is a key feature to understanding dynamical processes at work in this class of active galactic nuclei. The blazar is an attractive target due to the evidence of periodic oscillations observed at different wavelengths, with a solid proof of a 2.2-year modulation detected in the gamma -ray, UV, and optical bands. We aim to investigate the variability pattern of the X-ray emission using a more than 10-year-long light curve in order to robustly assess the presence or lack of a periodic behavior, evidence of which is only marginal so far. We conducted detailed statistical analyses, studying in particular the variability properties of the X-ray emission of by computing the Lomb-Scargle periodograms, which are suited for the analyses of unevenly sampled time series, and adopting epoch-folding techniques. We find a modulation pattern in the X-ray light curve of PG 1553+113 with a period of sim 1.4 years, which is about 35<!PCT!> shorter than the one observed in the gamma -ray domain. Our finding is in agreement with the recent spectro-polarimetric analyses and supports the presence of more dynamical phenomena simultaneously at work in the central engine of this quasar.

‘I'm a resourceful person and I ask questions everywhere I go:’ adult job seekers’ adaptive literacy practices in the platformized workforce development system

ABSTRACT This article focuses on the experiences of adult job seekers in a community technology center, primarily exploring three cases. In adult education, the term digital literacy has been used to refer to technical skills, reflecting a hierarchical framing of learning that positions technologies as neutral tools. Drawing from a sociomaterial perspective, I explore the broader range of adaptive literacy practices emerging for adult job seekers as they moved across entangled platforms and workforce agencies during a six-month ethnographic case study. Findings explore three aspects of the adults’ practices across the platforms: maneuvering resumes across platforms as boundary objects; collaboratively navigating platforms’ rules; and drawing from formal and informal knowledge.

A Generic Model for a Persistent Radio Source around Fast Radio Bursts

The repeated fast radio bursts FRB 121102A and FRB 190520B have been reported, along with a spatially coincident, compact, persistent radio emission. In this paper, we present a parameterized one-zone model, with the basic scenario that a relativistic magnetized wind from the pulsar sweeps up the surroundings, e.g., freely expanding supernova ejecta, giving rise to a power-law distribution of electrons between the forward shock and the termination shock. We show that via appropriate adjustment of the model parameters, we can obtain synchrotron radio emission properties from the one-zone model bright enough to account for the observation, simply and analytically fitting the observed spectra well. Through dynamical evolution of the model, we can also obtain time-varying relevant properties. This parameterized model does not depend on concrete physical models such as a central engine; instead, we can constraint the physical model via comparison between parameters and observations, indicating the information about the central engine and surroundings. We also discuss the synchrotron self-Compton emission in our scenario in the end but find no clue about the counterparts at other wave bands.

The Dependence of Gamma-Ray Burst Jet Collimation on Black Hole Spin

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most luminous events in the Universe and are excellent laboratories to study extreme physical phenomena in the cosmos. Despite a long trajectory of progress in understanding these highly energetic events, there are still many observed features that are yet to be fully explained. Observations of the jet opening angle of long gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) suggest that LGRB jets are narrower for those GRBs at higher redshift. This phenomenon has been explained in the context of collimation by the stellar envelope, with denser (lower metallicity) stars at higher redshifts able to collimate the jet more effectively. However, until now, the dependence of the jet opening angle on the properties of the central engine has not been explored. We investigate the effect of black hole spin on the jet collimation angle for a magnetically launched jet, using the general relativistic radiation magnetohydrodynamical code ν bhlight. We present 3D results for a range of spin values. The simulations show that higher-spinning black holes tend to create narrower jets. If indeed LGRB progenitors in the early Universe are able to produce black hole central engines with higher spin, this could account for at least some of the observed jet opening angle-redshift correlation.

Essential oils of lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) of Spain: a case study on clones ´Grosso´ and ´Super´.

Lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.) is a sterile natural hybrid obtained from the crossing of lavender (L. angustifolia Mill.) and spike lavender (L. latifolia Medik.), and its cultivation has gained great importance in Spain. This work is aimed to study the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) of lavandin from clones ´Grosso´ and ´Super´ cultivated in Spain. For this purpose, 215 EOs, obtained by steam distillation between 2016 and 2022 in agricultural farms located in 13 provinces of Spain, were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) in three public R&D centers: the Regional Institute for Agrifood and Forestry Research and Development of Castilla-La Mancha (IRIAF), the Agrarian Technological Institute of Castilla y León (ITACyL) and the Agrifood Research and Technology Center of Aragon (CITA). The chemical composition of the EO of lavandin showed great inter- and intra-varietal variability, with the main compounds being linalool, linalyl acetate, camphor and 1,8-cineole. The results showed that the contents of camphor and 1,8-cineole were higher in ´Grosso´ (7.2% vs 5.0% and 5.7% vs 3.8%, respectively), while those of linalool and linalyl acetate were higher in ´Super´ (35.8% vs 34.2% and 33.7% vs 27.2%). Among minor compounds, the lavandin 'Super' exhibited a higher content of β-Z-ocimene and β-E-ocimene, and a lower content of terpinen-4-ol compared to 'Grosso´. Additionally, eleven compounds of lavandin 'Grosso' were compared within the ranges established by ISO 8902:2009 standard, revealing that only 18% of the samples complied with it for all of these compounds. In this sense, the contents of α-terpineol, linalool and lavandulyl acetate were above the upper limit of the standard in respectively 49%, 23% and 21% of the samples. On the contrary, 36% of the samples for β-Z-ocimene and 32% for linalyl acetate were below the range of this regulation. Unfortunately, these discrepancies with the ISO regulation exclude numerous EOs from the market despite their value in different sectors like perfumery, cosmetics, aromatherapy, phytosanitary or pharmacy. This work could serve as a guidance and/or reference study of Spanish essential oil of ´Grosso´ and ´Super´ clones for stakeholders involved in the lavandin EO market.

Integration of UAV Digital Surface Model and HEC-HMS Hydrological Model System in iRIC Hydrological Simulation—A Case Study of Wu River

This research investigates flood susceptibility in the mid- and downstream areas of Taiwan’s Wu River, historically prone to flooding in central Taiwan. The study integrates the Hydrologic Engineering Center—Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) for flow simulations with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-derived digital surface models (DSMs) at varying resolutions. Flood simulations, executed through the International River Interface Cooperative (iRIC), assess flood depths using diverse DSM resolutions. Notably, HEC-HMS simulations exhibit commendable Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) exceeding 0.88 and a peak flow percentage error (PEPF) below 5%, indicating excellent suitability. In iRIC flood simulations, optimal results emerge with a 2 m resolution UAV-DSM. Furthermore, the study incorporates rainfall data at different recurrence intervals in iRIC flood simulations, presenting an alternative flood modeling approach. This research underscores the efficacy of integrating UAV-DSM into iRIC flood simulations, enabling precise flood depth assessment and risk analysis for flood control management.

Optimization of crystal violet technique for enhanced fingerprint detection on various surfaces.

The crystal violet (CV) staining technique represents a prevalent approach for the development of latent fingerprints, especially on adhesive tape surfaces. Nevertheless, the technique necessitates intricate formulations to augment its performance. In this investigation, an optimized CV staining protocol was developed, characterized by the absence of residual dye on the target substrates and the capability of facilitating fingerprint visualization under ambient light conditions. Four donors, comprising two males and two females, deposited natural fingerprints on various substrates, including glass microscope slides, aluminum foil, and 115 g glossy coated paper, without any specific guidelines. Fingerprints developed using cyanoacrylate fuming served as benchmarks and were contrasted with those generated through alternative methods: CV, ardrox, rhodamine 6G, powdering, and the optimized CV staining protocol. The fingerprint development experiment was replicated at seven distinct time intervals, encompassing 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, resulting in a dataset of 420 fingerprints. The evaluation of fingerprint identifiability employed a scoring system established by the Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology. The results indicated that the optimized CV staining technique demonstrated superior performance, boasting a 92.9% rate of identifiable fingerprint development in contrast to other employed methodologies. Consequently, this optimized CV staining approach is recommended as an efficient, rapid, and straightforward critical dyeing method, applicable to a wide array of substrates in forensic investigations.

Machine learning model for predicting stroke recurrence in adult stroke patients with moyamoya disease and factors of stroke recurrence

ObjectThe aim of this study was at building an effective machine learning model to contribute to the prediction of stroke recurrence in adult stroke patients subjected to moyamoya disease (MMD), while at analyzing the factors for stroke recurrence. MethodsThe data of this retrospective study originated from the database of JiangXi Province Medical Big Data Engineering & Technology Research Center. Moreover, the information of MMD patients admitted to the second affiliated hospital of Nanchang university from January 1st, 2007 to December 31st, 2019 was acquired. A total of 661 patients from January 1st, 2007 to February 28th, 2017 were covered in the training set, while the external validation set comprised 284 patients that fell into a scope from March 1st, 2017 to December 31st, 2019. First, the information regarding all the subjects was compared between the training set and the external validation set. The key influencing variables were screened out using the Lasso Regression Algorithm. Furthermore, the models for predicting stroke recurrence in 1, 2, and 3 years after the initial stroke were built based on five different machine learning algorithms, and all models were externally validated and then compared. Lastly, the CatBoost model with the optimal performance was explained using the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) interpretation model. ResultIn general, 945 patients suffering from MMD were recruited, and the recurrence rate of acute stroke in 1, 2, and 3 years after the initial stroke reached 11.43%(108/945), 18.94%(179/945), and 23.17%(219/945), respectively. The CatBoost models exhibited the optimal prediction performance among all models; the area under the curve (AUC) of these models for predicting stroke recurrence in 1, 2, and 3 years was determined as 0.794 (0.787, 0.801), 0.813 (0.807, 0.818), and 0.789 (0.783, 0.795), respectively. As indicated by the results of the SHAP interpretation model, the high Suzuki stage, young adults (aged 18–44), no surgical treatment, and the presence of an aneurysm were likely to show significant correlations with the recurrence of stroke in adult stroke patients subjected to MMD. ConclusionIn adult stroke patients suffering from MMD, the CatBoost model was confirmed to be effective in stroke recurrence prediction, yielding accurate and reliable prediction outcomes. High Suzuki stage, young adults (aged 18–44 years), no surgical treatment, and the presence of an aneurysm are likely to be significantly correlated with the recurrence of stroke in adult stroke patients subjected to MMD.

Investigating Model Dependencies for Obscured Active Galactic Nuclei: A Case Study of NGC 3982

Abstract X-ray spectroscopy of heavily obscured active galactic nuclei (AGN) offers a unique opportunity to study the circumnuclear environment of accreting supermassive black holes. However, individual models describing the obscurer have unique parameter spaces that give distinct parameter posterior distributions when fit to the same data. To assess the impact of model-specific parameter dependencies, we present a case study of the nearby heavily obscured low-luminosity AGN NGC 3982, which has a variety of column density estimations reported in the literature. We fit the same broadband XMM-Newton+NuSTAR spectra of the source with five unique obscuration models and generate posterior parameter distributions for each. By using global parameter exploration, we traverse the full prior-defined parameter space to accurately reproduce complex posterior shapes and inter-parameter degeneracies. The unique model posteriors for the line-of-sight column density are broadly consistent, predicting Compton-thick N H > 1.5 × 1024 cm−2 at the 3σ confidence level. The posterior median intrinsic X-ray luminosity in the 2–10 keV band was found to differ substantially, however, with values in the range log L 2–10 keV/ erg s−1 = 40.9–42.1 for the individual models. We additionally show that the posterior distributions for each model occupy unique regions of their respective multidimensional parameter spaces and how such differences can propagate into the inferred properties of the central engine. We conclude by showcasing the improvement in parameter inference attainable with the High Energy X-ray Probe, with its uniquely broad, simultaneous, and high-sensitivity bandpass of 0.2–80 keV.

Early GnRH-agonist therapy does not negatively impact the endometrial repair process or live birth rate.

To investigate whether different timings of GnRH-a downregulation affected assisted reproductive outcomes in infertile women with moderate-to-severe intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) accompanied by adenomyosis. A retrospective case series. An assisted reproductive technology center. The study reviewed 123 infertile women with moderate-to-severe IUAs accompanied by adenomyosis undergoing their first frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles between January 2019 and December 2021. The majority of patients had moderate IUA (n=116, 94.31%). The average Basal uterine volume was 73.58 ± 36.50 cm3. The mean interval from operation to the first downregulation was 21.07 ± 18.02 days (range, 1-79 days). The mean duration of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was 16.93 ± 6.29 days. The average endometrial thickness on the day before transfer was 10.83 ± 1.75 mm. A total of 70 women achieved clinical pregnancy (56.91%). Perinatal outcomes included live birth (n=47, 67.14%), early miscarriage (n=18, 25.71%), and late miscarriage (n=5, 7.14%). The time interval between uterine operation and the first downregulation was not a significant variable affecting live birth. Maternal age was the only risk factor associated with live birth (OR:0.89; 95% CI: 0.79-0.99, P=0.041). The earlier initiation of GnRH-a to suppress adenomyosis prior to endometrial preparation for frozen embryo transfer did not negatively impact repair of the endometrium after resection.

Postcolonialism, culture, and values in evaluating scientific collaborations with minority-serving institutions

Postcolonial theory can be paired with a values-engaged educative evaluation approach to resist imperialism and colonialism in evaluation spaces, de-Westernize conceptualizations of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and extend the capacity of culturally responsive evaluation. Beyond the joining of the values-engaged educative approach and postcolonial theory, Collaboration Research Network theories offer another distinct but complementary avenue for exploring structural power imbalance and invisible hierarchies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics evaluation contexts. Using these three theories, values-engaged educative, Collaboration Research Network, and postcolonial theory, this qualitative study examined the perceptions and experiences of faculty and students at three minority-serving institutions participating in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics Center. This study aims to bridge theories traditionally used in research with evaluation frameworks to reconceptualize concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Storage quality of dehulled split pulses as influenced by packaging material

Efficacy of various packaging materials in preserving split dal of blackgram, redgram, and chickpea was assessed at Post-harvest Technology Centre, Bapatla during 2022-23. No natural infestation by pulse beetle, red flour beetle, or almond moth was detected in GrainPro bags and aluminium pouches even after 90 days of storage. Under artificial infestation, GrainPro bags exhibited adult populations of Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), as low as 0.33 for blackgram and chickpea dal, with zero infestation observed in redgram dal. Aluminium pouches recorded adult populations of C. maculatus at 0.67 for blackgram, 2.0 for chickpea dal, and zero infestation in redgram dal. GrainPro bags recorded adult populations of T. castaneum at 1.33 for blackgram and chickpea dal, and zero infestation in redgram dal, while aluminium pouches had populations at 1.0 for blackgram, 2.33 for chickpea dal, and zero infestation in redgram dal. GrainPro bags exhibited minimal grain damage (<1.0%) and weight loss (<0.1%), while aluminium pouches also showed negligible levels of grain damage and weight loss (1.0% and 0.12% in blackgram dal, 1.67% and 0.04% in redgram dal, and 0.33% and 0.01% in chickpea dal, respectively). GrainPro bags and aluminium pouches exhibited the lowest levels of fungal growth under both natural (1.0 × 103 CFU/g or slightly more) and artificial infestation (2.0 x 103 to 6.0 × 103 CFU/g) coupled with minimal bacterial growth (0.8x107 to 5.0 × 107 CFU/g under artificial infestation). There was no much deviation in the colour of the products stored in GrainPro bags and aluminium pouches under both conditions, highlighting their superior protective qualities. On the contrary, the woven polymer bag recorded significantly higher adult populations with substantial grain damage and weight loss (4.33% and 0.31% in blackgram dal, 7.7% and 1.15% in redgram dal, and 24.0% and 2.2% in chickpea dal, respectively).

Stripped-envelope supernova light curves argue for central engine activity.

The luminosity of stripped-envelope supernovae, a common type of stellar explosion, is believed to be mainly driven by the radioactive decay of the nickel synthesized in the explosion and carried in its ejecta. Additional possible energy sources have been previously suggested1-5, in which the two most observationally based results have been from a comparison of the observed time-weighted luminosity with the inferred radioactive power1 and from a comparison of the light curves with particular theoretical models3. However, the former result1 was not statistically significant, and the latter3 is highly dependent on the specific models assumed. Here we analyse the energy budget of a sample of 54 well-observed stripped-envelope supernovae of all sub-types and present statistically significant, largely model-independent, observational evidence for a non-radioactive power source in most of them (and possibly in all). We consider various energy sources, or alternatively, plausible systematic errors, that could drive this result, and conclude that the most likely option is the existence of a long-lived central engine, operating over ≈103-106 s after the explosion. We infer, from the observations, constraints on the engine properties. If, for example, the central engine is a magnetized neutron star, then the initial magnetic field is ≈1015 G and the initial rotation period is 1-100 ms, suggesting that stripped-envelope supernovae may constitute the formation events of the objects known as magnetars.

Response of Floods to the Underlying Surface Changes in the Taojiang River Basin Using the Hydrologic Engineering Center’s Hydrologic Modeling System

Due to underlying surface changes (USCs), the changes in the Taojiang River Basin’s flood generation conditions could impact the flooding process in the basin. However, most studies have typically focused on either land-use changes (LUCs) or soil and water conservation measures (SWCMs) to assess the impact of the USCs on floods, which may not provide a more comprehensive understanding of the response of floods to the USCs. To investigate how the USCs have altered the floods in the Taojiang River Basin, located upstream of Poyang Lake, China, the HEC-HMS model, which incorporates the influence of the USCs into the parameter calibration, is established in this study to investigate the flood processes on an hourly scale. The flood peak and the maximum 72 h flood volume are selected as two indexes and are applied to analyze the changes in floods caused by the USCs. The 1981–2020 period is divided into three sub-periods (i.e., 1981–1992, 1993–2007, and 2008–2020) based on the conditions of the USCs. It is found that the two indexes have exhibited decreasing trends, mainly due to the USCs during 1981–2020. Benchmarked against the baseline period of 1981–1992, the two indexes decreased by 3.06% (the flood peak) and 4.00% (the maximum 72 h flood volume) during 1993–2007 and by 5.92% and 7.58% during 2008–2020. Moreover, the impacts of the LUCs and SWCMs are separated through parameter adjustments in the model, revealing that the SWCMs played a dominant role in the USCs in the Taojiang River Basin. The quantification and assessment of the impact of the USCs on floods of different magnitudes revealed that the influence decreases with increasing flood magnitude. The results of this study improve our understanding of how USCs affect the flooding process and therefore provide support for flood control management under changing environments.

Utilization of technology-enhance learning tools among vocational and technical education teachers in Nigerian tertiary institutions

The study determined training needs of teachers and issues in the utilization of Technology-enhanced Learning tools in Vocational and Technical Education in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Five research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The sample for the study is 318 teachers from six tertiary institutions that offer majority of Vocational and Technical Education programmes in Nigeria. Instrument for data collection was developed by the researchers and was validated by five experts in Vocational and Technical Education. The overall reliability index of the instrument is 0.81. Results from collected data revealed that the teachers require training to enable them use Technology-enhanced Learning tools for instructional delivery; the current mode of instructional delivery in institutions is face-to-face approach; many institutions have Information and Communication Technology center and institution wide internet which are not effectively utilized for instructional delivery, among numerous other findings. Among the recommendations is that teachers should be given access to the available Technology-enhanced Learning facilities in their institutions to enable them learn how to use them at their own free times. It was concluded that most VTE teachers are eager to deploy Technology-enhanced Learning tools for instructional delivery but some institutional supports they need, especially trainings are inadequate.