• Rural Digital Europe
• 2013-2022close
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A correlation of the infrared spectra of thiocarbonyl derivatives based on the literature data has been carried out. Assignments have also been made in some new systems. Sodium Diphenylcarbamodithioate ligand and its monomeric complexes were synthesized at room temperature and stirring condition. The ligand and its complexes of the general formula [M(L) 2 ] (where M= Co +2 , Ni +2 and Cu +2 ) were characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR and ultraviolet-visible), elemental analysis (C.H.N. and S) metal content, magnetic susceptibility measurement, and biological activity (an antibacterial activity of the complex was studied by agar disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration strain against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis). The complex exhibited significant activities against S. aureus and B. subtilis, thin-layer chromatography, mass spectrometry, X-ray powder diffraction, and molar conductance. Our study revealed the formation of four-coordinate square planar complexes around Coп, Niп, and Cuп metal ions.

Global climate change alters the dynamic of natural ecosystems and directly affects species distributions, persistence and diversity. The impacts of climate change may lead to dramatic changes in biotic interactions, such as pollination and seed dispersal. Life history traits are extremely important to consider the vulnerability of a species to climate change, producing more robust models than those based primarily on species distributions. Here, we hypothesized that rising temperatures and aridity will reduce suitable habitats for the endemic flora of the Caatinga, the most diverse dry tropical forest on Earth. Specifically, species with specialized reproductive traits (e.g. vertebrate pollination, biotic dispersal, obligatory cross-pollination) should be more affected by climate change than those with generalist traits. We performed two ecological niche models (current and future) to simulate the effects of climate change on the distribution area of endemic species in relation to life-history traits. We used the MIROC-ESM and CCSM4 models for both intermediate (RCP4.5) and highest predicted (RCP8.5) GHG emission scenarios, with a resolution of 30' (~1 km2). Habitat with high occurrence probability (>80%) of endemic species will be reduced (up to ~10% for trees, ~13% for non-arboreous, 10-28% for species with any pollination/reproductive system), with the greatest reductions for species with specialized reproductive traits. In addition, the likely concentration of endemic plants in the extreme northeastern portion of the Caatinga, in more mesic areas, coincides with the currently most human-modified areas of the ecosystem, which combined with climate change will further contract suitable habitats of endemic species. In conclusion, plant species endemic to the Caatinga are highly vulnerable to even conservative scenarios of future climate change and may lose much of their climatic envelopes. New protected areas should be located in the northeastern portion of the Caatinga, which hosts a more favorable climate, but is currently exposed to escalating agricultural intensification.

This study aims to: calculate the amount of rice consumption per capita per year of rice farmers; to increase knowledge about when lowland rice farmers experience a shortage of rice and cannot afford rice because there is no purchasing power what they do to overcome it?; to measure the level of food security and the ratio of fear to the families of lowland rice farmers. This research was conducted from July to November 2018 in Mopait Village and Pangian Village. which is one of the rice-producing villages in Bolaang Mongondow Regency, North Sulawesi. This research used quantitative and qualitative data collection methods concerning the production, fulfillment of rice consumption and the sale and purchase of rice at the level of the rice paddy farmer family. Interviews were conducted with farmers and village leaders as primary data sources. While the secondary data sources came from the Central Sulawesi Statistics and Agriculture Office of North Sulawesi. Data analysis uses quantitative and qualitative data analysis approaches. Quantitative and Qualitative Modeling of Food Security Lines and Farmer Fear Ratio. By using this Food Resilience Line Model, it will be known whether the Family Food Security of Paddy Farmers is strong or weak. Calculation of Farmer's Fear Ratio to find out whether farmers are pessimistic or optimistic about fulfilling rice consumption needs. The results showed that the amount of rice consumption per capita per year for paddy rice farmers, in Mopait Village rice consumption was 121 rice per capita per year. Whereas rice farmers in Pangian Village consume rice with 185 kg of rice per capita per year. At a time when lowland rice farmers lack rice and cannot afford to buy it at the market, they will borrow rice from the mill. The line of food security in the two research villages shows different figures in Mopait Village >1 while in Pangian Village <1. This means that the level of food security in paddy rice farming families in Mopait Village is higher than Pangian Village. While the paddy rice farmers in Mopait Village this year felt less fear compared to 5 years ago but for the next 5 years they remain more pessimistic than this year. Rice farmers in Pangian are more optimistic.

Efforts in hydrometeorology are concentrated on finding the causes of the ground based radar uncertainty sources for rainfall estimation recently. The error sources are interactions between radar with atmosphere and topography. Radar singly often covers systematic error whereas atmospheric and topographic errors are relevant to location and precipitation pattern. This article reviews uncertainty sources on weather ground-based radar in order to rainfall estimation that have been discussed in nine main categories includes; the range effects, radar signal attenuation, beam blockage, vertical air motion and precipitation drift, ground clutter, anomalous propagation, vertical variability of the precipitation system, variability of the Z-R relationship and bright band. Topographic errors such as ground clutter and beam blockage primarily can be eliminated by attentive in site selection. Atmospheric errors such as vertical air motion and precipitation drift can filter or eliminated by calibration methods. Systematic errors include radar signal attenuation and anomalous propagation is the result of structural changes in the radar waves in space. Thus, this review is explored the characteristics of uncertainty error resources and a comprehensive appraisal of experimental procedures is provided.

Abstract In this study, a polystyrene sulphonic acid resin catalysed hydrolysis of low grade lipids from meat processing waste, via an in-situ hydrolysis pathway was evaluated for enhanced fatty acid yield. Process evaluation was achieved using a response surface methodology based on a central composite design for four process variables (temperature, catalyst load, moisture mass fraction of the meat processing waste, and reaction time). This study enabled the development of a model that was sufficient to predict fatty acid yield as a function of the four process variables investigated. The optimum values of the temperature, catalyst loading, moisture mass fraction, and reaction time for enhanced fatty acid yield were determined to be 92.5 °C, a mass ratio of 0.09 resin to wet meat processing waste, 92%, and 1 h respectively. Catalyst recovery and regeneration were also demonstrated, with up to 88% mass fraction of the catalyst recoverable, while retaining an activity of 96% relative to the fresh catalyst. The study therefore showed that it is possible to produce high yields of fatty acids under moderate temperature conditions from high moisture low grade lipid sources. It was therefore shown that a highly efficient hydrolysis process can be achieved without the energetic penalty of preliminary drying operations that are associated with lipid extractive processes characterising existing lipid hydrolysis systems.

Aim This study aims to explore the experiences of carers of children with cerebral palsy living in rural areas of Ghana who have received no rehabilitation services. Background Cerebral palsy is the most common chronic disability from childhood, which needs lifelong rehabilitation. Most of the population living in rural communities in Ghana have virtually no form of rehabilitation services for their chronic disabling conditions. Caring for children with disability are known to be challenging especially when coupled with environmental challenges in rural communities. Results Purposive and snowball techniques were used to recruit 12 carers, age 22 to 68 years, of children with cerebral palsy aged 7 to 15 years. Two main themes, developing personal beliefs to support the caregiving role and the demands that shape the experience of caring, emerged from six subthemes and 25 theme clusters of the narratives of the carers. The essential structure of the phenomenon demonstrated the complex interaction of personal and environmental factors in harmony with the actual demands to influence the experiences of participants positively or negatively. Positively, carers achieved coping, committed to caring, hoped for the future, and accepted the condition. However, negatively, carers described the triggering factors of feeling of despair and sorrow as frustration and lack of understanding of the condition, felt stigmatized, and perceived the child was going through pain and suffering. Conclusions Carers derived strength from their religious and spiritual beliefs to balance the demands of caregiving. Findings could be used as basis for developing interventions to support carers and inform new strategies for rehabilitation service and sensitization of community members about inclusion of children with disabilities.

Geostatistical tools were used to estimate spatial relations between wheat yield and soil parameters under organic farming field conditions. Thematic maps of each factor were created as raster images in R software using kriging. The Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) calculated the principal component analysis raster images for soil parameters and yield. The correlation between the raster arising from the PC1 of soil and yield parameters showed high linear correlation (r = 0.75) and explained 48.50% of the data variance. The data show that durum wheat yield is strongly affected by soil parameter variability, and thus, the average production can be substantially lower than its potential. Soil water content was the limiting factor to grain yield and not nitrate as in other similar studies. The use of precision agriculture tools helped reduce the level of complexity between the measured parameters by the grouping of several parameters and demonstrating that precision agriculture tools can be applied in small organic fields, reducing costs and increasing wheat yield. Consequently, site-specific applications could be expected to improve the yield without increasing excessively the cost for farmers and enhance environmental and economic benefits. Foundation for Science and Technology (Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia), Portugal [SFRH/BD/8303/2002]; Research Center of Spatial and Organizational Dynamics (CIEO); Ministery of Science, Culture and Sport, Israel; Bundesmenisterium fuer Bildung and Forschung (BMBF)

Abstract Over the past few decades, wide encroachment of eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) and Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) into the prairies of the U.S. Great Plains has affected wildlife habitats, forage and livestock production, and biogeochemical cycles. This study investigates the spatio-temporal dynamics of juniper forest encroachment into tallgrass prairies by generating juniper forest encroachment maps from 1984 to 2010 at 30 m spatial resolution. A pixel and phenology-based mapping algorithm was used to produce the time series maps of juniper forest encroachment using a combination of Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) mosaic data from 2010 and Landsat 5 and 7 data (10,871 images from 1984 to 2010). We analyzed the resultant maps to understand the dynamics of juniper forest encroachment at state and county spatial scales and examined juniper occurrence by geographic region and soil type. The juniper forest maps were generated over five multi-year periods: the late 1980s (1984–1989), early 1990s (1990–1994), late 1990s (1995–1999), early 2000s (2000–2004), and late 2000s (2005–2010). We also produced a map of time since stand detection of juniper forests in 2010. Our major findings include: (1) juniper forests have expanded linearly in time at an annual rate of ~ 40 km2/year since 1984; (2) juniper forests had notable spatial clusters in its expansion process; (3) ~ 65% of juniper forests in 2010 were