Spatial organisation of groundwater dynamics and streamflow response from different hydropedological units in a montane catchment

Funding was provided by the Leibniz Association (SAW-2012-IGB 4167) within the International Leibniz Graduate School: Aquatic boundaries and linkages- Aqualink. We would like to thank the NRI staff for their help during field work.Peer reviewedPostprin

Analysis of Da’if & Mawdu’ Hadith in the Book of Ta’lim Al-Muta’allim by Shaykh Al-Zarnuji

Ta’lim al-Muta’allim’s book by Sheikh al-Zarnuji is a turath book containing ethics and manners of learning and teaching between teachers and students. This book is famous and distributed in the Archipelago especially in Malaysia and Indonesia. It is also widely used in pesantran or pondok nowaday. Sheikh al-Zarnuji used hadiths of prophet Muhammad s.a.w as the main source and hujjah in Ta’lim al-Muta’allim’s book. He also included some other categories of hadith including da’if and mawdu’ hadiths. The issue is Ta’lim al-Muta’llim’s book contains many da’if and mawdu’ hadiths and have been referred by Muslim. This study is very important to understand the method and rule of practicing of da’if and mawdu’ hadiths. Hence, this study aimed to analyse da’if and mawdu’ hadiths contained in Ta’lim al-Muta’llim’s book. The methodology of this hadith is qualitative method by using content analysis approach toward Ta’lim al-Muta’llim’s book. Thus, the finding for the analysis of 40 hadiths in this book found that only 30% hadith can be used for fada’il al-amal if fulfilled the conditions by the ulama’s. Hence, thematic analysis is important to be done in order to ensure the quantity of da’if and mawdu’ hadiths in this book and also to ensure the da’if hadith can be practiced only for fada’il al-amal matter

Coastal subsidence in Oregon, USA, during the Giant Cascadia earthquake of AD 1700

Quantitative estimates of land-level change during the giant AD 1700 Cascadia earthquake along the Oregon coast are inferred from relative sea-level changes reconstructed from fossil foraminiferal assemblages preserved within the stratigraphic record. A transfer function, based upon a regional training set of modern sediment samples from Oregon estuaries, is calibrated to fossil assemblages in sequences of samples across buried peat-mud and peat-sand contacts marking the AD 1700 earthquake. Reconstructions of sample elevations with sample-specific errors estimate the amount of coastal subsidence during the earthquake at six sites along 400 km of coast. The elevation estimates are supported by lithological, carbon isotope, and faunal tidal zonation data. Coseismic subsidence at Nehalem River, Nestucca River, Salmon River, Alsea Bay, Siuslaw River and South Slough varies between 0.18 m and 0.85 m with errors between 0.18 m and 0.32 m. These subsidence estimates are more precise, consistent, and generally lower than previous semi-quantitative estimates. Following earlier comparisons of semi-quantitative subsidence estimates with elastic dislocation models of megathrust rupture during great earthquakes, our lower estimates for central and northern Oregon are consistent with modeled rates of strain accumulation and amounts of slip on the subduction megathrust, and thus, with a magnitude of 9 for the AD 1700 earthquake

Comparison of Lapidus procedure fixation methods for hallux valgus: a 10-year retrospective analysis

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the type of Lapidus fixation method used in Leeds Teaching Trust Hospital that produces the best post-operative radiographical measurements. Methods: Thirty-five patients who underwent the Lapidus procedure were reviewed. Pre-operative and post-operative X-rays were measured to obtain angles; hallux valgus angle (HVA), first intermetatarsal angle (IMA), distal metatarsal articulate angle (DMA), meary angle (MA), and metatarsal declination angle (MDA). The fixation groups compared were dorso-medial plate vs dorsal plate vs medial plate and plate-single screw versus plate-crossed screw. The change in angle (Δ-angles) between pre-operative and post-operative were measured and the groups were compared. The fixation method that resulted in the largest Δ-angles and is statistically significant will be regarded as a superior fixation type within that group. Results: Groups with plate-single screw fixation showed a statistically significant (p<0.05) larger change in distal metatarsal articulate angle compared to plate-crossed screw fixation. Dorso-medial plate showed largest Δ-angles in the plate group although none were statistically significant. Conclusions: Fixation systems with single-screw result in better radiographical measurements compared to crossed-screws, significantly with the distal metatarsal articular angle. Dorso-medial plates result in better radiographical measurements followed by dorsal plate and then medial plate. However, these findings need validation with a randomized controlled trial before being generalized

Determination of micro nutrients in substrates by water extraction and interpretation of the analytical data

In 1974 the 1:1½ volume extract was published (Sonneveld et al., 1974) as a water extraction method for the determination of available nutrient elements and of the salinity status of peaty substrates. The analytical data of this extract were related to the data of the “substrate” solution extracted from the substrates with a moisture condition of -3.2 kPa. The method has been widely used and offers a suitable basis for fertilization of peaty substrates. In the years after publication, the composition and application of substrates has undergone much change and the irrigation methods have also been thoroughly adjusted. The latter was responsible for increased water contents in the substrate during crop growth. Therefore, another study was carried out in which the analytical data of the 1:1½ volume extract was compared with the analytical data of the “substrate” solution, where the “substrate” solution was defined at the moisture condition of -1.0 kPa. There was a good agreement between the results of both studies. However, the regression coefficients for the relationships between the data of the extracts differ, as expected, because of the higher moisture contents on which the substrate solution was defined. In addition to the data of major elements published, in the second study, micro nutrients were determined in the extracts, but not published. Therefore in this paper the relationships between the concentrations of micro nutrient as determined in the 1:1½ extract and in the “substrate” solution are given. The relationships presented support the interpretation of analytical data of micro nutrients by means of water extraction

Terrestrial organic carbon storage in a British moorland

Accurate estimates for the size of terrestrial organic carbon (C) stores are needed to determine their importance in regulating atmospheric CO2 concentrations. The C stored in vegetation and soil components of a British moorland was evaluated in order to: (i) investigate the importance of these ecosystems for C storage and (ii) test the accuracy of the United Kingdom's terrestrial C inventory. The area of vegetation and soil types was determined using existing digitized maps and a Geographical Information System (GIS). The importance of evaluating C storage using 2D area projections, as opposed to true surface areas, was investigated and found to be largely insignificant. Vegetation C storage was estimated from published results of productivity studies at the site supplemented by field sampling to evaluate soil C storage. Vegetation was found to be much less important for C storage than soil, with peat soils, particularly Blanket bog, containing the greatest amounts of C. Whilst the total amount of C in vegetation was similar to the UK national C inventory's estimate for the same area, the national inventory estimate for soil C was over three times higher than the value derived in the current study. Because the UK's C inventory can be considered relatively accurate compared to many others, the results imply that current estimates for soil C storage, at national and global scales, should be treated with caution

Middle and late Holocene vegetation and landscape evolution of the Scheldt estuary : a palynological study of a peat deposit from Doel (Belgium)

Local and regional environmental conditions for the south-eastern Scheldt estuary during the middle and late Holocene period have been reconstructed based on pollen analysis, loss-on-ignition and radiocarbon dating of a sediment core from Doe (N-Belgium) and the comparison with existing data from other sites from the same region. Postglacial relative sea level rise resulted in the formation of alder carr vegetation in the lower parts of the landscape from c. 7640 cal BP onwards. The vegetation succession was weakly influenced by the deposition of tidal clay deposits between c. 6550 and 5650 a cal BP and eventually culminated in the development of an oligotrophic bog. Peat accumulation seems to have ceased between c. 2030 and 1220 a cal BP, well before it was covered by marine sediments in the late Middle Ages

ECOSSE: Estimating Carbon in Organic Soils - Sequestration and Emissions: Final Report

Background Climate change, caused by greenhouse gas ( GHG) emissions, is one of the most serious threats facing our planet, and is of concern at both UK and devolved administration levels. Accurate predictions for the effects of changes in climate and land use on GHG emissions are vital for informing land use policy. Models which are currently used to predict differences in soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) caused by these changes, have been derived from those based on mineral soils or deep peat. None of these models is entirely satisfactory for describing what happens to organic soils following land-use change. Reports of Scottish GHG emissions have revealed that approximately 15% of Scotland's total emissions come from land use changes on Scotland's high carbon soils; the figure is much lower for Wales. It is therefore important to reduce the major uncertainty in assessing the carbon store and flux from land use change on organic soils, especially those which are too shallow to be deep peats but still contain a large reserve of C. In order to predict the response of organic soils to external change we need to develop a model that reflects more accurately the conditions of these soils. The development of a model for organic soils will help to provide more accurate values of net change to soil C and N in response to changes in land use and climate and may be used to inform reporting to UKGHG inventories. Whilst a few models have been developed to describe deep peat formation and turnover, none have so far been developed suitable for examining the impacts of land-use and climate change on the types of organic soils often subject to land-use change in Scotland and Wales. Organic soils subject to land-use change are often (but not exclusively) characterised by a shallower organic horizon than deep peats (e.g. organo-mineral soils such as peaty podzols and peaty gleys). The main aim of the model developed in this project was to simulate the impacts of land-use and climate change in these types of soils. The model is, a) be driven by commonly available meteorological data and soil descriptions, b) able to simulate and predict C and N turnover in organic soils, c) able to predict the impacts of land-use change and climate change on C and N stores in organic soils in Scotland and Wales. In addition to developing the model, we have undertaken a number of other modelling exercises, literature searches, desk studies, data base exercises, and experimentation to answer a range of other questions associated with the responses of organic soils in Scotland and Wales to climate and land-use change. Aims of the ECOSSE project The aims of the study were: To develop a new model of C and N dynamics that reflects conditions in organic soils in Scotland and Wales and predicts their likely responses to external factors To identify the extent of soils that can be considered organic in Scotland and Wales and provide an estimate of the carbon contained within them To predict the contribution of CO 2, nitrous oxide and methane emissions from organic soils in Scotland and Wales, and provide advice on how changes in land use and climate will affect the C and N balance In order to fulfil these aims, the project was broken down into modules based on these objectives and the report uses that structure. The first aim is covered by module 2, the second aim by module 1, and the third aim by modules 3 to 8. Many of the modules are inter-linked. Objectives of the ECOSSE project The main objectives of the project were to: Describe the distribution of organic soils in Scotland and Wales and provide an estimate of the C contained in them Develop a model to simulate C and N cycling in organic soils and provide predictions as to how they will respond to land-use, management and climate change using elements of existing peat, mineral and forest soil models Provide predictive statements on the effects of land-use and climate change on organic soils and the relationships to GHG emissions, including CO 2, nitrous oxide and methane. Provide predictions on the effects of land use change and climate change on the release of Dissolved Organic Matter from organic soils Provide estimates of C loss from scenarios of accelerated erosion of organic soils Suggest best options for mitigating C and N loss from organic soils Provide guidelines on the likely effects of changing land-use from grazing or semi-natural vegetation to forestry on C and N in organic soils Use the land-use change data derived from the Countryside Surveys of Scotland and Wales to provide predictive estimates for changes to C and N balance in organic soils over time