16 research outputs found
The Impact of Green Open Spaces Changes on Temperature and Humidity and the Livable City Index of Banda Aceh
Construction of physical infrastructure resulted in reducing vegetation cover land. This problem has an impact on weather conditions, namely temperature and humidity, and the index of comfort for the citizens of the city. This study aims to find out (1) Changes in Open Space City of Banda Aceh for five years, from 2012 - 2017; (2) the connection between temperature and RTH relative humidity; (3) Comfort index based on the Temperature Humadity Index (THI) in the city of Banda Aceh; and (4) Comfort index based on the adequacy of green open space. The research method uses a quantitative approach. Sources of research data are Landsat Remote Sensing imagery and field measurements for temperature and humidity data. Data is processed by using GIS, product moment correlation analysis, determine the comfort index using the Temperature Humadity Index (THI) formula. Additionally, based on the results of data processing, it was concluded that (1) there was a reduction in green open space of 299 ha for five years in Banda Aceh, only Syiah Kuala District had a proportional open space area; (2) The correlation coefficient between temperature and relative humidity is -0.78 or in the strong category; (3) Comfort index based on THI Banda Aceh in the uncomfortable category; and (4) the lowest RTH with THI is 28.1 in Hutan Kota Trembesi, Jaya Baru District, while the highest THI RTH is 30.8 in Blang Padang Field, Baiturrahman District
Interactions of Metal‐Based Engineered Nanoparticles with Plants: An Overview of the State of Current Knowledge, Research Progress, and Prospects
Nanotechnology is a potential technique for increasing agricultural output by producing nano-fertilizers, improving herbicide and pesticide efficacy, regulating soil fertility, managing wastewater, and detecting illnesses. It is also virtuous for industrial food processing since it boosts market value, improves nutritional and sensory properties, enhances safety, and boosts antibacterial protection. Moreover, nanotechnology may also assist farmers in reducing post-harvest losses by prolonging shelf life via the use of nanoparticles. Furthermore, nanoscience develops new ideas that lead to a better understanding of nanoparticles and their mechanisms of action in plants. Plants can grow and develop more effectively when the physiological-biochemical and molecular pathways involving nanoparticles in plants are understood. Scientists have developed a broad range of nanoparticles (NPs) such as Au, Ag, Pt, Fe, Cu, Cd, ZnO, and TiO2. At the same time, nanoscience gives us new ideas and diverts our intentions to attain some suitable mechanism mode for the functions of NPs in plants. The proper functionality of the physical, biological, and cellular mechanisms of NPs requires selected plant species to influence the variation in the different phases of plant growth and development. Although several reviews on engineered nanoparticles have been published in recent years, few have focused on their current applications, transport, interaction, and physio-chemical aspects of metal-based nanoparticles (MBNPs) and carbon-based nanoparticles (CBNPs) with crops. As a result, we evaluated the behaviors of (MBNPs) and (CBNPs) in agricultural systems, including absorption and translocation of MBNPs and CBNPs in crop plants, physiological and biochemical effects of MBNPs on plants, and factors influencing MBNPs and CBNPs\u27 interactions on plants. This review will help glow nanotechnology by promoting scientific study on MBNPs and metal oxides nanoparticles MONPs and understanding the risks and advantages of their association with plants. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
Estimation of PM10-bound As, Cd, Ni and Pb levels by means of statistical modelling: PLSR and ANN approaches
Air quality assessment regarding metals and metalloids using experimental measurements is expensive and time consuming due to the cost and time required for the analytical determination of the levels of these pollutants. According to the European Union (EU) Air Quality Framework Directive (Directive 2008/50/EC), other alternatives, such as objective estimation techniques, can be considered for ambient air quality assessment in zones and agglomerations where the level of pollutants is below a certain concentration value known as the lower assessment threshold. These conditions occur in urban areas in Cantabria (northern Spain). This work aims to estimate the levels of As, Cd, Ni and Pb in airborne PM10 at two urban sites in the Cantabria region (Castro Urdiales and Reinosa) using statistical models as objective estimation techniques. These models were developed based on three different approaches: partial least squares regression (PLSR), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and an alternative approach consisting of principal component analysis (PCA) coupled with ANNs (PCA-ANN). Additionally, these models were externally validated using previously unseen data. The results show that the models developed in this work based on PLSR and ANNs fulfil the EU uncertainty requirements for objective estimation techniques and provide an acceptable estimation of the mean values. As a consequence, they could be considered as an alternative to experimental measurements for air quality assessment regarding the aforementioned pollutants in the study areas while saving time and resources.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the Project CMT2010-16068. The authors also thank the Regional Environment Ministry of the Cantabria Government for providing the PM10 samples at the Castro Urdiales and Reinosa sites
The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance
INTRODUCTION
Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic.
RATIONALE
We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs).
RESULTS
Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants.
CONCLUSION
Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century
The role of geography teachers in enhancing earthquake and tsunami disaster preparedness among students in Banda Aceh
This study is aimed to find out the role of geography teachers in enhancing earthquake and tsunami disaster preparedness among students of Senior High School in Banda Aceh. This study is descriptive study by using quantitative approach. This study was conducted in eight Senior High Schools in Banda Aceh with study samples were 15 geography teachers and 10 students in each school who were selected by Purposive Random Sampling. Data collection technique was done through questionnaire distributed to teachers and test items to students. Data analysis technique used descriptive statistic. The study result showed that teacher's role in enhancing earthquake and tsunami disaster preparedness among students is dominated by medium category (40%). Based on this study result, it can be concluded that the role of geography teachers in enhancing students' preparedness is not satisfying
The Role of Teachers in Building Character Caring for the Environment for Students of SMPIT Nurul Fikri Boarding School Aceh
Teachers have an important role in shaping the character of students. So the purpose of this study is to (1) determine the role of teachers in building character, (2) determine the level of environmental care for students. This study uses a quantitative descriptive method. The entire research population was 25 teachers and 267 students in grades VII-IX. Sampling with random sampling technique. Data were collected by distributing questionnaires to respondents. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical percentage formula. The results of data processing obtained: from 25 teachers, it is known that 2 respondents (8%) in very high category, 6 respondents (24%) in high category, 12 respondents (48%) in medium category, 1 respondent (4%) in low category, and 4 respondents (16%) are very low, so that the teacher's role in the formation of environmental character is the largest in the category. (2) Of the 50 students, 6 respondents (12%) were in the very high category, 7 respondents (14%) were in the high category, 22 respondents (44%) were in the medium category, 12 respondents (24%) were in the low category, and 3 respondents (6%) ) ) category is very low, so that the main environmental care level is in the medium category