Overcome Land Degradation With Soil Ameliorant Application (Study Of Farmer Perceptions In Malang, East Java)

Improving the quality of soils degradation can be achieved using the soil ameloirant (i. e. Zeolite, manure, compost, etc.), conservation farming systems, organic management, system balanced fertilization specific location, and efficiency of water use. This study aimed to determine: (1) the type of soil ameloirant that is still used by farmers, sources of information, and its use of doses, (2) constraints and benefit of use, (3) fertilizer efficiency, and (4) development opportunities. This study conducted by survey method that is structured interview included: farmer characteristics, identification, and soil ameloirant development prospects in the future. Identification of soil ameloirant, such as: type of soil ameloirant used by farmers, sources of information, applications, the impact of the use, benefits and constraints of use. The results showed that: the distribution age of respondent ≤ 55 years (80.7%) and > 55 years (19.3%). Dissemination through counseling, pilot project on farmers land in order to developing the confidence of farmers will benefit and importance of the use soil ameloirant to repair land degradation, increasing productivity, and agricultural production. The soil ameloirant have been used by 24% of respondents farmers is zeolite granules (Agro-88) and dolomite; measurement of soil ameloirant for rice field: 500 kg of zeolit /ha and 577 kg dolomite/ha; garden: 219 kg zeolite/ha and 409 kg dolomite/ ha; mixedgarden: 600 kg of zeolit/ha and 143 kg dolomite/ha. Soil ameloirant benefits is for increasing the production: paddys, corns, and vegetables (cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes) around 10-30%, improving the soil fertility and reducing dosage of urea fertilizer as much as 15-30% and SP-36 as much as 30%

Serine Protease Variants Encoded by Echis ocellatus Venom Gland cDNA: Cloning and Sequencing Analysis

Envenoming by Echis saw-scaled viper is the leading cause of death and morbidity in Africa due to snake bite. Despite its medical importance, there have been few investigations into the toxin composition of the venom of this viper. Here, we report the cloning of cDNA sequences encoding four groups or isoforms of the haemostasis-disruptive Serine protease proteins (SPs) from the venom glands of Echis ocellatus. All these SP sequences encoded the cysteine residues scaffold that form the 6-disulphide bonds responsible for the characteristic tertiary structure of venom serine proteases. All the Echis ocellatus EoSP groups showed varying degrees of sequence similarity to published viper venom SPs. However, these groups also showed marked intercluster sequence conservation across them which were significantly different from that of previously published viper SPs. Because viper venom SPs exhibit a high degree of sequence similarity and yet exert profoundly different effects on the mammalian haemostatic system, no attempt was made to assign functionality to the new Echis ocellatus EoSPs on the basis of sequence alone. The extraordinary level of interspecific and intergeneric sequence conservation exhibited by the Echis ocellatus EoSPs and analogous serine proteases from other viper species leads us to speculate that antibodies to representative molecules should neutralise (that we will exploit, by epidermal DNA immunization) the biological function of this important group of venom toxins in vipers that are distributed throughout Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent

Deterministic seismic hazard assessment for Sultanate of Oman

The Sultanate of Oman forms the southeastern part of the Arabian plate, which is surrounded by relatively high active tectonic zones. Studies of seismic risk assessment in Oman have been an important on-going socioeconomic concern. Using the results of the seismic hazard assessment to improve building design and construction is an effective way to reduce the seismic risk. In the current study, seismic hazard assessment for the Sultanate of Oman is performed through the deterministic approach with particular attention on the uncertainty analysis applying a recently developed method. The input data set contains a defined seismotectonic model consisting of 26 seismic zones, maximum magnitudes, and 6 alternative ground motion prediction equations that were used in four different tectonic environments: obduction zone earthquake (Zagros fold thrust belt), subduction zone earthquakes (Makran subduction zones), normal and strike-slip transform earthquakes (Owen and Gulf of Aden zones), and stable craton seismicity (Arabian stable craton). This input data set yielded a total of 76 scenarios at each point of interest. A 10 % probability that any of the 76 scenarios may exceed the largest median ground acceleration is selected. The deterministic seismic hazards in terms of PGA, 5 % damped spectral acceleration at 0.1, 0.2, 1.0 and 2.0 s are performed at 254 selected points. The ground motion was calculated at the 50th and 84th percentile levels for selected probability of exceeding the median value. The largest ground motion in the Sultanate of Oman is observed in the northeastern part of the country.Oman Ministerial Cabinet (Project 22409017

Probabilistic seismic hazard maps for the sultanate of Oman

This study presents the results of the first probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) in the framework of logic tree for Oman. The earthquake catalogue was homogenized, declustered, and used to define seismotectonic source model that characterizes the seismicity of Oman. Two seismic source models were used in the current study; the first consists of 26 seismic source zones, while the second is expressing the alternative view that seismicity is uniform along the entire Makran and Zagros zones. The recurrence parameters for all the seismogenic zones were determined using the doubly bounded exponential distribution except the zones of Makran, which were modelled using the characteristic distribution. Maximum earthquakes were determined and the horizontal ground accelerations in terms of geometric mean were calculated using ground-motion prediction relationships developed based upon seismic data obtained from active tectonic environments similar to those surrounding Oman. The alternative seismotectonic source models, maximum magnitude, and ground-motion prediction relationships were weighted and used to account for the epistemic uncertainty. Hazard maps at rock sites were produced for 5 % damped spectral acceleration (SA) values at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 1.0 and 2.0 s spectral periods as well as peak ground acceleration (PGA) for return periods of 475 and 2,475 years. The highest hazard is found in Khasab City with maximum SA at 0.2 s spectral period reaching 243 and 397 cm/s[superscript 2] for return periods 475 and 2,475 years, respectively. The sensitivity analysis reveals that the choice of seismic source model and the ground-motion prediction equation influences the results most.Oman Ministerial Cabinet (project number 22409017

Comparison of biocrude oil production from self-settling and non-settling microalgae biomass produced in the Qatari desert environment

The present study investigated the growth, harvesting, biocrude conversion, and recycling of the HTL aqueous phase for one self-settling (i.e., Chlorocystis sp.) and another non-settling (i.e., Picochlorum sp.) marine microalgae. Both the strains were grown simultaneously in 2 identical 25,000-L raceway ponds in the Qatari desert. The cell size of Picochlorum sp. was small (2–3 µm), and its biomass was harvested using a centrifuge. Cells of Chlorocystis sp. (6–9 µm) formed flocs that settled spontaneously in a sedimentation chamber. Harvested biomass of these two strains was then converted to biocrude oil, using a 500-mL Parr reactor. The biocrude yield of Picochlorum sp. and Chlorocystis sp. was 39.6 ± 1.15% and 34.8 ± 1.65%, respectively. The energy content of the biocrude oil was 32.78 and 33.38 MJ/kg for Chlorocystis sp. and Picochlorum sp., respectively. Both the strains were capable of efficiently utilizing more than 95% nitrogen of the HTL aqueous phase. Although lower biocrude yield was obtained from Chlorocystis sp., compared to Picochlorum sp., harvesting of Chlorocystis sp. would require much lower energy compared to Picochlorum sp. Therefore, a self-settling microalgae (e.g., Chlorocystis sp.) could potentially be a better candidate, over non-settling microalgae, for producing biofuel feedstock.Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF, a member of Qatar Foundation) for providing the funding (under Grant NPRP8-646-2-272) for this study. The authors appreciate the assistance of Ms. Noora (from ESE labs) and Dr. Ahmed (from CLU) for GC?MS and CHN analyses, respectively.Scopu

Seismic microzonation for Muscat region, Sultanate of Oman

Site characterization was carried out for Muscat region using the ambient noise measurements applying the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) technique and using active seismic survey utilizing the multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) of survey data. Microtremors measurements were carried out at 459 sites using short-period sensors. This extensive survey allowed the fundamental resonance frequency of the soft soil to be mapped and areas prone to site amplification to be identified. The results indicate a progressive decrease in the fundamental resonance frequencies from the southern and eastern parts, where the bedrock outcrops, toward the northern coast where a thickness of sedimentary cover is present. Shear wave velocity (Vs) was evaluated using the 2-D MASW at carefully selected 99 representative sites in Muscat. These 99 sites were investigated with survey lines of 52 m length. 1-D and interpolated 2-D profiles were generated up to a depth range 20–40 m. The vertical Vs soundings were used in the SHAKE91 software in combination with suitable seismic input strong motion records to obtain the soil effect. Most of the study area has amplification values less than 2.0 for all the considered spectral periods. The estimated fundamental frequencies obtained using the H/V spectral ratio method and using SHAKE91 are found to be in a relatively good agreement. Maps of spectral amplification, earthquake characteristics on the ground surface for peak ground and spectral accelerations at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 1.0, and 2.0 s, for 475 years return period are produced. The surface ground motion maps show that the hazard level is moderate with expected PGA in the range 0.059–0.145 g for 475 years return period.Oman Ministerial Cabinet (project # 22409017