Biochar Impacts on Soil Health, and Plant Growth. A case study of smallholder farms in Malawi.

Biochar, a promising soil amendment, has gained attention in Malawi as a sustainable solution for enhancing agricultural practices among smallholder farmers. This study investigates the diverse impacts of biochar application on soil health, plant growth, and inquires about environmental remediation in smallholder farms of Malawi. Beginning with a comprehensive literature review, the research examines biochar properties, applications, and underlying mechanisms that drive its effects on soil quality and early plant performance. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study integrates quantitative soil sample data and qualitative interview data to comprehensively understand the multifaceted advantages of biochar application on Malawian smallholder farms. Thematic analysis of qualitative data reveals perceived benefits, including enhanced soil fertility, improved water management, pest control, and increased crop yields. Quantitative analysis compares soil samples against established soil quality standards and agricultural guidelines. Results indicate that biochar application treatments generally yield favorable outcomes. For instance, the "Maize+Biochar+Manure" treatment in Nkhatabay shows higher levels of organic carbon (1.69%), aligning with the recommended range of 1% - 5% for improved soil fertility. Additionally, biochar application leads to elevated cation exchange capacity (CEC) levels. In the "Maize+Biochar" treatment at the Lilongwe farm, CEC levels reach 0.72 meq/100g, demonstrating enhanced nutrient retention capacity. Conversely, the "No Biochar" treatment in Lilongwe exhibits lower organic carbon levels (0.99%) and suggests poor soil fertility potential. These quantitative findings corroborate qualitative observations, highlighting biochar's potential to positively influence soil health and agricultural productivity. Drawing upon integrated qualitative and quantitative data, the study underscores biochar's transformative role in promoting sustainable agriculture. By recognizing both benefits and challenges, this research contributes to the knowledge base on sustainable agricultural practices and advocates for widespread biochar adoption in Malawi's smallholder farming systems. The study concludes with evidence-based recommendations that guide effective biochar implementation for farmers, policymakers, and stakeholders. Emphasizing soil health, crop productivity, and environmental factors, these recommendations offer valuable insights for enhancing food security, mitigating environmental degradation, and uplifting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers amid climate change and resource limitations

The Development of an Integrated Computing Platform for Measuring, Predicting and Analyzing Profile-specific Fixity of Railway Tracks

The current measures for railway track fixity in the UK’s railway remain at a relatively low level of granularity. This paper presents a pilot proof-of-concept study on the development of an integrated computing framework for improving the measurement, prediction, and analysis of profile-specific track fixity in the context of the UK’s rail network. The framework is aimed to produce a data integration and mining tool, which can determine track fixity parameters for any given section of track. In this study, we propose to measure track movement based on point cloud data and assess the track fixity by a set of parameters such as the direction and rate of the track movement relative to the plane of rail within a certain period. We seek to integrate a data mining algorithm into the framework to predict these parameters, given vast amounts of disparate and heterogeneous data of potential influencing factors in the area. From the study, we have developed a prototype framework, which allows the rapid implementation of data workflows with the necessary functionality. The feasibility of the prototype was demonstrated by training a random forest model on real data from an approximately 80-kilometer section of the East Coast Main Line, southeast of Edinburgh, Scotland. The modelling results indicate that curvature, cant, and maximum speed of trains are among the key factors that impact on, and are critical for predicting and analyzing, the profile-specific track fixity

A Procedure for Developing a Carcass Merit Program for the Pork Industry

A stratified sample of 420 market hogs representing the seven 10- pound incremental carcass weight classes from 140 lbs. to 210 lbs. , and the nine last rib back fat classes from less than .8 inches to 1.5 inches, or greater, within each weight class were analyzed to determine carcass value and yield of wholesale cuts. Simple correlation coefficients were calculated between each of the carcass measurements. The carcass yield data were manipulated by multiple regression procedures to achieve a series of equations for predicting the weights of the primal cuts. The benefits of being able to predict the weights of the primal cuts were discussed. A procedure for developing a premium/discount matrix was explained . The formulae for developing the matrix were explained. The necessary assumptions were also explored. A procedure for evaluating a premium/discount matrix was developed. The impact of an industry-wide carcass merit program was discussed

An experimental and theoretical study of transient negative ions in Mg, Zn, Cd and Hg

A range of experimental and theoretical techniques have been applied to the study of transient negative ions (resonances) formed in electron scattering from the Group II metals Mg, Zn, Cd, and Hg at incident electron energies below the first ionization potential. A wealth of resonance structures have been observed and from the experimental observations and theoretical information, classifications are proposed for some of these negative ion states

Direct Analysis of the Broad-Line SN 2019ein: Connection with the Core-Normal SN 2011fe

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are important cosmological probes and contributors to galactic nucleosynthesis, particularly of the iron group elements. To improve both their reliability as cosmological probes and to understand galactic chemical evolution, it is vital to understand the binary progenitor system and explosion mechanism. The classification of SNe Ia into Branch groups has led to some understanding of the similarities and differences among the varieties of observed SNe Ia. However, partly due to small sample size, little work has been done on the broad-line or 02bo group. We perform direct spectral analysis on the pre-maximum spectra of the broad-line SN 2019ein and compare and contrast it to the core-normal SN~2011fe. Both SN 2019ein and SN 2011fe were first observed spectroscopically within two days of discovery, allowing us to follow the spectroscopic evolution of both supernovae in detail. We find that the optical depths of the primary features of both the CN and BL supernovae are very similar, except that there is a velocity shift between them. We further examine the SN 2002bo-like subclass and show that for nine objects with pre-maximum spectra in the range -6 -- -2 days with respect to B-maximum all the emission peaks of the Si II {\lambda}6355 line of BL are blueshifted pre-maximum, making this a simple classification criterion.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

E-tracers:development of a low cost wireless technique for exploring sub-surface hydrological systems

This briefing describes the first deployment of a new electronic tracer (E-tracer) for obtaining along-flowpath measurements in subsurface hydrological systems. These low-cost, wireless sensor platforms were deployed into moulins on the Greenland Ice Sheet. After descending into the moulin, the tracers travelled through the subglacial drainage system before emerging at the glacier portal. They are capable of collecting along-flowpath data from the point of injection until detection. The E-tracers emit a radio frequency signal, which enables sensor identification, location and recovery from the proglacial plain. The second generation of prototype E-tracers recorded water pressure, but the robust sensor design provides a versatile platform for measuring a range of parameters, including temperature and electrical conductivity, in hydrological environments that are challenging to monitor using tethered sensors

First-principles GW-BSE excitations in organic molecules

We present a first-principles method for the calculation of optical excitations in nanosystems. The method is based on solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) for neutral excitations. The electron self-energy is evaluated within the GW approximation, with dynamical screening effects described within time-dependent density-functional theory in the adiabatic, local approximation. This method is applied to two systems: the benzene molecule, C$_6$H$_6$, and azobenzene, C$_{12}$H$_{10}$N$_2$. We give a description of the photoisomerization process of azobenzene after an $n-\pi^\star$ excitation, which is consistent with multi-configuration calculations

Cold-atom shaping with MEMS scanning mirrors

We demonstrate the integration of micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) scanning mirrors as active elements for the local optical pumping of ultra-cold atoms in a magneto-optical trap. A pair of MEMS mirrors steer a focused resonant beam through a cloud of trapped atoms shelved in the \textit{F}=1 ground-state of \textsuperscript{87}Rb for spatially-selective fluorescence of the atom cloud. Two-dimensional control is demonstrated by forming geometrical patterns along the imaging axis of the cold atom ensemble. Such control of the atomic ensemble with a microfabricated mirror pair could find applications in single atom selection, local optical pumping and arbitrary cloud shaping. This approach has significant potential for miniaturisation and in creating portable control systems for quantum optic experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Murray Valley encephalitis: a review of clinical features, diagnosis and treatment

Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is a mosquito-borne virus that is found across Australia, Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya. MVEV is endemic to northern Australia and causes occasional outbreaks across south-eastern Australia. 2011 saw a dramatic increase in MVEV activity in endemic regions and the re-emergence of MVEV in south-eastern Australia. This followed significant regional flooding and increased numbers of the main mosquito vector, Culex annulirostris, and was evident from the widespread seroconversion of sentinel chickens, fatalities among horses and several cases in humans, resulting in least three deaths. The last major outbreak in Australia was in 1974, during which 58 cases were identified and the mortality rate was about 20%. With the potential for a further outbreak of MVEV in the 2011–2012 summer and following autumn, we highlight the importance of this disease, its clinical characteristics and radiological and laboratory features. We present a suspected but unproven case of MVEV infection to illustrate some of the challenges in clinical management. It remains difficult to establish an early diagnosis of MVEV infection, and there is a lack of proven therapeutic options