A comparison of soil moisture characteristics predicted by the Arya-Paris model with laboratory-measured data

Soil moisture characteristics predicted by the Arya-Paris model were compared with the laboratory measured data for 181 New Jersey soil horizons. For a number of soil horizons, the predicted and the measured moisture characteristic curves are almost coincident; for a large number of other horizons, despite some disparity, their shapes are strikingly similar. Uncertainties in the model input and laboratory measurement of the moisture characteristic are indicated, and recommendations for additional experimentation and testing are made

Evaluation of fungal and bacterial antagonists' seed treatment for controlling damping-off disease in forest nurseries

Biological control potential of six well reported biocontrol agents, Trichomerma viride, T. harzianum, Gliocladium virens, Bacillus sp., B. subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens against Rhizoctonia solani, R. bataticola, Fusarium oxysporum, F. moniliformae, F. solani and Phythium aphanidermatum causing damping-off in forest nurseries was studied in vitro and under screen house conditions. In vitro evaluation of biocontrol agents by dual inoculation method revealed that P. fluorescens, Bacillus sp. and T. viride significantly inhibited mycelial growth of the damping-offfungi. In pot experiments, seed treatment of T. viride and P. fluorescens proved superior to other fungal and bacterial biocontrol agents in reducing damping off (pre and post emergence) incidence compared to untreated controls

Life and (non)Living: Technological and Human Conglomeration in Android Kunjappan Version 5.25

In post-modern society, we (humans) share our space with machines. Though there is no doubt in the efficiency of the machines there is always a doubt in their reason. Machines being programmed cannot exercise reason like humans. Their assistance is limited to the commands designed by the engineer. The Malayalam movie Android Kunjappan Version 5.25 pictures the limitations and advantages of one such robotic creation. The movie narrates the tale of an old man and his association with a robot which becomes his solace and companion. The film questions the association between humans and machines. It raises the fear of constructing and destroying the boundaries between the machine world and the human world. This article attempts to use the concept of cyborg introduced by Donna Haraway in ‘Cyborg Manifesto’; though Haraway uses the concept of a cyborg from a Feminist perspective, the paper attempts to look at the relationship between man and machine using the concept ‘cyborg’. This fusion of the living and non-living is sceptical and this anxiety is presented in the film. The film also captured the naivety of the commoners who are new to the monstrous world of machines. The paper’s primary aim is to list how cyborgs transgress the limitations set by society. Another objective is to discuss the anxieties of the post-modern world when technology and life hold hands. The article considers the film a futuristic art that leaves a message to the viewers; cyborgs will become an inevitable facet of the human world

Analysis of Land and Sea Temperatures Trend During 1985-2021 Period to Understand Local or Global Warming Effect in Bengkulu City

Global warming is a phenomenon where the earth's temperature rises drastically. The temperature increase causes negative impacts on the environment globally. Bengkulu City, Indonesia, is situated with a growing population and land-use change that may cause temperature rise. This research aimed to analyze the temperature change in the land and sea area of Bengkulu City. To understand the local or global factors influencing temperature changes in Bengkulu City, we also studied the correlation between land and sea temperatures. The temperature data were obtained from BMKG and NOAA PSL. Firstly, we analyzed the temperature trendlines for the last 36 years. Then we evaluated the coefficient determination (R2) value to determine the correlation between sea and land temperatures. The results show that during the last 36 years, the sea temperature is increased by 0.40 °C, while the land temperature is increased by 1.07 °C. Moreover, we found a relatively weak correlation between sea and land temperature, with a 10.7% correlation. We argued that the increased temperature in Bengkulu City land is associated with land change use and rising population in the last few decades, which means the local factor affected the land temperature changes. On the other hand, global phenomena (IOD and ENSO) influenced sea temperature changes, which means the global factor affected the sea temperature changes. The rising land temperature is relatively high; hence it is necessary to understand better what parameters are causing temperature changes that may affect the physical environment in Bengkulu, Indonesia

Interplanetary Transit Simulations Using the International Space Station

It has been suggested that the International Space Station (ISS) be utilized to simulate the transit portion of long-duration missions to Mars and near-Earth asteroids (NEA). The ISS offers a unique environment for such simulations, providing researchers with a high-fidelity platform to study, enhance, and validate technologies and countermeasures for these long-duration missions. From a space life sciences perspective, two major categories of human research activities have been identified that will harness the various capabilities of the ISS during the proposed simulations. The first category includes studies that require the use of the ISS, typically because of the need for prolonged weightlessness. The ISS is currently the only available platform capable of providing researchers with access to a weightless environment over an extended duration. In addition, the ISS offers high fidelity for other fundamental space environmental factors, such as isolation, distance, and accessibility. The second category includes studies that do not require use of the ISS in the strictest sense, but can exploit its use to maximize their scientific return more efficiently and productively than in ground-based simulations. In addition to conducting Mars and NEA simulations on the ISS, increasing the current increment duration on the ISS from 6 months to a longer duration will provide opportunities for enhanced and focused research relevant to long-duration Mars and NEA missions. Although it is currently believed that increasing the ISS crew increment duration to 9 or even 12 months will pose little additional risk to crewmembers, additional medical monitoring capabilities may be required beyond those currently used for the ISS operations. The use of the ISS to simulate aspects of Mars and NEA missions seems practical, and it is recommended that planning begin soon, in close consultation with all international partners

Accomplishments of the NASA Johnson Space Center portion of the soil moisture project in fiscal year 1981

The NASA/JSC ground scatterometer system was used in a row structure and row direction effects experiment to understand these effects on radar remote sensing of soil moisture. Also, a modification of the scatterometer system was begun and is continuing, to allow cross-polarization experiments to be conducted in fiscal years 1982 and 1983. Preprocessing of the 1978 agricultural soil moisture experiment (ASME) data was completed. Preparations for analysis of the ASME data is fiscal year 1982 were completed. A radar image simulation procedure developed by the University of Kansas is being improved. Profile soil moisture model outputs were compared quantitatively for the same soil and climate conditions. A new model was developed and tested to predict the soil moisture characteristic (water tension versus volumetric soil moisture content) from particle-size distribution and bulk density data. Relationships between surface-zone soil moisture, surface flux, and subsurface moisture conditions are being studied as well as the ways in which measured soil moisture (as obtained from remote sensing) can be used for agricultural applications

The Design, Development and Validation of a Persuasive Content Generator

This paper addresses the automatic generation of persuasive content to influence users’ attitude and behaviour. Our research extends current approaches by leveraging individuals’ social media profiles and activity to personalize the persuasive content. Unlike most other implemented persuasive technology, our system is generic and can be adapted to any domain where collections of electronic text are available. Using the Yale Attitude Change approach, we describe: the multi-layered Pyramid of Individualization model; the design, development, and validation of integrated software that can generate individualized persuasive content based on a user’s social media profile and activity. Results indicate the proposed system can create personalized information that (a) matches readers’ interests, (b) is tailored to their ability to understand the information, and (c) is supported by trustable sources

Measurement of turbulence in three-dimensional mean flow

CER68-69SPSA-JEC30.April 1969.Includes bibliographical references.Prepared under Office of Naval Research, project no. NR 062-414/6-6-68(Code 438), U.S. Department of Defense.A hot-wire anemometer for measuring turbulence in three-dimensional mean flow is presented. Effect of three-dimensionality of mean flow on a yawed wire's sensitivity to longitudinal, vertical and lateral fluctuations is brought out. A four-wire probe is shown to be suitable for measuring all the Dean flow and turbulent quantities of interest. Errors due to the cross flow component on turbulence measurements in two dimensional flows using conventional hot-wire techniques are estimated. Measurements of shear are shown to be very sensitive to even small amounts of cross flow that might be present in many laboratory and field flows of interest.Under contract no. N00014-68-A-0493-0001