bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extraction of Road Network in Urban Area from Orthophoto Using Deep Learning and Douglas-Peucker Post-Processing Algorithm
Authors: Bimanjaya Alfian , Handayani Hepi Hapsari , Rachmadi Reza Fuad
Published: January 2023

A Large-scale base map is needed by metropolitan cities such as Surabaya City for urban planning and smart city development. The most needed information from a large-scale base map is road geospatial information. Road network extraction is a challenging task for many reasons, including the heterogeneous attribute of the geometry and spectral, the complexity of objects that are difficult to model, and poor sensor data. Visual interpretation by operators is still a commonly used approach for extracting information from orthophoto. Interpretation accuracy depends on the skill and experience of the operator. So, there can be inconsistencies in the data generated by different operators. In recent years, the automatic extraction of road from orthophoto or VHR image has become an important and challenging research issue. Many recent studies have explored deep learning to improve the quality of building and road extraction. In this study, we applied a Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (Mask R-CNN) model for the road network extraction using orthophoto in urban area in Surabaya City. The quality of the extracted geometry needs to be improved. Several post-processing strategies, including polygon regularization using Douglas-Peucker algorithm and polygon smoothing are designed to achieve optimal extraction results. The method produces a good performance for road extraction, the precision is 90.28%; recall 85.85%; F1-score 88.01%; and IoU 78.59%; and the overall accuracy is 95.25% and the kappa value is 90.5%.
Morphological characterization and seed production of Moringa oleifera Lam. mother tree in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara
Authors: Setiadi A , Hardiyanti S , Hati D P , Erwinda
Published: January 2023

Moringa oleifera Lam. is the Moringaceae family that is becoming popular in Indonesia as a food, medicine, and cosmetics source. Developing moringa plants in the community is difficult because there is no source of moringa seeds. However, the moringa mother tree from population selection has high productivity, known genetics, and is pests and diseases free. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and characterize the moringa plant population. The research has conducted in Selengan Village, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara Province, in June 2021. The study aims to determine the selected mother tree, observe morphological characters, and calculate seed production per year. First, a survey method explored selected moringa mother trees. Then, observations of morphological characters were on quantitative and qualitative characters. Finally, potential seed production had carried out to estimate the seed production in population per year. The results showed that there have 38 mother trees that have high-yielding seed production. Furthermore, because the moringa population was from one seed source, the morphological population of the mother tree has the same characteristics. Therefore, the potential for moringa seed production was around 624,034 moringa seeds per year.
The role of bromelain extraction waste product application for intensive land management practice
Authors: Rizki Rachmani Alfina , Sialagan Ruhut , Firdaus Danial , Purwakusuma Wahyu
Published: January 2023

An intensive land management practice, especially, when related to long-live perennial crops such as pineapples, may lead to acute soil organic matter content depletion. However, incorporation of organic matter into soil in the middle of the planting season is not possible due to massive plant density. The application of bromelain extraction waste product as resistant organic matter resources might answer the problem. A set of experiments consisting of 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 tons/ha of bromelain waste, based on a case study at PT Great Giant Pineapple Plantation, Lampung, has been done to indicate its role in increasing soil physical quality. After being incubated for 5 months, the application of bromelain showed more stable soil particle aggregation through the slake test. Soil aggregate stability is getting better with the higher rate of bromelain waste application. Soil shear strength is negatively correlated to the rate of bromelain waste, where the higher rate of bromelain waste application, the lower the soil shear strength. Soil sensitivity is carried out to determine the potential loss of soil strength because of remoulding. It indicates a decrease in shear sensitivity following the increasing rate of bromelain waste.
Potential application of spinetoram as an alternative insecticide for controlling oil palm bagworm Mahasena corbetti
Authors: Priwiratama H , Rozziansha T A P , Prasetyo A E
Published: January 2023

Trunk injection of acephate has been a gold standard for controlling the bagworm population in oil palm plantations. Not only poses a detrimental effect on the palm, but the continuous application of acephate also increases the risk of resistance. An efficacy test was conducted to determine the effect of spinetoram as an alternative insecticide against oil palm bagworm Mahasena corbetti. The efficacy test was conducted following a randomized block design using six application concentrations, i.e., 0, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 mg/L (active ingredient [a.i.]) with ten replications. The application used a spraying volume of 400 L per hectare area. Application of acephate at 1.5 g/L (a.i.) was conducted as a comparison. Spinetoram showed a comparable result to acephate in killing M. corbetti. At the lowest concentration, spinetoram caused mortality up to 68.49% three days after application (DAA) which increased to 97.11% at 14 DAA. Overall, spinetoram has great potential to be used as an alternative insecticide to acephate.
Physiological characteristics and effectiveness of some trichoderma isolates against fusarium basal rot of shallot
Authors: Wiyono S , Russianzi W , Mursyidi H H , Khamidi T
Published: January 2023

Trichoderma is one of the fungal biological agents used to control fusarium basal rot disease on shallot. The use of Trichoderma sp. can reduce the negative impact on the environment and humans due to the use of synthetic chemical fungicides. This study aimed to characterize the physiological characteristics of some Trichoderma sp. and assess the potential in controlling Fusarium oxysporum on shallot. This research consisted of various tests, such as phosphate solubilization, chitinolytic activity, antibiosis, IAA production, and growth promoting tests, including germination percentage, plant height, and root length. There were eight isolates of Trichoderma originating from various species of plants in the field. They were T. hamatum 1, T. hamatum 2, T. asperellum, T. harzianum, T. pseudokoningii, Trichoderma rice, Trichoderma T01, and Trichoderma T02. All isolates did not react positively to the indole acetic acid (IAA) and antibiosis tests. Conversely, all isolates showed a positive reaction in the chitinolytic activity, except T. hamatum. Isolates Trichoderma T01 and Trichoderma T02 reacted positively to phosphate dissolution. Trichoderma T02 had the best germination rate and plant height compared to all isolates, with values of 90% and 6.00 ± 0.96, respectively. Trichoderma rice has the best root length compared to all isolates 8.
Population dynamics of brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens stall and arthropod diversity on rice ecosystem with returned straw and different spectrum of insecticides
Authors: Prabowo DP , Hidayat P , Wiyono S , Dadang
Published: January 2023

The natural ecosystem of lowland rice in Indonesia is rich in biodiversity. However, high-intensity insecticide accompanied by a lack of organic matter in the form of straw returned to the fields causes the fragile agroecosystem, decreasing the abundance and species diversity of natural enemies, causing a broken food chain, and the tremendous potential for the outbreak of rice pests. Need study to understand the impact of returned straw and different insecticide spectrums on the diversity and abundance of arthropods and the brown planthopper (BPH) in rice fields. The experiment was located in Ciwaringin, Lemahabang, Karawang, West Java, during the rainy season from January-April 2022.The field trial was conducted under a split-plot design consisting of two main plots: rice field with and without returned straw and three subplots: without insecticide, fipronil as insecticide broad-spectrum, and triflumezopyrim as insecticide narrow-spectrum. The first insecticide was applied at an economic threshold level. Arthropods were sampled biweekly by systematically using a vacuum and insect nets. Population observation of BPH was done weekly until one week before harvest. The result showed that there are 40 morphospecies, 29 families, and 9 orders of arthropods. Based on the functional roles, there were 48.6% pests, 19.2% predators, 5.8% parasitoids, and 26.4% other role arthropods. Plots with returned straw showed a 5.4% higher abundance and diversity of arthropods than those with unreturned straw. The plot treated with triflumezopyrim showed a significantly lower population of the BPH than the plot treated with fipronil and was similar arthropod diversity to the untreated plot. In conclusion, returning straw to the paddy fields provides many ecological and economic benefits.
Seed-borne Fungi of Pinus tecunumanii Seeds in Tanzania
Authors: Macha D F , Wiyono S , Tondok E T
Published: January 2023

Seed health is an important attribute to be taken care of since it is from a healthy seed that a healthy plant is regenerated. Seed-borne fungi are among the severe pathogens causing significant losses in the quantity and quality of Pinus seeds. Fungi reduce seedling vigor and low seed germination to disease. The study aimed to detect and identify seed-borne fungus in certified and uncertified Pinus tecunumanii seeds in Iringa area. The research was conducted from January to May 2022. Seed samples were collected from four seed lots: Mafinga, Kilolo, Makungu, and the Private Forestry Programme (PFP). The blotter test method was used to grow seed-borne fungi. For identification, a compound microscope was used to look at the formed fungal colonies. The percentages of pure seeds from PFP were higher at (99%) than those collected from Kilolo (95%), Mafinga (94.5%), and Makungu (91.5%). PFP seeds had the highest germination percentage (94.75%), followed by Kilolo (91.75%), Mafinga (91.25%), and Makungu (89.25%). The highest frequency of Fusarium spp. was observed in PFP (65%), followed by Makungu (48.04%), Kilolo (47.67%), and the lowest was Mafinga (43.75%). The frequency of Aspergillus niger was highest in Makungu (34.31%), Mafinga (32.29%), Kilolo (29.07%), and PFP (20.48%), while the frequency of Rhizopus spp. was higher in Makungu (5.88%), followed by Kilolo (5.81%), and Mafinga (5.20%). There was no occurrence of Rhizopus spp. in PFP. Moreover, the incidences were higher in non-certified seeds than in certified seeds. The research will help to sustainably produce high-quality seeds for the growth of pinus trees in forests and nurseries.
Urban gardening for mitigating heat island effect
Authors: Humaida N , Saputra M H , Sutomo  , Hadiyan Y
Published: January 2023

Excess anthropogenic CO2in the atmosphere above urban areas can create an isolated heat island closely related to dense cities. Adding more green spaces may be strenuous because of the lack of public spaces. The upgrowth of the human population, along with anthropogenic activities, is the critical factor that escalates the effect of the urban heat island. However, they could be the most prominent resources to decrease it by utilizing community gardens or their private land as a functional green space. This paper is a literature study to determine the importance of urban gardening for heat island mitigation. We also conducted a spatial analysis to measure land surface temperature to understand the benefit of urban gardens for dense cities. Based on the previous studies, promoting urban gardening to the citizens can be an effective strategy to increase the green space proportion to meet the requirement for a healthy urban environment. Urban gardens help reduce the heat island effect by creating thermal comfort, reducing flood risk and water runoff, and conserving energy for building architects. This paper also recommends strategic plans for policymakers to achieve practical urban gardening as an urban heat island mitigation strategy.
Study of climbing plant growth on different types of vertical structure
Authors: Dilla Putri Mitha Novia , Nasrullah Nizar , Khrisrachmansyah Rezky
Published: January 2023

Various climbing plants can be selected as an element in the vertical greenery system. However, it should consider the species’ suitability to climb any vertical structure. This study aims to analyze the growth rates of several climbing plants in a vertical plane at different hole sizes of a wire mesh. The experimental design used in this experiment was a split-plot factorial randomized block design that consisted of two factors with three replications. The species factor consisted of Antigonon leptosus Hook, Clerodendrum thomsomniae Balf. f, and Thunbergia grandiflora Roxb., while the mesh (hole) size factor consisted of 4 cm and 6 cm. Galvanized wire mesh was used as a vertical plane, while the plane dimension in each experimental unit was 3 m in height and 0.5 m in width. The research results found the best treatments obtained in the growth of A. leptopus in a mesh size of 4 cm. A combination of A. leptopus in a mesh size of 4 cm produced the highest value in plant height, the number of leaves, the percentage of plant coverage, and increasing of flowers number. T.grandiflora and C.thomsoniae ranked second and third in growth rate, respectively
Analysis of sustainability ranking of vanilla cultivation systems in West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Wahyudi A , Ermiati E , Sujianto S
Published: January 2023

The recent progression of vanilla production in Indonesia has been relatively slow, although vanilla prices were relatively high. The main factors inhibiting the progress are the threat of theft of vanilla fruits and incidents of vanilla stem rot disease, especially in West Java. Three cultivation systems are found in Indonesia: conventional, shade house, and greenhouse cultivation. The last two systems were intended to address both threats. This study analyzed the sustainability ranking of the three vanilla cultivation systems. Qualitative research was conducted to find the facts on how farmers decide to apply the cultivation systems, particularly in addressing the threats to achieving sustainability. Based on the facts of the vanilla cultivation conducted by farmers, the experts analyzed to sort the most sustainable cultivation from technical, economic, and environmental aspects. The data was obtained from experienced vanilla farmers and cultivation and economic experts through in-depth interviews and direct observation of farmers’ plantations. The result showed that the use of shade houses is the most sustainable vanilla cultivation because it can provide higher productivity and quality, is relatively safe from the threats of microenvironment settings, is more affordable, and is easier to maintain and control the disease.
Determination of fertilizer rate recommendations for chili (Capsicum annuum L.) fertigation through drip irrigation using ferads (decision support system) in precision agriculture
Authors: Susila AD , Suketi K
Published: January 2023

Location-specific fertilization rate recommendations are important for precision agriculture. This study aims to validate chili pepper fertilization recommendations in the field based on Ferads, a computer application program that is used to determine fertilizer recommendations for vegetable crops based on soil analysis. Two chili pepper varieties (Imola and Ori) were grown in Inceptisol soil with available content of 4.8 ppm P (very low), 44.2 ppm K (moderate), 1.53% organic C, and pH 6.46. Experiments were conducted at Cikarawang Field Station, IPB (250 m asl), from July to December 2021, set up in RCBD with four replicates and five fertilization rates. Nutrigads automatic fertigation machine was used for delivering fertilization treatment. The Imola variety obtained a quadratic response on marketable and total fruit weight per ha, with the line of equation Y = -1460.1x2 +2316.3x+5951.3, R²=0.3168, and Y=-3025.6x2 + 4272.2x + 12032; R² = 0.4237, with the optimum rate of x = 0.7931, and x= 0.7060, respectively. The prediction for the Imola variety was higher than the on field conditions, hence the Ferads fertilization recommendations are to be multiplied by 70%-79% for optimal implementation on farmers’ land. The Ferads rate had no effect on Ori variety, therefore, recommended rate is 100%.
Digital Water Services using Digital Twin paradigm
Authors: Ciliberti Francesco G. , Berardi Luigi , Laucelli Daniele B. , Giustolisi Orazio
Published: January 2023

In the last years, the digital transition concept has spread all over public and private life as a process designed for improving problem solving in industry by the combination of models, information, and connectivity technologies. In the Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) management sector, the innovations in the areas of ICT/IoT, virtual representation of infrastructure elements in GIS/BIM platforms and the advancements in hydraulic modelling offer the opportunity to open a new era for water engineering. Nonetheless, a unique consensus about the digital transformation meaning in WDNs management is still missing. In this paper a recent paradigm for the digital transformation for WDNs is exposed and further extended, starting from the concept of Digital Twin for WDNs management. It encompasses the virtual representation of features and devices of the network integrated with advanced hydraulic modelling and Artificial Intelligence for supporting WDNs management tasks. The WDN Digital Twin is used within tools, named Digital Water Services (DWSs), working on GIS platforms. DWSs are conceived to support distinct phases of WDNs management by improving engineering awareness on technical decisions. Several DWSs, previously adopted for real WDNs management and planning, are here presented, as support tools for technicians and water utilities for achieving short-term and long-term management tasks.
Monitoring planning for urban drainage networks
Authors: Simone Antonietta , Cesaro Alessandra , Cristo Cristiana Di , Fecarotta Oreste , Morani Maria Cristina
Published: January 2023

Urban drainage network (UDN) monitoring is an important task whose planning can be related to various purposes, as for example contaminant detection and epidemiological studies. This paper proposes two different strategies for the identification of a monitoring system for UDNs. The optimal solution, in terms of location and number of sensors, is firstly addressed using a deterministic approach. A new mathematical model is developed and a global optimization solver is employed to perform the optimization procedure. Secondly, the position of devices is also investigated using a new strategy based on the complex network theory (CNT) tools. The comparison between the results achieved by both the strategies is finally presented with reference to a benchmark network.
Added value of deterministic models in Decision Support Systems
Authors: Gourbesville Philippe
Published: January 2023

Management of water uses requests to harmonize demands and needs which are getting more and more complex and sophisticated especially with the growing urbanization. Modern cities request a larger number of services for their inhabitants and expect, at the same time, to limit investments to constrain the tax pressure. The need of optimization appears at various levels and request the wide spread of monitoring strategies. At the same time, urban growth mobilizes last available spaces that are frequently under the thread of natural hazards like inundations. Decisions Supports Systems that may integrated various components both for real-time monitoring and forecast through model, appear as one of the most relevant answers to the urban environment management’s expectations. The model’s integration is a challenging task that requests to build a global vision that ensures both technical feasibility and sustainability. As demonstrated with the AquaVar approach implemented in several catchments on the French Riviera, several deterministic models can be orchestrated within a single environment that can address the diversity of the water related issues handled by local technical services. The model’s selection must integrate the evolution of the tools and the possibility to integrate gradually new approaches and methods that are more data oriented and using the results produced from the implemented deterministic tools. The recent extreme events recorded in October 2020 during the ALEX storm and the disaster within the Vésubie valley have underlined the interest of the deterministic tools. In fact, those models are the only solutions that can produce a meaningful estimation of the extreme hydrological processes and deliver the expected results to decision makers.
Introduction of integrated decision support system for flood disaster management
Authors: Hsu Hao-Ming , Gourbesville Philippe
Published: January 2023

Heavy precipitation events and fluvial flood can cause serious damage to property and fatality, and thus flood disaster management is essential to lower the risk, to prevent and to mitigate the crisis. Effective and efficient flood disaster management requires on-site information, forecast and appropriate corresponding response strategies and measures. Therefore, a concept of integrated decision support system (DSS) for flood disaster management is proposed and discussed in this paper. The DSS integrates observation, rainfall forecast, fast flood simulation, historical events and crisis scenarios, and response strategies and measures, by means of information and communication technology (ICT) and internet of things (IoT). The DSS can provide relevant information and offer suggestions of action before and during the crisis. The DSS can also be utilised for disaster drill, education, and demonstration with the help of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) or Metaverse technology. The aims of this DSS are to improve existing response strategies and emergency services, to enhance the community-based disaster risk management, and to raise public crisis awareness.
Integrated modelling approach for flood forecasting in small Mediterranean catchment – Application to the Cagne Catchment, France
Authors: Wang Mingyan , Game Paguédame , Gourbesville Philippe
Published: January 2023

The French Mediterranean region is vulnerable to flooding caused by extreme rainstorm events. To better predict floods and anticipate consequences, the technical managing services operating on the field need to analyze the hydrological situation, receive accurate forecasts and issue alerts to the exposed population. Within this context, the various needed modelling tools are integrated within a common framework of a Decision Support System (DSS). This approach has been developed and implemented in the Cagne catchment located in the French Riviera. The Cagne catchment covers 96 km2 area and it is densely urbanized with high risks of inundation in the downstream area. The hydrological model MIKE SHE covers 96 km2 with a 20 m resolution. The river network is represented in a 1D MIKE 11 model by 18 branches and 1899 cross sections. The downstream area is covered with a high-resolution hydraulic model built with MIKE 21 FM. The model receives inputs from the hydrological model and can produce detailed inundation maps and forecasts. A major rainfall event observed from October to December 2020 is currently used as validation situation and the built modelling system has demonstrated its efficiency to reproduce the observed processes and to deliver the forecasts on due time.
Rainfall variability assessment in the hydrological catchment of Addis Ababa
Authors: Failla Giulia , Bianco Marcella Lo , Freni Gabriele , Beninati Gaetano
Published: January 2023

The Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) relationship is a key input for defining the hydrograph and peak flow discharge required for the hydraulic design. The IDF curves describe the relationship between rainfall intensity, rainfall duration, and return period. The objective of this study was to develop an accurate rainfall analysis in the Addis Ababa catchment. To compute reliable IDF curves, long rainfall data at fine time step scale and uniformly distributed are necessary. In Ethiopia, there is limited availability of data at sub-hourly and at spatial scales. To cope with these issues, (1) stochastic disaggregation techniques have been employed to disaggregate daily observed data into sub-hourly data and (2) to guarantee homogeneity in the project area, the merge of satellite data and observed gauged data have been considered. In this study, IDF curves have been computed for the entire hydrological catchment of Addis Ababa (~1430 km2). The results of the study include tabular and graphical presentation of IDF curves under changed climatic conditions, for return periods of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 years for the durations of 15,30 min and 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours.
Characteristics of line-shaped rainbands regarding duration, shape, and rainfall intensity in northern Japan using the Radar/Raingauge-Analyzed Precipitation Product
Authors: Ohya Yuta , Yamada Tomohito J
Published: January 2023

Line-shaped rainbands (LRBs), including Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs), stagnate on river basins and cause floods and landslides. Moreover, the frequency of LRBs is increasing around Hokkaido a part of northern Japan. Due to the complexity of the three-dimensional structures found in LRBs, some research dealt with two-dimensional observation data to identify them for the sake of simplicity. In previous studies, several methods to widely identify LRBs from radar rainfall data in terms of rainfall intensity, shape of rainfall area, and duration have been proposed. However, using the nationally consistent definition, the number of LRBs occurring in this region would be evaluated as very few due to the little rainfall climatology of this area. In this study, based on the previous studies, we adjust many combinations of threshold values, such as rainfall intensity, aspect ratio, and time duration in order to verify of validity the LRBs that occurred in northern Japan. The authors visually identified the six LRBs that caused the disaster and showed thresholds at which they were mechanically extractable by a computer program. The combination of thresholds that included at least six of those disaster-scale cases was “a rainfall area defined by a closed curve with a previous 3-hour rainfall of 40 mm or more, stagnating for 2 hours or more (covering 40% or more of its area), and with a maximum aspect ratio of 2.5 or more.”
Numerical simulations of flow over a side weir for diversion structures and water intakes
Authors: Nistoran Daniela-Elena Gogoaşe , Simionescu Ştefan-Mugur , Cîrciumaru Gabriela , Chihaia Rareş-Andrei
Published: January 2023

Side weirs are hydraulic structures used to divert the excess flow from a main channel into a lateral one at diversion structures or intakes, in order to control the water surface elevation or reroute part of the discharge. Flow over a side weir is considered to be a typical case of spatially varied flow, with decreasing discharge along the main channel and varying water surface elevation along the lateral crest. The objective of the paper is to apply various numerical modelling approximations (1D, 2D and 3D) using HEC-RAS and ANSYS Fluent software to virtually reproduce the flow characteristics over the side weir along the diversion canal of the Valea Iasului hydropower plant (HPP), on Argeş River (Romania). Different geometries, mesh types and sizes and the appropriate initial and boundary conditions are used for two HPP operating scenarios (fully functional and completely shut down). The water surface elevation profile along the weir crest is computed, together with a qualitative comparison between the shape of the simulated flow nappe and in-situ visualizations. Quantitative results from the numerical simulation cases are given in terms of the computed upstream and downstream weir rating curves.
Experimental and numerical investigations of the jetting regime
Authors: Tanase Nicoleta-Octavia , Rasuceanu Ioana , Balan Corneliu
Published: January 2023

In this paper we highlight the first stages of liquid injection through a capillary nozzle prior to the jet formation regime. We emphasize the asymmetry of water-air interface at the beginning of the injection of liquid and the axial symmetry which follows when the jet is fully formed. Numerical simulations are performed in order to estimate the relaxation of the velocity distribution of the liquid as it leaves the capillary nozzle. The plug flow condition for low-viscosity liquid jets is investigated in relation with the parabolic velocity distribution in the nozzle. The numerical data is also used to characterize the flow during the drop formation and pinch-off, both driven by the action of surface tension.
A multi-utility and dynamic approach for the upgrade of an aged water distribution network
Authors: Minaei Amin , Creaco Enrico , Sitzenfrei Robert
Published: January 2023

Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) along with other utilities are among the most important assets in every industrialized society. The rehabilitation and upgrade of WDNs refer to a very complex and multi-criteria problem which needs a comprehensive decision support system providing optimal renewal plans for the asset managers. There is a multitude of real-world problems faced with such activities. In this regard, this study aims to propose a novel method to cope with three practical challenges in WDNs rehabilitation activities including 1-budget limitation, 2- hydraulic deficiency and 3- correlation of WDNs with other infrastructures bringing the risk of cascading failures to a multiplex network. This results in a multi-objective optimization problem with three objectives which are cost, hydraulic and decoupled reliabilities. The problem is solved dynamically with the contribution of a nature inspired optimization algorithm, the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II). The method is applied to a deteriorated water pipe network, and the results are compared with the ones obtained only by the consideration of two objectives, costs and hydraulic reliability showing how much the objectives are conflicted with each other.
A flexible, leak crew focused localization model using a maximum coverage search area algorithm
Authors: Snider Brett , Lewis Gareth , Chen Albert , Vamvakeridou Lydia , Savić Dragan
Published: January 2023

Buried watermains are deteriorating and pipe failure is increasing in many cities. In response, advanced leak location models have been developed to help identify where a leak is occurring – which allows utilities to react quickly to pipe bursts and reduce the impact of the leak. This paper develops a new leak location model that is designed to identify optimal search areas for leak crews using a random forest classification model and the maximum coverage location problem algorithm. The model, when compared with other machine learning and clustering localization predictions, reduces the search space by over 35%, allowing utilities to confirm leak location and mitigate its impact more efficiently. The new model is also highly customizable, able to adjust the number of search areas and search size quickly and easily to meet leak crews’ requirements.
Topological analysis of water distribution networks for optimal leak localization
Authors: Alves Débora , Blesa Joaquim , Duviella Eric , Rajaoarisoa Lala
Published: January 2023

This paper introduces two methodologies to provide an optimum sensor deployment layout, one based on a model-based approach and the other entirely data-driven. The first method is formulated as an integer optimization problem, an optimization criterion consisting of minimizing the average topological distance. The second method is a new methodology to provide an optimum sensor placement regarding how many sensors to install without using hydraulic information but just exploiting the knowledge of the topology of the Water Distribution Networks. The method uses the Girvan-Newman clustering algorithm to ensure complete coverage of the network and the study of the installation of pressure sensors in the central nodes of each group, selected according to different metrics of topological centrality. The approach is illustrated in the Modena network.
WDN-tailored Complex Network Centrality Metrics for water distribution networks domain analysis
Authors: Ciliberti Francesco G , Berardi Luigi , Laucelli Daniele B , Mauro Giuseppe , Giustolisi Orazio
Published: January 2023

Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) are spatially organized infrastructures, whose hydraulic behavior greatly depends on their connectivity properties, i.e., the topological domain. The Complex Network Theory (CNT) provides a wide range of useful functions and metrics that have been tailored for identifying WDNs behavior, even before using hydraulic models. This work exploits the recent studies on the WDN domain, which couple the CNT metrics of centrality tailored for WDN with the intrinsic relevance of the spatial elements of the networks. The study accounts for various combinations of metrics and intrinsic relevance functions aimed at supporting WDN analysis for operational and management tasks. A Digital Water Service (DWS) is used to enable technicians and water companies to replicate the same domain analysis in the ongoing context of digital transformation in WDN sector.
Review of leakage detection in water distribution networks
Authors: Negm Ahmed , Ma Xiandong , Aggidis George
Published: January 2023

The conservation of water is, justifiably, a huge concern to water companies, regulatory bodies, environmentalist and more but, unfortunately, water loss through leakage can remain undetected for long periods of time without effective leakage detection. Leakage detection in water distribution networks has taken many forms through investigating varying properties of leakage. Understanding the characteristic leakage types and properties introduces the different emerging technologies. Even though some methodologies have gained popularity in the past decade, the need to establish a complete, economical leakage detection solution that effectively identifies background leakage as well as burst events persists. The benefits and limitations of the aforementioned technologies has often confused water utilities on adapting the most suitable method. Therefore, there is an arising need to classify and benchmark leakage detection practices. This paper reviews technologies in leakage detection contrasting hardware & software, intrusive & non-intrusive, steady state & transient, single & hybrid methods. A particular focus will be placed on scoping the projected direction of leakage detection and localisation. As anticipated, the various techniques refined over the last two decades introduce different capabilities, conditions, and constraints[1]. Assessing and comparing those methods will provide a deeper novel understanding of the research area thus paving the way for novel solutions.
AI-based validation of wastewater treatment plant sensor data using an open data exchange architecture
Authors: Seshan Siddharth , Vries Dirk , Duren Maarten van , Helm Alex van der , Poinapen Johann
Published: January 2023

Typically, within the context of treatment plant-wide data, the quality of data can be impacted by sensor faults, sensor calibration issues, fouling of and obstruction to the sensors and connectivity problems between sensors, actuators and the data management system, therefore hampering advanced data driven monitoring and control of (critical) water operations. Here, a smart data validation scheme is proposed that validates sensor data from a wastewater treatment plant and is tightly integrated with the open-source data exchange system called FIWARE, an EU supported framework. The data validation application and FIWARE setup are integrated, tested and deployed at the water utility, Waternet. The validation scheme is based on an anomaly detector using (statistical) threshold techniques and a data reconciliation part that aggregates deep learning based autoencoder model predictions whenever an anomaly is detected. The autoencoder models proved to have a high accuracy and good reconciliation performance considering the variability of the signal. Furthermore, (near) real-time validated and raw data signals are relayed towards a dashboard. Finally, the validated data can be used as a screening for data ingested by another AI-based model that enables monitoring and smart control of the wastewater treatment plant in order to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption while meeting effluent water quality standards.
Effect of start and stop cycles on hydropower plants: modelling the deterioration of the equipment to evaluate the cycling cost
Authors: Savin Olivian , Badina Carmen , Pollier Renaud , Drommi Jean-Louis , Baroth Julien , Charbonnier Sylvie , Berenguer Christophe
Published: January 2023

With the high energy demand, renewable energies emerged and the deregulation of the energy market appeared in the late ’90. These types of energies are intermittent and can produce high fluctuations in the power grid because they are connected only in certain weather conditions (for example: solar energy can be produced only by day and wind energy only when it is windy). Hydropower energy is recognized for its flexibility in responding to the demands of the network in order to maintain a constant level of energy and to guarantee the security of the electrical network. Nowadays, the hydropower plants are the main provider of energy adjustments thanks to a high number of start and stop cycles (which can sometimes be around 6 per day), the fast variations in load and the use of PSH (pumped-storage hydropower). But these rapid changes in the production conditions of hydroelectric power plants lead to high stresses on the components and consequently to faster degradation (mechanical, electrical, thermal, hydraulic, etc.). This work focuses on the design of a methodology that relies on auditable methods to estimate the cost of start and stop cycles and presents three complementary, representative (by equipment), reproductible (can be applied by different operators) methods based on explicit assumptions and validated by experts and in function of the available data in order to estimate the degradation of the main components of the hydropower plant (shut-off valve, runner, generator, transformer and circuit-breaker). These methods are based on the main degradation phenomena. The first method uses on-site measurements to study the fatigue on runners, the second method uses a reliability law to estimate the lifetime of generators and a predictive model using online temperature measurements and the last method uses expert judgement due to the lack of measurements on the equipment.
Reducing operating costs in district heating systems by optimizing functional parameters. Comparative studies
Authors: Muntean Daniel , Tokar Adriana
Published: January 2023

In district heating networks, the influence of conditions: thermohydraulic, reliability, availability and cost of materials, heat demand and energy consumption for pumping, on the operation of the system must be considered in terms of optimizing the design so that the costs of production, transport and maintenance to be reduced as much as possible. These system problems are unavoidable during operation and therefore the paper proposes an analysis based on simulating the operation of the system in two possible situations: reducing the diameters of the heat transmission pipes with the compromise of increasing the energy consumption required for pumping and respectively reducing the maximum pressure losses with the advantage of obtaining an energy saving at pumping. The comparison of the results obtained by the simulation allowed the choice of the optimal solution established on the basis of the minimum total costs (capital and operational) and the minimum heat losses on the pipeline network, taking into account the variation of investment costs of the pipeline and pumping energy depending on the diameter of the pipe.
Carbon footprint of Vidraru hydropower development
Authors: Vuta Liana-Ioana , Dumitran Gabriela-Elena , Tica Eliza-Isabela , Popa Bogdan
Published: January 2023

Large hydropower developments are not considered to be environmentally friendly due to large landscape flooded by their reservoirs. There is a certain carbon footprint related to this, in the phase of construction and of the operation of the reservoirs. This paper presents GHG emissions related to an iconic reservoir from Romania, Vidraru, and demonstrate that values are close to those determined around the world and that comparing with other conventional power plants producing electricity is the best environmental option. Furthermore, must be considered the other water uses related to reservoirs as flood mitigation, water supply for population, irrigation, and industry, where reservoirs cannot be replaced by anything else.
A way to develop a micro-grid using a Siemens S7-1500 PLC
Authors: Niculescu-Faida Oana-Carmen , Minea Adrian Ion , Niculescu-Faida Adrian
Published: January 2023

The main objective of the paper is to present a way to develop a micro grid that will help minimize electricity costs. A controller can monitor all subsystems of the micro grid, thus helping the operator to manage the key performance indicators for generation, storage and consumption in an efficient way. The micro grid generators are: a micro hydropower plant, photovoltaic panels, wind turbines. This proposal comes in support of energy developers and producers to use their investments more efficiently.
A fast hybrid simulation approach of ion energy and angular distributions in biased inductively coupled Ar plasmas
Authors: ZHAO Mingliang , ZHANG Yuru , GAO Fei , WANG Younian
Published: January 2023

In this work, a two-dimensional hybrid model, which consists of a bulk fluid module, a sheath module and an ion Monte-Carlo module, is developed to investigate the modulation of ion energy and angular distributions at different radial positions in a biased argon inductively coupled plasma. The results indicate that when the bias voltage amplitude increases or the bias frequency decreases, the ion energy peak separation width becomes wider. Besides, the widths of the ion energy peaks at the edge of the substrate are smaller than those at the center due to the lower plasma density there, indicating the nonuniformity of the ion energy distribution function (IEDF) along the radial direction. As the pressure increases from 1 to 10 Pa, the discrepancy of the IEDFs at different radial positions becomes more obvious, i.e. the IEDF at the radial edge is characterized by multiple low energy peaks. When a dual frequency bias source is applied, the IEDF exhibits three or four peaks, and it could be modulated efficiently by the relative phase between the two bias frequencies. The results obtained in this work could help to improve the radial uniformity of the IEDF and thus the etching process.
Neuromorphic bioelectronic medicine for nervous system interfaces: from neural computational primitives to medical applications
Authors: Donati Elisa , Indiveri Giacomo
Published: January 2023

Bioelectronic medicine treats chronic diseases by sensing, processing, and modulating the electronic signals produced in the nervous system of the human body, labeled ‘neural signals’. While electronic circuits have been used for several years in this domain, the progress in microelectronic technology is now allowing increasingly accurate and targeted solutions for therapeutic benefits. For example, it is now becoming possible to modulate signals in specific nerve fibers, hence targeting specific diseases. However, to fully exploit this approach it is crucial to understand what aspects of the nerve signals are important, what is the effect of the stimulation, and what circuit designs can best achieve the desired result. Neuromorphic electronic circuits represent a promising design style for achieving this goal: their ultra-low power characteristics and biologically plausible time constants make them the ideal candidate for building optimal interfaces to real neural processing systems, enabling real-time closed-loop interactions with the biological tissue. In this paper, we highlight the main features of neuromorphic circuits that are ideally suited for interfacing with the nervous system and show how they can be used to build closed-loop hybrid artificial and biological neural processing systems. We present examples of neural computational primitives that can be implemented for carrying out computation on the signals sensed in these closed-loop systems and discuss the way to use their outputs for neural stimulation. We describe examples of applications that follow this approach, highlight open challenges that need to be addressed, and propose actions required to overcome current limitations.
Successful treatment of vitiligo with crisaborole ointment: a report of two cases
Authors: Sun Xiukun , Sheng Anqi , Xu Ai-e
Published: January 2023

As selective PDE-4 small molecule inhibitor, Crisaborole has been used with success in atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Here we report two vitiligo patients successfully treated with crisaborole ointment.
Undertaking skin cancer surgery in patients lacking capacity: a growing challenge
Authors: Hussain Khawar , Bogucki Pawel , Patel Neil P
Published: January 2023

We highlight the growing challenge of undertaking skin cancer surgery in adult patients lacking capacity, given the nature of the ageing population, increasing prevalence of dementia and rise in skin cancer diagnoses. In such cases a decision must be made in the patient’s best interests, taking into account the patient’s own views, the existence of a lasting power of attorney, and the views of close family and friends. On occasion it may be reasonable not to aim to cure a skin cancer in a patient approaching the end of life.
Extracellular vesicles: a comprehensive review of their roles as biomarkers and potential therapeutics in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Born Louis J , Khachemoune Amor
Published: January 2023

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated condition that affects the skin and joints, with current treatments still unable to offer a cure and long-term use of treatments posing health risks. Understanding the pathogenesis of the disease has helped identify new targets that have allowed for the expansion of the therapeutic arsenal. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as pathophysiological mediators of psoriasis, and there have been increasing reports of EVs as potential biomarkers and therapeutics. Given their innate role as natural vehicles for cell-to-cell communication, EVs have vast potential in their ability to determine disease status based on EV-specific cargo as well as act as therapeutics because of their anti-inflammatory properties and potential for enhancement. In this review we summarize the role of EVs in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and discuss EVs as both diagnostic and therapeutic agents.