bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical Analysis of Turbulent Heat Transfer in the Case of Minijets Array
Authors: Gurgul Sebastian , Kura Tomasz , Fornalik-Wajs Elzbieta
Published: October 2020

The presented numerical investigations show an analysis of the turbulent single-phase array of ten minijets impinging a heated surface, which lead to the intensification of heat transfer between the fluid and the surface. Attention was devoted to the comparison between phenomena occurring for the heated flat and concave surface geometry. The selection of the shapes was based on the impinging jets applications. From the numerical point of view, the focus was placed on a comparison of the Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) turbulence model implementations in ANSYS Fluent software, and their impact on the modeling precision of the thermal and hydrodynamic boundary layers phenomena. The 3D numerical model was based on the continuity, momentum, and energy transport equations, together with three various RANS turbulence models: k-ω SST Kato-Launder, k-ε RNG Kato-Launder, and Intermittency Transition. The water submerged minijets, characterized by three various values of Reynolds number, were considered. Average surface Nusselt number values for all analyzed cases were compared with the experimental correlations and exhibited the same tendency but differed in detail. Numerically obtained average Nusselt number values agreed with the results of two from three correlations in the range of 10–20%. The flat surface was characterized by higher heat transfer than the concave one and an influence of the cross flow, changing the symmetrical distribution of the Nusselt number, was more visible for it. A cross flow impact was found in fuzzy hexagonal or tetragonal symmetry of this distribution. Additionally, the areas of high temperature gradient values were identified in the region of the strongest jets’ interactions, which can be important for mechanical strength analysis.
Non-Linear Dynamic Feature Analysis of a Multiple-Stage Closed-Loop Gear Transmission System for 3D Circular Braiding Machine
Authors: Yao Lingling , Meng Zhuo , Bu Jianqiu , Sun Yize
Published: October 2020

Aiming at the particularity of a multiple-stage closed-loop gear transmission system for 3D circular braiding machine, the model of gear transmission system in radial braiding machine was simplified. The non-linear dynamic equations of a n-elements closed-loop gear transmission system with symmetrical structure including static transmission error, the random disturbance of meshing damping and backlash were considered. For convenience of calculation n = 3, the equations were solved numerically by using Runge-Kutta. The dynamic transmission error(DTE) with different backlash, dynamic meshing forces with and without the random disturbance of meshing damping, the amplitude of dynamic transmission error at n = 1000 r/min and b = 2.65 × 10−5 m, root mean square(RMS) of DTE and the mean value of DTE of the first pair of gears were analyzed. The simulation results show that different backlash and the random disturbance of meshing damping have a great influence on the dynamic displacement error and meshing force of the gear pair, and RMS and the mean value of DTE changes at different rotational speeds. The results will provide a reference for realizing the smoothness of the closed-loop gear transmission system with symmetrical structure for 3D braiding machine and have great practical significance for improving the braiding quality.
The Unsymmetrical Coefficient of Unsymmetrical-Loaded Tunnel Based on Field Monitoring and Numerical Simulation
Authors: Zhang Tao , Nie Lei , Zhang Min , Dai Shulin , Xu Yan , Du Chao , Rui Xiangjian , He Yuanyuan
Published: October 2020

We conducted a field test on Huitougou (HTG) Tunnel, which is a typical shallow-buried and unsymmetrically loaded tunnel. The on-site monitoring data indicated that the surrounding rock pressure and lining stress on both sides of the tunnel were indeed asymmetrical and that the pressure ratios (original unsymmetrical coefficient) of each corresponding monitoring point were different. According to the tunnel design principle, we proposed the unsymmetrical coefficient (UC) to characterize the asymmetrical degree of the tunnel, and verified and compared the UC of the field test and numerical simulation results. The effects of different factors on the UC such as the slope angle of the ground, the thickness of the overburden cover, the physical and mechanical properties of the surrounding rock, and the construction method were studied and analyzed. The research results reveal that the bias coefficient calculated by the numerical simulation was close to the monitoring results. The results of the factor analysis indicate that the slope angle, overburden thickness, and elastic modulus significantly affected the bias degree, while other factors had little effect. The concise and clear UC accurately described the unsymmetrical degree of any unsymmetrical-loaded tunnel and provided more accurate judgment regarding the safety of the tunnel design phase and construction phase.
Signal Intensity Estimation in Transdermal Optical Wireless Links with Stochastic Pointing Errors Effect
Authors: Varotsos George K. , Nistazakis Hector E. , Aidinis Konstantinos , Jaber Fadi , Mujeeb Rahman K. K.
Published: October 2020

Transdermal optical wireless (TOW) communication links have recently gained particular research and commercial attention as a viable alternative for establishing high speed and effective implantable data transmissions, which is vital for a variety of neuroprosthetic and other medical applications. However, the development of this optical telemetry modality with medical implanted devices (IMDs) is adversely affected by skin-induced photon absorption, scattering and pointing errors effects. Thus, in this work a minimum mean-square error (MMSE) criterion is proposed for the estimation of the optical signal intensity in a typical TOW link of varying path loss and misalignment-induced fading characteristics. In this context, the stochastic nature of the transmitter–receiver misalignment has been considered and jointly modeled with transdermal path loss. Additionally, the link is assumed to employ the suitable On–Off Keying (OOK) with intensity modulation and direct detection scheme as well as a PIN photodiode at the receiver side for signal detection. Under these assumptions the results demonstrate that the stochastic amount of pointing mismatch strongly affects the received irradiance estimation.
Transient Improvement after Switch to Low Doses of RimabotulinumtoxinB in Patients Resistant to AbobotulinumtoxinA
Authors: Hefter Harald , Samadzadeh Sara , Moll Marek
Published: October 2020

Botulinum toxin type B (BoNT/B) has been recommended as an alternative for patients who have become resistant to botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A). This study aimed to compare the clinical effect, within a patient, of four injections with low doses of rimabotulinumtoxinB with the effect of the preceding abobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT/A) injections. In 17 patients with cervical dystonia (CD) who had become resistant to aboBoNT/A, the clinical effect of the first four rimabotulinumtoxinB (rimaBoNT/B) injections was compared to the effect of the first four aboBoNT/A injections using a global assessment scale and the TSUI score. After the first two BoNT/B injections, all 17 patients responded well and to a similar extent as to the first two BoNT/A injections, but with more side effects such as dry mouth and constipation. After the next BoNT/B injection, the improvement started to decline. The response to the fourth BoNT/B injection was significant (p < 0.048) lower than the fourth BoNT/A injection. Only three patients developed a complete secondary treatment failure (CSTF) and five patients a partial secondary treatment failure (PSTF) after four BoNT/B injections. In nine patients, the usual response persisted. With the use of low rimaBoNT/B doses, the induction of CSTF and PSTF to BoNT/B could not be avoided but was delayed in comparison to the use of higher doses. In contrast to aboBoNT/A injections, PSTF and CSTF occurred much earlier, although low doses of rimaBoNT/B had been applied.
Venom Function of a New Species of Megalomyrmex Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Authors: Sozanski Kyle , Prado Lívia Pires do , Mularo Andrew J. , Sadowski Victoria A. , Jones Tappey H. , Adams Rachelle M. M.
Published: October 2020

Alkaloids are important metabolites found across a variety of organisms with diverse ecological functions. Of particular interest are alkaloids found in ants, organisms well known for dominating the ecosystems they dwell in. Within ants, alkaloids are found in venom and function as potent weapons against heterospecific species. However, research is often limited to pest species or species with parasitic lifestyles and thus fails to address the broader ecological function of ant venom alkaloids. Here we describe a new species of free-living Megalomyrmex ant: Megalomyrmex peetersi sp. n. In addition, we identify its singular venom alkaloid (trans-2-butyl-5-heptylpyrrolidine) and elucidate the antibiotic and insecticidal functions of its venom. Our results show that Megalomyrmex peetersi sp. n. venom is an effective antibiotic and insecticide. These results are comparable to venom alkaloids found in other ant species, such as Solenopsis invicta. This research provides great insight into venom alkaloid function, and it is the first study to explore these ideas in the Megalomyrmex system.
Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analysis Reveals Mechanisms of Patulin-Induced Cell Toxicity in Human Embryonic Kidney Cells
Authors: Han Nianfa , Luo Ruilin , Liu Jiayu , Guo Tianmin , Feng Jiayu , Peng Xiaoli
Published: October 2020

Patulin (PAT) is a natural mycotoxin that commonly contaminates fruits and fruit-based products. Previous work indicated that PAT-induced apoptosis in which reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. To uncover novel aspects of the possible mechanism of PAT nephrotoxicity, the transcriptome and proteome profiles were investigated using the digital gene expression (DGE) and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomic approaches. A total of 127 genes and 85 proteins were found to express differentially in response to 5 μM PAT for 10 h in HEK293 cells. The most dramatic changes of expression were noticed with genes or proteins related to apoptosis, oxidative phosphorylation ribosome and cell cycle. Especially, the activation of caspase 3, UQCR11, active transport form and endocytosis appeared to be crucial in PAT kidney cytotoxicity. PAT also seemed to be associated with cancer and neuropathic disease as pathways associated with carcinogenesis, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease were induced. Overall, this study served to uncover overall insights associated with signaling pathway that modulated the PAT toxicity mechanism.
Dimethylformamide Inhibits Fungal Growth and Aflatoxin B1 Biosynthesis in Aspergillus flavus by Down-Regulating Glucose Metabolism and Amino Acid Biosynthesis
Authors: Pan Lin , Chang Peng , Jin Jing , Yang Qingli , Xing Fuguo
Published: October 2020

Aflatoxins (AFs) are secondary metabolites produced by plant fungal pathogens infecting crops with strong carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Dimethylformamide (DMF) is an excellent solvent widely used in biology, medicine and other fields. However, the effect and mechanism of DMF as a common organic solvent against fungal growth and AFs production are not clear. Here, we discovered that DMF had obvious inhibitory effect against A. flavus, as well as displayed complete strong capacity to combat AFs production. Hereafter, the inhibition mechanism of DMF act on AFs production was revealed by the transcriptional expression analysis of genes referred to AFs biosynthesis. With 1% DMF treatment, two positive regulatory genes of AFs biosynthetic pathway aflS and aflR were down-regulated, leading to the suppression of the structural genes in AFs cluster like aflW, aflP. These changes may be due to the suppression of VeA and the subsequent up-regulation of FluG. Exposure to DMF caused the damage of cell wall and the dysfunction of mitochondria. In particular, it is worth noting that most amino acid biosynthesis and glucose metabolism pathway were down-regulated by 1% DMF using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Taken together, these RNA-Seq data strongly suggest that DMF inhibits fungal growth and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production by A. flavus via the synergistic interference of glucose metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation.
COVID-19: Look to the Future, Learn from the Past
Authors: Cheng Zhangkai J. , Qu Hui-Qi , Tian Lifeng , Duan Zhifeng , Hakonarson Hakon
Published: October 2020

There is a current pandemic of a new type of coronavirus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The number of confirmed infected cases has been rapidly increasing. This paper analyzes the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and influenza. COVID-19 is similar to the diseases caused by SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV virologically and etiologically, but closer to influenza in epidemiology and virulence. The comparison provides a new perspective for the future of the disease control, and offers some ideas in the prevention and control management strategy. The large number of infectious people from the origin, and the highly infectious and occult nature have been two major problems, making the virus difficult to eradicate. We thus need to contemplate the possibility of long-term co-existence with COVID-19.
RNAseq of Deformed Wing Virus and Other Honey Bee-Associated Viruses in Eight Insect Taxa with or without Varroa Infestation
Authors: Brettell Laura E. , Schroeder Declan C. , Martin Stephen J.
Published: October 2020

The global spread of a parasitic mite (Varroa destructor) has resulted in Deformed wing virus (DWV), a previously rare pathogen, now dominating the viromes in honey bees and contributing to large-scale honey bee colony losses. DWV can be found in diverse insect taxa and has been implicated in spilling over from honey bees into associated (“apiary”) and other (“non-apiary”) insects. Here we generated next generation sequence data from 127 insect samples belonging to diverse taxa collected from Hawaiian islands with and without Varroa to identify whether the mite has indirectly affected the viral landscapes of key insect taxa across bees, wasps, flies and ants. Our data showed that, while Varroa was associated with a dramatic increase in abundance of (predominantly recombinant) DWV in honey bees (and no other honey bee-associated RNA virus), this change was not seen in any other taxa sampled. Honey bees share their environment with other insect populations and exist as a homogenous group, frequently sharing common viruses, albeit at low levels. Our data suggest that the threat of Varroa to increase viral load in an apiary does not automatically translate to an increase in virus load in other insects living in the wider community.
The Antiviral Small-Interfering RNA Pathway Induces Zika Virus Resistance in Transgenic Aedes aegypti
Authors: Williams Adeline E. , Sanchez-Vargas Irma , Reid William R. , Lin Jingyi , Franz Alexander W.E. , Olson Ken E.
Published: October 2020

The resurgence of arbovirus outbreaks across the globe, including the recent Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in 2015–2016, emphasizes the need for innovative vector control methods. In this study, we investigated ZIKV susceptibility to transgenic Aedes aegypti engineered to target the virus by means of the antiviral small-interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway. The robustness of antiviral effector expression in transgenic mosquitoes is strongly influenced by the genomic insertion locus and transgene copy number; we therefore used CRISPR/Cas9 to re-target a previously characterized locus (Chr2:321382225) and engineered mosquitoes expressing an inverted repeat (IR) dsRNA against the NS3/4A region of the ZIKV genome. Small RNA analysis revealed that the IR effector triggered the mosquito’s siRNA antiviral pathway in bloodfed females. Nearly complete (90%) inhibition of ZIKV replication was found in vivo in both midguts and carcasses at 7 or 14 days post-infection (dpi). Furthermore, significantly fewer transgenic mosquitoes contained ZIKV in their salivary glands (p = 0.001), which led to a reduction in the number of ZIKV-containing saliva samples as measured by transmission assay. Our work shows that Ae. aegypti innate immunity can be co-opted to engineer mosquitoes resistant to ZIKV.
Re-Emergence of Yellow Fever in Brazil during 2016–2019: Challenges, Lessons Learned, and Perspectives
Authors: de Oliveira Figueiredo Poliana , Stoffella-Dutra Ana Gabriella , Barbosa Costa Galileu , Silva de Oliveira Jaqueline , Dourado Amaral Carolina , Duarte Santos Juliane , Soares Rocha Kamila Lorene , Araújo Júnior João Pessoa , Lacerda Nogueira Maurício , Zazá Borges Magno Augusto , Pereira Paglia Adriano , Desiree LaBeaud Angelle , Santos Abrahão Jônatas , Geessien Kroon Erna , Bretas de Oliveira Danilo , Paiva Drumond Betânia , de Souza Trindade Giliane
Published: October 2020

Yellow fever (YF) is a re-emerging viral zoonosis caused by the Yellow Fever virus (YFV), affecting humans and non-human primates (NHP). YF is endemic in South America and Africa, being considered a burden for public health worldwide despite the availability of an effective vaccine. Acute infectious disease can progress to severe hemorrhagic conditions and has high rates of morbidity and mortality in endemic countries. In 2016, Brazil started experiencing one of the most significant YF epidemics in its history, with lots of deaths being reported in regions that were previously considered free of the disease. Here, we reviewed the historical aspects of YF in Brazil, the epidemiology of the disease, the challenges that remain in Brazil’s public health context, the main lessons learned from the recent outbreaks, and our perspective for facing future YF epidemics.
The Role of Retardation, Attachment and Detachment Processes during Microbial Coal-Bed Methane Production after Organic Amendment
Authors: Emmert Simon , Davis Katherine , Gerlach Robin , Class Holger
Published: October 2020

Microbially enhanced coal-bed methane could allow for a more sustainable method of harvesting methane from un-mineable coaldbeds. The model presented here is based on a previously validated batch model; however, this model system is based on upflow reactor columns compared to previous experiments and now includes flow, transport and reactions of amendment as well as intermediate products. The model implements filtration and retardation effects, biofilm decay, and attachment and detachment processes of microbial cells due to shear stress. The model provides additional insights into processes that cannot be easily observed in experiments. This study improves the understanding of complex and strongly interacting processes involved in microbially enhanced coal-bed methane production and provides a powerful tool able to model the entire process of enhancing methane production and transport during microbial stimulation.
Impact of Slope of Growing Trays on Productivity of Wheat Green Fodder by a Nutrient Film Technique System
Authors: Grigas Andrius , Kemzūraitė Aurelija , Steponavičius Dainius , Steponavičienė Aušra , Domeika Rolandas
Published: October 2020

Application of hydroponic systems in feed production has not been extensively studied. Therefore, there is insufficient data on the effect of the slope of hydroponic growing trays used in the nutrient film technique on wheat fodder yield and its qualitative parameters. The slope of the trays has only been studied for food crops. This study conducted experimental research using a nutrient film technique hydroponic fodder growing device to evaluate the impact of growing tray slope angle on hydroponic wheat fodder production. The slope angle of the growing trays was changed from 2.0% (1.15°) to 8.0% (4.57°) with increments of 1.5% (0.86°). This research used two different light sources for wheat sprout illumination: indoor lighting (fluorescent lamps) and light-emitting diode illumination. In addition, two nutrient solutions were used for sprout irrigation: tap water and a solution enriched with macro- and microelements. Experimental studies confirmed the hypothesis that the slope angle of growing trays significantly affects the yield of wheat fodder grown for seven days. Analyzing the results, we found that the highest yield of wheat fodder after seven days of cultivation was achieved with growing trays sloped by 6.5% and using indoor lighting. In addition, we achieved the highest wheat fodder dry matter content using a 6.5% slope angle. Experimental studies also confirmed the hypothesis that using macro- and micronutrients in the nutrient solution does not significantly affect the yield of wheat fodder grown hydroponically for seven days.
Dynamic Monitoring of Surface Water Area during 1989–2019 in the Hetao Plain Using Landsat Data in Google Earth Engine
Authors: Wang Ruimeng , Xia Haoming , Qin Yaochen , Niu Wenhui , Pan Li , Li Rumeng , Zhao Xiaoyang , Bian Xiqing , Fu Pinde
Published: October 2020

The spatio-temporal change of the surface water is very important to agricultural, economic, and social development in the Hetao Plain, as well as the structure and function of the ecosystem. To understand the long-term changes of the surface water area in the Hetao Plain, we used all available Landsat images (7534 scenes) and adopted the modified Normalized Difference Water Index (mNDWI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to map the open-surface water from 1989 to 2019 in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud platform. We further analyzed precipitation, temperature, and irrigated area, revealing the impact of climate change and human activities on long-term surface water changes. The results show the following. (1) In the last 31 years, the maximum, seasonal, and annual average water body area values in the Hetao Plain have exhibited a downward trend. Meanwhile, the number of maximum, seasonal, and permanent water bodies displayed a significant upward trend. (2) The variation of the surface water area in the Hetao Plain is mainly affected by the maximum water body area, while the variation of the water body number is mainly affected by the number of minimum water bodies. (3) Precipitation has statistically significant positive effects on the water body area and water body number, which has statistically significant negative effects with temperature and irrigation. The findings of this study can be used to help the policy-makers and farmers understand changing water resources and its driving mechanism and provide a reference for water resources management, agricultural irrigation, and ecological protection.
Are the Financial Markets Sensitive to Hydrological Risk? Evidence from the Bovespa
Authors: Feria-Domínguez José Manuel , Paneque Pilar , de la Piedra Fanny
Published: October 2020

This research analyzes the BOVESPA stock market response to the worst drought occurred in the last 100 years in Brazil. For this purpose, we conducted a standard event study analysis in order to assess the financial response to such hydrological risk on a sample of seven Brazilian agri-food firms. We found statistically significant negative cumulative average abnormal returns (CAARs) around the drought official announcement for different event windows used. Particularly, the highest impact was obtained for the narrowest temporary window, five days around the event disclosure. Moreover, we also found the drought announcement affects even more negatively those companies that sell perishable products, five out of seven in our sample, versus those selling nonperishable ones by running a two-sample t-test on CAARs. This study brings awareness to the climate change impact into the emerging financial markets and the risk faced by shareholders when investing in the agri-food sector, not only in Brazil but also in other Latin American countries, due to the increasing probability to suffer from droughts.
An Application of Fish Detection Based on Eye Search with Artificial Vision and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Rico-Díaz Ángel J. , Rabuñal Juan R. , Gestal Marcos , Mures Omar A. , Puertas Jerónimo
Published: October 2020

A fish can be detected by means of artificial vision techniques, without human intervention or handling the fish. This work presents an application for detecting moving fish in water by artificial vision based on the detection of a fish′s eye in the image, using the Hough algorithm and a Feed-Forward network. In addition, this method of detection is combined with stereo image recording, creating a disparity map to estimate the size of the detected fish. The accuracy and precision of this approach has been tested in several assays with living fish. This technique is a non-invasive method working in real-time and it can be carried out with low cost. Furthermore, it could find application in aquariums, fish farm management and to count the number of fish which swim through a fishway. In a fish farm it is important to know how the size of the fish evolves in order to plan the feeding and when to be able to catch fish. Our methodology allows fish to be detected and their size and weight estimated as they move underwater, engaging in natural behavior.
Simulation of Titicaca Lake Water Level Fluctuations Using Hybrid Machine Learning Technique Integrated with Grey Wolf Optimizer Algorithm
Authors: Mohammadi Babak , Guan Yiqing , Aghelpour Pouya , Emamgholizadeh Samad , Pillco Zolá Ramiro , Zhang Danrong
Published: October 2020

Lakes have an important role in storing water for drinking, producing hydroelectric power, and environmental, agricultural, and industrial uses. In order to optimize the use of lakes, precise prediction of the lake water level (LWL) is a main issue in water resources management. Due to the existence of nonlinear relations, uncertainty, and characteristics of the time series variables, the exact prediction of the lake water level is difficult. In this study the hybrid support vector regression (SVR) and the grey wolf algorithm (GWO) are used to predict lake water level fluctuations. Also, three types of data preprocessing methods, namely Principal component analysis, Random forest, and Relief algorithm were used for finding the best input variables for prediction LWL by the SVR and SVR-GWO models. Before the LWL simulation on monthly time step using the hybrid model, an evolutionary approach based on different monthly lags was conducted for determining the best mask of the input variables. Results showed that based on the random forest method, the best scenario of the inputs was Xt−1, Xt−2, Xt−3, Xt−4 for the SVR-GWO model. Also, the performance of the SVR-GWO model indicated that it could simulate the LWL with acceptable accuracy (with RMSE = 0.08 m, MAE = 0.06 m, and R2 = 0.96).
Groundwater Governance in Pakistan: From Colossal Development to Neglected Management
Authors: Qureshi Asad Sarwar
Published: October 2020

Groundwater is playing an essential role in expanding irrigated agriculture in many parts of the world. Pakistan is the third-largest user of groundwater for irrigation in the world. The surface water supplies are sufficient to irrigate 27% of the area, whereas the remaining 73% is directly or indirectly irrigated using groundwater. The Punjab province uses more than 90% of the total groundwater abstraction. Currently, 1.2 million private tubewells are working in the country, out of which 85% are in Punjab, 6.4% are in Sindh, 3.8% are in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and 4.8% are in Baluchistan. The total groundwater extraction in Pakistan is about 60 billion m3. The access to groundwater has helped farmers in securing food for the increasing population. However, unchecked groundwater exploitation has created severe environmental problems. These include rapidly falling groundwater levels in the irrigated areas and increased soil salinization problems. The groundwater levels in more than 50% of the irrigated areas of Punjab have dropped below 6 m, resulting in increased pumping cost and degraded groundwater quality. Despite hectic efforts, about 21% of the irrigated area is affected by different levels of salinity. The country has introduced numerous laws and regulations for the sustainable use and management of groundwater resources, but the success has so far been limited. Besides less respect for the law, unavailability of needed data and information, lack of political will and institutional arrangements are the primary reasons for poor groundwater management. Pakistan needs to revisit its strategies to make them adaptable to local conditions. An integrated water resource management approach that brings together relevant government departments, political leadership, knowledge institutions, and other stakeholders could be an attractive option.
Occurrence and Distribution of UV Filters in Beach Sediments of the Southern Baltic Sea Coast
Authors: Astel Aleksander , Stec Marcin , Rykowska Iwona
Published: October 2020

The interest in UV filters’ occurrence in the environment has increased since they were recognized as “emerging contaminants” having potentially adverse impacts on many ecosystems and organisms. Increased worldwide demand for sunscreens is associated with temperature anomalies, high irradiance, and changes in the tourist market. Recently, it has been demonstrated that personal care products, including sunscreens, appear in various ecosystems and geographic locations causing an ecotoxicological threat. Our goal was to determine for the first time the presence of selected organic UV filters at four beaches in the central Pomeranian region in northern Poland and to assess their horizontal and vertical distribution as well as temporal variation at different locations according to the touristic pressure. In this pioneering study, the concentration of five UV filters was measured in core sediments dredged from four exposed beaches (Darłowo, Ustka, Rowy, and Czołpino). UV filters were detected in 89.6% of collected cores at detection frequencies of 0–22.2%, 75–100%, 0–16.7%, and 2.8–25% for benzophenone-1 (BP-1), benzophenone-2 (BP-2), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), and enzacamene (4-MBC), respectively. In terms of seasonality, the concentration of UV filters generally increased in the following order: summer > autumn > spring. No detectable levels of 3-BC (also known as 3-benzylidene camphor) were recorded. No differences were found in the concentration of UV filters according to the depth of the sediment core. During the summer and autumn seasons, all UV filters were detected in higher concentrations in the bathing area or close to the waterline than halfway or further up the beach. Results presented in this study demonstrate that the Baltic Sea coast is not free from UV filters. Even if actual concentrations can be quantified as ng·kg−1 causing limited environmental threat, much higher future levels are expected due to the Earth’s principal climatic zones shifting northward.
Submarine Groundwater Discharge (SGD) to Coastal Waters of Saipan (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, USA): Implications for Nitrogen Sources, Transport and Ecological Effects
Authors: Knapp Melissa A. , Geeraert Naomi , Kim Kiho , Knee Karen L.
Published: October 2020

Seagrass meadows and coral reefs along the coast of Saipan, a US commonwealth in the Northern Pacific, have been declining since the 1940s, possibly due to nutrient loading. This study investigated whether submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) contributes to nutrient loading and supports primary production on Saipan’s coast. SGD can be an important source of freshwater, nutrients, and other pollutants to coastal waters, especially in oceanic islands without well-developed stream systems. Ra and Rn isotopes were used as natural tracers of SGD. Nitrate, phosphate, and ammonium concentrations, ancillary water quality parameters, δ15N and δ18O of dissolved nitrate, and δ15N of primary producer tissue were measured. Our results pointed to discharge of low-salinity groundwater containing elevated concentrations of sewage-derived N at specific locations along Saipan’s coast. High SGD areas had lower salinity and pH, higher dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations, and elevated primary producer δ15N, indicative of sewage nitrogen inputs. We estimated that SGD could support 730–6400 and 3000–15,000 mol C d−1 of primary production in Tanapag and Garapan Lagoons, respectively, or up to approximately 60% of primary production in Garapan Lagoon. Efforts to improve water quality, reduce nutrient loading, and preserve coastal ecosystems must account for groundwater, since our results demonstrate that it is an important pathway of nitrogen delivery.
A Review of Battery Materials as CDI Electrodes for Desalination
Authors: Jiang Yuxin , Alhassan Sikpaam Issaka , Wei Dun , Wang Haiying
Published: October 2020

The world is suffering from chronic water shortage due to the increasing population, water pollution and industrialization. Desalinating saline water offers a rational choice to produce fresh water thus resolving the crisis. Among various kinds of desalination technologies, capacitive deionization (CDI) is of significant potential owing to the facile process, low energy consumption, mild working conditions, easy regeneration, low cost and the absence of secondary pollution. The electrode material is an essential component for desalination performance. The most used electrode material is carbon-based material, which suffers from low desalination capacity (under 15 mg·g−1). However, the desalination of saline water with the CDI method is usually the charging process of a battery or supercapacitor. The electrochemical capacity of battery electrode material is relatively high because of the larger scale of charge transfer due to the redox reaction, thus leading to a larger desalination capacity in the CDI system. A variety of battery materials have been developed due to the urgent demand for energy storage, which increases the choices of CDI electrode materials largely. Sodium-ion battery materials, lithium-ion battery materials, chloride-ion battery materials, conducting polymers, radical polymers, and flow battery electrode materials have appeared in the literature of CDI research, many of which enhanced the deionization performances of CDI, revealing a bright future of integrating battery materials with CDI technology.
Nitrogen Retention in Mesocosm Sediments Received Rural Wastewater Associated with Microbial Community Response to Plant Species
Authors: Dong Zhixin , Hu Lei , Li Jianmei , Kumwimba Mathieu Nsenga , Tang Jialiang , Zhu Bo
Published: October 2020

Vegetated drainage ditches (eco-ditches) have drawn much attention in recent years for the ability to remediate diffuse contaminants in rural wastewater through sediment retention, plant uptake and interception, and microbial metabolic activities. However, the effect of plant species on microbial community structure and nitrogen (N) retention in ditch sediment remains poorly understood. In this study, mesocosm plastic drums were planted with eight plant species commonly found in ditches and nurtured with wastewater for 150 days. Sediment total nitrogen (TN) was greatly increased after 150-day nurturing with rural wastewater, from 296.03 mg∙kg−1 (Iris japonica Thunb) to 607.88 mg∙kg−1 (Acorus gramineusO). This study also presents the effect of different plant species on sediment microbial communities, thus providing insight into N removal mechanisms in eco-ditch. Fifty-eight differentially abundant taxa were identified, and sediment microbial community structure for no plant (CK), Acg, Canna indica (Cai), and Typha latifolia L. (Tyl) was primarily linked to sediment NH4+-N and TN. Extremely small proportions of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrifying bacteria were detected for all treatments, but large proportions of Crenarchaeota, which comprises the widely existent ammonium oxidized archaea (AOA), were found in CK, Acg and Cai. The abundance of Nitrosotalea from Crenarchaeota presented positive correlations with sediment NH4+-N contents and ammonia oxidation function predicted by Faprotax, indicating Nitrosotalea might be the dominant ammonium-oxidizing microbes in sediment samples. The probable NH4+-N removal pathway in wastewater sediment was through a combined effect of AOA, nitrifying bacteria, and anammox.
Experimental Study at the Reservoir Head of Run-of-River Hydropower Plants in Gravel Bed Rivers. Part II: Effects of Reservoir Flushing on Delta Degradation
Authors: Reiterer Kevin , Gold Thomas , Habersack Helmut , Hauer Christoph , Sindelar Christine
Published: October 2020

Run-of-river hydropower plants (RoR HPPs) are capable of interrupting the sediment connectivity of many alpine rivers. Still, there is a lack of systematical investigations of possible sediment management strategies for small and medium sized RoR HPPs. This study deals with the headwater section of an impoundment and the approach of sediment remobilization during drawdown operations. Therefore, a typical medium sized gravel bed river having a width of 20 m, a mean bed slope of 0.005, a mean flow rate of 22 m3/s, and a 1-year flood flow of 104 m3/s is recreated by a 1:20 scaled physical model. Heterogenous sediment mixtures were used under mobile-bed conditions, representing a range of 14–120 mm in nature. During the experiments, the flow rate was set to be 70% of the 1-year flood (HQ1) regarding on the ability to mobilize all sediment fractions. The possibility to remobilize delta depositions by (partial) drawdown flushing within a reasonable period (≈9 h in 1:1 scale) was shown by the results. The erosion of existing headwater delta deposition was found to be retrogressive and twice as fast as the preceding delta formation process. A spatiotemporal erosion scheme points out these findings. This supports the strategy of a reservoir drawdown at flood events of high reoccurrence rate.
Three-Dimensional Simulations of Wind Effects on Green Island Wake
Authors: Hou Tien-Hung , Chang Jen-Yi , Tsai Chia-Cheng , Hsu Tai-Wen
Published: October 2020

The aim of the present study is to apply the three-dimensional Princeton Ocean Model to study the wind effects on Kuroshio-induced island wake in the lee of Green Island, Taiwan. Numerical results indicate that the effect of NE winds squeezes the Kuroshio-induced island vortex street close to the coast and the SW winds tend to push the island vortex street farther away from the coast. The simulated vortex streets are analyzed by the dimensionless spatial lengths to quantify the prescribed feature. By comparing the three-dimensional results with different wind conditions, the Ekman transports are observed and the influence depths of wind effects are studied. Additionally, some cold eddies are found in temperature fields resulting from numerical simulations. These results are in qualitative agreement with field measurements and satellite images.
Adsorption of Organic Pollutants from Cold Meat Industry Wastewater by Electrochemical Coagulation: Application of Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: del Real-Olvera Jorge , Morales-Rivera Juan , González-López Ana Patricia , Sulbarán-Rangel Belkis , Zúñiga-Grajeda Virgilio
Published: October 2020

The cold meat industry is considered to be one of the main sources of organic pollutants in the wastewater of the meat sector due to the complex mixture of protein, fats, and dyes present. This study describes electrochemical coagulation (EC) treatment for the adsorption of organic pollutants reported in cold meat industry wastewater, and an artificial neural network (ANN) was employed to model the adsorption of chemical oxygen demand (COD). To depict the adsorption process, the parameters analyzed were current density (2–6 mA cm−2), initial pH (5–9), temperature (288–308 K), and EC time (0–180 min). The experimental results were fit to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations, while the modeling of the adsorption kinetics was evaluated by means of pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order rate laws. The data reveal that current density is the main control parameter in EC treatment, and 60 min are required for an effective adsorption process. The maximum removal of COD was 2875 mg L−1 (82%) when the following conditions were employed: pH = 7, current density = 6 mA cm−2, and temperature of 298 K. Experimental results obey second-order kinetics with values of the constant in the range of 1.176 × 10−5 ≤ k2 (mg COD adsorbed/g-Al.min) ≤ 1.284 × 10−5. The ANN applied in this research established that better COD removal, 3262.70 mg L−1 (93.22%) with R2 = 0.98, was found using the following conditions: EC time of 30.22 min, initial pH = 7.80, and current density = 6 mA cm−2. The maximum adsorption capacity of 621.11 mg g−1 indicates a notable affinity between the organic pollutants and coagulant metallic ions.
Study of the Sediment Transport Law in a Reverse-Slope Section of a Pressurized Pipeline
Authors: Wang Jiayi , Li Yitian , Pan Li , Lai Zhiqiang , Jian Shengqi
Published: October 2020

This article reveals the change law of the head loss and critical deposition velocity during hydraulic transmission of a solid–liquid two-phase pipeline. This article also establishes a physical test model. A single variable is used to conduct the experimental research by changing the conditions of the pipeline flow rate, the sediment concentration, and the reverse slope degree. Based on an analysis of the test process, a new formula is proposed to determine the critical sedimentation rate of the pipeline that considers a change in the adverse slope. By analyzing the variation rule of the hydraulic slope of the pipeline sediment in different states and comparing the hydraulic slope of the horizontal pipeline and reverse pipeline in different states, different factors that influence head loss are revealed. Finally, the measured value of this test is compared with the Durand equation and the Worster equation. It was found that the measured value of this test was more similar to the Durand equation. This study not only provides theoretical support for sand removal in pipelines but also promotes sedimentation in reservoirs.
PENGALAMAN AKUNTAN PUBLIK BERPENGARUH TERHADAP AUDIT JUDGMENT BERIMPLIKASI TERHADAP KUALITAS AUDIT YANG DIHASILKAN
Authors: Suhayati Ely
Published: October 2020

Kompleksnya tugas yang dihadapi oleh Akuntan Publik Junior menyebabkanterjadinya kegagalan dalam melakukan audit, sehingga judgment yang diberikan kurangtepat yang menyebabkan kualitas auditnya diragukan, oleh karena itu tujuan dari penelitianini adalah untuk mengetahui pengalaman akuntan publik berpengaruh terhadap auditjudgment dan audit judgment berimplikasi terhadap kualitas audit yang dihasilkan.Penelitian ini dilakukan pada Akuntan Publik Junior di Kantor Akuntan Publik Wilayah Bandung sebanyak 25 responden, metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah deskriptif verifikatif dengan alat uji path analysis, hasil penelitian mengungkapkan bahwa semakin berpengalamannya akuntan publik dalam melakukan audit, maka akan optimal dalam memberikan audit judgment, sehingga akan menghasilkan audit yang berku
ETIKA UANG DAN KECURANGAN PAJAK: RELIGIUSITAS INTRINSIK, RELIGIUSITAS EKSTRINSIK, GENDER, MATERIALISME, DAN CINTA UANG SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERASI
Authors: Hidayatulloh Amir , Mutingatun Nisak
Published: October 2020

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menganalisis pengaruh etika uang terhadap kecurangan pajak. Selain itu, penelitian ini juga bertujuan untuk menganalisis apakah variabel religiusitas intrinsik, religiusitas ekstrinsik, gender, materialisme, serta cinta uang memoderasi pengaruh antara etika uang terhadap kecurangan pajak. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah wajib pajak orang pribadi di Kabupaten Gunungkidul. Sampel penelitian ini adalah wajib pajak orang pribadi yang melakukan kegiatan usaha atau pekerjaan bebas yang sesuai dengan Undang-Undang Nomor 36 Tahun 2008. Teknik pengambilan sampel dalam penelitian ini menggunakan convenience sampling. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan menyebarkan kuesioner secara langsung kepada responden. Responden dalam penelitian berjumlah 42 responden. Teknik analisis data dalam penelitian ini menggunakan Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA). Penelitian ini memperoleh hasil bahwa etika uang berpengaruh terhadap kecurangan pajak. Selain itu, penelitian ini juga membuktikan bahwa variabel religiusitas ekstrinsik dan cinta uang memoderasi pengaruh antara etika uang dengan kecurangan pajak. Akan tetapi, variabel religiusitas intrinsik, gender, dan materialisme tidak memoderasi pengaruh antara etika uang dan kecurangan pajak.
La mesure des violences intrafamiliales sur mineur-e-s. Une comparaison des enquêtes nord-américaines et françaises
Authors: Charruault Amélie
Published: October 2020

Depuis 2000, en Amérique du Nord et en France métropolitaine, des enquêtes en population générale mesurent les violences intrafamiliales sur les mineur-e-s. Cet article propose un tour d’horizon des stratégies de mesure utilisées dans ces enquêtes, afin de porter un regard critique sur les résultats produits. Tandis que l’Amérique du Nord réalise des enquêtes sur les violences faites aux mineur-e-s en interrogeant des adolescent-e-s ou des parents de jeunes enfants, en France, la mesure des violences intrafamiliales subies dans l’enfance est plus fragmentaire et est permise grâce aux enquêtes rétrospectives consacrées à la victimation, la sexualité ou la santé des personnes majeures. Les enquêtes nord-américaines permettent d’apprécier les conditions de vie actuelles des mineur-e-s, mais la fiabilité des réponses des adolescent-e-s, surtout celles fournies par les parents de jeunes enfants, est critiquable. Les enquêtes rétrospectives réalisées auprès d’adultes ont également des limites. Elles sont dépendantes des effets de mémoire, des différences de sensibilité aux violences, et des effets déclaratifs liés à la tendance des individus à fournir des réponses socialement acceptables. Néanmoins, ces enquêtes rendent possible l’étude des conséquences des violences intrafamiliales dans l’enfance à long terme sur les parcours de vie.
Ancient mud-brick architecture of Northwest China
Authors: Zhang Liangren , Zhang Dongju , Wu Xiaohong , Chen Guoke K. , Wang Peng , Wang Hui , Wang Kai
Published: October 2020

L’histoire de l’architecture s’est peu intéressée aux constructions anciennes en briques crues le long de la route de la soie. Grâce aux résultats des analyses microscopiques et granulométriques réalisées sur de telles briques récemment découvertes dans le site de l’âge du Bronze de Xichengyi, dans le Nord-Ouest de la Chine, il est désormais possible de démontrer qu’une nouvelle technique de construction avec des briques crues a été utilisée. Deux sortes de terre crue ont été identifié lors de l’observation sur le terrain. L’une est couramment décrite dans la littérature – il s’agit de briques épaisses confectionnées avec du mortier –, l’autre est fine et obtenue par le damage de la terre ; la seconde est sans précédent dans l’architecture en briques crues, pratiquée ailleurs dans le monde. Le site de Xichengyi se trouve dans le couloir de Hexi, un tronçon important de la route de la soie ; la disposition des bâtiments d’une part et la culture du blé et de l’orge d’autre part suggèrent deux sources d’influence possibles. On ne sait pas encore si la communauté à Xichengyi a adopté les techniques de construction en briques crues depuis l’Asie centrale, mais les analyses microscopiques et granulométriques confirment que la seconde sorte de briques intègre de façon ingénieuse la technique de damage de la terre pratiquée en Chine.