bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Approach for Streaming Data Feature Extraction Based on Discrete Cosine Transform and Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Aydoğdu Özge , Ekinci Murat
Published: February 2020

Incremental feature extraction algorithms are designed to analyze large-scale data streams. Many of them suffer from high computational cost, time complexity, and data dependency, which adversely affects the processing of the data stream. With this motivation, this paper presents a novel incremental feature extraction approach based on the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) for the data stream. The proposed approach is separated into initial and sequential phases, and each phase uses a fixed-size windowing technique for processing the current samples. The initial phase is performed only on the first window to construct the initial model as a baseline. In this phase, normalization and DCT are applied to each sample in the window. Subsequently, the efficient feature subset is determined by a particle swarm optimization-based method. With the construction of the initial model, the sequential phase begins. The normalization and DCT processes are likewise applied to each sample. Afterward, the feature subset is selected according to the initial model. Finally, the k-nearest neighbor classifier is employed for classification. The approach is tested on the well-known streaming data sets and compared with state-of-the-art incremental feature extraction algorithms. The experimental studies demonstrate the proposed approach’s success in terms of recognition accuracy and learning time.
Recognition and Optimization Algorithms for P5-Free Graphs
Authors: Talmaciu Mihai , Dumitriu Luminiţa , Şuşnea Ioan , Lepin Victor , Iantovics László Barna
Published: February 2020

The weighted independent set problem on P 5 -free graphs has numerous applications, including data mining and dispatching in railways. The recognition of P 5 -free graphs is executed in polynomial time. Many problems, such as chromatic number and dominating set, are NP-hard in the class of P 5 -free graphs. The size of a minimum independent feedback vertex set that belongs to a P 5 -free graph with n vertices can be computed in O ( n 16 ) time. The unweighted problems, clique and clique cover, are NP-complete and the independent set is polynomial. In this work, the P 5 -free graphs using the weak decomposition are characterized, as is the dominating clique, and they are given an O ( n ( n + m ) ) recognition algorithm. Additionally, we calculate directly the clique number and the chromatic number; determine in O ( n ) time, the size of a minimum independent feedback vertex set; and determine in O ( n + m ) time the number of stability, the dominating number and the minimum clique cover.
A Robust Hybrid Iterative Linear Detector for Massive MIMO Uplink Systems
Authors: Albreem Mahmoud A. , Alsharif Mohammed H. , Kim Sunghwan
Published: February 2020

Fifth-generation (5G) communications system is commercially introduced by several mobile operators where sub-6 GHz bands are the backbone of the 5G networks. A large-scale multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), or massive MIMO (mMIMO), technology has a major impact to secure high data rate, high spectral efficiency, and quality of service (QoS). It could also have a major role in the beyond-5G systems. A massive number of antennas seek advanced signal processing to detect and equalize the signal. However, optimal detectors, such as the maximum likelihood (ML) and maximum posterior (MAP), are not desirable in implementation due to extremely high complexity. Therefore, sub-optimum solutions have been introduced to obtain and guarantee enough balance between the performance and the computational complexity. In this paper, a robust and joint low complexity detection algorithm is proposed based on the Jacobi (JA) and Gauss–Seidel (GS) methods. In such iterative methods, the performance, complexity, and convergence rate are highly dependent on the initial vector. In this paper, initial solution is proposed by exploiting the benefits of a stair matrix to obtain a fast convergence rate, high performance, and low complexity. Numerical results show that proposed algorithm achieves high accuracy and relieve the computational complexity even when the BS-to-user-antenna ratio (BUAR) is small.
Integrated Decision-Making Approach Based on SWARA and GRA Methods for the Prioritization of Failures in Solar Panel Systems under Z-Information
Authors: Jafarzadeh Ghoushchi Saeid , Ab Rahman Mohd Nizam , Raeisi Diba , Osgooei Elnaz , Jafarzadeh Ghoushji Majid
Published: February 2020

Encountering a problem or error in the final stages of providing products or services increases costs and delays scheduling. The key task is to ensure quality and reliability in the early stages of the production process and prevent errors from occurring from the beginning. Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is one of the tools for identifying potential problems and their impact on products and services. The conventional FMEA technique has been criticized extensively due to its disadvantages. In this study, the concepts of uncertainty and reliability are considered simultaneously. The processes of weighting risk factors, prioritizing failures by using the stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA)–gray relational analysis (GRA) integrated method based on Ζ-number theory and complete prioritization of failures are implemented. Crucial management indices, such as cost and time, are considered in addition to severity, occurrence and detection factors along with assigning symmetric form of the weights to them. This, in turn, increases the interpretability of results and reduces the decision-maker’s subjectivity in risk prioritization. The developed model is implemented on solar panel data with 19 failure modes determined by the FMEA team. Results show that the proposed approach provides a more complete and realistic prioritization of failures than conventional FMEA and fuzzy GRA methods do.
Symmetry of the Relativistic Two-Body Bound State
Authors: Horwitz L.P. , Arshansky R.I.
Published: February 2020

We show that in a relativistically covariant formulation of the two-body problem, the bound state spectrum is in agreement, up to relativistic corrections, with the non-relativistic bound-state spectrum. This solution is achieved by solving the problem with support of the wave functions in an O ( 2 , 1 ) invariant submanifold of the Minkowski spacetime. The O ( 3 , 1 ) invariance of the differential equation requires, however, that the solutions provide a representation of O ( 3 , 1 ) . Such solutions are obtained by means of the method of induced representations, providing a basic insight into the subject of the symmetries of relativistic dynamics.
A Shift-Dependent Measure of Extended Cumulative Entropy and Its Applications in Blind Image Quality Assessment
Authors: Tahmasebi Saeid , Keshavarz Ahmad , Longobardi Maria , Mohammadi Reza
Published: February 2020

Recently, Tahmasebi and Eskandarzadeh introduced a new extended cumulative entropy (ECE). In this paper, we present results on shift-dependent measure of ECE and its dynamic past version. These results contain stochastic order, upper and lower bounds, the symmetry property and some relationships with other reliability functions. We also discuss some properties of conditional weighted ECE under some assumptions. Finally, we propose a nonparametric estimator of this new measure and study its practical results in blind image quality assessment.
Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Quadrupole Orbitrap High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry for Multi-Residue Analysis of Mycotoxins and Pesticides in Botanical Nutraceuticals
Authors: Narváez Alfonso , Rodríguez-Carrasco Yelko , Castaldo Luigi , Izzo Luana , Ritieni Alberto
Published: February 2020

Cannabidiol (CBD) food supplements made of Cannabis sativa L. extracts have quickly become popular products due to their health-promoting effects. However, potential contaminants, such as mycotoxins and pesticides, can be coextracted during the manufacturing process and placed into the final product. Accordingly, a novel methodology using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was developed to quantify 16 mycotoxins produced by major C. sativa fungi, followed by a post-target screening of 283 pesticides based on a comprehensive spectral library. The validated procedure was applied to ten CBD-based products. Up to six different Fusarium mycotoxins were found in seven samples, the most prevalent being zearalenone (60%) and enniatin B1 (30%), both found at a maximum level of 11.6 ng/g. Co-occurrence was observed in four samples, including one with enniatin B1, enniatin A and enniatin A1. On the other hand, 46 different pesticides were detected after retrospective analysis. Ethoxyquin (50%), piperonyl butoxide (40%), simazine (30%) and cyanazine (30%) were the major residues found. These results highlight the necessity of monitoring contaminants in food supplements in order to ensure a safe consumption, even more considering the increase trend in their use. Furthermore, the developed procedure is proposed as a powerful analytical tool to evaluate the potential mycotoxin profile of these particular products.
Mitochondria and Lysosomes Participate in Vip3Aa-Induced Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 Cell Apoptosis
Authors: Hou Xiaoyue , Han Lu , An Baoju , Zhang Yanli , Cao Zhanglei , Zhan Yunda , Cai Xia , Yan Bing , Cai Jun
Published: February 2020

Vip3Aa, a soluble protein produced by certain Bacillus thuringiensis strains, is capable of inducing apoptosis in Sf9 cells. However, the apoptosis mechanism triggered by Vip3Aa is unclear. In this study, we found that Vip3Aa induces mitochondrial dysfunction, as evidenced by signs of collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, release of cytochrome c, and caspase-9 and -3 activation. Meanwhile, our results indicated that Vip3Aa reduces the ability of lysosomes in Sf9 cells to retain acridine orange. Moreover, pretreatment with Z-Phe-Tyr-CHO (a cathepsin L inhibitor) or pepstatin (a cathepsin D inhibitor) increased Sf9 cell viability, reduced cytochrome c release, and decreased caspase-9 and -3 activity. In conclusion, our findings suggested that Vip3Aa promotes Sf9 cell apoptosis by mitochondrial dysfunction, and lysosomes also play a vital role in the action of Vip3Aa.
Isolation, Molecular Identification, and Mycotoxin Production of Aspergillus Species Isolated from the Rhizosphere of Sugarcane in the South of Iran
Authors: Tavakol Noorabadi Maryam , Babaeizad Valiollah , Zare Rasoul , Asgari Bita , Haidukowski Miriam , Epifani Filomena , Stea Gaetano , Moretti Antonio , Logrieco Antonio Francesco , Susca Antonia
Published: February 2020

Knowledge of the genetic diversity detected among fungal species belonging to the genus Aspergillus is of key importance for explaining their important ecological role in the environment and agriculture. The current study aimed to identify Aspergillus species occurring in the rhizosphere of sugarcane in the South of Iran, and to investigate their mycotoxin profiles. One-hundred and twenty-five Aspergillus strains were isolated from the soil of eight major sugarcane-producing sites, and were molecularly identified using sequences of partial -tubulin (benA) and partial calmodulin (CaM) genes. Our molecular and phylogenetic results showed that around 70% of strains belonged to the Aspergillus section Nigri, and around 25% of species belonged to the Aspergillus section Terrei. Species belonging to both sections are able to produce different mycotoxins. The production of mycotoxins was measured for each species, according to their known mycotoxin profile: patulin (PAT) and sterigmatocystin (STG) for Aspergillus terreus; ochratoxin A (OTA) and fumonisins for Aspergillus welwitschiae; and OTA alone for Aspergillus tubingensis. The data showed that the production of OTA was detected in only 4 out of 10 strains of A. welwitschiae, while none of the A. tubingensis strains analyzed produced the mycotoxin. Fumonisins were produced by 8 out of 10 strains of A. welwitschiae. Finally, none of the 23 strains of A. terreus produced STG, while 13 of them produced PAT. The occurrence of such mycotoxigenic plant pathogens among the fungal community occurring in soil of sugarcane fields may represent a significant source of inoculum for the possible colonization of sugarcane plants, since the early stages of plant growth, due to the mycotoxin production capability, could have worrisome implications in terms of both the safety and loss of products at harvest.
Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Long-Term Outcomes of Snakebite in Taiwan
Authors: Huang Teng-I , Hsieh Ching-Liang
Published: February 2020

Herein, we review the characteristics of the six predominant venomous snakes in Taiwan and the effects of traditional Chinese medicine on the long-term outcomes of snakebite venom. We electronically searched databases, including PubMed, ClinicalKey, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations in Taiwan, and Airiti Library, from their inception to November 2019 by using the following Medical Subject Headings’ keywords: snakebite, long-term, chronic, Chinese medicine, CAM, herb, and Taiwan. The most common long-term effects of snakebite envenomation include “migraine-like syndrome”, brain injuries caused by hypoxia or intracranial hemorrhage, and chronic kidney disease. In addition, hypopituitarism is also worth mentioning. Traditional Chinese medicine can potentially be used in a complementary or alternative treatment for these effects, but additional studies are needed.
Toxicity Characterisation of Gambierdiscus Species from the Canary Islands
Authors: Rossignoli Araceli E. , Tudó Angels , Bravo Isabel , Díaz Patricio A. , Diogène Jorge , Riobó Pilar
Published: February 2020

In the last decade, several outbreaks of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) have been reported in the Canary Islands (central northeast Atlantic Ocean), confirming ciguatera as an emerging alimentary risk in this region. Five Gambierdiscus species, G. australes, G. excentricus, G. silvae, G. carolinianus and G. caribaeus, have been detected in macrophytes from this area and are known to produce the ciguatoxins (CTXs) that cause CFP. A characterization of the toxicity of these species is the first step in identifying locations in the Canary Islands at risk of CFP. Therefore, in this study the toxicity of 63 strains of these five Gambierdiscus species were analysed using the erythrocyte lysis assay to evaluate their maitotoxin (MTX) content. In addition, 20 of the strains were also analysed in a neuroblastoma Neuro-2a (N2a) cytotoxicity assay to determine their CTX-like toxicity. The results allowed the different species to be grouped according to their ratios of CTX-like and MTX-like toxicity. MTX-like toxicity was especially high in G. excentricus and G. australes but much lower in the other species and lowest in G. silvae. CTX-like toxicity was highest in G. excentricus, which produced the toxin in amounts ranging between 128.2 ± 25.68 and 510.6 ± 134.2 fg CTX1B equivalents (eq) cell−1 (mean ± SD). In the other species, CTX concentrations were as follows: G. carolinianus (100.84 ± 18.05 fg CTX1B eq cell−1), G. australes (31.1 ± 0.56 to 107.16 ± 21.88 fg CTX1B eq cell−1), G. silvae (12.19 ± 0.62 to 76.79 ± 4.97 fg CTX1B eq cell−1) and G. caribaeus (<LOD to 90.37 ± 15.89 fg CTX1B eq cell−1). Unlike the similar CTX-like toxicity of G. australes and G. silvae strains from different locations, G. excentricus and G. caribaeus differed considerably according to the origin of the strain. These differences emphasise the importance of species identification to assess the regional risk of CFP.
Genomic and Metabolomic Analyses of Natural Products in Nodularia spumigena Isolated from a Shrimp Culture Pond
Authors: Popin Rafael Vicentini , Delbaje Endrews , Abreu Vinicius Augusto Carvalho de , Rigonato Janaina , Dörr Felipe Augusto , Pinto Ernani , Sivonen Kaarina , Fiore Marli Fatima
Published: February 2020

The bloom-forming cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena CENA596 encodes the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) of the known natural products nodularins, spumigins, anabaenopeptins/namalides, aeruginosins, mycosporin-like amino acids, and scytonemin, along with the terpenoid geosmin. Targeted metabolomics confirmed the production of these metabolic compounds, except for the alkaloid scytonemin. Genome mining of N. spumigena CENA596 and its three closely related Nodularia strains—two planktonic strains from the Baltic Sea and one benthic strain from Japanese marine sediment—revealed that the number of BGCs in planktonic strains was higher than in benthic one. Geosmin—a volatile compound with unpleasant taste and odor—was unique to the Brazilian strain CENA596. Automatic annotation of the genomes using subsystems technology revealed a related number of coding sequences and functional roles. Orthologs from the Nodularia genomes are involved in the primary and secondary metabolisms. Phylogenomic analysis of N. spumigena CENA596 based on 120 conserved protein sequences positioned this strain close to the Baltic Nodularia. Phylogeny of the 16S rRNA genes separated the Brazilian CENA596 strain from those of the Baltic Sea, despite their high sequence identities (99% identity, 100% coverage). The comparative analysis among planktic Nodularia strains showed that their genomes were considerably similar despite their geographically distant origin.
Assessment of the Effect of Satureja montana and Origanum virens Essential Oils on Aspergillus flavus Growth and Aflatoxin Production at Different Water Activities
Authors: García-Díaz Marta , Gil-Serna Jessica , Patiño Belén , García-Cela Esther , Magan Naresh , Medina Ángel
Published: February 2020

Aflatoxin contamination of foodstuffs poses a serious risk to food security, and it is essential to search for new control methods to prevent these toxins entering the food chain. Several essential oils are able to reduce the growth and mycotoxin biosynthesis of toxigenic species, although their efficiency is strongly influenced by the environmental conditions. In this work, the effectiveness of Satureja montana and Origanum virens essential oils to control Aspergillus flavus growth was evaluated under three water activity levels (0.94, 0.96 and 0.98 aw) using a Bioscreen C, a rapid in vitro spectrophotometric technique. The aflatoxin concentrations at all conditions tested were determined by HPLC-FLD. Aspergillus flavus growth was delayed by both essential oil treatments. However, only S. montana essential oil was able to significantly affect aflatoxin production, although the inhibition percentages widely differed among water activities. The most significant reduction was observed at 0.96 aw, which is coincident with the conditions in which A. flavus reached the highest levels of aflatoxin production. On the contrary, the treatment with S. montana essential oil was not effective in significantly reducing aflatoxin production at 0.94 aw. Therefore, it is important to study the interaction of the new control compounds with environmental factors before their application in food matrices, and in vitro ecophysiological studies are a good option since they provide accurate and rapid results.
Selenium Yeast Alleviates Ochratoxin A-Induced Hepatotoxicity via Modulation of the PI3K/AKT and Nrf2/Keap1 Signaling Pathways in Chickens
Authors: Li Peng , Li Kang , Zou Chao , Tong Cui , Sun Lin , Cao Zhongjun , Yang Shuhua , Lyu Qiufeng
Published: February 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of selenium yeast (Se-Y) against hepatotoxicity induced by ochratoxin A (OTA). The OTA-induced liver injury model was established in chickens by daily oral gavage of 50 µg/kg OTA for 21 days. Serum biochemistry analysis, antioxidant analysis, as well as the qRT-PCR and Western blot (WB) analyses were then used to evaluate oxidative damage and apoptosis in chicken liver tissue. The results showed that Se-Y significantly increased liver coefficient induced by OTA (P < 0.05). OTA + Se-Y treated group revealed that Se-Y reduced the OTA-induced increase in glutamic pyruvic transaminase (ALT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST) and malonaldehyde (MDA) content, and reversed the decrease in antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) (P < 0.05). In this study, we found that OTA is involved in the mRNA expression levels about Nrf2/Keap1 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, such as oxidative stress-related genes (Nrf2, GSH-Px, GLRX2 and Keap1) and apoptosis-related genes (Bax, Caspase3, P53, AKT, PI3K and Bcl-2). Besides, significant downregulations of protein expression of HO-1, MnSOD, Nrf2 and Bcl-2, as well as a significant upregulation of Caspase3 and Bax levels were observed after contaminated with OTA (P < 0.05). Notably, OTA-induced apoptosis and oxidative damage in the liver of chickens were reverted back to normal level in the OTA + Se-Y group. Our findings indicate that pretreatment with Se-Y effectively ameliorates OTA-induced hepatotoxicity.
Baseline Amino Acid Substitutions in the NS5A ISDR and PKR Binding Domain of Hepatitis C and Different Fibrosis Levels and Levels of Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients Treated with DAAs
Authors: Paolucci Stefania , Piralla Antonio , Novazzi Federica , Fratini Alice , Maserati Renato , Gulminetti Roberto , Novati Stefano , Barbarini Giorgio , Sacchi Paolo , De Silvestri Annalisa , Baldanti Fausto
Published: February 2020

Variations in the interferon sensitivity-determining region (ISDR) within the NS5A region were related to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The aim of the study was to investigate a relationship between ISDR/PKR substitutions and their association with liver fibrosis or HCC development. A total of 316 patients infected with HCV and treated with DAAs were evaluated. HCV RNA was quantified and sequenced before treatment. The liver fibrosis stage was assessed by transient elastography and equalized to METAVIR scores. Multivariate analysis showed that ≥3 substitutions in ISDR and ≥6 in PKR-bd were significantly associated with advanced fibrosis. Advanced fibrosis was observed in patients with higher substitutions in ISDR and PKR-bd. A higher correlation between advanced fibrosis and a high frequency of ≥3 substitutions in ISDR and ≥6 in PKR-bd was observed in patients infected with genotype 2c. In addition, in a higher proportion of HCC patients, advanced fibrosis (40.4% vs. 88.2%; p < 0.001) and ≥6 substitutions in PKR-bd (15.4% vs. 41.2%; p = 0.01) was observed. In conclusion, a higher number of substitutions in ISDR and PKR-bd were associated with advanced liver fibrosis, suggesting a use of like predictors for progression in the liver damage. A significantly higher number of PKR-bd substitutions was observed in HCC patients; in particular, in patients infected with HCV genotype 2c.
Seeking Common Ground in Dryland Systems: Steps Towards Adaptive Water Governance
Authors: Lopez Porras Gabriel , Stringer Lindsay C. , Quinn Claire H.
Published: February 2020

Drylands are exposed to climate stressors, such as water scarcity, as well as societal stressors, including conflicts, which can make water governance unsuitable for the system’s context. The emergence of adaptive water governance often takes places in these challenging contexts, but the process of achieving this style of governance requires a better consideration of system complexities. Using the Rio del Carmen watershed in Mexico as a case study, with primary data obtained through a questionnaire survey carried out with 217 farmers, this paper aims to identify the main complexities and needs to enable the emergence of adaptive water governance. We found that different groups of farmers converge in identifying system stressors and the main needs regarding water governance; yet, the ways these stressors are perceived differ between groups. The results indicate that contrasting perceptions are shaped by the different cultural roots and environmental conditions in the upper and lower parts of the watershed. This variation increases the difficulty in achieving collaboration and compromise when conflicts ensue. Reducing inequalities in the awareness of system stressors has the potential to enable adaptive water governance. This could be achieved through a peacebuilding technique with an appropriate cultural approach for the watershed’s context in the early stages of a stakeholder engagement process.
Short-Term Optimal Operation of Baluchaung II Hydropower Plant in Myanmar
Authors: Li Jiqing , Moe Saw May Myat , Chen Siyu , Yu Hongjie
Published: February 2020

The short-term optimal operation model discussed in this paper uses the 2016 to 2018 daily and monthly data of Baluchaung II hydropower station to optimize power generation by minimizing water consumption effectively in order to get more revenue from optimal operation. In the first stage, run-off-river type Baluchaung II hydropower station data was applied in a mathematical model of equal micro-increment rate method for optimal hydropower generation flow distribution unit results. In the second stage, dynamic programming was used to get optimal hydropower generation unit distribution results. The resultant data indicated that optimized results can effectively guide the actual operation run of this power station. The purpose of the optimal load dispatching unit was to consider the optimal power of each unit for financial profit and numerical programming on the actual data of Baluchaung II hydropower plant to confirm that our methods are able to find good optimal solutions which satisfy the objective values of 17.75% in flow distribution units and 24.16% in load distribution units.
A Deterministic Monte Carlo Simulation Framework for Dam Safety Flow Control Assessment
Authors: King Leanna M. , Simonovic Slobodan P.
Published: February 2020

Simulation has become more widely applied for analysis of dam safety flow control in recent years. Stochastic simulation has proven to be a useful tool that allows for easy estimation of the overall probability of dam overtopping failure. However, it is difficult to analyze “uncommon combinations of events” with a stochastic approach given current computing abilities, because (a) the likelihood of these combinations of events is small, and (b) there may not be enough simulated instances of these rare scenarios to determine their criticality. In this research, a Deterministic Monte Carlo approach is presented, which uses an exhaustive list of possible combinations of events (scenarios) as a deterministic input. System dynamics simulation is used to model the dam system interactions so that low-level events within the system can be propagated through the model to determine high-level system outcomes. Monte Carlo iterations are performed for each input scenario. A case study is presented with results from a single example scenario to demonstrate how the simulation framework can be used to estimate the criticality parameters for each combination of events simulated. The approach can analyze these rare events in a thorough and systematic way, providing a better coverage of the possibility space as well as valuable insights into system vulnerabilities.
Transformation of the Flow Regime of a Large Allochthonous River in Central Europe—An Example of the Vistula River in Poland
Authors: Wrzesiński Dariusz , Sobkowiak Leszek
Published: February 2020

Identification of river flow regime and its possible changes caused by natural factors or human activity is one of major issues in modern hydrology. In such studies different approaches and different indicators can be used. The aim of this study is to determine changes in flow regime of the largest river in Poland—the Vistula, using new, more objectified coefficients and indices, based on data recorded in 22 gauges on the Vistula mainstream and 38 gauges on its tributaries in the multi-year period 1971–2010. The paper consists of three main parts: in the first part, in order to recognize changes in the flow regime characteristics along the Vistula, data from gauges located on the river mainstream were analyzed with the help of the theory of entropy. In the second part gauging stations on the Vistula mainstream and its tributaries were grouped; values of the newly introduced pentadic Pardé’s coefficient of flow (discharge) (PPC) were taken as the grouping criterion. In the third part of the study a novel method of determining river regime characteristics was applied: through the recognition of the temporal structure of hydrological phenomena and their changes in the annual cycle sequences of hydrological periods (characteristic phases of the hydrological cycle) on the Vistula River mainstream and its tributaries were identified and their occurrence in the yearly cycle was discussed. Based on the detected changes of the 73-pentad Pardé’s coefficients of flow four main types of rivers were distinguished. Transformation of the flow regime was reflected in the identified different sequences of hydrological periods in the average annual cycle. It was found that while transformation of the Vistula River regime occurred along its whole course, the most frequent changes were detected in its upper, mountainous reaches, under the influence of the flow characteristics of its tributaries. This allowed the Vistula to be considered the allochthonous river. These findings are interesting not only from a theoretical point of view, but they also can be valuable to stakeholders in the field of the Vistula River basin water management and hydrological forecasting, including flood protection, which has recently become a matter of growing concern due to the observed effects of climate change and human impact.
Quantifying the Impacts of Climate Change and Vegetation Variation on Actual Evapotranspiration Based on the Budyko Hypothesis in North and South Panjiang Basin, China
Authors: Li Tiansheng , Xia Jun , She Dunxian , Cheng Lei , Zou Lei , Liu Bojun
Published: February 2020

Actual evapotranspiration (Ea) plays a key role in the global water and energy cycles. The accurate quantification of the impacts of different factors on Ea change can help us better understand the driving mechanisms of Ea in a changing environment. Climate change and vegetation variations are well known as two main factors that have significant impacts on Ea change. Our study used three differential Budyko-type equations to quantify the contributions of climate change and vegetation variations to Ea change. First, in order to establish the relationship between the parameter n, which usually presents the land surface characteristics in the Budyko-type equations, with basic climatic variables and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the stepwise linear regression method has been used. Then, elasticity and contribution analyses were performed to quantify the contributions of different numbers of climatic factors and NDVI to Ea change. The North and South Panjiang basin in China was selected to investigate the efficiency of the modified Budyko-type equations and quantify the impacts of climate change and vegetation variations on Ea change. The empirical formal of the parameter n established in this study can be used to simulate the parameter n and Ea for the study area. The results of the elasticity and contribution analyses suggest that climate change contributed (whose average contribution is 149.6%) more to Ea change than vegetation variation (whose average contribution is −49.4%). Precipitation, NDVI and the maximum temperature are the major drivers of Ea change, while the minimum temperature and wind speed contribute the least to Ea change.
Investigation of Ocean-Wave-Focusing Characteristics Induced by a Submerged Crescent-Shaped Plate for Long-Crested Waves
Authors: Li Chi-Yu , Shih Ruey-Syan , Weng Wen-Kai
Published: February 2020

The need for renewable energy has gained importance with growing concerns about climate change. Wave energy has attracted considerable attention owing to its sustainability potential. Reflection, refraction, diffraction, and shoaling of waves occur when waves propagate through a submerged structure. These mechanics, when properly utilized, can be employed to focus waves to a specific location and also to increase wave heights, by which wave energy is usually represented, for planning and designing wave farms. Wave focusing induced by a submerged crescent-shaped plate for different wave conditions, incident wave directions, and submerged depths mainly considering the potential applications of absorber wave-energy converters within the wave farm was investigated experimentally and numerically. All experimental regular wave conditions were controlled to be nonbreaking, and the numerical results were obtained by a 3D model, implemented through the boundary element method based on Airy wave theory. The results show that wave focusing appears behind the plate along the direction of the incident waves, and the locations of focused waves tend to be farther away from the plate for shorter-period waves. The maximum measured wave height can be 3.44 times higher than the incident wave height.
Effects of Capping Strategy and Water Balance on Salt Movement in Oil Sands Reclamation Soils
Authors: Li Xiaopeng , Ma Bin , Drozdowski Bonnie , Salifu Francis , Chang Scott X.
Published: February 2020

The success of oil sands reclamation can be impacted by soil salinity depending on the materials used for soil reconstruction and the capping strategies applied. Using both a greenhouse-based column experiment and numerical modeling, we examined the potential pathways of salt migration from saline groundwater into the rooting zone under different capping strategies (the type and the thickness of the barrier layer) and water balance scenarios. The experimental results showed that there would be salinity issues in the cover soil within several growing seasons if there was a shallow saline groundwater table and if the soil was not properly reconstructed. The thickness of the barrier layer was the most significant factor affecting the upward movement of saline groundwater and salt accumulation in the cover soil. The suitable thickness of the barrier layer for preventing the upward movement of saline groundwater and salt accumulation in the cover soil for each material varied. A numerical simulation for a 15-year period further indicates that, when the cover soil was 50 cm of peat-mineral soil mix and when wet, dry, or normal climatic conditions were considered, the minimum barrier thickness to restrain salt intrusion into the cover soil in the long term was about 75 or 200 cm for coarse tailings sand or overburden barrier material, respectively. In view of the above, to minimize salt migration into the rooting zone and ensure normal plant growth, oil sands reclamation should consider salt migration when designing soil capping strategies.
Improving Irrigation Scheduling Using MOSES Short-Term Irrigation Forecasts and In Situ Water Resources Measurements on Alluvial Soils of Lower Danube Floodplain, Romania
Authors: Chitu Zenaida , Tomei Fausto , Villani Giulia , Di Felice Alessandro , Zampelli Giovanni , Paltineanu Ioan Caton , Visinescu Ioan , Dumitrescu Alexandru , Bularda Marcel , Neagu Dumitru , Costache Romulus , Luca Ecaterina
Published: February 2020

In recent decades, water scarcity has become a frequent and widespread phenomenon. Intensification of water scarcity will have economic impact on the main water-using sectors. The highest pressure on the water resources is exerted by agriculture. Irrigation is the largest consumer of the agriculture sector and the efficient use of water is of utmost importance. The aim of this study is to explore the capability of an innovative platform that combines Earth Observation data, weather forecasts and numerical simulations to plan more precisely water allocation in space and time in the irrigated agriculture. This platform, created in the framework of MOSES, provides in Romania short-term irrigation forecasts adapted to the hydrological behavior of alluvial soils specific to the Lower Danube Floodplain. The short-term irrigation forecasts have been tested with applied water volumes and in situ water resources measurements in order to assess the water allocation in the irrigated agriculture. Although irrigation forecast was run operationally only one crop year (2017–2018), in the framework of MOSES Project, the comparison revealed that the irrigation scheduling in this area is more influenced by the infrastructure characteristics and less by the spatial distribution of crop water needs and availability of water resources. Our results show that short-term irrigation forecasts accompanied by real time monitoring of water resources could be successfully used in the irrigation scheduling activity for improving water allocation in space and time in the irrigated agriculture.
An Integral 1-D Eulerian–Lagrangian Method and Its Application to a Hydrodynamic River Network
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Zhou Jianzhong , Hu Dechao , Zhu Sipeng
Published: February 2020

It is difficult for a one-dimensional river network hydrodynamic model to manage bifurcations. Traditional methods use simplified junction methods to avoid solving physical equations at bifurcations, which can cause physical distortions and errors. In this article, we propose an algorithm that allows a Eulerian–Lagrangian method (ELM) to track through bifurcations then solve advective terms, in combination with velocity–pressure couplings, to solve physical equations at bifurcations. The new method discards the simplifications and assumptions used by traditional models and is more complete in theory. We tested the new method with two ideal examples, and the results showed that the new method is time-step independent and grid independent. A simple bifurcation was used to compare this method with MIKE11.
A New Method to Determine the Spatial Sensitivity of Time Domain Reflectometry Probes Based on Three-Dimensional Weighting Theory
Authors: Qin Peng-Ju , Liu Zhang-Rong , Lai Xiao-Ling , Wang Yong-Bao , Song Zhi-Wei , Miao Chen-Xi
Published: February 2020

The time domain reflectometry (TDR) method has been widely used to measure soil water content for agriculture and engineering applications. Quick design and optimization of the probe is crucial to achieving practical utilization. Generally, the two-dimensional weighting theory, calculation of the spatial sensitivity of TDR probes in the plane transverse to the direction of electromagnetic wave propagation, and relevant numerical simulation techniques can be used to solve any issues. However, it is difficult to tackle specific problems such as complex probe shape, end effect, and so forth. In order to solve these issues, a method including a three-dimensional weighting theory and the relevant numerical simulation technique was proposed and verified to confirm the feasibility of this method by means of comparing the existing experimental results and the computational values. First, a shaft probe was used to determine the impact of the shaft on the effective dielectric constant of the probe. Then, three-rod probes were calibrated by a sample with a special shape and water-level variations around the probe using the proposed method to determine the values of the apparent dielectric constant. Besides, model boundary size and end effect were also considered in the computation of dielectric constants. Results showed that compared with the experimental and computational data, the newly proposed method calculated the measurement sensitivity of the shaft probes well. In addition, it was observed that experiment dielectric constant values were slightly different from computational ones, not only using a vertical probe but also horizonal probe. Moreover, it was also found that there was a slight influence of sample shape and end effect on the apparent dielectric constant, but model boundary size has a certain impact on the values. Overall, the new method can provide benefits in the design and optimization of the probe.
Comparative Evaluation of the GPM IMERG Early, Late, and Final Hourly Precipitation Products Using the CMPA Data over Sichuan Basin of China
Authors: Tang Shunxian , Li Rui , He Jianxin , Wang Hao , Fan Xingang , Yao Shuangyu
Published: February 2020

The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission has generated global precipitation products of improved accuracy and coverage that are promising for advanced hydrological and meteorological studies. This study evaluates three Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) Hourly products, including the Early-, Late-, and Final-run products (IMERG-HE, IMERG-HL, and IMERG-HF, respectively), over Sichuan Basin of China. This highly complex terrain of the steep mountainous region offers further scrutiny on the quality and applicability of the data. The China Meteorological Precipitation Analysis (CMPA) data from January 2016 to December 2018 are used as the reference for the evaluation. Results show that: (1) At grid scale, IMERG-HL and IMERG-HF outperform IMERG-HE in terms of correlation coefficient (CC) and root-mean-square error (RMSE), but IMERG-HL has smaller relative bias (RB) than that of the IMERG-HF (by 21.16%). IMERG-HF presents the highest probability of detection (POD = 0.52) and critical success index (CSI = 0.32), except for high false alarm ratio (FAR) for light precipitation. (2) At regional scale, IMERG-HF outperforms IMERG-HE and IMERG-HL in annual evaluation in all the metrics except for the serious overestimation as shown in RB (20.18%, 3.84%, and 4.97%, respectively). Its accumulative precipitation deviation mainly comes from moderate precipitation events (1–10 mm/h), while better detection capability is seen in light precipitation (<1 mm/h). Seasonally, IMERG-HF performs the best in winter, while IMERG-HL performs the best in the other seasons. (3) IMERG-HF captures the peak precipitation more accurately in all seasons. In reproducing the diurnal cycle, IMERG-HF performs better in winter, while IMERG-HL performs better in summer and autumn, and IMERG-HE in spring. However, all three products overestimate the early morning precipitation (01:00–08:00 local standard time) of the diurnal cycle in spring, summer, and autumn.
High-Resolution, In Situ Monitoring of Stable Isotopes of Water Revealed Insight into Hydrological Response Behavior
Authors: Sahraei Amir , Kraft Philipp , Windhorst David , Breuer Lutz
Published: February 2020

High temporal resolution (20-min intervals) measurements of stable isotopes from groundwater, stream water and precipitation were investigated to understand the hydrological response behavior and control of precipitation and antecedent wetness conditions on runoff generation. Data of 20 precipitation events were collected by a self-sufficient mobile system for in situ measurements over four months in the Schwingbach Environmental Observatory (SEO, temperate climate), Germany. Isotopic hydrograph separation indicated that more than 79% of the runoff consisted of pre-event water. Short response times of maximum event water fractions in stream water and groundwater revealed that shallow subsurface flow pathways rapidly delivered water to the stream. Macropore and soil pipe networks along relatively flat areas in stream banks were likely relevant pathways for the rapid transmission of water. Event water contribution increased with increasing precipitation amount. Pre-event water contribution was moderately affected by precipitation, whereas, the antecedent wetness conditions were not strong enough to influence pre-event water contribution. The response time was controlled by mean precipitation intensity. A two-phase system was identified, at which the response times of stream water and groundwater decreased after reaching a threshold of mean precipitation intensity of 0.5 mm h−1. Our results suggest that high temporal resolution measurements of stable isotopes of multiple water sources combined with hydrometrics improve the understanding of the hydrological response behavior and runoff generation mechanisms.
Recent Advances in Real-Time Pluvial Flash Flood Forecasting
Authors: Zanchetta Andre , Coulibaly Paulin
Published: February 2020

Recent years have witnessed considerable developments in multiple fields with the potential to enhance our capability of forecasting pluvial flash floods, one of the most costly environmental hazards in terms of both property damage and loss of life. This work provides a summary and description of recent advances related to insights on atmospheric conditions that precede extreme rainfall events, to the development of monitoring systems of relevant hydrometeorological parameters, and to the operational adoption of weather and hydrological models towards the prediction of flash floods. With the exponential increase of available data and computational power, most of the efforts are being directed towards the improvement of multi-source data blending and assimilation techniques, as well as assembling approaches for uncertainty estimation. For urban environments, in which the need for high-resolution simulations demands computationally expensive systems, query-based approaches have been explored for the timely retrieval of pre-simulated flood inundation forecasts. Within the concept of the Internet of Things, the extensive deployment of low-cost sensors opens opportunities from the perspective of denser monitoring capabilities. However, different environmental conditions and uneven distribution of data and resources usually leads to the adoption of site-specific solutions for flash flood forecasting in the context of early warning systems.
Beach-Foredune Sediment Budget Response to Sea Level Fluctuation. Curonian Spit, Lithuania
Authors: Jarmalavičius Darius , Pupienis Donatas , Žilinskas Gintautas , Janušaitė Rasa , Karaliūnas Viktoras
Published: February 2020

Beach-foredune sediment exchange maintains a coastal system’s stability. Sea level fluctuation is one of the most important factors that modifies the beach and foredune sediment budget. This study aims to assess beach and foredune sand budget changes depending on sea level fluctuations. On the basis of annual measurements of cross-shore profiles on the Curonian Spit in Lithuania, the sediment volumes on the beach and foredune and their changes between 2002 and 2019 were calculated. The sea level fluctuations were examined in parallel. The obtained data revealed that in the case of a sand surplus, a relatively low sea level rise does not have a significant impact on the development of a foredune (and a minimal impact on a beach) on a decadal time-scale. Short-term sea level fluctuations are reflected in year-to-year variability in a beach sediment budget. However, no significant relationship between year-to-year variability in sea level fluctuation and the foredune sediment budget has yet been identified, nor is there a reliable year-to-year variability relationship between the foredune and beach sediment budget. The foredune sediment budget remained positive both through an increase and a reduction in the sediment volume on the beach.