bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast Identification Method of Mine Water Source Based on Laser-Induced Fluorescence Technology and Optimized LSTM
Authors: Yan Pengcheng , Zhang Xiaofei , Kan Xuyue , Zhang Heng , Qi Runsheng , Huang Qingyun
Published: February 2023

There is a great threat to the production safety of coal mines caused by mine water disasters. Traditional identification methods are not adapted to the efficiency of today’s coal mining and do not offer the advantage of accurate detection in real-time. In this study, the Mayfly Algorithm (MA) was used to optimize the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network, combined with laser-induced fluorescence technology, to apply it to the identification of mine water sources for the prevention of mine water disasters and post-disaster relief work. Taking sandstone water and goaf water as the original samples, five mixed water samples were also prepared by mixing the sandstone water and goaf water in different proportions, giving a total of seven water samples to be tested. Laser-induced fluorescence technology was used to obtain the fluorescence spectral data of water samples, and then the Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) dimensionality reduction algorithm and the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) dimensionality reduction algorithm were used to reduce the dimensions of the original spectral data. Then, three architectures, including LSTM, GA-LSTM (optimization of the LSTM by genetic algorithm) and MA-LSTM were designed to identify mine water sources. Finally, from the results’ analysis, MA-LSTM performs best in many aspects after PCA dimensionality reduction and has the best identification effect. These results supported the feasibility of the novel method.
Comparison of Machine Learning and Traditional Statistical Methods in Debris Flow Susceptibility Assessment: A Case Study of Changping District, Beijing
Authors: Gu Feifan , Chen Jianping , Sun Xiaohui , Li Yongchao , Zhang Yiwei , Wang Qing
Published: February 2023

As a common geological hazard, debris flow is widely distributed around the world. Meanwhile, due to the influence of many factors such as geology, geomorphology and climate, the occurrence frequency and main inducing factors are different in different places. Therefore, the evaluation of debris flow sensitivity can provide a very important theoretical basis for disaster prevention and control. In this research, 43 debris flow gullies in Changping District, Beijing were cataloged and studied through field surveys and the 3S technology (GIS (Geography Information Systems), GPS (Global Positioning Systems), RS (Remote Sensing)). Eleven factors, including elevation, slope, plane curvature, profile curvature, roundness, geomorphic information entropy, TWI, SPI, TCI, NDVI and rainfall, were selected to establish a comprehensive evaluation index system. The watershed unit is directly related to the development and activities of debris flow, which can fully reflect the geomorphic and geological environment of debris flow. Therefore, the watershed unit was selected as the basic mapping unit to establish four evaluation models, namely ACA–PCA–FR (Analytic Hierarchy Process–Principal Component Analysis–Frequency Ratio), FR (Frequency Ratio), SVM (Support Vector Machines) and LR (Logistic Regression). In other words, this research evaluates debris flow susceptibility by comparingit with two traditional weight methods (ACA–PCA–FR and FR) and two machine learning methods (SVM and LR). The results show that the SVM evaluation model is superior to the other three models, and thevalueofthe area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) is 0.889 from the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). It verifies that the SVM model has strong adaptability to small sample data. The study was divided into five regions, which were very low, low, moderate, high and very high, accounting for 22.31%, 25.04%, 17.66%, 18.85% and 16.14% of the total study area, respectively, by SVM model. The results obtained in this researchagree with the actual survey results, and can provide theoretical help for disaster prevention and reduction projects.
Response Surface Optimization and Floc Structure Analysis of Magnetic Flocculation Technology for Anaerobic Digestion Reject Water
Authors: Xu Bo , Chi Yongzhi , Chi Yiyang , Zhao Jianhai , Fu Cuilian , Wang Xueke , Tian Sufeng , Ding Yanmei
Published: February 2023

In order to improve the removal efficiencies of SS and Fe3+ in anaerobic digestion reject water for the subsequent biological treatment process, on the basis of the single factor test in the early stage, the response surface method was used, and the structure of the formed floc was analyzed by magnetic flocculation. The optimum amounts of magnetic powder, polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and polyacrylamide (PAM) were 40.51 mg/L, 31.31 mg/L and 4.05 mg/L, respectively. At this time, the removal efficiencies of SS and Fe3+ were 97.84% and 98.35%. The effects of floc particle size, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and two-dimensional fractal dimension of flocs on the flocculation ability showed that: compared with conventional coagulation, the average particle size of flocs treated by magnetic flocculation was 76.56 μm, the Fe-O-Al absorption peak appeared at 984 cm−1, the flocculation ability was significantly improved, the surface of the floc was rough and porous, and the structure was dense, and the sedimentation performance was significantly improved also.
Focal Mechanisms and Stress Field Characteristics of Microearthquakes in Baihetan Reservoir in the Downstream Area of Jinsha River
Authors: Guo Wei , Zhao Cuiping
Published: February 2023

The Baihetan Reservoir was impounded on 6 April 2021, after which the water level rose significantly. Notably, after one week of impoundment, microseismic activities were prominent around the reservoir area, which was highly associated with the water level change. From 6 April 2021 to 31 December 2021, over 7000 microearthquakes were recorded by the seismic stations in the vicinity of the reservoir, including 12 ML > 3 events. The maximum was the 21 December 2021 ML3.9 earthquake in Qiluogou town, Sichuan. The post-impoundment seismic events were clustered in Hulukou town in the Qiaojia Basin, with an overall “Y-shaped” pattern. In this study, taking advantage of the high-frequency waveform matching approach, the pre- and post-impoundment focal mechanism solutions totaling 207 ML > 2 earthquakes are successfully obtained. The impoundment-induced stress change is analyzed, and the iterative joint inversion method is used to invert the stress field. Major results and conclusions include the following: (1) After impoundment, the number of normal fault earthquakes remarkably increased in the reservoir area; (2) Impoundment has led to a vertical compressive stress field and horizontal tensile stress field in the area where microearthquakes occurred. It is necessary to pay close attention to possible moderate-to-strong earthquakes in the future.
Predicting Influent and Effluent Quality Parameters for a UASB-Based Wastewater Treatment Plant in Asia Covering Data Variations during COVID-19: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Yadav Parul , Chandra Manik , Fatima Nishat , Sarwar Saqib , Chaudhary Aditya , Saurabh Kumar , Yadav Brijesh Singh
Published: February 2023

A region’s population growth inevitably results in higher water consumption. This persistent rise in water use increases the region’s wastewater production. Consequently, due to this increase in wastewater (influent), Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) are required to run effectively in order to handle the huge demand for treated/processed water (effluent). Knowing in advance the influent and effluent parameters increases the operational efficiency and enables cost-effective utilization of diverse resources at wastewater treatment plants. This paper is based on a prediction/forecasting of an influent quality parameter, namely total MLD, as well as effluent quality parameters, namely MPN, BOD, DO, COD and pH for the real-time data collected pre-, during and post-COVID-19 at the Bharwara WWTP in Lucknow, India. It is the largest UASB-based wastewater treatment facility in Uttar Pradesh and the second largest in Asia. In this paper, we propose a novel model namely, wPred comprising extensions of SARIMA with seasonal order and ANN-based ML models to estimate the influent and effluent quality parameters, respectively, and compare it with the existing machine learning models. The lowest sMAPE error for the influent parameters using wPred is 2.59%. The findings of the paper show a strong correlation (R-value), up to 0.99, between the effluent parameters actually measured and predicted. As a result, the model designed in this paper has an acceptable level of accuracy and generalizability which efficiently predicts/forecasts the performance of Bharwara WWTP.
Towards a Combined Physical and Social Evaluation of Climate Vulnerability in Coastal Urban Megacities
Authors: Kantamaneni Komali , Li Qiong , Wu Haotian , Zhu Mingyu , Apostolopoulou Athanasia , Xu Weijie , Kenawy Inji , Rajendran Lakshmi Priya , Rice Louis , Jimenez-Bescos Carlos , Panneer Sigamani , Pushparaj Robert Ramesh Babu
Published: February 2023

Coastal urban megacities across Asia face significant risks from climate change, including coastal flooding, high temperatures, urban heat island impacts and air pollution. These hazards are associated with negative impacts on infrastructure, communities and the environment. To identify the current intensity of climate change impacts in coastal urban megacities, an integrated evaluation method is needed. Firstly, the present study assesses the climate change impacts of Guangzhou, a Chinese coastal urban megacity, for both physical and social aspects. This study includes 60 years of time-series data for 1960–2020 to examine temperatures, precipitation, humidity and air pollution in Guangzhou city. At the same time, a survey was conducted between April and July 2022 in this megacity and collected the views of 336 people on climate change and its associated environmental impacts. Secondly, the Ganzhou city results are compared with existing data from similar nearby cities to evaluate the diverse climate change trends. Results show that during 1961-1990, the city received the most rainfall in May, reaching 283.6 mm. From 1990 to 2020, June recorded the highest rainfall of 356.6 mm and shows an increase of 73 mm during that period. The very severe monsoon season brought an increased risk of flooding. Results also revealed that the warmest month is July, and the coldest month is January, and both months showed increased temperatures of 0.60 ℃. Comparison results revealed that Guangzhou is not the only city which scored increased highest temperatures; other nearby cities including Heyuan, Shantou and Shaoguan also scored increased highest temperatures. The survey reveals that the majority of respondents (75%) perceived the increased frequency of extreme weather, including typhoons, heavy rainfall and multiple days of hot weather, such as higher temperatures and an increased number of hot days. In the responses to the questions related to the heat island effect, more than 80% of residents are aware of the existence of the heat island and its impacts. People believe that the primary causes of the urban heat island problem are industrial production and anthropogenic heat generated by the city. These results will be helpful to local and national policy and decision makers to revise and/or develop new strategies to improve the environment and quality of life in coastal megacities, particularly Ganzhou.
Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Genetic Mechanism of the Metasilicate-Rich Groundwater in Ji’nan Rock Mass Area, Shandong Province, China
Authors: Xu Meng , Hu Caiping , Zhu Lixin , Song Guangzeng , Peng Wenquan , Yang Shijiao , Song Jinyu
Published: February 2023

Metasilicate-rich groundwater could meet the high demand of the international community for high-quality water. In order to comprehensively analyze the genetic mechanism of metasilicate-rich groundwater, and help human communities effectively exploit and utilize high-quality water resources, taking the Ji’nan rock mass area as an example, this study carried out systematic research on the spatial distribution and genetic mechanism of the metasilicate-rich groundwater Based on the regional hydrogeological conditions, the influencing factors on the spatial distribution characteristics of the metasilicate-rich groundwater in the study area were systematically sorted out by means of petrogeochemistry, hydrochemistry, and chemical weathering index analysis, and the accumulation mechanism of the metasilicate-rich groundwater was discussed from the perspective of water-rock interaction. The results show that: (1) On the northwest side and part of the northeast side of Ji’nan rock mass, the metasilicate content of the groundwater samples exceeded 25 mg/L; the metasilicate content on the south, west, and east sides were relatively low; (2) Ji’nan rock mass is mainly composed of gabbro easily weathered, with high SiO2 content and high weathering degree showing obvious characteristics of desilication. FeS2 developing along the contact zones between the rock mass and surrounding rocks was easily oxidized to form H2SO4, which enhanced the solubility of silicate minerals in the groundwater. Ji’nan rock mass was located in the low-lying position of the monocline structure, which presented better water conservation and recharges conditions. The above factors resulted in the metasilicate-rich groundwater accumulating in the area of Ji’nan rock mass and showed different spatial distribution characteristics.
How Can We Adapt Together? Bridging Water Management and City Planning Approaches to Climate Change
Authors: Vinagre Vítor , Fidélis Teresa , Luís Ana
Published: February 2023

Different dynamics of climate change, population growth, and urbanisation challenge water service providers (WSPs) and those managing urban planning. The scientific community has been evidencing the concept of sustainable urban water management (SUWM) as a driver to foster the integration of the urban water cycle with its environmental, economic, and social sustainability dimensions. This article studies the approaches addressed by recent research on sustainable urban water management, focusing on the attention given by the scientific community to the way WSPs and city planners address the new challenges brought by climate change. A systematic review of existing literature shows how emergent challenges address the articulation between urban water cycle management and city planning. The results underline the need for the technical and economic evaluation of the overarching concept of SUWM systems, integrating values that go beyond financial issues; the need to address water scarcity not only from the supply side but also from the demand point of view; and the deepening of the relationship between new sources of water, such as the reuse, with the city planning in a context of climate change. Nevertheless, strategies for collaboration are still poorly addressed. The insights and gaps emerging from the analysis suggest new paths for research and practice in the field.
Third-Monthly Hydropower Scheduling of Cascaded Reservoirs Using Successive Quadratic Programming in Trust Corridor
Authors: Liu Shuangquan , Luo Jingzhen , Chen Hui , Wang Youxiang , Li Xiangyong , Zhang Jie , Wang Jinwen
Published: February 2023

The third-monthly (about 10 days in a time-step) hydropower scheduling, typically a challenging nonlinear optimization, is one of the essential tasks in a power system with operational storage hydropower reservoirs. This work formulates the problem into quadratic programming (QP), which is solved successively, with the linearization updated on the nonlinear constraint of the firm hydropower yield from all the cascaded hydropower reservoirs. Notably, the generating discharge is linearly concaved with two planes, and the hydropower output is defined as a quadratic function of reservoir storage, release, and generating discharge. The application of the model and methods to four cascaded hydropower reservoirs on the Jinsha River reveals several things: the successive quadratic programming (SQP) presented in this work can derive results consistent with those by the dynamic programming (DP), typically with the difference in water level within 0.01m; it has fast convergence and computational time increasing linearly as the number of reservoirs increases, with the most significant improvement in the objective at the second iteration by about 20%; and it is capable of coordinating the cascaded reservoir very well to sequentially maximize the firm hydropower yield and the total hydropower production.
Investigation of the Hydroelectric Development Potential of Nonpowered Dams: A Case Study of the Buyuk Menderes River Basin
Authors: Okang Quentin Adjetey , Bakken Tor Haakon , Bor Aslı
Published: February 2023

The adaptation of nonpowered dams (NPDs) to dams with hydroelectric generation units requires only minor interventions compared with the construction of a completely new dam and power plant. Thus, it is both more economical and has a minimal environmental impact, especially during construction. The aim of this study was to determine the environmental, technical, and economic feasibility of hydroelectric retrofitting projects in the Büyük Menderes basin in Turkey. For this purpose, the economic feasibility and retrofitting potential of 11 NPDs in the basin were investigated using Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) software. The results from the energy simulation revealed that the annual average hydropower generation potential and installed capacity for the selected 11 NPDs are 38.7 GWh/year and 4.4 MW, respectively. The total estimated capital investment cost of the 11 retrofit projects was found to be $7.9 million with a total NPV of $25.6 million. In addition, in this study, the leveled electricity cost for each retrofitting project was established and compared with the LCOE values of other renewable energy sources. The findings show that retrofitting NPDs may represent an as yet untapped opportunity to support the global energy transition by providing a cheaper and more environmentally friendly option to pioneer rural electrification.
Synoptic and Seasonal Variability of Small River Plumes in the Northeastern Part of the Black Sea
Authors: Korshenko Evgeniya , Panasenkova Irina , Osadchiev Alexander , Belyakova Pelagiya , Fomin Vladimir
Published: February 2023

Small river plumes are typical features at many coastal regions in the World Ocean. These water masses have relatively small areas and volumes; however, due to their energetic dynamics localized in a thin surface layer, they strongly affect coastal circulation, water quality, and ocean-atmosphere interaction. In this study, we investigate external factors, which govern synoptic and seasonal variability of small river plumes, and, therefore, affect land-ocean fluxes of fluvial water and biogeochemically important material. We use numerical modeling to simulate small river plumes at the northeastern part of the Black Sea. We describe the response time of small river plumes to changes in river discharge and wind forcing conditions, which determines variability of river plumes at different time scales. We reveal that the influence of river plumes on coastal processes depends not only on total annual river discharge volume, but also on temporal distribution of high-discharge and low-discharge periods. Seasonal and synoptic features of local atmospheric circulation could strongly modify the relation between river plume characteristics and river discharge rate. The results obtained in this study are important for better assessment of delivery and fate of river-borne suspended and dissolved matter, as well as floating litter in coastal areas.
Methodological Proposal for the Hydraulic Design of Labyrinth Weirs
Authors: Mattos-Villarroel Erick Dante , Ojeda-Bustamante Waldo , Díaz-Delgado Carlos , Salinas-Tapia Humberto , Flores-Velázquez Jorge , Bautista Capetillo Carlos
Published: February 2023

A labyrinth weir allows for higher discharge capacity than conventional linear weirs, especially at low hydraulic heads. In fact, this is an alternative for the design or rehabilitation of spillways. It can even be used as a strategy in problems related to dam safety. A sequential design method for a labyrinth weir is based on optimal geometric parameters and the results of discharge flow analysis using Computational Fluid Dynamics and the experimental studies reported in the literature. The tests performed were for weirs with values of HT/P ≤ 0.8 and for angles of the cycle sidewall of 6° ≤ α ≤ 20°. The results of the discharge coefficient are presented as a family of curves, which indicates a higher discharge capacity when HT/P ≤ 0.17. Four aeration conditions are identified with higher discharge capacity when the nappe is adhering to the downstream face of the weir wall and lower discharge capacity when the nappe is drowned. Unstable flow was present when 12° ≤ α ≤ 20°, with a greater presence when the nappe was partially aerated and drowned. The interference of the nappe is characterized and quantified, reaching up to 60% of the length between the apex, and a family of curves is presented as a function of HT/P in this respect. Finally, a spreadsheet and a flowchart are proposed to support the design of the labyrinth type weir.
Resource Constraints and Economic Growth: Empirical Analysis Based on Marine Field
Authors: Wang Shuhong , Tian Wenqian , Geng Baomin , Zhang Zhe
Published: February 2023

To explore the contribution of marine resources to marine economic growth, this study uses panel data from 2006–2019 across 11 coastal provinces and cities in China and establishes threshold regression models using marine capital, labor, and science and technology as threshold variables affecting marine resources and economic growth. The findings reveal that the impact of marine resources on marine economic growth only demonstrates a single threshold effect under the primary industry marine resources; in general, with increased capital investment, the marine economy presents a positive development trend. The impact of primary and secondary marine resources on marine economic growth has a single threshold effect of labor input, while the impact of tertiary marine resources on marine economic growth has a double threshold effect of labor input. With investment in marine science and technology, marine resource development and utilization in the primary industries have played a consistent role in promoting marine economic growth. However, the impact of this role is gradually decreasing; marine resource development and utilization in the secondary and tertiary industries shows a development pattern wherein the driving effect of marine economic growth is first large, then small, and then large again. Based on the above analysis, China should promote the transformation of labor-intensive to capital-intensive industries by increasing investment in marine capital, training marine talent, and developing marine science and technology innovation to increase the development level of China’s marine economy.
Detection of Background Water Leaks Using a High-Resolution Dyadic Transform
Authors: Trutié-Carrero Eduardo , Seuret-Jiménez Diego , Nieto-Jalil José M. , Herrera-Díaz Julio C. , Cantó Jorge , Escobedo-Alatorre J. Jesús
Published: February 2023

This article solves the problem of detecting water leaks with a minimum size of down to 1 mm in diameter. Two new mathematical tools are used to solve this problem: the first one is the Te cross-spectral density and the second is Te coherence. These mathematical tools provide the possibility of discriminating spurious frequency components, making use of the property of multi-sensitivity. This advantage makes it possible to maximize the sensitivity of the frequency spectrum. The wavelet function used was Daubechies 45, because it provides an attenuation of 150 dB in the rejection band. The tools were validated with two scenarios. For the first scenario, a synthetic signal was analyzed. In the second scenario, two types of background leakage were analyzed: the first one has a diameter of 1 mm with a signal-to-noise ratio of 2.82 dB and flow rate of 33.7 mL/s, and the second one has a diameter of 4 mm with a signal-to-noise ratio of 9.73 dB with a flow rate of 125.0 mL/s. The results reported in this paper show that both the Te cross-spectral density and Te coherence are higher than those reported in scientific literature.
Capillary Imbibition in Layered Sandstone
Authors: Jia Hailiang , Dong Biwen , Wu Di , Shi Qingmin , Wei Yao
Published: February 2023

Spontaneous capillary imbibition in rocks is fundamental to numerous geomorphological processes and has caused numerous engineering problems. Sedimentary rocks are widely distributed across the Earth’s surface and usually bear layer structures that make the pore structure anisotropic. Understanding the effects of the anisotropic pore structure on capillary imbibition in sedimentary rocks is crucially important but remains inadequate, especially on larger scales than a single tube. In this study, the capillary imbibition process in sandstone was monitored by measuring the water absorption mass, height of the water absorption front, NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) T2 spectra, and stratified moisture distribution. The results demonstrate that (1) the layer structure had a significant effect on the capillary imbibition process by altering water absorption rate and water redistribution mode, as the time of the water front reaching the top of Sample A1 lagged behind Sample A2 by 500 min; (2) vapor diffusion and condensation occurred ahead of the water-absorption front, which was more obvious in samples with well-developed beddings; (3) in sandstone samples with bedding planes perpendicular to the height (Per samples), internal water migration lagged behind superficial water migration and was longer in sandstones with well-developed beddings, such as the case of Sample A2, for which the time lag was as large as 280min. Based on a combination of observations of the sandstone structure at pore scale and layer scale with results calculated from the Lucas–Washburn equation, we propose the concept of the representative pore-structure element (RPE). Based on analysis on water migration in RPEs, we suggest that the effects of the layer structure on capillary imbibition in sandstone are embedded in the different water migration modes in Par (samples with bedding planes parallel to the height) and Per samples. The water migration mode in Par samples can be simplified as primary upward intra-layer migration followed by intra-layer horizontal migration, while that in Per samples is primary intra-layer horizontal migration followed by intra-layer upward migration.
Silicon Nutrition in Plants under Water-Deficit Conditions: Overview and Prospects
Authors: Irfan Muhammad , Maqsood Muhammad Aamer , Rehman Hafeez ur , Mahboob Wajid , Sarwar Nadeem , Hafeez Osama Bin Abdul , Hussain Saddam , Ercisli Sezai , Akhtar Muhammad , Aziz Tariq
Published: February 2023

Drought is one of the major constraints for sustainable crop production worldwide, especially in arid and semiarid regions. The global warming and climate change scenario has worsened the dilemma of water scarcity, creating an immediate threat to food security. Conserving water resources and exploiting various strategies that enable plants to withstand water deficits need to be urgently addressed. Drought adversely affects plant growth by modulating a range of physio-chemical, metabolic, and molecular processes inside the plant body, which ultimately reduces crop productivity. Besides developing drought-tolerant cultivars, better nutrient management could be a promising strategy to enhance drought tolerance in crop plants. Silicon, a quasi-essential element, is known to play a vital role in improving crop performance under a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. This review discusses the potential of Si application in attenuating the adverse effects of water-deficit stress. Silicon enhances plant growth by improving seed germination, cell membrane stability, carbon assimilation, plant–water relations and osmotic adjustment (by accumulating soluble sugars, proline and glycine betaine). It triggers the activity of antioxidants, promotes the biosynthesis of phytohormones, enhances nutrient acquisition and regulates the activity of vital enzymes in plants under drought stress. Silicon also induces anatomical changes in the plant cell wall through the deposition of polymerized amorphous silica (SiO2-nH2O), thereby improving stem and leaf erectness and reducing lodging. Further, Si-mediated physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms associated with drought tolerance in plants and future research prospects have been elucidated.
Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor Performance on Saline Produced Water (Upstream Oil & Gas) at Very Low Hydraulic Retention Time
Authors: Jacob Matthieu , Segues Bertrand , Lot Marie-Claire , Ndiaye El hadji Ibrahima , Sambusiti Cecilia , Baldoni-Andrey Patrick , Perie Frédéric
Published: February 2023

This paper presents the results obtained on an oil and gas field terminal in Gabon during a continuous 8-month long operation involving the move of a pre-industrial bed biofilm bioreactor pilot for treating highly saline produced water (100 g/L). After several months of efficient acclimation of the biofilm carriers, more than 90% of the biological oxygen demand, 50% of total organic carbon and 35% of the chemical oxygen demand were removed during 1 h of residence time at a maximum organic loading rate of 12 kgCOD.m−3.day−1, making it a highly promising solution for offshore produced water treatment. These values reached more than 95%, 80% and 60% of BOD, TOC and COD removal, respectively, for 12 h residence time. In addition to the significant removal efficiency of the pilot, it is also important to highlight the robustness of the process. The presence of an acclimated biofilm properly attached to the carriers strongly reduced biomass washing during anomalous phases in comparison to a conventional activated sludge configuration. This technology favorably follows the three key pillars for implementing offshore technologies: high removal performance, robustness and low footprint.
Annoyance and sleep disturbance responses in people living in the vicinity of wind turbines in the Netherlands
Authors: Bolders Anne , Reedijk Marije , van Kamp Irene
Published: February 2023

In order to achieve global and national climate goals, wind energy production in the Netherlands and elsewhere will likely continue to grow, and the size and capacity of new and replaced turbines will increase. Therefore, it is important to understand the impact of wind turbines on
people living in their vicinity. Current evidence on health effects of living in the vicinity of wind turbines in The Netherlands is lacking. To fill this knowledge gap we conducted a nationwide survey among 3500 people living within 5 km distance of wind turbines, of whom 662 people (19%)
participated. They completed a questionnaire about annoyance and sleep disturbance responses to wind turbine related exposures (e.g., mechanical sound, sound of blades, and visual aspects), as well as questions about general health, perception of risks, and attitudes. Information about local
wind turbine features (distance, hub height, capacity, and rotor diameter) was available for each address. This paper presents preliminary descriptive results for annoyance and sleep disturbance responses to wind turbine sound. These findings and their limitations are discussed against the
background of the challenges encountered and considerations for future research.
Experimental and numerical investigations of rain fall induced noise from roofing sheets
Authors: S AKARSH , C C AKSHAY , K V ABHINAV , P ABHILASH , KUMAR C P SUDHEESH
Published: February 2023

Rainfall creates noise as it strikes roofing sheets and most of the time it causes a lot of disturbances and distractions to the occupants. Wide variety of roofing sheets with different materials, thicknesses, profiles and other specifications are available in the market now. Metallic
roofing sheets provide high durability, long life, and greater protection with good reliability and value for money. Their effective life expected is about 40-70 yrs. They are free from cracks and pest attacks and can withstand in rain, snow, winds etc. However, they have a major drawback
of generating large noise during rainfall. But, one can be control the noise to a great extent by wise and effective selection and installation of roofing sheets. The main aim of the present work is to study the effects of various parameters on rainfall induced noise from roofing sheets. The
parameters considered are material, profile, thickness and angle in which the sheets are placed. Both experiment and numerical simulations (using COMSOL software) are carried out. Results obtained from the present work can greatly help the manufactures to adopt methods to make modifications
in the existing sheets so as to cause minimum rainfall induced noise.
Drone noise in my backyard: the challenges for public acceptability
Authors: Aalmoes Roalt , Tojal Castro Marta , Sieben Naomi , Roosien Rui
Published: February 2023

The introduction of drones in urban areas for surveillance, parcel delivery services, air taxis, or other services have raised the issue of public acceptability. How can this concept known as Urban Air Mobility (UAM) be successfully introduced in an area without upsetting communities?
And how can not yet known benefits of these services be compared to feared drawbacks? Noise impact is already considered to be one of the main concerns for successful introduction of UAM, but focusing on noise levels exclusively may not be enough. Based on recent research on noise annoyance
and how it affects individuals and communities, a holistic approach, including noise impact, as well as non-acoustical factors, is presented to address the annoyance towards these disruptive air vehicles. Subjective measures should be considered including demographic factors, as well as perceptional
factors, such as the visual environment where these vehicles operate, and emotional factors such as attitude towards drones and air taxis. Using this approach, studies on noise impact of UAM will be able to evaluate the use cases in their intended setting and with the appropriate target communities
to assess the true impact and define the real challenges to overcome for noise research in the coming decade.
Analysis and Modeling of the Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on the Commissioning of Residential Real Estate in Russia
Authors: Zvezdina N. V. , Saraev A. V.
Published: February 2023

The system of statistical indicators, which is necessary for the construction of mathematical and statistical models that reflect modern domestic trends in the development of the residential real estate market is explained. The official data from the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat), the Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System (EMISS), the Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR), and the Unified Housing Construction Information System (UIIS) served as information sources for the empirical component of the study.

Based on quarterly data for 2010–2021 using ARIMA and SARIMA models, a time series of residential real estate commissions in the Russian Federation was modeled and predicted for 2022. Both models make it possible to account for the influence of the seasonal component. Based on results of the time series regression analysis, the authors selected a mathematical and statistical model with the best approximating characteristics. To model the volume of commissioning of residential real estate in the Russian market, with due regard to the influence of macroeconomic factors, the ARMAX model was used, which has significant explanatory power.

The results of the study presented in the article may be of interest to analytical agencies, developers, banking professionals, financiers, economists, analysts of the real estate market or related areas, as well as authorities for strategic planning of the development of the real estate market.
Economic Determinants of Mortality from Cardiovascular Diseases in Russian Regions
Authors: Kossova T. V.
Published: February 2023

This article aims to investigate economic factors that determine the mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases in Russian regions. Independent variables are socio-economic factors, including the level of well-being, characteristics of the health care system in the region, level of alcohol consumption as a characteristic of the lifestyle of the population, as well as the directions of state policy for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and alcohol and tobacco control initiatives. These factors are the focus of several social programs currently being implemented in Russia. The objective of this study is to identify the degree of sensitivity of the mortality rate from circulatory system diseases to changes in each of the factors considered. This will help to guide public policies aimed at improving population health.

The empirical component of the study is based on the data from the Federal State Statistics Service of Russia (for the period from 2005 to 2019), as well as regional budgets and territorial compulsory health insurance funds. Panel data model with fixed effects was evaluated, and the elasticity of mortality from circulatory system diseases to changes in the formed set of factors. The paper shows that an increase in health care costs leads to a decrease in mortality from circulatory system diseases. With that, the sensitivity of this indicator to a one percent change in factors of well-being and lifestyle, including the volume of alcohol consumption, is higher than the sensitivity to a one percent change in health care expenditures. The article revealed the presence of a statistically significant relationship between changes in the legislation, which led to a significant increase in the availability of expensive medical care, and a decrease in mortality from circulatory system diseases. The findings are relevant for those reforming the health care system and can serve as a guideline for developing parameters of government healthcare programs.
Statistical Analysis of Critical Socioeconomic Factors in the Development of COVID-19 Disease
Authors: Ponomarenko S. V.
Published: February 2023

The study aimed to analyze the impact of several economic and social factors on the course of the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing statistical data in large and representative samples and to assess the critical factors influencing the development of the infectious process of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

To create this review, the necessary publications were found on the Internet for the selected keywords both in one tag and different tag combinations. Statistics of economic and social factors were based on data available on the Internet. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) to determine the statistical relationship was used.

The relationship between economic or social factors and the impact of the 15-month COVID-19 pandemic in different regions was investigated using various available statistics for five continents and 52 countries for the first time. A positive relationship between the consequences of viral epidemic and GDP per capita or the type of human diet was found with correlation coefficients in the range of 0.42–0.87. The development of the viral epidemic showed a less clear correlation with population density from r = -0.18 to r = -0.28, depending on the selected group of countries. For island nations, geographic isolation was the dominant defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The comparison of the development of COVID-19 according to statistical data in different regions and the study of economic or social aspects, performed on large representative samples, showed that the productive infection and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 increased with a high standard of living and excessive consumption of staple foods. In countries with low GDP and adequate protein or fat intake, the rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and death did not exceed the minimum epidemic threshold. The study of the influence of consumed macronutrients on the dynamics of the infectious cycle of the SARS-CoV-2 virus will help explain the reason for such resistance to the pathogen. Such a study would require further comparative analysis of COVID-19 pandemic statistics.
Preparedness of Public Health Care System in India- A Case Study
Authors: Chitra M , Pradeepan S
Published: February 2023

Objectives: To examine the availability and accessibility of primary health care system in Tamil Nadu and to examine the achievements of primary health care system in Tamil Nadu.Methods: Both secondary and primary data were used. Secondary data were from Tamil Nadu Health and Family Welfare department and Rural Health Statistics of India. Primary data were collected from Theni District. Sample size was 480. Identified respondents were interviewed for to find the reason for using the primary health care system with an interview schedule. The tools applied were simple as annual growth rate, Compound growth rate, and Garret ranking method.Findings: Sub Centre (SC), Primary Health Centre (PHC) and Community Health Centre (CHC) are the mode of serving of primary health care system as three tier to rural and urban people which satisfies their basic needs near their proximities. Tamil Nadu is leading and extending its services to people year by year since its inception and earmarked its service. The Zero priced health care services and medicine are the prime reasons for demanding primary health care system which was a signal and added value for the dynamic nature of primary health care system. Distance and waiting time are the last items in ranking means that people are willing to travel. The compound annual growth rate of out-patients was negative from 2011 to 2021 as -1.45, the calculated statistical number may be the due to reduced accessing of outpatient in 2021 due to Covid-19. The Compound annual growth rate of deliveries in Tamil nadu was -11.41 percentages which reflected a reduction in accessing the health care services for deliveries by secondary sources. Novelty: Planners and Policy maker’s needs for revisiting and reframing the health policy and target to achieve 2030.
IPOs in Indian Stock Market: Analyzing Pricing and Performance of IPO Listed in 2021
Authors: Ellikkal Adil , Rajamohan S. , Prakash M. Om
Published: February 2023

The covid-19 pandemic has had unprecedented effects on the world economy. All countries, including India, have gone through this crisis. The coronavirus reported in India in March 2020 has spread across the nation, affecting all industries. Like other sectors of the economy, the pandemic has adversely affected the Indian stock market. In March 2021, the value of the Nifty and Sensex, two important indices, fell from 12000 points to 8000 points and 32000 points to 17000 points, respectively. The initial wave continued till the end of the year. However, 2021 has been a bumper year for the stock market, with businesses generating $1.2 trillion through Initial Public Offering (IPOs). The year started with an IPO and ended with one, and sixty-six IPOs were listed on the Indian stock exchange despite the adverse environment. It is more than twice as many as the previous year. Some IPOs received more public attention and could not perform as expected. This study aims to examine the performance of IPOs on the day of listing and their current status. The findings of this study will help those new to the field of trading and researchers to understand the process of IPO listing and its working.
Proceso de preparación e inclusión de peces y otros vertebrados en resina epoxi
Authors: Flores Cano Francisco , Nieto Rubio María del Pilar , Rodríguez Martín Francisco Javier
Published: February 2023

El vídeo en cuestión consiste en un tutorial completo y detallado sobre la técnica correcta para la inclusión de animales vertebrados y otras muestras en resina epoxi. Es una técnica novedosa que permite conservar en muy buen estado ciertos especímenes que con otras técnicas resultan perjudicados o pierden calidad.

Además, el resultado conseguido con las resinas facilita la manipulación de las muestras con menos riesgos de estropearlas. También la exposición de las muestras resulta mucho más cómoda y deja de ser necesario manipular engorrosos tarros con los especímenes conservados en alcohol.

En el vídeo se detalla:
1º.- El tratamiento de las muestras antes de la inclusión.
2º.- Forma de preparar la resina, los moldes y las etiquetas.
3º.- El proceso de inclusión.
4º.- Algunos importantes consejos/recomendaciones para conseguir un
resultado óptimo.

La inclusión de animales en resina ha sido bastante utilizada con animales invertebrados pero, tal vez por su mayor dificultad, apenas se ha usado en vertebrados. Actualmente no existe nada publicado en ningún formato acerca de la aplicación de esta técnica en vertebrados completos o en muestras/estructuras de estos animales.
Es una herramienta que puede ser empleada por profesionales de grados de formación muy distintos (medicina, farmacia, ingenieros agrónomos, forestales, veterinaria, etc.).
El contenido del vídeo puede ayudar a todo aquel (personal docente, alumnado, personal técnico o cualquier persona interesada) que dese poner la técnica en práctica para presentar en resina vertebrados o en cualquier otro tipo de muestra.

Se muestra detalladamente los pasos a seguir para la conservación de vertebrados en resina epoxi. Se explica la preparación de las muestras previa a la inclusión en resina, los moldes recomendables, la mezcla de los dos componentes de la resina, el proceso de vertido de la resina por capas y se comenta algún detalle o consejo más para optimizar los resultados.
Panorama da atuação em design gráfico na comunicação das universidades federais brasileiras
Authors: Arakaki Marina Granja , Pinheiro Olympio , Andrade Neto Mariano Lopes de
Published: February 2023

O profissional de design gráfico frequentemente faz parte da equipe de comunicação em universidades, no entanto, a atuação desses profissionais é variada, considerando desde a diversidade de nomenclaturas de cargos e atribuições e até mesmo a questão da desregulamentação da profissão. Assim, coloca-se a questão: quem são e como atuam os profissionais de design gráfico na comunicação das universidades federais do Brasil? Esta pesquisa propõe uma reflexão sobre a atuação desse profissional, com ou sem formação em design, na comunicação das universidades federais brasileiras. O estudo foi organizado em cinco principais etapas: levantamento teórico, pesquisa documental, pesquisa de campo, análise e discussão dos resultados e conclusão. Os resultados, suposta ou explicitamente, possibilitaram verificar que a contribuição do profissional está voltada principalmente a projetos pontuais e “estéticos”, com poucos deles atuando em conjunto no planejamento das estratégias de comunicação das instituições.