bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utility of Remotely Sensed Evapotranspiration Products to Assess an Improved Model Structure
Authors: Lee Sangchul , Qi Junyu , Kim Hyunglok , McCarty Gregory W. , Moglen Glenn E. , Anderson Martha , Zhang Xuesong , Du Ling
Published: February 2021

There is a certain level of predictive uncertainty when hydrologic models are applied for operational purposes. Whether structural improvements address uncertainty has not well been evaluated due to the lack of observational data. This study investigated the utility of remotely sensed evapotranspiration (RS-ET) products to quantitatively represent improvements in model predictions owing to structural improvements. Two versions of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), representative of original and improved versions, were calibrated against streamflow and RS-ET. The latter version contains a new soil moisture module, referred to as RSWAT. We compared outputs from these two versions with the best performance metrics (Kling–Gupta Efficiency [KGE], Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency [NSE] and Percent-bias [P-bias]). Comparisons were conducted at two spatial scales by partitioning the RS-ET into two scales, while streamflow comparisons were only conducted at one scale. At the watershed level, SWAT and RSWAT produced similar metrics for daily streamflow (NSE of 0.29 and 0.37, P-bias of 1.7 and 15.9, and KGE of 0.47 and 0.49, respectively) and ET (KGE of 0.48 and 0.52, respectively). At the subwatershed level, the KGE of RSWAT (0.53) for daily ET was greater than that of SWAT (0.47). These findings demonstrated that RS-ET has the potential to increase prediction accuracy from model structural improvements and highlighted the utility of remotely sensed data in hydrologic modeling.
Responding to Climate Change in Small and Intermediate Cities: Comparative Policy Perspectives from India and South Africa
Authors: Simon David , Vora Yutika , Sharma Tarun , Smit Warren
Published: February 2021

Remarkably little is known about how small and intermediate urban centres tackle their various sustainability challenges, particularly climate and broader environmental change. Accordingly, we address this in the very different contexts of India and South Africa. We conceptualise the small and intermediate towns, and the policy challenges and priorities for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate/environmental change that can enable transformative adaptations to changing conditions. Central issues are the divisions of powers, responsibilities and the fiscal capacity and independence of local authorities within the respective countries’ multi-level policy and governance frameworks. In India, various functions have been constitutionally devolved to city governments to enable them to govern themselves, while more strategic ones lie at state level. In South Africa, the divisions of power and responsibility vary by city size category. We compare the relevant city government functions in each country and how they can enable/disable policy responses to climate change. The relationship between their sustainable development strategies, plans, budgets, and actions are assessed and illustrated with particular reference to Thiruvananthapuram, Shimla and Bhubaneswar in India and Drakenstein, George and Stellenbosch in South Africa.
Immobilization of Cd, Pb and Zn through Organic Amendments in Wastewater Irrigated Soils
Authors: Malik Kouser Majeed , Khan Khalid Saifullah , Rukh Shah , Khan Ahmad , Akbar Saba , Billah Motsim , Bashir Saqib , Danish Subhan , Alwahibi Mona S , Elshikh Mohamed Soliman , Al-Ghamdi Abdullah Ahmed , Mustafa Abd El-Zaher M. A.
Published: February 2021

Due to the scarcity of water, raw sewage effluents are often used to irrigate arable suburban soils in developing countries, which causes soil contamination with toxic metals. Soil microorganisms involved in biochemical transformations are sensitive to heavy metals contamination. The study was designed to investigate the effect of organic amendments on the microbial activity of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) fractions and their bioavailability in soils contaminated with wastewater irrigation. Three metal contaminated soils under wastewater irrigation were collected, ground, sieved and added to incubation jars. Two organic amendments: wheat straw and chickpea straw, were applied (1% w/w) to the soil before incubation for 84 days at 25 °C. The CO2-C evolution after 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 days was measured and thereafter was also measured weekly. Soil samples collected at 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days after incubation were analyzed for microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Sequential extraction for metal fractionation of samples was carried out collected at 0, 28, 56 and 84 days. Three soils differed significantly in evolved MBC and ∑CO2-C. Chickpea straw addition significantly increased soil MBC as compared to the wheat straw. Organic amendments significantly increased ∑CO2-C evolution from the soils, which was higher from chickpea straw. The addition of crop residues did not affect total Pb, Cd and Zn contents in soils. The concentration of exchangeable, carbonate bound and residual fractions of Pb, Cd and Zn decreased (6–27%), while the organic matter bound fraction increased (4–75%) with straw addition. Overall, the organic amendments improved microbial activity and reduce the bioavailability of toxic metals in wastewater irrigated soils. Furthermore, organic amendments not only reduce economic losses as they are cheap to produce but also minimize human health risks from heavy metals by hindering their entry into the food chain.
Green Water from Green Roofs—The Ecological and Economic Effects
Authors: Bus Agnieszka , Szelągowska Anna
Published: February 2021

Green roofs (GRs) have been one of the most popular solutions for water harvesting in urban areas. Apart from their water retention role and increasing biodiversity, they constitute the missing link between the built and the natural environment, which is required for sustainable human living in cities. This paper aims to calculate the ecological (EE) and economic effect (EcE) of water harvesting via GRs, by contrasting with a traditional roof, and to perform an economic analysis of the social cost benefits that GRs generate during their life cycle, using the Net Present Value (NPV) method. All the calculations and analyses were conducted for both intensive and extensive GRs in 11 of the largest municipalities in Poland, with a population of >250,000 inhabitants. According to the results of this study, water retention and the economic and ecological effects of GRs are highest in the municipalities with the highest assumed number of GRs (Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, and Szczecin). The average EE and EcE equals 507,000 m3/yr and 621,000 USD/yr. The NPV results show that the effectiveness of investments in intensive GRs is, to a certain extent, more significant than in extensive GRs and the average equals 60.77 and 4.47 USD/yr for intensive and extensive GRs, respectively. The results could serve as a reference for the evaluation and optimization of the energy efficiency of rainwater harvesting schemes, in European cities.
RETRACTED: Evacuation Simulation Focusing on Modeling of Disabled People Movement
Authors: Żydek Karolina , Król Małgorzata , Król Aleksander
Published: February 2021

All building users should have the right to safe evacuation. However, evacuation becomes a big challenge when it concerns people with disabilities. Nowadays, computer programs are used to plan escape routes. Therefore, the manuscript deals with the issues of modeling evacuation with particular emphasis on people with disabilities. A review of different evacuation modeling software is presented. The research is performed mainly to see what the limitations of different programs are and how they regard occupants with disabilities. The analyses contain a study of six cases of the evacuation from a building. In this study the three following programs—SIMULEX, STEPS and Pathfinder—are considered. Different populations of people with mobility impairments are modeled. The comparison of the methodology when using these three programs is presented in the following sections. Research has shown that despite the same input data, the results obtained with the three programs differ significantly. In the case of the total evacuation time, the differences reach up to 8%.
Facebook Data as Part of Cultural Heritage Investments Toolbox: Pilot Analysis of Users Interests and Preferences Concerning Adaptive Reuse
Authors: Roszczyńska-Kurasińska Magdalena , Domaradzka Anna , Ślosarski Bartosz , Żbikowska Agata
Published: February 2021

The growing popularity of social media data brings questions about its accuracy and usefulness for a wide array of cultural heritage projects, often lacking data sources crucial for better planning and implementation. In this paper, we are studying the opportunities offered by the freely available Facebook Ads Manager data on target group sizes in different locations. We conducted a small experiment and a pilot survey to verify if Facebook data concerning its users’ interests is accurate and could be used to facilitate the implementation of projects in the field of adaptive reuse. Despite all discovered limitations of this approach, we point out how Facebook data, along with other social media outlets, can be used to extract some strategic information and add to the socio-cultural assessment toolbox. As such, this type of data could be of use to local leaders planning activities and investments around cultural heritage sites. We also posit that such data can facilitate benefit transfer between cities through better understanding of local preferences and values-orientations.
Safe Spaces for Disruptive Learning in a North–South Research Partnership Context: International Mobility of Doctoral Students
Authors: Trechsel Lilian Julia , Zimmermann Anne Barbara , Steinböck Camilla , Breu Thomas , Herweg Karl , Thieme Susan
Published: February 2021

This article spans issues of international student mobility, inequalities in higher education, and spaces for transformative learning for sustainable development. We tracked PhD alumni of an international Swiss research program in 2012 and 2017 and found that students from the global South experienced a significant, immediate career boost; most graduates decided to remain in or return to their country of origin after graduation (brain circulation). Career advancement among global North students took longer to develop. In-depth interviews with selected graduates gave students a voice: they felt empowered by networks, new friendships, and working relationships across disciplinary boundaries. The “safe spaces” or “Third Spaces” created in the program—encompassing inter- and transdisciplinary approaches, institutional and cultural diversity, and a real-world focus—were key for transformative learning, supported by an unconventional teaching and research strategy. To support disruptive learning leading to changes in mindsets and to reduce inequality in higher education, Western universities must question their own privileged position.
Study on the Influence of Cultural Contact and Tourism Memory on the Intention to Revisit: A Case Study of Cultural and Creative Districts
Authors: Lai Sizhen , Zhang Shuning , Zhang Ling , Tseng Hsien-Wei , Shiau Yan-Chyuan
Published: February 2021

Cultural and creative tourism is emerging in tourism industry with the potential to be sustainable as an important carrier of traditional culture. This study adopts stimulus–response theory in a cultural integration perspective to investigate how tourists’ cultural memories, cultural contact, and attitude to culture affect their revisit intention. With the questionnaire survey responses from 651 tourists and structural equation modeling method, it was found that tourists’ cultural contact affected their revisit intentions directly and indirectly through cultural memory. Attitude to culture played critical moderating roles in the effects of tourists’ cultural contact on their cultural memory and revisit intention, but it had no significant impact on the relationship between tourists’ cultural memory and their revisit intention. This study indicates that cultural memory dominates tourists’ behavioral decisions, while attitude to culture highlights different effects at different influence paths. The findings provide marketers and managers with strategies for the sustainable development of cultural and creative districts.
The Role of Government Initiated Urban Planning Experiments in Transition Processes and Their Contribution to Change at the Regime Level
Authors: Newton Caroline
Published: February 2021

Sustainable urban (planning) experiments play a crucial role in transitions and are tangible ways to contribute to innovation and change in the long run. This paper discusses how urban experiments contribute to sustainability transitions by explicitly looking at an urban experiment’s capability to influence the regime level. The consequences of spatial inertia and political actors’ involvement are two understudied aspects concerning urban experiments. The paper aims to introduce these two understudied aspects and suggests further research on both in current urban experimentation practices. First, the paper suggests spatial embeddedness as a relevant explanatory factor. Experiments that alter spatial structures or realize physical interventions on a neighborhood scale can anchor innovations in space. In doing so, they increase their sustainability in the long run. Secondly, the article contributes to the literature on institutions and politics in urban experiments. The article uses a literature study and a case to illustrate both points.
Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict the Adoption of Heat and Flood Adaptation Behaviors by Municipal Authorities in the Province of Quebec, Canada
Authors: Jacob Johann , Valois Pierre , Tessier Maxime
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study is to identify which psychosocial factors of the theory of planned behavior better predict and explain the adoption of heat and flood adaptation behaviors by municipal authorities in the Province of Quebec, Canada, and to explore the cognitive structures motivating municipal officers to adopt adaptation behaviors. The results of structural equation analyses showed that municipal authorities’ attitude toward the adoption of adaptation behaviors (i.e., the degree to which the performance of an adaptive behavior is positively or negatively valued by municipal officers) and perceived control (barriers) over adaptation behaviors significantly contributed to the prediction of readiness to adopt the behavior.
GLM-Based Flexible Monitoring Methods: An Application to Real-Time Highway Safety Surveillance
Authors: Jamal Arshad , Mahmood Tahir , Riaz Muhamad , Al-Ahmadi Hassan M.
Published: February 2021

Statistical modeling of historical crash data can provide essential insights to safety managers for proactive highway safety management. While numerous studies have contributed to the advancement from the statistical methodological front, minimal research efforts have been dedicated to real-time monitoring of highway safety situations. This study advocates the use of statistical monitoring methods for real-time highway safety surveillance using three years of crash data for rural highways in Saudi Arabia. First, three well-known count data models (Poisson, negative binomial, and Conway–Maxwell–Poisson) are applied to identify the best fit model for the number of crashes. Conway–Maxwell–Poisson was identified as the best fit model, which was used to find the significant explanatory variables for the number of crashes. The results revealed that the road type and road surface conditions significantly contribute to the number of crashes. From the perspective of real-time highway safety monitoring, generalized linear model (GLM)-based exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) and cumulative sum (CUSUM) control charts are proposed using the randomized quantile residuals and deviance residuals of Conway–Maxwell (COM)–Poisson regression. A detailed simulation-based study is designed for predictive performance evaluation of the proposed control charts with existing counterparts (i.e., Shewhart charts) in terms of the run-length properties. The study results showed that the EWMA type control charts have better detection ability compared with the CUSUM type and Shewhart control charts under small and/or moderate shift sizes. Finally, the proposed monitoring methods are successfully implemented on actual traffic crash data to highlight the efficacy of the proposed methods. The outcome of this study could provide the analysts with insights to plan sound policy recommendations for achieving desired safety goals.
Radioligand Assay-Based Detection of Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Hospital Workers Treating Patients with Severe COVID-19 in Japan
Authors: Matsunaga Hidenori , Makino Akiko , Kato Yasuhiro , Murakami Teruaki , Yamaguchi Yuta , Kumanogoh Atsushi , Oba Yuichiro , Fujimi Satoshi , Honda Tomoyuki , Tomonaga Keizo
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to clarify whether infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is prevalent among the staff of a hospital providing treatment to patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) using radioligand assay (RLA). One thousand samples from the staff of a general hospital providing treatment to patients with severe COVID-19 were assayed for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N) IgG using RLA. Nine patients with COVID-19 who had been treated in inpatient settings and had already recovered were used as control subjects, and 186 blood donor samples obtained more than 10 years ago were used as negative controls. Four of the 1000 samples showed apparently positive results, and approximately 10 or more samples showed slightly high counts. Interestingly, a few among the blood donor samples also showed slightly high values. To validate the results, antibody examinations using ELISA and neutralizing antibody tests were performed on 21 samples, and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) was performed on 201 samples, both resulting in a very high correlation. One blood donor sample showed slightly positive results in both RLA and CLIA, suggesting a cross-reaction. This study showed that five months after the pandemic began in Japan, the staff of a general hospital with a tertiary emergency medical facility had an extremely low seroprevalence of the antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Further investigation will be needed to determine whether the slightly high results were due to cross-reactions or a low titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The quantitative RLA was considered sensitive enough to detect low titers of antibodies.
BK Polyomavirus Micro-RNAs: Time Course and Clinical Relevance in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Demey Baptiste , Descamps Véronique , Presne Claire , Helle Francois , Francois Catherine , Duverlie Gilles , Castelain Sandrine , Brochot Etienne
Published: February 2021

Background: Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are exposed to a high risk of BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) replication, which in turn may lead to graft loss. Although the microRNAs (miRNAs) bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p are produced during the viral cycle, their putative value as markers of viral replication has yet to be established. In KTRs, the clinical relevance of the changes over time in BKPyV miRNA levels has not been determined. Methods: In a retrospective study, we analyzed 186 urine samples and 120 plasma samples collected from 67 KTRs during the first year post-transplantation. Using a reproducible, standardized, quantitative RT-PCR assay, we measured the levels of bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p (relative to the BKPyV DNA load). Results: Detection of the two miRNAs had low diagnostic value for identifying patients with DNAemia or for predicting DNAuria during follow-up. Seven of the 14 KTRs with a sustained BKPyV infection within the first year post-transplantation showed a progressive reduction in the DNA load and then a rapid disappearance of the miRNAs. DNA and miRNA loads were stable in the other seven KTRs. Conclusions: After the DNA-based diagnosis of BKPyV infection in KTRs, bkv-miR-B1-3p and bkv-miR-B1-5p levels in the urine might be valuable markers for viral replication monitoring and thus might help physicians to avoid an excessive reduction in the immunosuppressive regimen.
Urban and Industrial Wastewater Disinfection and Decontamination by Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs): Current Issues and Future Trends
Authors: Lado Ribeiro Ana Rita , Rodríguez-Chueca Jorge Jesus , Giannakis Stefanos
Published: February 2021

Without any doubt, the 21st century has kick-started a great evolution in all aspects of our everyday life [...]
Groundwater Monitoring Systems to Understand Sea Water Intrusion Dynamics in the Mediterranean: The Neretva Valley and the Southern Venice Coastal Aquifers Case Studies
Authors: Lovrinović Ivan , Bergamasco Alessandro , Srzić Veljko , Cavallina Chiara , Holjević Danko , Donnici Sandra , Erceg Joško , Zaggia Luca , Tosi Luigi
Published: February 2021

Sea water intrusion (SWI) has been widely recognized as a global problem, significantly influencing coastal aquifers, mostly through reduced water quality and agricultural production indicators. In this paper, we present the outcomes of the implementation of two independent real-time monitoring systems, planned and installed to get insights on groundwater dynamics within the adjacent coastal aquifer systems, one located in the Neretva Valley, southeastern Croatia, the other located south of the Venice lagoon, northeastern Italy. Both systems are presented with technical details and the capacity to observe, store, and transmit (Neretva site) observed values in real-time. Analysis of time series reveals the significant influence of the sea level oscillations onto the observed groundwater electrical conductivity (EC) and piezometric head values, while precipitation rate is detected as a driving mechanism for groundwater parameters in shallow geological units. The installed monitoring systems are shown to be of great importance to provide qualitative and quantitative information on the processes influencing groundwater and surface water dynamics within two coastal systems.
Late Holocene Peatland Evolution in Terelj and Tuul Rivers Drainage Basins in the Khentii Mountain Range of Northeastern Mongolia
Authors: Orkhonselenge Alexander , Uuganzaya Munkhjargal , Davaagatan Tuyagerel , Enkhbayar Ganbaatar
Published: February 2021

This study reviews the late Holocene peatlands in Terelj River and Tuul River drainage basins in the Khentii (Khentii has been misspelled as Khentey (or Hentey) and Khentei (or Hentei) in many publications. The Khentii is the right English translation from Mongolian Xэнmuй) Mountain Range of northeastern Mongolia. The peatlands were examined through their physical and chemical properties, diatom assemblages, and radiocarbon dating. In the Terelj River basin, the high contents of organic matter and biogenic silica and the dominant benthic diatom assemblages such as Eunotia praerupta, Pinnularia borealis, and Navicula mutica in the peat deposits indicate the warm and humid climates in the late Holocene. The high accretion rate of 0.97 mm/yr in the peatland records the intensive erosion in the surrounding landscape and deposition in the peatland due to increased precipitation and runoff in the humid climate since 0.5 cal. ka BP. In the Tuul River basin, the high content of mineral fractions and diatom assemblages dominated by benthic species Cymbella proxima, Encyonema silesiacum, and planktonic species Cyclotella ocellata in the peat deposits show a transition from humid to arid climates at 0.9 cal. ka BP. The accretion rate of 0.56 mm/yr in the peatland on the paleo-floodplain indicates strengthened erosion in the peatland over the past ~1000 years. This study in the southern Khentii Mountain Range provides new descriptive insights to extend the underestimated Mongolia’s peat studies, and it would be a useful proof-of-concept study for future detailed paleo-environmental analyses.
Terraced Landforms Onshore and Offshore the Cilento Promontory (South-Eastern Tyrrhenian Margin) and Their Significance as Quaternary Records of Sea Level Changes
Authors: Savini Alessandra , Bracchi Valentina Alice , Cammarosano Antonella , Pennetta Micla , Russo Filippo
Published: February 2021

Climate change and tectonic uplift are the dominant forcing mechanisms responsible for the formation of long and narrow terraced landforms in a variety of geomorphic settings; and marine terraces are largely used to reconstruct the Quaternary glacial and interglacial climates. Along the Mediterranean coast, a considerable number of popular scientific articles have acknowledged a range of marine terraces in the form of low-relief surfaces resulting from the combined effects of tectonic uplift and eustatic sea-level fluctuations, as relevant geomorphological indicators of past sea-level high-stands. With the exception of a few recent studies on the significance of submarine depositional terraces (SDT), submerged terraced landforms have been less investigated. By integrating different marine and terrestrial datasets, our work brings together and re-examines numerous terraced landforms that typify the Cilento Promontory and its offshore region. In this area, studies since the 1960s have allowed the recognition of well-defined Middle to Upper Pleistocene marine terraces on land, while only a few studies have investigated the occurrences of late Pleistocene SDT. Furthermore, to date, no studies have consistently integrated findings. For our work, we correlated major evidence of emerged and submarine terraced landforms in order to support an improved understanding of the tectono-geomorphological evolution of the Cilento Promontory and to further clarify the geomorphological significance of submerged terraces.
Monitoring Groundwater Use as a Domestic Water Source by Urban Households: Analysis of Data from Lagos State, Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa with Implications for Policy and Practice
Authors: Danert Kerstin , Healy Adrian
Published: February 2021

The fundamental importance of groundwater for urban drinking water supplies in sub-Saharan Africa is increasingly recognised. However, little is known about the trends in urban groundwater development by individual households and its role in securing safely-managed drinking water supplies. Anecdotal evidence indicates a thriving self-supply movement to exploit groundwater in some urban sub-Saharan African settings, but empirical evidence, or analysis of the benefits and drawbacks, remains sparse. Through a detailed analysis of official datasets for Lagos State, Nigeria we examine the crucial role played by groundwater and, specifically, by household self-supply for domestic water provision. We then set this in the context of Nigeria and of sub-Saharan Africa. One of the novelties of this multi-scalar approach is that it provides a granular understanding from large-scale datasets. Our analysis confirms the importance of non-piped water supplies in meeting current and future drinking water demand by households in parts of sub-Saharan Africa and the role played, through self-supply, by groundwater. Our results demonstrate inconsistencies between datasets, and we make recommendations for the future. We argue that a key actor in the provision of drinking water supplies, the individual household, is largely overlooked by officially reported data, with implications for both policy and practice.
Using Long Term Simulations to Understand Heat Transfer Processes during Steady Flow Conditions in Combined Sewers
Authors: Abdel-Aal Mohamad , Tait Simon , Mohamed Mostafa , Schellart Alma
Published: February 2021

This paper describes a new heat transfer parameterisation between wastewater and in-sewer air based on understanding the physical phenomena observed in free surface wastewater and in-sewer air. Long-term wastewater and in-sewer air temperature data were collected and studied to indicate the importance of considering the heat exchange with in-sewer air and the relevant seasonal changes. The new parameterisation was based on the physical flow condition variations. Accurate modelling of wastewater temperature in linked combined sewers is needed to assess the feasibility of in-sewer heat recovery. Historically, the heat transfer coefficient between wastewater and in-sewer air has been estimated using simple empirical relationships. The newly developed parameterisation was implemented and validated using independent long-term flow and temperature datasets. Predictive accuracy of wastewater temperatures was investigated using a Taylor diagram, where absolute errors and correlations between modelled and observed values were plotted for different site sizes and seasons. The newly developed coefficient improved wastewater temperature modelling accuracy, compared with the older empirical approaches, which resulted in predicting more potential for heat recovery from large sewer networks. For individual locations, the RMSE between observed and predicted temperatures ranged between 0.15 and 0.5 °C with an overall average of 0.27 °C. Previous studies showed higher RMSE ranges, e.g., between 0.12 and 7.8 °C, with overall averages of 0.35, 0.42 and 2 °C. The new coefficient has also provided stable values at various seasons and minimised the number of required model inputs.
New Trends in Environmental Catalytic Technologies for Water Remediation
Authors: Frontistis Zacharias
Published: February 2021

Due to climate change, industrialization, and overpopulation, water resources management is becoming a crucial sector [...]
Optimal Sizing of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting Tanks for Sustainable Domestic Water Use in the West Bank, Palestine
Authors: Shadeed Sameer , Alawna Sandy
Published: February 2021

In highly water-poor areas, rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH) can be used for a self-sustaining and self-reliant domestic water supply. The designing of an optimal RRWH storage tank is a key parameter to implement a reliable RRWH system. In this study, the optimal size of RRWH storage tanks in the different West Bank governorates was estimated based on monthly (all governorates) and daily (i.e., Nablus) inflow (RRWH) and outflow (domestic water demand, DWD) data. In the estimation of RRWH, five rooftop areas varying between 100 m2 and 300 m2 were selected. Moreover, the reliability of the adopting RRWH system in the different West Bank governorates was tested. Two-time series scenarios were assumed: Scenario 1, S1 (12 months, annual) and scenario 2, S2 (8 months, rainy). As a result, reliable curves for preliminary estimation of optimal RRWH storage tanks for the different West Bank governorates were obtained. Results show that the required storage tank for S1 (annual) is more than that of the S2 (rainy) one. The required storage tank to fulfill DWD is based on the average rooftop area of 150 m2, the average family members of 4.8, and the average DWD of 90 L per capita per day (L/c/d) varies between (75 m3 to 136 m3) and (24 m3 to 84 m3) for S2 for the different West Bank governorates. Further, it is found that the optimal RRWH tank size for the 150 m2 rooftop ranges between 20 m3 (in Jericho) to 75 m3 (in Salfit and Nablus) and between 20 m3 (in Jericho) to 51 m3 (in Jerusalem) for S1 and S2 scenarios, respectively. Finally, results show that the implementation of an RRWH system for a rooftop area of 150 m2 and family members of 4.8 is reliable for all of the West Bank governorates except Jericho. Whereas, the reliability doesn’t exceed 19% for the two scenarios. However, the reduction of DWDv is highly affecting the reliability of adopting RRWH systems in Jericho (the least rainfall governorate). For instance, a family DWDv of 3.2 m3/month (25% of the average family DWDv in the West Bank) will increase the reliability at a rooftop area of 150 m2 to 51% and 76% for S1 and S2, respectively.
Deep Learning Framework with Time Series Analysis Methods for Runoff Prediction
Authors: Li Zhenghe , Kang Ling , Zhou Liwei , Zhu Modi
Published: February 2021

Recent advances in deep learning, especially the long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, provide some useful insights on how to tackle time series prediction problems, not to mention the development of a time series model itself for prediction. Runoff forecasting is a time series prediction problem with a series of past runoff data (water level and discharge series data) as inputs and a fixed-length series of future runoff as output. Most previous work paid attention to the sufficiency of input data and the structural complexity of deep learning, while less effort has been put into the consideration of data quantity or the processing of original input data—such as time series decomposition, which can better capture the trend of runoff—or unleashing the effective potential of deep learning. Mutual information and seasonal trend decomposition are two useful time series methods in handling data quantity analysis and original data processing. Based on a former study, we proposed a deep learning model combined with time series analysis methods for daily runoff prediction in the middle Yangtze River and analyzed its feasibility and usability with frequently used counterpart models. Furthermore, this research also explored the data quality that affect the performance of the deep learning model. With the application of the time series method, we can effectively get some information about the data quality and data amount that we adopted in the deep learning model. The comparison experiment resulted in two different sites, implying that the proposed model improved the precision of runoff prediction and is much easier and more effective for practical application. In short, time series analysis methods can exert great potential of deep learning in daily runoff prediction and may unleash great potential of artificial intelligence in hydrology research.
Assessing Multi-Hazard Vulnerability and Dynamic Coastal Flood Risk in the Mississippi Delta: The Global Delta Risk Index as a Social-Ecological Systems Approach
Authors: Anderson Carl , Renaud Fabrice , Hagenlocher Michael , Day John
Published: February 2021

The tight coupling of the social-ecological system (SES) of the Mississippi Delta calls for balanced natural hazard vulnerability and risk assessments. Most existing assessments have approached these components in isolation. To address this, we apply the Global Delta Risk Index (GDRI) in the Mississippi Delta at high-resolution census tract level. We assess SES spatial patterns of drought, hurricane-force wind, and coastal flood vulnerability and integrate hazard and exposure data for the assessment of coastal flood risk. Moreover, we compare current coastal flood risk to future risk in 2025 based on the modelled effects of flood depth, exposure, and changes in ecosystem area in the context of ongoing efforts under the 2017 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan. Results show that the Master Plan will lead to decreases in risk scores by 2025, but the tracts that are currently the most vulnerable benefit less from risk reduction efforts. Along with our index output, we discuss the need for further advancements in SES methodology and the potential for catastrophic hazard events beyond the model parameters, such as extreme rainfall events and very strong hurricanes. Assessing SES risk components can lead to more targeted policy recommendations, demonstrated by the need for Master Plan projects to consider their unequal spatial effects on vulnerability and risk reduction.
Possible Sources of Salinity in the Upper Dibdibba Aquifer, Basrah, Iraq
Authors: Abdulameer Ahmed , Thabit Jassim Mohammed , Kanoua Wael , Wiche Oliver , Merkel Broder
Published: February 2021

Salinity increase in groundwater was investigated in the area between Al-Zubair and Safwan, and close to the Khor Al-Zubair Channel of southern Iraq. Thirty-nine groundwater samples from the shallow aquifer and one sample from the Khor Al-Zubair Channel were analyzed. The mean total dissolved solids are 7556 mg/L. The δ2H and δ18O plot in two groups are below the global meteoric water line. Group A indicates the evaporation effect of irrigation return-flow, while group B is characterized by depleted δ18O values due to recharge under colder climate. Deuterium excess values plot within the region of modern precipitation and dilution of groundwater by precipitating water. The groundwater residence time is between 1000 and 2000 years and combining 14C -age with SO42− shows a contrasting effect on groundwater on both sides of Khedr Almai Fault and the Zubair anticline, which indicates the role of these geological structures on the hydrochemical evolution in the western part. Jabal Sanam shows no clear effect in this regard. The ratio Cl−/Br− and sulfate in groundwater showed that the measured salinity in groundwater is the result of a mixing process between groundwater, seawater intruding from Khor Al-Zubair Channel, and water from septic tanks in addition to dry and wet sea spray, and irrigation return-flow.
Analysis of Stator-Slot Circumferentially Magnetized PM Machines with Full-Pitched Windings
Authors: Qu Huan , Yang Han , Zhu Zi Qiang
Published: February 2021

Stator-slot circumferentially magnetized PM machines (SSCMPMMs) have high fault-tolerant capability. In this paper, the SSCMPMMs with full-pitched windings and different stator slot/rotor pole numbers are investigated, together with the influence of key geometric parameters. It shows that the 12 stator-slots 7 rotor-poles (12S7R) machine delivers the highest torque. It is then compared with the SSCMPMM with tooth-coil windings. The results show that when they have the same active length, the 12S7R machine delivers significantly higher torque and higher efficiency. Furthermore, when the machine length is over around 140 mm, the 12S7R machine is more advantageous in producing high torque and high efficiency. A prototype is manufactured and tested to validate the theoretical analyses.
Modern Islam of the Arabian Peninsula: History, Trends and Movements.
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University, SAVELIEVA Evgeniya Alexandrovna
Published: February 2021

The pre-Islamic history of the Arabian Peninsula and the history of Islam show what different communities have united and continue to unite religion, and it is in history that we find the factors that divide the Arab people and the Islamic world. The complexity of these relationships stretches from the past, and modern realities only add problems and questions.
INTERNET NEWS MEMES WITH POLITICAL OVERTONES IN THE PERCEPTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State University., Gorbatov D. S. , Gurushkin P. Yu.
Published: February 2021

The purpose of the empirical research described in the article was to study the range of judgments that characterize the social perception of the student youth of Internet news memes with political overtones. The research method was a focus group interview using the Microsoft Teams platform. The four groups included 28 undergraduate students of higher educational institutions of St. Petersburg. The results of the study characterize the attitude of students to attempts to impose political overtones on Internet news memes, reflect their opinions about the mistakes made by the authors, contain arguments about the reasons for the anonymity of the authors of memes, describe the range of views on the problem of the responsibility of the authors of memes for violations of laws. In addition, students ' perceptions about changes in Internet memes, in particular, news memes, in the future were revealed.
Patología quirúrgica emergente durante la pandemia COVID-19 en un hospital de segundo nivel en Ecuador
Authors: Pástor Romero Sebastián Alejandro , Medina Flores Paola Alexandra , Cárdenas Dávalos Juan Carlos , Barba Bermeo Walter
Published: February 2021

Introducción: Desde la declaración de pandemia por la OMS el once de marzo de 2020, ha existido un descenso en los ingresos de pacientes quirúrgicos por la paralización de la cirugía electiva y la disminución de procedimientos quirúrgicos emergentes. Objetivo: Analizar la incidencia y características de la patología quirúrgica emergente en un hospital de segundo nivel en Ecuador. Materiales y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, descriptivo, que incluyó a todos los pacientes sometidos a cirugía general emergente en el Hospital General Riobamba IESS, desde el once de marzo hasta el once de agosto de 2020. Resultados: En el estudio se incluyeron 63 pacientes, con una media de edad de 48,54 años; el 50,8% fueron hombres. El diagnóstico más frecuente fue apendicitis aguda en 61,9% casos. Se realizaron 66 cirugías, 36,5% fueron apendicectomías convencionales. El abordaje abierto se llevó a cabo en 68,2% de los pacientes. El 12,7% de pacientes presentaron COVID-19 en el perioperatorio de los cuales 25% fallecieron. La mortalidad general fue del 7,9% y todos los pacientes fallecidos fueron hombres. Discusión: La evidencia acerca del manejo quirúrgico durante la pandemia COVID-19 aún es limitada. La patología quirúrgica emergente no se puede diferir, se deben tener en cuenta el incremento en la mortalidad de pacientes infectados y el riesgo de exposición del equipo quirúrgico. Conclusión: Durante la pandemia se produjo un descenso en las cirugías realizadas en nuestro centro, la apendicitis aguda continúa siendo la principal patología quirúrgica emergente. La mortalidad se asoció al sexo masculino y diagnóstico de COVID-19.
Panorama de la implementación de los sistemas de gestión ambiental en la Amazonia Colombiana
Authors: Rojas-Bahamón Magda Julissa , Arbeláez-Campillo Diego Felipe
Published: February 2021

Este artículo muestra el panorama de aplicación de los sistemas de gestión ambiental en las empresas, fincas, instituciones del Estado, instituciones educativas, la cultura y la economía en el departamento del Caquetá, ubicado en la Región Amazónica colombiana.
La transcendencia del estudio se valora en los aportes que el proceso investigativo hizo en torno al análisis documental de las normas ISO 14001:2014, RAS (Red de agricultura sostenible) y OHSAS 18001, así como la indagación en diferentes empresas privadas, entidades del Estado, instituciones educativas y fincas del departamento del Caquetá sobre la aplicabilidad de este tipo de normas en la construcción de los sistemas de gestión ambiental.
El estudio permitió vislumbrar que en el departamento del Caquetá el panorama de aplicación de estándares internacionales sobre SGA es escaso, debido mayormente al desconocimiento de la norma por parte de las organizaciones locales. Así mismo, que es necesaria la implementación de estos sistemas para lograr procesos organizados y de calidad.
АВТОРИТЕТНЕ НАВЧАЛЬНЕ ВИДАННЯ В ГАЛУЗІ ТЕОРІЇ МОВОЗНАВСТВА
Authors: Космеда Т. А.
Published: February 2021

Загнітко А. Теорії сучасних лінгвістичних вчень: навчальний посібник. Вінниця: ТОВ «Твори», 2019. 528 с.

Підготувати навчальний посібник, що максимально відповідав би вимогам часу, надзвичайно складно. Роль добротної навчальної літератури зростає в умовах дистанційного навчання під час пандемії. Тому вихід у світ навчального посібника, у якому на високому науковому рівні й з актуалізацією принципів сучасної дидактики комплексно та всебічно було б репрезентовано напрацювання в галузі сучасної лінгвістики з проєкцією на поступ провідних тенденцій лінгвістичної науки, посібника, що презентує лінгвістичні напрями з урахуванням новітніх розробок і мовознавчої класики, висвітлює ідеї наукових шкіл та ключових постатей мовознавства, — це однаково знакова подія і для науковців, викладачів вищої школи, і для студентів, магістрантів, аспірантів, учителів середніх шкіл.
A New Conjugate Gradient Method with Sufficient Descent Property
Authors: Akinduko O.B.
Published: February 2021

In this paper, by linearly combining the numerator and denominator terms of the Dai-Liao (DL) and Bamigbola-Ali-Nwaeze (BAN) conjugate gradient methods (CGMs), a general form of DL-BAN method has been proposed. From this general form, a new hybrid CGM, which was found to possess a sufficient descent property is generated. Numerical experiment was carried out on the new CGM in comparison with four existing CGMs, using some set of large scale unconstrained optimization problems. The result showed a superior performance of new method over majority of the existing methods.
Б(ИЈ)ЕЉИН(A) – ЗЕМЉА, КНЕШТВО, АРХИЂАКОНАТ, ДИСТРИКТ, НАХИЈА
Authors: Крстић Александар , Исаиловић Невен , Јаковљевић Александар
Published: February 2021

Бељин(а) се помиње у изворима од XIII до краја XV века као област, дистрикт или земља, често заједно са Мачвом, али и као архиђаконат Сремске бискупије. У српској историографији прихваћено је мишљење да се средњовековни град Бељин налазио на Сави код истоименог села између Шапца и Обреновца, и да је поменута област или жупа лежала у околини тог града. Међутим, један до сада непримећени угарски документ из 1464. године наводи да се тврђава Зворник налазила у „земљи Бељин“ (castrum Zwonnyk in terra Belyn). То, уз друге податке (1273. године угарски бан Усоре и Соли је уједно и кнез Бељина), упућује на закључак да Бељин (Белин) из средњовековних, махом угарских докумената заправо одговара каснијој османској нахији Бељина. Ова нахија се налазила на простору данашње Семберије, и по њој је касаба Четвртковиште, позната као трг још од краја XIV века, у другој половини XVI века добила свој данашњи назив Бијељина.
Intergroup contact and its effects on discriminatory attitudes Evidence from India
Authors: Bhattacharya Shreya
Published: February 2021

The contact hypothesis posits that having diverse neighbours may reduce one’s intergroup prejudice. This hypothesis is difficult to test as individuals self-select into neighbourhoods. Using a slum relocation programme in India that randomly assigned neighbours, I examine the effects of exposure to other-caste neighbours on trust and attitudes towards members of other castes. Combining administrative data on housing assignment with original survey data on attitudes, I find evidence corroborating the contact hypothesis. Exposure to more neighbours of other castes increases inter-caste trust, support for inter-caste marriage, and the belief that caste injustice is growing. I explore the role of friendships in facilitating these favourable attitudes. The findings shed light on the positive effects of exposure to diverse social groups through close proximity in neighbourhoods.
Profitabilitas Perusahaan Asuransi Jiwa Syariah di Indonesia: Analisis Hasil Investasi, Volume Of Capital dan Firm Size
Authors: Maudina Ghina Azizah , Tanuatmodjo Heraeni , Cakhyaneu Aneu
Published: February 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat gambaran serta pengaruh hasil investasi, volume of capital dan firm size terhadap profitabilitas pada Perusahaan Asuransi Jiwa Syariah di Indonesia periode 2014-2019. Profitabilitas selama enam tahun terakhir mengalami fluktuasi dan hampir seluruh perusahaan asuransi jiwa syariah di Indonesia mengalami penurunan. Hal ini disebabkan karena adanya penurunan laba bersih pada Asuransi Jiwa Syariah di Indonesia dan adanya risiko menajemen perusahaan yang berdampak pada penurunan instrumen-instrumen keuangan pada perusahaan asuransi jiwa syariah di Indonesia. Metode penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode deskriptif kuantitatif. Populasi pada penelitian ini adalah Perusahaan Asuransi Jiwa Syariah yang terdaftar di Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK). Sampel penelitian berjumlah sebelas perusahaan yang diperoleh berdasarkan teknik purpossive sampling dengan periode penelitian selama enam tahun penelitian sehingga data observasi berjumlah 66. Data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder. Teknik analisis statistik yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis regresi data panel dengan menggunakan aplikasi Eviews 10. Variabel dependen dalam penelitian ini adalah Profitabilitas dan variabel independen dalam penelitian ini adalah Hasil Investasi, Volume Of Capital dan Firm Size. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa hasil investasi berpengaruh terhadap profitabilitas dengan arah positif, Volume Of Capital tidak berpengaruh terhadap profitabilitas dan Firm Size berpengaruh positif terhadap profitabilitas.

 

Kata kunci : Hasil Investasi, Volume Of Capital, Firm Size dan Profitabilitas