bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting outcome in poor grade subarachnoid haemorrhage: An institutional study
Authors: Kranthi Sannepaneni , Sahu Barada , Aniruddh Purohit
Published: January 2015

Context: Poor grade subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is usually associated with unfavorable outcomes and optimal management is deemed complicated. Most centres follow an expectant management strategy or a less aggressive approach till patients improve to good clinical grades. This approach has been associated with higher mortality and morbidity. However, not all patients with poor clinical condition fare badly. Identification and early aggressive management of this select group of patients may lead to favorable outcomes. Settings and Design: Prospective non-randomized study. Materials and Methods: We prospectively analyzed 19 cases presented in WFNS grade 4 and 5 and factors affecting their outcome at a tertiary care centre in south India. This study was aimed at identifying those few poor grade patients who are probable candidates for a good outcome. Statistical Analysis Used: All the variables were analyzed for possible correlations with the SPSS version 13 software. The Chi-square test with a P < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: Of 19 cases, 13 were operated and good outcome was seen in 53.8% of the patients who underwent surgery and aggressive management. All 7 patients who were managed conservatively died. 15.8% of the patients had low density changes (P = 0.625). Absence of such changes was associated with a good long term outcome (P = 0.004). 9 patients had intraventricular hemorrhage at presentation and 5 patients having hydrocephalus underwent extra-ventricular drainage. Statistically significant factors precluding good outcome were the presence of infarcts and thick SAH in the cisterns. Conclusions: Poor grade (WFNS 4 and 5) SAH patients with or without ICH, IVH, if operated within 3 days can give rise to favorable outcome in around 50%. However, presence of patchy infarcts associated with thick subarachnoid blood (Fisher grade 3) precludes long term survival or meaningful recovery. Hence, aggressive management is unlikely to alter the natural history of such patients.
Recurrent intraventricular meningioma with malignant transformation
Authors: Singh Jasmit , Kharosekar Hrushikesh , Velho Vernon
Published: January 2015

Benign meningioma undergoing a malignant transformation (to a chondrosarcoma) in intraventricular location is very rare and this is first case report to best of our knowledge. Herein, we report a rare case of malignant transformation of a benign intraventricular meningioma with relevant literature.
Unusual site of Rathke's cleft cyst: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Agarwal Vivek , Palande Deepak , Velho Vernon , Binayke Rachana
Published: January 2015

We report an eight years female child of symptomatic giant Rathke's cleft cyst extending from right parasellar, paraventricular region to right fronto-temporo-parietal cortical surface which is an unusual site for Rathke's cyst. MRI Brain scans of patient who presented with diminution of vision in right eye with headache and vomiting revealed a large cystic mass in right parasellar, paraventricular region with peripheral enhancement and midline shift. In this case, we performed the right fronto-temporo-parietal craniotomy with drainage and marsupilization of cyst wall. Histopathologically, it was inflamed Rathke's cleft cyst with focal epithelial metaplasia.
Bilateral posterior fossa and temporo-occipital extra-dural hematomas: A simple novel technique
Authors: Aggarwal Ashish , Salunke Pravin , Futane Sameer , Sodhi Harsimrat
Published: January 2015

Posterior fossa extra-dural hematoma is rare and early diagnosis and management is associated with good outcome. Twenty four year male presented with somnolence and soft tissue swelling of occipital region following road traffic accident. CT scan revealed bilateral posterior fossa with bilateral temporo-occipital Extradural Hematoma (EDH) with mass effect. He was operated through a trifoliate incision and craniotomies leaving a strip of bone over the transverse and occipital sinus. The blood loss with such technique was minimal and the control of sinus tear was easier as the dura on either sides of the sinus can to tied to each other to hitch the sinus up to the bone thereby, providing a good tamponade. Early diagnosis of posterior fossa EDH and prompt surgical evacuation especially in patients with mass effect provide excellent recovery. However, the surgery may be associated with significant blood loss due to venous sinus injury increasing the morbidity and mortality. We have described a novel technique that minimizes the blood loss for patients with PFEDH straddling across the venous sinuses.
Depressive Symptoms Mediate the Association between Fear of Crime and Higher Body Mass Index
Authors: Kodjebacheva Gergana , Koleilat Maria , Kruger Daniel J.
Published: January 2015

Purpose.

To investigate pathways in the association between fear of crime and obesity.

Design.

A cross-sectional survey was administered among residents aged 18 years and older across all Census tracts.

Setting.

Genesee County, Michigan.

Subjects.

A total of 3192 residents.

Measures.

Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by using the respondents' reported height and weight. Composite fear-of-crime and depressive symptoms scores were calculated by using several survey items.

Analysis.

Path analysis examined the effects of fear of crime on BMI.

Results.

Fear of crime was associated with higher BMI. Depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between fear of crime and BMI (p < .001). Moderate exercise mediated the association between depressive symptoms and BMI (p < .001).

Conclusion.

Fear of crime was associated with depressive symptoms, which in turn were associated with reduced exercise and subsequently higher BMI.
Regular Exercise Throughout Pregnancy is Associated with a Shorter First Stage of Labor
Authors: Perales Maria , Calabria Irene , Lopez Carmina , Franco Evelia , Coteron Javier , Barakat Ruben
Published: January 2015

Purpose.

The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of moderate physical exercise throughout pregnancy on the duration of labor stages.

Design.

Study was a randomized controlled trial.

Setting.

The study took place at Hospital Puerta de Hierro and Hospital Severo Ochoa in Madrid, Spain.

Subjects.

We examined 166 pregnant women (31.6 ± 3.8 years), and all had uncomplicated and singleton gestation. Of these 83 were allocated to the exercise group (EG) and 83 to the control group (CG).

Intervention.

Women from the EG participated in a physical conditioning program throughout pregnancy, which included 55- to 60-minute sessions, 3 days per week.

Measures.

Pregnancy outcomes were measured: duration of labor stages, gestational age, weight gain, type of delivery, birth weight, birth size, head circumference, Apgar score, pH of umbilical cord.

Analysis.

Student's unpaired t-tests and χ2 tests were used; p values of < .05 indicated statistical significance. Cohen's d was used to determine the effect size.

Results.

Significant differences were found in the duration of the first stage of labor (EG = 389.6 ± 347.64 minutes vs. CG = 515.72 ± 353.36 minutes; p = .02, effect size Cohen's d = .36). The second and third stages did not differ between the study groups.

Conclusion.

A physical exercise program during pregnancy is associated with a shorter first stage of labor. These results may have important relevance to public health.
The prefix “African” and its implication for philosophy in Africa
Authors: Segun ST
Published: January 2015

Philosophy today is often regionalized unlike science and other disciplines. Thus we talk of Western, Eastern, American and African Philosophy. To speak or write philosophy within the ambit of the prefix “African” would elicit two major responses. First is the affirmative response which believes that indeed there exists some form of philosophy in Africa although distinct from Western philosophy in approach, procedure and methods but not in kind. The second is the denialist response which rejects vehemently the position of the former; in that they deny the existence of African philosophy independent of Western colouration. In other words, they do not believe that there exists any form of philosophy distinct from the Western idea of philosophy be it in approach or method. Within this frame certain problems arise such as the problem of interpretation or definition, the myth of unanimity and the problem of ethnophilosophy. The aim of this work thus is to understand the implications of the prefix “African” for philosophy in Africa. In this attempt, we uncover the subject of African Philosophy, its many possibilities, nature and interpretations. In understanding the implications of the prefix “African” for philosophy in Africa, the work avers that the affirmative response in modern times is an advocacy for what Chimakonam refers to as systematic African philosophy; and the denialist response to the subject is an outright rejection of the universal character of philosophy. For the laws of logic, the burden of axiology, the questions of metaphysics, the problems of sociopolitical philosophy and the concerns of epistemology all transcend geographical boundaries.Keywords: Affirmative, Denialist, Philosophy, African, African Philosophy, Ethnophilosophy, Systematic African Philosophy, Complementarity, Unanimity.
Investigating mass customization and sustainability compatibilities
Authors: Medini K. , Le Duigou J. , Da Cunha C. , Bernard A.
Published: January 2015

This paper examines the relationships between sustainability and mass customization in the business field. First a literature review investigates their enablers. This section ends with empirical conclusions about the impact of mass customization on sustainability highlighting some complementarities between these two concepts. Then three case studies illustrate the relevance of the identified enablers to different business sectors. The case studies show that several sustainability and mass customization enablers are deployed within same industrial contexts, thus pointing out potential synergies between them. The lack of sustainability and mass customization frameworks at the operational level is a major barrier for further investigation of the above synergies.Keywords: Mass customisation, sustainability, enablers, sustainable mass customisation.
PSO-based optimization of PI regulator and VA loading of a SRF-based multi-converter DVR
Authors: Naidu P. Vasudeva , Basavaraja B.
Published: January 2015

This paper deals with a design of optimal parameters of PI regulator in voltage control loop. The design aims to minimize voltampere (VA) loading of synchronous reference frame (SRF) based multi converter-DVR in parallel feeder distribution systems. To improve the power quality by using power conditioner with multi converters in each feeder distribution system under different load considerations, a dynamic model of synchronous-reference- frame (SRF) has been adopted. It is desirable to have optimization of PI components and generate the reference compensate voltages for series active filters (SAF) of MC-DVR. Therefore, series active filters help to inject optimal voltages at optimal angle in such a way that a minimum VA loading of MCDVR is possible. The optimal value PI components and optimal series injected angle of series active power filters are computed using particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique and the results are verified with genetic algorithm (GA). The simulation results show that the proposed PSO technique causes minimum error and minimum VA loading angle by optimally choosing parameters of PI and minimum VA angle as compared to GA technique.Keywords: Active power filter (APF), synchronous reference frame (SRF), Genetic algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and multi converter dynamic voltage restorer (MC-DVR).
A comparison of four receptor models used to quantify the boreal wildfire smoke contribution to surface PM2.5 in Halifax, Nova Scotia during the BORTAS-B experiment
Authors: Gibson M. D. , Haelssig J. , Pierce J. R. , Parrington M. , Franklin J. E. , Hopper J. T. , Li Z. , Ward T. J.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. This paper presents a quantitative comparison of the four most commonly used receptor models, namely absolute principal component scores (APCS), pragmatic mass closure (PMC), chemical mass balance (CMB) and positive matrix factorization (PMF). The models were used to predict the contributions of a wide variety of sources to PM2.5 mass in Halifax, Nova Scotia during the experiment to quantify the impact of BOReal forest fires on Tropospheric oxidants over the Atlantic using Aircraft and Satellites (BORTAS). However, particular emphasis was placed on the capacity of the models to predict the boreal wildfire smoke contributions during the BORTAS experiment. The performance of the four receptor models was assessed on their ability to predict the observed PM2.5 with an R2 close to 1, an intercept close to zero, a low bias and low RSME. Using PMF, a new woodsmoke enrichment factor of 52 was estimated for use in the PMC receptor model. The results indicate that the APCS and PMC receptor models were not able to accurately resolve total PM2.5 mass concentrations below 2 μg m−3. CMB was better able to resolve these low PM2.5 concentrations, but it could not be run on 9 of the 45 days of PM2.5 samples. PMF was found to be the most robust of the four models since it was able to resolve PM2.5 mass below 2 μg m−3, predict PM2.5 mass on all 45 days and utilise an unambiguous woodsmoke chemical tracer. The median woodsmoke relative contributions to PM2.5 estimated using PMC, APCS, CMB and PMF were found to be 0.08, 0.09, 3.59 and 0.14 μg m−3 respectively. The contribution predicted by the CMB model seemed to be clearly too high based on other observations. The use of levoglucosan as a tracer for woodsmoke was found to be vital for identifying this source.
Sunset–sunrise difference in solar occultation ozone measurements (SAGE II, HALOE, and ACE–FTS) and its relationship to tidal vertical winds
Authors: Sakazaki T. , Shiotani M. , Suzuki M. , Kinnison D. , Zawodny J. M. , McHugh M. , Walker K. A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. This paper contains a comprehensive investigation of the sunset–sunrise difference (SSD, i.e., the sunset-minus-sunrise value) of the ozone mixing ratio in the latitude range of 10° S–10° N. SSD values were determined from solar occultation measurements based on data obtained from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE) II, the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE), and the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment–Fourier transform spectrometer (ACE–FTS). The SSD was negative at altitudes of 20–30 km (−0.1 ppmv at 25 km) and positive at 30–50 km (+0.2 ppmv at 40–45 km) for HALOE and ACE–FTS data. SAGE II data also showed a qualitatively similar result, although the SSD in the upper stratosphere was 2 times larger than those derived from the other data sets. On the basis of an analysis of data from the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) and a nudged chemical transport model (the specified dynamics version of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model: SD–WACCM), we conclude that the SSD can be explained by diurnal variations in the ozone concentration, particularly those caused by vertical transport by the atmospheric tidal winds. All data sets showed significant seasonal variations in the SSD; the SSD in the upper stratosphere is greatest from December through February, while that in the lower stratosphere reaches a maximum twice: during the periods March–April and September–October. Based on an analysis of SD–WACCM results, we found that these seasonal variations follow those associated with the tidal vertical winds.
Assessing the potential of amino acid δ13C patterns as a carbon source tracer in marine sediments: effects of algal growth conditions and sedimentary diagenesis
Authors: Larsen T. , Bach L. T. , Salvatteci R. , Wang Y. V. , Andersen N. , Ventura M. , McCarthy M. D.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Burial of organic carbon in marine sediments has a profound influence in marine biogeochemical cycles, and provides a sink for greenhouse gases such as CO2 and CH4. However, tracing organic carbon from primary production sources as well as its transformations in the sediment record remains challenging. Here we examine a novel but growing tool for tracing biosynthetic origin of amino acid carbon skeletons, based on natural occurring stable carbon isotope patterns in individual amino acids (δ13CAA). We focus on two important aspects for δ13CAA utility in sedimentary paleoarchives: first, the fidelity of source diagnostic of algal δ13CAA patterns across different oceanographic growth conditions; and second, the ability of δ13CAA patterns to record the degree of subsequent microbial amino acid synthesis after sedimentary burial. Using the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii, we tested under controlled conditions how δ13CAA patterns respond to changing environmental conditions, including light, salinity, temperature, and pH. Our findings show that while differing oceanic growth conditions can change macromolecular cellular composition, δ13CAA isotopic patterns remain largely invariant. These results underscore that δ13CAA patterns should accurately record biosynthetic sources across widely disparate oceanographic conditions. We also explored how δ13CAA patterns change as a function of age, total nitrogen and organic carbon content after burial, in a marine sediment core from a coastal upwelling area off Peru. Based on the four most informative amino acids for distinguishing between diatom and bacterial sources (i.e. isoleucine, lysine, leucine and tyrosine), bacterial derived amino acids ranged from 10–15% in the sediment layers from the last 5000 years to 35% during the last glacial period. The larger bacterial fractions in older sediments indicate that bacterial activity and amino acid resynthesis progressed, approximately as a function of sediment age, to a substantially larger degree than suggested by changes in total organic nitrogen and carbon content. Taken together, these culturing and sediment studies suggest that δ13CAA patterns in sediments represent a novel proxy for understanding both primary production sources, as well as direct bacterial role in the ultimate preservation of sedimentary organic matter.
Laser vision: lidar as a transformative tool to advance critical zone science
Authors: Harpold A. A. , Marshall J. A. , Lyon S. W. , Barnhart T. B. , Fisher B. , Donovan M. , Brubaker K. M. , Crosby C. J. , Glenn N. F. , Glennie C. L. , Kirchner P. B. , Lam N. , Mankoff K. D. , McCreight J. L. , Molotch N. P. , Musselman K. N. , Pelletier J. , Russo T. , Sangireddy H. , Sjöberg Y. , Swetnam T. , West N.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Laser vision: lidar as a transformative tool to advance critical zone science. Observation and quantification of the Earth surface is undergoing a revolutionary change due to the increased spatial resolution and extent afforded by light detection and ranging (lidar) technology. As a consequence, lidar-derived information has led to fundamental discoveries within the individual disciplines of geomorphology, hydrology, and ecology. These disciplines form the cornerstones of Critical Zone (CZ) science, where researchers study how interactions among the geosphere, hydrosphere, and ecosphere shape and maintain the "zone of life", extending from the groundwater to the vegetation canopy. Lidar holds promise as a transdisciplinary CZ research tool by simultaneously allowing for quantification of topographic, vegetative, and hydrological data. Researchers are just beginning to utilize lidar datasets to answer synergistic questions in CZ science, such as how landforms and soils develop in space and time as a function of the local climate, biota, hydrologic properties, and lithology. This review's objective is to demonstrate the transformative potential of lidar by critically assessing both challenges and opportunities for transdisciplinary lidar applications. A review of 147 peer-reviewed studies utilizing lidar showed that 38 % of the studies were focused in geomorphology, 18 % in hydrology, 32 % in ecology, and the remaining 12 % have an interdisciplinary focus. We find that using lidar to its full potential will require numerous advances across CZ applications, including new and more powerful open-source processing tools, exploiting new lidar acquisition technologies, and improved integration with physically-based models and complementary in situ and remote-sensing observations. We provide a five-year vision to utilize and advocate for the expanded use of lidar datasets to benefit CZ science applications.
Evolution of the human–water relationships in Heihe River basin in the past 2000 years
Authors: Lu Z. , Wei Y. , Xiao H. , Zou S. , Xie J. , Ren J. , Western A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. This paper quantitatively analyzed the evolution of human–water relationships in the Heihe River basin of northern China over the past 2000 years by reconstructing the catchment water balance partitioning precipitation into evapotranspiration and runoff. The reconstruction results provided the basis for investigating the impacts of human societies on hydrological systems. Based on transition theory the evolutionary processes of human–water relationships can be divided into four stages: predevelopment (206 BC–AD 1368), take-off (AD 1368–1949), acceleration (AD 1949–2000), and rebalancing (after AD 2000). The evolutionary process analysis revealed that there were large differences in the rate and scale of change and the period over which they occurred, and transition of the human–water relationship had no fixed pattern. This understanding of the dynamics of the human–water relationship will assist policy makers to identify management practices that require improvement by understanding how today's problems were created in the past, for more sustainable catchment in the future.
How effective is river restoration in re-establishing groundwater – surface water interactions? – A case study
Authors: Kurth A.-M. , Weber C. , Schirmer M.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. In this study we investigated whether river restoration was successful in re-establishing vertical connectivity and, thereby, groundwater-surface water interactions, in a degraded urban stream. Well-tried passive Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and novel active and passive DTS approaches were employed to study groundwater-surface water interactions in an experimental reach of an urban stream before and after its restoration and in two (near-) natural reference streams. Results were validated with Radon-222 analyses. Our results indicated that river restoration at the study site was indeed successful in increasing groundwater-surface water interactions. Increased surface water downwelling occurred locally at the tip of a gravel island created during river restoration. Hence, the installation of in-stream structures increased the vertical connectivity and thus groundwater-surface water interactions. With the methods presented in this publication it would be possible to routinely investigate the success of river restorations in re-establishing vertical connectivity, thereby gaining insight into the effectiveness of specific restoration measures. This, in turn, would enable the optimization of future river restoration projects, rendering them more cost-effective and successful.
Hydrological simulations driven by RCM climate scenarios at basin scale in the Po River, Italy
Authors: Vezzoli R. , Del Longo M. , Mercogliano P. , Montesarchio M. , Pecora S. , Tonelli F. , Zollo A. L.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. River discharges are the main expression of the hydrological cycle and are the results of climate natural variability. The signal of climate changes occurrence raises the question of how it will impact on river flows and on their extreme manifestations: floods and droughts. This question can be addressed through numerical simulations spanning from the past (1971) to future (2100) under different climate change scenarios. This work addresses the capability of a modelling chain to reproduce the observed discharge of the Po River over the period 1971–2000. The modelling chain includes climate and hydrological/hydraulic models and its performance is evaluated through indices based on the flow duration curve. The climate datasets used for the 1971–2000 period are (a) a high resolution observed climate dataset, and COSMO-CLM regional climate model outputs with (b) perfect boundary condition, ERA40 Reanalysis, and (c) suboptimal boundary conditions provided by the global climate model CMCC–CM. The aim of the different simulations is to evaluate how the uncertainties introduced by the choice of the regional and/or global climate models propagate in the simulated discharges. This point is relevant to interpret the results of the simulated discharges when scenarios for the future are considered. The hydrological/hydraulic components are simulated through a physically-based distributed model (TOPKAPI) and a water balance model at the basin scale (RIBASIM). The aim of these first simulations is to quantify the uncertainties introduced by each component of the modelling chain and their propagation. Estimation of the overall uncertainty is relevant to correctly understand the future river flow regimes. The results show how bias correction algorithms can help in reducing the overall uncertainty associated to the different stages of the modelling chain.
Flood hazard maps in Matucana village under climate change scenarios
Authors: Cabrera Cabrera J. W. , Castillo Navarro L. F.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Possible effects of climate change on floods magnitude and effects are discussed in this document based on existing data and projected changes in precipitation until 2099. This methodology is applied to Matucana Village, which suffers the effects of floods and debris flows. First, historical peak precipitation, fitted to Gumbel distribution, was used, After that, percentage projected changes of precipitation were used to obtain the new mean precipitation to each period 2010–2039, 2040–2069 and 2070–2099; these mean precipitations define a new Gumbel distribution for every time period. Then, projected maximal precipitations to 100 years of return period are estimated and the corresponding peak flow hydrographs were built. Finally, hazard maps are plotted. This application is possible because Matucana is located in a climatologically homogeneous basin. The final results suggest an important increase in magnitude and affected area by floods in the next 90 years under the A1FI emission scenario.
The interplay between human population dynamics and flooding in Bangladesh: a spatial analysis
Authors: di Baldassarre G. , Yan K. , Ferdous MD. R. , Brandimarte L.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. In Bangladesh, socio-economic and hydrological processes are both extremely dynamic and inter-related. Human population patterns are often explained as a response, or adaptation strategy, to physical events, e.g. flooding, salt-water intrusion, and erosion. Meanwhile, these physical processes are exacerbated, or mitigated, by diverse human interventions, e.g. river diversion, levees and polders. In this context, this paper describes an attempt to explore the complex interplay between floods and societies in Bangladeshi floodplains. In particular, we performed a spatially-distributed analysis of the interactions between the dynamics of human settlements and flood inundation patterns. To this end, we used flooding simulation results from inundation modelling, LISFLOOD-FP, as well as global datasets of population distribution data, such as the Gridded Population of the World (20 years, from 1990 to 2010) and HYDE datasets (310 years, from 1700 to 2010). The outcomes of this work highlight the behaviour of Bangladeshi floodplains as complex human–water systems and indicate the need to go beyond the traditional narratives based on one-way cause–effects, e.g. climate change leading to migrations.
Effects of minor drainage networks on flood hazard evaluation
Authors: Domeneghetti A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Scientific literature reports a plethora of numerical tools of different complexity (e.g. 1D, 2D raster-based or full 2D models) for flood hazard and flood risk evaluation. The correct identification of the appropriate model still represents a key aspect in the overall flood hazard process even though the potential of these modelling instruments are increased by the availability of high computational resources and by the amount of high-resolution topographic data provided by recent survey techniques. Given this context the present analysis investigates the effects of minor drainage networks on the estimation of flood hazard in a flood-prone area along the Enza River, close to the village of Sorbolo a Levante (RE, northern Italy). By means of a full 2D hydraulic model (Telemac-2D), the effects of the drainage system is analysed using three unstructured meshes with different degrees of complexity: (1) the minor drainage system allows the possibility to convey water outside the study area (REF); (2) the drainage system is reproduced only in terms of preferential flow-paths (REF-noFlow); (3) the drainage network is completely neglected (REF-noDN). The analysis indicates that the maximum flood extent seems not to be influenced by the mesh schematization, while water depths and the total volume are significantly related to the model schematization. Even if this analysis refers to a specific case study and further investigations are needed, it shows the fundamental role of the drainage network in controlling water depth distribution and the duration of the inundation, which should be accurately reproduced by numerical models.
Analysis of flash flood scenarios in an urbanized catchment using a two-dimensional hydraulic model
Authors: Dottori F. , Grazzini F. , di Lorenzo M. , Spisni A. , Tomei F.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. In Italy, growing urbanization is leading to a higher risk of flooding of small water courses, especially in steep catchments of limited area, where severe flash flood events can occur. The assessment of flash flood hazard requires new modelling tools that can reproduce both the rainfall–runoff processes in the catchment, and the flow processes in the drainage network. In this paper we propose the use of a simple two-dimensional hydraulic model for analysing a flood scenario in a small valley within the urban area of the city of Bologna, Italy. Historically this area has been prone to severe flood events, the most recent of which occurred in 1955 and 1932. Since then there has been a significant increase in urbanization of the lower portion of the catchment, while the natural stream bed has been partially replaced by a culvert. The two-dimensional hydraulic model was therefore applied at catchment scale, in order to simulate the possible effects of historical scenarios in the present catchment configuration. Rainfall and runoff data measured during recent rainfall events were used to calibrate model parameters. Model results show that the current culvert section would be insufficient to drain the runoff produced by intense rainfall events, with potential inundation of surrounding urban areas.
The ensemble scenarios projecting runoff changes in large Russian river basins in the 21st century
Authors: Georgiadi A. G. , Koronkevich N. , Milyukova I. P. , Barabanova E. A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. An approach is presented for carrying out a long-term projection of river runoff changes in large Russian river basins in the first three decades of the 21st century. These changes may be caused by climate warming and socio-economic factors. The approach utilizes a method for scenario estimation of runoff changes with a range of possible climate warming effects. This range is chosen by generalizing calculation results obtained by using an ensemble of global climate models for two contrasting scenarios (A2 and B1) of globally-averaged air temperature rises. The approach also utilizes a method for alternative scenario estimation for water consumption as related to socio-economic changes. The estimates show that the expected runoff changes in the first third of this century due to climate warming scenarios can compensate the runoff decrease caused by the realization of some of the scenarios for socio-economic changes in the Volga River basin. The same compensation does not occur in the Don River basin, where negative effects are expected for the regional ecology.
Socio-economic effect on socially-deprived communities of developing drinking water quality problems in arid and semi-arid area of central Rajasthan
Authors: Husain I. , Husain J. , Arif M.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Rajasthan is well known for its Great Thar desert. Central Rajasthan has an arid to semi-arid environment. The area faces either scarcity of water or poor quality of drinking water. In some areas water is transported 2 km or more, which uses time, energy and money. Rich people have their own sources, which is restricted for use by others. Such conditions are affecting socially-deprived communities, both socially and economically. Groundwater is a major source of drinking water due to the unavailability of surface water. There is a lack of groundwater quality knowledge in the community and the data available is hard to understand by consumers. The CCME Water Quality Index is a tool to simplify the water quality report by rating the water on quality standards. It provides meaningful summaries of overall water quality and trends, which is accessible to non-technical lay people. In the present study the objective is to examine the groundwater quality of six districts (Ajmer, Bhilwara, Pali, Rajasamand, Nagaur and Jodhpur), centrally located in Rajasthan, with arid and semi-arid conditions. CCME WQI is also evaluated to produce quality data in a form to be understood by the community. A total of 4369 groundwater sources in 1680 villages from six districts (76 546 km2) were collected and examined. Results are outlined in the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS: 10500, 2012) and 2952 sources are unsafe for drinking. According to CCME WQI groundwater of 93 villages is poor, 343 villages are marginal, and 369 villages are fair in quality. Toxicological studies of unsafe drinking water and their remedial measures are also discussed. A tentative correlation between prevailing water-borne diseases and quality parameter has also been shown
Water resources management: traditional technology and communities as part of the solution
Authors: Hussain J. , Husain I. , Arif M.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Rajasthan, the largest State in India, has one of the most critical water statuses. Rajasthan, with more than 10.4 % of the country’s geographical area, supports more than 5.5 % of the human population and 18.70 % of the livestock, but only has 1.16 % of the total surface water available in the country. More than 60 % of the state is a part of the Great Thar Desert, and of the total 142 desert blocks in the country, 85 blocks are in the state of Rajasthan. The per capita annual water availability in the state is about 780 m3, compared with the minimum requirement of 1000 m3. It is feared that the availability would fall below 450 m3 by the year 2050. Thus, increasing population coupled with erratic rainfall further aggravates the water crisis. It is possible to harvest and augment water resources through the construction of small water harvesting structures called johads and the implementation of local water governance. This has been amply demonstrated by the successful experience of local communities in Alwar District in Rajasthan. Since 1985, 8600 johads have been built in 1086 villages. This has resulted in the rise in water levels in the shallow aquifer, increase in the area under single and double crops, increase in forest cover and drinking water supply security. The water collected in a johad during the monsoon penetrates into the sub-soil. This recharges the groundwater and improves the soil moisture in vast areas. The water in the johad can be used directly for irrigation, drinking water by animals, and other domestic purposes. The other advantage of this structure is that it checks soil erosion, mitigates floods, and ensures water availability in wells or boreholes used for drinking water supply, even for several successive drought years. Also, during the dry season when the water gradually recedes in the johad, the land inside the johad itself becomes available for cultivation.
Small watershed management as a tool of flood risk prevention
Authors: Jakubinsky J. , Bacova R. , Svobodova E. , Kubicek P. , Herber V.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. According to the International Disaster Database (CRED 2009) frequency of extreme hydrological situations on a global scale is constantly increasing. The most typical example of a natural risk in Europe is flood – there is a decrease in the number of victims, but a significant increase in economic damage. A decrease in the number of victims is caused by the application of current hydrological management that focuses its attention primarily on large rivers and elimination of the damages caused by major flood situations. The growing economic losses, however, are a manifestation of the increasing intensity of floods on small watercourses, which are usually not sufficiently taken into account by the management approaches. The research of small streams should focus both on the study of the watercourse itself, especially its ecomorphological properties, and in particular on the possibility of flood control measures and their effectiveness. An important part of society’s access to sustainable development is also the evolution of knowledge about the river landscape area, which is perceived as a significant component of global environmental security and resilience, thanks to its high compensatory potential for mitigation of environmental change. The findings discussed under this contribution are based on data obtained during implementation of the project "GeoRISK" (Geo-analysis of landscape level degradation and natural risks formation), which takes into account the above approaches applied in different case studies – catchments of small streams in different parts of the Czech Republic. Our findings offer an opportunity for practical application of field research knowledge in decision making processes within the national level of current water management.
Changing glacial lakes and associated outburst floods risks in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Indian Himalaya
Authors: Mal S. , Singh R. B.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Glacial lakes and associated outburst floods (GLOFs) have increased in the Himalayan region due to climate change during the last century that has led to huge losses to society. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to map glacial lakes, their increasing extent, and associated damage potential in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR), Indian Himalaya. The glacial lakes were mapped on Landsat TM (3 November, 2009 and 6 November 2010) and Landsat MSS satellite images (15 November 1976 and 26 October 1979) to assess their changing area. Potential GLOFs sites have been identified and studied for their damage potentials using site characteristics and past occurrence of GLOFs. A total of 35 lakes were mapped, of which 14 lakes are located at more than 4500 m. The size and damage potentials of lakes have increased. Some lakes grew so much that they merged to form a big lake. All of these are potential GLOFs and can cause severe damage to society.
Regional prediction of basin-scale brown trout habitat suitability
Authors: Ceola S. , Pugliese A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. In this study we propose a novel method for the estimation of ecological indices describing the habitat suitability of brown trout (Salmo trutta). Traditional hydrological tools are coupled with an innovative regional geostatistical technique, aiming at the prediction of the brown trout habitat suitability index where partial or totally ungauged conditions occur. Several methods for the assessment of ecological indices are already proposed in the scientific literature, but the possibility of exploiting a geostatistical prediction model, such as Topological Kriging, has never been investigated before. In order to develop a regional habitat suitability model we use the habitat suitability curve, obtained from measured data of brown trout adult individuals collected in several river basins across the USA. The Top-kriging prediction model is then employed to assess the spatial correlation between upstream and downstream habitat suitability indices. The study area is the Metauro River basin, located in the central part of Italy (Marche region), for which both water depth and streamflow data were collected. The present analysis focuses on discharge values corresponding to the 0.1-, 0.5-, 0.9-empirical quantiles derived from flow-duration curves available for seven gauging stations located within the study area, for which three different suitability indices (i.e. ψ10, ψ50 and ψ90) are evaluated. The results of this preliminary analysis are encouraging showing Nash-Sutcliffe efficiencies equal to 0.52, 0.65, and 0.69, respectively.
Water risk assessment for river basins in China based on WWF water risk assessment tools
Authors: Wei N. , Qiu Y. , Gan H. , Niu C. , Liu J. , Gan Y. , Zhou N.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Water resource problems, one of the most important environmental and socio-economic issues, have been a common concern worldwide in recent years. Water resource risks are attracting more and more attention from the international community and national governments. Given the current situations of water resources and the water environment, and the characteristics of water resources management and information statistics of China, this paper establishes an index system for water risk assessment in river basins of China based on the index system of water risk assessment proposed by the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) and German Investment and Development Co., Ltd (DEG). The new system is more suitable for Chinese national conditions and endorses the international assessment index. A variety of factors are considered to determine the critical values of classification for each index, and the indexes are graded by means of 5-grade and 5-score scales; the weights and calculation methods of some indexes are adjusted, with the remaining indexes adopting the method of WWF. The Weighted Comprehensive Index Summation Process is adopted to calculate the integrated assessment score of the river basin. The method is applied to the Haihe River basin in China. The assessment shows that the method can accurately reflect the water risk level of different river basins. Finally, the paper discusses the continuing problems in water risk assessment and points out the research required to provide a reference for further study in this field.
Impact of climate change on evaluation of future water demand in the Euphrates and Aleppo basin, Syria
Authors: Alazzy A. A. , Lü H. , Zhu Y.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Syria is one of the Middle Eastern countries that suffer from scarcity in water resources availability, which affects the growth and development of economic activities. In this research, the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model is applied to evaluate future water demand in the Euphrates and Aleppo basin (EAB), Syria, by taking into account the climate change that may affect water demand in the domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors until 2050. The climate change projections of temperature and precipitation were assessed using a new version of the MAGICC/SCENGEN tool with two greenhouse gas emissions scenarios (A2 and B2) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Based on the results of IPCC (A2, B2) scenarios projections, the EAB basin is likely to face a decrease in precipitation amount by 21 % according to A2 and by 12 % according to B2, while temperature would increase by about 2.5 °C according to A2 and by 2 °C according to B2. Within the three scenarios adopted in this research: (1) available technology development; (2) increasing treated wastewater in agriculture and industry sectors; (3) and two combined scenarios, the results of the simulation demonstrated that the proposed scenarios are effective for reducing stressors on EAB’s water resources, but are not sustainable to bridge the gap between demand-supply by the year 2050, which leads to the deterioration of the available water resources.
Impacts of drought on water quality: the case of aquifers in eastern Algeria
Authors: Djabri L. , Bouhsina S. , Hani A. , Bosch A. , Mudry J. , Cerif Djouamaa M.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. The studied area is located in the extreme part of Algeria. It is limited to the north by the Mediterranean Sea and the desert in the south. This position confers a variation of the climatic mode, a Mediterranean climate in the north and arid in the south, resulting in a very important fall of precipitation, ranging from 1200 mm/year in the north, to 300 mm/year in the south. The hydrographic network is very dense; very important wadis (Seybouse, Mellague, Medjerda, Kebir-Are, Kebir-West) cross this area, which implies important contributions (solid and liquid). Water of aquifers is often fed by these rivers. During its displacement water acquires a certain mineralization. The studies carried out showed that this mineralization increased during recent years, thus translating the influence of the climatic factors on water quality. To explain the origin of this salinity we were interested in the climatic variations and particularly in dryness which affected the area in recent years, due to a considerable fall in the infiltrations being translated in the north by an imbalance of the interface of fresh water and salted water, generating a salinity of water. In the south the dryness accelerated water salinity. To highlight this impact several approaches were used: Statistical tool using the PCA, gives an outline on the elements at the origin of observed salinity; STUYFZAND method, based primarily on chlorides, can determine various classes of salinity; and the thermodynamic tool shows the influence of certain minerals on water salinity. The compilation of all the results enables us to conclude that the observed salinity in various zones remains influenced by the dryness.
Using the Priestley-Taylor expression for estimating actual evapotranspiration from satellite Landsat ETM + data
Authors: Khaldi A. , Khaldi A. , Hamimed A.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. The quantification of evapotranspiration from irrigated areas is important for agriculture water management, especially in arid and semi-arid regions where water deficiency is becoming a major constraint in economic welfare and sustainable development. Conventional methods that use point measurements to estimate evapotranspiration are representative only of local areas and cannot be extended to large areas because of landscape heterogeneity. Remote sensing-based energy balance models are presently most suited for estimating evapotranspiration at both field and regional scales. In this study, we aim to develop a methodology based on the triangle concept, allowing estimation of evapotranspiration through the classical equation of Priestley and Taylor (1972) where the proportional coefficient α in this equation is ranged using a linear interpolation between surface temperature and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values. Preliminary results using remotely sensed data sets from Landsat ETM+ over the Habra Plains in west Algeria are in good agreement with ground measurements. The proposed approach appears to be more reliable and easily applicable for operational estimation of evapotranspiration over large areas.