bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solution of Multi-Term Time-Fractional PDE Models Arising in Mathematical Biology and Physics by Local Meshless Method
Authors: Ahmad Imtiaz , Ahmad Hijaz , Thounthong Phatiphat , Chu Yu-Ming , Cesarano Clemente
Published: July 2020

Fractional differential equations depict nature sufficiently in light of the symmetry properties which describe biological and physical processes. This article is concerned with the numerical treatment of three-term time fractional-order multi-dimensional diffusion equations by using an efficient local meshless method. The space derivative of the models is discretized by the proposed meshless procedure based on the multiquadric radial basis function though the time-fractional part is discretized by Liouville–Caputo fractional derivative. The numerical results are obtained for one-, two- and three-dimensional cases on rectangular and non-rectangular computational domains which verify the validity, efficiency and accuracy of the method.
Advanced Algorithms and Common Solutions to Variational Inequalities
Authors: Hammad Hasanen A. , ur Rehman Habib , De la Sen Manuel
Published: July 2020

The paper aims to present advanced algorithms arising out of adding the inertial technical and shrinking projection terms to ordinary parallel and cyclic hybrid inertial sub-gradient extra-gradient algorithms (for short, PCHISE). Via these algorithms, common solutions of variational inequality problems (CSVIP) and strong convergence results are obtained in Hilbert spaces. The structure of this problem is to find a solution to a system of unrelated VI fronting for set-valued mappings. To clarify the acceleration, effectiveness, and performance of our parallel and cyclic algorithms, numerical contributions have been incorporated. In this direction, our results unify and generalize some related papers in the literature.
Mechanism of Vascular Toxicity in Rats Subjected to Treatment with a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
Authors: Reyes-Goya Claudia , Santana-Garrido Álvaro , Soto-Astacio Estefanía , Aramburu Óscar , Zambrano Sonia , Mate Alfonso , Vázquez Carmen M.
Published: July 2020

Sunitinib (Su) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic and antineoplastic effects that is recommended therapy for renal cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Arterial hypertension is one of the adverse effects observed in the treatment with Su. The aim of this work was to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of this side effect. Studies on endothelial function, vascular remodeling and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase) system were carried out in thoracic aortas from rats treated with Su for three weeks. Animals subjected to Su treatment presented with increased blood pressure and reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation, the latter being reverted by NADPH oxidase blockade. Furthermore, vascular remodeling and stronger Masson trichrome staining, together with enhanced immunofluorescence signal for collagen 1 alpha 1 (Col1α1), were observed in aortas from treated animals. These results were accompanied by a significant elevation in superoxide anion production and the activity/protein/gene expression of NADPH oxidase isoforms (NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4), which was also prevented by NOX inhibition. Furthermore, a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation was observed in aortas from Su-treated animals. All these results indicate that endothelial dysfunction secondary to changes in vascular remodeling and oxidative stress might be responsible for the typical arterial hypertension that develops following treatment with Su.
Multi-Toxin Quantitative Analysis of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins and Tetrodotoxins in Bivalve Mollusks with Ultra-Performance Hydrophilic Interaction LC-MS/MS—An In-House Validation Study
Authors: Patria Fadillah Putri , Pekar Heidi , Zuberovic-Muratovic Aida
Published: July 2020

Ultra-performance hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry system (UP-HILIC–MS/MS) was used in multi-toxin analysis of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and tetrodotoxins (TTXs) in sample matrices from bivalve molluscan species commercially produced for human consumption in Sweden. The method validation includes 17 toxins of which GTX6 and two TTX analogues, TTX and 4,9-anhydroTTX, were previously not analyzed together with hydrophilic PSTs. 11-deoxyTTX was monitored qualitatively with a non-certified reference standard. The performance of the method was evaluated for selectivity, repeatability, and linearity by analyzing spiked samples which generated linear calibration curves across the concentration ranges used (R2 > 0.99). The in-house reproducibility (RSD) was satisfactory including the LOD and LOQ for both PST and TTX toxins being far below their regulatory action limits. The major advantage of the method is that it allows direct confirmation of the toxin identity and specific toxin quantification using a derivatization-free approach. Unlike the PST-chemical methods used in routine regulatory monitoring until now for food control, the UP-HILIC-MS/MS approach enables the calibration set-up for each of the toxin analogs separately, thereby providing the essential flexibility and specificity in analysis of this challenging group of toxins. The method is suitable to implement in food monitoring for PSTs and TTXs in bivalves, and can serve as a fast and cost-efficient screening method. However, positive samples would, for regulatory reasons still need to be confirmed using the AOAC official method (2005.06).
Characterization of Bacillus cereus in Dairy Products in China
Authors: Liu Xiao-Ye , Hu Qiao , Xu Fei , Ding Shuang-Yang , Zhu Kui
Published: July 2020

Bacillus cereus is a common and ubiquitous foodborne pathogen with an increasing prevalence rate in dairy products in China. High and unmet demands for such products, particularly milk, raise the risk of B. cereus associated contamination. The presence of B. cereus and its virulence factors in dairy products may cause food poisoning and other illnesses. Thus, this review first summarizes the epidemiological characteristics and analytical assays of B. cereus from dairy products in China, providing insights into the implementation of intervention strategies. In addition, the recent achievements on the cytotoxicity and mechanisms of B. cereus are also presented to shed light on the therapeutic options for B. cereus associated infections.
Qualifying the T-2 Toxin-Degrading Properties of Seven Microbes with Zebrafish Embryo Microinjection Method
Authors: Garai Edina , Risa Anita , Varga Emese , Cserháti Mátyás , Kriszt Balázs , Urbányi Béla , Csenki Zsolt
Published: July 2020

T-2 mycotoxin degradation and detoxification efficiency of seven bacterial strains were investigated with zebrafish microinjection method in three steps ((1) determination of mycotoxin toxicity baseline, (2) examination of bacterial metabolites toxicity, (3) identification of degradation products toxicity). Toxicity of T-2 was used as a baseline of toxic effects, bacterial metabolites of strains as control of bacterial toxicity and degradation products of toxin as control of biodegradation were injected into one-cell stage embryos in the same experiment. The results of in vivo tests were checked and supplemented with UHPLC-MS/MS measurement of T-2 concentration of samples. Results showed that the Rhodococcus erythropolis NI1 strain was the only one of the seven tested (R. gordoniae AK38, R. ruber N361, R. coprophilus N774, R. rhodochrous NI2, R. globerulus N58, Gordonia paraffinivorans NZS14), which was appropriated to criteria all aspects (bacterial and degradation metabolites of strains caused lower toxicity effects than T-2, and strains were able to degrade T-2 mycotoxin). Bacterial and degradation metabolites of the NI1 strain caused slight lethal and sublethal effects on zebrafish embryos at 72- and 120-h postinjection. Results demonstrated that the three-step zebrafish microinjection method is well-suited to the determination and classification of different bacterial strains by their mycotoxin degradation and detoxification efficiency.
Mycotoxins and the Enteric Nervous System
Authors: Gonkowski Sławomir , Gajęcka Magdalena , Makowska Krystyna
Published: July 2020

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various fungal species. They are commonly found in a wide range of agricultural products. Mycotoxins contained in food enter living organisms and may have harmful effects on many internal organs and systems. The gastrointestinal tract, which first comes into contact with mycotoxins present in food, is particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of these toxins. One of the lesser-known aspects of the impact of mycotoxins on the gastrointestinal tract is the influence of these substances on gastrointestinal innervation. Therefore, the present study is the first review of current knowledge concerning the influence of mycotoxins on the enteric nervous system, which plays an important role, not only in almost all regulatory processes within the gastrointestinal tract, but also in adaptive and protective reactions in response to pathological and toxic factors in food.
Effects of Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone on the Histology and Ultrastructure of Pig Liver
Authors: Skiepko Natalia , Przybylska-Gornowicz Barbara , Gajęcka Magdalena , Gajęcki Maciej , Lewczuk Bogdan
Published: July 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of single and combined administrations of deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) on the histology and ultrastructure of pig liver. The study was performed on immature gilts, which were divided into four equal groups. Animals in the experimental groups received DON at a dose of 12 μg/kg body weight (BW) per day, ZEN at 40 μg/kg BW per day, or a mixture of DON (12 μg/kg BW per day) and ZEN (40 μg/kg BW). The control group received vehicle. The animals were killed after 1, 3, and 6 weeks of experiment. Treatment with mycotoxins resulted in several changes in liver histology and ultrastructure, including: (1) an increase in the thickness of the perilobular connective tissue and its penetration to the lobules in gilts receiving DON and DON + ZEN; (2) an increase in the total microscopic liver score (histology activity index (HAI)) in pigs receiving DON and DON + ZEN; (3) dilatation of hepatic sinusoids in pigs receiving ZEN, DON and DON + ZEN; (4) temporary changes in glycogen content in all experimental groups; (5) an increase in iron accumulation in the hepatocytes of gilts treated with ZEN and DON + ZEN; (6) changes in endoplasmic reticulum organization in the hepatocytes of pigs receiving toxins; (7) changes in morphology of Browicz–Kupffer cells after treatment with ZEN, DON, and DON + ZEN. The results show that low doses of mycotoxins used in the present study, even when applied for a short period, affected liver morphology.
Non-HLA Abs in Solid Organ Transplantation
Authors: Gutiérrez-Larrañaga María , López-Hoyos Marcos , Renaldo André , San Segundo David
Published: July 2020

The role of anti-HLA antibodies in solid organ rejection is well established and these antibodies are routinely monitored both in patients in the waiting list and in the post-transplant setting. More recently, the presence of other antibodies directed towards non-HLA antigens, or the so-called minor histocompatibility antigens, has drawn the attention of the transplant community; however, their possible involvement in the graft outcome remains uncertain. These antibodies have been described to possibly have a role in rejection and allograft failure. This review focuses on the most studied non-HLA antibodies and their association with different clinical outcomes considered in solid organ transplantation with the aim of clarifying their clinical implication and potential relevance for routine testing.
Pre-Erythrocytic Vaccines against Malaria
Authors: Marques-da-Silva Camila , Peissig Kristen , Kurup Samarchith P.
Published: July 2020

Malaria, caused by the protozoan Plasmodium, is a devastating disease with over 200 million new cases reported globally every year. Although immunization is arguably the best strategy to eliminate malaria, despite decades of research in this area we do not have an effective, clinically approved antimalarial vaccine. The current impetus in the field is to develop vaccines directed at the pre-erythrocytic developmental stages of Plasmodium, utilizing novel vaccination platforms. We here review the most promising pre-erythrocytic stage antimalarial vaccine candidates.
Revisiting CD8 T-cell ‘Memory Inflation’: New Insights with Implications for Cytomegaloviruses as Vaccine Vectors
Authors: Holtappels Rafaela , Freitag Kirsten , Renzaho Angelique , Becker Sara , Lemmermann Niels A.W. , Reddehase Matthias J.
Published: July 2020

Murine models of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection have revealed an exceptional kinetics of the immune response. After resolution of productive infection, transient contraction of the viral epitope-specific CD8 T-cell pool was found to be followed by a pool expansion specific for certain viral epitopes during non-productive ‘latent’ infection. This phenomenon, known as ‘memory inflation’ (MI), was found to be based on inflationary KLRG1+CD62L− effector-memory T cells (iTEM) that depend on repetitive restimulation. MI gained substantial interest for employing CMV as vaccine vector by replacing MI-driving CMV epitopes with foreign epitopes for generating high numbers of protective memory cells specific for unrelated pathogens. The concept of an MI-driving CMV vector is questioned by human studies disputing MI in humans. A bias towards MI in experimental models may have resulted from systemic infection. We have here studied local murine CMV infection as a route that is more closely matching routine human vaccine application. Notably, KLRG1−CD62L+ central memory T cells (TCM) and conventional KLRG1−CD62L− effector memory T cells (cTEM) were found to expand, associated with ‘avidity maturation’, whereas the pool size of iTEM steadily declined over time. The establishment of high avidity CD8 T-cell central memory encourages one to pursue the concept of CMV vector-based vaccines.
Designing Functionally Versatile, Highly Immunogenic Peptide-Based Multiepitopic Vaccines against Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus
Authors: Defaus Sira , Forner Mar , Cañas-Arranz Rodrigo , de León Patricia , Bustos María J. , Rodríguez-Pulido Miguel , Blanco Esther , Sobrino Francisco , Andreu David
Published: July 2020

A broadly protective and biosafe vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) remains an unmet need in the animal health sector. We have previously reported solid protection against serotype O FMDV afforded by dendrimeric peptide structures harboring virus-specific B- and T-cell epitopes, and also shown such type of multivalent presentations to be advantageous over simple B-T-epitope linear juxtaposition. Chemically, our vaccine platforms are modular constructions readily made from specified B- and T-cell epitope precursor peptides that are conjugated in solution. With the aim of developing an improved version of our formulations to be used for on-demand vaccine applications, we evaluate in this study a novel design for epitope presentation to the immune system based on a multiple antigen peptide (MAP) containing six immunologically relevant motifs arranged in dendrimeric fashion (named B2T-TB2). Interestingly, two B2T units fused tail-to-tail into a single homodimer platform elicited higher B- and T-cell specific responses than former candidates, with immunization scores remaining stable even after 4 months. Moreover, this macromolecular assembly shows consistent immune response in swine, the natural FMDV host, at reduced dose. Thus, our versatile, immunogenic prototype can find application in the development of peptide-based vaccine candidates for various therapeutic uses using safer and more efficacious vaccination regimens.
Correction: Fresán, U., et al. Water Footprint of Meat Analogs: Selected Indicators According to Life Cycle Assessment. Water 2019, 11, 728
Authors: Fresán Ujué , Marrin D. , Mejia Maximino , Sabaté Joan
Published: July 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to the text, table and references of this paper [...]
Analysis of the Evolution of Drought, Flood, and Drought-Flood Abrupt Alternation Events under Climate Change Using the Daily SWAP Index
Authors: Zhao Ying , Weng Zhaohui , Chen Hua , Yang Jiawei
Published: July 2020

With the increase of drought and flood frequency, the drought-flood abrupt alternation events occur frequently. Due to the coexistence and rapid transformation of drought and flood, the drought-flood abrupt alternation events is often more harmful and threatening than the single drought or flood event to the security of the society. This study is to synthetically evaluate the evolving characteristics of drought, flood, and drought-flood abrupt alternation events under climate change, which are identified by using the Standard Weighted Average Precipitation (SWAP) index. The variability of drought, flood, and drought-flood abrupt alternation events in the future is predicted by using GCM projections, whose outputs are corrected by using a daily bias correction method. The results show that: (1) The SWAP index has the capability to judge reliably the onset, duration, and intensity over the study areas, and can be used to monitor drought-flood abrupt alternation events efficiently; (2) In the reference period (1961–2005), for the drought-flood abrupt alternation events, the frequency has a downward trend in the upper reaches and an upward trend in the lower reaches, and the spatial distribution of intensity shows a contrary law to that of frequency; (3) The frequency and intensity of drought-flood abrupt alternation events show an upward trend in the whole basin in the future period (2021–2095), under the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. These results indicate that drought-flood abrupt alternation events can be more frequent, and the intensity will significantly increase in the 21st century, which may likely pose a serious impact on this basin.
Challenges and Prospects of Using Treated Wastewater to Manage Water Scarcity Crises in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries
Authors: Qureshi Asad Sarwar
Published: July 2020

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are located in the driest part of the world with an annual per capita water availability of 500 m3 compared to the world average of 6000 m3. Agricultural water demand, which is more than 80% of the total water consumption, is primarily met through the massive exploitation of groundwater. The enormous imbalance between groundwater discharge (27.8 billion m3) and recharge (5.3 billion m3) is causing the excessive lowering of groundwater levels. Therefore, GCC countries are investing heavily in the production of nonconventional water resources such as desalination of seawater and treated wastewater. Currently, 439 desalination plants are annually producing 5.75 billion m3 of desalinated water in the GCC countries. The annual wastewater collection is about 4.0 billion m3, of which 73% is treated with the help of 300 wastewater treatment plants. Despite extreme water poverty, only 39% of the treated wastewater is reused, and the remaining is discharged into the sea. The treated wastewater (TWW) is used for the landscape, forestry, and construction industries. However, its reuse to irrigate food and forage crops is restricted due to health, social, religious, and environmental concerns. Substantial research evidence exists that treated wastewater can safely be used to grow food and forage crops under the agroclimatic conditions of the GCC countries by adopting appropriate management measures. Therefore, GCC countries should work on increasing the use of TWW in the agriculture sector. Increased use of TWW in agriculture can significantly reduce the pressure on freshwater resources. For this purpose, a comprehensive awareness campaign needs to be initiated to address the social and religious concerns of farming communities and consumers. Several internal and external risks can jeopardize the sustainable use of treated wastewater in the GCC countries. These include climate change, increasing costs, technological and market-driven changes, and regional security issues. Therefore, effective response mechanisms should be developed to mitigate future risks and threats. For this purpose, an integrated approach involving all concerned local and regional stakeholders needs to be adopted.
Application of Artificial Neural Network and Information Entropy Theory to Assess Rainfall Station Distribution: A Case Study from Colombia
Authors: Garrido-Arévalo Augusto Rafael , Agudelo-Otálora Luis Mauricio , Obregón-Neira Nelson , Garrido-Arévalo Victor , Quiñones-Bolaños Edgar Eduardo , Naraei Parisa , Mehrvar Mehrab , Bustillo-Lecompte Ciro Fernando
Published: July 2020

An assessment of the rainfall station distribution in the mountainous area of the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Cundinamarca (CAR, for its acronym in Spanish), Colombia, was conducted by applying concepts from information entropy and artificial neural networks (ANNs). This study was divided into two phases: first, a classification of the meteorological stations using two-dimensional self-organizing maps; second, the evaluation of the performance of the ANN by applying concepts of information entropy. Three scenarios were raised for the classification of the meteorological stations by adjusting the number of neurons in the output layer. A high number of neurons in the output layer were obtained, causing the model to over-fit while emphasizing differences amid patterns. When comparing the results of the scenarios, the permanence of certain characteristics and features was found in the system, validating the model classification. Subsequently, the results of the first scenario were used to evaluate the entropy of the historical series. Finally, the results show that the area of study presents a lack of information due to the uncertainty associated with the probabilistic arrangement, which can be corrected with the developed model. Consequently, some recommendations for the redesign of the rainfall are provided.
A Stakeholder Analysis for a Water-Energy-Food Nexus Evaluation in an Atlantic Forest Area: Implications for an Integrated Assessment and a Participatory Approach
Authors: Melloni Giacomo , Turetta Ana , Bonatti Michelle , Sieber Stefan
Published: July 2020

A water-energy-food (WEF) nexus assessment supports natural resource management by providing an integrated framework for evaluation and decision-making. The participation of a wide range of stakeholders is essential for achieving environmental, economic, and social sustainability in this framework. This analysis supports the decision-making process of the nexus assessment by facilitating dialogue between stakeholders in order to achieve long term efficiencies, especially in rural landscapes where most of the services connected to WEF securities are provided. We identify the most relevant stakeholders operating in the connection between agricultural practices and the WEF nexus to stimulate their engagement in the nexus governance. The study area was the Atlantic Forest Reserve of Ribeirão das Lajes, Brazil. A stakeholder analysis, generating qualitative data using snowball sampling interviews was applied and, after the identification of stakeholders, an analytical categorization disclosing potential conflicts among them was performed. We obtained a pool of stakeholders from different organizational types, including a large number of public entities at local and state levels. The main threat to the development of the project is considered to be the lack of communication between the parties. We note that the prior identification of this group of stakeholders facilitates this communication, enhancing social representation in the area. Outcomes of this study demonstrate the relevance of stakeholder analysis in nexus governance for integrated natural resource management.
What’s in a Name? Patterns, Trends, and Suggestions for Defining Non-Perennial Rivers and Streams
Authors: Busch Michelle H. , Costigan Katie H. , Fritz Ken M. , Datry Thibault , Krabbenhoft Corey A. , Hammond John C. , Zimmer Margaret , Olden Julian D. , Burrows Ryan M. , Dodds Walter K. , Boersma Kate S. , Shanafield Margaret , Kampf Stephanie K. , Mims Meryl C. , Bogan Michael T. , Ward Adam S. , Perez Rocha Mariana , Godsey Sarah , Allen George H. , Blaszczak Joanna R. , Jones C. Nathan , Allen Daniel C.
Published: July 2020

Rivers that cease to flow are globally prevalent. Although many epithets have been used for these rivers, a consensus on terminology has not yet been reached. Doing so would facilitate a marked increase in interdisciplinary interest as well as critical need for clear regulations. Here we reviewed literature from Web of Science database searches of 12 epithets to learn (Objective 1—O1) if epithet topics are consistent across Web of Science categories using latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling. We also analyzed publication rates and topics over time to (O2) assess changes in epithet use. We compiled literature definitions to (O3) identify how epithets have been delineated and, lastly, suggest universal terms and definitions. We found a lack of consensus in epithet use between and among various fields. We also found that epithet usage has changed over time, as research focus has shifted from description to modeling. We conclude that multiple epithets are redundant. We offer specific definitions for three epithets (non-perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral) to guide consensus on epithet use. Limiting the number of epithets used in non-perennial river research can facilitate more effective communication among research fields and provide clear guidelines for writing regulatory documents.
Manual Borehole Drilling as a Cost-Effective Solution for Drinking Water Access in Low-Income Contexts
Authors: Martínez-Santos Pedro , Martín-Loeches Miguel , Díaz-Alcaide Silvia , Danert Kerstin
Published: July 2020

Water access remains a challenge in rural areas of low-income countries. Manual drilling technologies have the potential to enhance water access by providing a low cost drinking water alternative for communities in low and middle income countries. This paper provides an overview of the main successes and challenges experienced by manual boreholes in the last two decades. A review of the existing methods is provided, discussing their advantages and disadvantages and comparing their potential against alternatives such as excavated wells and mechanized boreholes. Manual boreholes are found to be a competitive solution in relatively soft rocks, such as unconsolidated sediments and weathered materials, as well as and in hydrogeological settings characterized by moderately shallow water tables. Ensuring professional workmanship, the development of regulatory frameworks, protection against groundwater pollution and standards for quality assurance rank among the main challenges for the future.
α- and β-Diversity Patterns of Macrophytes and Freshwater Fishes are Driven by Different Factors and Processes in Lakes of the Unexplored Southern Balkan Biodiversity Hotspot
Authors: Oikonomou Anthi , Stefanidis Konstantinos
Published: July 2020

Disentangling the main drivers of species richness and community composition is a central theme in ecology. Freshwater biodiversity patterns have been poorly explored; yet, it has been shown that different freshwater biota have different, often contrasting responses to environmental gradients. In this study, we investigated the relative contribution of geographical and environmental (habitat-, climate- and water quality-related) factors/gradients in shaping the α- and β-diversity patterns of macrophytes and fish in sixteen natural freshwater lakes of an unexplored Balkan biodiversity hotspot, the Southern Balkan Peninsula. We employed generalized linear modeling to identify drivers of α-diversity, and generalized dissimilarity modeling to explore commonalities and dissimilarities of among-biota β-diversity. Species richness of both biota was significantly associated with lake surface area, whereas macrophytes had an inverse response to altitude, compared to fish. Both species turnover and nestedness significantly contributed to the total β-diversity of macrophytes. In contrast, species turnover was the most significant contributor to the total fish β-diversity. We found that the compositional variation of macrophytes is primarily limited by dispersal and ultimately shaped by environmental drivers, resulting in spatially structured assemblages. Fish communities were primarily shaped by altitude, highlighting the role of species sorting. We conclude that among-biota diversity patterns are shaped by different/contrasting factors, and, thus, effective/sustainable conservation strategies should encompass multiple aquatic biota.
Flooding Urban Landscapes: Analysis Using Combined Hydrodynamic and Hydrologic Modeling Approaches
Authors: Jha Manoj , Afreen Sayma
Published: July 2020

The frequency and severity of floods have been found to increase in recent decades, which have adverse effects on the environment, economics, and human lives. The catastrophe of such floods can be confronted with the advance prediction of floods and reliable analyses methods. This study developed a combined flood modeling system for the prediction of floods, and analysis of associated vulnerabilities on urban infrastructures. The application of the method was tested on the Blue River urban watershed in Missouri, USA, a watershed of historical significance for flood impacts and abundance of data availability for such analyses. The combined modeling system included two models: hydrodynamic model HEC-RAS (Hydrologic Engineering Center—River Analysis System) and hydrologic model SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). The SWAT model was developed for the watershed to predict time-series hydrograph data at desired locations, followed by the setup of HEC-RAS model for the analysis and prediction of flood extent. Both models were calibrated and validated independently using the observed data. The well-calibrated modeling setup was used to assess the extent of impacts of the hazard by identifying the flood risk zones and threatened critical infrastructures in flood zones through inundation mapping. Results demonstrate the usefulness of such combined modeling systems to predict the extent of flood inundation and thus support analyses of management strategies to deal with the risks associated with critical infrastructures in an urban setting. This approach will ultimately help with the integration of flood risk assessment information in the urban planning process.
Nitrogen Fertilization, Container Type, and Irrigation Frequency Affect Mineral Nutrient Uptake of Hydrangea
Authors: Li Tongyin , Bi Guihong , Zhao Xiaojie , Harkess Richard L. , Scagel Carolyn
Published: July 2020

Mineral nutrient uptake of Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Merritt’s Supreme’ affected by nitrogen (N) fertilization rate, container type, and irrigation frequency was investigated. Rooted liners of hydrangea plants were fertilized twice weekly with a N-free fertilizer plus five N rates including 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 mM N from ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), irrigated once or twice daily with the same total irrigation volume, and grown in two types of one-gallon containers: a black plastic container and a biodegradable container (biocontainer), made from recycled paper. Concentrations of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) averaged in the entire plant, and iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in roots had increasing trends with increasing N rate. By comparison, increasing N rate had a dilution effect on root phosphorus (P), stem and root potassium (K), stem Ca and Mg, and leaf boron (B) concentrations. In general, nutrient content of each tested element increased with increasing N rate in each structure, or total in the plant. When there was a significant container type effect, plastic containers consistently had increased nutrient concentrations and content compared to biocontainers. One irrigation per day was beneficial in increasing nutrient concentrations of P, Ca, and zinc (Zn) in different plant structures.
Stormwater Detention Reservoirs: An Opportunity for Monitoring and a Potential Site to Prevent the Spread of Urban Microplastics
Authors: Braga Moruzzi Rodrigo , Galileu Speranza Lais , Tomazini da Conceição Fabiano , Teodoro de Souza Martins Suely , Busquets Rosa , Cintra Campos Luiza
Published: July 2020

Stormwater runoff carries pollutants from urban areas to rivers and has the potential to be a main contributing source of microplastics (MPs) to the ecosystem. Stormwater detention reservoirs (SDRs) differ from ponds and lakes in that SDRs retain most particulate matter and they are emptied after storm events. This paper investigates the occurrence of MPs in the SDR of the Alto-Tietê catchment area, Itaim stream in Poá city, São Paulo, Brazil. The MPs found were classified in different categories: shapes (fragment, line/fibre, film/sheet and pellet); size (<0.5 mm, between 0.5 mm and 1 mm and >1 mm); and polymer composition. Results have shown that most of the MPs found in the samples are fragments (57%), followed by pellets (27%), fibres/lines (9%), and then films/sheets (6%). Small particles (<0.5 mm) represented 89% of the total MPs, and this category mainly included fragments (62%) and pellets (30%). MPs were found in a vast variety of shapes and colours, which shows a likely variety of sources. Besides the occurrence of MPs in the stormwater samples, the potential of SDRs as a first sanitary barrier to retain MPs before they reach the ecosystem has been speculated.
Susceptibility Mapping of Soil Water Erosion Using Machine Learning Models
Authors: Mosavi Amirhosein , Sajedi-Hosseini Farzaneh , Choubin Bahram , Taromideh Fereshteh , Rahi Gholamreza , Dineva Adrienn
Published: July 2020

Soil erosion is a serious threat to sustainable agriculture, food production, and environmental security. The advancement of accurate models for soil erosion susceptibility and hazard assessment is of utmost importance for enhancing mitigation policies and laws. This paper proposes novel machine learning (ML) models for the susceptibility mapping of the water erosion of soil. The weighted subspace random forest (WSRF), Gaussian process with a radial basis function kernel (Gaussprradial), and naive Bayes (NB) ML methods were used in the prediction of the soil erosion susceptibility. Data included 227 samples of erosion and non-erosion locations through field surveys to advance models of the spatial distribution using predictive factors. In this study, 19 effective factors of soil erosion were considered. The critical factors were selected using simulated annealing feature selection (SAFS). The critical factors included aspect, curvature, slope length, flow accumulation, rainfall erosivity factor, distance from the stream, drainage density, fault density, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), hydrologic soil group, soil texture, and lithology. The dataset cells of samples (70% for training and 30% for testing) were randomly prepared to assess the robustness of the different models. The functional relevance between soil erosion and effective factors was computed using the ML models. The ML models were evaluated using different metrics, including accuracy, the kappa coefficient, and the probability of detection (POD). The accuracies of the WSRF, Gaussprradial, and NB methods were 0.91, 0.88, and 0.85, respectively, for the testing data; 0.82, 0.76, and 0.71, respectively, for the kappa coefficient; and 0.94, 0.94, and 0.94, respectively, for POD. However, the ML models, especially the WSRF, had an acceptable performance regarding producing soil erosion susceptibility maps. Maps produced with the most robust models can be a useful tool for sustainable management, watershed conservation, and the reduction of soil and water loss.
Efficient Urban Inundation Model for Live Flood Forecasting with Cellular Automata and Motion Cost Fields
Authors: Issermann Maikel , Chang Fi-John , Jia Haifeng
Published: July 2020

The mitigation of societal damage from urban floods requires fast hydraulic models for emergency and planning purposes. The simplified mathematical model Cellular Automata is combined with Motion Cost fields, which score the difficulty to traverse an area, to the urban inundation model CAMC. It is implemented with simple matrix and logic operations to achieve high computational efficiency. The development concentrated on an application in dense urban built-up areas with numerous buildings. CAMC is efficient and flexible enough to be used in a “live” urban flood warning system with current weather conditions. A case study is conducted in the German city of Wuppertal with about 12,000 buildings. The water depth estimation of every time step are visualized in a web-interface on the basis of the virtual globe NASA WorldWind. CAMC is compared with the shallow water equations-based model ANUGA. CAMC is approximatively 5 times faster than ANUGA at high spatial resolution and able to maintain numerical stability. The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (0.61), Root Mean Square Error (0.39 m) and Index of Agreement (0.65) indicate acceptable agreement for water depth estimation but identify different areas where important deviations occur. The estimation of velocity performs considerably less well (0.34 for Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient, 0.13 ms − 1 for Root Mean Square Error, and 0.39 for Index of Agreement) because CA ignores momentum conservation.
Operational Performances and Enzymatic Activities for Eutrophic Water Treatment by Vertical-Flow and Horizontal-Flow Constructed Wetlands
Authors: Ni Qijun , Wang Tao , Liao Jialin , Shi Wansheng , Huang Zhenxing , Miao Hengfeng , Wu Peng , Ruan Wenquan
Published: July 2020

In this study, pilot-scale vertical-flow constructed wetland (VFCW) and horizontal-flow constructed wetland (HFCW) were constructed to treat eutrophic water, and dissolved oxygen (DO) distributions, decontamination performances and key enzymes activities were compared under different influent loads. The influent load increase caused reductions of DO levels and removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), NH4+−N and organic nitrogen, but it had no remarkable effect on the removal of NO3−−N and total phosphorus (TP). The interior DO concentrations of VFCW were higher than those of HFCW, indicating a vertical hydraulic flow pattern was more conducive to atmospheric reoxygenation. The VFCW and HFCW ecosystems possessed comparable removal capacities for TN, NO3−−N and TP. VFCW had a remarkable superiority for COD and organic nitrogen degradation, but its effluent NH4+−N concentration was higher, indicating the NH4+−N produced from organic nitrogen degradation was not effectively further removed in the VFCW system. The activities of protease, urease and phosphatase declined with the increasing depth of substrate layers, and they were positively correlated with DO concentrations. The enzymatic activities of VFCW were significantly higher than that of HFCW in the upper layers. Taken together, VFCW and HFCW presented a certain difference in operational properties due to the different hydraulic flow patterns.
Reservoir-Induced Hydrological Alterations Using Ecologically Related Hydrologic Metrics: Case Study in the Beijiang River, China
Authors: Du Jiakai , Wu Xushu , Wang Zhaoli , Li Jun , Chen Xiaohong
Published: July 2020

Anthropogenic activities have a tremendous impact on water ecosystems worldwide, especially in China. To quantitatively evaluate the hydrological alteration connected with aquatic lives and river ecological risks, we took the Beijiang River located in South China as the case study and used ecosurplus (defined as ecological carrying capacity exceeding ecological consumption)/ecodeficit (defined as ecological consumption exceeding carrying capacity) and Indicators of Hydrological Alterations to evaluate hydrological changes. The Ecologically Relevant Hydrologic Indicators were employed to select the key indices of Indicators of Hydrological Alterations, and the eco-environmental water demand calculation provide an effective way for the reservoir operation. Results showed that: (1) High flows contributed more to the ecodeficit, while low flows contributed more to the ecosurplus; (2) the ecodeficit in some parts of the river basin might exceed the ecosurplus after reservoir construction, especially along the main stream; and (3) the determination of eco-environmental water demand is a feasible way for improving the environment by controlling reservoirs. The current study can help guide the optimization of hydrological operation in the basin toward making the ecosystem healthier and has potential to further provide a reference for other basins in terms of hydrological alterations driven by anthropogenic activities.
Do CFSv2 Seasonal Forecasts Help Improve the Forecast of Meteorological Drought over Mainland China?
Authors: Lang Yang , Luo Lifeng , Ye Aizhong , Duan Qingyun
Published: July 2020

Seasonal forecasts from dynamical models are expected to be useful for drought predictions in many regions. This study investigated the usefulness of the Climate Forecast System version 2 (CFSv2) in improving meteorological drought prediction in China based on its 25-year reforecast. The six-month standard precipitation index (SPI6) was used as the drought indicator, and its persistence forecast served as the benchmark against which CFSv2 forecasts were evaluated. The analysis found that the SPI6 persistence forecast shows good skills in all regions at short lead times, and CFSv2 forecast can further improve those skills in most regions. The improvement is particularly pronounced at longer lead times and over the humid regions in the southeast. This study also examined the seasonality and regionality of persistence forecast skills and CFSv2 contributions, and reveals regions where CFSv2 forecast shows no or sometimes even negative contributions.
Modeling the Efficacy of Three Types of Artificial Timber Reefs in Mitsu Bay, Japan
Authors: Alam Jamaluddin Fitrah , Yamamoto Tamiji , Umino Tetsuya , Nakahara Shinya , Hiraoka Kiyonori
Published: July 2020

With the aim of simultaneously improving fishery production and utilizing forestry and oyster fishery wastes, three types of artificial timber reefs (ATRs)—constructed from simple timbers, timbers with oyster shells from local oyster farms, and timbers with leaves/branches from forest thinning—were deployed in Mitsu Bay, Japan. We developed a food web model to investigate the relative efficacies of these ATR types compared with the bare, sandy seafloor. The model described the material flow through the food webs formed in each ATR type and their potential to increase fisheries production. The model outputs were validated with observational data over three years. The model fit the observed biomass of both prey animals and fish predators. The simulation results highlighted that ATRs, particularly those with additional materials, had two to three times higher feeding flow than the sandy seafloor and resulted in increased fish biomass. Fish catch doubled in the ATR areas compared to the bare seafloor. Aside from providing a feeding ground, the complexity of the ATRs with additional materials likely acts to provide shelter for juvenile fish. ATR deployment using by-products such as those mentioned above may not only enhance fish stock but also help foster the establishment of a recycling-oriented society.
Adsorption of Patent Blue V from Textile Industry Wastewater Using Sterculia alata Fruit Shell Biochar: Evaluation of Efficiency and Mechanisms
Authors: Giri Balendu Shekher , Goswami Mandavi , Kumar Prabhat , Yadav Rahul , Sharma Neha , Sonwani Ravi Kumar , Yadav Sudeep , Singh Rajendra Prasad , Rene Eldon R. , Chaturvedi Preeti , Singh Ram Sharan
Published: July 2020

Biochar prepared from Sterculia alata fruit shell showed a better performance for dye removal than the biomass from Sterculia alata fruit shell. The important process parameters—namely the pH, the amount of biochar, the initial dye concentration and the contact time—were optimized in order to maximize dye removal using biochar of Sterculia alata fruit shell as the bio-sorbent. The results from this study showed that the maximum adsorption of dye on the biochar was obtained at a biochar dosage of 40 g/L, at a contact time of 5 h, and an initial dye concentration of 500 mg/L (pH 2.0; temperature 30 ± 5 °C). The increase in the rate adsorption with temperature and the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images indicated the possibility of multilayer type adsorption which was confirmed by better fit of the Freundlich adsorption isotherm with the experimental data as compared to the Langmuir isotherm. The values n and R2 in the Freundlich isotherm were found to be 4.55 and 0.97, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 11.36 mg/g. The value of n > 1 indicated physical nature of the adsorption process. The first and second order kinetics were tested, and it was observed that the adsorption process followed the first-order kinetics (R2 = 0.911).
Assessment on the Soil Retention Service of Water Erosion in the Nile River Basin Considering Vegetation Factor Variance from 1982 to 2013
Authors: Liu Hua , Zhao Wenwu , Liu Yanxu
Published: July 2020

Water erosion has negative effects on agricultural productivity in Africa. The cover management factor (C factor) related to vegetation is the most influential parameter in the estimation of water erosion and reflects key interrelated cover and management information on the soil retention service of water erosion. However, the estimations of C factor on a large-scale display large differences. The Nile River Basin has suffered severe water erosion for several decades, while the soil retention service of water erosion from vegetation is still unclear. This study assesses the spatiotemporal change in soil retention service in the Nile River Basin from 1982 to 2013, based on the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model. The comparison of six kinds of estimation methods showed that four methods could be used, whereas the other two were inappropriate. The average annual soil retention service based on the C factor variance ranged from 934.08–1240.56 (t ha−1 y−1), and spatially increased from south to north. The area of significant increasing and decreasing tendencies were 1.31 × 104–1.94 × 105 km2 and 5.68 × 103–3.81 × 104 km2, respectively. These results provide a reference for the selection of C factor methods and spatiotemporal evidence of the soil retention service of water erosion in the Nile River Basin.