bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dopamine, Cognitive Flexibility and IQ: Epistatic COMT:DRD2 Gene-Gene Interactions Modulate Mental Rigidity
Authors: Zmigrod Leor , Robbins Trevor William
Published: April 2021

Cognitive flexibility has been hypothesized to be neurochemically rooted in dopamine neurotransmission. Nonetheless, underpowered sample sizes and contradictory meta-analytic findings have obscured the role of dopamine genes in cognitive flexibility and neglected potential gene-gene interactions. In this largest neurocognitive-genetic study to date (N=1400), single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with elevated prefrontal dopamine levels (Catechol-O-MethylTransferase, COMT; rs4680) and diminished striatal dopamine (C957T; rs6277) were both implicated in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance. Crucially, however, these genetic effects were only evident in low-IQ participants, suggesting high intelligence compensates for, and eliminates, the effect of dispositional dopamine functioning on flexibility. This interaction between cognitive systems may explain and resolve previous empirical inconsistencies in highly educated participant samples. Moreover, compensatory gene-gene interactions were discovered between COMT and DRD2, such that genotypes conferring either elevated prefrontal dopamine or diminished striatal dopamine – via heightened striatally-concentrated D2 dopamine receptor availability – are sufficient for cognitive flexibility, but neither is necessary. The study has therefore revealed a form of epistatic redundancy or substitutability amongst dopamine systems in shaping adaptable thought and action, thus defining boundary conditions for dopaminergic effects on flexible behavior. These results inform theories of clinical disorders and psychopharmacological interventions and uncover complex fronto-striatal synergies in human flexible cognition.
Testing a Developmental Model of Parental Warmth, Amygdala–Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex Connectivity, and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Miller Jonas G. , Ho Tiffany C. , Kirshenbaum Jaclyn Schwartz , Chahal Rajpreet , Gifuni Anthony , Gotlib Ian
Published: April 2021

Background: Neurobiological measures may serve as predictive markers of risk for and resilience to depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. We tested a developmental model linking variation in amygdala–subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) resting-state connectivity both to earlier experiences in the family environment and to subsequent vulnerability to depressive symptoms during the pandemic.Methods: We used data from a longitudinal study that included three waves (N=214 adolescents; ages 9-15 years at Time 1 (T1), 11-17 years at Time 2 (T2), and 12-19 years during the pandemic at Time 3 [T3]). We assessed parental warmth (T1), depressive symptoms (T1 to T3), and functional connectivity between the sgACC and basolateral (BLA) and centromedial amygdala (CMA) (T1 and T2). We modeled associations among early parental warmth, amygdala–sgACC connectivity, and depressive symptoms before and during the pandemic.Results: Less parental warmth was associated prospectively with stronger BLA–sgACC connectivity approximately two years later (=-.23, p=.021) over and above the effect of BLA–sgACC connectivity at T1. Stronger BLA–sgACC connectivity, in turn, was associated with heightened depressive symptoms, both before (r=.21, p=.031) and during the pandemic (=.22, p=.031; independent of the effect of pre-pandemic symptoms). Conclusion: Adolescents who experience less parental warmth may develop a pattern of BLA–sgACC connectivity that increases their risk for mental health problems during the pandemic. BLA–sgACC connectivity in early to middle adolescence may be a predictive marker of risk for depressive symptoms in general and specifically during periods of heightened stress.
Creative or Not? Hierarchical Diffusion Modeling of the Creative Evaluation Process
Authors: Donzallaz Michelle C. , Haaf Julia M. , Stevenson Claire
Published: April 2021

When producing creative ideas (i.e., ideas that are original and useful) two main processes occur: ideation, where people brainstorm ideas, and evaluation, where they decide if the ideas are creative or not. While much is known about the ideation phase, the cognitive processes involved in creativity evaluation are less clear. In this paper, we present a novel modeling approach for the evaluation phase of creativity. We apply the drift diffusion model (DDM) to the creative-or-not (CON)-task to study the cognitive basis of evaluation and to examine individual differences in the extent to which people take originality and utility into account when evaluating creative ideas. The CON-task is a timed decision-making task where participants indicate whether they find uses for certain objects creative or not (e.g., using a book as a buoy). The different uses vary on the two creativity dimensions ‘originality’ and ‘utility’. In two studies (n = 293, 17806 trials; n = 152, 9291 trials), we found that stimulus originality was strongly related to participants’ drift rates but found only weak evidence for an association between stimulus utility and the drift rate. However, participants differed substantially in the effects of originality and utility. Furthermore, the implicit weights assigned to originality and utility on the CON-task were aligned with self-reported importance ratings of originality and utility and associated with divergent thinking performance in the alternative uses task (AUT). This research provides a cognitive modeling approach to creativity evaluation and underlines the importance of communicating rating criteria in divergent thinking tasks to ensure a fair assessment of creative ability.
Cardiorespiratory Fitness as Protection Against the Development of Memory Intrusions: a Prospective Trauma Analogue Study
Authors: Voorendonk Eline , Meyer Thomas , Duken Sascha Béla , van Ast Vanessa Anna
Published: April 2021

Intrusive and distressing memories are at the core of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been linked with improved mental health, emotion regulation, and memory function, CRF may, by promoting these capabilities, protect against the development of intrusions after trauma exposure. In the current study we investigated this idea in 115 healthy individuals (97 women, Mage = 20.77, SD= 2.81). CRF was measured with a submaximal ergometer test and a trauma film was used to induce intrusions that participants recorded in a 1-week diary. As potential mediators of the CRF-intrusion relationship, we assessed indices of pre-trauma mental health, peri-traumatic responses, and memory. Critically, results showed that higher CRF was a significant negative predictor of intrusions. Furthermore, an increase in self-reported shock after trauma was a significant positive predictor of intrusions, but no mediators emerged of the CRF-intrusion relationship. These results indicate that individuals with a higher CRF are less prone to develop traumatic memory intrusions. This suggests that promoting fitness prior to possible trauma exposure may provide a useful strategy to boost resilience against the development of debilitating re-experiencing symptoms of PTSD.
Modulating preferences during intertemporal choices through exogenous midfrontal theta transcranial alternating current
Authors: Fusco Gabriele , Scandola Michele , Lin Hause , Inzlicht Michael , Aglioti Salvatore Maria
Published: April 2021

Decision conflicts may arise when the costs and benefits of choices are evaluated as a function of outcomes predicted along a temporal dimension. When economic binary alternatives are offered in the present or in the future (e.g. Do you prefer 5€ now or 15€ in 120 days) people may show different decision strategies depending on how sensitive they are to the discounting effect of time. Electrophysiology studies suggest that during decision conflicts it is possible to record over the medial frontal cortex (MFC) a typical oscillatory activity in theta rhythm named midfrontal theta (MFϴ). Such activity may be an index of the processes underpinning top-down cognitive control. Tellingly, MFϴ appears associated with the temporal dynamics of different brain areas, thus operating as a synchronizer during the request of control. Although the correlational link between activity in MFC and MFϴ has been demonstrated, their causal relation with conflict processing has yet to be deeply explored. A methodological approach that may fill this lack of knowledge is represented by the application of alternating current over the brain areas under investigation. The transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) is an emerging, innovative technique that changes endogenous patterns of oscillatory activity by entraining neural networks acting on the behavioural performance in a frequency-dependent manner. In accordance with the Registered Report format, we propose a within-subject, sham controlled, cross-over study, in which we will explore the tendency to choose between economic offers during theta, gamma, and sham tACS, with the goal of modulating reaction times (RTs) and choice preferences when different levels of conflict, induced by combining specific delays and payoffs, occur. Hypothesis testing, sample size estimate and analysis of pilot results have been conducted using Bayesian statistics. We expect that our approach will advance the study of cognitive control and conflict processing during decision making.
GGMnonreg: Non-Regularized Gaussian Graphical Models in R
Authors: Williams Donald Ray
Published: April 2021

Studying complex relations in multivariate datasets is a common task across the sciences. Cognitive neuroscientists model brain connectivity with the goal of unearthing functional and structural associations betweencortical regions. In clinical psychology, researchers wish to better understand the intri-cate web of symptom interrelations that underlie mental health disorders. To this end, graphical modeling has emerged as an oft-used tool in the chest of scientific inquiry. Thebasic idea is to characterize multivariate relations by learning the conditional dependence structure. The cortical regions or symptoms are nodes and the featured connections linking nodes are edges that graphically represent the conditional dependence structure. Graphical modeling is quite common in fields with wide data, that is, when there are more variables (p) thanobservations (n). Accordingly, many regularization-based approaches have been developed for those kinds of data. More recently, graphical modeling has emerged in psychology, where the data is typically long or low-dimensional. The primary purpose of GGMnonreg is to provide methods that were specifically designed for low-dimensional data (e.g., those common in the social-behavioral sciences), for which there is a dearth of methodology.
DETERMINAN AKUNTABILITAS KINERJA INSTANSI PEMERINTAH : STUDI PADA PEMERINTAH KOTA PEKANBARU
Authors: Hayani Sri , Julita Julita
Published: April 2021

The study aimed to determine :the influence of budget goal clarity, government official competence, internal control, and obedience to the laws and regulations on the performance accountability of government agencies.The population  in this study is 43 OPD’s Pekanbaru City. In this study, the sample used was 32 OPD with a total 96 respondents using purposive sampling method. This study uses primary data by distribusing questionnaires. The analytical method used in this study is multiple linear regression analysis. The analycal tool used in this study is software SPSS version 25.0. The results of this study indicate datebudget goal clarity influences on the performance accountability of government agencies, government official competence influences on the performance accountability of government agencies,internal control influences on the performance accountability of government agencies, obedience to the laws and regulationsinfluenceson the performanceaccountability of government agencies.
PENGUNGKAPAN LINGKUNGAN PERUSAHAAN: DITINJAU DARI MANAJEMEN LABA DAN MEKANISME TATA KELOLA PERUSAHAAN YANG BAIK
Authors: Rahmadani Kurnia , Darlis Edfan , Kurnia Pipin
Published: April 2021

The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of earnings management and good corporate governance mechanisms towards corporate environmental disclosure (CED). Good corporate governace mechanisms are measured by the proportion of independent board, the number of audit committee meetings and the size of audit committee. Earnings management is measured by the  modified discreationary accrual Jones model. The population of this study is mining, plantation and manufacturing companies listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2015-2017 . The sample of this study was selected with a purposive sampling concept. The company has 5 mining companies, 12 plantation companies and 65 manufacturing companies companies that meet the criteria. Hypothesis testing is carried out using panel data  regression method, with a statistical test tool used, namely Eviews 10.The results of this study indicate that the proportion of independent board have a significant effect on the disclosure of corporate environmental on the level significant 0,05, the number of audit committee meetings have a significant effect on the disclosure of corporate environmental on the level significant 0,00 and the size of audit committee have a significant effect on the disclosure of corporate environmental on the level significant 0,03 in Indonesian mining, plantation and manufacturing companies. Meanwhile, earnings management do not affect the disclosure of corporate environmental have a significant effect on the disclosure of corporate environmental  on the level significant 0,92 in Indonesian mining, plantation and manufacturing companies.
Landslides and debris flows of 19-21 July 1993 in the Agra Khola watershed of Central Nepal
Authors: Thapa P. B. , Dhital M. R.
Published: April 2021

High intensity rainfall of 19-21 July 1993 triggered off a large number of mass movements in the Agra Khola watershed of Central Nepal. It caused a heavy loss of human lives and property. Landslides were distributed mainly in the upper part of the watershed, especially in the vicinity of Chisapani, Chaubas, Dandabas, and Chhap. Main types of mass movement were rockslides, soils slides, and complex failures. About 51% of them were soil slides and 18% were rockslides. Among the rockslides, 4% were deep-seated rotational slides. Large deep-seated rockslides were common on the north-facing dip slopes, whereas shallow slides were observed on the counter dip slopes and in the area occupied by granite. Soil slides occurred on slopes covered by 1-6 m deep colluvium and/or residual soils. The highest percentage of landslides was found in the Kulikhani Formation and on slopes of 25°-45°. The material from landslides contributed to a huge amount of debris, which was deposited on cultivated land. The debris formed up to 5 m high terraces along the rivers. The upper reaches of the Agra Khola and Chalti Khola are the main hazardous areas.
Application of Morishita Spread Index to temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of landslides in Shanxi and Gansu provinces of China
Authors: Wenqiang Luo , Zhuoyuan Zhang , Runqiu Huang
Published: April 2021

Morshita Spread Index Iδ was applied for the study of temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of landslides in the Shanxi and Gansu provinces of China. For this purpose, the landslides larger than 105 m3 in volume were considered. In the study area, the spatial distribution of Morishita Spread Index Iδ (l) isgreater than 1 and decreases with increasing mesh scale.

Such a trend indicates cluster distribution of landslides. On the other hand, the temporal distribution of Morishita Spread Index Iδ (t) for the above landslides showed a maximum and a minimum, corresponding to the years with high frequency of landslide occurrence.
Landslide and flood hazard index for mountain roads an example from the Stura di Demonte Valley, Italy
Authors: Barisone G. , Onori A.
Published: April 2021

Road alignments in mountainous areas are subject to heavy damage due to rockslides and floods. The rehabilitation and maintenance works that would be necessary to solve these problems are very costly.

In this paper, the authors present methodology for obtaining, in relatively short time, a sufficiently detailed thematic map in which road alignment is subdivided into segments corresponding to different hazard degrees. As an example for such methodology, a 30 km long stretch of the road alignment in the Stura di Demonte Valley (Piedmont, Northwestern Italy) was chosen. The geomechanical characteristics of rock and soil in the area were obtained at the beginning. Major landslide phenomena (mostly rockfalls and debris flows) damaging the road alignment were located. A qualitative hazard index (Hi) was then calculated by taking into account such factors as affected road length, type and dimensions of the landslide, soil properties, and vegetation.

Major hazards from rivers result from potential floods, which may overflow or erode road structures and destroy bridges and minor crossings. Firstly, the maximum discharge of rivers in the study area was calculated using various hydrological methods. Secondly, river expansion limits were evaluated. Historical data on past flood levels were considered during this process. During the high floods, malfunctioning of brides and other crossing structures can often have very serious consequences. The efficiency level of such structures, therefore was judged, taking their down-flowing section into consideration. For each structure, a comparison between estimated maximum river discharge and allowable discharge level (function of bridge and riverbed characteristics) determines the adequacy index (Ai).

Results of analysis of both flood and landslide hazard were then synthesised in the final hazard map, which shows with simple graphic symbols and an intuitive colour range (in order to allow easy consultation by non-experts), the most important hazard factors, pertinent protection works, and resulting hazard degrees for roads, bridges, and other structures.
Role of extreme meteorological anomalies in initiating the Darbang Landslide, Dhaulagiri Himal, Western Nepal
Authors: Ibetsberger Horst J. , Weidinger Johannes T.
Published: April 2021

A catastrophic landslide occurred at midnight of 20 September 1988 at a small village of Darbang (1130 m above mean sea level) in western Nepal. The village is situated approximately 40 km northwest of the district capital Baglung. Farmhouses spread out on both sides of the Myagdi Khola, a main tributary of the Kali Gandalki River.

An overly steep and more than 800 m high northern flank of a mountain collapsed spontaneously. Approximately 5 million m3 of the displaced material blocked the valley of the Myagdi Khola and dammed the river for 6 hours. The eventual breakup of the landslide dam caused extreme flooding in the lower reaches. Many houses of Darbang, particularly on the right bank of the Myagdi Khola, were destroyed. More than 100 persons lost their lives. This catastrophic event could be interpreted as a revisit of the devastating landslide of 1926, which killed more than 500 villagers.

Diverse lithology (phyllites, schists, and quartzites), presence of the MCT in the vicinity, extremely high relief; and environmental degradation (e.g., deforestation), are regarded as the primary causative factors of the Darbang Landslide.

Yet the decisive factor behind the massive landslide of 1988 was the unique meteorological situation of that year. The meteorological data show that, during the pre-monsoon months of April, May, and June 1988, the maximum temperature was 2° C higher than the average for the decade. Monthly precipitation measured in May and June of 1988 showed the totals respectively 37% and 24% below the decade-average. It led to extreme aridity in the period preceding the onset of the seasonal monsoons. Soils dried out and deep cracks were formed in this process. During the heavy summer rainfall of 1988 the cracks functioned as conduits of water. The bedrock contained numerous fractures and joints, through which the .vater seeped deep into it. Extremely heavy precipitation in August, with rainfall of up to 17% above the decade-average, aggravated this delicate situation. In the first half of September 1988 precipitation peaked. These meteorological conditions, coupled with the already saturated bedrock, and deteriorated natural vegetation lead to the collapse of the mountain flank.

Primary causative factors and environmental degradation over a longer period were underlying reasons for the initial weakening of the site, but the unique weather situation in 1988 was the main trigger of this catastrophic event.
An assessment of soil loss and natural hazards in Nepal
Authors: Shiwakoti Dinesh R.
Published: April 2021

This paper briefly reviews the status of soil erosion in Nepal, and examines the major causes and factors leading to soil erosion and mass movements. There are the following four major mechanisms associated with soil loss: a) surface soil erosion, b) landslide and debris flow, c) earthquake, and d) glacier lake outburst flood.

Effective methods for investigating, analysing, identifying, and implementing the critical factors for protecting accelerated soil loss in a planned manner are essential from the grass roots to national and international levels.
Analytical assessment of subsidence due to Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) applications to multi-aquifer systems
Authors: Li J.
Published: April 2021

The present paper emphasises concerns of land subsidence or compression of clay confining beds caused by periodic withdrawal and injection of water from or into the adjacent aquifers. An analytical solution for a one-dimensional case based on a sandwich model is found so that analysis of potential risk of aquifer system deformation due to the technology of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) can be conducted. A governing equation expressed directly in terms of displacement is employed to describe the one-dimensional subsidence. For simplicity, saturated aquifer systems are assumed to behave like poroelastic material. A cyclic loading function with a triangle pattern is assumed at boundaries to simulate effective stress induced by changes in hydraulic head at boundaries. The both compression and swelling of clay due to the periodic and linear loads at the boundaries are considered in this model. The two aquifers (one above the confining bed and the other beneath) can be pumped independently of each other. The results from the analytical solution are applied to estimate and predict potential risk of land subsidence due to ASR activity and to provide a first-estimate type of guideline for city or regional development and management of water resources.
Controlled Source Audiofrequency Magnetotelluric method applied in urban area of Central Osaka, Japan
Authors: Pathak Dinesh , Johmori Akira , Kawai Ichiro , Seo Toshio , Okamoto Junpei , Satoh Keiji , Kawamura Daisaku , Nemoto Hiroo , Nakagawa Koichi
Published: April 2021

A detailed study was carried out to find out the most suitable time for electromagnetic sounding in order to apply the CSAMT method in the urban area of Central Osaka. The preliminary data collected during the daytime were highly noise­ contaminated, which couldn't be attenuated even on increasing the sampling time. Because of this reason, all the soundings were obtained during the nighttime when the electromagnetic noises were drastically reduced. The changes in layer resistivities with depth, as obtained from the 1-D inversion of the observed data, correspond to the different reflectors as seen in the seismic section. It is found that the vicinity of Uemachi Fault, in the western part of the study area, is characterised by high conductivity.
Risk of flood to the light of global climate change in Northeastern Argentina
Authors: Popolizio Eliseo
Published: April 2021

During the 20th century, several catastrophic pluvial and fluvial floods took place over the northeastern region of Argentina. These disastrous floods caused great damage worth hundreds of millions of US dollars. The rehabilitation programme was supported by regional economies. The idea of this paper is to point out the risks of greater floods as a consequence of the global climatic change.

The experiences obtained from the palaeogeomorphological research, historical data over the regional rivers, and the climatic and environmental changes are taken into account in this research.

The record of the geomorphological study of the region strongly suggests that in past epochs, different wet and dry periods occurred with the global climate change, especially in the Quaternary Period. It is possible to infer that the region is very sensitive to these changes and anthropogenic action. On the other hand, environmental and climatic conditions show a tendency of tropicalising the area. In this case, consequences are unpredictable if the processes are evolving rapidly.

It is possible to observe that after the 1960's, the characteristics of the fluvial courses are changing. The changes are in the direction of the maximum and minimum amplitudes with the same mean values. Besides, the frequency of large floods has increased from the 1960’s. The Parana River, the largest fluvial course of the region, serves as a model for the propositions mentioned above. This is because we have historical records from 1748 on high flood levels and hydrometrical measurements from 1900. The northeastern region is a very vast and flat plain with an inefficient drainage system. This physical framework induces pluvial flooding, which covers millions of hectares. True catastrophes develop when pluvial and fluvial floods coincide. The record of overflows has a recurrence period of less than 50 years. This strongly suggests a very high risk. In the 21st century, it is very probable that flooding phenomena greater than known will occur. But no mitigation measures are planned to face them.
Mid-1997 tidal surge of Bay of Bengal at Digha on the East Coast of India: Its damage evaluation and mitigation
Authors: Acharyya A. , Sengupta B. , Ghosh R. N.
Published: April 2021

The sea resort of Digha (21° 37' N: 87° 31' E) on the east coast of India runs the risk of natural disasters due to frequent development of atmospheric depressions in the bay of Bengal. A 3.7 km sea-wall (brick/concrete/boulder embankment) was built long back to protect the ENE-WSW coastline of this sea resort from erosion vis-a-vis wave action.

An unusual tidal surge struck the Digha coast on 20 August 1997 causing extensive damage to the seawall, various structures within CRZ-11 and natural landscape. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) studied the cause and effect of this natural calamity. A deep depression was formed in the northern Bay of Bengal and the eye of anticlockwise circulation of wind from east to west became incremental with the attainment of minimum atmospheric pressure at the coast. The maximum wind speed was at 8:30 in the morning of 20 August 1997, which was second lunar day next to the full moon, and the highest spring tide was anticipated at 10:00. Besides, this was a period of autumn equinoctial tides when maximum tide raising forces were expected. This highest spring tide coupled with the easterly high velocity wind and prevailing longshore current of the sea towards ENE resulted in abnormal tidal surges for nearly one hour on 20 August 1997 (around 10:00). The sea at Digha otherwise attains an average of highest wave-crest height ranging between 3.5 m and 4.0 m above msl. The plunging breakers were reported to have risen that day 10 a wave crest height of about 6.4 m above msl and they overtopped the seawall upper level having 5.4 m of average Reference Level. About 378 million litres of seawater spilled over the wall and returned to the sea in just one hour's time by breaking the wall in the weak zones and adjoining structures. Geological parameters, measured in the natural selling of beach-coastline dunes, revealed marked changes in the magnitude of beach dimensions; lowering of beach front dune top by 2.46 m and erosion of the beach surface by 0.65 m constitute the direct fall out of this tidal surge.

The GSI recommended both short- and long-term mitigation measures to minimise effects of such natural disasters. These included, interalia, a design of an ideal seawall with three consecutive foundation piles and one seaside sheet pile: lined drains to ease the surface runoff especially in case of overtopping by surges; provision for landslide filter drain and seaside geotextile apron, and systematic network of sewerage.

As of now, the largely damaged part of the sea-wall has been newly laid by a 28.0 m wide concrete: ramp with 2.44 m deep sheet pile in the seaward side. Lined surface drain and impermeable filter drain of clay have been constructed behind the seawall. Raising of vertical height of the sea-wall and laying of sewerage network have also commenced. In addition, the proposal of laying geotextile mat in the unrestored part of the wall is on the anvil.
Groundwater pollution in the city of Zahedan, Eastern Iran
Authors: Lashkaripour G. R.
Published: April 2021

Zahedan, with a population of about 500,000, lies in the most arid area of Eastern Iran, close to Pakistan border. This city has shown the highest rate of population grown among the big cities of the country in the last two decades. Groundwater is the sole water source for the city. It is provided from an aquifer with an area of 120 km2. Groundwater  pollution and problems in water supply appear to be the main factors preventing the sustainable economic development of the city . The quality of groundwater has deteriorated sharply since last several years owing to the following main factors.

(1) Groundwater pumping has exceeded natural recharge in the Zahedan watershed since 1980, and groundwater level in the city has been declining because of low yearly rainfall (Precipitation in the Zahedan watershed averages 95 mm per year, mainly in the winter).

(2) The city population is growing fast, especially after 1980, and the aquifer pollution by human activities is serious.

(3) Uncontrolled and unplanned development of the city in the western part over the aquifer that is providing fresh water has led to the problem of overexploitation and further groundwater pollution .

At present, a massive federal project for the construction of 191 km long pipeline is in progress. It will fulfill the public demand of drinking water by bringing water from the Chahnimah Reservoir that is fed by the Hirmand River.
Engineering applications of Global Earth Information System (GEIS)
Authors: Gurung N. , Iwao Y. , Saitoh A.
Published: April 2021

Database is a systematic collection and storage of certain base information related in space and time. Any such database that is a systematic collection and storage of certain base information needs further intelligent analysis for the engineering application. Also, the organised listings, sorting, analyses, and instant retrieval of this ground information are highly useful in management. We developed the new information system named Global Earth Information System (GEIS) as a powerful assistant for researchers to query, analyse, and map data in support of the decision-making process. The real world information can be collected of thematic layers that can be analysed and linked together by geography. Secondary data are induced from original data as a representative of area or time.
Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Bandal basic rocks, Himachal Pradesh, NW Himalaya: implications for evolution of Proterozoic Lesser Himalayan basin
Authors: Rashid S. A. , Sharma Kewal K.
Published: April 2021

The Proterozoic Bandai basic rocks, exposed in the Kulu-Rampur window, Lesser Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh, indicate two distinct (high-Ti and low-Ti) magma types. The majority of the basalts are characterised by high TiO2 (> 2wt %), Ti/Y, Ti/Zr, TiO2/K2O, and low Rb/Sr ratios. They are enriched with high-field-strength (HFS) elements (Nb, Zr, Ti) relative to low-field-strength (LFS) incompatible elements (K, Rb). The low-Ti basalts are characterised by low TiO2 (< 2 wt%), Ti/Y and Ti/Zr, and high Rb/Sr and Rb/Ba ratios. The common factors of the Bandai basic rocks are their quartz-normative compositions and continental tholeiitic characteristics with Nb/La always less than 1. The compositional variations in the basalt types cannot simply be explained in terms of a declining extent of crustal contamination of an asthenosphere-derived melt with time, and instead it seems that the two magma types evolved from distinct parental magmas by various degrees of partial melting. Although some of the characteristics of the basalts (especially high-Ti rocks), like low Mg number (~30) and high concentrations of some of the LFS incompatible elements point towards assimilation and fractional crystallization process, large variations in the incompatible element ratios like Ti/Y, Ti/Zr, Rb/Sr, and Nb/La provide evidence for the derivation of these rocks through variable degrees of partial melting from an enriched mantle source.

Furthermore, the Bandai basic rocks, apart from field settings, are geochemically similar to other Proterozoic basic bodies like the Rampur volcanics, Mandi- Darla volcanics, Garhwal volcanics, and Bhimtal- Bhowlai volcanics of the Lesser Himalaya. This widespread Proterozoic continental tholeiitic magmatism over an area of 170,000 km2 in the Lesser Himalaya provides an evidence of plume activity in the region.
Petrological basis for rank (maturity) determination of Permian coals from Pathakhera coal belt, Satpura Basin, M. P., India
Authors: Shukla R. Rakesh , Siddharth S.
Published: April 2021

The Permian coals from the Pathakhera Coalfield are sub-bituminous to high volatile bituminous in rank based on chemical (i.e. carbon and volatile matter) and petrographic (i.e. reflectance) parameters. These coals are characterised by Type III kerogen maturity. The depth of burial of coal-bearing horizons varies from 2,200 to 3,100 m and the reflectance values of coals indicate 90-110 oC of maturation temperature.
Geology of the Kharidhunga-Thokarpa area, Central Nepal, Lesser Himalaya
Authors: Dahal Ranjan Kumar , Adhikary Prakash Chandra
Published: April 2021

In the Kharidhunga-Thokarpa area, the rocks of Lower Nawakot Group are exposed. The lowermost unit of the study area is the Kuncha Formation. It is composed of a more than 2,500 m thick monotonous sequence of grey to green phyllite, quartzite, and 'gritty' phyllite. Green-grey quartzite is seen in the upper part of the formation. Small (0.5 mm) garnets of brown colour occur in the upper part of the formation. The Fagfog Quartzite has a sharp contact with the underlying Kuncha Formation and consists of fine- to coarse-grained pure white quartzite with thin to very thin bands of grey and green phyllite. The Dandagaon Phyllite follows the Fagfog Quartzite and contains mainly thin bands of grey-green and dark grey phyllite. The Nourpul Formation is separated from the underlying Dandagaon Phyllite by a yellow quartzite band. The Nourpul Formation consists of dark grey carbonaceous slate and phyllite with some intercalations of calcareous phyllite and calcareous quartzite in the upper part. The augen gneiss, granitic gneiss, and banded gneiss are found within the Nourpul Formation mainly in the eastern part of the study area. The Dhading Dolomite overlies the Nourpul Formation and is found mainly around the Kharidhunga area as wavy and massive beds and lenses of dolomite, magnesite, and talc with sporadic quartzite bands. The rock is highly fractured and crystalline. The Pheda Khola and Ghane Khola Faults have a significant control on the landscape of the study area.

The Quaternary deposits of the Kharidhunga area are classified into the Balephi, Thumpakhar, Dandapakhar, Bonch, Rolekharka, and Dangdunge Formations, respectively from bottom to top. Of which, the first two formations correspond to debris flow and river channel deposits, whereas the remaining ones represent the deposits of retreating glacier. Generally, the cohesion and plasticity of these sediments increases with their increasing geological age.
Estimation of source parameters and depth of focus of the earthquake of Sikkim Himalaya by waveform modelling
Authors: Khanal K. N.
Published: April 2021

The earthquake of 19 November 1980, which occurred in the Sikkim Himalaya was investigated by waveform modelling technique. The synthetic seismograms for both the P- and S-waves were generated using wave number integration method. The P- wave seismograms were generated using different velocity models for the source and receiver crusts. The S-wave seismograms were produced using only the half-space model for both the source and receiver crusts. Comparing the seismograms of these waves with the respective seismograms digitally recorded by the Global Digital Seismograph Network the source parameters have been estimated. The orientation parameters determined in this way are strike = 119 °, dip = 74° and dip direction = S29W for one modal plane and strike = 218 °, dip= 64° and dip direction = N52W for the other modal plane. The modal plane striking in NW direction has been preferred as representing the fault plane. The depth of the earthquake has been estimated to be 22 km. The total duration of the rupture process has been estimated to be 7 s.
Hydrogeochemical characteristics of the Ozancik hot spring, Canakkale, Turkey
Authors: Pehlivan Rustem
Published: April 2021

This investigation was carried out to determine the hydrogeochemical characteristics of the Ozancik hot spring. The study area is located about 15 km southwest of the town of Can, Canakkale. During the investigation, a geological map of the hot spring and its surroundings was prepared, and hot water and rock samples were collected from the study site. The Palaeogene-Neogene andesite, trachyandesite, andesitic tuff, silicified tuff, and tuffites form the basement rocks and they are overlain by the Quaternary alluvial deposits.

The chemical analysis of hot water indicates that it is rich in SO42-(575 ppm), Cl-(193.2 ppm), HCO3-(98.5 ppm), Na+(315 ppm),  K+(7.248 ppm). Ca2+(103 ppm), Mg2+(0.274 ppm), and SiO2(43.20). The distribution of ions in the hot water on the Schoeller diagram has an arrangement of r(Na++K+)>rCa2+>rMg2+and r(SO42-)>rCl->r(HCO3-).  In addition, the inclusion of Fe2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Ni2+ and Hg2+ in the hot water samples indicates potential natural inorganic contamination.

 The water analysis carried out following the ICPMS-200 technique was evaluated according to the World Health Organization and Turkish Standards. The utilisation and the effects of the hot water on human health are also discussed in the paper.
Geo-hydrological hazard and risk zonation of Banganga watershed using GIS and remote sensing
Authors: Ghimire Motilal
Published: April 2021

The present study attempts to analyse the terrain elements and geo-hydrological processes operating on the Banganga watershed in western Nepal. The paper also assesses the hazard and risk to the land use, land cover, and settlements. The Banganga watershed is highly rugged, steep, and fragile. Based on GIS, a geo-hydrological hazard map, a vulnerability map, and a risk map were prepared. In the study area, the geo-hydrological processes are active and intense during the monsoon season. Instabilities are generally found on steep slopes with high relative relief, in areas underlain by the Siwaliks, and along the fault zones. The mass movements are more frequent on slopes covered by dense to moderately dense forest than on the agricultural land. The socio-economic significance of the hazard in the watershed is considerably high. About 8% of the agricultural land lies in the very high and high hazard zones. Similarly, 18 house s are located in the very hazard zone. 93 houses in the high hazard zone, 211 in the moderately high hazard zone, and the rest of 2,185 houses in the moderate and low hazard zones. The risk map generated by combining the hazard map and vulnerability map shows 14% of the area under the very high and high risk zones, 38% under the moderate risk zone, and 48% under the low risk zone.
The Kathmandu Basin: an archive of Himalayan uplift and past monsoon climate
Authors: Sakai Harutaka
Published: April 2021

The basin-fill sediment of the Kathmandu Valley is one of the best archives of both Himalayan uplift and past monsoon climate. Thick lacustrine sediments, mainly comprised of black clay, locally called as Kalimati clay, are the deposits of the Paleo-Kathmandu Lake during the last 2.5 million years, and the underlying fluvial sediments represent the deposits by the Proto-Bagmati River of the valley. The clay-predominant Kalimati Formation is rich in proxies of paleoclimate, such as fossil pollen and diatom as well as vertebrate and invertebrate fossils. In addition, crystallinity, chemical composition and stable isotope of clay minerals have a potential to provide a continuous paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental records in the Central Himalaya. The sedimentological study of the fluvial and deltaic deposits that rest on the Kalimati Formation would reveal recent changes of tectonic and depositional environments in the Central Himalaya.
Stratigraphic division and sedimentary facies of the Kathmandu Basin Group, central Nepal
Authors: Sakai Harutaka
Published: April 2021

On the basis of core drillings for academic purpose and surface geological survey in the Kathmandu Basin, I propose separate stratigraphic schemes of the basin-fill sediments for the southern, central and northern part of the basin. In the south, the late Pliocene to Pleistocene Kathmandu Basin Group is divided into three formations: the Tarebhir, redefined Lukundol and Itaiti Formation in ascending order. The Tarebhir Formation is mainly composed of fluvial gravel and sand beds deposited by the Proto-Bagmati River. The Lukundol Formation is mainly comprised of carbonaceous muddy sediments showing their deposition in marginal shallow lake environments. The uppermost fluvial sandy beds of the Lukundol Formation are overlain by boulder beds of alluvial fan deposit, which was newly named as the ltaiti Formation. The continuous drill core and previous drill data obtained from the central part of the basin has allowed to lithologically divide the sediments into three: the Bagmati, Kalimati and Patan Formation from bottom to top, respectively. The Bagmati Formation is the northern continuation of the Tarebhir Formation, and overlain by the 200 to 400 m thick lacustrine Kalimati Formation. The basal part is characterized by lignite and bituminous pebbly mudstone beds, which is named as the Basal Lignite Member.

On the other hand, in the north and central parts, sand dominant lacustrine delta deposits called the Gokarna and Thimi formations are accumulated over the Kalimati Formation. In the central part of the valley, both Kalimati and Thimi formations are disconformably overlain by the mainly fluvial Patan Formation.

The Palaeo- Kathmandu Lake has existed since 2.8 Ma in the central part of the Kathmandu Valley, and it was existing till about 10 kyr B.P. after which it finally drained out. However, in the south, there are no open lacustrine deposits, and marginal lacustrine deposits of the Lukundol Formation were directly overlain by alluvial fan deposits spread over the northern slope of the Mahabharat Lekh.
Sedimentary facies changes recorded in the Plio-Pleistocene Kathmandu Basin Group in the southern part of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Authors: Sawamura Fuminori
Published: April 2021

Sedimentological study has revealed vertical and lateral sedimentary facies changes of the Plio-Pleistocene Kathmandu Basin Group in the southern part of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The field observation and analyses of XRD, carbon content. C/N ratio and diatom fossils indicate that depositional environments of muddy sediments in this area can be classified into four categories: i) open lacustrine, ii) shallow lacustrine. iii) swamp-shallow lacustrine, and iv) environment strongly affected by fluvial system. Distributions of sedimentary facies in Lukundol, located in the southern margin of the Kathmandu Basin, show that fluvial facies dominant sequence in the Tarebhir Formation changed to a marginal lacustrine facies in the Lukundol Formation at 2.8 Ma, and a fluvial facies in the ltaiti Formation developed at 1 Ma following the deposition of the Lukundol Formation. In the area 5 km north of Lukundol, an open lacustrine facies in the Kalimati Formation dominated during the deposition of the Lukundol and Itaiti formations. The relation between the vertical sedimentary facies changes and palaeoclimate estimated from clay mineral crystallinity indicates: (1) the termination of fluvial facies dominant sequence at 2.8 Ma corresponds to the time where a wet climate turned to a drier climate, (2) fluvial environments developed under the wet climate and swamp-shallow lacustrine environments expanded under the dry climate during the deposition of the Lukundol Formation.
Small-amplitude lake-level fluctuations recorded in aggrading deltaic deposits of the Upper Pleistocene Thimi and Gokarna formations, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Authors: Sakai Tetsuya , Gajurel Ananta Prasad , Tabata Hideo , Upreti Bishal Nath
Published: April 2021

Small-amplitude lake-level fluctuations have been recognized from the aggrading delta-plain deposits in the lower parts of the Thimi and Gokarna formations, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The delta-plain deposits consist or gravelly sand beds of fluvial channel origin (coarse-sediment interval) and alternation of' fine to very line sand and sandy silt beds (line-sediment interval). Wave generated structures occur in the sand beds or the fine sediment intervals.

The vertical and lateral facies changes suggest that the deposition or a set of coarse- and fine-sediment intervals associated with prograding delta front deposits was controlled by a lake-level rise and fall sequence superimposed on a long-term lake­ level rise trend. The aggradation of fluvial sediments occurred during a lake-level rise period with sufficient sediment supply to fill a newly created accommodation space on the delta plain. The observation or wave-generated structures in an overlying fine-sediment interval suggests that the delta plain was subsequently inundated due to further lake-level rise, exceeding the sedimentation rate. Subsequent delta progradation occurred during a lake-level stabilized phase after a lake­ level fall. The small-amplitude lake-level changes are thought to be attribute able to seasonal wet and dry cycles, as inferred based on the presence of peculiar aggrading delta successions, implying that lake-level fluctuations may have occurred over short time scales, and on the results of a previous palaeopalynological study in which a moist palacoclimate was inferred in the lower part of the Gokarna Formation in particular.