bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innate Lymphocyte Th1 and Th17 Responses in Elderly Hospitalised Patients with Infection and Sepsis
Authors: Coakley John Davis , Breen Eamon P. , Moreno-Olivera Ana , Al-Harbi Alhanouf I. , Melo Ashanty M. , O’Connell Brian , McManus Ross , Doherty Derek G. , Ryan Thomas
Published: June 2020

Background: the role of innate immunity in human sepsis must be fully clarified to identify potential avenues for novel immune adjuvant sepsis therapies. Methods: A prospective observational study was performed including patients with sepsis (septic group), infection without sepsis (infection group), and healthy controls (control group) in the setting of acute medical wards and intensive care units in a 1000-bed university hospital. A total of 42 patients with sepsis, 30 patients with infection, and 30 healthy controls were studied. The differentiation states of circulating mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and Natural Killer T (NKT) cells were characterised as naive (CD45RA+, CD197+), central memory (CD45RA−, CD197+), effector memory (CD45RA−, CD197−), or terminally differentiated (CD45RA+, CD197−). The differentiation states of circulating gamma-delta T lymphocytes were characterised as naive (CD45RA+, CD27+), central memory (CD45RA−, CD27+), effector memory (CD45RA−, CD27−), or terminally differentiated (CD45RA+, CD27−). The expression of IL-12 and IL-23 receptors, the transcription factors T-Bet and RORγt, and interferon-γ and IL-17a were analysed. Results: MAIT cell counts were lower in the septic group (p = 0.002) and the infection group (p < 0.001) than in the control group. The MAIT cell T-Bet expression in the infection group was greater than in the septic group (p = 0.012). The MAIT RORγt expression in the septic group was lower than in the control group (p = 0.003). The NK cell counts differed in the three groups (p < 0.001), with lower Natural Killer (NK) cell counts in the septic group (p < 0.001) and in the infection group (p = 0.001) than in the control group. The NK cell counts increased in the septic group in the 3 weeks following the onset of sepsis (p = 0.028). In lymphocyte stimulation experiments, fewer NK cells expressed T-Bet in the septic group than in the infection group (p = 0.002), and fewer NK cells expressed IFN-γ in the septic group than in the control group (p = 0.002). The NKT cell counts were lower in the septic group than both the control group (p = 0.05) and the infection group (p = 0.04). Fewer NKT cells expressed T-Bet in the septic group than in the infection group (p = 0.004). Fewer NKT cells expressed RORγt in the septic group than in the control group (p = 0.003). Fewer NKT cells expressed IFN-γ in the septic group than in both the control group (p = 0.002) and the infection group (p = 0.036). Conclusion: The clinical presentation of infection and or sepsis in patients is linked with a mosaic of changes in the innate lymphocyte Th1 and Th17 phenotypes. The manipulation of the innate lymphocyte phenotype offers a potential avenue for immune modulation in patients with sepsis.
Innate Immune Response against Hepatitis C Virus: Targets for Vaccine Adjuvants
Authors: Sepulveda-Crespo Daniel , Resino Salvador , Martinez Isidoro
Published: June 2020

Despite successful treatments, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections continue to be a significant world health problem. High treatment costs, the high number of undiagnosed individuals, and the difficulty to access to treatment, particularly in marginalized susceptible populations, make it improbable to achieve the global control of the virus in the absence of an effective preventive vaccine. Current vaccine development is mostly focused on weakly immunogenic subunits, such as surface glycoproteins or non-structural proteins, in the case of HCV. Adjuvants are critical components of vaccine formulations that increase immunogenic performance. As we learn more information about how adjuvants work, it is becoming clear that proper stimulation of innate immunity is crucial to achieving a successful immunization. Several hepatic cell types participate in the early innate immune response and the subsequent inflammation and activation of the adaptive response, principally hepatocytes, and antigen-presenting cells (Kupffer cells, and dendritic cells). Innate pattern recognition receptors on these cells, mainly toll-like receptors, are targets for new promising adjuvants. Moreover, complex adjuvants that stimulate different components of the innate immunity are showing encouraging results and are being incorporated in current vaccines. Recent studies on HCV-vaccine adjuvants have shown that the induction of a strong T- and B-cell immune response might be enhanced by choosing the right adjuvant.
Palmitoylethanolamide and Related ALIAmides: Prohomeostatic Lipid Compounds for Animal Health and Wellbeing
Authors: Gugliandolo Enrico , Peritore Alessio , Piras Cristian , Cuzzocrea Salvatore , Crupi Rosalia
Published: June 2020

Virtually every cellular process is affected by diet and this represents the foundation of dietary management to a variety of small animal disorders. Special attention is currently being paid to a family of naturally occurring lipid amides acting through the so-called autacoid local injury antagonism, i.e., the ALIA mechanism. The parent molecule of ALIAmides, palmitoyl ethanolamide (PEA), has being known since the 1950s as a nutritional factor with protective properties. Since then, PEA has been isolated from a variety of plant and animal food sources and its proresolving function in the mammalian body has been increasingly investigated. The discovery of the close interconnection between ALIAmides and the endocannabinoid system has greatly stimulated research efforts in this field. The multitarget and highly redundant mechanisms through which PEA exerts prohomeostatic functions fully breaks with the classical pharmacology view of “one drug, one target, one disease”, opening a new era in the management of animals’ health, i.e., an according-to-nature biomodulation of body responses to different stimuli and injury. The present review focuses on the direct and indirect endocannabinoid receptor agonism by PEA and its analogues and also targets the main findings from experimental and clinical studies on ALIAmides in animal health and wellbeing.
Distinguishing Capillary Fringe Reflection in a GPR Profile for Precise Water Table Depth Estimation in a Boreal Podzolic Soil Field
Authors: Illawathure Chameera , Cheema Mumtaz , Kavanagh Vanessa , Galagedara Lakshman
Published: June 2020

Relative permittivity and soil moisture are highly correlated; therefore, the top boundary of saturated soil gives strong reflections in ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles. Conventionally in shallow groundwater systems, the first dominant reflection comes from the capillary fringe, followed by the actual water table. The objective of this study was to calibrate and validate a site-specific relationship between GPR-estimated depth to the capillary fringe (DCF) and measured water table depth (WTDm). Common midpoint (CMP) GPR surveys were carried out in order to estimate the average radar velocity, and common offset (CO) surveys were carried out to map the water table variability in the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons. Also, GPR sampling volume geometry with radar velocities in different soil layers was considered to support the CMP estimations. The regression model (R2 = 0.9778) between DCF and WTDm, developed for the site in 2017, was validated using data from 2018. A regression analysis between DCF and WTDm for the two growing seasons suggested an average capillary height of 0.741 m (R2 = 0.911, n = 16), which is compatible with the existing literature under similar soil conditions. The described method should be further developed over several growing seasons to encompass wider water table variability.
How Photocatalyst Dosage and Ultrasound Application Influence the Photocatalytic Degradation Rate of Phenol in Water: Elucidating the Mechanisms Behind
Authors: Van de Moortel Wim , Kamali Mohammadreza , Sniegowski Kristel , Braeken Leen , Degrève Jan , Luyten Jan , Dewil Raf
Published: June 2020

Photocatalysis is of high interest for the treatment of wastewater containing non-biodegradable organic components. In this work, the photocatalytic degradation of phenol by TiO2 photocatalysis was assessed, the influence of ultrasound (US) treatment was evaluated, and the mechanisms behind it were elucidated. It was shown that the TiO2 concentration (in suspension) has a large influence on the degradation kinetics. At high TiO2 concentrations, a reduced efficiency was observed due to the shielding of the UV light by TiO2 particles. US treatment effectively increased phenol degradation by improving the mass transfer while it was shown by the experimental data that particle deagglomeration did not play a significant role. The degradation mainly occurred through indirect phenol oxidation by hydroxyl (OH*) radicals, which were formed in situ at the surface of the photocatalyst. Finally, based on the partial least squares (PLS) methodology, a mathematical model was developed, representing phenol degradation as a function of the selected process conditions.
Development of an Apparent Recharge Coefficient (ARC) for Estimating Groundwater Storage Changes due to Precipitation Events Using Time Series Monitoring Data
Authors: Lee Jae Min , Cho Sunjoo , Lee Hyun A , Woo Nam C.
Published: June 2020

Significant variation in the precipitation events caused by global climate change has made it difficult to manage water resources due to the increased frequency of unexpected droughts and floods. Under these conditions, groundwater is needed to ensure a sustainable water supply; thus, estimates of precipitation recharge are essential. In this study, we derived an apparent recharge coefficient (ARC) from a modified water table fluctuation equation to predict groundwater storage changes due to precipitation events. The ARC is calculated as the ratio of the recharge rate over the specific yield (R/Sy); therefore, it implicitly expresses variation in Sy. The ARC varies spatially and temporally, corresponding to the precipitation events and hydrogeological characteristics of unsaturated materials. ARCs for five monitoring wells from two basins in Korea in different seasons were calculated using a 10-year groundwater level and weather dataset for 2005–2014. Then, the reliability of the ARCs was tested by the comparison of the predicted groundwater level changes for 2015 and 2016 with observed data. The root mean square error ranged from 0.03 to 0.09 m, indicating that the predictions were acceptable, except for one well, which had thick clay layers atop the soil layer; the low permeability of the clay slowed the precipitation recharge, interfering with groundwater level responses. We performed a back-calculation of R from the Sy values of the study areas; the results were similar to those obtained via other methods, confirming the practical applicability of the ARC. In conclusion, the ARC is a viable method for predicting groundwater storage changes for regions where long-term monitoring data are available, and subsequently will facilitate advanced decision making for allocating and developing water resources for residents, industry, and groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
Hybrid Model for Short-Term Water Demand Forecasting Based on Error Correction Using Chaotic Time Series
Authors: Wu Shan , Han Hongquan , Hou Benwei , Diao Kegong
Published: June 2020

Short-term water demand forecasting plays an important role in smart management and real-time simulation of water distribution systems (WDSs). This paper proposes a hybrid model for the short-term forecasting in the horizon of one day with 15 min time steps, which improves the forecasting accuracy by adding an error correction module to the initial forecasting model. The initial forecasting model is firstly established based on the least square support vector machine (LSSVM), the errors time series obtained by comparing the observed values and the initial forecasted values is next transformed into chaotic time series, and then the error correction model is established by the LSSVM method to forecast errors at the next time step. The hybrid model is tested on three real-world district metering areas (DMAs) in Beijing, China, with different demand patterns. The results show that, with the help of the error correction module, the hybrid model reduced the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of forecasted demand from (5.64%, 4.06%, 5.84%) to (4.84%, 3.15%, 3.47%) for the three DMAs, compared with using LSSVM without error correction. Therefore, the proposed hybrid model provides a better solution for short-term water demand forecasting on the tested cases.
Influence of Historical Climate Patterns on Streamflow and Water Demand in Wales, UK
Authors: Dallison Richard J. H. , Patil Sopan D. , Williams A. Prysor
Published: June 2020

Ensuring reliable drinking water supplies is anticipated to be a key future challenge facing water service providers due to fluctuations in rainfall patterns and water demand caused by climate change. This study investigates historical trends and relationships between precipitation, air temperature and streamflow in five catchments in Wales, before correlating these with actual total abstraction data provided by the water company, to give insight into the supply-demand balance. Changes in seasonal and annual averages, as well as extreme events, are assessed for a 34-year period (1982–2015) and a breakpoint analysis is performed to better understand how climate has already changed and what this might mean for the future of water supply. Results show a north-south divide in changes in extreme temperature and streamflow; a strong warming trend in autumn average temperatures across Wales (Sen’s slope range: 0.38–0.41, p <0.05), but little change in precipitation. Abstraction, as a proxy for overall water demand, is shown to be positively correlated to temperature (Spearman’s ρ value range: 0.094–0.403, p <0.01; Pearson’s r value range 0.073–0.369, p <0.01) in four of five catchments. Our study provides new insight into the relationship between abstraction volume and hydroclimatic factors and highlights the need for catchment-scale water resource planning that accounts for hydroclimatic variations over small spatial distances, as these nuances can be vital.
Fate of Diclofenac and Its Transformation and Inorganic By-Products in Different Water Matrices during Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Process Using a Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode
Authors: Heim Carolin , Rajab Mohamad , Greco Giorgia , Grosse Sylvia , Drewes Jörg E. , Letzel Thomas , Helmreich Brigitte
Published: June 2020

The focus of this study was to investigate the efficacy of applying boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes in an electrochemical advanced oxidation process, for the removal of the target compound diclofenac (DCF) in different water matrices. The reduction of DCF, and at the same time the formation of transformation products (TPs) and inorganic by-products, was investigated as a function of electrode settings and the duration of treatment. Kinetic assessments of DCF and possible TPs derived from data from the literature were performed, based on a serial chromatographic separation with reversed-phase liquid chromatographyfollowed by hydophilic interaction liquid chromatography (RPLC-HILIC system) coupled to ESI-TOF mass spectrometry. The application of the BDD electrode resulted in the complete removal of DCF in deionized water, drinking water and wastewater effluents spiked with DCF. As a function of the applied current density, a variety of TPs appeared, including early stage products, structures after ring opening and highly oxidized small molecules. Both the complexity of the water matrix and the electrode settings had a noticeable influence on the treatment process’s efficacy. In order to achieve effective removal of the target compound under economic conditions, and at the same time minimize by-product formation, it is recommended to operate the electrode at a moderate current density and reduce the extent of the treatment.
Optimization of Electrocoagulation Conditions for the Purification of Table Olive Debittering Wastewater Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Niazmand Razieh , Jahani Moslem , Sabbagh Farzaneh , Rezania Shahabaldin
Published: June 2020

In the present study, the optimization of electrocoagulation (EC) conditions for the purification of olive debittering wastewater (ODW) was investigated by response surface methodology (RSM). For this purpose, a central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the process variables including current density (3.0–30.0 mA/cm2) and EC time (10.0–60.0 min). The results showed a significant effect of current density and EC time on the removal efficiency of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The best models obtained using the central composite design were quadratic polynomial for TPC (R2 = 0.993), COD (R2 = 0.982), and the inverse square root of turbidity (R2 = 0.926). Additionally, the square root of electrode consumption and energy consumption were appropriately fitted to the two-factor interaction (2FI) model (R2 = 0.977) and quadratic polynomial (R2 = 0.966) model, respectively. The predicted optimum conditions based on the highest removal efficiency for TPC were a current density of 21.1 mA cm−2 and an EC time of 58.9 min, in which the obtained model predicted 82.6% removal for TPC. This prediction was in agreement with the laboratory result (83.5%). The amount of energy consumption and the operating cost in these conditions was estimated to be 14.92 kWh and USD 6.49 m−3 per ODW, respectively.
Evaluating Hydrological Responses to Climate Change
Authors: Flint Lorraine E. , Torregrosa Alicia
Published: June 2020

This Special Issue of the journal Water, “The Evaluation of Hydrologic Response to Climate Change”, is intended to explore the various impacts of climate change on hydrology. Using a selection of approaches, including field observations and hydrological modeling; investigations, including changing habitats and influences on organisms; modeling of water supply and impacts on landscapes; and the response of varying components of the hydrological cycle, the Issue has published nine articles from multi-institution, often multicountry collaborations that assess these changes in locations around the world, including China, Korea, Russia, Pakistan, Cambodia, United Kingdom, and Brazil.
InVEST Model-Based Estimation of Water Yield in North China and Its Sensitivities to Climate Variables
Authors: Yin Guodong , Wang Xiao , Zhang Xuan , Fu Yongshuo , Hao Fanghua , Hu Qiuhong
Published: June 2020

A revegetation program in North China could potentially increase carbon sequestration and mitigate climate change. However, the responses of water yield ecosystem services to climate factors are still unclear among different vegetation types, which is critically important to select appropriate species for revegetation. Based on the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model, we estimated the temporal variations and associated factors in water yield ecosystem services in North China. The result showed that the InVEST model performed well in water yield estimation (R2 = 0.93), and thus can be successfully applied across the study area. The total water yield across North China is 6.19 × 1010 m3/year, with a mean water yield (MWY) of 47.15 mm/year. A large spatial difference in the MWY was found, which is strongly related to temperature, precipitation, and land use types. The responses of the MWY to mean annual precipitation (MAP) are closely tied to temperature conditions in forests and grasslands. The sensitivities of the MWY to climate variables indicated that temperature fluctuation had a positive influence on the forest MWY in humid regions, and the influence of precipitation on grassland water yield was enhanced in warmer regions. We suggest shrub and grass would be more suitable revegetation programs to improve water yield capacity, and that climate warming might increase the water yield of forests and grasslands in humid regions in North China.
Effect of Cobalt, Cadmium and Manganese on Nitrogen Removal Capacity of Arthrobacter arilaitensis Y-10
Authors: He Tengxia , Xie Deti , Ni Jiupai , Li Zhu , Li Zhenlun
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of a simultaneous nitrification–denitrification hypothermic bacterium for applying in Cd(II), Co(II), and Mn(II)-contaminated wastewater. The influence of Cd(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) on the inorganic nitrogen removal capacity of the hypothermia bacterium Arthrobacter arilaitensis Y-10 was determined. The experimental results demonstrated that low concentration of Cd(II) (2.5 mg/L) exhibited no significant impact on bioremediation of ammonium. The nitrate and nitrite removal activities of strain Y-10 were enhanced by 0.1 and 0.25 mg/L of Cd(II), but hindered by more than 0.25 and 0.5 mg/L of Cd(II), respectively. However, the cell growth and denitrification activity ceased immediately once Co(II) was supplemented. In terms of Mn(II), no conspicuous inhibitory impact on ammonium bioremediation was observed even if Mn(II) concentration reached as high as 30 mg/L. The bioremediation of nitrates and nitrites was significantly improved by 0.5 mg/L of Mn(II), and then dropped sharply along with the increase of Mn(II). The order of the degree of inhibitory influence of the three heavy metal ions on the nitrogen bioremediation ability of strain Y-10 was Co(II) > Cd(II) > Mn(II). All the results highlighted that the heterotrophic nitrification was less sensitive to the inhibitory effects of Cd(II), Co(II), and Mn(II) relative to aerobic denitrification.
Integration of GIS-Based Multicriteria Decision Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process to Assess Flood Hazard on the Al-Shamal Train Pathway in Al-Qurayyat Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Abdelkarim Ashraf , Al-Alola Seham S. , Alogayell Haya M. , Mohamed Soha A. , Alkadi Ibtesam I. , Ismail Ismail Y.
Published: June 2020

Understanding the dynamics of floods in dry environments and predicting an accurate flood hazard map considering multiple standards and conflicting objectives is of great political and planning importance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision for the year 2030, in order to reduce losses in lives, property, and infrastructure. The objectives of this study are (1) to develop a flood vulnerability map identifying flood-prone areas along the Al-Shamal train railway pathway; (2) to forecast the vulnerability of urban areas, agricultural land, and infrastructure to possible future floods hazard; and (3) to introduce strategic solutions and recommendations to mitigate and protect such areas from the negative impacts of floods. In order to achieve these objectives, multicriteria decision analysis based on geographic information systems (GIS-MCDA) is used to build a flood hazard map of the study area. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to extract the weights of eight criteria which affect the areas which are prone to flooding hazards, including flow accumulation, distance from the wadi network, slope, rainfall density, drainage density, and rainfall speed. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC Curve) method is used to validate the presented flood hazard model. The results of the study reveal that there are five degrees of flooding hazard along the Al-Shamal train path, ranging from very high to very low. The high and very high hazard zones comprise 19.2 km along the path, which constitutes about 26.45% of the total path length, and are concentrated at the intersections of the Al-Shamal train pathway with the Bayer and Al-Makhrouk wadis. Moderate, low, and very low flood severity areas constitute nearly 53.39 km, representing 73.55% of the total length (72.59 km) of the track. These areas are concentrated at the intersection of the Al-Shamal train track with the Haseidah Al-Gharbiyeh and Hsaidah Umm Al-Nakhleh wadis. Urban and agricultural areas that are vulnerable to high and very high flooding hazards are shown to have areas of 29.23 km2 (22.12%) and 59.87 km2 (46.39%), respectively.
Analysis of the Microbiome (Bathing Biome) in Geothermal Waters from an Australian Balneotherapy Centre
Authors: Aburto-Medina Arturo , Shahsavari Esmaeil , Cohen Marc , Mantri Nitin , Ball Andrew S
Published: June 2020

Balneotherapy is an ancient practice which remains commonplace throughout the world due to perceived health benefits that include relief of arthritis, fibromyalgia and relaxation. However, bathing environments are not sterile and natural spring waters may harbour natural microbial populations that include potential pathogens. We elucidated the microbial community from water taken from the borehole, pre-filter water (chlorinated, cold and post-bathing water) and post-filter water at a commercial Australian natural hot spring bathing facility. Thiobacillus, Sphingobium and Agrobacterium were the predominant genera in samples collected from the borehole. The predominant genera changed to Sphingobium, Parvibaculum and Achromobacter following chloride treatment and Azospira replaced the Achromobacter once the water reached ambient temperature and was stored ready to be used by bathers. The microbial community changed again following use by bathers, dominated by Pseudomonas, although Sphingobium persisted. No total or faecal coliforms were observed in any of the samples except for the post-bathing water; even there, their presence was at very low concentration (2.3 cfu/mL). These results confirm the lack of pathogens present in these hot spring waters but also suggests that good management of post-bathing water is required especially if the water is used for borehole water recharge.
Accounting for the Three-Dimensional Distribution of Escherichia coli Concentrations in Pond Water in Simulations of the Microbial Quality of Water Withdrawn for Irrigation
Authors: Stocker Matthew , Jeon Dong , Sokolova Ekaterina , Lee Hoonsoo , Kim Moon , Pachepsky Yakov
Published: June 2020

Evaluating the microbial quality of irrigation water is essential for the prevention of foodborne illnesses. Generic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is used as an indicator organism to estimate the microbial quality of irrigation water. Monitoring E. coli concentrations in irrigation water sources is commonly performed using water samples taken from a single depth. Vertical gradients of E. coli concentrations are typically not measured or are ignored; however, E. coli concentrations in water bodies can be expected to have horizontal and vertical gradients. The objective of this work was to research 3D distributions of E. coli concentrations in an irrigation pond in Maryland and to estimate the dynamics of E. coli concentrations at the water intake during the irrigation event using hydrodynamic modeling in silico. The study pond is about 22 m wide and 200 m long, with an average depth of 1.5 m. Three transects sampled at 50-cm depth intervals, along with intensive nearshore sampling, were used to develop the initial concentration distribution for the application of the environmental fluid dynamic code (EFDC) model. An eight-hour irrigation event was simulated using on-site data on the wind speed and direction. Substantial vertical and horizontal variations in E. coli concentrations translated into temporally varying concentrations at the intake. Additional simulations showed that the E. coli concentrations at the intake reflect the 3D distribution of E. coli in the limited pond section close to the intake. The 3D sampling revealed E. coli concentration hot spots at different depths across the pond. Measured and simulated 3D E. coli concentrations provide improved insights into the expected microbial water quality of irrigation water compared with 1D or 2D representations of the spatial variability of the indicator concentration.
Water Use Inequality and Efficiency Assessments in the Yangtze River Economic Delta of China
Authors: Babuna Pius , Yang Xiaohua , Bian Dehui
Published: June 2020

The Yangtze River Economic Delta (YRED) faces inequality in water use in large proportions due to rapid industrialization. This study adopted the Gini coefficient and Global Moran’s index to calculate inequality, its spatial spread and water use efficiency of cities in the YRED and categorized them into types based on the spatial spread of inequality. In general, inequality is reducing, but water use efficiency is poor. Inequality was rated 0–1; zero being the highest equality while 1 indicates the highest inequality. There is relatively high inequality (0.4–0.5) in Shanghai, Suzhou and Hefei. Most cities (20), however, showed equality (below 0.2). Nine (9) cities showed relative equality (0.2–0.3), while Wuxi, Bengbu and Zhenjiang were neutral (0.3–0.4). No city scored above 0.5. Water use efficiency in the majority of cities was poor. Only 11 out of 35 cities scored more than 50% efficiency. Poor irrigation, income and industrial water demand are the factors driving inefficiency and inequality. The categorization of cities into groups produced nine city types according to the spatial disposition of inequality. A combined effort to formulate policies targeting improved water use efficiency, reduced industrial consumption and improved irrigation, tailored towards the specific situation of each city type, would eliminate inequality.
Impact of Rice Intensification and Urbanization on Surface Water Quality in An Giang Using a Statistical Approach
Authors: Thu Minh Huynh Vuong , Avtar Ram , Kumar Pankaj , Le Kieu Ngoc , Kurasaki Masaaki , Ty Tran Van
Published: June 2020

A few studies have evaluated the impact of land use land cover (LULC) change on surface water quality in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD), one of the most productive agricultural deltas in the world. This study aims to evaluate water quality parameters inside full- and semi-dike systems and outside of the dike system during the wet and dry season in An Giang Province. Multivariable statistical analysis and weighted arithmetic water quality index (WAWQI) were used to analyze 40 water samples in each seasons. The results show that the mean concentrations of conductivity (EC), phosphate (PO43−), ammonium (NH4+), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and potassium (K+) failed to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) and Vietnamese standards for both seasons. The NO2− concentration inside triple and double rice cropping systems during the dry season exceeds the permissible limit of the Vietnamese standard. The high concentration of COD, NH4+ were found in the urban area and the main river (Bassac River). The WAWQI showed that 97.5 and 95.0% of water samples fall into the bad and unsuitable, respectively, for drinking categories. The main reason behind this is direct discharge of untreated wastewater from the rice intensification and urban sewerage lines. The finding of this study is critically important for decision-makers to design different mitigation or adaptation measures for water resource management in lieu of rapid global changes in a timely manner in An Giang and the VMD.
Correction: Li, J.; et al. The Impact of Lake Water Quality on the Performance of Mature Artificial Recharge Ponds. Water 2019, 11, 1991
Authors: Li Jing , Hägg Kristofer , Persson Kenneth M.
Published: June 2020

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
Spatial and Temporal Variations of Drought in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: An Qiang , He Huaxiang , Nie Qianwen , Cui Yingjie , Gao Juanjuan , Wei Chuanjiang , Xie Xinmin , You Jinjun
Published: June 2020

Drought has become an important natural disaster, affecting the development of Inner Mongolia, as an important animal husbandry region in China. In this study, the characteristics and trends of the Inner Mongolia drought are thoroughly analysed by calculating the standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) at different time scales, based on monthly precipitation and temperature data from 40 national meteorological stations in Inner Mongolia from 1958 to 2019. Subsequently, the area drought intensity (ADI), which is a comprehensive evaluation indicator for evaluating drought intensity within the region, is proposed, taking into account the effects of the persistent drought on drought intensity. The results show that drought has increased during this period, with a remarkable increase in the frequency and the area of drought. The areas with stronger drought intensity are mainly located in the west, north central, and the western area of the east. Since 2000, March to October are identified as drought-prone months and April is characterised as the month with the highest frequency of drought. The inflection points of SPEI and climate conditions both appeared in 1990s and it is speculated that the increase in drought may have been caused by excessive temperature rise. The frequency, coverage area, and continuous duration of drought have increased greatly after climate mutation in this region. According to the changes in the spatial distribution of the ADI and frequency of drought occurrence, the drought-stricken areas shifted from the southeast to the northwest after climate mutations. The findings from this study provide a theoretical basis for the drought management of Inner Mongolia.
Comprehensive Study on Freshwater Ecosystem Health of Lancang River Basin in Xishuangbanna of China
Authors: Wen Zhuqing , Li Xia , Li Tianhong
Published: June 2020

The Lancang-Mekong River significantly affects the livelihood of residents in the basin as well as the lives of people in other regions of the world in terms of great development potential and its economic and ecological values. In the meanwhile, the river attracts the attention of countries in the basin and the international community because it raises potential for international conflicts. The Lancang-Mekong River leaves China from Xishuangbanna and the ecosystem status in Xishuangbanna constitutes one of the top concerns related to the basin. The study comprehensively evaluates the status of freshwater ecosystem health of the Lancang River in Xishuangbanna for the first time, with reference to aspects of ecosystem vitality, ecosystem services, as well as governance and stakeholders, firstly, linking the ecosystem and the benefits it provides as well as human activities as an organic whole. The methodology used, Freshwater Health Index, is newly developed and constitutes revision of the first attempt of its usage. Basically, the freshwater ecosystem in the studied area and period remains healthy according to the research, and the ecosystem is considered to be capable of providing sufficient services and benefits to meet the economic and societal development demands. Recommendations are proposed for more sustainable local freshwater management and utilization accordingly.
Transformation of domestic trade in Russia in the context of digitalization of the economy
Authors: Cheglov V.P. , Stolyarova A.N.
Published: June 2020

The article analyzes the development of the consumer market and domestic trade in Russia in the conditions of permanent crisis and digitalization of the economy. The current trends in the transformation of domestic trade are analyzed, and the place of online sales technologies in the medium term is shown. Institutional models of building trade organizations in the online sphere and the impact of cross-border trade are studied. The development of online structures in the medium term is predicted, as well as the impact of cross-border trade. The article substantiates the acceleration of integration processes in the field of online trade, the merging of offline and online infrastructure, the disappearance of small trading businesses as a market entity, its integration into geographically distributed omnichannel trading systems, the development of which will mean de facto monopolization of the market.
Economic mechanisms of educational services export in the Russian Federation
Authors: Teteryatnikov K.S. , Каmolov S.G. , Pototskaya E.D.
Published: June 2020

The article is meant to analyze the economic mechanisms of educational services export in the Russian Federation. One of the most urgent tasks of Russian economy in the post-pandemic period will be filling the revenue part of the budget. The authors believe that the export of services, including education, is much more profitable for Russia and Russian companies than simple selling of raw materials and goods, since value-added taxes when the services are rendered on the territory of Russia remain in the country. Providing export services allows Russian economy to earn about twice as much as when exporting goods. Nevertheless, the potential for exporting educational services is not in high demand yet. The models for educational services export developed in our country provide various combinations of full-time and online education, which allow Russian universities to successfully get additional profit without requiring serious public investment. However, this work requires the revision of curricula and the creation of an appropriate world-class educational infrastructure.
Percepção de Genitoras sobre a Intervenção Neuropsicomotora em Crianças com Microcefalia
Authors: Dias Belchior Luciana
Published: June 2020

Introdução. A microcefalia é uma malformação congênita, em que a medida do perímetro cefálico ao nascimento encontra-se menor que a definida pela OMS. Objetivo. Descrever a percepção de genitoras acerca da intervenção neuropsicomotora em crianças com microcefalia. Método. Estudo qualitativo, caráter descritivo, com mães de crianças com diagnóstico clínico de microcefalia atendidas de março a abril de 2017. Foi realizada uma entrevista com as mães, seguindo um roteiro semiestruturado. A pesquisa obedeceu à resolução 466/12 do Conselho Nacional de Saúde e teve início após aprovação do Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa da UNIFOR. Resultados. Foi possível evidenciar a dificuldade de debate acerca da doença, que se deve, em parte, à frustração das mães quanto às perspectivas que idealizam para os filhos, como frequentar a escola, condição limitada pela microcefalia. Ainda mais quando as mães não têm conhecimento da doença e das possibilidades terapêuticas deste processo. A intervenção neuropsicomotora, em contrapartida, vem a ser uma das possibilidades terapêuticas com mais relevância, devido ao potencial de melhora da qualidade de vida. Conclusão. A intervenção neuropsicomotora estimula, precocemente, traços cognitivos, motores e sensitivos, para trazer qualidade de vida para a criança e suporte para a família.
Diferença, cinema e educação: o que há de pergunta nesta composição?
Authors: Ribetto Anelice , Filé Valter
Published: June 2020

Diferença, cinema e educação: o que há de pergunta nesta composição?
Türkiye’de Yapısal Kırılmalar Altında Doğrudan Yabancı Sermaye Yatırımları, Ekonomik Büyüme ve Enerji İthalatı İlişkisi
Authors: ŞAHİN Serkan , AYRIÇAY Yücel , BEKERECİ Nur Esra
Published: June 2020

Bu çalışmada, 1974-2015 dönemi için Türkiye’de
doğrudan yabancı sermaye yatırımları, ekonomik büyüme ile enerji ithalatı
arasındaki ilişki yapısal kırılmalar altında araştırılmıştır. Doğrudan yabancı
sermaye yatırımları ve ekonomik büyüme ilişkisi geçmiş birçok çalışmada
incelenmiş olsa da üzerinde fikir birliğine varılamadığı görülmektedir. Bu
çalışmada, geçmiş çalışmalardan farklı olarak enerji ithalatı da araştırma
modeline dâhil edilmiş ve söz konusu faktörler arasındaki ilişki yapısal
kırılmaları dikkate alan eşbütünleşme analizleri kullanılarak incelenmiştir.
Elde edilen bulgular yapısal kırılmalar altında Türkiye’de uzun dönemde
doğrudan yabancı sermaye yatırımları, ekonomik büyüme ve enerji ithalatı
arasında uzun dönemli ilişkinin varlığını ortaya koymaktadır. Ayrıca, elde
edilen bulgular Türkiye’de doğrudan yabancı sermaye yatırımlarının enerji
ithalatının nedeni olduğunu göstermiştir.﻿
Artificial Intelligence Based Drug Discovery Techniques for COVID-19 Detection
Authors: Arora Kawal , Bist Ankur Singh
Published: June 2020

Recent advancements in the area of drug discovery using artificial intelligence made it possible to speed up the hunt for new pharmaceuticals. Drugs like arbidol, atazanavir, remdesivir & favipiravir are under testing phase to cure COVID-19. In this paper, we present systematic study of AI based drug discovery techniques suitable for COVID-19 detection.
Evaluation of Fishery Products Enterprises in Sinop Province by Sustainable Development
Authors: KARSLI Zafer , KOCATEPE Recai
Published: June 2020

Gelecek kuşakların kendi ihtiyaçlarını karşılayabilme olanağından ödün vermeksizin bugünün ihtiyaçlarını karşılayabilecek kalkınma olarak tanımlanan sürdürülebilirlik kavramı, çalışma içeriğinde sürdürülebilir kalkınma boyutuyla incelenmiştir. Çalışmada Türkiye’nin en kuzey ucunda, Karadeniz kıyısında bulunan ve geçimini büyük oranda balıkçılıkla sağlayan, ihracatının %28.7’sini su ürünleri sektöründen gerçekleştiren Sinop İl Ticaret ve Sanayi Odasına kayıtlı su ürünleri firmaları analiz edilmiştir. Firma yetkililerinin “sürdürülebilirlik/sürdürülebilir kalkınma” kavramları bilgi düzeyleri ölçülmüştür. Firmaların çevre eğitimi, biyolojik çeşitlilik ve doğal hayatı koruma, ekosistem ve çevre koruma ve tarım/sürdürülebilir tarım konularında kullandıkları ya da kullanmayı düşündükleri çevre fonları ve çevre mevzuatı hakkındaki düşünceleri derinlemesine mülakat yapılarak incelenmiş ve veriler betimsel analiz edilmiştir.

Firmaların finansman aracı olarak %55.55 oranında banka kredilerine, %44.44 oranında öz kaynaklarına yöneldikleri tespit edilmiştir. Araştırmada incelenen firmaların %60’ı ihracat teşviklerinden yeterince yararlanabildiklerini belirtirken; %40’ı yeterince yararlanamadıklarını belirtmiştir. Bunun nedeni olarak %45.5’i teşvik prosedürlerinin ağır olmasını ve dokümantasyon süreçlerinin uzun sürmesini göstermişlerdir. Çalışma kapsamında incelenen tüm firmalar sürdürülebilirlik kavramı konusunda bilgi sahibi olup ihracat mevzuatı ve çevre mevzuatı konusunda sorun yaşamamaktadırlar. Bu durum Sinop ilinin lokomotif sektörü olan su ürünleri sektörünün gelişmişlik düzeyinin bir göstergesidir.
Relationship Of Urban Development With The Heat Islands, Trabzon Case Study
Authors: KAZANCI Burak , SARIYILMAZ Fulya Başak
Published: June 2020

Trabzon, a developing port town province that is located near the Black Sea region of Turkey. Trabzon, the 29th most crowded province of Turkey shows the intensity of urbanization on the coastal zone. The reason for this is that the settlement areas are mostly available in coastal areas and the province is mostly covered with rough terrain. The province also has plenty of rainfall due to its climatic characteristics and has a vegetation of dense forests. It is known how important urbanization is in terms of planning processes. For this reason, urban development should be determined in a short time and with high accuracy. Remote sensing data and methods are among the most common methods for local administrators and planners. In this study, it is aimed to examine the urban development of Trabzon province by using various remote sensing methods and data. Depending on the characteristic of urban development within the boundaries of the province, the change in the artificial surfaces has been investigated by using optical remote sensing methods in the selected test region. For this purpose, LANDSAT images of the study area, 1989, 2000, 2006 and 2018 were provided. Pixel-based supervised classification was applied to the images and the land use and land cover (LULC) classes of the study area were determined. In the second stage of the study, the development of artificial surfaces was investigated by using thermal remote sensing methods. For this purpose, the surface temperature map of the region has been established. As a result of the study, the urban development and change taking place in Trabzon by using different remote sensing data and methods were examined.
Rancang Bangun Simulator Perbaikan Faktor Daya Listrik Sebagai Modul Praktikum di Laboratorium Elektronika Daya
Authors: Aripriharta A. , Mardianto Nofa , Amri Hikmatul , Muharnis Muharnis
Published: June 2020

Dalam penelitian ini, konsep perbaikan faktor daya diwujudkan dalam bentuk simulator. Simulator perbaikan faktor daya yang dibuat mampu menginjeksi arus kapasitif secara manual maupun otomatis. Penambahan arus kapasitif secara manual diatur oleh unit kontrol manual yang dikemudikan oleh toggle switch. Injeksi arus kapasitif secara otomatis dilakukan oleh mikrokontroler sebagai unit kontrol otomatis. Simulator ini juga dilengkapi dengan pemantau cosj sebelum dan sesudah perbaikan yang ditampilkan pada LCD. Simulator mampu membaca cosj sebelum dan sesudah treatmen dengan toleransi kesalahan masing-masing mencapai 0,01% dan 0,02% dari instrumen pembandingnya. Pada beban dengan jenis dan kapasitas yang beragam, besarnya daya nyata sebelum dan sesudah perbaikan selalu tetap. Perbaikan faktor daya pada level 0,85, besarnya daya reaktif dan daya semu setelah perbaikan akan berkurang. Sedangkan injeksi arus kapasitif atau injeksi daya reaktif lebih bersifat taklinier
How Youtube Beauty Vlogger Review, Self Congruity and Price Perception Influence Impulse Buying and the Impact On Repurchase Intention (Case Study at Teenager Users of Emina Cosmetics In Surabaya)
Authors: Apriliani Dewi , Arimbawa I Gede , Wulandari Ani
Published: June 2020

This study aims to analyze the influence and significance of YouTube beauty vlogger review, self congruity and price perception to impulse buying as well as their impact on the repurchase intention of young girls using Emina cosmetics in Surabaya. This research was using a quantitative method. The research data are primary data obtained from a sample of 100 young girls of Emina cosmetics users in Surabaya as the respondents. Data collected from online questionnaires and then analyzed using Partial Least Square (PLS) which processed by SmartPLS 3 version 3.6.8 software. The result of this research indicated that YouTube beauty vlogger review did not have a significant impact on impulse buying and repurchase intention. While the self-congruity and price perception significantly affected impulse buying and repurchase intention. Therefore, Emina should be focusing to strengthen its brand identity and maintain the affordability of their product rather than collaborating with beauty vlogger as their promotion strategy.
Human Resources Management Planning for Increasing Precast Productivity Based on PMBOK at XYZ Company
Authors: Fertilia Novika Candra , Adji Raden Yudityo Afri
Published: June 2020

In the era of globalization, it will demand every company to produce good quality products and also quickly in the completion of the product. Xyz Company is a company engaged in manufacturing. The company produces PCI Girder, Spunpile, U-ditch, and Barrier. But production activities there is a mismatch between the plans and the realization that has been made by the company, especially on spunpile products. The purpose of this study is to find out occurrences that affect human resource management planning and to find out how to manage these occurrences. For the method used, the authors used the method of interviewing, observing and distributing questionnaires. The analysis used is the validity test, reliability test, frequency index, severity index, and importance index. The results of this study are that Xyz company has 4 variables that are most influential in human resource management planning.