bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Phase-Dependent Dielectric Properties of Alumina Nanoparticles in Electromagnetic-Assisted Enhanced Oil Recovery
Authors: Adil Muhammad , Lee Kean Chuan , Zaid Hasnah Mohd , Manaka Takaaki
Published: October 2020

The utilization of metal-oxide nanoparticles in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) has generated considerable research interest to increase the oil recovery. Among these nanoparticles, alumina nanoparticles (Al2O3-NPs) have proved promising in improving the oil recovery mechanism due to their prominent thermal properties. However, more significantly, these nanoparticles, coupled with electromagnetic (EM) waves, can be polarized to reduce water/oil mobility ratio and create disturbances at the oil/nanofluid interface, so that oil can be released from the reservoir rock surfaces and travelled easily to the production well. Moreover, alumina exists in various transition phases (γ, δ, θ, κ, β, η, χ), providing not only different sizes and morphologies but phase-dependent dielectric behavior at the applied EM frequencies. In this research, the oil recovery mechanism under EM fields of varying frequencies was investigated, which involved parameters such as mobility ratio, interfacial tension (IFT) and wettability. The displacement tests were conducted in water-wet sandpacks at 95 °C, by employing crude oil from Tapis. Alumina nanofluids (Al2O3-NFs) of four different phases (α, κ, θ and γ) and particle sizes (25–94.3 nm) were prepared by dispersing 0.01 wt. % NPs in brine (3 wt. % NaCl) together with SDBS as a dispersant. Three sequential injection scenarios were performed in each flooding scheme: (i) preflushes brine as a secondary flooding, (ii) conventional nano/EM-assisted nanofluid flooding, and (iii) postflushes brine to flush NPs. Compared to conventional nanofluid flooding (3.03–11.46% original oil in place/OOIP) as incremental oil recovery, EM-assisted nanofluid flooding provided an increase in oil recovery by approximately 4.12–12.90% of OOIP for different phases of alumina. It was established from these results that the recovery from EM-assisted nanofluid flooding is itself dependent on frequency, which is associated with good dielectric behavior of NPs to formulate the oil recovery mechanism including (i) mobility ratio improvement due to an electrorheological (ER) effect, (ii) interfacial disturbances by the oil droplet deformation, and (iii) wettability alteration by increased surface-free energy.
Vitamin K Intake in Chronic Stroke: Implications for Dietary Recommendations
Authors: Wessinger Chad , Hafer-Macko Charlene , S. Ryan Alice
Published: October 2020

Previous research has identified a possible association between vitamin K intake and cardiometabolic disease. This could mean that the assessment of vitamin K intake is a meaningful tool when monitoring individuals with preexisting cardiovascular disease. Sixty chronic stroke survivors (men and women, body mass index (BMI) 30.36 ± 6.61 kg/m2, age 61.7 ± 7.2 years) completed food records which were analyzed for energy, macronutrient, micronutrient, and food group servings. Participants were divided into two groups: below vitamin K recommendation (BEL, n = 49) and met vitamin K recommendation (MET, n = 11). Energy and macronutrient intake did not differ between groups (all p > 0.127). Vegetable intake was higher in the MET group (p = 0.0001). Vitamin K intake was higher in the MET group (p = 0.0001). Calcium (p = 0.003), vitamin A (p = 0.007), and vitamin E (p = 0.005) intakes were higher in the MET group. There were no differences in sodium, potassium, vitamin D, vitamin C, and iron intakes between groups (all p > 0.212). In this sample of chronic stroke survivors, 82% reported consuming below the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for vitamin K. Given that the majority of this study population did not reach the DRI for vitamin K, it is advisable to promote the adequate intake of food rich in vitamin K. Further work is needed to determine the significance of low vitamin K intake in this population.
Tissue Proteases and Immune Responses: Influencing Factors of COVID-19 Severity and Mortality
Authors: Mulinari Turin de Oliveira Natália , Fernandes da Silva Figueiredo Isabella , Cristine Malaquias da Silva Liziane , Sauruk da Silva Karien , Regis Bueno Laryssa , Barbosa da Luz Bruna , Rita Corso Cláudia , Paula Werner Maria Fernanda , Soares Fernandes Elizabeth , Maria-Ferreira Daniele
Published: October 2020

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is caused by the highly transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has affected the global population despite socioeconomic status and amazed surveillance agencies for its incidence, mortality, and recovery rates. COVID-19 affects all age groups; however, it is suggested to progress into severe disease and cause mortality in over 10% of the confirmed cases, depending on the individual characteristics of the affected population. One of the biggest unanswered questions it is why only some individuals develop into the severe stages of the disease. Current data indicate that most of the critically ill are the elderly or those with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. However, it has been noted that, in some populations, severe disease is mostly observed in much younger individuals (<60-years old) with no reported underlying medical conditions. Certainly, many factors may contribute to disease severity including intrinsic host factors such as genetic variants, the expression levels of tissue proteins, among others. Considering all these aspects, this review aims to discuss how the expression levels of tissue proteases and the different profiles of immune responses influence the susceptibility to COVID-19 as well as disease severity and outcome.
Wild and Domestic Canids and Their Interactions in the Transmission Cycles of Trypanosoma Cruzi and Leishmania spp. in an Area of the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Brandão Elida M. V. , Xavier Samanta C. C. , Rocha Fabiana L. , Lima Caio F. M. , Candeias Ísis Z. , Lemos Frederico G. , Azevedo Fernanda C. , Jansen Ana M. , Roque André L. R.
Published: October 2020

Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. are parasites that infect multiple hosts including canids, considered bioaccumulators of parasites. Deforestation in the Cerrado biome has resulted in the exposure of wild canids to anthropized areas, where they may establish ecological and epidemiological relationships with domestic dogs. We evaluated the infection by trypanosomatids in canids from a Cerrado agroecosystem between 2013 and 2017. Samples of wild canids (blood, bone marrow and skin) and dogs (blood) were collected for parasitological, serological and molecular diagnosis. A total of 414 samples from wild (n = 131) and domestic (n = 283) canids were collected, including recaptures. We obtained five positive hemocultures from Lycalopex vetulus (n = 2), Cerdocyon thous (n = 1) and dogs (n = 2), all characterized as T. cruzi TcIII/V (18S rDNA) and TcIII/V/VI (gGAPDH); one positive skin fragment for Leishmania sp. (C. thous), one positive skin culture (Chrysocyon brachyurus) and one positive fresh blood examination from a dog. Infection by T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. was serologically confirmed in 18% and 4% of the canids, respectively. Active transmission was attested by seroconversion events and occurred despite the low rate of positive parasitological assays. Wild and domestic canids infected by both parasites were detected sharing the same areas, pointing to a possible spillover of parasites among them.
Shape Memory Polymer Foams Synthesized Using Glycerol and Hexanetriol for Enhanced Degradation Resistance
Authors: Hasan Sayyeda Marziya , Fletcher Grace K. , Monroe Mary Beth Browning , Wierzbicki Mark A. , Nash Landon D. , Maitland Duncan J.
Published: October 2020

Shape memory polymer foams have been used in a wide range of medical applications, including, but not limited to, vessel occlusion and aneurysm treatment. This unique polymer system has been proven to shape-fill a void, which makes it useful for occlusion applications. While the shape memory polymer foam has superior performance and healing outcomes compared to its leading competitors, some device applications may benefit from longer material degradation times, or degradation-resistant formulations with increased fibrous encapsulation. In this study, biostable shape memory polymer foams were synthesized, and their physical and chemical properties were characterized as an initial evaluation of feasibility for vascular occlusion applications. After characterizing their shape memory behavior in an aqueous environment, degradation of this polymer system was studied in vitro using accelerated oxidative and hydrolytic solutions. Results indicated that the foams did not lose mass under oxidative or hydrolytic conditions, and they maintained high shape recovery in aqueous in vitro models. These degradation-resistant systems have potential for use in vascular occlusion and other wound healing applications that benefit from permanent, space-filling shape memory behavior.
Comparison of Conventional Change Detection Methodologies Using High-Resolution Imagery to Find Forest Damage Caused by Typhoons
Authors: Furukawa Flavio , Morimoto Junko , Yoshimura Nobuhiko , Kaneko Masami
Published: October 2020

The number of intense tropical cyclones is expected to increase in the future, causing severe damage to forest ecosystems. Remote sensing plays an important role in detecting changes in land cover caused by these tropical storms. Remote sensing techniques have been widely used in different phases of disaster risk management because they can deliver information rapidly to the concerned parties. Although remote sensing technology is already available, an examination of appropriate methods based on the type of disaster is still missing. Our goal is to compare the suitability of three different conventional classification methods for fast and easy change detection analysis using high-spatial-resolution and high-temporal-resolution remote sensing imagery to identify areas with windthrow and landslides caused by typhoons. In August 2016, four typhoons hit Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, creating large areas of windthrow and landslides. We compared the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) filtering method, the spectral angle mapper (SAM) method, and the support vector machine (SVM) method to identify windthrow and landslides in two different study areas in southwestern Hokkaido. These methodologies were evaluated using PlanetScope data with a resolution of 3 m/px and validated with reference data based on Worldview2 data with a very high resolution of 0.46 m/px. The results showed that all three methods, when applied to high-spatial-resolution imagery, can deliver sufficient results for windthrow and landslide detection. In particular, the SAM method performed better at windthrow detection, and the NDVI filtering method performed better at landslide detection.
Capturing the Impact of the 2018 European Drought and Heat across Different Vegetation Types Using OCO-2 Solar-Induced Fluorescence
Authors: Shekhar Ankit , Chen Jia , Bhattacharjee Shrutilipi , Buras Allan , Castro Antony Oswaldo , Zang Christian S. , Rammig Anja
Published: October 2020

The European heatwave of 2018 led to record-breaking temperatures and extremely dry conditions in many parts of the continent, resulting in widespread decrease in agricultural yield, early tree-leaf senescence, and increase in forest fires in Northern Europe. Our study aims to capture the impact of the 2018 European heatwave on the terrestrial ecosystem through the lens of a high-resolution solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) data acquired from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) satellite. SIF is proposed to be a direct proxy for gross primary productivity (GPP) and thus can be used to draw inferences about changes in photosynthetic activity in vegetation due to extreme events. We explore spatial and temporal SIF variation and anomaly in the spring and summer months across different vegetation types (agriculture, broadleaved forest, coniferous forest, and mixed forest) during the European heatwave of 2018 and compare it to non-drought conditions (most of Southern Europe). About one-third of Europe’s land area experienced a consecutive spring and summer drought in 2018. Comparing 2018 to mean conditions (i.e., those in 2015–2017), we found a change in the intra-spring season SIF dynamics for all vegetation types, with lower SIF during the start of spring, followed by an increase in fluorescence from mid-April. Summer, however, showed a significant decrease in SIF. Our results show that particularly agricultural areas were severely affected by the hotter drought of 2018. Furthermore, the intense heat wave in Central Europe showed about a 31% decrease in SIF values during July and August as compared to the mean over the previous three years. Furthermore, our MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and OCO-2 comparative results indicate that especially for coniferous and mixed forests, OCO-2 SIF has a quicker response and a possible higher sensitivity to drought in comparison to MODIS’s fPAR (fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) when considering shorter reference periods, which highlights the added value of remotely sensed solar-induced fluorescence for studying the impact of drought on vegetation.
Particle Filter for Randomly Delayed Measurements with Unknown Latency Probability
Authors: Tiwari Ranjeet Kumar , Bhaumik Shovan , Date Paresh , Kirubarajan Thiagalingam
Published: October 2020

This paper focuses on developing a particle filter based solution for randomly delayed measurements with an unknown latency probability. A generalized measurement model that includes measurements randomly delayed by an arbitrary but fixed maximum number of time steps along with random packet drops is proposed. Owing to random delays and packet drops in receiving the measurements, the measurement noise sequence becomes correlated. A model for the modified noise is formulated and subsequently its probability density function (pdf) is derived. The recursion equation for the importance weights is developed using pdf of the modified measurement noise in the presence of random delays. Offline and online algorithms for identification of the unknown latency parameter using the maximum likelihood criterion are proposed. Further, this work explores the conditions that ensure the convergence of the proposed particle filter. Finally, three numerical examples, one with a non-stationary growth model and two others with target tracking, are simulated to show the effectiveness and the superiority of the proposed filter over the state-of-the-art.
How Ecocentrism and Anthropocentrism Influence Human–Environment Relationships in a Kenyan Biodiversity Hotspot
Authors: Rülke Jana , Rieckmann Marco , Nzau Joslyn Muthio , Teucher Mike
Published: October 2020

Protecting nature and securing human livelihood needs are very conflicting especially in biodiversity-rich areas of the Global South. The Taita Hills Cloud Forest (THCF) in Kenya remains one of the top biodiversity hotspots worldwide. Environmental data for the area has been studied for decades. Sociodemographic analyses on inequality have been conducted by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Little has been done yet to correlate them to investigate their relationships. A lot of attention has been paid to the connection between agricultural practices and impacts on the environment, but human–environment relationships are much more complex, especially in Kenya’s biodiversity-rich areas. This paper assesses the local population’s perception of its surrounding environment and investigates their understanding of nature conservation. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, 300 survey respondents were classified concerning their nature ethical views (particularly anthropocentrism and ecocentrism). By using grounded theory, data were regularly reviewed during the entire research, to assemble an evaluable and comparable dataset. Our study reveals that gender has a distinct impact on whether the interviewees have an anthropocentric or ecocentric perspective of nature and conservation. Moreover, there is a strong need for an intermediate bridge between anthropocentrism and ecocentrism.
The Impact of the Amount of Water Used in Activation Solution and the Initial Temperature of Paste on the Rheological Behaviour and Structural Evolution of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer Pastes
Authors: Vitola Laura , Pundiene Ina , Pranckeviciene Jolanta , Bajare Diana
Published: October 2020

This study aimed to determine the impact of the initial temperature of the paste (from 5 °C to 35 °C) and the addition of water, which reflects a decrease in the molarity of activation solutions (AS) by diluting 10 M NaOH with distillate water, on the rheological properties of geopolymer pastes. Additionally, this resulted in changes to the physical–mechanical properties of geopolymers after curing. A higher amount of water in the AS composition and higher initial paste temperature led to an increase in the spread values up to 28% and decreases viscosity. A smaller amount of water in the AS composition and a higher initial paste temperature accelerated the speed of the geopolymer structure formation up to 1.5 times during the curing period, increased compressive strength and reduced apparent porosity and pore size. X-ray diffraction confirmed the compressive strength test results and revealed that the lower amount of water in the AS and the higher initial paste temperature for the geopolymer preparation significantly affected the mineral formation and physical and mechanical properties of the samples.
Prevalence and Clustering Patterns of Pro-Environmental Behaviors among Canadian Households in the Era of Climate Change
Authors: Lee Eun-Young , Khan Asaduzzaman
Published: October 2020

This study examined the prevalence and clustering patterns of pro-environmental behaviors that are conducive to socially and environmentally sustainable living among Canadians. Cross-sectional data from the 2015 Households and the Environment Survey (HES) were used. Prevalence was calculated by province and each pro-environmental behavior. Observed/expected prevalence ratios were computed to assess clustering patterns and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the pairwise associations. Among 8816 Canadian households, prevalence of engaging in pro-environmental behaviors ranked as the following: engaging in green consumer behavior (88%), composting food/yard waste (84%), being active outdoors (82%), gardening (72%), and recycling electronics (45%). While only 14% engaged in ≤2 pro-environmental behaviors, 25.1% of Canadians engaged in all pro-environmental behaviors. By province, British Columbia was the greenest province (81%), followed by Ontario (77%) and Nova Scotia (76.9%) while the least green provinces were Newfoundland and Labrador (62.9%), Saskatchewan (69.2%), and New Brunswick (68%). The most apparent clustering of behaviors was found between recycling electronics and gardening (Observed/Expected: 3.65, 95% CI: 1.98–5.32). Pairwise associations between any two pro-environmental behaviors were statistically significant for all possible combinations (Odds ratios ranged 1.23–2.24). Prevalence of engaging in different sets of pro-environmental behaviors varied greatly by province. Sub-optimal clustering of pro-environmental behaviors and varying pairwise synergetic associations were observed in Canadian households. To promote more holistic, sustainable lifestyles and create sociocultural environments that are conducive to the environment in the era of climate change, future work should investigate barriers and opportunities in adopting more pro-environmental behaviors in Canadian households.
Exploring Supplier Sustainability Audit Standards: Potential for and Barriers to Standardization
Authors: Fraser Iain J. , Schwarzkopf Julia , Müller Martin
Published: October 2020

Global focal companies are increasingly required and expected to monitor the sustainability risks and activities in their supply chains, which has resulted in increasing supplier sustainability audit activity and growth in the number of sustainability initiatives/associations. While common, shared audit standards were originally conceived to reduce audit fatigue; with overlapping and converging supply chains there could be a need for cross-recognition or standardisation of supplier audit standards. This research aims to provide empirically grounded insight into sustainability audit activity, audit processes and standards for suppliers and the extent to which they overlap. Audit standards employed by eight multi-brand, voluntary sustainability initiatives/associations, focusing on supply chain sustainability (SMETA, PSCI, ICTI, FWF, ASI, JAC, amforiBSCI and RBA) were inductively analysed. This research compares the audit processes and standards, detecting common audit categories, analysing points of overlap and difference. We find empirical evidence of significant growth in supplier sustainability audit activity. We also find overlap among the standards in terms of audit process and steps, as well as at the level of audit focus categories. Deeper analysis reveals large differences at the granular level in terms of questions asked to assess specific topics. We conclude that there is potential for standardisation and cross-recognition but that significant barriers to agreement at the level of audit questions and how topics are evaluated remain. This research provides a first empirical overview of this important tool and its application in various industries for sustainable supply chain management.
Efficient Structural Design of a Prefab Concrete Connection by Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Navarro-Rubio Jorge , Pineda Paloma , Navarro-Rubio Roberto
Published: October 2020

In the built environment, one of the main concerns during the design stage is the selection of adequate structural materials and elements. A rational and sensible design of both materials and elements results not only in economic benefits and computing time reduction, but also in minimizing the environmental impact. Nowadays, Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are showing their potential as design tools. In this research, ANNs are used in order to foster the implementation of efficient tools to be used during the early stages of structural design. The proposed networks are applied to a dry precast concrete connection, which has been modelled by means of the Finite Element Method (FEM). The parameters are: strength of concrete and screws, diameter of screws, plate thickness, and the posttensioning load. The ANN input data are the parameters and nodal stresses obtained from the FEM models. A multilayer perceptron combined with a backpropagation algorithm is used in the ANN architecture, and a hyperbolic tangent function is applied as an activation function. Comparing the obtained predicted stresses to those of the FEM analyses, the difference is less than 9.16%. Those results validate their use as an efficient structural design tool. The main advantage of the proposed ANNs is that they can be easily and effectively adapted to different connection parameters. In addition, their use could be applied both in precast or cast in situ concrete connection design.
Prediction in Chaotic Environments Based on Weak Quadratic Classifiers
Authors: Musaev Alexander , Borovinskaya Ekaterina
Published: October 2020

The problem of prediction in chaotic environments based on identifying analog situations in arrays of retrospective data are considered. Traditional recognition schemes are ineffective and form weak classifiers in cases where the system component of the observed process is represented by a non-periodic oscillatory time series (realization of chaotic dynamics). The objective is to develop a system of such classifiers, which allows for improvements in the quality of forecasts for non-stationary dynamics in flow processes. The introduced technique can be applied for the prediction of oscillatory non-periodic processes with non-stationary noise, i.e., dependence of different relay frequencies, external electric potential and microchannel width in an electrokinetic micromixer.
Dynamic Job Scheduling Strategy Using Jobs Characteristics in Cloud Computing
Authors: Alsaih Mohammed A. , Latip Rohaya , Abdullah Azizol , Subramaniam Shamala K. , Ali Alezabi Kamal
Published: October 2020

A crucial performance concern in distributed decentralized environments, like clouds, is how to guarantee that jobs complete their execution within the estimated completion times using the available resources’ bandwidth fairly and efficiently while considering the resource performance variations. Formerly, several models including reservation, migration, and replication heuristics have been implemented to solve this concern under a variety of scheduling techniques; however, they have some undetermined obstacles. This paper proposes a dynamic job scheduling model (DTSCA) that uses job characteristics to map them to resources with minimum execution time taking into account utilizing the available resources bandwidth fairly to satisfy the cloud users quality of service (QoS) requirements and utilize the providers’ resources efficiently. The scheduling algorithm makes use of job characteristics (length, expected execution time, expected bandwidth) with regards to available symmetrical and non-symmetrical resources characteristics (CPU, memory, and available bandwidth). This scheduling strategy is based on generating an expectation value for each job that is proportional to how these job’s characteristics are related to all other jobs in total. That should make their virtual machine choice closer to their expectation, thus fairer. It also builds a feedback method which deals with reallocation of failed jobs that do not meet the mapping criteria.
Factors That Limit the Adoption of Biofloc Technology in Aquaculture Production in Mexico
Authors: Betanzo-Torres Erick Arturo , Piñar-Álvarez María de los Ángeles , Sandoval-Herazo Luis Carlos , Molina-Navarro Antonio , Rodríguez-Montoro Isidro , González-Moreno Raymundo Humberto
Published: October 2020

Aquaculture uses large volumes of water, which is generally discharged without treatment, possibly causing scarcity and contamination. A sustainable aquaculture option is biofloc technology (BFT), which recycles food residues and toxic organic and inorganic compounds from the system through microorganisms, avoiding excessive use of water and serving as natural food for cultured aquatic organisms. The aim of this study was to identify the main factors that limit a Mexican aquaculture producer from adopting biofloc technology in their aquaculture production units (APUs). Strengths and weaknesses were methodologically analyzed through 248 questionnaires, applied to fish farmers in 16 states of the country with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative). Findings reveal that the main obstacles in the use of BFT are due to the following: low academic level, limited administrative capacity, scarce technological equipment in facilities, diversified productive activity, and obsolete regulations. Other factors that promote the adoption of BTFs for aquaculturists are production experience, favorable weather conditions, and abundant availability of water and energy. In conclusion, the use of BTF is a sustainable option for APUs despite the limiting factors identified in this research which slow down the growth of the sector. It is advisable to study Mexican producers with BFT, in order to spread their benefits to other APUs, and further evaluate the productivity of the aquaculture sector. This study considers production aspects, and also sustainable use of its resources, specifically, surface, energy, water, and food.
Runoff Losses on Urban Surfaces during Frequent Rainfall Events: A Review of Observations and Modeling Attempts
Authors: Rammal Mohamad , Berthier Emmanuel
Published: October 2020

Quantifying urban runoff during frequent rainfall events is a key element in quality management of urban water due to their high contribution to the annual runoff flow. This explains the growing interest among hydrologists in studying runoff flow on urban surfaces. In this paper, we review most of the experimental approaches as well as the modeling ones conducted in the literature to understand and estimate runoff flow on urban areas. This review highlights the incoherence between our current understanding of the hydrological behavior of urban areas during frequent events and our conception of the loss functions in the urban drainage models. Field studies provided more insight into the determinant processes occurring on the different surface types during frequent events with depression storage being a fundamental element varying between surface types and for the same surface type and infiltration process being relatively important on paved areas especially in their cracks that constitute preferential pathways for rainwater. Analyzing a wide range of urban drainage models showed that these elements along with the temporal evolution of the hydrological behavior of urban surfaces due to seasonal and state conditions are not fully integrated in the models’ structures, which were initially developed for heavy rainfall events. Adapting the assumptions of urban drainage models based on these new factors must improve the performance of hydrological models for frequent rainfall events.
A Simplified Representation of Pressure Flow from Surface Slopes in Urban Sewer Systems
Authors: Huang Huabing , Pan Yu , Wang Xianwei
Published: October 2020

A Constant Pipe Drainage (CPD) capacity for sewer systems is commonly applied when undertaking flood risk assessment, however data that are needed for calibration and validation of numerical models are scarce or unavailable. The CPD model neglects the effect of pressure flow and leads to significant deviation in flood volume estimate. This study proposes a new index Velocity Ratio (VR) to approximate pressure flow. A case study in Guangzhou, China is used to investigate the capability of reproducing a reasonable flood volume for two models, the CPD and the VR-based. Compared to the flood volume simulated by the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), the CPD model shows a significant overestimation, Mean Relative Deviation (MRD) 192%. The VR-based model has a much better performance, MRD 18%. Therefore, the VR-based model is a simple and effective representation of pressure flow in urban sewer systems and can be easily applied in areas lacking detailed pipe data, especially for planning new pipe networks or updating the old pipes.
Metal Distribution and Sediment Quality Variation across Sediment Depths of a Subtropical Ramsar Declared Wetland
Authors: Dalu Tatenda , Tshivhase Rolindela , Cuthbert Ross N. , Murungweni Florence M. , Wasserman Ryan J.
Published: October 2020

The study of wetlands is particularly important as these systems act as natural water purifiers and thus can act as sinks for contaminated particles. Wetland sediments are important as they provide an indication of potential contamination across temporal and spatial scales. The current study aimed to investigate the distributions of selected metals and nutrients in different sites in relation to sediment depth, and identify relationships among sediment metals. Significant differences in nutrient (i.e., N, P) and metal (i.e., K, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, B) concentrations were found across study sites, whereas nutrients (i.e., N, P) and metals (i.e., Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn) were significantly different with sediment depths. When compared against Canadian sediment standards, most of the assessed metals were within the “no effect” level across the different sites and depths. The K, Ca, and Mg concentration showed extreme contamination across all sites and depths. The enrichment factor values for K, Ca, and Mg showed extremely high enrichment levels for all sites and sediment depths. The Na, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and B concentration showed mostly background enrichment levels. All sediments across the different sites and sediment depths indicated deterioration of sediment quality. Pearson correlations suggest that most metals might have originated in a similar source as that of Mn and B, owing to a lack of significant differences. These results provide baseline information for the general management of the Nylsvley Wetland in relation to sediment metal pollution. The specific sources of metal contaminants also require further elucidation to further inform management efforts.
Study on Permeability Characteristics of Rocks with Filling Fractures Under Coupled Stress and Seepage Fields
Authors: Zhu Zhende , Niu Zihao , Que Xiangcheng , Liu Cheng , He Yanxin , Xie Xinghua
Published: October 2020

Infilling fractured rock masses are widely distributed in the deeply buried oil reservoirs and surrounding rocks of mine caves. The internal filling material has a great influence on the mechanical properties and seepage characteristics of fractured rock mass. In this paper, through theories and experiments, the mechanism of permeability changes of infilling fractured rock under a coupling condition is studied. In terms of theory, the fracture compaction effect coefficient δ is added to the classical matchstick model, and the volume strain principle is used to propose a permeability model for fractured rock. Furthermore, based on the Hertz contact theory, mineral particles are generalized into rigid spheres, and the mechanism of crack development between mineral particles under seepage pressure is analyzed. In terms of experiment, a true triaxial seepage test was carried out on rock-like specimens to obtain the change law of the permeability characteristics of fractured rock. The test results are largely consistent with the theoretical calculation results of the theoretical model, which verifies the applicability of the model proposed in this paper. After the loading failure of the specimen, the internal filling material was taken out and analyzed, and by observing the distribution of cracks on the surface, it is verified that the seepage pressure promotes the development of cracks in the filling fracture.
Disruptive Technologies for Improving Water Security in Large River Basins
Authors: Harshadeep Nagaraja Rao , Young William
Published: October 2020

Large river basins present significant challenges for water resource planning and management. They typically traverse a wide range of hydroclimatic regimes, are characterized by complex and variable hydrology, and span multiple jurisdictions with diverse water demands and values. They are often data-poor and in many developing economies are characterized by weak water governance. Rapid global change is seeing significant changes to the pressures on the water resources of large basins, exacerbating the challenge of sustainable water management. Diverse technologies have long supported water resource planning and development, from data collection, analytics, simulation, to decision-making, and real-time operations. In the last two decades however, a rapid increase in the range, capability, and accessibility of new technologies, coupled with large reductions in cost, mean there are increasing opportunities for emerging technologies to significantly “disrupt” traditional approaches to water resources management. In this paper, we consider the application of ‘disruptive technologies’ in water resources management in large river basins, through a lens of improving water security. We discuss the role of different actors and institutions for water management considering a range of emerging disruptive technologies. We consider the risks and benefits associated with the use of these technologies and discuss the barriers to their widespread adoption. We obverse a positive trend away from the reliance solely on centralized government institutions and traditional modeling for the collection and analysis of data, towards a more open and dynamic ‘data and knowledge ecosystem’ that draws upon data services at different levels (global to local) to support water planning and operations. We expect that technological advances and cost reductions will accelerate, fueling increased incremental adoption of new technologies in water resources planning and management. Large-basin analytics could become virtually free for users with global, regional, and national development agencies absorbing the costs of development and any subscription services for end users (e.g., irrigators) to help improve water management at user level and improve economic productivity. Collectively, these changes can help to ‘democratize’ water management through improved access to data and information. However, disruptive technologies can also be deployed in top-down or centralized processes, and so their use is sometimes contested or misunderstood. Increased attention therefore needs to be given to ensuring equity in technology access, and to strengthening the governance context for technology deployment. Widespread adoption of disruptive technologies will require adjustments to how water professionals are trained, increased adaptiveness in water resources planning and operations, and careful consideration of privacy and cybersecurity issues.
Atheism is Global Atheism
Authors: Eller Jack David
Published: October 2020

Accepting Diller’s challenge to justify “global atheism,” despite its supposed crushing burden of knowledge, this paper argues that the global atheist bears no extraordinary burden. In fact, all atheism is global atheism, as an atheist lacks any and all god-beliefs; while a local theist, who accepts one of the myriad god-beliefs over all others, has a special burden to account for that choice. Surveying the diversity of god-concepts across religions and how atheists dismiss and discard them, this paper provides an inductive and philosophical foundation of global atheism—as well as illustrating that local theisms are more prone to blending and overlapping than allowed in Diller’s scheme.
"From Every Tribe and Tongue and People and Nation": The All-Inclusive Group
Authors: Hellwig David G.
Published: October 2020

This article seeks to take a position different from John Hartung’s position in his article entitled, “Love Thy Neighbor: The Evolution of In-Group Morality.” His article was originally written in two separate issues in Skeptic in 1995 and 1996. Hartung takes the position that in-group morality (a moral code for a specific group) exists so that religious groups can compete against other groups, even overcoming them through violence and subordination. The position of this present article seeks to show that Hartung’s premise falls short through examination of presuppositions, the central motif of redemption, and a high view of Scripture in light of its context. This article will address certain components from Hartung’s article to state a position that remains true to the biblical text. Instead of an in-group morality, this article promotes an all-inclusive group morality that is intended to extend beyond that group to others for the purpose of evangelism, not competition.
Clinical implications of novel polymer and lipid based drug delivery systems
Authors: Kallem Sharat Venkat Reddy
Published: October 2020

The use of lipids in drug delivery is not a new trend, some of the lipid dosage forms have been in use for a long time such as suppositories, creams, and emulsions. However, there has been much advancement in the designs of lipid carriers over the past decade. In the same way from the past two decades, new approaches in biodegradable and bio-reducible polymers have paved a way for many recent drug delivery systems. Applications of these novel drug delivery formulations have been promising clinically. However, each system has its pros and cons in various factors depending upon their use and intended route of administration. This review focuses on upbringing the challenges in the use of novel lipid and polymer drug delivery systems in clinical settings and few insights on how to overcome them.
Impact of lowering the risk threshold for statin treatment on statin prescribing: a descriptive study in English primary care
Authors: Pate Alexander , Emsley Richard , van Staa Tjeerd
Published: October 2020

Background

In 2014, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) changed the recommended threshold for initiating statins from a 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) of 20% to 10% (Clinical Guideline 181), making 4.5 million extra people eligible for treatment.

Aim

To evaluate the impact of this guideline change on statin prescribing behaviour.

Design and setting

A descriptive study using data from Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD), a primary care database in England.

Method

People aged 25–84 years being initiated on statins for the primary prevention of CVD were identified. CVD risk predictions were calculated for every person using data in their medical record (calculated risks), and were extracted directly from their medical record if a QRISK score was recorded (coded risks). The 10-year CVD risks of people initiated on statins in each calendar year were compared.

Results

The average ‘calculated risk’ of all people being initiated on statins was 20.65% in the year before the guideline change, and 20.27% after. When considering only the ‘coded risks’, the average risk was 21.85% before the guideline change, and 18.65% after. The proportion of people initiating statins that had a coded risk score in their medical record increased significantly from 2010–2017.

Conclusion

Currently available evidence, which only considers people with coded risk scores in their medical record, indicates the guideline change had a large impact on statin prescribing. However, that analysis likely suffers from selection bias. This new evidence indicates only a modest impact of the guideline change. Further qualitative research about the lack of response to the guideline change is needed.
Implementasi Metode Profile Matching Untuk Mengetahui Supplier Terbaik Pada PT. Lautan Luas Medan
Authors: Ongario Andre , Ciam Handy Wiryanata Christ Boy , Saputra Muhardi
Published: October 2020

Supplier merupakan salah satu bagian terpenting dalam suatu perusahaan penyedia jasa konstruksi. Untuk mendapatkan hasil yang terbaik, dibutuhkan pula supplier yang terbaik dan berkualitas. Salah satu upaya untuk mendapatkan supplier tersebut adalah dengan melakukan pemilihan supplier, oleh karena itu pemilihan supplier sangat diperlukan untuk perusahaan penyedia jasa konstruksi. Karena banyaknya supplier, PT. Lautan Luas Medan kesulitan dalam memilih supplier dengan kelebihannya masing-masing. Proses pemilihan supplier ini menggunakan metode Profile Matching, dengan tahapan yaitu menentukan kriteria, perhitungan pemetaan gap, melakukan pembobotan, perhitungan core factor yang dan secondary factor, perhitungan nilai total, dan perhitungan untuk menentukan perangkingan. Kriteria pemilihan supplier pada PT. Lautan Luas Medan adalah pengiriman, pelayanan, produk, kualitas dan harga. Pemilihan supplier dengan metode Profile Matching ini dibangun dengan menggunakan bahasa pemrograman Visual Studio 2010 dan SQL Server 2008. Profile Matching merupakan solusi yang terbaik untuk memecahkan permasalahan dan membantu pimpinan dalam mengambil keputusan pemilihan supplier yang lebih obyektif pada PT. Lautan Luas Medan.
Implementasi Metode Mobile Positioning System untuk melacak lokasi salesman pada UD. Sinar Cahaya
Authors: Fando Al , . Anita , Indra Evta
Published: October 2020

Untuk perkembangan telepon, hingga saat ini sudah mencapai ditemukannya ponsel cerdas atau smartphone. Berbeda dengan pengertian telepon yang hanya bisa menghubungkan dua orang saja, smartphone memiliki fungsi yang lebih beragam. Mengatasi kendala tersebut, dibutuhkan aplikasi yang memiliki 2 fitur pengguna yaitu supervisor atau atasan dan salesman. Fitur supervisor atau atasan dapat memberikan daftar kunjungan yang wajib dikunjungi salesman. Aplikasi posisi salesman ini dirancang dengan menggunakan java android dan database MySQL dapat memberikan informasi mengenai jadwal kunjungan konsumen serta posisi salesman. Aplikasi posisi salesman yang dirancang dapat melakukan pembagian fitur supervisor dan salesman dengan fungsi dan tujuan yang berbeda, pada menu supervisor bertugas untuk menambah kunjungan, melihat laporan, dan melihat posisi salesman, pada menu salesman bertugas untuk menambah laporan kunjungan dan memberikan posisi salesman. Pada perancangan database terdapat 3 tabel yaitu tabel kunjungan untuk menyimpan data kunjungan, tabel laporan untuk menyimpan data laporan, dan tabel pengguna untuk menyimpan data pengguna.
Kajian Infrastruktur TI Menurut Standar COBIT 5 : Studi Kasus Sekolah NanYang Zhi Hui Medan
Authors: Tan Hita , Wong Robin
Published: October 2020

Saat ini sudah banyak lembaga pendidikan yang memanfatkan teknologi sistem informasi dalam aktivitas akademisnya, baik sekolah-sekolah maupun perguruan tinggi. Pemanfaatan teknologi ini ditujukan untuk menunjang proses pendidikan dan meningkatkan efisiensi dan produktivitas kinerja pendidikan di lembaga pendidikan. Dengan adanya teknologi tersebut, maka perlu diadakannya pengauditan untuk mengetahui tingkat kematangan tata kelola teknologi di lembaga pendidikan tersebut dengan menggunakan tools yang sudah terstandarisasi. Melalui penilaian tersebut sangat diharapkan dapat membawa lembaga pendidikan ke arah pengelolaan yang lebih baik di masa yang akan datang. Metoda Analisis yang digunakan adalah Kerangka kerja COBIT 5. Metode ini digunakan sebagai acuan dalam melakukan evaluasi tata kelola teknologi informasi dan untuk mengukur capability level pada Sekolah Nanyang Zhi Hui Medan. Dari data hasil penilaian capability level masing-masing proses, dilakukan perhitungan untuk mengetahui besarnya rata-rata capability level yang telah dicapai oleh Sekolah Nanyang Zhi Hui Medan. Dari hasil perhitungan, disimpulkan bahwa capability level pada Sekolah Nanyang Zhi Hui saat ini berada di level 2. Dengan demikian makan dapat dinilai bahwa pengelolaan IT di Sekolah Nanyang Zhi Hui ini sudah baik.
Penerapan Teknologi RFID Untuk Pengendalian Ruang Kelas Berbasis Mikrokontroler
Authors: Hasibuan Ade Zulkarnain , Harahap Herlina , Sarumaha Zulkardin
Published: October 2020

Ruangan kelas merupakan salah satu fasilitas yang hamper digunakan setiap hari saat adanya proses perkuliahan. Biasanya ketika kuliah berlangsung didalam kelas ada saja permasalahan kecil yang timbul, hal ini bias menggangu proses perkuliahan. Oleh karena itu penerapan teknologi RFID pada ruangan kelas dapat membantu permasalahan saat akan dilakukannya proses belajar mengajar ataupun ketika proses belajar mengajar selesai. Dengan diterapkannya teknologi RFID pada ruangan kelas, dosen cukup melakukan scan pada tag RFID untuk membuka pintu, menghidupkan lampu, menghidupkan AC, dan menghidupkan infokus. Untuk menerapkan teknologi RFID ini pada ruangan  kelas dibutuhkan rangkaian pengendalinya, untuk mengendalikannya dapat menggunakan mikrokontroler yang sudah dibuat dalam bentuk papan pengendali utama yaitu Arduino. Teknologi RFID ini dapat mengurangi permasalahan terutama masalah operasional listrik kammpus, dimana saat proses perkuliahan selesai maka seluruh perangkat yang berhubungan dengan listrik akan dimatikan secara otomatis ketika pintu dikunci.