bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Irrigation with Desalinated Seawater and Hydroponic System on Tomato Quality
Authors: Antolinos Vera , Sánchez-Martínez María J. , Maestre-Valero José F. , López-Gómez Antonio , Martínez-Hernández Ginés B.
Published: February 2020

The use of desalinated seawater (DSW) as an alternative to conventional water resources is gradually gaining more interest due to the strong water deficit and increasing pressure on water resources in semi-arid regions. Furthermore, the combination of this alternative irrigation with the hydroponic cultivation system would allow continuous production almost through the whole year and hydroponic-related high crop yield. Nevertheless, the effects of DSW irrigation in hydroponic systems on the product quality need to be firstly studied to avoid product quality losses. In this study, we evaluated the effects on the quality of two tomato cvs. (Ramyle and Racymo) of three different irrigation treatments (T1, DSW; T2, DSW/well water mix; and T3, well water) under hydroponic or traditional cultivation systems. The soluble solid content of samples (highly correlated to dry matter content) grown under hydroponic conditions and T3 irrigation showed the highest values (5.8 °Brix) although such differences (<0.6 °Brix) with T1 might not be sensorially appreciated. Similarly, although T3 samples showed higher acidity than T1 samples, such differences (0.06%) would be not appreciated by the consumer. Tomatoes grown in hydroponic conditions had 1.1–1.2-fold higher firmness than conventional soil conditions showing hydroponic T3 samples had the highest value (21–23 N). Tomato cv. Racymo displayed higher color index (chroma) than cv. Ramyle, registering hydroponic T1 samples the most intense red color correlated with the highest lycopene content of 41.1 mg/kg. T1 irrigation of tomatoes cv. Ramyle did not induce significant changes while differences lower than 10% were observed in the tomato cv. Racymo. The highest total antioxidant capacity, which was highly correlated to the total phenolic content (R2 = 0.80), was found for hydroponic T1 samples with 1637/1243 µmol/kg for the tomato cvs. Ramyle/Racymo. Conclusively, the use of DSW would not compromise the consumer acceptance of tomatoes due to the low (not appreciable) quality differences, with even the total antioxidant capacity of these samples being increased. Furthermore, the mix of DSW with conventional water resources (lower cost) would not compromise the tomato quality.
Parameterization of the Surface Energy Balance of a Shallow Water Table Grassland
Authors: Tu Qianguang , Cheng Chunmei , Qin Peng
Published: February 2020

Extending instantaneous latent heat flux to daily, monthly, or even yearly evapotranspiration (ET) is a fundamental issue in using remote sensing to estimate ET at local and regional scales. In this study, the extending parameterizations of the surface energy balance of a mid-latitude grassland with shallow water table (SWT) at diurnal and seasonal time scales are examined based on data measured by the eddy covariance system and automated weather station from Wageningen University from June 2014 to October 2018. The results show that the ratio of turbulent heat flux to available surface energy (often called budget closure rate) ranges between 0.86 and 0.93 for warm times (March to October), and between 0.59 and 0.77 for cold times (November to February the following year). The parameterization models used to approximate the surface albedo and evaporative fraction (EF) are also evaluated. Although obvious variation under clear skies during daytime are observed, the constant EF and albedo method provided an acceptable estimation of the daily scale ET with an underestimation of about 6–8% for the grassland with SWT and parameterization of diurnal correction shows little improvement in both the bias and RMSE. The progression of daily ET shows a seasonal cycle, which follows the variation of the net radiation flux. These results will be helpful for estimating ET at daily and long temporal scales based on satellite remote sensing.
Isolation of Fungal Strains from Municipal Wastewater for the Removal of Pharmaceutical Substances
Authors: Dalecka Brigita , Oskarsson Caroline , Juhna Talis , Kuttava Rajarao Gunaratna
Published: February 2020

Fungi have been shown to be promising candidates to be used in removal of pharmaceutical compounds during wastewater treatment processes. However, fungal growth, including removal efficiency, can be affected by several factors, such as temperature and the pH. The ability of fungal isolates to grow in the presence of carbamazepine, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and sulfamethoxazole was tested. Removal efficiency results indicated that a fungal isolate of Aspergillus luchuensis can completely (>99.9%) remove diclofenac from a synthetic wastewater media without a pH correction within 10 days of incubation. Furthermore, the results of the biosorption test for A. luchuensis indicate that this isolate uses the biosorption mechanism as a strategy to remove diclofenac. Finally, the results demonstrate that A. luchuensis can remove >98% of diclofenac in non-sterile wastewater without a pH correction immediately after biomass inoculation on biofilm carriers while Trametes versicolor requires an incubation period of at least 24 h to completely remove diclofenac. Therefore, this isolate is a promising candidate for use in removal of pharmaceutical compounds from wastewater with typical pH 7.8, minimizing a requirement of the pH correction.
Quantifying Escherichia coli and Suspended Particulate Matter Concentrations in a Mixed-Land Use Appalachian Watershed
Authors: Petersen Fritz , Hubbart Jason A.
Published: February 2020

The relationships between Escherichia (E) coli concentration, suspended particulate matter (SPM) particle size class, and land use practices are important in reducing the bacterium’s persistence and health risks. However, surprisingly few studies have been performed that quantify these relationships. Conceivably, such information would advance mitigation strategies for practices that address specific SPM size classes and, by proxy, E. coli concentration. To advance this needed area of research, stream water was sampled from varying dominant land use practices in West Run Watershed, a representative mixed-land use Appalachian watershed of West Virginia in the eastern USA. Water samples were filtered into three SPM intervals (<5 µm; 5 µm to 60 μm; and >60 μm) and the E. coli concentration (colony forming units, CFU) and SPM of each interval was quantified. Statistically significant relationships were identified between E. coli concentrations and size intervals (α < 0.0001), and SPM (α = 0.05). The results show a predominance (90% of total) of E. coli CFUs in the <5 μm SPM interval. The results show that land use practices impact the relationships between SPM and E. coli concentrations. Future work should include additional combined factors that influence bacterial CFUs and SPM, including hydrology, climate, geochemistry and nutrients.
Source and Mobilization Mechanism of Iron, Manganese and Arsenic in Groundwater of Shuangliao City, Northeast China
Authors: Zhang Zhihao , Xiao Changlai , Adeyeye Oluwafemi , Yang Weifei , Liang Xiujuan
Published: February 2020

Excessive levels of Fe, Mn and As are the main factors affecting groundwater quality in Songliao plain, northeast China. However, there are few studies on the source and mobilization mechanisms of Fe, Mn and As in the groundwater of Northeastern China. This study takes Shuangliao city in the middle of Songliao plain as an example, where the source and mobilization mechanisms of iron, manganese and arsenic in groundwater in the study area were analyzed by statistical methods and spatial analysis. The results show that the source of Fe and Mn in the groundwater of the platform is the iron and manganese nodules in the clay layer, while, in the river valley plain, it originates from the soil and the whole aquifer. The TDS, fluctuation in groundwater levels and the residence time are the important factors affecting the content of Fe and Mn in groundwater. The dissolution of iron and manganese minerals causes arsenic adsorbed on them to be released into groundwater. This study provides a basis for the rational utilization of groundwater and protection of people’s health in areas with high iron, manganese and arsenic contents.
Pollution of Sedimentary Ponds at an Industrial Plant in Janikowo (Poland)
Authors: Gołub Adam , Piekutin Janina
Published: February 2020

The aim of the work was to determine whether the waste accumulated on the reclaimed sedimentary pond near the Janikosoda Production Plant in Janikowo is still a source of pollution of groundwater. On one of the ponds near the Production Plant in Janikowo, three points were located, in which drilling was done up to the bottom of the layer of solid waste. In each point, samples of sediments were taken to determine electrolytic conductivity and chloride concentration. In order to examine the level of groundwater pollution in the area of the Production Plant, four points around the sedimentary ponds were identified, in which regular monitoring of chloride ions has been carried out since the 1980s. Based on analysis, it was concluded that chlorides are leached from the sediments deep into the soil profile by rainwater and, with high probability, also by water seeping from the adjacent slag pond. Sedimentary ponds are still an important source of pollution released into soils and groundwater around the plant. Nevertheless, chloride concentration in solid waste and groundwater in the area of sedimentary ponds has decreased in the last 20 years.
Two-Dimensional Free-Surface Flow Modeling for Wave-Structure Interactions and Induced Motions of Floating Bodies
Authors: Lo Der-Chang , Wang Keh-Han , Hsu Tai-Wen
Published: February 2020

In this study, the level set (LS) and immersed boundary (IB) methods were integrated into a Navier–Stokes equation two-phase flow solver, to investigate wave-structure interactions and induced motions of floating bodies in two dimensions. The movement of an interfacial boundary of two fluids, even with severe free-surface deformation, is tracked by using the level set method, while an immersed object inside a fluid domain is treated by the IB method. Both approaches can be implemented by solving the Navier–Stokes equations for viscous laminar flows with embedded objects in fluids. For accurate treatment of the solid–liquid phase, appropriate source terms as forcing functions to take into account the hydrodynamic effects on the body boundaries are added into the governing equations. The integrated compact interfacial tracking techniques between the interfaces of gas–liquid phase and the solid–liquid phase allow the use of a combined Eulerian Cartesian and Lagrangian grid system. Problems related to the fluid-structure interactions and induced motions of a floating body, such as (a) a dam-break wave over a dry bed; (b) a dam-break wave over either a submerged semicircular or rectangular cylinder; (c) wave decomposition process over a trapezoid breakwater; (d) a free-falling wedge into a water body; and (e) wave packet interacting with a floating body are selected to test the model performance. For all cases, the computed results are found to agree reasonably well with published experimental data and numerical solutions. For the case of modeling wave decomposition process, improved solutions are obtained. The detailed features of flow phenomena described by the physical variables of velocity, pressure and vorticity are presented and discussed. The present two-phase flow model is proved to have the advantage of simulating the cases with induced severe interfacial oscillations and coupled gas (or air) motions where the single-phase model may miss the contributions of the air motions on the interfaces. Additionally, the proposed method with uses of the LS and IB methods is demonstrated to be able to achieve the reliable predictions of complex flow fields.
Assessment of A Rainwater Harvesting System in A Multi-Storey Residential Building in Brazil
Authors: Kuntz Maykot Jéssica , Ghisi Enedir
Published: February 2020

This article aims to present an economic feasibility and user satisfaction analysis of a rainwater harvesting system in a multi-storey residential building (where there is rainwater to supply toilets) located in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. This research used detailed methods and also considered the opinion and habits of users regarding the use of a rainwater harvesting system. The water end-uses were estimated through questionnaire survey in each flat. The potential for potable water savings was estimated using computer simulations. Simulations were performed using the computer programme Netuno, version 4 and economic feasibility analyses were performed considering different rainwater demands. Analyses associated with the habits of the residents, the satisfaction of users and the importance of saving potable water were also carried out. Showers were responsible for the highest share (54.2%) of water consumption in the flats, followed by the other end-uses: washing machine (21.3%), kitchen tap (9.3%), toilet flush (9.2%) and washbasins (2.6%). The most economically feasible system, which presented lower payback and higher internal rate of return, corresponds to the system sized to supply rainwater only to toilet flushing. Such a system would need a rainwater tank with a capacity smaller than the capacity of the one currently in use. In general, residents expressed satisfaction regarding the rainwater harvesting system installed in the building. The study is important because, besides obtaining water end-uses in the flats, it also investigates the perception of residents related to rainwater harvesting, which has been little explored in the scientific literature.
The Transition to Improved Water-Related Energy Management: Enabling Contexts for Policy Innovation
Authors: Binks Amanda , Head Brian , Lant Paul , Kenway Steven
Published: February 2020

We explored the potential for improved policy and regulation with a direct focus on household water-related energy (WRE) management in urban Victoria (Australia). Semi-structured interviews were employed to understand the perspectives of relevant actors within the existing institutional landscape. In this paper, questions about institutional and policy change are addressed through consideration of the literature on transitions management and institutional entrepreneurship. Key policy opportunities identified by the actors include consumer education and advocacy for behaviour change and technology adoption, and further development of residential building standards to improve the selection and layout of building services at the design phase. The work highlights medium-term opportunities to create an enabling environment for policy practitioners in Victoria to improve management of water-related energy use in households. The work provides an important new perspective on transitions theory in the field of integrated resources management.
Specific Types and Adaptability Evaluation of Managed Aquifer Recharge for Irrigation in the North China Plain
Authors: Liu Shuai , Wang Weiping , Qu Shisong , Zheng Yan , Li Wenliang
Published: February 2020

The North China Plain is the main grain production district in China, with a large area of well irrigation resulting in a large groundwater depression cone. In the 1970s and 1980s, small-scale managed aquifer recharge (MAR) projects were developed to recharge shallow groundwater, which played an important role in ensuring stable and high crop yields. MAR projects are divided into 10 types based on local water conservancy characteristics. The combined use of well–canal irrigation has been widespread in the Yellow River Irrigation District of Shandong Province for nearly 40 years, where canals play multiple roles of transporting and storing Yellow River water or local surface water, recharging groundwater and providing canal irrigation. Moreover, the newly developed open channel–underground perforated pipe–shaft–water saving irrigation system can further expand the scope and amount of groundwater recharge and prevent system clogging through three measures. Finally, an adaptability zoning evaluation system of water spreading has been established in Liaocheng City of Shandong Province based on the following five factors: groundwater depth, thickness of fine sand, specific yield, irrigation return flow, and groundwater extraction intensity. The results show that MAR is more adaptable to the western region than to the eastern and central regions.
Future Landslide Characteristic Assessment Using Ensemble Climate Change Scenarios: A Case Study in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Yung-Ming , Chen Chi-Wen , Chao Yi-Chiung , Tung Yu-Shiang , Liou Jun-Jih , Li Hsin-Chi , Cheng Chao-Tzuen
Published: February 2020

Affected by climate change owing to global warming, the frequency of extreme rainfall events has gradually increased in recent years. Many studies have analyzed the impacts of climate change in various fields. However, uncertainty about the scenarios they used is still an important issue. This study used two and four multi-scenarios at the base period (1979–2003) and the end of the 21st century (2075–2099) to collect the top-ranking typhoons and analyze the rainfall conditions of these typhoons in two catchments in northern Taiwan. The landslide-area characteristics caused by these typhoons were estimated using empirical relationships, with rainfall conditions established by a previous study. In addition to counting landslide-area characteristics caused by the typhoons of each single scenario, we also used the ensemble method to combine all scenarios to calculate landslide-area characteristic statistics. Comparing the statistical results of each single scenario and the ensembles, we found that the ensemble method minimized the uncertainty and identified the possible most severe case from the simulation. We further separated typhoons into the top 5%, 5%–10%, and 10%–15% to confirm possible changes in landslide-area characteristics under climate change. We noticed that the uncertainty of the base period and the end of the 21st century almost overlapped if only a single scenario was used. In contrast, the ensemble approach successfully distinguished the differences in both the average values of landslide-area characteristics and the 95% confidence intervals. The ensemble results indicated that the landslide magnitude triggered by medium- and high-level typhoons (top 5%–15%) will increase by 24%–29% and 125%–200% under climate change in the Shihmen Reservoir catchment and the Xindian River catchment, respectively, while landslides triggered by extreme-level typhoons (top 5%) will increase by 8% and 77%, respectively. Still, the uncertainty of landslide-area characteristics caused by extreme typhoon events is slightly high, indicating that we need to include more possible scenarios in future work.
Impact of Deficit Irrigation on Shallow Saline Groundwater Contribution and Sunflower Productivity in the Imperial Valley, California
Authors: Eltarabily Mohamed Galal , Burke John M. , Bali Khaled M.
Published: February 2020

Yield and production functions of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) were evaluated under full and deficit irrigation practices with the presence of shallow saline groundwater in a semi-arid region in the Imperial Valley of southern California, USA. A growing degree day (GDD) model was utilized to estimate the various growth stages and schedule irrigation events throughout the growing season. The crop was germinated and established using overhead irrigation prior to the use of a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system for the remainder of the growing season. Four irrigation treatments were implemented: full irrigation (100% full sunflower crop evapotranspiration, ETC), two reduced irrigation scenarios (95% ETC and 80% ETC), and a deficit irrigation scenario (65% ETC). The salinity of the irrigation water (EC) (Colorado River water) was nearly constant at 1.13 dS·m−1 during the growing season. The depth to groundwater and groundwater salinity (ECGW) were continuously monitored in five 3 m deep observation wells. Depth to groundwater fluctuated slightly under the full and reduced irrigation treatments, but drastically increased under deficit irrigation, particularly toward the end of the growing season. Estimates of ECGW ranged from 7.34 to 12.62 dS·m−1. The distribution of soil electrical conductivity (ECS) and soil matric potential were monitored within the active root zone (120 cm) at selected locations in each of the four treatments. By the end of the experiment, soil salinity (ECS) across soil depths ranged from 1.80 to 6.18 dS·m−1. The estimated groundwater contribution to crop evapotranspiration was 9.03 cm or approximately 16.3% of the ETC of the fully irrigated crop. The relative yields were 91.8%, 82.4%, and 83.5% for the reduced (95% and 80% ETC) and deficit (65% ETC) treatments, respectively, while the production function using applied irrigation water (IW) was: yield = 0.0188 × (IW)2 − 15.504 × IW + 4856.8. Yield reduction in response to water stress was attributed to a significant reduction in both seed weight and the number of seed produced resulting in overall average yields of 2048.9, 1879.9, 1688.1, and 1710.3 kg·ha−1 for the full, both reduced, and deficit treatments, respectively. The yield response factor, ky, was 0.63 with R2 = 0.745 and the irrigation water use efficiencies (IWUE) were 3.70, 3.57, 3.81, and 4.75 kg·ha−1·mm−1 for the full, reduced, and deficit treatments, respectively. Our results indicate that sunflowers can sustain the implemented 35% deficit irrigation with root water uptake from shallow groundwater in arid regions with a less than 20% reduction in yield.
Improving the Reliability of Probabilistic Multi-Step-Ahead Flood Forecasting by Fusing Unscented Kalman Filter with Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Zhou Yanlai , Guo Shenglian , Xu Chong-Yu , Chang Fi-John , Yin Jiabo
Published: February 2020

It is fundamentally challenging to quantify the uncertainty of data-driven flood forecasting. This study introduces a general framework for probabilistic flood forecasting conditional on point forecasts. We adopt an unscented Kalman filter (UKF) post-processing technique to model the point forecasts made by a recurrent neural network and their corresponding observations. The methodology is tested by using a long-term 6-h timescale inflow series of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China. The main merits of the proposed approach lie in: first, overcoming the under-prediction phenomena in data-driven flood forecasting; second, alleviating the uncertainty encountered in data-driven flood forecasting. Two commonly used artificial neural networks, a recurrent and a static neural network, were used to make the point forecasts. Then the UKF approach driven by the point forecasts demonstrated its competency in increasing the reliability of probabilistic flood forecasts significantly, where predictive distributions encountered in multi-step-ahead flood forecasts were effectively reduced to small ranges. The results demonstrated that the UKF plus recurrent neural network approach could suitably extract the complex non-linear dependence structure between the model’s outputs and observed inflows and overcome the systematic error so that model reliability as well as forecast accuracy for future horizons could be significantly improved.
Quantification of Water Sources in a Coastal Gold Mine through an End-Member Mixing Analysis Combining Multivariate Statistical Methods
Authors: Liu Guowei , Ma Fengshan , Liu Gang , Guo Jie , Duan Xueliang , Gu Hongyu
Published: February 2020

Mixing calculations have been widely applied to identify sources of groundwater recharge, but these calculations have assumed that the concentrations of end-members are well known. However, the end-members of water remain unclear and are not easily available in practical applications. To better determine end-members and mixing ratios, an end-member mixing analysis combining multivariate statistical methods was used on a large, complex water chemistry dataset collected from the Shashandao gold mine in China. Multivariate statistical methods, including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), were applied to determine the specific end-members (these two methods verified each other). On the basis of the identified end-members, a maximum likelihood method was then used to estimate the mixing ratios of the water sources. The combined method proposed in this study can help to identify more accurate end-members and deal with uncertainty in end-member concentrations, and it can also adjust the concentrations until the optimal mixing ratios for the calculation are obtained. This method can be a powerful tool for groundwater management and in predicting water inrush in mining operations.
Assessment of Seasonal Changes in Water Chemistry of the Ridracoli Water Reservoir (Italy): Implications for Water Management
Authors: Toller Simone , Giambastiani Beatrice M. S. , Greggio Nicolas , Antonellini Marco , Vasumini Ivo , Dinelli Enrico
Published: February 2020

The Ridracoli artificial basin is the main water reservoir of the Emilia-Romagna region (Northeast Italy). The reservoir was made by construction of a dam on the Bidente River in 1982. It is used as the main drinking water supply of the region and for hydropower production. The physical and chemical parameterseters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen) of shallow water are continuously monitored whereas vertical depth profiles of water chemical data (major anions and cations, as well as heavy metals) are available on a bimonthly base. The dataset used in this research is related to the years 2015 and 2016. Data show that the reservoir is affected by an alternation of water stratification and mixing processes due to seasonal change in water temperature, density, and the reservoir water level. In late summer and winter months, the water column is stratified with anoxic conditions at the bottom. During the spring, on the other hand, when storage is at its maximum, water recirculation and mixing occur. The reservoir is characterized by a dynamic system in which precipitation, dissolution, and adsorption processes at the bottom affect water quality along the reservoir depth column. The temperature stratification and anoxic conditions at the reservoir bottom influence the concentration and mobility of some heavy metals (i.e., Fe and Mn) and, consequently, the quality of water that reaches the treatment and purification plant. This study is relevant for water resource management of the reservoir. Assessing the seasonal changes in water quality along the reservoir water column depth is fundamental to plan water treatment operations and optimize their costs. The reservoir assessment allows one to identify countermeasures to avoid or overcome the high concentrations of heavy metals and the stratification problem (i.e., artificial mixing of the water column, new water intakes at different depths operating at different times of the year, blowers, etc.).
The Susceptibility of Juvenile American Shad to Rapid Decompression and Fluid Shear Exposure Associated with Simulated Hydroturbine Passage
Authors: Pflugrath Brett , Harnish Ryan , Rhode Briana , Engbrecht Kristin , Beirão Bernardo , Mueller Robert , McCann Erin , Stephenson John , Colotelo Alison
Published: February 2020

Throughout many areas of their native range, American shad (Alosa sapidissima) and other Alosine populations are in decline. Though several conditions have influenced these declines, hydropower facilities have had significant negative effects on American shad populations. Hydropower facilities expose ocean-migrating American shad to physical stressors during passage through hydropower facilities, including strike, rapid decompression, and fluid shear. In this laboratory-based study, juvenile American shad were exposed separately to rapid decompression and fluid shear to determine their susceptibility to these stressors and develop dose–response models. These dose–response relationships can help guide the development and/or operation of hydropower turbines and facilities to reduce the negative effects to American shad. Relative to other species, juvenile American shad have a high susceptibility to both rapid decompression and fluid shear. Reducing or preventing exposure to these stressors at hydropower facilities may be a potential method to assist in the effort to restore American shad populations.
Transient-Flow Induced Compressed Air Energy Storage (TI-CAES) System towards New Energy Concept
Authors: Besharat Mohsen , Dadfar Avin , Viseu Maria , Brunone Bruno , Ramos Helena
Published: February 2020

In recent years, interest has increased in new renewable energy solutions for climate change mitigation and increasing the efficiency and sustainability of water systems. Hydropower still has the biggest share due to its compatibility, reliability and flexibility. This study presents one such technology recently examined at Instituto Superior Técnico based on a transient-flow induced compressed air energy storage (TI-CAES) system, which takes advantage of a compressed air vessel (CAV). The CAV can produce extra required pressure head, by compressing air, to be used for either hydropower generation using a water turbine in a gravity system or to be exploited in a pumping system. The results show a controlled behaviour of the system in storing the pressure surge as compressed air inside a vessel. Considerable power values are achieved as well, while the input work is practically neglected. Higher power values are attained for bigger air volumes. The TI-CAES offers an efficient and flexible solution that can be exploited in exiting water systems without putting the system at risk. The induced transients in the compressed air allow a constant outflow discharge characteristic, making the energy storage available in the CAV to be used as a pump storage hydropower solution.
Disentangling the Effects of Multiple Stressors on Large Rivers Using Benthic Invertebrates—A Study of Southeastern European Large Rivers with Implications for Management
Authors: Urbanič Gorazd , Mihaljević Zlatko , Petkovska Vesna , Pavlin Urbanič Maja
Published: February 2020

Predicting anthropogenic actions resulting in undesirable changes in aquatic systems is crucial for the development of effective and sustainable water management strategies. Due to the co-occurrence of stressors and a lack of appropriate data, the effects on large rivers are difficult to elucidate. To overcome this problem, we developed a partial canonical correspondence analyses (pCCA) model using 292 benthic invertebrate taxa from 104 sites that incorporated the effects of three stressors groups: hydromorphology, land use, and water quality. The data covered an environmental gradient from near-natural to heavily altered sites in five large rivers in Southeastern Europe. Prior to developing the multi-stressor model, we assessed the importance of natural characteristics on individual stressor groups. Stressors proved to be the dominant factors in shaping benthic invertebrate assemblages. The pCCA among stressor-groups showed that unique effects dominated over joint effects. Thus, benthic invertebrate assemblages were suitable for disentangling the specific effect of each of the three stressor groups. While the effects of hydromorphology were dominant, both water quality and land use effects were nearly equally important. Quantifying the specific effects of hydromorphological alterations, water quality, and land use will allow water managers to better understand how large rivers have changed and to better define expectations for ecosystem conditions in the future.
Bilgisayar Teknolojileri Bölümü Öğrencilerinin Bilişim Becerilerinin Öğrenci ve İşveren Açısından İncelenmesi (Diyarbakır İli Örneği)
Authors: BAHÇECİ Ferhat , ÖZĞAN Ömer , GEDİKPINAR Mehmet
Published: February 2020

Bu araştırmada, Meslek Yüksekokulları Bilgisayar
Teknolojileri Bölümünde öğrenim gören/mezun öğrencilerin bilişim becerileri
yeterlilik düzeyi öğrenci ve sektör bağlamında değerlendirilmiştir.
Araştırmanın evrenini; Bilgisayar Teknolojileri Bölümü, Bilgisayar
Programcılığı programında öğrenim gören öğrenciler (N=630) ve öğrencilerin staj
çalışmalarını tamamladıkları kurum veya iş yerleri oluşturmuştur. Çalışma
örneklemini ise, Diyarbakır İli, 2016-2017 eğitim-öğretim yılında Dicle
Üniversitesi bünyesinde Bilgisayar Teknolojileri Bölümünde bulunan 4 Meslek
Yüksekokulu 2. Sınıf öğrencileri (n= 280) ile öğrencilerin staj çalışmalarını
yaptıkları kurum veya iş yerlerindeki yöneticiler (n= 60) oluşturmuştur.
Uygulanan anketlerin güvenirlik derecesi, öğrenci anketi, işveren anketi,
sırasıyla α=0.869 ve α=0,803 elde edilmiştir. Araştırma bulgularına göre;
öğrenci ve yönetici görüşleri arasında, öğrencilerin bilişim teknolojileri
kullanabilme becerileri açısından anlamlı bir farklılık olmadığı incelenmiştir.
Hem yöneticiler hem de öğrenciler ile yapılan görüşme ve değerlendirmeler
sonucunda “sektörün ihtiyaçlarını karşılama konusunda bilgisayar teknolojileri
kullanım becerilerinin Kısmen Yeterli”  
olduğu anlaşılmıştır.
CLINICAL FEATURES AND COAGULATION ABNORMALITIES IN CHILDREN WITH SEPSIS AT DANANG HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Authors: Vo Huu Hoi , Bui Binh Bao Son
Published: February 2020

Objective: To determine the relationship between coagulation abnormalities and main clinical features, and hematologic tests.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 65 children with sepsis at the PICU, Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children from April 2012 to June 2013.
Results: The frequency of internal hemorrhage in septic shock children was significantly higher than in children with sepsis (p < 0.001). The rate of thrombocytopenia was 30.8%, in which 10.8% of the children had severe thrombocytopenia (<50 x 109/l). Hypofibrinogenemia was observed in 30.8% of the patients, in which severe hypofibrinogenemia (≤ 1 g/l) was observed in 16.9% of the children. The frequency of reduced prothrombin ratio was 40%, in which 23.1% of the patients had prothrombin ratio < 50%. 35.4% of the patients had rAPTT > 1.15. Positive D-dimer and DIC were observed in 53.8% and 20% of the patients, respectively. Hemostatic changes showed the significant relationship with hemorrhage and the mortality of sepsis.
Conclusion: Children with sepsis, especially septic shock were at high risk of coagulation dysfunction and coagulation abnormalities showed the correlation with hemorrhage and the mortality of sepsis.

Key words: coagulation abnormalities, sepsis, children
Ďalšie odborné vzdelávanie štátnych zamestnancov na Slovensku
Authors: Bernátová Dominika
Published: February 2020

In organizations of state government in Slovakia is being emphasized the importance of dissemination the knowledge and skills of employees. The article is focussing on the another vocational training of the civil servants which is part of their lifelong education. By content analysis of selected documents and surveys of the Government Office of the Slovak Republik and the Civil Service Council was figured out, how the Government Office of the Slovak Republik and the Service Offices fulfill the strategic goal in the education field of civil servants. It was find out, that the Government Office of the Slovak Republik as central authority for coordination of human resources management in state government fulfill strategic goal in the education field of civil servants.
Konanie vo veciach sociálneho poistenia – diskriminácia otcov pri posudzovaní o nároku na dávku materské?
Authors: Gmitrová Tatiana
Published: February 2020

Gender equality is one of the fundamental values of democratic countries and is considered a prerequisite for a socially just, democratic and inclusive society. The level of gender mainstreaming is currently insufficient and different approaches to men and women can be seen in different situations. The aim of the paper is to point out the possible discriminatory approach of the Social Insurance Company when deciding on the entitlement of fathers to maternity benefit. The contribution deals with the legal regulation of proceedings in social insurance matters focusing on decisions on entitlement to maternity benefit for fathers. The topic for discussion is whether it is abuse of the social system if the father claims maternity benefits while working. Methods of comparison and content analysis of selected documents were used for the paper.
Marketingovo strategické riadenie verejných vysokých škôl
Authors: Halmo Martin
Published: February 2020

In the Slovak Republic, on the basis of legislative conditions, the Higher Education Act does not give the possibility to direct the management of public higher education institutions towards the fulfillment of their goals and thus to adapt effectively to the current situation and challenges. This is characterized by processes and structures that are duplicate, problematic or ambivalent, which ultimately prevents public higher education institutions from autonomously receiving and fulfilling their mission. It is therefore important that alternative management trends are introduced into the governance structures to help the development of public higher education institutions. We consider the use of marketing strategic management as such an element. Thus, the use of this type of management can ultimately benefit the university in the form of the required number of pupils. It can also contribute to improving the quality and supply of education, information and information.
Zamestnanosť verejného sektora a jeho náhľad do budúcnosti
Authors: Jurgová Zuzana
Published: February 2020

After certain period of time, there is a generation change on labor market. Every generation personality will unleash new era. Turnovers usually last for 20 - 22 years. 2020 is considered a turning point that will bring a new generation of Millennials as an active part of the labor market. Recent years have been favorable in reducing public sector unemployment in Slovakia, but based on forecast our future employment will stagnate. The labor market must therefore be aware that the new generation will have new requirements in labor market and need to be adapted. Respective tables and charts were processed through mathematical statistical methods. At the same time the data are presented from statistical data and already realized surveys through questionnaires. These will be people who will be a priority of the labor market by 2060 at the productive age. The influx of this generation reaches all over the world, no country can prevent it. We point out the importance and diversity of labor market requirements from the perspective of the Millennium generation. We interpret and highlight the development of the population on the labor market by 2060 and its possible risks.
European regulation of FinTech
Authors: Labancz Andrea
Published: February 2020

The study deals with the topic of FinTech. There is a widespread view in the EU that FinTech, so that technology-based financial innovations, may contribute to the intense development of the digital economy. Recognizing the benefits of these solutions, a FinTech policy has been developed in the EU. Despite the positive approach of the EU, several FinTech solutions are undefined, uncategorized and unregulated. One need only think of cryptocurrencies, ICOs or crowdfunding to see that the absence of any FinTech legal definition or theoretical analyses could easily lead to legal uncertainty. Given the above, the study deals with the interpretation and theoretical analysis of FinTech. In order to be able to contribute to the better understanding, the study categorizes FinTech solutions by focusing on their special characteristics. By doing so, it makes difference between regulated and unregulated FinTech solutions and establishes a possible taxonomy of FinTech.
Rodové rozdiely v preferenciách jednotlivých atribútov práce od roku 1991
Authors: Matejková Alexandra
Published: February 2020

Changing gender roles and the rise of paid jobs for women in the second half of the twentieth century affects not only the labour market but family life as well. The aim of the paper is to capture the differences in the opinions of men and women about the individual characteristics of work / job attributes . Two mechanisms are traditionally provided to explain gender-based differences in career preferences: a) different gender-based socialization creating a contrast between gender roles of men and women and b) the position of women in the labor market in the existing social structure. According to the model of gender socialization, men are considered to be the breadwinners, while the main role of women mostly refers to the care of children and household. Therefore, we expect that the characteristics that represent the material conditions will be of key importance for men. On the contrary, the most important characteristics for women will be the features enabling to combine work with family care related duties. The model of social structure expects the existing gender-based differences in the preferences of individual characteristics of work to reflect the differences between men and women in the labor market as well as their structural positions and their approach to the rewarding system in the workplace. Our analysis based on the European Values Study (waves 1991 - 2017) finds only minimal differences in job attribute preferences among men and women. The notion of women not willing to put as much effort into work as “the breadwinners” due to other priorities therefore seems to refer to a rather outdated gender stereotype.
Spiritual Stories and The Growth of New Religious Movements
Authors: Ormandi Kristof
Published: February 2020

In the following publication I examine the spiritual or religious stories narrated by certain new religious movements (NRM). It is long argued in scientific literature that telling a story is a more efficient form of proselytism than approaching people in a direct way. In this work I will attempt to find statistical evidence to prove this, based on the NRMs examined herein. I shall analyse the effects of such works and the content itself according to contemporary views of legal philosophy. The centerpiece of this analysis is the spiritual anime titled Laws of Eternity, although other religious narratives and teachings will also be examined with similar methods. The other two important examples which this work details are the Order of the Solar Temple and the Missionary Church of Kopimism. The reason for examining this phenomenon lies in the increasing importance of newer religions, as well as the desire to shed light to the modern methods of spreading religious ideas. This research follows a multidisclipinary approach which can be placed between sociology, law, philosophy, and the broader spectrum of social sciences. One part of the work provides a descriptive analysis of these stories, the others deal with finding statistical correlation between the stories and the change in the number of believers. The hypothesis that I am trying to prove in this work is that narrating and publicizing these stories is a way to achieve faster growth for these religious organizations. The final conclusion is that - although the current research is far from being representative - the given examples confirm that there is a correlation between growth and storytelling.
Becoming Asustado (Scared): An Ethnographic Contribution to a Transdisciplinary Approach to Children’s Health and Development
Authors: Remorini Carolina , Palermo María Laura
Published: February 2020

We characterized and analyzed women’s narrative around the idea of becoming asustado (scared)as a cultural way of understanding why children get sick repeatedly or develop illnesses that become increasingly severe, as part of a study carried out in rural communities from the Molinos District, in the North-West of Argentina. We analyze and discuss the implications of becoming asustado for everyday child-rearing and children's health, sociability, and performance in different community endeavors from ethnographic data. We intentionally selected 15 cases elaborated based on 55 semi-structured interviews with 15 women, between 25 and 55 years old, all caregivers of children under 6 years old. Our results show that susto (fright) serves as an explanation for those people who do not fit with cultural expectations about their phenotype and social performance. Also, it is a culturally acceptable way of dealing with both physical and mental stress.
Generalization for the Average Value of the Difference Between the Energies of Two Graphs
Authors: ALTINDAĞ İlkay
Published: February 2020

Let G denote the set of all simple graphs with n vertices and m edges. In this paper, for a given type of graph Hermite matrix A, we determine the average values of the difference between A-energies of two graphs randomly chosen from G . These results yield criterions for deciding when two graphs are almost A-equienergetic. Our results generalize some previous results in the literature. Moreover, we give new results on Laplacian energy.
A New Proposed Estimator for Reducing Bias Due to Undetected Species
Authors: ÖZKAN Kürşad
Published: February 2020

The present paper addresses a new approach to reduce bias when there are undetected species in a plot. Partially density matrix plays essential role in this new proposed estimator. The performance of the new proposed estimator (Ĥ0) was compared to bias-corrected MLE (MLEBC), Jackknife (JK) and the proposed estimator of Chao and Shen (Ĥcs)  using Principle component analysis (PCA). The result of the first PCA applied to the data including the estimators’ values of the assemblages showed that  Ĥ0 is located between JK and Ĥcs and its’ nearest neighbor becomes JK. The second PCA was applied to the data belonging to the relative estimator values between the pairwise assemblages and, it was found that Ĥ0 is still located between JK and Ĥcs but its’ nearest neighbor becomes Ĥcs in this time along the first axis. Those results were evaluated that Ĥ0 is a better estimator than MLEBC. Thus the new proposed estimator (Ĥ0) can also be used as an alternative bias-corrected estimator in addition to the other estimators.
Factores asociados a una actitud desfavorable frente a la donación de órganos en estudiantes de la facultad de medicina de una universidad de Lambayeque
Authors: Gonzáles-Chachapoyas Lizeth , Guevara-Mestanza Karla , Alcántara-Villanueva Gianfranco , Tuñoque-Chayan Fiorella , León-Jiménez Franco , Mocarro-Willis Ema , Ñique-Carbajal César
Published: February 2020

Introducción: En nuestro país la donación de órganos tiene una de las tasas más baja a nivel mundial, muchos factores intervienen para que este índice pueda incrementarse, ya que existe una alta demanda de pacientes que requieren de la actitud altruista tanto por las personas potenciales donantes como de sus familiares. Objetivo: determinar los factores asociados a una actitud desfavorable frente a la donación de órganos en estudiantes de la facultad de medicina de la Universidad Católica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo en el año 2015. Material y métodos: estudio observacional analítico de corte transversal ejecutado en 377 estudiantes de la facultad de medicina de la USAT, a quienes se les aplico un instrumento de recolección de datos validado para medir la actitud desfavorable hacia la donación de órganos, con un 0,77 de confiabilidad según el alfa de Crombach y de 0,5 de validez según la prueba de KMO Resultados: Solo 138 estudiantes (36,6%) manifestaron estar de acuerdo con la donación de órganos y tener una actitud favorable mientras que 239 (63,4%) se encontró una actitud desfavorable, solo 89 participantes (23,6%) mencionaron estar de acuerdo con que solamente deberían donar órganos las personas que están cerca de la muerte y 323 (85,6%) afirmaron que la calidad de vida de las personas mejoraría al recibir un órgano Conclusiones: Se estimó una elevada frecuencia de actitud desfavorable frente a la donación de órganos en estudiantes de la Facultad de Medicina en una Universidad de Lambayeque en el 2015.