Disastrous Forest Fires: Management and Control

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.P. Vasudeva
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Forest Survey ◽  
Forest Fire Prevention ◽  
And Control ◽  
Rational Knowledge ◽  
Religious Considerations

Forest fires are the most common hazard in forests causing havoc with biodiversity. Forest fires may occur naturally; however, about 80 per cent of forest fires in the world are caused by human beings. Forest Survey of India estimates that about half of the country’s forests are affected by fire. The negative effects of forest fires override the beneficial effects requiring their strategic management. Management of forest fires through the disaster management continuum would lead to systematic tackling with better results. Involvement of communities with their viewpoint in devising strategy for forest fire prevention and control is required. Integrated approach incorporating ecological, economic, social, cultural and religious considerations, and rational knowledge of local people through consultative process to be considered by a fully accountable nodal department would go a long way in managing this disastrous menace.

scholarly journals Chinese forest fire occurrence prediction based on machine learning methods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
yudong Li ◽  
Zhongke Feng ◽  
Ziyu Zhao ◽  
Wenyuan Ma ◽  
Shilin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Forest ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Fire Prevention ◽  
Fire Occurrence ◽  
Forest Fire Prevention ◽  
And Control

Abstract Forest fires can cause serious harm. Scientifically predicting forest fires is an important basis for preventing them. Currently, there is little research on the prediction of long time-series forest fires in China. Choosing a suitable forest fire prediction model and predicting the probability of Chinese forest fire occurrence are of great importance to China’s forest fire prevention and control work. Based on fire hotspot, meteorological, terrain, vegetation, infrastructure, and socioeconomic data collected from 2003 to 2016, we used a random forest model as a feature-selection method to identify 13 major drivers of forest fires in China. The forest fire prediction models developed in this study are based on four machine-learning algorithms: an artificial neural network, a radial basis function network, a support-vector machine, and a random forest. The models were evaluated using the five performance indicators of accuracy, precision, recall, f1 value, and area under the curve. We used the optimal model to obtain the probability of forest fire occurrence in various provinces in China and created a spatial distribution map of the areas with high incidences of forest fires. The results showed that the prediction accuracy of the four forest fire prediction models was between 75.8% and 89.2%, and the area under the curve value was between 0.840 and 0.960. The random forest model had the highest accuracy (89.2%) and area under the curve value (0.96); thus, it was used as the optimal model to predict the probability of forest fire occurrence in China. The prediction results indicate that the areas with high incidences of forest fires are mainly concentrated in north-eastern China (Heilongjiang Province and northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region) and south-eastern China (including Fujian Province and Jiangxi Province). In areas at high risk of forest fire, management departments can improve forest fire prevention and control by establishing watch towers and using other monitoring equipment. This study helps in understanding the main drivers of forest fires in China, provides a reference for the selection of high-precision forest fire prediction models, and provides a scientific basis for China’s forest fire prevention and control work.

scholarly journals Challenges and performance evaluation of livestock waste energy content

2022 ◽  
Vol 960 (1) ◽  
pp. 012017
Author(s):  
I A Halmaciu ◽  
I Ionel ◽  
I Vetres ◽  
R M Balogh ◽  
D Bisorca
Keyword(s):  
Energy Content ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Livestock Waste ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Fresh Food ◽  
And Performance

Abstract The global increase of the population has generated more and more requirement of the animal-based food. In order to provide this requirement, it was necessary to increase considerably the actual numbers of animals. This has led to both numerous positive and negative effects brought both to people and animals. Creating agro-touristic farms, ensuring fresh food, creating workplaces are just a part of the factors which have beneficial effects on the human beings. Yet, a major problem, which should not be ignored and neglected, is represented by the wastes resulted from animal breeding. These superficially treated wastes can cause numerous negative effects on the whole ecosystem. The animal dejections, the water resulted from the meat processing, the animal corpses, and all represent biodegradable wastes, which might be used, by transforming their energy content into electrical and thermal energy. This can be possible, for example, by using these wastes as raw material for producing biogas. To prove their efficiency in producing the biogases there have been done thermal analysis. In this article are analysed, from a thermal point of view, 3 different samples. In the first part of the experiment were analysed the swine dejections, in the second part were analysed the poultry dejections, and the third experiment consisted in the analysis of the cow stable waste. The analysis of these samples was done with the help of the Netzsch 449 C Jupiter device. The results obtained from the analysis prove the fact that all the three raw materials can be used as raw materials in producing the biogas.

scholarly journals Research on Multi-Factor Forest Fire Prediction Model Using Machine Learning Method in China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
yudong Li ◽  
Zhongke Feng ◽  
Ziyu Zhao ◽  
Shilin Chen ◽  
Hanyue Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Random Forest ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Prediction Models ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Fire Prevention ◽  
Forest Fire Prevention ◽  
Control Work ◽  
And Control

Abstract Forest fires can cause serious harm in many ways. Studying the scientific prediction of forest fires is an important basis for preventing such fires. At present, there is little research on the prediction of long time series forest fires in China. Choosing a suitable forest fire prediction model is of great importance to China’s forest fire prevention and control work. Based on data on fire hotspots, meteorology, terrain, vegetation, infrastructure, and socio-economics collected from 2003 to 2016, we used a random forest model as a feature-selection method to determine 13 major drivers of forest fires in China (such as temperature, terrain etc.). The forest fire prediction models developed in this study are based on four machine-learning algorithms: an artificial neural network, a radial basis function network, a support-vector machine, and a random forest. The models were evaluated using the five performance indicators of accuracy, precision, recall, f1 value, and area-under-the-curve value. We used the optimal model to obtain the probability of forest fire occurrence in various provinces in China and create a spatial distribution map of the areas with high incidences of forest fires. The results show that the prediction accuracy of the four forest fire prediction models is between 75.8% and 89.2%, and the area-under-the-curve value is between 0.840 and 0.960. The random forest model has the highest accuracy (89.2%) and area-under-the-curve value (0.96). It is used as the optimal model to predict the probability of forest fire occurrence in China. The prediction results indicate that the areas with high incidences of forest fires are mainly concentrated in northeastern China (Heilongjiang Province and northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region), southeastern China (including Fujian Province and Jiangxi Province) etc. In those areas at high risk of forest fires, the management departments can improve the forest fire prevention and control by establishing watch towers and using other monitoring equipment. This study not only helps in understanding the main drivers of forest fires in China, but it also provides a reference for the selection of high-precision forest fire prediction models and provides a scientific basis for China’s forest fire prevention and control work.

scholarly journals Recent Approaches towards Control of Fungal Diseases in Plants: An Updated Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 900
Author(s):  
Nawal Abd El-Baky ◽  
Amro Abd Al Fattah Amara
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Phytopathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Diseases ◽  
Fungal Resistance ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
The World ◽  
And Control

Recent research demonstrates that the number of virulent phytopathogenic fungi continually grows, which leads to significant economic losses worldwide. Various procedures are currently available for the rapid detection and control of phytopathogenic fungi. Since 1940, chemical and synthetic fungicides were typically used to control phytopathogenic fungi. However, the substantial increase in development of fungal resistance to these fungicides in addition to negative effects caused by synthetic fungicides on the health of animals, human beings, and the environment results in the exploration of various new approaches and green strategies of fungal control by scientists from all over the world. In this review, the development of new approaches for controlling fungal diseases in plants is discussed. We argue that an effort should be made to bring these recent technologies to the farmer level.

Diabetes and Heart Failure: Is it Hyperglycemia or Hyperinsulinemia?

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Triantafyllos Didangelos ◽  
Konstantinos Kantartzis
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Insulin Treatment ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Treatment Of Diabetes

The cardiac effects of exogenously administered insulin for the treatment of diabetes (DM) have recently attracted much attention. In particular, it has been questioned whether insulin is the appropriate treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and heart failure. While several old and some new studies suggested that insulin treatment has beneficial effects on the heart, recent observational studies indicate associations of insulin treatment with an increased risk of developing or worsening of pre-existing heart failure and higher mortality rates. However, there is actually little evidence that the associations of insulin administration with any adverse outcomes are causal. On the other hand, insulin clearly causes weight gain and may also cause serious episodes of hypoglycemia. Moreover, excess of insulin (hyperinsulinemia), as often seen with the use of injected insulin, seems to predispose to inflammation, hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Nevertheless, it should be stressed that most of the data concerning the effects of insulin on cardiac function derive from in vitro studies with isolated animal hearts. Therefore, the relevance of the findings of such studies for humans should be considered with caution. In the present review, we summarize the existing data about the potential positive and negative effects of insulin on the heart and attempt to answer the question whether any adverse effects of insulin or the consequences of hyperglycemia are more important and may provide a better explanation of the close association of DM with heart failure.

The Effects of Corporate Ownership on Public Accountants' Professionalism and Ethics

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Shafer ◽  
D. Jordan Lowe ◽  
Timothy J. Fogarty
Keyword(s):  
Current Trend ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Corporate Ownership ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Public Accounting ◽  
Corporate Acquisitions ◽  
Accounting Professionals ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
And Control ◽  
First Time

The current trend toward corporate acquisitions of CPA firms poses potential threats to the autonomy and ethical standards of public accounting professionals. This recent consolidation movement suggests that for the first time a significant number of public accounting professionals are subject to the supervision and control of nonprofessionals. In addition to acknowledging the potential threats to auditor independence and objectivity, this paper suggests that these new organizational arrangements for the provision of public accounting services have other negative effects on professionalism and ethics such as desensitizing CPAs to traditional professional values, and subverting professional institutions to the goals of corporate employers. This paper develops a framework that identifies several specific research questions related to the effects of corporate ownership on professionalism and ethics in public accounting.

scholarly journals Can Ultrasound Therapy Be an Environmental-Friendly Alternative to Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment?

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2715
Author(s):  
Rodica Ana Ungur ◽  
Viorela Mihaela Ciortea ◽  
Laszlo Irsay ◽  
Alina Deniza Ciubean ◽  
Bogdana Adriana Năsui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ultrasound Therapy ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Knee Oa ◽  
Environmental Friendly ◽  
Chemical Pollutants ◽  
Osteoarthritis Treatment ◽  
Inflammatory Drugs ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
And Function

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most used drugs in knee OA (osteoarthritis) treatment. Despite their efficiency in pain and inflammation alleviation, NSAIDs accumulate in the environment as chemical pollutants and have numerous genetic, morphologic, and functional negative effects on plants and animals. Ultrasound (US) therapy can improve pain, inflammation, and function in knee OA, without impact on environment, and with supplementary metabolic beneficial effects on cartilage compared to NSAIDs. These features recommend US therapy as alternative for NSAIDs use in knee OA treatment.

scholarly journals CeO2 Nanoparticle-Containing Polymers for Biomedical Applications: A Review

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 924
Author(s):  
Alexander B. Shcherbakov ◽  
Vladimir V. Reukov ◽  
Alexander V. Yakimansky ◽  
Elena L. Krasnopeeva ◽  
Olga S. Ivanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
Metal Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
Polymeric Materials ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
New Horizons ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Advanced Composite ◽  
Unique Material ◽  
Biomedical Polymers ◽  
Biomedical Potential

The development of advanced composite biomaterials combining the versatility and biodegradability of polymers and the unique characteristics of metal oxide nanoparticles unveils new horizons in emerging biomedical applications, including tissue regeneration, drug delivery and gene therapy, theranostics and medical imaging. Nanocrystalline cerium(IV) oxide, or nanoceria, stands out from a crowd of other metal oxides as being a truly unique material, showing great potential in biomedicine due to its low systemic toxicity and numerous beneficial effects on living systems. The combination of nanoceria with new generations of biomedical polymers, such as PolyHEMA (poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based hydrogels, electrospun nanofibrous polycaprolactone or natural-based chitosan or cellulose, helps to expand the prospective area of applications by facilitating their bioavailability and averting potential negative effects. This review describes recent advances in biomedical polymeric material practices, highlights up-to-the-minute cerium oxide nanoparticle applications, as well as polymer-nanoceria composites, and aims to address the question: how can nanoceria enhance the biomedical potential of modern polymeric materials?

scholarly journals The “Intrinsic Value” of Cultural Heritage as Driver for Circular Human-Centered Adaptive Reuse

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3231
Author(s):  
Luigi Fusco Girard ◽  
Marilena Vecco
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Investment Decision ◽  
Adaptive Reuse ◽  
Living Organism ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Model Concept ◽  
Investment Decision Making ◽  
Instrumental Values

By referring to the European Green Deal, this paper analyzes the “intrinsic value” of cultural heritage by investigating the human-centered adaptive reuse of this heritage. This implies questions such as how to improve the effectiveness of reuse, restoration, and valorization interventions on cultural heritage/landscapes and how to transform a cultural asset into a place, interpreted as a living ecosystem, to be managed as a living organism. The autopoietic characteristic of the eco-bio-systems, specifically focusing on the intrinsic versus instrumental values of cultural heritage ecosystem is discussed in detail. Specifically, the notion of complex social value is introduced to express the above integration. In ecology, the notion of intrinsic value (or “primary value”) relates to the recognition of a value that “pre-exists” any exploitation by human beings. The effectiveness of transforming a heritage asset into a living ecosystem is seen to follow from an integration of these two values. In this context, the paper provides an overview of the different applications of the business model concept in the circular economy, for a better investment decision-making and management in heritage adaptive reuse. Matera case is presented as an example of a cultural heritage ecosystem. To conclude, recommendations toward an integrated approach in managing the adaptive reuse of heritage ecosystem as a living organism are proposed.

scholarly journals Developing Pandemic Prevention and Control by ANP-QFD Approach: A Case Study on Urban Furniture Design in China Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2653
Author(s):  
Jing Liu ◽  
Khairul Manami Kamarudin ◽  
Yuqi Liu ◽  
Jinzhi Zou
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Analytic Network Process ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Furniture Design ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
And Control

Background: An infectious disease can affect human beings at an alarming speed in modern society, where Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a worldwide pandemic, posing grave threats to public security and the social economies. However, as one of the closest attachments of urban dwellers, urban furniture hardly contributes to pandemic prevention and control. Methods: Given this critical challenge, this article aims to propose a feasible solution to coping with pandemic situations through urban furniture design, using an integrated method of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) and Analytic Network Process (ANP). Eight communities in China are selected as the research sites, since people working and living in these places have successful experience preventing and containing pandemics. Results: Three user requirements (URs), namely, usability and easy access, sanitation, and health and emotional pleasure, are determined. Meanwhile, seven design requirements (DRs) are identified, including contact reduction, effective disinfection, good appearance, social and cultural symbols, ergonomics, smart system and technology and sustainability. The overall priorities of URs and DRs and their inner dependencies are subsequently determined through the ANP-QFD method, comprising the House of Quality (HQQ). According to the theoretical results, we propose five design strategies for pandemic prevention and control. Conclusion: It is demonstrated that the incorporated method of ANP-QFD has applicability and effectiveness in the conceptual product design process. This article can also provide a new perspective for pandemic prevention and control in densely populated communities in terms of product design and development.

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