scholarly journals Comparison of PM10 washout on urban and rural areas

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Olszowski

Abstract This paper reports the results of research into the effectiveness of scavenging of PM10, resulting from the occurrence of solid and liquid hydrometeors. The measurement campaign was undertaken over 7 years and involved the registration of PM10 in areas which have different aerosanitary conditions (i.e. urban and undeveloped rural area). The analysis involved 426 observations taken at constant time intervals of 0.5 hour. The measurements of the concentration of PM10 were performed by means of a reference method accompanied by concurrent registration of basic meteorological parameters. It was indicated that in a urban location, the intensity of the local emission sources is a principal factor influencing the value of mass concentration changes and the effectiveness of the dust scavenging that accompanies a given type of precipitation. It was also noted that for the same intensity of precipitation, only the deposition of convective rainfall and long-term large-scale precipitation do not lead to statistically relevant differences in the value of mass concentrations of dust for both areas. It was indicated that during solid and liquid frontal precipitation of light intensity (< 0.5 mm·h−1), the effectiveness of PM10 removing is less in rural area. It was statistically proven that continuous precipitation of constant intensity and duration exceeding 2 hours has a similar effect of purifying the ambient air in both locations. The study revealed that short-term solid precipitation provides better characteristics of scavenging of PM10 compared with classic rainfall

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 23-41
Author(s):  
Vasiliy Anikin ◽  
Ekaterina Slobodenyuk

This paper examines the determinants of in-work poverty and estimates the probability of falling into poverty for various groups of the Russian population in 1998 and 2018. Drawing from the representative RLMS HSE cross-sections, we showed that, despite a large-scale reduction in Russian poverty in 1998–2018, the ratio of structural and individual determinants did not change substantially. At the same time, the configuration of structural determinants has changed. In 2018, personal efforts became less crucial in reducing the likelihood of falling into poverty; the job characteristics and settlement inequalities have become eventually prominent. By 2018, women and rural residents were at the highest chance of poverty, although in 1998, men and a predominantly urban population were at risk. The long-term conservation of “bad” jobs in routine labour and the unequal distribution of the gains from de-industrialization between urban and rural areas over the past two decades are seen as the main explanations for the nature of Russian in-work poverty.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bohan Liu ◽  
Pan Liu ◽  
Lutao Dai ◽  
Yanlin Yang ◽  
Peng Xie ◽  
...  

AbstractThe pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is causing enormous loss of life globally. Prompt case identification is critical. The reference method is the real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) assay, whose limitations may curb its prompt large-scale application. COVID-19 manifests with chest computed tomography (CT) abnormalities, some even before the onset of symptoms. We tested the hypothesis that the application of deep learning (DL) to 3D CT images could help identify COVID-19 infections. Using data from 920 COVID-19 and 1,073 non-COVID-19 pneumonia patients, we developed a modified DenseNet-264 model, COVIDNet, to classify CT images to either class. When tested on an independent set of 233 COVID-19 and 289 non-COVID-19 pneumonia patients, COVIDNet achieved an accuracy rate of 94.3% and an area under the curve of 0.98. As of March 23, 2020, the COVIDNet system had been used 11,966 times with a sensitivity of 91.12% and a specificity of 88.50% in six hospitals with PCR confirmation. Application of DL to CT images may improve both efficiency and capacity of case detection and long-term surveillance.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsumasa Tanaka ◽  
Atsumu Ohmura ◽  
Doris Folini ◽  
Martin Wild ◽  
Nozomu Ohkawara

Abstract. Observations worldwide indicate secular trends of all-sky surface solar radiation on decadal time scale, termed global dimming and brightening. Accordingly, the observed surface radiation in Japan generally shows a strong decline till the end of the 1980s and then a recovery toward around 2000. Because a substantial number of measurement stations are located within or proximate to populated areas, one may speculate that the observed trends are strongly influenced by local air pollution and are thus not of large-scale significance. This hypothesis poses a serious question as to what regional extent the global dimming and brightening are significant: Are the global dimming and brightening truly global phenomena, or regional or even only local? Our study focused on 14 meteorological observatories that measured all-sky surface solar radiation, zenith transmittance, and maximum transmittance. On the basis of municipality population time series, historical land use maps, recent satellite images, and actual site visits, we concluded that eight stations had been significantly influenced by urbanization, with the remaining six stations being left pristine. Between the urban and rural areas, no marked differences were identified in the temporal trends of the aforementioned meteorological parameters. Our finding suggests that global dimming and brightening in Japan occurred on a large scale, independently of urbanization.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-37
Author(s):  
Kinga Nelken ◽  
Kamil Leziak

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to determine the contemporary differences in the inflow of global solar radiation in Warsaw (urban station) and Belsk (rural station). The meteorological data used comprised daily sums of global solar radiation (in MJ•m−2) and the duration of sunshine (in hours) for the period 2008 2014. On clear days in spring and summer, the rural area receives more solar radiation in comparison to the urban area, whereas in autumn a reverse relationship occurs. On cloudy days in all seasons, the rural area receives more solar radiation than the urban area, and the relationship is the strongest in winter. Differences between urban and rural areas on cloudy days are smaller than those observed on clear days.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-162
Author(s):  
Gopalakrishnan Tharani ◽  
Mohamed Sameem Roshan Akther ◽  
Nanthakumaran Ananthini

An attempt was made to assess the women contribution towards agriculture in Vavuniya district, Sri Lanka. 60 farm family households' women were randomly selected from rural and urban area of Kovilkulam AI region of Vavuniya district in Sri Lanka and the data were collected by constructed questionnaire. The objectives of this study are to identify the factors contributing women participation in agriculture, to identify the constraints faced by the women in participating agriculture and to evaluate the women participation in decision making activity in agriculture. Minitab 15 and MS excel were used for data analysis. The level of women participation in agricultural activities was found out using chi-square test and the factors contributing for women participation in agricultural activities were identified using multiple regression analysis in urban and rural areas separately (α=0.05). The results revealed that 90% of the rural women respondents and 50% of the urban respondents participated in the agricultural activities which is a significant difference. The mean values of women participation in agricultural activities in urban and rural areas were 77 hours and 836 hours per annum respectively. The multiple regression model for women participation in urban area found that the participation of women negatively correlated with status of employment, age and education level (p=0.000). In rural area, age and educational level were negatively influencing on women participation in agricultural activities (p=0.000). R-square values of fitted regression models were 72 % and 91% in urban and rural area respectively 72% and 91% variation in respective women participation were explained by these models. The obstacles for the women in participation in agricultural activities were reported as lack of knowledge and training in agriculture field, family burden, cultural and social barriers and physical constraints. 60% of women from rural areas and 90% of women from urban areas were involved in decision making especially in the selection of crops and varieties for planting and livestock rearing. Enhancing the awareness and the technical knowledge to the women in the field of agriculture would contribute to increase income from agriculture at household level, district level and finally at national level. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 3, Issue-3: 159-162


Environments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Jiří Bílek ◽  
Ondřej Bílek ◽  
Petr Maršolek ◽  
Pavel Buček

Sensor technology is attractive to the public due to its availability and ease of use. However, its usage raises numerous questions. The general trustworthiness of sensor data is widely discussed, especially with regard to accuracy, precision, and long-term signal stability. The VSB-Technical University of Ostrava has operated an air quality sensor network for more than two years, and its large sets of valid results can help in understanding the limitations of sensory measurement. Monitoring is focused on the concentrations of dust particles, NO2, and ozone to verify the impact of newly planted greenery on the reduction in air pollution. The sensor network currently covers an open field on the outskirts of Ostrava, between Liberty Ironworks and the nearby ISKO1650 monitoring station, where some of the worst air pollution levels in the Czech Republic are regularly measured. In the future, trees should be allowed to grow over the sensors, enabling assessment of the green barrier effect on air pollution. As expected, the service life of the sensors varies from 1 to 3 years; therefore, checks are necessary both prior to the measurement and regularly during operation, verifying output stability and overall performance. Results of the PMx sensory measurements correlated well with the reference method. Concentration values measured by NO2 sensors correlated poorly with the reference method, although timeline plots of concentration changes were in accordance. We suggest that a comparison of timelines should be used for air quality evaluations, rather than particular values. The results showed that the sensor measurements are not yet suitable to replace the reference methods, and dense sensor networks proved useful and robust tools for indicative air quality measurements (AQM).


2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 735-743
Author(s):  
Maja Grujicic ◽  
Jelena Jovicic-Bata ◽  
Slavica Radjen ◽  
Budimka Novakovic ◽  
Sandra Sipetic-Grujicic

Background/Aim. Motivated and job satisfied health professionals represent a basis of success of modern health institutions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there was a difference in work motivation and job satisfaction between health workers in urban and rural areas in the region of Central Serbia. Methods. The study included 396 health professionals from urban setting, and 436 from a rural area, employed in four randomly selected health facilities. An anonymous questionnaire was used for data gathering. Statistical analysis was performed using ?2, Student t-test, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and logistic regression analysis. Results. Urban health professionals were significantly more motivated and job satisfied than respondents from rural area. In relation to work motivation factors and job satisfaction of health professionals in urban and rural areas, there were no significant differences in working conditions and current equipment, and in terms of job satisfaction there were no significant differences in relation to income either. Conclusion. In order to increase the level of work motivation and job satisfaction of health workers in rural areas, apart from better income, they should get more assistance and support from their supervisors, and awards for good job performance; interpersonal relationships, promotion and advancement opportunities, managerial performance and cooperation at work should be improved; employment security should be provided, as well as more independence at work, with professional supervision of health workers.


2013 ◽  
pp. 438-460
Author(s):  
Zulkefli bin Ibrahim ◽  
Ainin Sulaiman ◽  
Tengku M. Faziharudean

Malaysia aims to be an information society by the year 2020 can only be achieved if the mass population, that include those who live in the rural area, has the access to use the ICT. This is due to the uneven distribution of the basic telecommunication infostructure between the urban and rural areas in Malaysia that left the rural area to be at the disadvantage to access the ICT. Meanwhile, there are many programs that have been implemented by the government to encourage the rural population to use the Internet, such as ‘Kedaikom’, a community based telecenter serving the rural population. A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate how ‘Kedaikom’ as a community based telecenter could assist in diffusing the usage of the ICT to the rural population. The result from the survey has indicated that the community telecenter could be used to bridge the digital divide between the underserved rural community and the well-accessed urban community. More of the rural population, especially from the younger generation and those with higher education background (irrespective of age) are using the community telecenter to be connected to the Internet.


Author(s):  
Morgan D. Vogel ◽  
Robert Blair ◽  
Jerome Deichert

Across the United States there is increased pressure for communities, especially in states like Nebraska, to engage in sustainable transportation infrastructure development. Through a case study of an ongoing statewide transportation initiative in nonmetropolitan Nebraska, this chapter examines transportation sustainability and planning from a regional and collaborative perspective. The Nebraska effort can be adapted to other states with significant rural and dispersed population centers. Funded by the state and the federal governments, Nebraska's transportation initiative, using an innovative public-private partnership, is creating and enhancing regional transit services in small urban and rural areas, using public transportation as a means to promote long-term economic growth and sustainability. Smaller urban and micropolitan communities, often serving as regional growth centers, frequently are overlooked when it comes to research on transportation planning and policy.


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