A Large-Scale Nature-Based Solution in Agriculture for Sustainable Water Management: The Lake Karla Case

This study demonstrates a new nature-based solution (NBS) project in agriculture, the ‘Karla’ reservoir in Central Greece, a unique example at European scale, of a lake ecosystem which was dried and is now restored with the purpose to maximize the efficiency of water provision in agriculture and biodiversity enhancement. In this article, we present: (a) The historical developments from the existence of the old natural Lake Karla until the reconstruction of the homonymous artificial reservoir, (b) the environmental and economic benefits that the new project delivers, and (c) the governance and management mechanisms that can ensure the efficient operation of the project. The analysis shows that the reconstructed Lake Karla can serve as a multi-purpose project to combat water scarcity, achieving a twofold crop yield production and respective agricultural income in the surrounding area, securing the coverage of the water supply needs of the closest city, improving the status of groundwater resources, developing a natural shelter for biodiversity and emerging recreation and touristic opportunities. At the same time, its construction and operation costs can be recovered, and the proposed governance plan can ensure the viability of the whole project inspiring similar multi-purpose water retention projects for investment in agriculture and the environment in southern Europe but also in other water scarce regions.

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Screening for the FV: Q506 Mutation – Evaluation of Thirteen Plasma-based Methods for their Diagnostic Efficacy in Comparison with DNA Analysis

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1655984 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 77 (03) ◽

pp. 436-439 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Armando Tripodi ◽

Barbara Negri ◽

Rogier M Bertina ◽

Pier Mannuccio Mannucci

Keyword(s):

Venous Thrombosis ◽

Large Scale ◽

Dna Analysis ◽

Genetic Defect ◽

Laboratory Diagnosis ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Factor V ◽

Factor X ◽

Diagnostic Efficacy ◽

Dna Test

SummaryThe factor V (FV) mutation Q506 that causes resistance to activated protein C (APC) is the genetic defect associated most frequently with venous thrombosis. The laboratory diagnosis can be made by DNA analysis or by clotting tests that measure the degree of prolongation of plasma clotting time upon addition of APC. Home-made and commercial methods are available but no comparative evaluation of their diagnostic efficacy has so far been reported. Eighty frozen coded plasma samples from carriers and non-carriers of the FV: Q506 mutation, diagnosed by DNA analysis, were sent to 8 experienced laboratories that were asked to analyze these samples in blind with their own APC resistance tests. The APTT methods were highly variable in their capacity to discriminate between carriers and non-carriers but this capacity increased dramatically when samples were diluted with FV-deficient plasma before analysis, bringing the sensitivity and specificity of these tests to 100%. The best discrimination was obtained with methods in which fibrin formation is triggered by the addition of activated factor X or Russell viper venom. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that some coagulation tests are able to distinguish carriers of the FV: Q506 mutation from non-carriers as well as the DNA test. They are inexpensive and easy to perform. Their use in large-scale clinical trials should be of help to determine the medical and economic benefits of screening healthy individuals for the mutation before they are exposed to such risk factors for venous thrombosis as surgery, pregnancy and oral contraceptives.

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Economic benefit of shale gas exploitation based on back propagation neural network

Journal of Intelligent & Fuzzy Systems ◽

10.3233/jifs-189279 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 39 (6) ◽

pp. 8823-8830

Author(s):

Jiafeng Li ◽

Hui Hu ◽

Xiang Li ◽

Qian Jin ◽

Tianhao Huang

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

Shale Gas ◽

Bp Neural Network ◽

Large Scale ◽

Linear Prediction ◽

Back Propagation ◽

Back Propagation Neural Network ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Gas Well ◽

Well Production

Under the influence of COVID-19, the economic benefits of shale gas development are greatly affected. With the large-scale development and utilization of shale gas in China, it is increasingly important to assess the economic impact of shale gas development. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for predicting the production of shale gas reservoirs, and uses back propagation (BP) neural network to nonlinearly fit reservoir reconstruction data to obtain shale gas well production forecasting models. Experiments show that compared with the traditional BP neural network, the proposed method can effectively improve the accuracy and stability of the prediction. There is a nonlinear correlation between reservoir reconstruction data and gas well production, which does not apply to traditional linear prediction methods

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Characteristics of Models of Farms in the European Union

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13094772 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 4772

Author(s):

Hanna Klikocka ◽

Aneta Zakrzewska ◽

Piotr Chojnacki

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Minimum Wage ◽

Large Scale ◽

The European Union ◽

Family Farms ◽

Agricultural Income ◽

Commercial Farms ◽

Standard Output ◽

Definition Of ◽

The Eu

The article describes and sets the definition of different farm models under the categories of being family, small, and large-scale commercial farms. The distinction was based on the structure of the workforce and the relationship between agricultural income and the minimum wage. Family farms were dominated by the farming family providing the labour and their income per capita exceeded the net minimum wage in the country. The larger commercial farms feature a predominance of hired labour. Based on surveys, it was found that in 2016 in the EU-28 there were 10,467,000 farms (EU-13—57.3%, EU-15—42.7%). They carried out agricultural activities on an area of 173,338,000 ha (EU-13—28.5%, EU-15—71.5%). Countries of the EU-28 generated a standard output (SO) amounting to EUR 364,118,827,100 (EU-13—17.2% and EU-15—82.8%). After the delimitation, it was shown that small farming (70.8%) was the predominant form of management in the European Union (EU-13—88.2% and EU-15—79.8%) compared to family farming (18.4%) (EU-13—10.5% and EU-15—29%). In most EU countries the largest share of land resources pertains to small farms (35.6%) and family farms (38.6%) (UAA—utilised agricultural area of farms).

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Solving the Real Power Limitations in the Dynamic Economic Dispatch of Large-Scale Thermal Power Units under the Effects of Valve-Point Loading and Ramp-Rate Limitations

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13031274 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 1274

Author(s):

Loau Al-Bahrani ◽

Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian ◽

Ben Horan ◽

Alex Stojcevski

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Thermal Power ◽

Optimization Technique ◽

Economic Dispatch ◽

Pso Algorithm ◽

Search Space ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Optimization Techniques ◽

Ramp Rate ◽

Dynamic Economic Dispatch

Few non-traditional optimization techniques are applied to the dynamic economic dispatch (DED) of large-scale thermal power units (TPUs), e.g., 1000 TPUs, that consider the effects of valve-point loading with ramp-rate limitations. This is a complicated multiple mode problem. In this investigation, a novel optimization technique, namely, a multi-gradient particle swarm optimization (MG-PSO) algorithm with two stages for exploring and exploiting the search space area, is employed as an optimization tool. The M particles (explorers) in the first stage are used to explore new neighborhoods, whereas the M particles (exploiters) in the second stage are used to exploit the best neighborhood. The M particles’ negative gradient variation in both stages causes the equilibrium between the global and local search space capabilities. This algorithm’s authentication is demonstrated on five medium-scale to very large-scale power systems. The MG-PSO algorithm effectively reduces the difficulty of handling the large-scale DED problem, and simulation results confirm this algorithm’s suitability for such a complicated multi-objective problem at varying fitness performance measures and consistency. This algorithm is also applied to estimate the required generation in 24 h to meet load demand changes. This investigation provides useful technical references for economic dispatch operators to update their power system programs in order to achieve economic benefits.

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Water Productivity; a Sustainable Pathway to Agricultural Extensification and Climate Adaptation?

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-11026 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Amali A. Amali ◽

Muhammad Khalifa ◽

Lars Ribbe

Keyword(s):

Water Use ◽

Water Consumption ◽

Developing Economies ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Water Productivity ◽

Potential Contribution ◽

Local Livelihoods ◽

Water Scarce ◽

Agricultural Extensification ◽

Azraq Basin

<p>Water Productivity (WP), a pointer to crop performance vis-&#224;-vis consumptive water use, has fevered debates around agricultural water use, away from scheme-based efficiency to field-scale productive value of water, that can be optimised in localities of increasing absolute and relative scarcity. Research on WP sprung from such debates to become a growth industry, that measures irrigation inefficiencies, poised towards developing economies and &#8220;low&#8221; value uses of water, to justify its reallocation across sectors, sometimes away from agriculture. While water allocation decisions increasingly prioritise sectoral productivity of freshwater resources, burgeoning food security measures to water scarcity adaptation is shifting management decisions from the purview of scheme managers to individual farming units, underscoring the need to parallel WP initiatives with the resilience of local livelihoods. In this study, we analyse the potential contribution of WP as an agricultural extensification mechanism for a water-scarce irrigated region. The Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL), is used to estimate evapotranspiration as a proxy for irrigated water consumption. An automated derivative, the pySEBAL model, is used to compute crop biomass combined with satellite-based evapotranspiration to estimate WP across 1680 heterogeneous groundwater irrigated fields in the eastern Azraq basin of Jordan. WP gap was hereafter estimated as the difference between the current field WP, to a selected productivity range, attainable within infrastructural and agroclimatic limits. By investigating the possibility of closing WP gaps, we show that a careful selection of WP thresholds to benchmark localised irrigated water consumption offers the potential to reduce seasonal irrigation water use within a range of 18 to 29% of the current consumption, without adversely affecting crop yield and related livelihoods. Such range (5 &#8211; 9 MCM[&#8224;]) for a water-scarce Azraq basin, offers substantial relief to groundwater resources, related ecosystems, and long-term catchment sustainability. We additionally demonstrate that this provides a window for agricultural extensification by leveraging farm management practices across irrigated fields. We finally propose entrepreneurial and capacity building opportunities from analysing dynamics in farmers' individual water use behaviour. WP, as a useful indicator for water reallocation under water-scarce conditions, would need to consider equitable utilisation of water resources and the resilience of local livelihoods.</p><div><br><div> <p>[&#8224;] Million Cubic Meters</p> </div> </div>

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Modeling of a large-scale wastewater treatment plant for efficient operation

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2004.0433 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 50 (7) ◽

pp. 123-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

C.F. Gokcay ◽

G. Sin

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Dynamic Simulation ◽

Large Scale ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Quality Standards ◽

Western World ◽

Efficient Operation ◽

Effluent Quality ◽

Conventional Activated Sludge ◽

Physical Chemical

Environmental legislations in the Western world impose stringent effluent quality standards for ultimate protection of the environment. This is also observed in Turkey. The current paper presents efforts made to simulate an existing 0.77 million m3/day conventional activated sludge plant located at Ankara, AWTP. The ASM1 model was used for simulation in this study. The model contains numerous stoichiometric and kinetic parameters, some of which need to be determined on case by case bases. The easily degradable COD (SS) was determined by two methods, physical-chemical and respirometric methods, namely. The latter method was deemed unreliable and rejected in the further study. Dynamic simulation with SSSP program predicted effluent COD and MLSS values successfully while overestimating OUR. A complete fit could only be obtained by introducing a dimensionless correction factor (ηO2 = 0.58) to the oxygen term in ASM1.

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Land conflicts and social differentiation in eastern Uganda

The Journal of Modern African Studies ◽

10.1017/s0022278x1700026x ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 395-422 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Matt Kandel

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Local Level ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Social Differentiation ◽

Land Conflicts ◽

Current Period ◽

Post Conflict ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Historical Developments ◽

Eastern Uganda

ABSTRACTRising competition and conflict over land in rural sub-Saharan Africa continues to attract the attention of researchers. Recent work has especially focused on land governance, post-conflict restructuring of tenure relations, and large-scale land acquisitions. A less researched topic as of late, though one deserving of greater consideration, pertains to how social differentiation on the local-level shapes relations to land, and how these processes are rooted in specific historical developments. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Teso sub-region of eastern Uganda, this paper analyses three specific land conflicts and situates them within a broad historical trajectory. I show how each dispute illuminates changes in class relations in Teso since the early 1990s. I argue that this current period of socioeconomic transformation, which includes the formation of a more clearly defined sub-regional middle class and elite, constitutes the most prominent period of social differentiation in Teso since the early 20th century.

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Performance and Benefit Analysis of Mining Accumulator Locomotive AC Speed System Based on DTC

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.328-330.1846 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 328-330 ◽

pp. 1846-1850

Author(s):

Xi Zhang ◽

Jie Yang ◽

Wen Chao Chen ◽

Qi Zhou Huang

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Asynchronous Motor ◽

Speed Control ◽

Fast Response ◽

Efficient Operation ◽

Ac Drive ◽

Key Factor ◽

Large Scale Integration ◽

Overload Capacity ◽

Scale Integration

The traditional mine accumulator locomotive usually takes the DC motor for its power source. And the series-wound resistance method is usually used in its speed control. With the development of power electronics technology, the AC drive system based on power electronic converters can be realized. Especially after the realization of large-scale integration and compmer controling, the performance of AC variale speed has been improved a lot. In operation, the mine accumulator locomotive not only works in frequent starting, breaking, accelerating and decelerating conditions, but also has to adapt to the bad pavement. The AC asynchronous motor has simple stmcture, sturdy and durable, and it could save power by notusing resistance when it was used in speed control. With this characteristics, the AC speed control system has the feature of fast response and high overload capacity. The AC speed system is the key factor for efficient operation of mining accumulator locomotive. Compared with the traditional DC speed system, the principle of DTC is introduced in this paper. And the advantage of operating performance and economic benefit of mining accumulator locomotive with AC speed system based on DTC is analyzed from practical application.

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Cloud Update of Tiled Evidential Occupancy Grid Maps for the Multi-Vehicle Mapping

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s18124119 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (12) ◽

pp. 4119 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kichun Jo ◽

Sungjin Cho ◽

Chansoo Kim ◽

Paulo Resende ◽

Benazouz Bradai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Cloud Service ◽

Mobile Internet ◽

Intelligent Vehicles ◽

Motion Sensors ◽

Efficient Operation ◽

Occupancy Grid ◽

Occupancy Grid Maps ◽

Sensor Information ◽

Evidential Theory

Nowadays, many intelligent vehicles are equipped with various sensors to recognize their surrounding environment and to measure the motion or position of the vehicle. In addition, the number of intelligent vehicles equipped with a mobile Internet modem is increasing. Based on the sensors and Internet connection, the intelligent vehicles are able to share the sensor information with other vehicles via a cloud service. The sensor information sharing via the cloud service promises to improve the safe and efficient operation of the multiple intelligent vehicles. This paper presents a cloud update framework of occupancy grid maps for multiple intelligent vehicles in a large-scale environment. An evidential theory is applied to create the occupancy grid maps to address sensor disturbance such as measurement noise, occlusion and dynamic objects. Multiple vehicles equipped with LiDARs, motion sensors, and a low-cost GPS receiver create the evidential occupancy grid map (EOGM) for their passing trajectory based on GraphSLAM. A geodetic quad-tree tile system is applied to manage the EOGM, which provides a common tiling format to cover the large-scale environment. The created EOGM tiles are uploaded to EOGM cloud and merged with old EOGM tiles in the cloud using Dempster combination of evidential theory. Experiments were performed to evaluate the multiple EOGM mapping and the cloud update framework for large-scale road environment.

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The use of groundwater crustacean communities as indicators for aquifers quality in the semi-arid region of north-central Chile

ARPHA Conference Abstracts ◽

10.3897/aca.1.e30126 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

Author(s):

Sanda Iepure ◽

Nicolas Gouin ◽

Angeline Bertin ◽

Ana Camacho ◽

Antonio González-Ramón ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Groundwater Resources ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Nutrient Loads ◽

Groundwater Temperature ◽

Groundwater Levels ◽

Water Abstraction ◽

Over Exploitation ◽

The Impact ◽

Semi Arid

Chile has large extensions of arid and semi-arid regions throughout the whole country, where the intensive demands and use of water resources, especially groundwater for irrigations and mining activities, increased dramatically over the last decades. The aquifer depletions due to water abstraction for irrigation and nutrient loads, exert major alterations of water quality, groundwater recharge and the natural renewal rate. All these factors diminish the aquifer value for the users and contribute to the degradation of groundwater as environment and habitat for fauna. This intensive use of groundwater resources in Chile brought to significant social and economic benefits, but their inadequate management resulted in negative environmental, legal and socioeconomic consequences. In this study, we aimed at providing a first assessment of environmental alterations of groundwater ecosystems from agricultural watersheds in northern Chile by specifically evaluating the effects of nitrogen and pesticide loads on groundwater communities and identifing the ecosystem service alterations due to agricultural activities. The study has been performed in a glacial aquifer from Coquimbo region; 250 km north of Santiago de Chile, the floodplain of which is dominated by agriculture (fruits tress, vineyards). Due to low regional precipitations (100-240 mm/year) the aquifer is primarily recharged by snowmelt from the Andean chain and surface runoff. The relative groundwater levels, groundwater temperature, chemical analysis of nitrogen and total phosphorus and pesticide concentrations were examined, along with the evaluation of crustacean biodiversity and spatial distribution pattern. Stygofauna taxonomic richness and the presence of stygobites have been related more to groundwater level stability than to chemical water parameters indicating that over-exploitation has a negative impact on habitat suitability for groundwater invertebrates. Groundwater biota assessment is essential in understanding the impact produced by agriculture activities on groundwater as a resource and as ecosystem, a nexus that becomes more and more widely recognized. The rationale and the preliminary results of this study are summarized in the Suppl. material 1.

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