Being present: is it the most important communication skill?

The COVID-19 pandemic has made people rely on the presence of the internet to run their business. Businesses, schools, retail, religious gatherings, and other components are all required to use an internet platform in some way. People can meet face-to-face and the feature of the contact is reinforced by both verbal and non-verbal communication prior to the viral eruption, making conversation much easier. The goal of this study is to emphasize the importance of being present during the COVID-19 Pandemic as well as the future projection of presence post-pandemic. Being present, as before the pandemic, comes effortlessly without conscious reflection because the interaction takes place offline without any restrictions. The result from this research that being present is the most crucial communication skill; it is the foundation of communication and can aid in more effective engagement on all levels (perception, comprehension, reasoning, memory, and production).

Future Projection of Drought Vulnerability over Northeast Provinces of Iran during 2021–2100

Future projection of drought vulnerability is vital for northern provinces of Iran, including North Khorasan, Khorasan-Razavi, and South Khorasan, due to the highly dependent of their economy on agriculture. The study is motivated by the fact that no research has been conducted to project the future Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). DVI consist of three components of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptation capacity. More exposure levels of drought, higher sensitivity value, and lower adaptation capacity lead to a higher amount of vulnerability. Combined ERA-Interim-observation meteorological data, CMIP5 models under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, and national census data are used to estimate DVI in the past and future periods. CanESM2, GFDL-ESM2M, and CNRM-CM5 General Circulation Model (GCM) are selected from CMIP5 based on Taylor diagram results. The delta-change technique was selected for statistical downscaling of GCM outputs because it is most widely used. The study period is regarded as 1986–2005 as observation and four future 20-years periods during 2021–2100. Results indicated that the dissipation of the class of “very low” vulnerability is eminent in the near future period of 2021–2040 under the RCP4.5 scenario, and all provinces would experience a new worse class of “very high” vulnerability at 2081–2100, both under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios.

Tangible Remains

<p>This design led research advocates for an architecture indicative of the preceding history; that engages in an active dialogue with the site. Developed through shifting scales and media, the thesis investigates how architecture can give expression to the singularities of site. The milieu of erasures and the enduring traces are drawn to the surface and manifested across three design phases: 1 Chinese Garden, present condition; 2 Art School, past reflection; 3 Artist Colony, future projection. Through a process of editing, fragments are extended and retracted between the phases as more intense programs are introduced. The final design outcome is the result of an additive design methodology, developed across the course of the thesis. The design methodology is a model for combining sites in contemporary urban development; a model for co-existence of past and present into the future.</p>

Tangible Remains

<p>This design led research advocates for an architecture indicative of the preceding history; that engages in an active dialogue with the site. Developed through shifting scales and media, the thesis investigates how architecture can give expression to the singularities of site. The milieu of erasures and the enduring traces are drawn to the surface and manifested across three design phases: 1 Chinese Garden, present condition; 2 Art School, past reflection; 3 Artist Colony, future projection. Through a process of editing, fragments are extended and retracted between the phases as more intense programs are introduced. The final design outcome is the result of an additive design methodology, developed across the course of the thesis. The design methodology is a model for combining sites in contemporary urban development; a model for co-existence of past and present into the future.</p>

Hydrological Modelling of the Mono River Basin at Athiémé

The objective of this study is to model the Mono River basin at Athiémé using stochastic approach for a better knowledge of the hydrological functioning of the basin. Data used in this study consist of observed precipitation and temperature data over the period 1961–2012 and future projection data from two regional climate models (HIRHAM5 and REMO) over the period 2016–2100. Simulation of the river discharge was made using ModHyPMA, GR4J, HBV, AWBM models and uncertainties analysis were performed by a stochastic approach. Results showed that the different rainfall-runoff models used reproduce well the observed hydrographs. However, the multi-modelling approach has improved the performance of the individual models. The Hermite orthogonal polynomials of order 4 are well suited for the prediction of flood flows in this basin. This stochastic modeling approach allowed us to deduce that extreme events would therefore increase in the middle of the century under RCP8.5 scenario and towards the end of the century under RCP4.5 scenario.