Recovering Heat Source from Fourth-Order Inverse Problems by Weighted Gradient Collocation

The weighted gradient reproducing kernel collocation method is introduced to recover the heat source described by Poisson’s equation. As it is commonly known that there is no unique solution to the inverse heat source problem, the weak solution based on a priori assumptions is considered herein. In view of the fourth-order partial differential equation (PDE) in the mathematical model, the high-order gradient reproducing kernel approximation is introduced to efficiently untangle the problem without calculating the high-order derivatives of reproducing kernel shape functions. The weights of the weighted collocation method for high-order inverse analysis are first determined. In the benchmark analysis, the unclear illustration in the literature is clarified, and the correct interpretation of numerical results is given particularly. Two mathematical formulations with four examples are provided to demonstrate the viability of the method, including the extreme cases of the limited accessible boundary.

Comparing the runoff decompositions of small testbed catchments: end-member mixing analysis against hydrological modelling

This study is focused on the comparison of catchment streamflow composition simulated with three well-known rainfall-runoff (RR) models (ECOMAG, HBV, SWAT) against hydrograph decomposition onto the principal constituents evaluated from End-Member Mixing Analysis (EMMA). There used the data provided by the short-term in-situ observations at two small mountain-taiga experimental catchments located in the south of Pacific Russia. All used RR models demonstrate that two neighboring small catchments disagree significantly in mutual dynamics of the runoff fractions due to geological and landscape structure differences. The geochemical analysis confirmed the differences in runoff generation processes at both studied catchments. The assessment of proximity of the runoff constituents to the hydrograph decomposition with the EMMA that makes a basis for the RR models benchmark analysis. We applied three data aggregation intervals (season, month and pentad) to find a reasonable data generalization period ensuring results clarity. In terms of runoff composition, the most conformable RR model to EMMA is found to be ECOMAG, HBV gets close to reflect specific runoff events well enough, SWAT gives distinctive behavior against other models. The study shows that along with using the standard efficiency criteria reflected proximity of simulated and modelling values of runoff, compliance with the EMMA results might give useful auxiliary information for hydrological modelling results validation.

Performance assessment of major European ports

In the recent literature, the strategic relevance of ports has improved, and this paper provides a comparative analysis of 24 European ports. The port performance has been evaluated considering data envelopment analysis and Shephard’s distance function. This latter approach offers an alternative method to address a significant restraint of the standard Stochastic Frontier when the model needs to consider multiple outputs. From a policy point of view, the conclusion could offer valuable insights to support policy measures targeted to expand port efficiency. The findings obtained from the analysis reveal that several contextual indicators must be included in benchmark analysis.

Learning Progression: How should we teach about disease to determine students’ level of understanding?

Strengthening Learning Progression (LP) for students' reasoning abilities is important, especially learning about diseases in Indonesia. This study aimed to map the learning progression of disease in Indonesia, compare and analyze its similarities and differences with the LP designed by National Reseaarch Council (NRC). This qualitative research to map LP, using the analysis documen method by comparing the content analysis of Basic Competencies of Curriculum 13 with benchmark analysis from the NRC 2007 on Science and Biology textbooks published in 2016, 2017, and 2018 at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels published by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia. The findings are the LP on disease in the curriculum and life science textbooks in Indonesia has not met the benchmarks, especially in three categories, namely; pathogens, the immune system, and infection spanning learning from K-2 (elementary) to K-12 (high school). Therefore, it is necessary to categorize LP topics in diseases based on conceptual abilities from the simplest to the most complex.