A GIS modelling approach to assess lake eutrophication

Large proportion of the world’s readily available water supply is at risk due to the rapidly increasing populations of certain types of harmful algae. During the photosynthesis, species like blue-green algae and cyanobacteria consume nutrients and produce toxins that have potential adverse effects to humans and animals. This thesis focuses on developing a GIS-based statistical approach to explore the water quality parameters facilitating the algae bloom, and to geographically map the extent and spread of these parameters to enable tracking and prediction of potential algae outbreaks. The relationship between Chlorophyll-a, which represents the concentration of algae biomass, and the water quality parameters such as depth, phosphorus, nitrogen, alkalinity, suspended solids, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and secchi depth is analyzed though correlation matrix then by utilizing modeling techniques including multiple linear, nonlinear regression, neural network and data mining prediction models are developed to quantify the contribution from essential water quality parameters to eutrophication. The developed GIS and statistical analysis approaches have been applied to the Lake Champlain. The performance for the developed statistical, neural network and data mining chlorophyll-a models has been examined through the comparison with the observed field data and through statistical error analysis. Two new techniques have been examined in this thesis study. First, data mining has helped to reveal the nonlinear behavior of algae growth in some parts of the case study area. Second, the GIS spatial analysis is employed to visualize the spread and extent of the water quality parameters and the algae chlorophyll-a, which graphically present the location-based impact of eutrophication on important lake water resources. For example, the analysis of the GIS-based impact maps suggests that the algae is affecting the Vermont section of Lake Champlain mainly the Northern and Southern section. The developed models suggest that algae production is affected by nutrients particularly phosphorus. When phosphorus is encountered at low to mild concentrations, the nutrient is linearly affecting algae production, however, at extreme concentrations of the nutrient the relationship between nutrient and algae production become nonlinear. The developed GIS model along with the statistical analysis applied on lake Champlain suggest that Extreme levels of Nitrogen in north and Chloride in the South caused deviations in the models prediction accurac

A GIS BASED MODELLING APPROACH TO ASSESS LAKE EUTROPHICATION

Large proportion of the world’s readily available water supply is at risk due to the rapidly increasing populations of certain types of harmful algae. During the photosynthesis, species like blue-green algae and cyanobacteria consume nutrients and produce toxins that have potential adverse effects to humans and animals. This thesis focuses on developing a GIS-based statistical approach to explore the water quality parameters facilitating the algae bloom, and to geographically map the extent and spread of these parameters to enable tracking and prediction of potential algae outbreaks. The relationship between Chlorophyll-a, which represents the concentration of algae biomass, and the water quality parameters such as depth, phosphorus, nitrogen, alkalinity, suspended solids, pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and secchi depth is analyzed though correlation matrix then by utilizing modeling techniques including multiple linear, nonlinear regression, neural network and data mining prediction models are developed to quantify the contribution from essential water quality parameters to eutrophication. The developed GIS and statistical analysis approaches have been applied to the Lake Champlain. The performance for the developed statistical, neural network and data mining chlorophyll-a models has been examined through the comparison with the observed field data and through statistical error analysis. Two new techniques have been examined in this thesis study. First, data mining has helped to reveal the nonlinear behavior of algae growth in some parts of the case study area. Second, the GIS spatial analysis is employed to visualize the spread and extent of the water quality parameters and the algae chlorophyll-a, which graphically present the location-based impact of eutrophication on important lake water resources. For example, the analysis of the GIS-based impact maps suggests that the algae is affecting the Vermont section of Lake Champlain mainly the Northern and Southern section. The developed models suggest that algae production is affected by nutrients particularly phosphorus. When phosphorus is encountered at low to mild concentrations, the nutrient is linearly affecting algae production, however, at extreme concentrations of the nutrient the relationship between nutrient and algae production become nonlinear. The developed GIS model along with the statistical analysis applied on lake Champlain suggest that Extreme levels of Nitrogen in north and Chloride in the South caused deviations in the models prediction accuracy

El papel de los medios de comunicación en la guerra civil siria

This study will show the mediatic change suffered by the Syrian civil war over these six years of conflict, reflected in the world¿s most influential media, from the western to the eastern, inlcuding social media and independent productions. Syria has been talked about these passed years by the local, national and international media, although it is visible that a total misinformation about the conflict is being broadcasted from the western media in comparison with the eastern media. This is something that this study will elaborate on, answering questions of why this is happening and what is their purpose.Este estudio mostrará el cambio mediático que ha sufrido la guerra civil siria a lo largo de estos 6 años de conflicto reflejado en los medios de comunicación internacionales más influyentes del planeta por una parte del bloque occidental y por otra el oriental, incidiendo también en la importancia de las redes sociales y los medios de comunicación independientes. Siria lleva más de seis años en boca de todo los medios, locales, nacionales e internacionales pero a pesar de todo esto existe una total desinformación del conflicto por parte del bloque mediático occidental comparado con el bloque mediático oriental algo que se tratará en este estudio y se verá la finalidad que tiene y el por qué.Al Bacha El Farra, L. (2017). El papel de los medios de comunicación en la guerra civil siria. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/89854TFG

Electron-impact broadening of the 3s-3p lines in low-Z Li-like ions

The collisional electron-impact line widths of the 3s-3p transitions in Li-like ions from B III to Ne VIII are calculated with the convergent close-coupling (CCC) method from the atomic collision theory. The elastic and inelastic contributions to the line broadening and their Z-scaling are discussed in detail, and comparisons with recent experimental and theoretical results are also presented. It is found that similar to our previous study of line broadening in Be-like ions, the difference between experimental and CCC results monotonically increases with the spectroscopic charge of an ion.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, 1 table. To be published in JQSR

Using GIS in Sustainable Urban Design in Developing Countries (Gaza Strip, Palestine as a Case study)

Gaza Strip -Palestine is one of most needy regions to apply sustainability concepts and sustainable planning, owing to its critical narrow area of nearly 365 KM2. In addition, overpopulation and the increasing depletion of limited natural resources are of major concerns. Moreover, the conventional urban planning has failed to solve the ecological and economic problems, and even sometimes aggravates them. This research aims to analyze one of the urban projects in Gaza Strip (Sheikh Zayed City), study their appropriateness and application of sustainability concepts by using the technology of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). In addition to recognize the most important criteria, fundamentals and standard indicators required for accomplishing the sustainable urban planning status of the Gaza Strip. Keywords: GIS, Urban Design Strategies, Sustainability, Gaza Stri

Performance and carcass traits of heifers Rubia Gallega x Nellore supplemented with chromium picolinate

The objective was to evaluate the productive performance and the carcass traits of Nellore (NEL) and Rubia Gallega x Nellore F1 (NRG) heifers, subjected to energy-protein supplementation with chromium picolinate (CrP). Sixty heifers (30 NEL and 30 NRG) with a mean initial adjusted body weight (BW) of 214.50 kg and mean age of 201 days were distributed into a completely randomized design, in a 2 x 2 factorial (2 genetic groups x 2 supplementation groups). The experimental period lasted 320 days. There was no interaction (p>0.05) between the genetic groups and the supplements. The addition of CrP to the supplement did not alter the performance and carcass characteristics evaluated (p>0.05). However, the NRG genetic group was better than the NEL in the performance characteristics as final live weight, mean daily gain and carcass yield as carcass yield, Muscularity (p≤0.05).The use of the Rubia Gallega genotype in crossbreeding provides an increase in production of heavier carcasses with lower fat percentages and higher yields when compared to the use of Nellore heifers.The objective was to evaluate the productive performance and the carcass traits of Nellore (NEL) and Rubia Gallega x Nellore F1 (NRG) heifers, subjected to energy-protein supplementation with chromium picolinate (CrP). Sixty heifers (30 NEL and 30 NRG) with a mean initial adjusted body weight (BW) of 214.50 kg and mean age of 201 days were distributed into a completely randomized design, in a 2 x 2 factorial (2 genetic groups x 2 supplementation groups). The experimental period lasted 320 days. There was no interaction (p>0.05) between the genetic groups and the supplements. The addition of CrP to the supplement did not alter the performance and carcass characteristics evaluated (p>0.05). However, the NRG genetic group was better than the NEL in the performance characteristics as final live weight, mean daily gain and carcass yield as carcass yield, Muscularity (p≤0.05).The use of the Rubia Gallega genotype in crossbreeding provides an increase in production of heavier carcasses with lower fat percentages and higher yields when compared to the use of Nellore heifers

Performance and carcass traits of heifers Rubia Gallega x Nellore supplemented with chromium picolinate

The objective was to evaluate the productive performance and the carcass traits of Nellore (NEL) and Rubia Gallega x Nellore F1 (NRG) heifers, subjected to energy-protein supplementation with chromium picolinate (CrP). Sixty heifers (30 NEL and 30 NRG) with a mean initial adjusted body weight (BW) of 214.50 kg and mean age of 201 days were distributed into a completely randomized design, in a 2 x 2 factorial (2 genetic groups x 2 supplementation groups). The experimental period lasted 320 days. There was no interaction (p>0.05) between the genetic groups and the supplements. The addition of CrP to the supplement did not alter the performance and carcass characteristics evaluated (p>0.05). However, the NRG genetic group was better than the NEL in the performance characteristics as final live weight, mean daily gain and carcass yield as carcass yield, Muscularity (p≤0.05).The use of the Rubia Gallega genotype in crossbreeding provides an increase in production of heavier carcasses with lower fat percentages and higher yields when compared to the use of Nellore heifers

Feedback stability for dissipative switched systems

© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier in co-operation with IFAC. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2017.08.843A method is proposed to infer Lyapunov and asymptotic stability properties for switching systems, under arbitrary continuous-state feedback. Continuous-time systems which are dissipative in the multiple-storage function sense are considered. A partition of the state space, induced by the cross-supply rates and the feedback function, is used to derive conditions for stability. It is argued that the conditions proposed here are more straightforward to check, when compared to those proposed by other approaches in the literature. Some numerical examples are offered to illustrate this point.Published versio