Raising irrigation productivity and releasing water for intersectoral needs (RIPARWIN): RIPARWIN final technical report

River basinsHydrologyRiver basin managementRiver basin developmentDevelopment projectsWater allocationIrrigation waterProductivityIrrigation managementRiceTanzaniaGreat Ruaha River BasinUsangu River Basin

User-system cooperation in document annotation based on information extraction

The process of document annotation for the Semantic Web is complex and time consuming, as it requires a great deal of manual annotation. Information extraction from texts (IE) is a technology used by some very recent systems for reducing the burden of annotation. The integration of IE systems in annotation tools is quite a new development and there is still the necessity of thinking the impact of the IE system on the whole annotation process. In this paper we initially discuss a number of requirements for the use of IE as support for annotation. Then we present and discuss a model of interaction that addresses such issues and Melita, an annotation framework that implements a methodology for active annotation for the Semantic Web based on IE. Finally we present an experiment that quantifies the gain in using IE as support to human annotators.peer-reviewe

First full investigation of levels of microplastics on sandy beaches in Malta

This paper will report on the first full investigations on the level of occurrence and qualitative/quantitative profiles of microplastics, MP, (1-5mm) in a number of saudy beaches in Malta, (Central Mediterranean). Five popular beaches were investigated, including Ghadira Bay, Golden Bay, St. George's Bay, Ghajn Tuftieha Bay and Pretty Bay. Samples for all bays were collected in August 2015, while further detailed sampling was carried out for the last two bays in summer and in winter of2016. Sampling protocol was adopted from Galgani et aI., (2013). For all locations, samples were collected from strandline and then at 10m up shore at surface (top 5 cm). For Ghajn Tuffieha and Pretty Bay, samples were also collected from a 40cm depth. MP were extracted from sand through wet sieving, and then sorted and characterized according to size, colour, shape, and polymer type. Several parameters including degree of sea exposure and sand properties were reeorded. Full beach profiles for all locations are available. Identification of polymer type was carried out by means of qualitative density tests. In summer of 2015, the highest levels of MP were reported in Pretty Bay at 10.81 items/1000cm of wet sand with the lowest being in Ghajn Tuffieha, at 0.72 items/1000 cm. In general, levels ofMP in the dry season were found to be higher than those recorded in the wet season (winter), Higher MP concentration was recorded at 10 m up-shore as opposed to the strandline. Furthermore, surface sands comained a higher concentration of MP when compared with the subsurface sediments: though this was not was not the case at Pretty Bay in winter. These results are interpreted in terms of different beach profiles, beach dynamics, sand properties and potential sources of MP. The local level of occurrence of MP seems to be lower when compared to other European locations studied so far. The fact that in this study, MP below 1mm were not included in the data, as well as the lack of rivers in the Maltese isimlds, regular beach clean ups and other factors may explain this. Data on the characterisation of MP found are provided. For example, polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common polymers recorded at Gnajn Tuftleha Bay whereas polyethylene and paint fragments were the most common 'MP recorded at Pretty Bay, This investigation is a contribution to our knowledge of how levels of MP in sandy beaches may be affected by sand properties and dynamics, beach profiles and other factors.was no! the case at Pretty Bay in winter. These results are interpreted in terms of different beach profiles, beach dynamics, sand propel1ies and potential sources of MP. The local level of occurrence of MP seems to be lower when compared to other European locations studied so far. The fact that in this study, MP below Irnm were not included in the data, as well as the lack of rivers in the Maltese isimlds, regular beach clean ups and other factors may explain this. Data on the characterisation of MP found are provided. For example, polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common polymers recorded at Ghajn Tuftleha Bay whereas polyethylene and paint fragments were the most common 'MP recorded at Pretty Bay, This investigation is a contribution to our knowledge of how levels of MP in sandy beaches may be affected by sand properties and dynamics, beach profiles and other factors.peer-reviewe

Zion National Park Environment Assessment/ Assessment of Effect

This environmental assessment I assessment of effect examines in detail two alternatives: no action and the National Park Service preferred alternative. The preferred alternative considers rehabilitation of the roadway and associated structures on either side of Route 10 (Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway) tunnel. The road work would primarily occur on the east side of the tunnel in a 0.25-mile segment beginning at the east tunnel entrance. Modifications on the east side of the tunnel would include slurry sealing the road surface and scaling rock slopes on both sides of the road; re-configuring two parking areas; creating a painted center median with rumble strips; relocating the crosswalk from parking area 1 to the Canyon Overlook Trail; constructing a sidewalk from parking area 2 to the Canyon Overlook Trail; eliminating three informal pullouts, one of which would be reconfigured as a slow vehicle passing lane; establish erosion-control measures for the Pine Creek slot canyon access; and replacing and relocating the ranger kiosk. The area outside the west tunnel entrance would be modified by adding rumble strips to the existing painted center median, replacing the ranger kiosk. The proposed project would provide a safer traffic control situation for park rangers and visitors; provide visitors with safer access to the Canyon Overlook Trail; reduce the potential for rockfalls onto waiting vehicles and traffic control rangers on the east side of the tunnel; create better defined parking areas, and better defined areas within which park rangers can direct traffic; eliminate informal parking and the problems associated with traffic control for these areas; provide a slow vehicle passing lane; and minimize erosion on the Pine Creek slot canyon access. This action is needed because the east side of the tunnel is congested and traffic controls are difficult to maintain for vehicle, pedestrian, and ranger safety; informal parking areas allow vehicles to leave the road in areas not specifically designated for parking and create a safety risk; and rock slopes overhang portions of the road on the east side creating a potential for rockfalls and preventing the roadway from being widened to accommodate safety features such as a center median and a defined pedestrian sidewalk. The west side of the tunnel has a poorly defined median creating a safety risk and the potential for injury to rangers who stand in the middle of the road to direct traffic, and erosion occurring on the Pine Creek slot canyon access is creating an unstable hiking surface that allows sediment to enter into the creek below. The preferred alternative would have no or negligible impacts on air quality, water quality, floodplains, wetlands, wildlife, threatened and endangered plant species and plant species of special concern, archaeological resources, ethnographic resources, museum collections, Indian trust resources, prime and unique farmlands, ecologically critical areas, wild and scenic rivers, other unique natural areas, environmental justice, lightscapes, visual resources, transportation, and socioeconomics. The preferred alternative would have short-term, negligible, adverse impacts to vegetation, cultural landscapes, and park operations; short-term, negligible to minor, adverse impacts to health and safety; short-term, minor, adverse impacts to soils and historic structures; short-term, minor to moderate, adverse impacts to soundscapes; and short-term, moderate, adverse impacts to visitor experience. Long-term impacts would be minor and adverse for soundscapes, historic structures, and cultural landscapes. Beneficial impacts would occur to soils, vegetation, park operations, visitor experience, and health and safety. Anticipated impacts to the Mexican spotted owl would be short term, negligible, and adverse. There would be no long-term impacts to the Mexican spotted owl. There would be no short- or long-term impacts to the California condor

The AFIT ENgineer, Volume 4, Issue 4

In this issue: Data Analytics and Data Science Programs Faculty Retirements CSRA 10th Anniversary Distance Learning New Hypersonic Flight Certificate Progra