Modelling water-harvesting systems in the arid south of Tunisia using SWAT

In many arid countries, runoff water-harvesting systems support the livelihood of the rural population. Little is known, however, about the effect of these systems on the water balance components of arid watersheds. The objective of this study was to adapt and evaluate the GIS-based watershed model SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool) for simulating the main hydrologic processes in arid environments. The model was applied to the 270-km(2) watershed of wadi Koutine in southeast Tunisia, which receives about 200 mm annual rain. The main adjustment for adapting the model to this dry Mediterranean environment was the inclusion of water-harvesting systems, which capture and use surface runoff for crop production in upstream subbasins, and a modification of the crop growth processes. The adjusted version of the model was named SWAT-WH. Model evaluation was performed based on 38 runoff events recorded at the Koutine station between 1973 and 1985. The model predicted that the average annual watershed rainfall of the 12-year evaluation period (209 mm) was split into ET (72%), groundwater recharge (22%) and outflow (6%). The evaluation coefficients for calibration and validation were, respectively, R-2 (coefficient of determination) 0.77 and 0.44; E (Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient) 0.73 and 0.43; and MAE (Mean Absolute Error) 2.6 mm and 3.0 mm, indicating that the model could reproduce the observed events reasonably well. However, the runoff record was dominated by two extreme events, which had a strong effect on the evaluation criteria. Discrepancies remained mainly due to uncertainties in the observed daily rainfall and runoff data. Recommendations for future research include the installation of additional rainfall and runoff gauges with continuous data logging and the collection of more field data to represent the soils and land use. In addition, crop growth and yield monitoring is needed for a proper evaluation of crop production, to allow an economic assessment of the different water uses in the watershed

The impact of climate change on water and energy security

The interdependent fundamental systems, water and energy, face abundant challenges, one of which is climate change, which is expected to aggravate water and energy securities. The hydropower industry’s benefits have led to its development and growth around the world. Nonetheless, climate change is expected to disturb the future performance of hydropower plants. This study looks at the Seimareh Hydropower Plant to assess the potential vulnerability of hydropower plants to climate change. Results indicate that climate change will affect the area’s hydrological variables and suggest an increase in temperatures and decrease in precipitation during a 30-year future period (2040–2069). It is predicted that Seimareh Dam’s inflow will decrease by between 5.2% and 13.4% in the same period. These hydrological changes will affect the Seimareh plant’s performance: current predictions are that the total energy produced will decrease by between 8.4% and 16.3%. This research indicates the necessity of considering climate change impacts in designing and maintaining hydraulic structures to reach their optimal performance

Threshold criteria for incipient sediment motion on an inclined bedform in the presence of oscillating-grid turbulence

Here, we report laboratory experiments to investigate the threshold criteria for incipient sediment motion in the presence of oscillating-grid turbulence, with the bed slope inclined at angles between the horizontal and the repose limit for the sediment. A set of nine mono-disperse sediment types was used with size ranges normally associated with either the hydraulically-smooth or transitional regimes. Measurements of the (turbulent) fluid velocity field, in the region between the grid and bedform's surface, were obtained using two-dimensional particle imaging velocimetry. Statistical analysis of the velocity data showed that the turbulence had a anisotropic structure, due to the net transfer of energy from the normal to the tangential velocity components in the near-bed region, and that the fluctuations were dominant compared to the secondary mean flow. The sediment threshold criteria for horizontal bedforms were compared with, and found to be in good qualitative agreement with the standard Shields curve. For non-horizontal bedforms, the bed mobility was found to increase with increasing bed slope, and the threshold criteria were compared with previously-reported theoretical models, based on simple force-balance arguments

Total Quality Management Practices and Technology Transfer in Malaysian Public University

It is widely accepted that the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) as a management philosophy has significantly contributed to good management practice in business organization particularly in the manufacturing and service sectors. The applications of that concepts, techniques and tools have been successfully tailored to non-profit service or government-based organization. In the context of higher education institution, it has been seriously debated by the TQM scholars and academicians on the issue of to what extent TQM can be applied and how relevant its practices are to higher education\u27s core business i.e. teaching and research. Despite having sufficient knowledge and research on TQM implementation in the scope of manufacturing practices and administration-related services, it is hard to find a research on TQM, which focuses on the scope of R&D at a university. This gap has to be filled because the management of research is a critical topic for universities worldwide. For developing countries such as Malaysia the need to have good management practice in R&D is even greater. Without effective research management, the task of becoming significant players in the global knowledge market will become harder. Thus, the first part of this paper will discuss the applicability of TQM and propose a theoretical framework or model of TQM to suit the need of R&D context. The constructs for the TQM framework are based on previous empirical studies and the evaluation criteria of world standard criteria such as MBNQA, EFQM, and QMS ISO 9000. The TQM constructs that will be proposed are leadership, strategic planning, student/stakeholder & industry focus, data & information management, staff management, process & system approach, partnership & resource and continuous improvement. The second part of the paper will discuss the performance indicators of R&D activities particularly in the context of public university. The review of International literatures stressed that the performance of R&D activities have to be measured. The current issue related to research performance at university is the level the research output that can be transferred to the stakeholders. Therefore, this study will use technology transfer framework to measure research performance such as publication, patents, royalty and Spin-off Company. Finally, this paper will conceptually develop a model that would show the relationship between the TQM practices in the area of research and the level of technology transfer

Thickness-dependent thermal properties of amorphous insulating thin films measured by photoreflectance microscopy

In this work, we report on the measurement of the thermal conductivity of thin insulating films of SiO2 obtained by thermal oxidation, and Al2O3 grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD), both on Si wafers. We used photoreflectance microscopy to determine the thermal properties of the films as a function of thickness in the 2 nm to 1000 nm range. The effective thermal conductivity of the Al2O3 layer is shown to decrease with thickness down to 70% for the thinnest layers. The data were analyzed upon considering that the change in the effective thermal conductivity corresponds to an intrinsic thermal conductivity associated to an additional interfacial thermal resistance. The intrinsic conductivity and interfacial thermal resistance of SiO2 were found to be equal to 0.95 W/m·K and 5.1 × 10− 9 m2K/W respectively; those of Al2O3 were found to be 1.56 W/m·K and 4.3 × 10− 9 m2K/W

Assessment of food trade impacts on water, food, and land security in the MENA region

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has the largest water deficit in the world. It also has the least food self-sufficiency. Increasing food imports and decreasing domestic food production can contribute to water savings and hence to increased water security. However, increased domestic food production is a better way to achieve food security, even if irrigation demands an increase in accordance with projected climate changes. Accordingly, the trade-off between food security and the savings of water and land through food trade is considered to be a significant factor for resource management, especially in the MENA region. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the impact of food trade on food security and water–land savings in the MENA region. We concluded that the MENA region saved significant amounts of national water and land based on the import of four major crops, namely, barley, maize, rice, and wheat, within the period from 2000 to 2012, even if the food self-sufficiency is still at a low level. For example, Egypt imported 8.3&thinsp;million&thinsp;t&thinsp;yr−1 of wheat that led to 7.5&thinsp;billion&thinsp;m3 of irrigation water and 1.3&thinsp;million&thinsp;ha of land savings. In addition, we estimated the virtual water trade (VWT) that refers to the trade of water embedded in food products and analyzed the structure of VWT in the MENA region using degree and eigenvector centralities. The study revealed that the MENA region focused more on increasing the volume of virtual water imported during the period 2006–2012, yet little attention was paid to the expansion of connections with country exporters based on the VWT network analysis.</p

Hubungan Amalan Pergudangan Dengan Prestasi Organisasi Pergudangan : Pengenalan Kepada Kerangka Konsep

Pengurus pergudangan meletakkan harapan besar ke atas amalan-amalan yang diamalkan supaya ia dapat menghasilkan prestasi organisasi yang membanggakan. Kajian mengenai amalan pergudangan dan hubungannya dengan prestasi organisasi kurang diberikan tumpuan padahal permintaan ke atas sektor pergudangan adalah kedua tertinggi selepas pengangkutan dalam industri 3PLs. Oleh itu, kerangka konsep yang diperkenalkan ini sedikit sebanyak dapat membantu memperbanyakkan kajian dalam sektor pergudangan.Dengan menjadikan teori RBV sebagai asas untuk kepada pembangunan kerangka konsep mengenai hubungan amalan pergudangan dengan prestasi organisasi pergudangan amat bertepatan sekali kerana teori tersebut menyokong konsep hubungan sumber-sumber organisasi dengan prestasi. Sumber-sumber organisasi seperti sumber manusia, teknologi maklumat, material pengendalian dan jaringan telah dicadangkan dalam kerangka konsep untuk diuji bagi melihat hubungannya dengan prestasi organisasi. Kerangka konsep ini amat sesuai untuk diuji ke atas syarikat yang menjadikan perkhidmatan pergudangan sebagai teras perniagaan mereka.disebabkan survival perniagaan syarikat ini amat bergantung kepada amalan dan prestasi

Modeling Intake of Grazing Cows Fed Complementary Feeds

A model suitable for predicting intake for grazing or non-grazing dairy cows is presented. The model integrates the potentially intake limiting factors of physical fill, physiological energy demand, wet mass, herbage availability, herbage cover, and grazing time. Integration of these factors with a simple set of linear ration balancing constraints yields a model suitable for predicting supplemental feed requirements as well as potential animal production from a grazed land. The model is semi-theoretical, being descriptive in structure, but containing empirical relationships

Pemikiran marx tentang alienasi: sejarah, metode dan isi= iMarx\u27s Thinking of Alienation: History, Method and Contents

This work is an analysis on young Marx\u27s thinking, especially about the alienation (or estrangement) of Man. The main source of young Marx\u27s thinking used here is his Economic and Philosopohical Manuscripts of 1844 which was not published until 1920s and 1930s, and not translated into English until the late 1950slong after Marx had died. In the writing the alienation term is meant as the act, or the result of the act by somebody or something, through which, this, somebody or something, becoms (or has become) alien something, or somebody else. But, it sometimes also means as "the sort of distancing\u27 which is necessary for man (or somebody) from himself of from somebody else. So it is to signify "thrown out- feeling" of man from himself and his circumstances. There are three themes was developed in this study. It is its historical, methodological and substance aspects of that Marx\u27s thinking. All of themes are interrelated one and emphasize problem of alienation. The furthermore, in this analysis I make reinterpretation on that Marx\u27s thinking in recent context. Key Words:Alienation Neotnarxism -- Frankfurt School -- Proletariat -- Communis