1,069 research outputs found
The Relation between Bacterial and Heavy Metal Water Pollution and Blood Micronuclei as Biomarkers in the Tigris River Fish
The objective of this study is to evaluate the bacterial count and heavy metal concentration of river water on fish micronuclei. Fish and water samples are carried out in 1 May to 1 June 2013 from Tigris River. A total of fifty three fish sample are studied. The bacteriological quality of water showed that the total viable count is ranged from 150×103 to 352×103 cfu/ml and fecal coliform counts was 1250 cell/100ml during the study period. All the metals (Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) are within the normal limit, but Cd was slightly elevated in river water samples. The appearance of micronuclei in red blood cells of all fish species is detect , by recording a larger number of it, in ( Abu Alsomere , Hishne , Bannini Kaber al fam & Karkoor ahmar) species compared with (Abu AL hakam , Nabbash , Kattan , Himri & Tela shami ) species. There is a difference in the percentages of the leukocytes types in different fish species, the highest percentage (12.3) of lymphocyte is recorded in Barbus xanthopterus and the lowest (1.5) is in Garra ruf
The Validity, Generalizability and Feasibility of Summative Evaluation Methods in Visual Analytics
Many evaluation methods have been used to assess the usefulness of Visual
Analytics (VA) solutions. These methods stem from a variety of origins with
different assumptions and goals, which cause confusion about their proofing
capabilities. Moreover, the lack of discussion about the evaluation processes
may limit our potential to develop new evaluation methods specialized for VA.
In this paper, we present an analysis of evaluation methods that have been used
to summatively evaluate VA solutions. We provide a survey and taxonomy of the
evaluation methods that have appeared in the VAST literature in the past two
years. We then analyze these methods in terms of validity and generalizability
of their findings, as well as the feasibility of using them. We propose a new
metric called summative quality to compare evaluation methods according to
their ability to prove usefulness, and make recommendations for selecting
evaluation methods based on their summative quality in the VA domain.Comment: IEEE VIS (VAST) 201
Discrete-Element Modeling of Shear-Induced Particle Migration during Concrete Pipe Flow: Effect of Size Distribution and Concentration of Aggregate on Formation of Lubrication Layer
The Paper Seeks to Better Understand the Particulate Mechanics Giving Rise to the Lubrication Layer (LL) in Flows with Wide Particle-Size Distributions (PSD) Typical of Concrete Pumping Applications. the Study Uses a Soft-Sphere Discrete Element Method (DEM) to Simulate the Shear-Induced Particle Migration (SIPM) Mechanism of Formation of the LL. to Provide Realistic Understanding of SIPM and Rheological Heterogeneity of Concrete, Three Wide PSDs (Fine, Medium, and Coarse) and Three Different Concentrations (10 %–40 %) of Five Spherical-Particle Subclasses (1–17 Mm Diameter) Were Investigated. the Radial Evolution of Concentration and Particle Distribution Was Simulated over Time and the LL Formation Was Successfully Simulated. the Predicted LL Thicknesses Compared Well with Experimental Values. the Coupled Effect of PSD, Concentration, and Mean Diameter of Particles on Wall Effect, SIPM, and Rheological Heterogeneities Across the Pipe Was Evaluated. Higher Rheological Heterogeneity Across the Pipe Was Obtained for Higher Concentration and Coarser Particle Size Distributions
Minimal-memory realization of pearl-necklace encoders of general quantum convolutional codes
Quantum convolutional codes, like their classical counterparts, promise to
offer higher error correction performance than block codes of equivalent
encoding complexity, and are expected to find important applications in
reliable quantum communication where a continuous stream of qubits is
transmitted. Grassl and Roetteler devised an algorithm to encode a quantum
convolutional code with a "pearl-necklace encoder." Despite their theoretical
significance as a neat way of representing quantum convolutional codes, they
are not well-suited to practical realization. In fact, there is no
straightforward way to implement any given pearl-necklace structure. This paper
closes the gap between theoretical representation and practical implementation.
In our previous work, we presented an efficient algorithm for finding a
minimal-memory realization of a pearl-necklace encoder for
Calderbank-Shor-Steane (CSS) convolutional codes. This work extends our
previous work and presents an algorithm for turning a pearl-necklace encoder
for a general (non-CSS) quantum convolutional code into a realizable quantum
convolutional encoder. We show that a minimal-memory realization depends on the
commutativity relations between the gate strings in the pearl-necklace encoder.
We find a realization by means of a weighted graph which details the
non-commutative paths through the pearl-necklace. The weight of the longest
path in this graph is equal to the minimal amount of memory needed to implement
the encoder. The algorithm has a polynomial-time complexity in the number of
gate strings in the pearl-necklace encoder.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures; extends paper arXiv:1004.5179v
Assessment of Commonly Used Pesticides in the Ground Water of the Shallow Aquifer Systems in Jericho and Jeftlik areas/ Lower Jordan Valley, Occupied Palestinian Territories
One of the most important pollutants that may reach the groundwater through agricultural return flow combined with abuse and ignorance is pesticides. This study focuses on the examination of the concentration of three pesticides: Abamectin, Imidacloprid, and ß-Cyfluthrin, all of which have been used in large quantities in the Lower Jordan Valley (LJV) for the last three decades. Twenty five groundwater samples were collected from water boreholes where water is abstracted from two phreatic aquifer systems which are the Plio-Plistocene aquifer system in Jericho and Lower Al Jeftlik areas and the Eocene carbonate aquifer system in the Middle of Al Jeftlik. The depth of the boreholes in both aquifer system ranges between 80 and 120 m. Water samples were analyzed for Abamectin, Imidacloprid, and ß-Cyfluthrin using the HPLC-UV method. These samples represent two main agricultural locations (Jericho, and the Al Jeftlik). Of the 25 wells sampled, Abamectin was detected in 11 wells in concentrations ranging between 1.24 ppb and 81.71ppb. Imidacloprid was detected in 24 wells in concentrations ranging between 1.60ppb and 325.0ppb. Finally, ß-Cyfluthrin was detected in 7 wells in concentrations ranging between 1.10 and 24.46ppb. Aquifer lithology, groundwater flow directions, type of agricultural activity are major factors in controlling pesticide concentrations in groundwater. The highest values were measured where the aquifer consists of gravel and sand sediments, combined with intensive agricultural activities, followed by sand-silt aquifer. The lowest concentrations were found in boreholes where carbonate aquifer is the main source of water which indicates that other source of water flow into the system. The results of this study demonstrate that these pesticides are used heavily and in an improper way in the lower Jordan Valley, increasing the risk of adverse environmental and public health effects. Much attention should be given to addressing the potential problem of environmental and groundwater contamination by these pesticides.This study was funded through BARD-project /USDA
Investigation on the mechanisms govergning the robustness of self-compacting concrete at paste level
In spite of the many advantages, the use of self-compacting concrete
(SCC) is currently widely limited to application in precast factories and situations
in which external vibration would cause large difficulties. One of the main
limitations is the higher sensitivity to small variations in mix proportions, material
characteristics and procedures, also referred to as the lower robustness of SCC
compared to vibrated concrete. This paper investigates the mechanisms governing
the robustness at paste level. Phenomenological aspects are examined for a series
of paste mixtures varying in water film thickness and superplasticizer-to-powder
ratio. The impact of small variations in the water content on the early-age structural
buildup and the robustness of the paste rheology is investigated using rotational
and oscillating rheometry
Delivering sustainable water supply in fragile and conflict affected states: experiences from Syria
GOAL has been carrying out Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programming in Syria since 2013. This project is delivering clean water to over 450,000 people by utilising pre-existing water networks that had fallen into disrepair and lacked regular electricity supply for operation. This is delivered by pre-existing Water Unit structures that operate in a similar fashion to a typical water utility. The programme has completed necessary rehabilitation works and now focuses on how cost recovery mechanisms can be established to ensure the longer term sustainability and enable funding to move from O&M to further rehabilitation works. This paper shares a background on rehabilitation works to date, but focuses predominantly on recent cost recovery consultancy work from IMC Worldwide. Key lessons revolve around the ability to complete such complex work under remote work arrangements, developing suitable tariffs with uncertain information and how to best develop customer complaints mechanisms
Characteristics Study of Silicon Nanoparticles Produced by Physical Vapour Deposition
Abstract SiliconNanoparticles with thickness ranging between 40 to 50 nm and an average diameter of 80 nm were prepared by Physical Vapour Deposition (electron beam). The Nanoparticles showed blue and visible light emission from 300 A o to 900 A o , with peak intensity at 350-700 A o .Also AFM measurements were carried out and the regularity of silicon Nanoparticles was calculated and found to be equal to 0.3858 according to a quantitative hexagonal regularity calculation
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