Water Availability Under Future Climate Change: A Study of Citarum River Basin, Indonesia

This study assessed the impact of climate change on future water availability in the Citarum river basin, Indonesia. Future climate was projected based on the output of HadCM3 GCM under A2 and B2 scenarios and downscaled using SDSM package application. The hydrological processes were modelled using WEAP application. The result suggested an increase of temperature as well as precipitation in the period of the 2020s, 2050s and 2080s. The water availability is projected to increase in the future.

Development of a window correlation matching method for improved radar rainfall estimation

International audienceThe present study develops a method called window correlation matching method (WCMM) to reduce collocation and timing errors in matching pairs of radar measured reflectivity, Ze, and gauge measured rainfall intensity, R, for improving the accuracy of the estimation of Ze?R relationships. This method was compared with the traditional matching method (TMM), the probability matching method (PMM) and the window probability matching method (WPMM). The calibrated relationship Ze=18.05 R1.45 obtained from 7×7 km of space window and both present and 5 min previous time of radar observation for time window (S77T5) produces the best results for radar rainfall estimates for orographic rain over the Mae Chaem Watershed in the north of Thailand. The comparison shows that the Ze?R relationship obtained from WCMM provide more accuracy in radar rainfall estimates as compared with the other three methods. The Ze?R relationships estimated using TMM and PMM provide large overestimation and underestimation, respectively, of mean areal rainfall whereas WPMM slightly underestimated the mean areal rainfall. Based on the overall results, it can be concluded that WCMM can reduce collocation and timing errors in Ze?R pairs matching and improve the estimation of Ze?R relationships for radar rainfall. WCMM is therefore a promising method for improved radar-measured rainfall, which is an important input for hydrological and environmental modeling and water resources management

An artificial neural network model for rainfall forecasting in Bangkok, Thailand

This paper presents a new approach using an Artificial Neural Network technique to improve rainfall forecast performance. A real world case study was set up in Bangkok; 4 years of hourly data from 75 rain gauge stations in the area were used to develop the ANN model. The developed ANN model is being applied for real time rainfall forecasting and flood management in Bangkok, Thailand. Aimed at providing forecasts in a near real time schedule, different network types were tested with different kinds of input information. Preliminary tests showed that a generalized feedforward ANN model using hyperbolic tangent transfer function achieved the best generalization of rainfall. Especially, the use of a combination of meteorological parameters (relative humidity, air pressure, wet bulb temperature and cloudiness), the rainfall at the point of forecasting and rainfall at the surrounding stations, as an input data, advanced ANN model to apply with continuous data containing rainy and non-rainy period, allowed model to issue forecast at any moment. Additionally, forecasts by ANN model were compared to the convenient approach namely simple persistent method. Results show that ANN forecasts have superiority over the ones obtained by the persistent model. Rainfall forecasts for Bangkok from 1 to 3 h ahead were highly satisfactory. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the most important input parameter besides rainfall itself is the wet bulb temperature in forecasting rainfall

Suitability assessment of designed functional clothing to mitigate occupational hazards during threshing

Not AvailableThe present paper is outcome of the research work under taken in All India Coordinated Research Project -Clothing and Textile (AICRP-CT) on mitigating occupational hazards. Here protective clothing and accessories were developed and field tested to assess the suitability among male and female farm workers. Two aprons and two masks for male farm workers and one apron and two mask for female farm workers were designed, developed and field tested during threshing to find out the suitability. The results of study revealed that developed functional clothing and accessories were found highly suitable by the male and female farm workers.Not Availabl

Stratification and Isotope Separation in CP Stars

We investigate the elemental and isotopic stratification in the atmospheres of selected chemically peculiar (CP) stars of the upper main sequence. Reconfiguration of the UVES spectrograph in 2004 has made it possible to examine all three lines of the Ca II infrared triplet. Much of the material analyzed was obtained in 2008. We support the claim of Ryabchikova, Kochukhov & Bagnulo (RKB) that the calcium isotopes have distinct stratification profiles for the stars 10 Aql, HR 1217, and HD 122970, with the heavy isotope concentrated toward the higher layers. Better observations are needed to learn the extent to which Ca-40 dominates in the deepest layers of all or most CP stars that show the presence of Ca-48. There is little evidence for Ca-40 in the spectra of some HgMn stars, and the infrared triplet in the magnetic star HD 101065 is well fit by pure Ca-48. In HR 5623 (HD 133792) and HD 217522 it is likely that the heavy isotope dominates, though models are possible where this is not the case. While elemental stratification is surely needed in many cases, we point out the importance of including adjustments in the assumed Teff and log(g) values, in attempts to model stratification. We recommend emphasis on profiles of the strongest lines, where the influence of stratification is most evident. Isotopic mixtures, involving the 4 stable calcium nuclides with masses between 40 and 48 are plausible, but are not emphasized.Comment: 16 Pages, 20 Figures, 10 Tables. Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the RA

An Atlas of K-line Spectra for Cool Magnetic CP Stars: The Wing-Nib Anomaly (WNA)

We present a short atlas illustrating the unusual Ca {\sc ii} K-line profiles in upper main sequence stars with anomalous abundances. Slopes of the profiles for 10 cool, magnetic chemically peculiar (CP) stars change abruptly at the very core, forming a deep "nib." The nibs show the same or nearly the same radial velocity as the other atomic lines. The near wings are generally more shallow than in normal stars. In three magnetic CP stars, the K-lines are too weak to show this shape, though the nibs themselves are arguably present. The Ca {\sc ii} H-lines also show deep nibs, but the profiles are complicated by the nearby, strong H$\epsilon$ absorption. The K-line structure is nearly unchanged with phase in $\beta$ CrB and $\alpha$ Cir. Calculations, including NLTE, show that other possibilities in addition to chemical stratification may yield nib-like cores.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, and 8 figures; accepted for publication in ApJ

Iatrogenic Bile Duct Injury Associated with Anomalies of the Right Hepatic Sectoral Ducts: A Misunderstood and Underappreciated Problem

Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been widely accepted as the standard of care, it continues to have a higher complication rate than open cholecystectomy. Bile duct injury with LC has often been attributed to surgical inexperience, but it is also clear that aberrant bile ducts are present in a significant number of patients who sustain biliary injuries during these procedures. We present three cases of right sectoral hepatic duct injuries which occurred during LC and provide a discussion of the conditions which are likely to lead to these injuries, as part of a strategy to prevent them

Focusing by blocking: repeatedly generating central density peaks in self-propelled particle systems by exploiting diffusive processes

Over the past few years the displacement statistics of self-propelled particles has been intensely studied, revealing their long-time diffusive behavior. Here, we demonstrate that a concerted combination of boundary conditions and switching on and off the self-propelling drive can generate and afterwards arbitrarily often restore a non-stationary centered peak in their spatial distribution. This corresponds to a partial reversibility of their statistical behavior, in opposition to the above-mentioned long-time diffusive nature. Interestingly, it is a diffusive process that mediates and makes possible this procedure. It should be straightforward to verify our predictions in a real experimental system.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

A prospective study to evaluate influence of maternal, obstetric and fetal risk factors on the outcome of asphyxiated neonates born intramurally and extramurally

Background: The present study was planned to determine the influence of maternal, obstetric and fetal risk factors on the outcome of intramurally (born at a tertiary care centre) and extramurally (born at a peripheral centre, home or a private facility) born asphyxiated neonates.Methods: It was an observational clinical research with a prospective design and was conducted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Paediatric Neurology Clinic attached to Department of Paediatrics and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr S N Medical College Jodhpur, Rajasthan. A total of 160 asphyxiated neonates (80 intramural and 80 extramural) were included in the study. A detailed antenatal and perinatal history with obstetrical interventions were recorded. The progress or deterioration in the clinical status of child was noted in hours. Outcome was evaluated in terms of survival, severest Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy (HIE) stage, time taken to reach non encephalopathic state, requirement of vasopressors and anticonvulsants, ventilator support, hemodynamic stability, time period to attain full enteral feeding, neurological examination at time of discharge and time taken for discharge.Results: Significant difference was observed in the antenatal and perinatal profile, perinatal management and resuscitation, postnatal management, morbidity, mortality and neurodevelopment outcome of extramurally delivered neonates in a peripheral health centre or at home as compared to intramurally delivered neonates in a tertiary institute.Conclusions: It is of paramount importance to have an early referral of asphyxiated neonates to a well equipped NICU using an appropriate well equipped transport unit/ chain so as to improve their outcome

Design of Multistep Aging Treatments of 2099 (C458) Al-Li Alloy

Multistep artificial aging treatments coupled with various natural aging times for aluminum lithium 2099 alloy (previously called C458) are discussed to obtain mechanical tensile properties in the T6 condition that match those in the T861 condition, having a yield strength in the range of 414-490 MPa (60-71 ksi), an ultimate strength in the range of 496-538 MPa (72-78 ksi), and 10-13% elongation. Yield and ultimate tensile strengths from 90-100% of the strength of the as-received material (in the T861 condition) were obtained. The highest tensile strengths were consistently obtained with two-step, low-to-high temperature artificial aging treatments consisting of a first step at 120 degrees C (248 degrees F) for 12-24 h followed by a second step between 165 and 180 degrees C (329-356 degrees F) for 48-100 h. These T6-type heat treatments produced average yield and ultimate strengths in the longitudinal direction in the range of 428-472 MPa (62.1-68.5 ksi) and 487-523 MPa (70.6-75.9 ksi), respectively, as well as lower yield strength anisotropy when compared with the as-received material in the T861 condition