scholarly journals The Mediterranean Coast of Andalusia (Spain): Medium-Term Evolution and Impacts of Coastal Structures

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Molina ◽  
Giorgio Anfuso ◽  
Giorgio Manno ◽  
F. Javier Gracia Prieto
Keyword(s):  
Software Evolution ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Coastal Structures ◽  
Coastal Evolution ◽  
River Deltas ◽  
Positive Balance ◽  
R Project ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High ◽  
Protection Structures

This paper shows coastal evolution along the Andalusia Region (Spain) and the impacts on it of coastal structures. The study area was divided into 47 units to calculate the erosion/accretion/stability (or evolution) rates by using the DSAS extension of ArcGIS software. Evolution rates were divided into different classes from “Very high accretion” to “Very high erosion”. As a result, 9 units recorded accretion, 19 stability and 19 erosion. Further, 17 units presented a positive balance and 28 units a negative one, showing a negative net balance of 29,738.4 m2/year corresponding to the loss of 1784.30 km2 of beach surface in the 1956–2016 period. The distribution of evolution areas along the studied coast was carried out by means of the “R” project for statistical computing. The analysis evidenced the impact of rigid structures: accretion was essentially observed up-drift of ports and groins and in correspondence of protection structures, especially of breakwaters. Erosion classes were observed down-drift of ports and groins and in correspondence of revetments/seawalls, and at largest river deltas, and “stability” was observed at pocket beaches and coastal areas locally stabilized by protection structures. Last, results were used to determine the distribution of swash- and drift-aligned coastal sectors and main direction of sedimentary transport.

scholarly journals Shoreline Evolution and Environmental Changes at the NW Area of the Gulf of Gela (Sicily, Italy)

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1034
Author(s):  
Laura Borzì ◽  
Giorgio Anfuso ◽  
Giorgio Manno ◽  
Salvatore Distefano ◽  
Salvatore Urso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Shoreline Change ◽  
Coastal Structures ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Change Analysis ◽  
Dune System ◽  
Coastal Evolution ◽  
Shoreline Evolution ◽  
The Impact

Coastal areas are among the most biologically productive, dynamic and valued ecosystems on Earth. They are subject to changes that greatly vary in scale, time and duration and to additional pressures resulting from anthropogenic activities. The aim of this work was to investigate the shoreline evolution and the main environmental changes of the coastal stretch between the towns of Licata and Gela (in the Gulf of Gela, Sicily, Italy). The methodology used in this work included the analysis of: (i) shoreline changes over the long- and medium-term periods (1955–2019 and 1989–2019, respectively), (ii) dune system fragmentation and (iii) the impact of coastal structures (harbours and breakwaters) on coastal evolution. The shoreline change analysis mainly showed a negative trend both over the long- and medium-term periods, with a maximum retreat of 3.87 m/year detected over the medium-term period down-drift of the Licata harbour. However, a few kilometres eastward from the harbour, significant accretion was registered where a set of breakwaters was emplaced. The Shoreline Change Envelope (SCE) showed that the main depositional phenomena occurred during the decade between 1955 and 1966, whereas progressive and constant erosion was observed between 1966 and 1989 in response to the increasing coastal armouring.

scholarly journals Do Prospective Teachers Care About PISA Studies? A Pilot Study among University Students in Germany

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Ioannidou ◽  
Despoina Georgiou ◽  
Andreas Obersteiner ◽  
Nilufer Deniz Bas ◽  
Christine Mieslinger
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
University Students ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
International Student ◽  
Teacher Education Program ◽  
Student Assessment ◽  
International Student Assessment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High ◽  
Expected Outcomes

The results of international comparison studies such as the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) have initiated intense discussions about educational reforms in Germany. Although in-service and pre-service teachers are an essential part of such reforms, little is known about their attitudes towards PISA studies. The present study aims to fill this gap through the investigation of pre-service teachers’ awareness, interest, perception, and attitudes towards PISA. A questionnaire was used to survey a sample of 107 university students who were participating in a teacher education program. The results reveal that 100% of the participants are aware of PISA. Nearly 69% of the participants think that the impact of PISA is rather high or very high, while 41% of them believe that PISA results are reliable. Accordingly, half of the participants seem to be interested in PISA results for their country. The present study discusses these findings in the light of the expected outcomes as proposed in standards for teacher education.

scholarly journals Marine current energy assessment and the hydrodynamic design of the hydrokinetic turbine for the Moroccan Mediterranean Coast

2021 ◽  
pp. 014459872098662
Author(s):  
Salma Hazim ◽  
Abdelouahab Salih ◽  
Mourad Taha Janan ◽  
Ahmed El Ouatouati ◽  
Abdellatif Ghennioui
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Blade Element Theory ◽  
Hydrokinetic Turbine ◽  
Marine Current ◽  
Current Resource ◽  
Suitable Area ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Current Energy

Generating electricity through renewable energies is growing increasingly to reduce the huge demand on electricity and the impact of fossil energies on the environment, the most common sources forms used are: the wind, the sun, the photovoltaic and the thermal, without forgetting hydropower by the bays of dams. Fortunately, 70% of our planet is covered by the seas and oceans, this area constitutes a huge potential for electricity production to be exploited. The scientific advances of recent years allow a better exploitation of these resources especially the marine current due to its reliability and predictability. The marine current energy is extracted using a hydrokinetic turbine (HKT) which transform the kinetic energy of water into an electrical energy. The exploitation of this resource needs in the first step the assessment of marine currents in the study area for implementing the HKT, and the second step is designing an adequate technology. The main goal of this study is the assessment of the marine current resource on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast to evaluate the suitable area to implement the HKT, and to determine the marine current speed intensities at different depths. As well as, to estimate an average potential existing in the site. Moreover, we will conduct a study based on the results of the assessment that was made to design a horizontal axis marine current turbine (HAMCT). Two hydrofoil profile were considered to design a HAMCT using the Blade Element Theory (BEM) and calculating their performances adapted to the site conditions Naca4415 and s8052. In addition, a comparison was made between this two HAMCT hydrofoil profile for deciding the best one for implementing in the studied area.

scholarly journals Innovative concepts for the usage of veneer-based hybrid materials in vehicle structures

2021 ◽  
pp. 146442072199839
Author(s):  
DB Heyner ◽  
G Piazza ◽  
E Beeh ◽  
G Seidel ◽  
HE Friedrich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steel Strip ◽  
High Energy ◽  
The Body ◽  
Vehicle Body ◽  
Material System ◽  
Laminated Veneer Lumber ◽  
Hybrid Beam ◽  
Bending Load ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High

A promising approach for the development of sustainable and resource-saving alternatives to conventional material solutions in vehicle structures is the use of renewable raw materials. One group of materials that has particular potential for this application is wood. The specific material properties of wood in the longitudinal fiber direction are comparable to typical construction materials such as steel or aluminum. Due to its comparatively low density, there is a very high lightweight construction potential especially for bending load cases. Structural components of the vehicle body are exposed to very high mechanical loads in the case of crash impact. Depending on the component under consideration, energy has to be absorbed and the structural integrity of the body has to be ensured in order to protect the occupants. The use of natural materials such as wood poses particular challenges for such applications. The material characteristics of wood are dispersed, and depend on environmental factors such as humidity. The aim of the following considerations was to develop a material system to ensure the functional reliability of the component. The test boundary conditions for validation also play a key role in this context. The potential of wood–steel hybrid design based on laminated veneer lumber and steel was investigated for use in a component subjected to crash loads such as the door impact beam. The chosen solution involves a separation of functions. A laminated veneer lumber-based beam was hybridized with a steel strip on the tension side. The steel strip was designed to compensate the comparatively low elongation at fracture of the wood and to ensure the integrity of the beam. The wooden component was designed for high energy absorption due to delamination and controlled failure during the impact, while maintaining the surface moment of inertia, i.e. the bending stiffness of the entire component. This approach was chosen to ensure the functional safety of the component, avoid sudden component failure and utilize the high potential of both materials. The tests carried out provided initial functional proof of the chosen solution. The hybridization achieved significantly higher deformations without sudden failure of the beam. In addition, bending capabilities were increased significantly compared to a beam without hybridization. In comparison with a state-of-the-art steel beam, the hybrid beam was not able to achieve the maximum deformation and the target weight of the hybrid beam. Further optimization of the hybrid beam is therefore necessary.

scholarly journals Addition of Flucytosine to Fluconazole for the Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Africa: A Multicountry Cost-effectiveness Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinevimbo Shiri ◽  
Angela Loyse ◽  
Lawrence Mwenge ◽  
Tao Chen ◽  
Shabir Lakhi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Cryptococcal Meningitis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Costing Analysis ◽  
Very High

Abstract Background Mortality from cryptococcal meningitis remains very high in Africa. In the Advancing Cryptococcal Meningitis Treatment for Africa (ACTA) trial, 2 weeks of fluconazole (FLU) plus flucytosine (5FC) was as effective and less costly than 2 weeks of amphotericin-based regimens. However, many African settings treat with FLU monotherapy, and the cost-effectiveness of adding 5FC to FLU is uncertain. Methods The effectiveness and costs of FLU+5FC were taken from ACTA, which included a costing analysis at the Zambian site. The effectiveness of FLU was derived from cohorts of consecutively enrolled patients, managed in respects other than drug therapy, as were participants in ACTA. FLU costs were derived from costs of FLU+5FC in ACTA, by subtracting 5FC drug and monitoring costs. The cost-effectiveness of FLU+5FC vs FLU alone was measured as the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). A probabilistic sensitivity analysis assessed uncertainties and a bivariate deterministic sensitivity analysis examined the impact of varying mortality and 5FC drug costs on the ICER. Results The mean costs per patient were US $847 (95% confidence interval [CI] $776–927) for FLU+5FC, and US $628 (95% CI $557–709) for FLU. The 10-week mortality rate was 35.1% (95% CI 28.9–41.7%) with FLU+5FC and 53.8% (95% CI 43.1–64.1%) with FLU. At the current 5FC price of US $1.30 per 500 mg tablet, the ICER of 5FC+FLU versus FLU alone was US $65 (95% CI $28–208) per life-year saved. Reducing the 5FC cost to between US $0.80 and US $0.40 per 500 mg resulted in an ICER between US $44 and US $28 per life-year saved. Conclusions The addition of 5FC to FLU is cost-effective for cryptococcal meningitis treatment in Africa and, if made available widely, could substantially reduce mortality rates among human immunodeficiency virus–infected persons in Africa.

VERY HIGH-ORDER SPATIALLY IMPLICIT SCHEMES FOR COMPUTATIONAL ACOUSTICS ON CURVILINEAR MESHES

2001 ◽  
Vol 09 (04) ◽  
pp. 1259-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
MIGUEL R. VISBAL ◽  
DATTA V. GAITONDE
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Radiation Condition ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
High Order ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
Decomposition Strategies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Spurious Modes ◽  
Very High ◽  
Computational Strategy

A high-order compact-differencing and filtering algorithm, coupled with the classical fourth-order Runge–Kutta scheme, is developed and implemented to simulate aeroacoustic phenomena on curvilinear geometries. Several issues pertinent to the use of such schemes are addressed. The impact of mesh stretching in the generation of high-frequency spurious modes is examined and the need for a discriminating higher-order filter procedure is established and resolved. The incorporation of these filtering techniques also permits a robust treatment of outflow radiation condition by taking advantage of energy transfer to high-frequencies caused by rapid mesh stretching. For conditions on the scatterer, higher-order one-sided filter treatments are shown to be superior in terms of accuracy and stability compared to standard explicit variations. Computations demonstrate that these algorithmic components are also crucial to the success of interface treatments created in multi-domain and domain-decomposition strategies. For three-dimensional computations, special metric relations are employed to assure the fidelity of the scheme in highly curvilinear meshes. A variety of problems, including several benchmark computations, demonstrate the success of the overall computational strategy.

Performance of Light Coastal Structures Under Normal and High Water Conditions

1975 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Kamphuis
Keyword(s):  
Lake Erie ◽  
High Water ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Coastal Protection ◽  
Coastal Structures ◽  
Water Conditions ◽  
Protection Structures

A number of lightweight coastal protection structures, built on the Lake Erie shore are discussed in this paper. There were two constraints on the design; limited funds and a very precarious downdrift beach. Thus the structures were inexpensive and the protection was low-key to prevent damage downdrift. In 1972–1974 these structures were subjected to a combination of large waves and high water levels and thus they were tested well beyond their design limits.The paper discusses the structures, their performance under normal conditions, and their performance during and after the abnormally high water levels. It is found that inexpensive, low-key structures are sufficiently strong to survive normal conditions, but fail by overtopping and flanking under conditions beyond their low design limits.

scholarly journals Spent UO2 TRISO coated particles – instant release fraction and microstructure evolution

2015 ◽  
Vol 103 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hildegard Curtius ◽  
Gabriele Kaiser ◽  
Norman Lieck ◽  
Murat Güngör ◽  
Martina Klinkenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microstructure Evolution ◽  
Spent Fuel ◽  
Coated Particles ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High

AbstractThe impact of burn-up on the instant release fraction (IRF) from spent fuel was studied using very high burn-up UO

scholarly journals Drought Vulnerability Indices in Mexico

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1671 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ortega-Gaucin ◽  
Jesús de la Cruz Bartolón ◽  
Heidy Castellano Bahena
Keyword(s):  
Social Economic ◽  
Necessary Conditions ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Social Programs ◽  
Drought Vulnerability ◽  
Public Programs ◽  
Analytic Procedure ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High

Drought is one of the most harmful hydro climatic threats to society. Mexico has been historically affected by recurring and long-lasting droughts that have severely impacted society and the economy. Consequently, public programs and policies have been developed in order to reduce the country’s vulnerability to drought, hence the importance of identifying the spatial distribution and the dimension—even in relative terms only—of vulnerability in different regions from social, economic, and environmental perspectives. This article presents a method for obtaining indices and maps of vulnerability to drought in Mexico; indices and maps are based on a set of socioeconomic and environmental indicators that the method combines using an objective analytic procedure that identifies the most vulnerable states and municipalities from social, economic, and environmental perspectives, all of which converge in overall vulnerability to drought. The results obtained indicate that 38.9% of total Mexican population inhabits municipalities with high and very high degrees of overall vulnerability to drought. For this reason, it is necessary to continue implementing actions and preventive and mitigation strategies via public policies and social programs aimed at decreasing the country’s vulnerability to the occurrence of drought events. This is the only way to facilitate the necessary conditions to reduce the impact of drought and to decrease people’s vulnerability to this phenomenon.

scholarly journals Influence of Technological Parameters of Furane Mixtures on Shrinkage Creation in Ductile Cast Iron Castings

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 1037-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Vasková ◽  
M. Hrubovčáková ◽  
J. Malik ◽  
Š. Eperješi
Keyword(s):  
Cast Iron ◽  
Ductile Iron ◽  
Ductile Cast Iron ◽  
Gating System ◽  
Technological Parameters ◽  
Iron Castings ◽  
Steel Castings ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Very High ◽  
Great Development

Abstract Ductile cast iron (GS) has noticed great development in last decades and its boom has no analogue in history humankind. Ductile iron has broaden the use of castings from cast iron into areas, which where exclusively domains for steel castings. Mainly by castings, which weight is very high, is the propensity to shrinkage creation even higher. Shrinkage creation influences mainly material, construction of casting, gating system and mould. Therefore, the main realized experiment was to ascertain the influence of technological parameters of furane mixture on shrinkage creation in castings from ductile iron. Together was poured 12 testing items in 3 moulds forto determine and compare the impact of various technological parameters forms the propensity for shrinkage in the casting of LGG.

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