Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Processes for Damage State Assessment of Arch Masonry Bridge

The present work proposes a fuzzy analytical hierarchy approach for decision making in the maintenance programming of masonry arch bridges. As a practical case, we propose to classify the degradation state of the Mohammadia masonry bridge. A large number of criteria and sub-criteria are combined to classify this type of bridges through visual inspections. The main criteria (level 1) considered in this work are the history of the bridge, the environmental conditions, the structural capacity and the professional involvement of the bridge. In addition, these criteria are subdivided into several sub-criteria (level 2) which are, in turn, subdivided into sub-criteria (level 3). Considering these criteria and sub-criteria, weights Wiare calculated by fuzzy geometric mean method of Buckley. Subsequently, expert scores were assigned to calculate the overall score CS reflecting the degradation of the considered infrastructure. Thereafter, the masonry arch bridges are classified respecting the French IQOA scoring system using the overall scores value CS. The proposed classification method gave similar results provided by an expert’s study realized previously as part of a national patrimony preservation policy. The obtained results are in good agreement, which makes this method an effective scientific tool for decision-making in view of prioritization of the maintenance after systematic inspection of masonry bridges such as the bridge studied in this work. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091770 Full Text: PDF

Improvement in the system of protective measures against diseases on pomegranate plantations in Azerbaijan

Приведены результаты исследований состояния гранатоводства в Азербайджане и представлен анализ мероприятий по защите граната от болезней. Отмечено, что в Азербайджане садоводство является одной из важнейших отраслей агропромышленного комплекса, которым занимаются коллективные и приусадебные хозяйства, что усложняет внедрение современных мероприятий. Подчеркивается, что несоблюдение системы защиты насаждений является причиной низкой урожайности и неудовлетворительного качества плодов. Отсутствие севооборотов, монокультура многолетних насаждений, нерегулярное проведение защитных мероприятий - главные причины развития и распространения вредных организмов, поражающих корневую систему, скелетные ветви, почки, побеги, цветки, листья и плоды. Исследования проводились в 2018-2020 гг. на насаждениях граната Гянджа-Казахской географической зоны расположенных в западной части Азербайджана - в Геранбойском, Шамкирском и Казахском районах. Метод обследования заключался в систематическом осмотре насаждений граната. Осмотру подвергали все надземные органы растений. Исследованиями установлено, что наиболее распространенным и вредоносным заболеванием граната является зитиозная плодовая гниль ( Zythia versoniana Sacc.). Акцентировано внимание на экологических аспектах защитных мероприятий в разрезе получения чистой продукции. Указано, что для успешной защиты насаждений граната необходимо организация мониторинга видового состава болезней отдельных природно-сельскохозяйственных районов, особенностей их развития. Показано, что фенологический календарь и прогнозирование цикличности развития возбудителей болезней позволяет точно устанавливать критические периоды и выбирать оптимальные сроки проведения защитных мероприятий. Доказано, что комплексная система защиты граната должна строиться на интеграции организационных, санитарно-профилактических, агротехнических, биологических и химических мероприятий, а главным преимуществом является экологическая безопасность и возможность получения более качественной продукции. The article shows the results of research on the state of pomegranate growing in Azerbaijan and presents an analysis of measures to protect pomegranate from diseases. It was noted that gardening is one of the most important sectors of the agro-industrial complex of Azerbaijan with collective and private farms engagement, which complicates the implementation of modern events. It has been substantiated that non-observance of the plant protection system is the reason for low yield and quality of fruits. Lack of crop rotations, monoculture of perennial plantations, irregular protective measures are the main reasons for progression and distribution of harmful organisms affecting the root system, skeletal branches, buds, shoots, flowers, leaves and fruits. The studies were carried out in 2018-2020 on pomegranate plantations of the Ganja-Kazakh geographical zone located in the western part of Azerbaijan - in the Goranboy, Shamkir and Kazakh districts. The survey method consisted in a systematic inspection of pomegranate plantations. All aboveground plant organs were examined. The research have shown that the most common and harmful disease of pomegranate is a zythia fruit rot (Zythia versoniana Sacc .). Attention is focused on the environmental aspects of protective measures in the context of obtaining clean products. It is indicated that for successful protection of pomegranate plantations, it is necessary to organize the monitoring of species composition of diseases of individual natural agricultural districts, characteristics of their current development. It is shown that phenological calendar and forecasting of cyclical development of pathogens allows to establish accurately the critical periods and to choose the optimal timing of fulfillment the protective measures. It has been proven that an integrated pomegranate protection system should be based on the integration of organizational, sanitary-preventive, agrotechnical, biological and chemical measures, and the main advantage is environmental safety and possibility to obtain products of better quality.

Co-Seismic Magnetic Field Perturbations Detected by Swarm Three-Satellite Constellation

The first 5.3 years of magnetic data from three Swarm satellites have been systematically analyzed, and possible co-seismic magnetic disturbances in the ionosphere were investigated just a few minutes after the occurrence of large earthquakes. We preferred to limit the investigation to a subset of earthquakes selected in function of depth and magnitude. After a systematic inspection of the available data around (in time and space) the seismic events, we found 12 Swarm satellite tracks with co-seismic disturbances possibly produced by ten earthquakes from Mw5.6 to Mw6.9. The distance of the satellite to the earthquake epicenter corresponds to the measured distance-time arrival of the disturbance from the surface to the ionosphere, confirming that the identified disturbances are most likely produced by the seismic events. Secondly, we found a good agreement with a model that combined a propagation of the disturbance to the F2 ionospheric layer with an acoustic gravity wave at a velocity of about (2.2 ± 0.3) km/s and a second faster phenomenon that transmits the disturbance from F2 layer to the Swarm satellite with a velocity of about (16 ± 3) km/s as an electromagnetic scattering propagation.

Checking Procedure of the Trieste (Italy) Subsea Pipeline by Transient Tests. Preliminary Results

The subsea transmission main (TM) of Trieste, Italy, plays a crucial role in the water supply system managed by AcegasApsAmga SpA (Hera Group). With the aim of implementing a systematic inspection procedure (at present divers are used for periodic surveys) AcegasApsAmga SpA decided to proceed with Transient Test-Based Techniques (TTBTs). In this paper, the results of preliminary transient tests generated by means of the existing devices (the first option to be considered within TTBTs) are discussed and possible alternatives are highlighted.

A Systematic Inspection into the Criteria of Lecturer Performance in Educational Domain

This paper is to survey researchers’ efforts in response to the most number of criteria of lecturers’ performance into various domains, connecting the research insights from the literature into a consistent taxonomy, and figuring out the gaps on this vital research area. The fundamental search is relating to 1) personnel evalaution especially lecturer; 2) education-related; 3) criteria and applications (methods). Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and IEEE Xplore are reliable sources that can cover education and technical literature. The final number of studies is 78. Five articles are reviews to characterize the evaluation criteria for specific specializations. An another group (73/78) is research articles that include diverse evaluation criteria and domains. Most domains covered criteria, such as knowledge, skills, experience, and qualification.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN TRICHINELLOSIS IN THE TERRITORY OF VOJVODINA IN THE PERIOD 2002-2011

Current data on the incidence of the disease and abundant research strongly indicate that Trichinellosis has been widely present throughout past few decades, and is endemic in some regions of Serbia. Unfavourable epidemiological situation is due to high prevalence of infection sources and inadequate control of home-processed meat and meat products. The aim of this article was to describe the features of recorded trichinellosis outbreaks in Vojvodina according to gender structure of patients, based on the records obtained from the Institute for Public Health of Vojvodina in Novi Sad. Analysis of the number of diseased and hospitalized patients from the territory of Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in the ten-year period (2002-2011) revealed a total number of 983 patients with trichinellosis. The highest incidence of the disease was recorded in 2005, when 277 people were diagnosed with trichinellosis. Unfavourable epidemiological situation was observed also in 2002, with 275 aff ected patients. It is to be emphasized that in 2002 and 2005 three lethal outcomes were recorded, as a direct consequence of intensive migration and abundant invasion of T.spiralis larvae. Th e lowest incidence of the disease was recorded in 2010, that is, only 10 diseased patients. Primary prevention implying appropriate animal husbandry is the crucial point for the disease control, while thorough and systematic inspection of meat of home-produced pigs, wild boars, horses and other animals that can be a potential source of infection. The major risk factor for the occurrence of the disease is consuming raw or undercooked meat that was not subjected to standard examination methods, i.e. examining the skeletal striated musculature from predilection sites by trichinoscopy or artifi cial digestion.