The adsorption of Mn2＋ onto immobilized Mn-oxide and Fe-oxide adsorbent such as manganese oxide-coated sand 1 （MOCS1）, manganese oxide-coated sand2 （MOCS2）, iron oxide-coated sand2 （IOCS2）, and manganese and ir...The adsorption of Mn2＋ onto immobilized Mn-oxide and Fe-oxide adsorbent such as manganese oxide-coated sand 1 （MOCS1）, manganese oxide-coated sand2 （MOCS2）, iron oxide-coated sand2 （IOCS2）, and manganese and iron oxide-coated sand （MIOCS）was investigated. The effects of pH （5.5 to 8.0） and temperature （25 to45°C） on the equilibrium capacitywere examined. Equilibrium studies showed that there is a good fitwith both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm,which indicates surface heterogeneity and monolayer adsorption of the adsorbents. Kineticdata showed high correlationwith the pseudo second-order model,which signifies a chemisorption-controlled mechanism. The activation energies, activation parameters （ΔG＊,ΔH＊,ΔS＊）, and thermodynamic parameters （ΔG0 , ΔH0 , ΔS0 ） confirmed that adsorptionwith MIOCSwas endothermic and more spontaneous at higher temperaturewhile an opposite trendwas observed for the other adsorbents. Thermodynamic studies showed that adsorption involved formation of activated complex,where MOCS1 and MIOCS follow a physical-chemical mechanism,while MOCS2 and IOCS2 follows purely chemical mechanism.展开更多
This paper investigates, the variability and correlation of surface ozone (Os) and carbon monoxide (CO) observed at Cape D'Aguilar in Hong Kong from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1995. Statistical analysis shows t...This paper investigates, the variability and correlation of surface ozone (Os) and carbon monoxide (CO) observed at Cape D'Aguilar in Hong Kong from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1995. Statistical analysis shows that the average O3 and CO mixing ratios during the two years are 32±17ppbv and 305±191 ppbv, respectively. The O3/CO ratio ranges from 0.05 to 0.6 ppbv/ppbv with its frequency peaking at 0.15. The raw dataset is divided into six groups using backward trajectory and cluster analyses. For data assigned to the same trajectory type, three groups are further sorted out based on CO and NOX mixing ratios. The correlation coefficients and slopes of O3/CO for the 18 groups are calculated using linear regression analysis. Finally, five kinds of air masses with different chemical features are identified: continental background (CB), marine background (MB), regional polluted continental (RPC), perturbed marine (P*M), and local polluted (LP) air masses. Further studies indicate that O3 and CO in the continental and marine background air masses (CB and MB) are positively correlated for the reason that they are well mixed over the long range transport before arriving at the site. The negative correlation between O3 and CO in air mass LP is believed to be associated with heavy anthropogenic influence, which results from the enhancement by local sources as indicated by high CO and NOx and depletion of O3 when mixed with fresh emissions. The positive correlation in the perturbed marine air mass P*M favors the low photochemical production of O3. The negative correlation found in the regional polluted continental air mass RPC is different from the observations at Oki Island in Japan due to the more complex O3 chemistry at Cape D'Aguilar.展开更多
Surface ozone(O\-3) was measured at Oki Island(Japan), Cheju Island(South Korea), Lanyu Island(Taiwan Province, China), Cape D'Aguilar(Hong Kong SAR) and Lin'an, Longfenshan, Waliguan(China mainland) during J...Surface ozone(O\-3) was measured at Oki Island(Japan), Cheju Island(South Korea), Lanyu Island(Taiwan Province, China), Cape D'Aguilar(Hong Kong SAR) and Lin'an, Longfenshan, Waliguan(China mainland) during January 1994—December 1996 as a component of IGAC/APARE(International Global Atmospheric Chemistry/East Asia-North Pacific Regional Experiment). This paper gave a joint discussion on the observational results at these stations over the study region. Investigations showed that the average of surface O 3 mixing ratios at the seven sites are 47.9±15.8, 48.1±17.9, 30.2±16.4, 31.6±17.5, 36.3±17.5, 34.8±11.5 and 48.2±9.5 ppbv, respectively. Significant diurnal variations of surface O 3 have been observed at Oki, Cheju, D’Aguilar, Lin'an and Longfenshan. Their annual averaged diurnal differences range from 8 to 23 ppbv and differ in each season. Surface O 3 at Lanyu and Waliguan do not show strong diurnal variability. Seasonal cycles of surface O 3 showed difference at the temperate and the subtropical remote sites. Oki has a summer minimum-spring maximum, while Lanyu has a summer minimum-autumn maximum. The suburban sites at D'Aguilar and Lin'an report high-level O 3 in autumn and low level O 3 in summer. Surface O 3 remains high in autumn and low in winter at the rural site Longfenshan. For the global background station Waliguan, surface O 3 exhibits a broad spring-summer maximum and autumn-winter minimum. The backward air trajectories to these sites have shown different pathways of long-range transport of air pollution from East Asia Continent to North Pacific Ocean. Surface O 3 was found to be strongly and positively correlated with CO at Oki and Lanyu, especially in spring and autumn, reflecting the substantial photochemical buildup of O\-3 on a regional scale. It is believed that the regional sources of pollution in East Asia have enhanced the average surface O 3 concentrations in the background atmosphere of North Pacific.展开更多
On 26 th October 2015, an Mw 7.5 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, with its epicenter located 45 km southwest of Jarm in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. The earthquake resulted from reverse faulting at a dept...On 26 th October 2015, an Mw 7.5 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, with its epicenter located 45 km southwest of Jarm in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. The earthquake resulted from reverse faulting at a depth of 210 km, resulting in 280 fatalities and substantial damage to some 109,123 buildings. Regional seismicity, characteristics of recorded strong motions, damage statistics, and building performance observations are presented. Earthquake damage was mostly constrained to seismic-deficient unreinforced masonry(URM) buildings. Typical failure modes included toppled minarets, partial or complete out of plane collapse of URM walls, diagonal shear cracking in piers, flexural cracking in spandrels, corner damage, pounding damage, and damage due to ground settlement. The majority of human loss resulted due to failure of URM walls and subsequent roof collapse. URM buildings located in rural hilly areas closer to the epicenter suffered more intense and frequent damage than urban URM buildings located farther away in larger cities.展开更多
To verify the seismic design response factors of high-rise buildings, five reference structures, varying in height from 20- to 60-stories, were selected and designed according to modern design codes to represent a wid...To verify the seismic design response factors of high-rise buildings, five reference structures, varying in height from 20- to 60-stories, were selected and designed according to modern design codes to represent a wide range of concrete wall structures. Verified fiber-based analytical models for inelastic simulation were developed, considering the geometric nonlinearity and material inelasticity of the structural members. The ground motion uncertainty was accounted for by employing 20 earthquake records representing two seismic scenarios, consistent with the latest understanding of the tectonic setting and seismicity of the selected reference region （UAE）. A large number of Inelastic Pushover Analyses （IPAs） and Incremental Dynamic Collapse Analyses （IDCAs） were deployed for the reference structures to estimate the seismic design response factors. It is concluded that the factors adopted by the design code are adequately conservative. The results of this systematic assessment of seismic design response factors apply to a wide variety of contemporary concrete wall buildings with various characteristics.展开更多
This article aims to show that virtual water has historically been an adaptation strategy that enabled some arid regions to develop a prosperous economy without putting pressure on their scarce water resources.Virtual...This article aims to show that virtual water has historically been an adaptation strategy that enabled some arid regions to develop a prosperous economy without putting pressure on their scarce water resources.Virtual water is referred to as the total amount of water that is consumed to produce goods and services.As an example,in arid central Iran,the deficiency in agricultural revenues was offset by more investment in local industries that enjoyed a perennial capacity to employ more workers.The revenues of local industries weaned the population from irrigated agriculture,since most of their raw materials and also food stuff were imported from other regions,bringing a remarkable amount of virtual water.This virtual water not only sustained the region’s inhabitants,but also set the stage for a powerful polity in the face of a rapid population growth between the 13th and 15th centuries AD.The resultant surplus products entailed a vast and safe network of roads,provided by both entrepreneurs and government.Therefore,it became possible to import more feedstock such as cocoons from water-abundant regions and then export silk textiles with considerable value-added.This article concludes that a similar model of virtual water can remedy the ongoing water crisis in central Iran,where groundwater reserves are overexploited,and many rural and urban centers are teetering on the edge of socio-ecological collapse.History holds an urgent lesson on sustainability for our today’s policy that stubbornly peruses agriculture and other high-water-demand sectors in an arid region whose development has always been dependent on virtual water.展开更多
Science and policy have been interlinked for decades and perform essential nexus conditions in the governing aspects of environmental scenarios.This review paper examines the present challenges in the science–policy ...Science and policy have been interlinked for decades and perform essential nexus conditions in the governing aspects of environmental scenarios.This review paper examines the present challenges in the science–policy interface in terms of water governance in the Caspian Sea and identifies effective conditions that may be used in the current context to enhance the mechanism.The evaluation of the science–policy link in the water policy of the Caspian Sea reveals a gap between knowledge producer and governance system,impeding the translation of scientific information into action.Complicated and context-dependent solutions make it challenging to establish effective science–policy processes in the Caspian Sea water governance settings.Establishing a common governing authority,implementing water and resource management regulations,and protecting the natural environment through legal frameworks are crucial steps to address these concerns and ensure sustainable development.Collaboration among coastal states is essential in environmental,economic,and social aspects of regional development.However,the lack of a comprehensive approach,coherent activities,and effective utilization of national and regional power has hindered efforts to halt the environmental degradation of the Caspian Sea.Local governments need to recognize their responsibility to protect and utilize the Caspian Sea for present and future generations,considering both environmental and human security.The interlinkage of the Caspian Sea water governance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)water governance principles offers a framework for policymakers to assess gaps and make necessary amendments to existing mechanisms.Effective science–policy interaction,engagement of diverse stakeholders,institutionalizing agreements,and addressing collective action issues are critical for successful water governance.展开更多
Due to the coarse scale of soil moisture products retrieved from passive microwave observations(SMPMW),several downscaling methods have been developed to enable regional scale applications.However,it can be challengin...Due to the coarse scale of soil moisture products retrieved from passive microwave observations(SMPMW),several downscaling methods have been developed to enable regional scale applications.However,it can be challenging for users to access final data products and algorithms,as well as managing different data sources and formats,various data processing methods,and the complexity of the workflows from raw data to information products.Here,the Google Earth Engine(GEE),which as of late offers SMPMW,is used to implement a workflow for retrieving 1 km SM at a depth of 0-5 cm using MODIS optical/thermal measurements,the SM_(PMW)coarse scale product,and a random forest regression.The proposed method was implemented on the African continent to estimate weekly SM maps.The results of this study were evaluated against in-situ measurements of three validation networks.Overall,in comparison to the original SM_(PMW)product,which was limited by a spatial resolution of only 9 km,this method is able to estimate SM at 1 km spatial resolution with acceptable accuracy(an average correlation coefficient of 0.64 and a ubRMSD of 0.069 m^(3)/m^(3)).The results show that the proposed method in GEE provides a precise estimation of SM with a higher spatial resolution across the entire continent.展开更多
This study proposed the development of a house with the following characteristics： grows, builds, and repairs itself; changes with the seasons; uses the forces of nature and is in harmony with its environment; favors...This study proposed the development of a house with the following characteristics： grows, builds, and repairs itself; changes with the seasons; uses the forces of nature and is in harmony with its environment; favors biodiversity and natural equilibrium; Low cost and does not require considerable workforce or industrial material; carbon free and waste free; returns to nature when no longer in use; enables sustainable and balanced mankind development. The use of Living architecture to decrease or nullify the environmental costs of structure materials was also investigated. Furthermore, the use of Living architecture techniques to comply with the current Living and construction style with as Little change as possible was analyzed. A new envelope material with Little to no carbon impact was scientifically explored, and the use of this material to create a sustainable house was technically examined. Findings demonstrate that such a house is not only feasible but also rational and beneficial from the economic and environmental perspectives.展开更多
This study develops a methodology to consohdate transit stops. It develops a mathematical model and a program which takes stop consolidation decision（s） according to users gener- alized travel time savings and desir...This study develops a methodology to consohdate transit stops. It develops a mathematical model and a program which takes stop consolidation decision（s） according to users gener- alized travel time savings and desired accessibility. The model iterates until the users generalized travel time savings are maximized. The study tests this mathematical model in different hypothetical scenarios. Six factors （distance between stops, passenger activity, average cruising speed, maximum walking distance, service frequency, and percentage of decreased passengers） with multiple levels were set to build the scenarios. Three responses {percentage of consolidated stops, percentages of travel time and operating time savings） were observed. The findings showed that the distance between the stops the passenger ac- tivity, and the probable demand change （or the percentage of decreased passengers） are the most influential factors. The frequency of service was found to be influential as well. The average cruising speed has very little influence on the response variables. Finally, the model is tested on two routes （route 900 and 930） ofAl Ain City public bus service. It shows that 22 and 32 out of 98 and 126 stops can be consolidated in route 900 and 930 respectively. This can save considerable amounts of users travel and operating times. In monetary values, the savings are about $329,827 and $491,094 per year for routes 900 and 930, respectively.展开更多
The world has faced the COVID-19 pandemic for over two years now,and it is time to revisit the lessons learned from lockdown measures for theoretical and practical epidemiological improvements.The interlink between th...The world has faced the COVID-19 pandemic for over two years now,and it is time to revisit the lessons learned from lockdown measures for theoretical and practical epidemiological improvements.The interlink between these measures and the resulting change in mobility(a predictor of the disease transmission contact rate)is uncertain.We thus propose a new method for assessing the efficacy of various non-pharmaceutical interventions(NPI)and examine the aptness of incorporating mobility data for epidemiological modelling.Facebook mobility maps for the United Arab Emirates are used as input datasets from the first infection in the country to mid-Oct 2020.Dataset was limited to the pre-vaccination period as this paper focuses on assessing the different NPIs at an early epidemic stage when no vaccines are available and NPIs are the only way to reduce the reproduction number(R_(0)).We developed a travel network density parameterβ_(t)to provide an estimate of NPI impact on mobility patterns.Given the infection-fatality ratio and time lag(onset-to-death),a Bayesian probabilistic model is adapted to calculate the change in epidemic development withβt.Results showed that the change inβ_(t)clearly impacted R_(0).The three lockdowns strongly affected the growth of transmission rate and collectively reduced R_(0)by 78%before the restrictions were eased.The model forecasted daily infections and deaths by 2%and 3%fractional errors.It also projected what-if scenarios for different implementation protocols of each NPI.The developed model can be applied to identify the most efficient NPIs for confronting new COVID-19 waves and the spread of variants,as well as for future pandemics.展开更多
基金the Philippine ERDT scholarship and Taiwan National Science Council(NSC101-2221-E-041-007)for their financial support
文摘The adsorption of Mn2＋ onto immobilized Mn-oxide and Fe-oxide adsorbent such as manganese oxide-coated sand 1 （MOCS1）, manganese oxide-coated sand2 （MOCS2）, iron oxide-coated sand2 （IOCS2）, and manganese and iron oxide-coated sand （MIOCS）was investigated. The effects of pH （5.5 to 8.0） and temperature （25 to45°C） on the equilibrium capacitywere examined. Equilibrium studies showed that there is a good fitwith both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm,which indicates surface heterogeneity and monolayer adsorption of the adsorbents. Kineticdata showed high correlationwith the pseudo second-order model,which signifies a chemisorption-controlled mechanism. The activation energies, activation parameters （ΔG＊,ΔH＊,ΔS＊）, and thermodynamic parameters （ΔG0 , ΔH0 , ΔS0 ） confirmed that adsorptionwith MIOCSwas endothermic and more spontaneous at higher temperaturewhile an opposite trendwas observed for the other adsorbents. Thermodynamic studies showed that adsorption involved formation of activated complex,where MOCS1 and MIOCS follow a physical-chemical mechanism,while MOCS2 and IOCS2 follows purely chemical mechanism.
文摘This paper investigates, the variability and correlation of surface ozone (Os) and carbon monoxide (CO) observed at Cape D'Aguilar in Hong Kong from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 1995. Statistical analysis shows that the average O3 and CO mixing ratios during the two years are 32±17ppbv and 305±191 ppbv, respectively. The O3/CO ratio ranges from 0.05 to 0.6 ppbv/ppbv with its frequency peaking at 0.15. The raw dataset is divided into six groups using backward trajectory and cluster analyses. For data assigned to the same trajectory type, three groups are further sorted out based on CO and NOX mixing ratios. The correlation coefficients and slopes of O3/CO for the 18 groups are calculated using linear regression analysis. Finally, five kinds of air masses with different chemical features are identified: continental background (CB), marine background (MB), regional polluted continental (RPC), perturbed marine (P*M), and local polluted (LP) air masses. Further studies indicate that O3 and CO in the continental and marine background air masses (CB and MB) are positively correlated for the reason that they are well mixed over the long range transport before arriving at the site. The negative correlation between O3 and CO in air mass LP is believed to be associated with heavy anthropogenic influence, which results from the enhancement by local sources as indicated by high CO and NOx and depletion of O3 when mixed with fresh emissions. The positive correlation in the perturbed marine air mass P*M favors the low photochemical production of O3. The negative correlation found in the regional polluted continental air mass RPC is different from the observations at Oki Island in Japan due to the more complex O3 chemistry at Cape D'Aguilar.
文摘Surface ozone(O\-3) was measured at Oki Island(Japan), Cheju Island(South Korea), Lanyu Island(Taiwan Province, China), Cape D'Aguilar(Hong Kong SAR) and Lin'an, Longfenshan, Waliguan(China mainland) during January 1994—December 1996 as a component of IGAC/APARE(International Global Atmospheric Chemistry/East Asia-North Pacific Regional Experiment). This paper gave a joint discussion on the observational results at these stations over the study region. Investigations showed that the average of surface O 3 mixing ratios at the seven sites are 47.9±15.8, 48.1±17.9, 30.2±16.4, 31.6±17.5, 36.3±17.5, 34.8±11.5 and 48.2±9.5 ppbv, respectively. Significant diurnal variations of surface O 3 have been observed at Oki, Cheju, D’Aguilar, Lin'an and Longfenshan. Their annual averaged diurnal differences range from 8 to 23 ppbv and differ in each season. Surface O 3 at Lanyu and Waliguan do not show strong diurnal variability. Seasonal cycles of surface O 3 showed difference at the temperate and the subtropical remote sites. Oki has a summer minimum-spring maximum, while Lanyu has a summer minimum-autumn maximum. The suburban sites at D'Aguilar and Lin'an report high-level O 3 in autumn and low level O 3 in summer. Surface O 3 remains high in autumn and low in winter at the rural site Longfenshan. For the global background station Waliguan, surface O 3 exhibits a broad spring-summer maximum and autumn-winter minimum. The backward air trajectories to these sites have shown different pathways of long-range transport of air pollution from East Asia Continent to North Pacific Ocean. Surface O 3 was found to be strongly and positively correlated with CO at Oki and Lanyu, especially in spring and autumn, reflecting the substantial photochemical buildup of O\-3 on a regional scale. It is believed that the regional sources of pollution in East Asia have enhanced the average surface O 3 concentrations in the background atmosphere of North Pacific.
基金funded by the United Arab Emirates University under research grant G00001603
文摘On 26 th October 2015, an Mw 7.5 earthquake struck northern Pakistan, with its epicenter located 45 km southwest of Jarm in the Hindu Kush region of Afghanistan. The earthquake resulted from reverse faulting at a depth of 210 km, resulting in 280 fatalities and substantial damage to some 109,123 buildings. Regional seismicity, characteristics of recorded strong motions, damage statistics, and building performance observations are presented. Earthquake damage was mostly constrained to seismic-deficient unreinforced masonry(URM) buildings. Typical failure modes included toppled minarets, partial or complete out of plane collapse of URM walls, diagonal shear cracking in piers, flexural cracking in spandrels, corner damage, pounding damage, and damage due to ground settlement. The majority of human loss resulted due to failure of URM walls and subsequent roof collapse. URM buildings located in rural hilly areas closer to the epicenter suffered more intense and frequent damage than urban URM buildings located farther away in larger cities.
基金UAE University Under Contracts No. 07-34-07-11/07 and 07-01-07-11/09
文摘To verify the seismic design response factors of high-rise buildings, five reference structures, varying in height from 20- to 60-stories, were selected and designed according to modern design codes to represent a wide range of concrete wall structures. Verified fiber-based analytical models for inelastic simulation were developed, considering the geometric nonlinearity and material inelasticity of the structural members. The ground motion uncertainty was accounted for by employing 20 earthquake records representing two seismic scenarios, consistent with the latest understanding of the tectonic setting and seismicity of the selected reference region （UAE）. A large number of Inelastic Pushover Analyses （IPAs） and Incremental Dynamic Collapse Analyses （IDCAs） were deployed for the reference structures to estimate the seismic design response factors. It is concluded that the factors adopted by the design code are adequately conservative. The results of this systematic assessment of seismic design response factors apply to a wide variety of contemporary concrete wall buildings with various characteristics.
文摘This article aims to show that virtual water has historically been an adaptation strategy that enabled some arid regions to develop a prosperous economy without putting pressure on their scarce water resources.Virtual water is referred to as the total amount of water that is consumed to produce goods and services.As an example,in arid central Iran,the deficiency in agricultural revenues was offset by more investment in local industries that enjoyed a perennial capacity to employ more workers.The revenues of local industries weaned the population from irrigated agriculture,since most of their raw materials and also food stuff were imported from other regions,bringing a remarkable amount of virtual water.This virtual water not only sustained the region’s inhabitants,but also set the stage for a powerful polity in the face of a rapid population growth between the 13th and 15th centuries AD.The resultant surplus products entailed a vast and safe network of roads,provided by both entrepreneurs and government.Therefore,it became possible to import more feedstock such as cocoons from water-abundant regions and then export silk textiles with considerable value-added.This article concludes that a similar model of virtual water can remedy the ongoing water crisis in central Iran,where groundwater reserves are overexploited,and many rural and urban centers are teetering on the edge of socio-ecological collapse.History holds an urgent lesson on sustainability for our today’s policy that stubbornly peruses agriculture and other high-water-demand sectors in an arid region whose development has always been dependent on virtual water.
基金supported by University of Galway,Galway,Ireland.
文摘Science and policy have been interlinked for decades and perform essential nexus conditions in the governing aspects of environmental scenarios.This review paper examines the present challenges in the science–policy interface in terms of water governance in the Caspian Sea and identifies effective conditions that may be used in the current context to enhance the mechanism.The evaluation of the science–policy link in the water policy of the Caspian Sea reveals a gap between knowledge producer and governance system,impeding the translation of scientific information into action.Complicated and context-dependent solutions make it challenging to establish effective science–policy processes in the Caspian Sea water governance settings.Establishing a common governing authority,implementing water and resource management regulations,and protecting the natural environment through legal frameworks are crucial steps to address these concerns and ensure sustainable development.Collaboration among coastal states is essential in environmental,economic,and social aspects of regional development.However,the lack of a comprehensive approach,coherent activities,and effective utilization of national and regional power has hindered efforts to halt the environmental degradation of the Caspian Sea.Local governments need to recognize their responsibility to protect and utilize the Caspian Sea for present and future generations,considering both environmental and human security.The interlinkage of the Caspian Sea water governance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)water governance principles offers a framework for policymakers to assess gaps and make necessary amendments to existing mechanisms.Effective science–policy interaction,engagement of diverse stakeholders,institutionalizing agreements,and addressing collective action issues are critical for successful water governance.
基金funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft(DFG,German Research Foundation)-SFB 1502/1-2022-project number:450058266.
文摘Due to the coarse scale of soil moisture products retrieved from passive microwave observations(SMPMW),several downscaling methods have been developed to enable regional scale applications.However,it can be challenging for users to access final data products and algorithms,as well as managing different data sources and formats,various data processing methods,and the complexity of the workflows from raw data to information products.Here,the Google Earth Engine(GEE),which as of late offers SMPMW,is used to implement a workflow for retrieving 1 km SM at a depth of 0-5 cm using MODIS optical/thermal measurements,the SM_(PMW)coarse scale product,and a random forest regression.The proposed method was implemented on the African continent to estimate weekly SM maps.The results of this study were evaluated against in-situ measurements of three validation networks.Overall,in comparison to the original SM_(PMW)product,which was limited by a spatial resolution of only 9 km,this method is able to estimate SM at 1 km spatial resolution with acceptable accuracy(an average correlation coefficient of 0.64 and a ubRMSD of 0.069 m^(3)/m^(3)).The results show that the proposed method in GEE provides a precise estimation of SM with a higher spatial resolution across the entire continent.
文摘This study proposed the development of a house with the following characteristics： grows, builds, and repairs itself; changes with the seasons; uses the forces of nature and is in harmony with its environment; favors biodiversity and natural equilibrium; Low cost and does not require considerable workforce or industrial material; carbon free and waste free; returns to nature when no longer in use; enables sustainable and balanced mankind development. The use of Living architecture to decrease or nullify the environmental costs of structure materials was also investigated. Furthermore, the use of Living architecture techniques to comply with the current Living and construction style with as Little change as possible was analyzed. A new envelope material with Little to no carbon impact was scientifically explored, and the use of this material to create a sustainable house was technically examined. Findings demonstrate that such a house is not only feasible but also rational and beneficial from the economic and environmental perspectives.
基金part of an MSc study thesis sponsored by the Roadway,Transportation and Traffic Safety Research Center at the UAE University
文摘This study develops a methodology to consohdate transit stops. It develops a mathematical model and a program which takes stop consolidation decision（s） according to users gener- alized travel time savings and desired accessibility. The model iterates until the users generalized travel time savings are maximized. The study tests this mathematical model in different hypothetical scenarios. Six factors （distance between stops, passenger activity, average cruising speed, maximum walking distance, service frequency, and percentage of decreased passengers） with multiple levels were set to build the scenarios. Three responses {percentage of consolidated stops, percentages of travel time and operating time savings） were observed. The findings showed that the distance between the stops the passenger ac- tivity, and the probable demand change （or the percentage of decreased passengers） are the most influential factors. The frequency of service was found to be influential as well. The average cruising speed has very little influence on the response variables. Finally, the model is tested on two routes （route 900 and 930） ofAl Ain City public bus service. It shows that 22 and 32 out of 98 and 126 stops can be consolidated in route 900 and 930 respectively. This can save considerable amounts of users travel and operating times. In monetary values, the savings are about $329,827 and $491,094 per year for routes 900 and 930, respectively.
文摘The world has faced the COVID-19 pandemic for over two years now,and it is time to revisit the lessons learned from lockdown measures for theoretical and practical epidemiological improvements.The interlink between these measures and the resulting change in mobility(a predictor of the disease transmission contact rate)is uncertain.We thus propose a new method for assessing the efficacy of various non-pharmaceutical interventions(NPI)and examine the aptness of incorporating mobility data for epidemiological modelling.Facebook mobility maps for the United Arab Emirates are used as input datasets from the first infection in the country to mid-Oct 2020.Dataset was limited to the pre-vaccination period as this paper focuses on assessing the different NPIs at an early epidemic stage when no vaccines are available and NPIs are the only way to reduce the reproduction number(R_(0)).We developed a travel network density parameterβ_(t)to provide an estimate of NPI impact on mobility patterns.Given the infection-fatality ratio and time lag(onset-to-death),a Bayesian probabilistic model is adapted to calculate the change in epidemic development withβt.Results showed that the change inβ_(t)clearly impacted R_(0).The three lockdowns strongly affected the growth of transmission rate and collectively reduced R_(0)by 78%before the restrictions were eased.The model forecasted daily infections and deaths by 2%and 3%fractional errors.It also projected what-if scenarios for different implementation protocols of each NPI.The developed model can be applied to identify the most efficient NPIs for confronting new COVID-19 waves and the spread of variants,as well as for future pandemics.
