Future production of rainfed wheat in Iran (Khorasan province): climate change scenario analysis

Projecting staple crop production including wheat under future climate plays a fundamental role in planning the required adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change effects especially in developing countries. The main aim of this study was to investigate the direction and magnitude of climate change impacts on grain yield of rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production and precipitation within growing season. This study was performed for various regions in Khorasan province which is located in northeast of Iran. Climate projections of two General Circulation Models (GCM) for four locations under three climate change scenarios were employed in this study for different future time periods. A stochastic weather generator (LARS-WG5) was used for downscaling to generate daily climate parameters from GCMs output. The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) Version 4.5 was employed to evaluate rainfed wheat performance under future climate. Grain yield of rainfed wheat and precipitation during growth period considerably decreased under different scenarios in various time periods in contrast to baseline. Highest grain yield and precipitation during growth period was obtained under B1 scenario but A1B and A2 scenarios resulted in sharp decrease (by ?57 %) of grain yield. Climate change did not have marked effects on evapotranspiration during the rainfed wheat growth. A significant correlation was detected between grain yield, precipitation and evapotranspiration under climate change for both GCMs and under all study scenarios. It was concluded, that rainfed wheat production may decline during the next 80 years especially under A2 scenario. Therefore, planning the comprehensive adaptation and mitigation program is necessary for avoiding climate change negative impact on rainfed wheat production.     

Relationship between electric spark sensitivity and activation energy of the thermal decomposition of nitramines for safety measures in industrial processes

This study presents a new simple correlation between electric spark sensitivity of nitramines and their activation energies of thermolysis, which are important for safety measures in industrial processes. The new correlation can help to elucidate the mechanism of initiation of energetic materials by electric spark. It can be used to predict the magnitude of electric spark sensitivity of new nitramines, which is difficult to measure. The methodology assumes that electric spark sensitivity of a nitramine with general formula C_aH_bN_cO_d can be expressed as a function of its activation energy of thermal decomposition as well as optimized elemental composition and the contribution of specific molecular structural parameters. The new correlation has the root mean square and the average deviations of 1.37 and 1.09 J, respectively, for 21 nitramines with different molecular structures. The proposed new method is also tested for 16 nitramines so that there is no experimental data of electrostatic sensitivity for them.     

A heuristic approach to stochastic cutoff grade optimization for open pit mining complexes with multiple processing streams

Cutoff grade specifies the available supply of metallic ore from an open pit mine to the multiple processing streams of an open pit mining complex. An optimal cutoff grade strategy maximizes the net present value (NPV) of an open pit mining operation subject to the mining, processing, and marketing/refining capacity constraints. Even though, the quantities of material flowing from the mine to the market are influenced by the expected variation in the available metal content or inherent uncertainty in the supply of ore, the majority of cutoff grade optimization models not only disregard this aspect and may lead to unrealistic cash flows, but also they are limited in application to an open pit mining operation with single processing facility. The model proposed herein determines the optimal cutoff grade policy based on a stochastic framework that accounts for uncertainty in supply of ore to the multiple ore processing streams. An application on a large-scale open pit mining operation develops a unique cutoff grade policy along with a portfolio of mining, processing, and marketing/refining rates. Owing to the geological uncertainty, the approach addresses risk by showing a difference of 14% between the minimum and maximum production rates, cash flows and NPV.     

Underutilization of occupant restraint systems in motor vehicle injury crashes: A quantitative analysis from Qatar

Introduction: Restraint systems (seat belts and airbags) are important tools that improve vehicle occupant safety during motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). We aimed to identify the pattern and impact of the utilization of passenger restraint systems on the outcomes of MVC victims in Qatar.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted for all admitted patients who sustained MVC-related injuries between March 2011 and March 2014 inclusive.

Results: Out of 2,730 road traffic injury cases, 1,830 (67%) sustained MVC-related injuries, of whom 88% were young males, 70% were expatriates, and 53% were drivers. The use of seat belts and airbags was documented in 26 and 2.5% of cases, respectively. Unrestrained passengers had greater injury severity scores, longer hospital stays, and higher rates of pneumonia and mortality compared to restrained passengers (P = .001 for all). There were 311 (17%) ejected cases. Seat belt use was significantly lower and the mortality rate was 3-fold higher in the ejected group compared to the nonejected group (P = .001). The overall mortality was 8.3%. On multivariate regression analysis, predictors of not using a seat belt were being a front seat passenger, driver, or Qatari national and young age. Unrestrained males had a 3-fold increase in mortality in comparison to unrestrained females. The risk of severe injury (relative risk [RR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49–2.26, P = .001) and death (RR = 4.13, 95% CI, 2.31–7.38, P = .001) was significantly greater among unrestrained passengers.

Conclusion: The nonuse of seat belts is associated with worse outcomes during MVCs in Qatar. Our study highlights the lower rate of seat belt compliance in young car occupants that results in more severe injuries, longer hospital stays, and higher mortality rates. Therefore, we recommend more effective seat belt awareness and education campaigns, the enforcement of current seat belt laws, their extension to all vehicle occupants, and the adoption of proven interventions that will assure sustained behavioral changes toward improvements in seat belt use in Qatar.     

Salt marsh restoration: an overview of techniques and success indicators

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Coastal wetlands including salt marshes are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They are known for improving the quality of coastal water...     

Anticancer properties of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds against breast cancer: a review on recent investigations

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common and recurring diseases and the second leading cause of death in women. Despite prevention, diagnostics,...     

Consumption-based CO2 emissions accounting and scenario simulation in Asia and the Pacific region

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study uses a consumer-based accounting approach to evaluate the CO2 emission factors of 17 countries in Asia and the Pacific region by including...     

Hydrochemical characteristics and identification of groundwater pollution sources in tropical savanna

Groundwater pollution of the watershed is mainly influenced by the multifaceted interactions of natural and anthropogenic processes. In this study, classic chemical and multivariate statistical methods were utilized to assess the groundwater quality and ascertain the potential contamination sources affecting the groundwater quality of Galma sub-watershed in a tropical savanna. For this purpose, the data set of 18 groundwater quality variables covering 57 different sampling boreholes (BH) was used. The groundwater samples essentially contained the cations in the following order of dominance: Ca²⁺ ?>?Na⁺ ?>?Mg²⁺ ?>?K⁺. However, the anions had HCO₃^–?>?Cl^–?>?SO₄^–2?>?NO₃^– respectively. The hydrochemical facies classified the groundwater types of the sub-watershed into mixed Ca–Mg–Cl type of water, which means no cations and anions exceeds 50%. The second dominant water type was Ca–Cl. The Mg–HCO₃ water type was found in BH 9, and Na–Cl water type in BH 29 of the studied area. The weathering of the basement rocks was responsible for the concentrations of these ions in the groundwater chemistry of the sub-watershed. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) grouped the groundwater samples (boreholes) into five clusters that are statistically significant regarding the similarities of groundwater quality characteristics. The principal component analysis (PCA) extracted two major principal components explained around 65% of the variance and suggested the natural and anthropogenic processes especially the agricultural pollutants including synthetic fertilizers, and leaching of agricultural waste as the main factors affecting the groundwater quality. The integrated method proved to be efficient and robust for groundwater quality evaluation, as it guaranteed the precise assessment of groundwater chemistry in the sub-watershed of the tropical savanna. The findings of this investigation could be useful to the policy makers for developing effective groundwater management plans for the groundwater resources and protection of the sub-watershed.

     

Evaluating the relationship between the respiratory exposure to the benzene with the primary damages of deoxyribonucleic acid and total antioxidant capacity in one of the oil companies in Iran

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Benzene is a carcinogenic chemical substance which causes the injuries and damages through producing the free radicals in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)...     

A comprehensive review of heavy metal pollution in the coastal areas of Bangladesh: abundance,bioaccumulation, health implications,and challenges

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The coastal zone of Bangladesh, with a population density of 1278 people per square kilometer, is under serious threat due to heavy metal pollution....