Individual relocation decisions after tornadoes: a multi‐level analysis

This study examines how multi‐level factors affected individuals' relocation decisions after EF4 and EF5 (Enhanced Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale) tornadoes struck the United States in 2013. A telephone survey was conducted with 536 respondents, including oversampled older adults, one year after these two disaster events. Respondents' addresses were used to associate individual information with block group‐level variables recorded by the American Community Survey. Logistic regression revealed that residential damage and homeownership are important predictors of relocation. There was also significant interaction between these two variables, indicating less difference between homeowners and renters at higher damage levels. Homeownership diminished the likelihood of relocation among younger respondents. Random effects logistic regression found that the percentage of homeownership and of higher income households in the community buffered the effect of damage on relocation; the percentage of older adults reduced the likelihood of this group relocating. The findings are assessed from the standpoint of age difference, policy implications, and social capital and vulnerability.     

Conjugate depths in partially filled sewers and pipes

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - Partially filled pipes have many applications in hydraulic and environmental engineering; such as sewer and storm water collection pipes and circular culverts....     

Effects of previous drying of sediment on root functional traits and rhizoperformance of emerged macrophytes

• Sediment desiccation alters morphological characteristics of aquatic sediment. • Alternation in morphological properties of sediment limiting root characteristics. • Fibrous-rooted macrophytes root properties extra favor nutrients removal. • Thick-rooted macrophytes exhibit higher life-span in two sediment types. Purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of constantly wet and dried-rewetted sediments on root functional traits of emerged macrophytes and their nutrients removal abilities. It is based on the hypothesis that root characteristics and nutrients removal abilities of plants will be altered in the course of sediment desiccation. Four emerged macrophytes including two fibrous-root plants (Canna indica and Acorus calamus) and two thick-root plants (Alocasia cucullata and Aglaonema commutatum) were investigated for their root functional traits and rhizoperformance in both wet and dried-rewetted sediments. Results showed that sediment desiccation followed by rewetting substantially altered the root functional traits (root surface area, radial oxygen loss, and root activity) of plants due to adverse changes in morphological characteristics (porosity, bulk density, particle density) of dried-rewetted sediments than by wet sediments. Consequently, limited plants growth and removal of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were recorded in dried-rewetted sediments and their pore water than in wet sediments. Radial oxygen loss from plant roots correlated positively with root functional traits, plants growth, and removal of N, P and DOC from pore water and sediment in both sediment types. Among the macrophyte species, the fibrous-root plants having advantages root functional traits, greatly influenced the rhizospheric conditions (pH, dissolved oxygen and redox potential), and demonstrated higher N, P and DOC reduction from both sediment types. While, the thick-rooted plants with thick diameter roots (D > 1 mm) and higher rhizome exhibited longer life-span in both sediment types.     

Dynamic routing with ant system and memory-based decision-making process

Environment Systems and Decisions - Dynamic routing is an essential tool for today’s cities. Dynamic routing problems can be solved by modelling them as dynamic optimization problems (DOPs)....     

Stakeholder coordination analysis in hazardous waste management: a case study in China

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Hazardous waste management (HWM) in chemical industrial parks is an important issue related to sustainable development. Previous researches...     

Bioaccumulation of toxic metals (Cr, Cd, Pb and Cu) by seeds of Euryale ferox Salisb. (Makhana) W

The level of toxic metals Cr, Cd, Pb and Cu was determined in seeds, water and sediments collected from nine closed waterbodies of Darbhanga, north Bihar, used for cultivation of the edible aquatic macrophyte Euryaleferox Salisb. during harvesting season of the crop for two successive years (1996 and 1997). Seeds bioconcentrated appreciable amount of these toxic metals in the order Pb > Cr > Cu > Cd. The increased load of metal pollution due to domestic and municipal discharges threatened the habitats of the plant. The toxic metal contents in seeds were found positively correlated with the ambient concentration of metals in water and sediments. The importance of these findings has been discussed for national water resource economy of the country and human health perspectives.     

Recycling building demolition waste in hot-mix asphalt concrete: a case study in Kuwait

Building demolition waste constitutes a major component of municipal solid waste in Kuwait. Over 90% of this waste is currently land-filled, causing extreme pressure on the available land-fill sites. At the same time, the sources of natural aggregates are almost depleted, and there is an increasing demand because of the increased construction and maintenance activities. This article presents the results of a technical feasibility study into meeting this need by recycling the aggregates obtained from building demolition waste for asphalt concrete. The Marshall test, the immersion compression test, the loss of stability test, and the wheel track test were performed to evaluate the asphalt concrete made with recycled aggregate. The results showed that the asphalt concrete produced using an aggregate of demolition waste met all the requirements of local specifications.     

Inactivation of coliform bacteria in Black Sea waters due to solar radiation

The effects of solar radiation and temperature on bacterial die-off rates in Black Sea coastal waters using total coliform as the indicator organism were studied. Coliform die-off experiments were carried out in seawater samples collected along the coastline. The experiments were conducted in beakers filled with seawater that were kept at constant temperatures and exposed to solar radiation. The membrane filter technique was used for the coliform analysis. Temperature ranging between 9 and 26 degrees C and solar radiation between 20 and 60 cal/cm(2) h were tested. Experiments in the dark were also conducted to isolate the effect of solar radiation from the other factors and, furthermore, to determine the effect of temperature on bacterial die-off. The solar radiation was found to be the most significant factor affecting the mortality of coliform bacteria.     

Three Egyptian industrial wastewater management programmes

A pre-treatment programme for wastewater from factories, representing three main industrial sectors in Egypt, has been developed. The first case study was a factory producing potato-chips. Wastewater discharged from this factory was characterized by high values of BOD, SS and oil and grease (6000 mgO₂ l^–1, 6577 mg l^–1 and 119 mg l^–1 respectively). Chemical treatment using lime and lime aided by polyelectrolyte achieved good results. Residual values of BOD and SS after treatment were 97 mg l^–1 and 49 mg l^–1, respectively. Oil and grease concentrations were reduced by 91 percent. Treatment via activated sludge at a detention time of 4 hrs produced good quality effluent. The second case study was an automobile company, representing the metal finishing industry. Analyses of wastewater samples from the degreasing, phosphating and painting departments, as well as the end-of-pipe effluent were conducted. The end-of-pipe effluent contained high concentrations of oil and grease (366 mg l^–1), phosphorous (111 mg l^–1) and zinc (81 mg l^–1). Chemical treatment of end-of-pipe wastewater using ferric chloride aided by lime, produced high quality effluent. The third sector was the chemical industry. For this purpose a paint factory was selected. Characteristics of raw wastewater varied widely according to the production rate. Average values of COD and BOD were 1950 mg l^–1 and 683 mg l^–1. Oil and grease ranged from 63 to 1624 mg l^–1. Chemical treatment using ferric chloride in combination with lime at the optimum operating conditions achieved good results. Residual values after treatment of COD, BOD and oil and grease reached 120, 36 and 8.6 mg l^–1, respectively. An engineering design for each case study has been prepared.     

Effects of Rainfall and Ground‐Water Pumping on Streamflow in Mākaha,O’ahu,Hawai’i1

Abstract: Land‐use/land‐cover changes in Mākaha valley have included the development of agriculture, residential dwellings, golf courses, potable water supply facilities, and the introduction of alien species. The impact of these changes on surface water and ground water resources in the valley is of concern. In this study, streamflow, rainfall, and ground‐water pumping data for the upper part of the Mākaha valley watershed were evaluated to identify corresponding trends and relationships. The results of this study indicate that streamflow declined during the ground‐water pumping period. Mean and median annual streamflow have declined by 42% (135 mm) and 56% (175 mm), respectively, and the mean number of dry stream days per year has increased from 8 to 125. Rainfall across the study area appears to have also declined though it is not clear whether the reduction in rainfall is responsible for all or part of the observed streamflow decline. Mean annual rainfall at one location in the study area declined by 14% (179 mm) and increased by 2% (48 mm) at a second location. Further study is needed to assess the effect of ground‐water pumping and to characterize the hydrologic cycle with respect to rainfall, infiltration, ground‐water recharge and flow in the study area, and stream base flow and storm flow.