The influence of urbanization on karst rivers based on nutrient concentration and nitrate dual isotopes： an example from southwestern China

China is experiencing rapid urbanization that has changed the water quality of rivers, especially nutrient loads. In this study, a typical urban river located in a karst area, Chengguan River, was chosen to explore the influence of urbanization on river ecosystems based on nutrient concentration and nitrate isotopes. The results show monthly variability of water chemistry and nutrient concentration. Nutrient concentration in two tributaries and the mainstem showed significant spatial variability, with heavy N and P pollution in one tributary near a suburban area,indicating a response to different levels of urbanization.Measurements of nitrate dual isotopes suggest thatvolatilization, assimilation, nitrification, and denitrification all occur in the polluted river. Water chemistry and nitrate isotopes show that major nitrogen sources included domestic waste and agricultural input, such as chemical fertilizer and manure. The results suggest that urbanization increases nutrient concentrations and accelerates the riverine nitrogen dynamic, and point to the need to manage point sources of sewage effluents to improve the water quality of urban rivers in southwestern China.

Enhanced Greedy Optimization Algorithm with Data Warehousing for Automated Nurse Scheduling System

Current Nurse scheduling process has many challenges like work plan creation and working hour allocation for employees at specific planning horizon. Hospitals in most of the developing countries use manual methods to create nurse scheduling systems. With current existing manual nurse scheduling systems, most of the hospitals especially in developing countries don’t have efficient work plan allocation. Moreover, patients need nursing care throughout the day. Hence, current manual nurse scheduling approach with simple statistical functions is not efficient especially for highly populated countries. Our proposed automated nurse scheduling approach has carried out in two stages. Firstly, we propose an efficient data warehouse system based on online analytical method for hospital information system. Subsequently, Enhanced Greedy Optimization algorithm is implemented to optimize the nurse roster and compared with other optimization algorithms (Simulated Annealing and Genetic Algorithm). Experimental results (MYSQL, JAVA, OLAP) with proposed optimization algorithm outperforms compared with existing optimization solutions.

Influence of Family Status on the Dietary Patterns and Nutritional Levels of Children

A diversity of socio economic and cultural factors contributes towards maintenance and changes in dietary patterns of people. Therefore People around the world have adapted different types of dietary patterns for their survival. Aim of this study was to investigate the most relevant factors influencing human dietary patterns. Sample for the study was selected by using the Stratified sampling technique, which consists of 390 families residing around the Abatenna estate, Bandarawela municipal council, Sri Lanka. Principal component analysis techniques and correlation analysis were employed to identify the most relevant factors which affect human dietary patterns. Results of the study indicate that socio economic conditions, monthly income, number of children in a family, dietary patterns and weight-related behaviors are highly co-related with each other. These findings suggest that education and awareness programs on nutrition should target low income groups to enhance their knowledge on dietary patterns.

Microstructure and performance of AZ80D magnesium alloy by purification of chloride flux containing Er

The purification effects of Er addition in chloride flux during smelting on microstructure, tensile properties, and corrosion resistance of as-cast AZ80 D magnesium alloy were carried out. The results show that Er addition in the flux can eliminate the MgO inclusions and improve the tensile properties and corrosion resistance of the alloy. Using chloride flux mixed with 8.0 wt% Er, σb and δ of the as-cast AZ80 D magnesium alloy can be improved from 150 MPa and 2.1 % to the maximum value of 230 MPa and 4.8 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the corrosion rate decreases from 1.10 to 0.12 mg·（cm^2·d）^-1 in 5 wt% NaCl solution. However, with increasing Er content in chloride flux further, φ-（Al7ErMn5） and τ-（Al66.7Mg23.3Er10） phase are formed, and the morphology of γ-（Mg17Al12） phase is modified. The coarse φ-（Al7ErMn5）phase along dendrite boundaries decreases cohesion force between dendrites, which results in the worse of tensile properties.

Coupled Influence of Temperature and Strain Rate on Tensile Deformation Characteristics of Hot-Extruded AZ31 Magnesium Alloy

To explore the coupled effect of temperature T and strain rate ε on the deformation features of AZ31 Mg alloy, mechanical behaviors and microstructural evolutions as well as surface deformation and damage features were system- atically examined under uniaxial tension at T spanning from 298 to 523 K and ε from 10^-4 to 10^-2 s-1. The increase in T or the decrease in ε leads to the marked decrease in flow stress, the appearance of a stress quasi-plateau after an initially rapid strain hardening, and even to the occurrence of successive strain softening. Correspondingly, the plastic deformation modes of AZ31 Mg alloy transform from the predominant twinning and a limited amount of dislocation slip into the enhanced non-basal slip and the dynamic recrystallization （DRX） together with the weakened twinning. Meanwhile, the cracking modes also change from along grain boundaries （GBs） and at twin boundaries （TBs） or the end of twins into nearby GBs where the DRX has occurred. The appearance of a stress quasi-plateau, the formation of large-sized cracks nearby GBs, and the occurrence of continuous strain softening, are intimately related to the enhancement of the non-basal slip and the DRX.