Changes in Streamflow Regime Due to Anthropogenic Regulations in the Humid Tropical Western Ghats, Kerala State, India

Regulation of streamflow by a reservoir creates a flow regime much different from the preimpoundment period flow regime. Hydro-Electric Projects(HEPs) commissioned in the Western Ghat regions of the Kerala State, India during the last four decades caused considerable changes in the flow regimes of the rivers of the Kerala State in southwest India. In this paper, the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration(IHA) approach proposed by Richter et al.(1996) is used to analyze flow regime changes in the Periyar and Muvattupuzha Rivers, due to the construction of the Idukki(1976), Idamalayar(1987) and Lower Periyar(1997) HEPs in the high ranges of the Western Ghats. Normal rainfall years(annual rainfall values within mean ± 0.75 standard deviation limits) are only considered in the analysis to focus on hydrologic alterations due to human activities. The mean hydrologic alteration in the Periyar River(deviation from the pre-development hydrologic indicator values) after commissioning of three HEPs is 35%. Inter-basin water transfer after power generation from the Idukki HEP resulted in a higher discharge in the adjacent Muvattupuzha River, leading to considerable changes in the hydroenvironment(mean hydrologic alterations varying between 57 to 63%). IHA parameters showing hydrologic alterations above the 67 th Percentile werefurther analyzed. For each of the pre-construction hydrologic parameters ± 1 standard deviation from the mean is set as the upper and lower management target limits. The values of each IHA parameter beyond these targets are considered as nonattainment. Considerable hydrologic alterations are observed, especially for low flows in both basins. Inter-basin transfer induced larger changes in flow parameters compared to intra-basin regulations. The study shows that under a proper water release and diversion scheme, the non-attainment of IHA parameters(values fall beyond the target limits) can be reduced. The findings of the study will be greatly beneficial to regional water management and restoration of an eco-environmental system in the humid tropical region.

Utility Impact below Bridge or Culvert Soffit on Open Channel Flow

The background to this research was a flooding incident that occurred in Bridgend, Co. Donegal, Ireland in August 2017. While several properties were flooded, a flooding case study of a single dwelling house adjacent to the Bridgend River at Riverdale, Bunamayne, Co. Donegal, Ireland is used herein. For this study the flooded site shall be referred to as the “Hegarty property”. A structure in the form of a stone arched culvert is located directly adjacent to the two-storey detached dwelling house on the Hegarty Property. While the culvert is referred to locally as a bridge, within this research the word culvert will be used in connection with the structure. The culvert has a concrete surrounded utility (watermain) crossing at a gradient below the culvert soffit on the upstream face of the structure. The utility obstructed flow through the culvert and contributed to the flooding event. Given the implication of climate change and the increased probability of more extreme flooding events, it was decided to explore the case study to ascertain the factors that contribute to flooding events when utilities are positioned at culvert or bridge structures. This work was completed to assist undergraduate students, researchers, and local authorities in a relatively unknown area of flood causation.

Multi-decadal variations in glacier flow velocity and the influencing factors of Urumqi Glacier No.1 in Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China

Urumqi Glacier No. 1 is a representative glacier in the inland areas of Central Asia and is the only Chinese reference glacier in the World Glacier Monitoring Service. In this study, we explored multi-decadal variations in the flow velocity of the glacier and the influencing factors based on continuous field observations and path coefficient analysis. Results show that the glacier flow velocity decreased from 5.5 m/a in 1980/1981 to 3.3 m/a in 2010/2011. The annual variation in the direction of glacier flow velocity in the western branch and eastern branch was less than 1°–3°, and the change of glacier flow velocity in the western branch was more dramatic than that in the eastern branch. Glacier flow velocity was influenced by glacier morphology（including glacier area, glacier length, and ice thickness）, glacier mass balance and local climate conditions（air temperature and precipitation）, the glacier morphology being the leading factor. The long-term flow velocity data set of Urumqi Glacier No. 1 contributes to a better understanding of glacier dynamics within the context of climatic warming.

血脉宁合剂的制备及对冠心病血液流变学的影响

目的血脉宁合剂的制备与质量控制,观察血脉宁合剂对冠心病患者血液流变学的影响。方法治疗前后取空腹血检测血液流变学指标。结果36例冠心病患者应用血脉宁合剂治疗后,全血黏度、血浆黏度、还原黏度等血液流变学指标均低于治疗前(P<0.05)。结论血脉宁合剂组方恰当,选药合理,制备简单,质量可控,用药后能明显改善冠心病患者的血液流变学,缓解临床症状。

Analysis of the Correlation between Tourism and Climate in the Ancient City of Langzhong

Based on the meteorological data of Langzhong from 1981 to 2016,a comprehensive comfort index model of tourism climate suitable for Langzhong is established by calculating the meteorological and climatic factors affecting tourism in the ancient city of Langzhong.The model is used to evaluate the climate comprehensive comfort of Langzhong,and its grades and suitable tourism periods are divided.Based on the monthly index of passenger flow volume in the ancient city of Langzhong from 2013 to 2015,a mathematical model is established through OLS regression analysis to analyze the correlation between changes in monthly passenger flow volume in a year and the comprehensive comfort of tourism climate in the ancient city of Langzhong.The results show that the climate in Langzhong is suitable for tourism in spring and autumn.It is suitable for tourism from February to June and from September to December,of which it is most suitable for tourism from April to May and from September to October.It is less suitable for tourism in only January and from July to August,and there is no unsuitable period.The changes in monthly passenger flow volume in a year are mainly affected by the meteorology and climate.The changes of climate comprehensive comfort in various month have an extremely significant impact on passenger flow volume.The elastic coefficient of impact of climate comprehensive comfort index on the monthly index of passenger flow volume is 0.9614%.

CHANGES IN THE ENDOCOCHLEAR POTENTIAL AND COCHLEAR BLOOD FLOW INDUCED BY ATP INFUSION AND ARTERIAL OCCLUSION

To assess the relationship between cochlear blood flow (CBF) and auditory function, a procedure of intravital microscopy for observations of the lateral wall vessels of the cochlea coupled with the simultaneous measurement of the endocochlear potential (EP) was established in guinea pigs with gradual ischemia of the cochlea. It was found that occlusions of both common carotid arteries and one of the vertebral arteries produced a minor reduction in CBF with no significant alteration in the EP. When intravenous infusion of ATP induced sharp and severe decreases in CBF, the EP varied only slightly from the baseline in some animals while there were no alteration in others. Furthermore, ATP infusions combined with arterial occlusions caused even more severe declines in CBF and a moderate decrease in the EP. The results indicate that not only does the CBF satisfy the basic needs of the processes of cochlear function, but also has a regulatory mechanism to ensure the normal function of the cochlea in the ischemia condition. It was also found that the changes in the stria vascularis vessels induced by decreases in blood pressure (BP) and heart rates were more severe than those of the spiral ligament vessels. This phenomenon indicated that the stria vascularis vessels were more sensitive to decreases of BP and heart rates.