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With the development of social media tools and the pervasiveness of smart terminals, social media has become a significant source of information for many individuals. However, false information can spread rapidly, which may result in negative social impacts and serious economic losses. Thus, reducing the unfavorable effects of false information has become an urgent challenge. In this paper, a new competitive model called DMCU is proposed to describe the dissemination of information with constant updates in social media. In the model, we focus on the competitive relationship between the original false information and updated information, and then propose the priority of related information. To more effectively evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model, data sets containing actual social media activity are utilized in experiments. Simulation results demonstrate that the DMCU model can precisely describe the process of information dissemination with constant updates, and that it can be used to forecast information dissemination trends on social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tailing discharged in mineral processing plants is not only an economical loss, but also an environmental problem in mining industry. For example, fine grained tailing of Emet Boron Concentrator in Kutahya/Turkey is discharged to the slurry pond. However, the B 2 O 3 content of the tailing is about 26%, and therefore, it can be accepted as a valuable boron source after the determination of suitable method/methods to recycle these tailings. In this context, this study was aimed to utilize a column flotation technique to recycle the colemanite tailings after scrubbing-classification process. The effect of some operational parameters such as bias factor and superficial gas velocity was investigated on column flotation of colemanite in terms of recovery and grade. According to the results, a concentrate having nearly 45% B 2 O 3 with a recovery of 99% was obtained from the tailings sample with 26% B 2 O 3 using the flotation column. Finally, a colemanite concentrate of 43.12% B 2 O 3 was produced with a recovery of 93.46% using scrubbing-classification followed by flotation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, several disastrous tsunamis hit a large area of coastal East Asia, and produced numerous casualties and economic losses. As a country that is also prone to tsunami hazards, Taiwan is in urgent need for more knowledge of past tsunami records and potential tsunamigenic sources. On the basis of detailed geomorphic mapping and field investigations, we identified six sites in the northern part of the Lanyu Island, offshore southeastern Taiwan, with large coral boulders resting on Holocene uplifted coral reef terraces. Boulders of these six sites are all likely moved by extremely strong waves, and four sites have better constraints to suggest that the boulders may indeed be transported during a paleotsunami event. The ages of the boulders suggest that the extremely strong wave events occurred at least several times since the mid-Holocene high stand of sea level. The youngest event may correlate with the 1771 Meiwa tsunami of the southern Ryukyu Islands, but it is more likely to be produced by some undocumented event along the eastern coast of Taiwan. The locations of the coral boulder sites along the northern coast of the Lanyu Island suggest that the sources of the events are located to the north of the island. We believe that our results would provide further information for future tsunami hazard assessments along the eastern coastal area of Taiwan, as well as surrounding areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure of urban drainage capacity to flow surface runoff due to rainfall is possibly to be a factor from many other factors causing flood in urban areas. Big floods in Ambon in 2013 which caused economic loss and loss of human life are the background to conduct a research which is presented in this paper. Ambon is the capital of Maluku Province located in Eastern Indonesia. Recently, the area of the city is developed into settlement area. The research is specifically conducted in Wai Batu Merah Watershed, a watershed in Ambon which severely damage due to floods in 2013. The analysis emphasizes on evaluation of capacity of existing drainage channels (natural and human-made). Daily rainfall data from Pattimura station during 2004 – 2013 is used to be the main data to estimate design rainfall and design flood. Design rainfall is the main data of rainfall-runoff model which is done using Synthetic Unit Hydrograph of SCS. While the fluctuation of water level along the main river is simulated using unsteady flow analyses with an input of 50-year design flood. The result of the simulation shows that one existing tertiary drainage channel cannot accommodate discharge of overland flow and from the upstream to the downstream of Wai Batu Merah River is overflow. Particularly on flood event in 2013, consecutive rainy days occurred since in the beginning of July until mid-August with total depth of rainfall more than triple of 50-year return period of maximum daily rainfall. At that state, flood certainly cannot be avoided in the adjacent area of the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Extreme fire events, also referred to as “megafires,” are not uncommon events on a global scale; they tend to happen a steady frequency in different parts of the world, although, at a local or regional scale, they constitute unique and severe fire episodes. Even if there is not a complete agreement on the term, megafires often refers to those fire events that cause catastrophic damages in terms of human casualties, economic losses, or both. In this article we analyze some of the most damaging fire episodes in Europe in the last decades. Our analysis relates the events to existing conditions in terms of number of fires and burnt areas in the countries and regions where they occurred, showing that these large fire episodes do not follow the general trend of those variables and constitute outstanding critical events. Megafires are characterized on the basis of the meteorological and fire danger conditions prior to the event and those under which they develop. Impact is assessed in terms of total burnt area, estimates of economic losses, if available, and number of human casualties caused by the megafire event. We analyze fire-fighting means available for the extinction of each megafire, as reported in the annual reports of the European Commission, to determine if fire spread might have been related to lack of available means for initial control and extinction. All countries where the reported megafires took place are in fire prone areas where active fire campaigns take place every year. Our results determine that megafires are critical events that stand out with respect to the average conditions in the respective countries; in all cases, the impact of the fires set a record damage in the country or region where the megafire event took place. It is shown that, in the cases under study, megafires were driven by critical weather conditions that lead to a concentration of numerous large fires in time and space (fire clusters). It is shown that these megafire events occurred independently of the large expenditures in forest fire fighting means and increased preparedness in the countries where they took place. The simultaneity in fire ignitions and the rapid fire spread prevented efficient initial fire attacks. Therefore, megafires occur independently of the available fire means in the countries and are set under control only when the weather conditions improve and facilitate fire fighting. Our analysis supports a series of recommendations that are seek to promote fire-prevention oriented forest management and increase awareness on potential extreme fire events to prevent the occurrence of megafires in Mediterranean regions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) has caused significant economic losses in shrimp farming industry. In this paper, WSSV was injected into Penaeus vannamei and the survivors were used for breeding of WSSV-resistant broodstock. During year 2002 to 2007, 120 full-sib WSSV-resistant families were established. Experimental WSSV challenging tests showed that the survival rates of generation 2 (G2), G3, G4 and G5 were 5.57±9.83%, 7.78±10.89%, 9.52±8.84% and 13.79±11.52%, respectively. Furthermore, the time-until-death prolonged gradually from G2 to G5. Shrimps with the highest WSSV resistance from G4 families were selected and assayed for commercial performance in outdoor ponds. In commercial outdoor ponds, the survival rate, production and harvest body weight of these shrimps were 25.33%, 82.14% and 34.51% higher than those of unselected shrimps, respectively, and the feed coefficient was 13.86% lower. Thus, the WSSV resistance and commercial performance of these shrimps have been apparently improved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]