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Noise pollution is an important environmental problem and in comparison, to other pollutants, the control of environmental noise has been hampered by insufficient knowledge as well as a lack of criteria. Power Plant industries have worldwide substantial progress and noise pollution is one of the considerable environmental impacts of various processes of these industries. This cross-sectional research aimed to study the sound levels to control noise pollution at different sections of the Mazandaran Thermal Power Plant in Iran. Sound pressure level measurements and frequency analysis were performed using the net" method where the results were compared with ACGIH Threshold Limit Values. It was found that inside the factory most of the measuring stations have high sound levels in comparison to industrial standards of 85 dB(A). Office buildings have the lowest sound pressure among measured areas. As 43% of measured stations are located in danger areas. Also, environmental noise measurements around Mazandaran Power Plant as an industrial residential area have revealed that sound levels were not higher than the admissible standards in Iran. The electricity generator's fan and Feed Water Pump section produce high levels of noise; therefore, a silencer and an enclosure were designed respectively. The amount of noise reduction for the enclosure was 38.7 dB(A) while the values of insertion loss and for the silencer 63.9 dB(A) reduction has been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for electricity is increasing tremendously globally with the development of countries. To fulfill the supply of electricity, many countries have already adopted renewable energy sources. The production of electricity from hydraulic energy sources is one of the oldest methods. The axial flow water turbine can efficiently generate energy from the water flow with a very low head. The current investigation is focused on enhancing the performance of the axial turbine by providing an enclosure around the rotor. The initial experiments were carried out with only the upstream enclosure. The optimized upstream enclosure was taken with different lengths of downstream enclosure for further investigations. The current investigation concluded that the maximum efficiency using only an upstream enclosure is 89.48%, which is around 3.20% higher compared with the bare turbine. The optimum efficiency was found at upstream-side length ratio (ULR)=0.46 (upstream enclosure length LU=40 mm). With using the optimum ULR=0.46 , the maximum efficiency for the downstream enclosure was found at downstream-side length ratio (DLR)=0.23 (downstream enclosure length LD=20 mm). The highest efficiency value for this axial runner was obtained at 90.89%, which is 4.83% higher compared with the bare turbine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Computer Measurement & Control is the property of Magazine Agency of Computer Measurement & Control and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This work is devoted to the study of the influence of height and the number of heaters on the nature of the flow and isotherms in a three-dimensional cube filled with Al2O3/H2O nanofluid with a volume fraction of 1% at Pr = 7.06586. Numerical simulation was performed on the base of the numerical finite volume method and the coupled scheme. It simulated the natural convection with nanofluid. Verification of the mathematical model was performed by comparing the results with the results of other authors. Having obtained satisfactory results, numerical results of U and V velocities, temperature contours and calculations of average Nusselt numbers for six cases of the main problems were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In multi-objective mixed-integer convex optimization, multiple convex objective functions need to be optimized simultaneously while some of the variables are restricted to take integer values. In this paper, we present a new algorithm to compute an enclosure of the nondominated set of such optimization problems. More precisely, we decompose the multi-objective mixed-integer convex optimization problem into several multi-objective continuous convex optimization problems, which we refer to as patches. We then dynamically compute and improve coverages of the nondominated sets of those patches to finally combine them to obtain an enclosure of the nondominated set of the multi-objective mixed-integer convex optimization problem. Additionally, we introduce a mechanism to reduce the number of patches that need to be considered in total. Our new algorithm is the first of its kind and guaranteed to return an enclosure of prescribed quality within a finite number of iterations. For selected numerical test instances we compare our new criterion space based approach to other algorithms from the literature and show that much larger instances can be solved with our new algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work numerically demonstrates the uniform magnetohydrodynamics Newtonian, laminar natural convection in elliptical cold enclosure with inner hot circular body considering the influence of its vertical movement on the fluid flow and heat transfer. The gap area between the elliptical enclosure and the inner body had been filled by the Al2O3-water nanofluid in the upper layer, whereas lower layer has been filled by the porous medium that has been saturated by an identical nanofluid. The local thermal equilibrium model had been implemented to model the nanofluid and porous media. Additionally, Darcy–Brinkman model considered in the representation of the porous media. The three governing equations of heat and fluid flow like energy and momentum of fluid, in addition to the continuity equation, had been solved numerically utilising finite element formulation. The parameters under investigation are the Rayleigh number value $\left({{{10}^3} \le Ra \le {{10}^6}} \right)$103≤Ra≤106, Darcy number $\left({{{10}^{ - 5}} \le Da \le {{10}^{ - 1}}} \right)$10−5≤Da≤10−1, and Hartmann number $\left({0 \le Ha \le 60} \right)$0≤Ha≤60. Additionally, two geometrical parameters had been selected, which are the three different locations of inner cylinder (top, middle, bottom), as well as the four different values of the enclosure’s orientation angle $\left({\gamma = 0^\circ ,\gamma = 90^\circ ,\gamma = 180^\circ ,\gamma = 270^\circ } \right)$γ=0∘,γ=90∘,γ=180∘,γ=270∘. The results have been presented to reflect the influence of the abovementioned parameters on isotherms and streamlines, besides Nusselt’s number. It has been proved that to improve the heat transfer rate, it is better to locate inner body in bottom region. The Nusselt number increases by 17.44% when it is moved from the top to the bottom. Additionally, the Nusselt number along the elliptical enclosure attached to the nanofluid layer when rotating the elliptical body from $\left({\gamma = 0^\circ } \right)$γ=0∘ into $\left({\gamma = 180^\circ } \right)$γ=180∘ leads to lower the Nusselt number by 32.3372%. This result is exactly inverse considering Nusselt number along nanofluid–porous layer which proved that increasing the orientation angle from $\left({\gamma = 0^\circ } \right)$γ=0∘ to $\left({\gamma = 180^\circ } \right)$γ=180∘ contributed to enhancing Nusselt number by 24.7009%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn the present investigation, a numerical investigation of the flow and heat transfer characteristics inside an L-shaped enclosure with a flexible fin and an elastic wall has been carried out using the finite element method. The Fluid-Structure Interaction model is used to capture the interaction between the fluid and the solid structure. The free end of the flexible fin is exposed to sinusoidal vertical force and the upper wall of the enclosure is considered to be elastic and a sinusoidal force is applied on this elastic wall. The obtained results showed that the fluid flow through the enclosure is entirely influenced by the periodic oscillation of the flexible fin and elastic wall. Besides, the Nusselt number over the horizontal and vertical hot walls of the L-shaped enclosure is strongly affected by the amplitude and frequency of the applied sinusoidal forces on the flexible fin and elastic wall. The heat transfer over the vertical hot wall is enhanced considerably with an increase in the amplitude and frequency of the applied sinusoidal forces. Moreover, the Nusselt number over the hot vertical wall is increased with the decrease of the elastic modulus value of the elastic wall. The results also show that the combination of the flexible fin and elastic wall has contributed to the extra enhancement of the Nusselt number over the hot vertical wall of the L-shaped enclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the spread of telework and web conferencing as well as the growing need to value private time and space, we aim to create the ultimate private acoustic space, a Personalized Sound Zone (PSZ), that delivers only the sounds you want to hear and blocks the sounds you do not want to hear. As part of this effort, we have been researching and developing a new spot-sound-reproduction technology that confines unwanted sounds from speakers to a very small space. This technology will create an area where sound can only be heard near the speaker by appropriately controlling opposite-phase sound waves emitted from the back of the speaker. This technology will enable the NTT Group to provide a variety of unique PSZ audio equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores some challenges of archaeological interpretation and classification through an enclosure at Inchnadamph in Sutherland, northwestern Scotland, a site that has proven difficult to interpret. Despite a small number of archaeological interventions, including topographic and geophysical survey and excavation, the site remains enigmatic. We discuss the different interpretations suggested for the site in turn, concluding that the enclosure does not fit readily into existing classification schemes. This raises issues surrounding the use of classification systems, prior assumptions, and the need for critical thinking in interpretation. These are universal issues, applicable beyond the Scottish example chosen, and this paper highlights concerns and difficulties encountered by all who deal with the classification of sites and monuments. Ultimately, this challenges some of our preconceptions and sheds light on the limits of our knowledge, as well as the limits of our classification systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the complexities of agency in contemporary territory-based mobilisations in the countryside by focusing on water struggles in Turkey. Using a historical-spatial approach, it combines agrarian political economy analysis with human-nature interactions. Through an analysis of cash crop production and urban-rural interactions, this contribution argues that capitalist agrarian transformation in Turkey led to the emergence of an 'urban middle class with peasant characteristics', with a strong capacity for mobilisation and alliance-building. It also argues that this group enabled abstraction, place-framing and aestheticised resistance, common elements we observe in contemporary territorial mobilisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty reduction and fisheries management in Madagascar have converged on the marine seascape, directed at an unassuming creature: the sea cucumber. In southwestern Madagascar, the enclosure of what was once a common pool resource has led to violence and new gendered seascapes. This form of blue grabbing, promoted by private companies and NGOs alike as an avenue to achieve conservation and develop coastal economies, has fundamentally restructured property relations and who benefits from marine resources. Sea cucumber pens, established in some areas with the input of a narrow local elite and guarded at times by the police have become high risk environments where fishers report injury and death, pointing to important questions about the metrics and means of sustainable production in the marine realm, and whose interests and access to marine resources are prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil fungi are involved in the decomposition of organic matter, and they alter soil structure and physicochemical properties and drive the material cycle and energy flow in terrestrial ecosystems. Fungal community assembly processes were dissimilar in different soil layers and significantly affected soil microbial community function and plant growth. Grazing exclusion is one of the most common measures used to restore degraded grasslands worldwide. However, changes in soil fungal community characteristics during grazing exclusion in different types of grasslands are unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of a 9‐year grazing exclusion on soil properties, fungal community composition, and diversity in three grassland types (temperate desert, temperate steppe, and mountain meadow). The results showed that (1) in the 0–5 cm soil layer, grazing exclusion significantly increased the differences in SWC, SOC, KN, and N:P among the three grassland types, while the final pH, BD, TP, C:N, and C:P values were consistent with the results before exclusion. In the 5–10 cm soil layer, grazing exclusion significantly increased total phosphorus (TP) in temperate deserts by 34.1%, while significantly decreasing bulk density (BD) by 9.8% and the nitrogen: phosphorus ratio (N:P) by 47.1%. (2) The soil fungal community composition differed among the grassland types, For example, significant differences were found among the three grassland types for the Glomeromycota and Mucoromycota. (3) Under the influence of both grazing exclusion and grassland type, there was no significant change in soil fungal alpha diversity, but there were significant differences in fungal beta diversity. (4) Grassland type was the most important factor influencing changes in fungal community diversity, and vegetation cover and soil kjeldahl nitrogen were the main factors influencing fungal diversity. Our research provides a long‐term perspective for better understanding and managing different grasslands, as well as a better scientific basis for future research on grass–soil–microbe interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decade of research concentrating on the area of Eastern Slavonia revealed an abundance of large and complex Middle and Late Neolithic sites. It changed profoundly how we perceive Middle and Late Neolithic settlements, including space, size and organization. The vast majority of these sites were detected through aerial reconnaissance and satellite image analysis. The observation of the sites was followed by intensive field surveys, which confirmed their attribution to the Middle and Late Neolithic period by surface finds. On those confirmed sites in the vicinity of Đakovo, Croatia, a magnetic survey was conducted on five sites, and the results confirmed the presence of large-scale Middle and Late Neolithic settlements with complex spatial organization and enclosure(s). The most complex remains so far are the sites Gorjani, Kremenjača and Topole, which we present in this paper, where one or two settlements remain covering an area of 70 hectares which is currently in the process of formal protection as a cultural landscape by the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia. The special focus of this paper is the application of remote sensing in the detection, archaeological confirmation and protection of the site of Gorjani Topole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present work investigates the heat transfer and melting behaviour of phase change material (PCM) in six enclosures (enclosure-1 to 6) filled with paraffin wax. Proposed enclosures are equipped with distinct arrangements of the fins while keeping the fin's surface area equal in each case. Comparative analysis has been presented to recognize the suitable fin arrangements that facilitate improved heat transfer and melting rate of the PCM. Left wall of the enclosure is maintained isothermal for the temperature values 335 K, 350 K and 365 K. Dimensionless length of the enclosure including fins is ranging between 0 and 1. Results have been illustrated through the estimation of important performance parameters such as energy absorbing capacity, melting rate, enhancement ratio, and Nusselt number. It has been found that melting time (to melt 100% of the PCM) is 60.5% less in enclosure-2 (with two fins of equal length) as compared to the enclosure-1, having no fins. Keeping the fin surface area equal, if the longer fin is placed below the shorter fin (enclosure-3), melting time is further decreased by 14.1% as compared to enclosure-2. However, among all the configurations, enclosure-6 with wire-mesh fin structure exhibits minimum melting time which is 68.4% less as compared to the enclosure-1. Based on the findings, it may be concluded that fins are the main driving agent in the enclosure to transfer the heat from heated wall to the PCM. Proper design and positioning of the fins improve the heat transfer rate followed by melting of the PCM in the entire area of the enclosure. Evolution of the favourable vortices and natural convection current in the enclosure accelerate the melting phenomenon and help to reduce charging time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the sense of place (SoP) as a function of spatial characteristics of Buffalo, New York's Elmwood Village, an award-winning American neighbourhood for its perceived strong SoP. The primary aim is to provide empirical proof of this claimed strength of the neighbourhood's SoP at the building, street and neighbourhood scales and to offer a multi-dimensional understanding of SoP by investigating its four sub-indicators, namely place attachment, place identity, place dependence and nature bonding. By studying the perceptual dynamics with a survey method, place identity and place attachment were identified as the most important determinants of SoP at the neighbourhood scale, while place identity and place dependence took the lead at smaller scales. The study of spatial dynamics showed that SoP can be improved to varied degrees for each of the four sub-indicators based on variances in building and street characteristics. For instance, residing in single-family houses or houses with three-and-more bedrooms may result in higher SoP; or place identity may be affected by the open sky coverage or vegetation coverage, etc. Elmwood Village has demonstrated the power of SoP at all scales, and the neighbourhood itself undoubtedly holds a special place in the hearts of its residents. Overall, planners and designers should concentrate on which spatial qualities and scales should be prioritised in future improvement plans to maintain and/or build SoP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat transfer by convection is widely used in many engineering applications such as in heat exchangers, combustion devices or gas processing. In Buildings, the use of rough surfaces allows enhancing heat transfer rates. Practically, in this study, a rough surface is obtained by using protuberances on the vertical left wall. In this perspective, the originality of this research is to study the influence of the protuberance geometric shapes on the heat transfer using 2D numerical simulations as a tool investigation. The homotopic transformation is used to reach a flat plate. The system of equations with the boundary conditions is solved using the finite volume method. A simple algorithm is chosen for the integration of algebraic equations. The governing equations are figured out using ANSYS FLUENT commercial software with SIMPLE algorithm in order to solve pressure-velocity coupling. The numerical simulations have been performed for different shapes of the protuberances (battlement, triangular and sinusoidal). The boundary conditions are based on a uniform heat flux applied to the vertical wall. On the other hand, the horizontal walls are subject to the adiabatic condition. It can be noticed that the effect of the wavy geometry induces a noticeable improvement of the heat transfer rate compared to an enclosure without protuberances. It can also conclude that the wavy configuration exhibits a Nusselt average slightly higher than that of the square cavity, particularly the triangular configuration, by approximately 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasslands in northern China serve the country as both an ecological barrier and a livestock production base. There, installing enclosures has been becoming the major grassland restoration measure adopted by many local governments. However, the effects of restoration on both ecological and production benefits of grassland remain unclear for implemented grassland restoration policies. Therefore, a representative rangeland in northern China, the Maodeng pasture in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region was selected as the study area, and remote sensing monitoring analyses were carried out to quantify the ecological benefits and economic benefits from 2015 to 2021. The results showed that: 1) in terms of ecological benefits, the grassland area with a grassland coverage rate of more than 60% accounts for 32.3% of the regional area, and 86.4% of its grassland grew significantly better than the same period in 2015, showing a significant improvement in grassland growth. Using the average amount of carbon per unit area as the ecological benefit evaluation index, it increased by 27.1% to 32.48Tg C/yr from 2015 to 2021. 2) In terms of economic benefits, both theoretical grass production and livestock carrying capacity increased from 2015 to 2021. Compared to 2015, the theoretical grass production in 2021 increased by 24.8% to 71 900 t. The livestock carrying capacity reached 52 100 sheep units in 2021, nearly 11 000 sheep units more than that in 2015. During the study period, multiple economic indicators (on a per capita basis of permanent residents) for the pastoral area of Xilin Hot City to which the Maodeng pasture belongs, have grown steadily. Per capita total income rose from 29 630 yuan (RMB) in 2015 to 62 859 yuan (RMB) in 2021. Relying on grassland resources to develop the pastoral ecology also broadens the potential economic development space. Overall, the establishment of the reserve and the experiment of implanting an enclosure policy have had a significant and positive impact on Maodeng pasture's development from both an ecological and economic perspective. With the support of scientific evidence, enclosure policy can be extended to more than 110 000 km2 of grasslands in northern China with similar precipitation and temperature conditions, enhancing the productive and ecological potential of grasslands. The above research results will contribute to the scientific formulation of grassland pasture quality improvement plans in northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storage enclosures made of paper-based materials are commonly used to store and classify archival documents for their hygrothermal buffering effect. However, there is little information about papermaking and quantitative studies on such an effect. Aiming to assess the feasibility of using the enclosure to buffer temperature and relative humidity fluctuations, without any detrimental effect on the collections, this paper reports four measurements and a feasibility assessment: thermophysical properties of the enclosure material, hygroscopic properties of the material, air change rate of the enclosure, buffering effect in a climate chamber and the assessment of safeguarding collections without causing any detrimental effect. The measurement results show that the enclosure can buffer macro-environmental fluctuations, which was considered sufficient to mitigate temperature and humidity fluctuations from the room environment and to secure a condition inside that is safe for the collections. The paper-based material determines the buffering capacity of the enclosure, and an appropriate air change rate ensures average temperature and relative humidity inside the enclosure at a controllable level and prevents off-gassing accumulation. This work provides assurance that using enclosures is an effective approach to collection storage and establishes a significant basis for further heat–air–moisture simulation and energy-saving optimisation study in the service operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The diversity-productivity relationship is a central issue in maintaining the grassland ecosystem’s multifunctionality and supporting its sustainable management. Currently, the mainstream opinion on the diversity-productivity relationship recognizes that increases in species diversity promote ecosystem productivity.Methods: Here, we challenge this opinion by developing a generalized additive model-based framework to quantify the response rate of grassland productivity to plant species diversity using vegetation survey data we collected along a land-use intensity gradient in northern China.Results: Our results show that the grassland aboveground biomass responds significantly positively to the Shannon-Wiener diversity index at a rate of 46.8 g m-2 per unit increase of the Shannon-Wiener index in enclosure-managed grasslands, under the co-influence of climate and landscape factors. The aboveground biomass response rate stays positive at a magnitude of 47.1 g m-2 in forest understory grassland and 39.7 g m-2 in wetland grassland. Conversely, the response rate turns negative in heavily grazed grasslands at -55.8 g m-2, transiting via near-neutral rates of -7.0 and -7.3 g m-2 in mowing grassland and moderately grazed grassland, respectively.Discussion: These results suggest that the diversity-productivity relationship in temperate grasslands not only varies by magnitude but also switches directions under varying levels of land use intensity. This highlights the need to consider land use intensity as a more important ecological integrity indicator for future ecological conservation programs in temperate grasslands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the recently introduced branch-and-bound method for continuous multiobjective optimization problems from G. Eichfelder, P. Kirst, L. Meng, O. Stein [A general branch-and-bound framework for continuous global multiobjective optimization. J Glob Optim. 2021;80:195–227], we study for a general class of branch-and-bound methods in which sense the generated terminal enclosure and the terminal provisional nondominated set approximate the nondominated set when the termination accuracy is driven to zero. Our convergence analysis of the enclosures relies on constructions from the above paper, but is self-contained and also covers the mixed-integer case. The analysis for the provisional nondominated set is based on general convergence properties of the epsilon-nondominated set, and hence it is also applicable to other algorithms which generate such points. Furthermore, we discuss post-processing steps for the terminal enclosure and provide numerical illustrations for the cases of two and three objective functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuadernos de Prehistoria y Arqueologia is the property of Cuadernos de Prehistoria y Arqueologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: The phenomenon of desertification has always been considered as one of the most important challenges facing Iran, which has been aggravated by human and climatic factors in recent years. Therefore, it is necessary to implement anti-desertification plans and projects set through the Development planning to curb desertification and restore and improve degraded lands. In this regard, the severity of the phenomenon can be decreased by applying appropriate management solutions and methods and preventing its expansion and progress. Implementing anti-desertification management and rehabilitation projects according to the ecological conditions of each region improves the condition of the vegetation, strengthens the soil stability, and protects the soil from the risks of water and wind erosion. Therefore, analyzing different aspects of the anti-desertification projects which are planned and carried out by the government is required for improving management in the natural resources sector. One such measure can be the restoration of desert pastures with regard to unfavorable climatic conditions. Thus, this study set out to investigate the influence of anti-desertification management and restoration projects in improving soil stability indicators and vegetation characteristics. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in four sites located in the Yazd-Ardakan plain, including the seedling site, the water weed management site, the mulched site, and the enclosure site. The main species investigated in each of these sites was Haloxylon aphyllum. To this end, four transects were placed in the site at regular intervals. It should be noted that the transects were placed parallel and perpendicular to each other in flat and sloping areas, respectively. The number of plots on each transect was 15 and the area of the plots was 210 cm. Moreover, the index Plant characteristics such as canopy percentage, density, reproduction, and freshness of Haloxylon aphyllum species were measured. Finally, after collecting the required data, statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software. Results: According to the results of statistical analysis performed via independent t-test, a statistically significant difference was found in the percentage of vegetation and density at the error level of 1% in all investigated sites. Duncan's multiple range test revealed significant differences in mean values among treatments. The treatment associated with herbaz exhibited the highest mean values for vegetation cover (72.5%), plant density (75.4), regeneration (542.0), and vigor (33.61). Conversely, the treatment subjected to enclosure showed the lowest mean values for vegetation cover (68.1%), plant density (2.0), regeneration (111.0), and vigor (24.12). Conclusion: Compared to the control area, the percentage of vegetation and density of the effective area was significant in the seedling site (where the seedling project is based on seedling irrigation), which is due to the lack of suitable conditions and rainfall in the seed establishment. The wastewater management site demonstrated increased vegetation cover and density due to enhanced water infiltration and readily available moisture, which facilitated plant establishment and growth. Similarly, the mulched site exhibited higher vegetation cover and density compared to the control, attributable to the creation of a subsurface moisture layer beneath the mulch, providing a favorable environment for seed germination and plant development In the enclosure site which is less affected by human changes, the amount of soil erosion and ecosystem destruction is lower than other sites in all dimensions, leading to the higher percentage of vegetation and plant density. The establishment and expansion of vegetation cover through various methods have been implemented in recent decades as a means to combat desertification and mitigate the damages caused by dust storms in arid regions. However, water scarcity poses a significant constraint. Consequently, it is recommended that, in the context of desertification management and rehabilitation projects in the Yazd-Ardakan plain, the most effective approaches be prioritized as follows: runoff water management, mulching, afforestation, and enclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the changes in species diversity and the spatial pattern of the population of a moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest community in the Wuyi Mountain Nature Reserve in Fujian Province, China. Using the method of space–time substitution, the composition of species and changes in the spatial patterns of different communities were analyzed by taking Phyllostachys edulis mixed forests after 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 40 years of enclosure as the survey object. The results showed that as the number of years of enclosure extended, the important values of the Japanese bay tree (Machilus thunbergii Sieb. & Zucc.), chinquapin (Castanopsis faberi Hance), and Masson's pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) increased continuously. These trees became the dominant species of mature forest after 40 years of enclosure. The species diversity of mature and young trees in the community generally increased in parallel with the years of enclosure, and the species diversity of the shrubs generally increased first and then decreased as the number of years of enclosure increased. With the extension of enclosure years, the average diameter at breast height of the mature trees tended to increase, indicating that there were increasing advantages of mature growth as the time of enclosure increased. With the extension of enclosure years, the pattern of spatial distribution of the mature trees in the forest community was generally an aggregated distribution. The Phyllostachys edulis forest community under the prolonged enclosure conditions responded in a positive direction and ultimately formed a more stable Phyllostachys edulis mixed forest community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, scholars of the here-and-now have (re)discovered the concept of enclosure, applying it with considerable zeal and in a bewildering variety of situations: from the securitisation of the Internet, and patenting genes, to attempts to privatise urban 'public' spaces, the English 'enclosure story' is presented as a given, a narrative that is set in stone. One critical aspect of this account is that enclosure was exported to Britain's overseas colonies in a one-way process. This paper shows, however, that from the early sixteenth century – and insistently so from the late eighteenth century – arguments for the enclosure of English commons and wastes were framed using techniques and discourses deployed overseas: the languages and practices of colonialism. Commons and wastes, so the paper argues, were not just increasingly seen as empty spaces, but the peoples that inhabited them were written as if they were uncivilised and unable to manage the land. Further, arguments for the enclosure of wastes were made as an alternative to Britain's overseas imperialism. The paper traces a variety of debates and proposals that collectively constitute a coherent body of 'internal colonial' thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During a study on the outdoor floating leaf blade production of Nymphoides peltata (S.G. Gmel.) O. Kuntze (Fringed Water Lily), initial leaf blade decomposition was studied by simultaneously measuring infected, damaged and lost area of floating leaf blades. Methods: Data on initial decomposition over time were collected for all leaves during one growth season in four plots: two in outdoor mesocosms and two in an oxbow lake. Each leaf was tagged uniquely upon appearance in a plot. The vegetation in the mesocosms differed with respect to plant species, one contained a monoculture of N. peltata and the other N. peltata associated with Glyceria fluitans (L.) R. Br. and G. maxima (Hartm.) Holmb. The lake plots were situated within a monospecific N. peltata stand, differing in depth and position within the stand. Leaf length, visually estimated percentages of damaged area for each damage type, and decay of the tagged leaves were recorded bi-weekly. When the leaf blades sunk under the water surface or disappeared completely, they were no longer followed. Under water the leaves decayed and were consumed by snails completely, so contributing to the detritus food chain. Results: The observed causes of damage on floating leaves were consumption and/or damage by waterbirds (Fulica atra), pond snails, caterpillars (Elophila nymphaeata, Cataclysta lemnata), chironomid larvae (Cricotopus trifasciatus), infection by a phytopathogenic fungus (Septoria villarsiae), senescence by autolysis, and microbial decay. Successional changes in causes of leaf decomposition and impacts of different causes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Soil fungi are involved in the decomposition of organic matter, and they alter soil structure and physicochemical properties and drive the material cycle and energy flow in terrestrial ecosystems. Fungal community assembly processes were dissimilar in different soil layers and significantly affected soil microbial community function and plant growth. Grazing exclusion is one of the most common measures used to restore degraded grasslands worldwide. However, changes in soil fungal community characteristics during grazing exclusion in different types of grasslands are unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of a 9‐year grazing exclusion on soil properties, fungal community composition, and diversity in three grassland types (temperate desert, temperate steppe, and mountain meadow). The results showed that (1) in the 0–5 cm soil layer, grazing exclusion significantly increased the differences in SWC, SOC, KN, and N:P among the three grassland types, while the final pH, BD, TP, C:N, and C:P values were consistent with the results before exclusion. In the 5–10 cm soil layer, grazing exclusion significantly increased total phosphorus (TP) in temperate deserts by 34.1%, while significantly decreasing bulk density (BD) by 9.8% and the nitrogen: phosphorus ratio (N:P) by 47.1%. (2) The soil fungal community composition differed among the grassland types, For example, significant differences were found among the three grassland types for the Glomeromycota and Mucoromycota. (3) Under the influence of both grazing exclusion and grassland type, there was no significant change in soil fungal alpha diversity, but there were significant differences in fungal beta diversity. (4) Grassland type was the most important factor influencing changes in fungal community diversity, and vegetation cover and soil kjeldahl nitrogen were the main factors influencing fungal diversity. Our research provides a long‐term perspective for better understanding and managing different grasslands, as well as a better scientific basis for future research on grass–soil–microbe interactions.

The article presents the publication and diverse interpretation of materials from the excavations of the enclosures of the Ak-Dag complex, located in the Erzin district of the Tuva Republic. The objects under study were investigated by the archaeological expedition under the leadership of M.Kh. Mannay-ool in 1961. Despite the importance of the information obtained during the excavations, these data were not published and were not used in the development of well-known concepts of the history of the region. The article provides a detailed description of the studied enclosures, as well as an analysis of the fixed features of structures, elements of ritual practice and inventory items. It has been established that the dating of objects can be determined by the framework of the second half of the 5th – 6th centuries AD with the possibility of narrowing the chronology, taking into account the known historical context, to the middle – the second half of the 6th century AD. The Ak-Dag enclosures, as well as other, so far a very few complexes of Tuva of this period, testify to the emergence in this region of a new population group, close in tradition to the Altai nomads. There is every reason to assert that these processes are associated with the military campaigns of the Turks, which led to the creation of the First Khaganate.

The coastal commons are increasingly contested around the world, coming under pressure from competing interests. In particular, the discourses of ‘blue economy’ and ‘blue growth’ have become powerful buzzwords, giving rise to concerns about the impacts on communities depending on coastal resources, such as small-scale fishers. In Norway, aquaculture is the second-most important export industry in the country, but there are increasing conflicts with other interests, including small-scale fishers and coastal Sami. In this article, I trace how the push for gaining recognition for a State-backed fundamental right to fish for small-scale fishers in Finnmark, including coastal Sami, was modified and rescaled to become an issue of balancing competing interests at the local level through municipal planning processes. Drawing on insights from socio-spatial scholarship, I argue that more explicit attention to spatialities of coastal conflicts is important in understanding conflicts in the coastal commons. I propose the term ‘blue spatial justice’ as a means to supplement and enrich the existing concept of blue justice to encompass a sensibility to the spatial dimensions of justice struggles.

Despite termite-induced soil mixing, summarizing termite-affected soil horizons is difficult, while the lack of accurate information on the pedogenic processes featured by termite bioturbation, topography, and land use limits an effort to address land degradation. A study was therefore carried out to quantitatively classify the soils and describe them based on rangeland uses. Based on cluster analysis, five representative soil profiles were studied at different topographical positions. Soil samples were collected from mounds and adjacent soils under enclosure, cultivated, and open-grazing land at the summit and foot slope positions. Agglomerative clustering showed low Ca2+, CEC, pH, and Mg2+ that described cambic horizons formed Cambisols at the summit and back slope. Eluviation-illuviation processes formed Luvisols on the toe slope and foot slope, whereas clay and high CEC described argic horizons. High Ca2+, CEC, pH, and Mg2+ described calcic horizons that formed Calcisols on the bottom slope. Divisive clustering showed that soil properties varied slightly between Cambisols and Luvisols at different topographies. However, the Luvisols on the toe slope were differentiated from the soil on the foot slope by predominant pedogenetic clay formation and a distinctly increased CEC. Calcisols are placed in other clusters due to their distinct properties. Agglomerative clustering reflected pedogenic processes and differentiated diagnostic horizons, while divisive clustering matched WRB classification. The results of this study also showed that termite-mediated soil properties were dictated by rangeland use, and pedogenesis was more noticeable on open-grazing land than on enclosure or cultivated land.

Background During a study on the outdoor floating leaf blade production of Nymphoides peltata (S.G. Gmel.) O. Kuntze (Fringed Water Lily), initial leaf blade decomposition was studied by simultaneously measuring infected, damaged and lost area of floating leaf blades. Methods Data on initial decomposition over time were collected for all leaves during one growth season in four plots: two in outdoor mesocosms and two in an oxbow lake. Each leaf was tagged uniquely upon appearance in a plot. The vegetation in the mesocosms differed with respect to plant species, one contained a monoculture of N. peltata and the other N. peltata associated with Glyceria fluitans (L.) R. Br. and G. maxima (Hartm.) Holmb. The lake plots were situated within a monospecific N. peltata stand, differing in depth and position within the stand. Leaf length, visually estimated percentages of damaged area for each damage type, and decay of the tagged leaves were recorded bi-weekly. When the leaf blades sunk under the water surface or disappeared completely, they were no longer followed. Under water the leaves decayed and were consumed by snails completely, so contributing to the detritus food chain. Results The observed causes of damage on floating leaves were consumption and/or damage by waterbirds (Fulica atra), pond snails, caterpillars (Elophila nymphaeata, Cataclysta lemnata), chironomid larvae (Cricotopus trifasciatus), infection by a phytopathogenic fungus (Septoria villarsiae), senescence by autolysis, and microbial decay. Successional changes in causes of leaf decomposition and impacts of different causes are discussed.

IntroductionThe diversity-productivity relationship is a central issue in maintaining the grassland ecosystem’s multifunctionality and supporting its sustainable management. Currently, the mainstream opinion on the diversity-productivity relationship recognizes that increases in species diversity promote ecosystem productivity.MethodsHere, we challenge this opinion by developing a generalized additive model-based framework to quantify the response rate of grassland productivity to plant species diversity using vegetation survey data we collected along a land-use intensity gradient in northern China.ResultsOur results show that the grassland aboveground biomass responds significantly positively to the Shannon-Wiener diversity index at a rate of 46.8 g m-2 per unit increase of the Shannon-Wiener index in enclosure-managed grasslands, under the co-influence of climate and landscape factors. The aboveground biomass response rate stays positive at a magnitude of 47.1 g m-2 in forest understory grassland and 39.7 g m-2 in wetland grassland. Conversely, the response rate turns negative in heavily grazed grasslands at -55.8 g m-2, transiting via near-neutral rates of -7.0 and -7.3 g m-2 in mowing grassland and moderately grazed grassland, respectively.DiscussionThese results suggest that the diversity-productivity relationship in temperate grasslands not only varies by magnitude but also switches directions under varying levels of land use intensity. This highlights the need to consider land use intensity as a more important ecological integrity indicator for future ecological conservation programs in temperate grasslands.

The ventilation equipment for enclosed spaces or office rooms is specified according National Building Code of India published by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Natural ventilation periodically together with mechanical ventilation is recommended to remove pollutants. The need to study fire and smoke behavior inside a completely closed room with air intake and exhaust vents becomes important in case of low or no mechanical ventilation service. An experimental study on unsteady heptane pool fires of different sizes in their initial stages was conducted in a cubical fire test chamber of 27 m³ inside dimensions. The compartment was naturally ventilated with a typical configuration of a vertical intake on a side wall and an exhaust vent at the ceiling leading into a duct. Three circular pans of diameters 0.34, 0.47 and 0.61 m were employed to generate the fire with n-heptane as fuel on a bed of water. Temperatures, wall heat fluxes and mass loss rate were measured. The flame was visualized using a video camera through a tempered view glass. The total heat transfer to the ceiling and wall increased with the increase in fire size as the flames became taller in the initial stages (3-4 minutes) with significant increase in case of 500 kW fire. The smoke layer was observed at about mid height (1.5 m) above floor. The leaning behavior of flames was seen due to naturally induced air inflow. The wall heat flux of about 50 kW/m² obtained indicate hazardous environment for further flame spread. A fourfold increase in mass loss rate was observed with just 2.5 times increase in fire size inside the ceiling vented compartment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enclosure movement was a significant element of the agricultural revolution in Sweden. Legislation from 1749 onwards, opened up for Storskifte, which reduced the number of plots per owner, but did not touch the villages' common field or housing structures. The edicts of Enskifte (1803–1807) and Laga skifte (1827), however, made possible the final dissolution of the open-field system. According to the Laga skifte legislation one single landowner applying for enclosure, could force the entire village to enclose. Nonetheless, the process was not complete even by the 1890s. Previous research has emphasised the importance of the enclosures for economic development and/or as a factor in income redistribution. It has, however, not fully explained why some villages enclosed early and others late. We investigate this question by using a newly constructed database containing all villages in the county of Västmanland. Furthermore, by using a Cox Proportional Hazards model, a random sample of 100 villages is followed over time to estimate which factors accelerated or decelerated the enclosure process. The major conclusions are that concentration of ownership and cost factors decreased the probability for enclosure while complex land-use patterns and real GDP-per capita growth increased the probability of enclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active noise control (ANC) is a technique applied to eliminate an unwanted sound by superposing a signal of equal amplitude and opposite phase, sometimes defined as an anti-noise signal, computed through an adaptive algorithm. The study described herein aims to evaluate and compare the performance of some of the most popular algorithms based on the least mean squares (LMS) approach applied to a multichannel active noise control system in a small, enclosed space. The comparison is conducted through an experimental evaluation of the ANC algorithms' performance, carried out on a tractor cabin in a hemi-anechoic chamber, generating the unwanted sound field using a dodecahedron sound source placed outside the enclosure, emitting narrowband and broadband signals. The experimental analysis and the comparison with the results obtained in a free field condition have made it possible to show certain practical limitations when implementing the algorithms. The results show that the feed-forward systems allow for greater stability, avoiding the acoustic feedback from the control loudspeakers to the reference microphone when this is outside the cabin, while the feedback system is the slowest configuration to converge, requiring an internal modeling of the reference signal. With random signals, the feed-forward systems concentrate their performance in the range above 500 Hz, while the feedback system becomes ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fiber composite becomes a necessity encountering the issue of eco-friendly materials. The application of natural fiber composite as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding enclosures has not been studied extensively. This study aims to investigate the performance of the coconut fiber composite as EMI shielding enclosure material. Enhancement of the electrical volume-conductivity of the composite was made by polymerization of coconut fiber with polyaniline and doping the multiwall carbon nanotubes to epoxy resin. Three types of composites were made with different weight percentages of coconut fiber: 5, 10, and 15 wt%. The highest volume-conductivity and shielding effectiveness of coconut fiber composite are 0,0458 S/m and −7.69 dB from the highest weight percentage of coconut fiber (15 wt%). While the highest tensile strength (26.78 MPa) resulted from the lowest weight percentage (5 wt%). This study shows the coconut fiber composite could potentially be the material of EMI shielding enclosure though their electrical conductivity and tensile strength should be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the women's protest camps at RAF Greenham Common cruise missile base, Berkshire, England, between 1981 and 1990. Using new evidence from government correspondence in the Home Office archives, it argues that the legal status of the common and its history were key determinants of how the protest camps were policed and repeatedly evicted. The processes of eviction were determined by the complex layers of landownership, common rights, and legislation relating to commons and roadside verges. Protesters developed spatial and legal tactics during the processes of eviction, while sharing broader imaginings of an ideal of commons as publicly accessible to all. This article places Greenham Common in the context of the Conservative government's reaction to other protest and social movements in the countryside that ultimately shaped the formation of public order legislation in 1986 and 1994. • New evidence from the Home Office archives reveal the legal debates around the eviction of the Greenham Common protest camps. • The women and their supporters developed legal and spatial strategies to challenge their eviction. • The defence of customary rights of commoners intersected with popular imaginings of the common in the protest movement. • The Conservative government's reaction formed part of a broader policy leading to the Public Order Act 1986. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tracing the controversy-ridden social history of the West Indian Labor Day Carnival in Central Brooklyn, the phrase 'Zoo York' emerged as a powerful descriptor of city life as a staged and enclosed spectacle, an ethos that is enunciated by Carnival. The term 'Zoo York' was coined by the hip-hop generation of the 1970s. Zoo York is said to have been inspired by the physical, literal zoo in Central Park, but might have been influenced by the major construction projects that enclosed the inner city of New York City decades prior. In this analysis, Carnival is shown to be a method and praxis for examining the racial and gender aspects of the city. This method places the West Indian Carnival within a larger narrative of enclosure that has been critical in the policing of Black cultural aesthetics in the United States and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sacred stone veneration is a global mythical phenomenon historically practiced by many groups, including ancient Semitic-speaking peoples. In their physical capacity, sacred stones themselves are not the object of worship or veneration. Their sanctity comes from the divine spirit believed to dwell within them. The common denominator among the mythological traditions of sacred stones veneration is the belief that they possess enormous spiritual powers that enable them to act as mediators between the worshipper and the gods. Stones were employed as tools in the rituals of veneration in many types of sanctuaries, such as stone circles. This study highlights this type of religious folklore in Palestine, representing one of the bridges linking the Palestinian present to its distant Canaanite past. It traces the various patterns of sacred stones in the central region of Palestine, the rituals that were practised using them, and the remnants of these practices found in oral folklore traditions. To these ends, the researchers relied on religious and historical primary and secondary sources, including oral interviews where available and possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karl Polanyi's concept of the 'double movement' refers to a reciprocal dialectic between market forces and social protections for citizens. It concerns ongoing struggle against individualization of people's lives under capitalist marketization – which continues today. While Polanyi focused on protective responses to deepening commodification of land, labor, and money across the 1840s–1940s century, the 'double movement' remains in force in the contemporary neo-illiberal era, with notable significance for agrarian transformations. This essay reviews adaptations by agrarian counter-movements, NGOs, and analysts to new pressures on producers, farmworkers, Indigenous peoples, and landscapes across the world, and various associated interpretations and analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]