Integration of remote sensing data and in situ measurements to monitor the water quality of the Ismailia Canal, Nile Delta, Egypt

Sample Generation Method Based on Variational Modal Decomposition and Generative Adversarial Network (VMD-GAN) for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Detection Using Ultraviolet Visible Spectroscopy

Ultraviolet visible spectroscopy can realize the detection of chemical oxygen demand (COD), especially for low concentration levels due to its high sensitivity, but the issue of insufficient real water sample data has always been a challenge owing to the low probability of occurrence of actual water pollution events. However, in existing methods, generated absorption spectra do not conform to actual situations as the former neglect the actual spectral characteristics. On the other hand, the diversity and complexity are restricted because the information in one-dimensional data is not enough for direct spectral generation. This study proposed a spectral sample generation method based on the variational modal decomposition and generative adversarial network (VMD-GAN). First, the VMD algorithm was utilized to separate principal components and residuals of absorption spectra. Among them, the GAN was used to generate new principal components to ensure that the major spectral characteristics of actual water samples are not lost. The corresponding residuals were then obtained by adjusting the parameters of a three-order Gaussian fitting function, which is more beneficial than the direct use of GAN in the aspect of diversity and complexity. Based on the spectral reconstruction with new principal components and residuals, various absorption spectra were generated more coincident with actual situations. Finally, the effectiveness of this method was evaluated by establishing regression models and predicting COD for actual water samples. In all, the insufficient water sample data can be expanded for a better performance in modeling and analysis of water pollution using the proposed method.

Electrospraying Zwitterionic Copolymers as an Effective Biofouling Control for Accurate and Continuous Monitoring of Wastewater Dynamics in a Real-Time and Long-Term Manner

Long-term continuous monitoring (LTCM) of water quality can provide high-fidelity datasets essential for executing swift control and enhancing system efficiency. One roadblock for LTCM using solid-state ion-selective electrode (S-ISE) sensors is biofouling on the sensor surface, which perturbs analyte mass transfer and deteriorates the sensor reading accuracy. This study advanced the anti-biofouling property of S-ISE sensors through precisely coating a self-assembled channel-type zwitterionic copolymer poly(trifluoroethyl methacrylate-random-sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PTFEMA-r-SBMA) on the sensor surface using electrospray. The PTFEMA-r-SBMA membrane exhibits exceptional permeability and selectivity to primary ions in water solutions. NH₄⁺ S-ISE sensors with this anti-fouling zwitterionic layer were examined in real wastewater for 55 days consecutively, exhibiting sensitivity close to the theoretical value (59.18 mV/dec) and long-term stability (error <4 mg/L). Furthermore, a denoising data processing algorithm (DDPA) was developed to further improve the sensor accuracy, reducing the S-ISE sensor error to only 1.2 mg/L after 50 days of real wastewater analysis. Based on the dynamic energy cost function and carbon footprint models, LTCM is expected to save 44.9% NH₄⁺ discharge, 12.8% energy consumption, and 26.7% greenhouse emission under normal operational conditions. This study unveils an innovative LTCM methodology by integrating advanced materials (anti-fouling layer coating) with sensor data processing (DDPA).

Starter Kit for Geotagging and Geovisualization in Health Care: Resource Paper

BACKGROUND

Geotagging is the process of attaching geospatial tags to various media data types. In health care, the goal of geotagging is to gain a better understanding of health-related questions applied to populations. Although there has been a prevalence of geographic information in public health, in order to effectively use and expand geotagging across health care there is a requirement to understand other factors such as the disposition, standardization, data sources, technologies, and limitations.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this document is to serve as a resource for new researchers in the field. This report aims to be comprehensive but easy for beginners to understand and adopt in practice. The optimal geocodes, their sources, and a rationale for use are suggested. Geotagging's issues and limitations are also discussed.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of technical instructions and articles was conducted to evaluate guidelines for geotagging, and online resources were curated to support the implementation of geotagging practices. Summary tables were developed to describe the available geotagging resources (free and for fee) that can be leveraged by researchers and quality improvement personnel to effectively perform geospatial analyses primarily targeting US health care.

RESULTS

This paper demonstrated steps to develop an initial geotagging and geovisualization project with clear structure and instructions. The geotagging resources were summarized. These resources are essential for geotagging health care projects. The discussion section provides better understanding of geotagging's limitations and suggests suitable way to approach it.

CONCLUSIONS

We explain how geotagging can be leveraged in health care and offer the necessary initial resources to obtain geocodes, adjustment data, and health-related measures. The resources outlined in this paper can support an individual and/or organization in initiating a geotagging health care project.

Availability and Feasibility of Water Desalination as a Non-Conventional Resource for Agricultural Irrigation in the MENA Region: A Review

Many countries in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) are facing water scarcity, which poses a great challenge to agricultural production. Furthermore, water scarcity is projected to increase due to climate change, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The integration of solar power and water desalination systems in greenhouses to overcome water shortages is one of the preferred technologies in crop-growing areas. Crop growth control is done through sufficient management of environmental climatic variables as well as the quantity and quality of water and applied fertilisers with irrigation. Numerous crops such as cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, strawberries, flowers, and herbs can be grown under greenhouse conditions using desalinated water. This paper displays the state of the art in (i) solar-driven saltwater desalination to irrigate crops, (ii) the feasibility of water desalination for agriculture in the MENA region, (iii) the economics and environmental impacts of the desalination process, (iv) the quality of desalinated water compared with other non-conventional water resources and (v) recommendations for the future in the MENA region.