Karst aquifers in semi-arid regions are vital yet exceptionally vulnerable lifelines. This study investigates how tectonic, geomorphological, and climatic factors control the dynamics of karst springs in the El Menzel Causse (Middle Atlas, Morocco). Using an integrated approach that combines field investigations, remote sensing, and quantitative hydro-climatic analysis, we identify the mechanisms driving the system’s severe decline. Results indicated that the structural architecture of the major fault systems in the North Middle Atlas Fault (NMAF) and the Median Middle Atlas Fault (MMAF), governs the spatial distribution of more than 50 springs, which occur preferentially within highly permeable fault damage zones. However, the aquifer is under severe climatic stress, evidenced by a statistically significant decline in precipitation and an increased frequency of droughts. The system’s response appeared dramatic: only five springs remained active in 2024, with discharge reductions exceeding 80 % compared to historical records. Anthropogenic pressures including groundwater overextraction and wastewater contamination critically amplify this crisis. In conclusion, this research presents El Menzel as a “sentinel system” whose collapse serves as a warning for other karst regions worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for science-informed, adaptive water management strategies to prevent irreversible resource depletion.
Semi-active suspension systems have emerged as an attractive alternative to fully active suspensions because they offer a superior capacity to improve vehicle ride comfort and handling performance with significantly lower energy consumption. Conventional semi-active control strategies, however, such as skyhook damping, often cannot accommodate the nonlinear and time-varying dynamics of vehicles in operation under impulse or severe road disturbances. In this context, an intelligent smart-damper controller is proposed in this paper by incorporating a Modified Fuzzy Adaptive Fuzzy Logic Control framework in a half-car suspension model. In the developed controller, the effective damping force is adaptively tuned using real-time measurements of
... Show MoreToxic substances have been released into water supplies in recent decades because of fast industrialization and population growth. Fenton electrochemical process has been addressed to treat wastewater which is very popular because of its high efficiency and straightforward design. One of the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) is electro-Fenton (EF) process, and electrode material significantly affects its performance. Nickel foam was chosen as the source of electro-generated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) due to its good characteristics. In the present study, the main goals were to explore the effects of operation parameters (FeSO4 concentration, current density, and electrolysis time) on the catalytic perform
... Show MoreCement-based adhesive (CBA) is used as a bonding agent in Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) applications as an alternative to epoxy-based adhesive due to the drawbacks of the epoxy system under severe service conditions which negatively affect the bond between the CFRP and strengthened elements. This paper reports the results of, an investigation carried out to develop two types of CBA using magnetized water (MW) for mixing and curing. Two magnetic devices (MD-I and MD-II), with different magnetic field strengths (9000 and 6000 Gauss) respectively, were employed for water magnetization. Different water flows with different water circulation times in the magnetizer were used for each device. Compressive and splitting tensile strength te
... Show MoreFor more than a decade, externally bonded carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites successfully utilized in retrofitting reinforced concrete structural elements. The function of CFRP reinforcement in increasing the ductility of reinforced concrete (RC) beam is essential in such members. Flexural and shear behaviors, ductility, and confinement were the main studied properties that used the CFRP as a strengthening material. However, limited attention has been paid to investigate the energy absorption of torsion strengthening of concrete members, especially two-span concrete beams. Hence, the target of this work is to investigate the effectiveness of CFRP-strengthening technique with regard to energy absorption of two-span RC
... Show MoreThe Humidification-Dehumidification (HDH) desalination technique offers a viable solution for providing freshwater to populations in water-scarce, remote areas. This study experimentally investigates a novel humidifying method by cross airflow over water-wetted pottery tubes, which function as a humidifier, incorporating a thermoelectric cooler to condense water vapor for freshwater production. To optimize freshwater production and thermal efficiency, meticulous design of these components and appropriate operational parameters are selected. Experiments were performed in three environments with differing temperatures and relative humidity levels, while air velocity varied from 1.02 to 1.89 m/s, and thermoelectric cooler voltage ranged from 6
... Show MoreThe university course timetable problem (UCTP) is typically a combinatorial optimization problem. Manually achieving a useful timetable requires many days of effort, and the results are still unsatisfactory. unsatisfactory. Various states of art methods (heuristic, meta-heuristic) are used to satisfactorily solve UCTP. However, these approaches typically represent the instance-specific solutions. The hyper-heuristic framework adequately addresses this complex problem. This research proposed Particle Swarm Optimizer-based Hyper Heuristic (HH PSO) to solve UCTP efficiently. PSO is used as a higher-level method that selects low-level heuristics (LLH) sequence which further generates an optimal solution. The proposed a
... Show MorePrecise and interpretable classification of autism-related behaviors is important for initial diagnosis, personalized intervention, and support arrangements. This study proposes an interpretable machine learning (ML) model using Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) and Categorical Boosting (CatBoost) to classify behavioral patterns into four categories (normal, mild, moderate, and severe) associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on a custom 377-instance survey dataset from Iraqi parents and teachers of children aged 6-12. The model observes 16 key features across communication and social interaction, repetitive behaviors, language, and adaptive skills, preprocessed via interquartile range (IQR) outlier removal, me
... Show MoreAbstract: Many treatment modalities have been introduced for correction of deficient alveolar ridge width. Bone expansion through the ridge split procedure is one of them. This technique was initiated in order to overcome many problems that usually associated with grafting procedures. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of piezoelectric device in performing ridge split using single-stage approach and assessed the outcomes during a period of about 4 months after surgery. A total of 23 patients aged in range between 18 and 60 years underwent ridge split procedure with immediate insertion of dental implants. A panoramic radiograph was obtained before surgery. The gained bone was measured and surgical complications were recorded. Impl
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