COD and NH4-N Estimation in the Inflow of Wastewater Treatment Plants using Machine Learning Techniques

The in-line measurement of COD and NH4-N in the WWTP inflow is crucial for the timely monitoring of biological wastewater treatment processes and for the development of advanced control strategies for optimized WWTP operation. As a direct measurement of COD and NH4-N requires expensive and high maintenance in-line probes or analyzers, an approach estimating COD and NH4-N based on standard and spectroscopic in-line inflow measurement systems using Machine Learning Techniques is presented in this paper. The results show that COD estimation using Radom Forest Regression with a normalized MSE of 0.3, which is sufficiently accurate for practical applications, can be achieved using only standard in-line measurements. In the case of NH4-N, a good estimation using Partial Least Squares Regression with a normalized MSE of 0.16 is only possible based on a combination of standard and spectroscopic in-line measurements. Furthermore, the comparison of regression and classification methods shows that both methods perform equally well in most cases.

Effects of Elodea nuttallii on temperate freshwater plants, microalgae and invertebrates: small differences between invaded and uninvaded areas

The invasive aquatic plant species Elodea nuttallii could pose a considerable risk to European freshwater ecosystems based on its current distribution, rate of spread and potential for high biomass. However, little research has been conducted on the impacts of this species on native biota. This study takes an ecosystem-wide approach and examines the impact of E. nuttallii on selected physicochemical parameters (dissolved oxygen and pH), algae, invertebrate and macrophyte communities. Elodea nuttallii had small but significant impacts on plant, invertebrate and algal species. The richness of algal periphyton was lower on E. nuttallii than on native macrophytes. The taxonomic composition of invertebrate communities associated with E. nuttallii differed from that associated with similar native plant species, but did not differ in terms of total biomass or species richness. Macrophyte species richness and total cover were positively correlated with percentage cover of E. nuttallii. Not all macrophyte species responded in the same way to E. nuttallii invasion; cover of the low-growing species, Elodea canadensis and charophytes were negatively correlated with E. nuttallii cover, whilst floating-rooted plants were positively correlated with E. nuttallii cover. All observed differences in the macrophyte community were small relative to other factors such as nutrient levels, inter-annual variation and differences between sites. Despite this, the observed negative association between E. nuttallii and charophytes is a key concern due to the rarity and endangered status of many charophyte species.

Plants Fagonia cretica L. and Hedera nepalensis K. Koch contain natural compounds with potent dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitory activity

Ethnopharmacological relevance
The two plants investigated here (Fagonia cretica L. and Hedera nepalensis K. Koch) have been previously reported as natural folk medicines for the treatment of diabetes but until now no scientific investigation of potential anti-diabetic effects has been reported. 

Materials and methods
In vitro inhibitory effect of the two tested plants and their five isolated compounds on the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) was studied for the assessment of anti-diabetic activity. 

Results
A crude extract of Fagonia cretica possessed good inhibitory activity (IC₅₀value: 38.1 μg/ml) which was also present in its n-hexane (FCN), ethyl acetate (FCE) or aqueous (FCA) fractions. A crude extract of Hedera nepalensis (HNC) possessed even higher inhibitory activity (IC₅₀value: 17.2 μg/ml) and this activity was largely retained when further fractionated in either ethyl acetate (HNE; IC₅₀: 34.4 μg/ml) or n-hexane (HNN; 34.2 μg/ml). Bioactivity guided isolation led to the identification of four known compounds (isolated for the first time) from Fagonia cretica: quinovic acid (1), quinovic acid-3β-O-β-d-glycopyranoside (2), quinovic acid-3β-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(28→1)-β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and stigmasterol (4) all of which inhibited DPP-4 activity (IC₅₀: 30.7, 57.9, 23.5 and >100 μM, respectively). The fifth DPP-4 inhibitor, the triterpenoid lupeol (5) was identified in Hedera nepalensis (IC₅₀: 31.6 μM). 

Conclusion
The experimental study revealed that Fagonia cretica and Hedera nepalensis contain compounds with significant DPP-4 inhibitory activity which should be further investigated for their anti-diabetic potential.

Authenticity, Identity and Sustainability in Post-war Iraq: Reshaping the Urban Form of Erbil City

Issues of authenticity and identity are particularly significant in cities where social and cultural change is shaping active transformation of its urban fabric and structure in the post-war condition. In search of sustainable future, Iraqi cities are stretched between the two ends of the spectrum, authentic quarters with its traditional fabric and modern districts with their global sense of living. This paper interrogates the reciprocal influences, distinct qualities and sustainable performance of both authentic and modern quarters of Erbil, the
capital of the Iraqi province of Kurdistan, as factors in shaping sustainable urban forms for Iraqi cities. In doing so, the paper, firstly, seeks to highlight the urban identity as an effective factor in relation to sustainable urban form. Secondly, the city of Erbil in Iraq has been chosen as a field study, due to its regional, social, political and historical role in the region. Thirdly, the study emphasises the dynamic activities and performance of residential projects according to rational sustainable criteria. The research concludes that urban identity and the sense of place in traditional and historical places should inform design strategies in order to achieve a more sustainable urban context.