Comprehensive evaluation of water resources carrying capacity and analysis of obstacle factors in Weifang City based on hierarchical cluster analysis-VIKOR method.

This study uses hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to screen the evaluation indexes and establishes a comprehensive evaluation index system for water resources carrying capacity (WRCC), based on the VIKOR method and the obstacle degree model for the identification of the main factors affecting the WRCC of Weifang City. The results show that the WRCC of Weifang City has steadily increased from 2008 to 2018. The subsystems referred to society and water environment are currently the main obstacles affecting Weifang's WRCC, but there is still space for improvement in the future. The areas with low WRCC was Kuiwen District in 2018, which was in a seriously overloaded state, mostly affected by the water resources subsystem. The implementation of measures such as efficiently improving the level of water resources management and the development of water conservancy projects is prominent in water resource planning in Kuiwen District. This study analyzes the current situation of water resources management in order to consider it in strategic decision-making in promoting the improvement of WRCC, which in turn may ensure the realization of a green and sustainable development strategy in the future for Weifang City.

Why do oncologists hide the truth? Disclosure of cancer diagnoses to patients in China: A multisource assessment using mixed methods.

OBJECTIVE: In the United States and most European countries, cancer diagnoses are disclosed to patients. In China, however, the trend toward full disclosure has progressed slowly. The present study aimed to explore attitudes toward truth-telling practice among physicians, patients, patients' family members, and the general population, and reasons for nondisclosure. METHODS: We administered a short survey to 212 physicians, 143 patients with cancer, 413 family members of patients with cancer, and 1415 members of the general population. A MANOVA was performed to examine group differences in attitudes toward cancer disclosure. In addition, we interviewed 20 oncologists. Interview data were analyzed using NVivo10. After the interview, we administered another short survey to 143 patients with cancer. RESULTS: Quantitative data indicated that physicians were the least, and patients the most, in favor of disclosure. Qualitative data among physicians and follow-up surveys among cancer patients revealed 5 reasons for the concealment of cancer diagnoses by physicians, including lack of awareness of patients' right to knowledge, cultural influences, insufficient medical resources and training, families' financial concerns, and the need to protect doctors from violence. CONCLUSION: There is a discrepancy between the needs of patients and those in medical practice. These results deepen our understanding regarding the reasons for oncologists' attitudes toward nondisclosure.

Integration of Bayesian analysis for eutrophication prediction and assessment in a landscape lake.

Eutrophication models have been widely used to assess water quality in landscape lakes. Because flow rate in landscape lakes is relatively low and similar to that of natural lakes, eutrophication is more dominant in landscape lakes. To assess the risk of eutrophication in landscape lakes, a set of dynamic equations was developed to simulate lake water quality for total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorous (TP), dissolve oxygen (DO) and chlorophyll a (Chl a). Firstly, the Bayesian calibration results were described. Moreover, the ability of the model to reproduce adequately the observed mean patterns and major cause-effect relationships for water quality conditions in landscape lakes were presented. Two loading scenarios were used. A Monte Carlo algorithm was applied to calculate the predicated water quality distributions, which were used in the established hierarchical assessment system for lake water quality risk. The important factors affecting the lake water quality risk were defined using linear regression analysis. The results indicated that the variations in the landscape lake receiving recharge water quality caused considerable landscape lake water quality risk in the surrounding area. Moreover, the Chl a concentration in lake water was significantly affected by TP and TN concentrations; the lake TP concentration was the limiting factor for growth of plankton in lake water. The lake water TN concentration provided the basic nutritional requirements. Lastly, lower TN and TP concentrations in the receiving recharge water caused increased lake water quality risk.

Assessment and management of the performance risk of a pilot reclaimed water disinfection process.

Chlorination disinfection has been widely used in reclaimed water treatment plants to ensure water quality. In order to assess the downstream quality risk of a running reclaimed water disinfection process, a set of dynamic equations was developed to simulate reactions in the disinfection process concerning variables of bacteria, chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia and monochloramine. The model was calibrated by the observations obtained from a pilot disinfection process which was designed to simulate the actual process in a reclaimed water treatment plant. A Monte Carlo algorithm was applied to calculate the predictive effluent quality distributions that were used in the established hierarchical assessment system for the downstream quality risk, and the key factors affecting the downstream quality risk were defined using the Regional Sensitivity Analysis method. The results showed that the seasonal upstream quality variation caused considerable downstream quality risk; the effluent ammonia was significantly influenced by its upstream concentration; the upstream COD was a key factor determining the process effluent risk of bacterial, COD and residual disinfectant indexes; and lower COD and ammonia concentrations in the influent would mean better downstream quality.