This paper explores three simple data manipulation techniques (synthesis, augmentation, curriculum) for improving abstractive summarization models without the need for any additional data. We introduce a method of data synthesis with paraphrasing, a
data augmentation technique with sample mixing, and curriculum learning with two new difficulty metrics based on specificity and abstractiveness. We conduct experiments to show that these three techniques can help improve abstractive summarization across two summarization models and two different small datasets. Furthermore, we show that these techniques can improve performance when applied in isolation and when combined.
Latakia is a Syrian city that generates approximately 800 tons per day of municipal solid
waste MSW, and the final disposal of MSW is in Al-Bassa open dump with no biogas
capturing or leachate collection systems. Thus, a life cycle assessment appro
ach LCA was
used to determine the optimal strategy of municipal solid waste management. to find the
most eco-friendly scenario, first, the composition study of MSW was conducted in Latakia.
The results of first step are to be utilized as a reliable data source in establishing a
complete picture of the environmental performances of municipal solid waste management
systems with a life cycle perspective. The functional unit of the study was selected as one
ton of MSW generated in Latakia. System boundaries included treatment and disposal of
MSW using different scenarios: the open dump of waste, sanitary landfilling with gas
recovery, and a material recovery facility MRF combined with a sanitary landfill and gas
recovery. Data on the process was gathered from a field study conducted in Latakia, and
from SimaPro 8.3.0 literature and libraries. The data was evaluated with IMPACT 2002+
methodology and the assessed environmental impact categories were climate change,
human health, ecosystem quality, and resources. According to the results, while open
dumping has been confirmed as the worst waste final disposal method, landfilling with gas
recovery and material recovery facility showed better performance and is considered as a
solution towards improved sustainability to overcome the existing waste management
problem.
The crisis in Syria heavily impacted public infrastructure as well as the provision of
basic services. This strongly affected the population in all Syrian governorates since the
beginning of the crisis seven years ago. The water sector is considere
d one of the most
affected. Hostilities led to damages in the networks and ensuing water cuts. In addition,
main pumping stations, boreholes and sanitation networks ceased to function. This
research aims at identifying the locations and extent of damages in the water networks in
Homs governorate based on the percentage of water and sanitation networks as well as
solid waste management services compared to the pre-conflict situation. The research
depends on utilizing the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based on descriptive data.
The information used comprises primary data collected in the field using structured
questionnaires filled by the local population as well as secondary data produced by
humanitarian organizations, SARC and governmental institutions. The results show
decreased the coverage of water and sanitation networks in Homs Governorate notably
outside the county centers while it is almost non-existent in the urban areas. The latter
include the southern and eastern counties Al Qariateen, Sadd, Mheen, Al furqulus, Al
Ruqama and Hisia. Furthermore, more than half of the population living in the eastern
urban areas rely on water trucking. The discontinuity of municipal services and
malfunction of solid waste removal trucks resulted in the accumulation of waste in many
areas. Therefore, the state of solid waste management is evaluated to be mostly “bad”,
while the reminder only reaches “medium” category, which means, the municipalities do
not collect the waste, or collect and dump inside the city .This situation strongly increases
the risk of an outbreak of infectious diseases.
In this research an experimental study has been carried out
to investigate the enhancement of Bosra Alsham´s soil (120 km
south Damascus) by using crushed glass wastes additives by using
experimental approach. The soil samples were taken from Bosr
a
(2m underground surface), which is classified as highly plastic
clayey soil CH according to unified classification.
This study investigated the effect of adding different
percentages of sand to several types of clay soils, Which used as
liners at solid waste landfill sites in order to find the best mixing
ratio (sand - clay).
In this study, the effect of temperature on volume strains in three
types of local clay soils was studied after adding different percentages of
sand for each soil (10%-20%-30%40%-50%) when temperatures change
from (20-60)° C to be used as liners i
n solid waste landfill sites . The
results of the study showed that the mixing of sand with the clay played a
key role in reducing the magnitude of volume strains between (24-27%)
of the value of strains.
In this research a study was carried out to evaluate the effect of
adding random distribution plastic waste fiber inside soil on the
geotechnical properties of clayey soil. The research is based on
experimental method through many stages.
In developing countries, including Syria solid waste sector contributes to the
emission of greenhouse gases, mainly methane, due to the lack of methods of integrated
management of solid waste in these countries.
The objective of this research is t
o study the feasibility and effectiveness of
mechanical biological treatment of municipal solid waste in a way to reduce methane gas
emissions compared to the way the indiscriminate dumping of municipal solid waste. In
order to reach this goal is the use of the formula contained in the guidelines of the
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in account the emissions of methane from
municipal solid waste sector in the Syrian Tartous in the case of landfilling of municipal
solid waste generated by the province during the years from 2010 until 2015 in random
landfills. In order to compare the account is an assumption that the same amount of
municipal solid waste generated by the province during the years from 2010 to 2015 have
been treated in accordance with the mechanical biological treatment method. It was also
calculate the amount of methane emitted from municipal solid waste entering the
integrated waste treatment center in the Province of Tartous within one year from the
beginning of June 2014 until the end of May 2015, using mechanical biological treatment
method.
This study concluded that the mechanical biological treatment for municipal solid
waste significantly reduces the amount of methane emissions from solid waste sector
compared to the landfill, where the percentage of reduction in the emission of methane
93%.
The study was
aimed to the determine the types of medical wastes produced by
hospitals and having clearly panorama picture on the reality of
management of medical wastes in some hospitals in Hama govern
ate and the methods of treatment and sugges
ted the suitable
solutions and safely environmentally to manage these wastes
according the results the mentioned research.
This paper presents an experimental study to determine the physical and
some other important properties of certain waste materials, in order to
identify the appropriate field of their recycling. The experiments have
been carried out using five proposed materials, namely: corn cob, peanut
peel, straw, pine cone, and sticks of the stem Thistle Syrian plants.
