Analyzing spatial disparities in access to health care: A methodology with application in Bangladesh

This paper develops a methodology for analyzing spatial disparities in access to health care in situations where the data base is limited, and applies it in the context of Bangladesh. The proposed indirect measures of inpatient and outpatient service utilization, and of quality of available services, seem to provide reasonably accurate, consistent, and interpretable results; these indices are combined into a composite index of relative access to health care. The form of the composite index and its components permits the incorporation of Sopher's disparity index into the methodology for measuring urban-rural disparities in relative access to health care. The empirical analysis based on subdivision level data revealed that Bangladesh's health care delivery system is, in general, characterized by extremely low level of access and a high degree of disparity in favor of urban areas, especially in terms of inpatient services. Spatial patterns of relative access and urban/rural disparity were perused through cartographic and statistical analyses; although clear-cut regional patterns did not emerge, the considerable spatial variations could be explained largely with reference to urbanization and density of population. Assuming improved level of access and minimal urban/rural disparity as basic policy goals a method to prioritize spatial units for future allocation of health sector resources is recommended.The author gratefully acknowledges the helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper by Dr. S. M. Bhardwaj, Professor of Geography, Kent State University.     

A simple solution to tunnel or well discharge under constant drawdown

A simple analytical formula is developed to calculate transient discharge inflow rates into a tunnel or a well under constant drawdown. The agreement with the classical, but cumbersome diffusion-equation-based solution of Jacob and Lohman is excellent throughout the range of dimensionless times. By using only a straightforward logarithmic function, this explicit solution may therefore be used with great computational benefits in practice, and also when further mathematical manipulations such as differentiation or integration are required.

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Resumen Una fórmula analítica sencilla fue desarrollada para calcular el grado de descarga transitoria hacia un túnel, o un pozo, bajo condición de un abatimiento constante. Existe una concordancia excelente, desde el comienzo hasta el final, en el rango de los tiempos adimensionales, con la solución clásica pero complicada, de Jacob y Lohman, basada esta última en la ecuación de difusión. Solamente mediante el uso de una función logarítmica simple, esta solución explícita puede por tanto ser usada en la práctica con grandes ventajas computacionales, y también cuando se necesitan manipulaciones matemáticas adicionales, tales como diferenciación o integración.

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Résumé On a développé une formule analytique simple pour le calcul du flux infiltré en régime transitoire dans un tunnel ou un puits en supposant le rabattement constante. Les résultats sont en accord avec la solution plus compliquée de Jacob-Lohman de léquation de diffusion, sur tout lintervalle de temps adimensionel considéré. En utilisant une fonction logarithmique ce solution explicite peut être utilisée sans un grand effort de calcul dans la pratique courante, ainsi que dans les situations où il est nécessaire à dériver ou intégrer lexpression du rabattement.

     

A simple graphical method for estimating the components of the fault-slip vector

A simple calculation of the components of the total slip vector (D) on a fault plane allows the relationships between the magnitudes of the three slip components of D, the lateral horizontal displacement (L), the transversal horizontal displacement (T) and the vertical offset (V), to be determined. The contribution of each slip component to the total slip can be plotted jointly in a ternary diagram, assuming a unit length of the vector modulus and a suitable normalization for D. Each component equals the magnitude of D at the vertices of the diagram, hence it is possible to estimate the percentage contribution of each slip component to the total movement of a fault or a set of faults. The dip of the fault surface and the rake of the slickenlines are the input data required for displaying L, T and V relationships in these diagrams. This information may be useful in the analysis of movement geometry for different fault populations and in the determination of D by measuring just one of the fault-slip components, such as vertical slip associated with a fault scarp.     

A simple method for estimating excess pressure over horsts from seismic sections

Observations in the North Sea Basin max indicate significant overpressure in sediments over horst blocks but not over grabens at the same submudline depth. The purpose is to show that over a horst, of top width W, with grabens on either side of top widths G₁ and G₂, respectively, the equivalent mud density. _r can be estimated approximately from the simple equation.

A simple thermodynamic model for estimating the solubility of H2O in magmas

A symmetrical, strictly regular solution model is used to estimate H₂O solubilities in silicate melts. The standard state chemical potential of dissolved H₂O and the adjustable parameter in the activity coefficient are determined by least squares analyses of data on H₂O solubility in silicate melts. The adjustable parameter in the expression for the activity coefficient (In) is a function only of the anhydrous melt composition and eleven values are provided for melts ranging in composition from picrite to rhyolite. At the 95% confidence level, the model should estimate H₂O contents to within 4.8% of the amount present if the amount present is less than 10 wt.%. This compares to the reproducibility of 2.25% of the amount present for experimental determinations. To apply the model to rocks and magmas estimates ofT, P, and the fugacity of H₂O are required.Variation of the H₂O content of the melt changes the activity of other components. Knowledge of this variation removes the requirement that the fugacity of H₂O be estimated. Application of the properties of exact differentials to the Gibbs function for the hydrous melt provides an expression relating the chemical potential of a feldspar component to the H₂O content of the melt. This expression contains a second adjustable parameter which depends on the anhydrous melt composition. Using this second expression, the H₂O content can be estimated ifT, P, and feldspar composition are known. Data are too meagre to evaluate the quantitative success of the second method.     

A simple Monte Carlo method for estimating the chance of a cyclone impact

Natural Hazards - Cyclones endanger life and cause great financial impact on interior and coastal regions through the destruction of buildings and land. Governments need to have a way of estimating...     

分析隔水边界附近抽水-恢复试验数据的新方法

为能同时分析含水层具有直线隔水边界条件下,抽水试验中抽水―恢复阶段降深数据,提出了一种新的数据分析方法。在建立这种方法时,将表示抽水和恢复阶段水头降深表达式中Theis井函数的级数表达式的前3项作为其近似表达式,经过推导,分别得到抽水和恢复2个阶段的直线方程。2个直线方程的因变量和自变量均为观测数据的函数,而直线常数为待求参数的函数,在进行数据分析时,只要将试验观测数据分别转化为直线方程的因变量和自变量数据,就能够利用一元线性回归法分别计算2个直线方程的常数,而利用直线常数的表达式,能够推导得到计算含水层参数和映射井到观测孔间距离的公式。通过算例说明了方法的具体应用步骤。     

Web-based application for estimating water quality impacts due to environmental dredging

A Web-based dredge plume simulation software has been developed for estimating sediment transport and contaminant release from dredging operations. This application software comprises a near-field source model and far-field sediment transport model, combined with the settling analysis of flocculent particles. It is designed to run on all computing platforms with a standard Web browser and is accessible over the Internet. This paper describes its internal software structures and the major features of the application software. In addition, an example application of sediment transport in the Savannah River, GA, is included to illustrate typical input and output screens and to demonstrate the accuracy of the model. The water quality assessment software developed herein will greatly enhance the ability of the predictive tool for estimating sediment transport and resuspension during dredging operations.     

旁压试验在苏通大桥地质勘察工程中的应用

详细介绍了旁压试验的使用方法,以及受潮汐影响的大桥勘察旁压原位测试中的特殊处理措施,分析了旁压试验中各强度参数指标的处理方法和原则,并运用这些方法和原则处理了苏通大桥旁压试验的强度参数指标,为大桥的设计提供了设计强度参数,也可为同类工程提供参考意义。     

The bailer test: a simple effective pumping test for assessing borehole success

A new pumping test method has been designed around the practical requirements of those working in rural water-supply projects in developing countries. The bailer test needs only simple equipment and can be completed in under 1 h. The test involves removing 20–50 bails from a borehole over a 10-min period and then measuring the recovery. The test is analysed using large-diameter-well analysis (which accounts for well storage) and is appropriate for testing low productivity aquifers (transmissivity 0.1–10 m² d^–1), where water levels are shallow (<20 m depth). The bailer test was developed and trialled in a rural water supply project in Nigeria where it was found to predict similar transmissivity to 5-h constant rate tests (r²=0.9). Analysis of the test was further simplified to provide guidelines for field staff such as community health workers. The likelihood of a borehole sustaining a handpump for 250 people can be indicated by measuring the maximum drawdown and time for 50 and 75% recovery from a bailer test and comparing to a simple table. This simplified test is now being used in this and other rural water-supply projects, and has been modified to indicate whether a borehole can sustain higher yields for small-scale irrigation.     

原生裂隙水压致裂原地应力测量的理论与实践新进展

HTPF法测试所需的数目众多的原生裂隙面大大制约了这种方法的推广应用。针对这一问题,通过为原生裂隙面上广泛存在的剪应力建立力学方程,利用最小二乘法和计算机程序试错搜索原生裂隙面摩擦系数的办法反演原地应力张量。理论上基于每个原生裂隙面的水压致裂测试结果可以建立两个力学方程,那么只需要3条原生裂隙就可以求解原地应力张量,但为了保证计算机程序反演收敛,至少需要5条原生裂隙,这一方法被定名为M-HTPF法。将这种方法在山东某科研钻孔的原地应力测量作业中进行了应用,通过利用5条原生裂隙面上的水压致裂测试得到的关闭压力和方位角数据,反演得到原地应力张量:σ_1=8.85 MPa,方位角为N58.12°W∠14.18°;σ_2=6.61 MPa,方位角为N26.2°E∠-21.54°;σ_3=5.01 MPa,方位角为N62.86°E∠63.86°。通过与同一钻孔内的经典水压致裂法的测量结果对比可知,两种方法得到的最小主应力和中间主应力非常接近,最大主应力则相差较大;两种方法获得的最大、最小主应力方位角基本一致。该方法为单孔三维水压致裂原地应力测量提供了新的思路和途径。     

A destructuration theory and its application to SANICLAY model

Many natural clays have an undisturbed shear strength in excess of the remoulded strength. Destructuration modeling provides a means to account for such sensitivity in a constitutive model. This paper extends the SANICLAY model to include destructuration. Two distinct types of destructuration are considered: isotropic and frictional. The former is a concept already presented in relation to other models and in essence constitutes a mechanism of isotropic softening of the yield surface with destructuration. The latter refers to the reduction of the critical stress ratio reflecting the effect of destructuration on the friction angle, and is believed to be a novel proposition. Both the types depend on a measure of destructuration rate expressed in terms of combined plastic volumetric and deviatoric strain rates. The SANICLAY model itself is generalized from its previous form by additional dependence of the yield surface on the third isotropic stress invariant. Such a generalization allows to obtain as particular cases simplified model versions of lower complexity including one with a single surface and associative flow rule, by simply setting accordingly parameters of the generalized version. A detailed calibration procedure of the relatively few model constants is presented, and the performance of three versions of the model, in descending order of complexity, is validated by comparison of simulations to various data for oedometric consolidation followed by triaxial undrained compression and extension tests on two structured clays. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New models for heater wells in subsurface simulations, with application to the in situ upgrading of oil shale

Downhole electrical heating can be used to achieve the high temperatures required for in situ upgrading of oil shale or oil sands. Heater-well models are needed if this process is to be simulated accurately. The traditional Peaceman approach used for fluid injection and production wells may not be applicable because it does not capture transient effects, which can be important in downhole heater models. Standard models also neglect the effects of heterogeneity and temperature dependence in the rock properties. Here, we develop two new models for representing heater wells in reservoir simulators. The first model is applicable for homogeneous systems with properties that are not temperature dependent. For such cases, we develop a semi-analytical procedure based on Green’s functions to construct time-dependent heater-well indexes and heater-block thermal transmissibilities. For the general case, which can include both fine-scale heterogeneity and nonlinearity due to the temperature dependence of rock properties, we present a numerical procedure for constructing the heater-well model. This technique is essentially a near-well upscaling method and requires a local fine-scale solution in the near-well region. The boundary conditions are determined using a local-global treatment. The accuracy of the new heater-well models is demonstrated through comparison to reference solutions for example problems. The approach is then applied for the coarse-scale modeling of the in situ upgrading of oil shale, which entails a thermal-compositional simulation with chemical reactions. The model is shown to provide an accurate and efficient solution for this challenging problem.     

A simple theory for the dispersion of real and apparent finite-strain lineations

In some metamorphic terrains, lineations in folded surfaces are coaxial to the folds at their hinges, but show a systematic dispersion on the limbs. A simple theoretical model is presented, based on two assumptions: (1) the layering is folded according to two idealised models, “ideal compression folding” and “ideal shear folding”, which assume that the rock material is homogeneous and the layering passive; (2) the lineation is a manifestation of the total product of the pre-folding and folding strains. In an ideal compression fold, only apparent lineations can be dispersed away from the fold-axial trend; in an ideal shear fold, however, both real and apparent lineations are dispersed in a similar way, the degree of similarity depending on the X/Y ratio of the pre-fold strain. The lineation loci of the two models are sufficiently distinct for them to be used, together with other features of the fabric, to distinguish between folds produced by dominantly vertical movements, and those produced by dominantly horizontal movements.