A spatial perspective for predicting enrollment in a regional pharmacy school

Having the ability to predict enrollment is an important task for any school’s recruiting team. The purpose of this study was to identify significant factors that can be used to predict the spatial distribution of enrollments. As a case study, we used East Tennessee State University (ETSU) pharmacy school, a regional pharmacy school located in the Appalachian Mountains. Through the application of a negative binomial regression model, we found that the most important indicators of enrollment volume for the ETSU pharmacy school were Euclidean distance, probability (based on competing pharmacy schools’ prestige, driving distance between schools and home and tuition costs), and the natural barrier of the Appalachian Mountains. Using these factors, together with other control variables, we successfully predicted the spatial distribution of enrollments for ETSU pharmacy school. Interestingly, gender also surfaced as a variable for predicting the pharmacy school’s enrollment. We found female students are more sensitive to the geographic proximity of home to school.     

Spatial distribution characteristics of stable carbon isotope compositions in desert plant Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim

In order to investigate the distribution characteristics of stable carbon isotope ratios (δ ¹³C) in the desert plant Reaumuria soongorica, the δ ¹³C values of leaves were measured in 407 individuals of 21 populations. Soil physicochemical properties including soil water content, soil total dissolved solids, soil total nitrogen, soil total phosphorus and soil organic content were also analyzed in order to survey the major factors influencing δ ¹³C values on spatial variation. Leaves and soil samples were simultaneously collected from the ten major distribution areas in Northwest China at altitudes from 394 m to 1 987 m above sea level, at latitudes from 36°10′N to 44°33′N, and at longitudes from 81°43′E to 106°37′E. These ten areas include Shihezi, Baicheng, Yiwu areas in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region; Anxi, Zhangye, Baiyin, Lanzhou areas in Gansu Province; Shapotou, Yinchuan areas in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region; and Alashan County in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The results show that the δ ¹³C value of R. soongorica ranges from −22.77‰ to −29.85‰ with an average of −26.52‰. Foliar d13C values in R. soongorica are not significantly correlated with altitude, latitude or longitude, and a spatial distribution trend of d13C values of R. soongorica is not obvious on a large scale. However, when d13C values of two R. soongorica populations under the same climate conditions are compared, δ ¹³C values increase obviously from east to west and from north to south. As none of the soil total dissolved solids, soil total nitrogen, soil total phosphorus, and soil organic content shows a uniform trend from east to west and from north to south, we suppose that the small-scaled spatial distribution pattern of δ ¹³C values of R. soongorica is mainly controlled by the soil water content. Translated from Quaternary Sciences, 2006, 26(6): 947–954 [译自: 第四纪研究]     

Zircon age and Nd–Hf isotopic composition of the Yunnan Tethyan belt,southwestern China

The Baoshan block of the Tethyan Yunnan, southwestern China, is considered as northern part of the Sibumasu microcontinent. Basement of this block that comprises presumably greenschist-facies Neoproterozoic metamorphic rocks is covered by Paleozoic to Mesozoic low-grade metamorphic sedimentary rocks. This study presents zircon ages and Nd–Hf isotopic composition of granites generated from crustal reworking to reveal geochemical feature of the underlying basement. Dating results obtained using the single zircon U–Pb isotopic dilution method show that granites exposed in the study area formed in early Paleozoic (about 470 Ma; Pingdajie granite) and in late Yanshanian (about 78–61 Ma, Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary; Huataolin granite). The early Paleozoic granite contains Archean to Mesoproterozoic inherited zircons and the late Yanshanian granite contains late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic zircon cores. Both granites have similar geochemical and Nd–Hf isotopic charateristics, indicating similar magma sources. They have whole-rock T _DM(Nd) values of around 2,000 Ma and zircon T _DM(Hf) values clustering around 1,900–1,800 and 1,600–1,400 Ma. The Nd–Hf isotopic data imply Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic crustal material as the major components of the underlying basement, being consistent with a derivation from Archean and Paleoproterozoic terrains of India or NW Australia. Both granites formed in two different tectonic events similarly originated from intra-crustal reworking. Temporally, the late Yanshanian magmatism is probably related to the closure of the Neotethys ocean. The early Paleozoic magmatism traced in the Baoshan block indicates a comparable history of the basements during early Paleozoic between the SE Asia and the western Tethyan belt, such as the basement outcrops in the Alpine belt and probably in the European Variscides that are considered as continental blocks drifting from Gondwana prior to or simultaneously with those of the SE Asia.     

Centrifuge Modeling of Rock Slopes Susceptible to Block Toppling

Summary This paper presents the results of centrifuge tests that were aimed at validating the Goodman-Bray method for rock slope toppling analysis. The Goodman-Bray method was extended by the authors to accommodate non-persistent basal planes of rock columns. Two gypsum column models, with and without anchors were used to represent the failure modes. Measured critical centrifuge accelerations were in agreement with the results obtained from numerical modeling. A background of the toppling slope failures associated with a large hydropower project in China instigated the need for the centrifuge study. The centrifuge model tests used an artificial rock. The observed failure mode did not follow a straight failure plane as proposed by Goodman and Bray. The failures revealed a bi-planar slip surface with a deep-seated portion near the toe of the slope. The outcomes of the centrifuge tests illustrated the need to search for the critical failure surface when performing a toppling analysis. The search technique is similar to that usually performed in a conventional sliding analysis.     

水域静力触探设备的研制和应用

为详细了解崇明越江通道南港隧道段地层情况 ,设计要求提供长江水域静探资料。简介了我院水域静力触探设备的研制和应用情况     

土工织物加固软土路堤的有限元分析

采用有限元方法对土工织物加固软弱地基路堤的力学机理进行了研究.通过比较路基加筋和未加筋两种情况研究了土工织物的加固机理,结果表明土工织物对于提高路堤填筑高度、减少路堤侧向位移、均化路堤沉降以及加速超孔隙水压力消散有显著的效果.加筋路堤中土工织物的轴力受填筑高度、超孔压消散速度和接触面系数等因素的影响,路堤填筑高度和施工进度的控制有利于土工织物抗拉强度的发挥.对路堤安全系数的研究分析表明传统的极限平衡法验算路堤稳定性偏于保守,采用有限元方法能较好地反映土工织物的加筋作用,可以优化工程设计.     

Wind erodibility in eastern Ningxia Province, China

Many methods have been used to study wind erosion, a common phenomenon in arid and semi-arid regions. This paper documents a 2006 field study in which sediment samplers and steel pins were used to measure soil erosion, and sand drift potential was used to estimate wind erosion and transport in the eastern part of Ningxia Province, China. Wind energy in the study area was found to be moderate and sediments were transported from northwest to southeast. Sediment transport differed depending on the surface type: sediment transport was greatest in areas of shifting dunes, with cultivated land, semi-fixed dunes, and fixed dunes showing progressively less transport. Sediment transport was lowest in shrubland areas. The depth of erosion was 66 in cultivated areas, 33 in shifting dunes, 28 in semi-fixed dunes, 20 in fixed dunes, and 3 mm in shrublands. The extensive erosion of sediment in cultivated lands and the resultant decrease in surface height results in serious degradation and loss of soil fertility.     

Numerical Simulation in Rockfall Analysis: A Close Comparison of 2-D and 3-D DDA

Accurate estimation of rockfall trajectory and motion behaviors is essential for rockfall risk assessment and the design and performance evaluation of preventive structures. Numerical simulation using discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) is effective and helpful in rockfall analysis. Up to now, there have been many reports on application of two-dimensional (2-D) DDA programs. In this paper, the major advantages of rockfall analysis using 2-D and extensions to three-dimensional (3-D) analysis are presented. A practical 3-D DDA code is demonstrated to be capable of simulating free falling, rolling, sliding, and bouncing with high accuracy. Because rockfall trajectories and motion behaviors can be described as combinations of these four types, this demonstration indicates that the implemented code is capable of providing reliable rockfall analysis. Finally, specific tests are conducted to compare 2-D and 3-D DDA rockfall analysis in predicting trajectory and dynamic behavior. The results indicate that 3-D DDA simulations are more appropriate for rough tree-laden inclined slopes in providing detailed spatial distribution, whereas 2-D DDA simulations have better efficiency for slopes dominated by valleys and ravines. These results can help in selecting the appropriate DDA simulation for rockfall analysis.     

基于BP神经网络的泥石流平均流速预测

泥石流平均流速是泥石流防治工程中不可缺少的重要参数,准确地预测泥石流平均流速对于泥石流防治工程的设计是至关重要的。将BP神经网络应用于泥石流平均流速的预测:将泥石流平均流速的影响因素--泥沙平均粒径、泥深、沟床比降和泥石流密度作为BP神经网络的输入单元,通过对云南东川蒋家沟泥石流观测数据的训练与预测建立了泥石流平均流速的BP神经网络预测模型。将预测结果与东川公式和曼宁修正公式的计算结果进行对比:曼宁修正公式和东川公式预测结果最大误差分别为27%和7.3%,BP神经网络的预测结果最大误差仅为3.2%,BP神经网络的预测精度是最高的,可见此方法对泥石流平均流速预测具有适用性和准确性。最后应用此方法预测了乌东德水电站近坝库区内的3条泥石流的平均流速分别为12.8 m/s、11.3 m/s和13.0 m/s,为库区泥石流防治工程提供了可靠的参考数据。     

源外斜坡区有利于油气运聚的断砂配置分布区预测方法

为了研究含油气盆地源外斜坡区油气分布规律,在源外斜坡区断砂配置运聚机制及有利分布区研究的基础上,通过砂体连通分布区和砂体所在地层顶面砂体输导油气汇聚区,确定油气成藏期砂体输导油气分布区;通过断裂填充物泥质含量与断裂侧向封闭所需的最小填充物泥质含量的相对大小,确定油气成藏期河道砂体上倾方向断裂侧向封闭部位,二者叠合建立了一套源外斜坡区有利于油气运聚的断砂配置分布区预测方法,并将其应用于渤海湾盆地歧口凹陷有利于油气运聚的扣村断裂与沙一下亚段砂体配置分布区的预测中。结果表明：有利于油气运聚的扣村断裂与沙一下亚段砂体配置分布区主要分布在其东部,有利于西北歧南次凹沙三段源岩生成油气在扣村断裂附近沙一下亚段内聚集成藏,与目前扣村断裂附近沙一下亚段已发现油气主要分布在其东部相吻合,表明该方法用于预测源外斜坡区有利于油气运聚的断砂配置分布区是可行的。