Effects of surfactants and electrolyte solutions on the properties of soil

Biosurfactants are frequently used in petroleum hydrocarbon and dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) remediation. The applicability of biosurfactant use in clayey soils requires an understanding and characterization of their interaction. Comprehensive effects of surfactants and electrolyte solutions on kaolinite clay soil were investigated for index properties, compaction, strength characteristics, hydraulic conductivities, and adsorption characteristics. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and NaPO₃ decreased the liquid limit and plasticity index of the test soil. Maximum dry unit weights were increased and optimum moisture contents were decreased as SDS and biosurfactant were added for the compaction tests for mixtures of 30% kaolinite and 70% sand. The addition of non-ionic surfactant, biosurfactant, and CaCl₂ increased the initial elastic modulus and undrained shear strength of the kaolinite–sand mixture soils. Hydraulic conductivities were measured by fixed-wall double-ring permeameters. Results showed that the hydraulic conductivity was not significantly affected, but slightly decreased from 1×10⁻⁷ cm/s (water) to 0.3×10⁻⁷ cm/s for Triton X-100 and SDS. The adsorption characteristics of the chemicals onto kaolinite were also investigated by developing isotherm curves. SDS adsorbed onto soil particles with the strongest bonding strength of the fluids tested. Correlations among parameters were developed for surfactants, electrolyte solutions, and clayey soils.     

ESTIMATION OF ERRORS IN ABSORBANCE RATIO MEASUREMENTS

Ratio measurements are commonly used to address a variety of analytical problems in environmental,forensic and pharmaceutical laboratories.In absorbance ratioing techniques,analytical chemists rely onthe spectral features of the analyte(s)of interest.The absorbances at two wavelengths are monitored andthe ratio of these two absorbances is computed.This ratio is then used to confirm the identity of theanalyte(s)of interest,the purity of a product or the overlap of chromatographic peaks.These decisionsoften have far-reaching consequences(e.g.the identification of the source,biogenic or petrogenic,ofhydrocarbons in biological tissues or water).Given the cost and the liabilities associated with suchdecisions,it is unfortunate that these ratios are seldom reported with any statistical confidence.Thepurpose of this study is to delineate the parameters that affect absorbance ratio measurements.Themodels that can be used to estimate the statistical confidence in these measurements are derived andevaluated experimentally.The results show that these models can estimate the relative standard deviationsin absorbance ratios accurately.They can also estimate the effect of signal-to-noise ratio and the choiceof wavelengths on the precision of absorbance ratios.     

Confidence interval of real‐time forecast stages provided by the STAFOM‐RCM model: the case study of the Tiber River (Italy)

This study proposes a statistically based procedure to quantify the confidence interval (CI) to be associated to the stages forecast by a simple model called STAge FOrecasting Model‐Rating Curve Model (STAFOM‐RCM). This model can be used for single river reaches characterized by different intermediate drainage areas and mean wave travel times when real‐time stage records, cross section surveys and rating curves are available at both ends. The model requires, at each time of forecast, an estimate of the lateral contribution q_for between the two sections delimiting the reach. The CI of the stage is provided by analyzing the statistical properties of model output in terms of lateral flow, and it is derived from the CI of the lateral contribution q_for which, in turn, is set up by associating to each q_for the q_opt which allows STAFOM‐RCM to reproduce the exact observed stage. From an operative point of view, the q_for values are ranked in order of magnitude and subdivided in classes where the q_opt values can be represented through normal distributions of proper mean and variance from which an interval of selected confidence level for q_for is computed and transferred to the stage. Three river reaches of the Tiber river, in central Italy, are used as case study. A sensitivity analysis is also performed in order to identify the minimum calibration set of flood events. The CIs obtained are consistent with the level of confidence selected and have practical utility. An interesting aspect is that different CI widths can be produced for the same forecast stage since they depend on the estimate of q_for made at the time of forecast. Overall, the proposed procedure for CI estimate is simple and can be conveniently adapted for other forecasting models provided that they have physically based parameters which need to be updated during the forecast. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

多变量时间序列滑动窗口异常点的检测

针对多变量时间序列(MTS)的异常点的探测问题,提出了采用由粗到细的二次探测方案.基于滑动窗口数据的置信区间,构造了变化趋势值特征和相对变化趋势值特征分别用于二次探测,同时研究了特征的快速提取算法.通过对OPEN3000数据监测系统采集的事故发生前后某市城南变电站各设备表的数据集进行异常点探测,结果表明提出的算法能够快速准确地探测出异常点的位置.     

利用改进非参数估计法的DEM误差置信区间估计

为了降低误差母体分布的非正态性和较少采样数对DEM误差方差置信区间估计精度的影响,发展了改进的非参数估计法（M-NPM）。以机载激光扫描仪获取的6个不同区域的DEM数据为研究对象,基于交叉验证法分别获取了三组近似正态分布和三组非正态分布的DEM误差数据,并将其作为试验母体。从母体中随机采样,基于M-NPM获取方差置信度为95%的置信区间,借助母体进行精度验证,并与NPM结果比较。结果分析表明,当采样数小于40时,两种方法的模拟结果精度均受误差母体分布的影响,但M-NPM受影响的程度小于NPM;相比误差母体正态分布,当误差母体非正态分布时,M-NPM的估计精度明显优于NPM;无论误差母体服从何种分布,采样总量为多少,M-NPM的精度始终高于NPM,但M-NPM较高的精度是以较宽的置信区间为代价的。     

Leaching behavior of lignite fly ash with shake and column tests

The maximum concentration of the majority of the trace metals in the leachates from shake and column test of lignite fly ash (LFA) was within the prescribed limits; however, total dissolved solids, total hardness, cations and anions (except K⁺), being above the prescribed limits, may lead to the increase in the hardness and salinity in the soil on the disposal of LFA. Present generation of huge amount of fly ash from thermal power plants (TPPs) is a big challenge concerning contamination of soil, crop produce and surface and ground water bodies due to the presence of some of the toxic trace metals in it. The leaching behavior of alkaline LFA (pH, 10.94), from TPP of Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), India, was investigated by shake and column tests using water and sodium acetate buffer. The leaching of trace metals from LFA was governed by their concentrations, association with the ash particles, leaching duration and pH of the leachate (most influencing parameter). The leaching of metals followed the order: buffer column > aqueous column > aqueous shake > buffer shake test.     

Seismic response of structures with coupled vertical stiffness–strength irregularities

Several seismic design codes around the world restrict the use of theit Equivalent Lateral Force analysis method to structures satisfying structural regularity limits. These regularity limits are based on engineering judgement and lack quantitative justification. One common irregularity is that of a change in vertical stiffness over the building height. This stiffness irregularity is almost always associated with a change in vertical strength over the building height. For this reason, the effect of various realistic combinations of stiffness–strength irregularity in shear‐type buildings is evaluated to quantify regularity limits. Structures analysed had 3, 5, 9 and 15 storeys, and the floor mass at all the levels were kept the same. Both regular and irregular structures were designed in accordance with the Equivalent Lateral Force procedure to produce the same engineering demand parameter. Structural ductility factors of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6, and target (design) interstorey drift ratios ranging between 0.5 and 3%, were used in this study. The irregular structures were created by modifying specific storey lateral stiffnesses from that of the regular structure. Strengths at these storeys were also modified to ensure realistic relationships between stiffness and strength. The modified structures were then redesigned until the target interstorey drift ratio was achieved at the critical storey. Inelastic dynamic time‐history analysis was conducted to compare the maximum interstorey drift ratio demands of the regular and irregular structures. Simple equations were developed to estimate possible variations in demand due to vertical stiffness–strength irregularity applied at critical locations in structures. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reproduction in Galaxias fasciatus Gray (Salmoniformes : Galaxiidae)

A study of the reproductive cycle was made on Galaxias fasciatus Gray from streams on Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand. There was no spawning migration; adults remained in the usual adult habitat to breed. The course of gonad maturation showed that spawning occurred in the autumn, from the end of April to mid‐June. Most males matured at 2 years of age and most females at 4 years old. Egg numbers in the females varied from 3800 to 23 600. Males were predominant in age groups 1–4, females in the older age groups. Amongst fish of potential breeding age there was an excess of males. Circumstantial evidence suggested that eggs were laid among piles of water‐logged debris lodged in pools and backwaters. The larvae, which are briefly described, probably hatch during floods to be swept quickly downstream to the sea.     

Dependence of correlations between spectral accelerations at multiple periods on magnitude and distance

In this paper, the dependence of correlations between spectral accelerations at multiple periods on magnitude (M) and distance (R) has been investigated. For this purpose, a relatively large dataset of ground motion records (GMRs), containing 1551 records with a wide range of seismic characteristics, was selected. It is shown that the difference in the correlation coefficient is statistically meaningful when the general GMR dataset is divided into two subsets based on an arbitrary M or R. The observed difference is more meaningful in the case of magnitude when compared with distance. The general dataset of GMRs was then divided into four separate subsets based on optimum values of M and R, so that the four obtained subsets were given the greatest dissimilarity in terms of the correlation coefficients. The correlation coefficients between spectral accelerations at multiple periods were calculated in the case of the four subsets and compared with the available correlations in the literature. The conditional mean spectrum was also calculated by means of the conventional correlation coefficients, as well as by using the proposed M and R dependent correlation coefficients. The results show that, despite the commonly available findings in the literature, this dependence is significant and should not be neglected in the conditional spectra calculation process. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.