Estimation of covariance matrix from geochemical data with observations below detection limits

Multivariate statistical analyses have been extensively applied to geochemical measurements to analyze and aid interpretation of the data. Estimation of the covariance matrix of multivariate observations is the first task in multivariate analysis. However, geochemical data for the rare elements, especially Ag, Au, and platinum-group elements, usually contain observations the below detection limits. In particular, Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) for the rare elements produces multilevel and possibly extremely high detection limits depending on the sample weight. Traditionally, in applying multivariate analysis to such incomplete data, the observations below detection limits are first substituted, for example, each observation below the detection limit is replaced by a certain percentage of that limit, and then the standard statistical computer packages or techniques are used to obtain the analysis of the data. If a number of samples with observations below detection limits is small, or the detection limits are relatively near zero, the results may be reasonable and most geological interpretations or conclusions are probably valid. In this paper, a new method is proposed to estimate the covariance matrix from a dataset containing observations below multilevel detection limits by using the marginal maximum likelihood estimation (MMLE) method. For each pair of variables, sayY andZ whose observations containing below detection limits, the proposed method consists of three steps: (i) for each variable separately obtaining the marginal MLE for the means and the variances, , , , and forY andZ: (ii) defining new variables by and and lettingA=C+D andB=C–D, and obtaining MLE for variances, and forA andB; (iii) estimating the correlation coefficient _YZ by and the covariance _YZ by . The procedure is illustrated by using a precious metal geochemical data set from the Fox River Sill, Manitoba, Canada.     

施工顺序对软土地坪复合地基的影响探讨

场地回填土与搅拌桩施工顺序将直接影响软土地坪复合地基的处理效果,其中沉降控制是影响地坪安全运行的关键。以近海软土地区工业厂房水泥土搅拌桩复合地基工程为例,探讨了复合地基水泥土搅拌桩、回填土两种不同施工顺序的影响因素及相应处理效果;通过数值模拟试验,计算分析了不同填土厚度下两种工况的地基固结总沉降、施工沉降、工后沉降。结果表明,采用“先土后桩”的施工顺序的施工期沉降大于“先桩后土”,但工后沉降大大减小,提高了软土地坪地基处理效果,有利于处理后地坪的安全运行,验证了前述分析结论,为合理设计方案的确定提供了重要的参考依据。     

A chronological assessment of Lake Okeechobee (Florida) sediments using multiple dating markers

Reconstructing recent limnological history often relies on lead-210 dating to accurately ascribe a chronology to a sediment profile. In Lake Okeechobee, Florida, a large, shallow subtropical lake that may experience severe mixing, multiple dating methods are required to confirm that conformable sedimentation has been preserved and that the assumptions of the ²¹⁰Pb method are satisfied. This study uses stratigraphic profiles of heavy metals, ¹³⁷Cs, PCBs and pollen as independent dating markers to validate the sediment chronology as determined by ²¹⁰Pb for three cores from the central mud zone of the lake. Unsupported ²¹⁰Pb and most dating markers show distinct concentration/depth profiles, suggesting that the sediments have not been severely mixed for at least the last 75 years. Onset and maximum activity of the radioisotope ¹³⁷Cs in the cores coincides with the ²¹⁰Pb-dated interval of 1945–1970. This agrees well with the known timing of atmospheric deposition of ¹³⁷Cs that resulted from above-ground nuclear testing during late 1940s until 1963. Sediment core profiles of atmospherically deposited metals such as Zn and Pb, which reflect regional increases during industrialization and decreases after regulation in the 1970s, exhibit expected concentration increases and peaks coinciding within 5–15 years of the predicted ²¹⁰Pb dates. Uranium, a contaminant in some phosphate fertilizers, shows large concentration increases at core depths dated to be about 1950 by ²¹⁰Pb, matching the intensification of agriculture after WWII. PCBs, which are expected to peak in the early 1970s, were measured in one core, and the observed peak corresponds to a ²¹⁰Pb date of about 1960. Pollen makers were unable to verify specific events, but increases in disturbance taxa and declines in native types correspond generally with the expected dates assigned by ²¹⁰Pb dating. Conformity between the ²¹⁰Pb defined dates and independent markers of < ±15 years confirm that Lake Okeechobee sediments do preserve a sequential and reliable stratigraphic history of the lake, useful for reconstructing past limnological conditions.     

Tackling social exclusion in European neighbourhoods: experiences and lessons from the NEHOM project

Disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods with their complex social, economic and physical situations have increasingly become the focus of governmental policies in the EU. The emphasis has shifted from improving physical qualities to building opportunities for social groups in these areas. While physical upgrade is easier to achieve, at least in the short run, initiatives often fail in outcomes on communities and local participation. This paper aims to improve understanding on how to tackle area-based social exclusion and create socially coherent communities. Building on the results of the NEHOM project, the focus is on examining how various interventions have impacted local communities and their opportunities for better inclusion. A comparison between neighbourhoods shows that mixing social groups to a certain degree is likely to be a necessary step towards opening long-term opportunities for a disadvantaged neighbourhood. The planned initiatives should at the same time directly benefit local communities, and the involvement of local groups in the planning and implementation process helps to guarantee that the overall changes are accepted by the local community. However, the proposed guidelines do not provide a universal recipe for a successful renewal suiting each neighbourhood—the contextual matters should always be a starting point when planning an initiative.     

图像平滑算法比较研究及改进策略

图像平滑作为去除图像中含有噪声的图像增强处理技术，是各种与图像有关软件中必不可少的功能模块。文中在分析噪声模型的基础上，对均值平滑、中值平滑、边缘保持平滑等技术从图像处理空间域中的算法原理、实现方法及效率等方面进行了详细比较。针对图像中含有的不同噪声模型，通过多次试验，得出了值得从事图像处理研究者参考的结论。这将有助于提高图像处理软件开发的效率。     

冷暖事件对大气能量循环和纬向平均环流影响的模拟研究

利用中国科学院大气物理研究所大气科学与地球流体力学数值模拟国家重点实验室新发展的GOALS 5全球海 陆 气耦合模式研究了暖事件 (ElNi no)和冷事件 (LaNina)对大气能量循环和纬向平均环流的影响 ,并用观测资料进行了对比分析。结果表明 :对于纬向平均资料来说 ,冷、暖事件在热带和副热带地区的大气环流相关量的反相变化特征非常清晰 ,中高纬度地区并不明显。此外 ,还发现 ,暖事件时定常涡动的经向热通量的变化是北半球对流层热带外地区温度异常的主要原因 ,而瞬变波的影响则起抵消作用。冷事件时定常波和瞬变波相互抵消的局地特征也依然存在 ,但瞬变波的影响有所增强。     

IAP/LASG全球海-陆-气耦合系统模式的纬向平均大气气候态分析(英文)

分海洋和陆地两种情况来讨论IAP/LASG全球海-陆-气耦合系统模式（GOAL）四个版本的结果,并与观测资料进行对比分析。一些重要的大气变量包括表面空气温度,海平面气压和降水率用来评估GOALS模式模拟当代气候和气候变率的能力。总的来说,GOALS模式的四个版本都能够合理地再现观测到的平均气候态和季节变化的主要特征。同时评估也揭示了模式的一些缺陷。可以清楚地看到模拟的全球平均海平面气压的主要误差是在陆地上。陆地上表面空气温度模拟偏高主要是由于陆面过程的影响。值得注意的是降水率模拟偏低主要是在海洋上,而中高纬的陆地降水在北半球冬天却比观测偏高。 通过模式不同版本之间的相互比较研究,可以发现模式中太阳辐射日变化物理过程的引入明显地改善了表面空气温度的模拟,尤其是在中低纬度的陆地上。太阳辐射日变化的引入对热带陆地的降水和中高纬度的冬季降水也有较大改进。而且,由于使用了逐日通量距平交换方案（DFA）,GOALS模式新版本模拟的海洋上的温度变率在中低纬度有了改善。 比较观测和模拟的年平均表面空气温度的标准差,可以发现GOALS模式四个版本都低估了海洋和陆地上的温度变率,文中还对影响观测和模拟温度变率差异的可能原因进行了探讨。     

Understanding Perturbation on the Simplex: A Simple Method to Better Visualize and Interpret Compositional Data in Ternary Diagrams

Perturbation is an operation defined on the simplex and can be used for centering compositional data in a ternary diagram, applying objective criteria. Because a straight line in the original diagram is still astraight line in the perturbed diagram, gridlines or compositional fields defined by straight lines can easily be included in the operation. Simultaneous perturbation of data, gridlines, and/or compositional fields is shown to improve both visualization and graphical interpretation of compositions in ternary diagrams. This is illustrated by some examples using simulated as well as real data.     

小波变换在少震、弱震区地下水位数据分析中的应用

利用小波变换和多尺度分析原理，对位于少震弱震区的湖南的具有不同变化形态的6口典型井4年的水位日均值序列进行了分析。结果显示，通过多尺度分析可以很方便地将水位日均值序列中的高频部分与低频部分分开，而且对不同井孔的含水层系统而言，分离出去的频率成分的主模是不同的，这反应出不同井孔的含水层系统对同一频率的响应存在差异，主模的频率反映了正常背景下井孔－含水层系统的优势频率。Morlet小波分析的结果对时间序列的突然变化和周期结构都有很好的反映。     

湍流混合动力学机理研究

在分析传统混合动力学机理基础上,通过宏观混合与微观混合时间量级的对比,提出了湍流条件下,涡流扩散主导宏观混合,分子扩散主导微观混合,而混合过程由宏观混合主导,欧拉数Eu可作为混合效果的控制指标,并通过3种不同容积反应器的混合搅拌试验,进一步证实了该指标的实用性。