Stochastic Transfer Function Model and Neural Networks to Estimate Soil Moisture1

Abstract: A practical methodology is proposed to estimate the three‐dimensional variability of soil moisture based on a stochastic transfer function model, which is an approximation of the Richard’s equation. Satellite, radar and in situ observations are the major sources of information to develop a model that represents the dynamic water content in the soil. The soil‐moisture observations were collected from 17 stations located in Puerto Rico (PR), and a sequential quadratic programming algorithm was used to estimate the parameters of the transfer function (TF) at each station. Soil texture information, terrain elevation, vegetation index, surface temperature, and accumulated rainfall for every grid cell were input into a self‐organized artificial neural network to identify similarities on terrain spatial variability and to determine the TF that best resembles the properties of a particular grid point. Soil moisture observed at 20 cm depth, soil texture, and cumulative rainfall were also used to train a feedforward artificial neural network to estimate soil moisture at 5, 10, 50, and 100 cm depth. A validation procedure was implemented to measure the horizontal and vertical estimation accuracy of soil moisture. Validation results from spatial and temporal variation of volumetric water content (vwc) showed that the proposed algorithm estimated soil moisture with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 2.31% vwc, and the vertical profile shows a RMSE of 2.50% vwc. The algorithm estimates soil moisture in an hourly basis at 1 km spatial resolution, and up to 1 m depth, and was successfully applied under PR climate conditions.     

Individual adaptive performance in organizations: A review

Modern work is frequently characterized by jobs where adaptive performance (AP) is crucial for employees to succeed in light of new or altered task demands. This recognition has fueled growing interest in AP as a dimension of workplace performance. To this point, however, research on AP has evolved from disparate perspectives and methods, resulting in fragmentation and a less than coherent knowledge base. This paper presents a comprehensive review of research studies regarding the nomological network of individual AP. In doing so, we synthesize the current knowledge base surrounding correlates of AP, elucidate current ambiguities, and suggest directions for future research efforts. We conclude that although the extant AP literature has amassed a critical body of studies linking various predictors to successful AP outcomes, much remains unknown, most critically regarding the implications of different methods of assessing AP, the effects of different types of changes in the task environment, the process of AP, and the steps organizations can take to foster AP among their employees. We hope that our synthesis and analysis paves the way for efforts to address these important questions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A 1-dodecanethiol-based phase transfer protocol for the highly efficient extraction of noble metal ions from aqueous phase

A 1-dodecanethiol-based phase-transfer protocol is developed for the extraction of noble metal ions from aqueous solution to a hydrocarbon phase, which calls for first mixing the aqueous metal ion solution with an ethanolic solution of 1-dodecanethiol, and then extracting the coordination compounds formed between noble metal ions and 1-dodecanethiol into a non-polar organic solvent. A number of characterization techniques, including inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrate that this protocol could be applied to extract a wide variety of noble metal ions from water to dichloromethane with an efficiency of >96%, and has high selectivity for the separation of the noble metal ions from other transition metals. It is therefore an attractive alternative for the extraction of noble metals from water, soil, or waste printed circuit boards.     

运用正弦扫频实现电动振动台模型的频域辨识

目的研究以电动振动台为典型设备的相关振动试验装置的频域辨识技术。方法通过分析电动振动台数学模型,采用正弦扫频试验方法,进行全频带振动台空台面正弦扫频,并对所获得的时域正弦扫频数据进行频谱分析,进而获得系统的频率数据,再运用复数域上的最小二乘拟合算法,完成振动台模型传递函数的辨识。结果通过某型电动台空台面试验,对一组实测数据进行辨识,辨识出的电动振动台模拟与真实模拟一致。结论通过该方法并合理选取模型结构,能够很好地辨识出振动试验装置的模型。     

基于变更平衡表的土地利用演化信息提取与预测方法研究——以苏州市为例

变更平衡表为国土资源管理部门历年实地调查、汇总所得,精度高,目前的研究中对其深入的应用较少,基于变更平衡表的应用方法研究可为区域土地利用演变信息提取与预测提供帮助。推导了由连续年份的年度变更平衡表求多年周期的平衡表的方法,提出了基于土地利用综合动态度分析土地利用有序程度的思路,探讨了利用连续年份的变更平衡表预测任意年份土地利用结构的方法,并基于传统方法进行了改进,提出了利用矩阵开方法求预测概率矩阵。应用苏州市一定时期的连续年份的年度变更平衡表对上述方法进行了验证,结果表明:提出的信息提取方法有效,预测结果可信;在分析期内(1998~2008年),苏州市耕地大量减少的去向是各类建设用地增加的来源,区域土地利用有序程度较高;预测显示至2020年土地利用结构变化仍将维持农用地、耕地不断减少和建设用地总量不断增加的趋势,但转化的速率将有所放缓;对变更平衡表的深入应用有一定的借鉴意义。     

长江源区基于坡面尺度的土壤水热过程模拟研究

长江源多年冻土区土壤水热传输过程机理与模拟,是广泛关系到高原生态环境保护恢复和区域水文过程的关键科学问题。因此,以GEOtop模型为研究平台,以长江源不同植被盖度下（裸地、30%、65%和92%）高寒草甸的观测数据为基础,检验模型对土壤水热迁移过程的描述与模拟精度。总体而言,GEOtop模型需要率定的参数较少,从而减少模型模拟的不确定性,提高了模拟精度。对不同植被盖度下土壤温度、水分和实际蒸散发模拟的NSE 系数基本达到08,表明模型能准确模拟高寒生态系统土壤的水热传输过程,可以作为长江源区土壤水热过程的有效模拟工具     

非农就业与土地流转对农户耕地撂荒行为的影响——以闽赣湘山区为例

耕地撂荒是世界各国长期普遍存在的一种土地利用变化现象。基于闽赣湘山区640户农户调查数据,运用Tobit和IV-Tobit模型回归分析得出：农户家庭非农就业每提升10%,耕地撂荒占比会增加1.11%;小规模农户土地转入会提升其耕地撂荒规模,此时扩大经营规模对耕地撂荒的减缓作用甚微,而土地转出会降低非农就业对耕地撂荒的正向影响。此外,农户的劳动力、土地与农业机械等要素投入,以及灌溉条件和地块数等均稳健影响其耕地撂荒行为。农业机械化和土地流转是缓解山区耕地撂荒的重要举措,政府在推动经营规模扩大的同时,应着重提高地块规模,鼓励留村务农劳动力换工,并提升农机社会化服务水平,以及拓宽农户家庭多元化的收入机会。     

Strategies for improving the photocatalytic performance of metal-organic frameworks for CO2 reduction: A review

Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is an appealing strategy for mitigating the environmental effects of greenhouse gases while simultaneously producing valuable carbon-neutral fuels. Numerous attempts have been made to produce effective and efficient photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction. In contrast, the selection of competitive catalysts continues to be a substantial hindrance and a considerable difficulty in the development of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. It is vital to emphasize different techniques for building effective photocatalysts to improve CO₂ reduction performance in order to achieve a long-term sustainability. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are recently emerging as a new type of photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction due to their excellent CO₂ adsorption capability and unique structural characteristics. This review examines the most recent breakthroughs in various techniques for modifying MOFs in order to improve their efficiency of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The advantages of MOFs using as photocatalysts are summarized, followed by different methods for enhancing their effectiveness for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction via partial ion exchange of metal clusters, design of bimetal clusters, the modification of organic linkers, and the embedding of metal complexes. For integrating MOFs with semiconductors, metallic nanoparticles (NPs), and other materials, a number of different approaches have been also reviewed. The final section of this review discusses the existing challenges and future prospects of MOFs as photocatalysts for CO₂ reduction. Hopefully, this review can stimulate intensive research on the rational design and development of more effective MOF-based photocatalysts for visible-light driven CO₂ conversion.     

空冷塔对大气环境温度湿度影响的数值模拟

运用FLUENT建立空冷塔模型进行数值模拟,研究不同出口温度、环境温度和侧风速度下空冷塔与大气环境之间的传热.结果表明：不同出口温度及环境温度对空冷塔与大气环境间的换热有显著影响.其中,当出口温度升高到328K时,空冷塔近地面层空气温度上升6.22K,而其相对湿度由47.7%降至31.78%,空气干燥程度增大;随着环境温度与排气温度间温差增大,换热效果更为显著,表现为冬季空气干燥程度变化最大,春秋次之,夏季最小.不同环境风速对空冷塔与大气环境间换热区域影响显著,其中,当侧风风速为7m/s时,热交换影响区域可达11.17km,且空冷塔近处相对湿度由47.7%降至39.47%.     

江苏太湖地区调水改善水环境研究

太湖流域是我国经济最发达的地区之一，也是水污染最严重的地区之一。江苏太湖地区面积占全省的1／5，2005年仅苏锡常三市的GDP就占全省的55．68％，但本地区水污染形势十分严峻。采用水环境治理的“活水”思想，在分析了江苏太湖流域水环境现状的基础上，对江苏太湖流域沿江口门引水调水的可行性作了探讨，并按流域调水、分区域调水及组合调水多种方案进行了论证，分析各种调水方案改善水环境的效果。研究表明：通过流域或区域调水可有效改善太湖流域江苏境内的水环境，其中湖西及阳澄淀泖引水、武澄锡排水这种组合方案对水环境的改善最佳。