Evaluation of uncertainties originating from the different modeling approaches applied to analyze regional groundwater flow in the Tono area of Japan

Qualitative evaluation of the effects of uncertainties originating from scenario development, modeling approaches, and parameter values is an important subject in the area of safety assessment for high-level nuclear waste disposal sites. In this study, regional-scale groundwater flow analyses for the Tono area, Japan were conducted using three continuous models designed to handle heterogeneous porous media. We evaluated the simulation results to quantitatively analyze uncertainties originating from modeling approaches. We found that porous media heterogeneity is the main factor which causes uncertainties. We also found that uncertainties originating from modeling approaches greatly depend on the types of hydrological structures and heterogeneity of hydraulic conductivity values in the domain assigned by modelers. Uncertainties originating from modeling approaches decrease as the amount of labor and time spent increase, and iterations between investigation and analyses increases.     

Evaluation of groundwater flow patterns around a dual-screened groundwater circulation well

Dual-screened groundwater circulation wells (GCWs) can be used to remove contaminant mass and to mix reagents in situ. GCWs are so named because they force water in a circular pattern between injection and extraction screens. The radial extent, flux and direction of the effective flow of this circulation cell are difficult to measure or predict. The objective of this study is to develop a robust protocol for assessing GCW performance. To accomplish this, groundwater flow patterns surrounding a GCW are assessed using a suite of tools and data, including: hydraulic head, in situ flow velocity, measured hydraulic conductivity data from core samples, chemical tracer tests, contaminant distribution data, and numerical flow and transport models. The hydraulic head data show patterns that are consistent with pumping on a dual-screened well, however, many of the observed changes are smaller than expected. In situ thermal perturbation flow sensors successfully measured horizontal flow, but vertical flow could not be determined with sufficient accuracy to be useful in mapping flow patterns. Two types of chemical tracer tests were utilized at the site and showed that much of the flow occurs within a few meters of the GCW. Flow patterns were also assessed based on changes in contaminant (trichloroethylene, TCE) concentrations over time. The TCE data clearly showed treated water moving away from the GCW at shallow and intermediate depths, but the circulation of that water back to the well, except very close to the well, was less clear. Detailed vertical and horizontal hydraulic conductivities were measured on 0.3 m-long sections from a continuous core from the GCW installation borehole. The measured vertical and horizontal hydraulic conductivity data were used to construct numerical flow and transport models, the results of which were compared to the head, velocity and concentration data. Taken together, the field data and modeling present a fairly consistent picture of flow and transport around the GCW. However, the time and expense associated with conducting all of those tests would be prohibitive for most sites. As a consequence, a sequential protocol for GCW characterization is presented here in which the number of tools used can be adjusted to meet the needs of individual sites. While not perfect, we believe that this approach represents the most efficient means for evaluating GCW performance.     

Heteroscedastic semiparametric models for domestic water consumption aggregated data

Heteroscedastic additive and multiplicative models are proposed to disaggregate household data on water consumption from Athens and provide individual consumption estimates. The models adjust for heteroscedasticity assuming that variances relate to covariates. Household characteristics that can influence consumption are also included into models in order to allow for a clearer measurement of individual characteristics effects. Estimation is accomplished through a penalized least squares approach. The method is applied to a sample of real data related to domestic water consumption in Athens. The results show a greater consumption of water for males while the single-female households are these that use the lowest quantities of water. The consumption curves by age and gender are constructed presenting differences between the two sexes.

Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 20 mosaicism indicating an extra embryonic origin

An additional case of amniotic fluid trisomy 20 mosaicism is presented. After careful counselling, the pregnancy continued and a phenotypically normal female was delivered. This case of amniocyte mosaicism establishes the source of aneuploid cell line as amnion. Since an extra-embryonic origin of the mosaicism has been confirmed, this should be carefully considered as a real possibility in counselling such families.     

江苏省高宝湖区湖泊群富营养化特征分析

对江苏省高宝湖区高邮湖、宝应湖、邵伯湖和白马湖湖泊富营养化共性与差异性特征进行了分析。结果表明,2009—2014年,4个湖泊总体处于中营养—轻度富营养之间,综合富营养状态指数值在年内均呈波动变化,丰水期明显大于枯水期;主要营养因子水平在4个湖泊之间均存在较明显的差异,尤其是TN和SD 2项指标阶梯状差异较为明显,Chl-a也呈现不同程度的年内分布水平差异,并在春、夏季存在藻类暴发风险;各湖泊Chl-a与环境因子相关性差异较大,宝应湖、白马湖以及总体分析的高宝湖群Chl-a均与水温、TP相关性显著,TP应是高宝湖群藻类生长限制的主导营养因子;各湖泊富营养化特征存在差异性,总体上宝应湖与白马湖富营养化特征较为类似,与高邮湖差异较大,邵伯湖富营养化特征与高邮湖接近,又兼有与宝应湖、白马湖相似性特征。