Systematic Development of an Artificial Neural Network Model for Real-Time Prediction of Ground-Level Ozone in Edmonton,Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Ground-level ozone is a secondary pollutant that has recently gained notoriety for its detrimental effects on human and vegetation health. In this paper, a systematic approach is applied to develop artificial neural network (ANN) models for ground-level ozone (O₃) prediction in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, using ambient monitoring data for input. The intent of these models is to provide regulatory agencies with a tool for addressing data gaps in ambient monitoring information and predicting O₃ events. The models are used to determine the meteorological conditions and precursors that most affect O₃ concentrations. O₃ time-series effects and the efficacy of the systematic approach are also assessed. The developed models showed good predictive success, with coefficient of multiple determination values ranging from 0.75 to 0.94 for forecasts up to 2 hr in advance. The inputs most important for O₃ prediction were temperature and concentrations of nitric oxide, total hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.     

Influence of preparation method on structural,optical, magnetic,and adsorption properties of nano-NiFe2O4

Nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) nanoparticles are prepared through different routes (microwave, co-precipitation, and pyrolysis) and tested for water purification applications through adsorption removal of an acid red dye B as a model organic pollutant. The characterizations of the prepared samples were done using XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, BET, UV-Vis absorbance, Raman spectrum, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). All samples showed an inverse spinel crystal structure. The obtained results pointed out to the effect of the synthetic route on the morphology, particle size, optical, and magnetic properties of the prepared ferrites. Magnetic measurements showed super-paramagnetic behavior for all samples. The magnetic saturation (M_s) of the sample prepared by pyrolysis, was found to possess the highest saturation value, 34.8 emu/g. Adsorption experiments were performed under the change in several parameters, such as pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial dye concentration. A dye removal percentage of 99% was reached under the optimum state. The isothermal adsorption of the acid red dye was investigated using several models, in which the experimental data could be best described by the Freundlich model. Several kinetic and equilibrium models were inspected by linear regression analysis and showed best fitting for the adsorption data through pseudo-second-order model. The calculated thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption of acid red dye onto all the ferrite samples is a spontaneous and endothermic physical adsorption process.

     

Could curcumin ameliorate titanium dioxide nanoparticles effect on the heart? A histopathological,immunohistochemical, and genotoxic study

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The evaluation of the toxicological effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) is increasingly important due to their growing occupational...     

Evaluation of hydroxyapatite/poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid) for sorptive removal of strontium ions from aqueous solution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A composite polymer, hydroxyapatite/poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid), was synthesized by gamma-induced polymerization. The factors affecting the sorption...     

Performance of a small-scale solar-powered adsorption cooling system

In this study, an experimental investigation on the performance of a small-scale residential-size solar-driven adsorption (silica gel-water) cooling system that was constructed at Assiut University campus, Egypt is carried out. As Assiut area is considered as hot, arid climate, field tests for performance assessment of the system operation during the summer season are performed under different environmental operating conditions. The system consists of an evacuated tube with a reflective concentration parabolic surface solar-collector field with a total area of 36 m², a silica gel-water adsorption chiller of 8 kW nominal cooling capacity, and hot and cold water thermal storage tanks of 1.8 and 1.2 m³ in volume, respectively. The results of summer season field test show that under daily solar insolation varying from 21 to 27 MJ/m², the solar collectors employed in the system had high and almost constant thermal efficiency. The daily solar-collector efficiency during the period of system operation ranged from about 50% to 78%. The adsorption chiller performance shows that the chiller average daily coefficient of performance (COP) was 0.41 with the average cooling capacity of 4.4 kW when the cooling-water and chilled-water temperatures were about 31°C and 19°C, respectively. As the chiller cooling water is cooled by the cooling tower in the hot arid area, the cooling water is at a higher temperature than the design point of the chiller. Therefore, an experiment was carried out using the city water for cooling. The results show that an enhancement in the chiller COP by 40% and the chilling power by 17% has been achieved when the city water was 27.7°C.     

Potential concerns related to using octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) in rendering soils and porous ceramics hydrophobic

The treatment of hydrophilic porous ceramics to render them hydrophobic and wetting to non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) is frequently needed in multiphase flow experiments to control the flow or to measure the pressure of the NAPL. In addition, research dealing with soil wettability implies a need for hydrophobic or NAPL-wet soils. The traditional procedure, which has been widely used in literature, to render hydrophilic porous ceramics and soils hydrophobic is achieved by placing the hydrophilic solid in a 5% (by volume) octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) solution in ethanol followed by rinsing in ethanol. This research assesses the use of this procedure as it was found that this treatment procedure resulted in excess OTS on the surface of treated hydrophobic solids which can dissolve in an organic phase and in turn alter the wettability condition of adjacent hydrophilic soils. A modified procedure, which results in hydrophobic solids free of excess OTS, is presented.     

Kinetics of carbon dioxide absorption into mixed aqueous solutions of MDEA and MEA using a laminar jet apparatus and a numerically solved 2D absorption rate/kinetics model

New comprehensive numerically solved 1D and 2D absorption rate/kinetics models have been developed, for the first time, to interpret the experimental kinetic data obtained with a laminar jet apparatus for the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in CO₂ loaded mixed solutions of mixed amine system of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) and monoethanolamine (MEA). Three MDEA/MEA weight ratios ranging from 27/03 to 23/07, over a concentration range of 2.316–1.996 kmol/m³ for MDEA and of 0.490–1.147 kmol/m³ for MEA were studied. The models take into account the coupling between chemical equilibrium, mass transfer, and the chemical kinetics of all possible chemical reactions involved in the CO₂ reaction with MDEA/MEA solvent. The partial differential equations of the 1D model were solved by two numerical techniques; the finite difference method (FDM) based on in-house coded Barakat–Clark scheme and the finite element method (FEM) based on COMSOL software. The FEM comprehensive model was then used to solve the set of partial differential equations in the 2D cylindrical coordinate system setting. Both FDM and FEM produced very accurate results for both the 1D and 2D models, which were much better than our previously published simplified model. The reaction rate constant obtained for MEA blended into MDEA at 298–333 K was k_MEA = 5.127 × 10⁸ exp(−3373.8/T). In addition, the 2D model, for the first time, has provided the concentration profiles of all the species in both the radial and axial directions of the laminar jet, thereby enabling an understanding of the correct sequence in which the reaction steps involved in the reactive absorption of CO₂ in aqueous mixed amines occur.     

Microwave irradiation and citric acid assisted seed germination and phytoextraction of nickel (Ni) by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica napus</Emphasis> L.: morpho-physiological and biochemical alterations under Ni stress

The complex bio-geochemistry of soil allows pollutant to persist for a longer period of time which further decreased the fertility and natural composition of land. Nickel, an inorganic pollutant, coming from a wide range of industrial and manufacturing units possesses serious threat to soil degradation and crop productivity around the world. The present study was carried to evaluate the combined role of microwave irradiation (MR) and citric acid (CA) on the phytoextraction potential of Brassica napus L. under Ni stress. An initial seed germination test was conducted to select effective time scale of MR exposure. Highest seed germination was observed at exposure of 2.45 GHz frequency for 30 s. Healthy seeds of B. napus L. genotype Faisal Canola (RBN-03060) treated with MR at 2.45 GHz for 30 s were sown in plastic pots filled with 5 kg of soil. Nickel and CA applied exogenously in solution form with different combinations to both MR-treated and untreated B. napus plants. The MR-treated plants showed higher growth, biomass, photosynthetic pigments (Chl a, b, total, and carotenoids) and activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, APX, CAT) as compared to untreated plants who showed higher reactive oxygen species (MDA, H₂O₂) and electrolyte leakage. Increasing Ni concentration significantly decreased the physiological and biochemical attributes of B. napus both in MR-treated and untreated plants. The addition of CA alleviated Ni-induced toxic effects in both MR-treated and untreated plants by improving antioxidant defense system. The degree of Ni stress mitigation was higher in MR-treated plants. The Ni concentration was higher in root, stem, and leaves of MR-treated plants under CA application as compared to untreated plants. The present study concluded that seeds treated with MR before sowing showed higher accumulation and concentration of Ni from soil, and this phenomenon boosted with the application of CA.     

Integration of biodiversity in urban planning instruments in developing countries: the case of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly,Ghana

There is a growing concern about integrating biodiversity into urban planning, yet, discussions are concentrated on science-informed planning in general. Few have explored the integration of biodiversity in specific planning instruments, especially in African cities. This paper examines how and what components of biodiversity are integrated into master plans, medium-term plans, building codes, zoning codes and permits in Kumasi City, Ghana. There is limited integration of biodiversity in most planning instruments as they were mostly designed on the basis of health, safety and economy. Allied to lack of funding and public participation, biodiversity in Kumasi is under significant threat from rapid urban development. Creating an opportunity for popular participation and decentralizing the planning system could set the preconditions for local integration and revision of instruments. Simplifying the definition of biodiversity could increase local planners’ appreciation, understanding and their ability to make use of biodiversity data.     

Effects of long-term chlorpyrifos exposure on mortality and reproductive tissues of Banded Gourami (Trichogaster fasciata)

Abstract

This study assessed the long-term toxicity of chlorpyrifos on survival and reproduction of Banded Gourami by using mortality, gonado-somatic index (GSI) and histopathological observations as endpoints. Adult fish were exposed to five different concentrations of chlorpyrifos (0, 15, 50, 150, 500?µg/L) in 15 PVC tanks for 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75?days. Results showed that all male and female fish died after 15?days of 500?µg/L chlorpyrifos exposure. No consistent significant effect was observed for both male and female GSI. Furthermore, results showed dose- and time-dependent histopathological alterations for both ovary and testes. The 60-d No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) for most histopathological alterations of Banded Gourami ovary and testes was 50?μg/L, while 60-d NOEC for mortality of both male and female fish was < 15?μg/L. The results show that the long-term exposure to chlorpyrifos not only affect the reproductive tissues of Banded Gourami at exposure concentrations but also cause their mortality. Future studies should evaluate effects at lower concentrations.