Refinement of the density-modified displacement method for efficient treatment of tetrachloroethene source zones

A novel method to remediate dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) source zones that incorporates in situ density conversion of DNAPL via alcohol partitioning followed by displacement with a low interfacial tension (IFT) surfactant flood has been developed. Previous studies demonstrated the ability of the density-modified displacement (DMD) method to recover chlorobenzene (CB) and trichloroethene (TCE) from heterogeneous porous media without downward migration of the dissolved plume or free product. However, the extent of alcohol (n-butanol) partitioning required for in situ density conversion of high-density NAPLs, such as tetrachloroethene (PCE), could limit the utility of the DMD method. Hence, the objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of two n-butanol delivery approaches: an aqueous solution of 6% (wt) n-butanol and a surfactant-stabilized macroemulsion containing 15% (vol) n-butanol in water, to achieve density reduction of PCE-NAPL in two-dimensional (2-D) aquifer cells. Results of liquid-liquid equilibrium studies indicated that density conversion of PCE relative to water occurred at an n-butanol mole fraction of 0.56, equivalent to approximately 5 ml n-butanol per 1 ml of PCE when in equilibrium with an aqueous solution. In 2-D aquifer cell studies, density conversion of PCE was realized using both n-butanol preflood solutions, with effluent NAPL samples exhibiting density reductions ranging from 0.51 to 0.70 g/ml. Although the overall PCE mass recoveries were similar (91% and 93%) regardless of the n-butanol delivery method, the surfactant-stabilized macroemulsion preflood removed approximately 50% of the PCE mass. In addition, only 1.2 pore volumes of the macroemulsion solution were required to achieve in situ density conversion of PCE, compared to 6.4 pore volumes of the 6% (wt) n-butanol solution. These findings demonstrate that use of the DMD method with a surfactant-stabilized macroemulsion containing n-butanol holds promise as an effective source zone remediation technology, allowing for efficient recovery of PCE-DNAPL while mitigating downward migration of the dissolved plume and free product.     

Using the bootstrap and fast Fourier transform to estimate confidence intervals of 2D kernel densities

Kernel density estimators are often used to estimate the utilization distributions (UDs) of animals. Kernel UD estimates have a strong theoretical basis and perform well, but are usually reported without estimates of error or uncertainty. It is intuitively and theoretically appealing to estimate the sampling error in kernel UD estimates using bootstrapping. However, standard equations for kernel density estimates are complicated and computationally expensive. Bootstrapping requires computing hundreds or thousands of probability densities and is impractical when the number of observations, or the area of interest is large. We used the fast Fourier transform (FFT) and discrete convolution theorem to create a bootstrapping algorithm fast enough to run on commonly available desktop or laptop computers. Application of the FFT method to a large (n>20,000) set of radio telemetry data would provide a 99.6% reduction in computation time (i.e., 1.6 as opposed to 444 hours) for 1000 bootstrap UD estimates. Bootstrap error contours were computed using data from a radio-collared polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in the Beaufort Sea north of Alaska.     

The effects of castration, sex ratio and population density on social segregation and habitat use in Soay sheep

We analysed 16 years of census data gathered on the island of Hirta (archipelago of St. Kilda) to investigate the effects of castration, population density, sex ratio, season and group type on habitat use and social segregation of Soay sheep. From 1978 to 1980, 72 male lambs were castrated. We used this experiment to study how a change in reproductive status could affect sociality and habitat choice of these males. Males, females and castrates were all segregated outside the rutting season in autumn. Castrates were the least segregated from females in spring and summer but were most segregated from them during the pre-rut. The more equal the sex ratios, the higher was the degree of social segregation. The three sex classes used similar habitat types, namely, Holcus agrostis, Agrostis festuca and Calluna habitats. Holcus agrostis and Agrostis festuca were top- and second-ranked in female and castrate habitat use, while Holcus agrostis and Calluna were the two top habitat types used by rams. It is unclear why males included Calluna heath habitats, but it cannot be excluded that they might have shifted their use depending on forage availability. A lack in differences in habitat use between castrates and females suggests that body size differences alone cannot be the driving factor for habitat segregation in male and female Soay sheep and that there are reasons other than body size that could motivate reproductive males to use additional habitat types, such as Calluna heath. Although habitat use shifted from one habitat type to the next between low- and high-population-density years and between seasons, there was no clear link between population density and how different groups (male, female or castrate) used these areas. We discuss effects of reproductive status, population density and sex ratio on social segregation and habitat use and suggest that these factors need to be taken into account when investigating causes of sexual segregation in ungulates.     

LES – DFSD modelling of vented hydrogen explosions in a small-scale combustion chamber

Accidental explosions are a plausible danger to the chemical process industries. In the event of a gas explosion, any obstacles placed within the path of the flame generate turbulence, which accelerates the transient flame and raises explosion overpressure, posing a safety hazard. This paper presents numerical studies using an in-house computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for lean premixed hydrogen/air flame propagations with an equivalence ratio of 0.7. A laboratory-scale combustion chamber is used with repeated solid obstacles. The transient compressible large eddy simulation (LES) modelling technique combined with a dynamic flame surface density (DFSD) combustion model is used to carry out the numerical simulations in three-dimensional space. The study presented uses eight different baffle configurations with two solid obstructions, which have area blockage ratios of 0.24 and 0.5. The flame speed, maximum rate of pressure-rise as well as peak overpressure magnitude and timing are presented and discussed. Numerical results are validated against available published experimental data. It is concluded that, increasing the solid obstacle area blockage ratio and the number of consecutive baffles results in a raised maximum rate of pressure rise, higher peak explosion overpressure and faster flame propagation. Future model development would require more experimental data, probably in a more congested configuration.     

聚合氯化铁-腐殖酸(PFC-HA)絮体的不同拓扑空间下分形维数的研究

通过对PFC混凝去除水中HA过程中所形成的PFC-HA絮体的研究结果表明,原水pH分另4为9.0、7.0和5.0时,最佳投药量下形成的絮体的平均沉降速度之间的比值为1.17:1.00:0.49,而且所有絮体的水平投影方向的平均直径与垂直投影方向的平均直径的比值均接近0.85.结合Logan公式和有效密度-长轴的双对数关系计算出的絮体三维空间的分形维数Df较为可靠,在本试验中3种pH的原水下形成的PFC-HA絮体的Df均小于2.0.絮体沉降速度的变化是质量分形维数Df、有效密度和粒径等因素的变化综合影响结果,因此,絮体的Df、有效密度各自的变化趋势有可能与沉降速度的不一致.原水pH=7.0时絮体的Df稍大于原水pH=9.0时絮体的Df,但比原水pH=5.0时絮体的Df大11.73%.可见,与原水pH=9.0时形成的絮体相比,原水pH=7.0时形成了稍微密实的小絮体,但原水pH=5.0时却形成了较为疏松的、很小的絮体.在本试验的图像分辨率下,PFC-HA絮体在一维拓扑空间下的分形维数D1比较低,一般都低于1.10.基于投影面积-长轴关系计算的二维拓扑空间的分形维数D2变化趋势为样品3稍大于样品2,样品1最小;然而基于投影面积一周长计算的二维拓扑空间的分形维数D2却呈现不同的变化趋势.另外,尽管PFC-HA絮体的Df小于2,但其与基于投影面积-长轴关系计算的二维拓扑空间的分形维数D2不相等,不符合Meakin的结论,这与本试验中CCD相机的分辨率和絮体样本数量有关.     

超声对SBR工艺中剩余污泥的减量化研究

实验采用超声处理已稳定运行的SBR系统产生的剩余污泥,通过改变声能密度和作用时间对污泥进行处理,并回流至反应器,研究在不影响出水水质的前提下实现污泥减量化的条件。实验表明:在不同的声能密度和作用时间下系统出水仍可达到《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB18918-2002)一级排放标准,且系统污泥量稳定。在声能密度1W/mL、作用时间15min,系统运行时间为6h时,可将进水COD487mg/L降至57mg/L,MLSS维持在约3000mg/L,污泥SVI为79。     

Motorists' knowledge,attitudes and practices toward alcohol-impaired driving/riding in Ghana

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to establish the knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward drink driving/riding as a risk factor for road traffic crashes in 3 regional capitals in Ghana.

Methods: The study used a face-to-face approach to randomly sample motorists who were accessing various services at fuel/gas stations, garages, and lorry terminals in 3 cities in Ghana.

Results: Over the previous 12 months, 24% of all motorists and 55% of motorists who were current alcohol users reported driving or riding a vehicle within an hour of alcohol intake. On average, motorists/riders who were current alcohol users consumed 4 standard drinks per drinking occasion. Generally, 83% of motorists who currently use alcohol walked, rode, or drove home after consuming alcohol away from their homes. Motorists/riders who reported drink driving were 4 times more likely to have had previous traffic violation arrests compared to those who reported no drink driving/riding (P =.001). Respondents were of the opinion that speeding was the major cause of traffic crashes, followed by driver carelessness, poor road conditions, inexperienced driving, and drink driving, in that order. Thirty-six percent of motorists who use alcohol had the perception that consuming between 6 and 15 standard drinks was the volume of alcohol that will take them to the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08%. Compared to females, male motorists/riders were more likely to report drink driving (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.31 to 11.47). Private motorists also reported a higher likelihood of drink driving compared to commercial drivers (AOR = 3.36; 95% CI, 1.88 to 6.02). Only 4% of motorists knew the legal BAC limit of Ghana and only 2% had ever been tested for drink driving/riding.

Conclusion: The volumes of alcohol that motorists typically consume per drinking occasion were very high and their estimates of the number of drinks required to reach the legal BAC limit was also very high. Provision of authoritative information advising motorists about safe, responsible, or low-risk levels of alcohol consumption is imperative. Many traffic violations including drink driving were reported, thus suggesting a need for enhanced policing and enforcement. However, given the low level of knowledge of the legal BAC limit, educating motorists about how many drinks will approximate the legal BAC should be intensified prior to an increase in enforcement; otherwise, the desired outcome of enforcement may not be achieved.     

基于大面积网格法的商场疏散时间预测

为了准确预测商场人员疏散时间,文中结合群集流动规律及离散法建立新的大面积网格算法,将时间离散为微小单元Δt,空间离散为大面积网格,利用人员流动速度—密度公式,计算每一Δt时间内网格中人员流动速度,迭代累计各单元时间得到疏散时间。以某商场人员疏散演练为例进行分析,结果表明,大面积网格算法预测的人员疏散时间与实际疏散演习时间基本吻合,其相对误差为3.4%,预测精确度较高。     

The role of drug and alcohol use and the risk of motor vehicle crashes in Shiraz,Iran, 2014: A case–crossover study

Background: Traffic accidents and traffic-related injuries and mortality have become a major public health concern in Iran. This study aimed to examine the role of drug and alcohol use in motor vehicle accidents in Iran.

Methods: This case–crossover study was conducted on 441 drivers who survived a road traffic crash and were taken to the emergency department of Shahid Rajaee trauma hospital in Shiraz, southern Iran. Data were collected using checklists that included demographic characteristics and drug and alcohol use prior to driving. Alcohol and drug use was identified through self-report, and cannabis, morphine, and methamphetamine urine tests were used to confirm drug abuse among drivers.

Results: In total 17.9% of drivers reported using drugs (cannabis, opium, or metamphetamine) and 8.84% of drivers reported consuming alcohol prior to the collision. The crude odds ratios (ORs) for having a crash for opium, cannabis, and metamphetamine were 1.94 (95% interval confidence [CI], 1.11–3.38), 2.37 (95% CI, 1.03–5.42), 5.5 (95% CI, 1.21–24.81), respectively, and for all drugs was 3.83 (95% CI, 2.28–6.43). The OR for alcohol was 3.5 (95% CI, 1.73–7.06) based on self-report.

Conclusion: Drug and alcohol use are increasing the risk of traffic crashes in Iran. Risk-reducing programs must be designed and implemented.     

香溪河流域人类活动净磷输入量及其影响因素

为了阐明三峡库区第一大支流香溪河流域人类活动对磷输入的影响程度,收集流域所涉及的2001~2019年的乡镇统计数据,运用改进的人类活动净磷输入（NAPI）模型,分析了该流域NAPI的发展趋势.结果表明：在时间尺度上,香溪河流域2001~2019年的NAPI整体呈下降趋势;在空间尺度上,NAPI呈现东北部高于西南部的趋势,影响香溪河流域NAPI的主要乡镇为黄粮镇、峡口镇和昭君镇,占香溪河流域NAPI的63.8%;河流磷输出占NAPI的百分比为10.7%~79.5%;从NAPI结构上看,影响香溪河流域NAPI主要的影响因素为磷肥施入量,占香溪河流域NAPI的46%~68%,次要影响因素为食物磷和磷化工及磷矿开采导致磷素释放量,分别占香溪河流域NAPI的14%~32%和16%~24%;从NAPI影响因素上看,NAPI与人口密度和耕地面积占比均呈极显著正相关（P<0.001）,而在小流域研究尺度上,NAPI与河流磷输出的相关性不显著（P>0.05）,不具有直接的响应关系.因此,香溪河流域磷素管理应优先考虑重点区域（黄粮镇、峡口镇和昭君镇）,控制化肥施用量,并提高工厂污染物排放标准.