Work domain analysis for air traffic controller weather displays

INTRODUCTION: Adverse weather conditions have a major impact on National Airspace System (NAS) operations. They create safety hazards for pilots, constrain the usable airspace for air traffic control (ATC), and reduce the overall capacity of the NAS. A system-wide dissemination of weather information to controllers could theoretically improve safety and efficiency. PROBLEM: However, it is currently unclear what weather information would be beneficial for tactical operations. Furthermore, no previous research has empirically evaluated optimal presentation designs for ATC weather displays. Ill-designed weather displays can cause safety hazards by presenting redundant information (i.e., by increasing the cognitive load) and display clutter (e.g., by interfering with the visual extraction of traffic data). METHOD: In the present paper, we outline our use of cognitive work analysis (CWA) techniques for the assessment of weather information needs for terminal controllers. RESULTS: Specifically, we describe how the CWA modeling tools helped us reveal instances in the terminal domain where weather information is lacking or insufficiently disseminated. We used our CWA results to drive the development of weather display concepts and to set up a high-fidelity simulation capability. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: By means of high-fidelity simulations, we can empirically evaluate controller weather information needs in order to propose weather displays for increased aircraft safety and efficiency of terminal operations.     

The effect of olive mill wastewater on seed germination after various pretreatment techniques

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) management has been a major issue of environmental concern for olive oil producing countries. OMW can be a serious nuisance, when disposed of untreated, due to its significantly high organic load, its phytotoxic properties and its relatively low biodegradability. Field and plant irrigation with raw or pretreated OMW is an easy and relatively inexpensive method to treat and dispose of OMW. Typical pretreatment techniques could be comprised of phase separation through a settling basin, dilution with water, aeration to promote biological degradation and pH neutralization. A full factorial experimental design approach was used here to study the main effects and interactions of the above four pretreatment techniques on the germination of tomato and chicory seeds. Results of the study showed that the most statistically significant technique affecting OMW phytotoxicity is water dilution. The next most significant technique was aeration. In particular, phytotoxicity decreased with increased OMW dilution with water, when OMW was aerated and without pH adjustment. pH neutralization resulted in increased phytotoxicity. Settling did not significantly decrease the phytotoxicity of settled OMW and is therefore not considered necessary in an OMW management system in which plant irrigation is the goal. The interaction of aeration and pH was, marginally, the most significant two-way interaction for tomato seeds, while no interactions were significant when chicory seeds were used.     

Flight distance of urban birds, predation, and selection for urban life

Numerous species have adapted to humans, especially invasive species associated with humans in towns and cities. Short flight distances of populations adapted to urban environments reflect changes in behavior and physiology, reflecting phenotypic plasticity or evolution. Here, I tested the hypothesis that the decrease in flight distance to a potential predator (an approaching human) reflected adaptation to urbanization, using a data set of flight distances of 44 common species of European birds in different stages of adaptation to urban environments. Urban populations had consistently shorter flight distances than rural populations of the same species. Variation in relative flight distance of urban populations was predicted by the number of generations since urbanization, as expected by a gradual process of adaptation. Furthermore, species with relatively large populations in urban environments would be an indication of local adaptation to urban environments. Relative flight distance of urban population was shorter for species with large populations in urban compared to rural habitats. Species that had adapted to urban environments as shown by short flight distances were less susceptible to predation by the European sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus than species with relatively long flight distances in urban populations. These findings provide evidence consistent with the hypothesis that recent changes in the tameness of urban birds, as reflected by their relatively short flight distances, is an adaptation to the novel urban environment. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

基于AHP的模糊法在面粉厂安全评价中的应用

随着经济的发展,面粉厂规模也逐渐扩大.近几年面粉厂发生爆炸的事故时有发生,对面粉厂进行安全评价,建立相应的预防措施显得非常必要.面粉厂安全性评价是综合运用安全系统工程的方法对系统的安全性进行度量和预测.本文确定了面粉厂安全性评价的指标体系,提出了应用AHP模糊法评价面粉厂安全性的方法和步骤,以及面粉厂安全性的等级划分,并应用AHP模糊法对面粉厂进行了实际评价.根据评价结果和存在的问题提出了一些可行的对策措施.评价结果对于面粉厂的安全生产有一定的指导作用.     

并联式TBCC发动机排气系统性能数值模拟

针对一个并联式涡轮基组合循环(Turbine Based Combined Cycle, TBCC)发动机排气系统的气动方案,对其在整个飞行包线范围内典型工作点上的流场进行了数值模拟研究,获得了飞行包线范围内排气系统相应的推力系数、升力、俯仰力矩随飞行马赫数的变化关系。计算结果显示,在整个飞行包线范围内,排气系统的轴向推力系数随着飞行马赫数先减小后增大,在跨声速飞行时降到最低 Ma=0.9,涡喷不加力时为0.562,加力时0.662),在设计点附近达到最大;升力和俯仰力矩性能在亚声速及跨声速飞行时较差,在超声速飞行时随着飞行马赫数增加逐渐好转。表明排气系统在跨声速飞行范围内工作时应采取措施以改善其性能。      

基于产品水足迹核算的印染企业生产节水潜力分析:案例研究

针对目前我国工业企业节水潜力分析准确程度不足的现状,以纺织印染企业为对象,根据水足迹评价方法建立了印染企业产品水足迹精确测算方法,从产品层面说明回用水和雨水收集对于水足迹的削减作用.结果表明,应用水回用及雨水收集利用后,单位产品新鲜水用量降低了11.3%,单位产品总工业用水量降低了10.4%.本研究将水平衡分析、水足迹评价与印染企业自身特点相结合,为企业内产品生产层面的节水分析提供了依据,并为企业的精细化节水路线设计提供了支持.     

Management of biomass residues generated from palm oil mill: Vermicomposting a sustainable option

Solid waste management is one of the challenging problems worldwide and it is becoming more complex by the increase in population and subsequently the waste generated. In Malaysia, among industrial solid waste palm oil mill waste (POMW) contributes the highest share. Wastes from the oil palm mill includes palm oil mill effluent (POME), decanter cake, empty fruit bunches, seed shells and the fibre from mesocarp. Generally most of the waste generated is either disposed of via open dumping or used as fertilizers as such or as animal feed. Land application of POMW and POME is very common practice as it contains numbers of plant nutrients. Direct application of POMW into agricultural soil can result in a number of problems such as water pollution, leaching etc. To deal with these problems, vermicomposting of palm oil mill waste may be a sustainable waste management option.There are number of researches going on management of biomass residues from palm oil mill, but very few works are going on vermicomposting of these agro-industrial waste. Vermicomposting of POMW can be a good practice as it will also be helpful in recycling the useful plant nutrients and it is better than that of composting process. Present review deals with the various aspects of vermicomposting of POMW and its importance. Review also put forward the effect of potential application of vermicompost on plant growth. On the whole it looks for the possibility of vermicomposting of waste from palm oil mill as a sustainable waste management alternative.     

利用造纸污泥制备两性木质素絮凝剂的研究

从造纸污泥中回收木质素,经磺化制得木质素磺酸盐,再与用三乙胺和环氧氯丙烷反应制得的季铵盐单体接枝共聚合成出两性木质素絮凝剂.探讨了催化剂、活化时间、反应物投料比、接枝温度和时间等因素对产品脱色性能的影响.将产品用于多种模拟染料溶液的脱色处理中,结果表明,该法制备的两性木质索絮凝剂对多种染料具有良好的脱色效果,脱色率均达...     

Effects of bleached kraft mill effluents on the swimming activity of Monoporeia affinis (crustacea, amphipoda) lindström

The crustacean Monoporeia affinis Lindström was exposed to two different concentrations of bleached kraft mill effluent (BKME) containing, originally, 8.3 mg/g organic chlorine determined as adsorbable organic halogen (AOX). The swimming activity of the animals was recorded by pairs of infra-red sensitive photocells attached to 5.6 1 aquaria having a seawater inflow rate of 12 ml/min. The test sequence included a control phase, an exposure phase and a recovery phase. During the exposure phase the total swimming activity decreased in three of the four test aquaria containing effluent, indicating that the animals had retreated into the sediment. Total activity increased during the recovery phase and, in the case of the lower organic chlorine concentration, activity almost achieved the original control-phase level. Statistical differences in swimming activity changes during experiment were evaluated using ANOVA. Experimental methods are explained in detail.     

Pentachlorophenol degradation by Pseudomonas stutzeri CL7 in the secondary sludge of pulp and paper mill

A pentachlorophenol (PCP) mineralizing bacterium was isolated from the secondary sludge of pulp and paper mill and identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri strain CL7. This isolate used PCP as its sole source of carbon and energy and was capable of degrading this compound as indicated by stoichiometric release of chloride and biomass formation. P. stutzeri (CL7) was able to mineralize a high concentration of PCP (600 mg/L) than any previously reported Pseudomonad with PCP as sole carbon source. As the concentration of PCP increased from 50 to 600 mg/L, the reduction in the cell growth was observed and the PCP degradation was more than 90% in all studied concentrations. This isolate was able to remove 66.8% of PCP from the secondary sludge of pulp and paper mill when supplemented with 100 mg/L of PCP and grown for two weeks. This study showed that the removal e ciency of PCP by CL7 was found to be very e ective and can be used in PCP remediation of pulp paper mill waste in the environment.