Hydrous iron oxide for removal of inorganic contaminants in simulated stormwater: A batch sorption kinetics study

Urban stormwater runoff, which consists of inorganic and organic contaminants, is a major source of pollutants to receiving waters and therefore they need to be removed. Simultaneous removal of contaminants, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺ (heavy metal cations), and SeO₄²⁻ (oxyanion) from a simulated stormwater by a hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) was studied in batch and column sorption experiments. In the batch experiment the rate of sorption of the ions was rapid at the beginning and reached equilibrium in approximately 300 min. The amounts of ions sorbed were proportionate to the respective initial concentration of the ions added to the HFO. Cluster analysis showed that all heavy metals had similar sorption behavior, whereas Se had a distinctly different sorption process. Of the three different kinetic models tested the pseudo-first order kinetic model fitted the data the best. The column experimental results beyond 180 min were consistent with those of the batch experiment that the removal efficiencies of the ions were in proportion to the ion concentration in the feed. Below 180 min, Cu appeared to be preferentially removed than Zn.     

A tandem queue with general bulk service and servers' “vacation”

This paper analyses two queueing models consisting of two units I and II connected in series, separated by a finite buffer of size N. In both models, unit I has only one exponential server capable of serving customers one at a time and unit II consist of c parallel exponential servers, each of them serving customers in groups according to general bulk service rules. When the queue length in front of unit II is less than the minimum of batch size, the free servers take a vacation. On return from vacation, if the queue length is less than the minimum, they leave for another vacation in the first model, whereas in the second model they wait in the system until they get the minimum number of customers and then start servicing. The steady-state probability vector of the number of customers waiting and receiving service in unit I and waiting in the buffer is obtained for both the models, using the modified matrix geometric method. Numerical results are also presented.     

Velocity Distributions in Spatially Varied Flow with Increasing Discharge

The experimental study presented in this paper explores the distribution of the mean velocities for a channel receiving spatially varied (SV) inflow from directly above the centerline of the channel via sets of nozzles. The velocity components u, v, and w have been measured using a laser Doppler velocimeter. Initially the validity of the law of the wall in the channel receiving SV inflow was investigated. It was found that the measured velocity profile within the inertial sublayer region near the channel bed falls below the line representing the log law. Further, if the SV inflow enters at the center of the channel, the degree that the data depart from the log law increases from the sidewall toward the center of the channel. The structures of the velocity distributions are also presented in detail. The results include both near field, that is the area close to where the flow enters the channel, and far field measurements. It was found that the influence of the SV inflow on velocity profiles is largely contained within the SV inflow zone and that the influence within this zone reduces in the downstream direction. At any one section within this zone the influence reduces from the center of the channel toward the sidewall. In addition, some features of the secondary flow established by the SV inflow are described.     

Machine learning techniques for anti-money laundering (AML) solutions in suspicious transaction detection: a review

Money laundering has been affecting the global economy for many years. Large sums of money are laundered every year, posing a threat to the global economy and its security. Money laundering encompasses illegal activities that are used to make illegally acquired funds appear legal and legitimate. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive survey of machine learning algorithms and methods applied to detect suspicious transactions. In particular, solutions of anti-money laundering typologies, link analysis, behavioural modelling, risk scoring, anomaly detection, and geographic capability have been identified and analysed. Key steps of data preparation, data transformation, and data analytics techniques have been discussed; existing machine learning algorithms and methods described in the literature have been categorised, summarised, and compared. Finally, what techniques were lacking or under-addressed in the existing research has been elaborated with the purpose of pinpointing future research directions.     

Scaling group transformation for MHD boundary-layer flow of a nanofluid past a vertical stretching surface in the presence of suction/injection

The problem of laminar fluid flow which results from the stretching of a vertical surface with variable stream conditions in a nanofluid has been investigated numerically. The model used for the nanofluid incorporates the effects of Brownian motion and thermophoresis in the presence of magnetic field. The symmetry groups admitted by the corresponding boundary value problem are obtained by using a special form of Lie group transformations viz. scaling group of transformations. An exact solution is obtained for translation symmetry and numerical solutions for scaling symmetry. This solution depends on a Lewis number, magnetic field, Brownian motion parameter and thermophoretic parameter. The conclusion is drawn that the flow field and temperature and nanoparticle volume fraction profiles are significantly influenced by these parameters.     

Method for fabricating the compact layer in dye-sensitized solar cells by titanium sputter deposition and acid-treatments

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) have been put forward as a potential low-cost alternative to the widely used silicon solar cells, which are subject to cost limitations. However, some problems need to be solved in order to enhance the efficiency of DSCs. In particular, the electron recombination occurred by the contact between the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) and a redox electrolyte is one of the main limiting factors of efficiency. Accordingly, a compact layer plays an important role in realizing highly efficient DSCs because it improves the adhesion of the TiO₂ to the TCO and provides a larger contact area and more effective electron transfer by preventing electron recombination. In this work, the fabrication of a TiO₂ compact layer using Ti sputter deposition and acid-treatment was investigated rather than the conventional method, which uses a TiCl₄ aqueous solution. The acid-treatment of the sputtered Ti film actively oxidized the Ti particles. As a result, such a cell exhibited an additional 1.3% in total efficiency compared to the standard DSC without a compact layer. These improvements are not inferior to those obtained by the conventional fabrication method using a TiCl₄ aqueous solution.     

360度全方位的网络基础架构性能

1 经济低迷勇升级，迎接复苏好时机 当前的经济形势将对企业形成压力，促使其降低成本。本能反应当然是对无直接效益的业务实施成本削减战略，IT一类当然成了“矛头所指”。然而，正当人们谈论缩减规模之时，IT投资实际上却可以实现切实可见的商业效益。为节省成本而三思熟虑的策略未必有效，长远来看，这种做法甚至可能适得其反。     

A continuous photocatalysis system in the degradation of herbicide

The performance of both batch and continuous photo-catalytic reactors was studied to evaluate their capabilities in removing the sulfonyl urea herbicide of metsulfuron methyl (MM). It was found in a batch reactor that the addition of a small amount of powder activated carbon (PAC) significantly increased the rate of degradation of MM. The continuous photo-catalytic system resulted in 57% of MM removal. When a small dose of activated carbon was added in the photo-catalytic system, MM removal increased to 78–86% MM removal for retention times between of 5.25–21 min (corresponding to withdrawal rates of 10–40 mLmin⁻¹). In this study, the pseudo first order rate constants of a continuous photo-catalytic system revealed that shorter retention times were associated with lower rate constants. Solid phase micro extraction/gas chromatography (SPME/GC) results showed that high concentrations of MM were broken down to small volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by photo-catalytic oxidation. PAC adsorbed the photo-products and increased the degradation of MM.     

The kinetics of gas transport in halide-activated aluminizing packs

The kinetics of diffusion of gaseous halides in an aluminizing pack are analyzed assuming the presence of an activator, as well as an aluminum-depleted zone. The influence of activator concentration on the aluminum transport rate is calculated for a wide range of activator concentrations in an AlF₃-activated pack. Theoretical results are compared with experimental data for the aluminization of nickel.