Energy intensity of a clean break

Institute of Mining, Siberian Branch, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Novosibirsk. Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, No. 1, pp. 114–118, January–February, 1989.     

Prediction of High Methane-Recovery Regions and Gas Extraction Technology Based on Geodynamic Zoning of Bowels

An analysis is performed for the existing hypotheses and theories used for calculating the technological parameters of operations on methane extraction from coal seams. The priority of geodynamic processes in methane collector formation, as well as the methods applied for the morphometry and processing of the remote probing data are substantiated. The urgency is shown for the investigation into the autooxidation and other exothermic reactions proceeding in coal seams and leading to methane transition to the free state.     

Reproducibility of indoor environment characteristics obtained in a walk through questionnaire. A pilot study

Walk through questionnaires may be feasible tools to obtain data on the indoor environment in community studies. However, limited information is available regarding the reproducibility of the data obtained through these questionnaires. In this pilot study, two construction engineering students inspected ten dwellings twice by means of a standardized walk through questionnaire. The two engineering students inspected the dwellings independent of each other within two months. Time between the two visits varied between 14 and 40 days. The variables presented were based on information from the residents and inspection. The continuous variables recorded included number of rooms in the dwellings, room volume, length of filled shelves and textile area. The inter- and intra-observed variabilities were poorer for number of rooms and shelf factor than for the other variables. For the 3 of the 9 categorical variables based on inspection, the inter-observer comparison showed complete agreement with a kappa statistics of 1.0, these variables being condition of the window frames and construction of outside walls and roof. One of the categorical variables showed a kappa statistics of < 0.5, these variables being presence of basement and presence of condensation at windows. This study indicates a wide variation in observer variability between various items of a walk through questionnaire. Clear definitions of all the parts of the questionnaire are needed, as well as thorough training of observers.     

Particle-size distribution and phosphorus levels in soil, sediment, and urban dust and dirt samples from the Menomonee River Watershed, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

Soil, bottom sediment, suspended sediment, and urban street dust and dirt samples from the Menomonee River Watershed, Wisconsin, were dispersed by ultrasound, fractionated and analyzed for the P content of each of three particle-size fractions. The major soil types in the watershed were used as a reference for comparing particle-size distribution and P content in urban street dust and dirt, and in sediments.Phosphorus level was found to be greater in the clay-sized particles than in the sand- or silt-sized particles of urban street dust and dirt samples, but 48% of the P was in the sand-sized fraction because of the predominance of sand-sized particles in these samples. The highest P level in the clay-sized fraction of the bottom sediments occurred at the site below a sanitary treatment plant (STP) outfall with secondary treatment capability. The P level found below a tertiary STP outfall was equal to the level found in agricultural areas. When using P level in sediment for locating areas of possible P input to the river, the clay-sized fraction of bottom sediments was more precise than P levels in unfractionated samples.