Characterization and reconstruction of 3D stochastic microstructures via supervised learning

The need for computational characterization and reconstruction of volumetric maps of stochastic microstructures for understanding the role of material structure in the processing–structure–property chain has been highlighted in the literature. Recently, a promising characterization and reconstruction approach has been developed where the essential idea is to convert the digitized microstructure image into an appropriate training dataset to learn the stochastic nature of the morphology by fitting a supervised learning model to the dataset. This compact model can subsequently be used to efficiently reconstruct as many statistically equivalent microstructure samples as desired. The goal of this paper is to build upon the developed approach in three major directions by: (1) extending the approach to characterize 3D stochastic microstructures and efficiently reconstruct 3D samples, (2) improving the performance of the approach by incorporating user‐defined predictors into the supervised learning model, and (3) addressing potential computational issues by introducing a reduced model which can perform as effectively as the full model. We test the extended approach on three examples and show that the spatial dependencies, as evaluated via various measures, are well preserved in the reconstructed samples.     

保护私有信息的动点距离判定协议及其推广

在半诚实模型下,利用安全点积协议设计出一个保护私有信息的向量相等性判定协议.基于保护私有信息的向量相等性判定协议设计出保护私有信息的两条直线上动点距离判定协议和n维空间中保护私有信息的两条直线上动点距离判定协议.对协议的正确性和安全性进行了分析.最后提出解决保护私有信息的动点距离判定问题的一般性解决方案.     

Local equivalent welding element to predict the welding deformations of plate-type structures

Considering the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) of welding joint, the residual strain behaviors of material under constraint and temperature circulation, as well as the activating mechanism of welding process, this paper addresses a new type welding element for numerical simulation of welding deformation, which is called the LEWE (the local equivalent welding element). This element can describe the basic characteristics of welded seam: the local position points of inherent strain, the equivalent size, the bending radius (or bending angle) from inherent strain, etc. It could be used to predict the welding deformation of plate-type structure. The comparisons between the computed deflection of welded plate and its experiment measurement are present. The results showed that the LEWE possesses a potential to simulate the deformation of welding process high-efficiently and precisely. Supported by the R & D Foundation of Ministry of Railway of China (Grant No. T200408) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 59825117)     

基于量测数据的外部电网在线等值实用方法

如何进行准确的外部电网等值是一个经久不衰的研究课题。文中提出了基于量测数据的外部电网在线等值实用方法。该方法首先构建了外部电网等值网络,该网络包括边界节点间的耦合支路,每一边界节点通过支路与外部电网等值电源相连。进而,构建了基于数据采集与监控(SCADA)在线量测数据的等值网络参数优化求解模型,该模型以边界节点的量测值与计算值的失配量的和最小为目标,以所有等值支路的参数在合理范围内为约束。为保证等值参数估计的稳定性和收敛性,提出2个策略:一是基于最大及最小运行方式下的Ward等值网络相应等值支路的阻抗值作为在线等值网络参数范围;二是基于历史数据获取补充量测,避免要求内部电网进行非计划开合操作以及由此带来的一系列问题。算例证明了所提模型及算法的有效性和正确性。     

POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN BALTIC SEA BIVALVES

Concentrations of parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the bivalves Macoma balthica and Astarte borealis were studied as an indication of the state of the Baltic Sea. Samples were collected between 1999 and 2001 from the Gulf of Finland, the Eastern Gotland Basin, and the Southern Baltic Proper. PAHs were quantified by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The sum of 12 PAHs varied between 44 and 298 ng/g (ww), with the most contaminated bivalves found in Hanö Bight (the Bornholm basin). High-molecular-weight PAHs predominated among the PAHs. The PAH profiles of M. balthica differed from those determined in sediment from the same area. Both pyrolytic and petrogenic origins were indicated. Toxic equivalency factors evaluated as benzo[a]pyrene equivalents (BaPEs) were used to assess the PAH contamination. BaPEs were higher than values for M. balthica found in the southern part of the Gulf of Finland in 1995 and much lower than values measured in 1987 after the most serious oil spill in the Gulf of Finland in the past 25 years.     

一种火工品可靠性评估的新方法——浅释GJB6478—2008

从信息量度量、信息量等值和在低点假设检验高点可靠性等方面说明了GJB6478—2008的评估原理;从产品一致性检验和产品裕度准则等方面说明该新方法的适用性;并在技术指标规定相同置信水平下计算低点试验样本量,在和GJB376信息量等值及对刻度参数纠偏后计算低点刺激量,并用计数试验结果f：0作为判定依据等方面说明使用该方法的技术细节。最后采用现役产品和设定不合格品的验证试验,说明凡能同时使用计量、计数法测定性能的火工品均可用该方法评估其可靠性。     

Risk assessment of combined exposure to alkenylbenzenes through consumption of plant food supplements containing parsley and dill

ABSTRACT

A risk assessment was performed of parsley- and dill-based plant food supplements (PFS) containing apiol and related alkenylbenzenes. First, the levels of the alkenylbenzenes in the PFS and the resulting estimated daily intake (EDI) resulting from use of the PFS were quantified. Since most PFS appeared to contain more than one alkenylbenzene, a combined risk assessment was performed based on equal potency or using a so-called toxic equivalency (TEQ) approach based on toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) for the different alkenylbenzenes. The EDIs resulting from daily PFS consumption amount to 0.74–125 µg kg^–1 bw for the individual alkenylbenzenes, 0.74–160 µg kg^–1 bw for the sum of the alkenylbenzenes, and 0.47–64 µg kg^–1 bw for the sum of alkenylbenzenes when expressed in safrole equivalents. The margins of exposure (MOEs) obtained were generally below 10,000, indicating a priority for risk management if the PFS were to be consumed on a daily basis. Considering short-term use of the PFS, MOEs would increase above 10,000, indicating low priority for risk management. It is concluded that alkenylbenzene intake through consumption of parsley- and dill-based PFS is only of concern when these PFS are used for long periods of time.     

Priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Distribution,Possible Sources and Toxicity Equivalency in Urban Drains

Wastewater from urban areas constitutes one of the major sources of pollutants contributed to aquatic ecosystem. This study was carried out to elucidate the occurrence and possible source of US Environmental Protection Agency identified 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water and sediments from the urban wastewater drains in Delhi, India. A total 60 samples (water and sediment) collected during year 2011–2012, and analyzed the following USEPA methods. Water and sediment samples were extracted using liquid-liquid and ultrasonication techniques, respectively. Glass column chromatography with activated silica was used for sample extracts clean-up, followed by quantification on HPLC equipped with diode array detector at 254 nm wavelength using mixture of acetonitrule and water as mobile phase. Concentrations of total 16 PAHs (∑16PAHs) in all drain water samples ranged from 0.29–35.22 μg/L (mean ± SD, 10.83 ± 10.66 μg/L), predominated by two- and three -ring PAHs. The ∑16PAHs concentrations in all collected sediments ranged between 220–19321 μg/kg (mean±SD, 5574 ± 6820 μg/kg) dry weights. High molecular weight PAHs (≥4-ring PAHs) were dominant in sediment samples. Benzo(a)pyrene equivalent (BaPeq), a relative carcinogenic potential to the corresponding PAHs to BaP was estimated and presented. A selected number of concentration ratios of specific PAHs compounds were calculated and used to diagnose the possible sources of PAHs contamination. The diagnostic ratios reflected pyrogenic input from gasoline or diesel powered vehicular emissions as the major source of PAHs. The levels of PAHs observed in water and sediments were compared with similar studies undertaken in other regions of the world.     

Monitoring the biological activity of micropollutants during advanced wastewater treatment with ozonation and activated carbon filtration

A bioanalytical test battery was used to monitor the removal efficiency of organic micropollutants during advanced wastewater treatment in the South Caboolture Water Reclamation Plant, Queensland, Australia. This plant treats effluent from a conventional sewage treatment plant for industrial water reuse. The aqueous samples were enriched using solid-phase extraction to separate some organic micropollutants of interest from metals, nutrients and matrix components. The bioassays were chosen to provide information on groups of chemicals with a common mode of toxic action. Therefore they can be considered as sum indicators to detect certain relevant groups of chemicals, not as the most ecologically or human health relevant endpoints. The baseline toxicity was quantified with the bioluminescence inhibition test using the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. The specific modes of toxic action that were targeted with five additional bioassays included aspects of estrogenicity, dioxin-like activity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and phytotoxicity. While the accompanying publication discusses the treatment steps in more detail by drawing from the results of chemical analysis as well as the bioanalytical results, here we focus on the applicability and limitations of using bioassays for the purpose of determining the treatment efficacy of advanced water treatment and for water quality assessment in general. Results are reported in toxic equivalent concentrations (TEQ), that is, the concentration of a reference compound required to elicit the same response as the unknown and unidentified mixture of micropollutants actually present. TEQ proved to be useful and easily communicable despite some limitations and uncertainties in their derivation based on the mixture toxicity theory. The results obtained were reproducible, robust and sensitive. The TEQ in the influent ranged in the same order of magnitude as typically seen in effluents of conventional sewage treatment plants. In the initial steps of the treatment chain, no significant degradation of micropollutants was observed, and the high levels of dissolved organic carbon probably affected the outcome of the bioassays. The steps of coagulation/flocculation/dissolved air flotation/sand filtration and ozonation decreased the effect-based micropollutant burden significantly.     

Levels,Sources, and Risk Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Soils from Industrial Areas: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to assess the pollution levels, sources, and human health risk of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soils of industrial areas of the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the surface soil samples from industrial areas (cement kiln, oil refinery, electric power plant, steel industry, and desalination plant) were collected and analyzed by High-Resolution Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry-Time of Flight (HRGC-MS/MS-TOF) to quantify the levels of 26 PCBs (including 12 dioxin-like PCBs and 14 indicator-PCBs). The investigated 26 PCBs were detected in all soil samples. The total PCBs concentration (from tri-CBs to hepta-CBs) ranged from 171 to 4892 pg g^?1 with an average of 1369 pg g^?1 in soils of the central region and of 142–1231 pg g^?1 with an average of 302 in soils of the eastern region, showing higher values at cement factory and/or oil refinery sites. Overall, the indicator-PCBs were the main congeners and contributed dominantly to the total mass of PCBs in comparison with the dioxin-like PCB congeners, with the most abundant for PCB-180 in the soil samples of the central region. Among individual dioxin-like PCBs, PCB-126 had the highest average value of the toxicity equivalence (TEQ). The TEQ values of ∑12dioxin-like PCBs did not exceed the Canadian soil quality guidelines of dioxin (4 pg TEQ g^?1). Based on human health risk assessment via ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation, low adverse effects of PCBs could be expected as indicated by lower values of cancer risk (≤10^?6). The principal component analysis indicated that there is a different source of PCBs with similar or different PCB profiles.