Chemometric analysis of combined NIR and MIR spectra to characterize French olives

Chemometric treatment of near‐infrared (NIR) and mid‐infrared (MIR) combined spectra was used firstly to predict oil and water contents in fresh olive fruit samples (n = 223) and secondly to classify these samples into five principal French cultivar origins (Aglandau, Cailletier, Olivière, Salonenque, and Tanche). The study was carried out during four crop years (2005/2006 to 2008/2009) to take into account the seasonal variations. The comparison of the results obtained in the combined range (REP = 2.6% for the water content and 3.5% for the oil content) provides an obvious advantage compared to the NIR and MIR techniques used separately. Fresh olive fruit cultivars were satisfactorily classified with the partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) method in the combined range. After use of the K‐means clustering on the PLS‐DA scores, all the samples were well classified into their five groups of origin. The use of infrared combined spectra allows a considerable improvement in estimating olive fruit quality (oil and water contents, varietal origins).     

Welfare Improvisation from the Receiving Waters of Urban Wastewater Systems in the Context of the Water Framework Directive

The compliance of wastewater authorities with the Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) although may highly contribute to a “good” ecological status in aquatic ecosystems, is alleged to require disproportionally high costs in relevance to the anticipated benefits. This is mainly due to the limited yet research in the assessment of the economic welfare derived by the compliance with the WFD. In this light, the direct and indirect economic benefits emerged by the attaining of WFD are investigated. The wastewater treatment plant of Athens (Greece) is demonstrated as a comprehensive pilot case.     

Structural characterisation and determination of prebiotic activity of purified xylo-oligosaccharides obtained from Bengal gram husk (Cicer arietinum L.) and wheat bran (Triticum aestivum)

Water extractable polysaccharides (WEPs) were isolated from Bengal gram husk and wheat bran. These WEP were subjected to driselase enzyme hydrolysis to obtain oligosaccharide mixtures, which were purified successively on Biogel P-2 and high performance liquid chromatographies. The molecular weight and structural features of the purified oligosaccharides were deduced using ESI-MS and ¹H NMR, respectively. The prebiotic properties of these purified oligosaccharides were studied by using Bifidobacterium adolescentis NDRI 236. Increase in dry cell mass (0.7–0.9 mg/ml) and decrease in pH (<5.8) due to production of short chain fatty acid (SCFA) indicated oligosaccharide fermentation. Acetate was the chief SCFA produced and its amount varied from 97.2% to 100%. The activities of xylanase (257–470 mU/ml), xylopyranosidase (53–60 mU/ml) and arabinofuranosidase (60–70 mU/ml) in the culture broth indicated the breakdown of xylo-oligosaccharides and their subsequent utilisation by the bacterium for its growth.     

应用LFET对锅炉水冷壁腐蚀坑的无损检测

介绍了低频电磁涡流检测技术原理、仪器设备，并应用此项技术对热电厂410t／h锅炉水冷壁内腐蚀缺陷进行检测，可准确、快速地查找出水冷壁管内部的腐蚀缺陷     

工业型小城镇生态水系治理规划——以“铝都”茌平县水系规划为例

目前,工业型小城镇面临着经济快速发展带来的严重的环境恶化问题。对此,山东茌平县采用以水系规划为主导的治理策略,注重将河道的建设融入到"一环、两轴、三线、六区"的城市结构中,充分合理地预测城市发展的趋势,从总体上确定片区内水域发展的方向,旨在通过水系强化城市轴线,体现"生态园林型的工业城市"的特色及滨水土地利用的复合性,创造优美宜人的环境,推动茌平县的可持续发展。     

大型钢筋混凝土输水渠道的检修施工技术应用及总结

以运行超过23年的上海黄浦江上游引水系统输水渠道为例,介绍了对25km长的大型钢筋混凝土输水渠道全线停役检修的情况,对沉降缝加固修复、地基加固以及本体内壁修复的原理、工艺特点、施工流程和使用效果进行了总结。实践表明,经过检修的渠道其使用寿命延长,漏损率大幅降低,目前已稳定运行超过3年,原水供应量超过350万m~3/d。     

机制砂对新拌混凝土工作性影响及减水剂对其适应性研究

研究了机制砂对新拌混凝土坍落度、扩展度、含气量以及抗压强度的影响,并探讨了聚羧酸高效减水剂和萘系减水剂在机制砂混凝土中的适用性。结果表明,机制砂的掺入会对混凝土的和易性产生一定影响,新拌混凝土的流动性变差,最多下降了25%。机制砂能够显著改善低强度混凝土的抗压强度。对于机制砂混凝土,萘系减水剂具有更好的适用性,相同配比下能够获得更好的和易性以及更高的抗压强度。     

Participatory Framework for Assessment and Improvement of Tools (ParFAIT): Increasing the impact and relevance of water management decision support research

This paper proposes the Participatory Framework for Assessment and Improvement of Tools (ParFAIT) as a way to address low uptake of Water Resources Systems Optimization (WRSO) tools. ParFAIT is a transdisciplinary process conducted in five stages, two of which are participatory modeling (PM) exercises. Herein we describe the framework, introduce our candidate tool- Multiobjective Evolutionary Algorithm (MOEA)-assisted optimization, and present the results of our first PM workshop. MOEA-assisted optimization has been put forth as a planning and decision making aid for utilities facing a large number of decisions and highly uncertain futures. The PM workshop, designed to solicit input on a tool testbed, was held in February 2015 with representatives from six Front Range, Colorado, water utilities. Our results include an expanded characterization of the decision making landscape, feedback on water utility decisions and performance goals commonly employed in WRSO studies, and new questions that warrant future investigation by researchers.     

A new framework for modeling decentralized low impact developments using Soil and Water Assessment Tool

Assessing the performance of LID practices at a catchment scale is important in managing urban watersheds. Few modeling tools exist that are capable of explicitly representing the hydrological mechanisms of LIDs while considering the diverse land uses of urban watersheds. In this paper, we propose computational modules that simulate the hydrological processes of LIDs including green roof, rain garden, cistern, and porous pavement. The applicability of the modules was evaluated using plot scale experimental monitoring data. The effectiveness of LIDs was investigated in a highly urbanized watershed located in Austin, TX. Results indicate that the performance of LIDs is sensitive to LID configurations, application areas, and storm event characteristics, suggesting the need for studies on spatial optimization of LIDs and critical storm events to maximize the utility of LIDs. The LID modules offer a comprehensive modeling framework that explicitly simulates the water quantity processes of the LIDs considering landscape heterogeneity.     

Isolation of transport mechanisms in PEFCs using high resolution neutron imaging

Liquid water saturation profiles were determined using high resolution neutron radiography for commercially available fuel cell materials and hardware. Temperature, pressure, and relative humidity (concentration) gradients were imposed on the cell to determine individual influences on water content for each gradient. The asymmetric anode/cathode channel/land architecture used in this work results in significant water accumulation in the anode diffusion media with saturation values of up to ∼50%. Anode water content was found to change substantially with imposed pressure or concentration gradient, whereas the cathode saturation profile remained relatively consistent, indicating the channel/land ratio and thickness have a determinant role in diffusion media retention. The data generated in this work has been made publicly available through www.pemfcdata.org, and should be useful for computational modelers seeking validation data.