Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference technique for estimation of light penetration in reservoirs

An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference technique has been adopted to estimate light levels in a reservoir. The data were collected randomly from Doğanci Dam Reservoir over a number of years. The input data set is a matrix with vectors of time, depth, sampling location, and incident solar radiation. The output data set is a vector representing light measured at various depths. Randomization and logarithmic transformations have been applied as preprocessing. One-half of the data have been utilized for training; testing and validation steps utilized one-fourth each. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) has been built as a prediction model for light penetration. Very high correlation values between predictions and real values on light measurements with relatively low root mean square error values have been obtained for training, test, and validation data sets. Elimination of the overtraining problem was ensured by satisfying close root mean square error values for all sets.     

半干旱黄土区植被恢复对土壤团聚体稳定性及抗侵蚀能力的影响

土壤水稳性团聚体强烈影响土壤过程和功能,是反映土壤质量和土壤抗侵蚀能力的重要指标。为探究半干旱黄土区植被恢复对土壤抗侵蚀能力的影响,以甘肃省定西市龙滩流域为研究区,选取3种恢复方式（天然荒草、自然恢复、人工恢复）7种植被类型（大针茅草地、长芒草草地、赖草草地、苜蓿草地、柠条灌丛、山杏林以及油松林）为研究对象,通过测定0-20 cm、20-40 cm和40-60 cm土壤水稳性团聚体,分析土壤团聚体组成、稳定性及抗侵蚀能力特征。结果表明：1）不同恢复方式不同植被类型间土壤水稳性团聚体稳定性差异显著（P<0.05）,自然恢复方式的土壤水稳性团聚体平均重量直径显著高于天然荒草和人工恢复方式,且7种植被类型土壤大团聚体质量百分比均在67.97%-90.12%之间;人工恢复方式土壤水稳性团聚体稳定性较差,其中油松林稳定性最差。2）土壤团聚体破坏率和土壤抗侵蚀能力均表现出自然恢复方式更有利于土壤结构稳定性的提高。3）土壤水稳性大团聚体含量越高,土壤团聚体越稳定,土壤结构稳定性就越好;平均重量直径与土壤可蚀性因子K值呈极显著性负相关（P<0.01）。本研究结果表明自然恢复方式能够显著提高土壤团聚体的稳定性,从而提升土壤的抗侵蚀能力,建议当地在未来植被恢复规划中采取自然恢复方式更有利于生态恢复的有效进行。     

生物炭对塿土水热特性及团聚体稳定性的影响

试验设生物炭用量为0 (B₀)、20 (B₂₀)、40 (B₄₀)、60 (B₆₀)、80 (B₈₀) t·hm^-2 5个处理,研究了施用果树树干、枝条生物炭2年后,对塿土容重、含水率、土壤温度和团聚体稳定性及其分布的影响.结果表明： 在0～30 cm土层,施炭处理与B₀相比,土壤容重显著降低7.7%～10.9%;土壤含水率显著增加10.0%～13.4%;施用40～60 t·hm^-2生物炭可以缓冲土壤的温度变化,提高土壤的保温性能;大于0.25 mm的水稳性团聚体（WR_0.25）显著增加30.3%;平均质量直径（MWD）在干筛、湿筛条件下分别显著增加15.2%和31.6%;团聚体破坏率（PAD）和不稳定团粒指数（E_LT）分别显著降低19.1%和17.5%.说明生物炭的施用明显改善了塿土的水热特性,提高了团聚体的含量和稳定性;其施用量为40～60 t·hm^-2时综合表现较优.     

Estimation of the migration potential of diesel fuel constituents from soil to ground water: A case study

A methodology for estimating the migration potential of diesel fuel constituents from soil to ground water was developed for a large commercial property impacted by diesel fuel. The diesel fuel impacts are associated with former railyard practices that occurred prior to 1970. The site is being redeveloped for commercial use. The proposed improvements for the site include an asphalt‐paved parking lot over the location of the diesel fuel‐impacted soils. The methodology is based on the composition of weathered diesel fuel and the migration characteristics and toxicity data of the diesel fuel constituents. Based on these considerations, the two elements of the methodology are (1) an evaluation of the migration potential of diesel fuel constituents in soil using the soil synthetic rainwater leachate laboratory analysis; and (2) a health‐risk assessment of the diesel fuel ground water impacts. This approach provided sufficient site‐specific data to support a regulatory agency decision allowing development to continue without active remediation of the site soils. If the methodology had not been applied to the site, a remedial method based on a 100 mg/kg to 1000 mg/kg TPH underground storage tank (UST) program soil cleanup level would have likely been required. Considering the project's time constraints and financial requirements, remedial options such as offsite disposal or onsite thermal treatment would have been used resulting in cleanup costs likely exceeding $500, 000. The potential value of this methodology can be best appreciated considering that, based on EPA estimates, there are approximately 295, 000 contaminated UST sites and a significant portion of these sites are contaminated with diesel fuel. These sites could benefit considerably from this approach.     

Intra-specific hybridization: generator of genetic diversification and heterosis in Andrographis paniculata Nees. A bridge from extinction to survival

Andrographis paniculata (AP) has been stated as a low-diverse, endangered and red-listed plant species. Self-pollinated mating system, being an introduced species and experiencing a bottleneck as well as over exploitation cause such a consequence. Inter and intra-specific hybridizations have been suggested as essential techniques for generating genetic diversity. To test the effect of intra-specific hybridization on diversification and heterosis of AP, seven accessions were outcrossed manually in all 21 possible combinations. Three types of markers including morphological, phytochemical and RAPD markers were employed to evaluate the mentioned hypothesis. The results revealed that hybridization acted as a powerful engine for diversification of AP as it caused heterotic expression of the studied traits, simultaneously. Initially, it seems that additive and non-additive gene effects both can be considered as the genetic basis of heterosis in AP for the investigated traits. Agronomic and morphological traits were differentiated from each other, while positive heterosis was recorded mainly for agronomic traits but not for the morphological traits. Intra-specific hybridization increased the genetic diversity in AP population. Nevertheless, a part of this variation could also be attributed to the negative heterosis. The current exploration demonstrated the first ever conducted manual intra-specific hybridization among AP accessions in a mass scale. However, the 17 RAPD primers produced a monomorph pattern, but perhaps increasing the number of markers can feature a new genetic profile in this plant.