An enhanced-interval linear programming (EILP) model and its solution algorithm have been developed that incorporate enhanced-interval uncertainty (e.g., A(+/-), B(+/-) and C(+/-)) in a linear optimization framework. As a new extension of linear programming, the EILP model has the following advantages. Its solution space is absolutely feasible compared to that of interval linear programming (ILP), which helps to achieve insight into the expected-value-oriented trade-off between system benefits and risks of constraint violations. The degree of uncertainty of its enhanced-interval objective function (EIOF) would be lower than that of ILP model when the solution space is absolutely feasible, and the EIOF's expected value could be used as a criterion for generating the appropriate alternatives, which help decision-makers obtain non-extreme decisions. Moreover, because it can be decomposed into two submodels. EILP's computational requirement is lower than that of stochastic and fuzzy LP models. The results of a numeric example further indicated the feasibility and effectiveness of EILP model. In addition, El nonlinear programming models, hybrid stochastic or fuzzy EILP models as well as risk-based trade-off analysis for El uncertainty within decision process can be further developed to improve its applicability. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
An insulator MnO as an electron injecting and transporting material introduced into organic light-emitting diodes to increase electroluminescence efficiency also can eliminate the problem of the oxidation of reactive dopants to improve stability of devices. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America
The effects of the accuracy of major-point source emissions input data on the predictions of a regional air-quality model (AURAMS) were investigated through a series of scenario simulations. The model domain and time period were chosen to correspond to that of PrAIRie2005, an air-quality field study with airborne and ground-based mobile measurement platforms that took place between August 12th and September 7th, 2005, over the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The emissions data from standard sources for three coal-fired power-plants located west (typically upwind) of the city were compared to the continuous emissions monitoring system (CEMS) taking place at the time of the study - the latter showed that the original emissions inventory data considerably overestimated NOx, SO2, and primary particulate emissions during the study period. Further field investigation (stack sampling) in the fall of 2006 showed that the measured primary particle size distribution and chemical speciation for the emissions were strikingly different from the distribution and speciation originally used in the model. The measured emissions were used to scale existing emissions data in accord with the CEMS and in-stack measurements. The effects of these improvements to the emissions data were examined sequentially in nested AURAMS simulations (finest horizontal resolution 3 km), and were compared to airborne aerosol mass spectrometer (Aerodyne AMS) measurements of particle sulphate, and particle distributions from an airborne passive cavity aerosol spectrometer probe (PCASP). The emissions of SO2 had the greatest impact on predicted PM, sulphate, while the primary particle size distribution and chemical speciation had a smaller role. The revised emissions data greatly improved the comparisons between observations and model values, though over-predictions of fine-mode sulphate still occur near the power-plants, with the use of the revised emissions data. The modified emissions also had a significant impact on the larger particles of the particulate matter, with more primary PM in sizes greater than 1 mu m diameter than had previously been estimated, and higher large particle concentrations close to the power-plants. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Several cases of aerosol plumes resulting from trans-Pacific transport were observed between 2 km and 5.3 km at Whistler, BC from 22 April 2006 to 15 May 2006. The fine particle (<1 mu m) chemical composition of most of the plumes was dominated by sulphate that ranged from 1-5 mu g m(-3) as measured with a Quadrapole Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (Q-AMS). Coarse particles (>1 mu m) were enhanced in all sulphate plumes. Fine particle organic mass concentrations were relatively low in most plumes and were nominally anti-correlated with the increases in the number concentrations of coarse particles. The ion chemistry of coarse particles sampled at Whistler Peak was dominated by calcium, sodium, nitrate, sulphate and formate. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy of coarse particles sampled from the NCAR C-130 aircraft relatively close to Whistler indicated carbonate, potassium and organic functional groups, in particular the carboxyl group. Asian plumes reaching Whistler, BC during the INTEX-B study were not only significantly reduced of fine particle organic material, but organic compounds were attached to coarse particles in significant quantities. Suspension of dust with deposited organic material and scavenging of organic materials by dust near anthropogenic sources are suggested, and if any secondary organic aerosol (SOA) was formed during transport from Asian source regions across the Pacific it was principally associated with the coarse particles. An average of profiles indicates that trans-Pacific transport between 2 and 5 km during this period increased ozone by about 10 ppbv and fine particle sulphate by 0.2-0.5 mu g m(-3). The mean sizes of the fine particles in the sulphate plumes were larger when dust particles were present and smaller when the fine particle organic mass concentration was larger and dust was absent. The coarse particles of dust act to accumulate sulphate, nitrate and organic material in larger particles, diminishing the role of these compounds in indirect radiative forcing, but potentially enhancing their roles in direct radiative forcing.