The Stanford Geostatistical Modeling Software (SGeMS) is an open-source computer package for solving problems involving spatially related variables. It provides geostatistics practitioners with a ...user-friendly interface, an interactive 3-D visualization, and a wide selection of algorithms. This practical book provides a step-by-step guide to using SGeMS algorithms. It explains the underlying theory, demonstrates their implementation, discusses their potential limitations, and helps the user make an informed decision about the choice of one algorithm over another. Users can complete complex tasks using the embedded scripting language, and new algorithms can be developed and integrated through the SGeMS plug-in mechanism. SGeMS was the first software to provide algorithms for multiple-point statistics, and the book presents a discussion of the corresponding theory and applications. Incorporating the full SGeMS software (now available from www.cambridge.org/9781107403246), this book is a useful user-guide for Earth Science graduates and researchers, as well as practitioners of environmental mining and petroleum engineering.
An important problem in econometrics and marketing is to infer the causal impact that a designed market intervention has exerted on an outcome metric over time. This paper proposes to infer causal ...impact on the basis of a diffusion-regression state-space model that predicts the counterfactual market response in a synthetic control that would have occurred had no intervention taken place. In contrast to classical difference-in-differences schemes, state-space models make it possible to (i) infer the temporal evolution of attributable impact, (ii) incorporate empirical priors on the parameters in a fully Bayesian treatment, and (iii) flexibly accommodate multiple sources of variation, including local trends, seasonality and the time-varying influence of contemporaneous covariates. Using a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm for posterior inference, we illustrate the statistical properties of our approach on simulated data. We then demonstrate its practical utility by estimating the causal effect of an online advertising campaign on search-related site visits. We discuss the strengths and limitations of state-space models in enabling causal attribution in those settings where a randomised experiment is unavailable. The CausalImpact R package provides an implementation of our approach.
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The term “engineered zeolitic materials” refers to a class of materials with a rationally designed pore system and active‐sites distribution. They are primarily made of crystalline microporous ...zeolites as the main building blocks, which can be accompanied by other secondary components to form composite materials. These materials are of potential importance in many industrial fields like catalysis or selective adsorption. Herein, critical aspects related to the synthesis and modification of such materials are discussed. The first section provides a short introduction on classical zeolite structures and properties, and their conventional synthesis methods. Then, the motivating rationale behind the growing demand for structural alteration of these zeolitic materials is discussed, with an emphasis on the ongoing struggles regarding mass‐transfer issues. The state‐of‐the‐art techniques that are currently available for overcoming these hurdles are reviewed. Following this, the focus is set on core–shell composites as one of the promising pathways toward the creation of a new generation of highly versatile and efficient engineered zeolitic substances. The synthesis approaches developed thus far to make zeolitic core–shell materials and their analogues, yolk–shell, and hollow materials, are also examined and summarized. Finally, the last section concisely reviews the performance of novel core–shell, yolk–shell, and hollow zeolitic materials for some important industrial applications.
Engineered zeolitic materials are of great importance for catalysis or selective adsorption. These modern materials are made by the combination of zeolites as the main building blocks and other secondary components to form composite structures. Herein, critical aspects related to synthesis and modification of zeolitic core–shell materials, yolk–shell, and hollow materials are summarized.
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This review focuses on important aspects of applying physisorption for the pore structural characterization of hierarchical materials such as mesoporous zeolites. During the last decades major ...advances in understanding the adsorption and phase behavior of fluids confined in ordered nanoporous materials have been made, which led to major progress in the physisorption characterization methodology (summarized in the 2015 IUPAC report on physisorption characterization). Here we discuss progress and challenges for the physisorption characterization of nanoporous solids exhibiting various levels of porosity from micro- to macropores. While physisorption allows one to assess micro- and mesopores, a widely employed method for textural analysis of macroporous materials is mercury porosimetry and we also review important insights associated with the underlying mechanisms governing mercury intrusion/extrusion experiments. Hence, although the main focus of this review is on physical adsorption, we strongly emphasize the importance of combining advanced physical adsorption with other complementary experimental techniques for obtaining a reliable and comprehensive understanding of the texture of hierarchically structured materials.
This review focuses on important aspects of applying physisorption for the pore structural characterization of hierarchical materials such as mesoporous zeolites.
In the framework of the European Directive 2002/49/EC, from 2012 to 2016, several cities in Greece have completed noise strategic maps with noise action plans that usually define the main strategies ...to reduce the noise residents are exposed to and introduce and preserve “quiet zones”. Several medium urban agglomerations in Greece (Volos, Larissa, Chania, Heraklion, Corfu, Agrinio, Thessaloniki) have been chosen to also analyse the sound qualities of the soundscapes of specific urban neighbourhoods in order to generate recommendations for the urban design of the soundscapes of these agglomerations in a manner that complements conventional noise mitigation measures. The general principle of this approach is to relate quantitative data (e.g., from measurements, acoustic simulations, urban forms, topography, and traffic model) with qualitative data (e.g., from type of sources, interviews, reports on environmental noise perception) by creating quantitative and qualitative maps. The aim of this study is to propose possible action tools to the relevant authorities aiming at diminishing noise levels in affected areas and also to provide solutions towards a sustainable sound environment both in space and time. This paper presents the main current methodology, selected important results proposed for the urban agglomerations of a typical Southeast Mediterranean country such as Greece.
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are commended as photocatalysts for H
evolution and CO
reduction as they combine light-harvesting and catalytic functions with excellent reactant adsorption ...capabilities. For dynamic processes in liquid phase, the accessibility of active sites becomes a critical parameter as reactant diffusion is limited by the inherently small micropores. Our strategy is to introduce additional mesopores by selectively removing one ligand in mixed-ligand MOFs via thermolysis. Here we report photoactive MOFs of the MIL-125-Ti family with two distinct mesopore architectures resembling either large cavities or branching fractures. The ligand removal is highly selective and follows a 2-step process tunable by temperature and time. The introduction of mesopores and the associated formation of new active sites have improved the HER rates of the MOFs by up to 500%. We envision that this strategy will allow the purposeful engineering of hierarchical MOFs and advance their applicability in environmental and energy technologies.
In the framework of the European Directive 2002/49/EC, the city of Herakleion in Crete Island (Greece) recently completed (2013) its Strategic Noise Map (SNM) and relevant Noise Action Plan (NAP). ...Strategic noise mapping and action plans are important tools to define the main strategies to reduce noise exposure of residents and introduce and preserve "quite zones". Within this framework and as a part of the Herakleion city Strategic Noise Mapping general a specific analysis was introduced in the urban area of Alikarnassos (east part of the city) adjacent to the International Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis”. The 2nd biggest airport in Greece, airport is proposed to be relocated in Kastelli area (some 37 km south of the Herakleion city centre, far away from dense populated areas), within the next decade but in the mean time, air traffic (take of, taxi and landing procedures, especially during the extended spring and summer period), are affecting the city. This paper analyzes the extended acoustic measurement monitoring program and the modelling of environmental noise levels within the city’s SNM introducing - state of the art - qualitative surveys on the sound perception and noise annoyance by the residents as well as in depth analysis of the urban and architectural tissue. All these results have been transcribed in several maps introducing a very comprehensive evaluation tool towards an efficient noise action plan leading to the eventual relocation of the airport. This paper presents the main results of this research aiming to the evaluation of the inffluence at the inhabitants’ sonic comfort from aircraft operation.
Regarding the design of SBA-15 silica, substantial efforts were deployed in the past decade in order to understand the mechanism of formation and the effects of the different synthesis conditions on ...the structure and porosity of the resulting materials. However, better insights into both the tailoring and the characterization of the pore structure of such mesoporous materials are still needed in order to enable the accurate control of adsorption and pore condensation properties in SBA-15. For this, the influence of the synthesis parameters on the properties of SBA-15 silica must be rationalized in terms of their implications for pore architecture, i.e., pore structure and network interconnectivity. Herein, it is demonstrated that pore condensation and hysteresis behavior of inert gases in subcritical conditions confined in ordered mesoporous SBA-15 silica can precisely be modulated as a function of the synthesis parameters. Synthesis conditions were found for generating SBA-15 samples that can be described entirely as a pseudo one-dimensional (1-D) pore system (i.e., pore condensation and hysteresis behavior are an intrinsic property of the liquid–vapor transition in a finite volume, in agreement with the independent open pore model). However, the data also revealed that distinct synthesis conditions allow for the preparation of SBA-15 with pore condensation properties affected by cooperative pore network effects, mimicking the behavior observed for materials with a pristine three-dimensional (3-D) interconnected pore network topology, such as KIT-6 silica. Therefore, this comprehensive study shows that SBA-15 should be best regarded as a family of solids with easily adjustable porosity, ranging from corrugated and/or distorted pore systems to highly interconnected networks of channels. The effect of each different synthesis parameter on the final pore size of SBA-15 was carefully monitored, and a threshold acid concentration range for optimal pore size variation was found. In addition to substantial progress in the SBA-15 synthesis, such in-depth characterization of a “model” ordered mesoporous material coupled with advanced application of state-of-the-art NLDFT methods is of prime importance both for the development of fundamental research on the topic and for the applications requiring tailored high surface area materials with selectively tuned pore structure.
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In the framework of the European Directive 2002-49-EU, the medium sized cities of Volos and Larissa in central Greece recently completed (2012) their strategic noise maps and relevant action plans ...that define the main strategies to reduce noise exposure of residents and introduce and preserve “quite zones”. For the first time in this framework, it has been decided to introduce, as well, a general study for five specific urban districts covering not only the measurement and modeling of environmental noise levels but also qualitative surveys on the sound perception by the residents and several analyses of the urban and architectural tissue. The districts (respectively four in Volos and one in Larissa with the two of them in the center of both agglomerations) were chosen as representatives of urban situations due to their proximity to transportation infrastructures (main road network, industrial harbor facilities and both regional and intercity train network) and also because they represent different urban typologies (residential district, downtown area with or without shops, more or less densely populated neighborhood, etc.…). Sociological surveys on sound and noise perception have been implemented on some 15% of the residents per district using opened questionnaires. Soundscape analysis was also conducted through qualitative criteria. A cross-analysis of these data explains in detail the physical reasons for the existence of sound qualities that contribute to the identity of each distinct neighborhood. This paper, in a strategic plan level, has introduced valuable recommendations in order not only to preserve the sound quality on the existing sites but also to authorize developers and decision makers (mayors, architects, town planners) to evolve them positively over time.
•The Strategic Noise Mapping is a tool for the rehabilitation of the urban soundscape.•South Europe's mid size urban agglomerations need to introduce this approach.•Different urban typologies and sound perception issues are identified.•Residential population's qualitative surveys aim to analyze the sound perception.•A cross-analysis explains sound qualities identifying each distinct neighborhood.
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HKUST-1 nanocrystals (50–80 nm) were homogeneously dispersed in a polyetherimide (PEI) polymer matrix. The use of a capping agent (sodium formate) prevented the agglomeration of HKUST-1 nanocrystals ...in the casting solution. The highly dispersed HKUST-1 nanocrystals were found to strengthen the interactions with the PEI and minimize the interfacial holes by providing more accessible Cu unsaturated metal sites for the CO bonds on the five-membered rings of the PEI matrix. The PEI membrane loaded with 30 wt % HKUST-1 nanocrystals (30-N-HKUST-1/PEI) showed a high H2 permeability (193.3 Barrer at 25 °C under 1.5 bar) and good ideal H2/CH4 and H2/CO2 selectivity factor of 101.7 and 20.6 in a single gas test, respectively. In the gas mixture test, it also showed a good separation performance, i.e., a H2/CH4 and H2/CO2 selectivity factor of 82.4 and 16.5 was measured, respectively. The 30-N-HKUST/PEI membrane was tested in a gas mixture at different temperatures (25–100 °C), different pressures (0–3 bar) and various time (5–72 h) to study the performance in more realistic conditions thus to be further considered in the separation of syngas.
•The capping agent prevented the agglomeration of HKUST-1 nanocrystals.•The interaction between HKUST-1 and PEI matrix reduces the interfacial voids.•The CO2 and CH4 selective adsorption of HKUST-1 promoted membrane's selectivity.•The membrane shows high H2 permeability and ideal H2/CO2 and H2/CH4 selectivity.
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