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The South Tianshan Terrane (STT) is located in the boundary between the south‐western Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) and the Tarim Craton and is a key area for understanding the geologic and tectonic history of the craton and the orogenic belt. In this paper, we report detrital zircon ages from the Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic clastic sedimentary rocks from the southern part of STT. In combination with the U–Pb ages for felsic igneous and meta‐igneous rocks exposed in the STT and adjacent tectonic units, we identify several distinct age populations. Provenance analysis suggests that the detrital zircon grains were predominately derived from the felsic magmatic rocks in the Tarim Craton and South Tianshan Terrane. The pre‐Neoproterozoic age populations may be associated with the early history of the Tarim Craton. Several pulses of Neoproterozoic magmatism are revealed by our dataset, presumably related to the assembly and break‐up of the supercontinent Rodinia. The 995 to 901 Ma detrital zircon grains were likely sourced from magmatic rocks associated with the assembly of Neoproterozoic Tarim to Australia. Among the age population of 886 to 752 Ma, the older group might be related to the subduction‐related magmatism after the assembly of Rodinia, and the younger one records a protracted magmatic event in a continental rift‐related setting associated with the break‐up of Rodinia. Two younger Neoproterozoic age populations (736 to 694 Ma and 665 to 610 Ma), showing narrow spreads with weak peaks, represent the waning stages of igneous activities related to the break‐up of Rodinia. Regarding the Palaeozoic evolution, together with other evidence, our data indicate a two‐stage subduction model for the SW Palaeo‐Asian Ocean. The 490 to 384 Ma age population corroborates the existence of Early Palaeozoic continental arc magmatism at the northern margin of Palaeozoic Tarim generated by the bidirectional subduction of the South Tianshan Ocean. After a ~30 My period of tectonomagmatic quiescence, the second stage is marked by the northward subduction of the South Tianshan Terrane during Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous. The final collision of Tarim and the south‐western CAOB likely occurred during the Late Carboniferous, followed by syn‐ and post‐collisional magmatism, as represented by the 320 to 265 Ma age population. Based on the detrital zircon ages in conjunction with the Hf isotopic features of zircons from Palaeozoic igneous rocks, our study does not support the model of large‐scale Phanerozoic net continental growth in the South Tianshan Terrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Australian water sector has been criticized for inadequate project risk management and overinvestment in inefficient water services, such as large desalination plants and recycled-water schemes. To aid water infrastructure decision making, this research study sought to define the critical risks to the long-term viability of residential recycled-water schemes and identify measures for managing critical risks. The research provides purposeful risk management practices derived from eight in-depth interviews with expert practitioners and a peer-review workshop with 11 expert practitioners. The critical risk factors and risk management measures were characterized by five major themes: organizational risk, stakeholder risk, political and regulatory risk, technical risk, and financial and economic risk. Because this is the first research study of its kind, disseminating the vast knowledge and experience of recycled-water-scheme practitioners will be valuable learning for industry practitioners and researchers investigating the management of water infrastructure projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OSAHS (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome) is a respiratory disease mainly characterized by limited and repeated pauses of breathing in sleep. Currently, the optimal treatment is to apply CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) ventilation on the upper airway of the patient through a household respiratory machine. However, if the ventilator mask is designed improperly, it might cause the residue and repeated inhalation of CO2, which will exert an adverse impact on the therapeutic effect. Present research numerically analyzed the CO2 transportation inside a commercial ventilator mask (Mirage SoftGel, ResMed, Australia) based on the reconstructed 3D numerical model of a volunteer's face and performed the improved design of the ventilator mask in terms of the CO2 residual concentration below the nostrils. The fluid dynamic analyses showed that at the end time of expiratory, the CO2 residual concentration below the nostrils is close to 4%. To improve the therapeutic effect, we changed the position of the exhaust holes and found that by moving the exhaust holes to the bottom of the ventilator mask, the CO2 residual concentration below the nostrils would be reduced to no more than 1%. This study established a near physiological computational model and provided a new method for the individualized design of the commercial ventilator mask. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Accurate and reliable predictions of sulfide production in a sewer system greatly benefit formulation of appropriate strategies for optimal sewer management. Sewer systems, rising main systems in particular, are highly dynamic in terms of both flow and wastewater composition. In order to get an insight in sulfide production as a response to the dynamic changes in sewer conditions, several measurement campaigns were conducted in two rising mains in Gold Coast, Australia. The levels of various sulfur species and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were monitored through hourly sampling for periods ranging from 8 to 29h. The results of these field studies showed large temporal as well as spatial variations in sulfide generation. A dynamic sewer model taking into account the hydraulics and the biochemical transformation processes was formulated and calibrated and validated using the data collected during the four measurement campaigns at the two sites. The model was demonstrated to reasonably well describe the temporal and spatial variations in sulfide, sulfate and VFA concentrations. Application of the model was illustrated with a case study aimed to optimize oxygen injection to one of the two mains studied, which is being used as a means to control sulfide production on this site. The model predicted that, moving the current oxygen injection point to a location close to the end of the sewer line could achieve the same degree of sulfide control with only 50% of the current oxygen use. This study highlighted that the location at which oxygen is injected plays a major role in sulfide control and a dynamic model could be used to make a proper choice of the location. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The water sector needs to make efficient and prudent investment decisions by carefully considering the long-term viability of water infrastructure projects. To support the assessment and planning of residential recycled water schemes in Australia, we have sought to clarify scheme objectives and to further define the array of critical risks that can impact the long-term viability of schemes. Building on historical information, we conducted a national survey which elicited responses from 88 Australian expert practitioners, of which 64% have over 10 years of industry experience and 42% have experience with more than five residential recycled water schemes. On the basis of expert opinion, residential recycled water schemes are considered to be highly relevant for diversifying and improving water supply security, reducing wastewater effluent discharge and pollutant load to waterways and contributing to sustainable urban development. At present however, the inability to demonstrate an incontestable business case is posing a significant risk to the long-term viability of residential recycled water schemes. Political, regulatory, organisational and financial factors were also rated as critical risks, in addition to community risk perception and fall in demand. The survey results shed further light on the regulatory environment of residential recycled water schemes, with regulatory participants rating the level and impact of risk factors higher than other survey participants in most cases. The research outcomes provide a comprehensive understanding of the critical risks to the long-term viability of residential recycled water schemes, thereby enabling the specification of targeted risk management measures at the assessment and planning stage of a scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, recycled water schemes have been implemented in residential developments to contribute to sustainable urban development, improve water supply security and reduce pollutant discharges to the environment. A proportion of these schemes, however, have been decommissioned well before the end of their design life which raises questions about the adequacy of the risk assessment and management practices adopted for recycled water schemes. Through a detailed literature review, an investigation of 21 residential recycled water schemes and in-depth interviews with nine scheme stakeholders, we identified 34 risk factors arising from six sources which have the potential to impact the long-term viability of residential recycled water schemes. Of the 34 risk factors identified, 17 were reported to have occurred during the development and implementation of the 21 schemes investigated. The overall risk rating of the 17 factors was qualitatively defined on the basis of the likelihood of occurrence and the impact of the risk factors on the scheme objectives. The outcomes of the assessment indicate that the critical risks to the long-term viability of residential recycled water schemes are 1. unanticipated operational costs, 2. legal and contractual arrangements, 3. regulatory requirements and approval process and 4. customer complaints and expectations not met. To date, public health risks associated with the provision of recycled water have been of primary concern, though the outcomes of this study indicate that the impact to public health has been low. Evidently there is a need for improved assessment and management practices which address the range of critical risk factors, in addition to the routine consideration of public health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Intermittent dosing of free nitrous acid (FNA), with or without the simultaneous dosing of hydrogen peroxide, is a new strategy developed recently for the control of sulfide production in sewers. Six-month field trials have been carried out in a rising main sewer in Australia (150 mm in diameter and 1080 m in length) to evaluate the performance of the strategy that was previously demonstrated in laboratory studies. In each trial, FNA was dosed at a pumping station for a period of 8 or 24 h, some with simultaneous hydrogen peroxide dosing. The sulfide control effectiveness was monitored by measuring, on-line, the dissolved sulfide concentration at a downstream location of the pipeline (828 m from the pumping station) and the gaseous H2S concentration at the discharge manhole. Effective sulfide control was achieved in all nine consecutive trials, with sulfide production reduced by more than 80% in 10 days following each dose. Later trials achieved better control efficiency than the first few trials possibly due to the disrupting effects of FNA on sewer biofilms. This suggests that an initial strong dose (more chemical consumption) followed by maintenance dosing (less chemical consumption) could be a very cost-effective way to achieve consistent control efficiency. It was also found that heavy rainfall slowed the recovery of sulfide production after dosing, likely due to the dilution effects and reduced retention time. Overall, intermittent dose of FNA or FNA in combination with H2O2 was successfully demonstrated to be a cost-effective method for sulfide control in rising main sewers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Controlling sulfide (H2S) production and emission in sewer systems is critical due to the corrosion and malodour problems that sulfide causes. Chemical dosing is one of the most commonly used measures to mitigate these problems. Many chemicals have been reported to be effective for sulfide control, but the extent of success varies between chemicals and is also dependent on how they are applied. This industry survey aims to summarise the current practice in Australia with the view to assist the water industry to further improve their practices and to identify new research questions. Results showed that dosing is mainly undertaken in pressure mains. Magnesium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and nitrate are the most commonly used chemicals for sewers with low flows. In comparison, iron salts are preferentially used for sulfide control in large systems. The use of oxygen injection has declined dramatically in the past few years. Chemical dosing is mainly conducted at wet wells and pumping stations, except for oxygen, which is injected into the pipe. The dosing rates are normally linked to the control mechanisms of the chemicals and the dosing locations, with constant or profiled dosing rates usually applied. Finally, key opportunities for improvement are the use of mathematical models for the selection of chemicals and dosing locations, on-line dynamic control of the dosing rates and the development of more cost-effective chemicals for sulfide control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]