Gas phase reduction of chlorinated VOCs by zero valent iron.

The removal of trichloroethylene (TCE) by reduction with elemental iron was examined in batch reactors representing three phase gaseous systems (Fe0 (solid), water vapor + TCE vapor + air mixture (gaseous), and condensed water on Fe0 surface (aqueous)) and two phase aqueous systems (Fe0 (solid), water (aqueous)) as the reaction medium. Two separate removal mechanisms were found for TCE removal in the gas phase reactors: (1) adsorption onto the Fe0 surface under low relative humidity (RH), and (2) reaction with Fe0 to form other organic compounds, such as ethylene, isomers of dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride under 100% RH conditions in the gas phase. The adsorption of TCE vapor onto the Fe0 surface was fast initially and highest at low temperatures. The reduction reaction of TCE in the gas phase was first order with respect to the TCE concentration remaining in the gas phase under conditions of 100% RH at 15, 22, and 35 degrees C, and the observed reaction rate constant (kobs) exhibited a maximum at elevated temperatures. The estimated kobs values for the degradation of dissolved TCE in aqueous systems were the same order of magnitude with the rate constants in the gas phase and exhibited an increasing rate at higher temperatures. The results suggest that Fe0 represents an economical choice for vapor phase barriers to limit the spread of contaminants in soil gas and reduce fugitive air emissions from contaminated sites.

Comparison of methods for estimating carbonaceous BOD parameters.

The performance of seven different methods (Differential, Fujimoto, Thomas, Graphical, Integral, Log-Difference, and Nonlinear Regression) for estimating first-stage, carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD), curve parameters, namely k and L0, were compared using synthetic data generated by Monte Carlo simulation technique. The comparison of the methods was made based on their efficiency in retrieving the original values of k and L0, which were selected to generate the synthetic data. In the first part of the study, five sets of "true" data (without error substitution) with different k and L0 value pairs, (k (d(-1))-L0 (mg l(-1)): 0.23-10,000; 0.23-250; 0.23-50; 0.10-250; and 0.50-250) were used to obtain information about the effect of different k-L0 combinations and of using 5-day and 20-day CBOD data on the performance of the methods. In the second part, the same methods were used to calculate k and L0 for ten sets of synthetic data with log-normally distributed random errors at the coefficient of variation (COV) levels of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 for a single k-L0 value pair, (0.23 d(-1); 250 mg l(-1)). The results indicated that: (1) different combinations of k-L0 values had no significant effect on the performance of CBOD curve parameter estimation methods with the "true" data; (2) use of CBOD20 data, i.e., CBOD data collected for 20 days, provided better estimates for k and L0; (3) the Integral and Nonlinear Regression techniques were found to be the most reliable methods for the estimation of CBOD curve parameters among the other methods considered in this study.

Eye movements and reading with large print and optical magnifiers in macular disease.

PURPOSE: Reading rate has been the main performance measure in studies that have compared reading with large print and optical magnifiers; eye movement characteristics have not been considered. We compared both eye movement characteristics and reading rates for subjects with macular disease reading without and with a range of low-vision devices. METHODS: Silent reading rate and eye movement characteristics for text passages at critical print size of 21 subjects aged 14 to 88 years with macular disease were measured with and without their preferred low-vision device. Saccadic frequency was determined from a sequencing task comprising five letters each separated by 5 degrees. Eye movements were recorded using an infrared limbal reflection system. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in reading rate, fixation durations, saccade numbers per word, or percent retrace time when using a low-vision device compared with reading without a low-vision device. The percentage of regressions was, however, lower with the low-vision device. Saccadic frequency in the sequencing task was predictive of reading performance with and without a low-vision device. CONCLUSIONS: When reading at critical print size, in terms of reading rate or saccades per word, there was no advantage to using large print over an optical low-vision device.

Oral and silent reading performance with macular degeneration.

Previous studies have shown that reading rate for very large print (6 degrees, 1.86 logMAR character size) is a strong predictor of oral reading rate with low vision devices (LVDs). We investigated whether this would apply using large print sizes more readily available in clinical situations (e.g. 2 degrees, 1.4 logMAR), for subjects with macular degeneration. We assessed rauding rates--reading for understanding. A combination of near word visual acuity and large print reading rate (without LVDs) provided the best prediction of oral rauding rates (with LVDs). However, near word visual acuity alone was almost as good. Similarly, silent rauding rate was predicted best by near word visual acuity alone. We give near visual acuity limits as a clinical guide to expected oral and silent reading performance with LVDs for patients with macular degeneration.

Eye movements and reading with plus-lens magnifiers.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the eye movement parameter(s) that is primarily affected when fully sighted subjects use plus-lens magnifiers for reading. METHODS: Two forms of plus-lens magnifier were used: hand-held and spectacle-mounted. Eye movements were recorded using an infrared limbal reflection system as subjects read passages of text with and without the magnifiers. Data were compared for a young age group and an elderly (education-matched) age group. RESULTS: For both age groups, a sawtooth pattern of eye movements was observed and reading speed was significantly (p = 0.0001) reduced when using the magnifiers compared with reading without. Forward saccade length decreased significantly (p = 0.0001) and time for retrace increased significantly (p = 0.0001), but fixation durations were unaffected. The form of magnifier had no significant effect on reading speed or eye movement parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in reading speed that occurred when using the plus-lens magnifiers was primarily a result of decreased forward saccade length.

Eye movements and reading with simulated visual impairment.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of simulated visual impairment on the reading speed and reading eye movements of young, normally-sighted observers. Afocal diffusing filters (Ryser occlusion foils) were used to create three levels of impairment and eye movements were recorded using a spectacle-mounted, infra-red limbal reflection system. Reading speed decreased significantly (P < 0.01) as the level of impairment increased. Eye movement analysis revealed the main contributory factors to be increased fixation durations, shorter saccades (resulting in increased numbers of forward saccades per line) and, to a lesser extent, increased time required for page navigation. The results suggest that in order to achieve optimal reading speeds, print size should be at least four times the acuity threshold and that print contrast should be at least twenty times contrast threshold.