This paper presents a new method to convert continuous variables into discrete variables for inductive machine learning. The method can be applied to pattern classification problems in machine learning and data mining. The discretization process is formulated as an optimization problem. We first use the normalized mutual information that measures the interdependence between the class labels and...

Air, soils and sediments surrounding an abandoned pentachlorophenol (PCP) factory were sampled to determine the levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), unintentionally formed during PCP production. The mean concentration of PCDD/Fs in ambient air was one order of magnitude higher than that of the reference site. A trend of decreasing concentrations with increasi...

This work investigated the characteristics of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) in stack-flue gases from six stationary emission sources in five types of incinerators: industrial waste incinerator (IWI), small-scale municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI), medical waste incinerator (MWI), cement kilns (CK), and crematories (CR). These characteristics were further inv...

Recent evidence suggests that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may cause perturbations in endogenous hormonal regulation that predispose to weight gain. Using data from NHANES (1999-2002), we investigated the association between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) via multiple linear regressions. Consistent interaction was found...

This paper presents a review of the achievements of the optimal power dynamic dispatch problem since its inception to the present. There exist two formulations for this problem in the literature. The first formulation is the optimal control dynamic dispatch (OCDD), where the power system generation has been modelled as a control system and optimization is done in the optimal control setting wit...

The inhibition effect of calcined lime (CaO) and limestone (CaCO3) on the formation dioxins during iron ore co-sintering with fly ash was investigated in a sinter pot present work. Experimental results indicated that international total toxicity equivalent concentration decreased from 1.4335 to 0.2922, 0.1048, 0.4562, 0.3098 ng I-TEQ Nm−3 under four different experimental conditions. It can be ...

Sediment cores were collected from the Xiangxi River, a tributary of Three Gorges Reservoir, deposition time in longest sediment core (90 cm) was measured by radiometry (137Cs, 210Pb) activities and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furan (PCDD/F) concentrations different depths measured. The results indicated that mean rate 1.01 cm/a. total PCDD/F ranged 19.28 to 70.07 pg/g d.w. with 35.06 PCD...

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and nonand mono-ortho-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (dioxin-like PCBs) was analyzed in earthworms, plants, insects, field mouse and birds collected in Kanagawa Prefecture and their accumulation in the terrestrial ecosystem was studied. TEQ was highest in raptor species and followed by mouse liver, other bir...

OBJECTIVES To find whether or not incinerator workers employed at intermittently burning municipal incineration plants are exposed to high concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). METHODS 20 Workers employed at three municipal waste incineration plants (incinerator workers) and 20 controls were studied. The previous job, dietary, s...

Heat-activated persulfate was tested for destruction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) in the laboratory. Combined technology of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) and in situ thermal remediation (ISTR) using heat-activated persulfate can be applied for destruction of the PCDD/Fs polluted soil and the PCDD/Fs containing fly ash from incineration process. To explore the treata...