Bentonite pellets are one of the practical options for sealing deep investigation boreholes. To show that there are proper and improper sizes of the pellets which could lead to high or low as-filled dry density when filling a borehole with mono-sized pellets, a set of idealized laboratory experiments was performed. Mono-sized spherical particles (mock-up pellets, diameter d ) were filled in cylindrical containers (mock-up boreholes, diameter D ) and their filling efficiency in terms of average inter-particle porosity was investigated for a wide range of borehole-to-pellet diameter ratios ( D / d ). The results indicated that improper selection of the particle size could lead to an average inter-particle porosity twice as large as when a proper particle size was used. This difference in the average porosity could lead to a two-fold difference in the hydraulic conductivity after the pellets had finished swelling. Although the finding was obtained with mono-sized particles and pellets, it provided a clear insight into how the pellet size could affect the filling efficiency if the D / d ratio is improperly chosen, which could, in turn, strongly affect the effectiveness of the seal. Based on the findings, a guide for selecting proper pellet size, or at least to avoid improper pellet size, was provided when the use of mono-sized pellets is considered.
This article is the first to develop and testfactor-based (smart beta) strategies in real estate using real estate investment trusts (REITs), the real estate equivalent of stocks. Following the equity pricing literature, the authors construct five factor portfolios-size, value, investment, profitability, and momentum-and analyze their performance from January 1993 to December 2020. The results support all factors except profitability. Building on these factors, the authors design smart beta strategies that integrate the REIT market portfolio with the factor portfolios to optimize asset allocation. These strategies consistently deliver superior risk-adjusted returns relative to a passive buy-and-hold investment in an all-REITs US Index. Furthermore, under three of five weighting schemes, the smart beta strategies outperform diversified multi-asset portfolios spanning real estate, equities, bonds, and commodities. This suggests that REIT-based factor strategies can serve as competitive, and at times superior, alternatives to broader cross-asset allocation frameworks.
The rising population, changing climate patterns and land use changes have emerged to be a serious consequence for the freshwater resources across the globe. Apart from water quantity, the water quality also holds a significant importance for the human health and the overall ecosystem. Due to the high population growth, massive migrations, and greater anthropogenic activities, the urban centers of the developing and underdeveloped countries are highly susceptible to water quality deterioration and waterborne diseases. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the water quality of domestic water supply in the three (03) major and highly populated districts of Karachi city of Pakistan including District Central, South, and East, receiving water from Keenjhar Lake via COD treatment plant. The physical test results showed higher turbidity levels (6.33 NTU) in Dhoraji (District East), 5.9 NTU in Boat Basin (District South), and 7.58 NTU in COD influent. Chemically, all samples showed satisfactory results as per the WHO guidelines. However, the biological water quality analysis showed significant presence of bacterial content (E-Coli and Total Coliform) in all collected samples. Conclusively, the treatment efficiency of COD treatment plant was found to be satisfactory and the contamination was mainly found due to the sewage and fecal mixing, presence of mud and silt in conduits, and leakage of sewage from the waste water pipes into the domestic water supply. The presence of harmful biological contaminants found in water is alarming, as it may consequentially lead to Diarrhea, vomiting, Typhoid, Cholera, and Jaundice. Thus, the research outcomes clearly unearthed the existing water quality of the mega city and would significantly serve to formulate well-integrated and holistic source water protection practices and to take effective measures for sustainable water quality management.
The rapid expansion of enterprise data, coupled with advances in artificial intelligence, has enabled organizations to fundamentally reshape customer engagement, operational efficiency, and strategic decision-making. Salesforce AI—encompassing Einstein, Data Cloud, automation tools, and generative AI models—transforms traditional CRM by unifying disparate data sources and delivering intelligent, context-aware insights directly within business workflows. This paper examines the technical foundations of Salesforce AI, analyzes its applications across sales, service, marketing, and commerce, and evaluates its measurable impact on business outcomes. We further explore implementation challenges, governance considerations, and ethical risks surrounding trust, privacy, and model bias. Evidence indicates that Salesforce AI represents a major shift in how organizations manage customer data and deliver value, enabling hyper-personalization, predictive intelligence, and more efficient business processes. Realizing this potential, however, requires robust data management, organizational readiness, transparent AI governance, and responsible deployment strategies. This review synthesizes current trends, product capabilities, and best practices to offer a comprehensive framework for understanding and implementing Salesforce AI across enterprise environments.
Construction of new seawater reverse osmosis desalination (SWRO) plants in the state of California (USA) requires environmental permits containing rather strict conditions. The California Ocean Plan requires the use of subsurface intake systems (SSIs) unless they are deemed to be not feasible. The Governor of California requested that the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) study the issue of accelerating the desalination plant permitting process and making it more efficient. The State Board formed an independent scientific Panel to study the issue of SSI feasibility and to submit a report. The Panel recommendations included the following: the feasibility assessment (FA) for SSIs should be streamlined for completion within a maximum of three years, and this requirement should be added to the Ocean Plan; applicants need to perform a financial feasibility study before pursuing SSI capacities exceeding 38,000 m3/d (10 MGD) for wells or 100,000 m3/d (25 MGD) for galleries because project financing may be denied for such larger capacity systems; the mitigation options for each site–SSI combination in the screening process should be addressed by both the project proponent and regulatory agencies as early as practicable in the overall permitting process; and the impacts of SSIs on local aquifers and associated wetland systems must be assessed during the analyses conducted during the FA and during post-construction monitoring. The Panel further concluded that the design and evaluation of SSI–site combinations are highly site-specific, involving technically complex issues, which require both the applicant and the reviewing state agencies to have the expertise to design and review the applications. Economic feasibility must consider cost to the consumer and the engineering risk that can preclude project financing. Projected capacities exceeding the above noted limits may not by financed due to risks of failure or could require government guarantees to lenders. The current permitting system in California is likely to preclude construction of large seawater desalination facilities that can provide another source of potable water for coastal communities in California during severe droughts. Without seawater desalination, the potable water supply in California would suffer a greater sustainability and resilience risk during future periods of extended drought.
