A 3D aerosol and visibility information system for urban areas using remote sensing and GIS

Currently, the depiction of urban air quality at boundary layer scale uses modelled climatic and land cover data. However, such models are difficult to verify, and only low to moderate accuracy may be achieved due to the complexity of the input data required and the reliance on assumptions about dispersion patterns. The provision of comprehensive air quality data to urban residents in city districts, at a level of detail commensurate with other Location-Based Services (LBS) which are time- and place-sensitive, has therefore not been possible. A method for urban air quality monitoring over cities at boundary layer scale, other than by the use of air quality models is presented here. The system presented uses empirical Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) data in near-real time, combining AOT data from AERONET with aerosol vertical profiles computed from twice-daily MODIS satellite images at 500 m resolution, to give three dimensional (3D) air quality data over the urban landscape. There has been no previous attempt to project the horizontal spatial distribution of aerosols from satellite image pixels into a vertical dimension to give a spatially comprehensive three dimensional record of air quality. The paper describes the sources and accuracy of the AOT data input to the system as well as its storage and retrieval on a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform, to provide air quality and visibility information according to user query at any 3D geographical location, including individual buildings or building floor.     

絮凝剂PAN-DCD与甲基橙相互作用中的热力学研究

用平衡渗析法研究了有机高分子絮凝剂ＰＡＮ－ＤＣＤ与甲基橙（ＭＯ）在２０，２５，３０，３５℃下相互作用的热力学，求得结合常数Ｋ和热力学参数△Ｇ，△Ｈ，△Ｓ，在对不同絮凝剂结构进行表征的基础上，探讨了不同ＰＡＮ，ＤＣＤ配比对合成的絮凝剂与ＭＯ相互作用的影响，结果表明：ＰＡＮ－ＤＣＤ与ＭＯ的相互作用中能量作用是主要的：随ＰＡＮ与ＤＣＤ的比值增大，合成的絮凝剂ＰＤ１，ＰＤ２，ＰＤ３在常温下与ＭＯ的结合程试     

Predicting the bioavailability of sediment-associated polybrominated diphenyl ethers using a 45-d sequential Tenax extraction

A 45-d Tenax extraction was used to evaluate the bioavailability of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in three spiked sediments. The effect of aging on desorption kinetics of PBDEs was investigated by incubating one of the sediments for 7, 14, 30 and 60 d at room temperature. Desorption kinetics were well described by a three-compartment model. The fraction of very slow desorption (Fvs) contributed the most of the desorbed PBDEs from sediments. The total desorption amount of PBDEs decreased with the increase of total organic carbon in the sediments, suggesting that organic matter is an important factor controlling the partition of PBDEs in sediments. The total desorption amount of PBDEs decreased while log [(Fslow+Fvs)/Frap] increased with logKow of PBDE congeners, indicating that the bioavailability of PBDEs in sediment decreases with logKow of the congeners. As the residential time of PBDEs in the sediment increased from 7 to 60 d, Frap of individual PBDE congeners decreased gradually with simultaneous increase of Fvs. There was a good positive correlation between Frap and F6/F24, indicating that either 6 h or 24 h Tenax extraction could be a proxy for Frap and bioavailability. In general, the results in present study suggest that the bioavailability of nona- and deca-BDEs in sediment is very low due to their strong hydrophobicity and large molecular size.     

湖北农村降水中SO_4~(2-)浓度变化研究

在湖北农村 10个地点 ,利用澳大利亚集雨器自 1996年 1月至 1998年 6月 ,按季度采集大气降水样品测定SO2 - 4浓度 ,并对数据进行统计分析。研究结果表明 ,各地 1997年降水中SO2 - 4浓度年均值比 1996年显著升高 ;大多数地点 1996、1997、1998年 1季度和 2季度降水中SO2 - 4浓度呈逐年升高趋势 ;大多数地点每年 1、4季度降水中SO2 - 4浓度高 ,2、3季度降水中SO2 - 4浓度低 ,说明湖北农村降水中的硫对秋冬作物影响比对春夏作物影响大 ;湖北农村降水中SO2 - 4浓度近两年不仅有时间变化规律 ,而且同一季度内的地区差异也很明显 ,在 1996年和 1997年 8个季度 10个点的降水SO2 - 4浓度最大值中 ,有 4个最大值出现在襄樊 ,它是目前湖北继宜昌市区、恩施市区之后又一个酸雨发展较快的地区     

Discordant results between fetal karyotyping and non-invasive prenatal testing by maternal plasma sequencing in a case of uniparental disomy 21 due to trisomic rescue

Uniparental disomy (UPD) is an uncommon chromosome condition, but UPD involving chromosome 21 is rarely reported. We reported here a case who had first trimester screening test for Down syndrome, chorionic villus sampling for fetal karyotyping, quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR), as well as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) by maternal plasma sequencing. There were discordant results between fetal karyotyping and NIPT due to UPD 21combined with confined placental mosaicism of trisomy 21. This demonstrated that it is possible to detect placental mosaicism by NIPT, but further studies are required to confirm its sensitivity. Therefore, all positive NIPT results must be confirmed by conventional invasive test and karyotyping. QF-PCR has the additional benefit in diagnosing UPD. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chlorinated and brominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in surface sediment from Taihu Lake, China

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs) in surface sediment samples from Taihu Lake--an important water supply of the Yangtze River Delta, China--were investigated in the present study. Concentrations of PCDD/Fs ranged from 0.91 to 4.8 pg TEQ g(-1) dw (mean: 2.9 pg TEQ g(-1) dw, TEQ: Toxic Equivalent), which were all higher than the threshold effect level established by interim sediment quality guidelines in Canada (0.85 pg TEQ g(-1) dw). The levels of PBDD/Fs ranged from 0.16 to 1.6 pg TEQ g(-1) dw (mean: 0.52 pg TEQ g(-1) dw) and accounted for 5-33% (mean: 14%) of the total PCDD/Fs and PBDD/Fs TEQ. Comparatively, the abundance of sedimentary PCDD/Fs in the three regions (Meiliang Bay, Gonghu Bay, and Xukou Bay) showed a decreasing trend from the inflow region to the outflow region, while no significant difference was observed among their 2,3,7,8-PBDD/Fs levels, which suggested that the sources of PCDD/Fs and PBDD/Fs differed in this area. Principal component analysis suggested that the historical production/usage of pentachlorophenol and sodium pentachlorophenate was the dominant source of PCDD/Fs in the sediment of these regions. Although the specific sources of PBDD/Fs in the sediment of Taihu Lake were unclear, it was suspected to be due to atmospheric deposition; however, an additional study is needed to confirm this.     

Characterization of demethylation of methylmercury in cultured astrocytes

Mercury (Hg) is a well-known neurotoxicant but its toxicity depends on the species present. A steady emergence of inorganic Hg in the brain following chronic and accidental exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) has suggested that MeHg can undergo demethylation. The objective of this study is to develop an in vitro model to study factors affecting Hg demethylation in the central nervous system. Astrocytes obtained from neonatal rat pups were cultured for 24h with 1 microM MeHg in the presence of two pro-oxidants, buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) and rotenone. The BSO treatment produced a 21% increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) content compared to the control (control vs. BSO; 100+/-1.35 vs. 121+/-1.52 relative fluorescence units (RFU)mg(-1) protein, p<0.001) but did not affect total Hg accumulation (control vs. BSO=86.5+/-4.14 ng mg(-1) vs. 95.7+/-9.26 ng mg(-1)). Rotenone increased ROS levels 107% (control vs. rotenone; 100%+/-1.35 vs. 207%+/-6.78RFU mg(-1)protein, p<0.001) and significantly increased the accumulation of total Hg (control vs. rotenone=86.5+/-4.14 ng mg(-1) vs. 124+/-3.80 ng mg(-1), p<0.001). There was no detectable demethylation in the control or BSO treated group, however, the rotenone treatment significantly increased the demethylation (control vs. rotenone=-1.86+/-5.57% vs. 16.3+/-2.68%, p<0.05). For the first time, we have demonstrated in an in vitro primary astrocyte culture model that MeHg can be converted to inorganic Hg and demethylation increases with oxidative stress. Our results provide a useful model to study demethylation of Hg in astrocytes and to explore potential ways to protect against Hg toxicity.     

Sources and seasonal variation of PAHs in the sediments of drinking water reservoirs in Hong Kong and the Dongjiang River (China)

The main objective of this study was to investigate occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the sources of the drinking water supply of Hong Kong. The main emphasis was on the Dongjiang River in mainland China which is the major source, supplying 80% of the total consumption in Hong Kong (the remaining 20% is obtained from rain water). Sediments were collected from four sites along the Dongjiang River and four reservoirs in Hong Kong during both the dry and wet weather seasons. The concentrations of total PAHs in the sediments ranged between 36 and 539 microg/kg dry wt. The lower levels were detected at the upstream site on the Dongjiang River and at the reservoirs in Hong Kong (44-85 microg/kg dry wt), while the mid- and downstream sites on the Dongjiang River were more polluted (588-658 microg/kg dry wt). Examination of the PAH profiles revealed that the mid- and downstream sections of the Dongjiang River contained high percentages of 4,5,6-ring PAHs, similar to the amounts of atmospheric particulate matter and road dust collected during the dry weather season from the Pearl River Delta region as reported in the literature. Seasonal changes were revealed in the reservoirs of Hong Kong, with higher PAH levels in the wet weather season than in the dry weather season. For those reservoirs in Hong Kong that store water from the Dongjiang River, a distinct seasonal pattern was also observed, namely, that under dry weather season conditions the PAHs found in the sediments were primarily from petrogenic source, while under wet weather season conditions they were from pyrolytic sources. No such pattern was detected in the reservoirs which stored only rain water.     

赤潮灾害经济损失评估技术方法

为有效应对赤潮灾害防灾减灾、灾后救援及管理的需求,在综合分析前人提出的赤潮灾害损失评估技术方法的基础上,参考赤潮灾害对受灾体的危害特点,结合实际工作的需求及在实际中可获取的业务数据,提出了赤潮灾害经济损失评估指标体系;根据灾害经济学理论,借鉴其他自然灾害经济损失评估的先进思想,采用市场价格法,分别建立了包括海水养殖业经济损失、滨海旅游业经济损失、赤潮灾害业务与应急监测费用和赤潮灾害处置费用的赤潮灾害经济损失评估模型;最后,提出了赤潮灾害损失评估的技术流程。