Preparation of ceria-zirconia solid solution with enhanced oxygen storage capacity and redox performance

A new method called ultrasonic-assisted membrane reaction (UAMR) was reported for the fabrication of ceria-zirconia solid solution. A series of ceria-zirconia solid solutions with different Ce/Zr molar ratios were prepared by the UAMR method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The UAMR method proved to be superior, especially when the Ce/Zr molar ratio was lower than 1, in fabricating ceria-zirconia solid solutions with large BET surface area, high oxygen storage capacity (OSC), and low reduction temperature.     

Anaerobic treatment of fresh leachate from a municipal solid waste incinerator by upflow blanket filter reactor

This paper describes the feasibility of fresh leachate treatment by an upflow blanket filter (UBF). Through dilution and partial effluent recycling, the organic loading rates increased from 0.51 to 14.56 kg COD/(m³·d), meanwhile the corresponding hydraulic retention time decreased from 9.0 to 3.6 d. The reactor was able to achieve steady-state within 80 d. Based on the distribution of COD fluxes in the process, it was concluded that anabolism was the main pathway of COD removal in the initial phase (1–33 d), accounting for 57%–85% of total COD removed. As the anaerobic consortium of bacteria reached steady-state (after 70–86 d), the majority of COD removed was transformed into methane, because the specific methane yield was close to the theoretical value (0.36 L CH₄/(g COD_deg)).     

汶川地震期间天津地震前兆台网运行与管理

汶川地震发生后,天津市地震局迅速进入应急体制,高效应对突发事件.监测中心、预报中心全体人员坚守岗位,履行职责,较好地完成了汶川地震期间天津地震前兆台网运行监控、数据管理、台站综合评比、数据服务、总结评估等项工作,以无私奉献的团队精神为地震监测预报工作做出了应有的贡献.     

新农村生活污水处理设施问题初探

农村生活污水无害化排放不仅是新农村建设的要求,也是改善农村居民生活环境的需要。本文分析了中国新农村生活污水部分处理设施存在的问题及原因,并针对新农村生活污水处理设施在工程设计、施工、监管和运行管理上提出了一些探讨性的建议,期望能为中国新农村污水处理设施的建设提供有益的参考作用。     

应用GIS和聚类分析方法研究危险货物运输路线分布

用地理信息系统技术研究危险货物山东省内运输路线分布,通过在网络数据集上进行的旅行商分析。得到危险货物运输线路包含的弧段。统计每条弧段的危险货物运量,用聚类分析对弧段分类,从而研究危险货物路线分布规律。     

Optimization of Methods for Detecting Hepatitis A Virus in Food

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is currently recognized as an important human food borne pathogen, and it is one of the most resistant enteric RNA viruses, is highly infectious, and may lead to widespread outbreaks. The aim of this study was to optimize the methods to detect HAV from artificially contaminated food. To this end, strawberry and lettuce were experimentally contaminated with HAV suspension containing 6 × 10⁶ copies/ml. After contamination, HAV persistence and washing procedure were evaluated at 0, 1, 3, 7, and 9 days of storage. Five elution buffers (PBS (pH 7.4)/0.1% Tween80; 50 mM glycine/3% (wt/vol) beef extract (pH 9.5); PBS (pH 7, 4); 25 mM glycine/0.1 Tween80; and 1 M sodium bicarbonate) were used to elute the virus, and qualitative and quantitative PCR were used for HAV detection. HAV was detected by qualitative and quantitative PCR using any of the five elution buffers, but PBS was the most effective. Even after washing, HAV was detected up to 9 days after contamination by quantitative PCR. Quantitative PCR was more sensitive than qualitative PCR since samples containing viral load lower than 1.4 × 10³ copies/ml could not be detected by qualitative PCR. Quantitative PCR can be used for rapid detection of food borne viruses and will help in the monitoring and control of food borne disease.     

Human Enteric Viruses Occurrence in Shellfish from European Markets

Different sources were consulted to obtain information on the occurrence of viruses in bivalve molluscs on the European market. Twenty-six peer-reviewed articles were identified reporting on the molecular detection of viral RNA in 4,260 samples in total. The data obtained will be presented geographically on virus types detected, the origin and treatment of the shellfish, and the detection technique applied. The data demonstrate that viral RNA can be detected in shellfish from polluted areas, in depurated shellfish as well as those for human consumption. The European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) database was consulted as another source. Twenty-eight notifications were identified on the presence of hepatitis A virus or norovirus in shellfish on the European market. The most recent report of the European laboratory network was referred to, to gain insight into the laboratory capability at present for the analyses of shellfish on the presence of viruses. Approximately 67% of 27 participating laboratories obtained intended results for all samples, consisting of lenticules loaded with 10³ copies norovirus (genogroup I (GGI) and/or genogroup II (GGII)) and/or 1 × 10⁵–8 × 10⁴ copies of hepatitis A virus. From 1993, there has been a continuous development of molecular detection techniques and tools have been described to ensure quality assurance. End product testing will, however, not be achievable. As depuration has been shown not to be effective for the complete elimination of viruses, shellfish should not be in contact with faecal contaminated water in order to minimise the risk of shellfish-transmittable viral diseases.     

Pursuing an integrated development and climate policy framework in Africa: options for mainstreaming

Climate change presents a major threat to the prospects for sustained economic development in Africa. In spite of this, climate change concerns do not feature prominently in the implementation of national and regional development programmes. The present paper identifies the likely trade-offs and synergies that may emerge from an integrated ‘development-climate’ approach to policy making. Also, the paper presents the case for the formulation and evaluation of an integrated policy approach based on four principle criteria, including; long-term environmental effectiveness, equity considerations, cost-effectiveness and the institutional compatibility of the policy combinations. What is more? The paper suggests specific options for mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation in various sectoral development agenda such as; agricultural intensification, poverty eradication, rural development, urban renewal, energy security of supply and trade. Given the wide divergence of socio-economic systems and the peculiar challenges faced by individual countries in the continent, further research is required on robust country-specific strategies for pursuing an integrated development-climate policy framework.