Innovative combined technique for high concentration of azo dye AR18 wastewater treatment using modified SBR and enhanced Fenton process as post treatment

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the performance of combined biological/advanced oxidation process (AOP) system for treatment of wastewater containing high concentration (500 mg/L) of azo dye Acid Red 18 (AR18). Two alternating anaerobic–aerobic sequencing batch reactors (SBR1 and SBR2 without and with external feeding at the beginning of aeration cycle, respectively) were operated. The effluent of the SBRs was then post treated through enhanced Fenton process (using zero-valent iron combined with ultrasonic irradiation). More than 90% and 97% of COD was removed in the combined SBR/AOP system without external carbon source (CTS1) and with external feeding (CTS2), respectively. The analysis of dye and its metabolites using UV–vis and HPLC analysis also proved that 99% of the original dye was decolorized and more than 89% of its metabolites were degraded through CST2 which is significantly higher than the reported values in the literature. Besides, more than 87% of phosphorus removal efficiency was obtained in CST2 compared to only 54.5% removal efficiency in CST1. Regarding the findings of this study, the proposed combined treatment system (CTS2) can be suggested as an effective technique for treatment of high azo dye AR18 concentration wastewater.     

北京市水资源管理“三条红线”指标体系与评价方法

为将最严格的水资源管理制度落到实处,实现制度的可量化和可操作化,论文构建了水资源管理“三条红线”指标体系,分阶段与国家“五年规划”同步实施,并提出“三条红线”评价方法。然后以北京市为例,预测其2015 年“三条红线”控制指标的目标值;在此基础上对北京市各区县2011 年的水资源管理“三条红线”进行评价,并对达标情况进行分级。最后,分别给出各区县水务管理改进重点和方案。房山区和大兴区为5 级区,总量控制、效率控制和污染控制均需加强;城六区为4 级区,总量控制和效率控制是管理重点;通州区和昌平区为3 级区,需要加强污染控制;门头沟区、顺义区和延庆县为2 级区,水资源管理重点各不相同;怀柔区、平谷区和密云县为1 级区。     

Visitor Perceptions and the Shifting Social Carrying Capacity of South Sinai’s Coral Reefs

To investigate how the perceptions and behaviour of visitors to coral reefs are influenced by their prior experience and knowledge of marine life, a questionnaire-based study was undertaken at sites in the Ras Mohammed National Park and at Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt. It was evident that over the 10–20 years during which these reefs have deteriorated (mainly due to reef-flat trampling), there have been interrelated shifts in the nature of visitors making use of them. First, there has been a shift from experienced divers and snorkellers to inexperienced snorkellers and non-snorkellers with a poorer knowledge of reef biology. Second, there has been a shift in the predominant nationalities of visitors, from German and British, through Italian, to Russian. More recent user groups both stated and showed that they had less experience of snorkelling; they also showed less knowledge of marine life and less interest in learning about it. Visitor perceptions of both the state of the marine life on the reefs and the acceptability of current visitor numbers also varied between groups. More recent visitor groups and visitors with less knowledge were more satisfied with reef health. In general, however, visitor perceptions of reef health did not correlate well with actual reef conditions, probably because more experienced visitors preferred less impacted sites with which they were nevertheless less satisfied than inexperienced visitors at heavily impacted sites. More recent visitor groups were also less bothered by crowding on the shore or in the water. Consequently, the apparent “social carrying capacity” of sites seems to be increasing to a level well above the likely “ecological carrying capacity”.     

Proliferating Principles; Or How to Sup with the Devil without Getting Eaten

The international humanitarian system is seen by many to be in crisis. The reasons for this are complex but include the perception held by many that there is an increasing ambivalence on the part of powerful states to invest military, political and financial resources in upholding humanitarian principles, and a growing feeling that much humanitarian action both ignores human rights issues and can prolong conflict. As a result, much attention has focused on the notion of 'humanitarian principles' and there has been a proliferation of statements and initiatives on this topic in recent years.     

FLOOD WARNINGS AND FLOOD RESPONSES FOR THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH1

ABSTRACT The flooding conditions in the basin of the Red River of the North are reviewed in terms of the accuracy of the flood forecasts and the response of both the floodplain occupants and government agencies to these forecasts. The flood prediction methods in Canada and the United States are compared. The accuracy of these prediction measures for the major floods in recent history is reviewed. The differences between the way in which the American and Canadian authorities approach the flood emergencies are outlined. The accuracy of the forecasts are plotted against a number of parameters which reflect the efficiency of the flood fighting measures initiated by those flood forecasts. The significant features of these plots are discussed.     

秦皇岛市海洋生态环境保护与建设探讨

本文通过对秦皇岛市海洋生态环境质量的调查分析,提出了影响生态环境 的主要问题,进而对该海域的生态环境保护与生态建设提出了切实可行的对策。     

Subjective modeling choices and the robustness of impact evaluations in conservation science

Arbitrary modeling choices are inevitable in scientific studies. Yet, few empirical studies in conservation science report the effects these arbitrary choices have on estimated results. I explored the effects of subjective modeling choices in the context of counterfactual impact evaluations. Over 5000 candidate models based on reasonable changes in the choice of statistical matching algorithms (e.g., genetic and nearest distance mahalanobis matching), the parametrization of these algorithms (e.g., number of matches), and the inclusion of specific covariates (e.g., distance to nearest city, slope, or rainfall) were valid for studying the effect of Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of the Congo on changes in tree cover loss and carbon storage over time. I randomly picked 2000 of the 5000 candidate models to determine how much and which subjective modeling choices affected the results the most. All valid models indicated that tree cover loss decreased and carbon storage increased in Virunga National Park from 2000 to 2019. Nonetheless, the order of magnitude of the estimates varied by a factor of 3 (from −4.78 to −13.12 percentage points decrease in tree cover loss and from 20 to 46 t Ce/ha for carbon storage). My results highlight that modeling choices, notably the choice of the matching algorithm, can have significant effects on point estimates and suggest that more structured robustness checks are a key step toward more credible findings in conservation science.     

MULTITEMPORAL SCALE HYDROGRAPH PREDICTION USING ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS1

Abstract: An artificial neural network (ANN) provides a mathematically flexible structure to identify complex nonlinear relationship between inputs and outputs. A multilayer perceptron ANN technique with an error back propagation algorithm was applied to a multitime-scale prediction of the stage of a hydro-logically closed lake, Devils Lake (DL), and discharge of the Red River of the North at Grand Forks station (RR-GF) in North Dakota. The modeling exercise used 1 year (2002), 5 years (1998–2002), and 27 years (1975–2002) of data for the daily, weekly, and monthly predictions, respectively. The hydrometeorological data (precipitations P_(t), P_(t-1), P_(t-2), P_(t-3), antecedent runoff/lake stage R_(t-1) and air temperature T_(t) were partitioned for training and for testing to predict the current hydro-graph at the selected DL and RR-GF stations. Performance of ANN was evaluated using three combinations of daily datasets (Input I = P_(t)), P_(t-l), P_(t-2), P_(t-3), T_(t) and R_(t-l); Input II = Input-l less P_(t) P_(t-l), P_(t-2), P_(t-3); and Input III = Input-II less T_(t)). Comparison of the model output using Input I data with the observed values showed average testing prediction efficiency (E) of 86 percent for DL basin and 46 percent for RR-GF basin, and higher efficiency for the daily than monthly simulations.     

用铁酸盐型磁性吸附剂去除偶氮染料酸性红B

通过对几种磁性铁酸盐型吸附剂Mfe₂O₄(M=Fe,Mn,Cu)的表面特性及去除染料酸性红B(ARB)的吸附性能与催化氧化再生性能的研究,证明该类吸附剂能够有效地吸附去除水中的酸性红B,经磁分离,用H₂O₂/Fe²⁺体系可以同时氧化有机物与再生吸附剂,吸附剂可以循环使用.pH值对吸附能力有很大影响,对于MnFe₂O₄和Fe₃O₄,发生最大吸附的pH值范围在3.5～3.8,而对于CuFe₂O₄ pH值则在4.5～4.8时有最大吸附能力.CuFe₂O₄的吸附容量最大,MnFe₂O₄次之,FeO₄最小;3种吸附剂的吸附等温线均符合Langmuir吸附模型.在发生吸附的pH值范围内,吸附剂吸附染料后其Zeta电位比吸附前均有明显降低.再生实验表明,3种吸附剂再生后,其比表面积明显增大,表面元素组成发生很大变化,其吸附能力也明显提高.     

Rates of Movement of Threatened Bird Species between IUCN Red List Categories and toward Extinction

Abstract:  In recent centuries bird species have been deteriorating in status and becoming extinct at a rate that may be 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than in prehuman times. We examined extinction rates of bird species designated critically endangered in 1994 and the rate at which species have moved through the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List categories of extinction risk globally for the period 1988–2004 and regionally in Australia from 1750 to 2000. For Australia we drew on historical accounts of the extent and condition of species habitats, spread of invasive species, and changes in sighting frequencies. These data sets permitted comparison of observed rates of movement through the IUCN Red List categories with novel predictions based on the IUCN Red List criterion E, which relates to explicit extinction probabilities determined, for example, by population viability analysis. The comparison also tested whether species listed on the basis of other criteria face a similar probability of moving to a higher threat category as those listed under criterion E. For the rate at which species moved from vulnerable to endangered, there was a good match between observations and predictions, both worldwide and in Australia. Nevertheless, species have become extinct at a rate that, although historically high, is 2 (Australia) to 10 (globally) times lower than predicted. Although the extinction probability associated with the critically endangered category may be too high, the shortfall in realized extinctions can also be attributed to the beneficial impact of conservation intervention. These efforts may have reduced the number of global extinctions from 19 to 3 and substantially slowed the extinction trajectory of 33 additional critically endangered species. Our results suggest that current conservation action benefits species on the brink of extinction, but is less targeted at or has less effect on moderately threatened species.