Threshold values for domino effects caused by blast wave interaction with process equipment

The present study focuses on the definition and assessment of overpressure threshold values for the damage to equipment caused by blast waves originated by primary accidental scenarios. A revision of literature data and of the available damage probability models was carried out. Threshold values were proposed for different categories of process equipment, taking into account either damage levels or release intensities following the loss of containment. Specific threshold values for domino effect were also proposed.     

EFFECTS OF WATERSHED REPRESENTATION ON RUNOFF AND SEDIMENT YIELD MODELING1

ABSTRACT: This paper evaluates the effects of watershed geometric representation (i.e., plane and channel representation) on runoff and sediment yield simulations in a semiarid rangeland watershed. A process based, spatially distributed runoff erosion model (KINEROS2) was used to explore four spatial representations of a 4.4 ha experimental watershed. The most complex representation included all 96 channel elements identifiable in the field. The least complex representation contained only five channel elements. It was concluded that oversimplified watershed representations greatly influence runoff and sediment yield simulations by inducing excessive infiltration on hillslopes and distorting runoff patterns and sediment fluxes. Runoff and sediment yield decrease systematically with decreasing complexity in watershed representation. However, less complex representations had less impact on runoff and sediment‐yield simulations for small rainfall events. This study concludes that the selection of the appropriate level of watershed representation can have important theoretical and practical implications on runoff and sediment yield modeling in semiarid environments.     

湿地生态系统累积影响评价研究

定量分析湿地生态系统的累积环境影响,确定所要评价的功能,然后定量分析影响该功能的各种累积方式,将湿地生态系统的累积方式分为四种方式进行描述,对各种干扰活动的相互关系予以定性并进行量化,探讨湿地生态系统累积影响评价的步骤,有助于湿地生态系统CEA方法体系的建立与完善.     

Effect of 450 MHz Microwave Modulated with 217 Hz on Human EEG in Rest

Summary This study focuses on discrimination of changes, produced by low-level microwave exposure in intensity and time variability of the human EEG at rest. The power spectral density (PSD) method and nonlinear scaling analysis of the length distribution of low variability periods (LDLVP) were selected for analysis of the EEG signal. During the study, 19 healthy volunteers were exposed to a microwave (450 MHz) of 217 Hz frequency on-off modulation. The field power density at the scalp was 0.16 mW/cm². The experimental protocol consisted of ten cycles of repetitive microwave exposure. Signals from frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital EEG channels on EEG theta, alpha and beta rhythms were analysed. Exposure to microwave causes average increase of EEG activity. LDLVP analysis discriminated significant effect in time variability for 2 subjects (11%). PSD method detected significant changes in intensity for 4 subjects (21%). The effect of low-level microwave exposure is stronger on EEG beta rhythm in temporal and parietal regions of the human brain.     

Quantifying the rebound effects of residential solar panel adoption

Customers who adopt solar panels can reduce their energy bills and lower the effective average electricity prices they pay. When the price falls, a solar consumer might consume more electricity than before – a solar rebound effect. We provide the first empirical evidence of residential solar rebound effects in the U.S. We use household level hourly and daily electricity meter data as well as hourly solar panel electricity generation data from 277 solar homes and about 4000 non-solar homes from 2013 to 2017 in Phoenix Arizona. Using matching methods and a fixed effects panel regression approach, we find that when solar electricity generation increases by 1 kWh, solar homes increase their total electricity consumption by 0.18 kWh. This indicates that solar rebound effects are estimated at 18%. Building upon our theoretical framework, the increase in consumer surplus from solar panel adoption is estimated at $972/yr.     

Potential Negative Ecological Effects of Corridors

Despite many studies showing that landscape corridors increase dispersal and species richness for disparate taxa, concerns persist that corridors can have unintended negative effects. In particular, some of the same mechanisms that underlie positive effects of corridors on species of conservation interest may also increase the spread and impact of antagonistic species (e.g., predators and pathogens), foster negative effects of edges, increase invasion by exotic species, increase the spread of unwanted disturbances such as fire, or increase population synchrony and thus reduce persistence. We conducted a literature review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the prevalence of each of these negative effects. We found no evidence that corridors increase unwanted disturbance or non‐native species invasion; however, these have not been well‐studied concerns (1 and 6 studies, respectively). Other effects of corridors were more often studied and yielded inconsistent results; mean effect sizes were indistinguishable from zero. The effect of edges on abundances of target species was as likely to be positive as negative. Corridors were as likely to have no effect on antagonists or population synchrony as they were to increase those negative effects. We found 3 deficiencies in the literature. First, despite studies on how corridors affect predators, there are few studies of related consequences for prey population size and persistence. Second, properly designed studies of negative corridor effects are needed in natural corridors at scales larger than those achievable in experimental systems. Third, studies are needed to test more targeted hypotheses about when corridor‐mediated effects on invasive species or disturbance may be negative for species of management concern. Overall, we found no overarching support for concerns that construction and maintenance of habitat corridors may result in unintended negative consequences. Negative edge effects may be mitigated by widening corridors or softening edges between corridors and the matrix. Other negative effects are relatively small and manageable compared with the large positive effects of facilitating dispersal and increasing diversity of native species. Efectos Negativos Potenciales de los Corredores     

溴酸盐对水生生物的急性毒性效应

采用标准毒性测试方法,分析了溴酸钾、溴酸钠、溴化钾对水生生态系统中不同营养级生物包括发光菌、绿藻、水蚤、斑马鱼的急性毒性效应.结果表明,3种污染物对发光菌发光强度几乎没有影响,溴酸钾对斜生栅藻的96 h EC50为738.18mg·L-1;对大型蚤和裸腹蚤的48 h EC50分别为154.01 mg·L-1和161.80 mg·L-1,48 h LC50分别为198.52 mg·L-1和175.68mg·L-1;对斑马鱼的96 h LC50为931.4 mg·L-1.溴酸钠对斜生栅藻的96 h EC50为540.26 mg·L-1;对大型蚤和裸腹蚤的48 h EC50分别为127.90 mg·L-1和111.07 mg·L-1,48 h LC50分别为161.80 mg·L-1和123.47 mg·L-1;对斑马鱼的96 h LC50为1 065.6 mg·L-1.而溴化钾对以上几种受试生物的影响远小于溴酸钾和溴酸钠的影响,对比可知引起受试生物产生毒性效应的原因是由溴酸盐引起的.毒性作用规律显示,随着暴露时间的增加,溴酸盐的毒性效应越明显,受试生物对溴酸盐的毒性效应的敏感顺序为:大型蚤、裸腹蚤斜生栅藻斑马鱼普通小球藻、发光菌.     

西安市重污染与清洁天PM2.5组分及其活性氧物质对比

针对重霾污染,在西安市冬季重污染日(2015-11-30~2015-12-09)和清洁日(2016-01-13~2016-01-22)各进行了为期10d的PM_(2.5)采集,测量其中的有机碳、元素碳,及NH_4~+、NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)等无机水溶性离子,探讨两种污染条件下的组分特征及其成因.结果表明:观测期,重霾日和清洁日PM_(2.5)质量浓度分别为(170±47.5)μg·m~(-3)和(48.6±17.9)μg·m~(-3),且重霾日伴随低能见度、高湿静风等多种不利气象条件;重霾日二次无机离子(NH_4~+、NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-))组分占PM_(2.5)质量浓度的49.8%±13.1%,而清洁日为19.4%±5.95%,并且重霾日硫氧化速率(sulfur oxidation ratio,SOR)和氮氧化速率(nitrogen oxidation ratio,NOR)分别为0.282±0.157和0.269±0.124,远高于清洁日(SOR和NOR分别为0.189±0.057和0.077±0.046),重霾日二次有机组分浓度[(6.22±3.87)μg·m~(-3)]是清洁日[(1.44±1.63)μg·m~(-3)]的5倍,表明二次污染及不利气象条件是造成重霾期间相关组分浓度升高的重要原因.最后,通过二氯荧光黄双乙酸盐(2',7'-DCFH)化学荧光分析法测定了其中活性氧物质(reactive oxygen species,ROS)的浓度,探讨其对于二次无机组分形成的影响,结果表明观测期ROS平均浓度(以H_2O_2计)分别为(4.99±1.54)nmol·m~(-3)(重霾期),(0.492±0.356)nmol·m~(-3)(清洁期),二次反应及积累效应可能是西安重霾条件下ROS浓度升高的主要原因.NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)与ROS均呈现正相关(P0.05),表明ROS可能通过二次氧化过程参与到二次无机组分形成过程中.     

南京市湿地水质对城市化影响强度的响应研究

选取28个受城市化影响程度不同的典型湿地,对其水质进行连续监测.另一方面利用GIS技术及景观生态学原理对城市湿地所在集水区不透水类型及林地类型进行景观分析,并构建城市化影响指数(UEI),进一步对区域城市化水平与湿地水质进行相关分析.结果表明:①南京仙林新市区湿地水质季节性变化表现为夏季水质较差,冬季水质相对较好,春、秋季节差别不大.②湿地水质与城市化水平有着明显的相关关系,城市化水平等级越高,湿地水质越差,其中高等城市化水平(HU)湿地TP、TN、NH4+-N、Chla等富营养化指标质量浓度分别达到0.27、1.07、0.15、17.94 mg.L-1,而低等城市化水平(LW)湿地其质量浓度则分别为0.12、0.56、0.12、4.85 mg.L-1.③城市化影响指数与湿地水质存在着阈值关系,整体来看,当UEI值超过2.2时,湿地水质恶化速度加快.     

沉积物中六氯苯对颤蚓(淡水单孔蚓)的毒性效应研究

以淡水底栖动物颤蚓(淡水单孔蚓)为受试生物,研究了沉积物中六氯苯(HCB)对淡水单孔蚓14 d和28 d的毒性效应.结果表明,沉积物中HCB对颤蚓致死效应较低,当HCB浓度为190 mg· kg-,连续暴露28 d时,致死率低于8％.但HCB对颤蚓具有较强的慢性毒性效应,当HCB浓度为190 mg·kg-1,连续暴露28 d时,身体自断率高达90％,并且随着浓度升高和暴露时间延长,颤蚓自断率明显增高.HCB对颤蚓自断14 d和28 d的EC50分别为＞190 mg·kg-1和97.1 mg· kg-1.HCB对颤蚓行为(运动和挖掘)产生明显抑制作用.随着HCB浓度增加和暴露时间延长,颤蚓运动强度减弱,并伴随摄食量减少与体重减轻现象.