改性土-膨润土阻隔墙阻控离子型稀土矿氨氮污染

以土-膨润土为阻隔材料,使用硅灰及水泥对其进行固化改性,研究改性后阻隔墙对离子型稀土矿原地浸矿氨氮污染的阻控效果。通过了解阻隔墙材料的渗透性能、力学性能,并结合阻隔材料对氨氮的吸附效果、穿透效果和数值模拟结果,探讨改性土-膨润土阻隔材料对氨氮污染的阻控性能。结果表明:硅灰改性土-膨润土阻隔材料,最佳质量配比为硅灰∶土=1∶10,最佳含水率为67.80%;改性阻隔材料生成的铝硅酸盐提高了阻隔墙防渗性能,渗透系数为2.36×10~(-9) m·s~(-1);CaCO_3提高了材料的力学性能,使抗压强度达到0.896 MPa;改性阻隔材料对氨氮的吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型及Langmuir等温模型。这说明该吸附过程以化学吸附为主,并且该吸附是放热过程。在不同氨氮浓度的穿透下,渗透系数呈逐渐减小的趋势,实验期间并未达到穿透浓度。利用Visual MODFLOW数值模型对阻隔墙的阻控效果进行模拟发现,7 300 d后NH_4~+扩散范围小,未穿透阻隔墙。硅灰改性土-膨润土阻隔墙用于对离子型稀土矿氨氮污染阻控的效果较好。     

Between Active Seekers and Non-Users: Segments of Science-related Media Usage in Switzerland and Germany

ABSTRACT

Citizens’ attitudes toward science are related to their use of science-related information from various sources. Evidence is scarce regarding citizens’ individual media repertoires for staying informed about science as segmentation studies so far have primarily focused on scientific attitudes. In this paper, we explore audience segments regarding their science-related information behavior and whether such segments are comparable or vary between two countries with similar information environments. Based on two surveys in Switzerland and Germany, we identify national audience segments that differ in their science-related information repertoires, and analyze their sociodemographic characteristics and science-related attitudes. In both countries, we find very comparable information user segments ranging from those who inform themselves frequently about science (“Active Seekers”/“Science Consumers”) to those who hardly get in contact with any information about science and research (“Non-Users”). Those segments which get in contact with information about science frequently show generally more positive attitudes.     

The need to improve information on road user type in National Vital Statistics System mortality data

Objectives: Both the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) and the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) can be used to examine motor vehicle crash (MVC) deaths. These 2 data systems operate independently, using different methods to collect and code information about the type of vehicle (e.g., car, truck, bus) and road user (e.g., occupant, motorcyclist, pedestrian) involved in an MVC. A substantial proportion of MVC deaths in NVSS are coded as “unspecified” road user, which reduces the utility of the NVSS data for describing burden and identifying prevention measures. This study aimed to describe characteristics of unspecified road user deaths in NVSS to further our understanding of how these groups may be similar to occupant road user deaths.

Methods: Using data from 1999 to 2015, we compared NVSS and FARS MVC death counts by road user type, overall and by age group, gender, and year. In addition, we examined factors associated with the categorization of an MVC death as unspecified road user such as state of residence of decedent, type of medical death investigation system, and place of death.

Results: The number of MVC occupant deaths in NVSS was smaller than that in FARS in each year and the number of unspecified road user deaths in NVSS was greater than that in FARS. The sum of the number of occupant and unspecified road user deaths in NVSS, however, was approximately equal to the number of FARS occupant deaths. Age group and gender distributions were roughly equivalent for NVSS and FARS occupants and NVSS unspecified road users. Within NVSS, the number of MVC deaths listed as unspecified road user varied across states and over time. Other categories of road users (motorcyclists, pedal cyclists, and pedestrians) were consistent when comparing NVSS and FARS.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the unspecified road user MVC deaths in NVSS look similar to those of MVC occupants according to selected characteristics. Additional study is needed to identify documentation and reporting challenges in individual states and over time and to identify opportunities for improvement in the coding of road user type in NVSS.     

Trace elements and microbiological parameters in farmed Nile tilapia with emphasis on muscle,water, sediment and feed

Fish may bioaccumulate contaminants from the aquatic environment and extend them to the food chain provoking risks to human health. This study evaluated the microbiological parameters of the pond´s water and trace elements concentrations in samples of water, sediment, feed and muscle of farmed Nile tilapia used for human consumption in southern Brazil. A total of 240 fish were collected from 12 tilapia farms. Sediment, tank water and dry ration used in the animals' diet were collected for analysis. Analysis were performed by Energy Dispersion X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), Induced Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES), and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS-VGA). In addition, the microbiological analysis of the water was carried out. The concentrations of Se, I, Fe, Cu and Zn in fish muscle were higher than the recommended by the Brazilian legislation, considering the advised daily intake for adults. The arsenic element had concentrations above the limit stipulated by the present Brazilian legislation, observed in all samples of muscle, sediment and tank water highlighting a possible environmental and fish contamination by the toxic element. Moreover, the arsenic concentration in the water presented a positive correlation (ρ?=?0.33) with arsenic in the muscle, suggesting that tilapia is a good environmental bioindicator, once they properly reflect the levels of arsenic in the water. It is suggested to perform an arsenic speciation for quantification of the inorganic form and accurate assessment of the degree of toxicity in the muscle samples and risks it can bring to human health. Regarding the other potentially toxic elements (Hg, Pb and Cd), and microbiological analysis of water it was verified that the consumption of the fish in question does not raise risks, since the values are within a quality benchmark established by law. The concentration of total and fecal coliforms in pond´s water in the facilities was in agreement with the microbiological indexes required by the legislation of CONAMA class II. Western region presented the lowest concentrations of fecal coliforms when compared to the other regions. There was no significant difference in the microbiological counts of total heterotrophic bacteria, Vibrio spp. and Pseudomonas spp. among the regions.     

Understanding the distribution of bushmeat hunting effort across landscapes by testing hypotheses about human foraging

Mitigating the massive impacts of defaunation on natural ecosystems requires understanding and predicting hunting effort across the landscape. But such understanding has been hindered by the difficulty of assessing the movement patterns of hunters in thick forests and across complex terrain. We statistically tested hypotheses about the spatial distribution of hunting with circuit theory and structural equation models. We used a data set of >7000 known kill locations in Guyana and hunter movement models to test these methods. Comparing models with different resistance layers (i.e., different estimates of how terrain and land cover influence human movement speed) showed that rivers, on average, limited movement rather than serving as transport arteries. Moreover, far more kills occurred close to villages than in remote areas. This, combined with the lack of support for structural equation models that included latent terms for prey depletion driven by past overhunting, suggests that kill locations in this system tended to be driven by where hunters were currently foraging rather than by influences of historical harvest. These analyses are generalizable to a variety of ecosystems, species, and data types, providing a powerful way of enhancing maps and predictions of hunting effort across complex landscapes.     

Multi-dimensional influence measurement of urbanization on the quality of natural living environment in China

Environment, Development and Sustainability - With the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization and the continuous improvement of social productivity, people are increasingly...     

大别山地区地震活动影响因子灰色关联分析

利用灰色关联分析,可以挑选出与大别山地区地震活动关系密切的影响因子。选取前一年11月太阳黑子数、当年12月地球自转相对变化平均值、当年西太平洋季风活动性数值、当年太阳10.7cm射电流量数值、大别山地区年降雨量平均值、大别山地区年气温平均值、大别山地区采掘业电力消耗值7个因子与大别山地区地震活动数进行灰色关联分析,结果表明:与大别山地区地震活动关联度最大的因子为地球自转相对变化值,与大别山地区的地震活动与该区域的采矿业关联度最低。     

从雾霾防治的环境保护执法问题看行政能力建设

雾霾是近年出现的因空气质量恶化引起的气象灾害,我国多地区均出现过不同程度的雾霾天气。雾霾天气使社会各界对环境的忧虑提升到了空前的高度。本文拟从环境保护行政执法的角度浅谈雾霾防治,阐述了当前雾霾防治的环保执法问题和相关建议。     

扬州市区水环境质量现状及防治对策

通过对扬州市区境内河流和地下水的环境质量进行调查分析,结果表明：河流水质较好,城区污水都排入污水处理厂且处理厂正常运行,水质达标排放,主要的污染物是有机污染物;地下水达到水质标准,由于地质原因,主要污染指标为总硬度和总矿化度。但仍应加大污染防治力度,针对水环境现状和问题,采取有效措施,坚持深入开展环境宣传教育,依靠科技进步,科学防治环境污染,控制污染源,实行达标制度,提高人们自身环保意识,促进水资源的可持续利用。