Development and Testing of 2D Finite Difference Model in Open Channels

This study develops a depth-averaged two-dimensional (2D) numerical model using a finite difference method (FDM) on a staggered grid. The governing equations were solved using the Marker and Cell method that was developed at the Los Alamos laboratories by Harlow and Welch in 1965. In the paper, an explicit FDM was used to solve the governing equations. A first-order approximation was used for the temporal derivative. Second-order central difference approximations were used for space discretization. The time step is limited by the Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy (CFL) condition. The time step used in this study depends on the grid spacing and velocity components in the x- and y-directions. The study is divided into two steps: the first step is to develop a depth-averaged 2D numerical model to simulate the flow process. The second constructs a module to calculate the bed load transport and simulate the river morphology in the areas that have steep slopes, torrents, and mountain rivers. Developed model was applied to the artificial channel and a flood event in the Asungjun River section of the mountainous Yangyang Namdae River (South Korea). General simulation results showed that the developed model was in good agreement with the observed data.     

The evolution of pollution profile and health risk assessment for three groups SVOCs pollutants along with Beijiang River,China

Three important groups of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organic chlorinated pesticides (OCPs) and phthalate esters (PAEs), were produced by various human activities and entered the water body. In this study, the pollution profiles of three species including 16 PAHs, 20 OCPs and 15 PAEs in water along the Beijiang River, China were investigated. The concentrations of Σ₁₆PAHs in the dissolved and particulate phases were obtained as 69–1.5 × 10² ng L^?1 and 2.3 × 10³–8.6 × 10⁴ ng g^?1, respectively. The levels of Σ₂₀OCPs were 23–66 ng L^?1 (dissolved phase) and 19–1.7 × 10³ ng g^?1 (particulate phase). Nevertheless, higher levels of PAEs were found both in the dissolved and particulate phases due to abuse use of plastic products. Furthermore, non-cancer and cancer risks caused by these SVOCs through the ingestion absorption and dermal absorption were also assessed. There was no non-cancer risk existed through two kinds of exposure of them at current levels, whereas certain cancer risk existed through dermal absorption of PAHs in the particulate phase in some sampling sites. The results will show scientific insights into the evaluation of the status of combined pollution in river basins, and the determination of strategies for incident control and pollutant remediation.     

Coupled Monte Carlo simulation and Copula theory for uncertainty analysis of multiphase flow simulation models

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Simulation-optimization techniques are effective in identifying an optimal remediation strategy. Simulation models with uncertainty, primarily in the...     

Microbial community composition and electricity generation in cattle manure slurry treatment using microbial fuel cells: effects of inoculum addition

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a sustainable technology to treat cattle manure slurry (CMS) for converting chemical energy to bioelectricity. In this...     

Changes in motorcycle-related injuries and deaths after mandatory motorcycle helmet law in a district of Vietnam

Objective: Our study measured the change in head injuries and deaths among motorcycle users in Cu Chi district, a suburban district of Ho Chi Minh City.

Methods: Hospital records for road traffic injuries (RTIs) were collected from the Cu Chi Trauma Centre and motorcycle-related death records were obtained from mortality registries in commune health offices. Head injury severity was categorized using the Abbreviated Injury Score (AIS). Rate ratios (RRs) were used to compare rates pre- and post-law (2005/2006–2009/2010). Cu Chi's population, stratified by year, age, and sex, was used as the denominator.

Results: Of records identifying the transportation mode at the time of injury, motorcyclists accounted for most injuries (3,035, 87%) and deaths (238, 90%). Head injuries accounted for 70% of motorcycle-related hospitalizations. Helmet use was not recorded in any death records and not in 97% of medical records. Males accounted for most injuries (73%) and deaths (88%). The median age was 28 years and 32 years for injuries and deaths, respectively. Compared to the pre-law period, rates of motorcycle injuries (RR = 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–0.58), head injuries (RR = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.31–0.39), severe head injuries (RR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.34–0.63), and deaths (RR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53–0.89) significantly decreased in the post-law period.

Conclusions: Rates of head injuries and deaths among motorcycle riders decreased significantly after implementation of the mandatory helmet law in Vietnam. To further examine the impact of the motorcycle helmet law, including compliance and helmet quality, further emphasis should be placed on gathering helmet use data from injured motorcyclists.     

近52年来洞庭湖流域气象干旱的时空分布特征

基于洞庭湖流域84个气象站点1962~2013年的逐日气象资料,利用综合干旱指数(CI)对洞庭湖流域气象干旱的时间和空间特征进行分析。结果表明:在过去52 a,区域性干旱强度较强的时段以夏季、秋季、夏秋和秋冬时节为主;区域干旱强度在春季、夏季、夏秋、冬季呈上升趋势;秋冬时节和年干旱强度变化不明显;春夏时节、夏秋时节、秋冬时节和冬春时节的平均干旱强度比春、夏、秋、冬单个季节的平均干旱强度大。小波分析表明,区域干旱强度的周期以10a为主周期,5 a和22 a为次周期。近52 a来,历年干旱站次比主要集中于10%~30%之间,多表现为区域性干旱,以夏季和秋季的干旱范围较大;干旱频率高发时期主要为夏季、夏秋时节和秋季。干旱频率高发地主要以流域的南部山地和北部的洞庭湖平原为主,西北部的山地发生干旱相对较少,衡邵盆地随季节变化干旱频率易发生高低值转换。     

基于机器视觉的鱼类行为特征提取与分析

近年来,水污染问题备受关注。生物式水质监测成为目前国家环境保护工作的重要任务之一。为准确监测水质污染情况,本文以青鳉鱼(Oryzias latipes)为研究对象,采用非接触式的机器视觉监测技术,提取青鳉鱼的生理特征(呼吸频率)和运动特征(胸鳍和尾鳍的摆动频率),并分析这些特征与水质之间的关系。本文采用支持向量机(Support Vector Machine,SVM)准确提取鱼鳃,并根据鱼鳃呼吸面积大小变化计算出鱼的呼吸频率。基于形态学细化算法提取青鳉鱼骨架,求出胸鳍和尾鳍的摆动频率。结果显示:不同浓度铜离子暴露实验测得的青鳉鱼生理特征和运动特征与实际情况一致;通过对不同铜离子浓度下的毒性实验数据对比,发现了青鳉鱼的生理特征和运动特征会随不同的铜离子浓度发生相应变化,可以作为水质监测的评价标准。     

Determination of secondhand smoke leakage from the smoking room of an Internet café

Although Internet cafes have been designated as nonsmoking areas in Korea, smoke-free legislation has allowed the installation of indoor smoking rooms. The purposes of this study were to determine secondhand smoke (SHS) leakage from an Internet café smoking room and to identify factors associated with SHS leakage. PM_2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm) mass concentrations were measured simultaneously both inside and outside the door to the smoking room. During each measurement, a field technician observed how long the smoking room door was opened and closed, the direction of door opening, and the number of smokers. A multivariate linear regression model was used to identify the causality of SHS leakage from the smoking room. A time series of PM_2.5 concentrations both inside and outside the door to the smoking room showed a similar trend. SHS leakage was significantly increased because of factors associated with the direction of the smoking room door being opened, the duration of how long the smoking room door was opened until it was closed, and the average PM_2.5 concentration inside the smoking room when the door was opened. SHS leakage from inside the smoking room to outside the smoking room was evident especially when the smoking room door was opened. Since the smoking room is not effective in preventing SHS exposure, the smoking room should be removed from the facilities to protect citizens from SHS exposure through revision of the current legislation, which permits installation of a smoking room.

Implications: This paper concerns secondhand smoke (SHS) leakage from indoor smoking room. Unlike previous studies, the authors statistically analyzed the causality of PM_2.5 concentration leakage from a smoking room using time-series analysis. Since the authors selected the most common smoking room, the outcomes could be generalized. The study demonstrated that SHS leakage from smoking room and SHS leakage were clearly associated with door opening. The finding demonstrated ineffectiveness of smoking room to protect citizens and supports removal of indoor smoking room.     

Livelihood vulnerability to climate change in the mountains of Northern Vietnam: comparing the Hmong and the Dzao ethnic minority populations

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Livelihoods of ethnic minority populations living in the mountains of Northern Vietnam are highly vulnerable to climate-induced natural hazards....