Parasitoid-induced mortality of Araneus omnicolor (Araneae, Araneidae) by Hymenoepimecis sp. (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) in southeastern Brazil

All species included in the Polysphincta genus-group develop as ectophagous parasitoids of active spiders, killing their hosts prior to pupation. However, little information regarding natural history and ovipositing behavior of most species are available. In this study we inspected 85 webs of Araneus omnicolor to evaluate the frequency of parasitism and host size preferences of the wasp Hymenoepimecis sp. We also described the web characteristics of normal and parasitized spiders and the wasp ovipositing behavior. About 41% of the adult females of A. omnicolor inspected were parasitized. The highest incidence of parasitism was observed among relatively small females while no egg or larva was found in large individuals. Araneus omnicolor builds a strong web composed of an orb and barrier threads, where the spider rests within a curled leaf. The parasitoid larva builds its cocoon within this refuge, and modified cocoon webs were not observed. The ovipositing behavior of Hymenoepimecis sp. was very similar to that of Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga parasitizing Leucauge argyra, including the position of the sting, the killing of a previously attached larva, and the expelling of the egg from the base of the ovipositor.     

Secondary analysis of time of day on simulated driving performance

PROBLEM: Age and gender are frequently controlled for in studies of driving performance, but the effects of time of day or circadian cycles on performance are often not considered. Previous research on time of day effects of simulated driving is contradictory and provides little guidance for understanding the impact of these variables on results. METHODS: Using driving simulator data from 79 subjects ages 18 to 65, this paper focuses on the impact of age, gender, and time of day on the simulated driving performance of subjects who self-selected the time of participation. RESULTS: Time of day effects were consistently evident for drivers' speed overall and across different simulated environments. Drivers in the late afternoon period consistently drove significantly slower than drivers in other time periods. Age and gender affected speed such that women and those participants 50 and older tended to drive more slowly. Time of day also had an effect on reaction time and on speed variability measures. Gender did not have significant effects on reaction time or variability measures, but age effects were present. SUMMARY: Taken together, the results suggest that time of day effects should be considered as part of simulated driving performance, and that interactions between time of day and other variables, notably age, should be controlled for as part of future research. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Implications of these findings on current efforts for older driver testing are discussed.     

超滤处理洗涤污水循环利用的中试研究

采用不同材质国产超滤膜聚丙烯（PP）、聚丙烯腈（PAN）和聚砜（PS）,进行了洗涤污水处理循环利用的现场中试研究.结合超滤工艺出水水质和膜污染分析,3种膜材质中PAN膜较优,有效去除了水中浊度、悬浮物、油脂等污染物,一定程度保留了游离阴离子表面活性剂（LAS）,长期循环洗涤对衣物的白度无不良影响.根据相关性分析,超滤出水较高COD值很大程度上是由水中LAS引起的.超滤膜对细菌、大肠菌群的去除率较低,出水通过紫外消毒,当紫外线密度≥3?750 J/m²时,微生物水平能够达到国家饮用水水质标准.根据不同水力反冲洗条件下膜渗透通量和净产水量比较,PAN膜最佳水力反冲洗条件为0.5 h反冲洗2 min.长期运行时超滤膜化学清洗方法采用碱洗法方便有效.     

Treated wastewater irrigation effect on soil, crop and environment： Wastewater recycling in the loess area of China

A study was carried out at the Loess Plateau in Dongzhi,China,to test the feasibility of using secondary treatment sewage effluent and to determine whether the water quality would then meet the recommended irrigation norm.Seven crops,including celery,wheat, maize,millet,apples,rapeseed and yellow beans,were tested in the study.Physical and chemical properties of the soil,crop yield and quality and leachate at different soil depths were measured.In most cases,the quality of the crops that made use of treated sewage was not distinctively different from those that did not use treated sewage.However,yields for the former were much higher than they were for the latter.Leachates at different soil depths were analyzed and the results did not show alarming levels of constituents.For a period of approximately 14 months,the treated sewage irrigation had no significant effect on the loess soil and no cases of illness resulting from contact with the treated sewage were reported.With treated sewage irrigation,a slight increase in the organic content of the soil was observed.     

Reducing sulfates concentration in the tannery effluent by applying pollution prevention techniques and nanofiltration

The use of large quantities of sulfuric acid and other sulfur-containing chemicals causes high sulfate concentrations in the wastewater of a tannery. The aim of this work was reducing the sulfate concentration in the final wastewater from a tannery. For that, firstly a study about the main sulfate sources in a tannery was carried out and the total sulfates load in the tannery wastewater was evaluated. Two measures for sulfates reduction were studied: the recycling of unhairing wastewater to the soaking drums and the reuse of the chromium sulfate from the tanning washing wastewater after its separation by nanofiltration (NF). The first measure proposed was studied experimentally in laboratory drums of 5 L of volume. Two series of experiments with different volumes of unhairing wastewater in the soaking bath were carried out. The quality of the final leather was evaluated by means of mechanical tests. NF experiments were carried out in a laboratory pilot plant with a spiral wounded membrane element. Concerning the results, the combination of 50% unhairing wastewater and 50% of fresh water was appropriate in order to obtain leather with an acceptable quality. Besides, it drove to a diminution of approximately 10% in the addition of sulfide in the unhairing. Related to the NF experiments, 97% of the sulfates were rejected by the membrane. The separated ions could be recycled to the tanning drums. The application of the two measures (firstly the recycling of the unhairing wastewater and secondly the NF of the tanning washing wastewater) drove to a reduction of 14.82 kg SO₄⁻² t⁻¹ of raw hide.     

Preparation and coagulation efficiency of polyaluminium ferric silicate chloride composite coagulant from wastewater of high-purity graphite production

The aim of the present work was to produce a polyaluminium ferric silicate chloride (PAFSiC) coagulant from acidic and alkaline wastewater of purifying graphite by roasting, and subsequently to evaluate coagulation efficiency of the reagent by treating surface water from the Yellow River as well as municipal wastewater in comparison with the conventional coagulant polyaluminium chloride (PAC). The PAFSiC coagulant was prepared by co-polymerization. The effects of (Al+Fe)/Si molar ratio, OH/(Al+Fe) molar ratio (i.e., value), coagulant dosage and pH value of test suspension on the coagulation behavior of FAFSiC and the stability of the PAFSiC were also examined. Results showed that PAFSiC performed more efficiently than PAC in removing turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total phosphate (TP). The PAFSiC with a value of 2.0 and (Al+Fe)/Si ratio of 5 (PAFSiC 2.0/5) showed excellent coagulation effect for both turbidity and COD, while PAFSiC 1.0/5 was the best for TP. The optimum coagulation pH range of PAFSiC 2.0/5 was 5.0–9.0, slightly wider than that of PAC (6.0–8.0). The process can be easily incorporated into high-purity graphite production plants, thereby reducing wastewater pollution and producing a valuable coagulant.     

石灰干化污泥稳定后土壤中Pb、Cd和Zn浸出行为的研究

以人工制备Zn、Pb、Cd污染土壤为研究对象,采用城市污水处理石灰干化污泥作为稳定剂,对污染土壤进行稳定化处理,并采用TCLP、SPLP、去离子水浸提和优化的BCR连续提取法对稳定化效果进行分析和评价.结果表明,单独使用石灰干化污泥,TCLP浸出浓度随着干化污泥质量分数的增加而显著减少,干化污泥的质量分数为40%时,稳定化率最大为Zn-99.54%、Pb-99.60%、Cd-99.85%.SPLP和去离子水浸出评价稳定效果时,Pb和Zn在加入质量分数10%和20%的干化污泥时浸出明显降低,但在加入30%和40%时由于在强碱条件Pb和Zn会再溶出,导致稳定效果变差.为了恢复植物生长功能,经过FeSO4和H3PO4调节pH后,石灰干化污泥稳定过的土壤pH有效降低,同时FeSO4和H3PO4有利于促进Pb和Zn的稳定效果.经稳定化后,土壤中的重金属可交换态降低,限制了土壤重金属的迁移.该研究结果表明石灰干化污泥可以再利用,应用于重金属污染土壤的稳定化修复中,并能改善稳定后土壤适宜植物生长的理化性质.     

废旧线路板回收的污染防治技术综述

废旧线路板回收不仅能够解决电子废弃物迅速增长带来的环境污染问题,而且可以实现资源再生利用,是中国当前鼓励发展的行业。线路板回收过程也将不可避免的带来一定环境污染问题。中国企业现阶段常用的线路板回收工艺主要包括机械物理法、湿法冶金、火法冶金、热解法等。废旧线路板的回收工艺不同,污染物产生特点也不同,企业应根据线路板回收工艺有针对性的选择污染防治措施。线路板回收过程中产生的废渣再利用应成为今后研究的重点。     

北京市污水资源化利用现状及其对策分析研究

北京是水资源严重匮乏的城市,水资源短缺已经成为制约北京经济社会可持续发展进程的重要因素.污水资源化将城市污水进行加工处理,转化为达标的、可供人们二次利用的合格水资源,既能增加水源,又能减少水环境污染,是解决北京目前水资源紧缺问题的最为有效的途径.文章梳理了近年来北京市污水资源化利用的发展现状,指出了北京市污水资源化利用所面临的困境,并提出了加快北京市污水资源化利用的对策.     

浅析小城镇建筑项目中水回用系统设置的必要性和制约因素

通过例证分析了小城镇建筑项目中水回用系统设置的必要性和现存的制约因素,提出了解决矛盾的建议。