Safety-related conclusions for the application of ultrasound in explosive atmospheres

International safety regulations such as EN 1127-1 consider ultrasound to be an ignition source. Currently, applications of ultrasound in explosive atmospheres have to comply with a threshold value of 1 mW/mm². However, it is unclear as to how this intensity has to be measured and, therefore, this threshold value is poorly defined. Moreover, it is based on theoretical estimations in analogy to other ignition sources and there are no publications or significant records on these estimations. Within a research project at PTB, it has now been investigated experimentally in relation to worst-case considerations including airborne ultrasound, focused MHz ultrasound in liquids and acoustic cavitation. On the basis of the results of the research it is now possible to revise the current regulations and to specify measures for safe operation of ultrasonic applications in explosive atmospheres. In this context, for ultrasound coupled directly to gaseous atmospheres a new threshold value of 170 dB (re. 20 μPa) can be suggested, and for ultrasonic applications in liquids, an augmentation can be made to the threshold to 400 mW/mm².     

Attitudes to prenatal screening,diagnosis and research among pregnant women who accept or decline an alpha-fetoprotein test

The aim of the study was to describe the opinion of pregnant women who had accepted or declined an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test, not only on AFP screening in general, but also on whether every pregnant woman should be offered amniocentesis (AC)/chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and an ultrasound scan for fetal malformations. An additional aim was to describe pregnant women's attitudes concerning continued research in the prenatal field. The study was performed as a questionnaire study in two regions over a 1-year period from 1 October 1988 to 30 September 1989. Results are based on answers from 3331 women who had taken an AFP test and 336 women who had declined the offer of a test. A total of 79 per cent of the women thought that an AFP test, 70 per cent that an ultrasound scan for fetal malformations, and 26 per cent that AC or CVS should be offered to all pregnant women. Fifty-nine per cent of the women were positive towards continued research in the prenatal field. Women who had had an AFP test were generally much more positive towards screening and research than women who had declined, who were generally against. Women who had left school without a high school degree were on average more positive towards the screening issues than women who had this degree. In conclusion, the results obtained in this study strongly suggest that women's attitudes are very dependent on how the prenatal screening programme is already organized in their local area.     

Achondrogenesis type 2 diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound at 12 weeks' gestation

Ultrasound examination at 12 weeks' gestation revealed severe generalised subcutaneous oedema in a pregnancy at risk for achondrogenesis type II. Transvaginal scanning confirmed the oedema and suggested abnormal limb development. The prenatal diagnosis was confirmed by X-ray examination after transvaginal termination.     

低强度超声波与酸、碱协同对污泥溶胞的影响

在能量密度为0.05W·mL-1和pH范围3.0～12.0条件下,研究了超声波辐射与酸、碱协同对污泥溶胞效果的影响.结果表明,溶解性化学需氧量(SCOD)、溶解性磷(SP)和溶解性糖(SA)含量随pH增大均呈先降后升趋势.当pH为3.0时,污泥溶胞效果不高,随污泥溶液碱性增强,SCOD、SP和SA含量随pH呈指数增长,说明强碱性环境有利于污泥溶胞.超声波辐射可显著提高污泥溶胞率,而且pH越大超声波辐射改善的溶胞效率越高.pH=11.0时超声波辐射60min以内,SCOD、SP和SA含量与时间均呈线性关系,超声波/碱协同污泥溶胞为一级反应.pH大于9.0的碱性条件下,超声波辐射和提高pH均可降低VSS/TSS.依据实验数据,应用非线性优化技术得到SCOD与pH和超声波辐射时间的数学模型,其平均相对误差小于2.6%.     

考虑松动圈影响的钻孔瓦斯抽放合理封孔长度确定研究

以王行庄矿11071工作面为工程试验地点,通过超声波和钻孔窥视现场测试,结合理论计算,开展了瓦斯抽采煤巷松动圈范围和瓦斯抽放钻孔合理封孔长度确定的研究。确定了王行庄11071工作面二1煤层围岩卸压区宽度为8.87 m,极限平衡区宽度为9.87 m,合理封孔深度为10 m;通过极限平衡法理论计算得到的结果与超声波法、钻孔窥视法的测试结果基本相符。     

低强度超声波强化SMBR处理中的超声波参数优化研究

研究了利用低强度超声波强化低温一体式膜生物反应器（SMBR）污水生物处理中最优超声波参数的选择。结果表明,功率密度为0.27 W/L、辐照时间为20 min时,超声波对低温SMBR中COD去除的强化效果最佳。SMBR对NH3-N去除效果达到最佳时,超声波功率密度和辐照时间分别为0.27 W/L和15 min。综合考虑,选择更有利于低温时NH3-N去除的超声波参数：功率密度0.27 W/L、辐照时间15 min。经此超声波处理后COD、NH3-N的强化效果在24 h均能保持,故可设置超声波处理的时间间隔为24 h。     

Mitochondrial toxicity and in vitro biological effects of ambient PM2.5 from an urban site in China

Abstract

The roles of PM_2.5-induced mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress on mast cell degranulation were examined in vitro. Mast cells were treated with suspensions of PM_2.5 in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium at concentrations from 25 to 200?mg/L in the absence or presence of 10?mmol/L N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Biological effects and mitochondrial function were assessed by determining cell viability, β-hexosaminidase release, interleukin-4 secretion, reactive oxygen species generation, adenosine triphosphate production, potential alteration of mitochondrial membrane, and activities of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes I and III. Exposure of mast cells to PM_2.5 induced reduction of adenosine triphosphate production, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibition of the activity of complex III. Co-treatment of mast cells exposed to PM_2.5 with N-acetyl-L-cysteine attenuated cytotoxicity and the production of reactive oxygen species, and decreased the release of β-hexosaminidase and interleukin-4. Evidently, PM_2.5-induced oxidative stress plays an essential role in mitochondrial toxicity and mast cell activation.     

超声吹脱去除氨氮的机理和动力学研究

采用超声吹脱技术对某印染厂印染废水中的氨氮进行了处理实验,探索了其反应机理并进行了动力学研究。研究表明,叔丁醇的存在没有降低废水中氨氮的去除率,证明.OH不是超声吹脱去除氨氮反应中的主导氧化物种。通过对反应产物的分析发现,超声吹脱去除氨氮的机理主要是氨氮以游离态的方式在空化效应下高温高压热解成氮气和氢气排出,同时氨气在空化效应产生的超临界状态下传质速度加快,在吹脱条件下更易于从废水中散失。动力学分析表明,印染废水中氨氮的超声去除反应属于一级反应,符合一级反应动力学。     

Improvement of the activity of anaerobic sludge by low-intensity ultrasound

This paper aims to study the enhancement effect of low-intensity ultrasound on anaerobic sludge activity and the efficiency of anaerobic wastewater treatment. Dehydrogenate activity (DHA) and the content of coenzyme F(420) were detected to indicate the change of activity of anaerobic sludge induced by ultrasound at 35 kHz. Single-factor and multiple-factor optimization experiments showed that the optimal ultrasonic intensity and irradiation period were 0.2 W/cm(2) and 10 min, respectively, and the biological activity was enhanced dramatically under the optimal condition. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was increased by ultrasonic treatment and the COD in the effluent was 30% lower than that of the control (without exposure). The hypothetical mechanism of biological activity enhancement by ultrasound was also discussed according to the results.