Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles in different thermal conditions and modeling its photocatalytic activity with artificial neural network

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles were prepared by sol gel route. The preparation parameters were optimized in the removal of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). All catalysts were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An artificial neural network model (ANN) was developed to predict the photocatalytic removal of 4-NP in the presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles prepared under desired conditions. The comparison between the predicted results by designed ANN model and the experimental data proved that modeling of the removal process of 4-NP using artificial neural network was a precise method to predict the extent of 4-NP removal under different conditions.     

紫外光降解对生物过滤塔去除氯苯性能的影响机制研究

紫外-生物过滤联合工艺中的紫外单元促进了后续生物过滤单元的氯苯去除性能.为了进一步揭示紫外光降解对生物过滤塔运行性能的影响机制,本研究系统分析了紫外光降解对生物过滤塔填料层pH、生物膜特性和填料层结构特性等方面的影响.结果表明,氯苯紫外光降解产物导致了生物过滤单元填料层pH的下降(从pH 6～8降至pH 4～7);另外,紫外单元产生的臭氧降低了生物过滤单元生物膜厚度和生物膜的EPS含量,改善了生物膜的特性,提高了氯苯和营养物质在生物膜内的传质效率.同时,臭氧可以有效控制生物量过量积累,增加了填料层的比表面积(从784 m2.m-3增加至880 m2.m-3),优化了填料层的结构特性,提高了污染物的反应速率.上述各方面的综合作用最终促进了生物过滤单元的氯苯去除性能.     

给水管网多相界面中微生物表面疏水性研究

采用疾病控制中心（CDC）生物膜反应器模拟给水管网系统,选取聚氯乙烯（PVC）和聚碳酸酯（PC）2种材质的挂片,通过微生物粘附碳氢化合物（MATH）实验和Illumina高通量测序相结合的方法,对反应器水相、生物膜相和颗粒物相中微生物的疏水性进行了研究.结果显示,PVC材质挂片反应器中优势菌为厚壁菌门,相对丰度为68.31%~81.00%,PC材质挂片反应器中优势菌为变形菌门,相对丰度为24.39%~64.40%.PVC材质挂片反应器中优势菌包含3类致病菌,PC材质挂片反应器中包含8类致病菌.PC材质挂片生物膜相较于PVC材质疏水性更高,利于微生物吸附形成生物膜,而PVC材质不易形成生物膜,对控制输送过程中的二次污染具有积极作用,但在管网实际应用中还应考虑其他工程因素的影响.     

Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC)-based prenatal diagnosis for tuberous sclerosis

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is a frequent autosomal-dominant condition (affecting 1 in 6000 individuals) caused by various mutations in either the hamartin (TSC1) or the tuberin gene (TSC2). This allelic and non-allelic heterogeneity makes genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis difficult, especially as a significant proportion of TSC cases are due to de novo mutations. For this reason the identification of the disease causing mutation is mandatory for accurate counseling, yet current mutation detection methods such as single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) or denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) are labor intensive with limited detection efficiency. Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) is a high-throughput, semi-automated mutation detection system with a reported mutation detection rate close to 100% for PCR fragments of up to 800 bp. We used a recently described DHPLC assay allowing the efficient detection of mutations in TSC1 to analyze the DNA extracted from a chorion villus sample in order to perform a prenatal diagnosis for TSC. The fetus was found not to have inherited the deleterious mutation and the DHPLC diagnosis was confirmed by haplotype analysis. This represents the first DHPLC-based prenatal diagnosis of a genetic disease. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interactions of tillage and rainfall on atrazine leaching under field and laboratory conditions

Laboratory studies were conducted to evaluate effects of tillage reversal and rainfall on ¹⁴C-atrazine (2-chloro4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino- -triazine) leaching patterns. Twelve intact soil cores (16 cm dia x 20 cm deep) were collected from 8-yr no-till (NT) fields. Half the cores were tilled (5 cm deep) prior to ¹⁴C-atrazine treatment (2.7 mg core⁻¹) to all cores. All cores received two rains (27 mm rain in 1.5 h, one day after application followed, two days later, by a 17 mm rain in 2.5 h) and leachate was collected and analyzed for atrazine. These rains simulated the timing, amount and duration of natural rainfall events from a tillage reversal field study. During the first high inte ity rainfall event, a pulse (2.1 μg L-1) of atrazine leached through tilled cores while leaching rate was linear and decreased (1.25 to 0.9 μg L-1) through un-tilled cores. Leaching rate was linear for both the tilled and un-tilled cores during the second rain. Less atrazine was left in the surface 5 cm of tilled soil than un-tilled after the two rains. Results confirmed field observations and suggested that when tillage is reversed on well structured soils, pesticide leaching may increase relative to un-tilled soil but these effects are probably confined to the first rain events after application only.     

Decision making for multiple utilization of water resources in New Zealand

The Clutha is the largest river in New Zealand. The last two decades have witnessed major conflicts centered on the utilization of the water resources of the upper Clutha river. These conflicts have by no means been finally resolved. The focus of this article is on institutional arrangements for water resource management on the Clutha, with particular reference to the decision-making processes that have culminated in the building of the high dam. It critically evaluates recent experiences and comments on future prospects for resolving resource use conflicts rationally through planning for multiple utilization in a climate of market led policies of the present government.The study demonstrates the inevitable conflicts that can arise within a public bureaucracy that combines dual responsibilities for policy making and operational functions. Hitherto, central government has been able to manipulate the water resource allocation process to its advantage because of a lack of clear separation between its two roles as a policy maker and developer. The conflicts that have manifested themselves during the last two decades over the Clutha should be seen as part of a wider public debate during the last two decades concerning resource utilization in New Zealand. The Clutha controversy was preceded by comparable concerns over the rising of the level of Lake Manapouri during the 1960s and has been followed by the debate over the think big resource development projects during the 1980s.The election of the fourth Labour government in 1983 has heralded a political and economic policy shift in New Zealand towards minimizing the role of public intervention in resource allocation and major structural reforms in the relative roles of central and regional government in resource management. The significance of these changes pose important implications for the future management of the Clutha.     

Spatial distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in coastal marine sediments receiving industrial and municipal effluents in Kuwait

Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations were measured in surficial sediments from coastal sediments receiving industrial and municipal effluents in Kuwait. The summation PBDE concentrations varied by two orders of magnitude ranging from 80 to 3800 pg g(-1)dw. The congener distribution was dominated by BDE 183, with minor contributions from BDEs 154 and 153. The similarity between the congener profile to that of the technical octa formulation (Bromkal 79-8DE) suggests a source of this product in Kuwait. The observed gradient in concentration distribution, with high summation PBDE concentrations near the shore and an exponential decrease seaward, indicates that wastewater discharge from industrial activities in the study area is the primary source of these compounds in the sediments.     

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy based modelling for prediction of air pollution daily levels in city of Zonguldak

Air pollution is a growing problem arising from domestic heating, high density of vehicle traffic, electricity production, and expanding commercial and industrial activities, all increasing in parallel with urban population. Monitoring and forecasting of air quality parameters in the urban area are important due to health impact. Artificial intelligent techniques are successfully used in modelling of highly complex and non-linear phenomena. In this study, adaptive neuro-fuzzy logic method has been proposed to estimate the impact of meteorological factors on SO2 and total suspended particular matter (TSP) pollution levels over an urban area. The model forecasts satisfactorily the trends in SO2 and TSP concentration levels, with performance between 75-90% and 69-80 %, respectively.     

Epidemiology of occupational accidents among Iranian insured workers

Work-related accidents are considered as a major health problem worldwide. The aim of present study was to determine the epidemiological pattern of occupational accidents among workers insured by the Iranian Social Security Organization (ISSO) between 2001 and 2005.Subjects consisted of all workers and drivers who had a work-related accident during 2001–2005 and were registered in the Iranian Social Security Organization (ISSO) database according to the inspection reports. An ordinal logistic regression model (proportional odds regression model) was used to assess the concurrent effects of independent variables on accident outcomes.Overall, 86,437 work-related accidents were investigated. The accidents were more frequent in metal workplaces and electrical industries, respectively. More than half of the accidents were due to incautious activities. Workers’ age (age at the time of accident) (OR = 0.99, CI: 0.989–0.994), gender (OR = 1.3, CI: 1.191–1.683), marital status (OR = 1.25, CI: 1.143–1.675) as well as accident setting (OR = 1.88, CI: 1.728–1.975) had significant effect on accident outcomes. Pattern of occupational injuries in Iran was consistent with the global pattern for accident outcomes.