Analysis of mechanics of side impact test defined in UN/ECE Regulation 129

Objective: This article discusses differences between a side impact procedure described in United Nations/Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) Regulation 129 and scenarios observed in real-world cases.

Methods: Numerical simulations of side impact tests utilizing different boundary conditions are used to compare the severity of the Regulation 129 test and the other tests with different kinematics of child restraint systems (CRSs). In the simulations, the authors use a validated finite element (FE) model of real-world CRSs together with a fully deformable numerical model of the Q3 anthropomorphic test device (ATD) by Humanetics Innovative Solution, Inc.

Results: The comparison of 5 selected cases is based on the head injury criterion (HIC) index. Numerical investigations reveal that the presence of oblique velocity components or the way in which the CRS is mounted to the test bench seat fixture is among the significant factors influencing ATD kinematics. The results of analyses show that the side impact test procedure is very sensitive to these parameters. A side impact setup defined in Regulation 129 may minimize the effects of the impact.

Conclusions: It is demonstrated that an artificial anchorage in the Regulation 129 test does not account for a rotation of the CRS, which should appear in the case of a realistic anchorage. Therefore, the adopted procedure generates the smallest HIC value, which is at the level of the far-side impact scenario where there are no obstacles. It is also shown that the presence of nonlateral acceleration components challenges the quality of a CRS and its headrest much more than a pure lateral setup.     

Carbon speciation in airborne particulate matter with C (1s) NEXAFS spectroscopy

Recent and current research activities on the chemical characterization of carbon in airborne carbonaceous particulate matter with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy are reviewed. NEXAFS spectroscopy uses soft X-rays from synchrotron radiation facilities and allows for the bulk and surface speciation of particulates smaller than 2.5 micrometres (PM 2.5). This relatively novel technique is often superior to TEM-EELS and FTIR spectroscopy. In the extreme case, one single PM particle is sufficient for characterization. Liquids, extracts, solid core and surface functional groups can be quantified. Preliminary data on combustion derived PM such as diesel soot, wood smoke and tobacco smoke are compared with ambient samples.     

Influence of pyrolysis temperature on production and nutrient properties of wastewater sludge biochar

The important challenge for effective management of wastewater sludge materials in an environmentally and economically acceptable way can be addressed through pyrolytic conversion of the sludge to biochar and agricultural applications of the biochar. The aim of this work is to investigate the influence of pyrolysis temperature on production of wastewater sludge biochar and evaluate the properties required for agronomic applications. Wastewater sludge collected from an urban wastewater treatment plant was pyrolysed in a laboratory scale reactor. It was found that by increasing the pyrolysis temperature (over the range from 300 °C to 700 °C) the yield of biochar decreased. Biochar produced at low temperature was acidic whereas at high temperature it was alkaline in nature. The concentration of nitrogen was found to decrease while micronutrients increased with increasing temperature. Concentrations of trace metals present in wastewater sludge varied with temperature and were found to primarily enriched in the biochar.     

Seasonal Occurrence of Human Enteric Viruses in River Water Samples Collected from Rural Areas of South-East Poland

The study was carried out in 2007, and its main aim was 1 year monitoring of surface water of the River Wieprz in Poland for the presence of human adenoviruses group F and noroviruses (NoVs). In total, 60 water samples were collected from four sampling sites situated along the river. The viruses were concentrated from water samples using glass wool, followed by elution with a glycine buffer containing skimmed milk powder. Subsequently, the viral nucleic acids were extracted and purified from water concentrates using a NucliSENS^® kit and a QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit^®. The presence of viral nucleic acids was confirmed by applying traditional PCR-based methods with incorporated internal amplification controls. Human pathogenic viruses were detected in 35% of analysed water samples. Adenoviruses were detected in 28.3% of analysed samples, and were present at all seasons of the year. 11.6% of the samples were positive for NoVs; they were present only during summer, in contrast to conventional findings. Molecular identification of norovirus strains revealed that they belong to genogroup I and II.     

Occurrence of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Virus in Wild Mussels Collected from the Baltic Sea

The aim of the study was to define the occurrence of human noroviruses of genogroup I and II (NoV GI and NoV GII) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the Baltic Sea mussels. The shellfish samples were taken at the sampling sites located on the Polish coast. In total, 120 shellfish were tested as pooled samples using RT-PCR and hybridisation with virus specific probes. NoV GI was detected in 22 (18.3 %), NoV GII in 28 (23.3 %), and HAV in 9 (7.5 %) of the shellfish. The nucleotide sequence analysis of the detected NoV GII strains showed a 97.3–99.3 % similarity to GII.4 virus strain. This is the first report describing the NoV and HAV occurrence in wild Baltic mussels and their possible role as bioindicators of seawater contamination with human enteric viruses.     

Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) B.S.G. and Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt. as trace element bioindicators: Statistical comparison of bioaccumulative properties

The principal objective of this study was to compare bioaccumulative properties of two terrestrial moss species Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi from the Kielce area (south-central Poland), using various statistical techniques. Forty-six moss samples from 23 sampling sites located within the city limits were analyzed for 33 trace elements. The results indicated that 17 elements (Ba, Ce, Co, Cu, Eu, Fe, Gd, Hg, La, Mo, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Sm, V, Y) dominated in H. splendens, whereas only three elements (Mn, Sr, Zn) occurred in excessive amounts in P. schreberi. No differences in the distribution pattern of Dy, Er, Ho, Sn, Tb, Th and Yb were observed. The element concentration ratio (PI/Hy) varied from 0.50 to 1.19. For 14 elements (Ce, Co, Cu, Fe, Gd, Hg, La, Mo, Nd, Ni, Pb, Sm, Th, V), PI/Hy < 1; for 4 elements (Cd, Mn, Sr, Zn), PI/Hy > 1; for 7 elements (Ba, Dy, Er, Eu, Pr, Y, Yb), PI/Hy = equalled 1. Czekanowski’s method showed similarities in rare earth element concentrations for both moss species. The cluster analysis exhibited three significant clusters at D link /D max × 100 < 50 for both moss species. Strong positive Spearman correlations between both moss species were recorded for the following pairs:Ba-Ba, Co-Co, Er-Er, Eu-Eu, Gd Gd, Mn-Mn, Ni-Ni, Pb-Pb, Pr-Pr, Sm-Sm, Th-Th, Y-Y, and Yb-Yb. Nonparametric tests (Sign test, Wilcoxon tests) showed statistically significant differences only for Cd, Ce, Co, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb and Sr. The scanning electron microscope study of H. splendens and P. schreberi revealed a different morphology of these species with no injuries.     

Prediction of environmental partition coefficients and the Henry's law constants for 135 congeners of chlorodibenzothiophene

Polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDTs) could be classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment and are particularly interesting due to their structural resemblance to highly toxic dioxins. We show here some basic environmental properties such as n-octanol water (K_OW), n-octanol/air (K_OA) and air/water (K_AW) partition coefficients as well as Henry’s law constants (K_H) for all 135 congeners of chlorodibenzothiophene. Predictions were made by regression of principal components (PCR) and with aid of a set of standard chemicals, for which physical–chemical properties are well featured. Computed K_OW, K_OA, K_AW and K_H values for mono-CDTs ranged, respectively, between 4.66 and 4.71, 7.48 and 7.55, −2.84 and −2.82, 3.56 and 3.74; for di-CDTs between 5.02 and 5.28, 8.03 and 8.29, −3.01 and −2.95, 2.42 and 2.75; for tri-CDTs between 5.53 and 5.70, 8.65 and 8.87, −3.2 and −3.11, 1.58 and 1.92; for tetra-CDTs between 5.95 and 6.13, 9.27 and 9.50, −3.39 and −3.27, 1.02 and 1.33; for penta-CDTs between 6.38 and 6.51, 9.88 and 10.05, −3.54 and −3.45, 0.72 and 0.88; for hexa-CDTs between 6.83 and 6.97, 10.54 and 10.66, −3.72 and −3.64, 0.47 and 0.56; for hepta-CDTs between 7.28 and 7.35, 11.12 and 11.20, −3.81 and −3.87, 0.33 and 0.38; for octa-CDT 7.74, 11.78, −4.04 and 0.23. An estimated value of the three types of partition coefficient and Henry’s law constants suggest that polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes are lipophilic and semi-volatile persistent organic pollutants. Their mobility in the environment seems to be very similar to that of some well-known POPs such as polychlorinated dibenzofurans, -dibenzo-p-dioxins, and -biphenyls or organochlorine pesticides.     

PU/Lignocellulosic Composites Produced from Recycled Raw Materials

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Lignocellulosic composites are biodegradable, have low cost, neutrality to CO2 emission, easily processed, easily available and pause no health risks,...