Space-time stick-breaking processes for small area disease cluster estimation

We propose a space-time stick-breaking process for the disease cluster estimation. The dependencies for spatial and temporal effects are introduced by using space-time covariate dependent kernel stick-breaking processes. We compared this model with the space-time standard random effect model by checking each model’s ability in terms of cluster detection of various shapes and sizes. This comparison was made for simulated data where the true risks were known. For the simulated data, we have observed that space-time stick-breaking process performs better in detecting medium- and high-risk clusters. For the real data, county specific low birth weight incidences for the state of South Carolina for the years 1997–2007, we have illustrated how the proposed model can be used to find grouping of counties of higher incidence rate.     

Constructing and justifying risk and accountability after extreme events: public administration and stakeholders’ responses to a wildfire disaster

ABSTRACT

The impacts of extreme weather events, causing severe storms and wildfires, cascade across administrative borders within a country, challenging the steering capacity of governance networks at different political scales. This paper examines how accountability and risk were constructed and negotiated in the aftermath of Sweden’s largest wildfire. It draws on results from an interview study with executives of organizations and landowners involved, and an analysis of government reports about the wildfire’s cause and consequences. Although the fire was human-caused, public administrative bodies paid considerable attention to the local emergency services and their poor handling of the wildfire, caused by lack of knowledge of forest fire behavior. The study confirms many of the challenges associated with governance networks. It finds that issues about who to hold accountable, in what forum and for what issue are not fully addressed, being overwhelmed by demands for better knowledge of forest fire prevention and improved coordination and collaboration. To conclude, the paper calls for a better-informed public administration, forest sector and interrelated networks that take responsibility for their actions or lack thereof.     

基于仿真实验的导轨结合面刚度建模方法研究

以分形理论和分形理论与域扩展因子为基础,设计了四种导轨动态接触刚度的理论计算模型,并将结果分别应用于仿真分析中,获得了四种不同方案下的有限元仿真分析结果;设计搭建了一种仅含导轨结合面的实验平台,并进行了模态试验;通过各方案仿真分析结果与实验的比较,获得了导轨结合面刚度建模方法的最优方案。     

Metals and metalloids in PM10 in Nandan County,Guangxi, China,and the health risks posed

Intense mining, smelting, and tailing activities of polymetallic ore deposits have affected the environment in Nandan County, Guangxi, China. Samples of particulates with aerodynamic diameters low or equal 10 μm (PM₁₀) were collected in Nandan County to investigate the concentrations of and health risks posed by 17 metals and metalloids in the PM₁₀. The metal and metalloid concentrations were lower than those found in other industrial cities. The mean Cr concentration was 7.48 ng/m³. Significant higher metal and metalloid concentrations were found in PM₁₀ from mining areas (Dachang and Chehe) than from the control area (Liuzhai) (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis indicated that the main sources of Ba, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mo, Na, and Sr were resuspension of the soil produced through mineral erosion, the main sources of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, and Zn were smelting and mining activities, and the main source of Ni was fossil fuel combustion. Higher non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were posed in Dachang and Chehe than in Liuzhai. The non-carcinogenic risks posed to adults and children by individual metals and metalloids in PM₁₀ at all the sites were low, but the non-carcinogenic risks posed to children by all the metals and metalloids together exceeded the safe level (i.e., risk value > 1). The carcinogenic risks posed by Cd, Ni, and Pb were negligible at all sites, while As, Co, and Cr posed potential carcinogenic risks to the residents.

     

Oxidation of elemental mercury using atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma

The oxidation of gas phase elemental mercury (Hg0) by atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma has been investigated at room temperature, employing both dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) of the gas mixture of Hg0 and injection of ozone (O3) into the gas mixture of Hg0. Results have shown that the oxidative efficiencies of Hg0 by DBD and the injection of O3 are 59% and 93%, respectively, with energy consumption of 23.7 J L(-1). This combined approach has indicated that O3 plays a decisive role in the oxidation of gas phase Hg0. Also the oxidation of Hg0 by injecting O3 into the gas mixture of Hg0 proceeds with better efficiency than DBD of the gas mixture of Hg0. These results have been explained by the incorporation of the competitive reaction pathways between the formation of HgO by O3 and the decomposition of HgO back to Hg0 in the plasma environment.     

上流式多级厌氧反应器中厌氧颗粒污泥特性研究

高品质厌氧颗粒污泥是厌氧反应器实现高效、稳定运行的关键和基础.在实现上流式多级厌氧反应器(UMAR)处理木薯变性淀粉废水高效运行的基础上,对厌氧颗粒污泥的浓度分布、粒径分布、沉降速度、产甲垸活性,辅酶F420和生物相等作进一步的研究.根据在实验工艺条件下培养得到的厌氧颗粒污泥的性能,探讨厌氧颗粒污泥的可能形成机制.     

Sorption of phenanthrene by dissolved organic matter and its complex with aluminum oxide nanoparticles

Intent of this study was to explore the potential application of polymerin, the polymeric, dissolved organic matter fraction from olive oil wastewaters, in technologies aimed at remediating hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) point-source pollution. Phenanthrene binding with polymerin was investigated. Moreover, the effect of addition of micro and nanoscale aluminum oxides (Al₂O₃) was studied, as well as sorption of polymerin on the oxides. Phenanthrene binding capacity by polymerin was notably higher than the sorption capacities for both types of Al₂O₃ particles. Polymerin sorption on nanoparticles was nearly 100 times higher than microparticles. In a three-phase system, using microparticles, higher phenanthrene sorption was found by adding into water polymerin, oxides and phenanthrene simultaneously. In contrast, using nanoparticles, a considerable enhancement of phenanthrene sorption was shown by adding phenanthrene to a pre-formed and dried polymerin-oxide complex. These findings support the application of polymerin, especially associated with Al₂O₃ nanoparticles, in remediation of water contaminated with HOCs. This work highlights the significant role of nanoparticles.     

Variation of MCPA, metribuzine, methyltriazine-amine and glyphosate degradation, sorption, mineralization and leaching in different soil horizons

Pesticide mineralization and sorption were determined in 75 soil samples from 15 individually drilled holes through the vadose zone along a 28 km long transect of the Danish outwash plain. Mineralization of the phenoxyacetic acid herbicide MCPA was high both in topsoils and in most subsoils, while metribuzine and methyltriazine-amine was always low. Organic matter and soil pH was shown to be responsible for sorption of MCPA and metribuzine in the topsoils. The sorption of methyltriazine-amine in topsoil was positively correlated with clay and negatively correlated with the pH of the soil. Sorption of glyphosate was tested also high in the subsoils. One-dimensional MACRO modeling of the concentration of MCPA, metribuzine and methyltriazine-amine at 2 m depth calculated that the average concentration of MCPA and methyltriazine-amine in the groundwater was below the administrative limit of 0.1 μg/l in all tested profiles while metribuzine always exceeded the 0.1 μg/l threshold value.