Knowledge-based system,equipped with cluster analysis for eco-material selection: an automobile structure case study

The aim of this study is to develop a material selection framework structured around a knowledge-based system (KBS). Specifically, a hybrid data mining technique is employed to extract knowledge from large datasets using cluster analysis techniques; the mined knowledge then serves as the inference logic within the KBS designed for material selection purposes. Cluster analysis results are used as a basis for the tree-based structure of the KBS where if–then rules are developed based on the general cluster properties; that is, inference logic is structured in a way such that it can predict general sustainability characteristics of the material as well as its exact mechanical, cost and physical properties. To develop the structure of the KBS, the selection structure employs sustainable material indices. Additionally, the proposed material selection model of the KBS is purposefully composed of material sustainability, functionality and cost indices. The constructed knowledge is then demonstrated for selecting automobile structural panels.     

家居环境PM_(2.5)控制用空气滤料

针对目前家居环境净化PM2.5的要求,在现有空气过滤材料的基础上,探讨一种适合于家居环境移动式空气净化装置用低阻、高效和长寿命的过滤材料。采用实验研究的方法对常用玻纤滤纸以及驻极体空气过滤材料进行了过滤特性、电镜、孔径测试的对比实验研究。结果表明,当过滤风速为5 cm/s时,3种驻极体滤料对粒径≤4.5μm的颗粒物的分级过滤效率要高于玻纤滤纸且都在90%以上,其过滤阻力在4.9~6.4 Pa之间,而高效滤纸的过滤阻力在57.8~78.6 Pa之间;在实验风速条件下,驻极体滤料对PM2.5的过滤效率和过滤阻力分别高于和低于高效玻纤滤纸;对驻极体滤料进行蒸馏水洗涤后,其对颗粒物的过滤效率下降,驻极体滤料静电效应具有不稳定特性;电镜测试发现,玻纤滤纸纤维层排布致密,纤维存在断裂现象,而驻极体滤料较为蓬松,无纤维断裂现象;孔径实验表明,驻极体滤料的平均孔径为玻纤滤纸的11.9~14.7倍,驻极体滤料具有良好的透气和容尘特性。     

Influence of processing parameters on VOC emission from particleboards

Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from furnishings have created a major indoor air pollution problem in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the VOC emission of larch particleboard under different processing conditions. VOCs collection chamber, parts per billion VOC monitor, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometer were used to analyze the VOC components and quantities. The results were shown as follows: (1) concentration and emission rate of VOCs were significantly affected by hot-pressing temperature and time. With the increase of hot-pressing temperature and time, both the earlier emission concentration and the amount of total volatile organic compounds increased. (2) The composition of VOCs was also influenced by temperature and time, especially the variety of terpene, benzene, and derivative. The existence and quantities of esters were still the main components of VOCs emissions.     

Cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis of BMPs in controlling agricultural nonpoint source pollution in China based on the SWAT model

Best management practices (BMPs) have been widely used in managing agricultural nonpoint source pollution (ANSP) at the watershed level. Most BMPs are related to land use, tillage management, and fertilizer levels. In total, seven BMP scenarios (Reforest1, Reforest2, No Tillage, Contour tillage, and fertilizer level 1–4) that are related to these three factors were estimated in this study. The objectives were to investigate the effectiveness and cost-benefit of these BMPs on ANSP reduction in a large tributary of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in China, which are based on the simulation results of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The results indicated that reforestation was the most economically efficient of all BMPs, and its net benefits were up to CNY 4.36×10⁷ years^?1 (about USD 7.08×10⁶ years^?1). Regarding tillage practices, no tillage practice was more environmentally friendly than other tillage practices, and contour tillage was more economically efficient. Reducing the local fertilizer level to 0.8-fold less than that of 2010 can yield a satisfactory environmental and economic efficiency. Reforestation and fertilizer management were more effective in reducing total phosphorus (TP), whereas tillage management was more effective in reducing total nitrogen (TN). When CNY 10,000 (about USD 162) was applied to reforestation, no tillage, contour tillage, and an 0.8-fold reduction in the fertilizer level, then annual TN load can be reduced by 0.08, 0.16, 0.11, and 0.04 t and annual TP load can be reduced by 0.04, 0.02, 0.01 and 0.03 t, respectively. The cost-benefit (CB) ratios of the BMPs were as follows: reforestation (207 %) > contour tillage (129 %) > no tillage (114 %) > fertilizer management (96 and 89 %). The most economical and effective BMPs can be designated as follows: BMP1 (returning arable land with slopes greater than 25° to forests and those lands with slopes of 15–25° to orchards), BMP2 (implementing no tillage on arable land with slopes less than 15°), and BMP5 (0.8-fold less than that of 2010).     

Response of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria to long-term industrial effluent-polluted soils,Gujarat, Western India

Soil nitrifiers have been showing an important role in assessing environmental pollution as sensitive biomarkers. In this study, the abundance and diversity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were investigated in long-term industrial waste effluent (IWE) polluted soils. Three different IWE polluted soils characterized as uncontaminated (R1), moderately contaminated (R2), and highly contaminated (R3) were collected in triplicate along Mahi River basin, Gujarat, Western India. Quantitative numbers of ammonia monooxygenase α-subunit (amoA) genes as well as 16S rRNA genes indicated apparent deleterious effect of IWE on abundance of soil AOA, AOB, bacteria, and archaeal populations. Relatively, AOB was more abundant than AOA in the highly contaminated soil R3, while predominance of AOA was noticed in uncontaminated (R1) and moderately contaminated (R2) soils. Soil potential nitrification rate (PNR) significantly (P?<?0.05) decreased in polluted soils R2 and R3. Reduced diversity accompanied by apparent community shifts of both AOB and AOA populations was detected in R2 and R3 soils. AOB were dominated with Nitrosospira-like sequences, whereas AOA were dominated by Thaumarchaeal “group 1.1b (Nitrososphaera clusters).” We suggest that the significant reduction in abundance and diversity AOA and AOB could serve as relevant bioindicators for soil quality monitoring of polluted sites. These results could be further useful for better understanding of AOB and AOA communities in polluted soils.     

Characteristics of surface ozone at an urban site of Xi'an in Northwest China

Surface ozone concentrations in Xi'an, China were monitored from March 23, 2008 to January 12, 2009 using the Model ML/EC9810 ozone analyzer. The daily average O(3) ranged from <1 ppb to 64.2 ppbv with an annual average of 16.0 ppbv. The seasonal average of O(3) in summer (32.5 ppbv) was more than 10 times higher than that in winter (3.0 ppbv). A significant positive correlation was found between ozone concentration and ambient temperature, indicating that the intensity of solar radiation was one of the several major factors controlling surface ozone production. Using the NOAA HYSPLIT 4 trajectory model, the three longest O(3) pollution episodes were found to be associated with the high biogenic volatile organic carbon (BVOC) emissions from the vegetation of Qinling Mountains. No significant weekday and weekend difference in O(3) levels was detected due to the non-significant change in NO(x) emissions. O(3) depletion by NO emission directly emitted from vehicles, low oxygenated VOC concentrations, and low-level solar radiation caused by high aerosol loading all contributed to the low levels of O(3) found in Xi'an compared to other cities and rural areas.     

Spatial distribution and human contamination quantification of trace metals and phosphorus in the sediments of Chaohu Lake,a eutrophic shallow lake,China

Distinguishing and quantifying anthropogenic trace metals and phosphorus accumulated in sediment is important for the protection of our aquatic ecosystems. Here, anthropogenic proportion and potential sources of trace metals and phosphorus in surface sediments of Chaohu Lake were evaluated based on the exhaustive geochemical data. The analysis shows that concentrations of major and trace metals, and phosphorus, displayed significant spatial diversity and almost all elements were over the pre-industrial background value, which should be related to the variations of sediment composition partially. Therefore, conservative element normalization was introduced and calculated enrichment factors (EFs) of the elements were referenced highlighting the human contamination. EFs of the major and trace metals, except Zn, Pb, and Cu, were all nearly 1.0, indicating the detrital origin. The EFs of Zn, Pb, Cu and phosphorus were 1.0–10.4, 1.0–3.8, 1.0–4.9, and 1.0–7.6, respectively, showing moderate to significant contamination. Higher EFs of Zn, Pb and Cu occurred in the mouth areas of Nanfei River and Zhegao River, and they decreased to the lake center in the northwest and northeast lake areas, respectively. We deduced that anthropogenic Zn, Pb, and Cu were mainly from urban and industrial point sources and the non-point sources of atmospheric deposition contributed little to their contamination. The EFs of phosphorus showed similar spatial degradation with that of Zn, Pb, and Cu. Moreover, higher EFs (>1) of phosphorus also occurred in other areas adjacent to the river mouths besides Nanfei River and Zhegao River. This indicated that the non-point agricultural source may also be responsible for the contamination of phosphorus in Chaohu Lake in addition to the urban sewage sources. Anthropogenic phosphorus was mainly concentrated in the speciation of NaOH-P, which had higher potential biological effects than the detrital proportion. Concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cu surpassed the threshold effect concentrations (TEC) of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines of freshwater ecosystems, especially in the contaminated northwest area of Chaohu Lake. This highlighted the contributions of anthropogenic contamination to the elevated potential biological effects of trace metals. Though there had been no obvious human contamination of Cr and Ni in Chaohu Lake, concentrations were all over the TECs, which may be due to higher background levels in the parent materials of soils and bedrocks in Chaohu Lake catchment.     

重金属离子对黑根霉菌生长抑制作用微量热研究

用微量热法测定了Cu~(2+),Cd~(2+),Hg~(2+),Pb~(2+)等四种重金属离子对黑根霉菌生长抑制的产热曲线,得到了黑根霉菌在不同条件下的生长速率常数k,抑制率I,半抑制浓度IC_(50)等参数。实验结果表明,抑制顺序为:Cd~(2+)>Hg~(2+)>Pb~(2+)>Cu~(2+);半抑制浓度分别为:Cd~(2+)0.8μg·ml~(-1);Hg~(2+)1.7μg·ml~（-1）;Pb~（2+）48.0μg·ml~(-1);Cu~(2+)110.0μg·ml~(-1)。     

冷原子吸收法测汞用干燥剂

试验了几种常用的干燥剂在冷原子吸收法测定水中汞时,对汞蒸气的干燥性能及对测定灵敏度的影响。结果表明,以无水氯化钙和无水高氯酸镁效果最好     

Patterns and sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in surficial sediments of Lakes Erie and Ontario

This study determines spatial trends and congener patterns of 2378-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in surficial sediments of Lakes Erie and Ontario. Sediments are enriched in 2378-PCDFs in Lake Ontario, and the PCDD/F concentrations increased from shallow near-shore sediments towards deep-water depositional zone sediments. In Lake Erie, sediments were dominated by octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, and the highest PCDD/F concentrations were observed in the western basin and the southern shoreline of the central basin with a decrease towards the eastern basin and the northern shoreline of the central basin. Principal components analysis revealed that chemical manufacture and disposal of chemical waste along the Niagara River has been a major PCDD/F source to Lake Ontario; while PCDD/Fs in Lake Erie are from multiple sources including industrial sources along the Detroit River, major tributaries along the southern shoreline of the lake, and atmospherically-derived material from the upper lakes and connecting channels.