Effect of spatial variability of storm on the optimal placement of best management practices (BMPs)

It is significant to design best management practices (BMPs) and determine the proper BMPs placement for the purpose that can not only satisfy the water quantity and water quality standard, but also lower the total cost of BMPs. The spatial rainfall variability can have much effect on its relative runoff and non-point source pollution (NPSP). Meantime, the optimal design and placement of BMPs would be different as well. The objective of this study was to discuss the relationship between the spatial variability of rainfall and the optimal BMPs placements. Three synthetic rainfall storms with varied spatial distributions, including uniform rainfall, downstream rainfall and upstream rainfall, were designed. WinVAST model was applied to predict runoff and NPSP. Additionally, detention pond and swale were selected for being structural BMPs. Scatter search was applied to find the optimal BMPs placement. The results show that mostly the total cost of BMPs is higher in downstream rainfall than in upstream rainfall or uniform rainfall. Moreover, the cost of detention pond is much higher than swale. Thus, even though detention pond has larger efficiency for lowering peak flow and pollutant exports, it is not always the determined set in each subbasin.     

Role of Geographic Information System (GIS) in Watershed Simulation By Winvast Model

The uncertainty of modeling input will increase the simulation error, and this situation always happens in a model without user-friendly interface. WinVAST model, developed by the University of Virginia in 2003, treats an entire multi-catchment by a tree-view structure. Its extra computer programs can connect geographic information system (GIS). Model users can prepare all the necessary information in ArcGIS. Extracting information from GIS interface can not only decrease the inconvenience of data input, but also lower the uncertainty due to data preparation. The Daiyuku Creek and Qupoliao Creek in the Fei-tsui reservoir watershed in Northern Taiwan provided the setting for the case study reported herein. The required information, including slope, stream length, subbasin area, soil type and land-use condition, for WinVAST model should be prepared in a Microsoft Access database, which is the project file of WinVAST with extension mdb. In ArcGIS interface, when the soil layer, land-use layer, and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) map are prepared, all the watershed information can be created as well. This study compared the simulation results from automatically generated input and manual input. The results show that the relative simulation error resulting from the rough process of data input can be around 30% in runoff simulation, and even reach 70% in non-point source pollution (NPSP) simulation. It could conclude that GIS technology is significant for predicting watershed responses by WinVAST model, because it can efficiently reduce the uncertainty induced by input errors.     

The possible climate impact on the collapse of an ancient urban city in Mu Us Desert, China

Tongwan City is one of the most famous and best-researched archaeological sites in China. By using palaeoclimatology proxy records from China over the last 2,000 years and archaeological/historical documents, we analyse the possible effect of climate on the collapse of Tongwan City, an ancient urban city of the Daxia state (AD 407–427). During Tongwan City’s existence (AD 413–994), two severe cold and drought stages were recorded by both natural proxy data and the synthesis compiled from the historical documents. The first cold and drought stage occurred at about AD 420–550, with the lowest point centred at about AD 500. The second cold and drought stage occurred at about AD 780–950. These periods correspond to the times of climate deterioration, especially weak summer monsoons, which eventually resulted in the intensive desertification and collapse of Tongwan City.     

Biosafety Act 2007: Does It Really Protect Bioethical Issues Relating To GMOS

Despite the (serious) global concerns about the safety and genetic stability of genetically modified organisms, the Malaysian National Biosafety Board (NBB) has recently approved the field testing for genetically modified (GM) male mosquitoes. With this development, bioethical issues, which in some respect could adversely impinge on the social, economic and environmental aspects of the society, have surfaced, and these concerns must be addressed by the authorities concerned. In reviewing this application, the National Biosafety Board has followed the requirements of the Biosafety Act 2007, which was created to strike a balance between promoting biotechnology and at the same time protecting against its potential environmental and human health risks in Malaysia. However, the 2007 Act fails to adequately take into account any bioethical issues in spite of the inclusion of a provision on socio-economic consideration. As part of an ongoing doctoral research project, and by way of an instrumental critique of the 2007 Act, the present paper attempts to address the role and function of the Malaysia biosafety legal framework in governing bioethical concerns relating to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) within the current biotechnology background in Malaysia. Additionally, the paper suggests that the ambiguity of the provisions contained within the 2007 Act in governing such concerns, representing wider societal interests and welfare, in some ways might defeat the balancing role that this act was originally intended to fulfil.     

Intercalating negatively charged pillars into graphene oxide sheets to enhance sulfonamide pharmaceutical removal from water

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Herein, novel composite materials were prepared by intercalating functional pillars, i.e., pentafluorobenzene (PFB) and sodium...     

Direct field observation of the relative humidity effect on the beta-gauge readings

The effect of ambient relative humidity (RH) on hourly particulate matter (PM10) readings of beta-gauge monitors has been studied using two collocated monitors in the field. The inlet air of monitor 1 was conditioned with water vapor to increase its RH, whereas monitor 2 operated normally in ambient conditions. Experimental data showed that PM10 readings of monitor 1 were nearly the same as monitor 2, as long as the RH of its conditioned incoming air did not exceed approximately 80-85%. However, when the RH exceeded approximately 80-85%, PM10 readings of monitor 1 became higher than monitor 2, and the difference increased with increasing RH. The measurement of pressure drop across the filter was also conducted, and the data revealed that the increase of pressure drop per unit of PM10 concentration decreased when RH was higher than approximately 80-85%, as compared with the case when RH was lower than 80-85%. This is perhaps because of more porous structure of deposited particles in the beta-gauge monitor when RH is greater than approximately 80-85%. The theoretical calculation using an evaporation model and a thermodynamic model has been conducted to simulate the beta-gauge readings. The results show that the theoretical PM10 concentrations using the evaporation model are in better agreement with the actual beta-gauge readings than those using the thermodynamic equilibrium model.     

镁粉着火敏感特性研究现状与分析

通过大量文献调研,从两个方面整理并分析了近年来关于镁粉着火敏感特性研究现状,即镁粉着火敏感特性参数和镁粉着火敏感特性防护技术研究,并在此基础上提出进一步的研究建议,为更好地预防镁粉爆炸事故及相关理论技术研究提供参考。     

不同耕作方式下土壤氮素矿化和硝化特征研究

为探讨长期定位试验田不同耕作方式下土壤氮素矿化和硝化特征,采用室内恒温通气培养法,保持土壤田间持水量在65％条件下,测定不同耕作方式下表层土壤（0～20cm）在不同温度下的NH4^＋和NO3^-含量,并计算氮素矿化量和硝化率。结果表明,随着温度的升高,土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用均增强,几种耕作方式下土壤氮素矿化和硝化作用均表现为35℃〉30℃〉25℃。保护性耕作与水旱轮作和常规平作之间的矿化量存在显著的差异,垄作免耕〉厢作免耕〉水旱轮作〉常规平作。土壤氮素最终硝化率达到了60％～80％,表现为常规平作最高,水旱轮作次之,厢作免耕最低。矿化率与土壤有机质、碱解氮和速效磷对数均成显著正相关,相关系数分别为r^2=0．99,r^2=0．97,r^2=0．96,pH是影响硝化作用的重要因素,硝化率与土壤pH成显著正相关,r^2=0．991。     

水生植物与水气界面气体交换对岩溶泉水化学及碳循环影响

为揭示水生植物光合作用及水气之间气体交换对岩溶水化学及碳循环的影响,在姜家泉沿程选取5个监测点,于2017年12月至2018年11月对其水化学性质进行监测.结果显示:(1)在降水较少的月份,JJQ3的Ca2+浓度和HCO3-浓度明显小于JJQ1和JJQ2,并且溶解氧(DO)与电导率(EC)、Ca2+浓度、HCO3-浓度之间均呈负相关关系,说明池水处水生植物光合作用将碳酸盐岩溶蚀产生的HCO3-转化成了稳定的有机碳,从而增强了岩溶碳汇效应.(2)JJQ4的Ca2+和HCO3-浓度与JJQ1、JJQ2没有明显差异,但pH和溶解氧(DO)却明显高于JJQ1和JJQ2,并且JJQ4处溶解无机碳的稳定碳同位素(δ13CDIC)偏正于JJQ1和JJQ2,这主要是跌水导致水-气之间发生了气体交换.大气中的氧气通过曝气作用进入水中,而水中二氧化碳分压(pCO2)远高于大气,导致水中溶解的CO2脱气.(3)姜家泉水化学受到水生植物光合作用和水-气间气体交换的共同影响,并且在强酸参与下,CO2脱气将进一步减弱岩溶碳汇效应.因此,为准确估算岩溶碳通量,有必要对两种作用方式进行区分.     

The study of TSP, PM(2.5-10) and PM2.5 during Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake in the traffic site of central Taiwan, Taichung

Ambient particle concentration was taken on the traffic sampling site over the Chung-Chi Road over bridge (CCROB) in front of Hungkuang Institute of Technology (HKIT). The sampling time was from August 1999 to December 1999. During the sampling period, Taiwan's biggest earthquake in more than a century registered 7.3 on the Richter scale (Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake). Besides, there were more than 20,000 aftershocks that followed the Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake within three months. Thus, the PM2.5, PM(2.5-10) particle concentrations were also collected then and compared with total suspended particle (TSP) in this study. The average PM(2.5-10), PM2.5 and TSP concentrations are 24.6, 58.0 and 106 microg/m3, respectively, after the Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake. The average TSP concentrations before and after Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake were 70 and 127 microg/m3, respectively. It is clearly shown that the average concentration of TSP after Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake was about 1.8 times as that of TSP concentration before Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake in the traffic site of central Taiwan. And the ratios of PM2.5/PM(2.5-10), PM2.5/PM10 and PM2.5/TSP are 2.2%, 67.2%, 38.9%, respectively. The results also indicated about Chi-Chi fine particle concentration (PM25) and the TSP increases in the traffic site of central Taiwan after Taiwan Chi-Chi Earthquake.