Implementing real-time grouping for fast egress in emergency

Mass events such as the Olympic games or popular entertainment gathering often attract hundreds of thousands of people. If an abrupt event (e.g., fire, bomb threat) prompts people to rush to exits, stampedes may occur, creating secondary damages. Thus quickly dispersing crowd population to safe places in the least time while managing to avoid congestion and/or stampede is an important task with the occurrence of such events. This study presents an optimal evacuation model to meet this goal. By identifying some key themes that contribute to crowd disasters, the model implements a real-time concurrent grouping to ensure at-risk people are guided to safe places in the least time. The underlying rationale of the strategy is to advocate that competition should be replaced with coherence, and people should coordinate and collaborate to move out in an orderly way through scientifically using multiple routes. In doing so, each person receives an equal opportunity to exit the incident site, and the general effectiveness of performing an evacuation is achieved to an optimal level.To verify the proposed method, we conduct a simulation in which we compare our method with two benchmark cases: random self-evacuation and herding behavior. The results demonstrate that the proposed strategy can rescue people at risk much faster and more safely than two benchmark cases. We implement the proposed model through a web-based wireless decision support system, which provides a useful tool to both first responders and people affected for time-based crowd management in response to an ongoing crowd incident.     

数字水印技术在古典家具数字博物馆版权保护中的研究

近年来,古典家具越来越受到人们的青睐。但是目前还未见有关针对古典文物家具数字博物馆的相关研究报道。本文首先介绍了数字博物馆的特点以及所构建的明清古典文物家具数字博物馆,然后运用基于混沌理论的Logistic映射置乱方法对水印图像进行加密,以及变换域算法中基于DCT域的数字水印方法对数字博物馆的数字图像进行了版权保护,并利用Matlab软件进行水印图像的嵌入、提取和检测实验,取得了较好的效果,说明数字水印技术在文物家具图像版权保护方面具有很好的作用。     

热环境中透气式防护服的舒适性评价指标研究

本文依据热环境下人体穿着透气式防护服的散热形式以及舒适性要求,提出了热环境下透气式防护服舒适性评价指标,为热环境下透气式防护服舒适性评价提供了依据。     

太子河洛氏鱥幼鱼栖息地适宜度评估

基于对太子河流域鱼类及栖息地的调查研究,选择该流域的优势种洛氏鱥(Phoxinus lagowskii)作为指示生物,建立洛氏鱥幼鱼对水深、流速、溶解氧、总溶解颗粒物和河岸带植被指数的栖息地适宜度曲线,并借鉴河道内流量增量法计算各采样点河段的洛氏鱥幼鱼栖息地适宜度指数。结果表明:洛氏鱥幼鱼栖息地适宜度指数在太子河上游较高(>0.5),中游次之(0.2-0.5),下游较低(<0.2)。洛氏鱥幼鱼栖息地适宜度指数与10项栖息地调查指标和土地利用类型的相关性分析表明:太子河流域内限制洛氏鱥幼鱼生存的因素不是水文条件,而是河流水质及河岸带等环境因素;洛氏鱥幼鱼栖息地适宜度指数受人类活动影响较大,随着太子河中下游人类开发强度加大,洛氏鱥栖息地质量呈下降趋势。     

Effects of effluent organic matters on endocrine disrupting chemical removal by ultrafiltration and ozonation in synthetic secondary effluent

Endocrine disrupting chemicals(EDCs) in the secondary effluent discharged from wastewater treatment plants are of great concern when water reuse is intended. Ozonation and ultrafiltration(UF) are powerful technologies reported to eliminate EDCs. Due to the importance of effluent organic matters(EfOMs) in secondary effluent, the effects of three kinds of EfOM on the treatment of five EDCs using ozonation and UF were investigated. The three kinds of EfOM studied were humic acid sodium salt(NaAH), bovine serum albumin(BSA)and sodium alginate(NaAg); and the five EDCs were estrone, 17β-estradiol, estriol, 17α-ethynyl estradiol and bisphenol A. The results showed that EfOM accelerated the decay rate of ozone and inhibited the degradation efficiency of EDCs by ozonation in the order NaAH BSA NaAg.The ultraviolet absorbance at 280 nm(UVA_(280)) has potential for use as a surrogate indicator to assess EDC removal via ozonation without conducting difficult EDC analyses. When the decline in UVA_(280) exceeded 18%, the five EDCs had been completely removed. The UF behavior of NaAH,BSA and NaAg was found to follow the cake filtration law. The fouling potential of EfOM followed the order NaAg NaAH BSA; while EfOM on the membrane surface enhanced EDC removal in the order NaAH BSA NaAg. The mean retention rate of the membrane was increased by 24%, 10% and 8%, respectively. The properties of EDCs and EfOM cakes both influenced the EDC removal rates due to adsorption, size exclusion and charge attraction.     

Efficient degradation of drug ibuprofen through catalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate by Fe3C embedded on carbon

Ibuprofen(IBU),a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug,is becoming an important member of pharmaceuticals and personal care products(PPCPs)as emerging pollutants.To degrade IBU,magnetic Fe_3C nanoparticles embedded on N-doped carbon(Fe_3C/NC)were prepared as a catalyst by a sol–gel combustion method.As characterized,the Fe_3C/NC nanoparticles were composed of a NC nano-sheet and capsulated Fe_3C particles on the sheet.The Fe_3C/NC nanoparticles were confirmed an efficient catalyst for peroxymonosulfate(PMS)activation to generate sulfate radicals(SO_4~(·-)),single oxygen(~1O_2)and hydroxyl radicals(·OH)toward the degradation of IBU.The added IBU(10 mg/L)was almost completely removed in 30 min by using 0.1 g/L Fe_3C/NC and 2 g/L PMS.The catalyst was confirmed to have good ability and excellent reusability through leaching measurements and cycle experiments.A catalytic mechanism was proposed for the catalytic activation of PMS on Fe_3C/NC,which involves both Fe_3C reactive sites and N-doped carbon matrix as reactive sites in Fe_3C/NC.Moreover,the degradation pathway of IBU in the Fe_3C/NC-PMS system was proposed according to the detections of degradation intermediates.     

Effects of protein properties on ultrafiltration membrane fouling performance in water treatment

Protein-like substances always induce severe ultrafiltration (UF) membrane fouling. To systematically understand the effect of proteins, regenerated cellulose UF membrane (commonly used for protein separation) performance was investigated in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) under various water conditions. Results showed that although trypsin enhanced the membrane flux via proteolysis, catalysis took a long time. Membrane fouling was alleviated at high solution pH and low water temperature owing to the strong electrostatic repulsion force among BSA molecules. Both Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ could increase membrane flux. However, Ca²⁺ played a bridging role between adjacent BSA molecules, whereas membrane fouling was alleviated via a hydration repulsion force with Na⁺. The order of influence on membrane fouling was as follows: Ca²⁺ concentration > Na⁺ concentration > pH > temperature > trypsin concentration. Furthermore, a polyvinylidene fluoride UF membrane experiment showed that Ca²⁺ could reduce the fouling induced by BSA. Thus, the differences in UF membrane performance will have application potential for alleviating UF membrane fouling induced by proteins during water treatment.     

Comparative toxicity study of a novel non-ionic surfactant, vanillin ethoxylates, and nonylphenol ethoxylates in Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro

Surfactants such as alkylphenol polyethoxylates (APEOs) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) are commonly used worldwide, but the majority of these compounds, together with their metabolites, have been reported to induce severe biological toxicity. Here, we evaluated for the first time the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mitochondrial damage in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells caused by a novel non-ionic surfactant, vanillin ethoxylates (VAEOs), an alternative to APEOs. In parallel, the same in vitro bioassays were conducted on NPEOs along with their metabolic byproducts 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) and vanillin. The results showed that the cytotoxic potency order was NPEOs?>?4-NP?>?VAEOs > vanillin using CCK-8 assays. Also, 4-NP showed potential direct DNA damage in SOS/umu tests, whereas NPEOs, VAEOs and vanillin showed no positive result with and without S9 addition. In addition, none of the test compounds showed obvious genotoxic effects with low olive tail moment value using comet assays. However, all test compounds were shown to cause mitochondrial impairment by increasing mitochondrial mass and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential in a concentration-dependent manner. And further analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial superoxide (MNSOD) measurement showed that mitochondrial impairment was induced by oxidative stress with intracellular ROS and MNSOD overproduction. It's worth noting that VAEOs and vanillin cause relative lower cytotoxic, genotoxic and mitochondrial damage effects than NPEOs and 4-NP, indicating that VAEOs have the potential to substitute NPEOs as suitable surfactants. Take together, this study elucidates the toxicity profiles of VAEOs and NPEOs relatively comprehensively, and further toxicity analyses are suggested in the population, community and ecosystem.     

Synergetic PM2.5 and O3 control strategy for the Yangtze River Delta, China

PM_2.5 concentrations have dramatically reduced in key regions of China during the period 2013–2017, while O₃ has increased. Hence there is an urgent demand to develop a synergetic regional PM_2.5 and O₃ control strategy. This study develops an emission-to-concentration response surface model and proposes a synergetic pathway for PM_2.5 and O₃ control in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) based on the framework of the Air Benefit and Cost and Attainment Assessment System (ABaCAS). Results suggest that the regional emissions of NOx, SO₂, NH₃, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and primary PM_2.5 should be reduced by 18%, 23%, 14%, 17% and 33% compared with 2017 to achieve 25% and 5% decreases of PM_2.5 and O₃ in 2025, and that the emission reduction ratios will need to be 50%, 26%, 28%, 28% and 55% to attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. To effectively reduce the O₃ pollution in the central and eastern YRD, VOCs controls need to be strengthened to reduce O₃ by 5%, and then NOx reduction should be accelerated for air quality attainment. Meanwhile, control of primary PM_2.5 emissions shall be prioritized to address the severe PM_2.5 pollution in the northern YRD. For most cities in the YRD, the VOCs emission reduction ratio should be higher than that for NOx in Spring and Autumn. NOx control should be increased in summer rather than winter when a strong VOC-limited regime occurs. Besides, regarding the emission control of industrial processes, on-road vehicle and residential sources shall be prioritized and the joint control area should be enlarged to include Shandong, Jiangxi and Hubei Province for effective O₃ control.     

石灰、羟基磷灰石、秸秆生物炭对烟草吸收镉的影响

烟草是我国重要经济作物且极易吸收镉(Cd),如何降低烟草Cd含量已引起广泛关注。通过盆栽实验,在Cd(0.83 mg·kg^(-1)和12 mg·kg(-1)和12 mg·kg^(-1))污染土壤中添加2 g·kg(-1))污染土壤中添加2 g·kg^(-1)或16 g·kg(-1)或16 g·kg^(-1)石灰(Ca(OH)_2)、羟基磷灰石(HAP)或秸秆生物炭,分析3种钝化材料对土壤Cd的钝化效率及烟草Cd吸收的降低效率。结果表明：(1)种植60 d后,施用16 g·kg(-1)石灰(Ca(OH)_2)、羟基磷灰石(HAP)或秸秆生物炭,分析3种钝化材料对土壤Cd的钝化效率及烟草Cd吸收的降低效率。结果表明：(1)种植60 d后,施用16 g·kg^(-1)石灰或HAP均显著(P<0.05)提高土壤pH值,轻微(0.83 mg·kg(-1)石灰或HAP均显著(P<0.05)提高土壤pH值,轻微(0.83 mg·kg^(-1)Cd)、中度(12 mg·kg(-1)Cd)、中度(12 mg·kg^(-1)Cd)Cd污染土壤pH值分别提高1.98～2.84和1.99～3.06;(2)3种钝化材料均使土壤Cd有效态含量降低,其中,16 g·kg(-1)Cd)Cd污染土壤pH值分别提高1.98～2.84和1.99～3.06;(2)3种钝化材料均使土壤Cd有效态含量降低,其中,16 g·kg^(-1)石灰使土壤Cd有效态含量降低69.7%～71.5%;(3)生物炭(2 g·kg(-1)石灰使土壤Cd有效态含量降低69.7%～71.5%;(3)生物炭(2 g·kg^(-1)和16 g·kg(-1)和16 g·kg^(-1))显著(P<0.05)提高烟草生物量且降低烟草Cd含量,轻微、中度Cd污染土壤烟草生物量分别提高5.07倍～18.5倍和5.00倍～29.7倍,烟草根、茎、叶Cd含量分别降低68.7%～74.6%、32.1%～50.7%、70.2%～82.5%(轻微)和68.7%～74.6%、51.4%～59.3%、33.2%～46.5%(中度),根、茎、叶Cd富集系数亦显著降低,根(Cd_(0.83):122降至31～38.1,Cd_(12):24.7降至12.2～16.8),茎(Cd_(0.83):203降至35.6～60.6,Cd_(12):41.7降至17.6～23.1),叶(Cd_(0.83):247降至100～120,Cd_(12):48.6降至26.0～32.5);(4)溶液吸附实验发现,HAP和生物炭均通过表面吸附Cd(-1))显著(P<0.05)提高烟草生物量且降低烟草Cd含量,轻微、中度Cd污染土壤烟草生物量分别提高5.07倍～18.5倍和5.00倍～29.7倍,烟草根、茎、叶Cd含量分别降低68.7%～74.6%、32.1%～50.7%、70.2%～82.5%(轻微)和68.7%～74.6%、51.4%～59.3%、33.2%～46.5%(中度),根、茎、叶Cd富集系数亦显著降低,根(Cd_(0.83):122降至31～38.1,Cd_(12):24.7降至12.2～16.8),茎(Cd_(0.83):203降至35.6～60.6,Cd_(12):41.7降至17.6～23.1),叶(Cd_(0.83):247降至100～120,Cd_(12):48.6降至26.0～32.5);(4)溶液吸附实验发现,HAP和生物炭均通过表面吸附Cd⁽²⁺⁾,且该吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型,表明在钝化过程中这2种钝化剂与Cd(2+),且该吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型,表明在钝化过程中这2种钝化剂与Cd⁽²⁺⁾发生键能结合的化学吸附。研究表明,3种钝化剂在同等剂量水平下,生物炭提高烟草生物量且降低Cd吸收最显著,可优先选作降低烟草Cd吸收的钝化剂。