Photolytic degradation of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE)

The photolytic degradation of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), an alternative flame retardant to decabromodiphenyl ether, was investigated in a variety of matrixes (n-hexane, tetrahydrofuran, methanol/water, humic acid/water, and silica gel) by irradiation under ultraviolet light and in n-hexane under natural light. Photolytic degradation of DBDPE occurs in all the matrixes investigated within the irradiation period (<320 min). The degradation experiments showed varied reaction rates, dependent on the matrixes, with increasing half-lives (t_1/2) in the order of tetrahydrofuran (t_1/2 = 6.0 min) > n-hexane (t_1/2 = 16.6 min) > humic acid/water (30 < t_1/2 < 60) > silica gel (t_1/2 = 75.9 min) > methanol/water (t_1/2 > 240 min). The reaction in tetrahydrofuran, n-hexane, and silica gel matrixes can be described by the pseudo first order kinetics. Nevertheless, the matrixes have little effect on the degradation product distributions of DBDPE. A numbers of debrominated intermediates were identified. The degradation involves the initial formation of nona-BDPEs and the subsequent decomposition of these congeners to lower brominated congeners (octa- and hepta-BDPEs) within the irradiation time. To our knowledge, the present work is the first attempt to investigate the photolytic degradation kinetics and the identification of intermediates, as well as the degradation mechanism, during the degradation of DBDPE. Further research is needed to understand the photolytic degradation pattern of DBDPE in the natural environment.     

Atmospheric emission of polychlorinated naphthalenes from iron ore sintering processes

Iron ore sintering processes constitute significant sources of dioxins, and studies have confirmed a close correlation between polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) and dioxin formation. Thus, iron ore sintering processes are thought to be a potential source of PCNs, although intensive investigations on PCN emissions from sintering processes have not been carried out. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to qualify and quantify PCN emissions from nine sintering plants operating on different industrial scales. PCN concentrations ranged from 3 to 983 ng m⁻³ (0.4-23.3 pg TEQ_PCN m⁻³) and emission factors ranged from 14 to 1749 μg t⁻¹ (0.5-41.5 ng TEQ_PCN t⁻¹), with a geometric mean of 84 μg t⁻¹ (2.1 ng TEQ_PCN t⁻¹). The estimated annual emission of PCNs from sintering processes in China was 1390 mg TEQ_PCN. These figures will assist in the development of a PCN emissions inventory. Regarding emission characteristics, PCNs mainly comprised low-chlorinated homologs. The ratios of several characteristic PCN congeners were also measured and compared with those from other sources. Taken together, these results may provide useful information for identifying the sources of PCNs produced by iron ore sintering processes.     

Prediction and cause investigation of ozone based on a double-stage attention mechanism recurrent neural network

● Used a double-stage attention mechanism model to predict ozone. ● The model can autonomously select the appropriate time series for forecasting. ● The model outperforms other machine learning models and WRF-CMAQ. ● We used the model to analyze the driving factors of VOCs that cause ozone pollution. Ozone is becoming a significant air pollutant in some regions, and VOCs are essential for ozone prediction as necessary ozone precursors. In this study, we proposed a recurrent neural network based on a double-stage attention mechanism model to predict ozone, selected an appropriate time series for prediction through the input attention and temporal attention mechanisms, and analyzed the cause of ozone generation according to the contribution of feature parameters. The experimental data show that our model had an RMSE of 7.71 μg/m³ and a mean absolute error of 5.97 μg/m³ for 1-h predictions. The DA-RNN model predicted ozone closer to observations than the other models. Based on the importance of the characteristics, we found that the ozone pollution in the Jinshan Industrial Zone mainly comes from the emissions of petrochemical enterprises, and the good generalization performance of the model is proved through testing multiple stations. Our experimental results demonstrate the validity and promising application of the DA-RNN model in predicting atmospheric pollutants and investigating their causes.     

莱州湾南岸咸水入侵区生态环境分区与生态恢复研究

本文在对莱州湾南岸咸水入侵区进行区域生态分析的基础上,对研究区进行了生态环境分区,提出了研究区环境战略调整和综合治理咸水入侵灾害的关键性技术措施,并结合各分区特点,有针对性地提出了各生态环境分区生态恢复和重建的组合配套措施。     

Inexact multistage stochastic integer programming for water resources management under uncertainty

In this study, an inexact multistage stochastic integer programming (IMSIP) method is developed for water resources management under uncertainty. This method incorporates techniques of inexact optimization and multistage stochastic programming within an integer programming framework. It can deal with uncertainties expressed as both probabilities and discrete intervals, and reflect the dynamics in terms of decisions for water allocation through transactions at discrete points of a complete scenario set over a multistage context. Moreover, the IMSIP can facilitate analyses of the multiple policy scenarios that are associated with economic penalties when the promised targets are violated as well as the economies-of-scale in the costs for surplus water diversion. A case study is provided for demonstrating the applicability of the developed methodology. The results indicate that reasonable solutions have been generated for both binary and continuous variables. For all scenarios under consideration, corrective actions can be undertaken dynamically under various pre-regulated policies and can thus help minimize the penalties and costs. The IMSIP can help water resources managers to identify desired system designs against water shortage and for flood control with maximized economic benefit and minimized system-failure risk.     

Check dam sediments: an important indicator of the effects of environmental changes on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau in China

Check dam sediments document the process of soil erosion for a watershed. The main objectives of this research are as follows: first, to determine whether the sediments trapped in check dams can provide useful information about local erosion and the environment, and second, to obtain the extent to which they can be stratigraphically interpreted and correlated to the land use history of an area controlled by check dams. Particle size and the concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in sediments are the indicators used to study the effects of environmental changes on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau, China. A total of 216 soil samples were collected from four sediment profile cores at the Yangjuangou watershed check dam constructed in 1955 and fully silted with sediments by 1965. The results indicated that ¹³⁷Cs dating and sediment particle size can characterize the sediment deposition process. Silt makes up more than 50 % of the sediment; both the clay and silt sediment fractions decrease gradually in the upstream direction. The sediment profiles are characterized by three depositional layers. These layers suggest changes in the land use. The top layer showed tillage disturbance, with moderate sediments and new soil mixed from 0 to 20 cm. A transition stage from wetlands (characterized by vegetation such as bulrush) to cropland is inferred from sediments at depths of 20–85 cm. Below 85 cm, sedimentary layering is obvious and there is no tillage disturbance. At the downstream site, A0, the average rate of sediment deposition from 1958 to 1963 was approximately 6,125.4 t year^?1 km^?2. Because of their high time resolution, check dam sediments indicate the effects of environmental changes on soil erosion, and they can provide a multiyear record of the soil erosion evolution at the local scale in the middle reaches of the Yellow River.     

Trace elements (Cu,Zn, and Hg) and δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C/δ<Superscript>15</Superscript>N in seabird subfossils from three islands of the South China Sea and its implications

Seabird subfossils were collected on three islands of the Xisha Archipelago, South China Sea. Via elemental analysis, we identified that bird guano was a significant source for heavy metals Cu, Zn, and Hg. Cu and Zn levels in these guano samples are comparable to their levels in wildbird feces, but guano Hg was lower than previously reported. Trophic positions significantly impacted transfer efficiency of heavy metals by seabirds. Despite of a common source, trace elements, as well as stable isotopes (i.e., guano δ¹³C and collagen δ¹⁵N), showed island-specific characteristics. Bird subfossils on larger island had relatively greater metal concentrations and revealed higher trophic positions. Partition of element and isotope levels among the islands suggested that transfer efficacy of seabirds on different islands was different, and bird species were probably unevenly distributed among the islets. Island area is possibly a driving factor for distributions of seabird species.     

Socioeconomic status and the occurrence of non-fatal child pedestrian injury: Results from a cross-sectional survey

This study is to examine the contribution of socioeconomic status (SES) to the risk of nonfatal pedestrian injury among children. The sample was obtained from two urban cities of China using multi-staged randomized sampling. Information was collected by respondents’ reporting using self-administrative way in the classroom under the guidance of interviewers. A logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the associations between SES and nonfatal children pedestrian injury. The results showed that boys and children aged 10 had significantly increased odds of suffering nonfatal pedestrian injury. Migrant children were at higher risk of being injured. Students whose mothers’ educational levels were either less than secondary school or postgraduate were more likely to sustain injury. Children who were from wealthier families or poorer families easily suffered from injury compared to children from middle families. Children living with grandparents, or siblings, or a single father, or a single mother were all at increased risk of injury. The possible causes or pathways of these SESs’ impacts on pedestrian injury were explored in discussion. This study suggests that SESs are important determinants of nonfatal pedestrian injury among children in China.     

未投运电力电缆防盗报警装置

近年来,用于城市地下电网、变电站引出线路、工矿企业内部供电等各类场景的电缆所占比重正在快速增加,电力电缆因其内含贵金属常成为被盗目标,未投运电力电缆因投运前不带电更易被盗。目前电力用户采用人工巡检电缆的方式进行电缆防盗保护,人工巡检存在电缆被盗发现滞后、巡检效率低等问题,针对这些问题提出了1种智能电缆防盗装置,利用传感器感知电缆状态,实时监测电缆是否被盗;通过通信技术使供电企业、电力用户和电缆看管人员实现电缆被盗信息共享,提高电缆防盗技术水平。     

区域地震应急能力优先建设矩阵构建方法的初步研究——以四川省为例

借鉴新一代的时间管理理论——"时间管理优先矩阵",提出并分析了区域地震应急能力优先建设矩阵的概念。分别以区域绝对和相对地震应急能力作为优先建设矩阵中"紧迫与否"和"重要与否"的定量化评价指标,构建了区域地震应急能力优先建设矩阵,划分了能力建设的四种类型,即需重点建设且紧迫性较强的区域类型(第Ⅰ类)、需重点建设但紧迫性较弱的区域类型(第Ⅱ类)、次重要建设但具一定紧迫性的区域类型(第Ⅲ类)和次重要建设且紧迫性较弱的区域类型(第Ⅳ类),在区域能力建设过程中应当遵循从第Ⅰ类到第Ⅳ类建设力度由重到轻、时间由急到缓,逐步开展的原则。最后,以四川省为例,以县(市)为基本评价单元,给出了四川省未来地震应急能力建设的优先等级类型。