Scenario‐Based Evaluation of Commercially Available Cleaning Robots for Collection of Bacillus Spores from Environmental Surfaces

The cleaning robots, a vacuum‐based robot (R2) and a wetted‐wipe‐based robot (R4), were evaluated in this study to determine their effectiveness for sampling Bacillus atrophaeus spores. The tests were designed to evaluate the benefit of robot sampling on large areas with two different contamination scenarios: a high‐concentration, low spatial extent contamination (hot spot) and a low concentration, high spatial extent contamination (widely dispersed). The hot spot tests were conducted with the high spore contamination (approximately 10⁷ colony forming units [CFUs]) on a limited area (30.5 cm × 30.5 cm), 2 percent of the entire test. The widely dispersed tests were conducted with approximately 0.1 CFUs/cm² for floor laminate and approximately 10 CFUs/cm² for carpet surfaces. The widely dispersed tests distributed spores across the test surface and covered approximately 40 percent of the entire test area. The test results showed that both robots successfully sampled a large quantity of spores from carpet and floor laminate surfaces for both test scenarios. Robot performance is discussed in the context of currently used surface sampling methods. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.*     

Humidity- and Age-Tolerant Starch-Based Sponge for Loose-Fill Packaging

Loose-fill packaging sponges were extruded from mixtures of 54–62% hydroxypropylated (HP 5%) amylomaize V (50% amylose) and wheat starches, 17–24% synthetic polymer, 13% water, 7% blowing agent(s), and 0.5% nucleating agent. One product made from 28% HP wheat starch, 28% HP amylomaize V starch, 12% ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer, 8% polystyrene (PS), and 3% polystyrene maleic anhydride (PSMA) copolymer, plus the other raw materials, had a compressibility and resilience that matched those of expanded polystyrene (EPS), although its bulk density was four times higher. The starchy sponge showed 16% shrinkage in volume at 90% relative humidity and was 2% soluble in excess water, both at 25°C. After aging for 18 months near 25°C, the HP starchy sponge gave only a trace of fines in a simulated shipping test, compared to 20% fines from a biodegradable, starch-based, loose-fill sponge of commerce.     

可持续城市及其生态可持续性辨识

讨论了城市和城市化的生态困境，研究了可持续城市的概念及生态特性，论述了城市生态可持续性辨识的目的意义和基本方法，城市生态调查，城市生态评价与城市生态决策分析，指出可持续城市在城市发展中的理论和实践意义，并提出了今后的研究重点。     

准噶尔盆地西北缘地层水化学特征与油气关系研究

准噶尔盆地西北缘分为超覆尖灭带、断阶带、斜坡区。本文讨论了不同区带地层水化学特征及其与油气运移聚集的关系。研究结果表明 ,高、过成熟阶段烃源岩生成的轻质油气在其运移聚集过程中 ,伴生的CO2 进入地层水中 ,在一定条件下会形成高矿化度NaHCO3 型地层水 ,而以高矿化度NaHCO3 型地层水为底水的油藏 ,原油密度较轻 ,为轻质原油。在近断层处 ,中、高矿化度的MgCl2 、Ns2 SO4 型地层水 ,可作为油气水沿断裂运移的证据。     

水网藻(Hydrodicty on reticulatum)对富营养化水样中氮磷去除能力的研究

研究了水网藻在天然水体水样中的生长及对氮磷（Ｎ，Ｐ）的去除能力，结果表明水网藻在富营养化水及重营养化的湖水水样中均生长良好；富营养化水库及重营养化湖水经水网藻处理２ｄ，４ｄ、６ｄ后，对氨氮，总氮，总磷去除率均在７０％以上。     

饮用水生物处理中微生物量和活性的测定方法

微生物量和微生物活性是饮用水生物处理工艺设计与运行的重要参数。总结论述了适用于表示饮用水生物处理过程生物膜中微生物数量和活性的几种主要指标的测定方法。     

Production dynamics of the eelgrass, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera marina</Emphasis> in two bay systems on the south coast of the Korean peninsula

Production dynamics of eelgrass, Zostera marina was examined in two bay systems (Koje Bay and Kosung Bay) on the south coast of the Korean peninsula, where few seagrass studies have been conducted. Dramatically reduced eelgrass biomass and growth have been observed during summer period on the coast of Korea, and we hypothesized that the summer growth reduction is due to increased water temperature and/or reduced light and nutrient availabilities. Shoot density, biomass, morphological characteristics, leaf productivities, and tissue nutrient content of eelgrass were measured monthly from June 2001 to April 2003. Water column and sediment nutrient concentrations were also measured monthly, and water temperature and underwater irradiance were monitored continuously at seagrass canopy level. Eelgrass shoot density, biomass, and leaf productivities exhibited clear seasonal variations, which were strongly correlated with water temperature. Optimal water temperature for eelgrass growth in the present study sites was about 15–20°C during spring period, and eelgrass growths were inhibited at the water temperature above 20°C during summer. Daily maximum underwater photon flux density in the study sites was usually much higher than the light saturation point of Z. marina previously reported. Densities of each terminal, lateral, and reproductive shoot showed their unique seasonal peak. Seasonal trends of shoot densities suggest that new eelgrass shoots were created through formation of lateral shoots during spring and a part of the vegetative shoots was transformed into flowering shoots from March. Senescent reproductive shoots were detached around June, and contributed to reductions of shoot density and biomass during summer period. Ambient nutrient level appeared to provide an adequate reserve of nutrient for eelgrass growth throughout the experimental period. The relationships between eelgrass growth and water temperature suggested that rapid reductions of eelgrass biomass and growth during summer period on the south coast of the Korean peninsula were caused by high temperature inhibition effects on eelgrass growth during this season.     

Nutritional and related experiments on laboratory maintenance of three species of symbiont-bearing,large foraminifera

Factors were examined that affect survival and growth of two common species of large foraminifera from the Red Sea,Amphisorus hemprichii Ehrenberg andAmphistegina lobifera Larsen, 1976. The former is host for dinoflagellate and the latter for diatom zooxanthellae. Experimental conditions were modeled on conditions at 25 m during spring at Wadi Taba, Gulf of Elat, Israel, the season and site where the experimental organisms were collected between 1983 and 1988. The two species responded quite differently in nutritional experiments.A. hemprichii grew, on average, 0.270 mm in diameter in 3 mo on a diet ofNitzschia subcommunis Hustedt,Chlorella sp. (clone AT) orCylindrotheca closterium Rabenhorst isolated from their native habitat. Unfed controls did not grow. In contrast, unfed populations ofA. lobifera grew as well or better than those that were fed unialgal diets. Growth of both species was enhanced on particular mixed algal diets. Both species required photosynthetically active symbionts. Even when fed weekly and supplied with nutrients, neither species survived in the dark. All individuals ofA. hemprichii died after 8 wk incubation in the dark;A. lobifera survived longer, but all were dead by 13 wk. The highest growth rate ofA. hemprichii (0.037 mm wk^–1) was obtained when they were fed, the medium was enriched, and the medium was changed weekly. All other conditions being the same, growth rate dropped to 0.009 mm wk^–1 when the medium was changed every 3 wk. In contrast,A. lobifera grew fastest when the medium was changed every 3 wk. Food or enrichment with nitrate or phosphate did not stimulate growth (0.03 mm wk^–1) over that of the controls. Specimens ofMarginopora kudakajimensis Gudmundsson from Japan, another dinoflagellate-bearing species, were also tested. They grew best (0.02 mm wk^–1) when cultured in light, in media enriched with nitrate and phosphate changed weekly, and fed. All three species withdrew nitrate and phosphate from the medium in chemostat experiments.     

Characterization and reactivity of natural manganese ore catalysts in the selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen

Natural manganese ore (NMO) catalysts were characterized and tested in the selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen oxides under dilute conditions. Also, the oxidation of ammonia (NH(3)) was carried out using pure MnO(2), Mn(2)O(3) for comparing with the activity. It is found that the activity of NMO was similar to that of MnO(2) at low temperature below 150 degrees C but above this temperature, the activity of these catalysts showed the difference. In the course of NH(3) oxidation, N(2), NO, N(2)O and H(2)O were produced. But the quantity of NO(2) produced in this experiment was negligible. At temperature below 250 degrees C, selectivity into N(2) from NH(3) oxidation was in the order, NMO > MnO(2) > Mn(2)O(3). This is the reverse of activity of these manganese oxides. Also the characterization of NH(3) oxidation was proposed and supported by the effect of space velocity, inlet O(2) and NH(3) concentration. The increase of space velocity remarkably influenced not only the conversion but also selectivity into N(2). The higher the reaction temperature was, the higher the effect of inlet O(2) and NH(3) concentration on the reaction rate was. By introducing NO during NH(3) oxidation reaction, the possibility of NMO as selective catalytic reduction catalyst at low temperature was studied and showed positive results.     

Degradation of trichloroethylene by photocatalysis in an internally circulating slurry bubble column reactor

The effects of initial trichloroethylene (TCE) concentration, recirculating liquid flow rate and gas velocity on photodegradation of TCE have been determined in an internally circulating slurry bubble column reactor (0.15m-ID x 0.85 m-high). Titanium dioxide (TiO2) powder was employed as a photocatalyst and the optimum loading of TiO2 in the present system is found to be approximately 0.2 wt%. The stripping fraction of TCE by air flow increases but photodegradation fraction of TCE decreases with increasing the initial TCE concentration, recirculating liquid flow rate and gas velocity. The average removal efficiency of TCE is found to be approximately 97% in an internally circulating slurry bubble column reactor.