Accelerated photo-transformation of 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) in water by dissolved organic matter

The ubiquitous dissolved organic matter (DOM) has an important influence on transformation of organic contaminants through the production of reactive substances, such as ^?OH, ¹O₂, and ³DOM*. The photolysis of a higher chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener (2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl, PCB 153) under simulated sunlight in presence of humic acid (HA) was investigated. Degradation of PCB 153 was accelerated significantly by the addition of HA, with a rate constant of 0.0214, 0.0413, and 0.0358 h^?1 in the initial 18 h of irradiation in presence of 1, 5, and 20 mg/L HA, respectively. The main photodegradation products analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry were 4-hydroxy-2,2′,4′,5,5′-pentaCB and 2,4,5-trichlorobenzoic acid. Main reactive species involved were determined by the electron spin-resonance spectroscopy, including ¹O₂ and ^?OH. Special scavengers were added to elucidate the photolysis mechanisms. By using the specific scavengers, it turned out that ^?OH accounted for 29.3 % of the degradation, and the intra-DOM reactive species (¹O₂, ^?OH, and ³DOM*) accounted for 59.6 % of the degradation. Photo-transformation sensitized by DOM, which involves both aqueous and intra-DOM reactions of PCBs with reactive species, may be one of the most important mechanisms for natural attenuation of PCBs.     

Canopy leaching of nutrients and metals in a mountain spruce forest

Precipitation and throughfall fluxes of major ions, nutrients (C, N, P), and metals (Al, Fe, Mn), and the chemical composition of litter fall and living plant tissue in Norway spruce stands (the Bohemian Forest; Czech Republic), were used to evaluate how microbial processes and decay of plant tissue in canopies influence canopy leaching (CL) of elements. Proton exchange for Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and K⁺ in decaying biomass and co-transport of Ca²⁺ and K⁺ out of plant cells with organic acid anions were the most likely processes contributing to CL of base cations. The CL of total P and N (and also NO₃^?) was minor. Important proportions of the N and P mineral forms were transformed to organic forms by microbial processes (primary and bacterial production), with the respective CL of ?13.9 and 16.4 mmol m^?2 yr^?1 for NH₄⁺ and organic N, and ?0.33 and 0.22 mmol m^?2 yr^?1 for dissolved reactive P (DRP) and organic P. Most of particulate P and N in throughfall (～90%) originated from microbial DRP and NH₄⁺ transformations, but particulate C mostly came from the fragmentation of plant tissue (58%). Among metals, CL was not observed for Al, was small for Fe (0.3 mmol m^?2 yr^?1), and greatest for Mn (0.9 mmol m^?2 yr^?1) due to leaching from decaying tissue by acidic precipitation.     

Determination of S02 Emission from Oil Combustion Sources by Fuel Analyses and S02/C02 Relations

The current S0₂ emission test methods, based on wet chemistry, are time consuming and costly. Final results depend on at least 10 separate measurements of quantities which may introduce significant errors due to human factors especially under unfavorable field environment. Performance evaluation of several promising S0₂ instrumental methods indicated that results were reliable and reproducible, but instrumental problems still exist. The problems were found to be calibration, mechanical and electronic components, and sample conditioning system. An alternative method proposed requires only two separate analyses: ultimate fuel analysis and stack gas analysis for C0₂. This method can be further simplified with reasonable accuracy by a single measurement of sulfur in the fuel if results are corrected to 12% C0₂. The method can be a useful addition to the current methods, especially if cost and manpower preclude actual stack tests. A test program was conducted at four industrial and utility power plants. Results are presented with discussion to show the application and validity of the simplified method.     

预应力锚索-地梁结构在岩体中传力规律研究

在建立受非均布线形荷载作用的地基力学模型的基础上,应用叠加原理推导出地基表面在非均布的线形荷载作用下,预应力锚索-地梁结构中垂直于梁轴线平面内的地基中深处的应力和位移计算公式,为研究预应力锚索-地梁结构在岩体中的传力规律提供了理论基础.以湖南省常张高速公路K123+160～K123+369边坡为试验区域,通过理论分析得出,在对锚索施加预应力后,锚索预应力通过地梁传递给被加固的岩土体,其传递方式在垂直于地梁轴线的平面内是以梁轴线与该平面的交点为端点的近似椭圆的等值面形式由内向外呈逐渐衰减趋势分布的.现场试验得出,两地梁周边岩体中的压应变随深度增加由小到大增至峰值,然后逐渐衰减为0,这种分布形式与理论结论一致.     

Evaluating growth of larval walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma, using cell cycle analysis

Cell cycle analysis of muscle cell division rates offers a new and efficient technique to analyze growth of larval fish. Using this approach, growth of larval walleye pollock was estimated by determining cell proliferation rates, reasoning that growth during early life stages is probably attributed to increases in cell number rather than to increases in cell size. Characteristic patterns of brain and muscle cell division rates were produced in larval walleye pollock by manipulating their diet in the laboratory. The fraction of dividing muscle cells and, to a lesser extent, the fraction of dividing brain cells were direct indicators of fast and slow growth. A model was produced to estimate average growth rate from the fraction of dividing muscle cells. We developed a simple method for preparing and storing the muscle tissue that ensures nucleic acid stability for subsequent analyses and permits sampling in the field. We envision that the cell cycle methodology will have on-site applications, presenting an opportunity to attain real-time estimates of larval fish growth at sea. Determining the proportion of first-feeding larvae with a high fraction of dividing muscle cells may yield a means for predicting the proportion of fast-growing fish, i.e., the potential survivors.     

西南地区水库生态环境特征与研究展望

西南是我国水资源富集区,随着清洁能源"西电东送"、城镇化建设和水利水电发展战略的持续实施,西南地区水库的数量将不断被刷新,水库数量快速增长与日益凸显的生态环境问题存在突出矛盾。西南地区水库具有独特的地质地理背景和生态环境特征,主要表现在:1)具人工建造属性,水环境与生态系统演化起点不同于天然湖泊;2)水位逆周期人为调控,消落带生态功能退化;3)亚深水型,水体季节性分层控制了湖泊的关键物理、化学和生物过程;4)沉积物有机质和营养盐蓄积量大,潜在二次污染风险大;5)物质循环的累积效应对水库及下游水环境与水生态安全具重要影响;6)水体富营养化与重金属污染叠加、复合;7)物质循环和生物过程受多界面作用控制。当前对西南地区亚深水型水库生态环境的研究远落后于东部浅水湖泊,亟待对其生态环境演变过程与规律开展深入研究,研究建立与之适宜的水环境演变理论和治理技术体系,为该类型水库生态环境保护与治理提供有效科技支撑。     

RAMS contribution to efficient waste minimisation and management

The significance of waste management systems in recent years increased due to the growing problems of waste management chains affecting the daily lives of millions of people and the impact on the environment. Several promising approaches have been developed in the past few years. One of them is the waste management system modelling using reliability, availability, maintainability and safety software. This paper analyses and evaluates this approach. The main goal is to provide quantitative forecasts for various performance measures of waste management systems. They include availability, downtimes, number of failures, and cost. Evaluation of these measures is important for optimal decision making. The system design should both maximise the system performance leading to cleaner processing and minimise the overall cost within the allowable constraints. The effectiveness of this methodology is demonstrated through a case study.     

The Environmental Performance Strategy Map: an integrated LCA approach to support the strategic decision-making process

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a well-known tool for analyzing environmental impacts on a wide perspective with reference to a product system and the related environmental and economic impacts. The need for a novel approach that complements environmental and financial considerations is addressed in this study with the introduction of a new graphical representation: the Environmental Performance Strategy Map. This graphical map allows one to combine the main environmental indicators (footprints) with the additional dimension of cost. The paper defines the Sustainable Environmental Performance Indicator as a single measure for sustainability of a given option. Comparison of different options for strategic decision-making purposes can be enhanced and facilitated by the use of this indicator.     

Spatial distribution patterns of rock fragments and their underlying mechanism of migration on steep hillslopes in a karst region of Yunnan Province,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In mountainous areas, rock fragments (RFs) are a common feature on the soil surface and in topsoil. Few studies, however, have investigated the...