1986 APCA Government Agencies Directory

Carbonaceous species (organic carbon [OC] and elemental carbon [EC]) and inorganic ions of particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) were measured to investigate the chemical characteristics of long-range-transported (LTP) PM_2.5 at Gosan, Jeju Island, in Korea in the spring and fall of 2008–2012 (excluding 2010). On average, the non-sea-salt (nss) sulfate (4.2 µg/m³) was the most dominant species in the spring, followed by OC (2.6 µg/m³), nitrate (2.1 µg/m³), ammonium (1.7 µg/m³), and EC (0.6 µg/m³). In the fall, the nss-sulfate (4.7 µg/m³) was also the most dominant species, followed by OC (4.0 µg/m³), ammonium (1.7 µg/m³), nitrate (1.1 µg/m³), and EC (0.7 µg/m³). Both sulfate and OC were higher in the fall than in the spring, possibly due to more common northwest air masses (i.e., coming from China and Korea polluted areas) and more frequent biomass burnings in the fall. There was no clear difference in the EC between the spring and fall. The correlation between OC and EC was not strong; thus, the OC measured at Gosan was likely transported across a long distance and was not necessarily produced in a manner similar to the EC. Distinct types of LTP events (i.e., sulfate-dominant LTP versus OC-dominant LTP) were observed. In the sulfate-dominant LTP events, air masses directly arrived at Gosan without passing over the Korean Peninsula from the industrial area of China within 48 hr. During these events, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) increased to 1.63. Ionic balance data suggest that the long-range transported aerosols are acidic. In the OC-dominant LTP event, a higher residence time of air masses in Korea was observed (the air masses departing from the mainland of China arrived at the sampling site after passing Korea within 60–80 hr).

Implications:?In Northeast Asia, various natural and anthropogenic sources contribute to the complex chemical components and affect local/regional air quality and climate change. Chemical characteristics of long-range-transported (LTP) PM_2.5 were investigated during spring and fall of 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. Based on air mass types, sulfate-dominant LTP and OC-dominant LTP were observed. A long-term variation and chemical characteristics of PM_2.5 along with air mass and satellite data are required to better understand long-range-transported aerosols.     

Physicochemical properties of chars at different treatment temperatures

In this study, the physicochemical properties of the char of Indonesian SM coal following heat treatment at various temperatures were evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and morphological and specific surface area analysis. Based on these analyses, heat treatment of coal was determined to be the most effective in increasing the coal rank. In the XPS analysis, the C–O and C–O–C groups and quaternary-N species were found to be of a lower grade coal when the pretreatment temperature decreased, meanwhile the C–C group and pyridinic species increased. In the FT-IR analysis, the collapse of the C–O and C–O–C group was observed due to the collapse of the ether group. In SEM and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, a decrease in the ether group was shown to be accompanied with the formation of micropores.

Implications Recently, XPS analyses have been reported as coal surface analysis. Usually, they have reported the analysis of the coals with different rank. This study investigated the coal surface characteristics of the coals pretreated at different temperature using various analyses (BET, SEM, XPS, FT-IR), and this study can be the basis for other research and applications.     

Assessment and distribution of antimony in soils around three coal mines, Anhui, China

Thirty-three soil samples were collected from the Luling, Liuer, and Zhangji coal mines in the Huaibei and Huainan areas of Anhui Province, China. The samples were analyzed for antimony (Sb) by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method. The average Sb content in the 33 samples was 4 mg kg(-1), which is lower than in coals from this region (6.2 mg kg(-1)). More than 75% of the soils sampled showed a significant degree of Sb pollution (enrichment factors [EFs] 5-20). The soils collected near the gob pile and coal preparation plant were higher in Sb content than those collected from residential areas near the mines. The gob pile and tailings from the preparation plant were high in mineral matter content and high in Sb. They are the sources of Sb pollution in surface soils in the vicinity of coal mines. The spatial dispersion of Sb in surface soil in the mine region shows that Sb pollution could reach out as far as 350 m into the local environment conditions. Crops in rice paddies may adsorb some Sb and reduce the Sb content in soils from paddyfields. Vertical distribution of Sb in two soil profiles indicates that Sb is normally relatively immobile in soils.     

稻壳基活性炭的制备及其对亚甲基蓝吸附的研究

以稻壳为原料,采用K2CO3活化法和H3P04活化法制备了比表面积为1312m^2／g和682m^2／g的活性炭,通过扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、X-射线衍射仪（XRD）对样品进行了表征,并将孔隙发达的活性炭样品用于对亚甲基蓝的吸附,结果表明,K2CO3活化法制备的活性炭样品具有更多的微孔结构;随着亚甲基蓝溶液初始浓度的增加、活性炭吸附时间的延长,亚甲基蓝的去除率呈现逐渐降低和逐渐增大的变化规律,当pH值为6时,活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附效果最佳;稻壳基活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附等温线符合Langmuir模型,Qm最高可达476．2mg／g;热力学参数△G^0△H^0和△S^0均为负值,表明稻壳基活性炭对亚甲基蓝的吸附是一个自发的放热反应。     

Bacteria inactivation by sulfate radical: progress and non-negligible disinfection by-products

● Status of inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms by SO₄^•− is reviewed. ● Mechanism of SO₄^•− disinfection is outlined. ● Possible generation of DBPs during disinfection using SO₄^•− is discussed. ● Possible problems and challenges of using SO₄^•− for disinfection are presented. Sulfate radicals have been increasingly used for the pathogen inactivation due to their strong redox ability and high selectivity for electron-rich species in the last decade. The application of sulfate radicals in water disinfection has become a very promising technology. However, there is currently a lack of reviews of sulfate radicals inactivated pathogenic microorganisms. At the same time, less attention has been paid to disinfection by-products produced by the use of sulfate radicals to inactivate microorganisms. This paper begins with a brief overview of sulfate radicals’ properties. Then, the progress in water disinfection by sulfate radicals is summarized. The mechanism and inactivation kinetics of inactivating microorganisms are briefly described. After that, the disinfection by-products produced by reactions of sulfate radicals with chlorine, bromine, iodide ions and organic halogens in water are also discussed. In response to these possible challenges, this article concludes with some specific solutions and future research directions.     

Antecedents of early career stage mentoring among Chinese employees

This study examined the mediating influence of protege‐initiated mentoring relationships on the relationship between personality and situational characteristics and mentoring received. Data were obtained from Hong Kong Chinese graduate employees (N=184) in their early career stage. Results of the regression analysis showed that protege‐initiated mentoring relationships mediated the relationship between the personality (extraversion) but not the situational (individual development culture and opportunities for interactions on the job) characteristics and mentoring received. In other words, extraversion was indirectly related to mentoring received through protege‐initiated mentoring relationships but individual development culture and opportunities for interactions on the job were directly related to mentoring received. Additionally, opportunities for interactions on the job indirectly influenced mentoring received through protege‐initiated mentoring relationships. Limitations of the study, implications of the findings and directions for future research are discussed. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of injury mechanism of the elderly and non-elderly groups in minor motor vehicle accidents

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the injury patterns of noncatastrophic accidents by individual age groups.

Methods: Data were collected from the Korean In-Depth Accident Study database based on actual accident investigation. The noncatastrophic criteria were classified according to U.S. experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for field triage guidelines of high-risk automobile crash criteria by vehicle intrusions more than 12 in. on occupant sites (including the roof) and more than 18 in. on any site. The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) was used to determine injury patterns for each body region. Severely injured patients were classified as Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) 3 or higher.

Results: In this study, the most significant injury regions were the head and neck, extremities, and thorax. In addition, the incidence of severe injury among elderly patients was nearly 1.6 times higher than that of non-elderly patients. According to age group, injured body regions among the elderly were the thorax, head and neck, and extremities, in that order. For the non-elderly groups, these were head and neck, extremities, and thorax. Severe injury rates were slightly different for the elderly group (head and neck, abdomen) and non-elderly group (thorax, head and neck).

Conclusions: In both age groups, the rate of severe injury is proportional to an increase in crush extent zone. Front airbag deployment may have a relatively significant relationship to severe injuries.     

基于M-CM的建筑施工企业现场安全管理成熟度评价

为了有效提高建筑施工企业现场安全管理的效率,使企业能够明确自身现场安全管理的状况,保证安全管理的有序进行,借鉴项目管理成熟度模型(K-PMMM)和软件成熟度模型(CMM),构建建筑施工企业现场安全管理成熟度评价指标体系。考虑指标之间的关联性和评价过程的模糊性、随机性,同时使调查问卷统计数据的信息量得到充分表达,分别运用测量模型确定评价指标的权重和云模型进行成熟度评价,构建基于测量-云模型(M-CM)的建筑施工企业现场安全管理成熟度评价模型,并利用MATLAB进行仿真分析。将模型应用到实际建筑工程项目中,结果表明,该工程项目的成熟度等级为可管理级,评价结果与现场实际情况相吻合。     

Groundwater pollution source apportionment using principal component analysis in a multiple land-use area in southwestern China

Identification of different pollution sources in groundwater is challenging, especially in areas with diverse land uses and receiving multiple inputs. In this study, principal component analysis (PCA) was combined with geographic information system (GIS) to explore the spatial and temporal variation of groundwater quality and to identify the sources of pollution and main factors governing the quality of groundwater in a multiple land-use area in southwestern China. Groundwater samples collected from 26 wells in 2012 and 38 wells in 2018 were analyzed for 13 water quality parameters. The PCA results showed that the hydro-geochemical process was the predominant factor determining groundwater quality, followed by agricultural activities, domestic sewage discharges, and industrial sewage discharges. Agriculture expansion from 2012 to 2018 resulted in increased apportionment of agricultural pollution. In contrast, economic restructure and infrastructure improvement reduced the contributions of domestic sewage and industrial pollution. Anthropogenic activities were found the major causes of elevated nitrogen concentrations (NO₃^?, NO₂^?, NH₄⁺) in groundwater, highlighting the necessity of controlling N sources through effective fertilizer managements in agricultural areas and reducing sewage discharges in urban areas. The applications of GIS and PCA successfully identified the sources of pollutants and major factors driving the variations of groundwater quality in tested years.

     

Submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor for low-concentration domestic sewage treatment: performance and membrane fouling

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) was used to treat low-concentration domestic sewage. The effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT)...