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.     

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.     

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。     

The expansion process of a Stellera chamaejasme population in a degraded alpine meadow of Northwest China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The expansion of poisonous plants can change vegetation community structures and affect grassland ecosystem service values. Stellera chamaejasme is...     

湿热处理餐厨废弃物不饱和脂肪酸

为了研究湿热水解技术对餐厨废弃物中脂类物质的影响,促进餐厨废弃物的资源化处理利用,通过实验研究,分析了餐厨废弃物固相中油酸、亚油酸、α-亚麻酸和花生四烯酸4种不饱和脂肪酸在90～140℃湿热条件下处理随时间的变化规律。结果表明：实验所取餐厨废弃物经湿热处理后固相中油酸和亚油酸的含量相对较高,约为30％,花生四烯酸的含量较低,约为0．3％,随着加热时间延长,亚油酸在湿热环境下发生化学分解,其含量不断降低,而花生四烯酸的含量显著增加。当加热温度为100～120℃,加热时间为30-60min时,餐厨废弃物脂类含量比较稳定,作为适宜的湿热处理条件。值得注意的是,湿热处理后的餐厨废弃物中花生四烯酸的含量只约为0．3％,不能满足饲料标准中2％的要求。     

Identification and characterization of the atmospheric emission of polychlorinated naphthalenes from electric arc furnaces

Electric arc furnaces (EAF) are well recognized as significant sources of dioxins. EAFs have also been speculated to be sources of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) due to the close correlation between dioxin and PCN formation. However, assessment on PCN emissions from EAFs has not been carried out. The primary aim of this preliminary study is to identify and characterize the atmospheric emission of PCNs from EAFs. In this preliminary study, stack gas samples from two typical EAFs with different scales (EAF-1, 160?t batch(-1); and EAF-2, 60?t batch(-1)) were collected by automatic isokinetic sampling technique, and PCN congeners in samples were analyzed by isotope dilution high-resolution gas chromatography combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry method. Emission concentrations of PCNs were 458 and 1,099?ng?m(-3) for EAF-1 and EAF-2, respectively. The emission factors of PCNs to air were 21.6 and 30.1?ng toxic equivalent t(-1) for EAF-1 and EAF-2, respectively, which suggested that EAF is an important source of PCN release. With regard to the characteristics of PCNs from EAFs, lower chlorinated homologues were dominant. The PCN congeners comprised of CN27/30, CN52/60, CN66/67, and CN73 were the most abundant congeners for tetra-, penta-, hexa-, and hepta-chlorinated homologues, respectively. EAFs were identified to be an important PCN source, and the obtained data are useful for developing a PCN inventory. The congener profiles of PCNs presented here might provide helpful information for identifying the specific sources of PCNs emitted from EAFs.     

Laboratory-scale experiments applied to the design of a two-stage submerged combustion evaporation system

To simulate a submerged combustion evaporation (SCE) process under laboratory conditions, this study conducted three kinds of indirect-heating evaporation experiments, including normal evaporation, vacuum evaporation, and gas-carrying evaporation experiments on mature municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachate. The results showed that the organic concentrations in terms of COD in condensates were always very high at the beginning, then decreased rapidly, and stabilized at a low level, which suggests that only the forepart of vapors need to be safely treated to control the discharge of organic pollutants. This study applied the process in developing a two-stage SCE system, which has been implemented for the treatment of biologically pretreated and concentrated leachate from Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) combined process in the Beishenshu MSW Landfill, Beijing, China. The result shows that the two-stage SCE system can successfully further concentrate refractory organic matter in concentrated leachate and remove volatile organics from the vapor.