Use of ATP Readings to Predict a Successful Hygiene Intervention in the Workplace to Reduce the Spread of Viruses on Fomites

The purpose of this study was to validate the use of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for evaluating hygiene intervention effectiveness in reducing viral dissemination in an office environment. The bacterial virus MS-2 was used to evaluate two scenarios, one where the hand of an individual was contaminated and another where a fomite was contaminated. MS-2 was selected as a model because its shape and size are similar to many human pathogenic viruses. Two separate experiments were conducted, one in which the entrance door push plate was inoculated and the other in which the hand of one selected employee was inoculated. In both scenarios, 54 selected surfaces in the office were tested to assess the dissemination of the virus within the office. Associated surface contamination was also measured employing an ATP meter. More than half of the tested hands and surfaces in the office were contaminated with MS-2 within 4 h. Next, an intervention was conducted, and each scenario was repeated. Half of the participating employees were provided hand sanitizer, facial tissues, and disinfecting wipes, and were instructed in their use. A significant (p < 0.05) reduction was observed in the number of surfaces contaminated with virus. This reduction in viral spread was evident from the results of both viral culture and the surface ATP measurements, although there was no direct correlation between ATP measurements with respect to viral concentration. Although ATP does not measure viruses, these results demonstrate that ATP measurements could be useful for evaluating the effectiveness of hygiene interventions aimed at preventing viral spread in the workplace.     

Simulating soil organic matter with CQESTR (v. 2.0): Model description and validation against long-term experiments across North America

Soil carbon (C) models are important tools for examining complex interactions between climate, crop and soil management practices, and to evaluate the long-term effects of management practices on C-storage potential in soils. CQESTR is a process-based carbon balance model that relates crop residue additions and crop and soil management to soil organic matter (SOM) accretion or loss. This model was developed for national use in U.S and calibrated initially in the Pacific Northwest. Our objectives were: (i) to revise the model, making it more applicable for wider geographic areas including potential international application, by modifying the thermal effect and incorporating soil texture and drainage effects, and (ii) to recalibrate and validate it for an extended range of soil properties and climate conditions. The current version of CQESTR (v. 2.0) is presented with the algorithms necessary to simulate SOM at field scale. Input data for SOM calculation include crop rotation, aboveground and belowground biomass additions, tillage, weather, and the nitrogen content of crop residues and any organic amendments. The model was validated with long-term data from across North America. Regression analysis of 306 pairs of predicted and measured SOM data under diverse climate, soil texture and drainage classes, and agronomic practices at 13 agricultural sites having a range of SOM (7.3–57.9 g SOM kg⁻¹), resulted in a linear relationship with an r² of 0.95 (P < 0.0001) and a 95% confidence interval of 4.3 g SOM kg⁻¹. Using the same data the version 1.0 of CQESTR had an r² of 0.71 with a 95% confidence interval of 5.5 g SOM kg⁻¹. The model can be used as a tool to predict and evaluate SOM changes from various management practices and offers the potential to estimate C accretion required for C credits.     

Pollution havens and industrial agglomeration

This paper examines the pollution haven hypothesis using a spatial-economy model of two countries and two sectors. The manufacturing sector generates cross-border pollution which reduces cross-sectoral productivity of agricultural goods, and lowers local income. We derive a demand-reducing effect that discourages firms to move to the country with laxer environmental regulations, in the absence of any comparative advantage. Our analysis also demonstrates that manufacturing agglomeration forces can alleviate the pollution-haven effect: a pollution haven may not arise if environmental regulation is slightly more stringent in the larger country.     

鄱阳湖及周边经济区土壤镉的含量与分布

采用双层网格布点法,在研究区分别采集表层和深层土壤样品9829和2467个,测定了样品的镉含量和pH值。表层土壤镉含量呈对数正态分布,含镉范围0.024~4.619mg/kg,宜用几何平均值0.157mg/kg表征其平均含量。深层土壤镉含量显著低于表层,含量范围0.010~1.982mg/kg,算术平均值和几何平均值分别为0.098mg/kg和0.080mg/kg。研究区7地市表层土壤镉含量几何平均值较30年前上升34.6%~165%。据《土壤环境质量标准GB15618-1995》,以镉为评价指标时,研究区以Ⅰ类土壤为主,分布面积占总面积的78.36%,次为Ⅱ类土壤、分布面积占总面积的15.92%,Ⅲ类和劣Ⅲ类土壤仅占总面积的5.72%,显示土壤环境质量良好,但仍须采取有效措施遏制镉污染的迅猛发展。     

寒冷地区分散性生活污水处理适用技术推荐

寒冷的气候条件制约着我国北方地区分散性生活污水处理技术的发展。针对北方地区气候条件及经济技术条件,结合国内外研究成果及相关工程实例,对3种污水处理技术进行分析,得出2种适合寒冷地区分散性生活污水处理的实用技术:厌氧滤池/生物接触氧化池净化槽组合、厌氧滤池/人工湿地处理技术组合。     

太阳能干燥器的性能测试与研究

对于太阳能干燥器的性能测试实验,本文采用红色朝天椒作为实验对象。实验表明,辣椒在烘干抽屉中的堆积厚度在2cm到6cm之间时,辣椒的干燥速率并不受到太大影响,而辣椒厚度再继续增加的时候,干燥速率开始明显下降。而热风温度越高,辣椒的干燥速率则明显加快。太阳能干燥设备相对自然晾晒提高了卫生条件和产品品质,与其他干燥设备相比,具有节能、低碳、低成本等优势。     

Density functional theory (DFT) studies of vanadium-titanium based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts

Based on density functional theory (DFT) and basic structure models, the chemical reactions on the surface of vanadium-titanium based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) denitrification catalysts were summarized. Reasonable structural models (non-periodic and periodic structural models) are the basis of density functional calculations. A periodic structure model was more appropriate to represent the catalyst surface, and its theoretical calculation results were more comparable with the experimental results than a non-periodic model. It is generally believed that the SCR mechanism where NH₃ and NO react to produce N₂ and H₂O follows an Eley-Rideal type mechanism. NH₂NO was found to be an important intermediate in the SCR reaction, with multiple production routes. Simultaneously, the effects of H₂O, SO₂ and metal on SCR catalysts were also summarized.     

In situ preparation of g-C3N4/Bi4O5I2 complex and its elevated photoactivity in Methyl Orange degradation under visible light

A graphite carbon nitride(g-C₃N₄) modified Bi₄O₅I₂ composite was successfully prepared insitu via the thermal treatment of a g-C₃N₄/Bi OI precursor at 400°C for 3 hr.The as-prepared g-C₃N₄/Bi₄O₅I₂ showed high photocatalytic performance in Methyl Orange(MO) degradation under visible light.The best sample presented a degradation rate of 0.164 min^-1,which is...     

取代苯甲酸在天然河流中的生物降解及其定量结构--生物降解性相关研究

以天然河流水作为微生物源 ,采用碘量法测定了 2 0种苯甲酸类化合物的 5日生化需氧量 ,并以其占理论需氧量的百分数作为表征生物降解性的参数 ,得出各类取代苯甲酸类化合物的生物降解能力为 :羟基 >氨基 >羧基 >甲氧基 >氯基 >硝基 ;对于同一种取代基 ,对位取代基化合物生物降解能力最大 ,而邻位、间位取代基化合物生物降解能力大体相同。计算了苯甲酸类化合物的分子连接性指数 ,并以 5日生化需氧量占理论需氧量的百分数为参数建立了 QSBR模型。分析结果表明 ,分子连接性指数5Xvpc、5Xp- 5Xvp 能较好地反映取代苯甲酸的生物降解性