Nitrogen removal from urban stormwater runoff through layered bioretention columns.

Bioretention is a low-impact technology used for the treatment of stormwater runoff in developed areas. The fates of mineral nitrogen compounds in two bioretention columns (RP1 and RP2) with different media-layering characteristics were investigated under multiple loadings of simulated urban runoff. The immediate capture of nitrogen was evaluated, with nitrogen transformation reactions that occurred during the drying periods between rainfall events. A greater proportion of ammonium was removed from runoff in RP2 (68 +/- 16%), which had a high permeability layer over a lower permeability layer, than in RP1 (12 +/- 6%), which had the inverse configuration. Both column systems demonstrated nitrate export (9 +/- 32% and 54 +/- 22% greater than input for RP1 and RP2, respectively), attributed to washout of nitrate resulting from nitrification processes between runoff loading events. Bioretention media with a less permeable bottom soil layer could form an anoxic/anaerobic zone for promoting nitrification/denitrification processes.     

Status of waste tires’ recycling for material and energy resources in Taiwan

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Motor vehicles are indicative of transportation facilities in every country. In this regard, tires are important commodities of domestic and...     

Prenatal diagnosis and treatment of fetal long QT syndrome: a case report

We report a case of a fetus presenting with bradycardia, intermittent atrioventricular (AV) block, ventricular tachycardia (VT) and the signs of fetal congestive heart failure (ascites and scrotal hydrocele) during mid-gestation. Prenatal treatment with β-adrenergic blocker (propranolol) and digitalis glycosides was prescribed because of suspicion of long QT syndrome occurring with fetal congestive heart failure. The male baby was born at 39 weeks of gestation and showed a prolonged QT interval (QTc = 492 ms) and frequent variable AV block or alternating left and right bundle branch block, depending on the atrial rate. Prenatal administration of lidocaine failed to correct the fetal VT. Conversely, propranolol decreased the attack frequency of fetal VT. Postnatal administration of the K⁺ channel opener (nicorandil) successfully shortened the QT interval and improved the outcome. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Frontal zone analysis at the mouth of Saanich Inlet,British Columbia,Canada

The presence of a biological front at the mouth of an inlet (fjord) on the coast of British Columbia, Canada was established. The presence of the biological front was consistent with physical predictions based on water velocity and depth. The frontal zone was characterized by a high primary productivity and surface chlorophyll. From spectral analysis of data the zone was found to fluctuate under tidal influence so that observations made at a single point showed a 14-d cycle in chlorophyll maxima which was about 180° out of phase with maxima in tidal exchange.     

周期性变温对紫色土有机碳矿化的影响

在自然状态下,土壤外界的环境温度日变化明显,并呈周期性波动,然而目前有关这种周期性变温如何影响土壤有机碳(SOC)矿化尚无统一观点.为此,以西南地区广泛分布的紫色土为供试对象,采用室内模拟培养的方法,开展周期性变温对其有机碳矿化的影响.培养试验涉及温度和水分两个因子,其中,温度设有4个模式,分别为3个恒温(15、20和25℃)、1个周期性变温(15/25℃变温);水分设有2个梯度,分别为70%WHC和淹水.在66 d培养期内,好气和淹水条件下,变温(15/25℃变温)培养的紫色土SOC累积矿化量和矿化强度与恒温20℃无明显差异,这表明可用20℃恒温来评估变温(15/25℃) SOC矿化的影响效应.此外,除恒温15℃,各温度处理均表现为淹水培养的紫色土有机碳累积矿化量显著高于好气(70%WHC)培养(P 0. 05).在变温条件下,土壤微生物量碳含量与紫色土有机碳矿化速率之间无显著相关.结合矿化动力学分析可知,淹水条件能有效增加紫色土的易分解碳库大小,但变温不能有效影响紫色土的易分解碳库大小.