Influence of low molecular weight anionic ligands on the sorption of heavy metals by soil constituents: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The sorption of heavy metals by soil constituents reduces the absorption of these pollutants by crops and vegetables, and thus limit food contamination. Low...     

Oxidant or catalyst for oxidation? The role of manganese oxides in the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS)

Manganese oxides (MnO_x) have been demonstrated to be effective materials to activate Oxone (i.e., PMS) to degrade various contaminants. However, the contribution of direct oxidation by MnO_x to the total contaminant degradation under acidic conditions was often neglected in the published work, which has resulted in different and even conflicting interpretations of the reaction mechanisms. Here, the role of MnO_x (as both oxidants and catalysts) in the activation of Oxone was briefly discussed. The findings offered new insights into the reaction mechanisms in PMS-MnO_x and provided a more accurate approach to examine contaminant degradation for water/wastewater treatment.     

Reconsideration on the effect of nitrogen on mixed culture polyhydroxyalkanoate production toward high organic loading enrichment history

Effect of nitrogen on mixed culture PHA production was reconsidered. Enrichment history of PHA accumulating culture was discussed. Higher PHA content and biomass growth were achieved in presence of nitrogen. Enrichment strategy toward higher PHA accumulation was investigated. Microbial community succession in PHA accumulation phase was investigated. In most of the operating strategies for mixed microbial cultures polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production, moderate organic loads and low nitrogen concentrations are used, however, the real waste streams contain variable concentrations of carbon and nitrogen. To evaluate the effect of enrichment history on PHA producer and production the various carbon and nitrogen levels were utilized during the accumulation phase. Different operating strategies were applied in three sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) subjected to aerobic dynamic feeding. The maximum PHA production of the enriched cultures under nutrient excess, limitation and starvation (Cmol/Nmol ratio of 8, 40 and ∞, respectively) was evaluated in batch assays. A higher PHA content and biomass growth were achieved in the nutrients presence in comparison to the nutrient starvation condition. The cultures from the SBR treated under short sludge retention time, high organic loading rate, short cycle length (SBR#3) and nutrient excess reached the maximum PHA content (54.9%) and biomass increase (38.9%). Under nutrient limitation, the negative biomass growth was observed under nutrient starvation because of the sampling loss. The succession of microbial communities in SBRs and batch assays was analyzed using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. The SBR#3 had the best overall PHA production performance considering its high PHA content and productivity in all nutrient content, it indicates that nitrogen has a substantial impact on PHA yield especially when high organic loading rate enrichment history is involved.     

基于非线性能量阱的悬吊摆对输电塔-振动控制的研究

针对输电塔结构在地震作用下动力响应过大的问题,提出一种基于非线性能量阱的悬吊摆以降低输电塔的动力响应。首先利用拉格朗日方程推导了这种悬吊摆的运动方程,再以一单自由度结构为例,建立了摆式非线性能量阱—结构的动力方程,计算了摆式非线性能量阱在正弦激励下的减振效果,并对正弦激励周期、悬吊摆周期、立方刚度、质量比等参数对减振效果的影响进行了分析。最后选取一柔性输电塔为例,研究了不同地震作用下摆式非线性能量阱的减振效果,并与传统的悬吊质量摆和线性弹簧摆进行对比。结果表明,在地震作用下,摆式非线性能量阱对输电塔动力响应的峰值和均值都有较好的减振效果。     

浅覆地层盾构开挖面被动破坏极限支护力及破坏模式研究

浅覆地层盾构掘进时支护力过大极易导致开挖面前方土体发生被动破坏,造成地表隆起。基于筒仓理论,通过优化传统三维楔形体模型,建立楔形块+倒棱台的土体被动破坏三维计算模型(修正三维楔形体模型),并推导被动极限支护力计算公式;对不同埋深下滑动破裂角β分析研究;采用有限元分析软件MIDAS-GTS对盾构隧道开挖面的被动破坏进行模拟,揭示被动破坏支护力变化规律及破坏模式。结果表明:本文研究计算模型更符合开挖面土体被动破坏模式;通过对破裂角β分析,解析土体被动破坏时其最优解30°左右;在浅覆盾构开挖面中,揭示S/(γD)受土体内摩擦角φ、埋深比K的影响,文中S/(γD)随内摩擦角φ的增大呈非线性增加,埋深比K越大,其幅度越明显;破坏模式分析中,K越小,土体位移变形对S/(γD)越敏感,越容易发生开挖面被动破坏;发生被动破坏时,土体纵向位移变形大于横向位移变形。     

Do trace metal(loid)s in road soils pose health risks to tourists? A case of a highly-visited national park in China

Nowadays, more people tend to spend their recreational time in large national parks, and trace metal(loid)s in soils have attracted long-term attention due to their possible harm to human health. To investigate the pollution levels, potential sources and health risks of trace metal(loid)s in road soils, a total of eight trace metal(loid)s (including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) from 47 soil samples along roads were studied in the Huangshan National Park in Southeast China. The results showed that the concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Zn and Hg appeared different degrees of pollution compared with their corresponding background values. According to the pollution indices, Hg and Cd were recognized as significant pollutants presenting moderate to high ecological risk. Combining principal component analysis and positive matrix factorization model, the results showed that traffic, industrial, agricultural and natural sources were the potential origins of trace metal(loid)s in this area, with contribution rates of 39.93%, 25.92%, 10.53% and 23.62%, respectively. Non-carcinogenic risks were all negligible, while the carcinogenic risk of As was higher than the limit (1 $\times$ 10⁻⁶). Moreover, children were more susceptible to trace metal(loid)s by ingestion which appeared to be a more important exposure pathway than dermal contact and inhalation. The contribution rates of different sources to non-carcinogenic risks and carcinogenic risks were similar among children and adults, while traffic and industrial sources have a significant impact on health risks. This study will give more insights to control the environmental risks of trace metal(loid)s in national parks.     

Physiological responses involved in cadmium tolerance in a high-cadmium-accumulating rice (Oryza sativa L.) line

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The disparity of tolerance in plants in response to Cd stress is associated with multiple physiological processes. A pot experiment was conducted to...     

Effectiveness of a physical activity program on weight,physical fitness,occupational stress,job satisfaction and quality of life of overweight employees in high-tech industries: a randomized controlled study

Introduction. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a physical activity (PA) program on weight control, physical fitness, occupational stress, job satisfaction and quality of life of overweight and sedentary employees in high-tech industries. Methods. Participants in the intervention group (n?=?37) were instructed to carry out a PA program at moderate intensity for 60?min/session, 3 sessions/week for 12 weeks. Those in the control group (n?=?38) received no PA program and were asked to continue their routine lifestyle. Evaluations were performed at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Results of structured questionnaires and blood biochemistry tests and evaluations of physical fitness were analyzed. Results. The PA program effectively reduced the number of risk factors for metabolic syndrome and body fat percentage, and improved physical fitness such as flexibility, muscular strength and endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance. The intervention also significantly decreased levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Significant positive effects on work control, interpersonal relationships at work, global job satisfaction and quality of life were also demonstrated. Conclusion. This study showed that a PA program can be helpful in improving physical, physiological and psychological outcomes for overweight and sedentary employees in high-tech industries.