Child passenger injury risk in motor vehicle crashes: a comparison of nighttime and daytime driving by teenage and adult drivers

INTRODUCTION: To examine the association between child passenger injury risk, restraint use, and crash time (day vs. night) for children in crashes of vehicles driven by teenage versus adult drivers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving telephone interviews with insured drivers in a probability sample of 6,184 crashes involving 10,028 children. RESULTS: Child passengers in teen nighttime crashes had an increased injury risk and an increased risk of restraint nonuse compared with those in teen daytime crashes. This increased injury risk can be explained by differences in the age of child passengers, collision type, and child passenger's restraint status associated with time of day. CONCLUSIONS: In order to limit the risk of injury to child passengers driven by teens, Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws should include provisions restricting nighttime driving, as well as mandates for age-appropriate restraint for child passengers. Consideration should also be given for education in child passenger safety for novice teen drivers as part of the licensing process. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Results of this study can be used to support advocacy efforts by the automotive industry and others to promote nighttime driving restrictions on novice drivers. In addition, given that both driver groups were more likely to be involved in a single-vehicle collision during the night, technologies such as electronic stability control may offer opportunities for protection. Further reseach on specific circumstances of teen nighttime crashes is needed to inform industry efforts to improve visibility or vehicle operation under poor lighting conditions.     

Effects of combustion and operating conditions on PCDD/PCDF emissions from power boilers burning salt-laden wood waste

This paper discusses the effects of combustion conditions on PCDD/PCDF emissions from pulp and paper power boilers burning salt-laden wood waste. We found no correlation between PCDD/PCDF emissions and carbon monoxide emissions. A good correlation was, however, observed between PCDD/PCDF emissions and the concentration of stack polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the absence of TDF addition. Thus, poor combustion conditions responsible for the formation of products of incomplete combustion (PICs), such as PAHs and PCDD/PCDF precursors, increase PCDD/PCDF emissions. PAH concentrations increased with higher boiler load and/or low oxygen concentrations at the boiler exit, probably because of lower available residence times and insufficient excess air. Our findings are consistent with the current understanding that high ash carbon content generally favours heterogeneous reactions leading to either de novo synthesis of PCDD/PCDFs or their direct formation from precursors. We also found that, in grate-fired boilers, a linear increase in the grate/lower furnace temperature produces an exponential decrease in PCDD/PCDF emissions. Although the extent of this effect appears to be mill-specific, particularly at low temperatures, the results indicate that increasing the combustion temperature may decrease PCDD/PCDF emissions. It must be noted, however, that there are other variables, such as elevated ESP and stack temperatures, a high hog salt content, the presence of large amounts of PICs and a high Cl/S ratio, which contribute to higher PCDD/PCDFs emissions. Therefore, higher combustion temperatures, by themselves, will not necessarily result in low PCDD/PCDFs emissions.     

降温过程对ANAMMOX工艺城市污水处理系统中微生物群落的影响

厌氧氨氧化是污水脱氮工艺中的重要环节,系统中的菌群结构决定了其处理效果.低温厌氧氨氧化技术因节省大量能源更具有良好的发展前景,厌氧氨氧化细菌在其中起着至关重要的作用.为了探讨降温过程中(由30℃降为20℃时)厌氧氨氧化反应器处理城市污水时微生物群落的变化,利用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA),定量PCR和PCR-DGGE分析方法对城市生活污水厌氧氨氧化系统中的微生物的量、厌氧氨氧化菌的量以及功能微生物菌群的变化进行了研究.磷脂脂肪酸分析结果显示当温度由30℃降为20℃时,微生物的总量首先降低,随着运行时间的延续逐渐升高.定量PCR结果显示厌氧氨氧化菌16S rRNA基因拷贝数由30℃的1.19×108m L-1增至20℃的1.86×108m L-1,系统出水氨氮降低.PCR-DGGE结果显示降温过程中颗粒污泥中厌氧氨氧化菌群由Candidatus Kuenenia sp.为主,转变为Candidatus Brocadia sp.和Candidatus Kuenenia sp.为主的混合菌.     

大都市郊区工业用地减量化适宜性评价方法与实证

工业用地减量化是节约集约用地管理制度下大都市用地转型的必然,也是地方实践在土地整治领域的创新尝试。论文建立大都市郊区工业用地减量化适宜性评价方法,以上海市浦东新区大团镇为例,客观评价其减量化的适宜等级。研究结果表明：1）工业用地减量化的5个影响因素中,污染与能耗因素值差异最大,布局合理性因素值差异最小,主体意愿性因素的空间分布差异最明显;2）218个工业地块划分成5个适宜度等级,随着适宜度提高,相应工业地块零星程度加剧,地块平均规模由适宜度一级的9 507 m²逐渐下降至五级的3 300 m²;3）一级适宜占24.06%,二级适宜占21.51%,三级适宜占29.45%,四级适宜占12.63%,五级适宜占12.35%。适宜等级所占面积的分布接近于正态 分布特征。研究结论：论文所建立方法可作为大都市郊区工业用地退出的评估工具,有助于提高工业用地减量化的统筹协调性。     

First application of preimplantation genetic diagnosis to neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2)

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a dominantly inherited cancer predisposition syndrome that is caused bymutations in the NF2 gene. We report here the first clinical preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) forNF2. A protocol was developed to simultaneously amplify the mutation and a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located within the gene. The mutation and polymorphism were analysed by simultaneous fluorescent single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) on an automated DNA sequencer. The mutation, carried by the male partner, was a single base pair substitution affecting a splice site in intron 4 of the gene. The female partner was infertile due to polycystic ovary syndrome and would require IVF to conceive. The couple was found to be informative at a linked intragenic SNP situated in the 5′ untranslated region of the gene. The SNP was included in the assay to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis due to allele dropout (ADO). The couple underwent three cycles of treatment during which a total of 43 blastomeres were biopsied from 31 embryos. Amplification at both loci was obtained in 35 cells (81%). A total of five embryos were transferred, two in the first cycle, two in the second and one in the third. No pregnancy ensued. The results of the diagnoses indicated that, in this couple, the inheritance of the mutation may be non-Mendelian. Out of a total of 32 embryos tested only four were found not to carry the mutation. The reasons for this apparent skew remain unknown. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

脱氮菌剂在低溶解氧黑臭水体中氮代谢特征

研究在低溶解氧浓度下氨化细菌、硝化细菌、反硝化细菌氮代谢能力,明确不同菌剂脱氮效率和氮转化关系,为大湾区黑臭水体治理提供理论依据.通过不同菌剂浓度和不同底物浓度,检测筛选出的氨化细菌(Staphylococcus sp. Ay)、硝化细菌(Microbacterium sp. Xw)和反硝化细菌(Arthrobacter sp. Fy)制成的菌剂在污水处理厂排放的水中的氮代谢特征;然后在低溶解氧条件下,研究不同Ay、Xw和Fy菌剂浓度在同浓度黑臭水体中氮代谢变化情况、以及相同菌剂浓度在不同浓度黑臭水体中的氮代谢特征.结果表明:Ay菌剂细菌浓度增加3倍,氨化效率没有成倍增加,说明增加氨化细菌浓度不是增加氨化速率的最佳方法; Xw菌剂对硝态氮浓度变化影响显著,低菌剂浓度条件下60 h硝态氮浓度增加180%,高菌剂浓度为231%,Fy反硝化效率较高,在较低浓度下能很快去除硝态氮.总氮浓度的适当提高可以增加Ay菌剂的氨化效率,过高会抑制Ay菌剂的氮氮代谢效率.Xw菌剂硝态氮的生成率在总氮浓度25 mg·L~(-1)条件下达到最好效果,浓度提高3 736%; Fy菌剂对氨氮去除效果不明显.总氮浓度为25 mg·L~(-1)时,Fy菌剂对硝态氮的去除达到最好效果.得出:氨化细菌和反硝化细菌原菌剂直接投加,氮代谢速率较高,硝化细菌菌剂浓度增加,可以提高硝态氮生成速率.在一定范围内,增加底物浓度可以增加菌剂氮代谢效率,浓度过高将抑制氮代谢效果,可为大湾区黑臭水体问题的解决提供数据支持.     

Pb,Cd, Zn and cu intakes of Taiwanese subjects ‐ a duplicate portion study

Thirty diet samples from three different social groups were collected both in summer and in winter seasons using duplicate portion technique with three collection days. Toxic element concentrations, including Pb, Cd, as well as some essential elements were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The average dietary intakes of Taiwanese were estimated as follows (means ± S.D., n = 30): Mg, 175 ± 77 mg/day; Zn, 9.5 ± 11.4 mg/day; Mn, 2.8 ± 1.3 mg/day; Cu, 1.6±1.7mg/day; Ni, 0.13 ± 0.14 mg/day; Cd, 58 ± 62 μg/day, and Pb, 31 ±26 μg/day. The obtained elemental concentrations were scattered due to different dietary habits and cooking methods. In addition, a strong correlation arose between the trace element concentrations in agricultural products and in the diet of regional areas of Taiwan. Analysis results indicated that average intakes are consistently below current US Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for Mg and Zn, within the recommended safe and adequate RDA for Mn, and below the FAO/WHO Provisional Tolerable Daily Intakes (PTDIs) for Pb. The average daily intakes of Cd by regional area of Taiwan markedly exceeded those of other countries and the PTI value during the summer.     

Hybrid Bottom Line: another perspective on the sustainability of organizations

In recent years, there has been a growing concern and an increasing number of proactive initiatives from various stakeholders on issues related to the environment, social matters, and economic aspects and this has been the main driving force toward sustainability. However, most players that are deeply involved with environmental and social agendas indicate that these actions have been more of a temporary palliative for the current unsustainability problems than real structural solutions, especially in what concerns the relationship between short-term actions and long-term structural planning. Even though the general literature on sustainability is comprehensive, there is a paucity of papers which look at it at the organizational level, and under a cross-sectoral perspective. This paper is an attempt to address this gap. It presents the concept of ‘Hybrid Bottom Line’ as a new perspective in understanding and sustainability at the organizational level.     

浙江省地方环境标准建设对策

分析了加强地方环境标准建设在弥补国家环境标准建设的不足、增强地方政府环境保护责任、为制定国家环境标准提供实践基础、提高地方执行和实施环境标准的能力等方面的重要意义,总结了浙江省地方环境标准建设现状和存在问题,明确了地方环境标准建设原则和主要内容,并从制定规划、完善地方环境标准管理制度、加强环境标准研究队伍建设等方面提出了加强浙江省地方环境标准建设的建议。     

Individual particle analysis of aerosols collected at Lhasa City in the Tibetan Plateau

To understand the composition and major sources of aerosol particles in Lhasa City on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), individual particles were collected from 2 February to 8 March, 2013 in Tibet University. The mean concentrations of both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ during the sampling were 25.7 ± 21.7 and 57.2 ± 46.7 μg/m³, respectively, much lower than those of other cities in East and South Asia, but higher than those in the remote region in TP like Nam Co, indicating minor urban pollution. Combining the observations with the meteorological parameters and back trajectory analysis, it was concluded that local sources controlled the pollution during the sampling. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with energydispersive X-ray spectra (EDS) was used to study 408 particles sampled on four days. Based on the EDS analysis, a total of 8 different particle categories were classified for all 408 particles, including Si-rich, Ca-rich, soot, K-rich, Fe-rich, Pb-rich, Al-rich and other particles. The dominant elements were Si, Al and Ca, which were mainly attributed to mineral dust in the earth's crust such as feldspar and clay. Fe-, Pb-, K-, Al-rich particles and soot mainly originated from anthropogenic sources like firework combustion and biomass burning during the sampling. During the sampling, the pollution mainly came from mineral dust, while the celebration ceremony and religious ritual produced a large quantity of anthropogenic metal-bearing particles on 9 and 25 February 2013. Cement particles also had a minor influence. The data obtained in this study can be useful for developing pollution control strategies.