137Cs contamination in tea and yerba mate in South America

Gamma-ray spectra from more than 50 samples of food products available in stores of Buenos Aires city were measured using a germanium detector. Activity concentrations of 137Cs up to 10 Bq/kg were found in tea and yerba mate manufactured in Apóstoles, Argentina. Further measurements of tea leaves, yerba mate leaves and soils, all coming from a cultivated area in that region, also show the presence of 137Cs contamination. The results suggest that the area was fertilized with a product that originated in a region affected by the fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident.     

Air bag effectiveness as function of impact speed

An investigation was conducted to estimate the effectiveness of air bags as a function of velocity. The study consisted of three parts: a theoretical idealization, an analysis of National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System (NASS/CDS), and a reanalysis of previously published Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data. The theoretical analysis looked at idealized risk curves as a function of velocity; assuming that the air bag offers a benefit for both belted and unbelted occupants. Analysis of the NASS/CDS data looked at the effectiveness of air bags as a function of velocity for Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) 3+ injuries. The reanalysis of the previously published FARS data looked at the effectiveness of the air bag as a function of velocity for fatalities. The theoretical analysis indicates that the air bag effectiveness should be greatest at the low velocities. The field data analysis of both NASS/CDS and FARS were consistent with the theoretical analysis, indicating that air bags are most effective at the lower velocities, below 40 kph (25 mph), for both belted and unbelted occupants. Although it was not possible to estimate a different effect for belted and unbelted for fatalities using FARS, it was possible for MAIS 3+ using NASS/CDS. For unbelted occupants the effectiveness goes to zero or becomes negative above 40 kph (25 mph) for MAIS 3+, and for belted occupants the effectiveness stays positive but with significantly lower magnitude for speeds above 40 kph (25 mph).     

Assessment of older drivers: relationships among on-road errors, medical conditions and test outcome

PROBLEM: It is essential that driver licensing authorities have a valid and reliable system for evaluating older drivers' continuing competency; road tests are usually required as part of such a system. This study sought to find information about the nature of driving errors made during license review tests, and about relationships between error type and test outcome for older drivers. METHOD: Data from licensing authority files from 533 road tests during a 12-month period were analyzed; medical and other referral information was included. Average driver age was 76 years. Performance scores were generated for intersection negotiation, lane changing, low speed manoeuvres, positioning and speed control, safety margin, and car control. RESULTS: Logistic regression analysis showed that test outcome was well predicted by a subset of driving performance scores; adding driver age to the model explained very little variance. Age alone was strongly associated with outcome. Relationships between referral information and test outcome are also reported. IMPACT: Results highlight several factors relevant to the development of more valid and reliable road tests for older drivers.     

Assessment of the leaching of metallic elements in the technology of solidification in aqueous solution

Results are presented of experiments performed to optimize the solidification/stabilization system for metallic elements in aqueous solution. This system involves mixing cement and a solution of metallic elements in a conventional mixer: the paste thus obtained is transferred drop by drop into a recipient filled with an aqueous solution of NaOH at 20% by weight, in which it solidifies immediately. The separate use of chloride solutions of Li+, Cr3+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ makes it possible to obtain granules displaying various levels of compressive strength. Three different inertization matrices were used in the experiments, the first consisting solely of Portland cement, the second of Portland cement and a superplasticizer additive, and the third of Portland cement partially replaced with silica-fume and superplasticizer. The results of the tests performed showed a very low level of leaching into the alkaline solidification solution for Cr3+, the quantity leached being under 2% as against higher levels for the other metallic elements. For all the considered elements, the best results were obtained by using silica-fume in the inertization matrix.     

呼和浩特强对流天气的数值模拟分析

利用三维积云数值模式模拟了呼和浩特地区强对流天气的发展过程，并结合实时雷达回波资料进行了对比分析，指出模式输出的部分物理量与理论值、雷达回波或地面天气及降雹（水）实况符合得较好。从对模式输出的几个物理量的统计分析，得出利用三维积云数值模式预测强冰雹过程的概念模型。结果表明，三维积云数值模式能用于模拟对流云特别是强对流云的发展过程，可在人工影响天气业务工作中应用并不断发展。     

在线衍生化吹扫捕集-气相色谱/质谱分析水中的五氯酚

建立了通过乙酸酐衍生化-吹扫捕集-气相色谱／质谱分析水中五氯酚的新方法，探讨了吹扫时间、样品池温度、离子强度以及衍生化试剂的加入量等条件对捕集效果的影响。结果表明：采用吹扫时间25min、样品池温度60℃、离子强度20％氯化钠以及衍生化试剂的量200μl等条件对水中的五氯酚有较好的捕集效果，用于水中五氯酚的测定，结果满意。     

Dynamic of functional microbial groups during mesophilic composting of agro-industrial wastes and free-living (N2)-fixing bacteria application

Although several reports are available concerning the composition and dynamics of the microflora during the composting of municipal solid wastes, little is known about the microbial diversity during the composting of agro-industrial refuse. For this reason, the first parts of this study included the quantification of microbial generic groups and of the main functional groups of C and N cycle during composting of agro-industrial refuse. After a generalized decrease observed during the initial phases, a new bacterial growth was observed in the final phase of the process. Ammonifiers and (N₂)-fixing aerobic groups predominated outside of the piles whereas, nitrate-reducing group increased inside the piles during the first 23 days of composting. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), showed an opposite trend of growth since ammonia oxidation decreased with the increase of the nitrite oxidation activity. Pectinolytics, amylolytics and aerobic cellulolytic were present in greater quantities and showed an upward trend in both the internal and external part of the heaps.Several free-living (N₂)-fixing bacteria were molecularly identify as belonging especially to uncommon genera of nitrogen-fixing bacteria as Stenotrophomonas, Xanthomonas, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Alcaligenes, Achromobacter and Caulobacter. They were investigated for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen to employ as improvers of quality of compost. Some strains of Azotobacter chrococcum and Azotobacter salinestris were also tested. When different diazotrophic bacterial species were added in compost, the increase of total N ranged from 16% to 27% depending on the selected microbial strain being used. Such microorganisms may be used alone or in mixtures to provide an allocation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in soil.     

Using non-equilibrium biosorption column modelling for improved process efficiency

An unsteady-state biosorption column model in one space variable is considered in this paper. The theoretical study is motivated by the need for predicting the dependent variables of biosorption columns for removal of heavy metals from wastewater, which is potentially an important technology in cleaner production. Pollutant concentrations in the bulk phase, in the liquid filling the pores and in the solid biomass along the axial coordinate of the column were evaluated for a wide range of physical and chemical parameters of the global process. In particular, the assumption of instantaneous chemical reactions is replaced by a more realistic expression taking into account chemical kinetics and fluid advection time scales separately. The resulting system of partial differential equations was solved by means of a reliable numerical algorithm based on the method of lines. The data obtained using the model described in this paper are compared with published experimental data and an estimation of the increased efficiency is made.     

草酸对Cr胁迫下李氏禾解毒性能的影响

结合因子分析方法分析了草酸对Cr胁迫下李氏禾解毒性能的影响。研究过氧化氢酶(CAT)、可溶性糖、生长指标的变化情况,并运用因子分析方法筛选出最能表征李氏禾生长特性的指标,进而较科学的研究外源草酸对Cr胁迫下李氏禾解毒性能的影响。Cr质量浓度为0、200、400 mg/kg的土壤中,适当浓度草酸对李氏禾CAT影响表现出极显著差异(P0.01);当土壤中Cr质量浓度200 mg/kg,草酸质量浓度为80、120 mg/kg时,可溶性糖浓度分别比本组对照降低了23.59%、32.65%;株高可作为关键因子的关键变量。外源草酸可以增强李氏禾对Cr的解毒性能且与草酸浓度有关,因子分析方法可以应用于李氏禾研究中。