UV/NO3-光化学降解水中的磺胺甲恶唑

本文研究了UV/NO₃^-体系对水中磺胺甲恶唑（SMX）的降解;考察了NO₃^-用量、pH值、SMX初始浓度、水体成分中常见的无机阴离子（Cl^-、SO₄^2-和HCO₃^-）和天然有机物（NOM）对SMX去除的影响;最后探讨了SMX在该体系中的降解产物和转化机理.结果表明：相比于单独UV,UV/NO₃^-对SMX的去除效果更优,这可能归因于UV激发NO₃^-产生的羟基自由基（HO^·）,通过加入HO^·淬灭剂甲醇,有力地证明了体系中HO^·的存在及其对SMX的降解作用.SMX在UV/NO₃^-体系中的降解符合准一级反应动力学.SMX的去除效率随着NO₃^-浓度的增加而逐渐提高,随着其初始浓度的增大而减小.溶液pH值对UV/NO₃^-降解SMX的影响显著,SMX去除效率表现为酸性>中性>碱性.向UV/NO₃^-体系中加入不同浓度的Cl^-和SO₄^2-对SMX的降解基本没有影响;HCO₃^-对SMX的去除有显著的促进作用,这可能归因于HO^·同HCO₃^-反应产生的碳酸根自由基（CO₃^·-）;NOM的存在会抑制SMX的降解,且NOM浓度越高,抑制越明显.在UV/NO₃^-降解SMX的反应中,根据检出的5种产物,提出SMX可能的转化机理包括4种不同的反应路径,分别为断键反应、脱氨羟基化、羟基化和亚硝化.     

Effect of inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase activity on photosynthesis in the red alga Soliera filiformis (Gigartinales: Rhodophyta)

The effect of light intensity, pH and carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors on photosynthesis of the red marine macroalgae Solieria filiformis (Kützing) Gabrielson, collected from Taliarte (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands) in 1991, has been investigated. Plants taken from the sea (wild phenotype) developed spherical morphology (ball phenotype) after 2 mo culture in aerated tanks. The photosynthetic oxygen evolution in the wild phenotype was saturated at 100 mol photons m^-2s^-1, while the ball phenotype displayed saturation at 200 mol photons m^-2s^-1. The inhibitors of total CA activity (6-ethoxizolamide) and extracellular CA activity (dextran-bound sulfonamide) inhibited photosynthesis at pH 8.2, to 90 and 50% respectively, in both phenotypes. No inhibition of the photosynthetic oxygen evolution was detected at pH 6.5. CA activity was associated with both supernatant and pellet fractions of crude extracts of S. filiformis. The rate of alkalization of the medium by the algae was dependent on light intensity. We suggest that carbon dioxide is the general form of inorganic carbon transported across the plasmamembrane in S. filiformis. HCO₃ transport into the cell takes place simultaneously by an indirect mechanism (dehydration to CO₂ catalyzed by CAext) and by direct uptake. Extracellular (CAext) and intracellular (CAint) CAs are involved in the mechanisms of inorganic carbon assimilation by S. filiformis.     

Environmental assessment of laser assisted manufacturing: case studies on laser shock peening and laser assisted turning

Laser assisted manufacturing processes, when compared with traditional manufacturing processes, have the potential to reduce cost, increase surface resistance to wear and fatigue, extend part/tool life, and expand the range of manufacturable materials. These processes have found niche applications in automotive, aerospace, and defense industries. However, very limited research has been conducted to evaluate and compare the environmental performance of laser assisted processes with traditional methods. This paper conducts case studies on two representative laser based processes, i.e. laser shock peening of 7075-T7351 Aluminum and laser assisted turning of compacted graphite iron. Life cycle assessment is used to benchmark the environmental performance of these two processes to conventional processes, i.e. shot peening and turning, respectively. The life cycle inventory of both the laser based processes and conventional processes are developed using SimaPro 7.1 and the Ecoinvent 2.0 database and life cycle impact assessment is performed using US EPA TRACI. The results of this study show that the environmental performance of the two laser based processes is significantly better than conventional processes. For laser shock peening of aluminum, contribution analysis indicates that this is mainly due to the significant extension of fatigue life of the workpiece being treated. For laser assisted turning of compacted graphite iron, the improved performance is mainly due to the extended tool life since cutting tool manufacturing is an energy intensive process. Development of high-power laser with a lower wavelength (e.g. direct diode system) could eliminate the use of paint in laser assisted turning. This, along with improved wall plug efficiency, makes laser assisted turning even more environmentally benign compared to conventional process. A brief cost analysis suggests that both laser shock peening and laser assisted turning can be economically viable with payback period less than three years for niche applications.     

Plutonium isotopes in surface air of Prague in 1986–2006

Monitoring of ^239,240Pu in surface air of Prague started in 1986 in connection with the Chernobyl accident. Measurable activities of 10–28 μBq m⁻³ were found from 29 April 1986 to 5 May 1986. In the most of the monitoring periods of 1987–1996, activities of ^239,240Pu in air were not measurable. Positive values for ^239,240Pu and ²³⁸Pu in air could be obtained after installation of an aerosol sampler with higher flow-rate in 1997. Activity concentrations of ^239,240Pu and ²³⁸Pu in Prague air in the most of quarters of 1997–2006 were in the range 0.53–5.06 and <0.16–1.10 nBq m⁻³, respectively. Seasonal fluctuations can be found in content of ^239,240Pu in air. Activity ratios of ²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu in air are higher than those in top soil, so it can be supposed that ²³⁸Pu is coming to air of Prague also from other sources than resuspension of fallout from atmospheric nuclear tests.     

Bayesian estimation of age-specific bird nest survival rates with categorical covariates

The populations of many North American landbirds are showing signs of declining. Gathering information on breeding productivity allows critical assessment of population performance and helps identify good habitat-management practices. He (Biometrics (2003) 59 962–973) proposed a Bayesian model to estimate the age-specific nest survival rates. The model allows irregular visiting schedule under the assumption that the observed nests have homogeneous nest survival. Because nest survival studies are often conducted in different sites and time periods, it is not realistic to assume homogeneous nest survival. In this paper, we extend He’s model by incorporating these factors as categorical covariates. The simulation results show that the Bayesian hierarchical model can produce satisfactory estimates on nest survival and capture different factor effects. Finally the model is applied to a Missouri red-winged blackbird data set.