Enhancement of phosphorus sorption onto light expanded clay aggregates by means of aluminum and iron oxide coatings

Phosphorus (P) loading from non-point or point sources increases the eutrophication risk of natural waters. The functioning of constructed wetlands (CWs) used as natural water treatment systems can be improved by means of additional materials adsorbing soluble P. In this study, light expanded clay aggregates (LECA) and LECA coated with aluminum (Al) oxide (Al-LECA) or iron (Fe) oxide (Fe-LECA) were tested for their efficiency as P sorbents in the pH range 3–8. The oxide coatings duplicated the actual sorption capacity calculated from the sorption isotherms at the P concentration in the equilibrium solution of 20 μg L⁻¹, assumed to be the allowable P level in purified water. In the oxide-coated LECAs the sorption was fast and followed both the first- and second-order Lagergren kinetic models, suggesting that the formation of a binuclear surface complex was feasible. In LECA, sorption was markedly slower and followed the first-order kinetic model, indicating that retention occurred through a monodentate attachment. These findings were in harmony with the degree of P saturation (DPS) of the sorbent surfaces at the highest P addition level (200 μg L⁻¹), DPS being decisively higher for LECA than for the oxide-coated sorbents. Accordingly, at higher pH values the competition by hydroxyl ions diminished the sorption in LECA relatively more than that in the coated sorbents. In agreement with the acidity of Al³⁺ being 100 times lower than that of Fe³⁺, at elevated pH the sorption by Al-LECA proved to be less reversible than that by Fe-LECA. The results provide evidence that in CWs Al-coated sorbents are superior to Fe-coated ones that are also redox-sensitive and may lose their sorption properties in anoxic conditions.     

Carbonaceous matter in glacier at the headwaters of the Yangtze River: Concentration, sources and fractionation during the melting process

Carbonaceous matter has an important impact on glacial retreat in the Tibetan Plateau, further affecting the water resource supply. However, the related studies on carbonaceous matter are still scarce in Geladaindong (GLDD) region, the source of the Yangtze River. Therefore, the concentration, source and variations of carbonaceous matter at Ganglongjiama (GLJM) glacier in GLDD region were investigated during the melting period in 2017, which could deepen our understanding on carbonaceous matter contribution to glacier melting. The results showed that dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration of snowpit samples (283?±?200?μg/L) was much lower than that of precipitation samples (624?±?361?μg/L), indicating that large parts of DOC could be rapidly leached from the snowpit during the melting process. In contrast, refractory black carbon (rBC) concentration measured by Single Particle Soot Photometer of snowpit samples (4.27?±?3.15?μg/L) was much higher than that of precipitation samples (0.97?±?0.49?μg/L). Similarly, DOC with high mass absorption cross-section measured at 365?nm value was also likely to enrich in snowpit during the melting process. In addition, it was found that both rBC and DOC with high light-absorbing ability began to leach from the snowpit when melting process became stronger. Therefore, rBC and DOC with high light-absorbing ability exhibited similar behavior during the melting process. Based on relationship among DOC, rBC and K⁺ in precipitation, the main source of carbonaceous matter in GLJM glacier was biomass burning during the study period.     

苏州古城区夜间光环境现状分析

为了解苏州古城区夜间光环境现状,对古城区夜间环境照度、亮度进行了测量,对夜间广告与标志灯数量进行了调查,并对统计结果进行分析,指出了古城区的主要光环境问题为照度、亮度不均与不足以及存在光污染现象,光环境建设需不断完善。     

小风和静风状态下连续体源大气扩散模式的理论推导

以小风和静风状态下连续点源的大气扩散模式为基础,采用与体源烟团的初始分布尺度相当的初始时间修正其扩散参数公式中的运行时间,从理论上导出了小风和静风状态下连续体源的大气扩散模式。该模式与现有的大气扩散模式体系完全相容,可以方便地应用于小风和静风状态下连续体源引起的地面浓度的预测计算。     

摩托车覆盖件逆向设计中的技术思路

逆向工程的特点可以最大限度地表现造型设计师的设计风格,该特点使逆向工程非常适合于覆盖件产品开发。针对摩托车外观覆盖件的特点,对车架模型的建立方法提出了看法,强调了在逆向建模中先建立模型特征线的优先性,总结了曲面重构的经验和规律,最后给出了具体开发实例。     

Comparison of light absorption and oxidative potential of biodiesel/diesel and chemicals/diesel blends soot particles

Soot particles,mainly coming from fuel combustion,affect climate forcing through absorbing light and also result in adverse human health outcomes.Though biodiesel or additives blending with diesel was considered environmentally friendly,the understanding on absorbing and oxidative capacity of soot emitted from them are still unclear.The watersoluble organic carbon(WSOC) content,surface chemical structure,light absorption and oxidative potential(OP~(DTT)) of soot from biodiesel/diesel and chemicals/diesel blends were investigated utilizing total organic carbon analyzer,X-ray photoelectron spectrometer,ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry and dithiothreitol(DTT) assay.The differences and correlations between soot properties were statistically analyzed.Chemicals/diesel blends soot owned significantly higher WSOC content,ratio of mass absorbing efficiency(MAE) in250 and 365 nm(E_2/E_3),OP~(DTT),and higher surface carbonyl content.Coconut biodiesel/diesel blends soot contained evidently higher aromatic carbon–oxygen single bond(Ar_C–O)content,and higher MAE365.The individual comparison of biodiesel/diesel blends showed20% coconut biodiesel blend owned the lowest WSOC,E_2/E_3 and OP~(DTT),while highest Ar_C–O and MAE365,representing strongest absorbing properties.Association analysis showed OP~(DTT)was significantly positively correlated with WSOC.Further,the evident negative correlation between MAE365 and OP~(DTT) was observed.Our results showed coconut biodiesel/diesel blends soot induced lower levels of oxidative potential,whereas absorption of light was higher,which have far reaching consequences on climate forcing.Therefore,it is important to evaluate the balance point between light-absorbing properties and oxidative potential,under the wide use of biodiesel.     

Source apportionment of PM2.5 light extinction in an urban atmosphere in China

Haze in China is primarily caused by high pollution of atmospheric fine particulates (PM_2.5). However, the detailed source structures of PM_2.5 light extinction have not been well established, especially for the roles of various organic aerosols, which makes haze management lack specified targets. This study obtained the mass concentrations of the chemical compositions and the light extinction coefficients of fine particles in the winter in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, using high time resolution aerosol observation instruments. We combined the positive matrix factor (PMF) analysis model of organic aerosols and the multiple linear regression method to establish a quantitative relationship model between the main chemical components, in particular the different sources of organic aerosols and the extinction coefficients of fine particles with a high goodness of fit (R² = 0.953). The results show that the contribution rates of ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA), secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and black carbon (BC) were 48.1%, 20.7%, 15.0%, 10.6%, and 5.6%, respectively. It can be seen that the contribution of the secondary aerosols is much higher than that of the primary aerosols (79.4% versus 20.6%) and are a major factor in the visibility decline. BBOA is found to have a high visibility destroying potential, with a high mass extinction coefficient, and was the largest contributor during some high pollution periods. A more detailed analysis indicates that the contribution of the enhanced absorption caused by BC mixing state was approximately 37.7% of the total particle absorption and should not be neglected.     

Changes in visibility with PM2.5 composition and relative humidity at a background site in the Pearl River Delta region

In fall–winter, 2007–2013, visibility and light scattering coefficients(b sp) were measured along with PM_(2.5)mass concentrations and chemical compositions at a background site in the Pearl River Delta(PRD) region. The daily average visibility increased significantly(p 0.01) at a rate of 1.1 km/year, yet its median stabilized at ~13 km. No haze days occurred when the 24-hr mean PM_(2.5)mass concentration was below 75 μg/m~3. By multiple linear regression on the chemical budget of particle scattering coefficient(b sp), we obtained site-specific mass scattering efficiency(MSE) values of 6.5 ± 0.2, 2.6 ± 0.3, 2.4 ± 0.7 and 7.3 ± 1.2 m2/g,respectively, for organic matter(OM), ammonium sulfate(AS), ammonium nitrate(AN) and sea salt(SS). The reconstructed light extinction coefficient(b ext) based on the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments(IMPROVE) algorithm with our site-specific MSE revealed that OM, AS, AN, SS and light-absorbing carbon(LAC) on average contributed 45.9% ± 1.6%,25.6% ± 1.2%, 12.0% ± 0.7%, 11.2% ± 0.9% and 5.4% ± 0.3% to light extinction, respectively.Averaged b ext displayed a significant reduction rate of 14.1/Mm·year(p 0.05); this rate would be 82% higher if it were not counteracted by increasing relative humidity(RH) and hygroscopic growth factor(f(RH)) at rates of 2.5% and 0.16/year-1(p 0.01), respectively, during the fall–winter, 2007–2013. This growth of RH and f(RH) partly offsets the positive effects of lowered AS in improving visibility, and aggravated the negative effects of increasing AN to impair visibility.     

Risky behaviors and helmet use among young adolescent motorcyclists in Southern Thailand

Background: In Thailand, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for youth ages 15–19 years, with 80% of the injuries and deaths from motorcycle accidents. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of child and young adolescent motorcyclists in Hat Yai municipality and their risk behaviors. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2011 and March 2012 in which 2,471 students, ages 8 to 18 years, were recruited from 9 primary and secondary schools in Hat Yai municipality. The questionnaire included questions on being a motorcycle rider or passenger, risky behaviors, and helmet use while riding. Results: Of the total, 1,573 (63.7%) were riders and 898 (36.3%) were pillion passengers. The majority of the riders younger than 15 years rode their motorcycle mainly only in narrow streets for a short trip. Only 30% of the riders wore a helmet every time they rode a motorcycle. About 10% of the participants riding or a passenger on a motorcycle had consumed alcohol at least once before riding their motorcycle. Multiple logistic regression analysis found that motorcycle injuries were significantly associated with speeds greater than 60 km/h, not wearing a helmet while riding, and alcohol consumption before riding (odds ratios 1.63, 1.59, and 3.09, respectively). Conclusion: Nearly two thirds of young adolescents in Hat Yai municipality were motorcycle riders. These young adolescents were at risk of traffic injuries because more than 50% of them had ridden at high speed or not worn a helmet while riding, and some of them had consumed alcohol before riding.     

Does the improved stability offered by motorcycle antilock brakes (ABS) make sliding crashes less common? In-depth analysis of fatal crashes involving motorcycles fitted with ABS

Objective: This research investigated the following issue. Though several tests indicate that motorcycle ABS may increase motorcycle stability, thus reducing the risk of a sliding crash involving braking (i.e., the rider is separated from the motorcycle and slides along the road surface prior to collision), there is limited research showing to what extent sliding crashes are reduced by ABS in real-life conditions.

Methods: The Swedish Transport Administration (STA) and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) carry out in-depth studies for all road fatalities. A total of 38 in-depth studies with ABS motorcycles were included: 22 in Sweden and 16 in Norway (2005–2014). These were compared with 98 cases in Sweden and 32 in Norway involving motorcycles of the same types but without ABS. The data sets were analyzed separately and also merged together. The difference between the proportions of sliding crashes regardless braking was analyzed; selective recruitment was handled with a sensitivity analysis. Induced exposure was used to calculate the reduction of all crashes and those involving braking.

Results: Four ABS cases (11%) involved falling off the motorcycle prior to collision, and 35% of the non-ABS crashes were sliding (P =.004). The sensitivity analysis showed that the results were stable, with a relative difference of sliding crashes ranging between 65 and 78%.

None of the 4 sliding crashes with ABS occurred during braking; that is, all ABS riders who braked prior to collision crashed in an upright position. In the 4 sliding cases with ABS, the riders lost control of their motorcycles: 2 while accelerating on asphalt with very poor friction, 1 while negotiating a curve with an excessive lean angle, and 1 by abruptly releasing the throttle in the middle of a curve.

Although based on a limited number of cases, the distributions of sliding and upright collisions among crashes without braking were similar, thus suggesting that the crash posture would not be affected by ABS if no braking occurred. The calculations with induced exposure showed that upright crashes with braking were also reduced by ABS; all fatal crashes, regardless of braking, were reduced by 52%.

Conclusions: Though this research was based on a limited material, it confirmed that sliding fatal crashes are significantly decreased by ABS. Considering that ABS will soon be mandatory in the European Union on all new motorcycles with engine displacement over 125cc, these findings should be taken into account in the future design and testing of motorcycle-friendly road barriers and integrated protection systems.