Cell-recycle fed-batch production of a highly unsaturated polyhydroxyalkanoate from 1,3-butanediol byPseudomonas sp. A33

The recently isolatedPseudomonas sp. A33 was investigated for the production of a highly unsaturated polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) containing various alkyl and alkenyl pendent groups from 1,3-butanediol in a cell-recycle fed-batch production mode. The monomer composition and degree of unsaturation in PHA were dependent on the environmental conditions. The production temperature markedly influenced the content, composition, and degree of unsaturation of PHA. As the production temperature decreased from 30 to 10°C, the degree of unsaturation and content of PHA were increased, while the mole percentage of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) was decreased. These temperature effects on the composition of PHA imply that the production can be used as a control variable for the biosynthesis of a highly unsaturated PHA and for the specific regulation of the composition of PHA. The biosynthetic pathway for a highly unsaturated PHA which is based on de novo fatty acid biosynthetic pathway is proposed. For the enhanced production of this functional PHA, a high cell density was achieved by cell-recycle continuous culture at 30°C, and then a large amount of PHA was accumulated at 15°C by fed-batch addition of the feeding solution containing excess 1,3-butanediol. The structures of monomer constituents of polymer were confirmed by gas chromatography—mass spectrometric analysis of trimethylsiyl derivatives of 3-hydroxyalkanoic acids methyl esters.     

Environmental risk: Management strategies in the developing world

This paper describes a heuristic model which helps to relate a developing nation's environmental risk to the level of sophistication appropriate in adjusting management strategy to dealing with environmental hazards. The model takes into account three factors: the degree of risk, the stage of economic growth, and the sophistication of adjustment. The interrelationship of these factors is examined, and the role of international cooperation in establishing strategies is outlined.     

A novel radiant floor system: Detailed characterization and comparison with traditional radiant systems

ABSTRACT

Radiant floor systems have the potential to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint of buildings. This study analyzed a novel radiant panel configuration comprising a metal plate with small spikes that can be pressed into cement board or wood. The behavior of this configuration was simulated for different materials for the metal plate, spike dimensions, and varying spacing between spikes. An annual energy simulation model compared the radiant panel configuration with the traditional concrete-based system. Simulations were run under heating dominant, cooling dominant, and neutral conditions; significant cost savings and greenhouse gas emission reduction were seen across all scenarios.     

出舱活动过程中航天员的热舒适性分析

分析了出舱活动中航天员－ 服装系统的热平衡,阐述了影响航天员热舒适性的因素及热舒适性的评价标准,并对美国航天员舱外活动的冷应激的人体工程学问题进行了讨论。还指出了提高航天员热舒适性有待解决的几个关键问题。     

城市可降解生活垃圾的生物综合处理模式初探

针对现有城市生活垃圾处理方式的不足。结合垃圾生物处理特点。设计了集混合菌群降解、生物过滤除臭、污水回用及植被绿化于一体的立体处理体系。结果表明．该系统在城市生活垃圾的“三化”处理中具有显的潜势：既使生活垃圾在食物链外形成安全的闭路循环，防止有害物质向人居环境入渗；同时。处理设施的立体化、终产物的生物转化以及即刻的市场效应，有效地增强了系统的消纳能力。缓解了传统处理方式对城市空间的压力。该系统对我国中小城市生活垃圾的综合利用具有积极的参考价值。     

军机易损性评估体系安全度值的研究

军机易损性评估至为关键的因素之一是可靠的确定评估指标的安全度值。基于模糊统计基础上的集值统计 ,能有效地确定具有随机、模糊性质的军机易损性评估指标的安全度值 ;在确定过程中 ,可以给出易损性评估指标安全度值的可靠性程度和各评估专家的偏离度。实例表明 ,该法弥补了目前军机易损性评估中由经典统计法确定安全度值的不足 ,提高了军机易损性评估的准确度和可靠度。     

基于单元特性的通风系统可靠性分配方法研究

通风系统可靠性分配是优化矿井通风系统可靠性设计、保障安全生产和日常管理的一项重要指标。在系统可靠性设计过程中 ,如何根据具有一定冗余度的通风系统进行可靠性指标的分配或再分配 ,是现场通风安全技术管理人员面临的一个重要课题。笔者以可靠性工程理论为指导 ,针对矿井通风系统时变、可修的特点 ,分别从基于单元相对易损度、基于单元重要复杂度以及基于单元故障频率角度对矿井通风系统可靠性进行了再分配方法研究 ,并以矿用主通风机系统为实例 ,进行了应用分析和验证。实践证明 ,采用上述分配方法的最终分配结果均接近期望的目标值 ,且满足不低于目标值的要求。该分配方法的研究 ,可为矿井通风系统可靠性优化设计提供一条新的研究思路。     

An improved methodology for assessing risk in aircraft operations at airports, applied to runway overruns

The paper addresses the need for models to assess risk at any particular airport, based on risk management principles used by the present risk management process, that use all available data on previous accidents. The case of runway overruns is taken as an example application, because new regulations require the provision of much longer Runway End Safety Areas than had previously been the norm. The paper presents models for overruns arising from both landings and aborted takeoffs. In each case models of overrun risk, of wreckage location and of the consequences are detailed. An example application of the models is then given in a hypothetical risk assessment.The models, though adding value to existing methods of assessing risk, are not as good as they could be, due to the lack of data on normal operations. It was therefore possible only to relate the rate of overruns to the rate of occurrence of the possible driving factors for a few factors where such comparable data on normal operations existed. It is recommended that effort be put into the collection of data to allow a more comprehensive analysis.     

Degradation and mineralization of cellulose acetate in simulated thermophilic compost environments

Residual cellulose acetate (CA) films with initial degree of substitution (DS) values of 1.7 and 2.5 (CA DS-1.7 and DS-2.5) were recovered from a simulated thermophilic compost exposure and characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine changes in polymer molecular weight and DS and to study microbial colonization and surface morphology, respectively. During the aerobic degradation of CA DS-1.7 and CA DS-2.5 films exposed for 7 and 18 days, respectively, the number-average molecular weight (M _n) of residual polymer decreased by 30.4% on day 5 and 20.3% on day 16, respectively. Furthermore, a decrease in the degree of substitution from 1.69 to 1.27 (4-day exposure) and from 2.51 to 2.18 (12-day exposure) was observed for the respective CA samples. In contrast, CA films (DS-1.7 and DS-2.5) which were exposed to abiotic control vessels for identical time periods showed no significant changes inM _n and DS. SEM photographs of CA (DS-1.7 and DS-2.5) film surfaces after compost exposures revealed severe erosion and corresponding microbial colonization. Similar exposure times for CA films in abiotic control vessels resulted in only minor changes in surface characteristics by SEM observations. The conversion of CA DS-1.7 and DS-2.5 to CO₂ was monitored by respirometry. In these studies, powdered CA was placed in a predigested compost matrix which was maintained at 53°C and 60% moisture content throughout the incubation period. A lag phase of 10- and 25-day duration for CA DS-1.7 and DS-2.5, respectively, was observed, after which the rate of degradation increased rapidly. Mineralization of exposed CA DS-1.7 and DS-2.5 powders reported as the percentage theoretical CO₂ recovered reached 72.4 and 77.6% in 24 and 60 days, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that microbial degradation of CA films exposed to aerobic thermophilic laboratory-scale compost reactors not only results in film weight loss but also causes severe film pitting and a corresponding decrease in chainM _n and degree of substitution for the residual material. Furthermore, conversions to greater than 70% of the theoretical recovered CO₂ for CA (DS 1.7 and 2.5) substrates indicate high degrees of CA mineralization.Guest Editor: Dr. Graham Swift, Rohm & Haas.     

模糊数学在大气环境质量评价中的应用

本文应用模糊数学方法对近年宜宾市城区大气环境质量进行综合评价,并与常用的其它几个模式进行可比分析,其更能描述大气污染程度的特点。因此,模糊综合评判法对大气环境质量评价是较为理想的一种评价方法,它具有较强的实用性。