Determination of natural and artificial radionuclide materials in the Ma’assel used in hubbly-bubbly (Shisha) in Jordan

In the last decade the habit of smoking the hubbly-bubbly has increased sharply in many regions, including Europe, North America and Australia. Jordan is considered as having one of the highest consumptions of hubbly-bubbly in the world with respect to the general population. Our investigation was initiated due to the increasing trend of cancer cases in the last 10 years. The aim of this study was to determine the radioactive content in tobacco products available in the Jordanian market together with the related supplies. This study showed that all 13 samples investigated contained one or more radionuclides, from ²¹⁰Pb, ⁴⁰K, ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸U, and ²²⁶Ra. Most of the samples contained natural potassium ⁴⁰K and uranium ²³⁸U, lead ²¹⁰Pb was found in three samples, while radium ²²⁶Ra was present only in one sample. Five samples contained the anthropogenic ¹³⁷Cs. The estimated daily intake of U was found in the range between 4.4 and 115.8?µg per day (0.05–1.43 Becquerel (Bq) per day ²³⁸U), with geometric mean of 17.3?µg per day (0.2?Bq per day ²³⁸U). The geometric mean of U daily intake found represents 25% of the reference dose (RfD) value, where the highest determined U content represents 165% of the RfD value. This study demonstrated that a water vessel of hubbly-bubbly trapped less than 1.5% of the total U in Ma’assel samples. It is misleading to the public to indicate that a water vessel serves as an active filter for toxic and radiotoxic elements.     

Indoor air pollution: A review∗

Relationships between toxicities of substituted aromatic hydrocarbons to Daphnia magna and to Fathead minnows or Photobacterium phosphoreum were studied based on structure‐activity equations we established. Good relationships between toxicities of chemicals to Daphnia magna and to Fathead minnows, Photobacterium phosphoreum were found for a wide range of chemicals. The toxicity data of fish can be predicted by the toxicity data of Daphnia magna or Photobacterium phosphoreum. It is probable that the toxicities of chemicals to the three organisms are similar.     

基于灰色关联分析的高层建筑火灾风险评估

为了研究高层建筑火灾风险,在综合考虑高层建筑空间火灾特点及发展过程的基础上,建立了包括安全疏散系统、建筑自身防火能力、灭火能力、消防救援设施以及安全管理五大因素的火灾风险评估指标体系,并利用灰色关联度分析法构建了高层建筑火灾系统的灰色关联评价模型。通过计算各评价指标序列和实际样本序列直接的灰色关联度,建立了系统的灰色关联矩阵,得到了各影响因素及系统整体的风险等级。利用该模型对上海市静安区胶州路728号教师公寓大楼的火灾风险进行了综合评估,结果与实际情况相符。评估结果表明,在高层建筑火灾风险评估中引入灰色关联分析方法可以得到高层建筑火灾危险性的科学数据,并进一步指出薄弱环节,对高层建筑的防火设计及日常安全管理等都具有指导意义。     

Capacity building for sustainable development: some Mexican perspectives

A broadly defined scientific Capacity Building (CB) for Sustainable Development (SD) is needed all around the world, and the development of innovative capacities in the developing countries is a priority. For this, first we need to know how this concept is applied in some developing countries. In this paper we present some Mexican experiences in the field of capacity building for sustainable development. The main problems are the monodisciplinary training of the specialists, the absence of a sound policy for promotion, career development and assessment of researchers, as well as of their projects when they are interdisciplinary and development-oriented. The main proposals to solve these problems are the creation of mechanisms that foster and legitimize interdisciplinary work; a decentralized planning process with the specific objective of establishing the needs and orientations on a regional basis; provide resources to long-term projects, and finally, consensus on asking international funding agencies for stronger support for public higher education institutions in developing countries in order to increase and strengthen their capacity for education and research in general, and in the field of SD in particular.     

Transitional coordination in Sudan (2006–08): lessons from the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office

With the increase in internal conflicts following the end of the Cold War, the scale and scope of the United Nations' work in conflict and post‐conflict environments grew markedly. As a result, the coordination of programming and policy in the transition from relief to recovery has been a central preoccupation of academics and practitioners alike. Intergovernmental bodies such as the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) have made these topics a subject of regular discussion, while some countries have altered their bureaucratic structures to respond more effectively in post‐crisis settings, particularly in cases involving the deployment of national troops. The United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Sudan provides a model for other transitional countries and is a useful case study of the broader challenges of post‐crisis programming. Effective coordination structures and planning/programming processes are identified as interdependent prerequisites for ensuring a successful transition from relief to recovery.     

Quantitative assessment of post‐disaster housing recovery: a case study of Punta Gorda,Florida, after Hurricane Charley

Quantitative assessment of post‐disaster housing recovery is critical to enhancing understanding of the process and improving the decisions that shape it. Nevertheless, few comprehensive empirical evaluations of post‐disaster housing recovery have been conducted, and no standard measurement methods exist. This paper presents a quantitative assessment of housing recovery in Punta Gorda, Florida, United States, following Hurricane Charley of August 2004, including an overview of the phases of housing recovery, progression of recovery over time, alternative trajectories of recovery, differential recovery, incorporation of mitigation, and effect on property sales. The assessment is grounded in a conceptual framework that considers the recovery of both people and place, and that emphasises recovery as a process, not as an endpoint. Several data sources are integrated into the assessment—including building permits, remotely sensed imagery, and property appraiser data—and their strengths and limitations are discussed with a view to developing a standardised method for measuring and monitoring housing recovery.     

基于含VOCs原辅材料和产污环节实测的印刷行业VOCs排放特征分析

为掌握印刷行业VOCs(挥发性有机化合物)污染特征,进一步科学合理地推进印刷行业VOCs减排,利用“气袋法采样+实验室FID检测”以及便携式非甲烷总烃测试仪对京津冀地区25家典型印刷企业VOCs排放情况进行检测.基于21类含VOCs原辅材料的VOCs含量及时应使用环节废气VOCs浓度的监测结果,得出不同类型原辅材料VOCs含量水平,以及产污环节的VOCs废气浓度水平.结果表明:①油墨VOCs含量范围为0.05%~76.9%,胶印油墨、凹印油墨、柔印油墨和网印油墨符合GB 38507—2020《油墨中可挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)含量的限值》中含量限值的样品数分别占抽检样品总数的98.3%、85.7%、66.7%和100.0%,VOCs含量水平差别较大.②润版液、清洗剂、胶粘剂、光油等原辅材料VOCs含量水平分别为0.4%~45.0%、3.0%~98.7%、0.1%~60.0%、0.1%~50.0%,其中溶剂型样品VOCs含量明显高于水性、UV样品.③从生产过程VOCs产污水平来看,同类工艺的烘干环节VOCs产污浓度普遍高于印刷、清洗、润版等环节;采用溶剂型油墨、胶粘剂、光油的生产工艺VOCs产污浓度(100.0~5 000.0 mg/m3)明显高于其他工艺类型(10.0~500.0 mg/m3);VOCs产污浓度最高的为采用溶剂型油墨的凹版印刷工艺(300.0~5 000.0 mg/m3),其次为采用溶剂型胶粘剂的干式复合工艺(300.0~1 000.0 mg/m3)和采用溶剂型光油的上光工艺(200.0~1 000.0 mg/m3).研究显示,平版胶印、柔印、丝印、复合、上光等工艺均可通过源头替代达到较低的VOCs产污浓度水平(≤50.0 mg/m3),但凹印工艺在采用水性墨替代后VOCs产污浓度水平为50.0~500.0 mg/m3,仍需采取高效的末端处理措施.      

西南农村社区避难建筑的面积指标与配置策略研究

地震是西南地区面临的最严重和破坏性最强的灾害类型,在农村迫切需要安全可靠的社区避难建筑保障村民的生命安全.近年来国家高度重视避难建筑建设,要求提高室内避灾规模,而我国缺乏农村社区避难建筑设计的规范标准,既有研究也有所不足.因此,该文系统介绍了核定西南农村社区避难建筑面积指标的研究方法与技术依据.首先说明了避难建筑面积配...     

两种铁基材料对污染农田土壤砷、铅、镉的钝化修复

制备得到了铁钙（FeCa）和铁锰（FMBO）两种铁基材料,用于钝化修复As、Pb和Cd污染土壤.研究采集了来自绍兴上虞（SY）、广东佛山（FS）、广东韶关（SG）、湖南浏阳（LY）、江西赣州（GZ）、贵州独山（DS）和安徽马鞍山（MAS）的7种重金属污染水稻土（潮泥土）,通过土壤培养试验,研究铁钙材料（FeCa）和铁锰材料（FMBO）对各类土壤溶液中As、Pb和Cd浓度动态变化的影响,对土壤中有效态As、Pb和Cd钝化效果的影响,以及在不同种类土壤中有效态As、Pb和Cd钝化效果差异及影响因素.结果表明,培养过程中,铁基材料处理下土壤溶液中As、Pb和Cd浓度均低于对照处理.研究发现,两铁基材料均能对土壤中As、Pb和Cd起到较好的钝化作用,相同添加量下,铁钙材料对土壤As的钝化效率优于铁锰材料,而材料之间对土壤Pb和Cd钝化效率无显著差异.铁钙材料处理下各种土壤As钝化效果表现为GZ > SG > DS和MAS,土壤铅钝化效果表现为FS>SY、LY和SG>MAS,土壤镉钝化效果表现为SY、GZ和DS>MAS;铁锰材料处理下各种土壤As钝化效果表现为SY、LY和GZ > DS > FS,土壤Pb钝化效果表现为FS > GZ > SY,土壤Cd钝化效果表现为DS > LY > MAS.各种土壤As钝化效率在两铁基材料处理下均与土壤黏土含量呈显著负相关,各种土壤Pb钝化效率在两铁基材料处理下均与土壤pH呈显著正相关,各种土壤Cd钝化效率在铁钙材料处理下与土壤黏土含量显著负相关.总体来看,两铁基材料均适用于各不同种类As、Pb和Cd污染土壤的治理.     

在线加湿条件下开放源类微粒子排放数学模型的建立

利用实验室微粒子控制模拟试验装置,采用粉体物料自由下落溢出随机粉尘的试验方法,研究了在线加湿条件下开放源类粉体物料自由下落过程中微粒子排放特性;在一定动力因素条件下,探讨了微粒子含量、质量流量、含水率、样品种类、空气相对湿度、加湿流量和加湿压力等因素对开放源物料中微粒子排放率的影响;通过数学归纳和模型化处理,建立了在线加湿条件下开放源类粉体物料自由下落过程中大气微粒子排放率的数学模型;并对所建立的数学模型进行了优化. 结果表明,模型计算值与试验值基本一致.