Detection of intermediates in the TiO2-assisted photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation

The photocatalytic degradation of dye Rhodamine B （RhB） in the presence of TiO2 nanostdpe or P25 under visible light irradiation was investigated. The degradation intermediates were identified using Infrared spectra （IR spectra）, ^1H nuclear magnetic resonance （^1HNMR） spectra, and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy （GC-MS）. The IR and the ^1HNMR results showed that the large conjugated chromophore structure of RhB was efficiently destroyed under visible light irradiation in both the photocatalytic systems （TiO2 nanostfipe or P25 and Rhodamine B systems）. GC-MS results showed that the main identified intermediates were ethanediotic acid, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 4-hydroxy benzoic acid and benzoic acid, which were almost the same in the TiO2 nanostdpes and P25 systems. This work provides a good insight into the reaction pathway（s） for the TiO2-assisted photocatalytic degradation of dye pollutants under visible light irradiation.     

硝氮胁迫对不同沉水植物生理生长的影响

沉水植物是水生生态系统的初级生产者,对调控生态系统能量的循环和传递,维持水生态系统的结构和功能。都有极为重要的作用。为了解硝态氮浓度对不同种类沉水植物生理生长的综合影响,实验采用6种浓度的硝态氮对苦草和黑藻进行胁迫处理,在实验开始后的6、24h测定植株抗氧化物酶（SOD、POD、CAT）的活性;并于实验处理7d后考察植株的叶绿素含量和各项生长指标。结果表明,缺氮条件下苦草和黑藻的SOD、POD反应强烈,40mg／L下苦草和黑藻的SOD、CAT酶活性几乎无变化;从处理时间上看,苦草总体表现为各浓度处理的SOD、CAT随胁迫时间增加活性上升,POD活性下降;黑藻生理活性表现则相反。胁迫处理7d后,苦草5mg／L处理下生物量积累最大,1～20mg／L内黑藻生物量积累没有差异,苦草的叶绿素、鲜重增量生长指标总体远低于黑藻。研究表明,10mg／L是苦草能够耐受的最高硝态氮浓度．黑藻在1～20mg／L内均能较好生长;黑藻较苦草对硝态氮胁迫具有更大的耐受性。     

Effects of a major municipal effluent on the St. Lawrence River: A case study

The St. Lawrence River (SLR) is the second largest waterway in North America. The discharge of the City of Montreal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) represents the largest volume of treated wastewaters being released into the river. It also ranks as the largest sewage treatment plant of its kind in North America. Over the last decade, intensive multidisciplinary research has focused on assessing the impacts of Montreal wastewater effluents on the SLR. We describe the major findings of these investigations, including the determination of the fate of contaminants, bioaccumulation in fish and invertebrates, ecotoxicological measurements of aquatic animal health, evaluation of endocrine disruption, parasitism in fish, and combined effects of multiple stressors on the SLR. Impacts of the effluents from the WWTP on aquatic organisms from the SLR are both toxicological and ecological, demonstrating the need for an integrated view of the impacts of municipal effluents on aquatic ecosystems.     

基于保护层风险分析的液氯充装系统SIL审核评估研究

研究借助GB/T 20438—2006的系统安全完整性理念,在分析了液氯充装系统工艺流程的基础上,建立了液氯充装系统的4个独立保护层并对其进行了安全性分析,根据液氯充装的危险性,确立了液氯充装系统的安全完整性等级为SIL3。从系统安全完整性出发,对系统安全性要求分配进行了探讨,提出了以各保护层失效概率为基础的液氯充装系统安全完整性审核评估,为系统的风险分析评估提供了一种新的思路。     

Influence of Dissolved Organic Matter On the Bio-Availability and Toxicity of Metals in Soils and Aquatic Systems

Cations in soil are essential for the growth of plants and micro-organisms. Their availability is dependent on soil organic matter. Soil organic matter (SOM) is heterogeneous comprising amino, aliphatic and phenolic acids, but particularly humic substances. All these substances can complex cations selectively. Mechanisms of complexation with dissolved organic matter are discussed. Such complexation can lead to the apparently contradictory observations that dissolved organic matter (DOM) can either increase the concentration of some less soluble nutrients, making them more available for plant uptake, or make them less available and hence less toxic. the importance of DOM is discussed in relation to soil solution, particularly the rhizosphere, and also in relation to aquatic systems. the latter systems contain mainly dissolved humic substances whereas in the soil, non-humic substances assume a greater importance.

SOM in the rhizosphere is derived from plant, microbial and animal remains but much, especially the water-soluble compounds, are acquired through root exudation. Exudation has important consequences for enhanced nutrient availability as a result of the production of non-humic substances such as amino, aliphatic and phenolic acids. in future, the role of root exudation in relation to DOM and nutrient availability should be investigated more fully, particularly as predicted elevated CO₂ levels are likely to have a major impact on root exudation, nutrient availability, and possibly ecosystem community structure and functioning. It is likely that more information will become available on aquatic systems as more highly sensitive techniques and equipment capable of dealing with low concentrations of DOM in these systems become available.     

GIS in planning

This paper outlines some of the potential uses of GIS in planning authorities, and identifies some of the pitfalls to be avoided. It begins with some practical considerations in the area of data sources and system configurations, goes on to envision ways in which GIS might benefit the work of a planning department, and finally considers some of the management issues which surround the introduction and use of GIS in planning.     

Summer total phosphorus in lakes: A map of Minnesota,Wisconsin, and Michigan,USA

A map of summer total phosphorus in lakes has been compiled for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to clarify regional patterns in attainable lake trophic state. Total phosphorus was used as a measure of lake trophic state because: (1) phosphorus plays a central role in controlling the overall fertility of most lakes, (2) total phosphorus values are available for a great number of lakes, and (3) phosphorus is measured in a consistent manner. The maps were compiled using patterns of total phosphorus data and observed associations between these data and geographic characteristics including physiography, land use, geology, and soils. Regions depicted on the map represent areas of similarity in phosphorus concentrations in lakes, or similarity in the mosaic of values, as compared to adjacent areas. Within each region, differences in total phosphorus can be compared to natural and anthropogenic factors to determine the types of lakes representative of each region, the factors associated with differences in quality, and the realistically attainable phosphorus levels for each type of lake.     

Institutional Responses to Climate Change: the Case of the Alaska Transportation System

Institutions managing the Alaska road,rail, airport, and marine highwaytransportation system and the pipelinecorridor are evaluated for reactions toevidence of climate change. Long-termclimate warming is not a formal criterionin the decisional process of the stateDepartment of Transportation and PublicFacilities for road and airport projects,which have a short (15–25 year) life span,but is taken into account for bridgeconstruction (50–75 year life). Short- tomid-term climate effects are considered inareas with discontinuous permafrost andaffect routing, roadbed construction, andmaintenance decisions. National standardsare amended with Alaska-specific practicesfor unique cold-weather conditions.The Federal/State Joint Pipeline Office(JPO), responsible for monitoring ofpipeline safety under the federal lease andstate grant, in 2001 developed additionalstipulations to mitigate permafrost thawingand slope instability, including a `watchlist' of 200 wobbling VSMs on theTrans-Alaska Pipeline. This action appearsmore responsive to climate change effectsthan that of any other arctic institutionstudied. It can be attributed to thespecific authority of the JPO to monitorgeotechnical conditions at present and inthe future.In general, agencies tended to adoptincremental responses to evidence ofclimate change.     

HYDROLOGIC SIMULATION OF THE BRANDYWINE BASIN1

ABSTRACT: A deterministic hydrologic model, encompassing the hydrologic regime and all water uses, is developed by integrating empirical hydrologic relationships. The Brandywine Basin, located in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware, is used as an example to demonstrate this modeling effort. The basin is divided into 19 subwatersheds to account for the spatial variation of resource characteristics. The output of the model is the response of the hydrologic system to various inputs such as precipitation, land use characteristics and policy decisions. This modeling effort is applicable to watersheds similar to the Brandywine Basin in size, and once the model is developed and validated, can be applied continuously in the management and planning of water resources such as predicting the hydrologic effects of proposed projects and simulating hydrologic information.     

Food acquisition during the African drought of 1983–1984: A study of Kenyan herders

In 1983 and 1984, drought spread across the northern rangelands of Kenya and herders in lowland Samburu lost substantial portions of their livestock. Food aid arrived when 50 to 75% of the cattle had already died, and after poorer pastoralists were hungry enough to sell their remaining productive animals. No pastoralists died of the immediate effects of the drought, but many were so impoverished that their longer-term prospects for remaining as herders look dim.
This essay discusses the timing and content of famine relief as it applies both to Samburu and other food-stressed areas. It focuses on the process of food acquisition during the northern Kenyan drought itself. The more "indigenous" food strategies of herding, hunting and gathering offered limited benefits. Equally, however, commercial channels for procuring food proved inadequate. Herders could not reliably sell animals to obtain cash for purchased food, nor were the grain and sugar staples always available even when cash was on hand. Lacking means to provide for themselves, Samburu came to depend on varied kinds of handouts.