The influence of neighborhood traffic density on the respiratory health of elementary schoolchildren

Background

Several studies have found that living near major roadways is associated with an increase in respiratory illness but few studies have measured the volume and type of traffic.

Objective

We investigated the relation between traffic volume and respiratory health of 2328 children 9 to 11 years old in the city of Windsor, Canada.

Methods

We identified the roadways within a 200 meter radius of the child's neighborhood using the latitude and longitude of the residential postal code. Traffic exposure was defined as the sum of the annual volume of vehicles on all of these roadways. Volume was calculated using sensors to detect passing vehicles (simple traffic counts), and by counts and direction of traffic at intersections (turning movement counts). Ventilatory lung function was measured by spirometry and airway inflammation by exhaled nitric oxide (eNO).

Results

The odds ratio between an interquartile increase in truck turning movement counts and chest congestion was 1.20 (1.06-1.35). The percentage of predicted FVC declined 0.68%, (95% CI 1.32, 0.03) for an interquartile increase in simple traffic counts (33,787 vehicles daily). Among those with self-reported asthma, effect sizes were larger. Percentage predicted FEV₁ declined 1.84% (95% CI 0.07, 3.61) associated with an interquartile range increase in turning movement counts. No statistically significant change was detected between traffic measures and exhaled nitric oxide.

Conclusions

Our findings provide further support for the hypothesis that neighborhood exposure to traffic-related air pollution increases respiratory symptoms and reduces ventilatory function in children, especially those with self-reported asthma.     

基于双指标的安康水库防洪预报调度规则研究

随着水文预报水平的提高,考虑预报信息的防洪预报调度方式日益受到重视。对安康水库实施防洪预报调度的可行性进行了分析,采用“逐级调节法”反复试算修正,确定了以“预报累积净雨量”为主判断指标、“库水位”为辅助指标的安康水库双指标防洪预报调度规则,并对设计洪水及实际洪水进行了调节,调节结果与常规调度比较,水库水位提前降低至汛限水位以下,增加了防洪库容,减小了洪峰段下泄流量,降低了水库最高水位,提高了防洪能力。同时选择不同起调水位,对设计洪水及实际洪水进行调节, 确定合适起调水位,并分析了预报调度和常规调度的风险。结果显示：起调水位抬升,防洪预报调度的风险有所增加,但仍小于常规调度风险,为更好的实现洪水资源的有效利用,建议预报调度起调水位定为3260 m     

Accumulation of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) and implications for PCBs metabolic capacities in three porpoise species

The present study investigated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hydroxylated metabolites of PCBs (OH-PCBs) in blood from three porpoise species: finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides), harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), and Dall’s porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli). The porpoises were found stranded or were bycaught along the Japanese coast. Concentrations of OH-PCB were the highest in Dall’s porpoises (58 pg g⁻¹ wet wt), second highest in finless porpoises (20 pg g⁻¹ wet wt), and lowest in harbor porpoises (8.3 pg g⁻¹ wet wt). The concentrations in Dall’s porpoises were significantly higher than the concentrations in finless porpoises and harbor porpoises (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). There was a positive correlation between PCB and OH-PCB concentrations (r = 0.67, p < 0.001), suggesting the possible concentration-dependent induction of CYP enzymes. The three porpoise species may have exceptionally low metabolic capacities compared with other marine and terrestrial mammals, because low OH-PCB/PCB concentration ratios were found, which were 0.0016 for Dall’s porpoises, 0.0013 for harbor porpoises, and 0.00058 for finless porpoises. Distinct differences in the OH-PCB congener patterns were observed for the three species, even though they are taxonomically closely related.     

混合胺MEA＋DETA吸收CO2的影响因素

以MEA为主体,DETA为添加剂,考察1h内,在温度298～338K,压力300～700kPa,混合胺溶液初始浓度（质量分数）4％～20％范围内,MEA＋DETA不同配比的混合吸收剂吸收CO2的特性。获得MEA＋DETA混合胺吸收CO2的最佳吸收条件为：308K、500kPa、总胺质量浓度为20％,MEA与DETA的配比为8：2。     

黑麦草根际强化微生物净化甲苯

采用在普通生物反应器上种植黑麦草的方法,研究了黑麦草根系强化微生物净化甲苯污染气体的作用,及甲苯入口浓度、填料深度、温度对反应器净化甲苯速率的影响。结果表明,在生物反应器相同的填料深度,细菌数量的水平分布为黑麦草根际区>过渡区>非根际,与相同位置的甲苯浓度分布呈负相关,说明黑麦草根系通过促进细菌的活性进而增加甲苯的降解。在相同的甲苯入口浓度下,甲苯的净化速率随着填料深度的增加而增加,在甲苯入口浓度不高于500 mg/m3条件下,相同的填料深度,反应器对甲苯的净化速率随着甲苯浓度的增加而增加。在5~35℃范围内,温度升高有助于提高微生物活性,促进微生物对甲苯的降解,且有黑麦草处理的甲苯净化速率大于同等条件下无黑麦草处理。     

HYSTAR Sediment Model: Distributed Two‐Dimensional Simulation of Watershed Erosion and Sediment Transport Using Time‐Area Routing

An erosion and sediment transport component incorporated in the HYdrology Simulation using Time‐ARea method (HYSTAR) upland watershed model provides grid‐based prediction of erosion, transport and deposition of sediment in a dynamic, continuous, and fully distributed framework. The model represents the spatiotemporally varied flow in sediment transport simulation by coupling the time‐area routing method and sediment transport capacity approach within a grid‐based spatial data model. This avoids the common, and simplistic, approach of using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to estimate erosion rates with a delivery ratio to relate gross soil erosion to sediment yield of a watershed, while enabling us to simulate two‐dimensional sediment transport processes without the complexity of numerical solution of the partial differential governing equations. In using the time‐area method for routing sediment, the model offers a novel alternative to watershed‐scale sediment transport simulation that provides detailed spatial representation. In predicting four‐year sediment hydrographs of a watershed in Virginia, the model provided good performance with R² of 0.82 and 0.78 and relative error of ?35% and 11% using the Yalin and Yang's sediment transport capacity equations, respectively. Prediction of spatiotemporal variation in sediment transport processes was evaluated using maps of sediment transport rates, concentrations, and erosion and deposition mass, which compare well with expected behavior of flow hydraulics and sediment transport processes.     

Dynamics of Policy Networks. The Case of Organic Farming Policy in the Czech Republic

To better understand the potential for successful and long-term establishment of environmental policy, the aim of this paper is to explore the network dynamics of a policy field that has become well established in the EU: organic farming. We look at the dynamics of the organic farming policy network in the Czech Republic over a period of 10 years by applying a comparative formal network analysis. We focused in particular on the distribution of power between actors and how capacities of policy actors have evolved between 2004 (its year of accession to the EU) and 2014. We conclude that the organic farming policy network in the Czech Republic has been highly dynamic and has changed from one that was decidedly influenced by organic sector organizations to a network centralized around the Ministry of Agriculture. However, the organic farming organization managed to maintain its good reputation for competence in organic farming policy, which creates opportunities for the organization to remain active in the policy debate.     

空速和二氧化碳对沼气脱硫剂硫容确定的影响

为了弄清空速与二氧化碳含量对氧化铁脱硫剂硫容确定的影响,分别在实验气源为纯硫化氢,空速为40、80、120和160 h-1以及实验气源为二氧化碳含量分别在0%、20%、40%和80%,其余为硫化氢,空速为80 h-1条件下,对T502(粗脱硫剂)和HXT-2(精脱硫剂)2种氧化铁脱硫剂进行了不同测试条件对氧化铁硫容确定影响的研究。研究结果表明,T502和HXT-2氧化铁脱硫剂硫容测试结果随着空速和二氧化碳含量增加而减少,结果显示了在空速较低条件下(120h-1),二氧化碳含量在40%以下时对氧化铁脱硫剂硫容测试结果影响不大,但二氧化碳含量在40%以上时,对氧化铁脱硫剂硫容测试结果影响显著。     

Evaluation of carrying capacity of city clusters in China with the example of the Blue Economic Zone of Shandong Peninsula

The conflict between city development and urban carrying capacity is getting ever prominent.In order to study and predict the restriction factors and prominent problems in the development of the Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone as well as promote the transfer of economic development pattern in this region,this study starts from four single factor carrying capacity indicators of water,earth,transportation and environment in the city and its comprehensive carrying capacity indicator,evaluates and analyzes its carrying capacity and then papooses policy suggestions for improving its carrying capacity.     

北海市水环境容量核算与分区总量控制对策研究

水环境容量核算是城市水环境管理的基础。分析了北海市水环境特征的现状,通过划分陆域控制单元和对应水环境容量核算单元,根据设计水文条件及功能区水质目标等参数,综合选用一维河流非感潮河段容量计算模型、一维河流感潮河段容量计算模型核算了北海市各主要流域地表水水系的水环境容量。在此基础上,结合近海海洋环境容量,核算各控制单元点、面源负荷排放量,分析了北海市基于控制单元分区的可利用水环境容量空间分布特征,并提出了容量资源分区控制利用对策建议。