Removal potential of anti-estrogenic activity in secondary effluents by coagulation

Anti-estrogenic activity in wastewater is gaining increased attention because of its endocrine-disrupting function. In this study, the level and removal efficiency by coagulation of anti-estrogenic activity in secondary effluents of domestic wastewater treatment plants were studied. Anti-estrogenic activity was detected in secondary effluent samples at a tamoxifen (TAM) equivalent concentration level of 0.38–0.94 mg-TAM L⁻¹. Dissolved organic matters (DOM) with the molecular weight (MW) less than 3000 Da in hydrophobic acids (HOA) and hydrophobic neutrals (HON) fractions of the secondary effluent were the key fractions related to anti-estrogenic activity. Coagulation with FeCl₃ and polyaluminium chloride (PAC) can remove the anti-estrogenic activity of the secondary effluents, but the removal efficiency was limited. The removal efficiency using FeCl₃ coagulant was higher than that induced by PAC. Dissolved organic carbon was continuously removed with increased coagulant dose (0–120 mg L⁻¹ FeCl₃ or 0–60 mg L⁻¹ PAC). However, the removal of anti-estrogenic activity was not enhanced further when the coagulant concentration was beyond a critical value (30 mg L⁻¹ FeCl₃ or 10 mg L⁻¹ PAC). The highest removal of anti-estrogenic activity was about 36% by FeCl₃ and 20% by PAC. Size exclusion chromatography results indicated difficulty in removing DOM with MW less than 3000 Da in the secondary effluent during coagulation even at a high coagulant concentration, which led to low removal efficiency of anti-estrogenic activity.     

Conservation,development and stakeholder relations in Bhutanese protected area management

Conservation and development initiatives have been widely promoted in protected areas (PAs) in developing countries despite ongoing challenges inherent in their capacity to protected biodiversity and alleviate poverty. Bhutan’s vast PA network is becoming increasingly affected by the rapid expansion of conservation and development activities. This paper examines important challenges that PA stakeholders face during socio-political change, and assess how these challenges might impact stakeholder relations in a remote Asian PA. Multiple methods were used to explore the gap between expectations and delivery of two development projects and provide insights through issues of local capacity, indigenous culture and incompatible priorities. Perceived impacts indicated flaws in project design, strong local cultural norms yet weak local ownership, trust and accountability concerns, tensions between modernization and traditional lifestyles, and prospective trade-offs. Suggestions for stronger projects and PA management include having greater internal leadership, adopting realistic timelines, and openly negotiating trade-offs and hard choices.     

Effect of chemical dose on phosphorus removal and membrane fouling control in a UCT-MBR

Phosphorus removal was enhanced effectively by dosing aluminum sulfate and effluent phosphorus concentration was lower than 0.5 mg/L. Sludge activity was not inhibited but improved slightly with addition of aluminum sulfate. EPS concentrations both in mixed liquid and on membrane surface were decreased, contributing to the effective mitigation of membrane fouling. To enhance phosphorus removal and make the effluent meet the strict discharge level of total phosphorus (TP, 0.5 mg/L), flocculant dosing is frequently applied. In this study, the performance of aluminum sulfate dosing in a University of Cape Town Membrane Bioreactor (UCT-MBR) was investigated, in terms of the nutrients removal performance, sludge characteristics and membrane fouling. The results indicated that the addition of aluminum sulfate into the aerobic reactor continuously had significantly enhanced phosphorus removal. Moreover, COD, NH₄⁺-N and TN removal were not affected and effluent all met the first level A criteria of GB18918-2002. In addition, the addition of aluminum sulfate had improved the sludge activity slightly and reduced trans-membrane pressure (TMP) increase rate from 1.13 KPa/d to 0.57 KPa/d effectively. The membrane fouling was alleviated attributed to the increased average particle sizes and the decreased accumulation of the small sludge particles on membrane surface. Furthermore, the decline of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) concentration in mixed sludge liquid decreased its accumulation on membrane surface, resulting in the mitigation of membrane fouling directly.     

Information presentation compatibility in a simple digital control panel design: eye-tracking study

Various designs of typical digital control panels were analyzed experimentally from both the effectiveness and efficiency points of view. Subjects performed information comparison tasks aimed at keeping vehicle velocity at the same level. The experiment involved two versions of speedometers for displaying current and target velocities (clock-face and digital). The stimuli were also differentiated by the target velocity value (20, 50 and 80?km/h) and the correct response type (increase or decrease). Subjects’ performance results along with the eye-tracking data were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed for all 24 experimental conditions.     

新疆宏观生态环境质量综合评价研究——以布尔津县为例

新疆地处中国西北典型干旱内陆区,生态环境比较恶劣,建立适合新疆的省区一级生态环境质量综合评价指标体系,将对科学、客观了解新疆乃至整个西北干旱区生态环境状况都具有十分重要的理论和实践意义。采用综合指数法,从降水量、植被指数、生态功能价值、土壤侵蚀、降尘量、悬浮物等6个方面选取指标,分别以景观单元和县市为评价单元,建立了简易合理、具可操作性的不同尺度的新疆生态环境质量评价指标体系,并确定了各指标的权值和相对的分级标准,为新疆生态环境现状的准确评价提供了可靠依据,对新疆社会经济的可持续发展和生态环境管理将起到积极作用。     

Influence of different substrates on the formation and characteristics of aerobic granules in sequencing batch reactors

The effects of different substrates on the aerobic granulation process were studied using laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors （SBRs）. Four parallel granules sequencing batch reactors （GSBR）： R1, R2, R3, and R4 were fed with acetate, glucose, peptone and fecula, respectively. Stable aerobic granules were successfully cultivated in R1, R2, R4, and smaller granules less than 500 μm were formed in R3. Morphology and the physic-chemical characteristics of aerobic granules fed with different carbon substrates were investigated by the four reactors operated under the same pressure. The aerobic granules in the four reactors were observed and found that peptone was the most stable one due to its good settleability even after a sludge age as short as 10 d. A strong correlation was testified between the characteristics of aerobic granules and the properties of carbon substrates. The stability of aerobic granules was affected by extracellular polymer substances （EPS） derived from microorganism growth during feast time fed with different carbon substrates, and the influence of the property of storage substance was greater than that of its quantity. Optimal carbon substrates, which are helpful in the cultivation and retention of well-settling granules and in the enhancement of the overall ability of the aerobic granules reactors, were found.     

苏北海域表层沉积物中PH3的分布

为研究海洋生态系统中PH3的迁移转化规律及其产生机制,2006年12月对苏北海域表层沉积物中磷化氢(PH3)、总磷(TP)、无机磷(IP)、有机磷(OP)及有机质(OM)的分布进行了系统分析和讨论。结果表明,PH3在苏北海域表层沉积物中普遍存在,含量在[(2.63±0.38)~(39.35±5.49)]×10-12之间,最大值出现在长江口,最小值出现在辐射沙洲海域。辐射沙洲海域TP和IP的含量较低,长江口及吕四一带含量相对较高,且沿着长江入海方向逐渐减少。OP和OM分布的总体趋势是由南至北,由西到东含量逐渐减小,长江口及吕四港一带含量较高。区与区间PH3与TP、IP及OP的相关性分析表明,IP作为PH3的生成前体物可能性比OP高。     

重点区域大气污染防治行动计划实施的社会经济影响对比

基于2007年中国投入产出表建立了包含产业内部关联波及效应和居民消费诱发效应的投入产出宏观闭模型.在此基础上测算大气污染防治行动计划（以下简称"计划"）完全实施所需投资对京津冀、长三角、珠三角三大重点区域GDP、就业的正负效应及重点区域不同行业的影响,并对不同地区社会经济影响结果进行了比较分析.结果表明:在五年期间项目实施将拉动京津冀地区GDP增加35.66×108元,增加就业岗位约40808个;拉动长三角地区GDP增长2782.03×108元,增加就业岗位约238285个;拉动珠三角地区GDP增长852.85×108元,增加就业岗位约74758个.在短期（2013-2017年）内,长三角地区所获总收益远大于珠三角与京津冀地区.从行业影响看,三大地区实施"计划"后受益的行业主要集中于交通运输设备制造业、通用与专用设备制造业等与"计划"直接关联的行业.京津冀与长三角地区服务业所获得的直接效益远大于珠三角地区,侧面反映出珠三角地区服务业水平要整体高于长三角及京津冀地区;而珠三角和长三角地区因对交通行业投资较大,故交通运输设备制造业所获得的经济效益也要远大于京津冀地区.研究显示,不同地区投资所获的效益受到当地产业结构的影响,在未来产业发展中,京津冀地区应大力发展第三产业,对金属冶炼及压延加工业应多考虑产业结构升级优化;长三角及珠三角地区应鼓励发展新能源汽车、环保装备制造等行业.      

旅游活动对九华山风景区土壤的冲击影响

旅游活动对风景区自然环境影响是旅游生态学研究的重要方向,其中土壤是受其影响最敏感的环境因素之一,也是研究的热点。在九华山风景区选择6条主要游道,设置了21条调查样带,每条样带由近游道向远离游道的方向依次选取4个连续样方,每个样方面积设置为1m×1m。记录了土壤的硬度、枯枝落叶层的厚度、土壤腐殖质层厚度等指标,并取168份土样带回实验室测定。运用土壤冲击指数和土壤含水量、容重等指标对所获得的数据进行统计分析,并用SPSS13的LSD和Pearson对结果进行显著性和相关性检验。结果表明：①土壤的硬度增加率、枯枝落叶层厚度减少率和土壤腐殖质层厚的减少率都由近游道向远离游道的方向逐渐递减,土壤冲击指数也呈现同样的规律,且差异显著（P＜0.05）;②土壤含水量由近游道向远离游道的方向逐渐增加、土壤容重则逐渐降低,但在距游道2 m以外的样方变化不明显;③游道的旅游活动量与土壤受到的影响具有相关性,相关性主要集中在距离游道2 m的范围内;④样带的高度、坡度与土壤受到影响的程度呈现一定的相关性。     

Social Dimensions of Urban Flood Experience,Exposure, and Concern

With growing urban populations and climate change, urban flooding is an important global issue, even in dryland regions. Flood risk assessments are usually used to identify vulnerable locations and populations, flooding experience patterns, or levels of concern about flooding, but rarely are all of these approaches combined. Furthermore, the social dynamics of flood concerns, exposure, and experience are underexplored. We combined geographic and survey data on household‐level measures of flood experience, concern, and exposure in Utah's urbanizing Wasatch Front. We asked: (1) Are socially vulnerable groups more likely to be exposed to flood risk? (2) How common are flooding experiences among urban residents, and how are these experiences related to sociodemographic characteristics and exposure? and (3) How concerned are urban residents about flooding, and does concern vary by exposure, flood experience, and sociodemographic characteristics? Although floodplain residents were more likely to be White and have higher incomes, respondents who were of a racial/ethnic minority, were older, had less education, and were living in floodplains were more likely to report flood experiences and concern about flooding. Flood risk management approaches need to address social as well as physical sources of vulnerability to floods and recognize social sources of variation in flood experiences and concern.