Chemical, dimensional and morphological ultrafine particle characterization from a waste-to-energy plant

Waste combustion processes are responsible of particles and gaseous emissions. Referring to the particle emission, in the last years specific attention was paid to ultrafine particles (UFPs, diameter less than 0.1 μm), mainly emitted by combustion processes. In fact, recent findings of toxicological and epidemiological studies indicate that fine and ultrafine particles could represent a risk for health and environment. Therefore, it is necessary to quantify particle emissions from incinerators also to perform an exposure assessment for the human populations living in their surrounding areas.To these purposes, in the present work an experimental campaign aimed to monitor UFPs was carried out at the incineration plant in San Vittore del Lazio (Italy). Particle size distributions and total concentrations were measured both at the stack and before the fabric filter inlet in order to evaluate the removal efficiency of the filter in terms of UFPs. A chemical characterization of UFPs in terms of heavy metal concentration was performed through a nuclear method, i.e. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA), as well as a mineralogical investigation was carried out through a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) equipped with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS) in order to evaluate shape, crystalline state and mineral compound of sampled particles.Maximum values of 2.7 × 10⁷ part. cm⁻³ and 2.0 × 10³ part. cm⁻³ were found, respectively, for number concentration before and after the fabric filter showing a very high efficiency in particle removing by the fabric filter. With regard to heavy metal concentrations, the elements with higher boiling temperature present higher concentrations at lower diameters showing a not complete evaporation in the combustion section and the consequent condensation of semi-volatile compounds on solid nuclei. In terms of mineralogical and morphological analysis, the most abundant compounds found in samples collected before the fabric filter are Na–K–Pb oxides followed by phyllosilicates, otherwise, different oxides of comparable abundance were detected in the samples collected at the stack.     

含厚层软弱夹层硬质围岩的变形破坏特性

以某隧道为背景,通过地质条件分析并结合FLAC3D数值模拟手段,采用对比含有厚层软弱夹层和不含软弱夹层的2个不同模型的方法,从地应力变化、塑性区开展、变形、下覆岩体受压和位移等角度分析了含厚层软弱夹层硬质围岩的变形破坏特性。发现对于含厚层软弱夹层和不含软弱夹层的这2个不同模型,地应力的差别较小,但都为不含节理的岩体的0.5倍或更小,因此认为节理是影响含厚层软弱夹层硬质围岩变性破坏的因素之一;而2个模型在塑性区开展、变形量、下覆岩体受压和位移等方面差别较大,因此认为厚层软弱夹层对硬质围岩的变形破坏起着显著作用。同时通过创建三维模型采用分步开挖的方法,模拟了含厚层软弱夹层硬质围岩的变形破坏过程,分析认为其具有隐蔽性和发生时间不确定性的特点。研究结果可为类似地质情况的隧道建设提供参考。     

北京西山典型游憩林内PM2.5质量浓度及水溶性离子特征分析

以北京西山森林公园为观测点,运用双通道颗粒物在线监测设备监测PM2.5质量浓度,使用离子色谱仪测定样品中水溶性离子浓度,对北京西山油松林PM2.5质量浓度及水溶性离子特征进行分析。结果表明：PM2.5质量浓度为冬季（121.29±16.78）μg·m-3 > 春季（106.06±12.68）μg·m-3 > 秋季（88.01±17.44）μg·m-3 > 夏季（72.67±12.18）μg·m-3;SO42-、Na+、NO3-、HCOO-是PM2.5中最主要的水溶性离子成分,占所测水溶性离子浓度在四季分别为94.99%、72.66%、72.66%、89.52%,PM2.5受SO42-、Na+、NO3-、NH4+影响较大,基本呈正相关关系,SO42-、Na+、NO3-、NH4+、PM2.5浓度季节变化一致,即在冬季最高,夏季最低,春秋次之,且水溶性离子季节差异显著。SO42-和NO3-、Na+、NH4+的相关性极显著（r=0.85、0.80、0.92）,NO3-和Na+、NH4+之间关系也较大（r=0.87、0.66）,Ca2+和Mg2+相关性极明显（r=0.98）,其他水溶性离子间无明显的相关性,固定源和海洋源对水溶性离子贡献程度呈现出季节差异,秋季机动车尾气排放对空气硫和氮污染贡献达最高,春季最低,夏秋季海洋源对Cl-影响明显。通过对森林植被区PM2.5、水溶性离子特征及关系进行分析,更好地发挥植被的生态效益,提高空气质量。     

Media Access and Political Efficacy in the Eco-politics of Climate Change: Canadian National News and Mediated Policy Networks

We use a discourse network analysis approach to answer two questions about national news coverage of climate change policy debate in Canada during the period 2006–2010. First, what is the media visibility of actors relevant to policy development and advocacy on climate change? Second, given the political and economic context of climate policy-making in Canada, does greater or lesser media visibility reflect effectiveness in climate policy advocacy? Multiple interpretive frameworks characterize Canadian political discourse about climate change, with fragmentation between the federal government, opposition political parties, provincial governments, and environmental organizations. Contrary to expectations, environmental organizations had high levels of media visibility while the relative invisibility of fossil fuel corporations was notable in the media coverage of Canadian climate discussions. Our findings challenge optimistic accounts of the relationship between media power and political power, and suggest that media power does not necessarily translate to political efficacy.     

Two error components model for measurement error: application to radon in homes

In this paper, a simple model for analysing variability in radon concentrations in homes is tested. The approach used here involves two error components, representing additive and multiplicative errors, together with variation between-houses. We use a Bayesian approach for our analysis and apply this model to two datasets of repeat radon measurements in homes; one based on 3-month long measurements for which the original measurements were close to the current UK Radon Action Level (200 Bq m⁻³), and the other based on 6-month measurement data (from regional and national surveys), for which the original measurements cover a wide range of radon concentrations, down to very low levels. The model with two error components provides a better fit to these datasets than does a model based on solely multiplicative errors.     

活性污泥洗涤烹饪油烟的传质性能强化

利用自制的模拟油烟生物洗涤净化装置,以活性污泥做洗涤液,通过更换直径不同的喷气头、转动其方位、升降其到洗涤液面的距离来调节装置气-液接触速度、角度和距离进行模拟烹饪油烟洗涤实验,根据双膜理论计算不同气-液接触速度、角度和距离下的传质系数,并求得相应的油烟去除率。结果表明,最佳的气-液接触速度、距离和角度分别为24.49 m·h-1、20 cm和0°,最佳反应条件下,对应的油烟传质系数分别为0.196 2、0.170 4 和0.153 0 h-1,油烟去除率分别为85.51%、85.36%和86.03%。     

Body mass and parental decisions in the Antarctic petrel Thalassoica antarctica : how long should the parents guard the chick?

In Procellariiformes, the parents guard the chick after it has attained homeothermy. This strategy may reduce the probability that a small chick is taken by predators, but is costly as only one parent can forage at a time. The decision to leave the chick may therefore be a compromise between the chick's vulnerability to predators, the body condition of the parent on the nest and whether the foraging parent returns in time. We studied how the number of days that parents guarded the chick was related to the body mass of the parent at the nest and the time the foraging parent spent at sea in the Antarctic petrel Thalassoica antarctica. We also examined how the body mass of the parent on the nest and the duration of the foraging trips influenced the chicks' body condition at the end of the guarding period. When the foraging parent did not return to the nest in time to relieve its mate, the number of days the parent on the nest kept guarding the chick was positively related to its body mass on arrival in the colony. The number of days the foraging parent spent at sea was positively related to the body mass of its mate, but those that returned in time had a shorter stay at sea relative to their mate's body mass than those that did not return before their mate had left. Apparently, both the body mass of the parent at the nest and the ability of the foraging parent to adjust its stay at sea to the mate's body mass is important for the number of days the parents guard the chick and also the chick's body condition at this point. The inability to return to the nest before the mate has left may be the result of needing a minimum amount of time at sea to find food, or because some parents having low foraging success and therefore prolong their stay at sea. Received: 10 October 1997 / Accepted after revision: 14 March 1998     

微波诱导改性活性炭催化处理低浓度抗生素废水

通过采用负载FeSO4活性炭、CuSO4活性炭和一般活性炭作为微波催化剂处理抗生素废水的对比实验,研究不同负载方法对抗生素制药废水COD去除的差别,结果表明,负载FeSO4的活性炭作为催化剂的微波处理系统对COD的去除率最高.以微波诱导负载FeSO4的活性炭为催化剂对抗生素制药废水进行处理,结果表明,增大负载FeSO4活性炭质量,微波辐射时间和微波功率,均有利于抗生素废水中COD的去除,但各影响因素的取值并不是越大越好.对微波诱导负载FeSO4活性炭催化工艺处理抗生素废水进行反应动力学分析,结果显示,过程近似一级反应,其动力学方程为:lnC0/C=0.1413t+5.4121,r=0.9876.反应动力学常数为0.1413 min-1.     

Assessing Habitat Quality for a Migratory Songbird Wintering in Natural and Agricultural Habitats

Abstract:  As tropical forests are cleared, a greater proportion of migratory songbirds are forced to winter in agricultural and disturbed habitats, which, if poorer in quality than natural forests, could contribute to population declines. We compared demographic indicators of habitat quality for a focal species, the American Redstart ( Setophaga ruticilla ), wintering in Jamaican citrus orchards and shade coffee plantations with those in four natural habitats: mangrove, coastal scrub, coastal palm, and dry limestone forests. Demographic measures of habitat quality included density, age and sex ratio, apparent survival, and changes in body mass. Measures of habitat quality for redstarts in citrus and coffee habitats were generally intermediate between the highest (mangrove) and lowest (dry limestone) measurements from natural habitats. The decline in mean body mass over the winter period was a strong predictor of annual survival rate among habitats, and we suggest that measures of body condition coupled with survival data provide the best measures of habitat quality for nonbreeding songbirds. Density, which is far easier to estimate, was correlated with these more labor-intensive measures, particularly in the late winter when food is likely most limiting. Thus, local density may be useful as an approximation of habitat quality for wintering migrant warblers. Our findings bolster those of previous studies based on bird abundance that suggest arboreal agricultural habitats in the tropics can be useful for the conservation of generalist, insectivorous birds, including many migratory passerines such as redstarts.     

Detection of antibiotics in chicken eggs obtained from supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam

The residual levels of antibiotics in Vietnamese eggs were monitored from 2014 to 2015. A total of 111 egg packages, distributed by 11 different companies, were collected from supermarkets in Ho Chi Minh City and the levels of 28 antibiotics were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) screening method. Sixteen samples tested positive for antibiotics; a total of eight compounds (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethazine, sulfamonomethoxine, tilmicosin and trimethoprim) were detected. Enrofloxacin was detected in eight samples, with two samples exhibiting concentrations exceeding 1,000 µg kg^?1. Tilmicosin was detected in three samples at a range of 49–568 µg kg^?1. We observed that two of the 11 companies frequently sold antibiotic-contaminated eggs (detection rates of 56 and 60%), suggesting that a number of companies do not regulate the use of antibiotics in egg-laying hens. Our findings indicate that livestock farmers require instruction regarding antibiotic use and that continual antibiotic monitoring is essential in Vietnam.