A methodological framework for integrating computational fluid dynamics and ecological models applied to juvenile freshwater mussel dispersal in the Upper Mississippi River

Interdisciplinary research in hydraulics and ecology for river management and restoration must integrate processes that occur over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, which presents a challenge to ecohydraulics modelers. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are being more widely used to determine flow fields for ecohydraulics applications. In the Upper Mississippi River (UMR), the mussel dynamics model was developed as a tool for management and conservation of freshwater mussels (Unionidae), which are benthic organisms, imperiled in North America, that are inextricably linked with the hydraulics of river flow. We updated the juvenile dispersal component of the mussel dynamics model by using stochastic Lagrangian particle tracking in a three dimensional flow field output from CFD models of reaches in the UMR. We developed a methodological framework to integrate hydrodynamic data with the mussel dynamics model, and we demonstrate the use of the juvenile dispersal model employed within the methodological framework in two reaches of the UMR. The method was used to test the hypothesis that impoundment affects the relationship of some hydraulic parameters with juvenile settling distribution. Simulation results were consistent with this hypothesis, and the relationships of bed shear stress and Froude number with juvenile settling were altered by impoundment most likely through effects on local hydraulics. The methodological framework is robust, integrates Eulerian and Lagrangian reference frameworks, and incorporates processes over a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, from watershed scale hydrologic processes (decades), to reach scale (km) processes that occur over hours or days, and turbulent processes on spatial scales of meter to millimeter and times scales of seconds. The methods are presently being used to assess the impacts of pre- and early post-settlement processes on mussel distributions, including the effects of bed shear stress, and the sensitivity of the location of the host fish when juveniles excyst, on juvenile settling distribution.     

Developing the Ethical Delphi

A number of EU institutions and government committees across Europe have expressed interest in developing methods and decision-support tools to facilitate consideration of the ethical dimensions of biotechnology assessment. As part of the work conducted in the EC supported project on ethical tools (Ethical Bio-TA Tools), a number of ethical frameworks with the potential to support the work of public policy decision-makers has been characterized and evaluated. One of these potential tools is the Delphi method. The Delphi method was originally developed to assess variables that are intangible and/or shrouded in uncertainty by drawing on the knowledge and abilities of a diverse group of experts through a form of anonymous and iterative consultation. The method has hitherto been used by a diversity of practitioners to explore issues such as technology assessment, environmental planning, and public health measures. From the original (classical) Delphi, a family of Delphi-related processes has emerged. As a result of the evaluation of the various Delphi processes, it is proposed that the classical method can be further developed and applied as a form of ethical framework to assist policy-makers. Through a series of exercises and trials, an Ethical Delphi has been developed as a potential approach for characterizing ethical issues raised by the use of novel biotechnologies. Advantages and disadvantages of the method are discussed. Further work is needed to develop the procedural aspects of the Ethical Delphi method and to test its use in different cultural contexts. However, utilizing an ethical framework of this type combines the advantages of a methodical approach to capture ethical aspects with the democratic virtues of transparency and openness to criticism. Ethical frameworks such as the Ethical Delphi should contribute to better understanding of and decision-making on issues that involve decisive ethical dimensions.     

A goal oriented indicator framework to support integrated assessment of new policies for agri-environmental systems

The goal oriented framework (GOF) for indicators has been developed as part of a comprehensive research project developing computerised tools for integrated assessment of the effects of new policies or technologies on agricultural systems (SEAMLESS-IF). The ambition has therefore been to create an indicator framework where the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainable development can be related to each other in a consistent way. Integrated assessment tools rely on such frameworks to capture and visualise trade-offs (antagonisms or synergies) among indicators between and within the three dimensions of sustainable development. The specific aims of this paper are to (i) present the GOF (ii) present how the GOF can be used to select indicators within the integrated assessment framework SEAMLESS-IF and (iii) discuss the advantages and limitations with the proposed approach. We show that the GOF has several advantages. Its major rewards are its relative simplicity and the possibility to link indicators to policy goals of each dimension of sustainability and thereby facilitate the comparison of the impacts of the new policy on the different dimensions. Another important feature of the GOF is its multi-scale perspective, which will enable the comparison of effects of a new policy between scales. Yet, as typical for all indicator frameworks, the GOF has also biases either instigated by the issues the included models cover or by the stakeholders’ selection of indicators. However, due to the way the GOF and its indicators are technically implemented in SEAMLESS-IF, it can easily be extended and include new indicators to increase and update its policy relevance.     

含钴基金属有机框架硅橡胶泡沫阻燃特性研究*

为提高硅橡胶泡沫（SiFs）的阻燃性能,采用溶剂法制备钴基金属有机框架材料（Co-MOFs）并用X射线光电子能谱仪（XPS）对其结构进行表征。将制备的材料添加到SiFs中,利用极限氧指数（LOI）、UL-94试验和锥形量热仪（CONE）对SiFs的阻燃性能和抑烟性能进行研究。结果表明:添加1%及以上Co-MOFs时,SiFs阻燃等级达到UL-94-V0级;添加3%Co-MOFs时,SiFs的LOI达30.2%,热释放速率峰值（PHRR）和总热释放量（THR）相比原样分别降低了56.92%和66.73%;添加1%Co-MOFs的SiFs的产烟率峰值（PSPR）和产烟量（TSR）比原样分别降低了82%和85%,Co-MOFs提高了SiFs的阻燃和抑烟性能。     

Decoding and quantitative detection of antibiotics by a luminescent mixed-lanthanide-organic framework

● A series of mixed-LOFs and portable LOF-fibers were synthesized. ● LOF-S3 was selected as a luminescent sensor for antibiotics. ● Mixed-LOF was capable of decoding antibiotics by emission intensity ratios. ● Linear relationship between antibiotic concentration and I545nm/I618nm was observed. Due to the potential risk of antibiotics to the environment, the development of inexpensive, simple, and reliable antibiotic detection methods is significant but also faces challenges. In this work, several lanthanide-organic frameworks (LOFs), constructed from lanthanide ions (Eu³⁺ and/or Tb³⁺) and 1,3,5-benzene-tricarboxylic acid (BTC), were synthesized by solvothermal method. LOF-S3 with comparable emission peaks of ⁵D₄ → ⁷F₅ (Tb³⁺, 545 nm) and ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ (Eu³⁺, 618 nm) was selected as a luminescent sensor. In this system, the highly efficient energy transferred from the organic linker to lanthanide ions and from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ occurs. LOF-S3 sensor was capable of decoding antibiotics by distinguishable emission intensity ratios. Therefore, a two-dimensional decoded map of antibiotics was established. The linear relationship between antibiotic concentration and emission intensity ratio indicated the quantitative determination of antibiotics was feasible. As a typical analyte, the response mechanism of nalidixic acid (NA) was investigated in detail. The competition of NA and BTC for UV light absorption, as well as the binding propensity of NA and Tb, affected the organic linkers-to-lanthanide ions and Tb-to-Eu energy transfer, resulting in the change of fluorescence intensity ratio. The self-calibrating mixed-LOF sensor overcame the uncontrollable errors of the traditional absolute emission intensity method and generated stable luminescent signals in multiple cycles. Furthermore, the integration of LOF-S3 with polymer fibers enabled the formation of a LOF-polymer fibrous composite with fluorescence detection capability, which is a promising portable sensor for practical applications.     

MIL-125(Ti)/NH2-MIL-125(Ti)材料的制备及其对铀酰离子吸附性能的研究

寻找具有高效、高吸附量、高选择性的吸附剂处理放射性的含铀废水,对环境保护具有现实意义.通过溶剂热法合成两种金属有机框架材料MIL-125和NH₂-MIL-125,并用X-射线衍射仪（XRD）、扫描电镜（SEM）、傅里叶变换红外光谱仪（FT-IR）、热重分析仪（TGA/DSC）等仪器对两种材料的结构和形貌分别进行表征,探究不同的初始pH、初始铀浓度、吸附时间等条件下两种材料分别对UO₂²⁺吸附性能的影响.结果表明：本实验成功合成了MIL-125和NH₂-MIL-125两种材料;当初始pH分别为5和8时,MIL-125和NH₂-MIL-125材料对UO₂²⁺的吸附效果最好.通过Langmuir和Freundlich方程进行热力学拟合可知,两种材料的吸附过程更符合Langmuir方程,在25℃时MIL-125、NH₂-MIL-125对UO₂²⁺的最大吸附量分别为264.4 mg·g^-1和327.3 mg·g^-1,最佳吸附时间分别为480 min和70 min.     

Tix-Ni1-x-MOFs的制备及其CO选择性催化还原NOx研究

采用溶剂热法和微波法合成了不同比例的Ti_x-Ni_1-x-MOFs材料,并用于以CO为还原剂的选择性催化脱硝反应。结果表明,双金属Ti_x-Ni_1-x-MOFs的NO还原率显著高于单金属Ni-MOF,且反应温度窗口更宽,其中,Ti_0.2-Ni_0.8-MOF表现出最佳的脱硝效率,在200~400^oC温度范围达到100%的转化率。通过XRD,FT-IR,SEM,TGA,XPS,N₂吸脱附等表征手段发现,Ti掺杂Ni-MOF后有利于改善原子分散性,Ti、Ni间金属的相互作用有利于产生丰富的高效Ni-O-Ti位点,加强Ni²⁺+Ti⁴⁺↔Ni³⁺+Ti³⁺氧化还原循环,从而明显提高了NO+CO催化反应性能。与溶剂热法相比,微波法制备Ti_0.2-Ni_0.8-MOF具有合成效率高、结晶度好、晶粒细小均匀的优势,并进一步提高了其低温脱硝效果。