Disaster preparedness in a complex urban system: the case of Kathmandu Valley,Nepal

The city is a growing centre of humanitarian concern. Yet, aid agencies, governments and donors are only beginning to comprehend the scale and, importantly, the complexity of the humanitarian challenge in urban areas. Using the case study of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, this paper examines the analytical utility of recent research on complex urban systems in strengthening scholarly understanding of urban disaster risk management, and outlines its operational relevance to disaster preparedness. Drawing on a literature review and 26 interviews with actors from across the Government of Nepal, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, non‐governmental organisations, United Nations agencies, and at‐risk communities, the study argues that complexity can be seen as a defining feature of urban systems and the risks that confront them. To manage risk in these systems effectively, preparedness efforts must be based on adaptive and agile approaches, incorporating the use of network analysis, partnerships, and new technologies.     

滇池草海间隙水与上覆水氮磷时空变化特征

本文连续12个月监测了滇池草海柱状沉积物间隙水和上覆水不同形态氮磷浓度的垂向变化,揭示了不同季节间隙水与上覆水氮磷浓度差异及其形态组成贡献率,探讨了间隙水氮磷组成及氮/磷比值在湖泊富营养化及内负荷控制中的重要意义.结果表明:(1)草海间隙水NH_4~+-N浓度显著高于上覆水,而上覆水中NO_3~--N浓度显著高于间隙水,春、夏和秋季(2~11月)间隙水SRP浓度显著高于上覆水,而冬季(12月和1月)则与之恰好相反;(2)草海间隙水以NH_4~+-N和SRP贡献为主,分别占DTN和DTP的61%和78%,而上覆水则以DON和DOP贡献为主,分别占DTN和DTP的44%和81%,与春季和冬季相比,夏、秋季间隙水NH_4~+-N和SRP贡献率显著增加,而NO_3~--N、DON和DOP贡献率明显下降;(3)草海间隙水DTN/DTP、(NH_4~+-N+NO_3~--N)/SRP和DON/DOP比值均表现为春季冬季夏季秋季,而上覆水氮/磷比值则以春季较高,夏、秋和冬季相对较低.     

镉对黑斑蛙精巢细胞色素P450酶及谷胱甘肽转移酶活性的影响

细胞色素P450酶(CYP450)和谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)是动物体内主要的解毒酶,在外源毒物的转化和代谢过程中具有重要作用.本文在实验条件下, 将健康性成熟黑斑蛙(Rana nigromaculata)暴露于浓度分别为0.005、0.01、0.05、0.1、0.5和1.0 mg·L^-1的Cd溶液中30 d, 采用荧光分光光度法和紫外分光光度法测定精巢组织乙氧基异酚恶唑脱乙基酶(EROD)、红霉素N-脱甲基酶 (ERND)、氨基比林-N-脱甲基醇酶(APND)和谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)活性,探讨Cd在精巢的可能代谢过程和毒性机理.结果表明, 与对照组比较, EROD和GST酶活性在0.5和1.0 mg·L^-1 Cd处理组被显著抑制; ERND酶活性在0.01~1.0 mg·L^-1 Cd处理组均被显著抑制;而APND酶活性在各处理组响应变化不明显.结果显示, 精巢EROD、ERND和GST对Cd胁迫的敏感性高于APND, 黑斑蛙精巢中EROD、ERND和GST酶活性的响应可用来评价环境中低水平Cd的污染效应.     

不确定节点水量下水质监测点优化选址方法

针对供水管网水质监测点的优化选址问题,提出污染源位置识别准确度的概念,以水质监测点探测到的不同污染事件的时段区间冗余度最小化,和污染事件探测概率最大化为优化目标,结合一个案例管网,采用非支配排序遗传算法计算节点用水量变化条件下的监测点优化选址方案,算例结果显示节点用水量的不确定性不显著影响监测点的污染事件探测能力和可能性节点识别能力,但使监测点的污染源位置识别准确度降低.     

实验室信息管理系统在环境监测站中的应用——以西安市环境监测站为例

根据环境监测站以往的业务特点和存在的问题,引入了基于监测站特色的实验室信息管理系统。笔者重点介绍了西安环境监测站实验室信息管理系统的工作流程和系统组块,反映出系统灵活、严谨的运行特点,以及全面的系统应用功能。此外,描述了本站LIMS快速、高效的运行状况、常见弊端和LIMS实施的局限性。为今后同行业监测站LIMS的建设、实施和应用提供范本和应用经验和建议,促进了环境监测行业的信息化、现代化管理。     

改性沸石的沉积物磷钝化效果研究

通过室内模拟实验,对天然沸石及不同方法改性沸石的磷吸附性能及沉积物磷钝化效果进行了对比研究。磷吸附实验结果表明,磷吸附量大小为改性沸石Z3>改性沸石Z2>改性沸石Z1>天然沸石,35d的平均吸附量分别为832、466、168和70mg/kg。改性沸石的磷吸附量与沸石含量正相关,并随时间呈增长趋势,其中改性沸石Z3第35d的磷吸附量可达1690mg/kg。离子交换量测定结果显示,沸石经改性后促进了Ca2+的释放,同时减少了K+、Na+的释放量。沉积物磷钝化实验表明,改性沸石可有效减少沉积物TP、DRP的释放,减少释放量达80%以上。天然沸石主要通过表面吸附减少水体磷含量,其次,物理阻隔作用拓展了钝化作用的时间和空间。Al(OH)3絮凝物通过表面吸附、电中和及架桥作用可显著提高改性沸石的磷吸附量,增强沉积物磷钝化效果。     

Developing a chloramine decay index to understand nitrification: A case study of two chloraminated drinking water distribution systems

The management of chloramine decay and the prevention of nitrification are some of the critical issues faced by water utilities that use chloramine as a disinfectant.In this study,potential association between high performance size exclusion chromatography(HPSEC)data obtained with multiple wavelength Ultraviolet(UV) detection from two drinking water distribution systems in Australia and nitrification occurrence was investigated.An increase in the absorbance signal of HPSEC profiles with UV detection at λ = 230 nm between apparent molecular weights of 200 to 1000 Da was observed at sampling sites that experienced rapid chloramine decay and nitrification while its absorbance signal at λ =254 nm decreased.A chloramine decay index(C.D.I) defined as the ratio of area beneath the HPSEC spectra at two different wavelengths of 230 and 254 nm,was used in assessing chloramine decay occurrences.The C.D.Is of waters at locations that experienced nitrification were consistently higher than locations not experiencing nitrification.A simulated laboratory study showed that the formation of nitrite/nitrate and/or soluble microbial products and/or the release of extracellular polymeric substances(EPS) during nitrification may contribute to the C.D.I.increase.These findings suggest that C.D.I derived from HPSEC with multiple wavelength UV detection could be an informative index to track the occurrence of rapid chloramine decay and nitrification.     

Oxidation reactivity of 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE) by Compound I model of cytochrome P450s

Alternative brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have become prevalent as a consequence of restrictions on the use of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). For risk assessment of these alternatives, knowledge of their metabolism via cytochrome P450 enzymes is needed. We have previously proved that density functional theory (DFT) is able to predict the metabolism of PBDEs by revealing the molecular mechanisms. In the current study, the reactivity of 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane and structurally similar chemicals with the Compound I model representing the active site of P450 enzymes was investigated. The DFT calculations delineated reaction pathways which lead to reasonable explanations for products that were detected by wet experiments, meanwhile intermediates which cannot be determined were also proposed. Results showed that alkyl hydrogen abstraction will lead to bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethanol, which may undergo hydrolysis yielding 2,4,6-tribromophenol, a neurotoxic compound. In addition, a general pattern of oxidation reactivity regarding the 2,4,6-tribromophenyl moiety was observed among several model compounds. Our study has provided insights for convenient evaluation of the metabolism of other structurally similar BFRs.     

Multiple impact pathways of the 2015–2016 El Niño in coastal Kenya

The 2015–2016 El Niño had large impacts globally. The effects were not as great as anticipated in Kenya, however, leading some commentators to call it a ‘non-event’. Our study uses a novel combination of participatory Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis tools, and new and existing social and biophysical data, to analyse vulnerability to, and the multidimensional impacts of, the 2015–2016 El Niño episode in southern coastal Kenya. Using a social-ecological systems lens and a unique dataset, our study reveals impacts overlooked by conventional analysis. We show how El Niño stressors interact with and amplify existing vulnerabilities to differentially impact local ecosystems and people. The policy significance of this finding is that the development of specific national capacities to deal with El Niño events is insufficient; it will be necessary to also address local vulnerabilities to everyday and recurrent stressors and shocks to build resilience to the effects of El Niño and other extremes in climate and weather.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01321-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater systems and related environments in Wuhan: April to May of 2020

Wastewater-based epidemiology(WBE) has emerged as an effective environmental surveillance tool in monitoring fecal-oral pathogen infections within a community. Congruently, SARS-Co V-2, the etiologic agent of COVID-19, has been demonstrated to infect the gastrointestinal tissues, and be shed in feces. In the present study, SARS-Co V-2 RNA was concentrated from wastewater, sludge, surface water, ground water, sediment, and soil samples of municipal and hospital wastewater systems and related envi...