A System for Measuring Vertical Concentration Profiles of Gaseous Pollutants,Using Carbon Dioxide as a Case Study

An electronically-controlled sampling system, characterised by its organ pipe design, has been developed for sampling air sequentially, at different heights within the breathing zone. Data are automatically logged at the different receptor levels, for the determination of the average vertical concentration profile of gaseous pollutants. The system has been coupled to a carbon dioxide monitor and used in a brief study of the spatial and temporal variation of indoor carbon dioxide concentration. The system can easily be extended for different heights or modified for use with other types of gas monitor. The results of a trial run, which was carried out in a coffee room, are presented and applications of the Organ Pipe Sequential Sampling (OPSS) system are discussed.     

An optimal level of dust explosion risk management: Framework and application

The current research provides guidance on the prevention and mitigation of dust explosion using a Quantitative Risk Management Framework (QRMF). Using concepts drawn from previous studies, the framework consists of three main steps: (i) a new combined safety management protocol, (ii) the use of DESC (Dust Explosion Simulation Code) and FTA (Fault Tree Analysis) to assess explosion consequences and likelihood, respectively, and (iii) application of the hierarchy of controls (inherent, engineered and procedural safety). QRMF assessment of an industrial case study showed that the original process was at high risk. DESC simulations and Probit equations determined the destructive percentages. FTAs revealed high probabilities of explosion occurrence; in addition, detailed individual and societal risks calculations were made, before and after the framework was applied. Based on the hierarchy of controls technique, the framework showed significant risk reduction to the point where the residual risk was acceptable for the process.     

Worst-case identification of gas dispersion for gas detector mapping using dispersion modeling

To quickly and accurately quantify the material release in process units, gas detectors may be placed according to the results of gas dispersion modeling. DNV's PHAST software is one of the most useful and reliable tools for material dispersion modeling. In this software, fluid dispersion is modeled based on the process conditions, the weather conditions and the specifications of the material release point. However, varying weather conditions throughout the year and the exact determination of the release point on the plot plan and the release elevation are problematic; these issues cause the results to be non-exact and non-integrated. Choosing the most appropriate conditions is challenging. In this paper, a scheme was provided to select the most appropriate conditions for gas dispersion modeling. This scheme approaches modeling based on the worst-case scenario (the situation in which the dispersed gas reaches the detector later in comparison to the other cases). Therefore, different weather conditions, release elevations and release points on the plot plan were modeled for an absorber tower of the Gonbadli Dehydration Unit of the Khangiran Refinery. The worst case of each release condition was then chosen. Finally, gas detectors were placed using the gas dispersion modeling results based on the worst-case scenario.     

核事故中放射性核素扩散浓度的理论预测

在高斯烟羽模型的基础上,对核事故中放射性云团在大气中的扩散规律进行了研究。利用倾斜烟团模式,考虑实际过程中核素粒子的重力沉降、雨洗作用以及放射性衰变等因素的影响,提出一种迅速估算放射性核素扩散浓度的方法。该方法可计算核事故中连续点源和瞬时点源在不同气象、地形条件下的浓度分布,并可获得地面的干沉积率和湿沉积率。放射性核素浓度的确定是放射性事故抢险救援和辐射防护等工作的基础和前提,是放射性事故应急救援的重要组成部分。该结果在核事故的应急救援过程中,对救援人员划定警戒区和确定周围居民的疏散范围具有重要意义,并可为制定救援方案和应急决策提供科学依据。     

炮采放顶煤采空区自然发火的数值模拟应用

针对炮采放顶煤开采采空区容易发生自燃问题，基于漏风渗流方程、气体渗流一扩散-氧消耗方程，建立了采空区自然发火非稳定数值模型，采空区按非均质考虑，耗氧汇按煤矸氧化和瓦斯涌出稀释两方面综合考虑，用有限元数值方法联立求解模型。结合羊草沟矿实例，通过该矿自然发火后来的测试区的现场实测结果，拟合反演得到采空区煤的耗氧速度、瓦斯涌出强度和渗透特征参数，用确定的模型分析了前段出现自然发火的原因；描绘了炮采放顶煤开采时采空区冷却带、自燃带和窒息带等三带的形状，指出冒落压实的不均衡的非均质采空区，自燃点在偏人风一侧。用三带划分理论讨论了工作面参数（风量、推进度、控顶距）同自燃的量化关系，提出了从根本上预防采空区自然发火的途径与方法。     

污水灌溉对土壤重金属含量、酶活性和微生物类群分布的影响

以沈阳张士灌区长期污灌的农田土壤为对象,研究了土壤重金属、土壤酶活性、微生物生物量和种群分布特征,分析了土壤微生物参数与土壤重金属和土壤性质的相关关系.结果表明,虽然已停止污灌十余年,张士灌区农田土壤仍存在Cd、Zn、Cu等多种重金属污染.土壤Cd污染最严重,含量达1.75～3.89 mg·kg-1.土壤耕作层(0～30cm)Zn、Cu、Pb总含量随土层深度增加逐渐减少,而Cd元素的垂直分布呈向下迁移的趋势.Cd、Zn、Cu、Pb等4种重金属含量水平分布特征相似,均为1号样地＞2号样地＞3号样地＞4号样地.相关性分析表明,张士灌区土壤酶活性、微生物生物量和种群分布受重金属污染和土壤养分的影响,土壤养分含量(有机碳、N、P、K)对微生物的正面效应大于重金属对微生物的负面效应.土壤全量Cd和速效K对微生物参数的影响最为明显,Cd含量与多酚氧化酶活性和微生物生物量(Cmic)呈极显著负相关,与纤维素酶活性呈极显著正相关(P＜0 01),速效K含量与多酚氧化酶活性、微生物生物量以及可培养微生物种群数量均呈极显著正相关(P＜0.01).     

甘肃境内国家重点保护鸟类鱼类、两栖类的分布规律

对甘肃省境内国家重点保护鸟类的分布规律进行了分析.结果表明,该省分布有国家重点保护鸟类59种(含亚种),隶属7目11科,其中,国家1级保护鸟类12种,2级保护鸟类47种;重点保护鱼类1种;两栖类2种.国家重点保护鸟类以古北界为主,占61.0%,东洋界鸟类仅分布于陇中黄土高原省和陇南山地省占11.9%.陇中黄土高原省、祁连山地省、陇南山地省分布有国家重点保护鸟类57 5%～61.0%,是甘肃境内国家重点保护鸟类的集中分布区.祁连山、白龙江、洮河林区是甘肃省鸟类重点保护区域,祁连山、白水江、安西3个保护区保护了甘肃省境内保护鸟类的86.4%.国家重点保护鱼类仅有秦岭细鳞鲑(Brachymystaxlenok)1种,为古北界成分,国家2级保护动物,分布于中部黄土高原省的渭河南岸较大支流中.国家重点保护两栖类有2种,均为古北界成分,国家2级保护动物,分布于陇南山地省.     

Using long-term data for a reintroduced population to empirically estimate future consequences of inbreeding

Inbreeding depression is an important long-term threat to reintroduced populations. However, the strength of inbreeding depression is difficult to estimate in wild populations because pedigree data are inevitably incomplete and because good data are needed on survival and reproduction. Predicting future population consequences is especially difficult because this also requires projecting future inbreeding levels and their impacts on long-term population dynamics, which are subject to many uncertainties. We illustrate how such projections can be derived through Bayesian state-space modeling methods based on a 26-year data set for North Island Robins (Petroica longipes) reintroduced to Tiritiri Matangi Island in 1992. We used pedigree data to model increases in the average inbreeding level (F ) over time based on kinship of possible breeding pairs and to estimate empirically N_e/N (effective/census population size). We used multiple imputation to model the unknown components of inbreeding coefficients, which allowed us to estimate effects of inbreeding on survival for all 1458 birds in the data set while modeling density dependence and environmental stochasticity. This modeling indicated that inbreeding reduced juvenile survival (1.83 lethal equivalents [SE 0.81]) and may have reduced subsequent adult survival (0.44 lethal equivalents [0.81]) but had no apparent effect on numbers of fledglings produced. Average inbreeding level increased to 0.10 (SE 0.001) as the population grew from 33 (0.3) to 160 (6) individuals over the 25 years, giving a ratio of 0.56 (0.01). Based on a model that also incorporated habitat regeneration, the population was projected to reach a maximum of 331–1144 birds (median 726) in 2130, then to begin a slow decline. Without inbreeding, the population would be expected stabilize at 887–1465 birds (median 1131). Such analysis, therefore, makes it possible to empirically derive the information needed for rational decisions about inbreeding management while accounting for multiple sources of uncertainty.     

Defining and Evaluating the Umbrella Species Concept for Conserving and Restoring Landscape Connectivity

Conserving or restoring landscape connectivity between patches of breeding habitat is a common strategy to protect threatened species from habitat fragmentation. By managing connectivity for some species, usually charismatic vertebrates, it is often assumed that these species will serve as conservation umbrellas for other species. We tested this assumption by developing a quantitative method to measure overlap in dispersal habitat of 3 threatened species—a bird (the umbrella), a butterfly, and a frog—inhabiting the same fragmented landscape. Dispersal habitat was determined with Circuitscape, which was parameterized with movement data collected for each species. Despite differences in natural history and breeding habitat, we found substantial overlap in the spatial distributions of areas important for dispersal of this suite of taxa. However, the intuitive umbrella species (the bird) did not have the highest overlap with other species in terms of the areas that supported connectivity. Nevertheless, we contend that when there are no irreconcilable differences between the dispersal habitats of species that cohabitate on the landscape, managing for umbrella species can help conserve or restore connectivity simultaneously for multiple threatened species with different habitat requirements. Definición y Evaluación del Concepto de Especie Paraguas para Conservar y Restaurar la Conectividad de Paisajes