Variations in concentrations and bioavailability of heavy metals in rivers caused by water conservancy projects: Insights from water regulation of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir in the Yellow River

Water regulation of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir of the Yellow River was chosen as a case to investigate variations in concentrations and bioavailability of heavy metals caused by water conservancy projects in rivers. Water and suspended sediment (SPS) samples were collected at downstream sampling sites along the river during this period. Concentrations and speciation of Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in water and SPS samples were analyzed, and their bioaccumulation was studied with Daphnia magna. This study indicated that the exchangeable and carbonate-bound fractions of heavy metals in SPS decreased along the studied stretch, and the dissolved heavy metal concentrations increased along the river with 1.6–15 folds. This is because sediment resuspension increased along the river during water regulation, giving rise to the increase of heavy metal release from SPS. The dissolved Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb concentrations were significantly positively correlated with SPS concentrations, and their increase along the river was greater than Cr. The body burdens of heavy metals in D. magna exposed into samples collected from the reservoir outlet were 1.3–3.0 times lower than those from downstream stations, suggesting that the heavy metal bioavailability increased during water regulation. This should be considered in the reservoir operation.     

Intranasal administration of tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2-hydroxyethyl ether) induces neurobehavioral changes in neonatal Sprague Dawley rats

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives are now being highly concerned due to their emerging environmental occurrence and deleterious effects on non-target organisms. Considering the potential neurotoxicity of TBBPA derivatives which has been demonstrated in vitro, what could happen in vivo is worthy of being studied. Tetrabromobisphenol A bis(2-hydroxyethyl ether) (TBBPA-BHEE), a representative TBBPA derivative, was selected for a 21-day exposure experiment on neonatal Sprague Dawley (SD) rats through intranasal administration. The neurobehavioral, histopathological changes, and differentially expressed genes based on RNA microarray were investigated to evaluate the neurological effects of this chemical. The results indicated that TBBPA-BHEE exposure significantly compromised the motor co-ordination performance and the locomotor activities (p < 0.05). The neurobehavioral phenotype could be attributed to the obvious histopathological changes in both cerebrum and cerebellum, such as neural cell swelling, microglial activation and proliferation. A total of 911 genes were up-regulated, whereas 433 genes were down-regulated. Gene set enrichment analysis showed multiple signaling pathways, including ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and wingless-int (Wnt) signaling pathway etc. were involved due to TBBPA-BHEE exposure. The gene ontology enrichment analysis showed the basic cellular function and the neurological processes like synaptic transmission were influenced. The toxicological effects of TBBPA-BHEE observed in this study suggested the potential neuronal threaten from unintended exposure, which would be of great value in the biosafety evaluation of TBBPA derivatives.     

Relationship between metabolic enzyme activities and bioaccumulation kinetics of PAHs in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Many studies have investigated bioaccumulation and metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in aquatic organisms. However, lack of studies investigated both processes simultaneously, and the interaction between these two processes is less understood so far. This study investigated the bioaccumulation kinetics of PAHs and metabolic enzyme activities, including total cytochrome P450 (CYPs) and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), in zebrafish. Mature zebrafish was exposed to the mixture of phenanthrene and anthracene under constant concentration maintained by passive dosing systems for 16 days. The results showed that PAH concentrations in zebrafish experienced a peak value after exposure for 1.5 days, and then decreased gradually. The bioaccumulation equilibrium was achieved after exposure for 12 days. Both of the uptake rate constants (k_u) and the elimination rate constants (k_e) decreased after the peak value. The variation of PAH concentrations and metabolic enzyme activities in zebrafish had an interactive relationship. CYPs and T-SOD activities increased initially with the increase of PAH concentrations, but decreased to the lowest state when PAH concentrations reached the peak value. When the bioaccumulation equilibrium of PAHs was achieved, CYPs and T-SOD activities also reached the steady state. In general, CYPs and T-SOD activities were activated after exposure to PAHs. The decrease of PAH concentrations in zebrafish after the peak value may be attributed to the great drop of k_u and the variation of CYPs activities. This study suggests that an interactive relationship exists between bioaccumulation kinetics of PAHs and metabolic enzyme activities in aquatic organisms.     

Protection performance of bicycle helmets

IntroductionThe evaluation of head protection systems needs proper knowledge of the head impact conditions in terms of impact speed and angle, as well as a realistic estimation of brain tolerance limits. In current bicycle helmet test procedures, both of these aspects should be improved. Method: The present paper suggests a bicycle helmet evaluation methodology based on realistic impact conditions and consideration of tissue level brain injury risk, in addition to well known headform kinematic parameters. The method is then applied to a set of 32 existing helmets, leading to a total of 576 experimental impact tests followed by 576 numerical simulations of the brain response. Results: It is shown that the most critical impacts are the linear-lateral ones as well as the oblique impact leading to rotation around the vertical axis (ZRot), leading both to around 50% risks of moderate neurological injuries. Based on this test method, the study enables us to compare the protection capability of a given helmet and eventually to compare helmets via a dedicated rating system.     

混合气体爆炸性现场测试实验研究

为测定现场可燃混合气体的爆炸性,对比分析了国内外实验室爆炸极限的测定装置及爆炸性判定方法,设计研制了混合气体爆炸性现场测试装置。装置实现了爆炸性环境现场的自动采样、超高温点火、高速压力和温度测定及爆炸性自行判定。开展了丙烷、乙烯和液化石油气等典型可燃气体爆炸性实验,提出了基于压力和火焰温度变化相结合的气体爆炸性判定指标,改变了传统目测判定方式。研究结果表明:20 L球和1 L爆炸腔以爆炸压力提升来判定,比管式法测定的爆炸极限范围窄,以压力提升量5%~10%判定较适宜;1 L爆炸腔以爆炸过程温度提升量来判定,爆炸极限范围比以爆炸压力提升量判定宽,与目测观察的管式测定法相比,略宽于管式测定法和大部分文献数据。     

Measurement of minimum ignition energies (MIEs) of dust clouds – History,present, future

Nearly 130 years ago Holtzwart and von Meyer (1891) demonstrated by experiments that explosible dust clouds could be ignited by inductive electric sparks. Then more than half a century passed before the publication of the important quantitative research of Boyle and Llewellyn (1950) and Line et al. (1959). They worked with capacitive electric sparks and found that the minimum capacitor energies ½CU² required for ignition of various dust clouds in air decreased substantially when a large series resistance, in the range 10⁴–10⁷ Ω, was introduced in the discharge circuit. When considering that the net energies of the sparks themselves were only of the order of 10% of the ½CU² discharged, the minimum net spark energies required for ignition with a large series resistance were only a few per cent of the net energies required without such a resistance.Line et al. observed that the essential effect of increasing the series resistance, and hence increasing the discharge time of the sparks, was to reduce the disturbance of the dust cloud by the blast wave from the spark. This phenomenon was explored further by Eckhoff (1970, 2017), and subsequently by some simple experiments by Eckhoff and Enstad (1976). Franke (1974, 1977) and Laar (1980) confirmed the additional finding of Line et al. (1959) that the minimum ½CU² for ignition is also substantially reduced by including a series inductance in the discharge circuit, rather than a series resistance. The basic reason is the same as with a large series resistance, viz. increased spark discharge time and hence decreased disturbance of the dust cloud by blast wave from the spark. For this reason inclusion of an appreciable series inductance in the spark discharge circuit is an essential element in current standard MIE test methods.In experiments with spark ignition of transient dust clouds produced by a blast of air in a closed vessel, it is necessary to synchronize the occurrence of the spark with the formation of the dust cloud. The precision required from this type of synchronization is typically of the order of 10 ms, which can be obtained even by mechanical arrangements, such as rapid change of spark gap length, or of the distance between two capacitor plates. The present paper reviews some methods that have been/are being used for achieving adequate synchronization of dust cloud appearance and spark discharge. Some current standard experimental methods for determining MIEs of dust clouds experimentally have also been reviewed. The same applies to some theories of electric-spark ignition of dust clouds.At the end of paper some suggestions for possible future modifications of current standard methods for measuring MIEs of explosible dust clouds are presented. With regard to justifying significant modifications of existing standard methods, the “bottom line” is, as quite often in many connections, that any modifications should be based on realistic cost/benefit evaluations.     

正交法设计Fe、N共掺杂TiO2/Ti液膜可见光光催化处理染料废水

采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了Fe、N共掺杂TiO_2膜电极(Fe,N-TiO_2/Ti),并设计三因素五水平正交试验对电极制备条件进行优化.结果表明,各因素影响主次顺序为:煅烧温度Fe掺杂量N掺杂量;最优制备条件为:煅烧温度550℃,Fe掺杂量0.3%(质量分数),N掺杂量0.3%(质量分数);共掺杂电极光催化活性优于单掺杂和未掺杂电极.紫外-可见漫反射和光电性能测试表明,催化剂有可见光响应;XRD表征结果表明,Fe、N共掺杂细化了晶粒,有效抑制了金红石相的形成,其晶型为锐钛矿型,粒径为11.48 nm.利用Fe,N-TiO_2/Ti与Cu阴极组装成斜置双极液膜反应器,可见光激发光催化降解苋菜红,考察了主要影响因素.结果发现,最佳条件为:初始pH 2.50,废水流量5.1 L·h~(-1),在此条件下处理20mg·L~(-1)苋菜红80 min,脱色率达到91.6%.电极重复使用10次,每次60 min,脱色率下降了12.99%,说明电极稳定性较好.     

高温环境下薄壁结构声疲劳失效验证技术研究

目的针对高温环境下薄壁结构声疲劳失效问题,研究分析薄壁结构在高温环境下的声疲劳失效特征,验证薄壁结构热声响应计算方法与疲劳寿命预估模型的有效性。方法较系统地阐述高温环境下薄壁结构声疲劳失效试验验证技术,重点总结热声疲劳试验环境建立与加载、高温环境下噪声测试、高温环境下动态响应测试和疲劳破坏寿命测试方法,并通过具体案例说明工程中试验验证方法的有效性。结果试验件在仿真计算与试验中的破坏位置一致,响应频率吻合较好,应力水平一致,疲劳寿命量级相当。结论薄壁结构热声响应计算方法与疲劳寿命预估模型的有效性高。     

一种提高飞行器结构天地力学环境地面试验有效性的方法及其应用

目的研究提高飞行器结构地面试验有效性的途径。方法计算同一被试件结构在飞行状态和地面试验状态下的有限元模型,测量地面试验状态下的模态以验证有限元模型的正确性;计算各特征点(也可以是遥测点)在天地状态下的响应,用机器学习法获取各特征点的映射关系模型;基于该模型由飞行点响应(或遥测数据)确定出地面试验件对应点的响应,并用载荷反求法得到它们的等效载荷;最终确定施加在试验系统上的载荷。结果以细长体结构为例,所得到由其组成试验系统的有限元模型与实测模型之间的固有频率最大相对误差为6.76%,利用映射关系模型预测出对应点在飞行状态下的振动响应。确定了飞行状态下结构响应的特征点,由地面试验系统所对应的响应点反推出应施加的载荷为60 N。结论利用天地数值计算-地面试验验证联合法,无需在地面试验状态下刻意模拟飞行状态的边界条件,确定出所需要施加的载荷,从而提高了飞行器地面试验的有效性。     

民用飞机机载设备振动试验要求和应用分析(一) DO 160F/G民用固定翼飞机机载设备振动试验要求

阐述了民用飞机机载设备振动环境的特点和振动试验分类,归纳和汇总了DO 160F/G中的各类民用飞机机载设备的振动试验要求,包括振动谱、振动量值和试验持续时间等,并进行了分析和说明,以便于查阅和使用。最后对民用飞机机载设备振动试验方法的应用进行了概括,介绍了民用固定翼飞机的机载设备振动试验要求,按设备在机上的区域不同进行分类,详细地对比说明各个位置上设备的振动试验要求;介绍了民用直升机的机载设备振动试验要求。