Bacterial interactions with uranium: An environmental perspective

The presence of actinides in radioactive wastes is of major concern because of their potential for migration from the waste repositories and long-term contamination of the environment. Studies have been and are being made on inorganic processes affecting the migration of radionuclides from these repositories to the environment but it is becoming increasingly evident that microbial processes are of importance as well. Bacteria interact with uranium through different mechanisms including, biosorption at the cell surface, intracellular accumulation, precipitation, and redox transformations (oxidation/reduction). The present study is intended to give a brief overview of the key processes responsible for the interaction of actinides e.g. uranium with bacterial strains isolated from different extreme environments relevant to radioactive repositories. Fundamental understanding of the interaction of these bacteria with U will be useful for developing appropriate radioactive waste treatments, remediation and long-term management strategies as well as for predicting the microbial impacts on the performance of the radioactive waste repositories.     

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in Hindon River sediments: a chemometric and geochemical approach

The aim of this study was to assess the level of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the surface sediments of the Hindon River, India that receives both treated and untreated municipal and industrial discharges generated in and around Ghaziabad, India. Mean metals concentrations (mg kg⁻¹) were in the range of; Cu: 21.70-280.33, Cd: 0.29-6.29, Fe: 4151.75-17318.75, Zn: 22.22.50-288.29, Ni: 13.90-57.66, Mn: 49.55-516.97, Cr: 17.48-33.70 and Pb: 27.56-313.57 respectively. Chemometric analysis was applied to identify contribution sources by heavy metals while geochemical approaches (enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index) were exploited for the assessment of the enrichment and contamination level of heavy metals in the river sediments. Chemometric analysis suggested anthropic origin of Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Ni while Fe showed lithogenic origin. Mn and Cr was associated and controlled by mixed origin. Geochemical approach confirms the anthropogenic influence of heavy metal pollution in the river sediments. The study suggests that a complementary approach that integrates chemometric analysis, sediment quality criteria, and geochemical investigation should be considered in order to provide a more accurate appraisal of the heavy metal pollution in river sediments. Consequently, it may serve to undertake and design effective strategies and remedial measures to prevent further deterioration of the river ecosystem in future.     

新冠肺炎封城对南京污染排放的影响

2020年初新冠肺炎疫情爆发以后,为了有效防止疫情扩散和蔓延,全国主要城市都相继停工停产,人类活动和污染排放强度大幅降低.本文针对新冠肺炎爆发前后南京地区污染排放变化,利用南京及周边地区的逐时污染观测资料,基于在线区域化学传输模式WRF-Chem和集合平方根滤波同化系统,在同时同化污染物浓度初始场和污染源排放的框架下,在1 km的高分辨率条件下进行了逐时同化实验模拟.结果表明,由于疫情管控,2月南京市区的PM_2.5气溶胶和NO源排放分别较1月减少4.4%和30%,减少的区域主要位于工业区和南京城区.该结果显示同化系统在反演高时空分辨率的污染源方面具有很好的潜力.     

Comparing results of cultured and uncultured biological methods used in biological phosphorus removal

Increasing attention has been paid to phosphate-accumulating organisms(PAOs)for their important role in biological phosphorus removal.In this study,microbial communities of PAOs cultivated under different carbon sources(sewage,glucose,and sodium acetate) were investigated and compared through culture-dependent and culture-independent methods,respectively.The results obtained using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE)of polymerase chain reaction-amplified 16S rDNA fragments revealed that the diversity of bacteria in a sewage-fed reactor(1#)was much higher than in a glucose-fed one(2#)and a sodium acetate-fed one(3#);there were common PAOs in three reactors fed by different carbon sources.Five strains were separated from three systems by using a phosphate- rich medium;they were from common bacteria isolated and three isolates could not be found in DGGE profile at all.Two isolates had good phosphorus removal ability.When the microbial diversity was studied,the molecular biological method was better than the culture-dependent one.When phosphorus removal characteristics were investigated,culture-dependent approach was more effective. Thus a combination of two methods is necessary to have a comprehensive view of PAOs.     

生物-化学联合法去除地下水中硝酸盐

采用添加锯末和零价铁的土柱实验,比较了不同填料组成和不同填装方式对硝酸盐去除的影响,初步考察了生物-化学联合法去除水溶液中硝酸盐的效果.结果表明,同时添加锯末和铁粉比单独加锯末或铁粉的脱氮效果好;而只加堆肥腐熟后的锯末比只加锯末的脱氮效果好;只加锯末或堆肥锯末的效果比只加零价铁的好;增加锯末和零价铁的量都有助于硝酸盐的去除,而同时添加活性碳更有助于硝酸盐的去除.此外,填料的不同放置方式对硝酸盐去除有一定影响.在所有处理中,同时加了锯末和铁粉的出水中NO-2-N和NH 4-N浓度最低.这表明生物-化学联合法是一种很有前景的脱氮方法.     

上海世博会长三角区域空气质量预警联动系统开发与应用

围绕2010年上海世博会空气质量保障目标,开发了长三角区域空气质量预警联动系统.系统主要由区域数据共享、预报预警、信息发布和应急联动等4个子系统构成,运用了自动质量控制检查、多模式集合预报、秸秆焚烧火点判定、预警联动机制研究、GIS自动化处理和表达等关键技术.在世博会期间,实时监控了长三角区域空气质量状况,科学预测了空气质量未来变化趋势,成功发布了5次大气污染预警,启动了应急联动措施,为世博空气质量保障提供了坚实的技术基础.同时,该系统也是一次跨行政区解决区域性空气污染问题的有益实践,具有十分重要的示范意义.     

板料成形数值模拟的逆算法研究

依据理想形变理论 ,研究开发了冲压成形过程模拟的有限元逆算法 ,并考虑了成形中的压边力 ,拉延筋等工艺条件 ,实现了计算机程序。通过实例的计算表明此方法能够快速分析成形工件中的变形情况 ,可用于设计前期阶段评价零件的成形性能     

Redesigning harvest strategies for sustainable fishery management in the face of extreme environmental variability

Short-lived, fast-growing species that contribute greatly to global capture fisheries are sensitive to fluctuations in the environment. Uncertainties in exact stock–environment relationships have meant that environmental variability and extremes have been difficult to integrate directly into fisheries management. We applied a management strategy evaluation approach for one of Australia's large prawn stocks to test the robustness of harvest control rules to environmental variability. The model ensemble included coupled environmental-population models and an alternative catchability scenario fitted to historical catch per unit effort data. We compared the efficacy of alternative management actions to conserve marine resources under a variable environment while accounting for fisher livelihoods. Model fits to catch per unit effort were reasonably good and similar across operating models (OMs). For models that were coupled to the environment, environmental parameters for El Niño years were estimated with good associated precision, and OM3 had a lower AIC score (77.61)  than the base model (OM1, 80.39), whereas OM2 (AIC 82.41) had a similar AIC score, suggesting the OMs were all plausible model alternatives. Our model testing resulted in a plausible subset of management options, and stakeholders selected a permanent closure of the first fishing season based on overall performance of this option; ability to reduce the risk of fishery closure and stock collapse; robustness to uncertainties; and ease of implementation. Our simulation approach enabled the selection of an optimal yet pragmatic solution for addressing economic and conservation objectives under a variable environment with extreme events.