Assessment of the Usefulness of Semipermeable Membrane Devices for Long-Term Watershed Monitoring in an Urban Slough System

Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were deployed at eight sites within the Buffalo Slough, near Portland, Oregon, to (1) measure the spatial and seasonal distribution of dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and organochlorine (OC) compounds in the slough, (2) assess the usefulness of SPMDs as a tool for investigating and monitoring hydrophobic compounds throughout the Columbia Slough system, and (3) evaluate the utility of SPMDs as a tool for measuring the long-term effects of watershed improvement activities. Data from the SPMDs revealed clear spatial and seasonal differences in water quality within the slough and indicate that for hydrophobic compounds, this time-integrated passive-sampling technique is a useful tool for long-term watershed monitoring. In addition, the data suggest that a spiking rate of 2–5 μg/SPMD of permeability/performance reference compounds, including at least one compound that is not susceptible to photodegradation, may be optimum for the conditions encountered here.     

The Long Beach/Fort Lauderdale relative risk study

Problem

The role of alcohol as a major factor in traffic crash causation has been firmly established. However, controversy remains as to the precise shape of the relative risk function and the BAC at which crash risk begins to increase.

Methods

This study used a case-control design in two locations: Long Beach, California, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Data were collected on 2,871 crashes of all severities and a matched control group of drivers selected from the same time, location, and direction of travel as the crash drivers. Of the 14,985 sample drivers, 81.3% of the crash drivers and 97.9% of the controls provided a valid BAC specimen.

Results

When adjusted for covariates and nonparticipation bias, increases in relative risk were observed at BACs of .04-.05, and the elevations in risk became very pronounced when BACs exceeded .10.

Discussion

The results provide strong support for .08 per se laws and for state policies that increase sanctions for BACs in excess of .15.

Impact on Industry

This study provides further precision on the deleterious effects of alcohol on driving and, by implication, on other complex tasks.     

铬、镉、铅胁迫对青菜叶片几种生理生化指标的影响

研究了溶液培养条件下铬、镉、铅胁迫对青菜叶片细胞膜透性、叶绿素含量和游离脯氨酸含量等的影响,结果表明：随着Ｃｒ＾６＋,Ｃｄ＾２＋,Ｐｂ＾２＋处理时间的延长和处理浓度的增加,青菜叶片细胞膜透性显著增大,叶绿素ａ／ｂ值逐渐降低,游离脯氨酸含量明显增加,其中游离脯氨酸含量增加的时间比细胞膜透性增大明显超前,而叶绿素ａ／ｂ植降低的时间在这３种重金属中未见明显的规律性。     

地铁盾构施工泡沫剂改良土体控制渗害的试验研究

地铁建设中地下水影响是环境损伤事故最重要的诱因,分析了近年地铁施工及渗害诱发地层沉降、建筑坍塌的典型工程事故。鉴于泡沫剂改良渣土是盾构隧道施工中维护开挖面稳定及控制地层渗害的极端重要性,研制了一种新型泡沫剂发泡装置,进行了泡沫剂改良地层的系列实验研究,获得了泡沫剂对粘性土和砂土的渗透性影响、流动性影响的实验规律,可为盾构施工中开挖面稳定性与渗害控制提供重要依据。     

基于体积应变含瓦斯煤增透率模型及采动响应研究

为获得含瓦斯煤开采过程中渗透率的采动响应规律,从孔隙率的基本定义出发,通过引入增透率来反映单位体积改变下煤体渗透率的变化,建立了基于体积应变的含瓦斯煤增透率模型。基于增透率模型,结合工程实例采用Comsol Multiphysics模拟了含瓦斯煤开采过程中增透率的变化规律,并开展了增透率采动响应的试验研究。研究结果表明:增透率模型可对采动裂隙网络形成的煤层透气性进行定量评价研究,采动是影响含瓦斯煤增透率的关键因素,受采动影响,煤体体积应变、增透率的变化规律均基本一致,煤体膨胀变形、增透率随采煤工作面的推进逐渐增大,增透率的变化滞后于体积应变的变化,且越靠近工作面煤层增透效果和瓦斯抽采效果越好;沿煤层倾向,回风巷侧最大瓦斯抽采量大于运输巷侧,煤体增透率亦大于运输巷侧。依据增透率的采动响应规律调整瓦斯抽采孔与工作面的角度,可增加抽采量,降低工作面瓦斯浓度。     

Antibacterial potency of housefly larvae extract from sewage sludge through bioconversion

Use of the fly to convert sewage sludge into nutrient-rich soil conditioner and amendment is an attractive approach for sludge bioconversion. During this process, fecal coliforms, an indicating pathogen, in sludge were reduced to 5.3 × 102 most probable number /g dry solid from initial 3.32 × 106 MPN/g dry solid. It was also found that the extract of larvae grown in sludge during bioconversion have an observable inhibitory effect against bacteria compared to larvae grown in wheat bran as measured by minimum bacterial concentration tests. In vitro antimicrobial assay tests over time also showed that the extract had strong inhibitory efficiencies of ca. 99% against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens, while the efficiency was 69% and 57% against Bacillus subtilis and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. The observed pathogenic bacterial cell membrane damage was found to be responsible for the phenomenon mentioned above, with nuclear acids leaching out quickly and alkaline phosphatase increasing in the outer membrane, followed by an increase of β-galactosidase in the inner membrane. Clearly, housefly larvae extract from sewage sludge through bioconversion possesses antibacterial potency against pathogenic bacteria.     

Effect of NOx and RH on the secondary organic aerosol formation from toluene photooxidation

The secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation mechanism and physicochemical properties can highly be influenced by relative humidity (RH) and NOx concentration. In this study, we performed a laboratory investigation of the SOA formation from toluene/OH photooxidation system in the presence or absence of NOx in dry and wet conditions. The chemical composition of toluene-derived SOA was measured using Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS). It was found that the mass concentration of toluene decreased with increasing RH and NOx concentration. However, the change of SOA chemistry composition (f₄₄, O/C) with increased RH was not consistent in the condition with or without NOx. The light absorption and mass absorption coefficient (MAC) of the toluene-derived SOA only increased with RH in the presence of NOx. In contrast, MAC is invariant with RH in the absence of NOx. HR-ToF-AMS results showed that, in the presence of NOx, the increased nitro-aromatic compounds and N/C ratio concurrently caused the increase of SOA light absorption and O/C in wet conditions, respectively. The relative intensity of CHON and CHO_xN family to the total nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NOCs) increased with the increasing RH, and be the major components of NOCs in wet condition. This work revealed a synergy effect of NOx and RH on SOA formation from toluene photooxidation.     

基于渗透特性的MSW颗粒组成和结构分析

在南方某填埋场埋深5~30m范围内取6组重约5kg的试样,对其进行筛分与分拣,研究垃圾颗粒组成随埋深的变化规律,同时对不同荷载作用下的垃圾试样进行染色切片,对比分析上覆压力对垃圾内部结构的影响.结果表明：对于不同埋深的城市固体废弃物,细颗粒（0D,即粒径<2cm）所占比例最大,几乎均超过50%,粗粒中2D颗粒所占比例最高,而塑料在2D颗粒中占比最大;随着荷载的增大,细粒含量增加,大孔隙和优先流通道减小.上覆压力主要通过减少垃圾内部孔隙通道,进而减小渗透系数;2D颗粒在荷载的作用下能定向排列,使渗流路径发生曲折,进而导致渗流各向异性.2D颗粒的定向排列是垃圾渗流各向异性产生的关键因素,其中塑料又是其最重要的因素.     

河道淤泥的轻质化处理及其工程性质

基于河道淤泥综合有效利用的目的,利用其高含水的特征,采用气泡混合轻质化技术对河道淤泥进行轻质化处理。通过室内试验的方法,考察和评价了以河道淤泥为原料土的气泡混合轻质土的基本工程性质,包括它的强度特性、变形特性、渗透性及耐久性能等。研究结果显示,经气泡混合轻质化处理的河道淤泥,具备一般填土的强度与刚度特性,其品质与施工性与固化材料的掺入量有密切的关系,固化后的轻质土具有良好的防渗透能力,但在循环干湿作用下易发生品质劣化现象。研究结果可以作为河道淤泥工程应用的基本依据及质量控制指标,同时也为进一步开发研究建立一定的基础。     

Variation in levels of reactive oxygen species is explained by maternal identity, sex and body-size-corrected clutch size in a lizard

Many organisms show differences between males and females in growth rate and crucial life history parameters, such as longevity. Considering this, we may expect levels of toxic metabolic by-products of the respiratory chain, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), to vary with age and sex. Here, we analyse ROS levels in female Australian painted dragon lizards (Ctenophorus pictus) and their offspring using fluorescent probes and flow cytometry. Basal level of four ROS species (singlet oxygen, peroxynitrite, superoxide and H₂O₂) measured with a combined marker, and superoxide measured specifically, varied significantly among families but not between the sexes. When blood cells from offspring were chemically encouraged to accelerate the electron transport chain by mitochondrial uncoupling, net superoxide levels were three times higher in daughters than sons (resulting in levels outside of the normal ROS range) and varied among mothers depending on offspring sex (significant interaction between maternal identity and offspring sex). In offspring, there were depressive effects on ROS of size-controlled relative clutch size, which relies directly on circulating levels of vitellogenin, a confirmed antioxidant in some species. Thus, levels of reactive oxygen species varies among females, offspring and in relation to reproductive investment in a manner that makes its regulatory processes likely targets of selection.