Exposure to aerosolized bacteria and fungi among collectors of commercial, mixed residential, recyclable and compostable waste

Biological hazards associated with the collection of solid and compostable waste have not been well characterized in North America. This is an issue because workers who handle such materials may be exposed to bioaerosols (airborne bacteria and fungi) and dusts resulting in infections or allergic diseases. We conducted a personal sampling campaign for culturable bacteria and fungi in the breathing zones of waste collectors in a variety of typical work settings (scenarios) in the province of Quebec, Canada. Total culturable bacterial and fungal counts were analyzed and compared to ambient environmental levels (background) to determine the degree of incremental exposure among workers. In several scenarios, worker exposure counts were significantly (p < or = 0.05) higher than ambient levels measured upwind, with the highest personal exposures to bacteria observed for urban compostable waste collectors (median = 50,300 Colony Forming Units/m(3) of air (CFU/m(3))). On the other hand, fungal counts collected on an every-other-week cycle were highest among a group of rural compostable waste collectors (median = 101,700 CFU/m(3)). Similar exposures to culturable bacteria and fungi have been reported in European workers who showed such adverse health effects as nausea, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract irritation, and allergy. Therefore, it may be necessary to modify certain work practices in order to minimize exposure. Recommendations include automation of waste and compost collection, use of personal protective equipment including goggles, gloves, and disposable masks, and meticulous personal hygiene.     

新型含能化合物3,5-二硝基吡唑-4-硝酸酯的合成与表征

以4-氯吡唑(4-CP)为原料,经过硝硫混酸硝化制得4-氯-3,5-二硝基吡唑(4-CDNP),再以硝酸银为亲核试剂进行亲核取代反应得到一种新型的含能化合物3,5-二硝基吡唑-4-硝酸酯(DNPN),并采用红外光谱、核磁共振、元素分析对产物结构进行了表征,计算了其爆轰性能,考察了硝硫混酸组成、硝化温度对硝化反应的影响,得到较佳的合成条件:硝硫混酸组成为V(98%硝酸):V(98%硫酸)=1∶4,反应温度为100℃,反应时间为5 h,产率为65.1%。4-CDNP与硝酸银的反应很快,在40℃下反应1h产率就可达到35.6%。DNPN的爆速为8.78 km·s~(-1),爆压35.12 GPa,优于TNT。     

含预制缺陷PBX模拟材料损伤演变的原位CT研究

为研究初始损伤对高聚物粘结炸药(PBX)在外力作用下结构变化与损伤行为的影响,采用预制缺陷的方式模拟了初始损伤,制备了不含预制缺陷、含斜45°非贯通缺陷以及含斜45°贯通缺陷的3组PBX模拟材料样品,利用经改进的圆弧压头巴西试验加载方式,在X射线CT系统上开展原位研究。通过数字图像处理技术获得了裂纹及孔隙的三维形态、尺寸及空间分布信息。利用ABAQUS软件对试验进行了有限元模拟。结果表明,预制缺陷与巴西试验加载方向呈45°角时,预制缺陷会破坏其加载方式的对称性,样品的损伤行为也会相应发生改变;非贯通缺陷与贯通缺陷对样品的损伤行为的影响有很大区别;含非贯通缺陷的样品会发生分层现象,即表层缺陷对样品损伤行为的影响范围主要集中在含有缺陷的部分;模拟的结果与试验结果吻合较好,在一定程度上解释了试验现象。     

ZnO纳米线光学特性测试的倏逝波耦合

使用纳米氧化硅光纤探针,利用倏逝波耦合方法,将紫外到红外的激光成功地耦合进单根ZnO纳米线,耦合效率可达25%.实验观测了单根纳米线的荧光特性,发现ZnO纳米线光传输损耗很低.研究证明:采用透镜聚焦激发纳米线发光的传统耦合方法,只能使用特殊激发波长的光;而倏逝波耦合方法具有高效、适用性强的特点,在半导体纳米线和纳米带的光学特性研究中有广泛的应用前景.     

1-甲基-3,4,5-三硝基吡唑的结晶热力学

利用重力法测定了1-甲基-3,4,5-三硝基吡唑(MTNP)在不同溶剂中的溶解度,采用Apelblat方程和vant′t Hoff方程拟合了溶解度数据,估算了MTNP的标准溶解焓、标准溶解熵、标准吉布斯自由能、固-液表面张力和表面熵因子。通过对比溶解度,选用苯、甲醇和无水乙醇作为溶剂分别对MTNP结晶并且进行产品表征。结果表明,MTNP的溶解度随温度的升高而增加;Apelblat方程和vant′t HoffF方程计算的溶解度值与实验值的平均绝对百分比偏差均小于5.18%,其中Apelblat方程对实验数据的关联结果较优;用电子显微镜观察无水乙醇作溶剂结晶得到的产品形貌规则且统一,其撞击感度为68%,激光粒度仪测试产品粒度均匀性较好。     

Preparation and Properties of PBXs Based on FOX-7 in Controlled Fragmentation Warhead Application（英）

Polymer bonded explosive(PBX)formulations were successfully prepared in the laboratory scale containing 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene(FOX-7)and hexogen(RDX)as brisant high explosives and different binder types of polyurethane(PU)based on glycidyl azide polymer(GAP) and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene(HTPB) as an energetic and inert polymeric binder respectively.Casting technique was used for the preparation of different PBX formulations based on FOX-7/RDX and PU(GAP/HTPB)with 14% binder.The sensitivity to different initial impulses and performance characteristics of the explosive and lethal zone of the tested controlled fragmentation warhead by the fragmentation warhead assessment test(arena test)were studied,in which the arena test was carried out with a controlled fragmentation warhead made from Ck45 steel,with dimensions(100 mm length,30 mm outer diameter and 3 mm thickness).Results show that PBXGF4 has lower sensitivity to impact and heat than those of PBXGR4 by 188.4% and 3.2% respectively.Its friction sensitivity is the same as that of PBXGR4.It has better performance,in which detonation velocity increases by 2.1% and brisance increases by 0.5% when compared with those of PBXGR4.It was concluded that PBXGF4 which based on FOX-7 bonded with PU/GAP matrix has good characteristics as PBX,specially in the sensitivity to impact and can be applied for replacing PBXs based on RDX in the advanced PBXs for low sensitive fragmentation warheads.     

LNA characterization methodologies

Joint characterization of low‐noise amplifiers regarding stochastic and deterministic parameters based on output power measurement for a set of known input termination impedances is considered. As an advantage of this method, both noise parameters and the input impedance can be obtained for narrow and broad band applications without special equipment. This method is mathematically developed and practically verified by simulations and measurements. With the knowledge of at least four real‐valued stochastic, and three real‐valued deterministic parameters, the amplifier is characterized, and the noise figure, gain, and input reflection can be calculated as function of the matching network. Two different ways of processing measured data will be shown. Advantages of the proposed method compared with established methods are as follows:

• No special equipment (e.g., network analyzer, calibrated noise source, noise figure meter, slide screw tuner,…) is needed, just a tunable power meter with known noise bandwidth.
• The four real‐valued noise parameters can be obtained with four terminating impedances only.
• With three additional terminating impedances, the input impedance of the low‐noise amplifiers can be obtained.
• With every additional terminating impedance, the accuracy of the measurement is improved.
• Outliers are detected and eliminated.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

大尺寸动车组车轮剖面夹杂物原位统计分布表征方法研究与应用

建立了基于扫描电子显微镜和能谱分析相结合的夹杂物原位统计分布分析方法,并对大尺寸D2动车组车轮纵剖面中轮毂、近轮毂辐板、近轮辋辐板、轮辋4个区域内的夹杂物的组成、类型、数量和尺寸进行了原位统计分布解析,探讨了不同区域内的各类夹杂物数量、尺寸和颗粒面积的分布规律,发现车轮中主要典型夹杂物为氧化物、条形硫化物、球形硫化物、氧硫复合物。其中氧化物、球形硫化物、氧硫复合物夹杂在轮辋区域数量最多,条形硫化物夹杂在近轮毂辐板最多;轮毂和轮辋区域的氧化物、球形硫化物、氧硫复合物夹杂物总面积普遍大于辐板区域,但轮辋区域的条形硫化物夹杂总面积小于其他区域;同时氧化物、球形硫化物、氧硫复合物这3类夹杂物颗粒尺寸主要集中于2～5 μm之间,条形硫化物尺寸大于10 μm占比最大,轮辋区域大尺寸夹杂颗粒数量占比最小,这与车轮制备工艺要求一致性较好。     

Impact of open dumping of municipal solid waste on soil properties in mountainous region

This paper presents the effect of open dumping of municipal solid waste (MSW) on soil characteristics in the mountainous region of Himachal Pradesh, India. The solid waste of dumpsite contains various complex characteristics with organic fractions of the highest proportions. As leachate percolates into the soil, it migrates contaminants into the soil and affects soil stability and strength. The study includes the geotechnical investigation of dump soil characteristics and its comparison with the natural soil samples taken from outside the proximity of dumpsites. The geochemical analysis of dumpsite soil samples was also carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Visual inspection revealed that the MSW consists of high fraction of organics, followed by paper. The soil samples were collected from five trial pits in the dumpsites at depths of 0.5 m, 1 m and 1.5 m. Then the collected soil samples were subjected to specific gravity test, grain size analysis, Atterberg's limit test, compaction test, direct shear test, California bearing ratio (CBR) test and permeability analysis. The study indicated that the dumpsite soils from four study regions show decreasing trends in the values of maximum dry density (MDD), specific gravity, cohesion and CBR, and increasing permeability as compared to the natural soil. The results show that the geotechnical properties of the soils at all four study locations have been severely hampered due to contamination induced by open dumping of waste.     

混凝土表面渗透层氯离子分布模型通式

基于混凝土表面渗透层HB研究具有的重要意义,在建立单位横断层S与单位横断层性能参数cHS及其分布的表征方法基础上,对渗透层表层HB1x的值域进行了量化,指出了Z3(=(2.5±0.5) mm)断层的特征和表层影响混凝土渗透性的主要因素;将HB划分为HB,Ⅰarea和HB,Ⅱarea两个层区,建立了氯离子质量分数分布模型通式,并阐明其参数的物理意义与应用;分层取样断距量级宜为亚毫米级,运用S与cHS的表征方法分析归纳同类试验研究结果,量化混凝土与层有关的参数,给出了与层有关的结构层次量化模型.结果表明:S和cHS的表征方法具有普适性.