Occupational exposure and health risks of volatile organic compounds of hotel housekeepers: Field measurements of exposure and health risks

Hotel housekeepers represent a large, low-income, predominantly minority, and high-risk workforce. Little is known about their exposure to chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study evaluates VOC exposures of housekeepers, sources and factors affecting VOC levels, and provides preliminary estimates of VOC-related health risks. We utilized indoor and personal sampling at two hotels, assessed ventilation, and characterized the VOC composition of cleaning agents. Personal sampling of hotel staff showed a total target VOC concentration of 57 ± 36 µg/m³ (mean ± SD), about twice that of indoor samples. VOCs of greatest health significance included chloroform and formaldehyde. Several workers had exposure to alkanes that could cause non-cancer effects. VOC levels were negatively correlated with estimated air change rates. The composition and concentrations of the tested products and air samples helped identify possible emission sources, which included building sources (for formaldehyde), disinfection by-products in the laundry room, and cleaning products. VOC levels and the derived health risks in this study were at the lower range found in the US buildings. The excess lifetime cancer risk (average of 4.1 × 10⁻⁵) still indicates a need to lower exposure by reducing or removing toxic constituents, especially formaldehyde, or by increasing ventilation rates.     

基于工程状态标定的诊断载荷试验识别方法及应用

针对在役公路梁式桥梁由于材料性能退化及外部环境等因素共同作用而导致承载力不足、耐久性降低等问题,开展旧桥力学性能的快速诊断试验研究。通过诊断性载荷试验的理论分析和有限元模型标定流程研究,快速、高效地完成在役公路桥梁的承载力性能测量和评估,从而为在役公路桥梁结构的养护管理提供可靠的技术支持。     

探讨信息化时代下防火监督工作的优化建议

近年来,科技发展持续发展,人们的生活愈加富足.城市化进程不断加快,各种市场主体层出不穷,对消防监测培训工作提出更高的要求.在如今多媒体信息智能时代,如何逐步改进防火监测工作,通过先进信息手段提高防火监测工作的实效和成果,是防火部门始终摸索和研讨的问题.文章主要研究了当前防火监测管理任务中存在的弊端,深入研究了信息时代防火监测工作的改进举措,并为现代防火监测培训工作提出一些建议.     

低压三相电机交流控制电源应采用控制变压器

就交流低压三相电动机控制电路的电源而言,国内外采用的方式有很大不同,我国多为相线加中性线或两根相线,而国外发达国家几乎均采用控制变压器;从标准入手进行对比分析,提出除特殊原因外,交流低压三相电动机控制电路的电源应采用控制变压器.     

基于熵权物元模型的长三角幸福河层次评价

将幸福河概念与长江三角洲区域一体化发展战略相结合，基于自然、人类社会、人水关系3个系统构建了包含24个指标的长三角幸福河层次评价指标体系；引入需求层次理论，以基础Ⅰ层次、基础Ⅱ层次、提升Ⅰ层次、提升Ⅱ层次、幸福层次5个层次作为幸福河的层次评价等级，运用熵权物元模型，建立了长三角幸福河层次评价模型，并对2018年长三角三省一市幸福河层次等级进行了评价。结果表明，三省一市均处于转化中的中间状态，其中江苏省向提升Ⅰ层次转化，浙江省、安徽省向提升Ⅱ层次转化，上海市向幸福层次转化，说明区域整体幸福河层次处于较高水平，但稳定性较差。     

基于供应链理念的EPC项目物资采购模式分析与探究

首先对EPC项目及基于供应链理念的物资采购模式进行简要概述,并对比此模式与传统采购模式的区别,得出此模式的优越性;然后阐述了此模式在我国EPC项目管理中的内涵及特征;最后分析了此模式在实际应用中的现状及存在的问题,并提出了相关的优化策略.     

The peptides in oat and malt extracts that are preferentially absorbed by Lactobacillus plantarum and stimulates its proliferation in milk

Lactobacillus plantarum proliferates inefficiently in milk, mainly because of its lack of cell envelope proteases and its inability to hydrolyse proteins in milk. Our previous study showed that this strain could grow well in milk with the addition of oat and malt extracts. To investigate the usage and preference for polypeptides and oligopeptides for this strain, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), plate counting and other methods were used in this study. The results showed that proteins in fermented milk cannot be absorbed and utilised by L. plantarum, whereas polypeptides and oligopeptides provide available nitrogen sources for their growth. Short-chain peptides were more conducive to absorption and utilisation than long-chain peptides. In particular, peptides with molecular weights in the range of 200–1400 Da in the oat extract and 100–700 Da in the malt extract were preferentially absorbed and utilised.     

Producing Fatty Acid Methyl Esters from Free Fatty Acids with Ionic Liquids as Catalyst

Three Brønsted acidic imidazole dicationic ionic liquids (ILs) with different length of alkyl chains, [C_n(Mim)₂][HSO₄]₂ (n = 3, 6, 12), were prepared and used as catalyst for the esterification reaction of free fatty acids and methanol. Taking oleic acid as model acid, the catalytic performances of the synthesized ILs for the esterification were evaluated. The main physicochemical properties of the ILs, thermal stability, acidity, solubility in common solvents, and causticity on Austenitic stainless steel 316, were examined. [C₃(Mim)₂][HSO₄]₂ demonstrated the highest catalytic activity and enabled to assess the preliminary optimum esterification condition of oleic acid and methanol. Under optimized reaction conditions, the yield of oleic acid methyl ester was up to 95 %. The ILs have great potential as catalysts for producing fatty acid methyl esters from long‐chain free fatty acids.     

High strain rate compressive response of the Cf/SiC composite

Carbon fiber reinforced ceramic owns the properties of lightweight, high fracture toughness, excellent shock resistance, and thus overcomes ceramic's brittleness. The researches on the advanced structure of astronautics, marine have exclusively evaluated the quasi-static mechanical response of carbon fiber reinforced ceramics, while few investigations are available in the open literature regarding elastodynamics. This paper reports the dynamic compressive responses of a carbon fiber reinforced silicon carbide (C_f/SiC) composite (CFCMC) tested by the material test system 801 machine (MTS) and the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). These tests were to determine the rate dependent compression response and high strain rate failure mechanism of the C_f/SiC composite in in-plane and out-plane directions. The in-plane compressive strain rates are from 0.001 to 2200?s^?1, and that of the out-plane direction are from 0.001 to 2400?s^?1. The compressive stress-strain curves show the C_f/SiC composite has a property of strain rate sensitivity in both directions while under high strain rate loadings. Its compressive stiffness, compressive stress, and corresponding strain are also strain rate sensitive. The compressive damage morphologies after high strain rate impacting show different failure modes for each loading direction. This study provides knowledge about elastodynamics of fiber-reinforced ceramics and extends their design criterion with a reliable evaluation while applying in the scenario of loading high strain rate.