Indoor heterogeneous photochemistry of furfural drives emissions of nitrous acid

People spend approximately 80% of their time indoor, making the understanding of the indoor chemistry an important task for safety. The high surface-area-to-volume ratio characteristic of indoor environments leads the semi-volatile organic compounds (sVOCs) to deposit on the surfaces. Using a long path absorption photometer (LOPAP), this work investigates the formation of nitrous acid (HONO) through the photochemistry of adsorbed nitrate anions and its enhancement by the presence of furfural. Using a high-resolution proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS), this work also investigates the surface emissions of VOCs from irradiated films of furfural and a mix of furfural and nitrate anions. Among the emitted VOCs, 2(5H)-furanone/2-Butenedial was observed at high concentrations, leading to maleic anhydride formation after UV irradiation. Moreover, the addition of potassium nitrate to the film formed NO_x and HONO concentrations up to 10 ppb, which scales to ca. 4 ppb for realistic indoor conditions. This work helps to understand the high levels of HONO and NO_x measured indoors.     

Characterizing physical habitat preferences and thermal refuge occupancy of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at high river temperatures

Anthropogenic influences, including climate change, are increasing river temperatures in northern and temperate regions and threatening the thermal habitats of native salmonids. When river temperatures exceed the tolerance levels of brook trout and Atlantic salmon, individuals exhibit behavioural thermoregulation by seeking out cold‐water refugia – often created by tributaries and groundwater discharge. Thermal infrared (TIR) imagery was used to map cold‐water anomalies along a 53 km reach of the Cains River, New Brunswick. Trout and salmon parr did not use all identified thermal anomalies as refugia during higher river temperature periods (>21°C). Most small‐bodied trout (8–30 cm) were observed in 80% of the thermal anomalies sampled. Large‐bodied trout (>35 cm) required a more specific set of physical habitat conditions for suitable refugia, that is, 100% of observed large trout used 30% of the anomalies sampled and required water depths >65 cm within or adjacent to the anomaly. Densities of trout were significantly higher within anomalies compared with areas of ambient river temperature. Salmon parr were less aligned with thermal anomalies at the observed temperatures, that is, 59% were found in 65% of the sampled anomalies; and densities were not significantly different within/ outside anomalies. Salmon parr appeared to aggregate at 27°C, and after several events over 27°C variability in aggregation behaviour was observed – some fish aggregated at 25°C, others did not. We stipulate this is due to variances of thermal fatigue. Habitat suitability curves were developed for velocity, temperature, depth, substrate, and deep water availability to characterize conditions preferred by fish during high‐temperature events. These findings are useful for managers as our climate warms, and can potentially be used as a tool to help conserve and enhance thermal refugia for brook trout and Atlantic salmon in similar systems.     

Physical Stability of Octenyl Succinate–Modified Polysaccharides and Whey Proteins for Potential Use as Bioactive Carriers in Food Systems

The high cost and potential toxicity of biodegradable polymers like poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic)acid (PLGA) has increased the interest in natural and modified biopolymers as bioactive carriers. This study characterized the physical stability (water sorption and state transition behavior) of selected starch and proteins: octenyl succinate–modified depolymerized waxy corn starch (DWxCn), waxy rice starch (DWxRc), phytoglycogen, whey protein concentrate (80%, WPC), whey protein isolate (WPI), and α‐lactalbumin (α‐L) to determine their potential as carriers of bioactive compounds under different environmental conditions. After enzyme modification and particle size characterization, glass transition temperature and moisture isotherms were used to characterize the systems. DWxCn and DWxRc had increased water sorption compared to native starch. The level of octenyl succinate anhydrate (OSA) modification (3% and 7%) did not reduce the water sorption of the DWxCn and phytoglycogen samples. The Guggenheim–Andersen–de Boer model indicated that native waxy corn had significantly (P < 0.05) higher water monolayer capacity followed by 3%‐OSA‐modified DWxCn, WPI, 3%‐OSA‐modified DWxRc, α‐L, and native phytoglycogen. WPC had significantly lower water monolayer capacity. All Tg values matched with the solid‐like appearance of the biopolymers. Native polysaccharides and whey proteins had higher glass transition temperature (Tg) values. On the other hand, depolymerized waxy starches at 7%‐OSA modification had a “melted” appearance when exposed to environments with high relative humidity (above 70%) after 10 days at 23 °C. The use of depolymerized and OSA‐modified polysaccharides blended with proteins created more stable blends of biopolymers. Hence, this biopolymer would be suitable for materials exposed to high humidity environments in food applications.     

底板带压开采工作面并行电透视探测技术应用研究

汾西矿务局水峪矿部分工作面现已面临带压开采问题，受下伏奥陶系灰岩水害影响，工作面安全回采过程中的防治水工作难度增加，尤其是带压开采工作面底板灰岩水的有效探测变得异常紧迫与重要。为了解决底板带压开采工作面富水区的探测问题，水峪矿引入了并行电透视技术，并对相应工作面进行了探测应用。并行电透视技术相对于传统音频电透视技术具有仪器智能化控制发射接收切换、一发射点并行对应多接收点、仪器智能快速高效跑极施工的3项技术优势，可体现应用现场施工高效、实际探测效果可靠的技术特点。经过对并行电透视技术及探测应用效果分析研究，证明该方法技术领先，现场施工高效，实际探测结果可靠，实用性强。     

Assessment of spray quality from an external mix nozzle and its impact on SQL grinding performance

Spray quality is the critical factor which decides the efficacy of Small Quantity Lubrication (SQL) technology in a high specific energy involved machining process like grinding. Yet, the understanding about spray quality, the actual process mechanics and its effect on machining performance is inadequate. The present work is an attempt to establish a correlation between the spray input variables, quality of the spray and machining performance of SQL grinding through modelling and experiments. Using computational fluid dynamic techniques, the variation of droplet size, droplet velocity, number of droplets and heat transfer coefficient have been analysed at different input parameters and the computed trends have been verified and validated. CFD modelling of spray indicates that it is possible to produce aerosol medium with high heat dissipation ability at moderately high air pressure and low flow rate. It also shows that any increase in atomising air pressure favourably leads to notable increase in wetting area and also results in substantial enhancement in heat dissipation ability. Reduction of residual stress is thus remarkably good. On the other hand, grinding fluid flow rate, if increased, offers significantly better lubricity and reduces the grinding force which also reduces tensile residual stress. Short spell grinding test results are found to be in good agreement with CFD results.     

Sleep Disorders Reduce Health-Related Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis (Nottingham Health Profile Data in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis)

Quality of Life (QoL) is decreased in multiple sclerosis (MS), but studies about the impact of sleep disorders (SD) on health-related quality of Life (HRQoL) are lacking. From our original cohort, a cross-sectional polysomnographic (PSG) study in consecutive MS patients, we retrospectively analysed the previously unpublished data of the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Those MS patients suffering from sleep disorders (n = 49) showed significantly lower HRQoL compared to MS patients without sleep disorders (n = 17). Subsequently, we classified the patients into four subgroups: insomnia (n = 17), restless-legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder and SD due to leg pain (n = 24), obstructive sleep apnea (n = 8) and patients without sleep disorder (n = 17). OSA and insomnia patients showed significantly higher NHP values and decreased HRQoL not only for the sleep subscale but also for the “energy” and “emotional” area of the NHP. In addition, OSA patients also showed increased NHP values in the “physical abilities” area. Interestingly, we did not find a correlation between the objective PSG parameters and the subjective sleep items of the NHP. However, this study demonstrates that sleep disorders can reduce HRQoL in MS patients and should be considered as an important confounder in all studies investigating HRQoL in MS.     

磁絮凝强化技术处理厌氧消化污泥脱水液

为满足后续生物处理单元对固体悬浮物（SS）和铁浓度的进水要求，采用磁絮凝强化技术对厌氧消化污泥脱水液进行预处理。通过正交试验和单因素试验，本文考察了混凝水力条件、聚合氯化铝（PAC）投加量、聚丙烯酰胺（PAM）投加量、磁粉投加量及药剂投加顺序对磁絮凝效果的影响。试验结果表明：磁絮凝强化技术在快搅300r/min（2min）、慢搅100r/min（15min）、静置10min时，依次投加磁粉（40mg/L）、PAC（30mg/L）、PAM（4mg/L）时处理效果最好。在此运行条件下，SS和Fe³⁺去除率分别为97.61%、98.24%、絮凝指数（FI值）取得最大值、zeta电位绝对值最小，絮凝效果最佳。与对照相比，磁絮凝强化技术对SS和Fe³⁺去除率分别可提高3.70%和10.82%，同时絮体最大沉降速度可提高33%。磁絮凝技术处理后的出水不仅可以满足后续生物处理单元对SS和铁浓度的要求，还可以有效提高磁絮凝体的沉降速度，减小沉淀时间，具有较好的实用价值。     

关于提升装载机电子秤检定结果测量准确度的探讨

装载机电子秤广泛应用于货场、建筑工地,如何使检定结果准确可靠,本文对自动衡器检定装置标准器量值的管理方法进行了一些探讨。     

工程水压爆破在煤层爆破中的应用

通过黑岱沟露天煤矿的工程试验总结了工程水压爆破技术(水土复合填塞炮孔)的原理及在露天煤矿爆破施工中的应用效果。在露天煤矿爆破施工中采用工程水压爆破技术,可以提高煤层爆破的大块率,降低单位立方岩石耗药量,降低爆破气体的温度,同时可以降低煤层爆破失火率、粉尘排放量,有效地控制爆破飞石。