Rip currents near coastal structures in Lake Michigan: Characterization and assessment for warnings

Rip currents near coastal structures commonly occur in Lake Michigan in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Lack of timely warning due to undocumented characteristics of rip currents and no assessment tool can contribute to tragic drownings incidents. In this paper, we characterized rip current occurrences near breakwater structures and developed an assessment tool for providing timely rip current warnings to beachgoers at the study site, City of Port Washington, WI. Characteristics of rip currents near the structure were observed from field measurements or visual images. Deflection rip currents had speeds of ～ 0.2 m/s and lasted for several hours. The rip current occurrences were associated with environmental proxies. It was found that rip currents can occur even when the water appears calm near the structure. A Structure Rip Checklist and Assessment Matrix (SRiCAM) with a four-tiered risk was developed and validated using observations. Furthermore, the SRiCAM was integrated into cyberinfrastructure with a data contingency plan to provide real-time warnings to the public. The applicability of the SRiCAM to other locations across Lake Michigan was further tested and results are promising. Overall, the SRiCAM has the potential to be widely extended to foster recreational water safety and resilience to rip current hazards in the Great Lakes.     

Comparative evaluation of the mesophilic and thermophilic biohydrogen production at optimized conditions using tequila vinasses as substrate

The objective of this work was to comparatively evaluate the production of biohydrogen (bio-H₂) from tequila vinasses at optimized mesophilic and thermophilic conditions and to elucidate the main metabolic routes involved. Optimal temperatures of 35 °C and 55 °C, and pH of 5.5 maximized the bio-H₂ production rates, 25.5 ± 0.01 NmL h⁻¹ and 169.9 ± 8.9 NmL h⁻¹ in the mesophilic and thermophilic regimens, respectively. During the operation of anaerobic sequencing batch reactors, the thermophilic process allowed a volumetric bio-H₂ production rate of 519 ± 13 NmL-H₂ L⁻¹ d⁻¹ equivalent to 750 ± 19 NmL-H₂ L_vinasse⁻¹, while the mesophilic one 448 ± 23 NmL-H₂ L⁻¹ d⁻¹ and 647 ± 33 NmL-H₂ L_vinasse⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, the gas produced under thermophilic conditions showed high hydrogen content (86.5%). Finally, formate degradation and glucose fermentation to acetic and butyric acids were the main metabolic routes involved in bio-H₂ production under thermophilic conditions, while at mesophilic conditions, the lactate and formate degradation pathways governed.     

Strength and chemical resistance of mortars containing brick manufacturing clays subjected to different treatments

This paper presents the results of an investigation of the properties of mortar in which a calcined clay was employed as a pozzolan. Mortars were prepared using either heat treated clay or ground waste clay bricks (from the same clay subjected to 1000 °C calcining) as a pozzolanic partial replacement for cement at replacement levels of 10%, 20% and 30%. The compressive strengths of the mortars were monitored up to 90 days and the resistance to sodium sulphate solution and synthetic seawater was monitored up to 300 days. The specimens were also monitored for weight changes. Partially replacing cement by ground brick or heat-treated brick clay gives early strengths that are lower than that of the control. At 90 days, however, the strengths are the same as or are greater than that of the control. Heat-treated clay is effective in reducing expansion during exposure of the mortar to sulphate solution and synthetic seawater. The rapidly cooled clay gives better performance, in terms of strength development and resistance to harmful solutions, than the slow cooled clay.     

Small volume PCR in PDMS biochips with integrated fluid control and vapour barrier

In this paper we demonstrate a new method for microfabricating PDMS devices that controls vapour diffusion, thereby reducing water loss at elevated temperatures and greatly increasing the reliability of the PCR. In the past, the vapour and liquid diffusion properties of the PDMS material in microfluidic devices have impaired performance. We show that this water loss is primarily due to vapour diffusion from the PDMS biochip and by implanting a polyethylene vapour barrier layer in the PDMS, the overall fluid loss was almost eliminated (reduced by a factor of 3). We have also developed a procedure to ensure irreversible bonding between the PDMS and the implant. With this improved microfabrication method we demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of performing small volume PCR genetic amplification (i.e. with less than 2 μl of PCR sample) within a PDMS–glass hybrid biochip. Diaphragm pumps and pinch-off valves were integrated in the system and these enabled fluid retention during the amplification stage and will facilitate higher levels of on-chip automation.     

“十三五”期间我国铅锌硫化矿选矿技术进展

“十三五”期间,为实现我国铅锌硫化矿的高效选别、选矿过程的节能降耗、废水废渣的循环利用,我国选矿工作者进行了大量研究工作,并取得了较大的进展。本文通过梳理“十三五”期间我国铅锌硫化矿选矿新技术进展,系统地论述了铅锌硫化矿的高效选别技术、清洁选矿技术和节能降耗技术等。相关新技术的应用,解决了我国铅锌矿产资源主金属回收率与伴生资源综合利用率低、选矿成本与设备能耗高、选矿废水治理与回用困难等问题,全面提高了我国铅锌硫化矿资源的开发利用水平,具有良好的应用推广价值。      

镧负载D201树脂同步脱硝除磷的性能对比

采用La3+、La（OH）₃以及La₂（CO₃）₃对D201树脂进行改性,并从吸附动力学、等温线、共存离子影响以及再生等方面系统地对比3种La负载树脂的同步脱硝除磷性能。扫描电镜及成分分析结果表明,D201表面能够负载不同形态的La,以La₂（CO₃）₃形态负载时La含量最高。吸附数据表明,La₂（CO₃）₃型D201树脂除磷效果优越,吸附容量高且受干扰离子影响小。经Na₂CO₃溶液再生5次后,各树脂均能保持良好的再生吸附效果,同步脱硝除磷性能稳定。树脂中季铵官能团（-R₄N+）对硝酸根选择性较高,使得硝氮吸附受共存离子的影响较弱;磷酸根吸附归因于与-R₄N+静电作用及与负载的各形态La形成沉淀、发生配体交换等,受体系pH值变化较为敏感,弱碱性条件可促进吸附。      

Effect of surfactant microstructures on photocatalytic degradation of phenol and chlorophenols

The effect of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) on the photocatalytic degradation of phenol (Phe), 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP) in the presence of aqueous TiO₂ suspensions at pH ca. 5 was investigated using a laboratory photoreactor equipped with a medium-pressure mercury lamp. Inhibition of substrate decomposition was observed for phenol, both below and above the surfactant critical micellar concentration, whereas a more complex behaviour was exhibited by chlorophenols. It was found that adsorption of these compounds onto the surfactant-modified semiconductor particles facilitates their faster decomposition, but the competitive partition of substrates between adsorbed surfactant structures and micellar aggregates tends to limit the beneficial kinetic effects at higher amphiphile concentrations. The crucial influence of surfactant adsorption was clearly evidenced in some runs performed at pH 3. Relevant inhibition of chloride release from chlorophenols, observed in the presence of HTAB, indicates a higher persistence of reaction intermediates in the reaction media, suggesting the need for a careful investigation of surfactant effects on all the degradation steps of the process.     

Nonlinear multiobjective model-predictive control scheme for wastewater treatment process

A nonlinear multiobjective model-predictive control (NMMPC) scheme, consisting of self-organizing radial basis function (SORBF) neural network prediction and multiobjective gradient optimization, is proposed for wastewater treatment process (WWTP) in this paper. The proposed NMMPC comprises a SORBF neural network identifier and a multiple objectives controller via the multi-gradient method (MGM). The SORBF neural network with concurrent structure and parameter learning is developed as a model identifier for approximating on-line the states of WWTP. Then, this NMMPC optimizes the multiple objectives under different operating functions, where all the objectives are minimized simultaneously. The solution of optimal control is based on the MGM which can shorten the solution time. Moreover, the stability and control performance of the closed-loop control system are well studied. Numerical simulations reveal that the proposed control strategy gives satisfactory tracking and disturbance rejection performance for WWTP. Experimental results show the efficacy of the proposed method.     

Dreissena in Lake Ontario 30 years post-invasion

We examined three decades of changes in dreissenid populations in Lake Ontario and predation by round goby (Neogobius melanostomus). Dreissenids (almost exclusively quagga mussels, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) peaked in 2003, 13 years after arrival, and then declined at depths <90 m but continued to increase deeper through 2018. Lake-wide density also increased from 2008 to 2018 along with average mussel lengths and lake-wide biomass, which reached an all-time high in 2018 (25.2 ± 3.3 g AFTDW/m²). Round goby densities were estimated at 4.2 fish/m² using videography at 10 to 35 m depth range in 2018. This density should impact mussel populations based on feeding rates, as indicated in the literature. While the abundance of 0–5 mm mussels appears to be high in all three years with measured length distributions (2008, 2013, 2018), the abundance of 5 to 12 mm dreissenids, the size range most commonly consumed by round goby, was low except at >90 m depths. Although the size distributions indicate that round goby is affecting mussel recruitment, we did not find a decline in dreissenid density in the nearshore and mid-depth ranges where goby have been abundant since 2005. The lake-wide densities and biomass of quagga mussels have increased over time, due to both the growth of individual mussels in the shallower depths, and a continuing increase in density at >90 m. Thus, the ecological effects of quagga mussels in Lake Ontario are likely to continue into the foreseeable future.     

鄱阳湖流域生态系统管理框架

鄱阳湖流域内水环境污染、水土流失、土地退化、自然灾害、矿区生态环境破坏等重大生态环境问题,不仅影响长江中下游的生态环境,同时制约流域内社会经济的发展。因此,亟须实行鄱阳湖流域生态系统管理,更好地协调流域内河流上下游、河湖以及行政区域之间的环境保护与社会经济发展关系。在对鄱阳湖流域特征分析和综合管理回顾的基础上,探讨鄱阳湖流域生态系统管理框架,分析鄱阳湖流域生态系统管理的尺度和范围、生态系统服务可持续利用、适应性管理等问题,提出鄱阳湖流域生态系统管理目标,为鄱阳湖生态经济区建设以及流域开发与保护提供理论依据和指导。