Fluidised pellet bed bioreactor: a promising technology for onsite wastewater treatment and reuse.

A pilot-scale fluidised pellet bed (FPB) bioreactor, which combines chemical coagulation, biological degradation, particle pelletisation and separation in one unit, was applied for onsite wastewater treatment and reuse. As a result of rational use of inorganic coagulant and organic polymer and moderate mechanical agitation, spherical particles were generated in the upflow column and a well-fluidised bed was formed. With a continuous supply of dissolved oxygen through a recycling loop, an aerobic condition was kept in the bottom section of the FPB column. Under such conditions the pellets in the FPB column showed the following characteristics: (1) compact structure and high density; (2) rich in microorganisms; and (3) high MLSS and MLVSS concentrations. Therefore, the FPB bioreactor achieved more than 90% removal of SS, COD, BOD and TP from raw domestic wastewater within a total hydraulic retention time (HRT) of only about 30 minutes. It also showed nitrification and denitrification ability and the TN removal could be about 50% as the recycling ratio was increased to 1:1. The treated water quality is generally competitive with the secondary effluent from a conventional activated sludge process. With these advantages the FPB bioreactor is recommendable as a compact system for onsite wastewater treatment and reuse.     

Are Diamonds a MEMS' Best Friend?

Next-generation military and civilian communication systems will require technologies capable of handling data/ audio, and video simultaneously while supporting multiple RF systems operating in several different frequency bands from the MHz to the GHz range [1]. RF microelectromechani-cal/nanoelectromechanical (MEMS/NEMS) devices, such as resonators and switches, are attractive to industry as they offer a means by which performance can be greatly improved for wireless applications while at the same time potentially reducing overall size and weight as well as manufacturing costs.     

Neural networks modeling signal responses and taxol production of cultured Taxus chinensis cells induced by bio-elicitor

Quantitatively describing the signal transduction process is important for understanding the mechanism of signal regulation in cells, and thus, poses both a challenge and an opportunity for chemical and biochemical engineers. An artificial neural network (ANN), in which we took the signal molecules as neural nodes, was constructed to simulate the generation of active oxygen species (AOS) in Taxus chinensis cells induced by a bio-elicitor. The relative contents of AOS in cells predicted by the ANN model agreed well with the experimental data and three notable stages of AOS increase were observed from the 3D figure of AOS generation. The robustness of AOS trajectories indicated that signal regulation in vivo was an integral feedback control model that ensured the adaptation of Taxus chinensis to environmental stress. The artificial neural network was able to predict taxol production as well as determine the optimal concentration of oligosaccharides needed for it.     

Possibilities and problems with the use of models as a communication tool in water resource management

Politicians and policy-makers, as well as modellers, often nurses an expectation that model derived results is an objective source of information that can be used to support decisions. However, several prerequisites have to be dealt with in order to ensure that models can be used as legitimate and efficient tools in water resource management. Based on empirical material from recent studies on the use of models in stakeholder dialogues, mainly focusing on catchment nutrient transport, two central problems are identified: (a) Models are laden with choices and thus depend on assumptions and priorities of modellers. (b) There are several factors that influence ability and willingness of stakeholders (as information recovers) to criticize or accept results of the modelling exercise. Recognized factors likely to influence stakeholders' acceptance of model derived results include issues at stake, stakeholders' ability to criticize model derived information, and their trust in the institutions that have developed or applied the used models. Identified prerequisites for successful use of models in integrated water resource management include: consideration of user relevance, awareness of and preparedness to handle constraints linked to communication of model-based results, transparency of used models and data and of involved uncertainties, mutual respect between experts and stakeholders and between involved stakeholder groups, a robust institutional network, and sufficient time for dialogues. Development and use of strategies for participatory modelling, based on a continuous dialogue between experts and stakeholders is recommended as a way to facilitate that the prerequisites for a successful use of models in water resource management are fulfilled.     

Tennant法计算南沙河河道生态需水量

随着人口的快速增长和经济社会的调整发展,生态系统尤其是水生态系统承受越来越大的压力,出现了水源枯竭、水体污染和富营养化等问题。通过对河流生态需水量的计算,有效地保障南沙河城区段景现及生态系统需水要求。利用Tennant法计算南沙河城区段生态需水量。     

An analytical study on the thermal characteristics of flat-plate and evacuated solar collectors

In this study, we highlighted differences in the standards used in performance tests of solar collectors. We analyzed testing results for different types of solar collectors to determine the effects of the collector area and mass flow rate, which were not necessarily consistent across all tests. Our analysis showed that the factor,F′ (τα), including collector efficiency factor (F′), could be correlated with the flow rate or area regardless of the collector type. Moreover, the collector loss coefficient (F′U _L ) per flow rate or area for an evacuated collector was less that of a flat-plate collector; this was also correlated with the flow rate or area, regardless of the type of evacuated collector. As a result of this analysis, we propose a modified heat loss coefficient that includes the effects of all parameters that can be considered in a performance test and show that this coefficient could better describe the thermal characteristics of various types of solar collectors.     

A Class of POCA Distributions For rapid fading variations

Polydorou and Capsalis [1] pioneered the concept of POCA distribution to study the statistical behavior of the fast fading characteristics in an indoor environment under the assumption of finite number of scatters. In this note, we derive a comprehensive class of formulas for the POCA distribution to help better statistical modeling of the fast fading characteristics. The calculations involve use of several special functions and their properties.     

酶促合成生物柴油反应动力学

以Candidasp.99-125脂肪酶为催化剂,甘油三油酸酯和甲醇为底物,采用有序机制模型对酶促合成生物柴油的酯交换反应动力学进行了研究,并与经典乒乓机制模型进行了比较。研究结果表明,反应初速率的实验值与有序机制模型方程的计算值吻合很好。对于固定化Candidasp.99-125脂肪酶催化合成生物柴油的酯交换反应机理进行研究,采用有序机制模型比经典乒乓机制模型更为精确。反应过程中,醇抑制为竞争性抑制,在甘油三油酸酯浓度较小的范围内,醇抑制作用较为显著,醇浓度越低反应初速率越快。该有序机制模型可用来预测生物柴油的生产批次或连续反应器中酯交换反应的速率,确定最佳底物油脂和醇的浓度。