Investigation of the characteristics of the reflectivity of clouds

This paper investigates some of the reflectivity characteristics that clouds (when modelled as solid bodies) must exhibit to be compatible with observations that the reflecting surface of a cloud (i) appears almost equally bright across its face, (ii) is brightest when the cloud is opposite to the Sun but decreases in brightness as the cloud moves to other positions and (iii) increases in brightness with increasing optical thickness of the cloud in the observer's line of sight. These observations, respectively, are shown to imply that the peak value of the bidirectional total reflectivity from a cloud surface (i) increases in inverse proportion to the cosine of the angle between the Sun and the normal to the cloud surface, as the incident angle increases, (ii) appears to be directed back in the direction of the incident radiation, and (iii) increases as optical thickness of the cloud in the observer's line of sight increases. The results could have application in many fields (e.g. modelling diffuse radiance distributions for cloudy skies).     

The Governance of the Mitigation of the Baltic Sea Eutrophication: Exploring the Challenges of the Formal Governing System

This article focuses on the governing system of the mitigation of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Policies and measures of the Baltic Sea coastal countries, the macro--regional (HELCOM) level, and the level of the European Union are described and governance challenges explicated. We found that the main challenges at different governance levels include: differences between coastal countries in terms of environmental conditions including environmental awareness, overlaps of policies between different levels, the lack of adequate spatial and temporal specification of policies, and the lack of policy integration. To help to meet these challenges, we suggest closer involvement of stakeholders and the public, the improvement of the interplay of institutions, and the introduction of a “primus motor” for the governance of the mitigation of eutrophication in the Baltic Sea.     

Industrial plastic on the southern beaches of the Arabian Gulf and the western beaches of the Gulf of Oman

The increasing production and use of plastic in the Arabian Gulf combined with shipping and waste disposal practices, have increased the concentration of plastic particles on the sea's surface and beaches. The objective of this investigation was to provide an assessment of the abundance, distribution, potential sources and significance of industrial plastic on the western beaches of the United Arab Emirates on the Arabian Gulf and on the eastern beaches on the Gulf of Oman. The abundance of stranded plastic pellets was highly uneven. By early 1992 alarming levels of fresh plastic pellets were noticed on the Arabian Gulf beaches of the UAE. Large numbers of 25 kg sacks of white plastic spherules manufactured by (SABIC) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia were washed ashore. When compared to the west coast on the Arabian Gulf, the east coast on the Gulf of Oman exhibited much lower levels of plastic pellets. When compared to other parts of the world, the beaches of the UAE on the Arabian Gulf are considered to be heavily polluted with industrial plastic.     

Influence of the application of sewage sludge on the degradation of pesticides in the soil

A study was made of the influence of the application of sewage sludge on the degradation of pesticides in the soil. Two kinds of sludge were used, with different characteristics, one from an urban treatment plant and one from a food processing plant. Three organophosphorus insecticides, fenitrothion, diazinon and dimethoate, were studied. The relative importance was determined of the chemical and biological degradation processes, which involved experiments on soil and sterile soil samples. A comparative study was also made of the degradation of pesticide residues and the evolution of the microbial population. The application of sludge seems to have a complex effect on the degradation of pesticides, determined by the bioavailability and biodegradability of their active ingredient. The biodegradation of pesticide residues brings about alterations in the microorganism population of the soil.     

Effect of the pesticide lindane on the biomass of the microalgae Nannochloris oculata

This study assesses the growth of the microalgae Nannochloris oculata in the presence of lindane and the ability of N. oculata to remove lindane from media. Algal biomass increased with 0.1 and 0.5 mg L^?1 of lindane, and lindane concentrations in the media decreased. N. oculata removed 73% and 68.2% of lindane in the 0.1 and 0.5 mg L^?1 media concentrations, respectively. Algal biomass decreased to the level of the control at lindane concentrations greater than 2.5 mg L^?1, probably due to toxicity. N. oculata removed lindane from the media at concentrations lower than 1.0 mg L^?1. Thus, N. oculata may be useful for lindane bioremediation in contaminated aquatic systems.     

Isolation of the stable fraction (the core) of the humic acid

Humic acid consists of a recalcitrant (unhydrolysed fraction) (the core) and labile (hydrolysable fraction) fraction. Core-humic acid (core-HA) isolation was performed by treating source material with apolar and polar solvents (organic solvents+acid hydrolysis) before alkaline extraction. Leonardite, soil Ah horizont and dry blood were chosen for this study because of their different origin and degree of humification. Chemical analysis (elemental analysis, total acidity, E(4):E(6)), spectroscopic analysis (DRIFT and (1)H NMR), and complete mass balance were used to investigate the effect of purifying humic acids. The results obtained showed that purification produced a slight modification of Leonardite humic acids as was expected for these highly humified organic matrices. On the other hand, about 500 g kg(-1) of soil humic acids were lost by purification. The fractions lost mainly consisted of carbohydrates. Dry blood showed the presence of humic acids that contrasted with its origin, thus indicating the limitations of the common analytical methods used for HA extraction. Nevertheless, in practice, purification caused the complete disappearance (914 g kg(-1) of HA was lost) of these HAs. The results obtained in this work suggest that the HA fraction isolated (named core-HA) effectively represents the HA structure proposed by the existing literature, since the purification proposed was able to eliminate the adsorbed organic molecules (interference materials) coating the HA structure.     

Assessment of the effects of the carbamazepine on the endogenous endocrine system of Daphnia magna

In the present study, the endocrine activity of the antiepileptic pharmaceutical carbamazepine (CBZ) in the crustacean Daphnia magna was assessed. To assess the hormonal activity of the drug, we exposed maternal daphnids and embryos to environmental relevant concentrations of CBZ (ranging from 10 to 200 μg/L) and to mixtures of CBZ with fenoxycarb (FEN; 1 μg/L). Chronic exposure to CBZ significantly decreased the reproductive output and the number of molts of D. magna at 200 μg/L. This compound induced the production of male offspring (12?±?1.7 %), in a non-concentration-dependent manner, acting as a weak juvenile hormone analog. Results showed that this substance, at tested concentrations, did not antagonize the juvenoid action of FEN. Further, CBZ has shown to be toxic to daphnid embryos through maternal exposure interfering with their normal gastrulation and organogenesis stages but not producing direct embryo toxicity. These findings suggest that CBZ could act as an endocrine disruptor in D. magna as it decreases the reproductive output, interferes with sex determination, and causes development abnormality in offspring. Therefore, CBZ could directly affect the population sustainability.

     

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition: revisiting the question of the importance of the organic component

The organic component of atmospheric reactive nitrogen plays a role in biogeochemical cycles, climate and ecosystems. Although its deposition has long been known to be quantitatively significant, it is not routinely assessed in deposition studies and monitoring programmes. Excluding this fraction, typically 25-35%, introduces significant uncertainty in the determination of nitrogen deposition, with implications for the critical loads approach. The last decade of rainwater studies substantially expands the worldwide dataset, giving enough global coverage for specific hypotheses to be considered about the distribution, composition, sources and effects of organic-nitrogen deposition. This data collation and meta-analysis highlights knowledge gaps, suggesting where data-gathering efforts and process studies should be focused. New analytical techniques allow long-standing conjectures about the nature and sources of organic N to be investigated, with tantalising indications of the interplay between natural and anthropogenic sources, and between the nitrogen and carbon cycles.     

Characterization and application of the enzyme peroxidase to the degradation of the mycotoxin DON

Deoxynivalenol (DON), one of the main mycotoxins found in food matrices, has high level of toxicity. This study aimed to characterize the peroxidase enzyme extracted from rice bran to be applied to the biodegradation of DON in order to evaluate the potential peroxidase (PO) from rice bran (RB) has to degrade DON in optimal conditions. Purification and recovery factors of PO extracted from RB and purified by three-phase partitioning were 5.7% and 50%, respectively. PO had the highest level of activity in the phosphate buffer 5 mM pH 5.5 in both crude and purified forms, whose reaction temperatures were 25°C and 10°C. At the end of production, purification and characterization steps, specific activities of the bran were 115.79 U mg^?1 and 4363 U g^?1. Reduction in the mycotoxin DON in optimal conditions determined for PO from RB was 20.3%, a promising result when the aim is to adequate mycotoxicological levels to foods.     

Determining the role of humic substances in the fate of pesticides in the environment

Abstract

The data presented in this paper emphasize that the behavior and fate of pesticides in the environment is influenced by humic substances. Various methods most frequently used for the characterization of humic substances are discussed. Both humic acid and fulvic acid can solubilize in water certain organic compounds and are important carriers of some pesticides in soil. Humic substances have the potential for promoting the nonbiological degradation of many pesticides. Several methods of bleaching humus color from drinking water, including chlorination, ozonation, and UV‐radiation, are described. Finally, the photochemical stability to UV‐radiation of certain pesticides in aqueous fulvic acid solution is discussed.     

Determining the role of human substances in the fate of pesticides in the environment

The data presented in this paper emphasize that the behavior and fate of pesticides in the environment is influenced by humic substances. Various methods most frequently used for the characterization of humic substances are discussed. Both humic acid and fulvic acid can solubilize in water certain organic compounds and are important carriers of some pesticides in soil. Humic substances have the potential for promoting the nonbiological degradation of many pesticides. Several methods of bleaching humus color from drinking water, including chlorination, ozonation, and UV-radiation, are described. Finally, the photochemical stability to UV-radiation of certain pesticides in aqueous fulvic acid solution is discussed.     

Estimation of the net air-sea flux of ammonia over the southern bight of the North Sea

Measurements of airborne gaseous ammonia and total dissolved ammonium in sea water determined on cruises on the North Sea have been used to calculate net fluxes of ammonia between air and sea. The system is finely balanced with the majority of net fluxes from air to sea, but some periods occur when the sea becomes a net source of ammonia in air. Examination of the field data suggests that the main factor determining the direction of flux is the airborne ammonia concentration, which when elevated causes ammonia deposition to the sea. It is calculated that ammonia deposition to the southern bight of the North Sea (below 56°N) amounts to 7.6 x 103 tonnes N per year, about one-half of an earlier upper limit estimate. Comparison with studies from the Pacific Ocean, in which the sea acts as a source of atmospheric ammonia, reveals that the major differences arise from much higher concentrations of airborne ammonia in the North Sea atmosphere caused by advection from adjacent land.     

An assessment of the aggregate impacts of the proposed reduction in the motor fuels tax in the United States

The analysis in this paper examines the impact of reducing the excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel on the United States economy. The analytical approach used consists of a computable general equilibrium model composed of fourteen producing sectors, fourteen consuming sectors, six household categories classified by income and the government. The effects of a 4.3 cents per gallon reduction in the excise tax on gasoline and diesel fuel on prices and quantities are examined. The results suggest, for example, that a decrease in the tax would result in higher output by the producing sectors (by about $2.86 billion), and expansion in the consumption of goods and services (by about $3.48 billion), and an increase in welfare (by about $3.59 billion). The government would realise a decrease in revenue of about $2.37 billion. When subjected to a sensitivity analysis, the results are reasonably robust with regard to the assumption of the values of the substitution elasticities.     

焦化废水中细菌质粒的研究

细菌质粒中常带有一些可编码降解特殊有毒物质酶的基因,为了研究质粒对有毒物质CN^-的降解的意义,主要调查了焦化废水中好氧异养菌的质粒分布特点。从山西省焦化企业公司生化站、太原煤气公司焦化厂生化站中筛选出53株细菌,利用琼脂糖凝胶电泳法,采用GDS-8000型凝胶电泳分析仪进行拍照,同时测定各菌株降氰、降酚能力,CN^-采用异烟酸-毗唑啉酮法,酚采用4-氨基安替比林法测定。结果表明,质粒的存在与降氰力有一定的关系,但对降酚力的影响差异不显著。同时,通过对其中11^*号菌株进行了质粒转化和消除实验,证明质粒稳定,不可用十二烷基磺酸钠(SDS)消除掉,用E．cbli DHI作受体菌,用11^#菌株作供体菌。作转化实验,但由于种种原因,没有筛洗到转化子。     

A motley of possible therapies of the COVID-19: reminiscing the origin of the pandemic

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The 2019 outbreak of corona virus disease began from Wuhan (China), transforming into a leading pandemic, posing an immense threat to the global...     

Backyard of the rich north: the climate change-related vicious circle of the Arctic zone

The Arctic zone is full of controversies, unknowns, contrasts, and challenges. The following example is enlightening. Saudi Arabia is a country that has been considered to have almost unlimited possibilities because of its enormous oil earnings. The country has US$60 thousand million purchasing power parity oil income each year for its mere 22 million inhabitants. Astonishingly, the Arctic zone's income from oil, gas, and minerals is at least as large as that of Saudi Arabia, modestly estimated, but the Arctic has less than 4 million people. Most money, however, flows away from the tundra, yet social and environmental problems remain there. A part of the side effect of consuming these resources-largely fossil fuels-returns to the Arctic in the form of greenhouse warming and all its consequences. The Arctic zone now warms at approximately double the rate of the world average.     

An alternative for the nitrobenzylpyridine test for the description of the toxicity of alkylating agents

When correlating the biologic activity of alkylating agents with physicochemical parameters, the reaction rate constant of the reaction with 4-(p-nitrobenzyl) pyridine (NBP) is often used as a measure of the compounds chemical reactivity. Since the use of NBP suffers some drawbacks from an experimental point of view, it was decided to develop an alternative test method, using thiourea as a standard nucleophile.Reactivities obtained with both methods for six halogenated alkylating agents are compared, and the usefulness of the new experimental method is discussed.     

Effects of perfluoroalkyl acids on the function of the thyroid hormone and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are perfluorinated compounds that widely exist in the environment and can elicit adverse effects including endocrine disruption in humans and animals. This study investigated the effect of seven PFAAs on the thyroid hormone (TH) system assessing the proliferation of the 3,3′,5-triiodo-l-thryonine (T3)-dependent rat pituitary GH3 cells using the T-screen assay and the effect on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) transactivation in the AhR-luciferase reporter gene bioassay. A dose-dependent impact on GH3 cells was observed in the range 1?×?10^?9–1?×?10^?4 M: seven PFAAs (perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)) inhibited the GH3 cell growth, and four PFAAs (PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFUnA) antagonized the T3-induced GH3 cell proliferation. At the highest test concentration, PFHxS showed a further increase of the T3-induced GH3 growth. Among the seven tested PFAAs, only PFDoA and PFDA elicited an activating effect on the AhR. In conclusion, PFAAs possess in vitro endocrine-disrupting potential by interfering with TH and AhR functions, which need to be taken into consideration when assessing the impact on human health.     

潮汐对江水致突变性的影响

对某潮汐河流从下游至上游共设A、B、C、D、E五个采样点,用Ames试验、双微核试验及单细胞凝胶电泳试验(彗星试验)检测涨潮和落潮时江水中有机污染物的致突变性.结果表明,Ames试验各采样点样品都有致突变性,且从上游至下游逐渐增强;对TA98加S9致突变性增加;双微核试验、彗星试验检测出染色体及DNA损伤剂,并以A点作用最强.涨潮时各点致突变强度较落潮时强.