Low-level arsenic exposure is associated with bladder cancer risk and cigarette smoking: a case–control study among men in Tunisia

Although exposure to high levels of arsenic is associated with excess bladder cancer risk, lower exposures generally are not. This study represents the first biomonitoring of arsenic exposure in Tunisia and focuses on a possible association with bladder cancer risk. In this context, 124 male bladder cancer cases and 220 controls were recruited and blood samples were analyzed to determine the concentration of As. The study subjects were stratified into median groups based on concentrations of arsenic in their blood. Blood arsenic (B-As) was significantly two to threefold higher in bladder cancer cases than in controls (p?<?0.05). The arsenic concentrations were significantly higher among both smokers and workers in construction. However, neither drinking water nor seafood was found to be incriminated as exposure sources. The adjusted risk ratios for B-As concentration categories 0.1–0.67 and ≥0.67 μg/L were 0.18 (95% CI?=?0.014–2.95) and 2.44 (95% CI?=?1.11–5.35), respectively. Arsenic levels were not found to be associated with tumor grade or stage. The considerable risk in the category of highest cumulative exposure argues for an association between bladder cancer risk and low-level arsenic exposure. Future investigations with larger samples and using techniques that allow the distinction of the different arsenic species should better elucidate this association. Furthermore, the modulation of arsenic level according to the histological grade may be of potential to be used as a diagnostic marker of the disease process and its possible relationship etiologically.     

Bio-oil production from pyrolysis of waste sawdust with catalyst ZSM-5

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Slow pyrolysis is characterized by a low heating rate and high reaction time. The products are bio-char, bio-oil and bio-gas. In bio-oil, there are...     

Geostatistical analysis of densities of Liocarcinus depurator (Brachyura: Portunidae) on the western Mediterranean from 1994 to 2003

Bottom trawl estimates of densities of the portunid crab Liocarcinus depurator along the Mediterranean coast of Spain from 1994 to 2003, covering a depth range of 50–800 m, were analysed using non-linear geostatistical techniques. The variation of the spatial distribution was modelled through variogram analysis using depth as a covariate. Patch size ranged from 20 to 75 km. Crab density showed a general decrease from 1994 to 2003. L. depurator high-density areas were characterised as either occasional or permanent (always present every year). High-density patches appeared to be associated with either upwelling or strong river influence, i.e. the Western Alborán Sea and the Ebro Delta. The application of non-linear geostatistical techniques proved useful in identifying permanent high-density population patches, thereby highlighting regions of special interest for the ecology of the species.     

Reward rate and forager activation in honeybees: recruiting mechanisms and temporal distribution of arrivals

We analyzed the foraging and recruitment activity of single foragers ( Apis mellifera), exploiting low reward rates of sucrose solution. Single employed foragers (test bees) were allowed to collect 2.0 m sucrose solution delivered by a rate-feeder located at 160 m from the hive for 2 h. Flow rates varied between 1.4 and 5.5 µl/min. The individual behavior of the test bees was registered both at the hive and the food source, and the social output was calculated as the number of incoming bees arriving at the feeder per hour (henceforth: arrival rate). Incoming bees were captured once they landed at the feeder and assigned to one of three categories according to their foraging experience and hive interactions with the test bee: inspector, reactivated, or inexperienced bees. Both the waggle-runs performed per hour of foraging by test bees and the social output attained, increased with the reward rate. Also the number of hive-stays and the trophallactic-offering contacts performed by test bees were positively correlated with the arrival rate. For the highest reward rates, the duration of Nasonov-gland exposure at the feeding place was higher, and the arrival of most of the incoming bees occurred shortly after the test bee landed at the feeding platform. Thus, in addition to hive-interactions, landing of incoming bees at the food source is promoted by olfactory and/or visual information provided by the test bees. The proportions of inspector, reactivated, and inexperienced bees changed depending on the reward rate offered. Therefore, not only the occurrence and intensity of the recruitment-related behaviors performed by the test bees, but also the stimulation required by each category of incoming bees, determined the social output observed.     

Competitive interactions between two fucoid algae with different growth forms,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Fucus serratus</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Himanthalia elongata</Emphasis>

Competitive interactions between two fucoid algae with different growth forms, Fucus serratus L. and Himanthalia elongata (L.) S.F. Gray were examined both in the laboratory and on a shore of the Isle of Man, Irish Sea. The growth of germlings of both species declined with increasing density, irrespective of whether they were with cohorts or rival species, indicating that intra- and interspecific competition occurred between germlings. H. elongata suppressed the performance of F. serratus at the germling stage by virtue of its larger initial size, and at the mushroom stage by forming a miniature canopy with the caps of the adjacent plants. In a field experiment, the mortality of H. elongata juveniles generally increased in mixtures with F. serratus and was highest when F. serratus were 50% of the plants. At the juvenile stage, the negative effect of F. serratus on H. elongata was more severe than the other way round. This was because F. serratus grows predominantly upwards, whereas H. elongata had already begun to expand laterally at the distal end. If F. serratus survives in sparse mixed stands with H. elongata juveniles, it can overgrow them and inhibit their subsequent survivorship and growth, probably by both shading and physical sweeping. H. elongata and F. serratus maintain their discrete monospecific stands because of the varying outcomes of mutual competitive exclusion resulting from their differing growth patterns. Thus it is possible for them to co-occur at a similar shore height.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

Efficient management capacity evaluation of tourism in protected areas

Despite the increasing number of protected areas around the world and their importance in the conservation of species and ecosystems, protected areas management capacity remains difficult to evaluate. A standard is needed to help policy makers compare the goals with the results obtained. This empirical research builds a tool to analyze the management efficiency and predicts the new touristic outcomes in case of a policy change. Using as example the state parks agencies in the USA, this paper develops a technological frontier using data envelopment analysis based on the Protected Areas Management Approach. After that, a prediction of the outcomes is analyzed with a budget change for any state park agency. Data suggest that many of them need to improve their performance to be more efficient. Another result obtained shows how budget changes will affect each agency's performance in different degrees and, therefore, budget reductions should be modeled separately.     

Removal of heavy metals using waste eggshell

The removal capacity of toxic heavy metals by the reused eggshell was studied.As a pretreatment process for the preparation of reused material from waste eggshell,calcination was performed in the furnace at 800℃for 2 h after crushing the dried waste eggshell.Calcination behavior,qualitative and quantitative elemental information,mineral type and surface characteristics before and after calcination of eggshell were examined by thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA),X-ray fluorescence (XRF),X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM),respectively.After calcination,the major inorganic composition was identified as Ca(lime, 99.63%)and K,P and Sr were identified as minor components.When calcined eggshell was applied in the treatment of synthetic wastewater containing heavy metals,a complete removal of Cd as well as above 99% removal of Cr was observed after 10 min. Although the natural eggshell had some removal capacity of Cd and Cr,a complete removal was not accomplished even after 60 min due to quite slower removal rate.However,in contrast to Cd and Cr,an efficient removal of Pb was observed with the natural eggshell rather than the calcined eggshell.From the application of the calcined eggshell in the treatment of real electroplating wastewater, the calcined eggshell showed a promising removal capacity of heavy metal ions as well as had a good neutralization capacity in the treatment of strong acidic wastewater.     

Carotenoid-rich mouth colors influence the conspicuousness of nestling birds

When allocating investment among offspring, parents might maximize their fitness by biasing investment toward offspring with the best direct fitness prospects. The observed preferences of avian parents for carotenoid-rich mouth colors that advertise good condition has been interpreted as support for this hypothesis. However, because these condition-dependent visual signals might also make offspring more visually conspicuous, active parental preferences for carotenoid-rich traits are difficult to distinguish from passive responses to differences in detectability among offspring. Here, we used a visual model to examine how mouth colors influence the visual conspicuousness of nestling house sparrows (Passer domesticus) to parents under a suite of realistic ambient light conditions. We found little evidence that mouths rich in carotenoids provided more conspicuous targets to parents than mouths poor in carotenoids. While other features of mouth color may have evolved to increase conspicuousness, our results suggest that carotenoid-based coloration is not a product of detectability pressures and rather may serve as a signal of nestling quality.     

Design and first experimental results of a bubbling fluidized bed for air gasification of plastic waste

Plastic wastes have an especially high potential for use as alternative fuels, considering their high heating value and their large and stable availability. They could be used in electricity production based on gasification technologies, wherein electricity is produced in engines by means of the conversion of plastic wastes into a valuable gas. However, there are still some technical barriers to overcome before this technology can access the commercial stage, and further scientific research is needed to gain deeper understanding of the process and to be able to control and optimize it. This research presents the design and first experimental results of a bubbling fluidized bed gasifier conceived for the gasification of actual plastic residues. The experimental tests revealed that the selection and design of the reactor were adequate and proved some of the advantages of using plastic as a fuel, related in part to the absence of ashes and char. A valuable syngas over 5 MJ/m³ was generated, which contained a considerable fraction of methane as well as hydrogen and carbon monoxide as main combustible gases. The highest efficiency was achieved when the equivalence ratio was increased to 0.35, reaching 61 % in terms of cold gas efficiency and 66 % carbon conversion.