Determination of ametryn in sugarcane and ametryn–atrazine herbicide formulations using spectrophotometric method

A sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for determination of ametryn in agricultural samples. The proposed method was based on reaction with pyridine and further coupling with sulfanilic acid to form a colored product. The absorbance was measured at 400 nm with a molar absorptivity of 2.1 × 10⁵ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹. The method shows a linear range from 0.2–20 μg mL⁻¹ with limit of detection and limit of quantification 0.16 and 0.54 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. The method has been successfully applied to the determination of ametryn in sugarcane juice and commercial formulations after separation of ametryn from triazine herbicides based on solvent extraction. Recovery values were found to be in the range of 96.0 ± 0.2% to 98.4 ± 0.1%.     

Economic growth and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions

This article considers a planner’s optimum control exercise with environmental pollution and derives a testable link between the growth rates of consumption and pollution. The link is then empirically estimated for the case of CO₂ emissions for a sample consisting of the union of top 25 countries in terms of CO₂ emissions, population and per capita GNP. The analysis suggests that the interrelationship between the growth rates of CO₂ emission and economic development is mostly significant for countries that have a high level of CO₂ emissions and population.     

Speciation of heavy metals in biosolids of wastewater treatment plants at Mysore,Karnataka, India

Urban wastewater treatment leads to the generation of large quantities of biosolids. Accumulation of biosolids is a problem of environmental relevance due to the existence of heavy metals in the biosolids. Determination of total metal in biosolid provides information relating pollution levels. Determination of their mobilization capacity and behaviour in the environment is an important task. An experimental approach commonly used for studying the mobility, transport and bioavailability of metal in biosolids is the use of selective sequential extraction procedure. In the present study an attempt has been made to study the heavy metal properties in biosolid samples collected from urban wastewater treatment plants located at Mysore, Karnataka. Few heavy metals selected for the present study are cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel and zinc. The concentration of these metals in biosolids and their partition in different fractions are studied. The speciation of metals based on the sequential extraction scheme was carried out. The concentration of heavy metals is lower than that established by European legislation. The residual fraction has the maximum percentage of heavy metals whereas, only a small fraction of heavy metals (Fe, Zn and Cd) are extracted in the most soluble fractions, exchangeable and carbonate fractions.     

新型转式垃圾焚烧过程中脱氯脱硫机理的研究

为了探讨有机垃圾焚烧过程钙基添加剂对HCl，SO_x生成特性的影响，分别在自行设计的中空水冷转式垃圾焚烧炉和固定床加热炉中进行了一系列的实验，研究结果表明新型转式焚烧炉具有强化传热传质特性，能提高HCl、SO_x的脱除率，可抑制有害气体的生成；同时也研究了 HCl，SO₂气体同时存在时，钙基添加剂对脱氯脱硫效率的影响规律。     

聚硅酸锌铝的制备及其性能研究

以硅酸钠、硫酸锌、硫酸铝为原料，通过共聚法制备了无机高分子絮凝剂聚硅酸锌铝（PSZAS），研究了Na₂SiO₃的摩尔浓度、活化时间、Al/Si、Zn/Si 配比及絮凝剂的投加量对絮凝效果的影响，用X-射线衍射（XRD）和电子扫描电镜（SEM）对该絮凝剂的结构及形貌进行了表征。结果表明：当硅酸钠的浓度为0.4 mol/L，硅酸活化时间为2 h，Si∶Al∶Zn=1∶1∶1.5，絮凝剂投加量为20 mL/L废水时，絮凝剂的电中和能力和吸附架桥能力最强，絮凝剂对含H-酸染料模拟废水的絮凝效果最好。     

Changes of movement patterns from early dispersal to settlement

Moving and spatial learning are two intertwined processes: (a) changes in movement behavior determine the learning of the spatial environment, and (b) information plays a crucial role in several animal decision-making processes like movement decisions. A useful way to explore the interactions between movement decisions and learning of the spatial environment is by comparing individual behaviors during the different phases of natal dispersal (when individuals move across more or less unknown habitats) with movements and choices of breeders (who repeatedly move within fixed home ranges), that is, by comparing behaviors between individuals who are still acquiring information vs. individuals with a more complete knowledge of their surroundings. When analyzing movement patterns of eagle owls, Bubo bubo, belonging to three status classes (floaters wandering across unknown environments, floaters already settled in temporary settlement areas, and territory owners with a well-established home range), we found that: (1) wandering individuals move faster than when established in a more stable or fixed settlement area, traveling larger and straighter paths with longer move steps; and (2) when floaters settle in a permanent area, then they show movement behavior similar to territory owners. Thus, movement patterns show a transition from exploratory strategies, when animals have incomplete environmental information, to a more familiar way to exploit their activity areas as they get to know the environment better.     

基于物元分析法基础设施系统可持续性评价

基础设施应具有持续有效地提供满足城市经济社会生态发展的整体功能,对其可持续水平的评价是城市基础设施系统研究的重要方面.应用物元分析方法建立基础设施系统可持续评价物元模型,通过分析基础设施宏观可持续的内涵,基于压力-状态-响应概念模型构建其评价指标体系,将可持续标准、评价指标及其评价值作为物元,对评价标准及实测数据进行归一化后,得到模型的经典域、节域、权系数及关联度.以某城市基础设施为例进行可持续发展水平多指标的综合评价,说明该评价方法的有效性和可行性.基于物元分析法基础设施可持续水平的科学评价,为基础设施规划建设、运营维护和更新改造决策提供科学依据.     

Implication of nitric oxide in the heat-stress-induced cell death of the symbiotic alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Symbiodinium microadriaticum</Emphasis>

One of the major consequences of global warming is a rise in sea surface temperature which may affect the survival of marine organisms including phytoplankton. Here, we provide experimental evidence for heat-induced cell death in a symbiotic microalga. Shifting Symbiodinium microadriaticum from 27 to 32°C resulted in an increase in mortality, an increase in caspase 3-like activity, and an increase in nitric oxide (NO) production. The caspase-like activity was strongly correlated with the production of NO in thermally challenged microalgae. For this experiment, the application of Ac-DEVD-CHO, a mammalian caspase 3-specific inhibitor, partly prevented (by 65%) the increase in caspase-like activity. To verify the relationship between NO and the caspase-like activity, S. microadriaticum were subsequently incubated with 1.0 mM of the following chemical NO donors: sodium nitroprusside (SNP), S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and 3,3bis(Aminoethyl)-1-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-triazene (NOC-18). The supplementation of both SNP and NOC-18 caused a significant increase in caspase-like activity compared to the control treatment. Pre-treatment of the microalgae with the inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO before the supplementation of the different NO donors completely prevented the increase in caspase-like activity. These results suggest that NO could play a role in the induction of cell death in heat-stressed S. microadriaticum by mediating an increase in caspase-like activity.     

Payments for Environmental Services in Latin America as a Tool for Restoration and Rural Development

Payments for Environmental Services (PES) can encourage projects that enhance restoration, production, and rural development. When projects promote differentiated systems by paying farmers for the provision of services, the application of PES requires evaluation of the environmental services provided by each system. We present evaluations of carbon stocks and biodiversity in pure and mixed native tree plantations in Costa Rica. To illustrate how monetary values can be assigned, we discuss a project that awarded PES to silvopastoral systems in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Colombia based on carbon stocks and biodiversity. PES can promote positive environmental attitudes in farmers. Currently this project is being scaled up in Colombia based on their positive experiences with PES as a tool to promote adoption. Compared to PES systems that include only one environmental service, systems that incorporate bundling or layering of multiple services can make sustainable land uses more attractive to farmers and reduce perverse incentives.     

Effects of Alkali Treatment on the Properties of Short Flax Fiber–Poly(Lactic Acid) Eco-Composites

In this study, the influence of alkali (NaOH) treatment on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of eco-composites of short flax fiber/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) was investigated. SEM analysis conducted on alkali treated flax fibers showed that the packed structure of the fibrils was deformed by the removal non-cellulosic materials. The fibrils were separated from each other and the surface roughness of the alkali treated flax fibers was improved. The mechanical tests indicated that the modulus of the untreated fiber/PLA composites was higher than that of PLA; on the other hand the modulus of alkali treated flax fiber/PLA was lower than PLA. Thermal properties of the PLA in the treated flax fiber composites were also affected. T_g values of treated flax fiber composites were lowered by nearly 10 °C for 10% NaOH treatment and 15 °C for 30% NaOH treatment. A bimodal melting behavior was observed for treated fiber composites different than both of neat PLA and untreated fiber composites. Furthermore, wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystalline structure of cellulose of flax fibers changed from cellulose-I structure to cellulose-II.