Evaluation of hydrochar efficiency for simultaneous removal of diclofenac and ibuprofen from aqueous system using surface response methodology

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Pharmaceutically active compounds like diclofenac (DFS), ibuprofen (IBP), and other drugs that persist in the environment are listed as emerging...     

Assessment of radiological hazard of NORM in Margalla Hills limestone, Pakistan

Studies on naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in the limestone from the Margalla Hills have been carried out by measuring gamma activity and to access its radiological implications if any. For data acquisition, a High-Purity Germanium detector was employed. The activity concentrations of (226)Ra, (232)Th, and (40)K were found to be 14.32?±?0.24, 2.05?±?0.04, and 13.80?±?0.20 Bq kg(-1), respectively. These values are relatively lower as compared to that in the limestone of other countries and much lower than the values reported for the natural building stones. The average specific activities due to (226)Ra were found to be higher when compared with (40)K and (232)Th. Indices of radium equivalent activity (Ra(eq)), internal hazard (H(in)), indoor absorbed gamma dose rate (D(R,)), and corresponding annual effective dose (E(eff)) were also determined for the limestone-made rooms. All of these indices were found to be in the lower ranges. The Margalla Hills limestone does not pose any excessive radiological health hazard as a building material and in industrial uses for a common man.     

Changes in the dry tropical forests in Central India with human use

Understanding changes in forest composition and structure is important to help formulate effective policies that promote future ability of forests to provide local livelihood needs, habitat and ecosystem services. This is particularly important in dry tropical forests that are ecologically different from other forests and are heavily used by local, forest-dependent residents. In this study, we identify biophysical, demographic and use factors associated with differences in species diversity, vegetation structure (abundance at different size classes), biomass and relative abundance of species across the Kanha–Pench landscape in Central India. We sampled vegetation in twenty transects across different human and livestock population densities and frequencies of use. We found that biomass, species diversity and vegetation (abundance at different size classes) are negatively associated with increasing population density, and species composition at different size classes is significantly different at higher frequencies of use at low population densities. Lack of difference in species composition at high population densities may be due to colonization and growth of individuals at some of these sites due to creation of new ecological niches and gaps at high human use. Relative abundance of species at different size classes also varies with frequency of use and population density. Results suggest that human use is altering relative abundance of species, which may change long-term forest composition and thus alter biomass and vegetation structure of the forest. We conclude that human use is an agent in altering long-term composition that can alter availability of tree species for local use and other ecosystem services.     

Evaluating the groundwater potential of Wadi Al-Jizi,Sultanate of Oman,by integrating remote sensing and GIS techniques

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Groundwater resources are highly stressed due to their overuse, especially in the arid region. This study is aimed at discovering potential...     

Temporal variability of soil-atmospheric CO2 and CH4 fluxes from different land uses in mid-subtropical China

Different land uses in subtropics play an important role in regulating the global environmental changes. To reduce uncertainties of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of agricultural soils in subtropical ecosystem, a four years campaign was started to determine the temporal GHG (CO₂ and CH₄) fluxes from seven sites of four land use types (1 vegetable field, 3 uplands, 2 orchards, 1 pine forest). The mean annual budgets of CO₂, and CH₄ were 6.5～10.5 Mg CO₂ ha^?1 yr^?1, and +0.47 ～ ?2.37 kg CH₄ ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively. Pine forest had significantly lower CO₂ emission and higher CH₄ uptake than agriculture land uses. Tilled orchard emitted more CO₂ and oxidized less CH₄ than non-tilled orchard. Upland crops had higher CO₂ emissions than orchards, while abrupt differences of CH₄ uptake were observed between upland crops and orchards. Every year, the climate was warm and wet from April to September (the hot–humid season) and became cool and dry from October to March (the cool–dry season). Driven by seasonality of temperature and WFPS, CO₂ fluxes were significantly higher in the hot–humid season than in cool–dry season. Soil temperature, WFPS, NO₃^?–N and NH₄⁺–N contents interactively explained CH₄ uptake which was significantly higher in cool–dry season than in hot–humid season. We conclude that soil C fluxes from different land uses are strongly under control of different climatic predictors along with soil nutrient status, which interact in conjunction with each other to supply the readily available substrates.     

Prenatal diagnosis of dilated coronary sinus with persistent left superior vena cava in a fetus with trisomy 18

A case of dilated coronary sinus with persistent left superior vena cava diagnosed at 33 weeks in a fetus with trisomy 18 is reported. The features of this cardiac anomaly on prenatal ultrasonography and its association with trisomy 18 are discussed. Published in 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Understanding employee innovative behavior: Integrating the social network and leader–member exchange perspectives

By integrating social network theory and leader–member exchange (LMX) theory, we explore the effects of three types of social relationships on employee innovative behavior: weak ties outside the group, LMX, and strong ties within the group. The results from a sample in a high‐tech firm showed that LMX fully mediated the positive relationship between out‐group weak ties and innovative behavior. Furthermore, within‐group strong ties negatively moderated the second stage of this indirect relationship, such that LMX was positively and significantly related to innovative behavior only when the number of within‐group strong ties was low. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental and modeling study of the effect of CO and H2 on the urea DeNO(x) process in a 150kW laboratory reactor

An experimental and modeling investigation has been performed to study the effect of process additives, H2 and CO on NO(x) removal from flue gases by a selective non-catalytic reduction process using urea as a reducing agent. Experiments were performed with a flow reactor in which flue gas was generated by the combustion of propane in air at 3% excess oxygen and the desired levels of initial NO(x) (500ppm) were achieved by doping the flame with ammonia. Experiments were performed throughout the temperature range of interest, i.e. from 850 to 1200 degrees C for investigation of the effects of the process additives on the performance of aqueous urea DeNO(x). Subsequently, computational kinetic modeling with SENKIN code was performed to analyze the performance of urea providing a direct comparison of modeling prediction with experimental measurements. With CO addition, a downwards shift of 215 degrees C in the peak reduction temperature from 1125 to 910 degrees C was observed during the experimentation while the kinetic modeling suggests it to be 150 degrees C, i.e. from 1020 to 870 degrees C. The addition of H2 impairs the peak NO(x) reduction but suggests a low temperature application of the process. A downward shift of 250 degrees C in the peak reduction temperature, from 1020 to 770 degrees C, was observed during kinetic modeling studies. The kinetic modeling shows a good qualitative agreement with the experimental observations and reveals additional information about the process.     

Bioavailability and toxicity to rats of bound residues of 14C-pirimiphos-methyl in stored wheat.

Wheat grains were treated with 14C-pirimiphos-methyl to generate bound residues for testing their bioavailability to rats. Bound residues accounted for 25% of the applied dose (50 ppm) at the end of one year. When the grain bound residues were fed to rats for 48 hours the animals eliminated 30 and 40% of the administered dose in urine and feces respectively, after 5 days. Radioactivity in some selected organs and blood accounted for 37% of the administered dose after 2 days, which gradually declined to 1% after 5 days. These data indicate that wheat-bound pirimiphos-methyl residues are moderately bioavailable to rats. In a 90-day feeding study, inhibition of plasma cholinesterase and brain acetylcholinesterase strongly suggest that the bound residues possess a toxicological potential.     

Metal pollution and ecological risk assessment in marine sediments of Karachi Coast, Pakistan

Concentrations of 12 metals (Fe, Mn, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, U, V, Zn, and Zr) in surface sediments of Karachi Coast, Pakistan were determined to evaluate their distribution and pollution assessment. The measured metals in the sediments were found to be in the range of Fe, 0.84–6.96 %; Mn, 300–1,300 μg/g; Cr, 12.0–319.84 μg/g; Mo, 0.49–2.03 μg/g; Ni, 1.53–58.86 μg/g; Pb, 9.0–49.46 μg/g; Se, 0.25–.86 μg/g; Sr, 192–1185 μg/g; U, 0.19–1.66 μg/g; V, 15.80–118.20 μg/g; Zn, 15.60–666.28 μg/g; and Zr, 44.02–175.26 μg/g. The mean contents of the metal studied were: Fe, 3.07 %, Mn, 0.05 %; Cr, 96.75 μg/g; Mo, 1.34 μg/g; Ni, 31.39 μg/g; Pb, 23.24 μg/g; Se, 0.61 μg/g; Sr, 374.83 μg/g; U, 0.64 μg/g; V, 61.75 μg/g; Zn, 204.75 μg/g; and Zr:76.27 μg/g, and arrangement of the metals from higher to lower mean content in this area is: Fe?>?Zn?>?Mn?>?Sr?>?Zn?>?Cr?>?Zr?>?V?>?Ni?>?Pb?>?Mo?>?U?>?Se. There is no significant correlation among most of these metals, indicating different anthropogenic and natural sources. To assess ecotoxic potential of marine sediments, Numerical Sediment Quality Guidelines were also applied. The concentration of Pb in all the sediments except one was lower than the threshold effect concentration (TECs) showing that there are no harmful effects to marine life from Pb. On the other hand, the concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Zn exceeded TEC in three stations, indicating their potential risk. The degree of pollution in sediments for metals was assessed by calculating enrichment factor (EF) and pollution load index (PLI). The results indicated that sediments of Layari River Mouth Area, Fish Harbour, and KPT Boat Building Area are highly enriched with Cr and Zn (EF?>?5). Sediments of Layari River Outfall Zone were moderately enriched with Ni and Pb (EF?>?2). The pollution load index was found in the range of 0.98 to 1.34. Lower values of PLI (≤1) at most of sampling locations imply no appreciable input from anthropogenic sources. However, relatively higher PLI values (>1) at Layari River Mouth Area, Fish Harbour, and KPT Boat Building Area are attributed to increased human activity in the area.