First Jurassic Choristodera from Asia

Although choristoderes have a good Lower Cretaceous record in Asia, they have never previously been recorded from Jurassic deposits. Here we describe fragmentary vertebral material referable to Choristodera indet. from the Middle Jurassic Balabansai Svita of the Fergana Valley, Kyrgyzstan. This provides a significant range extension for the group in Asia and shows that choristoderes already had a Pan-Laurasian distribution in the Jurassic.     

Cadmium accumulation and its influence on lipid peroxidation and antioxidative system in an aquatic plant, Bacopa monnieri L

Bacopa monnieri L. plants exposed to 10, 50, 100 and 200 microM cadmium (Cd) for 48, 96 and 144 h were analysed with reference to the accumulation of metal and its influence on various enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), photosynthetic pigments and protein content. The accumulation of Cd was found to be increased in a concentration and duration dependent manner with more Cd being accumulated in the root. TBARS content of the treated roots and leaves increased with increase in Cd concentration and exposure periods, indicating the occurrence of oxidative stress. Induction in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guiacol peroxidase (GPX) was recorded in metal treated roots and leaves of B. monnieri. In contrast, a significant reduction in catalase activity in Cd treated B. monnieri was observed. An increase was also noted in the levels of cysteine and non-protein thiol contents of the roots of B. monnieri followed by a decline. However, in leaves, cysteine and non-protein thiol contents were found to be enhanced at all the Cd concentrations and exposure periods. A significant reduction in the level of ascorbic acid was observed in a concentration and duration dependent manner. The total chlorophyll and protein content of B. monnieri decreased with increase in Cd concentration at all the exposure periods. Results suggest that toxic concentrations of Cd caused oxidative damage as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation and decreased chlorophyll and protein contents. However, B. monnieri is able to combat metal induced oxidative injury involving a mechanism of activation of various enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants.     

The influence of EDDS on the uptake of heavy metals in hydroponically grown sunflowers

Phytoextraction is an environmentally friendly in situ technique for cleaning up metal contaminated land. Unfortunately, efficient metal uptake by remediation plants is often limited by low phytoavailability of the targeted metals. Chelant assisted phytoextraction has been proposed to improve the efficiency of phytoextraction. Phytoremediation involves several subsequent steps: transfer of metals from the bulk soil to the root surfaces, uptake into the roots and translocation to the shoots. Nutrient solution experiments address the latter two steps. In this context we investigated the influence of the biodegradable chelating agent SS-EDDS on uptake of essential (Cu and Zn) and non-essential (Pb) metals by sunflowers from nutrient solution. EDDS was detected in shoots and xylem sap for the first time, proving that it is taken up into the above ground biomass of plants. The essential metals Cu and Zn were decreased in shoots in the presence of EDDS whereas uptake of the non-essential Pb was enhanced. We suggest that in the presence of EDDS all three metals were taken up by the non-selective apoplastic pathway as the EDDS complexes, whereas in the absence of EDDS essential metal uptake was primarily selective along the symplastic pathway. This shows that synthetic chelating agents do not necessarily increase uptake of heavy metals, when soluble concentrations are equal in the presence and absence of chelates.     

Melamine-based organoclay to sequester atrazine

Sequestration of aqueous atrazine by organoclays prepared from the surfactant 6-piperazin-1-yl-N,N'-bis-(1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-butyl)-(1,3,5)triazine-2,4-diamine and Gonzales bentonite was assessed using 14C-labeled atrazine. Organoclays with varying ratios of surfactant to clay were evaluated with respect to their ability to sequester atrazine from an aqueous solution. Organoclays containing 100-200 g kg-1 surfactant on a total weight basis provided the most efficient adsorption of atrazine, with apparent KOC values exceeding 5000 l kg-1 at these loading fractions. Less than 12% of sequestered atrazine was released during four sequential day long washings, supporting our expectation that the majority of the reaction of atrazine with the surfactant lead to irreversible chemical bond formation through nucleophilic aromatic substitution.     

Making a significant difference with burnout interventions: Researcher and practitioner collaboration

Burnout research over the past 30 years has yielded both knowledge and tools to apply to interventions at unit and organizational levels. Examples of innovative partnerships between researchers and practitioners point to the importance of multi‐level approaches in generating relevant and effective solutions to the burnout problem. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Palm oil and its wastes as bioenergy sources: a comprehensive review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Due to global warming and increasing price of fossil fuel, scientists all over the world have been trying to find reliable alternative fuels. One of...     

The News You Choose: news media preferences amplify views on climate change

How do choices among information sources reinforce political differences on topics such as climate change? Environmental sociologists have observed large-scale and long-term impacts from news media and think-tank reports, while experimental science-communication studies detect more immediate effects from variations in supplied information. Applying generalized structural equation modeling to recent survey data, previous work is extended to show that political ideology, education and their interaction predict news media information choices in much the same way they predict opinions about climate change itself. Consequently, media information sources serve as intervening variables that can reinforce and, through their own independent effects, amplify existing beliefs about climate change. Results provide empirical support for selective exposure and biased assimilation as mechanisms widening political divisions on climate change in the United States. The findings fit with the reinforcing spirals framework suggesting partisan media strengthens climate change beliefs which then influences subsequent use of media.     

Muskox status,recent variation,and uncertain future

Ambio - Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) are an integral component of Arctic biodiversity. Given low genetic diversity, their ability to respond to future and rapid Arctic change is unknown, although...