Spectrophotometric determination of the fungicide captan

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of the fungicide captan has been developed based on its reaction with thiosemicarbazide. The absorbance was measured at 315 nm. The effects of the proportion of water, thiosemicarbazide concentration, pH and temperature on this reaction was studied to select the best chemical conditions. The calibration graph was obtained between 1.2 and 30 ppm and the detection limit is 0.5 ppm. The RSD (n = 10) was 1.34%. Possible interference of various pesticides was examined. The method was applied to the determination of captan in agrochemical formulations. Results agree well with the labelled values and also with results that were obtained by a polarographic method.     

Use of the ouput of a lead risk assessment model to establish soil lead cleanup levels

Three general methods to calculate soil contaminant cleanup levels are assessed: the truncated lognormal approach, Monte Carlo analysis, and the house-by-house approach. When these methods are used together with a lead risk assessment model, they yield estimated soil lead cleanup levels that may be required in an attempt to achieve specified target blood lead levels for a community. The truncated lognormal approach is exemplified by the Society for Environmental Geochemistry and Health (SEGH) model, Monte Carlo analysis is exemplified by the US EPA's LEAD Model, and the house-by-house approach is used with a structural equation model to calculate site-specific soil lead cleanup levels. The various cleanup methods can each be used with any type of lead risk assessment model. Although all examples given here are for lead, the cleanup methods can, in principle, be used as well with risk assessment models for other chemical contaminants to derive contaminant-specific soil cleanup levels.     

Diagnosis of Bloom's syndrome by sister chromatid exchange evaluation in chorionic villus cultures

Cultures of a chorion biopsy taken from a pregnancy at risk of Bloom's syndrome revealed the high sister chromatid exchange frequency diagnostic of this rare disorder. To obtain the result, cultures were grown under standard conditions, with the addition of 10μM 5′;-bromodeoxyuridine for the final 48 h of incubation. This result demonstrates the feasibility of early prenatal diagnosis of Bloom's syndrome.     

Grief and mid-trimester fetal loss

Fetal loss through miscarriage or termination of pregnancy for genetic reasons often provokes the grief of bereavement. This is not fully understood, and the extent of the distress is often underestimated by professionals and family alike. We have examined elements of the normal bereavement process and have found that they may occur in specific and accentuated forms in mid-trimester fetal loss. We discuss our findings in the light of the attachment theory—a psychodynamic model for understanding grief reactions.     

Modeling Connectivity of Non‐floodplain Wetlands: Insights,Approaches, and Recommendations

Representing hydrologic connectivity of non‐floodplain wetlands (NFWs) to downstream waters in process‐based models is an emerging challenge relevant to many research, regulatory, and management activities. We review four case studies that utilize process‐based models developed to simulate NFW hydrology. Models range from a simple, lumped parameter model to a highly complex, fully distributed model. Across case studies, we highlight appropriate application of each model, emphasizing spatial scale, computational demands, process representation, and model limitations. We end with a synthesis of recommended “best modeling practices” to guide model application. These recommendations include: (1) clearly articulate modeling objectives, and revisit and adjust those objectives regularly; (2) develop a conceptualization of NFW connectivity using qualitative observations, empirical data, and process‐based modeling; (3) select a model to represent NFW connectivity by balancing both modeling objectives and available resources; (4) use innovative techniques and data sources to validate and calibrate NFW connectivity simulations; and (5) clearly articulate the limits of the resulting NFW connectivity representation. Our review and synthesis of these case studies highlights modeling approaches that incorporate NFW connectivity, demonstrates tradeoffs in model selection, and ultimately provides actionable guidance for future model application and development.     

Dorsal shaving affects concentrations of faecal cortisol metabolites in lactating golden hamsters

Breeding of golden hamsters is classically performed at thermal conditions ranging from 20 to 24 °C. However, growing evidence suggests that lactating females suffer from heat stress. We hypothesised that shaving females dorsally to maximise heat dissipation may reduce stress during reproduction. We thus compared faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) from shaved golden hamster mothers with those from unshaved controls. We observed significantly lower FCM levels in the shaved mothers (F_1,22?=?8.69, p?=?0.0075) pointing to lower stress due to ameliorated heat dissipation over the body surface. In addition, we observed 0.4 °C lower mean subcutaneous body temperatures in the shaved females, although this effect did not reach significance (F_1,22?=?1.86, p?=?0.18). Our results suggest that golden hamsters having body masses being more than four times that of laboratory mice provide a very interesting model to study aspects of lactation and heat production at the same time.     

Contaminant Exposure and Effects—Terrestrial Vertebrates Database: Trends and Data Gaps for Atlantic Coast Estuaries

In order to examine the condition of biota in Atlantic coast estuaries, "Contaminant Exposure and Effects—Terrestrial Vertebrates" database (CEE-TV) has been compiled through computerized search of published literature, review of existing databases, and solicitation of unpublished reports from conservation agencies, private groups, and universities. Summary information has been entered into the database, including species, collection date (1965–present), site coordinates, estuary name, hydrologic unit code, sample matrix, contaminant concentrations, biomarker and bioindicator responses, and reference source, utilizing a 98-field character and numeric format. Currently, the CEE-TV database contains 3699 geo-referenced records representing 190 vertebrate species and >140,000 individuals residing in estuaries from Maine through Florida. This relational database can be directly queried or imported into a Geographic Information System to examine spatial patterns, identify data gaps and areas of concern, generate hypotheses, and focus ecotoxicological field assessments. Information on birds made up the vast majority (83%) of the database, with only a modicum of data on amphibians (<0.1%). Of the >75,000 chemical compounds in commerce, only 118 commonly measured environmental contaminants were quantified in tissues of terrestrial vertebrates. There were no CEE-TV data records in 15 of the 67 estuaries located along the Atlantic coast and Florida Gulf coast. The CEE-TV database has a number of potential applications including focusing biomonitoring efforts to generate critically needed ecotoxicological data in the numerous "gaps" along the coast, reducing uncertainty about contaminant risk, identifying areas for mitigation, restoration or special management, and ranking ecological conditions of estuaries.     

Self‐leadership in the context of part‐time teleworking

Employees who work periodically in both a traditional office and home office (part‐time teleworkers) face opportunities and risks related to both working locations. As self‐leadership might play a crucial role in this context, we examined within‐person variations in self‐leadership (self‐reward, self‐punishment, self‐cueing, self‐goal setting, imagining successful performance, and evaluation of beliefs and assumptions) on home days and office days. In a typical workweek, 195 part‐time teleworkers filled out daily surveys (729 days), and we examined the relationship between working location (office and home) and self‐leading behavior as well as the mediating role of autonomy. Finally, we investigated whether self‐leading behavior relates to ego depletion and work satisfaction at the end of the working day. Multilevel analyses revealed that part‐time teleworkers reported higher use of self‐reward, self‐goal setting, and visualization of successful performance on home days than on office days. The association between working location and self‐reward, self‐goal setting, visualization of successful performance, and evaluation of beliefs and assumptions was mediated by autonomy. There were no indirect effects of working location on ego depletion through self‐leadership. However, we found that on home days, part‐time teleworkers were more satisfied with their job at the end of the workday through self‐goal setting.     

Relationship between road traffic noisescape and urban form in Hong Kong

This paper reports on a study which explored the possible relationship between road traffic noisescape and urban form in Hong Kong. A total of 212 residential complexes from 11 contrasting urban forms were sampled, and their noise levels assessed both at dwelling and neighbourhood scales by noise mapping. Its findings indicate that residential complexes with different urban forms have significantly different noisescape attributes. There is a strong correlation between the noise characteristics and morphological indicators at the dwelling scale. A less obstreperous noisescape is associated with urban forms with lower road and building densities, and with building arrangements which provide self-noise screening. These findings suggest that urban form is an influential determinant of the noisescape in the urban environment, and they point to the need to rethink the conventional approach to managing the urban acoustic environment.