Degradation of the herbicide 2,4-DP by anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton using platinum and boron-doped diamond anodes

This paper reports the degradation of 2,4-DP (2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-propionic acid) solutions of pH 3.0 by environmentally friendly electrochemical methods such as anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton with a Pt or boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode. In the two latter techniques an O(2)-diffusion cathode was used and 1.0mM Fe(2+) was added to the solution to give hydroxyl radical (*OH) from Fenton's reaction between Fe(2+) and H(2)O(2) generated at the cathode. All treatments with BDD are viable to decontaminate acidic wastewaters containing 2,4-DP since they give complete mineralization, with loss of chloride ion, at high current due to the great production of oxidant *OH at the BDD surface favoring the destruction of final carboxylic acids. *OH formed from Fenton's reaction destroys more rapidly aromatic products, making the electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton processes much more efficient than anodic oxidation. UVA light in photoelectro-Fenton with BDD has little effect on the degradation rate of pollutants. The comparative procedures with Pt lead to slower decontamination because of the lower oxidizing power of this anode. The effect of current on the degradation rate and efficiency of all methods is studied. The 2,4-DP decay always follows a pseudo-first-order kinetics. Chlorohydroquinone, chloro-p-benzoquinone and maleic, fumaric, malic, lactic, pyruvic, acetic, formic and oxalic acids are detected as products by chromatographic techniques. A general sequence accounting for by the reaction of all these intermediates with the different oxidizing agents is proposed.     

Prenatal molecular diagnosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: report of the first case

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant disease that may cause premature sudden death, especially in teenagers and young adults. The recent progress in the molecular genetics of the disease has made genetic testing sometimes available in clinical practice. We report the case of a couple who still requested prenatal molecular testing after detailed information had been given through a multidisciplinary consultation. Prenatal diagnosis in HCM is associated with complex medical and psychological implications, in addition to general ethical considerations, as the potential value of the diagnosis is counterbalanced by the highly variable expression of the disease and the difficulty in predicting its evolution. The R403L mutation in the MYH7 gene had been previously identified in this family, characterized by a malignant form of HCM. In the specific context of this case, we decided to agree to the request of the parents and performed the prenatal diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a prenatal molecular diagnosis performed in the context of HCM. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of a simulator for training of fetoscopic myelomeningocele surgery

Objective

To develop a realistic simulation model for laparotomy-assisted fetoscopic spina bifida aperta (SBa) surgery, to be used for training purposes and preoperative planning.

Methods

The predefined general requirement was a realistic model of an exteriorized uterus, allowing all neurosurgical steps of the intervention. The uterus was modelled using ultrasound and MRI images of a 25 weeks’ gravid uterus, consisting of flexible polyurethane foam coated with pigmented silicone. The fetal model, contained an opening on the dorsal side for a customizable spinal insert with all the aspects of a SBa, including a cele, placode, and myofascial and skin layer. The model was assessed in a series of validation experiments.

Results

Production costs are low, uterus and fetus are reusable. Placental localization and the level and size of the spinal defect are adjustable, enabling case-specific adaptations. All aspects of the simulator were scored close to realistic or higher for both appearance and functional capacities.

Conclusions

This innovative model provides an excellent training opportunity for centers that are starting a fetoscopic SBa repair program. It is the first simulation model with adjustable spinal defect and placental localisation. Further objective validation is required, but the potential for using this model in preoperative planning is promising.     

Plant Diversity in Live Fences and Pastures,Two Examples from the Mexican Humid Tropics

This study analyzes the potential uses of live fences and pastures as reservoirs of plant diversity for two regions with different management histories, Los Tuxtlas (LT) and Uxpanapa (UX), Veracruz, México. We studied two habitats, live fences and pastures, analyzed their species richness, diversity, structure and plant composition and classified species according to plant regeneration modes (light-demanding and shade tolerant), seed dispersal syndrome and their local uses. We recorded 62 species of trees at LT and 48 at UX. Live fences were more diverse than pastures in both regions. The LT site showed to analyze the relationship a higher diversity of plants in regeneration stages than the one at UX. However, UX had higher diversity of adult plants in the pastures than LT. Composition and structure of live fences were different between regions, as well as within live fences and pastures, 53 % of species were light-demanding and 40 % were shade tolerant; 70 % of the species were dispersed by birds. Differences between sites are associated with the modifications in live fences structure, which changed according to managerial practices and the use of local species; this may influence plant regeneration modes as well as the visits of avian dispersal agents. In LT, all species found in live fences were useful to humans, whereas in UX, less than half were used by the local population. Our results underline the importance of live fences and isolated trees in pasture habitats as potential sites to host native and useful species from tropical rain forests in livestock landscapes.     

Vegetation productivity under climate change depends on landscape complexity in tropical drylands

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - All Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects are designed to contribute to the sustainable development of the host country. Livelihood is...     

Blood Pb and δ-ALAD inhibition in cattle and sheep from a Pb-polluted mining area

The effects of Pb pollution on cattle and sheep raised in an ancient mining area were studied through the use of blood Pb (PbB) levels and δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD) activity. Lead levels in livestock blood from the mining area (n=110) were significantly elevated when compared to the controls (n=79). In 91.4% of cattle (n=58) and 13.5% of sheep (n=52) sampled in the mining area, PbB levels corresponded to subclinical exposure (6-35 μg/dl). Two young cattle (<2 years) from the mining area (n=5) had PbB levels indicative of clinical poisoning (>35 μg/dl). Elevated PbB was also accompanied by δ-ALAD activity inhibition in blood, which confirms that measurable effects of Pb poisoning were taking place. Observed PbB levels suggest that a potential risk to human consumers of beef from the Pb polluted areas may also exist, as has been shown previously for game meat from the same mining area.     

Comparative bioaccumulation kinetics of trace elements in Mediterranean marine sponges

While marine organisms such as bivalves, seagrasses and macroalgae are commonly used as biomonitors for the environment pollution assessment, widely distributed sponges received little attention as potential helpful species for monitoring programmes. In this study, the trace element and radionuclide bioaccumulation and retention capacities of some marine sponges were estimated in a species-comparative study using radiotracers technique. Six Mediterranean species were exposed to background dissolved concentrations of ^110mAg, ²⁴¹Am, ¹⁰⁹Cd, ⁶⁰Co, ¹³⁴Cs, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁷⁵Se and ⁶⁵Zn allowing the assessment of the uptake and depuration kinetics for selected elements. Globally, massive demosponges Agelas oroides, Chondrosia reniformis and Ircinia variabilis displayed higher concentration factor (CF) than the erectile ones (Acanthella acuta, Cymbaxinella damicornis, Cymbaxinella verrucosa) at the end of exposure, suggesting that the morphology is a key factor in the metal bioaccumulation efficiency. Considering this observation, two exceptions were noted: (1) A. acuta reached the highest CF for ^110mAg and strongly retained the accumulated metal without significant Ag loss when placed in depuration conditions and (2) C. reniformis did not accumulate Se as much as A. oroides and I. variabilis. These results suggest that peculiar metal uptake properties in sponges could be driven by specific metabolites or contrasting biosilification processes between species, respectively. This study demonstrated that sponges could be considered as valuable candidate for biomonitoring metal contamination but also that there is a need to experimentally highlight metal-dependant characteristic among species.     

Removal of sulfamethoxazole from solution by raw and chemically treated walnut shells

Purpose

The sorption of sulfamethoxazole, a frequently detected pharmaceutical compound in the environment, onto walnut shells was evaluated.

Methods

The sorption proprieties of the raw sorbent were chemically modified and two additional samples were obtained, respectively HCl and NaOH treated. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric (TG/DTG) techniques were applied to investigate the effect of the chemical treatments on the shell surface morphology and chemistry. Sorption experiments to investigate the pH effect on the process were carried out between pH?2 and 8.

Results

The chemical treatment did not substantially alter the structure of the sorbent (physical and textural characteristics) but modified the surface chemistry of the sorbent (acid?Cbase properties, point of zero charge??pH_pzc). The solution pH influences both the sorbent??s surface charge and sulfamethoxazole speciation. The best removal efficiencies were obtained for lower pH values where the neutral and cationic sulfamethoxazole forms are present in the solution. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were applied to the experimental adsorption data for sulfamethoxazole sorption at pH?2, 4, and 7 onto raw walnut shell. No statistical difference was found between the two models except for the pH?2 experimental data to which the Freundlich model fitted better.

Conclusion

Sorption of sulfamethoxazole was found to be highly pH dependent in the entire pH range studied and for both raw and treated sorbent.