Geochemistry and therapeutic properties of Caucasian mineral waters: a review

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The Caucasian mineral water (CMW) region is a unique area where mineral waters differ by their chemical composition and balneological properties. The...     

Assessment of the efficacy of slow-release formulations of the tribenuron-methyl herbicide in field-grown spring wheat

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The efficacy of slow-release formulations of tribenuron-methyl (TBM) embedded in the matrix of degradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) blended with birch...     

Determination of mercury distribution inside spent compact fluorescent lamps by atomic absorption spectrometry

In this study, spent compact fluorescent lamps were characterized to determine the distribution of mercury. The procedure used in this research allowed mercury to be extracted in the vapor phase, from the phosphor powder, and the glass matrix. Mercury concentration in the three phases was determined by the method known as cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Median values obtained in the study showed that a compact fluorescent lamp contained 24.52±0.4ppb of mercury in the vapor phase, 204.16±8.9ppb of mercury in the phosphor powder, and 18.74±0.5ppb of mercury in the glass matrix. There are differences in mercury concentration between the lamps since the year of manufacture or the hours of operation affect both mercury content and its distribution. The 85.76% of the mercury introduced into a compact fluorescent lamp becomes a component of the phosphor powder, while more than 13.66% is diffused through the glass matrix. By washing and eliminating all phosphor powder attached to the glass surface it is possible to classified the glass as a non-hazardous waste.     

Inflammatory effects of particulate matter air pollution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Air pollution is an important cause of non-communicable diseases globally with particulate matter (PM) as one of the main air pollutants. PM is...     

Evaluation of pesticides and metals in fish of the Dniester River, Moldova

The Dniester River is one of the largest rivers in Eastern Europe and receives input from numerous anthropogenic activities. In October 2001, fish samples (Abramis brama, Rutilus rutilus heckeli, Perca fluviatilis, Chondrostoma nasus, Carassius auratus gibelio, and Cyprinus carpio) were collected and analyzed for metals and various pesticides. Maximum total DDT pesticide concentrations were between 27.7 and 34.2 ng/g wet weight in muscles and gonads, respectively. DDE isomers comprised up to 70% of total DDT measurement in fish tissues, indicating historical rather than recent DDT pollution. Chlordane and lindane were also detected in amounts up to 37 and 76 ng/g wet weight in gonads, respectively. Among organophosphorous pesticides, malathion showed extremely high concentrations--3 microg/g wet weight in muscles and 46 microg/g wet weight in gonads, indicating recent exposure. Copper concentrations in muscles (1.8-7.2 microg/g) exceeded Threshold Effect Concentrations for copper in fish. Detection of high concentrations of malathion and copper in fish tissues indicated potential anthropogenic stress for more sensitive aquatic biota, likely from agricultural sources in the Dniester River.     

Diverse migration strategies in hoopoes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Upupa epops</Emphasis>) lead to weak spatial but strong temporal connectivity

The annual cycle of migrating birds is shaped by their seasonal movements between breeding and non-breeding sites. Studying how migratory populations are linked throughout the annual cycle—migratory connectivity, is crucial to understanding the population dynamics of migrating bird species. This requires the consideration not only of spatial scales as has been the main focus to date but also of temporal scales: only when both aspects are taken into account, the degree of migratory connectivity can be properly defined. We investigated the migration behaviour of hoopoes (Upupa epops) from four breeding populations across Europe and characterised migration routes to and from the breeding grounds, location of non-breeding sites and the timing of key migration events. Migration behaviour was found to vary both within and amongst populations, and even though the spatial migratory connectivity amongst the populations was weak, temporal connectivity was strong with differences in timing amongst populations, but consistent timing within populations. The combination of diverse migration routes within populations and co-occurrence on the non-breeding grounds between populations might promote exchange between breeding populations. As a result, it might make hoopoes and other migrating bird species with similar strategies more resilient to future habitat or climatic changes and stabilise population trends.     

Herbicidal activity of slow-release herbicide formulations in wheat stands infested by weeds

The present study reports the herbicidal activity of metribuzin and tribenuron-methyl embedded in the degradable matrix of natural poly-3-hydroxybutyrate [P(3HB)/MET and P(3HB)/TBM]. The developed formulations were constructed as films and microgranules, which were tested against the weeds such as white sweet clover Melilotus albus and lamb's quarters Chenopodium album in the presence of soft spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv. Altaiskaya 70) as the subject crop for investigation. The activity was measured in laboratory scale experiments by determining the density and weight of the vegetative organs of weeds. The study was also aimed at testing the effect of the experimental formulation on the growth of wheat crop as dependent on the method of herbicide delivery. The experimental MET and TBM formulations showed pronounced herbicidal activity against the weed species used in the study. The effectiveness of the experimental formulations in inhibiting weed growth was comparable to and, sometimes, higher than that of the commercial formulations (positive control). The amount of the biomass of the wheat treated with the experimental herbicide formulations was significantly greater than that of the wheat treated with commercial formulations.     

Evaluation of biotargeting and ecotoxicity of Co²⁺-containing nanoscale polymeric complex by applying multi-marker approach in bivalve mollusk Anodonta cygnea

Cobalt (Co²⁺) is present in many nanoscaled materials created for various applications. The key goal of our study was to develop sensitive approaches for assessing the bio-risks associated with using novel Co²⁺-containing nanoscaled polymeric complex (Co-NC). Freshwater bivalve mollusk Anodonta cygnea (Unionidae) was subjected to 14 d action of the developed Co-NC, as well as of Co²⁺ applied in the corresponding concentration (50 μg L⁻¹) or polymeric substance (PS). All experimental groups under study have demonstrated signs of toxic targeting, notably changes in DNA characteristics, oxidative stress (with particularities in each exposed group) and activation of anaerobiosis (Co²⁺ and Co-NC). However, the group exposed to Co-NC showed some advantages that can be related to the activation of metallothionein (MT) function (increase in the level of MT-related SH-groups (MT-SH)): low level of oxyradical formation, no increase in protein carbonylation and vitellogenin-like proteins concentration unlike in Co²⁺ and PS exposed groups. On the other hand, Co²⁺ increased metal (Co, Cu, Zn and Cd) binding to MT (MT-Me) without changes in MT-SH level jointly with activation of oxyradical formation and apoptosis and decreasing of lysosomal membrane stability. PS per se initiated unbalanced changes in activities of the biotransformation enzymes ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and glutathione-S-transferase. Thus, Co²⁺ complexing with the developed PS prevented bio-toxic effects of free Co²⁺ ions and PS per se, at least in the studied hydrobiont. The MT-SH was the main distinguishing index of Co-NC group selected by classification and regression tree analysis.     

The importance of group‐focused transformational leadership and felt obligation for helping and group performance

Leaders face a challenge to simultaneously motivate workgroups and the individuals within them. Recent criticisms highlight the need to deconstruct broad leadership constructs to offer better theoretical insight into the effects of specific leadership behaviors on groups versus individuals. We address this call by exploring the effects of group‐focused and individual‐focused aspects of transformational leadership. Applying social identity theory, we theorize that group‐focused transformational leadership is key to fostering felt obligation, motivating helping behavior, and enhancing group performance, whereas individual‐focused leadership may only foster helping when individuals also feel a sense of obligation toward their workgroup. In a field study of 260 employees reporting to 36 supervisors in a skilled trade company, we find support for these predictions using multilevel structural equation modeling and multilevel mixed effects modeling. Thus, group‐focused (vs. individual‐focused) transformational leadership and subsequent felt obligation are important antecedents for encouraging helping and, in turn, workgroup performance.