Evaluation of deep learning and transform domain feature extraction techniques for land cover classification: balancing through augmentation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The identification of features that can improve classification accuracy is a major concern in land cover classification research. This paper compares...     

Protein futures for Western Europe: potential land use and climate impacts in 2050

Multiple production and demand side measures are needed to improve food system sustainability. This study quantified the theoretical minimum agricultural land requirements to supply Western Europe with food in 2050 from its own land base, together with GHG emissions arising. Assuming that crop yield gaps in agriculture are closed, livestock production efficiencies increased and waste at all stages reduced, a range of food consumption scenarios were modelled each based on different ‘protein futures’. The scenarios were as follows: intensive and efficient livestock production using today’s species mix; intensive efficient poultry–dairy production; intensive efficient aquaculture–dairy; artificial meat and dairy; livestock on ‘ecological leftovers’ (livestock reared only on land unsuited to cropping, agricultural residues and food waste, with consumption capped at that level of availability); and a ‘plant-based eating’ scenario. For each scenario, ‘projected diet’ and ‘healthy diet’ variants were modelled. Finally, we quantified the theoretical maximum carbon sequestration potential from afforestation of spared agricultural land. Results indicate that land use could be cut by 14–86 % and GHG emissions reduced by up to approximately 90 %. The yearly carbon storage potential arising from spared agricultural land ranged from 90 to 700 Mt CO₂ in 2050. The artificial meat and plant-based scenarios achieved the greatest land use and GHG reductions and the greatest carbon sequestration potential. The ‘ecological leftover’ scenario required the least cropland as compared with the other meat-containing scenarios, but all available pasture was used, and GHG emissions were higher if meat consumption was not capped at healthy levels.     

Prenatal diagnosis of lethal osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) by ultrasonography

Ultrasonography was performed during the second trimester (17 weeks) in a pregnancy at risk for osteogenesis imperfecta congenita (OI). The scan showed that the femur was short, bent and dense. Radiologic examination of the fetus after interruption of pregnancy showed typical X-ray changes of OI.     

Environmental control of the breeding of three boreo-arctic cirripedes

Three species of barnacles with boreo-aretic distribution were shown to require maintenance for several weeks below a critical temperature before the breeding condition could be attained. The temperatures critical for Balanus balanoides (L.) Balanus balanus (L.) and Balanus crenatus (Bruguière) were found to be between 10° and 12°C, 10° and 14°C, and at about 17°C, respectively. Although the strong influence of continuous light and the weak influence of continued feeding in delaying the onset of breeding in B. balanoides were confirmed, there remained some outstanding anomalies between the breeding behaviour of this species under laboratory conditions and between the tide marks. It was found impossible to initiate breeding by the application of conditioning procedures significantly in advance of the time of the normal Autumn breeding season in B. balanoides. Breeding appears to be inhibited, independently of external conditions, for a set period after the preceding brood cycle. Evidence points to a similar, largely endogenous, control of breeding in B. balanus which also breeds once annually, but not in B. crenatus which breeds continuously so long as food and temperature levels permit.     

A correlation of secondary aerosol (nitrate and sulfate) with respirable particulate matter (RPM) in ambient air at different traffic junctions of Vadodara city

The correlation study of secondary aerosol (nitrate and sulfate) with RPM in ambient air at different traffic junctions of Vadodara city is reported. RPM was analyzed using Ion Chromatography technique and measured the level of nitrate and sulfate in ambient air. The correlation studies of these particulates with RPM have been established. The average concentration of sulfate and nitrate in ambient air was found 35.74 microg/m3 and 24.22 microg/m3, which ranged of 5.33-84.69 and 1.93-77.86 microg/m3 respectively. The correlation of RPM and SO4 (r = 0.813, P<0.01), RPM-NO3 (r = 0.5549, P<0.01) and SO4-NO3 (r = 0.6133, P<0.01) were found significant. The presence of sulfate and nitrate in RPM is 8.25% and 5.60% . The pH of water extract of RPM averaged 6.81, which ranged 6.17-7.28. Regression analysis result showed that the relationship between RPM-SO4 was significantly (R2=0.66215) correlated. This indicate that probably the secondary aerosols such as nitrate and sulfate in excess may cause irritation and increasing lung disease.     

Assessing the global zoo response to the amphibian crisis through 20‐year trends in captive collections

Global amphibian declines are one of the biggest challenges currently facing the conservation community, and captive breeding is one way to address this crisis. Using information from the International Species Information System zoo network, we examined trends in global zoo amphibian holdings across species, zoo region, and species geographical region of origin from 1994 to 2014. These trends were compared before and after the 2004 Global Amphibian Assessment to assess whether any changes occurred and whether zoo amphibian conservation effort had increased. The numbers of globally threatened species (GTS) and their proportional representation in global zoo holdings increased and this rate of increase was significantly greater after 2004. North American, European, and Oceanian GTS were best represented in zoos globally, and proportions of Oceanian GTS held increased the most since 2004. South American and Asian GTS had the lowest proportional representation in zoos. At a regional zoo level, European zoos held the lowest proportions of GTS, and this proportion did not increase after 2004. Since 1994, the number of species held in viable populations has increased, and these species are distributed among more institutions. However, as of 2014, zoos held 6.2% of globally threatened amphibians, a much smaller figure than for other vertebrate groups and one that falls considerably short of the number of species for which ex situ management may be desirable. Although the increased effort zoos have put into amphibian conservation over the past 20 years is encouraging, more focus is needed on ex situ conservation priority species. This includes building expertise and capacity in countries that hold them and tracking existing conservation efforts if the evidence‐based approach to amphibian conservation planning at a global level is to be further developed.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Need for Assessment of Health Risks in India? Study of An Urban-Industrial Location in India

This paper reports the PAHs levels in the atmosphere of an urbanised industrial site of India. A high-resolution capillary gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometric detector (HRCGC-MS) and a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) equipped with a fluorescence detector were used for the identification and quantitation of PAHs. The atmospheric levels of PAHs were higher (4.66 ng/m³ yearly average) than most of the concentrations previously reported in the literature. Indian sites were found more contaminated with potently carcinogenic: four and above ringed PAHs. Based on a good correlation between the levels of lead, vanadium, BaP and BghiP, the vehicular emission appears to be a major source of the PAHs. Further, the higher levels of observed PAHs could be attributed to the vertical distribution of the aerosols, the preference of the PAHs for the particulate phase and the greater availability of the substrate in the atmosphere for their sorption. This paper also discusses the need for development of a PAHs monitoring protocol and related health effect studies in developing countries such as India.     

Toxic responses in primary rat hepatocytes exposed with occupational dust collected from work environment of bone-based industrial unit

In this in vitro study we investigated the toxic responses in hepatocytes treated with occupational dust to which workers are exposed in bone-based industrial units. The present study investigated the toxicity mechanism of bone-based occupational dust, from a particular industrial unit, on isolated rat hepatocytes. The hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion method and cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion and MTT [3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay treated with occupational dust at 0.1-1.0 mgmL(-1), for 120 min. The cell viability decreased significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. Dust induced significant membrane damage measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutathione (GSH) release in culture media for 30-, 60- and 120 min treatment duration. The toxicity was found to be correlated with the induction of lipid peroxidation (LPO). In addition, nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) generation by occupational dusts were also found to be time- and concentration-dependent. Over all the present study provides initial evidences for the toxic potential of occupational dust generated in bone-based industries and, therefore, the dust exposure to workers in unorganized industrial units should be controlled.     

Nutrient transport through a Vegetative Filter Strip with subsurface drainage

The transport of nutrients and soil sediments in runoff has been recognized as a noteworthy environmental issue. Vegetative Filter Strips (VFS) have been used as one of the best management practices (BMPs) for retaining nutrients and sediments from surface runoff, thus preventing the pollutants from reaching receiving waters. However, the effectiveness of a VFS when combined with a subsurface drainage system has not been investigated previously. This study was undertaken to monitor the retention and transport of nutrients within a VFS that had a subsurface drainage system installed at a depth of 1.2 m below the soil surface. Nutrient concentrations of NO₃-N (Nitrate Nitrogen), PO₄⁻ (Orthophosphorus), and TP (Total Phosphorus) were measured in surface water samples (entering and leaving the VFS), and subsurface outflow. Soil samples were collected and analyzed for plant available Phosphorus (Bray P1) and NO₃-N concentrations. Results showed that PO₄⁻, NO₃-N, and TP concentrations decreased in surface flow through the VFS. Many surface outflow water samples from the VFS showed concentration reductions of as much as 75% for PO₄⁻ and 70% for TP. For subsurface outflow water samples through the drainage system, concentrations of PO₄⁻ and TP decreased but NO₃-N concentrations increased in comparison to concentrations in surface inflow samples. Soil samples that were collected from various depths in the VFS showed a minimal buildup of nutrients in the top soil profile but indicated a gradual buildup of nutrients at the depth of the subsurface drain. Results demonstrate that although a VFS can be very effective in reducing runoff and nutrients from surface flow, the presence of a subsurface drain underneath the VFS may not be environmentally beneficial. Such a combination may increase NO₃-N transport from the VFS, thus invalidating the purpose of the BMP.