Impact of land-cover change in the Southern Amazonia climate: a case study for the region of Alta Floresta,Mato Grosso,Brazil

The transformation of forest into pastures in the Brazilian Amazon leads to significant consequences to climate at local scale. In the region of Alta Floresta (Mato Grosso, Brazil), deforestation has been intense with over half the forests being cut since 1970. This article first examines the evolution of precipitation observed in this region and shows a significant trend in the decrease in total precipitation especially at the end of the dry season and at the beginning of the rainy season. The study then compares the temperatures measured in cleared and forested sectors within a reserve in the area of Alta Floresta (Mato Grosso, Brazil) between 2006 and 2007. The cleared sector was always hotter and drier (from 5% to 10%) than the forested area. This difference was not only especially marked during the day when it reached on average 2°C but also seemed to increase during the night with the onset of the dry season (+0.5°C). The Urban Heat Island effect is also evident especially during the night and in the dry season.     

Detection and quantitative analysis of 21 veterinary drugs in river water using high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Introduction

The use of veterinary drugs in food production focuses on the control and improvement of animal health. The disadvantage of this practice is that pharmaceuticals and their metabolites are released into the environment, finding their way to natural water systems and becoming a potential risk to non-target organism.

Methods

This paper reports the development and validation of a quantitative method, based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, for the simultaneous analysis of 21 veterinary drugs, antimicrobials, corticosteroids, coccidiostats and antifungal agents, in surface water.

Results

The precision of the method was established by calculating the mean recoveries, which were in the range of 94?C101%. The developed method was employed to conduct the first monitoring study on the presence of veterinary drugs in the Galicia region, Northwest of Spain and was applied to 235 surface water samples. Eleven veterinary drugs were detected at concentrations from below the limit of quantification to 2,978.6?ng?L^?1. Limits of detection and quantification were in the range of 6.2 (betamethasone, cortisone, decoquinate, dexamethasone, maduramycin, monensin, narasin, salinomycin, sulfachloropyridazine, sulfamethoxypyridazine and trimethoprim) to 12.5?ng?L^?1 (for the rest of the selected drugs) and 12.5 (betamethasone, cortisone, decoquinate, dexamethasone, maduramycin, monensin, narasin, salinomycin, sulfachloropyridazine, sulfamethoxypyridazine and trimethoprim) to 25.0?ng?L^?1 (for the remaining pharmaceuticals), respectively.

Conclusion

Sulfonamides were the group most frequently found, which are widely used in veterinary medicine.     

Synthesis of Polymeric Matrices for Adsorption and Purification of Endoglucanase

Chitosan (CHS), chitosan–Eudragit® EPO (CHS–EPO) and chitosan beads partially cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (CHS–GLUT) were obtained in order to improve the adsorption selectivity of endoglucanase from a fungal culture obtained under SSF by Aspergillus niger using soybean harvest residues as support. The matrices synthetized were characterized in terms of physical and chemical changes. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance device (FTIR-ATR) was employed to verify the chemical changes on the CHS matrix after the synthesis of CHS–GLUT and CHS–EPO. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to compare the surface morphology of the polymeric beads. Two variables, purification factor and yield percentage of the adsorption process, were analyzed using a bifactorial ANOVA considering the matrix–time first order interaction. SEM results exhibited greater surface roughness in the CHS–GLUT and CHS–EPO matrices which may enhance endoglucanase adsorption. FTIR-ATR results confirmed an effective chemical modification of the CHS matrix after crosslinking with GLUT and corroborated the efficiency of the synthesis of the CHS–EPO matrix by the presence of chemical groups of the EPO polymer. An endoglucanase purification factor close to 9 was achieved with the CHS–GLUT matrix and a yield percentage of 60% was obtained with the CHS–EPO matrix. Bifactorial ANOVA results showed the matrix–time interaction to be significant for both variables. The CHS–GLUT matrix with low crosslinking times and the novel CHS–EPO matrix could be included in the bioseparation stage of endoglucanase using a simple and a low-cost method such as batch adsorption.     

Population density and conservation status of the teiid lizard <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cnemidophorus littoralis</Emphasis>, an endangered species endemic to the sandy coastal plains (restinga habitats) of Rio de Janeiro state,Brazil

The threatened lizard Cnemidophorus littoralis occurs in only four restinga habitats of Brazilian coast and its current conservation status is “endangered”. Due to its restricted distribution, the effects of habitat degradation are especially harmful to them. To prevent a local or even total extinction, we analyzed changes in population density and in amount of disturbances of three restinga areas during a seven-year gap. This study took place in three restingas of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: Maricá, Jurubatiba and Grussaí. We compared C. littoralis current density with the one registered in 2005 by Menezes and Rocha (2013) with 2 ha transections in each restinga. We also made another group of transects to estimate population density along the entire extension of the restingas. Conservation index of each site was based on satellite images and field samplings. Data showed a decreasing trend of Cnemidophorus littoralis population density over the years. Grussaí had the lowest population density and the highest degradation index among the three sites, whereas Jurubatiba had the lowest degree of disturbance, the largest area and the highest lizard population density. Data showed an increase in the amount of disturbance in restingas over the years, which seemed to have a negative effect in C. littoralis population density. Improvement of surveillance and implementation of education programs in the protected areas and its surroundings, and periodic monitoring of C. littoralis populations to follow their density changes, are essential for the maintenance of the species.     

Effect of MgO and CaO/SiO2 on the immobilization of chromium in synthetic slags

This work investigated the chemical and mineralogical properties of CaO–SiO₂–Cr₂O₃–CaF₂–MgO slags. Synthetic slags were prepared and the effect of the slag basicity (mass ratio CaO/SiO₂) and MgO contents on the stability of the mineralogical species formed was analyzed. The morphology and composition of the slags were analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), whilst their chemical stability was evaluated by leaching with an aqueous acetic acid solution. It was found that in slags with CaO/SiO₂?=?1, the main Cr-compound was MgCr₂O₄ spinel, which forms octahedron crystals. Small amounts of CaCr₂O₄ and CaCrO₄ were also observed. It was found that with increasing the slag basicity from 1 to 2 the compounds MgCr₂O₄ and CaCr₂O₄ were formed together with the Cr(V)-containing compound complex Ca₅(CrO₄)₃F which forms hexagonal crystals. The results showed that the highest Cr concentration levels in the leaching liquors corresponded to slags with CaO/SiO₂?=?2, probably owing to the formation of CaCrO₄ and Ca₅(CrO₄)₃F, whilst the lowest chromium concentration levels corresponded to MgO-based slags owing to the stable binding of chromium in spinel with MgO. Additionally, potential–pH diagrams for the Ca–Cr–H₂O and Mg–Cr–H₂O systems at 25?°C were calculated.     

Safety culture: analysis of the causal relationships between its key dimensions

INTRODUCTION: Several fields are showing increasing interest in safety culture as a means of reducing accidents in the workplace. The literature shows that safety culture is a multidimensional concept. However, considerable confusion surrounds this concept, about which little consensus has been reached. METHOD: This study proposes a model for a positive safety culture and tests this on a sample of 455 Spanish companies, using the structural equation modeling statistical technique. RESULTS: Results show the important role of managers in the promotion of employees' safe behavior, both directly, through their attitudes and behaviors, and indirectly, by developing a safety management system. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This paper identifies the key dimensions of safety culture. In addition, a measurement scale for the safety management system is validated. This will assist organizations in defining areas where they need to progress if they wish to improve their safety. Also, we stress that managers need to be wholly committed to and personally involved in safety activities, thereby conveying the importance the firm attaches to these issues.     

Remediation effect of compost on soluble mercury transfer in a crop of Phaseolus vulgaris

We studied the dynamics of mercury (Hg) transfer in Phaseolus vulgaris plants grown in soil with Hg-doped compost at the maximum levels permitted by Colombian law on organic amendments. Quantitative evaluation of transfer was made in different plant organs: roots, stem, leaves, pods and seeds. Matrix effect was determined in doped soil assays, using soil with and without addition of compost. Results showed that the use of organic matter reduced Hg transfer to the plant and the amount transferred was differentially distributed to the organs. We observed an inverse relationship between concentration and distance from the body to the root. It was evident that transfer was mediated by quantitative factors; the greater the presence of mercury in soil, the larger the amount that will be transferred. Results also indicate the remedial effect of compost and the presence of a barrier, at the root level, against mercury translocation to the plant aerial parts.     

Ecotoxicity in Aliivibrio fischeri of Ibuprofen,Omeprazole and their Mixtures

The acute ecotoxic effects of ibuprofen and omeprazole and their mixture have been measured using Aliivibrio fischeri as a biomodel. The toxic effects were also tested after 5 days, and an effect-driven approach was used to analyse the results. The toxic effects of the mixtures were compared with the predictions obtained using concentration addition and independent action mathematical methods.

According to the Passino and Smith classification, the results indicate that ibuprofen can be considered slightly toxic (10<EC₅₀ <100?mg?L^-1), while omeprazole can be denoted as moderately toxic (1<EC₅₀ <10?mg?L^-1) to Aliivibrio fischeri. An overestimation of the actual ecotoxic effect of the mixture was found when the concentration addition and independent action methods were applied. Finally, the effect-driven approach indicated that the transformation products of the studied drugs should be prioritized for risk assessment purposes.     

Recycled and virgin plastic carriers in hybrid reactors for wastewater treatment.

The reduction of organic and nitrogen pollution of wastewater was investigated in two hybrid reactors and compared with the reduction obtained by using a conventional activated sludge reactor (ASR) run as a control. Both HR-1 and HR-2 were activated sludge systems where a low-density carrier, P1 (polyethylene) for HR-1 and P2 (recycled plastics) for HR-2, was added. Firstly, the three reactors were operated at 10 days Suspended Solid Retention Time (SRT(SS)), leading to a complete nitrification. Secondly, the SRT(SS) for each reactor was lowered to 3 days. Nitrification was lost for the ASR but remained complete for HR's. Respirometric techniques were used to measure fixed or suspended biomass activities for heterotrophic and autotrophic biomass. More than 90% of the autotrophic activity was found on the supports whatever the SRT(SS) used. The results may underline the role of the carrier geometry or surface characteristics on the autotrophic/heterotrophic microorganism distribution.