Comparative effects of zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticle as feed additives on growth,feed choice test,tissue residues,and histopathological changes in broiler chickens

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Zinc is an essential nutritional trace mineral required for growth and health. The aim of the current work is to compare the effects of bulk zinc...     

Indoor and outdoor formaldehyde concentrations in homes in residential areas in Greater Cairo

Indoor and outdoor measurements of formaldehyde were conducted at seven flats located in residential areas in Greater Cairo, during spring and summer seasons 1999. The mean daytime formaldehyde concentrations in kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms were 89, 100 and 100 ppb, respectively, in the seven flats. Significant positive correlations were found between the concentrations of formaldehyde found in these three rooms. On the other hand, no significant differences were found between the mean formaldehyde concentrations in these three rooms. The maximum mean concentration of formaldehyde (147 ppb) was recorded in a new flat, while the minimum concentration (43 ppb) was observed in an old flat. The maximum hourly and daytime concentrations were 350 and 225 ppb, respectively. Air temperature, relative humidity and the age of the flat are factors affecting the emission and concentration of formaldehyde. The maximum indoor and outdoor formaldehyde concentrations were recorded during the summer season. During the spring, 38% of the samples indicated that the concentration of formaldehyde in the seven flats exceeded 0.1 ppm, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers' (ASHRAE) standard; in the summer, this figure increased to 53%.     

Evaluation of airborne lead in the welding working environment

Manual and automatic welding machines (which use leaded alloys) are considered to be important sources of the emission of lead fumes into the general air of the working environment. Three workplaces at a television factory were selected for the present study, to determine the control class of the working unit. The concentrations of conventional measurements ("A" sampling points) were lower than the administrative control level (statutory standard of lead, 150 microg m(-3)), whereas the maximum concentration of 264.1 microg m(-3) ("B" sampling point) was higher at one working unit than the administrative control level. However, the control classes varied between class III (bad) and class I (good).     

北京地区菜田土壤抗生素抗性基因的分布特征

为研究北京地区菜田土壤抗生素抗性基因(antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs)的污染状况和分布特征,采集了11个长期施用粪肥蔬菜基地的温室土壤和大田土壤,进行了抗生素以及ARGs种类和丰度的检测.结果表明,菜田土壤中四环素类抗生素残留量最高,其次为磺胺类抗生素,温室土壤抗生素残留普遍高于大田土壤.温室和大田土壤磺胺类抗性基因sul1、sul2和四环素类抗性基因tet L的检出率均为100%.温室土壤的Ⅰ类整合子(int I1)检出率比大田土壤高1.5倍.定量PCR的检测结果表明,菜田土壤中sul2和tet L的相对丰度介于10-4~10-2之间,温室土壤sul2和tet L的相对丰度普遍高于大田土壤.sul2的相对丰度与磺胺二甲嘧啶和强力霉素的含量显著正相关(P0.05),tet L相对丰度与抗生素含量无明显相关性(P0.05).本研究结果对于掌握北京地区农田土壤ARGs的污染现状,以及从ARGs角度评估农艺措施具有重要的指导意义.     

Effect of Agave attenuata extracts on detoxification enzymes of Biomphlaria alexandrina

The toxicity and rising costs of synthetic molluscicides have led to interest in compounds derived from locally growing plants that can be used as molluscicides. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of extracts of some Egyptian plants having lethal effect on snails of medical importance (Biomphlaria alexandrina) as well as on antioxidant and glutathione detoxification enzymes. Ethanolic extracts of locally growing plants Agave attenuata, Agave sislana, Phytolaca dodecandra and Euphorbia spllendens were applied as a contact poison to B. alexandrina, the intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. The LC₅₀ of A. attenuata, A. sislana, P. dodecandra and E. spllendens are 82, 101, 98 and 98 mg/L, respectively. Glutathione and the enzymes involved in protection of the snail from reactive oxygen species namely, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, catalase, gamma glutamyl transferase increased in the survival snails exposed to high concentrations of A. attenuata. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase indirectly affecting glutathione reductase and the oxidation, reduction of glutathione significantly decreased in snails exposed to A. attenuata extracts. Superoxide dismutase level tend to decrease in snails exposed to A. attenuata of action. In conclusion A. attenuata is preferable when compared with synthetic molluscicides. The enzymes involved directly or indirectly in protection mechanism of the snail against A. attenuata are mainly responsible for snails survival.     

Evaluating mine plans under uncertainty: Can the real options make a difference?

Over the last few years, many studies have presented the real options valuation (ROV) as a promising technique of valuing natural resource investments under conditions of uncertainty. Apart from the common conclusion that the ROV is better than the conventional net present value (NPV) method in integrating the value of management flexibility and proper handling of cash flows risk, there is a lack of procedures for testing the usefulness and advantages of the ROV over the static NPV method in practice. Arguably, it is not yet clear whether the ROV can deal with the complexity of mining projects and whether it can really be applied to make decisions that improve project value.     

Biological degradation of some organic compounds involved in the paper industry

An evaluation of the biodegradation by aerobic microorganisms was investigated for some organic compounds occurring in paper manufacturing technology. Lines of biodegradation for nine organic compounds, as a percentage removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), were detected over seven days incubation. The results of the biodegradability test clearly revealed that some of the organic compounds under investigation were highly biodegradable while others ranked from fairly biodegradable to non-biodegradable. Significant biodegradation results were recorded as COD removal, for anti-coating ester (95.0 percent), Basoplast 200D (85.3 percent) and Basoplast PR 8050 (87.6 percent). The bleaching agent (formamidin-sulfinic acid), Ukanol BSA and Solidurit KM demonstrated moderate biodegradation with results of 62.1 percent, 76.2 percent and 69.8 percent, respectively. Poor biodegradation results for Hedifix M/35 (12.7 percent), Basazol Orange (34.9 percent) and Basazol Brown (29.0 percent) were recorded. Accordingly, appropriate precautions should be taken into consideration when applying these compounds to paper manufacturing processes.     

敌敌畏在颗粒物上吸附的支配因素

研究了敌敌畏在颗粒物(呼和浩特土壤和黄河水体沉积物)上的吸附行为,探讨了颗粒物性质如有机质含量、粘粒含量、阳离子交换量(CEC)、pH值和离子强度等因素对吸附的影响。结果表明:敌敌畏在2种颗粒物上的吸附过程均符合一级动力学规律,可用Freundlich等温式描述,吸附常数Kd为5. 822 0和11. 738 8;颗粒物性质与吸附常数的相关分析发现:支配敌敌畏在颗粒物上吸附的主要因素是有机质含量、pH值和离子强度,随着pH值的增加和离子强度的降低,敌敌畏在2种颗粒物上的吸附量增大。     

石油污染土壤物化修复前后生物毒性效应

采用作物种子的发芽率作为生态指标对石油污染土壤进行毒性分析,并以蚯蚓为实验生物,研究了石油污染物的生物效应及其对土壤生态系统的影响.结果表明,不同的作物种子对石油污染表现出不同的耐受性,对照清洁土壤,大多数作物种子的萌发都明显受到石油污染的抑制,其中受石油污染影响最严重的是黄豆、蚕豆、玉米.相比之下,在不同石油污染水平下绿豆具有较高的耐受性,且种子发芽率均在90%以上.蚯蚓在受到污染胁迫时,在生理水平上会发生明显的变化,进而影响其存活和生长能力,实验观测到随着石油污染加重蚯蚓存活时间显著下降.在高污染水平石油污染的土壤中(石油污染水平>30 000 mg.kg-1),蚯蚓的耐性降低,仅可以存活5 d左右,说明石油烃对蚯蚓的毒性较大,主要是因为蚯蚓直接与石油接触导致其中毒脱水而死亡.处理后油田污染土,即使在污染水平很低(≈30 mg.kg-1)的情况下,蚯蚓存活时间依然很短(3 d左右),是因为经过石油醚处理过的土壤,其营养物质也随着石油而被处理掉,而土壤中有机质等营养物对蚯蚓的生存具有很大影响.