Man-Made and Natural Fibres as a Reinforcement in Fully Biodegradable Polymer Composites: A Concise Study

Biodegradable and ecologically friendly polymer materials attract great attention of many scientific groups in the world as they fit well in the sustainable development policy and are considered to be “a right thing to do” by the general public. Such polymers can be modified by the addition of different fillers, favorably of natural origin. In the paper we provide a comparison between composites based on two biodegradable polymers: poly(lactic acid)—biodegradable, natural stock polymer and poly(butylene succinate)—biodegradable polymer produced from fossil based materials. For each polymer we have prepared a series of composites with different fibres (natural: hemp and flax, and manmade: Cordenka) and different filler loadings. To fully characterize obtained materials thermal, mechanical and surface free energy measurements were performed, completed with morphology observations and an attempt to compare the experimental data for tensile measurements with values obtained using the modified rule of mixtures. The tensile results calculated using the modified rule of mixture for below 30% fibre loading are found to be fitting the experimental data. Composites mechanical properties and morphology were strongly affected by the type of fibre used and its loading, however thermal properties remained almost unchanged. In specific, Cordenka fibres tend to form bunches which presence greatly influences the mechanical properties but still our studies have shown clear advantage of manmade Cordenka fibres over the hemp and flax fibres when considering distribution and fibre–polymer interaction.     

Optimizing a GC-MS method for screening of Stachybotrys mycotoxins in indoor environments

Presence of Stachybotrys chartarum in indoor environments has been linked to building-associated disease, however, the causative agents are unknown. Verrucarol (VER) and trichodermol (TRID) are hydrolysis products of some major S. chartarum mycotoxins, i.e. macrocyclic trichothecenes and trichodermin. We optimized gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) methods for detecting VER and TRID in S. chartarum-contaminated indoor environmental samples. Heptafluorobutyryl derivatives of both VER and TRID exhibited little MS fragmentation and gave much higher detection sensitivity (sub-picogram injected onto the GC column), both in GC-MS and GC-MSMS, than trimethylsilyl derivatives. Optimal detection sensitivity and specificity was achieved by combining chemical ionization and negative ion (NICI) detection with MSMS. With this method, VER and TRID were detected in building materials colonized by S. chartarum and TRID was demonstrated in dust settled in the breathing zone in a house where an inner wall was colonized. In summary, we have shown that NICI-GC-MSMS can be used to demonstrate mycotoxins in house dust in S. chartarum-contaminated dwellings.     

Physical factors influencing refraction of the echolocative sound beam in delphinid cetaceans

The delphinid melon has been postulated to function as a sound lens in which lipids refract and collimate the ultrasonic beam used for echolocation. To identify the major physical factors influencing sound-beam refraction, lipid samples from the 4 regions of the Tursiops truncatus melon were examined for variation of sound velocity with temperature. These results were then combined with available sound velocity data for Tursiops sp. melon tissue, Globicephala melaena melon lipids, G. melaena melon tissue, and seawater to model the total melon/seawater system encountered by the projected sound beam in both delphinids. Our analysis suggests that much of the refractive collimation occurs at the tissue/seawater interface rather than in the main body of the delphinid melon. Abrupt changes in the temperature and sound velocity at or near this convex interface (the forehead) cause this refraction.     

Modeling of the long-term tropospheric trends of hydroxyl radical for the Northern Hemisphere

The MGO 2D (altitude–longitude) channel photochemical transport model has been applied to elucidate the spatial and temporal behavior of the hydroxyl radical in the troposphere of the northern temperate belt for the pre-industrial (1850) period and the last few decades (1960 and 1995). The relation between the tropospheric OH content and the carbon monoxide, methane, nitrogen oxides emissions during 1850–1995 is studied. The distribution of the carbon monoxide concentration is calculated and validated using the observational data collected in the different locations because of the geographical non-homogeneity of its emissions. The response of the hydroxyl radical concentrations to the non-homogeneity of the CO and other atmospheric species distribution is estimated. The carbon monoxide and methane contributions to the hydroxyl photochemical sink are also evaluated. Because the changes of OH in the troposphere alternate the intensity of methane and carbon monoxide oxidation, the CO, CH₄ and OH lifetime evolution due to the increase of anthropogenic pollution intensity is analyzed and discussed.     

Reconstruction of the methane fluxes from the west Siberia gas fields by the 3D regional chemical transport model

A 3D mesoscale tropospheric photochemical transport model of high spatial resolution has been developed and used for assessment of the methane concentrations and methane emission in the West Siberian region of intensive mining of natural gas and oil deposits. The model is validated against the measurements of methane concentration at the surface and in the lower troposphere collected during July 1993 and June 1996 experiments. Comparison of the simulated and observed concentrations allowed to estimate that during the above periods the average natural methane fluxes were as high as 65 mg m⁻² day⁻¹. The anthropogenic methane fluxes (leakage from gas deposits) integrated over model domain during the same time period were about 20% of the total methane emission from relevant areas.     

Methane Fluxes in West Siberia: 3-D Regional Model Simulation

The West Siberian region is one of the main contributors of theatmospheric greenhouse gas methane due to the large areas ofwetlands, rivers, lakes and numerous gas deposits situated there.But there are no reliable estimations of integral methane flux fromthis area into the atmosphere. For assessment of methane fluxes inWest Siberia the specially constructed 3-D regional chemicaltransport model was applied. The 3-D distribution of methane iscalculated on the basis of the current meteorological data fields(wind, temperature, geopotential) updated 4 times a day. The methaneconcentrations measured near the main gas fields of West Siberia inthe summer season of 1999, were used for correction of methane fluxintensity estimates obtained previously by comparison ofmeasurements carried out in summer 1993 and 1996 with modelledmethane mixing ratio distribution. This set of field and modelexperiments confirmed the preliminary conclusion about low leakageintensity: anthropogenic methane flux does not exceed 5–15% oftotal summer methane flux, estimated as 11–12 Mt CH₄ in summer from this region, in spite of the large areas of gas deposits located there.     

Repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR) as a method used for bulking process detection in activated sludge

Bulking of activated sludge is a world-widely prevalent problem and can lead to loss of bio-oxidation, further deterioration of effluent quality, and even to a complete breakdown of the entire treatment process. Most common reasons of bulking are bacterial community changes, especially excessive growth of filamentous bacteria or excess of biopolymers on surface of non-filamentous microbes. Because of complex nature of the bulking phenomenon, the successful bulking control strategy finding is still a very important need awaiting new options and advices. The repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR) fingerprinting method has been applied to distinguish bacterial community in non-bulking and bulking activated sludge. The characteristic REP-PCR fingerprinting patterns, using the Ward??s clustering method, have been analyzed to determine homology/similarity relation between particular non-bulking and bulking sludge sampling. The received clustering results were in high concordance with activated sludge typing done based on physicochemical sludge analysis. The choice and application of molecular typing method in sludge analysis will depend upon the needs, skill level, and resources of the laboratory. The proposed REP-PCR method and statistical analysis of fingerprinting patterns seems to be simple, rapid, and effective methods to show differences between population in non-bulking and bulking activated sludge. It is easy to implement, and it may be useful for routinely activated sludge monitoring as well as may be helpful in early detection of bulking process.     

Wild plant species in bio-indication of radioactive-contaminated sites around Jaslovské Bohunice nuclear power plant in the Slovak Republic

In a long-term study of contaminated soil around Jaslovské Bohunice nuclear power plant (NPP), 24 species of local flora were used to show impact of serious accidents from 1976 to 1977. The 19-km-long banks of the Jaslovské Bohunice NPP wastewater recipient have been identified as contaminated by (137)Cs. In total, more than 67,000m(2) of riverbanks have been found as being contaminated at levels exceeding 1Bq (137)Csg(-1) of soil. Used phytotoxic and cytogenetic "in situ" tests were extended by analyses of pollen grains. Although the dose of some samples of radioactive soil was relatively high (322kBqkg(-1)) no significant impact on the biological level of tested wild plant species was observed.     

Electromagnetic Action of Heavy-Current Equipment Operating With Power Frequency

The paper presents an analysis of the effect of magnetic fields of power frequency generated by heavy-current electric equipment on the environment. The results of computation and measurements of the magnetic field in the vicinity of power busducts are included. Possible hazards are considered that result from the effects of the magnetic field on workers present in the vicinity of busducts as well as secondary hazards caused by the degrading effect of the magnetic field on ferromagnetic structural materials (in reinforced concrete structures). Attention is given to an ergonomic aspect of interaction of the magnetic field with cathode ray tube computer monitors (annoying oscillation of the image).