42nd Congress of the “Groupe Français des Pesticides” (French Group of Pesticide research–GFP 2012)

The 42nd congress of the “Groupe Français des Pesticides” (French Group of Pesticide research–GFP 2012) took place 30 May–1 June at the “École Nationale Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de Poitiers” (ENSIP), a French generalist engineering grande école in Poitiers. Its focus is on the protection of the environment and is part of the University of Poitiers, one of the oldest universities in Europe. GFP is an annual conference where the latest developments in the field of pesticide research are presented. The topics most commonly discussed mainly concern environmental quality, monitoring, fate, and transfer of pesticides in the environment or risks associated with use of pesticides, but every year a key theme sets the tone. For this 42nd edition, the theme “Innovative strategies for plant protection” was retained.     

Predictive modeling of sorption and desorption of a reactive azo dye by pumpkin husk

The use of effective disposal of redundant pumpkin husk (PH) to remove pollutants is an important issue for environmental protection and utilization of resource. The aim of this study was to remove a potentially toxic reactive azo dye, Reactive Red (RR) 120, by widespread PH as a low-cost adsorbent. Particle size, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature, initial dye concentration, and contact time affected the sorption process. Amine, amide, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups of PH played significant roles on the sorption process. Rapid sorption occurred within the first 2 min and equilibrium was reached within 60 min. Sorption kinetic was well represented by logistic equation. Generated secondary logistic model can be used to describe effects of initial dye concentration, contact time, and temperature by a single equation with high R ² value. Monolayer sorption capacity was found as 98.61 mg g^-1. Activation energy, thermodynamic, and desorption studies showed that this process was physical, endothermic, and spontaneous. This study indicated that redundant PH as a low-cost adsorbent had a great potential for the removal of RR 120 as an alternative eco-friendly process.     

Environmental effects of anticholinesterasic therapeutic drugs on a crustacean species,Daphnia magna

The presence of pharmaceutical drugs in the environment is an important field of toxicology, since such residues can cause deleterious effects on exposed biota. This study assessed the ecotoxicological acute and chronic effects of two anticholinesterasic drugs, neostigmine and pyridostigmine in Daphnia magna. Our study calculated 48 h-EC₅₀ values for the immobilization assay of 167.7 μg L^?1 for neostigmine and 91.3 μg L^?1 for pyridostigmine. In terms of feeding behavior, we calculated a 5 h-EC₅₀ for filtration rates of 7.1 and 0.2 μg L^?1 for neostigmine and pyridostigmine, respectively; for the ingestion rates, the calculated EC₅₀ values were, respectively, 7.5 and 0.2 μg L^?1 for neostigmine and pyridostigmine. In the reproduction assay, the most affected parameter was the somatic growth rate (LOECs of 21.0 and 2.9 μg L^?1 for neostigmine and pyridostigmine, respectively), followed by the fecundity (LOECs of 41.9 and 11.4 μg L^?1 for neostigmine and pyridostigmine, respectively). We also determined a 48 h-IC₅₀ for cholinesterase activity of 1.7 and 4.5 μg L^?1 for neostigmine and pyridostigmine, respectively. These results demonstrated that both compounds are potentially toxic for D. magna at concentrations in the order of the μg L^?1.     

基于力学平衡模型的乡村转型均衡发展判别方法研究

社会经济 生物自然 土地管理三维驱动因素通过“农村人口 耕地 农村居民点”3要素之间的相互联系与相互作用驱动着乡村转型发展。以该3要素为研究对象,提出基于力学平衡模型乡村转型发展偏离度的评价方法,并综合应用 2000 年和 2010 年两期 Landsat TM影像解译数据及2006~2020年规划修编数据,分析了江苏省乡村地区转型变化的特征规律。研究表明：江苏省各县（市区）乡村地区转型发展过程中,存在不同程度偏离发展情况;偏离度空间上呈现极角苏南<苏中<苏北,极径苏南>苏中>苏北的规律;农村居民点扩张成为乡村转型均衡发展的最重要阻碍因素,这根源于我国特殊的城乡“三元”结构社会体制,目前“生产空间较好的实现了转型,生活空间和身份空间依然滞留在乡村地区”,现阶段的乡村转型发展是一种不均衡的发展模式,必须实现向“以人为本”发展方式转变     

Assessment of National Parks affected by naturbanization processes in Southern Europe

This paper assesses land-use changes related to naturbanization processes on three biosphere reserves in Southern Europe. A comparative analysis has been done on the National Parks in Peneda-Gerês in North Portugal, Cévennes in South France and Sierra Nevada in South Spain, using Corine Land Cover data from 1990 until 2006. Results indicate that the process of land-use intensification is taking place in the frame of naturbanization dynamics that could jeopardize the role of Protected Areas. Focusing on the trends faced by National Parks and their surrounding territories, the analysis demonstrates, both in quantitative and spatial terms, the intensification processes of land-use changes and how it is important to know them for coping with increasing threats. The article concludes that in the current context of increasing stresses, a broader focus on nature protection, encompassing the wider countryside, is needed if the initiatives for biodiversity protection are to be effective.     

Development of Bioactive Packaging Structure Using Melt Electrospinning

Recent research attention is shifting towards the use of bioactive antimicrobial and/or antioxidant packaging materials and their fabrication with non-toxic techniques. The process of melt electrospinning produce fibers from polymer melt without any solution hence environmentally friendly because use of toxic solvents can be avoided. The objectives of this study were fabrication of biodegradable polymeric microfibrous structure using melt electrospinning and characterization of the effect of plant based natural extract on fabricated structure. We found that incorporation of this structure with natural extract provide sufficient support for bioactive compounds without changing thermal stability, physical properties and amorphous phase and also increase the antimicrobial efficacy. Moreover, homogeneously dispersion and good interaction of polymer and natural plant based extract demonstrating the potential of such polymer blend as a bioactive antimicrobial material for packaging industry including especially food and healthcare.     

Use of agro-industrial organic sludge amendment to remediate degraded soil: chemical and eco(geno)toxicological differences between fresh and stabilized sludge and establishment of application rates

Soil degraded by coal mining activities can be remediated by amendment with agro-industrial organic sludge. However, the environmental impacts associated with this management practice must be properly addressed. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the eco(geno)toxicity of a fresh and a stabilized sludge before use in a laboratory soil remediation test. Chemical analysis of the complex mixtures (degraded soil, fresh sludge, and stabilized sludge) was carried out, as well as a battery of eco(geno)toxicity tests on microbiological enzymes (fluorescein hydrolysis), earthworms, and higher plants (including Vicia faba genotoxicity test), according to published methodologies. The results of these tests showed that fresh sludge was more toxic than sludge stabilized over 6 months toward earthworms and higher plants (lettuce, corn, and wild cabbage), while phyto(geno)toxicity tests with V. faba indicated the same genotoxicity levels for the two types of sludge. In the soil remediation simulation using different mixtures of degraded soil and stabilized sludge, the proportions of 50:50 % (dry weight basis) provided the lowest phyto(geno)toxicity effects and this mixture can be used for the revegetation of the contaminated site.