Re-construction of the shut-down PM10 monitoring stations for the reliable assessment of PM10 in Berlin using fuzzy modelling and data transformation

A dense monitoring network is vital for the reliable assessment of PM10 in different parts of an urban area. In this study, a new idea is employed for the re-construction of the 20 shut-down PM10 monitoring stations of Berlin. It endeavours to find the non-linear relationship between the hourly PM10 concentration of both the still operating and the shut-down PM10 monitoring stations by using a fuzzy modelling technique, called modified active learning method (MALM). In addition, the simulations were performed by using not only raw PM10 databases but also log-transformed PM10 databases for skewness reduction. According to the results of hourly PM10 simulation (root mean square error about 13.0 μg/m³, correlation coefficient 0.88), the shut-down stations have been appropriately simulated and the idea of dense monitoring network development by the re-construction of the shut-down stations was realised. The results of simulations using raw and log-transformed databases showed that data transformation has no significant effect on the performance of MALM in the simulation of shut-down PM10 stations. By the combination of the 11 still operating stations and the 20 re-constructed stations, a dense monitoring network was generated for Berlin and was utilised for the calculation of the reliable monthly and mean annual PM10 concentration for five different PM10 zones in Berlin (the suburban-background, urban-background, urban-traffic, rural-background and suburban-traffic areas). The results showed that the mean annual concentration of PM10 at the five zones increased by about 13.0% in 2014 (26.3 μg/m³) in comparison with 2013 (23.3 μg/m³). Furthermore, the mean annual concentration of PM10 in the traffic lanes of the suburban (2013 25.0 μg/m³, 2014 26.9 μg/m³) and urban (2013 27.7 μg/m³, 2014 31.3 μg/m³) areas is about 14 and 20% higher than the PM10 concentration of suburban-background (2013 21.3 μg/m³, 2014 24.5 μg/m³) and urban-background (2013 23.0 μg/m³, 2014 26.1 μg/m³) areas, respectively.     

Sub-lethal toxic effects of deltamethrin on blood biochemical parameters of Japanese quail,Coturnix japonica

Feeding deltamethrin-contaminated grains to domestic poultry, such as quails may result in toxic effects in these birds. This study was done to investigate the effects of recommended doses of deltamethrin, sometimes used in grain storage silos, on Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Quails were fed grains contaminated with 0.25 and 0.50 mg deltamethrin per kg diet for 21 days and the effects on survival and blood biochemical parameters were studied. Plasma uric acid, creatinine levels, and creatinine phosphokinase activity in the blood were increased. Aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities and glucose levels significantly increased in birds treated with the high dose of deltamethrin. Alanine aminotransferase activity and albumin or cholesterol levels were not changed, and acetylcholinesterase and alkaline phosphatase activities, total protein and globulin in plasma were decreased. Administration of 0.25 mg/kg deltamethrin caused increased blood triglyceride levels, 0.50 mg/kg deltamethrin decreased triglyceride levels.     

Epidemiology of occupational accidents among Iranian insured workers

Work-related accidents are considered as a major health problem worldwide. The aim of present study was to determine the epidemiological pattern of occupational accidents among workers insured by the Iranian Social Security Organization (ISSO) between 2001 and 2005.Subjects consisted of all workers and drivers who had a work-related accident during 2001–2005 and were registered in the Iranian Social Security Organization (ISSO) database according to the inspection reports. An ordinal logistic regression model (proportional odds regression model) was used to assess the concurrent effects of independent variables on accident outcomes.Overall, 86,437 work-related accidents were investigated. The accidents were more frequent in metal workplaces and electrical industries, respectively. More than half of the accidents were due to incautious activities. Workers’ age (age at the time of accident) (OR = 0.99, CI: 0.989–0.994), gender (OR = 1.3, CI: 1.191–1.683), marital status (OR = 1.25, CI: 1.143–1.675) as well as accident setting (OR = 1.88, CI: 1.728–1.975) had significant effect on accident outcomes. Pattern of occupational injuries in Iran was consistent with the global pattern for accident outcomes.     

Environmental planning and management

Environmental Science and Pollution Research -     

A multi-criteria GIS-based model for wind farm site selection with the least impact on environmental pollution using the OWA-ANP method

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Wind energy is considered one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to generate electricity, since it has a low environmental impact. So, it...     

Microbial pollution of the blue and white Niles at Khartoum

The total coliform and fecal coliform bacterial load of the Blue and White Niles at Khartoum has been determined in the period of January–July 1984. The Blue Nile has been found to be more contaminated than the White Nile. The east bank of the White Nile was found to be more contaminated than the west bank. The microbial load of the rivers increased conspucuously as they passed through the city of Khartoum.     

Microwave-assisted synthesized zinc nanoparticles attenuate cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity in mice

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of zinc nanoparticles against cisplatin-induced testicular toxicity in mice. Zinc nanoparticles were produced by microwave-assisted synthesis using Lavandula vera extract as reducing agent. Single doses of cisplatin (7?mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and ZnSO₄ (10?mg/kg, orally), and various doses of zinc nanoparticles (10???50?mg/kg, orally) and vitamin E (100?mg/kg, interaperitoneally) were administered. The protective role of zinc nanoparticles was determined biochemically and histologically. Gradual reduction in malondialdehyde levels and elevation in glutathione levels and in the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase upon administration of zinc nanoparticles were observed. The pathology of mice treated with cisplatin/vitamin E and cisplatin/zinc nanoparticles were apparently equal, but vitamin E treatment was more effective in lowering oxidative stress markers than zinc nanoparticles. These findings suggest that co-administration of zinc nanoparticles with cisplatin could prevent adverse effects on the male reproductive system via their potential antioxidant properties.