Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - This work presents an energy analysis of an industrial plant of production of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP plant). It aims to evaluate the important... 相似文献
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is an environmental toxicant and endocrine disruptor. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the toxicity of B[a]P in testis of rats and also to study the role of silymarin and thymoquinone (TQ) as natural antioxidants in the alleviation of such toxicity. Data of the present study showed that levels of testosterone, estrogen and progesterone were significantly decreased after treatment of rats with B[a]P. In addition, B[a]P caused downregulation of the expressions of steroidogenic enzymes including CYP17A1 and CP19A1, and decreased the activity of 17-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD). Moreover, B[a]P decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and significantly increased free radicals levels in testis of male rats. However, pretreatment of rats with silymarin prior to administration of B[a]P was found to restore the level of free radicals, antioxidant status, and activities of steroidogenic enzymes to their normal levels in testicular tissues. Moreover, histopathological finding showed that silymarin recovered the abnormalities occurred in tubules caused by B[a] P in testis of rats. On the other hand, TQ showed pro-oxidant effects and did not ameliorate the toxic effects of B[a] P on the testicular tissue since it decreased antioxidant enzymes activities and inhibited the protein expression of CYP11A1 and CYP21A2 compared to control rats. Moreover, TQ decreased the levels of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone either in the presence or absence of B[a]P. It is concluded that B[a]P decreased testosterone levels, inhibited antioxidant enzymes activities, caused downregulation of CYP isozymes involved in steroidogenesis, and increased free radical levels in testis. Moreover, silymarin was more effective than TQ in restoring organism health and alleviating the deleterious effects caused by B[a]P in the testis of rats. Due to its negative impact, it is highly recommended to limit the use of TQ as a dietary supplement since millions of people in the Middle East are using it to improve their health.
This paper investigates and compares the performances of polylactic acid (PLA)/kenaf (PLA-K) and PLA/rice husk (PLA-RH) composites
in terms of biodegradability, mechanical and thermal properties. Composites with natural fiber weight content of 20% with
fiber sizes of less than 100 μm were produced for testing and characterization. A twin-screw extrusion was used to compound
PLA and natural fibers, and extruded composites were injection molded to test samples. Flexural and Izod impact test, TGA,
soil burial test and SEM were used to investigate properties. All results were compared to a pure PLA matrix sample. The flexural
modulus of the PLA increased with the addition of natural fibers, while the flexural strength decreased. The highest impact
strength (34 J m−1), flexural modulus (4.5 GPa) and flexural strength (90 MPa) were obtained for the composite made of PLA/kenaf (PLA-K), which
means kenaf natural fibers are potential to be used as an alternative filler to enhance mechanical properties. On the other
hand PLA-RH composite exhibits lower mechanical properties. The impact strength of PLA has decreased when filled with natural
fibers; this decrease is more pronounced in the PLA-RH composite. In terms of thermal stability it has been found that the
addition of natural fibers decreased the thermal stability of virgin PLA and the decrement was more prominent in the PLA-RH
composite. Biodegradability of the composites slightly increased and reached 1.2 and 0.8% for PLA-K and PLA-RH respectively
for a period of 90 days. SEM micrographs showed poor interfacial between the polymer matrix and natural fibers. 相似文献
Zardari, Noor ul Hassan, Ian Cordery, and Ashish Sharma, 2010. An Objective Multiattribute Analysis Approach for Allocation of Scarce Irrigation Water Resources. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(2):412-428. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2009.00410.x Abstract: In this study, end user (farmer) and decision maker (water allocator) opinions were surveyed and a conjoint analysis (CA) based method was applied to the quantitative and qualitative data to assess the utility associated with each attribute that plays a role in forming the final thinking of the water users. The application of CA for estimating the utility for each attribute level is a novel approach, which helps provide a formal, objective basis for assigning relative scales for each attribute interval within a multiattribute decision-making model. The utilities (part-worths) obtained from the CA have a cardinal scale and were found to be comparable within and across the attributes. A farmers’ survey on five water allocation attributes was completed from 62 farmers and their opinions on the relative importance of attributes were elicited for a subarea of the Indus River Basin. The CA method was then applied to the survey data and the utilities for each attribute level were determined. This allowed, for instance, decisions to be made, which take account of the perceived value of the water and of the availability of local labor to work on the farm. Finally, these interval scales were used within the specification of the ELECTRE multiattribute decision-making method to provide a complete and objective ranking of nine irrigation districts so that the best decisions on water allocation could be made. 相似文献
Oropharyngeal cancer is a significant public health issue in the world. The incidence of oropharyngeal cancer has been increased among people who have habit of chewing smokeless tobacco (SLT) in Pakistan. The aim of present study was to evaluate the concentration of nickel (Ni) in biological samples (whole blood, serum) of oral (n?=?95) and pharyngeal (n?=?84) male cancer patients. For comparison purposes, the biological samples of healthy age-matched referents (n?=?150), who consumed and did not consumed SLT products, were also analyzed for Ni levels. As the Ni level is very low in biological samples, a preconcentration procedure has been developed, prior to analysis of analyte by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The Ni in acid-digested biological samples was complexed with ammonium pyrrolidinedithio carbamate (APDC), and a resulted complex was extracted in a surfactant Triton X-114. Acidic ethanol was added to the surfactant-rich phase prior to its analysis by FAAS. The chemical variables, such as pH, amounts of reagents (APDC, Triton X-114), temperature, incubation time, and sample volume were optimized. The resulted data indicated that concentration of Ni was higher in blood and serum samples of cancer patients as compared to that of referents who have or have not consumed different SLT products (p?=?0.012–0.001). It was also observed that healthy referents who consumed SLT products have two to threefold higher levels of Ni in both biological samples as compared to those who were not chewing SLT products (p?0.01). Figure
Surface sediments of the lagoons of Lomé, Togo, were analyzed for mercury, methylmercury, and trace elements. Concentrations
were greater than typical for natural lagoon sediments, and with greater variability within the Eastern lagoon compared to
the Western one. The Eastern lagoon is larger and has been dredged in the past, while the Western lagoon, which also receives
major waste inputs, has not been dredged and shows less tidal flushing. Accordingly, one naturally believes that the Eastern
lagoon is cleaner and probably safe to use due to its natural resources, including fishes to eat. Unexpectedly, we describe
here that mercury methylation was greater in the Eastern lagoon, indicating increased bioavailability of mercury, as probably
facilitated by past dredging that decreased solid-phase retention of inorganic mercury. Urbanization has historically been
more developed in the southern part of the lagoons, which is still reflected in contamination levels of sediment despite dredging,
probably because sources of contamination are still more important there today. Such urban contamination emphasizes the need
to regulate waste discharges and possible airborne contamination in growing cities of developing countries, and implements
environmental and public health monitoring, especially in relation to misbelieves systematically associated with the cleansing
effect of dredging activity. 相似文献
The application of response surface methodology is presented for optimizing the removal of U ions from aqueous solutions using
Padina sp., a brown marine algal biomass. 相似文献
Starch nanocomposites have been prepared using mineral clay. Montmorillonite, kaolin and a surface-modified montmorillonite
by dimethyl (hydrogenated tallow alkyl) ammonium cation were used. Starch-g-PCL nanocomposites have been prepared with graft
polymerization through in situ ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone in the presence of starch, Sn(Oct)2 (Tin(II) 2-ethyl hexanoate) as an initiator/catalyst and silicate layers. In fact, the related composites were prepared in
solution method, bulk polymerization and in situ polymerization methods with introducing the mineral clay. The effect of kind
of clay on d-spacing of silicate layers was investigated and the obtained nanocomposites were analyzed using X-ray diffraction.
The obtained compounds were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Morphology of the prepared nanocomposites
was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and DSC enhanced the study of thermal behaviour of the prepared composite
compounds. 相似文献
Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A composite polymer, hydroxyapatite/poly(acrylamide-acrylic acid), was synthesized by gamma-induced polymerization. The factors affecting the sorption... 相似文献
In this study, we asked the Ariaal herders of northern Kenya to answer "why, what and how" they classified landscape, and assessed and monitored the biodiversity of 10 km(2) of grazing land. To answer the "why question" the herders classified grazing resources into 39 landscape patches grouped into six landscape types and classified soil as 'warm', 'intermediate' or 'cold' for the purpose of land use. For the "what question" the herders used soil conditions and vegetation characteristics to assess biodiversity. Plant species were described as 'increasers', 'decreasers' or 'stable'. The decreaser species were mostly grasses and forbs preferred for cattle and sheep grazing and the increasers were mostly woody species preferred by goats. The herders evaluated biodiversity in terms of key forage species and used absence or presence of the preferred species from individual landscapes for monitoring change in biodiversity. For the "how question" the herders used anthropogenic indicators concerned with livestock management for assessing landscape potential and suitability for grazing. The anthropogenic indicators were related to soils and biodiversity. The herders used plant species grazing preferences to determine the links between livestock production and biodiversity. By addressing these three questions, the study shows the value of incorporating the indigenous knowledge of herders into classification of landscape and assessment and monitoring of biodiversity in the grazing lands. We conclude that herder knowledge of biodiversity is related to the use as opposed to exclusive conservation practices. This type of knowledge is extremely valuable to conservation agencies for establishing a baseline for monitoring changes in biodiversity in the future. 相似文献