Individual preparedness and mitigation actions for a predicted earthquake in Istanbul

This study investigated the process of taking action to mitigate damage and prepare for an earthquake at the individual level. Its specific aim was to identify the factors that promote or inhibit individuals in this process. The study was conducted in Istanbul, Turkey—where an earthquake is expected soon—in May and June 2006 using qualitative methods. Within our conceptual framework, three different patterns emerged among the study subjects. Outcome expectancy, helplessness, a low socioeconomic level, a culture of negligence, a lack of trust, onset time/poor predictability, and normalisation bias inhibit individuals in this process, while location, direct personal experience, a higher education level, and social interaction promote them. Drawing on these findings, the paper details key points for better disaster communication, including whom to mobilise to reach target populations, such as individuals with direct earthquake experience and women.     

Preparedness for anthrax attack: the effect of knowledge on the willingness to treat patients

Little is known about the factors that may impact on the willingness of physicians and nurses to treat patients during a bioterrorism attack. This survey was conducted among 76 randomly selected nurses and physicians in the emergency rooms of three public hospitals in order to analyse the relationship between knowledge, profession and the willingness to treat anthrax. The study finds that the willingness of physicians and nurses to come to work is 50% greater among the group with the highest knowledge about anthrax (P < 0.0001). Within that group, the willingness to treat patients suspected of being infected with anthrax was 37% greater (P < 0.0001) and the willingness to treat patients diagnosed with anthrax was 28% greater (P = 0.004) than in the other groups. These results imply that enhancement of knowledge among health care workers may improve their willingness to come to work and treat patients infected with anthrax during a bioterrorism attack.     

吸烟与非吸烟肺癌患者中P53基因突变的检测

P53基因定位于人类第17号染色体的短臂,野生型P53基因是肿瘤抑制基因。这一基因正成为研究人类肿瘤DNA的主要目标。作者运用聚合酶链反应－单链构象多态性技术（PCR－SSCP）,研究了45例石蜡包埋的肺癌组织标本中肿瘤抑制基因P53基因突变,结果发现在P53基因的第5～8外显子中共检测到19例P53基因突变的样本,检出率为42.2％,并且发现吸烟的肺癌患者中P53基因突变的检出频率明显高于非吸烟的肺癌患者。     

COMPARISON OF TWO PESTICIDE LEACHING INDICES1

ABSTRACT: Agriculture is the leading cause of regional‐scale non‐point source (NPS) pollution in the world today. Indices of pesticide leaching in the vadose zone are well suited for estimating the spatial accumulation and distribution of NPS pollutants in the near surface. In this study the Attenuation Factor (AF) and the Leaching index (Li) are used to assess the near‐surface leaching potential for 32 important agrochemicals for world average agricultural soil properties and recharge rates. The AF and Li indices both require the same input data and appear to work well for nonpolar chemicals. In the effort reported here the AF and Li indices produced similar results for the 32 agrochemicals. Pesticides with high and moderate leaching potential are identified. The AF estimates were more constant than the Li estimates for changes in the compliance depth and recharge rate. The AF index is simpler to use than the Li index and, therefore, is more likely to be employed in the future for screening/ranking agrochemicals relative to regional‐scale NPS ground water vulnerability.     

不同质地土壤对填埋场渗滤液的吸收净化效能

用沙土、粘土和壤土为材料 ,研究不同质地土壤对填埋场渗滤液的吸收净化效能 .结果表明 ,不同质地土壤净化效能差异较大 ,壤土和粘土各处理第 1周内对 COD的去除率达到 90 %以上 ,对 NH₃^- N的去除率为 87%～97%之间 ,而沙土各处理对COD的去除率在 84%～89%之间 ,对 NH₃- N去除率在 45%～78%之间 .各处理对 COD和 NH₃^- N的去除率逐步下降 ,4周后有的呈波动反弹 .粘土对 P的去除效果最好 ,几乎全部吸收 .对金属的去除效果也以粘土和壤土较好 .不同质地土壤净化效能随土层厚度的增加而增强 ,栽植狗牙根能促进土壤对 COD、P、NH₃^- N以及金属等吸收与净化 ,对毒性的去除能力也增强 ,体现了植物对土壤净化系统的增效作用 .     

上流式多级厌氧反应器处理糖蜜酒精废水的运行特性

采用自主研发的上流式多级厌氧反应器(UMAR)处理糖蜜酒精废水,研究UMAR的运行特性。研究结果表明:UMAR在水力停留时间为7.1h,进水ρ(COD)为10000mg/L,有机负荷为17.6～33.8kg/(m3.d)时COD去除率均高于75%,最高可达81%。UMAR反应器对进水负荷的冲击有良好耐受能力,运行稳定。     

Quantification of Extinction Risk: IUCN's System for Classifying Threatened Species

Abstract: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species was increasingly used during the 1980s to assess the conservation status of species for policy and planning purposes. This use stimulated the development of a new set of quantitative criteria for listing species in the categories of threat: critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable. These criteria, which were intended to be applicable to all species except microorganisms, were part of a broader system for classifying threatened species and were fully implemented by IUCN in 2000. The system and the criteria have been widely used by conservation practitioners and scientists and now underpin one indicator being used to assess the Convention on Biological Diversity 2010 biodiversity target. We describe the process and the technical background to the IUCN Red List system. The criteria refer to fundamental biological processes underlying population decline and extinction. But given major differences between species, the threatening processes affecting them, and the paucity of knowledge relating to most species, the IUCN system had to be both broad and flexible to be applicable to the majority of described species. The system was designed to measure the symptoms of extinction risk, and uses 5 independent criteria relating to aspects of population loss and decline of range size. A species is assigned to a threat category if it meets the quantitative threshold for at least one criterion. The criteria and the accompanying rules and guidelines used by IUCN are intended to increase the consistency, transparency, and validity of its categorization system, but it necessitates some compromises that affect the applicability of the system and the species lists that result. In particular, choices were made over the assessment of uncertainty, poorly known species, depleted species, population decline, restricted ranges, and rarity; all of these affect the way red lists should be viewed and used. Processes related to priority setting and the development of national red lists need to take account of some assumptions in the formulation of the criteria.     

火焰原子吸收光谱法测定烟囱烟灰中的铊

提出了火焰原子吸收光谱法测定冶炼厂烟囱烟灰中铊的分析方法。试验表明:方法检测限(3σ)为0 11mg/L,回收率在92%～103%之间,相对标准差<3%,方法简便快速。     

The differential impact of air pollutants on acute urticaria and chronic urticaria: a time series analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Several studies have revealed a relationship between short-term exposure to air pollution and the exacerbation of certain skin conditions. This study...     

Current status and challenges of remediating petroleum‐derived PAHs in soils: Nigeria as a case study for developing countries

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the world's most significant environmental organic contaminants because of their carcinogenic properties. PAHs are widely distributed globally as a result of releases from numerous natural and anthropogenic activities. Consequently, several PAH monitoring studies have been conducted and remediation approaches explored. This article aims to provide the current status of PAH distribution in Nigeria's oil and gas industrial region in relation to the technologies adopted for PAH remediation. Ideally, the findings will provide insight into the challenges in managing organic contaminants derived from petroleum exploration activities in developing countries with Nigeria as a case study.