New Device Against Non-Thermal Effects from Mobile Telephones

Summary Objectives: The aim of this study is to initiate research in the field of biomedical engineering geared towards a reduction of non-thermal effects on the brain due to the use of mobile telephones. This line of research employs devices attached to the back of cellular-telephone cases. Methods: Under electromagnetic-environment controlled conditions EEG records have been obtained in 16 healthy subjects, with their eyes open at the base-line. These records were compared with the use of the mobile telephone with and without one of these devices for five minutes each, and having them statistically tested with Wilcoxon matched-pairs. Results: Differences between experimental EEG, with and without the use of the device, have been observed. These subtle changes basically affect Delta and Theta wave bands. Their distribution, (changes in the affected areas of the brain), also varies, above all in the frontal areas. Conclusions: The use of this device could reduce non-thermal effects of mobile telephones on the human EEG.     

Abandoned artisanal gold mines in the Brazilian Amazon: A legacy of mercury pollution

The modern gold rush in the Brazilian Amazon attracted millions of people to become artisanal miners in order to escape complete social marginalization. The rudimentary nature of artisanal mining activities often generates a legacy of extensive environmental degradation,both during operations and well after mining activities have ceased. One of the most significant environmental impacts is derived from the use of mercury (Hg), which is illegal for use in gold amalgamation in Brazil, but continues to be the preferred method employed by artisanal gold miners. The general population is unaware of the capricious nature of mercury and artisanal mining activities. Moreover, individuals in positions of political or economic infiuence tend to be negatively biased towards artisanal mining and government policies do not effectively address the realities of these activities. Affected communities have consequently been ignored,and mistrust towards outside parties is high. Not surprisingly, miners are suspicious of and unlikely to employ externally derived solutions to reduce mercury emissions. This article reviews the use of mercury in artisanal mining and highlights the role miners, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played in communicating facts, perpetuating myths and deriving solutions for mercury pollution. This article also raises some key concerns that must be addressed to understand the behaviour of mercury in the environment and identifies solutions for problems facing communities where artisanal gold mining operations have been abandoned.     

Domestic versus foreign energy use: an analysis for four European countries

Environment, Development and Sustainability - In order to adequately assess energy policies and set clear objectives, a key preliminary step is to know the energy use patterns of the different...     

Clonal extent,apical dominance and networking features in the phalanx angiosperm <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera noltii</Emphasis> Hornem.

Disaggregating seagrass meadows and studying its components separately (clones, ramets, shoots) can provide us insights on meadow dynamics and growth patterns. The clonal growth, dependent upon clonal rules may regulate and impose constraints to plant architecture and, therefore, determine how individual clones evolve into the environment. In order to investigate the relationship between clonal growth rules and clone architecture, the belowground network architecture of single-clones of the seagrass Zostera noltii was studied. Networks were traced in situ after washing out the overlying sediment, and network characteristics were measured using digital analysis: area covered by clone, total rhizome length, type of rhizomatic axes (main, secondary, tertiary, quaternary), number and length of the internodes, branching angles and branching frequencies. This approach revealed that Z. noltii is able to develop into large clones integrating up to 300 internodes, 676 cm of rhizome, 208 shoots and 4,300 cm² of plant area. Internodal length depended on both, the distance to the apical shoot (time effect) and the axes type (apical dominance effect). However, average branching angle was independent of axis type (average 58.3 ± 0.75), but varied significantly depending on the distance from the apical shoot. This average branching angle allows Z. noltii maximize the rate of centrifugal expansion, maintaining a high density in colonized areas to produce close stands but also minimizing the investment in belowground biomass and ramets overlapping. The clonal architecture of Z. noltii seems to be regulated by the interaction of both, apical dominance strength and clonal integration distance. Moreover, clonal growth rules and growth pattern seem to constrain clonality through (clonal) plant architecture regulations (i.e. branching is restricted in secondary axes, similar average branching angles regardless the axes, the higher the distance to the apex the higher the number of internodes in secondary axes, shorter internodes in secondary and tertiary axes). Future research efforts should focus on how these complex relationships between apical dominance and clonal integration interact to elucidate the temporal (seasonal) and spatial scales of both processes and the outcome at the plant architectural level.     

Mercury balance in amalgamation in artisanal and small-scale gold mining: identifying strategies for reducing environmental pollution in Portovelo-Zaruma,Ecuador

The gold ore mined by artisanal and small-scale miners in Portovelo-Zaruma, Ecuador, is processed in custom mills. Miners can choose between Chilean-mill processing centers, where the ore is ground, concentrated and amalgamated, or “Chancha” Centers, where the whole ore is amalgamated. By weighing mercury before and after all unit operations involved in the amalgamation process, it was possible to determine mercury losses. Analyses in eight centers indicated that 51–59% of mercury introduced into the amalgamation process is recovered when miners squeeze the excess mercury. Around 29% of total mercury is lost when miners burn amalgam and gold is melted, and 15% is lost with the tailings. When only gravity concentrates are amalgamated, 1.4% of mercury entering the process is lost with tailings, whereas 29.5% is lost when the whole ore is amalgamated. Approximately 1.5 tonnes/annum of mercury is released in Portovelo-Zaruma, from which 70% is evaporated and 30% is released with tailings. Mercury-contaminated tailings are leached with cyanide in agitated tanks. A large majority of the processing centers dispose the final tailings with mercury and cyanide into the Calera River and Amarillo River. Mercury dissolved with cyanide likely becomes more bioavailable than metallic mercury. A campaign for reducing mercury emissions must focus on the use of individual retorts – mercury pollution control devices – and the elimination of whole ore amalgamation.     

Development and calibration of a portable radon sampling system for groundwater Rn activity concentration measurements

The assembling of a system for field sampling and activity concentration measurement of radon dissolved in groundwater is described. Special attention is given in presenting the calibration procedure to obtain the radon activity concentration in groundwater from the raw counting rate registered in a portable scintillation detector and in establishing the precision of the activity concentration measurements. A field procedure was established and the system tested during one year of monthly observations of ²²²Rn activity concentration in groundwater drawn from two wells drilled on metamorphic rocks exposed at Eastern São Paulo State, Brazil. The observed mean ²²²Rn activity concentrations are 374 Bq/dm³ in one well and about 1275 Bq/dm³ in the other one. In both wells the ²²²Rn activity concentrations showed a seasonal variation similar to variations previously reported in the literature for the same region.     

Molecular Characterization of Norovirus Circulating in Northwest Mexico During 2013–2014

Food and Environmental Virology - Norovirus (NoV) is an important etiological agent of diarrhea in children and adults. In Mexico, NoV screening is not routinely performed. NoV is highly infectious...     

Does predation risk,through moon phase and predator cues,modulate food intake,antipredatory and physiological responses in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus)?

Predation influences the ecology and behaviour of prey species and it is well known that the risk of predation affects prey’s decision making. We investigated whether predation risk through moon phase and exposure to the faecal odour of a natural predator, the red fox Vulpes vulpes, affect feeding behaviour and physiological response in wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Antipredatory response was studied by live trapping under new and full moon in odourless control areas and areas experimentally manipulated with red fox fresh faeces. Food intake by individuals was determined as the amount of bait remaining in each trap and the physiological response was measured non-invasively analysing faecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM). Traps treated with faeces of red fox were the most avoided, and this avoidance was more significant during full moon. Food intake by wood mice varied according to the moon phase being significantly lower under full moon nights. We found sex, breeding condition and weight of individuals explaining the variation found in FCM concentrations, but no changes in FCM levels due to moon phase or exposure to red fox faeces were detected. These results indicate that wood mice avoid red fox faecal odour and this antipredatory response as well as feeding behaviour are significantly influenced by moon phase. However, no physiological response was found due to predation risk suggesting that wood mice do not take these predation cues enough reliable to experience physiological changes.     

Influence of task demands on occupational stress: Gender differences

IntroductionOccupational stress is a common phenomenon in our society, and generates problems for both workers' health and the functioning of organizations. Over past decades numerous studies have examined occupational stress from the perspective of gender, offering somewhat contradictory results. Some of them found no differences and others indicated that either men or women suffer from greater amounts of occupational stress.MethodThe purpose of this study was to analyze gender differences in stress in situations that involve certain occupational demands. The data used were taken from a random sample population of 11,054 (5,917 men and 5,137 women) from the VI National Survey on Working Conditions (NSWC) which was conducted in Spain in 2007. To carry out this study, a probabilistic model was constructed using Bayesian networks, with the following variables related to task demands: working with tight deadlines, quick work, intellectually demanding work, complicated tasks, repetitive tasks, excessive work, and work demanding high attention levels.ResultsThe results of this study reveal that: the indicators studied significantly increased stress levels; women initially had higher stress levels than men; and when exposed to determined task demands, stress differences between genders tended to increase.Impact on IndustryCompanies need to consider the gender of their workers when assigning tasks in high demand/stress jobs.