The dissipation,distribution and fate of a branched 14C-nonylphenol isomer in lake water/sediment systems

A single tertiary isomer which is believed to be one of the major branched isomers of the isomeric nonylphenol was synthesized for use in investigations on its metabolism and estrogenicity in aquatic organisms. The physico-chemical properties of the isomer were determined to enable the prediction of its behaviour in aquatic environments. From laboratory investigations on its dissipation and distribution in lake water, which are reported in this paper, it was found that it had a half-life of dissipation of 38.1 days and 20.1 days in an open lake water and in an open lake water/ sediment system, respectively, and to be rapidly partitioned in to sediment giving a high concentration factor of 1.76 after 28 days with an initial dose concentration of 2.52 ppm. The main dissipation route was found to occur through volatilization and co-distillation. The isomer was, however, found to be resistant to biodegradation in both the lake water and sediment, showing only a slight 9% loss (after 56 days) and 4.2% loss (after 28 days), of the 14C-residues in lake water and lake water/sediment systems, respectively, by microbial activity. Transformation to other more polar metabolites possibly by hydroxylation was also found to be minimal in both lake water and sediment samples after 14 days by HPLC analysis. After 7 days, only 2.25 and 7.4% transformation to a more polar metabolite was detected in lake water and sediment samples, respectively.     

Development and Evaluation of a Multiplexed Real-Time TaqMan RT-PCR Assay with a Sample Process Control for Detection of F-specific RNA Coliphage Genogroups I and IV

There are increasing concerns of zoonotic transmission of some animal enteric viruses, such as calicivirus, hepatitis E virus, and rotavirus, which are closely related to human pathogenic strains. Most enteric viruses are detected by molecular techniques because they cannot be cultured. Surrogates such as F-RNA coliphages are cultivable but few molecular methods exist. Individual real-time TaqMan RT-PCR assays for the replicase gene of F-RNA coliphage genogroups I and IV were developed and multiplexed with a real-time TaqMan RT-PCR assay for feline calicivirus as a sample process control for the simultaneous detection and enumeration of genogroup I and IV F-RNA coliphages. Genogroup IV were successfully detected with the multiplexed assay in 80% of fecal samples that contained F-RNA coliphage levels ≥3.2 log plaque forming units (pfu). F-RNA coliphage were at or below the limit of detection in most fecal samples when levels were ≤4 log pfu/g.     

Development of cycling skills in 7- to 12-year-old children

Objective: Cycling is a complex skill consisting of motor skills such as pedalling, braking, and steering. Because the ability to perform cycling skills is based on the age-related development of the child, experience and age-related reference values are of interest in light of customized testing and training.

Methods: One hundred thirty-eight children from the second (7–8 years), fourth (9–10 years), and sixth (11–12 years) grades performed a practical bicycle test consisting of 13 test items with specific points of interest. Moreover, age at onset of cycling, cycling to and from school, independent mobility, and minutes cycling per week were estimated using a parental questionnaire.

Results: It is found that cycling skills are strongly related to age with 11- to 12-year-old children outperforming 7- to 8-year-old children for 11 test items and 9- to 10-year-old children for 8 test items.

Conclusions: Next to age, age at onset of cycling also contributed to cycling skills. Therefore, our results suggest that cycling skills are associated with physical and mental maturation. Subsequently, age-related reference values are provided to customize testing and training.     

Assessing a Transition to 100% Renewable Power Generation in a Non-interconnected Area: A Case Study for La Réunion Island

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - In this paper, we present a comprehensive, multi-timescale approach to evaluate energy transition policies aiming at fully renewable generation in power...     

Load Acceleration and Footstep Strategies in Asymmetrical Lifting and Lowering

Accelerated execution effects for lifting and lowering a 12-kg box using two footstep strategies associated with experienced workers were studied. Eight healthy male participants performed a normal and an accelerated execution of a lifting task and a lowering task, using a minimal feet displacement strategy (oblique-step) and a strategy with a step (crossed-step). It was hypothesized that the accelerated executions, as compared to the normal executions, would have a different effect on L5/S1 resultant moment, body posture, and other kinematic variables. A tridimensional dynamic rigid body model was used to compute L5/S1 resultant moments. Results showed that the accelerated condition did not reduce body asymmetry of posture, but it reduced the length of the path of the global center of gravity and the duration of the supporting phase of the box, and it did not significantly affect L5/S1 maximal resultant moments for lifting but increased them for lowering. These results indicate that the net work production for accelerated strategies might be smaller, which may represent an economy of energy. Furthermore, the results showed that the use of an accelerated strategy for lowering should be avoided.     

Nest site selection and induced response in a dominant arboreal ant species

It is well known that arboreal ants, both territorially dominant species and plant ants (e.g., species associated with myrmecophytes or plants housing them in hollow structures), protect their host trees from defoliators. Nevertheless, the presence of an induced defense, suggested by the fact that the workers discovering a leaf wound recruit nestmates, is only known for plant ants. Based on the results from a field study, we show here (1) that colonies of Azteca chartifex, a territorially dominant, neotropical arboreal ant species, mostly selected Goupia glabra (Goupiaceae) trees in which to build their principal carton nests and (2) that plant signals induced workers to recruit nestmates, which patrol the leaves, likely providing the plant with a biotic defense. Furthermore, the number of recruited workers was clearly higher on G. glabra, their most frequently selected host tree species, than on other tree species. These results show that contrary to what was previously believed, induced responses are also found in territorially dominant arboreal ants and so are not limited to the specific associations between myrmecophytes and plant ants.     

Mantophasmatodea now in the Jurassic

The Mantophasmatodea is the most recently discovered insect order. The fossil records of all other ‘polyneopteran’ orders extend far in the past, but the current absence of pre-Cenozoic fossils of the Mantophasmatodea contradicts a long evolutionary history, which has to be assumed from the morphological distinctness of the group. In this paper, we report the first Mesozoic evidence of a mantophasmatodean from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. Furthermore, the new fossil shares apomorphic characters with Cenozoic and recent Mantophasmatodea, suggesting a longer evolutionary history of this order.     

Development of a Specific Anti-capsid Antibody- and Magnetic Bead-Based Immunoassay to Detect Human Norovirus Particles in Stool Samples and Spiked Mussels via Flow Cytometry

Food and Environmental Virology - Human noroviruses impose a considerable health burden globally. Here, a flow cytometry approach designed for their detection in biological waste and food samples...     

PCDD/F inhibition by prior addition of urea to the solid fuel in laboratory experiments and results statistical evaluation

The objectives of this work were to study the effect of urea addition to the fuel before the combustion on the suppression of PCDD/F emissions, to examine the influence of urea to PCDD/F isomer patterns by employing statistical analysis techniques and to determine the most effective method of urea addition. Urea in the form of powder and as an aqueous solution was mixed with RDF and the fuel mixtures were incinerated in a lab-scale reactor at 1000 degrees C. PCDD/F emitted during combustion experiments were collected in a quartz wool filter downstream the reactor unit. Analysis and quantification of PCDD/F showed that urea significantly affected PCDD/F emissions. Combustion of RDF containing 10% w/w urea resulted in PCDD/F emissions lower than 8 I-TEQ ng/g RDF, while the corresponding average value from single RDF combustion was 17 I-TEQ ng/g RDF. The PCDD/F prevention capacity of urea was independent from the method of urea addition to the fuel, as similar results were obtained after the addition of urea in the solid and in the aqueous phases. Results assessment by statistical methods showed that isomer patterns remained almost stable and were not affected by the method of urea addition.     

(Z)-Dodec-3-en-1-ol, a common major component of the trail-following pheromone in the termites Kalotermitidae

(Z)-Dodec-3-en-1-ol has been identified as the major component of the trail-following pheromone of nine species of Kalotermitidae belonging to six different genera, suggesting that this compound represents a common signal in this family of termites. The homogeneous nature of trail-following pheromones of Kalotermitidae well agrees with the monophyly of this family. It also supports the postulated position of this family as a sister group of the Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae, which also secrete C12-alcohols as trail-following pheromones. The significance of a trail pheromone in termites of the ‘one-piece’ life type, which spend their whole life within the same piece of wood, is discussed.