Alternative natural gas contract and pricing structures and incentives for the LNG industry

Gas conversion to liquefied gas (LNG) and transport by LNG tankers is one option for meeting expanding gas consumption and for gas traded internationally. This paper examines the impact of the traditional gas contract provisions of indefinite pricing, market out price ceilings, and take-or-pay requirements on the profitability of LNG projects in the context of markets characterized by price and quantity uncertainty. Simulation experiments are used to examine and calibrate the effects of those provisions. The results provide guidance to operators, host countries and purchasers in structuring such contracts. The paper also assesses prospects of future expansion of world LNG capacity.     

Masking of circadian activity rhythms in male golden hamsters by the presence of females

Summary Wheel-running activity was recorded in male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) that had been blinded by bilateral enucleation and then kept singly in cages in a continuously darkened cabinet (room 1). In an adjacent cabinet (room 2), sighted male and female hamsters were kept in a 12:12-h light-dark cycle. For time spans varying from 15 to 45 days, two females within their cages were transferred for 3 h each day from room 2 to room 1 at the same time of light-off in room 2. Afterwards, two sighted male hamsters were transferred to room 1 for 3 h each day for 28 days. For the last 70 days of the experiment, all blinded males were transferred permanently to room 2. There were three main results: (1) bilateral enucleation of the males in room 1 had no effect on phase or period of the free-running rhythm; (2) the rhythms of the blinded males were entrained neither by the 3-h daily presence of two females nor after the transfer into room 2; (3) the presence of females usually released activity in the males depending on the circadian phase at which the exposure to females occurred. The masking responses were maximal at the beginning of the activity time, and reached a minor second maximum approximately 9 to 12 h later.     

Comparison of intake of nicotine from environmental tobacco smoke between nose and mouth breathers

Two experiments were carried out in order to investigate nicotine intake through passive smoking. In the first study, carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and serum cotinine were found to increase to a similar extent in seven subjects breathing through the nose only and in another seven subjects breathing through the mouth only during exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Similarly, no significant difference was found in urinary excretion of nicotine and cotinine over a period of 72 hours, although nicotine and cotinine excretion tended to be slightly higher after inhalation through the nose only. In the second study, nicotine was measured in four subjects who held mainstream or sidestream smoke in the mouth without inhaling. Cotinine levels in serum and amounts of nicotine and cotinine excreted in the urine were low compared with those measured in the breathing study. Nicotine from sidestream smoke, however, is more effectively absorbed by the oral mucosa than nicotine from mainstream smoke. The data suggest that nicotine intake from passive smoking largely takes place in the bronchial tree and that nicotine absorption via the nasal or the oral mucosa is only of minor significance.     

Simulation of herbicide degradation in different soils by use of Pedo-transfer functions (PTF) and non-linear kinetics

The degradation behaviour of bentazone in 14 different soils was examined at constant temperature and moisture conditions. Two soils were examined at different temperatures. On the basis of these data the influence of soil properties and temperature on degradation was assessed and modelled. Pedo-transfer functions (PTF) in combination with a linear and a non-linear model were found suitable to describe the bentazone degradation in the laboratory as related to soil properties. The linear PTF can be combined with a rate related to the temperature to account for both soil property and temperature influence at the same time.     

Virological Quality of Irrigation Water in Leafy Green Vegetables and Berry Fruits Production Chains

This study condenses data acquired during investigations of the virological quality of irrigation water used in production of fresh produce. One hundred and eight samples of irrigation water were collected from five berry fruit farms in Finland (1), the Czech Republic (1), Serbia (2), and Poland (1), and sixty-one samples were collected from three leafy green vegetable farms in Poland, Serbia, and Greece. Samples were analyzed for index viruses of human or animal fecal contamination (human and porcine adenoviruses, and bovine polyoma viruses), and human pathogenic viruses (hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, and noroviruses GI/GII). Both index and pathogenic viruses were found in irrigation water samples from the leafy green vegetables production chain. The data on the presence of index viruses indicated that the highest percentage of fecal contamination was of human origin (28.1 %, 18/64), followed by that of porcine (15.4 %, 6/39) and bovine (5.1 %, 2/39) origins. Hepatitis E virus (5 %, 1/20) and noroviruses GII (14.3 %, 4/28) were also detected. Samples from berry fruit production were also positive for both index and pathogenic viruses. The highest percentage of fecal contamination was of human origin (8.3 %, 9/108), followed by that of porcine, 4.5 % (4/89) and bovine, 1.1 % (1/89) origins. Norovirus GII (3.6 %, 2/56) was also detected. These data demonstrate that irrigation water used in primary production is an important vehicle of viral contamination for fresh produce, and thus is a critical control point which should be integrated into food safety management systems for viruses. The recommendations of Codex Alimentarius, as well as regulations on the use of water of appropriate quality for irrigation purposes, should be followed.     

Food contamination as a pathway for lead exposure in children during the 2010–2013 lead poisoning epidemic in Zamfara, Nigeria

In 2010, an estimated 400 to 500 children died of acute lead poisoning associated with artisanal gold mining in Zamfara, Nigeria. Processing of gold ores containing up to 10% lead within residential compounds put residents, especially children, at the highest risk. Principal routes of exposure were incidental ingestion and inhalation of contaminated soil and dusts. Several Nigerian and international health organizations collaborated to reduce lead exposures through environmental remediation and medical treatment. The contribution of contaminated food to total lead exposure was assessed during the environmental health response. Objectives of this investigation were to assess the influence of cultural/dietary habits on lead exposure pathways and estimate the contribution of contaminated food to children's blood lead levels(BLLs). A survey of village dietary practices and staple food lead content was conducted to determine dietary composition, caloric intakes, and lead intake. Potential blood lead increments were estimated using bio-kinetic modeling techniques. Most dietary lead exposure was associated with contamination of staple cereal grains and legumes during post-harvest processing and preparation in contaminated homes. Average post-harvest and processed cereal grain lead levels were 0.32 mg/kg and 0.85 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Age-specific food lead intake ranged from 7 to 78 μg/day. Lead ingestion and absorption were likely aggravated by the dusty environment, fasting between meals, and nutritional deficiencies. Contamination of staple cereal grains by highly bioavailable pulverized ores could account for as much as 11%–34% of children's BLLs during the epidemic, and were a continuing source after residential soil remediation until stored grain inventories were exhausted.