Spatial interrelations between bank voles and yellow-necked mice in Crabapple Island

The investigations on spatial co-occurrence between Myodes (Clethrionomys) glareolus and Apodemus flavicollis conducted on Crabapple Island (NE Poland) in 1994 through 1999 reveal that: single mature females of both species often occur in the same places, whereas local groups of such females rarely cohabit the same place. Mature males of these species always avoid sites occupied by males of the other species. Immature males, however, seem to be mutually indifferent.     

Degradation of phenols in olive oil mill wastewater by biological,enzymatic, and photo-Fenton oxidation

Background, aim, and scope  

Olive oil mill wastewater (OOMW) environmental impacts minimization have been attempted by developing more effective processes, but no chemical or biological treatments were found to be totally effective to mitigate their impact on receiving systems. This work is the first that reports simultaneously the efficiency of three different approaches: biological treatment by two fungal species (Trametes versicolor or Pleurotus sajor caju), enzymatic treatment by laccase, and chemical treatment by photo-Fenton oxidation on phenols removal.     

Local knowledge about dugout canoes reveals connections between forests and fisheries

Dugout canoes are traditional boat types made from a single tree trunk. This type of boat can reveal unique connections between forest and fisheries in coastal areas: their construction and the species used depend on the local ecological knowledge of artisans and the plant resources available and are also influenced by the type of fisheries in which the canoe will be used. Our objective was to analyze how dugout canoes are constructed, maintained, and currently used in the central coastal region of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The study emphasizes the interaction between the use of forest resources and artisanal fishing in this coastal environment. The data collected were based on interviews with 30 artisans and participant observation. Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) Blake, Ocotea porosa (Nees & Mart.) Barroso, Ocotea Aubl../Nectandra Roll. Ex Rottb., and Aspidosperma Mart. & Zucc. are the main taxa used to construct the canoes. Many canoe sizes are used, and based on the boat type, the trunk diameters needed to construct them varies from 0.6 to 2.9 m and trunk heights from 4 to 10 m. Different types of canoe are used according to the type of fishing and especially to the environment conditions. The construction of canoes in the region has decreased due to difficulties in acquiring wood, changes in fishing activities, and reasons related to labor and apprenticeship, all causes related to modernization of the society and urban growth. The knowledge of plant species used can contribute to shape policies to improve forest management. The survival of cultural practices in artisanal fishing communities should be stimulated in sustainable development programs, and it involves maintaining ecological and technical knowledge related to fishing and the plant resources used to manufacture and maintain fishing equipment.     

The use of green criteria in the public procurement of food products and catering services: a review of EU schemes

Green Public Procurement (GPP) is currently being used to influence the market to shift to a supply of goods and services to the public sector that have a reduced environmental impact. The food service sector plays a major role in the purchases made by the public sector and due to that relevance deserves attention. The GPP schemes reviewed were those that provide details of the specific environmental criteria used (or recommended) for public tendering of food products and catering services provision. The set of GPP schemes apply to distinct geographical zones within the EU, including national level (e.g. Italy), regional level (e.g. Barcelona) and also local level, as in the case of cities (e.g. Copenhagen) or schools (e.g. a school in Pisa, Italy). The criteria set covers services provision to schools, health and social care, higher education, government office canteens, sports and leisure arenas, prisons and defence services (e.g. army). European and worldwide GPP criteria were not covered by the review made. This exploratory study comprehends a total of 23 GPP schemes. This sample includes eight national schemes, three regional schemes and ten local schemes. The review focused on the scope, for the sector of applicability (e.g. education, healthcare) of the GPP set of criteria and for the type of food products covered. Moreover, this paper analyses the type of GPP criteria in use and how the environmental criteria cover the distinct life cycle stages of the whole food supply chain. Findings from the analysis show that for the majority of schemes the scope of criteria is simultaneously the provision of food products and catering services. Moreover, cities, municipalities and counties are the main public authorities reporting procurement activities for the education sector while national GPP activities are applicable for multiple sectors of activity. The main food products covered by the criteria are fruits and vegetables, dairy products, fish and seafood and meat. Finally, the findings show that the set of criteria from the schemes cover widely the life cycle stages of the food supply chain. The results allowed for a first identification of current practices in the use of GPP criteria within public purchasing of food products and catering services in Europe by national, regional or local governments.     

Standards and social welfare in Cournot oligopolies

Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - This paper ranks two widely used command-and-control environmental instruments, in terms of relevant equilibrium variables such as output, profits,...     

The influence of lipids on the energetics of uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by natural organic matter

Although most of the organic carbon in soils and sediments may be composed of humic substances, their interaction with other compounds, especially their sorption interactions, may be significantly affected by the presence of small amounts of the other components of natural organic matter (NOM). In this investigation, the influence of the lipid fraction of NOM on the sorption thermodynamics of fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene to several geosorbent samples was examined before and after extraction of lipids. Batch experiments were performed at the same concentration for all polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (0.025 x their solubility in water) at different temperatures (10, 20, 30, and 40 degrees C), and the thermodynamic parameters were calculated. Removal of the lipids increases the sorption capacity of the samples as well as the exothermicity of the process. The free energy change was negative for all the samples and no significant differences were noticed on lipid removal. The entropy changes were small and positive for the whole geosorbent samples, but even smaller or more negative when the lipids were removed. This indicates that the interaction of PAHs with soils and sediments in the absence of extractable lipids is stronger and the mechanisms involved may be different, changing from a partitioning-like mechanism to specific adsorption. Because of the competition between lipids and PAHs for the same sorption sites, the lipids can be viewed as an "implicit sorbate."     

Occupational risk of exposure to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the quality of infection hygiene in nursing homes

• Staff members were not colonised with MRSA. • But staff were exposed to MRSA from air, sedimented dust and surfaces. • MRSA was found in the rooms of MRSA-colonised residents but not in common areas. • Staff worry about MRSA and spreading it to other residents, family, and acquaintances. • The use of protective eyewear and facemasks could be improved. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasing health concern across the globe and is often prevalent at long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. However, we know little of whether nursing home staff is exposed to MRSA via air and surfaces. We investigated whether staff members at nursing homes are colonised with and exposed to culturable MRSA, and assessed staff members’ self-reported knowledge of MRSA and compliance with infection hygiene guidelines. Five nursing homes with MRSA positive residents were visited in Copenhagen, Denmark. Personal bioaerosol exposure samples and environmental samples from surfaces, sedimented dust and bioaerosols were examined for MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) to determine occupational exposure. Swabs were taken from staffs’ nose, throat, and hands to determine whether they were colonised with MRSA. An online questionnaire about MRSA and infection control was distributed. No staff members were colonised with MRSA, but MRSA was detected in the rooms of the colonised residents in two out of the five nursing homes. MRSA was observed in air (n = 4 out of 42, ranging from 2.9–7.9 CFU/m³), sedimented dust (n = 1 out of 58, 1.1 × 10³ CFU/m²/d), and on surfaces (n = 9 out of 113, 0.04–70.8 CFU/m²). The questionnaire revealed that half of the staff members worry about spreading MRSA to others. Identified aspects for improvement were improved availability and use of protective equipment, not transferring cleaning supplies (e.g., vacuum cleaners) between residents’ rooms and to reduce worry of MRSA, e.g., through education.