Relevant parameters for assessing the environmental impact of some pyridinium, ammonium and pyrrolidinium based ionic liquids

Several physico-chemical properties relevant to determine the environmental impact of ionic liquids - aqueous solubility, octanol/water partition coefficient, chromatographically derived lipophilicity and infinite dilution diffusion coefficients in water - were measured in ionic liquids based on pyridinium, ammonium and pyrrolidinium cations with bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anions. The influence of the presence of hydroxyl or ester groups in the physico-chemical properties of these liquids was checked. It appeared that the presence of functional oxygenated moieties reduces the lipophilicity of ionic liquids and so decreases the risk of bioaccumulation in environment.     

Different perceptions of adaptation to climate change: a mental model approach applied to the evidence from expert interviews

We argue that differences in the perception and governance of adaptation to climate change and extreme weather events are related to sets of beliefs and concepts through which people understand the environment and which are used to solve the problems they face (mental models). Using data gathered in 31 in-depth interviews with adaptation experts in Europe, we identify five basic stakeholder groups whose divergent aims and logic can be related to different mental models they use: advocacy groups, administration, politicians, researchers, and media and the public. Each of these groups uses specific interpretations of climate change and specifies how to deal with climate change impacts. We suggest that a deeper understanding and follow-up of the identified mental models might be useful for the design of any stakeholder involvement in future climate impact research processes. It might also foster consensus building about adequate adaptation measures against climate threats in a society.     

Legal requirements and wastewater discharges to Polish water bodies, 1945-2003

The postwar development of water protection legislation and wastewater discharges is poorly known for the Baltic Sea region as a whole. This article presents national efforts to govern wastewater discharges in Poland using legal tools over the twentieth century with an emphasis on the postwar period, 1945-2003. The study also attempts to evaluate how the state authority responded to changing legal demands in terms of urban and industrial wastewater discharges in the postwar period. It outlines the main changes during the socialist regime in Poland and after it regained independence. Also the implications of Poland's integration into the European Union are briefly discussed. Mathematical calculations are used to illustrate some changes in legal requirements over time.     

Preliminary Studies on Converting Agricultural Waste into Biodegradable Plastics,Part I: Corn Distillers’ Dry Grain

Distillers dry grain (DDG) was derivatized either by carboxymethylation, glutaration, maleiation, phthallation, or succination in order to produce anionic materials suitable for complexation with soy protein isolate. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed that derivatization of DDG by all reagents was successful. Blending of derivatized anionic products with soy protein resulted in instant precipitation of gels. The gels were centrifuged, molded, and dried into solid pellets with tensile strengths as high as 1.67MPa, suggesting that these materials could be promising as biodegradable structural materials. Infrared spectroscopy suggested the possibility of complexes forming between soy protein isolate and each of the derivatized DDG samples.     

Predictors of motor vehicle collision injuries among a nationally representative sample of Canadians

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of subsequent motor vehicle collision injuries, with a particular focus on health-related variables, using the longitudinal dataset from the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS) for the years 1994-2002. METHODS: Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relations between motor vehicle collision injury and four risk factors: binge drinking, health status, distress, and medication use. Age and sex were included as control variables. The total sample size was 14,529. RESULTS: A higher percentage of females and younger persons reported a motor vehicle collision injury. Binge drinkers, respondents with poor health, respondents with distress, and respondents reported using two or more medications reported a higher percentage of subsequent injuries. Logistic regression analysis found that persons with poorer health status and persons who used more medications had higher odds of motor vehicle injuries. Only one statistically significant interaction effect was found: alcohol bingeing and medication use. CONCLUSIONS: Among a nationally representative sample of Canadians, various demographic and risk factors predict subsequent injuries. Given that this number represents a considerable economic burden, this study underscores the need for continued research and countermeasures on alcohol, drugs, and driving.     

Structural and Thermal Properties of Starch Plasticized with Glycerol/Urea Mixture

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The paper presents the results of research on the influence of used plasticizing system on the structural and thermal properties of thermoplastic starch...     

Warning signals confer advantage to prey in competition with predators: bumblebees steal nests from insectivorous birds

Aposematic (warning) signals of prey help predators to recognize the defended distasteful or poisonous prey that should be avoided. The evolution of aposematism in the context of predation has been in the center of modern ecology for a long time. But, the possible roles of aposematic signals in other ecological contexts have been largely ignored. Here we address the role of aposematic signals in competition between prey and predators. Bumblebees use visual and auditory aposematic signals to warn predators about their defenses. For 2 years, we observed competition for nestboxes between chemically defended insects, Bombus ardens (and possibly also Bombus ignitus), and cavity nesting birds (Parus minor and Poecile varius). Bumblebees settled in 16 and 9 % of nestboxes (in 2010 and 2011 breeding seasons, respectively) that contained bird nests at the advanced stage of nest building or at the stage of egg laying. Presence of bumblebees prevented the birds from continuing the breeding activities in the nestboxes, while insects took over the birds’ nests (a form of kleptoparasitism). Playback experiments showed that the warning buzz by bumblebees contributed to the success in ousting the birds from their nests. This demonstrates that aposematic signals may be beneficial also in the context of resource competition.     

Content of selected elements and low-molecular-weight organic acids in fruiting bodies of edible mushroom Boletus badius (Fr.) Fr. from unpolluted and polluted areas

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aim of the study was to (i) investigate the potential of edible mushroom Boletus badius (Fr.) Fr. to accumulate 53 elements from unpolluted acidic...