Kappaphycus alvarezii waste biomass: A potential biosorbent for chromium ions removal

The Cr(III) sorption experiments onto Kappaphycus alvarezii waste biomass were conducted at different pH values (2–6) under the conditions of initial metal concentration of 10–50 mg/L and the chemical compositions of Cr-Cu and Cr-Cd. The Cr(III) sorption capacities were slightly dependent on pH, and the maximum sorption capacity was 0.86 mg/g at pH 3. The sorption capacities increased with increase in the initial metal concentration, whereas it was suppressed by the presence of Cu(II) and Cd(III) in the solution. The Cr(III) sorption equilibrium was evaluated using Langmuir, Freundlich and BET isotherms. The sorption mechanisms were characterised using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The main mechanisms were ion exchange coupled with a complexation mechanism. Kappaphycus alvarezii waste biomass represents a potential for Cr(III) ion removal from aqueous solution.     

An air quality balance index estimating the total amount of air pollutants at ground level

A new index named Air Quality Balance Index (AQBI), which is able to characterise the amount of pollution level in a selected area, is proposed. This index is a function of the ratios between pollutant concentration values and their standards; it aims at identifying all situations in which there is a possible environmental risk even when several pollutants are below their limit values but air quality is reduced. AQBI is evaluated by using a high-resolution three-dimensional dispersion model: the air concentration for each substance is computed starting from detailed emissions sources: point, line and area emissions hourly modulated. This model is driven with accurate meteorological data from ground stations and remote sensing systems providing vertical profiles of temperature and wind; these data are integrated with wind and temperature profiles at higher altitudes obtained by a Local Area Model. The outputs of the dispersion model are compared with pollutant concentrations provided by measuring stations, in order to recalibrate emission data. A three-dimensional high resolution grid of AQBI data is evaluated for an industrial area close to Alessandria (Northern Italy), assessing air quality and environmental conditions. Performance of AQBI is compared with the Air Quality Index (AQI) developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. AQBI, computed taking into account all pollutants, is able to point out situations not evidenced by AQI, based on a preset limited number of substances; therefore, AQBI is a good tool for evaluating the air quality either in urban and in industrial areas. The AQBI values at ground level, in selected points, are in agreement with in situ observations.     

Variation of heavy metal and micro and macro element concentrations of bread and durum wheats and their relationship in grain of Turkish wheat cultivars

The 64 varieties displayed a large variation for all mineral elements, investigated Fe, Mn and Zn, ranging from 24.2 to 43.1 mg/kg, 27.6 to 64.8 mg/kg and 10.4 to 38.2 mg/kg, respectively. The mean Ca, K, Mg, Na, P and S concentrations in wheat rain varieties amounted to 378, 4,266, 1,183, 317, 3,513 and 1,542 mg/kg, respectively. Ca, K, Mg, Na, P and S contents of wheat varieties changed at the levels between 266 and 531 mg/kg, 3,029 and 5,566 mg/kg, 972 and 1,525 mg/kg, 277 and 368 mg/kg, 2,422 and 4,610 mg/kg and 1,241 to 2,052 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of Al, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn of durum wheat samples were found at high levels. The mean Al, Cr, Mo, Ni, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn concentrations in durum wheat varieties amounted to 10.93, 0.47, 0.72, 0.72, 5.37, 34.9, 37.28 and 20.88 mg/kg, respectively.     

The fatty acid compositions of several plant seed oils belong to Leguminosae and Umbelliferae families

In samples with 1,009, 7,723, 7,618, 7,618, 1,004 and 1,009 number, oleic acid were found as 62.0, 77.0, 74.84, 71.55, 54.52 and 62.30 %, respectively. In other samples, oleic acid content was determined between 17.43 % (1,589) and 34.86 % (1,298). Linoleic acid content of seed oils ranged from 6.52 % (7,727) to 57.29 % (1,501). In addition, linolenic acid content was found between 0.22 % (7,618) and 46.91 % (1,589). Palmitic acid content of samples changed between 2.03 % (7,727) and 19.81 % (1,298). Capric acid was found at high level in 1,009 (8.53 %), 7,727 (37.31 %) and 1,004 (8.28 %) samples. Caproic acid was found in only 7,727 (3.38 %).     

A multiple criteria analysis for household solid waste management in the urban community of Dakar

Household solid waste management is a severe problem in big cities of developing countries. Mismanaged solid waste dumpsites produce bad sanitary, ecological and economic consequences for the whole population, especially for the poorest urban inhabitants. Dealing with this problem, this paper utilizes field data collected in the urban community of Dakar, in view of ranking nine areas of the city with respect to multiple criteria of nuisance. Nine criteria are built and organized in three families that represent three classical viewpoints: the production of wastes, their collection and their treatment. Thanks to the method PROMETHEE and the software ARGOS, we do a pair-wise comparison of the nine areas, which allows their multiple criteria rankings according to each viewpoint and then globally. Finding the worst and best areas in terms of nuisance for a better waste management in the city is our final purpose, fitting as well as possible the needs of the urban community. Based on field knowledge and on the literature, we suggest applying general and area-specific remedies to the household solid waste problems.     

Numerical simulation of the impacts of reflected tsunami waves on Pulo Raya Island during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami

There are numerous small populated islands near western Sumatra in Indonesia. The Weh, Banyak, Mentawai, and Enggano islands are home to many Indonesians. These small islands have been found to be effective at reducing tsunami wave energy on several occasions. At the same time, they are situated around Sumatras active subduction zone and are often among the areas most affected by tsunamisas in the case of Pulo Raya Island, in the western Aceh Jaya district about 800 m from Sumatra. Pulo Raya was devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. This study investigates the hydrodynamic processes of reflected tsunami waves and their impact on Pulo Raya, using a Cornell Multi-grid COupled Tsunami (COMCOT) model to simulate the tsunami wave runup and subsequent hydrodynamic processes. The simulation confirms eyewitness accounts that it was not the initial runup, but the reflected waves that devastated the worst-hit areas of the island. As a result, we can recommend that governments and communities on small islands need to anticipate the impacts of reflected waves following a tsunami, especially at lee side of of the island that was perceived to be a safer place by the island community before the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.     

Iron and Zinc status in soils, water and staple food cultivars in Itakpe, Kogi State of Nigeria

The levels of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) were quantitatively determined in soil and water samples as well as in staple food cultivars in Itakpe, Nigeria's major iron mining town. The survey was conducted to establish a baseline pollution index for Fe and Zn in the Itakpe environment and to evaluate the role of foods as an exogenous source of these metals among the inhabitants. Exceedingly high levels of both metals characterized the staple food cultivars in the town.     

Alleviation of nickel stress by halophilic bacteria in mungbean (Vigna radiata)北大核心CSCD

Mungbean is an important, short-duration legume crop with high nutritive value for poor families, where protein and micronutrient scarcity are most pervasive. In developing countries, like Pakistan, where mungbean is one of the greatest sources of protein for underprivileged people, salinity and metal stresses are drastically limiting its yield. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the ways for promoting the growth of mungbean under stressed conditions. This study provides the basis for the use of two previously isolated halophilic and nickel-resistant bacteria [Bacillus subtilis and Halomonas aquamarina (1)] in promoting the growth of mungbean plant under nickel-stressed environments. These bacterial strains were previously found to improve the growth of plants under salinity because of their good biofilm-forming abilities. We hypothesized that these two halophilic and nickel-resistant biofilm-forming bacteria can help the plants to grow under nickel-stressed environments by promoting soil aggregation as they were previously reported to resist salinity and nickel stress, as well as were found to promote plant growth under saline environments. The results revealed that under nickel stress, both bacteria promote plant growth by facilitating the formation of soil aggregates through an increase in their extra polymeric substance (EPS) production. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Changes in HIV/AIDS/STI knowledge, attitudes and practices among commercial sex workers and military forces in Port Loko, Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone suffered from 11 years of civil war (1991-2002) resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and mutilations together with massive population displacement. In 2001, ARC International, Sierra Leone conducted a baseline survey of 201 commercial sex workers (CSWs) and 202 military respondents on the knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding HIV/AIDS and STIs in Port Loko, Sierra Leone. In 2003, a comparable post-intervention survey of 202 CSWs and 205 military respondents was performed. Comparison of baseline and post-intervention results showed that HIV/AIDS knowledge increased among both groups, with those able to name three effective means of avoiding AIDS increasing from 5 per cent to 70 per cent among CSWs, and 11 to 75 per cent among the military. Reported condom use during last sex increased among CSWs from 38 to 68 per cent and among military from 39 to 68 per cent. These results demonstrate that, despite the challenges inherent in a post-conflict country, good-quality AIDS-prevention programmes can be effective.     

Effects of temperature and pH on conjugal transfer of zinc-resistant plasmids residing in Gram-negative bacteria isolated from industrial effluents

Two zinc (Zn)-resistant strains, AnZn-1 and AnZn-2, which were resistant to ZnSO4 up to 12.5 mg ml(-1) were isolated from industrial effluents. Both were Gram-negative with motile cells. They exhibited tolerance to Ba2+, Ni+, Co2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, kanamycin, chloramphenicol, ampillicin and tetracycline, but were sensitive to Hg2+ and streptomycin. For AnZn-1 and AnZn-2, the optimum pH for growth was 7. Both were facultative anaerobes and had cytochrome oxidase and urease enzymes, while catalase was present only in AnZn-2. Both strains had the ability to hydrolyse gelatin, reduce nitrate, and yield acid from arabinose and rhamnose. The two strains shared maximum characters with Vibrionaceae. Each strain carries a single Zn-resistant conjugative plasmid. The plasmid residing in AnZn-1 (pSH1211) displayed a lower level of resistance than the plasmid of AnZn-2 (pSH1212). Both required a minimum of 24 h for mating and showed highest transfer frequency at 25 degrees C. pSH1211 preferred pH 7 and pSH1212 pH 8.5 for their transfer. Both plasmids, when allowed to mate with Escherichia coli at 25 degrees C, alkaline pH values of 8-8.5 (pSH1211) of pH 7.5 (pSH1212), showed increased transfer frequency.