Environmental monitoring using surface water, river sediments, and vegetation: A case study in the Famatina Range, La Rioja, NW Argentina

This work discusses trace elements studied beneath the semiarid endorheic region of the Famatina Range (La Rioja, NW Argentina). The results obtained in 27 control sites allow the determination of five distinct geochemical patterns in the Famatina Range. Pattern 1 reflects the composition of underlying Paleozoic and Tertiary bedrock (background level: water pH, 7.5–9; specific conductance, 0.2–0.7 mS cm⁻¹), which is influenced by mineralization. Pattern 2 exhibits water pH, 6; specific conductance, 0.7 mS cm⁻¹; high contents of Cu, Cd, Rb, Zn, Sn, and Be in waters; and high contents of Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cr, Sb, Ag, Be, Co, Ni, Bi, Rare Earth Elements (REE), Li, Ba, Cs, and Sr in sediments. Pattern 3 exhibits water pH, 3–4; specific conductance, 1.0 mS cm⁻¹; high contents of Pb, Co, Be, Au, As, Cr, Hg, Th, Ba, Cs, Rb, Sb, Y, Zr, REE, and Hf in waters; high contents of Cd, Zn, Mo, and As in sediments). Pattern 3 is also modified by the input of elements from a source external to the Famatina Range. Pattern 4 exhibits water pH, 7–8; specific conductance, 1.5–2.3 mS cm⁻¹; high contents of B, Li, Ba, Sr, and Zn in waters; high contents of Li, Cr, Sr, Ni, and Cs in sediments. Finally, Pattern 5 is developed on the red sandstones from De la Cuesta Formation (water pH, 8; specific conductance, 2.5–5.0 mS cm⁻¹; high contents of Sr, Mo, U, B, Li, Rb, and Hf in waters; high contents of B, Ba, Cs, Li, and Rb in sediments). The mobility of above-mentioned elements is mainly related to water pH changes and evaporation processes.     

Short Note

This study was aimed to investigate the role of two exotic bivalves ( Ruditapes philippinarum and Musculista senhousia ) on the trophic enrichment and the nutritional quality of sediments from the Sacca di Goro (northern Adriatic Sea) through manipulative experiments. The concentrations of sedimentary total organic matter, biopolymeric carbon, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and chlorophyll- a were determined through a 64 days-long period. The experimental setup consisted in three replicated treatments ( R. philippinarum , M. senhousia and simply sand), with treatments and time as fixed factors. All the biochemical classes showed wide fluctuation, and significant differences among treatments were detected during the experimental period. Both bivalve species played a role in sediment enrichment process. At the end of the experimental period, proteins represented the main biochemical class of organic compounds in the treatments with bivalves (48.5 and 44.5% of the biopolymeric fraction in the M. senhousia and R. philippinarum treatments, respectively), while in the control treatment they were only 32.7%. The accumulation of proteic nitrogen increased the nutritional quality of the sedimentary organic matter. Moreover, the presence of M. senhousia also enhanced the accumulation of microphytobenthic carbon.     

A temporary social parasite of tropical plant-ants improves the fitness of a myrmecophyte

Myrmecophytes offer plant-ants a nesting place in exchange for protection from their enemies, particularly defoliators. These obligate ant–plant mutualisms are common model systems for studying factors that allow horizontally transmitted mutualisms to persist since parasites of ant–myrmecophyte mutualisms exploit the rewards provided by host plants whilst providing no protection in return. In pioneer formations in French Guiana, Azteca alfari and Azteca ovaticeps are known to be mutualists of myrmecophytic Cecropia (Cecropia ants). Here, we show that Azteca andreae, whose colonies build carton nests on myrmecophytic Cecropia, is not a parasite of Azteca–Cecropia mutualisms nor is it a temporary social parasite of A. alfari; it is, however, a temporary social parasite of A. ovaticeps. Contrarily to the two mutualistic Azteca species that are only occasional predators feeding mostly on hemipteran honeydew and food bodies provided by the host trees, A. andreae workers, which also attend hemipterans, do not exploit the food bodies. Rather, they employ an effective hunting technique where the leaf margins are fringed with ambushing workers, waiting for insects to alight. As a result, the host trees’ fitness is not affected as A. andreae colonies protect their foliage better than do mutualistic Azteca species resulting in greater fruit production. Yet, contrarily to mutualistic Azteca, when host tree development does not keep pace with colony growth, A. andreae workers forage on surrounding plants; the colonies can even move to a non-Cecropia tree.     

The costs and benefits of working with one's spouse: A two‐sample examination of spousal support,work–family conflict,and emotional exhaustion in work‐linked relationships

Although the prevalence of employees working within the same workplace or occupation with their spouse has increased, relatively little research has examined their experiences. On the basis of the boundary and conservation of resources (COR) theories, we argue that higher levels of work–family role integration among work‐linked couples will lead to higher levels of spousal support resources and lower levels of work–family conflict. This will, in turn, lead to lower emotional exhaustion among employees in a work‐linked relationship. Among two samples of employees in a variety of occupations, we found that being in a work‐linked relationship was associated with both higher spousal instrumental support as well as different forms of work–family conflict. The interaction between spousal support and work–family conflict was associated with emotional exhaustion. We discuss the implications of these findings for boundary and COR theories in terms of movement of resources across work–family boundaries and resource relevance in the strain process. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimization of tourism impacts within protected areas by means of genetic algorithms

The search for a balance between nature conservation and tourism development within protected areas is becoming an increasingly multifaceted problem worldwide, as outlined by an increasing number of authors and highlighted at several international events. Since it is unlikely that all management objectives will reach their optimum values simultaneously, an optimization approach is required to meet multiple, conflicting goals and to obtain an overall trade-off in terms of the conceived objectives.     

产业联盟透视 关于中外产业联盟问题的10个答问

国内外产业联盟的形成和发展,原因在于经济全球化、高新技术特别是信息技术的快速发展。联盟按照自愿、平等、互利原则建立,这种组织形式有利于成员间的资源整合,有利于新技术的研发、统一标准、开拓全球市场,使联盟成员在市场竞争中获得更多的优势。联盟的发展需要有明确的定位,坚持战略性、市场化、互利性原则。目前安防行业成立的产业联盟,本质上是企业联盟。在企业家探索、实践产业联盟之际,我们对产业联盟的来龙去脉、对联盟的定位和功能进行了梳理,目的是抛砖引玉,希望大家对产业联盟、企业联盟有一个相对全面、直观的解读。     

Mapping and evaluating sugarcane expansion in Brazil’s savanna using MODIS and intensity analysis: a case-study from the state of Tocantins

In Brazil, the main biofuel crop is sugarcane, and with its rapid expansion, there is much debate about what land uses and land covers it is replacing, and what are the associated environmental and social impacts. Some argue sugarcane is mainly replacing cattle pasture, thus having minimal impacts on native vegetation and small-scale family farming. In contrast, others claim sugarcane is replacing cropland traditionally under soybeans, rice, beans, and corn. Thus, food security is negatively affected and small-scale family farming livelihoods and culture are threatened. This is a proof-of-concept paper illustrating methods contributing toward the resolution of such debates. First we map land use and cover change in areas undergoing sugarcane expansion using satellite data from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer); second, we test the hypothesis that sugarcane is replacing traditional annual crops using intensity analysis, via a case study of land change in the municipality of Pedro Afonso, Tocantins in northern Brazil between the 2008–2013 crop years. Maps matched reference data with overall agreements between 87–91%. Intensity analysis confirmed sugarcane is replacing annual crops much more than cattle pasture and other land uses and covers, pointing to particular economic and social processes driving land change.     

Natural radioactivity in refractory manufacturing plants and exposure of workers to ionising radiation

This paper shows the results of a survey carried out at some refractory manufacturing plants. During the first part of the survey, the concentration of natural radioactivity in raw materials and end-products, coming from four plants, was assessed. Several raw materials and, as a consequence, some end-products as well have shown activity concentrations exceeding a few hundreds of Bq kg⁻¹ of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th. In some important raw materials, such as bauxite and corundums, a remarkable radioactive disequilibrium was observed; this is probably due to the high temperature processes undergone by these materials. The second part of the survey focussed on the measurements of ambient equivalent dose rates, airborne dust concentrations and radon indoor. On the basis of results obtained, the effective dose for the standard worker was estimated. Two different types of refractory plants were investigated. Effective doses for both plants were lower than 1 mSv y⁻¹.     

Peracetic acid disinfection: a feasible alternative to wastewater chlorination.

The paper summarizes the results of a bench-scale study to evaluate the feasibility of using peracetic acid (PAA) as a substitute for sodium hypochlorite both for discharge into surface water and for agricultural reuse. Trials were carried out with increasing doses (1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 15 mg/L) and contact times (6, 12, 18, 36, 42, and 54 minutes) to study disinfectant decay and bacterial removal and regrowth, using fecal coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli) as process efficiency indicators. Peracetic acid decay kinetics was evaluated in tap water and wastewater; in both cases, PAA decays according to first-order kinetics with respect to time, and a correlation was found between PAA oxidative initial consumption and wastewater characteristics. The PAA disinfection efficiency was correlated with operating parameters (active concentration and contact time), testing different kinetic models. Two data groups displaying a different behavior on the basis of initial active concentration ranges (1 to 2 mg/L and 5 to 15 mg/L, respectively) can be outlined. Both groups had a "tailing-off" inactivation curve with respect to time, but the second one showed a greater inactivation rate. Moreover, the effect of contact time was greater at the lower doses. Hom's model, used separately for the two data groups, was found to best fit experimental data, and the disinfectant active concentration appears to be the main factor affecting log-survival ratios. Moreover, the S-model better explains the initial resistance of E. coli, especially at low active concentrations (< 2 mg/L) and short contact times (< 12 minutes). Microbial counts, performed by both traditional methods and flow cytometry, immediately and 5 hours after sample collection (both with or without residual PAA inactivation), showed that no appreciable regrowth took place after 5 hours, neither for coliform group bacteria, nor for total heterotrophic bacteria.