Determination of chlorothalonil residues in coffee

Coffee beans were treated with the fungicide chlorothalonil (2,4,5,6‐tetrachloro‐1,3‐benzene‐dicarbonitrile) and the residues were determined by high‐performance liquid Chromatograph (HPLC). Several techniques including Soxhlet extraction (SE), microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) were compared for the extraction of residues. A column clean‐up procedure was developed to remove the co‐extractives in the extract before HPLC analysis. The overall mean recoveries from extracts obtained by SE, MAE and ASE were 89.2 ±3.9, 88.4 ±1.9 and 82.8 ±0.3, respectively. The results show that MAE followed by HPLC is a viable alternative to the commonly used SE and gas Chromatographic analysis for the determination of chlorothalonil in coffee.     

Removal of cadmium(II), lead(II), and chromium(VI) ions from aqueous solution using clay

Removal of cadmium(II), lead(II), and chromium(VI) from aqueous solution using clay, a naturally occurring low-cost adsorbent, under various conditions, such as contact time, initial concentration, temperature, and pH has been investigated. The sorption of these metals follows both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The magnitude of Langmuir and Freundlich constants at 30°C for cadmium, lead, and chromium indicate good adsorption capacity. The kinetic rate constants (K _ad) indicate that the adsorption follows first order. The thermodynamic parameters: free energy change (ΔG ^o), enthalpy change (ΔH ^o), and entropy change (ΔS ^o) show that adsorption is an endothermic process and that adsorption is favored at high temperature. The results reveal that clay is a good adsorbent for the removal of these metals from wastewater.     

Bacteriological quality assessment of drinking water available at the flood affected areas of Peshawar

Monsoon flooding occurred in the main areas of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Balochistan as well as parts of Gilgit Baltistan of Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir in July 2010. Water-borne diseases such as cholera, enteric fever, and dysentery were common among the inhabitants of flood-affected areas which were selected for sample collection. In the present study, 10 sites in District Peshawar were selected and drinking water samples collected. These samples were analyzed for the total plate count (TPC), total coliform bacteria (TCB), total fecal coliform bacteria (TFCB), Escherichia coli (EC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), Vibrio cholerae (VB), Salmonella Shigella, and Staphylococcus aureus. The TPC ranged from 8 × 10¹ to 7 × 10⁴ CFU/ml. The TCB ranged from <1.1 to 280 MPN/100 ml. Twenty percent of the samples were contaminated with TFCB, EC, Salmonella, Shigella, and Staphylococcus aureus, while only one sample contaminated with PA. Forty percent of the samples were contaminated with VB. The surface and well water was greatly contaminated by flooding and major improvements on priority basis are essential.     

Preparation and Thermo-Mechanical Characterization of Chitosan Loaded Methylcellulose-Based Biodegradable Films: Effects of Gamma Radiation

Chitosan (0.1–1%, w/w), dissolved in 2% acetic acid solution, was added into 1% methylcellulose (MC)-based formulation containing 0.5% vegetable oil, 0.25% glycerol and 0.025% Tween^?80. Films were prepared by casting. Puncture strength (PS), puncture deformation (PD), viscoelasticity coefficient and water vapour permeability (WVP) of the films were measured. The PS value of 312 N/mm was observed for MC-based films containing 0.25% chitosan. Values of PD, viscoelasticity coefficient and WVP of these films were 5.0 mm, 44.1%, and 6.0 g mm/m² day kPa, respectively. The MC-based films containing 0.25% chitosan were also exposed to gamma radiation (0.5–50 kGy). The PS of the treated films decreased significantly from 312 at 0 kGy to 201 N/mm when treated at a dose of 50 kGy. However, WVP values were not affected by increasing irradiation the dose used. The Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy supported the molecular interactions due to addition of chitosan in MC-based films. Thermo gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetric experiments showed that thermal properties of the films were significantly improved by chitosan loading. Surface topography of the films was studied by scanning electron microscopy and found rougher due to chitosan addition.     

Effects of helpers on breeder survival in the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis)

Helpers can gain future indirect fitness benefits by increasing the survival of breeders that produce offspring related to the helper. Helping augments group size through the helper's presence and, in some cases, by increasing fledging success. Breeders may then experience enhanced survivorship because of the benefits of living in large groups. Helping may also reduce the workload of the breeder, which in turn may increase the likelihood that the breeder will survive to breed again. We used Cox's proportional hazards model to examine whether breeders' survival in two populations of the red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) was enhanced when group size was increased in the presence of (1) the helper itself, or (2) "extra" fledglings (fledglings produced by the breeder because of helping behavior). We found that in the presence of helpers, the risk of a breeder dying declined by 21–42% for males and 0–14% for females. Our results suggest reduced breeder workload as one mechanism to explain reduced breeder mortality in the presence of helpers: breeders spent less time incubating and provisioning nestlings when assisted by helpers. The risk of a breeder dying declined by 16–42% in males and 26–43% in females in the presence of "extra" fledglings. We speculate on possible mechanisms by which fledglings might affect breeder survival. Our results support the hypothesis that helpers gain future indirect benefits by reducing breeder mortality. Electronic Publication     

Heavy metals in water, sediments, plants and fish of Kali Nadi U.P. (India)

The distribution of heavy metals viz., Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the water, sediments, plants and fish samples collected from the Kali Nadi (India) have been determined. The studies have shown that there was considerable variation in the concentration of heavy metals from one sampling station to the other which may be due to the variation in the quality of industrial and sewage wastes being added to the river at different places. The orders of the concentration of heavy metals in water, sediments, plants (Eicchornia crassipes) and fish (Heteropnuestes fossilis) were Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd; Fe > Zn > Mn > Ni > Cr > Co > Cu > Pb > Cd; Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Co > Pb > Cr > Cd and Fe > Zn > Mn > Ni > Pb > Co > Cr > Cu > Cd, respectively.     

Mesoscale trajectory modeling for the Brisbane airshed

The main objective of this research is to identify the possible pollutant transport trajectories from the source to the receptor and to identify the location of areas of high pollution potential for ozone. In order to identify the regions which would most probably be affected by ozone and its precursors, a mesoscale trajectory model is developed and forward air‐parcel trajectories originating from Brisbane city are estimated. Eight trajectories per day, starting at 00, 03, 06, 09, 12, 15, 18 and 21 hours, are calculated for one complete calendar year. The probability distribution of trajectories shows seasonal and diurnal characteristics and prevailing transport routes of air pollution. Computer‐driven trajectories indicate that air parcels are concentrated in a region between mountainous ranges in the West and islands in the East. This study identifies potential pollutant transport paths and zones of high concentrations that would assist planners in selecting appropriate areas for future industrial and urban development.     

An overview and analysis of site remediation technologies

This paper presents an analysis of the site restoration techniques that may be employed in a variety of contaminated site cleanup programs. It is recognized that no single specific technology may be considered as a panacea for all contaminated site problems. An easy-to-use summary of the analysis of the important parameters that will help in the selection and implementation of one or more appropriate technologies in a defined set of site and contaminant characteristics is also included.     

Fungicidal impact on chickpea--Mesorhizobium symbiosis

The effects of carbendazim, captan, thiram, and mancozeb, on plant vitality, chlorophyll content, N uptake, protein content, nodulation, and seed yield in chickpea (Cicer arietinun) were assessed in a controlled environment. Seeds treated with fungicides at 1 and 1.5 g.a.i. kg seed had no significant adverse effect on plant vigor, seed yield, and N and protein contents. In contrast, fungicides applied at 2 g.a.i./kg of captan, thiram and mancozeb, significantly reduced the measured parameters. In general, the toxicity of fungicides in terms of seed yield increased in the following order: Control=carbendazim > thiram > captan > mancozeb. Total chlorophyll content in foliage declined consistently with fungicides dose rates and application days. Seeds treated with lower rates of fungicides significantly increased nodulation (nodule number per plant and its dry mass) and were compatible with chickpea inoculum used in this study. Although carbendazim at 2 g.a.i. kg seed had no phytotoxic effect assessed under greenhouse conditions, it significantly reduced the chlorophyll content, nodulation (60d) and N content in shoots.     

An optimization procedure for the isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic separations of environmental pollutants

This paper describes the use of the overlapping resolution mapping procedure to optimize the separation of priority pollutants by isocratic, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Three classes of pollutants are considered: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, substituted phenols and phthalate esters. The procedure requires only seven chromatographic runs for each set of pollutants before an optimized mobile phase composition is derived which can satisfactorily resolve all the components in the respective mixtures of pollutants. The main advantage of such a systematic scheme to optimize mobile phase compositions is an improvement in method development times compared to conventional techniques. Another benefit is that expenditures on solvents are reduced.