Efficacy of feed improvement in livestock farming to offset climate variations in Punjab,Pakistan: silage as an example

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Globally, climate change is an alarming threat to the livestock industry. Such changes in the climate can also adversely affect the returns of...     

A social–ecological analysis of ecosystem services in two different farming systems

In this exploratory study we use existing in situ qualitative and quantitative data on biophysical and social indicators to compare two contrasting Swedish farming systems (low intensity and high intensity) with regard to ecosystem service supply and demand of a broad suite of services. We show that the value (demand) placed on a service is not necessarily connected to the quantity (supply) of the service, most clearly shown for the services recreation, biodiversity, esthetic experience, identity, and cultural heritage. To better capture this complexity we argue for the need to develop portfolios of indicators for different ecosystem services and to further investigate the different aspects of supply and demand. The study indicates that available data are often ill-suited to answer questions about local delivery of services. If ecosystem services are to be included in policy, planning, and management, census data need to be formatted and scaled appropriately.     

2000年1月15日姚安6.5级地震余震序列震源机制解与震源区应力场分析

本文利用垂直向的Pg和Sg波的最大振幅比方法,计算2000年1月15日云南姚安6.5级地震后余震序列震源机制解,通过统计和系统聚类分析,再结合震中分布图,综合分析了云南姚安6.5级地震的震源机制解和震源区应力场破裂特征,研究结果表明震源断层的走向为SEE-NWW占主导,其平均解为120°,震区主压应力轴平均解为145°,即SSE向,与震源区现今构造应力场主压应力方向一致,表明余震的应力场主要受区域应力场的控制.     

Transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs)-associated protobiofilm: A neglected contributor to biofouling during membrane filtration

• Bacteria could easily and quickly attached onto TEP to form protobiofilms. • TEP-protobiofilm facilitate the transport of bacteria to membrane surface. • More significant flux decline was observed in the presence of TEP-protobiofilms. • Membrane fouling shows higher sensitivity to protobiofilm not to bacteria level. Transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) are a class of transparent gel-like polysaccharides, which have been widely detected in almost every kind of feed water to membrane systems, including freshwater, seawater and wastewater. Although TEP have been thought to be related to the membrane fouling, little information is currently available for their influential mechanisms and the pertinence to biofouling development. The present study, thus, aims to explore the impact of TEPs on biofouling development during ultrafiltration. TEP samples were inoculated with bacteria for several hours before filtration and the formation of “protobiofilm” (pre-colonized TEP by bacteria) was examined and its influence on biofouling was determined. It was observed that the bacteria can easily and quickly attach onto TEPs and form protobiofilms. Ultrafiltration experiments further revealed that TEP-protobiofilms served as carriers which facilitated and accelerated transport of bacteria to membrane surface, leading to rapid development of biofouling on the ultrafiltration membrane surfaces. Moreover, compared to the feed water containing independent bacteria and TEPs, more flux decline was observed with TEP-protobiofilms. Consequently, it appeared from this study that TEP-protobiofilms play a vital role in the development of membrane biofouling, but unfortunately, this phenomenon has been often overlooked in the literature. Obviously, these findings in turn may also challenge the current understanding of organic fouling and biofouling as membrane fouling caused by TEP-protobiofilm is a combination of both. It is expected that this study might promote further research in general membrane fouling mechanisms and the development of an effective mitigation strategy.     

Biosolids-derived nitrogen mineralization and transformation in forest soils

Utilization of biosolids through land application is becoming increasingly popular among wastewater managers. To minimize the potential contamination of receiving waters from biosolids-derived nitrogen (N), it is important to understand the availability of N after land application of biosolids. In this study, four secondary biosolids (two municipal and two pulp and paper industrial biosolids) were used in a laboratory incubation experiment to simulate N mineralization and transformation after land application. Municipal biosolids were from either aerobically or anaerobically digested sources, while pulp and paper industrial biosolids were from aerated wastewater stabilization lagoons. These biosolids were mixed with two New Zealand forest soils (top 100 mm of a volcanic soil and a brown soil) and incubated at two temperatures (10 and 20 degrees C) for 26 wk. During incubation, mineralized N was periodically leached from the soil-biosolids mixture with 0.01 M CaCl2 solution and concentrations of NH4 and NO3 in leachate were determined. Mineralization of N from aerobically digested municipal biosolids (32.1%) was significantly more than that from anaerobically digested biosolids (15.2%). Among the two pulp and paper industrial biosolids, little N leached from one, while as much as 18.0% of total organic N was leached from the other. As expected, mineralization of N was significantly greater at 20 degrees C (average 22.8%) than at 10 degrees C (average 9.7%). It was observed that more N in municipal biosolids was mineralized in the brown soil, whereas more N in pulp and paper industrial biosolids mineralized in the volcanic soil. Transformation of NH4 to NO3 was affected by soil type and temperature.     

Therapeutic application of static magnetic fields

The interest toward clinical application of magnetic and electromagnetic stimulation increases worldwide. Numerous publications discussed the possibility exogenous magnetic and electromagnetic fields to initiate effects on various biological processes, which are of critical importance for healing of different injuries and pathologies. Today, magnetic and electromagnetic fields are increasingly utilized for treatment of various musculoskeletal injuries and pathologies. For musculoskeletal injuries and post-surgical, post traumatic and chronic wounds, reduction of edema is a major therapeutic factor in the acceleration of pain and stress relief, and thus contribute to healing processes. Electromagnetic and magnetic fields appear to be unique in their safety during clinical use. The application of this new modality will be facilitated by searching for biophysical mechanisms of action as well as by establishing exact dosimetry of application. In that respect basic science research needs to be developed in parallel with clinical applications. Magnetotherapy provides a non-invasive, safe, and easy method to directly treat the site of injury, the source of pain and inflammation, and other types of injury. Unfortunately, there are many obstacles that magnetotherapy has to overcome—both from the mainstream medicine as well as from the manufacturers and distributors of magnetic devices. The physical principle of magnetism as well as the physiological bases for the use of magnetic field for tissue repair are subjects of this review.     

甲胺磷农药废水生化处理高效菌选育的研究

从用甲胺磷农药废水长期驯化的活污泥中，筛选得到两株降解甲胺磷农药废水中有机磷的高效菌，经鉴定一株为蜡样芽孢杆菌（Ｂａｃｉｌｌｕｓｃｅｒｅｕｓ）。另一株为嗜中温假单胞菌（Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｍｏｎａｓｍｅｓｏｐｈｉｌｉｃａ）。确定了上述高效菌的最适生长条件和降解有机磷的能力，混合高效菌的有机磷去除率达９９．７％。     

Pharmaceuticals,endocrine disruptors,personal care products,nanomaterials and perfluorinated pollutants: a review

The presence of emerging micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, personal care products, nanomaterials and perfluorinated substances in the environment remains a great threat to the health and safety of humans and aquatic species. These micropollutants enter the environment via anthropogenic activities and have been detected in surface water, groundwater and even drinking water at nanogram per litre to microgram per litre concentration. To date, limited information exists on the fate, behaviours, and pathways of these micropollutants in the environment. The potential ecotoxicological effects on the receptors due to exposure to individual or mixture of these chemicals still remain unknown. This review provides an overview on pharmaceuticals, endocrine disrupting compounds, personal care products, nanomaterials and perfluorinated pollutants, with emphasis on their occurrences, effects, environmental fates, and potential risk of exposure in water, soil or sediment. Based on the literature survey, it was found that in spite of an extensive research and different developmental efforts on the challenges of emerging micropollutants, the solution to the problem of emerging micropollutants in the environment is far from being solved. The needs for behavioural change among citizens, strong political will and policy formulation on the part of government are identified as possible panacea for combating the growing influence of these potential damaging substances. Suggestions on proactive and precautionary measures that must be taken to protect the environment as well as guarantee the health and safety of humans and aquatic species are provided. Future research should concentrate on the development of a risk based screening models and framework that can predict the sources, fate and behaviours of emerging contaminants in the environment is recommended.     

我国电解锰行业氨氮污染分析与控制

我国"十二五"期间将氨氮纳入总量控制指标,电解锰行业氨氮污染控制变得非常紧迫。介绍了电解锰氨氮污染的现状,分析了电解锰氨氮污染的产生途径以及电解锰生产中的氨氮平衡,依据"源头消减、过程控制、末端循环"的清洁生产理念,提出了电解锰氨氮污染的控制措施。     

Mercury levels and estimated total daily intakes for children and adults from an electronic waste recycling area in Taizhou, China: Key role of rice and fish consumption

In order to assess the potential health risks of Hg pollution, total mercury (T–Hg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations were determined in air, dust, surface soil, crops, poultry, fish and human hair samples from an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling area in Taizhou, China. High concentrations of T–Hg and MeHg were found in these multiple matrices, and the mean concentration was 30.7 ng/m³ of T–Hg for atmosphere samples, 3.1 μg/g of T–Hg for soil, 37.6 μg/g of T–Hg for dust, 20.3 ng/g of MeHg for rice and 178.1 ng/g of MeHg for fish, suggesting that the e-waste recycling facility was a significant source of Hg. The inorganic Hg (I–Hg) levels (0.84 μg/g) in hair samples of e-waste workers were much higher than that in the reference samples. Pearson''s correlation coefficients showed that strong positive correlations (p < 0.01) between hair I–Hg and time staying in industrial area (r = 0.81) and between MeHg and fish consumption frequency (r = 0.91), imply that workers were mainly exposed to Hg vapor through long-time inhalation of contaminated air and dust, while other population mainly exposed to MeHg through high-frequency fish consumption. The estimated daily intakes of Hg showed that dietary intake was the major Hg exposure source, and Hg intakes from rice and fish were significantly higher than from any other foods. The estimated total daily intakes (TDIs) of MeHg for both children (696.8 ng/(kg·day)) and adults (381.3 ng/(kg·day)) greatly exceeded the dietary reference dose (RfD) of 230 ng/(kg·day), implying greater health risk for humans from Hg exposures around e-waste recycling facilities.