Effect of chromium species on phytochemical and physiological parameters in Datura innoxia

In soil, chromium can be found in two main valence states: hexavalent Cr(VI) and trivalent Cr(III). In this study, we investigated the impact of Cr on photosynthetic gas exchange, photosystem II (PSII) activity, Cr translocation and accumulation, proline content and alkaloids production, i.e. scopolamine and hyoscyamine, in Datura innoxia. Cr uptake was influenced by its oxidation state and its concentration in growth medium. The plant roots were determined as being the main organ of Cr accumulation. Cr(VI) was more toxic than Cr(III) as indicated by reduction in plant biomass and net photosynthesis. The stomatal conductance showed a similar trend to that of photosynthetic capacity. Cr(III) and Cr(VI) had a different impact on substomatal CO(2) concentration then Cr toxicity was related to its oxidation states. In plants stressed with a Cr(VI) excess, a down regulation of PSII activity was observed with an impairment of photochemical activity. Indeed, the maximum quantum yield of PSII (F(v)/F(m)), the quantum yield of PSII (PhiPSII) and the efficiency of excitation capture by open centers (F'(v)/F'(m)) decreased. Cr(III) had little effects on PSII primary photochemistry, whatever its form induces an increase of scopolamine content without changes in hyoscyamine content in leaves of D. innoxia. These results provide that chromium contamination can change the secondary metabolites composition of leaves, thereby, impacting the quality, safety and efficacy of natural plant products synthesized by D. innoxia plants.     

Variability of Musculoskeletal Strain on Dentists: An Electromyographic and Goniometric Study

Introduction. Dentists and hygienists are strongly affected by musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). As workstation concepts are supported by subjective arguments only, the aim of this study was to use objective measurements to compare the variability of strain in various concepts: a dental chair equipped with a cart or an over-the-patient delivery system without an assistant, and Dr Daryl Beach’s concept with an assistant. Methods. Goniometric and electromyographic recordings were made on 8 subjects, during a scaling operation. The electrical activity of their trapezius and lumbar muscles was compared, as were their cervical and lumbar ranges of motion. Results. The results showed that there was a wide variability depending on the workstation. However, the Beach concept tended to reduce physical strain on most parameters: duration of left lumbar muscle activity (2% compared to 15% of time spent in >10% maximal voluntary contraction, MVC), time spent in cervical side bending (4% compared to 30%), cervical flexion of >20° (9% compared to 40%), and left trapezius activity (9% of time spent >10% MVC compared to 28%). Conclusion. Practitioners and students should adjust their workstations to reduce the prevalence of MSDs.     

Assessing sustainability: An assessment framework to evaluate Agenda 21 actions at the local level

In Switzerland, communities are encouraged to define and to report on local Agenda 21. This paper presents an analysis framework to help local communities set sustainable development priorities and to follow through with appropriate actions. Four Swiss communities, from the French-speaking part of Switzerland, actively follow the project: Lausanne (114 304 citizens), Vevey (15 364 citizens), Mannens-Grandsivaz (505 citizens) and Essertines/Yverdon (666 citizens). The analysis framework developed is constituted of four interdependent fields: the societal characteristics, the individual or collective behaviours, the end objectives or sustainability impacts and the inhabitant's perception of these three fields. The link between society and behaviour can be studied through sociological analyses. The link between behaviour and environmental impact can be established thanks to Life Cycle analysis and Input/Output analyses. At each level, sustainable development indicators can be defined. As an application of the framework, the citizen energy consumption has been studied and expressed in energy slaves (= 3150 MJ/Year). A Swiss citizen needs altogether 69 slaves, 20 for his private consumption of goods and services, 19 for housing, 11 for transport, I1 for food and 8 for his consumption of public goods. If one fifth of the inhabitants of Lausanne, wanting to live closer to nature, actually moved out of town, the region would need 10 436 more slaves for 3500 persons happily living in the countryside.     

A large-scale experiment on mass transfer of trichloroethylene from the unsaturated zone of a sandy aquifer to its interfaces

A large-scale experiment was conducted to investigate the transport of trichloroethylene (TCE) vapors in the unsaturated zone and to determine the mass transfer to the groundwater and the atmosphere. The experiment involved injection of 5 1 of TCE in the unsaturated zone under controlled conditions, with multidepth sampling of gas and water through the unsaturated zone and across the capillary zone into underlying groundwater. The mass transfer of TCE vapors from the vadose zone to the atmosphere was quantified using a vertical flux chamber. A special soil water sampler was used to monitor transport across the capillary fringe. Experimental data indicated that TCE in the unsaturated zone was mainly transported to the atmosphere and this exchange reduced significantly the potential for groundwater pollution. The maximum measured TCE flux to the atmosphere was about 3 g/m(2)/day. Observed and calculated fluxes based on vertical TCE vapor concentration gradients and Fick's law were in good agreement. This confirms that TCE vapor transport under the experimental conditions was governed essentially by molecular diffusion. TCE vapors also caused a lower, but significant contamination of the underlying groundwater by dispersion across the capillary fringe with a corresponding maximum flux of about 0.1 g/m(2)/day. This mass transfer to groundwater is partly uncertain due to an inadvertent entry of some nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) from the source area into the saturated zone. Application of an analytical solution to estimate the TCE flux from the unsaturated zone to the groundwater indicated that this phenomenon is not only influenced by molecular diffusion but also by vertical dispersion. The mass balance indicates that, under the given experimental conditions (e.g. proximity of the source emplacement relative to the soil surface, relatively high permeable porous medium), nearly 95% of the initial TCE mass was transferred to the atmosphere.     

How unpredictable is the individual scanning process in socially foraging mammals?

In group-forming prey species, theory assumes that individuals within groups should scan independently of one another, with vigilance sequences being relatively unpredictable, making interscan durations highly variable. We attempted to detect any divergence from randomness in the scanning process in three mammalian prey species phylogenetically and geographically separated and exposed to different levels of predation: waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa, under a high observed predation risk, eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus, still experiencing occasional predation and European roe deer, Capreolus capreolus, under a very low natural predation risk. Our results revealed that the focal interscan duration increased when the duration of the preceding interscan increased, whatever the studied species and the predation risk that its individuals experienced, and decreased with the preceding scan duration in two species under, respectively, occasional and low predation risks. The exponential distribution was the tested model that fitted the observed distributions of interscan durations least well. We discuss what can trigger non-randomness in scanning, through a non-homogenous Poisson process, at both intra-individual and inter-individual levels, particularly with regard to previous studies that have demonstrated synchronisation of vigilance in such mammals. Our results suggest the need to reconsider any assumption of randomness in scanning in the basic model predicting form and frequency of scanning behaviour by prey species.     

Evaluation of the diffusion size classifier (meDiSC) for the real-time measurement of particle size and number concentration of nanoaerosols in the range 20-700 nm

In the frame of assessing exposure to nanostructured particles, the aim of this work is to study the performance of a new device devoted to the real-time measurement of nanostructured aerosol: the meDiSC (Diffusion Size Classifier, Matter Engineering, Switzerland). This instrument is based on unipolar diffusion charging of particles which are then collected successively in diffusion and filtration stages. From currents measured in these stages, the instrument is capable of determining aerosol mean size and number concentration. These data were compared to reference measurements regarding monodisperse aerosols in a range from 20 to 700 nm; the relative biases were found unsatisfying. This led us to investigate the principle of the instrument. Consequently, the charging law of the diffusion charger was experimentally established, as well as the calibration curve allowing the determination of the mean size of the particles. The latter analysis was completed by a model based on diffusion theory. Our results indicate the possibility to improve the range of size measurement up to 350 nm. Measured particle size and number concentration were also used to calculate geometric surface-area concentration; the experimental data were compared to a reference calculated surface-area concentration. The results demonstrate the possibility to evaluate this parameter within acceptable uncertainty. In a second step, the meDiSC was challenged with polydisperse aerosols. It was observed that meDiSC overestimates particle size by a factor 1.7, while particle number concentrations are found within ±40% of the reference. The model applied to polydisperse aerosols indicates that polydispersity little influences particle size up to 300 nm while geometric standard deviation remains below 1.7.     

Water to atmosphere fluxes of 131I in relation with alkyl-iodide compounds from the Seine Estuary (France)

This study presents an original work on measurements of stable and radioactive iodinated species in the Seine estuary (France), with estimates fluxes of volatile gaseous species from water to the atmosphere. Various iodinated compounds were identified in water and air in particular 131I in water, what is unusual. Concentrations and behaviour of iodinated elements in the Seine estuary seem similar to what has been observed in other European estuaries. MeI (Methyl Iodide) and Total Volatile Iodine (TVI) fluxes from water to air vary between 392 and 13949 pmol m(-2) d(-1) and between 1279 and 16484 pmol m(-2) d(-1), respectively. Water to air flux of TVI for the Seine river was estimated in the range 4-46 kg y(-1). Measurements of (131)I in water varying between 0.4 and 11.9 Bq m(-3). Fluxes of (131)I from water to atmosphere are in the range 2.4 x 10(5)-1.3 x 10(7)Bq y(-1), close to an annual discharge of (131)I by a nuclear reactor.