Microsatellites and artificial neural networks: tools for the discrimination between natural and hatchery brown trout (Salmo trutta, L.) in Atlantic populations

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were applied to microsatellite data (highly variable genetic markers) to separate genetically differentiated forms of brown trout (Salmo trutta) in south-western France. A classic feed-forward network with one hidden layer was used. Training was performed using a back-propagation algorithm and reference samples representing the different genetic types. The hold-out and the leave-one-out procedures were used to test the validity of the network. They were chosen according to the populations and the questions analysed. The informative content of the different variables used for the distinction (the alleles of the different loci) was also evaluated using the Garson–Goh algorithm. The results of learning gave high percentages of well-classified individuals (up to 95% for the test with the hold-out analysis). This confirms that ANNs are suitable for such genetic analyses of populations. From a biological point of view, the study enabled evaluation of the genetic composition and differentiation of different river populations and of the impact of stocking.     

New fossil ants in French Cretaceous amber (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Recent studies on the ant phylogeny are mainly based on the molecular analyses of extant subfamilies and do not include the extinct, only Cretaceous subfamily Sphecomyrminae. However, the latter is of major importance for ant relationships, as it is considered the most basal subfamily. Therefore, each new discovery of a Mesozoic ant is of high interest for improving our understanding of their early history and basal relationships. In this paper, a new sphecomyrmine ant, allied to the Burmese amber genus Haidomyrmex, is described from mid-Cretaceous amber of France as Haidomyrmodes mammuthus gen. and sp. n. The diagnosis of the tribe Haidomyrmecini is emended based on the new type material, which includes a gyne (alate female) and two incomplete workers. The genus Sphecomyrmodes, hitherto known by a single species from Burmese amber, is also reported and a new species described as S. occidentalis sp. n. after two workers remarkably preserved in a single piece of Early Cenomanian French amber. The new fossils provide additional information on early ant diversity and relationships and demonstrate that the monophyly of the Sphecomyrminae, as currently defined, is still weakly supported.     

A model for tropospheric multiphase chemistry: application to one cloudy event during the CIME experiment

A multiphase box model for a remote environment of the troposphere has been developed with an explicit chemistry for both gas and aqueous phase. The model applied to a set of measurements performed by Voisin et al. (2000) during the European CIME experiment for a cloud event on 13th December 1997 at the top of the Puy de Dôme (France). The results of the simulation are compared to the measurements in order to follow the evolution of the ambient chemical composition as a function of the pH and of the varying water content. After verifying that the model retrieves the main features observed in the behavior of species in the cloud droplets, a detailed analysis of the simulated chemical regime is performed. It essentially discusses the sources and sinks of radical in aqueous phase, the relative importance of the oxidation pathways of volatile organic compounds by the main radicals and the conversion of S(IV) into S(VI) which seems to be influenced by the presence of peroxonitric acid, HNO₄, in aqueous phase in the environmental conditions that are considered with low H₂O₂. These numerical results are then compared with the theoretical study from Herrmann et al. (2000), who proposed a slightly different mechanism, including C2 chemistry and transition metal chemistry whereas they neglect some reaction pathways, such as the one involving OHCH₂O₂ radical. This double confrontation between model results and both real experimental data and numerical results from Herrmann et al. (1999c) underlines limitations of such modeling approach that does not include any dynamical or microphysical coupling but also demonstrates its capability to identify the main oxidants or reactants in aqueous phase in real environmental conditions more realistic than a purely theoretical approach. The originality of this study resides in the explicit and exhaustive ways the chemical reactions are treated in aqueous phase and in a first attempt to compare such a detailed chemical scheme to real environmental conditions.     

Ozone risk assessment for plants: central role of metabolism-dependent changes in reducing power

The combination of stomatal-dependent ozone flux and total ascorbate level is currently presented as a correct indicator for determining the degree of sensitivity of plants to ozone. However, the large changes in carbon metabolism could play a central role in the strategy of the foliar cells in response to chronic ozone exposure, participating in the supply of reducing power and carbon skeletons for repair and detoxification, and modifying the stomatal mode of functioning. To reinforce the accuracy of the definition of the threshold for ozone risk assessment, it is proposed to also consider the redox pool (NAD(P)H), the ratio between carboxylases and the water use efficiency as indicators of the differential ozone tolerance of plants.     

Organic pollutants in compost and digestate. Part 2. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and -furans, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated alkyl substances, pesticides, and other compounds

Compost and digestate are important recycling fertilizers and have beneficial effects on soil parameters. However, they can contain significant amounts of organic pollutants. Here, the first comprehensive data set on dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/F), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCB), brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, phthalates, nonylphenol and chlorinated paraffins (CP) in source-separated compost and digestate from Switzerland is presented (n = 3-18). The median summation 17PCDD/F and summation 12DL-PCB concentrations were at 3.2 ng I-TEQ kg(-1)dry weight (dw) and 3.0 ng WHO-TEQ kg(-1)dw, respectively. Brominated diphenyl ether 209 (BDE 209) accounted for 72% of the total polyBDE content (10 microg kg(-1)dw). Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) levels were at 100 and 0.51 microg kg(-1)dw, respectively. PFAS were identified for the first time in compost and digestate (median concentration 6.3 microg kg(-1)dw, summation 21compounds). Out of 269 pesticides analysed, 30 fungicides, 14 herbicides, eight insecticides and one acaricide were detected. Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) median concentration accounted for 280 microg kg(-1)dw and nonylphenol was below the detection limit of 1 mg kg(-1)dw. The sum of short and medium chain CP was between 90 and 390 microg kg(-1)dw. The concentrations observed were at or above the levels found in background soils, which are the main recipient of compost and digestate. Where actually applied, compost can contribute considerably to the total input of organic pollutants to the soil. However, on a total Swiss agricultural area base, inputs seem to be limited.     

Formation of radioactivity enriched soils in mountain areas

A field study was carried out in the Mercantour Mountains at 2200 m altitude to investigate the processes of soil enrichment in atmospheric Chernobyl (137)Cs. Soils with high (137)Cs activities have been collected in the pasture areas with frequently measured (137)Cs activity values of the order of 7000 Bq m(-2). At some single spots (about 6% of the studied area), activity in soils reached 300000 Bq m(-2), which represents 44% of the (137)Cs of the total area. Data further showed that spatial distribution of Cs depends widely on its origin: Chernobyl Cs is mainly concentrated in "enriched" soils, whereas older Cs and (241)Am fallout from nuclear weapons tests (NWTs) and natural atmospheric (210)Pb in soils is less heterogeneously distributed.In order to elucidate the processes which have led to the enrichment in Chernobyl (137)Cs in the Alps in May of 1986, we have studied the repartition of atmospheric (7)Be isotope (half-life=53.3 d) in the pasture compartments (soil, litter, grass, and snow). Snow (7)Be data give evidence that fallout enrichment is related to snow accumulation (snow drift). The transfer of beryllium occurs rapidly to the grass and litter, where the strongest pollutant accumulations were measured. However, (7)Be transport to the soil required more than 8 months.     

TiO2/β-SiC foam-structured photoreactor for continuous wastewater treatment

Introduction

This study of photocatalytic degradation of wastewater was carried out in alveolar cell ??-SiC foam-structured photocatalytic reactors working in a recirculation mode. The immobilization of TiO2 on ??-SiC foams was efficiently obtained through a sol?Cgel technique in acidic conditions.

Discussion

In order to optimize degradation yields obtained by the foam-structured prototype reactor for the photocatalytic water treatment, the operating conditions of the photoreactor have been investigated and the efficiency of the process was evaluated by measuring the photocatalytic degradation of Diuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethyl-urea)) under UV irradiation. Kinetic studies were carried out by investigating the influence of different parameters controlling the reaction (TiO2 loading and ??-SiC foam cell size). The ageing of TiO2/??-SiC foam photocatalytic materials and the mineralization (TOC, Cl?, NO3? and NH4+) of Diuron were investigated.     

Monitoring of pathogenic microorganisms contamination during heat drying process of sewage sludge

The sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plant is a potential source of infectious organism. The number and type of pathogens in sludge depends on various factors namely, the wastewater source, the type of treatment plant, and other environmental factors such as the biological medium offered by the sewage sludge. The principal sludge-borne diseases are presented followed by discussion on biological aspect of growth and occurrence. The overall objective of this work is to estimate kinetic reduction of pathogen population in sludge during different thermal-drying process including: the agitated conductive drying, drum drying, solar drying, and fry-drying. The temperature curves were reported from literature except frying data which were determined in experiment. In order to apply the temperature influence on pathogens population, kinetic parameters for the thermal inactivation (D, z-values) were chosen from literature. Values of concentrations of each pathogen were also extracted from scientific review of pathogens in bio-solids. This study conducted to resolve the survival kinetic of Hepatitis A viruses. The result showed that a concentration of 7 × 10⁴ cfu/100 ml initially present in the sewage sludge is significantly reduced during the heat drying processes except the solar plant. The sewage sludge is completely disinfected when heated for 20 min, 10 min, and 10 s, respectively, during the agitated conductive process, vacuum fry-drying, and drum drying process.     

Socialist hydropower governances compared: dams and resettlement as experienced by Dai and Thai societies from the Sino-Vietnamese borderlands

Regional Environmental Change - Research on hydropower development has shown that a diversity of social and environmental impacts of dams is distributed unevenly among various state and corporate...     

Microbial biotransformation of furosemide for environmental risk assessment: identification of metabolites and toxicological evaluation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Some widely prescribed drugs are sparsely metabolized and end up in the environment. They can thus be a focal point of ecotoxicity, either themselves...