Some properties of new nesting areas of sea turtles in north-eastern Mediterranean situated on the extension of the Samandag Beach, Turkey

One of the most endangered species in tropical seas, Chelonia mydas (green turtles) prefer undisturbed sand beaches to lay their eggs. While Caretta caretta lays their eggs all over the Mediterranean beaches of Turkey, C. mydas nesting locations are limited with north-eastern site (Alata, Kazanli, Akyatan and Samandag) of the country and some beaches in Cyprus. Until 2003, no nesting place of both species between Akyatan and Samandag was recorded. From north to south, the beaches examined in 2003 summer are Arsuz, Konacik, Kale, Tr-H-3, Tr-H-2, and Tr-H-1 in addition to well-known and studied nesting beaches of sea turtle species in Hatay Province: Cevlik, Seyhhizir and Meydan. Since the Hatay Provincial Coast between Cevlik and Arsuz is hilly and no stabilized road is available, these small beaches were not known to have both C. mydas and C. caretta nests. Some physical and chemical sand properties, the number of nests belong to both species and selected nest specifications were investigated in this study. Kale Beach was found to be the most important nesting place in this less populated area. Based on results, Kale, Tr-H-3 and Tr-H-1 beaches were recorded to have high hatchling success.     

Cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome in a father and a female fetus: early prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis and autosomal dominant transmission

Ultrasonography in a female fetus revealed cystic cervical hygroma, severe micrognathia, and vertebral and upper limb anomalies suggestive of cerebro-costo-mandibular syndrome (CCMS) which was diagnosed ultrasonographically at 16 weeks' gestation. The father is affected and presents with a Pierre Robin sequence, short stature and typical costovertebral anomalies. CCMS is a rare and severe disorder. The high frequency of sporadic cases, vertical transmission, and the excess of sibs affected via horizontal transmission suggest dominant autosomal mutation with possible germinal mosaicism. The vertical familial case detailed in the present report is a reminder of the high risk when one parent or one sibling is affected and the extreme variability of phenotype and costal ossification. Early prenatal ultrasound diagnosis is possible in a severely affected fetus. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Occupational violence in aged care

Occupational violence in the aged care setting is a widespread, yet largely unrecognised OHS problem. Staff believe that resident violence is ‘just part of the job’ and are reluctant to report incidents. This paper argues that the existing approach to the control of verbal and physical abuse, which is based on the care giver's competence, is somewhat ineffective. It is contended that an approach based on the occupational health and safety principles of management responsibility for the prevention of aggression, no longer blaming the victim, effective communication between staff and management, and debriefing following incidents, will provide a solid foundation for a preventive program.     

Color and COD removal from wastewater containing Reactive Black 5 using Fenton's oxidation process

In this study, Reactive Black 5 (RB5) was removed from synthetic wastewater using Fenton's oxidation (FO) process. Experiments were conducted on the samples containing 100 and 200 mg l(-1) of RB5 to remove the dye toxicity. Seventy-five milligram per litre of RB5 caused 25% toxicity on 24-h born daphnids whereas 100 mg l(-1) of RB5 displayed 100% toxicity on Daphnia magna. The study was performed in a systematic approach searching optimum values of FeSO(4) and H(2)O(2) concentrations, pH and temperature. Optimum pH and temperature for 100 mg l(-1) of RB5 were observed as 3.0 and 40 degrees C, respectively, using 100 mg l(-1) of FeSO(4) and 400 mg l(-1) of H(2)O(2) resulted in 71% chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 99% color removal. For 200 mg l(-1) of RB5, 84% COD removal was obtained using 225 mg l(-1) of FeSO(4) and 1000 mg l(-1) of H(2)O(2) yielding 0.05 molar ratio at pH 3.0 and 40 degrees C. Color removal was also more than 99%. The optimum conditions determined in accordance with the literature data. The H(2)O(2) requirement seems to be related to initial COD of the sample. FeSO(4)/H(2)O(2) ratios found were not changed for both concentrations. The temperature affected the COD removal significantly at high degrees. Toxicity was completely removed for each concentration of RB5 at optimum removal conditions.     

Comparison of the complexation potential of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), extracted from activated sludges and produced by pure bacteria strains, for cadmium, lead and nickel

This paper provides information on the metal complexation potential of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), extracted from activated sludges and from eight pure cultures of bacteria isolated from the same activated sludge. The EPS extracted from pure bacteria cultures are mainly composed of proteins and low quantities of polysaccharides and uronic acids in comparison with EPS extracted from activated sludges. The EPS studied present two apparent pK(a) and the IR spectra show the presence of the same functional groups on all the EPS studied. The ability of EPS to complex Cd, Pb and Ni, was studied at pH 7 with Chau and Ruzic's models using polarography titration. All of the EPS exhibited a greater ability to complex Pb than Ni, Cd showing the weakest affinity overall. The EPS extracted from the pure cultures of bacteria were less able to complex the metals than that extracted from activated sludges. Literature data, IR data and EPS phosphorous content, supported by the EPS pK(a), revealed that carboxylic and phosphoric groups may play a major role in binding to metals at pH 7. This study underlines the importance of metal exposure in order for bacteria to secrete or modify EPS. After exposure, the EPS then exhibit the greatest capacity to bind metal in order to protect bacteria from harmful effects of heavy metals.     

Comparison between solid-phase extraction methods for the chromatographic determination of organophosphorus pesticides in water

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) procedure has been developed to extract eight organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) in water and the method was compared with a conventional solid phase extraction (SPE) technique. The extracted OPs were analyzed by gas chromatography using thermionic specific detection. Both extraction methods presented linear calibration at least over the concentration range investigated (100 to 1000 ng x mL(-1) for SPE and 1 to 100 ng x mL(-1) for SPME). SPME method presented higher sensitivity than SPE. The quantitation limits were between 0.1 to 1.0 ng x mL(-1) for SPME depending upon the analyte, and 100 ng x mL(-1) for SPE. The precision, as measured by the standard deviations (RSD), were in the range 3.6% to 5.8% for SPME and 2.4% to 9.2% for SPE. Along with the feature of being a solvent - free sampling technique, SPME offers additional benefits due to its high sensitivity, simplicity, and small size sample required (typically: SPE - 500 mL, SPME - 5 mL).     

Investigation on the chemical structure of nonextractable residues of the fungicide cyprodinil in spring wheat using 13C-C1-phenyl-cyprodinil on 13C-depleted plants-an alternative approach to investigate nonextractable residues

13C-labelled cyprodinil was applied on 13C-depleted wheat plants with 27-fold field application rate. A control experiment applying same amounts of 14C-cyprodinil showed that main portions of the residues were detected in the cellulose (15% NER), hemicellulose (28.3% NER), and lignin fraction (23.3% NER). 16.7% were detected in water soluble polymers, 6% in both, pectin and protein fraction, and 4% in the starch containing fraction. Free cyprodinil was detectable by TLC in all fractions except lignin. A direct characterization of the residues in vivo by CP-MAS was not successful. Cell wall fractions were further analysed by liquid state NMR to determine the structure of the mobilized highly polymer/polar residues: Within lignin, where most of the residues were located at field application rate, neither intact cyprodinil nor its metabolites could not be detected. The 13C-label introduced was probably incorporated in the polymer as natural lignin monomers and thus are not considered as bound residues according to IUPAC definition.     

Biological treatment of a synthetic gold milling effluent

This paper reports on biological sludge acclimatisation and the results concerning the removal of free cyanide, thiocyanate and metallocyanides (copper, iron and zinc) from a synthetic gold milling effluent. The experiments were carried out in a continuous bench-scale bioreactor, and the experimental set-up consisted of two identical units, one of which served as control. The acclimatisation of the biomass was based on a stepwise procedure, in which the proportion of synthetic solution in the influent was gradually increased. The reactors were fed with a mixture of synthetic effluent and sewage, and the treatment efficiency was evaluated through the monitoring of the following parameters: chemical oxygen demand (COD), free cyanide, thiocyanate, copper, iron and zinc concentrations. A well adapted microbial consortium was obtained at the end of the acclimatisation period, which was able to remove more than 95% of free cyanide, thiocyanate, copper and zinc, originally found in the influent. These removal efficiencies were obtained when the reactor was operated with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of about 8 h. The performance results of experiments carried out with lower HRT (5 h) and higher dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration (6.5 mg litre(-1)) are also presented and discussed in this study.     

Inorganic chemical composition of native trees of the Atlantic Forest

The Atlantic Forest with its exuberant vegetation of high level of biodiversity is classified as one hotspot of the world. Chemical composition of leaves from native trees and underlying soils was evaluated by INAA. The predominant species Euterpe edulis, Bathysa meridionalis, Hyeronima alchorneoides, Marlierea tomentosa, Gomidesia flagellaris, and Gomidesia spectabilis belonging to the diverse plant families were studied. Euterpe edulis, the most abundant understory specie, presented the lowest element concentrations except for Zn. Some variation in chemical composition was noted, however, the chemical specificity of tree species can be more predominant than the soil variability for the obtained leaf concentrations. Factor values obtained through the Monte-Carlo assisted factor analysis were used for species discrimination. The results indicate that chemical investigation of native trees is a quite promising tool for biodiversity studies in the Atlantic Forest.