Fluoride distibution and the effect of some ions along Alexandria coastal Mediterranean seawater of Egypt

The coastal seawater of Mediterranean of Alexandria receives large amount of discharged waters containing industrial wastes, sewage, and agricultural and domestic drainage. Fluoride and some parameters were(chemical and physical) determined. The data gave indication that the content and the amount of the discharged water largely affect the chemical composition of the coastal water. Stepwise regression analysis was highly significant and the model was very fruitful, where the observed and calculated values were mostly concordant. This may indicated that there was a relation between fluoride content in coastal seawater and its content in the discharged water.     

Structural refinement of the high-T c superconductor TlBa2Ca2Cu3O9

The Science of Nature -     

First-trimester diagnosis of menkes disease: Intermediate copper values in chorionic villi from three affected male fetuses

Chorionic villus samples with copper contents of 1·91, 4·2, 5·6, and 6·3 ng/mg were observed in four cases with male karyotypes. These values were outside the range for unaffected males (0·30–0·85 ng/mg), and three of them were outside the control range (0·20–2·39 ng/mg). But these three values were below the values previously observed for affected Menkes fetuses (12·0–24·8 ng/mg). Follow-up by ⁶⁴Cu uptake studies on the amniotic fluid cells was performed in three of these cases. A combination of ⁶⁴Cu uptake and chase experiments on the amniotic fluid cells showed more convincingly than ⁶⁴Cu uptake per se the direct copper values of 4·2 and 5·6 ng/mg to correspond to affected fetuses. Amniotic fluid cells from the male fetus with the CV copper value of 1·9 ng/mg showed normal results. The CV copper value of 6·3 ng/mg was considered pathognomonic for Menkes disease. The pregnancy was terminated, and the diagnosis was confirmed on fetal fibroblasts. Maternal deciduum prepared from the placentae showed in one of the cases with an affected fetus copper values ranging from 1·5 to 5·7 ng/mg. In six additional diagnostic cases, the copper content was determined in both CV samples and maternal deciduum. In three of these cases with normal CV sample copper, maternal decidua values of 4·85–7·8 ng/mg copper were observed. These results show that maternal deciduum contamination of a CV sample could cause a false-positive diagnosis.     

The effect of NADH on different human and mouse cell lines

Part of the work was supported by the Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie, and from the Carl Zeiss, Hoechst, and Ernst Leitz companies. Special thanks are due to Dr. K. Wahn, Department of Virology, University of Giessen, for conducting the electron microscope and phase-contrast investigations, to Prof. G. Sauer, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, and Dr. W. R. Willems, Department of Medical Virology, University of Giessen, for supplying the different cell lines.     

Zelluläre Wirkungen der ultravioletten Komponente des Sonnenlichts

The discussion on the possible increase of solar UV on earth due to the destruction of the stratospheric ozone has led to a renewed interest in the action of ultraviolet radiation on biological systems. The paper deals with changes at the cellular level stressing particularly molecular alterations in deoxyribonucleic acid, the carrier of genetic information. The most important repair processes by which lesions are removed or bypassed are described. It is also discussed whether the effectivity of a complex spectrum can be predicted on the basis of measurements with monochromatic radiation. Furthermore, possible consequences on human health are outlined which may be derived from cellular studies.     

Prevention of musculoskeletal complaints in nursing: Aims, approach and content of an ergonomic-educational programme

In 1992 a comprehensive health-promotion project was initiated in seven nursing-homes in the Netherlands. This project was designed to implement an ergonomic-educational programme, with the intention of reducing physical workload and to bring about safe working in order to prevent work-related musculoskeletal complaints. After a period of external support, employees of the nursing-homes should be able to proceed with the programme independently. In this paper the content of the programme and its underlying strategies and theories are described. So far, the programme has got off to a good start in all the nursing-homes. Positive effects of the programme could be demonstrated and guidelines and protocols for safe working were introduced. However, it is as yet too early for definitive conclusions to be drawn regarding the aspect of continuity.     

Pond bank access as an approach for managing toxic cyanobacteria in beef cattle pasture drinking water ponds

Forty-one livestock drinking water ponds in Alabama beef cattle pastures during were surveyed during the late summer to generally understand water quality patterns in these important water resources. Since livestock drinking water ponds are prone to excess nutrients that typically lead to eutrophication, which can promote blooms of toxigenic phytoplankton such as cyanobacteria, we also assessed the threat of exposure to the hepatotoxin, microcystin. Eighty percent of the ponds studied contained measurable microcystin, while three of these ponds had concentrations above human drinking water thresholds set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (i.e., 0.3 μg/L). Water quality patterns in the livestock drinking water ponds contrasted sharply with patterns typically observed for temperate freshwater lakes and reservoirs. Namely, we found several non-linear relationships between phytoplankton abundance (measured as chlorophyll) and nutrients or total suspended solids. Livestock had direct access to all the study ponds. Consequently, the proportion of inorganic suspended solids (e.g., sediment) increased with higher concentrations of total suspended solids, which underlies these patterns. Unimodal relationships were also observed between microcystin and phytoplankton abundance or nutrients. Euglenoids were abundant in the four ponds with chlorophyll concentrations >?250 μg/L (and dominated three of these ponds), which could explain why ponds with high chlorophyll concentrations would have low microcystin concentrations. Based on observations made during sampling events and available water quality data, livestock-mediated bioturbation is causing elevated total suspended solids that lead to reduced phytoplankton abundance and microcystin despite high concentrations of nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Thus, livestock could be used to manage algal blooms, including toxic secondary metabolites, in their drinking water ponds by allowing them to walk in the ponds to increase turbidity.     

FIA-coupled spectrophotometric method for determination of Cr (VI) traces in natural waters: application of in-line dissolution of 1,5-diphenylcarbazide after heat treatment and activated alumina as adsorbent for preconcentration

This work proposes the quantification of Cr (VI) ions in natural waters in trace level, using activated alumina (Al₂O₃) as preconcentration support, controlled in-line dissolution of the solidified chromophore diphenylcarbazide after heat treatment and spectrophotometric detection. The manifold ensures high sensitivity of analytical response, good repeatability, and stability. In this work, optimization of experimental conditions of a flow injection system was chosen as the parameters for greater sensitivity and better selectivity. The selected optimized conditions were 0.30 mol L^?1 for H₂SO₄ concentration, system flow rate as 0.40 mL min^?1, sample injection volume of 192.50 μL, 2 min for preconcentration time, and 0.10 mol L^?1 for eluent concentration. The analytical curves obtained for real sample analysis show linear range from 0.192 to 0.961 μM, linear correlation coefficient R?=?0.9997 and LOD?=?0.024 μM. The preconcentration factor of about four times was obtained through the passage of 800 μL of a standard solution containing 0.961 μM of Cr (VI) through mini-column of preconcentration followed by elution at 192.5 μL of NH₄OH 0.1 mol L^?1 solution. The solid chromogenic reagent presented high durability (weeks in daily use with mass of 0.0993 g) and good reproducibility in analytical signal. The reactivation of the mini-column of alumina should be executed after ten injections of eluent, using 800 μL of HCl 0.02 mol L^?1 solution in flow through the same. Each cycle of injection and elution of the sample takes about 5 min on the proposed terms. Despite the length of each cycle still be high, low concentrations can be detected using a technique of relatively low cost. This is due in part, the association dissolution of the chromogenic reagent directly in the line and the preconcentration step. Another important factor is the economy of reagent chromogenic, low generation of reject contributing to better quality of the environment, and the high potential for applications to work in field.     

PLA Chemical Recycling Process Optimization: PLA Solubilization in Organic Solvents

The recycling of used, post-industrial and post-consumer PLA is crucial to reduce both the consumption of renewable resources for the monomer synthesis and the environmental impact related to its production and disposal. Several processes are actually available: among these, there is a particular interest on the chemical recycling of PLA with production of its monomer. The aim of this work is to analyse the PLA dissolution behaviour in different organic solvents (acetone and Ethyl lactate) at different water concentrations in order to optimize the chemical depolymerisation process of PLA. New experimental data are presented and a kinetic model is provided for a first analysis. Preliminary results suggest that acetone based solvents (i.e., acetone water mixtures at various concentrations) are more effective to solubilize the PLA rather than the Ethyl-lactate based solvent. Anyway, an increase of water concentration in the solvent phase, determines both a reduction of the solvent power and a reduction of mass transport coefficient for the two solvents tested.     

Remediation of PCB‐Contaminated Soil Using Extraction and Destruction: Bench‐Scale Test

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a persistent environmental issue worldwide. This study summarizes the results obtained from a bench‐scale test of remediating PCB‐impacted soil. The research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of extracting the PCB Aroclor 1260 from soil, transferring it to a liquid matrix, and then treating the PCB‐containing liquid using an Activated Metal Treatment System, a technology developed by NASA based on zero valent magnesium (ZVMg). The soil was from a former electrical plant area impacted by PCBs. The initial concentration of untreated soil contained an average of 4.7 ± 0.15 mg/kg of Aroclor 1260. The results showed that the mass transfer phenomena is possible using ethanol as a liquid matrix, reaching transfer results up to 93 percent. The ZVMg enabled the destruction of the Aroclor 1260, which reached 20 percent without any buildup of undesirable by‐products, such as less chlorinated PCBs.  ©2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.