Field based speciation of arsenic in UK and Argentinean water samples

A field method is reported for the speciation of arsenic in water samples that is simple, rapid, safe to use beyond laboratory environments, and cost effective. The method utilises solid-phase extraction cartridges (SPE) in series for selective retention of arsenic species, followed by elution and measurement of eluted fractions by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for “total” arsenic. The method is suitable for on-site separation and preservation of arsenic species from water. Mean percentage accuracies (n = 25) for synthetic solutions of arsenite (As^III), arsenate (As^V), monomethylarsonic acid (MA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) containing 10 μg l⁻¹ As, were 98, 101, 94, and 105%, respectively. Data are presented to demonstrate the effect of pH and competing anions on the retention of the arsenic species. The cartridges were tested in the UK and Argentina at sites where arsenic was known to be present in surface and groundwaters, respectively, at elevated concentrations and under challenging matrix conditions. In Argentinean groundwater, 4–20% of speciated arsenic was present as MA and 20–73% as As^III. In UK surface waters, speciated arsenic was measured as 7–49% MA and 12–42% DMA. Comparative data from the field method using SPE cartridges and the laboratory method using liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-MS for all water samples provided a correlation of greater than 0.999 for As^III and DMA, 0.991 for MA, and 0.982 for As^V (P < 0.01).     

Pollution magnet: nano-magnetite for arsenic removal from drinking water

Arsenic contamination in groundwater is a severe global problem, most notably in Southeast Asia where millions suffer from acute and chronic arsenic poisoning. Removing arsenic from groundwater in impoverished rural or urban areas without electricity and with no manufacturing infrastructure remains a significant challenge. Magnetite nanocrystals have proven to be useful in arsenic remediation and could feasibly be synthesized by a thermal decomposition method that employs refluxing of FeOOH and oleic acid in 1-octadecene in a laboratory setup. To reduce the initial cost of production, $US 2600/kg, and make this nanomaterial widely available, we suggest that inexpensive and accessible “everyday” chemicals be used. Here we show that it is possible to create functional and high-quality nanocrystals using methods appropriate for manufacturing in diverse and minimal infrastructure, even those without electricity. We suggest that the transfer of this knowledge is best achieved using an open source concept.     

Comparing the effect of elevated pCO2 and temperature on the fertilization and early development of two species of oysters

This study compared the synergistic effects of elevated pCO₂ and temperature on the early life history stages of two ecologically and economically important oysters: the Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata and the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. Gametes, embryos, larvae and spat were exposed to four pCO₂ (375, 600, 750, 1,000 μatm) and four temperature (18, 22, 26, 30°C) levels. At elevated pCO₂ and suboptimal temperatures, there was a reduction in the fertilization success of gametes, a reduction in the development of embryos and size of larvae and spat and an increase in abnormal morphology of larvae. These effects varied between species and fertilization treatments with S. glomerata having greater sensitivity than C. gigas. In the absence of adaptation, C. gigas may become the more dominant species along the south-eastern coast of Australia, recruiting into estuaries currently dominated by the native S. glomerata.     

Strategic directions for agent-based modeling: avoiding the YAAWN syndrome

In this short communication, we examine how agent-based modeling has become common in land change science and is increasingly used to develop case studies for particular times and places. There is a danger that the research community is missing a prime opportunity to learn broader lessons from the use of agent-based modeling (ABM), or at the very least not sharing these lessons more widely. How do we find an appropriate balance between empirically rich, realistic models and simpler theoretically grounded models? What are appropriate and effective approaches to model evaluation in light of uncertainties not only in model parameters but also in model structure? How can we best explore hybrid model structures that enable us to better understand the dynamics of the systems under study, recognizing that no single approach is best suited to this task? Under what circumstances – in terms of model complexity, model evaluation, and model structure – can ABMs be used most effectively to lead to new insight for stakeholders? We explore these questions in the hope of helping the growing community of land change scientists using models in their research to move from ‘yet another model’ to doing better science with models.     

SPE-RRLC-MS/MS法测定制药废水中青霉素G

建立了利用固相萃取-高分离度快速液相色谱-串联质谱(SPE-RRLC-MS/MS)测定制药废水中青霉素G残留的方法。水样以30%硫酸锌+20%亚铁氰化钾作为沉淀剂沉淀蛋白质后,上清液采用Oasis HLB固相萃取柱富集和净化,以0.01 mol/L乙酸铵溶液(加0.1%甲酸)+乙腈作为流动相进行等度洗脱,经Agilent Plus C18柱分离后,在串联质谱ESI(+)源下进行MRM检测。该方法的青霉素G检出限(S/N=3)为0.02μg/L,目标物在0.0020～1.0 mg/L范围内线性关系良好,线性相关系数为0.9997。在0.20,1.0,2.0μg/L添加水平平均回收率为74.6%～101.4%,相对标准偏差为4.49%～8.17%。该方法灵敏度高、重现性好、定性定量准确,可满足制药废水中青霉素G残留检测的要求。     

Transmitter attachment and release methods for short-term shark and stingray tracking on coral reefs

This study details a simple and cost-effective means of attaching acoustic transmitters to coral reef sharks and stingrays, which potentially allows for retrieval and reuse on completion of tracks. Between 2008 and 2011, galvanised timed releases were trialled in both static field tests and on blacktip reef sharks Carcharhinus melanopterus, cowtail Pastinachus atrus, and porcupine Urogymnus asperrimus rays in Coral Bay (?23°08′41″, 113°45′53″), Western Australia. The timed releases remained attached to animals for the duration required for tracking and in four out of five deployments transmitters were recovered after release from the animals. The use of modified Rototags for sharks and stainless steel darts for stingrays allowed rapid and effective attachment to animals, with limited impact on their welfare in the short term. External attachment for short-term tracking of coral reef-associated elasmobranchs should be considered as a complementary option to internal placement of transmitters in animals either by surgery or by ingestion.     

A comparitive study between the coal-biomass briquette and raw coal in SO2 pollution and adverse effects in rabbits

This study was conducted to evaluate the adverse health effects on rabbits exposed to SO₂ emitted indoors from burning coals, and compare differences between coal-biomass briquette (B.B.) and raw coal (R.C.). Thirty-six male rabbits were divided equally into three groups at random, and then exposed to burning R.C., B.B., and the third without burning coal (Control) for 90 days. Data showed that the average concentration of SO₂ in 24?h in R.C. was 13.04?mg?m^?3, which was 5-fold greater than B.B. (2.68?mg?m^?3) and 31-fold higher than control (0.41?mg?m^?3). After 45 days, the numbers of rabbits, with increased frequency of Comet cell was highest in R.C. After 90 days, the % positive Comet cell was significant at 10.36% in R.C., 5.42% in B.B., and 1.73% in Control. There was a nonlinear dose–effect relationship between % positive Comet cell and the concentration of SO₂. The incidence of interstitial pneumonia was 6/12 in R.C. and 4/12 in B.B. showing severe squamous metaplasia with atypical hyperplasia in bronchial epithelia in R.C. animals. The results of study indicate that use of B.B. reduced the emission of SO₂; but the smoke emitted from burning coal still produced DNA damage.     

d-Pinitol as a key oviposition stimulant for sulfur butterfly, Colias erate: chemical basis for female acceptance of host- and non-host plants

The sulfur butterfly, Colias erate, utilizes various legumes as host plants. We examined the chemical constituents of its primary host plant, Trifolium repens (white clover), to identify phytochemicals inducing oviposition by C. erate females. Since one of the four aqueous subfractions prepared from a methanolic extract of the plant has previously been shown to be the most responsible for the oviposition-stimulatory activity exerted by the plant, chemical analyses were conducted of the fraction concerned. Activity-directed fractionation of the subfraction by ion-exchange chromatography revealed that the key substance(s) resided in the neutral fraction. Preparative TLC of the neutral fraction and subsequent spectral analyses identified d-(+)-pinitol, glycerin, methyl β-d-glucoside, and myo-inositol as characteristic components together with ubiquitous sugars (e.g., sucrose and glucose). Of these, only pinitol singly evoked significant oviposition responses at concentrations over 0.05%. In dual-choice bioassays, however, females laid significantly more eggs on pinitol solutions admixed with glycerin or methyl β-d-glucoside than on pinitol alone. Two cyanoglucosides, linamarin, and lotaustralin, occurring in the other aqueous subfractions, also synergistically increased the oviposition response in combination with pinitol. The results clearly indicated that pinitol is a crucial oviposition stimulant involved in host recognition, while glycerin, methyl β-d-glucoside, linamarin, and lotaustralin function as synergists. We further examined the oviposition responses of C. erate females to aqueous fractions, along with their chemical compositions, that had been prepared from five other host plants and a non-host plant, Aristolochia debilis (Aristolochiaceae), on which oviposition occasionally took place in an outdoor cage during the experiments. The plant species accepted by ovipositing females were all found to contain pinitol in amounts enough to induce egg laying by the butterfly, thus leading to the conclusion that pinitol serves as the essential mediator in recognizing and accepting potential host plants.     

Positive group affective tone and team creativity: Negative group affective tone and team trust as boundary conditions

Drawing on multiple group‐level theories, we explored boundary conditions of the relationship between positive group affective tone (PGAT) and team creativity. We collected data from members and leaders of 68 research and development teams and performed hierarchical linear modeling analyses to test our hypotheses. Consistent with the “group‐centrism” perspective, we found that PGAT was beneficial for team creativity only when team trust was low; when trust was high, PGAT had a negative relationship with team creativity. In accord with the “dual‐tuning” perspective, the positive effect of PGAT on creativity was present only when team trust was low but negative group affective tone was high. We discussed the theoretical and practical implications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同放牧强度对高寒草甸生态系统呼吸的早期影响

放牧是高寒草甸一种重要的利用方式,对土壤理化性质和植被会产生重要影响,研究放牧对高寒草甸生态系统呼吸的影响对估算碳交换和制定合理放牧政策具有重要意义.利用静态箱-气象色谱法,于2012年8月到2013年7月在青藏高原东缘高寒草甸对轻度、中度和重度3种放牧强度下的生态系统呼吸进行每月至少一次的连续观测,以估算高寒草甸生态系统呼吸,并探讨放牧强度对生态系统呼吸的作用.结果显示:轻度、中度和重度放牧条件下,年均生态系统呼吸(以C计)分别为226.33±62.30、213.63±53.22和215.15±53.19 mg m~(-2) h~(-1),三者之间无显著差异(P0.05);在生长季生态系统呼吸分别为367.97±47.86、324.62±44.95和348.37±43.10 mg m~(-2) h~(-1),在非生长季生态系统呼吸分别为105.81±22.13、96.55±14.69和110.61±16.89 mg m~(-2) h~(-1),在不同放牧强度下生态系统呼吸均表现出明显的季节特征,但在相同季节不同放牧强度间生态系统呼吸差异不显著;月累积降水量与生态系统呼吸呈显著正相关关系;该区域放牧地生态系统平均年累积呼吸为472.63 g m~(-2) h~(-1).本研究表明,在试验初期不同放牧强度对生态系统呼吸无显著作用.