This work investigated the impact of a clay mineral (bentonite) on the air oxidation of the solvent extractable organic matters (EOMs) and the PAHs from contaminated soils. EOMs were isolated from two coking plant soils and mixed with silica sand or bentonite. These samples, as well as raw soils and bentonite/soil mixtures, were oxidized in air at 60 and 100 °C for 160 days. Mineralization was followed by measuring the CO2 produced over the experiments. EOM, polycyclic aromatic compound (PAC), including PAH, contents were also determined. Oxidation led to a decrease in EOM contents and PAH concentrations, these diminutions were enhanced by the presence of bentonite. Transfer of carbon from EOM to insoluble organic matter pointed out a condensation phenomenon leading to a stabilization of the contamination. Higher mineralization rates, observed during the oxidation of the soil/bentonite mixtures, seem to indicate that this clay mineral had a positive influence on the transformation of PAC into CO2. 相似文献
Objective: The objective of this study was to discuss the challenges in estimating bicycle helmet effectiveness from case–control studies of injured cyclists and to estimate helmet effectiveness from cases and available exposure data.
Methods: Data were extracted from studies of cyclists in Seattle; Victoria and New South Wales, Australia; and The Netherlands. Estimates of helmet use were used as exposure to compute relative risks for Seattle and Victorian data. Cycling distance data are routinely collected in The Netherlands; however, these data cannot be disaggregated by helmet use, which makes it unsuitable for estimating helmet effectiveness. Alternative controls were identified from larger cohorts for the Seattle and New South Wales cases.
Results: Estimates of helmet effectiveness were similar from odds ratios (ORs) using hospital controls or from relative risks (RRs) using helmet use estimates (Seattle: OR = 0.339, RR = 0.444; Victoria: OR = 0.500, RR = 0.353). Additionally, the odds ratios using hospital controls were similar when controls were taken from a larger cohort for head injury of any severity (Seattle: OR = 0.250, alt OR = 0.257; NSW: OR = 0.446, alt OR = 0.411) and for serious head injury (Seattle: OR = 0.135, alt OR = 0.139; NSW: OR = 0.335, alt OR = 0.308). Although relevant exposure data were unavailable for The Netherlands, the odds ratio for helmet effectiveness of those using racing, mountain, or hybrid bikes was similar to other estimates (OR = 0.371).
Conclusions: Despite potential weaknesses with case–control study designs, the best available evidence suggests that helmet use is an effective measure of reducing cycling head injury. 相似文献
Some commonly found species of soil bacteria use low molecular weight organic acids as their sole source of carbon and energy. This study shows that acids such as citrate and oxalate (produced in large amounts by fungi and plants) can rapidly be consumed by these bacteria. Two strains, Ralstonia eutropha and Xanthobacter autotrophicus, were cultured on acetate- and citrate-rich media. The resulting CO2 and/or HCO3- reacted with calcium ions to precipitate two polymorphs of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), calcite and vaterite, depending on the quantity of slime produced by the strains. This production of primary calcium carbonate crystals by oxalate- and citrate-degrading bacteria from soil organic carbon sources highlights the existence of an important and underestimated potential carbon sink. 相似文献
The ungulate and rodent fossil records are often used independently to understand mammalian evolutionary history. Few studies
have directly compared both records over long time periods and large geographic areas. Here, we compiled two datasets of European
fossil localities containing rodents and/or ungulates over 20 My (Early Miocene–Early Pliocene) and processed the data with
the same methodology. We counted the raw diversity and calculated a measure of evenness (Pielou’s index). After controlling
for potential biases on diversity estimators, we identify the evenness index as a more reliable estimator bringing interesting
insights into the way both mammal groups are structured by biotic or abiotic factors. In this study, we consider that an uneven
distribution of the species richness among families, when only some families successfully diversify within the “continental-scale
community”, represents a lower adaptability of this community to the environmental context. Pielou’s index is used to estimate
this adaptability through time. The responses of ungulates and rodents to environmental changes are very divergent, especially
facing the climatic changes known since the Middle Miocene. The general patterns suggest that rodent broad-scale assemblages
are affected by all kinds of perturbations, even short biotic and abiotic events, but show a better adaptability when facing
long-term abiotic changes. Unlike rodents, the ungulate assemblages show more stability in periods of relative environmental
stability but show less adaptability to long-term climatic changes. Life-history traits of mammals can help explain patterns
of diversity and biogeography at different spatial scales and may probably partly explain the opposite patterns evidenced
here. 相似文献
We tested if nesting habits influence ant feeding preferences and predatory behavior in the monophyletic genus Pseudomyrmex (Pseudomyrmecinae) which comprises terrestrial and arboreal species, and, among the latter, plant-ants which are obligate inhabitants of myrmecophytes (i.e., plants sheltering so-called plant-ants in hollow structures). A cafeteria experiment revealed that the diet of ground-nesting Pseudomyrmex consists mostly of prey and that of arboreal species consists mostly of sugary substances, whereas the plant-ants discarded all the food we provided. Workers forage solitarily, detecting prey from a distance thanks to their hypertrophied eyes. Approach is followed by antennal contact, seizure, and the manipulation of the prey to sting it under its thorax (next to the ventral nerve cord). Arboreal species were not more efficient at capturing prey than were ground-nesting species. A large worker size favors prey capture. Workers from ground- and arboreal-nesting species show several uncommon behavioral traits, each known in different ant genera from different subfamilies: leaping abilities, the use of surface tension strengths to transport liquids, short-range recruitment followed by conflicts between nestmates, the consumption of the prey’s hemolymph, and the retrieval of entire prey or pieces of prey after having cut it up. Yet, we never noted group ambushing. We also confirmed that Pseudomyrmex plant-ants live in a kind of food autarky as they feed only on rewards produced by their host myrmecophyte, or on honeydew produced by the hemipterans they attend and possibly on the fungi they cultivate. 相似文献
Glucocorticosteroids (GCs) of the hypothalam–pituitary–adrenal axis play a role in association with both stressful events
and daily life processes. However, relatively little is known about the role of GCs in relation to daily and seasonal life
processes in animals in the wild. In this paper, we present data on basal levels of plasma corticosterone CORT in chicks of
a pelagic seabird, the thin-billed prion, Pachyptila belcheri, during two predictable changes in demands, the daily activity pattern and the preparation for fledging. By comparing chicks
fed recently with unfed chicks, we test how GC levels are modified according to nutritional condition. In accordance with
their nocturnal feeding rhythm, chicks had a clear daily rhythm with increased CORT secretion at night, but CORT levels during
the active phase were also highly elevated in unfed chicks compared with fed chicks. Close to fledging, chicks rapidly increased
basal CORT levels, and again unfed chicks had higher levels than fed chicks, although the age effect here was stronger than
the effect of recent feeding. The present data thus support the hypothesis that GC levels are adjusted to life stages with
predictable changes in demands, but food availability and/or internal energy stores also affect the level to which GCs increase. 相似文献
Air samples collected on three different urban sites in East of France (Strasbourg, Besan?on, and Spicheren), from April 2006 to January 2007, were characterized to measure the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the particulate phase (PM10) and to examine their seasonal variation, diurnal variations, and emission sources.
Results
The average concentrations of ??PAHs were 12.6, 9.5, and 8.9?ng?m?3 for the Strasbourg, Besan?on, and Spicheren sites, respectively. Strong seasonal variations of individual PAH concentrations were found at the three sampling sites, with higher levels in the winter that gradually decreased to the lowest levels in the summer. The diurnal variations of PAH concentrations in summer presented highest concentrations during the morning (04:00?C10:00) and the evening (16:00?C22:00) times, indicating the important contribution from vehicle emissions, in the three sampling sites. Furthermore, the ratio of BaP/BeP suggests that the photochemical degradation of PAHs can suppress their concentrations in the midday/afternoon (10:00?C16:00), time interval of highest global irradiance. In winter, concentrations of PAH were highest during the evening (16:00?C22:00) time, suggesting that domestic heating can potentially be an important source for particulate PAH, for the three sampling sites.
Conclusion
Diagnostic ratios were used to identify potential sources of PAHs. Results showed that vehicle emissions may be the major source of PAHs, especially in summer, with a prevalent contribution of diesel engines rather than gasoline engines at the three sites studied, independently of the seasons. 相似文献