Cytogenetic biomonitoring of oral mucosa cells of crack cocaine users

The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate genomic damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis, and karyorrhexis) in exfoliated oral mucosa cells from crack cocaine users by micronucleus test. A total of 30 crack cocaine users and 30 health controls (non-exposed individuals) were included in this setting. Individuals had epithelial cells from cheek mechanically exfoliated, placed in fixative, and dropped in clean slides, which were checked for the above nuclear phenotypes. The results pointed out significant statistical differences (p?<?0.05) of micronucleated oral mucosa cells from crack cocaine users. Exposure to crack cocaine caused an increase of other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity such as karyolysis in oral cells as well. In summary, these data indicate that crack cocaine is able to induce chromosomal breakage and cellular death in oral mucosa cells of users.     

基于博弈赋权物元和证据理论的无线闭塞中心风险评估*

为客观地对无线闭塞中心进行风险评估,建立基于博弈赋权物元和证据理论的评估模型,根据故障树分析法识别的风险因子构建评估指标体系,采用博弈论思想对直觉模糊层次分析法计算的主观权重和熵权法计算的客观权重进行最优组合,进而确定综合权重。运用物元理论和证据理论确定各指标的风险等级和系统整体风险等级,并通过实例分析对评估模型进行对比验证。结果表明:无线闭塞中心整体风险等级为“可容许的”,与实际情况相符。其中,系统外部通信故障的风险等级为“不期望的”,需要对其相关设备加强风险控制。     

溶液对蛋白质污染膜的清洗效果分析

采用牛血清蛋白（BSA）代表有机物,自行开发了聚偏氟乙烯（PVDF）膜片,结合耗散型石英晶体微天平（QCM-D）,考察不同NaCl浓度条件下BSA在PVDF膜面的微观解吸行为及吸附层结构特征;并使用原子力显微镜测定相应离子条件下与膜污染行为相关的微观作用力大小,综合膜性能恢复实验,解析NaCl溶液对有机物污染膜的清洗机理. 结果表明：随着NaCl离子浓度的从1增加到300 mmol·L-1,PVDF与羧基官能团之间的相互作用力逐渐减小,BSA污染层松散度逐渐增大;同时引入大量的水合Na+离子进入BSA污染层内部,破坏BSA污染层内部的静电吸引力和氢键,进而破坏吸附层结构,伴随着BSA污染膜的通量恢复率随着NaCl离子浓度的增加而大幅度提高。     

Glyphosate concentrations in global freshwaters: are aquatic organisms at risk?

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Glyphosate is the most used herbicide worldwide. Many studies have reported glyphosate risks to aquatic organisms of different trophic levels....     

Evidence of reproductive disturbance in Astyanax lacustris (Teleostei: Characiformes) from the Doce River after the collapse of the Fundão Dam in Mariana,Brazil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The Fundão Dam collapsed, on November 5th, 2015, dumping more than 50 million/m3 of iron ore tailings, enriched with metals, into the Doce River...     

Magnetic photocatalysts from δ-FeOOH and TiO2 and application in reactions for degradation of methylene blue and paracetamol with UV-C and sunlight

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Water contamination is a common problem, especially considering dyes and drugs disposal. A possible and effective treatment method to remove these...     

Acute and chronic impacts caused by aromatic hydrocarbons on bacterial communities at Boa Viagem and Forte do Rio Branco Beaches, Guanabara Bay, Brazil

The bacterial community presented significantly different hydrocarbonoclastic activity under acute and chronic impacts. Benzoic acid, toluene, benzene and xylene were used in final concentrations of 5, 10 and 15 mM and bacterial biomass was quantified through protein dosage. Under acute impact, the highest biomass percentages occurred between the 11th and 14th days; under chronic impact, between the 20th and 29th days. Under acute and chronic impacts, the bacterial biomass presented higher nutritional specialization at Boa Viagem Beach, using the aromatic hydrocarbons up to a concentration of 15 mM. Under acute impact, the concentration of the hydrocarbons constituted a critical factor for the bacterial flora from Forte do Rio Beach, because biomass increases only occurred in concentrations of 5 mM; under chronic impact, the aromatic hydrocarbons induced the specialization and increased bacterial biomass for 15 mM toluene. Benzoic acid (15 mM) was used by the bacteria from Boa Viagem and Forte do Rio Branco Beaches.     

The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme: identifying chemical risks to top predators in Britain

The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) is a long term (>40 y), UK-wide, exposure monitoring scheme that determines the concentration of selected pesticides and pollutants in the livers and eggs of predatory birds. This paper describes how the PBMS works, and in particular highlights some of the key scientific and policy drivers for monitoring contaminants in predatory birds and describes the specific aims, scope, and methods of the PBMS. We also present previously unpublished data that illustrates how the PBMS has been used to demonstrate the success of mitigation measures in reversing chemical-mediated impacts; identify and evaluate chemical threats to species of high conservation value; and finally to inform and refine monitoring methodologies. In addition, we discuss how such schemes can also address wider conservation needs.     

Causes of change in nitrophytic and oligotrophic lichen species in a Mediterranean climate: impact of land cover and atmospheric pollutants

With the aim of determining the main drivers of changes in nitrophytic and oligotrophic macro-lichen communities in an industrial region with a Mediterranean climate, we considered both land-cover types and atmospheric pollutants. We determined the relation between the abundance of nitrophytic and oligotrophic species with environmental factors considering the distance of influence of land-cover types. The results showed that oligotrophic species decreased in the proximity of artificial areas, barren land and agricultural areas, associated with higher concentrations of NO₂ and Zn, and Ti, probably dust of industrial and agricultural origin. Nitrophytic species were positively related to all the mentioned land-cover types, and with higher concentrations of Fe and N. Magnesium, probably from ocean aerosols, was negatively related to oligotrophic species and positively to nitrophytic.     

Synthesis and application of graphene oxide as a nanoadsorbent to remove Cd (II) and Pb (II) from water: adsorption equilibrium,kinetics, and regeneration

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this work, graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized by the modified Hummers method. The nanomaterial was characterized by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy,...