Optimization of ambient Air Quality Monitoring Networks

A method has been developed to obtain a joint solution to the problem of optimum number and configuration of ambient air quality monitors, on the principles of spatial correlation analysis and the minimum spanning tree. The interest in this case is to represent the patterns of regional air quality, at a minimum of an overlap of information. This methodology is extended to account for the uncertainties in air quality simulations and also to incorporate the probabilities of occurrence. As an illustration to these methodologies, an example of Taipei City, Taiwan has been considered.     

Demographic antecedents and performance consequences of structural holes in work teams

This paper addresses two important questions concerning social fragmentation in work teams. First, from where do disconnections between team members, measured in terms of the proportion of structural holes within the work team, derive? Second, what are the consequences for team performance of having more or less structural holes between team members? In answering the first question, the research investigated whether demographic diversity in teams played a role in predicting the proportion of structural holes in team friendship networks. For 19 teams at a wood products company, there were no effects of ethnic and gender diversity on structural hole proportions. However, age diversity significantly reduced the extent of structural ‘holeyness.’ In investigating the second question, two countervailing tendencies were considered. In the absence of structural holes, teams are likely to be at low risk for new ideas. But fragmented teams in which team members are separated by many structural holes are likely to have difficulty coordinating. The researchers demonstrated a curvilinear effect: a moderate level of structural diversity in teams was positively associated with team performance. Thus, the research suggested that it is structural diversity (measured in terms of the proportion of structural holes) rather than demographic diversity that matters in the prediction of team performance. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A short-cut method for assessing absorbents for post-combustion carbon dioxide capture

A short-cut method for the estimation of the minimum regeneration energy and optimum solvent flow rate in post-combustion carbon dioxide capture by absorption is presented. It is developed for comparing solvents of which only little thermo-physical data is known. The closed absorber–desorber cycle is described by an equilibrium stage model (modified Kremser equation with discretized equilibrium curves). The method can be implemented in any mathematical toolbox or as stand-alone solution. The only required input is the solubility data at absorber and desorber conditions, the heat of absorption and heat capacities. The caloric data may be estimated. The method was applied to monoethanolamine (MEA) and two solvents from the EU-project CASTOR. Comparisons with experimental results from pilot-plant studies with MEA show that the method, despite its simplicity, gives reasonable results. The method should also be useful in other applications where absorbents, of which only little data is available, need to be screened.     

Heavy metal contamination of drinking water in Kamrup district, Assam, India

This study was undertaken to assess the heavy metal concentration of the drinking water with respect to zinc, copper, cadmium, manganese, lead and arsenic in Kamrup district of Assam, India. Ground water samples were collected from tube wells, deep tube wells and ring wells covering all the major hydrogeological environs. Heavy metals in groundwater are estimated by using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Perkin Elmer Analyst 200. Data were assessed statistically to find the distribution pattern and other related information for each metal. The study revealed that a good number of the drinking water sources were contaminated with cadmium, manganese and lead. Arsenic concentrations although did not exceeded WHO limits but was found to be slightly elevated. Copper and zinc concentrations were found to be within the prescribed WHO limits. An attempt has also been made to ascertain the possible source of origin of the metals. Positive and significant correlation existing between manganese with zinc and copper indicates towards their similar source of origin and mobility. In view of the present study and the level of heavy metal contamination, it could be suggested to test the potability of the water sources before using it for drinking purpose.     

Contemporary forest loss in Myanmar: Effect of democratic transition and subsequent timber bans on landscape structure and composition

This study addresses the effect of political transition and subsequent timber bans on forest loss in Myanmar, in the context of identified drivers. Cook’s Distance (CD) was applied to remotely sensed time-series forest loss dataset to measure the effect of the events. Forest loss derived fragmentation metrics were linked to drivers at a landscape scale. Results show that at the national level, the political transition in 2011 had maximum effect (CD 0.935) on forest loss while the timber bans decreased forest loss by 612.04 km² and 213.15 km² in 2015 and 2017 (CD 0.146 and 0.035), respectively. The effect of the events varied for different States/Regions. The dominant drivers of change shifted from plantations in 2011 to infrastructure development in 2015. This study demonstrates the effects of policy on forest loss at various scales and can inform decision-makers for forest conservation, planning and development of mitigation measures.     

Arsenate and arsenite-induced inhibition and recovery in two diazotrophic cyanobacteria Nostoc muscorum and Anabaena sp.: study on time-dependent toxicity regulation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Exposure time, metal bio-accumulation, and upregulation of ascorbate-glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle are the key factor that provide tolerance against...     

The relative importance of COVID-19 pandemic impacts on biodiversity conservation globally

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on almost all aspects of human society and endeavor; the natural world and its conservation have not been spared. Through a process of expert consultation, we identified and categorized, into 19 themes and 70 subthemes, the ways in which biodiversity and its conservation have been or could be affected by the pandemic globally. Nearly 60% of the effects have been broadly negative. Subsequently, we created a compendium of all themes and subthemes, each with explanatory text, and in August 2020 a diverse group of experienced conservationists with expertise from across sectors and geographies assessed each subtheme for its likely impact on biodiversity conservation globally. The 9 subthemes ranked highest all have a negative impact. These were, in rank order, governments sidelining the environment during their economic recovery, reduced wildlife-based tourism income, increased habitat destruction, reduced government funding, increased plastic and other solid waste pollution, weakening of nature-friendly regulations and their enforcement, increased illegal harvest of wild animals, reduced philanthropy, and threats to survival of conservation organizations. In combination, these impacts present a worrying future of increased threats to biodiversity conservation but reduced capacity to counter them. The highest ranking positive impact, at 10, was the beneficial impact of wildlife-trade restrictions. More optimistically, among impacts ranked 11-20, 6 were positive and 4 were negative. We hope our assessment will draw attention to the impacts of the pandemic and, thus, improve the conservation community's ability to respond to such threats in the future.     

Analysis of barriers in e-waste management in developing economy: an integrated multiple-criteria decision-making approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - An increasing amount of electronic waste (e-waste) is not a new concern. It has been causing trouble globally. This waste comprises valuable metals...     

Diverse trait-mediated interactions in a multi-predator, multi-prey community

Trait-mediated interactions (TMII) can alter the outcome or magnitude of species interactions. We examined how the interaction between a guild of ground and rove beetles and their fly egg prey was altered by a larger predator, the ground beetle Pterostichus melanarius, and an additional prey, aphids. In field and laboratory experiments, we manipulated the presence or absence of P. melanarius and aphids and recorded the impact of these manipulations on beetle activity and fly egg predation. Individually, aphids, by serving as preferred prey, and P. melanarius, by reducing focal beetle activity, weakened egg predation. However, egg predation was restored when both aphids and P. melanarius were present together, because aphids triggered greater foraging activity, and thus increased incidental predation of fly eggs, by P. melanarius. Thus, TMII among subsets of the community that were disruptive to predation on fly eggs could not be summed to predict the dominant, positive TMII within a more diverse community. Future TMII studies should include more realistic representations of species diversity, and should not ignore the influence of prey on predator behavior.     

Pyrene remediation by Trametes maxima: an insight into secretome response and degradation pathway

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The rapid pace of economic development has resulted in the release of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the environment. Microbial...