Do national levels of individualism and internal locus of control relate to well‐being: an ecological level international study

Data were collected from managers in 24 nations/territories on work locus of control (LOC), individualism–collectivism (I–C), and well‐being (job satisfaction, absence of psychological strain, and absence of physical strain). There were significant mean differences across samples on all five of these measures, and consistent with our hypothesis, at the ecological or sample mean level well‐being was associated with an internal locus of control. However, contrary to our hypothesis, well‐being was not associated with I–C, despite a strong correlation between I–C and LOC. Findings at the ecological level were consistent with the literature concerning the salutary effects of control on well‐being. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Norovirus GII.17 Outbreak Linked to an Infected Post-Symptomatic Food Worker in a French Military Unit Located in France

In February 2016, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred in a French military unit located in Poitiers, France. Attack rate was of 34% (103/300). A case–control study identified association between illness and cake consumption. Stool samples were tested positive for Norovirus GII.17 for one patient and one post-symptomatic food worker (FW). The FW presented vomiting one day before cake preparation. The NoV strain was probably spread through food worker hand contact. Prevention of Norovirus foodborne outbreaks implies new guidelines for FWs management in France and Europe.     

Detection of metallothionein in the intestinal mucosa and brain with 109cadmium∗

Metallothionein (MT) has a great capacity of binding metal ions showing an interesting connection with metal toxicology, as a biochemical marker for environmental metal pollution.

To normal male Wistar rats (200±10 g) and other groups with ferropenic anemia, are administered 1 mg Cd/Kg/day, during 6 days, and MT labelled with the administration 2 h before sacrifice of 3 μCi ¹⁰⁹CdCl₂, also through intragastric catheter. The MT concentration in the intestinal mucosa is expressed in μg MT/g fresh tissue, being for control rats 1.4 ± 0.5; for rats administered with 6 doses of Cd 2.5 ± 0.6 (P<0.05); with ferropenic anemia 4.3±0.7 (P<0.001), and for anemic rats treated with 6 doses Cd 12 + 0,3 (P<0.001) μg MT/g fresh tissue respectively. PAGE 15% T, 2% C_Bis show for intestinal mucosa 2 MT peaks and for brain 3 MT peaks. Anemia induce MT accumulation and increases cadmium incorporation, being anemic subjects eligibles to be submitted first to control and detoxication than the rest of the population, and also MT should be studied as biochemical marker of the pollution.     

Soil microorganisms determine the sorption of radionuclides within organic soil systems

The potential of soil microorganisms to enhance the retention of (137)Cs and (85)Sr in organic systems was assessed in a series of experiments. A biologically active, 'mineral-free', organic material, produced under laboratory conditions from leaves, was used as the uptake matrix in all experiments to minimise potential interference from competing clay minerals. Biological uptake and release were differentiated from abiotic processes by comparing the sorption of radionuclides in sterilised organic material with sterile material inoculated with soil extracts or single fungal strains. Our results show conclusively that living components of soil systems are of primary importance in the uptake of radionuclides in organic material. The presence of soil microorganisms significantly enhanced the retention of Cs in organic systems and approximately 70% of the Cs spike was strongly (irreversibly) bound (remained non-extractable) in the presence of microorganisms compared to only approximately 10% in abiotic systems. Sorption of (85)Sr was not significantly influenced by the presence of soil microorganisms. A non-linear temperature response was observed for the retention in biotic systems with increased uptake at between 10 and 30 degrees C and lower retention at temperatures above or below the optimum range. The optimum temperatures for biological uptake were between 15 and 20 degrees C for Cs, and 25 and 30 degrees C for Sr. Our results indicate that single strains of soil and saprotrophic fungi make an important contribution to the sorption of Cs and Sr in organic systems, but can only account for part of the strong, irreversible binding observed in biotic systems. Single strains of soil fungi increased the amount of non-extractable (137)Cs (by approximately 30%) and (85)Sr (by approximately 20%) in the organic systems as compared to abiotic systems, but the major fraction of (137)Cs and (85)Sr sorbed in systems inoculated with saprotrophic fungi remained extractable.     

Retention of Cd, Zn and Co on hydroxyapatite filters

This study qualifies and quantifies the immobilization of Cd, Zn and Co, (used as models of bivalent metal ions due to their relevant toxicity) in filters of synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAP) [Ca5(PO4)3OH]. They were flushed with solutions containing Cd (1 x 10(-5)M), Zn and Co (1 x 10(-4)M) at constant pH (8.6) and ionic strength (0.01 M). The concentration of these metal ions in the outlet was measured by ICP-OEM spectroscopy. The software PHREEQC (version 2.4.2) was used to model sorption process and the potential effect of salinity (KCl), pH, alkalinity (NaHCO3) and hardness (CaCl2) over the efficiency of the treatment. Results showed an excellent retention capacity of HAP for Cd, Zn and Co. Sorption data were successfully described considering a mix model of surface complexation onto phosphate surface groups, ionic exchange in surface calcium sites and the precipitation of ZnO. Co exchange and surface complexation constants (Kex and Kc) were taken from previous experiments, while KexCd=0.32 and KcCd=0.63 were estimated from our modeling results. Predictive values of metal ion sorption show that: (a) an increase in hardness does not play a significant role in the retention capacity of these metals on HAP; (b) an increase in alkalinity promotes the precipitation of MeCO3 which could alter the hydrodynamic of the column; (c) a decrease in pH and an increase in salinity inhibit ZnO precipitation enhancing Zn and Cd adsorption and decreasing Co retention on HAP.     

Phosphorus removal in denitrifying woodchip bioreactors varies by wood type and water chemistry

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Denitrifying woodchip bioreactors are a practical nitrogen (N) mitigation technology but evaluating the potential for bioreactor phosphorus (P)...