Bio-indicators in cadmium toxicity: Role of HSP27 and HSP70

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a family of proteins that are expressed by cells in reply to stressors. The changes in concentration of HSPs could be...     

Small-scale on-site treatment of fecal matter: comparison of treatments for resource recovery and sanitization

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - On-site small-scale sanitation is common in rural areas and areas without infrastructure, but the treatment of the collected fecal matter can be...     

Investigation of performance enhancement of solar still incorporated with Gallus gallus domesticus cascara as sensible heat storage material

In this research work, the conventional single slope still (CSS) with egg shells of breed Gallus gallus domesticus cascara as sensible heat storage (SHS) material are studied experimentally to enhance the yield. In this experimental investigation, the proposed single slope still (PSS) with SHS material was made in comparison with the CSS to evaluate the productivity of fresh water under the same ambient conditions. Comparatively, this PSS has higher thermal conductivity than the CSS. The yield obtained from the PSS is 2.46 L/m², while the yield from the CSS is 2.07 L/m². The average rate at which the rise of output fresh water obtained from the PSS is 18% more than the fresh water output obtained from the CSS. The daily energy efficiency of the PSS is 26.07%, and for the CSS, it is only 22.25%. The daily exergy efficiency of the PSS is 2.36%, and for the CSS, it is only 1.67%. Since using the egg shell will employ as organic waste management and modification in this still is economical, less initial, and maintenance cost.

     

Impact of invasive ant species on native fauna across similar habitats under global environmental changes

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biotic invasions can predominantly alter the dynamics, composition, functions, and structure of natural ecosystems. Social insects, particularly ants,...     

陕北黄土丘陵区不同土地利用方式下土壤碳剖面分布特征

黄土高原土层深厚,土壤剖面碳存储受土地利用方式影响明显.为探讨不同土地利用方式对深层土壤碳分布的影响,研究了人工经济林地(陕北米脂)、退耕还林地(神木)和防风固沙林地(榆林榆阳区)0~20.0 m土壤有机碳(SOC)和无机碳(SIC)的分布特征和差异.结果表明,在不同土地利用方式下SOC含量:矮化枣树(2.00 g·kg~(-1))未矮化枣树(1.54 g·kg~(-1))柠条林(0.97 g·kg~(-1))退化人工草地(0.81 g·kg~(-1))樟子松林(0.70 g·kg~(-1))荒草地(0.45 g·kg~(-1)),且各剖面之间SOC含量存在显著性差异(P0.05).在不同土地利用方式下SIC含量:矮化枣树(11.66 g·kg~(-1))≥未矮化枣树(11.59g·kg~(-1))柠条林(9.62 g·kg~(-1))退化人工草地(8.07 g·kg~(-1))樟子松林(4.32 g·kg~(-1))荒草地(0.47 g·kg~(-1));人工经济林和退耕还林(草)样地内所有土壤剖面之间SIC含量无显著性差异;人工经济林、退耕还林(草)剖面和防风固沙林地剖面SIC含量存在显著性差异(P0.05).矮化枣树、未矮化枣树、柠条林、退化人工草地、樟子松林和荒草地土壤剖面无机碳密度分别是有机碳密度的6.19、7.71、10.80、10.78、5.91和1.03倍.综上可见,不同土地利用方式之间土壤碳储量存在明显差异,无机碳的含量远高于有机碳.     

TiO2–PANI/Cork composite: A new floating photocatalyst for the treatment of organic pollutants under sunlight irradiation

A novel photocatalyst based on TiO_2–PANI composite supported on small pieces of cork has been reported. It was prepared by simple impregnation method of the polyaniline(PANI)–modified TiO_2 on cork. The TiO_2–PANI/Cork catalyst shows the unique feature of floating on the water surface. The as-synthesized catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron micrograph(SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), thermogravimetric analysis(TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra(UV–vis DRS) and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller(BET) surface area analysis. Characterization suggested the formation of anatase highly dispersed on the cork surface. The prepared floating photocatalyst showed high efficiency for the degradation of methyl orange dye and other organic pollutants under solar irradiation and constrained conditions, i.e., no-stirring and no-oxygenation. The TiO_2–PANI/Cork floating photocatalyst can be reused for at least four consecutive times without significant decrease of the degradation efficiency.     

Prevalence of Norovirus Infection in Children and Adults with Acute Gastroenteritis,Tehran, Iran, 2008–2009

Noroviruses are one of important agents that cause acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide. These viruses are belonging to Caliciviridae family and are genetically diverse. To date, there is no valuable data about prevalence of norovirus infection and the dominant genogroup/genotype among Iranian population. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of norovirus infection in Iranian patients with gastroenteritis referred to three hospitals of Tehran and to specify the dominant genogroup/genotype of this virus among our study population. A total of 293 patients with acute gastroenteritis were included in the study. Detection of norovirus was performed using RT-PCR method and confirmed by direct sequencing with specific designed primers for capsid region of norovirus genome. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the neighbor-joining method. Norovirus strains identified in our study were subsequently categorized according to previously defined genogroup/genotypes. Of these, norovirus GII was dominant genogroup. Sixty-five percent (17 of 26) of positive samples were determined as GII and 35% (9 of 26) were determined as GI, respectively, in 2008–2009. And among 8 sequenced strains of genogroup II the most frequent genotype was GII.3. The results of this study indicated that norovirus must be considered as one of the infectious causes of acute gastroenteritis among Iranian population. We also found that GII.3 is more prevalent in our study population. To the best of our knowledge there is limited data about the role of noroviruses in children and adults’ acute gastroenteritis among Iranian patients and this prevalence and genotyping report of norovirus infection could be remarkable for further studies.     

砂土与EPS颗粒混合的轻质土(LSES)临界循环应力比的试验研究

循环荷载下,砂土与EPS颗粒混合的轻质土(LSES)存在临界循环应力比Sth,将割线弹性模量衰减系数δ与循环次数的关系曲线能保持平缓的最大循环应力比定义为Sth,它是结构稳定与破坏两种状态的界限指标,根据动三轴试验结果,认为影响Sth的主要因素有围压、水泥掺量和EPS颗粒含量。一般来说,水泥掺量的增加、围压和EPS颗粒含量的减小均会提高Sth,但由于高围压下的结构重塑,水泥掺量低且EPS颗粒含量高的试样的Sth表现出一些不同的性状。     

Risk assessment of linear alkylbenzene sulphonates, LAS, in agricultural soil revisited: robust chronic toxicity tests for Folsomia candida (Collembola), Aporrectodea caliginosa (Oligochaeta) and Enchytraeus crypticus (Enchytraeidae)

To obtain robust data on the toxicity of LAS, tests with the collembolan Folsomia candida L., the oligochaetes Aporrectodea caliginosa Savigny (earthworm) and Enchytraeus crypticus Westheide and Graefe (enchytraeid) were performed in a sandy loam soil. Additionally limited tests with LAS spiked to sewage sludge, and subsequently mixed into soil, were performed. For the endpoint of interest, reproduction in soil, we found an EC10 of 205 mg LAS kg(-1) soil [8.6-401] [95% confidence limits] for F. candida and an EC10 of 46 mg LAS kg(-1) soil [13-80] for A. caliginosa after 28 days. E. crypticus was not affected by concentrations up to 120 mg LAS kg(-1) soil. When adding (low contaminated) non-spiked sludge to soil, high stimulation of reproduction was observed for E. crypticus and A. caliginosa but not for F. candida. We argue that this difference in stimulative response between the tested species is related to the difference in feeding behaviour. Sludge spiked with LAS did not significantly affect the reproduction of F. candida (fertility: number of juvenile offspring) and A. caliginosa (fecundity: number of cocoons) (dose equivalent to 181 g and 91 g LAS kg(-1) sludge, respectively). Significantly reduced reproduction was observed for E. crypticus (at 120 mg LAS kg(-1) soil+sludge corresponding to 72 g LAS kg(-1) sludge) compared to non-spiked sludge. The reproduction by E. crypticus was, however, comparable to the reproduction observed in the control soil without sludge. Compared to LAS directly spiked to soil, the reproductive output of organisms exposed to spiked sludge was either not significantly different (F. candida, E. crypticus) or significantly improved (A. caliginosa). More studies are needed in order to make firm conclusions on the potential effect of artificially contaminated sludge in soil systems.     

A two-generational reproductive toxicity study of zinc in rats

A two-generation reproductive toxicity study of zinc chloride (ZnCl(2)) was conducted in rats. F(o) male and female rats were administered 0.00 (control), 7.50 (low), 15.00 (mid) and 30.00 (high) mg/kg/day of ZnCl(2). Selected F(1) male and female rats were exposed to the same doses received by their parents (F(o)). Exposure of F(0) parental rats to ZnCl(2) showed significant reduction in fertility, viability (days 0 and 4), and the body weight of F(1) pups from the high-dose group but caused no effects on litter size, weaning index, and sex ratio. Similarly, the continued exposure of F(1) parental rats to ZnCl(2) also reduced fertility, liter size, viability (day 0), and the body weight of F(2) pups within the high-dose group but caused no effects on weaning index and sex ratio. Exposure of ZnCl(2) to F(0) and F(1) parental males resulted in a significant reduction in their body weights, and the F(0) and F(1) parental females did not show any significant difference in their body weights compared to their control groups. However, the postpartum dam weights of both F(0) and F(1) female rats were significantly reduced compared to their controls. Exposure of ZnCl(2) to F(o) and F(1) generation parental rats did not produce any significant change of their clinical signs as well as their clinical pathology parameters, except the alkaline phosphotase (ALK) level, which showed an upward trend in both sexes of both generations. Exposure of ZnCl(2) to F(0) rats resulted in a reduction of brain, liver, kidney, spleen and seminal vesicles weights of males and in the spleen and uterus of females. Similarly, exposure of F(1) rats to ZnCl(2) also resulted in reduction of brain, liver, kidney, adrenal, spleen, prostate and seminal vesicles weights of males and in spleen and uterus of females. ZnCl(2) exposure resulted in grossly observed gastro-intestianla (GI) tract, lymphoreticular/hematopoietic, and reproductive tract lesions in parental rats in both generations. Reduced body fat was also recorded in F(1) parental rats.