A pilot study of citizens' opinions on the Incident Command System in Taiwan

Local residents may have different views on disaster‐response modes depending on their cultural and socioeconomic background. The purpose of this study was to examine Taiwan residents' opinions on the Incident Command System (ICS). We performed a structured survey through face‐to‐face interviews in mudslide‐affected communities. Quantitative analysis showed that the residents exhibited a clear preference for the ICS core‐principle attributes of ‘integrated communications’, ‘transfer of command’ and ‘modular organisation’. By contrast, the residents tended towards a non‐ICS approach for ‘incident action plan’ and ‘manageable span of control’. Qualitative analysis revealed an uncertain attitude towards ‘transfer of command’ and ‘incident action plan’. Community acceptance is important in the promotion of the ICS. A better understanding of residents' preferences should be acquired through a broader community survey, allowing us to understand perspectives on the ICS among different societies and facilitate implementation of the ICS at the basic community level.     

Effects of ellagic acid on arylamine N‐acetyltransferase activity in human colon tumor cells

The inhibition of arylamine N‐acetyltransferase (NAT) activity by ellagic acid was determined in a human colon tumor (adenocarcinoma) cell line. Two assay systems were performed, one with cellular cytosols (9000g supernatant), the other with intact colon tumor cell suspensions. The NAT activity in a human colon tumor cell line was inhibited by ellagic acid in a dose‐dependent manner in both types of examined systems: i.e. the greater the concentration of ellagic acid in the reaction, the greater the inhibition of NAT activities in both systems. The data also indicated that ellagic acid decreased the apparent K _m and V _max of NAT enzymes from human colon tumor cells in both the systems examined. This report is the first demonstration which showed ellagic acid affect human colon tumor cell NAT activity.     

Cardiotoxin III suppresses the invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells by targeting proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src and reversing mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is the first step required for breast cancer to initiate metastasis. The aberrant activation of proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src regulates multiple functions during tumor progression. Cardiotoxin III, a basic polypeptide isolated from Naja naja atra venom, has been shown to exhibit anticancer activity; however, the effect of cardiotoxin III on the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of cancer cells remains elusive. Exposure of MDA-MB-231 cells to cardiotoxin III resulted in morphological changes and upregulation of E-cadherin with a concomitant decrease in N-cadherin and vimentin protein levels, resulting in the inhibition of cell migration and invasion. Cardiotoxin III induced downregulation of snail and slug expression. Simultaneously, cardiotoxin III suppressed Src phosphorylation and downstream activation of focal adhesion kinase, of the docking protein p130^cas, and of paxillin. In addition, cardiotoxin III inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. The Src specific inhibitor 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(dimethylethyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine decreased in the phosphorylation and the expression changes of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers in a similar way. Thus, cardiotoxin III has a novel anticancer effect by suppressing proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase activity, reversing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.     

Estimating the change of porosity in the saturated zone during air sparging

Introduction A ir sparging rem oves volatile organic conta- m inants from a saturated zone by com bining volatilization and aerobic biodegradation. A ir is injected below the w ater table through a slotted screen in a sparging w ell, and then rises to the…     

Detoxification and bioregulation are critical for long-term waterborne arsenic exposure risk assessment for tilapia

Long-term metal exposure risk assessment for aquatic organism is a challenge because the chronic toxicity of chemical is not only determined by the amount of accumulated chemical but also affected by the ability of biological regulation or detoxification of biota. We quantified the arsenic (As) detoxification ability of tilapia and developed a biologically based growth toxicity modeling algorithm by integrating the process of detoxification and active regulations (i.e., the balance between accumulated dose, tissue damage and recovery, and the extent of induced toxic effect) for a life span ecological risk prediction. Results showed that detoxification rate (k _dex) increased with increasing of waterborne As when the accumulated metal exceeded the internal threshold level of 19.1 μg g^− 1. The k _dex values were comparable to or even higher than the rates of physiological loss and growth dilution in higher exposure conditions. Model predictions obtained from the proposed growth toxicity model were consistent with the measured growth data. The growth toxicity model was also used to illustrate the health condition and growth trajectories of tilapia from birth to natural death under different exposure scenarios. Results showed that temporal trends of health rates and growth trajectories of exposed fish in different treatments decreased with increasing time and waterborne As, revealing concentration-specific patterns. We suggested that the detoxification rate is critical and should be involved in the risk assessments framework. Our proposed modeling algorithm well characterizes the internal regulation activities and biological response of tilapia under long-term metal stresses.     

Prediction of individual Freundlich isotherms from binary and ternary phenolic compounds mixtures

Method for simultaneous determination of individual component's adsorption equilibrium parameters for binary and ternary phenolic compounds mixtures was investigated in this research. The Freundlich equilibrium parameters of binary and ternary component of phenolic compounds were determined from one fixed composition of phenolic wastewater. The simulation results obtained from both binary and ternary systems on the basis of ideal adsorbed solution theory were consistent with single component equilibrium data.     

Developmental exposure to decabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE 209): effects on thyroid hormone and hepatic enzyme activity in male mouse offspring

Decabrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE 209) is the second most used brominated flame retardant (BFRs). Many studies have shown that some of the BFRs act as endocrine disruptors via alterations in thyroid hormone homeostasis and affect development. Little is known about the effect of prenatal exposure to PBDE 209 on the development in male offspring. Using a CD-1 mouse model, we attempt to estimate the possible effect of in utero exposure to PBDE 209 on thyroid hormone and hepatic enzymes activities in male offspring. Pregnant mice were administered different doses of PBDE 209 (10, 500, and 1500 mg/kg/day) or corn oil for controls per gavage from gestational days 0-17. In adult male offspring whose mothers had been treated with 1500 mg/kg of PBD 209, hepatic enzyme activity of S9 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) was weak but significantly increased (54%). However, no significant changes were observed in S9 4-nitrophenol uridinediphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) in any of the treatment groups. Serum triiodothyronine (T3) was found to have decreased significantly (ca. 21% both 10 mg/kg and 1500 mg/kg) in offspring, but not thyroxine (T4). Histopathological examination revealed that prenatal exposure of PBDE 209 might be related with cell swelling of hepatocytes in male offspring and there were mild changes in the thyroid glands in 1500 mg/kg group. These data demonstrate that PBDE 209 is likely an endocrine disrupter in male mice following exposure during development. Further studies using environmentally relevant doses are needed for hazard identification.     

Particle size distributions and health-related exposures of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) of sinter plant workers

This study measured particle size distributions of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in two workplace atmospheres of the sintering grate and rough roll shredder in a sintering plant, and to assess their workers’ health-related exposures. We found that the PCDD/F concentration of the sintering grate (site A = 14.47 pg m⁻³) was lower than that of the rough roll shredder (site B = 17.20 pg m⁻³). Particle size distributions of PCDD/Fs were in the form of the unimodal with the mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 4.74 μm and 5.23 μm, and geometric standard deviation (σ_g) of 3.15 and 2.15 for the site A and B, respectively. The above results suggest that the workplace of the site A had a less fraction of coarse particles than that of the site B. The estimated PCDD/F concentrations of the inhalable fraction (11.0 pg m⁻³) and thoracic fraction (8.89 pg m⁻³) of the site A were lower than those of the site B (12.4 and 9.39 pg m⁻³, respectively). But to the contrary the estimated respirable fraction of the site A (5.05 pg m⁻³) was slightly higher than that of the site B (4.93 pg m⁻³). Our results clearly indicate the importance to conduct particle size segregating samplings for assessing human PCDD/F exposures.     

Size distributions of nano/micron dicarboxylic acids and inorganic ions in suburban PM episode and non-episodic aerosol

The distribution of nano/micron dicarboxylic acids and inorganic ions in size-segregated suburban aerosol of southern Taiwan was studied for a PM episode and a non-episodic pollution period, revealing for the first time the distribution of these nanoscale particles in suburban aerosols. Inorganic species, especially nitrate, were present in higher concentrations during the PM episode. A combination of gas-to-nuclei conversion of nitrate particles and accumulation of secondary photochemical products originating from traffic-related emissions was likely a crucial cause of the PM episode. Sulfate, ammonium, and oxalic acid were the dominant anion, cation, and dicarboxylic acid, respectively, accounting for a minimum of 49% of the total anion, cation or dicarboxylic acid mass. Peak concentrations of these species occurred at 0.54 μm in the droplet mode during both non-episodic and PM episode periods, indicating an association with cloud-processed particles. On average, sulfate concentration was 16–17 times that of oxalic acid. Oxalic acid was nevertheless the most abundant dicarboxylic acid during both periods, followed by succinic, malonic, maleic, malic and tartaric acid. The mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of oxalic acid was 0.77 μm with a bi-modal presence at 0.54 μm and 18 nm during non-episodic pollution and an MMAD of 0.67 μm with mono-modal presence at 0.54 μm in PM episode aerosol. The concomitant formation of malonic acid and oxalic acid was attributed to in-cloud processes. During the PM episode in the 5–100 nm nanoscale range, an oxalic acid/sulfate mass ratio of 40.2–82.3% suggested a stronger formation potential for oxalic acid than for sulfate in the nuclei mode. For total cations (TC), total inorganic anions (TIA) and total dicarboxylic acids (TDA), major contributing particles were in the droplet mode, with least in the nuclei mode. The ratio of TDA to TIA in the nuclei mode increased greatly from 8.40% during the non-episodic pollution period to 28.08% during the PM episode, favoring dicarboxylic acid formation in the nuclei mode. The evidence suggests stronger formation strength and contribution potential exists for dicarboxylic acids than for inorganic salts in nanoscale particles, especially in PM episode aerosol.     

Using multiple-criteria decision-making techniques for eco-environmental vulnerability assessment: a case study on the Chi-Jia-Wan Stream watershed, Taiwan

The Chi-Jia-Wan Stream watershed, located in the area of the upstream Da-Chia River in central Taiwan, is famous for slopeland agriculture and the land-locked salmon. Improper agricultural activities have caused apparent ecosystem vulnerability and sensitivity. In this study, a system that combined three watershed-based environmental indicators with multiple-criteria decision-making techniques, the Analytical Hierarchy Process, and the Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluations was developed to assess eco-environmental vulnerability. The composite evaluation index system was set up including sediment, runoff, and nutrient factors. Supported by geographic information system and K-means clustering and taking the subwatershed as the evaluation unit, the vulnerability is classified into four levels: potential, low, moderate, and high. The evaluated results show that 8.82% of subwatersheds (six subwatersheds) are in the moderately and highly vulnerable zones. These subwatersheds represent vertical-belt distribution, mainly concentrated in the right side of the studied area and near the riparian zone along the Chi-Jia-Wan Stream. The exploited farmland in the moderately and highly vulnerable zones is about 142.21 ha, occupying 75.38% of the total farmland in the studied watershed. These seriously vulnerable zones that have caused degradation in the quality of the eco-environment should be treated with more best management practices for eco-environmental rehabilitation. Additionally, the proposed model can effectively evaluate the eco-environmental vulnerability grade for reference in policy planning and ecological restoration in this area.