Anti-oviposition activities of used sock media against a dengue vector: prospects of eco-friendly control and solutions to pollution

Yearly, huge amounts of sock refuse are discarded into the environment. Socks contain many molecules, and worn ones, which are rich in smell-causing bacteria, have a strong influence on animals’ behaviors. But the impacts of sock odor on the oviposition behavior of dengue vectors are unknown. We assessed whether Aedes albopictus changes its oviposition activity in response to the presence of used socks extract (USEx) in potential breeding grounds, using choice and no-choice bioassays (NCB). When furnished even chances to oviposit in two sites holding USEx and two others containing water (control), Ae. albopictus deposited significantly less eggs in USEx than in water sites. A similar pattern of oviposition preference was also observed when there were more oviposition options in water. When there were greater oviposition opportunities in USEx sites, Ae. albopictus oviposited preferentially in water. Females laid significantly more eggs during the NCB involving water than USEx. Also, significantly more mature eggs were retained by females in the NCB with USEx than in that with water. These observations strongly suggest the presence of molecules with either repellent or deterrent activities against Ae. albopictus females and provide an impetus to advocate the integration of used socks in dengue control programs. Such applications could be a realistic end-of-life recourse to reroute this waste from landfills.

     

Tolerance to,and avoidance of,hypoxia by the penaeid shrimp (Metapenaeus ensis)

Aquatic hypoxia caused by eutrophication may lead to mass mortality of valuable living resources such as fish and shrimp. However, there is little information on the hypoxic tolerance of penaeid shrimp, and whether they are able to avoid hypoxia. In laboratory experiments, LC50, LT50 and heart beats per minute were determined for juvenile Metapenaeus ensis at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 6.0 mg O2 l(-1). The 8-h LC50, for DO was 0.77 mg O2 l(-1), while the LT50 at 0.5 mg O2 l(-1) was 399 min. Heart beat rate significantly declined when DO fell below 1.0 mg O2 l(-1). When confronted with a gradient of dissolved oxygen, M. ensis were able to avoid hypoxic areas and move to oxygenated water. M. ensis appeared to be sensitive to hypoxia, and their ability to detect and avoid hypoxia may enhance their survival in habitats where hypoxia may occur.     

Hexabromocyclododecanes in soils and plants from a plastic waste treatment area in North China: occurrence,diastereomer- and enantiomer-specific profiles,and metabolization

Plastic waste is a source of organic contaminants such as hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs). HBCDs have been found to cause developmental and reproductive toxicity; it is important to investigate the occurrence and metabolization of HBCDs in the soil environments with plastic waste contamination. This work analyzed HBCDs and their metabolites in soil and plant samples collected from Xinle and Dingzhou—the major plastic waste recycling centers in North China. Results showed that total HBCD concentrations in soils followed the order: plastic waste treatment site (11.0–624 ng/g) > roadside (2.96–85.4 ng/g) ≥ farmland (8.69–55.5 ng/g). HBCDs were detected in all the plant samples with total concentrations ranging from 3.47 to 23.4 ng/g. γ-HBCD was the dominant congener in soils, while α-HBCD was preferentially accumulated in plants. Compositions of HBCD isomers in soils and plants were significantly different (P < 0.05) among sampling sites and among plant species. HBCDs in farmland soil and all plant samples exhibited high enantio-selectivity based on the enantiomeric fractions (EFs). Furthermore, metabolites of pentabromocyclododecenes (PBCDEs) were frequently identified in soils, and mono-OH-HBCDs were the most common ones in plants. This study for the first time provides evidences of HBCD contamination in the soil-plant system caused by plastic waste, their stereo-selectivity, and metabolization behavior, improving our understanding of the environmental behavior and fate of HBCDs.     

Theory and Model of Agricultural Insurance Subsidy

The issue of agricultural insurance subsidy is discussed in this paper aiming to make it provided more rationally and scientifically. It is started with the connection between agricultural insurance and financial subsidy. It is really necessary and crucial to implement the financial insurance due to the bad operational performance, especially in the developing countries. But the subsidy should be provided more rationally because financial subsidy has lots of negative effects. A model in competitive insurance markets developed by Ahsan et al （1982） and a farmers＇ decision model are developed to solve the optimal subsidized rate. Finally, the equation is got to calculate it. But a quantitative subsidized rate is not made here because the calculation should be under some restricted conditions, which are always absent in the developing countries. So the government should provide some subsidy for the ex ante research and preparation to get the scientific probability and premium rate.     

Numerical simulation and experimental research of fractal suspended carrier based on nonlinear equation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The geometric structure of the suspended carrier is an important factor that directly affects the effluent quality of the moving bed biofilm reactor,...     

Constructing 3D magnetic flower-like Fe3O4@SiO2@Co3O4@BiOCl heterojunction photocatalyst for degrading rhodamine B

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this work, the 3D magnetic flower-like Fe3O4@SiO2@Co3O4@BiOCl heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully prepared. The combination of BiOCl with...     

Dynamic characteristics of chlorine dispersion process and quantitative risk assessment of pollution hazard

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aim of this study was to analyze dispersion behavior characteristics and pollution hazard risk after a release of liquid chlorine. A full-scale...     

金鱼藻对不同扰动方式下悬浮物的生理响应

以金鱼藻为研究对象,分析悬浮物不同扰动方式(机械扰动和曝气扰动)、扰动强度以及悬浮物浓度对沉水植物生理特性的影响。结果表明,与曝气扰动相比,机械扰动对金鱼藻生理特性影响显著,搅拌强度的增大,金鱼藻叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素含量和POD活性不断下降,60 r/min时下降最快,搅拌强度与POD活性显著负相关。曝气扰动在前期促进金鱼藻的生长,后期抑制其生长,曝气强度4 m3/h时,金鱼藻生理指标降低最大,曝气强度与金鱼藻生理特性相关性不显著。随悬浮物浓度升高,金鱼藻叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素含量先升高后下降,金鱼藻生长最适悬浮物浓度为0.4~0.8 g/L。     

负载型颗粒活性炭催化过硫酸钠氧化降解橙黄G

通过在颗粒活性炭(GAC)上负载氧化铁,并以此作为催化剂(Fe/GAC)在常温常压下催化过硫酸钠(PS)产生硫酸根自由基降解偶氮染料橙黄G。研究了体系pH、氧化剂浓度、催化剂浓度对橙黄G去除率的影响,并且对催化剂的重复使用性能进行了测试。结果表明,在Fe/GAC/PS体系中,[OG]0=0.2 mmol/L,[GAC]=1 g/L,[PS]0=2 mmol/L,降解2 h后OG去除率为99%,且有较高的矿化率;随着氧化剂浓度和催化剂浓度的增加,OG的去除效率提高;催化剂有较好的重复使用性。利用扫描电镜(SEM)对催化剂进行了表征,可以看出在活性炭上成功负载氧化铁。利用化学分子探针竞争实验鉴定催化反应中的活性物种SO4-·和OH·。