Altered c-Fos expression demonstrates neuronal stress in mummichog, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fundulus heteroclitus</Emphasis>, exposed to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pfiesteria shumwayae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chaetoceros concavicornis</Emphasis>

To better understand sublethal effects of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on fish, mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus (L.), were exposed in the laboratory to varying, environmentally relevant densities of Pfiesteria shumwayae (Glasgow et Burkholder, CCMP 2089, dinoflagellate) and Chaetoceros concavicornis (Mangin, CCMP 169, diatom). Two experiments were conducted during the spring of 2003 and 2004 to quantitatively examine the effects of acute (2 h) P. shumwayae and C. concavicornis algal exposure on mummichog brain activity using c-Fos expression as a marker of altered neuronal activity. Brains from HAB-exposed fish were removed, sectioned, and stained using immunocytochemistry prior to quantifying neuronal c-Fos expression. Fish exposed to P. shumwayae and C. concavicornis showed increased c-Fos expression compared to unexposed control fish. A significant dose-response relationship was observed, with increased labeling in brains of fish exposed to higher cell densities for both HAB species tested (P ≤ 0.01). Increased labeling was found in the telencephalon, optic lobes, midbrain, and portions of the medulla. The greatest increases in expression were observed in the telencephalon of P. shumwayae-exposed fish, and in the telencephalon and optic lobes of C. concavicornis-exposed fish (P ≤ 0.01). These increases in c-Fos expression are consistent with other physical and chemical stress exposures observed in fish. Neuronal stress, evidenced by c-Fos expression, demonstrates a sublethal effect of exposure and changes in brain activity in fish exposed to HAB species.     

Lessons from Norovirus Outbreak in Warsaw,Poland, December 2012

Efficient foodborne outbreak investigations are important for identification of gaps in food safety and public health practice. This article reports on an investigation of a gastroenteritis outbreak linked to catering food following a Christmas reception at the National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene (NIPH-NIH) in Warsaw in December 2012. Of 192 employees eating food at the catering event, 97 (50.5 %) developed symptoms. Persons eating dishes with recipes containing frozen carrots were five times more likely to develop gastrointestinal symptoms compared to those who did not eat carrots. Laboratory analysis identified norovirus in stool samples taken from symptomatic persons. Leftover food was not available for testing. The investigators did not collect stool specimens from food handlers and did not conduct trace backs for the suspected food ingredients. This investigation underlines the need for a revision of an existing procedures and importance of their complementation with detailed instructions for the local public health authorities for effective completion of foodborne outbreaks investigations in Poland.     

Occurrence of Norovirus and Hepatitis A Virus in Wild Mussels Collected from the Baltic Sea

The aim of the study was to define the occurrence of human noroviruses of genogroup I and II (NoV GI and NoV GII) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the Baltic Sea mussels. The shellfish samples were taken at the sampling sites located on the Polish coast. In total, 120 shellfish were tested as pooled samples using RT-PCR and hybridisation with virus specific probes. NoV GI was detected in 22 (18.3 %), NoV GII in 28 (23.3 %), and HAV in 9 (7.5 %) of the shellfish. The nucleotide sequence analysis of the detected NoV GII strains showed a 97.3–99.3 % similarity to GII.4 virus strain. This is the first report describing the NoV and HAV occurrence in wild Baltic mussels and their possible role as bioindicators of seawater contamination with human enteric viruses.     

Synthesis and characterisation of potassium polytitanate for photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet

Potassium titanate nanostructures were synthesised by hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 （P25） in KOH and H2O2. As-produced powders were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption methods. Longitudinally-oriented-wire-like structures with a length up to several micrometres and diameters ranging from 10 to 30 nm were obtained. Larger size fibrous nanowires resulting from the hydrotherrnal treatment showed high affinity in adsorbing crystal violet （CV）, which was mainly due to their high surface area. The photocatalytic bleaching of CV solution revealed that the wires are photoactive under ultraviolet light irradiation. Macroporous nanowires are considered as effective adsorbents of CV, capable of photocatalvtic degradation, and they can be easily separated from the solution by settling.     

Industry to Industry By-products Exchange Network towards zero waste in palm oil refining processes

This paper presents a systematic framework for optimal utilization of by-products generated during crude palm oil refining processes. Three by-products are considered in the supply chain network: soapstock, palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) and spent bleaching earth (SBE). These by-products, generated from neutralization, deodorization and bleaching processes, are viable feedstocks to other commercial industries such as animal feed, biodiesel, lubricant and soap. The case study is formulated as Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) and integrated into the framework with the objective to maximize the refinery's profit as well as moving towards a conscious mindset of zero waste. This is the first time that such framework is developed and applied for the palm oil industry. The framework is called as Industry to Industry By-products Exchange Network (I2IBEN). An illustrative case study demonstrates a significant potential profit of MYR182, 893 per month.     

Incorporating Social Context Variables Into Paired Watershed Designs to Test Nonpoint Source Program Effectiveness1

Prokopy, Linda Stalker, Z. Asligül Göçmen, Jing Gao, Shorna Broussard Allred, Joseph E. Bonnell, Kenneth Genskow, Alicia Molloy, and Rebecca Power, 2011. Incorporating Social Context Variables Into Paired Watershed Designs to Test Nonpoint Source Program Effectiveness. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(1):196‐202. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2010.00508.x Abstract: In a traditional paired watershed study, watersheds are selected to be as similar as possible so that conclusions may be drawn about the performance of Best Management Practices. We have extended the paired watershed concept to examine the effectiveness of watershed management programs by adding comparative criteria for social characteristics. For four different 8 or 11/12 digit hydrologic unit code (HUC) watersheds in the Midwest, we have piloted a systematic method for selecting paired subwatersheds. First, we developed a list of 11 key variables. Next, a factor analysis was conducted to determine the underlying structure of the 11 input variables. Finally, in each of the four watersheds, potential paired subwatersheds (all 14 digit HUCs) were selected using the factors in a cluster analysis. Informal interviews were then held with key informants in each watershed to provide qualitative assessments of criteria that could impact the comparability of the subwatersheds. This method for selecting paired watersheds should be helpful for other researchers to test the effectiveness of watershed management programs focused on behavior change.     

Bayesian Nonstationary Frequency Analysis of Hydrological Variables1

Ouarda, T.B.M.J. and S. El‐Adlouni, 2011. Bayesian Nonstationary Frequency Analysis of Hydrological Variables. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 47(3):496‐505. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2011.00544.x Abstract: The present paper provides a discussion of nonstationary frequency analysis models in hydrology with a focus on the Bayesian approach. The Bayesian model provides an efficient estimation framework of hydrological quantiles in the presence of nonstationarity. In nonstationary frequency analysis models, the parameters are functions of covariates, allowing for dependent parameters and trends. The use of the nonstationary Generalized Maximum Likelihood Estimation method in hydrologic frequency analysis is discussed. This model allows using prior information concerning the variables under study and considering a number of models (linear, quadratic, etc.) of the dependence of the parameters on covariates. A discussion is also provided concerning the use of the reversible jump Monte Carlo Markov Chain procedure which allows carrying out the estimation of the posterior distributions of the parameters and the selection of the Bayesian model at the same time. An application to a case study is presented to illustrate the potential of the model.     

Dissipation of atrazine, enrofloxacin, and sulfamethazine in wood chip bioreactors and impact on denitrification

Wood chip bioreactors are receiving increasing attention as a means of reducing nitrate in subsurface tile drainage systems. Agrochemicals in tile drainage water entering wood chip bioreactors can be retained or degraded and may affect denitrification. The degradation of 5 mg L atrazine, enrofloxacin, and sulfamethazine under denitrifying conditions in wood chips from an in situ reactor was determined. The impact of these chemicals on denitrifying microorganisms was assessed using the denitrification potential assay, most probable number (MPN), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the gene of the denitrifiers. Initial half-lives for these chemicals in the aqueous phase were 0.98 d for atrazine, 0.17 d for enrofloxacin, and 6.2 d for sulfamethazine. Similar rates of disappearance in autoclaved and nonautoclaved wood chip solutions during the first 48 h suggested sorption was the dominant mechanism. The presence of atrazine did not impair denitrification potential, the MPN, or the copy number. The denitrifier MPN and copy number in sulfamethazine- and enrofloxacin-treated microcosms were less than the control within the first 5 d after chemical addition, whereas the denitrification potentials were not affected. However, after 45 d the denitrification rate, MPN and gene copy numbers for sulfamethazine and enrofloxacin were similar to that of the no-chemical control, indicating that acclimation of the denitrifier population to the antibiotic or reduced bioavailability over time allowed recovery of the denitrifier population.     

Influence of the local spring warming on the breeding phenology in blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) in Croatia

Recent papers have shown that climate change affects many species, including birds. Several papers from different areas have devoted attention to the negative correlation between the dates of breeding and year, and also negative correlation between the dates of breeding and air spring temperatures. Recent work give some firm evidence for postulating causal relationship between spring temperature and laying dates. We used 31 years (1979-2009) of data from blackcap Sylvia atricapilla in Mokrice area, Northwestern Croatia to assess whether there has been any systematic change in breeding phenology through time.Among environmental factors possibly affecting the breeding date, consideration was given to mean monthly air temperatures (April-May). Over the past three decades, the breeding date of blackcap in our study population has changed significantly: They started breeding progressively earlier (11.77 days). Two regression analysis with laying date as criterion variable showed that spring temperatures can significantly predict variation of laying date and that there are also some other unknown factors which significantly explain variation of laying date. We conclude that blackcaps across Northwestern Croatia are breeding earlier and that mean air spring temperatures is probably the most important factor causing it, among other factors.