Arsenic contamination in water,soil, sediment and rice of central India

Arsenic contamination in the environment (i.e. surface, well and tube-well water, soil, sediment and rice samples) of central India (i.e. Ambagarh Chauki, Chhattisgarh) is reported. The concentration of the total arsenic in the samples i.e. water (n=64), soil (n=30), sediment (n=27) and rice grain (n=10) were ranged from 15 to 825 μg L⁻¹, 9 to 390 mg kg⁻¹, 19 to 489 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.018 to 0.446 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. In all type of waters, the arsenic levels exceeded the permissible limit, 10 μg L⁻¹. The most toxic and mobile inorganic species i.e. As(III) and As(V) are predominantly present in water of this region. The soils have relatively higher contents of arsenic and other elements i.e. Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ga, Zr, Sn, Sb, Pb and U. The mean arsenic contents in soil of this region are much higher than in arsenic soil of West Bengal and Bangladesh. The lowest level of arsenic in the soil of this region is 3.7 mg kg⁻¹ with median value of 9.5 mg kg⁻¹. The arsenic contents in the sediments are at least 2-folds higher than in the soil. The sources of arsenic contamination in the soil of this region are expected from the rock weathering as well as the atmospheric deposition. The environmental samples i.e. water, soil dust, food, etc. are expected the major exposure for the arsenic contamination. The most of people living in this region are suffering with arsenic borne diseases (i.e. melanosis, keratosis, skin cancer, etc.).     

The Presence of Calcium Oxalate Dihydrate (Weddellite) in Street Sediments from Niterói, Brazil and Its Health Implications

Established research in first world urban environments has shown street sediments to be effective sinks for heavy metals and emphasises the health risks to children by its inhalation or ingestion. In third world countries with fewer pollution controls, contamination may be augmented by additional pollutants such as sewage discharge into urban streets and/or periodic inundation with sewage-laden run-off. This pollutant not only contains heavy metals and organic matter, but calcium oxalates that may derive directly from the sewage itself. To study this premise street sediments were collected from sites of varying industrialisation and sewage contamination within the city of Niteroi, Brazil. Calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddellite) was identified by X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infra red and scanning electron microscopy techniques and oxalate concentrations in <63m and colloidal (clay and organic matter) fractions, were determined by ion chromatography. Oxalate in colloidal fractions averaged 43601mgkg^–1 in sewage contaminated industrialised urban zones, 4519mgkg^–1 in suburban areas and 17477mgkg^–1 in suburbs with favelas (shantytowns-of Niterói). Oxalate concentrations coincide with high levels of metal ions (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr) that stabilise calcium oxalate dihydrate and prevent its dehydration to the monohydrate (whewellite). Lower levels of oxalate were found in lichen-covered roof sediment, plaster and mortar samples. Oxalate concentration coincides with sewage contamination and street sediments appear to act as a sink for calcium oxalate dihydrate derived from sewage. Previous studies have shown that low levels of exposure can damage kidneys and the nervous system, while prolonged exposure can cause severe corneal, retinal and skin damage, cyanosis and possibly gangrene. Contact with blood serum may result in hypocalcemia, muscular stimulation, convulsions and finally collapse. The conditions described are common throughout urban areas of the developing world and may suggest a particular environmental hazard in these regions.     

Normal karyotype in cultured chorionic villus cells,but mosaicism in amniotic and fetal cells

A case with a normal male karyotype in cultured chorionic villus cells, but 46,XY/45,X/ 46,X,i(Yq) mosaicism in amniotic and fetal tissue is reported. The fetus was a phenotypic male. Pathological examination revealed discrete features, which might indicate a syndrome, and histological examination showed large, bright cells in the tubules of the testes. Possible explanations for discordance between the karyotype of embryonic and extraembryonic tissue are discussed.     

基于i1Mx-27的视频监控终端的设计和实现

介绍了一种基于新一代多媒体应用平台i.Mx-27和嵌入式Linux的图像采集和远程监控系统。阐述了系统各模块的硬件构成,系统的运行原理和软件设计。该终端实现了使远程PC通过Web浏览器方式进行实时视频监控。     

Carbon dioxide emission in relation with irrigation and organic amendments from a sweet corn field

Soil moisture and organic matter level affects soil respiration and microbial activities, which in turn impact greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of irrigation levels (75% [deficit], 100% [full], and 125% [excess] of reference crop evapotranspiration requirements), and organic amendments (OA) type (chicken manure [CM] and bone meal [BM]) and OA application rates (0,168, 336 and 672 kg total N ha^?1) on (i) soil physical properties (bulk density, organic matter content and soil moisture content) and (ii) soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from a highly weathered tropical Hawai'ian soil. Carbon dioxide readings were consistently taken once or twice a week for the duration of the cropping season. A drip irrigation system was used to apply the appropriate amount of irrigation water to the treatment plots. Treatments were randomly selected and corresponding organic amendments were manually incorporated into the soil. Plots were cultivated with sweet corn (Zea mays ‘SS-16’). Soil moisture content within and below the rootzone was monitored using a TDR 300 soil moisture sensor (Spectrum Technologies, Inc., Plainfield, IL, USA) connected with 12 cm long prongs. Soil bulk density and organic matter content were determined at the end of the cropping season. Analysis of variance results revealed that OA type, rate, and their interaction had significant effect on soil CO₂ flux (P < 0.05). Among the OA rates, all CM mostly resulted in significantly higher soil CO₂ fluxes compared to BM and control treatment (p < 0.05). The two highest rates of BM treatment were not significantly different from the control with regard to soil CO₂ flux. In addition, organic amendments affected soil moisture dynamics during the crop growing season and organic matter content measured after the crop harvest. While additional studies are needed to further investigate the effect of irrigation levels on soil CO₂ flux, it is recommended that in order to minimize soil CO₂ emissions, BM soil amendments could be a potential option to reduce soil CO₂ fluxes from agricultural fields similar to the one used in this study.     

A protocol for eliciting nonmaterial values through a cultural ecosystem services frame

Stakeholders’ nonmaterial desires, needs, and values often critically influence the success of conservation projects. These considerations are challenging to articulate and characterize, resulting in their limited uptake in management and policy. We devised an interview protocol designed to enhance understanding of cultural ecosystem services (CES). The protocol begins with discussion of ecosystem‐related activities (e.g., recreation, hunting) and management and then addresses CES, prompting for values encompassing concepts identified in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) and explored in other CES research. We piloted the protocol in Hawaii and British Columbia. In each location, we interviewed 30 individuals from diverse backgrounds. We analyzed results from the 2 locations to determine the effectiveness of the interview protocol in elucidating nonmaterial values. The qualitative and spatial components of the protocol helped characterize cultural, social, and ethical values associated with ecosystems in multiple ways. Maps and situational, or vignette‐like, questions helped respondents articulate difficult‐to‐discuss values. Open‐ended prompts allowed respondents to express a diversity of ecosystem‐related values and proved sufficiently flexible for interviewees to communicate values for which the protocol did not explicitly probe. Finally, the results suggest that certain values, those mentioned frequently throughout the interview, are particularly salient for particular populations. The protocol can provide efficient, contextual, and place‐based data on the importance of particular ecosystem attributes for human well‐being. Qualitative data are complementary to quantitative and spatial assessments in the comprehensive representation of people's values pertaining to ecosystems, and this protocol may assist in incorporating values frequently overlooked in decision making processes.     

抗生素制药废水处理技术进展

在分析抗生素废水的来源及特点的基础上,介绍了抗生素废水处理技术的应用及其效果,同时进行分析比较,提出抗生素制药废水处理技术发展中需改善的问题.     

How do flexibility i‐deals relate to work performance? Exploring the roles of family performance and organizational context

Drawing on the work–home resources model and conservation of resources theory, in this study, we explore how flexibility idiosyncratic deals (i‐deals) relate to employees' work performance through their family performance. In line with the work–home resources model, we introduce 2 contextual conditions to explain when our proposed associations may unfold. One is a facilitator: perceived organizational support; and the other is a stressor: perceived hindering work demands. The results of a matched sample of employees and their supervisors working in 2 companies in El Salvador support our hypotheses. Our findings show that the benefits of flexibility i‐deals to the work domain (i.e., work performance) extend only through the family domain (i.e., family performance). Our findings also emphasize that flexibility i‐deals do not unfold in a dyadic vacuum: For employees who perceive organizational support to be higher, the association between flexibility i‐deals and family performance is stronger, whereas for employees who perceive hindering work demands to be lower, the association between family performance and employee work performance is also stronger. We contribute to i‐deals research by (a) exploring a relevant mechanism through which flexibility i‐deals influence work performance, (b) integrating the role of social context to emphasize the social aspects of i‐deals, and (c) enriching the i‐deals literature by introducing a resource perspective.     

Elevated atmospheric CO2 and drought effects on leaf gas exchange properties of barley

Atmospheric CO₂ concentration (C_a) is rising, predicted to cause global warming, and alter precipitation patterns. During 1994, spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Alexis) was grown in a strip-split-plot experimental design to determine the effects that the main plot C_a treatments [A: Ambient at 370 μmol (CO₂) mol⁻¹; E: Enriched with free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) at ∼550 μmol (CO₂) mol⁻¹] had on several gas exchange properties of fully expanded sunlit primary leaves. The interacting strip-split-plot irrigation treatments were Dry or Wet [50% (D) or 100% (W) replacement of potential evapotranspiration] at ample nitrogen (261 kg N ha⁻¹) and phosphorous (29 kg P ha⁻¹) fertility. Elevated C_a facilitated drought avoidance by reducing stomatal conductance (g_s) by 34% that conserved water and enabled stomata to remain open for a longer period into a drought. This resulted in a 28% reduction in drought-induced midafternoon depression in net assimilation rate (A). Elevated C_a increased A by 37% under Dry and 23% under Wet. Any reduction in A under Wet conditions occurred because of nonstomatal limitations, whereas under Dry it occurred because of stomatal limitations. Elevated C_a increased the diurnal integral of A (A′) that resulted in an increase in the seasonal-long integral of A′ (A″) for barley leaves by 12% (P = 0.14) under both Dry and Wet - 650, 730, 905 and 1020 ± 65 g (C) m⁻² y⁻¹ for AD, ED, AW and EW treatments, respectively. Elevated C_a increased season-long average dry weight (DW_S; crown, shoots) by 14% (P = 0.02), whereas deficit irrigation reduced DW_S by 7% (P = 0.06), although these values may have been affected by a short but severe pea aphid [Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)] infestation. Hence, an elevated-C_a-based improvement in gas exchange properties enhanced growth of a barley crop.     

基于改进多准则妥协解排序(VIKOR)法的铁路应急预案评估研究

为解决铁路突发事件应急预案评估问题,改进多准则妥协解排序法(VIKOR),提出铁路应急预案新的评估方法。首先,在已有铁路应急预案评价指标研究基础上,从完整性、针对性、可操作性、联动性、经济性5个方面,重新对铁路应急预案评价指标进行分类。其次,运用基于熵的主客观赋权法求解权重,改进VIKOR法中权重参数的求解。最后,利用改进的VIKOR法,评估具有多层次评价指标体系结构的铁路突发事件应急预案。实例结果表明,用该方法评估铁路突发事件应急预案可得到理想结果。