Toxicological characterization of the landfill leachate prior/after chemical and electrochemical treatment: A study on human and plant cells

In this research, toxicological safety of two newly developed methods for the treatment of landfill leachate from the Piškornica (Croatia) sanitary landfill was investigated. Chemical treatment procedure combined chemical precipitation with CaO followed by coagulation with ferric chloride and final adsorption by clinoptilolite. Electrochemical treatment approach included pretreatment with ozone followed by electrooxidation/electrocoagulation and final polishing by microwave irradiation. Cell viability of untreated/treated landfill leachate was examined using fluorescence microscopy. Cytotoxic effect of the original leachate was obtained for both exposure periods (4 and 24 h) while treated samples showed no cytotoxic effect even after prolonged exposure time. The potential DNA damage of the untreated/treated landfill leachate was evaluated by the comet assay and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay using either human or plant cells. The original leachate exhibited significantly higher comet assay parameters compared to negative control after 24 h exposure. On the contrary, there was no significant difference between negative control and chemically/electrochemically treated leachate for any of the parameters tested. There was also no significant increase in either CBMN assay parameter compared to the negative control following the exposure of the lymphocytes to the chemically or electrochemically treated landfill leachate for both exposure periods while the original sample showed significantly higher number of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds for both exposure times. Results suggest that both methods are suitable for the treatment of such complex waste effluent due to high removal efficiency of all measured parameters and toxicological safety of the treated effluent.     

In vitro response of human ovarian cancer cells to dietary bioflavonoid isoquercitrin

Abstract

Isoquercitrin is a dietary bioflavonoid used as a food supplement. We studied the mechanism underlying its effect in human ovarian cancer cells using OVCAR-3 cell line. Viability, survival, apoptosis, release of human transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and TGF-β1 receptor, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by OVCAR-3 cells were examined after isoquercitrin treatment at concentrations 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100?μg mL^?1. AlamarBlue assay revealed that isoquercitrin did not cause any significant change (P?>?0.05) in cell viability as compared to control. Apoptotic assay using flow cytometry did not find any significant change (P?>?0.05) in the proportion of live, dead and apoptotic cells as compared to control. ELISA also showed that the release of human TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 receptor were not significantly (P?>?0.05) affected by isoquercitrin as compared to control. Chemiluminescence assay demonstrated that lower concentrations (5, 10, and 25?μg mL^?1) were able to exhibit beneficial effects by inhibiting the generation of intracellular ROS. In contrast, elevated concentrations of 50 and 100?μg mL^?1 led to oxidative stress (P?相似文献   

人粪便中温好氧堆肥过程的有机物降解特性研究

利用密闭式小型堆肥反应器,以锯末作为堆肥载体,采用批量反应的操作方式,在35℃的温控条件下进行了人粪便的中温好氧堆肥实验。结果表明,在14 d的堆肥反应周期内,粪便中以COD为参数的有机物去除率可达到70%左右,且在10～12 d内基本完成有机物降解。在中温条件下,堆体容易保持适宜的含水率和pH值,维持适宜微生物繁殖生长的条件。运用磷脂法进行堆肥过程中微生物总量的分析,表明在一个堆肥周期内,微生物经历了环境适应期、稳定增殖期、生物量下降期等3个阶段,这一微生物繁衍规律与有机物的去除密切相关。与高温堆肥相比,中温堆肥能够减少设备加热的能量消耗,是缺水地区人粪便处置的可选方法之一。     

Evaluation of the Rural Human Settlement in Shandong Province

Taking Shandong Province as the research object, this paper uses the principal component analysis method to evaluate the status of the rural human settlement in Shandong Province. It establishes the ev...     

汶川特大地震“人的感觉”和“器物的反应”震害分析

在汶川特大地震现场,调查收集了大量有关人的感觉和器物的反应资料,在各种文献和网上又补充收集了大量此类资料.通过对这些资料的整理与分析,总结出了各烈度区人的感觉和器物的反应典型现象;探讨人的感觉、器物的反应与烈度的关系;找出各烈度区的共性内容.旨在使我国的地震烈度表在“人的感觉”和“器物的反应”方面更便于地震烈度评定,为地震科学研究提供可靠的基础资料.     

人力成本管理的国内研究述评

如何控制人力成本以使组织降本增效一直是国内学者研究的热点。本文主要对国内近5年人力成本管理的300多篇相关文献从研究领域、研究思路等进行综述和评论,并在此基础之上与国外人力成本管理的文献进行对比分析。研究表明:成本收益法是未来人力成本管理研究的发展趋势。     

Global Effects of Local Human Population Density and Distance to Markets on the Condition of Coral Reef Fisheries

Coral reef fisheries support the livelihoods of millions of people but have been severely and negatively affected by anthropogenic activities. We conducted a systematic review of published data on the biomass of coral reef fishes to explore how the condition of reef fisheries is related to the density of local human populations, proximity of the reef to markets, and key environmental variables (including broad geomorphologic reef type, reef area, and net productivity). When only population density and environmental covariates were considered, high variability in fisheries conditions at low human population densities resulted in relatively weak explanatory models. The presence or absence of human settlements, habitat type, and distance to fish markets provided a much stronger explanatory model for the condition of reef fisheries. Fish biomass remained relatively low within 14 km of markets, then biomass increased exponentially as distance from reefs to markets increased. Our results suggest the need for an increased science and policy focus on markets as both a key driver of the condition of reef fisheries and a potential source of solutions. Efectos Globales de la Densidad de Población Humana Local y la Distancia a los Mercados sobre la Condición de Pesquerías en Arrecifes de Coral     

Poaching Risks in Community‐Based Natural Resource Management

Poaching can disrupt wildlife‐management efforts in community‐based natural resource management systems. Monitoring, estimating, and acquiring data on poaching is difficult. We used local‐stakeholder knowledge and poaching records to rank and map the risk of poaching incidents in 2 areas where natural resources are managed by community members in Caprivi, Namibia. We mapped local stakeholder perceptions of the risk of poaching, risk of wildlife damage to livelihoods, and wildlife distribution and compared these maps with spatially explicit records of poaching events. Recorded poaching events and stakeholder perceptions of where poaching occurred were not spatially correlated. However, the locations of documented poaching events were spatially correlated with areas that stakeholders perceived wildlife as a threat to their livelihoods. This result suggests poaching occurred in response to wildlife damage occurred. Local stakeholders thought that wildlife populations were at high risk of being poached and that poaching occurred where there was abundant wildlife. These findings suggest stakeholders were concerned about wildlife resources in their community and indicate a need for integrated and continued monitoring of poaching activities and further interventions at the wildlife‐agricultural interface. Involving stakeholders in the assessment of poaching risks promotes their participation in local conservation efforts, a central tenet of community‐based management. We considered stakeholders poaching informants, rather than suspects, and our technique was spatially explicit. Different strategies to reduce poaching are likely needed in different areas. For example, interventions that reduce human‐wildlife conflict may be required in residential areas, and increased and targeted patrolling may be required in more remote areas. Stakeholder‐generated maps of human‐wildlife interactions may be a valuable enforcement and intervention support tool. Riesgos de Cacería Furtiva en el Manejo de Recursos Naturales Basado en Comunidades     

Mitigating the Effect of Development on Bats in England with Derogation Licensing

The Convention on Biological Diversity has catalyzed worldwide awareness of threats to biological diversity and stimulated global conservation strategies. These have led to national and international legislation and have generated debate about the most effective conservation actions. Under the EU Habitats Directive, all member states are obliged to establish a system for strict protection of species listed in Annex IV(a), which includes all bats. In England, this obligation has resulted in legislation that allows for derogation from strict protection under license, provided activities are undertaken to mitigate any potential negative effects on bat numbers. We used an evidence‐based approach to assess the cost‐effectiveness of mitigation strategies and the English bat‐derogation licensing process as a whole. We analyzed data from 389 bat derogation licenses issued in England from 2003 to 2005 relating to 1776 roosts and 15 species to determine the nature and extent of development and mitigation activities and their effects on bats. Overall the effects of licensed activities on roosts were negative. Despite the level of protection afforded to bats, the majority (68%) of roosts for which derogation licenses were issued were destroyed. There were species‐specific differences in the probability of roosts being destroyed, and impacts on roosts did not reflect a species’ conservation status. Information provided by licensees was inadequate and inconsistent. Most licensees (67%) failed to submit postdevelopment reports, and postdevelopment monitoring was conducted at only 19% of sites. Despite a minimum of £4.13 million spent on mitigation structures for bats from 2003 to 2005, it was unclear whether the licensing process meets EU obligations. On the basis of our results, we believe there is a need to overhaul the licensing process, to establish a comprehensive, standardized postdevelopment monitoring system, and to demonstrate that mitigation is commensurate with Britain's legal obligations. Mitigando el Efecto del Desarrollo sobre los Murciélagos en Inglaterra con Licencias de Derogación     

Obligations to animals are not necessarily based on rights

I offer a very qualified argument to the effect that rights are grounded in a certain sort of prejudice that privileges individualistic and perhaps masculinist ways of thinking about moral life. I also propose that we look carefully at other conceptions of social ontology and moral life, including the much discussed care conception.