Rapid degradation of dyes in water by magnetic Fe/Fe3O4/graphene composites

Magnetic Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene has been successfully synthesized by a one-step reduction method and investigated in rapid degradation of dyes in this work. The material was characterized by N₂ sorption–desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene had a layered structure with Fe crystals highly dispersed in the interlayers of graphene, which could enhance the mass transfer process between Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene and pollutants. Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene exhibited ferromagnetism and could be easily separated and re-dispersed for reuse in water. Typical dyes, such as Methyl Orange, Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet, could be decolorized by Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene rapidly. After 20 min, the decolorization efficiencies of methyl orange, methylene blue and crystal violet were 94.78%, 91.60% and 89.07%, respectively. The reaction mechanism of Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene with dyes mainly included adsorption and enhanced reduction by the composite. Thus, Fe⁰/Fe₃O₄/graphene prepared by the one-step reduction method has excellent performance in removal of dyes in water.     

响应面法优化仿酶Fe_3O_4/Fe~0非均相类Fenton降解P-NP

采用原位氧化沉淀法制备出仿酶Fe_3O_4/Fe~0,并采用扫描电子显微镜和X射线衍射对样品进行表征,结果表明,Fe_3O_4与Fe~0负载牢固且保持良好的晶型。采用响应面分析法对仿酶Fe_3O_4/Fe~0催化降解P-NP的工艺条件进行优化,方差分析得到二次模型显著,优化条件为:催化剂用量1.2 g/L,反应温度30℃,初始pH=2.9,初始H_2O_2浓度10 mmol/L,对硝基苯酚去除率的实际值与预测值几乎一致。     

Considering connections between Hollywood and biodiversity conservation

Cinema offers a substantial opportunity to share messages with a wide audience. However, there is little research or evidence about the potential benefits and risks of cinema for conservation. Given their global reach, cinematic representations could be important in raising awareness of conservation issues and species of concern, as well as encouraging greater audience engagement due to their heightened emotional impact on viewers. Yet there are also risks associated with increased exposure, including heightened visitor pressure to environmentally sensitive areas or changes to consumer demand for endangered species. Conservationists can better understand and engage with the film industry by studying the impact of movies on audience awareness and behavior, identifying measurable impacts on conservation outcomes, and engaging directly with the movie industry, for example, in an advisory capacity. This improved understanding and engagement can harness the industry's potential to enhance the positive impacts of movies featuring species, sites, and issues of conservation concern and to mitigate any negative effects. A robust evidence base for evaluating and planning these engagements, and for informing related policy and management decisions, needs to be built.     

Quantifying species recovery and conservation success to develop an IUCN Green List of Species

Stopping declines in biodiversity is critically important, but it is only a first step toward achieving more ambitious conservation goals. The absence of an objective and practical definition of species recovery that is applicable across taxonomic groups leads to inconsistent targets in recovery plans and frustrates reporting and maximization of conservation impact. We devised a framework for comprehensively assessing species recovery and conservation success. We propose a definition of a fully recovered species that emphasizes viability, ecological functionality, and representation; and use counterfactual approaches to quantify degree of recovery. This allowed us to calculate a set of 4 conservation metrics that demonstrate impacts of conservation efforts to date (conservation legacy); identify dependence of a species on conservation actions (conservation dependence); quantify expected gains resulting from conservation action in the medium term (conservation gain); and specify requirements to achieve maximum plausible recovery over the long term (recovery potential). These metrics can incentivize the establishment and achievement of ambitious conservation targets. We illustrate their use by applying the framework to a vertebrate, an invertebrate, and a woody and an herbaceous plant. Our approach is a preliminary framework for an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Species, which was mandated by a resolution of IUCN members in 2012. Although there are several challenges in applying our proposed framework to a wide range of species, we believe its further development, implementation, and integration with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species will help catalyze a positive and ambitious vision for conservation that will drive sustained conservation action.     

基于综合生物标志物响应指数评价0~#柴油和平湖原油胁迫下的缢蛏(Sinonovacula constricta)毒性效应

选择0#柴油和平湖原油乳化液对缢蛏(Sinonovacula constricta)进行氧化胁迫实验,选取典型的抗氧化酶-超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷光甘肽硫转移酶(GST)及过氧化物酶(POD)用于衡量油类污染物对生物体造成的氧化压力大小.此外,结合综合生物标志物响应(Integrated Biomarker Responses,IBR)指标,对2种石油污染物对缢蛏的毒性响应进行定量化评价.结果表明,不同浓度的0#柴油和平湖原油对缢蛏消化腺中的4种酶表现出不同程度的诱导效应,各试验组在暴露前期均表现出诱导或抑制,但对4种酶的影响存在时间顺序性,SOD、CAT和GST的酶活性表现为升高-降低的过程,POD表现为降低-升高的过程,活性达到峰值的时间SOD和CAT要早于GST和POD.结合计算出的IBR数值来看,高浓度0#柴油能够引起最为显著的生物效应变化,显示该石油污染物高毒性的特征,0#柴油生物毒性大于平湖原油生物毒性.     

Groundwater NO3 and F Contamination Processes in Pushkar Valley, Rajasthan as Reflected from 18O Isotopic Signature and 3H Recharge Studies

Agricultural activity in the Pushkar Valley, Rajasthan is constrained due to limited availability of good quality water. In this context, occurrence of nitrate and fluoride in the groundwater was investigated and reported. Integration of stable isotope (18O) data with recharge characteristics (based on 3H-tracer studies) helps in clearly characterizing the processes controlling contamination by point and non-point sources. High nitrate and fluoride groundwaters are associated with high 18O waters. This indicates that significant quantities of evaporated (isotopically enriched) surface run-off water and rain water infiltrate along with nitrate and fluoride salts in the soil. The applicability of this approach under different hydrometeorological conditions is also confirmed.     

DESALTING SALINE WATER FOR IRRIGATION A CASE STUDY,COACHELLA AREA,CALIFORNIA1

ABSTRACT .A case study was performed to evaluate potential applications of desalted saline water for agriculture using 2 distillation type processes and 2 membrane type processes. The investigation determined the costs and benefits associated with desalting saline water at concentrations of 1,500, 900, 400, 200, and 50 ppm. Benefits from desalting are generated by shifts to more profitable crops, reduced costs for drainage, and reduction in fertilizer and labor requirements with better quality water. Costs are based on the project features such as desalting plants, raw water diversion facilities, storage reservoirs, conveyance and distribution systems, brine disposal, blending facilities, and gypsum addition systems. Hydrologic studies determined the crop irrigation requirements, water demand schedules, desalted water storage requirements, brine disposal requirements, and size of facilities required. Reconnaissance design layouts were made for producing desalted water using a combination of 14 schemes. The study also included a review of irrigation practices. The benefit-cost ratios range from 0.4 to 1.0 for 1,500 ppm irrigation water to 0.8 to 1.0 for 50 and 200 ppm water. Investment costs per acre are high, ranging from $12,900 to $20,900. Irrigation benefits are based on the increase in production from a desert condition with no water supply to the irrigation conditions studied.     

Comparison of the Vegetation and Seed Bank on Hedge Banks of Different Ages in Brittany,France

The composition of the herbaceous cover and the seed bank of old and recent hedge banks in Brittany were studied and compared. Concentration method was used for seed bank samples. Grimes plant strategies were used to explain observed patterns. The analysis of the seed bank of these hedge banks showed that the species richness and diversity differed in relation to the date of construction of the hedge banks. The seed banks of recent hedge banks were richer and more diversified than those of old hedge banks. Differences in the floristic composition of the established plant cover between the recent and old hedge banks were determined by multivariate analyses. The species exclusively found in the seed bank and in the herb cover of recent hedge banks were mainly grassland species, whereas the species that only occurred on old hedge banks tended to be woodland species. The floristic composition of the two compartments (established vegetation and seed bank) was very different. A multivariate analysis revealed that the difference between the composition of the seed banks of recent and old hedge banks was less than that between the composition of the established vegetation and seed bank of hedge banks of the same age. Both seed bank and vegetation of recent hedge banks were dominated by ruderal species, whereas old hedge vegetation was dominated by stress-tolerant woodland species, indicating that mechanically constructed hedge banks may impose limitations on colonization by late woodland species.