Comparison of two metal surveys by moss Tortula ruralis in Budapest, Hungary

Moss transplants of Tortula ruralis were used as active biomonitoring organisms as part of a monitoring study to assess the metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) associated with ambient particles on mosses in Budapest, the capital town of Hungary. The moss samples were collected in a nature conservation area from a semi-arid sand grassland (Festucetum vaginatae danubiale), less than 1 month before transplantation. Moss cushions were exposed to pollution in Budapest during October–November 1993 and February–March 1994. In the study area, 16 sites were marked out as measuring sites, in accordance with the structure of the city. A similar stand was established in the Botanical Gardens of the Szent István University in Gödöll? as a control site. ICP-AES analysis of moss for metals showed the ability of Tortula ruralis to accumulate the metals under study. Control site showed lower impact in comparison to the other sites.     

Development of a GIS-based decision support system for urban air quality management in the city of Istanbul

A decision support system has been developed for urban air quality management in the metropolitan area of Istanbul. The system is based on CALMET/CALPUFF dispersion modeling system, digital maps, and related databases to estimate the emissions and spatial distribution of air pollutants with the help of a GIS software. The system estimates ambient air pollution levels at high temporal and spatial resolutions and enables mapping of emissions and air quality levels. Mapping and scenario results can be compared with air quality limits. Impact assessment of air pollution abatement measures can also be carried out.     

A new meta-analysis on the WTP/WTA disparity

This study reports a new meta-analysis of papers that elicit willingness-to-pay (WTP) and willingness-to-accept compensation (WTA) measures of value for the same good. We investigate the effects of type of good and several survey-design features on the WTP/WTA disparity, measured as the logarithm of the ratio of mean WTA to mean WTP. Confirming Horowitz and McConnell?s (2002) pioneering meta-analysis, we find the disparity is smaller for ordinary private goods than for public and non-market goods, that it is not solely an artifact of using hypothetical transactions or other weak experimental or survey methods, and that it is smaller for studies using student subjects. In addition, we find that the disparity is smaller when subjects have experience valuing the good in real markets or through repeated experimental trials. In contrast to Horowitz and McConnell, we find the disparity is significantly smaller in studies using incentive-compatible elicitation mechanisms. The disparity is smaller in more recent studies, an effect that is attributable only in part to changes in study characteristics.     

Inheritance of pod and seed traits in chickpea

A 4 x 4 full-diallel cross was studied to estimate the gene effects and genetic parameters of pod and seed traits. According to Hayman's method, additive genetic variance was significant for pod length and seed length and width, also, both additive and dominance genetic variance were significant for pod thickness and width. As additive gene effects were significant for pod and seed traits, it is suggesting the selection of this traits early generations. Partial dominance was important for traits. The high narrow sense heritability of pod and seed traits was between 86 and 97%.     

Application of artificial neural networks to predict the heavy metal contamination in the Bartin River

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) analyses were performed, and the results were modelled by...     

Investigation of the effect of culture type on biological hydrogen production from sugar industry wastes

The bio-hydrogen generation potential of sugar industry wastes was investigated. In the first part of the study, acidogenic anaerobic culture was enriched from the mixed anaerobic culture (MAC) through acidification of glucose. In the second part of the study, glucose acclimated acidogenic seed was used, along with the indigenous microorganisms, MAC, 2-bromoethanesulfonate treated MAC and heat treated MAC. Two different COD levels (4.5 and 30 g/L COD) were investigated for each culture type. Reactors with initial COD concentration of 4.5 g/L had higher H₂ yields (20.3–87.7 mL H₂/g COD) than the reactors with initial COD concentration of 30 g/L (0.9–16.6 mL H₂/g COD). The 2-bromoethanesulfonate and heat treatment of MAC inhibited the methanogenic activity, but did not increase the H₂ production yield. The maximum H₂ production (87.7 mL H₂/g COD) and minimum methanogenic activity were observed in the unseeded reactor with 4.5 g/L of initial COD.     

Oxidation of diethylene glycol with ozone and modified Fenton processes

This paper describes a study of oxidation of diethylene glycol (DEG) by ozone and modified Fenton process (hydrogen peroxide and ferric salt mixture) in aqueous solution. Both oxidation processes were able to oxidize relatively high concentrations of DEG effectively. DEG reacted primarily through hydroxyl radical produced by decomposition of ozone, and about 3 mol of ozone were consumed per mole of DEG removed during the process. For modified Fenton oxidation, stepwise addition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ferric salt (Fe(III)) resulted in much higher removal of DEG than one-time pulse addition of the chemicals. The extent of DEG removal increased with increasing concentrations of both H2O2 and Fe(III). Oxidant consumption per mole of DEG oxidized was one order of magnitude higher for hydrogen peroxide than those observed for ozone. Overall, ozonation produced higher concentrations of aldehydes, and modified Fenton treatment produced higher concentrations of carboxylic acids for the same levels of DEG oxidation. The major products of ozonation were glycolaldehyde, glyoxal, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetic, formic, pyruvic, oxalic and glyoxalic acids. The major products of modified Fenton oxidation were formaldehyde, and formic and acetic acids.