bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Smoking Behavior and Socio‐Demographic Factors, Work, Lifestyle and Mental Health of Japanese Civil Servants
Authors: Hu Lizhen , Sekine Michikazu , Gaina Alexandru , Nasermoaddeli Ali , Kagamimori Sadanobu
Published: December 2007

Association of Smoking Behavior and Socio‐Demographic Factors, Work, Lifestyle and Mental Health of Japanese Civil Servants: Lizhen Hu, et al. Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, University of Toyama—Few studies have examined the individual and social impact of smoking behavior in the Japanese population. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between smoking behavior and socio‐demographic factors, lifestyle, mental health and work characteristics of Japanese civil servants. A self‐administered questionnaire survey of 1,439 employees (821 men and 618 women) aged 20–64 yr was conducted in a local government department in 2001. The questionnaire included items on socio‐demographic factors, education level, grade of employment, lifestyle, affect balance scale, and work characteristics. Smoking status was divided into current smoker, ex‐smoker and never smoked. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between smoking and the other items. Men presented a higher smoking prevalence rate than women (53.1% vs. 4.9%). In men, a strong relationship between current smoker and advanced age (40 yr or older), low education level, less physical activity, irregular breakfast and negative affect balance was found. Among men with a low education, the prevalence of smoking cessation was significantly lower in comparison to men with a high education. In women, being young (20–29 yr), unmarried (single or other), having a hobby, and irregular breakfast were associated with smoking behavior. Furthermore, smoking cessation was significantly associated with having a hobby and negative affect balance. The above results suggest that socio‐demographic, lifestyle and mental health characteristics are independently associated with current smoking. These factors should be considered in smoking cessation policies as program components.
Evaluation of the Control Banding Method—Comparison with Measurement‐based Comprehensive Risk Assessment
Authors: Hashimoto Haruo , Goto Toshiaki , Nakachi Nobutoyo , Suzuki Hidetaka , Takebayashi Toru , Kajiki Shigeyuki , Mori Koji
Published: December 2007

Evaluation of the Control Banding Method—Comparison with Measurement‐based Comprehensive Risk Assessment: Haruo Hashimoto, et al. Medicine and Occupational Health, ExxonMobil Yugen Kaisha—The control banding method, or “control banding”, is a simplified risk assessment system for chemical handling tasks. This system is supposed to provide assessment results of reasonable quality without expert involvement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of control banding judgment on the basis of workplace safety. A common approach for assessing workplace risk, which is called “comprehensive risk assessment” in this study, is to measure workers' exposure and compare it with relevant occupational exposure limits. Risk assessment was performed with control banding (COSHH Essentials, UK) at 12 workplaces of a petroleum company in Japan, where health risks had already been assessed separately through comprehensive risk assessment by experts and control technologies implemented accordingly. The obtained control banding judgments were then examined with regard to their adequacy by comparing them with existing control technologies. There was majority of cases (seven) where judgments by control banding were identified as “over‐controlled”; there was no judgments identified as “under‐controlled”. Control banding also requested the seeking of expert advice in the majority of cases (eight). Thus, it was demonstrated that control banding tends to provide safe‐sided judgment. A possible interpretation of this is that control banding is inherently designed to secure workplace safety by compensating for its insufficient exposure information with safe‐sided judgment criteria and by requiring experts' intervention in high‐risk cases. Control banding could be widely and effectively utilized in Japan, especially by employers in small enterprises, provided that the above characteristics are pre‐acknowledged and health experts are made available. To this aim, it is essential to develop new local health experts and establish institutional mechanisms for facilitating employers' access to expert advice. It should however be noted that the number of workplaces evaluated in this study was small.
Poor Mental Health Associated with Job Dissatisfaction among School Teachers in Japan
Authors: Nagai Michiko , Tsuchiya Kenji J. , Toulopoulou Timothea , Takei Nori
Published: December 2007

Poor Mental Health Associated with Job Dissatisfaction among School Teachers in Japan: Michiko Nagai, et al. Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine—School teaching is regarded as a stressful occupation. The present study aimed to compare the likelihood of having minor psychiatric disorders (MPD) among school teachers with that among civil servants, and to investigate what factors were specifically associated with MPD in teachers. We conducted a questionnaire‐based survey of 403 teachers employed at state schools and 611 civil servants as a comparison group in a medium‐sized city in Japan. The response rate was 59.6% for teachers and 62.0% for civil servants. Mental health was assessed using the 28‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐28), according to which those with a score of six or higher were considered to have MPD. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with MPD. Although the proportion of subjects with MPD among teachers was greater than that among civil servants, the difference in the proportion was not statistically significant in the multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders. In a separate analysis of the teachers, reduced job satisfaction and shorter time spent of leisure were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of having MPD. In the group of civil servants, longer working hours, reduced life satisfaction, a history of sick leave, and physical illness were associated with an increased likelihood of having MPD. When this analysis was conducted separately for male and female teachers, job dissatisfaction alone was associated with MPD only in female teachers. Poor mental health of Japanese school teachers, female teachers in particular, was found to be associated with job dissatisfaction.
Associations of Excessive Sleepiness on Duty with Sleeping Hours and Number of Days of Overnight Work among Medical Residents in Japan
Authors: Wada Koji , Sakata Yumi , Theriault Gilles , Narai Rie , Yoshino Yae , Tanaka Katsutoshi , Aizawa Yoshiharu
Published: December 2007

Associations of Excessive Sleepiness on Duty with Sleeping Hours and Number of Days of Overnight Work among Medical Residents in Japan: Koji Wada, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Kitasato University—Despite long‐standing concerns regarding the effects of working hours on the performance and health of medical residents, and the patients' safety, prior studies have not shown an association of excessive sleepiness with the number of sleeping hours and days of overnight work among medical residents. In August 2005, a questionnaire was mailed to 227 eligible participants at 16 teaching hospitals. The total number of sleeping hours in the last 30 d was estimated from the average number of sleeping hours during regular days and during days with overnight work, and the number of days of overnight work. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for potentially associated variables. A total of 149 men and 47 women participated in this study. The participation rate was 86.3%. Among the participants, 55 (28.1%) suffered from excessive sleepiness. Excessive sleepiness was associated with sleeping for less than 150 h in the last 30 d (corrected odds ratio [cOR]=1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–2.16). The number of days of overnight work in the last 30 d showed no association with excessive sleepiness. Excessive sleepiness was also associated with smoking (cOR, 1.65; 95%CI, 1.01–2.32). Medical residents who slept for less than 150 h in the last 30 d and smoked had a significantly higher risk of excessive sleepiness on duty.
A talajok Cd-, Pb- és Cu-szennyezettségének értékelése gyors növényi bioteszttel
Authors: Barna Szilvia , Füleky György
Published: December 2007

Kísérletsorozatunkat azzal a céllal állítottuk be, hogy
angolperje
(Lolium perenne)
tesztnövényre alapuló gyors növényi
biotesztben, laboratóriumi körülmények között, növényélettani válaszreakciókkal
jellemezzünk Cd- Pb- vagy Cu-terhelésnek kitett gyengén savanyú homoktalajt [K
A
:
25; szervesanyag-tartalma: 2,02%; pH(H
2
O): 5,7; pH(KCl): 4,89] a
jelenleg hazánkban érvényben lévő 10/2000. (VI. 2.) KöM–EüM–FVM–KHVM együttes
miniszteri rendeletben foglalt talajszennyezettségi határértékek tükrében. A
dolgozat témaválasztását az indokolta, hogy nincsenek a nehézfémek
ökoszisztémára gyakorolt toxikus hatását reprezentáló, a talajok
nehézfém-szennyezettségét határértéken jellemző, növényi paramétereket
alkalmazó növényi bioteszt-módszerek.Az 500 ml űrtartalmú tenyészedényekkel
beállított növényi bioteszt két részből állt. Az első periódusban 10 nap alatt
45 db tenyészedényben egyenként 2–2 g desztillált vízzel átitatott háztartási
vattán 2–2 g angolperje magból előneveltük a tesztnövényeket. A kísérletsorozat
második periódusában zajlott a tesztnövények Cd- Pb- vagy Cu-terhelése 1–1
nehézfémmel. Minden nehézfém-terhelési ciklusban 3 ismétlésben 5 kezelést
állítottunk be: 0-, 0,75-, 1-, 2- és 4×-es terhelést alkalmazva, amelyből az
1×-es terhelések a 10/2000. (VI. 2.) KÖM–EÜM–FVM–KHVM együttes rendelet „B”
(szennyezettségi) talajhatárértékei voltak. A 2 mm-es szitán átrostált, 200
g/tenyészedény teszttalajba oldott formába kevertünk kadmium-acetátot,
ólom-acetátot, vagy réz-szulfátot terhelési szint szerint, majd rákerültek a 10
napig előnevelt növényeket tartalmazó vattapárnák. Kéthetes terhelés után
mértük a hajtásmagasságot, a hajtások zöld-, ill. száraztömegét,
nedvességtartalmát, nehézfém-tartalmát aktuális nehézfémre, valamint a gyökerek
tömegét és aktuális nehézfém-tartalmát. Az alkalmazott Cd-, Pb- és
Cu-terhelések során mért értékek adatsorait az akut toxicitás EC vizsgálati
végpontjai alapján, valamint regresszióanalízis segítségével is értékeltük,
kiemelve azokat a növényparamétereket, amelyek esetében a szeny-nyezettségi
talajhatárértékeken jelentkezett először az akut toxicitás értékelhető
formában.Eredményeink azt mutatták, hogy a gyors növényi biotesztünkben
vizsgált növényélettani paraméterek közül mindhárom vizsgált nehézfémnél (Cd,
Pb és Cu) az angolperje hajtásmagasságára gyakorolt károsító hatás a legjobb
mutatója a teszttalaj nehézfém-szennyezettségi határértékének, vagy az azt
meghaladó nehézfém-szennyezettségnek. A hajtásmagasság-csökkenés ugyanis értékelhető
mértékben a Cd (10,1%) és a Pb (16%) esetében a szennyezettségi határértéknél
jelentkezett először. A Cu már a határértéket megelőző, 0,75%-ös terhelési
szinten is EC
10
. felet_t
A tápcsatorna (gyomor, vékonybél, vastagbél) másodlagos daganatainak sebészeter
Authors: Góbor László , Czeyda-Pommersheim Ferenc , Köves István
Published: December 2007

Absztrakt

A tápcsatornában jelentkező áttét az alapbetegség disseminatióját jelzi, ilyenkor alapvetően palliatív célú beavatkozás jön szóba. Ebben a lokalizációban jelentkező áttétek előfordulása ritka, kimutatásuk idején a tumoros folyamat előrehaladottnak tekintendő, általában radikális sebészeti beavatkozásra nincs lehetőség, és ezért a disseminált tumorokra vonatkozó szabályok érvényesek. Műtétet végezhetünk vitális indikációval vérzés, perforatio, ileus esetén. A metastasisok radikális eltávolítása javíthatja a túlélést, ilyenkor R0 resectióra törekszünk. Ha a beteg klinikailag daganatmentessé tehető, neoadjuváns vagy adjuváns kezelés mellett a primer tumor viselkedését is figyelembe vevő műtétet végezhetünk. Osztályunkon 2000. január 1. és 2005. december 31. között 1053 gastrointestinalis lokalizációjú tumor miatt végeztünk műtéteket. Összesen 24 esetben igazolódott szekunder folyamat: 11 gyomor-, 9 vékonybél-, 4 vastagbéldaganat bizonyult áttétnek. Munkánkban a fellelt közleményeket tekintjük át, és saját tapasztalatainkat foglaljuk össze.
Effect of sediment particle size on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation: Importance of the sediment–water interface
Authors: Xia Xinghui , Wang Ran
Published: December 2007

Mechanisms for the effects of sediment on the biodegradation of organic compounds in the aquatic environment are not clear. In this research, effects of sediment characteristics on biodegradation kinetics of chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene were studied by inoculating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)–degrading bacteria. Because water and PAHs can pass a polytet-rafluoroethylene membrane yet bacteria and sediment cannot, a membrane experiment was performed to compare the biodegradation rates of PAHs in water and at the sediment–water interface, providing direct evidence that the PAH biodegradation rate is enhanced by the presence of sediment. Biodegradation of PAHs in water–sediment systems was fitted to zero-order kinetics; the order of biodegradation rate in water–sediment systems with different sediment was fine silt > clay > coarse silt. Biodegradation of PAHs in water–sediment systems occurred mainly at the sediment–water interface. According to membrane experiment results, when the biodegradation kinetics was fit to a zero-order equation, the maximum specific growth rates of bacteria (1/d) at the sediment–water interface were approximately three- to fourfold those in the water phase. Furthermore, the associated mechanisms regarding the effect of sediment characteristics were analyzed by investigating the process of bacterial growth and the distribution of bacteria and PAHs between water and sediment phases.
Interaction between carbamazepine and humic substances: A fluorescence spectroscopy study
Authors: Bai Yingchen , Wu Fengchang , Liu Congqiang , Guo Jianyang , Fu Pingqing , Li Wen , Xing Baoshan
Published: December 2007

Carbamazepine is a popular drug that has been detected in natural environments, but little is known about its biogeo chemical cycling, influencing factors, and eco-environmental effects in aquatic ecosystems. Interaction between carbamazepine and humic substances, including fulvic and humic acids, was studied using three-dimensional excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy and synchronous-scan fluorescence spectroscopy. The intrinsic fluorescence of humic substances was quenched on the addition of carbamazepine, and static quenching was the primary mechanism. The binding parameters on their interaction, including the conditional binding constants (log K) and binding capacities (CL), were estimated by the Ryan-Weber nonlinear theory equation. Log K ranged from 3.41 to 5.04 L/mol at 25°C and pH 7.0. The influence of pH on the complexation and the competition between carbamazepine and Cu(II) for fluorescence-binding sites also were discussed. The present results would be helpful in understanding the fate and biogeochemical cycling of other pharmaceuticals and personal care products in aquatic ecosystems.
Influences of metal-ligand complexes on the cadmium and zinc biokinetics in the marine bacterium, Bacillus firmus
Authors: Keung Chung Fai , Guo Feng , Qian Peiyuan , Wang Wen-Xiong
Published: December 2007

Uptake kinetics of cadmium and zinc in gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus firmus, isolated from Hong Kong sediments were examined in the present study. The metal uptake by the bacteria was measured at different ambient free metal ion concentrations (10−12–10−6 M Cd2+ and 10−10–10−6 M Zn2+) by adding different concentrations of total dissolved Cd and Zn and hydrophilic organic ligands (ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, and citrate). Our data suggest that Cd and Zn uptake by B. firmus is best predicted by Cd2+ and Zn2+ activities. Free metal ions were complexed with the active sites on the bacterial surface, and an equilibrium between the free metal ion and surface-metal complex was reached quickly. After binding, the metal ions were then biologically transported into the bacteria. In addition, with the presence of lipophilic organic ligands (diethyldithiocarbamate and oxine), the lipophilic metal complex was internalized rapidly into B. firmus by passive diffusion through the bacterial plasma membrane. The uptake of the lipophilic metal complex could not be predicted by the free ion activity model because the mass transport through plasma membrane was the most important metal uptake pathway. Furthermore, the efflux of Cd and Zn by B. firmus was determined in the present study. The calculated efflux rate constants of Cd and Zn were (5.55 ± 1.96) × 10−4/min and (3.75 ± 1.04) × 10−4/min, respectively. The present study helps us to understand the process of bioaccumulation of metals in marine bacteria, which remains a poorly studied area.
Methylmercury extraction from artificial sediments by the gut juice of the sipunculan, Sipunculus nudus
Authors: Zhong Huan , Wang Wen-Xiong
Published: December 2007

Artificially prepared sediments were used to investigate their binding with methylmercury (MeHg). The bioavailability of sediment-bound MeHg then was quantified by measuring the extraction by gut juice of the sipunculan Sipunculus nudus, as well as by different free amino acids and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Methylmercury distribution in different molecular weight-size fractions of gut juice also was determined using an ultrafiltration methodology. Organic and clay content were the two most important sediment components in MeHg partitioning, but most of the sediment-bound MeHg was complexed by organic matter (fulvic acid > humic acid) in sediments. Treatment with humic or fulvic acid generally increased the amount of bioavailable MeHg. Cysteine was more important than other amino acids in MeHg extraction. Proteins (especially >100 kDa fraction) in gut juice rather than free amino acids were the main agents in gut juice that extracted MeHg from sediments. Most extracted MeHg from artificial sediments was associated with the >100 kDa fraction (probably proteins) of gut juice but not with organic matter from sediments (humic acid and fulvic acid). Our results suggested that competition among different agents in gut juice (especially the large molecular-weight proteins) and the organic content of the sediments controlled the bioavailability of sediment-bound MeHg.
Organochlorine pesticides in the surface water and sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, South China
Authors: Yu Mei , Luo Xiaojun , Chen Shejun , Mai Bixian , Zeng Eddy Y
Published: December 2007

Samples of surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and surface sediment, collected from the Pear River Estuary, Guangdong Province, China in July of 2002 and April of 2003, were analyzed for hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) using gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The levels of total HCHs in water varied from 213 to 3,116 pg/L, although in sediments they ranged from 181 to 1,388 pg/g dry weight. The levels of DDTs were in the range of 228 to 3,284 pg/L in water and 57 to 2,244 pg/g dry weight in sediments, respectively. The observed spatial and temporal variability of concentrations of the target compounds in water body could be attributed to the differences of SPM contents in water body and organic carbon contents in SPM between the two sampling periods. Seven of the 10 water samples collected in July of 2002 had the ratio of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane/(dichlorobischlorophenylethane + dichlorodiphenyldi-chloroethylene) (DDT/[DDD + DDE]) higher than one, indicating that there were likely fresh inputs of DDT to the Pearl River Estuary. The significant positive correlations between the organochlorine pesticide concentrations and organic carbon contents in SPM and sediments indicated that organic matter played an important role in controlling the distributions of these pollutants in the marine environment. Varied correlations between the partition coefficients of pollutants and total organic carbon, salinity, and total SPM contents have been observed, which indicated the influences of these factors on controlling the transport and fate of pollutants in the marine environment.
Toxicological safety assessment of genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis with additional N-acyl homoserine lactonase gene
Authors: Peng Donghai , Zhou Chenfei , Chen Shouwen , Ruan Lifang , Yu Ziniu , Sun Ming
Published: December 2007

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the toxicology safety to mammals of a genetically modified (GM) Bacillus thuringiensis with an additional N-acyl homoserine lactones gene (aiiA), which possesses insecticidal activity together with restraint of bacterial pathogenicity and is intended for use as a multifunctional biopesticide. Safety assessments included an acute oral toxicity test and 28-d animal feeding study in Wistar rats, primary eye and dermal irritation in Zealand White rabbits, and delayed contact hypersensitivity in guinea pigs. Tests were conducted using spray-dried powder preparation. This GM product showed toxicity neither in oral acute toxicity test nor in 28-d animal feeding test at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg body weight. During the animal feeding test, there were no significant differences in growth, food and water consumption, hematology, blood biochemical indices, organ weights, and histopathology finding between rats in controls and tested groups. Tested animals in primary eye and dermal irritation and delayed contact hypersensitivity test were also devoid of any toxicity compared to controls. All the above results demonstrated that the GM based multifunctional B. thuringiensis has low toxicity and low eye and dermal irritation and would not cause hypersensitivity to laboratory mammals and therefore could be regarded as safe for use as a pesticide.
Influences of 4-nonylphenol ondoublesex- andmab-3–related transcription factor 1 gene expression and vitellogenin mRNA induction of adult rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus)
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Zha Jinmiao , Wang Zijian
Published: December 2007

The mab-3 of Caenorhabditis elegans and doublesex of Drosophila are two sex-determining genes that are found to have only a common DNA binding motif called a doublesex and mab-3 (DM) domain among phyla. The DM domain regulates some aspects of sexual development such as yolk protein synthesis. In the present study, by using DM degenerate primers' 13 sequences of doublesex and mab-3–related transcription factor (dmrt), genes were cloned from genomic DNA of rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) and expression of dmrt1 was detected only in testis of adult males. In addition, partial sequences of vitellogenin (vtg) and β-actin genes as comparative expression of genes were cloned from the female liver by degenerate primers based on conserved regions. The vtg mRNA in male liver was induced significantly in concentrations higher than 2μg/L treatments, although adult rare minnow were exposed to nominal concentrations of 2, 10, 50, 250, and 1,250 μg/L 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) for 21 d. The dmrt1 mRNA level was significantly downregulated in a dose-dependent manner in all exposure groups of males. Moreover, other toxic endpoints, including growth, gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, and histopathology, were determined. However, significant effects were observed only at higher exposure concentrations. Therefore, sex-specific genes such as dmrt1 can be used as a more sensitive biomarker for 4-NP and for discovering molecular mechanisms underlying toxic response.
Determination and fate of oxytetracycline and related compounds in oxytetracycline production wastewater and the receiving river
Authors: Li Dong , Yang Min , Hu Jianying , Ren Liren , Zhang Yu , Li Kuiziao
Published: December 2007

This study investigated the occurrence and fate of oxytetracycline (OTC) and its related substances, 4-epi-oxytetracycline (EOTC), α-apo-oxytetracycline (α-apo-OTC), and β-apo-oxytetracycline (β-apo-OTC), in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) treating OTC production wastewater and a river receiving the effluent from the WWTP using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The percent removal of OTC in the WWTP was 38.0 ± 10.5%, and the concentration of OTC was still up to 19.5 ± 2.9 mg/L in the treated outflow. The concentration slightly decreased along the river, from 641 ± 118 μg/L at site R2 (discharging point) to 377 ± 142 μg/L at site R4 (∼20 km from site R2), which was still higher than the minimal inhibition concentration of OTC reported (∼250 μg/L). On the other hand, the total amount of its related substances in the treated effluent was less than 5% of OTC. Concentrations of α-apo-OTC and β-apo-OTC increased along the river, from 5.76 ± 0.63 and 2.08 ± 0.30 μg/L at site R2 to 11.9 ± 4.9 and 12.0 ± 4.6 μg/L at R4, respectively, although EOTC decreased from 31.5 ± 3.8 to 12.9 ± 1.1 μg/L, respectively. The mean concentration of β-apo-OTC in river sediments was 20.8 ± 7.8 mg/kg, and its ratio to OTC was approximately 0.11, nearly twice the ratio of α-apo-OTC and EOTC to OTC (0.058 ± 0.014 and 0.061 ± 0.015, respectively).
Resistant desorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants in typical Chinese soils: Implications for long-term fate and soil quality standards
Authors: Yang Weichun , Duan Lin , Zhang Nan , Zhang Chengdong , Shipley Heather J , Kan Amy T , Tomson Mason B , Chen Wei
Published: December 2007

Soil contamination is an enormous problem in China and severely threatens environmental quality and food safety. Establishing realistic soil quality standards is important to the management and remediation of contaminated sites and must be based on thorough understanding of contaminant desorption from soil. In the present study, we evaluated sorption and desorption behaviors of naphthalene, phenanthrene, atrazine, and lindane (four common soil contaminants in China) in two of the most common Chinese soils. The desorption of these compounds exhibited clear biphasic pattern—a fraction of contaminants in soil was much less available to desorption and persisted much longer than what was predicted with the conventional desorption models. The unique thermodynamic characteristics associated with the resistant-desorption fraction likely have important implications for the mechanism(s) controlling resistant desorption. Experimental observations in the present study are consistent with our previous work with chlorinated compounds and different adsorbents and could be well modeled with a biphasic desorption isotherm. We therefore suggest that more accurate biphasic desorption models should be used to replace the conventional linear sorption/desorption model that is still widely adopted worldwide in contaminant fate prediction and soil quality standard calculations.
Heavy metals in wetland plants and soil of Lake Taihu, China
Authors: Yang Hongjun , Shen Zhemin , Zhu Songhe , Wang Wenhua
Published: December 2007

Properties of vertical distribution of soil near water bodies are vary considerably from those of land and may greatly affect the transportation of heavy metals in wetlands. Vertical distributions of heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in the soil of aquatic-terrestrial ecotone (ATE) of Lake Taihu, China, and in wetland plant tissues were studied. Generally, concentrations of heavy metals decreased with increasing depth in the top 40-cm cores and then increased slightly with increasing depth. This investigation indicated that concentrations of Cd, Cr, Pb, and Zn exceeded the geochemical background values in the Taihu Lake area. Concentrations of Cd at all depth soil columns exceeded the Environment Quality Standard for Soils of China. Correlation analysis showed that concentrations of Zn, Cr, Cd, and Pb correlated significantly with one another, suggesting that they had the same origin. The concentration of Cu was negatively correlated with root biomass, which may explain the lower concentration of copper in the soil cores. The dominant plants of the wetland were Phragmites australis and Ludwigia prostrata, and heavy metal accumulated primarily in the root tissue. The general order was root > rhizome > stem > leaf, whereas in L. prostrata, leaf was the main tissue for Cr accumulation. Both P. australis and L. prostrata had the highest concentration factor (CF) to Cu, and CF was 20.3 and 15.8, respectively. Aquatic-terrestrial ecotone plants are more effective in controlling Cu pollution than other heavy metals. This will be very significant for ATE reestablishment near Cu-polluted sites.
Evaluation of estrogenicity of sewage effluent and reclaimed water using vitellogenin as a biomarker
Authors: An Lihui , Hu Jianying , Yang Min
Published: December 2007

To evaluate the quality of reclaimed water, the estrogenicity of effluent from a sewage treatment plant and of reclaimed water treated with coagulation–sedimentation–filtration using the effluent as raw water was assessed using vitellogenin (VTG) as a biomarker. After a three-week exposure, significant (p < 0.05) induction of VTG occurred in female crucian carp (Carassius carassius) exposed continuously to the secondary effluent and reclaimed water with different dilutions (12.5, 25, 50, and 100% for secondary effluent; 50 and 100% for reclaimed water); no induction of VTG was detected when exposed to 12.5 and 25% reclaimed water. For male fish, however, only 100% secondary effluent induced the production of VTG (mean ± standard deviation, 38.6 ± 9.8 μg/ml). When the exposure time was prolonged to three months, VTG was induced significantly in both females and males at all gradient concentrations of secondary effluent and at 50 and 100% reclaimed water. The results indicated that no obvious VTG was detected in fish exposed to reclaimed water diluted more than fourfold. Ozonation of the secondary effluent under an ozone consumption dose of 8.5 mg/L resulted in a VTG level equal to that of 12.5% secondary effluent or 50% reclaimed water. Furthermore, VTG induction reflects the cumulative effects of estrogenic activity in the secondary effluent and reclaimed water compared with the in vitro assays, in which estrogenic activities in effluent changed markedly during the experiment.
Tissue-dependent distribution and bioaccumulation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in vegetation samples collected from Dongting Lake, China
Authors: Fang Liping , Zheng Minghui , Xiao Ke , Yang Yongbin
Published: December 2007

The concentration of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were determined in soils and different species of vegetation collected from the Dongting Lake region, China. Use of sodium pentachlorophenate (Na-PCP) was the main contamination source of PCDD/Fs for soil/sediment and vegetation in the Dongting Lake region. Reed (Phragmitas communis Trin), Polygonum orientale L., and Artemisia selengensis Turcz ex Bess were selected as model plants to explore the pathway of PCDD/Fs transfer from contaminated soil to vegetation. In the vegetation tissue samples, the total international toxic equivalency values ranged from 0.14 to 1.64 pg international toxic equivalency/g dry weight with a mean value of 0.67 pg international toxic equivalency/g dry weight. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans congener distribution and bio accumulation varied among vegetation species. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofuran levels in the leaves were found to be higher than those in the root and stem, which were affected considerably by volatilization from contaminated soil. Volatilization from polluted soil and subsequent sorption to leaves may be a significant pathway for contamination of vegetation in Dongting Lake region.
Semipermeable membrane device–assisted desorption of pyrene from soils and its relationship to bioavailability
Authors: Sun Hongwen , Wang Cuiping , Huo Chong , Zhou Zunlong
Published: December 2007

Desorption of pyrene from three different soils was studied using a semipermeable membrane device (SPMD)–assisted method to develop a new approach to predict bioavailability of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in soils. The results showed that pyrene desorption increased with reduction of soil organic matter content and elevation of pyrene concentration in unaged soils, and the 50-d desorption percentage was 52.2 ± 3.6%, 76.3 ± 1.5%, and 99.4 ± 3.3% for soils 1, 2, and 3, respectively, at an initial pyrene concentration of 10 mg/kg and 73.6 ± 4.9%, 94.1 ± 4.1%, and 98.3 ± 4.9%, respectively, at an initial pyrene concentration of 100 mg/kg. Aging led to a reduction in SPMD–assisted desorption because of movement of pyrene molecules from easy-desorbing to difficult-desorbing sites. The pyrene 50-d desorption percentage from 180-d–aged soils reduced to 5.8 ± 0.6%, 18.8 ± 0.9%, and 34.2 ± 3.1% in soils 1, 2, and 3, respectively, at an initial pyrene concentration of 10 mg/kg and 43.9 ± 2.9%, 54.3 ± 4.7%, and 86.3 ± 3.5%, respectively, at an initial pyrene concentration of 100 mg/kg. Dry and wet conditions during aging had different effects on aging-derived reduction of pyrene desorption, which was found, to our knowledge for the first time, to depend on pollutant concentration. The water to soil ratio during desorption had a significant effect on SPMD–assisted desorption dynamics. When this ratio changed from 10:1 to 1:1, desorption dynamics became more linear and slower, because when the ratio was low, the SPMD could not contact with soil particles well and the diffusion of pyrene from pore water into the SPMD might become the limiting step for SPMD accumulation of pyrene from soils. Good correlations were found between SPMD–assisted desorption and the biota–soil accumulation factor for both unaged and aged soils. The SPMD–assisted desorption is considered to be a reliable approach to predict the bioavailability of HOCs in soils.
Residues of DDTs and their spatial distribution characteristics in soils from the Yangtze River Delta, China
Authors: Li Qingbo , Zhang Haibo , Luo Yongming , Song Jing , Wu Longhua , Ma Jianmin
Published: December 2007

Organochlorine pesticides were used extensively in the Yangtze River Delta, China. However, knowledge about their residual levels and environmental fates in soils of this area is limited. This paper presents the residue isomers and spatial pattern of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in soils across 17 main cities in the Yangtze River Delta. Forty-three soil surface (0–15 cm) samples were collected during a field campaign conducted in October 2003 in the Delta. Six DDT isomers (1-[2-chlorophenyl]-1-[4-chlorophenyl]-2,2-dichloroethane [o,p′-DDD], 1-[2-chlorophenyl]-1-[4-chlorophenyl]-2,2-dichloroethylene [o,p-′DDE], 1,1,1-trichloro-2-[p-chlorophenyl]-2-[o-chlorophenyl]ethane [o,p′-DDT], p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane [p,p′-DDD], p,p′-dichlo-rodiphenyldichloroethylene [p,p-DDE], p,p-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane [p,p-DDT]) were detected using gas chromatography. The results show that p,p′-DDE was the dominant isomer in the soil samples. The levels of DDT are generally low in soils of this area and are comparable to DDT levels in other cities in China and in soils from developed countries such as the United States and Germany. The isomer ratios of o,p′-DDT to p,p′-DDT and DDT to (DDD + DDE) were employed to identify the source of DDT. The computed ratios implied that the source of DDT might be related to the application of dicofol, an acaricide manufactured from technical DDTs and mainly used on cotton fields to treat mites.
Inhibitory effects of atrazine on Chlorella vulgaris as assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Qian Haifeng , Sheng G. Daniel , Liu Weiping , Lu Yingcong , Liu Zhenghai , Fu Zhengwei
Published: December 2007

Atrazine, a highly toxic herbicide, is frequently detected in surface water because of its heavy application. Algae are among the aquatic organisms most susceptible to atrazine pollution in water. In the present study, the aquatic alga Chlorella vulgaris Beijerinck was chosen to assess the acute toxicity of atrazine (48–96 h) in terms of gene transcription and physiological changes. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to quantify transcript levels of three photosystem genes in C. vulgaris. The diel patterns for regulation of the psaB (photosystem I reaction center protein subunit B), psbC (an integral membrane protein component of photosystem II), and rbcL (large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase) gene transcripts were successfully quantified. Results showed that atrazine reduced the transcript abundances of three target genes and that the abundances decreased with increasing atrazine concentration. The determined smallest transcript levels of psaB, psbC, and rbcL, which occurred at the highest atrazine concentration tested (400 μg/L), were only 34.6, 34.6, and 8.1%, respectively, of the control sample value. Exposure to atrazine increased the level of malondialdehyde by 1.74-fold (the highest value) in C. vulgaris, suggesting potential oxidative damage to the alga. The activities of antioxidation enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) also increased markedly in the presence of atrazine, with maximum increases of 1.82-, 1.59-, and 2.31-fold, respectively. These elevated activities may help to alleviate the oxidative damage. Our results demonstrate that atrazine is highly toxic to this alga and that real-time PCR is an efficient technique for assessing the toxicity of xenobiotic compounds in algae.
Statistical evaluation and optimisation of stormwater quality monitoring programmes
Authors: Fletcher T.D. , Deletic A.
Published: December 2007

This paper reports on a statistical review of a water quality monitoring programme aimed at estimating long-term pollutant loads discharged from waterways in and around Melbourne, Australia. Performance of the current programme was evaluated with respect to the required level of uncertainty to meet management objectives. Use of continuously measured turbidity was found to be an effective surrogate measure for estimating TSS, with errors in long-term load estimates of less than 5%. Where routine grab sampling was used instead, errors increased with sampling interval; a 3-day interval was required to maintain errors within 10% of the continuously measured load. For storm event sampling, auto-samplers were found not to be required, if only long-term load estimates are required. The importance of eliminating systematic errors, by ensuring frequent calibration and data verification, was demonstrated.
Reuse of carwash wastewater with hollow fiber membrane aided by enhanced coagulation and activated carbon treatments
Authors: Li Tang , Xue-jun Tan , Fu-yi Cui , Qi Zhou , Jun Yin
Published: December 2007

The particles from carwash wastewater were separated by a hollow fiber membrane aided by a enhanced coagulation and activated carbon. This study demonstrated that the addition of KMnO4 to coagulant (PAC) could enhance the efficiency of coagulation, which helped reduce clogging of the ultrafiltration membrane and activated carbon. The existence of LAS can loosen the gel layer on the membrane and improve the flux. Adsorption of particles such as organic matter and oil is the main reason causing membrane flux decrease. When carwash wastewater was pretreated, the permeation flux of membrane showed a higher value. LAS, odour and colour are removed by GAC adsorption treatment at last. The COD, BOD, LAS and oil of reuse water was 33.4 mg/L, 4.8 mg/L, 0.06 mg/L and 0.95 mg/L, respectively.
Development of normal human colon cell cultures to identify priority unregulated disinfection by-products with a carcinogenic potential
Authors: DeAngelo A.B. , Jones C.P. , Moyer M.P.
Published: December 2007

Research was initiated to develop an in vitro system to identify disinfection by-products with a potential to transform normal human colonocytes into malignant cells. Tribromomethane and bromochloroacetic acid, rodent colon carcinogens, dibromonitromethane and tribromonitromethane, recently identified in drinking water, and azoxymethane, a classic colon carcinogen, were tested for the ability to transform NCM460 cells. The chronic toxicity was determined for the series of trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids and halonitromethanes as well as NCM460 cell enzymatic capabilities. The order of cytotoxicity was halonitromethanes > haloacetic acids > trihalomethanes. Cytotoxicity within a series increased with the degree of bromination and decreased with the molecular weight. The genotoxicity profile was similar to that for cytotoxicity. Enzymatic analysis demonstrated that NCM460 cells possess glutathione-S transerase-1-1 and CYP450 activity similar to that measured in the large intestine. NCM460 cells were exposed to 10−6 M of the test chemicals for three days. While NCM460 cells from all treatments had the ability to grow in soft agar to some extent, only cells exposed to azoxymethane or tribromomethane were able to grow in media lacking serum and growth factors. When sub cultured, NCM460 cells exposed to 10−9 M azoxymethane for three weeks formed colonies with morphology distinct from untreated cells.
Reverse Mathematics and Π12 Comprehension
Authors: Mummert Carl , Simpson Stephen G.
Published: December 2007

We initiate the reverse mathematics of general topology. We show that a certain metrization theorem is equivalent to Π12 comprehension. An MF space is defined to be a topological space of the form MF(P) with the topology generated by {Np ∣ p ϵ P}. Here P is a poset, MF(P) is the set of maximal filters on P, and Np = {F ϵ MF(P) ∣ p ϵ F }. If the poset P is countable, the space MF(P) is said to be countably based. The class of countably based MF spaces can be defined and discussed within the subsystem ACA0 of second order arithmetic. One can prove within ACA0 that every complete separable metric space is homeomorphic to a countably based MF space which is regular. We show that the converse statement, “every countably based MF space which is regular is homeomorphic to a complete separable metric space,” is equivalent to . The equivalence is proved in the weaker system . This is the first example of a theorem of core mathematics which is provable in second order arithmetic and implies Π12 comprehension.
Weak Distributivity, A Problem of Von Neumann and the Mystery of Measurability
Authors: Balcar Bohuslav , Jech Thomas
Published: December 2007

This article investigates the weak distributivity of Boolean σ-algebras satisfying the countable chain condition. It addresses primarily the question when such algebras carry a σ-additive measure. We use as a starting point the problem of John von Neumann stated in 1937 in the Scottish Book. He asked if the countable chain condition and weak distributivity are sufficient for the existence of such a measure.

Subsequent research has shown that the problem has two aspects: one set theoretic and one combinatorial. Recent results provide a complete solution of both the set theoretic and the combinatorial problems. We shall survey the history of von Neumann's Problem and outline the solution of the set theoretic problem. The technique that we describe owes much to the early work of Dorothy Maharam to whom we dedicate this article.

§1. Complete Boolean algebras and weak distributivity. ABoolean algebrais a setBwith Boolean operationsa˅b(join),a˄b(meet) and −a(complement), partial orderinga≤bdefined bya˄b=aand the smallest and greatest element,0and1. By Stone's Representation Theorem, every Boolean algebra is isomorphic to an algebra of subsets of some nonempty setS, under operationsa∪b,a∩b,S−a, ordered by inclusion, with0= ∅ and1=S.

Complete Boolean algebras and weak distributivity.A Boolean algebrais a setBwith Boolean operationsa˅b(join),a˄b(meet) and -a(complement), partial orderinga≤bdefined bya˄b=aand the smallest and greatest element.0and1. By Stone's Representation Theorem, every Boolean algebra is isomorphic to an algebra of subsets of some nonempty setS, under operationsa∪b,a∩b,S-a, ordered by inclusion, with0= ϕ and1=S.
Incompleteness in a General Setting
Authors: Bell John L.
Published: December 2007

Full proofs of the Gödel incompleteness theorems are highly intricate affairs. Much of the intricacy lies in the details of setting up and checking the properties of a coding system representing the syntax of an object language (typically, that of arithmetic) within that same language. These details are seldom illuminating and tend to obscure the core of the argument. For this reason a number of efforts have been made to present the essentials of the proofs of Gödel's theorems without getting mired in syntactic or computational details. One of the most important of these efforts was made by Löb [8] in connection with his analysis of sentences asserting their own provability. Löb formulated three conditions (now known as the Hilbert-Bernays-Löb derivability conditions), on the provability predicate in a formal system which are jointly sufficient to yield the Gödel's second incompleteness theorem for it. A key role in Löb's analysis is played by (a special case of) what later became known as the diagonalization or fixed point property of formal systems, a property which had already, in essence, been exploited by Gödel in his original proofs of the incompleteness theorems. The fixed point property plays a central role in Lawvere's [7] category-theoretic account of incompleteness phenomena (see also [10]).
A new “feasible” arithmetic
Authors: Bellantoni Stephen , Hofmann Martin
Published: December 2007

A classical quantified modal logic is used to define a “feasible” arithmetic whose provably total functions are exactly the polynomial-time computable functions. Informally, one understands ⃞∝ as “∝ is feasibly demonstrable”.

differs from a system that is as powerful as Peano Arithmetic only by the restriction of induction to ontic (i.e., ⃞-free) formulas. Thus, is defined without any reference to bounding terms, and admitting induction over formulas having arbitrarily many alternations of unbounded quantifiers. The system also uses only a very small set of initial functions.

To obtain the characterization, one extends the Curry-Howard isomorphism to include modal operations. This leads to a realizability translation based on recent results in higher-type ramified recursion. The fact that induction formulas are not restricted in their logical complexity, allows one to use the Friedman A translation directly.

The development also leads us to propose a new Frege rule, the “Modal Extension” rule: if ⊢ ∝ a then ⊢ A ↔ ∝ for new symbol A.
A model-theoretic proof for P ≠ NP over all infinite abelian group
Authors: Prunescu Mihai
Published: December 2007

We give a model-theoretic proof of the fact that for all infinite Abelian groups P ≠ NP in the sense of binary nondeterminism. This result has been announced 1994 by Christine Gaßner.
Wellordering proofs for metapredicative Mahlo
Authors: Strahm Thomas
Published: December 2007

In this article we provide wellordering proofs for metapredicative systems of explicit mathematics and admissible set theory featuring suitable axioms about the Mahloness of the underlying universe of discourse. In particular, it is shown that in the corresponding theories EMA of explicit mathematics and KPm0 of admissible set theory, transfinite induction along initial segments of the ordinal φω00, for φ being a ternary Veblen function, is derivable. This reveals that the upper bounds given for these two systems in the paper Jäger and Strahm [11] are indeed sharp.
Proving consistency of equational theories in bounded arithmetic
Authors: Beckmann† Arnold
Published: December 2007

We consider equational theories for functions denned via recursion involving equations between closed terms with natural rules based on recursive definitions of the function symbols. We show that consistency of such equational theories can be proved in the weak fragment of arithmetic S21. In particular this solves an open problem formulated by Takeuti (c.f. [5, p.5 problem 9.]).