A GIS model-based assessment of the environmental distribution of g-hexachlorocyclohexane in European soils and waters

The MAPPE GIS based multimedia model is used to produce a quantitative description of the behaviour of γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) in Europe, with emphasis on continental surface waters. The model is found to reasonably reproduce γ-HCH distributions and variations along the years in atmosphere and soil; for continental surface waters, concentrations were reasonably well predicted for year 1995, when lindane was still used in agriculture, while for 2005, assuming severe restrictions in use, yields to substantial underestimation. Much better results were yielded when same mode of release as in 1995 was considered, supporting the conjecture that for γ-HCH, emission data rather that model structure and parameterization can be responsible for wrong estimation of concentrations. Future research should be directed to improve the quality of emission data. Joint interpretation of monitoring and modelling results, highlights that lindane emissions in Europe, despite the marked decreasing trend, persist beyond the provisions of existing legislation. An spatially-explicit multimedia modelling strategy was applied to describe the historical distribution of γ-HCH in European soils and surface waters

A History of Maine Roads 1600 - 1970

A History of Maine Roads 1600 - 1970. State Highway Commission, Augusta, Maine, 1970. Sections: Two Transportation Firsts, Early Roads, The Stagecoach Arrives, Steamboats and Railroads, Better Roads Movement, The Automobile, State Roads, First Highway Commissioner, State Highway Department, State Highway Commission, Patrol Maintenance, Bridge Law, Federal Aid, Highway Finances, World War 1, First Route Markers, Traffic Counts, Snow and Ice Control, Planning Activities, World War 2, The Maine Turnpike, Right of Way, Division Offices, Chairman Full-Time Position, Engineering Tools and Techniques, Engineering Pioneers, The Interstate Program, Roadside Beauty, Highway Safety, Operation of the Department Today.https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/me_collection/1012/thumbnail.jp

Factors associated with the donation and non-donation of embryos for research: a systematic review

Background: Systematic knowledge on the factors that influence the decisions of IVF users regarding embryo donation for research is a core need for patient-centred policies and ethics in clinical practice. However, no systematic review has been provided on the motivations of patients who must decide embryo disposition. This paper fills this gap, presenting a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies, which synthesizes the current body of knowledge on the factors and reasons associated with IVF patients’ decisions to donate or not to donate embryos for research. Methods: A systematic search of studies indexed in PubMed, ISIWoK and PsycINFO, published before November 2013, was conducted. Only empirical, peer-reviewed, full-length, original studies reporting data on factors and reasons associated with the decision concerning donation or non-donation of embryos for research were included. Eligibility and data extraction were performed by two independent researchers and disagreements were resolved by discussion or a third reviewer, if required. The main quantitative findings were extracted and synthesized and qualitative data were assessed by thematic content analysis. Results: A total of 39 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. More than half of the studies (n ¼ 21) used a quantitative methodology, and the remaining were qualitative (n ¼ 15) or mixed-methods (n ¼ 3) studies. The studies were derived mainly from European countries (n ¼ 18) and the USA(n ¼ 11). The proportion of IVF users who donated embryos for research varied from 7% in a study in France to 73% in a Swiss study. Those who donate embryos for research reported feelings of reciprocity towards science and medicine, positive views of research and high levels of trust in the medical system. They described their decision as better than the destruction of embryos and as an opportunity to help others or to improve health and IVF treatments. The perception of risks, the lack of information concerning research projects and the medical system and the conceptualization of embryos in terms of personhood were the most relevant motives for not donating embryos for research. Results relating to the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and reproductive and gynaecological history were mostly inconclusive. Conclusions: Three iterative and dynamic dimensions of the IVF patients’ decision to donate or not to donate embryos for research emerged from this review: the hierarquization of the possible options regarding embryo disposition, according to the moral, social and instrumental status attributed to embryos; patients’ understanding of expectations and risks of the research on human embryos; and patients’ experiences of information exchange and levels of trust in the medical-scientific institutions.This study was partly co-financed through FEDER funding from the Operational Programme Factors of Competitiveness, COMPETE, and through national funding from the FCT, Foundation for Science and Technology (Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science) within the project ‘Health, governance and accountability in embryo research: couples’ decisions about the fates of embryos’ (FCOMP-01-0124- FEDER-014453) and the PhD fellowship SFRH/BD/75807/2011 (to C.S.)

Relationship between green space-related morphology and noise pollution

Green spaces have been proved to have a positive effect on traffic noise pollution in the local scale; however their effects have not been explored on the urban level. This paper investigates the effects of green space-related parameters from a land cover viewpoint on traffic noise pollution in order to understand to what extent greener cities can also be quieter. A triple level analysis was conducted in the agglomeration, urban and kernel level including various case study cities across Europe. The green space parameters were calculated based on land cover data available in a European scale, while traffic noise data were extracted from online noise maps and configured in noise indices. In the first level 25 agglomerations were investigated, six of which were further analyzed in the urban and kernel levels. It was found that the effect of green spaces on traffic noise pollution varies according to the scale of analysis. In the agglomeration level, there was no significant difference in the cluster of the higher green space index and the percentage of people exposed in the lowest (55-59 dB(A)) or the highest noise band of more than 70 dB(A). In the urban level it was found that lower noise levels can possibly be achieved in cities with a higher extent of porosity and green space coverage. Finally, in the kernel level a Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) analysis was conducted for the identification of correlations between noise and green. Strong correlations were identified between 60% and 79%, while a further cluster analysis combined with land cover data revealed that lower noise levels were detected in the cluster with higher green space coverage. At last, all cities were ranked according to the calculated noise index

Handbook of good practices for participation in Codex Alimentarius meetings.

Índice: 1 Descripción de la organización. 2 Funcionamiento de los comités del CODEX. 3 Procedimientos internos. 4 Documentos del Codex Alimentarius. 5 Proceso de trámites para la aprobación de documentos en el Codex Alimentarius. 6 Cómo prepararse antes de las reuniones? 7 Cómo preparo mis intervenciones para cada punto de agenda? 8 La reunión.Publicado en inglés y español.Este documento es un manuel de buenas prácticas de participación en las reuniones del Codex Alimentarius, el cual presenta una descripción de la organización Codex Alimentarius, sus principios, estructura y la importancia del Codex Alimentarious para el país. Además se presentan los procedimientos internos, como lo son actas, quórum, presentación de propuestas, entre otras. Igualmente presenta los documentos que genera el Codex Alimentarius y cuál es el proceso para la aprobación de documentos de esta organización.This document is a manual of good practices for participation in Codex Alimentarius meetings, which presents a description of the Codex Alimentarius organization, its principles, structure and the importance of Codex Alimentarious for the country. In addition, the internal procedures are presented, such as minutes, quorum, presentation of proposals, among others. It also presents the documents generated by the Codex Alimentarius and what is the process for the approval of documents of this organization

Functional diversity measures revealed impacts of non-native species and habitat degradation on species-poor freshwater fish assemblages

International audienceTrail-based ecology has been developed for decades lo infer ecosystem responses to stressors based on the functional structure of communities, yet its value in species-poor systems is largely unknown. Here, we used an extensive clataset in a Spanish region highly prone to non-native fish invasions (15 catchments, N 389 sites) to assess for the first time how species-poor communities respond to large-scale environmental gradients using a taxonomic and functional trait-based approach in riverine fish. We examined total species richness and three functional trait-based indices available when many sites have \textless= 3 species (specialization, FSpe; onginaliy, FOri and entropy, FEnt). We assessed the responses of these taxonomic and functional indices along gradients of altitude, water pollution, physical habitat degradation and non-native fish biomass. Whilst species richness was relatively sensitive to spatial effects, functional diversity indices were responsive across natural and anthropogenic gradients. All four diversity measures declined with altitude but this decline was modulated by physical habitat degradation (richness, FSpe and FEnt) and the non-native total fish biomass ratio (FSpe and FOri) in ways that varied between indices. Furthermore, FSpe and FOri were significantly correlated with Total Nitrogen. Non-native fish were a major component of the taxonomic and functional structure of fish communities, raising concerns about potential misdiagnosis between invaded and environmentally-degraded river reaches. Such misdiagnosis was evident in a regional fish index widely used in official monitoring programs. We recommend the application of FSpe and FOri to extensive clatasets from monitoring programs in order to generate valuable cross-system information about the impacts of non-native species and habitat degradation, even in species-poor systems. Scoring non-native species apart from habitat degradation in the indices used to determine ecosystem health is essential to develop better management strategies. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Environmental interactions of tidal lagoons: A comparison of industry perspectives

Tidal lagoons are an attractive renewable energy option that could aid the UK in meeting its ambitious renewable energy targets. One of the main barriers to tidal range development in the UK to date has been regulatory environmental concern. In order for the nascent lagoon industry to move forward into development, the views of the developers and other influential stakeholders such as government bodies, regulators, conservationists and practitioners (herein referred to as 'influencing stakeholders' or 'influencers') need to be aligned. This study is the first of its kind using online questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to present and compare the views of both developers and influencing stakeholders on the environmental interactions of tidal lagoons. We find that, whilst both influencers and developers are working towards the common goal of a good environmental outcome for tidal lagoons, there are mismatches in their views in terms of the priorities given to the key environmental impacts, benefits and potential solution options. The work provides insight into what is at the forefront of developers' and influencers' minds, highlighting the key themes within their views and transforming this information into policy recommendations that will help the industry's development move forward

Effect of cadmium on cytosine hydroxymethylation in gastropod hepatopancreas

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is an important, yet poorly understood epigenetic DNA modification, especially in invertebrates. Aberrant genome-wide 5hmC levels have been associated with cadmium (Cd) exposure in humans, but such information is lacking for invertebrate bioindicators. Here, we aimed to determine whether this epigenetic mark is present in DNA of the hepatopancreas of the land snail Cantareus aspersus and is responsive to Cd exposure. Adult snails were reared under laboratory conditions and exposed to graded amounts of dietary cadmium for 14 days. Weight gain was used as a sublethal endpoint, whereas survival as a lethal endpoint. Our results are the first to provide evidence for the presence of 5hmC in DNA of terrestrial mollusks; 5hmC levels are generally low with the measured values falling below 0.03%. This is also the first study to investigate the interplay of Cd with DNA hydroxymethylation levels in a non-human animal study system. Cadmium retention in the hepatopancreas of C. aspersus increased from a dietary Cd dose of 1 milligram per kilogram dry weight (mg/kg d. wt). For the same treatment, we identified the only significant elevation in percentage of samples with detectable 5hmC levels despite the lack of significant mortalities and changes in weight gain among treatment groups. These findings indicate that 5hmC is an epigenetic mark that may be responsive to Cd exposure, thereby opening a new aspect to invertebrate environmental epigenetics

What prevents Finnish women from applying to software engineering roles? A preliminary analysis of survey data

Finland is considered a country with a good track record in gender equality. Whilst statistics support the notion that Finland is performing well compared to many other countries in terms of workplace equality, there are still many areas for improvement. This paper focuses on the problems that some women face in obtaining software engineering roles. We report a preliminary analysis of survey data from 252 respondents. These are mainly women who have shown an interest in gaining programming roles by joining the Mimmit koodaa initiative, which aims to increase equality and diversity within the software industry. The survey sought to understand what early experiences may influence later career choices and feelings of efficacy and confidence needed to pursue technology-related careers. These initial findings reveal that women's feelings of computing self-efficacy and attitudes towards software engineering are shaped by early experiences. More negative experiences decrease the likelihood of working in software engineering roles in the future, despite expressing an interest in the field