Transfer of metals from soil to Cucumis sativus fruit and possible health risk assessment under actual field condition

Toxic metals levels in Cucumis sativus (cucumber) plant and soil in an area of the oil producing Niger Delta of Nigeria were investigated. The study was carried out in a small scale Cucumis sativus farm located in Idim Afia village in Eket Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Toxic metals levels in soil were lower than the background levels except cadmium. Bioconcentration factor revealed that both toxic and major metals concentrated more in the root except for lead and cadmium which concentrated more in the shoot. Though the fruit is a good source of potassium (bioconcentration factor=14.90), it also hyper-accumulates nickel (bioconcentration factor=84.00), qualifying it as an indicator of nickel pollution. Effective transfer (Transfer Factor>1) of metals were observed for lead and cadmium from root to shoot; zinc, nickel, chromium and cadmium from shoot to leaf; and nickel and chromium from shoot to fruit. Generally, transfer factor within the organs was less than one. Indices of soil pollution indicated low to moderate pollution of farm soil and, also anthropogenic origin for cadmium and chromium (concentration factor>1). Principal component analysis extracted three major components accounting for 94.351% of total variance, and characterised by strong associations with exhaust emissions, leaching of industrial and domestic waste and agricultural activities. The main human exposure route of all toxic metals in Eket was through ingestion of fruit. Non-carcinogenic chronic daily intake and non-carcinogenic hazard quotient were higher in farm and purchased fruit than in the farm soil. Non-carcinogenic hazard quotients of individual exposure pathways and the total non-carcinogenic hazard quotient was <1, indicating no potential health concern for zinc, nickel, lead, cadmium, and chromium pollution in Eket at the time of study. It was observed that chromium posed least risk to the local population, with hazard quotient ranging from 0.000 in soil to 0.0006 in farm fruit. However, cadmium in farm soil, and nickel and lead in the fruit, presented higher values for non-carcinogenic risk in the study area, hence more attention should be paid to cadmium, nickel and lead pollution in future studies. The results of this study may inform policy on the prevention of food contamination by toxic metals.Key words: Health risk, Metals, Soil, Cucumbe

Multi-Bunch Instability Diagnostics via Digital Feedback Systems

Longitudinal feedback systems based on a common programmable DSP architecture have been commissioned at 4 laboratories. In addition to longitudinal feedback and beam diagnostics these exible systems have been programmed to provide diagnostics for tranverse motion. The diagnostic functions are based on transient domain techniques which record the response of every bunch while the feedback system manipulates the beam. Operational experience from 4 installations is illustrated via experimental results from PEP-II, DA NE, ALS and SPEAR. Modal growth and damping rates for transverse and longitudinal planes are measured via short (20 ms) transient excitations for unstable and stable coupled-bunch modes. Data from steady-state measurements are used to identify unstable modes, noise-driven beam motion, and noise sources. Techniques are illustrated which allow the prediction of instability thresholds from low-current measurements of stable beams. Tranverse bunch train grow-damp sequences which measure the time evolution of instabilities along the bunch train are presented and compared to signatures expected from ion and fast ion instabilities. Invited talk presented at the IEEE Particle Accelerator Conference (PAC99

Anisotropic Structure of the Order Parameter in FeSe0.45Te0.55 Revealed by Angle Resolved Specific Heat

The symmetry and structure of the superconducting gap in the Fe-based superconductors are the central issue for understanding these novel materials. So far the experimental data and theoretical models have been highly controversial. Some experiments favor two or more constant or nearly-constant gaps, others indicate strong anisotropy and yet others suggest gap zeros ("nodes"). Theoretical models also vary, suggesting that the absence or presence of the nodes depends quantitatively on the model parameters. An opinion that has gained substantial currency is that the gap structure, unlike all other known superconductors, including cuprates, may be different in different compounds within the same family. A unique method for addressing this issue, one of the very few methods that are bulk and angle-resolved, calls for measuring the electronic specific heat in a rotating magnetic field, as a function of field orientation with respect to the crystallographic axes. In this Communication we present the first such measurement for an Fe-based high-Tc superconductor (FeBSC). We observed a fourfold oscillation of the specific heat as a function of the in-plane magnetic field direction, which allowed us to identify the locations of the gap minima (or nodes) on the Fermi surface. Our results are consistent with the expectations of an extended s-wave model with a significant gap anisotropy on the electron pockets and the gap minima along the \Gamma M (or Fe-Fe bond) direction.Comment: 32 pages, 7 figure

Multi-Bunch Longitudinal Dynamics and Diagnostics via a Digital

A bunch-by-bunch longitudinal feedback system based on a programmable DSP architecture is used to study coupled-bunch motion and its sources. Experimental results are presented from PEP-II, DA NE, ALS and SPEAR to highlight the operational experience from 4 installations, plus show novel accelerator diagnostics possible with the digital processing system. Modal growth and damping rates are measured via short ( 20 ms) transient recordings for unstable and stable coupled-bunch modes. Data from steady-state measurements are used to identify unstable modes and noise-driven beam motion. Anovel impedance measurement technique is presented which reveals the longitudinal impedance as a function of frequency. This technique uses the measured synchronous phase and charge of every bucket to calculate the impedance seen by the beam at revolution harmonics

Testing A (Stringy) Model of Quantum Gravity

I discuss a specific model of space-time foam, inspired by the modern non-perturbative approach to string theory (D-branes). The model views our world as a three brane, intersecting with D-particles that represent stringy quantum gravity effects, which can be real or virtual. In this picture, matter is represented generically by (closed or open) strings on the D3 brane propagating in such a background. Scattering of the (matter) strings off the D-particles causes recoil of the latter, which in turn results in a distortion of the surrounding space-time fluid and the formation of (microscopic, i.e. Planckian size) horizons around the defects. As a mean-field result, the dispersion relation of the various particle excitations is modified, leading to non-trivial optical properties of the space time, for instance a non-trivial refractive index for the case of photons or other massless probes. Such models make falsifiable predictions, that may be tested experimentally in the foreseeable future. I describe a few such tests, ranging from observations of light from distant gamma-ray-bursters and ultra high energy cosmic rays, to tests using gravity-wave interferometric devices and terrestrial particle physics experients involving, for instance, neutral kaons.Comment: 25 pages LATEX, four figures incorporated, uses special proceedings style. Invited talk at the third international conference on Dark Matter in Astro and Particle Physics, DARK2000, Heidelberg, Germany, July 10-15 200

Brucellosis remains a neglected disease inthe developing world: a call forinterdisciplinary action

Brucellosis places significant burdens on the human healthcare system and limits the economic growth of individuals, communities, and nations where such development is especially important to diminish the prevalence of poverty. The implementation of public policy focused on mitigating the socioeconomic effects of brucellosis in human and animal populations is desperately needed. When developing a plan to mitigate the associated consequences, it is vital to consider both the abstract and quantifiable effects. This requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative, or One Health, approach that consists of public education, the development of an infrastructure for disease surveillance and reporting in both veterinary and medical fields, and campaigns for control in livestock and wildlife species

AdS_3/LCFT_2 - Correlators in Cosmological Topologically Massive Gravity

For cosmological topologically massive gravity at the chiral point we calculate momentum space 2- and 3-point correlators of operators in the postulated dual CFT on the cylinder. These operators are sourced by the bulk and boundary gravitons. Our correlators are fully consistent with the proposal that cosmological topologically massive gravity at the chiral point is dual to a logarithmic CFT. In the process we give a complete classification of normalizable and non-normalizeable left, right and logarithmic solutions to the linearized equations of motion in global AdS_3.Comment: 39 pages + appendices, 1 eps figure, v2: minor changes in text in 4.1.2, corrected typo in (2.31

An Alanic Marginal Note and The Exact Date of John II's Battle with the Pechenegs

Descriptive and Comparative Linguistic

Urbanization and traffic related exposures as risk factors for Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Urban birth or upbringing increase schizophrenia risk. Though unknown, the causes of these urban-rural differences have been hypothesized to include, e.g., infections, diet, toxic exposures, social class, or an artefact due to selective migration. METHODS: We investigated the hypothesis that traffic related exposures affect schizophrenia risk and that this potential effect is responsible for the urban-rural differences. The geographical distance from place of residence to nearest major road was used as a proxy variable for traffic related exposures. We used a large population-based sample of the Danish population (1.89 million people) including information on all permanent addresses linked with geographical information on all roads and house numbers in Denmark. Schizophrenia in cohort members (10,755 people) was identified by linkage with the Danish Psychiatric Central Register. RESULTS: The geographical distance from place of residence to nearest major road had a significant effect. The highest risk was found in children living 500–1000 metres from nearest major road (RR = 1.30 (95% Confidence Interval: 1.17–1.44). However, when we accounted for the degree of urbanization, the geographical distance to nearest major road had no significant effect. CONCLUSION: The cause(s) or exposure(s) responsible for the urban-rural differences in schizophrenia risk were closer related to the degree of urbanization than to the geographical distance to nearest major road. Traffic related exposures might thus be less likely explanations for the urban-rural differences in schizophrenia risk

Expression of phospho-ERK1/2 and PI3-K in benign and malignant gallbladder lesions and its clinical and pathological correlations

Abstract Background An increasing number of studies have shown that ERK and PI3-K/AKT signaling pathways are involved in various human cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma. However, few studies have examined gallbladder cancer specimens, and little is known about the clinical and pathological significance of ERK1/2 and PI3-K/AKT signaling changes in gallbladder adenocarcinoma. In this study, we examined phospho-ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) and PI3K expression and analyzed its clinicopathological impact in gallbladder adenocarcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect and compare the frequency of p-ERK1/2 and PI3-K expression in gallbladder adenocarcinoma, peri-tumor tissues, adenomatous polyps, and chronic cholecystitis specimens. Results The positive staining for p-EKR1/2 and PI3-K were 63/108 (58.3%) and 55/108 (50.9%) in gallbladder adenocarcinoma; 14/46 (30.4%) and 5/46 (10.1%) in peri-tumor tissues; 3/15 (20%) and 3/15 (20%) in adenomatous polyps; and 4/35 (11.4%) and 3/35 (8.6%) in chronic cholecystitis. The positive rate of p-ERK1/2 or PI3-K in gallbladder adenocarcinoma was significantly higher than that in peri-tumor tissue (both, P P P P P P P P = 0.062) was associated with decreased overall survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that increased p-ERK1/2 expression was an independent prognostic predictor in gallbladder carcinoma (P = 0.028). Conclusion Increased expression of p-ERK1/2 and PI3K might contribute to gallbladder carcinogenesis. p-ERK1/2 over-expression is correlated with decreased survival and therefore may serve as an important biological marker in development of gallbladder adenocarcinoma.</p