124,216 research outputs found

    DETERMINATION OF PARTICULATE MATTER FRACTIONS PM2.5, PM10 AND CO2 IN URBAN SCHOOLS IN IMPHAL, INDIA

    Get PDF
    Measurements were carried out to determine the PM2.5, PM10 and, CO2 levels in schools located in the urban areas of Imphal, Manipur. The particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10) were monitored gravimetrically with standardised particulate samplers, while the CO2 in the air was measured by gas chromatography. Average PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in the classrooms was 41.0 ± 9.0 µg/m3 and 79.4 ± 20.2 µg/m3, respectively, and it was comparatively higher than the outdoor concentration of 34.8 ± 8.0 µg/m3 and 64.7 ± 18.9 µg/m3, respectively. The average concentration of CO2 in the indoor and outdoor air was 1250.6 ± 131.3 ∙ 103 µg/m3 and 885.7 ± 94.7 ∙103 µg/m3. The highest levels of PM2.5 (58.3 µg/m3), PM10 (112.5 µg/m3) and CO2 (1457.5 ∙ 103 µg/m3) were recorded indoors, in a school located at the heart of the city, whereas the lowest levels of PM2.5 (25.0 µg/m3), PM10 (45.8 µg/m3) and CO2 (1045.7 ∙ 103 µg/m3) were recorded in a school located away from the city centre. The levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in the air were found to exceed the permissible limits prescribed by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in more than half of the sampling. There was a strong positive correlation between indoor and outdoor pollutant concentrations

    Toksikološka procjena hrane za životinje kontaminirane mikotoksinima uporabom luminiscentnih mikroorganizama Photobacterium phosphoreum

    Get PDF
    The possibility of using luminescent microorganisms Photobacterium phosphoreum (strain IMB B-7071; Sq3) for rapid toxicological evaluation of feed contaminated with mycotoxins was examined based on the reduction of the luminescence intensity. Under the conditions of this study, feed with Ochratoxin A mycotoxin content at the level of maximum residue limits (MRL 0.05 mg/ kg) is characterized as non-toxic, while for T2-mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins and aflatoxin B1 (MRL 0.1, 1.0, 5.0, and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively) is characterized as toxic, and for zearalenone (MRL 1.0 mg/kg) as highly toxic. This indicates the need for further research to study the toxicological characteristics of mycotoxins in the body of laboratory and productive animals, possibly with further revision of the maximum allowable levels of relevant contaminants in feed in Ukraine.Na bazi redukcije intenziteta luminiscencije uspostavljena je mogućnost uporabe luminiscentnih mikroorganizama Photobacterium phosphoreum (soj IMB B-7071; Sq3) za izražavanje (do 30 minuta) toksikološke procjene hrane za životinje kontaminirane mikotoksinima. Međutim, ako je za okratoksin A u uvjetima ispitivanja hrane za životinje s udjelom mikotoksina pri razini najvećih dopuštenih količina rezidua (MRL) (0,05 mg/kg) hrana za životinje okarakterizirana kao netoksična, tada je za T2- mikotoksin, deoksinivalenol, fumonizin i aflatoksin B1 pri MRL (0,1; 1,0; 5,0, odnosno 0,01 mg/kg) hrana za životinje okarakterizirana kao toksična, a za zearalenon (MRL 1,0 mg/kg) – kao visoko toksična, što ukazuje na potrebu dodatnog istraživanja da se ispitaju toksikološke karakteristike mikotoksina u tijelu laboratorijskih i produktivnih životinja, moguće s dodatnom revizijom (naniže) najvećih dopuštenih količina relevantnih kontaminanata u hrani za životinje u Ukrajini

    Sustainable supply chain on the example of the steel sector in Poland

    Get PDF
    A sustainable supply chain provides products and services that meet customer expectations, and at the same time has the lowest possible impact on the environment in accordance with the principle of corporate social responsibility. There are still no system solutions in the steel sector in Poland. The aim of the study is to present the essence of the concept of a sustainable supply chain in relation to the life cycle product

    DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-COST FILTERS FOR THE TREATMENT OF WATER POLLUTED WITH FOOD WASTE LEACHATE

    Get PDF
    This study investigates the efficacy of conventional and modified bio-sand filters as a low-cost filtering device for the treatment of groundwater contaminated with food waste leachate. Two kinds of waste materials, areca nut husk and water hyacinth stems, have been selected to alter the bio-sand filter. In conventional bio-sand filters, the ashes of these wastes are used as a filter medium. The ashes\u27 physical characteristics, such as pH, ash content, and moisture content, have been measured. In leachate polluted water and purified water, tests for total solids, acidity, alkalinity, hardness, chloride content, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand have been performed. According to the testing findings, the developed filters are efficient in decreasing chloride, hardness, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, and biological oxygen demand. The same filters have also detected an increase in dissolved oxygen. According to this study, these low-cost filters might be used as a preliminary treatment system for leachate created by food waste recycling plants

    REMOVAL OF BRILLIANT GREEN DYE FROM WASTEWATER USING ACTIVATED CHICKPEA HUSK AS AN ADSORBENT

    Get PDF
    A novel adsorbent was developed from chickpea husk and its powder form was used for elimination of brilliant green dye from wastewater. Activated carbon from chickpea husk has been prepared and distinguished with a Scanning electron microscope, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analyser and a Fourier transform infrared spectroscope. Different variables, like contact time of adsorbent and adsorbate, adsorbent amount, initial concentration of dye and pH were studied to perceive their effect on adsorption of dye. The elimination percentage of brilliant green dye by using chickpea husk was found to be 90.3 % in 150 min at a concentration of 20 mg/l and pH = 7 when a dose of 0.1 g was used. Adsorption kinetics was verified by pseudo 1st order and pseudo 2nd order. It was observed that rate of adsorption of brilliant green dye follows pseudo 2nd order model. Experimental equilibrium study was discussed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms models and it was observed that the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model was well fitted for the adsorption of brilliant green dye

    Study of fluoroammonium processing of reduction smelting dusts from ilmenite concentrate

    Get PDF
    The article presents the results of studies on the processing of fine waste dusts of electric smelting of ilmenite concentrates. The main silicon impurity was preliminarily removed from the dusts. The process of dust fluorination with titanium fluorides extraction is studied. The influence of temperature and time on sublimation degree of titanium fluorides was studied. The optimum conditions for sublimation of titanium fluorides were determined: T = 600 ± 10 °C, time - 2 hours. The extraction of titanium in sublimations was up to 99 %. The XRD method showed that phases of heptofluorotitanate, hexafluorosilicate and ammonium hexofluoroferrate are present in the sublimations. The impurity components of iron, manganese, chromium are sublimated at a sufficiently low degree during titanium fluorination

    First record of alien naturalized populations of the crop Cucurbita moschata (Cucurbitaceae) in Spain, with remarks on typification status

    Get PDF
    As a result of a floristic survey carried out in riparian ecosystems of the southeastern Iberian Peninsula ( a first report of well established populations of the allochthonous cultivated plant species Cucurbita moschata Duchesne is here provided for the Iberian Peninsula. Data about the morphological description (compared to other Cucurbita species), certain clarification aspects about the typification status of this name and related synonyms, and ecological and climatic conditions of the riparian area are given together with a key identification of the Cucurbita species to facilitate further identification. The alien status and distribution of C. moschata together with its relatives C. ficifolia C. pepo and C. maxima are reviewed for the Spanish references. This study outlines the first record of a naturalized population of C. moschata in Spain, well supported by the stability of the population along the years and ecological conditions. Finally, the detailed ecological data indicate that the agricultural activities together with riparian habitats, respectively, are starting points and corridors for seed dispersal for the process of invasion of alien plants in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula

    Procjena biokemijskih markera u krvnoj plazmi štakora izloženih kroničnoj primjeni mješavine nanočestica metala

    Get PDF
    The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a specific mixture of metal nanoparticles (Ag, Cu, Fe and MnО2) orally administered to rats, on biochemical blood markers as indicators of chronic toxicity. Animals (Wistar line rats (n=20)) in experimental groups were given a solution of a mixture of metal salts or a mixture of nanoparticles with food for 90 days. On days 15, 30, 60 and 90 of the experiment, five rats from each group were anaesthetised with CO2 and decapitated, and blood samples were collected for biochemical studies and spectrophotometric measurement. The toxic effect of the chronic administration of the mixture at a dose of 4.0 mg/kg of body weight in white rats caused partial immunosuppression expressed as hypoproteinaemia, excessive formation of circulating immune complexes and acute phase serum mucoid proteins (P<0.05), and cytolytic damage to hepatocyte membranes. Levels of enzyme activity (AST, GGT, ALT and AP) were significantly elevated (P<0.05). It has been shown that the origin of the toxic effect is due to oxidative stress, which slowed lipoperoxidation along with the elevation of the level of carboxylated proteins, depleting the antioxidant defence resources of the organism, as seen by a decrease in the level of catalase and total antioxidant activity (P<0.05). No such effects were observed at the dose of 0.3 mg/kg as there were no significant negative impacts on the biomarkers. Based on this data, the biochemical markers studied may be suitable for use in pre-clinical in vivo toxicological assessment of metal nanoparticle-candidates for pharmaceuticals.Cilj je naše studije bio utvrditi učinke mješavine nanočestica određenih metala (Ag, Cu, Fe i MnО2) koje su oralno davane štakorima na biokemijske markere krvi kao indikatore kronične toksičnosti. Životinjama (štakorima soja Wistar (n=20)) je u eksperimentalnim skupinama hranom tijekom 90 dana davana je otopina mješavine metalnih soli ili mješavine nanočestica. Na 15., 60. i 90. dan eksperimenta, pet štakora je iz svake skupine pomoću CO2 anestezirano i dekapitirano te su prikupljeni uzorci krvi za biokemijske studije. Spektrofotometrijska mjerenja su provedena uporabom SHIMADZU UV-1800 instrumenta. Toksični je učinak kronične primjene NPMe mješavine pri dozi od 4,0 mg/kg tjelesne mase u bijelih štakora izazvao djelomičnu imunosupresiju izraženu kao hipoproteinemija, pretjerano formiranje cirkulirajućih imunokompleksa i mukoidne proteine u serumu (P<0,05) akutne faze te citolitičko oštećenje membrana hepatocita. Razine enzima (AST, GGT, ALT i AP aktivnost) su značajno povećane (P<0,05). Dokazano je da je uzrok toksičnog učinka oksidativni stres, koji je usporio lipoperoksidaciju uz povećanje razina karboksiliranih proteina, iscrpljujući antioksidativnu obranu resursa organizma, očitovanu smanjenjem razine katalaze i ukupne antioksidativne aktivnosti (P<0,05). Takvi učinci pri dozi od 0,3 mg/kg nisu zamijećeni, jer nije bilo značajnih negativnih učinaka na biomarkere. Na temelju naših podataka zaključujemo da je proučavane biokemijske markere moguće izabrati kao osnovu za predkliničku toksikološku procjenu obećavajućih metalnih nanočestica - kandidata za in vivo lijekove

    Utjecaj paragenetskih čimbenika na veličinu legla, dob pri prvom janjenju i međujanjidbeno razdoblje ovaca romanovske pasmine u Hrvatskoj

    Get PDF
    Reproductive traits are of paramountimportance in an efficient lamb production system. In Croatia, values of reproductive traits of Romanov sheep are below the average expected for this breed, indicating the need for improvement of these traits to exploit the breed’s full reproductive potential. This study was conducted on 260 Romanov ewes located at a commercial Romanov sheep farm in Croatia. All ewes were kept under similar conditions, and reproductive management was based on accelerated lambing with continuous mating. Linear models with fixed effects were used to estimate the influence of year of birth/lambing, season of birth/lambing, ram, parity and litter type on litter size (LS), age at first lambing (AFL) and lambing interval (LI). Average LS was 2.11 ± 0.71, while the year of lambing and parity were the most important factors affecting this trait. The smallest litters were recorded after 1st parity (1.77 ± 0.06), and the largest after 5th parity (2.21 ± 0.08). AFL averaged 388.5 ± 72.4 days. All investigated non-genetic factors had a significant (P<0.05) influence on AFL, with year of birth as most important. The average LI was 241.2 ± 70.8 days. A significant (P<0.05) influence of all factors on LI was observed. Ewes lambing in spring (200.2 ± 7.9 days) or summer (190.5 ±6.6 days) had a significantly (P<0.05) shorter LI than ewes lambing in autumn (227.7 ± 8.3 days) or winter (237.2 ± 6.7 days). The longest LI was observed after the first parity (284.0 ±5.5 days). Average values for reproductive traits in the examined population of Romanov sheep were higher than those reported in the official Croatian database for breeding sheep. Non-genetic factors have a significant influence on the variation of reproductive traits of Romanov sheep, and therefore should be considered when assessing ewes’ reproductive performance.U mesnom ovčarstvu reprodukcijska svojstva su izrazito važna. U Hrvatskoj su vrijednosti reproduktivnih svojstava romanovske ovce u odnosu na očekivane vrijednosti za tu pasminu ispodprosječne, što ukazuje da je poboljšanje ovih svojstava neophodno kako bi se iskoristio puni reprodukcijski potencijal pasmine. Ovo istraživanje provedeno je na 260 ovaca romanovske pasmine smještenih na jednoj komercijalnoj farmi ovaca u Hrvatskoj. Sve ovce držane su u sličnim uvjetima, a reprodukcijski menadžment temeljio se na učestalim janjenjima s kontinuiranim razmnožavanjem. Linearni modeli s fiksnim učincima korišteni su za procjenu utjecaja godine rođenja/janjenja, sezone rođenja/janjenja, ovna, redoslijeda janjenja i tipa legla na veličinu legla (VL), dob pri prvom janjenju (DPJ) i međujanjidbeno razdoblje (MR). Prosječna VL iznosila je 2,11±0,71, dok su godina janjenja i redoslijed janjenja bili najvažniji čimbenici koji su utjecali na ovo svojstvo. Najmanja legla zabilježena su nakon 1. janjenja (1,77±0,06), a najveća nakon 5. janjenja (2,21±0,08). DPJ je u prosjeku iznosila 388,5±72,4 dana. Svi istraživani negenetski čimbenici imali su značajan (P<0,05) utjecaj na DPJ, pri čemu je najvažnija bila godina rođenja. Prosječno MR je bilo 241,2±70,8 dana. Uočen je značajan (P<0,05) utjecaj svih čimbenika na MR. Ovce koje su se janjile u proljeće (200,2±7,9 dana) i ljeto (190,5±6,6 dana) imale su značajno (P<0,05) kraća MR od ovaca koje su se janjile u jesen (227,7±8,3 dana) i zimu (237,2±6,7 dana). Najduže MR opaženo je nakon prvog janjenja (284,0±5,5 dana). Prosječne vrijednosti reprodukcijskih svojstava u ispitivanoj populaciji romanovskih ovaca bile su veće od vrijednosti navedenih u službenoj hrvatskoj bazi podataka za uzgojno valjana grla. Paragenetski čimbenici imaju znatan utjecaj na varijaciju reprodukcijskih svojstava romanovskih ovaca te ih stoga treba uzeti u obzir pri procjeni reprodukcijske učinkovitosti ovac

    Study on constitutive models of hot deformation for 34CrNi3MoV steel

    Get PDF
    Isothermal constant strain rate compression experiments were conducted on 34CrNi3MoV steel using a thermal simulation experimental machine to study its thermal deformation behavior, with deformation temperatures ranging from 800 - 1 200 °C and strain rates ranging from 0,01 - 10 s-1 , and the corresponding stress-strain curves were obtained for 60 % compression. According to the results, through regression analysis of the 1stOpt software, parameter values of three constitutive models were obtained, and then the precision of prediction was compared by different models of flow stress
    corecore