Effects Of Human Activities Research Articles

Bats and Viruses: Friend or Foe?

Emerging infectious diseases pose a significant threat to human and animal welfare. A high proportion of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are zoonoses derived from wildlife [1]. Bats harbour more zoonotic viruses per species than rodents and are now recognised as a significant source of zoonotic agents [2]. Henipaviruses, coronaviruses, filoviruses, and the rabies-causing lyssaviruses have all been shown to be transmissible from bats to humans—often through an intermediate host—with fatal consequences (Figure 1). Despite the obvious risk bat viruses pose to human health, it must be acknowledged that most outbreaks of bat-borne zoonotic diseases are a consequence of human activities. From an ecological perspective, bats are a remarkable and ecologically important group with many unique biological features. Figure 1 Bats are diverse, as are the viruses that infect them.

Environmental Values: the Dunajovický and the Kos˘átecký Stream Catchments, Czech Republic

Based on research of the river landscape, spatial variability of environmental values and their changes over time, it is possible to identify parameters which are in some way involved in the formation of runoff processes. In this paper the issue of the natural values disturbances in an environment of watercourse and its floodplain is solved on the example of two model sites. These are the lowland catchment areas of small watercourses in the Czech Republic. On basis of the map visualization of collected data, the authors deal with interpretation of the landscape spatial pattern within the context of its ecological stability. To analyze the areas, series of maps are used in the appropriate scale showing the selected indicators related to the environmental values. These indicators are a combination of the field research results and information gathered from the available data sources. The space is devoted to the analysis of relationships between selected environmental indicators of spatial character and their impact on the state of the river network. Analyzed are the consequences of human activities in the riparian zone of watercourses, with regard to the phenomenon of the river continuum degradation and changes in other hydrological variables that may affect the overall security of the floodplain area.

Using the BCD model for risk analysis: An influence diagram based approach

In this paper, we are interested in addressing risk analysis. We propose an influence diagram-based approach that focuses on a Benefit, Cost, Deficit (BCD) model. The BCD model is proposed for studying the intentional deviant behaviors of human operators in a system. In this model, the consequences of human actions are analyzed with respect to three parameters: benefit, cost and deficit. Our approach aims to expand the BCD model by integrating factors, such as those related to the organization of the system in question, that influence human operator actions. In addition, the approach considers multiple criteria that are related, for example, to safety and productivity. To build a model that evaluates the risk induced by human actions in a system and analyzes the impact of the different factors, we use influence diagrams. Influence diagrams are probabilistic graphical models that can deal with uncertainty and with incomplete and imprecise information. Influence diagrams also represent the interdependencies between the different variables of the studied problem. In addition, contrary to Bayesian networks, influence diagrams can rank a set of actions by providing information on which action carries the greatest risk or the most benefits. We applied this approach to a case study of an industrial rotary press, but it can also be used in other problems and sectors.

Habitat Suitability and Landscape Structure: A Maximum Entropy Approach in a Mediterranean Area

Species distribution models have recently become important tools in ecological research. Prediction of suitable habitats for threatened and endangered species is essential for the conservation and management of their native habitats. A landscape scale approach is relevant for biodiversity conservation since landscape planning and management are generally conducted at wide spatial scales, focusing on areas with complex landscape configuration as a consequence of human activities. The aims of this study were to test a maximum entropy approach (Maxent) to the development of a niche-based model for species of conservation interest and to relate this model to landscape structure metrics. The results obtained here showed a good predictive power of Maxent for the three target species and highlighted the importance of landscape structure analysis for the detection of patterns of habitat suitability. Moreover, this work stressed that combining classical environmental information with landscape structure in analysing habitat suitability for species of conservation interest may be used to guide conservation efforts and landscape management practices.

Estimation of Gas-particle partitioning Coefficients (Kp) of Carcinogenic polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons in Carbonaceous Aerosols Collected at Chiang - Mai, Bangkok and hat-Yai, Thailand

To assess environmental contamination with carcinogens, carbonaceous compounds, water-soluble ionic species and trace gaseous species were identified and quantified every three hours for three days at three different atmospheric layers at the heart of Chiang-Mai, Bangkok and Hat-Yai from December 2006 to February 2007. A DRI Model 2001 Thermal/Optical Carbon Analyzer with the IMPROVE thermal/optical reflectance (TOR) protocol was used to quantify the organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) contents in PM10. Diurnal and vertical variability was also carefully investigated. In general, OC and EC mass concentration showed the highest values at the monitoring period of 21.00-00.00 as consequences of human activities at night bazaar coupled with reduction of mixing layer, decreased wind speed and termination of photolysis at nighttime. Morning peaks of carbonaceous compounds were observed during the sampling period of 06:00-09:00, emphasizing the main contribution of traffic emission in the three cities. The estimation of incremental lifetime particulate matter exposure (ILPE) raises concern of high risk of carbonaceous accumulation over workers and residents living close to the observatory sites. The average values of incremental lifetime particulate matter exposure (ILPE) of total carbon at Baiyoke Suit Hotel and Baiyoke Sky Hotel are approximately ten times higher than those air samples collected at Prince of Songkla University Hat-Yai campus corpse incinerator and fish-can manufacturing factory but only slightly higher than those of rice straw burning in Songkla province. This indicates a high risk of developing lung cancer and other respiratory diseases across workers and residents living in high buildings located in Pratunam area. Using knowledge of carbonaceous fractions in PM10, one can estimate the gas-particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Dachs-Eisenreich model highlights the crucial role of adsorption in gas-particle partitioning of low molecular weight PAHs, whereas both absorption and adsorption tend to account for gas-particle partitioning of high molecular weight PAHs in urban residential zones of Thailand. Interestingly, the absorption mode alone plays a minor role in gas-particle partitioning of PAHs in Chiang-Mai, Bangkok and Hat-Yai.

Rotavirus G2P[4] and G2P[4]+[6] infections during norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak: summer season 2010, Brazil

This study aimed to monitor the seasonality of rotavirus infection, and gain insight into the variability of Brazilian strains. A total of 28 stool samples were analyzed from 698 revised cases of gastroenteritis during a norovirus outbreak in the summer of 2010 in Guarujá, Brazil. Diagnosis was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and sequencing. Rotavirus infection was detected in 17.9% (5/28) of samples; 4 samples were G2P[4] genotype, and one G2P[4]+P[6] genotype. G2 and P[4] sequences showed a genetic relationship to strains from India and Russia, respectively. The seasonal pattern of rotavirus may be a consequence of human activity apart from climate factors.

Why the Cultural Identities of the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic are more Endangered than They Seem

Global warming is a fact. The reason for this can only be a guess. There are hypotheses claiming that the climate changes are consequences of human activities. Other hypotheses say that such occurrences appear regularly every few thousand years. As early as the beginning of the twentieth century some scientists noticed indicators of the growth of the global average temperature. Regardless of the reason global warming is observable mostly in polar areas. Nowadays about four million people live in the Arctic including native inhabitants. Global warming impacts on all of these including indigenous peoples of the Arctic whose cultural identities have always been related to nature. They have always lived in harmony together with nature, they have been a part of it and have never tried to fight against it. A changing climate can make them give up the way their ancestors used to live. Afterwards it can cause the disappearance of their languages and cultures that languages are parts of. Besides for many decades all indigenous people had been thought to be at a lower development level than new arrivals so today almost all languages spoken by indigenous peoples of the Arctic are endangered. All indigenous peoples of the Arctic have common points in their histories like deprivation of lands and suppression of languages and traditions. Most of their ancient customs and religions are forgotten but there are many material marks that are important for future generations. It is very important to preserve the marks and the knowledge of their languages because the value of them is priceless.

Iron, cadmium, and chromium in seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) from a coastal nature reserve in karstic Yucatán

The management of protected areas in karstic regions is a challenge because flooded cave systems form there and provide underground hydrological conducts that may link different zones. As a consequence, affectations to the protected areas can possibly occur as a consequence of human activities in remote areas and may therefore pass undetected. Thus, the monitoring of possible contaminants in these regions is becoming imperative. In this work, we analyze the concentration of essential (iron) and non-essential metals (cadmium and chromium) in the seagrass Thalassia testudinum that grows in Yalahau Lagoon, located in a near-to-pristine protected area of the Yucatán Peninsula, close to the rapidly developing touristic belt of the Mexican Caribbean. Salinity and silicate patterns show that Yalahau is an evaporation lagoon, where groundwater discharge is important. High iron (> 400 μg/g), cadmium (>4 μg/g), and chromium (≈ 1 μg/g) concentrations were found in the area of highest groundwater input of the lagoon. High levels (5.1 μg/g) were also found near the town dump. In the rest of the sampling sites, metal concentrations remained near to background levels as estimated from other works. Temporal changes of concentrations in the seagrass tissues show also a local input and an input from the groundwater that could provoke an environmental problem in the Yalahau Lagoon in the near future.

Estimated intake of cadmium through food consumption in Serbia

In the past several decades, presence of cadmium in the environment has significantly increased as the consequence of human activities. Consequently, the increase of cadmium content is also recorded in foodstuffs, especially in entrails, mushrooms, mollusks, shells and crustaceans, cocoa, rice, etc. Majority of the total cadmium in human body originates from food consumption (about 90%). Taking this into consideration, the aim of this paper was to estimate weekly cadmium intake through food consumption in Serbia. During the period 2011-2012, a total of 10,720 samples have been analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry, graphite furnace. Limit of quantification was 5 ng/g. The estimation of certain foodstuffs intake was carried out using WHO database. All the tested samples contained cadmium below the maximum permitted level set by National regulations. Estimated weekly intake of cadmium, based on mean value of cadmium content in foodstuffs and average body weight of 70 kg, was 1.286 μg/kg body weight (b.w.)/week. According to the recommendation of the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), tolerable weekly intake of cadmium is 2.5 μg/ kg b.w. On the basis of the obtained results, it can be concluded that the intake of cadmium within Serbian population is slightly above 50% of safe limit, and does not pose a risk for human health.

Observation and ecology: broadening the scope of science to understand a complex world

The need to understand and address large-scale environmental problems that are difficult to study in controlled environments - issues ranging from climate change to overfishing to invasive species - is driving the field of ecology in new and important directions. Observation and Ecology documents that transformation, exploring how scientists and researchers are expanding their methodological toolbox to incorporate an array of new and re-examined observational approaches - from traditional ecological knowledge to animal-borne sensors to genomic and remote-sensing technologies - to track, study, and understand current environmental problems and their implications. The authors paint a clear picture of what observational approaches to ecology are and where they fit in the context of ecological science. They consider the full range of observational abilities we have available to us and explore the challenges and practical difficulties of using a primarily observational approach to achieve scientific understanding. They also show how observations can be a bridge from ecological science to education, environmental policy, and resource management. Observations in ecology can play a key role in understanding our changing planet and the consequences of human activities on ecological processes. This book will serve as an important resource for future scientists and conservation leaders who are seeking a more holistic and applicable approach to ecological science.

Landscape genetics of a top neotropical predator

Habitat loss and fragmentation as a consequence of human activities is a worldwide phenomenon and one of the major threats to global biodiversity. Habitat loss and fragmentation is particularly a concern in the biodiverse tropics, where deforestation is occurring at unprecedented rates. Although insects are one of the most diverse and functionally important groups in tropical ecosystems, the quantitative effect of landscape features on their gene flow remains unknown. Here, we used a robust landscape genetics approach to quantify the effect of ten landscape features (deforestation, mature forests, other forest types, the River Chagres, streams, stream banks, roads, sea, lakes and swamps) and interactions between them, on the gene flow of a neotropical forest keystone species, the army ant Eciton burchellii. The influence of landscape on E.burchellii's gene flow reflected the different dispersal capability of its sexes; aerial for males and pedestrian for females, and the different depths of population history inferred from microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA. In contrast to the gene flow-facilitating effect of mature forests, deforested areas were found to be strong barriers for E.burchellii's gene flow. Other forest types were found to be gene flow facilitators but only when interacting with mature secondary forests, therefore indicating the importance of mature forests for the survival of E.burchelii and its associate species. The River Chagres was identified as a major historical gene flow barrier for E.burchellii, suggesting that an important loss of connectivity may occur because of large artificial waterways such as the Panama Canal.

F. Sherwood “Sherry” Rowland (1927-2012)

Frank Sherwood Rowland, known to his friends and colleagues as Sherry, died at his home in Corona del Mar, Calif., on 10 March 2012. He was 84. A Nobel Prize-winning atmospheric chemist, Sherry codiscovered the role of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in stratospheric ozone depletion, researched the accumulation of greenhouse gases on a planetary scale, and tirelessly communicated the global consequences of human activity to policy makers and the public. Sherry had a calm, gentle demeanor and was as respected for his integrity and humility as for his groundbreaking scientific achievements. Sherry was a long-time member and Fellow (1980) of AGU and received the AGU Roger Revelle Medal in 1994 for his substantial contributions to the awareness of global change. The following year, he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Mario Molina and Paul Crutzen for their pioneering contributions to atmospheric chemistry, particularly the formation and decomposition of stratospheric ozone. In its citation, the Nobel Committee commended them for contributing to “our salvation from a global environmental problem that could have catastrophic consequences.”

Influence of Heating Rate and Burning Temperature on the Thermal Decomposition of Textile Sludge

The generation of waste is a consequence of human action as a result of user and processor of raw materials. In effluents textiles sewage treatment, waste generation, especially the sludge, is a constant making it necessary to use alternatives for its management. This work aims to study the influence of the burning temperature on the thermal decomposition of textile sludge by Thermogravimetry and Differential Thermal Analysis in order to use it as an additive in concrete and / or pre-molded. The TG curves of textile sludge burned at temperatures of 110°C, 400°C, 450°C, 500°C, 550°C and 600°C showed at two to three steps of thermal decomposition. The infrared spectrum showed characteristic bands of SiO2, OH and CH and the spectrum of the sinterized sludge showed the elimination of OH and CH bands.

Sustainable coastal zones? A matter of “sense and sensibility”

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to perform a comparative analysis between Aveiro's Lagoon (Portugal) and Sepetiba Bay (Brazil), in order to understand the similarities and differences between these two coastal zones, in terms of human occupation.Design/methodology/approachThis paper is supported by works (papers and scientific projects being developed) produced in Portugal and Brazil, by researchers from different areas of expertise.FindingsThese two coastal zones have a similar geomorphologic evolution, due to the fact that both appeared because of a sandy spit, which started to grow and separated these areas from the sea, converting them into sheltered coasts. It was because they are protected that these two study cases early became targets for human occupation. The anthropic impacts in the systems were sustainable until the middle of the twentieth century. Since then, however, the economic development options, based first in industry and second in tourism exploration, have compromised the natural healthy balance.Practical implicationsThis paper could be a contribution to a scientific support for political decisions on the coastal zone management (namely in these studied areas).Social implicationsThe paper provides and increases the knowledge of the coastal zones’ evolution and occupation – from a multidisciplinary perspective – produced and made available to scientists, local politicians, students and local populations.Originality/valueThe paper provides a truly interdisciplinary approach, which allows a better understanding of the evolution of these two systems, discussing the causes and consequences of human activities in both coastal areas.

Intenção educacional da ética de Tomás de Aquino no contexto citadino no século XIII

O objetivo deste texto é tecer considerações sobre a concepção de ética de Tomás de Aquino (1224-5?/1274), a partir da relação entre produção do conhecimento e transformações sociais. Selecionamos para análise a questão "As consequências dos atos humanos em razão da bondade e da malícia", oriunda da obra principal do autor, a Suma de Teologia. Faremos este debate à luz de estudiosos da contemporaneidade que tratam do tema, com destaque especial para Le Goff, Lauand e Oliveira. Compreendemos que a elaboração de Tomás de Aquino, gestada na e para a cidade, afirmava a necessidade do conhecimento e do ensino de virtudes orientadas para as relações sociais que implicavam a responsabilidade pessoal. Consideramos que este estudo pode nos apontar caminhos para o debate sobre a ética na atualidade.

Teachers' Knowledge of and Attitude Toward Wildlife and Conservation

Abstract Environmental education (EE) has recently been included in school curricula in India to improve understanding of ecosystems, their functions, and the effect of human actions on them. The need for EE is more pronounced in Ladakh, in the Indian Trans-Himalaya, where recent development activities pose challenges for the fragile mountain ecosystem and for traditional livelihoods. Inclusion of EE in school curricula by the Jammu & Kashmir State Education Board and a conservation education program organized jointly by various government and nongovernmental agencies across Ladakh are some of the significant steps taken. As part of the Wildlife Institute of India's collaborative conservation education program, a questionnaire survey was conducted to explore Ladakh school teachers' knowledge of and attitude toward wildlife and conservation. In all, 277 government school teachers took part in the study. Results of the study highlight that teachers in Ladakh are aware of local biodiversity and have favorabl...

Editorial: A Medium for Rapid Dissemination of Information on Basic and Applied R&D in Bioconversion of Wastes to Bioproducts

Today, we are faced with a planet where waste generation has taken a dimension never before experienced in recorded history. These wastes, mainly generated from both renewable and nonrenewable resources, constitute a major problem to sustainability and myriad of negative environmental consequences. Fossil fuels are fast depleting, forest/forest resources are at their lowest in the history of planet earth. The negative consequences of human activities on the atmospheric greenhouse gases, global warming, inter alia are obvious. It is imperative that we find a way to reuse the limited natural resources at our disposal, find scientific and sustainable approaches to natural resource conservation (i.e. use and management), in order to ensure their perpetuity. Actions in line with this would call for effective bioconversion of wastes to bioproducts useful in medicines, food and agricultural products. Efficient and economic approaches to conversion at individual through large industrial operations are needed. Despite the advances we have made in chemical conversion, any time we search, we contin-

Coastal lagoons and their evolution: A hydromorphological perspective

From a geoscience perspective, coastal lagoons are essentially ephemeral features which are part of a continuum of coastal environments. Their natural hydromorphological evolution is seldom if ever permitted to take place as a consequence of human action; either directly by engineering interventions, to maintain or create navigable inlets, or indirectly due to activities within their catchment areas. The hydromorphological impacts of historical, contemporary and proposed engineering activities in coastal lagoons around in the world are reviewed and from these a powerful exemplar is that of the Aveiro system in Portugal. Here, two centuries of channelization, jetty and breakwater construction and progressive dredging have transformed a then fluvially dominant system into one that is today tidally dominant. Both the tidal range and tidal prism have increased along with the extent of saline intrusion. The associated stresses imposed by increased tidal currents have, in turn, led to important changes in the sedimentary regime and to the loss of almost all seagrass species which were once abundant in the system. This, along with observations from other related case studies, raises important questions regarding the concept of lagoon ecosystem ‘health’ and the baseline or reference conditions to which it is assessed.

Study of Prediction Methods for NOx Emission from Turbofan Engines

Protecting the environment from the consequences of human activity has become a major challenge and goal in recent years, and therefore such considerations have become a critical component of engineering design and operation as well as of the formulation of policies and legislation. Emission from aircraft engines is a major environmental issue. To assess and control aircraft emission, one needs an accurate tool for predicting it reliably. Manymethods of prediction are available forNOx emission index in the open literature, while somemethods used by the industries require proprietary information. This paper brings together many important prediction methods (listed in the Appendix) and makes a systematic study of their accuracy and applicability. Finally, a new method called NOx: generic is proposed here, which compares well with the most dependable method (preferred by the industries), viz., the P3 T3 method, but unlike the P3 T3 method the present formulation does not require any proprietary information.

ADVANCING WATERSHED CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT: LESSONS FROM THE SOUTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER WATERSHED, CANADA

Watersheds are under increasing pressures from the cumulative environmental effects of human actions. Reviews of recent practice suggest that cumulative effects assessment and management (CEAM) has failed to capture the full range of stressors to Canada's watersheds. Indeed, the limitations to CEAM have been well documented; yet, there has been limited constructive evaluation to help explain why CEAM has failed to advance. In this paper we examine the underlying challenges to the assessment and management of cumulative effects in a watershed context. Based on lessons emerging from the South Saskatchewan watershed, Canada, challenges to CEAM in watersheds include stakeholder understanding and interpretation of cumulative effects; limitations in the scale of current EA practices in watersheds; data challenges; the lack of established thresholds for watershed effects; and lack of clarity regarding watershed science and regulatory capacity. The merits of a watershed-based approach to CEAM to help address these challenges to practice are explored.