Reactivity and fate of secondary alkane sulfonates (SAS) in marine sediments

This research is focused on secondary alkane sulfonates (SAS), anionic surfactants widely used in household applications that access aquatic environments mainly via sewage discharges.We studied their sorption capacity and anaerobic degradation in marine sediments, providing the first data available on this topic. SAS partition coefficients increased towards those homologues having longer alkyl chains(from up to 141 L kg 1 for C14 to up to 1753 L kg 1 for C17), which were those less susceptible to undergo biodegradation. Overall, SAS removal percentages reached up to 98% after 166 days of incubation using anoxic sediments. The degradation pathway consisted on the formation of sulfocarboxylic acids after an initial fumarate attack of the alkyl chain and successive b-oxidations. This is the first study showing that SAS can be degraded in absence of oxygen, so this new information should be taken into account for future environmental risk assessments on these chemicals

Reviving the debate: Forced or unconstrained distribution in Q method Implementation: investigation of opinions on sustainability impact of the CAP - the case of Hungary

The paper investigates multi-stakeholders’ opinions on the CAP path towards greening and sustainability. The main analytical tool employed is Q method used to reveal whether there are systematic differences in the opinions on the EU CAP. A set of 60 statements was presented to 30 stakeholders in Hungary using convenience sampling common for Q studies. Data was generated through Q sorting in December 2024 under two distributions - the commonly used quasi-normal forced distribution and a free one. The data under both distributions was analysed through inverted factor analysis, first, without bootstrapping and, second, adding additional statistical insights from the bootstrap. The outcome indicated three groups (factors) without any meaningful differences according to the distribution. Overall, the factors showed widespread scepticism towards CAP greening and sustainability. Neither standard errors by statements generated by bootstrapping nor the estimated bias showed significant differences according to the distribution. It is worth replicating the study under different type of forced distribution and splitting the sessions with forced and free distribution in time to avoid respondents memorising their ranking under forced conditions and reproducing them under free choice

Test of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation by Nitrate-reducing Microorganisms Isolated from Tallgrass Prairie Soils

Soils are frequently contaminated with hydrocarbons such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). This contamination inhibits the growth of some microorganisms in the contaminated soils. However, the contamination may select for microorganisms capable of hydrocarbon degradationunder aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Forty five strains of bacteria isolated from tallgrass prairie soil samples were screened for the ability to grow with naphthalene as sole carbon source under aerobicconditions by culturing on minimal medium containing naphthalene as the sole carbon source. Our results showed that none of the 45 strains were able to grow on naphthalene under these conditions.Three out of the 45 strains, e.g. one strain each classified as Ensifer, Stenotrophomonas, or Serratia, were tested for the ability to degrade naphthalene under nitrate reducing conditions. All three strainswere facultative anaerobes and showed the physiology of nitrate or nitrate/nitrite reduction when grown under nitrate-reducing conditions in medium containing yeast extract. Two strains (e.g. Stenotrophomonas and Serratia) were tested for the ability to grow on naphthalene, gasoline, orbenzene under nitrate-reducing conditions. The Serratia grew poorly on the hydrocarbons, but Stenotrophomonas reached its highest O.D. values on naphthalene. However, upon re-testing a wellwashed cell suspension of the Stenotrophomonas, no loss of naphthalene was found when grownunder nitrate-reducing conditions. Although it might be expected that crude-oil contamination would select for PAH degraders, we did not find the nitrate reducing/nitrite reducing isolates to be capable of naphthalene-degradation under aerobic or nitrate-reducing conditions. ©2015 Oklahoma Academy of Scienc

Microbially mediated reduction of FeIII and AsV in Cambodian sediments amended with 13C-labelled hexadecane and kerogen

Microbial activity is generally accepted to play a critical role, with the aid of suitable organic carbon substrates, in the mobilisation of arsenic from sediments into shallow reducing groundwaters. The nature of the organic matter in natural aquifers driving the reduction of AsV to AsIII is of particular importance but is poorly understood. In this study, sediments from an arsenic rich aquifer in Cambodia were amended with two 13C-labelled organic substrates. 13C-hexadecane was used as a model for potentially bioavailable long chain n-alkanes and a 13C-kerogen analogue as a proxy for non-extractable organic matter. During anaerobic incubation for 8 weeks, significant FeIII reduction and AsIII mobilisation were observed in the biotic microcosms only, suggesting that these processes were microbially driven. Microcosms amended with 13C-hexadecane exhibited a similar extent of FeIII reduction to the non-amended microcosms, but marginally higher AsIII release. Moreover, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis showed that 65 % of the added 13C-hexadecane was degraded during the 8-week incubation. The degradation of 13C-hexadecane was microbially driven, as confirmed by DNA stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP). Amendment with 13C-kerogen did not enhance FeIII reduction or AsIII mobilisation, and microbial degradation of kerogen could not be confirmed conclusively by DNA-SIP fractionation or 13C incorporation in the phospholipid fatty acids. These data are, therefore, consistent with the utilisation of long chain n-alkanes (but not kerogen) as electron donors for anaerobic processes, potentially including FeIII and AsV reduction in the subsurface

ЧИСЛЕННОСТЬ И СОСТАВ МЕДИЦИНСКОГО ПЕРСОНАЛА В ГОРОДАХ СИБИРИ В ГОДЫ ВЕЛИКОЙ ОТЕЧЕСТВЕННОЙ ВОЙНЫ: 1941-1945

A dynamics of the number of medical personnel Siberian cities in the Great Patriotic war is analyzed in the article. The author studies quantity and structure of senior and low-grade medical personnel of healthcare institutions, shows its impact on medical and sanitarian anti-epidemic work, as well as considers methods of decision of personnel problem in the region. The study is based on analysis of documents of the State Archive of the Russian Federation, the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History, the Russian State Archive of Economy and the Regional Archives of the Siberian cities.В статье анализируется динамика численности медицинских кадров сибирских городов в годы Великой Отечественной войны. Автор изучает количество и состав высшего и среднего медицинского персонала учреждений здравоохранения, показывает, как это сказывалось на лечебной и санитарно-противоэпидемической работе, а также рассматривает методы решения кадровой проблемы в регионе. В основе исследования лежит анализ документов Государственного архива Российской Федерации, Российского государственного архива социально-политической истории, Российского государственного архива экономики, а также областных архивов сибирских городов

Sphere of culture as object of study economic science

This article is devoted to analysis of the history and development of the relatively new field of economic research — cultural economy in general and particularly the art market. Special attention is paid to disclosure of the functioning market relations in the sphere of culture and first of all to the specifics of the art works as commodities, the nature of their use-value and price. The authors show that the products of cultural sphere have special social importance, as well as special social function, and therefore there is a contradiction between economic and social nature of cultural goods. The resolution of this contradiction is one of the issues of the governmental policy in the cultural field with a view to the process of commodification, which increases as well as the penetration of commodity relations in the cultural sphere, but could not reach the absolute level. Refs 40

Microbial Communities in Model Seawater-Compensated Fuel Ballast Tanks: Biodegradation and Biocorrosion Stimulated by Marine Sediments

Some naval vessels add seawater to carbon steel fuel ballast tanks to maintain stability during fuel consumption. Marine sediments often contaminate ballast tank fluids and have been implicated in stimulating fuel biodegradation and enhancing biocorrosion. The impact of the marine sediment was evaluated in model ballast tank reactors containing seawater, fuel (petroleum-F76, Fischer–Tropsch F76, or a 1:1 mixture), and carbon steel coupons. Control reactors did not receive fuel. The marine sediment was added to the reactors after 400 days and incubated for another year. Sediment addition produced higher estimated bacterial numbers and enhanced sulfate reduction. Ferrous sulfides were detected on all coupons, but pitting corrosion was only identified on coupons exposed to FT-F76. Aerobic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria increased, and the level of dissolved iron decreased, consistent with the stimulation of aerobic hydrocarbon degradation by iron. We propose that sediments provide an inoculum of hydrocarbon-degrading microbes that are stimulated by dissolved iron released during steel corrosion. Hydrocarbon degradation provides intermediates for use by sulfate-reducing bacteria and reduces the level of fuel components inhibitory to anaerobic bacteria. The synergistic effect of dissolved iron produced by corrosion, biodegradable fuels, and iron-stimulated hydrocarbon-degrading microbes is a poorly recognized but potentially significant biocorrosion mechanism.Fil: Duncan, Kathleen E.. University Of Oklahoma. Departament Of Botany And Microbiology; Estados UnidosFil: Dominici, Lina Edith. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Tecnología de Pinturas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones en Tecnología de Pinturas; ArgentinaFil: Nanny, Mark A.. School Of Civil Engineering And Environmental Science; Estados UnidosFil: Davidova, Irene A.. University Of Oklahoma. Departament Of Botany And Microbiology; Estados UnidosFil: Harriman, Brian H.. University Of Oklahoma. Departament Of Botany And Microbiology; Estados UnidosFil: Suflita, Joseph M.. University Of Oklahoma. Departament Of Botany And Microbiology; Estados Unido

Reviving the debate: Forced or unconstrained distribution in Q method Implementation: investigation of opinions on sustainability impact of the CAP - the case of Hungary

The paper investigates multi-stakeholders’ opinions on the CAP path towards greening and sustainability. The main analytical tool employed is Q method used to reveal whether there are systematic differences in the opinions on the EU CAP. A set of 60 statements was presented to 30 stakeholders in Hungary using convenience sampling common for Q studies. Data was generated through Q sorting in December 2024 under two distributions - the commonly used quasi-normal forced distribution and a free one. The data under both distributions was analysed through inverted factor analysis, first, without bootstrapping and, second, adding additional statistical insights from the bootstrap. The outcome indicated three groups (factors) without any meaningful differences according to the distribution. Overall, the factors showed widespread scepticism towards CAP greening and sustainability. Neither standard errors by statements generated by bootstrapping nor the estimated bias showed significant differences according to the distribution. It is worth replicating the study under different type of forced distribution and splitting the sessions with forced and free distribution in time to avoid respondents memorising their ranking under forced conditions and reproducing them under free choice