Composition of Aqueous Solutions in Equilibrium with Sulfides and Oxides of Iron at 350{degrees}C

Solutions of potassium chloride (pH-buffered and 1-molal) equilibrated at 350 degrees C with pyrrhotite, pyrite, and magnetite contained approximately 1 millimole of reduced sulfur and less than 0.1 millimole of oxidized sulfur per kilogram. Similar solutions equilibrated with pyrite, magnetite, and hematite contained approximately 1 millimole of reduced sulfur, but 3 to 6 millimoles of oxidized sulfur per kilogram. Both types of solutions contained less than 0.1 millimole of iron per kilogram at pH >/= 6 and approximately 100 millimoles per kilogram at pH 2.     

Marking to weaning production aspects of lambs provided with NSAID analgesia compared with lambs receiving no analgesia at the time of elastrator ring marking

The provision of analgesia at the time of marking has been adopted by the Australian sheep industry, but data on production benefits are lacking. In the current study, alternate lambs were provided with either meloxicam (non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug [NSAID], n = 781) or no analgesia (NONE, n = 822) at the time of ring castration and tail docking. Six distinct management groups of lambs were studied. Lambs were weighed immediately before marking and then again at weaning. There was no significant effect of treatment on average daily gain between marking and weaning in cross‐bred lambs. In Merino lambs, average daily gain was 5 g/day lower (P < 0.005) in lambs receiving NSAID, but this may not be biologically significant. Lamb losses were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the NSAID group (1.1%) than in the NONE group (2.7%). This observation is worth validating in larger studies, particularly considering that lamb mortality is a significant cost to production and welfare concern.     

Spatio-temporal modeling of fine particulate matter

Studies indicate that even short-term exposure to high concentrations of fine atmospheric particulate matter (PM_2.5) can lead to long-term health effects. In this article, we propose a random effects model for PM_2.5 concentrations. In particular, we anticipate urban/rural differences with regard to both mean levels and variability. Hence we introduce two random effects components, one for rural or background levels and the other as a supplement for urban areas. These are specified in the form of spatio-temporal processes. Weighting these processes through a population density surface results in nonstationarity in space. We analyze daily PM_2.5 concentrations in three midwestern U.S. states for the year 2001. A fully Bayesian model is implemented, using MCMC techniques, which enables full inference with regard to process unknowns as well as predictions in time and space.     

Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Development of Acification Policy in Europe

Countries that will ratify the new Protocol to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone, also known as the Göteborg-protocol, are committed to meet national emission ceilings for SO₂, NOx, VOCs and NH₃ in 2010. AEA Technology calculated impacts and monetised benefits for four scenarios used during the preparation of the new Protocol, each scenario compared with the situation 1990. The calculated benefits were compared with the costs calculated by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) using the RAINS model. The overall conclusion is that the benefits are likely to exceed the costs of implementing the scenarios considered in the study, by a factor of between two and three. Based on the principal set of assumptions followed in the study, it appeared that impacts on haity and materials were negligible. Impacts on ecosystems remained unquantified.     

Assessment of the economic costs of damage caused by air-pollution

Cost-benefit analysis is one of the fundamental tools for the development of economic instruments for pollution control. The costs of various abatement measures are reasonably well characterised. However, assessment of the economic costs of pollutant impacts is less well developed. This paper reports on two studies carried out for DGXII of the European Commission, the ExternE-Project and the Green Accounting Research Project. Both studies have been performed by international, multi-disciplinary research teams.Analysis of the effects of emissions of PM₁₀, SO₂, NO_x and VOCs (as ozone precursors) has included assessment of human health, materials, crops and other terrestrial ecosystems, and freshwater fisheries. The analysis follows the impact pathway approach, linking dose-response functions, valuation data and other models. It differs significantly to earlier top-down approaches that made only very limited use of the wealth of scientific data available. Most success has been achieved in analysis of impacts on human health, building materials and crops. Significant uncertainties exist for these receptors, though these have been identified and are now being addressed. Assessment of impacts on other receptors, perhaps most notably forests, is more limited. The methodology is particularly applicable for analysis of impacts on receptors for which the critical loads approach is not appropriate.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of chlortetracycline hydrochloride in ruminant and poultry/swine feeds.

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for the determination of chlortetracycline hydrochloride (CTC) in poultry/swine and ruminant feeds in the 10-100 ppm range and in premix. CTC is extracted from ground feed/premix with acidified acetone, and the extract is filtered through a Millex-HV filter or disposable C18 column. The filtrate is partitioned with methylene chloride when additional cleanup is necessary. A Nova-Pak C18 column is used for LC separation with determination at 370 nm. The average recovery of CTC from premix was 95% with a standard deviation (SD) of 1.70 and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.79%. The overall average recovery from feeds was 77% with an SD of 3.18 and a CV of 4.10%.     

Genotype environment interactions and sib content in F1 hybrid —brussels sprouts

Summary Sib content of F₁ hybrid seed lots obtained from crossing four highly self incompatible brussels sprout lines was examined at two locations for four years. Parental combinations accounted for by far the greatest proportion of the total variation observed. Significant second and third order interactions terms suggest complex interactions between parental genotype, years, and locations. Attempts to interpret these data in terms of the regression model of Finlay & Wilkenson (1963), were unsuccessful.