Branch angles are an important plant morphological trait affecting light interception within forest canopies.However,studies on branch angles have been limited due to the time-consuming nature of manual measurements u...Branch angles are an important plant morphological trait affecting light interception within forest canopies.However,studies on branch angles have been limited due to the time-consuming nature of manual measurements using a protractor.Terrestrial laser scanning(TLS),however,provides new opportunities to measure branch angles more efficiently.Despite this potential,studies validating branch angle measurements from TLS have been limited.Here,our aim is to evaluate both manual and automatic branch angle measurements of European beech from TLS data using traditional field-measurements with a protractor as a reference.We evaluated the accuracy of branch angle measurements based on four automated algorithms(aRchiQSM,TreeQSM,Laplacian,SemanticLaplacian)from TLS data.Additionally,we assessed different ways of manual branch angle measurements in the field.Our study was based on a dataset comprising 124 branch angles measured from six European beech in a European deciduous forest.Our results show that manual branch angle measurements from TLS data are in high agreement with the reference(root-mean-squared error,RMSE:[3.57°-4.18°],concordance correlation coefficient,CCC:[0.950.97])across different branch length positions.Automated algorithms also are in high agreement with the reference although RMSE is approximately twice as large compared to manual branch angle measurements from TLS(RMSE:[9.29°-10.55°],CCC:[0.830.86])with manual leaf points removal.When applying the automatic wood-leaf separation algorithm,the performance of the four methods declined significantly,with only approximately 20 branch angles successfully identified.Moreover,it is important to note that there is no influence of the measurement position(branch surface versus center)for branch angle measurements.However,for curved branches,the selection of branch measurement length significantly impacts the branch angle measurement.This study provides a comprehensive understanding of branch angle measurements in forests.We show that automated measurement methods based on TLS data of branch angles are a valuable tool to quantify branch angles at larger scales.展开更多
Treelines are ecologically unique,fragile,and rich in natural resources.They harbour high species diversity and at the same time are under threat due to anthropogenic activities.Recognizing this,the present study has ...Treelines are ecologically unique,fragile,and rich in natural resources.They harbour high species diversity and at the same time are under threat due to anthropogenic activities.Recognizing this,the present study has been framed to document the patterns of species richness and diversity in the state of Himachal Pradesh,western Himalaya.A total of six treeline sites(three disturbed and three undisturbed)were identified for vegetation sampling.Trees,shrubs,and herbs were sampled at each site using nested plots of 10 m^(2),5 m^(2),and 1 m^(2),respectively.The study exhibits the rich diversity of treeline communities,the patterns of which varied between treeline sites.Altogether,221 species of vascular plants belonging to 47 families and 140 genera were recorded from the area.Amongst families,Asteraceae was the dominant family followed by Apiaceae and Ranunculaceae.The study also revealed the presence of threatened species like Aconitum heterophyllum,Angelica glauca,Bergenia stracheyi,Dactylorhiza hatagirea,Picrorhiza kurroa,and Trillium govanianum etc.at treeline.Moreover,species composition revealed high densities of Betula utilis followed by the under canopy of Rhododendron campanulatum and R.anthopogon at treeline sites.Overall,species richness of herbs,shrubs,and trees were higher at undisturbed site as compared to disturbed one.The diversity indices of herbs and shrubs varied significantly between treeline sites while that of trees was non-significant.At the same time,soil properties showed distinct patterns wherein pH and available nitrogen significantly varied between treeline sites.Present study provides detailed insights into the floristic and ecological aspects of treeline communities from the unexplored ecoregion of western Himalaya.The treelines in the area are anthropogenically depressed and continued land-use activities might result in habitat fragmentation and displacement of plant communities in the near future.展开更多
The digital revolution in agriculture has introduced data-driven decision-making,where artificial intelligence,especially machine learning(ML),helps analyze large and varied data sources to improve soil quality and cr...The digital revolution in agriculture has introduced data-driven decision-making,where artificial intelligence,especially machine learning(ML),helps analyze large and varied data sources to improve soil quality and crop growth indices.Thus,a thorough evaluation of scientific publications from 2007 to 2024 was conducted via the Scopus and Web of Science databases with the PRISMA guidelines to determine the realistic role of ML in soil health and crop improvement under the SDGs.In addition,the present review focused to identify and analyze the trends,challenges,and opportunities associated with the successful implementation of ML in agriculture.The assessment of various databases clearly revealed that ML implementation depends on crop management,while its limited potential in terms of soil health was explored.ML models,such as random forest and XGBoost,have demonstrated high accuracies of up to 99%in crop yield prediction and disease detection.Advanced ML frameworks,including the SHIDS-ADLT and EfficientNetB3,have improved soil health monitoring and plant disease classification.Irrigation management using ML has achieved over 50%water savings and irrigation efficiency by 10%-35%.These findings highlight the potential of ML to improve sustainable agricultural practices and soil health.A significant improvement discussed in this review is AutoML,which simplifies ML model implementation by automating feature selection,model selection,and hyperparameter tuning,reducing dependency on ML expertise.The integration of ML with remote sensing,Internet of Things(IoT),and big data analytics is expected to further transform the precision agriculture and real-time decisionmaking approaches to optimize resource utilization.Conclusively,the present review offers a quantitative perspective on the evolution of ML in agriculture,soil health management,crop yield prediction,and resource optimization.展开更多
The removal of arsenic from water is essential for the protection of public health. To investigate the adsorption capabilities of laterite, sandstone, and shale for the removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions, colum...The removal of arsenic from water is essential for the protection of public health. To investigate the adsorption capabilities of laterite, sandstone, and shale for the removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions, column experiments were conducted. In this study, raw materials and heat-treated (calcined) materials were examined. The experiments assessed the influence of various parameters, including initial concentration, bed depth, and the effects of heat treatment. The findings revealed that the breakthrough curves were influenced by the initial concentration of arsenic, the depth of the bed, and the type of material used. For an initial arsenic concentration of 5 mg/L, columns containing 85 cm of calcined laterite, sandstone, and shale produced volumes of 7460 ml (1492 min), 3510 ml (702 min), and 4400 ml (880 min) of water with arsenic levels below 0.01 mg/L, respectively. These calcined materials demonstrate significant potential for the effective removal of arsenic from water.展开更多
Latitudinal patterns of treeβ-diversity reveal important insights into the biogeographical processes that influence forest ecosystems.Although previous studies have extensively documentedβ-diversity within relativel...Latitudinal patterns of treeβ-diversity reveal important insights into the biogeographical processes that influence forest ecosystems.Although previous studies have extensively documentedβ-diversity within relatively small spatial extents,the potential drivers ofβ-diversity along latitudinal gradients are still not well understood at larger spatial extents.In this study,we determined whether treeβ-diversity is correlated with latitude in forests of southeastern China,and if so,what ecological processes contribute to these patterns of treeβ-diversity.We specifically aimed to disentangle the relative contributions from interspecific aggregation and environmental filtering across various spatial extents.We delineated regional communities comprising multiple nearby national forest inventory(NFI)plots around random focal plots.The number of NFI plots in a regional community served as a surrogate for spatial extent.We also used a null model to simulate randomly assembled communities and quantify the deviation(β-deviation)between observed and expectedβ-diversity.We found thatβ-diversity decreased along a latitudinal gradient and that this pattern was clearer at larger spatial extents.In addition,latitudinal patterns ofβ-deviation were explained by the degree of species spatial aggregation.We also identified environmental factors that driveβ-deviation in these forests,including precipitation,seasonality,and temperature variation.At larger spatial extents,these environmental variables explained up to 84%of theβ-deviation.Our results reinforce that ecological processes are scale-dependent and collectively contribute to theβ-gradient in subtropical forests.We recommend that conservation efforts maintain diverse forests and heterogeneous environments at multiple spatial extents to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.展开更多
In this study,we analyzed the characteristics of three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix spectra(EEMs)of 150 samples from five industrial wastewater types and domestic sewage to track water pollution sources effe...In this study,we analyzed the characteristics of three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix spectra(EEMs)of 150 samples from five industrial wastewater types and domestic sewage to track water pollution sources effectively.We then developed a recognition model for wastewater EEMs by establishing a feature dataset containing fluorescence peak values and parameters derived from EEMs,integrated with machine learning techniques.This model enables the rapid and precise identification of pollution sources.Our findings suggest that although the EEMs of the sixwastewater categories are distinct,visual differentiation is challenging.This was confirmed by cosine similarity assessments,showing some samples with low within-group(<0.8)and high between-group(>0.95)similarities.Despite significant variations in EEMs features acrosswastewater categories,identifying specific pollutants remains difficult,especially for pulp mills and leather effluents.Among the tested classification algorithms,Support Vector Machine(SVM)achieved the highest performance with91.7%accuracy,94%precision,91%recall,and 92%F_(1)-score,outperforming K-Nearest Neighbors and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis.The SVM significantly improved identification accuracy for pulpmill and leather processing wastewaters compared to other models.To enhance identification accuracy,further exploration of EEMs features and expanding the training dataset are recommended.Combining EEMs features with machine learning presents a promising method for improvingwater pollution supervision and source tracing in environmental management practices.展开更多
Most studies have shown that oxygen vacancies on Ce_(x)Zr_(1-x)O_(2) solid solution are important for enhancing the catalytic oxidation performance.However,a handful of studies investigated the different roles of surf...Most studies have shown that oxygen vacancies on Ce_(x)Zr_(1-x)O_(2) solid solution are important for enhancing the catalytic oxidation performance.However,a handful of studies investigated the different roles of surface and subsurface oxygen vacancies on the performance and mechanisms of catalysts.Herein,a series of zirconium doping on CeO_(2) samples(CeO_(2),Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2),and Ce_(0.8)5Zr_(0.15)O_(2))with various surface-to-subsurface oxygen vacancies ratios have been synthesized and applied in toluene catalytic oxidation.The obtained Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2) exhibits an excellent catalytic performance with a 90%toluene conversion at 295℃,which is 68℃lower than that of CeO_(2).Additionally,the obtained Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2)catalyst also exhibited good catalytic stability and water resistance.The XRD and HRTEM results show that Zr ions are incorporated into CeO_(2) lattice,forming Ce_(x)Zr_(1-x)O_(2) solid solution.Temperature-programmed experiments reveal that Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2) shows excellent lowtemperature reducibility and abundant surface oxygen species.In-situ DRIFTS tests were used to probe the reaction mechanism,and the function of Zr doping in promoting the activation of oxygen was further determined.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations indicate that the vacancy formation energy and O_(2) adsorption energy are both lower on Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2),confirming the reason for its superior catalytic performance.展开更多
There is a need for more focus in understanding the economic benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)interventions,particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,where extreme climate events are significantly affecting agricult...There is a need for more focus in understanding the economic benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)interventions,particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,where extreme climate events are significantly affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods.This study used the Net Present Value(NPV),Internal Rate of Return(IRR),Benefit-Cost Ratio(BCR),and payback period to evaluate the economic viability of the adopted CSA interventions in the three villages(Doggoh,Jeffiri,and Wulling)of the dryland farming systems of northern Ghana,where CSA interventions were mostly practiced.Data were collected from 161 farm households by the questionnaire survey.The results showed that CSA interventions including livestock-crop integration,mixed cropping,crop rotation,nutrient integration,and tie ridging enhanced crop yield and the household income of smallholder farmers.The five CSA interventions selected by smallholders were in the following order of priority:livestock-crop integration(BCR=2.87),mixed cropping(BCR=2.54),crop rotation(BCR=2.24),nutrient integration(BCR=1.98),and tie ridging(BCR=1.42).Results further showed that livestock-crop integration was the most profitable CSA intervention even under a pessimistic assumption with a long payback period of 5.00 a.Moreover,this study indicated that the implementation of CSA interventions,on average,was relatively profitable and had a nominal financial risk for smallholder farmers.Understanding the economic viability of CSA interventions will help in decision-making process toward selecting the right CSA interventions for resilience development.展开更多
Environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative perfluorooctanic acid （PFOA） was difficult to be decomposed under the irradiation of 254 nm UV light. However, in the presence of 80μmol/L Fe（Ⅲ）, 80% of PFOA with i...Environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative perfluorooctanic acid （PFOA） was difficult to be decomposed under the irradiation of 254 nm UV light. However, in the presence of 80μmol/L Fe（Ⅲ）, 80% of PFOA with initial concentration of 48μmol/L （20 mg/L） was effectively degraded and 47.8% of fluorine atoms in PFOA molecule were transformed into inorganic fluoride ion after 4 h reaction. Shorter chain perfluorocarboxylic acids bearing C3-C7 and fluoride ion were detected and identified by LC/MS and IC as the degradation products in the aqueous solution. It was proposed that complexes of PFOA with Fe（Ⅲ） initiated degradation of PFOA irradiated with 254 nm UV light.展开更多
Strategic assessments are a landscape scale assessment and unlike project-by-project assessments which look at individual actions, they can consider a much broader set of issues;for example, a large urban growth area ...Strategic assessments are a landscape scale assessment and unlike project-by-project assessments which look at individual actions, they can consider a much broader set of issues;for example, a large urban growth area that will be developed over many years or a fire management policy across a broad landscape. Wetlands are important and effective ecosystems for biodiversity protection and improving environmental conditions. Bird watching as tourism and ecotourism activity is a complex process which it is compatible with conservation of wetlands and other aquatic zones. In this research, combination of SWOT analysis and FAHP method base on strategic fuzzy assessment are used for bird watch zoning in Bazangan Lake. By making internal and external matrix for SWOT factors, existing condition was in competitive strategies (ST) in the study area. Offered strategies in this condition were environment restoration to increase in environment resilience against hazards (natural and human), avoiding of land use and land cover changes and presence of ecotourism responsibly especially Bird watching. The sensitivity analysis results did not show any difference within the results of the present study and it was suitable and valid to use for similar situations. Base on the presented medium and short term strategies, it needed to have a short time training program to inform and empower local communities to wetlands partnership management by sharing them in the getting benefits in Bazangan Lake. By using the preferred frame in this study, decision makers can plan for each lake, dam and wetland and determine the best areas for tourist activities like bird watching. Conservation, protection and restoration of environment with its wildlife are guaranteed by using fuzzy assessment to provide reasonable strategies.展开更多
An environmental and economic assessment of the development of a plasma-chemical reactor equipped with plasma torches for the environmentally friendly treatment of waste streams by plasma is outlined with a view to th...An environmental and economic assessment of the development of a plasma-chemical reactor equipped with plasma torches for the environmentally friendly treatment of waste streams by plasma is outlined with a view to the chemical and energetic valorization of the sustainability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia（KSA）. This is especially applicable in the pilgrimage season in the city of Makkah, which is a major challenge since the amount of waste was estimated at about 750 thousand tons through Arabic Year 1435 H（2015）, and is growing at a rate of 3%–5% annually. According to statistics, the value of waste in Saudi Arabia ranges between 8 and 9 billion EUR. The Plasma-Treatment Project（PTP） encompasses the direct plasma treatment of all types of waste（from source and landfill）, as well as an environmental vision and economic evaluation of the use of the gas produced for fuel and electricity production in KSA, especially in the pilgrimage season in the holy city Makkah. The electrical power required for the plasmatreatment process is estimated at 5000 kW（2000 kW used for the operation of the system and 3000 kW sold）, taking into account the fact that：（1） the processing capacity of solid waste is 100 tons per day（2） and the sale of electricity amounts to 23.8 MW at 0.18 EUR per kWh.（3） The profit from the sale of electricity per year is estimated at 3.27 million EUR and the estimated profit of solid-waste treatment amounts to 6 million EUR per year and（4） the gross profit per ton of solid waste totals 8 million EUR per year. The present article introduces the first stage of the PTP, in Makkah in the pilgrimage season, which consists of five stages：（1） study and treatment of waste streams,（2） slaughterhouse waste treatment,（3） treatment of refuse-derived fuel,（4）treatment of car tires and（5） treatment of slag（the fifth stage associated with each stage from the four previous stages）.展开更多
Over recent years, the population of Caspian cobra Naja oxiana has declined in its distribution range in Iran due to habitat destruction and overhunting. Consequently, their small and isolated populations in fragmente...Over recent years, the population of Caspian cobra Naja oxiana has declined in its distribution range in Iran due to habitat destruction and overhunting. Consequently, their small and isolated populations in fragmented landscapes are facing genetic and demographic threats. Evaluating the spatial distribution pattern of Naja oxiana, identifying core habitat patches and improving landscape connectivity among the patches have a significant role in the long-term survival of the species. This study predicts the spatial distribution map of the Caspian cobra considering the factors affecting the predictive power of the distribution models, including sampling bias in presence points, correct selection of background locations, and input model parameters. The sampling bias in presence points was removed using spatial filtering. Several models were run using 19 environmental variables that eventually led to the selection of the effective habitat variables and best MaxEnt distribution model. We also used an ensemble model(EM) of habitat suitability methods to predict the potential habitats of the species. Topographical roughness, shrublands, average annual precipitation, and sparse rangeland with a density of ≤ 20% had the most effect on the spatial distribution of Caspian cobra. The evaluation of models confirmed that the EM has more predictive performance than MaxEnt in predicting the distribution of Naja oxiana.展开更多
Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasites belonging to the genus Echinococcus that primarily affect the liver.The western plateau and pastoral areas of China are high-risk regions for hepatic cystic ech...Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasites belonging to the genus Echinococcus that primarily affect the liver.The western plateau and pastoral areas of China are high-risk regions for hepatic cystic echinococcosis and hepatic alveolar echinococcosis(HAE).The high late mortality rate associated with HAE underscores the critical need for early diagnosis to improve cure rates and mitigate the disease burden in endemic areas.Currently,the World Health Orga-nization recommends ultrasonography as the preferred initial screening method for hepatic echinococcosis.However,distinguishing between specific types of lesions,such as those of hepatic cystic echinococcosis and HAE,and other focal liver lesions is challenging.To address this issue,contrast-enhanced ultrasound is recommended as a tool to differentiate solid and cysto-solid hepatic echino-coccosis from other focal liver lesions,significantly enhancing diagnostic accuracy.In this comprehensive review,we discuss the progression of hepatic echinococcosis and detail the imaging features of various types of echinococcosis using conventional,contrast-enhanced,and intraoperative ultrasound techniques.Our objective is to provide robust imaging evidence and guidance for early diagnosis,clinical decision making,and postoperative follow-up in regions with high disease prevalence.展开更多
The overall goal of this study is investigating the environmental impacts of using wastewater effluent of industrial states in irrigation of green space. For this purpose, industrial state of Shokouhieh in Qom Provinc...The overall goal of this study is investigating the environmental impacts of using wastewater effluent of industrial states in irrigation of green space. For this purpose, industrial state of Shokouhieh in Qom Province in central of Iran was selected as a case study. Firstly, the quality and quantity of inputting wastewater into refinery and outputting wastewater effluent were measured on important parameters of pH, TDS, TSS, COD, BOD and wastewater temperature in refinery laboratory of industrial state of Qom Shokouhieh during 12 months from March 2012 to March 2013. Then analysis of chemical, biological and physical indicators of irrigation wastewater (effluent) and measurement of heavy metals were done in June 2012 and January 2013 according to the standards instruction for the water and wastewater treatment. Also, heavy metals, EC, pH, and Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+, k+ of soil of industrial estate of Qom Shokouhieh were studied. Then, Rapid Impact Assessment Method (RIAM) and Entropy Method were used to analyze the data. In Rapid Impact Assessment Method, socio-cultural, physicochemical, biological and economic environments get the highest negative impacts respectively. In Entropy Method after weighting the environmental factors, public health and other disease parameters with the weight of 0.147, soil chemical properties with the weight of 0.136, soil toxicity with the weight of 0.126 were allocated the first rate up to the third rate respectively. After comparing the results of these two methods with each other, the main limitation of using wastewater effluent of industrial estate of Qom Shokouhie in irrigation of green space is entering chemical pollutants (nitrate) into groundwater, salinity and toxicity of soil of industrial state and endangerment of workers and labors public health who work in industrial state of Qom Shokouhie (specially the labors who exposure directly with the wastewater effluent and labors work in refinery).展开更多
The availability of nitrogen(N)is crucial for both the productivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems globally.However,the overuse of artificial fertilizers and the energy required to fix nitrogen have pushed the ...The availability of nitrogen(N)is crucial for both the productivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems globally.However,the overuse of artificial fertilizers and the energy required to fix nitrogen have pushed the global nitrogen cycle(N-cycle)past its safe operating limits,leading to severe nitrogen pollution and the production of significant amounts of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide(N2O).The anaerobic ammonium oxidation(anammox)mechanism can counteract the release of ammonium and N2O in many oxygenlimited situations,assisting in the restoration of the homeostasis of the Earth’s N biogeochemistry.In this work,we looked into the characteristics of the anammox hotspots’distribution across various types of ecosystems worldwide.Anammox hotspots are present at diverse oxic-anoxic interfaces in terrestrial systems,and they are most prevalent at the oxic-anoxic transition zone in aquatic ecosystems.Based on the discovery of an anammox hotspot capable of oxidizing ammonium anoxically into N2 without N2O by-product,we then designed an innovative concept and technical routes of nature-based anammox hotspot geoengineering for climate change,biodiversity loss,and efficient utilization of water resources.After 15 years of actual use,anammox hotspot geoengineering has proven to be effective in ensuring clean drinking water,regulating the climate,fostering plant and animal diversity,and enhancing longterm environmental quality.The sustainable biogeoengineering of anammox could be a workable natural remedy to resolve the conflicts between environmental pollution and food security connected to N management.展开更多
The problem of solid waste landfills on Caspian Sea coastlines is one of the current concerns of the Iranian environmental authorities. Physical and environmental constraints as well as shortcomings in present municip...The problem of solid waste landfills on Caspian Sea coastlines is one of the current concerns of the Iranian environmental authorities. Physical and environmental constraints as well as shortcomings in present municipal solid waste management are the main factors for environmental pollution and natural resources destruction in this geographical region. In order to reduce the above problems, this study has been carried out on the basis of a comparative assessment of the existing condition of landfill sites in natural ecosystems. In this study, 48 cities of the region have been investigated. All of them are located in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces. Total daily waste production in the study area is about 1209 tons that are dumped in open spaces and/or in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Surveying of 53 physical, adaptability and constraint parameters as well as hygiene and environmental parameters in the landfills, based on “Monavari-94 Method” indicate that the main problem in all of them is a high groundwater table. In 42% of landfills, the groundwater level is between from 0.5 to 2 meters. This phenomenon may cause severe risks due to the infiltration of leachate into potable groundwater. Indeed, the results of the study show that 87.5% of the landfills are located in areas with unacceptable conditions. In spite of geographical and environmental problems and constraints and as a final alternative in this respect, the need for sanitary and technical solid waste management is the main need of the study areas.展开更多
The present study was designed to assess lead levels in playground soil and accumulated dust on playground equipment and then correlate those environmental lead measurements with children’s blood lead in the surround...The present study was designed to assess lead levels in playground soil and accumulated dust on playground equipment and then correlate those environmental lead measurements with children’s blood lead in the surrounding neighborhoods. Soil lead and surface dust were collected from 14 playgrounds in Muncie, Indiana, and blood lead levels were calculated for nearby children. Correlation analyses revealed a moderate positive association between dust Pb and soil Pb with a correlation coefficient r = 0.46 (p = 0.099). The relationship between settled dust on playground equipment and composite blood lead level also showed a medium positive correlation, indicated by r = 0.36 (p = 0.202). A positive correlation was also observed between soil Pb and composite blood lead values, as evidenced by r = 0.51 (p = 0.061). Furthermore, the assessment of spatial autocorrelation using Moran’s I index indicated no significant spatial clustering for the variables studied (dust Pb, soil Pb, and blood Pb). Correlation analysis showed a connection between lead levels in soil and dust, but no significant links were found between soil lead and blood lead and between dust lead and blood lead. These results suggest that environmental lead in parks has a limited impact on children’s blood lead levels nearby. Spatial autocorrelation analysis also revealed no significant spatial patterns among variables—dust, soil, and blood lead. Given these findings, it is recommended to seek expertise from qualified professionals and further perform comprehensive testing and analysis to investigate potential lead sources in children’s blood. The outcomes of this study offer valuable insights into assessing playground environmental lead contamination, contributing to future research priorities in this area. Specifically, future studies could focus on collecting larger sample sizes and characterizing blood lead in children who frequently use playgrounds rather than those who live nearby but may or may not use the playgrounds.展开更多
Republic of Guinea’s environmental situation is characterized by the continued degradation of natural resources. Lefa gold mine is one of the Guinean Republic’s gold companies which support the socioeconomic improve...Republic of Guinea’s environmental situation is characterized by the continued degradation of natural resources. Lefa gold mine is one of the Guinean Republic’s gold companies which support the socioeconomic improvement. It operates in the northeastern part of the country and extracts the ore gold by open pit method by using cyanide. The exploitation of the Lefa Gold Mine impacts?the natural resources and the surrounding population. This paper considers the impact of Lefa Gold Mine activities on the environment and its local population including ecological disturbance, destruction of fauna and flora, land and landscape degradation. The study was carried out in April to July 2013 in two villages, Fayalala Carrefour, and Lèro Karta. Questionnaires were illustrated for data collection, and the proposed sampling size number (1204 respondents) consisted of the two villages and the surrounding villages was?founded on the proximity to the mine sites and their degree of suffering?after a direct impact of mining activities. 961 (79.82% of respondents) adhered?to the research to provide information about the situation. The principal objective of this paper was to provide new information on the problems existing in the achievement of mining policies that will help to mitigate the environmental impacts of gold mining activities on the local population. From the respondents, the results showed that the Lefa gold mine’s activities contaminated the farmland (31.21%), allowed the extinction of many animals and plant species (28.19%), which caused the change of the landscape of the study area. However, the most important situation was the life of the surrounding population. Therefore, the study has proposed a serial of recommendation to help Lefa gold mine reduce the impact of their activities on the environment and local population.展开更多
In the microalgae harvesting process,which includes a step for dewatering the algal suspension,directly reusing extracted water in situ would decrease the freshwater footprint of cultivation systems.Among various alga...In the microalgae harvesting process,which includes a step for dewatering the algal suspension,directly reusing extracted water in situ would decrease the freshwater footprint of cultivation systems.Among various algae harvesting techniques,membrane-based filtration has shown numerous advantages.This study evaluated the reuse of permeate streams derived from Scenedesmus obliquus(S.obliquus)biomass filtration under bench-scale and pilot-scale conditions.In particular,this study identified a series of challenges and mechanisms that influence the water reuse potential and the robustness of the membrane harvesting system.In a preliminary phase of this investigation,the health status of the initial biomass was found to have important implications for the harvesting performance and quality of the permeate stream to be reused;healthy biomass ensured better dewatering performance(i.e.,higher water fluxes)and higher quality of the permeate water streams.A series of bench-scale filtration experiments with different combinations of cross-flow velocity and pressure values were performed to identify the operative conditions that would maximize water productivity.The selected conditions,2.4 m·s^(-1)and 1.4 bar(1 bar=105 Pa),respectively,were then applied to drive pilot-scale microfiltration tests to reuse the collected permeate as a new cultivation medium for S.obliquus growth in a pilot-scale photobioreactor.The investigation revealed key differences between the behavior of the membrane systems at the two scales(bench and pilot).It indicated the potential for beneficial reuse of the permeate stream as the pilot-scale experiments ensured high harvesting performance and growth rates of biomass in permeate water that were highly similar to those recorded in the ideal cultivation medium.Finally,different nutrient reintegration protocols were investigated,revealing that both macro-and micro-nutrient levels are critical for the success of the reuse approach.展开更多
The urgent need to mitigate climate change impacts and achieve net zero emissions has led to extensive research on carbon dioxide(CO_(2))-capture technologies.This study focuses on the kinetics of CO_(2)capture using ...The urgent need to mitigate climate change impacts and achieve net zero emissions has led to extensive research on carbon dioxide(CO_(2))-capture technologies.This study focuses on the kinetics of CO_(2)capture using solid adsorbents specifically through thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA).The research explores the principles behind TGA and its application in analyzing adsorbent performance and the significance of kinetics in optimizing CO_(2)-capture processes.Solid adsorbents have gained significant attention due to their potential for efficient and cost-effective CO_(2)capture.Therefore,three different types of adsorbents,namely calcium-,tin-,and zirconium-based ones(quicklime:CaO,potassium stannate:K_(2)SnO_(3),and sodium zirconate:Na_(2)ZrO_(3)),in adsorbing high-temperature carbon dioxide were investigated;their quality and performance by various factors such as price,stability,non-toxicity,and efficiency are different.The diffusion models and geometrical contraction models were the best-fitted models to explain the kinetic of these solid adsorbents for high-temperature CO_(2)sorption;it means the morphology is important for solid adsorbent performance.The minimum energy needed to start a reaction for K_(2)SnO_(3),Na_(2)ZrO_(3),and CaO,is 73.55,84.33,and 86.23 kJ·mol^(-1),respectively;with the lowest value being for potassium stannate.The high-temperature CO_(2)adsorption performance of various solid adsorbents in regard with the rate of reaction followed the order of K_(2)SnO_(3)>CaO>>Na_(2)ZrO_(3),based on experiments and kinetic studies.展开更多
基金supported by the Chinese Scholarship Council under Grant 202106910006.
文摘Branch angles are an important plant morphological trait affecting light interception within forest canopies.However,studies on branch angles have been limited due to the time-consuming nature of manual measurements using a protractor.Terrestrial laser scanning(TLS),however,provides new opportunities to measure branch angles more efficiently.Despite this potential,studies validating branch angle measurements from TLS have been limited.Here,our aim is to evaluate both manual and automatic branch angle measurements of European beech from TLS data using traditional field-measurements with a protractor as a reference.We evaluated the accuracy of branch angle measurements based on four automated algorithms(aRchiQSM,TreeQSM,Laplacian,SemanticLaplacian)from TLS data.Additionally,we assessed different ways of manual branch angle measurements in the field.Our study was based on a dataset comprising 124 branch angles measured from six European beech in a European deciduous forest.Our results show that manual branch angle measurements from TLS data are in high agreement with the reference(root-mean-squared error,RMSE:[3.57°-4.18°],concordance correlation coefficient,CCC:[0.950.97])across different branch length positions.Automated algorithms also are in high agreement with the reference although RMSE is approximately twice as large compared to manual branch angle measurements from TLS(RMSE:[9.29°-10.55°],CCC:[0.830.86])with manual leaf points removal.When applying the automatic wood-leaf separation algorithm,the performance of the four methods declined significantly,with only approximately 20 branch angles successfully identified.Moreover,it is important to note that there is no influence of the measurement position(branch surface versus center)for branch angle measurements.However,for curved branches,the selection of branch measurement length significantly impacts the branch angle measurement.This study provides a comprehensive understanding of branch angle measurements in forests.We show that automated measurement methods based on TLS data of branch angles are a valuable tool to quantify branch angles at larger scales.
基金the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change and GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment for providing financial assistance through the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (GAP-0199)
文摘Treelines are ecologically unique,fragile,and rich in natural resources.They harbour high species diversity and at the same time are under threat due to anthropogenic activities.Recognizing this,the present study has been framed to document the patterns of species richness and diversity in the state of Himachal Pradesh,western Himalaya.A total of six treeline sites(three disturbed and three undisturbed)were identified for vegetation sampling.Trees,shrubs,and herbs were sampled at each site using nested plots of 10 m^(2),5 m^(2),and 1 m^(2),respectively.The study exhibits the rich diversity of treeline communities,the patterns of which varied between treeline sites.Altogether,221 species of vascular plants belonging to 47 families and 140 genera were recorded from the area.Amongst families,Asteraceae was the dominant family followed by Apiaceae and Ranunculaceae.The study also revealed the presence of threatened species like Aconitum heterophyllum,Angelica glauca,Bergenia stracheyi,Dactylorhiza hatagirea,Picrorhiza kurroa,and Trillium govanianum etc.at treeline.Moreover,species composition revealed high densities of Betula utilis followed by the under canopy of Rhododendron campanulatum and R.anthopogon at treeline sites.Overall,species richness of herbs,shrubs,and trees were higher at undisturbed site as compared to disturbed one.The diversity indices of herbs and shrubs varied significantly between treeline sites while that of trees was non-significant.At the same time,soil properties showed distinct patterns wherein pH and available nitrogen significantly varied between treeline sites.Present study provides detailed insights into the floristic and ecological aspects of treeline communities from the unexplored ecoregion of western Himalaya.The treelines in the area are anthropogenically depressed and continued land-use activities might result in habitat fragmentation and displacement of plant communities in the near future.
基金supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation(no.FENW-2023-0008)the Strategic Academic Leadership Program of Southern Federal University,known as“Priority 2030”.
文摘The digital revolution in agriculture has introduced data-driven decision-making,where artificial intelligence,especially machine learning(ML),helps analyze large and varied data sources to improve soil quality and crop growth indices.Thus,a thorough evaluation of scientific publications from 2007 to 2024 was conducted via the Scopus and Web of Science databases with the PRISMA guidelines to determine the realistic role of ML in soil health and crop improvement under the SDGs.In addition,the present review focused to identify and analyze the trends,challenges,and opportunities associated with the successful implementation of ML in agriculture.The assessment of various databases clearly revealed that ML implementation depends on crop management,while its limited potential in terms of soil health was explored.ML models,such as random forest and XGBoost,have demonstrated high accuracies of up to 99%in crop yield prediction and disease detection.Advanced ML frameworks,including the SHIDS-ADLT and EfficientNetB3,have improved soil health monitoring and plant disease classification.Irrigation management using ML has achieved over 50%water savings and irrigation efficiency by 10%-35%.These findings highlight the potential of ML to improve sustainable agricultural practices and soil health.A significant improvement discussed in this review is AutoML,which simplifies ML model implementation by automating feature selection,model selection,and hyperparameter tuning,reducing dependency on ML expertise.The integration of ML with remote sensing,Internet of Things(IoT),and big data analytics is expected to further transform the precision agriculture and real-time decisionmaking approaches to optimize resource utilization.Conclusively,the present review offers a quantitative perspective on the evolution of ML in agriculture,soil health management,crop yield prediction,and resource optimization.
文摘The removal of arsenic from water is essential for the protection of public health. To investigate the adsorption capabilities of laterite, sandstone, and shale for the removal of arsenic from aqueous solutions, column experiments were conducted. In this study, raw materials and heat-treated (calcined) materials were examined. The experiments assessed the influence of various parameters, including initial concentration, bed depth, and the effects of heat treatment. The findings revealed that the breakthrough curves were influenced by the initial concentration of arsenic, the depth of the bed, and the type of material used. For an initial arsenic concentration of 5 mg/L, columns containing 85 cm of calcined laterite, sandstone, and shale produced volumes of 7460 ml (1492 min), 3510 ml (702 min), and 4400 ml (880 min) of water with arsenic levels below 0.01 mg/L, respectively. These calcined materials demonstrate significant potential for the effective removal of arsenic from water.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42271317)the Innovation Research Team Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province(422CXTD515)。
文摘Latitudinal patterns of treeβ-diversity reveal important insights into the biogeographical processes that influence forest ecosystems.Although previous studies have extensively documentedβ-diversity within relatively small spatial extents,the potential drivers ofβ-diversity along latitudinal gradients are still not well understood at larger spatial extents.In this study,we determined whether treeβ-diversity is correlated with latitude in forests of southeastern China,and if so,what ecological processes contribute to these patterns of treeβ-diversity.We specifically aimed to disentangle the relative contributions from interspecific aggregation and environmental filtering across various spatial extents.We delineated regional communities comprising multiple nearby national forest inventory(NFI)plots around random focal plots.The number of NFI plots in a regional community served as a surrogate for spatial extent.We also used a null model to simulate randomly assembled communities and quantify the deviation(β-deviation)between observed and expectedβ-diversity.We found thatβ-diversity decreased along a latitudinal gradient and that this pattern was clearer at larger spatial extents.In addition,latitudinal patterns ofβ-deviation were explained by the degree of species spatial aggregation.We also identified environmental factors that driveβ-deviation in these forests,including precipitation,seasonality,and temperature variation.At larger spatial extents,these environmental variables explained up to 84%of theβ-deviation.Our results reinforce that ecological processes are scale-dependent and collectively contribute to theβ-gradient in subtropical forests.We recommend that conservation efforts maintain diverse forests and heterogeneous environments at multiple spatial extents to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
基金supported by the Leading Talent of the Science and Technology Nova Program of Zhejiang(No.2020R52039)the Outstanding Innovative Team Supporting Plan of Jiaxing City(No.2022-LHYJ-02-0503-02)+1 种基金the Key Research Project of Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University(No.2023ZQZ005)the Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(No.SJCX22-1386).
文摘In this study,we analyzed the characteristics of three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix spectra(EEMs)of 150 samples from five industrial wastewater types and domestic sewage to track water pollution sources effectively.We then developed a recognition model for wastewater EEMs by establishing a feature dataset containing fluorescence peak values and parameters derived from EEMs,integrated with machine learning techniques.This model enables the rapid and precise identification of pollution sources.Our findings suggest that although the EEMs of the sixwastewater categories are distinct,visual differentiation is challenging.This was confirmed by cosine similarity assessments,showing some samples with low within-group(<0.8)and high between-group(>0.95)similarities.Despite significant variations in EEMs features acrosswastewater categories,identifying specific pollutants remains difficult,especially for pulp mills and leather effluents.Among the tested classification algorithms,Support Vector Machine(SVM)achieved the highest performance with91.7%accuracy,94%precision,91%recall,and 92%F_(1)-score,outperforming K-Nearest Neighbors and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis.The SVM significantly improved identification accuracy for pulpmill and leather processing wastewaters compared to other models.To enhance identification accuracy,further exploration of EEMs features and expanding the training dataset are recommended.Combining EEMs features with machine learning presents a promising method for improvingwater pollution supervision and source tracing in environmental management practices.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation(No.51678291)the Basic Science(Natural Science)Research in Higher Education in Jiangsu Province(No.23KJA610003)the High-level Scientific Research Foundation for the introduction of talent in Nanjing Institute of Technology(No.YKJ201999)。
文摘Most studies have shown that oxygen vacancies on Ce_(x)Zr_(1-x)O_(2) solid solution are important for enhancing the catalytic oxidation performance.However,a handful of studies investigated the different roles of surface and subsurface oxygen vacancies on the performance and mechanisms of catalysts.Herein,a series of zirconium doping on CeO_(2) samples(CeO_(2),Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2),and Ce_(0.8)5Zr_(0.15)O_(2))with various surface-to-subsurface oxygen vacancies ratios have been synthesized and applied in toluene catalytic oxidation.The obtained Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2) exhibits an excellent catalytic performance with a 90%toluene conversion at 295℃,which is 68℃lower than that of CeO_(2).Additionally,the obtained Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2)catalyst also exhibited good catalytic stability and water resistance.The XRD and HRTEM results show that Zr ions are incorporated into CeO_(2) lattice,forming Ce_(x)Zr_(1-x)O_(2) solid solution.Temperature-programmed experiments reveal that Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2) shows excellent lowtemperature reducibility and abundant surface oxygen species.In-situ DRIFTS tests were used to probe the reaction mechanism,and the function of Zr doping in promoting the activation of oxygen was further determined.Density functional theory(DFT)calculations indicate that the vacancy formation energy and O_(2) adsorption energy are both lower on Ce_(0.95)Zr_(0.05)O_(2),confirming the reason for its superior catalytic performance.
文摘There is a need for more focus in understanding the economic benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)interventions,particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,where extreme climate events are significantly affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods.This study used the Net Present Value(NPV),Internal Rate of Return(IRR),Benefit-Cost Ratio(BCR),and payback period to evaluate the economic viability of the adopted CSA interventions in the three villages(Doggoh,Jeffiri,and Wulling)of the dryland farming systems of northern Ghana,where CSA interventions were mostly practiced.Data were collected from 161 farm households by the questionnaire survey.The results showed that CSA interventions including livestock-crop integration,mixed cropping,crop rotation,nutrient integration,and tie ridging enhanced crop yield and the household income of smallholder farmers.The five CSA interventions selected by smallholders were in the following order of priority:livestock-crop integration(BCR=2.87),mixed cropping(BCR=2.54),crop rotation(BCR=2.24),nutrient integration(BCR=1.98),and tie ridging(BCR=1.42).Results further showed that livestock-crop integration was the most profitable CSA intervention even under a pessimistic assumption with a long payback period of 5.00 a.Moreover,this study indicated that the implementation of CSA interventions,on average,was relatively profitable and had a nominal financial risk for smallholder farmers.Understanding the economic viability of CSA interventions will help in decision-making process toward selecting the right CSA interventions for resilience development.
文摘Environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative perfluorooctanic acid （PFOA） was difficult to be decomposed under the irradiation of 254 nm UV light. However, in the presence of 80μmol/L Fe（Ⅲ）, 80% of PFOA with initial concentration of 48μmol/L （20 mg/L） was effectively degraded and 47.8% of fluorine atoms in PFOA molecule were transformed into inorganic fluoride ion after 4 h reaction. Shorter chain perfluorocarboxylic acids bearing C3-C7 and fluoride ion were detected and identified by LC/MS and IC as the degradation products in the aqueous solution. It was proposed that complexes of PFOA with Fe（Ⅲ） initiated degradation of PFOA irradiated with 254 nm UV light.
文摘Strategic assessments are a landscape scale assessment and unlike project-by-project assessments which look at individual actions, they can consider a much broader set of issues;for example, a large urban growth area that will be developed over many years or a fire management policy across a broad landscape. Wetlands are important and effective ecosystems for biodiversity protection and improving environmental conditions. Bird watching as tourism and ecotourism activity is a complex process which it is compatible with conservation of wetlands and other aquatic zones. In this research, combination of SWOT analysis and FAHP method base on strategic fuzzy assessment are used for bird watch zoning in Bazangan Lake. By making internal and external matrix for SWOT factors, existing condition was in competitive strategies (ST) in the study area. Offered strategies in this condition were environment restoration to increase in environment resilience against hazards (natural and human), avoiding of land use and land cover changes and presence of ecotourism responsibly especially Bird watching. The sensitivity analysis results did not show any difference within the results of the present study and it was suitable and valid to use for similar situations. Base on the presented medium and short term strategies, it needed to have a short time training program to inform and empower local communities to wetlands partnership management by sharing them in the getting benefits in Bazangan Lake. By using the preferred frame in this study, decision makers can plan for each lake, dam and wetland and determine the best areas for tourist activities like bird watching. Conservation, protection and restoration of environment with its wildlife are guaranteed by using fuzzy assessment to provide reasonable strategies.
文摘An environmental and economic assessment of the development of a plasma-chemical reactor equipped with plasma torches for the environmentally friendly treatment of waste streams by plasma is outlined with a view to the chemical and energetic valorization of the sustainability in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia（KSA）. This is especially applicable in the pilgrimage season in the city of Makkah, which is a major challenge since the amount of waste was estimated at about 750 thousand tons through Arabic Year 1435 H（2015）, and is growing at a rate of 3%–5% annually. According to statistics, the value of waste in Saudi Arabia ranges between 8 and 9 billion EUR. The Plasma-Treatment Project（PTP） encompasses the direct plasma treatment of all types of waste（from source and landfill）, as well as an environmental vision and economic evaluation of the use of the gas produced for fuel and electricity production in KSA, especially in the pilgrimage season in the holy city Makkah. The electrical power required for the plasmatreatment process is estimated at 5000 kW（2000 kW used for the operation of the system and 3000 kW sold）, taking into account the fact that：（1） the processing capacity of solid waste is 100 tons per day（2） and the sale of electricity amounts to 23.8 MW at 0.18 EUR per kWh.（3） The profit from the sale of electricity per year is estimated at 3.27 million EUR and the estimated profit of solid-waste treatment amounts to 6 million EUR per year and（4） the gross profit per ton of solid waste totals 8 million EUR per year. The present article introduces the first stage of the PTP, in Makkah in the pilgrimage season, which consists of five stages：（1） study and treatment of waste streams,（2） slaughterhouse waste treatment,（3） treatment of refuse-derived fuel,（4）treatment of car tires and（5） treatment of slag（the fifth stage associated with each stage from the four previous stages）.
文摘Over recent years, the population of Caspian cobra Naja oxiana has declined in its distribution range in Iran due to habitat destruction and overhunting. Consequently, their small and isolated populations in fragmented landscapes are facing genetic and demographic threats. Evaluating the spatial distribution pattern of Naja oxiana, identifying core habitat patches and improving landscape connectivity among the patches have a significant role in the long-term survival of the species. This study predicts the spatial distribution map of the Caspian cobra considering the factors affecting the predictive power of the distribution models, including sampling bias in presence points, correct selection of background locations, and input model parameters. The sampling bias in presence points was removed using spatial filtering. Several models were run using 19 environmental variables that eventually led to the selection of the effective habitat variables and best MaxEnt distribution model. We also used an ensemble model(EM) of habitat suitability methods to predict the potential habitats of the species. Topographical roughness, shrublands, average annual precipitation, and sparse rangeland with a density of ≤ 20% had the most effect on the spatial distribution of Caspian cobra. The evaluation of models confirmed that the EM has more predictive performance than MaxEnt in predicting the distribution of Naja oxiana.
文摘Echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasites belonging to the genus Echinococcus that primarily affect the liver.The western plateau and pastoral areas of China are high-risk regions for hepatic cystic echinococcosis and hepatic alveolar echinococcosis(HAE).The high late mortality rate associated with HAE underscores the critical need for early diagnosis to improve cure rates and mitigate the disease burden in endemic areas.Currently,the World Health Orga-nization recommends ultrasonography as the preferred initial screening method for hepatic echinococcosis.However,distinguishing between specific types of lesions,such as those of hepatic cystic echinococcosis and HAE,and other focal liver lesions is challenging.To address this issue,contrast-enhanced ultrasound is recommended as a tool to differentiate solid and cysto-solid hepatic echino-coccosis from other focal liver lesions,significantly enhancing diagnostic accuracy.In this comprehensive review,we discuss the progression of hepatic echinococcosis and detail the imaging features of various types of echinococcosis using conventional,contrast-enhanced,and intraoperative ultrasound techniques.Our objective is to provide robust imaging evidence and guidance for early diagnosis,clinical decision making,and postoperative follow-up in regions with high disease prevalence.
文摘The overall goal of this study is investigating the environmental impacts of using wastewater effluent of industrial states in irrigation of green space. For this purpose, industrial state of Shokouhieh in Qom Province in central of Iran was selected as a case study. Firstly, the quality and quantity of inputting wastewater into refinery and outputting wastewater effluent were measured on important parameters of pH, TDS, TSS, COD, BOD and wastewater temperature in refinery laboratory of industrial state of Qom Shokouhieh during 12 months from March 2012 to March 2013. Then analysis of chemical, biological and physical indicators of irrigation wastewater (effluent) and measurement of heavy metals were done in June 2012 and January 2013 according to the standards instruction for the water and wastewater treatment. Also, heavy metals, EC, pH, and Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+, k+ of soil of industrial estate of Qom Shokouhieh were studied. Then, Rapid Impact Assessment Method (RIAM) and Entropy Method were used to analyze the data. In Rapid Impact Assessment Method, socio-cultural, physicochemical, biological and economic environments get the highest negative impacts respectively. In Entropy Method after weighting the environmental factors, public health and other disease parameters with the weight of 0.147, soil chemical properties with the weight of 0.136, soil toxicity with the weight of 0.126 were allocated the first rate up to the third rate respectively. After comparing the results of these two methods with each other, the main limitation of using wastewater effluent of industrial estate of Qom Shokouhie in irrigation of green space is entering chemical pollutants (nitrate) into groundwater, salinity and toxicity of soil of industrial state and endangerment of workers and labors public health who work in industrial state of Qom Shokouhie (specially the labors who exposure directly with the wastewater effluent and labors work in refinery).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(91851204 and 42021005)the Special project of eco-environmental technology for peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality(RCEES-TDZ-2021-20).
文摘The availability of nitrogen(N)is crucial for both the productivity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems globally.However,the overuse of artificial fertilizers and the energy required to fix nitrogen have pushed the global nitrogen cycle(N-cycle)past its safe operating limits,leading to severe nitrogen pollution and the production of significant amounts of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide(N2O).The anaerobic ammonium oxidation(anammox)mechanism can counteract the release of ammonium and N2O in many oxygenlimited situations,assisting in the restoration of the homeostasis of the Earth’s N biogeochemistry.In this work,we looked into the characteristics of the anammox hotspots’distribution across various types of ecosystems worldwide.Anammox hotspots are present at diverse oxic-anoxic interfaces in terrestrial systems,and they are most prevalent at the oxic-anoxic transition zone in aquatic ecosystems.Based on the discovery of an anammox hotspot capable of oxidizing ammonium anoxically into N2 without N2O by-product,we then designed an innovative concept and technical routes of nature-based anammox hotspot geoengineering for climate change,biodiversity loss,and efficient utilization of water resources.After 15 years of actual use,anammox hotspot geoengineering has proven to be effective in ensuring clean drinking water,regulating the climate,fostering plant and animal diversity,and enhancing longterm environmental quality.The sustainable biogeoengineering of anammox could be a workable natural remedy to resolve the conflicts between environmental pollution and food security connected to N management.
文摘The problem of solid waste landfills on Caspian Sea coastlines is one of the current concerns of the Iranian environmental authorities. Physical and environmental constraints as well as shortcomings in present municipal solid waste management are the main factors for environmental pollution and natural resources destruction in this geographical region. In order to reduce the above problems, this study has been carried out on the basis of a comparative assessment of the existing condition of landfill sites in natural ecosystems. In this study, 48 cities of the region have been investigated. All of them are located in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces. Total daily waste production in the study area is about 1209 tons that are dumped in open spaces and/or in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Surveying of 53 physical, adaptability and constraint parameters as well as hygiene and environmental parameters in the landfills, based on “Monavari-94 Method” indicate that the main problem in all of them is a high groundwater table. In 42% of landfills, the groundwater level is between from 0.5 to 2 meters. This phenomenon may cause severe risks due to the infiltration of leachate into potable groundwater. Indeed, the results of the study show that 87.5% of the landfills are located in areas with unacceptable conditions. In spite of geographical and environmental problems and constraints and as a final alternative in this respect, the need for sanitary and technical solid waste management is the main need of the study areas.
文摘The present study was designed to assess lead levels in playground soil and accumulated dust on playground equipment and then correlate those environmental lead measurements with children’s blood lead in the surrounding neighborhoods. Soil lead and surface dust were collected from 14 playgrounds in Muncie, Indiana, and blood lead levels were calculated for nearby children. Correlation analyses revealed a moderate positive association between dust Pb and soil Pb with a correlation coefficient r = 0.46 (p = 0.099). The relationship between settled dust on playground equipment and composite blood lead level also showed a medium positive correlation, indicated by r = 0.36 (p = 0.202). A positive correlation was also observed between soil Pb and composite blood lead values, as evidenced by r = 0.51 (p = 0.061). Furthermore, the assessment of spatial autocorrelation using Moran’s I index indicated no significant spatial clustering for the variables studied (dust Pb, soil Pb, and blood Pb). Correlation analysis showed a connection between lead levels in soil and dust, but no significant links were found between soil lead and blood lead and between dust lead and blood lead. These results suggest that environmental lead in parks has a limited impact on children’s blood lead levels nearby. Spatial autocorrelation analysis also revealed no significant spatial patterns among variables—dust, soil, and blood lead. Given these findings, it is recommended to seek expertise from qualified professionals and further perform comprehensive testing and analysis to investigate potential lead sources in children’s blood. The outcomes of this study offer valuable insights into assessing playground environmental lead contamination, contributing to future research priorities in this area. Specifically, future studies could focus on collecting larger sample sizes and characterizing blood lead in children who frequently use playgrounds rather than those who live nearby but may or may not use the playgrounds.
文摘Republic of Guinea’s environmental situation is characterized by the continued degradation of natural resources. Lefa gold mine is one of the Guinean Republic’s gold companies which support the socioeconomic improvement. It operates in the northeastern part of the country and extracts the ore gold by open pit method by using cyanide. The exploitation of the Lefa Gold Mine impacts?the natural resources and the surrounding population. This paper considers the impact of Lefa Gold Mine activities on the environment and its local population including ecological disturbance, destruction of fauna and flora, land and landscape degradation. The study was carried out in April to July 2013 in two villages, Fayalala Carrefour, and Lèro Karta. Questionnaires were illustrated for data collection, and the proposed sampling size number (1204 respondents) consisted of the two villages and the surrounding villages was?founded on the proximity to the mine sites and their degree of suffering?after a direct impact of mining activities. 961 (79.82% of respondents) adhered?to the research to provide information about the situation. The principal objective of this paper was to provide new information on the problems existing in the achievement of mining policies that will help to mitigate the environmental impacts of gold mining activities on the local population. From the respondents, the results showed that the Lefa gold mine’s activities contaminated the farmland (31.21%), allowed the extinction of many animals and plant species (28.19%), which caused the change of the landscape of the study area. However, the most important situation was the life of the surrounding population. Therefore, the study has proposed a serial of recommendation to help Lefa gold mine reduce the impact of their activities on the environment and local population.
基金supported by the Politecnico di Torino and the CleanWaterCenter@PoliTo(58_DIM20TIRALB,58_DIM22TIRALB,and 01_TRIN_CI_CWC).
文摘In the microalgae harvesting process,which includes a step for dewatering the algal suspension,directly reusing extracted water in situ would decrease the freshwater footprint of cultivation systems.Among various algae harvesting techniques,membrane-based filtration has shown numerous advantages.This study evaluated the reuse of permeate streams derived from Scenedesmus obliquus(S.obliquus)biomass filtration under bench-scale and pilot-scale conditions.In particular,this study identified a series of challenges and mechanisms that influence the water reuse potential and the robustness of the membrane harvesting system.In a preliminary phase of this investigation,the health status of the initial biomass was found to have important implications for the harvesting performance and quality of the permeate stream to be reused;healthy biomass ensured better dewatering performance(i.e.,higher water fluxes)and higher quality of the permeate water streams.A series of bench-scale filtration experiments with different combinations of cross-flow velocity and pressure values were performed to identify the operative conditions that would maximize water productivity.The selected conditions,2.4 m·s^(-1)and 1.4 bar(1 bar=105 Pa),respectively,were then applied to drive pilot-scale microfiltration tests to reuse the collected permeate as a new cultivation medium for S.obliquus growth in a pilot-scale photobioreactor.The investigation revealed key differences between the behavior of the membrane systems at the two scales(bench and pilot).It indicated the potential for beneficial reuse of the permeate stream as the pilot-scale experiments ensured high harvesting performance and growth rates of biomass in permeate water that were highly similar to those recorded in the ideal cultivation medium.Finally,different nutrient reintegration protocols were investigated,revealing that both macro-and micro-nutrient levels are critical for the success of the reuse approach.
文摘The urgent need to mitigate climate change impacts and achieve net zero emissions has led to extensive research on carbon dioxide(CO_(2))-capture technologies.This study focuses on the kinetics of CO_(2)capture using solid adsorbents specifically through thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA).The research explores the principles behind TGA and its application in analyzing adsorbent performance and the significance of kinetics in optimizing CO_(2)-capture processes.Solid adsorbents have gained significant attention due to their potential for efficient and cost-effective CO_(2)capture.Therefore,three different types of adsorbents,namely calcium-,tin-,and zirconium-based ones(quicklime:CaO,potassium stannate:K_(2)SnO_(3),and sodium zirconate:Na_(2)ZrO_(3)),in adsorbing high-temperature carbon dioxide were investigated;their quality and performance by various factors such as price,stability,non-toxicity,and efficiency are different.The diffusion models and geometrical contraction models were the best-fitted models to explain the kinetic of these solid adsorbents for high-temperature CO_(2)sorption;it means the morphology is important for solid adsorbent performance.The minimum energy needed to start a reaction for K_(2)SnO_(3),Na_(2)ZrO_(3),and CaO,is 73.55,84.33,and 86.23 kJ·mol^(-1),respectively;with the lowest value being for potassium stannate.The high-temperature CO_(2)adsorption performance of various solid adsorbents in regard with the rate of reaction followed the order of K_(2)SnO_(3)>CaO>>Na_(2)ZrO_(3),based on experiments and kinetic studies.
