Earth and Environmental Science

This paper aims to study the Quaternary geomorphological evolution of the Yeltes river-valley (Duero Basin, Central Spain) primarily based on the study of the Late Neogene piedmont dissected by the river and its Quaternary terrace sequence, since fluvial terraces are excellent archives to study the landscape and climate evolution during this period. Detailed geomorphological mapping implemented in GIS-based digital elevation models was used to the further applications of existing fluvial chronofunctions (relative terrace height-age transfer functions) to establish a numerical geochronology to the sequence of fluvial terraces in the zone. The obtained theoretical ages points to an onset of fluvial incision in the zone after 2.0–2.5 Myr ago, with the dissection of the “Raña surface” (a Gelasian alluvial piedmont widely developed in Central Spain). The obtained terrace ages coincide, in most cases, with warm isotopic stages (MIS) or mainly with the transit of cold to warm MIS. Addition...

There is sufficient proof that the entire world is fronting an ecological disaster because of huge deforestation. This study assessed the drivers of deforestation and the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. Information was sourced by administering questionnaires to 200 respondents drawn from the support zone dwellers of Mandara hills in Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State, and alongside interviews scheduled using participatory rural appraisal technique. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and smith's saliency model. The later was used for ranking of benefits derived from the hills and the conservation measures proffered by the respondents. The following age classes 26-30 years with 30 respondents, 31-35 years (35), 36-40 years (32) and 41-45 years (30) had the majority of the respondents. On gender, the majority (84.50%) of the respondents were males. Percentage of respondents for civil servants (21.50%) and farming (27.50%). The mainstream of the respondents had formal education represented by primary (19.5%), secondary (24.50%) and tertiary (36.0%). Most of the respondents had income that ranged from N100,000.00 -N2,000,000.00. The major benefits derived from the hills included; human protection during wars and insurgency (32.50%) and farming (30.50%). Drivers of deforestation based on; bad, worse and worst effect rankings cumulatively showed agricultural expansion topping the list, followed by indiscriminate destruction of wildlife habitat. Conservation measures suggested in order of frequency of respondents included; reduced human settlement around the hills (34.50%) and implementation of natural forest regeneration and restoration (31.50%).

Sprites have been detected in video camera observations in Niger over mesoscale convective systems in Nigeria during the 2006 AMMA campaign. The parent lightning flashes have been detected by multiple ELF receiving stations worldwide. The recorded charge moments of the parent lightning flashes are often in excellent agreement between different receiving sites, and are furthermore consistent with conventional dielectric breakdown in the mesosphere as the origin of the sprites. Analysis of the polarization of the horizontal magnetic field at the distant receivers provides evidence that the departure from linear magnetic polarization at ELF is caused primarily by the day-night asymmetry of the Earth-ionosphere cavity.

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a significant environmental concern, particularly in marine ecosystems. These small plastic particles (<5mm) originate from various sources, including industrial waste, cosmetic products, synthetic textiles, and the breakdown of larger plastic debris. Due to their small size, microplastics are easily ingested by marine organisms, leading to bioaccumulation and biomagnification across the food chain. This study aims to evaluate the ecological consequences of microplastic contamination in marine biodiversity, assessing its impact on marine food webs, reproductive health, ecosystem balance, and potential human health risks. A comprehensive literature review is conducted to analyze existing research on microplastic pollution and its potential mitigation strategies. The findings emphasize the urgent need for policy implementation, waste management innovations, and global cooperation to minimize microplastic pollution and protect marine biodiversity.

The present study is developed for the municipality of Santa Marta de Penaguião (70 square kilometers), located in the Douro Valley region (Northern Portugal). In the past, several destructive landslides occurred in this area, and were responsible for deaths and destruction of ...

Physicochemical and ionic characteristics of groundwater aquifers have been of tremendous importance in water applications. Groundwater in selected coastal communities (Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, and Ilaje/ese-odo) of south-western Nigeria was assessed for domestic and irrigation suitability. One hundred and ninety-two (192) groundwater samples were obtained and analyzed for chemical composition and major ionic ratio over a period of four seasons using standard methods. Results indicated abundance of ions in the order HCO3– &gt; Cl–&gt; SO42– for anions, and K+ &gt; Na+ &gt; Ca2+&gt; Mg2+ for cations. Piper&#39;s diagram revealed calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) as the dominant cations, while sulphate and chloride were the dominant anions with a mixture of two major groundwater types: Ca–Cl water and mixed Ca–Mg–Cl. The presence of Ca–Cl facies water type suggests potential ion exchange (Na2+ with Ca2+) reaction in these coastal aquifers. Cation exchangeable values (CEV), and molar r...

The Grand Calumet River lies in an area of great ecological diversity, a result of the convergence of three biomes during glaciation. Over thousands of years the region and the river hav e changed ecologically due to ice retreat, lake level declines, settlement and industrialization. Settlement and industrialization have greatly accelerated the rate of change, and the Grand Calumet River and it s basin are now subject to the added effects of years of direct pollution. For years, industries directl y discharged into the waterway; and those contaminants remain locked in the sediment a century later. In order to preserve the remaining surrounding natural areas and to improve the Grand Calumet River, burie d contaminants would have to be dredged from the river. Restoration needs to be implemented as part o f the clean-up process, and recontamination should be prevented .

Ayetoro, a coastal community in Ondo State, Nigeria is currently facing a saltwater intrusion that puts its survival at risk. This study analyzed (10) water samples from Ayetoro community's coastal aquifers to evaluate groundwater quality, saline intrusion impact, and conduct different physicochemical analysis. This paper discusses multiple causes of saltwater intrusion, such as the excessive use of freshwater and climate change, along with necessary methods for managing saltwater intrusion and the consequences it brings to coastal areas, the environment, and groundwater contamination in the region. The results were compared with the acceptable drinking water limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The findings showed that pH levels vary from 5.28 to 6.59, suggesting that the analyzed water samples may pose a threat to human health (such as skin irritation). The total hardness levels indicate that all water samples exceed the WHO's permissible limit of 500. High electrical conductivity values were observed in all water samples except for AY_9, indicating a likely presence of saline water intrusion in the groundwaters of Ayetoro community. Nonetheless, the levels of sulphate, chloride, sodium, potassium, total dissolved solids (TDS), and calcium-related hardness remained within acceptable limits for domestic use and irrigation in the entire study area, except for drinking water. Thus, it is advised to conduct consistent monitoring of saltwater intrusion to prevent contamination of other aquifers.

We report a quantitative analysis of regional differences in the the oxygen isotope composition of river water and precipitation across the USA because data are now available to undertake a more geographically and temporally extensive analysis than was formerly possible. Maps of modern, mean annual δ18O values for both precipitation (δ18OPPT) and river water (δ18ORIV) across the 48 contiguous states of the USA have been generated using latitude and elevation as the primary predictors of stable isotope composition while also incorporating regional and local deviations based on available isotopic data. The difference between these two maps was calculated to determine regions where δ18ORIV is significantly offset from local δ18OPPT. Additional maps depicting seasonal and extreme values for δ18ORIV and δ18OPPT were also constructed.This exercise confirms the presence of regions characterized by differences in δ18ORIV and δ18OPPT and specifically identifies the magnitude and regional ext...

The objective of this study was to ascertain textile and garments effluents' quality parameters and suitability for irrigation and aquaculture. Concentration of different parameters i.e. pH, temperature, color, odor, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS) and concentration of ionic constituents viz. Na + , K + , Ca 2+ and PO 4 2of effluents were investigated in Bhaluka industrial area of Mymensingh, Bangladesh during August to November, 2013. Study revealed that there were distinct variations in values of different parameters. Among the samples, pH values ranged from 7.5 to 9.8 indicating alkalinity of water. Temperature (26.8-30.2 o C) was found within permissible expelling limits. Observed color and odor of the effluents indicated poor quality to use for irrigation and aquaculture purposes. EC value (94.87-365.58 µScm-1) indicated low salinity level of the effluents. DO was within the range of 0.30 to 1.3 mg/L indicating aquatic life was under stress. Considering TDS (53.68 to 267.05 mg/L), all the samples were rated as fresh water (<1000 mg/L). Ratios of mean concentrations to background values were ranked in this sequence: Na + > K + > PO 4 3-> Ca 2 +. Overall study revealed that due to imbalance in values of different water quality parameters all of the samples were unsuitable for irrigation and aquaculture.

Raw material demand for photovoltaics 2017 Share of total raw material demand 2017 Iron 17 mt (≈ 1.3 %) Gallium Cadmium * Stoichiometry: Cu(In 0.7 Ga 0.3)Se 2 Table 4: Worldwide production of selected raw materials and production-specific raw material demand in 2013 for CIGS or CdTe thin film photovoltaics (DS

Sprites have been detected in video camera observations from Niger over mesoscale convective systems in Nigeria during the 2006 AMMA (African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis) campaign. The parent lightning flashes have been detected by multiple Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) receiving stations worldwide. The recorded charge moments of the parent lightning flashes are often in excellent agreement between different receiving sites, and are furthermore consistent with conventional dielectric breakdown in the mesosphere as the origin of the sprites. Analysis of the polarization of the horizontal magnetic field at the distant receivers provides evidence that the departure from linear magnetic polarization at ELF is caused primarily by the day–night asymmetry of the Earth–ionosphere cavity. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society

Reasons for appearance of optically active organic molecules in nature have not been ascertained up to the present, but clarification of conditions on the Earth during the period of their appearance can contribute to this. H 2 and gases, containing H 2 , were oxidized by CO 2 with allocation of carbon and H 2 O or CH 2 O and СНO(OН) in volcanic gas and in the early atmosphere. During adsorption on carbon CH 2 O dissolved in water could be the synthesis only of R (rectus, Latin) ribose, and with NH 3 and СНO(OН) synthesis of glycine and only of S (sinister) serine, and on its bases of other S amino acids. Adsorption on the carbon ensured in complex: concentration of initial components, hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties, optical purity, protection from hydration, decay and racemization. It is shown the possibility of the early Archean reactions: dehydration of phosphoric acid, of phosphoester bonds connection formation in nucleotides, with CH 2 O fatty acids and nitrogenous bases.

Following massive crude oil exploitation in Bayelsa State, arable land is shrinking and a food crisis, looming. To stop this trend, information on soil fertility status and management strategies becomes important for policy development. This paper assesses fertility status of the Nun River floodplain soils in Bayelsa State using newly developed indices for sustainable agricultural productivity and food security. Nun River plain alluvial soils of different landforms were collected from the genetic horizons of nine profiles, and analysed for physicochemical characteristics and soil fertility assessed using soil fertility index. (SFI) and soil evaluation factor (SEF).). Silt-sized particles dominated Odi (ODI), Koroama (KRM) and Niger Delta University (NDU 1) soils, except in NDU2 and NDU3, pH was moderate to slightly acidic (5.64-6.30), available P, low to high (0.6-22 mg/kg), organic C (0.31-5.35%), and total nitrogen (0.01-0.45%) low to high while calcium dominated the exchange complex. Correlation between Organic matter and total N (r = 0.366, p ‹ 0.001) and available P (r =-0.310, p ‹ 0.01) was highly positively, suggesting that organic matter dictates availability of N and P. The SFI values were higher (p ‹0.05) than SEF except in NUD2 and NDU3, pH, organic matter and available phosphorus contributing more. Of paramount importance is conservation of organic matter as the accumulation of biomass greatly improved physical properties and fertility of the soil.

Microbeads are small, solid, manufactured plastic particles that are less than five millimeter in diameter and do not degrade or dissolve in water. They are often added to act as an exfoliant or application enhancer in personal hygiene products such as rinse-off cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. The overuse of plastic results in accumulation of plastic waste in our ecosystems. Microbeads are not captured by most of the wastewater treatment systems. If they are washed down the drains after use, they can end up in rivers, lakes and oceans. The Netherlands was the first country to ban cosmetic microbeads in followed by Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium and Sweden. The United States enacted a legislative ban in December one year later. Although ban of microbeads in some developed countries has proven effective, but many countries do not take any legal actions. They are very small but collectively have a huge surface area. In the marine environment microbeads can both release and absorb toxins, which can then move throughout the food chain. In human beings plastic ingested causes internal bleeding, abrasion, ulcers and blockage of digestive tract. A recent review highlighted the bioaccumulation of microbeads via the food chain and its adverse effect on environment.

Microplastic pollution has become the most significant marine environmental concern. There has been a surge of information on microplastic contamination in various marine environments worldwide. However, the level of microplastic contamination in marine environments is just begun to understand in Sri Lanka. The present study looked at the microplastic contamination level in the beach sand of Pitipana, Catamaran, and Dūwana beaches along the coast of Negombo, Sri Lanka. Sampling was conducted bi-monthly from March to November in 2017. Beach sand samples were collected from the surface (0-1cm) and subsurface (10-11cm) layers and three regions representing the low-tide, high-tide, and vegetation line of each beach. Sand samples were filtered through 5mm and 1mm sieve-set, and particles greater than 5mm were discarded since they are not considered microplastics. Particles retained in 1mm sieve and the filtrate were collected separately. Microplastics were density separated and categoriz...

Natural chemical systems are an excellent object for studying the properties of various elements. The most diverse and informative geological complexes are crystalline rocks of the Precambrian. These rocks are exposed near the northern and southern margins of the Siberian craton. The chemical composition of rocks, the contents of impurity elements, and metals were studied by us using chemical and spectral analysis methods. Microprobe studies were performed. Using regression and multivariate statistical methods of analysis, the regularities of the distribution of chemical elements were found. It is shown that the distribution of precious metals and carbon dioxide in rocks is attributed to their chemical properties and comparable with close in-chemical properties’ rock-forming elements. It is found that the factor analysis reflects the uniform regularities of the distribution of elements in different regions and rocks. These regularities are similar on macro and micro levels. Comparis...

Soil and water contaminated with heavy metals pose a major environmental and human health problem in Nigeria. This study was carried out to ascertain the presence of heavy metals in Urban Solid Waste Compost (USWC) and examined the potentials of Tithonia diversifolia and Ageratum conyzoides in remediating heavy metals constituents of USWC. The study was carried out in the crop garden of the Department of Crop Production, Olabisi Onabanjo University, College of Agricultural Sciences, Ayetoro. The trial was a completely randomized design with four replicates. The treatment was made of two plant species belonging to Compositae family and USWC obtained from three different dump site locations in Ayetoro and a control. Two seeds of the two plant species were sown in pots containing 20kg of USWC and grown for 12 weeks. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated by LSD at p≤ 0.05. At the commencement of the trial, the concentration of Pb, Cd and As in the USWC from the...

h i g h l i g h t s g r a p h i c a l a b s t r a c t Ten brands of commercial sea salts of different origin for the identification and characterization of MPs. The average abundance of MPs are <700 MP/kg with particles size ranging between 3.8 and 50.2 mm. Cellophane (CP), polystyrene (PR), polyamide (PA) and polyarylether (PAR) were identified from the salts. Dual and nuclear staining confirmed that the induction of apoptosis in microplastic treated HEK-293 cells.

Groundwater is one of the major sources for irrigation and domestic purposes. The groundwater demand for various purposes is increasing in coastal areas. The population density in the coastal region is high and the health of people depends on the quality of water used. Ponnani, in the Malappuram district, is a thickly populated coastal town of Kerala where the availability of good quality drinking water is lacking. The study was undertaken to analyze the fluctuation of the water table and its effects on salinity intrusion and to understand the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes in the coastal belt of the Tavanur-Ponnani region. Six regions, Tavanur, Nariparambu, Chamaravattom, Purathur, Eswaramangalam and Ponnani are included in the study area. The water level was measured from observation wells in the field at monthly intervals, and samples were collected for water quality analysis during the period 2015 to 2021. The results obtained indicate that there is saline water intrusion in the coastal stretch of Purathur, Padinjarekkara and Ponnani regions of the Bharathapuzha river basin, and both salinity and EC is having an increasing trend in almost all wells during this period. The problem was found to be severe during dry periods (March-May) of the year in the Purathoor and Ponnani regions with salinity and EC rising to about 1800 mg L-1 and 1400 µs cm-1 , respectively in the pre-monsoon period, which can be used for drinking only in the absence of an alternate source. In these areas, the groundwater available during the summer months becomes unsuitable even for irrigation purposes. During the monsoon season (June-November), the problem is less severe. Hence, it is recommended to restrict the use of groundwater at least to a lateral distance of 5 km from the seashore along the banks of the river.

To study the mobility of polluting agents through the soil, the authors have designed an experiment that attempts to reproduce the behavior of heavy metals in the soil as a part of the nonsaturated zone. This work was based on a controlled experiment using soil columns. A calcareous soil was amended with 30,000, 90,000 and 180,000 kg sludge/ha. Chromium, cadmium, and nickel were analyzed in soil samples at intervals of 15 cm depth. Leachates were collected at the bottom of the columns and the metals were analyzed. No important displacements of polluting metals were found in this soil.

Gwenaëlle Gremion1,2,*, Mathieu Casado3, Kelsey Aho2,4, Jilda Alicia Caccavo2,5,6,7, Nicolas Champollion2,8, Emily Choy2,9, Sarahl L. Connors10, Rahul Dey2,11, Alfonso Fernández2,12, Gerlis Fugmann2,3, Juan Höfer2,13, Shridhar Jawak2,14, Martine Lizotte2,15, Sarah Maes2,16, Kyle Mayers2,17, Katja Mintenbeck18, Jhon Fredy Mojica2,19, Prashant Pandit2,20, Elvira Poloczanska18, Paul Rosenbaum2,21, Elisa Seyboth2,22, Sarah Shakil2,23, Maud van Soest2,24

Gwenaëlle Gremion1,2,*, Mathieu Casado3, Kelsey Aho2,4, Jilda Alicia Caccavo2,5,6,7, Nicolas Champollion2,8, Emily Choy2,9, Sarahl L. Connors10, Rahul Dey2,11, Alfonso Fernández2,12, Gerlis Fugmann2,3, Juan Höfer2,13, Shridhar Jawak2,14, Martine Lizotte2,15, Sarah Maes2,16, Kyle Mayers2,17, Katja Mintenbeck18, Jhon Fredy Mojica2,19, Prashant Pandit2,20, Elvira Poloczanska18, Paul Rosenbaum2,21, Elisa Seyboth2,22, Sarah Shakil2,23, Maud van Soest2,24

Background and Objective: Groundwater (hand-dug wells) is the major source of water for municipal use in the Abeokuta North Local Government of Nigeria. However, there is a tendency for its quality to deviate from recommended standards as most groundwater sources are close to regions prone to erosion and most wells are not usually covered. The adverse effects might creep into the ecosystem and affect human health if a regular check on the quality is not made. Materials and Methods: The geographical location and altitude of the wells' locations were taken using Global Positioning System (GPS). The sagging of the water drawer's rope was indicated with a pin, the latter which was used to spot the location. Each instrument employed was inserted into the sample of water as per the procedure. The experiment was carried out at the thirty-six available sites in the region. Results: The moderate pH range (6.30-7.36) can be linked to low values of TDS (352 mg/L) and EC (695 µs/cm). Statistical Pearson correlation analysis shows a clear relationship between parameters at p<0.01 (2-tailed T-test; MSExcel); supported by a linear plot between EC and TDS, and a clustered column chart that compares EC and pH. The overall water quality index (WQI) of the parameters gives an excellent value of 17.20%.

Gwenaëlle Gremion1,2,*, Mathieu Casado3, Kelsey Aho2,4, Jilda Alicia Caccavo2,5,6,7, Nicolas Champollion2,8, Emily Choy2,9, Sarahl L. Connors10, Rahul Dey2,11, Alfonso Fernández2,12, Gerlis Fugmann2,3, Juan Höfer2,13, Shridhar Jawak2,14, Martine Lizotte2,15, Sarah Maes2,16, Kyle Mayers2,17, Katja Mintenbeck18, Jhon Fredy Mojica2,19, Prashant Pandit2,20, Elvira Poloczanska18, Paul Rosenbaum2,21, Elisa Seyboth2,22, Sarah Shakil2,23, Maud van Soest2,24

Floodplain soils worldwide are very useful for agricultural production and food security. But, the floodplains of Bayelsa State are under-utilized due to lack of technical information and knowledge on the nutrient status and other soil characteristics. This study therefore, assessed the soil quality of lower Niger River floodplain soils in Bayelsa State, Nigeria for sustained productivity and food security. Alluvial soils from different river plains in Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria were characterized and fertility assessed. Pedogenic soil samples from the levee crest, middle slope, lower slope and recent alluvial soils from the channels of present active rivers were collected from identified genetic horizons of soil profiles and analyzed for physical and chemical properties using standard methods and the soils fertility status evaluated using Soil Fertility Index (SFI) and Soil Evaluation Factor (SEF). The soils were dominantly silt loam followed by silty clay loam and loam except Elemebiri 3 (ELM3) and Trofani 3 (TFN3), dominated by loamy sand and sandy loam. pH (5.31-7.00) was moderately acid to neutral and organic matter content, generally low to moderate, ranging from 0.19-3.88%. Total N values was also low while available P was low to moderate. The exchange complex was dominated by Ca 2+ and ECEC values were low. The SFI values were higher than the SEF values in al the Soil Mapping Units (SMUs), contributed by pH, organic matter and phosphorus. Both SFI and SEF values decreased with increase in depth for all the soil mapping units except Trofani 1 (TFN1) where the bottom layers recorded higher SFI values and Elemebiri 3 (ELM3) for SEF. Though the soils nutrient concentration was generally low to moderate, both SFI and SEF evaluated the soils as fertile contributed mainly by organic matter, available P and pH. Since biomass accumulation contributed greatly to improvement of soil fertility and physical structure, soil organic matter maintenance should be given top priority in these soils for sustained productivity and food security.

Microplastics are pieces of plastic debris <5mm in diameter. They enter the environment from a variety of sources including the direct input of small pieces such as exfoliating beads used in cosmetics and as a consequence of the fragmentation of larger items of debris. A range of common polymers, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride, are present in the environment as microplastic particles. Microplastics are widely distributed in marine and freshwater habitats. They have been reported on shorelines from the poles to the equator; they are present at the sea surface and have accumulated in ocean systems far from land. Microplastics are also present in substantial quantities on the seabed. A wide range of organisms including birds, fish, and invertebrates are known to ingest microplastics and for some species it is clear that a substantial proportion of the population have microplastic in their digestive tract. The extent to which this might have harmful effects is not clear; however the widespread encounter rate indicates that substantial quantities of microplastic may be distributed within living organisms themselves as well as in the habitats in which they live. Our understanding about the long-term fate of microplastics is relatively limited. Some habitats such as the deep sea may be an ultimate sink for the accumulation of plastic debris at sea; indeed some recent evidence indicates quantities in the deep sea can be greater than at the sea surface. It has also been suggested that microplastics might be susceptible to biodegradation by microorganisms however, this is yet to be established and the prevailing view is that, even if emissions of debris to the environment are substantially reduced, the abundance of microplastics will increase over the next few decades. However, it is also clear that the benefits which plastics bring to society can be realized without the need for emissions of end of life plastics to the ocean. To some extent the accumulation of microplastic debris in the environment is a symptom of an outdated business model. There are solutions at hand and many synergistic benefits can be achieved in terms of both waste reduction and sustainable use of resources by moving toward a circular economy.

Cosmetic products, such as facial scrubs, have been identified as potentially important primary sources of microplastics to the marine environment. This study characterises, quantifies and then investigates the sorptive properties of plastic microbeads that are used as exfoliants in cosmetics. Polyethylene microbeads were extracted from several products, and shown to have a wide size range (mean diameters between 164 to 327 μm). We estimated that between 4594-94500 microbeads could be released in a single use. To examine the potential for microbeads to accumulate and transport chemicals they were exposed to a binary mixture of 3 H-phenanthrene and 14 C-DDT in seawater. The potential for transport of sorbed chemicals by microbeads was broadly similar to that of polythene (PE) particles used in previous sorption studies. In conclusion, cosmetic exfoliants are a potentially important, yet preventable source of microplastic contamination in the marine environment.

This study was conducted to monitor surface water salts along the Damietta Branch-Nile River for a yearlong period to evaluate its quality for irrigation. Damietta Branch was divided into twelve stations along through it where water samples were collected and some physicochemical parameters were analyzed. Results obtained confirmed that the SAR value of water along the branch ranged from 3.93 to 60.28 eq/l. According to SAR calculations and characterizations, it is obtained that Damietta branch water is classified as medium (good water quality), which is suitable for coarse textured or organic soil with good permeability and relatively unsuitable in fine textured soils. Nevertheless, its quality varied between several classes (low, medium, high and very high) at different stations separately along the branch. The PAR value of water along the branch ranged from 1.72 to 25.55 eq/l. Thus, Damietta branch water is classified as having low to medium risk of soil dispersion (low to medium water quality) but real risk values are for waters low in EC, typically < 65mS/m). However, different stations along the branch varied between several classes (low, medium, high and very high). The ESP value of water along the Damietta Branch ranged from 12.96 to 68.68 and with a mean value of 43.04±20.2 along the branch. Chloride, Sodium, Calcium, and potassium concentration values in water along Damietta Branch were distributed in a regular manner as it increased from upstream to downstream along Damietta branch except for one or two stations.:

A diagnostic menACE: the role of ACE-inhibitors in acute isolated hypotensive transfusion reactions and examination of the utility of tryptase leve Microplastics in pharmaceutical dosage forms and patient informed consent There are a number of alternative treatment options available which include stopping the use of medicines that may increase potassium levels, dietary changes, dialysis, and the use of potassium exchangers (Kovesdy 2015). The most common application of microplastics is for the sustained release of API molecules (Anand et al 2001). The drugs are absorbed onto the surface of the microplastics where they are held in place through ionic bonds and

Microplastic contamination in the sediment of the east coast of Saudi Arabia was not addressed by any study. The objective of this study is to obtain the first measurement of microplastic abundance at four different beaches on the east coast of Saudi Arabia (Khafji, Jubial, Dammam, and Salwa). Sediment samples were collected from both high tide and low tide zone. A total of 586 microplastic particles were collected from all the sites with an average particle size of 1.55 ± 0.94 mm. The majority of microplastic particles (77%) were less than 2 mm in size. Microplastic abundance ranged from 5.5 ± 1.55 to 21.2 ± 0.68 particle/kg (51.1 ± 14.71 to 152.8 ± 21.32 particle/m2) in low tide region, and from 6.3 ± 4.05 to 16.5 ± 4.98 particle/kg (50.6 ± 31.21 to 204.5 ± 64.15 particle/m2) in high tide region. The most dominant colors were transparent (34%) and blue (30%), while the fiber was the most common shape (96%). Polyethylene terephthalates were the common polymer type of fibers, while ...

The seabed in the ports needs to be regularly cleaned from the marine sediments for safe navigation. Sediments contaminated by tributyltin (TBT) are environmentally harmful and require treatment before recycling. Treatment methods include leaching, stabilisation and solidification to remove toxic chemicals from the sediments and improve their strength for reuse in the construction works. This study evaluated the effects of adding three different binder components (cement, cement kiln dust (CKD) and slag) to treat sediment samples collected in the port of Gothenburg. The goal of this study is to assess the leaching of TBT from the dredged marine sediments contaminated by TBT. The various methods employed for the treatment of sediments include the application of varied ratios of binders. The project has been performed by the Swedish Geotechnical Institute (SGI) on behalf of the Cementa (HeidelbergCement Group) and Cowi Consulting Group, within the framework of the Arendal project. An ...

Sprites have been detected in video camera observations in Niger over mesoscale convective systems in Nigeria during the 2006 AMMA campaign. The parent lightning flashes have been detected by multiple ELF receiving stations worldwide. The recorded charge moments of the parent lightning flashes are often in excellent agreement between different receiving sites, and are furthermore consistent with conventional dielectric breakdown in the mesosphere as the origin of the sprites. Analysis of the polarization of the horizontal magnetic field at the distant receivers provides evidence that the departure from linear magnetic polarization at ELF is caused primarily by the day-night asymmetry of the Earth-ionosphere cavity.

Gwenaëlle Gremion1,2,*, Mathieu Casado3, Kelsey Aho2,4, Jilda Alicia Caccavo2,5,6,7, Nicolas Champollion2,8, Emily Choy2,9, Sarahl L. Connors10, Rahul Dey2,11, Alfonso Fernández2,12, Gerlis Fugmann2,3, Juan Höfer2,13, Shridhar Jawak2,14, Martine Lizotte2,15, Sarah Maes2,16, Kyle Mayers2,17, Katja Mintenbeck18, Jhon Fredy Mojica2,19, Prashant Pandit2,20, Elvira Poloczanska18, Paul Rosenbaum2,21, Elisa Seyboth2,22, Sarah Shakil2,23, Maud van Soest2,24

Khalashpir coal field is the 3 rd largest coal field in Bangladesh, where coal occurs at depths of 257m to 483m below the surface. Considering the Geological, Geo-environment and other related geoengineering information, underground mining have been selected there to extract the deposit. In this paper, our concern is about shaft sinking method for underground mining. Depths of the coal seams reveal the necessity of a vertical shaft underground which again needs deep excavation. The problem arises with the excavation because of nearly 138m thick Dupitila Sandstone Formation just 6m below the surface in the area. It is loose, water bearing, containing dominantly porous and permeable sandstone and experiences massive water flow. So, the major concern is that any excavation through this will readily collapse and suffer massive water inrush. This will totally disturb the whole mining work progression and cause economic loss as well. By analyzing the ground condition of the Khalashpir cola field, artificial ground freezing has been identified most appropriate as shaft sinking method to control the ground water and to stabilize the loose soil during excavation. Lawfulness of the method and reason of neglecting other two common shaft sinking methods has been pointed out in this paper.

Two important issues characterize the design of bootstrap methods to construct confidence intervals for the correlation between two time series sampled (unevenly or evenly spaced) on different time points: (i) ordinary block bootstrap methods that produce bootstrap samples have been designed for time series that are coeval (i.e., sampled on identical time points) and must be adapted; (ii) the sample Pearson correlation coefficient cannot be readily applied, and the construction of the bootstrap confidence intervals must rely on alternative estimators that unfortunately do not have the same asymptotic properties. In this paper it is argued that existing proposals provide an unsatisfactory solution to issue (i) and ignore issue (ii). This results in procedures with poor coverage whose limitations and potential applications are not well understood. As a first step to address these issues, a modification of the bootstrap procedure underlying existing methods is proposed, and the asympto...

Raw material demand for photovoltaics 2017 Share of total raw material demand 2017 Iron 17 mt (≈ 1.3 %) Gallium Cadmium * Stoichiometry: Cu(In 0.7 Ga 0.3)Se 2 Table 4: Worldwide production of selected raw materials and production-specific raw material demand in 2013 for CIGS or CdTe thin film photovoltaics (DS

Satellite imaging is widely used in monitoring weather patterns and interpreting satellite images. The limited access to weather satellite image data in real-time is still major issues faced by satellite enthusiasts. NOAA 18 and NOAA 19 weather satellites provide free accessible weather data continuously through Automatic Picture Transmission at 137.9125 MHz and 137.1000 MHz frequencies. In this research the data acquisition system is designed with the help of a Quadrifilar Helix antenna and RTL-SDR. In order to receive both frequencies, the Quadrifilar Helix antenna at 137,5 MHz is designed. Recording, decoding, editing, and viewing of Automatic Picture Transmission signals using WXtoImg software. The result showed that the weather satellite image receptions are sufficiently clear and descriptive, although there are 0.0685% frequency offsets of Automatic Picture Transmission signal reception on NOAA 18 and 0.0686% on NOAA 19.

This research was conducted on the Damietta branch of the Nile River, Egypt. The Damietta branch receives pollution loadings from the Omar-Bek drain and two power stations located along the path of the branch. The main objective of this research consisted of comparing between the Damietta branch water quality before and after the Ethiopian Dam is built. This comparison was conducted by using the river pollutant (RP) modeling. First, the actual data and the modeling results were compared in order to prove the efficiency and validity of the RP modeling. Findings from regression analysis yielded a strong positive linear relationship (r = 0.987) between the two results. The modeling results showed that Omar-Bek drain had less impact on the Damietta branch water quality. The results also showed that the effluent discharge from the two power stations affected water quality and aquatic life because large quantities of warm and polluted water discharged back into the Damietta branch. The results also showed that constructing the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam would slightly increase pollutants concentrations in the Damietta branch and that this increase would cause a slight deterioration in water quality.

Microplastic contamination in the sediment of the east coast of Saudi Arabia was not addressed by any study. The objective of this study is to obtain the first measurement of microplastic abundance at four different beaches on the east coast of Saudi Arabia (Khafji, Jubial, Dammam, and Salwa). Sediment samples were collected from both high tide and low tide zone. A total of 586 microplastic particles were collected from all the sites with an average particle size of 1.55 ± 0.94 mm. The majority of microplastic particles (77%) were less than 2 mm in size. Microplastic abundance ranged from 5.5 ± 1.55 to 21.2 ± 0.68 particle/kg (51.1 ± 14.71 to 152.8 ± 21.32 particle/m 2) in low tide region, and from 6.3 ± 4.05 to 16.5 ± 4.98 particle/kg (50.6 ± 31.21 to 204.5 ± 64.15 particle/m 2) in high tide region. The most dominant colors were transparent (34%) and blue (30%), while the fiber was the most common shape (96%). Polyethylene terephthalates were the common polymer type of fibers, while polyethylene and high-density polyethylene were common in fragments and filaments.

Microplastic contamination in the sediment of the east coast of Saudi Arabia was not addressed by any study. The objective of this study is to obtain the first measurement of microplastic abundance at four different beaches on the east coast of Saudi Arabia (Khafji, Jubial, Dammam, and Salwa). Sediment samples were collected from both high tide and low tide zone. A total of 586 microplastic particles were collected from all the sites with an average particle size of 1.55 ± 0.94 mm. The majority of microplastic particles (77%) were less than 2 mm in size. Microplastic abundance ranged from 5.5 ± 1.55 to 21.2 ± 0.68 particle/kg (51.1 ± 14.71 to 152.8 ± 21.32 particle/m 2) in low tide region, and from 6.3 ± 4.05 to 16.5 ± 4.98 particle/kg (50.6 ± 31.21 to 204.5 ± 64.15 particle/m 2) in high tide region. The most dominant colors were transparent (34%) and blue (30%), while the fiber was the most common shape (96%). Polyethylene terephthalates were the common polymer type of fibers, while polyethylene and high-density polyethylene were common in fragments and filaments.

Satellite imaging is widely used in monitoring weather patterns and interpreting satellite images. The limited access to weather satellite image data in real-time is still major issues faced by satellite enthusiasts. NOAA 18 and NOAA 19 weather satellites provide free accessible weather data continuously through Automatic Picture Transmission at 137.9125 MHz and 137.1000 MHz frequencies. In this research the data acquisition system is designed with the help of a Quadrifilar Helix antenna and RTL-SDR. In order to receive both frequencies, the Quadrifilar Helix antenna at 137,5 MHz is designed. Recording, decoding, editing, and viewing of Automatic Picture Transmission signals using WXtoImg software. The result showed that the weather satellite image receptions are sufficiently clear and descriptive, although there are 0.0685% frequency offsets of Automatic Picture Transmission signal reception on NOAA 18 and 0.0686% on NOAA 19.

Rainfall is the most important physical process responsible for the landslide triggering in Portugal. Results obtained worldwide have shown that control of rainfall on landslides differs substantially depending upon landslide depth and kinematics and the affected material. Therefore, the critical rainfall conditions for failure are not the same for different types of landslides, and may be strongly influenced by regional geologic and geomorphologic conditions. Rapid debris flows are typically triggered by very intense showers concentrated in just a few hours, and shallow translational soil slips are usually triggered by intense precipitation falling within the 1-15 days long range. On the contrary, activity of deep-seated landslides of rotational, translational and complex types is related to periods of nearly constant rainfall, lasting from several weeks to several months. The different rainfall intensityduration conditions are associated with different hydrologic mechanisms for slope failure. The generation of surface runoff and high peak discharges in first-order mountain catchments is a critical triggering mechanism for debris flows. The intense rainfall allows the rapid growth of pore water pressure and the drop of capillarity forces that sustain the apparent cohesion of thin soils. As a consequence, shallow soil slips occur within the soil material or at the contact with the underlying less permeable bedrock. Long lasting rainfall episodes enable the steady rise of the groundwater table and the development of positive pore water pressures into the soil. Consequently, deep-seated failures occur in relation to the reduction of shear strength of affected materials. In this work, we present the state of the art concerning the proposition of empirical rainfall thresholds in Portugal for different types of landslides observed in different zones of the country: the Lisbon region, the Douro Valley and the NW Mountains, and the Povoação Municipality in São Miguel Island (Azores). The empirical thresholds applied in Portugal are based on the identification of past landslide events and include (i) the computation of antecedent rainfall threshold defined by linear regression, (ii) the normalization of rainfall by the mean annual precipitation, (iii) the definition of lower limit and upper limit rainfall thresholds and (iv) the definition of combined rainfall thresholds, which integrates the rainfall event and the antecedent rainfall for different time periods.

理科は教育上重要な教科の一つである。それは,身の周りの現象や出来事に関して学び,よりよく発展させることに関連するからである。一方,中学校教育は初等教育と高等教育をつなぎ,学習者が大学に入るための準備するための側面もある。フィリピンの中等理科教育は,以前から改革がなされてきた。これらの中等理科教育における改革でフィリピンにおける様々なタイプの中等学校が創設され,異なった理科カリキュラムが実施されている。フィリピンには,カリキュラムの異なる2つのタイプの中等学校である普通学校と職業学校がある。職業学校は職業教育コースとしての中等カリキュラムを実施し,普通学校は4年間の一般的な教科に基づいた中等カリキュラムを実施している。サイエンスハイスクールでは中等教育カリキュラムに加え,高度な理科,数学,および英語のカリキュラムが実施されている。本論文ではフィリピンサイエンスハイスクール,リージョナルサイエンスハイスクール,および一般公立高校の理科カリキュラムを整理しその特徴について述べる。また,地学の教育内容に関して整理しする。Science is an integral part of education. It is through where man learns of things around him and evolves better ways and means of doing things. Secondary Education, on the other hand, serves as a bridge between primary and higher education to prepare the learner in entry into college and in the world of work. Secondary Science Education in the Philippines has undergone transformation since its set out way back in history. This revolution in Secondary Science Education is evident on the existence of different science curricula i...

Several studies have shown that there are high salinity values in the groundwater quality in certain areas within Port Harcourt city. However, a detailed investigation on the cause is not yet documented hence, this research investigated the factors governing the hydro-geochemistry of the said area. This was achieved by analysing concentrations of 7 ions (both cations and anions) and total dissolved solids (TDS) in water samples obtained from 26 drilled boreholes and 4 hand dug wells, evenly distributed within the study area. The examined ions are Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , Na + , K + , Cl-, HCO 3 and SO 4 2-. Laboratory results were plotted on Piper trilinear and Gibbs diagrams through Aquachem 5.1 software package and it was revealed that 63.33% of the total samples fell in Na-Cl hydrochemical facies while the remaining 36.67% occurred in Ca-Cl facies. It was also revealed that the controlling factors for formation of the analysed ions were precipitation and rock weathering on 76.67% and 23.33% respectively. Hence, it was concluded that Na-Cl facies is the dominance hydrochemical facies in the study area while the main factor governing the formation of ions is precipitation. However, it was recommended that the rate of pumping out water from wells in certain parts of the study area should be reduced in other to avoid seawater intrusion.

The objective of this study was to ascertain textile and garments effluents' quality parameters and suitability for irrigation and aquaculture. Concentration of different parameters i.e. pH, temperature, color, odor, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS) and concentration of ionic constituents viz. Na + , K + , Ca 2+ and PO 4 2of effluents were investigated in Bhaluka industrial area of Mymensingh, Bangladesh during August to November, 2013. Study revealed that there were distinct variations in values of different parameters. Among the samples, pH values ranged from 7.5 to 9.8 indicating alkalinity of water. Temperature (26.8-30.2 o C) was found within permissible expelling limits. Observed color and odor of the effluents indicated poor quality to use for irrigation and aquaculture purposes. EC value (94.87-365.58 µScm-1) indicated low salinity level of the effluents. DO was within the range of 0.30 to 1.3 mg/L indicating aquatic life was under stress. Considering TDS (53.68 to 267.05 mg/L), all the samples were rated as fresh water (<1000 mg/L). Ratios of mean concentrations to background values were ranked in this sequence: Na + > K + > PO 4 3-> Ca 2 +. Overall study revealed that due to imbalance in values of different water quality parameters all of the samples were unsuitable for irrigation and aquaculture.

Khalashpir coal field is the 3 rd largest coal field in Bangladesh, where coal occurs at depths of 257m to 483m below the surface. Considering the Geological, Geo-environment and other related geoengineering information, underground mining have been selected there to extract the deposit. In this paper, our concern is about shaft sinking method for underground mining. Depths of the coal seams reveal the necessity of a vertical shaft underground which again needs deep excavation. The problem arises with the excavation because of nearly 138m thick Dupitila Sandstone Formation just 6m below the surface in the area. It is loose, water bearing, containing dominantly porous and permeable sandstone and experiences massive water flow. So, the major concern is that any excavation through this will readily collapse and suffer massive water inrush. This will totally disturb the whole mining work progression and cause economic loss as well. By analyzing the ground condition of the Khalashpir cola field, artificial ground freezing has been identified most appropriate as shaft sinking method to control the ground water and to stabilize the loose soil during excavation. Lawfulness of the method and reason of neglecting other two common shaft sinking methods has been pointed out in this paper.