ALBERT

Beschreibung: Transient pressure analysis is a crucial tool to forecast the production performance during the exploration and production process in gas reservoirs. Usually, a regular shaped outer boundary is assumed in previous studies for well-testing analysis, which is just a simplification of practical cases and cannot reflect the actual boundaries of reservoirs. In this paper, a mathematical model is established to analyze the transient pressure behaviors of a horizontal well in an arbitrarily shaped gas reservoir. Dimensionless treatment, Laplace transformation, and boundary element method are applied in solving the model, which is verified by comparing with the results from the source function method. Based on the Stehfest numerical inversion method, the models of single-porosity media and dual-porosity media are solved respectively. Then, the time-domain curves of pseudo pressure and its derivative are obtained, and the flow regimes are identified. Finally, the impacts of some critical parameters on pressure transient behaviors are analyzed, including storativity ratio, interporosity coefficient, well length, and well orientation. This paper presents an effective way to handle complex external boundary problems in gas reservoirs.

Beschreibung: Previous research suggests that meditation, a mindfulness exercise, could result in increased connectedness to nature and pro-environmental behavior. Exposure to nature also is associated with these outcomes. It was hypothesized that meditation alongside stimuli reminiscent of the natural environment would produce enhanced effects. Participants ( N = 97) were randomly assigned to complete a 4-week online meditation program consisting of a guided meditation paired with either nature sounds (“nature group”) or spa-like sounds (“control group”). Mindfulness, connectedness to nature, and pro-environmental behavior were assessed before and after the program. Meditation, in general, produced increases in mindfulness, connectedness to nature, and pro-environmental behavior. Additionally, the nature group had a greater rate of change in connectedness to nature when compared to the control group. The results extend previous cross-sectional research by demonstrating the beneficial effects of meditation on pro-environmental behavior and its theorized mechanisms, which may be informative for future research and interventions.

Beschreibung: William Whyte originally hypothesized that the presence of people in a public space would attract more people. Contemporary planners now refer to “sticky streets” as places where pedestrians are compelled to linger and enjoy vibrant public life. We test the hypothesis that adding users to a public space will attract more people using an experimental design with confederates to add pedestrian movement and staying activity in a residential street for 45 randomly selected hours. We observed staying behavior by gender with and without our intervention. We find that the addition of public users reduced the total number of people staying in our study area, especially among women. We find that women’s right to the city may be constrained by the mere presence of other individuals, even in safe spaces and during daylight hours. Our findings suggest that Whyte’s claim is not universal, but depends on the conditions of a particular site.

Beschreibung: Diffuse nutrient pollution from agriculture has been the concern of policymakers for several decades, and yet it remains a persistent environmental issue. The current approach to mitigating the problem is predominantly via command and control regulation within the Nitrates Directive and the Water Framework Directive. This article will set out how diffuse pollution can be considered a wicked policy problem which acts as an explanation of how it has eluded the current regulatory regime. It will further establish that the traditional planning process overlooked the complexity of the problem. Finally, it will illustrate the ineffectiveness of the current regulatory framework to mitigate the problem. This will be exemplified through the legal framework of Northern Ireland.

Beschreibung: This study analyzes the feasibility of satisfying the demand of three Football Stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, using the wind’s kinetic energy. For all three selected locations (Lusail, Al Rayyan, and Al Wakrah), the wind potentiality is calculated through an environmental parameters study, from which the wind power density is obtained. Furthermore, a commercial wind turbine with proper characteristics is selected, and the same case study for each location is presented, to quantify the capacity that wind energy offers for satisfying the maximum energy demand of each associated stadium. In addition, the environmental benefits and the time required by each wind farm to satisfy the energy demand are computed. The results reveal that the conditions enable the use of wind energy for this purpose, based on a 5.06 m/s, 4.63 m/s, and 5.18 m/s velocity mean for Lusail, Al Rayyan, and Al Wakrah, respectively; from which values of 187.49 W/m2, 150.96 W/m2, and 187.29 W/m2 of wind power density are obtained. Also, the proposed wind farms could produce 69,952.56 MWh/year, 59,550.19 MWh/year, and 75,333.70 MWh/year, respectively. Moreover, the wind farms should produce energy for a period of 5.64 h, 4.41 h, and 5.23 h, to satisfy the maximum demand by a football match in its associated location. Additionally, to avoid the implementation of a storage system, the electricity obtained from the wind is connected to the power grid, decreasing the quota of fossil fuel power plants. In consequence, Qatar will eliminate the emissions of approximately 23.376 tons of CO2 in total per trio of matches held in these stadiums. Finally, a post 2022 FIFA World Cup scenario is analyzed, obtaining a positive outcome from both environmental and economic perspectives, in which an average of 14,675 tons of CO2 and 6.03 Million US$ can be saved annually.

Beschreibung: The mining area is the main place for the development and utilization of Coalbed Methane (CBM), and there are a series of systems for the development and utilization of CBM. However, owing to lack of a clear understanding of demand-side gas consumption rules and a reasonable resource allocation system, a large amount of CBM resources in the mining area are wasted. In order to predict the demand for CBM dynamically, the Seasonal Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model, Additive Holt-Winters (AHW) model and Multiplicative Holt-Winters (MHW) model based on time series are used to predict the monthly demand for CBM in Yangquan Mine Area in 2020, respectively. Then the predicted results are evaluated by using the prediction model parameters combined with the characteristics of actual demand for CBM. Finally, a resource allocation system under different supply and demand conditions is built to reduce the waste of resources. In this paper, it is found that the information of the actual data is not sufficiently extracted in the MHW model while the SARIMA model can reflect the cyclical trend of monthly demand for CBM under ideal conditions. Furthermore, the AHW model can reasonably predict the demand for CBM under the influence of COVID-19, with a mean relative error of 0.099. The supply and demand distribution system built based on the proposed models can solve the problem of seasonal unevenness of CBM demand in mining areas and ensure the economic benefits of mining areas.

Beschreibung: The reservoir architecture analysis of braided rivers, especially falling-silt seam forms, has played a key role in predicting remaining oil distributions. However, no studies have used architecture analyses that document braided river outcrops and researched the tapping of the few remaining oil distributions based on outcrops in the Songliao basin, northeast China. In this paper, the architecture characteristics and remaining oil distribution of braided river reservoirs are studied using a combination of an outcrop, modern deposition and subsurface well data. The new 8–13 m thick Lower Cretaceous Quantou Formation outcrop of the Songliao basin is a braided fluvial succession arranged in one large fining-upward cycle. Eight facies (Gt, St, Sm, Sh, Sp, Sw, Fl and Fm), four architecture elements (CH, DA, LV, and FF), and three orders of bounding surfaces (third-, fourth-, and fifth-order) are recognized. A new distribution pattern of falling-silt seams and a braided river architecture model are presented according to the analysis of the outcrop. In the mid-channel bar, the falling-silt seams thin from the mid-bar to the bar tail following the flow direction. Each falling-silt seam is oriented tangentially to the basal surface of the mid-channel bar, and the upper falling-silt seam extends farther than the lower one. In a Daqing Oilfield exploitation block in the Songliao basin, while channels and bars are the main reservoir units, they have different remaining oil distribution patterns. For bars, water injection wells located at the mid-bar, zonal injection technology, the drilling of horizontal wells, and proper well patterns are proposed. Fourth-order bounding surfaces, single braided channels, stacking patterns, and the lateral blocking of levees and floodplains are the key factors affecting the remaining oil distribution in channels.

Beschreibung: Channel bars are common, striking fluvio-geomorphic depositional features of alluvial rivers. The study of this article has aimed to investigate the formation, migration, and morphodynamic alteration of channel bars (n = 50) in gravel braided alluvial rivers in Darjeeling Himalayan Piedmont zone. Dynamics of micro to meso bar deposition is mainly accomplished by the channel gradient, huge upstream landslide, and variation of discharge. Multi-criteria analysis method has been used to explain the variation of principal component analysis (PCA1, PCA2, and PCA3), both monsoon to post-monsoon. Bridge scouring, empirical aggradation, and degradation values are 0.1 to 1.05 m and [Formula: see text]. Migration, re-generation, and degradation of the micro bars with their optimum morphology show changes during the rainy season. In the upper ([Formula: see text]), middle ([Formula: see text]), and lower ([Formula: see text]) piedmont region, the bar dynamic area are 0.12 to 0.71, 0.12 to 2.83, and 0.10 to 5.43 km2, respectively. In total, 58% to 72% stability of the channel bars is observed in the upper piedmont region. The coefficient of determination ( R²) of channel bar area and width shows positive (0.63) relation.

Beschreibung: Restoring and enhancing riparian vegetation on private and communal lands in Mexico is important for biodiversity conservation given the ecological significance of these areas and the scarcity of public protected areas. To enhance riparian vegetation and wildlife habitats and train local people in restoration techniques, we implemented restoration and outreach efforts on private and communal lands in the Sky Islands region of northwest Mexico. We fenced 475 ha of riparian zones from livestock, erected erosion-control structures, planted trees, and developed management agreements for cool-season grazing with landowners on 10 ranches across 3 sites in 2012-2013, then repaired fences and renegotiated agreements in 2017-2019. To foster evaluation, we used a before-after/control-impact design to measure attributes of vegetation structure and bird communities and compared baselines from 2012 with post-treatment estimates from 2019. As predicted, understory vegetation volume generally increased in treatments relative to controls ( P = .09), especially when one treatment area with the lowest pre-treatment grazing impacts was censored ( P = .01). Although canopy cover also increased, there was little differential change in treatments relative to controls ( P ⩾ .23) due likely to longer time periods needed to realize responses. Densities of most focal bird populations varied across time periods in directions that typically matched observed changes in vegetation structure, but fewer species showed signs of differential positive change linked to treatments relative to controls. Densities of Yellow-breasted Chat, a key understory obligate and important focal species, increased in treatments relative to controls across sites, as did densities of Sinaloa Wren, which also use dense underbrush ( P ⩽ .05). Positive changes by other understory obligates (eg, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow) were more local but sometimes of high magnitude (〉8-fold) also suggesting positive impacts of treatments. Despite mixed results over a limited time period, these patterns suggest restoration efforts drove localized recovery of understory vegetation and associated bird populations, but benefits varied widely with environmental and social factors linked to management. Greater ecological benefits to riparian areas on private and communal lands in this region can be fostered by further incentivizing construction, maintenance, and proper use of restoration infrastructure, through education, and by building relationships based on trust and credibility with landowners.

Beschreibung: Water scarcity has increased in the last century due to the effects of climate change and the over-exploitation of anthropic activities that deteriorate strategic ecosystems in watersheds. This study quantified the water consumption of anthropic activities according to the water footprint (WF) and the water supply available (WSA) using the GR2M hydrological simulation model in the Quenane-Quenanito basin in Colombia. The objective of this study was to analyze the dynamic supply–demand of water and identify potential conflicts associated with the use of water. The results of this study show that the WF of the basin was 17.01 million m3/year, 79.97% of which was the green WF and 20.03% of which was the blue WF, and that the WSA of the basin was 272.1 million m3/year. In addition, potential conflicts over the use of water were identified due to water scarcity in 11 sub-basins during the months of January to March. In conclusion, analyzing the demand and supply of water in basins and taking into account their spatiotemporal distribution allows us to measure the impacts of anthropic activities on water resources, which can prevent potential conflicts associated with the use of water between sectors or the involvement of ecological dynamics.

Beschreibung: Combustion of solid biomass fuel (SBF) releases a high concentration of airborne pollutants, resulting in household air pollution (HAP). HAP is considered as a leading risk factor for the development of various respiratory diseases. The increased exposure to HAP significantly affects the health of the vulnerable population, including the women, elderly, and children who stay indoors for most of the time. Considering this, self-reported respiratory health symptoms were assessed using a standard American Thoracic Society (ATS) questionnaire, whereas lung function capacity of women using SBF, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and mix fuels were assessed using a cross-sectional study design. Lung function capacity was examined with help of spirometry. Results suggest that compared with LPG users, SBF and mix fuel users had a relatively high prevalence of phlegm (25.7%), cough (54%), and eye irritation (74.3%). Use of SBF was found to be associated significantly with lower forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV1) values ( P 

Beschreibung: Investment in conservation and ecological restoration depends on various socioeconomic factors and the social license for these activities. Our study demonstrates a method for targeting management of ecosystem services based on social values, identified by respondents through a collection of social survey data. We applied the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) geographic information systems (GIS)-based tool in the Sonoita Creek watershed, Arizona, to map social values across the watershed. The survey focused on how respondents engage with the landscape, including through their ranking of 12 social values (eg, recreational, economic, or aesthetic value) and their placement of points on a map to identify their associations with the landscape. Additional information was elicited regarding how respondents engaged with water and various land uses, as well as their familiarity with restoration terminology. Results show how respondents perceive benefits from the natural environment. Specifically, maps of social values on the landscape show high social value along streamlines. Life-sustaining services, biological diversity, and aesthetics were the respondents’ highest rated social values. Land surrounding National Forest and private lands had lower values than conservation-based and state-owned areas, which we associate with landscape features. Results can inform watershed management by allowing managers to consider social values when prioritizing restoration or conservation investments.

Beschreibung: This study deals with the effects of flooding on alluvial soils and riparian forests in the basins and sub-basins of southern Québec (Canada). These riparian environments are sensitive to hydroclimatic variations, which may increase with current climate change, which is why it is important to analyse them. The study areas were divided by flood frequency based on government maps that show flood recurrence intervals of 0 to 20 years and 20 to 100 years. Woodlands located outside of the floodplains were also analysed for comparison to measure and better determine the effect of floods on soils and forest stands. Soil depletion is found in the frequent-flood zones (FFZ), which results in lower total organic carbon (mean values of 1.9%-3.7% in FFZ vs 3.2%-5.9% in no-flood zones [NFZ]) and total nitrogen (mean values of 0.1%-0.2% in FFZ vs 0.2%-0.3% NFZ). Field observations and measurements show that the aboveground biomass (plant litter) is reduced or absent from the active flood zones. The structure and composition of tree stands are relatively comparable from one zone to another, but a slightly lower rate of small (5-10 cm dbh [diameter at breast height]) and intermediate (10-15 cm dbh) trees can be noted in FFZ, and tree diversity (Shannon index) and species richness are also slightly lower. The mechanical action of water in trees during floods and the burial of seedlings through the accumulation of fine alluvial deposits could negatively impact forest regeneration in active floodplains.

Beschreibung: The slaughtering of animals and processing of meats for human consumption generates enormous wastes which are not properly managed in most developing nations including Nigeria. Majority of people in Akwa Ibom state in southern Nigeria depend on meat as their major source of protein, and abattoir wastes are applied in farms as organic manure by some farmers. This study examined the role of abattoir-related waste products in the physicochemical properties, total metal, and metal speciation of the soil. The data obtained were also subjected to some treatments using some environmental models to establish the degree of contamination by the parameters determined, studied locations, and the associated human health problems. Samples were collected from 5 designated abattoirs in Akwa Ibom state. Thirty composite samples were used for the research. Results obtained showed higher levels of pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity in the abattoir waste–impacted soils than in the control plot. Levels of pseudo total heavy metals were also higher in the studied soils than in the control plot. The mean values of the metals are below 400, 85, 140, 36, 100, and 35 mg/kg of recommended limits for Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni, respectively by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) in Nigerian soil. The results also revealed that Fe and Cr existed mainly in residual fraction. However, Zn, Cu, and Ni existed principally in the form bound to organic matter/sulfide. In addition, we detected that Pb existed mainly in the reducible fraction. Disparities were also observed in the speciation results of the metals between the studied soils and the control plot. Principal component analysis (PCA) indentified that both the geogenic and anthropogenic factors contributed to the accumulation of metals determined in the studied soils. Variable relationships were also observed for the heavy metals determined in the studied soils. Fe showed a high-risk potential, and children were more vulnerable due to its toxicity. We conclude this study was able to expose the consequences of indiscriminate dumping of abattoir wastes on the quality of soil and the associated human health problems.

Beschreibung: Cavitation is considered a high energy demanding process for water treatment. For this study, we used a simple experimental setup to generate cavitation at a low pressure (low energy) and test it for hydroxyl radical production using a well-known chemical probe as a hydroxyl radical scavenger. The conditions for generating the cavitation process (eg, pressure, flow velocity, temperature, and other significant variables) were used to degrade model contaminants, an azo dye and an antibiotic. The amount of hydroxyl radicals generated by the system was estimated using N,N-dimethyl-p-nitrosoaniline (pNDA) as hydroxyl radical scavenger. The capability of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) to degrade contaminants was assessed using Congo red (CR) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) as model contaminants. Different chemical models were analyzed using UV-visible spectrophotometry (for pNDA and CR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (for SMX) after HC treatment under different process conditions (ie, pressure of 13.7 and 10.3 kPa, and flow rates of 0.14 to 3.6 × 10−4 m3/s). No pNDA bleaching was observed for any of the reaction conditions tested after 60 minutes of treatment, which suggests that there was no hydroxyl radical generation during the process. However, 50% degradation of CR and 25% degradation of SMX were observed under the same process conditions, comparable with previously reported results. These results suggest that the process is most likely thermally based rather than radically based, and therefore, it can degrade organic pollutants even if no hydroxyl radicals are produced. Hydrodynamic cavitation, either alone or coupled with other advanced water technologies, has been identified as a promising technology for removing organic contaminants entering the water cycle; however, more research is still needed to determine the specific mechanisms involved in the process and the optimal operation conditions for the system.

Beschreibung: Pollution caused by fungal contamination on building materials contributes to poor indoor air quality. Fungi are known to cause several health-related problems, such as acute toxicity, hypersensitivity, invasive mycoses, and respiratory problems. Thus, this study aimed to determine the load and diversity of airborne culturable fungi in the dormitory rooms. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2019 at the University of Gondar students’ dormitory rooms. Statistical analyses were carried out using Stata/SE 14.0. Spearman ranks correlation was used to assess the correlation of fungal load with indoor physical parameters. The median fungal loads were 250 CFU/m3 and 157 CFU/m3 in the morning and afternoon, respectively. Most commonly identified fungal genera/species were Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Fusarium, Candida, Trichophyton, Piedraia, Microsporum, Geotrichum, Saccharomyces, Rhodotorula, Rhizopus, Exophiala, Arthroderma, Cladosporium, Gliocladium, and Botrytis. Formaldehyde ( r = −0.2859, P = .0031), temperature ( r = −0.2153, P = .0274), and CO2 ( r = −0.3785, P = .0001) were negatively correlated with airborne indoor fungal load in the morning and CO2 ( r = 0.3183, P = .0009) and temperature ( r = 0.2046, P = .0363) positively correlated with airborne indoor fungal load in the afternoon. As a conclusion, the airborne fungal load in the dormitory room was intermediate according to the European standard of nonindustrial premises. Substantial action should be taken to reduce the fungal contamination of indoor environments.

Beschreibung: In this work, we have reported a low-cost and environmentally friendly Fe3O4-modified activated kaolin (AK-Fe3O4) composite for efficient Fenton-like degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and optimization of the degradation variables. The AK-Fe3O4 composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). X-ray diffraction confirms the syntheses of pure phases of Fe3O4 and AK-Fe3O4. The SEM image of the AK-Fe3O4 composite reveals the formation of a highly porous surface. The room temperature VSM analysis describes the superparamagnetic nature of AK-Fe3O4 composites with 25 emu/g magnetization values. Response surface methodology coupled with Box-Behnken design was used to optimize the 4-NP degradation (%) variables such as contact time (10-90 minutes), 4-NP concentration (10-30 mg/L), and pH (3-8). The high regression value ( R² = 0.9964 and adjusted R² = 0.9917) and analysis of variance ( P 

Beschreibung: Heavy metals are among the most critical environmental pollutants close to industrial areas. One example is the cultivated fields in the south of Alborz industrial city in Iran, which is irrigated by treated industrial wastewater. It is contaminated by heavy metals and irrigation with wastewater treatment plants effluent, which made it salty. In this study, the application of 2 amendments, biosolids and cow manure, in improving the heavy metal accumulation in the ornamental sunflower from these types of soils was investigated. A greenhouse experiment using a completely randomized design with 4 replications and applying cow manure and biosolids in 3 weight ratios (6%, 12%, 25%) was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of sunflower in removing Pb, Ni, and Zn from the soil. Adding the amendments increased the rate of germination by 50% to 176%. Although the simultaneous utilization of cow manure in high ratios with biosolids and cow manure with low biosolids decreased the sunflower survival, nonetheless, the simultaneous addition of these organic amendments could increase the survival rate in other treatments. Moreover, the plants’ biomass was increased by adding modifiers such as cow manure and biosolids. The results showed that in treatments with 2 modifiers, the remediation factor of Pb, Zn, and Ni has increased 83.7 to 95.5, 78.4 to 87.5, and 74.9 to 94.9, respectively, in comparison to the control one. Therefore, we conclude that adding biosolids and cow manure simultaneously could improve the ornamental sunflower ability to accumulate heavy metals.

Beschreibung: Soil and water loss in agricultural fields is a global problem. Although studies about soil erosion in croplands and vineyards exist, the direct comparison between these land uses is missing, especially under continental climates in Europe. Therefore, it is needed to find control measures to the impacts of these land-use management strategies on soil properties and hydrological response. The objective of this work is to estimate and compare the impacts of croplands and vineyards under conventional management croplands and vineyards on soil properties (water holding capacity—WHC; bulk density—BD; soil water content—SWC; water stable aggregates—WSA; mean weight diameter—MWD; soil organic matter—SOM; available phosphorus—AP; total nitrogen—TN) and hydrological response (runoff—Run; sediment content—SC; sediment loss—SL; carbon loss—C loss; phosphorus loss—P loss; nitrogen loss—N loss) in Eastern Croatia. To achieve these goals, a study was set up using rainfall simulation tests at 58 mm h−1 over 30 minutes on 2 locations (Zmajevac: 45°48′N; 18°46′E; Erdut: 45°30′N; 19°01′E). In total, 32 rainfall simulations were carried out, 8 repetitions in vineyards and 8 in cropland plots of 0.876 m2, per location. Bulk density was significantly higher in cropland plots compared with the vineyard. Soil water content was significantly higher in Zmajevac cropland compared with Erdut plots. Also, SWC was significantly lower in Zmajevac vineyard than in the cropland located in the same area. Water stable aggregates and MWD were significantly higher in vineyard plots than in the cropland. Also, SOM and TN were significantly lower in Zmajevac cropland compared with the vineyard located in the same area. Available phosphorus was significantly high in Zmajevac plots than in Erdut. The rainfall simulations showed that Run was significantly higher in Erdut vineyard (8.2 L m−2) compared with Zmajevac (3.8 L m−2). Also, the Run in Erdut Cropland was significantly lower than in the vineyard. Sediment content did not show significant differences among locations. In Erdut, vineyard plots had a significantly lower SL (28.0 g m−2) than the cropland ones (39.1 g m−2). C loss was significantly higher in Zmajevac cropland than in Erdut. Also, C loss was significantly lower in Zmajevac vineyard compared with the cropland. We did not observe significant differences in P loss, and N loss also did not show significant differences. The principal component analysis showed that SOM was associated with WSA, AP, and TN. These variables were negatively related to slope, SWC, and C loss (factor 1). Also, MWD was inversely related to SL, P, and N loss (factor 2). Bulk density and SC were negatively related to Run. Overall, we conclude that noninvertive tillage practices in vineyards preserve soil structure, enhance soil quality, and reduce the extent of soil degradation.

Beschreibung: The work reported in this article raises some serious concern about the drinking water quality and its standards. Mere presence or absence of an indicator organism does not assure that the water is safe for drinking purposes. Instead of infecting directly, many pathogens pass through a host and retrieve their virulent properties by causing diseases/infections in humans. Pathogenic bacteria which exist in aquatic habitats show a unique and peculiar pattern of appearing or reappearing in different microenvironments. Several factors that prevail in the water system make a safe house for the growth, proliferation, and colonization of microorganisms. In our case, 6 different microenvironments inside the premises of an office building were taken as the sampling sites to study the effect of seasonal variations (summer, monsoon, and post-monsoon/winter) on bacterial diversity and inhabitants. Results suggested that the presence of total and thermotolerant coliforms were highest in the monsoon followed by summer and post-monsoon/winter seasons. To know the bacterial diversity and pattern of appearance/reappearance prevailing in the water system, bacterial strains were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing which showed Pseudomonas putida to be the predominant identified bacterial strain occurring about 38% to 77% in all 3 seasons. This was followed by Lelliottia nimipressuralis (6%-21%), Escherichia coli (4%-18%), Salmonella typhimurium and Aeromonas dhakensis (4%-10% each), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (5%-6%). Despite the absence of other opportunistic bacteria, P putida was reported to be present as a single organism in water coolers and dispensers. This might be due to the persistent nature of P putida in low-nutrient environments and capable of colonizing by forming a rigid biofilm inside the water cooler/dispenser which makes a conducive environment for it.

Beschreibung: Microplastics are a global ubiquitous problem, which is becoming a major issue of concern at scientific and political levels around the world. This study presents physical and chemical characterizations of microplastic debris and a comparison between the spatial distribution and anthropogenic activities in 4 Panamanian beaches located in both sides of the Isthmus. Two of them (Juan Diaz and San Carlos beaches) are located toward the Pacific Ocean, Panamá Province, whereas the others (Palenque and Punta Galeta beaches) are located at the Caribbean Sea, Colón Province. They were chosen to show different landscape management and environmental impacts: touristic and protected areas; coastal areas that receive pollutants and marine litter from urban rivers or are used for local fishing activities. Plastic debris samples were collected and visually analyzed following the protocol proposed by the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP). The physical characterization of the samples consisted in the determination of variables associated with the number of plastic particles, shape, color, and size. The characterization of the polymers was performed by the attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique. A high concentration of microplastics (353 items/m2) were found at the studied sites at the Caribbean coast, whereas a lesser concentration with a greater diversity of shapes and polymer categories were found at the Pacific Coast (187 items/m2). The results indicate that, in addition to anthropogenic activities, the proximity to Panama Canal installations, as well as seasonality, natural phenomena, winds, and ocean currents may be influencing the increase in microplastic contents and the types of polymers observed.

Beschreibung: Coastal areas are attractive for human settlements because they allow easy access to benefits like food, security, and fishing. These aquatic ecosystems are supported by photosynthetic organisms that constitute the base of the food web. The term “Harmful Algal Bloom” (HAB) refers to the excessive proliferation of some taxa of these microorganisms reaching harmful levels to humans and other organisms. Biotoxins produced by these HABs could be transferred to the food chain and are the best-documented impact that HABs have on humans. The location and abundance of the HAB species producing the toxin is a good indicator of a possible human health hazard. The aim of this study was to monitor potentially harmful benthic/epibenthic microalgae in Punta Galeta, Panama over a 15-month period. The 3 main microalgae found were 2 dinoflagellates from the genera Prorocentrum and Ostreopsis and 1 diatom from the genus Coscinodiscus. Sampling made with both natural and artificial substrates yielded similar overall abundance patterns; however, for the macroalgae samples, there appeared to be significant host preferences for Ostreopsis and Coscinodiscus. Physicochemical measures taken at the site were found to fall within previously reported growth parameters for the microalgae found in the study.

Beschreibung: Wind resource assessments are carried out for two sites in Tuvalu: Funafuti and Nukufetau. The wind speeds at 34 and 20 m above ground level were recorded for approximately 12 months and analyzed. The averages of each site are computed as the overall, daily, monthly, annual, and seasonal averages. The overall average wind speeds for Funafuti and Nukufetau at 34 m above ground level were estimated to be 6.19 and 5.36 m/s, respectively. The turbulence intensities at the two sites were also analyzed. The turbulence intensity is also computed for windy and low-wind days. Wind shear analysis was carried out and correlated with temperature variation. Ten different methods: median and quartiles method, the empirical method of Lysen, the empirical method of Justus, the moments method, the least squares method, the maximum likelihood method, the modified maximum likelihood method, the energy pattern factor method, method of multi-objective moments, and the wind atlas analysis and application program method were used to find the Weibull parameters. From these methods, the best method is used to determine the wind power density for the site. The wind power density for Funafuti is 228.18 W/m2 and for Nukufetau is 145.1 W/m2. The site maps were digitized and with the WAsP software, five potential locations were selected for each site from the wind resource map. The annual energy production for the sites was computed using wind atlas analysis and application program to be 2921.34 and 1848.49 MWh. The payback periods of installing the turbines for each site are calculated by performing an economic analysis, which showed payback periods of between 3.13 and 4.21 years for Funafuti and between 4.83 to 6.72 years for Nukufetau.

Beschreibung: Daily, a big extent of colored, partially treated textile effluents drained into the sanitation systems causing serious environmental concerns. Therefore, the decolorization treatment process of wastewater is crucial to improve effluent quality. In the present study, 3 different sorbent materials, nano zerovalent iron (nZVI), activated carbon (AC), and green-synthesized nano zerovalent iron (GT-nZVI), have been prepared for raw textile wastewater decolourization. The prepared nanomaterials were characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. In addition, the effect of different operating parameters such as pH, contact time, and stirring rate on the color removal efficiency was extensively studied to identify the optimum removal conditions. The reaction temperature, adsorbent dose, and initial color concentration were fixed during the experiments at room temperature, 0.7 g/L, and 350 and 50 mg/L Pt/Co color unit, respectively. Moreover, adsorption and reaction kinetics were analyzed using different isotherms and models. For simulating the adsorption process, artificial neural network (ANN) data were compatible with the result of regression analysis derived from response surface methodology (RSM) optimization. Our results showed the higher ability of nZVI, AC, and GT-nZVI in textile wastewater color removal. At pH 5, contact time 50 minutes, and stirring rate 150 rpm, nZVI showed good color removal efficiency of about 71% and 99% for initial color concentrations of 350 and 50 mg/L Pt/Co color unit, respectively. While slightly higher color removal ability of about 72% and 100% was achieved by using AC at pH 8, contact time 70 minutes, and stirring rate 250 rpm. Finally, the largest ability of color removal about 85% and 100% was recorded for GT-nZVI at pH 7, contact time 40 minutes, and stirring rate 150 rpm. This work shows the enhanced color removal ability of GT-nZVI as a potential textile wastewater decolourization material, opening the way for many industrial and environmental applications.

Beschreibung: Zero-valent metals proved high reactivity to adsorb and degrade various contaminants removal. The chemically prepared nZVAl was characterized using UV-Vis spectrum, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). This investigation explores the adsorption effect of nZVAl powder toward soluble organic compounds exemplified by chemical oxygen demand (COD) standard solution. The effect of different operating parameters was studied to identify the best removal conditions. All variable and covariable data were introduced to build statistical models. The effect of the operating parameter was studied at different pH (3-10), nZVAl dosages (0.1-0.8 g), at different times (5-120 minutes), stirring rate (50-400 RPM), and initial COD concentration (100-800 mg/L). The obtained results displayed that nZVAl is effective in the removal of standard COD solutions, where the removal percentages were 56% and 96% for 800 ± 18.0 and 100 ± 11.8 mg/L COD, respectively, at 10 minutes after using nZVAl dry dosage 0.6 g/L, pH 8, and rate 100 rpm. Also, the effect of nZVAl on other wastewater contaminants removal was studied and compared with Egyptian law for draining wastewater into nonfresh water (drainage-lakes-ponds) No. 48 of 1982 limits. The results of adsorption isotherm and kinetic model of COD fitted well to Freundlich isotherm and pseudo second order, respectively. Nonlinear artificial intelligence neural network (ANN) importance data agree with linear response surface methodologies (RSM) in simulating the adsorption of COD onto nZVAl indicating that the most significant coverable is adsorbent dose. Finally, this study appropriates using nZVAl in highly contaminated wastewater rather than other chemical and biological processes.

Beschreibung: The United Kingdom has a problem in the disposal of municipal green waste (MGW). This is unsuitable for landfill, but when properly composted may be beneficial to tree growth. A formal controlled trial of the 11-year growth (height, diameter at breast height [DBH]) and survival of 3 tree species was evaluated on degraded former opencast coal land on the margins of UNESCO’s Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage site in South East Wales. Forest reclamation is considered a viable cost-effective approach to reclamation but success may be compromised by infertile and seriously compacted substrates, the depleted bio-geoecological system, and a lack of funding. In this trial, trees were (or were not) supplied, on planting, with 0.75 kg per stem of composted MGW – here a mixture of 40% domestic food waste and 60% garden waste. Results show that the application of MGW made no significant difference to either tree height or DBH. Survival rates were highest for Common Alder ( Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) followed by Silver Birch ( Betula pendula, Roth) and European Larch ( Larix decidua Mill.). However, Silver Birch and Larch treated with MGW compost had significantly greater survival rates, whereas Alder had significantly lower survival rates, compared with trees planted without MGW treatment.