Detection of microplastics in soil samples from the area of traffic route

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jagoda Worek ◽  
Anna Białas ◽  
Katarzyna Styszko
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The City ◽  
Soil Influence ◽  
Busy Road

<p>At the end of the 1940s, mass production of plastics began. Since then, due to the very wide range of applications, a steady increase in their production has been observed. Anthropogenic activities have a significant impact on the natural environment. In this case, despite the knowledge of the problem, as early as the early 1970s, the harmful consequences continued to increase, and even if stopped immediately, their effects would last for centuries. In 2018, global production of plastics reached almost 360 million tonnes. The diverse use of plastics and low production costs mean that there are no other environmentally friendly alternatives that could replace them on a large scale. Therefore, it can be assumed that their production will continue to grow dynamically. The main hazard posed by the production of plastics is microplastic. These are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm. Research on microplastics in the environment is based mainly on diagnosing the problem in sea waters. Its concentration in soils is underestimated. The microparticles of plastics contained in the soil influence not only its structure or the ability to retain water, but also the organisms living in it. In the experiment, soil samples from the vicinity of a busy road in the city of Krakow, Poland, were examined. First, the samples were separated by density, and then the organic material was digested. The separated microplastics were analyzed both in terms of quantity and quality. Tests were carried out under the FTIR microscope, using the sensitive DRIFT method, and in the case of larger fragments, using ATR-FTIR. The results indicated the presence of a large fraction of microplastics, most often from tire abrasion.</p>

TRENDS IN THE DESIGN AND BUILDING OF LVIV IN THE XIX-EARLY XX CENTURY

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-93
Author(s):  
Silnyk O ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Qualitative State ◽  
Practical Factors ◽  
Xix Century ◽  
Historical Past ◽  
The City

The central part of Lviv was formed over several centuries and in several stages. Favourable demographic, economic and political prerequisites in the XIX-XX centuries positively influenced the quantitative and qualitative state of urban homes. Demolition of defensive walls, the formation of a new citywide centre, measures to improve the central part of the city, regulate the street network, and increase the population are the main factors that underlie the planning and development of the city. The city was actively built up. Most of the houses were profitable. These are buildings that brought profit to their owners through rented premises and commercial parterre floors. The modern architecture of Lviv is developing under the influence of tourist infrastructure and the ordinary household needs of Lviv residents. The urban space of the central part of modern Lviv needs to be regularly updated to perform functions that are dictated by time. It is also important to preserve the existing historical centre that attracts tourists, represents the historical value and pride of the country. Professional implementation of projects requires a detailed study and analysis of the existing architecture. Since the second half of the XIX century, the development of houses parallel to the main roads of the city became popular. Dense buildings spread in concentric circles from the city centre and gradually replaced low-rise buildings in the peripheral part of the city. During this period, housing construction is carried out on a large scale. These are mostly two- or three-story houses, often with a courtyard. The size and configuration of the houses were dictated by technical capabilities, existing buildings and streets. The sites often had a complex shape, the development was carried out already in the conditions of reconstruction, which significantly complicated the solution of new projects. The houses had rectangular forms of plans, the dimensions of which averaged 400 m2 until the end of the XIX century. During the twentieth century, slightly larger plots – 570 m2 – were already allocated for construction. The built-up area on the plots ranged from 30 to 87 per cent. The density of buildings was dictated by both economic and practical factors that are relevant even today. The houses were distinguished by interesting planning solutions with a thorough set of architectural details both in the exterior and in the interior. The range of rooms includes dining rooms, offices, boudoirs, bathrooms, corridors and storerooms. During the nineteenth century, in the decisions of facades dominated Italian neo-Renaissance and neo-Baroque; in the twentieth century – secession. The style solution was based on the choice of details that were prototypes of classical architectural images. The architecture of Lviv of the XIX-XX centuries represents a wide range of artistic interpretations. The study of houses built during this period reveals both their development and the transformation of spatial planning, compositional and stylistic solutions. The necessary formative periods of historicism opened up new angles for the development of subsequent stylistic trends in the following years. The experience of architects, which is connected with the historical past of Lviv, testifies to the significant importance and place of the architecture of the XIX-XX centuries for the further development and development of the city.

Application of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) for Remediation of Emerging Pollutants - A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-26
Author(s):  
Jia Hui Chung ◽  
Nur Hasyimah ◽  
Norelyza Hussein
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
The Body ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Wide Range

Nanotechnology is currently an upward trend in diverse fields, and therefore, its application will be reviewed in this paper. One of the nanotechnologies which can be used in environmental remediation is carbon nanotube (CNT). Its excellent mechanical and chemical properties allow it to have better achievement in remediating a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants. CNT can be categorized into two types: single-walled carbon nanotube and multi-walled carbon nanotube. Due to urbanization, various types of pollutants have been released into the environment in great amounts. For instance, estrogen is the hormone generated and released from animals and humans. However, the overconcentration of estrogen affects the physiology of biological life. Besides, pesticides are frequently used by farmers to increase the fertility of the land for agricultural purposes, while heavy metals are commonly found during anthropogenic activities. Long-term absorption of heavy metals into the body tissues will accumulate toxic effects, leading to body system dysfunction. Hence, CNT technologies, including adsorption, membrane filtration, disinfection, hybrid catalysis, and sensing and monitoring, can be applied to remediate these pollutants. However, the application of nanotechnology and CNT faces several challenges, such as production costs, toxicity, ecological risks, and public acceptance. Application of CNT also has pros and cons, such that the lightweight of the CNT allows them to replace metallic wires, but dealing with nano-sized components makes it challenging.

scholarly journals Vermicomposting of aquatic weeds: A quick review

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 133-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishtiyaq Ahmed Najar
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Growth Media ◽  
Aquatic Weed ◽  
Aquatic Weeds ◽  
Earthworm Species ◽  
Weed Growth ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Rich Material

Aquatic plants play an important role in ecosystem functioning and services but they can also be deleterious if present in excess. The different anthropogenic activities result in accumulation of nutrients in aquatic ecosystems leads to eutrophication with massive weed growth and associated diverse adverse effects. Effective control/management of weeds in different aquatic systems is not only difficult but of short duration. The commonly used methods to manage/control the aquatic weeds are biological, chemical and mechanical, in addition to habitat manipulation. However, these methods can be highly disruptive causing adverse environmental effects and are relatively inefficient. On the other hand different species of earthworms can feed on wide range of weeds and convert them into stable product called vermicompost, rich in plant nutrients. Among different aquatic weeds the most extensively vermicomposted weed is water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms), using different earthworm species. Among different earthworm species used for vermicomposting of aquatic weeds, Eisenia fetida (Savigny) is the most commonly used species. Vermicomposting is an efficient ecobiotechnological process that converts the aquatic weeds into nutrient rich material that can acts as suitable plant growth media for sustainable agroecosystems. Further large scale utilization of aquatic weed based vermicompost in horticulture can solve their management and disposal issues along with restoration of organic matter and nutrient depletion at low input basis.

scholarly journals Metal Additive Manufacturing: Cost Competitive Beyond Low Volumes

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rianne E. Laureijs ◽  
Jaime Bonnín Roca ◽  
Sneha Prabha Narra ◽  
Colt Montgomery ◽  
Jack L. Beuth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Commercial Application ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Commercial Aviation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Systemic Factors

Additive manufacturing (AM) is increasingly of interest for commercial and military applications due to its potential to create novel geometries with increased performance. For additive manufacturing to find commercial application, it must be cost competitive against traditional processes such as forging. Forecasting the production costs of future products prior to large-scale investment is challenging due to the limits of traditional cost accounting's ability to handle both the systemic process implications of new technologies and the cognitive biases in humans' additive and systemic estimates. Leveraging a method uniquely suited to these challenges, we quantify the production and use economics of an additively manufactured versus a traditionally forged GE engine bracket of equivalent performance for commercial aviation. Our results show that, despite the simplicity of the engine bracket, when taking into account the part redesign for AM and the associated lifetime fuel savings of the additively designed bracket, the additively manufactured part and design is cheaper than the forged one for a wide range of scenarios, including at higher volumes of 2000–12,000 brackets per year. Opportunities to further reduce costs include accessing lower material prices without compromising quality, producing vertical builds with equivalent performance to horizontal builds, and increasing process control so as to enable reduced testing. Given the conservative nature of our assumptions as well as our choice of part, these results suggest that there may be broader economic viability for additively manufactured parts, especially when systemic factors and use costs are incorporated.

Reconstructing Sea Level Pressure Variability via a Feature Tracking Approach

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 487-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Kravtsov ◽  
I. Rudeva ◽  
Sergey K. Gulev
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Storm Track ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Time Variability ◽  
Reconstruction Technique ◽  
Sea Level Pressure ◽  
Level Pressure ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract The aim of this paper is to quantify the contribution of synoptic transients to the full spectrum of space–time variability of sea level pressure (SLP) in middle latitudes. In previous work by the authors it was shown that tracking cyclones and anticyclones in an idealized atmospheric model allows one to reconstruct a surprisingly large fraction of the model’s variability, including not only synoptic components, but also its large-scale low-frequency component. Motivated by this result, the authors performed tracking of cyclones and anticyclones and estimated cyclone and anticyclone size and geometry characteristics in the observed SLP field using the 1948–2008 NCEP–NCAR reanalysis dataset. The reconstructed synoptic field was then produced via superimposing radially symmetrized eddies moving along their actual observed trajectories. It was found that, similar to earlier results for an idealized model, the synoptic reconstruction so obtained accounts for a major fraction of the full observed SLP variability across a wide range of time scales, from synoptic to those associated with the low-frequency variability (LFV). The synoptic reconstruction technique developed in this study helps elucidate connections between the synoptic eddies and LFV defined via more traditional spatiotemporal filtering. In particular, we found that the dominant variations in the position of the zonal-mean midlatitude jet are synonymous with random ultralow-frequency redistributions of cyclone and anticyclone trajectories and, hence, is inseparable of that in the storm-track statistics.

scholarly journals Assessment of Heavy Metal and Selenium Levels in Leachates and Soils of Central Bank of Nigeria Dumpsite Makurdi

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Aka J. Egwumah ◽  
Ishaq S. Eneji ◽  
Raymond A. Wuana
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Central Bank ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Hydride Generation ◽  
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Permissible Limits ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Depths

Leachates from dumpsite basically contain a wide range of heavy metals and selenium. However, heavy metals have negative public health and environmental impacts once the leachates are allowed to infiltrate into groundwater. This is one of the oldest, growing problems threatening the surrounding globally. Therefore, it is imperative to quantify the information on the environmental impact of heavy metal and selenium levels, and suggesting various techniques that could be used to clean-up their concentrations from the environment to the minimum to ameliorate the plight of the people. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metal and selenium levels in leachate of Central Bank of Nigeria dumpsite along University of Agriculture Road-Makurdi and also to investigate their levels in soil around the dumpsite platform. The concentrations of some heavy metals such as Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg) and non metal Selenium (Se) levels in leachate from Central Bank of Nigeria Dumpsite platform and surrounding soil along University of Agriculture road, Makurdi, were determined using Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Flame AAS) for Cr, Pb and Cd while cold vapour and hydride generation were used for Hg and Se respectively. The soil samples were collected at different depths (cm) 0 – 20, 20 – 40, 40 – 60 and 60 – 80. The levels of all heavy metals and non metal selenium in this study area were found to be higher than those of the control samples. The total mean concentration of the soil samples analysed for each metal and selenium levels at different depths range from Cr (74.7 – 2.6 mg/kg), Cd (7.41 – 0.6 mg/kg), Hg (4.45 – 1.4 mg/kg), Se (2.04 – 1.2 mg/kg) and Pb (8.53 – 1.7 mg/kg). The concentrations in leachates were Cr (0.079 mg/L), Cd (0.010 mg/L), but Pb, Hg and Se were not detected. The concentrations of Cr and Cd determined in leachate were below the WHO standard limits. Similarly, the concentrations of Pb, Hg and Se in soil analyzed in this study were within the permissible limits. However, the concentration of Cr and Cd were found to be higher than the permissible limits due to the increasing anthropogenic activities in the area. Awareness of the level of soil and leachate pollution around the dumpsite needs to be created urgently especially among people living in the environment. Proper and effective waste management plan should be developed and implemented.

scholarly journals Enterovirus D68: molecular biological characteristics, features of infection

MediAl ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 40-54
Author(s):  
V. V. Zverev ◽  
N. A. Novikova
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
The United States ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Acid Sensitivity ◽  
Human Pathology ◽  
Wide Range

Human enteroviruses (genus Enterovirus, family Picornaviridae) are infectious agents characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations. EV-D68, associated with respiratory and neurological diseases, plays a significant role in human pathology. The virus was discovered in 1962 and has long been detected only sporadically, but since the late 2000s there has been a steady increase in cases of detection of the virus in different countries of the world. A large-scale outbreak of EV-D68 infection occurred in the United States in 2014. The virus is characterized by unique biological properties, combining the characteristics of enteroviruses and rhinoviruses, has a significant genetic diversity and is currently represented by strains of four main phylogenetic lines. Due to the acid sensitivity, the main place of virus replication are epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. EV-D68 causes mainly pathology of the upper and lower respiratory tract of varying severity, but there are numerous data on the connection of the virus with the occurrence of acute flaccid paralysis and exacerbations of asthma. The risk groups for the disease EV-D68 infection are different age groups of the population, mainly young children. The analytical review provides information on the taxonomic position and classification history, the structural structure of the virion and genome, and the genetic diversity of the virus. Much of the material is devoted to clinical and epidemiological aspects of infection. The issues of the current state of specific prevention and therapy of EV-D68 infection are highlighted. Information on approaches and methods of virus identification is given.

Electron microscopy study of reactively sputter-deposited Ti/N films on silicon

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1362-1363
Author(s):  
V. C. Kannan ◽  
A. K. Singh ◽  
R. B. Irwin ◽  
S. Chittipeddi ◽  
F. D. Nkansah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Hexagonal Phase ◽  
Microscopy Study ◽  
Electron Microscopy Study ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Tin Films ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fcc Phase ◽  
Circuits Vlsi

Titanium nitride (TiN) films have historically been used as diffusion barrier between silicon and aluminum, as an adhesion layer for tungsten deposition and as an interconnect material etc. Recently, the role of TiN films as contact barriers in very large scale silicon integrated circuits (VLSI) has been extensively studied. TiN films have resistivities on the order of 20μ Ω-cm which is much lower than that of titanium (nearly 66μ Ω-cm). Deposited TiN films show resistivities which vary from 20 to 100μ Ω-cm depending upon the type of deposition and process conditions. TiNx is known to have a NaCl type crystal structure for a wide range of compositions. Change in color from metallic luster to gold reflects the stabilization of the TiNx (FCC) phase over the close packed Ti(N) hexagonal phase. It was found that TiN (1:1) ideal composition with the FCC (NaCl-type) structure gives the best electrical property.

Death in the City

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn A. Sloan
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
The United States ◽  
Violent Death ◽  
Special Relationship ◽  
Intimate Friend ◽  
Counter Narrative ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
European Heritage ◽  
The City ◽  
The Temple

Popular culture has long conflated Mexico with the macabre. Some persuasive intellectuals argue that Mexicans have a special relationship with death, formed in the crucible of their hybrid Aztec-European heritage. Death is their intimate friend; death is mocked and accepted with irony and fatalistic abandon. The commonplace nature of death desensitizes Mexicans to suffering. Death, simply put, defines Mexico. There must have been historical actors who looked away from human misery, but to essentialize a diverse group of people as possessing a unique death cult delights those who want to see the exotic in Mexico or distinguish that society from its peers. Examining tragic and untimely death—namely self-annihilation—reveals a counter narrative. What could be more chilling than suicide, especially the violent death of the young? What desperation or madness pushed the victim to raise the gun to the temple or slip the noose around the neck? A close examination of a wide range of twentieth-century historical documents proves that Mexicans did not accept death with a cavalier chuckle nor develop a unique death cult, for that matter. Quite the reverse, Mexicans behaved just as their contemporaries did in Austria, France, England, and the United States. They devoted scientific inquiry to the malady and mourned the loss of each life to suicide.

Museum Preserves in the Sphere of “Cultural Tourism”: Through the Example of the Cultural Preserves of Tatarstan

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-198
Author(s):  
Lyudmila S. Timofeeva ◽  
Albina R. Akhmetova ◽  
Liliya R. Galimzyanova ◽  
Roman R. Nizaev ◽  
Svetlana E. Nikitina
Keyword(s):  
19Th Century ◽  
Art Museum ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Business Elite ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Tourist Center ◽  
Regional Authorities ◽  
The 19Th Century ◽  
The City

Abstract The article studies the existence experience of historical cities as centers of tourism development as in the case of Elabuga. The city of Elabuga is among the historical cities of Russia. The major role in the development of the city as a tourist center is played by the Elabuga State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve. The object of the research in the article is Elabuga as a medium-size historical city. The subject of the research is the activity of the museum-reserve which contributes to the preservation and development of the historical look of Elabuga and increases its attractiveness to tourists. The tourism attractiveness of Elabuga is obtained primarily through the presence of the perfectly preserved historical center of the city with the blocks of integral buildings of the 19th century. The Elabuga State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve, which emerged in 1989, is currently an object of historical and cultural heritage of federal importance. Museum-reserves with their significant territories and rich historical, cultural and natural heritage have unique resources for the implementation of large partnership projects. Such projects are not only aimed at attracting a wide range of tourists, but also stimulate interest in the reserve from the business elite, municipal and regional authorities. The most famous example is the Spasskaya Fair which revived in 2008 in Elabuga. It was held in the city since the second half of the 19th century, and was widely known throughout Russia. The process of the revival and successful development of the fair can be viewed as the creation of a special tourist event contributing to the formation of new and currently important tourism products.

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