Evaluation of the ecological and geochemical state of surface water in Donbas

The article covers evaluation of the ecological and geochemical state of surface water and bottom sediments in Donbas, as well as their pollution resulting from spatio-temporal changes of natural and anthropogenic factors. It was established that chemogenic pollution occurs due to penetration of polluting elements into surface water as a result of filtration leaks from sedimentation tanks and water discharges made by enterprises of coal, chemical, metallurgical, coke-chemical and petrochemical industries. Increased concentrations of biogenic elements (mineral forms of nitrogen and iron) were recorded in the water of the Siverskyi Donets and the Luhan Rivers. The most significant deterioration of groundwater quality because of high content of sulfates and chlorides is observed within the watersheds of the Luhan River's valley. Measurement results of the metals content indicated an increased content of copper and manganese. Some values even exceed the average annual concentrations specified by the existing normative values. In general, the results of the pollutants content analysis in the river basins under study did not reveal significant changes in the content of heavy metals during the period of military actions as compared to the results of government monitoring by 2014. The obtained experimental data indicate that vanadium, chromium and copper dominate in bottom sediments of all the studied objects. The greatest accumulation of heavy metals is observed in the Bakhmutka River and the Kryvyi Torets River. The research established that copper and plumbum in the bottom sediment samples taken from the Kryvyi Torets exceed the background values by 4-5 times. Zinc and vanadium exceed the background content values by 10 and 4 times, respectively. The same indicators are slightly lower in the Volyntsevske Reservoir and this fact is associated with more intense processes of water exchange and certain peculiarities of bottom sediments granulometric composition. Concentration of zinc is 3 times as much as the background level, vanadium and manganese – twice as much. Heavy metals in the bottom sediments of the studied water bodies are characterized by uneven distribution. Vanadium and copper dominate in the content of bottom sediments. Concentrations of zinc, vanadium and nickel at certain objects also exceed their regional background content values. Titanium was detected in minimum quantities.

Monitoring and assessment of the effect of benzo (a) pyrene for coniferous and deciduous plants in anthropogenically polluted areas

Benzo (a) pyrene content in plants and soils in anthropogenically polluted areas pollution was monitored. The influence of benzo (a) pyrene on conifers and deciduous plants was assessed. In forests with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula) trunks, the content of lignin, cellulose, and extractive low molecular weight polar substances was determined by the concentration of benzo (a) pyrene and tree species. In forest ecosystems, the background content of carcinogen (1–5 μg / kg) did not affect the content of lignin and cellulose, but stimulated the synthesis of extractive substances, especially in birch. For pine, there was a direct correlation between the concentration of benzo (a) pyrene in two -year-old needles and its peroxidase activity. An increase in the activity of oxidoreductases and their participation in the synthesis of phenolic, tannin and other organic (extractive) substances, depending on the concentration of benzo (a) pyrene, indicate its biostimulating properties. Various physiological and biochemical reactions in woody and herbaceous plants were analyzed depending on the concentration (dose) of benzo (a) pyrene in the composition of plants and in soils polluted by anthropogenic emissions. Opposite reactions of coniferous and leafy trees to benzo (a) pyrene were observed. On the basis of own and published data, the natural, intermediate transitional and technogenic ranges of benzo (a) pyrene concentrations have been identified; among which the effect on plants varies from stimulating to inhibitory.

Monitoring the content of manganese, zinc, and cobalt in Haplic Chernozem

The paper uses the materials of local agroecological monitoring of arable soils of the Belgorod region on the content of manganese, zinc, and cobalt in haplic chernozem of the steppe part of the Belgorod region. The content of manganese, zinc and cobalt in the arable horizon was 1.42, 1.22 and 1.23 times higher than in the parent rock, respectively. A strong correlation was established between the total contents of zinc and cobalt in the soil profile (r=0.77), and the bonds of manganese with zinc and cobalt had the strength of an average value (r=0.59 and r=0.55). The content of mobile forms of the studied trace elements in haplic chernozem is at a low level. The main reason for the shortage of mobile forms of manganese, zinc and cobalt is their low background content in virgin soil. Keywords: HAPLIC CHERNOZEM, GROSS CONTENT, CONTENT OF MOBILE FORMS, MANGANESE, ZINC, COBALT

ECOLOGICAL-GEOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON CONTENT IN SOILS OF THE TAIGA ZONE OF THE LOWER AMUR REGION AND NORTHERN SAKHALIN (FAR EAST)

The background content of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in the most common soils of the Lower Amur region and Northern Sakhalin was determined. About 300 samples taken from the surface layers and horizons of 8 typical soil pedons were analyzed. The accumulative nature of TPH distribution in the soil profile was established, and their highest content was revealed in the organogenic horizons. The soils of eluvial landscapes (Podzols, Spodic Cambisols, Fulvic Cambisols) contain a smaller amount of TPH compared to the soils of accumulative landscapes (Histosols, Fluvisols). The maximum content of TPH was found in the Spodic Hyperalbic Technosols. The content of TPH in the anthropogenic abrasives of the Lower Amur region is estimated as acceptable, the level of pollution in the anthropogenic abrasives in Northern Sakhalin varies from low to very high. The results obtained on the background content of TPH can used for assessing of soils pollution and in conducting ecological monitoring studies.

Evaluating Ontario immigration detention centres through the lens of non-governmental organizations

This Masters Research Paper provides a critical analysis of the behavioural practices of immigration detention centres and how that affects the abilities of NGOs to support immigration detainees. This paper aims to identify the covert racism that is embedded within immigration detention centres in Canada, exploring how racialized detainees are susceptible to longer detention periods and mal-treatment due to increasing securitization. There will be focus on Ontario immigration detention centres in particular since many of Canada’s asylum claims and detention processes occur in Toronto and the greater Toronto area. This research fills the gap in directly addressing the impacts of racist practices of detention and how it impacts detainees’ ability to seek proper legal aid and interferes with NGOs abilities to aid detainees through their detention process. The methodology used begins with a theoretical framework using Critical Race Theory and background content on immigration detention centres, while drawing out the process of the criminalization of refugees. For this study there were one-on-on interviews conducted with 3 participants who are NGO representatives. Key words: immigration detention centre, detainees, national security, criminalization

Evaluating Ontario immigration detention centres through the lens of non-governmental organizations

This Masters Research Paper provides a critical analysis of the behavioural practices of immigration detention centres and how that affects the abilities of NGOs to support immigration detainees. This paper aims to identify the covert racism that is embedded within immigration detention centres in Canada, exploring how racialized detainees are susceptible to longer detention periods and mal-treatment due to increasing securitization. There will be focus on Ontario immigration detention centres in particular since many of Canada’s asylum claims and detention processes occur in Toronto and the greater Toronto area. This research fills the gap in directly addressing the impacts of racist practices of detention and how it impacts detainees’ ability to seek proper legal aid and interferes with NGOs abilities to aid detainees through their detention process. The methodology used begins with a theoretical framework using Critical Race Theory and background content on immigration detention centres, while drawing out the process of the criminalization of refugees. For this study there were one-on-on interviews conducted with 3 participants who are NGO representatives. Key words: immigration detention centre, detainees, national security, criminalization

Deliberations about clinical pharmacogenetic testing in pediatric oncology

This article summarizes the background, content and outcomes of a special meeting that was convened among oncologists and scientists to discuss the role of pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing in pediatric clinical oncology practice. This meeting provided an opportunity for what the lead author (AM Issa) refers to as the ‘voice of the clinician’ dynamic to be amplified in order to better understand how personalized or precision medicine applications such as PGx testing are adopted and incorporated into clinical settings and what we can learn from the experiences of current and ongoing implementation PGx approaches to further the implementation of precision medicine applications in real-world environments. Group dynamics and clinical experience with PGx testing and return of results shaped the discussion.

Structure Preserving Non-Photorealistic Rendering Framework for Image Abstraction and Stylization of Low-Illuminated and Underexposed Images

The proposed abstraction framework manipulates the visual-features from low-illuminated and underexposed images while retaining the prominent structural, medium scale details, tonal information, and suppresses the superfluous details like noise, complexity, and irregular gradient. The significant image features are refined at every stage of the work by comprehensively integrating a series of AnshuTMO and NPR filters through rigorous experiments. The work effectively preserves the structural features in the foreground of an image and diminishes the background content of an image. Effectiveness of the work has been validated by conducting experiments on the standard datasets such as Mould, Wang, and many other interesting datasets and the obtained results are compared with similar contemporary work cited in the literature. In addition, user visual feedback and the quality assessment techniques were used to evaluate the work. Image abstraction and stylization applications, constraints, challenges, and future work in the fields of NPR domain are also envisaged in this paper.

Introduction to Confucian Psychology: Background, Content, and an Agenda for the Future

Psychology has a pervasive but shallow engagement with Confucian philosophy, mainly referencing its popular form as a part of Chinese tradition. This special issue takes a more systematic view of Confucianism as comprehensive philosophy. Drawing from New Confucianism, it is argued that the signal contribution of Confucianism to psychology as human (rather than natural) science is an ontology of the moral mind (heaven and humanity in union). This holistic ontology makes the cultivation of benevolence (仁) a lifelong mission for Confucianists. Practices of self-cultivation are exemplified by a case study of Zeng Guofan, a Qing Dynasty official and scholar, who combined academics, calligraphy, meditation, diary writing and self-reflection to refine his character, nurture and educate his family, and be of service to society. Second, Confucianism’s traditional lack of interest in epistemology is addressed through the complementary (dialectical) principle of ‘one principle, many manifestations’, where methods of Western science can be incorporated into the investigation of practices such as brush calligraphy that are shown to have beneficial effects on mental and physical health. Confucianism can also be treated as an object of scientific inquiry: We find that even among highly educated Chinese people, understanding of Confucianism today is mostly fragmented and abstract. Confucian Psychology can be summarised as a psychology of aspirations for bettering the condition of humanity through character development and greater awareness of the situation to realise the endowment of moral mind. Finally, there are deep connections between Confucian and Indian psychology—both involve height psychology, a psychology of aspirations and for spiritual transformation.

DETERMINATION OF LOCAL BACKGROUND CONTENT OF SOME MACRO- AND MICROELEMENTS IN THE SOILS OF THE PERM REGION

According to the V.I. Vernadsky law, chemical elements are distributed unevenly in natural objects. Knowledge of the content of chemical elements in a particular area helps in solving various environmental problems. As a result of economic activity, there occurs anthropogenic transformation of the natural environment, including changes in the geochemical properties of landscapes. For an objective assessment of the anthropogenic impact when studying various territories, it is necessary to take into account the background content of macro- and microelements. Since there is a constant anthropogenic impact on the natural environment, the data on background content must be updated. The article presents the results of the content study conducted for some macro- and microelements (Sr, Pb, As, Zn, Ni, Co, Fe2O3, MnO, Cr, V, TiO2) in landscapes in the Perm region. To determine the content of these elements, the method of X-ray fluorescence analysis was applied. As a result, the geochemical specialization of the region and its natural areas (Northern Urals, Western Urals, Middle Taiga, South Taiga, Mixed Coniferous-broad-leaved Forests and Kungur forest-steppe) was determined, geochemical series were constructed, accumulating and dispersing elements were identified. The local background content of the studied elements was determined for each natural area and also the Perm region as a whole. The data obtained can be used to assess the anthropogenic impact on the natural environment.