Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Prevalence in Aerosol and Spiders’ Webs in Karst Caves: Low Risk for Speleotherapy

A total of 152 aerosol and spider web samples were collected: 96 spider’s webs in karst areas in 4 European countries (Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Slovakia), specifically from the surface environment (n = 44), photic zones of caves (n = 26), and inside (aphotic zones) of caves (n = 26), 56 Particulate Matter (PM) samples from the Sloupsko-Sosuvsky Cave System (speleotherapy facility; n = 21) and from aerosol collected from the nearby city of Brno (n = 35) in the Czech Republic. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were isolated from 13 (13.5%) spider’s webs: 5 isolates of saprophytic NTM (Mycobacterium gordonae, M. kumamotonense, M. terrae, and M. terrae complex) and 6 isolates of potentially pathogenic NTM (M. avium ssp. hominissuis, M. fortuitum, M. intracellulare, M. peregrinum and M. triplex). NTM were not isolated from PM collected from cave with the speleotherapy facility although mycobacterial DNA was detected in 8 (14.3%) samples. Temperature (8.2 °C, range 8.0–8.4 °C) and relative humidity (94.7%, range 93.6–96.6%) of air in this cave were relatively constant. The average PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentration was 5.49 µg m−3 and 11.1 µg m−3. Analysed anions (i.e., F−, Cl−, NO2−, SO42−, PO43− and NO3−) originating largely from the burning of wood and coal for residential heating in nearby villages in the surrounding area. The air in the caves with speleotherapy facilities should be monitored with respect to NTM, PM and anions to ensure a safe environment.

Marketplace Trade in Large Cities in Poland

Traditional marketplace trade brings many socio-economic benefits: it affects the local labour market, entrepreneurship, and tourism. In many countries, activities are undertaken to support the operation of marketplaces. In recent years, new threats to the development of marketplaces have emerged, such as cheap discount shops, supermarkets, and online shops. The inhabitants of many cities still enjoy shopping at traditional marketplaces. The aim of the research is to assess the development of marketplace trade in large cities in Poland. Eurostat does not provide detailed data on marketplaces in Poland. We decided to fill this gap. Additionally, we assessed the attractiveness of large cities in Poland in terms of the development of marketplace trade in the years 2008–2019 by means of linear ordering of objects (Hellwig’s composite measure of development). In the years 1995–2019, the number of marketplaces in Poland remained at a constant level, but since 2003 their area has decreased. However, the total number of marketplaces has increased compared to 1995. In the whole research period, Kraków and Katowice were the most attractive cities with respect to the development of the marketplace trade, while Gdańsk and Sosnowiec were the least attractive. The high position of Kraków results from the nature of the city and its tourist attractions, while the low position of Sosnowiec is caused by the existence of a large bazaar in nearby city of Będzin.

“Foi quando estava acabando o tempo dos escravos”: devoção, redes familiares e conflitos nas últimas décadas da escravidão em Minas Gerais

<p>O objetivo deste artigo é analisar as redes familiares dos antepassados dos dois primeiros capitães da Associação de Congada e Moçambique de Nossa Senhora do Rosário e Nossa Senhora das Mercês nas últimas décadas da escravidão em Piedade do Rio Grande, Minas Gerais. Pretende-se apresentar as alianças, conflitos, negociações e estratégias encontradas por essas famílias escravas e libertas, bem como os caminhos percorridos no aprendizado devocional ligado à Irmandade do Rosário, na cidade vizinha a Piedade, Ibertioga. Os descendentes das famílias dos dois capitães buscaram, desde o pós-Abolição até o tempo presente, ressignificar o passado escravista vivido pelos seus parentes e comemorar a liberdade, através dos cantos, ritmos, danças, músicas e performances realizadas nas festas de Congada e Moçambique – também conhecidas como festas de maio – ao longo dos últimos noventa anos. Por fim, busca-se demonstrar que “foi quando estava acabando o tempo dos escravos” que a última geração do cativeiro de Piedade, entre escravos e livres, deixou como legado às gerações futuras as experiências sentidas e sofridas no tempo da escravidão, com as redes de proteção e os conflitos inerentes a esse período.</p><p><strong>Palavras-chave</strong>: famílias escravas | libertos | escravidão | Minas Gerais</p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstract:</strong></p><p><em>This article analyzes the family networks created by the ancestors of the two first captains of the Associação Congada e Moçambique de Nossa Senhora do Rosário e Nossa Senhora das Mercês during the last decades of slavery in Piedade do Rio Grande, Minas Gerais, Brazil. I show the alliances, conflicts, negotiations and strategies utilized by the families of slaves and freed people, as well as the paths taken in devotional learning at the Irmandade do Rosário, in Ibertioga, a nearby city. From the Post-Abolition period until the present, the two captains’ descendants have sought to resignify the history of slavery experienced by their relatives, celebrating their freedom through songs, rhythms and dances performed during the Congada e Moçambique celebrations (also known as the “May Festivities”). Lastly, I argue that “when slavery was ending” in Piedade, the last generation to live through those times, both enslaved and freed people, left their experience of suffering as a legacy for the future generations, including the networks of protection and conflicts inherent to that period.</em></p><p><em><strong>Keywords</strong>: enslaved families | freed people | slavery | Minas Gerais</em></p>

Lower Ionospheric Turbulence Variations During the Recent Activity of Etna’s Volcano, Sicily, in December 2018

In this paper, we present an investigation on the ionospheric turbulence from TEC observations before and during the recent activity of Etna’s Volcano. Mount Etna is located close to the eastern coast of Sicily. The last eruption of Etna volcano took place on 24 December 2018 while two days later (26 December, 02:19 UTC) an earthquake of M=5.0 occurred ~15 km to the ESE of the volcano, causing damage to the nearby city of Catania. The results of our investigation, on the occasion of the Etna’s Volcanic activity, indicate that the high-frequency limit fo of the ionospheric turbulence band content, is increasing with time to the volcano eruption while, at the same time, fo isdecreasing with distance from the volcano. We conclude that the LAIC mechanism through acoustic or gravity waves could explain this phenomenology, as it has happened in cases of earthquake activity. Our observations indicate that the effect of volcanic eruption on the band content of the ionospheric turbulence is insignificant at distances greater than 1000km (at the most), a fact that we must consider in our research on Ionospheric turbulence in relation to earthquake precursors research.

Car vs. Packaging—A First, Simple (Environmental) Sustainability Assessment of Our Changing Shopping Behaviour

Which way of purchasing your clothes results in the lowest environmental impacts: “running” into the next big city to “plunder” the various clothing stores, or searching through a plethora of online shops and ordering your next shirt directly to you at home? So far, no such comparison has been published. The aim of this study is to get a first basic idea of which of these two consumer choices is the more environmentally sustainable by assessing the potential environmental impacts related to one person’s annual purchases of clothing through a simplified life cycle assessment. The study shows that going to a nearby city for shopping is not necessarily worse compared to online purchasing. When a person uses their own car, travel from home to the city and back is responsible for a sizeable amount of the potential impacts. However, the potential impacts of travel are heavily influenced by the means of transport (i.e., use of public transport rather than personal car) and the frequency of shopping excursions over the year. Overall, the potential impacts per single clothing item purchased could be in a similar range for both means of purchase.

Successful small-scale irrigation or environmental destruction? The political ecology of competing claims on water in the Uluguru Mountains,Tanzania

In the Uluguru Mountains of Tanzania, an expansion in informal hosepipe irrigation by small-scale farmers has enabled the development of horticulture, and resulted in improvements in farmers' livelihoods. This has largely taken place independently of external support, and can be seen as an example of the 'private' irrigation that is increasingly viewed as important for sub-Saharan Africa. However, these activities are seen by representatives of government and some donors as the cause of environmental degradation and water shortages downstream, especially in the nearby city of Morogoro. As a result, there have been attempts to evict the farmers from the mountain. Negative narratives persist and the farmers on the mountainside are portrayed as a problem to be 'solved.' This article explores these tensions, contributing to debates about the formalization of water management arrangements and the place of the state in regulating and adjudicating rights to access water. We argue that a focus on legality and formalization serves to obscure the political nature of competing claims on resources that the case illustrates. Keywords: irrigation; Tanzania; ethnography; political ecology; water

Getting hooked on stories this summer...

Dear Deakin Readers,In this issue you will find reviews of many new books to enjoy during the summer months, but I know this is also the season of family vacations, festivals, community pools, amusement parks, and beautiful weekend weather. With so much to see and do, I realize how difficult it can be to squeeze in some time for kids (and parents!) to curl up with a good book. If you are about to head off for a family vacation with toddlers, tweens, and teens—whether it’s a trip to a nearby city or a faraway country—I would encourage you to consider a visit to a museum, art exhibition, book fair, or gallery. Many of these venues are child-friendly and their displays encourage curiosity, critical thinking, and an interest in reading.On a recent trip to Winnipeg, Manitoba, I was reminded that many galleries and museums do a great job making their exhibitions accessible to children, offering activities and workshops designed to engage children to get the most out of their visit. Many galleries are free, such as the Pooh Gallery that I discovered in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park on the second floor of the Pavillion Gallery Museum, where visitors are introduced to an impressive collection of Winnie-the-Pooh books, print ephemera, toys, and art.One of the posters in the exhibition explains that Winnie, the famous bear in A.A. Milne’s stories, was named after a real bear in the London Zoo, where it was noticed and loved by Milne’s son, Christopher Robin. Of course, many adults know that the fictional adventures of a young boy named Christopher Robin and his animal playmates were chronicled in books that became favourites with children of all ages, but I presume far fewer people know the interesting story of how the real bear named Winnie ended up at the London Zoo (hint: there’s a Winnipeg connection). Visiting an exhibition like this one presents a special opportunity for us to introduce children to a variety of enchanting stories (with lots of visual aids!). Indeed, if there is one important thing we can all do for the children in our lives this summer, it would be to get them hooked on stories.Enjoy your summer!Robert Desmarais, Managing Editor

History of the Munich–Maisach–Fürstenfeldbruck Geomagnetic Observatory

The Munich–Maisach–Fürstenfeldbruck Geomagnetic Observatory is one of the observatories with the longest recordings of the geomagnetic field. It started with hourly measurements on 1 August 1840. The founder of the observatory in Munich was Johann von Lamont (1805–1879), the Director of the Royal Bavarian Astronomical Observatory. He had been stimulated to build his own observatory by the initiative of the Göttingen Magnetic Union founded in 1834 by Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) and Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777–1855). Before 1840 fewer than five observatories existed; the most prominent ones were those in London and Paris. At the beginning Lamont used equipment delivered by Gauss in Göttingen, but soon started to build instruments of his own design. Among them was a nonmagnetic theodolite which allowed precise geomagnetic measurements to be made also in the field. During the 1850s Lamont carried out geomagnetic surveys and produced geomagnetic maps for Germany and many other European countries. At the end of the nineteenth century accurate geomagnetic measurements in Munich became more and more disturbed by the magnetic stray fields from electric tramways and industry. During this period the quality of the data suffered and the measurements had to be interrupted several times. After a provisional solution in Maisach, a village 25 km west of Munich, a final solution could be found in the vicinity of the nearby city of Fürstenfeldbruck. Here the measurements started again on 1 January 1939. Since the 1980s the observatory has been part of INTERMAGNET, an organization providing almost real-time geomagnetic data of the highest quality.