Trampling impact on vegetation of embryonic and stabilised sand dunes in Montenegro

Trampling is one of the human activities that are harmful for plant species and communities of sand dune ecosystems. The aim of this study was to compare the vegetation of embryonic and shifting Ammophila sand dunes with and without fencing to limit trampling. Fenced sand dunes appeared to be richer in species but differences were more prominent in embryonic sand dunes. Some species (Cakile maritima, Pancratium maritimum) were missing on trampled embryonic dunes. The positive impact of trampling exclusion on embryonic sand dunes was indicated by a lowered slope in a Whittaker graph as well as by rarefaction curves that showed higher species richness on the lower slope. Changes in the vegetation of more stabilised shifting Ammophila sand dunes due to trampling are not evident, although species composition is also impoverished. Fencing of parts of sand dunes proved to be an effective measure for vegetation conservation. In addition to physical exclusion of visitors, fences can also have symbolic value for raising public awareness.     

Effects of low doses of glyphosate on DNA damage,cell proliferation and oxidative stress in the HepG2 cell line

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - We studied the toxic effects of glyphosate in vitro on HepG2 cells exposed for 4 and 24 h to low glyphosate concentrations likely to be...     

Development of plant-friendly vermicompost using novel biotechnological methods

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - For the first time in the world, raw tea waste from tea plants was mineralized by rapid biotechnological methods using beneficial worms, enzymes...     

Investigation of gamma ray absorption levels of composites produced from copper mine tailings,fly ash,and brick dust

To date, heavyweight concretes have been produced from various heavy aggregates as radiation insulation materials, and their gamma ray absorption levels have been investigated. Many of the studies have used heavy aggregates instead of cement or coarse aggregates from composite material components. The present study prepared lightweight concretes using copper mine tailings, clay brick dust, and fly ash instead of fine aggregates. Some mechanical tests (density, compressive strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity) were performed on composite blocks with dimensions of 5*5*5 cm, and radiation interaction parameters [linear absorption coefficient (cm⁻¹), mass attenuation coefficient (cm²/gr), HVL (half-value layer) (cm), MFP (cm), and permeability (%)] were measured. Radiation interaction parameters were obtained using a HPGe gamma detector. Radiation measurements were performed at five different photon energies: 583 keV (¹³³Ba), 609 keV (¹³³Ba), 662 keV (¹³⁷Cs), 911 keV (133^Ba), 1173 keV (⁶⁰Co), and 1332 keV (⁶⁰Co). Additionally, the compressive strength and UPV values of composite materials were associated with their gamma ray permeability. Tests revealed that samples with the addition of copper mine tailings yielded the best energy absorption at all energy levels and that absorption decreased as the energy level increased. For example, with the increasing of the energy level, mass attenuation coefficients decreased. The highest mass attenuation coefficients were obtained as 0.128 cm²/g at an energy level of 583 keV in composites produced from copper mine tailings. On the other hand, it was measured at the same energy level as 0.069 cm²/g (a 46% decrease) in the composites produced with fly ash. In addition, it was observed that fly ash used as a fine aggregate did not have a significant effect on mass attenuation coefficient and could be used as a gamma shield if the material thickness was increased to an average of 14 cm. This study revealed that tailings materials could be used as radiation shields. This study also demonstrated that not using heavy aggregates and producing lightweight concrete in radiation shield production significantly reduced shield production cost.

     

Mapping of cosmic radiation dose in Croatia

The Earth is continually bombarded by high-energy particles coming from the outer space and the sun. These particles, termed cosmic radiation, interact with nuclei of atmospheric constituents and decrease in intensity with depth in the atmosphere. Measurements of photon and gamma radiation, performed with a Radiameter at 1 m above the ground, indicated dose rates of 50-100 nSv/h.The neutron dose rate was measured with the CR-39 track etch detector calibrated by the CERN-EU high-energy Reference Field (CERF) facility. Correlation between neutron dose rates and altitudes at 36 sites was examined in order to obtain a significant positive correlation coefficient; the resulting linear regression enabled estimation of a neutron dose at particular altitude. The measured neutron dose rate in Osijek (altitude of 89 m, latitude of 45.31° N) was 110 nSv/h.