Construction of a test embankment using a sand-tire shred mixture as fill material

Use of tire shreds in construction projects, such as highway embankments, is becoming an accepted way of beneficially recycling scrap tires. However, in the last decade there was a decline in the use of pure tire shreds as fill materials in embankment construction, as they are susceptible to fire hazards due to the development of exothermic reactions. Tire shred-sand mixtures, on the other hand, were found to be effective in inhibiting exothermic reactions. When compared with pure tire shreds, tire shred-sand mixtures are less compressible and have higher shear strength. However, the literature contains limited information on the use of tire shred-soil mixtures as a fill material. The objectives of this paper are to discuss and evaluate the feasibility of using tire shred-sand mixtures as a fill material in embankment construction. A test embankment constructed using a 50/50 mixture, by volume, of tire shreds and sand was instrumented and monitored to: (a) determine total and differential settlements; (b) evaluate the environmental impact of the embankment construction on the groundwater quality due to leaching of fill material; and (c) study the temperature variation inside the embankment. The findings in this research indicate that mixtures of tire shreds and sand are viable materials for embankment construction.     

Profiling climate change vulnerability of forest indigenous communities in the Congo Basin

The livelihood strategies of indigenous communities in the Congo Basin are inseparable from the forests, following their use of forest ecosystem goods and services (FEGS). Climate change is expected to exert impacts on the forest and its ability to provide FEGS. Thus, human livelihoods that depend on these FEGS are intricately vulnerable to climate impacts. Using the livelihood strategies of the two main forest indigenous groups; the Bantus and Pygmies, of the high forest zone of southern Cameroon; this paper examines the nature and pattern of their vulnerability to different climate risks as well as highlights how place of settlement in the forest contributes to the vulnerability of people in forest systems. Forests provide different capitals as FEGS and make direct and indirect contributions to livelihoods which are exploited differently by the two indigenous groups. The results show that vulnerability of forest communities is structured by lifestyle, culture and the livelihood strategies employed which are largely shaped by the place of settlement in the forest. The Pygmies living within the forests are engaged in nomadic gathering and foraging of non-timber forest resources. The Bantus prefer forest margins and are mostly preoccupied with sedentary farming, using the forest as additional livelihood opportunity. The contrasting lifestyles have implications on their vulnerability and adaptation to climate impacts which need to be taken into considerations in planning and implementation of national climate change adaptation strategies.     

Exposure to phthalates: germline dysfunction and aneuploidy

Epidemiological studies continue to reveal the enduring impact of exposures to environmental chemicals on human physiology, including our reproductive health. Phthalates, a well characterized class of endocrine disrupting chemicals and commonly utilized plasticizers, are among one of the many toxicants ubiquitously present in our environment. Phthalate exposure has been linked to increases in the rate of human aneuploidy, a phenomenon that is detected in 0.3% of livebirths resulting in genetic disorders including trisomy 21, approximately 4% of stillbirths, and over 35% of miscarriages. Here we review recent epidemiological and experimental studies that have examined the role that phthalates play in germline dysfunction, including increases in apoptosis, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and impaired genomic integrity, resulting in aneuploidy. We will further discuss subject variability, as it relates to diet and polymorphisms, and the sexual dimorphic effects of phthalate exposure, as it relates to sex-specific targets. Lastly, we discuss some of the conserved effects of phthalate exposure across humans, mammalian models and nonmammalian model organisms, highlighting the importance of using model organisms to our advantage for chemical risk assessment and unveiling potential mechanisms that underlie phthalate-induced reproductive health issues across species.     

浅议《周易·同人》的义战思想

战争在古代是"国之大事",孔子曰:"国之大事,在祀与戎。"可见在古代人们把战争看作与祭祀一样重要的大事,所以二者殊途同重,互相交结,有别有同。既有关于战争的祭祀,又有祭祀时形成的卜辞,积累了丰富的战争智慧。《周易·同人》就是此例:之所以叫"同人",是因为战亦有道,多助和同。对"同人"的理解,对于帮助我们理解孟子所说的"义战",追溯古人的战争智慧有着重要意义。     

Where is the best site for wave energy exploitation? Case study along the coast of northern Latium (ITALY)

The present work proposes a siting process for the detection of a suitable site for wave energy exploitation. The choice of a suitable site is based on the good agreement between energy availability, environmental sustainability, and equipped facilities to exploit wave energy. The case study in the northern Latium coast is explicative because in this area there are several activities that affect marine ecosystems, and the introduction of renewable energies promote the reduction of anthropic pressures. The nearshore wave power is studied through the numerical wave model (CMS-Wave), and available wave buoys along the coast were used to compare numerical results. In correspondence with Civitavecchia harbour, the largest nearshore wave energy was found; the large depth in front of the breakwater allows to conserve a great part of offshore wave power, with an average dissipation rate of 10 % less than offshore, with mean annual available wave energy of 25.4 MWh/m and seasonal fluctuation of 5.4 MWh/m. This area appears to be an optimal site for nearshore and shoreline wave energy device tests and installations, for energy availability (intermediate level respect Mediterreanean Sea), low potential environmental impact, easier accessibility, and policy oriented towards a larger sustainability of harbour activities.     

Visualizing riparian ecotone fragmentation in urbanizing watersheds: A case study of upper Hickory Creek,north‐Central Texas

Many pollution sources and heavy runoff often plague urbanizing watersheds. Riparian ecotones can filter pollutants and attenuate runoff; however, changing land cover tends to diminish this buffering capacity. Visualizing riparian ecotone fragmentation at the watershed scale can help prioritize management efforts. A geographic information systems approach was developed to illustrate land cover and soil properties affecting buffering potential along riparian corridors. An application to the Hickory Creek watershed in north‐central Texas shows significant riparian ecotone fragmentation, suggesting high‐priority areas for preservation and restoration.