Effects of warming on leaf non-structural carbohydrates and carbon and nitrogen isotopes of Cunninghamia lanceolata saplings during different seasons北大核心CSCD

To reveal the response of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and carbon and nitrogen isotopes in plant leaves to global warming, we conducted soil warming experiments in the Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem and Global Change National Observation and Research Station of China. We designed two treatments: control (CT) and warming (W; cable heating, +4 ℃). Heating cables were installed 20 cm from each other at a depth of 10 cm and were heated in March 2016. In this study, Cunninghamia lanceolata saplings were used to analyze seasonal changes in leaf non-structural carbohydrates, and carbon and nitrogen isotopes. The results showed that (1) warming significantly reduced the soluble sugar, starch, and NSC content of leaves in spring but without any significant difference during other seasons. (2) Leaf δ13C increased significantly in spring and winter after warming, whereas leaf δ15N did not change significantly. (3) No significant correlation was observed between leaf δ13C, δ15N, or NSC content during the warming treatment, but a negative correlation was observed between leaf δ15N, δ13C, and sugar to starch ratio. A positive correlation between leaf δ15N and starch content was identified. In summary, when temperature increases, plants adjust the NSC content during different seasons for osmotic regulation, change the characteristics of the nutrient cycle, and alter the plant water and nutrient use strategies to maintain plant growth. In the future, we should further study the seasonal variation characteristics of NSC content and isotopes and the relationship between NSC content and the carbon and nitrogen cycles in plants under the context of long-term warming. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Phosphine and methane generation by the addition of organic compounds containing carbon-phosphorus bonds into incubated soil

Formation of phosphine and methane in anaerobic incubation systems was investigated under stirred and unstirred conditions. The PH3 and CH4 levels in the headspace, as well as the matrix-bound PH3 content in the stirred soil, significantly increased upon the addition of phosphonoacetic acid (P(O)(OH)2CH2COOH). Both the levels of matrix-bound PH3 and CH4 are positively correlated to the buffered dithionite fraction of reactive phosphorus in the soil samples, while a negative correlation was observed between matrix-bound PH3/CH4 levels and the reactive phosphorus fraction.     

Potential risks at an industrial site: A wind tunnel study

A gaseous dispersion over a complex urban area after an accident with a leakage of chlorine in a chemical factory is investigated experimentally in a wind tunnel experiment under neutral conditions by using a Laser Doppler Anemometer and Analyser IREX. Diffusion fields in a turbulent boundary layer are simulated using a model of a landscape surrounding the factory at a scale of 1:1000. The obtained results indicate that morphology is one of the important parameters in studying atmospheric diffusion. The strong turbulent mixing inside the urban surface layer has created a rapid decrease in the surface concentrations. Moreover, the diffusion measured in these experiments may be used to develop and evaluate operational models to predict the dispersion of chlorine in a chemical factory.     

Hazard and Effects of Pollution by Lead on Vegetable Crops

Lead (Pb) contamination of the environment is an important human health problem. Children are vulnerable to Pb toxicity; it causes damage to the central nervous system and, in some extreme cases, can cause death. Lead is widespread, especially in the urban environment, and is present in the atmosphere, soil, water and food. Pb tends to accumulate in surface soil because of its low solubility, mobility, and relative freedom from microbial degradation of this element in the soil. Lead is present in soil as a result to weathering and other pedogenic processes acting on the soil parent material; or from pollution arising caused by the anthropogenic activities; such as mining, smelting and waste disposal; or through the adoption of the unsafe and unethical agricultural practices such as using of sewage sludge, and waste water in production of vegetable crops or cultivation of vegetables near highways and industry regions. Lead concentrations are generally higher in the leafy vegetables than the other vegetables. Factors affecting lead uptake included its concentration in the soil, soil pH, soil type, organic matter content, plant species, and unsafe agriculture practices. Generally, as Pb concentration increased; dry matter yields of roots, stems and leaves as well as total yield decreased. The mechanism of growth inhibition by lead involve: a decrease in number of dividing cells, a reduction on chlorophyll synthesis, induced water stress to plants, and decreased NO ₃ ^- uptake, reduced nitrate and nitrite reductase activity, a direct effect of lead on protein synthesis, a decrease on the uptake and concentration of nutrients in plants. The strategies to minimize Pb hazard can be represented in: (a) Phytoremediation, through natural plants are able to bio-accumulate Pb in their above–ground parts, which are then harvested for removal such as, using Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea), Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Hemp Dogbane (Apocynum cannabium), or Poplar trees, which sequester lead in its biomass. (b) Good and ethical agricultural practices such as cultivation of vegetables crops as far from busy streets or highways and industry regions as well as nonuse of sewage sludge and waste water in cultivated soils. (c) Increasing the absorptive capacity of the soil by adding organic matter and humic acid. (d) Growing vegetable crops and cultivars with a low potential to accumulate lead, especially in soils exposed to atmospheric pollution. (e) Washing of leafy vegetables by water containing 1 % vinegar or peeling roots, tubers, and some fruits of vegetables before consumption may be an important factor in reducing the lead concentration.     

Healthcare waste management in Algeria and Mostaganem department

Algeria as other developing countries faces an array of challenges for healthcare waste management. The management of healthcare waste is of major importance due to its public health risks and potential environmental hazards. Many efforts have been made by the government authorities in order to better manage the waste from healthcare facilities. However most healthcare facilities do not comply with the principles stated in Algerian legislation. A data study was made on 95 hospitals across the country, and the three health sectors of Mostaganem department (Mostaganem, Ain Tédles, and Sidi Ali) were surveyed. The yearly production of infectious healthcare waste in this Algerian department is estimated at 92 tons, which is 1.38% of the national waste production. This represents an average of 0.15 kg/bed/day, which is lower than the national value of 0.72 kg/bed/day. The total healthcare waste by sector ranges from 0.7 to 1.22 kg/bed/day, and healthcare waste comprises 16% of total waste, which is equal to the national percentage.     

The seasonal changes in the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in precipitation and aerosol near Lake Balaton, Hungary.

The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in atmospheric precipitation and aerosol samples was monitored in a rural site by Lake Balaton, Hungary to examine the seasonal variation. The seasonal mean concentration of individual 3-6-ring PAHs in precipitation varied from 1 to 54 ng l-1 and from 3 to 350 ng l-1 in summer and winter, respectively. In the atmospheric aerosol samples the seasonal mean concentration of PAHs varied from 4 to 880 pg m-3, from 4 to 300 pg m-3, from 11 to 1050 pg m-3 and from 36 to 5000 pg m-3 in spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively. Wet (412 micrograms m-2 year-1) and aerosol (190-300 micrograms m2 year-1) deposition rates were also estimated indicating that the two processes are of comparable importance in the removal of 3-6-ring PAHs from the atmosphere.     

Social representations of socioenvironmental dynamics in extractive ecosystems and conservation practices with sustainable development: a bibliometric analysis

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Social representations necessarily originate from the interaction between individuals and groups in a social setting through communication and shared...