History Of Activity Research Articles

Increasing Student Learning Activities Through Model Application Problem Based Learning (PBL) Material on the History of Colonialism and Imperialism in Class XI Asteroid at SMA Negeri 2 Medan

This study seeks to detail how class XI Asteroids students at SMA Negeri 2 Medan were able to increase their learning activities by using the Problem Based Learning (PBL) paradigm to content related to the history of colonialism and imperialism. The classroom action research (PTK) approach is used in this study to address a range of issues that transpire inside the educational setting. The four steps of this PTK are preparation, execution, evaluation, and review. Increasing students' historical learning activities is the primary goal of this study, and these four steps repeat themselves in a cycle to achieve this goal. The study was place in July and August of 2024 at SMA N 2 Medan and included students from class XI ASTEROID. Each of the two cycles of this study included two sessions. The study shows that with each cycle, pupils get more engaged in learning about history. The average proportion of student learning activities, which was 48.91% in cycle I and 75.78% in cycle II, shows this growth. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the research success indicator has been met, with an average proportion of student learning activity reaching or above 70%, during cycle II.

Cruising Europe in World War II: Epistemological Challenges of German Vernacular Trophy Photography

The Nazi regime outfitted the Wehrmacht with the best photographic technology and its soldiers were far better equipped than their allies or nemeses. More than ten per cent of the eighteen million German combatants possessed a fast-shutter 35-mm camera. German soldier-photographers documented their wartime activities extensively, in turn leaving behind a gigantic, private and largely underexplored archive that poses multiple epistemological and ethical challenges. Military historians and Holocaust scholars approach soldierly photographs primarily as sources of information, including proof of crimes. This article shifts these lenses and argues that reading them as visual images, and not solely as historical sources and circulating artefacts, reveals a medium that equally affects its practitioners as well as the observers. Drawing upon public archives and private collections, I focus on highly performative images of victory and conquest over enemy countries and peoples and conceptualise them as ‘trophy photographs’. I examine recurrent motifs within this genre, in particular sexual encounters with enemy women and photographs of male bonding, which arguably constitute the most prevalent images snapped by soldier-photographers who ‘cruised’ Nazi-occupied Europe. Borrowing from Queer Studies, the concept of cruising allows me to probe soldiers’ mobility in semipublic spaces and also acknowledge the voyeuristic and visually alluring quality of their photographs. Seductive, exciting, these trophy photographs lure in their audience(s) with sexually charged, often (homo)erotic overtones. In turn, these images provoke diverse ways of seeing and interpreting their content: how can we best frame the soldier-photographer’s gaze and capture the polysemic quality of the images, especially when dealing with violence, racism, sexism and/or homoeroticism? What effect do trophy images of conquest potentially have on the historical actors who shot and circulated those photographs and what impact do they have on contemporary observers? Finally, acknowledging multidirectional and fractious lives of images, how do we understand the complex relationship between public history and the ethics of seeing? Because photographic images are historically contingent and open-ended, this article casts light on the complexity of mediation and competing visions between diverse publics of the past, present and future.

Collections and Pedagogies of Objects in European Learning Environments

Abstract Collections have long been recognized as spaces that offer countless opportunities to learn—and to teach. Academic collections in particular, embedded as they were in very particular kinds of learning environments, have long created moments involving teaching and researching simultaneously; however, the quality and character of this research in early modern European academic environments has been the subject of some recent debate. Given what is a widespread acknowledgement of their links to learning and instructional potency, we still know relatively little about the perimeters of the lessons that specific objects housed in collections were embedded within, or more specifically how historical actors from a range of social backgrounds used collections to teach with real things (realia) across time and space. This special issue is devoted to a preliminary investigation of the historically situated dimensions of “teaching collections” (Lehrsammlungen) and specific object-pedagogical approaches to teaching in formal, or semi-formalized, household settings.

Geology, Archaeology, and Historical Studies of the Late 16th Century Plinian Eruption of Raung Volcano: A Potential Case for Disaster Geotourism in Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark, East Java, Indonesia

The enigmatic major eruption in the late 16th century, believed to have originated from Raung, the most active stratovolcano in the Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark in East Java, Indonesia, has ignited significant debate among researchers and historians due to its profound impact on the region. This research aims to substantiate Raung as the likely source of the major eruption by integrating geological, archaeological, and historical data. This study synthesizes current findings and explores ongoing debates surrounding historical volcanic activities. Eruption parameters suggest that the late 16th century eruption exhibited a Plinian type, characterized by an explosive eruption column reaching the stratosphere, widespread pumiceous tephra fallout, and pyroclastic density current (PDC). Stratigraphic succession reveals that the eruption occurred in five phases, with deposits from 10 eruptive units. These deposits are mainly concentrated on the northwestern flank of Raung. Archaeological findings, historical records, and local legends converge to pinpoint the occurrence of this catastrophic event in the late 16th century. These diverse sources estimate that the eruption resulted in approximately 10,000 casualties, marking it as one of the most significant volcanic disasters in the past 500 years. The implications of this eruption extend beyond historical documentation, providing a critical case study for advancing disaster mitigation strategies through geotourism in the geopark area. Moreover, the eruption record outcrops identified in this study can be proposed as potential new geosites within the Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark, enhancing its educational and touristic value. We propose the Jebung Kidul, Alas Sumur, and Batu Sappar sites as potential disaster-based geosites, considering that these sites record the eruption process and preserve archaeological structures. This addition would not only commemorate the historical event but also promote awareness and preparedness for future volcanic activities in the region.

Unveiling heavy metal(loid) contamination and migration at an abandoned smelting site: Integrated geophysical and hydrological analyse

The heavy metal contamination at abandoned smelting sites is receiving increasing attention. This study focuses on an abandoned lead–zinc smelting site and uses several methods (such as soil sampling, geophysical exploration, and groundwater monitoring) to systematically investigate the contamination characteristics, distribution patterns, and migration mechanisms of heavy metal(loid) in soil and groundwater. A geological structure model of the study area was established through drilling data and geophysical techniques (Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT)), revealing the relationships among soil resistivity, electromagnetic wave reflection characteristics, and geological structure. This study revealed that heavy metal contamination in soil was concentrated mainly northwest of the site and was closely related to historical smelting activities. The presence of heavy metal(loid)s in groundwater had a complex correlation with soil physicochemical properties and environmental elements, and its distribution was influenced by both hydrogeological conditions and soil properties. This study also investigated the effects of the soil water content (SWC) and soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks) on heavy metal(loid)s migration and reported that high SWC and Ks contribute to the dissolution and migration of heavy metals. In addition, a 3D visualization model of heavy metal contamination plumes was established via Voxler software. This model intuitively demonstrated the migration and diffusion of heavy metal(loid)s in the underground environment, offering a novel perspective on their subsurface behavior. The research results provide important information for understanding the migration of heavy metal(loid)s in soil-groundwater systems.

Evaluation of Çankırı and Iğdır salt caves within the scope of health and recreation tourism

With the increasing popularity of healing methods involving salt, the importance of salt mines has grown significantly over time. Today, as salt therapy (Speleotherapy) becomes more widespread, salt caves in many countries around the world have begun to transform into salt therapy centers. Salt caves in Spain (Cardona), Belarus (Soliharsk), Romania (Slanic, Salina Turda, and Praid), Poland (Wieliczka), Pakistan (Khewra), Germany (Berchtesgaden), Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan), and Turkey (Çankırı and Iğdır Tuzluca) are used for therapeutic purposes. Particularly, Çankırı Salt Cave and Iğdır Tuzluca Salt Cave are important resources in Turkey that can be evaluated within the scope of health tourism. In this study, a literature review, official website analysis, and on-site observations were conducted. In the literature review, previous research on the subject was examined. Through website analysis, the spatial units and recreational activities of the salt caves were identified. The spatial units and recreational activities of each salt cave were determined using the collected data. Subsequently, on-site observations were made by visiting the salt caves in Çankırı and Iğdır. During these observations, the spatial units within the salt caves were visited and photographed individually. Then, the data obtained from the literature, official website analyses, and on-site observations were combined. Finally, the characteristics of all the examined caves were tabulated, and based on the created table, the caves were evaluated. As a result of the evaluation, the Cardona Salt Mine in Spain stands out for its historical and cultural activities; the Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan, Soligorsk in Belarus, Slanic and Praid Salt Mines in Romania are treatment centers offering salt therapy services; the Salina Turda Salt Mine in Romania is an underground theme park; the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland, Khewra Salt Mine in Pakistan, and Berchtesgaden Salt Mine in Germany are primarily used for recreational purposes; while the developing Çankırı and Iğdır Tuzluca Salt Mines in Turkey are also noted for their recreational use.

The nineties in 1990s Britain: long-sighted temporalities at the turn of the millennium

Abstract Chronological categories of periodization such as decades, centuries and millennia are broadly treated with scepticism by historians. This essay reframes the questions we ask of such categories by exploring their contemporary significance for ‘ordinary’ historical actors. It focuses on the curious case of 1990s Britain, a decade that, in comparison to the historiographical advents of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, has been slow to emerge as a distinct trope of periodization. In considering why this might be, the essay looks beyond explanations that focus on the political legacy of Blairism, the stasis of neo-liberal hegemony or the retrospective notion that the decade marked a ‘holiday from history’ – an oasis of consensus, tranquillity and indeed boredom sandwiched between the class and cold wars of the 1980s and a post-9/11 clash of civilizations. Instead, it examines how the nineties were being constructed, contested and wielded in the 1990s themselves. Drawing on materials generated by the sociological organization the Mass Observation Project (M.O.P.), narratives of past, present and future co-produced by ‘ordinary’ observers and the authors of the M.O.P. directives, the article traces the shifting constellation of decadal temporalities that circulated during the nineties. As the decade drew to a close, the spectre of the millennium encouraged a lengthening of imagined temporal trajectories: eyes were cast beyond the immediately surrounding years to the larger terrain of the century and even the millennium. These long-sighted temporalities obscured the nineties as a category of historical significance, shaping the source base and collective memory of the decade. Ultimately, a study of the temporal regimes operating in 1990s Britain reveals the cultural power and emotional stickiness of seemingly arbitrary chronological markers.

Český úděl z pohledu konce 60. let

This study attempts to capture the origins of the differences in opinion on the fate of the Czech nation which arose in the period known as the Prague Spring in 1968 as espoused by two of the period´s historical actors, based on an analysis of media sources of the time. Though the controversy was unleashed at the turn of 1969 by Milan Kundera and Václav Havel, other important intellectual figures from Prague and Brno, such as Karel Kosík, Jaroslav Střítecký and Lubomír Nový were eventually to join the fray as well. Within the controversy, two basic approaches may be observed, whose antagonistic tendencies arise out of the generational differences of the participants: the first, represented by Kundera, Kosík and Nový, sees the democratisation experienced in the Prague spring as an integral process within a continuum of Czech history and thus exalt it as a singular process bringing Bohemia once again into a world context; the second approach, however, represented by Havel and Střítecký, looks upon the reform with critical skepticism and refutes the so-called "fate of the Czech nation" (which purports to situate Bohemia in the context of world history) as a fictional construct which takes away the individual´s historical responsibility.

Resequencing reveals population structure and genetic diversity in Tibetan sheep

BackgroundThe Tibetan sheep is one of the three major primitive sheep breeds in China, representing a unique and high-quality genetic resource in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and neighboring high-altitude regions, exhibiting exceptional adaptability to high-altitude climatic environments. However, research on the genetic relationships among different populations of Tibetan sheep at the whole-genome level remains insufficient. This study aims to explore the population structure and historical dynamics among 11 Tibetan sheep populations, accurately assess the genetic diversity within the populations, and providing a theoretical basis for the development of targeted genetic breeding strategies for Tibetan sheep.ResultsIn this study, a total of 10,884,454 high-quality SNPs were obtained. All Tibetan sheep populations exhibited varying degrees of linkage disequilibrium, with similar decay rates; among them, the WT population showed the fastest decay, while the TS population exhibited the slowest decay rate. Analyses using Tajima’s D and π indicated that the genetic diversity levels of the Tibetan sheep populations are generally low. Fst results revealed that most populations exhibited moderate to low levels of genetic differentiation. The effective population size among Tibetan sheep populations showed an increasing trend over time. The evolutionary relationships among Tibetan sheep populations reflect the correlation between their geographical locations and genomic genetic distances, while also indirectly confirming the impact of historical activities such as early human migration, admixture, fusion, and expansion on the population sizes and distributions of Tibetan sheep.ConclusionsThe results indicate that the genetic diversity levels and genetic differentiation among Tibetan sheep populations are relatively low. In this study, we identified the genetic characteristics of Tibetan sheep populations, which exhibit low levels of diversity, genetic differentiation, and a strong population structure. A deeper genomic exploration of the population structure and diversity status of Tibetan sheep populations will provide theoretical support for subsequent genetic breeding and diversity conservation efforts.

Sparse large trees in secondary and planted forests highlight the need to improve forest conservation and management

Large trees are essential for carbon storage and biodiversity conservation. While an increasing number of studies have focused on large trees in primary forests, little is known about them in secondary and planted forests. We surveyed 86,936 trees in secondary forests and 91,294 trees in planted forests in Zhejiang, China, to investigate the distribution patterns and determinants of large trees in these forests. We found a mean density of large trees (DBH ≥ 30 cm) of 15 ± 13 stems ha−1 in secondary forests and 11 ± 9 stems ha−1 in planted forests. Moreover, the mean density of trees with DBH ≥ 60 cm was 0.36 stems ha−1, indicating that large trees are particularly rare in secondary and planted forests. These large trees were primarily occurred in secondary forests that living in high-elevation area with less human exploitation and colder and wetter climates, and in planted forests with higher species richness and lower tree density. In addition, the density of large trees in these forests significantly increased with tree species richness and decreased with increasing tree density. These results indicate that the sparse large trees were the legacy of historical human activities in the studied area, but currently, the development of large trees is still limited by the improper forest structure characterized by low species diversity and high tree density. To better conserve large trees, there is an urgent need for enhanced conservation policies for secondary forests, such as establishing forest parks for forests with large trees, and implementing near-natural forest management practices for planted forests, which include planting mixed native tree species and maintaining moderate tree density.

Assessing the true value of ecological restoration in mining areas: An input-output approach based on ecosystem service valuation

Historical unsustainable mining activities have led to significant ecological degradation, emphasizing the importance and urgency of ecological restoration and its effectiveness assessment. This study evaluates the economic, ecological, and social benefits of ecological restoration in the Longshan mining area from the perspective of ecological product value, utilizing an input–output research framework based on ecosystem service valuation. This comprehensive assessment includes consideration of restoration cost inputs, aiming to delve into the effectiveness of ecological restoration projects in mining areas. The findings reveal: (1) The indirect value of the ecological products generated by the ecological restoration is approximately 3.13 times greater than their direct value, highlighting the significantly positive impacts of the project. This underscores the necessity for future assessments of mining area ecological restoration projects to not only focus on direct economic returns but also to thoroughly examine their long-term positive impacts on social structures, environmental quality, and residents’ quality of life. (2) When considered solely from an economic benefit perspective, the input–output ratio of the project is 0.34, insufficient to cover the total cost of the project. However, after integrating economic, ecological, and social benefits, the input–output ratio increases to 1.40. This indicates the importance of exploring the mechanisms through which the indirect values of ecological and social benefits contribute directly to the project’s economic sustainability.

Strategi Perang antara Belanda Melawan Invasi Jepang di Palembang dan Dampaknya terhadap Lingkungan

The purpose of this study explains the Japanese attack strategy and Dutch defense and its impact on the environment in Palembang. The method used is the historical method by utilizing primary sources such as memoirs of historical actors, contemporaneous newspapers, as well as secondary sources such as books and scientific articles. This research also uses geography with an environmental perspective. The results show that Japan implemented a combined land, sea and air strategy with paratroopers as the main force to capture Palembang. Meanwhile, the Dutch focused on protecting airfields and oil refineries with scorched earth tactics if pressed. Environmental impacts of the conflict included air pollution from oil refinery fires and pollution of the Musi River by oil spills and war waste. The novelty of this research lies in the study of the environmental aspects of Japanese military operations in Palembang that have not been widely discussed before. This research provides a new perspective on the impact of war on the environment in a historical context.

Integrating Intercultural Competence into a Neuroscience Curriculum through a Short-Term Study Abroad Program.

We sought to enrich our neuroscience curriculum by developing a study abroad program that would address curricular goals and requirements at several levels. "Neuroscience and Technology in Germany" was designed to include a diversity of participants, integrate intercultural competence in participants, fulfill university core curriculum requirements, build on the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) foundation of our major, and fulfill major electives. We also hoped that it would serve as a synthetic experience allowing students to integrate foundational coursework with novel ideas and real-world research applications. We developed an itinerary that balanced multiple activities to meet those goals. We included scientific visits, STEM-focused museums, and significant cultural and historical sites. Scientific visits covered a range of topics in the field of neuroscience including cellular and pharmacological neuroscience, development, cognition, mental illness, artificial intelligence, and the mind-body problem. Pre-visit academic activities included review lectures on general topics (e.g., visual system), scaffolded literature reading, and discussion of previous literature from our hosts. Post-visit academic activities integrated previous foundational curriculum with new research. Cultural historical activities encouraged comparison between a student's home culture, predominant North American culture, and German culture. The first iteration was successful academically and logistically. In post-program surveys, 87.5% of students felt the program had met the learning objectives (n=16). Students agreed that scientific visits and preparatory lectures were relevant to the learning objectives, together with several cultural and historical visits. Students responded positively to an outing to the mountains and found a concentration camp memorial visit moving. They nearly universally reported that the program led to their personal growth. Students did not find several guided tours of STEM-related sites were relevant to our learning objectives, and opinions were mixed as to the balance of structured vs. unstructured time, balance of scientific vs. historical/cultural activities, and how to schedule free time. Students asked for more scientific background preparation, so we modified the upcoming iteration to include a "Neuroscience Boot Camp" prior to departure. We also selected guided tours more carefully and modified scheduling according to student feedback.

Navigating futures past: colonialism, nationalism, and the making of post-Ottoman order in Kilis, 1919–1926

ABSTRACT In the early 1920s, Kilis was a mid-size town situated in the north of the Ottoman province of Aleppo. The border introduced in October 1921 between Turkey and French Syria passed right to the south of Kilis, leaving the landowning elites who lived in the city detached from their lands located in Syria. This article reconstructs the complex episodes that unfolded both before and after the introduction of this border, as the territorial future of Kilis’ agricultural hinterland intimately shaped how the town’s landed notables interacted with the coming of colonial rule to the region and the ensuing resistance efforts. In tracing these post-war developments in Kilis, this study is an attempt to come to terms with the complex ways in which historical actors operated in a world that was increasingly defined by the uncertainties of the future, and hopes to show how historians could best approach such key moments while navigating the study of futures past. As we will see, the immediate post-war years in Kilis not only led old problems to flare up with greater intensity, but also quickly resulted in the consolidation of new discursive positions in line with the emerging post-Ottoman order across the region.

The re-making of a Europe of differences: mobile lives and the globalization of categories in revolutionary and post-imperial times (c.1770–1970)

ABSTRACT This article discusses the fundamental question of how the differentiation of people on the move or in transit and their categorization changed in revolutionary and post-imperial times. These interacting processes have affected Europe and the negotiation of its internal and external boundaries. Drawing on examples from the rich history of migration and mobility since the late eighteenth century, the article demonstrates how individual research studies can be situated and expanded within a broad temporal and analytical framework which focuses on the historical actors’ struggles over the distinctions and categories imposed upon them by others (e.g. the administration or the family). It explores dynamics arising both from the socio-economic and cultural practices of mobile people (e.g. on localizing or globalizing their concepts of life) and from legal-administrative procedures to distinguish between these people (e.g. through categories). These differentiations interacted and changed especially during two threshold phases, around 1800 and 1945. During these periods, international actors renegotiated the relationship between territory and population by grappling with the distinction between ‘refugees’ and numerous other migrants and claiming a universalist or more particularistic definition over which people were entitled to protection and support. Through this approach, Europe is understood as a lived, administered and negotiated space whose external and internal boundaries are also the result of long, more or less overlapping processes of self- and external evaluation of people located outside their place of origin.

Distentanging the late-Holocene human–environment interactions in the Altai Mountains within the Arid Central Asia

Understanding the impacts of human activities on landscapes necessitates a comprehensive analysis of historical changes in climate, vegetation, fire and land utilization. The human-environment interactions were investigated through the analysis of new charcoal data from Kelashazi Peat in the Altai Mountains, compared with the detailed paleoenvironmental records and historical human activities (e.g., agriculture and pastoralism) at other three distinct sites. The findings suggest that the late-Holocene (prior to ∼2000 years ago) fire activities were mainly influenced by temperature at higher elevations and were primarily driven by vegetation cover at lower elevations. Over the past two millennia, human activities have increasingly impacted fire dynamics. Elevated fire frequencies during the Medieval Warm Period at higher elevations were linked to warmer climates and intensified pastoral activities. Lower fire incidences at lower elevations may be attributed to population outflows during the Medieval Warm Period, while heightened fire occurrences at lower elevations might result from increasing agricultural activities during the Little Ice Age. This study underscores the intricate interplay between natural climate-vegetation-fire dynamics and anthropogenic burning trends in the late Holocene across different elevations of the Altai Mountains within the Arid Central Asia.

Assessing female anopheles mosquito susceptibility to three insecticide classes in Ilorin metropolis Nigeria: Implications for environmental management and effective vector control

This study investigates the environmental factors affecting the susceptibility of Female Anopheles mosquitoes to three classes of insecticides in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, following WHO standards. The analyzed breeding sites showed severe water pollution, with low dissolved oxygen, high conductivity, and heavy metal contamination. Anopheles mosquito populations at two of the five breeding sites, Akanlanbi and Aminlengbe, were resistant to all three insecticide types tested. The mosquitoes in Aminlengbe exhibited higher resistance to organochlorine (71% mortality), organophosphate (73%), pirimiphos methyl (73%), and carbamates (83%) and bendiocarb (88%) compared to those in Akanlanbi, which had lower resistance to pirimiphos methyl (94%) and carbamates (67%) and bendiocarb (86%). In contrast, mosquitoes from the other three sites (Edun, Niger, Shao-garage) were mostly susceptible (98%-100%) to the organophosphate insecticide pirimiphos methyl but showed varying susceptibility to the two carbamate insecticides tested (propoxur and bendiocarb). Mosquitoes at these sites were 98.4%-99.5% susceptible to bendiocarb, yet resistant to propoxur (88.7%-94.6%). The study attributes environmental pollution at these breeding sites to historical agricultural practices, industrial activities, and improper waste disposal, contributing to insecticide resistance among mosquito populations. This resistance poses significant challenges to malaria vector control efforts in Ilorin. The study emphasizes the urgent need for integrated vector management (IVM) strategies that incorporate environmental management into vector control plans. This study therefore recommends adopting pesticide and fertilizer degradation strategies, improving waste management practices, implementing comprehensive IVM approaches, developing supportive policies, and enhancing community awareness and participation to mitigate mosquito-borne diseases and ensure effective malaria control amidst rising insecticide resistance.

Characterising dispersal and potential impacts of non‐native red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) populations in the coastal plain region of the pee Dee River basin, U.S.A.

Abstract Non‐native species can spread rapidly through aquatic ecosystems in association with both natural and anthropogenic mechanisms, but the relative importance of these two mechanisms in determining the spread of a species is not always clear. The red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) has been introduced to multiple continents, including waterbodies in the United States where both natural and anthropogenic dispersal are likely to have contributed to its current distribution. The present study combined comparisons of historical and contemporary distributions of P. clarkii and several high conservation priority crayfish species, regional field sampling, and microsatellite‐based genetic approaches from the Pee Dee River basin in North Carolina and South Carolina to understand the dispersal patterns of P. clarkii and its potential effects on native crayfishes. Field sampling and microsatellite analyses revealed widespread populations of P. clarkii throughout the study area with catchment‐specific patterns of population genetic structure, wherein more distinct genetic structures were found in the basin with historic aquaculture activities and a longer period of occurrence. The rapid spread of P. clarkii has occurred concurrently with extirpations of populations of native crayfishes, namely the Waccamaw crayfish (Procambarus braswelli), the Carolina Sandhills crayfish (Procambarus pearsei) and the coastal plain crayfish (Procambarus ancylus). The rapid spread of P. clarkii and coincident extirpation of native crayfishes calls for more extensive regulatory controls to help prevent the intentional or accidental release of non‐native crayfishes through aquaculture practices, bait releases, the pet trade and the environmental education industry.

Impact of Environmental Conditions on Soil Geochemistry in Southern Kazakhstan

This study investigated the elemental composition of soils in Kyzylorda and Turkestan (southern Kazakhstan), an area rich in natural resources but facing potential environmental threats from industry and agriculture. The goal was to establish baseline geochemical values and assess soil contamination risks. Soil samples were collected from across the region and analyzed using ICP-MS and INAA techniques, providing a comprehensive profile of 72 elements. Statistical analysis revealed significant variations in elemental concentrations, with enrichments observed for specific elements when compared with reference values. Notably, both regions shared a core set of elements including rare earth elements (yttrium series: holmium, erbium, thulium), noble metals (gold, platinum, ruthenium, palladium), and tungsten. Enrichment patterns, however, provided distinct insights. Rare earth element enrichments likely reflect the region’s geology, while elevated radioactive elements necessitate further investigation to understand potential environmental and health risks. Enrichment of iron group elements might be linked to a combination of geological factors and anthropogenic activities like mining or industrial processes. A significantly higher number of elements exceeded background levels in Kyzylorda compared with Turkestan, suggesting greater element accumulation in Kyzylorda’s soil. This difference could be attributed to variations in regional geology or historical anthropogenic activities. The established geochemical baseline for 72 elements and the identified areas of potential contamination will inform land management practices, guide future environmental monitoring efforts, and ultimately contribute to the safeguarding of public health in southern Kazakhstan.

Ineffectiveness of phosphorus-containing amendments to reduce Pb bioaccessibility in an urban alkaline soil.

Urban soils contaminated by historical and current anthropogenic activities present an alarming human health risk requiring redress. Federal and state governments continue to lower residential soil lead (Pb) screening standards, which will likely require new risk-based approaches to address urban soil Pb contamination. Phosphorus (P) soil amendments have long been presented as a solution to sequester Pb, thereby reducing exposure risk. In this study, P-containing sources (biosolids incinerator ash, poultry litter, biosolids compost, and triple superphosphate) of varying solubilities were assessed as soil amendments to reduce Pb bioaccessibility and serve as an inexpensive remediation strategy for urban soil. Contaminated soil (1624mg kg-1Pb, pH 7.43) from Cleveland, OH, was treated with the four P-containing soil amendments at a 1:5Pb:P molar ratio and two combination treatments at 1:10Pb:P molar ratio and incubated for 3 months. A batch equilibration analysis was also conducted to assess reduction in in vitro bioaccessible Pb (IVBA Pb). Pb bioaccessibility was evaluated using US EPA Method 1340 at pH 1.5 and the Physiologically Based Extraction Test pH 2.5 at 1 and 3 months. In general, treatments were ineffective in reducing IVBA Pb regardless of IVBA extraction method, incubation duration, batch equilibration analyses, or P source. The results of this study suggest P-containing amendments are not suitable to address Pb exposure in the study soil. Site-specific efficacy testing to determine reductions in IVBA Pb from P-containing amendments should be performed before making recommendations for remediation of Pb-contaminated urban soil.