Northeastern Area Research Articles

New Burials of the Pre-Scythian Time From the North-Eastern Azov Area

In the article there are presented excavation materials from the Mariupol archaeological expedition and the results of new research of the archaeological expedition conducted by the Mariupol State University in the North-Eastern Azov area and in Donets Ridge refilling a comparatively small series of burials of the pre-Scythian time in the basin of the Azov Sea rivers. As far as the set of features, all the burial sites presented by the authors are dated by the early Iron Age and precede the sites of the Scythian time. The burials discovered near Kalynivka and Starolaspa villages are interpreted by the authors as Cimmerian sites of Novocherkassk type or as burials of the late stage of Chernogorivka culture. The burials from Vysoke and Yalta are determined as complexes of Chernogorivka type / Chernogorivka group of Cimmerian culture or as late Chernogorivka complexes. The authors consider peculiarities of the rite and inventory complex as well as some aspects of cultural and chronological character, spiritual and material culture of the tribes which, in the researchers’ view, are conflated with the historical Cimmerians. Analysis of the materials has made it possible for the authors to approach the problem of social reconstructions and to assume that the individuals buried in the mounds near Starolaspa and Kalynivka villages were unlikely to enjoy some kind of special authority among other tribesmen or to have some appreciable privileges in the society when they were alive. However, the burials in the mounds placed near Yalta and Vysoke villages demonstrate certain features of ingenuity. The man buried in the barrow near Yalta village was most likely to have something to do with the religious or the hieratic sphere of life.

China’s Eco-Efficiency: Regional Differences and Influencing Factors Based on a Spatial Panel Data Approach

From the Kyoto Protocol to the Copenhagen Conference and the Paris Agreement, eco-environmental problems have gradually become a matter of common concern worldwide. Eco-efficiency (EE) is an essential indicator for measuring levels of sustainable development. This study uses an epsilon-based measure (EBM) model with undesirable outputs to evaluate the EEs of 30 Chinese provinces during the research period 2008 to 2017, and a spatial Durbin model (SDM) to search for the impact factors of EE. The results indicate that most provinces in China have a low EE level. The EE value of the eastern area is higher than are those for the central, western, or northeastern areas. The EE in China as a whole demonstrates an inverted V-shaped trend with a high point in 2011. The SDM shows that economic development level, foreign trade dependence, and technological progress exert significant positive effects on EE, while population density exerts significant negative influences on EE. This paper provides scientific bases for the formulation of policies resulting in sustainable development.

Effectiveness of mass treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infection in socially vulnerable areas of a state in northeastern Brazil, 2011\u20132014

BackgroundTo assess the effectiveness of mass treatment of Schistosoma mansoni infection in socially vulnerable endemic areas in northeastern Brazil.MethodAn ecological study was conducted, in which 118 localities in 30 municipalities in the state of Pernambuco were screened before 2011 and in 2014 (after mass treatment). Information on the endemic baseline index, mass treatment coverage, socio-environmental conditions and social vulnerability index were used in the multiple correspondence analysis. One hundred fourteen thousand nine hundred eighty-seven people in 118 locations were examined.ResultsThe first two dimensions of the multiple correspondence analysis represented 55.3% of the variability between locations. The human capital component of the social vulnerability index showed an association with the baseline endemicity index. There was a significant reduction in positivity for schistosomes. For two rounds, for every extra 1% of initial endemicity index, the fixed effect of 13.62% increased by 0.0003%, achieving at most 15.94%.ConclusionsThe mass treatment intervention helped to reduce transmission of schistosomiasis in areas of high endemicity. Thus, it can be recommended that application of mass treatment should be accompanied by other control actions, such as basic sanitation, monitoring of intermediate vectors and case surveillance.

Paleo-facies distribution and sequence stratigraphic architecture of the Oligo-Miocene Asmari carbonate platform (southeast Dezful Embayment, Zagros Basin, SW Iran)

A facies and sequence stratigraphic analysis was made of the Oligo-Miocene Asmari carbonate platform situated in the east and southeast of the Dezful Embayment (Zagros Basin, SW Iran). This study provides new paleofacies and depositional sequence distribution models for the eastern part of the Dezful Embayment and discusses the impact of the factors controlling sediment deposition being eustatic sea-level changes and tectonic processes. The petrographic study reveals that the variations in facies cover three depositional settings, e.g. open marine, lagoon and tidal flats. In total, six depositional sequences (DS) were identified within the sedimentary sequence of the Asmari Formation. DS1 and DS2 were deposited during the Rupelian (Oligocene) within deeper open marine platform settings. Sediments forming DS3 and DS4 were deposited during the Chattian in a carbonate platform environment within an open lagoon to protected lagoon setting. The Miocene DS5 and 6 sequences, Aquitanian and Burdigalian in age, were deposited in shallower environments compared to other DS's, within protected lagoon to tidal flat settings. A comparison with the sedimentary development in other parts of the Dezful Embayment showed that the deposition of the Asmari strata started earlier (Early Rupelian) in the eastern, south-eastern and north-eastern part of the basin. In the western and central parts of the Dezful Embayment it began in the Late Rupelian or even Rupelian/Chattian. The eastern and south-eastern parts of the Dezful Embayment displayed a platform margin setting during the Rupelian while the north-eastern and central areas showed a basin setting. During the Early Chattian, clastic sediments originating from the Arabian Plate were deposited in the west, southwest, northwest and centre of the basin in response to a sea-level lowstand. The two very thin sandstone units occurring in the Late Aquitanian succession across the west of the Bibi Hakimeh oilfield are the only sandstone layers related to a sea-level lowstand throughout E/SE of the Dezful Embayment. During the Chattian the sediments in the eastern parts of the Dezful Embayment were deposited in a proximal inner ramp setting, and corals and coralline red algae (mainly Lithophyllum sp. and Lithothamnion sp.) dominated the carbonate platform in the east, while imperforate benthic foraminifera (e.g. Peneroplis sp., Archaias sp.) and rare perforate benthic foraminifera (e.g. Neorotalia sp., and Amphistegina sp.) were the most frequent sediment contributors in the southeast of the basin (Bibi Hakimeh area). At the same time, sedimentation occurred on a distal inner to mid-ramp settings through the central areas of the Dezful Embayment. A eustatic fall in sea-level and tectonic processes resulted in the isolation of the basin. During the Aquitanian two exposure horizons formed in the western and central Dezful Embayment basin while the eastern part only displays one. During the Burdigalian, sedimentation in the entire Dezful Embayment occurred within an innermost, very shallow ramp setting. The current study shows that sea-level fluctuations and sometimes combined with regional tectonic processes controlled the variability in platform geometry and paleofacies distribution of the Oligo-Miocene sediments across the basin.

Local Climatic Factors Mediated Impacts of Large-Scale Climate Oscillations on the Growth of Vegetation Across the Tibetan Plateau

Large-scale climate oscillations, particularly the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), have widespread influences on climate systems across the Tibetan Plateau (TP). It is understudied how the temporal changes in AMO and PDO affected growth of vegetation through modifying the local climatic factors in different areas across the TP. We used the AMO and PDO indices, gridded growing season mean temperature (TGS), cumulative precipitation (PGS), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVIGS) data from 1982 to 2015 to investigate the temporal trends of these variables and the correlations of the TGS and PGS with each of the AMO and PDO indices as well as their correlations with the NDVIGS. The results showed that the warming of the TGS over the TP and the increases of the PGS in western, central, and northeastern areas of the TP may have been related to an increase of the AMO index and a decrease of the PDO index. Combining those relationships with the spatial patterns of the TGS-NDVIGS and PGS-NDVIGS correlations suggested that the changes of the AMO and PDO may have indirectly increased the NDVIGS in the central and northeastern areas of the TP by increasing TGS and PGS, in most parts of the southwestern TP by increasing PGS, and in the eastern and south-central regions of the TP by increasing TGS. In contrast, the decrease of the NDVIGS in some areas of the southeastern and southwestern TP may have been associated with a negative effect of warming as a result of changes in the AMO and PDO. These results highlight the indirect impacts of changes in large-scale climate oscillations on the growth of vegetation through modification of local climatic factors across the TP, and they suggest the substantial spatial heterogeneity of these impacts largely depends on the responses of vegetation to local climatic factors.

Estimating spatial distribution of aridity and moisture indices of Mongolia using remotely sensed time series data

The aim of this study is to estimate the spatial distribution of aridity and moisture indices using remotely sensed time-series data. For the analysis, we have chosen two simple climatic indices. One of two indices was the De Martonne aridity index, and the other one was the Mezentsev moisture index. The study area covers the total territory of Mongolia (~1.566 × 106 km2). Both indices could be estimated from meteorological station-based air temperature and precipitation. However, meteorological station-based recorded precipitation and temperature data with long coverage are only available from a limited number of stations with insufficient spatial coverage. In other words, these datasets suffer from uneven geographic coverage, with many areas of the Earth poorly represented. In this study, therefore, we have used satellite-derived temperature and precipitation data. Monthly mean air temperature has been estimated from MODIS LSTd, LSTn, and elevation using RF regression. Precipitation data has been extracted from Climate Hazards Group Infra-Red Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) datasets. CHIRPS is gauge-satellite combined precipitation data. Based on De Martonne and Mezensev formulas, and satellite-derived meteorological data, spatial distribution maps of aridity and moisture indices in Mongolia were generated. The study result showed that aridity was observed in all areas of southern Mongolia, and some areas in the west, and grassland areas in the east, which is largely included in the dry steppe, desert-steppe, and gobi desert zones. Moisture was observed in the forest and forest-steppe areas in north, central, northeastern, and eastern Mongolia. A comparison of the aridity index and moisture index shows the following: of the total territory, aridity is 31.9:31.4 percent, humidity 14.7:13.4 percent respectively. Dry steppe, desert steppe, and Gobi desert zones are extremely sensitive to water resource variability and availability.

Risk and vulnerability of Mongolian grasslands under climate change

Climate change is projected to increase the aridity of semi-arid ecosystems, including Mongolian grasslands (MG), which provide ecosystem services that support food supply and pastoralist lifestyle. Here, we conducted a grid-scale (0.5° × 0.5°) probabilistic risk assessment of MG under climate change for 40 years (1976–2015) based on probability theory. We evaluated changes of risk (impacts) and vulnerability of MG to drought between the recent two decades R20 = 1996–2015 and the previous two decades P20 = 1976–1995. The risk is quantified as the product of the probability of hazardous drought and ecosystem vulnerability. The probability of hazardous drought is defined from the Standardized Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index. Vulnerability is defined as the expected differences of key ecosystem variables between years with and without hazardous conditions. The ecosystem variables are productivity (peak aboveground biomass, net primary productivity, and leaf area index) and root-zone plant-available soil moisture, simulated with a process-based vegetation model Organizing Carbon and Hydrology in Dynamic Ecosystems-Grassland Management validated with field observations of biomass and soil moisture. Results reveal that MG experienced more frequent hazardous droughts with rapid warming and slight drying during R20 aggravated by ever-increasing grazing intensity (34% compared to P20), which resulted in a reduction in soil water availability and grassland productivity, particularly in northeastern areas (20%–65%). The risk of drought to productivity increased by 10% between P20 and R20 over extended areas, particularly in northcentral and northeast Mongolia. The increase in the risk to MG was mainly caused by climate change-induced increase in the probability of hazardous drought and, to a lesser extent, by the increasing vulnerability. Recent droughts modify the risk to grasslands, particularly in northcentral and northeast Mongolia, suggesting that these regions need strategic management for both adaptation and ecosystem conservation to cope with climate change impacts.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Nitrogen Budgets under Anthropogenic Activities in Metropolitan Areas

The rapid growth of metropolitan regions is closely associated with high nitrogen (N) flows, which is known as the most important reason for widespread water pollution. It is, therefore, crucial to explore the spatiotemporal patterns of N budgets under intensive human activity. In this study, we estimated the long-term (2000–2015) N budgets by integrating the net anthropogenic nitrogen input (NANI) and the export coefficient model (ECM) in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA), a typical metropolitan area with strong human disturbances. The results revealed that the NANI decreased by 10% from 2000 to 2015, while N exports showed a 6% increase. Hotspots for N budgets were found in the northeastern areas, where cropland and construction land were dominant. The linear regression showed a close relationship between the NANI and N export, and about 18% of the NANI was exported into the river system. By revealing the critical sources and drivers of N budgets over time, our work aimed to provide effective information for regional policy on nitrogen management. Future strategies, such as improving the fertilizer efficiency, optimizing the land use pattern, and controlling the population density, are necessary in order to address the environmental challenge concerns of excessive N.

Spatial Characteristics of Groundwater Chemistry in Unzen, Nagasaki, Japan

Nitrate pollution in groundwater is a serious problem in Shimabara Peninsula, Nagasaki, Japan. A better understanding of the hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in vulnerable aquifers is important for health and environment. In this study, groundwater samples were collected at 12 residential and 57 municipal water supply wells and springs in July and August 2018. Nitrate (NO3−N) concentration at eight sampling sites (12%) exceeded Japanese drinking water standard for NO3 + NO2−N (10 mg L−1). The highest nitrate concentration was 19.9 mg L−1. Polluted groundwater is distributed in northeastern, northwestern, and southwestern areas, where land is used for intensive agriculture. Correlation analysis suggests that nitrate sources are agricultural fertilizers and livestock waste. Dominant groundwater chemistry is (Ca+Mg)−HCO3 or (Ca+Mg)−(SO4+NO3) type. Groundwater with higher nitrate concentration is of (Ca+Mg)−(SO4+NO3) type, indicating nitrate pollution affecting water chemistry. Principal component analysis extracted two important factors controlling water chemistry. The first principal component explained dissolved ions through water–rock interaction and agricultural activities. The second principal component explained cation exchange and dominant agricultural effects from fertilizers. Hierarchical cluster analysis classified groundwater into four groups. One of these is related to the dissolution of major ions. The other three represent nitrate pollution.

Assessment of Geo-Mechanical Characteristics of Carbonate Rocks Using Non-destructive Pulse Velocity Measurements

Determining the geomechanical characteristics of the rock formations is critical to the design and analysis of various underground geotechnical structures. This research applied an experimental approach to determining the properties of rock cores based on ultrasonic wave velocities. Three types of carbonate rocks sampled from three different regions were thus experimentally tested and evaluated, with the regions from which the rock samples were collected being located in south-eastern, south-western, and north-eastern areas of Iraq. The geomechanical characteristics of the carbonate rocks were compiled based on ultrasonic pulse velocity tests and uniaxial compressive strength tests implemented under two sets of laboratory testing conditions: dry and saturated. The data are thus reported and discussed for both dry and saturated rock specimens. In general, the results showed a reduction in rock engineering properties with increasing moisture content. The measurements of compressional and shear wave velocities were analysed and correlated with various mechanical properties including: strength, elastic moduli, bulk density, Poisson’s ratio and Lame’s constant; the results of this process revealed that there is a strong correlation between velocity measurements and rock engineering properties. Several statistical relationships with high degrees of regression coefficient are thus proposed to efficiently the evaluate geomechanical properties of carbonate rocks based on compressional and shear wave measurements.

Characteristics of lacustrine deepwater fine-grained lithofacies and source-reservoir combination of tight oil in the triassic chang 7 member in Ordos Basin, China

The lithofacies characteristics of fine sedimentary rocks affect the hydrocarbon generation capacity and reservoir performance of tight oil and are closely related to the sedimentary environment. On the basis of field outcrops and core observations, combined with logging data, thin section identification, grain size analysis, organic carbon analysis and physical property tests, the fine sedimentary facies of the Chang 7 Member in the Ordos Basin are studied. Nine lithofacies types are identified in the study area, including planar and trough cross-bedding sandstone facies (Spt), massive bedding sandstone facies (Sm), slump deformation fine sandstone facies (Ssd), sand-mud interbedded facies (Sb), rippled siltstones facies (Fr), horizontal bedding mudstone facies (Mh), massive bedding mudstone facies (Mm), horizontal bedding shale facies (S) and tuff facies (T). Lithofacies types Spt, Ssd, Fr are developed in the gentle slope belt in the northeastern study area, which is a delta front-semi-deep lake sedimentary environment and mainly contains underwater distributary channel and estuary dam sedimentary microfacies types. Lithofacies types such as Sm, Sb, Mh and T are developed in the southwestern steep slope zone of the study area, which is a channel-type gravity flow sedimentary environment, and sedimentary microfacies types such as near-source channels, far-source channels and leading-edge dolomites are developed. In the vertical direction, during the Chang 73 sedimentation period, the lake surface area and water depth reached their maxima, and S and Mh lithofacies developed, which were conducive to the formation of high-quality hydrocarbon source rocks for tight oil. During the Chang 72-Chang 71 sedimentation period, the lake basin shrank, and the reducibility of the water body weakened. The delta front sand body composed of Spt lithofacies in the northeast and the sandy clastic flow sand body composed of Sm in the southwest constitute the main tight oil reservoirs. High-quality hydrocarbon-generating lithofacies and favourable reservoir lithofacies are spatially superposed and developed, forming two source-reservoir combinations in the Chang 7 tight oil source-reservoir formation and near source-reservoir formation.

Potential vectors of Leishmania spp. in an Atlantic Forest conservation unit in northeastern Brazil under anthropic pressure

BackgroundPhlebotomines are a group of insects which include vectors of the Leishmania parasites that cause visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), diseases primarily affecting populations of low socioeconomic status. VL in Brazil is caused by Leishmania infantum, with transmission mainly attributed to Lutzomyia longipalpis, a species complex of sand fly, and is concentrated mainly in the northeastern part of the country. CL is distributed worldwide and occurs in five regions of Brazil, at a higher incidence in the north and northeast regions, with etiological agents, vectors, reservoirs and epidemiological patterns that differ from VL. The aim of this study was to determine the composition, distribution and ecological relationships of phlebotomine species in an Atlantic Forest conservation unit and nearby residential area in northeastern Brazil.MethodsCenters for Disease Control and Shannon traps were used for collections, the former at six points inside the forest and in the peridomestic environment of surrounding residences, three times per month for 36 months, and the latter in a forest area, once a month for 3 months. The phlebotomines identified were compared with climate data using simple linear correlation, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and cross-correlation. The estimate of ecological parameters was calculated according to the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, standardized index of species abundance and the dominance index.ResultsA total of 75,499 phlebotomines belonging to 11 species were captured in the CDC traps, the most abundant being Evandromyia walkeri, Psychodopygus wellcomei and Lu. longipalpis. Evandromyia walkeri abundance was most influenced by temperature at collection time and during the months preceding collection and rainfall during the months preceding collection. Psychodopygus wellcomei abundance was most affected by rainfall and relative humidity during the collection month and the month immediately preceding collection time. Lutzomyia longipalpis abundance showed a correlation with temperature and the rainfall during the months preceding collection time. The Shannon trap contained a total of 3914 phlebotomines from these different species. Psychodopygus wellcomei, accounting for 91.93% of the total, was anthropophilic and active mainly at night.ConclusionsMost of the species collected in the traps were seasonal and exhibited changes in their composition and population dynamics associated with local adaptions. The presence of vectors Ps. wellcomei and Lu. longipalpis underscore the epidemiological importance of these phlebotomines in the conservation unit and surrounding anthropized areas. Neighboring residential areas should be permanently monitored to prevent VL or CL transmission and outbreaks.Graphical

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia from the North-Eastern area of Romania

BackgroundFamilial hypercholesterolemia(FH) is one of the most frequent and important monogenic cholesterol pathologies. Traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors increase the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) in this population. The aims of the study were: (a) to identify FH patients in the North-Eastern part of Romania and to analyze demographic, clinical and paraclinical data (b) to evaluate the risk of new cardiovascular events at follow-up in FH patients stratified by lipid-lowering agents.MethodsThis first prospective study in the North-Eastern part of Romania was carried out between October 2017 and October 2019; out of 980 patients with dyslipidemia evaluated with the Dutch Lipid Network(DLCN) and Simon Broome(SM) scores, 61 patients with DLCN score above 3 and possible/probable FH(SM score) were included.ResultsNine hundred-eighty patients were examined and 61 (6.2%) were received the clinical diagnosis of FH. The mean age was 48.5±12.5 years, with more female patients than male patients (63.9% versus 36%). Hypertension was the main cardiovascular risk factor for both genders, followed by physical inactivity and obesity for the female group and active smoking for the male group. The measured DLCN score recorded: “possible” FH identified in 39.4%, “probable” FH in 45.9% and “definite” FH in 14.7%. The effective lipid-lowering drugs used were statin alone and statin in association with fenofibrate, which improved both the lipid profile values and the subclinical atherosclerosis markers (ankle-brachial index, carotid intima-media thickness and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein). New ASCVDs that emerged during the study were most commonly represented by coronary heart disease and stroke. At the same time, the new cardiovascular events were delayed in patients receiving the lipid-lowering drugs, without significant differences between them.ConclusionsIn patients with suspected FH, the lipid-lowering agents during the follow-up period delayed the new cardiovascular events, yet failed to reach the goals proposed by the guidelines.

Analyzing Changes in Frozen Soil in the Source Region of the Yellow River Using the MODIS Land Surface Temperature Products

The degradation of the frozen soil in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) caused by climate warming has attracted extensive worldwide attention due to its significant effects on the ecosystem and hydrological processes. In this study, we propose an effective approach to estimate the spatial distribution and changes in the frozen soil using the moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature products as inputs. A comparison with in-situ observations suggests that this method can accurately estimate the mean daily land surface temperature, the spatial distribution of the permafrost, and the maximum thickness of the seasonally-frozen ground in the source region of the Yellow River, located in the northeastern area of the QTP. The results of The Temperature at the Top of the Permafrost model indicates that the area of permafrost in the source region of the Yellow River decreased by 4.82% in the period from 2003 to 2019, with an increase in the areal mean air temperature of 0.35 °C/10 years. A high spatial heterogeneity in the frozen soil changes was revealed. The basin-averaged active layer thickness of the permafrost increased at a rate of 5.46 cm/10 years, and the basin-averaged maximum thickness of the seasonally-frozen ground decreased at a rate of 3.66 cm/10 years. The uncertainties in calculating the mean daily land surface temperature and the soil’s thermal conductivity were likely to influence the accuracy of the estimation of the spatial distribution of the permafrost and the maximum thickness of the seasonally-frozen ground, which highlight the importance of the better integration of field observations and multi-source remote sensing data in order to improve the modelling of frozen soil in the future. Overall, the approach proposed in this study may contribute to the improvement of the application of the MODIS land surface temperature data in the study of frozen soil changes in large catchments with limited in-situ observations in the QTP.

METALES PESADOS EN EL BIVALVO ATRINA SEMINUDA (LAMARCK, 1819) (PTERIOIDA) EN DIFERENTES ESTADIOS DE MADURACIÓN GONADAL PROVENIENTES DE GUAYACÁN, VENEZUELA

Se evaluaron los niveles de metales pesados en ejemplares machos y hembras del bivalvo Atrina seminuda (Lamarck, 1819). Los organismos fueron colectados en la localidad de Guayacán, estado Sucre, Venezuela. Las concentraciones Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Fe y Zn se determinaron en los tejidos: gónada (G), músculo (M), hepatopáncreas (H) y resto (R) mediante espectroscopia de emisión de plasma de acoplamiento inductivo (ICP-OES). El índice gonadosomático (IGS) presentó diferencias significativas, mostrando su valor más alto en febrero (19,67 ± 0,43) y el menor en junio (13,26 ± 0,43). Las concentraciones de metales presentaron diferencias significativas entre los tejidos analizados; observándose en general una mayor acumulación de metales en el H y el R. Se mostraron variaciones mensuales significativas de los metales en los tejidos con las mayores concentraciones de Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni y Zn entre los meses de abril y mayo. El análisis de ACP determina que IGS está asociado a la incorporación de los metales Estas variaciones mensuales en los metales analizados, puede ser explicado por la biodisponibilidad de estos elementos determinada en parte por los elevados niveles de clorofila a, que es característico el afloramiento en el área nororiental del país y por la variación del ciclo reproductivo de la especie estudiada.

Atmospheric emission inventory of hazardous air pollutants from biomass direct-fired power plants in China: Historical trends, spatial variation characteristics, and future perspectives

The agricultural and forestry biomass direct-fired power generation represents an important technology to promote the low-carbon energy transition and agricultural waste reuse in China. In recent years, emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) caused by the rapid biomass industrialization have attracted increasing attention. To investigate the characteristics of HAPs emitted from biomass power plants in China, a multiple-year comprehensive emission inventory including NOx, SO2, PM, PM10, PM2.5, and trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) has been established for the period of 2006–2017. As a result of the emission standard (GB13223-2011), emissions of conventional HAPs have declined since 2014. The results show that national total emissions in 2017 were estimated at 29,516.0 t of NOx, 14,192.1 t of SO2, 4100.7 t of PM, 2353.9 t of PM10, 1630.6 t of PM2.5, 3057.2 kg of As, 1622.8 kg of Cd, 8285.8 kg of Cr, 54,443.4 kg of Cu, 132.9 kg of Hg, 66,325.8 kg of Pb, and 175,587.9 kg of Zn, respectively. The majority of HAPs emissions have been concentrated in eastern, northeastern, and central areas of mainland China. Shandong, Heilongjiang, and Anhui represent the top three provinces with the highest HAPs emissions from 2012 to 2017. Besides, the future emissions in 2025 and 2035 under the ultra-low emission policy are predicted with scenario analysis.

Utilizing solar cell systems in remote desert areas in Jordan to exploit sustainable energy for irrigation and agriculture

ABSTRACT The present paper details a case study from Jordan and shows the implementation and impact of photovoltaic system in a remote area in northeastern of Jordan. This research aims to provide benefits to the livestock and agriculture population, and those concerned with agriculture, rural development, and renewable energies. Further, the study shows the possibility of using water storage tanks that run in parallel with the pump, and this led to the dispensing of high-cost storage batteries. In addition, the research addresses the problem of fluctuation of the return flow to solar radiation throughout the day by using a solar pump inverter technique with Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT). The results show the cost-effective by reducing the cost of diesel generators.

Relationship between health literacy in substance use and alcohol consumption and tobacco use among adolescents, Northeast Thailand.

BACKGROUND:Health literacy (HL) is an important role-play in health risk behaviors such as alcohol drinking and smoking. Inadequate HL in substance use (HLSU) is a barrier to reduce the risk of alcohol and tobacco use. This study aims to investigate the association of HLSU with alcohol consumption and tobacco use among Thai adolescents. Hence, the strengthening of HL program intervention may applied to reduce substance abuse among Thai adolescents.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 1087 university students studying in three universities located in northeastern area with multistage sampling methods by geographical areas. The data were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression was applied to determine the effect of HLSU of alcohol consumption and tobacco use.RESULTS:Most adolescents were drinkers (60.7%) and about 20.7% were smokers. Approximately 40% of them reported as inadequate HLSU. Adolescents with inadequate HLSU and a high level of positive alcohol expectancies and smoking outcome expectancies (SOE) were more likely to drink alcohol and smoke. Conversely, those who had a high level of negative alcohol drinking and SOE were less likely to consume alcohol and tobacco.CONCLUSION:Adolescents’ alcohol consumption and tobacco use were influenced by HL, hence improving adolescents’ HLSU could help prevent or reduce the risk of drinking and smoking behaviors.

Lombard weapons from Fiesole, Tuscany (6th – 7th century C.E.): old archaeological data for new considerations

The article focuses on the analysis of seven Lombard weapons datable between the end of 6th and the 7th century C.E. and present in the Archaeological Museum of Fiesole, in the north-eastern area of Tuscany in Italy. These objects, only partially published, and coming both from the Lombard necropolis of Area Garibaldi and from unknown contexts, have been compared with similar materials on national scale of the 6th-7th century C.E. and represent a relevant term of archaeological analysis for the transition between Late Antiquity Era and Lombard domination in Fiesole.

Комплекс находок начала XI в. из цистерны в IX квартале Херсонеса

This paper discusses a complex of ceramic finds excavated from a cistern in quarter IX in the north-eastern area of Chersonese, which supplied water to a public bath at the first stage of its existence. Although the reasons why the cistern was covered with soil remain unclear, later on residential buildings appeared at this site. The finds published here comprised imported transport and table ceramic wares. The complex included brown-clay flat-handle transport pitchers, presumably from the Taman area; Günsenin I amphorae produced on the Marmara Sea coast to the south-west of Constantinople; Glazed White Ware II tableware (according to J. Hayes’ classification) and painted white-clay Polychrome Ware also produced in the vicinity of the Byzantine capital. A vessel with polished surface is probably connected with the manufacture of the Khazar Khanate circle. The questions of the chronology of specific pottery types nave been analysed with account to their modern dating. According to the combination of dates, the complex of finds from the cistern in question is attributable to the beginning of the eleventh century. An important role for the dating of the complex is played by the chronology of the white-clay polychrome ware clarified by G. Sanders and the absence of Günsenin II amphorae dating from the mid-eleventh to the early twelfth centuries. The ceramic ware from the infill of the cistern comprises only imported pieces and reflects the two directions of Cherson’s trade in the said period: first, Constantinople and its environs and second, the Azov Sea and Northern Caucasus area.