Search results for "TOPS"

Critical range of soil organic carbon in southern Europe lands under desertification risk.

2021

Soil quality is fundamental for ecosystem long term functionality, productivity and resilience to current climatic changes. Despite its importance, soil is lost and degraded at dramatic rates worldwide. In Europe, the Mediterranean areas are a hotspot for soil erosion and land degradation due to a combination of climatic conditions, soils, geomorphology and anthropic pressure. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is considered a key indicator of soil quality as it relates to other fundamental soil functions supporting crucial ecosystem services. In the present study, the functional relationships among SOC and other important soil properties were investigated in the topsoil of 38 sites under different …

Synthesis of new derivatives of Nortopsentin with potential inhibitory activity against GSK-3b

Combined HACCP and TOPSIS-based approach to prioritize risks in the salmon manufacturing process: A case study

2017

The food safety risk assessment is defined by the Codex Alimentarius Commission as the scientific evaluation of known or potential adverse health effects resulting from human exposure to food-borne hazards. Nowadays, the implementation of a systematic and disciplined risk assessment approach in the food safety field is recognized to be a powerful tool for carrying out science-based analyses and for reaching sound consistent solutions to food safety problems. With this recognition, a combined Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)-based approach is proposed in the present paper to prioritize risks of t…

A comparison of Microtops II and satellite ozone measurements in the period 2001-2011

2013

Daily average total ozone Microtops measurements obtained during several campaigns conducted from 2001 to 2011 at latitudes from 31 to 68N and in different seasons are compared with satellite observations. The Microtops ozone is derived using different wavelength combinations (Channel I, 305.5/312.5. nm; Channel II, 312.5/320. nm; and Channel III, 305.5/312.5/320. nm). Satellite data from TOMS, OMI, GOME, and GOME-2 are used in the comparison. The three Microtops channels show a high correlation with the satellite retrievals. Channel I shows the best results and produces a mean bias deviation (MBD) less than 2.14% with respect to TOMS, OMI and GOME. The MBD increases to 3% in the comparison…

Histological and immunohistochemical findings in a fatal case of thrombotic thrombocytopenia after ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccination

2021

This case report describes a fatal case of a young woman with superior sagittal, transverse and sigmoid sinus thrombosis after administration of the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccination. Eleven days post-vaccination she was found unconscious and transferred to the Emergency Department. Blood parameters showed low platelets, and a CT scan showed an extensive left intracranial hemorrhage and the presence of an occlusive thrombus of the superior sagittal sinus. She under-went a craniectomy, but after the intervention, she remained in a comatose state. After a few days, her clinical conditions worsened, and she died. A complete autopsy was performed which showed a thrombosis of the cerebral venous distr…

Plant diversity effects on the water balance of an experimental grassland

2014

In the literature, contrasting effects of plant species richness on the soil water balance are reported. Our objective was to assess the effects of plant species and functional richness and functional identity on soil water contents and water fluxes in the experimental grassland of the Jena Experiment. The Jena Experiment comprises 86 plots on which plant species richness (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 60) and functional group composition (zero to four functional groups: legumes, grasses, tall herbs, and small herbs) were manipulated in a factorial design. We recorded meteorological data and soil water contents of the 0·0–0·3 and 0·3–0·7 m soil layers and calculated actual evapotranspiration (ETa)…

Comparison of neophyte communities of Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Acer negundo L. in the eastern Baltic Sea region cities of Riga and Kaunas

2015

Abstract In this study, we examined the species composition of neophyte communities of Robinia pseudoacacia and Acer negundo and compared the site conditions of the urban environment of two cities—Riga and Kaunas. Eighty-five plots of A. negundo and R. pseudoacacia communities were selected. Within each plot, all of the vascular plant species were recorded, and their abundance was estimated in 2014. Composite soil samples of the 0–10 cm mineral topsoil were collected for the estimation of the soil chemical properties at nine systematically distributed points in each sample plot. The soil pH KCL , exchangeable bases, total nitrogen, total organic matter, C/N ratio, and concentrations of the …

Exposure assessment of a burning ground for chemical ammunition on the Great War battlefields of Verdun

2007

The destruction of arsenical shells from the 1914/18 war in the vicinity of Verdun (France) during the 1920s resulted in a locally limited but severe soil contamination by arsenic and heavy metals. At the study site, the main part of the contaminant inventory occurs in the upper 20 cm of the topsoil which is essentially composed of combustion residues. Besides, some Cu (cmax.=16,877 mg/kg) and Pb (cmax.=26,398 mg/kg) in this layer, As (cmax.=175,907 mg/kg) and Zn (cmax.=133,237 mg/kg) were detected in very high concentrations. The mobilities of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in the soil system were derived from ammonium nitrate eluates. They are strongly influenced by the soil pH and can be described by…

Methane oxidation at a surface-sealed boreal landfill.

2009

Abstract Methane oxidation was studied at a closed boreal landfill (area 3.9 ha, amount of deposited waste 200,000 tonnes) equipped with a passive gas collection and distribution system and a methane oxidative top soil cover integrated in a European Union landfill directive-compliant, multilayer final cover. Gas wells and distribution pipes with valves were installed to direct landfill gas through the water impermeable layer into the top soil cover. Mean methane emissions at the 25 measuring points at four measurement times (October 2005–June 2006) were 0.86–6.2 m 3  ha −1  h −1 . Conservative estimates indicated that at least 25% of the methane flux entering the soil cover at the measuring…

Pore water velocity and ionic strength effects on DOC release from peat-sand mixtures: Results from laboratory and field experiments

2017

Organic soils are the most important source of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in surface water. To date, most studies have focused on natural and re-wetted peatlands, but in Central Europe a large proportion of organic soils are drained and under agricultural use. Furthermore, measures such as deep ploughing or sand addition have been conducted to improve trafficability and have resulted in topsoil horizons consisting of a peat-sand mixture. Very little is known about DOC losses from such soils. Moreover, peat soils frequently feature both mobile zones, characterised by active water and solute transport, and immobile zones, which exchange solutes with the mobile zone by diffusion. Surprisin…