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The paper is devoted to the peculiarities of the creation of the personified image of the city in the novel "The Dead [City of] Bruges" by Georges Raymond Constantin Rodenbach, which, according to the author himself, represents not only the protagonist, but also its organising force. The Belgian author draws on an earlier literary tradition, according to which the city appears to the poet's mind in the form of a woman. The image of the city is built on the combination and interaction of different elements, among which those that are considered in the article: the theme of duality, the motif of reflection, which becomes the main constructional principle of the image system of the novel, as well as references to mythological and literary archetypes. The theme of duplicity is directly connected with the category of correspondence or analogy, which is central to Rodenbach's oeuvre and forms a peculiar poetics of reflection and determines the choice of expressive means. Dualism is associated with a hostile, dark and demonic force, contrasted with the "holy" and infallible feminine ideal, embodied in the image of the perished beloved, who is also a prototype of the city. The poeticised image of the city is related to archetypical figures that are typical of European symbolism – first of all, Ophelia, but also Orpheus and Narcissus, all this through an appeal to the symbolism of water and the otherworld, then through the main character's attempt to overcome the border between worlds and create a new myth about love that defeats death.

Petrography, diagenesis, and facies analyses as well as the depositional environments of the late Campanian-Maastrichtian sequence in southwestern Iraq are studied in five keyholes. The sequence incorporates parts of the Hartha, Shiranish and Tayarat Formations. The Hartha Formation comprises creamy and organodetrital dolomite, grey dolomitic marl, and evaporites. The Shiranish Formation is composed of grey marl and claystone, whereas the Tayarat Formation is composed of grey ash, along with tough and fossiliferous dolomitic limestone inter-bedded with grey mudstone layers and/or wisps. Several diagenetic processes affected the sequence, such as neomorphic replacement, dissolution, dolomitization, and sulphate development. Some of these processes obliterated the primary textures.
The late Campanian-Maastrichtian sequence consists of three microfacies (Dolomitic Intraclastic Limestone, Dolomitized Biomicrite, and Biomicrosparite Microfacies) and two lithofacies (Mudrock and Sulphates-Rock Lithofacies), in addition to Fine- to Medium-Crystalline Dolomite Lithotype.
The Hartha Formation is evaporitic, possibly with supratidal sabkha deposits. The overlying Tayarat and Shiranish Formations reflect deposition in a warm tropical to subtropical reefal and open marine conditions, as deduced from faunal assemblages. Some effects of deep marine condition are evident by the presence of Shiranish facies. The sequence represents deposition in the central reef- fore reef area. The absence of isolated back-reef lagoon facies suggests that the reef was patchy without isolation of water in the middle shelf region. However, at the top of the sequence, i.e. at the end of the Cretaceous Period, restricted lagoons seem to have dominated the studied succession.

AbstractThe Phongolo floodplain is one of southern Africa's most important systems. In this study, we carried out a regional scale ecological risk assessment to evaluate the risk of multiple stressors associated with the use of the aquatic resources in the floodplain to selected social and ecological endpoints representing its sustainability. The floodplain has undergone significant changes as a result of the impacts of multiple stressors. This includes high risk of impact and threatened sustainability between the Pongolapoort Dam and the Ndumo Game Reserve (NGR). This compares to relatively low risk to the maintenance of the endpoints within the NGR. The reserve provides a protection and refuge function for regional biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem sustainability processes. In the study a range of scenarios were considered and demonstrate that the system will respond to protection measures and or increased resource use options. Should flood reductions or water quality pollution drivers continue on increasing trajectories, the condition of the Phongolo River and floodplain will probably deteriorate into an unacceptable, unsustainable state. Removal of the protection services of the NGR would result in an unsustainable ecosystem and loss of ecosystem services for regional vulnerable African communities. Additional evidence should be obtained from monitoring and research to refine, validate, and update the assessment in an adaptive management context. The risk assessment framework approach implemented in the Phongolo floodplain can contribute to the management of other floodplains ecosystems and the sustainability management of social and ecological attributes and processes of these important ecosystems.

Abstract. Over the past decade, Brazil has experienced severe droughts across its territory, with important implications for soil moisture dynamics. Soil moisture variability has a direct impact on agriculture, water security and ecosystem services. Nevertheless, there is currently little information on how soil moisture across different biomes responds to drought. In this study, we used satellite soil moisture data from the European Space Agency, from 2009 to 2015, to analyze differences in soil moisture responses to drought for each biome of Brazil: Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa and Pantanal. We found an overall soil moisture decline of −0.5 % yr−1 (p<0.01) at the national level. At the biome level, Caatinga presented the most severe soil moisture decline (−4.4 % yr−1), whereas the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes showed no significant trend. The Amazon biome showed no trend but had a sharp reduction of soil moisture from 2013 to 2015. In contrast, the Pampa and Pantanal biomes presented a positive trend (1.6 % yr−1 and 4.3 % yr−1, respectively). These trends are consistent with vegetation productivity trends across each biome. This information provides insights into drought risk reduction and soil conservation activities to minimize the impact of drought in the most vulnerable biomes. Furthermore, improving our understanding of soil moisture trends during periods of drought is crucial to enhance the national drought early warning system and develop customized strategies for adaptation to climate change in each biome.

AbstractAs a global environmental pollutant, mercury (Hg) threatens our water resources and presents a substantial risk to human health. The rate and extent of immobilization of Hg2+ (hereafter, Hg) on engineered sorbents (Thiol-SAMMS®, pine biochar, SediMite™, Organoclay™ PM-199, and quartz sand as a control) was evaluated using flow-through column experiments. The effectiveness of the sorbents was based on (1) the percentage of Hg removed in relation to the total amount of Hg passing the sorbent column, and (2) the rate of Hg uptake compared to the nonreactive tracer bromide (Br−). All sorbents removed Hg to a certain extent, but none of the sorbents removed all the Hg introduced to the columns. Thiol-SAMMS showed the highest mean percentage of Hg removed (87% ± 2.9%), followed by Organoclay PM-199 (71% ± 0.4%), pine biochar (57% ± 22.3%), SediMite (61% ± 0.8%), and the control quartz sand (11% ± 5.6%). Thiol-SAMMS was the only sorbent to exhibit retardation of Hg in comparison to the conservative tracer Br−. For the remaining sorbents, Br− along with low concentrations of Hg were eluted within the first 3 pore volumes, indicating limited retardation of Hg. Overall, removal of Hg by sorbents was substantial, suggesting that sorbents might be suitable for deployment in contaminated environments. High concentrations of DOM leaching from the soil columns likely influenced the speciation of Hg and inhibited sorption to the sorbents. Incomplete removal of Hg by any sorbent suggests that additional optimization is needed to increase efficiency.

AbstractChlorine (Cl) in the terrestrial environment is of interest from multiple perspectives, including the use of chloride as a tracer for water flow and contaminant transport, organochlorine pollutants, Cl cycling, radioactive waste (radioecology; 36Cl is of large concern) and plant science (Cl as essential element for living plants). During the past decades, there has been a rapid development towards improved understanding of the terrestrial Cl cycle. There is a ubiquitous and extensive natural chlorination of organic matter in terrestrial ecosystems where naturally formed chlorinated organic compounds (Clorg) in soil frequently exceed the abundance of chloride. Chloride dominates import and export from terrestrial ecosystems while soil Clorg and biomass Cl can dominate the standing stock Cl. This has important implications for Cl transport, as chloride will enter the Cl pools resulting in prolonged residence times. Clearly, these pools must be considered separately in future monitoring programs addressing Cl cycling. Moreover, there are indications that (1) large amounts of Cl can accumulate in biomass, in some cases representing the main Cl pool; (2) emissions of volatile organic chlorines could be a significant export pathway of Cl and (3) that there is a production of Clorg in tissues of, e.g. plants and animals and that Cl can accumulate as, e.g. chlorinated fatty acids in organisms. Yet, data focusing on ecosystem perspectives and combined spatiotemporal variability regarding various Cl pools are still scarce, and the processes and ecological roles of the extensive biological Cl cycling are still poorly understood.

AbstractThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the 2030 Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement, both agreed in 2015, call for the world to simultaneously address development and climate change. Some researchers argue that the SDGs put more emphasis on the value of economic growth, and if so, it would pose a challenging situation, especially to developing countries considering the nexus among economic growth, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. In order to understand to what extent the SDGs advancement accompanies CO2 emissions increase, a study is needed to investigate development pathways of various countries during the past decades. This study aims to empirically identify well‐performing countries, in terms of both the SDGs implementation and CO2 emission mitigations, and investigate causes of the difference from the others through the decomposition analysis. The results confirm a good number of well‐performers, particularly among the Latin American and the transition countries. It is found that well‐targeted policy interventions for expanding the essential public services such as health, education, energy, water, and sanitation, are effective for advancing the SDGs. The decomposition analysis shows that the countries which made significant advancements in the SDGs had tangible positive economic growth effects on their per‐capita CO2 emissions. But if policy attention is paid to reduce the energy and carbon intensities, especially in the energy‐intensive sectors, such as the industry, energy, and transport sectors, the increases of per‐capita CO2 emissions can be minimized. Proper private sector engagements are considered effective to this end.

AbstractMaterials and articles made of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) intended for contact with food must comply with the requirements of the European Plastic Regulation (EU) 10/2011, which lays down the food simulants and the time/temperature conditions to be applied for migration testing. Previous studies indicated that high concentrations of ethanol at temperatures above ambient may lead to swelling of ABS polymers resulting in increased migration. In this study migration kinetic data for a set of model substances at different temperatures were obtained using both food simulants stipulated in EU regulations and real food (milk, cream and olive oil). At the same time, the extent of polymer swelling was gravimetrically characterized after contact with simulants and different foods tested at several conditions to cover the majority of foreseeable applications of ABS. The obtained results confirmed that the use of high concentrations of ethanol–water, especially at high temperatures, causes the swelling of ABS polymers and results in significantly higher migration values compared to the tested foods as well as Tenax®. None of the real foods studied cause significant swelling of ABS. The widely used simulant 95% (v/v) aqueous ethanol proves not be suitable for compliance testing of ABS under the recommended conditions of Regulation (EU) 10/2011. Swelling of the polymer results in artificially higher diffusion coefficients or lower activation energies of diffusion. Migration prediction using polymer-specific diffusion parameters should therefore be considered to avoid over-conservative risk assessment for food contact materials and articles made of ABS.

Bioengineered artificial skin substitutes (BASS) are the main treatment used in addition to autografts when skin injuries involve a large body surface area. Antiseptic/antibiotic treatment is necessary to prevent infections in the BASS implant area. This study aims to evaluate the effect of antiseptics and antibiotics on cell viability, structural integrity, and epidermal barrier function in BASS based on hyaluronic acid during a 28 day follow-up period. Keratinocytes (KTs) and dermal fibroblasts (DFs) were isolated from skin samples and used to establish BASS. The following antibiotic/antiseptic treatment was applied every 48 h: colistin (1%), chlorhexidine digluconate (1%), sodium chloride (0.02%), and polyhexanide (0.1%). Cell viability (LIVE/DEAD® assay), structural integrity (histological evaluation), and epidermal barrier function (trans-epidermal water loss, (TEWL), Tewameter®) were also evaluated. Cell viability percentage of BASS treated with chlorhexidine digluconate was significantly lower (p 0.001) than the other antiseptics at day 28. Compared to other treatments, chlorhexidine digluconate and polyhexanide significantly affected the epithelium. No significant differences were found regarding epidermal barrier. These results may be useful for treatment protocols after implantation of BASS in patients and evaluating them in clinical practice. BASS represent a suitable model to test in vitro the impact of different treatments of other skin wounds. ; Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain ; University of Granada ; Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI13/02576 PI17/02083 ; European Regional Development Fund "A way to make Europe" ; Andalusian Regional Government SAS PI-0458-2016

This research was funded by the GOVERNMENT OF ANDALUSIA AND EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND, grant number A-HUM-279-UGR18 and P18-FR-4477 (FICOARTE regional project), and by the SPANISH MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND COMPETITIVENESS, grant number PID2019.109713RB.100 (VIRARTE national project). ; All fountains are inhabited by phototrophic microorganisms, especially if they are functional and located outdoors. This fact, along with the regular presence of water and the intrinsic bioreceptivity of stone material, easily favors the biological development. Many of these organisms are responsible for the biodeterioration phenomena and recognizing them could help to define the best strategies for the conservation and maintenance of monumental fountains. The presence of biological growth involves different activities for the conservation of artistic fountains. This paper is a review of the phototrophic biodiversity reported in 46 fountains and gives a whole vision on coping with biodeteriogens of fountains, being an elementary guide for professionals in the field of stone conservation. It is focused on recognizing the main phototrophs by using simplified dichotomous keys for cyanobacteria, green algae and diatoms. Some basic issues related to the handling of the samples and with the control of these types of microalgae are also briefly described, in order to assist interested professionals when dealing with the biodiversity of monumental fountains. ; GOVERNMENT OF ANDALUSIA A-HUM-279-UGR18 P18-FR-4477 ; European Commission A-HUM-279-UGR18 P18-FR-4477 ; SPANISH MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND COMPETITIVENESS PID2019.109713RB.100

India's transformation of its food system from a highly deficit one in mid 1960s to self-reliant and marginally surplus now is a story of success and holds lessons for many small holder economies of Africa and south and south-east Asia. Having lived a situation of 'ship to mouth', India has emerged as the largest producer of milk, spices, cotton, and pulses; second largest producer of wheat, rice, fruits and vegetables; third largest producer of eggs; and the fifth largest producer of poultry meat. It is also largest exporter of rice, spices, and bovine meat. All this became possible with infusion of new technologies, innovative institutional engineering, and right incentives. However, as India looks towards 2030 and beyond, its food system faces many challenges ranging from increasing pressure on natural resources (soils, water, air, forests) to climate change to fragmenting land holdings, increasing urbanisation, and high rates of malnutrition amongst children. Meeting these challenges successfully, India needs a right mix of policiesfrom subsidy driven to investment driven, and from price policy to income policy approach, promoting agricultural diversification towards more nutritious food. It also needs to incentivise its private sector to build efficient and inclusive value chains, giving due importance to environmental sustainability. More innovative technologies from green to gene, increasing digitalization, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, would be needed to 'produce more from less' with a goal to feed the most populous nation on this planet by 2030 in a sustainable manner.

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG ; [Abstract] Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a myeloid-lineage restricted enzyme largely expressed in the azurophilic granules of neutrophils. It catalyses the formation of reactive oxygen species, mainly hypochlorous acid, contributing to anti-pathogenic defense. Disorders in the production or regulation of MPO may lead to a variety of health conditions, mainly of inflammatory origin, including autoimmune inflammation. We have studied the effect of ionizing radiation on the activity of MPO, as measured by the capacity retained by the enzyme to produce hypochlorous acid as reactive oxygen species after exposure to successive doses of solvated electrons, the strongest possible one-e− reducing agent in water. Chlorination activity was still present after a very high irradiation dose, indicating that radiation damage does not take place at the active site, hindered in the core of MPO structure. Decay kinetics show a dependence on the wavelength, supporting that the process must occur at peripheral functional groups situated on external and readily accessible locations of the enzyme. These results are relevant to understand the mechanism of resistance of our innate anti-pathogenic defense system and also to get insight into potential strategies to regulate MPO levels as a therapeutic target in autoimmune diseases. ; This work was supported by: the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (CTQ2004-00534/BQU), the European Commission through the Access to Large-Scale Scientific Facilities Program (ref 41365), and the regional government of the Xunta de Galicia (Project GPC ED431B 2020/52) ; Xunta de Galicia; ED431B 2020/52

The paper assesses social impacts of a mega-dam project (Merowe Dam in Sudan) as perceived by host and affected communities (i.e., upstream, downstream, and relocated residents), which is not commonly seen in the literature. Primary survey and interviews were conducted with 300 residents, government officials, the Dam Implementation Unit (DIU), NGOs and other key informants. Five inter-related areas of impact were scrutinized: (a) displacement of communities; (b) resettlement of displaced communities in a new location; (c) technological factors; (d) social mobility factors; and (e) economic and political institutions. Results show that Merowe Dam exerted positive as well as adverse social impacts on local communities. Increase in home sizes, opportunities for children's schooling and quality of life improvement ranked as the top three positive impacts with residents located downstream scoring relatively higher than relocated and upstream residents. Relocated residents also showed positive attitudes towards the provision of essential services (schools, health facilities, availability of running water, electricity, marketplace, etc.), thereby enabling them to enjoy and flourish in their social lives. The adverse impacts are centered on intangible factors, such as, sentimental effects closely related to their feelings, loss of history, memories, nostalgia about the old place, and grievances regarding compensation packages and its management. Therefore, it is important to recognize the need for long-term monitoring of the resettlement process and provide emotional support to those displaced and resettled. Furthermore, there is also a need to address the livelihood requirements of local communities in the affected region.

The threat of climate change has been identified as one of the leading challenges facing humanity. As such, there is a necessary global transition to lower-carbon economies and societies to reduce the harmful emissions caused by human activities to mitigate the growing climate crisis. Yet, there are fears that there will be job losses and economic hardships as the world transitions away from the carbonheavy dependence of the past. The Just Transition principle has emerged globally as a framework of ensuring these potential job losses and economic hardships are planned for, and the people inherently at risk in the transition are protected. The Just Transition is built on the acknowledgement that climate change must be averted, but it must be done so justly. In South Africa, there is a particular need for the Just Transition, based on the country's historic dependence on coal, the broad socioeconomic challenges and the country's vulnerability to climate change. This thesis explores hundreds of qualitative views from numerous stakeholders around the country on what the Just Transition will mean for South Africa. It analyses the current Mineral Energy Complex and climate change situation in South Africa, and examines the stakeholder determined vision for the country for 2050. Synthesised from views from across South Africa, this thesis furthermore established the four interrelated and stakeholder determined pathways which could facilitate the South African Just Transition – namely an Energy Transition, Restoring Land Resources, providing Safe Water for All, and utilising Green Growth.

Over 98% of sprayed insecticides and 95% of herbicides reach a destination other than their target species, including non-target species, air, water and soil. The extensive reliance on insecticide use reduces biodiversity, contributes to pollinator decline, destroys habitat, and threatens endangered species. This book offers a more effective application of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach, on an area-wide (AW) or population-wide (AW-IPM) basis, which aims at the management of the total population of a pest, involving a coordinated effort over often larger areas. For major livestock pests, vectors of human diseases and pests of high-value crops with low pest tolerance, there are compelling economic reasons for participating in AW-IPM. This new textbook attempts to address various fundamental components of AW-IPM, e.g. the importance of relevant problem-solving research, the need for planning and essential baseline data collection, the significance of integrating adequate tools for appropriate control strategies, and the value of pilot trials, etc. With chapters authored by 184 experts from more than 31 countries, the book includes many technical advances in the areas of genetics, molecular biology, microbiology, resistance management, and social sciences that facilitate the planning and implementing of area-wide strategies. The book is essential reading for the academic and applied research community as well as national and regional government plant and human/animal health authorities with responsibility for protecting plant and human/animal health.