Historical input and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic sediments.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants whose presence in the environmental matrices can provide insights into historical emissions and inputs from surrounding areas. In this study, we analyzed ten PAHs in eight sediment cores collected from the northern part of Taihu Lake, a region adjacent to one of the most developed areas in China, to assess the impacts of anthropogenic activities on PAH distributions over recent decades. PAH distributions were characterized using concentration fraction profiles of four light PAHs (CFL) and six heavy PAHs (CFH).

The variability of selenium and sulphur and the impact of creatinine in blood and urine of humans.

Background: Intake of selenium (Se) and sulphur (S) is mainly through meat and fish. This is also the case for creatine, which is broken down into creatinine (Crea).

Objectives: Objectives were to assess variability of Se and S in urine and blood, assess diurnal variation and associations with Crea in urine (U-Crea).

analysis and monitoring of antiscalant polyaspartate by mobile fluorescence spectroscopy.

Monitoring and controlling antiscalants, such as polyaspartate (PASP), in technical systems is essential to prevent scale formation and optimize inhibitor application. We developed a using a portable fluorometer equipped with optical fiber sensors for real-time PASP detection in various environmental and industrial settings. We quantified the impact of solution matrix effects, including pH, temperature, ionic strength, and turbidity, on fluorescence signals, emphasizing the need for on-site calibration.

Geochemical characterization and human health risk assessment of arsenic in soils of a high background area (Lori region, Armenia).

The adverse effects of arsenic (As) on human health highlight the importance of studying As concentrations, distribution patterns, and behavior in the environment, especially in regions with naturally elevated As levels. This study presents an integrated geochemical and spatial analysis of As in the soils of the Lori region (Armenia), a historically industrialized area with known mining influence. The goal of this study is to investigate the spatial distribution of As, identify its potential origin, unveil its geochemical associations with other major and trace elements, and assess As-associated health risk.

Hydrochemical inspection of landslide drainage structures reveals high risk for scaling processes.

The limited accessibility during visual inspections remains a central problem for maintaining and repairing of landslide drainage structures. Unwanted mineralization processes cause clogging and damage to drainage pipes, leaving reconstruction as the only option for remediation. Studies of water wells and tunnel drainages have shown that hydrochemical inspections can efficiently detect chemically triggered clogging processes at an early stage.

Temperature-induced microstructural evolution and fractal characteristics of high-enthalpy Chumathang granite for enhanced geothermal energy.

Micro-structural attributes of Chumathang granite from Leh, India, were experimentally determined in the temperature range from 25 to 600 °C for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). P-wave velocity, thermal crack generation, and pore attributes were analyzed using a combination of pulse ultrasonic velocity study, 3D X-ray tomography and low-pressure gas adsorption experiments, respectively. Results indicate that thermal crack development is driven by mineral composition and differential thermal expansion, with a significant increase in the thermal damage factor between 450 and 600 , accompanied by visible cracks at 600 .

Investigating Lightweight Carbonation Curing of Waste Slurry Using Activated Magnesium Oxide: Performance Insights.

This study, from the perspective of resource utilization and carbon sequestration, developed a novel lightweight carbonated solidified slurry material using reactive magnesium oxide (MgO), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and carbide slag as stabilizers, with carbonation induced by a CO foaming method. The physical and mechanical properties of the material were investigated. Based on the optimal mix proportion, the effects of MgO content, CO foam dosage, and stabilizer dosage on wet density, flowability, moisture content, and unconfined compressive strength were analyzed.

Dehydration-Driven Glass Formation in Aqueous Carbonates.

Amorphous carbonates, in their liquid and solid (glassy) forms, have been identified to play important roles in biomineralization, volcanism, and deep element cycling. Anhydrous amorphous calcium and calcium-magnesium carbonate (ACC and ACMC05, respectively) are structural glasses that exhibit a glass transition upon being heated. We report a significant effect of the water content on glass formation.

Legacy pollution of floodplain soils with quaternary ammonium compounds - Insights into vertical distribution, historical trends and suspected microplastic carriers.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are antimicrobials and cationic surfactants used since the early 20th century but increasingly under scrutiny because of their biocidal properties and potential to induce antimicrobial resistance. Although recognized as aquatic contaminants, little is known about the entry, persistence and effects of QACs in floodplain soils. Due to their sorption to suspended particulate matter (SPM), we hypothesized that floodplains may have acted as sinks for QAC contamination in the aquatic-terrestrial interface for decades.

Unravel subseafloor hydrothermal leaching and magmatic degassing during chimney formation at Kolumbo volcano.

Hydrothermal chimneys are the upmost expression of fluids, metals and ligands transfer from the subseafloor to the hydrosphere, eventually forming seafloor massive sulfides. In volcanic arc settings, both magmatic and hydrothermal fluids occur together. While each fluid reflects different metal mobilizing mechanisms (i.

Electrostatic and Chemical Interplay between Air-Water and Mineral-Water Interfaces during PFOS Transport in Unsaturated Porous Media.

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) migration from vadose zone sources to groundwater is determined by multiple interfacial retention processes and their dependency on hydrochemistry. This study investigates the impact of air-water and mineral-water interfacial retention on PFOS transport under different hydrochemical conditions to assess their adsorption magnitudes and feedback dynamics as a function of ionic strength. Flow-through experiments were conducted in unsaturated quartz and goethite-coated quartz sands equilibrated with different background electrolyte concentrations to distinguish between air-water and goethite-water interfacial adsorption contributions to PFOS retardation.

Complete online database of maximal subgroups of subperiodic groups at the Bilbao Crystallographic Server.

The section of the Bilbao Crystallographic Server (https://www.cryst.ehu.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of PM and PM concentrations in a complex urban environment recorded by mobile monitoring for the example of Karlsruhe, South-West Germany.

The spatial distribution of particulate matter pollution in urban areas is as complex as the complexity layout of buildings and streets and the various emission sources. Because of relatively high costs and inflexibility, the traditional fixed station monitoring is not able to satisfy the demand of dynamic particulate monitoring. A particulate sensor (OPC_N3) was installed on a trailer of a bicycle and applied to investigate spatio-temporal distributions of PM and PM concentrations in summer time of Karlsruhe, Germany.

Long-distance transport of bacteriophages MS2 and phiX174 in karst aquifers.

Waterborne pathogens pose a particular threat to aquifers with low retention capacity, such as karst aquifers. To date, particle transport in groundwater is typically studied using tracer tests with microspheres or natural sediments, which might be unsuitable to derive transport characteristics of pathogenic bacteria or viruses. This study investigated the transport and attenuation behavior of two bacteriophages, MS2 and phiX174, as surrogates for pathogens in a karst aquifer in South-West Germany.

A greening Earth has reversed the trend of decreasing carbonate weathering under a warming climate.

The response of mineral weathering and its related Weathering Sink for atmospheric CO (WS) to global vegetation greening are not well understood. After applying different biogeochemical models and a field experiment to investigate the influence of vegetation greening and warming on the variations of carbonate weathering and WS on regional and global scales, here we show a significant positive relationship between global carbonate weathering intensity ([HCO] as a proxy) and vegetation greenness. During 1982-2018, under a warming climate, [HCO] and WS increase by 5.

Computational analysis tools for magnetic structures in the Bilbao Crystallographic Server.

Magnetic symmetry plays a critical part in the description of magnetic structures and their relations to their paramagnetic parent phases as well as to other magnetic structures through phase transitions. Here, we present the symmetry-based computational tools developed by the Bilbao Crystallographic Server for the analysis of magnetic structures, and their relations are illustrated through worked-out cases from the literature.

Investigating the Causes of Substandard Concrete Strength: A Macro- and Microanalysis.

This study investigates the root causes of substandard concrete quality in a newly constructed residential complex, addressing the critical issue of compressive strength failure in structural elements. To tackle this problem, twelve core samples were extracted from affected areas and analyzed using a combination of macro-scale techniques (high-temperature heating, acid-immersion tests) and advanced microscopic methods (SEM-EDS, XRF, XRD, FTIR, TGA). The results revealed that while material proportions generally met specifications, uneven aggregate gradation and excessive use of mineral admixtures were key factors compromising strength.

Salt stress-induced remodeling of sugar transport: a role for promoter alleles of SWEET13.

Sucrose, the primary carbon form synthesized by photosynthesis, is transported via the phloem for proper plant development and productivity. However, long-distance sucrose transport can become unbalanced under adverse environmental conditions. Therefore, we highlight the influence of salt stress on sugar partitioning in source versus sink tissues in sorghum under generative development including the role of stress induced sucrose transporter expression.

Multiple environmental tracers combined with a constrained Bayesian isotope mixing model to elucidate nitrate and sulfate contamination in a coastal groundwater system.

Several groundwater quality investigations have been conducted in coastal regions that are commonly exposed to multiple anthropogenic stressors. Nonetheless, such studies remain challenging because they require focused-diagnostic approaches for a comprehensive understanding of groundwater contamination. Therefore, this study integrates a multi-tracer approach to acquire comprehensive information allowing for an improved understanding of the origins of groundwater contamination, the relative contribution of contaminants, and their biogeochemical cycling within a coastal groundwater system.

Microbial diversity and biogeochemical interactions in the seismically active and CO- rich Eger Rift ecosystem.

The Eger Rift subsurface is characterized by frequent seismic activity and consistently high CO concentrations, making it a unique deep biosphere ecosystem and a suitable site to study the interactions between volcanism, tectonics, and microbiological activity. Pulses of geogenic H during earthquakes may provide substrates for methanogenic and chemolithoautotrophic processes, but very little is currently known about the role of subsurface microorganisms and their cellular processes in this type of environment. To assess the impact of geologic activity on microbial life, we analyzed the geological, geochemical, and microbiological composition of rock and sediment samples from a 238 m deep drill core, running across six lithostratigraphic zones.

Assessing vegetation dynamics and human impacts in natural and urban areas of China: Insights from remote sensing data.

Vegetation changes and human activities in both natural and urban environments have played a crucial role in carbon cycling and sustainable development globally. However, there is an insufficient comparison in national vegetation changes across regions with varying intensities of human activities to those natural areas. Based on urban boundary and night-time light datasets, we have identified and extracted rural, urban-low activity, and urban-high activity areas within China.

Environmental impact of an anthropogenic groundwater temperature hotspot.

Heat emitted by buildings and other infrastructure accumulates in the subsurface. This additional heat can cause a pronounced shift in thermal boundary conditions of the important groundwater ecosystem. Shallow groundwater systems in Central Europe are often inhabited by communities of fauna adapted to cold and stable conditions as well as microorganisms, whose activity is dependent on ambient temperatures.

: a computer tool at the Bilbao Crystallographic Server for the study of pseudo-symmetric or distorted structures.

is a free online program at the Bilbao Crystallographic Server (https://www.cryst.ehu.