Spectroscopic Characterization of Compost at Different Maturity Stages

We studied the physicochemical and molecular changes of compost during its maturation within 60, 90, and 150 days after the composting process. Moreover, the changes were also studied in compost residues after sequential removal of lipidic compounds. Infrared DRIFT spectrometry and ¹³C‐CPMAS‐NMR spectroscopy indicate that the molecular composition of compost changes dramatically during the stabilization period. The most decomposable components, mainly represented by bioavailable lipidic and peptidic structures, were progressively mineralized passing from 60 days to longer periods of compost stabilization. At increasing maturity stages, the composition of organic matter underwent a progressive enrichment in stable hydrophobic and ligno‐cellulosic material. The sequential extraction of lipidic compounds allowed an improved characterization of substrates and confirmed the outlined progressive transformation of compost. Compost may well be chosen on the basis of selected characteristics for environmental applications.     

Challenge Future – Technical Progress and Globalization

Central elements of the challenges of the future are the population, supply and disposal trap, the question of how the increasing world population will be supplied with long‐lasting and effective sources of energy, raw materials and food? How do we deal with the problems of greenhouse effect, ozone hole, forest dieback, ground erosion, desertification and other environmental threats? Driven by the dynamics of the technical progress the world is in the midst of experiencing the transition from an industrial to an information society. The process of globalization is intrinsically tied to the information society and plays a vital role in the path to a new, digital development of the world. Therefore, new challenges have been added to the traditional ecological challenges at the beginning of the 21^st century, which the world community must react swiftly to.     

Fe,Mn, P and S Speciation in Sediments from the Capivara Hydroelectric Dam Lake (Brazil) as an Indicator of Anthropogenic Influences

The conservation of large water resources is essential for the preservation of human life. The quantification and, more importantly, the speciation of chemical substances that indicate the presence of anthropogenic contamination in water resources are of great importance. This paper presents the results of analysis for the determination of organic, inorganic and total phosphorus, pseudo‐sulfur, and iron and manganese, in five fractions, in water sediments collected from the Capivara Hydroelectric Power Plant, Brazil. A study on the seasonal variation of these parameters was conducted, with data having been collected in the winter and in the summer, at two sites along the dam, 5 km apart, close to the city of Primeiro de Maio. Phosphorous was found in sediments and adjacent soil in the organic form (OP), and was used as an indicator of anthropogenic influence on the reservoir banks. Speciation of potentially toxic Mn showed that it is present in the exchangeable fraction of the 0–5 cm depth layer (sediment/water interface), making its transfer to the water column possible. Results from this study showed that domestic and industrial effluent treatment measures are needed for the preservation of the quality of aquatic environments.     

基于GIS／RS的西畴县法斗乡土地利用变化研究

随着科学技术的发展,遥感技术运用到土地利用管理中,能够快速提取土地利用变化信息,同时地理信息技术（GIS）迅猛发展,基于这两种技术结合起来探测土地资源的变化具有重要的现实意义。因此,在GIS平台支持下,将土地利用变化分析结果用于土地利用更新从而得到更新后的土地利用现状图。并根据土地利用面积变化、类型等方面对项目区进行了定性定量研究。根据土地利用变化情况以及土地利用各类型之间的相互转换状况,建立了土地利用类型转换矩阵并根据项目区实际情况提出了在石漠化地区生态效益恢复的建议及对策。     

New Attempt to Reduce the Harm of Smoking: Reducing the Nitrosamines Level in Tobacco Smoke by Microwave Irradiation

In order to protect the environment and public health, microwave irradiation was investigated as a means of reducing the nitrosamines level of tobacco smoke under mild conditions where the microwave energy was 1 kW and the irradiation time was shorter than 2 min. The microwave‐induced elimination of nitrosamines such as N‐nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) and N‐nitrosodiphenylamine (NDPA) was investigated and the impact of the presence of water and salt in the medium on the reduction was assessed in detail. The existence of water in the medium was crucial for the microwave‐induced reduction of NDPA, because the rapid movement of water molecules under the influence of microwaves strongly affects the adjacent nitrosamines leading to their decomposition. This was the first time that microwaves have been used to directly irradiate cigarettes sealed in their packaging, and the nitrosamines content of tobacco and smoke of these irradiated cigarettes were analyzed with care. Irradiation for 90 s with microwave energy of 1kW was seen to reduce 25 to 30% of the nitrosamines in tobacco and 50 to 60% of the levels present in the mainstream smoke of the cigarette. Moreover, lower mutagenic activity and higher CHO cell livability were found for the irradiated cigarettes in comparison with the control according to the results of in vitro tests.     

Variability of the Fe K line relativistic component in a sample of Seyfert 1 galaxies

We present the analysis of X‐ray spectral variability made on a sample of 7 Seyfert 1 bright galaxies, using XMM‐Newton data. From the “XMM‐Newton Science Archive” we selected those bright Seyfert 1 showing one or more prominent flares in their 2–10 keV light curves. For each of them we extracted spectra in 3 different time intervals: before, during and after the flare. We fitted them with a simple power law and then shifted a narrow emission and absorption line template across the 2.5–10 keV data, in order to investigate the presence of line‐like features with a confidence level greater than 99%. Some highly significant features were detected in 3 out of 7 sources studied. In particular, the 3 sources, namely PG 1211+143, NGC 4051 and NGC 3783, showed the presence of a variable emission feature in the 4.5–5.8 keV band, characterized by an increase of its intensity after the flare peak. Because of the observed variability pattern, this feature seems to be ascribable to a reverbered redshifted relativistic component of the Fe K line. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

CCD‐Δa and BV R photometry of NGC 7296

The first CCD photometric investigation of the open cluster NGC 7296 up to now was performed within the narrow band Δa photometric system, which enables us to detect peculiar objects. A deeper investigation of that cluster followed, using the standard BV R ‐Bessel filter set. The age and E (B – V ) was determined independently to log t = 8.0 ± 0.1 and 0.15 ± 0.02, respectively by using Δa and broadband photometry. In total five Be/Ae objects and two metal‐weak stars showing significant negative Δa ‐values as well as one classical chemically peculiar star could be identified within that intermediate age open cluster. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A study of the young open cluster Collinder 359

We present the first deep, optical, wide‐field imaging survey of the young open cluster Collinder 359, complemented by near‐infrared follow‐up observations. This study is part of a large programme aimed at examining the dependence of the mass function on environment and time. We have surveyed 1.6 square degree in the cluster in the I and z filters with the CFH12K camera on the Canada‐France‐Hawaii 3.6m telescope down to completeness and detection limits in both filters of 22.0m and 24.0m, respectively. Based on their location in the optical (I‐z ,I ) colour‐magnitude diagram, we have extracted new cluster member candidates in Collinder 359 spanning 1.3‐0.04 M_⊙, assuming an age of 100 Myr and a distance of 450 pc for the cluster.We have used the 2MASS database as well as our own near‐infrared photometry to confirm the membership of the optically‐selected cluster candidates. Additionally, we have obtained optical spectroscopy and employed chromospheric activity as a further criterion to assess the membership of candidates. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)