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Biochar, an important by-product of the waste biomass pyrolysis process, shows great potential to reduce the environmental impact of and address the serious problems related to climate change as well as to define an efficient circular economy model. Its use as a soil conditioner has increased the interest in biochar in agriculture over time. This review investigates how critical aspects such as starting material, temperature, and the presence or absence of oxygen during the pyrolysis process influence the yield and quality of this valuable soil conditioner. Considering the horticultural sector, this review also provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of how biochar positively influences growth, development, and yield by explaining the mechanisms and modes of action under both optimal growth conditions and unfavorable contexts (salt and water stress and the presence of heavy metals). The main mechanisms highlighted by this literature review are improvement in soil aeration and water-holding capacity, microbial activity, and nutritional status of soil and plants, as well as alterations in some important soil chemical properties. This in-depth review of the literature highlights how the interaction between biochar types, dose, crop species, and growing conditions (optimal or nonoptimal) result in nonunique responses. The heterogeneity of the results reported in the literature confirms how many of the topics discussed deserve further investigation, with particular attention to identifying the right dose of biochar in relation to the different preharvest factors considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of biochar encountered numerous constraints in achieving increased production and addressing soil salinity issues when employed in isolation. It is essential to take specific measures to maximize its advantages. A two-season field experiment was conducted for planting sunflower using biochar (C, 15 t ha−1) and fulvic acid (FA, 0.15 t ha−1) amendment in the Hetao Irrigation Region in Inner Mongolia, China. The results indicated that the C+FA treatment led to a 28.9% reduction in soil salinity levels at a depth of 0–20 cm after the two-year sunflower cultivation when compared to CK. Analysis of ions revealed that the increase in the ratio of CO32- and HCO3− led to soil pH rise. The C+FA treatment showed 22.64 g kg−1 organic matter content at depth of 0–20 cm after harvested in the second year. The growth characteristics of sunflowers were enhanced, along with an improvement in the plant's nitrogen nutrition. The C+FA treatment resulted in a seed yield of 8.5 t ha−1, indicating a twofold increase in comparison to the CK treatment. The research indicates that utilizing biochar-based amendments offers practical benefits for promoting saline agricultural development in arid and semi-arid lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Cadmium (Cd) pollution in rice is a health hazard. to humans. Amendments often decreases soil Cd bioavailability and Cd accumulation in rice plants. However, a complete and quantitative understanding of the effects of soil amendment on soil properties, Cd availability, rice yield, and Cd accumulation in rice is lacking. Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted using data obtained from 436 peer-reviewed articles to evaluate the impact of 11 types of amendments on different variables in a soil-rice system polluted with Cd. Results: Clay minerals, lime, phosphate fertilizers, nanomaterials, industrial by-products, biochar, manure, composite materials, other organic materials, and other inorganic materials significantly reduced the rice Cd content. Amendments decreased brown rice Cd concentrations by 33.4%, increased crop yields by 12.1%, and decreased the soil available Cd by 26.4%, on average. However, no amendments led to economic improvements. The amendments increased soil pH, CEC, and SOC by 7.94%, 14.73%, and 11.97%, respectively, affecting soil Cd forms. The selection of amendments principally determines their inhibitory effects on Cd in brown rice. Subgroup analysis revealed that during intense precipitation (> 2000 mm), amendments were more efficient at decreasing Cd content in brown rice. However, their effectiveness was diminished in loamy soils. Soil pH was essential for regulating accessible Cd in acidic soils. Conclusion: Amendments successfully lowered Cd levels in rice grains and enhanced soil quality while maintaining rice yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study involved conducting soil column simulation tests and pot experiments to explore the impact of applying five different proportions of amendments on fertilizer retention and ryegrass growth characteristics in copper tailings at high altitudes. The results demonstrated that fertilization with these varying proportions of amendments significantly enhanced the physical structure and nutrient content of the copper tailings, leading to a notable difference compared to the control group. Following application of the amendment to the surface layer (0–20 cm) of the tailings, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels declined with increasing leaching times; however, even after six leaching times, the nutrient content still met afforestation planting soil fertility requirements. In contrast, nutrients in the lower layer (20–40 cm) without amendment initially rose significantly during leaching but ultimately exhibited less fertility increase compared to the control group. This suggests that pure copper tailings have limited capacity for nutrient absorption from leaching solutions and poor fertilizer retention effects. Ryegrass thrived on improved tailings, showing a positive correlation between its growth and organic matter content as well as available potassium, available phosphorus, and alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen levels in the tailings. In conclusion, utilizing amendments for fertilizing copper tailings demonstrates superior fertilizer retention characteristics while providing essential nutrients for ryegrass growth. This approach could prove economical and effective when used for mine ecological restoration purposes aimed at rehabilitating surrounding ecological environments. Graphical AbstractHighlights: Resource utilization of copper tailings; Ecological restoration in high-altitude mining areas; Green restoration and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goal. The purpose of the article is to analyze the key terms of the Law of Ukraine “On Administrative Procedure”, especially new for Ukrainian legislation, which will contribute to ensuring legal certainty, unity of understanding of such categories for the purposes of administrative and judicial practice. It is worth noting that although the purpose of this work is devoted to the outline of the main terms of the Law of Ukraine “On Administrative Procedure”, they are important for Ukrainian legislation as a whole, given the fundamental nature of this law. Method. The methodology includes a complex analysis of the issues, theoretical elaboration of the current legal material on the raised issue and formation of relevant conclusions and recommendations. During the study, the following methods of scientific knowledge were used: terminological, systemic-structural, comparative-legal, and the method of analysis. The results. Based on the results of the research, the importance of ensuring proper legal understanding of the provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Administrative Procedure” for its further effective legal application was revealed, the main novelties in terminology were analyzed and the importance of further scientific work on the analysis of both the provisions of the Law itself and the results of its legal application was noted. Separately, the historical component of the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Administrative Procedure” is briefly described, and attention is drawn to the relevant regulatory documents that became the “legal foundation” for its adoption. Emphasis is placed on the importance of legal analysis of the provisions of this legislative act, including monitoring the results of its application in practice. The presented analysis of individual terms of the normative legal act proved that legal regulation in the field of administrative procedure has deep roots, which, in turn, can serve as a basis for work in the direction of increasing theoretical studies in this field. Scientific news. The study emphasized the importance of the adoption of the Law of Ukraine “On Administrative Procedure”, its significance both for the legal system of Ukraine as a whole and separately in the field of administrative procedure. The article analyzes the main provisions of the Law of Ukraine “On Administrative Procedure” from the point of view of novelties in terminology. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the procedure of interaction between the state, on the one hand, and citizens and business, on the other, should become unified, effective and, of course, transparent, with an orientation to the interests of the latter. It was found that the implementation of the general administrative procedure at the legislative level has undoubtedly brought Ukraine closer to the standards of the European Union, because the “right to proper administration” is an integral part of a highly developed legal state. Practical significance. The result of this work is aimed at further encouraging an in-depth theoretical study of the field of administrative procedure as a “novel of Ukrainian legislation” and finding ways to effectively implement the Law of Ukraine “On Administrative Procedure” into the legal realities of our country today. In the process of consideration of amendments to the legislation, a generalization of the key terminology was carried out, the understanding of which will make it possible to effectively implement the regulatory act in practice.

Elevated concentrations of fluoride (F) and copper (Cu) in food substances cause health problems. Effects of Wood ash, Cattle manure and CAN+NPK on mobility and uptake of Cu and F by Chinese cabbage were explored. The soils in this study were collected from Arusha, Tanzania. The experiment was completely randomized design with four treatments, each replicated four times. Four Chinese cabbage seeds were sown in the sieved soil samples (1 kg) and sown in 1 L containers. The Chinese cabbage were irrigated daily and allowed to grow for six weeks, and harvested. Organic amendments decreased the soluble fractions of Cu and F in the soils and reduced their uptake by Chinese cabbage. For fluoride, although significant reductions were observed, the concentrations were still above the allowed concentrations for human consumption. The Wood ash treatment was generally the most effective treatment of all. It was revealed that log10 of Cu concentrations in Chinese cabbage was positively related with log10 concentration of F in the plants, elucidating that the presence of one contaminant will generally enhance the uptake of the other. It was concluded that the amendments reduced the possibility of contaminating the food chain by the two pollutants in the soils.

The Securities and Exchange Commission requires the disclosure of changes to or waivers of corporate codes of ethics. Because the nature of amendments or waivers can vary, we expect the text of Item 5.05 to include different topics within different filings. We examine the population of these disclosures in Item 5.05 8‐K filings from 2004 to 2020. While previous studies utilized small samples (fewer than 50 observations) to examine limited aspects of these filings, we use the population of these filings from 2004 to 2020 (2121 8‐K filings) to elucidate the nature and details of the disclosures. We assess whether Latent Dirichlet Allocation—a computational linguistics technique—can help discern the underlying topics represented in filings. While the Securities and Exchange Commission identifies two topics—amendments and waivers—the Latent Dirichlet Allocation analysis reveals four topics (three related to amendments): (1) code updates and clarifications; (2) combining codes of conduct for all officers and employees, or splitting codes to include a code directly applicable to senior financial officers; (3) codes of ethics waivers; and (4) substantive code changes. The overall trend is for fewer 8‐Ks to be filed in recent years, with updates and clarifications becoming the predominant filing type. Our results further indicate that Item 5.05s related to updates and clarifications, and those related to combined or split codes, use fewer words and are more easily readable than those disclosing waivers or material code changes. Although we find no significant price reaction to Item 5.05 8‐K filings, we find significant trading volume and volatility reactions, suggesting that these disclosures could give rise to differences in opinion among investors, which is consistent with the US Senate's assertion that these disclosures are of interest to investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the frequency and magnitude of environmental stresses poses a significant risk to the stability of food supplies. In coastal areas of the Mediterranean, brackish water has long been considered a limitation on horticultural production. In this scenario, the use of biochar in agriculture could be considered a valuable tool to cope with the deleterious effects of salt stress. This work aimed to investigate, in a protected environment, the effects of different concentrations of biochar (0, 1, and 2% v/v) obtained from poplar (Populus L.) biomass on the yield and quality of dwarf San Marzano ecotype tomatoes irrigated with saline water at different concentrations of NaCl (0, 40 and 80 mM). The increase in salt concentration from 0 to 80 mM NaCl reduced the total yield (−63%) and the number of fruits (−25%), but improved the main quality parameters such as dry matter (+75%), total soluble solids (+56%), and polyphenol content (+43%). Compared to control conditions, biochar supplementation improved the total yield (+23%) and number of fruits (+26%) without altering the functional and organoleptic characteristics of the fruits. The promising results underscore the potential of biochar as a sustainable solution to amend soils in order to improve tomato production under unfavorable conditions such as high salinity. However, there is a need to clarify which adaptation mechanisms triggered by biochar amending improve production responses even and especially under suboptimal growing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This research stems from various criticisms of the results of the amendment to Article 23 of the 1945 Constitution, which basically views that the results of the amendment have degraded the philosophy of the state budget, namely the sovereignty of the people. This has led to the loss of budgetary rights held by the House of Representatives. Based on this criticism, this study tries to find other perspectives and approaches in reading the formulation of popular sovereignty over the state budget by asking two questions; First, whether the amendments to the 1945 Constitution have degraded the existence of the state budget from a philosophical point of view; Second, how is the formulation of popular sovereignty over the state budget in the post-amendment 1945 Constitution? The research concluded that the philosophy of the state budget after the amendment of the 1945 Constitution is the sovereignty of the people. The sovereignty of the people over the state budget is formulated in several articles, which can be divided into formulations in formal aspects and formulations in material aspects. Abstrak Penelitian ini bertolak dari berbagai kritik atas hasil perubahan Pasal 23 UUD NRI 1945, yang pada dasarnya memandang bahwa hasil perubahan telah mendegradasi filosofi anggaran negara, yaitu kedaulatan rakyat. Hal ini membawa konsekuensi pada hilangnya hak anggaran yang dimiliki oleh Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat. Atas kritik tersebut, penelitian ini mencoba mencari sudut pandang dan pendekatan lain dalam membaca formulasi kedaulatan rakyat atas anggaran negara dengan mengajukan dua pertanyaan; Pertama, apakah perubahan UUD 1945 telah mendegradasi keberadaan anggaran negara dari sudut filosofi?; Kedua, bagaimana formulasi kedaulatan rakyat atas anggaran negara dalam UUD 1945 pasca perubahan? Hasil penelitian menyimpulkan bahwa filosofi anggaran negara pasca perubahan UUD 1945 adalah kedaulatan rakyat. Kedaulatan rakyat atas anggaran negara tersebut diformulasikan dalam beberapa pasal, yang dapat dibedakan menjadi formulasi dalam aspek formil dan formulasi dalam aspek materil.

There are two types of lawsuits in Turkish Administrative Procedural Law, namely annulment lawsuit and full remedy lawsuit. In full remedy lawsuits, the compensation requested is both pecuniary and non-pecuniary. The amendment of pleadings in full remedy lawsuits can be used by increasing the requested amount once until the final decision. This possibility to increase the amount of the claim has been introduced later in the Turkish Administrative Judicial Procedure Law. After the introduction of this regulation, it has been discussed whether it can be applied to non-pecuniary damages claims. In order to express these, we will first examine the concept of amendment in civil procedure law in general and its application by substantiating with the Court of Cassation rulings. Then the Council of State will be set forth. Subsequently, we will express our views on this area of debate, where the judicial and administrative judiciary have different decisions, that amendment in non-pecuniary damages should be possible in terms of administrative judiciary, that although it is made once as a rule, it can be made again in case new events arise, that this right should sometimes be recognized at the appeal stage too, and that this request can be asserted later, even if it is not included in the first petition.

AbstractThe objective of civil liability is to provide compensation for damages. Civil liability represents an explicit expression for the resolution of disputes that arise between the parties involved in a legal relationship, regardless of their source. It exists for the purpose of resolving such disputes, based on objective analysis, distancing itself from social and economic factors that led to contractual obligations, negligence, or legal mandates. Based on this objective, occasional legislative intervention becomes necessary to reconsider these provisions in terms of their cause and effect, especially within the context of economic and social transformation from traditional forms to more complex and evolving forms, in light of the industrial revolution and advancements in modern technology. Sustainable development has emerged, along with environmental issues, noise pollution, occupational safety, defective products, and new developments in nuclear damage. In this context, we delve into the subject matter according to the outlined plan below.

This study demonstrated the effects of adding specific proportions of vermiculite (VMT: 0%, 10%, and 20%) and earthworm casts (EWCs: 0%, 10%, and 20%) on the physico-chemical properties of composted green waste (CGW), and the impacts of amended CGW as growth media on the growth of three common ornamental plants (Dahlia pinnata Cav. [dahlia], Centaurea cyanus L. [cornflower], and Consolida ajacis [L.] Schur [delphinium]). Compared with Treatment T1 (CK), the addition of 10% VMT and 20% EWCs greatly (p < 0.05) increased the total porosity, aeration porosity, water-holding porosity, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and organic matter of CGW by 9%, 35%, 4%, 18%, 27%, 13%, and 33%, respectively. In addition, this pattern increased (p < 0.05) the total fresh biomass, total chlorophyll content, and root length of dahlias by 9%, 19%, and 27%, respectively; those of cornflowers by 17%, 30%, and 29%, respectively (p < 0.05); and those of delphiniums by 23%, 14%, and 63%, respectively. Therefore, the amended CGW supplemented with 10% VMT and 20% EWCs was an ideal growth medium for the three plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaching of contaminants is a complex, pivotal process for understanding how biochar can immobilize them effectively. In this study, we investigated the impact of biochar, produced at different temperatures, on the behavior of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in leached sediments. Before leaching, we combined biochar with sediment, allowing it to naturally age for 365 days. The biochar derived from sugarcane straw was pyrolyzed at 350 °C (BC350), 550 °C (BC550), and 750 °C (BC750). Using UV–Vis spectroscopy, we assessed changes in dissolved organic carbon quality and examined geochemical alterations employing high-performance liquid chromatography–inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC–ICP-MS). The addition of biochar decreased Pb mobility while increasing As mobility. The extent of immobilization varied depending on the pyrolysis temperature: BC750 notably reduced Pb leaching by 54%, whereas BC350 enhanced As mobility by 2.5 times. Although no leaching of monomethylarsonic or dimethylarsinic acids occurred, both BC350 and BC750 amplified As3+ leaching by 2.5 times. In summary, biochar addition at different temperatures altered the environmental fate of As and Pb. Higher pyrolysis temperatures, as seen with BC750, were more effective in mitigating Pb mobility, reducing sediment leaching by 54%. Interestingly, exogenous dissolved organic carbon and phosphorus promoted As leaching.Highlights: Biochar temp influenced As/Pb mobility in sediment. 750 °C pyrolysis notably reduced Pb leaching by 54%. Lower temperature (350 °C) increased As mobility 2.5 times. External carbon/phosphorus boosted As leaching. 550 °C biochar was more effective against As3+ leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar, an important by-product of the waste biomass pyrolysis process, shows great potential to reduce the environmental impact of and address the serious problems related to climate change as well as to define an efficient circular economy model. Its use as a soil conditioner has increased the interest in biochar in agriculture over time. This review investigates how critical aspects such as starting material, temperature, and the presence or absence of oxygen during the pyrolysis process influence the yield and quality of this valuable soil conditioner. Considering the horticultural sector, this review also provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of how biochar positively influences growth, development, and yield by explaining the mechanisms and modes of action under both optimal growth conditions and unfavorable contexts (salt and water stress and the presence of heavy metals). The main mechanisms highlighted by this literature review are improvement in soil aeration and water-holding capacity, microbial activity, and nutritional status of soil and plants, as well as alterations in some important soil chemical properties. This in-depth review of the literature highlights how the interaction between biochar types, dose, crop species, and growing conditions (optimal or nonoptimal) result in nonunique responses. The heterogeneity of the results reported in the literature confirms how many of the topics discussed deserve further investigation, with particular attention to identifying the right dose of biochar in relation to the different preharvest factors considered.

The efficiency of iron/aluminum co-modified zeolite (FeAl-Z) covering and amendment for controlling the internal loading of phosphorus (P) from sediment to the overlying water (OW) and its controlling mechanism were explored. The response of the composition of sedimentary microbial communities in sediment and their function to the FeAl-Z capping and amendment was also examined. FeAl-Z showed good removal performance for phosphate in aqueous solution. The maximum phosphate adsorption quantity for FeAl-Z at pH 7 attained 11.2 mg P/g. The release of sediment endogenous phosphorus to OW can be successfully restrained by the FeAl-Z covering and amendment, and the suppression ability of FeAl-Z covering was stronger than that of FeAl-Z amendment. Under the capping or amendment condition, FeAl-Z can effectively inactivate the labile phosphorus measured by diffusion gradient in thin film (DGT-LP) in the overlying water and surface sediment. The added FeAl-Z transformed redox-sensitive phosphorus (BD-P) to metal oxide-bound phosphorus (NaOH-IP) and residual phosphorus (Res-P) in sediment, which increased the stability of inorganic phosphorus in the sediment. The passivation of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and DGT-LP in the surface sediment by FeAl-Z significantly contributed to the inhibition of sediment endogenous phosphorus release to OW by the FeAl-Z capping, and the passivation of SRP, DGT-LP and mobile phosphorus in the surface sediment played a pivotal role in the control of sediment internal phosphorus release by the FeAl-Z amendment. The FeAl-Z amendment and capping did not increase the liberation risk of Fe from sediment, and the microorganisms in the sediments under the conditions of FeAl-Z amendment and covering still can perform good ecological functions. Results of this research demonstrate that FeAl-Z capping has high application potential in the control of phosphorus transfer from sediment to OW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sandy and acidic soil conditions are the major factors limiting the production of some vegetable crops in acidic soils. This study aims to examine the effect of various amendments on the growth, yield and mineral nutrients uptake of stem amaranth. Two pot experiments were conducted separately in two generic soils. Six treatments viz. T0 = control (without amendment), T1= lime, T2 = lime + wetland bottom sediment, T3 = lime + vermicompost, T4 = lime + rice straw biochar (RSB) and T5 = RSB were used for both experiments following CRD with four replications. Results revealed that plant heights (45.96 and 50.33 cm) of amaranth grown in alluvial and hill soils, respectively, were the highest in T4 treatment. Similarly, treatment T4 showed the highest fresh (118.53 and 116.11 g pot−1, respectively) and dry biomasses (16.98 and 19.54 g pot−1, respectively) for both soils. For both soils, treatment T4 resulted better nutrient uptake of N, P, K, S, Zn, Fe and Mn by edible stem, while non-amended soil gave the lowest result at all parameters. Analytical values of post-harvest soils indicated that T4 and/or T5 treatments resulted in an improvement in soil pH, organic carbon, total N, exchangeable K and extractable P, S and Zn. Treatment T3 showed elevated concentrations of extractable soils Fe and Mn. The amendment RSB combined with lime can be preferably used in strong acidic soils for cultivation of stem amaranth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: This field-base study evaluates the long-term effectiveness of in-situ remediation measures applied to soils residually polluted by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in an area affected by a mining spill in SW Spain. Methods: To evaluate the remediation treatments success, their influence on key soil properties and on the development of spontaneous vegetation in the treated soils was investigated. The treatments were based on human derived by-products valorization, and consisted of: biopiles, marble sludge and gypsum mining spoil addition, and their combination with an organic amendment (vermicompost). Results: Amendments application improved the soil properties and reduced PTEs availability. As a result, an enhancement in spontaneous development of vegetation cover and diversity of plant species in the treated soils was followed. Spergularia rubra and Lamarckia aurea, two primary plant species growing in the studied area and that exhibit strong association to soils with the highest levels of pollution, showed high Pb and As accumulation in shoots ande in roots. Exceptionally, accumulation of these pollutants occurred in L. aurea roots, which can explain its high presence in soils with more limited vegetation development and in which no additional plant species can thrive. Conclusions: The occurrence of S. rubra and L. aurea in the amended soils may be indicative of improved soil conditions and reduced toxicity induced by the remediation measures implemented. They may also be considered key species in the area since their presence can promote the recolonization of the degraded soils by species less tolerant to their residual pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When soils available for the construction of liners do not display the characteristics necessary for a good performance, mixtures with other materials can be employed for achieving the desired quality. Several researchers have addressed those mixtures from either a geotechnical or a gas diffusion perspective, emphasizing low hydraulic conductivity. However, in recent years, growing attention has been drawn to the ability of liners to mitigate contamination. The literature lacks studies on the use of amendments for soil liners or cover systems to retain potentially toxic metals, which are important inorganic contaminants. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature considering publications available on Web of Science and SpringerLink databases between January 1st, 2012, and December 5th, 2022. The aim of the review was to identify the types of soils and amendments studied as liners or cover systems for such retention of potentially toxic metals, the methodologies of application of the alternative materials in the soils, and the research gaps and perspectives in the field. Seventeen papers that addressed 31 materials as amendments were retrieved. The most studied amendment was coal fly ash, and 17 amendments were residues or by-products, which indicates concerns over waste destination and sustainability. Among the potentially toxic metals analyzed are Pb, Cu, and Cd. Gaps such as lack of pilot, field-scale, and long-term studies, as well as perspectives for future research (e.g., different liner configurations, concomitant mixtures of two or more materials in the soil, and focus on the sustainability of amendments), were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annuals of the Administration & Law / Roczniki Administracji i Prawa is the property of Oficyna Wydawnicza Humanitas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The use of organic fertilizers to replace chemically synthesized fertilizers has assumed an important role in managing plant nutrition and soil fertility. The various organic matrices currently available as organic byproducts and digestates are relatively abundant and have shown promising effects in terms of plant-available nutrients. However, like mineral fertilizers, organic fertilizers must be carefully managed to avoid negative effects on the environment, especially when they are repeatedly applied over time. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of the single (DIG) and repeated application (DIGP) of solid anaerobic digestates compared to an unamended control (CTR) on the denitrifying enzymatic activity (DEA), which is responsible for nitrous oxide emissions into the atmosphere, and some related soil properties, such as total soluble nitrogen (TSN), nitrate (NO3−-N), extractable carbon (Cextr), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and basal respiration (Rbas), for a period of ~3 months after application. The application of solid anaerobic digestates progressively boosts N and C concentrations in the soil, with the degree of enhancement directly correlated with the frequency of application over the sampling period. Depending on the textural properties of soils, there was a notable rise in denitrification enzyme activity (DEA), particularly during the DIGP treatment, suggesting that clay soils are highly susceptible to denitrification under suitable conditions. The results of this study recommend the careful management of soils subjected to repeated digestate amendment to prevent the occurrence of conditions conducive to denitrification and the promotion of N2O emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is concerned with studying the consent in contracting by electronic means with any person in general، and with a professional in particular، in the light of the French civil code، amended by the ordinance No.2016-131 dated February 10، 2016 concerning reforms of the law of contract، general regime and proof of obligations. The study is aimed at the benefit of the Iraqi law from the special rules of the new French law of contract as exemplary rules، concerning the expression of the consent in contracting by electronic means، particularly with a professional. The problem of the study lies in how to fill the gaps in both the Iraqi civil law No.40 of 1951، and the law of electronic signature and electronic bargains No.78 of 2012 regarding the up-to-date requirements and modalities of the consent in contracting by electronic means، and its components of the offer and acceptance. To achieve this aim، the study adopts the comparative analytical methodology of legal research. The most significant findings that the study reached are the considerable shortage of the legal regulation and the rules concerning the consent in contracting by electronic means in the Iraqi civil law، as compared to the detailed regulation of this topic in the French law of contract. Finally the study suggested many recommendations to the Iraqi legislator to follow suit the new rules of the French law of contract particularly the article (1127).

The 2023 Amendment to the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) has largely been criticised for the loss of forest cover it will cause through diversion of forest land for infrastructure, public utility, and defence requirements. The Amendment makes no reference to the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and its critiques point only to its undermining of the latter. A closer examination of the Amendment from the perspective of the FRA suggests that the Act can not only continue to be used to counter the diversion of forest land, but also that popular mobilisation around it may be the only way to protect both forests and forest-dwellers.

The increase in the frequency and magnitude of environmental stresses poses a significant risk to the stability of food supplies. In coastal areas of the Mediterranean, brackish water has long been considered a limitation on horticultural production. In this scenario, the use of biochar in agriculture could be considered a valuable tool to cope with the deleterious effects of salt stress. This work aimed to investigate, in a protected environment, the effects of different concentrations of biochar (0, 1, and 2% v/v) obtained from poplar (Populus L.) biomass on the yield and quality of dwarf San Marzano ecotype tomatoes irrigated with saline water at different concentrations of NaCl (0, 40 and 80 mM). The increase in salt concentration from 0 to 80 mM NaCl reduced the total yield (−63%) and the number of fruits (−25%), but improved the main quality parameters such as dry matter (+75%), total soluble solids (+56%), and polyphenol content (+43%). Compared to control conditions, biochar supplementation improved the total yield (+23%) and number of fruits (+26%) without altering the functional and organoleptic characteristics of the fruits. The promising results underscore the potential of biochar as a sustainable solution to amend soils in order to improve tomato production under unfavorable conditions such as high salinity. However, there is a need to clarify which adaptation mechanisms triggered by biochar amending improve production responses even and especially under suboptimal growing conditions.

The Declaration of Geneva serves as a guide to ethical medical practice. It primarily addresses the duties of the physician in relation to an individual physician–patient relationship and implicitly advocates a ‘first come, first served’ model. It assumes the availability of adequate resources to treat all patients. However, no health system can meet all the requirements of its intended beneficiaries, and resource allocation, priority-setting and triaging are inevitable. Yet the Declaration of Geneva ‘does not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, gender …, social standing or any other factor’ to be considered. Neither does it permit consideration of ‘financial toxicity of treatment’ on patients, families and struggling healthcare systems. Making resource allocation, priority-setting, and triaging decisions is ethically complex. Yet in many resource-limited settings, such difficult and ethical judgement calls are left to individual physicians to make; this applies especially in low- and middle-income countries where practitioners are often faced with overwhelming burdens of disease and simply cannot treat everyone requiring care. The Declaration of Geneva should be amended to recognise limitations of physicians to deliver care because of health system constraints and should speak not only of a physician’s duty towards the individual patient but also to broader society. It should provide ethical guidance to those practising in limited resource settings about triaging, protecting elective care, ensuring training of well-rounded physicians, ensuring financial wellness of patients and healthcare systems and ensuring accountability for health and wellness of patients and healthcare systems.

Salinization remains a major issue in soil degradation, for which biochar is a potential solution. In this meta-analysis, using 660 paired observations from 99 peer-reviewed articles, we evaluated biochar's effect on salt-affected soils and identified the initial soil properties, biochar properties and experimental factors influencing its efficacy. The results showed that the addition of biochar had a significant ameliorating effect on salt-affected soils. The soil electrical conductivity of saturated paste extract (ECe) was significantly reduced by 13.2%, and such effect was significant in severe salinization soil (rather than slight and moderate salinization). Meanwhile, the soil cation exchange capacity was significantly increased by 17.0%. However, the addition of biochar had no significant impact on soil pH. Model selection analyses further indicated that the level of initial salinity and the type of biochar feedstock were the most important factors regulating the response of soil ECe to biochar addition. In summary, while our study highlights the potential of biochar in ameliorating salt-affected soils, particularly in severely salinized soils, it also underscores the need for more comprehensive research in this field. Additional research is necessary to comprehensively address the significant heterogeneity of biochars, including their thorough characterization. In addition, more studies are required to explore the impact of biochar on both salt-tolerant and non-salt-tolerant plants in salt-affected soils.

Biochar is a promising candidate for the sustainable remediation of soils, especially those contaminated with cationic heavy metals, because of its liming effect and tunable surface functionality. Despite its potential, prior studies have highlighted biochar's limitations in immobilizing soil oxyanions, such as arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), particularly in the short term. This shotcoming is primarily attributed to an increase of soil pH following biochar amendment, and factors like competition with phosphate. In this study, biochar amendments were applied to three soils with varying levels of oxyanions including As and Sb, and cations including cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). These treatments generally resulted in short-term failure of oxyanion immobilization. However, a noteworthy phenomenon unfolded over a 2-year period, where biochars gradually transitioned from initial mobilization or poor immobilization to eventual successful immobilization of oxyanions (up to 87.0% for As and 100% for Sb). Temporal changes in Cd and Pb differed from As and Sb, exhibiting no improvement in immobilization rates over time. Potential mechanisms driving this process were investigated, suggesting a decline in soil pH, progressive oxidation of soil carbon fractions, and direct adsorption effects as contributing factors. This study sheds light on the temporal shift in biochar's immobilization performance, highlighting a gradual increase in the efficacy in oxyanion immobilization. The findings offer valuable insights into the dynamic nature of biochar's remediation capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The Southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria is characterized by inherently low soil fertility status and rapid nutrient depletion especially soil organic matter. However, this zone is characterized by abundant agricultural land and is a potential for crop production. Field experiments were conducted in order to evaluate the effects of integrated use of agricultural waste materials and compound mineral fertilizer on soil and plant nutrient status, growth, and yield of maize in ultisol in the Southern Guinea savanna zone of Nigeria. Results: Application of organic waste alone and in combination with mineral fertilizer enhanced root and shoot biomass, leaf area development, and yield and components of maize. Treatment effects were significant on growth characteristics of maize (stem girth, leaf area, plant height and days to 50% tasselling, root and shoot biomass). Sole application of NPK fertilizer (400 kg/ha) was not significant over the combined use of poultry manure and NPK on girth, leaf area, and plant height. Mean values of stem girth, leaf area, and plant height ranged between 2.05 and 3.8 cm, 0.26 and 0.54 m2 , and 84.7 and 209.4 cm, respectively. Root and shoot dry weights were highest under sole NPK application compared with plots where either sole wastes or wastes in combination with reduced NPK were application of NPK fertilizer (400 kg/ha) was not significant over combined use of poultry manure and NPK on stem applied. Integrated use of agricultural wastes and NPK also enhanced root and shoot dry weights compared with sole application of wastes as well as seed weight per plant, 100-seed weight, and number of seeds per cob and grain yield. Among the agricultural wastes applied, poultry manure enhanced the growth and seed yield characteristics of maize. This treatment increased the seed weight per plant, number of seeds per cob, 100-seed weight and seed yield by 55.6%, 66.5%, and 55.4%, respectively over Chromolaena and neem seed cake. Chromolaena and neem seed cake produced similar grain weight per plant, 100-seed weight, number of seed per cob, and seed yield. Poultry manure significantly enhanced the growth and seed yield characteristics of maize over Chromolaena and neem seed cake. Conclusions: Integrated use of organic wastes and mineral NPK fertilizer showed promising potential for improving soil fertility, growth, and yield of maize in the Southern Guinea savanna agroecological zone of Nigeria. It is recommended that poultry manure at 7 t/ha plus NPK fertilizer at 200 kg/ha be adopted for maize cultivation in the study area.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important agricultural products in cold-climate areas of the world. However, the soils intended for potato production in tropical zones such as Colombia have low availability of essential elements, such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and beneficial elements such as silicon. The general objective was to evaluate the application of increasing doses of three silicate amendments on the dynamics of accumulation of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and silicon in leaf tissue and their influence on the quality and production of 'Diacol Capiro' potato tubers under the conditions of Soracá municipality, Boyacá, Colombia. Two production cycles were evaluated, with a completely randomized design and ten treatments in each cycle. It was observed that the application of double calcium and magnesium silicate at a dose of 900 kg ha-1 as a crop management practice resulted in an increase in the accumulation of macronutrients such as P, Ca, and Mg by 63.1, 32.4, and 51.1%, respectively, and a 100% increase in silicon accumulation as a beneficial element; this was reflected in a 46% increase in total yield, with a higher production of first-quality tubers and a significant increase in dry matter and specific gravity compared to the application of conventional fertilization sources. Therefore, silicate fertilizers are an important alternative to improve quality and production through a better dynamic of accumulation of essential and beneficial nutrients in potato-producing areas in Colombia.

Purpose The swelling characteristics and cracking of expansive clayey soils usually lead to their low yield, and as a result, large areas of expansive soils remain uncultivated and unproductive. There is a need for the development of simple, low-cost technologies which will bring these soils into production. The amendment of expansive clayey soils with agricultural waste products is a key goal for enhancing their production potential. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the ameliorative effects of crop residues on the physiochemical and mechanical properties of expansive clayey soils. Method In this study, the potential soil amendments used include uncharred rice husk, rice husk biochar, uncharred sugarcane bagasse, and sugarcane bagasse biochar. The biochar was pyrolyzed at 450 °C. The amendments were applied into the soil at four applications rates: 0, 2, 5, and 10% by weight of soil (w/w), respectively. The mixture was then incubated in a glasshouse for 280 days. Results Charred and uncharred rice husk and sugarcane bagasse improved the physico-mechanical properties related to soil expansion. The liquid limit (LL), plastic limit (PL), plasticity (PI), coefficient of linier extensibility (COLEcore), volumetric shrinkage (VS), fissuresâ dimensions, and crack area density (CAD) of the soil decreased with an increase in treatment application rate. On the contrary, saturated water content increased with an increase in dosage. Conclusion 10% level of amendment application resulted in significantly improved soil properties than either 2% or 5% doses. Moreover, 2% level of amendment application is more preferable than 5% according to feasibility and economic point of view.

The availability of cadmium (Cd) in soils is an important factor affecting the safe production of crops. The application of certain soil amendments could reduce the soil Cd availability via the passivation of Cd. However, the passivation of Cd in alkaline soils is limited. Thus, different inorganic and organic amendments and their compound treatments were selected as passivators for reducing the Cd availability in a weakly alkaline farmland soil. The effects of different single and compound amendments on the soil pH and Cd availability, as well as the interactions between inorganic and organic components in immobilizing Cd, were evaluated. The results showed that the inorganic–organic compound amendments can considerably improve the Cd passivation efficiency in the weakly alkaline soil. Moreover, the inorganic and organic components in the compound amendments exerted different synergistic effects in Cd passivation. The manganese dioxide-based compound amendments showed the most remarkable synergistic effects, while the calcium–magnesium–phosphate fertilizer-based compound amendments displayed the weakest synergistic effects. The underlying mechanisms regarding the synergistic effects may be that the compound amendments enhanced the adsorption/specific adsorption, co-precipitation, and surface complexation of Cd in the alkaline soil. A more balanced recommendation for Cd immobilization in the weakly alkaline soil may be manganese dioxide-based compound amendments, given the synergistic effects and Cd immobilization capabilities of various compound materials. This study may provide a theoretical foundation for the passivation remediation of alkaline Cd-contaminated farmland soils by using inorganic–organic compound amendments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil remediation with minimum amendments is a good strategy for tailings disposal. Carbonate‐rich gold‐copper mine tailings occurring alongside the Yangzi River, China, were employed as the objective in this study. They showed the characteristics of fine particles and alkaline pH with high density and low nutrition. The amendments including bacterial fertilizer (BF), polymer, peat, straw, and compound fertilizer (CF) were used for soilless remediation on the tailings. Soil quality index (SQI) involved in tailing properties and growth characteristics of ryegrass was used to optimize the combination of amendments. The results showed that the optimum amendment combination was 0.2% BF + 0.6% CF + 0.2% polymer + 10% peat and 2% straw. Tailing nutrients such as soil organic matter (5.56%), available nitrogen (93.6 mg kg−1), available phosphorus (51.7 mg kg−1), available potassium (711 mg kg−1), and ryegrass exhibited the highest germination rate and biomass level under the optimal improvement conditions. Additional environmental assessments revealed that soilless treatment of the tailings helped to convert Cu, Zn, and As into residual forms. These findings show a good strategy for tailings soil improvement and provide a promising perspective of the soilless remediation for fine carbonate‐rich metal tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of Cd in the soil is a worldwide issue intimidating agricultural productivity and human health. Therefore, developing low-cost, environmentally sound, and readily available technologies is required to restore Cd-polluted agricultural soils and assure food safety. In the present field study, changes in rhizosphere soil biochemical property and Cd content of rice grains with biochar and oyster shell treatment were evaluated in two rice cultivars with contrasting Cd-accumulation potential (high = HA and low = LA). The results revealed that applied biochar and oyster shells effectively immobilized Cd. The amount of Cd extractable by DTPA and CaCl2 was reduced by 34–46% and 11–28%, respectively. Moreover, rhizosphere soil biochemical properties, including pH, MBC, and enzyme activity, were enhanced by the remarkable increases in soil pH after treatment (5.6–7.3). Applied biochar and oyster shell significantly reduced Cd uptake and accumulation in rice cultivars; a more significant reduction was observed in LA rice type with oyster shell treatment. Grain Cd concentration was reduced considerably with oyster shells in both HA (by 58%) and LA (by 70%), meeting the permissible Cd limits in rice grains. Furthermore, the reduced Cd availability and improved soil biochemical properties resulted in improved rice crop productivity. This study indicates that integrating readily available and low-cost oyster shell material with low Cd-accumulation rice cultivars could effectively reduce the transfer of soil Cd to the grain and alleviate the associated human health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioremediation has become a trending and developing field in environmental restoration through the use of micro-organisms to utilize and reduced the concentration and toxicity of various chemical pollutants. This study is on bioremediation of hydrocarbon-polluted soils using some agricultural wastes. Ninety (90) plastic buckets were filled with 4kg each of the composite soil. The soil contained in the plastic buckets was spiked with 250ml crude oil, except in the unpolluted plastic buckets (0%) crude oil. The agro-wastes (plantain stem sap, bush mango peels, and fruited pumpkin husk powder) in single and combined forms were applied after 14 days soil pollution. The amendments were applied as follows: Pristine control (0% agro-wastes), crude-oil control (0% agro-wastes), 150g, 250g, and 350g of the agro-wastes. Soil samples were collected at 90 days for soil microbial counts and the total hydrocarbon content of the soil. Data collected were subjected to 2-way ANOVA. The result showed that the microbial population in the crude-oil polluted soil amended with different agricultural wastes significantly increased (p<0.05) the total heterotrophic and crude oil utilizing bacterial and fungal counts in the soils and the increase in microbial population result in a significant reduction in total hydrocarbon content (THC) of the soils. The reduction in the THC of the soil was treatment dependent. It is, therefore concluded that based on the efficiency of these agro-wastes in enhancing microbial degradation, further studies should be carried out on the enzyme activities and production of bio-surfactant from the wastes to shorten the degradation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first part of the two-part publication, the author presented the main stages in the history of the transport of dangerous goods by road, the administrative background, the current trends in the transport of dangerous goods and the most serious accidents. The author considers the development of the regulation of the transport of dangerous goods as a milestone in the development of the relevant international conventions and their amendments. The ADR Agreement has been amended twice so far, firstly in the body of the Agreement and secondly in the title. The second amendment removed the word "European" from the title of the Agreement, thus allowing it to be extended worldwide. In the second part of the publication, the author describes the process of the second amendment of the Agreement and examines its impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their extensive use in wastewater treatment, biochar/layered double hydroxides (BC/LDHs) may serve as novel growing media (GM) amendments for horticultural farming. In the present study, GM was supplemented with BC/LDHs at three application rates [0%, 2.5%, and 5.0% (wt/wt)] denoted as BC/LDHs0, BC/LDHs2.5, and BC/LDHs5.0, respectively, and successive changes in the physiochemical properties of GM were evaluated. The experimental results indicated that at the end of the incubation period, GM was vastly stimulated after BC/LDH amendments, particularly in the case of BC/LDHs5.0, where the pH (7.05) and electrical conductivity (0.43 dS/m) were in accordance with the optimal criteria for soilless cultivation. Moisture content, bulk density, total porosity, and water retention were also improved after BC/LDH remediation although there were insignificant differences among individual dosages for the last two indices. Although increased amendment levels did not benefit total carbon and nitrogen, the maximum efficiency that was reflected in an enhancement of at least 86% in phosphorus, magnesium, and aluminum contents was derived from BC/LDHs5.0. Nevertheless, due to an overriding concern over aluminum interference, BC/LDHs2.5 was recommended given its non-significant difference with non-amendment. Such positive effects of BC/LDHs, on a wide range of GM quality indicators, signify their potential in amendment applications. This study not only provides an alternative approach for the reuse of plant-essential nutrients, but also a means to facilitate sustainable adsorbent waste management, through the extended applicability and validity of BC/LDHs and their utilization in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biopsy specimens go through a diagnostic pathway before a pathology report is rendered for the clinician. Errors can occur at any step in this pathway. Methods: A 1‐year prospective study was conducted at a single academic institution to identify and characterize errors that occurred in the diagnostic pathway from the clinic to the dermatopathology lab. Results: A total of 25 662 specimens were processed and 190 errors were recorded (an error rate of 0.7%). The most common errors were an incorrect biopsy site (n = 65), incorrect data entry of a correct diagnosis (n = 25), and specimen mix‐up (n = 23). There were 17 diagnostic errors. Errors most often occurred in the pre‐analytical phase (n = 128). The clinician was responsible for 34.2% of errors, the dermatopathologist for 23.7%, and the histotechnician for 18.9%. Slips were the most common type of human error (n = 156). Conclusion: The most common error involved an incorrect biopsy site at the clinical stage. Over two‐thirds of errors occurred before the slide reached the dermatopathologist. Diagnostic errors (analytical phase) rarely occurred, and when they did occur, the clinician was most likely to discover the error. Examining and addressing common laboratory errors help to reduce their incidence and lead to quality improvement in dermatopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As per the Competition Act 2002 (hereinafter called the Act), cartel is defined in terms of an agreement amongst competitors, operating at the same level of a commercial activity. Such horizontal agreements leading to anti-competitive practices are proscribed under the Act. The Act does not deal with the hub and the spoke of a cartel as there was a lack of urgency vis-à-vis such cartels. It has only been in the recent past, that the Competition Commission of India (hereinafter called the CCI) took note of hub and spoke cartels in the Indian market. Consequently, the Competition Law Review Committee (hereinafter called CLRC) in its Report of July 2019 has made recommendations pertaining to hub and spoke cartels. As a consequence, the 2023 Amendment to the Act has incorporated provision pertaining to hub and spoke cartels. The present article maps the Indian experience on the hub and spoke cartels. The primary argument of the author is that the legislative framework within the Act is inadequate to deal with hub and spoke cartels. Hence a comprehensive re-vision is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]