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Climatic conditions of environmental zone Nemoral 2 of Europe are favorable for agricultural development. However, more frequent events of hot air-waves and prolonged droughts occurring as a consequence of climate change lead to soil moisture content reduction down to the plant wilting point. Dry soil conditions may have negative consequences for soil as a habitat. The goal of this study was to evaluate the cumulative after-effect of long-term conventional (CT) and no-tillage (NT) application in combination with or without crop residues on soil physicochemical properties, microbiological activity, and soil respiration (SR) under prolonged dry soil conditions. Long-term CT with residue returning created a soil environment that was more resistant to dry conditions than NT. Longterm CT with residue returning created a qualitative soil environment in which the main direct determinants for SR were fungal (F) and bacterial (B) community and carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N). Slightly weaker contributors for SR were available phosphorus (PAL), plant wilting point (PWP), plant available water (PAW), and urease activity (UR); however, they acted as indirect factors. Long-term spreading of residues on soil surface under NT determined the decrease in water capacity in mesopores and micropores. Significant reduction in field capacity and PWP was revealed, while PAW remained unchanged compared to NT with residues removed. Main direct determinants for SR were F and PAL. Slightly weaker indirect contributors for SR were B, dehydrogenase, UR, and PAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El artículo examina el impacto de la crisis económica en los inmigrantes de Madrid, España. La mayoría proceden de Rumania, con 218.184 personas, seguidos de los marroquíes, los colombianos y otros de Surámerica y Europa. La crisis se ha reflejado en un paro en la construcción, menos remesas y más demanda de recursos sociales, entre otros.

The main goal of this article is to analyse the current status of the precautionary principle in international law and outline the tendencies of its development into a rule of customary law. The methods of comparative and systematic analysis were used in this paper. The article concludes that there is sufficient state practice and opinio iuris to support the position of the European Communities that the precautionary principle has already crystallized into a general customary rule. Evidence may be found in international legally binding and non-binding documents, domestic law, and the jurisprudence of national and international courts and tribunals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Different tick species are able to transmit different pathogens, and tick-borne diseases are of substantial concern worldwide for both humans and animals. Environmental changes and changes in the range of tick species, including Dermacentor reticulatus in Europe, can affect the spread of zoonotic pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the tick-borne pathogens in ticks removed from dogs in Latvia, and to explore possible changes between years 2011 and 2016. Results: In 2011, only Ixodes ticks (221 Ixodes ricinus and 22 Ixodes persulcatus) were collected from dogs, while in 2016 tick samples belonged to Ixodes ricinus (360), Ixodes persulcatus (2) and Dermacentor reticulatus (27) species. In total, 35.8 and 40.0% of adult ticks were pathogen-positive in 2011 and 2016, respectively; the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The molecular analysis indicated the presence of 13 tick-borne microorganisms; the most prevalent pathogen was Rickettsia, followed by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato group spirochetes, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia species. Borrelia miyamotoi was also present. A co-infection with two and three tick-borne pathogens was detected in 7.9 and 7.4% of Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus, respectively. The results of this study confirmed that the spread of novel vectors could bring additional risk of exposure to novel emerging pathogens to pets and their owners, as both Babesia canis and Rickettsia raoultii were shown to be highly associated with Dermacentor reticulatus ticks in Latvia. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential danger from the inadvertent introduction of novel disease pathogens and vectors. Awareness of co-infections and Dermacentor reticulatus-related pathogens needs to be increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report source specific isotope ratios of levoglucosan, the specific biomass burning tracer, in aerosol particles from the combustion of selected woods used for domestic heating in Europe, of coals containing cellulose (lignites) as well as of corn, a C4 plant. Here, we combine compound specific δ13C measurements of levoglucosan with total carbon δ13C of parent materials, to assess isotopic fractionations due to biosynthetic pathways or combustion processes. Levoglucosan formed during the combustion of cellulose from coals shows with δ13C of −21.1‰ and −18.6‰ a moderate enrichment in the heavier isotope compared to the C3 plant samples. Contrarily, observed levoglucosan isotope ratios of −25.0 to −21.5‰ for C3 plant samples are significantly lower than for the C4 plant sample (−12.4‰), as expected from the stronger 13C discrimination during the carbon fixation process by C3 compared to C4 plants. Overall, the C4 plant sample shows a 13C enrichment in all bulk measurements, on average by 12.2‰, 14.2‰ and 14.2‰ for total carbon (TC) in aerosol particle, whole plant/coal material and cellulose samples, respectively. Further, δ13C measurements of levoglucosan and TC for biomass burning aerosol particles, bulk plant/coal and cellulose in C3 plant samples agree well with the published observations. The combined levoglucosan/TC isotopic analyses can be used to differentiate among C3/coal/C4 origin of the smoke emissions from the cellulose-containing-fuel combustion. Noticeably, there is a consistent δ13C offset between C3 plant material and levoglucosan, which allows deriving emission levoglucosan isotope ratios when the combusted plant types are known. • The pool of source specific levoglucosan δ13C from domestic heating fuels is extended. • C3/coal/C4 origin of domestic heating smoke can be differentiated by isotope analyses. • a consistent δ13C offset between C3 plant material and levoglucosan was found. • Levoglucosan emission δ13C can be derived when the combusted plant types are known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]