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Gaining large-scale, temporally continuous surface soil moisture information through remote sensing techniques is of significant importance for crop irrigation management and farmland drought early warning. The commonly used remote sensing soil moisture inversion method often utilizes the modified perpendicular dryness index (MPDI) in conjunction with ground-measured data to construct models. However, this method lacks universality, as each temporal phase of the image inversion requires the acquisition of corresponding ground-measured data for calibration, resulting in a high dependence on ground-measured data. To reduce the dependence on ground-measured data when estimating soil moisture using optical remote sensing data, this study firstly analyzed the feature space differences and the variation laws of soil line slopes using 54 temporal phases of Sentinel-2 T50SKH scenes from 2020 to 2021. The study also derived and explained the influence of soil line slope variations on soil moisture inversion, revealing the fundamental reason for the need for ground-measured data calibration for each period in the MPDI soil moisture inversion. Based on this, a multi-temporal soil line consistency correction method and a re-modified perpendicular drought index (RPDI) were proposed. Soil moisture inversion was conducted using RPDI, and the effectiveness was validated in the study area. The main conclusions are as follows: 1) The analysis of the feature space of the Sentinel-2 satellite's continuous two-year scenes indicated that the feature spaces of most temporal phases were incomplete. Theoretically existing completely bare or extremely wet points may not be present in a single image, leading to long-term fluctuations in soil line slopes across different temporal phases. For the modified perpendicular dryness index (MPDI), the soil lines used for the calculation of MPDI in different temporal phases were different, which could only represent the relative dryness or wetness of each phase. This was the fundamental reason why ground-measured data calibration was required for each temporal phase when using MPDI for soil moisture inversion. 2) Through theoretical derivation of the MPDI changes caused by soil line slope variations, it was found that the changes in the inversion equation's slope were mainly to offset the fluctuations in soil line slopes. For the same region, since soil texture did not change over time, if a stable soil line slope could be obtained, then the slope of the linear regression equation between soil moisture and MPDI would also remain stable, and calibration would not be necessary for each temporal phase. 3) A soil line consistency correction method and RPDI were proposed. Since the calculation of this index was based on a unified theoretical soil line, it stabilized the regression relationship between RPDI and soil moisture. Validation results showed that a unified regression equation could be used between RPDI and ground-measured soil moisture (the unbiased root mean square error of the calibration set was 2.88%, R² was 0.49, and the unbiased root mean square error of the validation set was 3.05%, R² was 0.54). When applying the regression equation obtained from the calibration set to other temporal phases, it was not significantly different from the MPDI regression equations established for each phase separately in terms of R² and unbiased root mean square error. This indicated that RPDI no longer depended on ground-measured data and could achieve direct comparison across different temporal phases, significantly reducing the dependence on ground-measured data for multi-temporal soil moisture estimation using optical remote sensing. In conclusion, this research offered a substantial contribution to the utilization of optical remote sensing data for large-scale, continuous soil moisture inversion. The introduced RPDI method not only simplified the process of soil moisture estimation but also fortified the resilience of soil moisture retrieval. Furthermore, it significantly boosted the efficiency and precision of soil moisture monitoring. As a result, it held great value for the implementation of sound irrigation strategies and the timely issuance of drought warnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

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.

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]

Copyright of Environmental Science & Technology (10036504) is the property of Editorial Board of Environmental Science & Technology 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 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 Business Informatics / Informatyka Ekonomiczna is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu 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.)

* Attribution rules act as a tool to modify the terms of a contract by accepting pre-specified terms and conditions. This methodology ensures that the contractual relationship is protected while addressing potentially complex scenarios that may arise during contract execution due to evolving circumstances. To maintain the binding force of the contract, Parties expedite dispute resolution and protect the integrity of their contracts by choosing recourse and prior agreeing to remedies, which encourages continuity in enforcement. These clauses are intended to automatically amend the terms of the contract without requiring the parties to participate in the amendment process. These items adjust the amount of funds subject to the obligation according to changes observed by external indicators associated with the obligation. This is done by comparing the price of a particular currency with the price of a different commodity. In the case of payment in gold or foreign currency, it represents an assault on the binding legal force of the national currency by competing with it as a means of payment and considering it as one of them. Terms of payment in gold and foreign currency are excluded from the attribution requirement, which replaces legal means of payment with new means of payment. It does not constitute a basis for determining the extent of fulfillment of the obligation, and we conclude that the attribution clause is a distinct legal system that deals with amending contractual terms and the contractual imbalance they cause. Amendment is permitted in the event of circumstances occurring that would upset the balance throughout the contract implementation period, and we recommend adopting the attribution clause as an automatic adjustment tool.

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]

Objective: Proper nutrition program is one of the major approaches to improve plant quality and has a significant role in increasing its performance. Methods: In this regard, to investigate the effect of applying organic and mineral silicate sources on the concentration of silicon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in rice plants (Oryza sativa L.), an experiment was conducted as split plots with three replications in the 2019 growing season. The experiment was carried out on the fields of the Dazmirkandeh village in the suburbs of the city of Sari and all the experimental steps were carried out in the laboratory of the Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. The main factor included two varieties of rice and the sub factor consisted of the type and amount of silicon sources in 11 levels of fertilizer treatment. Results: The results showed that the main effect of variety and different sources of silicon on the concentration of silicon in the flag leaf was significant at the confidence level of five percent, while their effect in the biomass and grain of rice was significant at the one percent confidence level. The average concentration of nutrients in the aerial organs of the Tarem Hashemi cultivar was higher than that of the Shiroudi cultivar and the different sources of silicon were able to increase the silicon concentration of flag leaves, biomass, and seeds by 70%, 16%, and 20%, respectively, increase the nitrogen by 12%, 55%, and 50%, respectively, increase the phosphorus concentration by 100%, 60%, and 87%, respectively, and finally, increase the potassium concentration by 20%, 15%, and 50%, respectively. Conclusion: In general, application of all silicate treatments increased the concentration of silicon and other macronutrients in the aerial parts of the plant compared to the control and the basal fertilizer treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agro-Environment Science is the property of Journal of Agro-Environment Science Editorial Board 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.)

Received: 2023/09/12; Revised: 2024/02/15; Accepted: 2024/03/04; Published online: 2024/03/26 How To Cite: Moradkhani, Fardin (2024). Desuetude principles in the constitution (identification of a concept), Comparative Study on Islamic and Western Law, 11(1), 161-185. doi.org/10.22091/CSIW.2024.9865.2455 Published by: University of Qom © The Author(s) Article type: Research The constitution as a key concept in the knowledge of law and constitutional law has many complexities and subtleties and many theories have been formed regarding it. This fundamental document is written to be the basis of the government's actions and to protect the people's rights, but sometimes it happens that its principle or principles are forgotten and even though they exist in the text of the constitution, they may remain unimplemented for decades. These principles are called unimplemented principles of the constitution or desuetude principle of the constitution in the theories of constitutional law. This article seeks to analyze this concept in the constitutional theory with a descriptive-analytical method. In this article, while defining this concept and the causes of its emergence, it has been defined the boundaries of this concept with other concepts such as abandoned and abrogate principles, deferral principles, atrophy principles. Also, one of the most important issues related to desuetude principles, i.e. informal amendment of the constitution, has been addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias Agricolas is the property of University of Narino, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences 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.)

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]

Copyright of Studia Wyborcze is the property of Lodz Scientific Society / Lodzkie Towarzystwo Naukowe 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 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.

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).

Alternatives to improve some physical-chemical properties of soils affected by high levels of Na+. To evaluate the effect of gypsum in a soil with a high Na+ content of natural origin, two experiments were installed on a pasture of Festuca arundinacea: in Experiment 1, four rates were evaluated (0, 1, 2 and 3 Mg ha-1) from two commercial sources of agricultural gypsum and in Experiment 2, three commercial sources of gypsum and one source of sulfur (S). In Experiment 1, after 420 days of applying the treatments, exchangeable Na decreased by 22% while exchangeable Ca increased by 10% in plots with gypsum in the first 20 cm of the profile. In addition, in these plots the soil presented greater penetrability and humidity and the pasture yielded 50% more dry matter than the plots without gypsum. While in Experiment 2, the pasture presented greater absorption of S in the soil with amendments (gypsum or S), compared to the control plots, but no differences were observed among the amendments. It is concluded that agricultural gypsum was effective in reducing exchangeable Na in the soil depth studied, increasing yield and improving pasture quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences 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 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]

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]

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]

Copyright of Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Luridica is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego 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.)

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]

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]

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.

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.

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.

In 2022, another attempt at a comprehensive amendment of the Penal Code was submitted to the Sejm. One of the proposed changes is the elimination of the penalty of 25 years imprisonment and its replacement with a term imprisonment with an extended upper limit from 15 to 30 years. This project is an opportunity to conduct an in-depth analysis of the sentence of 25 years imprisonment, paying particular attention to its advantages and disadvantages. It is also a chance for a comprehensive assessment of long-term imprisonment from the perspective of the function of criminal punishment and the principle of proportionality, which is a new element in Polish literature in this field. The author hypothesizes that neither leaving the penalty of 25 years imprisonment nor extending the term of imprisonment to 30 years is a correct solution from the point of view of the functions and principles of criminal law. Then he tries to prove its validity, using research methods adopted in jurisprudence: formal and dogmatic analysis of legal provisions, as well as a critical review of literature and judgements.The conducted research confirmed the hypothesis. In the author's opinion, long-term imprisonment may be negatively assessed from the perspective of the constitutional principle of proportionality. Instead of announcing postulates that provide for an increase in punitive criminal law by introducing more repressive penalties, it is worth considering taking the opposite actions, aimed at easing penal repression and focusing on effective resocialization. According to the author, the article may be a contribution to a discussion on changes in criminal policy, thus contributing to the development of criminal law and executive criminal law.

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]

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]

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]

The effect of amending "barren" sandy and clay soils with different organic origins on soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and permeability is not well known. Therefore, proposing desirable practices to improve their qualities and fertility is a major challenge. To improve soil organic carbon, permeability (PR) and productivity, the two barren soil textures were amended with 0.39 and 0.78 tha−1 (ton per hectare) of manure and lignite, respectively, and irrigated with treated wastewater. During the four years of experimentation, the ranges of increase in SOC of sandy and clay soils were 1.9–3.87 kgm−2, and 0.29–1.40 kgm−2, respectively, and in PR of 35.2–69.3% in sandy soils and 39.3–74.8% in clay soils. These improvements have a major effect on nutrient cycling, significantly improving water and nutrient availability to roots and plants. The levels of improvement increase with the amounts of organic compounds introduced, especially in the clay soil amended with 0.78 tha−1. The proportions of mineralized (lost) SOC were 35.3–62.3% in the sandy soils and 1.0–3.1% in the clay soils. The maximum crop weights produced were approximately 41.2 gm−2 in sandy soils and 1152 gm−2 in clay soils. Thus, amendment of barren sandy and clay soils by all three sources of organic carbon was beneficial, especially for the clay soil. achieved the desired objectives. The gain in clay soils is significantly greater than in sandy soils, which require further study. The type of practice desired by farmers will depend on cost and crop yield. Laboratoire Géoressources. Univerversité de Carthage-Centre des Recherches et Technologies des Eaux, B.P. 273, Soliman 8020 (Tunisia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stabilization of heavy metals in soil has been increasingly applied in China in recent years due to its quick effect and low cost. In this study, loess and chicken manure compost (a commercial organic fertilizer) were used to stabilize Cd in slightly polluted fluvo-aquic soil from the North China Plain, and the driving factors for stabilization were investigated through ridge regression. The additives significantly reduced the total concentration of Cd in soil through dilution. The addition of loess and compost increased carbonates and organic matter in soil, respectively. This caused exchangeable Cd to be transformed to fractions bound to carbonates or organic matter, thereby decreasing the concentration of Cd in the roots and leaves of Chinese chive. The decreasing exchangeable Cd in soil was the direct cause of decreased uptake of Cd by plants, and the increasing fractions bound to carbonates or organic matter were indirect influencing factors. However, adding loess decreased soil fertility and retarded plant growth. The addition of compost compensated for these defects. This study suggests that the combined addition of loess and chicken manure compost was able to effectively reduce the total concentration and phytoavailability of Cd in soil and guarantee crop yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]