Contamination associated with metals is a critical concern related to their toxicity, persistence, and bio-accumulation. Trace elements are partitioned into several chemical forms, which some are more labile during fluctuations in the environment. Studying the distribution of metals between the different chemical fractions contributes to assess their bioavailability and to identify their potential risk of contamination to surrounding environments. This study concerns the speciation of metals (Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn and Fe) from sediments coming out from Malmfjärden bay, Sweden. The aim was to assess the potential risk of metal pollution during present and future dredging as well as while using dredged sediments in beneficial uses. The Tessier speciation procedure was chosen, and the results showed that low concentrations of metals were associated with the exchangeable fraction. In contrast, the major concentrations were linked to the residual part. The risk indexes (contamination factor and risk assessment code) showed that, during dredging activities, there is a low concern of pollution for Cr, Ni and Fe and a medium risk for Pb and Zn. Additionally, in all elements, the sum of non-residual concentrations was below the Swedish limits for using dredged sediments in sensitive lands. The findings suggested that the investigated metals in Malmfjärden sediments are related to low risks of spreading during using in beneficial uses.

Wheat cultivation under a dual-purpose (DP) system holds great potential to provide additional fodder for livestock with marginal grain reduction. This study explores the potential of wheat as a DP crop for improving both, forage and grain cropping system by finding out optimal sowing dates and cultivars suitable for DP cropping. Field experiments with four cultivars (Saleem-2000, Bathoor-2007, Fakhre Sarhad-99 (FS-99) and Siran-2008), three sowing dates (October 15, October 30 and November 15) and two cutting treatments (cut and no-cut) determines the effects on yield and physiology of wheat. Wheat sown either in mid or end of October resulted in 11 and 8% increase in grain yield while 13 and 9% in biological yield over mid November sowing, respectively. This increase in yield was due to higher grain spike(-1), chlorophyll content, transpiration rate and relative water content. The cultivars Siran-2008 and Saleem-2000 had higher biological and grain yields than other cultivars across cutting and sowing dates treatments. Biological and grain yields were reduced by 4% and 3%, respectively under the DP wheat compared with no-cut treatment, but grains N content was unaffected. Conclusively, DP wheat system (cut treatment) had higher profitability (11.2%) than wheat crop sown only for grain purposes.

Dumps and landfills are the end place of unwanted material and disposed products. Burried resources may be landfill mined and environmental pollution diminished. The problem is lack of information on unknown dump sites of former times – there remote sensing and traditional geodesy, proximal sensing techniques could be used. Near surface geophysical methods are valuable for screening of areas where drilling is limited due to technological limitations and anthropogenic unhomogenousity of material. The aim of this study was to determine whether screening of magnetometry and geoelectrical methods may be useful for old burried dumps recognition. Protonmagnetometer was used in Eastern Latvia to detect burried dump in forest, already covered by soil and vegetation. Induced polarisation and electric resistivity research was done in Southern Sweden for the macro-content analysis of dump hills composed of glass industry residuals and construction waste mixture. Surveying helped to determine macroproperties such as geomorphology and physical type of material underneath the surface. Results allowed spatially characterize dumpsite masses (location and dimensions) and identify the internal structure of a these sites. This is valuable information in order to estimate the material recovery potential of landfills.

Adhesion and IL-1β on cells imunocompetent are important to prevent the spread of Streptococcus mutans infection to the systemic. One of the efforts is to use bones, fish scales Upeneus sulphureus and Osphronemus gouramy, they suspected contain of immunomodulator components. This study aims to analyze the effect of bone, scales of U. sulphureus and O. gouramy on adhesion activity and IL-1β expression on monocytes against S. mutans. This in vivo experimental study using the post test only control group design. Peripheral blood that has been layered with ficoll hypaque, then it added HBSS, Fungizone and Penstripe. The cells were placed in well microtiter plate, then they treated according to groups. Adhesion was stained with Giemza, IL-1β was stained with immunocytochemical. Cells were counted under a light microscope with magnification 400 times per 100 cells. The data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA followed by LSD test. Post test only design and the data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA followed by LSD test. There were no significant differences (p < 0.05) between Bones and scales. They both increase the adhesion of S. mutans and decrease the expression of IL-1β in monocytes. Bone and scales U. ulphureus and O. gouramy increase the recognition of monocytes to S. mutans and inhibit the spread of infection to systemic.

This study aimed to determine whether coffee consumption affects the structure of coronary arterial wall and protects against coronary artery disease (CAD) in atherosclerotic rat model induced by periodontitis. Rats (n=21) were divided into three groups (i) Coffee group (periodontitis + coffee), (ii) Peri-odontitis group (no coffee), and (iii) Control group (no periodontitis, no coffee). A single dose of coffee suspension (representing one cup) was given daily by stomach sondation to the rats in the coffee group. The experiment was conducted for 5 wk. At the completion of the experiment, all of rats were sac-rificed. Their hearts containing coronary arteries were removed and analyzed by histochemistry assay. In addition, the serum level of collagen degrading enzymes matrix metalloproteinase–2 (MMP–2) was also analyzed using Enzyme–link immunosorbent assay (Elisa). Results demonstrated that coronary atherosclerotic lesions including atheroma, stenosis, and vascular occlusion were rarely identified in the coffee group. The coronary arterial wall demonstrated relatively symmetrical intima-media thickness (IMT) and the lumen diameter remained adequate for blood flow. The intimal collagen was intact, dense and thick. MMP–2 level was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the coffee group. In conclusion, coffee maintained the structure of coronary arterial wall particularly the intimal collagen, providing protection against CAD. This might also mediate the vascular resistance against rupture and thrombosis that might precipitate the occurrence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

The lack of water in the future will force society to find more sophisticated solutions for treatment and improvement of groundwater wherever it comes from. Contamination of soil and groundwater is a legacy of modern society, prevention of contaminants spread and secondary water reuse options shall be considered. The aim of the book chapter is to give oversight view on problems and challenges linked to groundwater quality in Eastern Baltic region whilst through case studies explaining the practical problems with groundwater monitoring, remediation and overall environmental quality analysis. The reader will get introduced with case studies in industry levels as credibility of scientific fundamentals is higher when practical solutions are shown. Eastern Baltic countries experience cover contamination problems that are mainly of historic origin due to former Soviet military and industrial policy implementation through decades. Short summaries for each case study are given and main conclusions provided in form of recommendations at the very end of the chapter.

Landfills (dumps) are places where the end of the life cycle of products can be found - useful material is dumped away from the sight creating contaminant flows around. Another problem is huge unexplored potential of resources recycling - we have limited knowledge also on useful elements and materials that are buried. The solution to overcome the limitations that provide remote sensing and traditional geodesy, proximal sensing techniques could be used. “Near surface geophysics” with operation at or just below the soil surface, significantly may contribute to give answers that traditionally are solved only after excavation. Geophysical methods are various, those can be active (i.e. create its own signal) or passive (i.e. register an existing signal); invasive (by inserting devices into the soil) or non-destructive. Some of these methods are static (e.g. a sequence of inserted electrodes), others can be used in a mobile way (e.g. pulled by a quad-bike). In general, their depth of exploration can vary from a few decimetres to some tens of metres. Thus in range of wide geophysical methodology spectrum almost all methods might be of use for unknown dump exploration depending on circumstances. In this paper, the aim is to macro-characterize anthropogenic geomorphological forms for contouring of old buried dumps by use of magnetometry, and geoelectric research methods to provide knowledge on approximate content of the dump. Protonmagnetometer was used in Eastern Latvia to determine unseen on surface dumpsite, buried in forest; induced polarisation and electric resistivity research was done in Southern Sweden for the macro-content analysis of dump hills composed of glass industry residuals and construction waste mixture. Geophysical surveying was performed to support site investigation with respect to landfill-related environmental problems, to enhance the opportunity for contouring of location of material mass and initially evaluate its physical properties. Results have shown good potential of geophysical surveying to spatially characterize landfill masses (location and dimensions) and to identify the internal structure of a landfill site, which already provides valuable information to estimate the landfill mining (material recovery) potential of landfills.

The urban waste in tourist cities needs comprehensive global research efforts and proceeded action as for metropolitan areas huge impact and load on waste management is generated. Waste management and resource conservation strategies are prepared in state-of-the-art level however implementation and future improvement of the current situation is crucial. Some examples in waste prevention and management for better tourism, waste and resource management are provided in the paper as outcomes from Horizon2020 project "Urban Strategies for Waste Management in Tourist Cities". The policy and tools based on information gathered by scientists, municipal and NGOs experience (e.g. separation of bio-waste in catering industries, "sin-wastes" as from the bars, nightclubs and smoker places, reuse of unnecessary items that can serve for others and many more) are described. In addition, regulatory instruments (e.g. ban of plastic bags, reduction of allowed bio-waste in landfilling), economic instruments (taxes) and voluntary agreements (e.g. deposit systems; cleaning actions by volunteers) might be used to implement and elaborate the situation within environmental management and prevention practices in tourist metropolitan cities. Food waste prevention, beach and littoral management, special practices for festival waste and large amount specific waste generating facilities (e.g., entertainment industry, cruises etc.) are of high importance. The future outlook may be concentrated on digitalizing of waste flows and using the "big data" concept for better and smarter waste management.

Industrial and strategic significance of platinum group elements (PGEs)-Os, Ir, Ru, Rh, Pd, Pt-makes them irreplaceable; furthermore, some PGEs are used by investors as "safe heaven" assets traded in the commodity markets. This review analyzes PGEs from various aspects: their place in the geosphere, destiny in the anthroposphere, and opportunity in the economy considering interactions among the exploration, recycling of urban ores, trade markets, speculative rhetoric, and changes required for successful technological progress towards the implementation of sustainability. The global market of PGEs is driven by several concerns: costs for extraction/recycling; logistics; the demand of industries; policies of waste management. Diversity of application and specific chemical properties, as well as improper waste management, make the recycling of PGEs complicated. The processing approach depends on composition and the amount of available waste material, and so therefore urban ores are a significant source of PGEs, especially when the supply of elements is limited by geopolitical or market tensions. Recycling potential of urban ores is particularly important in a long-term view disregarding short-term economic fluctuations, and it should influence investment flows in the advancement of innovation.

Vortex generator is a method to enhancing of heat exchanger performance but still have some disadvantages when the heat transfer performance increase. One of the disadvantage using vortex generator is high pressure drop. This investigation will be compared three type vortex generators to result the overall performance of heat transfer around tube in plate fin heat exchanger. The three types of vortex generator to investigate are rectangular winglet type, delta winglet type, and trapezoidal winglet type in laminar flow. The result showed that using the kind of trapezoidal winglet pair type in the plate fin and tube heat exchanger consist of six rows of round tube with two neighboring fins form a channel better performance than two types vortex generators such as rectangular winglet type and delta winglet type. The heat transfer coefficient when use trapezoidal winglet type was increased almost same with rectangular winglet type and pressure drop was decreased more than delta winglet type. © 2019 The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.