Development of an Open-GIS decision aid system for ecological and economical management of surface and groundwater resources in the Bistrita River Basin (Romania)

International audienceThe Bistrita River Basin (a length of 283 km, a surface of 7039 km2, a mean discharge of 65 m3/s) is one of the most important tributary of the Siret River, which is the second major affluent of the Danube River. Heavily influenced by hydraulic management and highly polluted by agricultural and urban activities in some stretches, the Bistrita river has been studied in the framework of the Diminish Project (LIFE03 ENV/ RO/000539), funded by the Life Environment Program. The project aims to support the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive and to combat the nutrient pollution by developing an integrated, on-line, GIS-based support system for the management of the water quality in relation with human activities, using socio-economical analysis, at the scale of the river catchments. Based on modeling approaches the decisional system allows to predict which strategy will lead to the most effective reduction of nutrient concentrations within the Bistrita hydrological network and of nutrient loads transported by the Siret River into the Danube. The consequences of the nutrient pollution are discussed for two basin areas, from two points of view: i) the effects of point and diffuse pollution for surface and groundwater, on the basis of the basin response to the changing pressures over the river catchments (industrial, rural, urban, agricultural changes), ii) the economical valuation of environmental costs and cost-effectiveness of the measures, that can be proposed from socio-economic scenarios, for reaching the "good ecological status" of this river

Cellulose acetate membranes functionalized with resveratrol by covalent immobilization for improved osseointegration

Covalent immobilization of resveratrol onto cellulose acetate polymeric membranes used as coating on a Mg-1Ca-0.2Mn-0.6Zr alloy is presented for potential application in the improvement of osseointegration processes. For this purpose, cellulose acetate membrane is hydrolysed in the presence of potassium hydroxide, followed by covalent immobilization of aminopropyl triethoxy silane. Resveratrol was immobilized onto membranes using glutaraldehyde as linker. The newly synthesised functional membranes were thoroughly characterized for their structural characteristics determination employing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Subsequently, in vitro cellular tests were performed for evaluating the cytotoxicity biocompatibility of synthesized materials and also the osseointegration potential of obtained derivatised membrane material. It was demonstrated that both polymeric membranes support viability and proliferation of the pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, thus providing a good protection against the potential harmful effects of the compounds released from coated alloys. Furthermore, cellulose acetate membrane functionalized with resveratrol exhibits a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular matrix mineralization, suggesting its suitability to function as an implant surface coating for guided bone regeneration

GEOLOGICAL AND HYDROGEOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE PHREATIC AQUIFER OF THE TÂRNAVA MICĂ RIVER FLOOD PLAIN AND TERRACES

Geological and hydrogeological considerations on the phreatic aquifer of the Târnava Mică river flood plain and terraces. The project „Enhancement of Water Resources Management in Mureş River Basin" target is the development of an instruments set and of a methodology on a sustainable management of surface and groundwater resources from the Mureş river basin. Thus, there has been selected as a pilot area, the Târnava Mică river basin (as sub-basin of the Mureş river basin), for which it was developed a mathematical hydrological integrated model.The phreatic aquifer located in the flood plain and terraces alluvial deposits of the Târnava Mică river basin represents a source for the localities water supplies (fountains) and for the economic agents (wells) from the area. Because of this reason, the groundwater from this aquifer is an important element in the balance of water, and also for the integrated management of the water resources from the study area.The paper presents some geological features (lithology, facies variations) and hydrogeological (hydrostatic level variation, dynamics, etc.) of the phreatic aquifer, as elements of a better knowledge of the phreatic aquifer from the Tarnava Mica flood plain and terraces

THE IMPACT OF SONICATION TIME THROUGH POLYSULFONE- GRAPHENE OXIDE COMPOSITE FILMS PROPERTIES

In this research we studied the influence of sonication time through the properties of polysulfone (PS)-graphene oxide (GO) composites. Nanocomposites of PS-GO 0.5 wt. % were prepared by phase inversion and were exposed to sonication treatment for 30, 60 and 90 minutes. The presence of largely dispersed graphene oxide was evidenced by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) investigation indicated no occurrence of interaction between graphene oxide nanosheets and PS. The obtained composites exhibit similar mechanical and thermal properties with those of PS

Observational asset for Near-Earth Objects, artificial satellites, and space debris: an assessment of concept

International audienceNear-Earth Objects, artificial satellites and space debris are objects of the Earth-Space-Environment(SEE). New data are required continuously for these objects for improving their ephemerides. In the case of Near Earth Objects optimal periods of observations are sparse over the century and in the order of 10-30 days. It is mandatory to exploit these situations in terms of observations for refine the orbit and for derive their physical properties. For the artificial satellites optical observations should be addressed in order to corroborate telemetry and other observational techniques. An increasing importance is addressed to space debris, which are tremendously increased into the last decade. Their orbital evolution is very sensitive to gravitational harmonics of the Earth, tidal effects of the Moon, Sun and major planets, and to non-gravitational forces. Observational survey is required during their evolution on the orbit but also during their falls through the atmosphere. The article presents the premises of a modern asset which should answer to the problematic of observations of Near-Earth Objects, artificial satellites, and space debris in a paradigm of a mobile system which can be rapidly deployed

Telescope calibration for mobile platforms: first results

International audienceNew data are required continuously for improving the ephemerides of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and artificial objects orbiting around Earth. Rapid response optical assets are ideal for the accomplishment of surveillance and tracking of these objects. The increasing importance is addressed to space debris because of the increasing of space activities during the last decade. The article continues the development of concept and realization of a mobile optical asset (Birlan et al., 2018) which will be used for both artificial objects and Near-Earth Object observations. Here we present one solution using the same mount for two telescopes pointing simultaneously the same region of the celestial sphere. Observational tests were performed for asteroid 1998NU, artificial satellites Astra 1N, the comet C/2018 Y1(Iwamoto), and the occultation of Trans-Neptunian Object (38628) Huy