ESTIMATION OF SOIL CARBON STORAGE IN SHINJUKU GYOEN NATIONAL GARDEN BASED ON LAND USE HISTORY AND SOIL COMPACTNESS PROFILES

This study aims to estimate soil carbon storage in Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden,Tokyo Metropolis. Undisturbed soil samples were collected in the Gyoen from regions of differentland use using a core cylinder. A modified investigation was used by combining measurement ofvertical structure of soil compactness in order to estimate cumulative carbon content withoutinterfering with the park landscape. Softness obtained using a cone penetrometer was converted tosoil bulk density (g cm-3) and samples for measurement of total carbon content (g kg-1) werecollected using a boring stick. The carbon storage in the Gyoen (0 – 100 cm) was estimated as 316± 83.1 t C ha-1 in turf areas and 198 ± 61.3 t C ha-1 in forest areas, respectively, which areequivalent or slightly larger than the standard values obtained for Andosols and Brown Forest soils,respectively. The large difference in the cumulative carbon storage between turf area and forestarea for the entire profile (0 – 100 cm) can be explained by the difference in the pedogenesisprocess of humus accumulation together with the diagenesis process of humus decomposition,both of which depend on the humus quality of vegetation and land use history. The use of theSoftness obtained from measurement of vertical soil compactness was discussed as a proxy ofbulk density. It is shown that vertical soil compactness differs in same land use regions in theGyoen. Although the estimated values of cumulative carbon content had issues withoverestimation in some cases, we suggest that the use of the Softness as a substitute for bulkdensity is applicable for estimating soil carbon storage. Subsurface structure, regulated by land usehistory and land creating history should be taken into account for the reliable evaluation of soilcarbon storage in urban areas

Active Fault System and the Related Seismicity in Pakistan

Earthquakes in Pakistan are generated along the active fault system due to neo-tectonic process, emerged from the colliding plate boundaries of the Indian, Eurasian and Arabian plates. Based on this progression many active seismic zones in Pakistan, e.g., the Hindu Kush-Karakoram and Indus-Kohistan seismic zones emerged. Consequently, the 8th October 2005 earthquake occurred along the Indus-Kohistan active seismic zone that killed more than 80000 people. The subsequent studies revealed that he causative faults for earthquakes are mainly active thrust faults with a strike slip component and purely the strike slip faults. Based on the seismic hazard zones, prepared after 8th October 2005 earthquake, Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan has been up-graded from Zone 2 to Zone 3 having “g” factor between 0.1-0.3 with moderate to severe damage

Post Aswan High Dam flash floods in Egypt: Causes, consequences and mitigation strategies

Flash floods become one of the most recent common forms of natural disaster in recent-day Egypt. These floods are made up of sudden, unexpected and heavy rains or a strong surge of water, which usually hit the steep sloped mountainous catchments and inundate many regions, particularly along the Red Sea Coast and Sinai, Egypt. These floods often carry rocks, soil, and other debris, a matter which make them pose a significant risk to people and infrastructure, leading to death and destruction. Egypt recognized the challenges posed by disasters and strengthened and developed its national institutions and policy to meet the tasks of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) on the Crisis Management and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Egypt established a Crisis Management Affairs (CEMA) entity in 2000 and some good signs of progress have been made along several areas and sectors. The multi-sectoral approach is to be adopted and operationalized to ensure the full integration and harmony. Furthermore, in 2009, Egypt in collaboration with Belgium has installed the first early warning system called Flash Flood Manager (FlaFloM) in Wadi Watir, Southern Sinai

Mineralogy and geochemical properties of dust storm in Sistan region and Khuzestan Province, Iran

In recent years, dust storms coming from western neighboring countries are drastically increased dust storms and affecting western and eastern part of Iran. This phenomenon is caused a lot of environmental and socio-economic problems. Sistan is a region located in southeast Iran with extensive wind erosion. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of airborne and soil dust samples from Sistan shows that the dust mineralogy is dominated mainly by quartz (30-40%), calcite (18-23%), muscovite (10-17%), plagioclase (9-12%), chlorite (~6%) and enstatite (~3%), with minor components of dolomite, microcline, halite and gypsum. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyses of all the samples indicate that the most important oxide compositions of the airborne and soil dust are SiO2, CaO, Al2O3, Na2O, MgO and Fe2O3, exhibiting similar percentages for both stations and soil samples. However Khuzestan Province is located in southwest Iran with sandy deserts. XRD result from Khuzestan show that mineralogical composition of these dust particles can be divided into three groups: (1) Carbonate group (calcite mineral), (2) Silicate group (quartz mineral) and (3) Clay group (Kaoline mineral). The most important minor phase is Gypsum. SEM studies indicate that these particles were found in rounded, irregular, prismatic and rhombic shapes. XRF and ICP analyses of the samples show that the most important oxide compositions of airborne dusts are SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, CaO and MgO. This research can be help to find the impact of geological units on the wind erosion lands for finding dust storm sources in the states of western and eastern parts of Iran

Environmental impacts and mineralogical characteristics of dust storm in Middle-East

Middle Earth, including Iran, Iraq, China and Syria has been recognized as one of the most important primary sources of dust. Intensive investigations have been conducted to study the chemical composition, sources and deposition of Middle Earth particles. However, analysis of individual Middle Earth particles show that about one fifth of all the particles are mineral aggregates, and at least one fourth of the particles contain sulfur. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is used to quantify the phase and the clay mineral compositions of Middle Earth samples. Phases in the Middle Earth sample collected during the 20 March 2002 dust storm episode included clay minerals, noncrystalline materials, quartz, calcite, plagioclase, potassium feldspar, pyrite, hornblende, and gypsum in descending order. Clay minerals are mainly illite/smectite mixed layers (78%), followed by illite (9%), kaolinite (6%), and chlorite (7%). Particulate matter (PM) less than 10 mm are enriched with clay minerals and deficient with quartz by mass compared with the total suspended particulates collected during an Middle Earth episode. The PM less than 10 mm collected during the two severe dust storm episodes is characterized by the absence of dolomite, high quartz/clay ratio, and dominance of illite/smectite mixed layers in clay minerals

Prevention of hypoglycemia by intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring device combined with structured education in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus : A randomized, crossover trial

Aims: We conducted a randomized, crossover trial to compare intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) device with structured education (Intervention) to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) (Control) in the reduction of time below range. Methods: This crossover trial involved 104 adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using multiple daily injections. Participants were randomly allocated to either sequence Intervention/Control or sequence Control/Intervention. During the Intervention period which lasted 84 days, participants used the first-generation FreeStyle Libre (Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA, USA) and received structured education on how to prevent hypoglycemia based on the trend arrow and by frequent sensor scanning (≥10 times a day). Confirmatory SMBG was conducted before dosing insulin. The Control period lasted 84 days. The primary endpoint was the decrease in the time below range (TBR; <70 mg/dL). Results: The time below range was significantly reduced in the Intervention arm compared to the Control arm (2.42 ± 1.68 h/day [10.1 %±7.0 %] vs 3.10 ± 2.28 h/day [12.9 %±9.5 %], P = 0.012). The ratio of high-risk participants with low blood glucose index >5 was significantly reduced (8.6 % vs 23.7 %, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of isCGM combined with structured education significantly reduced the time below range in patients with T1DM