The present study investigated the relationship between social support, self-supportive behaviors, health risk behaviors, and daily activities of Turkish university students during the first wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic. We aimed to reveal how an unexpected global crisis may affect the association between social indicators and health risk behaviors among university students. As part of a large international study, a total of 7,125 university students (71% female) with a mean age of 23.50 ( SD = 6.08) from eight universities in Türkiye responded to an online survey during May 2020. Having a romantic relationship and significant other made a difference in students' health risk behaviors and daily activity indicators before and during the pandemic. Self-supportive behaviors and social contact predicted health risk behaviors and daily activity indicators, which differed according to residence location during the pandemic. Findings showed that Turkish university students' health risk behaviors and daily activity choices were influenced not only by the limitations of the pandemic but also individual behaviors and conditions as well as social relationships.

An organobentonite modified with an amphoteric surfactant, tallow dihydroxyethyl betaine (TDHEB), was used as an adsorbent to simultaneously remove Cu(II) and phenol from wastewater. The characteristic of the organobentonite (named TDHEB-bentonite) was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectra and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm. Batch tests were conducted to evaluate the adsorption capacities of TDHEB-bentonite for the two contaminants. Experiment results demonstrated that the adsorption of both contaminants is highly pH-dependent under acidic conditions. TDHEB-bentonite had about 2.0 and 5.0 times higher adsorption capacity toward Cu(II) and phenol, respectively, relative to the corresponding raw Na-bentonite. Adsorption isotherm data showed that the adsorption processes of both contaminants were well described by Freundlich model. Kinetic experiment demonstrated that both contaminants adsorption processes correlated well with pseudo-second-order model. Cu(II) had a negative impact on phenol adsorption, but not vice versa. Cu(II) was removed mainly through chelating with the organic groups (-CH2CH2OH and -COO-) of TDHEB. Otherwise, partition into the organic phase derived from the adsorbed surfactant was the primarily mechanism for phenol removal. Overall, TDHEB-bentonite was a promising adsorbent for removing Cu(II) and phenol simultaneously from wastewater.

In this study, the effects of replacing fine aggregate by granulated lead/zinc slag waste (GLZSW) on the thickness of concrete shields against X-ray radiation and on the compressive strength of concrete have been investigated. The fine aggregate was substituted by GLZSW in four percentages: 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (by weight). The first aim of the present study was to compare the thicknesses of concretes with GLZSW and control concrete using Lead Equivalent (LE). The second aim was to assess the effects of replacing fine aggregate by GLZSW on the compressive strength of concrete. Results of this study indicated that the compressive strength of mixed concretes increased significantly compared to the control upon replacing fine aggregate by GLZSW; the mixture containing 100% GLZSW had the greatest compressive strength. Further, the inclusion of GLZSW as a substitute for fine aggregate increased the radiation attenuation properties and consequently decreased the thickness of concrete shields in direct proportion to the mixing ratio of GLZSW. The results revealed that concrete mixes containing 100% GLZSW offered the greatest reduction in shield thickness. The study shows that there is a promising future for the use of GLZSW as substitute for fine aggregate in concrete used to shield against X-ray radiation.

The mechanical characteristics of transversely isotropic rocks are significantly different under various levels of inclination, and it is difficult to describe exactly the mechanical behaviour of transversely isotropic rocks. Assuming that rock consists of a great deal of microelements, and the microelement strength controlled by Mohr–Coulomb criterion follows the log normal distribution. The elastic modulus is used to reflect the anisotropy of rock, and the weak patches stiffness model is verified and employed to depict the variation of elastic modulus with different inclination angle. Based on basic damage mechanics theory and statistical method, a nonlinear statistical empirical model for transversely isotropic rocks is proposed under uniaxial compressive condition. In order to verify the correctness of the proposed model, comparison analyses between predicted results and experimental data taken from published literature are carried out, which have good consistency. Finally, the discussions on the influences of the distribution parameters ��, �� and elastic modulus with different inclination angle, ����, on proposed model is offered.

Since 1978 the retreat of Ecology Glacier in the vicinity of Henryk Arctowski Station has opened new ice-free areas for colonization by terrestrial organisms initiated by pioneer microbes. Samples were collected from the soil surface, at 0, 5 and 20 cm below surface close to glacier front, then stored at below -20°C . Total bacterial count (TC), estimated by epifluorescence microscopy, reached high values, of 1010 g-1 dry wt. Healthy looking bacterial cells of mean volume 0.0209 µm3 at 0 cm to 0.0292 µm3 at 20 cm made up from 7% at 0 cm , to 30% at 20 cm of total bacterial population. The number of colony forming units (CFU) accounted for only 0.02% of TC. Taxonomically they belonged to the a, b, g subdivisions of the proteobacteria and to the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides (CFB) group. Morphophysiologically CFU bacteria were diverse, from Gram variable short coccal forms to very long rods or filaments. Randomly selected CFU colonies were characterized by low sugar assimilation and high esterase/lipase activity. Spore forming bacteria – absent from 0 and 5 cm , formed a small fraction of 175 cells g-1 dry wt at the 20 cm depth. Filamentous fungi were relatively abundant and represented mainly by oligotrophs.

The international community is presently facing a new hazard in the form of oil spills from drilling platforms rather than ships. The issue was first brought to public attention in conjunction with the 2009 West Atlas rig fire that resulted in oil pollution of Indonesia and northern shores of Australia. The wrangle continues in the wake of the recent Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

As of today there are no international measures that regulate the issues of civil liability for offshore drilling related pollution. Indonesia has put forward the matter to the International Maritime Organisation; the IMO intends to draft a convention.

Civil liability for offshore drilling related pollution within domestic law is aseparate issue. In Polish law, Article 435 et seq of the Civil Code would apply. The pollution threat extends to the Baltic Sea, Northern Sea and other parts of the world.

The issue is also being examined by the European Union. The European Agency for the Maritime Safety has mandate to act in case of damage related to offshore drilling. Following the example of the American Oil Pollution Act (1990), the EU aims to draft comprehensive laws that would cover pollution associated with the entire mining industry.

B a c k g r o u n d: Parechovirus and enterovirus belong to a family of Picornaviridae, nonenveloped, small-sized RNA viruses, responsible for multiple human diseases. Recent introduction of molecular tests enabled the identifi cation of parechovirus and enterovirus infections. Our aim was a retrospective analysis of signs and symptoms associated with confirmed parechovirus or enterovirus infections among children treated in the Department of Neonatology, St. Louis Regional Children’s Hospital in Kraków, Poland.

M e t h o d s: Based on laboratory records, we identified all cases of parecho- or enterovirus infections confirmed by identification of viral RNA in nasal swab or cerebrospinal fluid samples. Hospital records and laboratory tests results of selected patients were then analyzed, and selected data were summarized, with emphasis on clinical and laboratory findings at admission.

R e s u l t s: We identified 11 cases of parechovirus and three of enterovirus infections. All cases were neonates admitted to hospital with fever and irritability. Except for leukopenia in 50% of patients, no significant abnormalities were noted in blood counts and serum biochemistry, including low C-reactive protein and procalcitonin. In nine cases, cerebrospinal fluid was collected, the fluid protein concentrations and cell counts were moderately increased. Final diagnosis was meningitis in 12 children, and other viral infections in two.

C o n c l u s i o n s: Viral infection, including parecho- and enteroviruses, should be considered in the etiology of fever and meningitis in neonates. The available molecular tests allow for detection of viral genetic material even in a scant biological specimen collected from neonates.