Hao He, Timothy P Canty, Russell R Dickerson
et al.
Between June 6 and 8, 2023, wildfires in Quebec, Canada generated massive smoke plumes that traveled long distances and deteriorated air quality across the Northeastern United States (US). Surface daily PM _2.5 observations exceeded 100 µ g m ^−3 , affecting major cities such as New York City and Philadelphia, while many areas lacked PM _2.5 monitors, making it difficult to assess local air quality conditions. To address this gap, we developed a WRF-CMAQ-BenMAP modeling system to provide rapid, spatially continuous estimates of wildfire-attributable PM _2.5 concentrations and associated health impacts, particularly benefiting regions lacking air quality monitoring. CMAQ simulations driven by two wildfire emissions datasets and two meteorological drivers showed good agreement with PM _2.5 observations, with linear regression results of R ^2 ∼0.6 and slope ∼0.9. We further quantified uncertainties introduced by varying emissions and meteorological drivers and found the choice of wildfire emissions dataset alone can alter PM _2.5 simulations by up to 40 µ g m ^−3 (∼40%). Short-term health impacts were evaluated using the BenMAP model. Validation against asthma-associated emergency department (ED) visits in New York State confirmed the framework’s ability to replicate real-world outcomes, with ED visits increased up to ∼40%. The modeling results identified counties most severely affected by wildfire plumes, the majority of which lack regulatory air quality monitors. Our approach highlights the value of integrated modeling for identifying vulnerable populations and delivering timely health burden estimates, regardless of local monitoring availability.
General Lucjan Żeligowski’s dilemmas regarding his national identity reflect the difficult choices faced by millions of people living in the borderlands between Russia and various East-Central European nations over the past several centuries. Born and raised in a Polish-patriotic family in 1865 in the heart of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which was controlled by Tsarist Russia, he joined the Russian Army out of poverty and became almost entirely Russified. Seeking a compromise between his Polish and Russian identities, he became interested in Slavophile ideology. By the end of World War I, his Polish identity had prevailed over his Lithuanian and Russian sentiments, and he contributed to the rebirth of Poland. However, he noticed a distinction between Poles from central Poland and himself, a “Polish” or “Slavic Lithuanian”. He was very critical of Warsaw’s policies towards the regions of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania and endeavoured to preserve their separate character. In 1939, he escaped from Poland and joined the Polish émigré authorities. In the West, he returned to Pan-Slavic ideology, hoping it would help bridge the Polish-Soviet chasm. Also, his political views shifted. In interwar Poland, he became an agrarian, but he was moving to the left, dreaming of a “People’s Poland”. This allowed him to stay connected with the Soviets during World War II and later to decide on his return to communist-controlled Poland. He had never found peace of mind and paid a steep price for his numerous identity crises. He was not alone; millions traversed similar mental paths, impacting the entire history of Eastern and East Central Europe.
History of Eastern Europe, Ethnology. Social and cultural anthropology
This article examines the subtle nuances of Hobbes’s and Kant’s perspectives on rhetoric and materialism, contextualising them within the broader framework of political philosophy. Despite both philosophers being critics of rhetoric, their approaches exhibit notable divergences. Hobbes, who advocated for monarchy, criticized rhetoric from the perspective of a materialist anthropology influenced by Lucretius. However, he paradoxically employed rhetorical strategies in his new scientia civilis. Despite critiquing both Lucretian materialism and rhetoric, Kant incorporated certain rhetorical elements compatible with his philosophical framework, particularly in relation to Epicureanism. This study analyses their interpretations of paradiastole and the implications for the political thought. The argument is that both thinkers, in seeking a rational foundation for the political order, anchor their notions of rationality in Epicurean materialism, by reconfiguring rhetorical elements to suit their respective philosophies. The article elucidates Kant’s republican proclivities and his aspiration to maximize the citizens’ autonomy, which contrasts with Hobbes’s monarchical orientation. This research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the early modern political thought and its relevance to the contemporary republican and democratic theory.
With 2030 quickly approaching and hence the end of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) timeline, it is necessary to start the conversation as to what the post-2030 international development goals, that will take over from the SDGs, will look like. Building on the experiences of implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and SDGs, there is the possibility of making the post-2030 goals the most efficient and successful to date. This perspective explores the lessons that have been learnt from the MDGs and SDGs, and together with a consideration of emerging global trends develops proposals for post-2030 goals and targets. In total seven goals are suggested: (1) Operate within planetary boundaries (2) Create growth within resource limits (3) Provide access to basic services for all (4) Eliminate poverty and hunger (5) Reduce inequality (6) Deliver good health and education for all (7) Build strong institutions and international partnerships. The goals are categorised as being: (i) Environmental and Economic (ii) Physical Assets (iii) Social, and (iv) Collaboration. System interdependencies and possible causal connections between the proposed post-2030 goals are also explored. A novel approach of five yearly assessments of the risks involved if the targets are not met, together with suggestions for corrective action is discussed, which will help inform governments and decision makers of the urgent actions needed. To avoid a disruptive future, careful formulation of the post SDG period beyond 2030 is urgently needed to provide a fair and consistent framework to hold both government and industry to account at local, national, and international levels. This will require the strengthening of existing international institutions and strategies for the financing of development.
Field determination and ecological risk assessment of dissolved lead (Pb) were performed at two Yellow Sea sites in China using a continuous automated electrochemical system (CAEDS). This CAEDS instrument includes an automatic triple filter sampler and an electrochemical detection water quality analyzer, which might be operated automatically four times daily. The dissolved Pb concentrations varied from 0.29 to 1.57 μg/L in the South Yellow Sea over 16 days and from 0.32 to 2.28 μg/L in the North Yellow Sea over 13 days. During the typhoon and algal bloom periods, the Pb concentration was as high as ten times greater than usual. According to the calculation of contamination factors (C<sub>f</sub>) and subsequent analysis, seawater quality was classified as Grade II. Through species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method experiments and ecological risk analysis, an average risk quotient (RQ) below 1 for both areas was obtained, indicating a low-to-moderate ecological risk. This system will be helpful for Pb monitoring and assessment in seawater and contribute to the biogeochemical cycling study of Pb.
Este artículo explora la contribución de la arquitecta ítalo-brasileña Lina Bo Bardi para crear un urbanismo más equitativo, inclusivo y sostenible. Tras ofrecer una breve reseña biográfica, el ensayo examina algunos de los temas que influenciaron en la trayectoria de Bo Bardi, como sus provocativas reflexiones sobre el feminismo y su interés y fascinación por el "Brasil profundo" a partir de su estancia en la ciudad de Bahía. El argumento central del trabajo es que, adoptando el Centro de Ocio Fábrica SESC Pompéia como caso de estudio, Bo Bardi desarrolló una concepción distinta y original del proyecto urbano. Distanciándose de los postulados del urbanismo moderno, el pensamiento y el diseño de Bo Bardi se centraron en la activación del espacio público a través de actividades y eventos destinados a fortalecer los lazos comunitarios. Bajo este nuevo paradigma, la noción de "calle" se reinterpreta y cambia continuamente. De manera alternativa o simultánea, las calles del SESC Pompéia pueden funcionar como espacios exteriores e interiores, pasarelas a nivel de suelo y elevadas, terrazas solárium y escenarios para performances. Bo Bardi concibió el SESC Pompéia como una “ciudadela de la libertad,” promoviendo la posibilidad de una experiencia urbana más inclusiva, equitativa, multifuncional e innovadora para todos.
Aesthetics of cities. City planning and beautifying, Anthropology
Supponendo che lo spazio sia un fattore determinante per la produzione o lo sviluppo del diritto, proponiamo che i regolamenti sulle encomiendas indiane nell’America coloniale fossero sempre locali e non generali. Non cercavano di replicare gli ordini contenuti nelle cédulas reales, ma piuttosto di tradurre i loro principi generali nell’ordine locale. I regolamenti sull’encomiendas erano il risultato della negoziazione tra gli interessi del re, gli interessi degli encomenderos vecinos delle città americane, la capacità di resistenza o di adattamento delle comunità indigene e la conoscenza dello spazio. In questo saggio analizzeremo il caso del governo di Tucumán, situato nelle Ande meridionali, nel Cinquecento e all’inizio del Seicento.
There is a huge energy demand from offshore renewable energy resources. To maximize the use of various renewable energy sources, a combined floating energy system consisting of different types of energy devices is an ideal option to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by sharing the infrastructure of the platform and enhancing the power production capacity. This study proposed a combined concept of energy systems by combing a heave-type wave energy converter (WEC) with a semisubmersible floating wind turbine. In order to investigate the power performance and dynamic response of the combined concept, coupled aero-hydro-servo-elastic analysis was carried out using the open-source code F2A, which is based on the coupling of the FAST and AQWA tools by integrating all the possible environmental loadings (e.g., aerodynamic, hydrodynamic). Numerical results obtained by AQWA are used to verify the accuracy of the coupled model in F2A in predicting dynamic responses of the combined system. The main hydrodynamic characteristics of the combined system under typical operational conditions were examined, and the calculated responses (motions, mooring line tension and produced wave power) are discussed. Additionally, the effect of aerodynamic damping on the dynamic response of the combined system was examined and presented. Moreover, a second fully coupled analysis model was developed, and its response predictions were compared with the predictions of the model developed with F2A in order for the differences of the calculated responses resulted by the different modeling techniques to be discussed and explained. Finally, the survivability of the combined concept has been examined for different possible proposed survival modes.