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Iron and steel industry emits a large amount of CO2 and SO2 in the process of steelmaking, and these acid gases lead to the serious corrosion damage of concrete structures. In this paper, the environmental characteristics and corrosion degree of concrete in a 41-year-old steelworks were investigated, and the neutralization life prediction of the concrete structure was carried out. The results showed that the temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration, and SO2 concentration in the steelworks were 1.32, 0.62, 1.28, and 13.93 times higher than those of the general atmospheric environment, respectively. These environmental characteristics in various sections were significantly different. The appearance change of concrete in the ingot casting bay was more serious than that of concrete in the billet bay. Both the compressive strength of concrete in the ingot casting bay and billet bay decreased, and the strength in the billet bay was relatively low. The neutralization depth of concrete in the ingot casting bay was 2.35 times larger than that of concrete in the billet bay. The prediction model of concrete neutralization depth was established, and the remaining neutralization service life in the ingot casting bay and billet bay were 194.68 a and 202.07 a, respectively.

Class II methanol masers are signs of massive young stellar objects (MYSOs). Recent findings show that MYSO accretion bursts cause flares of these masers. Thus, maser monitoring can be used to identify such bursts. Burst-induced SED changes provide valuable information on a very intense phase of high-mass star formation. In mid-January 2019, a maser flare of the MYSO G358.93-0.03 was reported. ALMA and SMA imaging resolved the core of the star forming region and proved the association of the masers with the brightest continuum source MM1. However, no significant flux rise of the (sub)mm dust continuum was found. Thus, we performed NIR imaging with GROND and IFU spectroscopy with FIFI-LS aboard SOFIA to detect possible counterparts to the (sub)mm sources, and compare their photometry to archival measurements. The comparison of pre-burst and burst SEDs is of crucial importance to judge whether a luminosity increase due to the burst is present and if it triggered the maser flare. The FIR fluxes of MM1 measured with FIFI-LS exceed those from Herschel significantly, which clearly confirms the presence of an accretion burst. The second epoch data, taken about 16 months later, still show increased fluxes. Our RT modeling yielded major burst parameters and suggests that the MYSO features a circumstellar disk which might be transient. From the multi-epoch SEDs, conclusions on heating and cooling time-scales could be drawn. Circumstances of the burst-induced maser relocation have been explored. The verification of the accretion burst from G358 is another confirmation that Class II methanol maser flares represent an alert for such events. The few events known to date already indicate that there is a broad range in burst strength and duration as well as environmental characteristics. The G358 event is the shortest and least luminous MYSO accretion burst so far., Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures, accepted by A&A. Abstract abridged for arxiv submission

Coxiella burnetii est une bactérie zoonotique dont les ruminants, surtout les petits ruminants, sont la source principale de transmission aux humains. Une infection humaine à cette bactérie peut dans sa phase persistante, et dans une moindre mesure dans sa phase aiguë, causer des problèmes de santé sévères. Très peu d’information relative au risque d’infection par cet agent pathogène est disponible dans la population humaine du Québec. Une étude a donc été entreprise dans cinq régions administratives du sud-ouest du Québec (Lanaudière, Laurentides, Laval, Montérégie et Montréal) pour apporter des connaissances sur le risque d’infection à C. burnetii dans la population adulte générale de ces régions ainsi que pour investiguer de potentiels facteurs de risque de séropositivité à cette bactérie. Des séroprévalences apparentes de 1.2% (IC 95% : 0.0-6.5), 2.6% (IC 95% : 0.0-5.6) et 5.9% (IC 95% : 3.0-8.9) ont respectivement été estimées dans les régions de Montréal, de Lanaudière et de la Montérégie. Un individu séropositif (1/9) a été détecté à Laval, alors qu’aucun individu séropositif (0/14) n’a été détecté dans la région des Laurentides. Un pourcentage de résultats séropositifs plus élevé a été identifié chez les vétérinaires en comparaison aux participants ne travaillant pas en contact avec des animaux (OR = 6.21; IC 95% : 1.61-23.99; P, Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic bacterium for which the main source of transmission to humans are ruminants, especially small ruminants. A human infection with this pathogen can, in its persistent phase, and to a lesser extent in its acute phase, cause severe health problems. Very little information is available about the risk of infection with this pathogen in the human population of Quebec. A study was therefore undertaken in five administrative regions of southwestern Quebec (Lanaudière, Laurentides, Laval, Montérégie and Montréal) to provide information on the risk of infection with C. burnetii in the general adult population of these regions and to investigate potential risk factors of seropositivity to this bacterium. Observed seroprevalences of 1.2% (95% CI : 0.0-6.5), 2.6% (95% CI : 0.0-5.6), and 5.9% (95% CI : 3.0-8.9) were estimated in the regions of Montréal, Lanaudière and Montérégie respectively. One seropositive individual (1/9) was detected from the region of Laval, while no seropositive individuals (0/14) were detected from the Laurentides region. A higher percentage of seropositive results was identified among veterinarians compared to participants whose work does not involve contact with animals (OR = 6.21; 95% CI : 1.61-23.99; P

Background Children with tuberculosis (TB) are often asymptomatic, so that if TB is diagnosed in a child, an adult contact should be looked for. We realize the importance of TB control by breaking the chain of transmission, so identification of contact and prompt treatment should be made. Objective To trace contact of children with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and to determine the environmental characteristics associated with TB transmission. Methods Prospective, community based descriptive study was done in 80 children with newly diagnosed PTB treated at Pediatric Pulmonary Ward, Kariadi Hospital, from September 2003 to February 2004. Clinical condition, chest x-ray (CXR), acid fast bacilli (AFB) staining of sputum, and environmental characteristics of adults suspected as TB contact were examined. Data were analyzed by uni- and bivariate analysis using SPSS 11.5. Results Eighty adults with suspected TB were enrolled, 90% were household contacts. There were 63 (79%) confirmed TB contacts in rural and urban area. Fathers were predominates (32%) followed by grandparents (26.3%), relatives (18.7%), and mothers (12.5%). There was no significant difference about internal (household) and external (non-household) family contacts between rural and urban area (P=1.000). In urban area, home transmission is more frequent than rural area (P=0.340). In urban area, the contacts had a better perception but had no better attitude toward treatment, although the difference was not significant. Behavior was worsen in rural area (P=0.214). Poor behavior seldom occurred in those who had enough knowledge of TB, although the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.352). In the urban area, the house of contacts had lower sleeping density (P=0.282), poor ventilation (P=0.306), and higher room temperature (P=0.683). There were no differences in the light intensity and humidity. Conclusion There were 79% confirmed TB contacts in rural and urban area with male predominant. There was no significant difference between household and non-household contacts in rural and urban area. There are different characteristics, such as knowledge, perception, attitude towards treatment, and behavior associated with TB transmission between contacts in the rural and urban area, and between lower, middle, and higher socio- economic level, although the difference is not significant

One of the most pressing issues when making decisions over long-term environmental problems is deciding on an appropriate discount rate. This can be a highly technical discussion. While some argue in favour of market rates, which usually tend to be high, others support the use of near-zero rates to ensure that both current and future generations are properly accounted for. This paper presents an alternative approach to determining the discount rate for environmental assets in the case of land-use planning - the Equivalency Principle (EP)- based on the normative proposition that the social value of protected natural land should be at least the same as the market price of an adjacent land with similar environmental characteristics that has been granted permission for development. The paper first provides a theoretical overview of the approach, followed by an application of the EP at the land plot level across 11 European countries. Based on the EP, pure rates of social time preference that would equate natural and development land values within each administrative unit have been calculated. The findings show that the application of the EP usually results in discount rates that are lower-than-market rates and that are geographically differentiated. This implies discount rates that account for preferences of the society where the land or natural resource is located, with results ranging between 0% and 11%, with an average rate of 1% across study sites. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd This research is supported by the Basque Government through the BERC 2018–2021 program and by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness MINECO through María de Maeztu excellence accreditation MDM-2017-0714 . Additionally, it is also supported by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement no. 603906 (ECONADAPT Project) and the Horizon 2020 RESIN Project (EC-H2020, grant agreement no. 653522 ). E. Sainz de Murieta is also grateful for the support received from the Basque Government (grant no. POS_2016_1_0089 ).

[EN] We propose a methodological tool for examining the layout and revealing the concealed characteristics of urban water supply systems (WSS). For this purpose, we use underground images obtained with ground penetrating radar (GPR) as a method that does not alter the system conditions and environmental characteristics (non-destructive methods). The study focuses on wave amplitude and uses intensive matrix manipulation. We obtain promising results as the methodology, which is non-subjective and repeatable, visualizes buried pipes with efficiency. This tool will help WSS managers obtain a more accurate picture of WSS and so offer a better service to users. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved., This work has been supported by project IDAWAS, DPI2009-11591, of the Direccion General de Investigacion of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion of Spain, and ACOMP/2010/146 of the Conselleria de Educacion of the Generalitat Valenciana.