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In large river basins, the nitrogen (N) cycle is largely regulated by complicated interactions between human and natural elements. Nevertheless, the origins, fate and driving forces of reactive nitrogen (Nr) flows in the basins are still not clear. An estimation model of N flux was established for evaluating the Nr flow and its environmental effects in the Yellow River Basin of Henan Province (HYRB) by means of material flow analysis. Total N input and output of HYRB were calculated at 4090.9 and 3948.8 Gg N yr−1, causing 142.0 Gg yr−1 of N stored in the basin. Industry, cropland and residential activities, respectively occupied for 42.2%, 23.2% and 12.3% of the whole input, as well as 43.6%, 25.1% and 12.3% of the whole output, which were central to HYRB's N cycle. Anthropogenic activities regulated above 95.0% of total inputs, and 49.5% of N outputs was emitted into the air and 4.5% into hydrosphere. High N input, energy intensive, imperfect sewage disposal facilities and low N utilization efficiency were the main reasons of contaminate. How to effectively regulate the input of high-strength N pollutant associated with insufficient N cycling and Nr elimination is the main issue in the Yellow River Basin. In present research also put forward corresponding control measures according to the evaluation of N flow and Nr release of HYRB. The research can supply science foundation for coordinating the human–environment relationship in large basins, and also has important reference significance for the formulation of Nr emission reduction strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionNitrogen (N) plays a significant role in food systems, but only a fraction of N is effectively utilized and the rest is lost to the environment and negatively affects the ecosystem. So far, there has been relatively little research on N flow associated with the food production and consumption of production-oriented cities in developing countries.MethodsIn this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of N flow in the food production and consumption system of Changchun in China between 1991 and 2014, and define three types of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and compare them.Results(1) Total new N input into the food system in Changchun increased by 63.75% (240.8 to 394.3 Gg N yr−1) during the study period, mainly attributable to the high volume of food exports(total output from 47.63 to 72.51 Gg N yr−1). (2) Changchun typically exhibited lower apparent NUE and virtual NUE of the food system, while its actual NUE was typically higher, compared to food-importing cities. (3) The consumption of crop food witnessed a decrease from 24.2 Gg N in 1991 to 18.7 Gg N in 2014, whereas the consumption of animal food showed an upward trend from 2.5 Gg N to 7.7 Gg N. Both urban and rural residents consumed less grain food but more fruits and meat. (4) The total N loss has increased from 131.3 Gg N in 1991 to 266.6 Gg N in 2014. The crop production caused 58.1% of the total N loss in 2014, and the atmospheric loss accounted for 40.2% of the total.ConclusionThe study has revealed the distinctive features, fluctuations, and underlying drivers of N flow in the food-exporting city, setting it apart from food-importing city. These findings provide a valuable point of reference for the implementation of customized and diversified nitrogen management strategies in these specific urban areas.

AlCrTiN coatings were obtained by radio frequency magnetron sputtering and deposited on aluminum-silicon alloy substrates (A4032). The microstructure, morphology and chemical composition of the coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The effect of nitrogen flow on hardness, wear resistance, and adhesion was investigated and correlated with the microstructure of the samples. The coatings crystallized in a hexagonal Wurtzite structure with preferential growth on the (002) direction. With increasing nitrogen flow, a decrease of the crystallite size is observed. The mechanical properties of AlCrTiN coatings on an aluminum-silicon alloy showed characteristics of interest for industrial applications: the coated substrates showed better hardness (around of 10.5 GPa), improved wear resistance (COF ∼0.3) and increased fracture toughness (H3/E2 around 0.23), compared to the uncoated substrate (1.41 GPa, 0.42, and 0.0014, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban nitrogen discharge has become an important factor leading to urban water environment deterioration, water crisis, and frequent air pollution. Human consumption is the driving force of nitrogen flow and the core of urban nitrogen research. Based on the process of nitrogen flow in the urban human system, combined with the relevant United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and taking Dar es Salaam as an example, we established a generic analytical framework for sustainable nitrogen management and put forward the strategies of sustainable nitrogen management in the urban human system. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) Waste nitrogen discharge affected the environment quality. 5286 t of N (5095 t of N-NH3, 86 t of N-N2O, and 105 t of N-NOx) was emitted into the atmosphere that affected air quality. 9304 t of N was discharged into surface water and 203 t of N was leaked, which had a negative impact on the prevention and control of surface water pollution. And 8334 t of N pose a potential threat to environmental quality. (2) Nitrogen management in Dar es Salaam faced huge challenges. From the perspective of nitrogen flow of the urban human system, the diet structure and household energy structure need to be optimized, and food waste is serious. Sewage treatment and garbage treatment are seriously insufficient, and the corresponding technologies are backward. In order to solve the existing problems of nitrogen flow in the urban human system and include sustainable nitrogen management under future challenges of growing population and economy, we proposed strategies including healthy diet guidance, reducing food waste, detailed assessment of household nitrogen accumulation, transformation of household energy structure to low nitrogen emission energy, increasing nitrogen recycling ratio, and infrastructure improvement of sewage treatment and garbage treatment, hence contributing to the achievement of related SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A process-based social-economic nitrogen flow model was developed. • The Nr use pattern was observed with high burden and low efficiency. • Efficiency of production, consumption and waste management need improve. • Nr emissions have peaked in 2012 and gradually declined recently. • Nr emissions can be reduced by about 60 % with integrated strategies. The increasing human demand have driven intensive reactive nitrogen (Nr) use, leading to high emissions and low efficiency in entire social-economic system. Herein, we accomplished a social-economic Nr flow model to trace the multi-sectorial Nr use, efficiency, and emissions in China from 1980 to 2020. The results showed that Nr use intensity increased 3.1-fold within four decades, with the decreasing proportions of Nr recovery from 32.7 % to 16.8 %. The Nr use pathways of production, consumption and waste management stages showed low resources use efficiency in agriculture and industrial production, high degree of consumption loss, insufficient waste treatment characteristics currently. Nr emissions peaked in 2012 and declined 12.7 % to 2020 owing to the nitrogen oxides control and mitigating overuse of fertilizers, and will continuously decrease under strategies in 2040 (41.7 % compared with 2012), indicating the large potential for emission reduction and efficiency improvement in next few decades. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The internal diameter (ID) coating by means of thermal spraying is currently experiencing growing interest in science and industry. In contrast to the well-established plasma- and arc-based spray techniques, there is a lack of knowledge concerning kinetic processes such as HVOF, HVAF and warm spray (WS). A major challenge represents the necessity of short spray distances and the compact design of novel ID spray guns with reduced combustion power. Conventional WC-Co powders (− 45 + 15 µm) are not able to achieve a sufficient heat and momentum transfer. The use of fine powders < 15 µm offers an approach to overcome this drawback as they feature a larger surface-to-volume ratio and a lower mass. However, the processing of fine powders requires suitable spray equipment and a sensitive parameter adjustment. In this study, warm spraying of fine WC-12Co powders (− 10 + 2 µm) with a novel ID spray gun (HVOF + N2) "ID RED" (Thermico Engineering GmbH, Germany) was investigated. First, the flame profile as well as the in-flight behavior of the particles along the spray jet (spray distances SD = 10-80 mm) was analyzed at different nitrogen flows NF = 15-115 L/min to find suitable spray parameter intervals. Subsequently, planar steel samples were coated with SD = 10-50 mm and constant NF = 90 L/min. Analyses regarding the microstructure, the mechanical properties and the phase evolution of the coatings were performed. The aim was to study spraying with the novel ID gun and to scrutinize shortest feasible spray distances. Finally, steel tubes (internal diameter of 81.6 mm and a wall thickness of 10.0 mm) were coated with SD = 20 mm and NF = 90 L/min to investigate in how far the results can be transferred to ID parts. Correlations between the particle behavior, the microstructure and the coating properties were made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sn-1-lysophosphatidylcholine underwent acyl migration due to structural instability. • Acyl migration rate was higher under acidic or alkaline conditions. • Nitrogen/vacuum increased yield of conjugated linoleic acid lysophosphatidylcholine. • The maximum yield was achieved when the vacuum pressure was 13.3 KPa. Sn -Glycerol-3 - phosphatidylcholine (GPC) was prepared by hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) catalyzed by phospholipase A 1 (PLA 1). Nitrogen flow assisted the esterification of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and GPC to produce conjugated linoleic acid lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC − CLA). The effects of different reaction conditions on the PC conversion and acyl migration rates were investigated, and the acyl migration mechanism under acidic and alkaline conditions was studied. In addition, the optimum conditions for the esterification of CLA and GPC were selected. The optimal condition for the hydrolysis of PC was an enzyme loading of 5 %, pH of 5, reaction temperature of 50 ℃, and reaction time of 3 h. The results also showed that the maximum esterification rate reached 82.37 % at an enzyme loading of 15 %, CLA/GPC molar ratio of 50:1, and vacuum pressure of 13.3 kPa. This study not only improved the bioavailability of PC but also effectively increased the content of LPC − CLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effects of land‐use change in drylands on nutrient use efficiencies and losses within the food production‐consumption system provides insights on nutrient management strategies and the effectiveness of land‐use policies. Weibei Dryland is considered an example to use to evaluate changes in nitrogen (N) flows through the food chain following conversion of croplands to apple orchards, using the Nutrient flows in Food Chains, Environment and Resources Use (NUFER) model, and we also modelled the effects of 20% reduction in N fertilizers on apple yields to obtain a balanced fertilization strategy. The apple orchards area increased from 9.6 × 104 ha in 1978 to 72 × 104 ha in 2013, while the area under cereals decreased from 186 × 104 ha in 1978 to 152 × 104 ha in 2013. The increased income due to apple orchards led on‐one‐hand to more N fertilization to get a higher apple yield, and on‐the‐other‐hand promoted the consumption of animal foods. Consequently, nitrogen use efficiency of crop production (NUEc) and the combination of crop and animal production (NUEc+a) decreased, but nitrogen use efficiency of animal production (NUEa) and N losses increased between 1978 and 2013. The modelled scenario of 20% reduction in N fertilization amounts will still keep optimum apple yield but will significantly decrease N losses from the apple orchards. We therefore, suggest that the key measures for improving nitrogen use efficiency and decreasing N losses after conversion to cash crops are: (a) reducing N fertilization as well as balancing various inorganic fertilizers; and (b) implying organic fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surge in solid waste (SW) has become major issues in the fields of public health and ecological environment fuelled by the rapid development of social economy. The fate of nitrogen contained in SW (SWN) varies with different treatment methods, which will affect the environment to varying degrees. It is of great practical and guiding significance to comprehensively evaluate the sources, fate and its cascading effects of SWN. Here, a systematic SWN flow evaluation of the generation, treatment and emissions in China from 2008 to 2017 was established. During this period, the SWN flow and the N pollution emissions from SW treatment increased by 19.7% and 27.6% respectively, with the domestic garbage being the largest contributor. This shows that it is particularly important to reinforce the classified of domestic garbage and resource recycling in China. Landfill was the main treatment, accounting for 51.8% of the total SWN. Landfill and incineration were the main sources of pollution N emissions, while compost treatment has the lowest contribution rate. It highlights the urgency of changing the waste treatment methods in China. About 92.3% of the N pollution emissions was lost to the atmosphere and 7.7% to the groundwater. NH3 and NOx were the main pollutants to the atmosphere. Special attention is paid to the reduction and control of NH3 in landfill, dumping and compost processes, while NOx in incineration. This study provides scientific basis for management and disposal of SW, so as to reduce its impact on the ecological environment and develop more sustainable policies for China and other developing countries.

Manure and chemical fertilizers have different effects on soil properties, the nitrogen cycle, and crop yield. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different fertilizer applications under the same N input on soil physicochemical properties and soil bacterial communities and to explain the contributions of soil properties to grain yield. Manure substitution of chemical fertilizer was conducted in leaching monitoring systems. The study began in 2009 and sampling was carried out in 2014 and 2016. Three fertilizer treatments with the same total N, P, and K application rates and one control treatment were designed as follows: (1) CK, without nitrogen fertilizer; (2) 100%U, whole nitrogen coming from urea; (3) 100%M, whole nitrogen coming from composted cattle manure; and (4) 50%U + 50%M, half nitrogen from composted cattle manure and half nitrogen from urea. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content was positively correlated with total N (TN), NO3−–N, and NH4+–N contents, the mean weight diameter of soil aggregates, and the Shannon diversity index of bacteria, whereas SOC content was not significantly correlated with grain yield. NO3−–N content was positively correlated with grain yield. Substituting half the amount of chemical fertilizer with manure as a nitrogen source improved soil stability, increased bacterial diversity, and enhanced nitrogen supply, while reducing nitrogen loss from ammonia volatilization and nitrogen leaching. Substituting half the amount of chemical fertilizer with manure as a nitrogen source was a more sustainable way to increase grain yield through a sustainable nitrate supply and to reduce N loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several InN film samples with superb properties were prepared on a self-supporting diamond substrate for different nitrogen flow rates using an electron cyclotron resonance plasma-enhanced metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (ECR-PEMOCVD) system. After the InN film samples were obtained, the samples were characterized via reflected high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), and electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) to study the effect of the nitrogen flow on the quality of the InN films. The experimental results show that the variation in the nitrogen flow has a great impact on the preferential growth of the (0002) crystal plane of the InN thin film. By increasing the nitrogen flow moderately, the crystal quality of the film is improved. Under the growth condition of appropriate nitrogen flow, InN thin films with a preferred orientation along the c-axis can be obtained, and the surface of the resulting InN thin films is relatively flat. However, a high nitrogen flow does not improve the film crystal quality. The results of the experiment and of the analysis show that the InN films prepared with a nitrogen flow rate of 80 sccm have an excellent preferential orientation. The result of the EPMA test shows that the percentages of the In and N atoms in the prepared film samples are close to a ratio of 1:1, and a small amount of metal In droplets is present. In addition, the InN thin films prepared in such condition have an excellent surface morphology and composition.

Human disturbances of the nitrogen (N) cycle have exceeded the carrying threshold of ecological environmental systems. To explore paths for mitigating the environmental impacts and damage costs of N loss in mega river basins, the N-derived environmental behavior, economic performance, and regulation potential by humans in the Yangtze River Basin from 2011 to 2019 were studied using substance flow analysis and life cycle impact assessment. The results show that the intensity of N loss increased until 2015 and then decreased; the average value over the study period was 7413.55 kg N km−2 yr−1. Moreover, fertilizer application intensity was the dominant factor in the decrease of N input and loss. Environmental N loss was higher in the east and lower in the west, while high environmental implications were mainly concentrated in plain areas with a megacity. The mean environmental impact potentials of climate change, acidification, and eutrophication were 3.34 × 1010 kg CO 2 -eq, 7.01 × 109 kg SO 2 -eq, and 1.06 × 1010 kg NO 3 −-eq, respectively. The mean total potential damage costs due to climate change, acidification, eutrophication, and human health were 0.68, 4.34, 17.36, and 12.97 billion $ yr−1, respectively; the total potential cost of damage to human health is closely related to the N loss to atmosphere and hydrosphere. This study demonstrates that integrating the reduction of N losses with improved N use efficiency can effectively reduce N loss and its impact. Future optimized N management for human activities should carefully consider the environmental economy under the changing environment. [Display omitted] • Reducing fertilizer application intensity dominated the decrease in N input and loss. • High environmental implication was mainly concentrated in plain areas with megacity. • Integrated reducing N losses and improving NUE may be effective mitigation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybrid model links nitrogen flow across land, river, and atmosphere ecosystems. • YRB's N 2 O emissions decline from 4.7 Gg in 2000 to 2.8 Gg in 2019. • Controlling anthropogenic nitrogen is crucial for reducing N 2 O emissions. • Wet season contributes 71.5% of annual N 2 O emissions. • Different N 2 O emission mechanisms and strategies exist in urban and rural areas. Riverine ecosystems are a significant source of nitrous oxide (N 2 O) worldwide, but how they respond to human and natural changes remains unknown. In this study, we developed a compound model chain that integrates mechanism-based modeling and machine learning to understand N 2 O transfer patterns within land, rivers, and the atmosphere. The findings reveal a decrease in N 2 O emissions in the Yangtze River basin from 4.7 Gg yr−1 in 2000 to 2.8 Gg yr−1 in 2019, with riverine emissions accounting for 0.28% of anthropogenic nitrogen discharges from land. This unexpected reduction is primarily attributed to improved water quality from human-driven nitrogen control, while natural factors contributed to a 0.23 Gg yr−1 increase. Notably, urban rivers exhibited a more rapid N 2 O efflux (F N 2 O), with upstream levels nearly 3.1 times higher than rural areas. We also observed nonlinear increases in F N 2 O with nitrogen discharge intensity, with urban areas showing a gradual and broader range of increase compared to rural areas, which exhibited a sharper but narrower increase. These nonlinearities imply that nitrogen control measures in urban areas lead to stable reductions in N 2 O emissions, while rural areas require innovative nitrogen source management solutions for greater benefits. Our assessment offers fresh insights into interpreting riverine N 2 O emissions and the potential for driving regionally differentiated emission reductions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Rapid growth in metropolitan areas is associated with high nitrogen (N) flows and subsequent environmental and human health consequences. Many studies on the contemporary aspects of urban N metabolism have conducted in recent years, but comprehensive analysis from life cycle perspective is limited. In this study, a detailed quantitative framework for a coupled human-natural N flow model, comprising a full cycle analysis based on the substance flow analysis approach to cover and integrate all specific N flows and stocks associated with N production, consumption and emission, was developed to study the temporal changing patterns of N metabolism in Beijing megacity during 2000–2016. The results show that total N inputs continuously increased from 413.3 to 529.5 Gg N during the study period, primarily attributing to fossil fuel combustion (53%), fertilizer/feed import (19%), and food import (15%). Agriculture subsystem contains the largest N internal flows, and a decreasing trend is exhibited by a widening gap between local production and household consumption, reflecting Beijing's increasing dependence on the external environment. Moreover, N outputs (394.9 Gg in 2016) contribute to upstream air emissions, landfills accumulation and downstream wastewater discharges. Furthermore, driving force analysis demonstrates that population growth has the largest positive effect on N inputs, and a decoupling of N input with GDP growth is identified. Overall, N flows exhibit an inefficient and unsustainable trend, and possible options for optimizing more sustainable situations while simultaneously minimizing negative consequences are discussed. This study provides decision-makers with an integrated view of N management at the city scale. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • An analytical framework for coupled human-natural N flow model is established. • The whole N production-consumption-emission processes were identified. • Population and economic growth are key factors driving the increasing N inputs. • The disparity between local production and household consumption widens. • A considerable N emission to air and accumulated in landfills were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) flows in organic cropping systems differ considerably from those in conventional systems. The difference is particularly due to the N in organic materials in organic systems as opposed to the mineral N in fertilizer in conventional systems, which differently affect crop N supply and N losses. This implies different responses of conventional and organic cropping systems to N inputs and N management. Therefore, N flow dynamics were studied in a range of arable cropping systems with 4-year crop rotations at three different sites in Denmark varying in soil (coarse sand, loamy sand and sandy loam) and climatic conditions. The long-term field experiments included an incomplete factorial combination of (1) rotations with grass-clover in organic farming (OGC) or grain legumes in organic farming (OGL) or conventionally managed (CGL) systems, (2) with (+CC) and without (−CC) cover crops, and (3) with (+M) and without (−M) animal manure (in OGC and OGL), and with (+F) mineral fertilizer (in CGL). Cover crops in OGC and OGL included a mixture of perennial ryegrass and clover (at the sites with coarse sand and sandy loam soils) or winter rye, fodder radish and vetch (at the site with loamy sand soil), and cover crops in CGL included only perennial ryegrass at all the sites. Higher N input and N output was observed in CGL compared to OGC and OGL. The differences in annual N output in cash crops between CGL and OGL, and CGL and OGC after accounting for effects of differences in N inputs were 15 and 27 kg N ha −1 , respectively. The N output was related to N input, with a higher response to mineral N in both fertilizer and manure than to biological N fixation (BNF). The N surplus (difference between N input and N output) was significantly lower in OGL/−M+CC compared with other treatments. The recycled N in above-ground plant residues was highest in OGC/−M+CC where grass-clover cuttings were left in the field, followed by +CC treatments in OGL and CGL. The response of nitrate-N leaching to N input depended on soil type and precipitation, and leaching was reduced by the use of cover crops. The nitrate-N leaching increased with increasing N input at rates of 0.13–0.22 kg N kg −1  N input, and it increased with increasing N surplus at rates of 0.21–0.27 kg N kg −1  N surplus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Vitamin E (Vit. E) is discussed to influence ruminal biohydrogenation. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of a Vit. E supplementation on rumen fermentation characteristics, ruminal microbial protein synthesis as well as ruminal organic matter fermentation. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the influence of Vit. E supplementation on short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA) and protozoa concentrations in the rumen and, in addition, on transfer rates of middle‐chain and long‐chain fatty acids into the duodenum in lactating dairy cows. Eight rumen and duodenum fistulated German Holstein cows were assigned to either a group receiving 2,327 IU/d Vit. E (138.6 IU/kg DM DL‐α‐tocopherylacetate; n = 4) or a control group (23.1 IU/kg DM; n = 4). Neither ruminal protein synthesis nor organic matter fermentation was influenced by treatment. Vit. E did not act on the concentrations of short‐chain fatty acids and protozoa in rumen fluid. Duodenal flow of C13:0 (1.3 versus 0.2 g/d, p = 0.014) and iso‐C14:0 (1.0 versus 0.5 g/d, p = 0.050) was higher in the Vit. E group. We observed a trend for higher duodenal flows for C12:0 (1.6 versus 0.9 g/d, p = 0.095) and anteiso‐C15:0 (12.2 versus 8.9 g/d, p = 0.084). Transfer rate of C12:0 tended to be higher in the Vit. E group (125.61 versus 73.96, p = 0.082). No other transfer rates were affected by treatment. Further studies are necessary to investigate the influence of Vit. E on rumen microbiota and their fatty acid production as well as on the impact of different doses of Vit. E supplementation on variables of protein synthesis efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed management in orchard may affect apple tree nutritional status and yield, N flow and other soil chemical properties. This study evaluated apple tree nutritional status and yield, N flow in soil and soil chemical properties in an apple orchard under different weed managements. The experiment was started in October 2011 in an apple orchard established in 2008, on 80 plants submitted to the following treatments: no weed management, weed desiccation in rows, weed mowing in rows and weed mowing in rows and inter-rows. In 2011/2012, 2012/2013, and 2013/2014 crop seasons, stem diameter, number of fruits per plant and yield were measured, and nutrient leaf concentrations were quantified. In 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 crop seasons, soil samples were collected from 0 to 0.20 m layers, in order to quantify NH-N and NO-N. In September 2013, 24 months after beginning of the experiment, stratified soil samples were collected in the 0-0.025, 0.025-0.05, 0.05-0.10, 0.10-0.15, 0.15-0.20 and 0.20-0.40 m layers. Soil total organic carbon, pH, available P and exchangeable K, Ca, and Mg were measured. The weed management methods did not affect apple tree yield and growth and they had a small effect on nutrient concentrations in leaves and in soil. Row and inter-row weed management had little or no effect on competition with apple trees for water and nutrients. The weed management can be dispensed during the production cycle, reducing soil erosion, N losses and the use of herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study are to diagnose and prevent environmental problems that threaten urban sustainability, the impact of changes in lifestyle (diet, domestic sanitation, and motorization), and production style (agriculture, industry, and services) with the rapid urbanization on regional nitrogen (N) flows, and the water environment was quantitatively evaluated. The megacity Shanghai was chosen as a case study to investigate the temporal changes in nitrogen flow during 1980-2008 by a multidisciplinary approach (a field survey, a regional nitrogen mass balance model, input-output analysis, etc.). Although the total potential nitrogen load in Shanghai has decreased in the 2000s and water pollution problems seem to have improved, the problem has shifted and expanded to affect a wider area through the food/product chain and water/air movement. Further effective solutions that aim at material cycles are necessary and have to be implemented on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiSiN coatings were deposited by DC reactive magnetron sputtering on stainless steel AISI 304 substrates varying the N2 flow, in order to study the effect on the structural, mechanical and tribological properties. The coatings were deposited using a 99.999 % purity Ti- Si (90-10 at.%) target. Structural characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), observing peaks corresponding to crystalline TiN. As there is no evidence of the formation of the Ti-Si-N , Ti-Si, Ti or Si free phases, it was determined that the compound consists of TiN crystal grains in an amorphous matrix of SiN. This result is supported by FTIR and EDS analysis. The mechanical properties were studied by nanoindentation, obtaining hardness values of approximately 23 GPa when low N2 flows were used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]