The present study aimed at investigating the heavy metals concentrations in the soils around “Larga de Sus” abandoned mine (Zlatna, Romania), evaluating the potential ecological risk of heavy metal pollution and highlighting ethical aspects related to risk assessment, ecological restoration, and soil remediation. The results of the chemical analysis showed that the soil in the study area is highly polluted with heavy metals since the average concentrations of Pb (32.4–2318.1 mg/kg), and Ni (321.6–562.8 mg/kg) in soil exceed their corresponding threshold (...) established by the Romanian legislation. The potential ecological risk index method developed by Hakanson was used to assess the potential risk of heavy-metal pollution. The results indicated that Pb and Ni showed severe and considerable potential ecological risk, while Cr had lightly ecological risk. In this case, remediation should be focused only on Pb or on all heavy metals even if they have lightly ecological risk? A scientific management technique cannot logically prescribe which choices should be selected. The interaction between human activity and the environment is complicated and difficult to quantify and risk management cannot and should not be based simply on risk assessment results. What is needed to make the right choice of the most appropriate alternative that fits our personality, culture, religion, and desires? The moral and ethical implications of ecological restoration and soil remediation (e.g. tolerance of uncertainty, responsibility, moral duty, etc.) have to be incorporated within the decision-making process in order to make optimum sustainable decisions and to achieve real environmental protection. (shrink)

Le texte de la plus ancienne traduction arabe de la Métaphysique, faite au IXe siècle par le nestorien Usṭāṯ à l’époque et dans le cercle du «philosophe des Arabes», al-Kindī , est connu principalement par l’utilisation qu’en fit Averroès dans le Grand Commentaire de la Métaphysique, édité par le Père Bouyges d’après le manuscrit unique de Leyde. Elle comprenait la majeure partie du texte d’Aristote, à l’exception des livres Α, Κ , Μ et Ν. L’attribution à Usṭāṯ de la traduction (...) de Δ a en outre été récemment mise en doute. (shrink)

Les conditions dans lesquelles on peut susciter expérimentalement, chez les Amphibiens, une lèvre blastoporale surnuméraire ont été rappelées. Une interprétation a été esquissée en se basant sur des recherches plus récentes de microstructure, d'embryologie moléculaire et de cytochimie.The various techniques, by which a secondary blastoporal lip can be obtained in Amphibians have been recorded. Their intelligence is more or less increased by recent information due to electromicroscopy, molecular embryology and cytochemistry.