Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Impact of Small Hydropower Plants on the Ecological Status Indicators of Water Bodies: A Case Study in Lithuania

Hydropower plants produce renewable and sustainable energy but affect the river’s physico-chemical characteristics and change the abundance and composition of the aquatic organisms. The impact of large HPPs on the ecological conditions of surface water bodies have been extensively studied, but less attention has been paid to environmental impact studies of small hydropower plants (SHPs). The impact of hydropeaking on both the river flow regime and ecosystems has been well-studied for peaking mode plants, mainly medium to large-sized ones. However, for small hydroelectric power plants, and especially for those in lowland rivers, the available information on water quality, benthic macroinvertebrates communities and fish abundance, and biomass is not sufficient. Ten small hydropower plants were selected, and the ecological status of water bodies was assessed in different parts of Lithuania. The studies were performed at the riverbed upstream from the SHPs, where the hydrological regime has not changed, and downstream from the SHPs. It was found that the small hydropower plants do not affect the physico-chemical values of the water quality indicators. This study demonstrated that the total number of benthic macroinvertebrates taxa (TS) is influenced by the concentration of nitrogen and suspended solids, the water flow, the river area, and the current speed; the number of EPT (Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies)) taxa is influenced by the concentration of nitrogen and suspended solids. The studied indicators do not have a significant impact on biomass. The SHPs affect the fish abundance and biomass. The Lithuanian fish index (LFI) is influenced by the average depth and area of the river. Some SHPs operating in lowland areas may yield somewhat significant hydrograph ramping but more detailed investigation is needed to support the significance of this impact on the biological indices.
An inter-correlation among chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL) 1, CXCL2 and CXCL8, and their diversified potential as biomarkers for tumor features and survival profiles in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background The aim was to explore the interaction among chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand (CXCL) 1/2/8 expressions, and their associations with clinicopathologic features and survival profiles in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods The tumor tissue specimens from 232 primary NSCLC patients with TNM stage I-IIIA underwent resection were obtained and the expressions of CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL8 were measured by immunohistochemical assay. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated according to survival data. Results There were 117(50.4%) CXCL1 low expression patients versus (vs.) 115 (49.6%) CXCL1 high expression patients, 107(46.1%) CXCL2 low expression patients vs. 125 (53.9%) CXCL2 high expression patients, 93 (40.1%) CXCL8 low expression patients vs. 139 (59.9%) CXCL8 high expression patients. Meanwhile, CXCL1 expression was positively correlated with CXCL2 expression and CXCL8 expression; CXCL2 expression was also positively correlated with CXCL8 expression. For tumor features, CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL8 were positively correlated with lymph node (LYN) metastasis and TNM stage, but not correlated with differentiation, tumor size or carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level. For prognosis, CXCL1 high expression was associated with worse DFS and OS, so did CXCL2 high expression, while there was no correlation of CXCL8 with DFS or OS; Multivariate Cox’s regression disclosed that high expression of CXCL1, but not CXCL2 or CXCL8, was an independent factor predicting shorter DFS and OS. Conclusions An inter-correlation is observed among CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL8 expressions, and they show diversified potential as biomarkers for tumor features and survival profiles in NSCLC patients.
Characterization of wood biochar and evaluation of its adsorption potential for removal of sulphate from produced water in offshore oil and gas industry

This thesis analyses the potential of wood biochar as an adsorbent in removal of sulphate from produced water. In worldwide offshore oil and gas industry, a large volume of waste water is generated as produced water. Sulphur compounds present in these produced water streams can cause environmental problems, regulatory problems and operational issues. Among the various sulphur removal technologies, the adsorption technique is considered as a suitable method since the design is simple, compact, economical and robust. Biochar has been studied as an adsorbent for removal of contaminants from water in a number of studies due to its low cost, potential availability, and adsorptive characteristics. In this study, biochar produced through fast pyrolysis of bark, hardwood sawdust, and softwood sawdust were characterized through a series of tests and were analysed for adsorbent properties. Treating produced water using biochar sourced from wood waste is a two-fold solution to environmental problems as it reduces the volume of these wastes. Batch adsorption tests were carried out to obtain adsorption capacities of each biochar sample using sodium sulphate solutions. The highest sulphur adsorption capacities obtained for hardwood char, softwood char and bark char were 11.81 mg/g, 9.44 mg/g, and 7.94 mg/g respectively at 10 °C and pH=4. The adsorption process followed the second order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model. Adsorption reaction was thermodynamically favourable and exothermic. The overall analysis concludes that the wood biochar is a feasible, economical, and environmental adsorbent for removal of sulphate from produced water.
Estimation of Pressure-Dependent Diffusive Permeability of Coal Using Methane Diffusion Coefficient: Laboratory Measurements and Modeling

Gas diffusion in coal is critical for the prediction of coalbed methane (CBM) production, especially for the late-stage CBM reservoir when both gas pressure and permeability are relative low. Using only Darcy permeability to evaluate the quality of gas transport might not be effective. Diffusive flow can be the dominant flow at low reservoir pressures. In this work, the methane diffusion coefficient was measured for pulverized San Juan sub-bituminous and Pittsburgh bituminous coal samples using the classic unipore model and particle method. The diffusion coefficient results showed a negative correlation with pressure, as reported previously. The significance of diffusion flow is strongly related to the rate of the methane ad-/desorption process, more severely in the low pressure range [<2 MPa (280 psi)]. The measured diffusion coefficient can be converted to the equivalent permeability. This equivalent permeability, termed diffusive permeability, can be considered as the contribution of diffusion flow, in.
Investigation on the sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone)/poly(amide‐imide)/barium cerate‐based nanocomposite membrane for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The fluorinated Nafion is replaceable by the non‐fluorinated clean sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) for hydrogen‐based fuel cell. The acid‐base blending of PAI to clean sulfonated poly ether ether ketone (SPEEK) increased the thermal, mechanical, and oxidative properties and decreased the conductivity. It interpreted that higher stability properties appeared on the blended membrane. The loading of BaCeO3 nanoparticles in the SPEEK/poly (amide‐imide) (PAI) matrices was done via solution casting process. This outcome provides improved conductivity, ion‐exchange property, water uptake (WU) with controlled stability due to the good interfacial interplay among nanoparticles and polymer. The high conductivity (14.98 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 80°C) was reached by SPEEK/PAI /BaCeO3 (90/10/06 wt%) membrane (B3) measured in the electrochemical four‐probe impedance spectroscopy. Its current density and power density values are 269 mA cm−2 and 66 mW cm−2, respectively. The voltage retention of the B3 membrane was maintained almost at 0.92 V and degradation of voltage after 20 hours in the durability study was about 0.01 V.
Arctic Snow Isotope Hydrology: A Comparative Snow-Water Vapor Study

The Arctic’s winter water cycle is rapidly changing, with implications for snow moisture sources and transport processes. Stable isotope values (δ18O, δ2H, d-excess) of the Arctic snowpack have potential to provide proxy records of these processes, yet it is unclear how well the isotope values of individual snowfall events are preserved within snow profiles. Here, we present water isotope data from multiple taiga and tundra snow profiles sampled in Arctic Alaska and Finland, respectively, during winter 2018–2019. We compare the snowpack isotope stratigraphy with meteoric water isotopes (vapor and precipitation) during snowfall days, and combine our measurements with satellite observations and reanalysis data. Our analyses indicate that synoptic-scale atmospheric circulation and regional sea ice coverage are key drivers of the source, amount, and isotopic composition of Arctic snowpacks. We find that the western Arctic tundra snowpack profiles in Alaska preserved the isotope values for the most recent storm; however, post depositional processes modified the remaining isotope profiles. The overall seasonal evolution in the vapor isotope values were better preserved in taiga snow isotope profiles in the eastern Arctic, where there is significantly less wind-driven redistribution than in the open Alaskan tundra. We demonstrate the potential of the seasonal snowpack to provide a useful proxy for Arctic winter-time moisture sources and propose future analyses.
Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus SP. Using Chitosan‐Alginate‐Xanthan Gum‐β‐Cyclodextrin and Characterization of its Cholesterol Reducing Potential and Resistance Against pH, Temperature and Storage

Probiotics are increasingly recognized for their cholesterol removal ability. Their vulnerability to harsh environmental factors during gastrointestinal transit and industrial processing remains a major challenge. This study addressed these issues by immobilizing Lactobacillus plantarum LAB12 within polymeric matrix comprised of sodium alginate (NaAlg), xanthan gum (XG) and chitosan (Ch) coating, with supplementation of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), another potential cholesterol reducing agent. LAB12 encapsulated in Alg-XG-β-CD-Ch exhibited excellent survivability (∼95%) at pH 1.8 with facilitated release (>9 log CFU/g) at pH 6.8. While minimizing the loss of viable microencapsulated LAB12 at 75 and 90°C, the microcapsules yielded viable counts >7 log CFU/g over a 4-week storage at 4°C. Cholesterol lowering effects of β-CD supplemented beads and LAB12 against total cholesterol from egg yolk were also studied. These findings implied the potential use of Alg-XG-β-CD-Ch as protective micro-transport for probiotics and additional means of cholesterol reduction. Practical Applications The Alg-XG-β-CD-Ch beads yielded in this study exhibited characteristics of an ideal probiotic vehicle whereby they enhanced protection of free lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against harsh environments, facilitated targeted-cell release and conferred health benefits to the host upon consumption. The technical applications of this formulation include its use as heat- and pH-stable polymeric beads that carry L. plantarum LAB12 (the LAB model). The beads are acid tolerant (pH 1.8) under gastric conditions with the capability of targeted release at the large intestine (pH 6.8). In addition, it is also heat resistant, enabling microorganisms to survive at high temperature of up to 90°C (essential during product manufacturing). The bound β-CD within the formulation is also able to enhance the cholesterol reducing ability of the LAB. Alg-XG-β-CD-Ch have successfully widen the applications of probiotics especially in health, food and agro industries.
The Removal of Chlorinated Organics from Conventional Pulp and Paper Wastewater Treatment Systems

A two-year survey of adsorbable organic halide (AOX) removals was conducted for eight full-scale wastewater treatment systems operated at pulp mills in North America. The resulting AOX database, one of the most comprehensive currently available, supports several significant findings. AOX removals averaged 46% for the two activated sludge systems and 34% for the five aerated stabilization basins (ASBs). Both the activated sludge facilities and ASBs averaged removing over half of the influent low molecular weight AOX. The average removal of high molecular weight AOX varied among mill sites from 1% to 47% and was not correlated with the type of treatment process used. The best-performing treatment facility, located at a sulfite mill receiving nearly 100% hardwood furnish and using an activated sludge treatment system, was able to consistently remove 53% of the AOX, 62% of the low molecular weight AOX, and 47% of the high molecular weight AOX in bleaching wastewaters. Factors responsible for this high performance are not currently understood. Effluent AOX was strongly correlated (R 2 = 0.90) to the influent loading for ASBs. In-mill improvements such as the use of oxygen and peroxide as well as chlorine dioxide substitution reduce influent AOX loading, apparently with minimal impact on treatment plant removal efficiency.
A Cooperation Advantage for Theory of Mind in Children and Adults

Three studies test whether people engage in mental state reasoning or theory of mind (ToM) differently across two fundamental social contexts: cooperation and competition. Study 1 examines how children with an emerging understanding of false beliefs deploy ToM across these contexts. We find that young preschool children are better able to plant false beliefs in others’ minds in a cooperative versus competitive context; this difference does not emerge for other cognitive capacities tested (e.g., executive functioning, memory). Studies 2a and 2b reveal the same systematic difference in adults’ ToM for cooperation and competition, even after accounting for relevant predictors (e.g., preference for a task condition, feelings about deception). Together, these findings provide initial evidence for enhanced ToM for cooperation versus competition in early development and also adulthood.
Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of a Major Warm-Season Turfgrass Species, Centipedegrass [Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.]: Genome Characterization, Comparative and Phylogenetic Analysis

Background: Chloroplast (cp) genome sequence data could provide valuable information for molecular taxonomy and phylogenetic reconstruction among plant species and individuals. However, as one of the most important warm-season turfgrasses widely used in USA and China, cp genome characteristics and phylogenetic position of centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) were poorly understood.Results: In this study, we determined the complete chloroplast genome sequences of E. ophiuroides using high-throughput Illumina sequencing technology. The circle pseudomolecule for E. ophiuroides cp genome is 139,107 bp in length, and has a typical quadripartite structure consisting of a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 22,230 bp each separated by a large single copy (LSC) region of 82,081 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 12,566 bp. The nucleotide composition of E. ophiuroides cp genome is asymmetric with an overall A + T content of 61.60%. It encodes a total of 131 gene species, composed of 20 duplicated genes within the IR regions and 111 unique genes including 77 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and four ribosome RNA (rRNA) genes. Analysis of the repetitive sequences revealed that E. ophiuroides cp genome contains 51 tandem repeats including 29 forward, 20 palindromic and 2 reverse repeats, and 197 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) which were mainly composed of adenine (A) and thymine (T) bases. Comparison of the E. ophiuroides complete cp genome with the genomes of other seven Gramineae species showed a high degree of collinearity among Gramineae plants. Phylogenetic analysis showed that E. ophiuroides was closely related to E. ciliaris and E. eriopoda, and was placed in a clade with the two Eremochloa species and Mnesithea helferi within the subtribe Rottboelliinae, which clarified evolutionary status of E. ophiuroides in tribe Andropogoneae and also authenticated the current taxonomy of the tribe Andropogoneae.Conclusions: The present study provides the complete structure of the E. ophiuroides cp genome, and preliminarily ascertains the phylogenetic position of E. ophiuroides in tribe Andropogonodae. This will be of value to grass taxa identification, phylogenetic resolution, population structure and biodiversity, novel gene discovery and functional genomic studies for the genus Eremochloa.
Acceptance level of e-campus among students at private institutions in Malaysia

The use of information technology will not only be used by business entities for profit, but also by higher learning institutions. A lot of money has been spent by the government to provide IT facilities. However, there are still users who do not make full use of the technologies available. This is going to make the government suffer losses. Accordingly, this research will explore the acceptance of e-campus technology among university students. The analysis would use a quantitative approach to address the research questions. The results indicate that the level of e-campus usage is high. Managerial implications for this study are discussed.
Navigating Transparent Pork Production: Analyzing Visual Attention of The Maschhoffs Website

When it comes to food, consumers are increasingly concerned with the welfare of the livestock used to produce it. To display transparency and build trust with patrons, businesses such as The Maschhoffs, a pork production company, have created online tools to answer questions about production processes. This study implemented eye tracking and survey methodologies to attain insight regarding the visual attention of website visitors. While results revealed no discernable pattern of navigation among respondents, the findings illustrated a sector of the pork industry consumers expressed interest in was the breed-to-wean section of the farm. Researchers encourage agricultural communicators to develop messaging surrounding this specific process to continue building trust with consumer audiences as well as make recommendations for utilizing eye tracking to assess visual attention to websites.
On the Along‐Slope Heat Loss of the Boundary Current in the Eastern Arctic Ocean

Dyfyniad o'r fersiwn a gyhoeddwyd / Citation for published version (APA): Schulz, K. , Janout, M. A. , Lenn, Y-D. , Castillo, E. R. , Polyakov, I. , Mohrholz, V. , Tippenhauer, S. , Reeve, K. , Holemann, J., Rabe, B. , & Vredenborg, M. (2021). On the Along-Slope Heat Loss of the Boundary Current in the Eastern Arctic Ocean. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 126(2), [e2020JC016375]. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JC016375
Wine Stabilisation: An Overview of Defects and Treatments

Wine is widely consumed due to its distinctive sensory characteristics. However, during wine production and storage, several defects can appear. These can be the result of unwanted microbiological activity or due to the unbalanced levels of some compounds resulting from an unbalanced grape chemical composition or inadequate winemaking practices and storage conditions. The main purpose of wine stabilisation is the removal of wine defects, either visual, olfactive, gustative, or tactile, the increase in wine safety and stability by fining and filtration operations, avoiding the occurrence of some usual wine precipitations after bottling. Although the best strategy is to prevent the appearance of wine defects, when present, several fining agents or additives, and technologies are available today with different performances and impact on wine quality. By physicochemical and sensory analysis, the defect is detected, and if the objective is removing them, some laboratory trials are performed to achieve a better treatment approach. This review overviews the principal wine defects and treatments available today and in the near future. Generally, the future trend is the use of more sustainable and environmentally friendly fining agents and technologies, looking for treatments with better performance and specificity.
The South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation and Mesoscale Eddies in the First GO‐SHIP Section at 34.5°S

The variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) has considerable impacts on the global climate system. Past studies have shown that changes in the South Atlantic control the stability of the AMOC and drive an important part of its variability. That is why significant resources have been invested in a South (S)AMOC observing system. In January 2017, the RV Maria S. Merian conducted the first GO-SHIP hydrographic transect along the SAMOC-Basin Wide Array (SAMBA) line at 34.5°S in the South Atlantic. This paper presents estimates of meridional volume, freshwater (MFT), and heat (MHT) transports through the line using the slow varying geostrophic density field and direct velocity observations. An upper and an abyssal overturning cell are identified with a strength of 15.64 ± 1.39 Sv and 2.4 ± 1.6 Sv, respectively. The net northward MHT is 0.27 ± 0.10 PW, increasing by 0.12 PW when we remove the observed mesoscale eddies with a climatology derived from the Argo floats data set. We attribute this change to an anomalous predominance of cold core eddies during the cruise period. The highest velocities are observed in the western boundary, within the Brazil and the Deep Western Boundary currents. These currents appear as a continuous deep jet located 150 km off the slope squeezed between two cyclonic eddies. The zonal changes in water masses properties and velocity denote the imprint of exchange pathways with both the Southern and the Indian oceans.
Life Cycle Assessment of an NMC Battery for Application to Electric Light-Duty Commercial Vehicles and Comparison with a Sodium-Nickel-Chloride Battery

This paper presents the results of an environmental assessment of a Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) Lithium-ion traction battery for Battery Electric Light-Duty Commercial Vehicles (BEV-LDCV) used for urban and regional freight haulage. A cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) of NMC111 is provided, operation and end-of-life stages are included, and insight is also given into a Life Cycle Assessment of different NMC chemistries. The environmental impacts of the manufacturing stages of the NMC111 battery are then compared with those of a Sodium-Nickel-Chloride (ZEBRA) battery. In the second part of the work, two electric-battery LDCVs (powered with NMC111 and ZEBRA batteries, respectively) and a diesel urban LDCV are analysed, considering a wide set of environmental impact categories. The results show that the NMC111 battery has the highest impacts from production in most of the impact categories. Active cathode material, Aluminium, Copper, and energy use for battery production are the main contributors to the environmental impact. However, when vehicle application is investigated, NMC111-BEV shows lower environmental impacts, in all the impact categories, than ZEBRA-BEV. This is mainly due to the greater efficiency of the NMC111 battery during vehicle operation. Finally, when comparing BEVs to a diesel LDCV, the electric powertrains show advantages over the diesel one as far as global warming, abiotic depletion potential-fossil fuels, photochemical oxidation, and ozone layer depletion are concerned. However, the diesel LDCV performs better in almost all the other investigated impact categories.