Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biodiesel: A New Oildorado?

Guaranteeing tax reductions and exemptions, the European governments intend to increase the share of biofuels in total EU fuel consumption to 5.75% by 2010. The financial support of this EU objective is frequently justified by expected positive environmental impacts, most notably the mitigation of climate change, and by favorable employment effects in the agricultural sector. This paper investigates the environmental and economic implications of the support of rapeseed-based biodiesel as a substitute for fossil diesel.Based on a survey of recent empirical studies, we find that the energy and greenhouse gas balances of this environmental strategy are clearly positive.Yet, its overall environmental balance is currently far from being unequivocally positive. Most importantly, biodiesel is not a cost-efficient emission abatement strategy. Thus, for the abatement of greenhouse gases,we recommend more efficient alternatives based on both renewable and conventional technologies.
Proceedings of the 9 th International Conference on Life Cycle Assessment in the Agri-Food Sector 8-10 October 2014

Food LCA should include salinization. Salinization is a threat not only to arable land but also to freshwater resources. Nevertheless, salinization impacts have been rarely and partially included in LCA so far. First, a comprehensive overview of salinization mechanisms is presented and highlights its multiple causes, which affect soil and water, and ultimately human health, ecosystems and resources. Second, adopting the ILCD analysis grid, we analyzed the scientific relevance and accuracy of existing published methods addressing salinization in LCA. Although interesting, these seminal approaches are often incomplete with regards to both the salinization pathways they cover and their geographical validity. Third, we analyzed how to consistently integrate salinization within the methodological frameworks for impacts modeling in LCA, and raised questions to address towards a comprehensive integration of salinization.
The political ecology of natural gas extraction in Southern Bolivia

Capital investment in natural resource extraction has fuelled an unprecedented rush to secure hydrocarbon and mining concessions and contracts throughout the Andes-Amazon-Chaco region leading to increased tensions and conflict with lowland indigenous groups residing in the areas that contain subsoil resources. This thesis explores resource extraction and conflict through an ethnography of state-society interactions over proposed hydrocarbon extraction in Bolivia. It asks, how does a ? post-neoliberal state? combine commitments to indigenous people, the environment and the redistributive development of natural resource wealth, and how do social movements and other actors respond? In answering this question, the thesis examines how hydrocarbon expansion has affected the country? s most important gas producing region (the Department of Tarija), indigenous Guaran� society and indigenous Weenhayek society, both in their internal relationships and in their historically uneasy negotiations with the central state. By paying particular attention to the Guaran� and Weenhayek it also asks how far a national ? government of social movements? has favoured or not the concerns and political projects of indigenous groups that are generally not well represented in the social movements that undergird this new state. In this vein, this research seeks to shed light on a series of contradictions and incongruities that characterise extractive-led economies with an end to contributing to debates about the possibility of combining more socially and environmentally sound modes of production, new forms of democracy, self governance and popular participation.
Quantification of El Niño Southern Oscillation impact on precipitation and streamflows for improved management of water resources in Alabama

There is increased pressure on the water resources of the southeastern United States due to the rapidly growing population of the region. This pressure is further exacerbated by the severe seasonal to interannual climate variability this region experiences, most of which has been attributed to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Understanding the regional impacts of ENSO on precipitation and streamflow is a valuable tool for water resource managers in the region. This study was undertaken to develop a clear picture of the effect of ENSO on observed precipitation and streamflow anomalies in Alabama to help managers in the state with decision making. The effect of ENSO on precipitation in eight climate divisions of Alabama was assessed using 59 years (1950 to 2008) of monthly historical data. In addition, eight unimpaired streams (one in each climate division) were selected to study the relationship between ENSO and streamflow. Results indicate a significant relationship between ENSO and precipitation as well as between ENSO and streamflow. However, different parts of the state respond differently to ENSO. For precipitation, it was found that the relationship is significant during winter months with dry conditions being associated with La Niña in the southern climate divisions. A fairly strong relationship was also found during other months. Streamflows show high variability and positive correlation during winter months in the southern climate divisions. The results obtained can provide a basis for water resource managers in Alabama to incorporate climate variability caused by ENSO in their decision making related to soil and water conservation.
Archaeomagnetic Study of Roman Lime Kilns (1st c. AD) and One Pottery Kiln (1st c. BC - 1st c. AD) at Krivina, Bulgaria, as a Contribution to Archaeomagnetic Dating

We present a detailed archaeomagnetic study of the remains of seven lime kilns and one pottery kiln discovered at the Danube bank in North Eastern Bulgaria. These kilns belong to four structures according to their spatial distribution, and relate to the beginning of our era. The collection of samples shows favourable rock magnetic properties, ensuring reliable archaeomagnetic measurements. In this work we studied both directions (Declination D, Inclination I) and intensity (Ba) of the geomagnetic field at the time of the last use of the kilns. These results can be used as reference points for ameliorating the Bulgarian palaeosecular ar
Modelling plastic deformation of peridotite with the self-consistent theory

Theories for deformation of polycrystals have been substantially refined, enabling us to model deformation of metals and minerals with considerable sophistication. So far, most modelling has been confined to single-phase aggregates such as quartzite and limestone. We present the first results for a polyphase aggregate, peridotite, consisting of 70% olivine and 30% enstatite. The problem is approached with a viscoplastic self-consistent theory satisfying stress equilibrium and strain compatibility for the average polycrystal and taking account of anisotropic neighbor interactions. It is assumed that olivine deforms by (010)[100], (001)[100], and (010)[001] slip and enstatite deforms by (100)[001] slip. Simulated textures for olivine and enstatite in peridotite resemble simulated textures in the pure phases, indicating that for this system and for these volume fractions there is little influence of the different phases upon each other. In our model the harder mineral enstatite deforms at a slower rate than olivine. Interaction between neighboring grains appears to be minimal, which may be due to model assumptions. Predicted pole figures with olivine (010) axes and enstatite (100) axes aligning with the direction of shortening are in good agreement with preferred orientations in naturally and experimentally deformed peridotites.
Nitrogenase beyond the Resting State: A Structural Perspective

Nitrogenases have the remarkable ability to catalyze the reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia under physiological conditions. How does this happen? The current view of the nitrogenase mechanism focuses on the role of hydrides, the binding of dinitrogen in a reductive elimination process coupled to loss of dihydrogen, and the binding of substrates to a binuclear site on the active site cofactor. This review focuses on recent experimental characterizations of turnover relevant forms of the enzyme determined by cryo-electron microscopy and other approaches, and comparison of these forms to the resting state enzyme and the broader family of iron sulfur clusters. Emerging themes include the following: (i) The obligatory coupling of protein and electron transfers does not occur in synthetic and small-molecule iron–sulfur clusters. The coupling of these processes in nitrogenase suggests that they may involve unique features of the cofactor, such as hydride formation on the trigonal prismatic arrangement of irons, protonation of belt sulfurs, and/or protonation of the interstitial carbon. (ii) Both the active site cofactor and protein are dynamic under turnover conditions; the changes are such that more highly reduced forms may differ in key ways from the resting-state structure. Homocitrate appears to play a key role in coupling cofactor and protein dynamics. (iii) Structural asymmetries are observed in nitrogenase under turnover-relevant conditions by cryo-electron microscopy, although the mechanistic relevance of these states (such as half-of-sites reactivity) remains to be established.
The 6-Month Antibody Durability of Heterologous Convidecia Plus CoronaVac and Homologous CoronaVac Immunizations in People Aged 18–59 Years and over 60 Years Based on Two Randomized Controlled Trials in China

Previous reports have shown that heterologous boosting with the AD5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine Convidecia based on a primary series of two doses of inactivated vaccine induces increasing immune responses. However, the immune persistence until 6 months after the heterologous prime-boost immunization was limited. Participants were from two single-center, randomized, controlled, observer-blinded trials, which involved individuals of 18–59 years of age and over 60 years of age. Eligible participants who previously primed with one dose or two doses of CoronaVac were stratified and randomly assigned to inoculate a booster dose of Convidecia or CoronaVac. Neutralizing antibodies against a live SARS-CoV-2 prototype virus and Delta and Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants, pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies against Omicron BA.4/5 variants, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD antibodies at month 6 were detected, and the fold decreases and rate difference were calculated by comparing the levels of antibodies at month 6 with the peak levels at month 1. The neutralizing antibody titers against prototype SARS-CoV-2, RBD-specific IgG antibodies, and the Delta variant in the heterologous regimen of the CoronaVac plus Convidecia groups were significantly higher than those of the homologous prime-boost groups. In three-dose regimen groups, the geometric mean titers (GMTs) of neutralizing antibodies against prototype SARS-CoV-2 were 30.6 (95% CI: 25.1; 37.2) in the heterologous boosting group versus 6.9 (95% CI: 5.6; 8.6) in the homologous boosting group (p < 0.001) at month 6 in participants aged 18–59 years, and in the two-dose regimen, the neutralizing antibody GMTs were 8.5 (95% CI: 6.2; 11.7) and 2.7 (2.3 to 3.1) (heterologous regimen group versus CoronaVac regimen group, p < 0.001). Participants aged over 60 years had similar levels of neutralizing antibodies against the prototype, with GMTs of 49.1 (38.0 to 63.6) in the group receiving two doses of CoronaVac plus one dose of Convidecia versus 9.4 (7.7 to 11.4) in the group receiving three doses of CoronaVac (p < 0.001) and 11.6 (8.4 to 16.0) in the group receiving one dose of CoronaVac and one dose of Convidecia versus 3.3 (2.7 to 4.0) in the group receiving two doses of CoronaVac (p < 0.001). Compared with day 14, over sixfold decreases in neutralizing antibody GMTs were observed in the heterologous groups of the three- or two-dose regimen groups of younger and elderly participants, while in the homologous regimen groups, the GMTs of neutralizing antibodies decreased about fivefold in the two age groups. The heterologous prime-boost regimen with two doses of CoronaVac and one dose of Convidecia was persistently more immunogenic than the regimen of the homologous prime-boost with three doses of CoronaVac.
Does Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records Improve Quality of Care?

Electronic health record (EHR) system holds great promise in transforming healthcare. Existing empirical literature typically focused on its adoption, and found mixed evidence on whether EHR improves care. The federal initiative for meaningful use (MU) of EHR aims to maximize the potential of quality improvement, yet there is little empirical study on the impact of the initiative and, more broadly, the relation between MU and quality of care. IT usage has been an important construct in MIS research and is a key antecedent in realizing the values of IT, considering that IT adoption itself does not always imply use. Leveraging features of the Medicare EHR Incentive Program for exogenous variations, we examine the impact of MU on healthcare quality in acute care hospitals in the United States. We find that EHR adoption alone does not contribute to quality improvement. However, MU significantly and consistently improves quality of care. More importantly, this quality effect from MU is greater in historically disadvantaged hospitals such as small, non-teaching, or rural hospitals. Our results present significant implications not only for health IT research and practice, but more broadly, also for the use and values of IT as well.
Tug & Swing: Traveling in Virtual Environments with Point-Tugging and Arm-Swinging

In virtual reality games, players experience virtual worlds that often exceed the size of the actual tracking area. Small, stationary setups are especially problematic as they fail the requirements of most locomotion techniques. Although gesture-based approaches, such as walking-in-place, work in minimal playspaces, they often lead to unintentional movements or poor precision. Hence, developers often revert to less realistic virtual navigation concepts. We present a novel locomotion technique for VR games addressing this problem. Depending on the desired movement, players dynamically switch between two modes: point-tugging and arm-swinging. Tugging the controllers at chest height is used for precise maneuvering; swinging them at waist level triggers an accelerated forward motion for long travels. A within- participant study reveals that our concept avoids cybersickness while enhancing physical activity and presence.
Customer satisfaction in the banking industry: a comparative study of Ghana and Spain

La satisfaccio es una preocupacio crucial pels clients i per les organitzacions, incloent els bancs. L'estudi examina la satisfaccio global dels clients dels bancs a Ghana i Espanya. Aixi s'analitzen aspectes com la relacio entre satisfaccio global i les dimensions de qualitat dels serveis bancari, aixi com les propies dimensions principals de la qualitat d'aquests serveis. Finalment, les percepcions sobre aquestes dimensions son comparades entre els bancs de Ghana i Espanya. S'han analitzat els clients de 819 bancs de Ghana i Espanya, els resultats van mostrar que els clients espanyols estaven mes descontents respecte les dimensions tangibles i empatia metre que els clients de Ghana puntuaven pitjar la dimensio conveniencia. En general, els clients de Ghana estaven forca mes descontents amb els serveis bancaris que els d'Espanya. La fiabilitat, l'empatia i la conveniencia son els predictors de satisfaccio global en Ghana, mentres que la fiabilitat es la unica dimensio que explica la satisfaccio global a Espanya.
Topological Properties of a Non‐Hermitian Quasi‐1D Chain with a Flat Band

The spectral properties of a non‐Hermitian quasi‐1D lattice in two of the possible dimerization configurations are investigated. Specifically, it focuses on a non‐Hermitian diamond chain that presents a zero‐energy flat band. The flat band originates from wave interference and results in eigenstates with a finite contribution only on two sites of the unit cell. To achieve the non‐Hermitian characteristics, the system under study presents non‐reciprocal hopping terms in the chain. This leads to the accumulation of eigenstates on the boundary of the system, known as the non‐Hermitian skin effect. Despite this accumulation of eigenstates, for one of the two considered configurations, it is possible to characterize the presence of non‐trivial edge states at zero energy by a real‐space topological invariant known as the biorthogonal polarization. This work shows that this invariant, evaluated using the destructive interference method, characterizes the non‐trivial phase of the non‐Hermitian diamond chain. For the second non‐Hermitian configuration, there is a finite quantum metric associated with the flat band. Additionally, the system presents the skin effect despite the system having a purely real or imaginary spectrum. The two non‐Hermitian diamond chains can be mapped into two models of the Su‐Schrieffer‐Heeger chains, either non‐Hermitian, and Hermitian, both in the presence of a flat band. This mapping allows to draw valuable insights into the behavior and properties of these systems.
Model-Based Design to Enhance Neotissue Formation in Additively Manufactured Calcium-Phosphate-Based Scaffolds

In biomaterial-based bone tissue engineering, optimizing scaffold structure and composition remains an active field of research. Additive manufacturing has enabled the production of custom designs in a variety of materials. This study aims to improve the design of calcium-phosphate-based additively manufactured scaffolds, the material of choice in oral bone regeneration, by using a combination of in silico and in vitro tools. Computer models are increasingly used to assist in design optimization by providing a rational way of merging different requirements into a single design. The starting point for this study was an in-house developed in silico model describing the in vitro formation of neotissue, i.e., cells and the extracellular matrix they produced. The level set method was applied to simulate the interface between the neotissue and the void space inside the scaffold pores. In order to calibrate the model, a custom disk-shaped scaffold was produced with prismatic canals of different geometries (circle, hexagon, square, triangle) and inner diameters (0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm). The disks were produced with three biomaterials (hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, and a blend of both). After seeding with skeletal progenitor cells and a cell culture for up to 21 days, the extent of neotissue growth in the disks’ canals was analyzed using fluorescence microscopy. The results clearly demonstrated that in the presence of calcium-phosphate-based materials, the curvature-based growth principle was maintained. Bayesian optimization was used to determine the model parameters for the different biomaterials used. Subsequently, the calibrated model was used to predict neotissue growth in a 3D gyroid structure. The predicted results were in line with the experimentally obtained ones, demonstrating the potential of the calibrated model to be used as a tool in the design and optimization of 3D-printed calcium-phosphate-based biomaterials for bone regeneration.
Taphonomy of a modern shrimp: implications for the arthropod fossil record

Every living organism represents a potentialfossil, although only a few are ever successfully fossilized. Taphonomic studies should explain episodes of both fossilization and of non-fossilization. This paper examines some of the taphonomic variables that may bias the arthropod fossil record. The short-term preservation potential of the modern carid shrimp, Pandalus danae, was studied in a variety of laboratory and field settings. Freshly killed specimens were buried at two intertidal localities on San Juan Island, Puget Sound, Washington. Carcasses were buried at depths of 5-20 cm for periods of one day to three weeks. Destruction by scavengers (crabs? ) was the probable primary cause of carcass destruction. Further breakdown was caused by bacterial decomposition and disturbance by burrowing infauna. Shrimp remains were placed in a series of glass jars in the laboratory. Jars differed in the presence and kind of enclosed sediment and in the degree of aeration. Decomposition destroyed nearly all soft tissues within a period of two weeks. The cuticle became extremely soft, resulting in loss of physical integrity of the remains. Differences between oxic and anoxic decomposition were minor. These results, along with a consideration of the biological, physical, and chemical effects of bioturbation, suggest that disturbance by scavengers or burrowing infauna is a majorfactor in the destruction of buried arthropod remains. The absence or inhibition of bioturbation may be a necessary condition for arthropod preservation. The preservation potential of arthropods, and of other soft-bodied forms, may have declined since the Paleozoic.
Petrology and U-Pb Zircon Geochronology of Amphibole-rich Cumulates with Sanukitic Affinity from Husky Ridge (Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica): Insights into the Role of Amphibole in the Petrogenesis of Subduction-related Magmas

which is depleted relative to HREE. The trace element signature of melt-II can be acquired through amphibole crystallization starting from a sanukitic melt similar to melt-I, probably in a deeper magma chamber. Our results allow us to constrain that melts from the subducted slab were produced on a regional scale, in accordance with literature data, below a large sector of the east Gondwana margin during the mid-Cambrian. Implications for the role of amphibole in petrogenesis of subduction-related magmas are also discussed.
Climatic Variation of Rainfall and Rain Day in Southwest China for Last 48 Years

Based on the daily rainfall dataset of 97 stations on the Southwest China for the period of 1960 —2007,climatic variation of rainfall and rain day are investigated.The results show that total precipitation are excessive in East and few in west of the Southwest China,and summer rain day is excessive in the west and few in the east,but the opposite is existent in winter.It can be also found that total precipitation decreases in last 48years.Additional,the spring and winter precipitation increase over the most regions.But in summer and autumn,the precipitation decreases.At the same time,the seasonal trends of rain day and precipitation are similar.The rain days of moderate rain and light rain have obvious decreasing trend.But,it has increasing trends for both rainstorm and heavy rain in last 48 years.
Modelling fire frequency and area burned across phytoclimatic regions in Spain using reanalysis data and the Canadian Fire Weather Index System

First of all, we would like to thank you for the time devoted to the revision of our manuscript and the positive feedback provided, leading us to re-think some parts of our study and resulting in a new version with significant improvements. We are also grateful to the referee for pointing to some grammatical mistakes and writing inconsistencies. We have undertaken a thorough revision of the manuscript in order to correct them. Following your comment/suggestions, and also considering the feedback received from the other two referees, we have undertaken substantial modifications to the original version. These are the most important new points addressed: