bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statistical Analysis of Field-Based Stormwater Filtration Performance for the Ecosol Litter Basket
Authors: Pooya Nejad Fereydoon , Zecchin Aaron C.
Published: June 2021

Increasing specificity in water quality regulations for the discharge of stormwater to the environment has increased the requirement to more accurately characterize the performance of filtration interventions. This work presents a statistical performance analysis for the Ecosol Litter Basket, an at source filtration device, based on an extensive field study. The field evaluation of the Ecosol Litter Basket, a primary stormwater filtration device, was performed over a three-year period in an urban catchment in Queensland, Australia. A total of 29 rainfall events were recorded, of which between 13 to 16 events were evaluated as qualifying for the purposes of characterizing the removal efficiency. A variety of pollutant removal evaluation metrics, including concentration-based and total load-based metrics, were utilized in this study to characterize the efficacy of the device for removing a range of pollutants. Two approaches are proposed to facilitate the analysis: a nonlinear regression approach to more effectively deal with nonlinear patterns in the influent and effluent data; and the regression of concentrations (ROC), which is an additional concentration-based metric. A statistical analysis of the results demonstrated that the differences between influent and effluent streams for TSS are significantly different in their mean and median, and the removal efficiency of the Ecosol Litter Basket was evaluated to be 57–65% for TSS with the influent event mean concentration (EMC) up to 142 mg/L.
To Buy or Not to Buy: How Behavioral Habits Affect the Repurchase Intention of Cobranded Wearable Fitness Technology
Authors: Mohammadi Sardar , Abdolmaleki Hossein , Khodadad Kashi Sholeh , Bernal-García Ainara , Gálvez-Ruiz Pablo
Published: June 2021

Luxury sports products and brands in general have seen a significant increase in their sales, highlighting the high consumption of smart sports watches. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of cobranding, self-presentation, self-expression, and symbolic values in the relationship between the consumer’s need for uniqueness and the intention to repurchase luxury smart sports watches. The sample consisted of a total of 217 users of smart sports watches. An online questionnaire was used for data collection (24 items from 6 scales) and Smart PLS-SEM software was used for confirmatory factor analysis and to test a structural equation model. The findings provide an insight into the importance of cobranding on self-expression, self-presentation, and symbolic value. Specifically, in the case of intention to repurchase, the results show that symbolic value is the variable with the highest predictive value. This study provides an important advance in the academic literature related to luxury products in the sports sector, and the results facilitate a better understanding of the consumer’s intention to repurchase.
Food Safety and Quality in Connection with the Change of Consumer Choice in Czechia (a Case Study)
Authors: Severová Lucie , Svoboda Roman , Šrédl Karel , Prášilová Marie , Soukup Alexandr , Kopecká Lenka , Dvořák Marek
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this study is to express changes in consumer preferences for certain food products due to the income growth of the population, and to specify the way producers or retailers of these commodities respond to the changes in customer choices. The methodology of this study is based on comparing the economic model of consumer behavior in the market to the analysis of demand elasticity, together with its practical application to food products of the same brand offered by multinational chains in Czechia and Germany. The study presents a new survey, including a comparison of the quality and safety of food products offered by retail chains in Czechia and Germany, and a comparison with similar bio-quality products offered by Czech farmers in their shops or at farmers’ markets. As the comparison indicates, unless multinational producers change their current behavior, consumers will prefer purchasing products from Czech producers, including products offered at farmers’ markets, and shop in neighboring countries where higher-quality original products may be found.
Scalability in the Application of Geodesign in Brazil: Expanding the Use of the Brazilian Geodesign Platform to Metropolitan Regions in Transformative-Learning Planning
Authors: Moura Ana Clara Mourão , Freitas Christian Rezende
Published: June 2021

The Brazilian Geodesign platform was proposed based on extensive experience in Geodesign workshops, aiming to adapt the method to the country’s cultural specificities, with a commitment to support the construction of opinions in planning, in the process of transformative-learning planning. To test the scalability of the method, a study was developed in 13 metropolitan regions of the country, with the involvement of universities, distributed from north to south, in different biomes and urbanization conditions. The same method was proposed for everyone, starting from the same collection of 40 thematic maps to support discussions about alternative futures in land use. Participants used the GISColab platform and went through the same stages of analysis, proposition, and negotiation of ideas. As a result, there was an improvement in the projects developed between the first and the last day of work, with the expansion of compliance with the goals of sustainable development (SDG) and areas for carbon credit. It was possible to observe that, although they used the same framework proposed, each group adapted the method to their local reality, proving the scalability of the process and the necessary flexibility for employment in different realities, ensuring a defensible and reproducible criterion. As recommendations, it would be interesting to apply the same study of multiple simultaneous cases in another country, to analyze the scalability and flexibility to local changes, as it happened in the experiment. This would be entirely possible, as the platform is based on worldwide OGC standards (Open Geospatial Consortium) and would have full interoperability in use.
Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste, Brewery Waste, and Agricultural Residues in an Off-Grid Continuous Reactor
Authors: Miller Kimberley E. , Herman Tess , Philipinanto Dimas A. , Davis Sarah C.
Published: June 2021

Small-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) can be an effective organic waste management system that also provides energy for small businesses and rural communities. This study measured fuel production from digestions of single and mixed feedstocks using an unheated, 2 m3 digester operated continuously in a temperate climate for over three years. Using local food waste, brewery waste, grease waste, and agricultural residues, this study determined that small-scale AD co-digestions were almost always higher yielding than single feedstocks during psychrophilic operation and seasonal temperature transitions. Agricultural residues from Miscanthus x giganteus had the greatest impact on biomethane production during co-digestion (4.7-fold greater average biogas %CH4), while mesophilic digestion of brewery waste alone produced the most biogas (0.76 gCH4 gVS−1 d−1). Biogas production during the transition from mesophilic to psychrophilic was temporarily maintained at levels similar to mesophilic digestions, particularly during co-digestions, but biogas quality declined during these temperature shifts. Full-time operation of small-scale, unheated AD systems could be feasible in temperate climates if feedstock is intentionally amended to stabilize carbon content.
Reducing Food Waste in the Retail Supply Chains by Improving Efficiency of Logistics Operations
Authors: Nikolicic Svetlana , Kilibarda Milorad , Maslaric Marinko , Mircetic Dejan , Bojic Sanja
Published: June 2021

One of the basic problems of sustainability in modern society is the reduction of waste, particularly when it comes to food. Food waste has negative impacts on different dimensions of sustainability: social (hunger), economic (resource costs), and environmental (resource consumption and waste generation). This paper focuses on waste reduction through improving the inventory management system in the dairy distribution chain by the application of modern information and communication technologies (ICT). The approach is tested and verified in a case study by application of simulation modelling. Two inventory management models are created, and their impact on waste in the distribution part of the supply chain is examined. Model 1 represents the current dairy inventory management system in the supply of retail stores. Model 2 is based on a higher level of information connectivity between participants (RFID product labelling and the appropriate level of information technology), enabling automatic product ordering and changes in inventory management policy. The obtained results confirm that coordinated inventory management, supported by the application of modern ICT, can significantly contribute to the improvement of the sustainability of the food supply chain, and provide an exact quantification of the given contribution in the case of the dairy industry.
Characteristics of Clay Raw Materials from the Turów Lignite Mine Waste, Poland: Potential for Industrial Applications
Authors: Kudełko Jan , Wirth Herbert , Kaczan Wojciech , Bagiński Lesław
Published: June 2021

Considering the diversity of clay raw materials, we can distinguish their numerous varieties using genesis and retention conditions, as well as specific physical, chemical, and thermal properties as criteria of division. Three samples of fine-grained clay materials, collected randomly from the Turów lignite mine tailing piles, were subjected to testing for their grain and chemical composition and specific surface area. The results show that the tested materials are non-porous adsorbents. Additionally, a thermal analysis was carried out with a simultaneous quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS). In the tested samples, the weight loss associated with the release of water from the clay was observed in two temperature ranges: from 40 to 240 °C (physically bound water) and from 330 to 620 °C (structured water). The weight loss associated with the decomposition of organic matter was registered in the temperature range of 300 to 560 °C. The results of the conducted tests might provide the basis for further analysis of the potential use of these materials as heat stores, components of insulators, or additives of ceramic products.
A Bi-Level Model for Green Freight Transportation Pricing Strategy Considering Enterprise Profit and Carbon Emissions
Authors: Wang Danzhu , Zhou Lingyun , Zhang Huimin , Liang Xiaokang
Published: June 2021

Due to the impact of COVID-19, enterprises need effective pricing strategies to improve profits and viability. In order to fill research gaps in the literature relating to market competition among different freight modes and to adjust the freight transportation structure by optimizing transportation prices, we propose a multi-objective bi-level programming pricing model that considers market competition and the carbon emissions of the freight system in China. First, an objective function in upper-level planning was used to improve logistics enterprise profits and reduce the total carbon emissions of the freight system. Then, a generalized cost function for the freight transportation mode was designed to quantify the market competition among different transportation modes, and a user equilibrium assignment model was established to obtain the results of cargo flow assignment in lower-level planning. To solve the model, a sensitivity analysis algorithm was designed, and a logistics network example was used to verify the effectiveness of the model. The experimental results show that reasonable freight price adjustment can effectively increase enterprise profits and reduce the total carbon emissions of the freight system. In this paper, we provide a new method for freight pricing research, considering the market competition of multiple transportation modes, and provide a new idea for adjusting the transportation structure through freight price optimization, which will play a positive role in promoting the development of green freight.
Near-Collapse Buildings and Unsafe Sidewalks as Neglected Urban & Public Health Issue: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Mentis Alexios-Fotios A. , Papadopulos Jannis S.
Published: June 2021

Public health and city planning are highly interconnected; however, the nexus between the urban state of buildings and sidewalks and corresponding public and urban health issues is lacking in Greece. In a case study in Athens, Greece, we evaluated unsafe buildings, facades, balconies, and sidewalks during a 15-year follow-up. We manually inspected (a) if the building/location’s condition had worsened and (b) any effective intervention by the state. Of the 400 initially selected buildings, 251 nonoverlapping buildings were analyzed. Overall, ~20% of the buildings posed a subjectively perceived severe risk for collapse, 35% had near-to-fall objects, and 45% had other minor issues. Fifteen years later, ~85% of the buildings were at the same or higher risk of complete or partial fall, and in only 15% had the risk of collapse been reduced or removed by private or public intervention. We detected uneven and dangerous parts of sidewalks hindering walkability and increasing the risk of falling or tipping. Our assessment revealed that Athens’ historical center harbors plausible safety and health risks for pedestrians and dwellers due to entire or partial building collapse and poor-condition sidewalks, which can potentially act as stress factors. Collectively, the issue of near-collapse buildings and risky sidewalks as an urban health determinant appears neglected by municipal authorities in their urban planning priorities; thus, future studies are needed in the field.
The Mode of Action of Adjustable Transobturator Male System (ATOMS): Intraoperative Urethral Pressure Measurements
Authors: Ruiz Sonia , Virseda-Chamorro Miguel , Queissert Fabian , López Andrés , Arance Ignacio , Angulo Javier C.
Published: June 2021

(1) Background: The Adjustable Transobturator Male System (ATOMS) device is increasingly used to treat post-prostatectomy incontinence as it enhances residual urinary sphincteric function and allows continence recovery or improvement by dorsal compression of the bulbar urethra through a fixed transobturator mesh passage. The mode of action and the profile of the patients with best results are not totally understood. (2) Methods: Intraoperative urethral pressure measurements at different filling levels of the ATOMS device show increased urethral resistance and enhanced residual sphincteric activity. We evaluated whether the pattern of urethral pressure change secondary to serial progressive intraoperative filling of the cushion can predict postoperative results after ATOMS placement. (3) Results: The regression analysis showed a significant direct relationship between cushion volume and intraurethral pressure (p = 0.000). The median intraurethral pressure at atmospheric pressure was 51 ± 22.7 cm H2O, and at atmospheric pressure plus 4 mL was 80 ± 23.1 cm H2O). Cluster analyses defined a group of patients (n = 6) formed by patients with a distensible urethra and 100% continence after adjustment in contrast to another group (n = 3) with rigid urethras and 33% continence after adjustment. (4) Conclusions: As a part of its continence mechanism, the ATOMS device leads to continence by increasing intraurethral pressure owing to the stretching effect on the urethral wall caused by cushion filling that increases urethral resistance.
Emerging Parvoviruses in Domestic Cats
Authors: Capozza Paolo , Martella Vito , Buonavoglia Canio , Decaro Nicola
Published: June 2021

Parvovirus infections in cats have been well known for around 100 years. Recently, the use of molecular assays and metagenomic approaches for virus discovery and characterization has led to the detection of novel parvovirus lineages and/or species infecting the feline host. However, the involvement of emerging parvoviruses in the onset of gastroenteritis or other feline diseases is still uncertain.
Development of Group B Coxsackievirus as an Oncolytic Virus: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Liu Huitao , Luo Honglin
Published: June 2021

Oncolytic viruses have emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy due to their dual ability to selectively infect and lyse tumor cells and to induce systemic anti-tumor immunity. Among various candidate viruses, coxsackievirus group B (CVBs) have attracted increasing attention in recent years. CVBs are a group of small, non-enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses, belonging to species human Enterovirus B in the genus Enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae. Preclinical studies have demonstrated potent anti-tumor activities for CVBs, particularly type 3, against multiple cancer types, including lung, breast, and colorectal cancer. Various approaches have been proposed or applied to enhance the safety and specificity of CVBs towards tumor cells and to further increase their anti-tumor efficacy. This review summarizes current knowledge and strategies for developing CVBs as oncolytic viruses for cancer virotherapy. The challenges arising from these studies and future prospects are also discussed in this review.
Replication Kinetics of B.1.351 and B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern Including Assessment of a B.1.1.7 Mutant Carrying a Defective ORF7a Gene
Authors: Pyke Alyssa T. , Nair Neelima , van den Hurk Andrew F. , Burtonclay Peter , Nguyen Son , Barcelon Jean , Kistler Carol , Schlebusch Sanmarié , McMahon Jamie , Moore Frederick
Published: June 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19, is a readily transmissible and potentially deadly pathogen which is currently re-defining human susceptibility to pandemic viruses in the modern world. The recent emergence of several genetically distinct descendants known as variants of concern (VOCs) is further challenging public health disease management, due to increased rates of virus transmission and potential constraints on vaccine effectiveness. We report the isolation of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs imported into Australia belonging to the B.1.351 lineage, first described in the Republic of South Africa (RSA), and the B.1.1.7 lineage originally reported in the United Kingdom, and directly compare the replication kinetics of these two VOCs in Vero E6 cells. In this analysis, we also investigated a B.1.1.7 VOC (QLD1516/2021) carrying a 7-nucleotide deletion in the open reading frame 7a (ORF7a) gene, likely truncating and rendering the ORF7a protein of this virus defective. We demonstrate that the replication of the B.1.351 VOC (QLD1520/2020) in Vero E6 cells can be detected earlier than the B.1.1.7 VOCs (QLD1516/2021 and QLD1517/2021), before peaking at 48 h post infection (p.i.), with significantly higher levels of virus progeny. Whilst replication of the ORF7a defective isolate QLD1516/2021 was delayed longer than the other viruses, slightly more viral progeny was produced by the mutant compared to the unmutated isolate QLD1517/2021 at 72 h p.i. Collectively, these findings contribute to our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 replication and evolutionary dynamics, which have important implications in the development of future vaccination, antiviral therapies, and epidemiological control strategies for COVID-19.
Association between Antiviral Prophylaxis and Cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr Virus DNAemia in Pediatric Recipients of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Authors: Diop Ndeye Soukeyna , Enok Bonong Pascal Roland , Buteau Chantal , Duval Michel , Lacroix Jacques , Laporte Louise , Tucci Marisa , Robitaille Nancy , Spinella Philip C. , Cuvelier Geoffrey , Vercauteren Suzanne M , Lewis Victor , Alfieri Caroline , Trottier Helen
Published: June 2021

Background: Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections can have serious consequences during the period of aplasia and lymphopenia following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Large pediatric cohort studies examining the effect of antiviral prophylaxis against these viruses are scarce. The present study aimed to analyse the potential effect of antiviral prophylaxis (acyclovir and famciclovir) on active post-transplant EBV and CMV infection in a pediatric cohort of allogeneic HSCT recipients. Methods: We used data from the TREASuRE cohort, consisting of 156 patients who had a first allogeneic HSCT, enrolled in four pediatric centers in Canada between July 2013 and March 2017. Follow-up was performed from the time of transplant up to 100 days post-transplant. Adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between antiviral prophylaxis with acyclovir and/or famciclovir and EBV and CMV DNAemia was estimated using multivariate Cox regression models. Results: The post-transplant cumulative incidence of EBV and CMV DNAemia at 100 days of follow-up were, respectively, 34.5% (95% CI: 27.6–42.6) and 19.9% (95% CI: 14.5–27.1). For acyclovir, the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for CMV and EBV DNAemia was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.24–1.26) and 1.41 (95% CI: 0.63–3.14), respectively. For famciclovir, the adjusted HR were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.30–2.29) and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.36–1.72) for CMV and EBV DNAemia, respectively. Conclusion: The antivirals famciclovir and acyclovir did not reduce the risk of post-transplant CMV and EBV DNAemia among HSCT recipients in our pediatric population.
An Optimal Water Resource Allocation Mechanism Based on Ex-Post Verification and Reward in Huangbai River
Authors: Zhang Hui , Li Jiaying
Published: June 2021

Under the current administrative system (AS) in China, the water resources governor allocates limited water resources to several users to realize the utility of water resources, leading to a principal–agent problem. The governor (referred to as the principal and she) wishes to maximize water resource allocation efficiency, while each user (referred to as the agent and he) only wishes to maximize his own quota. In addition, the governor cannot know water demand information exactly since it is the water users’ private information. Hence, this paper builds an ex ante improved bankruptcy allocation rule and an ex post verification and reward mechanism to improve water allocation efficiency from the governor’s perspective. In this mechanism, the governor allocates water among users based on an improved bankruptcy rule before the water is used up, verifies users’ information by various approaches, and poses a negative reward to them if their information is found to be false after the water is used up. Then, this mechanism is applied to Huangbai River Basin. Research results show that the improved allocation rule could motivate users to report demand information more honestly, and ex post verification could motivate water users to further report their true information, which, as a result, could improve the water allocation efficiency. Furthermore, this mechanism could be applied to the allocation of other resources.
Trace Element Mobility during Corg-Enhanced Denitrification in Two Different Aquifers
Authors: Ortmeyer Felix , Wohnlich Stefan , Banning Andre
Published: June 2021

Nitrate (NO3−)-polluted groundwater treatment by enhanced denitrification is becoming increasingly important due to rising NO3− concentrations and decreasing degradation capacities in aquifers. Besides evaluating the efficacy of substrates added to trigger denitrification, secondary reactions must be closely monitored. Biodenitrification by applied organic carbon (Corg) can lead to considerable changes in redox potential (Eh) and pH, two decisive parameters for trace element mobility. In this study, two geologically and hydrogeochemically different groundwater catchments important for drinking water production were investigated and compared. Sediments were analyzed for trace elements as well as sulfur (S) and carbon (C) contents. Ongoing hydrogeochemical reactions were evaluated with depth-specific isotope characterization, and the potential for trace element mobilization by Corg addition was determined in column experiments. Results for enhanced denitrification showed up to 3.8 times lower reaction rates with respect to comparable studies, probably due to incomplete formation of the necessary denitrifying bacteria. Concentrations of trace elements such as nickel (Ni) must also be considered when evaluating enhanced denitrification, as these can negatively affect microorganisms. Added ethanol led to Ni concentrations dropping from 0.013 mg/L to below the detection limit. Thus, Corg addition may not only induce denitrification, but also lead to the immobilization of previously released trace elements.
Modelling Freshwater Eutrophication with Limited Limnological Data Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Hadjisolomou Ekaterini , Stefanidis Konstantinos , Herodotou Herodotos , Michaelides Michalis , Papatheodorou George , Papastergiadou Eva
Published: June 2021

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) have wide applications in aquatic ecology and specifically in modelling water quality and biotic responses to environmental predictors. However, data scarcity is a common problem that raises the need to optimize modelling approaches to overcome data limitations. With this paper, we investigate the optimal k-fold cross validation in building an ANN using a small water-quality data set. The ANN was created to model the chlorophyll-a levels of a shallow eutrophic lake (Mikri Prespa) located in N. Greece. The typical water quality parameters serving as the ANN’s inputs are pH, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, phosphorus, nitrogen, electric conductivity, and Secchi disk depth. The available data set was small, containing only 89 data samples. For that reason, k-fold cross validation was used for training the ANN. To find the optimal k value for the k-fold cross validation, several values of k were tested (ranging from 3 to 30). Additionally, the leave-one-out (LOO) cross validation, which is an extreme case of the k-fold cross validation, was also applied. The ANN’s performance indices showed a clear trend to be improved as the k number was increased, while the best results were calculated for the LOO cross validation as expected. The computational times were calculated for each k value, where it was found the computational time is relatively low when applying the more expensive LOO cross validation; therefore, the LOO is recommended. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was examined using the ANN to investigate the interactions of the input parameters with the Chlorophyll-a, and hence examining the potential use of the ANN as a water management tool for nutrient control.
Temperature Dependence of Freshwater Phytoplankton Growth Rates and Zooplankton Grazing Rates
Authors: Pulsifer Jennifer , Laws Edward
Published: June 2021

Phytoplankton growth rates and zooplankton grazing rates were estimated on 16 occasions over a period of 17 months in University Lake, a highly eutrophic lake on the campus of Louisiana State University. Phytoplankton growth rates and chlorophyll a concentrations averaged 1.0 ± 0.2 d−1 and 240 ± 120 mg m−3, respectively. Chlorophyll a concentrations were at or above the inflection point of the Holling type I curve that described the relationship between zooplankton grazing rates and chlorophyll a concentrations. In most cases, it was necessary to dilute lake water by more than a factor of 4 before zooplankton grazing rates became sensitive to chlorophyll a concentrations. Chlorophyll a concentrations were positively correlated with temperature and were roughly fourfold higher at 30 °C than at 15 °C. An analysis of the temperature dependence of the growth rates and grazing rates in this study and 87 other paired estimates of limnetic phytoplankton growth rates and zooplankton grazing rates revealed virtually identical temperature dependences of growth rates and grazing rates that were very similar to the temperature dependence predicted by the metabolic theory of ecology. Phytoplankton growth rates exceeded zooplankton grazing rates by 0.13 ± 0.05 d−1 at all temperatures over a temperature range of 8.5–31.5 °C. The Q10 for both phytoplankton growth rates and zooplankton grazing rates was 1.5 over that temperature range.
Spatial Analysis of a Chesapeake Bay Sub-Watershed: How Land Use and Precipitation Patterns Impact Water Quality in the James River
Authors: Delia Kristina A. , Haney Christa R. , Dyer Jamie L. , Paul Varun G.
Published: June 2021

Changes in land cover throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, accompanied by variability in climate patterns, can impact runoff and water quality. A study was conducted using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for the James River watershed in Virginia, the southernmost tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, from 1986 to 2018, in order to evaluate factors that affect water quality in the river. This research focuses on statistical analysis of land use, precipitation, and water quality indicators. Land cover changes derived from satellite imagery and geographic information system (GIS) tools were compared with water quality parameters throughout that timeframe. Marked decreases in forest land cover were observed throughout the watershed, as well as increased residential development. Our findings suggest strong links between land cover modification, such as residential development, and degraded water quality indicators such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. In addition, we note direct improvements in water quality when forest land areas are preserved throughout the watershed.
Effects of Macrofaunal Recolonization on Biogeochemical Processes and Microbiota—A Mesocosm Study
Authors: Fiskal Annika , Gaillard Aixala , Giroud Sebastien , Malcic Dejan , Joshi Prachi , Sander Michael , Schubert Carsten J. , Lever Mark Alexander
Published: June 2021

Macroinvertebrates are widespread in lake sediments and alter sedimentary properties through their activity (bioturbation). Understanding the interactions between bioturbation and sediment properties is important given that lakes are important sinks and sources of carbon and nutrients. We studied the biogeochemical impact of macrofauna on surface sediments in 3-month-long mesocosm experiments conducted using sediment cores from a hypoxic, macrofauna-free lake basin. Experimental units consisted of hypoxic controls, oxic treatments, and oxic treatments that were experimentally colonized with chironomid larvae or tubificid worms. Overall, the presence of O2 in bottom water had the strongest geochemical effect and led to oxidation of sediments down to 2 cm depth. Relative to macrofauna-free oxic treatments, chironomid larvae increased sediment pore water concentrations of nitrate and sulfate and lowered porewater concentrations of reduced metals (Fe2+, Mn2+), presumably by burrow ventilation, whereas tubificid worms increased the redox potential, possibly through sediment reworking. Microbial communities were very similar across oxic treatments; however, the fractions of α-, β-, and γ-Proteobacteria and Sphingobacteriia increased, whereas those of Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Omnitrophica decreased compared to hypoxic controls. Sediment microbial communities were, moreover, distinct from those of macrofaunal tubes or feces. We suggest that, under the conditions studied, bottom water oxygenation has a stronger biogeochemical impact on lacustrine surface sediments than macrofaunal bioturbation.
Contractual Reciprocity and the Re-Making of Community Hydrosocial Territories: The Case of La Chimba in the Ecuadorian páramos
Authors: Manosalvas Rossana , Hoogesteger Jaime , Boelens Rutgerd
Published: June 2021

In the Andes, indigenous communities are being increasingly besieged because their páramos act as water providers for cities and irrigation systems downstream. This has led indigenous communities to protect their hydrosocial territories from external actors and re-create them to contest these threats. In this context, we analyse how the Kayambi community of La Chimba in the northern Sierra of Ecuador has managed to defend and secure its hydrosocial territory through the creation and re-creation of its indigenous identity and networks and related cultural politics that find expression in different forms of contractual reciprocity. As a result, the community hydrosocial territory (re)-creation itself is a weapon of resistance, a decolonising process where rural communities continuously can produce their own forms of development. This is particularly important in a context where governments in the region are relying on extractivism and in the explotation of indigenous territories.
Impact of Meteorological Factors on Thermokarst Lake Changes in the Beilu River Basin, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China (2000–2016)
Authors: Ni Zixuan , Lü Xiangfei , Huang Guanwen
Published: June 2021

Variations in weather conditions have a significant impact on thermokarst lakes, such as the sub-lake permafrost thawing caused by global warming. Based on the analysis of Landsat sensor images by ENVI TM 5.3 software, the present study quantitatively determined the area of the thermokarst lakes and the area of the single selected thermokarst lake in the Beilu River Basin from 2000 to 2016. In an effort to explore the reason for changes in the area of thermokarst lakes, this work used Pearson correlation to analyze the relationship between the area of thermokarst lakes and precipitation, wind speed, average temperature, and relative humidity as obtained from the weather station Wudaoliang. Furthermore, this study used multiple linear regression to comprehensively study the correlation between the meteorological factors and changes in the thermokarst lake area. In this case, the total lake-area changes and the single-area changes exhibited unique patterns. The results showed that the total lake area and the single selected lake area increased year by year. Furthermore, the effects of the four meteorological factors defined above on the total area of typical thermokarst lakes are different from the effects of these factors on the single selected thermokarst lake. While the total area of specific thermokarst lakes exhibited a time lag in their response to the four factors, the surface area of the selected thermokarst lake responded to these factors on time. The dominant meteorological factor contributing to total lake area variations of typical thermokarst lakes is the increasing annual average temperature. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the total area and the annual average temperature is 0.717, suggesting a statistically significant correlation between the two factors. For the selected thermokarst lake, the surface area is related to annual average temperature and wind speed. As a result, wind speed and average temperature could infer the variation law on the thermokarst lake due to the linear fitting equation between area and significant meteorological factors.
Multi-Objective Operation-Leakage Optimization and Calibration of Water Distribution Systems
Authors: Maskit Matan , Ostfeld Avi
Published: June 2021

This study aims to develop and solve a multi-objective water distribution systems optimization problem incorporating pumps’ optimal scheduling and leakage minimization. An iterative optimization model was presented for calibrating and computing leakages in water distribution systems to recognize the critical impact of leakage control on system operation. The multi-dimensional and nonlinear optimization model, incorporating pump control, consumer demands, storage, and other water distribution systems’ components, was constructed and was minimized using a multi-objective genetic algorithm coupled with hydraulic simulations. The model was demonstrated on two example applications with increasing complexity through base runs and sensitivity analyses. Results showed that leakage minimization competes against pumping, mainly when significant differences occur between demands during low and high energy tariffs. Pumping during the periods with high electricity tariffs (when the demands are high) generated pressure distribution that decreased the overall leakage related to pump scheduling that replicated the natural inclination to pump as much as possible at low tariffs (when the demands are low). The optimal fronts were found to be very sensitive to the leakage exponent value, and changing its value indeed contradicted the balance between minimizing the leakage and the energy cost significantly. Altogether, the idea presented in this paper was found capable of facilitating the decision-makers to conveniently select between the energy-efficient pump scheduling and pump scheduling reflecting minimum leakage based on the system operator’s preferences. The research also paves the way to rebuild the optimization model by incorporating water distribution reliability and water quality that, in some cases, may also contradict the choice between energy cost and leakage minimization.
Picocyanobacterial Contribution to the Total Primary Production in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean
Authors: Lee Ho-Won , Noh Jae-Hoon , Choi Dong-Han , Yun Misun , Bhavya P. S. , Kang Jae-Joong , Lee Jae-Hyung , Kim Kwan-Woo , Jang Hyo-Keun , Lee Sang-Heon
Published: June 2021

Picocyanobacteria (Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus) play an important role in primary production and biogeochemical cycles in the subtropical and tropical Pacific Ocean, but little biological information on them is currently available in the North Pacific Ocean (NPO). The present study aimed to determine the picocyanobacterial contributions to the total primary production in the regions in the NPO using a combination of a dual stable isotope method and metabolic inhibitor. In terms of cell abundance, Prochlorococcus were mostly dominant (95.7 ± 1.4%) in the tropical Pacific region (hereafter, TP), whereas Synechococcus accounted for 50.8%–93.5% in the subtropical and temperate Pacific region (hereafter, SP). Regionally, the averages of primary production and picocyanobacterial contributions were 11.66 mg C m−2·h−1 and 45.2% (±4.8%) in the TP and 22.83 mg C m−2·h−1 and 70.2% in the SP, respectively. In comparison to the carbon, the average total nitrogen uptake rates and picocyanobacterial contributions were 10.11 mg N m−2·h−1 and 90.2% (±5.3%) in the TP and 4.12 mg N m−2·h−1 and 63.5%, respectively. These results indicate that picocyanobacteria is responsible for a large portion of the total primary production in the region, with higher contribution to nitrogen uptake rate than carbon. A long-term monitoring on the picocyanobacterial variability and contributions to primary production should be implemented under the global warming scenario with increasing ecological roles of picocyanobacteria.
Middle Holocene Climate Oscillations Recorded in the Western Dvina Lakeland
Authors: Mroczkowska Agnieszka , Pawłowski Dominik , Gauthier Emilie , Mazurkevich Andrey , Luoto Tomi , Peyron Odile , Kotrys Bartosz , Brooks Stephen , Nazarova Larisa , Syrykh Liudmila , Dolbunova Ekaterina , Thiebaut Eva , Płóciennik Mateusz , Antczak-Orlewska Olga , Kittel Piotr
Published: June 2021

Although extensive archeological research works have been conducted in the Serteya region in recent years, the Holocene climate history in the Western Dvina Lakeland in Western Russia is still poorly understood. The Neolithic human occupation of the Serteyka lake–river system responded to climate oscillations, resulting in the development of a pile-dwelling settlement between 5.9 and 4.2 ka cal BP. In this paper, we present the quantitative paleoclimatic reconstructions of the Northgrippian stage (8.2–4.2 ka cal BP) from the Great Serteya Palaeolake Basin. The reconstructions were created based on a multiproxy (Chironomidae, pollen and Cladocera) approach. The mean July air temperature remained at 17–20 °C, which is similar to the present temperature in the Smolensk Upland. The summer temperature revealed only weak oscillations during 5.9 and 4.2 ka cal BP. A more remarkable feature during those events was an increase in continentality, manifested by a lower winter temperature and lower annual precipitation. During the third, intermediate oscillation in 5.0–4.7 ka cal BP, a rise in summer temperature and stronger shifts in continental air masses were recorded. It is still unclear if the above-described climate fluctuations are linked to the North Atlantic Oscillation and can be interpreted as an indication of Bond events because only a few high-resolution paleoclimatic reconstructions from the region have been presented and these reconstructions do not demonstrate explicit oscillations in the period of 5.9 and 4.2 ka cal BP.
Growth rate and conformation characteristics of calves after administration of different doses of tissue biostimulator to cows
Authors: Pushkaryev I. A. , Kureninova T. V. , Silivirova T. L. , Shanshin N. V.
Published: June 2021

It is known that one of the most important reasons for the birth of weak calves is the impact of adverse factors on the physiological status of the cow, which in turn affects the intrauterine and postnatal development of the fetus and newborn. The results of studying the introduction of different doses of tissue biostimulator to cows during the dry period and its effect on the development of the conformation of calves received from them have been presented in the article. The experiment was carried out in 2019 on cows of Priobsky type of Black-and-White breed and calves obtained from them. In order to conduct the experiment four groups of dry cows-analogs have been formed with 10 heads in each for 55–60 days before the expected calving at the age of III lactation and older. When selecting animals the live weight and milk productivity of cows for the previous lactation have been taken into account. The highest growth rate has been observed in calves from cows the 2nd experimental group, which exceeded the control by 24,4 % (P ≤ 0,001). The best indicators of conformation development have been also observed in calves obtained from cows of the 2nd experimental group, which were injected subcutaneously with 22,5 ml of tissue preparation. So, oblique body length have been greater by 12,6 % (P ≤ 0,001), chest girth by 17,3 % (P ≤ 0,001), width of hook bones by 21,0 % (P ≤ 0,01), the width of the pin bones by 15,0 % (P ≤ 0,05). The lengthiness index was by 11,5 % higher (P ≤ 0,001), the blockiness index was by 4,1 % higher (P ≤ 0,05), and the boniness index was by 10,6 % lower (P ≤ 0,05) than in the control group herdmates.
Evaluation of the reproductive ability of crossbred sows obtained from different breeding boars
Authors: Gritsenko S. A. , Vereshchaga O. S. , Koryukhov D. A. , Grinets S. A. , Zorina D. S.
Published: June 2021

In order to improve the livestock industry, and push up it to the world level making full use of the biological features of animals it is necessary to radically improve the system of breeding work with the species selection and the best combinations to obtain the fattening of young animals, in the implementation of this task special emphasis on the pig as the most precocious and technologically advanced livestock industry. The advantage of pork production is evidenced by the economic assessment of meat production of diff erent types of animals according to the level of individual costs for the nutrients of the product. It is no coincidence that the growth rate of pork production in the world in recent years exceeds the growth rate of beef and poultry. The purpose of the work was to assess the reproductive traits of crossbred sows obtained from various dreeding boars of Landrace breed (1st paternal breed) and mated with breeding boar of Duroc breed (2nd paternal breed) during three-breed industrial crossbreeding. The research has been carried out on the basis of LLC “Agrofi rma Ariant” in the Chelyabinsk region. It has been found that among the analyzed crossbreds the highest reproductive abilities were distinguished by sows obtained from the breeding boar No. 62143 their prolifi cacy was 13,5 heads live piglets, and the live weight of 1 piglet at birth was 1448,07 g, which exceeded the indicators of sows daughters of breeding boar No. 620001 by 1,4 piglets, and 17,9 g, respectively. Approximately the same number of female pigs has been obtained in both study groups. The number of young boars from sows of breeding boar No. 62143 was by 1,3 head more. Thus, in order to increase the profi tability of pork production in LLC “Agrofi rma Ariant” it is necessary to increase the volume of use of sperm of breeding boar No. 62143 of Landrace breed
Electrochemical Corrosion Behavior of Iron in Lithium-ion Battery Electrolyte
Authors: Kim Jineun , Lee Suhyun , Kim Kun Woo , Son Jungman , Mun Junyoung
Published: June 2021

The element iron (Fe) is affordable and abundantly available, and thus, it finds use in a wide range of applications. As regards its application in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the electrochemical reactions of Fe must be clearly understood during battery charging and discharging with the LIB electrolyte. In this study, we conducted systematic electrochemical analyses under various voltage conditions to determine the voltage at which Fe corrosion begins in general lithium salts and organic solvents used in LIBs. During cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments, we observed a large corrosion current above 4.0 V (vs. Li/Li+). When a constant voltage of 3.7 V (vs. Li/Li+), was applied, the current did not increase significantly at the beginning, similar to the CV scenario; on the other hand, at a voltage of 3.8 V (vs. Li/Li+), the current increased rapidly. The impact of this difference was visually confirmed via scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. Our X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements showed that at 3.7 V, a thick organic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) was formed atop a thin fluoride SEI, which means that at ≥3.8 V, the SEI cannot prevent Fe corrosion. This result confirms that Fe corrosion begins at 3.7 V, beyond which Fe is easily corrodible.
Visualizing Material Processing via Photoexcitation-Controlled Organic-Phase Aggregation-Induced Emission
Authors: Gu Jian , Yue Bingbing , Baryshnikov Glib V. , Li Zhongyu , Zhang Man , Shen Shen , Ågren Hans , Zhu Liangliang
Published: June 2021

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has been much employed for visualizing material aggregation and self-assembly. However, water is generally required for the preparation of the AIE aggregates, the operation of which limits numerous material processing behaviors. Employing hexathiobenzene-based small molecules, monopolymers, and block copolymers as different material prototypes, we herein achieve AIE in pure organic phases by applying a nonequilibrium strategy, photoexcitation-controlled aggregation. This strategy enabled a dynamic change of molecular conformation rather than chemical structure upon irradiation, leading to a continuous aggregation-dependent luminescent enhancement (up to ~200-fold increase of the luminescent quantum yield) in organic solvents. Accompanied by the materialization of the nonequilibrium strategy, photoconvertible self-assemblies with a steady-state characteristic can be achieved upon organic solvent processing. The visual monitoring with the luminescence change covered the whole solution-to-film transition, as well as the in situ photoprocessing of the solid-state materials.