bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Water-Based Mud for Low-Permeable Reservoir in South China Sea
Authors: Lin Siyuan , Lu Yunhu , Liu Zhiqin , Lu Wei , Hu Po
Published: February 2023

Conventional reservoir drill-in fluids used for drilling reservoirs in Weizhou Oilfield encounter rheological problems that result in technical problems such as hole-cleaning in openhole horizontal intervals. Hence, novel drill-in fluid was developed by optimizing the additive quantity and particle size distribution. Lab tests showed that novel drill-in fluids boast high low shearing rate viscosity, and provide promising cutting, carrying, and suspension capabilities. Furthermore, the novel drill-in fluids performed well in reservoir protection, with a permeability recovery rate of more than 90%. The novel drill-in fluids also have high inhibition capabilities with a linear expansion rate of mud shale as low as 10%, with a rolling recovery rate of up to 96.48%. Field application results showed no pipe-stuck was encountered during tripping in the horizontal interval when using the novel drill-in fluid. Moreover, by using the novel drill-in fluids, skin factor was reduced from 20.0 to −3.0, and daily oil production was double what was expected. It was concluded that novel drill-in fluids meets the demand of horizontal drilling intervals in Weizhou Oilfield and improves hole-cleaning and reservoir protection in the horizontal well.
Ceria–Zirconia-Supported Ruthenium Catalysts for Hydrogen Production by Ammonia Decomposition
Authors: Borisov Vadim A. , Fedorova Zaliya A. , Temerev Victor L. , Trenikhin Mikhail V. , Svintsitskiy Dmitry A. , Muromtsev Ivan V. , Arbuzov Alexey B. , Shigarov Alexey B. , Snytnikov Pavel V. , Shlyapin Dmitry A.
Published: February 2023

Commercial cerium–zirconium oxide supports (Ce0.5Zr0.5O2, Ce0.75Zr0.25O2, and Ce0.4Zr0.5Y0.05La0.05O2) were used to prepare Ru/CeZrOx catalysts. According to the XRD and IR spectroscopy data, the supports consist of ceria-based substitutional solid solutions. The specific surface areas of supports and catalysts are similar and range from 71–89 m2/g. As shown by TEM and XRD methods, the size of support particles equals 6–11 nm. According to the TEM data, the size of ruthenium particles does not exceed 1.3 nm. The catalyst activity in the ammonia decomposition process was studied. The Ru/Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 catalyst at temperature 500 °C and GHSV 120,000 h−1 demonstrated the highest hydrogen productivity of 53.3 mmol H2/(gcat·min) and compares well with the best results reported in the literature. The kinetics of ammonia decomposition reaction were calculated using the Temkin–Pyzhov exponential expression. The developed mathematical model well described the experimental data. The studied catalysts demonstrated high activity for the ammonia decomposition reaction.
Shock Initiation and Propagation of Detonation in ANFO
Authors: Bohanek Vječislav , Štimac Tumara Barbara , Serene Chan Hay Yee , Sućeska Muhamed
Published: February 2023

The ammonium nitrate (AN) and fuel oil (FO) mixture known as ANFO is a typical representative of non-ideal explosives. In contrast to ideal explosives, the detonation behavior of ANFO exhibits a strong dependence on charge diameter, existence, and properties of confinement, with a large failure diameter and long distance required to establish steady-state detonation. In this study shock initiation and propagation of detonation in ANFO were studied experimentally by determining the detonation velocity at different distances from the initiation point, as well as by numerical modeling using AUTODYN hydrodynamics code and a Wood–Kirkwood detonation model incorporated into EXPLO5 thermochemical code. The run-to-steady-state detonation velocity distance was determined as a function of charge diameter, booster charge mass, and confinement. It was demonstrated that a Lee–Tarver ignition and growth reactive flow model with properly calibrated rate constants was capable of correctly ascertaining experimentally observed shock initiation behavior and propagation of detonation in ANFO, as well as the effects of charge diameter, booster mass, and confinement.
Turbine Fast Valving Setting Method Based on the Hybrid Simulation Approach
Authors: Ruban Nikolay , Kievets Anton , Andreev Mikhail , Suvorov Aleksey
Published: February 2023

Turbine fast valving is one way to preserve the stability of power systems in case of emergency excess power. The determination of optimal setting parameters of turbine fast valving is a rather complicated task. It is connected with the necessity to determine the parameters of an electrical signal, which controls by means of an amplifier the position of control valves and, accordingly, the value of the output turbine power. The amplitude, duration, as well as the form of the electric signal influence the speed and depth of turbine unloading; they also determine the character of transient process development, including in the post-emergency mode. The proposed approach differs from the currently used one in that the optimal electrical signal shape is selected by multiple detailed modelling in power system simulators, rather than one of three to five initial settings determined at the turbine manufacturer without taking into account the response of the power system. Thus, when using complete and reliable information regarding the processes in the turbine and generator equipment, its control systems, and the power system as a whole, it becomes possible to form the necessary shape of an electrical signal in the event of losing stability in a place of interest in the power system due to the occurrence of an emergency excess of generated active power of various values. The developed approach was tested, and the results of the study were verified by the field data.
Experimental and Mathematical Analysis of the Kinetics of the Low-Waste Process of Butyl Lactate Synthesis
Authors: Meshalkin Valeriy P. , Kozlovskiy Roman A. , Kozlovskiy Mikhail R. , Ibatov Yaroslav A. , Voronov Mikhail S. , Kozlovskiy Ivan A. , Chistyakova Tamara B. , Nzioka Antony M.
Published: February 2023

Butyl lactate is a green solvent produced from renewable materials through the reaction of ammonium lactate with n-butanol. It could be a source material for valuable products such as propylene glycol, acrylic acid, its derivatives, and the cyclic monomer of polylactic acid (PLA)—lactate. In this study, we present novel non-catalytic interactions of ammonium lactate and n-butanol carried out in the temperature range of 130–170 °C in a closed system. The study focused on the kinetic modelling of the reaction between ammonium lactate and n-butanol to derive a mathematical model for the reactor unit of butyl lactate synthesis. The aim of this work was to study the kinetics of the interaction between ammonium lactate and n-butanol, as well as to obtain a kinetic model of the process and its parameters. We suggested the chemical transformation routes and determined the kinetic model and parameters that adequately describe the process in a closed system within the studied condition range. The study proposes the first kinetic model that accounts for lactamide formation through two routes. This study showed that the high-temperature non-catalytic interaction of ammonium lactate and n-butanol could be one of the prospective synthesis routes.
The Research on Complex Lithology Identification Based on Well Logs: A Case Study of Lower 1st Member of the Shahejie Formation in Raoyang Sag
Authors: Song Zhaojing , Xiao Dianshi , Wei Yongbo , Zhao Rixin , Wang Xiaocheng , Tang Jiafan
Published: February 2023

Lithology identification is the basis for sweet spot evaluation, prediction, and precise exploratory deployment and has important guiding significance for areas with low exploration degrees. The lithology of the shale strata, which are composed of fine-grained sediments, is complex and varies regularly in the vertical direction. Identifying complex lithology is a typical nonlinear classification problem, and intelligent algorithms can effectively solve this problem, but different algorithms have advantages and disadvantages. Compared were the three typical algorithms of Fisher discriminant analysis, BP neural network, and classification and regression decision tree (C&RT) on the identification of seven lithologies of shale strata in the lower 1st member of the Shahejie Formation (Es1L) of Raoyang sag. Fisher discriminant analysis method is linear discriminant, the recognition effect is poor, the accuracy is 52.4%; the accuracy of the BP neural network to identify lithology is 82.3%, but it belongs to the black box and can not be visualized; C&RT can accurately identify the complex lithology of Es1L, the accuracy of this method is 85.7%, and it can effectively identify the interlayer and thin interlayer in shale strata.
A Decade Review of the Art of Inspection and Monitoring Technologies for Long-Distance Oil and Gas Pipelines in Permafrost Areas
Authors: Chen Pengchao , Li Rui , Jia Guangming , Lan Hao , Fu Kuan , Liu Xiaoben
Published: February 2023

Long-distance oil and gas pipelines buried in permafrost areas will inevitably encounter typical geological disasters, such as frost heave and thaw settlement and sliding, which easily cause pipeline displacement, bending, or deformation. When there are certain defects in the pipeline, additional complex, external stress will further lead to the failure of the pipeline or weld and can even lead to serious accidents such as pipeline leakage, pipe burst, or fracture. This paper introduces in detail the typical defects and risks of buried pipelines in permafrost areas and summarizes the in-line inspection technologies, off-line inspection technologies, and integrated monitoring systems for pipelines in the pipeline industry. Regarding pipelines in permafrost areas, in-line inspection methods may be employed. These include magnetic flux leakage, electromagnetic eddy current, ultrasonic, IMU, and electromagnetic acoustic transducer inspections. Off-line inspection is also one of the important means of inspecting a pipeline in a permafrost area. Indirect inspection is combined with verification by direct inspection to check and evaluate the integrity of the anticorrosive coating and the effectiveness of the cathodic protection for the pipeline. Meanwhile, considering the external environment of a pipeline in a permafrost area, a monitoring system should be developed and established. This paper discusses and projects the future development of related technologies, which provides reference for the construction and operation of pipelines in permafrost areas.
Power Electronics Converters for Electric Vehicle Auxiliaries: State of the Art and Future Trends
Authors: Kotb Ramy , Chakraborty Sajib , Tran Dai-Duong , Abramushkina Ekaterina , El Baghdadi Mohamed , Hegazy Omar
Published: February 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to take over the transportation and mobility market over traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles soon. The internal power demands of EVs are expected to increase. The reason for this is to achieve a longer driving range for the EV and to provide the required power for the low-voltage (LV) network auxiliary loads. To illustrate, there are extra added sensors, cameras, and small actuating motors, especially for future autonomous vehicles. Therefore, a new electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture is required to convert the high-voltage (HV) traction battery voltage (e.g., 320–800 V DC) to the standard LV levels with high current ratings of 5 kW and more. This HV-LV DC-DC converter is known in the literature as an auxiliary power module (APM). The standard LV rails in an EV are the 12 V/24 V rail to supply for an instant the EV’s lighting and electronic control units (ECUs), while the 48 V rail is required for propulsive loads, such as air compressors and electric power steering systems. Furthermore, in a few applications, this converter is responsible for voltage upwards to support the start of a hybrid vehicle or emergency backup power handling, which requires bidirectional capability. Therefore, in this paper, possible APM topologies for EV applications are presented. In line with this, the main standards and safety requirements of the APMs are presented. Detailed quantitative and qualitative comparisons between topologies and their associated control schemes are discussed. In addition, the placement of the APM in the EV cooling cycle has been investigated and demonstrated. Finally, the industrial trends and future research targets for the APM in automotive applications are outlined.
Dynamic Control of Traction Motor for EV Fed via Dual Source Inverter with a Two Battery System
Authors: Gudhe Siddhant , Singh Sanjeev , Rezkallah Miloud , Chandra Ambrish
Published: February 2023

An electric vehicle uses multiple energy-storage systems to power the traction motor. Dual-source inverters (DSIs) are used for single-stage power conversion by skipping the dc/dc boost converter stage; therefore, eliminating the passive magnetic storing element which improves the overall efficiency of the drive; moreover, multiple energy-storage systems improve the power density of the system. This article discusses the fine control of a traction motor from zero speed to rated speed supplied through a dual-source inverter. Field-oriented control with space vector modulation technique is applied to achieve closed-loop control. Two dc sources are used, one having a higher-voltage battery and one a lower-voltage battery. The higher-voltage battery is the main battery which supplies power to the traction motor, whereas the lower-voltage battery supplies power to supplementary loads of the EV. This article presents improved dynamic behaviour of an induction-motor-driven EV fed from a dual-source inverter using modified closed-loop field-oriented control with space vector modulation. The improvement includes reduced control complexity due to space vector modulation and achieving the option of EV operation in an emergent situation using the same converter and control system. The simulated performance of the presented system is obtained in MATLAB/Simulink. A step-down experimental prototype is used for verification of effective control of the induction motor as the EV is under constant torque variable speed operation with real-time parameters such as power, power factor, current harmonics, and voltage/current stresses across the switch using two batteries individually.
A Survey on the Application of Machine Learning in Turbulent Flow Simulations
Authors: Majchrzak Maciej , Marciniak-Lukasiak Katarzyna , Lukasiak Piotr
Published: February 2023

As early as at the end of the 19th century, shortly after mathematical rules describing fluid flow—such as the Navier–Stokes equations—were developed, the idea of using them for flow simulations emerged. However, it was soon discovered that the computational requirements of problems such as atmospheric phenomena and engineering calculations made hand computation impractical. The dawn of the computer age also marked the beginning of computational fluid mechanics and their subsequent popularization made computational fluid dynamics one of the common tools used in science and engineering. From the beginning, however, the method has faced a trade-off between accuracy and computational requirements. The purpose of this work is to examine how the results of recent advances in machine learning can be applied to further develop the seemingly plateaued method. Examples of applying this method to improve various types of computational flow simulations, both by increasing the accuracy of the results obtained and reducing calculation times, have been reviewed in the paper as well as the effectiveness of the methods presented, the chances of their acceptance by industry, including possible obstacles, and potential directions for their development. One can observe an evolution of solutions from simple determination of closure coefficients through to more advanced attempts to use machine learning as an alternative to the classical methods of solving differential equations on which computational fluid dynamics is based up to turbulence models built solely from neural networks. A continuation of these three trends may lead to at least a partial replacement of Navier–Stokes-based computational fluid dynamics by machine-learning-based solutions.
Empirical Study of Stability and Fairness of Schemes for Benefit Distribution in Local Energy Communities
Authors: Limmer Steffen
Published: February 2023

The concept of local energy communities is receiving increasing attention. However, the question of how to distribute the benefit of a community among its members is still open. It is commonly desired that the benefit distribution is fair and stable. While benefit distribution schemes such as the nucleolus, Shapley value and Shapley-core are known to perform well in terms of fairness and stability, studies have shown that none of them can guarantee full fairness and stability at the same time. However, the existing studies neglect the temporal component. Hence, in order to gain more insights into the stability and fairness of the three aforementioned distributions in practice, we investigate their performance over time in simulation experiments on real-world data from Australian households. In about 90% of the cases, the Shapley value yielded a reasonably stable distribution, while the nucleolus yielded a reasonably fair distribution in about 75% of the cases. Furthermore, the experiments show an impact of the community size on the stability and fairness of the investigated distributions. One can conclude that for small communities, the Shapley value is the best choice, but that the nucleolus and Shapley–core become more and more attractive with increasing size of the community.
Reactive Processes for H2S Removal
Authors: Secco Carolinne , Fuziki Maria Eduarda Kounaris , Tusset Angelo Marcelo , Lenzi Giane Gonçalves
Published: February 2023

Growing demand for renewables and sustainable energy production contributes to a growing interest in producing high quality biomethane from biogas. Despite having methane (CH4) as its main component, biogas may also present other noncombustible substances in its composition, i.e., carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Contaminant gases, such as CO2 and H2S, are impurities known for being the main causes for the decrease of biogas calorific value and corrosion, wear of pipes, and engines, among others. Thus, it is necessary to remove these compounds from the biogas before it can be used in applications such as electricity production, thermal purposes, and replacement of conventional fossil fuels in vehicles, as well as injection into natural gas distribution networks. In this context, the present work aimed to present a systematic review of the literature using the multicriteria Methodi Ordinatio methodology and to describe processes and materials for H2S removal. The discussion indicated new materials used, as well as the advantages and disadvantages observed and the limitations in industrial implementation.
Vibration Fault Detection in Wind Turbines Based on Normal Behaviour Models without Feature Engineering
Authors: Jonas Stefan , Anagnostos Dimitrios , Brodbeck Bernhard , Meyer Angela
Published: February 2023

Most wind turbines are remotely monitored 24/7 to allow for early detection of operation problems and developing damage. We present a new fault detection approach for vibration-monitored drivetrains that does not require any feature engineering. Our method relies on a simple model architecture to enable a straightforward implementation in practice. We propose to apply convolutional autoencoders for identifying and extracting the most relevant features from a broad continuous range of the spectrum in an automated manner, saving time and effort. We focus on the range of [0, 1000] Hz for demonstration purposes. A spectral model of the normal vibration response is learnt for the monitored component from past measurements. We demonstrate that the trained model can successfully distinguish damaged from healthy components and detect a damaged generator bearing and damaged gearbox parts from their vibration responses. Using measurements from commercial wind turbines and a test rig, we show that vibration-based fault detection in wind turbine drivetrains can be performed without the usual upfront definition of spectral features. Another advantage of the presented method is that a broad continuous range of the spectrum can be monitored instead of the usual focus on monitoring individual frequencies and harmonics. Future research should investigate the proposed method on more comprehensive datasets and fault types.
Maximization of Energy Efficiency by Synchronizing the Speed of Trains on a Moving Block System
Authors: Szkopiński Janusz , Kochan Andrzej
Published: February 2023

The publication deals with the problem of the effect of interference with the movement of the “preceding” train on the movement of the “following” train in the case of efforts to reduce the distance between trains on a moving block interval. The paper presents results of the simulations for train of the ED250 type for a set of 135 traffic situations: for three contexts of reducing the speed of the “preceding” train, for five variants of the method of controlling the “following” train and for nine initial distances between these trains. The results confirmed the possibility of gaining time and energy benefits by implementing an appropriate method of controlling the “following” train, as well as providing insights into the area of shortening the gaps between trains, including the pursuit of synchronizing the speed of trains and possibly coupling them into a so-called virtual couples.
Atmospheric Ecology Modeling for the Sustainable Development of the Urban Environment
Authors: Rashevskiy Nikolay , Sadovnikova Natalia , Ereshchenko Tatyana , Parygin Danila , Ignatyev Alexander
Published: February 2023

The article considers the actual problem of the ecology of urban areas associated with air pollution by industrial and energy enterprises. The study is aimed at substantiating the method of forming a plan for atmospheric air pollution observation using mobile laboratories. The quantitative characteristic of sites for different urban development zones is determined as a set of estimates. The air pollution index was chosen as a total sanitary and hygienic criterion for assessing pollution. The implementation of the decision-making problem using the analytic network process method is considered. Parameters of the city and environment that affect the assessment of atmospheric air quality were selected in the course of the study. A network structure of mutual influence of the studied parameters is formed. The architecture of the decision support system based on the proposed method is given. The created software makes it possible to automate the modeling of the distribution of pollutants in the atmosphere. The computational experiment is presented on the example of the Volgograd agglomeration, Russia. The proposed approach can significantly improve the organization of monitoring by mobile laboratories and reduce the cost of obtaining data on urban air pollution without increasing the number of existing observation laboratories, both stationary and mobile.
Effect of Ethanol Added to Diesel Fuel on the Range of Fuel Spray
Authors: Krzemiński Artur , Ustrzycki Adam
Published: February 2023

The constantly growing number of vehicles sold and operated has resulted in greater contribution of automobiles to global pollution. One way to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and toxic compounds, including the particulates and nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in exhaust gases, is to use alternative fuels. Within this group of fuels, those of plant origin, mainly alcohols, are attracting more and more attention because of their high oxygen content (around 35%), low viscosity, and good atomisation. However, alternative fuels have different physicochemical properties than diesel fuel, and these may affect the formation of the fuel spray, which, in turn, impacts the operation of the internal combustion engine, operating parameters, and the purity of the exhaust gases emitted into the environment. To make sure this type of fuel can be used in compression ignition engines, it is necessary to gain a thorough understanding of the phenomena and relationships occurring during fuel injection. The study investigated the effect of ethanol added to diesel fuel on the range of fuel spray. Firstly, the kinematic viscosity was determined for diesel fuel, and for diesel–ethanol blends with varying proportional contents of ethanol, up to 30% v/v. The viscosity test was carried out at 40 °C in compliance with the normative requirements. At the next stage, the range of the spray tip was measured for the same fuels in which kinematic viscosity was assessed. A visualisation chamber and a high-speed camera were applied for this purpose. The test was carried out under reproducible conditions, in line with the test methodology used to determine the range of fuel spray. The analyses assessed the effect of ethanol addition on kinematic viscosity and the range of fuel spray. The findings show that the increase in ethanol content corresponds to a decrease in kinematic viscosity by about 4% on average. The results were inconclusive for the lowest injection pressure tested (75 MPa), since some of the mixtures investigated were found with a lower spray range, compared to diesel fuel with no ethanol added. The greatest increase in the spray range (by approximately 39%) was found in the fuel with 30% content of ethanol at an injection pressure of 125 MPa.
Water Influence on the Determination of the Rock Matrix Bulk Modulus in Reservoir Engineering and Rock-Fluid Coupling Projects
Authors: Knez Dariusz , Khalilidermani Mitra , Zamani Mohammad Ahmad Mahmoudi
Published: February 2023

This research was conducted to determine how the incorporation of different poroelastic equations would affect the measured rock matrix bulk modulus in the laboratory. To do this, three experimental methods were used to measure the matrix bulk modulus, Ks, of seven sandstone specimens taken from the Świętokrzyskie mine in Poland. Those experimental methods were based on the different governing equations in poroelasticty theory. The matrix bulk modulus has a substantial impact on the rock strength against external stresses. Moreover, the rock bulk modulus depends directly on two components: the pore fluid bulk modulus and matrix bulk modulus. The second one is more important as it is much higher than the first one. In this study, the accuracy of those three methods in the measurement of the matrix bulk modulus was evaluated. For this purpose, an acoustic wave propagation apparatus was used to perform the required tests. For each method, an empirical correlation was extracted between the matrix bulk modulus and the applied hydrostatic stress. In all the experiments, an exponential correlation was observed between the matrix bulk modulus and the hydrostatic stress applied on the rock. Furthermore, it was found that the incorporation of the dry bulk modulus in the calculations led to an underestimation of the matrix bulk modulus. In addition, as the hydrostatic stress was raised, the matrix bulk modulus also increased. The applied methodology can be deployed to determine the matrix bulk modulus in coupled rock-fluid problems such as reservoir depletion, hydraulic fracturing, oil recovery enhancement, underground gas storage and land subsidence.
A Feasibility Study of Implementing IEEE 1547 and IEEE 2030 Standards for Microgrid in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alsafran Ahmed Sulaiman
Published: February 2023

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) microgrids must make significant progress during the next five years, since the Saudi government published the Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program 2020. In order to implement renewable energy and microgrid technologies in the Saudi Electric Power System(EPS), King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (K.A.CARE) started developing an energy mix program in 2016. To achieve the intended goals, this program will unquestionably need to adhere to practical and technical criteria. In the past five years, the Saudi government has made significant investments in renewable energy technology. In order to keep up with the growth of microgrid systems globally, the Saudi Water and Electricity Regulatory Authority (WERA) is now working to update and define a standard for microgrids. The IEEE 2030 standard, which includes guidelines for understanding smart grid interoperability the integration of communication architectures and power systems, and information technology architectures, is proposed to replace the IEEE 1547.4 standard currently in use by the WERA. In the past two decades, smart grid technology has advanced dramatically and attracted great technical attention. To guarantee that K.A.CARE and other research and technical institutes can effectively complete their deliverables, a standard for microgrids has to be established. Additionally, this paper offers some recommendations on how to use these standards to implement them in the Saudi EPS, as well as a feasibility analysis for adopting the IEEE 1547.4 standard in the KSA.
Composite Biochar with Municipal Sewage Sludge Compost—A New Approach to Phytostabilization of PTE Industrially Contaminated Soils
Authors: Radziemska Maja , Gusiatin Mariusz Zygmunt , Mazur Zbigniew , Radzevičius Algirdas , Bęś Agnieszka , Šadzevičius Raimondas , Holatko Jiri , Dapkienė Midona , Adamonytė Inga , Brtnicky Martin
Published: February 2023

The presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils can upset the natural balance and increase the risk of PTE incorporation into the food chain. The use of composite biochar with municipal sewage sludge compost (MSSC/C) can be an effective way of both managing waste, such as sewage sludge, and providing an effective additive-supporting phytostabilization processes. The effectiveness of D. glomerata and MSSC/C in the technique of assisted phytostabilization of industrially contaminated soils was determined under the pot experiment conditions. The PTE contents in D. glomerata and the soil were determined using the spectrophotometric method. The addition of MSSC/C to PTE-contaminated soil contributed to an 18% increase in plant biomass and increased the soil pH by 1.67 units, with the PTE concentration being higher in the roots than in the above-ground parts of D. glomerata. The MSSC/C addition had the strongest effect on the reduction in Cd, Cr, and Ni contents in the soil following the completion of the experiment. The current study confirmed the effectiveness of MSSC/C in aiding the phytostabilization processes in PTE-contaminated soils.
An Analysis of Circular Economy Literature at the Macro Level, with a Particular Focus on Energy Markets
Authors: Ghazanfari Arezoo
Published: February 2023

Sustainability is a strategic approach to develop a more sustainable economy to support the environment and socio-economic development. Literature on sustainability has been concerned mainly with global warming and environmental degradation issues, whereas the Circular Economy (CE) concept has recently been suggested as an alternative solution to support market sustainability and deal with both environmental and socio-economic challenges. In order to tackle these challenges, countries must switch from linear economies that follow the “take-make-dispose” principle to circular and sustainable economies. This study applies a structural and conceptual literature review to elucidate the most decisive determinants in the formation of circular strategies, particularly in the context of the energy sector. This study examines obstacles that hinder CE adoption and formulates drivers and measures to overcome them. The strategic literature review shows that the circular approach is critical in achieving sustainable development. Circularity can be considered a novel and innovative approach to alleviating the contradiction between rapid economic growth and energy and raw materials shortages. The CE structure must be considered as a sustainable foundation to enhance economic growth by avoiding waste, preserving natural capital, managing resource scarcity, recycling materials, maximizing energy efficiency, and recirculating them into the economy. Analysis reveals that the circular system is a key pillar of sustainability, security, and efficiency in the energy sector. The sustainable energy transition requires incorporating the CE principles in the design process. It also revealed that both public and private sectors must move away from the linear paradigm towards circularity to achieve CE implementation.
From Bioinspiration to Biomimicry in Architecture: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Chayaamor-Heil Natasha
Published: February 2023

The term “bioinspiration” defines a creative approach based on the observation of biological principles and transfer to design. Biomimicry is the recent approach, which describes a large field of scientific and technical activities dealing with an interdisciplinary cooperation between biology and other fields with the goal of solving practical problems addressing innovation or sustainable development. Architecture has been influenced by many aspects of natural and social sciences, among these, biology is currently blending into design activities. Bioinspiration has evolved and shifted architectural practices towards numerous innovative approaches through different bioarchitectural movements from the past until the present. However, there is a blur of biomimicry within bioinspiration in architecture between the direct copy of mere natural forms and the true understanding of biological principles, which is the pivot of sustainable development. The main challenge remains in the gap between the profound knowledge of biology, its related scientific fields and the creative process of architectural design, including cross-disciplinary collaboration between architects and biologists. This entry presents main bioarchitectural movements and how it leads to today’s biomimicry. It proposes to define biomimicry methodologies and how this approach applies to architectural design contexts through the study of existing case studies. The opportunities, challenges and the future outlook of the field will also be discussed.
A Comparative Study of Climatology, Energy and Mass Exchange in Two Forests on Contrasting Habitats in Central Siberia: Permafrost Larix gmelinii vs. Permafrost-Free Pinus sylvestris
Authors: Tchebakova Nadezhda M. , Zyryanov Viacheslav I. , Zyryanova Olga A. , Parfenova Elena I. , Kajimoto Takuya , Matsuura Yojiro
Published: February 2023

Inter-annual and seasonal variations of energy, vapor water, and carbon fluxes and associated climate variables in a middle taiga pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest on sandy soils and in a northern taiga larch (Larix gmelinii) forest on permafrost in central Siberia were studied from eddy covariance measurements acquired during the growing seasons of 1998–2000 and 2004–2008, respectively. Both the pure Scots pine of 215-year-old and pure Gmelin larch of 105-year-old forests naturally regenerated after forest fires, differed by their tree stand characteristics, and grew in extremely contrasting environments with distinctive climatic and soil conditions. Net radiation was greater in the pine forest due to higher values in the summer months and a longer growing season. Sensible heat flux was the larger term in the radiation balance in both forests. The Bowen ratio stayed between 1 and 2 during the growing season and was as high as 8–10 in dry spring in both forests. In the dry summers, latent heat explained 70%–80% of the daily net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) variation in both forests. The average NEE was significantly smaller in the larch ecosystem at −4 µmol m−2s−1 compared to −7 µmol m−2s−1 in the pine forest. NEP for the growing season was 83 in the larch forest on continuous permafrost and 228 g C m−2 in the pine forest on warm sandy soils. Water use efficiency was 5.8 mg CO2 g−1H2O in the larch forest and 11 mg CO2 g−1H2O in the pine forest and appeared to be consistent with that in boreal forests. As a result of the forest structure change from Gmelin larch to Scots pine due to the permafrost retreat in a warming climate, the boreal forest C-sink may be expected to increase. Thus, potential feedback to the climate system in these “hot spots” of forest-forming replacement species may promote C-uptake from the atmosphere. However, as many studies suggest, in the pace of transition from permafrost to non-permafrost, C-sink would turn into C-source in hot spots of permafrost retreat.
Insight into the Complex Genetic Relationship of Chinese Fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) Advanced Parent Trees Based on SSR and SNP Datasets
Authors: Zeng Weishan , Su Yan , Huang Rong , Hu Dehuo , Huang Shaowei , Zheng Huiquan
Published: February 2023

Accurate estimation of genetic relationships among breeding materials and their genetic diversity contributes to the optimal design of breeding programs. For Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.), an important indigenous tree species in China, breeders have attempted to employ different molecular markers to address the genetic architecture of their target population, but the power of an advanced parent tree population with a complex pedigree relationship is still rather limited. In this study, a partly known pedigree map combined with marker-derived (SSRs and SNPs) information was implemented for the first time in the assessment of the genetic relatedness of a complex advanced parent tree population (n = 50) in Chinese fir. The bivariate analysis showed that relatedness coefficients between individuals based on SSRs were significantly correlated with SNPs (r = 0.690, p < 0.01). Moreover, the heatmap generated by the SSR-based coefficient matrix was largely consistent with that derived from the SNP-based matrix. Additionally, STRUCTURE and ADMIXTURE analyses based on the two markers showed an analogical genetic clustering result. When compared to the recorded pedigree information, the genetic relationships estimated by the two molecular markers were broadly parallel with pedigree relatedness. These results indicated that SSRs and SNPs can be used as effective tools to clarify genetic relationships when complete pedigree records are not available in Chinese fir. Based on the two markers, the present study revealed a relatively wide genetic variation (SSRs: PIC = 0.573; SNPs: PIC = 0.231) in the selected parent trees. This investigation provides important input into the progress of Chinese fir advanced-generation breeding.
Transgenerational Effects of Water Limitation on Reproductive Mother Plants in a Common Garden of the Shrub Frangula alnus
Authors: Vander Mijnsbrugge Kristine , Schouppe Marc , Moreels Stefaan , De Leenheer Stijn
Published: February 2023

A better understanding of responses to water limitation in woody species can help us to cope with the consequences of the progressing climate change. We focused on the putative transgenerational effects of water limitation in the maternal environment during reproduction. Water was restricted for cuttings of Frangula alnus Mill. in a common garden setting, with a Belgian (local), Italian and Swedish provenance, during the growing season of 2020 and mature berries were collected during the whole reproductive phase. Stones that were extracted from the berries were given a cold stratification. In the next spring, the germination percentage of the stones from the water restricted maternal environment was significantly higher than that of the stones from the normal maternal environment, for the three provenances, notwithstanding the fact that stone weight was not different. The timing of seedling emergence was advanced for the water-limited maternal environment, but only for the stones harvested when mature berry production was the highest (9th and 16th of July 2020). Population differentiation was observed for the timing of seedling emergence, which reflected population differentiation for bud burst of the mother plants in the common garden, including a counter-gradient effect for the Swedish provenance, and corroborating the suggestion that the timing of seedling emergence and leaf phenology may have a common genetic basis. In addition, the Swedish provenance displayed a somewhat more stable germination percentage over the whole berry collection period when the stones were harvested. A partitioning of variance analysis suggested that germination percentage is more genetically determined than timing of seedling emergence, probably reflecting the more important need to sense the environment for an adequate timing of emergence.
Mathematical Model of Basal Sprout Production in Vector-Borne Tree Disease
Authors: Buch Kelly Ruth , Fefferman Nina H.
Published: February 2023

Some tree species respond to disease by producing basal sprouts from the base and root system of a dying tree, which can alter disease dynamics by altering demography. In the case of many lethal, airborne tree diseases, the production of basal sprouts can be a key contributor to population resurgence post-epidemic, but the effect in lethal, vector-borne tree diseases has not yet been studied. To determine the role of basal sprout production and secondary infection via the root system of infected parent trees in lethal, vector-borne tree diseases, we develop a stage-structured SI-X mathematical model and use laurel wilt, a vector-borne tree disease in which infected trees provide suitable material for vector reproduction, as our model system. The mathematical model shows that the production and secondary infection of basal sprouts do not affect the short-term dynamics of laurel wilt but profoundly alter the long-term dynamics of the laurel wilt epidemic. In particular, in the absence of basal sprout infection, basal sprout production yields a larger host population after disease establishment, but as secondary infection increases, the utility of basal sprouts to maintain the host population decreases. Results suggest management strategies for lethal, vector-borne diseases should depend on the ratio of the basal sprout production rate to the secondary infection rate.
Valorization of Food Waste Slurry as Potential Candidate for Lipid Accumulation: A Concept of Oleaginous Bio-Refinery
Authors: Qadeer Samia , Khalid Azeem , Mahmood Shahid , Saleem Aansa Rukaya , Anjum Muzammil
Published: February 2023

In the current state of huge waste production and energy crisis, there is a need to find additional alternate energy resources and options for waste management. The present study was designed to measure the potential of different fruit wastes to serve as substrate for lipid accumulation in oleaginous bacteria. For this purpose, three novel bacterial strains (AF3, KM1 and KM10) isolated from the crude oil samples were systematically compared for their lipid accumulation potential using three types of waste including orange waste (OW), mango waste (MW) and apple waste (AW). Using waste as sole substrate, it was observed that maximum lipid accumulation by each strain was above 20%, which confirms that the bacteria belong to the oleaginous group. However, each bacterial isolate represented differential accumulative capacity with varying organic matter removal efficiency. Maximum lipid accumulation was achieved by KM10 (>25%) with AW as substrate, and KM1 (>24%) with MW as substrate; however, AF3 represented only 21% lipid accumulation using AW as substrate. Similarly, the maximum removal efficiency was recorded for KM10 in AW, followed by OW, where >60% and >50% of volatile solids (VS) removal, respectively, were achieved over the period of 7 days of incubation. This showed that the oleaginous strains also exhibit excellent waste treatment efficiency. The 16s RNA gene sequencing results showed that these KM1 and KM10 strains were Serratia surfactantfaciens and Serratia liquefaciens. In the end, a circular economy model was presented to highlight the significance of the mechanisms, which offers dual benefits over the linear economy model. Overall, the findings of the present study revealed that the novel oleaginous strains not only provide considerable lipid accumulation, but are simultaneously capable of low-cost waste treatment.
Thin-Layer Fibre-Reinforced Concrete Sandwich Walls: Numerical Evaluation
Authors: Skadiņš Ulvis , Kuļevskis Kristens , Vulāns Andris , Brencis Raitis
Published: February 2023

In this study, structural thin-layer sandwich walls (SWs) made of steel-fibre-reinforced concrete (SFRC) without conventional reinforcements were investigated. Other researchers have shown that SWs with thin wythes can be used as load bearing structures in low-rise buildings, thereby reducing the amount of concrete by 2–5 times if compared to conventional reinforced-concrete SWs. In most studies, relatively warm climatic regions are the focus, and thin-layer SWs with shear connectors to obtain a certain level of composite action are investigated. In almost no studies has sound insulation been evaluated. In this study, a numerical investigation of structural, thermal and sound insulation performances was carried out. The load-bearing capacities of composite and non-composite SWs are compared. Regions with the lowest five-day mean air temperature of −20 ∘C were considered. The characteristics of the SW are compared to the requirements given in relevant European and Latvian standards. The minimum thermal insulation for family houses varies from 120 mm to 200 mm, depending on the material. To ensure sufficient sound insulation, the average thickness of the concrete wythes should be around 60 mm, preferably with a 15 mm difference between them. Structural analysis of the proposed wall panel was performed using non-linear finite element analysis software ATENA Science. The obtained load-bearing capacity exceeded the design loads of a single-story family house by around 100 times, regardless of the degree of composite action.
Fostering the Development of Western Black Sea Aquaculture: A Scientific Case Study for Finfish Cage Farming Allocated Zone Designation
Authors: Nenciu Magda , Niță Victor , Lazăr Luminița , Spînu Alina , Vlăsceanu-Mateescu Elena
Published: February 2023

Mariculture offers enormous potential for providing sustainable food, playing a key role in achieving nutrition security, employment, and Blue Growth. This is particularly true in geographical areas where the dependence of local economies on fishery products is high and yet access to sustainable landings is hindered by environmental drawbacks. One such area is represented by the Black Sea, which offers different degrees of suitability for aquaculture development. While the southern and eastern shores are sheltered enough to allow for the development of large aquaculture activities, the north-western shoreline is characterized by wide environmental fluctuations and the strong influence of the Danube. This study aimed at investigating the suitability of a selected area of the Romanian coast (Mangalia) for finfish cage farming by adapting an internationally endorsed methodology for determining its Degree of Compatibility (DC). The development and expansion of finfish aquaculture depends on the availability of space, so designating Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZAs) is essential. The result obtained (DC = 80) indicates that the Mangalia area is suitable for finfish aquaculture activities: there is no major interference with other uses of the maritime space, no conflicts with nature conservation, and the environmental conditions are appropriate for fish culture in floating cages. The novel information provided by this study can be the building block for authorities to settle the governance gap that has so far impeded the development of marine aquaculture in Romania. At a larger scale, this study can serve as a good practice example at the regional Black Sea level.