bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of biological process for Kuwait crude oil contaminated soil
Authors: Kang Guyoung , Kim Taein , Hong Jinkyung , Jho Eun Hea , Park Kapsung , Park Minkoo , Al-Shammari Mohsen J. , Al-Khareji Mansour A. , Choi Minjoo , Ha Taesang 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT
Seven hundred ninety-eight oil wells were set fire, damaged, and gushed oil and resulted on a crude oil contaminated area over 300 km2 include dry oil lakes at the end of Iraqi war. The United Nation Compensation Commission (UNCC) recommended remediation of crude oil contaminated soil as physical chemical and thermal processes due to the oil sludge and high concentration of TPH. In this study, indigenous oil-emulsifying bacteria in Kuwait crude oil contaminated soil was cultured via enrichment culture method. Bacterial composition of enrichment culture investigated by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained through high-throughput sequencing. The majority of enriched bacteria belonged to the order of Flavobacteriales (56.38%), Burkholderiales (16.13%), and Pseudomonadales (12.22%). Using those indigenous microorganisms, biological process consists of bio-washing, biocatalytic, and biopile was operated for 20 days in lab-scale. Initial TPH concentrations measured by hexane extraction method (HEM) and GC-FID method were 46,096 mg/kg and 34,153 mg/kg, respectively. Removal rates of TPH after 20days operation were 68% (HEM) and 86% (GC-FID). Therefore, Kuwait crude oil contaminated soil can be remediated by combine biological process such as bio-washing and biopile process.
Experimental and numerical investigation of the formation of Oil Particle Aggregates (OPA)
Authors: Zhao Lin , Boufadel Michel C. , King Thomas , Robinson Brian , Lee Kenneth 
Published: December 2017

Abstract (2017-187)
Oil-particle interactions can result in oil particle aggregates (OPA), which move differently from oil droplets or particles alone. This may alter drastically the fate of oil. Laboratory studies were conducted using the EPA baffled flask and the resultant OPAs were analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. 3D images of the OPA structure provided the evidence of a new theory of the oil-particle coagulation mechanism in turbulent flows. The experimental data was then used to validate the newly developed OPA model, A-DROP, that requires the input of particle and oil properties and the mixing intensity. A new parameter to account for the shape of the particles and the packing on the oil droplets, and a new conceptual formulation of oil-particle coagulation efficiency are introduced in the model to account for the overall behavior of the coated area on the droplet surface. The model was used to simulate the OPA formation in a typical nearshore environment. Modeling results indicate that the increase of particle concentration in the swash zone would speed up the oil–particle interaction process; but the oil amount trapped in OPAs did not correspond to the increase of particle concentration. The developed A-DROP model could become an important tool in understanding the natural removal of oil and developing oil spill countermeasures by means of oil–particle aggregation.
COMPARING SWEDISH OIL SPILL PREPAREDNESS TO REGIONAL COUNTRIES USING THE RETOS™ EVALUATION TOOL
Authors: Pålsson Jonas , Hildebrand Lawrence , Lindén Olof 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-253
Few standardised frameworks are designed to assess the full range of oil spill preparedness activities, from plan development, implementation, equipment, training, exercises, and response sustainability.
This paper analyses the international practice of oil spill preparedness measures and compares them to Swedish practice. Friedman’s test and Dunn’s post-test have been used to compare the RETOS™ evaluation scores of Finland, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Norway to Sweden. The United States is examined as an external reference. The RETOS™ programme is an Excel tool developed for the International Oil Spill Conference 2008. It is a guide for industry and governments to assess their level of oil spill response, planning, and preparedness management in relation to established criteria, and is intended for international best management practices.
Swedish oil spill preparedness is shown to be comparable to the Baltic Sea regional practice. The Swedish RETOS™ evaluation score is 69%, compared to the average 73.1% of the examined countries. A statistical difference exists between Sweden and both Norway and the United States.
Swedish oil spill preparedness is comparable to the Baltic Sea Region countries despite: not having a National Contingency Plan, not using the Tiered Preparedness and Response concept, nor having adopted an Incident Management System. This suggests that these concepts are not essential for a functioning preparedness regime, although Sweden instead has a system serving the same function. However, it also questions what effect implementing these concepts would have on Swedish preparedness.
Protecting Workers During Crude Oil Derailment Response
Authors: Skelton Scott , Kind John 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT: 2017-215Protecting hazardous material (HAZMAT) responders during the response and remediation of crude oil derailments challenges the normal conventions of worker protection and personal protective equipment (PPE). Hazards associated with crude oil derailment response such as chemical exposure, fire, water, and thermal stress require adaptation of worker protection and PPE to address worker safety. Traditional approaches to worker protection, in some cases, do not fully protect the HAZMAT responder with regard to the variety of hazards present at a crude oil derailment site. Those responsible for establishing worker protection and PPE must closely analyze all hazards present and alter process and/or PPE based on the most aggressive and predominant hazard for a specific task. Broad application of respiratory protection may protect only a small portion of workers from chemical exposure while adding additional hazards to other workers who are not at risk of exposure based on proximity or duration of their work task. In many cases, chemical protective suits are used to protect workers from skin contact and heavy soiling to clothes. With chemical suits, there is an increased risk of heat stress, loss of coordination and mobility, and other unintended hazards; therefore, a thorough risk assessment must be completed to determine if chemical suits are appropriate and if adaptations to chemical suits are required to reduce these additional hazards to cleanup workers. Furthermore, at derailment sites where large quantities of crude oil have been spilled, cleanup activities should be altered during hot work or during active fires to limit the presence of nearby workers conducting oil cleanup operations. It is the responsibility of those directing safety and operations to work closely together and agree upon operational periods and PPE, while adapting where necessary to protect all workers during each day of the response.
Comparative Study to Determine the Biodegradability of Dispersants at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhuang Mobing , Campo Pablo , Deshpande Ruta Suresh , Sundaravadivelu Devi , Conmy Robyn N. , Santo Domingo Jorge W. 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTChemical dispersant agents reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water, and increase the surface area to volume ratio of oil droplets thus facilitating the biodegradation of spilled oil. Dispersants are composed of surface active molecules known as surfactants and various commercial products contain Dioctyl Sulfosuccinate (DOSS) as the active surfactant ingredient. Since previous laboratory studies were conducted at oil and dispersant concentrations significantly higher (~0.7 g/L oil with Dispersant to Oil Ratio (DOR) of 1:25) than those typically found in field conditions, experiments were conducted at low levels of oil and dispersant (28 μg/L oil with DOR of 1:25) in order to determine the degradation trends at environmentally relevant concentrations. Experiments were conducted using two crude oils (Alaskan North Slope (ANS) and Endicott) and two dispersant products (Corexit 9500 and Finasol OSR 52) to study the biodegradation of dispersants and dispersed oil and oil alone samples were used as controls. Two oil degrading cultures, isolated from the surface (meso) and deep sea (cryo) of the Gulf of Mexico, were enriched on crude oil at 25 and 5 °C and were used as the inocula. The biodegradation experiments were performed at 5 °C for 56 days and at 25 °C for 48 days using sterile GP2 artificial seawater as the media. The time series concentration of DOSS, the primary surfactant in the dispersants was monitored using LC-MS/MS in addition to the oil concentration which was measured using GC-MS/MS. Although the initial concentration of DOSS in Finasol OSR 52 was 20% higher than in Corexit 9500, over 95% of the anionic surfactant fraction was metabolized for both types of dispersant products by the end of the experiment at 25 °C while it persisted at 5 °C. The effect of dispersant and oil type on microbial community structure was also analyzed using PCR analysis. Results indicated that the abundance of Thalassospira correlated well with hydrocarbon degradation trends. The results from this study significantly expands on our understanding of biodegradation of DOSS, dispersed, and non-dispersed oil and also provides information regarding bacterial community composition.
FROM THE TORREY CANYON TO TODAY: A 50 YEAR RETROSPECTIVE OF RECOVERY FROM THE OIL SPILL AND INTERACTION WITH CLIMATE-DRIVEN FLUCTUATIONS ON CORNISH ROCKY SHORES
Authors: Hawkins Stephen J. , Evans Ally J. , Moore Jon , Whittington Mark , Pack Kathryn , Firth Louise B. , Adams Leoni C. , Moore Pippa J. , Masterson-Algar Patricia , Mieszkowska Nova , Southward Eve C. 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT
The Torrey Canyon was wrecked in 1967 with 117,000 tons of crude oil on board. The Plymouth Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association (MBA) of the UK was mobilized to deal with this environmental catastrophe. Many of the rocky shores affected by the spill and unaffected control sites had been studied by staff from the MBA, with A.J. and E.C. Southward charting fluctuations of rocky shore fauna and flora from the early 1950s – particularly barnacles – in relation to climate. Thus a baseline existed to help judge recovery of rocky shores from the beached oil and application of toxic first generation dispersants. A reminder is given of the initial acute impacts of the oil and its treatment by dispersants, and the first ten years of observations on recovery of shore communities. Subsequent follow-up work in the 1980s and 1990s suggested recovery took up to 15 years on the shore (Porthleven) subject to the most severe dispersant application. In contrast, recovery occurred in 2–3 years at Godrevy, a site where dispersants were not applied due to concerns about the impact on seals. The dispersants killed the dominant grazer, limpets of the genus Patella, leading to massive subsequent colonisation by seaweeds. The resulting canopy of fucoid algae (“rockweed” or “wrack”) facilitated dense recruitment of limpets. These subsequently grazed the seaweeds down, before the starving limpets largely died off after migrating across the shore in search of food. This reduction in limpet numbers and grazing pressure then prompted a further bloom of algae. There was then a return to normal levels of spatial and temporal variation of key species of seaweeds and limpets fluctuations charted at Porthleven from the mid 1980s to 2016. Comparisons are made with other oil spills for which long-term recovery has been assessed. Lessons learnt from observations stretching back 60 years, both before and after the spill, for rocky shore monitoring are highlighted – especially the need for broad-scale and long-term monitoring to separate out local impacts (such as oil spills) from global climate-driven change.
Diurnal Variation of Tropical Ice Cloud Microphysics: Evidence from Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager Polarimetric Measurements
Authors: Gong Jie , Zeng Xiping , Wu Dong L. , Li Xiaowen 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe diurnal variation of tropical ice clouds has been well observed and examined in terms of the occurring frequency and total mass but rarely from the viewpoint of ice microphysical parameters. It accounts for a large portion of uncertainties in evaluating ice clouds' role on global radiation and hydrological budgets. Owing to the advantage of precession orbit design and paired polarized observations at a high‐frequency microwave band that is particularly sensitive to ice particle microphysical properties, 3 years of polarimetric difference (PD) measurements using the 166 GHz channel of Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager (GPM‐GMI) are compiled to reveal a strong diurnal cycle over tropical land (30°S–30°N) with peak amplitude varying up to 38%. Since the PD signal is dominantly determined by ice crystal size, shape, and orientation, the diurnal cycle observed by GMI can be used to infer changes in ice crystal properties. Moreover, PD change is found to lead the diurnal changes of ice cloud occurring frequency and total ice mass by about 2 h, which strongly implies that understanding ice microphysics is critical to predict, infer, and model ice cloud evolution and precipitation processes.
Substorm Occurrence and Intensity Associated With Three Types of Solar Wind Structure
Authors: Liou Kan , Sotirelis Thomas , Richardson Ian 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper presents the results of a study of the characteristics of substorms that occurred during three distinct types of solar wind: coronal mass ejection (CME) associated, high‐speed streams (HSS), and slow solar wind (SSW). A total number of 53,468 geomagnetic substorm onsets from 1983 to 2009 is used and sorted by the three solar wind types. It is found that the probability density function (PDF) of the intersubstorm time can be fitted by the combination of a dominant power law with an exponential cutoff component and a minor lognormal component, implying that substorms are associated with two distinctly different dynamical processes corresponding, perhaps, to the “externally driven” and “internally driven” processes, respectively. We compare substorm frequency and intensity associated with the three types of solar wind. It is found that the intersubstorm time is the longest during SSW and shortest during CME intervals. The averaged intersubstorm time for the internally driven substorms is 3.13, 3.15, and 7.96 h for CME, HSS, and SSW, respectively. The substorm intensity PDFs, as represented by the peak value of |SML| (the generalization of AL), can be fitted by two lognormal distribution functions. The averaged substorm intensity for either component is largest for CME (292 and 674 nT) and smallest for SSW (265 and 434 nT). We argue that the externally driven substorms are more intense than those driven internally. We conclude that the dynamical process of substorms is controlled mainly by the direct solar wind‐magnetosphere coupling, whereas the internally driven process only plays a very modest minor role.
A Method for Deriving All‐Sky Evapotranspiration From the Synergistic Use of Remotely Sensed Images and Meteorological Data
Authors: Leng Pei , Li Zhao‐Liang , Duan Si‐Bo , Tang Ronglin , Gao Mao‐Fang 
Published: December 2017

AbstractEvapotranspiration (ET) is an important component of the water and energy cycle. The present study develops a practical approach for generating all‐sky ET with the synergistic use of satellite images and meteorological data. In this approach, the ET over clear‐sky pixels is estimated from a two‐stage land surface temperature (LST)/fractional vegetation cover feature space method where the dry/wet edges are determined from theoretical calculations. For cloudy pixels, the Penman‐Monteith equation is used to calculate the ET where no valid remotely sensed LST is available. An evaluation of the method with ET collected at ground‐based large aperture scintillometer measurements at the Yucheng Comprehensive Experimental Station (YCES) in China is performed over a growth period from April to October 2010. The results show that the root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) and bias over clear‐sky pixels are 57.3 W/m2 and 18.2 W/m2, respectively, whereas an RMSE of 69.3 W/m2 with a bias of 12.3 W/m2 can be found over cloudy pixels. Moreover, a reasonable overall RMSE of 65.3 W/m2 with a bias of 14.4 W/m2 at the YCES can be obtained under all‐sky conditions, indicating a promising prospect for the derivation of all‐sky ET using currently available satellite and meteorological data at a regional or global scale in future developments.
Is Anti–Citrullinated Protein Antibody–Positive Rheumatoid Arthritis Still a More Severe Disease Than Anti–Citrullinated Protein Antibody–Negative Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Longitudinal Cohort Study in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Diagnosed From 2000 Onward
Authors: Boer Aleid C. , Boonen Annelies , van der Helm van Mil Annette H. M. 
Published: December 2017

ObjectiveBecause of its association with joint destruction, anti–citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)–positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered to be more severe than ACPA‐negative RA. Clinically relevant joint destruction is now infrequent thanks to adequate disease suppression. According to patients, important outcomes are pain, fatigue, and independence. We evaluated whether ACPA‐positive RA patients diagnosed during or after 2000 have more severe self‐reported limitations and impairments, including restrictions at work, than ACPA‐negative RA patients.MethodsA total of 492 ACPA‐positive and 450 ACPA‐negative RA patients who fulfilled the 2010 criteria and were included in the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic cohort during or after 2000 were compared for self‐reported pain, fatigue, disease activity, general well‐being (measured by numerical rating scales), physical function (measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire), and work restrictions, including absenteeism at baseline and during the 4‐year followup. Linear mixed models were used.ResultsAt disease presentation, ACPA‐negative patients had more severe pain, fatigue, self‐reported disease activity scores, and functional disability (P < 0.05), although absolute differences were small. During followup, ACPA‐negative patients remained somewhat more fatigued (P = 0.002), whereas other patient‐reported impairments and limitations were similar. Thirty‐eight percent of ACPA‐negative and 48% of ACPA‐positive patients reported absenteeism (P = 0.30), with median 4 days missed in both groups in the last 3 months. Also, restrictions at work among employed patients and restrictions with household work were not statistically different at baseline and during followup.ConclusionIn current rheumatology practice, ACPA‐positive RA is not more severe than ACPA‐negative RA in terms of patients’ relevant outcomes, including physical functioning and restrictions at work. This implies that efforts to further improve the disease course should be proportional to both disease subsets.
Roles of Polymer Layer in Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance of Perovskite Solar Cells via Interface Engineering
Authors: Yang Fengjiu , Lim Hong En , Wang Feijiu , Ozaki Masashi , Shimazaki Ai , Liu Jiewei , Mohamed Nur Baizura , Shinokita Keisuke , Miyauchi Yuhei , Wakamiya Atsushi , Murata Yasujiro , Matsuda Kazunari 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPerovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted intensive attention as the most promising next‐generation photovoltaic technology because they both enable accelerated development of photovoltaic performance and are compatible with low‐cost fabrication methods. The strategy of interface engineering of the perovskite layer in PSCs is expected to result in further enhancement of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs via minimizing the charge recombination loss. Here, a high current–voltage (stabilized power output) PCE of 20.4% (19.9%) in CH3NH3PbI3 PSCs under reverse scanning conditions is demonstrated by incorporating a solution‐processed polymer layer of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) between the perovskite photoactive layer and the hole transport layer. Moreover, steady‐state and time‐resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy are used to reveal the mechanism of the enhancement of the photovoltaic performance and its stability by the PMMA layer in a CH3NH3PbI3 PSC device. The morphology modification, surface passivation, and protection of the perovskite layer by the insulating PMMA layer substantially contribute to the enhancement of photovoltaic performance and its stability, despite a slight reduction of the charge extraction efficiency. The demonstrated high PCEs and insights obtained into the working mechanism of the PMMA layer pave the way for the industrial application of CH3NH3PbI3 PSCs.
Optimized Activation of Solution‐Processed Amorphous Oxide Semiconductors for Flexible Transparent Conductive Electrodes
Authors: Choi Byung Doo , Park Joohyung , Baeg Kang‐Jun , Kang Minji , Heo Jae Sang , Kim Seonhyoung , Won Jongkook , Yu Seungwoo , Ahn Kyunghan , Lee Tae Hoon , Hong Jongin , Kim Dong‐Yu , Usta Hakan , Kim Choongik , Park Sung Kyu , Kim Myung‐Gil 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHere, the preparation of transparent amorphous oxide semiconductor (AOS) films with unprecedented conductivity via an optimized activation process under hydrogen atmosphere for applications in solution‐processed large‐area optoelectronics is reported. Owing to their high cost and mechanical vulnerability, conventional vacuum‐processed indium–tin oxide (ITO) electrodes are inappropriate for use in next‐generation flexible and wearable electronic devices and systems. As an alternative to the ITO electrodes, solution‐processed AOS films, such as a‐IZO and a‐ZITO, with an optimized composition and postreduction treatment under hydrogen show the highest electrical conductivity of ≈300 S cm−1 and a high optical transmittance of over 90% at 550 nm. The microstructures and electrical properties of these AOS films are also studied in order to determine the optimized chemical composition and postreduction conditions. It is found that a controlled hydrogen reduction treatment of AOS films is critical for achieving high electrical conductivity by suppressing the surface morphology degradation and grain boundary disconnection. Furthermore, the a‐IZO transparent conductive electrodes are successfully implemented for high efficiency organic photovoltaic cells based on the PTB7/PC71BM active layers. This technique promises the low‐cost fabrication of high mobility and/or conductive AOSs for their applications in large‐area transparent and flexible optoelectronics.