title: Current issues and potential solutions for the electrospinning of major polysaccharides and proteins: A review

authors: Syed, Murtaza Haider Syed

abstract: Biopolymers, especially polysaccharides and proteins, are the promising green replacement for petroleum based polymers. Due to their innate properties, they are effectively used in biomedical applications, especially tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery. The fibrous morphology of biopolymers is essentially required for the effectiveness in these biomedical applications. Electrospinning (ES) is the most advanced and robust method to fabricate nanofibers (NFs) and provides a complete solution to the conventional methods issues. However, the major issues regarding fabricating polysaccharides and protein nanofibers using ES include poor electrospinnability, lack of desired fundamental properties for a specific application by a single biopolymer, and insolubility among common solvents. The current review provides the main strategies for effective electrospinning of the major biopolymers. The key strategies include blending major biopolymers with suitable biopolymers and optimizing the solvent system. A systematic literature review was done to provide the optimized solvent system of the major biopolymers along with their best possible biopolymeric blend for ES. The review also highlights the fundamental issues with the commercialization of ES based biomedical products and provides future directions to improve the fabrication of biopolymeric nanofibers.

text: Current issues and potential solutions for the electrospinning of major polysaccharides and proteins: A review Biopolymers, especially polysaccharides and proteins, are the promising green replacement for petroleum based polymers. Due to their innate properties, they are effectively used in biomedical applications, especially tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery. The fibrous morphology of biopolymers is essentially required for the effectiveness in these biomedical applications. Electrospinning (ES) is the most advanced and robust method to fabricate nanofibers (NFs) and provides a complete solution to the conventional methods issues. However, the major issues regarding fabricating polysaccharides and protein nanofibers using ES include poor electrospinnability, lack of desired fundamental properties for a specific application by a single biopolymer, and insolubility among common solvents. The current review provides the main strategies for effective electrospinning of the major biopolymers. The key strategies include blending major biopolymers with suitable biopolymers and optimizing the solvent system. A systematic literature review was done to provide the optimized solvent system of the major biopolymers along with their best possible biopolymeric blend for ES. The review also highlights the fundamental issues with the commercialization of ES based biomedical products and provides future directions to improve the fabrication of biopolymeric nanofibers.

year: 2023-09

title: Electrofishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: A previous fish community survey carried out in the Whangamarino Wetland system recorded 18 different fish species by netting, electrofishing, and interviews with local eel fishermen and reports from Acclimatisation Society staff (Strickland, 1980). Strickland reported that the most widespread and common species in the wetland were shortfinned eels, mosquitofish, goldfish and catfish. In August 2007 and March 2008, the Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research (CBER) were contracted to carry out an electric fishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland and its tributaries. Boat and backpack electrofishing caught a diverse range of native and introduced fish. A total of 1,491 fish comprising 8 native fish species and 5 introduced fish species were caught in a total fished area of 26,600 m2 or 2.66 ha from a total of 34 sites. Koi carp, shortfinned eels, goldfish and common smelt were the most widespread fish species throughout the wetland system. Fish distribution, density and biomass varied between sites throughout the Whangamarino Wetland as well as between the two different time periods (August 2007 and March 2008). Mean densities and biomasses of fish species at most sites increased substantially in March 2008 compared to August 2007.

text: Electrofishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland A previous fish community survey carried out in the Whangamarino Wetland system recorded 18 different fish species by netting, electrofishing, and interviews with local eel fishermen and reports from Acclimatisation Society staff (Strickland, 1980). Strickland reported that the most widespread and common species in the wetland were shortfinned eels, mosquitofish, goldfish and catfish. In August 2007 and March 2008, the Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research (CBER) were contracted to carry out an electric fishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland and its tributaries. Boat and backpack electrofishing caught a diverse range of native and introduced fish. A total of 1,491 fish comprising 8 native fish species and 5 introduced fish species were caught in a total fished area of 26,600 m2 or 2.66 ha from a total of 34 sites. Koi carp, shortfinned eels, goldfish and common smelt were the most widespread fish species throughout the wetland system. Fish distribution, density and biomass varied between sites throughout the Whangamarino Wetland as well as between the two different time periods (August 2007 and March 2008). Mean densities and biomasses of fish species at most sites increased substantially in March 2008 compared to August 2007.

year: 2008-07-14

title: Monitoring and hydrodynamic modelling of groundwater inflows into Lake Rotokakahi, New Zealand

authors: Noakes, Katie

subjects: Groundwater

abstract: Lake Rotokakahi is located 10 km south of Rotorua and is of immense cultural importance to the local iwi. The lake also has significant historical and recreational values, which prompted iwi to make the lake private in 1996. Lake Rotokakahi is one of several Rotorua/ Te Arawa lakes. Several of these lakes have become eutrophic and some have declining water quality. This study was prompted by declining water quality of Lake Rotokakahi and the need to identify potential sources of nutrients to the lake, particularly groundwater inflows.

The interaction between groundwater and surface water has a major influence on the trophic status of lakes, particularly those that are predominantly or solely groundwater fed systems. Lake Rotokakahi has one small spring-fed surface water inflow and one outflow, the Te Wairoa stream. Thus the lake is predominantly groundwater fed. The main objective of this thesis was to quantify the contribution of groundwater and surface water to Lake Rotokakahi and to examine interactions of the groundwater system with the lake, in order to provide a basis to improve lake management practices. Multiple monitoring sites were established around the perimeter of the lake to determine the spatial and temporal variation of groundwater inputs, as well as the groundwater nutrient dynamics. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic lake model was set up and simulations were used to examine how groundwater and surface water inflows were dispersed within the lake upon entry.

Monitoring of the shallow groundwater system took place from 1 January to 1 July 2016. Three separate storm events were monitored at high frequency within this monitoring period. The monitoring results showed the groundwater system varied significantly both spatially and temporally and also contributed a high proportion of the total nutrient load to the lake. Groundwater discharge and nutrient concentrations generally increased in association with or immediately following high rainfall events.
 
The three-dimensional model ELCOM was set up using hydrological data for the catchment, meteorological data from a nearby station and bathymetry of the lake. Simulations were based upon different methods of calculating groundwater inflows. Simulation 1 was based upon the common water balance equation method. Simulation 2 used constant groundwater inflow and outflow volumes as determined by a groundwater flow model, MODFLOW, which had been applied to the catchment by White et al., (2015). Simulation 3 combined MODLFOW values and measured groundwater levels to create a varying inflow volume based on water level. The three simulations accurately captured surface and bottom temperatures and had varying lake water levels. Only simulation 3 accurately captured the presence of the groundwater spring near the lake shore and was concluded the more accurate method of groundwater inflow calculation.

text: Monitoring and hydrodynamic modelling of groundwater inflows into Lake Rotokakahi, New Zealand Lake Rotokakahi is located 10 km south of Rotorua and is of immense cultural importance to the local iwi. The lake also has significant historical and recreational values, which prompted iwi to make the lake private in 1996. Lake Rotokakahi is one of several Rotorua/ Te Arawa lakes. Several of these lakes have become eutrophic and some have declining water quality. This study was prompted by declining water quality of Lake Rotokakahi and the need to identify potential sources of nutrients to the lake, particularly groundwater inflows.

The interaction between groundwater and surface water has a major influence on the trophic status of lakes, particularly those that are predominantly or solely groundwater fed systems. Lake Rotokakahi has one small spring-fed surface water inflow and one outflow, the Te Wairoa stream. Thus the lake is predominantly groundwater fed. The main objective of this thesis was to quantify the contribution of groundwater and surface water to Lake Rotokakahi and to examine interactions of the groundwater system with the lake, in order to provide a basis to improve lake management practices. Multiple monitoring sites were established around the perimeter of the lake to determine the spatial and temporal variation of groundwater inputs, as well as the groundwater nutrient dynamics. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic lake model was set up and simulations were used to examine how groundwater and surface water inflows were dispersed within the lake upon entry.

Monitoring of the shallow groundwater system took place from 1 January to 1 July 2016. Three separate storm events were monitored at high frequency within this monitoring period. The monitoring results showed the groundwater system varied significantly both spatially and temporally and also contributed a high proportion of the total nutrient load to the lake. Groundwater discharge and nutrient concentrations generally increased in association with or immediately following high rainfall events.
 
The three-dimensional model ELCOM was set up using hydrological data for the catchment, meteorological data from a nearby station and bathymetry of the lake. Simulations were based upon different methods of calculating groundwater inflows. Simulation 1 was based upon the common water balance equation method. Simulation 2 used constant groundwater inflow and outflow volumes as determined by a groundwater flow model, MODFLOW, which had been applied to the catchment by White et al., (2015). Simulation 3 combined MODLFOW values and measured groundwater levels to create a varying inflow volume based on water level. The three simulations accurately captured surface and bottom temperatures and had varying lake water levels. Only simulation 3 accurately captured the presence of the groundwater spring near the lake shore and was concluded the more accurate method of groundwater inflow calculation.

year: 2016