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The primary source of soil pollution is a complex mixture of numerous inorganic and organic compounds (including chlorinated compounds, nutrients, and heavy metals, etc.). The presence of all of these compounds makes remediation and cleanup difficult. In this study, the phytoremediation ability of Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata was tested to remove nickel (Ni) and Zinc (Zn) from paper mill and municipal landfill contaminated soils, to understand the uptake potential and to estimate the accumulation pattern of Ni and Zn in the vegetative parts of the plant. The experiments were carried out in pots (3 kg capacity) and the different combinations of soil were made by mixing the contaminated soil with a reference soil (forest soil) as T 0 , T 25 , T 50 , T 75 and T 100. The plant biomass, chlorophyll content, proline, nitrate reductase activity and metal removal efficiency (%)were determined after 120 DAS (i.e., the days after sowing). The results of the study showed that with increasing metal stress, there is a reduction in the above-ground biomass content in both the plant species with a slightly less impact on the root biomass. Over a period of 4 months, J. curcas and P. pinnata removed 82–86% and 93-90% Ni, respectively. The removal of Zn was significantly less as compared to Ni as most of the Zn remained in the belowground part (roots) and in the soil. Besides, the phytostabilization capacities of the plants were calculated on the basis of their tolerance index (TI), bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF). The low BAF and TF values with increasing heavy metals (HMs) content indicates its higher phytostabilization capacity in the root and rhizospheric region as compared to phytoaccumulation. [Display omitted] • J. curcas and P. pinnata removes 82 - 86 % and 93- 90 % Ni respectively. • High biomass and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) > 1: Suitable for metal phytoextraction. • Low biomass and BAF < 1: Suitable for metal phytostabilization. • Low translocation factor (< 1) indicated the phytostabilization capacity of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Numerous sites contaminated with fiber emissions from pulp and paper industries are found in coastal areas of the Baltic Sea, but there is limited knowledge about the magnitude of dispersal of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from these anthropogenic, organic-rich sediments called fiberbanks. The aim of this study was to quantify and compare different POP dispersal pathways from such fiberbanks. Dispersal mechanisms studied included abiotic and biotic routes (dissolved in water, particle-bound, and bioaccumulation). Materials and methods: Contaminated fibrous sediments located in Ångermanälven River estuary in north-eastern Sweden were studied in sediment types representing different fiber content (i.e., fiberbanks, fiber-rich sediments, and less fiber impacted sediments). Sediment-to-water fluxes of dissolved contaminants (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)) were measured in situ using benthic flux chambers. Particle resuspension was measured by sampling bottom water, before and after disturbing the sediment surface. Benthic biota was collected to determine the body burden of contaminants and to determine biota-pore water accumulation factors (BAFPW) and biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs). In addition, concentrations of dissolved POPs in the water column were measured in field using passive samplers. Instrumental analysis was performed using gas chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC-MS/MS). Results and discussion: The flux of dissolved Σ20PCBs was approximately two times higher from one of the investigated fiberbanks (3.4 ng m− 2 day− 1) compared to the other. The average particle burden of PCBs was also higher at this fiberbank after artificial disturbance (15 ng g−1 particle), which indicates that larger amounts of contaminants are likely to disperse via particle resuspension from this site compared to the other fiberbank (4.8 ng g− 1 particle). The difference might be associated with a layer of recently settled minerogenic material that covers one of the fiberbanks, which probably functions as a protective barrier. The lack of benthic biota implies that contaminant release by bioturbation is negligible in the studied fiberbanks. However, benthic biota from fiber-rich sediment showed bioaccumulation and biomagnification of contaminants. Conclusions: The importance of diffusive flux from fiberbanks under undisturbed conditions became apparent when the different dispersal pathways were quantified. However, no dispersal pathway could be judged as irrelevant, since even under undisturbed conditions, advective particle transport was significant. Additionally, the uptake by biota and trophic transfer can be considerable. Quantification of dispersal routes and understanding of the relative importance of various pathways is critical for proper risk assessment and management of contaminated sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cornerstone of the management and conservation of archaeological sites is recording their physical characteristics. Documenting and describing the site is an essential step that allows for delineating the components of the site and for collecting and synthesizing information and documentation (Demas, 2012). The information produced by such work assists in the decision-making process for custodians, site managers, public officials, conservators, and other related experts. Rigorous documentation may also serve a broader purpose: over time, it becomes the primary archival and monitoring record. Both scholars and the public use this information and interpret the site, and they can serve as a posterity record in the event of catastrophic or gradual loss of the heritage asset. In May 2018 the Getty Conservation Institute and the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus collaborated with the Carleton Immersive Media Studio in undertaking the documentation of Nea Paphos, a World Heritage site with very important mosaic pavements in the eastern Mediterranean. This contribution outlines the critical components of the documentation project: field study, field measurements, data processing, validation, GIS, and integration of external data. The paper summarizes the digital workflows and procedures used to produce the deliverables, as well as the equipment and technology employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current applications in the energy sector are based largely on fossil fuels which release greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. To face the issue of global warming, the energy sector has to transfer to and develop sustainable energy solutions that do not release carbon emissions. This is one of the primary motivators for the SDEWES conference as well as for this review, and previous ones, examining the most recent works based on sustainable and green energy production in such fields. The 17th Conference on the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems (SDEWES) was held on 6–10 November 2022 in Paphos, Cyprus. The SDEWES conference aims at solving complex and ongoing concerns that approach a long-term perspective and supporting innovative solutions and continuous monitoring and evaluation. This review paper aims at collecting the main presented papers focused on the following hot topics: low-carbon technologies based on renewable and clean-energy systems, including mainly biomass, solar, and wind energy applications; energy storage systems; hydrogen-based systems; energy-saving strategies in buildings; and the adoption of smart management strategies using renewable energy systems. These topics are investigated in order to propose solutions to address the issues of climate change, water scarcity, and energy saving. From the analyzed works, we note that some key issues for sustainable development remain to be further addressed: such as novel and advanced energy storage systems, green hydrogen production, novel low-temperature district heating and cooling networks, novel solar technologies for the simultaneous production of power and high temperature heat, solar desalination for hydrogen production systems, and agrivoltaic systems for the production of power and food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead telluride and germanium telluride are well-known IV-VI semiconductors, which is now the focus of research due to the perspective of application as thermoelectrics for midrange temperatures. Solid solutions and heterostructures on this basis, obtained by molecular beam epitaxy, are a promising direction for the development of these materials. In this paper, we have focused on the Raman spectra excited by the 514.5 nm laser line (out of resonance) of PbTe, GeTe, (Pb, Ge)Te, and (Pb, Ge, Eu)Te layers grown on BaF2 (111) monocrystalline substrates. The obtained phonon properties are related to the properties of the corresponding bulk materials or can be explained by a model that takes into account the difference in the masses of the constituent elements only, as is the case with the local mode of Ge in PbTe (registered at about 181 cm−1). Multiphonon processes registered for this phonon are a consequence of the change in the electronic structure of PbTe and electron-phonon interaction. An improvement in the quality of thin films due to doping with Eu ions was also registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an overview for the Special Issue of Clean Technology and Environmental Policy journal (CTEP), and it includes accepted papers from: 5th South East European Conferences on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) held from May 22–26, 2022, in Vlore, Albania. 3rd Latin American Conferences on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) held from July 24–28, 2022, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 17th Conferences on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) held from November 6–10, 2022, in Paphos, Cyprus. Considering CTEP's policy of high-quality research papers, guest editors have invited 35 research articles, presented at the SDEWES 2022 conference. After a vigorous review process, 13 papers have been accepted for publication in this special issue. All 13 accepted papers are briefly presented in this overview together with a wider view that presents research efforts within the SDEWES community published through previous SDEWES special issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of ceramic synthesis in the field of a powerful flux of high-energy electrons on powder mixtures. The synthesis is carried out via the direct exposure of the radiation flux to a mixture with high speed (up to 10 g/s) and efficiency without the use of any methods or means for stimulation. These synthesis qualities provide the opportunity to optimize compositions and conditions in a short time while maintaining the purity of the ceramics. The possibility of synthesizing ceramics from powders of metal oxides and fluorides (MgF2, BaF2, WO3, Ga2O3, Al2O3, Y2O3, ZrO2, MgO) and complex compounds from their stoichiometric mixtures (Y3Al3O12, Y3AlxGa(5−x) O12, MgAl2O4, ZnAl2O4, MgWO4, ZnWO4, BaxMg(2−x) F4), including activators, is demonstrated. The ceramics synthesized in the field of high-energy electron flux have a structure and luminescence properties similar to those obtained by other methods, such as thermal methods. The results of studying the processes of energy transfer of the electron beam mixture, quantitative assessments of the distribution of absorbed energy, and the dissipation of this energy are presented. The optimal conditions for beam treatment of the mixture during synthesis are determined. It is shown that the efficiency of radiation synthesis of ceramics depends on the particle dispersion of the initial powders. Powders with particle sizes of 1–10 µm, uniform for the synthesis of ceramics of complex compositions, are optimal. A hypothesis is put forward that ionization processes, resulting in the radiolysis of particles and the exchange of elements in the ion–electron plasma, dominate in the formation of new structural phases during radiation synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Magazine General Union of Arab Archaeologists is the property of General Union of Arab Archaeologists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Heavy-atom alkaline earth monofluoride molecules are considered as prospective systems to study spatial parity or spatial parity and time-reversal symmetry violating effects such as the nuclear anapole moment or the electron electric dipole moment. A comprehensive and highly accurate theoretical study of the electronic structure properties and transition energies in such systems can simplify the preparation and interpretation of the experiments. However, almost no attempts to calculate quantum electrodynamics (QED) effects' contribution into characteristics of these neutral heavy-atom molecules have been performed. Recently, we have formulated and implemented such an approach to calculate QED contributions to transition energies of molecules [L. V. Skripnikov, J. Chem. Phys. 154, 201101 (2021)]. In this paper, we perform a benchmark theoretical study of the transition energies in the Ba+ cation and BaF molecule. The deviation of the calculated values from the experimental ones is of the order 10 cm−1 and is more than an order of magnitude better than the "chemical accuracy," 350 cm−1. The achievement of such an agreement has been provided, in particular, by the inclusion of the QED effects. The latter appeared to be not less important than the high-order correlation effects beyond the coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple cluster amplitude level. We compare the role of QED effects for transition energies with heavier molecules—RaF and E120F, where E120 is the superheavy Z = 120 homolog of Ra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Announces that the 15th International Symposium on Contact Dermatitis (ISCD) is will be held in conjunction with the 5th International Symposium on Irritant Contact Dermatitis (ISICD) in Paphos, Cyprus on 6-9 November, 2005. Topics of plenary sessions, symposia and poster sessions; Contact information.

This paper investigates the mystery of baryogenesis for isotropic and anisotropic universe models in the context of Rastall's theory of gravity (RTG). In the first part, we utilize the Rastall field equations (FEs) for the flat Friedmann Robertson Walker (FRW) metric to find the solutions of density ρ and Hubble parameter H. Additionally, Rastall parameter plays a crucial role to discuss baryogenesis and fulfilling its criteria on the observational ground. It is found that very large positive/negative values of Rastall parameter like λ ≥ 1 0 5 4 (for ω = 0) and λ ≤ − 1 0 2 2 (for ω = 1) are required to satisfy the observational bounds on baryon asymmetry factor (BAF), see Fig. 1. In the second part, we develop the FEs for RTG using the Locally Rotationally Symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type-1 line-element. Then we find the solutions of the FEs and use them to find the BAF using Rastall parameter as λ ≤ − 1 0 3 7 and anisotropic parameter n ≥ 2 to meet the consistency with the experimental limit, see Fig. 3. For n = 1 , the anisotropic model reduces to the isotropic FRW model, where we have a zero BAF. Finally, we conclude that RTG with both universe models is a good candidate to study baryogenesis in the early universe and the variable λ has a considerable impact on the BAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer development is a complex process involving both genetic and epigenetic changes. The SWI/SNF (switch/sucrose non‐fermentable) chromatin remodelling complex, one of the most studied ATP‐dependent complexes, plays an important role in coordinating chromatin structural stability, gene expression and post‐translational modifications. The SWI/SNF complex can be classified into BAF, PBAF and GBAF according to their constituent subunits. Cancer genome sequencing studies have shown a high incidence of mutations in genes encoding subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex, with abnormalities in one or more of these genes present in nearly 25% of all cancers, which indicating that stabilizing normal expression of genes encoding subunits in the SWI/SNF complex may prevent tumorigenesis. In this paper, we will review the relationship between the SWI/SNF complex and some clinical tumours and its mechanism of action. The aim is to provide a theoretical basis to guide the diagnosis and treatment of tumours caused by mutations or inactivation of one or more genes encoding subunits of the SWI/SNF complex in the clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, glasses have a random structure, but they can take on unique structures due to bond selectivity. In this paper, we introduce the bond selectivity of oxygen- and fluorine-containing glasses and the formation of glass structures derived from the bond selectivity of each anion. We present the relationship between BaMgBO3F crystals and BaF2-MgO-B2O3 glasses. The crystal is composed of oxide and fluoride layers. The corresponding glass is suggested to have a bicontinuous structure from structural analysis and simulation. The glass has a favorable structure for luminescence and shows higher luminescence efficiency than the corresponding crystal. Such a structure is also favorable for nucleation; the BaF2-ZnO-B2O3 glass precipitated fluoride crystals with a very small particle size distribution at 5 nm upon heat treatment. Various structural analyses suggest that the fluoride sites in the fluoride-rich domain of this glass structure are similar to the crystals. This paper suggests that various functionalities can be developed by utilizing the mixing heterogeneity derived from the selective binding of fluoride and oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Legal Records / Pravni Zapisi is the property of Union University Law School, Belgrade and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Fast and heavy inorganic scintillators with suitable radiation tolerance are required to face the challenges presented at future hadron colliders of high energy and intensity. Up to 5 GGy and 5 × 1018 neq/cm2 of one-MeV-equivalent neutron fluence is expected by the forward calorimeter at the Future Hadron Circular Collider. This paper reports the results of an investigation of proton- and neutron-induced radiation damage in various fast and heavy inorganic scintillators, such as LYSO:Ce crystals, LuAG:Ce ceramics, and BaF2 crystals. The experiments were carried out at the Blue Room with 800 MeV proton fluence up to 3.0 × 1015 p/cm2 and at the East Port with one MeV equivalent neutron fluence up to 9.2 × 1015 neq/cm2, respectively, at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. Experiments were also carried out at the CERN PS-IRRAD proton facility with 24 GeV proton fluence up to 8.2 × 1015 p/cm2. Research and development will continue to develop LuAG:Ce ceramics and BaF2:Y crystals with improved optical quality, F/T ratio, and radiation hardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bubble-based acoustofluidic filtration (BAF) microfluidic device, which employs cross-flow filtration (CFF) and acoustic streaming, separates cells with high efficiency for forensic analysis. Forensic samples are typically complex and contain a substantial number of squamous epithelial cells from the female vagina, which tend to have fouling problems during filtration due to their morphological and cell adhesion differences. To overcome this issue, the BAF device utilizes bubble oscillation by bulk acoustic wave (BAW) to generate acoustic streaming, which offers additional hydrodynamic forces for side flushing cleaning and achieves effective removal within a mere 0.5 seconds. Our device is tested with imbalanced cell mixtures of sperm and epithelial cells with large disparity ratios. By concurrently employing CFF and acoustic streaming, the samples with our sperm-enrichment can achieve 91.72–97.78% for the recovery rate and 74.58–89.26% for the purity in the sperm enrichment. They are further subjected to short tandem repeat (STR) profiling, enabling the identification of perpetrators. Notably, even samples with minimal sperm cells demonstrated a significant increase in the male donor DNA ratio, while the peak heights of female alleles became virtually undetectable. The exceptional cell separation capability demonstrated by our BAF device highlights its potential applications in forensic sciences and other areas of cell biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the risk of natural and anthropogenic hazards for cultural heritage in Cyprus by integrating multi-temporal GIS and earth observation analysis, in the area of Paphos District. The work presented here attends to re-evaluate previous results from earth observations and GIS analysis and go a step forward targeting more reliable outcomes for cultural heritage management. The scope of the paper was to develop a more accurate methodology for risk assessment against natural and anthropogenic hazards (e.g., soil erosion; urban expansion), based on homogeneous clustering of the monuments under consideration. The accomplished assessment approach, being lopsided and generic, cannot be applied across the board and undistractedly for cultural heritage management of all types of monuments of the district. Instead, the proposed clustering of monuments based on a variety of parameters is taking into consideration characteristics of their immediate environment, resulting rational local-based outcomes more useful for monuments and sites safeguarding and for prevention measurements. For each one of the five clusters of monuments located in the Paphos District, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was followed in order to address the individual and unique characteristics of the monuments and sites within the same cluster area. Subsequently, the weight factors from these clusters were interpolated to the whole district, prior to the application of the overall AHP risk assessment. Ultimately, the results were compared with the overall AHP method applied for the entire Paphos District, indicating that the proposed methodology can be more accurate and realistic for the different groups of the monuments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, Er3+ doped TeO 2 -ZnF 2 -BaF 2 -KF-Ta 2 O 5 tellurite glasses with low hydroxyl content (∼0.03 × 10−19 cm−3) were investigated employing both glass composition and glass melting process optimization. The Raman spectra and physical properties were characterized to analyze the structure of the glasses. Under the pumping of 980 nm LD laser, intense up-conversion fluorescence at 1.5 and 2.7 μm of samples and their lifetimes were detected and analyzed, and the related transition mechanisms with gradient-varying Er3+ doping concentrations were discussed. The maximum absorption and emission cross section at 2.7 μm was calculated to be 6.4 × 10−21 cm2 and 6.8 × 10−21 cm2, correspondingly, which were higher than those of traditional tellurite glasses. Using the calculated and measured spectroscopic parameters of bulk tellurite glass, a dual-wavelength pumping model was established to verify the feasibility of mid-infrared laser output in similar tellurite glass fiber. Experimental results support the assertion that the Er3+ doped tellurite glasses hold promise as a candidate laser gain medium for mid-infrared fiber laser systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic redistribution at solid interfaces in ionic materials is the keystone of nanoionics. An experimental master piece has been provided by CaF2-BaF2 heterolayers. Meanwhile this system and the involved heterojunctions are extraordinarily well-understood. The present paper gives an account of this model system by reviewing not only transport experiments and defect-chemical modeling as a function of temperature and spacing of the individual layers, but also transition from semi-infinite to mesoscopic conditions, transition from Mott–Schottky to Gouy–Chapman behavior as well as the impact of ionic redistribution on the electronic minority carriers. Owing to the availability of bulk transport data, the analysis works well for in-plane and out-of-plane measurements with only the space charge potential as fit parameter. Space charge effects are able to provide an interpretation of the annealing behavior, too. The experiments are corroborated by molecular dynamics simulations. Extrapolating the ionic redistribution effects down to the atomic level may even explain homovalent doping effects in non-equilibrium mixtures of the two fluorides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CEDRUS is the property of Mediterranean Civilisations Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)