The use of historical evidence in studies on underwater munitions.

Marine scientists and other experts depend on information found in archival documents and other historical records to investigate underwater munitions. These sources help them locate dumpsites, establish timelines, identify ordnance, and better understand the hazards, chemicals, and degradation products found in their studies. However, historical sources do not always satisfy these needs, and can sometimes lead investigators down convoluted, incomplete, and misleading trails of evidence.

Cicada Wing Inspired Template-Stripped SERS Active 3D Metallic Nanostructures for the Detection of Toxic Substances.

This article introduces a bioinspired, cicada wing-like surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate based on template-stripped crossed surface relief grating (TS-CSRG). The substrate is polarization-independent, has tunable nanofeatures and can be fabricated in a cleanroom-free environment via holographic exposure followed by template-stripping using a UV-curable resin. The bioinspired nanostructures in the substrate are strategically designed to minimize the reflection of light for wavelengths shorter than their periodicity, promoting enhanced plasmonic regions for the Raman excitation wavelength at 632.

Folic Acid-Functionalized Nanomedicine: Folic Acid Conjugated Copolymer and Folate Receptor Interactions Disrupt Receptor Functionality Resulting in Dual Therapeutic Anti-Cancer Potential in Breast and Prostate Cancer.

We have previously reported on a functionalized folic acid (FA) conjugated poly(styrene--maleic anhydride) (SMA) via biological linker 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DABA) (FA-DABA-SMA) copolymer. This biocompatible nanocopolymer self-assembles in a pH-dependent manner, providing stimuli responsiveness, active targeting, and extended release of hydrophobic chemotherapeutic agents and effectively penetrates the inner core of 3-dimensional cancer spheroid models. The empty FA-DABA-SMA decreased tumor spheroid volume, revealing a previously unknown mechanism of action.

Developing a Sustainable and Circular Bio-Based Economy in EU: By Partnering Across Sectors, Upscaling and Using New Knowledge Faster, and For the Benefit of Climate, Environment & Biodiversity, and People & Business.

This paper gives an overview of development of the EU-bioeconomy, 2014-2020. The Vision of the new Circular Bio-based Economy, CBE is presented: Unlocking the full potential of all types of sustainably sourced biomass, crop residues, industrial side-streams, and wastes by transforming it into value-added products. The resulting product portfolio consists of a wide spectrum of value-added products, addressing societal and consumer needs.

An assessment of the spatial extent of polar dust using satellite thermal data.

The effect of mineral dust aerosols and subsequent deposition in polar regions has historically been underestimated in climate models. Dust aerosols increase melt rates by reducing surface albedo and modifying atmospheric radiative properties. In this study 127,413 satellite images covering the Arctic and Antarctic from 2007 to 2019 were assessed for dust content using thermal infrared wavelengths.

Reference Materials for Phase Equilibrium Studies. 1. Liquid-Liquid Equilibria (IUPAC Technical Report).

This article is the first of three projected IUPAC Technical Reports resulting from IUPAC Project 2011-037-2-100 (Reference Materials for Phase Equilibrium Studies). The goal of that project was to select reference systems with critically evaluated property values for the validation of instruments and techniques used in phase equilibrium studies for mixtures. This Report proposes seven systems for liquid-liquid equilibrium studies, covering the four most common categories of binary mixtures: aqueous systems of moderate solubility, non-aqueous systems, systems with low solubility, and systems with ionic liquids.

A comparison of the effectiveness of functional MRI analysis methods for pain research: The new normal.

Studies of the neural basis of human pain processing present many challenges because of the subjective and variable nature of pain, and the inaccessibility of the central nervous system. Neuroimaging methods, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), have provided the ability to investigate these neural processes, and yet commonly used analysis methods may not be optimally adapted for studies of pain. Here we present a comparison of model-driven and data-driven analysis methods, specifically for the study of human pain processing.

Identification of Arctic Food Fish Species for Anthropogenic Contaminant Testing Using Geography and Genetics.

The identification of food fish bearing anthropogenic contaminants is one of many priorities for Indigenous peoples living in the Arctic. Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are of concern, and these are reported, in some cases for the first time, for fish sampled in and around King William Island, located in Nunavut, Canada. More than 500 salmonids, comprising Arctic char, lake trout, lake whitefish, and ciscoes, were assayed for contaminants.

Mechanochemical remediation of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) amended sand and aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) impacted soil by planetary ball milling.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are manmade, fluorinated organic chemicals which have been identified as persistent organic pollutants. PFAS have surface active properties that have made them suitable for applications in oil- and water-resistant products, as well as many firefighting foams. No on-site remediation strategies exist to treat PFAS impacted soils.

Measuring and Preventing COVID-19 Using the SIR Model and Machine Learning in Smart Health Care.

COVID-19 presents an urgent global challenge because of its contagious nature, frequently changing characteristics, and the lack of a vaccine or effective medicines. A model for measuring and preventing the continued spread of COVID-19 is urgently required to provide smart health care services. This requires using advanced intelligent computing such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, cognitive computing, cloud computing, fog computing, and edge computing.

A group-contribution model for predicting the physicochemical behavior of PFAS components for understanding environmental fate.

The factors controlling per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) environmental fate remains the subject of considerable debate and study. As surfactants, PFAS readily partition to interfaces, a property that controls their transport and fate. A group contribution model is developed to predict the extent to which PFAS partitions to the air-water interface.

Fitbit-Based Interventions for Healthy Lifestyle Outcomes: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Unhealthy behaviors, such as physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthful eating, remain highly prevalent, posing formidable challenges in efforts to improve cardiovascular health. While traditional interventions to promote healthy lifestyles are both costly and effective, wearable trackers, especially Fitbit devices, can provide a low-cost alternative that may effectively help large numbers of individuals become more physically fit and thereby maintain a good health status.

Objective: The objectives of this meta-analysis are (1) to assess the effectiveness of interventions that incorporate a Fitbit device for healthy lifestyle outcomes (eg, steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and weight) and (2) to identify which additional intervention components or study characteristics are the most effective at improving healthy lifestyle outcomes.

A Comprehensive Review of Micro-Inertial Measurement Unit Based Intelligent PIG Multi-Sensor Fusion Technologies for Small-Diameter Pipeline Surveying.

It is of great importance for pipeline systems to be is efficient, cost-effective and safe during the transportation of the liquids and gases. However, underground pipelines often experience leaks due to corrosion, human destruction or theft, long-term Earth movement, natural disasters and so on. Leakage or explosion of the operating pipeline usually cause great economical loss, environmental pollution or even a threat to citizens, especially when these accidents occur in human-concentrated urban areas.

Remediation of PFAS-Contaminated Soil and Granular Activated Carbon by Smoldering Combustion.

This study explored smoldering combustion for remediating polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)-impacted granular activated carbon (GAC) and PFAS-contaminated soil. GAC, both fresh and PFAS-loaded, was employed as the supplemental fuel supporting smoldering in mixtures with sand (≈175 mg PFAS/kg GAC-sand), with PFAS-spiked, laboratory-constructed soil (≈4 mg PFAS/kg soil), and with a PFAS-impacted field soil (≈0.2 mg PFAS/kg soil).

PFOA and PFOS diffusion through LLDPE and LLDPE coextruded with EVOH at 22 °C, 35 °C, and 50 °C.

Diffusion of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) through 0.1 mm and 0.75 mm LLDPE and 0.

Testing the Effectiveness of a Strengths-Based Intervention Targeting All 24 Strengths: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study assessed the effectiveness of a strengths-based randomized controlled trial focused on fostering all 24 character strengths in a group of 75 participants from a University in Tunisia. Participants randomly assigned to the challenge condition (n = 40) received an email each day for 24 days, that highlighted a particular strength of the day including why the strength is valuable, how to implement the strength behaviourally, and a motto related to that strength. Those in the control condition (n = 35) simply received emails containing the motto for each strength daily for 24 days.

Assessing the role of microbial communities in the performance of constructed wetlands used to treat combined sewer overflows.

Combined sewer overflows are contaminated with various micropollutants which pose risk to both environmental and human health. Some micropollutants, such as carbamazepine and sulfamethoxazole, are very persistent and difficult to remove from wastewater. Event loaded vertical-flow constructed wetlands (retention soil filters; RSFs) have proven to be effective in the treatment of combined sewer overflows for a wide range of pollutants.

Transcriptional responses in newly-hatched Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) associated with developmental malformations following diluted bitumen exposure.

Japanese medaka embryos were exposed to water accommodated fractions (WAF) and chemically-enhanced WAF of two types of diluted bitumen (dilbit) at concentrations bracketing the EC50s for developmental malformations. Within these treatments, fish were grouped based on the presence or absence of developmental malformations (e.g.

A commentary on the impact of modelling results to inform mission planning and shield design.

A correspondence has been received in reference to a recently published article titled "On the decision making criteria for cis-lunar reference scenarios". The intent of the paper was to demonstrate: (i) a novel methodology for calculating the dose from solar particle events (SPEs), and (ii) the impact of the SPE parametric model, shield thickness, dose metric, and radiation transport code on choosing a worst-case scenario. This effort assumed a spherical, aluminum spacecraft with an internal diameter of 3.

Correcting an instance of synthetic lethality with a pro-survival sequence.

A human cDNA encoding the LIM domain containing 194 amino acid cysteine and glycine rich protein 3 (CSRP3) was identified as a BAX suppressor in yeast and a pro-survival sequence that abrogated copper mediated regulated cell death (RCD). Yeast lacks a CSRP3 orthologue but it has four LIM sequences, namely RGA1, RGA2, LRG1 and PXL1. These are known regulators of stress responses yet their roles in RCD remain unknown.

The impact of soil chloride concentration and salt type on the excretions of four recretohalophytes with different excretion mechanisms.

Four natives Canadian recretohalophytic species: , , , and were examined to determine their relative uptake and excretion of chloride in the context of phytoremediation. Adult plants were grown in soils contaminated with either sodium chloride or potassium chloride at various concentrations, then manually washed to collect the excreted salts. which has salt bladders, was found to have negligible excretions, suggesting that these structures release minimal amounts of salt onto the leaf's surface.

Influence of Plant Species on Microbial Activity and Denitrifier Population Development in Vegetated Denitrifying Wood-Chip Bioreactors.

The microbial characteristics of four vegetated and one unplanted wood-chip bioreactors treating greenhouse effluent were investigated in a continuous experiment operated for over 2.5 years. The bioreactors were designed to reduce nitrate concentrations via naturally induced microbial denitrification.

Biosensing capabilities of bioelectrochemical systems towards sustainable water streams: Technological implications and future prospects.

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have been intensively investigated over the last decade owing to its wide-scale environmentally friendly applications, among which wastewater treatment, power generation and environmental monitoring for pollutants are prominent. Different variants of BES such as microbial fuel cell, microbial electrolysis cell, microbial desalination cell, enzymatic fuel cell, microbial solar cell, have been studied. These microbial bioelectrocatalytic systems have clear advantages over the existing analytical techniques for sustainable on-site application in wide environmental conditions with minimum human intervention, making the technology irrevocable and economically feasible.

Developing a roadmap to determine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances-microbial population interactions.

We collected over 40 groundwater samples from a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impacted legacy fire fighting training area in Canada to develop an in-depth assessment of the relationship between PFAS and in situ microbial communities. Results suggest differential transport of PFAS of differing chain-length and head group. There is also evidence of PFAS degradation, in particular 6:2 FTS degradation.

Arsenic speciation in the bracket fungus Fomitopsis betulina from contaminated and pristine sites.

Uptake, distribution and speciation of arsenic (As) were determined in the bracket fungus Fomitopsis betulina (previously Piptoporus betulinus), commonly known as the birch polypore, collected from a woodland adjacent to a highly contaminated former mine in the Southwest UK and at an uncontaminated site in Quebec, Canada, with no past or present mining activity. The fruiting body was divided into cap, centre and pores representing the top, middle and underside to identify trends in the distribution and transformation of As. Total As, determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), was approximately tenfold higher in the mushroom from the contaminated compared to the uncontaminated site.