This paper presents the first records of the seagrass species Ruppia brevipedunculata Shuo Yu & den Hartog in Indonesia, which has never been reported before. R. brevipedunculata from a coastal ...lagoon was identified based on morphological characters and phylogenetics. Indonesian R. brevipedunculata had four carpels and a short peduncle. These differentiated from R. maritima. A phylogenetic analysis of ITS and matK demonstrated the same cluster as R. brevipedunculata. That was clearly shown by the matK gene-marker. Biodiversity exploration and conservation efforts are needed to protect and preserve R. brevipedunculata and its habitat.
•Ruppia brevipedunculata is recorded in Indonesia for the first time.•Sea lakes have potential new areas as seagrass habitats.•Conservation efforts are urgently needed to preserve seagrass diversity.
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The characteristics of the energy structure of rich coal, less oil and less gas, coupling with a high external dependence on oil and natural gas and the emphasis on the efficient and ...clean utilisation of coal, have brought opportunities for coal chemical industry. However, with the large-scale popularisation of coal gasification technology, the production and resulting storage of coal gasification slag continue to increase, which not only result in serious environmental pollution and a waste of terrestrial resources, but also seriously affect the sustainable development of coal chemical enterprises. Hence, the treatment of coal gasification slag is extremely important. In this paper, the production, composition, morphology, particle size structure and water holding characteristics of coal gasification slag are introduced, and the methods of carbon ash separation of gasification slag, both domestically and abroad, are summarised. In addition, the paper also summarises the research progress on gasification slag in building materials, ecological restoration, residual carbon utilisation and other high-value utilisation, and ultimately puts forward the idea of the comprehensive utilisation of gasification slag. For large-scale consumption to solve the environmental problems of enterprises and achieve high-value utilisation to increase the economic benefits of enterprises, it is urgent to zealously design a reasonable and comprehensive utilisation technologies with simple operational processes, strong adaptability and economic benefits.
This study aims to delineate the causal relationships between idiopathic tinnitus in different stages and severity and the morphological properties in specific brain regions. We utilized a two-sample ...bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to ascertain the causal effects of brain structural attributes on varying severities and stages of tinnitus. Our approach involved harnessing genetic variables derived from extensive genome-wide association studies as instrumental variables, centered mainly on pertinent single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with tinnitus. Subsequently, we integrated this data with brain structural imaging inputs to facilitate the MR analysis. We also applied reverse MR analysis to pinpoint the critical brain regions implicated in the onset of tinnitus. Our analysis revealed a demonstrable causal relationship between tinnitus and brain structural alterations, including changes primarily within the auditory cortex and hub regions of the limbic system, as well as portions of the frontal-temporal-occipital circuit. We found that individuals exhibiting cortical thickness alterations in the bilateral peri-calcarine and right superior occipital gyrus might have previously experienced tinnitus. Changes in the cortical areas of the right rectus, left inferior frontal gyrus, and right pars-orbitalis appeared unrelated to tinnitus. Furthermore, moderate tinnitus patients showed more pronounced structural alterations. This study substantiates that tinnitus could instigate substantial structural alterations mainly within the auditory-limbic-frontal-visual system, while the reciprocal causality was not supported. Moreover, the data underscores that moderate, rather than severe, tinnitus precipitates the most significant structural changes. Morphological alterations in several specific brain areas either indicate a history of tinnitus or bear no relation to it.
•Support the specific changes in brain structure caused by tinnitus, especially to varying degrees.•Tinnitus changes in auditory cortex and hub regions of the limbic system and the frontal-temporal-occipital circuit.•Furthermore, moderate, as opposed to severe tinnitus, was associated with more pronounced structural alterations.
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•Supercapacitor has excellent electrochemical behavior, can be used as advanced energy storage device.•Numerous eco-efficient regulation strategies are proposed to manufacture ...coal-derived porous carbon.•Coal-derived porous carbon electrode exhibit superior energy/power density and remarkable rate property.•Coal-derived porous carbon achieve clean and high value-added utilization of coal resources.
Large-scale consumption of renewable energy (RE) is the driving force underpinning the sustainable development of the world. However, the intermittence and randomness of its working mode leads to low energy density and high dispersion. The collaborative model of “power generation coupled with energy storage” is the main way to achieve a safe and stable supply of RE. Supercapacitor have both high energy density of secondary batteries and large power density of conventional capacitors, making up for the shortcomings of two energy storage devices, which can be used as advanced energy storage devices for RE. Electrode materials determine the comprehensive performance of supercapacitor. Porous carbon in carbonaceous materials presents rich pore structure, stable physicochemical characteristics, low price and easy industrial promotion, which is the goal pursued of human science. Coal is high in reserve and carbon content, and low cost. Preparation of functional nano carbon electrode materials from coal is expected to solve the problem of low investment and large scale manufacture. The review focus on the latest research of coal-derived porous carbon, with special attention to synthesis methods, regulation strategies, and structural optimization. The efficient application of coal-derived porous carbon for supercapacitor is discussed and further research challenges are proposed.
The importance of natural fibres over synthetic fibres have gained significant attention in the research area, due to their higher specific strength, stiffness, lightweight and inexpensive. Natural ...fibre composites used in various applications are often susceptible to moisture absorption and various critical loadings scenarios during their service life such as low-velocity impact damages which is a concern for structural and non-structural applications. For enhancing the toughness of natural fibres hybridisation with synthetic fibres is essential. This paper examines the essential information critically from the published literature influencing the morphological characteristics, fracture toughness, damage tolerance and impact resistance of natural fibre reinforced and their hybrid composites. Following this, this review paper critically analyses the novel improvement techniques suitable for natural fibre composites for damage tolerance and impact resistance behaviours.
During the recent decades, the donkey, as an ever-employed labour animal, is slowly but steadily losing its value. The agricultural industrialization, mechanization of many processes at the mountain ...and valley farms led to rejection of the donkeys as a livestock. This reduction in donkey numbers evokes some concerns. This fact is a good reason to study all aspects of these domestic animals, in order to revive their role and to restart their livestock growth in the familiar habitat, and bring them into the new environmental conditions.
For the recent research, 35 donkeys (23 males and 12 females) were chosen. All animals lived on Styria terrain in Austria. The following morphometric parameters were analysed: height at the withers (VG), pelvis length (DK), pelvis width (SK), and point of buttock width (SSK).
For the males, the average height at the withers was 116.70 cm and the average pelvis length – 40.13 cm. The average pelvis width was 38.56 cm, and the average point of buttock width – 16.39 cm.
For the females the average height at the withers was 101.48 cm, the average pelvis length – 36.00 cm, pelvis width was 35.41 cm. The average point of buttock width was 13.66 cm.
These measurements show the influence of the height at the withers on the development of the pelvis, particularly on its width and height for both males and females. Comparatively to other donkey populations of the world, the Austrian donkey has an average size.
An increasing number of researchers have focused on microplastics (MPs) pollution in inland freshwater lakes due to its ecotoxicity, while little is known about the effects of hydrological periods on ...MPs distribution. Therefore, this study aims to investigate MPs distribution, morphological characteristics and physicochemical indices in various environments in dry and wet periods in Caohai Lake. The results exhibited that cultivated soil, water, and sediment in Caohai Lake have been polluted by MPs in dry and wet periods. There were pellets, fragments, film, and fibers of MPs in both dry and wet periods, and MP foam was additionally found in the wet period. MPs with 0 to 0.5 mm possessed the largest proportion in the five environments in dry and wet periods, followed by MPs with 0.5 to 1 mm and 1 to 5 mm. In Caohai Lake, the black, white, green, red, and transparent MPs in dry period, and black, colourful, grey, red and transparent MPs in wet period were found. The developed structural equation model confirmed that MPs in sediment were probably mainly from soil. There are negative effects of the relative abundance of MPs from cultivated soil to lake water in the dry period, whereas the opposite is true in the wet period. Interestingly, the complex and fast water velocity in the estuary in the wet period led to a lower relative abundance of MPs in its sediment in comparison with the dry period. The distribution model of MPs in estuary and lake water in dry and wet periods is not inconsistent. Our results suggest that the related government department should take measures to reduce the MPs pollution in Caohai Lake, especially from the source.
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•Cultivated soil, water and sediment in dry and wet periods were polluted by MPs.•There were pellets, fragments, film, fibers, foam of MPs in dry and wet periods.•Black, white, green, red, transparent, colourful and grey MPs found in Caohai lake.•Structural equation model confirmed MPs in sediment were probably mainly from soil.
Worldwide coal is still used for household heating purposes not only because it is available and cheap but also due to behavioural issues. Regional variability in fuels and combustion appliances make ...accurate emission estimates from this source hard to achieve. In the present study, gaseous (CO, VOCs, SO2 and NOX) and particulate matter (TSP) emission factors (EFs) were determined for Spanish household coal combustion covering three commercial coals and distinct combustion stages and mimicking usage patterns in real households. TSP samples were analysed to determine water-soluble inorganic ions, metal(loid)s, and organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC). Additionally, the morphology of the emitted particles was also characterised.
CO (3.43–169 g kg−1), NOX (1.29–6.00 g kg−1) and SO2 (8.96–22.3 g kg−1) EFs showed no trend regarding the combustion stage or coal type tested. On the other hand, VOC, TSP and EC EFs were higher for the ignition/devolatilisation combustion stage, regardless of the fuel tested. TSP EFs (0.085–1.08 g kg−1) increased with increasing coal volatile matter while the opposite trend was recorded for VOC emissions (0.045–3.39 gC kg−1).
TSP carbonaceous matter was dominated by EC while OC represented a small fraction of the particulate mass emitted (less than 8 %wt.). Inorganic compounds composed an important fraction of the TSP samples. Sulphate particulate mass fractions (8.66–22.9 %wt.) appeared to increase with coal S-content. Coal combustion released particles with diverse morphologies, including silicate-rich particles, ferro- and glassy-spheres. This study provides novel emission factors to update emission inventories of residential coal combustion. Additionally, detailed chemical profiles were obtained for source apportionment.
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•Gaseous and particulate emissions from the combustion of 3 types of coal were studied•Different gaseous and PM emissions were recorded over distinct combustion stages•TSP emissions appeared to be related to the coal volatile matter content•Sulphate was the major water-soluble inorganic ion for all the coal types studied•Coal combustion released silicate-rich particles, ferro- and glassy-spheres
Introduction: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer related morbidity and mortality. Morphologically, GC is a heterogeneous neoplasm consisting of several histological types. ...Majority of the patients are diagnosed in an advance stage of the disease. Conventional surgical and systemic treatment has demonstrated limited achievement. Evolution in personalized therapy is a main factor to improve the outcome, but for a successful application, a careful stratification of patients is required. Aim: The purpose of the present paper was to analyze the mandatory clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with GC. Material and methods: A total 74 patients who have undergone total or partial gastric resection, endoscopic and laparoscopic biopsy due to GC were included. Results: The average age of the patients was 69,6 years, with a male predominance in all age groups. Most frequent histological type was intestinal type, according to Lauren and tubular type, according to WHO classifications. 82,3% (p<0,05) of GC located in cardia were diagnosed in males. 37/42 tubular, papillary and mucinous types by WHO classification were classified as intestinal type by Lauren. All signet ring cell and poorly cohesive adenocarcinomas by WHO classification were accordingly assigned as diffuse type by Lauren. 52,2% of the tubular/intestinal type of tumors were graded as G1 or G2, and 93,1% of signet ring and poorly cohesive/diffuse type GC were graded as G3. Significant correlations were observed between perineural invasion and histological type by Lauren (p<0,043), degree of differentiation (p<0,04) and lymphovascular invasion (p<0,000); between а degree of inflammatory reaction and М status (p<0,022). Conclusion: Precise histological typification of GC is a key to better stratification of the patients. Certain histological types are associated with aggressive tumor behavior, as we found diffuse type to correlate with poor differentiation and presence of perineural invasion. Degree of inflammatory reaction may be an independent indicator of the presence of distant metastases.
•Effects of root morphological characteristics on soil water infiltration rates was studied.•Root length density and root surface area were negatively correlated with infiltration rate.•Root length ...density (5−30 cm) and root surface area (10−20 cm) influence infiltration rates.•It provide insights for plant root morphological characteristics on the infiltration processes.
Surface water infiltration is an important process to meet plant water needs and an important part of the hydrological cycle via groundwater recharge, with special relevance in semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the relationships between grassland plant root morphological characteristics and soil water infiltration rates (IR: initial, steady and average). For this purpose, five artificial homogeneous grasslands (Melilotus suaveolens, Medicago sativa, Panicum virgatum, Bromus inermis and Miscanthus sinensis) without irrigation or fertilization were studied in the Loess Plateau. The observed steady IR were significantly different between the 1-year grasslands: M. suaveolens >M. sativa >P. virgatum >B. inermis >M. sinensis. The root length density and root surface area were negatively correlated with the average, initial and steady IR at different soil depths (p < 0.05). However, the root volume did not significantly influence IR. The stepwise multiple regression determined that the main factors controlling IR were the root length density at the depth of 5−30 cm and root surface area at the depth of 10−20 cm. Our results provide insight into the influence of grassland root morphological characteristics on water infiltration in drylands and are of interest for soil water supply programs in forage production.
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