Energy use plays a vital role for human well-being. However, human well-being can also be affected by socio-economic and environmental impacts associated with the use of different primary energy ...sources. Nuclear energy production is perceived as one means of satisfying national energy demand while contributing to a potentially sustainable energy transition. The objective of this study is to further understand socio-economic, environmental and technological factors that characterize countries that choose nuclear energy production. Hence, this exploratory study reviews the socio-economic contexts of nuclear energy producing countries in comparison to countries without nuclear energy use. The study is based on world development indicators published by World Bank for 213 countries between 1960 and 2013 and follows two analytical steps. First, based on a comparison of countries average development indicator values over time, we descriptively explore which socio-economic, environmental and technological factors characterize the spectrum of countries following different 'nuclear energy strategies' (no nuclear production, phase-out, planning to produce, produce nuclear energy). Second we statistically analyze nuclear energy producing countries, exploring if there was significant change in socio-economic, environmental and technological characteristics after the start of nuclear energy production. Characteristics of our four country groups revealed nuclear countries (incl. phase-out) used more energy per capita and showed higher levels of carbon emissions as well as household consumption compared to countries planning to use nuclear energy and countries without nuclear energy use. Adoption of nuclear energy does not appear to reduce fossil fuel use or enable energy independence. Hence, our study did not provide evidence that nuclear energy production can be seen as technological answer to global challenges like climate change or unequal energy distribution. It is therefore unclear if and how nuclear energy contributes to global human well-being as part of sustainable development.
•Exploratory study including descriptive and statistical analysis.•Nuclear countries (incl. phase out) used most energy per capita and resources.•Nuclear countries (incl. phase out) showed most carbon emissions and household consumption.•Nuclear energy does not enable independence from energy imports.•Nuclear energy production is a questionable technological answer for well-being.
ABSTRACT
We report on the stellar content, half-light radii and star formation rates of a sample of 10 known high-redshift (z ≳ 2) galaxies selected on strong neutral hydrogen (H i) absorption ($\log ...({\rm N_{H\, \rm {I}}\: /\: cm}^{-2})\,\gt\, 19$) towards background quasars. We use observations from the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 in three broad-band filters to study the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the galaxies. Using careful quasar point spread function subtraction, we study their galactic environments, and perform the first systematic morphological characterization of such absorption-selected galaxies at high redshifts. Our analysis reveals complex, irregular hosts with multiple star-forming clumps. At a spatial sampling of 0.067 arcsec per pixel (corresponding to 0.55 kpc at the median redshift of our sample), 40 per cent of our sample requires multiple Sérsic components for an accurate modelling of the observed light distributions. Placed on the mass–size relation and the ‘main sequence’ of star-forming galaxies, we find that absorption-selected galaxies at high redshift extend known relations determined from deep luminosity-selected surveys to an order of magnitude lower stellar mass, with objects primarily composed of star-forming, late-type galaxies. We measure half-light radii in the range r1/2 ∼ 0.4 to 2.6 kpc based on the reddest band (F160W) to trace the oldest stellar populations, and stellar masses in the range log (M⋆/M⊙) ∼ 8 to 10 derived from fits to the broad-band SED. Spectroscopic and SED-based star formation rates are broadly consistent, and lie in the range $\log (\mathrm{SFR}/{\rm M}_{\odot }\, {\rm yr}^{-1}) \sim 0.0$ to 1.7.
In this paper, we analyze the current and future status of forests in Ukraine and Belarus that were contaminated after the nuclear disaster in 1986. Using several models, together with remote-sensing ...data and observations, we studied how climate change in these forests may affect fire regimes. We investigated the possibility of
137
Cs displacement over Europe by studying previous fire events, and examined three fire scenarios that depended on different emission altitudes of
137
Cs, assuming that 10% of the forests were affected by fires. Field measurements and modeling simulations confirmed that numerous radioactive contaminants are still present at these sites in extremely large quantities.
Forests in Eastern Europe are characterized by large, highly fire-prone patches that are conducive to the development of extreme crown fires. Since 1986, there has been a positive correlation between extreme fire events and drought in the two contaminated regions. Litter carbon storage in the area has doubled since 1986 due to increased tree mortality and decreased decomposition rates; dead trees and accumulating litter in turn can provide fuel for wildfires that pose a high risk of redistributing radioactivity in future years. Intense fires in 2002, 2008, and 2010 resulted in the displacement of
137
Cs to the south; the cumulative amount of
137
Cs re-deposited over Europe was equivalent to 8% of that deposited following the initial Chernobyl disaster. However, a large amount of
137
Cs still remains in these forests, which could be remobilized along with a large number of other dangerous, long-lived, refractory radionuclides. We predict that an expanding flammable area associated with climate change will lead to a high risk of radioactive contamination with characteristic fire peaks in the future. Current fire-fighting infrastructure in the region is inadequate due to understaffing and lack of funding. Our data yield the first cogent predictions for future fire incidents and provide scientific insights that could inform and spur evidence-based policy decisions concerning highly contaminated regions around the world, such as those of Chernobyl.
•Larger intra-individual variation in female than in male cuckoo calls.•Peak frequency of female cuckoo call was significantly negative related to latitude.•Cuckoos were more vocally active in sunny ...weather than rainy weather.•The peak in vocal activity (both male and female cuckoos) was in the morning.
Investigations on bird vocalizations have largely focused on males. Female vocalizations are widespread in birds but few studies have investigated female vocal characteristics, particularly in non-Passeriformes. In this study, we use new field recordings from China, and calls available from an online sound library to examine temporal patterns, call consistency and geographical variation in vocalizations of female common cuckoos Cuculus canorous. The peak in vocal activity (both male and female) was in the morning, which contrasts to what would be predicted if the sole function of the female call was to distract the attention of hosts after parasitizing a host’s nest in the afternoon. Both male and female common cuckoos were more vocally active in sunny weather, than rainy weather. We also found larger intra-individual variation in female rather than in male calls, which may benefit female cuckoos by increasing stimulation to host species. Peak frequency of female calls decreased with increased latitude, while differences in female call features were not associated with geographic distance. In summary, our findings that female calls are used in the morning, rather than at peak egg laying, yet are highly variable and show little geographic patterns suggest that the function of these female calls may be more variable and intricate than previously thought. However, because research on female vocalizations is underrepresented, future studies are still needed.
To examine whether a cardiac rehabilitation programme in a community based setting for patients with intermittent claudication (IC) affects walking ability, quality of life, and changes in health ...behaviour. The trial investigated a cross sector cardiovascular rehabilitation programme compared with usual care for patients having non-operative management.
The trial allocated 118 patients, with 1:1 individual randomisation to either an intervention or control group. Data were collected at a department of vascular surgery and at a healthcare centre in Denmark. The rehabilitation intervention consisted of usual care plus 12 weeks of exercise training, pedometer, health education, and text messages. The primary outcome was maximum walking distance at six months measured by treadmill walking test. The secondary outcomes were maximum walking distance at 12 months and pain free walking distance measured by treadmill walking test, healthy diet, level of physical activity, and quality of life (QoL) at six and 12 months.
In the intervention group, 46 participants were analysed, with 47 in the control group. Following three months of rehabilitation, a 37% difference (95% CI 1.10 – 1.70; p = .005) was found between groups in maximum walking distance at six and 12 months, in favour of the intervention group. The same positive effect was found in physical activity, QoL, and healthy diet, but was not statistically significant in pain free walking distance and smoking.
A specialised community based cardiac rehabilitation programme for patients with IC showed statistically and clinically significant effects on maximum walking distance, physical activity, quality of life, and healthy diet, but not on pain free walking distance and smoking, compared with usual care without rehabilitation.
We report on the discovery of a peculiar broad absorption line (BAL) quasar identified in our
Gaia
-assisted survey of red quasars. The systemic redshift of this quasar was difficult to establish ...because of the absence of conspicuous emission lines. Based on deep and broad BAL troughs of at least Si
IV
, C
IV
, and Al
III
, a redshift of
z
= 2.41 was established under the assumption that the systemic redshift can be inferred from the red edge of the BAL troughs. However, we observe a weak and spatially extended emission line at 4450 Å that is most likely due to Lyman-
α
emission, which implies a systemic redshift of
z
= 2.66 if correctly identified. There is also evidence for the onset of Lyman-
α
forest absorption bluewards of 4450 Å and evidence for H
α
emission in the
K
band consistent with a systemic redshift of
z
= 2.66. If this redshift is correct, the quasar is an extreme example of a detached low-ionisation BAL quasar. The BALs must originate from material moving with very large velocities ranging from 22 000 km s
−1
to 40 000 km s
−1
. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a systemic-redshift measurement based on extended Lyman-
α
emission for a BAL quasar. This method could also be useful in cases of sufficiently distant BL Lac quasars without systemic-redshift information.
Vacuolar-type adenosine triphosphatases (V-ATPases)
are electrogenic rotary mechanoenzymes structurally related to F-type ATP synthases
. They hydrolyse ATP to establish electrochemical proton ...gradients for a plethora of cellular processes
. In neurons, the loading of all neurotransmitters into synaptic vesicles is energized by about one V-ATPase molecule per synaptic vesicle
. To shed light on this bona fide single-molecule biological process, we investigated electrogenic proton-pumping by single mammalian-brain V-ATPases in single synaptic vesicles. Here we show that V-ATPases do not pump continuously in time, as suggested by observing the rotation of bacterial homologues
and assuming strict ATP-proton coupling. Instead, they stochastically switch between three ultralong-lived modes: proton-pumping, inactive and proton-leaky. Notably, direct observation of pumping revealed that physiologically relevant concentrations of ATP do not regulate the intrinsic pumping rate. ATP regulates V-ATPase activity through the switching probability of the proton-pumping mode. By contrast, electrochemical proton gradients regulate the pumping rate and the switching of the pumping and inactive modes. A direct consequence of mode-switching is all-or-none stochastic fluctuations in the electrochemical gradient of synaptic vesicles that would be expected to introduce stochasticity in proton-driven secondary active loading of neurotransmitters and may thus have important implications for neurotransmission. This work reveals and emphasizes the mechanistic and biological importance of ultraslow mode-switching.
PDF
