For over 20years the feasibility of including man-made impacts on biodiversity in the context of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been explored. However, a comprehensive biodiversity impact assessment ...has so far not been performed. The aim of this study is to analyse how biodiversity is currently viewed in LCA, to highlight limitations and gaps and to provide recommendations for further research.
Firstly, biodiversity indicators are examined according to the level of biodiversity they assess (genetic, species, ecosystem) and to their usefulness for LCA. Secondly, relevant pressures on biodiversity that should be included in LCA are identified and available models (in and outside of an LCA context) for their assessment are discussed. Thirdly, existing impact assessment models are analysed in order to determine whether and how well pressures are already integrated into LCA. Finally, suggestions on how to include relevant pressures and impacts on biodiversity in LCA are provided and the necessary changes in each LCA phase that must follow are discussed.
The analysis of 119 indicators shows that 4% of indicators represent genetic diversity, 40% species diversity and 35% ecosystem diversity. 21% of the indicators consider further biodiversity-related topics. Out of the indicator sample, 42 indicators are deemed useful as impact indicators in LCA. Even though some identified pressures are already included in LCA with regard to their impacts on biodiversity (e.g. land use, carbon dioxide emissions etc.), other proven pressures on biodiversity have not yet been considered (e.g. noise, artificial light).
Further research is required to devise new options (e.g. impact assessment models) for integrating biodiversity into LCA. The final goal is to cover all levels of biodiversity and include all missing pressures in LCA. Tentative approaches to achieve this goal are outlined.
•Calculating man-made impacts highlights possible biodiversity protection strategies.•An appropriate method to match this objective is Life Cycle Assessment.•Majority of impact assessment methods refer to habitat loss and assess impacts specific to surrogate species and regions.•Several pressures on biodiversity are not considered.
We present the first catalog and data release of the Swift-BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey. We analyze optical spectra of the majority of the detected AGNs (77%, 642/836)based on their 14-195 keV ...emission in the 70-month Swift-BAT all-sky catalog. This includes redshift determination, absorption and emission-line measurements, and black hole mass and accretion rate estimates for the majority of obscured and unobscured AGNs (74%, 473/642), with 340 measured for the first time. With ∼90% of sources at , the survey represents a significant advance in the census of hard X-ray-selected AGNs in the local universe. In this first catalog paper, we describe the spectroscopic observations and data sets, and our initial spectral analysis. The FWHMs of the emission lines show broad agreement with the X-ray obscuration (∼94%), such that Sy 1-1.8 have cm−2, and Seyfert 2 have cm−2. Seyfert 1.9, however, show a range of column densities. Compared to narrow-line AGNs in the SDSS, the X-ray-selected AGNs have a larger fraction of dusty host galaxies ( ), suggesting that these types of AGN are missed in optical surveys. Using the O iii λ5007/Hβ and N ii λ6583/H emission-line diagnostic, about half of the sources are classified as Seyferts; ∼15% reside in dusty galaxies that lack an Hβ detection, but for which the upper limits on line emission imply either a Seyfert or LINER, are in galaxies with weak or no emission lines despite high-quality spectra, and a few percent each are LINERS, composite galaxies, H ii regions, or in known beamed AGNs.
We have assembled the largest sample of ultra hard X-ray selected (14-195 keV) active galactic nucleus (AGN) with host galaxy optical data to date, with 185 nearby (z < 0.05), moderate luminosity ...AGNs from the Swift BAT sample. The BAT AGN host galaxies have intermediate optical colors (u -- r and g -- r) that are bluer than a comparison sample of inactive galaxies and optically selected AGNs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) which are chosen to have the same stellar mass. Based on morphological classifications from the RC3 and the Galaxy Zoo, the bluer colors of BAT AGNs are mainly due to a higher fraction of mergers and massive spirals than in the comparison samples. BAT AGNs in massive galaxies (log M * >10.5) have a 5-10 times higher rate of spiral morphologies than in SDSS AGNs or inactive galaxies. We also see enhanced far-infrared emission in BAT AGN suggestive of higher levels of star formation compared to the comparison samples. BAT AGNs are preferentially found in the most massive host galaxies with high concentration indexes indicative of large bulge-to-disk ratios and large supermassive black holes. The narrow-line (NL) BAT AGNs have similar intrinsic luminosities as the SDSS NL Seyferts based on measurements of O III Delta *l5007. There is also a correlation between the stellar mass and X-ray emission. The BAT AGNs in mergers have bluer colors and greater ultra hard X-ray emission compared to the BAT sample as a whole. In agreement with the unified model of AGNs, and the relatively unbiased nature of the BAT sources, the host galaxy colors and morphologies are independent of measures of obscuration such as X-ray column density or Seyfert type. The high fraction of massive spiral galaxies and galaxy mergers in BAT AGNs suggest that host galaxy morphology is related to the activation and fueling of local AGN.
The 9-month Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) catalog provides the first unbiased (NH < 1024 cm-2) look at local (z = 0.03) active galactic nuclei (AGNs). In this paper, we present the collected ...X-ray properties (0.3-12 keV) for the 153 AGNs detected. In addition, we examine the X-ray properties for a complete sample of nonbeamed sources, above the Galactic plane (b >= 15°). Of these, 45% are best fit by simple power law models, while 55% require the more complex partial covering model. One of our goals was to determine the fraction of 'hidden' AGNs, which we define as sources with scattering fractions less than or equal to 0.03 and ratios of soft to hard X-ray flux less than or equal to 0.04. We found that 'hidden' AGNs constitute a high percentage of the sample (24%), proving that they are a very significant portion of local AGNs. Further, we find that the fraction of absorbed sources does increase at lower unabsorbed 2-10 keV luminosities, as well as accretion rates. This suggests that the unified model requires modification to include luminosity dependence, as suggested by models such as the 'receding torus' model. Some of the most interesting results for the BAT AGN sample involve the host galaxy properties. We found that 33% are hosted in peculiar/irregular galaxies and only 5/74 are hosted in ellipticals. Further, 54% are hosted in interacting/merger galaxies. Finally, we present both the average X-ray spectrum (0.1-10 keV) and log N-log S in the 2-10 keV band. With our average spectrum, we have the remarkable result of reproducing the measured CXB X-ray power law slope of Gamma 1.4. From the log N-log S relationship, we show that we are complete to log S >= -11 in the 2-10 keV band. Below this value, we are missing as many as 3000 sources at log S = -12. Both the collected X-ray properties of our uniform sample and the log N-log S relationship will now provide valuable input to X-ray background models for z 0.
In this study, an attempt was made to improve the mechanical properties and in particular the strength of a precipitation-hardenable aluminum alloy while still maintaining high ductility. For this ...purpose, AlSi7Mg0.6 (A357) powder with an average particle diameter of d
= 40 µm was consolidated using field assisted sintering technique (FAST), and two material conditions were compared: an as-sintered and an underaging heat treated condition (T61). Mechanical properties were determined using tensile tests and hardness measurements. In addition, the microstructure was investigated by optical microscopy. Further, porosity and density were analyzed after the different heat treatments. By the underaging heat treatment, the surface hardness was increased by 100% and the yield strength was increased by 80% compared to the as-sintered material. However, the elongation to failure dropped to one third of that of the as-sintered material. Presumably, this effect was a result of an increased porosity due to the heat treatment. It is assumed that the observed pores were generated by artefacts from the FAST process used to manufacture the samples. The internal gas pressure and equilibrium diffusion supported by heat treatment temperature, and the reduction in surface energy caused by coalescent micropores, led to the enlargement of previously undetectable inhomogeneities in the as-sintered material that resulted in pores in the heat-treated sintered alloy.
We present results from an analysis of the broadband, 0.3-195 keV, X-ray spectra of 48 Seyfert 1-1.5 sources detected in the very hard X-rays with the Swift Burst Alert Telescope (BAT). This sample ...is selected in an all-sky survey conducted in the 14-195 keV band. Therefore, our sources are largely unbiased toward both obscuration and host galaxy properties. Our detailed and uniform model fits to Suzaku/BAT and XMM-Newton/BAT spectra include the neutral absorption, direct power-law, reflected emission, soft excess, warm absorption, and narrow Fe I Kalpha emission properties for the entire sample. We significantly detect O VII and O VIII edges in 52% of our sample. The strength of these detections is strongly correlated with the neutral column density measured in the spectrum. Among the strongest detections, X-ray grating and UV observations, where available, indicate outflowing material. The ionized column densities of sources with O VII and O VIII detections are clustered in a narrow range with Nwarm approx 1021 cm-2, while sources without strong detections have column densities of ionized gas an order of magnitude lower. Therefore, we note that sources without strong detections likely have warm ionized outflows present but at low column densities that are not easily probed with current X-ray observations. Sources with strong complex absorption have a strong soft excess, which may or may not be due to difficulties in modeling the complex spectra of these sources. Still, the detection of a flat Gamma approx 1 and a strong soft excess may allow us to infer the presence of strong absorption in low signal-to-noise active galactic nucleus spectra. Additionally, we include a useful correction from the Swift BAT luminosity to bolometric luminosity, based on a comparison of our spectral fitting results with published spectral energy distribution fits from 33 of our sources.
GDF15 has recently emerged as a key driver of the development of various disease conditions including cancer cachexia. Not only the tumor itself but also adverse effects of chemotherapy have been ...reported to contribute to increased GDF15. Although regulation of GDF15 transcription by BET domain has recently been reported, the molecular mechanisms of GDF15 gene regulation by drugs are still unknown, leaving uncertainty about the safe and effective therapeutic strategies targeting GDF15. We screened various cardiotoxic drugs and BET inhibitors for their effects on GDF15 regulation in human cardiomyocytes and cancer cell lines and analyzed in-house and public gene signature databases. We found that DNA damaging drugs induce GDF15 in cardiomyocytes more strongly than drugs with other modes of action. In cancer cells, GDF15 induction varied depending on drug- and cell type-specific gene signatures including mutations in PI3KCA, TP53, BRAF and MUC16. GDF15 suppression by BET inhibition is particularly effective in cancer cells with low activity of the PI3K/Akt axis and high extracellular concentrations of pantothenate. Our findings provide insights that the risk for GDF15 overexpression and concomitant cachexia can be reduced by a personalized selection of anticancer drugs and patients for precision medicine.
ABSTRACT
We present a spectroscopic and imaging study of an abnormal active galactic nucleus (AGN), 2MASX J00423991 + 3017515. This AGN is newly identified in the hard X-rays by the Swift BAT All-Sky ...survey and found in an edge-on disc galaxy interacting with a nearby companion. Here, we analyse the first optical spectra obtained for this system (taken in 2011 and 2016), high-resolution imaging taken with the Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory, and 1 imaging with the Very Large Array. Two unique properties are revealed: the peaks of the broad Balmer emission lines (associated with gas orbiting very near the supermassive black hole) are blueshifted from the corresponding narrow line emission and host galaxy absorption by 1540 km s−1, and the AGN is spatially displaced from the apparent centre of its host galaxy by 3.8 kpc. We explore several scenarios to explain these features, along with other anomalies, and propose that 2MASX J00423991 + 3017515 may be an AGN with an unusually strong wind residing in a uniquely configured major merger, or that it is an AGN recoiling from either a gravitational ‘slingshot’ in a three-body interaction or from a kick due to the asymmetric emission of gravitational waves following the coalescence of two progenitor supermassive black holes.
Purpose
ISO 14020 series of standards provide guidance for establishing ecolabels and a classification based on three label types, I, II, and III. They also determine the consideration of product’s ...life cycle and application of the life cycle assessment (LCA) in ecolabeling. Still, the large number and variety of existing ecolabels has led to consumer confusion in the recent years. The objective of this paper is to propose a characterization scheme for ecolabels and to provide recommendations for the enhancement of existing ecolabel classification, questioning the current sufficiency of ISO.
Methods
To reach the objective, we first create a sample of ecolabels covering forest and paper products as an example, to narrow down the enormous number of existing ecolabels (over 460 as of August 2018). Second, we analyze their content, purpose, and awarding criteria through a desk research. In parallel, scientific publication, reports, and standards are also analyzed. Third, based on the obtained information, we define a list of ecolabel characterization attributes and their options and observe tendencies in ecolabel development. Ultimately, based on the outcomes of the proposed characterization scheme, we give recommendations for enhancement.
Results and discussion
Ultimately, we compare a sample of 45 ecolabels against 18 attributes of the proposed characterization scheme, including, among others, their ISO typology, life cycle perspective, awarding format, covered environmental aspects, and scope. Regarding type I or type III label, ISO seems to be explicit and their requirements are well respected, including how LCA is to be applied. However, approximately 60% of the explored ecolabels in our sample did not declare any ISO typology, whereas none assigned a type II classification. These “undefined” ecolabels, as we call them, apply different awarding formats and criteria in combination and hybrid forms that are not recognized and described by ISO or any other observed classification approach. Misuse of the term “LCA” is also perceived in such “undefined” initiatives.
Conclusions
We conclude that the current ISO standards on ecolabels belittle the consequences that the increased number of undefined ecolabels brings. We provide a list of recommendations for the enhancement of the current ISO classification in seven topics, namely, awarding format, aspects diversity, operation scope, verification, reconsideration of the usability of ISO 14021, new ISO classification, and transparency. Limitations of the study and outlook conclude the work.
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