| 1. |
- Panuzzo, P., et al.
(författare)
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Discovery of a dormant 33 solar-mass black hole in pre-release Gaia astrometry
- 2024
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 686
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Gravitational waves from black-hole (BH) merging events have revealed a population of extra-galactic BHs residing in short-period binaries with masses that are higher than expected based on most stellar evolution models-And also higher than known stellar-origin black holes in our Galaxy. It has been proposed that those high-mass BHs are the remnants of massive metal-poor stars.Aims. Gaia astrometry is expected to uncover many Galactic wide-binary systems containing dormant BHs, which may not have been detected before. The study of this population will provide new information on the BH-mass distribution in binaries and shed light on their formation mechanisms and progenitors.Methods. As part of the validation efforts in preparation for the fourth Gaia data release (DR4), we analysed the preliminary astrometric binary solutions, obtained by the Gaia Non-Single Star pipeline, to verify their significance and to minimise false-detection rates in high-mass-function orbital solutions.Results. The astrometric binary solution of one source, Gaia BH3, implies the presence of a 32.70a ±a 0.82aM- BH in a binary system with a period of 11.6 yr. Gaia radial velocities independently validate the astrometric orbit. Broad-band photometric and spectroscopic data show that the visible component is an old, very metal-poor giant of the Galactic halo, at a distance of 590 pc.Conclusions. The BH in the Gaia BH3 system is more massive than any other Galactic stellar-origin BH known thus far. The low metallicity of the star companion supports the scenario that metal-poor massive stars are progenitors of the high-mass BHs detected by gravitational-wave telescopes. The Galactic orbit of the system and its metallicity indicate that it might belong to the Sequoia halo substructure. Alternatively, and more plausibly, it could belong to the ED-2 stream, which likely originated from a globular cluster that had been disrupted by the Milky Way.
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| 2. |
- Sumaila, U. Rashid, et al.
(författare)
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WTO must ban harmful fisheries subsidies
- 2021
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 374:6567, s. 544-544
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
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| 3. |
- Ibupoto, A.S., et al.
(författare)
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Zno/Carbon nanofibers for efficient adsorption of lead from aqueous solutions
- 2020
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Ingår i: Environmental technology. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0959-3330 .- 1479-487X. ; 41:21, s. 2731-2741
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hybrid nanofibers based on ZnO loaded activated carbon nanofibers (ZnO-ACNFs) are proposed here for the elimination of hazardous lead from aqueous solutions. The prepared ZnO nanoscale material was loaded into the polyacrylonitrile nanofibers (PAN NFs) which were later carbonized by using a novel method named as a plate-sandwich method. The Synthesized nanofibrous composite was characterized by SEM, TEM, EDX, FTIR and XRD techniques to analyze its chemical and morphological properties. Moreover, the nanocomposite was efficaciously applied for the lead (Pb2+) ions removal from wastewater and simulated water through continuous filtration and batch filtration. The ZnO-ACNFs membrane showed outstanding results in adsorptive removal, giving adsorption capacity of 92.59 mg/g within the contact time of 45 min. Compared to their counterparts (ZnO and CNFs), the hybrid ZnO-ACNFs showed excellent performance in removing toxic lead.
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| 4. |
- Shinde, S. P., et al.
(författare)
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Characterization of basaltic rock aquifer parameters using hydraulic parameters, Theis’s method and aquifer test software in the hard rock area of Buchakewadi watershed Maharashtra, India
- 2022
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Ingår i: Applied water science. - : Springer Nature. - 2190-5487 .- 2190-5495. ; 12:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The twelve wells were selected to carry out the various test, duration of pumping (min), maximum draw drown (m), duration of recovery (min), residual drawdown, and aquifer type in the basaltic rock aquifer parameters of Buchakewadi watershed. The source and flow of groundwater are essential concerns in hydrological systems that concern both spatially and temporally components of groundwater discharge and water supply problems. The content and temperature of groundwater flowing through an aquifer might change depending on the aquifer environment. As a result, hydrodynamic analyses can provide valuable information about a region’s subsurface geology. The present research attempts of aquifer variables such as transmissivity (T) and storativity (S) estimation are significant for groundwater resource development and evaluation. There are numerous approaches for calculating precise aquifer characteristics (i.e., hydrograph analysis, pumping test, etc.). A most frequent in situ analysis is a well-pumping test, which accurately measures the decline and rise of groundwater levels. During an aquifer pumping test, to characterize aquifer properties in an undiscovered location to forecast the rate of depletion of the groundwater table/potentiometric surface. The shallow, weathering subsurface water accessible above the Deccan traps in an unconfined state is insufficient to satisfy the ever-increasing pressure on water supplies. Maharashtra is similarly dominated by hard rocks, whose rainfall susceptibility is limited by weathering and primary porosity, as is their volume to store and convey water. Based on the hydraulic parameters and Theis method, results are optimized. Aquifer mapping and pumping test results can be more important for solving problems such as water scarcity, nonpolluting water, health issues, and source of fresh water on the earth surface. However, the characterization of aquifer parameters should be significant role in the scientific planning and engineering practices. © 2022, The Author(s).
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| 5. |
- Ahmed, Naeem, et al.
(författare)
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A study to examine the ageing behaviour of cold plasma-treated agricultural seeds
- 2023
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Nature. - 2045-2322. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cold plasma (low pressure) technology has been effectively used to boost the germination and growth of various crops in recent decades. The durability of these plasma-treated seeds is essential because of the need to store and distribute the seeds at different locations. However, these ageing effects are often not ascertained and reported because germination and related tests are carried out within a short time after the plasma-treatment. This research aims to fill that knowledge gap by subjecting three different types of seeds (and precursors): Bambara groundnuts (water), chilli (oxygen), and papaya (oxygen) to cold plasma-treatment. Common mechanisms found for these diverse seed types and treatment conditions were the physical and chemical changes induced by the physical etching and the cold plasma on the seeds and subsequent oxidation, which promoted germination and growth. The high glass transition temperature of the lignin-cellulose prevented any physical restructuring of the surfaces while maintaining the chemical changes to continue to promote the seeds germination and growth. These changes were monitored over 60 days of ageing using water contact angle (WCA), water uptake, electrical conductivity, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The vacuum effect was also investigated to separate its effect from cold plasma (low pressure). This finding offers a framework for determining how long agricultural seeds that have received plasma treatment can be used. Additionally, there is a need to transfer this research from the lab to the field. Once the impact of plasma treatment on seeds has been estimated, it will be simple to do so.
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| 6. |
- Ahmed, Naeem, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of Oxygen (O2) Plasma Treatment in Promoting the Germination and Growth of Chili
- 2022
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Ingår i: Plasma chemistry and plasma processing. - : Springer. - 0272-4324 .- 1572-8986. ; 42:1, s. 91-108
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In general, seed germination is improved by low-pressure plasma treatment using precursors such as air, nitrogen, O2, and argon, etc. For the first time, low-pressure O2 plasma was used to treat chili seeds in this study. When compared to untreated and vacuum-treated seeds, O2 plasma treatment using the discharge power of 80 W for 60 s significantly improves chili seed germination and growth. The effect of vacuum on the germination and growth of chili seeds was also studied and shown to be negligible. The physical and chemical changes induced by O2 plasma treatment were investigated to understand the plasma treatment to germination improvement. Combinatory etching and chemical modification aided imbibition and increased germination percentage in this O2 plasma treatment on chili seeds. The success of this method has the potential to be scaled up to solve food security issues with seeds that would otherwise struggle to germinate.
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| 7. |
- Ahmed, Naeem, et al.
(författare)
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Germination and growth improvement of papaya utilizing oxygen (O2) plasma treatment
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics D. - : Institute of Physics (IOP). - 0022-3727 .- 1361-6463. ; 55:25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In general, cold plasma treatment improves crop germination and growth. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of low-pressure O2 plasma treatment on the germination and growth kinetics of papaya seeds. Seeds were treated for 40 s at a discharge power of 80 W using O2 as a monomer. Physical and chemical changes were studied to understand the mechanism of germination and growth improvement. Furthermore, changes in phytohormones and antioxidant activity that were beneficial to germination were also examined. O2 plasma treatment improved wettability, surface etching, and oxidation, and affected other molecular-level changes leading to a 16% germination improvement in papaya.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Ahmed, Naeem, et al.
(författare)
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The Hydrophilization and Subsequent Hydrophobic Recovery Mechanism of Cold Plasma (CP) Treated Bambara Groundnuts
- 2022
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Ingår i: Materials Science Forum. - : Trans Tech Publications. - 0255-5476 .- 1662-9752. ; 1055, s. 161-169
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Plasma hydrophilization and subsequent hydrophobic recovery in Bambara groundnuts are studied for the first time. Bambara groundnut seeds were treated with cold plasma (CP) for 10 seconds at 10 watts using water as a monomer. The contact angle, as well as physical and chemical changes, were used to determine the kinetics of hydrophobic recovery. The hydrophilic state of Bambara groundnut seeds had decreased after 60 days, but not to original hydrophobicity, and also the recovery rate is slower than those observed on synthetic polymer. However, this slower hydrophobic recovery makes CP treatment as an effective method for long-term seed storage.
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| 10. |
- Al-Rubaei, Ahmed, et al.
(författare)
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Survey of the operational status of 25 Swedish municipal stormwater management ponds
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of environmental engineering. - : American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). - 0733-9372 .- 1943-7870. ; 143:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the past 50 years, wet stormwater ponds have been constructed to reduce negative environmental impacts of urban stormwater discharges on receiving aquatic environments. However, in many jurisdictions there is little information on the current operational status of such ponds and their functioning. This paucity of information prompted a field survey of 25 Swedish municipal stormwater ponds, aged between 3 and 26 years. The pond survey focused on estimating the pond hydraulic loading and efficiency, the state of littoral vegetation, characteristics of bottom sediment in the inlet and outlet zones (sizes and the chemistry), and the overall operational pond status, including the access for maintenance. The hydraulic efficiencies of ponds were estimated for pond footprint shapes and relative locations of the inlets and outlets using literature data. The estimated hydraulic efficiencies correlated well with the pond length-to-width ratios and the ratio of the pond surface area to the impervious area of the runoff contributing catchment (i.e., the hydraulic loading). Littoral vegetation was inspected visually and found to be overgrown at some facilities, which impeded the maintenance access. Benthic sediments in ponds contained silt and clay (<63 μm" role="presentation" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; word-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; max-height: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><63 μm<63 μm), sand and gravel fractions, and when compared with the literature data, such sediments appeared relatively coarse. Chemical characteristics of sediments reflected anthropogenic (traffic) activities, but without excessive contamination warranting special disposal requirements. Of the 25 ponds surveyed, four were fenced off and inaccessible to machinery. In fact, the design of these four ponds was such that it made inspection and maintenance very difficult, which may pose potential risks to ponds operation. Fifty-four percent of the investigated ponds were in need of minor maintenance, primarily because of sediment and litter accumulation in their inflow and outflow sections. The fact that the inspection survey revealed relatively few minor issues that could be corrected easily demonstrates the importance of relatively simple regular inspections serving to detect minor problems at an early stage before they would seriously impact pond functioning. The above survey methodology should be helpful for developing similar low-cost surveys in other jurisdictions.
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