Article
Environmental Sciences
K. E. Giesbrecht, D. E. Varela
Summary: The study reveals significant variations in silica concentrations and production rates in the Pacific Arctic Region, with diatoms playing a key role in primary productivity and nitrate utilization. Irradiance and availability of silicic acid have significant effects on silica production rates, with silicic acid limitation observed in all hot spots.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alessandro Scibona, Daniele Nizzoli, Michael Hupfer, Giulia Valerio, Marco Pilotti, Pierluigi Viaroli
Summary: This study examines the coupling and stoichiometry of silica, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling in Lake Iseo, Northern Italy. The research finds that the lake differentially retains external loads of silica, nitrogen, and phosphorus, with phosphorus and silica showing higher retention rates compared to nitrogen. This differential retention may lead to increased silica and phosphorus limitation in the photic zone and a shift towards more oligotrophic conditions. Extreme climate events that cause water overturn could disrupt this equilibrium, highlighting the importance of understanding these processes.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Ondrej Haluska, Arezoo Rahmani, Ayobami Salami, Petri Turhanen, Jouko Vepsalainen, Reijo Lappalainen, Vesa-Pekka Lehto, Joakim Riikonen
Summary: Nanostructured silicon carbide with superior properties was produced from barley husks using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The extraction of nanostructured silica from barley husks was affected by different valorization processes, resulting in varying purity and surface area of the silica particles. The nanostructured silicon carbide produced from extracted silica exhibited high surface area and was functionalized with bisphosphonates for improved metal adsorption capacity.
MICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Yeliz Basaran Elalmis, Sevil Yucel, Ismail Aydin
Summary: The study aimed to synthesize biogenic silica and investigate the impact of pH on silica gel formation on the properties of silica powders and light-cured dental composites. Results showed that the pH of silica gel formation significantly affected the properties of EDCs, suggesting that biogenic silica powders could be a low-cost alternative for dental fillers.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohini Yadav, Vagish Dwibedi, Swati Sharma, Nancy George
Summary: Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) have emerged as important nanomaterials with diverse applications. Due to their variable pore size, high surface area, and low toxicity, SiNPs are attractive for use in biomedicine and environmental remediation. This review discusses the use of agricultural waste as a precursor for SiNPs synthesis and explores the mechanism behind biological extraction of SiNPs from agro-waste. Additionally, various applications of SiNPs in environment monitoring and bioremediation are discussed, along with challenges and research priorities in producing nano-sized silica from agro-waste.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Magnus de Witt, Hlynur Stefansson, Agust Valfells, Joan Nymand Larsen
Summary: This paper provides an overview of current electricity generation and consumption patterns in the Arctic, including installed capacity per energy source and different generation technologies used. It also discusses the importance of transmission systems under harsh Arctic conditions and the crucial role of energy availability and affordability in the region.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chengge Hu, Zexun Wei, Haicong Zhan, Weihua Gu, Hongwei Liu, Afeng Chen, Bei Jiang, Fange Yue, Runqi Zhang, Shidong Fan, Pengzhen He, M. Y. Leung, Xinming Wang, Zhouqing Xie
Summary: This study investigated the BSOA tracers in the atmosphere of the Arctic Ocean and found differences in the sources of precursors for different BSOA. The oxidation of monoterpenes contributed more to secondary organic carbon than isoprene, and sea ice changes had a relatively small effect on biogenic SOC concentration levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biology
Nikolay V. Lobus, Maxim S. Kulikovskiy, Yevhen I. Maltsev
Summary: This study explores the elemental composition of marine diatoms, emphasizing their significance in primary production in the Arctic Ocean and their role in the biogeochemical circulation of elements. The results suggest variations in composition may be associated with seasonal changes and mineral nutrition in the ocean.
Article
Ecology
James P. J. Ward, Katharine R. Hendry, Sandra Arndt, Johan C. Faust, Felipe S. Freitas, Sian F. Henley, Jeffrey W. Krause, Christian Marz, Allyson C. Tessin, Ruth L. Airs
Summary: The Barents Sea has experienced rapid changes in water column warming and sea ice loss, leading to ecosystem adjustments and changes in phytoplankton species composition. The composition of phytodetritus at the seafloor, which plays a crucial role in nutrient recycling, may also be affected. Through modeling and observational data, researchers have identified the reaction pathways and important processes involved in the cycling of silicon within the seafloor. These findings have implications for understanding the benthic-pelagic coupling in the Barents Sea and the regional ocean silicon budget.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rupert Holzinger, Oliver Eppers, Kouji Adachi, Heiko Bozem, Markus Hartmann, Andreas Herber, Makoto Koike, Dylan B. Millet, Nobuhiro Moteki, Sho Ohata, Frank Stratmann, Atsushi Yoshida
Summary: During the PAMARCMiP 2018 campaign, the high Arctic atmosphere was sampled using a proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometer (PTR-MS). More than 100 compounds were found to have levels exceeding 1 pmol/mol in at least 25% of the measurements. It was observed that surface ozone depletion events (ODE) coincided with elevated levels of acetone, methylethylketone, and ice nucleating particles (INP) during two flights.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wahyu Kamal Setiawan, Kung-Yuh Chiang
Summary: In this study, biogenic silica (BSi) was extracted from rice husks and functionalized using three different molecular structure amine groups. The functionalized silica was combined with Pebax-1657 to form mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), which showed significantly improved CO2 permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity compared to Robeson's upper bound 2008. Among them, Pebax/BSi-MAPS-10 was the most reliable membrane. These findings suggest that amine functionalized BSi has great potential for CO2/N2 separation in industrial applications.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
M. Santos, A. Amorim, V. Brotas, J. P. C. Cruz, C. Palma, C. Borges, L. R. Favareto, V. Veloso, M. L. Damaso-Rodrigues, P. Chainho, P. M. Felix, A. C. Brito
Summary: Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems that are influenced by anthropogenic pressures. This study investigated the effects of physico-chemical drivers on the phytoplankton community structure in the Sado Estuary. The results showed that temperature, turbidity, salinity, and nutrient availability were the main drivers affecting the phytoplankton community. Diatoms, cryptophytes, and dinoflagellates were the dominant phytoplankton groups in the estuary.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manuel Maldonado, Maria Lopez-Acosta, Samuel Abalde, Isabel Martos, Hermann Ehrlich, Aude Leynaert
Summary: The dissolution of biogenic silica is crucial for silicon regeneration in the ocean, with different sponge skeletons exhibiting varying dissolution rates. However, the overall impact of these differences on the concept of sponge as important silicon sinks remains unclear.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Timo Spiegel, Andrew W. Dale, Nina Lenz, Mark Schmidt, Stefan Sommer, Habeeb Thanveer Kalapurakkal, Anna Przibilla, Sebastian Lindhorst, Klaus Wallmann
Summary: This study describes the benthic biogenic silica cycling in the Skagerrak region, showing that on average, 1100 mmol m(-2) yr(-1) of biogenic silica is deposited on the seafloor, with 50% returning to the water column and the rest being buried. The biogenic silica cycling in Skagerrak is consistent with global trends, exhibiting higher fluxes and burial efficiencies compared to deep-sea sites and similar values to other continental margins. A significant finding is the lower molar ratio of biogenic silica to organic carbon in Skagerrak sediments, attributed to the continuous dissolution of biogenic silica in suspended sediments transported from the North Sea.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Tobias R. Vonnahme, Martial Leroy, Silke Thoms, Dick van Oevelen, H. Rodger Harvey, Svein Kristiansen, Rolf Gradinger, Ulrike Dietrich, Christoph Voelker
Summary: Arctic coastal ecosystems are experiencing rapid changes due to climate warming. Spring blooms, dominated by diatoms, are important for primary production, but eventually terminate due to nutrient limitation. Bacteria play a role in extending bloom duration through ammonium regeneration. Improved modeling of nutrient co-limitations and regeneration processes is crucial for better understanding and predicting future changes in these vulnerable ecosystems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eric J. Pedersen, David L. Miller, Gavin L. Simpson, Noam Ross
Letter
Limnology
Nicole M. Hayes, Heather A. Haig, Gavin L. Simpson, Peter R. Leavitt
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Limnology
Nathanael T. Bergbusch, Nicole M. Hayes, Gavin L. Simpson, Peter R. Leavitt
Summary: The effluent from biological nutrient removal has been shown to shift turbid, phytoplankton-rich streams to clear ecosystems with abundant epilithon, favoring benthic diatoms and chlorophytes.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria I. Velez, Jorge Salgado, Mark Brenner, Henry Hooghiemstra, Jaime Escobar, Arnoud Boom, Broxton Bird, Jason H. Curtis, Yunuen Temoltzin-Loranca, Luisa Fernanda Patino, Catalina Gonzalez-Arango, Sarah E. Metcalfe, Gavin L. Simpson, Cesar Velasquez
Summary: This study examined diatom records from sediment cores in mountain lakes of Guatemala, Panama, and Colombia to clarify human influences on lake ecology. Changes in diatom assemblages were likely driven by intensification of human activities, leading to the shift to novel recent diatom compositions. Differences in response between shallower and deeper lakes may be attributed to water-column mixing and nutrient cycling rates.
Article
Ecology
Nathanael T. Bergbusch, Nicole M. Hayes, Gavin L. Simpson, Vanessa J. Swarbrick, Zoraida J. Quinones-Rivera, Peter R. Leavitt
Summary: The study found that phytoplankton abundance decreased after implementing BNR (N and P removal) wastewater treatment, with improved water quality in N-limited ecosystems due to nitrogen removal.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Laura J. Schnell, Gavin L. Simpson, Danae M. Suchan, William Quere, Harold G. Weger, Maria C. Davis
Summary: The report introduces a way for students to have hands-on research experience remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to help them learn and practice scientific research skills effectively.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Judith A. Bjorndahl, Cale A. C. Gushulak, Stefano Mezzini, Gavin L. Simpson, Heather A. Haig, Peter R. Leavitt, Kerri Finlay
Summary: This study reveals the impact of climate-induced variation in lake level on phototrophic production and regime shifts in endorheic lakes. The research conducted in two lakes in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada, shows that decline in water level and increase in temperature can lead to an increase in phytoplankton, particularly cyanobacteria. However, it also demonstrates that significant increases in obligately anaerobic purple sulfur bacteria occur in response to changes in light environments and declines in lake level. These findings suggest that climate-induced shifts in lake ecosystems may become more frequent in the future.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Johannes Enevoldsen, Gavin L. Simpson, Simon T. Vistisen
Summary: Common physiological time series and waveforms can be decomposed into the separate effects of cardiac and respiratory cycles using generalized additive models. These models provide a flexible approach to studying the impact of these cycles on physiological signals.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MONITORING AND COMPUTING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sydney A. Jensen, Jackie R. Webb, Gavin L. Simpson, Helen M. Baulch, Peter R. Leavitt, Kerri Finlay
Summary: Agricultural reservoirs are important sources of greenhouse gases. CO2 concentrations are primarily influenced by factors related to benthic respiration, while CH4 concentrations are influenced by factors that favor methanogenesis. N2O concentrations are mainly driven by reservoir mixing.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Farhad M. Panah, Katrine D. Nielsen, Gavin L. Simpson, Anna Schonherz, Andreas Schramm, Charlotte Lauridsen, Tina S. Nielsen, Ole Hojberg, Marlene Fredborg, Stig Purup, Nuria Canibe
Summary: This study investigated the effect of a westernized diet on colonic bacterial composition and found that it may increase the risk of ulcerative colitis by reducing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, increasing the abundance of pathogens, and increasing the concentration of microbial metabolites.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sydney A. Jensen, Jackie R. Webb, Gavin L. Simpson, Helen M. Baulch, Peter R. Leavitt, Kerri Finlay
Summary: Inland waters, specifically small water bodies, play a significant role in greenhouse gas cycling. Wetland ponds and constructed reservoirs in agricultural regions have differences in the content and regulatory mechanisms of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Primary production is a dominant factor in reservoirs, while heterotrophic metabolism is stronger in wetland ponds. Eutrophication affects methane concentrations in reservoirs, while both water body types show undersaturated levels of nitrous oxide.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Cale A. C. Gushulak, Stefano Mezzini, Katherine E. Moir, Gavin L. Simpson, Lynda Bunting, Bjorn Wissel, Daniel R. Engstrom, Kathleen R. Laird, Ann St. Amand, Brian F. Cumming, Peter R. Leavitt
Summary: This study evaluated the historical trends in Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg and found that Lake Manitoba experienced eutrophication due to intensive agriculture before 1900 but exhibited stable cyanobacterial densities afterward. In contrast, Lake Winnipeg underwent an abrupt change around 1990. The findings suggest that catchment size had limited influence on water quality degradation.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
H. A. Haig, N. M. Hayes, G. L. Simpson, Y. Yi, B. Wissel, K. R. Hodder, P. R. Leavitt
Summary: The study showed that within-year variation in water isotopes values typically exceeded variation among years in seven riverine lakes in the Canadian Prairies, especially in lakes with short water residence times. Large hydrological events homogenized isotopic values and had strong legacy effects on lakes separated by long distances.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY X
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
H. A. Haig, N. M. Hayes, G. L. Simpson, Y. Yi, B. Wissel, K. R. Hodder, P. R. Leavitt
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY X
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Jackie R. Webb, Peter R. Leavitt, Gavin L. Simpson, Helen M. Baulch, Heather A. Haig, Kyle R. Hodder, Kerri Finlay