Ecology and conservation of the jebeer gazelle and wild ass in the Dasht e Kavir, Iran

The jebeer gazelle and the wild ass were studied for four years in two protected regions in the Dasht e Kavir, Iran, to provide information on their basic ecology and status for their conservation and management. One region was occupied by Man and his domestic sheep and goat, the other region was not. The regions were compared to determine the influence of domestics on the wild populations. Road and aerial censuses were the main methods used. These are discussed at length. They obtained information on the population sizes, distribution, habitat preferences and structure and their seasonal and annual trends. Daily activity and rutting behaviour were determined by observations from springs. Feeding was determined by bite studies and faecal analysis. The implications of the results for conservation, management and research are discussed and recommendations made.<p

Solving the energy crisis with renewable fuel diversity

Poster PresentationFaster uptake of renewable energies is a must, if we are to tackle climate change and ever increasing costs of fossil fuels. As with the diversity of fossil fuels and their uses, we must analyse differing renewable energies for differing situations, and how they can adapt and scale to use

Quantitative evaluation of settlement sustainability policy (QESSP); forward planning for 26 Irish settlements

peer-reviewedUrban areas are increasingly associated with negative environmental impacts due to concentrated resource consumption; however urban areas also offer economies of scale in terms of service provision. There is no accepted mechanism to aid decision-makers in policy selection to determine where to promote population growth or how to select settlement specific policies to improve sustainability of urban areas. There is strong political desire for methods assessing policy implementation impact on overall sustainability targets, but this has proved challenging, as views on the meaning of sustainability vary, and methods developed satisfying scientists' needs for rigor are deemed too complex and inadequately transparent by decision-makers. Sustainability measurement is vital to check whether a new policy, decision or technical innovation is helpful in enhancing sustainability. By 2055 estimates indicate that 75 percent of the world population will live in urban areas, highlighting the importance of promoting low cost policy decisions providing greatest environmental benefit, with short implementation timescale. This paper describes an evidence-based method developed and piloted to address these drivers and provide a decision support system for planners and policy-makers developed for Irish settlements with population range 500-20,000, which may have application elsewhere.PUBLISHEDpeer-reviewe

A comparative analysis of biogas and hydrogen, and the impact of the certificates and blockchain new paradigms

Solar and wind energy technologies, due to their nature of weather dependency, have been recognized as not the complete solution for the renewable energy transition. Creating a solution for the short fall is empirical if we are to remove the dependency on fossil fuels and reach net zero targets. The production of hydrogen, biogas and other gases can be produced sustainably, which can also allow for the utilization of waste materials or the ability to store energy and allow a greater positive impact on our environment. However, production of these gases is not always as transparent or environmentally friendly as perceived, so with the aid of certification and blockchain, we can create a system that can guarantee their environmentally positive origin, and ultimately help assist the transition to a greener future. This paper explores the varying production methods, with consideration to their environmental impact, and the implications of the use of certificates and blockchain to monitor production, trade and usage

System integration and data models to support smart grids energy trading

As smart grids gained relevance in the renewable energy landscape, the demand for new data management models became evident. Independently, whether emerging models are centralised on the Transmission System Operators (TSO), Distribution System Operators (DSO), or even on a third-party entity/aggregator (under proper regulatory supervision), the complexity of integration and interoperability of heterogeneous systems are worsened by the increase of renewable energy sources - given its potential reach and the diversity of solution providers. This work provides a detailed study of the main systems concerns present on TSO and DSO platforms alike, and main concerns in relation to renewable energy sources, sensor devices (e.g., smart meters and Internet of Things (IoT) devices) and processes. Furthermore, this work also carries out an analysis of the available integration studies - including a study case. Finally, this work proposes a top-level ontology-based standardisation for smart grid integration to support energy trading initiatives

Energy transition x energy inclusion: A community energy concept for developing countries

The concept of community energy has gained acceptance and popularity within academic and scientific communities, in addition to public debate forums. Community energy drives socio-economic transformations, as it places the citizen and the community as the main actors in the entire energy value chain, based on the principle of local and autonomous generation of energy by and for the community. In this article, we analyze the socio-economic impact of community energy as a strategy for energy inclusion and participation in the industrial, socio-economic and human development of communities in developing countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa. The community energy model discussed is based on the symbiotic interaction between social strata within local communities, the so-called community energy symbiosis. In addition, it was concluded that the concept of community energy is generally advantageous, but should be implemented by adapting it to each context, as regulation and government support vary significantly, especially in developing nations

Metastatic meningioma: positron emission tomography CT imaging findings

The imaging findings of a case of metastasing meningioma are described. The case illustrates a number of rare and interesting features. The patient presented with haemoptysis 22 years after the initial resection of an intracranial meningioma. CT demonstrated heterogeneous masses with avid peripheral enhancement without central enhancement. Blood supply to the larger lesion was partially from small feeding vessels from the inferior pulmonary vein. These findings correlate with a previously published case in which there was avid uptake of fluoro-18-deoxyglucose peripherally with lesser uptake centrally. The diagnosis of metastasing meningioma was confirmed on percutaneous lung tissue biopsy

Metastatic meningioma: positron emission tomography CT imaging findings

The imaging findings of a case of metastasing meningioma are described. The case illustrates a number of rare and interesting features. The patient presented with haemoptysis 22 years after the initial resection of an intracranial meningioma. CT demonstrated heterogeneous masses with avid peripheral enhancement without central enhancement. Blood supply to the larger lesion was partially from small feeding vessels from the inferior pulmonary vein. These findings correlate with a previously published case in which there was avid uptake of fluoro-18-deoxyglucose peripherally with lesser uptake centrally. The diagnosis of metastasing meningioma was confirmed on percutaneous lung tissue biopsy

Unravelling the atomic and electronic structure of nanocrystals on superconducting Nb(110): Impact of the oxygen monolayer

The Niobium surface is almost always covered by a native oxide layer which greatly influences the performance of superconducting devices. Here we investigate the highly stable Niobium oxide overlayer of Nb(110), which is characterised by its distinctive nanocrystal structure as observed by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). Our ab-initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that a subtle reconstruction in the surface Niobium atoms gives rise to rows of 4-fold coordinated oxygen separated by regions of 3-fold coordinated oxygen. The 4-fold oxygen rows are determined to be the source of the nanocrystal pattern observed in STM, and the two chemical states of oxygen observed in core-level X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are ascribed to the 3-fold and 4-fold oxygens. Furthermore, we find excellent agreement between the DFT calculated electronic structure with scanning tunnelling spectroscopy and valence XPS measurements.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, plus 3 pages of Supporting Informatio

Cancer-related fatigue and self-care agency: A multicentre survey of patients receiving chemotherapy

Aims and objectives: To measure cancer-related fatigue (CRF), self-care agency (SCA) and fatigue self-care strategies, and to explore the relationship between CRF and SCA. Background: Cancer-related fatigue has been consistently rated as the most elusive, common and severe of symptoms that patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience. Despite its frequency and severity, CRF is poorly managed. A renewed focus on supporting self-care among patients with cancer has been found to reduce symptom burden, empower patients and improve patient satisfaction. Understanding the link between self-care agency (i.e. capability and willingness to self-care) and CRF levels will help practitioners to better support individuals on the cancer journey. Design: A descriptive, correlational survey design was employed. Methods: Patients (n = 362) undergoing chemotherapy with a primary diagnosis of breast, colorectal, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cancers were recruited from four oncology centres in one city in the South of Ireland. Participants completed the Piper Fatigue Scale-Revised, Appraisal of Self-care Agency Scale and a researcher-developed Fatigue Self-Care Survey. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between CRF and self-care agency using a dichotomous dependent variable score of four as the cut-off between those deemed to be fatigued (≥4) and those not fatigued (<4). As recommended by the EQUATOR Network, the STROBE checklist of items for cross-sectional studies is used to report the study. Results: The incidence of CRF was high with 75% of participants scoring clinically relevant CRF. Higher SCA (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.93–0.99, p = .011) was associated with decreased odds of developing CRF. Having non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (OR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.29–7.07, p = .011) was associated with increased odds of developing CRF. Conclusions: Patient's undergoing chemotherapy experience significant fatigue. Higher capability for self-care is associated with lower fatigue. The promotion of SCA and self-care strategies can impact on CRF. Relevance to clinical practice: Understanding the link between self-care abilities and fatigue can lead to more individualised and tailored approaches to CRF