Ordovician and Silurian Formations of the Baltic Syneclise (NE Poland): An Organic Geochemistry Approach

AbstractThe Baltic Syneclise is one of the Paleozoic basins along the western margin of the East European Craton. Commercial amounts of hydrocarbons have been found onshore and offshore in the Middle Cambrian sandstones and Upper Ordovician limestone reefs. The Middle-Upper Cambrian and Tremadocian bituminous shales have been identified as good quality effective source rocks. The existence of good quality source rocks in the Ordovician and Silurian profiles provides an impetus for conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon explorations in this region. Geochemical analyses revealed that the rocks of the Middle–Late Ordovician and Early Silurian horizons exhibit overall good to very good source rock quality. Within the Ordovician strata, the Sasino and Prabuty formations exhibit the highest amounts of organic carbon with the median total organic carbon (TOC) values of 1.96 and 1.23 wt. %, respectively. The Pasłęk and Pelplin formations in the lowest parts of the Lower Silurian stand out clearly from other formations with the median TOC values of 0.91 and 1.15 wt. % and median total hydrocarbon content (S1+S2) of 2.46 and 1.54 mg HC/g rock, respectively. The analyzed successions are dominated by immature/early mature, algal (oil-prone) type II, and mixed II/I kerogen deposited in a marine paleoenvironment with anoxic conditions at the bottom and oxic conditions in the photic zone. Immature organic matter prevails in the eastern and central parts of the study area (Gołdap–Kętrzyn–Olsztyn area), and the western part (Darżlubie–Hel–Gdańsk area) has mature kerogen

United States Consumers’ Perceptions and Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Environmental Practices in a Retail Floral Provider’s Business Model

Research suggests consumers are willing to pay a premium for goods from industries that design products using environmentally sound practices and that these practices lead to customer loyalty. Using environmentally friendly practices can differentiate a business from competitors through branding, which has been known to help increase profit margins and stimulate demand in a saturated market. The main purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of consumer perceptions and willingness to pay as they relate to retail floral providers’ sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. A total of 2172 people responded to an online survey. The sample used in this study was a random selection of individuals 18 years and older living in the United States. Survey responses were collected from 21 Dec 2022 to 27 Jan 2023. Respondents indicated the use of locally sourced flowers followed by the recycling of flower waste through composting as the two sustainable attributes that would increase their willingness to make purchases the most. Respondents indicated the strongest willingness to pay 10% or more for locally sourced flowers (61.7%), followed by flower providers composting their floral waste (59.5%). In addition, 50% or more of all respondents indicated a willingness to pay 10% or more for all the sustainable attributes for which they were asked. The methods in which retail floral providers source floral material, create floral designs, and market and brand their company are important considerations when promoting their services toward environmentally conscious consumers and in creating a valuable repeat customer base

Demographic Differences in United States Consumers’ Perceptions and Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Environmental Practices in the Floral Industry

Consumers have become increasingly concerned about the environmental standards of industries from which they purchase products. Because consumers’ environmental concerns are increasingly becoming part of their purchasing decisions, industries have begun to restructure their business model to one that is more environmentally sustainable. Studies have indicated consumers’ actions and motivations for purchasing sustainable products vary based on consumer demographics. The main purpose of this study was to compare the differences in consumers’ perceptions and willingness to pay as they relate to retail floral providers’ sustainable and environmentally sound practices based on demographic traits. A total of 2172 people responded to an online survey. The sample used in this study was a random selection of individuals 18 years of age or older living in the United States. Survey responses were collected from 21 Dec 2022 to 27 Jan 2023. Data were analyzed using analyses of variance and post hoc tests as well as descriptive and frequency statistics. Results indicated there was a difference in the way respondents answered the survey questions based on demographics. Respondents 34 years of age or younger with college experience indicated the most willingness to make purchases and pay premiums from floral providers that incorporate sustainable attributes into their business model. Males indicated a stronger willingness to shop at a floral provider based on several of the environmental statements when compared with other genders. The results provide evidence of the value of the integration of sustainability practices into the business model of floral providers to make it more competitive

Effects of an Informal Place-based Educational Program on Knowledge and Perceptions of Invasive Species Management

Invasive species can generate negative impacts environmentally, socially, and economically. The interplay between human and natural systems renders management a complex problem that must be addressed by decision-makers. Perceptions of invasive species issues varies depending on an individual’s access to information. Although invasive species and their management are often discussed in formal higher education, not all members of the population have access to a formal educational setting. Informal educational experiences may be a mechanism to reach out to community members in a more accessible and perhaps engaging way than traditional higher education classroom experiences. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an informal, place-based educational program on perceptions and knowledge of invasive species and their management within the community. Place-based education is a pedagogy connection local places with intimate knowledge of the systems, processes, and outcomes that give it meaning to human and non-human species. First, we organized and administered short walks in two central Texas, USA, parks with conversational lessons and hands-on learning experiences. Second, we administered a follow-up retrospective-reflective survey to measure participants’ knowledge and perceptions of invasive species management and postwalk/lesson changes in them. We also compared between the treatment group of participants versus a control group within the community who did not participate in the informal lessons. Fifty-two people participated in both the educational program walks and testing over the course of 1 year, and 63 people were included in the follow-up retrospective-reflective survey control group. Results indicate a statistically significant positive change in knowledge and perception categories within the treatment group. Post hoc results indicate a positive change in knowledge and perceptions in our sample as a function of treatment group members’ age and income, respectively. The methodology used in this study was simple and inexpensive. Hence, our approach could be easily replicated in other areas to educate community members

Engaging Undergraduate Students in Research

A primary goal of undergraduate education is to provide a comprehensive and diverse educational experience to prepare and promote student success in their professional and personal pursuits. Increased academic success and program connectivity have been demonstrated when undergraduate students are engaged in research early in their degree programs. Despite the known benefits of undergraduates engaging in research, there are challenges associated with conducting undergraduate research programs. Reported barriers include the lack of student knowledge about research methods, lack of preparedness, and lack of student identification and understanding of their specific interests which may not facilitate research ideas and affinity to conduct research. Additional challenges are related to the lack of faculty resources (e.g., time, specific equipment, research space, etc.), the ability to train and supervise undergraduates who may have very limited or no research experience and those students who are true beginners lacking foundational skills. Moreover, involving, engaging, and supporting underrepresented students (e.g., first-generation college students, females, ethnic minorities) in undergraduate research experiences can require different approaches for mentors to be effective. The “Engaging Undergraduate Students in Research” workshop was organized by the Vice Presidents of the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) Research and Education Divisions at the ASHS 2022 Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, USA. The workshop featured three speakers who described their experiences engaging undergraduate students in research. After each speaker provided comments for ≈5 minutes, the workshop attendees self-selected into three breakout groups with the speakers for roundtable discussions related to engaging students in research through coursework, engaging students via formal research projects, and engaging underrepresented students in research. After the breakout group discussions, a summary was given by each group, and whole group discussions and comments were facilitated. This is a summary of the information discussed and shared during the workshop, along with information that can assist faculty with developing and implementing undergraduate research experiences

Crystal structure and growth kinetics of self-assembled microtubes with different chirality

The measurements of microtubes growth kinetics and morphology analysis were done in Ural Federal University (UrFU) and made possible by Russian Science Foundation (Grant No. 18-72-00052). The equipment of the Ural Center for Shared Use “Modern nanotechnology” UrFU was used. Computer simulation was performed under the support of Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant No. 19-01-00519 А). X-ray diffraction data were collected under the experiment SC-4587 at the European Synchrotron Radiation Source (ESRF, Grenoble, France). S.K., P.Z., L.M. and A.K. are grateful to FCT project PTDC/CTM-CTM/31679/2017. P.Z. and L.M. are grateful to FCT project PTDC/QEQ-QAN/6373/2014. S.K and A.K were also supported by the joint Portugal-Turkey project (TUBITAK/0006/2014). Part of this work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, FCT Ref. UID/CTM/50011/2019, financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES

Anodic Dissolution of Cobalt in Solutions of Methanol with Low Water Content

Prezentowana praca przedstawia elektrochemiczne badania kobaltu w bezwodnym metanolowym roztworze LiCl, oraz w roztworach zawierających odpowiednio 1, 3 i 5 % wody. Krzywe polaryzacyjne kobaltu, we wszystkich badanych środowiskach mają podobny kształt z jednym pikiem anodowym. Stężenie wody nie ma istotnego wpływu na sam proces anodowego roztwarzania. Podczas chronoamperometrycznej polaryzacji kobaltu zarówno w roztworze bezwodnym jak i roztworach zawierających wodę otrzymano koloidalne roztwory związków kobaltu. Otrzymane koloidy były analizowane przy pomocy spektroskopii w świetle widzialnym i nadfiolecie (UV-VIS) oraz spektroskopii w podczerwieni (FTIR). Badania spektroskopowe wykazały istotny wpływ wody na produkty anodowego roztwarzania kobaltu w roztworach metanolowych. Zaobserwowano również, że cząsteczki alkoholu silnie adsorbują się na powierzchni otrzymanych związków kobaltu, co utrudnia identyfikację produktu końcowego. Celem pracy jest anodowe roztwarzanie kobaltu stosując metanol jako rozpuszczalnik.This work presents electrochemical investigations of cobalt in unhydrous methanol solution of LiCl and in the corresponding solutions containing 1, 3, and 5 % of water. The curves for cobalt polarisation in all the investigated environments have similar shape with a single anodic peak. Water concentration does not influence considerably the proces of anodic dissolution. Colloidal solutions of cobalt compounds were obtained during chronoamperommetric polarisation of cobalt both in unhydrous solution and in the solutions containing water. The resulting solutions were analysed by means of ultraviolet and visible light spectroscopy (UVVIS) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The spectroscopic investigations revealed a considerable influence of water on the products of anodic dissolution of cobalt in methanol based solutions. It was also observed that alcohol particles are strongly adsorbed on a surface of the obtained cobalt compounds, what hampers the identification of the final product. The aim of the study is the anodic dissolution of cobalt using methanol as solvent

Radiogenic heat of Zechstein and Carboniferous rocks calculated using well-logging data from the Brońsko Reef area

Rocks characterized by an increased kerogene transformation ratio, which is an important indicator of hydrocarbon generation in petroleum exploration, generate more radiogenic heat as well. The goal of this paper was to evaluate radiogenic heat (A) in several boreholes drilled through Zechstein and Carboniferous deposits of the Brońsko Reef. Based on spectral gamma ray and Litho-Density Logs measurements, the quantitative concentration of radioactive elements including uranium, thorium and radioactive isotope of potassium (40K) was evaluated. These data along with bulk density were subsequently used to calculate the radioactive heat. The calculations were performed for boreholes B-2, B-3, B-4 and B-8, located in central part of the reef. Increased values of A appeared characteristic for the Main Dolomite, Zechstein limestone and Carboniferous deposits with high share of shales