Mortality of silver eels migrating through different types of hydropower turbines in Lithuania

Hydropower plants (HPP) are considered to be one of the major threats to the survival of European eels when they migrate downstream along inland water bodies during the early part of their annual journey to the spawning area in the Sargasso Sea. There are 98 HPPs in Lithuania and thousands throughout Europe. Numerous studies describe HPP induced mortality rates among European eels as variable depending on local, environmental, and technical factors. This heterogeneity in effect complicates theoretical extrapolation to eel mortality arising from specific types of HPP, necessary for effective management of local stocks. Silver eel mortality was estimated for 4 different HPPs in Lithuania. Mortality was estimated using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification, passive integrated transponders) tags and acoustic telemetry in a large HPP (>100 MW) with Kaplan turbines, a small HPP (<1 MW) with a Kaplan turbine and a fish passage, and for the first time in two small HPPs (<1 MW) with CINK turbines. The results supported a hypothesis that the mortality rate of migrating eels depends mainly on the type and size of the turbine. HPP induced mortality varied from 100% in a small CINK turbine down to 25% in the large HPP with Kaplan turbines. The importance of simple mitigation measures was highlighted by 34% of all tagged eels bypassing one of the HPP via an adjacent fish passage constructed for upstream migration of salmonids. The observed differences in mortality provide essential information for long term strategies designed to restore depleted eel populations in Lithuania and other European countries.     

Graphene supported platinum–cobalt nanocomposites as electrocatalysts for borohydride oxidation

In the study presented herein a rapid microwave heating method was used to prepare the graphene supported PtCo catalysts with Pt:Co molar ratio 1:7, 1:22 and 1:44. The transmission electron microscopy was employed to characterize the catalysts. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used for estimation of Pt and Co metal loadings. The electrocatalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts towards the oxidation of borohydride was investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The kinetics of the catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH₄ in the presence of the synthesized catalysts was investigated.     

Fiber-shaped Co modified with Au and Pt crystallites for enhanced hydrogen generation from sodium borohydride

This work presents the study of catalytic activity of the fiber-shaped Co decorated with low amounts of Au or Pt nanoparticles for the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride in alkaline conditions. The morphology, structure and composition of the prepared catalysts were examined using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy.It was found that the decoration of the fiber-shaped Co with the Au or Pt nanoparticles allows enhancing of catalytic activity for the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride, compared with that of the pure fiber-shaped Co.     

Trends and sustainability criteria of the production and use of liquid biofuels

Environmental impacts associated with the use of fossil fuels, rising prices, potential limitations in supply and concerns about regional and national security are driving the development and use of biomass for bioenergy, biofuels and bioproducts. However, the use of biomass does not automatically imply that its production, conversion and use are sustainable. Conflicts between various ecosystem services (economic production of food, fodder and fuels, biodiversity, social and cultural values, etc.) that are provided by fertile land are increasing as well. Hence, a developed thinking on how to balance between these services is desirable.There is a significant amount of information available on biofuels and their sustainability. In this paper, different initiatives and sustainability criteria for biofuels are presented and assessed.35 criteria were found in emerging sustainability assessment frameworks. The majority of 12 criteria were focused on environmental issues, 4 were social and only 1 was economic. Energy balance and greenhouse gas balance were perceived as especially critical, social criteria ranked generally low. Although being perceived as important, food security ranked very low.     

Analysis of knitted fabrics deformations non-uniformity

The article presents the tensile forces caused knitted fabrics’ deformations non-uniformity analysis. At first, the tensile behaviour was analysed by applying new method based on specific Y-shaped and stretching specimen. This shape of specimen allows to fulfil wearing conditions of apparel made of knitted fabrics. After this, the article analyses research conditions and knitted fabrics’ deformability physical characteristics and determines longitudinal, transverse and angular deformations. The deformations properties were evaluated using graphic and numerical methods. Investigations have shown that elastane fibres significantly influenced fabric deformability, dimensional changes and deformations’ non-uniformity. Experiments have also shown that Y-shaped specimen tensile test is a simple, universal and reliable method suitable to obtain quantitative information about textile materials deformability.     

Exposure of consumers to deoxynivalenol from consumption of white bread in Hungary

In view of the frequent occurrence of mycotoxins in cereals, a study was initiated to assess the exposure of the Hungarian adult population. Consumption data for 1360 individuals, based on a 3-day questionnaire, indicated that white bread accounted for the major intake of cereal-based products. Various cereal products were analysed for 16 mycotoxins by a LC/MS/MS multi-toxin method with LOD of 16 μg kg?1 and LOQ of 50 μg kg?1. Deoxynivalenol (DON) was most frequently detected, but no acetyl-deoxynivalenol was present in detectable concentrations. Consumer exposure was calculated with standard Monte Carlo probabilistic modelling and point estimates, taking into account bread consumption and DON contamination in independently taken wheat flour and wheat grain samples. Over 55% of cases the DON intake were below 15% of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) of 1 μg/(kg bw)/day. However, in 5-15% of cases, the intake from bread consumption alone exceeded the PMTDI. Wheat grain data led to the higher percentage. Intakes estimated from both data sets were at or below the acute reference dose (ARfD) of 8 μg/(kg bw)/day in 99.94-99.97% of cases.