Dominant Source Research Articles

ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE IN THE VICINITY OF THE BREWERY - A CASE STUDY

Industrial plants can noticeably affect environmental noise pollution. In addition to the noise generated by industrial processes, vehicles used for transporting raw materials and finished products represent a significant noise source. As production capacity increases, particularly in the case of modern factories that evolved from traditional family manufactories, the problem becomes more pronounced within the existing infrastructure. This paper specifically analyzes environmental noise in the immediate vicinity of a brewery, located in the central part of one city in Serbia. Through analysis of noise monitoring results, certain machines and processes within the brewery that significantly impact environmental noise indicator values were identified. Accordingly, recommendations were provided for implementing appropriate measures within the brewery aimed at enhancing acoustic comfort in the surrounding environment near the brewery. Environmental noise measurements were repeated after the acoustic treatment of the dominant noise source in the brewery, after which the effect of the measures taken in terms of reducing the noise levels in the immediate vicinity of the source was examined.

Seasonal and spatial contributions of sulfate and trace elements in river water in mining districts: Insights from hydrogeochemical and isotopic analysis based on statistical models.

Although sulfur-bearing minerals are valuable resources, they pose significant environmental risks to river ecosystems by releasing hazardous leachate. Accurately tracing these sources is crucial but challenging due to overlapping chemical signatures and pollutant transport dynamics in river systems. This study investigates seasonal and spatial variations in sulfate (SO42 -) and trace element contributions in mining districts of the upper Nakdong River basin, South Korea. Sulfate isotopes (δ34SSO4 and δ18OSO4) and Monte Carlo simulations enhanced the precision of source estimation. Bayesian stable isotope mixing models revealed acid mine drainage (55.3 %) dominated during the wet season, while smelter tailings and mine leachate dominated during the dry season (43.8 %). Model uncertainty was addressed through probabilistic approaches, with Monte Carlo simulations, ensuring robustness in δ18OSO4 predictions. Additionally, the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model identified dominant emission sources and impact ranges for hazardous elements, mostly validated by high correlation coefficients (r > 0.8). Notably, the contribution of Cd-dominated emissions from smelters increased from 13 % in the wet season to 51.5 % in the dry season, while the contribution of As-dominated emissions from mining increased from 30.3 % to 40.7 %. Despite sorption and coprecipitation processes, As contamination migrated ∼ 50 km downstream during the dry season. Statistical correlation and cluster analyses further confirmed consistency between observed and modeled geochemical patterns. This study underscores the reliability of integrating Bayesian and PMF models with isotopic and hydrogeochemical data, offering valuable insights for tracing anthropogenic sources in complex mining environments.

Evaluating sources of mercury in Canada's Mackenzie River.

Arctic rivers may be the largest net sources of mercury (Hg) to the Arctic Ocean, yet riverine sources of Hg remain poorly characterized compared to atmospheric processes. This article reviews the current state of knowledge on Hg inputs to the Mackenzie River and Valley in Northern Canada from six point and non-point sources. Point sources include the locations of mines, fossil fuel extraction facilities, and retrogressive permafrost thaw slumps. Non-point sources are assessed through models of Hg release from anthropogenic and wildfire-derived atmospheric Hg deposition (GEM-MACH-Hg), permafrost thaw (SiBCASA), and rainfall-induced soil erosion (RUSLE). Ongoing anthropogenic activity is likely a minor contributor to Hg levels in the Mackenzie Valley as production from the fossil fuel and mining industries have steadily declined over the past two decades. Conversely, Hg inputs from atmospheric deposition, permafrost thaw, and permafrost thaw slumps have increased due to climate change and the re-emission of legacy Hg. The widespread influence of atmospheric Hg deposition makes it the dominant source of Hg to both aquatic and terrestrial systems in the Mackenzie Valley, although soil erosion inputs, while higher, are restricted to regions of steep terrain. Climate-driven increases in terrestrial Hg release, particularly from permafrost degradation and erosion, are emerging as key localized drivers of Hg inputs in the Mackenzie Valley.

HIV-1 drug resistance and genetic transmission networks among patients with sexually transmitted HIV in Ningxia, China.

Over the past decade, sexual transmission has become a dominant source of new HIV-1 infection in China. However, very few studies have been conducted to characterize the two sexual transmissions, homosexual and heterosexual transmission. This study was conducted to better understand the relationship between genotypes, drug resistance, and molecular transmission networks in two groups of sexually transmitted HIV-1 in Ningxia, China. Plasma samples were collected from sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS patients in Ningxia between 2020 and 2021 for RNA extraction followed by HIV-1 genome sequencing, genotype and drug resistance analyses. The TN93 model in HyPhy2.2.4 with 1.25% as the threshold, was used to calculate the gene distance, and Cytoscape3.7.0 was used to generate a visual molecular transmission network. A total of 269 samples were successfully sequenced, and 10 HIV-1 subtypes were detected. The two most common subtypes were CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. All 10 subtypes were detected in heterosexually transmitted patients, and 7 subtypes were found in homosexually transmitted patients who were exclusively men sex with men (MSM). The drug resistance rates of heterosexual individuals and MSMs were 45.34 and 33.33%, respectively. Sequences from 120 patients entered the molecular transmission network, forming 35 clusters. The clustering rate for MSM (52.78%) was higher than that of heterosexual individuals (39.13%). Some MSM and HSTs were involved in the same cluster and might act as bridges for transmission between the two populations. Our data showed that heterosexually transmitted HIV-1 was more likely to be a drug-resistant virus, whereas MSM was more likely to contract viruses through network connection. It is strongly recommended that resistance testing be conducted before ART to improve effective treatment and reduce the spread of resistant viruses. Molecular networks can help to identify transmission clusters and provide more precise interventions.

The Dominant Source Mechanism of Infrasound Generation in Powder Snow Avalanches

AbstractPowder snow avalanches (PSAs) radiate infrasound energy, yet the source mechanism remains unclear, limiting hazard monitoring and mitigation with infrasound‐based technologies. Here, we analyze a unique data set from a large PSA to improve the understanding of the source mechanism. Through comparison of cluster activity within the airborne layers of the PSA and the recorded infrasound signal in the frequency domain, we demonstrate that infrasound is mainly generated from particle clusters suspended by turbulent eddies or ejected from the denser basal layer. Further correlating infrasound amplitudes with radar‐derived spatial distributions of these clusters, we reveal a distributed source extending hundreds of meters behind the avalanche front. Additionally, we establish a relationship between infrasound and kinetic energy of suspended particles. These findings deepen our understanding of the complex dynamics of infrasound generation, offering valuable insights for avalanche detection and early warning strategies, and fundamental comprehension of PSA dynamics.

Signatures of high-redshift galactic outflows in the thermal Sunyaev Zel’dovich effect

Abstract Anisotropies of the Sunyaev Zel’dovich (SZ) effect serve as a powerful probe of the thermal history of the universe. At high redshift, hot galactic outflows driven by supernovae (SNe) can inject a significant amount of thermal energy into the intergalactic medium, causing a strong y-type distortion of the CMB spectrum through inverse Compton scattering. The resulting anisotropies of the y-type distortion are sensitive to key physical properties of high-z galaxies pertaining to the launch of energetic SNe-driven outflows, such as the efficiency and the spatio-temporal clustering of star formation. We develop a simple analytic framework to calculate anisotropies of y-type distortion associated with SNe-powered outflows of galaxies at z > 6. We show that galactic outflows are likely the dominant source of thermal energy injection, compared to contributions from reionized bubbles and gravitational heating. We further show that next-generation CMB experiments such as LiteBIRD are likely to detect the contribution to y anisotropies from high-z galactic outflows through the cross-correlation with surveys of Lyman-break galaxies by e.g. the Roman Space Telescope. Our analysis and forecasts demonstrate that thermal SZ anisotropies can be a promising probe of SN feedback and outflows in early star-forming galaxies.

Provenance of late Pleistocene loess in central and eastern Europe: isotopic evidence for dominant local sediment sources

Loess profiles along the Danube River provide a record of long-term Quaternary dust (loess) deposition in central-eastern Europe. Here, Sr–Nd isotopic data from four loess-palaeosol profiles (47 samples) spanning the last two-glacial-interglacial cycles are presented. The isotopic compositions generated by this study are compared with bedrock and sedimentary samples from Europe and North Africa to decipher the sources of sediment. The results demonstrate that over the last 300 ka the alluvial plains of the Danube (which are themselves sourced from surrounding mountain belts) are a local source of material and consequently sediment experiences aeolian transport over relatively short distances. The results dispute the commonly held assumption that the Sahara was a sediment contributor to loess in central-eastern Europe as North African contributions are not needed to explain loess signatures. Consequently, the findings suggest a suppressed southerly wind direction and dominance of the westerly and north-westerly wind systems over the entirety of the record.

Authoritarians Do It Better? Belief in Misinformation in Turkey

Misinformation poses a significant threat to the integrity of political systems, particularly in competitive authoritarian regimes (CARs), where it can distort public perception and undermine democratic processes. This study focuses on the 2023 Turkish general elections—a context characterized by widespread misinformation. While extensive research has been conducted on misinformation in democratic systems, where press freedom and digitalization foster a mix of reliable and misleading information, this investigation targets the unique challenges and media consumption patterns in CARs. Utilizing a nationally representative survey after the 2023 elections, we examine the association between media consumption (traditional and online) and susceptibility to misinformation among government and opposition voters. Our findings reveal that partisan news consumption significantly influences belief in misinformation, with individuals tending to believe claims aligning with their political affiliations while rejecting opposing claims. Moreover, television remains a dominant source of information in Turkey, unlike social media, which shows a limited impact on misinformation beliefs but possesses a conditional corrective potential for certain electorate segments. This study underscores the enduring influence of traditional media in CARs and suggests that while the theory of selective exposure and partisanship is applicable, the constrained information environment significantly shapes public perceptions and misinformation dynamics.

NORDIC denoising on VASO data.

The use of submillimeter resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is increasing in popularity due to the prospect of studying human brain activation non-invasively at the scale of cortical layers and columns. This method, known as laminar fMRI, is inherently signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-limited, especially at lower field strengths, with the dominant noise source being of thermal origin. Furthermore, laminar fMRI is challenged with signal displacements due to draining vein effects in conventional gradient-echo blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) imaging contrasts. fMRI contrasts such as cerebral blood volume (CBV)-sensitive vascular space occupancy (VASO) sequences have the potential to mitigate draining vein effects. However, VASO comes along with another reduction in detection sensitivity. NOise Reduction with DIstribution Corrected (NORDIC) PCA (principal component analysis) is a denoising technique specifically aimed at suppressing thermal noise, which has proven useful for increasing the SNR of high-resolution functional data. While NORDIC has been examined for BOLD acquisitions, its application to VASO data has been limited, which was the focus of the present study. We present a preliminary analysis to evaluate NORDIC's capability to suppress thermal noise while preserving the VASO signal across a wide parameter space at 3T. For the data presented here, with a proper set of parameters, NORDIC reduced thermal noise with minimal bias on the underlying signal and preserved spatial resolution. Denoising performance was found to vary with different implementation strategies and parameter choices, for which we provide recommendations. We conclude that when applied properly, NORDIC has the potential to overcome the sensitivity limitations of laminar-specific VASO fMRI. Since very few groups currently have 3T VASO data, by sharing our analysis and code, we can compile and compare the effects of NORDIC across a broader range of acquisition parameters and study designs. Such a communal effort will help develop robust recommendations that will increase the utility of laminar fMRI at lower field strengths.

Nuclear Spins in a Solid Exceeding 10-Hour Coherence Times for Ultra-Long-Term Quantum Storage

Long-term quantum storage for quantum communication applications will require optically accessible states with coherence times exceeding the desired storage time. Ground-state hyperfine levels in Eu3+:Y2SiO5 have previously shown coherence times as long as 6 h at 1.4 K when operated at a zero-first-order-Zeeman (ZEFOZ) point. Here, we have characterized the limiting decoherence mechanisms acting in this regime, which shows that the coherence time is limited by the presence of spin impurities. This dephasing effect has been suppressed by cooling the sample to 125 mK, resulting in an extension in the coherence time to over 13 h. In the absence of these impurities, the dominant source of dephasing is the field inhomogeneity of the ZEFOZ point arising from the spin inhomogeneous broadening. We have shown that coherence times over 18 h can be achieved by operating using a spectrally narrow subensemble selected from within the inhomogeneous line. The observed coherence time is longer than that of any other system suitable for an optical quantum memory. Furthermore, at a much higher temperature of 6 K, we have realized a 6-h coherence time, which has been obtainable using single-stage cryocoolers. These results imply advanced engineering feasibility in designing and operating future quantum information-storage devices for a wide range of applications, including in satellites. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Ambient air pollution and carcinogenic activity at three different urban locations.

Measurements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were simultaneously carried out at three different urban locations in Croatia (Zagreb, Slavonski Brod and Vinkovci) characterized as urban residential (UR), urban industrial (UI) and urban background (UB), respectively. This was done in order to determine seasonal and spatial variations, estimate dominant pollution sources for each area and estimate the lifetime carcinogenic health risks from atmospheric PAHs. Mass concentrations of PAHs showed seasonal variation with the highest values during the colder period and the lowest concentration during the warmer period of the year. The contribution of four- and five-ring PAHs to the total PAH concentrations was slightly lower during the warmer period of the year at all locations, while the contribution of six-ring PAHs was higher in the warmer period compared to the colder one. Spearman correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between temperature and PM10 and temperature and PAHs during the cold season, while in the warm period correlation with temperature was negative for PAHs and positive for PM10. Different statistical methods were used to estimate possible dominant pollution sources for each tested area. The obtained results indicated petrogenic and pyrogenic sources, petroleum combustion, and vehicle emission as dominant sources at the UR and UB locations, while vehicle emission, biomass and coal burning, and pyrogenic sources were recognized as dominant sources at the UI location. Cancer risk values obtained during the analysis were at an acceptable limit level, which was between 10-6 and 10-4 (values higher than 10-4 indicate high probable health risks).

Source Identification of Organic Carbon in Mountainous Reservoirs Sediments Using Stable Isotopes and n‐Alkanes

AbstractThis study focuses on the sources of organic carbon (OC) in surface sediments of reservoirs in the mountainous regions, as well as their dynamics and contribution mechanisms in the carbon cycle. Spatial variations in organic carbon, n‐alkanes, δ13C, and δ15N were analyzed, and a Bayesian isotope mixing model was applied to quantify the relative contributions of different OC sources. The results indicate that the concentration range of organic carbon in sediments is 0.88%–3.72%. The average concentration of long‐chain n‐alkanes is 3.69 μg/g, accounting for 71.4%, indicating that the main source of organic carbon is allochthonous organic carbon. In addition, the Bayesian mixture model results of carbon and nitrogen isotopes also indicate that allochthonous organic carbon is the main contributor. Specifically, sewage (33.1%), C₃ plants (27.1%), and soil organic carbon (19.9%) were identified as the dominant sources. This research highlights the influence of human activities, such as urbanization and agriculture, on OC dynamics and underscores the role of reservoirs in regulating OC transport. The findings provide critical insights into the mechanisms of OC sequestration in agricultural watersheds and offer valuable guidance for water resource management and ecological protection strategies in mountainous environments.

Kinetic Alfven Waves Driving Auroral O+ Ion Outflows to Form Plasma Cloak During the 17 March 2015 Geomagnetic Storm

AbstractWe present multi‐platform observations of plasma cloak, O+ outflows, kinetic Alfven waves (KAWs), and auroral oval for the geomagnetic storm on 17 March 2015. During the storm's main phase, we observed a generally symmetric equatorward motion of the auroral oval in both hemispheres, corresponding to the plasmasphere erosion and inward motion of the plasma sheet. Consequently, Van Allen Probes became immersed within the plasma sheet for extended hours and repeatedly observed correlated KAWs and O+ outflows. The KAWs contain adequate energy flux toward the ionosphere to energize the observed outflow ions. Adiabatic particle tracing suggests that the O+ outflows are directly from the nightside auroral oval and that the energization is through a quasi‐static potential drop. The O+ outflows from the nightside auroral oval were adequate (‐ #/‐s) and prompt (several minutes) to explain the newly formed plasma cloak, suggesting that they were a dominant initial source of plasma cloak during this storm.

Long-term emissions scenarios for India's energy power sector: An analysis using the India Energy Policy Simulator

India’s commitment to achieving 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030 reflects its ambitious vision under the Paris Agreement. However, coal is projected to remain a dominant energy source, contributing over half of the electricity generation in 2030. With electricity demand expected to quadruple by 2050, driven by increased electrification and green hydrogen uptake, transitioning to a low-carbon power sector is vital for achieving India’s net-zero emissions target by 2070.

Vertical and horizontal variabilities of ammonia in an agricultural area of Southeast China.

Ammonia (NH3) plays a crucial role in the global nitrogen cycle, the increased NH3 emissions from agricultural activities impacting air, soil, water quality, and human health. Accurately estimating both the vertical and horizontal transport distances of NH3 are important for effective pollution control. Therefore, we used a helium-filled balloon mounted sampler to analyze the vertical profiles of NH3 emissions and their seasonal variations in an agricultural area of southeast China. The annual mean concentration of NH3 in this area was 6.49±0.39μgm⁻3. Vertical measurements revealed a gradual and steady decrease with increasing height, though no significant variation detected between different heights. Seasonal variations showed that the highest concentration occurred in summer (9.98±0.11μgm⁻3) and the lowest in winter (4.65±0.02μgm⁻3). Concentrations in summer significantly higher than those in the other three seasons. NH3 concentrations during the fertilizer application period were much higher than those in the non-fertilizer application time. We also monitored the horizontal transport distance of NH3 after fertilization. It is indicated that NH3 concentrations emitted from agricultural activities decreased exponentially with horizontal transport distance and could only be transported over short distances, up to 250m. Therefore, local emissions are the dominant source of atmospheric NH3. Abetments such as enhanced-efficiency fertilizer could reduce agriculture NH3 emission to promote air quality.

A globális éghajlatváltozás jelensége és következményei regionális és szektorális aspektusban

Global climate change poses a significant threat to the planet and our well-being, with carbon emissions being a key contributing factor. The aim of this article is to delve into the complex system of factors influencing carbon emission trends among key countries, examine sectoral differences contributing to such emissions and understand the global actions taken to mitigate the climate change. For this purpose, both quantitative and qualitative research were conducted, and several statistics were used to provide a comprehensive insight on the subject. We have found that while industrialized countries have historically been major contributors to carbon emissions, the rapid economic growth and industrialization witnessed in China and other developing countries mainly in Asia have led to significant increase in their emissions in recent decades. Furthermore, not only regional but sectoral differences could be spotted as the energy sector, where fossil fuels remain a dominant source of energy despite growing efforts to transition to renewable sources, contribute the most to carbon emissions. Lastly, international climate conferences, such as the landmark Paris Agreement, as well as the current energy strategy in EU have sought to mobilize global and regional efforts to mitigate climate change and achieve net zero emissions.

Dynamic Methane Emissions from China's Fossil-Fuel and Food Systems: Socioeconomic Drivers and Policy Optimization Strategies.

In response to the 2023 "Action Plan for Methane Emission Control" in China, which mandates precise methane (CH4) emission accounting, we developed a dynamic model to estimate CH4 emissions from fossil-fuel and food systems in China for the period 1990-2020. We also analyzed their socioeconomic drivers through the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model. Our analysis revealed an accelerated emission increase (850.4 Gg/year) during 2005-2015, compared to 570.4 Gg/year in the preceding period (1990-2005), with a downward trend (-1216.6 Gg/year) detected after 2015. The fossil-fuel system was the primary contributor to these changes, with emissions positively correlated with per capita GDP and negatively influenced by energy intensity at the production stage and wastewater discharge intensity at the disposal stage. In the food system, CH4 emission intensity and waste treatment practices were the most significant negative drivers at production and disposal stages, respectively. Urbanization also played a notable role, contributing to 19.3% and 18.1% in livestock and rice cultivation emission reductions, respectively. Despite the observed changes, coal mining, livestock, and rice remain the dominant sources of CH4 emissions. Our findings suggest that effective CH4 emission mitigation can be achieved through strategies such as reducing energy intensity, improving agricultural production efficiency, and advancing urbanization efforts.

Do ice-dam rupture events leave a distinctive signature in proglacial lake sediments?

Abstract Lake sediment provides a valuable record of past environmental change. However, the controls on sedimentation in proglacial lakes and their relation to glacier retreat remain poorly understood. In this study we analyze glaciolacustrine sediment production and deposition in Canal de los Témpanos, Lago Argentino, Argentine Patagonia. We associate temporal changes in the sedimentologic and geochemical characteristics analyzed from Lago Argentino cores with Late Holocene fluctuations of the Perito Moreno and Ameghino glaciers. We show that the dominant sediment source at our study site switched from Ameghino to Perito Moreno Glacier after the recession of Ameghino Glacier and the formation of the marginal ice-contact lake into which it currently calves. Spectacular ice-dam rupture events generated by Perito Moreno Glacier redistribute large volumes of water through the lake system but do not leave a significant sedimentary signature. Our results demonstrate that a detailed analysis of sedimentologic, petrophysical, and geochemical changes in lake cores can provide insight into regional glacial dynamics and sedimentary processes even in complex systems with multiple competing glacial sources and that changing glacier geometries during retreat can provide insights into the provenience of the sediments.

Pulse-profile Modeling and Spin–Orbit Alignment in a Suzaku Sample of Accreting X-Ray Binary Pulsars

We report pulse-profile modeling of a sample of 23 X-ray binary pulsars observed with the Suzaku X-ray satellite. These pulsars have spin periods ranging from 0.7 to 9400 s, and their X-ray emission is powered by the accretion from their stellar companions. We fitted each individual pulse profile with the Polestar geometric model, which accounts for X-ray emission from two hot spots modeled as a simple combination of fan+pencil beam components, including an approximation for gravitational light bending. In 14 of 21 cases, our measurements of the inclinations of the pulsar spin axes broadly agree with the corresponding inclinations of the orbital planes of the binary systems determined by various other means, a striking outcome with a mere 6 × 10−7 probability of occurring by chance. The implications of our study are as follows: (a) apparently, accretion torques have had time to erase spin–orbit misalignment caused by supernova kicks in two-thirds of the systems; (b) many X-ray binary pulsars have dominant dipolar surface magnetic fields, in contrast to the recently reported exotic configurations in millisecond pulsars; and (c) if the binary inclinations can be determined by pulse-profile modeling, even for a subset of the ∼200 known X-ray binary pulsars, most of which orbital inclinations are as yet poorly constrained, it raises the prospect of tightening dramatically ongoing neutron-star mass determinations. This is because masses in binary systems overwhelmingly come from an orbital-mechanics formulation (Kepler’s third law), in which the dominant source of uncertainty is the inclination of the orbital plane.

Addressing Indonesia's Fossil Fuel Dependence: A Path Towards a Sustainable Future

Fossil energy technologies, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, have been crucial in meeting Indonesia's energy demands but contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental degradation. This study examines Indonesia’s current energy landscape, the potential for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, and the role of clean energy technologies in supporting this shift. A qualitative research approach was employed, systematically reviewing recent literature to analyze the challenges and opportunities in Indonesia's energy sector. The findings highlight that while fossil fuels remain a dominant energy source, clean technologies like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and improvements in energy efficiency offer promising solutions to reduce emissions. However, significant barriers remain, including high production costs for renewable energy, lack of infrastructure, and technological limitations. The study also finds that increasing investments in renewable energy and diversifying energy sources are critical to achieving Indonesia's energy security and sustainability goals. In conclusion, Indonesia must prioritize a gradual but firm transition to renewable energy, supported by clear policy frameworks, financial incentives, and international cooperation. A diversified energy mix will not only enhance energy security but also help reduce environmental impacts, aligning Indonesia with global climate goals.