NORUT Northern Research Institute

Ionic liquids can be utilized in petroleum science. However, scant attention has been paid to utilization of ionic liquids in petroleum science by researchers. In this work, recent development of utilization of ionic liquids in petroleum science is introduced. First of all, ionic liquids can be utilized as additive in oil & gas industry, such as surfactant, corrosion inhibitor, demulsifier, and dispersant. In addition, ionic liquids can be utilized in separation process of oil & gas processing. For example, ionic liquids can be utilized to remove naphthenic acids from oils, extract toluene from alkanes, dissolution of asphaltene in oils, extract phenol from model oil, and separate oil mixtures in combination of membranes. Ionic liquids can also be utilized in novel technology development for enhanced oil recovery, and oil field scale control process. Moreover, utilization of ionic liquids in gasoline desulfurization process is an important and crucial to development, which is greener, lower cost, and safer compared with the traditional processing technology. Furthermore, ionic liquids can be utilized as novel solvents to form micro-emulsion. Some ionic liquids have task-specific functional group, which can reduce the cost and improve the separation efficiency. Utilization of ionic liquids in catalysis process of oil & gas industry is also introduced in this work. In the end, utilization of ionic liquids in oil sand treatment process and asphaltene precipitation inhibition process is discussed. This work will benefit the novel environmentally friendly technology development using ionic liquids for oil & gas production and processing.

An Informed Path Planning algorithm for multiple agents is presented. It can be used to efficiently utilize available agents when surveying large areas, when total coverage is unattainable. Internally the algorithm has a Probability Hypothesis Density (PHD) representation, inspired by modern multi-target tracking methods, to represent unseen objects. Using the PHD, the expected number of observed objects is optimized. In a sequential manner, each agent maximizes the number of observed new targets, taking into account the probability of undetected objects due to previous agents’ actions and the probability of detection, which yields a scalable algorithm. Algorithm properties are evaluated in simulations, and shown to outperform a greedy base line method. The algorithm is also evaluated by applying it to a sea ice tracking problem, using two datasets collected in the Arctic, with reasonable results. An implementation is provided under an Open Source license.

The population is getting older, and the resources for care will be even more limited in the future than they are now. There is thus an aim for the society that the seniors can manage themselves as long as possible, while at the same time keeping a high quality of life. Physical activity is important to stay fit, and social contact is important for the quality of life. The aim of this chapter is to provide a state-of-the-art of online social exergames for seniors, providing glimpses of senior users' opinions and games limitations. The importance of the motivational techniques is emphasized, as well as the impact that the exergames have to seniors. It contributes to the book objectives focusing on current state and practice in health games for physical training and rehabilitation and the use of gamification, exploring future opportunities and uses of gamification in eHealth and discussing the respective challenges and limitations.

The aim of this study was to investigate hospital professionals' experience and attitude with patients accessing their own electronic health records. The study was conducted one year after service establishment. Data was collected through an online survey. In total, 457 replies were received. The results revealed a quarter of the administrative staff received feedback from patients or relatives regarding mistakes or missing information in their EHR. In addition, 67.5% of health professionals expected more patients to have basic knowledge of their health status in the future, and 21.4% found patients already gained better knowledge about diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up. The results also revealed some challenges with the service, especially for health professionals working in psychiatry, with some scepticism on whether the service is suitable for the sickest and most vulnerable patients.

The three-dimensional (3D) graphene aerogel (GA)-wrapped LiFePO4 submicron-rod composite ([email protected]) has been prepared successfully through a solvothermal method followed with rapid freeze-drying. Monodispersed LiFePO4 submicron-rods are well-enwrapped with the graphene sheets and which further form a highly porous and conductive 3D structure, leading to the overall rapid electron transport of the composite electrode and affording many interwoven pores for fast supply of Li⁺ and storage of electrolyte. Moreover, the combination of the rod-shaped LFP and porous 3D structure can effectively relieve the stress resulted from the structural change during the insertion/deinsertion of Li⁺. Owing to these particular structure and characteristics, the [email protected] composite presents a high discharge capacity (162.7 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C), a remarkable rate capacity (119.9 mAh g⁻¹ at 5 C) and an excellent long-term cycle stability after 1000 cycles at 1 C (86.5% capacity retention), which is potential for use in Li-ion batteries.

This article introduces the EU Horizon 2020 research project GRACE (Integrated oil spill response actions and environmental effects), which focuses on a holistic approach towards investigating and understanding the hazardous impact of oil spills and the environmental impacts and benefits of a suite of marine oil spill response technologies in the cold climate and ice-infested areas of the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. The response methods considered include mechanical collection in water and below ice, in situ burning, use of chemical dispersants, natural biodegradation, and combinations of these. The impacts of naturally and chemically dispersed oil, residues resulting from in situ burning, and non-collected oil on fish, invertebrates (e.g. mussels, crustaceans) and macro-algae are assessed by using highly sensitive biomarker methods, and specific methods for the rapid detection of the effects of oil pollution on biota are developed. By observing, monitoring and predicting oil movements in the sea through the use of novel online sensors on vessels, fixed platforms including gliders and the so-called SmartBuoys together with real-time data transfer into operational systems that help to improve the information on the location of the oil spill, situational awareness of oil spill response can be improved. Methods and findings of the project are integrated into a strategic net environmental benefit analysis tool (environment and oil spill response, EOS) for oil spill response strategy decision making in cold climates and ice-infested areas.

On 11 April 2016 we observed high slushflow and wet snow avalanche activity at the environmental monitoring station Kobbefjord in W-Greenland. Snow avalanches released as a result of snow wetting induced by rain-on-snow in combination with a strong rise in air temperature. We exploit high-resolution satellite imagery covering pre- and post-event conditions for avalanche quantification and show that nearly 800 avalanches were triggered during this cycle. The nature of this extraordinary event is put into a longer temporal context by analysing several years of meteorological data and time-lapse imagery. We find that no event of similar size has occurred during the past 10 years of intense environmental monitoring in the study area. Meteorological reanalysis data reveal consistent relevant weather patterns for potential rain-on-snow events in the study area being warm fronts from Southwest with orographic lifting processes that triggered heavy precipitation.

A novel approach to a Bayesian ocean wind retrieval from high-range bandwidth synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data is demonstrated and validated using global Sentinel-1 (S1) A and B WV data acquired in October 2016 and January 2017. These spectral parameters are defined from the full-resolution image cross spectra. The first parameter is the integral spectral value (ISV) defined as the signed spectral energy at high-range wavenumber. Two other parameters, the azimuth phase plane slope (APPS) and range phase plane slope (RPPS), are the slope of the phase plane from the image cross spectra. Together with the normalized radar cross section (NRCS), these parameters form the input to our data-driven model for ocean wind retrieval. The model is trained on S1B from October 2016 data and validated on S1A and S1B from January 2017 data colocated with European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) atmospheric wind model as "ground" truth. The APPS proves to be the result of two sinusoidal functions, one symmetric and one antisymmetric, the antisymmetric part is in direct relation with the azimuth wind direction. Our Bayesian model achieves standard deviations of 1.73 m/s and 49.26° for January 2017 S1B data set with a bias of 0.03 m/s and -1.55°, corresponding results for January 2017 S1A data were 1.79 m/s and 49.95° with biases 0.41 m/s and -1.89°. Including data with ECMWF wind speed above 7 m/s we achieve standard deviations of 1.81 m/s and 33.16° with biases 0.1 m/s and -1.31° for the January 2017 S1B data set.

Routine bridge inspections usually consist of visual observations. These inspections are time-consuming and subjective. There is a need to identify new inspection techniques for infrastructure that reduce traffic disturbance, and improve the efficiency and reliability of the acquired data. This study compared the performance of three different imaging technologies for the three-dimensional (3D) geometric modeling of existing structures: terrestrial laser scanning, close-range photogrammetry, and infrared scanning. Each technology was used to assess six existing concrete railway bridges. The technologies were compared in terms of geometric deviations, visualization capabilities, the level of the inspector’s experience, and degree of automation. The results suggest that all methods investigated can be used to create 3D models, however, with different level of completeness. Measurements such as span length, deck widths, etc. can be extracted with good accuracy. Although promising, a full off-site inspection is currently not feasible as some areas of the bridges were difficult to capture mainly due to restricted access and narrow spaces. Measurements based on terrestrial laser scanning were closer to the reality compared to photogrammetry and infrared scanning. The study indicates the no special training is needed for photogrammetry and infrared scanning to generate a 3D geometric model.

Local immunotherapies such as the intratumoral injection of oncolytic compounds aim at reinstating and enhancing systemic anticancer immune responses. LTX-315 is a first-in-class, clinically evaluated oncolytic peptide-based local immunotherapy that meets these criteria. Here, we show that LTX-401, yet another oncolytic compound designed for local immunotherapy, depicts a similar safety profile and that sequential local inoculation of LTX-401 was able to cure immunocompetent host from subcutaneous MCA205 and TC-1 cancers. Cured animals exhibited long-term immune memory effects that rendered them resistant to rechallenge with syngeneic tumors. Nevertheless, the local treatment with LTX-401 alone had only limited abscopal effects on secondary contralateral lesions. Anticancer effects resulting from single as well as sequential injections of LTX-401 were boosted in combination with PD-1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and sequential LTX-401 treatment combined with double ICB exhibited strong abscopal antineoplastic effects on contralateral tumors underlining the potency of this combination therapy.

Venomous marine cone snails produce peptide toxins (conotoxins) that bind ion channels and receptors with high specificity and therefore are important pharmacological tools. Conotoxins contain conserved cysteine residues that form disulfide bonds that stabilize their structures. To gain structural insight into the large, yet poorly characterized conotoxin H-superfamily, we used NMR and CD spectroscopy along with MS-based analyses to investigate H-Vc7.2 from Conus victoriae, a peptide with a VI/VII cysteine framework. This framework has CysI–CysIV/CysII– CysV/CysIII–CysVI connectivities, which have invariably been associated with the inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) fold. However, the solution structure of recombinantly expressed and purified H-Vc7.2 revealed that although it displays the expected cysteine connectivities, H-Vc7.2 adopts a different fold consisting of two stacked β-hairpins with opposing β-strands connected by two parallel disulfide bonds, a structure homologous to the N-terminal region of the human granulin protein. Using structural comparisons, we subsequently identified several toxins and nontoxin proteins with this “mini-granulin” fold. These findings raise fundamental questions concerning sequence–structure relationships within peptides and proteins and the key determinants that specify a given fold.

The Arctic is experiencing rapid climatic and environmental changes, which could alter diets of nonmigratory herbivores both within and between populations. Here, we used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in hair to infer summer dietary differences of Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus (nonmigratory reindeer) in Nordenskiöldland, Svalbard and used regression models to predict how reindeer dietary intake depend on climatic variables. In linear regression models, current-year and last-year July temperatures positively correlated with both the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of reindeer hair, and were stronger predictors of isotopic signatures than July precipitation. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N analysis indicated robust dietary differences between populations separated by less than 50 km and within these valley systems in the proportions of nonmycorrhizal vascular plants and mosses. Remote sensing (NDVI) and isotopic data together suggested an early-season switch from moss to vascular plant dependence in valleys closer to the sea, suggesting both high site fidelity and localized differences in forage availability related to the onset of the growing season. ¹³C photosynthetic discrimination increased with the rising atmospheric pCO2, indicating that Svalbard plants are already responding physiologically to rising CO2 concentrations. Calves were higher in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N than adults, consistent with a weak trophic effect. We also determined how hair C:N correlated with δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N patterns. Overall, these data provide evidence that δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N measurements can detect dietary shifts over short time periods and fine spatial scales, indicating that isotopic studies can help monitor herbivory in the changing Arctic.

In this article, we have presented surface velocity estimation of Chhota Shigri (CS) and Bara Shigri (BS) glaciers in the Himalaya using C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from Sentinel-1 (S-1). Repeat-pass SAR image subpixel offset tracking has been used to generate velocity vectors from yearly and seasonal S-1 data sets. SAR offset tracking on the basis of maximum intensity correlation provided the two-dimensional (2-D) movement of the both CS and BS glaciers of Chandra valley in western Himalaya. Movement of the glacier has been observed in the terminus to ablation zone during 2014–2018. S-1-derived movement is compared with in-situ measurement over CS glacier, and it has shown approximately 25% deviation during 2015–2016 with respect to field measurements from 2009 to 2010. Similar to previous decade observations, S-1 offset tracking movement results of recent three years have shown a decreasing trend.

Recent technology developments have turned present-day unmanned systems into realistic alternatives to traditional marine animal survey methods. Benefits include longer survey durations, improved mission safety, mission repeatability, and reduced operational costs. We review the present status of unmanned vehicles suitable for marine animal monitoring conducted in relation to industrial offshore activities, highlighting which systems are suitable for three main monitoring types: population, mitigation, and focal animal monitoring. We describe the technical requirements for each of these monitoring types and discuss the operational aspects. The selection of a specific sensor/platform combination depends critically on the target species and its behaviour. The technical specifications of unmanned platforms and sensors also need to be selected based on the surrounding conditions of a particular offshore project, such as the area of interest, the survey requirements and operational constraints.

Ruminant fodder production in agricultural lands in latitudes above the Arctic Circle is constrained by short and hectic growing seasons with a 24-hour photoperiod and low growth temperatures. The use of remote sensing to measure crop production at high latitudes is hindered by intrinsic challenges, such as a low sun elevation angle and a coastal climate with high humidity, which influences the spectral signatures of the sampled vegetation. We used a portable spectrometer (ASD FieldSpec 3) to assess spectra of grass crops and found that when applying multivariate models to the hyperspectral datasets, results show significant predictability of yields (R2 > 0.55, root mean squared error (RMSE) < 180), even when captured under sub-optimal conditions. These results are consistent both in the full spectral range of the spectrometer (350–2500 nm) and in the 350–900 nm spectral range, which is a region more robust against air moisture. Sentinel-2A simulations resulted in moderately robust models that could be used in qualitative assessments of field productivity. In addition, simulation of the upcoming hyperspectral EnMap satellite bands showed its potential applicability to measure yields in northern latitudes both in the full spectral range of the satellite (420–2450 nm) with similar performance as the Sentinel-2A satellite and in the 420–900 nm range with a comparable reliability to the portable spectrometer. The combination of EnMap and Sentinel-2A to detect fields with low productivity and portable spectrometers to identify the fields or specific regions of fields with the lowest production can help optimize the management of fodder production in high latitudes.

Extracting snowpack parameters from snow cover on sea ice or land is a time-consuming and potentially high-risk task. Moreover, deriving such parameters by manually digging a snow pit evidently yields low area coverage. We, therefore, propose a practical solution to this problem by mounting an ultrawideband radar system onto an UAV to obtain information such as snowpack depth, density, and stratigraphy in order to increase personnel safety and extend coverage area. In this paper, we describe the development of radar system hardware and its mounting onto a UAV, as well as initial tests with this radar as a snow measuring device. Preliminary results from both ground and airborne testing show that the radar system is capable of obtaining snow depth information that corresponds well to in situ validation data with a correlation of 0.87. The radar system also works well while mounted on a UAV platform with little additional signal noise from vibrational and translatory movements.

Background: The authors present a case study of a public health campaign, including social media, and aiming at maximizing the use of web app on sexual health. Objective: To analyze the impact of a Facebook fan page, Facebook advertisements, and posters to maximize the number of visits to the educational web app. Methods: The campaign is assessed for 1 year, using data tracked through Facebook statistics and Google Analytics. Results: The site had 3670 visits (10.1 visitors/day, 95%CI 8.7-11.4). During the one-month Facebook Ads campaign, the site received 1263 visits (42.1 visitors/day, 95%CI 37.3-46.9), multiplying by over four the average number of visitors/day. 34.4% of all the participants were recruited during the one-month Facebook ads campaign. Conclusions: Facebook advertisements seem to be a good tool to promote an educational web app on sexual health targeting youth, and to reach a huge number of users rapidly and at a low cost.

Oncolytic peptides and peptidomimetics are being optimized for the treatment of cancer by selecting agents with high cytotoxic potential to kill a maximum of tumor cells as well as the capacity to trigger anticancer immune responses and hence to achieve long-term effects beyond therapeutic discontinuation. Here, we report on the characterization of two novel oncolytic peptides, DTT-205 and DTT-304 that both selectively enrich in the lysosomal compartment of cancer cells yet differ to some extent in their cytotoxic mode of action. While DTT-304 can trigger the aggregation of RIP3 in ripoptosomes, coupled to the phosphorylation of MLKL by RIP3, DTT-205 fails to activate RIP3. Accordingly, knockout of either RIP3 or MLKL caused partial resistance against cell killing by DTT-304 but not DTT-205. In contrast, both agents shared common features in other aspects of pro-death signaling in the sense that their cytotoxic effects were strongly inhibited by both serum and antioxidants, partially reduced by lysosomal inhibition with bafilomycin A1 or double knockout of Bax and Bak, yet totally refractory to caspase inhibition. Both DTT-304 and DTT-205 caused the exposure of calreticulin at the cell surface, as well as the release of HMGB1 from the cells. Mice bearing established subcutaneous cancers could be cured by local injection of DTT-205 or DTT-304, and this effect depended on T lymphocytes, as it led to the establishment of a long-term memory response against tumor-associated antigens. Thus, mice that had been cured from cancer by the administration of DTT compounds were refractory against rechallenge with the same cancer type several months after the disappearance of the primary lesion. In summary, DTT-205 and DTT-304 both have the capacity to induce immunotherapeutic oncolysis.