Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: Groundwater recharge can help restore aquifers in areas facing water scarcity. [SEP] Text: Irrigation return water from central Iraq - contaminated with herbicides, pesticides, petrochemicals, and salts flushed from agricultural soils - was piped directly into the few remaining patches of wetland, or directly into the Gulf. These engineering actions desolated vast tracts of land so quickly that plant communities never had a chance to re-adapt. By desiccating hatchery habitat and drastically altering water salinity, they also collapsed both fresh and salt-water fisheries. Attempts to restore the marshes have been only marginally successful: there simply isn't enough fresh water to re-flood more than a fraction of their former extent - and what remains is too far away to provide environmental support to far-distant Basra. What is the significance of this project? Iraq's marshes suffered engineered destruction within the course of a single decade - but here in the United States, coastal wetlands have suffered and continued to suffer similar degradation on a much slower, but also much larger scale. Due to off-take for agricultural, industrial, and urban consumption, the no longer reaches its own delta, let alone its former outlet in the Sea of Cortez. Its once-lush marshlands, home to otter, herons, and jaguar at the time of Spanish first contact, are long gone. World-wide, dozens of rivers have met the same fate. Under stress from industrial development, sea-level change, and climatic change, since 1932, Louisiana has lost nearly one-quarter of its coastal land area - about 1,900 square miles. Over half of the has been converted to agriculture. Diversion of those waters has slowed aquifer recharge, resulting in salt water intrusion into Miami's drinking water supply. We know that constructed marshes can be (and have been) used effectively for (fresh) waste water treatment, at far lower cost than conventional treatment plants. Further, constructed coastal (tidal) salt marshes have been used effectively to halt erosion and mitigate storm damage. We seek to harness these kinds of successes to a new endeavor: that of reclaiming waste water from oil drilling and refining, using it to construct a test marsh, and comparing the result, in terms of biomass production and outflow water quality, to results obtained from test marshes built for (freshwater) sewage treatment and (brackish) irrigation return water. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by detailing the negative impacts of engineering actions in Iraq leading to destruction of marshlands and insufficient freshwater for re-flooding, indicating that there isn't enough fresh water to support aquifer recharge. Additionally, it discusses historical losses in coastal areas, such as Louisiana, where diversion of water has slowed aquifer recharge and caused saltwater intrusion. This suggests that the conditions necessary for effective groundwater recharge are not being met, thereby challenging the effectiveness of such practices in restoring aquifers in the face of water scarcity.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: Green arrows indicate the pathway for co-utilization of glucose and xyloseFull size image MethodsMaterials and chemicalspolymerase and pEASY-Uni seamless cloning and assembly kit were acquired from (Beijing, China). The restriction enzymes were purchased from BioLabs (Beijing, China). The l-lactic acid (98. 0%) and d-lactic acid (99. 0%) standards were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (St. ). Oligonucleotides and gene biosynthesis were performed by Co. , Ltd. (Shanghai, China). Corn stover hydrolysate was kindly provided by Group Co. Ltd. (China); the hydrolysate contained glucose (411. 0 g/L), xylose (140. 8 g/L), arabinose (5. 0 g/L), mannose (2. 4 g/L) and galactose (1. 6 g/L) and was produced by washing, pulverization, steam explosion, stewing, enzymatic (cellulase) hydrolysis, and concentration. All the other chemicals and reagents were of at least analytical grade and were available commercially. Bacterial strains, plasmids, and culture conditionsThe bacterial strains and plasmids used in this study are listed in Table 1. Bacillus licheniformis MW3 was kindly supplied by Meinhardt [20]. Escherichia coli strains DH5α and S17-1 were used for the vector construction and as the donor strain for conjugation, respectively. The vector pKVM1 carries ampicillin and erythromycin resistance genes, and temperature-sensitive replication was used for chromosomal DNA integrants [9]. Unless otherwise specified, strains were grown at 37 °C in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth (10 g/L tryptone, 5 g/L yeast extract, and 5 g/L NaCl). Ampicillin (100 μg/mL), erythromycin (5 μg/mL), and polymyxin B (40 μg/mL) were used for selection in the E. coli and Bacillus strains. X-Gal was added at 40 μg/mL for blue–white screening. Table 1 Bacterial strains and plasmids used and constructed in this studyFull size table For seed culturing, B. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text provides detailed information regarding the methods, materials, strains, and plasmids used in a study involving bacterial strains and various sugars. However, it does not mention anything specific about bioengineered yeast or their ability to produce biofuels from sugars. Therefore, it is irrelevant to the claim.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: Previously, various diet tracing methods such as visual analyses of stomach, gut or scat content (20), microscopic examination of feces, fatty acid and alternative biomarkers, cheek contents, or alimentary canal, bulk stable isotopes (21), plant alkane fingerprints, compound-specific stable isotopes (22), stable isotope analysis, protein electrophoresis of gut contents, and reflectance spectroscopy (23–26) has been adopted. Most of them are difficult or even impossible to carry out when dealing with animals feeds in complex environments with many species (3, 19, 27). Even more, previously unknown trophic relationships can be resolve by metabarcoding, even assist in excavation information about organisms which were traditionally impossible or difficult to recognize using visual methods (19, 28). We evaluated the potential of the illumina sequencing based metabarcoding technique to analyze the digested/degraded DNA from chipmunk feces contents. Feces analysis represents a non-invasive, and attractive approach. This molecular method has emerged as a popular option for characterizing trophic interactions because of its ability to provide high taxonomic resolution of prey and their sensitivity to rare, highly degraded items and those that leave no visual trace, such as liquid feeding (29). It is a cost and time efficient tool to acquire detail animal diet and microbiota information (3, 19). will enlighten future management plan and conservation actions for prey or predator and assist in the future understanding of ecosystem functioning as rodents play an essential role in ecological ecosystems broadening from tropical forests to arctic tundra (30–34). Further, rodents also influence the structure of terrestrial populations by using seeds, vegetation, and animals as prey. For example in the American Southwest, granivory rate by kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp. ) determines plant communities, whether grasses or shrubs dominate them. Other studies reported that rodents cause critical consequences for primary production, the water cycle, and cause animal community dynamics (35–37). Studies proved that rodents found in tropical and temperate forests can cause a switch in tree recruitment patterns by their actions as seed dispersers or seed predators (38–40). This fact-finding has enriched the biological background knowledge of Siberian chipmunk’s diet, gut microbial composition, metabolism profile and assessed their seasonal fluctuation. Our study has figured out that seasonal deviation in diet trigers shift in gut microbial composition and host metabolism. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by discussing how 'seasonal deviation in diet triggers shift in gut microbial composition and host metabolism.' This indicates that changes in the diet can lead to alterations in the gut microbiota, supporting the assertion that certain diets can positively influence gut microbiota diversity.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: Also, the use of renewable resources is beneficial for the total energy efficiency of these systems. The sources of water (in terms of type, quality, and seasonal availability) and the end‐use characteristics (such as consumption patterns and infrastructure) play an important role on the energy intensity of the water supply chain. An increase of 35% in energy consumption is expected by 2035 due to the impacts of climate change on water resources [5], the increased competition among water users, and the “loop effect” of the energy‐water interlinks. This might cause 85% increase in the water consumption and thus extra energy requirements are needed for water distribution and treatment [6, 7]. As these interlinkages are established, the quantification of the energy‐water relationship is a priority issue, particularly in water‐scarce regions. In water‐scarce areas, the main supply management methods are (1) water transports from areas with abundant water sources to areas with water scarcity; (2) intensive use of the available resources; and (3) use of nonconventional water resources (e. g. , wastewater reuse, desalination). All these supply methods cause an increase in the energy consumption for water supply and as a consequence, the cost of water is higher either for consumers or governments. Thus, any improvements in the energy use and the efficiency of water supply may lead to profits for the environment as well as important reductions in the cost of water. In this 2. The water system of the Greek islands Greece has the longest coastline in Europe, approximately 14,000 km. The country has about 2500 islands (Figure 1), with a total area of 21,580 km2. The islanders are estimated to be 1,633,433 [8]. Figure 1. Map of Greek islands and complexes. The climate on the Greek islands is typical Mediterranean (dry summers and wet winters), with relatively low precipitation (less than 400 mm per year, especially for the Aegean islands [9]). The storage, surface, or groundwater of sufficient quality and quantity is impossible on some islands due to the low precipitation and the geological formations. Furthermore, there is a peak in water demand on the summer period (due to tourism and irrigation), the water losses are high due to the leakages in the old distribution networks, the aquifers are degraded due to over‐pumping, and above all, an integrated water management system is absent in most of the islands. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by illustrating the limitations and challenges faced by water-scarce regions, particularly highlighting that desalination is not the sole solution for achieving water independence. It mentions the necessity of integrating various water supply management methods, including water transport and the use of nonconventional resources, which suggests that desalination alone would not suffice. The reference to the energy-water relationship and its implications for costs further reinforces the idea that relying solely on desalination may not be feasible for water independence.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: licheniformis was maintained at 4 °C on a GSY agar slant [21], which contains 10 g/L yeast extract, 5 g/L soybean peptone, 20 g/L glucose and 10 g/L CaCO3. The fermentation medium contained 10 g/L yeast extract, 5 g/L soybean peptone, and different concentrations of glucose and/or xylose or lignocellulosic hydrolysates. In short, for xylose fermentation, the initial concentration of xylose was approximately 57. 0 g/L. For mixed-sugar fermentation, the initial concentration of glucose and xylose were approximately 60. 0 and 20. 0 g/L, respectively, in both batch and fed-batch fermentations. The seed culture was prepared as follows: a loop of cells from a fully grown slant was inoculated into a 100-mL Erlenmeyer flask containing 30 mL of GSY medium and was incubated statically at 50 °C for 24 h. The seed culture was then amplified in an Erlenmeyer flask with an inoculum volume of 10% (v/v). Genetic manipulation in B. licheniformis MW3All primers used for construction are listed in supplementary Table S1, and the constructed plasmids and strains are listed in Table 1. The DNA fragment (termed as P als) upstream of the start codon (300 bp) of the alsS gene (GenBank: 52350029) from B. licheniformis MW3 was used. The genes encoding thermophilic xylose isomerase (xylA) were from B. coagulans 36D1 (termed as xylA Bc GenBank: AEO99969), Thermoanaerobacterium xylanolyticum (termed as xylA Tx GenBank: WP_013788598), Thermobacillus composti (termed as xylA Tc GenBank: WP_015253490), and Muricauda lutaonensis (termed as xylA Ml GenBank: WP_045800855), respectively. The ldh Bc gene encoding thermophilic l-lactate dehydrogenase was from B. coagulans 2–6. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text is largely technical and focused on the cultivation and genetic manipulation of B. licheniformis and does not directly address the claim about bioengineered yeast producing biofuels from sugars. Thus, it is irrelevant to the claim.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: 33% variance (Fig. 3A). Microbiota Chipmunk’s gut microbiome unveiled 10 phyla including up to 15 different genera. Gut microbiome composition varied seasonally, and a summary of all the comparisons made in this way is given in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 and Additional file 2 (P < 0. 001). The four most abundant microbial phyla were Firmicutes (55. 2%), Bacteroidetes (30. 4%) and Proteobacteria (6. 8%). Firmicutes consist of Lactobacillus genus, Bacteroidetes comprised of Prevotella genus and Proteobacteria contained Desulfovibrio genus were the more abundant phylum in the spring. These phyla exhibited a significant temporal change in relative abundance over the three seasons, decreasing more than two fold from the gut microbial community in spring. We observed that the a-diversity of the gut microbiome of chipmunk varied seasonally (P < 0. 001, Additional file 3 and Additional file 2). A preliminary Analysis (PCA) was conducted to visualize differences in bacterial genus composition between seasons, and to determine which genus were most strongly associated with the differences observed. PCA confirmed that samples from the spring season formed a distinct position in the ordination plot and summer showed similarity with autumn. This separation was most apparent along the PC1 axis which explained 93. 62% of the overall variation, and for which Lactobacillus had maximum dissimilarity among seasons and was abundant in spring (Fig. 4). The PC2 axis explained only 6. 33% of the overall variation; however, no distinctions between seasonal groups were made through this component. Differences in ß-diversity (i. e. , and ) were also measured. When all time points were averaged together, there was significant variation among the three seasons. analyses across phylum and genus levels were employed to identify taxa with the highest contribution to differences between the diet types. analyses across phylum and genus level were employed to identify taxa with the highest contribution to differences between the seasons. (Additional file 3). The distinction between diets types was more apparent as the taxonomic level became more specific where detected 34. 37% dissimilarity at the phylum level, which increased to 35. 22% dissimilarity at the genus level. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria (35. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text supports the claim by discussing significant variations in gut microbiota composition based on seasonal changes, which are likely influenced by the diets consumed during those times. It notes that specific phyla and genera exhibited distinct patterns of abundance related to seasonal diets, implying that dietary factors can have a significant impact on the diversity of gut microbiota.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: These facts intensify the problems of water scarcity and create water deficiencies in the local areas (Table 1). of islands water balance [11] Dodecanese 24 191,084 17 211,954 28 118,000 Aegean 14 202,360 7 16,792 7 63,467 1. Island complexes in Greece [8]. In each island, the specific conditions shape the approach used to address water deficiency problems. The current practices for domestic water supply according to Ref. [10] are: (a) desalination of sea or brackish water, (b) water transfer from the mainland at high cost (about 10 €/m3), (c) dams, and (d) boreholes. The state officials regard desalination as an appropriate long‐term settlement to the water‐shortage problem. Advertisement 3. Energy‐intensive water desalination Desalination was first introduced into Greek islands during 1960s, based on solar still collectors. Five systems of various sizes were installed until 1973, without great success, mainly due to operational breakdowns, poor maintenance [12], and conflicts of interest with the water tanker owners. The success in operation of these desalination units would result in a significant decline in the quantities of water they transferred to the islands. In 1969, a multistage‐flash system was installed in Syros, powered by fuel oil. The high cost of fuel in addition to mechanical problems led to the shift toward RO [13]. The next desalination attempt took place in the island of Corfu in 1977. A reverse electrodialysis (ED) plant with a daily capacity of 15,000 m3 was installed for the treatment of low‐salinity brackish water (up to 2000 ppm). The operation of this desalination plant ceased due to functional problems happened after few years [14]. Its specific energy consumption was 1. 7 kWh/m3 [15]. Before the Syros RO installations, the first RO units for the public community water supply were installed in 1981–1982 in the islands of Ithaca and Mykonos. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by highlighting that while desalination is regarded as an appropriate long-term solution to water shortages in some areas, it is not the only method available. Additionally, the text mentions other practices such as water transfer from the mainland, dams, and boreholes to address water deficiency problems, indicating that cities may need to employ multiple strategies alongside desalination to achieve true water independence.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: All four xylA genes were codon-optimized (Text 1) for B. licheniformis ATCC 14580 and were synthesized by Co. , Ltd. To knock out alsS and alsD (GenBank: 52350028), the flanking regions 749 bp upstream and 659 bp downstream were amplified using the primer pairs AlsSD-up-F/AlsSD-up-R and AlsSD-dn-F/AlsSD-dn-R and were then seamlessly assembled into the EcoRI/BamHI sites of plasmid pKVM1, resulting in plasmid pKVM01 (Figure S1A). Similarly, the vectors for deletion of genes ptsG, xylR, pflA, adhB, and ackA were constructed and called pKVM03, pKVM06, pKVM12, pKVM13, and pKVM14, respectively (Additional file 1: Figure S1C, F, L, M, and N). To construct the vector for the replacement of the ldh gene with ldh Bc the flanking regions 737 bp upstream and 667 bp downstream of the ptsG gene were amplified from the genomic DNA of strain MW3 using the primer pairs Ldh-up-F/Ldh-up-R and Ldh-dn-F/Ldh-dn-R. These two flanking regions were ligated along with ldh Bc (cloned from B. coagulans 2–6 using primer pairs Ldh-F/Ldh-R) into the EcoRI/BamHI sites of plasmid pKVM1 via the seamless cloning and assembly method, creating pKVM02 (Additional file 1: Figure S1B). Plasmids pKVM04, pKVM05, pKVM07, pKVM08, pKVM09, pKVM10, and pKVM11 were generated using the same procedure as for pKVM02 (Additional file 1: Figure S1B, D, E, G–K). Escherichia coli S17-1 cells harboring pKVM plasmids were used as the donors in conjugation with B. licheniformis MW3. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text is largely focused on the technical processes of gene optimization and vector construction related to specific bacterial strains, without any direct reference to bioengineered yeast or its ability to produce biofuels from sugars. Therefore, it does not support, contrast with, or provide relevant evidence for the claim.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: With the help of the extensive local barcode library, we were able to accurately and reliably identified highly abundant 33 dietary genera from the fecal samples. Little was known about the seasonal variations of diet, gut microbiota and metabolism of the Siberian chipmunk, Therefore we explor the seasonal shift in diet that leads towards the alteration in gut microbiome diversity and host metabolism profile. Based on the preliminary results obtained in this study, we can conclude that Siberian chipmunk in three seasons feeds mainly on Ascomycota (fungivorous), Streptophyta (herbivorous) and Nematoda (insectivorous), supports the expectation that such a small mammal requires highly nutritious foods. This diet pattern shown by chipmunks is not consistent with the view that the Siberian chipmunk feeds mainly on plant material (65, 66). When we made a comparison, seasons showed greater flexibility in their diet patterns. Although they overlap in diet among three seasons, in Spring, Ascomycota (fungi), Streptophyta (plant) and Nematoda (insect) are the dominant phyla (presence in 43. 8%, 37. 0%, 15. 8% respectively). Within these phylum, genus Aspergillus (20. 7%), Penicillium (13. 6%), Enemion (28. 7%) Travassostrongylus (9. 9%) dominates respectively. While in summer and autumn, Siberian chipmunks supplement their diet with increasing proportion of Nematoda from 20. 6–24. 1%, which comprise on genus Travassostrongylus, Murshidia, and Steinernema is consistent with the previous studies (66, 67). Further, in response to seasonal variation in chipmunk diet, we also observed seasonal variation in Gut microbiota and host metabolism. Previously, High throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from the fecal samples have scrutinized gut microbiota at the phylum level. In this study, we also adopt HTS to describe the gut microbiota composition and explore the effect of seasonal variation in gut microbiota down to genus level. The chipmunk gut microbiota at phylum level is similar to other mammals (including humans) with two major groups, the Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, that are accounting for ~ 90% of the 16 S rRNA gene sequencing reads (68, 69). [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by discussing how the seasonal variations in the diet of the Siberian chipmunk lead to alterations in gut microbiome diversity and host metabolism profile. It mentions that shifts in diet also reflect changes in gut microbiota composition, supporting the notion that specific dietary patterns can positively influence gut microbiota diversity.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: The reasons for the domination of RO are: (1) compact design, (2) relatively low water needs, (3) modular operation to meet seasonal and diurnal variations in demand, (4) easy operation, (5) relatively low‐energy consumption comparing to other desalination methods, and (6) fast installation (2–3 months). Currently, the total capacity of the installed desalination units (for public use in the islands) is about 60,000 m3/day spread over 39 islands (Figure 2) with 9000 m3/day of brackish water feed, and 51,000 m3/day of seawater feed. Very small islands of Pserimos and Rho are not included in the map of Figure 2. Most desalination units are located on islands, which are not connected to the mainland electricity grid (31 out of 39 islands), and the rest are installed on islands that are interconnected to the main grid, through underwater cables. The rate of development of new desalination units was quite low until the early 2000s, but rose very fast prior to the Games in 2004 (Figure 3). In the coming years, almost five more islands are about to install and operate desalination plants. Figure 2. Desalination units in the Greek islands ([13, 16–22]; personal communication). Figure 3. Desalination facilities in Greece, 1981-2014 ([13, 16–22]; personal communication). The specific energy consumption for a number of desalination units installed on the islands is presented in Figure 4. These data were acquired through the desalination manufactures and local water companies (personal communication, 2014; SA, personal communication on technical characteristics of existing desalination units, 2014). Both high pressure and booster pumps are included in these data. Figure 4. Specific energy consumption of Greek desalination plants (Syros WSSC, personal communication, 2014; personal communication, 2014). Advertisement 4. Desalination with renewable energy sources Renewable energy powered desalination offers noteworthy benefits in comparison to use conventional energy supply. Although desalination systems with renewable energy have increased installation costs, they have lower operating costs due to the fact that costly fuel oil used in most islands is avoided. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by discussing the limitations and considerations of desalination in specific contexts, particularly highlighting that many islands rely on desalination due to their isolation from the mainland grid. This indicates that desalination alone may not be a universal solution for all cities, especially those that are not geographically or technologically equipped to implement it. The mention of high installation costs and reliance on renewable energy further suggests that desalination is not a straightforward method for achieving water independence across diverse urban settings.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: The conjugation and gene knockout with pKVM plasmids were performed as described previously [22]. All the deletion and insertion mutations were verified by PCR amplification of the genomic DNA with appropriate primers, followed by sequencing of the amplified products. Enzyme activity assaysTo assay the enzymatic activities of the crude extracts, strains were grown for 12 h, and cells were harvested via centrifugation (8000×g, 10 min), washed twice with 50 mM PBS buffer (pH 7. 0), and resuspended in the same buffer. The cells were then disrupted by sonication in an ice bath. The cell extract was centrifuged at 14,000×g for 30 min at 4 °C, and the supernatant was used for the enzyme assay. Total protein concentration was determined according to the method of Bradford using bovine serum albumin as the standard [23]. The activities of l- and d-LDH were assayed in a reaction mixture containing 50 mM pyruvate, 20 mM NADH and 0. 1 mg/mL cell extracts for 10 min. Thereafter, the LDH activities were inactivated by boiling for 5 min. Then, l-lactic acid and d-lactic acid were detected by HPLC with a chiral column. The l- and d-LDH activities in B. licheniformis strains were calculated according to the corresponding concentrations of l- and d-lactic acid [24]. One unit of protein activity was defined as the amount of enzyme that catalyzed the consumption of 1 μmol NADH per minute, as previously described [9]. Batch and fed-batch fermentationsThe fermentations were conducted in a 5-L bioreactor (. ) containing 2. 5 L of fermentation medium. The seed culture prepared was inoculated (10%, v/v) into the fermentation medium. The cultivation was conducted at 50 °C and 80 rpm. The pH was maintained at 7. 0 by the automated addition of 25% (w/v) Ca(OH)2. In fed-batch fermentation, a mixture of glucose and xylose (ratio of glucose to xylose approximately 3:1) or corn stover hydrolysate (700 g/L of sugars) was fed into the bioreactor to maintain the sugar concentration when the reducing sugar concentration was below 20. 0 g/L. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text does not provide any information that directly supports or contradicts the claim regarding bioengineered yeast and biofuels. It describes experimental procedures related to enzymatic activity assays and fermentation processes, but does not mention yeast specifically producing biofuels, hence it is deemed irrelevant to the claim.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: We foun high levels of the Lactobacillus genus belongs to phylum Firmicutes which is analogous to other omnivorous mammals, such as a wild mouse, bears, and lemurs. As in other mammals, Lactobacillus is constituting up to one-third of the microbiome community (70). These results advocate that gut microbiota of mammals can assemble regardless of the host species (68, 69), reflecting a specific set of microorganisms that have fitted to life in the gastrointestinal tract (71). A maximum abundance of Firmicutes phylum in spring was observed, which was abundant with the genus Lactobacillus. Firmicutes in the gut of the obese were positively correlated with the increase in the capacity to harvest energy from the diet which let him harvest more energy and efficient absorption of calories that ultimately helped in weight gain (72). Furthermore, a higher proportion of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes has established a correlation with diet-induced or genetically obese mice (73–75). Findings of this stuy illustrated that Lactobacillus was detectable in the gut microbiome in any seasons (Fig. 4B). The amount of Lactobacillus correlates directly with body fat ratio that were used to consuming a high-sugar/high-fat diet (76). We found that Lactobacillus directly correlates with fat and carbohydrates metabolism in chipmunk in three different seasons. Protection of metabolic disorders in the obese was directly accompanying with the minimum abundance of Lactobacillus, and the possible mechanism behind this protection was the alteration of bile acid concentration in the lumen (77). Winter presents a severe energetic challenge to endothermic animals. Just as food availability drops to its annual minimum, low ambient temperatures increase thermoregulatory costs and hence food requirements. Many mammals escape this energetic bottleneck by accumulating energy reserves before winter, either in the form of body fat or as a food reserve, and by subsequently expressing bouts of torpor during which they depress body temperature well below their active ‘normal thermic’ level (78, 79). Inter-seasonal variation was observed in the microbial metabolism. We found that Chipmunk could adapt to different dietary carbohydrates from spring to autumn because of the ability of the intestinal microbes (IM) to rapidly alter its physiology. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by providing evidence that different diets can impact the composition of gut microbiota, specifically highlighting the Lactobacillus genus which is positively influenced in terms of abundance due to dietary factors. It mentions a correlation between dietary changes and the variations in gut microbiota among mammals, particularly focusing on how specific diets affect the Lactobacillus levels in the gastrointestinal tract. This demonstrates that dietary influences are linked to the diversity and activity of gut microbiota.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: During the summer period, higher wind speed and solar radiation occur while water demand is also higher, and thus these have been identified as possible energy sources for supporting desalination systems in general and in the Greek islands especially. Annual mean wind speed in most areas varies from 5 to 7 m/s, but it can be much higher in some areas. Annual solar radiation varies from 1400 to 1700 kWh/m2, and in the islands of Milos, Nisyros, Kimolos, and Thira have high‐enthalpy geothermal fields. Since the installation of solar stills, several attempts have been made to use renewable energy for desalination, both on pilot and commercial systems. state has promoted desalination systems powered by renewable energy by prioritizing the licensing procedure for the installation of the renewable systems. A desalination unit with geothermal energy as an energy source with capacity of 80 m3/day using multi‐effect distillation (MED) technology was installed in the framework of a European project and operated effectively for demonstrations in the island of Kimolos in 1997–1998 [23]. The water production cost was estimated at € 1. 7/m3. However, at the end of the project, the desalination unit was abandoned. A very small RO unit with a capacity of 4. 8 m3/day, powered by a stand‐alone 15 kW wind turbine, was installed as a pilot system in Therasia in 1997. Hydriada, a floating RO desalination unit (80 m3/day) with power supplied by a wind turbine and photovoltaics, was launched in 2007. It was a promising prototype designed to meet the potable water needs of 300 inhabitants in a small and arid island. Iraklia, a suitable island in Cyclades was selected as a pilot area. Early technical problems emerged and were compounded by the indifference of the local authority and the high maintenance costs, and thus the project was abandoned [24]. In the island of Milos, a successful desalination unit was constructed during 2007–2009 using wind energy supply. Three similar RO units with a total capacity of 3360 m3/day and very low specific energy consumption (approximately 3. 5 kWh/m3) were powered by a 850 kW wind turbine. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by highlighting the challenges and limitations in desalination projects, such as the abandonment of projects due to early technical problems and high maintenance costs. It suggests that while renewable energy supports desalination efforts, solely relying on desalination — as the claim implies — is not sufficient for achieving water independence, especially given the documented failures and challenges in specific instances.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: Samples were collected periodically to determine the cell density and concentrations of sugar, l-lactic acid, and byproducts. Analytical methods2,3-BD was analyzed using a gas chromatograph (GC; GC2014c, Shimadzu). Samples were centrifuged at 12,000×g for 10 min and were then extracted with an equal volume of ethyl acetate after the addition of benzyl alcohol as the internal standard. The GC system was equipped with capillary GC columns (AT SE-54; inside diameter, 0. 32 mm; length, 30 m; Center, of Chemical Physics, China), and nitrogen was used as the carrier gas. The injector temperature and detector temperature were both 280 °C. The column oven was maintained at 40 °C for 3 min, after which it was programmed to increase to 80 °C at a rate of 1. 5 °C/min. The temperature was then raised to 86 °C at a rate of 0. 5 °C/min and finally to 200 °C at a rate of 30 °C/min. The injection volume was 1 μL. The concentrations of glucose, xylose, and fermentation products, including lactic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, and ethanol, were measured in an HPLC (Agilent 1200 series, Hewlett-Packard, USA) equipped with a Bio-HPX-87H column (300 × 7. 8 mm) and a refractive index detector. Analysis was performed with a mobile phase of 5 mM H2SO4 at a flow rate of 0. 5 mL/min at 55 °C. Stereoselective assays of l-lactic acid and d-lactic acid were performed in an HPLC equipped with a chiral column (10 W, Japan) and a tunable UV detector at 254 nm. The mobile phase was 2 mM CuSO4 at a flow rate of 0. 7 mL/min and 25 °C. The optical purity of d-lactic acid was described as the enantiomeric excess (ee) value, defined as [(d-lactic acid) − (l-lactic acid)]/[(d-lactic acid) + (l-lactic acid)] × 100%. ResultsConstruction of an l-lactic acid producer from B. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text does not directly address the claim regarding bioengineered yeast and its ability to produce biofuels from sugars. Instead, it provides a detailed description of analytical methods for measuring sugar and various byproducts, such as lactic acid, without directly linking these processes to biofuel production from bioengineered yeast.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: In our results, we observed the relationship of high carbohydrate metabolism with high abundance of Bacteroides in spring which decreases in autumn. Our findings have consistency with the previous studies that increased number of saccharolytic bacteria including Bacteroides and bifidobacteria was associated with high carbohydrate diets, which have been individually connected with improved regulation of body energy (80). We have shown that chipmunk has a much higher carbohydrate metabolism in spring than summer and autumn, but carbohydrate metabolism is similar between summer and autumn (81). We observed Bacteroides were high in abundance in summer as which might involve in protein metabolism because we also observed more amino acid metabolism in summer than other seasons. Our results were supported by a previous report obtained from humans’ studies, which have revealed that Bacteroides tend to be richer in those eating diets high in protein and animal fats (82). Our results advocate relationship of Prevotella with carbohydrate metabolism as we found both in a high ratio in spring than other seasons which is also supported by another study that high abundance of Prevotella was reported in those eating high carbohydrate diets (82). Animals that consume meat had increased protein, a fat component and low level of bre content, which is opposite in case of animals which depends on a vegetable-based diet by having increased Bre and lessened the protein, fat contents. Correspondingly, Fecal acetate and butyrate content were examined more in animals that depend on plants and difference was observed in metabolite production where animal-based diet led to an increase in isovalerate and isobutyrate. Levels of fecal deoxycholic acid (DCA) was significantly increased due to the animal-based diet, which is a secondary metabolite product of bile acids resulted by microbial metabolism. The increased concentrations of DCA may have boosted the disturbance of microbial abundance in the animal-based diet, as the growth of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla members can inhibit by bile acid production in the host. Previously, Variation in intestinal microbiota due to diet shifting from animal to vegetable-based diet was investigated through16S rRNA Illumina sequencing and the results revealed the significant increase in microbiome diversity which is associated with vegetable-based diet and was unique to the animal-based diet. Correspondingly, results were reversed 2 days after the end of the diet shifting trail. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by discussing the impact of diet on the gut microbiota. It highlights how a shift from an animal-based diet to a vegetable-based diet resulted in a significant increase in microbiome diversity, as revealed by 16S rRNA Illumina sequencing. Moreover, it outlines the relationship of specific bacteria (such as Bacteroides and Prevotella) with different dietary components, supporting the idea that certain diets can notably influence the diversity of gut microbiota.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: A supervisory control and a data acquisition system were installed to assist and to optimize the operation of the RO units and the wind turbines as both the RO unit and the wind turbine are connected into the island’s autonomous power grid. Optimization is accomplished by the use of operation modes depending on climate conditions, the potable water demand forecasting, and the level of the water tanks. One more important innovation of this project was its ownership status: the wind turbine and the desalination unit are private investments, and they work under contract agreement with the island municipality for supplying water. A promising mechanical vapor compression (MVC) desalination system with the exploitation of wind energy (330 kW) was built in the island of Symi in 2009. The installed system was not successful due to important technical problems that caused very low water production. This system was stand‐alone, with specific energy consumption of about 14. 5 kWh/m3 [25]. Its operation ceased in 2011 due to a fire and it was never repaired. An autonomous RO unit of 8 m3/day was installed in 2013 on the very small island of Strogyli with the use of 20 kWp photovoltaics as power source. The unit provides potable water to a small army camp. Advertisement 5. The case of Syros island: comparing the operation and energy costs of desalination The urban water supply in Syros is covered mainly by desalinated water. The island power grid is autonomous and the electrical energy supply relies on diesel fuel transferred from the mainland. Currently, there are 13 RO units distributed in five regions (Figure 5). According to the Company (Supply and [26] personal communication) and the Operator [27], more than 11% of the electricity produced in the island is used for potable water production and the total desalination power demand, when plants are running at full capacity is 5. 2% of the conventional installed power production units. Figure 5. Desalination units in Syros. These plants require 2. 08 MW of power and the cost of energy is the primary operating cost for the Company. The total operational cost is estimated at about €1. 2–1. 6/m3. The contribution of energy to the water cost is €0. 7 m3 (about 45%), with an average energy cost of €0. 086/kWh [12]. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by illustrating that while desalination is used for water supply in places like Syros, it is not sufficient alone for achieving water independence. The existence of cost factors, reliance on external energy sources, and issues like system failures indicate that cities cannot rely solely on desalination. For instance, the case of the unsuccessful MVC desalination system in Symi due to technical problems and reliance on diesel fuel for the energy supply on Syros highlights that desalination is part of a larger system that includes energy dependence and economic considerations.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: licheniformis MW3 and its utilization of xylose B. licheniformis MW3 is a natural producer of 2,3-BD. To produce l-lactic acid in this strain, the genes responsible for 2,3-BD synthesis (alsS and alsD) were knocked out (Table 1, Additional file 1: Figure S1). The resulting strain, designated RH01, was used to test the biosynthesis of l-lactic acid from xylose. Fed-batch fermentation was performed in a 5-L fermenter with an initial xylose concentration of approximately 55 g/L [19]. In our previous study, d-lactic acid production by strain MW3 was distinctly affected by the pH of the incubation medium and exhibited a maximum productivity at pH 7. 0 [9]. Thus, in this study, pH 7. 0 was chosen for the engineered strain RH01. As shown in Fig. 2a, no 2,3-BD was detected in RH01, and 73. 4 g/L l-lactic acid was obtained from 113. 1 g/L xylose after 62 h. The productivity was 1. 2 g/[L h], and the yield was 64. 9% of the theoretical yield. The concentrations of acetic acid, ethanol, and succinic acid were 6. 7, 5. 5, and 0. 31 g/L, respectively. A large amount of formic acid (20. 1 g/L) was detected in the medium, suggesting that the native l-lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) might not be sufficiently robust to compete with other enzymes in consuming pyruvate. Fig. 2Time-course of fed-batch fermentation by strains RH01 and RH02 from xylose. a RH01; b RH02. The fermentations were conducted in a 5-L bioreactor with 2. 5 L of initial medium. The initial concentration of xylose was approximately 57. 0 g/L. The cultivation was performed at 50 °C with stirring at 80 rpm. The pH was maintained at 7. 0 by automatic addition of 25% (w/v) Ca(OH)2. Xylose was added to the medium when its concentration was lower than 20. 0 g/L. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text does not provide information relevant to the claim about bioengineered yeast producing high yields of biofuels. Instead, it focuses on the production of l-lactic acid from xylose using a specific strain (RH01) of B. licheniformis, and discusses fermentation conditions and results. There is no mention of biofuel production directly, thus it passes as irrelevant to the claim.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: The animal-based diet increased the abundance of Alistipes, iBilophila, and Bacteroides, which is consistent with the higher bile acid secretion induced by the higher fat intake (83). It also reduced the levels of Firmicutes such as Roseburia, E. irectale, and R. ibromii that metabolize dietary plant polysaccharides. The animal-based diet was also related to increased expression of bacterial genes for vitamin biosynthesis, degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and increased expression of ß-lactamase genes(84). result over a three season’s period revealed that the metabolism of an omnivorous chipmunk is positively associated with gut microbiota composition and dietary component availability. Declarations14. Metabarcoding of fecal samples to determine herbivore diets: A case study of the endangered Pacific pocket mouse. PLoS One. 2016;11(11):e0165366. . Diet tracing in ecology: method comparison and selection. Evol. 2018;9(2):278-91. . The dynamics of spatially coupled food webs. Ecol Lett. 2005;8(5):513-23. Bernays EA. Evolution of feeding behavior in insect herbivores. Bioscience. 1998;48(1):35-44. . Killer appetites: assessing the role of predators in ecological communities. Ecology. 2004;85(12):3373-84. . Stability and persistence of food webs with omnivory: is there a general pattern? Ecosphere. 2012;3(6):1-18. . Acorn pericarp removal as a cache management strategy of the Siberian chipmunk, Tamias sibiricus. Ethology. 2012;118(1):87-94. . Global distribution and status of introduced Siberian chipmunks Eutamias sibiricus. Mammal Review. 2018;48(2):139-52. . Dipus sagitta. The IUCN red list of threatened species. 2016. . Seasonal shifts in diet and gut microbiota of the American bison (Bison bison). PLoS One. 2015;10(11):e0142409. . Influence of changing plant food sources on the gut microbiota of saltmarsh detritivores. Microb Ecol. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by providing evidence that an animal-based diet can alter the gut microbiota composition. It mentions an increase in specific bacteria (Alistipes, iBilophila, and Bacteroides) associated with the diet, which signifies a positive influence on gut microbiota diversity. Additionally, the link between diet and metabolic outcomes suggests that dietary changes are instrumental in shaping the gut microbiota.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: The following indicators will be used to assess the energy‐for‐water nexus: (a) energy consumption per volume of water sold, (b) energy cost per volume of water sold, and (c) energy consumption per capita. These analyses take into account only the desalination plant of Syros capital, Hermoupolis, for which the required input data are available. For comparison purposes, similar results are presented for the two major water supply systems in Greece (Table 2), the Athens, and the Thessaloniki water supply systems. served 13,400 4,500,000 1,000,000 Water production (hm3) 1. 05 385. 5 89. 7 Water billed (hm3) 0. 89 337 66. 3 Annual per capita consumption (m3/year) 66. 6 74. 9 66. 3 Energy consumption (GWh) 10 251 119 Reference year or period 2010–2013 2009 2008 Energy cost (€/kWh) 0. 086 0. 089 No data (assumed same as Athens) Data sources [27] [28, 29] [29, 30] Table 2. Data used for the calculation of the assessment indicators. 5. 1. Assessment indicators The energy consumption per volume of water sold is presented in Figure 6 for three water energy systems. water system has a value 0. 75 kWh/m3, Thessaloniki’s water system has twice that, and Hermoupolis about 15 times. The cost of energy also follows such a pattern, as seen in Figure 7. Similar ratios between water systems also apply for the case of the per capita energy demand for water supply. Syros has a value 14 times than that of Athens and more than twice that of Thessaloniki (Figure 8). Figure 6. Energy consumption per volume of water sold in the water supply systems of Hermoupolis, Athens, and Thessaloniki [27–30]. Figure 7. Energy cost per volume of water sold in the water supply systems of Hermoupolis, Athens, and Thessaloniki [27–30]. Figure 8. Energy consumption per capita in the water supply systems of Hermoupolis, Athens, and Thessaloniki [27–30]. 5. 2. Monthly energy consumption Water consumption in Syros is high during summer, due to the tourism. For instance, consumption during August is around 85% higher than in February (Figure 9). [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by focusing on the energy consumption and cost associated with water production in various systems, specifically noting the energy demands of desalination plants in Syros compared to Athens and Thessaloniki. It highlights that achieving water independence may not solely depend on desalination due to significant energy considerations, as Kan system analysis for cities indicates varying energy use and cost, thus suggesting that other factors must also be considered for water independence.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: Each fermentation condition was repeated at least twice, and typical fermentation kinetics are shown hereFull size image To verify this assumption, LDH activity in the crude extract of strain RH01 was tested. As expected, a relatively low LDH activity of 0. 31 U/mg was observed. To enhance LDH activity, the native LDH encoding gene ldh (GenBank: AAU39324) was replaced with ldh Bc (GenBank: AEH52590) from a thermophilic l-lactic acid-producer B. coagulans 2–6 [25] to construct strain RH02 (Table 1, Additional file 1: Figure S1). As shown in Fig. 2b, both the l-lactic acid titer (96. 9 g/L) and yield (85. 2%) of strain RH02 expressing ldh Bc were higher than those of RH01. Increased LDH activity (0. 94 U/mg) was also detected in this strain, which might have helped to divert the carbon flux of the major byproduct, formic acid, to the formation of l-lactic acid. In addition, the concentrations of acetic acid, ethanol, and succinic acid were significantly decreased (Table 2). Thus, the results suggested that strain RH02 could efficiently use xylose and might be a good candidate for the production of enantiopure l-lactic acid from lignocellulosic hydrolysates. Table 2 Cell growth, sugar consumption, products, and LDHs activities of different strainsFull size table Co-utilization of glucose and xylose by engineered B. licheniformis MW3Hydrolysis of lignocellulose, such as corn stover, generates a solution primarily consisting of glucose and xylose at a ratio of approximately 3:1 (w/w) [1]. Thus, we tested the capability of strain RH02 to ferment a mixture of glucose and xylose (3:1, w/w). Strain RH02 used glucose preferentially over xylose, the latter of which could hardly be consumed when glucose was present (Fig. 3a, Table 2). As a result, only 0. 72 g/L of xylose was consumed at the end of the fermentation. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text is irrelevant to the claim as it discusses the fermentation kinetics and LDH activity of a specific engineered strain (RH02) but does not address or support the claim about bioengineered yeast producing biofuels. The focus on l-lactic acid production does not relate to the assertion about biofuels.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: 2008;320(5883):1647-51. ález A, Fontana L, et al. Diet drives convergence in gut microbiome functions across mammalian phylogeny and within humans. Science. 2011;332(6032):970-4. Marked seasonal variation in the wild mouse gut microbiota. The ISME journal. 2015;9(11):2423. . Worlds within worlds: evolution of the vertebrate gut microbiota. Microbiology. 2008;6(10):776. . An obesity-associated gut microbiome with increased capacity for energy harvest. Nature. 2006;444(7122):1027. Ley RE, Bäckhed. Obesity alters gut microbial ecology. Proceedings of the of Sciences. 2005;102(31):11070-5. – High-fat diet determines the composition of the murine gut microbiome independently of obesity. Gastroenterology. 2009;137(5):1716-24. e2. A core gut microbiome in obese and lean twins. Nature. 2009;457(7228):480. Genetic control of obesity and gut microbiota composition in response to high-fat, high-sucrose diet in mice. Cell Metab. 2013;17(1):141-52. Microbiome remodelling leads to inhibition of intestinal farnesoid X receptor signalling and decreased obesity. Nature communications. 2013;4:2384. Wang LC-H, Hudson JW. Temperature regulation in normothermic and hibernating eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus. A: Physiology. 1971;38(1):59-90. -M. Winter energy budgets and cost of arousals for hibernating little brown bats, Myotis lucifugus. J Mammal. 1990;71(3):475-9. . The type and quantity of dietary fat and carbohydrate alter faecal microbiome and short-chain fatty acid excretion in a metabolic syndrome ‘at-risk’population. Obes. 2013;37(2):216. Time-restricted feeding without reducing caloric intake prevents metabolic diseases in mice fed a high-fat diet. Cell Metab. 2012;15(6):848-60. -Y, Keilbaugh SA, et al. Linking long-term dietary patterns with gut microbial enterotypes. Science. 2011;334(6052):105-8. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by citing multiple studies indicating that various dietary patterns and compositions, such as high-fat diets and changes in dietary fat and carbohydrate, play a significant role in altering gut microbiome composition and diversity. Specifically, it mentions that 'the type and quantity of dietary fat and carbohydrate alter faecal microbiome,' supporting the idea that specific diets influence gut microbiota diversity.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: The same pattern applies to the energy consumption of the desalination. However, the desalination process is significantly more efficient in the summer period (Figure 10). Specific energy for the Hermoupolis plant is 8. 1 kWh/m3 in August and 9. 7 kWh/m3 in February, a reduction of 16. 5%. This reduction can be credited to three main factors which are as follows: (i) the units operate continuously during summer, with less start‐and‐stop cycles, (ii) the temperature of the seawater during summer period is high, affecting properties such as viscosity and lowering the energy demand of the high‐pressure pump [31], and (iii) as the Hermoupolis desalination plant comprises several desalination units, each one with different capacities and specific energies, making extensive use of the unit with the lower specific energy also lowers the specific energy of the desalination plant as a whole. Figure 9. Monthly water production and energy consumption for the Hermoupolis desalination plant (average values for 2010–2013) [27]. Figure 10. Specific energy consumption of the desalination units in the Hermoupolis desalination plant (average values for 2010–2013) [27]. Advertisement 6. Satisfying energy needs by using RES: a design methodology A method for assessing the desalination system with RES is presented in the following section. In most cases, the desalination systems are interconnected with the electrical grid of the island, where the energy mix is dominated by diesel or heavy oil and a small percentage is covered by RES or other sources. Some islands are interconnected with the mainland and thus the energy mix contribution comes from lignite, natural gas, and RES. The renewable sources considered in the present study are solar and wind energy. Energy demand for desalination is covered by the produced renewable energy and the excess is supplied to the grid. If the renewable energy is not sufficient to cover the demand, then energy is obtained through the grid. The optimal configuration is the one that minimizes the water cost from the investor point of view. A configuration is defined by a set of design parameters such as the desalination capacity, the photovoltaic installed power, etc. A methodology, using hourly simulation, was developed to identify the optimum configuration. The islands to be examined are Syros and Patmos. 6. 1. Design methodology 6. 1. 1. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by discussing the energy consumption of desalination and indicating that many desalination systems are interconnected with electrical grids, often relying on energy sources like diesel and heavy oil, in addition to renewable energy sources (RES). This suggests that desalination alone may not be sufficient for cities to achieve water independence without considering the energy dependencies and configurations involved.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: To eliminate CCR, we constructed strain RH03 by the deletion of the ptsG gene (GenBank: AAU40497), which encodes the major glucose transporter in PTS in strain RH02 (Table 1, Additional file 1: Figure S1). As shown in Fig. 3b, although strain RH03 could use glucose and xylose simultaneously, the gene deletion has slowed the cell growth and l-lactic acid production upon glucose. After 29 h of fermentation, up to 13. 4 g/L xylose was consumed, with 26. 5 g/L glucose remaining (Table 2). Fig. 3Time course of batch fermentation by B. licheniformis strains RH02, RH03, RH04, and RH05 from a glucose and xylose mixture (3:1). a RH02; b RH03; c RH04; d RH05. The fermentations were conducted in a 5-L bioreactor with 2. 5 L of initial medium. The initial concentrations of glucose and xylose were approximately 60. 0 and 20. 0 g/L, respectively. The cultivation was performed at 50 °C with stirring at 80 rpm. The pH was maintained at 7. 0 by automatic addition of 25% (w/v) Ca(OH)2. Each fermentation condition was repeated at least twice, and typical fermentation kinetics are shown hereFull size image To recover glucose consumption, the previously reported galactose permease encoded by the galP gene (GenBank: AFM61492) [1] was integrated into the genome locus of ptsG of strain RH03 (Table 1, Additional file 1: Figure S1). The resulting strain, RH04, exhibited significantly enhanced glucose consumption and l-lactic acid production rates. As a result, 56. 4 g/L l-lactic acid was produced via the consumption of 51. 8 g/L glucose and 12. 5 g/L xylose (Fig. 3c, Table 2). It can be seen that the consumption rate of glucose was slow compared with that of strain RH02. To further resolve this point, the promoter of the glucokinase gene glck (GenBank: AAU41533) was substituted with the strong promoter Pals from the 2,3-BD gene cluster to construct strain RH05 (Table 1, Additional file 1: Figure S1). As shown in Fig. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text is irrelevant to the claim as it describes genetic modifications made to yeast strains and their metabolic outputs without directly addressing biofuel production from sugars. The information is focused on glucose and xylose consumption and lactic acid production rather than high yields of biofuels.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: Research by Viaud et al [9] using a murine sarcoma model showed that therapeutic response to CTX was greater in mice with healthy gut microbiota than in mice raised in a germ-free environment. Moreover, depletion of gram-positive gut bacteria with vancomycin pre-treatment resulted in a poor therapeutic response compared to untreated controls [9]. The authors elucidated that transmucosal translocation of specific bacteria (such as Lactobacillus spp. , Enterococcus hirae) into mesenteric lymph nodes and the spleen, stimulated T-helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation resulting in an antitumour adaptive immunological response. Fewer Th17 cells were observed in the spleens of vancomycin pre-treated mice and adoptive transfer of pathogenic Th17 cells from untreated mice could re-establish a therapeutic response [9, 14]. Further investigation demonstrated that administration of E. hirae in antibiotic pre-treated mice could also restore response to CTX [13]. These findings have been corroborated by clinical studies. Among patients with end-stage lung and ovarian cancer, a memory Th1 immune response towards E. hirae was found to be a positive predictor of progression-free survival [6, 10, 11, 14, 17]. The impact of microbiota and myeloid cell interaction on chemotherapeutic efficacy was investigated by Iida et al [8], in a murine lymphoma model. Antibiotic pre-treatment of mice with subcutaneous EL4 lymphomas reduced both DNA damage by oxaliplatin (a DNA cross-linking agent) and the expression of genes responsible for reactive-oxygen species (ROS) generation by myeloid cells. Cybb -/- mice, deficient in NADPH oxidase, an enzyme critical for the production of ROS, also respond poorly to oxaliplatin. It was concluded that a healthy microbiota enhances the antitumour effect of oxaliplatin by priming of myeloid cells for ROS release, enhancing inflammatory cytokine production, and thus tumour eradication [8]. A similar effect was observed with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG OGN). CpG OGN are synthetic mimics of microbial DNA, which bind to TLR9, and can be injected to stimulate a tumour-eradicating immunological response in mice. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by discussing the role of gut microbiota in therapeutic responses to treatments like CTX (chemotherapy). It highlights how healthy gut microbiota promotes specific immune responses that are beneficial for cancer therapeutics. The mention of specific bacteria such as Lactobacillus spp. and Enterococcus hirae and their effects on T-helper cell differentiation suggests that diverse and healthy gut microbiota, likely influenced by diets, can positively affect treatment outcomes. This supports the idea that certain diets affecting gut microbiota diversity could indeed have positive health impacts.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: Water demand Water demand can be derived from real historical data, from average monthly values or from other sources. The developed methodology requires daily water demand values throughout the year. However, if only monthly average data are available, then it can be assumed that water demand is the same for every day ( Q daily ) of the month. 6. 1. 2. Desalination unit Desalination capacity (Qcap in m3/day) is one of the design parameters. The specific energy demand (Sp in kWh/m3) is a specification parameter of a given desalination unit and water salinity. Thus, the average power that is needed during normal operation is as follows: P d e s = S p ⋅ Q c a p 24 hr ( kW ) E1 The hours of operation of the desalination unit per day can be derived as follows: T o p = min ( Q d a i l y Q c a p 24 hr 24 hr ) ( hr ) E2 The min operator denotes that hours of operation needed for each day cannot be more than 24 hr. The desalination might not be able to fully cover the demand and in this case, there is a water demand deficit. The operating hours of the desalination unit is a critical factor for the exploitation of the renewable sources. In case of solar energy, the best strategy corresponds to the operation of the unit in the period around noon (Figure 11). In case of wind energy, then the optimum period depends on the micro scale of the location of the power plant (in most cases, the afternoon is the windiest time). Figure 11. Reverse osmosis operation schedule (example). The hourly distribution of energy requirements for desalination is given by Eq. (3): E D E S ( t ) = O P ( t ) ⋅ P D E S ( kWh ) E3 where O P ( t ) is the desalination production distribution, representing the percentage of operation for each hour t of the year ( O P ( t ) is 100% when the desalination unit is in operation for an hour without breaks, 0% when the desalination is not operating at all, and a value between 0 and 100% in other cases). 6. 1. 3. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by indicating that the desalination unit might not be able to fully cover the water demand, leading to a potential water demand deficit. This suggests that desalination alone may not be sufficient for cities to achieve water independence, as additional considerations such as energy sources and operational capabilities must be addressed.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: 3d, strain RH05 used glucose more rapidly and had a consumption rate similar to that of strain RH02. The final concentration of l-lactic acid produced by RH05 was 61. 1 g/L, which was 47. 9% higher than that of strain RH03 (Table 2). Further enhancement of xylose utilization via engineering of the xylose metabolic pathwayThe xylose assimilation pathway enables the isomerization of xylose to xylulose followed by phosphorylation to xylulose-5-phosphate, which is encoded by the xyl operon, containing xylose repressor (xylR, AAU42862), xylulose isomerase (xylA, AAU42861), and xylulose kinase (xylB, AAU42860). Although strain RH05 can use glucose and xylose simultaneously, the consumption rate of xylose was still relatively low, especially after recovering the glucose utilization compared with strain RH03 (Table 2). It has been reported that XylR could specifically repress the d-xylose pathway genes in some Gram-positive organisms [26]. To enhance xylose utilization in strain RH05, the gene xylR was deleted (Table 1, Additional file 1: Figure S1). As shown in Table 2, only a slight increase in xylose utilization was noted in the mutant strain RH06, indicating that deregulation of XylR-mediated repression could not enhance the xylose consumption rate. Considering that the transcription of the xyl operon is also catabolite-repressed by the cis-acting catabolite-responsive element (CRE) located in the xylA gene in Bacillus sp. [27], the xylA gene from strain RH06 was replaced with xylA Tc (GenBank: WP_015253490) from a thermophilic Gram-negative (GN) Thermobacillus composti. However, the utilizations of both glucose and xylose were slower in mutant strain RH07 than in strain RH06. The result suggested that optimization through substituting the GN-derived xylA Tc was not effective at lifting the catabolite repression in B. licheniformis (Table 2). [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text does not directly address the claim regarding bioengineered yeast and biofuels. Instead, it discusses the metabolic pathways and strains of yeast, focusing on the rates of sugar consumption and genetic modifications. Therefore, it is irrelevant to the specific claim about high yields of biofuels.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: In germ-free and antibiotic-treated mice, myeloid cell inflammatory cytokine production and the anticancer adaptive immune response to intra-tumoural administration of CpG OGN were reduced. This could be restored by inoculation with Alistipes shahii [8]. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which target T-cell regulatory pathways, display promising results in patients with lung cancer or advanced melanoma [15]. It was demonstrated that treatment with a synthetic monoclonal antibody against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4, ipilimumab) could control established MCA205 sarcomas in mice with healthy gut bacteria. However, germ-free or antibiotic-treated mice displayed no response to the CTLA-4 blockade. Melanoma patients responsive to CTLA-4 display T cell reactions specific for Bacteroides species; therapeutic reaction to ipilimumab in germ-free mice could be salvaged with the administration of Bacteriodes fragilis or adoptive transfer B. fragilis-specific T cells. This indicates that the interaction between Bacteriodes species and the immune system plays a significant role in enabling the CTLA-4 induced antitumour response [4]. In another study, Sivan et al [16] observed differential melanoma growth in genetically similar mice sourced from two suppliers—(Tac) and (Jax). Tumours grew more aggressively in Tac mice compared to Jax mice and this effect could be abrogated by either co-housing or by faecal transfer from Jax mice. Faecal transfer in the opposite direction did not confer increased tumour growth. Furthermore, chemotherapeutic response to antiprogrammed cell death 1 ligand-1 monoclonal antibodies (anti-PD-L1, pembrolizumab) was impaired in Tac mice compared to Jax mice. The authors determined that the attenuated basal tumour growth and enhanced anticancer response to anti-PD-L1 seen in Jax mice were due to the presence of Bifidobacterium spp in their gut flora which are believed to interact with dendritic cells to activate T-cells and stimulate a protective anticancer response. Administration of Bifidobacterium spp. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by demonstrating that the presence of specific gut bacteria, such as Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium spp, plays a significant role in immune responses. It suggests that manipulation of the gut microbiota can impact tumor growth and anticancer responses, supporting the idea that diets influencing gut microbiota diversity may have positive effects on health.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: The levelized water cost ( W C ) per cubic meter can be calculated as: W C = ( I C E N + I C R O ) ⋅ R + O M + E C W P E14 where: I C E N is the installation cost of the power system. I C R O is the reverse osmosis installation cost. R is the annuity factor (n is the life time of the investment and i the interest rate): R = i 1 − ( 1 + i ) − n E15 O M is the annual operation and maintenance cost that contains consumables ( C N ), (filters, spare parts), chemicals for posttreatment and pretreatment ( C H M ), membrane replacements ( M R ) and labor ( L B ): O M = C N + C H M + M R + L B E16 E C is the annual cost of energy and E C S P is the specific cost of energy (€/kWh): E C = E C S P ⋅ max ( ( ∑ t = 1 8760 E F r o m g r i d ( t ) − ∑ t = 1 8760 E T o g r i d ( t ) ) 0 ) E17 W P is the annual water production: W P = ∑ t = 1 8760 Q c a p 2 4 hr O P ( t ) E18 6. 2. Case study The installation of renewable energy systems for covering water demand will be examined for the city of Hermoupolis in the island of Syros and for the island of Patmos. As detailed above, Hermoupolis has high energy needs for water production; therefore, the introduction of RES technologies could be beneficial in minimizing the cost of the water. The island of Patmos still covers its water needs by water transports and local drills. However, two units of 600 m3 each have already been installed and are planned to be operational in the near future. 6. 2. 1. Model inputs 6. 2. 1. 1. Water demand Monthly water production for Hermoupolis is given in Figure 9. Maximum water demand for Patmos, according to a recent public tender, was estimated at 236,000 m3 per year, but not all of the demand will be covered by the desalination. Thus, an estimation can be derived from the amount of water that was transferred to the island by tanker ships, according to for Water. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by indicating that not all water demand for the island of Patmos will be covered by desalination. It states, 'not all of the demand will be covered by the desalination,' suggesting that desalination alone is insufficient for complete water independence. Additionally, it highlights the reliance on water transport to meet the demands, which further undermines the assertion that desalination is the sole solution for achieving water independence.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: As shown in Table 3, although less than 0. 1 g/L of formic acid was detected in the resultant strain RH12, the cell growth and sugar utilization of the mutant strain were both slowed. In contrast, strain RH13, with a deletion of adhB (encoding alcohol dehydrogenase; GenBank: AAU42647), produced no ethanol, and strain RH14, with a knockout of ackA (encoding acetate kinase; GenBank: AAU41949), produced only 0. 51 g/L acetic acid; meanwhile, cell growth and l-lactic acid production were negligibly affected by disruption of the ethanol and acetic acid biosynthetic pathway genes. After eliminating both adhB and ackA genes, the yield of l-lactic acid produced by the new strain RH15 increased from 88. 9 to 95. 1%, and only a small amount of formic acid was observed as the main byproduct, rendering strain RH15 a good candidate for l-lactic acid fermentation. Table 3 Effect of different genes knocked out on l-lactic acid productionFull size table Fed-batch fermentation of glucose and xyloseTo reduce the probable inhibitory effects of high substrate concentrations and to achieve a higher l-lactic acid concentration, fed-batch fermentation was conducted in a 5-L fermenter using strain RH15. The initial total sugar concentration used was approximately 80 g/L. As shown in Fig. 4a, 121. 9 g/L of l-lactic acid (purity > 99. 7%; see Additional file 1: Figure S2) was obtained from 97. 4 g/L glucose and 30. 5 g/L xylose after 40 h of fermentation, resulting in a l-lactic acid productivity of 3. 05 g/[L h] and a yield of 95. 3% of the theoretical yield. The concentration of formic acid increased to 8. 2 g/L in the first 14 h and then decreased to 4. 3 g/L at 40 h. The concentration of acetic acid was less than 0. 2 g/L, while ethanol and succinic acid were not detected at the end of the fermentation. Fig. 4Time course of fed-batch fermentation of l-lactic acid by B. licheniformis strain RH15. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text discusses various strains of organisms and their efficiency in producing l-lactic acid from sugars but does not address or provide any evidence related to the claim that bioengineered yeast can produce high yields of biofuels. Therefore, it is irrelevant to the claim.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: Indeed, in a rodent model, circulating levels of BVU and could be abrogated by depletion of gut microbiota with antibiotic administration [18, 26]. Community structure Bacterial community structure is a key driver of symbiosis between the host and microbiota and the maintenance of intestinal health [27]. Commensal microbiota can prime and modulate host immunity to prevent pathogen overgrowth. Indeed, Bacteroides and Lactobacillus have been shown to induce host production of protective antimicrobial proteins within intestinal crypts [28]. The importance of microbiota to maintain the structure and function of the gut mucosal barrier is revealed by analysis of germ-free mice, which display thin villi, a reduced capillary network, a reduction in surface area and poor peristalsis [29, 30]. Administration of chemotherapeutics can damage the diversity and health of gut microbiota, disrupting this equilibrium [31]. In a rat model, methotrexate-induced mucositis and reduced villous length were associated with a 13-fold decrease in protective anaerobes and a 296-fold decrease in Streptococci [32]. In humans, 1 week of high-dose chemotherapy for nonHodgkin’s lymphoma dramatically reduces the abundance of commensal Faecalibacterium with an increase in the prevalence of potentially pathogenic Escherichia [33]. Chemotherapeutic-induced dysbiosis reduces colonisation resistance to pathogens and a decrease in the abundance of anaerobic bacteria may reduce the production of butyrate—a short chain fatty acid with antiinflammatory properties and an essential trophic factor for enterocytes. The resultant damage to the intestinal barrier increases the risk of colitis, bacterial translocation and infection [31]. Efforts to preserve community structure could, therefore, protect against chemotherapeutic injury. It has been shown that healthy microbiota interact, via Toll-like receptors, with the innate immune system, regulating inflammation and promoting healing. For example, antibiotic-treated mice have been shown to be more susceptible to methotrexate-induced small bowel injury, which can be salvaged with Toll-like receptor 2 ligand administration [34]. An analysis of the intestinal microbiome in patients taking anti-CTLA-4 therapy revealed that abundance of the Bacteriodetes phylum was associated with resistance to colitis. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by discussing the influence of gut microbiota, emphasizing that a healthy microbiota is essential for maintaining intestinal health and community structure. It states that commensal microbiota can modulate host immunity and suggests that preserving this community structure can protect against chemotherapeutic injury, indicating that dietary factors impacting microbiota can lead to positive health outcomes.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: For 2014, this value was 68,654 m3. Due to the lack of monthly distribution data, we can assume that the profile is the same as the previous years (monthly data exists). Also, due to the rebound effect on desalination, the water produced by desalination can be up to 20% more than water transferred. However, the case of covering all water needs through desalination will be examined. 6. 2. 1. 2. Meteorological data The data needed for the simulation are the wind speed and the solar radiation as hourly time series for 1 year. For Hermoupolis, the average wind speed at wind turbine height is 6. 5 m/s and the total solar radiation at the photovoltaic inclination is 1847 kWh/m2. As the island of Patmos is an important site of cultural heritage, the wind energy option is not examined. The annual solar radiation is 1935 kWh/m2. 6. 2. 1. 3. Installation cost Total cost has been estimated at 2. 082 M€ using data from the Service [32]. The installation cost of the reverse osmosis unit in Patmos installation was estimated at 0. 739 M€. The specific cost of the photovoltaic system was calculated for a fixed price of 1200 €/kWp and the installation cost of the wind turbine system is estimated at 1500 €/kW. 6. 2. 1. 4. Operation and maintenance cost These costs are either fixed or dependent on the water production:Labor is a fixed cost, in a small desalination plant estimated at LB = 25000 € per year and per person. When the annual water production is low, the labor cost is an important factor in the water cost. One person was employed for the RO unit of Patmos and four persons for the unit of Hermoupolis. Chemicals cost is variable and depends on the water production. The specific cost of the chemicals is estimated from 0. 02 to 0. 05 $/m3 [33], but in some cases it can be as high as 0. 23 $/m3 [34]. For the Greek islands a value of 0. 065 €/m3 is proposed [35]. Thus, the chemical costs are C H = W P ⋅ 0. 065 € m 3. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by discussing the complexities and limitations of desalination, such as the potential costs and operational factors involved in water production. It implies that solely relying on desalination may not adequately address all water needs, as indicated by the examination of costs and production variables. Therefore, the claim that all cities can achieve water independence solely through desalination is challenged.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: a Mixed-sugar (glucose: xylose = 3:1) was used as a substrate; the initial concentrations of glucose and xylose were approximately 60. 0 and 20. 0 g/L, respectively; b Corn stover hydrolysate was used as the substrate. The fermentations were conducted in a 5-L bioreactor with 2. 5 L of initial medium. The cultivation was performed at 50 °C with stirring at 80 rpm. The pH was maintained at 7. 0 by automatic addition of 25% (w/v) Ca(OH)2. Mixed sugar (the ratio of glucose to xylose was approximately 3:1) or corn stover hydrolysate (700 g/L of sugars) was added to the medium when the glucose concentration was lower than 20. 0 g/L. Each fermentation condition was repeated at least twice, and typical fermentation kinetics are shown hereFull size image Fed-batch fermentation of corn stover hydrolysateCorn stover hydrolysate (CSH), as one of the most popular lignocellulosic hydrolysates, was selected for l-lactic acid fermentation with an initial sugar concentration of approximately 80 g/L. CSH was supplemented to maintain the sugar concentration throughout the fermentation process once the concentration of glucose fell below 20 g/L. As shown in Fig. 4b, 99. 3 g/L of l-lactic acid (purity > 99. 7%) was obtained with consumption of 79. 9 g/L glucose and 25. 1 g/L xylose after 40 h. The productivity was 2. 48 g/[L h], and the yield was 94. 6% of the theoretical yield. DiscussionIn this study, we established B. licheniformis MW3 as a platform for l-lactic acid production from lignocellulose-derived sugars. A “dual-channel” process was used to engineer the metabolic pathways of glucose and xylose successively. Although the constituent metabolic engineering strategies have been demonstrated for enhancing glucose and/or xylose utilization in strains such as Corynebacterium glutamicum [30], Enterobacter cloacae [1], Saccharomyces cerevisiae [28], and B. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text appears to discuss fermentation processes involving sugars and lactic acid production, specifically with the use of mixed sugars and corn stover hydrolysate. However, it does not provide any information on bioengineered yeast or the production of biofuels, making it irrelevant to the claim.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: Administration of Bacteriodales has subsequently been shown to reduce CTLA-4 blockade induced colitis in an antibiotic-treated mouse model [4, 35]. Translation toward clinical practice As our understanding of pharmacomicrobiomics increases, intestinal microbiome analysis holds the potential to predict patient response to chemotherapy prior to treatment and to personalise therapy. A key example of translation from basic research to clinical application follows an investigation into PD-1 inhibitor immunotherapy, which is highly effective in only a small subset of patients. Following the murine research conducted by Zitvogel et al [39] and Sivan et al [16] (described earlier), three clinical studies have recently emerged [4, 16, 36–38]. Zitvogel et al [39] found that abnormal gut microbiome composition was associated with failure to respond to anti-PD-1 therapy, while faecal microbial transplantation from responding patients to a germ-free murine model was shown to ameliorate chemotherapeutic response. Metagenomic analysis revealed an abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila associated positively with clinical response and oral supplementation of the bacterium in germ-free mice restored the response to PD-1 blockade [36]. Gopalakrishnan et al [38] examined the microbiomes of melanoma patients undergoing PD-1 immunotherapy. Significantly higher alpha diversity and relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae family were observed in responding patients. Immune profiling of patients revealed enhanced systemic and antitumour immunity, which could be transferred to germ-free mice using faecal transplantation [38]. Finally, Gajewski et al [37] examined baseline stool samples from metastatic melanoma patients. Bifidobacterium longum, Collinsella aerofaciens and Enterococcus faecium were found to be more abundant in responding patients and faecal microbial transplantation from human responders into germ-free mice restored the antitumour effect of PD-1 blockade in the recipient mice [37]. Although different bacteria were identified, this research holds promise for optimisation of chemotherapeutic efficacy, either through intelligent drug selection or manipulation of microbiota. Various measures may be employed prior to, during and after drug administration. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by discussing the effects of specific microbiota on treatment responses, implying that modifying the microbiome can enhance therapeutic outcomes. It mentions that certain bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila and various members of the Ruminococcaceae family, are linked to better clinical responses, suggesting that diet and microbiota diversity could be pivotal in these contexts, especially in relation to therapies like PD-1 immunotherapy. This indicates that diets potentially affecting gut microbiota diversity may have positive influences on health outcomes.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: Membrane cost is the most difficult to estimate, due to the fact that the life span of a membrane depends on many parameters. Proper use of the reverse osmosis system can produce water of potable quality for 5 years or more. In literature and in feasibility studies, the life span of the membrane varies from 3 to 5 years. Water production in the islands is limited and the periodical operation of the reverse osmosis can incur a specific replacement cost that is three times higher. For this reason, membrane cost varies from 0. 04 to 0. 34 €/m3[36]. In this study, membrane replacement cost will be an average 0. 15 €/m3, which agrees with data from real plants in similar areas M R = W P ⋅ 0. 15 € m 3 [17]. Consumables and other costs: will be taken equal to C N = W P ⋅ 0. 04 € m 3 [16]. 6. 2. 1. 5. Other inputs The specific energy for Patmos is assumed to be S p = 5. 5 kWh m 3 and for Hermoupolis, a monthly specific energy is used (Figure 10). The flushing duration will be 15 min ( f m = 0. 25 hr ). The cost of electrical energy for Hermoupolis is 0. 086 €/kWh according to local data, and for Patmos a value of 0. 1 €/kWh was assumed. 6. 2. 2. water cost in the island of Patmos, using conventional energy sources, is estimated at W C = 1. 62 € m 3. Figure 12 presents the cost breakdown graph, where it is obvious that all cost components have approximately the same participation in water cost. If the RO unit is sized to produce water to cover all the demand of Patmos, then the water cost drops to W C = 1. 154 € m 3. Figure 12. Water cost breakdown into the basic components for Patmos and Hermoupolis. When installing photovoltaic units in the island of Patmos, water cost reaches a minimum of about 1. 52 €/m3, which can be achieved when the installed power of the photovoltaic system is about 200 kWp (Figure 13). Figure 13. Water cost versus photovoltaic install power for Patmos. Water cost in the city of Hermoupolis is estimated at 1. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by discussing the costs and operational constraints associated with desalination, particularly the reliance on membrane systems and the need for alternative energy sources to make desalination economically viable. It details specific costs for water production, which indicate that desalination alone cannot guarantee water independence without considering other factors such as energy sourcing and maintenance costs.


Input: Task: pass the claim using the given text. Claim: Bioengineered yeast can be designed to produce high yields of biofuels from sugars. [SEP] Text: subtilis [27], they have not been used for enhancing l-lactic acid production from glucose and xylose, nor have they been studied in B. licheniformis previously. Using our new combinatorial “dual-channel” process, the engineered strain, RH15, was capable of producing 121. 9 or 99. 3 g/L l-lactic acid after 40 h fermentation from a mixture of glucose and xylose or from lignocellulosic hydrolysate, indicating that the strategy was functional and effective. As is commonly known, CCR can severely impair the co-utilization of glucose and xylose and can result in a low mixed-sugar fermentation yield. To address the problem of inefficient utilization, various metabolic engineering strategies have been implemented in recent years. These strategies mainly include substituting PTS with inositol permeases (iolT1) and glucokinase (glk), overexpressing ATP-forming phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase to increase ATP supply, and incorporating heterologous xylose catabolism genes, such as the d-xylose-proton symporter (xylT), xylA and xlyB, and the pentose transport gene araE [3, 30,31,32]. These methods can greatly reduce the CCR and enhance the titers and yields of the products. Herein, we showed that the integration of galP and replacement with the strong promoter P als could effectively enhance the glucose consumption rate by 54. 6 and 10. 2%, respectively, after eliminating CCR. Both results were in accordance with previous reports [1, 31], indicating that GalP and P als were also functional in B. licheniformis for glucose utilization. The inactivation of xylR also played a weak role in promoting the xylose consumption rate, possibly because the relieved repression from XylR was unable to significantly improve the expression of d-xylose pathway genes. Furthermore, XylA derived from GP strain were more efficient in optimizing the rate-limiting step compared with those from GN strains, suggesting the different sensitivities to gene expression in GP and GN strains [33, 34]. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text does not address the claim regarding bioengineered yeast's ability to produce biofuels from sugars. Instead, it focuses on metabolic engineering strategies to enhance lactic acid production from glucose and xylose. There is no mention of biofuels or yeast, making it irrelevant to the claim.


Input: Task: corroborate the claim using the given text. Claim: Certain diets can positively influence the diversity of gut microbiota. [SEP] Text: These include selective antibiotic therapy (targeting specific bacterial species), probiotic therapy (administration of living micro-organisms), pre-biotic therapy (compounds administered to encourage the functions of certain microbiota) and post-biotic therapy (use of nonviable microbial products to exert immunological or biological activity) [39]. Use of both antibiotic therapies and probiotic VSL#3 administration has been shown to reduce the incidence of irinocetan-induced mucositis in rodent models [23, 40]. Various studies on probiotic administration during chemotherapy have also suggested that they may reduce the incidence of systemic infection [41]. Ecological manipulation with faecal microbiota transplantation may also hold therapeutic potential [42]. As microbiota may have deleterious as well as advantageous effects, the perfect balance of microbial manipulation may not be possible. For example, while the microbiota may enhance chemotherapeutic response to oxaliplatin [8], they may also engender chemotherapy-induced mechanical hyperalgesia [43]. Shen et al [43] demonstrated that the incidence of oxaliplatin-induced mechanical hyperalgesia was lower amongst germ-free mice. This protective effect was lost following gut microbial refaunation. As mechanical hyperalgesia affects more than 30% of patients, and can be severe enough to prevent therapeutic dose administration, a compromise may need to be made in microbial manipulation between enhancement of chemotherapeutic effect and reduction of toxicity [43]. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota following chemotherapeutic treatment may also be used to predict prognosis. Taur et al [12] divided patients into low-, intermediate- or high-diversity cohorts based on faecal 16S rRNA analysis shortly after allogenic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Low microbial diversity was associated with a 31% reduction in 3-year survival compared to high diversity, independent of known predictors and co-morbidities [12]. Furthermore, a study of 857 cases of allo-HSCT revealed that broad-spectrum antibiotic administration during treatment was associated with increased graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-related mortality at 5 years. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text corroborates the claim by discussing various therapies, such as pre-biotic and probiotic therapies, that can influence gut microbiota. It further notes that the manipulation of gut microbiota may enhance therapeutic effects and reduce the incidence of adverse outcomes, suggesting that dietary choices and interventions can indeed affect microbiota diversity and functionality.


Input: Task: contrast the claim using the given text. Claim: All cities can achieve water independence through desalination alone. [SEP] Text: 26 €/m3, but the contribution of each cost component is different. Energy contributes 61% of the total water cost (Figure 12). The installation of photovoltaics minimizes water cost to the value of 1. 16 €/m3for a photovoltaic power plant of 2. 3 MW The reduction in water cost is 0. 1€/m3 (the same as is in Patmos). On the other hand, when installing wind turbines, the water cost can be as low as 1. 12 €/m3for total wind turbine installed power of 1750 kW. 14, the water cost is presented versus the installed power of each technology. Figure 14. Water cost versus wind and photovoltaic install power for Hermoupolis. One technology each time. When both photovoltaics and wind turbines are installed simultaneously, water cost has an absolute minimum value at 1. 09 €/m3, which is 0. 17 €/m3 less than the case with conventional energy. This value can be achieved for various installed power combinations of each technology. The lower values for both the photovoltaics and wind turbine‐installed power (which consequently gives the lower installation costs) are for 1250kWp and 1250 kW, respectively (Figure 15). Figure 15. Water cost versus wind and photovoltaic installed power for Hermoupolis when both technologies exists simultaneously. In both cases, an increase in water demand during the next years has not been taken into account; even so, the installation of renewable energy technologies will be beneficial and will make water cheaper due to higher utilization of the desalination units and due to cheap energy sources. Advertisement 7. Discussion and conclusions The practice of desalination has been identified as a promising solution to the water scarcity problem of the Greek islands (Cyclades and Dodecanese). The early efforts during the 1960s with the use of solar distillation technology were not successful, as the technical know‐how was very limited and maintenance was inadequate. Also, the operational costs (labor) were very high due to the lack of automation technologies. The advances in desalination technology, combined with the need to meet water demand in the rapidly developing tourist areas, enhanced the prospects of desalination as a supplementary or even primary source of potable water. Both at the pilot and commercial levels, efforts have been made to improve the performance of desalination technology. [SEP] Justify:

Output: The text contrasts the claim by discussing the need for renewable energy technologies, such as photovoltaics and wind turbines, to reduce water costs associated with desalination. It states that desalination has potential as a primary source of potable water, but that it needs to be supported by advancements in technology and energy sources, implying that desalination alone is insufficient.