Integrating diffusion dialysis for sustainable acid recovery from ion exchange regeneration stages: Characterization of metal and non-metal ions migration

Seawater mining presents a potential option for recovering the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials (CRMs), but direct extraction from seawater is challenging due to their low concentrations, as most of them are Trace Elements (TEs) (at levels of mg/L or μg/L). Saltworks bitterns (ultraconcentrated brines resulting from the sea salt production process) offer an alternative solution, naturally concentrated up to 40 times more than seawater. These bitterns can be further processed with chelating Ion Exchange (IX) sorbents to selectively extract TEs. However, this process requires an acidic elution stage with strong acids, followed by neutralization, to recover TEs through precipitation, demanding extensive chemicals consumption. Diffusion Dialysis (DD) could be used to recover the excess acid without external reagents, using an acid-resistant Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM). This study evaluates DD through batch and once-through tests for acid recovery from simulated IX eluate generated in the elution stage of TEs (B, Ga, Ge, Co, Sr) recovery from saltworks bitterns. Batch tests achieved high recoveries for HCl (45–50 %) and H2SO4 (30–37 %), being the theoretical maximum attainable recovery equal to 50 %. B and Ge only partially permeated through the membrane (82 % rejection) by a diffusion mechanism in their neutral form (H3BO3(aq), H4GeO4(aq)). Ga, Co and Sr, in cationic form, were highly rejected (>96 %). Permeability followed the order Ga < Sr < Co < B, due to the relevant charge and size. HCl permeability correlated linearly with concentration, while H2SO4 was inversely proportional. Once-through tests showed higher acid (74 % HCl, 62 % H2SO4) and oxoacid (66 % H3BO3(aq), 52 % H4GeO4(aq)) recovery at a low specific flow rate, or apparent flux, (0.38 L/(m2membrane·h)) due to increased residence time. Water to acid flow rate ratios did not affect species transport when an excess of water was guaranteed. Conversely, an influence was observed when the ratio was below 1, with a minimum at 0.18, where a very low passage of species was observed due to the reduced dilution volume of the dialysate solution (water). A 1D transport model, incorporating the solutes permeabilities determined experimentally, effectively described the system performance, especially for HCl and B, albeit slightly overestimating the other TEs’ transpor

Processing techniques for metrological improvement of low-cost smart meter hardware solution for IEC 61000-4-7 Class I harmonics measurements

The work investigates the feasibility of harmonic analysis implementation on smart meter microcontroller devices, according to IEC 61000-4-30 Class A and IEC 61000-4-7 Class I requirements. The final aim was to evaluate to what extent Class I harmonic analysis can be integrated into existing low-cost hardware platforms for smart metering, which normally have limited hardware features, especially concerning the ADC and the possibility of varying the sampling frequency with high resolution, according to the power system signal frequency. An extended experimental characterization is carried out on a case study device, aimed at analyzing its performances in terms of both measurement accuracy and computational burden. To increase metrological ADC behavior and decrease computational costs, sampling strategies and optimized interpolation algorithm have been implemented and tested verifying the feasibility of harmonic analysis implementation on smart meter microcontroller devices, according to IEC 61000-4-30 Class A and IEC 61000-4-7 Class I requirements

Design of innovative and low-cost dopamine-biotin conjugate sensor for the efficient detection of protein and cancer cells

: The rapid, precise identification and quantification of specific biomarkers, toxins, or pathogens is currently a key strategy for achieving more efficient diagnoses. Herein a dopamine-biotin monomer was synthetized and oxidized in the presence of hexamethylenediamine, to obtain adhesive coatings based on polydopamine-biotin (PDA-BT) on different materials to be used in targeted molecular therapy. Insight into the structure of the PDA-BT coating was obtained by solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy acquired, for the first time, directly onto the coating, deposited on alumina spheres. The receptor binding capacity of the PDA-BT coating toward 4-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid/Avidin complex was verified by means of UV-vis spectroscopy. Different deposition cycles of avidin onto the PDA-BT coating by layer-by-layer assembly showed that the film retains its receptor binding capacity for at least eight consecutive cycles. Finally, the feasibility of PDA-BT coating to recognize cell lines with different grade of overexpression of biotin receptors (BR) was investigated by tumor cell capture experiments by using MCF-7 (BR+) and HL-60 (BR-) cell lines. The results show that the developed system can selectively capture MCF-7 cells indicating that it could represent a first approach for the development of future more sophisticated biosensors easily accessible, low cost and recyclable with the dual and rapid detection of both proteins and cells

Urban regeneration trajectories in the historic centre of Porto, Portugal. The role of EU urban policies in Bairro da Sé.

The European Commission underlines the major impact of urban areas on the sustainable development of Europe, as they possess the power to solve a number of challenges that currently threaten the European populations. Since the 1990s the European Union, together with Portuguese urban poli-cies, have influenced the processes of spatial development within the city of Porto, and one might ask if the urban regeneration actions that have been deployed actually brought-about the anticipated changes. While the chal-lenging territory of the historic centre of Porto has been the stage of several urban interventions since the late 1970s, this case study aims to identify the different strategic and financial instruments that were supposed to play a key role in the spatial transformation of the area. However, the urban re-generation process has seen irregular trajectories and various authors em-phasise that past and existing problems have not been effectively tackled and solved. Among the reasons for such state of affairs could be political strategies leaning towards more neoliberal urban policies, the presence of a fragmented legislative framework, or erratic planning choices associated with constant adjustments from within the main urban regeneration actors. Reflecting upon the different events and interventions that have been taking place since the early 1990s in the historic district of Bairro da Sé, it is pos-sible to characterise the urban regeneration trajectories in the historic centre of Porto, based on descriptive insights of the spatial dynamics and its rela-tions with EU and national urban regeneration policies

Geproci sets on skew lines in P3 with two transversals

The purpose of this work is to pursue classification of geproci sets. Specifically we classify [m,n]-geproci sets Z which consist of m=4 points on each of n skew lines, assuming the skew lines have two transversals in common. We show in this case that n≤6. Moreover we show that all geproci sets of this type and with no points on the transversals are contained in the F4 configuration. We conjecture that a similar result is true for an arbitrary number m of points on each skew line, replacing containment in F4 by containment in a half grid obtained by the so-called standard construction

Involvement of Astrocytes in the Formation, Maintenance, and Function of the Blood-Brain Barrier

: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a fundamental structure that protects the composition of the brain by determining which ions, metabolites, and nutrients are allowed to enter the brain from the blood or to leave it towards the circulation. The BBB is structurally composed of a layer of brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) bound to each other through tight junctions (TJs). However, its development as well as maintenance and properties are controlled by the other brain cells that contact the BCECs: pericytes, glial cells, and even neurons themselves. Astrocytes seem, in particular, to have a very important role in determining and controlling most properties of the BBB. Here, we will focus on these latter cells, since the comprehension of their roles in brain physiology has been continuously expanding, even including the ability to participate in neurotransmission and in complex functions such as learning and memory. Accordingly, pathological conditions that alter astrocytic functions can alter the BBB's integrity, thus compromising many brain activities. In this review, we will also refer to different kinds of in vitro BBB models used to study the BBB's properties, evidencing its modifications under pathological conditions

La riforma organica della giustizia riparativa e i suoi riflessi sul sistema penale

Il contributo riproduce, con adattamenti e integrazioni, la relazione tenuta al convegno organizzato dalla Facoltà di Giurisprudenza dell’Università di Trento (e in particolare dall’Osservatorio sulla giustizia di pace, conciliativa e riparativa), in data 5 maggio 2023, grazie a una Convenzione in essere con la Regione Autonoma Trentino-Alto Adige per la formazione permanente della giurisdizione di pace. L’Autore, nel considerare l’ingresso strutturale della giustizia riparativa nell’ordinamento come una delle più promettenti novità nel sistema di giustizia penale, si sofferma sulle innovazioni normative adottate dal legislatore italiano e ne evidenzia alcuni profili critici

The Preface and "Catalogue des Docteurs et Conciles" in Guy de Brès’ "Le baston de la foy chrestienne"

On occasion of the celebrations for the fifth centenary of Guy de Brès’ birth, as well as the publication of the first volume of the critical edition of his theological works, this article aims at analysing the epistle-like preface and Catalogue des Docteurs et Conciles included in de Brès’ first theological/polemical treatise, entitled Le baston de la foy chrestienne (first published in 1555). The preface is placed within the context of anti-Anabaptist polemics and in continuity with previous Reformed efforts to convince civil authorities across Europe that the Reformed church did not harbour seditious troublemakers or detested heretics; the Catalogue of doctors and councils, alongside the preface, constitutes a summary of the apologetical and polemical reply Le baston expressed against a Roman Catholic work by Nicole Grenier entitled Le bouclier de la foy and directed against Reformed believers and their doctrine. While the patristic and canonical sources used by de Brès for the writing of Le baston remain to be fleshed out more precisely, the critical edition of Le baston will shed new light on this and other matters, representing a further step towards the understanding of the life and theology of a key protagonist of the European Reformation of the mid sixteenth century

Management of the vaccination campaign in a population of frail older outpatients affected by cognitive or endocrinological conditions: a pilot study in Italy

Vaccination, particularly against pneumococcus and influenza, is a low-cost primary prevention, useful to avoid hard complications, particularly among frail older people. In this pilot study, we aimed to assess the effect of a strategy for influenza and pneumococcal vaccination for outpatients mainly affected by cognitive or endocrinological conditions, evaluating what could stimulate or demotivate vaccination among older people. This study was conducted during the 2023-2024 influenza season at the outpatient clinics in Palermo, Italy. A total 76 patients were included. More than half of the patients could be considered as pre-frail and about 20% frail, according to a comprehensive geriatric evaluation. Among patients, 46.05% received only vaccination against pneumococcus, 28.95% both vaccinations, and 25.0% only against influenza. Compared with the previous seasons, a 19.5% increase of influenza and 90.2% of pneumococcal vaccine uptake was observed. Side effects of vaccination were the main reason of the previous rejection, namely 76.9% for influenza and 53.8% for anti-pneumococcal vaccination. In conclusion, our study indicates how a new vaccination strategy in different settings could be feasible. Proposing influenza and pneumococcal vaccination for frail older outpatients could be an effective instrument to improve immunization coverage that is still low among older people

DO PROPRIOCEPTIVE TRAINING STRATEGIES WITH DUAL-TASK EXERCISES POSITIVELY INFLUENCE GAIT PARAMETERS IN CHRONIC STROKE? A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

This study explored the unique training method that focuses on improving the sense of body positioning and movement, incorporating the concept of “doing two tasks” simultaneously. People recovering from a stroke often face challenges in walking and multitasking, such as while walking performing other tasks simultaneously. A problem with our sense of proprioception is common after a stroke, interfering with carrying out everyday activities like activities of daily living. Proprioception allows us to move more freely without consciously thinking about our environment. Our investigation involved reviewing 11 articles on this approach. The search results were promising; individuals undergoing this specialized training exhibited improved walking speed and smoother movements. The most significant enhancements were observed when participants engaged in this training 3 times a week over a month. In essence, proprioceptive training strategies with dual-task exercises proved effective in enhancing specific parameters related to walking, such as walking speed and other relevant aspects, among individuals with chronic stroke. This method aims to improve proprioceptive function, enhancing individuals’ ability to perceive and control their body’s positioning and movement, thereby addressing proprioceptive dysfunction and facilitating better functioning in daily life. By emphasizing the importance of proprioception in daily tasks, our study highlights the value of this approach to improving proprioceptive dysfunction after stroke