Environmental impacts of reusable transport items: A case study of pallet pooling in a retailer supply chain

Manufacturing, storage, and transportation processes are typically facilitated by pallets, containers, and other reusable transport items (RTIs) designed to guarantee many cycles along a lifespan of several years. As a consequence, both supply and reverse transportation of RTIs need to be managed to avoid stockout along the supply chain and the unsustainable production of new tools from virgin materials. This paper focuses on the business of pallet management by analyzing the transport operations of a pallet pooling network serving a large-scale nationwide retailer. The pooler is responsible for supplying, collecting, and refurbishing pallets. The combination of the pooler's management strategies with different retailer network configurations results in different pooling scenarios, which are assessed and compared in this paper through a what-if analysis. The logistical and environmental impacts generated by the pallet distribution activities are quantified per each scenario through a tailored software incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) and routing functionalities. Findings from this analysis suggest how to reduce vehicle distance traveled (vehicles-km) by 65% and pollutant emissions by 60% by combining network infrastructures and pooling management strategies-identifying an empirical best practice for managers of pallet businesses

Environmental impacts of reusable transport items: A case study of pallet pooling in a retailer supply chain

Manufacturing, storage, and transportation processes are typically facilitated by pallets, containers, and other reusable transport items (RTIs) designed to guarantee many cycles along a lifespan of several years. As a consequence, both supply and reverse transportation of RTIs need to be managed to avoid stockout along the supply chain and the unsustainable production of new tools from virgin materials. This paper focuses on the business of pallet management by analyzing the transport operations of a pallet pooling network serving a large-scale nationwide retailer. The pooler is responsible for supplying, collecting, and refurbishing pallets. The combination of the pooler's management strategies with different retailer network configurations results in different pooling scenarios, which are assessed and compared in this paper through a what-if analysis. The logistical and environmental impacts generated by the pallet distribution activities are quantified per each scenario through a tailored software incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) and routing functionalities. Findings from this analysis suggest how to reduce vehicle distance traveled (vehicles-km) by 65% and pollutant emissions by 60% by combining network infrastructures and pooling management strategies-identifying an empirical best practice for managers of pallet businesses

3D Cell Culture: Recent Development in Materials with Tunable Stiffness

It is widely accepted that three-dimensional cell culture systems simulate physiological conditions better than traditional 2D systems. Although extracellular matrix components strongly modulate cell behavior, several studies underlined the importance of mechanosensing in the control of different cell functions such as growth, proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Human tissues are characterized by different degrees of stiffness, and various pathologies (e.g., tumor or fibrosis) cause changes in the mechanical properties through the alteration of the extracellular matrix structure. Additionally, these modifications have an impact on disease progression and on therapy response. Hence, the development of platforms whose stiffness could be modulated may improve our knowledge of cell behavior under different mechanical stress stimuli. In this review, we have analyzed the mechanical diversity of healthy and diseased tissues, and we have summarized recently developed materials with a wide range of stiffness

A Data Architecture to aid Life Cycle Assessment in closed-loop Reusable Plastic Container networks

Abstract Returnable container networks have caught the eye of those companies that aim to reduce waste generation and environmental impact. The literature already includes studies on the environmental impact (i.e. Life Cycle Assessment, LCA) of these networks. However, the major part is based on secondary data since the collection of primary data is complex and time-intensive. This paper proposes an object-relational database dedicated to the storage of data from a closed-loop reusable plastic crates (RPC) networks for fruits and vegetables. The goal is supporting scholars and managers during the LCA through a user-friendly data architecture, while suggesting structured guidelines for the primary data collection. Each node of the RPC network is characterized by a similar set of entity types, such as machines, which allows to process the RPCs with respect to specific cycles. Each entity, process and cycle are therefore reflected in the database by objects that are connected with relations

Actes du Congrès Collèges célébrations 92

Également disponible en version papierTitre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 14 août 2009)Bibliogr.: p. 1

Actes du Congrès Collèges célébrations 92

Également disponible en version papierTitre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 14 août 2009)Bibliogr.: p. 1

The psoriatic shift induced by interleukin 17 is promptly reverted by a specific anti-IL-17A agent in a three-dimensional organotypic model of normal human skin culture

Interleukin 17A (IL-17A), mainly produced by the T helper subclass Th17, plays a key role in the psoriatic plaque formation and progression. The clinical effectiveness of anti-IL-17A agents is documented, but the early and specific mechanisms of their protection are not identified yet. The challenge of the present study is to investigate the possible reversal exerted by a specific anti-IL-17A agent on the psoriatic events induced by IL-17A in a three-dimensional organotypic model of normal human skin. Bioptic skin fragments obtained after aesthetic surgery of healthy women (n=5) were incubated with i) IL-17A biological inhibitor (anti-IL-17A), ii) IL-17A, iii) a combination of IL-17A and its specific IL-17A biological inhibitor (COMBO). A Control group was in parallel cultured and incubation lasted for 24 and 48 h epidermal-side-up at the air-liquid interface. All subjects were represented in all experimental groups at all considered time-points. Keratinocyte proliferation and the presence of epidermal Langerhans cells were quantitatively estimated. In parallel with transmission electron microscopy analysis, immunofluorescence studies for the epidermal distribution of keratin (K)10, K14, K16, K17, filaggrin/occludin, Toll-like Receptor 4, and Nuclear Factor kB were performed. IL-17A inhibited cell proliferation and induced K17 expression, while samples incubated with the anti-IL-17A agent were comparable to controls. In the COMBO group the IL-17A-induced effects were almost completely reverted. Our study, for the first time, elucidates the most specific psoriatic cellular events that can be partially affected or completely reverted by a specific anti-IL-17A agent during the early phases of the plaque onset and progression. On the whole, this work contributes to expand the knowledge of the psoriatic tableau

Loggerhead Sea Turtle as Possible Source of Transmission for Zoonotic Listeriosis in the Marine Environment

Listeria monocytogenes is an ubiquitous pathogen isolated from different host species including fish, crustaceans, and molluscs, but it is rarely a pathogenic microorganism to marine reptiles. In particular, only two cases of fatal disseminated listeriosis have been described in the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). In this study, we describe a lethal case of L. monocytogenes infection in a loggerhead sea turtle. The turtle was found alive, stranded on a beach in North-eastern Italy, but perished soon after being rescued. The autoptic examination revealed that heart, lung, liver, spleen, and urinary bladder were disseminated with multiple, firm, 0.1-0.5 mm sized, nodular, white-green lesions. Microscopically, these lesions corresponded with heterophilic granulomas with Gram+ bacteria within the necrotic center. Furthermore, the Ziehl-Neelsen stain was negative for acid-fast organisms. Colonies isolated from heart and liver were tested through MALDI-TOF for species identification, revealing the presence of L. monocytogenes. Whole Genome Sequencing on L. monocytogenes isolates was performed and the subsequent in silico genotyping revealed the belonging to Sequence Type 6 (ST 6); the virulence profile was evaluated, showing the presence of pathogenicity islands commonly observed in ST 6. Our results further confirm that L. monocytogenes should be posed in differential diagnosis in case of nodular lesions of loggerhead sea turtles; thus, given the zoonotic potential of the microorganism, animals should be treated with particular caution. In addition, wildlife animals can play an active role as carriers of possibly pathogenetic and virulent strains and contribute to the distribution of L. monocytogenes in the environment

A Novel Approach for an Integrated Straw tube-Microstrip Detector

We report on a novel concept of silicon microstrips and straw tubes detector, where integration is accomplished by a straw module with straws not subjected to mechanical tension in a Rohacell $^{\circledR}$ lattice and carbon fiber reinforced plastic shell. Results on mechanical and test beam performances are reported on as well.Comment: Accepted by Transactions on Nuclear Science (2005). 11 pages, 9 figures, uses lnfprep.st

Human wild-type and D76N β_{2}-microglobulin variants are significant proteotoxic and metabolic stressors for transgenic C. elegans

β2-microglobulin (β2-m) is a plasma protein derived from physiological shedding of the class I major histocompatibility complex (MHCI), causing human systemic amyloidosis either due to persistently high concentrations of the wild-type (WT) protein in hemodialyzed patients, or in presence of mutations, such as D76N β2-m, which favor protein deposition in the adulthood, despite normal plasma levels. Here we describe a new transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strain expressing human WT β2-m at high concentrations, mimicking the condition that underlies dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) and we compare it to a previously established strain expressing the highly amyloidogenic D76N β2-m at lower concentrations. Both strains exhibit behavioral defects, the severity of which correlates with β2-m levels rather than with the presence of mutations, being more pronounced in WT β2-m worms. β2-m expression also has a deep impact on the nematodes' proteomic and metabolic profiles. Most significantly affected processes include protein degradation and stress response, amino acids metabolism, and bioenergetics. Molecular alterations are more pronounced in worms expressing WT β2-m at high concentration compared to D76N β2-m worms. Altogether, these data show that β2-m is a proteotoxic protein in vivo also in its wild-type form, and that concentration plays a key role in modulating pathogenicity. Our transgenic nematodes recapitulate the distinctive features subtending DRA compared to hereditary β2-m amyloidosis (high levels of non-mutated β2-m vs. normal levels of variant β2-m) and provide important clues on the molecular bases of these human diseases