Transport and energy in India. Energy used by Indian transport systems and consequent emissions: the need for quantitative analyses (Well-to-Wheel, Lifecycle)

The purpose of this work is, at first, a general overview on the state-of-art of the transportation system in India outlining the related energy consumption, for the different transport modes, with consequent estimated emissions. These elements are essential for the preparation of a high-level strategic transport planning on the whole energy issue, to help India in the choices of most suitable transportation systems, according to the well-to-wheel analysis (WTW). Pursuing a WTW global index for India that takes into account both the energy and environmental aspects on a uniform basis is an important aim: it allows the best choices to be made as well as enabling the comparison between some of the most important powertrain and fuel options on the Indian market, the results are discussed from three different points of view: energy, environmental and economic impact

Life cycle assessment of the biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass in a hydrothermal liquefaction - aqueous phase reforming integrated biorefinery

The use of biofuels in the transport sector is one of the strategies for its decarbonization. Here, the LCA meth-odology was used for the first time to assess the environmental impacts of a biorefinery where hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) and aqueous phase reforming (APR) were integrated. This novel coupling was proposed to valorize the carbon loss in the HTL-derived aqueous phase, while simultaneously reducing the external H2 de-mand during biocrude upgrading. Corn stover (residue) and lignin-rich stream (waste) were evaluated as possible lignocellulosic feedstocks. The global warming potential (GWP) was 56.1 and 58.4 g CO2 eq/MJbiofuel, respec-tively. Most of the GWP was attributable to the electrolysis step in the lignin-rich stream case and to the thermal duty and platinum use in the corn stover case. Other impact categories were investigated, and an uncertainty analysis was also carried out. A sensitivity analysis on biogenic carbon, electricity/thermal energy source and alternative hydrogen supply was conducted to estimate their influence on the GWP. Finally, the two scenarios were compared with the environmental impact of fossil-and other biomass-derived fuels, also considering fuel utilization. HTL-APR allowed a 37% reduction compared to fossil diesel, further reduced to 80% with the lignin -rich stream when green energy was used

Les forêts d'Algérie, de Césarée la romaine à ce jour.

D'après de nombreux auteurs, les forêts d'Algérie furent jadis luxuriantes. L'état de déliquescence dans lequel elles se retrouvent aujourd'hui, pose la problématique de ce qu'elles ont subi durant les diverses époques de l'histoire de ce pays. Peu d'écrits existent sur le sujet a constitué et en fonction des convictions politiques ou religieuses des auteurs, chaque publication s'accorde à dire que c'est telle ou telle autre période de l'histoire fort tourmentée de ce pays, qui a été déterminante. La situation géographique de celui-ci, a fait qu'il a subi, de tout temps, des invasions, et que ce sera toujours la forêt qui payera le plus lourd tribut. Actuellement, la situation est encore plus complexe, du fait de la mondialisation

Evaluation of the mechanical properties of cements with fillers derived from the CO2 reduction of cement plants

This work introduces a novel method for the development of CO2 recovery systems derived from the production process of cement in order to obtain CaCO3 nanofiller in cement-based composites. Research was carried out in collaboration between the Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT) and the Department of Structural, Construction and Geotechnical Engineering (DISEG) of Politecnico di Torino. The objective of this method was dual. Firstly, it aimed to obtain a precipitated calcium carbonate - nanoCaCO3 - with a high degree of purity. Secondly, it aimed to optimize the characteristics of these nanoparticles e.g. additional percentages, morphology, particle size distribution or crystal phase, according to their use in cement-based composites. The synthesized nanoCaCO3 particles were subsequently added into the cementitious composites in different percentages according to the weight of the cement, in order to understand their behaviour within the cement matrix. The mechanical properties were also evaluated, both at 7 and 28 days, through three point bending and compression tests. The results of the mechanical tests showed a promising improvement in strength and toughness. This study is a first step towards developing a CO2 circular economy

Nano CaCO3 particles in cement mortars towards developing a circular economy in the cement industry

This paper calls into question the effects of incorporating nano calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles in cement mortars, as they are interesting additive materials already successfully tested as cement nanofiller. These nanoparticles could potentially be prepared through the carbonation route using CO2 from combustion gases from the cement industry. This could enable a circular-economy approach for carbon capture and its re-use within the cement industry, in a sustainable and synergistic manner. In this study, part of the cement content was substituted with commercial nano CaCO3 particles to investigate their effects on the flexural and compressive strength of the resulting cement mortars, after curing for 7 and 28 days. Decreasing the cement content could lead to a reduction in the carbon footprint of cement, which is responsible for approximately 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions. Preliminary results using synthesized CaCO3 particles as nanofillers showed that, after 7 days of curing, mechanical properties of cement mortars improved. This indicates that hydration reaction was accelerated since CaCO3 acts as seeding for this reaction. By contrast, after 28 days of curing, no major improvement was observed. A higher content of calcium carbonate nanoparticles may have reduced the filler effect of these particles due to aggregation phenomena. In the present work, the effects of commercial nano CaCO3 particles on cement hydration were investigated. Mechanical tests showed promising results both after 7 and 28 days of curing. This could lead to the reduction of the carbon footprint of cement manufacturing and produce increasingly better performing building materials. Thus, the development of a circular economy in the cement industry could be achieved

The National Pediatric Surgery Simulation Program in France: A tool to develop resident training in pediatric surgery

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To implement resident curriculum in France based on theoretical teaching and bed side training, the national council known as the "Collège Hospitalier et Universitaire de Chirurgie Pédiatrique" examined the relevance and feasibility of systematically introducing simulation program in the pediatric surgery resident training. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A national simulation training program was developed and took place in a 2-day session organized in 7 simulation centers in France. The program included technical (laparoscopic/suturing technique on low-fidelity models) and nontechnical (6 scenarios for standardized consultation, and a team work scenario based on errors prevention in the operative room) skills. Evaluation of the program (Likert scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (excellent) and notation on 20 points) concerned trainees and trainers. RESULTS: 40 residents (95% of all pediatric surgery French residents) attended with a ratio of trainees/trainer of ½. The training objectives earned a score of 4.46/5. The pedagogical value of the seminar scored 4.7/5, teaching quality 17.95/20, and the overall seminar score was 17.35/20. CONCLUSION: This program, unique nationally, was assessed very favorably by the participating residents and by the involved trainers. To our knowledge, it represents the first mandatory national simulation training program included within a surgical training model. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV

Alteration in the Culex pipiens transcriptome reveals diverse mechanisms of the mosquito immune system implicated upon Rift Valley fever phlebovirus exposure

Rift Valley fever phlebovirus (RVFV) causes an emerging zoonotic disease and is mainly transmitted by Culex and Aedes mosquitoes. While Aedes aegypti-dengue virus (DENV) is the most studied model, less is known about the genes involved in infection-responses in other mosquito-arboviruses pairing. The main objective was to investigate the molecular responses of Cx. pipiens to RVFV exposure focusing mainly on genes implicated in innate immune responses. Mosquitoes were fed with blood spiked with RVFV. The fully-engorged females were pooled at 3 different time points: 2 hours post-exposure (hpe), 3- and 14-days post-exposure (dpe). Pools of mosquitoes fed with non-infected blood were also collected for comparisons. Total RNA from each mosquito pool was subjected to RNA-seq analysis and a de novo transcriptome was constructed. A total of 451 differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified. Most of the transcriptomic alterations were found at an early infection stage after RVFV exposure. Forty-eight DEG related to immune infection-response were characterized. Most of them were related with the RNAi system, Toll and IMD pathways, ubiquitination pathway and apoptosis. Our findings provide for the first time a comprehensive view on Cx. pipiens-RVFV interactions at the molecular level. The early depletion of RNAi pathway genes at the onset of the RVFV infection would allow viral replication in mosquitoes. While genes from the Toll and IMD immune pathways were altered in response to RVFV none of the DEG were related to the JAK/STAT pathway. The fact that most of the DEG involved in the Ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) or apoptosis were found at an early stage of infection would suggest that apoptosis plays a regulatory role in infected Cx. pipiens midguts. This study provides a number of target genes that could be used to identify new molecular targets for vector control.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Protective efficacy of an RBD-based Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) particle vaccine in llamas

Ongoing outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) continue posing a global health threat. Vaccination of livestock reservoir species is a recommended strategy to prevent spread of MERS-CoV among animals and potential spillover to humans. Using a direct-contact llama challenge model that mimics naturally occurring viral transmission, we tested the efficacy of a multimeric receptor binding domain (RBD) particle-display based vaccine candidate. While MERS-CoV was transmitted to naïve animals exposed to virus-inoculated llamas, immunization induced robust virus-neutralizing antibody responses and prevented transmission in 1/3 vaccinated, in-contact animals. Our exploratory study supports further improvement of the RBD-based vaccine to prevent zoonotic spillover of MERS-CoV

Elimination of Active Trachoma after Two Topical Mass Treatments with Azithromycin 1.5% Eye Drops

Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide, accounting for 1.3 million cases of blindness. Although it has disappeared in many regions of the world, trachoma is still endemic in Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Latin America, Asia, and Australia. The WHO has currently set a target of 2020 for controlling trachoma to a low enough level that resulting blindness will not be a major public health concern. Topical tetracycline was for a long time the recommended treatment for active trachoma, but compliance to the regimen is extremely poor. Azithromycin has properties that make it an ideal treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis: high efficacy, intracellular accumulation, and a long tissue half-life. There is now a new mass treatment of trachoma by azithromycin 1.5% eye drops which is as effective as the oral route. In the test health district of Kolofata, Cameroon, the prevalence of trachoma among children dramatically decreased from 31% to less than 5% after 2 treatments. A third treatment was performed in January 2010. An epidemiological surveillance is implemented to see if this removal will be permanent. It also avoids misuse of oral azithromycin and the eye drops are directly treating the site of the infection