Landfill aeration for emission control before and during landfill mining

The landfill of Modena, in northern Italy, is now crossed by the new high velocity railway line connecting Milan and Bologna. Waste was completely removed from a part of the landfill and a trench for the train line was built. With the aim of facilitating excavation and further disposal of the material extracted, suitable measures were defined. In order to prevent undesired emissions into the excavation area, the aerobic in situ stabilisation by means of the Airflow technology took place before and during the Landfill Mining. Specific project features involved the pneumatic leachate extraction from the aeration wells (to keep the leachate table low inside the landfill and increase the volume of waste available for air migration) and the controlled moisture addition into a limited zone, for a preliminary evaluation of the effects on process enhancement. Waste and leachate were periodically sampled in the landfill during the aeration before the excavation, for quality assessment over time; the evolution of biogas composition in the landfill body and in the extraction system for different plant set-ups during the project was monitored, with specific focus on uncontrolled migration into the excavation area. Waste biological stability significantly increased during the aeration (waste respiration index dropped to 33% of the initial value after six months). Leachate head decreased from 4 to 1.5m; leachate recirculation tests proved the beneficial effects of moisture addition on temperature control, without hampering waste aerobization. Proper management of the aeration plant enabled the minimization of uncontrolled biogas emissions into the excavation area

Survey of the genetic variability of populations of <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i> from tre Gulf of Olbia (N-E Sardinia) by microsatellites = Indagine sulla variabilità genetica di popolazioni di <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i> provenienti dal golfo di Olbia (N-E Sardegna)

Genetic variability was investigated at six microsatellite loci of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum (Adams &amp; Reeve, 1850) (Bivalvia) from the Gulf of Olbia (N-E Sardinia) and Sacca di Goro (N Adriatic Sea). We found no significant differentiation among Sardinian samples and between those and the Adriatic one, which suggests the absence of a founder effect in Sardinian population

Analisi della struttura genetica di <i>Hediste diversicolor</i> (Polychaeta, Nereididae) nel Mediterraneo occidentale mediante marcatori ISSR

La struttura genetica del polichete Hediste diversicolor del Mediterraneo occidentale è stata studiata utilizzando gli ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) come marcatori genetici. Sono stati raccolti 30 individui in ciascuna delle seguenti località: Stagno di Calich (Sardegna N-O), Baia di Figari (Corsica S-O), Migliacciaru (Corsica E), Fiume Morto (Toscana N-O) e Coltano (Toscana N-O). L'MDS applicato alle distanze genetiche individuali ha mostrato elevata diversità tra gli individui, ma non ha messo in evidenza alcuna sottostrutturazione genetica nelle popolazioni. Un forte segnale della divergenza genetica tra le popolazioni è dato dal fatto che il 37% del numero totale di bande rilevato è costituito da bande private, cioè esclusive di una popolazione. La varianza genetica, analizzata mediante AMOVA, è risultata equamente ripartita nelle componenti intra- e inter-popolazione (rispettivamente 46.9% e 53.1%). La Φ-statistica ha evidenziato la divergenza genetica tra le popolazioni (Φst = 0.469, P&lt;0.001). La notevole divergenza genetica tra le popolazioni di H. diversicolor è determinata in primo luogo dalla frammentazione naturale dell'habitat che produce isolamento con virtuale assenza di flusso genico tra le popolazioni. L'assenza di sottostrutturazione delle popolazioni, invece, conferma le osservazioni fatte in passato sulla dispersione degli adulti e delle postlarve all'interno dei singoli biotopi

Mitochondrial DNA reveals genetic structuring of <i>Pinna nobilis</i> across the Mediterranean Sea

Pinna nobilis is the largest endemic Mediterranean marine bivalve. During past centuries, various human activities have promoted the regression of its populations. As a consequence of stringent standards of protection, demographic expansions are currently reported in many sites. The aim of this study was to provide the first large broad-scale insight into the genetic variability of P. nobilis in the area that encompasses the western Mediterranean, Ionian Sea, and Adriatic Sea marine ecoregions. To accomplish this objective twenty-five populations from this area were surveyed using two mitochondrial DNA markers (COI and 16S). Our dataset was then merged with those obtained in other studies for the Aegean and Tunisian populations (eastern Mediterranean), and statistical analyses (Bayesian model-based clustering, median-joining network, AMOVA, mismatch distribution, Tajima’s and Fu’s neutrality tests and Bayesian skyline plots) were performed. The results revealed genetic divergence among three distinguishable areas: (1) western Mediterranean and Ionian Sea; (2) Adriatic Sea; and (3) Aegean Sea and Tunisian coastal areas. From a conservational point of view, populations from the three genetically divergent groups found may be considered as different management units

Apricot melanoidins prevent oxidative endothelial cell death by counteracting mitochondrial oxidation and membrane depolarization

The cardiovascular benefits associated with diets rich in fruit and vegetables are thought to be due to phytochemicals contained in fresh plant material. However, whether processed plant foods provide the same benefits as unprocessed ones is an open question. Melanoidins from heat-processed apricots were isolated and their presence confirmed by colorimetric analysis and browning index. Oxidative injury of endothelial cells (ECs) is the key step for the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), therefore the potential protective effect of apricot melanoidins on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative mitochondrial damage and cell death was explored in human ECs. The redox state of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial compartments was detected by using the redox-sensitive, fluorescent protein (roGFP), while the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed with the fluorescent dye, JC-1. ECs exposure to hydrogen peroxide, dose-dependently induced mitochondrial and cytoplasmic oxidation. Additionally detected hydrogen peroxide-induced phenomena were MMP dissipation and ECs death. Pretreatment of ECs with apricot melanoidins, significantly counteracted and ultimately abolished hydrogen peroxide-induced intracellular oxidation, mitochondrial depolarization and cell death. In this regard, our current results clearly indicate that melanoidins derived from heat-processed apricots, protect human ECs against oxidative stress

Assessment of the Life Cycle Environmental Impact of the Olive Oil Extraction Solid Wastes in the European Union

There is an increasing interest in developing sustainable systems in the European Union (EU) to recover and upgrade the solid wastes of the olive oil extraction process, i.e. wet husk. A Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment (LCIA) of wet husk has been carried out aiming at facilitating an appropriate Life Cycle Management of this biomass. Three scenarios have been considered, i.e. combustion for domestic heat, generation of electric power, and composting. The Environmental Product Declaration and the ReCiPe method were used for Life Cycle Impact Assessment. Domestic heating and power generation were the most important impact factors in damaging human health, ecosystems, and natural resources depletion. Composting was 2-4 orders of magnitude less impacting than domestic heat and power generation. Considering human health, the impact of climate change, human toxicity and particulate matter formation represented the main impact categories. Considering ecosystems, climate change and natural land transformation were the main impact categories. Within natural resources, fossil fuel depletion was impacted three orders more than metal depletion. Within domestic heating and power generation scenarios, storage of wet husk along with the extraction by organic solvent, and the waste treatment were the most impacting phases for global warming potential, ozone layer depletion, acidification and non renewable fossil resources depletion. The results obtained for the waste disposal have been comparatively assessed with respect to the environmental impact of the olive oil production chain

A Visible Light Localization Aided OpticalWireless System

We report about a Line of Sight Optical Wireless Communication (LoS OWC) system aided by a simplified Visible Light localization algorithm for tracking purposes. We show experimentally that by combining the LoS OWC system with the localization algorithm it is possible to provide a gross datarate exceeding 300 Mb/s over a 90 degrees illumination angle by using a RGB visible-light LED at 90 cm distance

La Biodiversità degli invertebrati marini è sottostimata? Il caso di <i>Ophelia bicornis</i> e <i>Ophelia barquii</i> (Annelida, Polychaeta)

Negli ultimi anni gli studi molecolari condotti su invertebrati marini hanno contribuito fortemente alla valutazione della biodiversità locale mediante la risoluzione di complessi casi di tassonomia. Ophelia bicornis s.l. è un polichete che vive in habitat intertidali sabbiosi delle coste mediterranee ed europee atlantiche, la cui sistematica è ancora in fase di definizione. Un nostro precedente studio effettuato tramite alloenzimi ha suggerito che O. bicornis s.l. è costituita da due specie: O. bicornis s.s. e O. barquii, rispettivamente riconducibili a morfotipi con 6 e 5 paia di nefridiopori. Nel presente lavoro è stata abbinata l'analisi morfologica (conteggio dei nefridiopori) con quella genetica (genotipizzazione tramite ISSR). Sono stati analizzati 6 campioni (n=50) di O. bicornis s.l. provenienti da 3 località sarde e 3 siciliane. I dati morfologici indicano una diversa distribuzione dei due morfotipi, che sono stati rilevati in simpatria, sia in località sarde che siciliane. L'analisi genetica effettuata tramite gli ISSR ripropone la distinzione tra individui con 6 e 5 paia di nefridiopori, confermando la precedente separazione di O. bicornis s.l. in due specie distinte. Il presente lavoro i) rappresenta un'ulteriore conferma del fatto che i livelli di biodiversità negli invertebrati marini sono attualmente sottostimati e ii) pone le basi per uno studio più accurato delle caratteristiche dell'habitat di queste specie