Allergenic risk assessment of urban parks: Towards a standard index.

Allergenicity indices are a powerful tool to assess the health hazard posed by urban parks to pollen allergic subjects. Nonetheless, only few indices have been developed and applied to urban vegetation in the last decade, and they were never compared nor standardised over the same dataset. To address this issue, in this paper the two best-known allergenicity indices, the Urban Green Zones Allergenicity Index (IUGZA) and the Specific Allergenicity Index (SAI), have been calculated for the same park (the Botanical Garden of Bologna), collecting vegetation data through both systematic sampling and arboreal census. The results obtained with the two data collection methods were comparable for both indices, indicating systematic sampling as a reliable approximation of the total census. Besides, the allergenic risk resulted moderate to high according to SAI, and very low according to IUGZA. Since SAI does not consider the total volume of the vegetation, it was deemed less reliable than IUGZA in evaluating the allergenicity of an enclosed green space

Skeletal nickel electrode with catalytic effect for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline media

The aim of this investigation is to examine ethanol anodic oxidation on a skeletal nickel electrode in aqueous alkaline solution (1 mol L-1 NaOH). Electrocatalytic activity for ethanol anodic oxidation becomes a serious issue, especially due to the utilization of skeletal nickel electrodes in fuel cells. In order to understand the oxidation mechanism on the surface of these types of electrodes, comprehensive researches were necessary. Electrochemical behavior has been studied by cyclic and linear voltammetry

Studies on the possibility of using expired ceftriaxone drug as additive in acid electroplating baths

In this paper, preliminary data obtained using ceftriaxone (CEFTR) as additive in copper and nickel electrodeposition from acid baths are presented. Electrochemical behaviour of ceftriaxone and introductory information about the way its presence in the metalselectrodeposition bath influences the electrode processes have been obtained by cyclic voltammetry on platinum electrode. Inhibitory effect of ceftriaxone in the electrolyte solutions used in copper and nickel deposition processes was studied by linear voltammetry

Recycling of expired drugs as additive in a Watts Nickel electroplating bath

Iact In this paper are presented studies on the leveling effect of midazolam {8 - chloro - 6 - (2 - fluorophenyl) - 1 - methyl - 4H - imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine}, and streptomycin {5 - (2,4 - diguanidino - 3,5,6 - trihydroxy- cyclohexoxy)- 4 -[4,5- dihydroxy - 6 - (hydroxymethyl) - 3 - methylamino- tetrahydropyran - 2 - yl]oxy - 3 - hydroxy - 2 - methyl- tetrahydrofuran - 3 - carbaldehyd}, in a Watts nickel electroplating bath, manifested by the increase of cathode polarization. These drugs were chosen because their pharmaceutical formulation of the commercial product contains only pure compound, without excipients

Editorial: Regulation of pollen tube growth, volume II

The pollen tube is an extension produced by the pollen grain when conditions are favorable; thus, the pollen tube is important in seed plant reproduction because it transports male gametes. However, it is also an excellent system for studying various plant cell processes that are common to sink organs or tissues (Kroeger and Geitmann, 2012). The pollen tube has been used to study a variety of processes, including vesicular transport, cytoskeletal organization, cell wall deposition, ion gradients, intracellular signaling. Since the pollen tube grows by contacting and signaling to pistil cells, it is also a model for studying cell-cell communication (Broz and Bedinger, 2021). Moreover, the pollen tube is involved in self-incompatibility (SI) processes that regulate reproduction and thus promote hybridization and genetic variability (Mandrone et al., 2019). SI is regulated by several factors, and in some cases, such as citrus, it is an important tool for producing seedless mandarins (Gentile et al., 2012). Pollen tube and pollen can also be targets of environmental stresses (Ledesma and Sugiyama, 2019), which can impair plant reproductive success, resulting in lower productivity of agronomically important plants and increasing allergenicity (pollinosis) (Armentia et al., 2019; Singh and Mathur, 2021)

Skeletal nickel based 6 layers platinum nanoparticles electrode with catalytic effect for ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline media

In this paper, preliminary aspects of ethanol electrocatalytic oxidation on skeletal nickel based 6 layers platinum nanoparticles electrode in aqueous alkaline solution have been investigated using voltammetric studies. Ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) was studied by cyclic and linear voltammetry

Comparative studies for 2-propanol electrooxidation on platinum and nickel electrodes in alkaline media

In this paper, new aspects of 2-propanol oxidation electrocatalytic effect on platinum and nickel electrodes, in aqueous alkaline solution was investigated using voltammetric studies. 2- propanol oxidation reaction has been studied by cyclic and linear voltammetry

Resveratrol as corrosion inhibitor for metals in wine and food industries

This paper presents preliminary results obtained in the case of Resveratrol used as corrosion inhibitor for stainless steel, carbon steel, polished and brushed aluminum in ethanol solutions. Electrochemical behavior of Resveratrol in ethanol solutions has been studied by cyclic voltammetry on platinum electrode. Information about the inhibitory effect mechanism was provided by kinetic parameters calculated with Tafel method from linear polarization curves. Corrosion rate diminution of studied electrodes in the presence of Resveratrol can be assigned to the adsorption of inhibitor molecules on the sample surface, or depositing corrosion products onto metal surface, blocking the active sites

Y0.5Ca0.5BaCo4O7 perovskite electrodes with catalytic effect for methanol and ethanol electrooxidation in alkaline media

In this paper, preliminary data of methanol and ethanol anodic oxidation on Y0.5Ca0.5BaCo4O7 perovskite electrode in aqueous alkaline solution (1 M KOH) are presented. Electrocatalytic activity of methanol and ethanol anodic oxidation becomes a serious issue, especially due to the utilization of 114 layered cobalt perovskite electrodes in fuel cells. In order to elucidate the mechanism of methanol (MOR) and ethanol oxidation reactions (EOR) which occur at this perovskite electrodes interface, advanced studies are required. Electrochemical behavior has been studied by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and chronopotentiometry. Obtained results have shown that Y0.5Ca0.5BaCo4O7 perovskite electrodes are suitable as anodes in fuel cells

Social difference, cultural arbitrary and identity : an analysis of a new national curriculum document in a non-secular environment

This article focuses on the idea of the Curriculum as a 'selection from the cultures of society' and as a site of contestation for legitimacy and identity affirmation. The purpose is to shed some light on the nature of curricular reform being advocated in a specific context - Malta. Throughout the past four years, there has been a revamping of the National Minimum Curriculum (NMC) document in Malta, established in 1988. The 'old' National Minimum Curriculum was subject to criticism focusing on a variety of issues (echoing criticisms levelled at similar National Curricula elsewhere), including issues concerning difference and identity. The first part of the article deals briefly with the issues concerning difference raised in this criticism, focusing on the issues of class, race/ethnicity, gender and disability. The second part focuses on the long and gradual build up towards the development of the new National Curriculum document. The process centres around two documents, the preliminary Tomorrow's Schoolsdocument and the draft NMC document. The issues of equity and the affirmation of social difference, as well as the move towards de-streaming, are discussed. It is argued that this process of reform benefited from the criticism of the earlier NMC document. The process of reform involved an attempt at widespread participation by various stakeholders - parents, teachers, students, unions, women's organisations, disabled person's organisations etc. The final section focuses on the final new NMC document. In this section, the authors explore the compromises, which have been made in reaction to the draft document, indicating the interests at play. Whose cultural arbitrary is reflected in the final document? The article concludes with a discussion centring around lessons to be drawn from a process of curricular reform, involving issues related to identity and difference, carried out in a country characterised by a non-secular environment.peer-reviewe