Wastewater disposal to landfill-sites: a synergistic solution for centralized management of olive mill wastewater and enhanced production of landfill gas

The present paper focuses on a largely unexplored field of landfill-site valorization in combination with the construction and operation of a centralized olive mill wastewater (OMW) treatment facility. The latter consists of a wastewater storage lagoon, a compact anaerobic digester operated all year round and a landfill-based final disposal system. Key elements for process design, such as wastewater pretreatment, application method and rate, and the potential effects on leachate quantity and quality, are discussed based on a comprehensive literature review. Furthermore, a case-study for eight (8) olive mill enterprises generating 8700 m(3) of wastewater per year, was conceptually designed in order to calculate the capital and operational costs of the facility (transportation, storage, treatment, final disposal). The proposed facility was found to be economically self-sufficient, as long as the transportation costs of the OMW were maintained at <= 4.0 (sic)/m(3). Despite that EU Landfill Directive prohibits wastewater disposal to landfills, controlled application, based on appropriately designed pre-treatment system and specific loading rates, may provide improved landfill stabilization and a sustainable (environmentally and economically) solution for effluents generated by numerous small- and medium-size olive mill enterprises dispersed in the Mediterranean region

TURKEY BEYOND CAP: AGRO-FOOD COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH EMILIA-ROMAGNA

The objective of this paper is to analyse the role that European countries’ institutional relations and economic policies have in improving the competitiveness, sustainable development and structural adjustments of farms and agro-food economy in Turkey by supporting sustainable and long-lasting foreign agricultural commercial relations. In particular, the paper analyses the case study of Turkey and Emilia-Romagna region agro-food economic trade and the institutional relations developed within a political and institutional framework of actions over the last decade showing how these initiatives have contributed to enhance the role of Turkey as an increasingly important trade partner country. The paper concludes that future CAP budget constraints should lead to a forward looking European enlargement policy towards candidate countries with agriculture oriented economies aiming at supporting agro-food economic relations and eventually a diminishing role of direct CAP support.Agro-Food Policy, Turkey, International Trade, Cap, Enlargement, Agricultural and Food Policy, Political Economy, Q10, Q18,

Radiodensitometric study for evaluation of bone mineral density around dental implants after zoledronic acid treatment in ovariectomized rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of intravenous zoledronic acid applied systemically on osseointegration of dental implants and the surrounding bone mineral density (BMD) in the ovariectomized rats. 36 rats were divided into three groups: control (CTRL), ovariectomy (OVX), and ovariectomy-zoledronic acid (OVX/ZOL). The rats in the CTRL group underwent sham surgery, while rats in OVX and OVX / ZOL group underwent ovariectomy. After 12 weeks, rats from OVX / ZOL were injected with 0.04 mg/kg ZOL intravenously once a week for 6 weeks. The rats from CTRL and OVX groups were injected with 0.9% NaCl. Implants were placed in the left tibia. After 8 weeks, rats were sacrificed and tibia bones were removed for radiodensitometric examination. Digital radiographs of bones? lateral surface were taken. The BMD was measured by using radiographic analysis software. Statistically significant differences were found between all groups (p<0.05). While highest mean BMD values were observed in the CTRL group, the lowest were in the OVX group. The systemic use of ZOL has increased the bone density around the implants inserted osteoporotic rat tibia

Environmental factors shaping the ecological niches of ammonia-oxidizing archaea

For more than 100 years it was believed that bacteria were the only group responsible for the oxidation of ammonia. However, recently, a new strain of archaea bearing a putative ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) gene and able to oxidize ammonia was isolated from a marine aquarium tank. Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) were subsequently discovered in many ecosystems of varied characteristics and even found as the predominant causal organisms in some environments. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the environmental conditions related to the presence of AOA and discuss the possible site-related properties. Considering these data, we deduct the possible niches of AOA based on pH, sulfide and phosphate levels. It is proposed that the AOA might be important actors within the nitrogen cycle in low-nutrient, low-pH, and sulfide-containing environments

Effects of pretreatment methods on solubilization of beet-pulp and bio-hydrogen production yield,” Int

a b s t r a c t Sugar processing wastewater and beet-pulp are two major waste streams of sugar-beet processing plants. Contrary to wastewater, beet-pulp is generally used as animal feed in cattle-raising industry. However, it can serve as a substrate for bio-hydrogen production which corresponds to a higher valorization of beet-pulp. Moreover, pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials like beet-pulp is needed in order to improve overall energy efficiency and enable economic feasibility of bio-hydrogen production. Therefore, the effect pretreatment methods (alkaline, thermal, microwave, thermal-alkaline and microwavealkaline) on bio-hydrogen production from sugar beet-pulp through dark fermentation were investigated in this study. Reactors pretreated with alkaline, microwave-alkaline and thermal-alkaline methods yielded significant solubilization of beet-pulp compared to others. Therefore, in the second phase of the study, they were used to pretreat the beetpulp which was then subjected to dark fermentation for bio-hydrogen production. Maximum bio-hydrogen production yield of 115.6 mL H 2 /g COD was observed in reactor which contained alkaline pretreated beet-pulp. ª 2010 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Introduction Hydrogen is a clean and environmentally friendly fuel since the combustion of hydrogen produces only water vapor instead of greenhouse gases like CO 2 . Furthermore, hydrogen has a high energy yield of 122 kJ/g, which is about 2.75 times greater than that of hydrocarbon fuels From the perspective of global environmental impacts, such as greenhouse effect and resource recovery, biological hydrogen production from renewable biomass reduces dependence on fossil fuel, decrease carbon dioxide emission and recovers bio-energy. Moreover, in order to establish Abbreviations: AD, Anaerobic Digestion; BES, 2-Bromoethanesulfonate; BM, Basal Medium; COD, Chemical Oxygen Demand; GC, Gas Chromatograph; HeAc, Acetic Acid; H-Bu, n-Butyric Acid; HePr, Propionic Acid; HRT, Hydraulic Retention A v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l j o u r n a l o f h y d r o g e n e n e r g y 3 6 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 3 8 2 e3 8

Treatment of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) effluent by an activated sludge system: the role of sulphide and thiosulphate in the process

This work studies the use of a well-known and spread activated sludge system (UCT configuration) to treat the effluent of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) treating domestic waste-water. Ammonia, phosphate, dissolved methane and sulphide concentrations in the SAnMBR effluent were around 55 mg NH4-N L-1, 7 mg PO4-P L-1, 30 mg non-methane biodegradable COD L-1, and 105 mg S2- L-1 respectively. The results showed a nitrification inhibition caused by the presence of sulphur compounds at any of the solids retention time (SRT) studied (15,20 and 25 days). This inhibition could be overcome increasing the hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 13 to 26 h. Among the sulphur compounds, sulphide was identified as the substance which caused the nitrification inhibition. When the nitrification was well established, removal rates of nitrogen and phosphorus of 56% and 45% were reached respectively. The sulphide present in the influent was completely oxidised to sulphate, contributing this oxidation to the denitrification process. Moreover, the presence of methanotrophic bacteria, detected by FISH technique, could also contribute to the denitrification. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This research project has been supported by Ministry of Science and Innovation (project CTM2011-28595-C02-01/02) and University of Valencia (precompetitive project UV-INV-AE11-40539) which is gratefully acknowledged.Sánchez Ramírez, JE.; Seco Torrecillas, A.; Ferrer, J.; Bouzas Blanco, A.; García Usach, MF. (2015). Treatment of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) effluent by an activated sludge system: the role of sulphide and thiosulphate in the process. Journal of Environmental Management. 147:213-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.04.043S21321814

Estimating the impact of achieving Turkey's non-communicable disease policy targets: A macro-simulation modelling study.

BACKGROUND: The Burden of non-communicable disease (NCDs) has continued to rise globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In Turkey, NCDs account for 89% of all deaths, with nearly one in five deaths occurring before age 70. This study investigates the number of NCD deaths that could be prevented if Turkey met national and international targets for major modifiable NCD risk factors. METHODS: Preventable deaths were estimated using the World Health Organization (WHO) 'Preventable Risk Integrated ModEl' (PRIME), by combining: 1) Baseline exposure data for risk factors, referenced from national surveillance and cohort studies; 2) Aetiological associations from published meta-analyses; and 3) Demographic and mortality statistics obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat). Confidence intervals were estimated using Monte Carlo simulations. FINDINGS: If Turkey met its NCD risk factor targets for reducing tobacco and salt consumption by 30%, and physical inactivity by 10% in 2017, an estimated 19,859 deaths (95%CI: 12,802 to 26,609) could have been prevented. Approximately two thirds of these preventable deaths were in men, and one in three were in adults below 75 years. A 30% relative reduction in the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and salt, as well as physical inactivity, would prevent 180 (107 to 259); 4,786 (3,679 to 5,836); 13,112 (5,819 to 19,952); and 7,124 (5,053 to 9,212) deaths, respectively. INTERPRETATION: Among major modifiable NCD risk factors, population-level reductions in salt intake and physical inactivity present the greatest opportunity for reducing NCD mortality in Turkey. These findings can help Turkey prioritise interventions to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing NCD mortality by one third, by 2030

Physical inactivity in nine European and Central Asian countries: an analysis of national population-based survey results

Background Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. However, recent and systematically obtained national-level data to guide policy responses are often lacking, especially in countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This article describes physical inactivity patterns among adults in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. Methods Data were collected using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire drawing nationally representative samples of adults in each country. The national prevalence of physical inactivity was calculated as well as the proportional contribution to total physical activity (PA) during work, transport and leisure-time. An adjusted logistic regression model was applied to analyze the association of age, gender, education, household status and income with physical inactivity. Results National prevalence of physical inactivity ranged from 10.1% to 43.6%. The highest proportion of PA was registered during work or in the household in most countries, whereas the lowest was during leisure-time in all countries. Physical inactivity was more likely with older age in eight countries, with female gender in three countries, and with living alone in three countries. There was no clear pattern of association with education and income. Conclusion Prevalence of physical inactivity is heterogeneous across the region. PA during leisure-time contributes minimally to total PA in all countries. Policies and programs that increase opportunities for active travel and leisure-time PA, especially for older adults, women and people living alone will be an essential part of strategies to increase overall population PA.The authors gratefully acknowledge support from a grant from the Government of the Russian Federation in the context of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of NCDs

Smoking Determinants in Turkish University Students

The aim was to explore the prevalence and the correlates of smoking in a group of Turkish university students. A sample of 1,870 students (21.2 ± 2.0 years old) completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Smoking was highly prevalent (35.9%) in this sample. Male gender (OR = 2.72, CI 2.15–3.44), and parental smoking (OR = 1.41, CI 1.13–1.78) were factors associated with increased likelihood of smoking. Higher depressive symptoms and hopelessness levels were significantly related to smoking behavior. Smoking behavior might initiate as a mild and transient habit and unfortunately could become more serious and lead to an actual dependence. The results of this study show that it is necessary to pay attention to levels of depression and hopelessness, as well as parental influence