Characterization of the killer toxin KTCf20 from wickerhamomyces anomalus, a potential biocontrol agent against wine spoilage yeasts

Wickerhamomyces anomalus Cf20 secretes the killer toxin KTCf20 that inhibits several wine spoilage yeasts of the species Pichia guilliermondii, P. membranifaciens, Brettanomyces bruxellensis and Dekkera anomala. KTCf20 binds cell wall extracts from the sensitive target P. guilliermondii Cd6; however, this capacity was lost when cell wall extracts were pre-treated with fungal β-glucanase. Pustulan and laminarin inhibited killer activity, suggesting that β-1,3 and β-1,6-glucans may be the putative binding sites for KTCf20 on the cell wall of sensitive cells. The toxin was produced and showed to be stable and highly active at physicochemical conditions suitable for winemaking process. In addition, the strain Cf20 is compatible with Saccharomyces cerevisiae in co-culture conditions being potential its application in a mixed starter culture. These data suggest that W. anomalus Cf20 and/or KTCf20 are promising biocontrol agents against spoilage yeasts during wine-making process.Fil: Fernandez de Ullivarri, Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Mendoza, Lucia Margarita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Raya, Raul Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentin

Lessons, narratives, and research directions for a sustainable circular economy

The current enthusiasm for the circular economy (CE) offers a unique opportunity to advance the impact of research on sustainability transitions. Diverse interpretations of CE by scholars, however, produce partly opposing assessments of its potential benefits, which can hinder progress. Here, we synthesize policy-relevant lessons and research directions for a sustainable CE and identify three narratives—optimist, reformist, and skeptical—that underpin the ambiguity in CE assessments. Based on 54 key CE scholars’ insights, we identify three research needs: the articulation and discussion of ontologically distinct CE narratives; bridging of technical, managerial, socio-economic, environmental, and political CE perspectives; and critical assessment of opportunities and limits of CE science–policy interactions. Our findings offer practical guidance for scholars to engage reflexively with the rapid expansion of CE knowledge, identify and pursue high-impact research directions, and communicate more effectively with practitioners and policymakers

Life cycle cost analysis of tomato production in innovative urban agriculture systems

The construction of innovative urban agriculture systems in cities has increased due to food and environmental concerns. While the environmental performance of urban agriculture has been extensively studied, research on the life cycle costs of urban agriculture systems is still limited, which constraints sustainability-oriented decision-making processes. This paper analyses the economic viability of tomato production cycle in an innovative building with an integrated urban agriculture system in rooftop by applying the life cycle cost methodology. The data was collected from direct measurements and internal and external sources. To calculate labour costs, a customised data collection sheet was created. The results are presented by life cycle stage, cost category and type of cost (fixed & variable). Results indicate that the main cost drivers for tomato production are labour (24.7%), the rooftop greenhouse structure (15%), external pest control (12.6%), and rainwater consumption (9.5%), accounting altogether for 61.8% of the total costs. Accordingly, cost reduction solutions are evaluated through the development of sensitivity scenarios (rooftop greenhouse structure design, tap water use and rainwater tank size), including the consideration of another relevant aspect, such as the role of the production level output, as it can greatly influence the economic viability and profitability. Finally, the main environmental and social aspects of these urban production systems are also included

Representations of Scotland in Edwin Morgan\u27s poetry

This thesis is an examination of the poetry of Edwin Morgan. It is a cultural analysis of Morgan\u27s poetry as representation of the Scottish people. Morgan\u27s poetry represents the Scottish people as determined and persistent in dealing with life\u27s adversities while maintaining hope in a better future

Inmunosensors més eficaços gràcies a l'oxigen

El desenvolupament de nous biosensors amb elevada sensibilitat i baix cost de producció ha estat impulsat gràcies a la nanotecnologia. Aquest treball analitza la fabricació d'immunosensors electroquímics basats en un compòsit de nanotubs de carboni (CNT) i matriu polimèrica (poliestirè), sotmès a un plasma d'oxigen per millorar el rendiment dels sensors.El desarrollo de nuevos biosensores de gran sensibilidad y bajo coste se está potenciando gracias a la nanotecnología. Este trabajo explora la fabricación de inmunosensores electroquímicos a partir de un compuesto de nanotubos de carbono y matriz polimérica (poliestireno), sometido a un plasma de oxígeno para mejorar el rendimiento de los sensores

Added phosphorus availability and re-distribution in both natural and cultivated vertisols

The fates of both native and added phosphorus were studied in a Leptic Hapludert, by Hedley´s fractionation method. The objectives of this study were to: a) assess the reaction of a natural grassland and a cultivated grassland in a Vertisol with added P by fertilization; b) to study the association between inorganic and organic P labile, moderately labile or non-labile forms with P availability for ryegrass growth; c) to test whether ryegrass growth may reflect the effect of a release of P from the soil with the incubation. Soil samples were taken from: a) Natural soil and, b) Cultivated soil that had been fertilized with 120 kg ha-1 yr-1 of TSP. In the laboratory, one group of samples was fertilized with P (0-200 mg P kg-1) and then incubated 25 days at 28 oC. The other group was also fertilized with P but was not incubated. After P fractionation,, ryegrass was grown in a greenhouse 45 days and the dry yield of shoots was measured. Inorganic labile P forms increased with the level of added P in both soils, and these forms were closely associated with ryegrass growth. The inorganic resistant P forms also increased with the level of added P in both soils, but more P was removed from the incubated samples suggesting that part of the added P was redistributed during the incubation. For both soils, the organic labile P decreased with the level of addition in the incubated samples but increased in the non-incubated samples. The organic more resistant P forms did not differ between the natural and cultivated soil and did not show a consistent distribution with added P or incubation. This suggests that these P forms had little influence on P availability in short or medium periods of reaction between soil and P.Fil: Fernandez Lopez, Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina; Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina;Fil: Mendoza, Rodolfo Ernesto. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina

Circular economy business models and technology management strategies in the wind industry: Sustainability potential, industrial challenges and opportunities

Circular business models, aimed at narrowing, slowing, and closing resource loops, can potentially generate significant economic and social benefits, promote resource security and improve environmental performance. However, within the wind power industry, sustainability research, including life cycle assessments, has been focused mostly on technology innovation at the material (e.g. permanent magnets), components (e.g. blades) or product level (e.g. new assets). Research analysing the implementation of circular business models in the wind industry is scarce. Such information could, however, support more robust decision-making in the development of system-level innovations for the deployment of more resource-efficient and sustainable wind energy infrastructure. Building upon practical methods for the identification, categorisation and characterisation of business models, 14 circular business models with application to the wind industry were comprehensively evaluated through the revision of 125 documents, including 56 journal papers, 46 industrial business cases and 23 wind technology management reports. Each circular business model is examined according to i) business offering and drivers, ii) value creation, delivery and capture mechanisms, iii) sustainability benefits and trade-offs, and iv) industrial challenges and opportunities. Accordingly, comprehensive guidelines to drive political (legislation design and implementation), industrial (technology and business innovation) and academic (further research) actions, are provided. Though the results are focussed on the wind industry, the general findings and recommendations are relevant across the renewable and low-carbon energy sector

Cultivation and anaerobic digestion of Scenedesmus spp. grown in a pilot-scale open raceway

Digestibility of a micro-algal mixture was evaluated by mesophilic anaerobic digestion in continuously-stirred tank reactors. The culture consisted primarily of Scenedesmus spp. continuously cultivated over a 6-month period in a 100 m2 raceway reactor instrumented to record pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature. The raceway received supplementary carbon in the form of flue gas from a diesel boiler (10% CO2) injected into a 1-m deep sump to control pH in the range 7.8–8.0. Dilution was optimised to biomass productivity and gave values of 10–15 and 20–25 g total suspended solids (TSS) m? 2 day? 1 in winter (December–February) and spring (April–May), respectively. The culture for the anaerobic digestion trial was harvested in February by centrifugation to give an algal paste containing 4.3% volatile solids (VS). Semi-continuous digestion at organic loading rates of 2.00, 2.75 and 3.50 g VS l? 1 day? 1 gave volumetric biogas productions of ~ 0.66, ~ 0.83 and ~ 0.99 l l? 1 day? 1, respectively. Specific methane yield ranged from 0.13 to 0.14 l CH4 g? 1 VSadded with biogas methane content ~ 62%. Overall the digestion process was stable, but only ~ 30% VS destruction was achieved indicating low biodegradability, due to the short retention times and the recalcitrant nature of this type of biomas