102 research outputs found
Microbial carbon use efficiency and priming of soil organic matter mineralization by glucose additions in boreal forest soils with different C:N ratios
Publisher Copyright: © 2022During the last decade it has been increasingly acknowledged that carbon (C) contained in root exudates can accelerate decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM), a phenomenon known as rhizosphere priming effect (RPE). However, the controlling factors and the role of different soil microorganisms in RPE are not yet well understood. There are some indications that the response of the soil microbial decomposers to labile C input in the rhizosphere depends on microbial demand of nutrients for growth and maintenance, especially that of C and nitrogen (N). To test this hypothesis, we assessed SOM decomposition induced by 13C-glucose additions during one week in forest soils with different C:N ratios (11.5â22.2). We estimated SOM respiration, the potential activity (concentration) of a range of extracellular enzymes, and incorporation of 13C and deuterium (D) in microbial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Glucose additions induced positive priming (a 12â52% increase in SOM respiration) in all soil types, but there was no linear relationship between priming and the soil C:N ratio. Instead, priming of SOM respiration was positively linked to the C:N imbalance, where a higher C:N imbalance implies stronger microbial N limitation. The total oxidative enzyme activity and the ratio between the activities of C and N acquiring enzymes were lower in soil with higher C:N ratios, but these findings could not be quantitatively linked to the observed priming rates. It appears as if glucose addition resulted in priming by stimulating the activity rather than the concentration of oxidative enzymes. Microbial incorporation of D and 13C into in PLFAs demonstrated that glucose additions stimulated both fungal and bacterial growth. The increased growth was mainly supported by glucose assimilation in fungi, while the increase in bacterial growth partly was a result of increased availability of C or N released from SOM. Taken together, the findings suggest that the soil C:N ratio is a poor predictor of priming and that priming is more dependent on the C:N imbalance, which reflects both microbial nutrient demand and nutrient provision.Peer reviewe
Interconnection of Critical Raw Materials and Circular Economy - Myths or Reality
Critical and strategic raw materials play a key role in renewable energy technologies, e-mobility, defence, and space. However, how much focus is there on the circular economy in these solutions, infrastructure and assets containing critical raw materials? And does greater circularity lead to lower criticality? The criticality of raw materials and circular economy may not typically be mentioned in the same sentence, but they should. Circular economy presents a concept to keep materials in use whenever possible, recycle the materials, use recycled materials and residues to prevent waste generation and the lossof valuable elements. This working paper of critical raw materials (CRMs) and circular economy (CE) summarizes the current understanding aboutthe interconnections of CRMs and CE. Currently, demand for using recycled materials is increasing, and the demand to extend the lifecycle of the materials based on durability and repairability will play a role in the CE transition. Use for recycled critical and strategic raw materials will likely be forced in the future. Also, traceability would support circularity of critical raw materials, and it is closely linked to digital applications such as material and product passports. This working paper aims to increase knowledge about critical and strategic raw materials in the circular economy
Interconnection of Critical Raw Materials and Circular Economy - Myths or Reality
Critical and strategic raw materials play a key role in renewable energy technologies, e-mobility, defence, and space. However, how much focus is there on the circular economy in these solutions, infrastructure and assets containing critical raw materials? And does greater circularity lead to lower criticality? The criticality of raw materials and circular economy may not typically be mentioned in the same sentence, but they should. Circular economy presents a concept to keep materials in use whenever possible, recycle the materials, use recycled materials and residues to prevent waste generation and the lossof valuable elements. This working paper of critical raw materials (CRMs) and circular economy (CE) summarizes the current understanding aboutthe interconnections of CRMs and CE. Currently, demand for using recycled materials is increasing, and the demand to extend the lifecycle of the materials based on durability and repairability will play a role in the CE transition. Use for recycled critical and strategic raw materials will likely be forced in the future. Also, traceability would support circularity of critical raw materials, and it is closely linked to digital applications such as material and product passports. This working paper aims to increase knowledge about critical and strategic raw materials in the circular economy
Interconnection of Critical Raw Materials and Circular Economy - Myths or Reality
Critical and strategic raw materials play a key role in renewable energy technologies, e-mobility, defence, and space. However, how much focus is there on the circular economy in these solutions, infrastructure and assets containing critical raw materials? And does greater circularity lead to lower criticality? The criticality of raw materials and circular economy may not typically be mentioned in the same sentence, but they should. Circular economy presents a concept to keep materials in use whenever possible, recycle the materials, use recycled materials and residues to prevent waste generation and the lossof valuable elements. This working paper of critical raw materials (CRMs) and circular economy (CE) summarizes the current understanding aboutthe interconnections of CRMs and CE. Currently, demand for using recycled materials is increasing, and the demand to extend the lifecycle of the materials based on durability and repairability will play a role in the CE transition. Use for recycled critical and strategic raw materials will likely be forced in the future. Also, traceability would support circularity of critical raw materials, and it is closely linked to digital applications such as material and product passports. This working paper aims to increase knowledge about critical and strategic raw materials in the circular economy
Mining tailings as a raw material for glass-bonded thermally sprayed ceramic coatings : Microstructure and properties
Magnesium aluminate, MgAl2O4, spinel powders for thermal spraying, were synthesized from secondary raw materials by spray drying and subsequent reaction sintering. Talc ore mining tailings and aluminium hydroxide precipitate from aluminium anodizing process were studied. A stoichiometric MgAl2O4 spinel coating was prepared as a reference using pure raw materials. Atmospheric plasma spraying resulted in the formation of ceramic coatings. Microstructural investigations revealed that the reference coatings exhibited crystalline lamellar microstructure of MgAl2O4 but secondary coatings contained amorphous areas between the crystalline MgAl2O4 clusters. Abrasive wear test results revealed considerably lower wear rate for secondary coatings. It is suggested that the different structure of coatings, particularly the high degree of amorphous phase between the isolated crystalline MgAl2O4 clusters caused the higher abrasive wear resistance by changing the wear mechanism. The dielectric breakdown strength of the secondary coatings were at the same level, 24 V/ÎŒm, as compared to reference coating, 23 V/ÎŒm.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe
Molecular Atlas of Postnatal Mouse Heart Development
Background The molecular mechanisms mediating postnatal loss of cardiac regeneration in mammals are not fully understood. We aimed to provide an integrated resource of mRNA, protein, and metabolite changes in the neonatal heart for identification of metabolismârelated mechanisms associated with cardiac regeneration. Methods and Results Methods and results Mouse ventricular tissue samples taken on postnatal day 1 (P01), P04, P09, and P23 were analyzed with RNA sequencing and global proteomics and metabolomics. Gene ontology analysis, KEGG pathway analysis, and fuzzy câmeans clustering were used to identify upâ or downregulated biological processes and metabolic pathways on all 3 levels, and Ingenuity pathway analysis (Qiagen) was used to identify upstream regulators. Differential expression was observed for 8547 mRNAs and for 1199 of 2285 quantified proteins. Furthermore, 151 metabolites with significant changes were identified. Differentially regulated metabolic pathways include branched chain amino acid degradation (upregulated at P23), fatty acid metabolism (upregulated at P04 and P09; downregulated at P23) as well as the HMGCS (HMGâCoA [hydroxymethylglutarylâcoenzyme A] synthase)âmediated mevalonate pathway and ketogenesis (transiently activated). Pharmacological inhibition of HMGCS in primary neonatal cardiomyocytes reduced the percentage of BrdUâpositive cardiomyocytes, providing evidence that the mevalonate and ketogenesis routes may participate in regulating the cardiomyocyte cell cycle. Conclusions This study is the first systemsâlevel resource combining data from genomewide transcriptomics with global quantitative proteomics and untargeted metabolomics analyses in the mouse heart throughout the early postnatal period. These integrated data of molecular changes associated with the loss of cardiac regeneration may open up new possibilities for the development of regenerative therapiesPeer reviewe
R-strategies in circular economy : Textile, battery, and agri-food value chains
This report discusses the circular economy model through circular economy strategies, the R-strategies, in three different value chains: textile, battery, and agri-food.
The R-strategies can be classified under three approaches: 1) smarter product use and manufacture (R0 Refuse, R1 Rethink, R2 Reduce), 2) life extension strategies (R3 Reuse, R4 Repair, R5 Refurbish, R6 Remanufacture, R7 Re-purpose), and 3) creative material application (R8 Recycle, R9 Recover). Often, the impact on circularity and overall sustainability is likely higher in the beginning of the material value chain. However, the selection of the most optimal R-strategy is always case specific and should be based on a holistic, system wide approach.
The report gives several examples of business models applying different R-strategies in the selected value chains. The examples show the similarities and differences between the value chains and which strategies have more importance in which value chains.
In the textile value chain, currently the most important aim is to replace fast fashion with longer product use (R3, R4, R5) and essentially reduce production and consumption volumes (R0, R1, R2). Textile fibres can be circulated (R6, R7, R8) to some extent, but in every round, there is some wearing of the material and the quality of the recycled fibre deteriorates in comparison to virgin fibre.
In the battery value-chain, increased recycling of metals (R8) is crucial to meet the future need of batteries in various solutions including electric vehicles and energy storage. Thus, recycling technologies need to be further developed to meet the recycling targets. There is also active research and development activities in the field of substitution (R0) with new battery chemistries and even replacing graphite with renewable lignin-based material.
In the agri-food value chain, avoiding food loss and food waste (R0) is clearly a low hanging fruit since even one third of all food is estimated of being wasted. When it comes to circularity in the agri-food value chain, it is best supported by increasing local food production, where transport distances are short and do not create a barrier for efficient utilization of side-streams (R8, R9). The circulation of nutrients in manure is also essential
Suomen kansantalouden materiaalivirrat ja niiden vaikutukset : Toteutunut kehitys ja kiertotalouden skenaariot vuodelle 2035
Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli lisÀtÀ ymmÀrrystÀ kiertotalouden potentiaalista vaikuttaa Suomen luonnonvarojen kÀyttöön ja niistÀ aiheutuviin ympÀristö- ja talousvaikutuksiin.
Viimeaikaisen kehityksen lisÀksi arvioitiin kolmea luonnonvarojen kÀytön skenaariota vuodelle 2035. Niihin lisÀttiin kiertotaloustoimenpiteitÀ vaiheittain siten, ettÀ kunniahimoisin skenaario pyrki saavuttamaan Suomen kiertotalouden strategisen ohjelman luonnonvaratavoitteiden lisÀksi myös Suomen hiilineutraalisuustavoitteen.
Tulosten perusteella kiertotalouden strategisessa ohjelmassa asetut luonnonvaratavoitteet ovat osin saavutettavissa. TÀllöin Suomen raaka-aineiden kokonaiskulutus vuonna 2035 ei ylitÀ vuoden 2015 tasoa, ja materiaalien kiertotalousaste kaksinkertaistuu vuodesta 2015. Myös hiilineutraalisuus voidaan saavuttaa vuoteen 2035 mennessÀ työssÀ hahmoteltujen oletuksien ja lisÀtoimien toteutuessa. Puhdas energiasiirtymÀ vÀhentÀÀ Suomen pÀÀstöjÀ ja luonnonvarojen kÀyttöÀ merkittÀvÀsti jo nykyisten pÀÀtösten toteutuessa perusskenaariossa. Kiertotaloustoimenpiteet edistÀvÀt edelleen pÀÀstöjen laskua ja vahvistavat nieluja.
Suomen raaka-aineiden kulutus asukasta kohden sÀilyy kiertotaloustoimenpiteistÀ huolimatta globaalisti erittÀin korkealla tasolla ja resurssituottavuudessa jÀÀdÀÀn kauas EU-maiden keskiarvosta. Kiertotalouden toteutukseen tarvitaan lisÀÀ kunnianhimoa ja toimintaa tukevia ohjauskeinoja.
Julkaisu on pÀivitetty 22.3.2024, s. 21, 23, 43, 89
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