Choosing the material for environment responsive screen ray: The LCA comparison

Wood performs based on its material properties by shrinking, expanding or warping due to the changes in relative humidity and temperature. This property intends to be utilized in architecture for purposes such as ventilation or thermal comfort. This concept was developed in the design of Ray 2, a screen that airs in dry and is resistant in humid weather. Two material options are available. Following the contemporary research, a plywood could be used performing on ‘bi-metal’ principle of different shrinkage of different wood species. In reference to the past, the tangential section applied in traditional Norwegian panelling, where different fibre density on opposite sides of the plate cause warping was proposed for the prototype. The plywood research shows better programmability. However, our paper claims that the use of solid wood, at least in the Czech context for the particular product of Ray 2, is more sustainable and therefore it is in our best interest to explore past knowledge in the field. The data from the local manufacturers, as well as from the related universities, were utilized to compare both of the cases in LCA analysis among all showing the energy savings and lower carbon emissions for solid wood

Choosing the material for environment responsive screen ray: The LCA comparison

Wood performs based on its material properties by shrinking, expanding or warping due to the changes in relative humidity and temperature. This property intends to be utilized in architecture for purposes such as ventilation or thermal comfort. This concept was developed in the design of Ray 2, a screen that airs in dry and is resistant in humid weather. Two material options are available. Following the contemporary research, a plywood could be used performing on ‘bi-metal’ principle of different shrinkage of different wood species. In reference to the past, the tangential section applied in traditional Norwegian panelling, where different fibre density on opposite sides of the plate cause warping was proposed for the prototype. The plywood research shows better programmability. However, our paper claims that the use of solid wood, at least in the Czech context for the particular product of Ray 2, is more sustainable and therefore it is in our best interest to explore past knowledge in the field. The data from the local manufacturers, as well as from the related universities, were utilized to compare both of the cases in LCA analysis among all showing the energy savings and lower carbon emissions for solid wood

Multiscale Analysis of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling in the Failing Heart

Rationale:Cardiac ECM (extracellular matrix) comprises a dynamic molecular network providing structural support to heart tissue function. Understanding the impact of ECM remodeling on cardiac cells during heart failure (HF) is essential to prevent adverse ventricular remodeling and restore organ functionality in affected patients.Objectives:We aimed to (1) identify consistent modifications to cardiac ECM structure and mechanics that contribute to HF and (2) determine the underlying molecular mechanisms.Methods and Results:We first performed decellularization of human and murine ECM (decellularized ECM) and then analyzed the pathological changes occurring in decellularized ECM during HF by atomic force microscopy, 2-photon microscopy, high-resolution 3-dimensional image analysis, and computational fluid dynamics simulation. We then performed molecular and functional assays in patient-derived cardiac fibroblasts based on YAP (yes-associated protein)-transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) mechanosensing activity and collagen contraction assays. The analysis of HF decellularized ECM resulting from ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy, as well as from mouse infarcted tissue, identified a common pattern of modifications in their 3-dimensional topography. As compared with healthy heart, HF ECM exhibited aligned, flat, and compact fiber bundles, with reduced elasticity and organizational complexity. At the molecular level, RNA sequencing of HF cardiac fibroblasts highlighted the overrepresentation of dysregulated genes involved in ECM organization, or being connected to TGF beta 1 (transforming growth factor beta 1), interleukin-1, TNF-alpha, and BDNF signaling pathways. Functional tests performed on HF cardiac fibroblasts pointed at mechanosensor YAP as a key player in ECM remodeling in the diseased heart via transcriptional activation of focal adhesion assembly. Finally, in vitro experiments clarified pathological cardiac ECM prevents cell homing, thus providing further hints to identify a possible window of action for cell therapy in cardiac diseases.Conclusions:Our multiparametric approach has highlighted repercussions of ECM remodeling on cell homing, cardiac fibroblast activation, and focal adhesion protein expression via hyperactivated YAP signaling during HF

Environmental aspects of the implementation of MSWI fly ash treatment methods in the Czech Republic

Today about 80 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) is annually incinerated in Europe. One of the solid residues from the municipal waste incineration (MSWI) plant is fly ash (FA). FA is classified as hazardous waste due to the high content of soluble salts, potentially toxic elements (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, As, and Sb), and trace organic pollutants (e.g. dioxins, furans, etc.) and, therefore, must be disposed of in special landfills [1]. On the other hand, the high content of valuable components (Zn, Pb, Cu, and salts) makes FA a potential anthropogenic source for resource recovery. In addition, the production of FA usually accounts for 10-30 kg/t of incinerated waste. Nowadays, 0.75 million tonnes of waste in the Czech Republic is incinerated annually and about 0.02 mil. tonnes of FA produced. With the future limits of landfilling in the EU, the volume of FA will increase. Finding environmentally friendly pathways to promise the use of FA concerning the Green Deal, Circular Economy, and Sustainability goals of EU are critical to future developments in this sector. The study aims to identify and evaluate the potential environmental impacts (EI) or benefits of the viable pathways of MSWI FA treatment in the Czech Republic. EI are evaluated using the Life cycle Assessment (LCA) approach based on Product Environmental Footprint (PEF 3.0) methodology. The 5 cases of MSWI FA treatment pathways will be comparatively assessed for FA taken from 3 different Czech MSWI plants. The first case represents cement-based S/S of FA with landfilling of solidificates as non-hazardous waste. The second case describes the water washing of FA for removal and recovery of soluble salts and landfilling of residues as non-hazardous waste after cement-based S/S. The last three cases illustrate three different options of recovery of valuable metals (Zn, Pb, and Cu): acid extraction of metals followed by their chemical precipitation as a filter cake, acid extraction followed by electrochemical recovery of pure metals, the combination of water washing for recovery of salts followed by acid extraction of metals with their chemical precipitation. The remaining solid residues from these three cases are landfilled as non-hazardous waste after cement-based S/S, similarly to the first two cases. The evaluation is performed using GABI and OPenLCA software with specific databases (Sphera – 2021, Ecoinvent, ILCD, EF, Exiobase, etc.). The results of selected impacts (such as climate change, acidification, photochemical ozone formation, water consumption, ecotoxicity, etc.) are presented and compared with published data from international studies and databases. In addition, the potential circular economy indicators of by-products will be evaluated. The analysis is focused primarily on the operation phase. The life cycle inventory (LCI) includes the transportation of MSWI FA by truck from the MSWI plant to its disposal on an above-ground landfill. For all cases, the impacts of the transport of the necessary operating media (cement, acids, etc.) are included. The functional unit is defined as 1 tonne of MSWI FA for the treatment and disposal. For the cases, the recommendation from the study [2] is considered for possible transfer into the environments (more specific to air, soil, and aquatic) and validated with data obtained from databases. Input and output process flows are defined with the conclusions obtained from experimental verification of MSWI FA treatment supplemented by balances and data from international published studies, journals, and reports. In the end, two approaches of distributions of EI into by-products will be analyzed and compared. The first is the form of credits as a replacement for identical products from raw materials. In the second approach, the PEF 3.0 of the MSWI, including FA treatment, will be divided into each product based on allocation, i. e., techno (mass, exergy), economic (market price/cost), or circular indicators. [1] Yuying Zhang, et al., Treatment of municipal solid waste incineration fly ash: State-of-the-art technologies and future perspectives, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Volume 411, 2021, 125132, ISSN 0304-3894, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.12 [2] Huber F, et al., Comparative life cycle assessment of MSWI fly ash treatment and disposal. Waste Manag. 2018 Mar;73:392-403. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2017.06.004. Epub 2017 Jun 9. PMID: 28602425 Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the presentation

Srovnani toxickych ucinku zeolitickych a fosforecnanovych pracich prostredku na vodni organizmy

Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi