A comparison of ozone and chlorine to reduce the microbial load in fresh lettuce

The effects of ozone were examined on fresh head lettuce as a means for reducing the initial microbial load (about 10^4-10^5 CFU/g) on the lettuce. Ozone concentrations used were 50 parts per million and 100 ppm. These concentrations resulted in an average reduction ofboth mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria of 2.04 and 2.57 log_10 CFU/g on the initial load of microorganisms on the lettuce. Once the effect was established, ozone was compared to a sodium hypocholorite treatment, which is a method currently used in industry. The concentrations used for comparison of ozone and chlorine were 1 mM and 2 mM for each. The reactions were stopped in both cases by using sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) to determine the initial effect of both ozone and chlorine. By using a neutralizer, the effects due to residual ozone or chlorine on the lettuce were eliminated. At 1 mM, ozone resulted in an average inactivation of mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria of 1.15 log_10 CFU/g and at 2 mM, an average inactivation of 1.68 log_10 CFU/g. At 1 mM and 2 mM of chlorine, the average inactivation of mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria was 1.41 and 1.90 log_10 CFU/g respectively

Co-designing MOOCs with CoDe-Graph

As MOOCs have become a standard format of online learning, it is increasingly important to design courses that ft the needs and contexts of the targeted learners. One way to do so is by actively designing with the subject experts, instructors, and other stakeholders. Within the context of designing MOOCs for disadvantaged groups in Southeast Asia, we explore the three-phase process of co-design. We present a graphical modeling language, CoDe-Graph, which can be used to facilitate the co-design process. We examine how diverse groups of experts provide feedback on design elements and create a com mon understanding using shared artifacts. Four case studies illustrate how the tool can be used by co-design teams to create and visualize custom MOOC designs

Corporate social responsibility and circular economy from the perspective of consumers: A cross-cultural analysis in the cosmetic industry

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and circular economy (CE) have assumed considerable importance in the efforts for sustainable development. However, some consumers do not positively respond to CSR and CE activities, and few studies have analyzed the consumers' perspective about the topics. This study investigates consumer knowledge and perception about CSR and CE and their willingness to pay (WTP) for products from companies that follow these concepts, examining differences according to demographic characteristics. We carried out a survey with 302 Brazilian and Italian consumers of cosmetic products. Our results show that most consumers have a low understanding of CSR and CE and a low perception of the socio-environmental initiatives of companies that follow CSR and CE concepts. Nevertheless, most consumers show WTP for products from companies that follow these concepts. We identified demographic variables that allowed us to relate the profile of consumers with their knowledge about CSR and CE and their WTP. We provide insights for companies and policymakers in advancing toward CSR and CE

Redesign in the textile industry: Proposal of a methodology for the insertion of circular thinking in product development processes

Despite the growing attention toward negative environmental impacts generated by the textile industry, companies face challenges in achieving sustainable and circular economy (CE) transition. The literature has so far lacked a systematic effort to analyze how textile companies can insert CE elements in their new product development process (NPD), especially regarding the proposition of methodologies that can better assist the companies in this regard. This study aims to identify good green innovation and CE practices in NPD adopted by textile companies and propose a methodology from Design Thinking (DT) to insert circular thinking in NPD. To that end, we conducted the research in two steps: (i) narrative bibliographic review and (ii) field research. The bibliographic review was conducted in the “Web of Science”, “Scopus”, and “Scielo” databases. The field research was executed with four textile companies. Our results show that companies tend to consider socio-environmental aspects at different stages of the development of new products. However, there is opportunities for improvement, especially through the use of ideas from DT. The proposed methodology is composed of two main cycles: the design cycle (DT stages) and the consumption cycle (subsequent stages). It encompasses the five main stages of the DT and the three macro phases of NPD of the textile industry. The ideas coming from the DT, especially creativity, focus on the user and stakeholder integration, assist in the development of innovative and circular solutions. The methodology presents how companies can work on reuse, recycling, and manufacturing issues, so that CE occurs. In the end, we evaluated, together with experts, the applicability of the proposed use of ideas of DT in practical cases. The research advances the discussions on NPD in the textile sector, especially on its potential to contribute to the transition to CE. It explores how DT assists in inserting circular thinking into the NPD and presents alternatives for companies to develop circular products and insert green innovations in their NPD

The structural history and mineralization controls of the world-class Geita Hill gold deposit, Geita Greenstone Belt, Tanzania

The Geita Hill gold deposit is located in the Archean Geita Greenstone Belt and is one of the largest gold deposits in East Africa. The Geita Greenstone Belt experienced a complex deformation and intrusive history that is well illustrated and preserved in and around the Geita Hill gold deposit. Deformation involved early stages of ductile shearing and folding (D1 to D5), during which episodic emplacement of large diorite intrusive complexes, sills, and dykes occurred. These ductile deformation phases were followed by the development of brittle-ductile shear zones and faults (D6 to D8). The last stages of deformation were accompanied by voluminous felsic magmatism involving the intrusion of felsic porphyry dykes, within the greenstone belt, and the emplacement of large granitic bodies now forming the margins of the greenstone belt. Early, folded lamprophyre dykes, and later lamprophyre dykes, crosscutting the folded sequence are common, although volumetrically insignificant. The gold deposit formed late during the tectonic history of the greenstone belt, post-dating ductile deformation and synchronous with the development of brittle-ductile shear zones that overprinted earlier structural elements. The main mineralizing process involved sulfide replacement of magnetite-rich layers in ironstone and locally the replacement of ferromagnesian phases and magnetite in the diorite intrusions. The intersection between the brittle-ductile (D6) Geita Hill Shear Zone and different structural elements of ductile origin (e.g., fold hinges), and the contact between banded ironstone and folded diorite dykes and sills provided the optimal sites for gold mineralization

Systems analysis of the transcriptional response of human ileocecal epithelial cells to Clostridium difficile toxins and effects on cell cycle control

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Toxins A and B (TcdA and TcdB) are <it>Clostridium difficile</it>'s principal virulence factors, yet the pathways by which they lead to inflammation and severe diarrhea remain unclear. Also, the relative role of either toxin during infection and the differences in their effects across cell lines is still poorly understood. To better understand their effects in a susceptible cell line, we analyzed the transciptome-wide gene expression response of human ileocecal epithelial cells (HCT-8) after 2, 6, and 24 hr of toxin exposure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that toxins elicit very similar changes in the gene expression of HCT-8 cells, with the TcdB response occurring sooner. The high similarity suggests differences between toxins are due to events beyond transcription of a single cell-type and that their relative potencies during infection may depend on differential effects across cell types within the intestine. We next performed an enrichment analysis to determine biological functions associated with changes in transcription. Differentially expressed genes were associated with response to external stimuli and apoptotic mechanisms and, at 24 hr, were predominately associated with cell-cycle control and DNA replication. To validate our systems approach, we subsequently verified a novel G₁/S and known G₂/M cell-cycle block and increased apoptosis as predicted from our enrichment analysis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study shows a successful example of a workflow deriving novel biological insight from transcriptome-wide gene expression. Importantly, we do not find any significant difference between TcdA and TcdB besides potency or kinetics. The role of each toxin in the inhibition of cell growth and proliferation, an important function of cells in the intestinal epithelium, is characterized.</p