Combining Membrane and Zero Brine Technologies in Waste Acid Treatment for a Circular Economy in the Hot‑Dip Galvanizing Industry: A Life Cycle Perspective

An innovative approach of combining membrane and zero brine technologies for a joint treatment of industrial liquid waste is investigated regarding its environmental impacts compared to the existing liquid waste treatment. The object of investigation is the generation of waste acid solution by a hot dip galvanizing plant in Sicily, Italy. The waste acid solution contains hydrochloric acid, iron and zinc, which makes it a hazardous waste according to EU classifcations. Environmental impacts are studied for two scenarios in the Tecnozinco hot-dip galvanizing plant in Sicily, Italy: (i) the current process of pickling with linear disposal of waste acid and (ii) the pickling combined with in-situ treatment of the waste acid using a combination of difusion dialysis (DD), membrane distillation (MD) and a precipitation reactor. Results are obtained via an attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) approach focusing on the water footprint profle of the process. The linear disposal path creates signifcant costs, environmental burdens and risks during the 1500 km transport of hazardous liquid waste. The combination of DD and MD, complemented with a zero-brine precipitation reactor, closes internal material loops, could save local water resources and reduces costs as well as environmental impacts. Reduction potentials of 70–80% regarding most LCA impact categories can be expected for the application of the novel technology combination supporting the galvanizing pre-treatment process under study. Therefore, the application of such technology on the way forward to a more circular economy is recommended from an environmental viewpoint, especially in process plants similar to the investigated one

Effect of aging on esophageal motility in patients with and without GERD

Background/Aims: The impact of aging on esophageal motility is not completely understood. This study aims at assessing 1) whether degeneration of esophageal body motility occurs with age and 2) whether this development is influenced by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Effect of aging on esophageal motility in patients with and without GERD

Background/Aims: The impact of aging on esophageal motility is not completely understood. This study aims at assessing 1) whether degeneration of esophageal body motility occurs with age and 2) whether this development is influenced by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Soziale Bedingungen von Schulleistungen: Zur Erfassung von Kontextmerkmalen durch Schüler-, Schul- und Elternfragebögen [Elektronische Ressource]

Author's comment: sine ann

Outreach initiatives operated by universities for increasing interest in science and technology

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in European Journal of Engineering Edutaion on 2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/03043797.2015.1121468Since the 1990s, the low number of students choosing to study science and technology in higher education has been on the societal agenda and many initiatives have been launched to promote awareness regarding career options. The initiatives particularly focus on increasing enrolment in the engineering programmes. This article describes and compares eight European initiatives that have been established and operated by universities (and in some cases through collaboration with other actors in society). Each initiative is summarised in a short essay that discusses motivation, organisation, pedagogical approach, and activities. The initiatives are characterised by comparing the driving forces behind their creation, how the initiative activities relate to the activities at the university, size based on the number of participants and cost per participant and pedagogical framework. There seem to be two main tracks for building outreach activities, one where outreach activities are based on the university’s normal activities, and one where outreach activities are designed specifically for the visiting students.Gumaelius, L.; Almqvistb, M.; Arnadottir, A.; Axelsson, A.; Conejero, JA.; García Sabater, JP.; Klitgaard, L.... (2016). Outreach initiatives operated by universities for increasing interest in science and technology. European Journal of Engineering Education. 41(6):589-622. https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2015.1121468S58962241

Das virtuelle Software-Engineering-Kompetenzzentrum (ViSEK)

Software-Engineering ist eine wichtige Produktivtechnik für das 21. Jahrhunderts, weil Software in zunehmend mehr Branchen Anwendung findet und maßgeblich die Leistungs- und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit einer Vielzahl von Produkten beeinflusst. Vor diesem Hintergrund vernetzt das virtuelle Software-Engineering-Kompetenzzentrum (ViSEK) Software-Professionals aus Forschung und Industrie und bietet insbesondere kleinen und mittelständigen Unternehmen (KMUs) einen umfassenden Wissenspool von Technologie-Beschreibungen und Erfahrungen. Ausgehend von sozio-kulturellen Lerntheorien unterstützt ViSEK den Aufbau von Lerngemeinschaften zwischen Software-Professionals auf drei verschiedenen Ebenen (a) zwischen führenden nationalen Forschungsgruppen, (b) zwischen Forschungsgruppen und Praktikern und (c) zwischen Praktikern. Zwei Ansätze für den Aufbau von Lerngemeinschaften beschreiben wir detaillierter (a) ein Internet Portal, welches Software-Engineering Wissen darstellt und Funktionalität für die Unterstützung von Gemeinschaftsbildung bietet, (b) regionale Netzwerke die Erfahrungsaustausch und Lernen in bestimmten Feldern des Software-Engineerings unterstützen

Ion energy distribution functions behind the sheaths of magnetized and non magnetized radio frequency discharges

The effect of a magnetic field on the characteristics of capacitively coupled radio frequency discharges is investigated and found to be substantial. A one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation shows that geometrically symmetric discharges can be asymmetrized by applying a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic field. This effect is similar to the recently discovered electrical asymmetry effect. Both effects act independently, they can work in the same direction or compensate each other. Also the ion energy distribution functions at the electrodes are strongly affected by the magnetic field, although only indirectly. The field influences not the dynamics of the sheath itself but rather its operating conditions, i.e., the ion flux through it and voltage drop across it. To support this interpretation, the particle-in-cell results are compared with the outcome of the recently proposed ensemble-in-spacetime algorithm. Although that scheme resolves only the sheath and neglects magnetization, it is able to reproduce the ion energy distribution functions with very good accuracy, regardless of whether the discharge is magnetized or not

UTP and ATP increase extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation in bovine chromaffin cells through epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is coreleased with catecholamines from adrenal medullary chromaffin cells in response to sympathetic nervous system stimulation and may regulate these cells in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Increases in extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation were observed in response to ATP stimulation of bovine chromaffin cells. The signaling pathway involved in ATP-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation was investigated via Western blot analysis. ATP and uridine 5′-triphosphate (UTP) increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation potently, peaking between 5 and 15 min. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK)-activating kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059 blocked this response. UTP, which is selective for G-protein-coupled P2Y receptors, was the most potent agonist among several nucleotides tested. Adenosine 5′-O-(3-thio) triphosphate (ATPγS) and ATP were also potent agonists, characteristic of the P2Y2 or P2Y4 receptor subtypes, whereas agonists selective for P2X receptors or other P2Y receptor subtypes were weakly effective. The receptor involved was further characterized by the nonspecific P2 antagonists suramin and reactive blue 2, which each partially inhibited ATP-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), protein kinase A (PKA), Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), and phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) had no effect on ATP-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation. The Src inhibitor PP2, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor AG1478, and metalloproteinase inhibitor GM6001 decreased ATP-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation. These results suggest nucleotide-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation is mediated by a P2Y2 or P2Y4 receptor, which stimulates metalloproteinase-dependent transactivation of the EGFR