Sequential biological and photocatalysis based treatments for shipboard slop purification: A pilot plant investigation

This study investigated the treatment of a shipboard slop containing commercial gasoline in a pilot plant scale consisting of a membrane biological reactor (MBR) and photocatalytic reactor (PCR) acting in series. The MBR contributed for approximately 70% to the overall slop purification. More precisely, the biological process was able to remove approximately 40%, on average, of the organic pollution in the slop. Nevertheless, the membrane was capable to retain a large amount of organic molecules within the system, amounting for a further 30% of the influent total organic content removal. However, this affected the membrane fouling, thus resulting in the increase of the pore blocking mechanism that accounted for approximately 20% to the total resistance to filtration (2.85∙10 13 m −1 ), even if a significant restoration of the original membrane permeability was obtained after chemical cleanings. On the other hand, the biological treatment produced a clear solution for the photocatalytic system, thereby optimizing the light penetration and generation of highly oxidizing active oxygen species that enabled the degradation of bio-recalcitrant compounds. Indeed, low total organic carbon (TOC) values (<10 mg L −1 ) were achieved in the output of the photocatalytic reactor by means of only 60 Einstein (E) of cumulative impinging energy after the addition of K 2 S 2 O 8 . Overall, coupling the two processes enabled very high TOC removal (ca. 95%)

The Milk Yield by Cinisara Cows in Different Management Systems: 1. Effect of Season of Calving

The Cinisara cow is Sicilian autochthonous breed; the milk has very interesting qualitative characteristics (chemical, physical and technologic parameters, principally due to its high part β of K casein) and is processed to make Caciocavallo cheese. Characteristics of milk yield are influenced by exogenous factors, such as management system, lactation number and season of calving. Pastures provide the basic feed but grazing is not continuous through the year. The aim of this research was to optimize the distribution of production over the year through the study of the effect of season of calving on qualitative characteristics of milk from Cinisara cows on three farms located at different altitudes (P=plain, C=hill and M=mountain) near Trapani

The Milk Yield by Cinisara Cows in Different Management Systems: 2. Effect of Season of Production

Cinisara is a Sicilian autochthonous breed of dairy cow. Qualitative characteristics of milk yield are influenced by composition of pasture and its changes over the seasons (Di Grigoli et al., 2000). The grazing resource is characterized by notable variability, even in adjacent areas, because of different environmental conditions, such as aspect, the nature of soil and altitude. The aim of this research is to study the effect of season of production on qualitative characteristics of Cinisara cow milk in farms located at different altitudes

A Distributed IoT Air Quality Measurement System for High-Risk Workplace Safety Enhancement

The safety of an operator working in a hazardous environment is a recurring topic in the technical literature of recent years, especially for high-risk environments such as oil and gas plants, refineries, gas depots, or chemical industries. One of the highest risk factors is constituted by the presence of gaseous substances such as toxic compounds such as carbon monoxide and nitric oxides, particulate matter or indoors, in closed spaces, low oxygen concentration atmospheres, and high concentrations of CO2 that can represent a risk for human health. In this context, there exist many monitoring systems for lots of specific applications where gas detection is required. In this paper, the authors present a distributed sensing system based on commercial sensors aimed at monitoring the presence of toxic compounds generated by a melting furnace with the aim of reliably detecting the insurgence of dangerous conditions for workers. The system is composed of two different sensor nodes and a gas analyzer, and it exploits commercial low-cost commercially available sensors

Sleep and epilepsy: A snapshot of knowledge and future research lines

Sleep and epilepsy have a reciprocal relationship, and have been recognized as bedfellows since antiquity. However, research on this topic has made a big step forward only in recent years. In this narrative review we summarize the most stimulating discoveries and insights reached by the “European school.” In particular, different aspects concerning the sleep–epilepsy interactions are analysed: (a) the effects of sleep on epilepsy; (b) the effects of epilepsy on sleep structure; (c) the relationship between epilepsy, sleep and epileptogenesis; (d) the impact of epileptic activity during sleep on cognition; (e) the relationship between epilepsy and the circadian rhythm; (f) the history and features of sleep hypermotor epilepsy and its differential diagnosis; (g) the relationship between epilepsy and sleep disorders

Assessment of Tapentadol API Abuse Liability with the Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance System

Tapentadol, a Schedule II opioid with a combination of µ-opioid activity and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition, is used for the management of moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. Its dual mechanism of action is thought to reduce opioid-related side effects that can complicate pain management. Since approval, tapentadol has been tracked across multiple outcomes suggesting abuse liability, and a pattern of relatively low, although not absent, abuse liability has been found. This retrospective cohort study further details the abuse liability of tapentadol as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) when immediate-release as well as extended-release formulations were on the market together (fourth quarter of 2011 to second quarter of 2016). Tapentadol (API) was compared with tramadol, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone across Poison Center, Drug Diversion, and Treatment Center Programs Combined data streams from the Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance system. Findings suggest the public health burden related to tapentadol to date is low, but present. Event rates of abuse per population-level denominators were significantly lower than all other opioids examined. However, when adjusted for drug availability, event rates of abuse were lower than most Schedule II opioids studied, but were not the lowest. Disentangling these 2 sets of findings further by examining various opioid formulations, such as extended-release and the role of abuse-deterrent formulations, is warranted