Applicazione della metodologia LCA all\u2019intervento di modifica degli impianti semaforici nel Comune di Udine

In recent years the Municipality of Udine changed the technology of traffic lights in the administered area, no longer equipped with traditional incandescent optics but with Light Emitting Diodes (LED), in order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions during the operation phase. The paper aims at applying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, to evaluate whether the transition to the new technology has actually allowed the reduction of environmental impacts, resulting from all life cycle stages for both devices, in different environmental categories. In most cases the obtained results show a better environmental compatibility of LED

Yield and Quality of Essential Oils in Hemp Varieties in Different Environments

Due to its possible utilization in cosmetics, medicine and crop protection, as a valuable alternative to petrochemical-derived products, hemp essential oil is now considered a product with high value added and a promising marketing potential. This experiment was conducted with the aim of evaluating the effect of four different locations of Northern Italy during two years (four environments) and three hemp monoecious varieties on the production and quality of essential oils (EOs) obtained by inflorescences harvested at full flowering of female flowers. The highest inflorescence yield was obtained at Maiano 2017, where a superficial groundwater layer (1.5 m) was present, with values that ranged from 1.69 of Fedora to 2.06 t ha 121 of Futura. EOs production ranged between 3.4 and 4.9 L ha 121 , affected mainly by the variety effect. The terpene in EOs, very similar between varieties and environments, was mainly composed of sesquiterpenes (caryophillene and humulene, as the most abundant) rather than monoterpenes (\u3b1-pinene, \u3b2-myrcene and trans-\u3b2-ocimene, in particular). Phytocannabinoids, and in particular cannabidiol (CBD), were not removed from tissues by the steam during hydrodistillation, and if this is confirmed by further experiments, the residual biomass, now considered as waste, could assume significant importance as a source for further utilization

Bleaching techniques impact on some quality parameters in two different cold-pressed oils obtained at farm scale

The consumption of cold-pressed oil, such as linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) oil has increased recently. In these oils obtained on the farm, a large number of components able to affect oil quality (mainly chlorophylls) are present. Given this, an experiment was conducted with the following aims: (1) to compare different bleaching methods by applying ultrasound waves and earths in cold-pressed hempseed and linseed oils and (2) to evaluate the effect of different types (acid-activated and natural) and amount (2% and 4%) of earths with different processing temperatures (60 and 80°C) in hempseed oil, utilizing a bleaching method with earths alone. Regarding the linseed oil, any bleaching methodologies adopted must not include ultrasound treatment, as the high temperatures reached determine high levels of oxidation to the detriment of the oil. Concerning the hemp oil, the natural earths, especially at farm level, should be preferred, because in addition to removing chlorophyll satisfactorily, when used at 4% even at the lowest temperature (60°C), an improvement of the stability and nutritional value (Vit. E) of the oil was observed

The Performance and Potentiality of Monoecious Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Cultivars as a Multipurpose Crop

Given the growing interest in multipurpose hemp crop, eight monoecious cultivars were compared in a two-year trial for quantitative and qualitative yield in a Mediterranean environment characterized by a temperate and humid climate with hot summers. All hemp cultivars were evaluated for yield potential of (i) seed plus stem at seed maturity, and (ii) essential oil yield from inflorescences harvested at full flowering. The second goal was set to test the ability of cultivars to supply new seeds after the removal of inflorescence at full flowering. Among the cultivars, Fedora obtained the best results for seed (0.79 and 0.52 t ha1) and vegetable oil yield (0.17 and 0.09 t ha1) normally and with inflorescence removed plants, respectively. Futura, conversely, showed the best results for inflorescence (3.0 t ha1), essential oil (9 L ha1), and stem yield at seed maturity (8.34 t ha1), as means across the two years. The cultivars studied generally reached the grain-filling stage during a period that was drier and warmer than the average of the same multi-year period, and this negatively affected seed quality. The oil fatty acid composition was mainly composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids (75% on average) and not affected by the cultivar. In conclusion, although the hemp grower should always clearly know the main production objective of the crop, the monoecious cultivars available today allow a multipurpose use of hemp crop, improving the sustainability of the cultivation activity

Antifungal activity of chili pepper extract with potential for the control of some major pathogens in grapevine

Background: In the recent years, biofungicides have drawn increasing interest in vineyard for a more sustainable integrated and copper-limited pest management. Among alternatives, botanicals could represent valuable tools, being rich sources of biologically active compounds. Conversely to the well-known antioxidant and biological properties in relation to health benefits, investigation on bioactivity of hot pungent Capsicum sp. products against fungal phytopathogens in vineyard is still scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed at exploring the biologically active compounds profile of a chili pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) pod extract and its antimicrobial properties against some of the major fungal and Oomycetes pathogens of grapevine, including Botrytis cinerea Pers., Guignardia bidwellii (Ellis) Viala & Ravaz and Plasmopara viticola (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Berl. & De Toni. Results: The ethyl acetate-extracted oleoresin from the most pungent varieties was rich in capsaicinoids and polyphenols (371.09 and 268.5 μg mg-1 dry weight, respectively). Capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin, hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids and quercetin derivatives were the most abundant, while carotenoids represented only a minor fraction. The oleoresin was efficient to inhibit all three pathogenic fungi and ED50 values were determined, evidencing that G. bidwellii was the more sensitive (0.233 ± 0.034 mg mL-1 ). Conclusion: The results suggested a potentiality of chili pepper extract for the control of some important grapevine pathogens, their possible application being helpful for the recommended limitation in extensive use of copper in vineyard. The complex mixture of high amounts of capsaicinoids, associated to specific phenolic acids and other minor bioactive components might contribute for the observed antimicrobial action of chili pepper extract

Applicazione della metodologia LCA all’intervento di modifica degli impianti semaforici nel Comune di Udine

In recent years the Municipality of Udine changed the technology of traffic lights in the administered area, no longer equipped with traditional incandescent optics but with Light Emitting Diodes (LED), in order to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions during the operation phase. The paper aims at applying the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, to evaluate whether the transition to the new technology has actually allowed the reduction of environmental impacts, resulting from all life cycle stages for both devices, in different environmental categories. In most cases the obtained results show a better environmental compatibility of LED

Apparent Metabolisability of Diets Containing Concentrate, Zostera Noltii or Taraxacum Officinalis in Anas Penelope

Four metabolisability trials on captive Wigeons were conducted comparing a complete pelleted diet with others where Taraxacum officinalis and Zostera noltii were added. The daily dry matter (DM) intake of Wigeons varied from 54.4 to 65.5 g/day and the amount of nutrients received from the four diets was similar. The nitrogen (N) content of droppings statistically diminished when Wigeons were fed diets containing Zostera noltii. Correlation among cell wall components (CWC) of droppings and that of intakes was always highly significant and positive. The DM metabolisability of the four diets was 42-51 %. The crude protein (CP) metabolisability varied significantly from 21 % for the diet with Taraxacum to 39 % for that with the Zostera collected in June. The metabolizabilities of CWC also differed significantly among diets. The apparent metabolizabilities of ash with the Zostera diets were significantly higher when compared to those of two other diets

Single and Repeated Applications of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Differently Affect the Growth and Biomass Accumulation of <i>Silene flos-cuculi</i> L. (<i>Caryophyllaceae</i>)

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) have a wide variety of applications in industry. Models demonstrated that nCeO2 can reach environmental compartments. Studies regarding the relationships between plants and nCeO2 considered only crop species, whereas a relevant knowledge gap exists regarding wild plant species. Specimens of Silene flos-cuculi (Caryophyllaceae) were grown in greenhouse conditions in a substrate amended with a single dose (D1) and two and three doses (D2 and D3) of 20 mg kg−1 and 200 mg kg−1nCeO2 suspensions, respectively. sp-ICP-MS and ICP-MS data demonstrated that nCeO2 was taken up by plant roots and translocated towards aerial plant fractions. Biometric variables showed that plants responded negatively to the treatments with a shortage in biomass of roots and stems. Although not at relevant concentrations, Ce was accumulated mainly in roots and plant leaves

Single and Repeated Applications of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Differently Affect the Growth and Biomass Accumulation of Silene flos-cuculi L. (Caryophyllaceae)

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) have a wide variety of applications in industry. Models demonstrated that nCeO2 can reach environmental compartments. Studies regarding the relationships between plants and nCeO2 considered only crop species, whereas a relevant knowledge gap exists regarding wild plant species. Specimens of Silene flos-cuculi (Caryophyllaceae) were grown in greenhouse conditions in a substrate amended with a single dose (D1) and two and three doses (D2 and D3) of 20 mg kg&minus;1 and 200 mg kg&minus;1nCeO2 suspensions, respectively. sp-ICP-MS and ICP-MS data demonstrated that nCeO2 was taken up by plant roots and translocated towards aerial plant fractions. Biometric variables showed that plants responded negatively to the treatments with a shortage in biomass of roots and stems. Although not at relevant concentrations, Ce was accumulated mainly in roots and plant leaves