Efficiency of Multispecies Probiotic Supplements in Bioremoval of Bisphenol A: An In Vitro Study

Background and Objective: Bisphenol A is a well-known industrial compound which is widely used in producing plastic throughout the world. Containers made with these plastics may expose people to small amounts of bisphenol A in food and water and cause adverse effects on human health. In this study, the effect of commercial probiotic formulations on reduction of bisphenol A in aqueous solution is investigated.Materials and Methods: One dose of six types of commercial mixtures of probiotic strains were added to a certain amount of bisphenol A in saline basal medium at 37°C. During a 24 h treatment with probiotics, samples were taken from the environments at different times and prepared for further analysis with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The experimental framework was set up in a way that compares formulations and determines the most efficient strains for bisphenol A reduction. In addition, the effect of peripheral conditions such as pH and temperature were also studied.Results and Conclusion: Multi-strain probiotics had an impressively high performance in bio-removal of bisphenol A from aqueous solutions. Up to 80% of bisphenol A concentration was decreased during the first hour of treatment in almost all trials. Among them, the synergy of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus plantarum strains were the most successful. On the other hand, mixture of probiotics had more persistent effect and robust binding ability than single strains. Finally, it can be expected that regular usage of probiotic supplementation with special mixture of strains can suppress the harmful effects of bisphenol A.Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Organization Narratives for Strategic Change

Aquesta tesi examina el rol de la retòrica i les narratives en la gestió. Un objectiu més ampli d'aquesta investigació és compendre millor el rol de la retòrica i la narratives en la pràctica de la gestió. Ja que la retòrica i les narratives típicament es fan servir per a la creació de sentit en situacions incertes i per donar forma a un camí que sigui possible en el futur, aquest que és un objectiu més ampli, serà subjecte a un examen detallat basat en les preguntes següents. Quin és el paper de les narratives en condicions incertes? Com faciliten les narratives dels projectes de canvi? • Quan són necessàries la retòrica i les narratives en el treball directiu? El primer article, "La retòrica i Cap Control, una Nova Funció Directiva", suggereix una resposta a aquesta pregunta, usant el concepte de "fases de desenvolupament" en la formulació del problema. Per exemple, la declaració "volem trobar una cura per a les malalties autoimmunes" requeriria obertura retòrica, ja que l'activitat concreta que porta a un resultat específic és confusa encara. No obstant, com els investigadors treballen en la persuasió entre els uns i els altres per a que un tema específic estigui en el focus, llavors l'abast de les interpretacions es va estrenyent, i, a través del tancament retòric, un consens sobre el problema es va assolint. En altres paraules, la decisió de situar-se en l'obertura o tancament retòric està basada en l'etapa en la qual se situa el problema, concreta o abstracta. • Quin és el paper de les narratives en situacions incertes, com la situació de canvi? Per investigar aquesta pregunta, el segon article, "El Camí No Pres: Narratives d'Acció i Canvi organitzacional", compara dos tipus de narratives pel que fa a la seva obertura retòrica. La primera narrativa té una trama rígida i clara, però el seu desenllaç deixa certs nivells de vaguetat, per tant, podria tenir una àmplia varietat de finals. El segon tipus de narrativa accentua un final clar i fixat, però estem davant d'una descripció vaga del procés, per tant manté una trama flexible i oberta a interpretació. • Com es dirigeix el canvi en projectes? El tercer article d'aquesta dissertació es titula: "El Conte de Dos Casos: Ampliació de l'Enfocament d'Estudis sobre Comportament en l'Empresa" aprofita dos casos de països veïns i segueix el seu camí cap a la internacionalització, per tal de comparar la seva retòrica i narratives pel que fa a l'estructura organitzativa i comunicació. Malgrat la seva proximitat geogràfica, es revela que els dos tenen menys pràctiques en comú del que s'esperava. Una de les contribucions més interessants d'aquest projecte és veure la llibertat de formular futurs projectes per mitjà de narratives com un factor irreemplaçable en les organitzacions. Això no és només una necessitat indiscutible davant les incerteses d'un entorn canviant, sinó també sembla que és un desig humà, ja que els individus lluitaran per això d'una manera o altra.Esta tesis examina el rol de la retórica y la narrativas en la gestión. Un objetivo más amplio de esta investigación es mejorar la comprensión del rol de la retórica y las narrativas en la práctica de la gestión. Puesto que la retórica y las narrativas típicamente se usan para la creación de sentido en situaciones inciertas y para dar forma a un camino que sea posible en el futuro, este que es un objetivo más amplio será sujeto a un examen detallado basado en las preguntas siguientes. ¿Cuál es el papel de las narrativas en condiciones inciertas? ¿Cómo facilitan las narrativas los proyectos de cambio? • ¿Cuándo son necesarias la retórica y las narrativas en el trabajo directivo? El primer artículo, “La retórica y Ningún Control, una Nueva Función Directiva”, sugiere una respuesta a esta pregunta, usando el concepto de “fases de desarrollo” en la formulación del problema. Por ejemplo, la declaración “queremos encontrar una cura para las enfermedades autoinmunes” requeriría apertura retórica, ya que la actividad precisa que lleva a un resultado específico es confusa aún. Sin embargo, puesto que los investigadores trabajan en la persuasión de unos a otros puesto que un tema específico tiene que estar en el foco, el alcance de las interpretaciones se va estrechando, y, a través del cierre retórico, un consenso en el problema se puede alcanzar. En otras palabras, la decisión de situarse en la apertura o cierre retórico está basada en la etapa en la que se situa el problema, concreta o abstracta. • ¿Cuál es el papel de las narrativas en situaciones inciertas, como la situación de cambio? Para investigar esta pregunta, el segundo artículo, “El Camino No Tomado: Narrativas de Acción y Cambio organizacional”, compara dos tipos de narrativas en cuanto a su apertura retórica. La primera narrativa tiene una trama rígida y clara, pero su desenlace deja ciertos niveles de vaguedad, por lo tanto, podría tener una amplia variedad de finales. El segundo tipo de narrativa acentúa un final claro y fijado, pero estamos ante una descripción vaga del proceso, por lo tanto mantiene una trama flexible y abierta a interpretación. • ¿Cómo se dirige un proyecto de cambio? El tercer artículo de esta disertación se titula: “El Cuento de Dos Casos: Ampliación del Enfoque de Estudios sobre Comportamiento en la Empresa” aprovecha dos casos de países vecinos y sigue su camino hacia la internacionalización, a fin de comparar su retórica y narrativas en cuanto a la estructura organizativa y comunicación. A pesar de su proximidad geográfica, se revela que los dos tienen menos prácticas en común de lo esperado. Una de las contribuciones más interesantes de este proyecto es ver la libertad de formular futuros proyectos por medio de narrativas como un factor irremplazable en las organizaciones. Esto no es sólo una necesidad indiscutible ante las incertidumbres de un entorno cambiante, sino también parece que es un deseo humano, ya que los individuos lucharán por ello de una manera u otra.This thesis examines the role of rhetoric and narratives in management. The broader objective of this research is to improve our understanding of the role of rhetoric and narratives in management practice. As rhetoric and narratives are typically invoked to create meaning in uncertain situations and to shape a possible path to the future, this broader objective will be subject to a detailed examination based on the following questions. What is the role of narratives in uncertain conditions? How do narratives facilitate change projects? •When are rhetoric and narratives needed in managerial work? The first paper, “Rhetoric and No Control, a New Managerial Function”, suggests an answer to this question, using the concept of “stages of development” in problem formulation. For example, the statement “we want to find a cure for autoimmune diseases” would require rhetorical openness, as the precise activity that leads to a specific outcome is yet unclear. However, as the researchers work on persuading each other that a specific topic needs to be at focus, the scope of interpretations narrows, and, through rhetorical closure, a consensus on the problem at hand can be reached. In other words, the decision to engage in openness or closure is based on what stage the problem is at, concrete or abstract. •What is the role of narratives in uncertain conditions, such as change? To investigate this question, the second paper, “The Road Not Taken: The Narratives of Action and Organizational Change”, compares two types of narratives regarding their approach to rhetorical openness. The first narrative type has a rigid and clear plot but leaves a certain degree of vagueness to the outcome, therefore, it might have a variety of endings. The second narrative type stresses on a clear and fixed ending, while keeping a vague description of the process, therefore maintaining the flexibility of the plot and its openness to interpretation. •How is a change project managed? The third paper in this dissertation titled: “The Tale of Two Cases: Expanding the Behaviour Approach to the Firm” takes advantage of two case studies from neighbouring countries and follows their internationalization path, in order to compare their rhetoric and narratives regarding the organizational structure and communication. Despite their geographical proximity, it is revealed that the two have fewer practices in common than expected. One of the most interesting contributions of this project, is viewing freedom to formulate future plans by means of narratives as an irreplaceable factor in organizations. Not only is it an undeniable need in the face of uncertainties of an ever-changing environment, but also it seems to be a human desire, as the individuals will strive for it in one way or another

Mixture Optimization of Concrete Paving Blocks Containing Waste Silt

open3noMost of the waste materials recycled for the production of new construction materials are by-products of various manufacturing processes, such as the aggregate washing process. Recycling such materials is of paramount importance since it could reduce the adverse environmental impacts resulting from landfilling. Various studies have attempted to recycle different types of waste materials and by-products into concrete paving blocks. However, the availability of literature on concrete paving blocks containing waste silt is quite scarce. Thus, the current paper focuses on mix design optimization and production of concrete paving blocks containing high amounts of waste silt resulting from the aggregate production process. Using the mixture Design of Experiments (DOE), 12 sets of concrete paving blocks with different aggregate blends were produced to optimize the mix design. Once the final mix design was achieved, the physical and mechanical properties of the concrete paving blocks were investigated following the EN 1338 standard. Shape and dimension measurements and various tests, including water absorption, tensile splitting strength, abrasion resistance, and slip/skid resistance were conducted on the experimental concrete paving samples. Overall, the produced concrete paving blocks showed promising properties for future applications in pedestrian walking paths.This paper was written for the SAFERUP! Project, which received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 765057.openSolouki, Abbas; Tataranni, Piergiorgio; Sangiorgi, CesareSolouki, Abbas; Tataranni, Piergiorgio; Sangiorgi, Cesar

H/D Exchange Kinetics: Experimental Evidence for Formation of Different b Fragment Ion Conformers/Isomers During the Gas-Phase Peptide Sequencing

Electrospray ionization (ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) combined with H/D exchange reactions was utilized to explore the existence of different b5+ and b4+ fragment ion conformers/isomers of hexapeptide WHWLQL in the gas phase. Distinct H/D exchange trends for protonated WHWLQL ([M + H]+) and its b5+ and b4+ fragment ions (with ND3) were observed. Isolated 12Call isotopomers of both b5+ and b4+ fragment ions yielded bimodal distributions of H/D exchanged product ions. The H/D exchange reaction kinetics also confirmed that b5+ and b4+ fragment ions exist as combination of slow-exchanging (“s”) and fast-exchanging (“f”) species. The calculated rate constant for the first labile hydrogen exchange of [M + H]+ (k[M + H]+ = 3.80 ± 0.7 × 10–10 cm3 mol–1 s–1) was ∼30 and ∼5 times greater than those for the “s” and “f” species of b5+, respectively. Data from H/D exchange of isolated “s” species at longer ND3 reaction times confirmed the existence of different conformers or isomers for b5+ fragment ions. The sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-activated dissociation (SORI-CAD) of WHWLQL combined with the H/D exchange reactions indicate that “s” and “f” species of b5+ and b4+ fragment ions can be produced in the ICR cell as well as the ESI source. The significance of these observations for detailed understanding of protein sequencing and ion fragmentation pathways is discussed

Waste Silt as Filler in Hot Mix Asphalt: A Laboratory Characterization

Several studies aimed to improve both the performance and environmental impact of asphalt pavements using waste and recycled materials as fillers. This study focused on the effect of untreated and thermally treated silt as a filler in hot mix asphalt (HMA). The silt used in the study was a byproduct from a local aggregate production plant in Bologna, Italy. Mineral and chemical analyses revealed that the waste silt required thermal treatment at 750 C for 2 h. The study compared the use of calcined silt, untreated silt, and a common limestone filler in the production of asphalt mastics and HMA specimens. The rheological properties of the mastics were analyzed using frequency sweep and multiple stress creep recovery tests. The physical and mechanical characteristics of the HMAs were evaluated through the air voids content, Marshall stability and indirect tensile strength tests. Additionally, the water susceptibility and thermal sensitivity of the HMAs were evaluated through the indirect tensile strength ratio and indirect tensile stiffness modulus at different testing temperatures. The results showed that the addition of calcined silt had no significant effect on the rheological properties of the mastic or the optimal binder content. However, the samples produced with thermally treated silt showed the highest stiffness and resistance to rutting compared with the other samples. On the other hand, the addition of untreated silt slightly decreased the stiffness value of the samples. In conclusion, the use of waste silt as a filler has potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for HMAs

Preliminary Evaluation of Cement Mortars Containing Waste Silt Optimized with the Design of Experiments Method

Every year, up to 3 billion tons of non-renewable natural aggregates are demanded by the construction sector and approximately 623 million tons of waste (mining and quarrying) was produced in 2018. Global efforts have been made to reduce the number of virgin aggregates used for construction and infrastructure sectors. According to the revised waste framework directive in Europe, recycling at least 70% of construction and demolition waste materials by 2020 was obligatory for all member states. Nonetheless, quarries must work at full capacity to keep up with the demands, which has made quarry/mining waste management an important aspect during the past decades. Amongst the various recycling methods, quarry waste can be included in cement mortar mixtures. Thus, the current research focuses on producing cement mortars by partially substituting natural sand with the waste silt obtained from the limestone aggregate production in S.A.P.A.B.A. s.r.l. (Italy). A Design of Experiments (DOE) method is proposed to define the optimum mix design, aiming to include waste silt in cement mortar mixtures without affecting the final performance. Three cement mortar beams were produced and tested for each of the 49 randomized mixtures defined by the DOE method. The obtained results validate the design approach and suggest the possibility of substituting up to 20% of natural sand with waste silt in cement mortar mixtures

Factor Analysis of Agricultural Development Indicators from Iranian Agriculture Experts’ Viewpoints

Agriculture and its development is the foundation of development in Iran as a developing country. So, it can be regarded as the foundation for economical and social development. The capabilities of agriculture sector are limited and its efficiency is trivial because of neglecting agricultural development and keeping its support just as a slogan. The transformation of agriculture to a developed, dynamic, efficient environment depends not only on appropriate climate and natural resources but also on human resource development in the relevant sector. The main purpose of the present research was to study and recognize agricultural development indicators from agriculture experts’ viewpoints (including researchers, trainers and extension experts) in six provinces in Iran on the basis of Adjacent Provinces Plan. The study was designed with three phases of theoretical foundations, field operations and data analysis. The statistical population was 863 experts, out of which 198 experts were selected by stratified sampling. The validity and reliability of measurement tool (questionnaire) was analyzed by SPSS software package. The study was a correlation-descriptive study in which factor analysis statistics was used in addition to descriptive statistics. Experts grouped indicators of future agricultural development in nine groups (access to inputs, application of technologies for the development of human resource and sustainability; reduction of losses; economical development; improvement of infrastructures; agricultural mechanization; social status; improvement of marketing; land reform; yield increase). Results about the difference in respondents’ viewpoints revealed significant differences in experts’ viewpoints in six studied province about relevant variables and in their viewpoints about the components of agricultural development (infrastructure improvement, marketing, optimum management and sustainability, human resource development and economical development)

Heterogeneous loss of HIV transcription and proviral DNA from 8E5/LAV lymphoblastic leukemia cells revealed by RNA FISH:FLOW analyses

8E5/LAV cells harbor a single HIV provirus, and are used frequently to generate standards for HIV genome quantification. Using flow cytometry-based in situ mRNA hybridization validated by qPCR, we find that different batches of 8E5 cells contain varying numbers of cells lacking viral mRNA and/or viral genomes. These findings raise concerns for studies employing 8E5 cells for quantitation, and highlight the value of mRNA FISH and flow cytometry in the detection and enumeration of HIV-positive cells

Thermally Treated Waste Silt as Filler in Geopolymer Cement

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of including silt, a by-product of limestone aggregate production, as a filler in geopolymer cement. Two separate phases were planned: The first phase aimed to determine the optimum calcination conditions of the waste silt obtained from Società Azionaria Prodotti Asfaltico Bituminosi Affini (S.A.P.A.B.A. s.r.l.). A Design of Experiment (DOE) was produced, and raw silt was calcined accordingly. Geopolymer cement mixtures were made with sodium or potassium alkali solutions and were tested for compressive strength and leaching. Higher calcination temperatures showed better compressive strength, regardless of liquid type. By considering the compressive strength, leaching, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the optimum calcination temperature and time was selected as 750 °C for 2 h. The second phase focused on determining the optimum amount of silt (%) that could be used in a geopolymer cement mixture. The results suggested that the addition of about 55% of silt (total solid weight) as filler can improve the compressive strength of geopolymers made with Na or K liquid activators. Based on the leaching test, the cumulative concentrations of the released trace elements from the geopolymer specimens into the leachant were lower than the thresholds for European standards

Analysis of allelic variation in HMW-Glu-1 gene blocks in Iranian wheat cultivars using ALP molecular marker

In order to study the allelic variation of Glu-1 gene (High molecular weight glutenin), 100 Iranian wheat cultivars including imported and domestic genotypes were analyzed using ALP-PCR technique. Four specific primer pairs were used based on the genetic loci of Glu-A1, Glu-B1, and Glu-D1 to perform the chain polymerase reactions. PCR reaction products were resolved on 2% agarose gel. Since allele “a” had the largest relative frequency (0.707), two alleles (a 344bp; b 362bp) were identified by P1-P2 primer for Glu-A1 locus. Three alleles (a 800bp; b 500bp; c 300bp) were detected for Glu-B1 locus by P5-P6 primer, and allele “b” was assumed as the highest relative frequency (0.618). Two primer pairs were applied for Glu-D1 locus. Ultimately, four alleles were identified, where allele “c” had the highest relative frequency (0.525). The observed genetic variation value for Glu-D1 locus (H=0.648) exhibits the maximal polymorphism. Using cluster analysis, the relationship between the observed polymorphism and geographical variation was investigated. The results indicated that there exists a remarkable variation in Glu- A1 locus between the Iranian wheat cultivars