Cultural landscape: Towards the design of a nocturnal lightscape

The current debate on the cultural landscape is focused on an inclusive definition. It proposes active enhancement practices and local planning tools that are also dedicated to the study of scenic-perceptive components and visual values. However, the current indications are limited to the definition of day images of sites, and are not based on investigations of the corresponding nocturnal images. The legislation and the recommendations in force in the field of lighting supply performance requirements, related to street and urban lighting, do not provide any indications regarding territorial contexts or widespread heritage sites. This paper presents a critical analysis of the lighting condition of different territorial contexts, places of widespread heritage, in particular with reference to the Italian context. The present situation has been investigated through a qualitative analysis, based on a comparison between day and night images, and a quantitative analysis, developed through a measurement campaign on representative case studies of the recurrent territorial context. In most cases, an absence of a specific lighting design strategy, aimed at defining a suitable nocturnal perception of the cultural landscape, has emerged from the collected data. The aim of the work has been to underline the importance of the study of nocturnal images and to show the possibility of developing an analysis and design methodology for these contexts. This approach should be based on a systemic vision, which should allow not only single monuments to be valorised, but also the places and landscapes that characterise a territory from a morphological and cultural point of view

Improving sustainable hydrogen production from green waste: [FeFe]-hydrogenases quantitative gene expression RT-qPCR analysis in presence of autochthonous consortia

BackgroundBio-hydrogen production via dark fermentation of low-value waste is a potent and simple mean of recovering energy, maximising the harvesting of reducing equivalents to produce the cleanest fuel amongst renewables. Following several position papers from companies and public bodies, the hydrogen economy is regaining interest, especially in combination with circular economy and the environmental benefits of short local supply chains, aiming at zero net emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). The biomasses attracting the largest interest are agricultural and urban green wastes (pruning of trees, collected leaves, grass clippings from public parks and boulevards), which are usually employed in compost production, with some concerns over the GHG emission during the process. Here, an alternative application of green wastes, low-value compost and intermediate products (partially composted but unsuitable for completing the process) is studied, pointing at the autochthonous microbial consortium as an already selected source of implementation for biomass degradation and hydrogen production. The biocatalysts investigated as mainly relevant for hydrogen production were the [FeFe]-hydrogenases expressed in Clostridia, given their very high turnover rates.ResultsBio-hydrogen accumulation was related to the modulation of gene expression of multiple [FeFe]-hydrogenases from two strains (Clostridium beijerinckii AM2 and Clostridium tyrobutyricum AM6) isolated from the same waste. Reverse Transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was applied over a period of 288 h and the RT-qPCR results showed that C. beijerinckii AM2 prevailed over C. tyrobutyricum AM6 and a high expression modulation of the 6 different [FeFe]-hydrogenase genes of C. beijerinckii in the first 23 h was observed, sustaining cumulative hydrogen production of 0.6 to 1.2 ml H2/g VS (volatile solids). These results are promising in terms of hydrogen yields, given that no pre-treatment was applied, and suggested a complex cellular regulation, linking the performance of dark fermentation with key functional genes involved in bio-H2 production in presence of the autochthonous consortium, with different roles, time, and mode of expression of the involved hydrogenases.ConclusionsAn applicative outcome of the hydrogenases genes quantitative expression analysis can be foreseen in optimising (on the basis of the acquired functional data) hydrogen production from a nutrient-poor green waste and/or low added value compost, in a perspective of circular bioeconomy

Meiotic behavior of two polyploid species of genus Pleurodema (Anura: Leiuperidae) from central Argentina

Polyploidy is an important evolutionary force but rare in vertebrates. However, in anurans, the genus Pleurodema has polyploid species, two of them tetraploid and one octoploid. The manner in which the chromosomes join in diakinesis can vary among species and, crucially, if they differ in their ploidy levels. In this work, we describe the meiotic configurations in two cryptic species from central Argentina, with different ploidy levels, Pleurodema kriegi (tetraploid) and P. cordobae (octoploid). A total of 306 diakineses from 19 individuals were analyzed. In meiosis, P. kriegi form 22 bivalents, whereas P. cordobae exhibits variation in meiotic figures. We discuss the possible allo- and autopolyploid origin of these species, and we consider that the autopolyploid origin of P. cordobae from P. kriegi might be the most feasible

Development and field evaluation of liquid inoculants with native Bradyrhizobial strains for peanut production

A critical process in the leguminous crops cycles is biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Application of inoculants with N fixing bacteria is economically and environmentally favourable. The aim of this work was to select competitive native peanut microsymbionts, evaluate their survival in inoculant support and assess their impact on peanut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) production under field conditions at C\uf3rdoba province in Argentina. The efficient N fixing Bradyrhizobium sp. J-81 and Bradyrhizobium sp. J-237, previously obtained from peanut nodules in the region of Cordoba, Argentina, were evaluated. In microcosm assays, plants inoculated with these isolates demonstrated better symbiotic parameters than those inoculated with reference strains. Different bacterial growth media and inoculant stabiliser solutions were evaluated. Balanced medium and arabic gum stabilising solution had optimal bacterial growth and the highest bacterial concentration and viability, respectively. Inoculation with either inoculants resulted in 44% greater peanut pod yield at Pizarro compared to the non-inoculated plants, although no significant differences were found with respect to commercial inoculants treatments.La fixation biologique de l\u2019Azote (FBA) est un processus important dans le cycle de vie des l\ue9gumineuses. L\u2019application d\u2019inoculum de bact\ue9ries fixatrices d\u2019azote est favorable au double plan \ue9conomique et environnemental. Le but de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de s\ue9lectionner des bact\ue9ries symbiotiques de l\u2019arachide natives et comp\ue9titives, \ue9valuer leur temps de survie dans support d\u2019inoculum et \ue9valuer leur impact sur la production en plein champ de l\u2019arachide ( Arachis hypogaea L.) dans la province de C\uf3rdoba en Argentine. Les bact\ue9ries fixatrices d\u2019azote Bradyrhizobium sp. J-81 et Bradyrhizobium sp. J-237, extraites de nodules collect\ue9s sur des plants cultiv\ue9s dans la r\ue9gion de Cordoba en Argentina, ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9valu\ue9es. Dans des essais de microcosme, des plants inocul\ue9s avec ces isolats ont exhib\ue9s de meilleurs param\ue8tres symbiotiques que les plants non inocul\ue9s. Diff\ue9rents m\ue9dia de culture bact\ue9rienne et supports inoculums ont \ue9t\ue9 test\ue9s. Medium mixte et solution stabilis\ue9e \ue0 la gomme arabique ont respectivement exhib\ue9s la croissance optimale des bact\ue9ries et la meilleure conservation et viabilit\ue9 des bact\ue9ries. L\u2019application de n\u2019importe quel inoculum produisit 44% plus de rendement en gousses d\u2019arachides \ue0 Pizarro par rapport aux plantes non-inocul\ue9es, et ceci bien qu\u2019aucune diff\ue9rence significative n\u2019a \ue9t\ue9 observ\ue9e en comparaison avec les traitements \ue0 l\u2019inoculum du commerce

Removal of cationic pollutants from water by xanthated corn cob: optimization, kinetics, thermodynamics, and prediction of purification process

The removal of Cr(III) ions and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions by xanthated corn cob (xCC) in batch conditions was investigated. The sorption capacity of xCC strongly depended of the pH, and increase when the pH rises. The kinetics was well fitted by pseudo-second order and Chrastil’s model. Sorption of Cr(III) ions and MB on xCC was rapid during the first 20 min of contact time and, thereafter, the biosorption rate decrease gradually until reaching equilibrium. The maximum sorption capacity of 17.13 and 83.89 mg g-1 for Cr(III) ions and MB, respectively was obtained at 40 °C, pH 5 and sorbent dose 4 g dm-3 for removal of Cr(III) ions and 1 g dm-3 for removal of MB. The prediction of purification process was successfully carried out and the verification of theoretically calculated amounts of sorbent was confirmed by using packed-bed column laboratory system with recirculation of the aqueous phase. The wastewater from chrome plating industry was successfully purified, i.e. after 40 min concentration of Cr(III) ions was decreased lower than 0.1 mg dm-3. Also, removal of MB from the river water was successfully carried out and after 40 min removal efficiency was about 94 %

Foregut caustic injuries: Results of the world society of emergency surgery consensus conference

Introduction: Lesions of the upper digestive tract due to ingestion of caustic agents still represent a major medical and surgical emergency worldwide. The work-up of these patients is poorly defined and no clear therapeutic guidelines are available. Purpose of the study: The aim of this study was to provide an evidence-based international consensus on primary and secondary prevention, diagnosis, staging, and treatment of this life-threatening and potentially disabling condition. Methods: An extensive literature search was performed by an international panel of experts under the auspices of the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES). The level of evidence of the screened publications was graded using the Oxford 2011 criteria. The level of evidence of the literature and the main topics regarding foregut caustic injuries were discussed during a dedicated meeting in Milan, Italy (April 2015), and during the 3rd Annual Congress of the World Society of Emergency Surgery in Jerusalem, Israel (July 2015). Results: One-hundred-forty-seven full papers which addressed the relevant clinical questions of the research were admitted to the consensus conference. There was an unanimous consensus on the fact that the current literature on foregut caustic injuries lacks homogeneous classification systems and prospective methodology. Moreover, the non-standardized definition of technical and clinical success precludes any accurate comparison of therapeutic modalities. Key recommendations and algorithms based on expert opinions, retrospective studies and literature reviews were proposed and approved during the final consensus conference. The clinical practice guidelines resulting from the consensus conference were approved by the WSES council. Conclusions: The recommendations emerging from this consensus conference, although based on a low level of evidence, have important clinical implications. A world registry of foregut caustic injuries could be useful to collect a homogeneous data-base for prospective clinical studies that may help improving the current clinical practice guidelines

Quantitative Analysis of Lipid Droplet Fusion: Inefficient Steady State Fusion but Rapid Stimulation by Chemical Fusogens

Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic cytoplasmic organelles containing neutral lipids and bounded by a phospholipid monolayer. Previous studies have suggested that LDs can undergo constitutive homotypic fusion, a process linked to the inhibitory effects of fatty acids on glucose transporter trafficking. Using strict quantitative criteria for LD fusion together with refined light microscopic methods and real-time analysis, we now show that LDs in diverse cell types show low constitutive fusogenic activity under normal growth conditions. To investigate the possible modulation of LD fusion, we screened for agents that can trigger fusion. A number of pharmacological agents caused homotypic fusion of lipid droplets in a variety of cell types. This provided a novel cell system to study rapid regulated fusion between homotypic phospholipid monolayers. LD fusion involved an initial step in which the two adjacent membranes became continuous (<10 s), followed by the slower merging (100 s) of the neutral lipid cores to produce a single spherical LD. These fusion events were accompanied by changes to the LD surface organization. Measurements of LDs undergoing homotypic fusion showed that fused LDs maintained their initial volume, with a corresponding decrease in surface area suggesting rapid removal of membrane from the fused LD. This study provides estimates for the level of constitutive LD fusion in cells and questions the role of LD fusion in vivo. In addition, it highlights the extent of LD restructuring which occurs when homotypic LD fusion is triggered in a variety of cell types