The energy-efficient transformation of EU business enterprises: Adapting policies to contextual factors

Business contexts differ in their ability to foster the energy-efficient transformation (EET) of enterprises. Accordingly, energy efficiency policies have to be adapted to different situations. The present paper analyzes the relationships between the EET of European Union (EU) business end-users and three contextual factors, i.e. high energy prices, stringency of regulations, and society's alertness toward environment conservation. Enterprises from 9 EU Member States have been grouped according to country, industry and size. The final sample includes 256 enterprise classes, and the model controls for the innovation propensity and energy intensity of each enterprise class. Our results show that regulatory stringency is the most impactful contextual factor, while the environmental alertness of society does not have a significant effect. Concerns over energy costs have not been found to drive EET per se, but more energy-intensive enterprise classes are more likely to react to high energy prices. We discuss the implications of our results for the EU governments that are currently monitoring and refining the transposition of the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive

Barriers and Drivers in the Adoption of Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies: a Comparative Analysis of Italian Utilities

The adoption of new environmentally-friendly technologies is becoming a key issue in both public debate and policy arenas. The paper focuses on innovation adoption by wastewater utilities, and investigates why stringent environmental regulations are not sufficient to foster it. The adoption of advanced wastewater treatment technologies is made complex by the sunk nature of highly specific infrastructures, and the consequent exposure of utilities to political and institutional influences. In addition, it requires the involvement of various actors (utilities, suppliers, contractors), and is influenced by various stakeholders (communities, business users, citizens’ associations) that generally have no aligned objectives. With reference to the aforementioned theoretical background, our paper develops and analyzes a conceptual framework that unfolds over two dimensions: (a) the role played by firm-specific characteristics, i.e. technological and organizational capabilities and managerial professionalism; (b) the influence of community-level factors, i.e. citizens’ voice and pressure exerted by local stakeholders. We investigate these issues through multiple descriptive case studies based on semi-structured interviews with the CEOs and top managers of 11 wastewater utilities operating in a region in North-Italy. The results suggest that firm-specific resources could spur wastewater utilities into adopting innovation, despite an adverse institutional environment. At the same time, on the community-level side, the analysis shows that residents and local businesses are able to mobilize resources and exert pressure to either drive or hinder the adoption of water innovations

Reducing food waste in food manufacturing companies

Putting unsold food at good use is clearly a high-priority option according to the Food Waste Hierarchy, but we still know relatively little about the antecedents, strategies, and processes that make it possible within companies. This paper aims at explaining how food manufacturers can prevent the degradation of generated surplus food into waste. Based on an extensive literature review and 4 exploratory case studies, research questions are formulated about (i) available avenues for managing surplus food, and (ii) internal drivers that make these avenues viable and efficient. In order to adapt, refine and corroborate the conceptual framework, the research conducts 10 descriptive case studies of Italian food manufacturers. Results from the cross-case analysis highlight the multiplicity of reuse and redistribution options, and their viability over the product shelf life. The analysis also shows that a structured surplus food control system and partnerships with food aid organizations are necessary to reduce food waste

STUDY OF "BLOWN PACK" SPOILAGE OF CHILLED VACUUM PACKED BEEF

Blown pack spoilage of vacuum packed chilled beef was characterised by chemical (GCMS) analysis, microscope evaluation and microbiological analysis. Large amounts of butyric acid were found; the alteration was probably caused by psychrotrophic clostridia

Validation of the American Joint Committee on Cancer new prognostic stage groups for HER2-positive breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and trastuzumab in the prospective ShortHER trial

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The mood stabilizing properties of AF3581, a novel potent GSK-3β inhibitor

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine protein kinase mediating phosphorylation on serine and threonine amino acid residues of several target molecules. The enzyme is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes and aberrant activity of GSK-3β has been linked to several disease conditions. There is now large evidence on the role of GSK-3β in the pathophysiology of mood disturbances with special regard to bipolar disorders. In the present study we further investigated the role of GSK-3β in bipolar disorders by studying AF3581, the prototype of a novel class of ATP-competitive GSK-3β inhibitors having the common N-[(1- alkylpiperidin-4-yl) methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide scaffold. Based on previous studies, AF3581 inhibits GSK-3β in the nanomolar range on purified human enzyme and highly selective with respect to other kinases. Current study demonstrates that the compound has efficacy both in the chronic mild stress paradigm of depression (mimicking the down phase of bipolar disorder) and on mice aggressiveness in the resident intruder model (mimicking the up phase). These findings underline the importance of aberrant GSK-3β activity in the development/ maintenance of mood oscillation in this peculiar pathological condition. Moreover, the present work also suggests a therapeutic potential for selective GSK-3 β inhibitors in the management of bipolar disorders patients. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine protein kinase mediating phosphorylation on serine and threonine amino acid residues of several target molecules. The enzyme is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes and aberrant activity of GSK-3β has been linked to several disease conditions. There is now large evidence on the role of GSK-3β in the pathophysiology of mood disturbances with special regard to bipolar disorders. In the present study we further investigated the role of GSK-3β in bipolar disorders by studying AF3581, the prototype of a novel class of ATP-competitive GSK-3β inhibitors having the common N-[(1- alkylpiperidin-4-yl) methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide scaffold. Based on previous studies, AF3581 inhibits GSK-3β in the nanomolar range on purified human enzyme and highly selective with respect to other kinases. Current study demonstrates that the compound has efficacy both in the chronic mild stress paradigm of depression (mimicking the down phase of bipolar disorder) and on mice aggressiveness in the resident intruder model (mimicking the up phase). These findings underline the importance of aberrant GSK-3β activity in the development/ maintenance of mood oscillation in this peculiar pathological condition. Moreover, the present work also suggests a therapeutic potential for selective GSK-3 β inhibitors in the management of bipolar disorders patients. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine protein kinase mediating phosphorylation on serine and threonine amino acid residues of several target molecules. The enzyme is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes and aberrant activity of GSK-3β has been linked to several disease conditions. There is now large evidence on the role of GSK-3β in the pathophysiology of mood disturbances with special regard to bipolar disorders. In the present study we further investigated the role of GSK-3β in bipolar disorders by studying AF3581, the prototype of a novel class of ATP-competitive GSK-3β inhibitors having the common N-[(1- alkylpiperidin-4-yl) methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide scaffold. Based on previous studies, AF3581 inhibits GSK-3β in the nanomolar range on purified human enzymeand highly selective with respect to other kinases. Current study demonstrates that the compound has efficacy both in the chronic mild stress paradigm of depression (mimicking the down phase of bipolar disorder) and on mice aggressiveness in the resident intruder model (mimicking the up phase). These findings underline the importance of aberrant GSK-3β activity in the development/ maintenance of mood oscillation in this peculiar pathological condition. Moreover, the present work also suggests a therapeutic potential for selective GSK-3 β inhibitors in the management of bipolar disorders patients. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine protein kinase mediating phosphorylation on serine and threonine amino acid residues of several target molecules. The enzyme is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes and aberrant activity of GSK-3β has been linked to several disease conditions. There is now large evidence on the role of GSK-3β in the pathophysiology of mood disturbances with special regard to bipolar disorders. In the present study we further investigated the role of GSK-3β in bipolar disorders by studying AF3581, the prototype of a novel class of ATP-competitive GSK-3β inhibitors having the common N-[(1- alkylpiperidin-4-yl) methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide scaffold. Based on previous studies, AF3581 inhibits GSK-3β in the nanomolar range on purified human enzyme and highly selective with respect to other kinases. Current study demonstrates that the compound has efficacy both in the chronic mild stress paradigm of depression (mimicking the down phase of bipolar disorder) and on mice aggressiveness in the resident intruder model (mimicking the up phase). These findings underline the importance of aberrant GSK-3β activity in the development/ maintenance of mood oscillation in this peculiar pathological condition. Moreover, the present work also suggests a therapeutic potential for selective GSK-3 β inhibitors in the management of bipolar disorders patients. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine protein kinase mediating phosphorylation on serine and threonine amino acid residues of several target molecules. The enzyme is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes and aberrant activity of GSK-3β has been linked to several disease conditions. There is now large evidence on the role of GSK-3β in the pathophysiology of mood disturbances with special regard to bipolar disorders. In the present study we further investigated the role of GSK-3β in bipolar disorders by studying AF3581, the prototype of a novel class of ATP-competitive GSK-3β inhibitors having the common N-[(1- alkylpiperidin-4-yl) methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide scaffold. Based on previous studies, AF3581 inhibits GSK-3β in the nanomolar range on purified human enzyme and highly selective with respect to other kinases. Current study demonstrates that the compound has efficacy both in the chronic mild stress paradigm of depression (mimicking the down phase of bipolar disorder) and on mice aggressiveness in the resident intruder model (mimicking the up phase). These findings underline the importance of aberrant GSK-3β activity in the development/ maintenance of mood oscillation in this peculiar pathological condition. Moreover, the present work also suggests a therapeutic potential for selective GSK-3 β inhibitors in the management of bipolar disorders patients. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine protein kinase mediating phosphorylation on serine and threonine amino acid residues of several target molecules. The enzyme is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes and aberrant activity of GSK-3β has been linked to several disease conditions. There is now large evidence on the role of GSK-3β in the pathophysiology of mood disturbances with special regard to bipolar disorders. In the present study we further investigated the role of GSK-3β in bipolar disorders by studying AF3581, the prototype of a novel class of ATP-competitive GSK-3β inhibitors having the common N-[(1- alkylpiperidin-4-yl) methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide scaffold. Based on previous studies, AF3581 inhibits GSK-3β in the nanomolar range on purified human enzyme and highly selective with respect to other kinases. Current study demonstrates that the compound has efficacy both in the chronic mild stress paradigm of depression (mimicking the down phase of bipolar disorder) and on mice aggressiveness in the resident intruder model (mimicking the up phase). These findings underline the importance of aberrant GSK-3β activity in the development/ maintenance of mood oscillation in this peculiar pathological condition. Moreover, the present work also suggests a therapeutic potential for selective GSK-3 β inhibitors in the management of bipolar disorders patients. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a serine/threonine protein kinase mediating phosphorylation on serine and threonine amino acid residues of several target molecules. The enzyme is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes and aberrant activity of GSK-3β has been linked to several disease conditions. There is now large evidence on the role of GSK-3β in the pathophysiology of mood disturbances with special regard to bipolar disorders. In the present study we further investigated the role of GSK-3β in bipolar disorders by studying AF3581, the prototype of a novel class of ATP-competitive GSK-3β inhibitors having the common N-[(1- alkylpiperidin-4-yl) methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide scaffold. Based on previous studies, AF3581 inhibits GSK-3β in the nanomolar range on purified human enzyme and highly selective with respect to other kinases. Current study demonstrates that the compound has efficacy both in the chronic mild stress paradigm of depression (mimicking the down phase of bipolar disorder) and on mice aggressiveness in the resident intruder model (mimicking the up phase). These findings underline the importance of aberrant GSK-3β activity in the development/ maintenance of mood oscillation in this peculiar pathological condition. Moreover, the present work also suggests a therapeutic potential for selective GSK-3 β inhibitors in the management of bipolar disorders patients

Smart Metering, Water Pricing and Social Media to Stimulate Residential Water Efficiency: Opportunities for the SmartH2O Project

Abstract The SmartH2O project aims to provide water utilities, municipalities and citizens with an ICT enabled platform to design, develop and implement better water management policies using innovative metering, social media and pricing mechanisms. This project has as a working hypothesis that high data quality obtained from smart meters and communicable through social media and other forms of interaction could be used to design and implement innovative and effective water pricing policies. Planned case studies in the UK and Switzerland are introduced. We anticipate that SmartH20 research outcomes will be of use to those interested in linking smart metering, social media and smart pricing approaches to achieve more sustainable water management outcomes

Redução de diastema após exodontia de dente supranumerário e frenectomia – um relato de caso

Introdução: O diastema é caracterizado por um espaço entre os dentes ou espaço interdental, é considerado aspecto de normalidade durante a infância, porém, quando fora da normalidade pode-se suspeitar de alguns efeitos etiológicos como a presença de dentes supranumerários. Os dentes supranumerários são anomalia de número, caracterizada pela presença de dentes além da série normal, sendo mais comum o mesiodens, a conduta mais comum em casos de dentes supranumerários é a extração cirúrgica do elemento e posterior correção ortodôntica interceptativa, que em pacientes que já possuíam inserção baixa do freio, se faz necessária a frenectomia do freio labial superior. O freio é uma estrutura anatômica caracterizada como uma prega da membrana mucosa em forma triangular, quando fora da normalidade é considerado freio patológico, sendo a conduta mais comum nesses casos a intervenção cirúrgica, chamada de frenectomia. Objetivo: O objetivo desse trabalho foi relatar um caso de fechamento de diastema ântero-superior através de extração do mesiodens e frenectomia associados a ortodontia interceptativa. Relato de caso clínico: Paciente G.N, gênero masculino, 06 anos de idade compareceu na clínica odontológica da Universidade Metodista de São Paulo com diastema de 6mm entre os incisivos centrais superiores, inserção baixa do freio labial superior, dente supranumerário semi erupcionado na palatina sugestivo de mesiodens, posteriormente confirmado pela radiografia panorâmica. Foi realizada extração do mesiodens, frenectomia labial superior associado com ortodontia interceptativa para fechamento do diastema. Conclusão: A exodontia do dente supranumerário, no momento adequado, mostrou-se eficaz associada ao tratamento ortodôntico interceptativo e à frenectomia, resultando no fechamento do diastema. 

Guía básica para el muestreo y preparado de huesos actuales y fósiles para estudios histológicos

The study of bone microstructure of fossil vertebrates (i.e., paleohistology) has demonstrated to be a very important source of paleobiological information. Paleohistological studies are based on the standardized analysis of petrographic thin sections. Although the development of new technologies (e.g., microtomography) have provided non-destructive procedures for the study the fossil tissues, thin sections are still the main source of information in paleohistology. In this contribution, we provide a detailed protocol for sampling and thin-sectioning preparation of bone tissue from both fossil and extant vertebrates. We describe the most common procedures for sampling and also some particularities related to variations in equipment and sampling techniques. The main goal of this contribution is to offer an alternative protocol for research teams of recent formation and/or with limited funding.El estudio de la microestructura ósea de vertebrados fósiles (i.e., paleohistología) ha demostrado ser una importante fuente de información paleobiológica. Los estudios paleohistológicos están basados en análisis estandarizados de secciones delgadas petrográficas. A pesar de que el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías (e.g., microtomografía) ha proporcionado procedimientos no destructivos para el estudio de tejidos fósiles, las secciones delgadas continúan siendo la principal fuente de información paleohistológica. En esta contribución, proporcionamos un protocolo detallado para el muestreo y preparación de secciones delgadas de huesos de vertebrados tanto fósiles como vivientes. Se describen los procedimientos más comunes para la obtención de las muestras y se plantean diferencias particulares, las cuales están relacionadas con las variaciones del equipamiento y las técnicas de muestreo. El objetivo principal de esta contribución es proveer un protocolo alternativo para laboratorios en formación y/o con financiamiento limitado.Fil: Cerda, Ignacio Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Sede Alto Valle. Instituto de Investigaciones en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: Pereyra, Maria Eugenia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Garrone, Mariana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Geológico del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Geología. Instituto Geológico del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Ponce, Denis Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Sede Alto Valle. Instituto de Investigaciones en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: Navarro, Tamara Giselle. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Sede Alto Valle. Instituto de Investigaciones en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: González, Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Militello, Mariano. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Luna, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Jannello, Juan. University of Cape Town; Sudáfric