Triple Bottom Line impacts of traditional Product-Service Systems models: Myth or truth? A Natural Language Understanding approach

Currently, there is in the literature a debate concerning the real impact of Product-Service Systems (PSS) models on society. It is now stated that PSS does not necessarily lead to sustainable solutions in practice from a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) perspective. On the other hand, a promising approach, i.e. the Sustainable Product-Service Systems (SPSS) approach, has received attention from scholars within this debate. However, due to the novelty of this discussion, there is insufficient understanding of the synergies and divergences between both approaches regarding the potential to deliver TBL solutions to society. To address these lacks, this study examines the synergies and divergences between PSS and the emerging SPSS to deliver TBL solutions to society. Qualitative and quantitative research approaches were adopted to address the research questions. First, a structured literature review was employed. The literature analysis was segmented into two distinct periods (i.e., first period from 1990 to 2009, and the second period from 2010 to 2021). Next, the Natural Language Understanding (NLU) tools based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Neural Networks were applied to analyse the conceptual definitions retrieved from the relevant literature and extract new knowledge regarding both approaches. Third, the patterns of new knowledge were analysed against the literature in the area leading to research findings. Overall, findings indicate that, from a TBL perspective, SPSS is an emerging and promising approach in which the environmental and social dimensions are more salient than in the traditional PSS models. The study also unveils the central concepts related to both approaches in the extant literature. The article extends the current knowledge on PSS and SPSS, guiding the research communities interested in this area and unlocking the present and future challenges towards an effective sustainable-oriented economy. This article is a pioneering study to examine how the PSS and SPSS concepts have advanced towards TBL solutions in society

Materiais magnéticos baseados em diferentes zeólitas para remoção de metais em água Magnetic zeolites for removal of metals in water

<abstract language="eng">In this work the adsorption features of zeolites (NaY, Beta, Mordenite and ZSM-5) have been combined with the magnetic properties of iron oxides in a composite to produce a magnetic adsorbent. These magnetic composites can be used as adsorbents for contaminants in water and subsequently removed from the medium by a simple magnetic process. The magnetic zeolites were characterized by XRD, magnetization measurements, chemical analyses, N2 adsorption isotherms and Mössbauer spectroscopy. These magnetic adsorbents show remarkable adsorption capacity for metal ion contaminants in water

Um novo procedimento de síntese da zeólita A empregando argilas naturais A new procedure for a zeolite synthesis from natural clays

<abstract language="eng">This work proposes the synthesis of zeolite A by IZA standard proceedures starting from a natural clay. The clay was used in its natural form and after calcination at 900ºC. The resulting materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and porosity analysis by nitrogen adsorption. Results showed low surface area for Na-A zeolite in sodium form, but a higher one in CaA based on the nitrogen accessibility. The presence of cubic crystals for the A phase was observed in the SEM micrographies. The new procedure starting from natural clay favors the formation of sodalite while that using the calcinated clay gives A

Accident analysis during the chainsaw use: prevention and protection measures to reduce injuries

The chainsaw is a widely-used tool in agriculture, in forestry as well as for professional and hobby-related purposes. This article has the aim to highlight the state of injuries both for professional and domestic uses. As far as its methodologies are concerned, this study analyses and compares several data (including domestic data, statistical data, non-conventional data as well as news stories documenting chainsaw-related injuries). Our results are going to define and emphasise two key points: 40% of injuries are either serious or mortal, causing an average of 40 days of prognosis and permanent disabilities (including finger and toe amputation). Furthermore, it is confirmed that the operator\u2019s head is the most exposed area of the body and is often correlated with the death of the operator. (Death is often due to collision against the chainsaw blade, facial traumas as well as sudden contact with sharp parts of the plant). In conclusion, this article develops and proposes a fast-running software tool for evaluating competences both in forestry and in hobby-related matters. This software tool can be seen as a propaedeutic tool for risk management, both for professional and domestic uses

Dynamic simulations to test the protective safety gloves: first results of a new methodological approach

Gloves are largely diffused as work tool in many activities. According to the Italian Law in force concerning health and safety at the workplace, the employer must endow of special PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) the workers (element not always effected) after the risk evaluation in which he has identified the characteristics of the ppe, according to the specifications of the work activities. On the market there are many brands of gloves with technical standards (EN 388 for protection against mechanical hazards and physical). However, there are still many accidents in which gloves didn\u2019t have the appropriate technical measures able to protect the worker. This search analyzes, through techniques for the evaluation planned for this study, the effectiveness of the gloves in real working conditions. From a methodological point of view, a protocol has been elaborated in order to test in the real sceneries the efficiency and the effectiveness of these PPE. First results show that the classes of resistance are not very often appraised by the employer and in this way the gloves used in agriculture don't always guarantee good performances in terms of effectiveness. Besides, the protocol defines a new methodic that could directly be gifted in the agricultural firm

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Silicoaluminophosphate with AEL Structure Using a Residue of Fluorescent Lamps as Starting Material

Silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves of SAPO-11 type (AEL structure) were synthesized by the hydrothermal method, from the residue of a fluorescent lamp as a source or Si, Al, and P in the presence of water and di-propyamine (DPA) as an organic template. To adjust the P2O5/SiO2 and Si/Al and ratios, specific amounts of silica, alumina, or alumina hydroxide and orthophosphoric acid were added to obtain a gel with molar chemical composition 1.0 Al2O3:1.0 P2O5:1.2 DPA:0.3 SiO2:120 H2O. The syntheses were carried out at a temperature of 473 K at crystallization times of 24, 48, and 72 h. The fluorescent lamp residue and the obtained samples were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and BET surface area analysis using nitrogen adsorption isotherms. The presence of fluorapatite was detected as the main crystalline phase in the residue, jointly with considered amounts of silica, alumina, and phosphorus in oxide forms. The SAPO-11 prepared using aluminum hydroxide as Al source, P2O5/SiO2 molar ratio of 3.6 and Si/Al ratio of 0.14, at crystallization time of 72 h, achieves a yield of 75% with a surface area of 113 m2/g, showing that the residue from a fluorescent lamp is an alternative source for development of new materials based on Si, Al, and P

Regulative loop between beta-catenin and protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type gamma (PTPRG) in chronic myeloid leukemia

Introduction. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease characterized by the presence of the oncogene BCR-ABL1, which acts as tyrosine kinase. PTPRG (Protein Tyrosine Phoshatase Receptor type \u3b3) is a tumor suppressor gene down- regulated by hypermethylation of its promoter region in CML. Previous studies demonstrated that a re-expression of PTPRG is correlated with a decreased clonogenic capability of CML cells, as shown by the down-regulation of Ki67, and with an increased cellular differentiation related to a PTPRG-mediated overexpression of GATA-1 and Cyclin D1. In addition, its restored expression was observed in patients with a good response to TKI therapy. In order to understand the regulation between this phosphatase and BCR- ABL1, we searched for PTPRG putative interactors among proteins downstream BCR-ABL1 driven pathways and we focused on b-Catenin, that is at the same time a PTPRG substrate and its transcriptional regulator. Methods. Cells: PTPRG negative cell line K562, with a stable transfection of exogenous PTPRG, and PTPRG positive cell line LAMA-84, treated with a specific siRNA and with a new PTPRG small drug inhibitor. Pull-down assay with purified, recombinant intracellular domain of PTPRG demonstrated a direct interaction between PTPRG and b-Catenin, while Western Blotting or Immunofluorescence were applied to detect a specific dephospho- rylation pattern in presence of PTPRG. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation showed us the binding between DNMT1(b-Catenin transcriptional target) and PTPRG promoter region. Results. We demonstrated that PTPRG binds and dephosphorylates b-Catenin, phosphorylated by BCR-ABL1, causing its cytoplasmic destabilization and the resulting degradation in CML cell lines with an exogenous or endogenous expression of PTPRG (K562 and LAMA-84 cell lines). Consequently, this regulation leads to MYC down-expression and p21/WAF1 increased expression, explaining the slow-down of proliferation in presence of PTPRG. On the contrary, we demonstrated that an increased expression of b-Catenin in PTPRG negative CML cell lines is correlated with an over-expression of the DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) that is responsible of PTPRG promoter hypermethylation and that an inhibition after a treatment with 5-Azacydine or a down-regulation of this enzyme is closely related to PTPRG re-expression both at mRNA and protein levels. Conclusions. We show for the first time a mechanism that involves b-Catenin degradation control and the consequent down-regulation of genes regulated by the TCF/b-Catenin transcription complex. In return, b-Catenin up-regulation is correlated with an over-expression of DNMT1 that contributes to an hypermethylation of PTPRG promoter region. We hypothesized a regulative loop between PTPRG and b-Catenin and that an imbalance of the system in favor of one or the other could determine a different proliferation fate of CML cells and their clinical aggressiveness