Rationalization and optimization of waste management and treatment in modern cruise ships

Here we report over possible optimizations onboard cruise ships in the management of glass, paper and cellulosic waste, ranging from simple rationalization of the materials' use (for glass and paper) to the recovery of some of the energy embedded in paper and other cellulosic waste. This latter option is investigated considering two possibilities: i) the recovery of thermal energy from incinerator's flue gas by means of an absorption plant, ii) the production of syngas to be directly fed to the ship engines. For each option, we calculated the achievable benefits in terms of reduced fuel consumption, avoided CO2 emissions and cost savings (evaluated on the basis of the avoided fuel consumption). Finally, on the basis of the previously calculated benefits, we defined three different scenarios, each including the rationalization of glass and paper waste management, topped by different combinations of thermal energy recovery/syngas production. We then evaluated these scenarios in terms of environmental and economic benefits. This analysis showed that even trivial approaches, as a simple rationalization of paper consumption, can allow consistent advantages over existing waste management policies; moreover, syngas generators for treating cellulosic waste emerged as very effective tools for lowering the environmental impact of modern cruise ships. Joining these two strategies allows notable savings in terms of fuel, CO2 emissions and ship operational costs, and could represent a path for sizably reducing the environmental footprint of cruise ships

Bienestar en vacas en el preparto durante el verano 2014 en el Departamento Castellanos. Estudio de caso

Durante el verano del 2014 se llevó a cabo un estudio de caso con el objetivo de evaluar algunas respuestas fisiológicas y conductuales preparto y productivas postparto, en vacas lecheras de alto merito genético con acceso a sombras artificiales. Se utilizaron 24 vacas en preparto que se alojaron en un corral seco. Las sombras estaban ubicadas en el área de descanso y en el patio de comida. El peso corporal y la condición corporal fueron evaluadas al inicio y a los 30 días de comenzado el ensayo. La frecuencia respiratoria se midió dos veces por semana en tres momentos del día. El registro de comportamiento una vez a la semana. El peso corporal y condición corporal aumentaron durante este periodo indicando que la combinación de dieta adecuada con la provisión de sombra fue favorable. La frecuencia respiratoria en promedio fue de 60 rpm, indicando un estrés medio alto. La conducta de parado a la sombra fue la de mayor prevalencia. La conducta de comer se mantuvo dentro de los valores considerados normales: 92 minutos. La producción lechera fue de entre 30 y 35 l/d, normal para el establecimiento. El índice de temperatura y humedad se mantuvo por encima de 72. Además, durante febrero las lluvias fueron superiores a las normales de la zona, ocasionado problemas de piso en los corrales.During the summer of 2014 it was carried out a case study in order to evaluate some physiolo-gical and behavioral prepartum and postpartum production in dairy cows of high genetic merit responses with access to artificial shades were used. 24 cows in prepartum they stayed in a dry pen. The shadows were located in the rest area and food court. Body weight and body condition were evaluated at start and 30 days into the trial. The respiratory rate was held twice a week in three times a day. The behavior log once a week. Body weight and body condition gain during this period indicating adequate diet was combined with the provision of shade. The average respiratory rate was 60 rpm, indicating a high middle stress. The conduct of standing in the shadow was the most prevalent. Eating behavior are kept within normal values: 92 minutes. Milk production was between 30 and 35 l / d, normal setting. The temperature and humidity index remained above 72. In addition, during february the rains were above normal in the area, caused problems in floor pensEEA RafaelaFil: Leva, Perla E. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Toneatti, I.E. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Stegmayer, María Inés. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Ghiano, Jorge Emanuel Jesús. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Toffoli, Guillermo D. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Guillermo B. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: García, María Soledad. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Sosa, Jorge Luis. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

Supplementary data - Survival of dental implants and occurrence of osteoradionecrosis in irradiated head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Supplementary data to "Toneatti, D.J., Graf, R.R., Burkhard, JP., Schaller, B. Survival of dental implants and occurrence of osteoradionecrosis in irradiated head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Oral Invest (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-021-04065-6

Design and Assessment of an Innovative Thawing Equipment for the Professional Food Service

The need for faster, safer, and environmentally compatible thawing methods is perceived in different branches of food industry, as, e.g., in the fast-food sector. We investigate a prototype of jet-impingement, batch-process thawing machine, exploiting high-speed impact of heated atmospheric air onto food items. The results of combined experimental and numerical study show the promising potential of this technology beyond the expected increased thawing rate, especially when the proposed two-side arrangement of the jets is adopted. A series of thawing indicators are calculated and used to account for the thawing uniformity and the risk of bacterial proliferation. A computationally efficient two-stage model of the considered thawing process is conceived, which can be used for design and optimization

The Discovery of Stromatolites Developing at 3570 m above Sea Level in a High-Altitude Volcanic Lake Socompa, Argentinean Andes

We describe stromatolites forming at an altitude of 3570 m at the shore of a volcanic lake Socompa, Argentinean Andes. The water at the site of stromatolites formation is alkaline, hypersaline, rich in inorganic nutrients, very rich in arsenic, and warm (20-24 degrees C) due to a hydrothermal input. The stromatolites do not lithify, but form broad, rounded and low-domed bioherms dominated by diatom frustules and aragonite micro-crystals agglutinated by extracellular substances. In comparison to other modern stromatolites, they harbour an atypical microbial community characterized by highly abundant representatives of Deinococcus-Thermus, Rhodobacteraceae, Desulfobacterales and Spirochaetes. Additionally, a high proportion of the sequences that could not be classified at phylum level showed less than 80% identity to the best hit in the NCBI database, suggesting the presence of novel distant lineages. The primary production in the stromatolites is generally high and likely dominated by Microcoleus sp. Through negative phototaxis, the location of these cyanobacteria in the stromatolites is controlled by UV light, which greatly influences their photosynthetic activity. Diatoms, dominated by Amphora sp., are abundant in the anoxic, sulfidic and essentially dark parts of the stromatolites. Although their origin in the stromatolites is unclear, they are possibly an important source of anaerobically degraded organic matter that induces in situ aragonite precipitation. To the best of our knowledge, this is so far the highest altitude with documented actively forming stromatolites. Their generally rich, diverse and to a large extent novel microbial community likely harbours valuable genetic and proteomic reserves, and thus deserves active protection. Furthermore, since the stromatolites flourish in an environment characterized by a multitude of extremes, including high exposure to UV radiation, they can be an excellent model system for studying microbial adaptations under conditions that, at least in part, resemble those during the early phase of life evolution on Earth

Complete Characterization of Stratified Ecosystems of the Salar de Llamara (Atacama Desert)

Salar de Llamara is situated in the north of the Atacama Desert, which is the driest desert and one of the most irradiated places on Earth. Besides, its subterranean hypersaline waters contain a high content of arsenic, among other compounds such as heavy metals that are poisonous to life in the concentrations present. Despite these extreme conditions, diverse microbial communities flourish in gypsum stratified ecosystems (microbial mats and evaporitic domes).Here, we reviewed all the analysis carried out in these communities, involving taxonomic and functional studies by culture-independent techniques, analysis of the physicochemical parameters of the water and its relation with the microbial ecosystems, together with pigments, mineralogy, and the microscopic view.Regarding taxonomy, the major points analyzed were: (1) the taxonomic trends at phylum level showed that Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the major components of these communities. (2) A low proportion of sequences associated with the phylum Cyanobacteria were detected in all the studied samples. (3) The increased proportion of sequences that could not be affiliated with any taxonomic group that is deposited in the databases. (4) The large amount of rare phyla represented by candidate phyla, such as OD1, OP1, OD8, Hyd24-12, and NKB19.The functional analysis, carried out in these gypsum evaporite systems, revealed that there was only a minor presence of oxygenic photosynthesizers in the community, and anoxygenic photosynthesis appears as an alternative for primary production. Since the Calvin?Benson cycle was scant, the low abundance of oxygenic photosynthesizers was also related to unusual carbon fixation pathways.Regarding physicochemical parameters of the water, the most interesting results were: (1) a huge amount of arsenic; (2) high salinity; (3) low nutrients and high levels of some ions, such as sodium, sulfate, and calcium. The low dissolved oxygen in most of the set points was low, which was consistent with the low proportion of oxygenic photosynthesizers in all the samples studied.Regarding the mineralogy, gypsum mainly compounded all the evaporitic domes, and the microbial mats present halite as the main mineral component.Fil: Rasuk, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Contreras Leiva, Manuel. Centro de Ecología Aplicada; ChileFil: Kurth, Daniel German. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Farias, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentin