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Life Cycle Assessment of a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant using SimaPro 9 software tool - Preliminary Results
No full textWastewater treatment plants are powerful tools not only to protect human health and the environment from diseases, but they can also produce effluents that can be released in superficial/groundwater aquifers or reused for different purposes (civil, industrial, agricultural). If properly designed and managed, these plants can contribute to mitigating the effects of global warming, which is the principal cause of water scarcity. This problem is affecting more and more countries, as the CO2 emissions in the atmosphere are still increasing significantly. On the other side, care must be paid to evaluate the environmental impact of these plants. They need energy to correctly work and chemical additives to favour the precipitation of some pollutant species; furthermore, they produce solid waste, the sludge, which must be properly disposed of, without forgetting the emissions that, in some cases, must be treated before being released into the atmosphere. The challenge is to achieve high-quality water but, in the meantime, to perform a process that is not high-energy and high-chemical consuming. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a formidable approach that permits the evaluation of the environmental impact of whatever industrial process, service, or agricultural practice. This tool can be successfully applied to wastewater treatment plants, too. In particular, in this paper, the commercial software SimaPro 9 will be used, together with the CML-IA method and Ecoinvent database (updated to the 3.10 version), to evaluate the LCA of a wastewater treatment plant, which produces an effluent to be reused for irrigation. The leading environmental indicators for global warming, eutrophication, and acidification will be computed for this case study
Probing Native CB2 Receptor Mobility in Plasma Membranes of Living Cells by Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching
No full textIn this study, we employed a novel fluorescent probe, RO7304924 – which selectively targets cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB2R) – to assess the lateral mobility of CB2R within the plasma membrane of Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing a functional, untagged receptor variant. Utilizing confocal fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we quantified the diffusion coefficient and mobile fraction of CB2R, thereby demonstrating the efficacy of RO7304924 as an innovative tool for elucidating the dynamics of this major endocannabinoid-binding G protein-coupled receptor. Our present findings highlight the potential of combining advanced ligand-based fluorescent probes with FRAP for future investigations into the biochemical details of CB2R mobility in living cells, and its impact on receptor-dependent cellular processes
Integrating electrochemical sensors in circular economy: biochar-film sensors based on paper industry waste for agri-food by-product valorization
No full textSustainable nanostructured paper sensors (PS) have been developed to detect bioactive compounds in plant-derived agri-food by-products. These sensors comprise 100 % recycled fibers-paper and pulp industry-derived biochar and are produced using accessible, cost-effective technologies. In detail, black liquor-derived biochar (BH) was nano-dispersed in water using an ultrasound-assisted liquid phase exfoliation-like approach, avoiding solvents. Self-standing BH-sensing nanofilms were formed directly on cellulosic membranes and integrated into stencil-printed complete electrochemical sensors manufactured on recycled paper. The biochar-based paper sensors (BH-PS) were optimized, characterized, and then employed to analyze bioactive phenols present in agri-food waste and derivatives, including cocoa and coffee husks, exhausted coffee powder, and olive leaves and artichoke production waste-based supplements. BH-PS demonstrated robust performance, yielding dose-response curves for representative bio-compounds such as caffeic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, and oleuropein. These showed excellent linearities (R2 ≥ 0.9946) and detection limits ranging from 0.03 to 0.6 μM. The sensors were successfully used to quantify biomolecules in agri-food wastes and derivatives, with results comparable to conventional photometric assays (r ≥ 0.99; relative error vs. AuNPs assay: -3 % to +14 %). The method produced quantitative and reproducible recoveries for all samples (97–114 %; RSD ≤ 13 %, n = 3). Finally, the superior sustainability of the BH-PS was validated using the White Analytical Chemistry framework, achieving a significantly higher score (94 %) compared to traditional colorimetric and chromatographic methods (60–80 %). This work demonstrates a circular economy model, utilizing plant-derived waste exclusively to fabricate integrated paper sensors, that were then applied to determine high-value bioactive compounds in plant-derived agri-food by-products
Dual Assessment of Developmental Topographical Disorientation: Comparing Self-Reported Measures with Actual Navigational Performance
No full textBackground/Objectives: This study aimed to (i) evaluate the effectiveness of the Familiarity and Spatial Cognitive Style Scale (FSCS) and the short Computerized Ecological Navigational Battery (LBS) in predicting navigational performance by comparing self-reported scores with actual results; (ii) investigate the FSCS’s potential as a screening tool for Developmental Topographical Disorientation (DTD), which affects about 3% of youth, focusing on early detection; and (iii) examine gender differences in self-reported data versus real-world performance to understand how stereotypes affect self-assessment. Methods: The study involved 185 college students (125 female), aged 18–35 years, who completed the FSCS and performed navigation tasks using a new version of the LBS. Participants’ performances were analysed using MAD-based z-scores to identify potential DTD cases, with scores below the fifth percentile flagged for further investigation. The relationship between self-reported abilities and actual performance was assessed through correlation analyses and robust linear regressions. Results: The SOD subscale of FSCS emerged as a comprehensive predictor of navigation performance, correlating significantly with accuracy across multiple tasks. The study identified a 5.42% prevalence of DTD using FSCS criteria, aligning with previous research, while LBS identified 11.96% of participants with navigational difficulties. Gender differences were observed in Survey Knowledge and Landmark Ordering tasks, with males showing higher performances. Only two participants were flagged as DTD cases by both assessment methods, suggesting they may evaluate distinct aspects of navigational ability. Conclusions: The findings validate FSCS as an initial screening tool for DTD while highlighting the need for comprehensive assessment using multiple tools. The study suggests the existence of at least two distinct forms of DTD: one affecting navigational memory (detectable by both FSCS and LBS) and another impacting perceptual navigation aspects (more readily identified by LBS). These results emphasise the importance of developing a detailed DTD taxonomy and implementing personalised interventions based on specific navigational challenges
Essere «voce della molteplicità (e simultaneità) del vivente»: il ‘diario’ di Lorenzo Malagugini in Sotto specie umana
No full textStudio sulla raccolta poetica di Mario Luzi "Sotto specie umana" e sul suo alter ego/ eteronimo Lorenzo Malagugin
Dalla start-up all’impresa consolidata: Approcci differenziati di finanziamento nei casi aziendali di Meta e di BeReal
No full textThe paper explores the dynamics of start-up development for the creation of value in relation to well-established companies, with a focus on the different types of funding and their impacts. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the different sources of capital, examining the theoretical and practical dimensions of each type of investment.
To this end, two case studies on Meta and BeReal has been explored, highlighting the importance of financing strategies in determining the path of companies' growth. The findings show that Meta used a combination of venture capital and debt to maintain a leadership position, while BeReal benefited from venture capital to expand rapidly.
The study suggests that funders should adapt their strategies to suit the stage of development of the enterprise. Venture capitalists could increase the number of established companies
The paper provides new avenues in the understanding the financing dynamics of start-ups and established companies, through a detailed analysis of the different forms of investment and their impacts
La tutela pubblicistica dell'ecosistema marino. Le aree marine protette e la loro gestione sostenibile
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