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The Potential of Aloe vera and Opuntia ficus-indica Extracts as Biobased Agents for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Metals
Get PDFBiocorrosion, driven by microbial colonization and biofilm formation, poses a significant threat to the integrity of metal artifacts, particularly
those composed of copper and its alloys. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterial species that reduces nitrates, plays a key role in this process. This study explores the potential
of two metabolite-rich plant extracts, Aloe vera and Opuntia ficus-indica, as sustainable
biobased inhibitors of microbial-induced corrosion (MICOR). Methods: The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the extracts were evaluated using minimal inhibitory concentration
(MIC) assays, time-kill kinetics, and biofilm prevention and removal tests on copper, bronze, and brass samples. Spectrophotometric and microbiological methods were used to quantify bacterial growth and biofilm density. Results: Both extracts exhibited
significant antibacterial activity, with MIC values of 8.3% (v/v). A. vera demonstrated superior bactericidal effects, achieving reductions of ≥3 log10 in bacterial counts at lower
concentrations. In antibiofilm assays, both extracts effectively prevented biofilm formation
and reduced established biofilms, with A. vera exhibiting greater efficacy against them.
The active metabolites—anthraquinones, phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins—likely contribute
to these effects. Conclusions: These findings highlight the dual role of A. vera and O. ficus-indica extracts as both corrosion and biocorrosion inhibitors. The secondary metabolite profiles of these plants support their application as eco-friendly alternatives in the conservation of metal cultural heritage objects
Assessment of Biochar Filtration Technologies for Decontaminating Environmental Water Sources
Get PDFEfficient wastewater treatment is essential due to widespread water contamination from the use of chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, hormones, toxic metals, and agrochemicals. Evaluating water treatment methods through real-world case studies and validating their practical efficiency remains challenging due to limitations of routine analytical methodologies. This study examines the applicability of biochar in a fixed-bed adsorption system as a wastewater treatment technology and evaluates residual pollutant concentrations using advanced analytical techniques. Preliminary experiments were conducted with high-performance liquid chromatography and UV diode array detection (HPLC-UV) to optimize parameters for removing sulfamethoxazole, the target pollutant. Under optimized conditions, the column could process 30 L of polluted water and maintain operational retention efficacy for up to 130 hours. This suggests that the technoòogy can be applied to surface and wastewater samples. Further validation involved analyzing real water samples with LC/MS-MS using an untargeted method. The results showed a significant reduction in the concentration of various contaminants, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed treatment in real-world conditions
A Spatial Five-Bar Linkage as a Tilting Joint of the Breeding Blanket Transporter for the Remote Maintenance of EU DEMO
Get PDFThe future fusion power plant EU DEMO will generate its own tritium fuel through the use of segmented breeding blankets (BBs), which must be replaced from time to time due to material damage caused by high-energy neutrons from the plasma. A vertical maintenance architecture has been proposed, using a robotic remote handling tool (transporter) to disengage the 180 t and 125 t outboard and inboard segments and manipulate them through an upper port. Safe disengagement without damaging the support structures requires the use of high-capacity tilting joints in the transporter. The trolley tilting mechanism (TTM) is proposed as a novel, compact, high-capacity robotic joint consisting of a five-bar spatial mechanism integrated in the BB transporter trolley link. A kinematic model of the TTM is established, and the analytical input–output relationships, including the position-dependent transmission ratio, are derived and used to guide the design and optimization of the mechanism. The model predictions are compared to an ADAMS multibody simulation and to the results of an experiment conducted on a down-scaled prototype, both of which validate the model accuracy
Hydro-Morphological Analysis for Sustainable Planning: The Case Study of Matera, Italy
No full textSustainable planning is a complex process in which the urban transformation, affecting land use, determine significant changes on the morphological shape of the urban spaces that influence the quality of life of citizens, the efficiency of the infrastructure, the usability of the spaces and structure/buildings and the value of the esthetic aspects of the architectural works to be created (Kalfas et al. 2023; Romero-Lankao et al. 2018). The urban transformations also modify the physical parameters (shape, size, slope, permeability) related to the dynamics of response to climate change and control the processes of surface runoff development (Cappadonia et al. 2016, Li et al. 2018). Consequently, in case of urban transformations that are not well calibrated, the risk of urban flooding (Feng et al. 2021) become more frequent and influence the operability of urban areas (Yang et al. 2021). The proposed methodology interprets the morphology of the territory in order to balance the complicated interactions between natural precipitation events and the urban areas layout. The hydromorphic approach interprets the urban territory through its hydrological shape, defined by independent basins into which take place the surface runoff processes. (Cunha et al. 2017; Ermini et al. 2022). Through the assessment of surface runoffs, the basins approach allows to analyse the efficiency of the urban layout of the city of Matera, evaluating the risk of urban flooding and suggesting sustainable, resilient and strategic planning of the city
Growth and morpho-physiological attributes of drought-tolerance in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under biochar-amended soil
Get PDFChenopodium quinoa Willd. is a highly nutritious pseudocereal with the potential to address global food insecurity challenges due to current climate change scenarios. However, the water deficit significantly impacted quinoa’s growth despite its inherent tolerance to drought. This research explores quinoa’s morpho-physiological responses to water stress and investigates soil amendments, particularly biochar, as a potential agronomic strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of water scarcity. The current literature highlights that biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from pyrolyzed organic matter, can enhance soil physio-chemical properties, improve plant water status, and promote growth under water limitations. Similar to the reproductive phase, the vegetative growing cycle of quinoa is notably susceptible to the detrimental effects of drought. Agronomic strategies must be implemented to mitigate the negative effects of water stress during the vegetative growing cycle. Applying organic amendments, particularly biochar, becomes increasingly important in this context. A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the impact of organic amendments on the vegetative development of quinoa under water stress. These experiments were initiated by analyzing responses of two biochar types (derived from woodchips and vineyard pruning) and vermicompost (from cattle manure) on the Danish variety Titicaca, which is particularly susceptible to water stress during its early growth stages and widely cultivated around the globe particularly in Europe. The amendments were applied alone and in combination at a 2% (w/w) rate. The results revealed that among the organic amendments tested, woodchip biochar, alone and mixed with vermicompost, significantly improved quinoa’s growth, specifically biomass, by 22% compared to stressed control and water use efficiency. In contrast, vineyard pruning biochar negatively affected plant growth. Successively, the same variety, Titicaca, was further analysed under different woodchip biochar rates (best performing organic amendment) (0%, 2%, and 4%) and two watering regimes (100% and 50% evapotranspiration restitution). The 2% biochar rate enhanced vegetative growth, biomass by 23%, and panicle development by 66% compared to 4%, which negatively affected these parameters, highlighting the importance of choosing the right dose based on soil type. Subsequently, considering the 2% woody biochar rate, five quinoa varieties of different origins were compared and subjected to a water stress period starting from the 12
leaf stage. The results showed that biochar application consistently improved plant growth, particularly plant biomass, leaf nutrients, and enhanced C:N ratio, improving nitrogen bioavailability and translocation. Additionally, biochar addition in the soil positively affected root morphology, including elongation by 23% and development particularly fresh and dry biomass by 122% and 127%, respectively, and physiological attributes, i.e., chlorophyll content, plant water status and gas exchange than non-amended soil, although varietal differences were observed. The Pakistani variety UAFQ7 exhibited superior drought tolerance, while the Danish Titicaca was more sensitive to water stress. Moreover, the Italian variety Quipu significantly increased its yield-contributing traits and even doubled under biochar-amended soil than non-treated ones. Under water stress conditions, varieties positively influenced their stomatal morphology, stomatal regulation, and transpiration rates under biochar-amended soils by enhancing stomatal aperture dimensions and stomatal density, particularly for UAFQ7 by doubling the stomatal density than non-treated soil. Collectively, this research underscores the potential of biochar as a sustainable soil amendment to mitigate drought stress in quinoa by enhancing root development, physiological attributes, and overall plant performance. The findings highlight the need to select appropriate biochar types and rates and quinoa varieties to optimize growth under water-limited conditions, offering a promising agronomic strategy for improving quinoa cultivation in drought-prone regions
Enhanced NaHDESs Extraction of Carotenoids from Pepper By-products: A Sustainable Approach
No full textThe by-products from processing fresh yellow and red peppers are a valuable source of carotenoids, which can be efficiently extracted using Natural Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvents (NaHDESs). In this study, the extraction capability of nine NaHDESs was physicochemically evaluated. The screening process identified thymol/DL-menthol (1:1) as the optimal NaHDES for yellow pepper peels and thymol/decanoic acid (3:2) for red pepper peels. Using Box-Behnken Design (BBD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM), the extraction process was optimized, yielding 0.363 ± 0.042 mg/mL of lutein from yellow pepper peels, while 0.625 ± 0.052 mg/mL and 0.836 ± 0.033 mg/mL of β-carotene and lutein, respectively were found in red pepper peels. These results were comparable to or exceeded those obtained using acetone as a solvent. From a green chemistry perspective, NaHDESs offer significant advantages, including higher extraction efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and a lower environmental impact. These findings suggest that NaHDESs are a promising alternative to conventional solvents, providing a sustainable method for extracting natural compounds from raw materials, food wastes, or by-products, with potential applications in the food industry
Safety Features for HumanTIX: An Augmented Reality Platform to Enhance Human–Robot Collaboration
No full textThe Industry 5.0 approach moves towards a sustainable, human-centric and adaptable manufacturing within companies, with a philosophy focused on meeting human needs and supporting societal values through the entire production process. Human–Robot Collaboration (HRC) emerges as a pivotal aspect of Industry 5.0, aiming to integrate robots and artificial intelligence seamlessly into workplaces alongside human workers. This integration presents challenges and opportunities for redefining job roles and enhancing productivity, while ensuring safety and workers well-being. This study focuses on the adoption of innovative technologies, such as collaborative robots (cobots) and Augmented Reality (AR) systems, to improve flexibility and safety in manufacturing and logistics for ensuring safe Human–Robot Interaction. The aim is to evaluate how AR devices, e.g., Hololens 2, could facilitate the interaction between cobots and operators, enhancing human performance and safety during robot programming and task execution, regardless of experience levels. Furthermore, the paper proposes the introduction of additional features to the existing AR platform for HRC, such as the creation of virtual walls and real-time operator concentration monitoring using gaze tracking. These improvements aim to empower operators with greater control over collaborative spaces, and enhance safety by ensuring operator focus during critical task phases. Overall, this work contributes to advancing the adoption of Industry 5.0 principles by demonstrating practical application of HRC technologies and AR systems to improve workplaces safety, productivity and Human–Robot Interaction in manufacturing environments
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About JSON Schema (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Get PDFThe last few years have seen the ubiquitous diffusion of JSON as one of the most widely used formats for publishing and interchanging data, as it combines the flexibility of semistructured data models with well-known data structures like records and arrays. While various schema languages for describing JSON data have been proposed in the past, e.g., JSound and Joi, JSON Schema established itself as de-facto standard schema language for JSON data. The main aim of this tutorial is to provide the audience with the basic notions for exploiting JSON Schema while processing and manipulating JSON data. This tutorial focuses on four main aspects: (1) we first describe Classical JSON Schema and introduce the features that are shared with the latest versions of the specification; (2) we introduce, then, Modern JSON Schema, explain why it differs from Classical JSON Schema, and discuss its novel evaluation model; (3) we analyze tools that support or exploit JSON Schema, like, for example, validators and data generators; and (4) we highlight open research challenges and opportunities related to JSON Schema
Seismically induced fault leakage from the Val d'Agri hydrocarbon reservoir (Southern Italy)
Get PDFHydrocarbon leakage from reservoirs poses significant environmental and societal problems, including the potential contamination of drinking water and agricultural soils. Distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic leakage is challenging but crucial for assessing human impacts on reservoir seal integrity and developing effective mitigation strategies. To address this issue, this study presents an innovative approach that combines traditional groundwater analyses with fluid inclusion investigation to evaluate hydrocarbon seepage in both present and past shallow fluids, providing insights into long-term sealing history. The Val d'Agri oil field in Southern Italy, an environmentally sensitive area where hydrocarbon leakage is suspected, serves as an ideal case study. Raman spectroscopy of fluid inclusions in Pleistocene-Holocene fault-related calcite veins reveals the entrapment of saturated hydrocarbons with minor aromatic components, similar to those in the current reservoir. This indicates that temporary seal breaches occurred naturally in the geological past (earlier than oil extraction), likely due to fault-valve action during strong earthquakes. Hydrogeochemical analyses of groundwater indicate that the San Giovanni spring, located near productive oil wells, exhibits negative δ34S(SO4) (−14.20 ‰) and δ13Cdeep (−11.8 ‰) values, along with a high CO2 concentration (5.4 mmol/L). These results indicate methane oxidation in the San Giovanni spring, related to long-term mixing between hydrocarbons, likely released during strong seismic events, and meteoric fluids. These findings highlight the importance of reconstructing pre-production processes to assess environmental hazards more effectively, particularly in seismically active, hydrocarbon-rich regions such as the Val d'Agri Basin
