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Is scaling plasma technology for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances removal from leachate worthwhile: Life cycle assessment perspective
Get PDFLandfill leachate is a primary source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in the environment. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) treatment has demonstrated promising results in terms of PFAS destruction; however, challenges related to scalability, cost, and environmental impact assessment persist. This study conducts a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental performance of NTP-based technology and its potential for scaling up, based on published laboratory-scale data. Furthermore, a comparison has been made between NTP technology and traditional evaporation and incineration for PFAS removal. Sofia Landfill's leachate treatment facility in Bulgaria served as a case study. The site's leachate treatment facility currently incorporates conventional mechanical and biological treatment processes, with a reverse osmosis (RO) system being planned as a future final step. Three alternatives were evaluated: 1) A1-RO1/P involves the application of plasma treatment to the RO concentrate; 2) A2-RO2/P includes a second-stage RO system with plasma treatment for its concentrate; and 3) A3-RO2/E comprises of a second-stage RO system with concentrate evaporation and off-site incineration of its sludge. The LCA has identified human toxicity potential, freshwater and marine ecotoxicity, freshwater eutrophication and global warming potential as the five key impact categories. The analysis indicates that Bulgaria's electricity mix was the primary impact contributor, followed by transportation. The plasma-based alternatives demonstrated superior performance over the evaporation-incineration alternative, with A2-RO2/P achieving the lowest normalized environmental impact. However, pilot experiments are needed to validate these conclusions. Moreover, the expansion of LCA databases is imperative to enhance the evaluation of PFAS's environmental implication
Water-rock interaction processes and hydrogeological pathways in seismically active areas as revealed by a multi-isotopic (C, S, O, H, B, Sr) approach
Get PDFWaters circulating in the seismically active (up to 6.4 Mw) Pesaro-Urbino province (central Italy) were investigated to understand water–rock interaction processes and groundwater circulation patterns through a multi-isotopic approach. The investigated waters showed different geochemical facies: Ca-HCO3, Ca-SO4, Ca-HCO3-SO4, and Na-HCO3. Water geochemistry and isotopic composition suggest that Ca-HCO3 waters are related to the dissolution of carbonate-rich rocks and, subordinately, Al-silicate minerals and are generally characterized by shallow or fast hydrogeological circuits. In contrast, Ca-SO4, Ca-HCO3-SO4, and Na-HCO3 waters relate to longer water–rock interaction and/or deeper circulation patterns within the aquifers. All the waters show biogenically derived δ13C-TIDC values and δ2H- and δ18O-H2O signatures indicative of meteoric origin. The combination of δ34S-SO4 and 87Sr/86Sr values suggest that the Ca-HCO3-SO4 and Ca-SO4 waters interact with the evaporitic anhydrite-rich rocks of the Triassic Burano formation that constitute the regional basal aquiclude, making these waters interesting to be monitored for seismic tracers, being likely able to carry possible deep seismic signals (e.g., deep-sourced gases inflow, enhanced metals mobility), similarly to what found in comparable geological contexts. Contrarily, Na-HCO3 waters show 87Sr/86Sr ratios and δ11B values approaching those of the siliciclastic Marnoso Arenacea Fm, consistent with long-lasting interactions with Na-bearing silicates. Our results suggest that the hydrogeochemical and multi-isotopic approach provided paramount information to detect sites more prone to record possible geochemical variations during the build-up phase of seismic events, making it suitable for application to other seismically active areas
Le tutele giurisdizionali del lavoratore per l’inadempimento e l’insolvenza del datore di lavoro
No full textIl saggio analizza lo stato delle tutele che il processo accorda ai lavoratori rispetto alla fase di esecuzione dei loro diritti. Pertanto, la disamina affronta sia il problema del mancato adempimento del datore di lavoro all’ordine giudiziale, emerso soprattutto in relazione agli obblighi insuscettibili di esecuzione forzata, sia le condizioni di tutela del credito pecuniario dei lavoratori rispetto all’azione di espropriazione forzata e alla ammissione al passivo nelle procedure concorsuali.The essay deals with the protections granted to employees with respect to the enforcement phase of their rights. The analysis focuses, on the one hand, on the problem of the employer’s non-compliance with judicial orders, as regards obligations that cannot be compulsorily enforced; on the other hand, on the procedural remedies available to secure the employee’s economic claims, both in the context of enforcement and insolvency proceedings
Dose-dependent effects of curcumin on 22Rv1 prostate cancer cell line
Get PDFBackground: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent cancer type in the male population over 66 years. Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound extract from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn (Zingiberaceae family) which showed important anticancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis in several cancer types. Recently, some studies reported that oral curcumin lowered PSA levels, but it did not modify the clinical outcomes in patients with prostate cancer who received intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD). Other studies reported that high concentrations of curcumin were toxic for patients. Methods and results: In this study we showed that low doses of curcumin can induce senescence-like effects in 22Rv1 cell line while higher concentrations have cytotoxic effects. Five,15 and 30 μM curcumin blocked cell cycle in G2/M phase but only 15 and 30 μM curcumin induced cell death. In addition, an increased expression of p21, a known senescence marker, was detected in 22Rv1 cells treated with curcumin in every experimental condition. However, the expression of p16, another known senescence marker, increased only to 30 μM curcumin. Conclusion: In the context of personalized approach in PCa care, we suggest that the appropriate concentration of curcumin used in combination with radiotherapy or with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) could be taken into consideration
Adoption of AI by micro and small health enterprises: effects of entrepreneurial orientation on the TOE model
No full textPurpose: This study aims to investigate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in micro and small enterprises, particularly pharmacies, exploring the role of technological adoption models and entrepreneurial orientation. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods approach was employed, beginning with a qualitative analysis through semi-structured interviews with 11 pharmacists to identify suitable adoption models. This was followed by a quantitative regression analysis study of a final sample of 217 Italian pharmacist orders validating the proposed model processed with SPSS V27. Findings: Technology and environmental dimensions, such as individual entrepreneurial orientation, significantly influence AI adoption in micro and small enterprises. However, organizational factors and perceived risk have less impact. Research limitations/implications: The study’s limitations include its focus solely on pharmacies and its geographical scope. Future research could expand into different sectors and regions. Practical implications: The findings suggest that enhancing technological capabilities and aligning them with strategic goals are crucial for successful AI adoption in micro and small enterprises. Social implications: Understanding the factors influencing AI adoption can foster innovation and competitiveness among small and micro businesses, potentially contributing to economic growth and job creation and more attempts from the rise of AI solutions. Originality/value: This study enriches the understanding of AI adoption dynamics in smaller enterprises, emphasizing the roles of entrepreneurial orientation and specific technological dimensions
Premio di produzione, principio di competenza e prescrizione contributiva: la Cassazione ricompone la coerenza sistemica dell’obbligazione previdenziale
No full textIn tema di obbligazioni contributive, la prescrizione quinquennale decorre dal momento in cui la retribuzione diviene dovuta ed esigibile, e non dal pagamento effettivo dell’emolumento. Il premio di produzione, quale componente della retribuzione imponibile, deve essere imputato al periodo di maturazione, e non a quello della corresponsione tardiva; ne consegue che il versamento contributivo effettuato dopo la scadenza del termine prescrizionale è improduttivo di effetti ai fini dell’accredito assicurativ
Impact of Buffer Sizing on Heat Pump Performances for Residential Applications
No full textThis paper analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of using heat pumps with buffers in terms of energy efficiency and cost, depending on the heating system used. The impact of buffer size is analyzed under different scenarios and with different heat pump sizing (power): single-zone and multi-zone apartments, radiator or under floor heating, and different weather conditions. In residential applications, the use of a buffer incurs additional purchase and installation costs, not to mention the space required for installation. This further motivated the present research work. A simulator based on a mathematical model is exploited; simulations are performed through Dymola and Matlab/Simulink environments. In order to provide an overall assessment of the heat pump performances, some significant Key Performance Indicators were analyzed such as the frequency of on/off cycles, the frequency of defrost cycles, the success rate of defrost cycles, and the frequency of oil return cycles
Methylation Biomarkers of Lung Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
No full textBackground: Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide among both men and women, and represents a major public health challenge. DNA methylation (DNAm) has shown potential in identifying individuals at higher risk of LC, but the overall evidence has not been systematically evaluated. This review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate and summarize existing research on the association between blood DNAm levels and LC risk. Methods: Searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies published until February 2024, following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria. Results: Using a random effects model, our pooled analysis showed a significant association between increased DNAm levels and LC risk (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10–1.39; I2 = 93.90%, p = 0.0001). Stratifying the results by study design showed a stronger association in two prospective cohort studies (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.36–1.90; I2 = 14.42%, p = 0.32), while case–control studies showed a weaker association (OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.99–1.11; I2 = 70.57%, p = 0.0001). Sensitivity analyses indicated that omitting individual studies did not significantly alter the LC risk estimates. Conclusions: These findings suggest that higher blood DNAm levels are associated with an increased risk of LC, especially in long-term cohort studies. Further research is recommended to explore the potential of DNAm as a screening biomarker for LC and to clarify the role of other influencing factors
A Lightweight 1D-CNN Architecture for Accurate and Efficient Road Type Classification Using Vibrational Signals
No full textThis paper addresses the challenge of road type classification using deep learning techniques applied to vibrational signals collected from inertial sensors. Two novel architectures, SepRNet-1D and SepSERNet-1D, are proposed to achieve high classification accuracy while maintaining computational efficiency. The SepRNet-1D architecture is a lightweight 1D-CNN composed of multiple residual blocks, built around a Separable Convolution-1D block, that decomposes the conventional convolution operation into two distinct stages: a depthwise convolution and a pointwise convolution. SepSERNet-1D extends this design by incorporating Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) modules to enhance feature recalibration and adaptability. Extensive experiments were conducted on a publicly available benchmark dataset, comparing the proposed architectures with state-of-the-art CNN, LSTM, hybrid CNN-LSTM models, several 2D-CNN frameworks and Transformer-based architectures. The evaluations demonstrate the superior classification performance of SepRNet-1D and SepSERNet-1D in terms of Accuracy, Precision, Recall, and F1-score. Computational experiments further highlight the lightweight design of the proposed models, achieving inference times below 4 ms in TensorFlow Lite format on a 13 Gbyte RAM desktop CPU. The results underscore the robustness, versatility, and computational efficiency of SepRNet-1D and SepSERNet-1D, making them highly suitable for real-world road condition monitoring applications
High-sensitivity C-reactive protein as an early transdiagnostic biomarker for thoughts of death in mood disorders
No full textIntroduction: Individuals with affective disorders have been consistently found to exert chronic low-grade inflammation, particularly, increased C-reactive protein (CRP) hematic levels were observed in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. Moreover, an association between suicidal behaviour and increased CRP hematic levels has been documented. Few studies specifically investigated all suicidality spectrum dimensions, by recruiting all affective disorders, e.g. MDD, bipolar disorder type-1 (BD-I), bipolar disorder type-2 (BD-II) and cyclothymic mood disorder (Cyc). Therefore, our study was designed to explore the association between a low-grade inflammatory state (as assessed by high-sensitivity CRP [hsCRP]) and all suicidal spectrum dimensions across affective spectrum disorders in a real-world setting. Methods: A naturalistic observational cross-sectional study was carried out by retrospectively recruiting 225 adult inpatients with affective disorders (MDD, BD-I, BD-II, Cyc). As routine clinical practice, for all patients were collected: a) hsCRP levels within a full laboratory panel; b) anthropometric measures; c) short version of the MINI Suicidal Scale (MINI-5-s); d) short version of the Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (brief-TEMPS-M). Results: Within the total sample, 62.2 % reported thoughts of death in the last month, while 55.6 % experienced current suicidal ideation. According to a logistic regression model, thoughts of death were significantly predicted by higher score at the depressive subscale of TEMPS-M (Exp(B) = 1.069; 95 %IC = 1.021-1.119; p = 0.005) and higher hsCRP levels (Exp(B) = 1.818; 95 %IC = 1.053-3.139; p = 0.032). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that hsCRP could potentially represent a relatively easy, cheap and early transdiagnostic inflammatory biomarker for suicidality across mood disorders, particularly among those displaying a predominant affective depressive temperament. Further studies should longitudinally explore clinical implication derived by the stratification of mood disorders according to the inflammatory pattern, as well as testing whether anti-inflammatory therapy could represent an early treatment strategy for managing suicidality risk