1,720,972 research outputs found
Environmental and economic life cycle assessment of a lightweight solution for an automotive component: A comparison between talc-filled and hollow glass microspheres-reinforced polymer composites
No full textOverall, light weighting strategies are mainly analysed in the aim of reducing impact during the use phase of a vehicle. In this paper environmental and economic assessments are combined to evaluate the sustainability of adopting an innovative lightweight material for an automotive component. The analysis is carried out according to the Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing methods. A standard solution, based on talc filler-reinforced composite, and an innovative one made with hollow glass micro-spheres as plastic reinforcement, are compared to be applied to a vehicle dashboard. The use of hollow glass micro-spheres has expanded during the last years in the automotive sector, however evaluations of their environmental and economic performances along its whole life cycle have not yet been discussed extensively. In this study particular attention is given to the following aspects: i) balance between the use phase benefit and material production phase; ii) End-of-Life scenarios; iii) analysis of additional indicators besides CO2emissions; iv) data accuracy concerning manufacturing phase. Results show that hollow glass microspheres-reinforced composite is likely better from an environmental point of view for those impact categories where the use phase is more involved. The increase of material processing impact does not compromise benefits in terms of GWP and PED due to weight reduction, nevertheless it affects resource depletion and ecotoxicity indicators negatively. Overall the End-of-Life phase is not affected significantly. Moreover, despite a higher material cost, the innovative solution was found economically convenient as demonstrated also by the breakeven point (within the life distance)
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Use of immunofluorescence tecnique in cultured fibroblasts from cetaceans as new "in vitro" tool to investigate effects of microplastic.
No full textRelease of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals from Rubber Crumb in Synthetic Turf Fields: Preliminary Hazard Assessment for Athletes
Full text linkSynthetic turf, made with an infill of rubber crumb from used tyres or virgin rubber, is now common in many sporting facilities. It is
known that it contains compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. We evaluated in nine samples
of rubber crumb the total content of some heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, Fe) normally found in tyres by microwave mineralization
and the levels of the 14 US EPA priority PAHs by Soxhlet extraction and HPLC analysis. The results showed high levels of PAHs and zinc in all rubber crumb samples compared to rubber granulate limits set by Italian National Amateur League (LND).
Following the precautionary principle, a risk assessment at 25°C was done, using the Average Daily Dose (ADD) assumed by
athletes, expressed in terms of mass of contaminant per unit of body weight per day (mg/kg day), and the Lifetime Average Daily Dose
(LADD) and then evaluating the Hazard Index (HI) and the Cumulative Excess Cancer Risk (∑ECR). In the different rubber granulates
samples the HI ranges from a minimum of 8.94×10-7 to a maximum of 1.16×10-6, while the ∑ECR ranges from a minimum of 4.91×10-9
to a maximum of 1.10×10-8.
Finally, the aim of this study was to estimate the “hazard” for athletes inhaling PAHs released at the high temperatures this synthetic
turf may reach. Then a sequence of proofs was carried out at 60°C, a temperature that this rubber crumb can easily reach in sporting
installations, to see whether PAH release occurs. The toxicity equivalent (TEQ) of eva
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Biomarker responses in mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) to in vivo exposure to produced waters
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess the biochemical response of mosquito fish to the exposure to produced waters (PW) in short and long-term laboratory experiments. Produced water (PW) is a complex mixture containing residual hydrocarbons, trace elements, naturally occurring radioactive material and potentially toxic treatment chemicals such as biocides, dispersants, detergents and scale inhibitors used in hydrocarbon production. Male and females of mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) were exposed for 8 and 30 days to PWs from an Italian on-shore oil plant and from an Italian off-shore gas platform. We measured a set of hepatic biomarkers: 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and benzopyrene-monooxygenase (BPMO), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), lipid peroxidation (LPO), enzymatic antioxidants (GPX, GR, CAT), a non-enzymatic antioxidant (glutathione-GSH); as well as biliary fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) metabolites. DNA damage was evaluated in erythrocytes by Comet and ENA assays. The experimental groups showed significantly higher EROD and BPMO activity compared with the control group during the exposure to PWs from gas and oil installations. The CYP1A responses were also compared with the other biomarkers, in particular positive Spearman correlations between EROD (or BPMO) activity and PAH metabolites in bile and Comet assay were observed. The results highlighted a clear indication of the degree of stress syndrome induced by PWs, showing an increasing pollution gradient of PWs (gas<oil). The test organism (Gambusia affinis) was revealed to be a good sentinel species for laboratory studies to investigate the PWs toxicity. The obtained results supported the usefulness of the combined use of biochemical markers to assess the impact of PWs, able to describe the evolution of the stress syndrome in Gambusia affinis
First attempt to evaluate PBDEs in skin biopsies of striped dolphins from the Mediterranean Sea
No full textMany cetacean species, in particular odontocetes, are top predators in the marine food chain and therefore accumulate high levelsof lipophilic compounds such as halogenated hydrocarbons. Many studies indicate the possibility of using these animals as bioindicators
of environmental contamination of relatively limited areas. Today there is a growing concern about the accumulation of brominated organic compounds in the marine food web. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a major family of brominated flame retardants which are lipophilic, persistent, and toxic to both fauna and humans. The highest levels of PBDEs have been found in the top of the marine food chain. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of PBDEs in specimens of striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) sampled with the non-lethal method of biopsy in the Mediterranean Sea and contiguous Atlantic areas with different anthropogenic impacts: the Gibraltar Straits, the Pelagos Sanctuary (Ligurian Sea) and the west Ionian Sea (Sicily). The levels of individual PBDEs were determined by GC/MS. Negative chemical ionisation (NCI-MS) using methane as reagent gas, was the operating mode.
Results obtained indicated the presence of BDE-99, BDE-153, BDE- 154, BDE-100, and BDE-47 as the most abundant. Total PBDEs found in this study were in the range 8–25ppm (ug/g fresh weight), being samples from the Ligurian sea, the highest contaminated compared to specimens from the Straits of Gibraltar. In addition it should be remarked that total PBDE levels found in this study are similar to total PCB levels found in the same specimens
Induction of CYP1A in skin biopsy slices of loggerhead sea turtle treated with lipophilic contaminants.
No full textAppropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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