89,393 research outputs found
AN ENZYMATIC TOOL-BOX FOR LIGNIN OXIDATION/DEGRADATION
No full textLignin is an amorphous polymer characterized by a wide range of molecular mass components, a disordered and branched three-dimensional structure, insoluble in water and in most common solvents. In order to perform lignin degradation, enzymatic treatment could represent an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical methods[1].
The main purpose of this work was to develop an “enzymatic tool-box” for an efficient oxidation and degradation of lignin into aromatic monomers. Biochemical properties of a number of commercial and recombinant ligninolytic oxidative enzymes (laccases, Mn peroxidases and lignin peroxidases) were evaluated under identical experimental conditions, with the final goal to identify interesting biocatalysts for lignin degradation[2]. The effect of pH, temperature, NaCl, DMSO and Tween-80 on the enzymatic activity has been investigated. The activity of novel enzymes, such as the membrane-bound polyphenol oxidase from the marine bacterium Marinomonas mediterranea[3] and a peroxidase produced by Nonomuraea gerenzanensis, was also evaluated[4].
A new high-throughput colorimetric screening to assay the oxidation/degradation of lignin by different enzymes was developed: this method facilitates the identification of optimal conditions for a lignin treatment based on the combined use of various laccases and peroxidases[5]. On this side, coupling the colorimetric assay with a size-exclusion chromatography analysis allows to identify changes in lignin molecular mass distribution due to enzymatic treatment. Notably, the enzymatic tool-box also comprises etherases, cathecol oxidase and demethylase activities. Finally, a chemo-enzymatic process to depolymerise lignin was carried out on lignin linkage model compounds and technical lignins.
Altogether, the combination of chemical and enzymatic approaches could represent an innovative and feasible way for valorisation of lignin under mild conditions.
This work was done as part of Biorefill (ID42611813) and ValorPlus (no FP7-KBBE-2013-7-613802) projects.
[1] Pollegioni, L.; Tonin, F.; Rosini, E. FEBS Journal 2015, 282(7), 1190-1213.
[2] Tonin, F.; Melis, R.; Cordes, A.; Sanchez-Amat, A.; Pollegioni, L.; Rosini, E. New Biotechnology 2016,
33(3), 387-398.
[3] Tonin, F.; Rosini, E.; Piubelli, L.; Sanchez-Amat, A.; Pollegioni, L. Protein Expression and Purification
2016, (123), 60-69.
[4] Casciello, C.; Tonin, F.; Berini, F.; Fasoli, E.; Marinelli, F.; Pollegioni, L.; Rosini, E. Biotechnology Re- ports 2017, (13), 49-57.
[5] Tonin, F.; Vignali, E.; Pollegioni, L.; D’Arrigo, P.; Rosini, E. Enzyme and Microbial Technology 2017,
(96), 143-150
A testing procedure of a digital application for safety improvement in a beverage plant
No full textSafety at the workplace is one of the most relevant issues for companies, due to the high number of accidents happening every year, some of which even deadly. Despite that, this number is decreasing thanks to continuous research and to an increasing application of safety procedures and devices. In line with that, the project presented in this work intends to develop and evaluate a new solution to improve operators' safety, at a reasonable cost (including adoption and use). The usage of wearable systems (smart-glasses and smartwatches) will improve the efficacy of the solutions previously tested on mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. Although no new devices were developed, the project required the creation of a new software tool, in which a great amount of information was inserted to allow its correct functioning. The main aim of this work is to create a testing procedure to evaluate the impact of this solutions on the employee's safety. This is extremely important to demonstrate the efficacy of new industry 4.0 applications
Implementation of Automatic Identification and Data Capturing technologies in the Agri-Food Supply Chains: a review and framework
No full textAutomatic identification and data capturing technologies, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and quick
response (QR) codes, have been proposed as tools for enabling Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain applications in the agrifood supply chain, allowing for the tracking and tracing of products and sharing data among various actors. While these
technologies offer advantages, such as contactless reading, automation, information sharing and traceability management,
their adoption in the agri-food supply chain remains limited, hindering digitalization efforts. This paper addresses this gap by
analyzing studies that have implemented automatic identification technologies in the agri-food supply chain, focusing on RFID
technology and QR codes, mainly for traceability purposes. Drawing from the literature, a framework for implementing those
technologies is proposed, aiming to overcome challenges related to product perishability, seasonal variability, and weather
fluctuations
Gibberula vignali Dautzenberg & Fischer 1896
No full text<i>Gibberula vignali</i> Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1896 <p> Plate 4 G 1 -G 3</p> <p> <i>*</i> <i>Gibberula vignali</i> Dautzenberg & Fischer 1896: 433, pl. 15, fig. 17.</p> <p> ? <i>Gibberula lazaroi</i> Contreras 1992: 44, 45, unnumbered fig.</p> <p> <i>Gibberula vignali</i> (Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1896) — Martins 2009: 64, fig. 198.</p> <p> <b>Santa Maria material examined.</b> Maximum height 2.8 mm, width 1.6 mm. DBUA-F 1044-1 (1), Pedra-que-pica, Santa Maria Island, Azores, Touril Complex, Lower Pliocene.</p> <p> <b>Description.</b> Shell small for genus, solid, cylindrical-ovate, with low spire. Protoconch covered by callus. Teleoconch of about two whorls, suture superficial. Last whorl more than 95% total height, convex, maximum diameter situated just above mid-height, not constricted at base. Surface smooth and glossy. Aperture narrow, elongate, weakly curved, slightly wider abapically. Outer lip moderately thickened, not extending adapically to level of suture, abapically extending just beyond tip of siphonal fasciole, smooth within; siphonal canal very short, open, shallowly notched. Columella weakly convex, bearing about six plications on the lowe half, the adapical two subobsolete, abapical four plications more strongly developed, strengthening abapically. Two abapical plications extend externally over columella. Parietal callus weakly developed, narrowly expanded over venter. Siphonal fasciole not delimited.</p> <p> <b>Discussion.</b> <i>Gibberula vignali</i> (Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1896), is characterised by small sized shells for the genus, low spire, outer lip that slopes steeply downwards from the point of insertion, and is not alate adapically, the inner lip bearing small, weak denticles and columella seven folds, increasing in strength abapically. The last two folds do not extent over the venter as they do in some of its congeners. Contreras (1992) described <i>G. lazaroi</i> from present-day Pico and Terceira Islands, Azores. In his discussion he did not compare his new taxon to <i>G. vignali</i>. Comparing the illustration of the holotype (Contreras 1992: 45, unnumbered figure) with that of <i>G. vignali</i> (Dautzenberg & Fischer 1896: pl. 15, fig. 17) we fail to see any significant differences between the two, which are both 2.0 mm in height. On the WoRMs database is a photograph of a specimen identified as <i>G. vignali</i> from Morocco. This specimen is squatter with a more alate outer lip and fewer columellar folds than the holotype, and we are unsure if it represents the same species. We have not seen the holotypes of these two species and therefore refrain from synonymising them.</p> <p> Several small, eastern Atlantic <i>Gibberula</i> species need to be compared. <i>Gibberula lazaroi</i> is closely similar to <i>G. jansseni</i> Van Aartsen, Menkhorst & Gittenberger, 1984, from the Bay of Algeciras, Spain, but differs in being slightly more globose and having more numerous columellar folds, which are coarser. <i>Gibberula hernandezi</i> Contreras & Talavera, 1988, from the Madeira, Selvagens and the Canary Islands, is immediately separated by a taller spire with two sutures visible and the anterior columellar folds that extend over the venter.</p> <p> <i>Gibberula vignali</i>, together with <i>Alvania mediolittoralis</i> Gofas, 1989, and <i>A. sleursi</i> (Amati, 1987) form part of the endemic Azorean fauna that was already present in the early Pliocene.</p> <p> <b>Distribution.</b> Lower Pliocene: Atlantic, Santa Maria Island, Azores (this paper). Present-day: Atlantic, Azores (Dautzenberg & Fischer 1896;? Contreras 1992; Martins <i>et al</i>. 2009).</p>Published as part of <i>Sacchetti, Claudia, Landau, Bernard & Ávila, Sérgio P., 2023, The Lower Pliocene marine gastropods of Santa Maria Island, Azores: Taxonomy and palaeobiogeographic implications, pp. 1-150 in Zootaxa 5295 (1)</i> on pages 64-65, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5295.1.1, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/7965273">http://zenodo.org/record/7965273</a>
Modelling the growth kinetic of spoilage microorganisms in a packaged cow's Ricotta processed with high pressure
No full textToday consumers demand fresh foods without additives, preservatives and health risks: that is why non-thermal food preservation methods are receiving more interest, among them High Pressure Processing is able to avoid thermal degradation of food components, extend their shelf life and preserve colour, flavour and nutritional value. HPP is often used on dairy products because of its impact on physicochemical and sensory characteristics, its ability to improve their structure and texture and inactivate some microorganisms. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of HPP on a packaged ricotta rich in Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) and Omega-3, resulting from cows fed with linseed in the Parmigiano Reggiano area, and processed with a hydrostatic pressure of 600 MPa for 5 minutes. The ultimate goal is to find a mathematical model able to show the treatment's effect on spoilage microorganisms that grow spontaneously in this product during a month of refrigerated storage
Traffic vibration damping: the influence of pavement materials constitutive models
No full textTraffic-induced vibrations are a common source of environmental nuisance: they may cause discomfort to people, malfunction of sensitive equipment and damage to buildings. Interaction between vehicle wheels and road surface causes a dynamic excitation which generates waves that propagate in the soil and break up on the foundations of nearby structures.
The study of traffic-induced wave’s propagation is very complex due to the number of variables involved and to the complexity of their relationships. Computer simulation is a possibility of a low cost “trial and error” approach; in this context it becomes a good answer to the question.
Many wave propagation problems can be solved using the widespread elastic material model, which is based on a linear and path-independent stress-strain law. However pavement materials have a much more complex behaviour, characterized by plasticity and viscosity features. So the search of reliable road pavement material models, easy to be defined and calibrated, becomes very important.
In this paper, by means of a finite differences technique, the authors developed a numerical analysis in order to evaluate the effectiveness of some pavement materials constitutive models in traffic-induced vibrations simulation. Their features have been determined, at the first step, by means of lab tests modelling, comparing numerical results and experimental data, and then by simulating a half-space containing the road pavement and the subgrade
Special issue "selected papers from the International Food Operations & Processing Simulation Workshop"
No full textSpecial issue "selected papers from the International Food Operations & Processing Simulation Workshop - Sixth edition"
No full textThe impact of inventory inaccuracies on inventory policies: an economic analysis by discret event simulation
No full textInventory management is almost entirely based on information systems, whose data, however, can be prone to errors. In this study, we analyze the effect generated by inventory record inaccuracy on the economic performance of a fast moving consumer goods warehouse. A simulation model is developed under Microsoft ExcelTM to reproduce a warehouse with inbound and outbound flows and the generation of errors in that system. Different kinds of errors, error correction mechanisms and reorder policies are taken into account in the analysis. As output, the simulation model computes the total cost of the inventory management as a function of the level of error, the reorder policy and the error correction mechanism. Results of the study (whose presentation is limited to some selection examples) provide useful guidelines for warehouse managers. Indeed, outcomes can support some strategic decisions, such as the opportunity (or not) to implement specific error correction mechanisms or the opportunity (or not) to modify the operating leverages of the reorder policy to adapt them to the presence of errors
Porre fine alla fame, raggiungere la sicurezza alimentare, migliorare la nutrizione e promuovere un’agricoltura sostenibile
No full textSostenibilità e innovazione nel sistema agro-alimentare lombard
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