Removal of Metal Ions From Wastewater With Roadside Tree Leaves

This paper reports on research related to the removal of heavy metal ions, such as lead, nickel, and zinc from wastewater by using tree leaves. Twelve different kinds of tree leaves were tested at room temperature. The experiments were carried out with 2 g of 40-50 mesh leaves in 200 mL synthetic wastewater containing about 50 mg/L metal ions. The initial pH of the synthetic wastewater was about 5. The experiments showed that the highest removal rates were 96% for lead (Pb ++ ), 61.7% for nickel (Ni ++ ), and 71.3% for zinc (Zn ++ ), compared with 93.9% for lead, 68.5% for nickel, and 72.1% for zinc achieved by activated carbon. Tree leaves appear to beagoodadsorbent for metal ion removal from wastewater.     

Removal of Metal Ions From Wastewater With Roadside Tree Leaves

This paper reports on research related to the removal of heavy metal ions, such as lead, nickel, and zinc from wastewater by using tree leaves. Twelve different kinds of tree leaves were tested at room temperature. The experiments were carried out with 2 g of 40-50 mesh leaves in 200 mL synthetic wastewater containing about 50 mg/L metal ions. The initial pH of the synthetic wastewater was about 5. The experiments showed that the highest removal rates were 96% for lead (Pb ++ ), 61.7% for nickel (Ni ++ ), and 71.3% for zinc (Zn ++ ), compared with 93.9% for lead, 68.5% for nickel, and 72.1% for zinc achieved by activated carbon. Tree leaves appear to beagoodadsorbent for metal ion removal from wastewater.     

Analytic hierarchy process-based group assessment of quality-in-use model characteristics

While the characteristics related to the qualities of software in use have been standardized, people managing software development processes still have to combine and prioritize attainment levels for such characteristics. Ranking them can therefore be considered a decision problem that should be solved not only in accordance with the preferences of the stakeholders involved in the decision-making process, but also by following multi-part standards, e.g., that the relative importance of quality characteristics should depend on the high-level goals and objectives for the project. This paper presents an example guide for creating such a ranking for a group of experts coming from different domains using a decision-support inspired approach. Five important quality-in-use characteristics are evaluated by sixteen experts with the analytic hierarchy process. Obtained individual preferences were aggregated by two procedures, and achieved group results were analyzed, of which one analysis included testing of their conformity to individual results. For this case study, the group opinions indicated the top-valued quality in use was effectiveness, followed by satisfaction, freedom from risk, efficiency and context coverage in this ranked order (freedom from risk and efficiency were of nearly equal importance). Implications for the future work of applying different decision-making models such as social choice theory for studying quality attributes are also discussed.     

External Knowledge and Innovation Performance in Clusters: Empirical Evidence from the Uruguay Software Cluster

The importance of geographic proximity for innovation has been widely stressed in the cluster literature. Yet, new insights from the inter-organisational network and cluster literatures underline the role of non-local linkages in enabling firms in networks to enhance learning and to innovate. This paper contributes to this literature by examining the importance of local and non-local knowledge networks for the innovation performance of firms in clusters. Our analysis is based on primary data from a survey of 95 software firms clustered in Montevideo, Uruguay. The results highlight that the most innovative firms in clusters heavily rely on non-local knowledge networks. Moreover, the number of indirect local ties to other firms is a better predictor of innovative performance than the number of direct local ties. Finally, our findings confirm the presence of knowledge gatekeepers in clusters and emphasise their role in enhancing innovation in clusters by absorbing knowledge from extra-cluster sources and diffusing it to other local firms.     

Green pies: The flavonoid rich Greek snack

The health benefits of the traditional Mediterranean diet are universally recognised. However, data on the nutritional and phytochemical content of the traditional foods of the Mediterranean diet is necessary to further elucidate the impact of this diet on health. This work presents the flavonol, flavone and flavan-3-ol content of a Cretan green pie recipe, kaltsounia with greens and cheese, and of the individual greens used in the preparation determined by Reverse Phase HPLC. The fact that the highest contents of the three flavonoid classes studied were found in three different greens, points out the nutritional value in consuming a mixture of greens rather than individual ones. Traditional foods such as green pies are particularly rich in flavonoids, which makes this specific food of the traditional Greek diet a healthy, nutritious, delicious daily snack.     

Changes in protein synthesis during thermal adaptation of Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii

Dairy propionibacteria are present in Graviera Kritis, a traditional Gruyère-type cheese made without added propionic starter. Ten isolated strains were identified by a combination of SDS-PAGE, species-specific PCR and according to their ability to ferment lactose. They were all found to belong to the Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii species. Because of the stressing Gruyère technology, which includes cooking at 52 to 53 degrees C their thermotolerance was investigated at 55 degrees C. Thermotolerant and thermosensitive strains were clearly discriminated. Interestingly, the reference strain CIP 103027 belongs to the sensitive subset. One sensitive strain, ACA-DC 1305 and one tolerant, ACA-DC 1451, were selected for further study and compared to CIP 103027. For the sensitive strains ACA-DC 1305 and CIP 103027, heat pre-treatment at 42 degrees C conferred thermoprotection of cells at the lethal temperature of 55 degrees C, while there was less effect on the tolerant ACA-DC 1451. No cross-protection of salt-adapted cells against heat stress was observed for none of the strains. Differential proteomic analysis revealed distinct but overlapping cell responses to heat stress between sensitive and tolerant strains. Thermal adaptation upregulated typical HSPs involved in protein repair or turnover in the sensitive one. In the tolerant one, a distinct subset of proteins was overexpressed, whatever the temperature used, in addition to HSPs. This included enzymes involved in propionic fermentation, amino acid metabolism, oxidative stress remediation and nucleotide phosphorylation. These results bring new insights into thermoprotection in propionibacteria and the occurrence of divergent phenotypes within a same subspecies.     

Lactobacillus fermentum ACA-DC 179 displays probiotic potential in vitro and protects against trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis and Salmonella infection in murine models

Lactobacillus fermentum ACA-DC 179, Lactobacillus plantarum ACA-DC 287 and Streptococcus macedonicus ACA-DC 198 were studied for their probiotic potential. Firstly, strains were screened for antimicrobial activity towards a broad range of target strains, including lactic acid bacteria, food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. L. fermentum ACA-DC 179 was active against five streptococci, including the two pathogenic strains Streptococcus oralis LMG 14532T and Streptococcus pneumoniae LMG 14545T. S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198 was active against the majority of the strains tested, including not only lactic acid bacteria but also many food spoilage or pathogenic species. The three potential probiotic strains were found to survive variably at pH 2.5 and were unaffected by bile salts. Only S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198 exhibited bile salt hydrolase activity, while none of the strains was haemolytic. Moreover, strains exhibited variable susceptibility towards commonly used antibiotics. L. plantarum ACA-DC 287 and S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198 induced the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Also elevated levels of the anti-inflammatory IL-10 were observed with L. fermentum ACA-DC 179. This strain consequently was found to significantly reduce colitis in a TNBS-induced colitis mouse model. Furthermore, L. fermentum ACA-DC 179 was successfully applied in an experimental Salmonella-infection mouse model. To conclude, strain L. fermentum ACA-DC 179 possesses desirable probiotic properties, such as antimicrobial activity and immunomodulation in vitro, which were confirmed in vivo by the use of animal models.     

Archaeological recording and chemical stratigraphy applied to contaminated land studies

The method used by archaeologists for excavation and recording of the stratigraphic evidence, within trenches with or without archaeological remains, can potentially be useful to contaminated land consultants (CLCs). The implementation of archaeological practice in contaminated land assessments (CLAs) is not meant to be an exercise in data overkill; neither should it increase costs. Rather, we suggest, that if the excavation and recording, by a trained archaeologist, of the stratigraphy is followed by in-situ chemical characterisation then it is possible that much uncertainty associated with current field sampling practices, may be removed. This is because built into the chemical stratigraphy is the temporal and spatial relationship between different parts of the site reflecting the logic behind the distribution of contamination.An archaeological recording with chemical stratigraphy approach to sampling may possibly provide ‘one method fits all’ for potentially contaminated land sites (CLSs), just as archaeological characterisation of the stratigraphic record provides ‘one method fits all’ for all archaeological sites irrespective of period (prehistoric to modern) or type (rural, urban or industrial). We also suggest that there may be practical and financial benefits to be gained by pulling together expertise and resources stemming from different disciplines, not simply at the assessment phase, but also subsequent phases, in contaminated land improvement.     

Group contribution-based LCA models to enable screening for environmentally benign novel chemicals in CAMD applications

This study considers the development of suitable models for the estimation of life cycle assessment (LCA) indices of organic chemicals. Unlike state-of-the-art models, the tools developed here correlate LCA indices with the molecular composition according to the well-established group contribution (GC) approach. The LCA indices considered here are global warming potential, cumulative energy demand, and Eco-Indicator 99. The model development uses data from existing LCA databases, where each material is associated with its cradle-to-gate LCA metrics. A variety of regression and nonregression methodologies are recruited to achieve the optimum correlation. GC models can be used to screen for molecules with optimal and/or desirable properties, using appropriate molecular design synthesis algorithms. In this framework, the models developed here are linked to the design algorithm to enable the consideration of LCA features together with other properties, for the design of environmentally benign liquid–liquid extraction solvents.