This paper aims to examine the influence of biochar produced from lawn waste in accelerating the degradation and mineralization rates of food waste compost. Biochar produced at two different ...temperatures (350 and 450 °C) was applied at the rates 10 and 15% (w/w) of the total waste to an in-vessel compost bioreactor for evaluating its effects on food waste compost. The quality of compost was assessed against stabilization indices such as moisture contents (MC), electrical conductivity (EC), organic matters (OM) degradation, change in total carbon (TC) and mineral nitrogen contents such as ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−). The use of biochar significantly improved the composting process and physiochemical properties of the final compost. Results showed that in comparison to control trial, biochar amended compost mixtures rapidly achieved the thermophilic temperature, increased the OM degradation by 14.4–15.3%, concentration of NH4+ by 37.8–45.6% and NO3− by 50–62%. The most prominent effects in term of achieving rapid thermophilic temperature and a higher concentration of NH4+ and NO3− were observed at 15% (w/w) biochar. According to compost quality standard of United States (US), California, Germany, and Austria, the compost stability as a result of biochar addition was achieved in 50–60 days. Nonetheless, the biochar produced at 450 °C had similar effects as to biochar produced at 350 °C for most of the compost parameters. Therefore, it is recommended to produce biochar at 350 °C to reduce the energy requirements for resource recovery of biomass and should be added at a concentration of 15% (w/w) to the compost bioreactor for achieving a stable compost.
Display omitted
•Biochar was produced from lawn waste at 350 and 450 °C.•Biochar was applied to food waste compost at rates of 10 and 15% of the feedstock.•High degradation and mineralization of food waste were achieved at 15% biochar.•Compost stability as a result of biochar addition was achieved in 50–60 days.•Biochar produced at 450 °C had similar effects as to biochar produced at 350 °C.
Energy efficiency and savings strategies in the combustion based industrial process heating has been reviewed comprehensively and presented in this paper. This work compiles latest literatures in ...terms of thesis, journal articles, conference proceedings, web materials, reports, books, handbooks on industrial process heating systems in the industrial sector. Different types of equipment used (i.e., recuperator, regenerators, heat wheels, heat pipes, economizers, etc.) and energy savings are reviewed in various industrial processes heating. Based on the review results, it is found that significant amounts of energy could be saved by using heat recovery system in the industrial process heating. By using recuperator up to 25% energy can be saved in the furnace. In the case of boiler, by using economizers 10% to 20% energy can be saved. Economic analysis shows that the payback period of recuperator and economizer are normally less than 2 years. It is also found that the payback period is lower when operating hour is comparatively high.
This paper aims to (1) examine the challenges in the compost facilities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), (2) optimize the composting techniques using indigenous natural zeolite and locally ...produced biochar from agricultural residues and (3) evaluate the environmental and economic benefits of optimized food waste composting. In KSA food waste is the most abundant stream of municipal solid waste that contribute up to 50% of the total waste. The landfill disposal of this waste results in several environmental and public health issues. Resource recovery through composting is one of the best approaches for treating such nutrient-rich organic waste. There exist several facilities in KSA for the conversion of food waste to compost using conventional methods of compost piles and trenches. However, none of the produced compost is capable of improving the quality and fertility of sandy soils and the growth of the crops due to limited values of organic matter, nutrients and water holding capacity along with high moisture contents, nitrification index, weed seed contents and ammonia emissions. In KSA, vast reservoirs of natural zeolite are available near to Jeddah city. Similarly, in KSA the most cultivated tree is date palm with more than 22 million date trees that would provide sufficient feedstock for biochar production. Therefore, diverting food waste from landfills to optimized composting facilities using natural zeolites and biochar could benefit the KSA economy with a total net savings of about US $70.72 million per year.
Display omitted
•Compost produced in KSA is not in line with international compost standards.•Natural zeolites and biochar could improve the quality of the food waste compost.•Vast reservoirs of natural zeolites and date trees are present in KSA.•Compost application can improve the sandy soils of the Gulf countries.•Optimized compost facilities in KSA will generate about US $70.72 million per year.
This study aims to examine the effect of zeolites in optimizing the process of food waste composting. A novel method of sequential hydrothermal was introduced to modify the natural zeolite and apply ...to in-vessel compost bioreactors. Raw and modified natural zeolites were applied at 10 and 15% (w/w) of the total waste and compared with un-amended control trial. Both raw and modified zeolites affected the composting process, but the notable results were observed for modified natural zeolite. The results for compost stability parameters were prominent at 15% modified natural zeolite concentration. The rapid and long-term thermophillic temperature and moisture content reduction to the optimum range was observed for modified natural zeolite. Furthermore, the total ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3−) concentration in modified natural zeolite were increased by 11.1 and 21.5% respectively as compared to raw zeolite. Compost stability against moisture contents (MC), electrical conductivity (EC), organic matters (OM), total carbon (TC), mineral nitrogen, nitrification index (NI) and germination index (GI) was achieved after 60 days of composting that was in accordance with the international compost quality standards. The findings of this study suggested the suitability of modified natural zeolite addition at 15% to the total waste as the optimum ratio for the composting of food waste in order to achieve a stable nutrient-rich compost.
Display omitted
•Natural zeolite was modified using a novel sequential hydrothermal treatment method.•Raw and modified natural zeolite were applied at 10 and 15% (w/w) of the total waste.•15% concentration of modified natural zeolite showed significant compost stability.•The rapid thermophillic temperature was achieved for modified natural zeolite.•Total NH4+ and NO3− concentration were increased by 11.1 and 21.5% in modified natural zeolite.
Intensive agricultural practices and cultivation of exhaustive crops has deteriorated soil fertility and its quality in agroecosystems. According to an estimate, such practices will convert 30% of ...the total world cultivated soil into degraded land by 2020. Soil structure and fertility loss are one of the main causes of soil degradation. They are also considered as a major threat to crop production and food security for future generations. Implementing safe and environmental friendly technology would be viable solution for achieving sustainable restoration of degraded soils. Bacterial and fungal inocula have a potential to reinstate the fertility of degraded land through various processes. These microorganisms increase the nutrient bioavailability through nitrogen fixation and mobilization of key nutrients (phosphorus, potassium and iron) to the crop plants while remediate soil structure by improving its aggregation and stability. Success rate of such inocula under field conditions depends on their antagonistic or synergistic interaction with indigenous microbes or their inoculation with organic fertilizers. Co-inoculation of bacteria and fungi with or without organic fertilizer are more beneficial for reinstating the soil fertility and organic matter content than single inoculum. Such factors are of great importance when considering bacteria and fungi inocula for restoration of degraded soils. The overview of presented mechanisms and interactions will help agriculturists in planning sustainable management strategy for reinstating the fertility of degraded soil and assist them in reducing the negative impact of artificial fertilizers on our environment.
Protein biosynthesis depends on the availability of ribosomes, which in turn relies on ribosomal RNA production. In eukaryotes, this process is carried out by RNA polymerase I (Pol I), a 14-subunit ...enzyme, the activity of which is a major determinant of cell growth. Here we present the crystal structure of Pol I from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 3.0 Å resolution. The Pol I structure shows a compact core with a wide DNA-binding cleft and a tightly anchored stalk. An extended loop mimics the DNA backbone in the cleft and may be involved in regulating Pol I transcription. Subunit A12.2 extends from the A190 jaw to the active site and inserts a transcription elongation factor TFIIS-like zinc ribbon into the nucleotide triphosphate entry pore, providing insight into the role of A12.2 in RNA cleavage and Pol I insensitivity to α-amanitin. The A49-A34.5 heterodimer embraces subunit A135 through extended arms, thereby contacting and potentially regulating subunit A12.2.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Serum from one hundred and ten breast cancer patients and thirty healthy female volunteers, were prospectively collected and evaluated for serum levels of Shh and IL-6 using human Shh and IL-6 ...specific enzyme-linked immunoassays. All patients were regularly monitored for event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Overall outcome analysis was based on serum Shh and IL-6 levels. In patients with progressive metastatic BC, both serum Shh and IL-6 concentrations were elevated in 44% (29 of 65) and 63% (41 of 65) of patients, respectively, at a statistically significant level Shh (p = 0.0001) and IL-6 (p = 0.0001) compared to the low levels in healthy volunteers. Serum levels tended to increase with metastatic progression and lymph node positivity. High serum Shh and IL-6 levels were associated with poor EFS and OS opposite to the negative or lower levels in serum Shh and IL-6. The elevated levels of both serum Shh and IL-6 were mainly observed in BC patients who had a significantly higher risk of early recurrence and bone metastasis, and associated with a worse survival for patients with progressive metastatic BC. Further studies are warranted for validating these biomarkers as prognostic tools in a larger patient cohort and in a longer follow-up study.
Background and objectives
The 52‐week, randomized, double‐blind, noninferiority, government‐funded NOR‐SWITCH trial demonstrated that switching from infliximab originator to less expensive biosimilar ...CT‐P13 was not inferior to continued treatment with infliximab originator. The NOR‐SWITCH extension trial aimed to assess efficacy, safety and immunogenicity in patients on CT‐P13 throughout the 78‐week study period (maintenance group) versus patients switched to CT‐P13 at week 52 (switch group). The primary outcome was disease worsening during follow‐up based on disease‐specific composite measures.
Methods
Patients were recruited from 24 Norwegian hospitals, 380 of 438 patients who completed the main study: 197 in the maintenance group and 183 in the switch group. In the full analysis set, 127 (33%) had Crohn's disease, 80 (21%) ulcerative colitis, 67 (18%) spondyloarthritis, 55 (15%) rheumatoid arthritis, 20 (5%) psoriatic arthritis and 31 (8%) chronic plaque psoriasis.
Results
Baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups at the time of switching (week 52). Disease worsening occurred in 32 (16.8%) patients in the maintenance group vs. 20 (11.6%) in the switch group (per‐protocol set). Adjusted risk difference was 5.9% (95% CI −1.1 to 12.9). Frequency of adverse events, anti‐drug antibodies, changes in generic disease variables and disease‐specific composite measures were comparable between arms. The study was inadequately powered to detect noninferiority within individual diseases.
Conclusion
The NOR‐SWITCH extension showed no difference in safety and efficacy between patients who maintained CT‐P13 and patients who switched from originator infliximab to CT‐P13, supporting that switching from originator infliximab to CT‐P13 is safe and efficacious.
Click here to view the Editorial comment by Dr. Kay
Background and aim Typical values of plant available nitrogen (N) from animal manures are provided in fertilizer recommendation schemes. However, only a few attempts have been made thus far to study ...the variation in these values among contrasting soil types. The objective of this study was to examine the interactions between animal manure and soil types on N mineralization and total plant N recovery (shoots+ roots) during one growing season. Methods A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse during a growth period of 180 days. Experimental treatments included solid cattle manure (SCM), cattle slurry (CS) and poultry manure (PM), all applied to sandy, clay and peat soils sown with perennial ryegrass. Total N application rate was 120 kg ha⁻¹. Results There were clear interactions (P< 0.05) between the manure and soil types on N mineralization and total plant N recovery. For each manure type, both parameters followed the pattern (P< 0.01): peat > sandy > clay. In case of the peat soil, net mineralization of the applied organic Í was on average 90 % from PM, 39 % from SCM and 26 % from CS. However, in the clay soil a positive net N mineralization occurred only from PM (42 %). Besides, significant proportions of the applied mineral N from SCM (17 %) and CS (35 %) were immobilized in this soil type. Consequently, apparent total plant N recovery was highest in the peat soil with values of 80, 57 and 50 % from PM, CS and SCM, respectively. In contrast, these values were only 57, 28 and 15 % for the clay soil. Conclusions It is concluded that wide variations do exist in the extent of net N mineralization and plant N recovery from a given animal manure type when applied to diverging soil types. This indicates the need for more soil-specific manure fertilizer recommendations.
Abstract
An intermediate-mass black hole (IMBH) was recently reported to reside in the centre of the Galactic globular cluster (GC) NGC 6624, based on timing observations of a millisecond pulsar ...(MSP) located near the cluster centre in projection. We present dynamical models with multiple mass components of NGC 6624 – without an IMBH – which successfully describe the surface brightness profile and proper motion kinematics from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the stellar-mass function at different distances from the cluster centre. The maximum line-of-sight acceleration at the position of the MSP accommodates the inferred acceleration of the MSP, as derived from its first period derivative. With discrete realizations of the models we show that the higher-order period derivatives – which were previously used to derive the IMBH mass – are due to passing stars and stellar remnants, as previously shown analytically in literature. We conclude that there is no need for an IMBH to explain the timing observations of this MSP.
PDF
