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  • 1
    Publication Date: 2016-07-30
    Description: We review some approaches to macroscopic irreversibility from reversible microscopic dynamics, introducing the contribution of time dependent perturbations within the framework of recent developments in non-equilibrium statistical physics. We show that situations commonly assumed to violate the time reversal symmetry (presence of magnetic fields, rotating reference frames, and some time dependent perturbations) in reality do not violate this symmetry, and can be treated with standard theories and within standard experimental protocols.
    Electronic ISSN: 2073-8994
    Topics: Mathematics , Physics
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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  • 2
    Publication Date: 2018-09-15
    Description: Sustainability, Vol. 10, Pages 3286: Effects of Field Inoculation with VAM and Bacteria Consortia on Root Growth and Nutrients Uptake in Common Wheat Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su10093286 Authors: Cristian Dal Cortivo Giuseppe Barion Manuel Ferrari Giovanna Visioli Lucia Dramis Anna Panozzo Teofilo Vamerali This study investigated the effects of a commercial biofertilizer containing the mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis and the diazotrophic N-fixing bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii on root and shoot growth, yield, and nutrient uptake in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in order to improve the sustainable cultivation of this widespread crop. The trials were carried out in controlled conditions (rhizoboxes) and in open fields over two years to investigate the interaction between inoculation and three doses of nitrogen fertilization (160, 120 and 80 kg ha−1) in a silty-loam soil of the Po Plain (NE Italy). In rhizoboxes, efficient root colonization by R. irregularis was observed at 50 days after sowing with seed inoculation, together with improved root tip density and branching (+~30% vs. controls), while the effects of post-emergence inoculation by soil and foliar spraying were not observable at plant sampling. In the open, field spraying at end tillering significantly increased the volumetric root length density (RLD, +22% vs. controls) and root area density (+18%) after about two months (flowering stage) in both years under medium and high N fertilization doses, but not at the lowest N dose. In absence of inoculation, RLD progressively decreased with increased N doses. Inoculation had a negligible effect on grain yield and N uptake, which followed a typical N dose-response model, while straw Zn, P, and K concentrations were seldom improved. It is concluded that medium-high N fertilization doses are required to achieve the target yield and standards of quality (protein contents) in wheat cultivation, while the use of this mixed VAM-PGPR biofertilizer appears to be a sustainable mean for minimizing the adverse effects of chemical N fertilizers on root expansion and for improving the uptake of low-mobility nutrients, which has potentially relevant environmental benefits.
    Electronic ISSN: 2071-1050
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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  • 3
    Publication Date: 2018-09-19
    Description: Minerals, Vol. 8, Pages 414: Supergene Uranyl Mineralization of the Rabejac Deposit, Lodève, France Minerals doi: 10.3390/min8090414 Authors: Fabrice Dal Bo Frédéric Hatert Simon Philippo The Rabejac uranium deposit that is located in the Lodève region, France, is the type locality for three uranyl minerals species (fontanite, seelite, and rabejacite). In addition, this deposit shows an extraordinary supergene uranyl mineralization characterized by the presence of many rare secondary uranyl species. In the present study, a mineralogical description as well as new chemical and crystallographic data are reported on (meta)zeunerite, (meta)nováčekite, (meta)uranospinite, heinrichite, nováčekite-I, arsenuranospathite, umohoite, calcurmolite, becquerelite, billietite, and liebigite. The chemical data indicate that the arsenate members of the autunite/meta-autunite group incorporate a significant amount of phosphorus. Moreover, the uranospinite samples usually exhibit high Mg content, thus moving toward the nováčekite end-member composition. The refined unit-cell parameters for all of the investigated mineral species are in agreement with the previous data reported in the literature. Finally, a model describing the alteration of the primary uraninite and the formation of secondary uranyl minerals is proposed in agreement with the observed mineral assemblages.
    Electronic ISSN: 2075-163X
    Topics: Geosciences
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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  • 4
    Publication Date: 2016-04-13
    Description: Alimurgic species are edible wild plants growing spontaneously as invasive weeds in natural grassland and farmed fields. Growing interest in biodiversity conservation projects suggests deeper study of the multifunctional roles they can play in metal uptake for phytoremediation and their food safety when cultivated in polluted land. In this study, the responses of the tap-rooted perennial species Cichorium intybus L., Sonchus oleracerus L., Taraxacum officinale Web., Tragopogon porrifolius L. and Rumex acetosa L. were studied in artificially-highly Cd-Co-Cu-Pb-Zn-contaminated soil in a pot-scale trial, and those of T. officinale and R. acetosa in critical open environments (i.e., landfill, ditch sediments, and sides of highly-trafficked roads). Germination was not inhibited, and all species showed appreciable growth, despite considerable increases in tissue metal rates. Substantial growth impairments were observed in C. intybus, T. officinale and T. porrifolius; R. acetosa and S. oleracerus were only marginally affected. Zn was generally well translocated and reached a high leaf concentration, especially in T. officinale (~600 mg·kg−1·dry weight, DW), a result which can be exploited for phytoremediation purposes. The elevated Cd translocation also suggested applications to phytoextraction, particularly with C. intybus, in which leaf Cd reached ~16 mg·kg−1·DW. The generally high root retention of Pb and Cu may allow their phytostabilisation in the medium-term in no-tillage systems, together with significant reductions in metal leaching compared with bare soil. In open systems, critical soil Pb and Zn were associated with heavily trafficked roadsides, although this was only seldom reflected in shoot metal accumulation. It is concluded that a community of alimurgic species can serve to establish an efficient, long-lasting vegetation cover applied for phytoremediation and reduction of soil metal movements in degraded environments. However, their food use is not recommended, since leaf Cd and Pb may exceed EU safety thresholds.
    Electronic ISSN: 2071-1050
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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  • 5
    Publication Date: 2017-09-05
    Description: Materials, Vol. 10, Pages 1022: Relationship between Degree of Deformation in Quartz and Silica Dissolution for the Development of Alkali-Silica Reaction in Concrete Materials doi: 10.3390/ma10091022 Authors: Francieli Tiecher Marcia Gomes Denise Dal Molin Nicole Hasparyk Paulo Monteiro This paper presents research on the influence of quartz deformation in aggregates for the development of the alkali-silica reaction in concrete and its relationship with silica dissolution. The study also compares these characteristics with the field behavior of such rocks in concrete. The paper proposes parameters to classify the different degrees of deformation of quartz. Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of walls even in slightly deformed quartz, which indicate the presence of the internal paths available to react with the alkaline concrete pore solutions and point to the potential development of an alkali-silica reaction. The presence of the deformation bands in the quartz grains leads to the alkali aggregate reaction occurring more rapidly. The visible spectrophotometer test was performed to evaluate the dissolution potential of the different samples of deformed quartz, which confirmed that the reactivity of the quartz increases as the deformation of the crystalline structure increases. The parameters established in the present study could be verified by analyzing the behavior of reactive and innocuous aggregates from the buildings.
    Electronic ISSN: 1996-1944
    Topics: Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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  • 6
    Publication Date: 2017-08-05
    Description: IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 878: Program Development and Effectiveness of Workplace Health Promotion Program for Preventing Metabolic Syndrome among Office Workers International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph14080878 Authors: Hosihn Ryu Jiyeon Jung Jeonghyun Cho Dal Chin This paper aims to develop and analyze the effects of a socio-ecological model-based intervention program for preventing metabolic syndrome (MetS) among office workers. The intervention program was developed using regular health examinations, a “health behavior and need” assessment survey among workers, and a focus group study. According to the type of intervention, subjects took part in three groups: health education via an intranet-based web magazine (Group 1), self-monitoring with the U-health system (Group 2), and the target population who received intensive intervention (Group 3). The intervention programs of Group 1 and Group 2, which relied on voluntary participation, did not show significant effects. In Group 3, which relied on targeted and proactive programs, showed a decrease in waist circumference and in fasting glucose (p < 0.001). The MetS score in both males (−0.61 ± 3.35 versus −2.32 ± 2.55, p = 0.001) and females (−3.99 ± 2.05 versus −5.50 ± 2.19, p = 0.028) also showed a statistically significant decrease. In light of the effectiveness of the intensive intervention strategy for metabolic syndrome prevention among workers used in this study, companies should establish targeted and proactive health care programs rather than providing a healthcare system that is dependent on an individual’s voluntary participation.
    Print ISSN: 1661-7827
    Electronic ISSN: 1660-4601
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering , Medicine
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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  • 7
    Publication Date: 2018-04-19
    Description: Energies, Vol. 11, Pages 970: Integrating Life Cycle Inventory and Process Design Techniques for the Early Estimate of Energy and Material Consumption Data Energies doi: 10.3390/en11040970 Authors: Serena Righi Filippo Baioli Alessandro Dal Pozzo Alessandro Tugnoli Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a powerful tool to identify direct and indirect environmental burdens associated with products, processes and services. A critical phase of the LCA methodology is the collection of representative inventory data for the energy and material streams related to the production process. In the evaluation of new and emerging chemical processes, measured data are known only at laboratory scale and may have limited connection to the environmental footprint of the same process implemented at industrial scale. On the other hand, in the evaluation of processes already established at commercial scale, the availability of process data might be hampered by industrial confidentiality. In both cases, the integration of simple process design techniques in the LCA can contribute to overcome the lack of primary data, allowing a more correct quantification of the life cycle inventory. The present paper shows, through the review of case study examples, how simplified process design, modeling and simulation can support the LCA framework to provide a preliminary estimate of energy and material consumption data suitable for environmental assessment purposes. The discussed case studies illustrate the implementation of process design considerations to tackle availability issues of inventory data in different contexts. By evidencing the case-specific nature of the problem of preliminary conceptual process design, the study calls for a closer collaboration of process design experts and life cycle analysts in the green development of new products and processes.
    Electronic ISSN: 1996-1073
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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  • 8
    Publication Date: 2018-04-25
    Description: Energies, Vol. 11, Pages 1029: Fostering Renewables into the Cold Chain: How Photovoltaics Affect Design and Performance of Refrigerated Automated Warehouses Energies doi: 10.3390/en11051029 Authors: Antonella Meneghetti Fabio Dal Magro Patrizia Simeoni In the industrial food supply chain, cold storage is one of the most important processes where there is a huge but still unused potential for employing renewable energy technologies. This paper analyses how the integration of rooftop photovoltaics affects the design and performance of refrigerated automated warehouses, which are becoming the preferred choice for frozen food storage facilities. The problem is modelled and solved by means of Constraint Programming. Results for the reference case in north-eastern Italy show that photovoltaic installation can lead to both yearly total cost and energy savings. Simulations highlight how design and performance of the refrigerated automated warehouse strictly depend on supply chain decision variables. PV integration offers supply chain managers more opportunities to act on the storage temperature and the incoming product temperatures strictly related to upstream and downstream stages of the whole cold chain. Attention should be paid to system throughput, which presents an intermediate range for which the design optimization of volume and surfaces reduces the convenience of PV integration. Simulations on facility locations reveal how different climate conditions affect the economic and environmental performance of the refrigerated warehouse, as well as country specific carbon intensity and energy price.
    Electronic ISSN: 1996-1073
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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  • 9
    Publication Date: 2018-05-26
    Description: Materials, Vol. 11, Pages 891: In-Liquid Plasma Process for Size- and Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Controlling Gas Bubbles in Water Materials doi: 10.3390/ma11060891 Authors: Hyun-Jin Kim Jun-Goo Shin Choon-Sang Park Dae Sub Kum Bhum Jae Shin Jae Young Kim Hyung-Dal Park Muhan Choi Heung-Sik Tae Most methods controlling size and shape of metal nanoparticles are chemical methods, and little work has been done using only plasma methods. Size- and shape-controlled synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) is proposed based on adjusting the gas bubble formation produced between two silver electrodes. The application of a voltage waveform with three different pulse widths during a plasma process in water can generate different gas bubble formations. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of Ag NPs synthesized using three different bubble formations reveal that spherical Ag NPs are synthesized when very tiny bubbles are generated between two electrodes or when only the grounded electrode is enveloped with large gas bubbles, but Ag nanoplates are synthesized when both electrodes are completely enveloped with large gas bubbles.
    Electronic ISSN: 1996-1944
    Topics: Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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  • 10
    Publication Date: 2017-12-22
    Description: Sustainability, Vol. 10, Pages 2: Could Black Be the New Gold? Design-Driven Challenges in New Sustainable Luxury Materials for Jewelry Sustainability doi: 10.3390/su10010002 Authors: Beatrice Lerma Doriana Dal Palù Marco Actis Grande Claudia De Giorgi Is there a new material for use in jewelry, matching gold and precious stones, capable of maintaining the same perception of “preciousness” but that is also more sustainable, ethical, and inexpensive? This article deals with a case study within the European EcoDesign Network research project, aimed at investigating how sustainable design can help prestigious companies pinpoint new materials for the creation of jewelry, focusing on new and environmentally friendly opportunities while preserving their market position and target audience. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Adopting the exploring design path, a jewelry background analysis pointed out both stereotypes and possible innovations in the jewelry field: an analysis was carried out on the perception of jewels by a panel guided by a cognitive ergonomics specialist, also using the eye-tracking machine to examine participants’ reactions to the jewelry involved in the study, and to establish paradigms of sustainability, preciousness, and innovation. Several meta-project proposals regarding innovations in materials and finishing were hypothesized and tested, following the main guidelines and principles of ecodesign. Lastly, a prototyping phase and some mechanical tests were implemented to verify the hypotheses of innovation. The results allowed the creation of a first set of sustainable jewelry, currently on the market.
    Electronic ISSN: 2071-1050
    Topics: Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
    Published by MDPI Publishing
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