Search results for "circular"
showing 10 items of 856 documents
Conformations of Star-Branched Polyelectrolytes
1996
Scaling theory describing the conformations of weakly charged star-branched polyelectrolytes in dilute and semi-dilute salt-free solutions is developed. The dependence of the star size on the number of branches as well as on the solution concentration is analyzed. It is shown that the star size increases with an increase in the number of branches, f, at small f and tends to a constant value at large f. An increase in the concentration of stars in a solution results in a decrease in the star size R according to the power low : R ∼ c -1/3 in the range of a moderate concentration and R ∼ c -1/4 at larger concentration. For stars with a small number of branches the behavior R ∼ c -1/2 in a cert…
Anything but Ordinary - Emerging Splicing Mechanisms in Eukaryotic Gene Regulation.
2021
Splicing of precursor mRNAs (pre-mRNA) is an important step during eukaryotic gene expression. The identification of the actual splice sites and the proper removal of introns are essential for the production of the desired mRNA isoforms and their encoded proteins. While the basic mechanisms of splicing regulation are well understood, recent work has uncovered a growing number of noncanonical splicing mechanisms that play key roles in the regulation of gene expression. In this review, we summarize the current principles of splicing regulation, including the impact of cis and trans regulatory elements, as well as the influence of chromatin structure, transcription, and RNA modifications. We f…
Role of non-coding RNAs as biomarkers of deleterious cardiovascular effects in sepsis.
2021
The mechanisms occurring during sepsis that produce an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) are poorly understood. Even less information exists regarding CV dysfunction as a complication of sepsis, particularly for sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy. However, recent research has demonstrated that non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, play a crucial role in genetic reprogramming, gene regulation, and inflammation during the development of CVD. Here we describe experimental findings showing the importance of non-coding RNAs mediating relevant mechanisms underlying CV dysfunction after sepsis, so contributing to sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy. …
Industrial Symbiosis: A Mechanism to Guarantee the Implementation of Circular Economy Practices
2022
There is a growing concern regarding the scarcity of natural resources. The levels of resource exploitation generated by the current system of production and consumption has led the European Commission to develop a set of guidelines that aim to reduce the pressure on natural resources. The set of guidelines proposed by the European Union is based on the transformation of the current linear economic system into a circular system in which resources and materials remain in the production system for longer. However, for this change to take effect, practical measures are required. This paper presents an industrial symbiosis approach as a practical application of a circular economy model. The aim…
Circular business models for lithium-ion batteries - Stakeholders, barriers, and drivers
2021
Abstract Business models for the circular economy, or circular business models, is a growing field of research applied in various industries. Global sustainability trends, such as electrification of the transport sector and increased energy consumption from renewable sources, have led to rapid growth in the number of batteries produced, especially lithium-ion based batteries. Sustainable lifetime management, including end-of-life, needs development to avoid social and environmental harm and potentially to recapture economic value as the use of these batteries increases. Current research primarily focuses on technical and economic issues based on recycling and the second use of batteries rat…
A methodological approach for assessing businness investments in renewable resources from a circular economy perspective
2018
Abstract In this paper, we have analyzed a feasibility project for the realization of a biogas plant at a company in the viticulture sector located in south-central Sicily. Using engineering formulas, we identified the electrical power that the plant could produce using waste products created by the vineyard itself, examined the new and interesting opportunities that have arisen with the encouragement and development of biogas production in Italy, and then assessed the economic feasibility of the investment itself, considering an investment scheme of total capital self-financing. The possibility of using wastes from wine production comes from an in-depth study of the circular economy, that …
Valorization of Marine Waste: Use of Industrial By-Products and Beach Wrack Towards the Production of High Added-Value Products
2021
Biomass is defined as organic matter from living organisms represented in all kingdoms. It is recognized to be an excellent source of proteins, polysaccharides and lipids and, as such, embodies a tailored feedstock for new products and processes to apply in green industries. The industrial processes focused on the valorization of terrestrial biomass are well established, but marine sources still represent an untapped resource. Oceans and seas occupy over 70% of the Earth’s surface and are used intensively in worldwide economies through the fishery industry, as logistical routes, for mining ores and exploitation of fossil fuels, among others. All these activities produce waste. The other sou…
Urban Stormwater Management, A Tool for Adapting to Climate Change: From Risk to Resource
2020
The effects of climate change on rainfall in the Mediterranean region are manifested in an overall decreasing trend, and greater irregularity in annual volumes and the city of Alicante is no exception. In addition, there has also been a spread of the urbanised area, which has led to an increase in the flood risk in urban areas (due to a greater runoff and the occupation of flood hazard areas) and drought events due to an increase in the water demand. In light of these new scenarios, the Mediterranean cities should design adaptation systems based on rainwater harvesting within the framework of a circular economy. This study analyses the integration of rainwater in flood and water demand mana…
Transition in the Finnish forest-based sector: Company perspectives on the bioeconomy, circular economy and sustainability
2019
The forest-based sector is affected by many profound structural changes and the increasing complexity of the business environment due to, for example, the mature markets of many core products and the aims for bio and circular economies and more sustainable societies. In response to the changing business environment, forest-based sector firms need to restructure their business models and develop new products and services. From the Finnish perspective, new forest-based businesses are crucial in the transition to successful and sustainable bio and circular economies. Views on the concepts of bioeconomy, circular economy and sustainability vary according to which parties are involved. Developin…
Engineering a Circular Riboregulator in Escherichia coli
2020
RNAs of different shapes and sizes, natural or synthetic, can regulate gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Circular RNAs have recently appeared to be more widespread than previously thought, but their role in prokaryotes remains elusive. Here, by inserting a riboregulatory sequence within a group I permuted intron-exon ribozyme, we created a small noncoding RNA that self-splices to produce a circular riboregulator in Escherichia coli . We showed that the resulting riboregulator can trans -activate gene expression by interacting with a cis -repressed messenger RNA. We characterized the system with a fluorescent reporter and with an antibiotic resistance marker, and we modeled thi…