Circular bio-economy via energy transition supported by Fuzzy Cognitive Map modeling towards sustainable low-carbon environment.

Several energy transition plans attempt to establish low-carbon practices towards a circular bio-economy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, most actions only try to assuage the impacts of climate change without improving the resource flows generated by human activities. In this paper, we propose a semi-quantitative assessment of the impacts of biowaste-based energy transition by engaging all relevant social stakeholders' evaluation in the strategic plan.

Exploring social determinants of municipal solid waste management: survey processing with fuzzy logic and self-organized maps.

In the present study, the establishment of decision-making criteria and a novel and robust interdisciplinary approach for systematically characterizing effects of uncertainties in social determinants of municipal solid waste management using an important fuzzy logic methodology is demonstrated. The primary goal is to highlight the social benefits of this waste management option such as job creation, hygiene and health protection, and working safety as well as to indicate certain side effects occurring during waste processing (odor and leachate production, social trust). The current research is based on a social survey in an agro-industrial region, Thessaly, Greece, and indicates a set of diversified key factors that are related to public acceptance of municipal waste management schemes.

Contribution to the sustainable management of resources by novel combination of industrial solid residues into red ceramics.

Limited amounts of industrial residues are recycled while the remaining huge quantities are stockpiled or disposed of, thus frequently leading to soil contamination. The utilization of industrial residues as valuable secondary resources into ceramics can contribute to efficient waste management and substitution for massive amounts of natural resources (clayey minerals) demanded for ceramic production. The low cost of these residues and even possible energy savings during mixture firing may also be beneficial.

Decolorization kinetics of Procion H-exl dyes from textile dyeing using Fenton-like reactions.

The decolorization kinetics of three commercially used Procion H-exl dyes was studied using a Fenton-like reagent. The effect of the major system parameters (pH, concentration of H(2)O(2) and Fe(3+) and initial dye concentration) on the kinetics was determined. For comparison, the effect of the use of UV irradiated Fenton-like reagent and of Fenton reagent on the kinetics was also examined.

Comparative study of plasma ghrelin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, in hyperandrogenic women and in normal controls.

Background: Ghrelin is a novel peptide associated with energy balance, obesity, and perhaps gonadal function. The present study was designed in order: (i) to compare plasma ghrelin levels between women with PCOS, women who presented only with hyperandrogenaemia and healthy controls; and (ii) to investigate the relationship between circulating ghrelin and the heterogeneity of clinical and biochemical manifestations of PCOS.

Methods: Two hundred and fifty-nine women with PCOS, 25 women who had only hyperandrogenaemia and 46 controls, were studied.