Proteins on microbial identification: past achievements, present state-of-the-art, and future challenges

The use of chemical analysis of microbial components, including proteins, became an important achievement in the 80’s of the last century to the microbial identification. This led a more objective microbial identification scheme, called chemotaxonomy, and the analytical tools used in the field are mainly 1D/2D gel electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Edman degradation reaction was also applied to peptides sequence giving important insights to the microbial identification. The rapid development of these techniques, in association with knowledge generated by DNA sequencing and phylogeny based on rRNA gene and housekeeping genes sequences, boosted the microbial identification to an unparalleled scale. The recent results of mass spectrometry (MS), like Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF), for rapid and reliable microbial identification showed considerable promise. In addition, the technique is rapid, reliable and inexpensive in terms of labour and consumables when compared with other biological techniques. At present, MALDI-TOF MS adds an additional step for polyphasic identification which is essential when there is a paucity of characters or high DNA homologies for delimiting very close related species. The full impact of this approach is now being appreciated when more diverse species are studied in detail and successfully identified. However, even with the best polyphasic system, identification of some taxa remains time-consuming and determining what represents a species remains subjective. The possibilities opened with new and even more robust mass spectrometers combined with sound and reliable databases allow not only the microbial identification based on the proteome fingerprinting but also include de novo specific proteins sequencing as additional step. These approaches are pushing the boundaries in the microbial identification field.

State of the art and open questions on cathode preparation based on carbon coated lithium iron phosphate

One important component with particular relevance in battery performance is the cathode, being one of the main responsible elements for cell capacity and cycle life. Carbon coated lithium iron phosphate, C-LiFePO4, active material is one of the most promising cathode materials for the next generation of large scale lithium ion battery applications and strong research efforts are being devoted to it, due to its excellent characteristics, including high capacity, ~170 mAh/g, and safety. This review summarizes the main developments on C-LiFePO4 based cathode film preparation and performance. The effect of the binder, conductive additive, relationship between active material-binder-conductive additive and drying step, in the electrode film fabrication and performance is presented and discussed. Finally, after the presentation of the cell types fabricated with C-LiFePO4 active material and their performance, some conclusions and guidelines for further investigations are outlined.

Lithium ion rechargeable batteries: State of the art and future needs of microscopic theoretical models and simulations

This review deals with the recent developments and present status of the theoretical models for the simulation of the performance of lithium ion batteries. Preceded by a description of the main materials used for each of the components of a battery -anode, cathode and separator- and how material characteristics affect battery performance, a description of the main theoretical models describing the operation and performance of a battery are presented. The influence of the most relevant parameters of the models, such as boundary conditions, geometry and material characteristics are discussed. Finally, suggestions for future work are proposed.

Introduction [to "Citizen voices: performing public participation in science and environment communication"]

"ECREA series, ISSN 1742-9420"

Adult learning and education policies in Germany, Portugal and Sweden: An analysis of national reports to CONFINTEA VI

The chapter presents a theoretical proposal of three analytical models of Adult Learning and Education (ALE) policies. Some analytical categories and the corresponding dimensions are organised according to the ALE rationale which is typical of each social policy model. Historical, cultural and educational features are mentioned in connexion with the different policy models and its interpretative capacity to making sense of policies and practices implemented in Germany, Portugal and Sweden. !e analysis includes the states of the art and the official representations of ALE produced by the respective national authorities through national reports which were presented to CONFINTEA VI (2009).

Mechanism of extracellular silver nanoparticles synthesis by Stereum hirsutum and Fusarium oxysporum

The increasing interest for greener and biological methods of synthesis has led to the development of non-toxic and comparatively more bioactive nanoparticles. Unlike physical and chemical methods of nanoparticle synthesis, microbial synthesis in general and mycosynthesis in particular is cost-effective and environment-friendly. However, different aspects, such as the rate of synthesis, monodispersity and downstream processing, need to be improved. Many fungal-based mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), mainly those involving the presence of nitrate reductase, which has been detected in filtered fungus cell used for AgNPs production. There is a general acceptance that nitrate reductase is the main responsible for the reduction of Ag ions for the formation of AgNPs. However, this generally accepted mechanism for fungal AgNPs production is not totally understood. In order to elucidate the molecules participating in the mechanistic formation of metal nanoparticles, the current study is focused on the enzymes and other organic compounds involved in the biosynthesis of AgNPs. The use of each free fungal mycelium of both Stereum hirsutum and Fusarium oxysporum will be assessed. In order to identify defective mutants on the nitrate reductase structural gene niaD, fungal cultures of S.hirsutum and F.oxysporum will be selected by chlorate resistance. In addition, in order to verify if each compound identified as key-molecule influenced on the production of nanoparticles, an in vitro assay using different nitrogen sources will be developed. Lately, fungal extracellular enzymes will be measured and an in vitro assay will be done. Finally, The nanoparticle formation and its characterization will be evaluated by UV-visible spectroscopy, electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and LC-MS/MS.

The importance of the category of consciousness and education for sustainability in methodologies for eco‐efficiency in school buildings

This document reports the importance of the category of consciousness and education for sustainability in the school environment. Education in school has a potential to make the benefits of the building construction visible for society and media, showing to the students, parents and communities how sustainability in built environment could improve the people life in economic, social and environment aspects. Thus, this paper addresses the main events related to sustainability, such as the Stockholm Conference, the Brundtland report, United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and Agenda 21, until reaching the necessity of the elaboration of Methodologies for environmental assessment of building, and later, the development of the specific methodologies according to the buildings. It is also described some examples of sustainability in schools in Germany, Finland and Italy and what kind of sustainable systems those countries are currently using.

Improving buildings energy performance: comparison between simple payback period and life cycle costs analysis

The building sector is one of the Europeâ s main energy consumer, making buildings an important target for a wiser energy use, improving indoor comfort conditions and reducing the energy consumption. To achieve the European Union targets for energy consumption and carbon reductions it is crucial to act in new, but also in existing buildings, which constitute the majority of the building stock. In existing buildings, the significant improvement of their efficiency requires important investments. Therefore, costs are a major concern in the decision making process and the analysis of the cost effectiveness of the interventions is an important path in the guidance for the selection of the different renovation scenarios. The Portuguese thermal legislation considers the simple payback method for the calculations of the time for the return of the investment. However, this method does not take into consideration inflation, cash flows and cost of capital, as well as the future costs of energy and the building elements lifetime as it happens in a life cycle cost analysis. In order to understand the impact of the economic analysis method used in the choice of the renovation measures, a case study has been analysed using simple payback calculations and life cycle costs analysis. Overall results show that less far-reaching renovation measures are indicated when using the simple payback calculations which may be leading to solutions less cost-effective in a long run perspective.