scholarly journals Humic substances and significance of their application – a review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Aneta Kłeczek ◽  
Anna Anielak

This paper is based on recent articles regarding applications of humic substances (HSs). HSs are natural organic materials, which have a number of potential applications. Furthermore, HSs are cheap, widespread and obtainable from bio-waste materials. HSs can be used as organic compound sorbents or in detoxification. They are applied as organic additives due to their positive effect on soil and plants, even under stress conditions. HSs reduce water consumption and minimise environmental problems. HSs are utilised for the remediation of multi-metal contaminated soils and as substitutes for synthetic washing agents. From an environmental engineering point of view, it is beneficial to remove HSs from municipal management, where they are undesirable (by-products of disinfection) and to utilise them where they are valuable. The aim of this article is to provide a greater insight into research about the applications of HSs.

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 726
Author(s):  
Fulvia Ceccarelli ◽  
Venusia Covelli ◽  
Giulio Olivieri ◽  
Francesco Natalucci ◽  
Fabrizio Conti

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic contributes to the burden of living with different diseases, including Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). We described, from a narrative point of view, the experiences and perspectives of Italian SLE adults during the COVID-19 emergency, by distinguishing the illness experience before and after the lockdown. Methods: Fifteen patients were invited to participate. Illness narratives were collected between 22 and 29 March 2020 using a written modality to capture patients’ perspectives before and after the COVID-19 lockdown. We performed a two-fold analysis of collected data by distinguishing three narrative types and a qualitative analysis of content to identify the relevant themes and sub-themes reported. Results: Eight narratives included in the final analysis (mean length 436.9 words) have been written by eight females (mean age 43.3 ± 9.9 years, mean disease duration 13.1 ± 7.4 years). Six patients provided a quest narrative, one a chaos and the remaining one a restitution narrative. By text content analysis, we identified specific themes, temporally distinct before and after the lockdown. Before COVID-19, all the patients referred to a good control of disease, however the unexpected arrival of the COVID-19 emergency broke a balance, and patients perceived the loss of health status control, with anxiety and stress. Conclusions: We provided unique insight into the experiences of people with SLE at the time of COVID-19, underlining the perspective of patients in relation to the pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3462
Author(s):  
Maider Aldaz Odriozola ◽  
Igor Álvarez Etxeberria

Corruption is a key factor that affects countries’ development, with emerging countries being a geographical area in which it tends to generate greater negative effects. However, few empirical studies analyze corruption from the point of view of disclosure by companies in this relevant geographical area. Based on a regression analysis using data from the 96 large companies from 15 emerging countries included in the 2016 International Transparency Report, this paper seeks to understand what determinants affect such disclosure. In that context, this paper provides empirical evidence to understand the factors that influence reporting on anti-corruption mechanisms in an area of high economic importance that has been little studied to date, pointing to the positive effect of press freedom in a country where the company is located and with the industry being the unique control variable that strengthens this relationship.


2021 ◽  
pp. 136078042110184
Author(s):  
Leja Markelj ◽  
Alisa Selan ◽  
Tjaša Dolinar ◽  
Matej Sande

The research comprehensively identifies the needs and problems of sex workers in Slovenia from the point of view of three groups of actors in a decriminalized setting. The objective of the rapid needs assessment was to identify the needs of sex workers as perceived by themselves. In order to gain a deeper insight into this topic, we analyzed the functioning of the organizations working with the population, and examined the perspective of the clients. The results of the study show that no aid programmes have been developed for sex workers, even though organizations from various fields often come in contact with this population. Sex workers express the need to be informed about various topics (health, the law, legal advice) and emphasize client relations as the primary issue. The findings indicate the need for the development of a specialized aid programmes to address the fields of advocacy, reducing social distress and providing psychosocial assistance.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2098
Author(s):  
Wen-Yang Chuang ◽  
Li-Jen Lin ◽  
Hsin-Der Shih ◽  
Yih-Min Shy ◽  
Shang-Chang Chang ◽  
...  

With the increase in world food demand, the output of agricultural by-products has also increased. Agricultural by-products not only contain more than 50% dietary fiber but are also rich in functional metabolites such as polyphenol (including flavonoids), that can promote animal health. The utilization of dietary fibers is closely related to their types and characteristics. Contrary to the traditional cognition that dietary fiber reduces animal growth, it can promote animal growth and maintain intestinal health, and even improve meat quality when added in moderate amounts. In addition, pre-fermenting fiber with probiotics or enzymes in a controlled environment can increase dietary fiber availability. Although the use of fiber has a positive effect on animal health, it is still necessary to pay attention to mycotoxin contamination. In summary, this report collates the fiber characteristics of agricultural by-products and their effects on animal health and evaluates the utilization value of agricultural by-products.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1510
Author(s):  
María Ángeles Rivas ◽  
Rocío Casquete ◽  
María de Guía Córdoba ◽  
Santiago Ruíz-Moyano ◽  
María José Benito ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate, from a technological and nutritional point of view, the chemical composition and functional properties of the industrial winemaking by-products, namely skins, stems and lees. The chemical and physical characteristics, as well as the functional properties (fat and water retention and swelling capacity, antioxidant capacity, and their prebiotic effect), of the dietary fibre of these by-products were studied. The results showed that the skins, stems, and lees are rich in fibre, with the stem fibre containing the highest amounts of non-extractable polyphenols attached to polysaccharides with high antioxidant activity and prebiotic effect. Lee fibre had the highest water retention capacity and oil retention capacity. The results reveal that winemaking by-products could be used as a source of dietary fibre with functional characteristics for food applications.


1981 ◽  
Vol 18 (03) ◽  
pp. 234-244
Author(s):  
John D. Vitkauskas ◽  
John R. Peters

The Coast Guard NVIC 1–69 has provided guidelines for the design of automated systems so that human surveillance can be reduced without jeopardizing the vessel. An integral part of these guidelines is the preparation of a Test Procedure which periodically tests the vital safety systems to increase the probability that they will function properly when called on. However, the Test Procedure guidelines are general and subject to wide interpretation. This paper attempts to provide some insight into what needs to be periodically tested, why the testing is required, and what techniques are acceptable, at the same time stressing the need for efficient testing. Some examples are also provided of testing procedures that have been found to be efficient and sufficiently comprehensive.


Author(s):  
Marcel Buß

Abstract Immanuel Kant states that indirect arguments are not suitable for the purposes of transcendental philosophy. If he is correct, this affects contemporary versions of transcendental arguments which are often used as an indirect refutation of scepticism. I discuss two reasons for Kant’s rejection of indirect arguments. Firstly, Kant argues that we are prone to misapply the law of excluded middle in philosophical contexts. Secondly, Kant points out that indirect arguments lack some explanatory power. They can show that something is true but they do not provide insight into why something is true. Using mathematical proofs as examples, I show that this is because indirect arguments are non-constructive. From a Kantian point of view, transcendental arguments need to be constructive in some way. In the last part of the paper, I briefly examine a comment made by P. F. Strawson. In my view, this comment also points toward a connection between transcendental and constructive reasoning.


Author(s):  
D.V. Ivashkova ◽  
K.M. Sagova

The article is devoted to the consideration of the role of student support in the adaptation of the Finn-ish short-term program of skills formation “Skilful Class” on the territory of Russia. The program is realizing in Russian educational organizations within the framework of joint projects of Moscow State University of Psychology & Education and Helsinki Brief Therapy Institute. The implementation of projects is realizing with the accompaniment of student-mentors, whose participation, presumably, has a positive effect on the effectiveness of the “Skilful Class” program. The article considers the in-teraction between children and student-mentors from the point of view of their generational commu-nity, as well as the creation of a supportive community in the process of skill formation. Information about the methodological basis of the program is given and the 15-step algorithm of its action is de-scribed, with the rationale for the participation of student-mentors in its implementation. A number of psychological problems for the prevention of which the program is used by foreign and Russian specialists are indicated.


1987 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
L. P. Pretorius ◽  
C. J. H. Blignaut

From a perceptual point of view it is not clear whether, and under what conditions, the presence of colour in television commercials aids the processing of information. In this study it was argued that the way in which colour is used, would have an effect on the comprehension and memory of children regarding television commercials. It was found that colour, when used in a "concrete" fashion, aids the comprehension process. The results of the study also show that the "concrete" as well as the "symbolic" use of colour have a positive effect on the memory of children for the content of television commercials. Opsomming Vanuit 'n perseptuele benadering is dit nie duidelik of, en onder watter omstandighede, die teenwoordigheid van kleur in televisie advertensies die prosessering van inligting positief bei'nvloed nie. In hierdie studie is daar van die standpunt uitgegaan dat die wyse van kleurgebruik 'n effek sal he op die begrip en geheue van kinders ten aansien van televisie advertensies. Daar is gevind dat kleur, wat op 'n "konkrete" manier gebruik word, die begripsproses bevorder. Die resultate van die studie toon ook dat sowel die "konkrete" as "simboliese" gebruik van kleur 'n positiewe effek op die geheue van kinders ten opsigte van televisie advertensie inhoud het.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-185
Author(s):  
Julie Rodgers

Sophie Daull's Camille, mon envolée (2015) is an autobiographical depiction of the sudden and traumatic loss of an only daughter (Camille) due to an undetected fatal bacterial infection. It is recounted uniquely from the maternal point of view and directly addresses the daughter throughout. It concerns an incredibly recent bereavement as the writing of the text, the author tells us, commences just one week after the daughter's death. Camille, mon envolée is a markedly intimate and brutally honest account of a mother who is an active witness to and, one could argue, participant in her daughter's agonizing death scene. The text captures the sense of powerlessness that is experienced by the mother, the incomprehensibility of the loss, the self-blame, and, finally, the coming to terms with it and the learning to live on, not without guilt, however. It also offers insight into maternal motivation for writing such a text, ranging from a quest for understanding and an outlet for grief, to a desire to preserve the daughter's memory. Furthermore, through close examination of the physical, psychological and social impact of the death of a child on mother figure subjectivity, Camille mon envolée successfully traces out for the reader the very specific characteristics of maternal bereavement and its overwhelmingly embodied nature. Finally, the text represents an engagement on the part of the grieving mother with what has been termed 'scriptotherapy' in a bid to negotiate this trauma and find a means, not only of remembering the daughter, but also of surviving the tragedy. In this respect, Camille, mon envolée is a text of resistance, where the unthinkable is confronted and the untellable bravely told.


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