| 1. |
- Ruilope, LM, et al.
(författare)
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Design and Baseline Characteristics of the Finerenone in Reducing Cardiovascular Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease Trial
- 2019
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Ingår i: American journal of nephrology. - : S. Karger AG. - 1421-9670 .- 0250-8095. ; 50:5, s. 345-356
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- <b><i>Background:</i></b> Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. <b><i>Patients and</i></b> <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥25 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup> and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio ≥30 to ≤5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level α = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049.
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| 2. |
- Riede, M., et al.
(författare)
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Material characterization of AISI 316L flexure pivot bearings fabricated by additive manufacturing
- 2019
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Ingår i: Materials. - : MDPI. - 1996-1944. ; 12:15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Recently, additive manufacturing (AM) by laser metal deposition (LMD) has become a key technology for fabricating highly complex parts without any support structures. Compared to the well-known powder bed fusion process, LMD enhances manufacturing possibilities to overcome AM-specific challenges such as process inherent porosity, minor build rates, and limited part size. Moreover, the advantages aforementioned combined with conventional machining enable novel manufacturing approaches in various fields of applications. Within this contribution, the additive manufacturing of filigree flexure pivots using 316L-Si by means of LMD with powder is presented. Frictionless flexure pivot bearings are used in space mechanisms that require high reliability, accuracy, and technical cleanliness. As a contribution to part qualification, the manufacturing process, powder material, and fabricated specimens were investigated in a comprehensive manner. Due to its major impact on the process, the chemical powder composition was characterized in detail by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Moreover, a profound characterization of the powder morphology and flowability was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and novel rheological investigation techniques. Furthermore, quantitative image analysis, mechanical testing, laser scanning microscopy, and 3D shape measurement of manufactured specimens were conducted. As a result, the gained knowledge was applied for the AM-specific redesign of the flexure pivot. Finally, a qualified flexure pivot has been manufactured in a hybrid manner to subsequently ensure its long-term durability in a lifetime test bench.
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| 3. |
- Moritz, J., et al.
(författare)
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Functional integration approaches via laser powder bed processing
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of laser applications. - : Laser Institute of America. - 1042-346X .- 1938-1387. ; 31:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Additive manufacturing design rules are different from those of conventional fabrication techniques. These allow geometries that would not be possible to achieve otherwise. One example of application is the integration of functional parts as part of the manufacturing process. Conceivable applications range from mechanical functions like integration of moving parts or thermodynamic functions, for example, cooling channels or incorporation of electric circuits for electrical functionalization [J. Glasschroeder, E. Prager, and M. F. Zaeh, Rapid Prototyping J. 21, 207–215 (2015)]. Nevertheless, the potential of functional integration using powder-bed processes is far from being exhausted. The present approach addresses the generation of inner cavities and internal structures of titanium-based parts or components by the use of selective laser melting. This paper focusses on the investigation of voids and cavities regarding their capabilities to add new functions to the material. To this end, comprehensive characterization is performed using destructive as well as nondestructive testing methods. These include 3D scanning, computed tomography, and surface roughness measurements as well as microscopic analysis. Voids and cavities were filled with different thermoplastic materials, followed by the qualitative assessment of the mold filling and resulting material properties. Finally, applications are derived and evaluated with respect to the field of lightweight design or damping structures.
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| 4. |
- Novaes, Renan M. L., et al.
(författare)
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Estimating 20-year land-use change and derived CO2 emissions associated with crops, pasture and forestry in Brazil and each of its 27 states
- 2017
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Ingår i: Global Change Biology. - : WILEY. - 1354-1013 .- 1365-2486. ; 23:9, s. 3716-3728
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Land-use change (LUC) in Brazil has important implications on global climate change, ecosystem services and biodiversity, and agricultural expansion plays a critical role in this process. Concerns over these issues have led to the need for estimating the magnitude and impacts associated with that, which are increasingly reported in the environmental assessment of products. Currently, there is an extensive debate on which methods are more appropriate for estimating LUC and related emissions and regionalized estimates are lacking for Brazil, which is a world leader in agricultural production (e.g. food, fibres and bioenergy). We developed a method for estimating scenarios of past 20-year LUC and derived CO2 emission rates associated with 64 crops, pasture and forestry in Brazil as whole and in each of its 27 states, based on time-series statistics and in accordance with most used carbon-footprinting standards. The scenarios adopted provide a range between minimum and maximum rates of CO2 emissions from LUC according to different possibilities of land-use transitions, which can have large impacts in the results. Specificities of Brazil, like multiple cropping and highly heterogeneous carbon stocks, are also addressed. The highest CO2 emission rates are observed in the Amazon biome states and crops with the highest rates are those that have undergone expansion in this region. Some states and crops showing large agricultural areas have low emissions associated, especially in southern and eastern Brazil. Native carbon stocks and time of agricultural expansion are the most decisive factors to the patterns of emissions. Some implications on LUC estimation methods and standards and on agri-environmental policies are discussed.
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| 5. |
- Barbosa, E.A., et al.
(författare)
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Quality improvement and geographical indication of cachaça (Brazilian spirit) by using locally selected yeast strains
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Applied Microbiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1365-2672 .- 1364-5072. ; 121:4, s. 1038-1051
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims In order to improve the quality and to create a biological basis for obtainment of the protected denomination of origin (PDO), indigenous yeast were isolated and characterized for use in Salinas city (the Brazilian region of quality cachaça production). Material and methods Seven thousand and two hundred yeast colonies from 15 Salinas city distilleries were screened based on their fermentative behaviour and the physicochemical composition of cachaça. Molecular polymorphic analyses were performed to characterize these isolates. Results Two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (nos. 678 and 680) showed appropriate characteristics to use in the cachaça production: low levels of acetaldehyde and methanol, and high ethyl lactate/ethyl acetate ratio respectively. They also presented polymorphic characteristics more closely related between themselves even when compared to other strains from Salinas. Conclusions The application of selected yeast to cachaça production can contribute for the improvement of the quality product as well as be used as a natural marker for PDO. Significance and Impact of the Study This study suggests that the use of selected yeast strains could contribute to obtain a cachaça similar to those produced traditionally, while getting wide acceptation in the market, yet presenting more homogeneous organoleptic characteristics, and thus contributing to the PDO implementation.
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| 6. |
- Bartoli, A., et al.
(författare)
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Coupling economic and GHG emission accounting models to evaluate the sustainability of biogas policies
- 2019
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Ingår i: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. - : Elsevier. - 1364-0321 .- 1879-0690. ; 106, s. 133-148
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study is to evaluate and quantify the impacts of different biogas and related policies on the agricultural sector as well as their performance in terms of climate change mitigation and associated costs. To do so we coupled the partial equilibrium approach simulating the market clearing process with the perspective of Life Cycle Assessment of GHG applying it to the well-documented Lombardy case. Results show that the recent Italian biogas policy – prompting manure utilization and reducing the average subsidy per kWh – effectively increased the environmental sustainability of the system, which only now seems able to counteract global warming. Synergies are observed when the recent Common Agricultural Policy greening reform is simultaneously considered by the model.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Cowie, A. L., et al.
(författare)
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Quantifying the climate effects of forest-based bioenergy
- 2018
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Ingår i: Managing Global Warming: An Interface of Technology and Human Issues. - : Elsevier. - 9780128141052 - 9780128141045 ; , s. 399-418
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Bioenergy is a key strategy for climate change mitigation in many national and international climate change and renewable energy policies. However, over recent years, claims have been made that forest-based bioenergy can lead to losses in forest carbon (sometimes referred to as "carbon debt") and, thus, their effectiveness at mitigating climate change has been questioned. Climate impacts of forest bioenergy are dependent on a range of case-specific factors, including biophysical features of the biomass-production system and GHG intensity of the energy source it displaces, which are largely determined by the location of the bioenergy project. Estimates of climate impacts are also strongly affected by methodological choices and assumptions, related to reference land use, spatial and temporal system boundary, allocation procedures, time horizon of assessment, metrics applied, and climate forces considered. In this chapter, these key issues are discussed and recommendations are provided for carrying out appropriate and comprehensive assessments of climate impacts of forest bioenergy systems.
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| 9. |
- Dale, Virginia H., et al.
(författare)
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Status and prospects for renewable energy using wood pellets from the southeastern United States
- 2017
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Ingår i: Global Change Biology Bioenergy. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1757-1693 .- 1757-1707. ; 9:8, s. 1296-1305
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The ongoing debate about costs and benefits of wood-pellet based bioenergy production in the southeastern United States (SE USA) requires an understanding of the science and context influencing market decisions associated with its sustainability. Production of pellets has garnered much attention as US exports have grown from negligible amounts in the early 2000s to 4.6 million metric tonnes in 2015. Currently, 98% of these pellet exports are shipped to Europe to displace coal in power plants. We ask, 'How is the production of wood pellets in the SE USA affecting forest systems and the ecosystem services they provide?' To address this question, we review current forest conditions and the status of the wood products industry, how pellet production affects ecosystem services and biodiversity, and what methods are in place to monitor changes and protect vulnerable systems. Scientific studies provide evidence that wood pellets in the SE USA are a fraction of total forestry operations and can be produced while maintaining or improving forest ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are protected by the requirement to utilize loggers trained to apply scientifically based best management practices in planning and implementing harvest for the export market. Bioenergy markets supplement incomes to private rural landholders and provide an incentive for forest management practices that simultaneously benefit water quality and wildlife and reduce risk of fire and insect outbreaks. Bioenergy also increases the value of forest land to landowners, thereby decreasing likelihood of conversion to nonforest uses. Monitoring and evaluation are essential to verify that regulations and good practices are achieving goals and to enable timely responses if problems arise. Conducting rigorous research to understand how conditions change in response to management choices requires baseline data, monitoring, and appropriate reference scenarios. Long-term monitoring data on forest conditions should be publicly accessible and utilized to inform adaptive management.
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