Papers by Marco Trifuoggi
Sustainability, Mar 15, 2024
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Social Science Research Network, 2022
Expert Systems with Applications, 2014
ABSTRACT In the present study, performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been modeled using th... more ABSTRACT In the present study, performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been modeled using three potential artificial intelligence (AI) methods such as multi-gene genetic programming (MGGP), artificial neural network and support vector regression. The effect of two input factors namely, temperature and ferrous sulfate concentrations on the output voltage were studied independently during two operating conditions (before and after start-up) using the three AI models. The data is randomly divided into training and testing samples containing 80% and 20% sets respectively and then trained and tested by three AI models. Based on the input factor, the proposed AI models predict output voltage of MFC at two operating conditions. Out of three methods, the MGGP method not only evolve model with better generalization ability but also represents an explicit relationship between the output voltage and input factors of MFC. The models generated by MGGP approach have shown an excellent potential to predict the performance of MFC and can be used to gain better insights into the performance of MFC.
Environments
Drinking water, in addition to the best-known chemical and biological agents, contains radionucli... more Drinking water, in addition to the best-known chemical and biological agents, contains radionuclides of both natural and artificial origin, which can contribute significantly to the overall effective dose received by the population. The Italian Decree Law 28/2016, implementing the 2013/51/EURATOM Directive, establishes the activities for risk management and the parameter values for different radionuclide activity concentrations. In addition to the institutions involved, the National Inspectorate for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ISIN) annually publishes monitoring reports of environmental radioactivity in Italy, including radioactivity in drinking water. The purpose of the study was to integrate ISIN reports with 2018–2020 data by collecting measurements performed by institutional laboratories to obtain more complete information and adding, for the Campania region, some data not yet published. This new updated report was not significantly different from ISIN’s one, meanin...
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, May 18, 2023
Environmental pollutants are claimed to be major factors involved in the progressive decline of t... more Environmental pollutants are claimed to be major factors involved in the progressive decline of the fertility rate worldwide. Exposure to the heavy metal Cadmium (Cd) has been associated with reproductive toxicity due to its ionic mimicry. However, the possible direct accumulation of Cd in human sperm cells has been poorly investigated. In this study, we aimed to clarify the possible direct effect of Cd exposure on sperm function through the analysis of its cell accumulation. Semen samples from 30 male subjects residing in high environmental impact areas and adhering to the "Exposoma e Plurifocalità nella Prevenzione Oncologica" campaign for testis cancer prevention were compared with semen samples from 15 males residing in low exposure areas. Semen levels and cell Cd content were quantified by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy. Cell Cd distribution was assessed by scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The impact of Cd on sperm function was evaluated by the in vitro exposure to the heavy metal, whilst possible scavenging approaches/agents were assessed. In addition to higher values of semen Cd, exposed subjects showed a reduction in total motile sperm fraction compared to not-exposed controls (59.6% ± 13.6% vs. 66.3% ± 7.3%, p = 0.037). Semen Cd levels were also significantly correlated with SEM-EDS signals of Cd detected on the head and neck of sperm (respectively p = 0.738, p < 0.001 and ρ = 0.465, p < 0.001). A total of 2 h of in vitro exposure to 0.5 μM Cd was associated with a significant reduction of sperm progressive motility. Scavenging approaches with either hypo-osmotic swelling or 10 μM reduced glutathione were ineffective in blunting cell Cd and restoring motility. The reduction of exposure levels appears to be the main approach to reducing the reproductive issues associated with Cd.
Journal of Cleaner Production, Jul 1, 2023
Research Square (Research Square), Jan 24, 2022
Bisphenol S (BP-S) is one of the most important substitutes of bisphenol A (BP-A), and its enviro... more Bisphenol S (BP-S) is one of the most important substitutes of bisphenol A (BP-A), and its environmental occurrence is predicted to intensify in the future. Both BP-A and BP-S were tested for adverse effects on early life stages of Arbacia lixula sea urchins at 0.1 up to 100 µM test concentrations, by evaluating developmental and cytogenetic toxicity endpoints. Embryonic malformations and/or mortality were scored to determine embryotoxicity (72 h post-fertilization, p-f). Cytogenetic toxicity was measured as mitotic activity endpoints and chromosome aberrations score in embryos (6 h p-f). Both BP-A and BP-S exposures induced embryotoxic effects from 2.5 to 100 µM test concentrations as compared to controls. Malformed embryo percentages following BP-A exposure were signi cantly higher than in BP-S-exposed embryos from 0.25 µM to 100 µM (with a ~5-fold difference). BP-A, not BP-S exhibited cytogenetic anomalies at 25 and 100 µM. Our results indicate an embryotoxic potential of bisphenols during critical periods of development with a potent rank order to BP-A vs. BP-S.
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Apr 22, 2021
This work describes the use of simple zinc(II) salts (ZnCl2, ZnCO3, Zn(OAc)2, ZnO, Zn(ClO4)2, Zn(... more This work describes the use of simple zinc(II) salts (ZnCl2, ZnCO3, Zn(OAc)2, ZnO, Zn(ClO4)2, Zn(TfO)2, and Zn(BF4)2) as effective catalysts for the esterification of fatty acids with long-chain alcohols and simple polyols through a homogeneous system that allows the gradual and selective removal of water. The results show that the catalytic activity depends on the nature of the counterion: the most effective are the salts with poorly coordinating anions (perchlorate and triflate) or containing basic Brønsted anions (oxide, acetate, and carbonate). However, only with the latter is it possible to fully recover the catalyst at the end of each run, which is easily filtered in the form of zinc carboxylate, given its insolubility in the ester produced. In this way, it is possible to recycle the catalyst numerous times, without any loss of activity. This beneficial prerogative couples the efficiency of the homogeneous catalysis with the advantage of the heterogeneous catalysis. The process is, therefore, truly sustainable, given its high efficiency, low energy consumption, ease of purification, and the absence of auxiliary substances and byproducts.
Chemosphere, Mar 1, 2019
h i g h l i g h t s Plants, intercepting and filtering air particulate, improve air quality. Cd, ... more h i g h l i g h t s Plants, intercepting and filtering air particulate, improve air quality. Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb in Q. ilex leaves exceeded the chemical fingerprint. Cu was linked to the water-soluble leaf deposit, whereas Cd to leaf cuticle. High leaf width, low leaf area, short petiole favoured metal accumulation. The investigated elements showed different uptake.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Jul 20, 2023
The decomposition process of poultry manure is generally mediated by microorganisms, whose degrad... more The decomposition process of poultry manure is generally mediated by microorganisms, whose degradation activity has beneficial effects on soil fertility but, on the other hand, leads to the generation of malodour gas. Indeed, a relevant problem of poultry farms is represented by the release of bad smells, which are mainly a consequence of decomposition process of chicken feces, chicken bedding, plumes, dropped feed, and dust. Furthermore, the unpleasant odour, associated with poultry manure degradation, not only limits its use in agriculture but also negatively affects the housing communities located near the farms. This study aimed at evaluating the effects in vitro of different doses of Effective Microorganisms (EM), mainly consisting of live communities of lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, and yeasts, on poultry manure alone or with zeolite, a porous mineral with absorbent and ion-exchange properties, belonging to the family of aluminosilicates. The obtained results demonstrated that these treatments were able to reduce the poultry manure malodours, associated mainly with a decrease in the ammonia (NH 3) levels with respect to controls. The pH tended to increase, the nitrogen to go down, and the phosphorus to go up. Thus, all the effects described above were evident, testifying to a slower degradation of proteins, both with EM alone or in combination with zeolite. The presence of a pool of pesticides (65 components) was evaluated, and no variation was observed in the different experimental conditions versus control, as well as for REEs and metals. In conclusion, these preliminary results demonstrated that the use of EM with or without the addition of zeolite is a valid tool to eliminate the bad smell of manure and to make it a useful product as a fertilizer.
Molecular Biotechnology, Oct 15, 2008
Little is known about pharmaceutical and personal care products pollutants (PPCPs), but there is ... more Little is known about pharmaceutical and personal care products pollutants (PPCPs), but there is a growing interest in how they might impact the environment and microbial communities. The widespread use of Viagra (sildenafil citrate) has attracted great attention because of the high usage rate, the unpredictable disposal and the unknown potential effects on wildlife and the environment. Until now information regarding the impact of Viagra on microbial community in water environment has not been reported. In this research, for the first time, the genetic profile of the microbial community, developing in a Viagra polluted water environment, was evaluated by means of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes, for bacteria and fungi, respectively, amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and separated using the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) technique. The DGGE results revealed a complex microbial community structure with most of the population persisting throughout the experimental period. DNA sequences from bands observed in the different denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles exhibited the highest degree of identity to uncultured bacteria and fungi found previously mainly in polluted environmental and treating bioreactors. Biotransformation ability of sildenafil citrate by the microbial pool was studied and the capability of these microorganisms to detoxify a polluted water ecosystem was assessed. The bacterial and fungal population was able to degrade sildenafil citrate entirely. Additionally, assays conducted on Daphnia magna, algal growth inhibition assay and cell viability determination on HepG2 human cells showed that biotransformation products obtained from the bacterial growth was not toxic. The higher removal efficiency for sildenafil citrate and the lack of toxicity by the biotransformation products obtained showed that the microbial community identified here represented a composite population that might have biotechnological relevance to retrieve sildenafil citrate contaminated sites.
Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology, Apr 6, 2007
ABSTRACT (Nb2O5) x ·(SiO2)1−x gels of four different compositions with x=0.025 (2.5Nb), 0.050 (5N... more ABSTRACT (Nb2O5) x ·(SiO2)1−x gels of four different compositions with x=0.025 (2.5Nb), 0.050 (5Nb), 0,10 (10Nb) and 0.20 (20Nb) were synthesized at room temperature from niobium penta-chloride and tetra-ethoxysilane and their structural evolution with the temperature was examined by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis, Raman and IR spectroscopy (Fourier transform). The synthesis procedure tuned in this work allowed to obtain for each studied composition transparent chemical gels in which the niobium dispersion resulted to be strongly dependent on the Nb2O5 loading: it was on the atomic scale for the 2.5Nb and 5Nb gel samples whereas the gel structure of the 10Nb and 20Nb appears formed by phase separated niobia-silica nanodomains. All dried gels keep their amorphous nature up to 873K, while at higher temperatures crystallization of T- and H-Nb2O5 polymorphs were observed according to the Nb2O5 loading: at low loading T-Nb2O5 was the main crystallising phase, whereas at higher one the H-Nb2O5 prevails. Particularly, T-Nb2O5 was the sole crystallising phase in the whole explored temperature range for the 2.5Nb, keeping its nanosize up to 1273K for all samples except for the 20Nb.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Mar 18, 2023
Pharmaceuticals can be considered a global threat to aquatic ecosystems due to their pseudo-persi... more Pharmaceuticals can be considered a global threat to aquatic ecosystems due to their pseudo-persistence and their potential toxicity towards non-target species. Amoxicillin (AMX) and carbamazepine (CBZ) and their mixture (1:1) were investigated on the marine copepod Tigriopus fulvus (Fischer, 1860) considering both acute and chronic endpoints. While acute and chronic exposure did not directly affect survival, reproductive endpoints were affected like the mean egg hatching time that was significantly longer than the negative control for treatments with AMX (0.789 ± 0.079 μg/L), CBZ (8.88 ± 0.89 μg/L), and AMX and CMZ as a mixture (1.03 ± 0.10 μg/L and 0.941 ± 0.094 μg/L), in that order.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Nov 1, 2017
Most of the literature reports on the impact of the former Bagnoli brownfield on the pollution of... more Most of the literature reports on the impact of the former Bagnoli brownfield on the pollution of Bagnoli Bay, embedded in the Gulf of Pozzuoli (GoP). Thus, we studied concentrations, types and sources of sixteen PAHs (EPA) in sediments at 22 sites along 5 transects covering the entire area of GoP. Outstanding levels of PAHs were found, varying from 7.1μgg(-1) to 2.5 E+3μgg(-1). Sediments collected at sites far away from Bagnoli were found to be polluted to a similar extent than those facing the brownfield site, with values&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;100μgg(-1). Total PAHs levels in the sediments of GoP were higher by thirty-eleven thousand fold than those reported by other studies from various marine sites in the world. Transit axes of fine and very fine sands and diagnostic indexes revealed a common pyrolytic PAHs pollution spreading from the Bagnoli plant to all GoP.
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Papers by Marco Trifuoggi