Influence of policymakers and civil society stakeholders on sewage sludge management strategies: Empirical results from European utilities.

Sewage sludge management is crucial for water utilities to move towards a circular valorisation of resources. The current literature focuses mainly on the technological aspects of sludge management strategies. However, the current discussion of these strategies does not consider possible pressures arising from the utilities' civil society stakeholders and from policymakers. To fill this gap, this paper develops a conceptual framework, based on the current literature, that identifies the utility's key decisions on sludge management strategies (valorisation route, overperformance and vertical integration), and links them to possible pressures arising from civil society and existing regulations. Subsequently, the study validates the framework through a multiple explanatory case study, investigating the empirical relevance of such pressures in six water utilities across Europe. The influence of citizens and municipalities is found to be crucial in the choice of sludge valorisation routes. Economic instruments, command and control instruments and, new to the literature, regulatory uncertainty are found to be key policy features influencing utilities' decisions on sludge management. The paper provides a first-of-its-kind investigation that highlights the mechanisms through which policymakers and civil society stakeholders shape utilities' sewage sludge management strategies. The results complement and extend existing theoretical knowledge on the role of institutional pressures in the implementation of sustainable environmental systems.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in three bathyal chondrichthyes from the North-Western Mediterranean Sea.

The deep-sea can act as a sink for legacy contaminants such as organochlorines (OCs), causing damages in its inhabitants for their persistence and their prolonged effects in the organisms. HCB, DDT and its isomers, and 28 PCBs congeners were detected in muscle and embryonic tissues of three deep-sea chondrichthyes Chimaera monstrosa (n = 16), Dalatias licha (n = 12) and Etmopterus spinax (n = 51) sampled in Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). Contaminant distribution in E. spinax and C. monstrosa was PCBs > DDTs â‰« HCB while in D. licha was DDTs > PCBs â‰« HCB. Statistically significant differences were highlighted in OC levels among the species, but no such differences were found among sexes. Ratios between DDT isomers highlighted an historical input of the pesticide in the environment. For the first time was also demonstrated maternal transfer in deep water chondrichthyes, specifically in E. spinax where was highlighted that transfer of contaminants increases with increasing compound's Log Kow.

Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in the Muscle of the Blackmouth Catshark Galeus melastomus from Mediterranean Waters.

Environmental pollution, particularly in the marine environment, has become a significant concern due to the increasing presence of pollutants and their adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. This study focuses on the bioaccumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of the blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) from different areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Trace elements are of interest due to their persistence, toxicity, and potential for bioaccumulation. This research aims to assess the distribution and accumulation of trace elements in the muscle tissue of G. melastomus and investigate their potential impact on the deep-sea environment of the Mediterranean. The focused areas include the Ligurian Sea, the northern and central Tyrrhenian Sea, the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, the Ionian Sea, the Pantelleria Waters, and the Gela Waters. Samples were collected following established protocols, and trace element analysis was conducted using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The study provides data on the concentrations of 17 trace elements, namely aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, zinc, selenium, strontium, lead, chromium, iron, barium, bismuth, and uranium. The findings contribute to a better understanding of trace element bioaccumulation patterns in elasmobranch species, specifically G. melastomus, and highlight the potential risks associated with chemical contamination in the Mediterranean Sea. This research emphasizes the importance of studying the impacts of pollutants on marine organisms, particularly those occupying key ecological roles, like sharks, to support effective conservation and management strategies.

Diet and Plastic Ingestion in the Blackmouth Catshark Galeus melastomus, Rafinesque 1810, in Italian Waters.

Galeus melastomus is the most common Pentanchidae in the Mediterranean Sea. A scavenger and opportunistic feeder, and despite the wide distribution, little is known about its feeding habits in Italian waters. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the diet of the blackmouth catshark by analysing the stomach contents. The specimens analysed were obtained from five populations of the Tyrrhenian and of the Ionian Seas, collected from a depth between 40 and 700 m. A total of 259 stomachs were analysed. The stomach contents were grouped into macro-categories and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. Crustaceans such as Parapenaeus longirostris, the Cephalopods Heteroteuthis dispar and Onychoteuthis banksii, and Osteichthyes, mostly Myctophidae, were identified. Plastic debris was also found among the stomach contents and classified according to its colour and shape. Osteichthyes represent the most abundant item (44%), above all the Myctophidae family, except for the catshark population from Tuscany, in which the most frequent species were Cephalopods, such as Abralia veranyi and Heteroteuthis dispar. Differences in the plastic debris contents were also observed between the Tuscany population and other populations. These could be explained as a probable consequence of the different depths at which the blackmouth catshark populations were sampled.

Efficiency of consumer behaviour and digital ecosystem in the generation of the plastic waste toward the circular economy.

A circular economy can help reduce the impact of plastic waste using reaction, resilient, and digital approaches. In addition, it can facilitate reducing plastic consumption. In this regard, consumer behaviour and digitalization are deemed to be two main factors that play major roles in the implementation of a circular economy of plastic waste. The idea of this paper is to understand the relevance of consumer behaviour and digital ecosystem efficiency on plastic waste at the country level. Hence, the efficiency of eight European countries in the generation of plastic waste was analysed using international databases and the statistical method of receiver operation characteristic (ROC). For this purpose, the dependent actual state variables were defined as plastic waste generations, and the independent test variables were defined as digital ecosystem and consumer behaviour factors. ROC plots for the determination of the area under the curve (AUC) indices were produced between the mentioned state and test variables. The results revealed that consumer behaviour increases the higher generation of plastic waste (AUC >0.6), indicating that consumer behaviours have high effectiveness on the generation of plastic waste in European countries. Furthermore, the results indicated that the digital ecosystem has a controlling role in the generation of plastic waste in the study area (AUC <0.5), indicating the digital ecosystem factors associated with the low generation of plastic waste. The overall consumer behaviour in the selected European countries showed an unskilled role regarding the higher generation of plastic waste, while the digital ecosystem context showed a mitigating role in decreasing plastic pollution. The confirmation of the research hypotheses leads to some managerial propositions for the circular economy of plastic waste in the area of consumer behaviour and digitalization. The results propose an elaborated framework, including a reduction in waste generation, recycling in waste circulation, recovery in waste valorization, and efficiency in resource consumption by the digitalization of design technology and education in consumer behaviour for the circular management of plastic waste.

Students' perspective of the teaching-learning process of oral radiology before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) pandemic changed the educational structure of dentistry courses and highlighted the importance of online tools. Understanding students' perception regarding these changes is essential to establishing future teaching-learning strategies to accommodate students' needs in higher education. The aim of this study was to assess students' perceptions of the Oral Radiology teachinglearning process before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of students (n = 111) of the 2nd, 4th and 6th semesters of the dentistry course, who answered a questionnaire with 21 items: A) Students' demographic data (5 questions); B) Students' teaching-learning experiences during the pre-pandemic period (8 questions); and C) Students' teaching-learning experiences during the post-pandemic period (8 questions). Stuart-Maxwell tests revealed statistically significant differences between students' opinions before and during the pandemic when they were asked about the structure of the Oral Radiology module (p = 0.008); their previous experience with e-learning and teaching (p < 0.001); their thoughts about the importance of e-learning in Oral Radiology (p < 0.05); and the time they spent online for academic purposes (p < 0.05). Students seem to prefer on-campus activities (before COVID-19), but the pandemic increased their awareness of the importance of e-learning, the time they spent on online studies, and their knowledge of online educational tools.

A pandemia de SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) mudou a estrutura educacional dos cursos de odontologia e destacou a importância das ferramentas online. Compreender a percepção dos alunos sobre as mudanças vivenciadas é essencial para estabelecer futuras estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem e acomodar as necessidades dos alunos no ensino superior. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a percepção dos alunos sobre o processo de ensino-aprendizagem de Radiologia Odontológica antes e durante a pandemia de COVID-19. A amostra foi composta por alunos (n = 111) do 2º, 4º e 6º semestres do curso de odontologia que responderam a um questionário com 21 itens: A) Dados demográficos dos alunos (5 questões); B) Experiências de ensino-aprendizagem dos alunos no período pré-pandemia (8 questões); e C) Experiências de ensino-aprendizagem dos alunos no período pós-pandemia (8 questões). Os testes de Stuart-Maxwell revelaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as opiniões dos alunos antes e durante as pandemias quando questionados sobre a estrutura do módulo de Radiologia Odontológica (p = 0,008); sua experiência anterior com ensino a distância (p < 0,001); seus pensamentos relacionados à importância da Radiologia Odontológica via e-learning (p < 0,05); e o tempo gasto online para fins acadêmicos (p < 0,05). Os alunos parecem preferir atividades no campus (antes do COVID-19), mas as pandemias aumentaram sua conscientização sobre a importância do e-learning, seu tempo dedicado aos estudos online e sua familiarização com ferramentas educacionais online.

Students' perspective of the teaching-learning process of oral radiology before and during the COVID-19 pandemic / Perspectiva dos alunos sobre o processo de ensinoaprendizagem em radiologia odontológica antes e durante a pandemia de COVID-19

ABSTRACT The SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) pandemic changed the educational structure of dentistry courses and highlighted the importance of online tools. Understanding students' perception regarding these changes is essential to establishing future teaching-learning strategies to accommodate students' needs in higher education. The aim of this study was to assess students' perceptions of the Oral Radiology teachinglearning process before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of students (n = 111) of the 2nd, 4th and 6th semesters of the dentistry course, who answered a questionnaire with 21 items: A) Students' demographic data (5 questions); B) Students' teaching-learning experiences during the pre-pandemic period (8 questions); and C) Students' teaching-learning experiences during the post-pandemic period (8 questions). Stuart-Maxwell tests revealed statistically significant differences between students' opinions before and during the pandemic when they were asked about the structure of the Oral Radiology module (p = 0.008); their previous experience with e-learning and teaching (p < 0.001); their thoughts about the importance of e-learning in Oral Radiology (p < 0.05); and the time they spent online for academic purposes (p < 0.05). Students seem to prefer on-campus activities (before COVID-19), but the pandemic increased their awareness of the importance of e-learning, the time they spent on online studies, and their knowledge of online educational tools.

RESUMO A pandemia de SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) mudou a estrutura educacional dos cursos de odontologia e destacou a importância das ferramentas online. Compreender a percepção dos alunos sobre as mudanças vivenciadas é essencial para estabelecer futuras estratégias de ensino-aprendizagem e acomodar as necessidades dos alunos no ensino superior. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a percepção dos alunos sobre o processo de ensino-aprendizagem de Radiologia Odontológica antes e durante a pandemia de COVID-19. A amostra foi composta por alunos (n = 111) do 2º, 4º e 6º semestres do curso de odontologia que responderam a um questionário com 21 itens: A) Dados demográficos dos alunos (5 questões); B) Experiências de ensino-aprendizagem dos alunos no período pré-pandemia (8 questões); e C) Experiências de ensino-aprendizagem dos alunos no período pós-pandemia (8 questões). Os testes de Stuart-Maxwell revelaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre as opiniões dos alunos antes e durante as pandemias quando questionados sobre a estrutura do módulo de Radiologia Odontológica (p = 0,008); sua experiência anterior com ensino a distância (p < 0,001); seus pensamentos relacionados à importância da Radiologia Odontológica via e-learning (p < 0,05); e o tempo gasto online para fins acadêmicos (p < 0,05). Os alunos parecem preferir atividades no campus (antes do COVID-19), mas as pandemias aumentaram sua conscientização sobre a importância do e-learning, seu tempo dedicado aos estudos online e sua familiarização com ferramentas educacionais online.