Recent progress in passive radiative cooling technologies has substantially improved cooling performance under direct sunlight. Yet, experimental demonstrations of daytime radiative cooling still ...severely underperform in comparison with the theoretical potential due to considerable solar absorption and poor thermal insulation at the emitter. In this work, we developed polyethylene aerogel (PEA)-a solar-reflecting (92.2% solar weighted reflectance at 6 mm thick), infrared-transparent (79.9% transmittance between 8 and 13 μm at 6 mm thick), and low-thermal-conductivity (
= 28 mW/mK) material that can be integrated with existing emitters to address these challenges. Using an experimental setup that includes the custom-fabricated PEA, we demonstrate a daytime ambient temperature cooling power of 96 W/m
and passive cooling up to 13°C below ambient temperature around solar noon. This work could greatly improve the performance of existing passive radiative coolers for air conditioning and portable refrigeration applications.
•Lowest overheating achieved with self-cooling based on a microchannel heat sink.•High dissipation with minimum pumping power.•Lower global thermal resistance with shorter thermoelements and bigger ...cross-section.•Practical limit: Thermoelements length should not 20 times smaller than cross-section.•Cooling capability highly affected by the efficiency of the DC/DC converter.
Due to the development of high-performance electronic devices, there exists a continuous need for effective and efficient cooling systems capable of removing large amounts of heat. A thermoelectric self-cooling system with forced air cooling based on a finned plate heat sink (case-a) and a water cooling based on a microchannel heat sink (case-b) is evaluated through a thermodynamic model. This article investigates the effect of the thermoelement geometry concerning its length and cross-section on the cooling capability of a self-cooling system for a wide range of heat fluxes (10 W to 200 W). Also, the effect of the efficiency related to the DC/DC converter between the thermoelectric generator and pumping devices is included in the analyses. The results show that shorter thermoelements with bigger cross-sections contribute to lower global thermal resistance and lower overheating of the electronic device. However, through the aspect ratio of the thermoelements (δ = cross-section/length), a practical limit was found defining how much shorter the thermoelement must be to satisfy a temperature constraint through the self-cooling condition for different fill factors, which corresponds to δ≤20. Beyond this limit, the performance of the self-cooling system is affected by the low conversion of heat into electricity used to run the pumping devices. The results also demonstrate for δ = 20 and fill factor equal to 0.95, that the temperature constraint (373 K) is satisfied for a heat flux equal to 124 W (case-a) and 173 W (case-b) when the efficiency of the DC/DC converter is 10%. Instead, a DC/DC converter with the highest efficiency (95%) rises the heat flux to 161 W (case-a) and 200 W (case-b), satisfying the constraint. Finally, this article summarizes the maximum heat flux for different thermoelements aspect ratios (δ ≤ 20) and fill factors where the self-cooling system for both cases satisfies a temperature constraint.
The growing complexity of the logistics chain, the need to take on an ever longer and distributed logistic chain, which in some cases even reaches the final stages of the production of the same ...goods, highlights the problem of managing the post-production phases of products and goods, but also of the personnel who work on these activities, charged to the companies that deal with logistics. We present in this paper the Integrated Logistic Platform (ILP 4.0), a software architectural model, whose purpose is to lead warehouse logistics to new levels of efficiency, not reachable as the sum of the operational functions within a single logistic company, but reachable only through a unique and cross-functional system, which surpasses the usual fragmented vision and consequent approaches, in favor a strategic coordination of all activities. In this paper it is described the general architecture of the realized platform, with its research contributions and innovations, in particular related to some typical problems of warehouse environments, solved with the help of machine learning and computer vision approaches, but also with the integration of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) devices. The aim of the integration of these technologies in the project is the definition of a “smart” warehouse model environment, capable of mitigate problems of warehouse logistics such as: automation of the inventory process (through an UAV), control of warehouse movements, and management of logical / physical security of the premises. Based on the experiences made on the project, and focusing the attention on the safety and security aspects in logistics, that the platform covers, we discuss further a possible federated learning approach in order to mitigate the lack of data in order to solve some security and safety problems in the logistic area.
RadioLab is an Italian project, addressed to school-age people, and designed for the dissemination of scientific culture on the theme of environmental radioactivity, with particular regards to the ...importance of knowledge of radon gas exposure. The project is a nationwide initiative promoted by the National Institute of Nuclear Physics- INFN. First tool used by the project, and of immediate impact to assess the public awareness on radon, is the administration of the survey "do you know the radon gas?". In the survey, together with the knowledge of radon and of its sources, information on personal, cultural and territorial details regarding the interviewees are also taken. Reasonably, the survey invests not only young people, but also their relatives, school workers and, gradually, the public. The survey is administrated during exhibitions or outreach events devoted to schools, but also open to the public. The survey is in dual form: printed and online. The online mode clearly leads RadioLab project even outside the school environment. Based on the results of the survey, several statistical analyses have been performed and many conclusions are drawn about the knowledge of the population on the radon risk. The RadioLab benefit and the requirement to carry on the project goals, spreading awareness of environmental radioactivity from radon, emerge. The dataset involves all twenty Italian regions and consists of 28,612 entries covering the 5-year period 2018-2022.
STORM project was the best opportunity to cope with the challenge of merging computer and communication technologies with human and cultural oriented practices in conservation and restoration. The ...result of this powerful synergy between these two approaches (technology and CH needs) in view of mitigating effects on cultural heritage, is expected to enormously increase the mitigation of the damages created by climate change disasters. The main question, coming from the experience gained, is how we can capitalize the acquired expertise in the future. This will probably be done using strategies which could rely on local financial support and the possibility to have advanced regulations provided by local authorities. Communication between different actors will play a major role in the future achievements: the project faced a big challenge in establishing good communication among different competences so to say that now, after a three year project, it should be great to start a new experience counting on the level of friendship and communication achieved during the STORM project. But communication is also the key element of emergency management. The recent event which affected the Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris, 15/04/2019), was a matter of discussion between STORM partners and during those discussion we concluded that probably the proper preparedness was not in place. Preparedness could have dramatically reduced the reaction time and the effectiveness of intervention after a disaster. As a final though we are convinced that new professions could grow from the project experience, starting from cultural heritage experts such as conservators, restorers, archaeologists, architects, art historian involving specific branches of engineering; that could create new job opportunities for all those people provided that they will receive the proper education and practice experience..
The objective of this study was to develop a new chestnut-based puree, in order to seasonally adjust the offer and use the surplus of undersized production, providing, at the same time, a response to ...the growing demand for healthy and environmentally friendly products. Broken dried chestnuts have been employed to prepare purees to be fermented with six different strains of Lactobacillus (Lb.) rhamnosus and Lactobacillus casei. The fermented purees were characterized by a technological and sensorial point of view, while the employed strains were tested for their probiotic potential. Conventional in vitro tests have indicated the six lactobacilli strains as promising probiotic candidates; moreover, being the strains able to grow and to survive in chestnut puree at a population level higher than 8 log10 CFU/mL along 40days of storage at 4°C, the bases for the production of a new food, lactose-free and with reduced fat content, have been laid.
► Procedure for the production of a puree from chestnuts was developed. ► Purees were fermented with six different Lactobacillus rhamnosus and casei strains. ► Fermented purees were characterized by a technological and sensorial point of view. ► Strains employed for fermentation were tested for probiotic potential by in vitro tests. ► The protocol for the production of a new functional food was developed.
Cost of care of haemophilia with inhibitors MINNO, M. N. D. DI; MINNO, G. DI; CAPUA, M. DI ...
Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia,
01/2010, Letnik:
16, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
In Western countries, the treatment of patients with inhibitors is presently the most challenging and serious issue in haemophilia management, direct costs of clotting factor concentrates accounting ...for >98% of the highest economic burden absorbed for the healthcare of patients in this setting. Being designed to address questions of resource allocation and effectiveness, decision models are the golden standard to reliably assess the overall economic implications of haemophilia with inhibitors in terms of mortality, bleeding‐related morbidity, and severity of arthropathy. However, presently, most data analyses stem from retrospective short‐term evaluations, that only allow for the analysis of direct health costs. In the setting of chronic diseases, the cost‐utility analysis, that takes into account the beneficial effects of a given treatment/healthcare intervention in terms of health‐related quality of life, is likely to be the most appropriate approach. To calculate net benefits, the quality adjusted life year, that significantly reflects such health gain, has to be compared with specific economic impacts. Differences in data sources, in medical practice and/or in healthcare systems and costs, imply that most current pharmacoeconomic analyses are confined to a narrow healthcare payer perspective. Long‐term/lifetime prospective or observational studies, devoted to a careful definition of when to start a treatment; of regimens (dose and type of product) to employ, and of inhibitor population (children/adults, low‐responding/high responding inhibitors) to study, are thus urgently needed to allow for newer insights, based on reliable data sources into resource allocation, effectiveness and cost‐utility analysis in the treatment of haemophiliacs with inhibitors.
The anatomic extent of brain stem damage may provide information about clinical outcome and prognosis in children with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and oral motor dysfunction. The aim of this ...study was to retrospectively characterize the location and extent of brain stem lesions in children with oral motor dysfunction. From January 2005 to August 2009, 43 infants hospitalized at our institution were included in the study because of a history of hypoxic-ischemic events. Of this group, 14 patients showed oral motor dysfunction and brain stem tegmental lesions detected at MR imaging. MR imaging showed hypoxic-ischemic lesions in supra- and infratentorial areas. Six of 14 patients revealed only infratentorial lesions. Focal symmetric lesions of the tegmental brain stem were always present. The lesions appeared hyperintense on T2-weighted images and hypointense on IR images. We found a strong association (P < .0001) between oral motor dysfunction and infratentorial lesions on MR imaging. Oral motor dysfunction was associated with brain stem tegmental lesions in posthypoxic-ischemic infants. The MR imaging examination should be directed to the brain stem, especially when a condition of prolonged gavage feeding is necessary in infants.
Absence Status epilepticus (AS) is a form of Non Convulsive Status Epilepticus defined as a prolonged, generalized and non-convulsive seizure, with an altered content of consciousness. We aim to ...describe a group of healthy children, who presented recurrent and unprovoked de novo AS as the only manifestation of their epilepsy, with an excellent response to antiepileptic drugs.
We retrospectively reviewed the electroclinical and genetic features of 13 pediatric patients, referring to our epilepsy centers from 2005 to 2019, on the following criteria: (1) regular psychomotor development, (2) one or more unprovoked AS as the only epileptic manifestation, (3) normal blood testing, (4) normal neuroimaging, (5) EEG recording, (6) available follow-up (1–14 years).
Patients are 7 females and 6 males, aged 7–22, with a mean age at AS onset of 9,3 years. All of them started an antiepileptic therapy, with an excellent response to Valproic Acid (VPA) or Ethosuximide (ETS). 5 patients did not start the therapy immediately after the first AS and they presented recurrent AS (from 2 to 4 episodes). 10 of them performed aCGH, karyotype, NGS panel or Whole Exome Sequencing.
We suggest that de novo AS may be a well-defined age-related and self-limited epilepsy syndrome, with a good prognosis and excellent response to therapy, but it comes with a high risk of relapsing if not adequately treated with antiepileptic drugs.
During endocytosis, clathrin and the clathrin adaptor protein AP-2 (ref. 1), assisted by a variety of accessory factors, help to generate an invaginated bud at the cell membrane,. One of these ...factors is Eps15, a clathrin-coat-associated protein that binds the α-adaptin subunit of AP-2 (refs 4-8). Here we investigate the function of Eps15 by characterizing an important binding partner for its region containing EH domains; this protein, epsin, is closely related to the Xenopus mitotic phosphoprotein MP90 (ref. 10) and has a ubiquitous tissue distribution. It is concentrated together with Eps15 in presynaptic nerve terminals, which are sites specialized for the clathrin-mediated endocytosis of synaptic vesicles. The central region of epsin binds AP-2 and its carboxy-terminal region binds Eps15. Epsin is associated with clathrin coats in situ, can be co-precipitated with AP-2 and Eps15 from brain extracts, but does not co-purify with clathrin coat components in a clathrin-coated vesicle fraction. When epsin function is disrupted, clathrin-mediated endocytosis is blocked. We propose that epsin may participate, together with Eps15, in the molecular rearrangement of the clathrin coats that are required for coated-pit invagination and vesicle fission.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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