•A thermo-economic analysis of natural gas/biomass fired microturbine is proposed.•Energy efficiency, capex, opex and electricity revenues trade-offs are assessed.•The optimal biomass energy input is ...70% of total CHP consumption.•Industrial/tertiary heat demand and baseload/heat driven operation is assessed.•The main barriers of small scale CHP systems in Italy are overviewed.
This paper proposes a thermo-economic assessment of small scale (100kWe) combined heat and power (CHP) plants fired by natural gas and solid biomass. The focus is on dual fuel gas turbine cycle, where compressed air is heated in a high temperature heat exchanger (HTHE) using the hot gases produced in a biomass furnace, before entering the gas combustion chamber. The hot air expands in the turbine and then feeds the internal pre-heater recuperator, Various biomass/natural gas energy input ratios are modeled, ranging from 100% natural gas to 100% biomass. The research assesses the trade-offs between: (i) lower energy conversion efficiency and higher investment cost of high biomass input rate and (ii) higher primary energy savings and revenues from bio-electricity feed-in tariff in case of high biomass input rate. The influence of fuel mix and biomass furnace temperature on energy conversion efficiencies, primary energy savings and profitability of investments is assessed. The scenarios of industrial vs. tertiary heat demand and baseload vs. heat driven plant operation are also compared. On the basis of the incentives available in Italy for biomass electricity and for high efficiency cogeneration (HEC), the maximum investment profitability is achieved for 70% input biomass percentage. The main barriers of these embedded cogeneration systems in Italy are also discussed.
•Thermo-economic assessments of flexiblenuclear power plants are presented.•Nuclear flexibility is enhanced with thermal energy storage and secondary power generators.•Thermodynamic modelling, design ...and sizing of components of the wider system are performed.•The flexible nuclear power is also integrated into a whole-electricity system model.•The energy system benefits of enhanced flexibility are quantified for a range of scenarios.
The increasing penetration of intermittent renewable power will require additional flexibility from conventional plants, in order to follow the fluctuating renewable output while guaranteeing security of energy supply. In this context, coupling nuclear reactors with thermal energy storage could ensure a more continuous and efficient operation of nuclear power plants, while at other times allowing their operation to become more flexible and cost-effective. This study proposes options for upgrading a 1610-MWel nuclear power plant with the addition of a thermal energy storage system and secondary power generators. The total whole-system benefits of operating the proposed configuration are quantified for several scenarios in the context of the UK’s national electricity system using a whole-system model that minimises the total system costs. The proposed configuration allows the plant to generate up to 2130MWel during peak load, representing an increase of 32% in nominal rated power. This 520MWel of additional power is generated by secondary steam Rankine cycle systems (i.e., with optimised cycle thermal efficiencies of 24% and 30%) and by utilising thermal energy storage tanks with a total heat storage capacity of 1950MWhth. Replacing conventional with flexible nuclear power plants is found to generate whole-system cost savings between £24.3m/yr and £88.9m/yr, with the highest benefit achieved when stored heat is fully discharged in 0.5 h. At an estimated cost of added flexibility of £42.7m/yr, the proposed flexibility upgrades to such nuclear power plants appears to be economically justified with net system benefits ranging from £4.0m/yr to £31.6m/yr for the examined low-carbon scenarios, provided that the number of flexible nuclear plants in the system is small. This suggests that the value of this technology is system dependent, and that system characteristics should be adequately considered when evaluating the benefits of different flexible nuclear plant configurations and choosing the most cost-effective designs and operational characteristics.
Abstract Background Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma, marked by NR4A3 rearrangement. Herein we report on the activity of sunitinib in a series of 10 patients, ...strengthening what initially observed in two cases. Patients and methods From July 2011, 10 patients with progressive metastatic translocated EMC have been consecutively treated with sunitinib 37.5 mg/day, on a named-use basis. In an attempt to interpret the activity of sunitinib in EMC, genotype/phenotype correlations were carried out by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses. Moreover, transcriptome, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses of a limited set of samples were performed focusing on some putative targets of sunitinib. Results Eight of 10 patients are still on therapy. Six patients had a Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) partial response (PR), two were stable, two progressed. Positron emission tomography (PET) was consistent in 6/6 evaluable cases. One patient underwent surgery after sunitinib, with evidence of a pathologic response. At a median follow-up of 8.5 months (range 2–28), no secondary resistance was detected. Median progression free survival (PFS) has not been reached. Interestingly, all responsive cases turned out to express the typical EWSR1 – NR4A3 fusion, while refractory cases carried the alternative TAF15 – NR4A3 fusion. Among putative sunitinib targets, only RET was expressed and activated in analysed samples. Conclusions This report confirms the therapeutic activity of sunitinib in EMC. Genotype/phenotype analyses support a correlation between response and EWSR1 – NR4A3 fusion. Involvement of RET deserves further investigation.
The current treatment paradigm of imatinib-resistant metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) does not incorporate KIT/PDGFRA genotypes in therapeutic drug sequencing, except for PDGFRA exon ...18-mutant GIST that is indicated for avapritinib treatment. Here, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing was used to analyze plasma samples prospectively collected in the phase III VOYAGER trial to understand how the KIT/PDGFRA mutational landscape contributes to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance and to determine its clinical validity and utility.
VOYAGER (N = 476) compared avapritinib with regorafenib in patients with KIT/PDGFRA-mutant GIST previously treated with imatinib and one or two additional TKIs (NCT03465722). KIT/PDGFRA ctDNA mutation profiling of plasma samples at baseline and end of treatment was assessed with 74-gene Guardant360® CDx. Molecular subgroups were determined and correlated with outcomes.
A total of 386/476 patients with KIT/PDGFRA-mutant tumors underwent baseline (pre-trial treatment) ctDNA analysis; 196 received avapritinib and 190 received regorafenib. KIT and PDGFRA mutations were detected in 75.1% and 5.4%, respectively. KIT resistance mutations were found in the activation loop (A-loop; 80.4%) and ATP-binding pocket (ATP-BP; 40.8%); 23.4% had both. An average of 2.6 KIT mutations were detected per patient; 17.2% showed 4-14 different KIT resistance mutations. Of all pathogenic KIT variants, 28.0% were novel, including alterations in exons/codons previously unreported. PDGFRA mutations showed similar patterns. ctDNA-detected KIT ATP-BP mutations negatively prognosticated avapritinib activity, with a median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 1.9 versus 5.6 months for regorafenib. mPFS for regorafenib did not vary regardless of the presence or absence of ATP-BP/A-loop mutants and was greater than mPFS with avapritinib in this population. Secondary KIT ATP-BP pocket mutation variants, particularly V654A, were enriched upon disease progression with avapritinib.
ctDNA sequencing efficiently detects KIT/PDGFRA mutations and prognosticates outcomes in patients with TKI-resistant GIST treated with avapritinib. ctDNA analysis can be used to monitor disease progression and provide more personalized treatment.
•This study comprehensively documents the landscape of KIT and PDGFRA mutations in metastatic, imatinib-resistant GIST.•Selective pressure exerted with prior lines promotes a shift toward increased resistant subpopulations in the KIT A-loop.•Individual mutations in KIT/PDGFRA determine TKI sensitivity and resistance in metastatic GIST.•ctDNA-detected KIT/PDGFRA mutations in imatinib-resistant GIST prognosticate third- or fourth-line TKI treatment outcomes.
A modelling methodology is developed and used to investigate the technoeconomic performance of solar combined cooling, heating and power (S-CCHP) systems based on hybrid PVT collectors. The building ...energy demands are inputs to a transient system model, which couples PVT solar collectors via thermal store to commercial absorption chillers. The real energy demands of the University Campus of Bari, investment costs, relevant electricity and gas prices are used to estimate payback times. The results are compared to: evacuated tube collectors (ETCs) for heating and cooling provision; and a PV-system for electricity provision. A 1.68-MWp S-CCHP system can cover 20.9%, 55.1% and 16.3% of the space-heating, cooling and electrical demands of the Campus, respectively, with roof-space availability being a major limiting factor. The payback time is 16.7 years, 2.7 times higher than that of a PV system. The lack of electricity generation by the ETC-based system limits its profitability, and leads to 2.3 times longer payback time. The environmental benefits arising from the system’s operation are evaluated. The S-CCHP system can displace 911 tons CO2/year (16% and 1.4 × times more than the PV-system and the ETC-based system, respectively). The influence of utility prices on the systems’ economics is analysed. It is found that the sensitivity to these prices is significant.
•Solar system based on novel PVT collectors coupled with commercial absorption chillers.•Analysed case study of a University with real yearly measured energy consumptions.•The influence of utility prices on the economics of the solar systems is analysed.•A payback time of 16.7 years is found vs. 6.1 years of a conventional PV system.•An ETC-based SHC system has 2.3 times higher payback time than the PVT-based one.
Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT-1) is a membrane nucleoside transporter mediating the intracellular uptake of nucleosides and their analogues. hENT-1 was recently reported to have ...a predictive role in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC) patients receiving adjuvant gemcitabine-based chemotherapy, but its biological and clinical significance in iCC remains unsettled. This study investigated the role of hENT-1 in regulating tumour growth and predicting the survival of 40 resected iCC patients not receiving adjuvant treatments. hENT-1 expression was found to be significantly higher in iCC than in the matched non-tumoural liver. Patients harbouring hENT-1 localised on the tumour cell membrane had a worse overall survival than membrane hENT-1–negative patients (median 21.2 months vs 30.3 months, p = 0.031), with an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.8 (95% confidence interval 1.01–7.76). Moreover, membrane hENT-1–positive patients had a higher percentage of Ki67-positive cells in tumour tissue than membrane hENT-1-negative patients (median 23% vs 5%, p < 0.0001). Functional analyses in iCC cell lines revealed that hENT-1 silencing inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HUH-28 cells expressing hENT-1 on the cell membrane, but not in SNU-1079 cells expressing the transporter only in the cytoplasm. Overall, these findings suggest that membrane hENT-1 is involved in iCC proliferation and associated with worse survival in resected iCC patients. Further prospective studies on larger cohorts are required to confirm these results and better define the potential prognostic role of membrane hENT-1 in this setting of patients.
•Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT-1) regulates intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCC) growth.•The mechanism relies on hENT-1 localisation on tumour cell membrane.•Membrane hENT-1 positive patients have higher Ki67-positive tumour cells and worse survival than membrane hENT-1 negative.
•Various solar energy systems for combined heat and power provision are compared.•PVT CHP system has the highest total energy output and emission reduction potential.•PV system has the shortest ...payback time and the lowest levelised cost of energy.•ETC solar-thermal system is economically inviable for the sport centre application.•PVT CHP system attains the highest total cost saving if a carbon price is imposed.
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the energetic, economic and environmental potentials of hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) and conventional solar energy systems for combined heat and power provision. A solar combined heat and power (S-CHP) system based on PVT collectors, a solar-power system based on PV panels, a solar-thermal system based on evacuated tube collectors (ETCs), and a S-CHP system based on a combination of side-by-side PV panels and ETCs (PV-ETC) are assessed and compared. A conventional CHP system based on a natural-gas-fired internal combustion engine (ICE) prime mover is also analysed as a competing fossil-fuel based solution. Annual simulations are conducted for the provision of electricity, along with space heating, swimming pool heating and hot water to the University Sports Centre of Bari, Italy. The results show that, based on a total installation area of 4000 m2 in all cases, the PVT S-CHP system outperforms the other systems in terms of total energy output, with annual electrical and thermal energy yields reaching 82.3% and 51.3% of the centre’s demands, respectively. The PV system is the most profitable solar solution, with the shortest payback time (9.4 years) and lowest levelised cost of energy (0.089 €/kWh). Conversely, the ETC solar-thermal system is not economically viable for the sports centre application, and increasing the ETC area share in the combined PV-ETC S-CHP system is unfavourable due to the low natural gas price. Although the PVT S-CHP system has the highest investment cost, the high annual revenue from the avoided energy bills elevates its economic performance to a level between those of the conventional PV and ETC-based S-CHP systems, with a payback time of 13.7 years and a levelised cost of energy of 0.109 €/kWh. However, at 445 tCO2/year, the CO2 emission reduction potential of the PVT S-CHP system is considerably higher (by 40–75%) than those of the all other solar systems (254–317 tCO2/year). Compared to the solar energy systems, the ICE-CHP system has the shortest payback time (6.2 years), but its CO2 emission reduction (25 tCO2/year) is significantly lower. A high carbon price is beneficial for improving the cost-competitiveness of the solar energy systems, boosting its market penetration and helping to meet any carbon emission targets.
Oxidative Stress in Neonatology. A Review Mutinati, M; Pantaleo, M; Roncetti, M ...
Reproduction in domestic animals,
February 2014, Letnik:
49, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Contents
Free radicals are highly reactive oxidizing agents containing one or more unpaired electrons. Both in human and veterinary neonathology, it is generally accepted that oxidative stress ...functions as an important catalysator of neonatal disease. Soon after birth, many sudden physiological and environmental conditions make the newborn vulnerable for the negative effects of oxidative stress, which potentially can impair neonatal vitality. As a clinician, it is important to have in depth knowledge about factors affecting maternal/neonatal oxidative status and the cascades of events that enrol when the neonate is subjected to oxidative stress. This report aims at providing clinicians with an up‐to‐date review about oxidative stress in neonates across animal species. It will be emphasized which handlings and treatments that are applied during neonatal care or resuscitation can actually impose oxidative stress upon the neonate. Views and opinions about maternal and/or neonatal antioxydative therapy will be shared.
A thermodynamic model of a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, fed by syngas produced by dry olive pomace gasification is here presented. An experimental study is carried out to inform the proposed ...model. The plant is designed to produce electric power (200 kWel) and hot-water by using a cogenerative micro gas turbine (micro GT). Before being released, exhausts are used to dry the biomass from 50% to 17% wb. The ChemCad software is used to model the gasification process, and input data to inform the model are taken from experimental tests. The micro GT and cogeneration sections are modeled assuming data from existing commercial plants. The paper analyzes the whole conversion process from wet biomass to heat and power production, reporting energy balances and costs analysis. The investment profitability is assessed in light of the Italian regulations, which include feed-in-tariffs for biomass based electricity generation.
The genetic background and the antigenic landscape of cancer cells play a critical role in the response to immunotherapies. A high tumor antigenicity, together with an increased adjuvanticity ...potentially induced by a peculiar type of cell death, namely immunogenic cell death (ICD), could foster the response to immunogenic therapies. The gestational trophoblastic neoplasm (GTN) is a one-of-a-kind cancer in the oncological landscape due to its exclusive genomic makeup. The prognosis of GTN is significantly better than non-gestational trophoblastic neoplasm (nGTN). Due to its peculiar genetic inheritance, GTN potentially constitutes a singular archetype in the immuno-oncological field.
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