Toward an estimation of the relationship between cyclonic structures and damages at the ground in Europe

Cyclonic systems dominate European and Mediterranean meteorology throughout the year and often induce severe weather in terms of heavy and/or long-lasting precipitation with related phenomena such as strong winds and lightning. Surface cyclonic structures are often related to well defined precipitation patterns with different scales, duration and intensity. Cyclones confined in the upper troposphere, usually referred to as cut off low, may induce instability at lower levels and the development of convective precipitation. In this work the occurrence of cyclonic events (discriminated between surface ones and cut-off lows) is analyzed and matched with an economic losses database to highlight a relation between the atmospheric structures and the impact on the social environment in terms of casualties and material damages. The study focus on the continental Europe and, based on the ERA-40 reanalysis, two databases of surface cyclones and cut-off lows have been constructed by means of automatic pattern recognition algorithms. The impact on the local communities is estimated from an insurance company record, which provides the location, date and type of the events, as well as related losses in terms of damages and casualties. Results show the relatively high impact of cyclonic structures on human life in Europe: most of the weather induced damages occur close to a cyclonic center, especially during warm months. Damages and human losses are more frequent from late summer to January, and precipitation is the most relevant meteorological damaging feature throughout the year

Feminizing adrenocortical carcinoma with distant metastases: can surgery be considered?

Functioning adrenocortical carcinomas are rare diseases with dismal prognosis. A 41-yearold man presenting with gynecomastia had a giant feminizing adrenocortical carcinoma at stage IV. Although surgical resection was controversial, we removed the primary tumor to reduce the mass effects. He lived for 12 months with an acceptable quality of life. Gynecomastia may be the first sign of feminizing adrenal malignancies. Surgery may ameliorate the quality of life in selected patients with metastatic disease

CO2-free coal-fired power generation by partial oxy-fuel and post-combustion CO2capture: Techno-economic analysis

Among the carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies suitable for power generation plants, partial oxy-combustion coupled with post combustion CO2capture is gaining interest, since such a hybrid configuration could allow to reduce the size and enhance the performance of post-combustion CO2capture by operating combustion with air enriched with oxygen and reducing the dilution of flue gas. Moreover, partial oxy-combustion is a potential candidate for the retrofit of existing steam plants because it could be based on an almost conventional boiler and requires a smaller CO2capture section. This work presents the results of a comparative techno-economic analysis of a 1000 MWthpartial oxy-combustion plant based on an ultra-supercritical pulverized coal combustion power plant integrated with a post-combustion CO2capture system and geological storage in saline aquifer. In particular, plant performance is assessed by using simulation models implemented through Aspen Plus 7.3 and Gate Cycle 5.40 commercial tools, whereas economic performance are evaluated on the basis of the expected annual cash flow. The analysis shows that, for new plants, this hybrid approach is not feasible from the economic point of view and full oxy-combustion potentially remains the most profitable technology even if, in the short-term period, the lack of commercial experience will continue to involve a high financial risk

Post-translational deregulation of YAP1 is genetically controlled in rat liver cancer and determines the fate and stem-like behavior of the human disease

Previous studies showed that YAP1 is over-expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here we observed higher expression of Yap1/Ctgf axis in dysplastic nodules and HCC chemically-induced in F344 rats, genetically susceptible to hepatocarcinogenesis, than in lesions induced in resistant BN rats. In BN rats, highest increase in Yap1-tyr357, p73 phosphorylation and Caspase 3 cleavage occurred. In human HCCs with poorer prognosis ( 3 years survival; HCCB). In the latter, higher levels of phosphorylated YAP1-ser127, YAP1-tyr357 and p73, YAP1 ubiquitination, and Caspase 3 cleavage occurred. Expression of stemness markers NANOG, OCT-3/4, and CD133 were highest in HCCP and correlated with YAP1 and YAP1-TEAD levels. In HepG2, Huh7, and Hep3B cells, forced YAP1 over-expression led to stem cell markers expression and increased cell viability, whereas inhibition of YAP1 expression by specific siRNA, or transfection of mutant YAP1 which does not bind to TEAD, induced opposite alterations. These changes were associated, in Huh7 cells transfected with YAP1 or YAP1 siRNA, with stimulation or inhibition of cell migration and invasivity, respectively. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis showed that YAP1 transfection in Huh7 cells induces over-expression of genes involved in tumor stemness. In conclusion, Yap1 post-translational modifications favoring its ubiquitination and apoptosis characterize HCC with better prognosis, whereas conditions favoring the formation of YAP1-TEAD complexes are associated with aggressiveness and acquisition of stemness features by HCC cells

Renewable methanol production from green hydrogen and captured CO2: A techno-economic assessment

This paper aims to present a pre-feasibility study of a power-to-fuel plant configuration designed for the production of 500 kg/h of renewable methanol (e-methanol) from green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide. Hydrogen is obtained by water electrolysis employing the overproduction of renewable electricity. Carbon dioxide is assumed to be separated from the flue gas of a conventional power station by means of an amine-based CO2absorption system. A comprehensive process model has been developed with the support of Aspen Plus tool to simulate all the plant sections and the overall system. After the process optimization, a detailed economic analysis - based on capital and operating costs derived from commercial-scale experience and assuming a 20-year lifetime - has been performed to calculate a levelized cost of methanol (LCoM) of 960 €/t (about 175 €/MWh). The analysis confirms that, today, the technology is still not competitive from the economic point of view, being LCoM more than double than the current methanol price in the international market (450 €/t). However, it indicates that the process is expected to become competitive in a mid-term future, as a consequence of the new European policies. The study also reveals that LCoM is mainly affected by the electricity price and the electrolyser capital cost, as well as the capacity factor of the plant

Breast-conserving therapy leads to better survival outcomes compared to mastectomy in patients with early breast cancer: evidences from the recent literature

Classical studies comparing breast-conserving therapy (BCT) and mastectomy (Mx) focused on the non-inferiority of BCT in terms of survival outcomes. However, recent large retrospective studies have provided evidence that BCT could confer a survival advantage over Mx. The prognostic benefit of BCT was observed in all molecular subgroups, includ-ing triple negative breast cancer, and also in young patients affected from the disease, who are often submitted to Mx irrespective of tumor size. This new concept, regarding the prognostic importance related to the type of surgical treat-ment of breast cancer, is of particular relevance in current times. In fact, in the last two decades there has been a rise in Mx rates in BCT-eligible women, as well as a rise in bilateral mastectomy in patients with unilateral breast cancer. This phenomenon occurs despite lack of scientific evidence supporting the necessity of a more extensive surgery, and is primarily a patient-driven trend. The results of recent studies, demonstrating that BCT achieves better overall survival than Mx, should be incorporated in the multidisciplinary decision-making process. Patients with early breast cancer for whom either BCT or Mx are surgical options, should be properly informed that the prognosis of their disease is largely dependent from the biological behaviour of the tumor, and that Mx should not be considered equal to BCT in terms of survival. The present review underscored that BCT, when feasible, should be considered the option of choice also due to its advantage in survival outcomes

Pseudosperma calciphilum (Inocybaceae), a new Mediterranean species from Sardinia (Italy), Malta, and Valencia (Spain)

A complete description is provided for Pseudosperma calciphilum (Inocybaceae, Agaricales), a new basidiomycete species from Sardinia (Italy), Malta, and Valencia (Spain) in Europe, along with colour photographs of its macro- and microscopic characters and a comparative study of the similarities and differences from its closest allies. The new species occurs on calcareous soils in Mediterranean habitats preferably under Quercus ilex subsp. ilex and Q. ilex subsp. rotundifolia. Pseudosperma conviviale resembles P. calciphilum in some macro- and microscopic features, but the latter is distinguished by having white velar remnants on pileus, larger spores and by its ecology, as it apparently grows exclusively on calcareous soils. The phylogenetic analyses based on nrITS and nrLSU nucleotide sequence data confirmed that the new species is a member of the former Inocybe section Rimosae sensu stricto, whose species are currently placed in the genus Pseudosperma. The closest relatives are P. melleum, P. conviviale, P. melliolens and P. umbrinellum, from which the new Mediterranean species is well distinguished both morphologically and genetically