14 research outputs found
Energy consumption and efficiency technology measures in European non-residential buildings
Reducing energy consumption in buildings and increasing renewable production are key goals of European policies to achieve a sustainable and competitive low-carbon economy by 2020 and beyond. Non-residential buildings constitute a heterogeneity sector characterized by high energy consumption and various building types, sizes and energy characteristics over Europe. This paper presents the overall results of the data collected by the GreenBuilding Programme (GBP), launched in 2006 to promote and improve energy efficiency in new and existing European non-residential buildings. The GPB involved building owners willing to adopt energy efficiency measures to decrease energy consumption of their buildings by of at least 25%. Based on voluntary participation, hundreds of partners joined the project, which collected data from more than a thousand buildings of different age, size, use and type (such as offices, hotels, and industry). This paper provides an overview of the Programme and its main results up to its completion in 2014. The paper focuses on building characteristics, energy performance, efficiency measures and energy savings, which are globally estimated to be around 985 GWh/year. A more detailed focus is then given to office buildings, which represent the most frequent building category in the Programme. Case studies are presented to show best practices in various countries with consolidated energy efficiency policy strategies. The paper categorises the main technological measures related to envelope, appliances and systems. It shows how a wide range of technologies are becoming an integral part of buildings and how technology plays a major role in exploiting the massive potential benefits of reducing building energy consumptions. The analysis of the results generates a reliable snapshot of European non-residential building stock.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Modulation of <i>Anopheles stephensi</i> Gene Expression by Nitroquine, an Antimalarial Drug against <i>Plasmodium yoelii</i> Infection in the Mosquito
<div><p>Background</p><p>Antimalarial drugs may impact mosquito’s defense against <i>Plasmodium</i> parasites. Our previous study showed nitroquine significantly reduced infection of <i>Anopheles stephensi</i> by <i>Plasmodium yoelii</i>, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In order to understand how transmission capacity of <i>An. stephensi</i> was affected by nitroquine, we explored the transcriptome of adult females after different treatments, examined changes in gene expression profiles, and identified transcripts affected by the drug and parasite.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>We extended massively parallel sequencing and data analysis (including gene discovery, expression profiling, and function prediction) to <i>An. stephensi</i> before and after Plasmodium infection with or without nitroquine treatment. Using numbers of reads assembled into specific contigs to calculate relative abundances (RAs), we categorized the assembled contigs into four groups according to the differences in RA values infection induced, infection suppressed, drug induced, and drug suppressed. We found both nitroquine in the blood meal and <i>Plasmodium</i> infection altered transcription of mosquito genes implicated in diverse processes, including pathogen recognition, signal transduction, prophenoloxidase activation, cytoskeleton assembling, cell adhesion, and oxidative stress. The differential gene expression may have promoted certain defense responses of <i>An. stephensi</i> against the parasite and decreased its infectivity.</p><p>Conclusions/Significance</p><p>Our study indicated that nitroquine may regulate several immune mechanisms at the level of gene transcription in the mosquito against <i>Plasmodium</i> infection. This highlights the need for better understanding of antimalarial drug’s impact on parasite survival and transmission. In addition, our data largely enriched the existing sequence information of <i>An. stephensi</i>, an epidemiologically important vector species.</p></div
A list of 20 infection-suppressed contigs for immunity, cell adhesion, and oxidative stress proteins.
<p>A list of 20 infection-suppressed contigs for immunity, cell adhesion, and oxidative stress proteins.</p
Summary statistics for sequencing analysis of <i>An. stephensi</i> ESTs.
<p>Summary statistics for sequencing analysis of <i>An. stephensi</i> ESTs.</p
A list of 89 infection-induced contigs for pathogen recognition, signal transduction, effector, oxidative stress, detoxification, cytoskeleton, and cell adhesion proteins.
<p>A list of 89 infection-induced contigs for pathogen recognition, signal transduction, effector, oxidative stress, detoxification, cytoskeleton, and cell adhesion proteins.</p
A list of 60 nitroquine-suppressed contigs for pathogen recognition, signal transduction, effector, oxidative stress, detoxification, cytoskeleton, and cell adhesion proteins.
<p>A list of 60 nitroquine-suppressed contigs for pathogen recognition, signal transduction, effector, oxidative stress, detoxification, cytoskeleton, and cell adhesion proteins.</p
Energy-Down-Shift CsPbCl<sub>3</sub>:Mn Quantum Dots for Boosting the Efficiency and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells
Parasitic absorption
by window layer, electrode layer, and interface
layer in the near ultraviolet (UV) region is no longer negligible
for high-efficiency perovskite solar cells. On the other hand, UV-induced
degradation is also a big component of cell instability. Herein, CsPbCl<sub>3</sub>:Mn-based quantum dots (QDs) are synthesized and applied onto
the front side of the perovskite solar cells as the energy-down-shift
(EDS) layer. It is found that with very high quantum yield (∼60%)
and larger Stokes shift (>200 nm), the CsPbCl<sub>3</sub>:Mn QDs
effectively
convert the normally wasted energy in the UV region (300–400
nm) into usable visible light at ∼590 nm for enhanced power
conversion efficiency (PCE). Meanwhile, conversion of the UV rays
eliminated a significant loss mechanism that deteriorates perovskite
stability. As a result, external quantum efficiency in the UV region
is significantly increased, leading to an increased short-circuit
current (3.77%) and PCE (3.34%). Furthermore, the stability of perovskite
solar cells has also been improved from 85% to 97% of their initial
efficiency after exposure in the UV region with 5 mW/cm<sup>2</sup> intensity by 100 h. In parallel, the organic and silicon solar cells
coated by EDS QDs also both confirm the above conclusion with PCE
enhancements of 3.21% and 2.98%, respectively. These results suggest
that the CsPbCl<sub>3</sub>:Mn QDs play a significant role in improving
the efficiency and stability of photovoltaic devices. To our knowledge,
this is the first report about CsPbCl<sub>3</sub>:Mn QD-assisted perovskite
solar cells
DataSheet1_Perfluoroalkyl substances in the environment and biota from the coasts of the South China Sea: profiles, sources, and potential risks.docx
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are an emerging class of contaminants that have been produced since the 1950s. The first report on PFAS to raise global concerns was published in 2001. Since then, many countries have implemented policies to control PFAS. In this study, PFAS in the water, sediment, and biota in coastal areas were surveyed to review their use since their earliest production by using chronological methods combined with previous policy restrictions imposed on PFAS. In the meantime, reports of existing PFAS were evaluated to assess the ecological and health risks of seafood consumption by coastal populations. Following the restrictions on PFAS, the concentrations of PFAS have been decreasing steadily. With regard to the current occurrences of PFAS in water and sediment, there is almost no ecological risk. However, different gender and age groups are still at risk of exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate and require constant monitoring. It is expected that the negative impacts of PFAS on the environment and human health will continue to decrease with the implementation of the emerging pollution control policy by the Chinese government in 2023.</p