Multi-criteria energy and daylighting optimization for an office with fixed and moveable shading devices

This paper presents an optimization approach to design an external fixed shading device protecting an energy efficient office from high sun loads. The developed methodology takes into account heating, cooling and energy required for lighting appliances, along with the interaction with an internal moveable venetian blind for direct sunlight protection. The optimization process considers whole-year simulations performed with different software codes, specifically ESP-r for energy calculation and DAYSIM\uae for daylighting analysis, while the modeFRONTIER\uae tool synchronizes the simulations and drives the optimization for searching optimal solutions. The fixed shading device is a flat panel positioned parallel to the window and inclined by its horizontal axis and the optimization variables change the size, inclination and position of the device with respect to the building fa\ue7ade. Two exposures are considered, south and south-west, and the optimized results are reported as a Pareto front highlighting the performance of different solutions, comparing the energy and daylighting performance of the offic

Analysis and optimization of PCM enhanced storage tanks for Solar Domestic Hot Water systems

A storage device is a fundamental component to enhance the efficiency of the Solar Domestic Hot Water plants. The efficiency of the storage tanks has been investigated through simulation and optimization tools. A PCM model has been implemented in ESP-r and a new plant component has been inserted in the software database. For the type of components/plants analyzed, the improvement provided by the PCM insertion is not dramaticDipartimento di aggregazione: Dipartimento di Ingegneria ed Architettura dell'Università degli studi di TriesteopenDottorato di ricerca in Tecnologie chimiche ed energeticheembargoed_20151115Padovan, Robert

Efficient reduction in shape parameter space dimension for ship propeller blade design

In this work, we present the results of a ship propeller design optimization campaign carried out in the framework of the research project PRELICA, funded by the Friuli Venezia Giulia regional government. The main idea of this work is to operate on a multidisciplinary level to identify propeller shapes that lead to reduced tip vortex-induced pressure and increased efficiency without altering the thrust. First, a specific tool for the bottom-up construction of parameterized propeller blade geometries has been developed. The algorithm proposed operates with a user defined number of arbitrary shaped or NACA airfoil sections, and employs arbitrary degree NURBS to represent the chord, pitch, skew and rake distribution as a function of the blade radial coordinate. The control points of such curves have been modified to generate, in a fully automated way, a family of blade geometries depending on as many as 20 shape parameters. Such geometries have then been used to carry out potential flow simulations with the Boundary Element Method based software PROCAL. Given the high number of parameters considered, such a preliminary stage allowed for a fast evaluation of the performance of several hundreds of shapes. In addition, the data obtained from the potential flow simulation allowed for the application of a parameter space reduction methodology based on active subspaces (AS) property, which suggested that the main propeller performance indices are, at a first but rather accurate approximation, only depending on a single parameter which is a linear combination of all the original geometric ones. AS analysis has also been used to carry out a constrained optimization exploiting response surface method in the reduced parameter space, and a sensitivity analysis based on such surrogate model. The few selected shapes were finally used to set up high fidelity RANS simulations and select an optimal shape

Metodologias ativas e a autorregulação da aprendizagem: reflexões em tempos de pandemia

This is a descriptive nature study that aims to identify relationships between teaching practices based on active methodologies and the process of self-regulated learning in two distinct disciplines, in the Psychology course of a Brazilian public university. The two disciplines had the support of monitors and adopted the inverted classroom model. The results showed that students developed strategies to monitor and regulate their own study behaviors. This evidence suggests that teaching practices that favor self-regulated learning are effective in facing the difficulties experienced in emergency remote teaching.Este trabajo es un estudio descriptivo y tuvo como objetivo identificar las relaciones entre las prácticas docentes basadas en metodologías activas y el proceso de autorregulación del aprendizaje en dos disciplinas distintas, en el curso de Psicología de una universidad pública brasileña. Los sujetos fueron monitoreados y adoptaron el modelo de aula invertida. Los resultados mostraron que los estudiantes desarrollaron estrategias para monitorear y regular las conductas de estudio. Estas evidencias sugieren que las prácticas docentes que favorecen la autorregulación del aprendizaje son efectivas para enfrentar las dificultades vividas en la enseñanza remota de emergencia.Este trabalho é um estudo de natureza descritiva e objetivou identificar relações entre práticas de ensino pautadas nas metodologias ativas e o processo da autorregulação da aprendizagem em duas disciplinas distintas do curso de Psicologia de uma universidade pública brasileira. As disciplinas contaram com monitoria e adotaram o modelo da sala de aula invertida. Os resultados mostraram que os estudantes desenvolveram estratégias para monitorar e regular comportamentos de estudo. Essas evidências sugerem que práticas de ensino que favorecem a autorregulação da aprendizagem são efetivas para o enfrentamento das dificuldades vividas no ensino remoto emergencial.

Endogenous glutamine decrease is associated with pancreatic cancer progression

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is becoming the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. The mortality is very high, which emphasizes the need to identify biomarkers for early detection. As glutamine metabolism alteration is a feature of PDAC, its in vivo evaluation may provide a useful tool for biomarker identification. Our aim was to identify a handy method to evaluate blood glutamine consumption in mouse models of PDAC. We quantified the in vitro glutamine uptake by Mass Spectrometry (MS) in tumor cell supernatants and showed that it was higher in PDAC compared to non-PDAC tumor and pancreatic control human cells. The increased glutamine uptake was paralleled by higher activity of most glutamine pathway-related enzymes supporting nucleotide and ATP production. Free glutamine blood levels were evaluated in orthotopic and \u202

Characterization of Immunogenicity and Safety of COVID-19 mRNA-1273 in HIV-Positive Italian Patients with Hemophilia: A Prospective Single-Center Cohort Study

To characterize the immunogenicity of mRNA-1273 (Moderna, Cambridge, MA, USA) vaccine in HIV-positive hemophilic patients during the third COVID-19 wave in Italy and to investigate biomarkers of coagulation and endothelial perturbation before and after complete vaccination schedule, twenty-three consecutive adult HIV-positive patients with hemophilia were included. Blood was collected before and two weeks after vaccination. We measured anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies to assess immunogenicity; circulating biomarkers of coagulation (protein C and D-dimer), endothelial perturbation (von Willebrand factor (VWF)) and anti-Platelet Factor 4 (PF4) antibodies were analyzed. Flow-based analysis of thrombus formation was performed in nine patients using a flow-chamber device. Two weeks after completing the vaccination schedule, all patients had anti-spike antibodies values consistent with an effective immunization. Mean (±standard deviation) basal values of protein C and VWF (106 ± 21% and 171 ± 45%, respectively) were not significantly different from data obtained two weeks after the second dose (103 ± 20%, 162 ± 43%, respectively). D-dimer median values (interquartile range) were not significantly different at baseline (442 (603-142) ng/mL) and after the second dose (477 (654-262) ng/mL). Anti-PF4 antibodies were detected in three patients with no associated clinical manifestations. No significant differences were found in flow-based analysis of thrombus formation. Our data demonstrate that in HIV-positive patients with hemophilia, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is effective and safe, with no effects on coagulation and endothelial perturbation

Management of pregnancy in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: maternal disease course, gestational and neonatal outcomes and use of medications in the prospectiveItalian P-RHEUM.it study

Objectives To investigate pregnancy outcomes in women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) in the Italian prospective cohort study P-RHEUM.it. Methods Pregnant women with different ARD were enrolled for up to 20 gestational weeks in 29 Rheumatology Centres for 5 years (2018-2023). Maternal and infant information were collected in a web-based database. Results We analysed 866 pregnancies in 851 patients (systemic lupus erythematosus was the most represented disease, 19.6%). Maternal disease flares were observed in 135 (15.6%) pregnancies. 53 (6.1%) pregnancies were induced by assisted reproduction techniques, 61 (7%) ended in miscarriage and 11 (1.3%) underwent elective termination. Obstetrical complications occurred in 261 (30.1%) pregnancies, including 2.3% pre-eclampsia. Two cases of congenital heart block were observed out of 157 pregnancies (1.3%) with anti-Ro/SSA. Regarding treatments, 244 (28.2%) pregnancies were treated with glucocorticoids, 388 (44.8%) with hydroxychloroquine, 85 (9.8%) with conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and 122 (14.1%) with biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Live births were 794 (91.7%), mostly at term (84.9%); four perinatal deaths (0.5%) occurred. Among 790 newborns, 31 (3.9%) were small-for-gestational-age and 169 (21.4%) had perinatal complications. Exclusive maternal breast feeding was received by 404 (46.7%) neonates. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was compiled by 414 women (52.4%); 89 (21.5%) scored positive for emotional distress. Conclusions Multiple factors including preconception counselling and treat-to-target with pregnancy-compatible medications may have contributed to mitigate disease-related risk factors, yielding limited disease flares, good pregnancy outcomes and frequency of complications which were similar to the Italian general obstetric population. Disease-specific issues need to be further addressed to plan preventative measures

Genetic optimization of a PCM enhanced storage tank for Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems

The scope of this work is to ascertain if the inclusion of Phase Change Materials (PCM) in the thermal energy storage of a Solar Domestic Hot Water System (SDHW) could be beneficial for increasing the energy savings of the system or in reducing the space occupied by the thermal energy storage. A simple SDHW plant is studied which features a plane solar collector, a boiler and a PCM enhanced tank. The PCM improved storage tank has been optimized using mono and multi-objective genetic algorithms. The optimization has been carried out with the modeFRONTIER optimization tool, while the system plant has been analyzed by means of a modified version of the building energy simulation code ESP-r. In parallel with the optimization a sensitivity analysis has been carried on in order to find out the relation between the design parameters of the tank (geometry, phase change temperature of the PCM, and insulation) and the performance of the system. Thanks to the multi-objective optimization of the system different solutions with different rankings of the optimized variables have been presented. The main result is that for this application the PCM has not the major impact on the results, while other parameters play a more significant role