Parameters of flow in porous alluvial aquifers evaluated by tracers

Dye tracer tests, DNA biotracer, alluvial aquifer Marche, multiwell tests

Infantile epilepsy associated with mosaic 2q24 duplication including SCN2A and SCN3A

AbstractEpilepsies can be caused by specific genetic anomalies or by non-genetic factors, but in many cases the underlying cause is unknown.Mutations in the SCN1A and SCN2A genes are reported in childhood epilepsies; in particular SCN1A was found mutated in patients with Dravet syndrome and with generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+).In this paper we report a patient presenting with an atypical epileptic syndrome whose phenotype partially overlaps both Dravet syndrome and benign familial neonatal-infantile seizures (BFNIS).Array-CGH analysis suggested the presence of a mosaic duplication (about 12Mb) at the level of chromosome 2q23.3q24.3 involving SCN2A and SCN3A genes. Additional analyses (radiolabeled RFLP and quantitative PCR) confirmed the mosaicism of the duplication.We suggest that the array-CGH analysis is mandatory for children presenting with epilepsy and psycho-motor retardation even without dysmorphisms or other clinical features suggesting a specific genetic/epileptic syndrome. The analysis must nevertheless be performed taking into account the possibility of a mosaicism

Hydraulic contacts identification in the aquifers of limestone ridges: tracer tests in the Montelago pilot area (Central Apennines)

The investigated area, located in the inner part of the Marche region (central Italy) and belonging to the carbonate Umbria- Marche ridges in the central Apennines, is characterised by very complex geo-structural setting and widespread karst phenomena that make difficult the definition of the relation among the aquifers basing only on the hydrogeological survey. Hence, the presence of different flowpaths among aquifers of the Umbria-Marche hydrostratigraphic sequence and of tectonic contacts among the different structures is verified using tracer tests. In particular, the tests showed that the Calcare Massiccio and the Maiolica aquifers are connected under certain tectonic conditions. A new tracer given by a single stranded DNA molecule and traditional fluorescent dyes have been injected into the Montelago sinkhole in different periods (during the recharge and during the discharge) and recovered in several points along the expected hydrogeological basin, using either manual and automatic sampling. Fluorescent traps were positioned in creeks, rivers and springs. The DNA molecule is useful to trace surface water and groundwater, is detectable even at very low concentrations, no significant change in water density and viscosity can be observed and its use is not dangerous for the environment. The results stress the suitability of DNA as hydrogeological tracer, capable to identify connections among aquifers and study different flowpaths even in high flow conditions when traditional tracers are more and more diluted. Moreover, fluorescein tracer allowed for the transport parameter determination, giving mean velocities ranging from 100 to 3000 m/day and mean residence time from some tens to hundreds of hours, and determining the aquifer volumes

Alternativas para Mejorar la Eficiencia Energética de un Complejo Industrial Aprovechando calores residuales y Energía Fotovoltaica

En este trabajo se propone un modelo simplificado para el sistema energético de un complejo industrial petroquímico autoabastecido mediante cogeneración. El modelo se parametriza con datos disponibles en el complejo y se usa para evaluar el impacto de la incorporación de fuentes alternativas en su matriz energética. En este sentido, se analizan tres alternativas de configuración para el sistema energético actual del predio. Se propone aprovechar calores residuales con generadores eléctricos basados en ciclos Rankine orgánicos y energía solar con generadores fotovoltaicos. Luego se consideran distintas alternativas de penetración de estos recursos en base a factores ambientales de la zona y se comparan los resultados con el desempeño de la configuración actual. Se concluye que, al considerar otros recursos disponibles en el predio, es posible mejorar la eficiencia del sistema, diversificar su matriz energética y reducir el impacto ambiental.Fil: Sangoi, Emmanuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Vega, Jorge Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Clementi, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentin

Alternativas para mejorar la eficiencia energética de un complejo industrial aprovechando calores residuales y energía fotovoltaica

En este trabajo se propone un modelo simplificado para el sistema energético de un complejo industrial petroquímico autoabastecido mediante cogeneración. El modelo se parametriza con datos disponibles en el complejo y se usa para evaluar el impacto de la incorporación de fuentes alternativas en su matriz energética. En este sentido, se analizan tres alternativas de configuración para el sistema energético actual del predio. Se propone aprovechar calores residuales con generadores eléctricos basados en ciclos Rankine orgánicos y energía solar con generadores fotovoltaicos. Luego se consideran distintas alternativas de penetración de estos recursos en base a factores ambientales de la zona y se comparan los resultados con el desempeño de la configuración actual. Se concluye que, al considerar otros recursos disponibles en el predio, es posible mejorar la eficiencia del sistema, diversificar su matriz energética y reducir el impacto ambiental.In this work, a simplified model is proposed for the energy system of a petrochemical industrial complex that is self-supplied through cogeneration. The model parameters are determined on the basis of available data and are used to evaluate the impact on its energy matrix caused by the incorporation of alternative resources. In this sense, three alternative configurations for the current energy system are analyzed. It is proposed to take advantage of residual heat with electric generators that use organic Rankine cycles and solar energy with photovoltaic generators. Then, different penetration alternatives for these resources are considered based on environmental factors and the results are compared with the current system configuration. It is concluded that, by considering other resources available on the industrial complex, is possible to improve the efficiency of the system, diversify its energy matrix and reduce the environmental impact.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Information-weighted constrained regularization for particle size distribution recovery in multiangle dynamic light scattering

In particle size measurement with dynamic light scattering (DLS), it is difficult to get an accurate recovery of a bimodal particle size distribution (PSD) with a peak position ratio less than ~2:1, especially when large particles (>350nm) are present. This is due to the inherent noise in the autocorrelation function (ACF) data and the scarce utilization of PSD information during the inversion process. In this paper, the PSD information distribution in the ACF data is investigated. It was found that the initial decay section of the ACF contains more information, especially for a bimodal PSD. Based on this, an information-weighted constrained regularization (IWCR) method is proposed in this paper and applied in multiangle DLS analysis for bimodal PSD recovery. By using larger (or smaller) coefficients for weighting the ACF data, more (or less) weight can then be given to the initial part of the ACF. In this way, the IWCR method can enhance utilization of the PSD information in the ACF data, and effectively weaken the effect of noise at large delay time on PSD recovery. Using this method, bimodal PSDs (with nominal diameters of 400:608 nm, 448:608 nm, 500:600 nm) were recovered successfully from simulated data and it appears that the IWCR method can improve the recovery resolution for closely spaced bimodal particles. Results of the PSD recovery from experimental DLS data confirm the performance of this method.Fil: Xu, Min. Shandong University Of Technology; ChinaFil: Shen, Jin. Shandong University Of Technology; ChinaFil: Thomas, John C.. Shandong University Of Technology; ChinaFil: Huang, Yu. Group Scientific Pty Ltd; AustraliaFil: Zhu, Xinjun. Shandong University Of Technology; ChinaFil: Clementi, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Vega, Jorge Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentin

Disinfection of Water Systems in Accordance with Eu Directives on Health and Safety in Working Environments: Use of A Technologically Advanced ClO2 Generator

One of the main problems in the management of water in buildings is the risk of legionnaires' disease for users and workers..

Polymorphisms of the SCN1A gene in children and adolescents with primary headache and idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy: is there a linkage?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of the polymorphisms of the SCN1A gene in a series of children and adolescents with primary headache and idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy compared to controls. Five non-synonymous exonic polymorphisms (1748A > T, 2656T > C, 3199A > G, 5771G > A, 5864T > C) of the SCN1A gene were selected and their genotyping was performed, by high resolution melting (HRM), in 49 cases and 100 controls. We found that among the five polymorphisms, only 3199A > G was a true polymorphism. We did not find a statistically significant difference between distribution of 3199A > G genotypes between cases and controls. We excluded the role of the SCN1A gene in the pathogenesis of comorbidity between headache (especially migraine) and epilepsy. The SCN1A gene is a major gene in different epilepsies and epilepsy syndromes; the HRM could be the new methodology, more rapid and efficacious, for molecular analysis of the SCN1A gene

Autonomic cardiac profile in male and female healthcare professionals with and without preschoolers: differences evidenced by heart rate variability analysis

A reduced nocturnal cardiac vagal modulation has been observed in working women with preschoolers. Whether this adaptation also occurs in men remains an open question. The aim of this study was to analyze the cardiac autonomic profile of two groups of healthcare male professionals, one with and one without preschoolers, to be compared to females. Twenty-five working men with preschoolers (M_KID, age 35.41 ± 4.01 years) and 25 without (M_NOKID, 34.48 ± 6.00 years) were compared with 25 working women with preschoolers (W_KID, 37.7 ± 5.6 years) and 25 without (W_NOKID, 35.4 ± 7.2 years). A 24-h Holter electrocardiogram was performed for time and frequency domain analysis of the beat-to-beat variations of RR interval (RR) variability, during daytime (DAY) and nighttime (NIGHT). The power of RR variability in the high frequency band (HFRR) was considered as an index of cardiac vagal modulation. RR variability indices were similar in M_KID and M_NOKID during both DAY and NIGHT. In contrast, W_KID showed a reduced nocturnal HFRR compared to W_NOKID. The comparison of working men with and without preschoolers revealed no differences in the cardiac autonomic profile, in contrast with women. This suggests that sex and/or gender may represent a crucial factor in the cardiac neural control in the parental condition

Linear Accelerator Test Facility at LNF Conceptual Design Report

Test beam and irradiation facilities are the key enabling infrastructures for research in high energy physics (HEP) and astro-particles. In the last 11 years the Beam-Test Facility (BTF) of the DA{\Phi}NE accelerator complex in the Frascati laboratory has gained an important role in the European infrastructures devoted to the development and testing of particle detectors. At the same time the BTF operation has been largely shadowed, in terms of resources, by the running of the DA{\Phi}NE electron-positron collider. The present proposal is aimed at improving the present performance of the facility from two different points of view: extending the range of application for the LINAC beam extracted to the BTF lines, in particular in the (in some sense opposite) directions of hosting fundamental physics and providing electron irradiation also for industrial users; extending the life of the LINAC beyond or independently from its use as injector of the DA{\Phi}NE collider, as it is also a key element of the electron/positron beam facility. The main lines of these two developments can be identified as: consolidation of the LINAC infrastructure, in order to guarantee a stable operation in the longer term; upgrade of the LINAC energy, in order to increase the facility capability (especially for the almost unique extracted positron beam); doubling of the BTF beam-lines, in order to cope with the signicant increase of users due to the much wider range of applications.Comment: 71 page