Optimal Sizing and Environ-Economic Analysis of PV-BESS Systems for Jointly Acting Renewable Self-Consumers

Future residential applications could benefit from nanogrids that integrate photovoltaics (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS), especially after the establishment of recent European Community directives on renewable energy communities (RECs) and jointly acting renewable self-consumers (JARSCs). These entities consist of aggregations of users who share locally produced energy with the aim of gaining economic, environmental, and social benefits by enhancing their independence from the electricity grid. In this regard, the sizing of the PV and BESS systems is an important aspect that results in a trade-off from technical, economic, and environmental perspectives. To this end, this paper presents an investigation on the optimal PV-BESS system sizing of a condominium acting as a JARSC community, which includes a common PV plant and EMS, operated by rule-based criteria. PV-BESS sizing results are investigated from economic and environmental perspectives, considering a case study located in Milan, Italy. In these regards, in addition to the common techno-economic criteria, carbon dioxide emissions are considered with particular attention, as their reduction is the driving ethos behind recent EU directives

Synchro-push: A new production control paradigm

The paper aims at proposing a new production control paradigm, the Synchro-push, that offers a step forward with respect to the traditional push and pull production paradigms as for plant re-configurability power and quick reaction to demand changes: in fact, theoretically, it offers the advantages of the two traditional approaches without suffering their drawbacks. This could be of advantage for any manufacturing company and especially for SMEs (Small-Medium Enterprises), acting as a support against worldwide competition. The paper presents a brief history of the evolution of the push and pull approaches, the comparison between them and among the different alternatives that have been proposed in literature for their implementation. It presents the new approach, its theory and the subsequent industrial implications. The new approach is now made possible by the development of innovative smart technologies that allow the close-to-real-time decision making in scheduling and a higher level of modularity in the plant

Public Credit Programmes and Firm Performance in Brazil

Credit rationing is a common phenomenon faced by firms, one that has negative implications for longâ term investments. In Brazil, public credit plays a key role in supporting firms: stateâ owned banks account for almost half of the outstanding credit. Public credit programmes aim at reducing credit restrictions, increasing competitiveness and job creation for small and medium enterprises. This article analyzes the effectiveness of the credit lines managed by two main public institutions in Brazil. Results show that access to public credit lines has a significant positive impact on firmsâ employment growth and exports, while no effect was found on wage differential. The impact on exports is driven by the increase in volumes among exporting firms rather than the probability of becoming an exporter.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138401/1/dpr12250_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138401/2/dpr12250.pd

transcriptional response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to low doses of ionizing radiation

We used cDNA microarray hybridization technology to monitor the transcriptional response of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial (HUVEC) cells to x-rays doses ranging from 2 to 200 cGy. An early time window from irradiation (4h) was selected in order to minimize the effects of the cell cycle blockage eventually induced at high doses of irradiation. Three different gene-clustering algorithms have been used to group the 4134 monitored ORF based on their transcriptional response in function of the irradiation dose. The results show that while few genes exhibit a typical dose-dependent modulation with a variable threshold, most of them have a different modulation pattern, peaking at the two intermediate doses. Strikingly even the lowest dose used (2 cGy) seems to be very effective in transcriptional modulation. These results confirm the physiological relevance of sublethal-dose exposures of endothelial cells and strengthens the hypothesis that alternative dose-specific pathways of radioadaptive response exist in the mammalian cells. 111 genes were found to be modulated at all doses of irradiation. These genes were functionally classified by cellular process or by molecular function. Genes involved in coagulation and peroxidase activity and structural constituent of ribosomes were over-represented among the up-regulated genes as compared with their expected statistical occurrence. Three genes coding for regulatory kinase activities (CDK6; PRCKB1 and TIE) are found down-regulated at all doses of irradiation

Intermolecular Interactions and Charge Resonance Contributions to Triplet and Singlet Exciton States of Oligoacene Aggregates

Intermolecular interactions modulate the electro-optical properties of molecular materials and the nature of low-lying exciton states. Molecular materials composed by oligoacenes are extensively investigated for their semiconducting and optoelectronic properties. Here, we analyze the exciton states derived from time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations for two oligoacene model aggregates: naphthalene and anthracene dimers. To unravel the role of inter-molecular interactions, a set of diabatic states is selected, chosen to coincide with local (LE) and charge-transfer (CT) excitations within a restricted orbital space including two occupied and two unoccupied orbitals for each molecular monomer. We study energy profiles and disentangle inter-state couplings to disclose the (CT) character of singlet and triplet exciton states and assess the influence of inter-molecular orientation by displacing one molecule with respect to the other along the longitudinal translation coordinate. The analysis shows that (CT) contributions are relevant, although comparably less effective for triplet excitons, and induce a non-negligible mixed character to the low-lying exciton states for eclipsed monomers and for small translational displacements. Such (CT) contributions govern the La/Lb state inversion occurring for the low-lying singlet exciton states of naphthalene dimer and contribute to the switch from H- to J-aggregate type of the strongly allowed Bb transition of both oligoacene aggregates

the heterochromatin protein 1 positively regulates euchromatic gene expression by rna binding

HP1 is a well known conserved protein involved in heterochromatin formation and gene silencing in different species including humans1-4. A general model has been proposed for heterochromatin formation and epigenetic gene silencing in different species that implies an essential role for HP1. According to the model, histone methyltransferase enzymes (HMTases) methylate the histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3-MeK9), creating selective binding sites for itself and the chromodomain of HP15. This complex is thought to form a higher order chromatin state that represses gene activity. It has also been found that HP1 plays a role in telomere capping6. Surprisingly, recent data have suggested an association of HP1 in gene activity7-10 but the nature of this interaction is still completely obscure. Here we show, that HP1 is required for positive regulation of more than one hundred euchromatic genes by its association with the corresponding RNA transcripts and by its interaction with the well known proteins DDP111, HRB87F12 and PEP13, which belong to different classes of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) involved in RNA processing . We also found that all these hnRNP proteins also bind heterochromatin and are dominant suppressors of position effect variegation. Our data together, show novel and unexpected functions for HP1 and hnRNPs proteins. All these proteins are in fact involved in both RNA transcript processing and in heterochromatin formation. This suggests that, in general, similar epigenetic mechanisms have a significant role in the metabolism of both RNA and heterochromatin

Central metatarsal fractures: a review and current concepts

Central metatarsal fractures (CMF) are common injuries. More frequently fractures are those of the fifth metatarsal, followed by CMF and therefore by the first metatarsal. Third metatarsal is injured most frequently than the others and up to 63% is associated with second or fourth metatarsal fractures and up to 28% with both. Anatomy and metatarsal kinematics merits attention due to its influence on function, injuries and treatment options. Diagnosis is based on the history of trauma and clinical examination, relating with instrumental exams. Fractures with less than 10\ub0 of angulation and 3-4 mm of translation in any plane are typically treated conservatively, while operative treatment is generally reserved for fractures out if these values. Intramedullary fixation with K-wires seem to be the most common and valid surgical treatment in simple fractures. Spiral fractures should be treated by interfragmentary screws, which positioning may result difficult due to the adjacent metatarsals. Therefore, an alternative approach is an osteosynthesis with a dorsal plate. Multiple metatarsal fractures often occur in the contiguous bones, so clinicians will also have to carefully inspect metatarsals and adjacent joints such as Lisfranc articulation. The clinical and functional outcomes are often influenced by the pattern of fractures and patient conditions and are reported in the literature up to 39% of poor results