A joint probabilistic index for objective drought identification: the case study of Haiti

Abstract. Since drought is a multifaceted phenomenon, more than one variable should be considered for a proper understanding of such an extreme event in order to implement adequate risk mitigation strategies such as weather or agricultural indices insurance programmes or disaster risk financing tools. This paper proposes a new composite drought index that accounts for both meteorological and agricultural drought conditions by combining in a probabilistic framework two consolidated drought indices: the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and the vegetation health index (VHI). The new index, called the probabilistic precipitation vegetation index (PPVI), is scalable, transferable all over the globe and can be updated in near real time. Furthermore, it is a remote-sensing product, since precipitation is retrieved from satellite data and the VHI is a remote-sensing index. In addition, a set of rules to objectively identify drought events is developed and implemented. Both the index and the set of rules have been applied to Haiti. The performance of the PPVI has been evaluated by means of a receiver operating characteristic curve and compared to that of the SPI and VHI considered separately. The new index outperformed SPI and VHI both in drought identification and characterization, thus revealing potential for an effective implementation within drought early-warning systems

Alternative energy storage options for heat pump water heater coupled with photovoltaic plant for domestic hot water production

The present work relies on the topic of energy storage for Heat and Electricity applied to Heat Pump Water Heaters coupled with photovoltaic plants for Domestic Hot Water production. The main idea is to evaluate the possibility to exploit the water tank as heat storage for the produced photovoltaic energy and, where appropriate combined with electrical storage. For this reason, two heat pumps with different volume size have been chosen and smart control strategies have been applied while monitoring the water temperature in the tank. Calculations account on tapping profile inferred from monitored data of a representative end-user in a Mediterranean small island. Results show how the combination of smart control strategies and battery systems is the most suitable solution in order to fulfil the domestic hot water energy demand by renewable sources while maintaining comfort requirements

Comparison of pure and mixed gas permeation of the highly fluorinated polymer of intrinsic microporosity PIM-2 under dry and humid conditions: Experiment and modelling

This manuscript describes the gas separation performance of PIM-2, a partially fluorinated linear copolymer synthesized from 5,5',6,6'-tetrahydroxy-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylspirobisindane (TTSBI) and decafluorobiphenyl (DFBP). As one of the early members of the family of polymers of intrinsic microporosity, it had never been tested as a gas separation membrane because of insufficient mechanical resistance. This has been solved only recently, allowing the preparation of robust self-standing films. Molecular modelling studies demonstrated a high fractional free volume (34%) and an elevated surface area (642 m2 g-1), and the latter is in good agreement with experimental BET results. Pure gas permeabilities measured on a fixed-volume time-lag instrument at 1 bar compare well with the results of mixed separation tests on a variable volume setup from 1-6 bar(a). Molecular modelling and independent sorption measurements on a gravimetric sorption balance both show strong dual-mode sorption behaviour, especially for CO2 and to a lesser extent for CH4. Temperature-dependent pure gas permeation measurements show typical Arrhenius behaviour, with a clear increase in the activation energy for diffusion with the increasing molecular size of the gas, indicating high size-selectivity. This is in agreement with the highly rigid PIM structure, determined by AFM force spectroscopy measurements. The dual-mode behaviour results in a moderate pressure dependence of the CO2 permeability and the CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity, all slightly decreasing with increasing pressure. The presence of humidity in the gas stream has a remarkable small effect on the membrane performance, which is probably due to the high fluorine content and the consequently low water vapour solubility in the polymer, as confirmed by gravimetric sorption measurements. The manuscript describes an extensive study on the structure-property relationships in PIM-2. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.European Commission, EC Grantová Agentura Ceské Republiky, GA Ä?R: 18-05484S --Research on biogas upgrading presented in this work was supported by EU structural funding in the frame of Operational Programme Research, Development and Education, project No. CZ.02.1.01./0.0/0.0/17_049/0008419 “COOPERATION”. This work was further supported by the CNR-CAS bilateral agreement 2016–2018 “Innovative polymeric membranes for pervaporation and advanced gas and vapour separations” and by the Czech Science Foundation (grant no. 18-05484S ). Appendix A -

Winemaking Byproducts as Source of Antioxidant Components : Consumers’ Acceptance and Expectations of Phenol-Enriched Plant-Based Food

One of the food industry\u2019s priorities is to recover byproducts and move towards more sustainable systems. Among wine-chain byproducts, unripe grapes represent a promising source of antioxidants. However, the development of new foods enriched using phenol-rich ingredients is challenging due to their sensory attributes. The aims of the present study were to (1) use phenol-rich extract from unripe grapes to enrich a model plant-based food (beetroot puree\u2014BP); (2) evaluate consumers\u2019 acceptance and expectations for the beetroot pur\ue9e samples. The effect of information about the sustainability and pro-health activity of value-added ingredients on consumers\u2019 responses was also investigated. Four beetroot purees with increasing concentrations of phenol extract (0\u20131.93 g/kg) added were evaluated by 101 participants in three tasting conditions (blind: only samples; expected: only information without tasting; real: both samples and information).Liking slightly decreased with increasing concentrations of phenol extract, even if all the samples were considered acceptable. The health and sustainability information increased the hedonic expectations, although it was not assimilated by all consumers involved. The development of new phenol-enriched foods using functional ingredients from unripe grapes is challenging. However, it is also promising, since all the samples were generally accepted by the consumers and they presented phenol levels that were stable over time and that could have positive health effects when consumed

A Role for Timp3 in Microbiota-Driven Hepatic Steatosis and Metabolic Dysfunction

The effect of gut microbiota on obesity and insulin resistance is now recognized, but the underlying host-dependent mechanisms remain poorly undefined. We find that tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 knockout (Timp3(-/-)) mice fed a high-fat diet exhibit gut microbiota dysbiosis, an increase in branched chain and aromatic (BCAA) metabolites, liver steatosis, and an increase in circulating soluble IL-6 receptors (sIL6Rs). sIL6Rs can then activate inflammatory cells, such as CD11c(+) cells, which drive metabolic inflammation. Depleting the microbiota through antibiotic treatment significantly improves glucose tolerance, hepatic steatosis, and systemic inflammation, and neutralizing sIL6R signaling reduces inflammation, but only mildly impacts glucose tolerance. Collectively, our results suggest that gut microbiota is the primary driver of the observed metabolic dysfunction, which is mediated, in part, through IL-6 signaling. Our findings also identify an important role for Timp3 in mediating the effect of the microbiota in metabolic diseases

Upgrading of raw biogas using membranes based on the ultrapermeable polymer of intrinsic microporosity PIM-TMN-Trip

The potential of an ultrapermeable benzotriptycene-based polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-TMN-Trip) for the upgrading of biogas is investigated. Permeation experiments were performed using an in-house bespoke permeation unit for pure gases and gas mixtures, and included tests with model mixtures as well as real biogas from a sewage treatment plant, under dry and humid conditions. Permeability and CO2/CH4 selectivity for either pure gases or for real biogas were high and lie close to or on the recently defined 2019 Robeson upper bound based on ideal permselectivities. In addition, a remarkable increase in CO2/CH4 selectivity was observed after two weeks of continuous exposure to CO2 due to a significant decrease of CH4 permeability. The constant CO2 permeability and increased selectivity upon ageing suggest that ageing in the presence of CO2 causes a rearrangement, rather than a reduction of the fractional free volume. The mixed gas permeability experiments were performed with high stage-cut in order to mimic a real separation process, and the results confirmed the potential of PIM-TMN-Trip membranes for biogas upgrading.Web of Science618art. no. 11869

Ultrapermeable Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) Containing Spirocyclic Units with Fused Triptycenes

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs), such as the archetypal spirobisindane-based PIM-1, are among the most promising new materials for making gas separation membranes with high permeance for potential use in high-throughput applications. Here it is shown that ultrapermeable PIMs can be prepared by fusing rigid and bulky triptycene (Trip) to the spirobisindane (SBI) unit. PIM-SBI-Trip and its copolymer with PIM-1 (PIM-1/SBI-Trip) are both ultrapermeable after methanol treatment (PCO2 > 20 000 Barrer). Old films, although less permeable, are more selective and therefore provide data that are close to the recently redefined Robeson upper bounds for the important CO2/CH4, CO2/N2, and O2/N2 gas pairs. Temperature-dependent permeation measurements and analysis of the entropic and energetic contributions of the gas transport parameters show that the enhanced performance of these polymers is governed by strong size-sieving character, mainly due to the energetic term of the diffusivity, and related to their high rigidity. Both polymers show a relatively weak pressure-dependence in mixed gas permeability experiments up to 6 bar, suggesting a potential use for CO2 capture from flue gas or for the upgrading of biogas

Malignant gastric outlet obstruction: Which is the best therapeutic option?

Malignant gastric outlet obstruction (MGOO) is a clinical condition characterized by the mechanical obstruction of the pylorus or the duodenum due to tumor compression/infiltration, with consequent reduction or impossibility of an adequate oral intake. MGOO is mainly secondary to advanced pancreatic or gastric cancers, and significantly impacts on patients' survival and quality of life. Patients suffering from this condition often present with intractable vomiting and severe malnutrition, which further compromise therapeutic chances. Currently, palliative strategies are based primarily on surgical gastrojejunostomy and endoscopic enteral stenting with self-expanding metal stents. Several studies have shown that surgical approach has the advantage of a more durable relief of symptoms and the need of fewer re-interventions, at the cost of higher procedure-related risks and longer hospital stay. On the other hand, enteral stenting provides rapid clinical improvement, but have the limit of higher stent dysfunction rate due to tumor ingrowth and a subsequent need of frequent re-interventions. Recently, a third way has come from interventional endoscopic ultrasound, through the development of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy technique with lumen-apposing metal stent. This new technique may ideally encompass the minimal invasiveness of an endoscopic procedure and the long-lasting effect of the surgical gastrojejunostomy, and brought encouraging results so far, even if prospective comparative trial are still lacking. In this Review, we described technical aspects and clinical outcomes of the above-cited therapeutic approaches, and discussed the open questions about the current management of MGOO

Super selective arterial embolization to treat radiation-induced hemorrhagic gastritis: a case report and review of the literature

Radiation-induced hemorrhagic gastritis (RIHG) is a rare but potentially fatal event following radiotherapy for locally advanced gastric cancer; the treatment of this condition is not standardized. Only few cases of RIHG have been reported, treated with different therapeutic approaches. Here we report the case of a 79-year-old patient who underwent subtotal gastrectomy for gastric cancer, followed by adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy. Approximately 3 months after the end of the treatment, she developed recurrent diffuse bleeding originating from the entire mucosa of the gastric pouch and from a marginal ulcer. As the bleeding was refractory to several endoscopic treatments and surgery was not indicated, the patient underwent two sessions of transcatheter selective arterial embolization, with resolution of bleeding. Arterial embolization has already been reported for the treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis, developing after irradiation of the pelvis for prostate, bladder, rectum, and cervix cancer. However, to our knowledge, it has never been reported as a treatment for hemorrhagic gastritis. Based on this case, we suggest arterial embolization as an option in the management of RIHG, when standard endoscopic treatment fails

B content and Si/C ratios from cultured diatoms (Thalassiosira pseudonana and Thalassiosira weissflogii): Relationship to seawater pH and diatom carbon acquisition

AbstractDespite the importance of diatoms in regulating climate and the existence of large opal-containing sediments in key air-ocean exchange areas, most geochemical proxy records are based on carbonates. Among them, Boron (B) content and isotopic composition have been widely used to reconstruct pH from foraminifera and coral fossils. We assessed the possibility of a pH/CO2 seawater concentration control on B content in diatom opal to determine whether or not frustule B concentrations could be used as a pH proxy or to clarify algae physiological responses to acidifying pH. We cultured two well-studied diatom species, Thalassiosira pseudonana and Thalassiosira weissflogii at varying pH conditions and determined Si and C quotas. Frustule B content was measured by both laser-ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS/ion probe). For both species, frustules grown at higher pH have higher B contents and higher Si requirements per fixed C. If this trend is representative of diatom silicification in a future more acidic ocean, it could contribute to changes in the efficiency of diatom ballasting and C export, as well as changes in the contribution of diatoms relative to other phytoplankton groups in Si-limited regions. If B enters the cell through the same transporter employed for HCO3− uptake, an increased HCO3− requirement with decreasing CO2 concentrations (higher pH), and higher B(OH)4/HCO3− ratios would explain the observed increase in frustule B content with increasing pH. The mechanism of B transport from the site of uptake to the site of silica deposition is unknown, but may occur via silicon transport vesicles, in which B(OH)4− may be imported for B detoxification and/or as part of a pH regulation strategy either though Na-dependent B(OH)4−/Cl− antiport or B(OH)4−/H+ antiport. B deposition in the silica matrix may occur via substitution of a B(OH)4− for a negatively charged SiO− formed during silicification. With the current analytical precision, B content of frustules is unlikely to resolve ocean pH with a precision of paleoceanographic interest. However, if frustule B content was controlled mainly by HCO3− uptake for photosynthesis, which appears to show a threshold behavior, then measurements of B content might reveal the varying importance of active HCO3− acquisition mechanisms of diatoms in the past