Measured Indoor Environmental Data in a Retrofitted Multiapartment Building to Assess Energy Flexibility and Thermal Safety during Winter Power Outages

The article describes detailed measurements of indoor environmental parameters in a multiapartment housing block located in Milan, Italy, which has recently undergone a deep energy retrofit and is used as a thermal battery during the winter season. Two datasets are provided: one refers to a series of experimental tests conducted by the authors in an unoccupied flat, in which the thermal capacity of the building mass is exploited to act as an energy storage. The dataset reports, with a time step of 10 min, measurements of air temperature, globe temperature and surface temperatures in the analyzed room and data characterizing the adjacent spaces and the outdoor conditions. The second set of data refers to the air temperature monitoring carried out continuously in all the apartments of the apartment block, and hence also during two unplanned heating power outages. The analyzed data show the role of deep renovations in extending the time over which a building can remain in the thermal comfort range after an energy interruption and thus highlight the potential role of retrofitted buildings in delivering energy flexibility services to related stakeholders, such as the occupants, the building manager, the grid operator, and others. Furthermore, the dataset can be used to calibrate an energy simulation model to investigate different demand-side flexibility strategies and evaluate thermal safety under extreme weather events

LE DIVERSE LINGUE DELL'INTIMO, DAL CINESE ALL'ARABO

La lingerie è uno dei pochi settori che non ha risentito della crisi economica. Il suo mercato si fa sempre più globale: da Hong Kong a Damasco si spartisce tutta la produzione low cost di intimo nell’Occidente

Statistical Optimization of a Hyper Red, Deep Blue, and White LEDs Light Combination for Controlled Basil Horticulture

This study aims to optimize artificial LEDs light conditions, for “Genovese” basil germination and growth in an indoor environment suitable for horticulture. Following a previous study on the synergic effect of LEDs light and a tailored fertilizer, in this study, the effect of white LED in combination with hyper red and deep blue, as well the plants–lights distance, was correlated to 14 growth and germination parameters, such as height, number of plants, etc. A design of experiments approach was implemented, aiming to derive mathematical models with predictive power, employing a restrained number of tests. Results demonstrated that for the germination phase, it is not possible to derive reliable mathematical models because almost the same results were found for all the experiments in terms of a fruitful germination. On the contrary, for the growth phase, the statistical analysis indicates that the distance among plants and lights is the most significant parameter. Nevertheless, correlations with LED light type emerged, indicating that white LEDs should be employed only to enhance specific growth parameters (e.g., to reduce water consumption). The tailored models derived in this study can be exploited to further enhance the desired property of interest in the growth of basil in horticulture

Combined Effects of Different LED Light Recipes and Slow-Release Fertilizers on Baby Leaf Lettuce Growth for Vertical Farming: Modeling through DoE

The modern agriculture system based on open-field crops requires a lot of energy and resources in terms of soil, water, and chemicals. Vertical farming (VF) systems could be a viable alternative for some types of cultivation that are receiving interest thanks to their high modularity, optimized water and nutrients use, and LEDs employment as an energy-efficient light source. However, VF design and installation are expensive and require well-tailored optimization depending on the specific crop to increase its competitiveness. This work analyzed the effects of different combinations of NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) slow-release fertilizers and LED-based light recipes on the growth of baby leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), taking advantage of the Design of Experiments (DoE) methodology. The type of slow-release fertilizer, its quantity measured as the number of aggregates from 0 to 6, and the type of light recipe were considered as input factors, and their possible influence on the growth of lettuce (in terms of morphological parameters) in a controlled indoor farming system was measured. Results suggest that using higher fertilizer inputs equal to six aggregates leads to an increase of average leaf area equal to 46% (from 13.00 cm2 to 19.00 cm2), while the fresh weight of lettuce increases by 65% (from 1.79 g to 2.96 g). However, the height of plants also depends on the combination of the light recipes. In particular, the separate coupling of higher inputs of two fertilizers and light recipes leads to an increase in the height of lettuce equal to 33% (from 6.00 cm to 8.00 cm)

FRESH CUT VEGETABLE: BREATHABLE FILM

The importance of minimally processed vegetables is increasing since the consumer requires products that keep their health properties, as well as their freshness and nutritional values. The deterioration processes of fresh-cut vegetables can be retarded by using suitable pre-treatments and/or adequate packaging systems, besides/ in addition to storage temperature. Fresh produce continue to respire in a post-harvest environment. Once the produce is packed, film with relatively high oxygen (O2) permeability must be used to avoid the risk of anaerobic respiration and excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) levels within the packages (2). In this paper, we will analyse how the use of specific raw materials and/or process conditions, has led to the production of film with the unique combination of high oxygen transmission, with relatively low water vapour transmission rate, and excellent optical and stiffness performances. Moreover, we will analyse how the film performs and affects the shelf life of fresh cut vegetables

Differential behaviour of normal, transformed and Fanconi's anemia lymphoblastoid cells to modeled microgravity

Background: Whether microgravity might influence tumour growth and carcinogenesis is still an open issue. It is not clear also if and how normal and transformed cells are differently solicited by microgravity. The present study was designed to verify this issue.Methods: Two normal, LB and HSC93, and two transformed, Jurkat and 1310, lymphoblast cell lines were used as representative for the two conditions. Two lymphoblast lines from Fanconi's anemia patients group A and C (FA-A and FA-C, respectively), along with their isogenic corrected counterparts (FA-A-cor and FA-C-cor) were also used. Cell lines were evaluated for their proliferative ability, vitality and apoptotic susceptibility upon microgravity exposure in comparison with unexposed cells. Different parameters correlated to energy metabolism, glucose consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular ATP content, red-ox balance and ability of the cells to repair the DNA damage product 8 OHdG induced by the treatment of the cells with 20 mM KBrO3 were also evaluated.Results: Transformed Jurkat and 1310 cells appear resistant to the microgravitational challenge. On the contrary normal LB and HSC93 cells display increased apoptotic susceptibility, shortage of energy storages and reduced ability to cope with oxidative stress. FA-A and FA-C cells appear resistant to microgravity exposure, analogously to transformed cells. FA corrected cells did shown intermediate sensitivity to microgravity exposure suggesting that genetic correction does not completely reverts cellular phenotype.Conclusions: In the light of the reported results microgravity should be regarded as an harmful condition either when considering normal as well as transformed cells. Modeled microgravity and space-based technology are interesting tools in the biomedicine laboratory and offer an original, useful and unique approach in the study of cellular biochemistry and in the regulation of metabolic pathways

Don’t call It smart: working from home during the pandemic crisis

The recent COVID-19 pandemic and related social distancing measures have significantly changed worldwide employment conditions. In developed economies, institutions and organizations, both public and private, are called upon to reflect on new organizational models of work and human resource management, which - in fact - should offer workers sufficient flexibility in adapting their work schedules remotely to their personal (and family) needs. This study aims to explore, within a Job Demands-Resources framework, whether and to what extent job demands (workload and social isolation), organizational job resources (perceived organizational support), and personal resources (self-efficacy, vision about the future and commitment to organizational change) have affected workers’ quality of life during the pandemic, taking into account the potential mediating role of job satisfaction and perceived stress. Using data from a sample of 293 workers, we estimate measurement and structural models, according to the Item Response Theory and the Path analysis frameworks, which allow us to operationalize the latent traits and study the complex structure of relationships between the latent dimensions. We inserted in the model as control variables, the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the respondents, with particular emphasis on gender differences and the presence and age of children. The study offers insights into the relationship between remote work and quality of life, and the need to rethink human resource management policies considering the opportunities and critical issues highlighted by working full-time remotely

Statistical optimization of a sustainable fertilizer composition based on black soldier fly larvae as source of nitrogen

In the present work, a statistical optimization of a sustainable coating for core–shell NPK (Nitrogen–Phosphorus–Potassium) fertilizers was investigated. The environmental green coating was enriched in nitrogen using a biomass and renewable source, namely the nitrogen rich fraction of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia Illucens, Diptera: Stratiomyidae) reared on vegetable waste. A rational approach was proposed with the aim of calculating the best formulation of the coating, considering both its manufacturing behavior, such as adhesion to the core, and its physical properties, such as homogeneity or plasticity. From a circular economy perspective, together with the nitrogen-rich fraction from BSFL (from 51 to 90 wt.%), water and glycerol were considered for the coating formulation in different proportion: from 10 to 32 wt.% and from 0 to 17 wt.% respectively. The Design of Experiments technique was implemented to limit the total number of tests for the coating formulation (18 tests). ANOVA was employed, with the aim of obtaining mathematical models to derive a better precise and objective formulation. The results show that the use of glycerol can be avoided, as well as only a limited amount of water (11 wt.%) is necessary to obtain an optimized coating formulation, thereafter, satisfying the more relevant technological and physical properties for the coating manufacturin

Gender and entrepreneurship in pandemic time: what demands and what resources? An exploratory study

Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, global economies have suffered an exogenous shock never seen before with a strong economic and psychosocial impact on organizations. Italy, in the context of the research, has been severely affected. The economic crisis has mainly affected women. In this scenario, entrepreneurial perceived success (objective and subjective) is influenced by increasingly burdensome job demands that entrepreneurs have to face up. Using the job demand resources model, the study aims to broaden the knowledge of the determinants of entrepreneurial perceived success in the current emergency moment. In particular, as regards of the demands, alongside the specific entrepreneurial demands (time demands, uncertainty and risk, and responsibility), we also decided to include the negative interface family–work in both directions from-family-to-work (NEGWIF) and from-work-to-family (NEGFIW). Regarding the resources, we considered entrepreneurial self-efficacy (researching, planning, marshaling, implementing people, and implementing financial), proactive and elaborate social strategies (SS), and both directions of the positive interface: from-family-to-work (POSWIF) and from-work-to-family (POSFIW). All participants are women entrepreneurs (N = 137) who have completed a self-report questionnaire. We explored the associations between demands, resources, and the dimensions of success through hierarchical regressions. As for the demands, time demands, uncertainty and risk, NEGWIF, and NEGFIW negatively influenced the perceived entrepreneurial success. Regarding resources, planning, implementing financial, proactive and elaborate SS positively influenced the perceived entrepreneurial success

Quantitative Calculation of the Most Efficient LED Light Combinations at Specific Growth Stages for Basil Indoor Horticulture: Modeling through Design of Experiments

Indoor farms are a promising way to obtain vegetables in standard quantity and quality. As opposed to previous studies, this study attempts to calculate optimized LED light conditions for different growth stages (five-days time step) of basil (Ocimum basilicum) to enhance its indoor growth through a statistical approach. Design of Experiments (DoE) was used to plan a limited number of experiments (20) and to calculate quantitatively the effect of different light recipes on four responses: the number of plants, their height, the Leaf Area Index, and the amount of water used. Different proportions (from 25% to 77%) of Hyper Red (660 nm) and Deep Blue (451 nm), intensities in terms of LEDs–plant distance (60, 70 and 80 cm), and the addition of Warm White (3000 K) LEDs were considered as independent variables. The obtained models suggest that a light recipe tailored for every growth step in the plant’s life is beneficial. Appropriate LEDs must be carefully chosen at the beginning of growth, whereas distance becomes relevant at the end. This is confirmed by the results analysis carried out at the end of an additional growth test where the optimal light recipe extracted from the DoE’s results were used