Fluidized bed gasification of biomass from plant-assisted bioremediation: Fate of contaminants

Fluidized-bed gasification (FBG) of Phyto-assisted Bioremediation (PABR) biomass is analyzed focusing on the contaminants' dispersion. Poplar pruning coming from an area contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals (HM) are considered. The biomass analysis showed relevant contents in HMs, especially Cd and Cr, and no significant PCB content. FBG process was analyzed to: a) track pollutants, b) detect contaminants in the FBG and c) investigate the HMs concentration in the produced streams. The results showed that most of the metals are concentrated in the ashes collected in the bottom of the reactor (Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr), or in the cyclone (B, Na, Mg, Al, K and Fe). Interestingly, metals are also released by the olivine bed (Mg, Fe, Ni and Al) and transported downstream. Consistent fractions of Zn and Fe (also Cu) were detected in the fugitive ashes. As for the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) concentration, we noted similarities between PABR and virgin biomass syngas streams. A reduced-scale process was carried out in TGA-DTA to investigate the potential of such technique in reproducing the main features of the FBG process. Comparable results were obtained, thus suggesting its possible application for small-scale preliminary assessment of FBG process

Characterization of marble weathering through pore structure quantitative analysis

Y Stone weathering is strongly controlled by the intrinsic properties of the stone and by its use. Previous studies demonstrate that the response to natural or artificial ageing processes of the rocks seems to be strongly influenced by the pore structure of the stone. A better understanding of this phenomenon is provided by the study and characterization of porosity and of the pore structure at different degrees of alteration. The analysis of the evolution of the decay leads to the evaluation of the durability of marble in facades, and more generally in buildings, as well as for the protection and recovery of artistic and architectural heritage.In this paper, we apply a methodology for the geometrical characterization of the pore structure to quantify alteration induced by natural weathering on marble slabs. The approach is based on the application of a path-finding algorithm to 2D binary images representative of thin sections of marble at different degrees of alteration. Through the identification of the paths within the porous domain, the methodology allows the characterization of the pore structure in terms of pore radius distribution along the identified paths. Analysis of the results demonstrate a good agreement between the degree of alteration of the pore structure and the corresponding variation of the physical and mechanical properties of the rock samples under investigation

FGF15 promotes neurogenesis and opposes FGF8 function during neocortical development

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Growth, differentiation and regional specification of telencephalic domains, such as the cerebral cortex, are regulated by the interplay of secreted proteins produced by patterning centers and signal transduction systems deployed in the surrounding neuroepithelium. Among other signaling molecules, members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family have a prominent role in regulating growth, differentiation and regional specification. In the mouse telencephalon the rostral patterning center expresses members of the <it>Fgf </it>family (<it>Fgf8</it>, <it>Fgf15</it>, <it>Fgf17</it>, <it>Fgf18</it>). FGF8 and FGF17 signaling have major roles in specification and morphogenesis of the rostroventral telencephalon, whereas the functions of FGF15 and FGF18 in the rostral patterning center have not been established.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using <it>Fgf15</it>^-/-mutant mice, we provide evidence that FGF15 suppresses proliferation, and that it promotes differentiation, expression of <it>CoupTF1 </it>and caudoventral fate; thus, reducing <it>Fgf15 </it>and <it>Fgf8 </it>dosage have opposite effects. Furthermore, we show that FGF15 and FGF8 differentially phosphorylate ERK (p42/44), AKT and S6 in cultures of embryonic cortex. Finally, we show that FGF15 inhibits proliferation in cortical cultures.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>FGF15 and FGF8 have distinct signaling properties, and opposite effects on neocortical patterning and differentiation; FGF15 promotes <it>CoupTF1 </it>expression, represses proliferation and promotes neural differentiation.</p

An open data index to assess the green transition - A study on all Italian municipalities

This study introduces a municipality transition index based on open data and green transition principles. The Municipality Transition Index provides data and a succinct measurement of municipal attributes as defined by green policies at national and local level. We identify four dimensions of interest and 18 key performance indicators, defined at municipality level, and measure factors that directly and indirectly influence the green transition, with a focus on the Green Deal vision embraced by the European Union. The robustness and meaningfulness of the index is tested on a dataset covering all 7904 Italian municipalities. Our results show that computation of the MTI on this sample produces a bell-shaped distribution, suggesting strong geographic disparities and a significant difference between cities, towns and rural areas. The results show the need for policies and tools tailored at municipal level and provide information for practitioners, policy makers and experts from academia, useful for designing tools to underpin investment planning in the framework of the recent National Recovery and Resilience Plan issued by the Italian government. This may be particularly useful for enhancing green-transition-enabling factors that may differ across regions, helping policymakers to promote a smooth and fair transition by monitoring the performance of municipalities as they address the challenge

Harmonic Pulse Testing for Well Monitoring: application to a fractured geothermal reservoir

Harmonic Pulse Testing (HPT) has been developed as a type of well testing applicable during ongoing field operations because a pulsed signal is superimposed on background pressure trend. Its purpose is to determine well and formation parameters such as wellbore storage, skin, permeability and boundaries within the investigated volume. Compared to conventional well testing, HPT requires more time to investigate the same reservoir volume. The advantage is that it does not require the interruption of well and reservoir injection/production before and/or during the test because it allows the extraction of an interpretable periodic signal from measured pressure potentially affected by interference. This makes it an ideal monitoring tool. Interpretation is streamlined through diagnostic plots mimicking conventional well test interpretation methods. To this end, analytical solutions in the frequency domain are available. The methodology was applied to monitor stimulation operations performed at an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) site in Pohang, Korea. The activities were divided into two steps: first a preliminary sequence of tests, injection/fall‐off and two HPTs, characterized by low injection rates and dedicated to estimate permeability prior to stimulation operations; then stimulation sequence characterized by higher injection rate. During the stimulation operations other HPTs were performed to monitor formation properties behavior. The interpretation of HPT data through the derivative approach implemented in the frequency domain provided reliable results in agreement with the injection test. Moreover, it provided an estimation of hydraulic properties without cessation of stimulation operations, thus confirming the effectiveness of HPT application for monitoring purposes

ENFICA-FC: Design of transport aircraft powered by fuel cell & flight test of zero emission 2-seater aircraft powered by fuel cells fueled by hydrogen

Fuel cells could become the main power source for small general aviation aircraft or could replace APU and internal sub-systems on larger aircraft, to obtain all-electric or more-electric air vehicles. There are several potential advantages of using such a power source, that range from environmental and economic issues to performance and operability aspects. A preliminary design is reported. Also, the paper contains a description of testing activities related to experimental flights of an all-electric general aviation aircraft fueled by hydrogen. Great importance has been given to the testing phase of the prototype and examples of each testing stage are shown ranging from the single components to the final test flights. During the 6 experimental flights a rotation speed of 84 km/h was obtained in 184 m of taxi at power of 35 kW. Level flight was attained at 135 km/h and endurance of 39 min by mean of only a fuel cell power setting (speed world record for the FAI Sporting Code Category C - airplane

States of 15C via the (18O,16O) reaction

A study of the 15C states was pursued in 2008 at the Catania INFN-LNS laboratory by the 13C(18O,16O)15C reaction at 84 MeV incident energy. The 16O ejectiles were detected at forward angles by the MAGNEX magnetic spectrometer. Thanks to an innovative technique the ejectiles were identified without the need of time of flight measurements. Exploiting the large momentum acceptance (25%) and solid angle (50 msr) of the spectrometer, the 15C energy spectra were obtained with a quite relevant yield up to about 20 MeV excitation energy. The application of the powerful technique of the trajectory reconstruction did allow to get an energy resolution of about 250 keV FWHM, limited mainly by straggling effects. The spectra show several known low lying states up to about 7 MeV excitation energy as well as two unknown resonant structures at about 11.4 and 13.5 MeV. The strong excitation of these latter together with the measured width of about 2 MeV FWHM could indicate the presence of collective modes of excitation connected to the transfer of a correlated neutron pair