Performance evaluation of a benchtop wood pellet length analyser based on visual imaging

Wood pellet is a densified solid biofuel with the highest level of standardization. Geometric characteristics of pellets, such as length and diameter, are proprieties considered by the technical specification ISO 17225-2 for the definition of quality classes. Reason for this is that pellet length affects many aspects such as how the biofuel fills the available space in the brazier and therefore impacts on mass and energy density.Currently, the standard ISO 17829 describes the methodology for measuring pellet length using a precision caliper on a small pellet sample. This operation, even though performed on small sample quantities, is time-consuming. An alternative method for measuring the length of the pellets is proposed in this paper.Our results suggest that the benchtop prototypal IR instrument MetaLab allows assessing pellet length and diameter with high accuracy, which makes IR instrument MetaLab a reliable and quicker alternative to the measuring method defined by ISO 17829.Standardizing the measurement procedure with the instrument proposed in this paper might lead to the development of a new measurement standard.Furthermore, the development of a portable version of Meta Lab may allow business operators to apply this innovative measurement method along the supply chain, ensuring an easier quality control of the product

Misuse of serological screening tests for celiac disease in children: A prospective study in Italy

Background: Despite a well-established diagnostic algorithm for celiac disease, it remains unclear whether prescriptions for celiac serological tests comply with the current pediatric guidelines. Aim: To analyze the appropriateness of test prescription in children investigated for celiac disease in Italy, compared to the current European pediatric guidelines. Methods: All children who had performed a first evaluation for celiac disease were prospectively enrolled. Prescribed tests and related indications for testing were recorded, and compared to the European pediatric guidelines. Results: Overall, 202 children were enrolled (females 59%, mean age 7.1 years ±4.1) in two centers. The reasons for celiac disease testing were typical, atypical symptoms or celiac disease-associated conditions in 46.5%, 49%, and 4.5% of cases, respectively. First-line tests were IgA and IgG anti-transglutaminase antibodies in 88.1% and 29.7% of children, IgA and IgG anti-deamidated gliadin peptide antibodies in 43% and 47%, IgA and IgG anti native gliadin in 15.8%, IgA anti-endomysium antibodies in 44.5%, HLA predisposing genes in 10% of patients. Test redundancy was very common, and the current diagnostic guidelines were correctly followed only in 23/202 patients (11.4%). Conclusions: Diagnostic European guidelines for celiac disease screening are often disregarded in Italy. Intervention to implement adherence to these guidelines is needed, with the aim of improving resource utilization, and quality of patient care

Phosphorilated ERK and eIF2alpha levels in melanoma cells.

The differentiation, proliferation and survival of melanocytes and melanoma cells are controlled at various levels. Recently, the importance of translational regulation in promoting and sustaining tumorigenesis is being increasingly recognized. The expression of certain translational factors transiently increases in normal cells in response to growth factors and is constitutively upregulated in tumor cells. The initiation factor IF2 is a central regulator of translation, and is the target of the main pathways of translational control. Activation of eIF2 kinases in response to stress or tumoral transformation has been reported; increased phosphorylation of eIF2 alpha has been correlated with a metastatic phenotype in some kinds of tumors. Phosphorylated ERK levels can be used as marker of cell growth since they are higher in the actively proliferating cells. We investigated whether phosphorylated eIF2-alpha and phosphorylated ERK levels are reliable markers of tumorigenic potential in different melanoma cell lines, and to get insight into the mechanisms whereby eIF2-alpha phosphorylation may modulate cellular transformation. In our melanoma cell lines, showed different levels of phosphorylated eIF2alpha and phosphorylated ERK, which were higher in the cell lines derived from metastatic tumours as compared to primary melanoma cell lines. We showed that after treatment with a MEK inhibitor, ERK phosphorylation was inhibited while eIF2alpha phosphorylation was enhanced in all melanoma cell lines. Moreover Western blotting and confocal analyses revealed that phosphorylated eIF2alpha was localized in the nucleus of melanoma cell lines, supporting a possible relationship between phosphorylation levels and subcellular localization of phosphorylated eIF2 alpha and cell proliferation in malignant melanoma

Optimization of the thermochromic glazing design for curtain wall buildings based on experimental measurements and dynamic simulation

Thermochromic (TC) glazing could provide a significant reduction of energy consumption in curtain wall buildings. However, each application requires a design tailored to building's specifications. This paper proposes a complete approach for designing TC glaze based on building energy simulation starting from the production of thin thermochromic layers and the measurements of their optical properties by means of a customized spectrophotometer. The main focus of this work is to identify the optimal TC optical response that minimises the building energy consumption. Energy simulations have been performed for a virtual mock-up set at two locations with different climates, Italy and Poland. A set of profiles, each one determining thermochromic properties in terms of switching temperature, range of solar transmittance and transition speed, have been created with a fine step of temperature (2 °C) and used to simulate different scenarios. The outcome of the optimization provided the optimal properties to achieve the right balance between cooling energy reduction and heating energy increase due to the application of the thermochromic layer, in comparison to a standard clear glass. The fine step in switching temperature allowed to accurately estimate the subtle differences for the two different climates (25 °C Italy, 24–26 °C Poland). The highest impact has been found for the Italian location with a maximum reduction of total energy consumption of 22.8%. This was achieved with a thermochromic switching at 25 °C, with fast transition and range of transmittance between 0.1 (switched state) and 0.5 (normal state), which is a not extreme behaviour