Energetical analysis of two different configurations of a liquid-gas compressed energy storage

In order to enhance the spreading of renewable energy sources in the Italian electric power market, as well as to promote self-production and to decrease the phase delay between energy production and consumption, energy storage solutions are catching on. Nowadays, in general, small size electric storage batteries represent a quite diffuse technology, while air liquid-compressed energy storage solutions are used for high size. The goal of this paper is the development of a numerical model for small size storage, environmentally sustainable, to exploit the higher efficiency of the liquid pumping to compress air. Two different solutions were analyzed, to improve the system efficiency and to exploit the heat produced by the compression phase of the gas. The study was performed with a numerical model implemented in Matlab, by analyzing the variation of hermodynamical parameters during the compression and the expansion phases, making an energetic assessment for the whole system. The results show a good global efficiency, thus making the system competitive with the smallest size storage batteries

Dissipative processes in superfluid quark matter

We present some results about dissipative processes in fermionic superfluids that are relevant for compact stars. At sufficiently low temperatures the transport properties of a superfluid are dominated by phonons. We report the values of the bulk viscosity, shear viscosity and thermal conductivity of phonons in quark matter at extremely high density and low temperature. Then, we present a new dissipative mechanism that can operate in compact stars and that is named "rocket term". The effect of this dissipative mechanism on superfluid r-mode oscillations is sketched.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure. Prepared for QCD@work 2010 - International Workshop on QCD - Theory and Experiment, 20-23 June 2010, Martina Franca - Valle d'Itria - Ital

Telemedicine in chronic disease management: a Public Health perspective

Introduction In 2014, the School of Hygiene of the University of Padua carried out an evaluation of home telemonitoring (HTM) programs for the management of chronic diseases. Our aims were to verify their efficacy, and to identify a model of care that could be integrated into the current health system. Our analysis addressed both organizational and clinical matters. Methods Our evaluation involved 19 reviews and 53 randomized controlled trials (RCT). Main selection criteria were: papers published over the last 15 years, HTM performed through a sensor system, data sent remotely to physicians, health out-comes and monitored parameters clearly stated. Included diseases were: heart failure, hypertension, COPD, asthma and diabetes. Results Several critical issues were highlighted. Due to the general tendency in the scientific literature to report HTM efficacy, there is a lack of conclusive evidence whether telemedicine actually improves both clinical (e.g. decreased disease/all-cause mortality, drop in disease/all-cause hospitalization rates, improvement in biological parameters and quality of life) and organizational (decreased length of hospital stay, decreased emergency room/other service use, decreased costs) outcomes or not. Discussion From a Public Health perspective, discrepancies and weaknesses may affect published results, since the best method for organizing and delivering telemedicine programs has not yet been identified. There is still no consensus on the following topics: setting: which context expresses the potential of technology best? No studies were found comparing, e.g., rural with urban communities. Within urban scenarios, samples do not discriminate users by their capability to access the healthcare network (e.g. residents in peripheral areas with limited transportation resources, rather than users with reduced mobility); target: it is unclear which demographic or socioeconomic characteristics users should possess to gain most benefit from HTM; duration and frequency: there are significant differences in RCT (and HTM program) duration. It has not been established whether HTM is more effective when permanently implemented, or only in the early stages of disease (i.e. until stabilization). There is no agreement on the optimal HTM implementation frequency, nor whether the patients should also receive traditional interventions (e.g. nurse home visits);scope: it has not been determined whether measurements should be disclosed to patients as educational means to improve disease management. However, past literature does include some indications that the effectiveness of HTM programs may be attributable to care intensification (or to a perceived intensification by the patient, as per the \u201cHawthorne effect\u201d described in sociology) or to the empowerment process. Conclusions HTM management of chronic diseases is a promising and remarkable strategy, still flawed by the lack of evidence. Reported efficacy, although modest, probably has a multifactorial origin. Our hypothesis is that it may not result from the technology itself, but from the impact of such process on multiple components of care, emphasizing patients' involvement and autonomy, and improving monitoring intensity. Further studies are needed to clarify the role played by the different HTM components (target, setting, etc.). The application of HTM as a tool for prevention, empowerment and reduction of healthcare access remains little explored

Suicide first aid guidelines for assisting persons from immigrant or refugee background: a Delphi study

Objective: Suicide rates vary across different cultural groups and some immigrant or refugee populations display higher risk for suicide. This study aimed to produce guidelines to help members of the public provide assistance to a person from an immigrant or refugee background who is having suicidal thoughts or displaying suicidal behaviour. Method: The Delphi expert consensus method was used to identify warning signs and first aid actions to include in guidelines. Forty- four professionals and/or advocates with lived experience were asked to rate whether each statement contained in an online questionnaire should be included in the guidelines and to suggest additional statements considered by the respondent to be particularly relevant to a person from an immigrant or refugee background. The Delphi process started with 473 statements and 80 new items were written based on suggestions from panel members. Results: Out of the total 553 statements, 345 were endorsed as appropriate warning signs or helping actions. These statements were used to develop the guidelines. Discussion: The guidelines specific to people from immigrant or refugee backgrounds contain additional items to those included in similar guidelines for English-speaking countries. The guidelines may be used for gatekeeper training for suicide prevention in culturally diverse societies

In or out? Barriers and facilitators to refugee-background young people accessing mental health services

Refugee young people have been identified as a group with high risk for mental health problems, due to their experience of trauma, forced migration, and stressors associated with settlement. A high prevalence of mental health problems is reported in this group, however some research suggests refugee young people have low rates of mental health service access. There is little information available on barriers and facilitators to mental service delivery for this group. Using data from 15 focus groups and five key informant interviews with a total of 115 service providers from 12 agencies in Melbourne, Australia, this paper explores barriers and facilitators to engaging young people from refugee backgrounds with mental health services. Eight key themes emerged: cultural concepts of mental health, illness, and treatment; service accessibility; trust; working with interpreters; engaging family and community; the style and approach of mental health providers; advocacy; and continuity of care

Effect of pre-bloom anti-transpirant treatments and leaf removal on 'Sangiovese' (Vitis vinifera L.) winegrapes

Recent trials have shown that basal shoot leaf removal at pre-bloom is effective in reducing fruit-set and yield, leading to better grape quality composition. The present trial was designed to determine whether similar results can be achieved with 'Sangiovese' vines by testing a pre-bloom spray of film-forming anti-transpirant (P) against pre-bloom hand defoliation of basal shoots (HD) and no defoliation (C). The results of our threeyear experiment show that, compared to C, P reduced net assimilation of treated leaves for 20-40 days and photosynthetic compensation was not found after treatments in the upper untreated leaves of P and in the remaining upper HD leaves; berry-set, cluster weight and yield were significantly reduced in P and HD; bunch compactness decreased in HD, with P clusters registering an intermediate value; must soluble solids content (°Brix) and pH of P and HD were higher; no differences were found among treatments for titratable acidity. Berry and skin weight and anthocyanin content of P and C berries were similar, whereas HD berries, which were fully exposed to ambient light and temperature throughout each season, showed higher skin weight and skin weight-to-berry weight ratio, but a decreasing of total skin anthocyanins content compared to C and P.

On the effect of ultrasound-assisted atmospheric freeze-drying on the antioxidant properties of eggplant

[EN] The low operating temperatures employed in atmospheric freeze-drying permits an effective drying of heat sensitive products, without any impairment of their quality attributes. When using power ultrasound, the drying rate can be increased, thus reducing the process duration. However, ultrasound can also affect the product quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of various drying process variables, namely air temperature and velocity, ultrasound power and sample size, on the antioxidant properties of eggplant (Solanum Melongena L.) samples. For this reason, drying experiments were carried out at different drying temperatures (-5, -7.5, -10 °C), power ultrasound levels (0, 25, 50 W; 21.9 kHz) and air velocities (2, 5 m s-1) using different sample sizes (8.8 mm and 17.6 mm cube side). The ascorbic acid content (Jagota and Dani method), total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteau method), and the antioxidant capacity (FRAP method) of the dried products were considered as quality indicators of the dried samples. The increase in air velocity and temperature, as well as the sample size, significantly reduced the antioxidant potential of the dried samples (p-value < 0.05). For a given sample size, the application of ultrasound, at the acoustic power levels tested, did not produce significant effects on the antioxidant indicators considered. Temperature measurements inside the drying sample showed a non-negligible temperature rise when acoustic power was applied.The authors acknowledge the financial support from Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2014/005) and INIA-ERDF (RTA2015-00060-C04-02).Colucci, D.; Fisore, D.; Rosselló, C.; Carcel Carrión, JA. (2018). On the effect of ultrasound-assisted atmospheric freeze-drying on the antioxidant properties of eggplant. Food Research International. 106:580-588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.01.022S58058810

Suicide first aid guidelines for Sri Lanka: a Delphi consensus study

Background: Sri Lanka has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Gatekeeper programs aimed at specific target groups could be a promising suicide prevention strategy in the country. The aim of this study was to develop guidelines that help members of the public to provide first aid to persons in Sri Lanka who are at risk of suicide. Methods: The Delphi method was used to elicit consensus on potential helping statements to include in the guidelines. These statements describe information members of the public should have and actions they can take to help a person who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. An expert panel, comprised of mental health and suicide experts in Sri Lanka, rated each statement. The panellists were encouraged to suggest any additional action that was not included in the original questionnaire and, in particular, to include items that were culturally appropriate or gender specific. Responses to open-ended questions were used to generate new items. These items were included in the subsequent Delphi rounds. Three Delphi rounds were carried out. Statements were accepted for inclusion in the guidelines if they were endorsed (rated as essential or important) by at least 80 % of the panel. Statements endorsed by 70–79 % of the panel were re-rated in the following round. Statements with less than 70 % endorsement, or re-rated items that did not receive 80 % or higher endorsement were rejected. Results: The output from the Delphi process was a set of endorsed statements. In the first round questionnaire 473 statements were presented to the panel and 58 new items were generated from responses to the open-ended questions. Of the total 531 statements presented, 304 were endorsed. These statements were used to develop the suicide first aid guidelines for Sri Lanka. Conclusion: By engaging Sri Lankans who are experts in the field of mental health or suicide this research developed culturally appropriate guidelines for providing mental health first aid to a person at risk of suicide in Sri Lanka. The guidelines may serve as a basis for developing training for members of the public to provide mental health first aid to persons at risk of suicide as part of Sri Lanka’s suicide prevention strategy

From Collar to Coccyx: Truncal Movement Disorders: A Clinical Review

BACKGROUND: Movement disorders affecting the trunk remain a diagnostic challenge even for experienced clinicians. However, despite being common and debilitating, truncal movement disorders are rarely discussed and poorly reviewed in the medical literature. OBJECTIVES: To review common movement disorders affecting the trunk and provide an approach for clinicians based on the truncal region involved (shoulder, chest, diaphragm, abdomen, pelvis, and axial disorders). For each disorder, clinical presentation, etiologic differential diagnosis, and “clinical clues” are discussed. CONCLUSION: This review provides a clinically focused, practical approach to truncal movement disorders, which will be helpful for physicians in everyday practice