Analysis of thermodynamic losses in ground source heat pumps and their influence on overall system performance

The present work aims at identifying the relative influence of GSHP subsystems (viz. ground source, earth heat exchangers, heat pump unit, pumping devices) on the overall efficiency and the limits to which technological improvements should be pushed (because, beyond these limits, only minor benefits may be achieved). To this end, an analysis of thermodynamic losses is conducted for a case study, followed by a sensitivity analysis on the heat pump unit thermal performance. Primary energy consumptions of nine configurations with different combinations of ideal and real subsystems are compared. The completely ideal system is used as the reference to normalize energy consumptions and obtain a dimensionless efficiency parameter. The results show that – when a proper design methodology is employed – the performance of the borehole heat exchangers slightly affects the overall efficiency. On the contrary, the thermal response of the ground and the thermal and hydraulic performances of the heat pump unit are key factors. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted by increasing the heating and cooling efficiencies of the heat pump device

Sorghum used to fodder production in dry farming

In Italy water deficient increase forward to cultivate resistant crops for forage production. In the present research it has been studied the opportunity of using 2 varieties of sorghum: the "Sweet Creek", used as green forage and for silage and the "True", with thinner stalks, used as hay. The fodder production and the dhurrin content during the vegetative phase of the 2 varieties were recorded. Production and chemical characteristics of green and preserved fodders (hay and silage) were determined; moreover the nutritive value and the in vitro digestibility of DM were measured. Results confirm the good adaptation of the sorghum to the water limited conditions as those ones in which the test has been carried out; green and preserved fodders yield were high, however during the hay harvest problems due to the different drying dynamics of leaves and stalks were found. The dhurrin content of these two varieties, even in the young phase, allows the use for grazing of the regrown, which have good bunching

Environmental impact caused by wild ungulates in protected areas

Protected areas play a crucial role for conservation of natural habilats and ecosystems. Protecting biodiversity means maintaining in good condition ecological processes in order to ensure a good state of harmony between natural resources and environmental conservation. It is known that one of the major threats of the Conservation is the presence of alien or invasive species, especial/y if they are introduced in protected areas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) writes in the list of the 100 invasive species the wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) and the goat (Capra hircus L.). These ungulates represent a serious threat for natural ecosystems because they are able to alter natural habilats reducing biodiversity. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate some aspects connected with environmental relationships mainly between flora and fauna in protected areas, focusing on wild boars and feral goats. Secondly, it is analysed "Human dimension" aspect caused by presence and damage of wild animals finked to damage to crops and to dry stone wall supporting the typical cultivated terraces. To reach our goal we use as a case study the Portofino Natural Park in North-West Italy, because it houses one of the largest biodiversity concentration in the Mediterranean area. In this protected area the wild boar is the most invasive between the two studied animai species, because of soil damages that influence hydro-geological balance of territory. Finally, this species can quickly increase its population for the high prolificacy and low biological and predator mortality

Caratteristiche qualitative del latte e del formaggio Caciocavallo nella razza bovina Podolica

Introduction: In recent years the Podolica cattle has increased the demand for dairy products: milk and Caciocavallo cheese are highly appreciated by consumers. In order to high quality product the Podolica breed is a growing interest, it has produces in southern Italian regions as Basilicata. Caciocavallo Silano DOP is one of the 400 cheese varieties produced in Italy, it's produced from "pasta filata". Aim: Aim of the study was analyzed chemical and technological aspects of Podolica milk, moreover fatty acid composition of Caciocavallo cheese was carried out. Materials and methods: The trial was conducted in three farms in province of Potenza, Italy, during two seasons. In winter season when animals were reared in stable and in spring-summer season when cows were reared in outdoor system. During two experimental period milk was sampled from cows in each farm. Samples were analyzed for chemical and technological aspects. The whole of the milk derived from the different farms, during two periods, were used for processing dairy to obtain Caciocavallo Silano DOP cheese in a local dairy. The variance analysis according t-Student test was used to assess statistical differences. Results and discussion: The grazing system during spring and summer improved total fat in milk sampled and increased cheese yield. No difference was observed for technological characteristics, results showed acceptable values in all farms for both farming systems. The fatty acid composition of cheese showed difference in saturated class, mainly for palmitic acid as evinced for stable group that received integration of concentrate. Monounsaturated fatty acid has highlighted significant differences between the experimental groups. Oleic acid C18:1c9 contributes most to the increase of the other also to the total of unsaturated fatty acids. Statistical difference was found for ALA (α-Linolenic acid) a member of the group of essential fatty acids that must be acquired through diet. Conclusion: Different rearing systems led to an improvement of the fat content in the milk and greater cheese yield processing. Pasture group showed a better dietary composition ad showed favorable content specially for ALA. There is some evidence ALA consumption might have a slight preventative effect against cardiovascular diseases. These aspects represented better nutritional quality aspect of Caciocavallo cheese and an economic advantage for breeders

Differential Ligand Binding to a Human Cytomegalovirus Chemokine Receptor Determines Cell Type–Specific Motility

While most chemokine receptors fail to cross the chemokine class boundary with respect to the ligands that they bind, the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-encoded chemokine receptor US28 binds multiple CC-chemokines and the CX3C-chemokine Fractalkine. US28 binding to CC-chemokines is both necessary and sufficient to induce vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration in response to HCMV infection. However, the function of Fractalkine binding to US28 is unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that Fractalkine binding to US28 not only induces migration of macrophages but also acts to inhibit RANTES-mediated SMC migration. Similarly, RANTES inhibits Fractalkine-mediated US28 migration in macrophages. While US28 binding of both RANTES and Fractalkine activate FAK and ERK-1/2, RANTES signals through Gα12 and Fractalkine through Gαq. These findings represent the first example of differential chemotactic signaling via a multiple chemokine family binding receptor that results in migration of two different cell types. Additionally, the demonstration that US28-mediated chemotaxis is both ligand-specific and cell type–specific has important implications in the role of US28 in HCMV pathogenesis

Performance studies of the Belle II Silicon Vertex Detector with data taken at the DESY test beam in April 2016

Belle II is a multipurpose detector currently under construction which will be operated at the next generation B-factory SuberKEKB in Japan. Its main devices for the vertex reconstruction are the Silicon Vertex Detector (SVD) and the Pixel Detector (PXD). In April 2016 a sector of the Belle II SVD and PXD have been tested in a beam of high energetic electrons at the test beam facility at DESY Hamburg (Germany). We report here the results for the hit efficiency estimation and the measurement of the resolution for the Belle II silicon vertex etector. We find that the hit efficiencies are on average above 99.5% and that the measured resolution is within the expectations

The Belle II SVD detector

The Silicon Vertex Detector (SVD) is one of the main detectors in the Belle II experiment at KEK, Japan. In combination with a pixel detector, the SVD determines precise decay vertex and low-momentum track reconstruction. The SVD ladders are being developed at several institutes. For the development of the tracking algorithm as well as the performance estimation of the ladders, beam tests for the ladders were performed. We report an overview of the SVD development, its performance measured in the beam test, and the prospect of its assembly and commissioning until installation

Performance studies of the Belle II Silicon Vertex Detector with data taken at the DESY test beam in April 2016

Belle II is a multipurpose detector currently under construction which will be operated at the next generation B-factory SuberKEKB in Japan. Its main devices for the vertex reconstruction are the Silicon Vertex Detector (SVD) and the Pixel Detector (PXD). In April 2016 a sector of the Belle II SVD and PXD have been tested in a beam of high energetic electrons at the test beam facility at DESY Hamburg (Germany). We report here the results for the hit efficiency estimation and the measurement of the resolution for the Belle II silicon vertex etector. We find that the hit efficiencies are on average above 99.5% and that the measured resolution is within the expectations

Measurement of Branching Fractions and Rate Asymmetries in the Rare Decays B -> K(*) l+ l-

In a sample of 471 million BB events collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II e+e- collider we study the rare decays B -> K(*) l+ l-, where l+ l- is either e+e- or mu+mu-. We report results on partial branching fractions and isospin asymmetries in seven bins of di-lepton mass-squared. We further present CP and lepton-flavor asymmetries for di-lepton masses below and above the J/psi resonance. We find no evidence for CP or lepton-flavor violation. The partial branching fractions and isospin asymmetries are consistent with the Standard Model predictions and with results from other experiments.Comment: 16 pages, 14 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev.