A Probabilistic Approach for the Optimal Sizing of Storage Devices to Increase the Penetration of Plug-in Electric Vehicles in Direct Current Networks

The growing diffusion of electric vehicles connected to distribution networks for charging purposes is an ongoing problem that utilities must deal with. Direct current networks and storage devices have emerged as a feasible means of satisfying the expected increases in the numbers of vehicles while preserving the effective operation of the network. In this paper, an innovative probabilistic methodology is proposed for the optimal sizing of electrical storage devices with the aim of maximizing the penetration of plug-in electric vehicles while preserving efficient and effective operation of the network. The proposed methodology is based on an analytical solution of the problem concerning the power losses minimization in distribution networks equipped with storage devices. The closed-form expression that was obtained is included in a Monte Carlo simulation procedure aimed at handling the uncertainties in loads and renewable generation units. The results of several numerical applications are reported and discussed to demonstrate the validity of the proposed solution. Also, different penetration levels of generation units were analyzed in order to focus on the importance of renewable generation

Do prosocial-certified companies walk the talk? An analysis of B Corps' contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

This paper investigates the contribution of the B Corp movement in Europe to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) compared with non-B Corps. B Corp certification aims to identify organisations that utilise business as 'a force for good', but there is limited empirical evidence on how effectively certified organisations translate their prosocial claims into measurable SDG contributions. We address this through cluster analysis, comparing 313 B Corp-certified and 1506 non-certified European companies by way of the SDG Action Manager tool. Our findings reveal three clusters of B Corp-certified organisations with varying contribution levels across all SDGs, indicating that the certification does not consistently identify organisations with significant SDG impacts. Non-certified companies, meanwhile, do not exhibit distinct patterns. These results raise doubts about whether the B Corp category identifies a distinctive prototype member that can define clear prosocial norms and practices. The paper contributes to understanding B Corp organisations' narratives by providing insights into their empirical performance compared with non-certified organisations. It also offers potential explanations for these discrepancies and proposes strategies to strengthen B Corp certification bodies in alignment with the SDGs, while acknowledging the presence of intra-category variations

Retinal gene therapy with a large MYO7A cDNA using adeno-associated virus.

Usher 1 patients are born profoundly deaf and then develop retinal degeneration. Thus they are readily identified before the onset of retinal degeneration, making gene therapy a viable strategy to prevent their blindness. Here, we have investigated the use of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) for the delivery of the Usher 1B gene, MYO7A, to retinal cells in cell culture and in Myo7a-null mice. MYO7A cDNA, under control of a smCBA promoter, was packaged in single AAV2 and AAV5 vectors and as two overlapping halves in dual AAV2 vectors. The 7.9-kb smCBA-MYO7A exceeds the capacity of an AAV vector; packaging of such oversized constructs into single AAV vectors may involve fragmentation of the gene. Nevertheless, the AAV2 and AAV5 single vector preparations successfully transduced photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium cells, resulting in functional, full-length MYO7A protein and correction of mutant phenotypes, suggesting successful homologous recombination of gene fragments. With discrete, conventional-sized dual AAV2 vectors, full-length MYO7A was detected, but the level of protein expression was variable, and only a minority of cells showed phenotype correction. Our results show that MYO7A therapy with AAV2 or AAV5 single vectors is efficacious; however, the dual AAV2 approach proved to be less effective

Syzygies of torsion bundles and the geometry of the level l modular variety over M_g

We formulate, and in some cases prove, three statements concerning the purity or, more generally the naturality of the resolution of various rings one can attach to a generic curve of genus g and a torsion point of order l in its Jacobian. These statements can be viewed an analogues of Green's Conjecture and we verify them computationally for bounded genus. We then compute the cohomology class of the corresponding non-vanishing locus in the moduli space R_{g,l} of twisted level l curves of genus g and use this to derive results about the birational geometry of R_{g, l}. For instance, we prove that R_{g,3} is a variety of general type when g>11 and the Kodaira dimension of R_{11,3} is greater than or equal to 19. In the last section we explain probabilistically the unexpected failure of the Prym-Green conjecture in genus 8 and level 2.Comment: 35 pages, appeared in Invent Math. We correct an inaccuracy in the statement of Prop 2.

I soffi carotidei asintomatici scoperti in corso di bilancio preoperatorio. Condotta diagnostica e terapeutica.

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Maintenance Activity, Reliability, Availability, and Related Energy Losses in Ten Operating Photovoltaic Systems up to 1.8 MW

In general, photovoltaic (PV) plants do not include components with moving parts and, as a consequence, they are wrongly considered maintenance-free. Thus, this article presents a maintenance, reliability, and availability analysis of ten PV systems, with different inverter configurations, in the context of the intermittent renewable energy source systems, including the wind farms. The first part of the analysis consists of the evaluation of reliability using failure rates from the literature. In the second part, these results are compared with data obtained from industrial maintenance reports in the years 2016-2018. Finally, the yearly energy losses and the availability of each PV plant are assessed

Emerging giant resonant exciton induced by Ta-substitution in anatase TiO2_{2}: a tunable correlation effect

Titanium dioxide (TiO$_2$) has rich physical properties with potential implications in both fundamental physics and new applications. Up-to-date, the main focus of applied research is to tune its optical properties, which is usually done via doping and/or nano-engineering. However, understanding the role of $d$-electrons in materials and possible functionalization of $d$-electron properties are still major challenges. Herewith, within a combination of an innovative experimental technique, high energy optical conductivity, and of the state-of-the-art {\it ab initio} electronic structure calculations, we report an emerging, novel resonant exciton in the deep ultraviolet region of the optical response. The resonant exciton evolves upon low concentration Ta-substitution in anatase TiO$_{2}$ films. It is surprisingly robust and related to strong electron-electron and electron-hole interactions. The $d$- and $f$- orbitals localization, due to Ta-substitution, plays an unexpected role, activating strong electronic correlations and dominating the optical response under photoexcitation. Our results shed light on a new optical phenomenon in anatase TiO$_{2}$ films and on the possibility of tuning electronic properties by Ta substitution