Long term electricity storage by oxygen liquefaction and LNG oxy-combustion

The paper proposes an innovative scheme exploiting oxygen liquefaction as a means for storing excess electricity generation from renewable sources. Liquid oxygen is then used in an oxy-combustion process with LNG to generate electricity when renewable energy generation is below the demand. An equivalent round trip efficiency is defined to make it possible comparing the system performances with hybrid plants including conventional generation and storage. The proposed scheme exhibits very high equivalent round trip efficiency, giving the system operators the opportunity to integrate more and more renewable energy generation inside power systems. Liquefied carbon dioxide and water are byproducts of the process. The size of the plant and of the storage tanks needed for a 4 TWh yearly demand with a peak around 800 MW is compatible with state-of-the-art systems used for LNG storage in similar size gas power plants

Iron Binding in the Ferroxidase Site of Human Mitochondrial Ferritin

Ferritins are nanocage proteins that store iron ions in their central cavity as hydrated ferric oxide biominerals. In mammals, further the L (light) and H (heavy) chains constituting cytoplasmic maxi-ferritins, an additional type of ferritin has been identified, the mitochondrial ferritin (MTF). Human MTF (hMTF) is a functional homopolymeric H-like ferritin performing the ferroxidase activity in its ferroxidase site (FS), in which Fe(II) is oxidized to Fe(III) in the presence of dioxygen. To better investigate its ferroxidase properties, here we performed time-lapse X-ray crystallography analysis of hMTF, providing structural evidence of how iron ions interact with hMTF and of their binding to the FS. Transient iron binding sites, populating the pathway along the cage from the iron entry channel to the catalytic center, were also identified. Furthermore, our kinetic data at variable iron loads indicate that the catalytic iron oxidation reaction occurs via a diferric peroxo intermediate followed by the formation of ferric-oxo species, with significant differences with respect to human H-type ferritin

Iron Biomineral Growth from the Initial Nucleation Seed in L-Ferritin

X-ray structures of homopolymeric human L-ferritin and horse spleen ferritin were solved by freezing protein crystals at different time intervals after exposure to a ferric salt and revealed the growth of an octa-nuclear iron cluster on the inner surface of the protein cage with a key role played by some glutamate residues. An atomic resolution view of how the cluster formation develops starting from a (μ3-oxo)tris[(μ2-glutamato-κO:κO’)](glutamato-κO)(diaquo)triiron(III) seed is provided. The results support the idea that iron biomineralization in ferritin is a process initiating at the level of the protein surface, capable of contributing coordination bonds and electrostatic guidance

Direct detection of iron clusters in L ferritins through ESI-MS experiments

Human cytoplasmic ferritins are heteropolymers of H and L subunits containing a catalytic ferroxidase center and a nucleation site for iron biomineralization, respectively. Here, ESI-MS successfully detected labile metal-protein interactions revealing the formation of tetra- and octa-iron clusters bound to L subunits, as previously underscored by X-ray crystallography

Cost effective power-to-X plant using carbon dioxide from a geothermal plant to increase renewable energy penetration

In the framework of a scenario with an always increasing share of generation from variable renewable sources, the need for systems able to store energy or to convert the excess generation into useful goods is becoming of paramount importance. While several projects and pilot plants deal with direct energy storage or with the conversion of the excess generation into other energetic goods (hydrogen or methane) often overlooking economic considerations, this paper proposes a cost-effective approach in which liquified methane and oxygen are produced and sold on their specific markets, which represents one of the first profitable Power-to-X applications at current market values. The paper presents the completely new and never investigated before idea of coupling the plant with a freely available source of pure carbon dioxide from a geothermal unit, thus making it possible to produce synthetic methane to be liquefied, stored and then used in other sectors of the society. The carbon dioxide coming with the geothermal fluid is no longer released in the environment as it currently naturally happens even when not going through the geothermal facility. Detailed models of the main system components were created, and an optimization procedure was carried out. Interestingly, the revenues from the sale of liquefied oxygen are well above those coming from synthetic methane and turn the system profitable. With a proper operation planning, bidding on the electricity day-ahead-market, a large hydrogen storage system proved to be unnecessary. The results of the system optimization clearly show that this kind of systems, although conceived in a very favourable condition, can become profitable only if the energy storage function is coupled with the production of other goods services. Assuming an average electricity price of 52 €/MWh, the plant profitability is achieved for an LNG selling price of 0.45 €/kg and an LOx price around 0.30 €/kg. These figures will rapidly decrease in the near future as lower electricity prices are forecasted

Severe asthma and long-term Benralizumab effectiveness in real-life

objective: long-term efficacy of benralizumab in real life is not clearly known. we assessed the long-term effectiveness persistence to anti-IL-5R treatment in a group of severe eosinophilic asthmatics. patients and methods: we retrospectively analyzed 95 individuals affected by severe asthma (36 males  ̶ 37.9%; mean age 58.1 ± 12.2) treated with benralizumab (mean time 19.7 ± 7.2 months, range 12-35). outcomes were evaluated at the beginning and at the end of patients' treatment periods. results: mean baseline blood eosinophils were 897.5 ± 720.1 cells/μL (11 ± 5.6%) decreasing to 7.4 ± 20.6 cells/μL (0.97 ± 0.26%; p < 0.0001) after benralizumab. FENO likewise decreased from 63.9 ± 68.4 to 28.4 ± 23.6 ppb, while FEV1% significantly improved (p < 0.0001). mean FEF25-75 also increased from 45.8 ± 24.6% to 60.7 ± 24.6%, whereas RAW dropped from 202.15 ± 109.6% to 135.2 ± 54.75% (p < 0.0001). also, lung volumes greatly decreased. ACT/ACQ significantly improved, while exacerbations number fell from 4.1 ± 2.4, before anti-IL-5R, to 0.33 ± 0.77, after treatment (p < 0.0001). rhinitis severity levels and SNOT-22 also changed favorably. patients that took long-term OCs were 71.6% before treatment, decreasing to 23.2% after benralizumab (p < 0.0001), with an OCs dose reduction from 14.8 ± 8.9 to 1.45 ± 2.8 mg/day (p < 0.0001). 51.6% of subjects used SABA as needed before Benralizumab, falling to 4.2% after treatment. several patients showed a reduction of ICS doses, SABA use and maintenance therapy step-down. clinical/biological response with anti-IL-5R remained constant or even improved in terms of exacerbations or maintenance therapy reductions over time. on the contrary, FEF25-75% improvement slowed down in the long-term. no relationship was found between baseline blood eosinophil number and therapeutic response. conclusions: long-term benralizumab effectiveness persistence in all outcomes in real life was confirmed

Relationship between hyponatremia at hospital admission and cardiopulmonary profile at follow-up in patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection

Purpose: Hyponatremia occurs in about 30% of patients with pneumonia, including those with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection. Hyponatremia predicts a worse outcome in several pathologic conditions and in COVID-19 has been associated with a higher risk of non-invasive ventilation, ICU transfer and death. The main objective of this study was to determine whether early hyponatremia is also a predictor of long-term sequelae at follow-up. Methods: In this observational study, we collected 6-month follow-up data from 189 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients previously admitted to a University Hospital. About 25% of the patients (n = 47) had hyponatremia at the time of hospital admission. Results: Serum [Na+] was significantly increased in the whole group of 189 patients at 6 months, compared to the value at hospital admission (141.4 ± 2.2 vs 137 ± 3.5 mEq/L, p < 0.001). In addition, IL-6 levels decreased and the PaO2/FiO2 increased. Accordingly, pulmonary involvement, evaluated at the chest X-ray by the RALE score, decreased. However, in patients with hyponatremia at hospital admission, higher levels of LDH, fibrinogen, troponin T and NT-ProBNP were detected at follow-up, compared to patients with normonatremia at admission. In addition, hyponatremia at admission was associated with worse echocardiography parameters related to right ventricular function, together with a higher RALE score. Conclusion: These results suggest that early hyponatremia in COVID-19 patients is associated with the presence of laboratory and imaging parameters indicating a greater pulmonary and right-sided heart involvement at follow-up