Contribution of active management technologies to the reliability of power distribution networks

Active Network Management (ANM) technologies represent an effective tool for increasing the penetration of Distributed Generators (DGs) in electrical distribution systems. Under normal operating conditions, these technologies allow a massive integration of renewable generation without exceeding rated values of electrical equipment. In addition to that, these technologies can be used to restore the supply when there is a network outage, yet this additional use has been commonly neglected in reliability studies. In this paper a novel methodology to assess the contribution of ANM technologies to reliability of distribution networks is proposed. Technologies like renewable DGs with controllable output power, on-load tap-changers (OLTC) transformers, demand control solutions and soft open points (SOPs) are all included in the reliability study. Coordinated operation of these technologies during outages and performance of multi-terminal SOPs are also modelled and evaluated. The proposed methodology was tested on two distribution networks. The contribution of different ANM technologies to reliability was assessed and their benefits confirmed.This research was funded by Iberdrola Foundation, research program "Energy and Environment 2018-2019"

Effect of Water Regime, Nitrogen Level, and Biostimulant Application on the Water and Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Wild Rocket [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC]

The use of biostimulants in agriculture is an emerging technique that can contribute to improved production and resource use efficiency. This research was carried out in southern Italy to evaluate the biostimulating effects of seaweed extract (SW) and azoxystrobin (AZ) on wild rocket subjected to two water regimes (WRs) and three nitrogen levels (NLs), and grown in pots under unheated greenhouse conditions. The following treatments were compared: (i) two WRs: restoration of 100% (WR100) and 50% (WR50) of crop evapotranspiration; (ii) three NLs: 0 (N0), 75 (N75), or 150 (N150) kg ha−1 of N; and (iii) three biostimulants (BSs): an untreated control (C), and the application of AZ or SW. This paper reports the effects on N uptake (Nup), N use efficiency (NUE), and water use efficiency (WUE). The following indicators of NUE were assessed: apparent recovery efficiency (RE), internal utilization efficiency (IE), partial productivity factor (PFPn) of N supplied, agronomic efficiency (AE), and physiological efficiency (PE). The following indicators of WUE were assessed: photosynthetic WUE (p_WUE), yield WUE (Y_WUE), biomass WUE (B_WUE), and irrigation yield WUE (IY_WUE). The indicators of NUE were affected differently by treatments. RE was 20% higher with SW. IE was higher with AZ. PFPn increased by 10.4 and 8.1% with AZ and SW, respectively. AE increased by 10.9 and 19.9% after applying AZ and SW, respectively. PE rose by 6.7 and 9.3% after applying AZ and SW. AZ and SW improved p_WUE, mainly under water deficit (interaction of WR × BS). With AZ application, Y_WUE, B_WUE, and IY_WUE were higher by 17.8, 13.8, and 19.3%, respectively, while the application of SW resulted in a smaller increase (9.5–7.7 and 9.9%). SW and AZ were shown to be effective through the moderate improvement of wild rocket’s nitrogen and water use efficiency. The two biostimulants were more effective at improving p_WUE in water deficit conditions, proving to be particularly useful for farmers operating with water scarcity. Therefore, they can provide valuable support to farmers by improving the sustainability of resource use

Inter-society consensus for the use of inhaled corticosteroids in infants, children and adolescents with airway diseases

Background: In 2019, a multidisciplinary panel of experts from eight Italian scientific paediatric societies developed a consensus document for the use of inhaled corticosteroids in the management and prevention of the most common paediatric airways disorders. The aim is to provide healthcare providers with a multidisciplinary document including indications useful in the clinical practice. The consensus document was intended to be addressed to paediatricians who work in the Paediatric Divisions, the Primary Care Services and the Emergency Departments, as well as to Residents or PhD students, paediatric nurses and specialists or consultants in paediatric pulmonology, allergy, infectious diseases, and ear, nose, and throat medicine. Methods: Clinical questions identifying Population, Intervention(s), Comparison and Outcome(s) were addressed by methodologists and a general agreement on the topics and the strength of the recommendations (according to the GRADE system) was obtained following the Delphi method. The literature selection included secondary sources such as evidence-based guidelines and systematic reviews and was integrated with primary studies subsequently published. Results: The expert panel provided a number of recommendations on the use of inhaled corticosteroids in preschool wheezing, bronchial asthma, allergic and non-allergic rhinitis, acute and chronic rhinosinusitis, adenoid hypertrophy, laryngitis and laryngospasm. Conclusions: We provided a multidisciplinary update on the current recommendations for the management and prevention of the most common paediatric airways disorders requiring inhaled corticosteroids, in order to share useful indications, identify gaps in knowledge and drive future research

Determinants of weight, psychological status, food contemplation and lifestyle changes in patients with obesity during the COVID-19 lockdown: a nationwide survey using multiple correspondence analysis

Introduction The corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced most of the Italian population into lockdown from 11 March to 18 May 2020. A nationwide survey of Italian Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic Services (Obesity Centers or OCs) was carried out to assess the impact of lockdown restrictions on the physical and mental wellbeing of patients with obesity (PWO) who had follow-up appointments postponed due to lockdown restrictions and to compare determinants of weight gain before and after the pandemic. Methods We designed a structured 77-item questionnaire covering employment status, diet, physical activity and psychological aspects, that was disseminated through follow-up calls and online between 2 May and 25 June 2020. Data were analyzed by multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and multiple linear regression. Results A total of 1,232 PWO from 26 OCs completed the questionnaires (72% female, mean age 50.2 +/- 14.2 years; mean BMI 34.7 +/- 7.6 kg/m(2); 41% obesity class II to III). During the lockdown, 48.8% gained, 27.1% lost, while the remainder (24.1%) maintained their weight. The mean weight change was +2.3 +/- 4.8 kg (in weight gainers: +4.0 +/- 2.4 kg; +4.2% +/- 5.4%). Approximately 37% of participants experienced increased emotional difficulties, mostly fear and dissatisfaction. Sixty-one percent reduced their physical activity (PA) and 55% experienced a change in sleep quality/quantity. The lack of online contact (37.5%) with the OC during lockdown strongly correlated with weight gain (p < 0.001). Using MCA, two main clusters were identified: those with unchanged or even improved lifestyles during lockdown (Cluster 1) and those with worse lifestyles during the same time (Cluster 2). The latter includes unemployed people experiencing depression, boredom, dissatisfaction and increased food contemplation and weight gain. Within Cluster 2, homemakers reported gaining weight and experiencing anger due to home confinement. Conclusions Among Italian PWO, work status, emotional dysregulation, and lack of online communication with OCs were determinants of weight gain during the lockdown period

Design, construction, and test of the Gas Pixel Detectors for the IXPE mission

Due to be launched in late 2021, the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a NASA Small Explorer mission designed to perform polarization measurements in the 2-8 keV band, complemented with imaging, spectroscopy and timing capabilities. At the heart of the focal plane is a set of three polarization-sensitive Gas Pixel Detectors (GPD), each based on a custom ASIC acting as a charge-collecting anode. In this paper we shall review the design, manufacturing, and test of the IXPE focal-plane detectors, with particular emphasis on the connection between the science drivers, the performance metrics and the operational aspects. We shall present a thorough characterization of the GPDs in terms of effective noise, trigger efficiency, dead time, uniformity of response, and spectral and polarimetric performance. In addition, we shall discuss in detail a number of instrumental effects that are relevant for high-level science analysis -- particularly as far as the response to unpolarized radiation and the stability in time are concerned.Comment: To be published in Astroparticle Physic

conditions for re deployment and energy development

Irrespective of technical abundancy, RE potential per se does not imply a structural and inclusive expansion of energy access and an overall sustainable energy development of EA. Proper technological, economic, institutional, and policy considerations must be made to assess which are the best ways and most apt policies to sustain the exploitation of such potential in the regional context in relation to other energy sources, as well as which roadblocks and challenges are faced. A first meaningful consideration in this sense is that EA is characterised by a strong rural-urban imbalance: the majority of the population lives in poorly interconnected rural communities away from the electricity grid, which serves predominantly densely populated urban centres. While plans to tackle the imbalance are in place in virtually every country (both Kenya and South Africa have achieved notable results in this sense), the issue is not going to be structurally overcome rapidly. Thus, as highlighted by the least-cost electrification scenarios in Chap. 4, when discussing the case for renewables to increase and improve access, a distinction must be made between national grid expansion to reach additional shares of the population, and specific decentralised solutions

La compatibilità tra le forme minori del dolo ed il tentativo

L'elaborato esamina, con intento didattico, il problema della compatibilità tra forme minori del dolo - con particolare riferimento al dolus eventualis - e delitto tentato, passando in rassegna le diverse elaborazioni dottrinali e giurisprudenziali