Evaluation of the environmental impact of harbour activities: problem analisys and possible solutions

A relevant problem is a main subject of this work: the pollution in ports close to inhabited zones where, due to the contemporaneous presence of many cruise ships, the contents of noxious elements in the air are excessive and the quality of life risks to become unsustainable. The impact of the operations of cruise ships in port has been analysed together with the possible consequences of their impact on the human health and the rules that attempt to reduce the effects of the pollution on it. Some possible solutions were proposed; first of all, the so called “cold ironing” consisting in a connection between the electric system of the ship and a shore system providing the ship with the electric energy to be used onboard. The major characteristics of the cold ironing were analysed together with its main problems; among them, the need of integrate this practice in a more wide scene, combining it with the microgrids in order to not to solve the problem simply by moving the production of electric energy from one site to another

Estimating Wind Farm Transformers Rating through Lifetime Characterization Based on Stochastic Modeling of Wind Power

This paper deals with the problem of the optimal rating of mineral-oil-immersed transformers in large wind farms. The optimal rating is derived based on the probabilistic analyses of wind power generation through the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck stochastic process and on thermal model of the transformer through the integration of stochastic differential equations. These analyses allow the stochastic characterization of lifetime reduction of the transformer and then its optimal rating through a simple closed form. The numerical application highlights the effectiveness and easy applicability of the proposed methodology. The proposed methodology allows deriving the rating of transformers which better fits the specific peculiarities of wind power generation. Compared to the conventional approaches, the proposed method can better adapt the transformer size to the intermittence and variability of the power generated by wind farms, thus overcoming the often-recognized reduced lifetime

A sustainable electrical interface to mitigate emissions due to power supply in ports

The paper presents a proposal of an innovative sustainable power supply solution for seaports with the related design and control. This solution differs from the classical solution for the presence of a smart electrical interface composed by two basic components: the first one, a rotating converter instead of the widely used static converter that ensures higher and therefore much more detectable short-circuit currents; the second, an advanced static var compensator specifically designed for enhancing power quality issues and hence favoring these seaport connection to the main grid for cold ironing applications. The designed control strategy for the tailored power supply solution is proven successful and effective by the numerical applications reported in the last part of the paper

The galectin-3/RAGE dyad modulates vascular osteogenesis in atherosclerosis

Vascular calcification correlates with inflammation and plaque instability in a dual manner, depending on the spotty/granular (micro) or sheet-like/lamellated (macro) pattern of calcification. Modified lipoproteins trigger both inflammation and calcification via receptors for advanced lipoxidation/glycation endproducts (ALEs/AGEs). This study compared the roles of galectin-3 and receptor for AGEs (RAGE), two ALEs/AGEs-receptors with diverging effects on inflammation and bone metabolism, in the process of vascular calcification. We evaluated galectin-3 and RAGE expression/localization in 62 human carotid plaques and its relation to calcification pattern, plaque phenotype, and markers of inflammation and vascular osteogenesis; and the effect of galectin-3 ablation and/or exposure to an ALE/AGE on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) osteogenic differentiation. While RAGE co-localized with inflammatory cells in unstable regions with microcalcification, galectin-3 was expressed also by VSMCs, especially in macrocalcified areas, where it co-localized with alkaline phosphatase. Expression of galectin-3 and osteogenic markers was higher in macrocalcified plaques, whereas the opposite occurred for RAGE and inflammatory markers. Galectin-3-deficient VSMCs exhibited defective osteogenic differentiation, as shown by altered expression of osteogenic transcription factors and proteins, blunted activation of pro-osteoblastogenic Wnt/β-catenin signalling and proliferation, enhanced apoptosis, and disorganized mineralization. These abnormalities were associated with RAGE up-regulation, but were only in part prevented by RAGE silencing, and were partially mimicked or exacerbated by treatment with an AGE/ALE. These data indicate a novel molecular mechanism by which galectin-3 and RAGE modulate in divergent ways, not only inflammation, but also vascular osteogenesis, by modulating Wnt/β-catenin signalling, and independently of ALEs/AGEs

Switch to maraviroc with darunavir/r, both QD, in patients with suppressed HIV-1 was well tolerated but virologically inferior to standard antiretroviral therapy: 48-Week results of a randomized trial

Objectives Primary study outcome was absence of treatment failure (virological failure, VF, or treatment interruption) per protocol at week 48. Methods Patients on 3-drug ART with stable HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL and CCR5-tropic virus were randomized 1:1 to maraviroc with darunavir/ritonavir qd (study arm) or continue current ART (continuation arm).Results In June 2015, 115 patients were evaluable for the primary outcome (56 study, 59 continuation arm). The study was discontinued due to excess of VF in the study arm (7 cases, 12.5%, vs 0 in the continuation arm, p = 0.005). The proportion free of treatment failure was 73.2% in the study and 59.3% in the continuation arm. Two participants in the study and 10 in the continuation arm discontinued therapy due to adverse events (p = 0.030). At VF, no emergent drug resistance was detected. Co-receptor tropism switched to non-R5 in one patient. Patients with VF reported lower adherence and had lower plasma drug levels. Femoral bone mineral density was significantly improved in the study arm. Conclusion Switching to maraviroc with darunavir/ritonavir qd in virologically suppressed patients was associated with improved tolerability but was virologically inferior to 3-drug therap

Switch to maraviroc with darunavir/r, both QD, in patients with suppressed HIV-1 was well tolerated but virologically inferior to standard antiretroviral therapy: 48-Week results of a randomized trial

Objectives: Primary study outcome was absence of treatment failure (virological failure, VF, or treatment interruption) per protocol at week 48. Methods: Patients on 3-drug ART with stable HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL and CCR5-tropic virus were randomized 1:1 to maraviroc with darunavir/ritonavir qd (study arm) or continue current ART (continuation arm). Results: In June 2015, 115 patients were evaluable for the primary outcome (56 study, 59 continuation arm). The study was discontinued due to excess of VF in the study arm (7 cases, 12.5%, vs 0 in the continuation arm, p = 0.005). The proportion free of treatment failure was 73.2% in the study and 59.3% in the continuation arm. Two participants in the study and 10 in the continuation arm discontinued therapy due to adverse events (p = 0.030). At VF, no emergent drug resistance was detected. Co-receptor tropism switched to non-R5 in one patient. Patients with VF reported lower adherence and had lower plasma drug levels. Femoral bone mineral density was significantly improved in the study arm. Conclusion: Switching to maraviroc with darunavir/ritonavir qd in virologically suppressed patients was associated with improved tolerability but was virologically inferior to 3-drug therapy

Estimating Wind Farm Transformers Rating through Lifetime Characterization Based on Stochastic Modeling of Wind Power

This paper deals with the problem of the optimal rating of mineral-oil-immersed transformers in large wind farms. The optimal rating is derived based on the probabilistic analyses of wind power generation through the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck stochastic process and on thermal model of the transformer through the integration of stochastic differential equations. These analyses allow the stochastic characterization of lifetime reduction of the transformer and then its optimal rating through a simple closed form. The numerical application highlights the effectiveness and easy applicability of the proposed methodology. The proposed methodology allows deriving the rating of transformers which better fits the specific peculiarities of wind power generation. Compared to the conventional approaches, the proposed method can better adapt the transformer size to the intermittence and variability of the power generated by wind farms, thus overcoming the often-recognized reduced lifetime

Microreti elettriche intelligenti in ambito portuale

Viene trattata la tematica dei sistemi elettrici in ambito portuale con evidenziazione dei vantaggi in termini di efficienza energetica e riduzione dell'inquinamento ambientale che le moderne tecnologie elettriche, se utilizzate, possono far conseguire. In particolare vengono evidenziate le prospettive di sviluppo, nello specifico ambito portuale, delle microreti elettriche intelligenti (Smart/Micro Grids) che integrano sistemi di cold ironing ossia di alimentazione elettrica da terra di navi in banchina. Viene quindi presentato un approccio metodologico di fattibilità di interventi energetici eco-sostenibili