Status and evolution of the community energy sector in Italy

This paper fills a gap in the literature by eliciting and presenting novel and comprehensive evidence on recent Italian communi ty energy sector development

Progress on the implementation of Energy Performance Certificates in EU

Energy performance certificates (EPCs) are a key policy tool to inform about and to foster improvements to the energy performance of the building stock. Since their introduction in 2002 by the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), EPCs have been implemented across Member States (MSs) in different ways, depending on the political and legal context, the available technical capacities, as well as the characteristics of the buildings stock and buildings market in general. In 2021, in the context of ?Fit for 55? legislative package, the European Commission proposed the third revision of the EPBD. The proposal improves the provisions on EPCs, their issuing and display, and their databases. In particular, it pursues harmonisation across MSs through a mandatory template for EPCs and a harmonised scale of energy performance classes. This report presents the results of a survey conducted by JRC among MSs to collect information on how each MS has implemented the EPC scheme. It highlights differences among MSs regarding the energy uses included in the calculation, the floor area considered, the definition of energy classes, the main indicator(s), the number of EPCs issued, the availability of a national register, the mechanisms in place to ensure the quality of EPCs

Key economic drivers enabling municipal renewable energy communities’ benefits in the Italian context

Community energy is a buzzword that has historically included various type of experiences. In 2018, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) legally defined renewable energy communities (RECs). Based on the first pilot projects and on the Italian legal framework, a possible REC configuration of municipal initiative with a high replicability potential is one in which a photovoltaic system is installed in educational buildings and shares energy with neighbouring residential consumers. This analysis presents an economical evaluation of different possible scenarios depending on variables such as solar radiation, system capacity, fraction of self-consumption within the REC, installation costs and energy prices. All the scenarios identified and analysed show positive economic indexes, although the energy and economic results may significantly vary depending on the variables studied. In the analysed case studies, the Net Present Value (after 20 years) is between kEUR 51 and kEUR 478; the internal rate of return is between 9.5% and 88%; the payback time is between 13.6 years and 1.1 years. The results of this analysis are relevant as they allow us to better understand the critical factors that can enable REC in providing local economic and social benefits to have a real impact on energy poverty or on the provision of local social services

Progress of the Member States in implementing the Energy Performance of Building Directive

Overall, the EPBD policy framework laid down the foundation for:i) setting cost-optimal minimum energy performance standards in new buildings and existing buildings under major renovation;ii) ensuring that prospective buyers or renters are well informed through Energy Performance Certificates and thereby encouraged to choose higher than minimum standards in their decision making processes;iii) speeding up the rate at which investors engage in energy efficiency projectsthrough national long-term renovation strategies and financemechanisms.In accordance with the policy assessment of 2017 it is expected that the EPBD islikely to deliver the expected impacts by 2020, with 48.9 Mtoe additional final energy savings and a reduction of 63 Mt of CO2.However, the new Climate agenda set higher ambition targets and together with the Covid-19 crisis, the scenario has changed consistently and the next decade will be very challenging. The energy renovation of buildings can be a pillar of both the European decarbonisation process and the economic recovery after the pandemic.This report provides a snap shot of the EPBD implementation progresses by Member States over the last years. In particular, the focus is mainly on: cost-optimal calculations to set minimum energy performance requirements, Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB), financial incentives and market barriers, Long-term Renovation Strategies (LTRS). In order to contextualize the European scenario, some general trendsare presented and discussed in the introduction

Postabsorptive and Insulin-Stimulated Energy Homeostasis and Leucine Turnover in Offspring of Type 2 Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVE—This study was performed to ascertain whether insulin resistance with respect to protein metabolism is an additional primary metabolic abnormality affecting insulin-resistant offspring of type 2 diabetic parents, along with insulin resistance with respect to glucose and lipid metabolism. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We studied 18 young, nonobese offspring of type 2 diabetic parents and 27 healthy matched (by means of dual-energy X-ray absorption) individuals with the bolus plus continuous infusion of [6,6-2H2]glucose and [1-13C]leucine in combination with the insulin clamp (40 mU · m–2 · min−1). RESULTS—Fasting plasma leucine, phenylalanine, alanine, and glutamine concentrations, as well as the glucose and leucine turnover (reciprocal pool model: 155 ± 10 vs. 165 ± 5 μmol · kg lean body mass–1 · h−1 in offspring of type 2 diabetic patients and healthy matched individuals, respectively), were also not different. During the clamp, glucose turnover rates were significantly reduced in offspring of type 2 diabetic patients (7.1 ± 0.5) in comparison with healthy matched individuals (9.9 ± 0.6 mg · kg lean body mass–1 · min−1; P < 0.01). Also, the suppression of leucine turnover was impaired in offspring of type 2 diabetic patients (12 ± 1%) in comparison with healthy matched individuals (17 ± 1%; P = 0.04) and correlated with the degree of the impairment of insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism (R2 = 0.13; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS—Nonobese, nondiabetic, insulin-resistant offspring of type 2 diabetic patients were characterized by an impairment of insulin-dependent suppression of protein breakdown, which was proportional to the impairment of glucose metabolism. These results demonstrate that in humans, a primary in vivo impairment of insulin action affects glucose and fatty acid metabolism as previously shown and also protein/amino acid metabolism

Role of Endothelium in Cardiovascular Sequelae of Long COVID

The global action against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, shed light on endothelial dysfunction. Although SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects the pulmonary system, multiple studies have documented pan-vascular involvement in COVID-19. The virus is able to penetrate the endothelial barrier, damaging it directly or indirectly and causing endotheliitis and multi-organ injury. Several mechanisms cooperate to development of endothelial dysfunction, including endothelial cell injury and pyroptosis, hyperinflammation and cytokine storm syndrome, oxidative stress and reduced nitric oxide bioavailability, glycocalyx disruption, hypercoagulability, and thrombosis. After acute-phase infection, some patients reported signs and symptoms of a systemic disorder known as long COVID, in which a broad range of cardiovascular (CV) disorders emerged. To date, the exact pathophysiology of long COVID remains unclear: in addition to the persistence of acute-phase infection mechanisms, specific pathways of CV damage have been postulated, such as persistent viral reservoirs in the heart or an autoimmune response to cardiac antigens through molecular mimicry. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the main molecular patterns of enduring endothelial activation following SARS-CoV-2 infection and to offer the latest summary of CV complications in long COVID

Adolescent gender dysphoria management: position paper from the Italian Academy of Pediatrics, the Italian Society of Pediatrics, the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, the Italian Society of Adolescent Medicine and the Italian Society of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry

Background: In response to the imperative need for standardized support for adolescent Gender Dysphoria (GD), the Italian Academy of Pediatrics, in collaboration with the Italian Society of Pediatrics, the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Italian Society of Adolescent Medicine and Italian Society of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry is drafting a position paper. The purpose of this paper is to convey the author's opinion on the topic, offering foundational information on potential aspects of gender-affirming care and emphasizing the care and protection of children and adolescents with GD. Main body: Recognizing that adolescents may choose interventions based on their unique needs and goals and understanding that every individual within this group has a distinct trajectory, it is crucial to ensure that each one is welcomed and supported. The approach to managing individuals with GD is a multi-stage process involving a multidisciplinary team throughout all phases. Decisions regarding treatment should be reached collaboratively by healthcare professionals and the family, while considering the unique needs and circumstances of the individual and be guided by scientific evidence rather than biases or ideologies. Politicians and high court judges should address discrimination based on gender identity in legislation and support service development that aligns with the needs of young people. It is essential to establish accredited multidisciplinary centers equipped with the requisite skills and experience to effectively manage adolescents with GD, thereby ensuring the delivery of high-quality care. Conclusion: Maintaining an evidence-based approach is essential to safeguard the well-being of transgender and gender diverse adolescents

Data integration and conceptual modelling of the Larderello geothermal area, Italy

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Revised diagnostic criteria for neurofibromatosis type 1 and Legius syndrome: an international consensus recommendation

Purpose By incorporating major developments in genetics, ophthalmology, dermatology, and neuroimaging, to revise the diagnostic criteria for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and to establish diagnostic criteria for Legius syndrome (LGSS). Methods We used a multistep process, beginning with a Delphi method involving global experts and subsequently involving non-NF experts, patients, and foundations/patient advocacy groups. Results We reached consensus on the minimal clinical and genetic criteria for diagnosing and differentiating NF1 and LGSS, which have phenotypic overlap in young patients with pigmentary findings. Criteria for the mosaic forms of these conditions are also recommended. Conclusion The revised criteria for NF1 incorporate new clinical features and genetic testing, whereas the criteria for LGSS were created to differentiate the two conditions. It is likely that continued refinement of these new criteria will be necessary as investigators (1) study the diagnostic properties of the revised criteria, (2) reconsider criteria not included in this process, and (3) identify new clinical and other features of these conditions. For this reason, we propose an initiative to update periodically the diagnostic criteria for NF1 and LGSS