Field Performance Of Domestic Heat Pumps For Heating And Hot Water In Switzerland Part I: Technology, Methods And State Of The Art Of The Field Studies

carried out by the Heat Pump Test Center (WPZ) in Buchs SG, Switzerland. In the current study, heat pumps for hydronic heating systems in single family houses within Switzerland have been investigated since 2016. So far, over 20 air-source and geothermal heat pumps have been added to this governmental quality assurance program (Swiss Federal authority EnergieSchweiz). For each heat pump system, more than 40 measured variables are recorded at a time interval of 10 s with calibrated sensors with very low measurement uncertainty. The aim of this field study is to record the real heat pump system efficiency in operation and to draw comparisons with characteristic values from laboratory measurements and manufacturer data. The study presented, is divided into two parts. The first part that is entitled “Technology, Methods and State of the Art of the field studies” focuses on the procedure, system boundaries and measuring technology of past and current field studies at WPZ Buchs and provides an insight to the state of the art of field performance measurements of domestic heat pumps carried out in Switzerland. The second part is entitled “Results, Analysis and Optimization of current field studies” and concentrates on various measured figures and the improvement potential of the investigated heat pump systems. Compared to the former studies made in the 1990s and early 2000s, the measurement methodology and data acquisition have changed considerably to date. Nowadays, thanks to digitalization, much more data is available. Short sampling intervals are used to describe temporal processes in heat pump systems in detail, enabling an easier detection of defects such as heat losses and unwanted circulation. Thanks to carefully defined system boundaries like JAZ, WNG and SNG heat pump systems can be compared and optimized effectively. Great importance is attached to the measurement of temperature because of its major influence on the overall uncertainty. Therefore, temperature is measured with an uncertainty of ±0.1 K/±0.02 K (absolute/relative) using directly immersed PT-100 sensors and four wire technology. Together with the prior calibration of the whole measuring equipment in the laboratory, an overall uncertainty of the target values (COP, JAZ) of 10% was achieved

Field Performance Of Domestic Heat Pumps For Heating And Hot Water In Switzerland Part II: Results, Analysis And Optimization

This study presents the development, the methods, and the state of the art of heat pump field trials as they are currently carried out by the Heat Pump Test Center (WPZ) in Buchs SG, Switzerland. In the current study, heat pumps for hydronic heating systems in single family houses within Switzerland have been investigated since 2016. So far, over 20 air-source and geothermal heat pumps have been added to this governmental quality assurance program (Swiss Federal authority EnergieSchweiz). For each heat pump system, more than 40 measured variables are recorded at a time interval of 10 s using calibrated sensors with very low measurement uncertainty. The aim of this field study is to record the real system efficiency in operation and to draw comparisons with characteristic values from laboratory measurements and manufacturer data. The study presented is divided into two parts. The first part entitled “Technology, Methods and State of the Art of the field studies” focuses on the procedure and measuring technology of field studies performed at WPZ Buchs. The second part is entitled “Results, Analysis and Optimization of current field studies” and presents meaningful results of the current field study as well as identification and optimization of possible deficiencies in the planning, installation and handling of the investigated heat pump systems. Heat pumps installed in new and refurbished buildings have been investigated with different system boundaries. In terms of performance, the current study shows an average annual coefficient of performance (SPF) of 3.6 and a span from 3.5 to 3.7 for floor heating and domestic hot water production using air/water heat pumps. Geothermal heat pump systems reach an average annual coefficient of performance of almost 5. Although the systems are running quite satisfying overall, the results also show considerable differences between the systems as well as typical mistakes in the installation and handling of the heat pumps. A controller that does not work optimally in terms of application and consumption is a frequently found cause of decreased performance. After evaluating the baseline performance for two years, the systems are optimized to increase performance and avoid poor operation. The collected data is also used to better define guidelines for planner and installers

Disseminated Microsporidiosis Due to Encephalitozoon hellem: Pulmonary Colonization, Microhematuria, and Mild Conjunctivitis in a Patient with AIDS

Four genera of microsporidia have been associated with disease in humans, which predominantly affects immunocompromised persons. Systemic infection with a newly characterized microsporidian species, Encephalitozoon hellem, was recently reported in a patient with AIDS. This article describes a second patient with AIDS and disseminated E. hellem infection. In this case the parasite was detected in sputum, urine, and conjunctival swab specimens. Apart from recurrent mild conjunctivitis and asymptomatic microhematuria, the patient had no findings or symptoms that could be related to this parasite. Specifically, no microsporidian-associated pulmonary pathology was documented. Detection of E. hellem in the patient's sputum may have epidemiological implications in that this finding suggests transmission of microsporidia by the aerosol route. Because the patient died of unrelated complications, it remains unknown whether he was an asymptomatic carrier of microsporidia or whether microhematuria heralded early microsporidian disease, with the onset of cellular damage in the urinary trac

Effect of Endocrine Disruptor Pesticides: A Review

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) are compounds that alter the normal functioning of the endocrine system of both wildlife and humans. A huge number of chemicals have been identified as endocrine disruptors, among them several pesticides. Pesticides are used to kill unwanted organisms in crops, public areas, homes and gardens, and parasites in medicine. Human are exposed to pesticides due to their occupations or through dietary and environmental exposure (water, soil, air). For several years, there have been enquiries about the impact of environmental factors on the occurrence of human pathologies. This paper reviews the current knowledge of the potential impacts of endocrine disruptor pesticides on human health

Pilot Sub-Study of the Effect of Hepatitis C Cure by Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir on the Gut Microbiome of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Genotypes 1 to 6 in the Mythen Study.

In this small pilot sub-study, longitudinal gut microbiota composition changes, after successful treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with the co-formulated glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB), were analyzed before treatment (baseline) and 12 weeks post-treatment. Participating patients provided a fresh stool sample the week before their study visit, from which microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced for the 16S rRNA region in an Illumina MiSeq2 platform. Microbial and statistical analyses were conducted to determine the alpha-diversity (number of different taxa within a sample) and beta-diversity (number of overlapping taxa between samples). Stool samples from 58 patients were eligible for analysis. There were 27 patients with HCV genotype 1, 10 with genotype 2, 16 with genotype 3, and 5 with genotype 4. No statistically significant differences in gut microbiota diversity, species richness, or microbial community pattern were found at baseline and at post-treatment Week 12. Lack of statistically significant differences remained consistent in further analysis by demographic and baseline disease characteristics. Surprisingly, no statistically significant changes in alpha- and beta-diversity were seen in the microbiota after GLE/PIB treatment, though there was a trend toward less richness over time. Further investigation is needed into this unexpected outcome to better understand the role of HCV treatment and the gut microbiota

Pilot Sub-Study of the Effect of Hepatitis C Cure by Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir on the Gut Microbiome of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Genotypes 1 to 6 in the Mythen Study

In this small pilot sub-study, longitudinal gut microbiota composition changes, after successful treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with the co-formulated glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB), were analyzed before treatment (baseline) and 12 weeks post-treatment. Participating patients provided a fresh stool sample the week before their study visit, from which microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced for the 16S rRNA region in an Illumina MiSeq2 platform. Microbial and statistical analyses were conducted to determine the alpha-diversity (number of different taxa within a sample) and beta-diversity (number of overlapping taxa between samples). Stool samples from 58 patients were eligible for analysis. There were 27 patients with HCV genotype 1, 10 with genotype 2, 16 with genotype 3, and 5 with genotype 4. No statistically significant differences in gut microbiota diversity, species richness, or microbial community pattern were found at baseline and at post-treatment Week 12. Lack of statistically significant differences remained consistent in further analysis by demographic and baseline disease characteristics. Surprisingly, no statistically significant changes in alpha- and beta-diversity were seen in the microbiota after GLE/PIB treatment, though there was a trend toward less richness over time. Further investigation is needed into this unexpected outcome to better understand the role of HCV treatment and the gut microbiota

Effect of phrenic nerve palsy on early postoperative lung function after pneumonectomy: a prospective study

BACKGROUND The issue of phrenic nerve preservation during pneumonectomy is still an unanswered question. So far, its direct effect on immediate postoperative pulmonary lung function has never been evaluated in a prospective trial. METHODS We conducted a prospective crossover study including 10 patients undergoing pneumonectomy for lung cancer between July 2011 and July 2012. After written informed consent, all consecutive patients who agreed to take part in the study and in whom preservation of the phrenic nerve during operation was possible, were included in the study. Upon completion of lung resection, a catheter was placed in the proximal paraphrenic tissue on the pericardial surface. After an initial phase of recovery of 5 days all patients underwent ultrasonographic assessment of diaphragmatic motion followed by lung function testing with and without induced phrenic nerve palsy. The controlled, temporary paralysis of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm was achieved by local administration of lidocaine 1% at a rate of 3 mL/h (30 mg/h) via the above-mentioned catheter. RESULTS Temporary phrenic nerve palsy was accomplished in all but 1 patient with suspected catheter dislocation. Spirometry showed a significant decrease in dynamic lung volumes (forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity; p < 0.05) with the paralyzed hemidiaphragm. Blood oxygen saturation levels did not change significantly. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that phrenic nerve palsy causes a significant impairment of dynamic lung volumes during the early postoperative period after pneumonectomy. Therefore, in these already compromised patients, intraoperative phrenic nerve injury should be avoided whenever possible

Co-immunoprecipitation-based identification of putative BAX INHIBITOR-1-interacting proteins involved in cell death regulation and plant-powdery mildew interactions

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident BAX INHIBITOR-1 (BI-1) protein is one of a few cell death suppressors known to be conserved in animals and plants. The function of BI-1 proteins in response to various biotic and abiotic stress factors is well established. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. We conducted co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments to identify Arabidopsis thaliana BI-1-interacting proteins to obtain a potentially better understanding of how BI-1 functions during plant-pathogen interactions and as a suppressor of cell death. Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) identified 95 proteins co-immunoprecipitated with green fluorescing protein (GFP)-tagged BI-1. Five selected candidate proteins, a RIBOPHORIN II (RPN2) family protein, VACUOLAR ATP SYNTHASE SUBUNIT A (VHA-A), cytochrome P450 83A1 (CYP83A1), H+ -ATPASE 1 (AHA1) and PROHIBITIN 2 (PHB2), were further investigated with regard to their role in BI-1-associated processes. To this end, we analysed a set of Arabidopsis mutants in the interaction with the adapted powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe cruciferarum and on cell death-inducing treatments. Two independent rpn2 knock-down mutants tended to better support powdery mildew, and a phb2 mutant showed altered responses to cell death-inducing Alternaria alternata f.sp. lycopersici (AAL) toxin treatment. Two independent cyp83a1 mutants showed a strong powdery mildew resistance phenotype and enhanced sensitivity to AAL toxin. Moreover, co-localization studies and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments suggested a direct interaction of BI-1 with CYP83A1 at the ER.publishe