A heuristic approach to the decision-making process of energy prosumers in a circular economy

Renewable distributed energy and self-consumption are promising and sustainable solutions in the energy-transition scenario for moving toward a circular economy. In this future scheme, prosumers are expected to play a leading role in the forthcoming sustainable energy market, facing new technical, economic, and financial challenges as energy producers at a small scale. In fact, the adoption of photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption systems requires mobilizing capital for investment and their interaction with the market. In this scenario, the aim of this paper was to explore insights into the decision-making process of prosumers to enhance the understanding of self-consumption deployment and to support effective policymaking. This study contributes to the state of the art by defining and classifying determinants of the energy prosumers’ decision-making process and their relevance using a heuristic approach. Potential measuring tools and methods are analyzed through a specific case study of Spanish prosumers

Methodology for dimensioning the socio-economic impact of power-to-gas technologies in a circular economy scenario

Innovative and sustainable energy technologies are needed in the transition of energy toward a circular economy. Because of the use of renewable energy and carbon utilization, power-to-gas could be a cutting-edge technology that supports the circular model in future sustainable energy markets. However, this technology faces new technical and socio-economic challenges. The use of power-to-gas is limited because of barriers that limit the mobilization of investment capital. In addition, social and economic impacts on the territories in which these facilities are located are under study. In this context, the aims of this paper are: (i) To explore the determinants and barriers for power-to-gas technology to enhance the understanding of investment in innovative energy technologies; and (ii) to support effective policymaking and energy companies’ decision-making processes. This study defines and measures, from a circular economy perspective, the main impacts of the deployment of this technology on a territory in terms of volume of investment, employment generation, and CO2 capture. The study also provides a simplified methodology to contribute to the analysis of the use of power-to-gas. Finally, it improves the knowledge of the socio-economic impact of this cutting-edge technology for the transition of energy to a zero-emission scenario

El testigo único o singular (A propósito de la sentencia condenatoria en materia penal)

El trabajo aborda la situación del testimonio único, como fuente de convicción que constituya  apoyo único y  exclusivo de una decisión judicial condenatoria, en el marco de un  sistema de evaluación de la prueba gobernado por las reglas de la sana crítica racional-, y analiza las características particulares de las que debe estar investido, las denominadas garantías de certeza del testimonio, el estándar de prueba más allá de toda duda razonabl

Exploring the integration of the power to gas technologies and the sustainable transport

The de-carbonization of the transport sector is a particularly complex challenge as greenhouse gases are delocalized and diffused. Therefore, the problem has to be tackled from the source of the emissions, and efforts in the scientific and technological field must seek out new energy vectors of high density, neutral in CO2 and based on renewable energy that meet the sector demands and requisites. This could be the case of the synthetic natural gas which can be produced through the Power to Gas process (PtG). This process, originally developed by the German institutes ZSW and IWES, converts electricity into synthetic natural gas (SNG) via the methanation of CO2 together with H2 from water electrolysis. The energy content of the produced methane comes from the primary source for power generation (optimally renewable electricity) and it is possible to produce a CO2 neutral fuel by capturing the carbon emissions from an existing source. In addition, the PtG process can be seen as a new concept of renewable energy and CO2 hybrid storage. This paper identifies the possibilities that the Power to Gas technology offers for the production of sustainable methane and the existing potential for the symbiosis of industrial sectors through optimization of their waste streams of matter and energy. In particular power and transport sectors are considered and the outline of a small facility for the generation of synthetic natural gas from renewable electricity and its consumption in the vehicles of a road freight company is presented as a case study. Not only the technical feasibility but the economic viability of the process and the environmental improvements resulting from the use of a renewable fuel free of CO2 emissions in terms of carbon footprint are evaluated

Efecto de la suplementación energética sobre la degradabilidad de la fibra en rumiantes en pastoreo

Las condiciones climáticas de la Región Pampeana Semiárida, no permiten tener seguridad en la producción forrajera, dificultando la planificación de la alimentación de los rodeos de cría e invernada sobre todo en invierno. La utilización de una Suplementación energética moderada es una práctica habitual con el objetivo de mejorar la dieta de los animales y cubrir déficit forrajeros, pero se desconoce la influencia sobre la digestión de la fibra y la intensidad de los cambios del ambiente ruminal. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar los cambios en la utilización digestiva de la fibra de distintos substratos lignocelulósicos, y estimar variables del ambiente ruminal, en novillos cuya dieta se basó en pastoreo de avena y diferentes niveles de Suplementación energética. El estudio se realizó en el Campo Experimental de la Facultad de Agronomía de la UNLPam, con 3 novillos Hereford fistulados de rumen que pastoreaban un verdeo de Avena (Avena sativa cv Cristal). Se utilizó un diseño experimental en Cuadrado Latino de 3 animales y 3 tratamientos, suministrando grano de maíz partido luego de un encierre nocturno en cantidades de MS equivalentes al O% (T1), 0,5% (T2) y 1% (T3) del peso vivo del animal. Se incubaron bolsitas de nylon en el rumen durante 72, 48, 24,12,6,3 Y O horas con diferentes fuentes de fibra: rollo de alfalfa (Medicago sativa), pasto llorón (Eragrostis curvula) diferido, el forraje pastoreado (Avena sativa cv Cristal) y Celulosa. Sobre el residuo de las mismas se estimó la degradabilidad efectiva de la Materia Seca (MS) y la degradabilidad efectiva dela fibra en detergente neutro (FDN). También se tomaron muestras de líquido ruminal a las 0,3,6,9,12 Y 18 horas luego del suministro del grano durante 2 días consecutivos, sobre las cuales se midió pH, concentración de amoníaco (NH3) y concentración de ácidos grasos volátiles de cadena corta (AGV). La Degradabilidad Efectiva de la MS y de la FDN de los forrajes mostraron similar comportamiento, con una disminución significativa (p < 0,05) de T3 respecto a T1. En el caso de la celulosa no fue significativa esta disminución de degradabilidad efectiva pero se presento la misma tendencia, atribuyendo este comportamiento en todos los casos a la variación significativa (p < 0,05) de pH que modifica las poblaciones microbianas en rumen al suplementar con niveles crecientes de grano. En el caso del amoníaco su concentración ruminal disminuyó al suplementar (p< 0,05), sin diferencias entre las cantidades de grano aportadas. Los AGV solo mostraron cambios significativos entre T2 y T3. Como conclusión se podría recomendar la suplementación energética con grano molido a niveles de 0,5% del peso vivo como una estrategia para mantener estable el aporte de nutrientes, sin disminuir significativamente la degradabilidad de la dieta base

Energy vulnerability composite index in social housing, from a household energy poverty perspective

In Europe, the proportion of social housing is high, and such houses tend to be inhabited by below average-income households, which are particularly vulnerable to energy poverty. This article proposes a new methodological approach for defining an index for household energy vulnerability assessment. This method can be used to improve the management of social housing. After establishing a heuristic framework for household energy poverty-which stems from different causes such as income, the characteristics of the residence, energy installations, and the energy-consumption habits of household members-multi-criteria analytical methods, based on the aggregation of indicators which reveal the conditions leading to energy poverty, have been applied, and effective means of intervention are proposed. The method is also applied to a sample of social houses and thus validated as a useful tool in decision-making processes which concern the management of social housing from a household energy-poverty perspective

The hepatoadrenal syndrome: A common yet unrecognized clinical condition

Objective: Adrenal failure is common in critically ill patients, particularly those with sepsis. As liver failure and sepsis are both associated with increased circulating levels of endotoxin and proinflammatory mediators and reduced levels of apoprotein-1/ high-density lipoprotein, we postulated that adrenal failure may be common in patients with liver disease. Design: Clinical study. Setting: Liver transplant intensive care unit. Patients: The study cohort included 340 patients with liver disease. Interventions: Based on preliminary observational data, all patients admitted to our 28-bed liver transplant intensive care unit (LTICU) undergo adrenal function testing. An honest broker system was used to extract clinical, hemodynamic, medication, and laboratory data on patients admitted to the LTICU from March 2002 to March 2004. A random (stress) cortisol level <20 μg/dL in a highly stressed patient (respiratory failure, hypotension) was used to diagnose adrenal insufficiency. In all other patients, a random cortisol level <15 μg/dL or a 30-min level <20 μg/dL post-low-dose (1 μg) cosyntropin was considered diagnostic of adrenal insufficiency. Patients were grouped as follows: a) chronic liver failure; b) fulminant hepatic failure; c) patients immediately status post-orthotopic liver transplantation receiving a steroid-free protocol of immunosuppression; and d) patients status post-remote liver transplant (≥6 months). The decision to treat patients with stress doses of hydrocortisone was at the discretion of the treating intensivist and transplant surgeon. Measurements and Main Results: Two-hundred and forty-five (72%) patients met our criteria for adrenal insufficiency (the hepatoadrenal syndrome). Eight (33%) patients with fulminant hepatic failure, 97 (66%) patients with chronic liver disease, 31(61%) patients with a remote history of liver transplantation, and 109 (92%) patients who had undergone liver transplantation under steroid-free immunosuppression were diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency. The high-density lipoprotein level at the time of adrenal testing was the only variable predictive of adrenal insufficiency (p < .0001). In vasopressor-dependent patients with adrenal insufficiency, treatment with hydrocortisone was associated with a significant reduction (p = .02) in the dose of norepinephrine at 24 hrs, whereas the dose of norepinephrine was significantly higher (p = .04) in those patients with adrenal failure not treated with hydrocortisone. In vasopressor-dependent patients without adrenal insufficiency, treatment with hydrocortisone did not affect vasopressor dose at 24 hrs. One hundred and forty-one patients (26.4%) died during their hospitalization. The baseline serum cortisol was 18.8 ± 16.2 μg/dL in the nonsurvivors compared with 13.0 ± 11.8 μg/dL in the survivors (p < .001). Of those patients with adrenal failure who were treated with glucocorticoids, the mortality rate was 26% compared with 46% (p = .002) in those who were not treated. In those patients receiving vasopressor agents at the time of adrenal testing, the baseline cortisol was 10.0 ± 4.8 μg/dL in those with adrenal insufficiency compared with 35.6 ± 21.2 μg/dL in those with normal adrenal function. Vasopressor-dependent patients who did not have adrenal failure had a mortality rate of 75%. Conclusions: Patients with liver failure and patients post-liver transplantation have an exceedingly high incidence of adrenal failure, which may be pathophysiologically related to low levels of high-density lipoprotein. Treatment of patients with adrenal failure may improve outcome. High baseline serum cortisol levels may be a maker of disease severity and portend a poor prognosis. Copyright © 2005 by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Note on the presence of Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) in Asturias (Bay of Biscay)

Se cita la presencia de Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar, 1873 en el mar Cantábrico (Gijón, Asturias). Se describe la población ficológica y se analiza el vector de dispersión de la especie.Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar, 1873 is recordedfor first time in the Bay of Biscay. The phycological population and vector of dispersion are described.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

A skin abscess model for teaching incision and drainage procedures

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Skin and soft tissue infections are increasingly prevalent clinical problems, and it is important for health care practitioners to be well trained in how to treat skin abscesses. A realistic model of abscess incision and drainage will allow trainees to learn and practice this basic physician procedure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We developed a realistic model of skin abscess formation to demonstrate the technique of incision and drainage for educational purposes. The creation of this model is described in detail in this report.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>This model has been successfully used to develop and disseminate a multimedia video production for teaching this medical procedure. Clinical faculty and resident physicians find this model to be a realistic method for demonstrating abscess incision and drainage.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This manuscript provides a detailed description of our model of abscess incision and drainage for medical education. Clinical educators can incorporate this model into skills labs or demonstrations for teaching this basic procedure.</p

On the determinants of local government debt: Does one size fit all?

This paper analyzes the factors that directly influence levels of debt in Spanish local governments. Specifically, the main objective is to find out the extent to which indebtedness is originated by controllable factors that public managers can influence, or whether it hinges on other variables beyond managers’ control. The importance of this issue has intensified since the start of the crisis in 2007, due to the abrupt decline of revenues and, simultaneously, to the stagnation (or even increase) in the levels of costs facing these institutions face. Results can be explored from multiple perspectives, given that the set of explanatory factors is also multiple. However, the most interesting result relates to the varying effect of each covariate depending on each municipality’s specific debt level, which suggests that economic policy recommendations should not be homogeneous across local governments