How a sensitive analysis on the coupling geology and borehole heat exchanger characteristics can improve the efficiency and production of shallow geothermal plants

Knowledge of the thermal behaviour around and throughout borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) is essential for designing a low enthalpy geothermal plant. In particular, the type of grout used in sealing the space between BHE walls and the pipes is fundamental for optimizing the heat transfer and minimizing the thermal resistance, thereby promoting the reduction of total drilling lengths and installation costs. A comparison between grouts with different thermal conductivities coupled with common hydrogeological contexts, was modelled for a typical one-year heating for continental climates. These data have been used for a sensitivity analysis taking into account different flow rates through pipes. The results highlight that in groundwater transient conditions, porous lithologies allow for greater heat power extractions to be obtained with an increasing grout thermal conductivity than limestone or clayey silt deposits do. Moreover, increasing the inlet flow rates through the pipe greatly improves the final heat power extraction. As a result, when the underground allows for high extraction rates, the use of high performing grouts is warmly suggested ensuring greater productions

Screening of ninety herbal products of commercial interest as potential ingredients for phytocosmetics

Elastase and tyrosinase are important targets both for cosmetics and for dermatological disorders. In this work, ninety herbal products were tested as inhibitors of these two enzymes. Eleven extracts resulted strongly active. Four out of them (Camellia sinensis, Ginkgo biloba, Rhodiola rosea, Vitis vinifera) inhibited both enzymes, five (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ribes nigrum, Rheum officinale, Salvia officinalis, Tilia platyphyllos) were active against tyrosinase only, and two (Ceterach officinarum and Cinnamomum zeylanicum) proved selectively active against elastase. The IC50 ranged from 3.1 to 104.9 \u3bcg/mL and 19.3 to 164.3 \u3bcg/mL, against elastase and tyrosinase, respectively. The most active extracts resulted enriched in flavonoids (from 1.47 to 56.47 mg RE/g of extract) and phenolics (from 37.43 to 123.56 mg GAE/g of extract), indicating also an antioxidant potential. Finally, a positive correlation between enzymatic bioactivities and phenolic content was also established

GC-MS-based metabolomics for the detection of adulteration in oregano samples

Oregano is one of the most used culinary herb and it is often adulterated with cheaper plants. In this study, GC-MS was used for identification and quantification of metabolites from 104 samples of oregano (Origanum vulgare and O. onites) adulterated with olive (Olea europaea), venetian sumac (Cotinus coggygria) and myrtle (Myrtus communis) leaves, at five different concentration levels. The metabolomics profiles obtained after the two-step derivatization, involving methoxyamination and silanization, were subjected to multivariate data analysis to reveal markers of adulteration and to build the regression models on the basis of the oregano-to-adulterants mixing ratio. Orthogonal partial least squares enabled detection of oregano adulterations with olive, Venetian sumac and myrtle leaves. Sorbitol levels distinguished oregano samples adulterated with olive leaves, while shikimic and quinic acids were recognized as discrimination factor for adulteration of oregano with venetian sumac. Fructose and quinic acid levels correlated with oregano adulteration with myrtle. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis enabled discrimination of O. vulgare and O. onites samples, where catechollactate was found to be discriminating metabolite

Relating physical properties to temperature-induced damage in carbonate rocks

Carbonate rocks have a widespread diffusion in the Earth crust and are extensively used in cultural heritage and buildings. These rocks can be naturally or anthropically exposed to high temperatures. Consequently, relating physical properties to temperature-induced damage is extremely important. Six sets of compositionally and texturally different carbonate rocks, spanning from limestones and marbles to dolomitic marbles, were analysed in this study. Different physical properties, such as porosity, seismic wave velocities and electrical resistivity, were measured before and after thermal treatments with heating/cooling ranges between 105 and 600°C. Microstructural observations and optical analyses were used to investigate how temperature-induced damage affects the physical measured properties of the different microstructures. This integrated approach allowed to define a generalised relationship between physical properties and thermal-induced damage, by way of an induced damage index valid for a broad suite of carbonate rocks

Alternative use of artificial quarry lakes as a source of thermal energy for greenhouses

In northern Italy, most greenhouses rely on gas or oil heaters which are sometimes subject to high operating costs. Several greenhouses are nearby quarry lakes, which are the legacy of the expansion of cities in the last decades, including Turin (NW Italy). About 20 quarry lakes were excavated close to the Po riverbed in the southern part of this urban area, along a belt of more than 30 km in length, with an overall volume exceeding 10 million m3 water. The study addresses these artificial lakes as a low enthalpy thermal energy source, potentially providing heat to surrounding agri-business buildings. Detailed temperature monitoring of a large lake quarry was conducted over two years at different depths, measuring the surrounding groundwater level as well. Two different behaviors of the lake during the winter and summer seasons enabled the definition of a quite low water mixing process between the surrounding aquifers and the lake (in the range of 2–4◦ C). An evaluation of the heat extraction potential using the lake as a heat source, depending on water temperature and its volume, and a qualitative comparison with groundwater systems are proposed. This study contributes to increasing knowledge on an overlooked resource for sustainable heating

Different Seasonal Collections of Ficus carica L. Leaves Diversely Modulate Lipid Metabolism and Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Due to the high prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, adipogenesis dysfunction and metabolic disorders are common features in the elderly population. Thus, the identification of novel compounds with anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects is highly desirable to reduce diabetes complications. Plants represent an important source of bioactive compounds. To date, the antidiabetic potential of several traditional plants has been reported, among which Ficus carica L. is one of the most promising. Considering that plant metabolome changes in response to a number of factors including seasonality, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether Ficus carica leaves extracts collected in autumn (FCa) and spring (FCs) differently modulate lipid metabolism and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The H-1-NMR profile of the extracts showed that FCs have a higher content of caffeic acid derivatives, glucose, and sucrose than FCa. In contrast, FCa showed a higher concentration of malic acid and furanocoumarins, identified as psoralen and bergapten. In vitro testing showed that only FCa treatments were able to significantly decrease the lipid content (Ctrl vs. FCa 25 mu g/mL, 50 mu g/mL and 80 mu g/mL; p < 0.05, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, FCa treatments were able to downregulate the transcriptional pathway of adipogenesis and insulin sensitivity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In more detail, FCa 80 mu g/mL significantly decreased the gene expression of PPAR gamma (p < 0.05), C/EBP alpha (p < 0.05), Leptin (p < 0.0001), adiponectin (p < 0.05) and GLUT4 (p < 0.01). In conclusion, this study further supports an in-depth investigation of F. carica leaves extracts as a promising source of active compounds useful for targeting obesity and diabetes

Metabolic variation in Cistus monspeliensis L. ecotypes correlated to their plant-fungal interactions

The effect of environmental factors on the chemical composition of plants eventually resulting in plant growth regulation is an age-old issue in plant biology. Nowadays, the acceleration in changes in environmental conditions (e.g. global warming) can act as an incentive to investigate their correlation with metabolic changes. In this study, Cistus monspeliensis plants grown on the island of Sardinia (Italy) were used to explore the geographical-mediated metabolic variation and its repercussion on plant-fungus interactions. Samples of different ecotypes of C. monspeliensis were collected and chemically profiled by 1H NMR and HPTLC-based metabolomics and the relationship between the variations of biological activity was examined by multivariate data analysis. The ecotypes, collected from different geographical zones and altitudes, exhibited clearly distinguishable chemical profiles, particularly in their terpene and phenolic contents. In particular, multivariate data analysis revealed several diterpenes of the labdane and clerodane series among the terpenes and methoxyflavonoids to be responsible for the differentiation. The antifungal activity of the plants was used to explore the correlation between chemical variation and biological activity. Results showed that there was a strong correlation between the metabolic profiles and the antifungal activity, revealing terpenes and methoxylated flavonoids as the main involved metabolites. This demonstrated that environmental factors can influence the chemical variation of plant ecotypes, resulting in the generation of chemotypes that are potentially adapted to their niche conditions including the plant-fungal interactions

Antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Achillea tenorii

Context: There is a need for the discovery of novel natural remedies to prevent and treat metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia, type II non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Several Achillea species have been utilized for centuries all around the world and are generally considered effective as hypoglycemic. Objective: Considering the ethnobotanical uses of Achillea genus, we evaluated the in vitro inhibitory activity of Achillea tenorii Grande (Asteraceae) extract on a-glucosidase, which is a valuable target to prevent and treat metabolic disorders. We also tested its antioxidant activity. Moreover, the phytochemical profile was discussed from a chemotaxonomic point of view. Materials and methods: In vitro a-glucosidase inhibition of crude ethanolic extract obtained from the aerial parts was assayed as well as the in vitro antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP-FZ tests) was measured. The extract was characterized from a phytochemical point of view by means of spectroscopic analysis. Results: The extract results endowed with a-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 32 mg/mL) with a particular mechanism of action definable as un-competitive, which differed from the mechanism observed for the best-known a-glucosidase inhibitor (acarbose and miglitol). In addition, a considerable antioxidant potential has been found for A. tenorii extract, which resulted mainly constituted by phenolic compounds such as caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids. Discussion and conclusions: These results suggest the potential of A. tenorii as a possible natural remedy to prevent and treat metabolic disorders of carbohydrates