energetic and economic analysis of a new concept of solar concentrator for residential application

Abstract Renewable energy penetration is increasing in last years, covering a more and more important role in both electrical and thermal supply. Nowadays, the photovoltaic conversion is a consolidated technology and can be efficiently combined with solar concentration. In this study, a new concept of photovoltaic solar concentrator based on non-conventional mirrors coupled with high efficiency triple-junctions cells is described and discussed. More in details, as for the optical design, deformations are applied to classical spherical mirrors to control solar aberrations and boost efficiency of a receiver consisting in a dense array of cells. The efficiency enhance is obtained by high matching between the collected solar irradiance and the receiver electrical features. The concentrator is able to produce both electrical and thermal energy: the system requires in fact an active cooling circuit to maintain the cells performance. This behavior makes the system suitable for combined heat and power applications with particular reference to high direct irradiance environments. An analytical study, considering a residential utility has been performed in order to understand the energetic and economic performance of the system. In particular, a simulation has been carried out by the use of an in-house-developed calculation code considering a whole year of operation

Fujian Tulou Rammed Earth Structures: Optimizing Restoration Techniques Through Participatory Design and Collective Practices

Fujian Tulou is a significant part of the international built heritage. Renovation and strengthening of existing Haka Tulou's earth constructions can ensure a better quality of life for their residents, as well as contribute to a long-lasting prominence of China's heritage. Previous studies of Fujian Tulou mainly cover habitation patterns, construction features and architectural details. In this research a layout has been summarized of causes of deterioration, pathology of structure, focused on the buildings' conservation value and restoration, in terms of history, culture and construction technologies. Out of Fujian's more than 3,000 Tulou, only a few dozen have been awarded the status of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Along with that status, the 46 buildings chosen for the award. The buildings which belong to UNESCO's heritage are on list of possible restoration while the rest remain in disintegration and the villages are getting vacant through years. The answer for the restoration could be found through participation and team work of experts and habitants. A Tulou is usually inhabited by one family clan for several generations, and the enclosed structure allows to the members of the community to work together and participate in a common goal.Therefore, it is necessary to find new intervention techniques for these earthen buildings, or to adapt those already existing - and proved - to the specific characteristics of the material. This is the context in which the present research aims at contributing to the development of grouting and stitching the cracks by means of earthen mortar in rammed earth walls, as collective restoration techniques

Colorectal Cancer with Peritoneal Metastases: The Impact of the Results of PROPHYLOCHIP, COLOPEC, and PRODIGE 7 Trials on Peritoneal Disease Management

HIPEC is a potentially useful locoregional treatment combined with cytoreduction in patients with peritoneal colorectal metastases. Despite being widely used in several cancer centers around the world, its role had never been investigated before the results of three important RCTs appeared on this topic. The PRODIGE 7 trial clarified the role of oxaliplatin-based HIPEC in patients treated with radical surgery. Conversely, the PROPHYLOCHIP and the COLOPEC were designed to chair the role of HIPEC in patients at high risk of developing peritoneal metastases. Although all three trials demonstrated the relative ineffectiveness of HIPEC for treating or preventing peritoneal metastases, these results are not sufficient to abandon this technique. In addition to some criticisms relating to the design of the trials and their statistical value, the oxaliplatin-based HIPEC was found to be ineffective in preventing or treating peritoneal colorectal metastases, especially in patients already treated with systemic platinum-based chemotherapy. Several studies are ongoing investigating further HIPEC drugs and regimens. The review deeply discussed all the aspects and relapses of this new evidence

‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ Multimeric LotP Mediates Citrus sinensis Defense Response Activation

‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ is known as the most pathogenic organism associated with citrus greening disease. Since its publicized emergence in Florida in 2005, ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ remains unculturable. Currently, a limited number of potential disease effectors have been identified through in silico analysis. Therefore, these potential effectors remain poorly characterized and do not fully explain the complexity of symptoms observed in citrus trees infected with ‘Ca. L. asiaticus.’ LotP has been identified as a potential effector and have been partially characterized. This protein retains structural homology to the substrate binding domain of the Lon protease. LotP interacts with chaperones like GroEL, Hsp40, DnaJ, and ClpX and may exercise its biological role through interactions with different proteins involved in proteostasis networks. Here, we evaluate the interactome of LotP—revealing a new protein–protein interaction target (Lon-serine protease) and its effect on citrus plant tissue integrity. We found that via protein–protein interactions, LotP can enhance Lon protease activity, increasing the degradation rate of its specific targets. Infiltration of purified LotP strained citrus plant tissue causing photoinhibition and chlorosis after several days. Proteomics analysis of LotP tissues recovering after the infiltration revealed a large abundance of plant proteins associated with the stabilization and processing of mRNA transcripts, a subset of important transcription factors; and pathways associated with innate plant defense were highly expressed. Furthermore, interactions and substrate binding module of LotP suggest potential interactions with plant proteins, most likely proteases.Fil: Merli, Marcelo Luciano. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Padgett Pagliai, Kaylie A.. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Cuaycal, Alexandra E.. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: García, Lucila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Marano, María Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Lorca, Graciela L.. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados UnidosFil: Gonzalez, Claudio F.. University of Florida. Department of Microbiology and Cell Science; Estados Unido