Waste-heat utilization potential in a hydrogen-based energy system - An exploratory focus on Italy

The target of the full decarbonisation by 2050 requires high penetration of renewables, with the development of overgeneration situations in the energy system. Hydrogen and electro-fuels could play a key role in hard-to-abate sectors and in grid balancing. By means of the developed NEMeSI model we study the Italian future energy mix, including several Power-to-X (P2X) options to accommodate high RES introduction. The model is set to solve a linear optimization problem, by optimizing the use of resources through the minimization of the supply costs. The use of excess power from renewables is evaluated in solutions such as hydrogen production and electro-fuels synthesis, coupled to Power-to-Heat and storage systems. The model studies the Italian case in a decarbonised scenario and provides an estimation of potential waste heat recovery from the P2X processes, differentiating from low to high temperature waste heat. Waste heat can be used for district heating purposes or for power generation via organic Rankine cycle. Both high and low temperature heat recovery show a potential in the order of tens of TWh, with a preference for power generation use

Ley 19.636

El 2018 constituyó un año clave para el desarrollo del Arbitraje en Uruguay. Uniéndose al camino de más de 80 jurisdicciones, Uruguay aprobó una versión modificada de la Ley Modelo UNCITRAL. De este modo, se crea un régimen específico y adecuado para la resolución de conflictos comerciales internacionales. En el presente trabajo, se analizan todas las diferencias de la nueva Ley de Arbitraje Comercial Internacional (“Ley 19.636” o “Ley de Arbitraje Internacional”), con la Ley Modelo UNCITRAL (“LMU”) en la que se basó

Ley 19.636: la nueva ley de arbitraje comercial internacional en Uruguay

2018 was a key year for the development of arbitration in Uruguay. Joining the path of over 80 jurisdictions, Uruguay sanctioned a modified version of the CNUDMI Model Law. In this way, it created a specific and adequate regime for the resolution of international commercial conflicts. In this paper, we analyze the differences between the new International Commercial Arbitration Law (“Law 19.636” or “International Arbitration Law”), and the CNUDMI Model Law (“LMU”) on which it was based.El 2018 constituyó un año clave para el desarrollo del Arbitraje en Uruguay. Uniéndose al camino de más de 80 jurisdicciones, Uruguay aprobó una versión modificada de la Ley Modelo UNCITRAL. De este modo, se crea un régimen específico y adecuado para la resolución de conflictos comerciales internacionales. En el presente trabajo, se analizan todas las diferencias de la nueva Ley de Arbitraje Comercial Internacional (“Ley 19.636” o “Ley de Arbitraje Internacional”), con la Ley Modelo UNCITRAL (“LMU”) en la que se basó

Evolución del secreto bancario en Uruguay

Si nos referimos al secreto bancario, debemos abordar su concepto y contenido vinculados especialmente con el respeto por la libertad de los individuos.En la medida que entendemos a la actividad financiera como una actividad ligada a la seguridad y confiabilidad, el banco se convierte casi automáticamente en un confidente del cliente; un profesional de la actividad financiera en la cual ese cliente deposita su confianza

A Self-Powered Wireless Water Quality Sensing Network Enabling Smart Monitoring of Biological and Chemical Stability in Supply Systems

A smart, safe, and efficient management of water is fundamental for both developed and developing countries. Several wireless sensor networks have been proposed for real-time monitoring of drinking water quantity and quality, both in the environment and in pipelines. However, surface fouling significantly affects the long-term reliability of pipes and sensors installed in-line. To address this relevant issue, we presented a multi-parameter sensing node embedding a miniaturized slime monitor able to estimate the micrometric thickness and type of slime. The measurement of thin deposits in pipes is descriptive of water biological and chemical stability and enables early warning functions, predictive maintenance, and more efficient management processes. After the description of the sensing node, the related electronics, and the data processing strategies, we presented the results of a two-month validation in the field of a three-node pilot network. Furthermore, self-powering by means of direct energy harvesting from the water flowing through the sensing node was also demonstrated. The robustness and low cost of this solution enable its upscaling to larger monitoring networks, paving the way to water monitoring with unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution. Document type: Articl

Cáncer localizado de próstata

Se analizaron 560 pacientes consecutivos con cáncer localizado de próstata tratados con radioterapia conformal tridimensional entre 1993 y 2001. La sobrevida global actuarial a los nueve años fue de 71%, y la sobrevida causa específica de 88%. La mortalidad cruda por cáncer de próstata fue de 4,8% mientras que la mortalidad por otras causas fue de 8,3%. La sobrevida libre de recaída bioquímica en función del grupo de riesgo fue de 83%, 68% y 41% a los nueve años, respectivamente para los grupos de riesgo bajo, intermedio y alto en 504 pacientes (p<0,05). La dosis mayor o igual a 72 Gy mejora el control bioquímico a los siete años en todos los grupos de riesgo aunque sólo es estadísticamente significativa en el grupo de riesgo alto (p<0,006). El modelo de Cox reveló que solamente el grupo de riesgo, la dosis total como variable continua y el antígeno prostático específico inicial como variable categórica fueron significativos. Cuando el modelo de Cox fue aplicado a los 188 pacientes de riesgo alto, el uso de la hormonoterapia de inducción o concomitante, o ambas, y la edad, resultaron además significativos. La tasa actuarial de complicaciones severas a diez años grados 3 y 4 (no hubo complicaciones grado 5) fue de 1,2% para las urinarias y de 1,4% para las digestivas. La radioterapia conformal tridimensional a altas dosis es un tratamiento efectivo y de baja morbilidad para el tratamiento del cáncer localizado de próstata

Prenatal thalamic waves regulate cortical area size prior to sensory processing

The cerebral cortex is organized into specialized sensory areas, whose initial territory is determined by intracortical molecular determinants. Yet, sensory cortical area size appears to be fine tuned during development to respond to functional adaptations. Here we demonstrate the existence of a prenatal sub-cortical mechanism that regulates the cortical areas size in mice. This mechanism is mediated by spontaneous thalamic calcium waves that propagate among sensory-modality thalamic nuclei up to the cortex and that provide a means of communication among sensory systems. Wave pattern alterations in one nucleus lead to changes in the pattern of the remaining ones, triggering changes in thalamic gene expression and cortical area size. Thus, silencing calcium waves in the auditory thalamus induces Rorβ upregulation in a neighbouring somatosensory nucleus preluding the enlargement of the barrel-field. These findings reveal that embryonic thalamic calcium waves coordinate cortical sensory area patterning and plasticity prior to sensory information processing.V.M.-J. holds a ‘Severo Ochoa’ PhD fellowship and N.A.-B. a FPI fellowship, both from the MINECO. C.M. held a JAE-Predoc fellowship from the CSIC, and H.G. held postdoctoral fellowships from the Swedish Research council and Brain Foundation. Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (31003A_149573) and the Novartis Research Foundation to F.M.R., the JSPS KAKENHI (JP16H06459) to T.I. and by the Spanish MINECO BFU2012-34298 and BFU2015-64432-R, and two European Commission Grants ERC-2009-StG-20081210 and ERC-2014-CoG-647012 to G.L.-B. G.L.-B. is an EMBO YIP Investigator and a FENS-Kavli scholar.Peer reviewe

Efficacy of angler catch data as a population and conservation monitoring tool for the flagship mahseer fishes (Tor spp.) of Southern India

Mahseer (Tor spp.) are flagship fishes in South Asian rivers. Their populations are threatened through poaching and habitat disturbance, yet they are highly prized game fishes due to their large size, appearance and sporting qualities. The international recreational angling community has frequently been cited as playing a vital role in conserving these fishes while also providing economic benefit to poor rural communities. Owing to a lack of scientific data and the considerable challenges associated with monitoring fish populations in large monsoonal rivers, efforts to determine the long-term trends in their populations has focused on sport-fishing catch records. Here, catch data collected between 1998 and 2012 from Galibore, a former fishing camp on the River Cauvery, Karnataka, India, were analysed to determine the catch per unit effort (CPUE – by number and weight) as an indicator of relative fish abundance, along with the size structure of catches. This fishery operated a mandatory catch-and-release (C&R) policy, and provided the fish community with protection from illegal fishing. Between 1998 and 2012, 23 620 hours fishing effort were applied to catch and release 6161 mahseer, ranging in size from 1 to 104 lbs (0.45–46.8 kg) in weight. Across the period, CPUE in number increased significantly over time with a concomitant decrease in CPUE by weight, revealing strong recruitment in the population and a shift in population size structure. This suggests a strong response to the C&R policy and the reduction in illegal fishing, indicating that conservation strategies focusing on the beneficial and negative aspects of exploitation can be successful in achieving positive outcomes. These outputs from angler catch data provide insights into the mahseer population that were impossible to collect by any alternative method. They provide the most comprehensive analysis of a long-term dataset specific to any of the mahseer species across their entire geographical range and demonstrate the value of organised angling as a conservation monitoring tool to enhance biological data, and inform conservation and fishery management actions