A Critical Review of the Environmental Performance of Bifacial Photovoltaic Panels

Bifacial photovoltaic (BPV) panels represent one of the main solar technologies that will be used in the near future for renewable energy production, with a foreseen market share in 2030 of 70% among all the photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Compared to monofacial panels, bifaciality can ensure a gain in energy production per unit panel area together with a competitive cost. However, it is of paramount importance to identify whether there is also an environmental benefit when adopting bifacial technologies as opposed to traditional monofacial ones. To obtain a proper insight into the environmental impact, this paper reviews the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies of bifacial solar panels, identifying the most crucial processes and materials that raise environmental burdens. The analysis also contributes to determining whether the major aspects that influence energy production in real operation scenarios and, most of all, that can ensure the gain associated with bifaciality, are considered and how these can further affect the overall environmental impacts. In this sense, it was found that the installation parameters like the mounting structure, or the choice of ground material to raise the albedo as well as the diffuse irradiation that hits the rear surface of thepanel, are commonly not considered during LCA analysis. However, none of the analyzed studies address the issue in a comprehensive way, hampering an effective comparison between both the different works and traditional monofacial PV panels. Recommendations for future LCAs are finally proposed

Critical Review of Life Cycle Assessment of Hydrogen Production Pathways

In light of growing concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions and the increasingly severe impacts of climate change, the global situation demands immediate action to transition towards sustainable energy solutions. In this sense, hydrogen could play a fundamental role in the energy transition, offering a potential clean and versatile energy carrier. This paper reviews the recent results of Life Cycle Assessment studies of different hydrogen production pathways, which are trying to define the routes that can guarantee the least environmental burdens. Steam methane reforming was considered as the benchmark for Global Warming Potential, with an average emission of 11 kgCO2eq/kgH2. Hydrogen produced from water electrolysis powered by renewable energy (green H2) or nuclear energy (pink H2) showed the average lowest impacts, with mean values of 2.02 kgCO2eq/kgH2 and 0.41 kgCO2eq/kgH2, respectively. The use of grid electricity to power the electrolyzer (yellow H2) raised the mean carbon footprint up to 17.2 kgCO2eq/kgH2, with a peak of 41.4 kgCO2eq/kgH2 in the case of countries with low renewable energy production. Waste pyrolysis and/or gasification presented average emissions three times higher than steam methane reforming, while the recourse to residual biomass and biowaste significantly lowered greenhouse gas emissions. The acidification potential presents comparable results for all the technologies studied, except for biomass gasification which showed significantly higher and more scattered values. Regarding the abiotic depletion potential (mineral), the main issue is the lack of an established recycling strategy, especially for electrolysis technologies that hamper the inclusion of the End of Life stage in LCA computation. Whenever data were available, hotspots for each hydrogen production process were identified

Prospects for combined analyses of hadronic emission from γ\gamma-ray sources in the Milky Way with CTA and KM3NeT

The Cherenkov Telescope Array and the KM3NeT neutrino telescopes are major upcoming facilities in the fields of $\gamma$-ray and neutrino astronomy, respectively. Possible simultaneous production of $\gamma$ rays and neutrinos in astrophysical accelerators of cosmic-ray nuclei motivates a combination of their data. We assess the potential of a combined analysis of CTA and KM3NeT data to determine the contribution of hadronic emission processes in known Galactic $\gamma$-ray emitters, comparing this result to the cases of two separate analyses. In doing so, we demonstrate the capability of Gammapy, an open-source software package for the analysis of $\gamma$-ray data, to also process data from neutrino telescopes. For a selection of prototypical $\gamma$-ray sources within our Galaxy, we obtain models for primary proton and electron spectra in the hadronic and leptonic emission scenario, respectively, by fitting published $\gamma$-ray spectra. Using these models and instrument response functions for both detectors, we employ the Gammapy package to generate pseudo data sets, where we assume 200 hours of CTA observations and 10 years of KM3NeT detector operation. We then apply a three-dimensional binned likelihood analysis to these data sets, separately for each instrument and jointly for both. We find that the largest benefit of the combined analysis lies in the possibility of a consistent modelling of the $\gamma$-ray and neutrino emission. Assuming a purely leptonic scenario as input, we obtain, for the most favourable source, an average expected 68% credible interval that constrains the contribution of hadronic processes to the observed $\gamma$-ray emission to below 15%.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures. Submitted to journa

Biodiversity in Grapevines: Unveiling the Potential of Ancient Sicilian Cultivars and Biotypes of Key Indigenous Varieties

The biodiversity of grapevines, crucial for viticulture, encompasses over 10,000 cultivars listed in the International Catalogue of Grapevine Varieties (VIVC). This diversity, categorized into biotypes and clones, gives rise to intra-varietal variations, ranging from minor morphological changes to macroscopic alterations, influencing adaptability and wine quality. Historical factors, such as the 19th-century Phylloxera epidemic in Europe, resulted in the dominance of a limited number of Vitis vinifera L. genotypes. However, renewed interest in ancient local cultivars and biotypes has emerged due to pressures linked to climate change. Intra-varietal diversity is now recognized for its potential to maintain grape quality under adverse climatic conditions. In 2023, the agronomic potential of ancient Sicilian varieties (Lucignola and Vitrarolo) and the biotypes of the main indigenous cultivars (Grillo, Catarratto, Nero d'Avola, Perricone, Frappato, Nocera) was assessed in four experimental vineyards located in different regions of Sicily (Western, Central, and Eastern). The study assessed the "genotype x environment" interactions, comparing biotypes regardless of the environment. The genotypes shared the same spacing, training system, and pruning method, under irrigation. Ten vines were chosen randomly for each genotype, serving as biological replicates. Phenological stages, recorded independently for each vine, represented the percentage of buds at each stage. For each genotype, the progress of grape ripening, berry weight, vegetative growth, and water status were evaluated. At harvest, the yield per vine and the number of bunches were recorded, and their ratio was used to calculate the average bunch weight. During winter, the pruning wood weight was measured and the Ravaz index was calculated. Our results show that grape ripening depends on environmental conditions, and vines show different water status levels. Lesser-used grape genotypes may hold promise for adapting to climate change, serving as tools for preserving typical grape characteristics, but is needed further investigation

Aroma precursors in Grillo grape (Vitis vinifera L.): exploit the impact of irrigation regimes

Water stress, applied through Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI), is a commonly employed practice to enhance the concentration of secondary metabolites in grapes. However, the impact of this practice on grape aromas has been poorly explored, and metabolic responses to water stress can vary significantly among different cultivars. In the context of warm climate conditions, such as in Sicily, the influence of irrigation strategy on the synthesis of aromatic precursors in the grapes of cv. Grillo (Vitis vinifera L.) was investigated in 2022 vintage. Two irrigation regimes were compared: 1) moderate water stress (MWS), maintaining Stem Water Potential (ΨSWP) values > -1.4 MPa and < - 1.1 MPa from veraison to harvest; 2) severe water stress (SWS), maintaining Stem Water Potential (ΨSWP) values < -1.4 MPa and > -1.8 MPa from veraison to harvest. Berry sampling was performed at 5% of veraison, full veraison, and at harvest to evaluate the synthesis of aromatic precursors. For each treatment, from veraison to harvest, vegetative growth, bunch and berry weight, ripeness level (TSS, pH, titratable acidity), terpenic, norisoprenoids, benzenoids, and thiolic compounds precursors were assessed. At harvest, yield per vine was measured while wood weight was measured during pruning time in order to calculate the Ravaz index. Although SWS at full veraison showed higher concentrations for most of the aromatic compounds analyzed, the prolonged severe stress conditions triggered degradation processes, resulting in lower levels compared to MWS treatment at harvest. The imposed stress conditions had limited effects on primary metabolites and berry weight, indicating that the observed variations of aroma precursors were effectively dependent to the water stress conditions applied. These results suggest that regulated deficit irrigation applied from veraison to harvest with different strategies may improve the aromatic profile of grapes, having a relevant impact in the context of climate change

Manipulating Band-to-Band Tunneling Current in Low-Voltage pMOS Devices in BCD Technology: A TCAD and Experimental Investigation

This study investigates the issue of reducing band-to-band leakage current in low-voltage (LV) CMOS devices realized using BCD technology. Through TCAD simulations and comprehensive experimental characterization, the influence of key process parameters on leakage current in this category of devices is examined. The presented findings suggest that band-to-band tunneling (B2B) can be significantly mitigated by carefully selecting the rapid thermal processing (RTP) annealing temperature. Subsequently, we address the side effects of the modification of the process parameter on the electrical performance of the devices, aiming to recover affected electrical figures of merit through precise adjustments to the process working point. The study shows that this goal can be reached by a proper modification of the p + implant energy. In the end, a statistical analysis is presented, with the purpose of understanding the impact of these process changes on the distribution of defects. This research not only proposes a method to tackle the well-known issue of B2B current but also provides valuable insight into the steps required to achieve substantial enhancements in the electrical performance of components by fine-tuning BCD process parameters

MATCHED-PAIR ANALYSIS OF TRANSPLANT FROM HAPLOIDENTICAL, UNMANIPULATED BONE MARROW DONOR VERSUS HLA IDENTICAL SIBLING FOR PATIENTS WITH HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES

A matched-pair analysis of transplant-related outcomes was carried out in 116 of 255 consecutive patients transplanted from HLA identical sibling (n=58) or haploidentical related donor (n=58). The two patient series were matched with 9 variables: period of transplant, patient and donor age, gender, diagnosis, disease phase, conditioning regimen, donor/recipient sex and CMV status combinations. As graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis, all patients received the standard cyclosporine and methotrexate association with the addition of anti-thymocyte globulins, mycophenolate-mofetil and Basiliximab in haploidentical, unmanipulated bone marrow recipients. Anti-infectious management, transfusion policy and supportive care were identical for all patients. By comparing the two patient series, no statistically significant difference was observed for the cumulative incidence of advanced acute and extensive chronic GVHD, TRM and relapse. With a median follow-up of 3.5 years, the 5-year DFS was 37±6% and 36±6% for HLA Id-sib and haplo recipients, respectively. The results of transplant from HLA id-siblings and haploidentical donors are comparable. Regardless of the HLA matching, other factors known to affect the transplant outcomes such as donor-recipient age, sex and CMV status combinations might drive the search for the best donor

Prospects for combined analyses of hadronic emission from γ\gamma-ray sources in the Milky Way with CTA and KM3NeT

International audienceThe Cherenkov Telescope Array and the KM3NeT neutrino telescopes are major upcoming facilities in the fields of $\gamma$-ray and neutrino astronomy, respectively. Possible simultaneous production of $\gamma$ rays and neutrinos in astrophysical accelerators of cosmic-ray nuclei motivates a combination of their data. We assess the potential of a combined analysis of CTA and KM3NeT data to determine the contribution of hadronic emission processes in known Galactic $\gamma$-ray emitters, comparing this result to the cases of two separate analyses. In doing so, we demonstrate the capability of Gammapy, an open-source software package for the analysis of $\gamma$-ray data, to also process data from neutrino telescopes. For a selection of prototypical $\gamma$-ray sources within our Galaxy, we obtain models for primary proton and electron spectra in the hadronic and leptonic emission scenario, respectively, by fitting published $\gamma$-ray spectra. Using these models and instrument response functions for both detectors, we employ the Gammapy package to generate pseudo data sets, where we assume 200 hours of CTA observations and 10 years of KM3NeT detector operation. We then apply a three-dimensional binned likelihood analysis to these data sets, separately for each instrument and jointly for both. We find that the largest benefit of the combined analysis lies in the possibility of a consistent modelling of the $\gamma$-ray and neutrino emission. Assuming a purely leptonic scenario as input, we obtain, for the most favourable source, an average expected 68% credible interval that constrains the contribution of hadronic processes to the observed $\gamma$-ray emission to below 15%