A Heat Pump-Based Multi-source Renewable Energy System for the Building Air Conditioning: The IDEAS Project Experience

The current paper presents the state-of-the-art of the ongoing IDEAS research project, funded under the Horizon 2020 EU framework programme. The project involves fourteen partners from six European countries and proposes a multi-source cost-effective renewable energy system for the decarbonisation of the building envelope. The system features a radiant floor fed by a heat pump for the building thermal management. The heat pump can exploit sun, air, and/or ground as thermal sources through the use of photovoltaic/thermal solar panels, air heat exchangers, and shallow ground flat-panel heat exchangers. Thermal energy storage is achieved by means of phase change materials spread along several system components, such as: radiant floor to increase its thermal inertia, solar panels for cooling purposes, ground to enhance soil thermal capacity. Within the project framework, a small- scale building, featuring a plethora of sensors for test purposes, and two large-scale buildings are meant to be equipped with the renewable energy system proposed. The small- scale building is currently in operation, and the first results are discussed in the present work. Preliminary data suggest that while multi-source systems coupled with heat pumps are particularly effective, it is complex to obtain suitable thermal energy storages on urban scale

Studi sul lessico della hybris in Omero ed Esiodo

Lo studio verte sull'analisi del concetto di hybris in Omero ed Esiodo. Sono analizzate in particolare tutte le occorrenze del vocabolo hybris e dei termini ad esso legati, analizzando nello specifico ogni personaggio definito come tracotante e formulando delle riflessioni sul perché venga apostrofato in questo modo. In Omero, in Odissea e Iliade, analizziamo la hybris come un'azione violenta e di natura prettamente umana, compiuta da un uomo verso un suo pari. Non ricorre l'elemento divino nella punizione del tracotante e questo denota una differenza con le opere esiodee. In Esiodo, in Teogonia, Fragmenta e Opere e Giorni, la concezione di hybris si discosta leggermente, conservando però alcune connotazioni molto simili. Resta sempre un'azione violenta e offensiva contro un proprio simile, ma i personaggi non sono solo umani, ma anche di diversa natura. Inoltre, ricorre l'elemento divino come garante della giustizia per il colpevole di hybris. Per entrambi gli autori possiamo parlare di un utilizzo retorico della hybris. The study is focused on the analysis of the concept of hybris in Homer and Hesiod. In particular, all the occurrences of the word hybris and the terms associated with it are analysed, specifically analyzing each character defined as arrogant and formulating reflections on why they are addressed in this way. In Homer, in Odyssey and Iliad, we analyze hybris as a violent action of a purely human nature, performed by a man towards his equal. The divine element does not recur in the punishment of the arrogant and this denotes a difference with Hesiod's works. In Hesiod, in Theogony, Fragmenta and Works and Days, the conception of hybris differs slightly, while retaining some very similar connotations. There is always a violent and offensive action of a man against another man, but the characters are not only humans but also of a different nature. Furthermore, the divine element recurs as guarantor of justice for the man guilty of hybris. For both authors we can speak of a rhetorical use of hybris

Use of an Outdoor Swimming Pool as Seasonal Heat Source in Heat Pump Applications

The improvement of energy efficiency in the building sector is one of the most promising actions for achieving the energy and environmental goals of the European Community. The deep retrofit of buildings is obviously the best solution in terms of energy performance result. When the deep retrofit is not allowed or possible, the simple maintenance of the building envelope and plant is usually done to assure the operation over time. This type of intervention could require the installation of new HVAC systems that could include a HP, which nowadays represents one of the key devices for the energy saving and the sustainable development. This work regards the study of the energy performance of a swimming Pool Centre in North-East Italy. The objective of this work is the exploitation of an outdoor swimming pool as a heat source for a HP system. The HP system uses two different heat sources, the air and the water. The final SCOP of the double source HP system has been calculated and compared with an air source HP solution. This analysis has been carried out by means of dynamic energy simulations in TRNSYS environment

Improvement of urinary tract symptoms and quality of life in benign prostate hyperplasia patients associated with consumption of a newly developed whole tomato-based food supplement: a phase II prospective, randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled study

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common urologic disease among elderly men. The diagnosis of BPH is usually driven by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that can significantly affect patients’ quality of life. This phase II prospective, randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a novel whole tomato-based food supplement on LUTS of patients diagnosed with BPH. Methods: Forty consecutive patients with histologically proved BPH were randomized 1:1 to receive daily for 2 months a sachet (5 g) of a newly developed whole tomato food supplement (WTFS) (treatment = Group A) or placebo (Group B). Patients were asked to fill the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire before and after treatment. Results: All but 1 patient in Group B successfully completed the scheduled regimen. No side effects were recorded. Unlike placebo, treatment significantly reduced (P < 0.0002) LUTS since mean IPSS decreased from 9.05 ± 1.15 to 7.15 ± 1.04 (paired t-test, two-tailed P-value < 0.001), and improved life quality (P < 0.0001). A trend toward a reduction of total PSA levels was observed in WTFS treated patients (8.98 ng/mL ± 1.52 vs 6.95 ± 0.76, P = 0.065), with changes being statistically significant only in the subgroup of patients with baseline levels above 10 ng/mL (18.5 ng/mL ± 2.7 vs 10.3 ± 2.1, P = 0.009). Conclusions: The new WTFS may represent a valid option for the treatment of symptomatic BPH patients. Unlike pharmacological treatments, the supplement is side effects free and highly accepted among patients

Diagnosi di crioproteinemia: preziosa collaborazione tra laboratorio e clinica per la corretta gestione di una patologia rara

Cryoglobulinemia is a rare pathologic condition that can be difficult to diagnose both clinically and in the laboratory, which is why close collaboration between the clinic and laboratory is essential. The laboratory needs the skills and experience to interpret the laboratory tests and the clinician should not hesitate to contact the laboratory when the result is not supported by the clinical signs. To strengthen this collaboration, the Protein Study Group of the Italian Society of Clinical Biochemistry (SIBioC) in collaboration with the Italian Association for the Fight against Cryglobulinemia (ALCRI) under the patronage of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, organised a conference in Modena on September 2021 entitled "Cryoglobulinemia: laboratory and clinic, a virtuous collaboration for the correct management of a rare pathology". This collective paper is aimed to summarize the topics discussed during the meeting. The conference consisted of two parts: the first aimed at highlighting the critical components of the pre-, intra- and post-analytical phases of cryoglobulin investigation. Cryoprotein testing remains totally manual and operator dependent so it was important to identify areas where best practice guidance or even harmonisation of the laboratory investigation would be beneficial. The second part of the conference focused on clinical aspects and the effects of therapies, including antiviral drugs with direct action against HCV. These drugs are able to eradicate the virus, but the elimination of HCV-related cryoglobulins is seen in only about half of cases. Finally, the clinical consequences of the diagnosis of cryoglobulinemia and the multidisciplinary implications that this entails were highlighted, underlining how the continuous dialogue between the laboratory and clinic is crucial for the correct management of the patient

CDNA-array profiling of melanomas and paired melanocyte cultures

Three paired (from the same donor) sets of melanoma cells and normal melanocytes, established as early-passage cultures from metastatic lesions and the uninvolved skin of three patients, were comparatively cDNA profiled by macroarrays (approximately 1,200 genes) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. While 145 gene products were significantly (at least twofold) upregulated or downregulated in at least 1 pair, and 23 were in at least 2 pairs, only 3 (the signal transducer and activator of transcription STAT2, collagen type VI, and CD9) were concordantly modulated (downregulation) in all 3 pairs. Array results were validated by RT-PCR on a small panel of surgically removed nevocellular nevi and metastatic melanoma lesions, and by immunohistochemistry on a large panel of benign and malignant lesions of the nevomelanocytic lineage. The three gene products were downregulated at different stages of melanoma progression. STAT2 was detectable in nevi (5/5) and most primary melanomas (11/12), but was lost in 10/15 metastatic lesions. Collagen type VI was expressed in nevi (5/5) and primary melanomas below a Breslow thickness of 1 mm (3/3), but was lost in 24/24 primary melanomas above this threshold, and in metastatic melanomas (10/10). The tetraspanin CD9 molecule was expressed in 18/18 nevi, but was lost in 20/28 primary melanomas (including thin lesions), and in 24/52 metastatic lesions. These data provide the proof of principle that cDNA profiling of paired melanocyte/melanoma Cultures sorts out novel, early signatures of melanocyte transformation that could contribute to the clinical management of patients at high risk of metastatic disease

cDNA-array profiling of melanomas and paired melanocyte cultures.

Three paired (from the same donor) sets of melanoma cells and normal melanocytes, established as early-passage cultures from metastatic lesions and the uninvolved skin of three patients, were comparatively cDNA profiled by macroarrays (approximately 1,200 genes) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. While 145 gene products were significantly (at least twofold) upregulated or downregulated in at least 1 pair, and 23 were in at least 2 pairs, only 3 (the signal transducer and activator of transcription STAT2, collagen type VI, and CD9) were concordantly modulated (downregulation) in all 3 pairs. Array results were validated by RT-PCR on a small panel of surgically removed nevocellular nevi and metastatic melanoma lesions, and by immunohistochemistry on a large panel of benign and malignant lesions of the nevomelanocytic lineage. The three gene products were downregulated at different stages of melanoma progression. STAT2 was detectable in nevi (5/5) and most primary melanomas (11/12), but was lost in 10/15 metastatic lesions. Collagen type VI was expressed in nevi (5/5) and primary melanomas below a Breslow thickness of 1 mm (3/3), but was lost in 24/24 primary melanomas above this threshold, and in metastatic melanomas (10/10). The tetraspanin CD9 molecule was expressed in 18/18 nevi, but was lost in 20/28 primary melanomas (including thin lesions), and in 24/52 metastatic lesions. These data provide the proof of principle that cDNA profiling of paired melanocyte/melanoma cultures sorts out novel, early signatures of melanocyte transformation that could contribute to the clinical management of patients at high risk of metastatic disease

Non solo a Milano: arte, cultura, spettacolo. Tomo terzo

The local marketing with a participatory bottom-up logic begins with the active teaching of geography and applied aims recognition, cataloging, description and enhancement of our cultural heritage