TVOCs and PM 2.5 in Naturally Ventilated Homes: Three Case Studies in a Mild Climate

In southern Europe, the present stock of social housing is ventilated naturally, with practice varying in the di erent seasons of the year. In winter, windows are kept closed most of the day with the exception of short periods for ventilation, whereas the rest of the year the windows are almost permanently open. In cold weather, air changes depend primarily on the air infiltrating across the envelope and when the temperature is warm, on the air flowing in through open windows. CO2, PM2.5, and TVOC concentration patterns were gathered over a year’s time in three social housing developments in southern Europe with di erent airtightness conditions and analyzed to determine possible relationships between environmental parameters and occupants’ use profiles. Correlations were found between TVOC and CO2 concentrations, for human activity was identified as the primary source of indoor contaminants: peak TVOC concentrations were related to specific household activities such as cooking or leisure. Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations were likewise observed to be correlated, although not linearly due to the presence of indoor sources. Ventilation as presently practiced in winter appears to be insufficient to dilute indoor contaminants in all three buildings, nor does summertime behavior guarantee air quality

Viable and not viable spore concentrations in National Gallery of Umbria (Italy)

AbstractThe conservation actions towards artworks holding a common patrimony for the community are of primary importance, but also those related to their "container" as museums, libraries or archives are to consider. Fungal spores and bacteria carried by air flows to the artwork surface can colonize it causing biodeterioration through physical and/or chemical alterations of the materials with the irreversible loss of their value. The quality control of the indoor air surrounding the historic building is essential, as well as for the protection and conservation of the artwork, also for the protection of the health of operators and visitors. The aim of this study was to monitor airborne fungal particles, through volumetric spore traps, for improving the knowledge about the conservation and protection of artworks in the museum environment analysing the principal relationships between indoor environmental conditions and potentially biodeteriogen fungal spore growth. The evidence of no significant relationships between spore concentrations and environmental conditions recorded inside the different expositive rooms testified the regular and correct maintenance of the air conditioning system inside the considered building (National Gallery of Umbria, central Italy). Moreover, in a specific museum room a significant spore concentration decreasing trend was recorded mainly due to a structural modification in the same building

Fluorescence Labeling of Technical Lignin for the Study of Phenolic Group Distribution as a Function of the Molecular Weight

A novel analytical approach based on fluorescence labeling was developed in the effort to increase the understanding of phenolic group distribution in technical lignins. Selective derivatization with a fluorophore (dansyl chloride) of lignin phenolic functionalities was quantitatively achieved under mild reaction conditions. Reference acetylated lignin and labeled lignin were analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) coupled to a UV–vis detector (set at 280 nm) and a fluorescence detector (λ excitation: 390 nm, λ emission: 550 nm) to discern the dansyl-linked phenol response from the lignin aromatic skeleton input. After data elaboration, valuable information about the phenolic group distribution as a function of molecular weight for different technical lignins was gathered. This novel analytical approach is applied to model lignin polymer thermal protection properties, a useful parameter in lignin valorization strategies

HUMYPHEMOL Biocomplex H

Study of effects of one heteropolymer of earthworms humus in complex with phenolic compounds of olive leaves (MOL) Micronized Olive Leaves on Olea Europaea-Ogliarola Salentina affected by Xylella fastidiosa. Vermicomposting differs from conventional composting because the organic material is processed by the digestive systems of worms in the Lumbricidae family. The experiment was designed with randomized ground treatments: (1) T1, Control (without modifying the soil); (2) T2, HM product (VERMICOMPOST WITH ADDED of polyphenols of European olea leaves MOL in variable ratios. In the DPPH test, the MOL has demostred an IC50 value of 0.18 mg / mL. Therefore, the use of the biocomplex H RICH IN BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES POSITIVELY INFLUENCES THE XYLEMATIC VASES, cancels the effect of water stress, consequently oxidative stress and blocking the advance of the xylella. The response is definetly positive. HUMYPHEMOL can act as preventive and as phytoterapeutic innovative method to treat olive trees infected by Xylella

Where is uphill? Exploring sex differences when reorienting on a sloped environment presented through 2-D images

One of the spatial abilities that has recently revealed a remarkable variability in performance is that of using terrain slope to reorient. Previous studies have shown a very large disadvantage for females when the slope of the floor is the only information useful for encoding a goal location. However, the source of this sex difference is still unclear. The slope of the environment provides a directional source of information that is perceived through dissociable visual and kinesthetic sensory modalities. Here we focused on the visual information, and examined whether there are sex differences in the perception of a slope presented through 2-D images with a desktop computer connected to an eye-tracking device. Participants had to identify and point to the uphill direction by looking at different orientations of two virtual, slanted environments (one indoor and one outdoor). Men were quicker and more accurate than women, indicating that the female difficulty with slope emerges at an early, unisensory, perceptual level. However, the eye-tracking data revealed no sex differences in the slope cues used, providing no support to the hypothesis of sex-specific, visual-processing strategies. Interestingly, performance correlated with a test of mental rotation, and we speculate that the disadvantage in mental rotation ability might be an important factor responsible for females’ difficulty using slope

Coupling Between Differential Signals and the DC Power-Bus in Multilayer PCBs

Differential and common-mode transfer impedances are proposed herein to analyze noise coupled to (from) the dc power-bus from (to) via transitions in differential signals. Expressions for the two transfer impedances in terms of conventional single-ended transfer impedances are derived and verified through measurements, full-wave finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations and an analytical cavity model. Some properties of the differential and common-mode transfer impedances are investigated to facilitate engineering design. The impact of signal current imbalances on power-bus noise and the benefit of differential signals as compared to single-ended signals are quantified

Where is uphill? Exploring sex differences when reorienting on a sloped environment presented through 2-D images

One of the spatial abilities that has recently revealed a remarkable variability in performance is that of using terrain slope to reorient. Previous studies have shown a very large disadvantage for females when the slope of the floor is the only information useful for encoding a goal location. However, the source of this sex difference is still unclear. The slope of the environment provides a directional source of information that is perceived through dissociable visual and kinesthetic sensory modalities. Here we focused on the visual information, and examined whether there are sex differences in the perception of a slope presented through 2-D images with a desktop computer connected to an eye-tracking device. Participants had to identify and point to the uphill direction by looking at different orientations of two virtual, slanted environments (one indoor and one outdoor). Men were quicker and more accurate than women, indicating that the female difficulty with slope emerges at an early, unisensory, perceptual level. However, the eye-tracking data revealed no sex differences in the slope cues used, providing no support to the hypothesis of sex-specific, visual-processing strategies. Interestingly, performance correlated with a test of mental rotation, and we speculate that the disadvantage in mental rotation ability might be an important factor responsible for females’ difficulty using slope

Statistical Approach to the EMI Modeling of Large ASICs by a Single Noise-Current Source

Large and complex ASICs are source of propagating noise inside the powerbus planes. A lumped noise source model is proposed and validated by means of a statistics based method

Periodontal Disease and Autoimmunity: What We Have Learned from Microbiome Studies in Rheumatology

The oral cavity is home to vast populations of commensal microbial organisms which constitute the ‘healthy oral microbiome.’ Periodontitis is a destructive, infectious, inflammatory condition affecting the gums. Initially, a biofilm structure develops, causing localized inflammation. This biofilm is then colonized by certain anaerobic bacteria, including the ‘red complex’ organisms. There is an increasing interest in the communication between these organisms and host immune surveillance, a dialog which may plays an important role in the development of autoimmune diseases. Studies have shown an association between periodontitis and other inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and systemic lupus. The advent of accessible 16S ribosomal sequencing has led to exciting developments in the characterization of the human microbiome and the ability to study this interaction in more detail. The transmucosal communication between periodontitis and host immunity may provide avenues of discovery regarding the etiology and progression of rheumatic diseases