Water supply and energy in residential buildings: Potential savings and financial profitability

This article examines the suitability of water supply installations in residential buildings for the pressure conditions of the main water network, and evaluates the energy saving possibilities associated with pumping water into homes. It assesses the situation and the options for renovation in a sample of 151 buildings in the city of Zaragoza (Spain), estimating the savings in electric power and the possible financial returns that could be obtained. The results show that in half the buildings, the installations are inadequate and lead to inefficient energy use, which could be avoided by renovation. However, they also show that in many cases, this type of retrofitting would not be profitable for the building owners, meaning that technically viable solutions may not necessarily be financially viable. To mitigate or avoid the energy inefficiency in question, the public sector could step in by informing and financing support for building owners and regulating in the areas of town planning and construction

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) regulates mesenchymal stem cells through let-7f microRNA and Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) is a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-independent regulator of growth and apoptosis in various cell types. The receptors and signaling pathways that are involved in the growth factor activities of TIMP-1, however, remain controversial. RNA interference of TIMP-1 has revealed that endogenous TIMP-1 suppresses the proliferation, metabolic activity, and osteogenic differentiation capacity of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The knockdown of TIMP-1 in hMSCs activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway as indicated by the increased stability and nuclear localization of β-catenin in TIMP-1–deficient hMSCs. Moreover, TIMP-1 knockdown cells exhibited enhanced β-catenin transcriptional activity, determined by Wnt/β-catenin target gene expression analysis and a luciferase-based β-catenin– activated reporter assay. An analysis of a mutant form of TIMP-1 that cannot inhibit MMP indicated that the effect of TIMP-1 on β-catenin signaling is MMP independent. Furthermore, the binding of CD63 to TIMP-1 on the surface of hMSCs is essential for the TIMP-1–mediated effects on Wnt/β-catenin signaling. An array analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs) and transfection studies with specific miRNA inhibitors and mimics showed that let-7f miRNA is crucial for the regulation of β-catenin activity and osteogenic differentiation by TIMP-1. Let-7f was up-regulated in TIMP-1–depleted hMSCs and demonstrably reduced axin 2, an antagonist of β-catenin stability. Our results demonstrate that TIMP-1 is a direct regulator of hMSC functions and reveal a regulatory network in which let-7f modulates Wnt/β-catenin activity

Tri-axial accelerometry shows differences in energy expenditure and parental effort throughout the breeding season in long-lived raptors

Cutting-edge technologies are extremely useful to develop new workflows in studying ecological data, particularly to understand animal behavior and movement trajectories at the individual level. Although parental care is a well-studied phenomenon, most studies have been focused on direct observational or video recording data, as well as experimental manipulation. Therefore, what happens out of our sight still remains unknown. Using high-frequency GPS/GSM dataloggers and tri-axial accelerometers we monitored 25 Bonelli's eagles Aquila fasciata during the breeding season to understand parental activities from a broader perspective. We used recursive data, measured as number of visits and residence time, to reveal nest attendance patterns of biparental care with role specialization between sexes. Accelerometry data interpreted as the overall dynamic body acceleration, a proxy of energy expenditure, showed strong differences in parental effort throughout the breeding season and between sexes. Thereby, males increased substantially their energetic requirements, due to the increased workload, while females spent most of the time on the nest. Furthermore, during critical phases of the breeding season, a low percentage of suitable hunting spots in eagles' territories led them to increase their ranging behavior in order to find food, with important consequences in energy consumption and mortality risk. Our results highlight the crucial role of males in raptor species exhibiting biparental care. Finally, we exemplify how biologging technologies are an adequate and objective method to study parental care in raptors as well as to get deeper insight into breeding ecology of birds in general

PROSPECCIONES LIQUENOLÓGICAS EN ÁFRICA DEL NORTE. II. LÍQUENES CALCÍCOLAS Y EPÍFITOS DEL LITORAL DE MARRUECOS

Floristic results of our studies in several coastal localities in Morocco devoted to epiphytic and calcicolous lichens. are presented here. 59 taxa are cited; 18 are cited for Morocco for the first time. We remark the following taxa: Arthoniu exilis, Arthoniu cerasi, Buellia erubescens, Opegrapha diaphoroides, Opegrapha durieui, Opegrapha mougeotii, Opegrapha variaeformis, Pertusaria maximiliana, Petractis thelotremella.Se presentan los resultados obtenidos en el estudio de los líquenes calcícolas y epífitos de diversas localidades costeras de Marruecos. Se citan 59 táxones, de los cuales 18 son, según nuestros datos, nuevas citas para Marruecos. En el resumen en inglés ofrecemos una selección de los táxones más interesantes

VEGETACIÓN LIQUÉNICA EPIFITICA DE LA SIERRA DEL CALAR DEL MUNDO: ESBOZO FITOSOCIOLÓGICO

The first results of the research on the epiphytic lichenic vegetation in the Calar del Mundo range mountain is given. A total of eight communities are recognized; Pseudevernierurn furfuraceae, com. of Caliciurn viride and com. of Cladonia sp. pl. on pines: com. of Lecanora sienae, Physcierurn adscendentis, Parrnelierurn acetabulae, Nephrornerurn luevigatae and Rarnalinerurn fasrigiarae on evergreen oaks and oakwoods. Remarks on their ecology and chorology are given.Los autores analizan la vegetación liquénica epifitica de la Sierra del Calar del Mundo. Se reconocen las siguientes comunidades: Pseudovernierurn furfuraceae, Com. de Caliciurn viride y Com. de Cladonia sp. pl., sobre pinos, Com. de Lecanora sienae, Physcierurn ascendenris. Parrnelierurn acerabulae, Nephrornefurn laevigarae y Rarnalineturn fasrigiarae, en encinares y robledales

Age-dependent changes in insulin-like immunoreactivity in rat submandibular salivary glands.

In recent years, a growing interest had arisen in hormonal factors in salivary glands. We have investigated the changes in the content of an insulin-like immunoreactive (ILI) compound in the submandibular salivary glands of Sprague Dawley rats during physiological aging, in the range 15 days-27 months. The amount of ILI in the submandibular glands of young adult rats was found to be doubled in the post-natal period until the age of puberty and was maintained in senescence. No significant correlation was found between age-dependent variations in ILI levels of submandibular salivary glands and circulating insulin concentrations, further supporting previous indications that ILI is being synthesized in situ. It is possible that ILI could exert paracrine effects within the glands, as regards the development of other glandular structures during the first months of life, as well as the preservation of glandular function in senescent animals as well

Ammonia or methanol would enable subsurface liquid water in the Martian South Pole

The notion of liquid water beneath the ice layer at the south polar layered deposits of Mars is an interesting possibility given the implications for astrobiology, and possible human habitation. A body of liquid water located at a depth of 1.5 km has been inferred from radar data in the South Polar Cap. However, the high temperatures that would facilitate the existence of liquid water or brine at that depth are not consistent with estimations of heat flow that are based on the lithosphere's flexure. Attempts to reconcile both issues have been inconclusive or otherwise unsuccessful. Here, we analyse the possible role of subsurface ammonia and methanol in maintaining water in a liquid state at subsurface temperatures that are compatible with the lithosphere strength. Our results indicate that the presence of these compounds at the base of the south polar layered deposits can reconcile the existence of liquid water with previous estimations of surface heat flow

Testing characteristics of grid forming converters part III : inertial behaviour

On the path towards an energy system powered entirely by Renewable Energy Sources (RES), power electronic converters will have to take over more and more functionalities from synchronous generators to ensure a stable and secure operation of the power grid. Moreover, it is widely recognised that the use of Grid Forming Converters (GFC) is necessary to fully meet these requirements. Over the last years, different concepts have been developed to achieve grid forming characteristics of static power converters. The next essential step is to agree on an exact definition and specification of GFC electrical behaviour as well as to define a suitable conformity assessment procedure. For this purpose, standardised testing guidelines for GFC are needed to assess those functionalities, which are relevant for dynamic grid stability. As a British-German joint work of the two research projects Battery-VSM and VerbundnetzStabil, the first draft of such guidelines is being currently developed. One of the necessary characteristics which makes converter a GFC is its ability to provide inertial response during the dynamic frequency changes in the system. This paper focuses on how to demonstrate and quantify an inertia-equivalent behaviour of a GFC. The response to a transient system event is quantified in terms of a damping factor D as well as an equivalent inertia constant H. A few alternative methods are proposed for empirical estimation of those parameters accompanied by selected laboratory test results and practical considerations

Revisión de las especies de la familia Lichinaceae incluidas en el herbario Werner (BC)

All species of the lichen family Lichinaceae reported from northern Africa in Prof. Werner's works are compiled. A revision on the material collected corresponding to these species and actually included in BC herbarium is made.Recopilamos en este estudio todas las citas de especies de la familia Lichinaceae incluidas en la extensa bibliografía sobre el norte de Africa del Prof. R.G. Werner y revisamos los pliegos correspondientes conservados en el herbario del Instituto Botánico de Barcelona (BC)

Negative symptoms and cognitive impairment are associated with distinct motivational deficits in treatment resistant schizophrenia

Background: Motivational deficits are a central feature of the negative syndrome in schizophrenia. They have consistently been associated with reduced willingness to expend physical effort in return for monetary rewards on effort based decision making (EBDM) paradigms. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying such altered performance are not well characterised, and it remains unclear if they are driven purely by negative symptoms, or also in part by cognitive impairment, antipsychotic treatment or even positive symptoms. Here we investigated the impact of all these factors using a paradigm that has not previously been used to measure EBDM in schizophrenia. Methods: Forty treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) patients on clozapine and matched controls (N = 80) completed a well validated EBDM task which offers monetary rewards in return for physical effort. Choice and reaction time data was analysed using logistic regressions, as well as Bayesian hierarchical drift diffusion modelling (HDDM). Behavioural parameters were compared between groups and their association with negative symptoms, cognitive function and serum clozapine levels were assessed. Results: Overall, TRS patients accepted significantly less offers than controls during effort-based decision making, suggesting they were less motivated. They demonstrated reduced sensitivity to increasing rewards, but surprisingly were also less averse to increasing effort. Despite a positive correlation between negative symptoms and cognitive function in TRS, reward sensitivity was associated only with cognitive performance. In contrast, reduced effort aversion correlated with negative symptom severity. Clozapine levels and positive symptoms were not associated with either behavioural parameter. Conclusion: Motivational deficits in TRS are characterised by both diminished reward sensitivity and reduced effort aversion during EBDM. Cognitive dysfunction and negative symptom severity account for distinct aspects of these behavioural changes, despite positive associations between themselves. Overall, these findings demonstrate that negative symptoms and cognitive impairment have significant independent contributions to EBDM in TRS, thereby opening the possibility of individualised treatment targeting these mechanisms to improve motivation