A case study of zeolitization process: 'Tufo Rosso a Scorie Nere' (Vico Volcano, Italy). Inferences for a general model

This paper focuses on the authigenic mineralization processes acting on 'Tufo Rosso a Scorie Nere' (TRS), i.e. one of the main pyroclastic units of the Vico stratovolcano (Latium, Italy). The pyroclastic deposits appear in general massive and made of 'black vitreous vesiculated juvenile scoriae', immersed in an ashy matrix lithified after zeolitization processes. The main minerals are chabazite and phillipsite, and the zeolitic content is locally variable, reaching 68 % wt. Zeolites grow replacing both amorphous fraction and pre-existing phases, occurring inside both matrix and scoriae. Concerning scoriae, zeolitization moves from the rim to the core of the scoriaceous fragment as a function of (a) temperature of the fluids and (b) permeability (primary or secondary). Composition of parental fresh glass and that of zeolitized rocks is compatible with trachyte chemistry, lightly undersaturated in SiO2, and the alteration processes modified the parental rock chemical features. Zeolites genesis is ascribed to a 'geoautoclave-like system', and zeolites display a Si/Al ratio similar to that of the parental glasses. TRS presents promising mineralogical characteristics as supplementary cementitious material in the production of mixed cements

Evidence for the interaction of d-amino acid oxidase with pLG72 in a glial cell line.

Accumulating genetic evidence indicates that the primate-specific gene locus G72/G30 is related to schizophrenia: it encodes for the protein pLG72, whose function is still the subject of controversy. We recently demonstrated that pLG72 negatively affects the activity of human d-amino acid oxidase (hDAAO, also related to schizophrenia susceptibility), which in neurons and (predominantly) in glia is expected to catabolize the neuromodulator d-serine. The d-serine regulation mechanism relying on hDAAO-pLG72 interaction does not match with the subcellular localizations proposed for hDAAO (peroxisomes) and pLG72 (mitochondria). By using glioblastoma U87 cells transfected with plasmids encoding for hDAAO and/or pLG72 we provide convergent lines of evidence that newly synthesized hDAAO, transitorily present in cytosol before being delivered to the peroxisomes, colocalizes and interacts with pLG72 which we propose to be exposed on the external membrane of mitochondria. We also report that newly synthesized cytosolic hDAAO is catalytically active, and therefore pLG72 binding-and ensuing hDAAO inactivation-plays a protective role against d-serine depletion

Marble hydrophobicity tuned by Si-based coatings

Hydrophobic polymers applied on stone materials increase their durability against undesired weathering processes [1]. The achievement of a certain degree of surface hydrophobicity (reducing the water permeation) constitutes one of the main research focuses [2]. Herein, two commercial Si-based resins (e.g. Alpha\uaeSI30 and Bluesil\uaeBP9710), directly applied on Carrara marble substrates and a silanization process, by using trichloromethylsilane (TCMS), were adopted. Contact angle measurements were carried out to evaluate the hydrophobic features. Hence, since only in the case of TCMS a good hydrophobicity was achieved (\uf071 around 150\ub0), two commercial polysiloxane-based additives (e.g. TegoPhobe 1500N and TegoPhobe 1650) were added respectively to Alpha\uaeSI30 and Bluesil\uaeBP9710, according to their chemical compatibility. These auxiliary substances allowed to decrease the wettability features of marble. Furthermore, since all the investigated coatings could be used as stone materials protective agents, water capillary absorption and vapor permeability tests were performed. Also, in this case, TCMS revealed to be the most performing one among the adopted silane-based resins, thanks to the drastic reduction of absorbed water and the decrease of vapor permeability within the threshold value of 50%. Finally, the coatings stability was evaluated by accelerated ageing tests. References [1] Cappelletti G., Fermo P., Pino F., Pargoletti E., Pecchioni E., Fratini F., Ruffolo S.A., La Russa M.F., On the role of hydrophobic Si-based protective coatings in limiting mortar deterioration, Environ Sci Pollut Res, 22 (2015) 17733\u201317743. [2] Cappelletti G., Fermo P., Camiloni M., Smart hybrid coatings for natural stones conservation, Progress in Organic Coatings 78 (2015) 511\u2013516

The hydrophobicity modulation of glass and marble materials by different Si-based coatings

Hydrophobic polymers applied on hydroxylated surfaces increase their durability against undesired weathering processes. The achievement of a certain degree of surface hydrophobicity (reducing the water permeation) constitutes one of the main research focuses. Herein, two commercial Si-based resins (e.g. Alpha\uaeSI30 and Bluesil\uaeBP9710), directly applied on both glass and Carrara marble substrates, and a silanization process by using trichloromethylsilane (TCMS) were adopted. Contact angle measurements together with hysteresis determination and Surface Free Energy (SFE) were carried out to evaluate the hydrophobic features. Hence, since only in the case of TCMS a good hydrophobicity was achieved (\uf071 around 150\ub0), two commercial polysiloxane-based additives (e.g. TegoPhobe 1500N and TegoPhobe 1650) were added respectively to Alpha\uaeSI30 and Bluesil\uaeBP9710, according to their chemical compatibility. These auxiliary substances allowed to decrease the wettability features of either glass or marble. Furthermore, since all the investigated coatings could be used as stone materials protective agents, water capillary absorption and vapor permeability tests were performed. Also in this case, TCMS revealed to be the most performing one among the adopted silane-based resins, thanks to the drastic reduction of absorbed water and the decrease of vapor permeability within the threshold value of 50%. Finally, the coatings stability was evaluated by accelerated ageing tests

The anomalous warming of summer 2003 in the surface layer of the Central Ligurian Sea (Western Mediterranean)

"Meteorological and sea temperature data from the ODAS Italia 1 buoy (Ligurian Sea, Western Mediterranean) are used to study the anomalous warming of summer 2003 at sea. The event was related to the record heat wave that interested much of Europe from June to September of that year. The data show that the anomalous warming was prevalently confined to within a few meters below the sea surface. On the contrary, the temperatures in the underlying layers were lower than usual. The limited vertical propagation of heat is ascribed to the high temperature difference that arose between the surface and the deeper layers due to protracted calm weather conditions. The degree of penetration of heat deduced from the observations is consistent with that computed on the basis of an energetic argument, wherein the wind constitutes the sole supply of kinetic energy, while the heating is viewed as the source of potential energy that must be ""subtracted"" by mixing. The results support the hypothesis that the scanty energy from the wind is mainly responsible for the development of the temperature anomaly at the sea surface.

Multi-stage calibration of the simulation model of a school building through short-term monitoring

The increasing attention on the improvement of new and existing buildings' performance is emphasizing the importance of the reliability of the simulation models in predicting the complexity of the building behaviour and, consequently, in some advanced applications of building simulation, such as the optimization of the choice of different Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) or the adoption of model predictive control strategies. The reliability of the energy model does not depend only on the quality and details of the model itself, but also on the uncertainty related to many input values, such as the physical properties of materials and components, the information on the building management and occupation, and the boundary conditions considered for the simulation. Especially for the existing buildings, this kind of data is often missing or characterized by high uncertainty, and only very simplified behavioural models of occupancy are available. This could compromise the optimization process and undermine the potential of building simulation. In this context, the calibration of the simulation model by means of on-site monitoring is of crucial importance to increase the reliability of the predictions, and to take better decisions, even though this process can be time consuming. This work presents a multi-stage methodology to calibrate the building energy simulation by means of low-cost monitoring and short-term measurements. This approach is applied to a Primary School in the North-East of Italy, which has been monitored from December 2012 to April 2014. Four monitoring periods have been selected to calibrate different sets of variables at a time, while the validation has been carried out on two different periods. The results show that even if less than 8 weeks have been considered in the proposed calibration approach, the maximum error in the estimation of the temperature is less than ±0.5 in 77.3% of the timesteps in the validation period

New data on Cu‑exchanged phillipsite: a multi‑methodological study

The cation exchange capacity of a natural phillipsite-rich sample from the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff, Southern Italy (treated in order to obtain a 95 wt% zeolite-rich sample composed mainly of phillipsite and minor chabazite) for Cu was evaluated using the batch exchange method. The sample had previously been exchanged into its monocationic form (Na), and then used for the equilibrium studies of the exchange reaction 2Na(+) a double dagger dagger Cu2+. Reversibility ion exchange tests were performed. The isotherm displays an evident hysteresis loop. Interestingly, the final Cu-exchanged polycrystalline material was green-bluish. Natural, Na- and Cu-exchanged forms were analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction, and the Cu-phillipsite was also investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Structure refinement of Cu-phillipsite was performed by the Rietveld method using synchrotron data, and it indicates a small, but significant, fraction of Cu sharing with Na two-three independent extra-framework sites. The TEM experiment shows sub-spherical nano-clusters of crystalline species (with average size of 5 nm) lying on the surfaces of zeolite crystals or dispersed in the amorphous fraction, with electron diffraction patterns corresponding to those of CuO (tenorite-like structure) and Cu(OH)(2) (spertiniite-like structure). X-ray and TEM investigations show that Cu is mainly concentrated in different species (crystalline or amorphous) within the sample, not only in phillipsite. The experimental findings based on X-ray and TEM investigations, along with the hysteresis loop of the ion exchange tests, are discussed and some general considerations about the mechanisms of exchange reactions involving divalent cations with high hydration energy are provided

Bright expression of CD91 identifies highly activated human dendritic cells that can be expanded by defensins

CD91 is a scavenger receptor expressed by different immune cells and its ligands defensins have been demonstrated to contribute to immune responses against infections and tumors. We previously demonstrated that CD91 is expressed on human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) and that human defensins stimulate in vitro the activation of these cells. In this study, we observed that CD91 is expressed at different levels on two distinct moDC subsets: CD91dim and CD91bright moDCs. Although CD91bright moDCs represented a small proportion of total moDCs, this subset showed higher levels of activation and maturation markers compared to CD91dim moDCs. The frequency of CD91bright moDCs increased by ~50% after in vitro stimulation with recombinant Human Neutrophil Peptide-1 (rHNP-1) and recombinant Human Beta Defensin-1 (rHBD-1), while lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation decreased it by ~35%. Both defensins up-regulated moDC expression of CD80, CD40, CD83 and HLA-DR, although to a lower extent compared with LPS. Notably, upon culture with rHNP-1 and rHBD-1, CD91bright moDCs maintained their higher activation/maturation status, while this was lost upon culture with LPS. Our findings suggest that defensins promote the differentiation into activated CD91bright DCs and may encourage the exploitation of the CD91/defensins axis as a novel therapeutic strategy to potentiate antimicrobial and antitumor immune response

Retrofit of an Historical Building toward NZEB

Abstract The European Directive on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Directive 2010/31/EU) has introduced the need to transform buildings to nearly zero energy (NZEB) by 2020. Existing buildings represent the major part of the building stock and an interesting challenge is to transfer it toward NZEB. Energy retrofit is even more significant in Italy, where existing buildings stock (mainly residential) is also historic, so it's subject to environmental constraints or architectural-artistic value, and it's influenced by specific regulations and methods of intervention for refurbishment. In this case, the challenge becomes even more important and concerns both the building shell and the systems: retrofitting introduces not originally present in the complex; retrofit is not covered in the maintenance, since it represents an upgrade, an adaptation of the building, specifically in relation to energy efficiency, but also, by extension, other functions / features pertaining to the environment and sustainability. A case study of a radical refurbishment of an historical building is Ca' S. Orsola in Treviso. It is ruled by the Historical and Architectural Veneto Regional Authority. The building has been transformed into a prestigious residential complex by a major renovation that was aimed primarily seismic and energy upgrading. The energy and environmental performance of building have been analyzed by numerical simulation and experimental measurement in the EBC IEA Annex 56 [1] context with the aim to verify that intervention strategies respect to the reduction of energy consumption, the minimization of CO 2 emissions and maximizing the use of sources of renewable energy