Absorption and scattering properties of carbon nanohorn-based nanofluids for direct sunlight absorbers

In the present work, we investigated the scattering and spectrally resolved absorption properties of nanofluids consisting in aqueous and glycol suspensions of single-wall carbon nanohorns. The characteristics of these nanofluids were evaluated in view of their use as sunlight absorber fluids in a solar device. The observed nanoparticle-induced differences in optical properties appeared promising, leading to a considerably higher sunlight absorption with respect to the pure base fluids. Scattered light was found to be not more than about 5% with respect to the total attenuation of light. Both these effects, together with the possible chemical functionalization of carbon nanohorns, make this new kind of nanofluids very interesting for increasing the overall efficiency of the sunlight exploiting device

Energy Costs Division and Plant Modification in a Large Research Complex: the Experience of Padova National Research Council (CNR) Area

The CNR area was built in the 1970s in Padova (Italy): many buildings hosting different Institutes are served by the central heating and cooling system and a common Medium and Low voltage supply. Costs division criteria, mainly based on the number of personnel units and the size of buildings of each Institute, were used in the past; due to current high costs of energy, these criteria have been revised and based on more objective parameters. This paper deals with the methods that have been studied to reduce thermal and cooling energy consumption, based on the operative conditions of buildings and specific characteristics of area HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) plants. As a result of this optimization, some plant modifications have been evaluated and implemented. The results of new plant configuration and energy consumption are presented and discussed

Rapporto sull'efficienza energetica 2013

Rapporto tecnico sulla gestione energetica nelle grandi strutture del CNR e sui possibili interventi per la riduzione dei consumi (258 pagine, con contributi di 25 autori). Pubblicazione del progetto “Efficienza energetica”, promosso dal Direttore Generale del CNR con lettera prot. CNR n. 0075888 del 7/12/2012

Soluble amphiphiles at hydrophobic and superhydrophobic surfaces

No abstract availabl

Energy Costs Division and Plant Modification in a Large Research Complex: the Experience of Padova National Research Council (CNR) Area

The CNR area was built in the 1970s in Padova (Italy): many buildings hosting different Institutes are served by the central heating and cooling system and a common Medium and Low voltage supply. Costs division criteria, mainly based on the number of personnel units and the size of buildings of each Institute, were used in the past; due to current high costs of energy, these criteria have been revised and based on more objective parameters. This paper deals with the methods that have been studied to reduce thermal and cooling energy consumption, based on the operative conditions of buildings and specific characteristics of area HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) plants. As a result of this optimization, some plant modifications have been evaluated and implemented. The results of new plant configuration and energy consumption are presented and discussed

Absorption and scattering properties of carbon nanohorn-based nanofluids for direct sunlight absorbers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>In the present work, we investigated the scattering and spectrally resolved absorption properties of nanofluids consisting in aqueous and glycol suspensions of single-wall carbon nanohorns. The characteristics of these nanofluids were evaluated in view of their use as sunlight absorber fluids in a solar device. The observed nanoparticle-induced differences in optical properties appeared promising, leading to a considerably higher sunlight absorption with respect to the pure base fluids. Scattered light was found to be not more than about 5% with respect to the total attenuation of light. Both these effects, together with the possible chemical functionalization of carbon nanohorns, make this new kind of nanofluids very interesting for increasing the overall efficiency of the sunlight exploiting device.</p> <p>PACS</p> <p>78.40.Ri, 78.35.+c, 78.67.Bf, 88.40.fh, 88.40.fr, 81.05.U.</p

Colorectal polypoid lesions and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in a consecutive series of endoscopic and surgical patients

Colorectal cancer incidence in patients undergoing screening protocols is decreasing because of the higher rate of discovered preneoplastic colonic lesions; however, adenomatous polyps may not always be removable endoscopically and surgery may still be necessary. The aim of this study was to assess the vascular endothelial growth factor expression in the different steps of colorectal carcinogenesis to explore its potential role as a marker of malignancy in polypoid lesions. A total of 92 subjects with colonic adenoma or cancer who underwent screening colonoscopy or surgery were prospectively enrolled. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for VEGF-A messenger RNA expression and immunohistochemistry for VEGF-A were performed. Immunoassays for VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3 were also performed. Non-parametric statistics, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, and logistic multiple regression analysis were used. VEGF-A messenger RNA expression was higher in patients with high-grade dysplasia or colorectal cancer than in those with low-grade dysplasia adenomas (p = 0.01). At immunohistochemistry, VEGF-A expression was significantly higher in colorectal cancer patients compared to dysplastic adenomas (p &lt; 0.001), and the accuracy of VEGF-A expression for prediction of malignancy was 91.7 (95% confidence interval = 78.7-97.9). VEGF-C protein expression was lower in colorectal cancer patients than in simple adenomas (p = 0.02). VEGF-A levels were directly correlated to polyp size (rho = 0.73, p = 0.0062). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that malignancy and polyp size were independent predictors of VEGF-A mucosal levels. This study demonstrated that the VEGF-A expression changes along the colorectal carcinogenesis pathway showing a neat step up at the passage from high-grade dysplasia to invasive cancer. This feature might potentially be useful to stratify colorectal polyps in different risks of progression classes. Moreover, the high level of VEGF-A expression predicted the presence of lymphovascular invasion with good accurac