Application of the novel satellite calibrated method “Radiative Forcing Meter” on a high albedo test facility for CO2 compensation

The increase of terrestrial albedo may be considered a key strategy to mitigate global warming, since it produces a reduction of the radiative forcing (RF). The RF concept, as defined by IPCC, is used in literature for calculations of the CO2 compensation due to albedo increase, which can be achieved by the development of high-albedo solutions (cool materials, retro-reflective materials, green infrastructures, etc.). The authors have previously proposed a new procedure, called RF-meter, to measure the continuous time history of the RF due to an albedo increase (RF & UDelta;& alpha;) and so to calculate the related CO2 offset potential by high-albedo solutions. RF-meter procedure is based on the continuous albedo measurements at ground level and discrete satellite calibration. The proposed method is tested on a high-albedo surface (HAS) of 900 m2 treated with a high-reflective paint installed on the roof of CIRIAF building, University of Perugia, Italy. The experimental field is equipped with an albedometer, a weather station and a Calculus Unit. The measured data are elaborated by the Calculus Unit to calculate the RF time history and the compensated CO2. Data from albedo monitoring exhibited that albedo of HAS was always higher than albedo before the treatment (& alpha;0) and the average & UDelta;& alpha; is equal to 0.3. The calibration procedure allows to reduce the errors on RF & UDelta;& alpha; calculation. The maximum difference between albedo values from albedometer and satellite measurements resulted equal to 3.9%. Results from the Calculus Unit showed an amount of CO2 compensated by HAS equal to 73 kgCO2eq/m2

Nutritional support and brain tissue glucose metabolism in poor-grade SAH: a retrospective observational study

INTRODUCTION: We sought to determine the effect of nutritional support and insulin infusion therapy on serum and brain glucose levels and cerebral metabolic crisis after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: We used a retrospective observational cohort study of 50 mechanically ventilated poor-grade (Hunt-Hess 4 or 5) aneurysmal SAH patients who underwent brain microdialysis monitoring for an average of 109 hours. Enteral nutrition was started within 72 hours of admission whenever feasible. Intensive insulin therapy was used to maintain serum glucose levels between 5.5 and 7.8 mmol/l. Serum glucose, insulin and caloric intake from enteral tube feeds, dextrose and propofol were recorded hourly. Cerebral metabolic distress was defined as a lactate to pyruvate ratio (LPR) > 40. Time-series data were analyzed using a general linear model extended by generalized estimation equations (GEE). RESULTS: Daily mean caloric intake received was 13.8 ± 6.9 cal/kg and mean serum glucose was 7.9 ± 1 mmol/l. A total of 32% of hourly recordings indicated a state of metabolic distress and < 1% indicated a state of critical brain hypoglycemia (< 0.2 mmol/l). Calories received from enteral tube feeds were associated with higher serum glucose concentrations (Wald = 6.07, P = 0.048), more insulin administered (Wald = 108, P < 0.001), higher body mass index (Wald = 213.47, P < 0.001), and lower body temperature (Wald = 4.1, P = 0.043). Enteral feeding (Wald = 1.743, P = 0.418) was not related to brain glucose concentrations after accounting for serum glucose concentrations (Wald = 67.41, P < 0.001). In the presence of metabolic distress, increased insulin administration was associated with a relative reduction of interstitial brain glucose concentrations (Wald = 8.26, P = 0.017), independent of serum glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS: In the presence of metabolic distress, insulin administration is associated with reductions in brain glucose concentration that are independent of serum glucose levels. Further study is needed to understand how nutritional support and insulin administration can be optimized to minimize secondary injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage

Women have worse cognitive, functional, and psychiatric outcomes at hospital discharge after cardiac arrest

Aim: To examine gender differences among cardiac arrest (CA) survivors’ cognitive, functional, and psychiatric outcomes at discharge. Methods: This is a prospective, observational cohort of 187 CA patients admitted to Columbia University Medical Center, considered for Targeted Temperature Management (TTM), and survived to hospital discharge between September 2015 and July 2017. Patients with sufficient mental status at hospital discharge to engage in the Repeatable Battery for Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), Modified Lawton Physical Self-Maintenance Scale (M-PSMS), Cerebral Performance Category Scale (CPC), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Civilian Version (PCL-C) were included. Fisher’s exact, Wilcoxon Rank Sum, and regression analysis were utilized. Results: 80 patients (38% women, 44% white, mean age 53 ± 17 years) were included. No significant gender differences were found for age, race, Charlson Comorbidity Index, premorbid CPC or psychiatric diagnoses, arrest related variables, discharge CPC, or PCL-C scores. Women had significantly worse RBANS (64.9 vs 74.8, p = .01), M-PSMS (13.6 vs 10.6, p = .02), and CES-D (22.8 vs 14.3, p = .02) scores. These significant differences were maintained in multivariate models after adjusting for age, initial rhythm, time to return of spontaneous circulation, and TTM. Conclusions: Women have worse cognitive, functional, and psychiatric outcomes at hospital discharge after cardiac arrest than men. Identifying factors contributing to these differences is of great importance in cardiac arrest outcomes research

Harmonization and standardization of nucleus pulposus cell extraction and culture methods

Background: In vitro studies using nucleus pulposus (NP) cells are commonly used to investigate disc cell biology and pathogenesis, or to aid in the development of new therapies. However, lab‐to‐lab variability jeopardizes the much‐needed progress in the field. Here, an international group of spine scientists collaborated to standardize extraction and expansion techniques for NP cells to reduce variability, improve comparability between labs and improve utilization of funding and resources. Methods: The most commonly applied methods for NP cell extraction, expansion, and re‐differentiation were identified using a questionnaire to research groups worldwide. NP cell extraction methods from rat, rabbit, pig, dog, cow, and human NP tissue were experimentally assessed. Expansion and re‐differentiation media and techniques were also investigated. Results: Recommended protocols are provided for extraction, expansion, and re‐differentiation of NP cells from common species utilized for NP cell culture. Conclusions: This international, multilab and multispecies study identified cell extraction methods for greater cell yield and fewer gene expression changes by applying species‐specific pronase usage, 60–100 U/ml collagenase for shorter durations. Recommendations for NP cell expansion, passage number, and many factors driving successful cell culture in different species are also addressed to support harmonization, rigor, and cross‐lab comparisons on NP cells worldwide

Harmonization and standardization of nucleus pulposus cell extraction and culture methods

Background In vitro studies using nucleus pulposus (NP) cells are commonly used to investigate disc cell biology and pathogenesis, or to aid in the development of new therapies. However, lab-to-lab variability jeopardizes the much-needed progress in the field. Here, an international group of spine scientists collaborated to standardize extraction and expansion techniques for NP cells to reduce variability, improve comparability between labs and improve utilization of funding and resources. Methods The most commonly applied methods for NP cell extraction, expansion, and re-differentiation were identified using a questionnaire to research groups worldwide. NP cell extraction methods from rat, rabbit, pig, dog, cow, and human NP tissue were experimentally assessed. Expansion and re-differentiation media and techniques were also investigated. Results Recommended protocols are provided for extraction, expansion, and re-differentiation of NP cells from common species utilized for NP cell culture. Conclusions This international, multilab and multispecies study identified cell extraction methods for greater cell yield and fewer gene expression changes by applying species-specific pronase usage, 60–100 U/ml collagenase for shorter durations. Recommendations for NP cell expansion, passage number, and many factors driving successful cell culture in different species are also addressed to support harmonization, rigor, and cross-lab comparisons on NP cells worldwide

Valutazione teorico-sperimentale della portata di evaporazione d’acqua da superfici a pelo libero al variare dei parametri ambientali

La valutazione dei carichi termici negli ambienti piscina associati al fenomeno dell’evaporazione risulta essere determinante per effettuare valutazioni di natura economica ed impiantistica in fase di progettazione. Lo scopo del presente lavoro è stato quello di progettare e realizzare un apparato sperimentale che permetta di determinare la massa evaporata, in un modello in scala di una tipica piscina olimpionica, al variare dei principali parametri che influenzano il fenomeno, quali temperatura dell’acqua, temperatura e umidità relativa dell’aria. I risultati della sperimentazione sono stati quindi impiegati per creare un modello matematico semiempirico per determinare le portate di evaporazione, utile per la valutazione del carico termico di evaporazione nelle piscine riscaldate indoor

Un sistema automatizzato per la certificazione delle prestazioni energetiche di apparati fotovoltaici

La recente introduzione di tariffe incentivanti per la produzione di energia elettrica da sistemi fotovoltaici, (D.M. 28 luglio 2005, il cosiddetto “conto energia”) ha causato un rapido aumento della domanda di componenti fotovoltaici nel mercato italiano ed è cresciuta di conseguenza la richiesta di certificazione delle celle e dei moduli prodotti. Si sono pertanto progettati due apparati automatizzati in grado di tracciare la curva caratteristica tensione-corrente di un elevato numero di celle e moduli al giorno, al fine di effettuarne una classificazione sulla base delle prestazioni energetiche riscontrate. La memoria riporta la descrizione degli apparati di misura e classificazione di celle e moduli fotovoltaici, dei relativi sistemi di automazione, acquisizione ed elaborazione dati, progettati in conformità alle Norme tecniche vigenti

Analisi sperimentale sull’impiego di diversi combustibili in impianti di riscaldamento nell’edilizia scolastica

Recenti provvedimenti di Legge hanno fissato le caratteristiche merceologiche dei combustibili che possono essere impiegati negli impianti di combustione per uso civile, limitando allo stesso tempo l’impiego di olio combustibile BTZ e degli altri distillati pesanti del petrolio. Per tali motivazioni si è ritenuto interessante effettuare una campagna di misure mirata ad analizzare le prestazioni di tre impianti termici similari, situati in tre differenti strutture scolastiche perugine ed alimentati rispettivamente a gas metano, gasolio e olio combustibile BTZ. Le misure acquisite hanno permesso di poter effettuare dei confronti in termini di potenza erogata, consumo di combustibile, emissioni al camino ed evidenziarne il comportamento sia nei transitori sia a regime, in correlazione con le condizioni meteorologiche. Il lavoro presenta una sintesi dei dati registrati ed effettua alcune valutazioni conclusive sul funzionamento in termini energetici ed ambientali dei tre impianti

An experimental solar cooling system with a small size absorption chiller: design and first measurements

The research group of the University of Perugia, Department of Industrial Engineering Department, has been actively working since many years on alternative refrigeration technologies, and in particular on absorption systems [1, 2]. During the last two years, the attention has been focused on the design, realization and analysis of a solar cooling plant with a commercial small size absorption machine, for the air conditioning of an office building. An experimental plant has been realized at the aim of verifying the performance of the machine with different external conditions, and validating the data sheet of the manufacturer. The solar cooling plant, its monitoring system and the first measurement campaign are described in the paper