Methodology for dimensioning the socio-economic impact of power-to-gas technologies in a circular economy scenario

Innovative and sustainable energy technologies are needed in the transition of energy toward a circular economy. Because of the use of renewable energy and carbon utilization, power-to-gas could be a cutting-edge technology that supports the circular model in future sustainable energy markets. However, this technology faces new technical and socio-economic challenges. The use of power-to-gas is limited because of barriers that limit the mobilization of investment capital. In addition, social and economic impacts on the territories in which these facilities are located are under study. In this context, the aims of this paper are: (i) To explore the determinants and barriers for power-to-gas technology to enhance the understanding of investment in innovative energy technologies; and (ii) to support effective policymaking and energy companies’ decision-making processes. This study defines and measures, from a circular economy perspective, the main impacts of the deployment of this technology on a territory in terms of volume of investment, employment generation, and CO2 capture. The study also provides a simplified methodology to contribute to the analysis of the use of power-to-gas. Finally, it improves the knowledge of the socio-economic impact of this cutting-edge technology for the transition of energy to a zero-emission scenario

The Impact of Eco-Innovation on Performance Through the Measurement of Financial Resources and Green Patents

The main objective of this article is to contribute empirically to the understanding of the impact that eco-innovation has on firms’ financial performance within the framework of the resources-based view. Specifically, eco-innovation is measured by using eco-innovative activities and financial resources applied to eco-innovation to argue that the identification and measurement of certain resources of firms allow companies that are particularly active in investing in eco-innovation to be more competitive. Furthermore, the analysis attempts to ascertain whether firms that own green patents and other characteristics exhibit different level of financial performance than firms without registered green patents. The empirical partial least squares structural equation modeling results indicate a positive relationship between the investment of resources and the financial performance of eco-innovative firms. The effects of involving managers in eco-innovative processes as an environmental capability of firms are also tested

Analysis of energy poverty intensity from the perspective of the regional administration: Empirical evidence from households in southern Europe

The current economic situation has increased the number of households in Europe experiencing restrictions and/or limitations of affordability of energy services, demonstrating the urgent need to intervene in those extreme cases in which households suffer the daily consequences of what is internationally defined as energy poverty. In such a context, this paper presents the results obtained in a case study characterising a sample of 615 households with demonstrated energy poverty in the region of Aragón (Spain). In parallel, the intensity of energy poverty in the studied cases is examined by measuring the percentage of energy expenditures with respect to income in the households that suffer it, and a descriptive analysis of the main determinants of energy poverty in the homes studied is presented as well as the policy implication at regional level

Wurtzite nanowires strain control by DC electrical stimulation

Nanomechanics is a highly developed area of research, given the significant reported changes in material properties at the nanometer scale, requiring the development of new theories to explain the underlying mechanisms. Such theories must be based on measurements that are as accurate as possible, but unfortunately, conventional experimental techniques do not apply to such small components. Here we present a unique new method to control electro-mechanical forces on quasi −1D nanostructures through static electric fields with multiple ways of control of GaAs nanowires’ strain directly on the growth substrate

Energy vulnerability composite index in social housing, from a household energy poverty perspective

In Europe, the proportion of social housing is high, and such houses tend to be inhabited by below average-income households, which are particularly vulnerable to energy poverty. This article proposes a new methodological approach for defining an index for household energy vulnerability assessment. This method can be used to improve the management of social housing. After establishing a heuristic framework for household energy poverty-which stems from different causes such as income, the characteristics of the residence, energy installations, and the energy-consumption habits of household members-multi-criteria analytical methods, based on the aggregation of indicators which reveal the conditions leading to energy poverty, have been applied, and effective means of intervention are proposed. The method is also applied to a sample of social houses and thus validated as a useful tool in decision-making processes which concern the management of social housing from a household energy-poverty perspective

From pre-and probiotics to post-biotics: A narrative review

Background and aims: Gut microbiota (GM) is a complex ecosystem containing bacteria, viruses, fungi, and yeasts. It has several functions in the human body ranging from immunomodulation to metabolic. GM derangement is called dysbiosis and is involved in several host diseases. Pre-, probiotics, and symbiotics (PRE-PRO-SYMB) have been extensively developed and studied for GM re-modulation. Herein, we review the literature data regarding the new concept of postbiotics, starting from PRE-PRO-SYMB. Methods: We conducted a search on the main medical databases for original articles, reviews, meta-analyses, randomized clinical trials, and case series using the following keywords and acronyms and their associations: Gut microbiota, prebiotics, probiotics, symbiotic, and postbiotics. Results: Postbiotics account for PRO components and metabolic products able to beneficially affect host health and GM. The deeper the knowledge about them, the greater their possible uses: The prevention and treatment of atopic, respiratory tract, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Conclusions: Better knowledge about postbiotics can be useful for the prevention and treatment of several human body diseases, alone or as an add-on to PRE-PRO-SYMB

How the other half lives: CRISPR-Cas's influence on bacteriophages

CRISPR-Cas is a genetic adaptive immune system unique to prokaryotic cells used to combat phage and plasmid threats. The host cell adapts by incorporating DNA sequences from invading phages or plasmids into its CRISPR locus as spacers. These spacers are expressed as mobile surveillance RNAs that direct CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins to protect against subsequent attack by the same phages or plasmids. The threat from mobile genetic elements inevitably shapes the CRISPR loci of archaea and bacteria, and simultaneously the CRISPR-Cas immune system drives evolution of these invaders. Here we highlight our recent work, as well as that of others, that seeks to understand phage mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas evasion and conditions for population coexistence of phages with CRISPR-protected prokaryotes.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figure

Altering Glass Transition of TPD thin Films with UV Light

N,N´-Bis(3-methylphenyl)-N,N’dyphenilbenzidine (TPD) is a hole-transport material used in electroluminescent devices whose glass transition temperature, Tg, depends on the film thickness.[1] For sufficiently thin films (d<30 nm), dewetting of amorphous TPD films deposited on a on fused silica or an ITO substrate occurs even at room temperature.[2] Following a brief report on increased thermal stability of UV irradiated TPD films,[3] we investigated the underlying mechanism responsible for it. From proton NMR and mass spectrometry measurements, coupled with morphology (AFM) and spectroscopy (UV-VIS) studies, we find that photo-excited TPD species react with oxygen in air. This leads to partially oxidized TPD films whose increased thermal stability we ascribe to stronger hydrogen bonding of photo-oxidized TPD species with hydrophilic substrates