Development of Reference Buildings to Analyze the Potential for Energy-Efficient Refurbishment of Buildings

The building sector offers the largest potential for a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Based on own preliminary investigations for the State of Bavaria, a complete renovation of the building envelope of the current residential building stock would result in a reduced demand for final thermal energy for space heating and domestic hot water by about 70 %. The present study analyzes different existing reference buildings and reference methods. Based on a general literature review, specific criteria will be developed for reference models to represent the thermal energy consumption of the residential building stock for the regional domain under investigation. The objective is to represent the building stock with a limited amount of reference buildings. The method for the development of a reference building will be shown exemplarily for one category

Development of Reference Buildings to Analyze the Potential for Energy-Efficient Refurbishment of Buildings

The building sector offers the largest potential for a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Based on own preliminary investigations for the State of Bavaria, a complete renovation of the building envelope of the current residential building stock would result in a reduced demand for final thermal energy for space heating and domestic hot water by about 70 %. The present study analyzes different existing reference buildings and reference methods. Based on a general literature review, specific criteria will be developed for reference models to represent the thermal energy consumption of the residential building stock for the regional domain under investigation. The objective is to represent the building stock with a limited amount of reference buildings. The method for the development of a reference building will be shown exemplarily for one category

Using Artificial Intelligence for Assistance Systems to Bring Motor Learning Principles into Real World Motor Tasks

Humans learn movements naturally, but it takes a lot of time and training to achieve expert performance in motor skills. In this review, we show how modern technologies can support people in learning new motor skills. First, we introduce important concepts in motor control, motor learning and motor skill learning. We also give an overview about the rapid expansion of machine learning algorithms and sensor technologies for human motion analysis. The integration between motor learning principles, machine learning algorithms and recent sensor technologies has the potential to develop AI-guided assistance systems for motor skill training. We give our perspective on this integration of different fields to transition from motor learning research in laboratory settings to real world environments and real world motor tasks and propose a stepwise approach to facilitate this transition

Low-Temperature NOx Reduction by H2 in Diesel Engine Exhaust

For the NOx removal from diesel exhaust, the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and lean NOx traps are established technologies. However, these procedures lack efficiency below 200 °C, which is of importance for city driving and cold start phases. Thus, the present paper deals with the development of a novel low-temperature deNOx strategy implying the catalytic NOx reduction by hydrogen. For the investigations, a highly active H2-deNOx catalyst, originally engineered for lean H2 combustion engines, was employed. This Pt-based catalyst reached peak NOx conversion of 95 % in synthetic diesel exhaust with N2 selectivities up to 80 %. Additionally, driving cycle tests on a diesel engine test bench were also performed to evaluate the H2-deNOx performance under practical conditions. For this purpose, a diesel oxidation catalyst, a diesel particulate filter and a H2 injection nozzle with mixing unit were placed upstream to the full size H2-deNOx catalyst. As a result, the Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC), urban cycle segment of the Common Artemis Driving Cycle (CADC UC) and Transport for London Urban Inter Peak (TfL UIP) driving cycle revealed NOx conversions up to 90 % at temperatures as low as 80 °C. However, outside the low-temperature region, H2-deNOx activity dropped significantly evidencing the need for an additional underfloor SCR system. Moreover, slight N2O formation was observed in the engine tests making further catalyst development necessary, since N2O is considered a critical component due to its global warming potential. Additionally, the H2 demand for low-temperature deNOx in diesel passenger cars was estimated and a novel on-board H2 production strategy based on DEF electrolysis was developed. This method provided both H2 as well as gaseous NH3. Subsequent simulations of H2 production demonstrate small size factors (≤ 525 cm3) and rather low energy consumption of the H2 supply unit, e.g. 0.25 kWh for the TfL UIP driving cycle

A Proline-Rich Element in the Type III Secretion Protein FlhB Contributes to Flagellar Biogenesis in the Beta- and Gamma-Proteobacteria

Flagella are bacterial organelles of locomotion. Their biogenesis is highly coordinated in time and space and relies on a specialized flagellar type III secretion system (fT3SS) required for the assembly of the extracellular hook, rod, and filament parts of this complex motor device. The fT3SS protein FlhB switches secretion substrate specificity once the growing hook reaches its determined length. Here we present the crystal structure of the cytoplasmic domain of the transmembrane protein FlhB. The structure visualizes a so-far unseen proline-rich region (PRR) at the very C-terminus of the protein. Strains lacking the PRR show a decrease in flagellation as determined by hook- and filament staining, indicating a role of the PRR during assembly of the hook and filament structures. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the PRR is a primary feature of FlhB proteins of flagellated beta- and gamma-proteobacteria. Taken together, our study adds another layer of complexity and organismic diversity to the process of flagella biogenesis

Identification of a novel anoikis signalling pathway using the fungal virulence factor gliotoxin

Gliotoxin (GT), produced by the pulmonary pathogen A. fumigatus, induces detachment-induced apoptosis (anoikis) of lung epithelial cells and likely promotes invasion. Here, the authors show that GT covalently modifies integrins at the RGD binding site followed by activation of RhoA-ROCK-MKK4/7-JNK signalling leading to Bim-mediated anoikis