Analysis of the Barriers to the Uptake of R&D Results in the Power Sector

Power grid vulnerabilities are European wide problems, they cannot be solved individually but require a coordinated European effort. GRID aims at establishing a roadmap for collaborative R&D on power grid security, also based on exchange of information about national, regional and European research projects. Collaborative research programmes might benefit from a mutual exchange of approaches, experiences, and results. However, cross fertilisation may be hampered by existing barriers of an institutional, socio-economic and technical nature. This report investigates barriers to exploitation of national research results in a European context.JRC.G.6-Sensors, radar technologies and cybersecurit

Contemporary Architecture in Genoa since 1945—Knowledge and Use through Geoservices for the Citizen

The paper illustrates the enhancement of knowledge of architecture from 1945 onwards in Genoa by means of the publication on the Geoportal of the Municipality, which was developed with open-source systems, of a proper dataset and tools for digital storytelling for citizens. The implementation on the municipal Geoportal of a section called “Contemporary Architecture from 1945 onwards in Genoa” was made possible through collaboration between the University of Genoa Architecture and Design Department (DAD) and the Municipality of Genoa Office for Geographical Information Systems. The data related to the buildings in the Municipality of Genoa were extracted from a previous study about contemporary architecture in Liguria carried out by DAD. The case study introduced two tools for the promotion and enhancement of knowledge of such architecture, a map on which the buildings are located and associated with an information form and geostories with in-depth information on selected buildings, the latter of which can be sorted based on thematic itineraries or by author. The use of integrated services contributes to the competitiveness and sustainability of the city, raising citizens’ awareness of the value of the architecture of the second half of the 20th century and thus activating conservation processes as advocated in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations General Assembly

Performance assessment of a reversible Tesla machine

It is well known that bladeless or Tesla turbomachinery, which was invented by Nikola Tesla in 1913, has several distinct features, such as reversibility of operation, which includes expander as well as compressor operation, just by reversing the rotational speed, provided that the statoric channels are purposely designed. Despite their potential application to a variety of fields, such as energy harvesting, automotive, light aircraft, and food processing, especially for low volumetric flows, Tesla machines have not found yet a specific market niche. In fact, at small size, it is estimated that the Tesla machinery does not change performance significantly, while conventional bladed machines are subject to significant efficiency reduction because of mechanical tolerances, thus matching the Tesla relatively low performance. Therefore, Tesla machines can become the fluid machinery of choice for small-size applications, thanks to their competitive performance at that size, simple construction, and reversible operation. A key objective of this paper is to numerically study Tesla devices in both expander and compressor modes with air as the working fluid. As a consequence of the high losses due to rotor and stator interactions, statorless (volute) configurations are investigated here, showing superior performance in both direct and indirect modes of operation. With reference to a laboratory prototype under construction, this paper presents the numerical design results, which predict the peak isentropic efficiencies of 63.5% and 57.5%, for the expander and compressor mode of operation, respectively. Actual prototype is expected to match those performance, apart from leakage and ventilation losses, not included in the numerical analysis

Few-body precursors of topological frustration

Quantum spin chains - the prototypical model for coupled two-level systems - offer a fertile playground both for fundamental and technological applications, ranging from the theory of thermalization to quantum computation. The effects of frustration induced by the boundary conditions have recently been addressed in this context. In this work, we analyze the effects of such frustration on a few spin system and we comment the strong even-odd effects induced in the ground state energy. The purpose of this work is to show that such signatures are visible on current quantum computer platforms

High-Efficient Bladeless Expander Concept

Tesla bladeless expanders are promising in energy harvesting and small-scale power generation applications due to their lower cost and simplicity in design. Although such expanders exhibit very high rotor efficiency (analytical total to static efficiency ~ 90%), it shows poor performance when coupled with a stator (experimental total to static efficiency ~30%) due to losses present in the stator and stator-rotor interaction. This paper presents the design and experiment of a novel, high-efficient Tesla bladeless expander concept. The concept arises from the loss phenomena in the stator-rotor interaction in conventional bladeless expanders, which are among the main causes of the low performance. This concept is believed to bring the bladeless expanders to the same performances as the traditional ones with vanes, compared to which however the bladeless machines boast greater simplicity, robustness, and the absence of performance decay as the size decreases, competing even in the contexts for traditional turbomachinery. The high-efficient bladeless expander prototype with water as a working fluid is designed and developed, representing the similitude case for a liquid butane heat pump. The available isentropic power across the throttling process in the butane case is 3.3 kW @10000 rpm. The turbine consists of 24 nozzles and 150 disks separated by 0.1 mm spacers. The turbine shaft is connected to the high-speed electric generator. The performance test on the expander is carried out at rotational speeds ranging from 3000 rpm to 6200 rpm and with differential pressure across the expander up to 14 bar. Experimental ventilation loss is characterised and its effect on the performance of the expander is discussed. The preliminary results of the expander under investigation showed satisfactory production of power with an acceptable efficiency range. It is also shown that the present concept is promising and able to address the major i.e., stator-rotor interaction which is the major source of loss in the traditional bladeless expander

Real-life Evidence of Lower Lung Virulence in COVID-19 Inpatients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Compared to Wild-Type and Delta SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia

In vitro and animal models described lower replication capacity and virulence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineage in lower respiratory airways compared to wild type and other variants of concern (oVOCs). Among adult subjects admitted to our hospital (Turin, Italy) due to wild type, oVOCs, and Omicron SARS-CoV-2-related pneumonia (n = 100 for each lineage), the cases of Omicron pneumonia showed lower degree of lung parenchyma involvement (aβ -1.471, p = 0.037), less tendency to parenchyma consolidation (aOR 0.500, p = 0.011), and better respiratory functions (assessed by ambient air arterial blood gas analysis). After adjusting for demographic, previous immunity, and comorbidities, Omicron pneumonia still associated with lower risk of respiratory failure (for severe respiratory failure, Wild-type versus Omicron aOR 15.6, p = 0.005 and oVOCs versus Omicron aOR 31.7, p < 0.001). These observations are in line with preliminary findings from in vitro and animal models and could explain why Omicron infection has been associated with lower mortality and hospitalization in human

Novel TRIM32 mutation in sarcotubular myopathy

Tripartite motif-containing protein 32 (TRIM32) is a member of the TRIM ubiquitin E3 ligases which ubiquitinates different substrates in muscle including sarcomeric proteins. Mutations in TRIM32 are associated with Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2H. In a 66 old woman with disto-proximal myopathy, we identified a novel homozygous mutation of TRIM32 gene c.1781G &gt; A (p. Ser594Asn) localised in the c-terminus NHL domain. Mutations of this domain have been also associated to Sarcotubular Myopathy (STM), a form of distal myopathy with peculiar features in muscle biopsy, now considered in the spectrum of LGMD2H. Muscle biopsy revealed severe abnormalities of the myofibrillar network with core like areas, lobulated fibres, whorled fibres and multiple vacuoles. Desmin and Myotilin stainings also pointed to accumulation as in Myofibrillar Myopathy. This report further confirms that STM and LGMD2H represent the same disorder and suggests to consider TRIM32 mutations in the genetic diagnosis of Sarcotubular Myopathy and Myofibrillar Myopathy

An integrated approach to the evaluation of patients with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic hyperCKemia

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Currently, there are no straightforward guidelines for the clinical and diagnostic management of hyperCKemia, a frequent and nonspecific presentation in muscle diseases. Therefore, we aimed to describe our diagnostic workflow for evaluating patients with this condition. METHODS: We selected 83 asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic patients with persistent hyperCKemia for participation in this Italian multicenter study. Patients with facial involvement and distal or congenital myopathies were excluded, as were patients with suspected inflammatory myopathies or predominant respiratory or cardiac involvement. All patients underwent a neurological examination and nerve conduction and electromyography studies. The first step of the investigation included a screening for Pompe disease. We then evaluated the patients for myotonic dystrophy type II–related CCTG expansion and excluded patients with copy number variations in the DMD gene. Subsequently, the undiagnosed patients were investigated using a target gene panel that included 20 genes associated with isolated hyperCKemia. RESULTS: Using this approach, we established a definitive diagnosis in one third of the patients. The detection rate was higher in patients with severe hyperCKemia and abnormal electromyographic findings. DISCUSSION: We have described our diagnostic workflow for isolated hyperCKemia, which is based on electrodiagnostic data, biochemical screening, and first‐line genetic investigations, followed by successive targeted sequencing panels. Both clinical signs and electromyographic abnormalities are associated with increased diagnostic yields