Passive house optimization for Southern Italy based on the “New Passivhaus Standard”

The IEE Passive-On project has drafted a proposal to adapt that Standard to the conditions that characterize Southern Europe, which is described in this paper together with its rationale. Compared with the original definition, one of the main changes is the introduction of explicit requirements on internal comfort during summer, in parallel to a limit to energy needs for cooling. The dynamic simulations conducted to test the new definition of the Standard in the context of Southern Italy (e.g. Palermo) show that the requirements identified by the Passivhaus Standard can be met by simplifying the envelope technologies (e.g. relaxing air-tightness design value) used in the context of Central Europe and adopting passive cooling strategies appropriately adjusted. Some simplifications of the ventilation system can be compensated by an increased role of thermal insulation of the building envelope and some of the choices can make energy needs tend to zero. In accordance with EN15251, thermal comfort is characterized according to Fanger’s PMV in cases where mechanical cooling is still required for peak situations, and according to the adaptive model where no mechanical cooling is required

Synthesis Report on the assessment of Member States' building renovation strategies

The European building stock consumes approximately 40% of primary energy and it is responsible for 36% of the EU greenhouse emissions. A significant reduction of building energy demand is a requisite to meet Europe’s GHG emissions reduction targets. The Article 4 of the Energy Efficiency Directive requires Member States "to establish a long-term strategy beyond 2020 for mobilising investment in the renovation of residential and commercial buildings with a view to improving the energy performance of the building stock. In order to transpose the Directive and to increase the rates and depth of building renovation, the Member States were asked to develop their first renovation strategies and provide them with their third NEEAPs, due by 30th April 2014. The JRC undertook an assessment of 31 national/regional building renovation strategies submitted by the Member States. The present report summarises the assessment performed by JRC on the received strategies. The analysis assessed and evaluated the compliance with all the items of Article 4 and checked if they were adequately addressed in each national renovation strategy.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc

Analysis of the annual reports 2017 under the Energy Efficiency Directive: Summary Report

This report discusses the progress towards the 2020 Energy Efficiency targets and towards the implementation of the provisions of the Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU (EED), providing an overview of the main energy trends in the European Union with special focus on the period 2005-2015. It is based on the last EUROSTAT data available and on the analysis provided by Member States within their Annual Reports 2017, under the EED.JRC.C.2-Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Microfluidic cartridge with integrated array of amorphous silicon photosensors for chemiluminescence detection of viral DNA

Portable and simple analytical devices based on microfluidics with chemiluminescence detection are particularly attractive for point-of-care applications, offering high detectability and specificity in a simple and miniaturized analytical format. Particularly relevant for infectious disease diagnosis is the ability to sensitively and specifically detect target nucleic acid sequences in biological fluids. To reach the goal of real-life applications for such devices, however, several technological challenges related to full device integration are still to be solved, one key aspect regarding on-chip integration of the chemiluminescence signal detection device. Nowadays, the most promising approach is on-chip integration of thin-film photosensors. We recently proposed a portable cartridge with microwells aligned with an array of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) photosensors, reaching attomole level limits of detection for different chemiluminescence model reactions. Herein, we explore its applicability and performance for multiplex and quantitative detection of viral DNA. In particular, the cartridge was modified to accommodate microfluidic channels and, upon immobilization of three oligonucleotide probes in different positions along each channel, each specific for a genotype of Parvovirus B19, viral nucleic acid sequences were captured and detected. With this system, taking advantage of oligoprobes specificity, chemiluminescence detectability, and photosensor sensitivity, accurate quantification of target analytes down to 70 pmol L-1 was obtained for each B19 DNA genotype, with high specificity and multiplexing ability. Results confirm the good detection capabilities and assay applicability of the proposed system, prompting the development of innovative portable analytical devices with enhanced sensitivity and multiplexed capabilities

Determinantes de la competitividad argentina entre 1980 y 2010

Mucho se ha hablado de las exportaciones de la República Argentina en los últimos años y es alrededor del concepto de competitividad en donde encontramos los elementos para tener una imagen general para encaminarnos a sacar conclusiones. El objetivo del presente trabajo es enumerar los factores que han contribuido o no a que Argentina sea un país más competitivo en diversos niveles (Mercosur, América Latina y el Caribe, el mundo). Los determinantes de la competitividad argentina que estudiaremos a continuación son: · Precios de los commodities que Argentina exporta · Producto Interno Bruto per cápita · Riesgo País comparado · Costo Laboral Unitario · Participación relativa del país · Tipo de Cambio Real MultilateralFil: Zangheri, Marcelo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas

Caratteristiche ecografiche delle neoformazioni mammarie della cagna in relazione all'istotipo

RIASSUNTO Parole chiave: cagna, neoformazioni mammarie, ecografia mammaria, istotipo Obiettivo. Valutare le caratteristiche ecografiche delle neoformazioni mammarie della cagna in relazione all’esame istopatologico, prendendo come riferimento i parametri ecografici di malignità e benignità della donna. Materiali e metodi. I pazienti sono stati 35 e 72 i noduli mammari. L’esame ecografico di ciascun nodulo ha preso in considerazione 9 parametri, presumibilmente indicativi di benignità o malignità nella donna: forma, contorno, rapporto L/T, orientamento, ecogenicità, pattern degli echi interni, alone iperecogeno, echi posteriori e alterazioni del tessuto mammario. Abbiamo poi comparato i criteri ultrasonografici al risultato istopatologico attraverso l’analisi statistica di regressione logistica univariata e multivariata. Risultati. L’età media dei soggetti è stata 9,6±2,2 anni. Le razze pure sono risultate più colpite dei meticci, rappresentando l’85,8%. Dal risultato istopatologico le neoplasie maligne sono risultate essere il 66,6%, il doppio delle benigne (33,3%). L’analisi statistica ha mostrato come l’alone iperecogeno fosse tendente ad una significatività nell’influenzare la malignità delle neoformazioni (p = 0,03 nell’analisi a una variabile; p = 0,06 nella multivariata). Il pattern dell’ecogenicità e la forma sono risultate essere variabili significative al 10%, avvicinandosi molto al limite di significatività statistica considerato. Conclusioni. Questo studio vuole rappresentare un punto di partenza per una valutazione più approfondita con casistiche più ampie. La presenza o meno di alone iperecogeno, il pattern dell’ecogenicità e la forma, risultando tendenti alla significatività statistica, sono senz’altro parametri ultrasonografici che meritano di essere ulteriormente approfonditi ai fini di un orientamento utile per una diagnosi precoce. ABSTRACT Key words: bitch, mammary neoplasms, breast ultrasound, histology Purpose. To evaluate the sonographic features of mammary neoplasms of the bitch in relation to histopathological examination, taking as reference the ultrasound parameters of malignancy and benignity of the woman. Patients and methods. The patients were 35 and 72 mammary nodules. The ultrasound examination of each nodule has taken into account nine parameters, presumably indicative of benignity or malignancy in woman: shape, contour, L/T ratio, orientation, echogenicity, internal echo pattern, hyperechoic halo, posterior echoes and tissue alterations breast. We then compared the ultrasonographic criteria to histopathological results through univariate logistic regression models and multivariate logistic-regression analysis. Results. The average age of the subjects was 9.6 ± 2.2 years. The pure breeds were most affected than cross breeds, accounting for 85.8% of the total number. The malignant neoplasms have resulted to be 66.6%, twice the benign ones (33.3%) from the histopatological exams. The statistical analysis showed that the hyperechoic halo was tending to a significance in influencing the malignancy of neoplasms (p = 0.03 in univariate analysis; p = 0.06 in multivariate analysis). Shape and echogenicity pattern have resulted to be 10% significant variables, coming very close to the limit of statistical significance considered. Conclusions. This study wants to be a starting point for a deeper estimation with a larger number of case records. The presence or absence of a hyperechoic halo, the echo pattern and the shape, resulting to tend to a statistical significance, are certainly ultrasonographic parameters that deserve to be further investigated, for the purpose of arriving at a useful guideline for early diagnosis

Clinical use of parnaparin in major and minor orthopedic sugery: a review

Patients undergoing arthroplasty or other orthopedic surgery show a high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), involving mortality, morbidity, and social costs; however, the risk for VTE in minor orthopedic surgery should not be underestimated and antithrombotic prophylaxis may be required. According to the literature, low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are more effective in preventing VTE than unfractionated heparins (UFHs) or vitamin K antagonists, and have a lower hemorrhagic risk. By comparing different prophylactic regimens, it has been shown that starting the prophylaxis near the time of the operation is the most critical point for efficacy, whether or not the first dose is administered pre- or post-operatively. Moreover, most thromboembolic complications are observed after discharge and, therefore, many clinicians advocate continuing prophylaxis for longer times (6–8 weeks) in order to further reduce the rate for VTE. The literature on parnaparin, a new LMWH, in VTE prophylaxis was reviewed. Parnaparin is equally effective as UFH, but it offers the advantages of a once-daily administration and improved tolerability, thus allowing the home management of patients with no need for laboratory coagulation tests

Assessing Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) development in Europe

Abstract Decarbonising the energy sector is crucial to reach future climate and energy goals. As established by the Energy Performance of Building Directive recast, Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs) are the mandatory building target in Europe for all new buildings from 2021 onwards. In the light of the approaching deadline, this paper assesses the development of NZEBs in Europe based on the most recent collected data and information. This paper provides an overview of the implementation of national definitions and energy performance values for new, existing, residential, and non-residential buildings in Member States. It evaluates the differences with the established European benchmark and cost-optimal levels. An overview of the most commonly implemented technologies in NZEBs is given together with costs and the relative projections over next decades. Finally, quantitative data on the NZEBs diffusion in Member States are given as recently assessed. The evolution of the NZEB concept and the future NZEBs role is also forecasted. The results assume a strategic value in the light of future targets for the building sector, showing the progress made by Member States in relation to different NZEBs aspects. They provide a comprehensive analysis of the European NZEBs implementation depicting a positive overall progress improvement for NZEBs definitions, uptake, technology development, and energy performance levels. Next challenges and barriers are outlined and appear mainly related to NZEBs retrofit