Data-Driven Key Performance Indicators and Datasets for Building Energy Flexibility: A Review and Perspectives

Energy flexibility, through short-term demand-side management (DSM) and energy storage technologies, is now seen as a major key to balancing the fluctuating supply in different energy grids with the energy demand of buildings. This is especially important when considering the intermittent nature of ever-growing renewable energy production, as well as the increasing dynamics of electricity demand in buildings. This paper provides a holistic review of (1) data-driven energy flexibility key performance indicators (KPIs) for buildings in the operational phase and (2) open datasets that can be used for testing energy flexibility KPIs. The review identifies a total of 81 data-driven KPIs from 91 recent publications. These KPIs were categorized and analyzed according to their type, complexity, scope, key stakeholders, data requirement, baseline requirement, resolution, and popularity. Moreover, 330 building datasets were collected and evaluated. Of those, 16 were deemed adequate to feature building performing demand response or building-to-grid (B2G) services. The DSM strategy, building scope, grid type, control strategy, needed data features, and usability of these selected 16 datasets were analyzed. This review reveals future opportunities to address limitations in the existing literature: (1) developing new data-driven methodologies to specifically evaluate different energy flexibility strategies and B2G services of existing buildings; (2) developing baseline-free KPIs that could be calculated from easily accessible building sensors and meter data; (3) devoting non-engineering efforts to promote building energy flexibility, such as designing utility programs, standardizing energy flexibility quantification and verification processes; and (4) curating datasets with proper description for energy flexibility assessments.Comment: 30 pages, 14 figures, 4 table

NOV/CCN3 attenuates inflammatory pain through regulation of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sustained neuroinflammation strongly contributes to the pathogenesis of pain. The clinical challenge of chronic pain relief led to the identification of molecules such as cytokines, chemokines and more recently matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as putative therapeutic targets. Evidence points to a founder member of the matricial CCN family, NOV/CCN3, as a modulator of these inflammatory mediators. We thus investigated the possible involvement of NOV in a preclinical model of persistent inflammatory pain.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced model of persistent inflammatory pain and cultured primary sensory neurons for <it>in vitro </it>experiments. The mRNA expression of NOV and pro-inflammatory factors were measured with real-time quantitative PCR, CCL2 protein expression was assessed using ELISA, MMP-2 and -9 activities using zymography. The effect of drugs on tactile allodynia was evaluated by the von Frey test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>NOV was expressed in neurons of both dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and dorsal horn of the spinal cord (DHSC). After intraplantar CFA injection, NOV levels were transiently and persistently down-regulated in the DRG and DHSC, respectively, occurring at the maintenance phase of pain (15 days). NOV-reduced expression was restored after treatment of CFA rats with dexamethasone. <it>In vitro</it>, results based on cultured DRG neurons showed that siRNA-mediated inhibition of NOV enhanced IL-1β- and TNF-α-induced MMP-2, MMP-9 and CCL2 expression whereas NOV addition inhibited TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression through β₁integrin engagement. <it>In vivo</it>, the intrathecal delivery of MMP-9 inhibitor attenuated mechanical allodynia of CFA rats. Importantly, intrathecal administration of NOV siRNA specifically led to an up-regulation of MMP-9 in the DRG and MMP-2 in the DHSC concomitant with increased mechanical allodynia. Finally, NOV intrathecal treatment specifically abolished the induction of MMP-9 in the DRG and, MMP-9 and MMP-2 in the DHSC of CFA rats. This inhibitory effect on MMP is associated with reduced mechanical allodynia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study identifies NOV as a new actor against inflammatory pain through regulation of MMPs thus uncovering NOV as an attractive candidate for therapeutic improvement in pain relief.</p

Apport de I'IRTF et de la rhéologie à l'étude de la stabilité d'émulsions cosmétiques H/E

International audienc

Développement d'un nouvel échantillonneur passif en silicone pour étudier le transfert des contaminants polaires et apolaires dans les eaux de surface

International audiencePassive sampling has been developed to obtain, at lower cost, more representative evaluations of the average concentrations of contaminants in aquatic environments. An innovative silicone-based passive sampler (named PACSiR, for Polar Apolar Composite Silicone Rubber) was designed to address sampling, detection and quantification of a wide range of organic contaminants (native or metabolites) present at ultratrace levels in waters. The PACSiR passive samplers, of small size (2 cm length), were applied in different aquatic media (surface or underground waters), typically for periods of 1 week, to evaluate the contamination by a wide range of pesticides and metabolites. They were also tested for their capacity to monitor several hormones and pharmaceuticals. The nature and mass of contaminants sorbed on the passive samplers exposed in situ were used as qualitative or comparative measures, to highlight the presence of compounds or to easily assess trends and gradients of contamination in aquatic environments. For quantitative purposes, the estimation of the average concentration of contaminants in water required the prior determination of kinetic parameters (sampling rate, equilibration time) through laboratory experiments. We demonstrated that this reactive, single-use and low cost passive sampler can be used for multiple research or operational purposes, thanks to the different levels of data acquisition, from qualitative to quantitative approach

Développement d'une phase réceptrice innovante pour l'échantillonnage passif de pesticides dans les eaux de surface

International audienceSilicone rubber (SR) has been successfully implemented as a receiving phase in various passive samplers (MESCO, Passive SBSE and silicone rod/sheet). Indeed, SR is mechanically resistant, insoluble in common solvents used for compound desorption, and enable a thermal desorption at high temperature. Nevertheless, SR is an hydrophobic material which permit mainly enrichment of apolar organic compounds (log Kow > 3) from water (organochlorine pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, etc.). To remedy this lack of measurement representativity, the use of an other passive sampler in co-deployement for polar organics, as Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS), is the stategy preferred. This work aimed at testing the affinity of an innovative material for more polar organic compounds using passive samplers with a single receiving phase. In this way, a Polar/Apolar Composite Silicone Rubber (PACSiR) was developed for sorption of a wide range of organics compounds. First, this innovative composite material was assessed in laboratory for pesticides sorption whith a large range of physico-chemical properties. Then, PACSiR was shaped and calibrated as a passive sampler in laboratory, to be finally applied for the monitoring of several pesticides in surface waters. Extraction recoveries determined experimentally for 22 pesticides were similar or higher for all pesticides than for SR. The enhancement of extraction performances is the highest for polar pesticides, with log Kow below 3, which are poorly sorbed on SR. Kinetics of uptake of pesticides in calibration system were mainly described by a pseudo-linear equation model for 14 days exposure. Sampling rate and partition coeficient were determined for calculation of time weighted average concentration (TWAC). Sampling rates for PACSiR passive sampler were 1.3 to 12.5 higher than for SR depending on the pesticide. Consequently, PACSiR enable to reach lower LOQ than SR for polar pesticides. Finally, results of field exposition of passive samplers in rivers were compared with grab sampling to access the occurrence of pesticides and to estimate the TWACs during field exposition. This study demonstrated that the PACSiR is a sensitive receiving phase for pesticides which can greatly improved sorption properties comparared to SR and permitted to reach lower LOQ for polar pesticides. Further experimental investigations on accumulation of other organic compounds will be carried out (hormones, pharmaceuticals, PAHs and PCBs)

Échantillonneur passif innovant à base de silicone pour l'extraction simultanée de pesticides polaires et apolaires dans les eaux de surface

National audienceL’échantillonnage passif représente une alternative simple et économique aux échantillonnages ponctuels et moyennés automatisés pour la détermination des niveaux de contamination des eaux de surface par les pesticides, en particulier pour mieux évaluer les effets de plans d’actions mis en ½uvre. L’échantillonnage passif permet la détermination de concentrations moyennes des composés cibles, intégrées sur la période d’exposition de l’échantillonneur, après un étalonnage réalisé en conditions contrôlées de laboratoire. Plusieurs échantillonneurs passifs ont été développés au cours de ces dernières décennies, avec pour cibles des pesticides aux propriétés physico-chimiques variées. Les outils à base d’élastomère de silicone (polydiméthylsiloxane, PDMS) tels que les feuilles de silicone, le MESCO ou la Passive SBSE sont utilisés pour les composés hydrophobes, tandis que le Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS) est le mieux adapté pour l’échantillonnage passif de pesticides organiques plus polaires. Généralement, plusieurs outils doivent donc être déployés simultanément sur site pour couvrir l’échantillonnage et la quantification d’une large gamme de pesticides dans les milieux aquatiques. Ces travaux présentent le développement d’un matériau composite innovant pour l’échantillonnage passif de pesticides polaires et apolaires en utilisant une seule phase réceptrice. Ce matériau, dénommé PACSiR (Polar Apolar Composite Silicone Rubber), a été conçu pour la sorption d’une large gamme de composés organiques en combinant les propriétés de sorption du PDMS et de la phase Oasis HLB® utilisée dans le POCIS. Dans un premier temps, des essais préliminaires en laboratoire ont validé les capacités de sorption du PACSiR vis-à-vis d’une large gamme de pesticides avec des propriétés physico-chimiques variées (0,6 < log Ko

Changes in fatty acids of Pseudomonas nautica, a marine denitrifying bacterium, in response to n-eicosane as carbon source and various culture conditions

International audienceThis study determined the effects of shifts in environmental conditions on the fatty acid composition of a sedimentary facultative anaerobic denitrifying marine bacteria (Pseudomonas nautica strain IP 617). The effects of carbon source (neicosane, sodium acetate and rich medium), temperature (13, 20 and 30³C), presence or lack of oxygen and growth phase (stationary and exponential) were investigated. As demonstrated by correspondence analysis, the effect of the various conditions tested, in descending order of importance, were carbon source s temperature s growth phasevoxygen. Among the different growth substrates, n-eicosane (nC PH) led to the most distinct FA profiles, characterised by high amounts of saturated and branched FA, the appearance of 20-carbon acids (20:1g9 and 20:0) and a v IH methyl branched series with mainly the 10Me16:0. With regard to temperature effects, P. nautica showed a mean acyl chain length thermoregulation process for the major monounsaturated fatty acids which led to increased values of the ratio 4C IVXI /4C ITXI with increasing temperatures. The effect of growth phase and anaerobiosis were less marked. The analysis of bacterial fatty acids could enable the detection of hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial communities in marine sediments contaminated by hydrocarbons