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Designing a Platform for Energy Recovery and Monitoring in Building Applications
No full textEnergy efficiency measures are pivotal in addressing the high energy consumption and gas emissions of the building sector. Moreover, increasing attention is given to indoor environmental quality to ensure comfort and healthy conditions for the occupants. Sustainable and energy-efficient solutions are needed to avoid the extensive use of battery-based wireless network sensors. In this work, a platform has been conceived and designed to recover unused indoor energy sources and convert them into useful power for environmental sensors to monitor buildings. A preliminary energy analysis of the main components of such a platform has been carried out to demonstrate the feasibility of the system
Proposal: a contactless microwave method to assess the critical current of superconducting films
No full textAccurate measurement methods for the reliable characterization of the electrical transport properties of high-temperature superconducting materials are essential for the assessment of their performances and suitability for power applications. In this study, we correlate measurements of critical current Jc in a dc external magnetic field with microwave contactless measurements of the so-called pinning constant kp. While Jc requires patterning of the samples and/or high probe currents, microwave measurements can be performed in as-grown films or tapes, and thus are ideal for evaluating the performances without any further process. The parametric analysis of the correlation between Jc and kp shows a clear correlation, and opens up the possibility of reliably using contactless kp measurements for the evaluation of Jc in pristine samples of technological superconductors
The ARPAL atmospheric operational modeling chain and its applications: description and validation
No full textThe paper describes the model chain operational at the Meteo-Hydrological Center of the Liguria Region (ARPAL) based on the CNR-ISAC models BOLAM (BOlogna Limited Area Model) and MOLOCH (MOdello LOCale in Hybrid coordinates). Some of the chain applications and a statistical verification of its most recent implementation are also shown. The first operational run of the BOLAM numerical weather prediction (NWP) model at ARPAL was launched in September 1999, in correspondence with the beginning of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme Special Observing Period field campaign. Since then, the collaboration between CNR-ISAC and ARPAL has allowed to maintain and update the operational chain, also thanks to a continuous upgrade of the computational resources available at ARPAL. Since 2005, the non-hydrostatic model MOLOCH has been added to the forecasting chain. In the present operational setup, BOLAM is run over a European domain at the horizontal resolution of about 8 km, using ECMWF-IFS analysis and forecasts as initial and boundary conditions. MOLOCH model is nested in BOLAM, and it runs over a domain including the entire Italian territory, on a 1.5-km horizontal resolution grid. The forecast products, consisting in 72-h BOLAM and 48-h MOLOCH predictions, are available in 1.5 h after the reception of the ECMWF-IFS data. Four runs every day are performed. Other modeling systems in cascade are driven by NWP models. For several years, wind fields obtained from the atmospheric modeling chain have been used to force the wave model WAVEWATCH III, implemented at different resolutions over the Mediterranean basin. Other applications in cascade consist in hydrological prediction for the basins of the Liguria Region, wildfire, and ocean circulation modeling. Moreover, the different initializations of the BOLAM and MOLOCH models provide an important contribution to the ARPAL operational Poor Man’s Ensemble prediction system. A verification based on 3 years of data available from the ARPAL ground observing network shows a general capability of the high-resolution models in better forecasting heavy precipitation events, due to a better description of convective phenomena, while a less marked improvement with respect to large-scale models is shown for low precipitation thresholds. Results also show an improvement of model performance for all monitored variables, precipitation, 2-m temperature, and 10-m winds, when resolution increases and when model domains are enlarged
Whole genome sequencing analysis of alpaca suggests TRPV3 as a candidate gene for the suri phenotype
Get PDFBackground: Alpaca is a domestic South American camelid probably arising from the domestication of two wild camelids, the vicugna and the guanaco. Two phenotypes are described for alpaca, known as huacaya and suri. Huacaya fleece is characterized by compact, soft, and highly crimped fibers, while suri fleece is longer, straight, less crimped, and lustrous. The gene variants determining these phenotypes are still unknown, although previous studies suggested a dominant inheritance of the suri. Based on that, the aim of this study was the identification of the gene variants determining alpaca coat phenotypes through whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. Results: The sample used includes two test-cross alpaca families, suri × huacaya, which produced two offspring, one with the suri phenotype and one with the huacaya phenotype. The analyzed sample was expanded through the addition of WGS data from six vicugnas and six guanacos; this because we assumed the absence of the gene variants linked to the suri phenotype in these wild species. The analysis of gene variant segregation with the suri phenotype, coupled with the filtering of gene variants present in the wild species, disclosed the presence in all the suri samples of a premature termination codon (PTC) in TRPV3 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 3), a gene known to be involved in hair growth and cycling, thermal sensation, cold tolerance and adaptation in several species. Mutations in TRPV3 were previously associated with the alteration of hair structure leading to an impaired formation of the hair canal and the hair shaft in mouse. This PTC in TRPV3, due to a G > T substitution (p.Glu475*), results in a loss of 290 amino acids from the canonical translated protein, plausibly leading to a physiological dysfunction. Conclusion: The present results suggest that the suri phenotype may arise from a TRPV3 gene variant which may explain some of the suri features such as its longer hair fibre with lower number of cuticular scales compared to huacaya
Brazing alloys characterization for EU-DEMO Divertor Target
Get PDFIn the framework of the roadmap of the DEMO reactor design pursued by the EUROfusion Programme, R&D activities have been promoted for the technological development of Plasma Facing Components (PFCs). Dedicated research activity has been undertaken at ENEA to support the development of technological solutions for the monoblock-pipe joining in order to reduce the use of materials having high activation and/or a degradation under neutron irradiation. For this purpose, a preliminary brazing alloy screening was carried out: a total of seven brazing alloys were identified and tested (i.e. Gemco, Nicuman23, TiCuNi, CuTiZrNi and three alloys with different percentages of Cu and Ge). For each brazing alloy, a wettability test on joint base materials (i.e., W and Cu) was performed. Then, three samples were fabricated joining tungsten monoblocks, without Cu interlayer, on a W fiber-reinforced Cu composite cooling pipe; other three samples were realized joining W monoblocks, with and without Cu interlayer on standard ITER-grade CuCrZr pipes. Non-destructive Ultrasonic Testing (UT) examinations were performed on each sample and showed that the monoblocks surface was not fully attached to Wf-Cu pipes; as regard the samples with CuCrZr pipes, excellent results have been achieved both in the case with and without Cu interlayer. From the results, Gemco seems to be the most promising commercial alloy among the tested ones, thanks to its low amount of Nickel and the good joining capabilities
Fumasep FAA-3-PK-130: Exploiting multinuclear solid-state NMR to shed light on undisclosed structural properties
Get PDFFumasep FAA-3-PK-130 is considered the state-of-the-art among the different commercially available Anion Exchange Membranes (AEMs). It is produced by Fumatech GmbH as a cost-effective blend of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and poly (phenylene oxide) (PPO) characterized by high hydroxyl ions conductivity, high thermal and chemical resistance, and high dimensional stability. Nevertheless, the chemical structure of the anion exchange sites and their contents were unknown so far. In this paper, we report a detailed structural characterization of Fumasep FAA-3-PK-130 to identify the material phase composition, the nature of the conducting moieties and their interactions with the adsorbed water molecules. A complete phase segregation between PPO and PEEK was found on a micrometric scale from 1H spin-lattice relaxation times and micro-ATR analysis. Multinuclear (1H, 13C, 19F) Solid-State NMR spectra, combined with nuclear spin relaxation measurements, allowed us to identify the anion exchange moiety with benzyl-ethyl-dimethylammonium. This is present as functionalizing group of PPO monomers with a functionalization degree of about 40 %. Moreover, the mobility of water absorbed in the membrane was studied by 2H Solid-State NMR on samples hydrated with deuterated water under controlled relative humidity: at low relative moisture, two different types of environments were found for water molecules, compatible with two types of water-ion clusters, one of which contains water molecules with a restricted mobility, limited to C2 jumps, due to strong interactions with ions
Direct glycosylation analysis of intact monoclonal antibodies combining ESI MS of glycoforms and MALDI-in source decay MS of glycan fragments
Get PDFMonoclonal antibody (mAb) glycoengineering has the potential to improve the efficacy of biopharmaceuticals by fine-tuning specific biological properties. Glycosylation analysis is key to monitoring the glycoengineering process. Various mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods are available to characterize mAb glycosylation at different structural levels, but comprehensive analysis is typically time-consuming and costly. Here, we present an approach that combines conventional intact mass measurement of glycoforms by direct infusion ESI-MS with an advanced MALDI-in-source decay FT-ICR MS method for direct analysis of glycans in intact mAbs, without the need for enzymatic release and separation. Using a sodium-doped MALDI matrix, glycans were directly released as ISD fragment ions from the intact mAbs during the ionization process. Measurement of 0,2A fragment signals yielded reproducible glycan profiles that were consistent with conventional methods, yet was achieved with unprecedented speed, providing complementary information to that obtained through intact mass measurement. The methods were applied to standard and glycoengineered trastuzumab and rituximab, allowing rapid glycosylation profiling and structural analysis of glycans by tandem MS of selected ISD fragment ions. This fast approach can facilitate the early-phase development of glycoengineering processes by constraining further in-depth analyses. We envision a broader applicability in studies focused on glycosylation changes in mAbs. (Figure presented.
Enhanced production of xylooligosaccharides from vine shoots and their impact on the nutritional and technological properties of spreadable goat cheese
Get PDFIn order to improve the daily intake of prebiotic fiber in the staple foods of the Mediterranean diet, the potential of including prebiotic xylooligosaccharides (XOS) in spreadable goat cheese was investigated. Preliminarily, this study aimed to obtain XOS extract from vine shoots by steam explosion. Thus, xylooligosaccharide extract (XE), also used as purified extract (XEP) were added in the goat cheese. The application of XE and XEP in the cheese, significantly changed the proximal composition, providing more than 3 g of fiber per 100 g allowing the claim “source of fiber” according with the EU Regulation 1924/2006, reducing further the predicted glycemic index. The purification treatment of the extract highlighted the potential of XEP in promoting a healthier gut microbiota by stimulating the growth of Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria. Structure analysis and volatile profile showed a great similarity between the samples added with XEP and the control cheese
Incompatible insect technique: insights on potential outcomes of releasing contaminant females: a proof of concept under semi-field conditions
No full textReleasing large numbers of Aedes albopictus males, carrying the artificially introduced Wolbachia ‘wPip’ strain, results in a decrease in the reproductive capacity of wild females due to a phenomenon known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). This vector control strategy is referred to as the incompatible insect technique (IIT). However, its widespread implementation faces various challenges, including the complexity of removing fertile females from the males intended for release. Here, we present the results of semi-field experiments comparing the impact of minimal female co-release on two IIT modes: unidirectional CI-based (UnCI IIT) and bidirectional CI-based (BiCI IIT), specifically targeting Ae. albopictus. RESULTS: The contamination of ‘wPip’ infected females (2%) during male releases significantly weakened the overall effectiveness of IIT, emphasizing the need for thorough sex separation. Specifically, with UnCI IIT, despite the low rate of co-released females, there was a gradual rise in ‘wPip’ infection frequency, resulting in more compatible mating and subsequently higher rates of egg hatching. Conversely, this pattern was effectively mitigated in BiCI IIT owing to the reciprocal sterility between the wild-type and the ‘wPip’ infected populations. CONCLUSION: Through an experimental approach, conducted in a semi-field setting, we have contributed to advancing scientific understanding regarding the potential outcomes of implementing the IIT strategy in the absence of a complete sexing system. The results suggest that safety measures for mitigating the potential impacts of co-released females can be tailored according to the specific type of IIT being utilized
AI for Automating Data Center Operations: Model Explainability in the Data Centre Context Using Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP)
Get PDFThe application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) models is increasingly leveraged to automate and optimize Data Centre (DC) operations. However, the interpretability and transparency of these complex models pose critical challenges. Hence, this paper explores the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values model explainability method for addressing and enhancing the critical interpretability and transparency challenges of predictive maintenance models. This method computes and assigns Shapley values for each feature, then quantifies and assesses their impact on the model’s output. By quantifying the contribution of each feature, SHAP values can assist DC operators in understanding the underlying reasoning behind the model’s output in order to make proactive decisions. As DC operations are dynamically changing, we additionally investigate how SHAP can capture the temporal behaviors of feature importance in the dynamic DC environment over time. We validate our approach with selected predictive models using an actual dataset from a High-Performance Computing (HPC) DC sourced from the Enea CRESCO6 cluster in Italy. The experimental analyses are formalized using summary, waterfall, force, and dependency explanations. We delve into temporal feature importance analysis to capture the features’ impact on model output over time. The results demonstrate that model explainability can improve model transparency and facilitate collaboration between DC operators and AI systems, which can enhance the operational efficiency and reliability of DCs by providing a quantitative assessment of each feature’s impact on the model’s output