34 research outputs found
The optimal hybrid/electric ferry for the liguria Natural Parks
No full textWith this work we want to contribute to the
evaluation of the effectiveness of using an electric/hybrid Ferry
boat for tourist transportation in a real case. For this purpose, it
is necessary to define the “optimal” systems configuration of the
Ferry boat in term of engine power, energy storage and
photovoltaic system sizes and also percentage of hybrid or pure
electric usage. However the adjective “optimal” cannot have an
absolute definition because it strongly depends on the context we
are evaluating the problem and also subjective factors, not easily
quantifiable, enter the evaluation of optimal system. For
example, for a ferry working in marine Natural Parks like those
around La Spezia harbor, operating and initial costs are
important parameters to be considered, but pollution, noise and
comfort are at least as much important ones. Moreover, due to
the constraints given by the battery storage system (volume,
weight, cost and recharge time) the hybrid/electric system of the
ferry must be well targeted at the specific routes and possible
stages in the transport service around the La Spezia Gulf. For
that reason, we focus to the determination of an optimal hybrid
ferryboat, aimed at the specific case of La Spezia.
We think that the analysis here performed can be replicated
to other cases and may be useful in showing the potential of these
new technologies for a more sustainable boating, both from the
environmental and economic point of view, while also improving
the service provided to passengers, especially in terms of comfort
Fatigue in hemodialysis patients: A single-center cross-sectional study
Get PDFBackground: Fatigue is a highly prevalent condition among people affected by chronic disease, with consequent poor health-related quality of life and lower survival rates. Fatigue is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms also experienced by hemodialysis (HD) patients after HD sessions, and given the non-specific manifestations and its invisible nature, it is under-recognized and under-treated by healthcare professionals. The complexity of fatigue's pathogenesis and the lack of measurement tools make the development of nursing interventions and practices specifically targeted at its recognition and therapy difficult. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of fatigue, identify predictor variables in HD patients, and promote healthcare professionals' awareness and recognition of fatigue. Materials and methods: A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted among 140 patients treated at the HD unit between August 2019 and March 2020 at the Nephrology, Dialysis, and Transplantation Unit of Padova University Hospital. We assessed patient's fatigue by Chalder's Fatigue Questionnaire, pain by Numeric Rating Scale and activities of daily living by Barthel Index. Demographic and clinical characteristics were taken from medical records. Results: The findings of this study indicate that age, dialysis vintage, inter-dialysis weight gain, and ultra-filtration rate are proportionally related to reported levels of fatigue. Hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, and number of sleep hours before HD session present a significant inverse correlation to fatigue. Conclusion: The complexity of fatigue's pathogenesis makes a better understanding of this phenomenon difficult, nevertheless, healthcare professionals should develop interventions and practices targeted at its identification and management
Multicomponent Synthesis of Polyphenols and Their In Vitro Evaluation as Potential β-Amyloid Aggregation Inhibitors
No full textWhile plant polyphenols possess a variety of biological properties, exploration of chemical diversity around them is still problematic. Here, an example of application of the Ugi multicomponent reaction to the combinatorial assembly of artificial, yet “natural-like”, polyphenols is presented. The synthesized compounds represent a second-generation library directed to the inhibition of β-amyloid protein aggregation. Chiral enantiopure compounds, and polyphenol-β-lactam hybrids have been prepared too. The biochemical assays have highlighted the importance of the key pharmacophores in these compounds. A lead for inhibition of aggregation of truncated protein AβpE3-42 was selected
Progettazione dell'accumulo termico negli impianti solari termodinamici
Get PDFLa trattazione illustra i modelli utilizzati per implementare, codice Matlab, che consenta di simulare il funzionamento di un impianto solare termodinamico ad un serbatoio con materiali a transizione di fase (PCM). Grazie a tali simulazioni si riesco ad ottenere accurate informazioni sul dimensionamento del serbatoio di accumulo. E' illustrata una sperimentazione atta a trovare il materiale adatto per l'incapsulamento del PCM, resistente alla corrosione dei nitrati e dei cloruri (PCM)openEmbargo per motivi di priorità nella ricerca previo accordo con terze part
Progettazione dell'accumulo termico negli impianti solari termodinamici
Get PDFLa trattazione illustra i modelli utilizzati per implementare, codice Matlab, che consenta di simulare il funzionamento di un impianto solare termodinamico ad un serbatoio con materiali a transizione di fase (PCM). Grazie a tali simulazioni si riesco ad ottenere accurate informazioni sul dimensionamento del serbatoio di accumulo. E' illustrata una sperimentazione atta a trovare il materiale adatto per l'incapsulamento del PCM, resistente alla corrosione dei nitrati e dei cloruri (PCM
Semantic Web Technologies for Digital Libraries: From Libraries to Social Semantic Digital Libraries (SSDL), Over Semantic Digital Libraries (SDL)
No full textDigital libraries have been an important source of information throughout the history of mankind. It has been present in our societies in different forms. Notably, traditional libraries have found their on the desktops of internet users. They have taken the shape of semantic digital libraries, which are accessible at any time, and accordingly provide a more meaningful search. This paper further discusses social semantic digital libraries that also incorporate the social and collaborative aspect
Overview of the third JET deuterium-tritium campaign
No full textJET returned to deuterium-tritium operations in 2023 (DTE3 campaign), approximately two years after DTE2. DTE3 was designed as an extension of JET’s 2022-2023 deuterium campaigns, which focused on developing scenarios for ITER and DEMO, integrating in-depth physics understanding and control schemes. These scenarios were evaluated with mixed D-T fuel, using the only remaining tritium-capable tokamak until its closure in 2023. A core-edge-SOL integrated H-mode scenario was developed and tested in D-T, showing good confinement and partial divertor detachment with Ne-seeding. Stationary pulses with good performance, no tungsten accumulation, and even without ELMs were achieved in D-T. Plasmas with pedestals limited by peeling modes were studied with D, T-rich, and D-T fuel, revealing a positive correlation between pedestal electron pressure and pedestal electron density. The Quasi-Continuous Exhaust regime was successfully achieved with D-T fuel, with access criteria similar to those in D plasmas. A scenario with full detachment, the X-point radiator regime, was established in D-T, aided by the real-time control of the radiator’s position. The crucial characterisation of tritium retention continued in DTE3, using gas balance measurements and the new LID-QMS diagnostic. Nuclear technology studies were advanced during the DTE3 campaign, addressing issues such as the activation of water in cooling loops and single event effects on electronics. Building on the previous D, T and DTE2 campaigns and the lessons learned from them, DTE3 extended our understanding of D-T plasmas, particularly in scenarios relevant to next-generation devices such as ITER and DEMO.The authors acknowledge and thank the JET team for their hard work and commitment. This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium, funded by the European Union via the Euratom Research and Training Programme (Grant Agreement No 10 105 2200 - EUROfusion). The Swiss contribution to this work has been funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). This work was supported in part by Grant PID2021-12 7727OB-I00, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities MICIU/AEI/10.13 039/50 110 0011 033, and by ERDF/EU. This scientific paper has been published as part of the international project co-financed by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education within the programme called ‘PMW’ for 2022–2024. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Commission or SERI. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission nor SERI can be held responsible for them.Peer Reviewed"Article signat per 71 autors/es: A Kappatou*, M Baruzzo, A Hakola, E Joffrin, D Keeling, B Labit, E Tsitrone, N Vianello, M Wischmeier, I Balboa, J Bernardo, M Bernert, T Bosman, S Brezinsek, D Brida, I S Carvalho, P Carvalho, L Ceelen, C D Challis, I Coffey, T Dittmar, M Dunne, M Faitsch, A R Field, L Frassinetti, L Garzotti, Z Ghani, C Giroud, S Henderson, R B Henriques, J Hobirk, P Jacquet, I Jepu, Ye O Kazakov, D B King, K K Kirov, D Kos, K Krieger, M Lennholm, E Lerche, X Litaudon, E Litherland-Smith, P Lomas, C Lowry, J Mailloux, M J Mantsinen, M Maslov, D Matveev, A Meigs, S Menmuir, C Olde, C Perez von Thun, L Piron, G Pucella, H Reimerdes, F Rimini, O Sauter, P A Schneider, B Sieglin, S Silburn, E R Solano, H Sun, D F Valcarcel, D van Eester, R Villari, A Widdowson, S Wiesen, M Zlobinski, V K Zotta, the JET contributors and the EUROfusion Tokamak Exploitation Team"Postprint (published version
Enhanced performance in fusion plasmas through turbulence suppression by megaelectronvolt ions
No full text| openaire: EC/H2020/633053/EU//EUROfusion Funding Information: We thank M. Baruzzo and F. Nave for the preparation and execution of JET experiments discussed in this paper; E. de la Luna for support in detailing the experimental diagnostics of JET; A. Ho for assistance in processing the experimental data; T. Görler for providing essential advice to ensure the correct numerical setup for the GENE modelling reported in this paper; Y. Camenen, X. Garbet and A. Bierwage for fruitful discussions about the gyrokinetic analyses; G. Giruzzi for valuable suggestions on the article strategy. The simulations were performed on the IRENE Joliot-Curie HPC system, in the framework of the PRACE projects IONFAST and AFIETC, led by J. Garcia, and on the CINECA Marconi HPC within the project GENE4EP, led by D. Zarzoso. This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training programme 2014-2018 and 2019-2020 under grant agreement no. 633053. The views and opinions express herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. Part of the work by Ye. O. Kazakov and J.Ongena was also carried out in the framework of projects done for the ITER Scientist Fellow Network (ISFN). Funding Information: We thank M. Baruzzo and F. Nave for the preparation and execution of JET experiments discussed in this paper; E. de la Luna for support in detailing the experimental diagnostics of JET; A. Ho for assistance in processing the experimental data; T. Görler for providing essential advice to ensure the correct numerical setup for the GENE modelling reported in this paper; Y. Camenen, X. Garbet and A. Bierwage for fruitful discussions about the gyrokinetic analyses; G. Giruzzi for valuable suggestions on the article strategy. The simulations were performed on the IRENE Joliot-Curie HPC system, in the framework of the PRACE projects IONFAST and AFIETC, led by J. Garcia, and on the CINECA Marconi HPC within the project GENE4EP, led by D. Zarzoso. This work has been carried out within the framework of the EUROfusion Consortium and has received funding from the Euratom research and training programme 2014-2018 and 2019-2020 under grant agreement no. 633053. The views and opinions express herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. Part of the work by Ye. O. Kazakov and J.Ongena was also carried out in the framework of projects done for the ITER Scientist Fellow Network (ISFN). Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.Alpha particles with energies on the order of megaelectronvolts will be the main source of plasma heating in future magnetic confinement fusion reactors. Instead of heating fuel ions, most of the energy of alpha particles is transferred to electrons in the plasma. Furthermore, alpha particles can also excite Alfvénic instabilities, which were previously considered to be detrimental to the performance of the fusion device. Here we report improved thermal ion confinement in the presence of megaelectronvolts ions and strong fast ion-driven Alfvénic instabilities in recent experiments on the Joint European Torus. Detailed transport analysis of these experiments reveals turbulence suppression through a complex multi-scale mechanism that generates large-scale zonal flows. This holds promise for more economical operation of fusion reactors with dominant alpha particle heating and ultimately cheaper fusion electricity.Peer reviewe
Progressive Down Regulation of JAK-STAT, Cell Cycle, and ABC Transporter Genes in CD34+/Lin- Cells of Chronic-Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CP-CML) Patients at Diagnosis Vs. 12 Months of Nilotinib Treatment Vs. Healthy Subjects
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