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In the current move towards a decarbonising energy generation, cities and residential users can play a significant role. Solar photovoltaic has emerged as one of the main clean energy sources in this transition. Therefore, this work investigates the large electricity generation capacity for collective photovoltaic self-consumption in blocks of flats in a densely populated city in southern Spain. Three neighbourhoods were studied according to their income levels (low, medium, and high), by modelling their different energy demand profiles. The demand cover factor and the energy exchanged with the electricity grid were calculated. Subsequently, seven regulatory frameworks for self-consumption and surplus photovoltaic injection were compiled and analysed for each income level, focusing on the economic profitability of these renewable installations for different power ratings (270 and 570 W) and different domestic electricity tariffs. Although some regulations provide more economic benefits, with the constant growth in the nominal power of photovoltaic modules and rising electricity prices, the profitability of self-consumption photovoltaic installations is practically guaranteed regardless of the regulatory framework. Therefore, subsidies should target low-income buildings, where self-consumption installations could be the solution to energy poverty problems. [Display omitted] • The photovoltaic electricity production capacity in blocks of flats was studied. • Poverty energy solutions were proposed for low-income households. • The electricity demand was simulated for one year in 1-min intervals. • Self-consumption rates in different income-level dwellings were determined. • The economic profitability was studied in different regulatory contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this investigation was to determine the isoflurane-sparing effect and impact on arterial blood pressure and anaesthetic recovery of a constant rate infusion of medetomidine-propofol in horses. In a prospective, crossover, randomised study, six healthy horses (mean±SD age, 13.7 ±7.7 years; weight, 433 ± 51 kg) were anaesthetised twice with isoflurane and were randomly assigned to receive one of two treatments on each occasion, at least 2 weeks apart. The first treatment was saline (CTL group) and the second a medetomidine-propofol infusion (MP group; 1.25 pg/kg/h medetomidine and 3 mg/kg/h propofol). The isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) was determined and the reduction in anaesthetic requirements was calculated. Cardiopulmonary data were recorded at different intervals during the procedure and anaesthetic recovery was blindly assessed using three independent scales. The MAC in the MP group (0.43 ± 0.08%) was 65% lower than in the CTL group (1.23 ± 0.10%). The MP group had a higher mean arterial blood pressure and required less dobutamine than the CTL group. The recovery quality in both groups was considered fair or good and an improvement was observed using the Donaldson scale in the MP group. The administration of a medetomidine-propofol constant rate infusion reduced anaesthetic isoflurane requirements to a clinically significant extent and improved stability of arterial blood pressure together with a good quality recovery. This regime could be useful for providing balanced anaesthesia in horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 30 years, nuclear receptors (NRs) have been increasingly recognized as key modulators of systemic homeostasis and as contributing factors in many diseases. In the kidney, NRs play numerous important roles in maintaining homeostasis—many of which continue to be unraveled. As "master regulators", these important transcription factors integrate and coordinate many renal processes such as circadian responses, lipid metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, glucose handling, and inflammatory responses. The use of recently-developed genetic tools and small molecule modulators have allowed for detailed studies of how renal NRs contribute to kidney homeostasis. Importantly, while NRs are intimately involved in proper kidney function, they are also implicated in a variety of renal diseases such as diabetes, acute kidney injury, and other conditions such as aging. In the last 10 years, our understanding of renal disease etiology and progression has been greatly shaped by knowledge regarding how NRs are dysregulated in these conditions. Importantly, NRs have also become attractive therapeutic targets for attenuation of renal diseases, and their modulation for this purpose has been the subject of intense investigation. Here, we review the role in health and disease of six key renal NRs including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR), estrogen-related receptors (ERR), the farnesoid X receptors (FXR), estrogen receptors (ER), liver X receptors (LXR), and vitamin D receptors (VDR) with an emphasis on recent findings over the last decade. These NRs have generated a wealth of data over the last 10 years that demonstrate their crucial role in maintaining normal renal homeostasis as well as their capacity to modulate disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]