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The shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiver sity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxo nomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world’s known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world’s most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend be yond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still un equally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the coun try. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora. Fil: Gomes da Silva, Janaina. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Fil: Filardi, Fabiana L.R. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Barbosa, María Regina de V. Universidade Federal da Paraíba: Joao Pessoa; Brasil Fil: Baumgratz, José Fernando Andrade. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: de Mattos Bicudo, Carlos Eduardo. Instituto de Botânica. Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ecologia; Brasil Fil: Cavalcanti, Taciana. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia; Brasil Fil: Coelho, Marcus. Prefeitura Municipal de Campinas; Brasil Fil: Ferreira da Costa, Andrea. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Museu Nacional. Department of Botany; Brasil Fil: Costa, Denise. Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Dalcin, Eduardo C. Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute; Brasil Fil: Labiak, Paulo. Universidade Federal do Parana; Brasil Fil: Cavalcante de Lima, Haroldo. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Lohmann, Lucia. Universidade de São Paulo; Brasil Fil: Maia, Leonor. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Brasil Fil: Mansano, Vidal de Freitas. Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Menezes, Mariângela. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Museu Nacional. Department of Botany; Brasil Fil: Morim, Marli. Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Moura, Carlos Wallace do Nascimento. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana. Department of Biological Science; Brasil Fil: Lughadha, Eimear NIck. Royal Botanic Gardens; Reino Unido Fil: Peralta, Denilson. Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais; Brazil Fil: Prado, Jefferson. Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais; Brasil Fil: Roque, Nádia. Universidade Federal da Bahia; Brasil Fil: Stehmann, Joao. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasil Fil: da Silva Sylvestre, Lana. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Trierveiler-Pereira, Larissa. Universidade Estadual de Maringá. Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Biomedicina; Brasil Fil: Walter, Bruno Machado Teles. EMBRAPA Cenargen Brasília; Brasil Fil: Zimbrão, Geraldo. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Forzza, Rafaela C. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: Morales, Matías. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Morón. Facultad de Agronomía y Ciencias Agroalimentarias; Argentina

Let $m,n,s,k$ be integers such that $4\leq s\leq n$, $4\leq k \leq m$ and $ms=nk$. Let $��$ be a divisor of $2ms$ and let $t$ be a divisor of $\frac{2ms}��$. In this paper we construct magic rectangles $MR(m,n;s,k)$, signed magic arrays $SMA(m,n;s,k)$ and integer $��$-fold relative Heffter arrays ${}^��H_t(m,n;s,k)$ where $s,k$ are even integers. In particular, we prove that there exists an $SMA(m,n;s,k)$ for all $m,n,s,k$ satisfying the previous hypotheses. Furthermore, we prove that there exist an $MR(m,n;s,k)$ and an integer ${}^��H_t(m,n;s,k)$ in each of the following cases: $(i)$ $s,k \equiv 0 \pmod 4$; $(ii)$ $s\equiv 2\pmod 4$ and $k\equiv 0 \pmod 4$; $(iii)$ $s\equiv 0\pmod 4$ and $k\equiv 2 \pmod 4$; $(iv)$ $s,k\equiv 2 \pmod 4$ and $m,n$ both even.

To survey Friedman lipid globules by high-resolution histologic examination and to compare with multimodal imaging of hyporeflective caverns in eyes with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular (AMD) and other retinal diseases.Histologic survey of donor eyes with and without AMD. Clinical case series with multimodal imaging analysis.Donor eyes (n = 139; 26 with early AMD, 13 with GA, 40 with nAMD, 52 with a healthy macula, and 8 with other or unknown characteristics) and 41 eyes of 28 participants with GA (n = 16), nAMD (n = 8), Stargardt disease (n = 4), cone dystrophy (n = 2), pachychoroid spectrum (n = 6), choroidal hemangioma (n = 1), and healthy eyes (n = 4).Donor eyes were prepared for macula-wide epoxy resin sections through the foveal and perifoveal area. In patients, caverns were identified as nonreflective spaces on OCT images. Multimodal imaging included color and red-free fundus photography; fundus autofluorescence; fluorescein and, indocyanine green angiography; OCT angiography; near-infrared reflectance; and confocal multispectral (MultiColor [Spectralis, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany]) imaging.Presence and morphologic features of globules, and presence and appearance of caverns on multimodal imaging.Globules were found primarily in the inner choroidal stroma (91.0%), but also localized to the sclera (4.9%) and neovascular membranes (2.1%). Mean diameters of solitary and multilobular globules were 58.9±37.8 μm and 65.4±27.9 μm, respectively. Globules showed morphologic signs of dynamism including pitting, dispersion, disintegration, and crystal formation. Evidence for inflammation in the surrounding tissue was absent. En face OCT rendered sharply delimited hyporeflective areas as large as choroidal vessels, frequently grouped around choroid vessels or in the neovascular tissue. Cross-sectional OCT revealed a characteristic posterior hypertransmission. OCT angiography showed absence of flow signal within caverns.Based on prior literature documenting OCT signatures of tissue lipid in atheroma and nAMD, we speculate that caverns are lipid rich. Globules, with similar sizes and tissue locations in AMD and healthy persons, are candidates for histologic correlates of caverns. The role of globules in chorioretinal physiologic features, perhaps as a lipid depot for photoreceptor metabolism, is approachable through clinical imaging.

Detailed Experimental settings. Protein complex prediction for large protein protein interaction networks with the Core&Peel Method- Supplementary Materials. Description of the parameters and settings used in testing the competing sw for PC detection in Large PPIN. Description of data sets features distributions. Analysis of Asymptotic Complexity for Core&Peel. (PDF 1284 kb)

A causa del crescente utilizzo di impianti a biomassa di bassa e media potenza termica (sotto i 50 kW), in particolare per il riscaldamento domestico, si assiste ad un incremento delle emissioni di PM2,5 dalla combustione di biomassa raggiungendo, particolarmente nel contesto urbano, livelli allarmanti. Attualmente sono impiegate diverse tecnologie industriali per la filtrazione di particolato ad alta efficienza (oltre il 99%), ma il costo elevato non ne ha permesso la loro applicazione in impianti di piccola e media taglia. Il documento mostra un innovativo sistema di filtrazione per particolato che è stato progettato per essere applicato ad a caldaie di piccola taglia alimentate a biomassa e testato in laboratorio in un impianto in scala. Il documento mostra inoltre come il processo di ottimizzazione del sistema di filtrazione sia stato condotto attraverso la definizione di un modello teorico e con lo scopo finale di realizzare un dispositivo semplice, di facile manutenzione, con un’elevata integrazione, anche con una piccola caldaia non alimentata a biomassa, con efficienza paragonabile con i sistemi di filtraggio attuali, sostenibile e affidabile. All’interno del laboratorio del Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale (DIN) sono stati sviluppati, testati e ottimizzati diverse prototipi: i risultati sperimentali sono riportati nell’articolo, dimostrando così il raggiungimento di risultati confrontabili con tecnologie normalmente impiegate.

A hamiltonian cycle system (HCS, for short) of a graph $\Gamma$ is a partition of the edges of $\Gamma$ into hamiltonian cycles. A HCS is cyclic when it is invariant under a cyclic permutation of all the vertices of $\Gamma$; the existence problem for a cyclic HCS has been completely solved by Buratti and Del Fra in 2004 when $\Gamma$ is the complete graph $K_v$, $v$ odd, and by Jordon and Morris in 2008 when $\Gamma$ is the complete graph minus a $1$-factor $K_v-I$, $v$ even. In this work we present a complete solution to the existence problem of a cyclic HCS for $\Gamma = K_{m\times n}$, the complete multipartite graph, when the number of parts $m$ is even. We also give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a cyclic and symmetric HCS of $\Gamma$; the notion of a symmetric HCS of a graph $\Gamma$ has been introduced in 2004 by Akiyama, Kobayashi, and Nakamura for $\Gamma =K_v$, $v$ odd, in 2011 by Brualdi and Schroeder when $\Gamma = K_v-I$, $v$ even, and, very recently, by Schroeder when $\Gamma$ is the complete multipartite graph., Comment: 14 pages

In this paper, an overview on sewage sludge characteristics and recovery routes is presented. Starting from an analysis of typical sewage sludge characteristics as found in literature, the most promising disposal options are presented. A focus on incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) follows. Most of the authors agree on considering pyrolysis and gasification as the most viable treatments for sludge in the near future. For this reason, the last two chapters offer a brief description of these two processes and their products.

Pellegrini, Marco Octávio De Oliveira, Pinheiro, Lidyanne Yuriko Saleme Aona-, Forzza, Rafaela Campostrini (2013): Taxonomy and conservation status of Tripogandra warmingiana (Seub.) Handlos (Commelinaceae), a previously obscure taxon from Brazil. Phytotaxa 91 (2): 39-49, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.91.2.2, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.91.2.2

In un quadro internazionale di forte interesse verso uno sviluppo sostenibile e sfide energetiche per il futuro, il DIEM, in collaborazione con altri istituti di ricerca ed imprese private, sta progettando l’integrazione di componentistica avanzata su di una caldaia alimentata a biomasse. Lo scopo finale è quello di realizzare una caldaia a biomasse che produca energia in maniera più efficiente e con un impatto ambientale ridotto. L’applicazione è indirizzata inizialmente verso caldaie di piccola-media taglia (fino a 350 kW termici) vista la larga diffusione di questa tipologia di impianto. La componentistica in oggetto è: - filtro sperimentale ad alta efficienza per la rimozione del particolato; - celle a effetto Seebeck per la produzione di energia elettrica direttamente da energia termica senza parti meccaniche in movimento; - pompa Ogden per la produzione di energia meccanica direttamente da energia termica; La finalità dell’attività di ricerca è la progettazione dell’integrazione dei suddetti dispositivi con una caldaia a biomassa da 290 kW termici per la realizzazione di un prototipo di caldaia stand-alone ad impatto ambientale ridotto: in particolare, la caldaia è in grado, una volta raggiunte le condizioni di regime, di autoalimentare le proprie utenze elettriche, garantendo il funzionamento in sicurezza in caso di black-out o consentendo l’installazione della caldaia medesima in zone remote e prive di allaccio alla rete elettrica. Inoltre, la caldaia può fornire, tramite l'utilizzo di una pompa a vapore o pompa Ogden, energia meccanica per il pompaggio di fluidi: tale opportunità si ritiene particolarmente interessante per l'integrazione della caldaia nel caso di installazione in ambito agricolo. Infine, l'abbinamento di un filtro ad alta efficienza e basso costo consente l'abbattimento delle emissioni inquinanti, favorendo una maggiore diffusione della tecnologia senza ulteriori impatti sull'ambiente., In a context of international interest in sustainable development and energy challenges for the future, DIEM, in collaboration with other research institutes and private companies, is planning the integration of advanced components of a biomass-fired boiler. The final aim is to provide a biomass boiler which produces energy more efficiently and with a reduced environmental impact. The application is initially targeted towards small to medium size boilers (up to 350 kW thermal) view of the prevalence of this type of system. The component is: - Experimental high efficiency filter for particulate removal; - Seebeck effect cells for the production of electrical energy directly from thermal energy without moving mechanical parts; - Ogden pump for the production of mechanical energy directly from thermal energy; The purpose of research is the design of the integration of these devices with a biomass boiler from 290 kW thermal for the realization of a prototype of a stand-alone boiler to reduced environmental impact: in particular, the boiler is able, upon reaching the steady state, toe feed its own electric utilities, to ensure safe operation in case of power failure or to allow the installation of the boiler in remote areas with no connection to the grid. In addition, the boiler can be provided through the use of a steam pump or pump Ogden mechanical energy for pumping fluids: this opportunity is considered particularly interesting for the integration of the boiler in the case of installation in the agricultural field. Finally, the combination of a high efficiency and low cost filter allows the reduction of particulate emissions, by increasing the dissemination of technology without additional impacts on the environment.

For any affine-variety code we show how to construct an ideal whose solutions correspond to codewords with any assigned weight. We classify completely the intersections of the Hermitian curve with lines and parabolas (in the $\mathbb{F}_{q^2}$ affine plane). Starting from both results, we are able to obtain geometric characterizations for small-weight codewords for some families of Hermitian codes over any $\mathbb{F}_{q^2}$. From the geometric characterization, we obtain explicit formulae. In particular, we determine the number of minimum-weight codewords for all Hermitian codes with $d\leq q$ and all second-weight codewords for distance-$3,4$ codes.

In un quadro internazionale di forte interesse verso uno sviluppo sostenibile e sfide energetiche per il futuro, il DIEM, in collaborazione con altri istituti di ricerca ed imprese private, sta progettando l’integrazione di componentistica avanzata su di una caldaia alimentata a biomasse. Lo scopo finale è quello di realizzare una caldaia a biomasse che produca energia in maniera più efficiente e con un impatto ambientale ridotto. L’applicazione è indirizzata inizialmente verso caldaie di piccola-media taglia (fino a 350 kW termici) vista la larga diffusione di questa tipologia di impianto. La componentistica in oggetto è: - filtro sperimentale ad alta efficienza per la rimozione del particolato; - celle a effetto Seebeck per la produzione di energia elettrica direttamente da energia termica senza parti meccaniche in movimento; - pompa Ogden per la produzione di energia meccanica direttamente da energia termica; La finalità dell’attività di ricerca è la progettazione dell’integrazione dei suddetti dispositivi con una caldaia a biomassa da 290 kW termici per la realizzazione di un prototipo di caldaia stand-alone ad impatto ambientale ridotto: in particolare, la caldaia è in grado, una volta raggiunte le condizioni di regime, di autoalimentare le proprie utenze elettriche, garantendo il funzionamento in sicurezza in caso di black-out o consentendo l’installazione della caldaia medesima in zone remote e prive di allaccio alla rete elettrica. Inoltre, la caldaia può fornire, tramite l'utilizzo di una pompa a vapore o pompa Ogden, energia meccanica per il pompaggio di fluidi: tale opportunità si ritiene particolarmente interessante per l'integrazione della caldaia nel caso di installazione in ambito agricolo. Infine, l'abbinamento di un filtro ad alta efficienza e basso costo consente l'abbattimento delle emissioni inquinanti, favorendo una maggiore diffusione della tecnologia senza ulteriori impatti sull'ambiente., In a context of international interest in sustainable development and energy challenges for the future, DIEM, in collaboration with other research institutes and private companies, is planning the integration of advanced components of a biomass-fired boiler. The final aim is to provide a biomass boiler which produces energy more efficiently and with a reduced environmental impact. The application is initially targeted towards small to medium size boilers (up to 350 kW thermal) view of the prevalence of this type of system. The component is: - Experimental high efficiency filter for particulate removal; - Seebeck effect cells for the production of electrical energy directly from thermal energy without moving mechanical parts; - Ogden pump for the production of mechanical energy directly from thermal energy; The purpose of research is the design of the integration of these devices with a biomass boiler from 290 kW thermal for the realization of a prototype of a stand-alone boiler to reduced environmental impact: in particular, the boiler is able, upon reaching the steady state, toe feed its own electric utilities, to ensure safe operation in case of power failure or to allow the installation of the boiler in remote areas with no connection to the grid. In addition, the boiler can be provided through the use of a steam pump or pump Ogden mechanical energy for pumping fluids: this opportunity is considered particularly interesting for the integration of the boiler in the case of installation in the agricultural field. Finally, the combination of a high efficiency and low cost filter allows the reduction of particulate emissions, by increasing the dissemination of technology without additional impacts on the environment.

L’articolo riporta i risultati di uno studio per valutare tecnicamente ed economicamente l’integrazione tra un impianto supercritico a carbone, modellato sulla base del caso di studio prodotto dai report dell’IEA (Agenzia Internazionale Energia) [1], con un impianto per lo stoccaggio di energia termica. Dopo un’analisi approfondita è stato scelto il sistema di stoccaggio ad oli diatermici. L’abbinamento di un sistema di stoccaggio di energia termica all’impianto CCS (Carbon Capture & Storage) permette di riportare la flessibilità, ossia la velocità di variazione nella produzione di energia elettrica, a livello degli impianti di generazione senza la sezione di cattura dell’anidride carbonica [2, 3]. Inoltre a seguito del calcolo del VAN (Valore Attuale Netto) seguendo i criteri di valutazione indicati dall’IEA [4], si evidenzia come per alcuni scenari del prezzo di vendita dell’energia elettrica e del carbone l’investimento risulti conveniente.

Obra perteneciente al Fondo Antiguo de la Biblioteca de la USAL

Obra perteneciente al Fondo Antiguo de la Biblioteca de la USAL

Obra perteneciente al Fondo Antiguo de la Biblioteca de la USAL

Obra perteneciente al Fondo Antiguo de la Biblioteca de la USAL

Obra perteneciente al Fondo Antiguo de la Biblioteca de la USAL

Obra perteneciente al Fondo Antiguo de la Biblioteca de la USAL

Purpose: To evaluate choroidal structural changes occurring over time in geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration using choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Methods: Enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography scans of 34 patients with GA and 32 control subjects were retrospectively analyzed. Data were collected at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 18.3 ± 8.3 months. Choroidal images were binarized using the ImageJ software, and the luminal area and stromal area were segmented. Cho- roidal vascularity index was defined as the ratio of luminal area to total choroid area. Results: Patients with GA showed significantly lower values of CVI, total choroid area, luminal area, and subfoveal choroidal thickness compared to control subjects (65.83 ± 3.95 vs. 69.33 ± 3.11, P , 0.001; 0.400 ± 0.239 mm2 vs. 0.491 ± 0.132, P = 0.006; 0.263 ± 0.152 mm2 vs. 0.340 ± 0.094, P = 0.002; 185.2 ± 79.8 mm vs. 216.8 ± 58.8 mm, P = 0.036, respectively). Best-corrected visual acuity was significantly correlated only with choroidal thickness (R = 20.509; P = 0.002). During the follow-up period in patients with GA, sub- foveal choroidal thickness decreased from 185.2 ± 79.8 to 152.2 ± 73.1 (P = 0.001), stromal area increased from 0.138 ± 0.090 mm2 to 0.156 ± 0.068 (P = 0.028), and CVI decreased from 65.83 ± 3.95 to 62.24 ± 3.63 (P , 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed for the first time that CVI is reduced in patients with GA, and that this metric further worsened during the follow-up period.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the choroidal vascularity analyzing en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) images in patients with unilateral central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). We retrospectively evaluated 40 eyes of 20 CSC patients and 20 eyes of 10 gender- and age-matched healthy individuals. The sample consisted of: (1) CSC affected eyes; (2) unaffected fellow eyes; (3) healthy eyes. Multiple cross-sectional enhanced depth imaging OCT scans were obtained to create a volume scan. En face scans of the whole choroid were obtained at 5μm intervals and were binarized to calculate the choroidal vascularity index (CVI). The latter, defined as the proportion of the luminal area to the total choroidal area, was calculated at the level of choriocapillaris, superficial, medium and deep layers. No significant differences between choriocapillaris, superficial, medium and deep CVI were found in both eyes of CSC patients, whereas a significant different trend of changes was found in healthy eyes. Nevertheless, the en face CVI shows no difference between affected fellow and healthy eyes. In conclusion, CSC-affected eyes and fellow eyes showed a similar vascular architecture, with no statistical difference between all choroidal layers

The paper aims to show the preliminary monitoring and field test results of the innovative technology tested in the framework of the MARINAPLAN PLUS LIFE project for sustainable management of sediment in harbour areas. The technology is based on a patented jet pump that will be able to keep the seabed at a certain level over the time through a continuous removal of silting sediments. Preliminary field tests were performed to optimise the design of the demo plant and a monitoring plan was devised to evaluate the technical, economic and environmental impacts of the technology, in particular in comparison with dredging. The preliminary tests showed promising results in terms of efficacy and efficiency of the sediment by-passing device. At the maximum sediment removal capacity, the ejector tested in Cervia showed a sediment flow rate of about 2 m3 h−1, with an electric consumption of about 3.5 kW, and an influence diameter of about 5–7 m, after 15 days of working operation. On the basis of the preliminary results, a 10-ejector demonstrator plant has been designed and realised, and it is now in operation. The analysis of sediment and marine flora and fauna in the installation area in comparison with control areas indicates the negative impact of cyclic dredging in the harbour inlet area. The innovative technology promoted by the MARINAPLAN PLUS LIFE project is a promising solution to manage sediment siltation in harbour areas through a cost-effective and low environmental impact technology. The monitoring of the demo plant operation is fundamental to fully validate the technology and to demonstrate its efficacy and sustainability.

A sediment bypassing plant based on innovative jet pump, ejectors, has been tested in the first-of-a-kind demo application at the harbor of Cervia (Italy, Northern Adriatic Sea). The ejector is a jet pump aimed to reduce sediment accumulation in navigation channels and coastal areas. Herein we present results of the first study assessing the potential ecological effects of the ejectors plant. Sediment characteristics, benthic, and fish assemblages before and after the plant activation have been analyzed in the putatively impacted (the sediment removal and discharge) areas and four control locations, one time before and two times after plant activation. Ejectors plant operation resulted in a reduction of the mud and organic matter content in the sediment, as well as in changes in shell debris amount in the impacted areas. Abundance and species richness of benthic macroinvertebrates, initially reduced in the impacted areas, probably due to the previous repeated dredging, returned to higher values during demo plant continuous operation. Higher diversity of fish fauna was observed in the study area during plant operation period. Observed dynamics of the ecological status of the marine habitat suggest that an ejectors plant could represent an eco-friendly solution alternative to dredging operations to solve harbor siltation problems.

The paper describes two innovative technological solutions developed at the University of Bologna and shows a preliminary design on how they can be integrated in a commercial biomass boiler for residential application. The first innovation is a high efficiency and low cost filter for particulate emissions: the first prototype of bubble-column scrubber was tested in University of Bologna laboratory on a 25 kW th and reaches PM2.5 removal efficiency up to 95%. The second innovation is the integration of a thermoelectric generator able to produce electricity directly from heat exchange. A prototype has been realized and tested in University of Bologna laboratory and represents a new approach in the design and application of thermoelectric generator in the field of biomass boiler. The paper will evaluate how these new technologies can be integrated in a residential size biomass boiler from a technological and economic point of view, considering also operation and maintenance costs.

To compare the corneal biomechanics of eyes that underwent scleral buckle (SB) for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with those of fellow eyes (fellow eyes) and to further investigate the effects of SB on intraocular pressure (IOP) values.Retrospective, fellow-eye matched cohort study.A total of 18 consecutive patients (11 males and 7 females) treated with SB for RRD in 1 eye were enrolled. Goldmann applanation tonometry was used to measure IOP. Biomechanical properties of the cornea were investigated by using the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) (Reichert Instruments) for the calculation of corneal resistant factor (CRF), corneal hysteresis, Goldmann-correlated IOP, and corneal-compensated IOP. Customized software was used for analysis of the ORA infrared and pressure signals, and a significance threshold was set to a P value of .05.Operated eyes (OEs) showed significantly lower values of corneal hysteresis and CRF than fellow eyes (9.0 ± 1.8 vs 10.1 ± 1.8 mm Hg, respectively; P.001; 10.0 ± 2.2 vs 10.9 ± 2.2 mm Hg; P.001). GAT was significantly lower than corneal-compensated IOP in OEs (18.1 ± 4.9 vs 19.8 ± 4.8 mm Hg, respectively; P = .022) but not in fellow eyes. The second applanation event (A2) took place earlier in time, and the cornea was moving faster during A2 in the OEs than in the fellow eyes.SB for the treatment of RRD affects corneal biomechanical response, likely due to a less compliant sclera that limits corneal motion and reduces energy dissipation, reflected in a lower corneal hysteresis. This has potentially meaningful clinical implications as the accuracy of the measurement of IOP values may be affected in these eyes.

Biomass boiler plants of small thermal power (under 35 kW thermal), in particular for domestic heating, have greatly contributed to the rise in particulate emissions. Several technologies, like fabric filters or electrostatic precipitators, can achieve high particulate removal efficiency, over 99%. However, the application of these technologies is limited by excessive prices and operational problems, since the high cost does not allow their use in small size plants. The paper shows a comparative performance analysis of different scrubber systems which have been designed, realized and tested with flue gas produced by biomass combustion in a 25 kW thermal boiler. The experimental campaigns were realized in the laboratory of the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Bologna. Experimental results demonstrate the achievements of particulate removal efficiency which is comparable with the efficiency of industrial technologies. Moreover, a preliminary energy balance was carried out to assess the energy cost of the different scrubber systems tested.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are generated via the expression of the transcription factors OCT4 (also known as POU5F1), SOX2, KLF4 and cMYC (OSKM) in somatic cells. In contrast to murine naive iPSCs, conventional human iPSCs are in a more developmentally advanced state called primed pluripotency. Here, we report that human naive iPSCs (niPSCs) can be generated directly from fewer than 1,000 primary human somatic cells, without requiring stable genetic manipulation, via the delivery of modified messenger RNAs using microfluidics. Expression of the OSKM factors in combination with NANOG for 12 days generates niPSCs that are free of transgenes, karyotypically normal and display transcriptional, epigenetic and metabolic features indicative of the naive state. Importantly, niPSCs efficiently differentiate into all three germ layers. While niPSCs can be generated at low frequency under conventional conditions, our microfluidics approach enables the robust and cost-effective production of patient-specific niPSCs for regenerative medicine applications, including disease modelling and drug screening.

The paper deals with extensive monitoring of photovoltaic technologies. It was carried out in the last 18 months at the outdoor development center HEnergia of HERA S.p.A. in Forli (Italy). HEnergia has 8 different photovoltaic plants of small size (under 3 kWp) and they are differentiated by photovoltaic cell technologies (heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer, polycrystalline, cadmium telluride, amorphous silicon with microcrystalline silicon, silicon triple-junction cells, multi-junction Gallium Arsenide cells), by solar tracking systems (fixed installation, mono-axis or dual-axis tracker) and by optic devices (no concentration device, concentration through Fresnel lens or Cassegrain optic). Photovoltaic plants are remotely monitored and data on environmental conditions, module temperature and power production are continuously acquired and stored by a PC. Photovoltaic plant performance can thus be measured on-site and compared in relation to different environmental conditions. Moreover, the impact of maintenance activities (as for example the cleaning of photovoltaic modules) on photovoltaic plant performance is also assessed. On the basis of experimental data, the paper also shows an economic assessment of photovoltaic plants.

Coastal erosion processes are often due to inappropriate coastal defense strategies. The construction of infrastructures that interfere with the coastal circulation and the sediment transport along the coast (piers, docks, etc.), the destruction of the dunes and other anthropogenic modifications to the beach, are some of the factors that limit the adaptability of the beach system and amplify the risk of erosion and flooding of the coastal land. Coastal defense interventions have historically been based on the construction of rigid works (seawalls, groins, breakwaters, jetties, etc.), which, while protecting the territory, have often shifted the problem of erosion to the neighboring coasts. The paper will present the contents and the first findings of the research project STIMARE (Innovative strategies, monitoring and analysis of the coastal erosion risk), financed by the Italian Ministry of the Environment and the Sea (MATTM), aimed to define strategies for coastal management, based on a strong involvement of the stakeholders, and on the use of innovative or low-costs technologies for coastal monitoring. Methodology is based on data acquisition, numerical modelling, laboratory tests, physical and ecological monitoring. All the information and results will be discussed with the local stakeholders, in order to provide a comprehensive strategy for coastal protection, following the European Marine Strategy framework. The Project involves researchers from two important Universities in Italy (University of Bologna and Politecnico di Bari) and has a strong interdisciplinary approach, involving coastal engineers, urban planners, geologists, ecologists and mechanical engineers.