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The oldest known hominin remains in Europe [~1.5 to ~1.1 million years ago (Ma)] have been recovered from Iberia, where paleoenvironmental reconstructions have indicated warm and wet interglacials and mild glacials, supporting the view that once established, hominin populations persisted continuously. We report analyses of marine and terrestrial proxies from a deep-sea core on the Portugese margin that show the presence of pronounced millennial-scale climate variability during a glacial period ~1.154 to ~1.123 Ma, culminating in a terminal stadial cooling comparable to the most extreme events of the last 400,000 years. Climate envelope-model simulations reveal a drastic decrease in early hominin habitat suitability around the Mediterranean during the terminal stadial. We suggest that these extreme conditions led to the depopulation of Europe, perhaps lasting for several successive glacial-interglacial cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, radiative cooling has emerged as a promising technology for space cooling applications. Nevertheless, radiative cooling phenomenon is dependent on weather conditions and it presents some performance limitations, meaning that the cooling capacity is limited in some climates. The radiative cooling potential is the maximum theoretical limit that can be achieved. In this study we analyse the evolution of the radiative cooling potential in Europe under the context of climate change. Radiative cooling potential maps for the period 2020–2050 are provided. The results reveal that radiative cooling potential remains constant for this period, evidencing a resilience of this technology during the following decades. We also provide a seasonal study of the potential by regions. Summer, when cooling needs are higher, is the season with the least nocturnal energy potential and the second with the highest nocturnal power potential. Shifting to all-day radiative cooling, the energy potential increases by 1.64 in winter; 2.97 in spring; 4.03 in summer and 2.2 in autumn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The final design process of the ITER EC upper launcher (UL) was carried out between 2011 and 2018 under a Grant agreement between the European Domestic Agency F4E and a consortium of European associations, namely KIT (D), SPC (CH), DIFFER (NL), IPP (D), CNR (I), and IPF (D). The final design is scheduled for 2019. The final design review (FDR) will be split into several review processes for dedicated sub-components. One of these sub-components is the structural system of the EC launcher. This article presents a brief overview on the final design status of the ITER EC UL structure of spring 2018, including the history of development since 2004. It highlights the most challenging design issues and debates demanding project management steps. The lesson learned in the technical development of the design will be discussed, in view of the design work for future fusion devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conceptually, many energy poverty studies to date have been narrowly focused on inadequate indoor heating, paying little attention to other domestic energy services. Yet there are indications that a growing number of households in Europe are struggling to achieve adequate levels of indoor cooling, with adverse consequences for their health, well-being and productivity. This situation is exacerbated by changing global weather patterns, with many countries facing increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme heatwaves. There is limited understanding of the ways in which households respond to extreme heat, and consequently how this might create greater demand for indoor space cooling and air conditioning, and the consequences for increased stress on power grids and conflicts with carbon reduction goals. Using custom-built survey data collected from 2337 households in Gdańsk (Poland), Prague (Czech Republic), Budapest (Hungary) and Skopje (North Macedonia), along with in-depth qualitative fieldwork with 55 households in the same cities, this paper presents novel evidence on the issue of summertime energy poverty and space cooling difficulties. We identify the driving forces of household vulnerability to excessive indoor heat, in terms of risk of exposure, adaptive capacity, and sensitivity, and explore the implications for addressing energy poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heinrich events (HEs) are dramatic episodes of marine-terminating ice discharge and sediment rafting during periods of cold North Atlantic climate. However, the causal chain of events leading to their occurrence is unresolved. Here, we demonstrate that enhanced surface melting of land-terminating margins of the southern Fennoscandian Ice Sheet (FIS) is a recurring feature of Heinrich stadials (HSs), the cold periods during which HEs occur. We use neodymium isotopes to show that the Channel River transported detrital sediments from the interior of eastern Europe to the Bay of Biscay in the northeast Atlantic Ocean at ca. 158-154 ka. Based on similar evidence from the last glacial period, we infer that this interval corresponds to the melting and retreat of the southern FIS margin despite contemporaneous cooling in the North Atlantic and central Europe. The FIS melting episode occurred just prior to a HE, consistent with findings from the more recent HSs 1, 2, and 3. Based on this evidence, we clarify a sequence of events that precedes HEs. Precursor melting of North Atlantic-adjacent ice sheets induces an initial Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) slowdown. Atmospheric changes during the resulting HS cause summertime warming in northern Europe that drives enhanced FIS melting. Subsequent meltwater discharge to the North Atlantic further weakens the AMOC and warms the intermediate water masses that contribute to HEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: During the last decades, the effects of global warming have become apparent also in Europe, causing relevant impacts in many sectors. Under projected future global warming, such a tendency can be expected to persist until the end of this century and beyond. Identifying which climate‐related impacts are likely to increase, and by how much, is an important element of any effective strategy for managing future climate risks. This study investigates whether energy demand for cooling and heating buildings can be expected to increase or decrease under climate change. Two indicators of weather‐related energy consumption for heating and cooling buildings are considered: heating degree‐days (HDD) and cooling degree‐days (CDD). The evolution of these indicators has been analysed based on 11 high‐resolution bias‐adjusted EURO‐CORDEX simulations for two emission representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Both indicators have been validated over the period 1981–2010 using an independent data set that contains more than 4000 station data, showing very high correlation over most of Europe. Trends of HDD and CDD from 1981 to 2100, together with their uncertainties, are analysed. For both RCPs, all simulations project a significant decrease for HDD, especially over Scandinavia and European Russia, and an increase of CDD which peaks over the Mediterranean region and the Balkans. Overall, degree‐day trends do not show remarkable differences if population weighting is applied. If a constant population scenario is considered, the decrease in HDD will outbalance the increase in CDD in the 21st century over most of Europe. Thus the related energy demand (expressed as Energy Degree‐days, EDD) is expected to decrease. If, however, population projections over the 21st century are included in the calculations, it is shown that despite the persisting warming, EDD will increase over northern Europe, the Baltic countries, Great Britain, Ireland, Benelux, the Alps, Spain, and Cyprus, resulting in an overall increase in EDD over Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the electricity, heating, and cooling sectors at national level for various European countries. Annual energy demands are compared for all 28 EU countries, while peak hourly demands are compared for four countries that vary significantly. The results indicate that the heat demand is currently the largest of the three demand types considered in terms of both annual and peak demands: it is the largest annual demand in 25 of the 28 EU countries, and it represents the largest peak demand in all four countries analysed. Electricity, heating, and cooling demands are all likely to change significantly in the future with increasing electrification, energy efficiency (e.g. building insulation), and improved comfort (especially for cooling). Some extreme scenarios are presented here to quantify the potential impact of these changes on the electricity sector, with results revealing that the demand for electricity could double compared to today, depending on how these changes occur. Considering the scale of additional electricity required to electrify future heating and cooling demands, heat pumps should be prioritised over electric heating and other alternatives, such as district heating and cooling, will likely be required to minimise the strain on the electricity grid in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building sector is responsible for 40% of European energy consumption, of which heating and cooling account for around 70%. Moreover, 75% of buildings for 2050 are already built in Europe. On the road to a sustainable energy transition, this article develops a multi-criteria assessment methodology for the environmental, economic and social evaluation of different residential energy retrofit solutions, based on effectiveness indices. This methodology allows improving the decision management in residential energy retrofitting by identifying the most effective solutions according to the requirements and needs of each intervening agent (citizens, public administrations and private promoters). The methodology is based on the integrated analysis of environmental, economic and social variables. It is applied to a Mediterranean case study from Southern Spain built in 1955. As part of methodology, survey data from the different stakeholders were collected, identifying the keys that condition the viability of the measures. The results show that measures with few inconveniences to tenants, investment costs below 2000 €/dwelling and payback periods below 15 years are the most viable by end-users’ implementation in the Mediterranean area, but between them, only efficient heat pumps allow achieving more than 45% of CO 2 emissions reduction (with a payback period of 6 years). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about European space cooling demands is rare, since cooling demands are not properly measured, when electricity is used for operating space cooling devices. Cooling demands are only measured at deliveries from district cooling systems. However, information about cooling demands by location and country is required for planning district cooling systems and modelling national energy systems. In order to solve this cooling information dilemma, space cooling demands have been assessed for European service sector buildings. These estimations were based on cold deliveries from twenty different European district cooling locations in eight countries. Main findings are that (1) the estimated specific cold deliveries are somewhat lower than other estimations based on electricity inputs and assumed performance ratios, (2) aggregated space cooling demands are presented by country, and (3) an European contour map is presented for average specific space cooling demands for service sector buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reviews fabrication technologies and procedures applied for manufacturing of the TBM sub-components, like, HCLL and HCPB cooling plates, HCLL/HCPB stiffening plates, and HCLL/HCPB first wall and side caps. The used technologies are based on fusion and diffusion welding techniques taking into account specificities of the EUROFER-97 steel. Development of a standardized procedure complying with professional codes and standards (RCC-MRx), a preliminary fabrication/welding procedure specification (pF/WPS), is described as well as a fabrication and characterization of feasibility mock-ups (FMU) aimed at assessing the suitability of a fabrication process for fulfilling the design and fabrication specifications. Also, fabrication procedures for the TBM box assembly are presently under development through collaboration between European Fusion Laboratories and Industry for the establishment of an optimized assembly sequence/scenario and development of standardized welding procedure specifications. Selection of optimized assembly scenario takes into accounts not only the design requirements and fabrication possibilities/constraints but also maximum accessibility to the welds for sound non-destructive examination in compliance with welds classification. A future approach towards qualification of the developed fabrication technologies and procedures, through a number of medium to full-size qualification mock-ups according to European standards, is outlined before construction of the first TBMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Night cooling effects on energy demand of a block-shaped office building. [•] Time-dependent night ventilation rates estimated by Airflow Network Model. [•] Impact of C p source on predicted natural ventilation rates up to 15%. [•] Limited effect of C p source on cooling energy savings. [•] In colder climates larger sensitivity of energy savings to C p sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In the past two decades, ground source heat pump (GSHP) system has made good impact on energy saving in the Western and European countries in heating/cooling and industrial applications. Their potential for reduction in CO2 emission has been very well utilized by these countries to contribute to a green environment. In this paper an attempt is made to give an overview about how India can benefit from this technology. The economic growth of India has huge impact on energy and environment of the country. Though Indian building sector is growing in multifold, still there is a demand for electricity to meet the needs of people. Any technology to reduce energy consumption will have great impact on people's life and economy. In this way a study has been carried out to estimate, to what extend the ground source heat pump technology can help India to reduce its energy demand and also save the environment. This study covers 10 provinces of northern part of India which require both heating and cooling. Based on the topography of the states, they are classified into severe winter states and moderate winter states for heating requirement. During winter period the conventional electric heaters consume electricity between 1416 and 7085GW annually and for the same heating load GSHP consumes only 471–1416GW. In summer months the electricity consumed by conventional air conditioner ranges between 5506 and 27,532GW and by GSHP it varies from 4811 to 14,440GW. The annual CO2 emission by the conventional systems used for heating and cooling vary between 5270 and 26,352millionkg of CO2. In the case of GSHP CO2 emission lies between 4022 and 12,071millionkg. It is estimated that by employing GSHP technology India can save annually a minimum electricity of 1639–18,700GW and CO2 emission of 1.3–14.2 million tons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Analysis of solar thermal and photovoltaic cooling systems in office buildings is presented. [•] 12 cases are evaluated for three different climates: Palermo, Madrid and Stuttgart. [•] Flat plate collectors and compound parabolic concentrators are considered and simulated. [•] Relative primary energy savings reaches 50% for the PV cooling system. [•] For solar thermal system the relative primary energy savings ranges from 29% to 37%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nd isotopes of fish debris collected from the English Chalk at Eastbourne (Sussex, UK) are used to reconstruct the history of ocean circulation in the NW European shelf sea during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2, Cenomanian–Turonian). The Eastbourne ε Nd record exhibits a 1-unit negative excursion (decreasing from ∼−9 to ∼−10), immediately followed by a 3-unit positive excursion reaching ∼−7. The onset of the negative ε Nd excursion lags the global δ13C rise characteristic of OAE 2, suggesting stable patterns of ocean circulation in the NW European shelf sea at this time. Both negative and positive Nd-isotope excursions took place during a transient cooling episode within OAE 2. The negative ε Nd excursion is interpreted as due to a change in ocean circulation with northerly sourced water masses becoming the dominant bottom waters at Eastbourne. The positive excursion is best explained by the transport of radiogenic Nd derived from a volcanic source, possibly the High Arctic or Caribbean large igneous province (LIP). An input of volcanic Nd may reconcile the Eastbourne record with coeval ε Nd records on Demerara Rise in the western tropical Atlantic. The broad synchroneity of high ε Nd values (∼−7) registered at both sites suggests a possible period with efficient oceanic mixing between the tropical Atlantic and the NW European shelf sea during the cooling episode. The Eastbourne ε Nd record of OAE 2, together with coeval temperature reconstructions, provides evidence for the coincidence of changes in ocean circulation and transient climatic cooling, implying a tight coupling between the two phenomena during this interval. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cool roof technology is an energy efficient, financially viable and sustainable solution for mitigating heat islands and reducing building energy consumption for cooling. An EU supported project called Cool Roofs has achieved to promote this technology in the EU by the implementation of an Action Plan. The work is developed in four axes, technical, market, policy and end-users. The Action Plan is steered by the development of the European Cool Roof Council that brings together all related stakeholders. The main results of the project include the creation of the European Cool Roof Council (ECRC), five cool roof pilot studies, a database of cool roofing materials, a handbook and a toolkit to assist the better understanding of the technical aspects of the technology, a market promotion plan, a proposal for a successful strategy to overcome possible policy barriers and engage with key stakeholders who could support and accelerate the creation of an EU policy and regulatory friendly environment to cool roofs, the organization of workshops and seminars and other actions of dissemination. This paper presents the main achievements at EU level regarding the establishment of cool roofs as heat island mitigation strategy and a measure for reducing cooling loads. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Heat transfer through windows accounts for a significant proportion of energy used in the building sector for covering both heating and cooling needs, since the optical and the thermal characteristics of conventional fenestration products constitute them more “vulnerable” in energy flows when compared to opaque building elements. In this study, an approach for evaluating the cooling energy performance of residential windows is presented. It is based on a parametric study, which aims at highlighting the impact of the window configuration on its energy behavior in terms of geometrical characteristics, thermophysical and optical properties, as well as orientation and shading levels. The results underlined the magnitude of the relationship between the thermal and optical properties of the transparent elements with respect to their orientation; especially for residential buildings, the solar transmittance determines at a considerable extent the cooling energy performance of fenestration, at least in the warmest part of Europe. Furthermore, the statistical analysis of the derived data provided mathematical expressions, which can be used in praxis for predicting the cooling energy performance of windows with respect to their thermal and optical characteristics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Due to its high thermal performance, ground source heat pump systems (GSHPs) have been introduced as an alternative to reduce energy consumption of heating and cooling systems. The thermal performance of GSHPs strongly depends on ground temperature and energy demand for heating and cooling during the year. Certainly, increasing the global temperature means warmer ground. On the other hand, the thermal load of a building is influenced by thermal quality of building envelop (TQBE) and also influenced by the ambient air temperature. There is absolutely no doubt that the global temperature has increased during the last century. Over time, the buildings designs are changing. These result in changed thermal load of the buildings, ground temperature, and thereby changed the thermal performance of GSHPs. The objective of current work was to investigate the impact of TQBE under different global warming scenarios on driving energy and construction cost of GSHPs in Vienna. This was achieved by comparing the driving energy of the GSHP as well the required total length of the borehole heat exchanger for different GW scenarios and different TQBE. Under climate conditions of Vienna city study shows that improving the TQBE and increasing ambient air temperature result in reduced driving energy of GSHP. While is it not obvious for the required total borehole depth. Namely, after a certain degree of GW, increasing TQBE might result in increased required borehole depth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A comparison between energy performance, simulated by means of the EnergyPlus building simulation program, of two air systems (all air and fan coil) and radiant heating and cooling floors/ceilings is developed in this work for various European climates (Milan, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Athens, Helsinki, and Moscow) and carried out on a reference building selected from among U.S. Department of Energy commercial building new construction benchmarks. The comparison is focused on the analysis of energy sources and CO2 emissions at equivalent thermal comfort quality levels in the various cases. The adoption of a radiant system, and of an appropriate primary energy system, always results in a reduction of energy sources exploited, of costs for energy wares purchased, and of carbon dioxide emissions. The greatest reductions can be achieved in climates where the energy demand for cooling is greater than the energy demand for heating. The article also focuses on the discussion of the procedure to be adopted when a comparison between air systems and radiant systems is implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: In order to document paleoenvironmental conditions of the equatorial western Paleo-Tethys during the late Middle Permian prior to the end-Guadalupian mass extinction, chemostratigraphic analysis using stable carbon isotopes was conducted for the Guadalupian rocks at Brusane in the Velebit Mtn., central Croatia. By analyzing 72 carbonate samples of the Capitanian (Upper Guadalupian) Velebit Formation, we found an interval with unusually high δ13Ccarb values (+4 to +6‰) in the ca. 150m-thick Yabeina (fusuline) Zone. The present find clarifies that the primary productivity and burial rate into the sediments were considerably high during the Capitanian in westernmost Paleo-Tethys. This chemostratigraphic signal is properly correlated with the “Kamura event” detected in a mid-Panthalassan paleo-atoll limestone in Japan. The present results identify the Capitanian “Kamura event” for the first time in European Paleo-Tethys on the opposite side of the globe from the mid-Panthalassan paleo-seamount, and prove the global context of the event as well as its utility in chemostratigraphic correlation. In order to enhance bioproductivity on a global scale, the increase in nutrient supply is inevitable. In addition to riverine run-off from Pangea, active oceanic circulation, in particular upwelling of deep-sea water enriched in nutrients, was likely vital both in Panthalassa and Paleo-Tethys. The extinction of some Guadalupian fauna, in particular photosymbiotic community (large-tested fusulines, large bivalves, rugose corals), was likely related to a temporary cooling coupled with eutrophication in low-latitude shallow marine environments of Paleo-Tethys and Panthalassa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nexans SuperConductors GmbH (NSC) has successfully designed, built and tested the first two HTS Fault Current Limiter (FCL) systems on a commercial basis for two different application cases in Europe. Both systems are live in the customer grids since last quarter of 2009: The first one is installed in UK where it acts as a bus bar coupler in a MV grid. The second one is protecting the auxiliary supply of a brown coal power station in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of thermal water pollution is still relatively unknown in Europe. The development of industry, especially the power industry, causes the release of enormous amounts of heated water from cooling operations to aquatic ecosystems. The observations made here confirm that an increase in water temperature in a reservoir leads to changes in aquatic ecosystem function and affects reservoir animals. Water temperature is one of the factors that determine species occurrence. Changes in water temperature immediately change fauna distribution and, consequently, the trophic relationships in a given ecosystem. Changes in water temperature can create conditions suitable for introduced fauna and may exacerbate the activity of infectious disease and parasitic agents that can damage native fauna populations. Increasing water temperature can lead to more frequent infections in animals by affecting the animal's immune system and by influencing pathogenicity. Thermal pollution of water bodies is not ecologically neutral and needs more attention from European scientists, especially ecologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for determining time-optimum medium temperature changes is presented. Heating and cooling of pressure exposed elements will be conducted in such way, that the circumferential stresses caused by pressure and fluid temperature variations at the edge of the opening and at the point of stress concentration, do not exceed the allowable values. However, the calculated optimum temperature changes are difficult to follow in practice in the initial stage of heating. It is however possible to increase the fluid temperature stepwise to the minimum value and then heat the pressure component according to the determined optimum temperature changes. Allowing stepwise fluid temperature increase at the beginning of heating ensures that the heating time of a thick-walled component is shorter, than heating time resulting from the calculations according to EN 12952-3 European Standard or TRD 301 regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Developing a divertor concept for fusion power plants to be built after ITER is deemed to be an urgent task to meet the EU Fast Track scenario. This task is particularly challenging because of the wide range of requirements to be met, namely, the high incident peak heat flux, the blanket design with which the divertor has to be integrated, sputtering erosion of the plasma-facing material caused by the incident particles from the plasma, radiation effects on the properties of structural materials, and efficient recovery and conversion of the considerable fraction (∼15%) of the total fusion thermal power incident on the divertor. This paper provides an overview of the development of different conceptual divertor designs (water-cooled, liquid metal-cooled, and helium-cooled types); their advantages and disadvantages and expected performance are outlined and discussed. Emphasis is placed on summarizing the status and progress of R&D associated with He-cooled divertor designs which have been proposed in most of conceptual plant models in Europe and USA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The investigation presented in this article was aimed at demonstrating the technical and economical feasibility of using ground source heat pump systems in mixed climate applications, where cooling requirements are dominant. We show an experimental comparison between a ground coupled heat pump system and a conventional air to water heat pump system, focussing at the heating and cooling energy performance. A direct comparison could be made as both systems are linked, in parallel, to the same building with exactly the same loads and climatic conditions. For a whole climatic season the results obtained show that the geothermal system saves, in terms of primary energy consumption, a of the energy consumed by the conventional one when the system is working in heating mode, and a when the system is working in cooling mode. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Radiative cooling is a natural process to cool down surfaces through the rejection of thermal radiation using the outer space as a cold sink, taking advantage of the transparency of the atmospheric windows (8–14 μm), which partially matches the infrared radiation band. With the development of new materials that have a high reflectivity of solar radiation, daytime radiative cooling can be achieved. This phenomenon depends on the optical properties of the surface and the local weather conditions. In this research, climatological data from 1791 weather stations were used to present detailed nighttime and all-day radiative cooling maps for the potential implementation of radiative cooling-based technologies. The paper offers a parametric study of the variation of the potential as a result of decreasing the solar reflectivity. The results show that southern Europe is the region with the highest potential while northern Europe holds more hours of available radiative cooling. After varying the solar reflectivity from 1 to 0.5 the average power reduces from 60.18 to 45.32 W/m2, and energy from 527.10 to 264.87 kWh/m2·year. For solar reflectivity lower than 0.5, all-day radiative coolers behave as nighttime radiative coolers, but power and energy values improve significantly for high values of solar reflectivity. Small variations of solar reflectivity have greater impacts on the potential at higher reflectivity values than at lower ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isochronous variations of δ18O curves within several European basins indicate a period of Late Turonian climate cooling, which is characterized by two distinct cooling phases, separated by a period of climate stability. Literature data for macrofauna (ammonites, echinoids, and belemnites) indicate that the cooling phases are associated with a southward shift of taxa. Concomitant Late Turonian events (volcanism and relative sea-level changes) suggest the migration to be triggered mainly by relative sea-level falls. The inferred cooling phases are seen in context with a general cooling trend due to the decrease in Mid-Cretaceous volcanogenic CO2 emission. Short-term stagnation of cooling in the Late Turonian has been probably triggered by renewed volcanism. Due to the general high temperatures during Mid-Cretaceous times, a glacio-eustatic explanation for the coincidence of cooling and sea-level fall is considered unlikely. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose Around 2000 heart transplants are performed in Europe annually. Primary Graft Dysfunction(PGD) rates in Europe are among the highest in the world. The increasing use of marginal donor organs has been suggested as a potential cause. Novel techniques using ex-vivo normothermic perfusion have garnered increasing interest but incur a significant cost. We present a series of patients who underwent heart transplantation at our unit using a novel implantation technique to reduce PGD that is cost-effective and reproducible Methods The donor heart is removed from cold storage and placed in an ice slush basin on arrival to our unit. An aortic cross clamp is applied distal to the donor ascending aorta. An antegrade infusion of 600mls of cold blood cardioplegia is followed by cold oxygenated blood (4-6°C) to achieve a mean aortic root pressure of 60-70 mmHg. This continuous antegrade perfusion is maintained throughout the left atrium and aortic anastomosis with a left ventricular vent in situ. A warm cardioplegia hotshot is infused into the aortic root prior to removal of the recipient aortic cross-clamp. The remaining anastomoses are carried out in the usual fashion sequentially. We compared our experience with this method with the national UK cohort (2015-2016) of patients (Control Group). We performed multivariable logistic regression comparing the two cohorts with PGD as the primary outcome measure. Confounders adjusted for include donor age, recipient age and donor-recipient gender mismatch. Results 139 (71.6 %) patients were male. 46(18.6%) of the patients had ischemic cardiomyopathy. The odds ratio of PGD in the control group was 2.99 (95% CI 1.02- 8.75) when compared to the Extended Cooling. Conclusion This novel approach is associated with significant reductions in PGD rates post-transplantation likely due to the shorter warm ischemic time. Larger studies are needed to show differences after further adjustment for known confounders of PGD. We believe this novel technique is safe, cost-effective and reproducible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses effects of changes in temperatures on heating and cooling demands in Europe until 2050. Specifically, the study addresses changes in trends (10-year mean) and extremes (10-year min/max). The analysis is based on two GHG emission climate scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP4.5) and eight high-resolution regional climate models and results are provided as relative and absolute changes on grid and country scales. Population density is used as proxy for spatial distribution of demands. Projected future temperatures are proportional with RCP scenario and distance into the future and the highest relative changes occur towards north-eastern Europe and for high-altitude areas. The temperature changes lead to general decreased heating demands and corresponding increased cooling demands. In general, higher spreads are seen between demand change ratios for individual models when addressing extremes as opposed to trends: The general 2010–2050 change ratios for heating between countries are 0.85–95 for model means and average 0.69 for the extreme analysis. For cooling, corresponding ratios are 1.25–1.5 for model means and average 2.76 for model maxima. For absolute demand changes, some countries are projected to experience significant changes e.g. exceeding a doubling in cooling demands. The results are suggested as a basis for energy system analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The combination of a municipal waste-driven CHP plant with an absorption chiller is proposed. • The aim is to propose a waste-fired CCHP to supply district heating, cooling and electricity. • Three different district systems are considered in the modeling. • The proposed CCHP is designed and analyzed using thermodynamic and sustainability principles. District energy systems, i.e. district heating and cooling systems, will be extremely important in the future energy systems in which a 100% sustainable supply and high synergies of different energy sectors are crucial. Therefore, finding efficient and sustainable solutions for the integration of power, cold and heat sectors is significantly important. In this study, a conventional waste-driven combined heat and power cycle, which is the key component of many energy systems in Europe for baseload coverage of heat and electricity networks, is combined with a large-scale absorption chiller to not only create a strong yet reliable synergy between the three energy sectors of cold, heat and power, but also to improve the plant performance in terms of energy and sustainability indices. The proposed scheme is designed and thermodynamically assessed for the energy market of Denmark as the case study of this work. The results showed that the thermal and electrical efficiencies of the proposed hybrid system are better than the conventional configuration for 12% and 1.3%, respectively. In addition, the exergy efficiency, sustainability index and emission reduction of 28.58%, 1.4 and 445.935 kg-CO 2 /GJ are obtained for the system operating with a third-generation district heating system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stability of goat milk has been investigated on European milk samples from France, Greece and Portugal. A variability of coagulation temperatures was observed and was directly linked to milk composition. Some technological adaptations such as the use of additives can greatly improve heat stability of French goat milk. Furthermore, some steps of the Ultra High Temperature Treatment (UHT, 136 °C/6s) process itself can be detrimental and must be taken into account. It was shown that cold storage (72 h at 4 °C) could impair the stability of goat milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest management (FM) can help to mitigate climate change by altering biogeochemical and biophysical processes at the earth surface. However, the biophysical climate effects of FM are not yet sufficiently understood and decision-makers lack scientific evidence when designing sustainable FM strategies. To enhance our understanding of the biophysical climate effect of FM, we used two LST datasets over Europe (MODIS, LSA SAF) derived from satellite remote sensing observations. We assessed the link between spatial patterns of LST and spatial patterns of forest structure and forest type, which can be related to different FM strategies. Our results show that the two management strategies of increasing tree cover density and broadleaf tree fraction provide local cooling during the day in summer. During nights and in winter both FM strategies mainly cause warming. During the day an increased broadleaf tree fraction seems to provide cooling in the afternoon, while an increased tree cover density provides largest cooling at around noon. In mediterranean forests, the summer cooling caused by an increased tree cover density is more than two times higher than the one caused by an increased broadleaf tree fraction. In the boreal forest both strategies provide a cooling of similar magnitude. In boreal and alpine forests an increase in tree cover density and broadleaved tree fraction leads to an increase in yearly mean temperatures. However, for all regions we observe a reduction in maximum temperatures in summer and potentially during heatwaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Politicians in Europe are to be commended for their rational and systematic approach to the challenge of promoting green heat. Bill Eggertson comments on the latest moves from Europe to catalyse the uptake of green heating and cooling technologies – arguably the most under-rated and under-exploited forms of renewable energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]