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Background: Monitoring urinary albumin is a useful method in clinical practice for the management of diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension. Currently there are neither standardized methods nor reference material for the determination of urinary albumin; for this reason it is useful to compare different assays used in clinical laboratory., Objectives: The aim of this study is to verify analytical performance of an immunoturbidimetric assay on Roche Cobas 8000 platform and to compare urinary albumin results with those obtained by immunonephelometry on Siemens Dade Behring BN II Nephelometer., Results: The method comparison showed a good linear relationship, confirmed by Passing-Bablok and Bland-Altman plots. The turbidimetric assay meets the requirements of accuracy and precision for the practice of medical diagnostics and clinical use., Conclusions: The present study can contribute to the methods standardization and harmonization of urinary albumin assay., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The energy sector is essential in the transition to a more sustainable future, and renewable energies will play a key role in achieving this. It is also a sector in which the circular economy presents an opportunity for the utilisation of other resources and residual energy flows. This study examines the environmental and social performance of innovative energy technologies (which contribute to the circularity of resources) implemented in a demonstrator site in Luleå (Sweden). The demo-site collected excess heat from a data centre to cogenerate energy, combining the waste heat with fuel cells that use biogas derived from waste, meeting part of its electrical demand and supplying thermal energy to an existing district heating network. Following a cradle-to-gate approach, an environmental and a social life cycle assessment were developed to compare two scenarios: a baseline scenario reflecting current energy supply methods and the WEDISTRICT scenario, which considers the application of different renewable and circular technologies. The findings indicate that transitioning to renewable energy sources significantly reduces environmental impacts in seven of the eight assessed impact categories. Specifically, the study showed a 48% reduction in climate change impact per kWh generated. Additionally, the WEDISTRICT scenario, accounting for avoided burdens, prevented 0.21 kg CO2 eq per kWh auto-consumed. From the social perspective, the WEDISTRICT scenario demonstrated improvement in employment conditions within the worker and local community categories, product satisfaction within the society category, and fair competition within the value chain category. Projects like WEDISTRICT demonstrate the circularity options of the energy sector, the utilisation of resources and residual energy flows, and that these lead to environmental and social improvements throughout the entire life cycle, not just during the operation phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

District heating and cooling networks represent a compelling energy system solution due to their capacity to integrate renewable energies and leverage local surpluses of thermal resources. The meticulous design and optimization of network infrastructure are imperative to fully exploiting the potential of these energy systems. The Life Cycle Assessment of district heating and cooling networks for the purpose of environmental sustainability is a crucial and increasingly demanded aspect, particularly in light of the progressively stringent European regulations. The Life Cycle Assessment methodology could offer an evaluation throughout the entire life cycle of such networks. The proposed review scrutinizes the application of the Life Cycle Assessment methodology to evaluating the environmental profile of district heating and cooling systems. The methods, findings, and challenges are examined through a literature review and case study analysis. The results highlight variations in the climate profile influenced by the network generation type and multifunctionality approaches. The analysis revealed a range of emission factors, spanning from 11 gCO2eq/kWhth to 470 gCO2eq/kWhth for district heating and 6 gCO2eq/kWhth to 64 gCO2eq/kWhth for district cooling. The discussion emphasizes integrating district heating and cooling network management considerations and addressing methodological challenges. This study concludes by proposing future research directions for developing a universal LCA-based tool for district heating and cooling network analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities, which are the primary economic engine and emission source in China, accounted for 70% of the country's total energy-related CO2 emissions in 2010. The development of low-carbon cities has become the first priority of policymakers. Low-carbon cities enhance competition in the long run but also inevitably impose costs in the short term. To investigate the associated abatement costs of CO2 toward low-carbon cities, we apply the directional distance function on panel data covering 104 Chinese prefecture-level and above cities from 2001 to 2014. Our results show that, on average, the cost to control one ton of CO2 is 1070 CNY, or equivalent to 129 US $. This cost shows great individual heterogeneity and time variation; the year 2011 witnesses a significant reversal of the marginal abatement cost of CO2. It is because China begins implementing a mandatory CO2 intensity reduction target for the 12th Five-Year Plan (FYP). We establish a four-quadrant matrix framework to identify low-carbon cities and track the low-carbon transition path based on emission indicators (total emissions, per capita emissions, and emission intensity) and abatement cost pairs. Among the four types of emission-cost patterns, more cities are scattered in the "low emission-level and high abatement-cost" quadrant, and eight cities are clarified as low-carbon cities in 2014. In terms of per capita emissions and abatement costs, the "high-per-capita-emission and low-abatement-cost" club include five cities in 2001, while this number rises to seven members in 2014. Most cities are also located in the "low-emission-intensity and low-abatement-cost" zone when the relationship between CO2 intensity and abatement cost is considered. Our results call for policymakers' attention to hot spots and emission-based, per capita emission-based, or intensity-based city-level decarbonizing policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Net-zero energy building (NZEB), an initiative to address energy conservation and emission reduction, has received widespread attention worldwide. This study aims to systematically explore recent challenges in NZEB retrofit research through a mixed-method approach and provide recommendations and future directions. A review of 106 documents (2020–2024) retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases found that the globalization of NZEB retrofit research is unstoppable. Assessment methods are diverse, ranging from modeling energy efficiency (using different software such as DesignBuilder 7.0, PVsyst 7.4, EnergyPlus 24.1.0, etc.) to multi-attribute decision-making methods (e.g., DEMATEL-AHP/ANP-VIKOR) and comparative analysis. Current assessment metrics are dominated by economic benefits (e.g., net present value, dynamic payback period, and total operating cost) and energy consumption (e.g., electricity consumption and generation), with less consideration of environmental impacts (e.g., carbon reduction), as well as comfort (e.g., thermal comfort and indoor comfort). The study found that current challenges mainly include "Low economic feasibility of retrofitting", "Building retrofit energy code irrationality", and "Insufficient understanding, communication, and trust between stakeholders". To overcome these challenges, the study also proposes a framework of strategies to address them, including (1) maximizing natural space, (2) introducing a tenant equity system, (3) upgrading waste management, (4) strengthening energy monitoring, (5) establishing complete life cycle mechanisms, (6) providing systemic solutions; (7) promoting the use of low-carbon building materials, and (8) increasing policy support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Urologia Journal is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: A 66-year-old man presented to hospital with gross hematuria and clots. He had previously undergone surgical repair of a right iliac artery aneurysm with placement of a vascular prosthesis at the same hospital, which had resulted in iliac urethral stricture that required the placement of a right ureteral stent. He had attended repeatedly for recurrent ureteral stent replacement, with the most recent replacement having occurred 1 month before the current presentation., Investigations: Ultrasonography, cystography, retrograde pyelography and provocative arteriography via a percutaneous right femoral arterial approach., Diagnosis: An iliac-artery-ureteral fistula between the right ureter and a pseudoaneurysm of the right common iliac artery., Management: The patient underwent placement of a covered, self-expandable vascular stent with angioplasty balloon, which resulted in complete exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and fistula and resolution of the patient's hematuria. A pigtail catheter was placed in the right ureter for 5 days and replaced with a double-J ureteral stent on day 6 after exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm; the patient was discharged from hospital on the same day. Color-Doppler ultrasonography of the right iliac vessels performed 2 months later showed patency of the right iliac artery. The patient's ureteral stent has been replaced every 2 months since his discharge without recurrence of hematuria.

This research aims to contribute to the development of the Eco-LeanSat concept by focusing on a sustainable approach to satellite manufacturing and the repurposing of remaining satellite capabilities after failure. Despite satellites no longer being suitable for their original purposes, these remaining capabilities can find new applications. The study begins by identifying relevant innovative eco-design applications. Subsequently, it examines sustainability within the satellite lifecycle supply chain, categorizing it into four methods: (1) active debris removal, (2) transport logistics, (3) mission extension, and (4) repair and construction. Aligned with emerging trends in space activities, the study also considers future developments to maximize satellites' potential to provide new services. Additionally, the research includes a description of a potential lean manufacturing process that encompasses logistic chains to support the development of a more sustainable space economy. Finally, the study concludes with a technological survey tracing the evolution of the development of the SmallSat and CubeSat platforms that identifies relevant innovative designs for a sustainable space environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long interspersed element 1 (LINE-1; L1) are a family of transposons that occupy ~17% of the human genome. Though a small number of L1 copies remain capable of autonomous transposition, the overwhelming majority of copies are degenerate and immobile. Nevertheless, both mobile and immobile L1s can exert pleiotropic effects (promoting genome instability, inflammation, or cellular senescence) on their hosts, and L1's contributions to aging and aging diseases is an area of active research. However, because of the cell type-specific nature of transposon control, the catalogue of L1 regulators remains incomplete. Here, we employ an eQTL approach leveraging transcriptomic and genomic data from the GEUVADIS and 1000Genomes projects to computationally identify new candidate regulators of L1 RNA levels in lymphoblastoid cell lines. To cement the role of candidate genes in L1 regulation, we experimentally modulate the levels of top candidates in vitro, including IL16, STARD5, HSD17B12, and RNF5, and assess changes in TE family expression by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Remarkably, we observe subtle but widespread upregulation of TE family expression following IL16 and STARD5 overexpression. Moreover, a short-term 24-hour exposure to recombinant human IL16 was sufficient to transiently induce subtle, but widespread, upregulation of L1 subfamilies. Finally, we find that many L1 expression-associated genetic variants are co-associated with aging traits across genome-wide association study databases. Our results expand the catalogue of genes implicated in L1 RNA control and further suggest that L1-derived RNA contributes to aging processes. Given the ever-increasing availability of paired genomic and transcriptomic data, we anticipate this new approach to be a starting point for more comprehensive computational scans for regulators of transposon RNA levels. Author summary: Transposable elements, or jumping genes, are fragments of DNA that have or once had the ability to mobilize to a new location within our genome. In humans, the most abundant transposable element is LINE-1 (L1), accounting for ~17% of our total DNA. Though L1 is generally repressed in healthy human cells, depression of transposable elements (including L1) has been observed in aging and in aging-associated diseases. Additionally, there is increasing evidence that L1 transcriptional levels may promote features of aging, highlighting the importance of understanding the mechanisms that regulate L1 RNA levels. Here, we computationally identify new candidate regulators of L1 RNA levels, provide experimental evidence that candidate regulators influence L1 RNA levels, and demonstrate that genetic variants associated with differences in L1 RNA levels are co-associated with aging phenotypes. Our approach expands the toolkit that can be used to characterize transposable element regulation and highlights specific genes for further study. Importantly, our results reiterate the notion that L1 levels are linked with aging phenotypes and represent a potential therapeutic target for age-related decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique semiconducting characteristics of 2D materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), have drawn significant interest in the field of electronic devices. However, the dependence of the device performance on the electrical properties of electrochemically exfoliated TMD nanoflakes remains unclear. In this study, the intrinsic electrical properties of diverse electrochemically exfoliated TMD nanoflakes are investigated and their applications in fully solution‐processed 2D electronics are explored. The study reveals that MoSe2 and WS2 nanoflakes are suitable candidates with moderate electron concentrations of 5.7 × 1012 and 2.5 × 1012 cm−2, respectively. These moderate electron concentrations enable a low off‐state current and high on‐state current, leading to a large on–off ratio (> 106) for the fabricated transistors. Furthermore, moderate annealing can increase the mobility by one order of magnitude by reducing the contact resistance and improving charge transport. Additionally, the trap density is significantly reduced, leading to an improved stability. Finally, fully solution‐processed 2D complementary inverters with a high voltage gain of 60 are demonstrated. This study contributes to a growing understanding of the properties of 2D materials in terms of transistor performances and promotes the development of solution‐processed devices applicable in next‐generation electronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrotransposable elements (RTEs) are genetic elements that can replicate and insert new copies into different genomic locations. RTEs have long been identified as 'parasitic genes', as their mobilization can cause mutations, DNA damage, and inflammation. Interestingly, high levels of retrotransposon activation are observed in early embryogenesis and neurodevelopment, suggesting that RTEs may possess functional roles during these stages of development. Recent studies demonstrate that RTEs can function as transcriptional regulatory elements through mechanisms such as chromatin organization and noncoding RNAs. It is clear, however, that RTE expression and activity must be restrained at some level during development, since overactivation of RTEs during neurodevelopment is associated with several developmental disorders. Further investigation is needed to understand the importance of RTE expression and activity during neurodevelopment and the balance between RTE-regulated development and RTE-mediated pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of structural variations (SVs) in statistical genetics provides an opportunity to understand the genetic factors influencing complex human traits and disease. Recent advances in long-read technology and variant calling methods for short reads have improved the accurate discovery and genotyping of SVs, enabling their use in expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Mobile elements are DNA sequences that insert themselves into various genome locations. Insertional polymorphisms of mobile elements between humans, called mobile element variations (MEVs), contribute to approximately 25% of human SVs. We recently developed a variant caller that can accurately identify and genotype MEVs from biobank-scale short-read whole-genome sequencing (WGS) datasets and integrate them into statistical genetics. The use of MEVs in eQTL analysis and GWAS has a minimal impact on the discovery of genome loci associated with gene expression and disease; most disease-associated haplotypes can be identified by single nucleotide variations (SNVs). On the other hand, it helps make hypotheses about causal variants or effector variants. Focusing on MEVs, we identified multiple MEVs that contribute to differential gene expression and one of them is a potential cause of skin disease, emphasizing the importance of the integration of MEVs in medical genetics. Here, I will provide an overview of MEVs, MEV calling from WGS, and the integration of MEVs in statistical genetics. Finally, I will discuss the unanswered questions about MEVs, such as rare variants. Genetic insights: mobile element variations influence human complex traits This research investigates how mobile elements contribute to human genetic diversity and disease. Researchers conducted a review using various sequencing technologies to analyze MEs in different human populations, focusing on three main families: Alu, LINE-1, and SVA. They studied these elements in over 2,500 individuals worldwide, finding that MEs significantly contribute to genetic variation and are linked to certain diseases. Using the short-read sequencing method, they identified thousands of ME variations, some linked to genetic disorders. These methods help uncover how MEs affect genome structure and function. The results show that MEs account for a large part of human structural variations, influencing gene expression and contributing to populations' genetic makeup. Future studies may clarify how MEs contribute to genetic diversity and disease, leading to new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This summary was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then revised and fact-checked by the author. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene is used as a growth template for van der Waals epitaxy of organic semiconductor (OSC) thin films. During the synthesis and transfer of chemical‐vapor‐deposited graphene on a target substrate, local inhomogeneities in the graphene—in particular, a nonuniform strain field in the graphene template—can easily form, causing poor morphology and crystallinity of the OSC thin films. Moreover, a strain field in graphene introduces a pseudo‐electric field in the graphene. Here, the study investigates how the strain and strain‐induced pseudo‐electric field of a graphene template affect the self‐assembly of π‐conjugated organic molecules on it. Periodically strained graphene templates are fabricated by transferring graphene onto an array of nanospheres and then analyzed the growth and nucleation behavior of C60 thin films on the strained graphene templates. Both experiments and a numerical simulation demonstrated that strained graphene reduced the desorption energy between the graphene and the C60 molecules and thereby suppressed both nucleation and growth of the C60. A mechanism is proposed in which the strain‐induced pseudo‐electric field in graphene modulates the binding energy of organic molecules on the graphene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to propose a methodology for assessing an optimal portfolio of investment instruments that minimise the social costs of decarbonising economic activity while improving the environmental objectives proposed in EU legislation. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology defines the net social cost of decarbonisation related to a portfolio of four instruments: installation of solar PV and wind generation, thermal insulation of households and deployment of heat pumps. The social cost is minimised by restricting it to the minimum level of the targets proposed in the Spanish National Energy and Climate Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase generation from renewable sources and reduce energy consumption. The empirical approach also includes differences between regions according to the expected effect for instruments. Findings: The application of this methodology to the environmental objectives defined in the current Spanish National Energy and Climate Plan for 2030 concludes that it is clearly possible to reduce the social cost of decarbonisation while improving environmental performance through a reorientation of investment instruments. In this case, such a reorientation would be based on a minimisation of efforts in thermal insulation of households and a maximisation of measures aimed at the installation of heat pumps. Originality/value: The paper proposes a novel methodology for a social cost assessment that improves the allocation of a portfolio of environmental instruments. This portfolio could be extended in further work to include instruments related to transport or support for industrial decarbonisation, such as the deployment of renewable hydrogen, among others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wafer-scale thin films of hexagonal boron nitride have exceptional thermal and mechanical properties, which harness the potential use of these materials in two-dimensional electronic, device applications. Along with unavoidable defects, grains, and wrinkles, which develop during the growth process, underlying substrates influence the physical and mechanical properties of these films. Understanding the interactions of these large-scale films with different substrates is, thus, important for the implementation of this 2D system in device fabrication. MOVPE-grown 2 and 30 nm hBN/sapphire films of size 2 in. diameter are delaminated chemically and transferred on quartz, SiO2/Si, and sapphire substrates. The structural characteristics of these films are investigated by employing Raman spectroscopy. Our results suggest that not only the roughness but also the height modulation at the surface of the substrates play a pivotal role in determining substrate-mediated mechanical strain inhomogeneity in these films. The statistical analysis of the spectral parameters provides us with the overall characteristics of the films. Furthermore, a Stark difference in the thermal evolution of strain in these films depending on substrate materials is observed. It has been demonstrated that not only the differential thermal expansion coefficient of the substrates and the films, but also slippage of the latter during the thermal treatment determines the net strain in the films. The role of the slippage is significantly higher in 2 nm films than in 30 nm films. We believe that the observations provide crucial information on the structural characteristics of the substrate-coupled wafer-scale hBN films for their future use in technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial from the journal Biomedicines titled "miRNAs: From Master Regulators of Gene Expression to Biomarkers Involved in Intercellular Communication." It discusses the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in gene expression regulation and their involvement in various physiological processes and diseases. The editorial highlights three main aspects: the role of miRNAs in human disease, the use of extracellular miRNAs (ex-miRNAs) as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and monitoring, and the discovery of novel players in the miRNA regulatory network. It also explores the challenges and advancements in using ex-miRNAs as biomarkers and the potential of ex-miRNAs in intercellular communication. The editorial concludes by emphasizing the importance of miRNA research and its potential for further advancements in the field. [Extracted from the article]

Due to the wide range of uses of graphene and its composites in electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, there has been a lot of interest in these materials. The most recent advancements in the use of graphene-based materials for these two important catalytic processes are highlighted in this review. The special characteristics of graphene, such as its high surface area and superior charge transport, have allowed for improved light absorption and effective electron–hole separation in the context of photocatalysis. Additionally, the photocatalytic performance for many environmental and energy-related applications has been enhanced by the addition of additional materials to graphene composites. However, graphene's better electrical conductivity and sizable active surface area have made it possible to use it as a superior catalyst support in electrocatalysis, encouraging electrochemical events including oxygen evolution and reduction reactions. This review offers insights into the potential of graphene and graphene-based composites for sustainable and clean energy technologies by providing a thorough overview of current developments, difficulties, and future possibilities in the fields of photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the number of Earth Observation missions has been exponentially increasing. Satellites dedicated to these missions usually embark with payloads that produce large amount of data and that need to be transmitted towards ground stations, in time-limited windows. Moreover, the noisy nature of the link between satellites and ground stations makes it hard to achieve reliable communication. To address these problems, a standard for a flexible advanced coding and modulation scheme for high-rate telemetry applications has been defined by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS). The defined standard, referred to as CCSDS 131.2-B, makes use of Serially Concatenated Convolutional Codes (SCCC) based on 27 ModCods to optimize transmission quality. A limiting factor in the adoption of this standard is represented by the complexity and the cost of the hardware required for developing high-performance receivers. In the last decade, the performance of software has grown due to the advancement of general-purpose processing hardware, leading to the development of many high-performance software systems even in the telecommunication sector. These are commonly referred to as Software-Defined Radio (SDR), indicating a radio communication system in which components that are usually implemented in hardware, by means of FPGAs or ASICs, are instead implemented in software, offering many advantages such as flexibility, modularity, extensibility, cheaper maintenance, and cost saving. This paper proposes the development of an SDR based on NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPU) for implementing the receiver end of the CCSDS 131.2-B standard. At first, a brief description of the CCSDS 131.2-B standard is given, focusing on the architecture of the transmitter and receiver sides. Then, the receiver architecture is shown, giving an overview of its functional blocks and of the implementation choices made to optimize the processing of the signal, especially for the SCCC Decoder. Finally, the performance of the system is analyzed in terms of data-rate and error correction and compared with other SW systems to highlight the achieved improvements. The presented system has been demonstrated to be a perfect solution for CCSDS 131.2-B-compliant device testing and for its use in science missions, providing a valid low-cost alternative with respect to the state-of-the-art HW receivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agathon: International Journal of Architecture, Art & Design is the property of DEMETRA CE.RI.MED and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In 2022, an interdisciplinary, preliminary study analyzed for the first time Diocletian's edict of persecution of Christianity, which was believed to be completely lost for 1700 years. Three imperial constitutions belonging to several manuscript traditions that come from 12 Byzantine and post-Byzantine Codes have been carefully studied from a legal-historical, legalphilological and critical-historical point of view. The selected documents have been examined under a comparative structured test that takes into consideration a selection of legal papyri from Roman Egypt as well as the Roman and Roman-Christian literary sources in order to assess their authenticity and the level of interpolation. The analysis of these documents seems to confirm what has been suggested in the recent studies on two unedited epistles of Maxentius, critically published for the first time in 2021. Maxentius' first epistle is the edict of legality of Christianity, quoted by bishop Eusebius of Caesarea and issued around 307-308, which officially put an end to the persecutory edicts of Diocletian in the West. Maxentius' second epistle, approximately dating back to 311-312 AD, is a rescript ruling against the first woman leading the Donatist schismatic Church, Lucilla of Carthage. Interestingly, Diocletian's edict makes direct reference to the principles of religious pluralism and tolerance as well as it points out unedited information on the historical Jesus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and the energy crisis forced industrialized countries to contain CO2 emissions and use indigenous renewable energy sources. Geothermal energy undoubtedly has great potential, particularly thermal energy, given that 48% of the final energy consumption in the EU20 countries in 2021 was related to heating and cooling systems. The present study verifies and compares the feasibility of realizing district heating systems in two different contexts: (i) depleted hydrocarbon fields with the repurposing of existing hydrocarbon wells into geothermal wells and (ii) areas with documented geothermal resources. The two selected case studies are located, respectively, near Romentino (Northern Italy, province of Novara) and Tuscania (Central Italy, province of Viterbo). Following an assessment of the geothermal resources in the two selected case studies, specific methodological tools have been developed to evaluate the energy demand in the municipalities and determine the projects' economics. Both case studies show positive economic indices assuming heat tariffs aligned with the values recorded in the 2020–2021 period. However, our results show how reusing hydrocarbon wells in geothermal wells constitutes an excellent opportunity to access geothermal resources, significantly reducing the necessary investment and the mining risk and strongly improving the economics of the projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As nations transition to renewable energy, making use of waste heat becomes crucial to combat climate change. This study focused on quantifying Switzerland's waste heat potential from industrial processes and waste-to-energy facilities, using diverse methodologies tailored to facility characteristics and data availability. We assessed potential waste heat utilization by comparing local heat supply and demand, creating comprehensive heat-balance maps considering different temperature levels and seasonal fluctuations. Results revealed a substantial annual waste heat potential of 37 TWh, with almost half (17 TWh) below 45 °C, primarily from wastewater. Heat between 45 °C and 70 °C, ideal, e.g., for greenhouse heating, is mainly available from solid waste incineration plants, while industries contributed to waste heat supply exceeding 150 °C. In contrast to heat demand, seasonal variations in heat supply were small, with a 12% winter decrease. Analyzing heat demand versus supply unveiled local and seasonal disparities. Most municipalities had a net excess heat demand (totaling 89 TWh). Additionally, waste heat could not satisfy 8 TWh of industrial process heat demand exceeding 400 °C, emphasizing reliance on primary energy sources for higher-temperature heat. Targeted strategies are essential for effective waste heat utilization, especially tapping into low-temperature sources. Integrating these sources with low-carbon technologies can pave the way to a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites (HOIPs) are promising materials for optoelectronics applications. Their optical and electrical properties can be controlled by strain engineering, that results from application of local elastic deformation or deposition on pre-patterned substrates acquiring a conformal 3D shape. Most interesting, their mechanical properties depend on their crystal structure, composition and dimensionality. We explore by numerical simulations the deformation of a selection of HOIPs comprising a broad range of elastic properties. We consider an axial symmetry with the formation of microdomes on flakes. Radial and vertical forces are considered, finding that the radial force is more effective to obtain large deformation. Large vertical displacement and strain is obtained for HOIPs with low stiffness. The layered nature of HOIPs, that are formed by inorganic layers of different thickness and organic spacers, is also investigated, revealing a non-monotonous trend with the proportion of inorganic to organic part., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)