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In view of the increasing environmental challenges and the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, the optimization of microgrid systems with regard to economic efficiency and environmental compatibility is becoming ever more important. This paper presents the Microgrid Performance and Investment Rating (MPIR) index, a novel assessment framework developed to link economic and environmental objectives within microgrid configurations. The MPIR index evaluates microgrid configurations based on five critical dimensions: financial viability, sustainability, regional renewable integration readiness, energy demand, and community engagement, facilitating comprehensive and balanced decision making. The current cases focus on the area of Greece; however, the model can have a wider application. Developed using a two-target optimization model, this index integrates various energy sources—including photovoltaics, micro-wind turbines, and different types of batteries—with advanced energy management strategies to assess and improve microgrid performance. This paper presents case studies in which the MPIR index is applied to different microgrid scenarios. It demonstrates its effectiveness in identifying optimal configurations that reduce the carbon footprint while maximizing economic returns. The MPIR index provides a quantifiable, scalable tool for stakeholders, not only advancing the field of microgrid optimization, but also aligning with global sustainability goals and promoting the transition to a more resilient and sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of wine is one of the important agricultural fields in Southern European countries and its importance to other parts of the world (e.g. Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, India, South Africa, and USA) is increasing and impacting on their economies. A high volume of winery effluents is produced everyday. Although the need for efficient treatment of winery wastewaters is important, using different technologies, other crucial factors also need to be taken into consideration—such as the geographic location of each country, etc. This review paper indicates that the composition of winery effluents located in many countries of world is different and the climate strongly influences the appropriate technology to be selected for wastewater treatment. Furthermore, the technologies used for winery wastewater treatment are investigated and briefly analyzed. The major concluding remark of this review is that: (i) the selection of the most appropriate treatment technology is based on the location of each industry (country); (ii) some future applied technologies (adsorption) enhance the possibility of selectively reusing some highly added value compounds (i.e. resveratrol) existed in winery wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To study the evolution profile of amniotic fluid (AF) glucose, uric acid, phosphate, potassium, and sodium, in the second trimester of pregnancy, and explore the possible relations between the concentration of these components and maternal, as well as neonatal characteristics. Methods: AF of 52 pregnant women was analyzed using an automatic multichannel analyzer. Maternal age, pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI), inter-pregnancy intervals, and smoking status were derived from questionnaires. Information on pregnancy and delivery was collected from medical records. Results: Uric acid increased ( r = 0.423, p < 0.01), while phosphate and glucose concentrations decreased during the period of 16-26th week of pregnancy ( r = −0.590, p < 0.001 and r = −0.314, p < 0.05, respectively). Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI was significantly correlated with AF uric acid concentration ( r = 0.460, p < 0.01) and marginally with AF glucose ( r = 0.274, p = 0.052) and sodium ( r = 0.254, p = 0.070) levels. Multiple linear regression indicated that mid-trimester AF uric acid and phosphate levels were significantly related to birth weight centiles ( R2 = 0.345, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that: (a) AF phosphate levels reflect gestational age to a satisfactory extent, (b) maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is significantly correlated with AF uric acid concentration, and (c) in appropriate for gestational age infants, AF phosphate and uric acid levels may serve as potential biomarkers of birth weight centiles. Further studies on AF composition may help to unravel the biochemical pathways underlying fetal development and could offer insight on the potential impact of maternal nutritional management on fetal growth regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]