Search results for "Island"
showing 10 items of 761 documents
Hybrid passive and communications-based methods for islanding detection in medium and low voltage smart grids
2013
Islanding condition takes place when a distributed generator (DG) continues to power a part of the grid even if power from electric utility is no longer present. Adverse effects of islanding are power quality deterioration, grid-protection interference, equipment damage, and personnel safety hazards. For these reasons, DG systems must detect an islanding condition and immediately disconnect from the grid (anti-islanding protection). This paper proposes an hybrid solution, for both low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) applications, which makes use of passive and communication-based methods for islanding detection. Among the existing communication technologies, the study is focused on pow…
Independent energetic grids for a smart island: Model and design of a microgrid for a small Italian island
2016
Unlike many Italian peninsular areas, which are increasingly turning to a diverse supply of renewable resources to generate electricity, Italian not-interconnected small islands continue to rely on oil for their electricity and other energy needs (e.g. transports). Small-scale electricity systems, that are not connected to a larger electricity grid, are usually more expensive. The present paper proposes the functional design of an innovative Smart Grid which allows changing an Italian small not-interconnected island, Pantelleria, into a smart island, towards a more sustainable energy model. In detail, a techno-economic feasibility study is performed in order to design a Smart Grid at Pantel…
Environmental and biological factors influencing trace elemental and microstructural properties of Arctica islandica shells
2018
Long-term and high-resolution environmental proxy data are crucial to contextualize current climate change. The extremely long-lived bivalve, Arctica islandica, , is one of the most widely used paleoclimate archives of the northern Atlantic because of its fine temporal resolution. However, the interpretation of environmental histories from microstructures and elemental impurities of A. islandica, shells is still a challenge. Vital effects (metabolic rate, ontogenetic age, and growth rate) can modify the way in which physiochemical changes of the ambient environment are recorded by the shells. To quantify the degree to which microstructural properties and element incorporation into A. island…
Assessing the conservation values and tourism threats in Barrientos Island, Antarctic Peninsula
2019
Antarctica has been witnessing continued growth of tourism, both in the overall visitation and in the diversity of itineraries and visitor activities. Expanding tourism presents unique business and educational opportunities, but it is also putting immense pressure on Antarctica's natural, and for the most parts, pristine environment. Understanding the effectiveness of different tourism management strategies and instruments, like the Visitor Site Guidelines adopted by the Antarctic Treaty, is fundamental to the sustainable management of Antarctic tourism. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Visitor Site Guidelines and other tourism management actions in reducing impa…
A Renewable Energy mix to Supply the Balearic Islands: Sea Wave, Wind and Solar
2018
The paper investigates the status of the electrical energy sector in the Balearic Islands (Spain). In order to improve the energetic sustainability, this work analysis the availability of renewable energy sources, focusing the attention on sea wave, wind and solar. For the utilization of sea wave source, an innovative device is proposed.
Contamination of a hospital plumbing system by persister cells of a copper-tolerant high-risk clone of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
2019
Abstract Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is an important opportunistic pathogen that thrives best in the distal elements of plumbing and waste-water systems. Although nosocomial outbreaks of PA have been associated with water sources, the role of the plumbing system of healthcare premises as a reservoir for this pathogen is still unclear. Materials and methods We collected water samples from 12 technical areas, distant from any medical activity, in a teaching hospital in France once a week for 11 weeks. We used a method that resuscitates persister cells because of the nutrient-poor conditions and the presence of inhibitors (e.g. chlorine and copper ions). Briefly, water was sampled i…
Assessing the effectiveness of green roofs in enhancing the energy and indoor comfort resilience of urban buildings to climate change: Methodology pr…
2021
Abstract The effects of climate change on the built environment represents an important research challenge. Today, green roofs (GRs) represent a viable solution for enhancing energy and urban resilience in the face of climate change, as they can have a positive impact on the building's indoor thermal comfort and energy demand, as well as inducing various environmental benefits (easing urban heat island effects, improving the management of runoff water, reducing air pollution, etc.). Thus, it is important to be able to assess their effectiveness, both today and under future climate conditions, in order to evaluate whether they can also provide a valid long-term solution. In this paper, a sim…
Epigenomics and metabolomics reveal the mechanism of the APOA2-saturated fat intake interaction affecting obesity
2018
BACKGROUND: The putative functional variant −265T>C (rs5082) within the APOA2 promoter has shown consistent interactions with saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake to influence the risk of obesity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to implement an integrative approach to characterize the molecular basis of this interaction. DESIGN: We conducted an epigenome-wide scan on 80 participants carrying either the rs5082 CC or TT genotypes and consuming either a low-SFA (C genotype, promoting an APOA2 expression difference between APOA2 genotypes on a high-SFA diet, and modulating BCAA and tryptophan metabolic pathways. These findings identify potential mechanisms by which this highly reproducible ge…
Five Years of the Citizens Directive in the UK - Part 1
2011
This two-part article reviews how the UK authorities have fared in the practical application of Directive 2004/38/EC in the five years since it entered into force. It identifies and examines the most common problems faced by EU citizens when seeking to have their rights recognised by the UK authorities applying the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 by reference to questions and complaints received by Your Europe Advice. In examining the experience of EU citizens and their family members living in the UK, account is taken of a number of recent judgments of the European Court of Justice concerning EU citizenship, including Metock, Lassal, Eman & Sevinger and Ruiz Zambrano.…
Near zero energy islands in the Mediterranean: Supporting policies and local obstacles
2014
Abstract Based on a recent technical–economical analysis on the island of Pantelleria, a policy feasibility study for a complete upgrading of the energy system of this Mediterranean Island is carried out. Pantelleria, situated between Sicily and Africa, owns a large potential in terms of renewable energy resources, although there are some obstacles in turning it into a Near Zero Energy system. Starting from a deep energy system audit, the study proposes the project for a near zero energy island, through the efficient transformation of the different existing natural energy resources into electrical energy and heat: the solar, the wind-based and the geothermal systems. In this way, the island…