BESS energy management strategies for multiple ancillary services provision

LAUREA MAGISTRALEL’obiettivo di questo lavoro è verificare l’abilità dei sistemi d’accumulo a batteria (BESS) nel fornire servizi ancillari alle rete elettrica. In particolare, si analizzano due servizi: fornitura di riserva di controllo primaria (PCR) e secondaria (SCR). Inizialmente, si analizza esclusivamente la fornitura di PCR considerando sia il modello di mercato italiano che quello tedesco. Si confrontano varie strategie di controllo dello stato di carica (SoC) e si ottimizza la migliore. In seguito, si considera la fornitura di molteplici servizi: PCR e SCR asimmetrica. Per la PCR, si considerano i modelli di mercato italiano e tedesco, mentre la remunerazione della SCR si ispira allo schema italiano. L’allocazione di bande asimmetriche di SCR agisce come strategia di controllo del SoC. Nel caso di multi-servizio, è fondamentale prevedere lo stato di carica al termine della successiva sessione di mercato per allocare le bande di SCR in maniera ottimale: si implementano vari metodi di previsione e si valutano le loro prestazioni nella fornitura di multi-servizio. I primi tre capitoli forniscono una revisione letteraria su: (i) BESS, in particolar modo sulla tecnologia a ioni di litio adottata in questo studio; (ii) mercato dei servizi ancillari, con particolare attenzione al modello italiano e tedesco; (iii) analisi predittiva, utile all’implementazione del multi-servizio. Nel Capitolo 4, si presentano la metodologia e i modelli del BESS, del controllore PCR e del controllore SCR. Tali modelli sono sviluppati in ambiente MATLAB®-SimulinkTM. Gli ultimi due capitoli mostrano i risultati delle simulazioni. La valutazione delle prestazioni della fornitura di singolo o molteplici servizi si basa principalmente su: (i) perdita di regolazione (LoR), come principale indice tecnico; esso rappresenta la percentuale di potenza non fornita rispetto a quella richiesta; (ii) valore attuale netto (NPV) e indice di profittabilità (PI), come indici di valutazione delle prestazioni economiche. I risultati principali mostrano che: (i) nel caso di singolo servizio, tutta le strategie di gestione del SoC migliorano sia le prestazioni tecniche che economiche e il ripristino del SoC senza interruzione del servizio è la strategia migliore; (ii) nel caso di multi-servizio, l’allocazione di bande asimmetriche di SCR tramite l’utilizzo di metodi di previsione funge da strategia di ripristino del SoC, determinando maggiori flussi energetici, diminuendo la LoR e generando un ritorno economico positivo.The scope of this work is to verify the ability of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in providing Ancillary Services to the electrical grid. In particular, two services are investigated: Primary Control Reserve (PCR) and Secondary Control Reserve (SCR) provision. Firstly, only PCR provision is analysed considering both the Italian and German market models. Various State of Charge (SoC) restoration strategies are compared and the best one is optimized by varying its main parameters. Afterwards, multi-service provision is considered: PCR and asymmetric SCR. Either the Italian or the German market models are considered for PCR, while the SCR remuneration mechanism is inspired on the Italian scheme. The allocation of asymmetric SCR bands acts as a SoC control strategy. In case of multi-service, it is fundamental to forecast the SoC at the end of the following market session in order to optimally allocate SCR bands: different forecasting techniques are implemented and their performances on multi-service provision are evaluated. The first three chapters provide a literature review of: (i) BESS, with particular focus on the Li-ion technology adopted in this work; (ii) Ancillary Services Market, with particular attention to the Italian and German paradigms; (iii) predictive analytics, useful for multi-service implementation. In Chapter 4, the methodology is explained and the models of the BESS, PCR controller and SCR controller are presented. All the models are developed in a MATLAB®-SimulinkTM environment. The last two chapters show the results of the simulations. Performance evaluation of both single and multi-service provision is mainly based on: (i) Loss of Regulation (LoR), as main indicator of technical performance; it is the percentage of power not provided with respect to the required quantity; (ii) Net Present Value (NPV) and Profitability Index (PI), as economic performance indices. The main outcomes show that: (i) in case of single service provision, all the SoC management techniques improve both technical and economic performances and SoC restoration without service interruption is the best strategy; (ii) in case of multi-service provision, asymmetric SCR band allocation based on forecasting tools works as a passive SoC restoration strategy, leading to enhanced energy fluxes, low values of LoR and positive economic return

Integrated Approaches to Combatting Childhood Obesity

Background: The global prevalence of childhood obesity has grown sharply in recent decades. Obesity is considered a public health problem which directly affects the health status of children in numerous ways. To combat this trend, integrated approaches are necessary to prevent childhood obesity. Strategies require a comprehensive perspective at individual and parental level alongside the adoption of measures to engage the community and environment. Summary: Prevention is addressed as crucial in limiting the pediatric obesity epidemic in the long term. Breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding are recognized as early dietary factors that affect the future risk of obesity development during the first 2 years of life. During childhood and adolescence, dietary patterns, eating habits, portion size, eating frequencies, and family meals are important dietary factors to target for preventive strategies, as well as parenting style which is influenced by parents' education. Physical activity promotion and the reduction of sedentary behavior are also recommended. The adherence of children and families to obesity prevention programs is highly dependent on socioeconomic factors. Moreover, setting food quality standards and public policies to promote healthy lifestyle habits is strongly advocated. The implementation of cost-effective preventive strategies is of high priority and requires an integrated approach by healthcare services. All stakeholders involved should take an active role in supporting and empowering children and families in order to cope with this multifactorial and complex disease

Crop Level and Harvest Date Impact on Four Ontario Wine Grape Cultivars. II. Wine Aroma Compounds and Sensory Analysis

Pinot gris, Riesling, Cabernet franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from a vineyard in Virgil, Ontario, Canada were subjected by cluster thinning to two crop-level treatments (full crop, half crop), combined with threeharvest dates (commercial harvest (T0), three weeks after T0 (T1), six weeks after T0 (T2)) in a randomised experiment in 2011 and 2012, with wines produced from all treatment replicates. We hypothesised that afull crop with substantially delayed harvest date might have a greater impact on wine aroma than reducing crop level. Wine aroma volatile analysis was carried out by GC-MS, with quantification by calibration withanalytical standards prepared in model wine. Delayed harvest overcame the effects of crop reduction for almost all volatiles. Pinot gris and Riesling displayed increases in varietal aromas in the T1 and T2 wines, e.g. monoterpenes and norisoprenoids, and in esters, aldehydes and alcohols. Reduced concentrations of volatile acids and green odour compounds (e.g. 1-hexanol) with delayed harvest were also evident.  Increases in ethanol were related to increased berry sugars, but higher alcohols did not necessarily increase with harvest date. Crop level had little impact on the sensory properties of these cultivars in both seasons.  However, delayed harvest resulted in substantial sensorial changes. Due to these chemical and sensorial effects, delayed harvest is recommended, rather than crop-level reduction, to enhance wine quality in these cultivars. Extended harvest, e.g. T2 treatments, was associated with the production of benzaldehyde, diethyl acetal, and higher concentrations of higher alcohols, e.g. isoamyl alcohol and nonanol, which could be linked to pre-harvest desiccation

Fat-Soluble Vitamins Deficiency in Pediatric Cholestasis: A Scoping Review

Background: This review aims to identify the current indications and gaps in the management of fat-soluble vitamins in pediatric patients with cholestasis. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Embase was performed. Two authors independently identified the most relevant studies published over the past 20 years up to February 2022, including original papers, narrative reviews, observational studies, clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The literature was screened, and preclinical studies about pathogenetic mechanisms were also included. Keywords searched for each fat-soluble vitamin (A, D, E and K), alone or in combination, were "cholestasis", "chronic liver disease", "biliary atresia", "malnutrition" and "nutritional needs". Studies published prior to the selected time range were searched manually and, when considered relevant, included within the list of references. Results: Eight hundred twenty-six articles were initially screened. From these, 48 studies were selected. A comparison of the recommended methods of supplementation for fat-soluble vitamins was then carried out. The causes of malabsorption were explained and current methods for defining deficiency and monitoring complications were summarized. Conclusions: According to the literature, children with cholestasis are at a higher risk of fat-soluble vitamin deficiency. Although there are general recommendations, the treatment for vitamin deficiency is not uniformly validated

Prostasome-like particles in stallion semen.

Human semen contains membranous vesicles called prosta- somes. They are secreted by the prostate gland and contain large amounts of cholesterol, sphingomyelin, and Ca2. Prostasomes enhance the motility of ejaculated spermatozoa and are in- volved in a number of additional biological functions. No prostasome-like vesicles have been described in horse se- men up to now. We have demonstrated the presence of pros- tasome-like vesicles in the equine semen and characterized them as to size, morphology, and lipid composition; we have found that they are similar to human prostasomes in many re- spects. We propose that these vesicles might be important for the fecundity of horse semen. This is of interest since the success of artificial insemination is limited by the fact that stallion sperm barely survive cryopreservation

Constant Pressure CO2 Replacement of CH4 in Different Hydrate Environments: Structure and Morphology

Gas hydrates (GHs) are solid, ice-like compounds composed of water molecules forming a lattice structure that hosts gas molecules, produced under high pressure and low temperature. The structure of the hydrate structure is affected by the surrounding environment, and in this context, a structural characterization of GHs prepared in different environments, ultrapure (UP) water, seawater, synthetic sand, natural sand, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, has been proposed. In particular, the Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the structural changes in the water cages, the gas uptake in the hydrate structure, the CH4 cage occupancies, the hydration number, and the yield of carbon dioxide replacement at constant pressure. For this comparison, CH4-hydrates, CO2-hydrates, and CH4/CO2-hydrates (obtained from an implemented replacement process) were prepared in five different experimental conditions mentioned above and structurally characterized. From Raman investigation, pure CH4-hydrates displayed almost full (>95%) occupation in the large cage and a significant change in the small cage occupation related to the different tested media. The cage occupancy calculation of CO2/CH4-hydrates showed that a higher yield of replacement can be obtained in UP water and that CH4-hydrates in natural sand and in seawater, which are the most representing of natural environments, displayed a good replacement of CH4 with CO2. Additionally, the ex situ morphological characterization of the GHs by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) allowed the highlighting of morphological differences among the investigated samples

Which milk during the second year of life : A personalized choice for a healthy future?

Nutrition in early life is a crucial element to provide all essential substrates for growth. Although this statement may appear obvious, several studies have shown how the intake of micro and macronutrients in toddlers differs a lot from the recommendations of scientific societies. Protein intake often exceeds the recommended amount, while the intake of iron and zinc is frequently insufficient, as well as Vitamin D. Nutritional errors in the first years of life can negatively impact the health of the child in the long term. To date, no clear evidence on which milk is suggested during the second year of life is yet to be established. In this study, we compare the nutrient profiles of cow’s milk and specific formulas as well as nutritional risks in toddlers linked to growth and childhood obesity development. The purpose of this review is to resume the latest clinical studies on toddlers fed with cow’s milk or young children formula (YCF), and the potential risks or benefits in the short and long term

Molecular Survey on Kobuviruses in Domestic and Wild Ungulates From Northwestern Italian Alps

Since the first identification in 1989 in humans, kobuviruses (KoVs) have been identified from a wide range of animal species including carnivores, rodents, birds, ungulates, rabbits, and bats. Several studies have described the identification of genetically related KoVs in the fecal virome of domestic and wild animals suggesting a mutual exchange of viruses. By screening a total of 231 fecal samples from wild and domestic ungulates, KoVs RNA was detected in wild boars (3.2%; 2/63), chamois (4.6%; 2/43), and goats (2.6%; 2/77). On phylogenetic analysis of the partial RdRp sequence, the wild boar strains clustered within the species Aichivirus C whilst the strains identified in domestic and wild ruminants grouped into the species Aichivirus B. The complete VP1 gene was obtained for chamois and goat KoVs. Interestingly, upon phylogenetic analysis the strains grouped together with a KoV of ovine origin within a distinct genetic type (B3) of the species Aichivirus B

Unsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 index and hospitalization in MISC

The growing interest in Omega-3 fatty acids as diagnostic markers or new therapeutic approaches also for COVID-19 disease, led us to investigate the presence of potential correlations between Omega-3 fatty acids' levels in whole blood and days of hospitalization or admission to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in 51 children with MIS-C diagnosis following SARS-CoV-2 infection. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between days of hospitalization and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3,DPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total Omega-3 FA levels. Dividing the study group into quartiles according to Omega-3-Index (O3I), no statistically significant difference was observed with respect to the PICU admission rate. In contrast, the number of days of hospitalization in Q4 (O3I ≥ 2.51 %) was different from the number observed in groups Q1-3 (O3I < 2.51 %), with subjects showing higher O3I needing shorter hospitalizations than the subjects with lower O3I. According to previous study investigating O3I in adults affected by Sars-cov-2 we explored the levels of this nutrients in children with MIS-C. Our exploratory study shows that high DPA, DHA and O3I levels could be effective in reducing the length of hospitalization

Molecular identification and characterization of a genotype 3 hepatitis e virus (HEV) strain detected in a wolf faecal sample, Italy

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major health problem worldwide. In developed countries, zoonotic transmission of HEV genotypes (Gt) 3 and 4 is caused by the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat of infected pigs and wild boars, the main reservoirs of HEV. However, additional animals may harbour HEV or HEV-related strains, including carnivores. In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of orthohepeviruses in wild canids by screening a total of 136 archival faecal samples, collected from wolves (42) and red foxes (94) in Northwestern Italy. Orthohepevirus RNA was identified in a faecal specimen, collected from a wolf carcass in the province of La Spezia (Liguria Region, Italy). The nearly full-length (7212 nucleotides) genome of the strain HEV/81236/Wolf/2019/ITA (GenBank accession no. MZ463196) was determined by combining a sequence-independent single-primer amplification (SISPA) approach with the Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform. Upon phylogenetic analysis, the HEV detected in wolf was segregated into clade HEV-3.1, displaying the highest nucleotide (nt) identity (89.0–93.3%) to Gt3 strains belonging to subtype c. Interestingly, the wolf faecal sample also contained porcine astrovirus sequences, endorsing the hypothesis of a dietary origin of the HEV strain due to preying habits