| 1. |
- Cipriani, G., et al.
(author)
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A Procedure for the Producibility Curve Identification of a Dish-Stirling Plant, Starting from Experimental Data
- 2019
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In: Proceedings - 2019 IEEE International Conference on Environment and Electrical Engineering and 2019 IEEE Industrial and Commercial Power Systems Europe, EEEIC/I and CPS Europe 2019.
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article presents a procedure for the producibility curve identification of a dish-Stirling plant, starting from experimental data. The producibility data was measured, recorded, analysed, filtered and monthly aggregated. Moreover, the incidence of the ambient temperature and of the mirrors cleaning on producibility data is highlighted and a procedure to normalize the measured data in temperature and cleaning level was developed. To provide a validation of the developed procedure the producibility curves at 25 °C have been obtained and compared with the one issued by the manufacturer. The two curves are in good agreement, presenting a maximum deviation of the 7 %.
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| 2. |
- Ciulla, M. M., et al.
(author)
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Different effects of antihypertensive therapies based on losartan or atenolol on ultrasound and biochemical markers of myocardial fibrosis: results of a randomized trial
- 2004
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In: Circulation. - 1524-4539. ; 110:5, s. 552-7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: In hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), myocardial texture is altered by a disproportionate increase in fibrosis, but there is insufficient clinical evidence whether antihypertensive therapy or individual agents can induce regression of myocardial fibrosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We compared the effects of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist with a beta-blocker on myocardial collagen volume (assessed by echoreflectivity and serum collagen markers) in 219 hypertensive patients with echocardiographically documented LVH. Patients were allocated randomly to receive losartan 50 to 100 mg/d (n=111) or atenolol 50 to 100 mg/d (n=99) with or without hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 to 25 mg/d for 36 weeks. Echoreflectivity analysis was conducted on ultrasound tracings of the midapex septum with specifically designed and validated software. A color histogram of reflecting echoes was obtained, and its spread (broadband [BB], previously shown to correlate directly with collagen volume fraction on endomyocardial biopsies) was used as the primary outcome measure. Mean color scale and serum markers of collagen synthesis (PIP, PIIIP) or degradation (CITP) were secondary outcome variables. Echoreflectivity analysis proved feasible in 106 patients (losartan 52, atenolol 54). Losartan reduced BB over 36 weeks (from 114.5 to 104.3 color levels, P<0.02), whereas atenolol treatment was associated with an increase in BB (from 109.0 to 113.6 color levels, P=NS), the difference between treatments being -12.8 color levels (95% CI -23.6 to -2.0, P=0.02). Secondary end points (mean color scale and collagen markers) also changed in the direction of decreased collagen in patients receiving losartan, but differences between groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive patients with LVH, losartan decreases myocardial collagen content, whereas atenolol does not. The difference between the 2 treatments is statistically significant.
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