Altech (Brazil)

Absorption heat pumps can lift a lower temperature waste heat source to a higher temperature useful output. In that process, it uses less electricity as an input compared to heat pumps with electrical compressors. Therefore, in some cases, it can be used to lift a lower temperature waste heat source to a higher temperature useful output with less electricity consumption. Absorption heat pumps are not very widely spread in district heating, mostly because there aren’t many suitable waste heat sources or conditions needed to run them. Tallinn has a district heating system with an annual generation of more than 2 TWh and a goal to make it an entirely carbon neutral district heating system by 2030. Tallinn has also started to develop a district cooling network, and by the end of 2023, the installed capacity was about 6 MW. District cooling capacity is estimated to grow to around 100 MW in 2030. This paper investigates different types of absorption heat pumps and the possibilities of integrating an absorption heat pump to a district cooling plant with the purpose of using waste heat from the cooling plant for renewable heat generation, that can be used in district heating. Different technical aspects are examined to find a suitable production solution, are presented as results. From an economical point of view, the cost of heat to cover peaks with an absorption heat pump is calculated. The effect of reducing fossil fuel use in the Tallinn district heating network with an absorption heat pump is estimated.

Effects of a blend of live yeast and organic minerals as an alternative to monensin and inorganic trace minerals for beef cattle finished on pasture with high concentrate supplementation, on growth performance, intake, digestibility, liver trace mineral and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Forty-eight Nellore bulls were blocked by initial body weight and randomly assigned to one of the two experimental diets. The animals were raised in an experimental pasture divided into 12 paddocks equipped with an electronic system for monitoring individual feeding behavior and feed intake. Treatments were: (1) Monensin (MON), 30 mg/kg supplement dry matter of sodium monensin and trace minerals supplementation from inorganic sources; (2) AdvantageTM (ADV), 1.6 g/kg supplement DM of a blend of live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains) and organic trace minerals. The use of ADV instead of MON led to greater supplement intake and greater intake of dietary components. Bulls fed ADV also had higher digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrates. Bulls fed MON had a greater number of visits to the feeder, however with a shorter time spent feeding per visit. The use of ADV resulted in higher average daily weight gain, and feed efficiency was similar between treatments. In the carcass, ADV tended toward greater Longissimus muscle area. Liver Zn concentration tended to be lower in the ADV treatment. The use of ADV generated higher meat lightness and redness. In summary, the blend of live yeast and organic minerals can be an alternative to monensin and inorganic sources of trace minerals for beef cattle finished on pasture with high concentrate supplementation, without negative effects on supplement feed efficiency and with benefits to animal growth.

Abstract Childhood glaucoma is a group of heterogeneous genetic disorders. The purpose of this study was to explore the genetic background in the Japanese population. Genomic DNA was extracted from 31 patients with childhood glaucoma from 29 families in the Japanese population. We screened the CYP1B1, FOXC1 and candidate genes using Sanger sequencing and whole-exome sequencing (WES). In the CYP1B1 gene, we identified nine mutations, of which four were novel. Almost all affected individuals had severe early-onset childhood glaucoma. In the FOXC1 gene, three novel mutations were identified in a heterozygous state. We next attempted to extract the candidate genes from the subjects showing negative results for two genes. The iterative filtering process by WES revealed 4 single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) in the PTPRF, SMPD4, VPS13B, and DHRS1 genes on autosomal chromosomes and 4 SNVs in the NHS, KCND1, BRWD3, and ENOX2 genes on the X chromosome. The CYP1B1 and FOXC1 genes are major causal genes of childhood glaucoma in Japanese families (30% and 10%, respectively), and WES results reveal the heterogeneity of the genetic background. Screening the CYP1B1 and FOXC1 genes is useful to ensure the proper diagnosis and adequate treatment of childhood glaucoma.