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The EU H2020 GECO project is primarily aimed to set-up technologies to lower emissions from geothermal power generation by capturing them for either reuse or storage, to turn captured emissions in to commercial products and demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of the injection method. To achieve this goal a site specific characterization and modelling of geology and geochemistry of the geothermal reservoir are in progress for optimization of the injection experiments at four distinct geothermal systems throughout Europe are in progress. The Italian GECO demonstration site is Castelnuovo, which is located in the northeaster side of the Larderello geothermal area and where Graziella Green Power and Storengy are planning to exploit a deep seated high temperature resource for power production with the scope of no non condensable gases (NCGs), release in atmosphere. The geothermal fluid will be extracted from 2 production wells and then it will be reinjected in the reservoir by mean of 1 reinjection well. A Zero emissions ORC power plant will produce 5MWe. For the geological assessment of Castelnuovo site an integrated methodology was designed and is applied to obtain the most reliable and accurate assessment of the site. The geological, reservoir and chemical reactive modelling are performed using field or labs data and observations (i.e., geology, geophysics, geochemistry surveys). Moreover, we adopted a double scale approach where regional, and larger, model was built to provide constrains to local, smaller and detailed, models. At regional scale a geological model including the main structures of the area is modelled to create the geometries needed to local models. At locale scale, firstly the thermal steady state of the rock volume and secondly the reinjection simulations on reservoir and fluids-rocks interaction during the reinjection are numerically computed.

Prior studies have shown that nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) can improve arterial blood gas values, prevent symptoms resulting from alveolar hypoventilation, and decrease hospitalization in patients with chronic respiratory failure. Most studies have involved small samples of patients followed up for a limited time. This study reviews our experience during 5 years use of NIPPV in 276 patients with kyphoscoliosis, posttuberculosis sequelae, Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy, COPD, and bronchiectasis followed up for > or = 3 years while receiving NIPPV. Outcomes were compared for patients who survived short term eg, died or converted to management with a tracheostomy and intermittent positive ventilation (TIPPV) during year 1 or year 2 on a regimen of NIPPV and long term, eg, survived more > or = 2 years on a regimen of NIPPV. The most favorable outcome was achieved by patients with kyphoscoliosis and posttuberculosis sequelae with improvement in PaO2 and PaCO2 (p or = 2 years while receiving NIPPV. Patients with Duchenne-type muscular dystrophy also had fewer hospital days during NIPPV (p < 0.003) but only 9 of 16 patients (56 percent) continued using NIPPV for the duration of followup. Benefit was also more short term for patients with COPD and bronchiectasis. NIPPV can sustain improvement in gas exchange, while reducing hospitalization for substantial periods of time. NIPPV can be an attractive and effective alternative to other methods of assisted ventilation such as TIPPV.

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We investigate the pulsational properties of RSG models --- which we evolve from ZAMS masses in the range 10 to $20 \Msun$ --- by means of linear and non-linear calculations. We find period and growth rate of the dominant fundamental mode to increase with increasing luminosity-to-mass ratio $L/M$. Our models obtain relatively large $L/M$ values due to the inclusion of rotation in the evolutionary calculations; however, the largest values are obtained at and beyond central He-exhaustion due to major internal rearrangements of the nuclear burning regions. Our non-linear calculations as well as the behavior of the linear period and growth rate of the pulsations for periods approaching the Kelvin-Helmholtz time scale of the H-rich stellar envelope point towards the possibility of large amplitude pulsations. Such properties are similar to that found in AGB stars and suggest the possibility of a ``superwind'' to occur before the RSGs explode as supernovae. We conclude that changes in global stellar properties during the last few $10^4 \yr$ before core collapse may lead to drastic changes in the pulsational and wind properties of pre-supernova stars, with marked consequences for the immediate pre-supernova structure of the star and the circumstellar medium. We compare our results with observations of long-period OH/IR variables and discuss observational evidence for our scenario from observed supernova light curves, spectra and remnants., 8 pages, LaTeX, 8 PostScript figures, uses l-aa.sty, to appear in A&A. Also available via http://www.mpa-garching.mpg.de/~ahg/Publications/Preprints/pulsation.ps.gz

Nitrosoureas belong to the group of alkylating agents, and are increasingly used in the treatment of brain malignancies, due to their excellent penetration through the hemo-meningeal barrier. Since 1976, pulmonary toxicity from nitrosoureas has emerged as a significant problem, especially with BCNU, and 72 cases are available in the literature for review. While it is difficult to ascertain the exact prevalence of nitrosourea lung (estimate range between 1 and 20%), it is now clear that a direct relationship exists between cumulated exposure to the nitrosourea, and the likelihood of developing pulmonary toxicity. The clinical picture is that of a diffuse, severe fibrosis with hypoxemia. Histopathology, available in 55 reports, showed diffuse bland fibrosis. The outcome is poor with 67% of the patients dead by the time of publication. While we feel that corticosteroids should be tried for any possible beneficial effect, they seem to be of limited help.

Nilutamide (N) is a potent antiandrogen used in the treatment of diffuse carcinoma of the prostate. The drug has been implicated in a few instances of pneumonitis in man. The present studies were carried out to examine N disposition in the isolated perfused lung (IPL) from rats. Both recirculating and single-pass IPL were used. Recirculation was run for 60 min at concentrations of N ranging between 12 and 120 microM (+1 mu Ci [14C]N). Single-pass perfusions were run for 30 min (uptake, 10 min; efflux, 20 min) at inflowing concentrations ranging from 12 to 480 microM (+1 mu Ci [14C]N). Nilutamide was concentrated in the recirculating IPL, and tissue to medium ratio (T/M) ranged between 6.6 and 4.2, depending on the inflowing concentration of N (Cin). High performance liquid chromatography analysis of extracts of 60-min lung homogenates demonstrated the primary amino metabolite of N in addition to the parent compound. This indicated reduction of the nitro moiety of N by lung tissues. At 60 min and Cin = 40 microM, 17.6 +/- 4.7% of the radioactivity present in lung was accounted for by the metabolite. Perfusate samples contained low to undetectable amounts of the metabolite. No metabolism of N was detected in single-pass IPL, possibly because of the shorter duration of experiments. Amount of N taken up in lung and T/M were similar to those found in recirculating preparations. Uptake of N in the single-pass IPL was proportional to N concentration up to 480 microM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In these studies we examined the kinetics of amiodarone (Am) uptake and efflux in/from the lung, and the influence of other amphiphilics on these processes. We used single-pass perfused isolated lungs from rats. Medium containing Am (30 microM + 1 microCi of [14C]Am) was perfused through the lung for 20 min (uptake), followed by 20 min of perfusion with drug-free medium (efflux). Lack of metabolism enabled us to follow Am by measuring the amount of radioactivity in perfusate and lung. Other concentrations of Am (3, 60 and 120 microM; n = 2-4 each) were also examined. Inhibited uptake and accelerated efflux of Am were attempted with the pneumophilic amphiphilics chlorimipramine, chlorphentermine, chlorpromazine, verapamil and with the main metabolite of Am: desethylamiodarone (60 and/or 240 microM; n = 3-4 lungs each). Lung extracted Am extensively during uptake. The amount of Am accumulated at 20 min (inflowing concentration: 30 microM) averaged 1307 +/- 109 (S.E.) nmol/g, corresponding to a tissue to medium ratio of 43.3 +/- 1.6. Spontaneous efflux of Am was incomplete. At 40 min, 862 +/- 105 nmol of Am remained bound per g of lung, suggesting sequestration of Am in a slowly effluxable pool in which calculations show that more than 50% of the drug will ultimately persist. Uptake and efflux rates obey biexponential kinetics, indicating storage into two pools. Uptake rate and the amount of Am accumulated in lung at 20 min increased in proportion to inflowing concentration up to 60 microM. At 120 microM the increase was less. Neither amphiphilic was capable of inhibiting Am uptake, whereas only chlorphentermine significantly accelerated Am efflux.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)