Scalable solar thermoelectrics and photovoltaics (SUNTRAP)

This is the final version of the article. Available from AIP Publishing via the DOI in this record.This paper presents the design, manufacture and electrical test of a novel integrated III:V low concentrator photovoltaic and thermoelectric device for enhanced solar energy harvesting efficiency. The PCB-based platform is a highly reliable means of controlling CPV cell operational temperature under a range of irradiance conditions. The design enables reproducible data acquisition from CPV solar cells whilst minimizing transient time for solid state cooling capability.The authors would like to acknowledge the Sêr Cymru National Research Network and EPSRC for financial support

Effects of acute and chronic exercise on immunological parameters in the elderly aged: can physical activity counteract the effects of aging?

Immunosenescence is characterized by deterioration of the immune system caused by aging which induces changes to innate and adaptive immunity. Immunosenescence affects function and phenotype of immune cells, such as expression and function of receptors for immune cells which contributes to loss of immune function (chemotaxis, intracellular killing). Moreover, these alterations decrease the response to pathogens, which leads to several age-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes in older individuals. Furthermore, increased risk of autoimmune disease and chronic infection is increased with an aging immune system, which is characterized by a pro-inflammatory environment, ultimately leading to accelerated biological aging. During the last century, sedentarism rose dramatically, with a concomitant increase in certain type of cancers (such as breast cancer, colon, or prostate cancer), and autoimmune disease. Numerous studies on physical activity and immunity, with focus on special populations (i.e., people with diabetes, HIV patients) demonstrate that chronic exercise enhances immunity. However, the majority of previous work has focused on either a pathological population or healthy young adults whilst research in elderly populations is scarce. Research conducted to date has primarily focused on aerobic and resistance exercise training and its effect on immunity. This review focuses on the potential for exercise training to affect the aging immune system. The concept is that some lifestyle strategies such as high-intensity exercise training may prevent disease through the attenuation of immunosenescence. In this context, we take a top-down approach and review the effect of exercise and training on immunological parameters in elderly at rest and during exercise in humans, and how they respond to different modes of training. We highlight the impact of these different exercise modes on immunological parameters, such as cytokine and lymphocyte concentration in elderly individuals

Les tumeurs benignes de la parotide

Introduction : Les tumeurs parotidiennes bénignes sont caractérisées par une grande diversité histologique. Les indications thérapeutiques ne sont pas encore bien codifiées et restent un sujet de controverse.Matériel et méthodes : Nous rapportons une étude rétrospective à propos de 48 cas de tumeurs parotidiennes bénignes, colligés sur une période de 7 ans (2004-2010). Tous les patients ont bénéficié d’un examen ORL complet, d’un bilan biologique et radiologique. Le traitement était chirurgical dans tous les cas.Résultats : L’âge moyen était de 46 ans et le sex-ratio 1,52. Le motif de consultation était dans tous les cas une tuméfaction au niveau de la région parotidienne. L’échographie cervicale a confirmé le siège intra-parotidien dans tous les cas. L’IRM était pratiquée chez 28 patients. Le cystadénolymphome était évoqué dans 6 cas et l’adénome pléomorphe dans 22 cas. Une cytoponction a été pratiquée chez 8 patients et a montré un aspect en faveur d’adénome pléomorphe dans 6 cas et de cystadénolymphome dans 2 cas. Tous les patients ont été opérés sous anesthésie générale. La tumeur était au dépends du lobe superficiel dans 43 cas et du lobe profond dans 5 cas. Une parotidectomie totale a été pratiquée chez les 5 patients ayant une tumeur au dépends du lobe profond. Parmi les 43 patients ayant une tumeur au dépends du lobe superficiel, une parotidectomie totale a été pratiquée chez 5 patients, une parotidectomie exofaciale chez 35 patients et une simple énucléation tumorale dans 3 cas. L’examen anatomopathologique définitif était concordant avec l’examen extemporané dans 100% des cas. Au total, nous avions 31 cas d’adénome pléomorphe et 17 cas de cystadénolymphome. Des complications post-opératoires étaient présentes dans 9 cas. L’évolution ultérieure a été marquée par l’absence de récidive dans tous les cas, avec un recul moyen de 28 mois.Conclusion : Le développement des techniques de l’imagerie a permis actuellement d’évoquer le diagnostic de bénignité d’une tumeur parotidienne et même d’évoquer fortement un diagnostic anatomopathologique. Le choix de l’intervention chirurgicale est guidé par la localisation et l’étendue de la tumeur et par le type histologique.Mots-clés : tumeur bénigne, glande parotide, imagerie par résonance magnétique, cytoponction, parotidectomie, nerf facialIntroduction: Benign parotid tumors are characterized by high histological diversity. Therapeutic indications are not well codified and remain a subject of controversy.Materials and Methods: We report a retrospective study of 48 cases of benign parotid tumors, collected over a period of 7 years (2004-2010). All patients underwent complete ENT examination, biological and radiological assessment. Treatment was surgical in all cases.Results : The mean age was 46 years and the sex ratio 1.52. Tumefaction in the parotid region was the presenting symptom in all cases. Cervical ultrasound confirmed the intra-parotid location in all cases. MRI was performed in 28 patients. Cystadenolymphoma was suggested in 6 cases and pleomorphic adenoma in 22 cases. A fine-needle aspiration was performed in 8 patients and showed pleomorphic adenoma in 6 cases and cystadenolymphoma in 2 cases. All patients were operated under general anesthesia. The tumor was at the expense of the superficial lobe in 43 cases and the deep lobe in 5 cases. A total parotidectomy was performed in 5 patients having a deep lobe tumor. Among the 43 patients having a superficial lobe tumor, a total parotidectomy was performed in 5 patients, an exofacialparotidectomy in 35 patients and a single tumor enucleation in 3 cases. The final histological examination was consistent with the frozen section in 100% of cases. In total, we had 31 cases of pleomorphic adenoma and 17 cases of cystadenolymphoma. Postoperative complications were present in 9 cases. The subsequent evolution was marked by the absence of recurrence in all cases, with a mean follow-up period of 28 months.Conclusion : The development of imaging techniques has currently allowed to suggest the diagnosis of benignity of a parotid tumor, and even to highly evoke the pathological diagnosis. The choice of surgical procedure is guided by the location and extent of the tumor and by the histological type.Keywords : benign tumor, parotid gland, magnetic resonance imaging, fine-needle aspiration, parotidectomy, facial nerv

The Effects of Physical Training on Quality of Life, Aerobic Capacity, and Cardiac Function in Older Patients With Heart Failure: A Meta-Analysis

Aim: The purposes of this meta-analysis were to quantify the effectiveness of physical training on quality of life (QoL), aerobic capacity, and cardiac functioning in older patients with heart failure (HF) and evaluate dose–response relationships of training variables (frequency, volume, and duration).Methods: Scholarly databases (e.g., PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Scopus) were searched, identifying randomized controlled trials that investigated the effectiveness of different training modes on QoL (assessed by the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire), aerobic capacity (assessed by the 6 min walk test) and cardiac function (assessed by left ventricular ejection fraction).Results: Twenty five studies were included with a total of 2,409 patients. Results showed that exercise training improved total QoL (small ES = −0.69; 95% CI −1.00 to 0.38; p < 0.001), aerobic capacity (small ES = 0.47; 95% CI 0.15–0.71; p = 0.002) and cardiac function (moderate ES = 0.91; 95% CI 0.37–1.45; p = 0.001). In addition, univariate analyses revealed the moderating variable ‘training mode' significantly influenced aerobic capacity (Q = 9.97; p = 0.007), whereby, resistance training had the greatest effect (ES = 1.71; 95% CI 1.03–2.39; p < 0.001), followed by aerobic training (ES = 0.51; 95% CI 0.30–0.72; p < 0.001), and combined training (ES = 0.15; 95% CI −0.24 to 0.53; p = 0.45). Meta-regression analysis showed that only the duration of an intervention predicted the effect of physical training on QoL (coefficient = −0.027; p = 0.006), with shorter training durations (12 weeks) showing larger improvements.Conclusion: The present meta-analysis showed that physical training has positive effects on QoL, aerobic capacity, and cardiac function in older patients with HF. Practitioners should consider both training volume and mode when designing physical training programs in order to improve QoL and aerobic capacity in older patients with HF

A Phase Ib, open-label, dose-finding study of alpelisib in combination with paclitaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway activation is associated with resistance to paclitaxel in solid tumors. We assessed the safety and activity of alpelisib, an oral, selective PI3K p110\u3b1 inhibitor, plus paclitaxel in patients with advanced solid tumors. This Phase Ib, multicenter, open-label, dose-finding study, with a planned dose-expansion phase of alpelisib once daily (QD) plus fixed-dose paclitaxel, recruited patients with advanced solid tumors. For the dose-finding phase, the primary objective was determination of maximum tolerated and/or recommended Phase II dose of alpelisib plus paclitaxel, and the secondary objectives included the assessment of safety for this combination. From March 2014 to August 2016, 19 patients with advanced solid tumors were treated with alpelisib QD (300 mg, n=6; 250 mg, n=4; 150 mg, n=9) plus paclitaxel (80 mg/m2, per standard of care). During dose finding, five of 12 (41.7%) evaluable patients for MTD determination experienced dose-limiting toxicities: alpelisib 300 mg, Grade 2 hyperglycemia (n=1); alpelisib 250 mg, Grade 2 hyperglycemia (n=1), Grade 4 hyperglycemia and Grade 3 acute kidney injury (n=1); and alpelisib 150 mg, Grade 2 hyperglycemia (n=1) and Grade 4 leukopenia (n=1). The MTD of alpelisib when administered with paclitaxel was 150 mg QD. Most frequent all-grade AEs were diarrhea (73.7%; Grade 3/4 10.5%) and hyperglycemia (57.9%; Grade 3/4 31.6%). The planned dose-expansion phase was not initiated. Alpelisib plus paclitaxel has a challenging safety profile in patients with advanced solid tumors. This study was closed following the completion of the dosefinding phase. Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02051751

Visceral leishmaniasis in 26 HIV-negative adults

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Visceral leishmaniasis is a notifiable parasitic disease that had increased in incidence in our region on the past few years. It is common in children. In adults, it occurs more on a background of immunodeficiency, and frequently with incomplete clinical manifestations, making the diagnosis complicated.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The aim of our study is to reveal different features of visceral leishmaniasis in adults, through the analysis of its epidemiological, clinical and biological parameters, in a group of 26 patients. No one was infected with HIV or under immunosuppressive therapy Clinical presentation was generally conservative, but there was few differences in adults compared to children, concerning both the clinical symptoms and the laboratory parameters. Diagnosis was provided by direct examination of bone marrow smears in 24 cases (sensitivity 92%), and anti-leishmanial serology in the others.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We should think to the diagnosis of VL even if the patient is not known immunocompromised, and even if the clinical is incomplete, to avoid a delay of care which can lead to serious complications.</p

Quinoa Phenotyping Methodologies: An International Consensus

Quinoa is a crop originating in the Andes but grown more widely and with the genetic potential for significant further expansion. Due to the phenotypic plasticity of quinoa, varieties need to be assessed across years and multiple locations. To improve comparability among field trials across the globe and to facilitate collaborations, components of the trials need to be kept consistent, including the type and methods of data collected. Here, an internationally open-access framework for phenotyping a wide range of quinoa features is proposed to facilitate the systematic agronomic, physiological and genetic characterization of quinoa for crop adaptation and improvement. Mature plant phenotyping is a central aspect of this paper, including detailed descriptions and the provision of phenotyping cards to facilitate consistency in data collection. High-throughput methods for multi-temporal phenotyping based on remote sensing technologies are described. Tools for higher throughput post-harvest phenotyping of seeds are presented. A guideline for approaching quinoa field trials including the collection of environmental data and designing layouts with statistical robustness is suggested. To move towards developing resources for quinoa in line with major cereal crops, a database was created. The Quinoa Germinate Platform will serve as a central repository of data for quinoa researchers globally

Distinct neuroanatomical correlates of neuropsychiatric symptoms in the three main forms of genetic frontotemporal dementia in the GENFI Cohort

Background: The overlap between frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary psychiatric disorders has been brought to light by reports of prominent neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in FTD-related genetic mutations, particularly among C9orf72 and GRN carriers. It has been recently demonstrated that early neuroanatomical changes in genetic FTD may be different across the major disease-causing mutations. Objective: We aimed to identify whether NPS could be driven by distinct structural correlates. Methods: One hundred and sixty-seven mutation carriers (75 GRN, 60 C9orf72, and 32 MAPT) were included from the Genetic FTD Initiative (GENFI) study, a large international cohort of genetic FTD. Neuropsychiatric symptoms including delusions, hallucinations (visual, auditory, and tactile), depression, and anxiety were investigated using a structured interview. Voxel-based morphometry was performed to identify neuroanatomical correlates of NPS. Results: Psychotic symptoms correlated mainly with grey matter (GM) atrophy in the anterior insula, left thalamus, cerebellum, and cortical regions including frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes in GRN mutations carriers. GM atrophy in posterior structures of the default-mode network was associated with anxiety in the GRN group. Delusions in C9orf72 expansion carriers were mainly associated with left frontal cortical atrophy. Cerebellar atrophy was found to be correlated only with anxiety in C9orf72 carriers. NPS in the MAPT group were mainly associated with volume loss in the temporal lobe. Conclusion: Neuroanatomical correlates of NPS appear to be distinct across the main forms of genetic FTD. Overall, our findings support overlapping brain structural changes between FTD and primary psychiatric disorders