Studies of control strategies for building integrated solar energy system

Research and development work on Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems (BISES) has become an area of growing interest, not only in New Zealand (NZ) but worldwide. This interest has led to a significant growth in the use of solar energy to provide heating and electricity generation. This paper presents the theoretical and experimental results of a novel building integrated solar hot water system developed using commercial long run roofing materials. This work shows that it is possible to achieve effective integration that maintains the aesthetics of the building and also provides useful thermal energy. The results of a 6.73m2 glazed domestic hot water systems are presented. The key design parameters of the Building Integrated Thermal (BIT) system were identified and implemented in a TRansient SYstem Simulation (TRNSYS) model. Validation results comparing the simulation in TRNSYS and real experimentation show that experimental and simulation responses are close to each other. The coupling of TRNSYS and Matlab/Simulink shows the possibility to use Matlab/Simulink for developing appropriate control strategies for BIT roofing systems. Preliminary Fuzzy Logic (FL) intelligent controller was implemented in a Fuzzy Integrated System (FIS) toolbox in a Matlab/Simulink model and linked into TRNSYS model. Further work is needed to identify and design advanced predictive control strategies for the Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal (BIPVT) solar system and determine how the performance can be optimized

Effect of Trihoney (A Mixture of Trigona, Mellifera and Tualang) on Male Reproductive Hormones and Insulin Resistance in Hypercholesterolaemic Rabbits

Introduction: Hypercholesterolaemia affects Sertoli and Leydig cells secretory functions, impairs steroidhormone biosynthesis, and disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The use of honey in previousstudies resulted in an improvement of male reproductive hormonal disturbances. This study aimed toinvestigate the protective effects of Trihoney on hypercholesterolemia-induced male reproductive hormonalchanges in male rabbits and compare its effects with atorvastatin. Materials and methods: Forty-eight maleNew Zealand white rabbits were assigned into 6 groups as follows; Control: commercial pellet; CH:commercial pellet with 0.6 g/kg/day Trihoney; HCD: 1% cholesterol diet; DH1: 1% cholesterol diet with 0.3g/kg/day Trihoney; DH2: 1% cholesterol diet with 0.6 g/kg/day Trihoney and DAt: 1% cholesterol diet with2mg/kg/day atorvastatin. After 12 weeks, the rabbits were sacrificed and blood samples were collected foranalysis of hormones and pro-inflammatory cytokines and calculation of HOMA-IR. The testes werehomogenized for intra-testicular testosterone measurement. Results: Serum testosterone reducedsignificantly in HCD (p<0.05) and DAt (p<0.05) groups. Likewise, intra-testicular testosterone reducedsignificantly in HCD (p<0.01) and DAt (p<0.01) groups. Serum FSH increased significantly in HCD (p<0.001)and DAt (p<0.01). Trihoney particularly at the dose of 0.6 g/kg/day improved serum and intra-testiculartestosterone (p<0.05) and FSH (p<0.05). Trihoney and atorvastatin improved serum pro-inflammatorycytokines. Trihoney and atorvastatin did not affect HOMA-IR. Conclusion: Trihoney attenuated thedetrimental effects of hypercholesterolaemia on male reproductive hormones which probably through alocal effect on testicular tissue and Trihoney anti-inflammatory effect independent of insulin resistance.Atorvastatin did not counteract the impact of hypercholesterolaemia on the reproductive hormones

Male Infertility: Evaluation and Treatment

Globally, 48.5 million couples are suffering from infertility. One of six couples in United Kingdom is categorized as infertile. In developing countries, infertility affects one of four couples. Male infertility constitutes about 40-50% of the incidence. A minimum of 30 million men worldwide are infertile. Mortality rate is higher in men with impaired semen quality than those who have normal semen quality. The initial evaluation of a male partner of an infertile couple should be done if there is a delay in the pregnancy in the female partner for one year or more from unprotected sexual intercourse. It can be done earlier if there is a predisposing factor for infertility. Identification of the underlying aetiology of infertility is the guide for treatment course which could be medical, surgical or through assisted reproductive technology. The aim of this review is to highligh the main courses of evaluation and treatment of male infertility

Plasma‐treated flammulina velutipes‐derived extract showed anticancer potential in human breast cancer cells

Natural products with medicinal properties are among alternative therapies of interest due to their high body tolerance. We aimed to determine whether nonthermal gas plasma could enhance the medicinal value of Flammulina velutipes mushrooms. Generated gas plasma was characterized by its emission spectrum in ambient air, pH, temperature, and H2O2 and NOx concentrations after exposure for various periods. Phenolic and flavonoid contents in the extracts were measured using antioxidant assays and Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy. We analyzed the effects of the plasma‐treated mushroom‐derived extracts against breast carcinoma using the MCF7 and MDA‐MB231 cell lines. The extracts significantly and concentration dependently inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells without inducing toxicity in normal MCF10A cells, and induced apoptosis via oxidative stress, evidenced by DNA damage (γ‐ H2AX foci formation), and increased the population of MCF7 breast cancer cells arrested in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. The extracts also induced mitochondrion‐mediated apoptosis of MCF7 cells through cytochrome c release and caspase cleavage activity. The plasma improved the biological activity of mushrooms by increasing their phenolic compounds that prevented the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

ASXL2 is essential for haematopoiesis and acts as a haploinsufficient tumour suppressor in leukemia

Additional sex combs-like (ASXL) proteins are mammalian homologues of additional sex combs (Asx), a regulator of trithorax and polycomb function in Drosophila. While there has been great interest in ASXL1 due to its frequent mutation in leukemia, little is known about its paralog ASXL2, which is frequently mutated in acute myeloid leukemia patients bearing the RUNX1-RUNX1T1 (AML1-ETO) fusion. Here we report that ASXL2 is required for normal haematopoiesis with distinct, non-overlapping effects from ASXL1 and acts as a haploinsufficient tumour suppressor. While Asxl2 was required for normal haematopoietic stem cell self-renewal, Asxl2 loss promoted AML1-ETO leukemogenesis. Moreover, ASXL2 target genes strongly overlapped with those of RUNX1 and AML1-ETO and ASXL2 loss was associated with increased chromatin accessibility at putative enhancers of key leukemogenic loci. These data reveal that Asxl2 is a critical regulator of haematopoiesis and mediates transcriptional effects that promote leukemogenesis driven by AML1-ETO

Laparoscopy in management of appendicitis in high-, middle-, and low-income countries: a multicenter, prospective, cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is the most common abdominal surgical emergency worldwide. Differences between high- and low-income settings in the availability of laparoscopic appendectomy, alternative management choices, and outcomes are poorly described. The aim was to identify variation in surgical management and outcomes of appendicitis within low-, middle-, and high-Human Development Index (HDI) countries worldwide. METHODS: This is a multicenter, international prospective cohort study. Consecutive sampling of patients undergoing emergency appendectomy over 6 months was conducted. Follow-up lasted 30 days. RESULTS: 4546 patients from 52 countries underwent appendectomy (2499 high-, 1540 middle-, and 507 low-HDI groups). Surgical site infection (SSI) rates were higher in low-HDI (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.33-4.99, p = 0.005) but not middle-HDI countries (OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.76-2.52, p = 0.291), compared with high-HDI countries after adjustment. A laparoscopic approach was common in high-HDI countries (1693/2499, 67.7%), but infrequent in low-HDI (41/507, 8.1%) and middle-HDI (132/1540, 8.6%) groups. After accounting for case-mix, laparoscopy was still associated with fewer overall complications (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42-0.71, p < 0.001) and SSIs (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.14-0.33, p < 0.001). In propensity-score matched groups within low-/middle-HDI countries, laparoscopy was still associated with fewer overall complications (OR 0.23 95% CI 0.11-0.44) and SSI (OR 0.21 95% CI 0.09-0.45). CONCLUSION: A laparoscopic approach is associated with better outcomes and availability appears to differ by country HDI. Despite the profound clinical, operational, and financial barriers to its widespread introduction, laparoscopy could significantly improve outcomes for patients in low-resource environments. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02179112

CALR and ASXL1 mutations-based molecular prognostication in primary myelofibrosis: an international study of 570 patients

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Implementation of a goal-directed Care Bundle for intracerebral hemorrhage: Results of embedded process evaluation in the INTERACT3 trial

The third, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized, Intensive Care Bundle with Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT3), has shown that a goal-directed multi-faceted Care Bundle incorporating protocols for the management of physiological variables was safe and effective for improving functional recovery in a broad range of patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The INTERACT3 Care Bundle included time- and target-based protocols for the management of early intensive lowering of systolic blood pressure (SBP, target <140mmHg), glucose control (target 6.1–7.8 mmol/L in those without diabetes and 7.8–10.0 mmol/L in those with diabetes), anti-pyrexia treatment (target body temperature ≤37.5◦C), and the rapid reversal of warfarin-related anticoagulation (target international normalized ratio <1.5). An embedded process evaluation was conducted to allow a better understanding of how the Care Bundle was implemented in different countries to enhance the transferability of this evidence in the international context. This study used a mixed-methods approach involving interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys to evaluate the implementation outcomes included fidelity, dose, reach, acceptability, appropriateness, adoption, and sustainability. Interviews (n = 27), focus group discussions (n = 3), and quantitative surveys (n = 48) were conducted in 7 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and 1 high-income country during 2019–2022. The Care Bundle was generally delivered as planned and well accepted by stakeholders, although some difficulties were reported in reaching the SBP and glycemic targets. Contextual factors including staff shortage, limited availability of antihypertensive drugs, and delayed systems of care processes, were common barriers to implementing the Care Bundle. Facilitating factors included good communication and collaboration with staff in emergency departments, the development of pathways within available resources, and regular training and monitoring. Our process evaluation provides useful insights into the contextual barriers which need to be addressed for effective scale up of the Care Bundle implementation in a global context

Mutations in ASXL1 are associated with poor prognosis across the spectrum of malignant myeloid diseases

The ASXL1 gene is one of the most frequently mutated genes in malignant myeloid diseases. The ASXL1 protein belongs to protein complexes involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. ASXL1 mutations are found in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They are generally associated with signs of aggressiveness and poor clinical outcome. Because of this, a systematic determination of ASXL1 mutational status in myeloid malignancies should help in prognosis assessment