Results from field trial with gas heat pump zeotherm by vaillant

Part of: Thermally driven heat pumps for heating and cooling. – Ed.: Annett Kühn – Berlin: Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin, 2013 ISBN 978-3-7983-2686-6 (print) ISBN 978-3-7983-2596-8 (online) urn:nbn:de:kobv:83-opus4-39458 [http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:83-opus4-39458]In 2012 Vaillant launched their second generation of gas heat pump “zeoTHERM” to the European market. Since 2009 several zeoTHERM gas heat pump systems have been operating and analyzed as part of a field trial organized by Germany’s “IGWP” (initiative for gas heat pumps in Germany). This report shows the results of the field trial as well as the relevant solar simulations. The total system efficiency was proven to be 35% higher than a “state of the art” heating systems with a wall hung condensing gas boiler. The Vaillant zeoTHERM heat pump system was also proven to be extremely reliable and robust. Since 2010 zeoTHERM has been manufactured in series production and has been freely available in the trade

<i>TP53</i> drives invasion through expression of its ∆133p53β variant

International audienceTP53 is conventionally thought to prevent cancer formation and progression to metastasis, while mutant TP53 has transforming activities. However, in the clinic, TP53 mutation status does not accurately predict cancer progression. Here we report, based on clinical analysis corroborated with experimental data, that the p53 isoform D133p53b promotes cancer cell invasion, regardless of TP53 mutation status. D133p53b increases risk of cancer recurrence and death in breast cancer patients. Furthermore D133p53b is critical to define invasiveness in a panel of breast and colon cell lines, expressing WT or mutant TP53. Endogenous mutant D133p53b depletion prevents invasiveness without affecting mutant full-length p53 protein expression. Mechanistically WT and mutant D133p53b induces EMT. Our findings provide explanations to 2 long-lasting and important clinical conundrums: how WT TP53 can promote cancer cell invasion and reciprocally why mutant TP53 gene does not systematically induce cancer progression

Mutation in exon 1a of PLEC, leading to disruption of plectin isoform 1a, causes autosomal-recessive skin-only epidermolysis bullosa simplex

PLEC, the gene encoding the cytolinker protein plectin, has eight tissue-specific isoforms in humans, arising by alternate splicing of the first exon. To date, all PLEC mutations that cause epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) were found in exons common to all isoforms. Due to the ubiquitous presence of plectin in mammalian tissues, EBS from recessive plectin mutations is always associated with extracutaneous involvement including muscular dystrophy, pyloric atresia and cardiomyopathy. We studied a consanguineous family with sisters having isolated blistering suggesting EBS. Skin disease started with foot blisters at walking age and became generalized at puberty while sparing mucous membranes. DNA sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense mutation (c.46C>T; p.Arg16X) in the first exon of the plectin variant encoding plectin isoform 1a (P1a). Immunofluorescence antigen mapping, transmission electron microscopy, western blot analysis and qRT-PCR were performed on patient skin and cultured keratinocytes, control myocardium and striated muscle samples. We found hypoplastic hemidesmosomes and intra-epidermal ‘pseudo-junctional' cleavage fitting EBS. Screening for cardiomyopathy and muscle dystrophy showed no abnormalities. We report the first cases of autosomal-recessive EBS from P1a deficiency affecting skin, while mucous membranes, heart and muscle are spared. The dominant expression of the P1a isoform in epidermal basal cell layer and cultured keratinocytes suggests that mutations in the first exon of isoform 1a cause skin-only EBS without extracutaneous involvement. Our study characterizes yet another of the eight isoforms of plectin and adds a tissue-specific phenotype to the spectrum of ‘plectinopathies' produced by mutations of unique first exons of this gen

Retaining High Achievers in Times of Demographic Change:The Effects of Proactivity, Career Satisfaction and Job Embeddedness on Voluntary Turnover

The present study analyses the specific impact of proactivity, career satisfaction and job embeddedness on career turnover and aims to contribute to the improvement of future recruitment and retention policies. We propose an integrated model that focuses on direct and indirect effects of proactivity, career satisfaction and job embeddedness, on alternative job opportunities, going to job interviews and signing a new job contract. To test our hypotheses we used structural equation modeling with data from 192 employed participants, contacted at two separate points in time, once asking for personality and career related data, and six month later for turnover outcomes. The results support the assumption that proactive but not career satisfied and embedded employees carry with them a higher risk of leaving for greener pastures through their easier access to alternative job opportunities. On their way up the career ladder only high levels of job embeddedness and in particular attractive career opportunities within the present organization make staying more attractive than leaving

Experience and Challenges from Clinical Trials with Malaria Vaccines in Africa.

Malaria vaccines are considered amongst the most important modalities for potential elimination of malaria disease and transmission. Research and development in this field has been an area of intense effort by many groups over the last few decades. Despite this, there is currently no licensed malaria vaccine. Researchers, clinical trialists and vaccine developers have been working on many approached to make malaria vaccine available.African research institutions have developed and demonstrated a great capacity to undertake clinical trials in accordance to the International Conference on Harmonization-Good Clinical Practice (ICH-GCP) standards in the last decade; particularly in the field of malaria vaccines and anti-malarial drugs. This capacity is a result of networking among African scientists in collaboration with other partners; this has traversed both clinical trials and malaria control programmes as part of the Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP). GMAP outlined and support global strategies toward the elimination and eradication of malaria in many areas, translating in reduction in public health burden, especially for African children. In the sub-Saharan region the capacity to undertake more clinical trials remains small in comparison to the actual need.However, sustainability of the already developed capacity is essential and crucial for the evaluation of different interventions and diagnostic tools/strategies for other diseases like TB, HIV, neglected tropical diseases and non-communicable diseases. There is urgent need for innovative mechanisms for the sustainability and expansion of the capacity in clinical trials in sub-Saharan Africa as the catalyst for health improvement and maintained