Dynamic thermal-hydraulic modelling of the EU DEMO HCPB breeding blanket cooling loops

A global, system-level thermal-hydraulic model of the EU DEMO tokamak fusion reactor is currently under development and implementation in a suitable software at Politecnico di Torino, including the relevant heat transfer and fluid dynamics phenomena, which affect the performance of the different cooling circuits and components and their integration in a consistent design. The model is based on an object-oriented approach using the Modelica language, which easily allows to preserve the high modularity required at this stage of the design. The first module of the global model will simulate the blanket cooling system and will be able to investigate different coolant options and different cooling schemes, to be adapted to the different blanket systems currently under development in the Breeding Blanket (BB) project. The paper presents the Helium-Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) module of the EU DEMO blanket cooling loops system model. The model is used to compare different schemes for the cooling of the different components of the HCPB BB, and to suggest improvements aimed at optimizing the pumping power required by the cooling system. The model is then used to analyse a pulsed scenario, characteristic of the EU DEMO operation

Ensemble approach for detection of depression using EEG features

Depression is a public health issue which severely affects one's well being and cause negative social and economic effect for society. To rise awareness of these problems, this publication aims to determine if long lasting effects of depression can be determined from electoencephalographic (EEG) signals. The article contains accuracy comparison for SVM, LDA, NB, kNN and D3 binary classifiers which were trained using linear (relative band powers, APV, SASI) and non-linear (HFD, LZC, DFA) EEG features. The age and gender matched dataset consisted of 10 healthy subjects and 10 subjects with depression diagnosis at some point in their lifetime. Several of the proposed feature selection and classifier combinations reached accuracy of 90% where all models where evaluated using 10-fold cross validation and averaged over 100 repetitions with random sample permutations.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figure

Unravelling chemical cues used by Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae ) during host search

PosterParasitoid wasps are attracted to their hosts using associated volatile compounds. In an static air olfactometer, it was shown that Diachasmimorpha longicaudata females oriented towards oranges with direct or indirect signs of infestation with host larvae, The identification of attractive volatile compounds will allow the development of effective baits for population monitoring in IPM programs. Aim: To confirm previous results using a dynamic olfactometer and to identify relevant volatile compounds related to wasp attractionInstituto de GenéticaFil: Devescovi, Francisco. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Devescovi, Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Patricia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bachmann, Guillermo Enrique. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Bachmann, Guillermo Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nussenbaum, Ana Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Nussenbaum, Ana Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Segura, Diego Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Segura, Diego Fernando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Los coleópteros acuáticos del Parque Nacional Mburucuyá (Provincia de Corrientes, Argentina)

A list of the species of aquatic Coleoptera collected in Mburucuyá National Park is presented. One hundred and twenty-eight species included in 44 genera and seven families were identified. Ten species are new for Argentina: Agaporomorphus mecolobus Miller and Bidessonotus obtusatus Régimbart (Dytiscidae); Mesonoterus laevicollis Sharp, Suphisellus hyeroglyphicus Zimmermann, S. rufulus Zimmermann, S. sexnotatus (Régimbart), and Notomicrus traili Sharp (Noteridae); Berosus pluripunctatus Mouchamps, Enochrus guarani Fernández and Helobata corumbaensis Fernández & Bachmann (Hydrophilidae). Two families (Scirtidae and Spercheidae), 12 genera and 69 species are first cited for Corrientes Province.Se presenta una lista de las especies de coleópteros acuáticos colectadas en el Parque Nacional Mburucuyá. Se identificaron 128 especies, incluidas en 44 géneros y siete familias. Diez especies se citan por primera vez para la Argentina: Agaporomorphus mecolobus Miller y Bidessonotus obtusatus Régimbart (Dytiscidae); Mesonoterus laevicollis Sharp, Suphisellus hyeroglyphicus Zimmermann, S. rufulus Zimmermann, S. sexnotatus (Régimbart) y Notomicrus traili Sharp (Noteridae); Berosus pluripunctatus Mouchamps, Enochrus guarani Fernández y Helobata corumbaensis Fernández & Bachmann (Hydrophilidae). Dos familias (Scirtidae y Spercheidae), 12 géneros y 69 especies son citados por primera vez para la provincia de Corrientes.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Los coleópteros acuáticos del Parque Nacional Mburucuyá (Provincia de Corrientes, Argentina)

A list of the species of aquatic Coleoptera collected in Mburucuyá National Park is presented. One hundred and twenty-eight species included in 44 genera and seven families were identified. Ten species are new for Argentina: Agaporomorphus mecolobus Miller and Bidessonotus obtusatus Régimbart (Dytiscidae); Mesonoterus laevicollis Sharp, Suphisellus hyeroglyphicus Zimmermann, S. rufulus Zimmermann, S. sexnotatus (Régimbart), and Notomicrus traili Sharp (Noteridae); Berosus pluripunctatus Mouchamps, Enochrus guarani Fernández and Helobata corumbaensis Fernández & Bachmann (Hydrophilidae). Two families (Scirtidae and Spercheidae), 12 genera and 69 species are first cited for Corrientes Province.Se presenta una lista de las especies de coleópteros acuáticos colectadas en el Parque Nacional Mburucuyá. Se identificaron 128 especies, incluidas en 44 géneros y siete familias. Diez especies se citan por primera vez para la Argentina: Agaporomorphus mecolobus Miller y Bidessonotus obtusatus Régimbart (Dytiscidae); Mesonoterus laevicollis Sharp, Suphisellus hyeroglyphicus Zimmermann, S. rufulus Zimmermann, S. sexnotatus (Régimbart) y Notomicrus traili Sharp (Noteridae); Berosus pluripunctatus Mouchamps, Enochrus guarani Fernández y Helobata corumbaensis Fernández & Bachmann (Hydrophilidae). Dos familias (Scirtidae y Spercheidae), 12 géneros y 69 especies son citados por primera vez para la provincia de Corrientes.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

eHealth in Geriatric Rehabilitation: An International Survey of the Experiences and Needs of Healthcare Professionals

eHealth; Geriatric rehabilitation; Information needseSalud; Rehabilitación geriátrica; Necesidades de informacióneSalut; Rehabilitació geriàtrica; Necessitats d'informacióWhile eHealth can help improve outcomes for older patients receiving geriatric rehabilitation, the implementation and integration of eHealth is often complex and time-consuming. To use eHealth effectively in geriatric rehabilitation, it is essential to understand the experiences and needs of healthcare professionals. In this international multicentre cross-sectional study, we used a web-based survey to explore the use, benefits, feasibility and usability of eHealth in geriatric rehabilitation settings, together with the needs of working healthcare professionals. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize quantitative findings. The survey was completed by 513 healthcare professionals from 16 countries. Over half had experience with eHealth, although very few (52 of 263 = 20%) integrated eHealth into daily practice. Important barriers to the use or implementation of eHealth included insufficient resources, lack of an organization-wide implementation strategy and lack of knowledge. Professionals felt that eHealth is more complex for patients than for themselves, and also expressed a need for reliable information concerning available eHealth interventions and their applications. While eHealth has clear benefits, important barriers hinder successful implementation and integration into healthcare. Tailored implementation strategies and reliable information on effective eHealth applications are needed to overcome these barriers

Imaging Spectrometer Implementation on a Small Satellite Platform for Aquatic Ecosystems Science

The implementation of Imaging spectrometers with state-of-the-art performance on small satellites is challenging due to the size, weight, and power (SWaP) limitations. We have recently developed a compact form, the Chrisp Compact VNIR/SWIR Imaging Spectrometer (CCVIS), that facilitates their usage without sacrificing performance. The CCVIS enables a modular implementation that, combined with a freeform telescope, produces a wide field of view with high signal to noise ratio (SNR) performance. The targeted scientific application is the study of aquatic ecosystems. The imaging spectrometer is designed to address carbon sequestration in coastal margins and wetlands, kelp and seagrass studies, coral reefs, harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, and carbon cycling in this dynamic environment. The requirements are challenging since the high SNR, which is necessary in order to produce quality data products over water, is coupled with sufficient dynamic range in order to simultaneously record spectra from the shore area, which has elevated spectral radiance in comparison to the water. To meet these requirements, the small satellite will execute a pitchback maneuver where the imaging of the slit projected onto the surface is slowly scanned while recording focal plane array (FPA) readouts at a higher rate. The effective frame rate is determined by the time it takes to scan the projected slit one ground sample distance (GSD). This concept of operation avoids saturation over the land surface while obtaining high SNR over the water. This approach has the added benefit of measuring a range of angles during a single GSD acquisition, providing insight into the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF). One consequence of this approach is extremely large data volumes requiring a high bandwidth downlink system. Laser communications is a critical technology that enables the transfer of these large data volumes. We present a preliminary design of the imaging spectrometer based on the aquatic ecosystem requirements including the modular implementation of the CCVIS, the laser communications system, and the implementation on a ESPA-grande satellite

ABO blood group-incompatible living donor kidney transplantation: a prospective, single-centre analysis including serial protocol biopsies

Background. ABO incompatible kidney transplantation using antigen-specific immunoadsorption is increasingly performed but data on outcome, complications and protocol biopsies are still scarce. The present prospective single-centre study was aimed at these issues. Methods. This was a prospective single-centre cohort study of 10 successive ABO incompatible living donor kidney transplantations at the University Hospital Basel from September 2005 to October 2007. The following parameters were closely monitored during the whole follow-up: graft function, albuminuria, blood group antibody titres, CD19+ cell count, total IgG and IgG subclasses, CMV antigenaemia, decoy cells in the urine, EBV and polyoma BK virus PCR in the blood. Protocol biopsies were performed on Days 0 and 7 after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. Results. Patient and graft survival is 100% after a median follow-up of 489 days (range 183-916 days). Median serum creatinine is 137 μmol/l (range 70-215 μmol/l), and median urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) is 3.1 mg/ mmol (range 0.6-7.8 mg/mmol) at the time of the last follow-up. All patients had sustained diminished CD19+ cell count and/or total IgG concentrations. Neither CMV antigenaemia nor EBV replication in the blood was observed. Seven patients had positive polyoma BK virus replication in the blood but none developed polyoma virus-associated nephropathy (PVAN). Protocol biopsies revealed rejection Banff IIa in three patients on Day 7, and in one patient after 3 and 6 months. Banff Ia rejection was found in five patients. All rejection episodes resolved. Mild signs of chronic antibody-mediated rejection were observed in five patients. Conclusions. ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation seems to be successful and safe. Modifications of the current protocol may be possible and may further reduce potential side effects and cost

Improvement of muscle strength in a mouse model for congenital myopathy treated with HDAC and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors

To date there are no therapies for patients with congenital myopathies, muscle disorders causing poor quality of life of affected individuals. In approximately 30% of the cases, patients with congenital myopathies carry either dominant or recessive mutations in the ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) gene; recessive RYR1 mutations are accompanied by reduction of RyR1 expression and content in skeletal muscles and are associated with fiber hypotrophy and muscle weakness. Importantly, muscles of patients with recessive RYR1 mutations exhibit increased content of class II histone deacetylases and of DNA genomic methylation. We recently created a mouse model knocked-in for the p.Q1970fsX16+ p.A4329D RyR1 mutations, which are isogenic to those carried by a severely affected child suffering from a recessive form of RyR1-related multi-mini core disease. The phenotype of the RyR1 mutant mice recapitulates many aspects of the clinical picture of patients carrying recessive RYR1 mutations. We treated the compound heterozygous mice with a combination of two drugs targeting DNA methylases and class II histone deacetylases. Here, we show that treatment of the mutant mice with drugs targeting epigenetic enzymes improves muscle strength, RyR1 protein content, and muscle ultrastructure. This study provides proof of concept for the pharmacological treatment of patients with congenital myopathies linked to recessive RYR1 mutations

Integrating ecosystem services and life cycle assessment: a framework accounting for local and global (socio-)environmental impacts

Purpose: Human activities put pressure on our natural ecosystems in various ways, such as globally through the spread of emissions or locally through the degradation of species-rich landscapes. However, life cycle assessment (LCA) studies that integrate ecosystem services (ES) are still in the minority because of intrinsic differences in data, modelling, and interpretation. This study aims to overcome these challenges by developing and testing a framework that comprehensively evaluates the (socio-)environmental impacts of human activities. Methods: LCA and ecosystem services assessment (ESA) were integrated in two different ways: (1) both methodologies run in parallel and results are combined, and (2) LCA as a driving method where ES are integrated. Because local ESA studies contain the most accurate information but will not be available for all processes in the value chain, it was necessary to advance the life cycle impact assessment method ReCiPe 2016 including three new midpoint impact categories (terrestrial provision, regulation, and cultural ES) and site-generic CFs based on the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database to account for changes in regulating, cultural and provisioning ES due to land use, for the remaining processes in the value chain. Monetary valuation is used to aggregate at the areas of protection (AoP). Results and discussion: A comprehensive LCA$_{+ES}$-ESA sustainability assessment framework is developed to account for local and global impacts due to human activities on three AoPs (natural resources, ecosystem quality, and human health and well-being), of which the results are expressed in monetary terms. The framework is able to visualize all benefits and burdens accounted for through the handprint/footprint approach. A simplified terrestrial case study on Scots pinewood shows the applicability of the proposed framework, resulting in a handprint (€$_{2022}$ 9.81E+02) which is four times larger than the footprint (€$_{2022}$ 2.31E+02) for 1 kg of wood produced. Challenges related to the framework such as data availability and database shortcomings (i.e., beyond land use) and ES interrelations are discussed. Conclusion: While classical LCA studies focus more on burdens, this framework can also take into account benefits, such as the provision of ecosystem services (or the value of the functional unit of the study). Although the integration of both LCA and ESA has been increasingly explored recently, until now no framework has been available that can incorporate results from local ESA, site-specific ESA, and classical LCA studies, which is considered highly relevant to decision-making