High concentration PV system

The aim of the European funded project HICON (High Concentration PV Power Systems) has been to develop, set up and test a new high concentration – 1000x or more – PV system. This system uses an actively cooled large-area receiver consisting of III-V solar cells. Two technology fields have been integrated: The high concentration of the sunlight has been obtained by using technologies experienced in solar thermal systems like parabolic dishes or tower systems. The high concentration photovoltaic receiver is based on the III-V solar cell technology. To deal with the high concentration, Monolithic Integrated Modules (MIMs) [1-3] have been further developed and assembled to Compact Concentrator Modules (CCM). The CCM prototypes have been tested in a solar furnace (PSA) and in a parabolic dish (BGU). The results of the project will be presented in this paper.peer-reviewe

Diversity, dynamics, direction, and magnitude of high-altitude migrating insects in the Sahel

Long-distance migration of insects impacts food security, public health, and conservation–issues that are especially significant in Africa. Windborne migration is a key strategy enabling exploitation of ephemeral havens such as the Sahel, however, its knowledge remains sparse. In this first cross-season investigation (3 years) of the aerial fauna over Africa, we sampled insects flying 40–290 m above ground in Mali, using nets mounted on tethered helium-filled balloons. Nearly half a million insects were caught, representing at least 100 families from thirteen orders. Control nets confirmed that the insects were captured at altitude. Thirteen ecologically and phylogenetically diverse species were studied in detail. Migration of all species peaked during the wet season every year across localities, suggesting regular migrations. Species differed in flight altitude, seasonality, and associated weather conditions. All taxa exhibited frequent flights on southerly winds, accounting for the recolonization of the Sahel from southern source populations. “Return” southward movement occurred in most taxa. Estimates of the seasonal number of migrants per species crossing Mali at latitude 14°N were in the trillions, and the nightly distances traversed reached hundreds of kilometers. The magnitude and diversity of windborne insect migration highlight its importance and impacts on Sahelian and neighboring ecosystems

Hypothalamic Hypogonadism in Hemochromatosis: A Case Report

A 42-year-old man developed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to primary hemochromatosis. Endocrine evaluation indicated a hypothalamic defect in the control of gonadotropin secretion. Although cirrhosis was present on liver biopsy, ocher major features of the hemochromatosis syndrome were not manifest. Patients with hemochromacosis arc now being diagnosed at earlier stages of disease. Clinicians should be alert to possible early development of hypothalamopituitary dysfunction and should be prepared co perform derailed endocrinological investigations in such patients

Development of anti-hLH antibodies after therapy with posterior pituitary extract

This report describes the appearance of high affinity antibodies to human LH in a girl who had been treated for diabetes insipidus with injections of pitressin tannate, plus occasional nasal insufflations of posterior pituitary powder. Immunological studies indicated that the antibody was a 7S IgG directed against the β subunit of LH, which is not species-specific. The demonstration of immunoassayable LH in a commercially available pitressin preparation strongly suggests that this patient was immunized by bovine or porcine LH. Although studies of her urinary LH excretion and serum LH (by an interstitial cell bioassay system) suggest that at least some of her endogenous LH is not bound by the antibody, the possibility remains that this type of immunization may have important implications for the development and maintenance of normal adult pituitary-ovarian relationships

A Newly Emerged Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Focus in Northern Israel and Two New Reservoir Hosts of Leishmania major

International audienceIn 2006/7, 18 cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) were reported for the first time from Sde Eliyahu (pop. 650), a village in the Beit She'an valley of Israel. Between 2007-2011, a further 88 CL cases were diagnosed bringing the total to 106 (16.3% of the population of Sde Eliyahu). The majority of cases resided in the southwestern part of the village along the perimeter fence. The causative parasite was identified as Leishmania major Yakimoff & Schokhor, 1914 (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae). Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli), 1786 (Diptera: Psychodidae) was found to be the most abundant phlebotomine species comprising 97% of the sand flies trapped inside the village, and an average of 7.9% of the females were positive for Leishmania ITS1 DNA. Parasite isolates from CL cases and a sand fly were characterized using several methods and shown to be L. major. During a comprehensive survey of rodents 164 Levant voles Microtus guentheri Danford & Alston, 1880 (Rodentia: Cricetidae) were captured in alfalfa fields bordering the village. Of these 27 (16.5%) tested positive for Leishmania ITS1 DNA and shown to be L. major by reverse line blotting. A very high percentage (58.3%-21/36) of Tristram's jirds Meriones tristrami Thomas, 1892 (Rodentia: Muridae), found further away from the village also tested positive for ITS1 by PCR. Isolates of L. major were successfully cultured from the ear of a wild jird found positive by ITS1 PCR. Although none of the wild PCR-positive voles exhibited external pathology, laboratory-reared voles that were infected by intradermal L. major inoculation, developed patent lesions and sand flies became infected by feeding on the ears of these laboratory-infected voles. This is the first report implicating M. guentheri and M. tristrami as reservoirs of Leishmania. The widespread co-distribution of M. guentheri and P. papatasi, suggests a significant threat from the spread of CL caused by L. major in the Middle East, central Asia and southern Europe.Author SummaryThis study dealt with the ecological and epidemiological characterization of a newly emerged dermal disease caused by Leishmania parasites transmitted by the bite of infected sand flies. In the first five years of its emergence, the human infection rate in Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, Israel reached 16%. The majority of cases resided along the periphery of the Kibbutz. To identify the vector species, we performed systematic trapping of sand flies in different habitats inside and outside the inhabited areas. Sand flies were identified in the laboratory and shown to comprise mainly Phlebotomus papatasi. Since the causative agent of human cases was shown to be L. major, we examined sand flies for Leishmania infections by PCR and found a high infection rate amongst sand flies trapped near houses in late summer (11.8%). To confirm the Leishmania species, we isolated live parasites from the gut of a wild-caught sand fly female. The cultured isolate was identified as L. major by several methods. The Levant vole, abundant in the surrounding fields and Tristram's jird found further away from the Kibbutz were tested for infection rate and their capacity for hosting the parasite and were both incriminated as new possible hosts

ITS1 PCR gel electrophoresis of DNA from lesion biopsies of ten cases of CL from Sde Eliyahu.

<p>Top panel 300 bp, <i>Leishmania</i> ITS1 PCR product. Bottom panel shows the HAE<i>III</i> restriction fragments of the ITS1 PCR product. Note the double-bands, identical to the pattern of <i>L. major</i> and very different from the <i>L. tropica</i> control.</p

The yearly distribution of CL cases from Sde Eliyahu.

<p>Total numbers of cases are shown on the left column and those residing adjacent to the perimeter fence are shown on the right column.</p

Detection and analyses of natural <i>Leishmania</i> infections in wild-caught voles.

<p>Top Panel: Detection of <i>Leishmania</i> DNA by ITS1 PCR. Bottom Panel: Identification of PCR products by reverse-line blotting. PCR-positive samples (1,2,3 & 8) were identified as <i>L. major</i>.</p