Future trajectories of renewable energy consumption in the European Union

Renewable energy sources (RESs) are able to reduce the European Union (EU)’s dependence on foreign energy imports, also meeting sustainable objectives to tackle climate change and to enhance economic opportunities. Energy management requires a quantitative analysis and the European Commission follows the performance of each Member State (MS) in order to define the corrective measures towards 2020 targets. Starting from historical data reported in the Eurostat database and through a mathematical model, this work proposes future trajectories towards 2020 of the share of energy from renewables (REs) in terms of gross final energy consumption (GFEC). Furthermore, a quantitative analysis based on two indices—(i) the share of REs in GFEC, and (ii) gross final renewable energy consumption (GFREC) per capita—permits a comparison among 28 MSs. The share of REs in GFEC in EU 28 varies from 19.4% to 21.8% in future trajectories towards 2020. Sweden and Finland occupy the top part of the ranking, while six MSs (Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) are not able to reach the 2020 targets

Polymers as compressible soft spheres

We consider a coarse-grained model in which polymers under good-solvent conditions are represented by soft spheres whose radii, which should be identified with the polymer radii of gyrations, are allowed to fluctuate. The corresponding pair potential depends on the sphere radii. This model is a single-sphere version of the one proposed in Vettorel et al., Soft Matter 6, 2282 (2010), and it is sufficiently simple to allow us to determine all potentials accurately from full-monomer simulations of two isolated polymers (zero-density potentials). We find that in the dilute regime (which is the expected validity range of single-sphere coarse-grained models based on zero-density potentials) this model correctly reproduces the density dependence of the radius of gyration. However, for the thermodynamics and the intermolecular structure, the model is largely equivalent to the simpler one in which the sphere radii are fixed to the average value of the radius of gyration and radiiindependent potentials are used: for the thermodynamics there is no advantage in considering a fluctuating sphere size.Comment: 21 pages, 7 figure

Preterm birth after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). how cone features and microbiota could influence the pregnancy outcome

OBJECTIVE: In the last years, the mean age of women who underwent cervical treatment for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2-3) is similar to the age of women having their first pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2013 to January 2016 the study identified a total of 1435 women, nulliparous, who underwent LEEP for CIN 2-3, and who wished to have their first pregnancy. Before surgery, the lengths of the cervix were calculated by transvaginal sonography. After the treatment, the dimension of the removed tissue was evaluated. During the pregnancy, all women carried out periodic transvaginal sonography and vaginal-cervical swabs. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 31.96±5.24 years; the interval between the surgical procedure and pregnancy was 12.04±4.67 months; the gestational age at births was 37.53±2.91 weeks. The first vaginal and cervical swab performed during pregnancy was negative in 81.8% of patients. The most prevalent infections were related to C. Albicans, G. Vaginalis, and Group B Streptococcus (GBS). The rate of preterm delivery was significantly higher in women with a minor cervical length. CONCLUSIONS: The length and the volume of cervical tissue excised have been shown to be directly related to the risk for preterm birth. Furthermore, vaginal infections and their persistence during pregnancy in women with a history of LEEP may be associated with an increased risk for preterm birth, compared with women with no history of LEEP

New insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutics of episodic ataxia type 1

Episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1) is a K+ channelopathy characterized by a broad spectrum of symptoms. Generally, patients may experience constant myokymia and dramatic episodes of spastic contractions of the skeletal muscles of the head, arms, and legs with loss of both motor coordination and balance. During attacks additional symptoms may be reported such as vertigo, blurred vision, diplopia, nausea, headache, diaphoresis, clumsiness, stiffening of the body, dysarthric speech, and difficulty in breathing. These episodes may be precipitated by anxiety, emotional stress, fatigue, startle response or sudden postural changes. Epilepsy is overrepresented in EA1. The disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, and genetic analysis of several families has led to the discovery of a number of point mutations in the voltage-dependent K+ channel gene KCNA1 (Kv1.1), on chromosome 12p13. To date KCNA1 is the only gene known to be associated with EA1. Functional studies have shown that these mutations impair Kv1.1 channel function with variable effects on channel assembly, trafficking and biophysics. Despite the solid evidence obtained on the molecular mechanisms underlying EA1, how these cause dysfunctions within the central and peripheral nervous systems circuitries remains elusive. This review summarizes the main breakthrough findings in EA1, discusses the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease, current therapies, future challenges and opens a window onto the role of Kv1.1 channels in central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) functions.peer-reviewe

Relationship between regional fat distribution and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common genetic heart disease, is characterized by heterogeneous phenotypic expression. Body mass index has been associated with LV mass and heart failure symptoms in HCM. The aim of our study was to investigate whether regional (trunk, appendicular, epicardial) fat distribution and extent could be related to hypertrophy severity and pattern in HCM

Increased release and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with mandibuloacral dysplasia type A, a rare premature ageing syndrome

Mandibuloacral dysplasia type A (MADA; OMIM 248370), a rare disorder caused by mutation in the LMNA gene, is characterized by post-natal growth retardation, craniofacial and skeletal anomalies (mandibular and clavicular hypoplasia, acroosteolysis, delayed closure of cranial sutures, low bone mass and joint contractures), cutaneous changes and partial lipodystrophy. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms by which LMNA mutations produce bone alterations. An altered bone extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling could play a pivotal role in this disorder and influence part of the typical bone phenotype observed in patients. Therefore, we have focused our investigation on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are degradative enzymes involved in ECM degradation and ECM remodelling, thus likely contributing to the altered bone mineral density and bone metabolism values seen in five MADA patients. We evaluated the serum levels of several MMPs involved in bone development, remodelling and homeostasis, such as MMP-9, -2, -3, -8 and -13, and found that only the 82 kDa active enzyme forms of MMP-9 are significantly higher in MADA sera compared with healthy controls (n = 16). The serum level of MMP-3 was instead lower in all patients. No significant differences were observed between controls and MADA patients for the serum levels of MMP-2, -8 and -13 and of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2, a natural inhibitor of MMP-9. Similarly, normal serum levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1beta were detected. These data suggest a possible involvement of MMP-9 in MADA disease, underlying the potential use in diagnosis and therapy

Engineering The Unicellular Alga Phaeodactylum tricornutum For High-Value Plant Triterpenoid Production

Plant triterpenoids constitute a diverse class of organic compounds that play a major role in development, plant defense and environmental interaction. Several triterpenes have demonstrated potential as pharmaceuticals. One example is betulin, which has shown promise as a pharmaceutical precursor for the treatment of certain cancers and HIV. Major challenges for triterpenoid commercialization include their low production levels and their cost‐effective purification from the complex mixtures present in their natural hosts. Therefore, attempts to produce these compounds in industrially relevant microbial systems such as bacteria and yeasts have attracted great interest. Here we report the production of the triterpenes betulin and its precursor lupeol in the photosynthetic diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, a unicellular eukaryotic alga. This was achieved by introducing three plant enzymes in the microalga: a Lotus japonicus oxidosqualene cyclase and a Medicago truncatula cytochrome P450 along with its native reductase. The introduction of the L. japonicus oxidosqualene cyclase perturbed the mRNA expression levels of the native mevalonate and sterol biosynthesis pathway. The best performing strains were selected and grown in a 550L pilot scale photobioreactor facility. To our knowledge, this is the most extensive pathway engineering undertaken in a diatom and the first time that a sapogenin has been artificially produced in a microalga, demonstrating the feasibility of the photo‐bio‐production of more complex high‐value, metabolites in microalgae

Devices for less invasive surfactant therapy: a manikin study

peer reviewedBackground: “Less invasive surfactant therapy” (LIST), or tracheal instillation of surfactant through a small catheter in spontaneously breathing infants, is gaining popularity. Different catheters are currently used for this purpose: a nasogastric tube inserted with (LISA) or without (Take Care) Magill’s forceps, a 13 cm 16G adult angiocath (MIST), a 30 cm F4 angiography catheter (Stockholm). We developed a specific device by combining a F5 umbilical catheter and an intubation stylet (Liege). We aimed to compare those 5 devices using INSURE as a reference. Methods: 20 neonatologists from 4 institutions supporting different surfactant instillation policies intubated 2 manikin heads with the 5 catheters and an endotracheal tube in a predetermined random sequence. Water was flushed trough the catheter. Video review provided times between laryngoscope (T1) or catheter insertion (T2) in the mouth and water flowing from the trachea. Participants gave an ease of use score (range: 1-9) for each catheter. Results: Procedural times were longer with the Take Care method and shorter with the Liège device (Table). Failure rates were higher for LIST procedures than for INSURE. Take Care and LISA were rated as more difficult, while Liège, Stockholm and INSURE were considered easier. Conclusions: LIST procedures remain difficult, even on a manikin. The choice of catheter is important. A device combining the rigidity of a stylet with the soft distal end of an umbilical catheter is associated with procedures of shorter duration and is considered easier by neonatologists