Low Cost Semi Automated Assembly Unit for Small Size Back Contact Modules and Low Cost Interconnection Approach

AbstractWe present our low cost assembly unit to manufacture back contact solar modules based on the conductive backsheet (CBS) approach. This in house developed apparatus was built to assemble test modules containing one up to four 6 inch back contact solar cells. The system is a retrofit of a commercially available CNC system which is equipped with a cell grabber and a manual dispensing system (by Nordson). The total cost of the setup was roughly 4000 € excluding the dispenser unit. Using this equipment we assembled several small size modules containing one and four Zebra cells, which are low cost 6 inch IBC solar cells developed at ISC Konstanz [1,2]. The contact between copper backsheet and back contact cell of the one cell modules we present here is formed by low temperature solder paste (LTSP). First cell to module (CTM) loss evaluations and reliability results suggest that this material could be a viable alternative to electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) which is currently the most commonly used material for this purpose

Comparative study of anthocyanin extraction methods in Dahlia pinnata petals

Anthocyanins are phenolic compounds responsible for the color of numerous plant sources. In literature, there is little information about the dahlia flower as a potential source of anthocyanins. This study aimed to develop a procedure for anthocyanins extraction from black dahlia petals using fresh and dehydrated material. A three-stages nested design was used to develop the methodology, 3 solid-liquid-ratios and 6 dissolvents nested in 3 methods. The highest yields were obtained with the homogenization assisted maceration technique, citric acid solvent (2, 4, 6%), and a ratio of 1:30 with dry petals. The results of this study show the opportunity to obtain a high anthocyanin content from black dahlia and open the possibility to use it as another important source of this pigment

Trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos en enfermedades genéticas con régimen de acondicionamiento de intensidad reducida en pacientes pediátricos

Introducción: El trasplante de progenitores hematopoyéticos (TPH) consiste en implantar elementos celulares capaces de generar un sistema hematopoyético nuevo y sano. El término régimen de acondicionamiento se refiere al tratamiento que se administra al paciente antes de la infusión de los progenitores hematopoyéticos. El régimen de intensidad reducida (RIR) consiste en un tratamiento predominantemente inmunosupresor para facilitar un implante progresivo con menor morbilidad. Este tipo de acondicionamiento puede también provocar mielosupresión, aunque potencialmente reversible en el tiempo. Justificación: Analizar la evolución de pacientes pediátricos con enfermedades genéticas que entre los años 2005-2013 se han sometido a un TPH con régimen de intensidad reducida en las Unidades de TPH de distintos hospitales del Estado Español, distinguiendo entre aquellos pacientes que presentan Inmunodeficiencias primarias (IDP), Hemopatías congénitas o Metabolopatías. Objetivos: Estudiar la evolución del TPH con RIR en pacientes pediátricos con enfermedades genéticas. Comparar los resultados del TPH con RIR entre los tres grupos principales de pacientes: IDP, Hemopatías congénitas y Metabolopatías. Detallar los resultados del TPH con RIR en los grupos de enfermedades genéticas más representativos, distinguiendo aquellos que han presentado resultados favorables. Pacientes y Métodos: El presente estudio es multicéntrico, observacional, retrospectivo-prospectivo, descriptivo y analítico. Se trata de 57 pacientes, de los cuales 32 presentan IDP, 21 presentan Hemopatía congénita y 4 están afectos de Metabolopatía. Las curvas de Supervivencia Global (SG) y Supervivencia Libre de Evento (SLE) fueron realizadas siguiendo el método de Kaplan-Meier y comparadas por el test log-rank. El nivel de significación estadístico se consideró cuando la p ≤ 0,05. El análisis estadístico se ha realizado con el programa SPSS versión 22.0 para Windows. Resultados: Cuarenta y tres de los 57 pacientes se encuentran vivos (75,4%). La SG a siete años es del 0,74. Diecinueve pacientes (33,3%) han presentado en el transcurso del TPH algún evento o acontecimiento (SLE: 0,64). La SG en los pacientes con Hemopatía congénita es del 0,80; en las Inmunodeficiencias primarias es del 0,70 y en las Metabolopatías es del 0,75. No se observa diferencia significativa entre los 3 grupos de enfermedades. La SG en los pacientes trasplantados de donante no emparentado (DnE) con HLA idéntico es del 0,88 y en los pacientes trasplantados de DnE con HLA no idéntico es del 0,70. En cuanto a los donantes emparentados, la SG con HLA idéntico es del 0,83 y con HLA no idéntico es del 0,42. No se observa diferencia significativa en cuanto al tipo de donante. Respecto a la fuente de progenitores hematopoyéticos, la SG en los pacientes trasplantados con sangre de cordón umbilical (SCU) + médula ósea (MO) es de 1; en los pacientes trasplantados con sangre periférica es del 0,74; con MO es del 0,70 y con la SCU es del 0,70. No se observa tampoco diferencia estadística significativa. Se analizan los resultados en los subgrupos de patología. Conclusiones: Evidenciamos unos buenos resultados en TPH con RIR en las enfermedades genéticas, incluso cuando los progenitores hematopoyéticos proceden de donante no emparentado y sobre todo con la combinación de sangre de cordón umbilical + médula ósea de hermano HLA idéntico. Hemos comprobado además, unos buenos resultados en los tres grupos principales de enfermedades genéticas.Introduction: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) involves implanting cellular elements capable of generating a new and healthy hematopoietic system. The term conditioning regimen refers to treatment that the patient is administered prior to infusion of hematopoietic progenitors. Reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) consists predominantly immunosuppressive treatment to facilitate a progressive implant with lower morbidity. This type of conditioning can also cause myeloablation, but potentially reversible over time. Justification: To analyze the evolution of pediatric patients with genetic diseases that between 2005-2013 were subjected to a HSCT with reduced intensity conditioning in different Hospitals of the Spanish State, distinguishing between those patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID), Congenital Hemopathies or Metabolopathies. Objectives: To study the evolution of HSCT with RIC in pediatric patients with genetic diseases. Compare the results of HSCT with RIC between the three main groups of patients: PID, Congenital Blood diseases and Metabolic Disorders. Detailing the results of HSCT with RIC in the groups most representative of genetic diseases, distinguishing between those who submitted favorable results. Patients and Methods: This study is a multicenter, observational, retrospective-prospective, descriptive and analytical. It is 57 patients, of whom 32 have PID, 21 have Congenital Blood disorder and 4 are affected of Inherited Metabolic disorders. The curves of Overall Survival (OS) and Event-Free Survival (EFS) were performed following the method of Kaplan-Meier and compared by the log-rank test. The level of statistical significance was considered when p ≤ 0.05. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 22.0 for Windows. Results: Forty-three of the 57 patients are alive (75.4%). Overall survival at seven years is 0,74. Nineteen patients (33,3%) presented in the course of HSCT an event (EFS: 0,64). OS in patients with Congenital Hemopathies is 0,80; in Primary immunodeficiencies is 0,70 and in Metabolopathies is 0,75. No significant difference was observed between the 3 groups of diseases. The OS in transplanted patients with matched unrelated donor (MUD) is 0,88 and in patients with mismatched unrelated donor (MMUD) is 0,70. As for family donors with HLA identical (matched sibling donor) OS is 0,83 and with HLA not identical (mismatched family donor) 0,42. No significant difference was observed in the type of donor. Regarding the source of hematopoietic progenitors, the OS in patients transplanted with cord blood (CB) + bone marrow (BM) is 1; in patients transplanted with peripheral blood is 0,74; with BM is 0,70 and with CB is 0,70. Neither is observed statistically significant difference. The results are analyzed in subgroups of pathology. Conclusions: We evidence good results in HSCT with RIC in genetic diseases, even when hematopoietic progenitors derived from unrelated donor and especially with the combination of cord blood + bone marrow from matched sibling donor. We also noted good results in the three major groups of genetic diseases

Aggressivity and school refusal behavior in children

El objetivo de este estudio fue doble, por un lado, pretende identificar la prevalencia de la conducta agresiva y, por otro lado, establecer un modelo predictivo entre la agresividad y el rechazo escolar. Participaron 501 estudiantes españoles entre 8 y 12 (M= 10.08, DE = 1.31). Los instrumentos empleados han sido el Cuestionario de Agresión y la Escala de Evaluación del Rechazo Escolar-Revisada para Niños. Los resultados confirman la relación entre la agresividad y el comportamiento de rechazo a la escuela.The aim of this study was twofold, on the one hand, it aims to identify the prevalence of aggressive behavior and, on the other hand, to establish a predictive model between aggressiveness and school refusal. 501 Spanish students participated between 8 and 12 (M= 10.08, SD= 1.31). The measures used have been the Aggression Questionnaire and the School Refusal Assessment Scale-Revised for Children. The results confirm the relationship between aggressiveness and school refusal behavior

Impaired CpG Demethylation in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Associates With B Cell Phenotype and Proliferation Rate

Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is characterized by impaired antibody production and poor terminal differentiation of the B cell compartment, yet its pathogenesis is still poorly understood. We first reported the occurrence of epigenetic alterations in CVID by high-throughput methylation analysis in CVID-discordant monozygotic twins. Data from a recent whole DNA methylome analysis throughout different stages of normal B cell differentiation allowed us to design a new experimental approach. We selected CpG sites for analysis based on two criteria: one, CpGs with potential association with the transcriptional status of relevant genes for B cell activation and differentiation; and two, CpGs that undergo significant demethylation from naive to memory B cells in healthy individuals. DNA methylation was analyzed by bisulfite pyrosequencing of specific CpG sites in sorted naive and memory B cell subsets from CVID patients and healthy donors. We observed impaired demethylation in two thirds of the selected CpGs in CVID memory B cells, in genes that govern B cell-specific processes or participate in B cell signaling. The degree of demethylation impairment associated with the extent of the memory B cell reduction. The impaired demethylation in such functionally relevant genes as AICDA in switched memory B cells correlated with a lower proliferative rate. Our new results reinforce the hypothesis of altered demethylation during B cell differentiation as a contributing pathogenic mechanism to the impairment of B cell function and maturation in CVID. In particular, deregulated epigenetic control of AICDA could play a role in the defective establishment of a post-germinal center B cell compartment in CVID

Differential effects of the second SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose on T cell immunity in naive and COVID-19 recovered individuals

The rapid development of mRNA-based vaccines against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to the design of accelerated vaccination schedules that have been extremely effective in naive individuals. While a two-dose immunization regimen with the BNT162b2 vaccine has been demonstrated to provide a 95% efficacy in naive individuals, the effects of the second vaccine dose in individuals who have previously recovered from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection has not been investigated in detail. In this study, we characterize SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific humoral and cellular immunity in naive and previously infected individuals during and after two doses of BNT162b2 vaccination. Our results demonstrate that, while the second dose increases both the humoral and cellular immunity in naive individuals, COVID-19 recovered individuals reach their peak of immunity after the first dose. These results suggests that a second dose, according to the current standard regimen of vaccination, may be not necessary in individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2.Funding: Research reported in this publication was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute of the NIH (5R01HD102614-02; R01CA249204 and R01CA248984) and an ISMMS seed fund to E.G. The authors gratefully acknowledge use of the services and facilities of the Tisch Cancer Institute supported by a NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA196521). M.S. was supported by a NCI training grant (T32CA078207). This work was supported by an ISMMS seed fund to J.O.; Instituto de Salud Carlos III (COV20-00668) to R.C.R.; the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (COVID-19 research call COV20/00181) co-financed by the European Development Regional Fund ‘‘A way to achieve Europe’’ to E.P.; the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain (COV20/00170); the Government of Cantabria, Spain (2020UIC22-PUB-0019) to M.L.H.; the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16CIII/00012) to P.P.; the Fondo Social Europeo e Iniciativa de Empleo Juvenil YEI (Grant PEJ2018-004557-A) to M.P.E.; and by REDInREN 016/009/009 ISCIII. This project has received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation programs VACCELERATE and INsTRuCT under grant agreements 101037867 and 860003

Impaired CpG Demethylation in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Associates With B Cell Phenotype and Proliferation Rate

Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is characterized by impaired antibody production and poor terminal differentiation of the B cell compartment, yet its pathogenesis is still poorly understood. We first reported the occurrence of epigenetic alterations in CVID by high-throughput methylation analysis in CVID-discordant monozygotic twins. Data from a recent whole DNA methylome analysis throughout different stages of normal B cell differentiation allowed us to design a new experimental approach. We selected CpG sites for analysis based on two criteria: one, CpGs with potential association with the transcriptional status of relevant genes for B cell activation and differentiation; and two, CpGs that undergo significant demethylation from naïve to memory B cells in healthy individuals. DNA methylation was analyzed by bisulfite pyrosequencing of specific CpG sites in sorted naïve and memory B cell subsets from CVID patients and healthy donors. We observed impaired demethylation in two thirds of the selected CpGs in CVID memory B cells, in genes that govern B cell-specific processes or participate in B cell signaling. The degree of demethylation impairment associated with the extent of the memory B cell reduction. The impaired demethylation in such functionally relevant genes as AICDA in switched memory B cells correlated with a lower proliferative rate. Our new results reinforce the hypothesis of altered demethylation during B cell differentiation as a contributing pathogenic mechanism to the impairment of B cell function and maturation in CVID. In particular, deregulated epigenetic control of AICDA could play a role in the defective establishment of a post-germinal center B cell compartment in CVID

Defects in memory B-cell and plasma cell subsets expressing different immunoglobulin-subclasses in patients with CVID and immunoglobulin subclass deficiencies

Background: Predominantly antibody deficiencies (PADs) are the most prevalent primary immunodeficiencies, but their B-cell defects and underlying genetic alterations remain largely unknown. Objective: We investigated patients with PADs for the distribution of 41 blood B-cell and plasma cell (PC) subsets, including subsets defined by expression of distinct immunoglobulin heavy chain subclasses. Methods: Blood samples from 139 patients with PADs, 61 patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), 68 patients with selective IgA deficiency (IgAdef), 10 patients with IgG subclass deficiency with IgA deficiency, and 223 age matched control subjects were studied by using flow cytometry with EuroFlow immunoglobulin isotype staining. Patients were classified according to their B-cell and PC immune profile, and the obtained patient clusters were correlated with clinical manifestations of PADs. Results: Decreased counts of blood PCs, memory B cells (MB Cs), or both expressing distinct IgA and IgG subclasses were identified in all patients with PADs. In patients with IgAdef, B-cell defects were mainly restricted to surface membrane (sm)IgA(+) PCs and MBCs, with 2 clear subgroups showing strongly decreased numbers of smIgA(+) PCs with mild versus severe smIgA(+) MBC defects and higher frequencies of nonrespiratory tract infections, autoimmunity, and affected family members. Patients with IgG subclass deficiency with IgA deficiency and those with CVID showed defects in both smIgA(+) and smIgG(+) MBCs and PCs. Reduced numbers of switched PCs were systematically found in patients with CVID (absent in 98%), with 6 different defective MBC (and clinical) profiles: (1) profound decrease in MBC numbers; (2) defective CD27(+) MBCs with almost normal IgG(3)(+) MBCs; (3) absence of switched MBCs; and (4) presence of both unswitched and switched MBCs without and; (5) with IgG(2)(+) MBCs; and (6) with IgA(1)(+) MBCs. Conclusion: Distinct PAD defective B-cell patterns were identified that are associated with unique clinical profiles

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Soy Niña

Este libro pretende contribuir al reencuentro de la educación con esas finalidades que verdaderamente importan a una niña o un niño: ser feliz, jugar, vivir juntos y (no) aprender. Para ello hemos puesto el arte, nuestras experiencias y el saber acumulado al servicio del disfrute, el cuestionamiento, el análisis crítico y la construcción común de un presente deseable. Un texto colaborativo coordinado por Ignacio Calderón Almendros y realizado por alumnado de Educación y Cambio Social en el Grado en Educación Infantil de la Universidad de Málaga