Dementia in Latin America : paving the way towards a regional action plan

Regional challenges faced by Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs) to fight dementia, such as heterogeneity, diversity, political instabilities, and socioeconomic disparities, can be addressed more effectively grounded in a collaborative setting based on the open exchange of knowledge. In this work, the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC-CD) proposes an agenda for integration to deliver a Knowledge to Action Framework (KtAF). First, we summarize evidence-based strategies (epidemiology, genetics, biomarkers, clinical trials, nonpharmacological interventions, networking and translational research) and align them to current global strategies to translate regional knowledge into actions with transformative power. Then, by characterizing genetic isolates, admixture in populations, environmental factors, and barriers to effective interventions and mapping these to the above challenges, we provide the basic mosaics of knowledge that will pave the way towards a KtAF. We describe strategies supporting the knowledge creation stage that underpins the translational impact of KtAF

Organic Rankine Cycle system performance targeting and design for multiple heat sources with simultaneous working fluid selection

This work presents a systematic approach toward the design of Organic Rankine Cycles (ORC) for the generation of power from multiple heat sources available at different temperature levels. The design problem is approached in a mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) formulation where an inclusive and flexible ORC model is automatically evolved by a deterministic algorithm for global optimization. The basic building block of the model is the ORC cascade which consists of a heat extraction, a power generation, a condensation and a liquid pressurization section. The aim of the optimization is to determine the optimum number of ORC cascades, the structure of the heat exchanger network shared among different cascades, the operating conditions and the working fluid used in each cascade in order to identify an overall ORC structure that maximizes the power output. The approach is illustrated through a case study which indicates that a system of two waste heat sources is best exploited through two interconnected ORC utilizing different working fluids

Dementia in Latin America: Paving the way toward a regional action plan.

Across Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs), the fight against dementia faces pressing challenges, such as heterogeneity, diversity, political instability, and socioeconomic disparities. These can be addressed more effectively in a collaborative setting that fosters open exchange of knowledge. In this work, the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC-CD) proposes an agenda for integration to deliver a Knowledge to Action Framework (KtAF). First, we summarize evidence-based strategies (epidemiology, genetics, biomarkers, clinical trials, nonpharmacological interventions, networking, and translational research) and align them to current global strategies to translate regional knowledge into transformative actions. Then we characterize key sources of complexity (genetic isolates, admixture in populations, environmental factors, and barriers to effective interventions), map them to the above challenges, and provide the basic mosaics of knowledge toward a KtAF. Finally, we describe strategies supporting the knowledge creation stage that underpins the translational impact of KtAF