A Novel Hybrid Wind-Wave Energy Converter for Jacket-Frame Substructures

The research dataset supporting this publication can be accessed at http://hdl.handle.net/10026.1/11045.The growth of the offshore wind industry in the last couple of decades has made this technology a key player in the maritime sector. The sustainable development of the offshore wind sector is crucial for this to consolidate within a global scenario of climate change and increasing threats to the marine environment. In this context, multipurpose platforms have been proposed as a sustainable approach to harnessing different marine resources and combining their use under the same platform. Hybrid wind-wave systems are a type of multipurpose platform where a single platform combines the exploitation of offshore wind and wave energy. In particular, this paper deals with a novel hybrid wind-wave system that integrates an oscillating water column wave energy converter with an offshore wind turbine on a jacket-frame substructure. The main objective of this paper is to characterise the hydrodynamic response of the WEC sub-system of this hybrid energy converter. A 1:50 scale model was tested under regular and irregular waves to characterise the hydrodynamic response of the WEC sub-system. The results from this analysis lead to the proof of concept of this novel hybrid system; but additionally, to characterising its behaviour and interaction with the wave field, which is a requirement for fully understanding the benefits of hybrid systems

Is there an association between cutaneous leishmaniasis and skin cancer? A systematic review

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a prevalent communicable disease in low- and middle-income countries, where non-communicable diseases like skin cancer are on the rise. However, the study of multi-morbidity or co-morbidity between communicable and non-communicable diseases is limited, and even null for some tropical or neglected diseases. Nevertheless, looking at these conditions together instead of as isolated entities in places where these illnesses exist, could show new prevention and treatment paths. We aimed to summarize and critically appraise the epidemiological evidence on the association between cutaneous leishmaniasis and skin cancer. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review using five search engines (Embase, Medline, Global Health, Scopus and Web of Science). We sought observational studies in which the outcome was skin cancer whilst the exposure was cutaneous leishmaniasis; these conditions should have had laboratory or pathology confirmation. Results: No epidemiological investigations have studied the association between cutaneous leishmaniasis and skin cancer. Most of the evidence about the association of interest is still based on case reports and other clinical observations rather than strong epidemiological observational studies. Conclusions: Research is much needed to verify the repeatedly clinical observation that cutaneous leishmaniasis may be a risk factor for skin cancer. This evidence could inform and guide early diagnosis or prevention of skin cancer in survivors of cutaneous leishmaniasis or where cutaneous leishmaniasis is still highly prevalent. Registration: PROSPERO ID CRD42018111230; registered on 16/10/18

Attention deficit hyperactivity and oppositional defiant disorder symptoms in adolescence and risk of substance use disorders - a general population-based birth cohort study

BACKGROUND: Externalizing symptoms are associated with risk of future substance use disorder (SUD). Few longitudinal studies exist using general population-based samples which assess the spectrum of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the associations between adolescent ADHD symptoms and subsequent SUD and additionally examine whether the risk of SUD is influenced by comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms. METHODS: The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 was linked to nationwide health care register data for incident SUD diagnoses until age 33 years (n = 6278, 49.5% male). ADHD/ODD-case status at age 16 years was defined using parent-rated ADHD indicated by Strengths and Weaknesses of ADHD symptoms and Normal Behaviors (SWAN) questionnaire with 95% percentile cut-off. To assess the impact of ODD comorbidity on SUD risk, participants were categorized into four groups based on their ADHD/ODD case status. Cox-regression analysis with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to study associations between adolescent ADHD/ODD case statuses and subsequent SUD. RESULTS: In all, 552 participants (8.8%) presented with ADHD case status at the age of 16 years, and 154/6278 (2.5%) were diagnosed with SUD during the follow-up. ADHD case status was associated with SUD during the follow-up (HR = 3.84, 95% CI 2.69-5.50). After adjustments for sex, family structure, and parental psychiatric disorder and early substance use the association with ADHD case status and SUD remained statistically significant (HR = 2.60, 95% CI 1.70-3.98). The risk of SUD remained elevated in individuals with ADHD case status irrespective of ODD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: ADHD in adolescence was associated with incident SUD in those with and without symptoms of ODD. The association of ADHD and SUD persisted even after adjustment for a wide range of potential confounds. This emphasizes the need to identify preventative strategies for adolescents with ADHD so as to improve health outcomes

Effects of different culture conditions (photoautotrophic, photomixotrophic) and the auxin indole-butyric acid on the in vitro acclimatization of papaya (Carica papaya L. var. Red Maradol) plants using zeolite as support

Plant regeneration of papaya via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis has been successful;  however, the biggest problem of in vitro culture of this species is the acclimatization of regenerated  plants, where over 70% of the plants are lost before being planted in the field. Decreasing the relative humidity inside the culture vessel and thus increasing the ventilation, appears to have a greater effect on  the adaptation of papaya plants, strengthening the function of the stomata and with this, allowing better  control of water loss from the leaves. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different  concentrations of sucrose and indole-butyric acid (IBA) on rooting and in vitro acclimatization of plants  using sterile zeolite as support and culture vessels with increased ventilation. Three concentrations of  sucrose (0, 10 and 20 g L-1) were studied with and without auxin and as the control treatment, the  rooting culture medium with agar during 17, 27 and 37 culture days. The highest percentage of rooting  was recorded at 37 culture days in the treatment without sucrose and IBA with 80.0% and zeolite as  support. The best photosynthetic values were achieved when in vitro shoots were grown in culture  medium with auxin and different concentrations of sucrose, even though they were also high in the  treatment without the presence of IBA and without sucrose at 17 days of culture. The combined effect of the zeolite, auxin (IBA), without sucrose in the culture medium and increased ventilation allowed   photoautotrophic culture conditions which had effect of the increasing plant survival under ex vitro  acclimatization conditions.Key words: Carica papaya, photosynthesis, roots formation

Alcohol-dysregulated microRNAs in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

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