Introduction L’encéphalopathie d’Hashimoto (EH) est une entité neuroendocrine auto-immune rare (2,1/100 000) associée à la thyroïdite d’Hashimoto. Deux types ont été proposés : un type vasculaire ...caractérisé par des épisodes récurrents de déficits neurologiques focaux et un type progressif diffus avec déclin cognitif. Il n’existe pas de critères de diagnostiques reconnus pour EH, le diagnostic étant d’exclusion. Observation Un patient âgé de 61 ans d’origine Afro-Caribéenne ayant des antécédents d’AVC ischémique de l’artère cérébrale moyenne gauche en 2012, était hospitalisé pour une hémiparésie gauche brutale. L’épisode actuel était son quatrième en 2013. L’IRM cérébrale révélait des hypersignaux diffusion et FLAIR du centre semi-ovale droit et du pédoncule cérébelleux inférieur gauche. L’échocardiographie cardiaque transœsophagienne, l’ECG, l’écho-Doppler des troncs supra-aortiques, le bilan de vascularite et l’étude du liquide céphalorachidien étaient normaux. La recherche des toxiques était négative. La fonction thyroïdienne était normale (TSH 0,9 μU/mL 0,270–4,20, T4L 16 pmol/L 12–22, et T3L 3,6 pmol/L 3,1–6,8). Le dosage des anticorps antithyroglobuline était positif (ATG à 355,4 UI/mL référence < 115). Les anticorps anti-thyroperoxydase étaient négatifs. L’échographie de la thyroïde indiquait un goitre hétérogène hypoéchogène. Compte tenu des résultats cliniques et de laboratoire, un diagnostic d’EH était posé. Discussion EH peut être trouvée dans des cas d’encéphalopathie inexpliquée avec titre sériques élevés d’anticorps antithyroïdiens après l’exclusion des maladies infectieuses, toxiques, métaboliques, vasculaires ou néoplasiques. La recherche étiologique des AVC ischémiques a priori idiopathiques doit être orientée aussi vers l’exploration de la thyroïde.
Arterial stiffness, estimated by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. However, the clinical applicability of these measurements and the ...elaboration of reference PWV values are difficult due to differences between the various devices used. In a population of 50 subjects aged 20-84 years, we compared PWV measurements with three frequently used devices: the Complior and the PulsePen, both of which determine aortic PWV as the delay between carotid and femoral pressure wave and the PulseTrace, which estimates the Stiffness Index (SI) by analyzing photoplethysmographic waves acquired on the fingertip. PWV was measured twice by each device. Coefficient of variation of PWV was 12.3, 12.4 and 14.5% for PulsePen, Complior and PulseTrace, respectively. These measurements were compared with the reference method, that is, a simultaneous acquisition of pressure waves using two tonometers. High correlation coefficients with the reference method were observed for PulsePen (r = 0.99) and Complior (r = 0.83), whereas for PulseTrace correlation with the reference method was much lower (r = 0.55). Upon Bland-Altman analysis, mean differences of values +/- 2s.d. versus the reference method were -0.15 +/- 0.62 m/s, 2.09 +/- 2.68 m/s and -1.12 +/- 4.92 m/s, for PulsePen, Complior and Pulse-Trace, respectively. This study confirms the reliability of Complior and PulsePen devices in estimating PWV, while the SI determined by the PulseTrace device was found to be inappropriate as a surrogate of PWV. The present results indicate the urgent need for evaluation and comparison of the different devices to standardize PWV measurements and establish reference values.
The aim of this paper is to discuss the needs for investment in electricity interconnectors in Europe by 2025. We evaluate the impact of cross-border transmission capacity on dispatch costs, ...curtailment needs for renewable energy sources (RES), on CO2 emissions, on hydro storage utilisation and on security of supply (in terms of energy not served). The analysis is performed with EUPowerDispatch, a minimum-cost dispatch model. For the evolution of the electricity generation portfolio and electricity consumption we use the latest Scenario Outlook and Adequacy Forecast of the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). The model results show that the planned additional cross-border transmission capacity between 2010 and 2025 will reduce annual dispatch costs, will have limited impact on the security of supply and will not be a significant cause of variable RES curtailment. However, in case of more RES, it will reduce dispatch costs to a larger extent and will considerably reduce RES curtailment needs, and, if demand grows at the historical rate of 2%, it will be needed to maintain the current level of security of supply. Moreover, our study shows that hydro pumping and storage and cross-border transmission are partly complementary technologies.
•A model for assessing the benefits of cross-border transmission capacity in Europe.•Current cross-border transmission: not an important constraint for RES by 2025.•CO2 emissions from electricity generation decrease by 17% (2010–2025).•Transmission investment necessary if demand is slightly higher than projected.•Storage and transmission are at least partly complementary technologies.
Background
Many studies have shown that short telomere length (TL) is associated with high oxidative stress and various age-related diseases. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-related disease, and ...although its pathogenic mechanism is uncertain, oxidative stress is believed to be implicated in this pathology. The aim of this case-control study was to assess both TL and the different markers of oxidative stress in elderly patients with PD compared to age control subjects.
Methods
20 PD patients and 15 age-matched controls, >65 years were studied. TL was measured by Southern blotting from DNA samples extracted from white blood cells. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and plasma levels of total glutathione and protein carbonyls were determined.
Results
There was a trend for lower TL in PD patients: 6.06 ± 0.81 kb in PD versus 6.45± 0.73 kb in controls (p = 0.08). No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of oxidative stress markers. In controls, age was the main determinant of telomere shortening (r = −0.547; p = 0.03) whereas, in PD patients, telomere shortening was mainly dependent on plasmatic concentrations of carbonyl proteins (r= −0.544; p=0.044). In PD patients, a negative association was observed between plasma carbonyl protein levels and SOD activity (r= − 0.622, p=0.004).
Conclusions
In PD, TL is shorter in presence of high oxidative stress as measured by carbonyl protein levels. The absence of telomere attrition with age among patients with PD could reflect a telomere regulation by mechanisms other than age.
This paper presents a modern electric heat treatment which has implemented an electric furnace control system through thermoregulatory with PID control laws. An important aspect is the development of ...a mathematical model for controlling electrical heating systems for heat treatments based on mathematical modelling to predict the mechanical properties and structure of the play resulting from heat treatment. Validation of the experimental research of heat treatment designed by the mathematical model for predicting mechanical properties and structure of the finished part and model for controlling electrical heating system based on PID adjustment algorithms consists in structural analysis to determine the chemical composition, structural analysis by light microscopy, electron microscopy SEM and EDX quantitative analysis, determination of hardness alloys and physical and mechanical of the turbine blades component of a plasma torch on hydrogen made of heat-treated steel.
Our proposal for this paper is to diversify the architecture of neural networks in order to optimize it and to obtain the best performing configurations that minimize errors of predictive mechanical ...properties of polymeric concrete. In this paper different architectures of artificial neural networks will be used for investigating the flexural strength of polymer concrete with fly ash and fibres. In the present study the epoxy resin was used for binding the aggregates. In the composition were introduced near the fly ash, used as filler, the cellulose fibres for improving the properties. The characteristics of these artificial neural networks architectures will be presented and analysed in order to choose the one that minimizes the prediction errors of the mechanical characteristics of polymer concrete and presents an optimal configuration that allows a high working speed that can adapt to this type of approaching the problem with a strong nonlinear character. By using this modern predictive methods, it was attempted to highlight its basic character - learning by examples specific to the human brain but much more efficient due to the mathematical models of the activation functions and the interconnection between the layers of neurons that exponentially increase their ability to adapt to strong nonlinear phenomena. Thus one can say that such a prediction helps to reduce the number of real experiences and can greatly contribute to obtaining the optimal configuration of parameters necessary to obtain a desired mechanical characteristic of the analysed concrete.
This paper presents the research undertaken by the authors to determine the parameters of electric power produced by a photovoltaic panel using flexible semiconductor polymer cells, aiming a ...comparative study between this panel and other types of conventional photovoltaic panels, with monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous silicon, based on technical and economic indicators, established under uncertainty conditions. We will also present the variation of these dimensions according to the incidence angle of solar radiation. Thus, researches will show that for its value between 36-38 degrees, you get very good conversion yields. The economic study presented also reveals that under uncertainty there is a correspondence between the panel type and its physical and economic characteristics.
The aim of the present study was to establish whether elevated carotid–femoral pulse wave velocity (c–fPWV), an indicator of aortic stiffness, assessed before surgery, is correlated with variations ...in arterial pressure (AP) during induction of anaesthesia in elderly patients undergoing non-cardiovascular surgery.
c–fPWV was measured with the PulsePen® device during pre-surgical anaesthetic evaluation. Monitoring included electrocardiography, pulse oximetry, non-invasive AP, heart rate, bispectral index (BIS), and oxygen concentration during induction of anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil. Anaesthesia was induced so as to maintain BIS values between 40 and 50.
Forty-five patients, aged mean (sd) 71.1 (5.8) yr, were studied. The mean value of c–fPWV was 12.1 (3.9) m s−1. There was no correlation between hypotension during anaesthesia induction and total dosage or rate of administration of propofol or remifentanil. In univariate analysis, only age and PWV significantly correlated with the decreases in AP, and the association between c–fPWV and a decrease in AP was also seen in multivariate analysis (r=0.36, P<0.05). Patients classified as having ‘high stiffness’ (c–fPWV≥12.9 m s−1) had 25% further decrease in systolic AP during anaesthesia induction than those with lower PWV 75.2 (5.7) vs 60.2 (4.2) mm Hg, P<0.05.
Increased aortic stiffness, as assessed by PWV measured during preoperative anaesthetic evaluation, is associated with more pronounced hypotension during induction of anaesthesia. Measurement of aortic stiffness in the elderly may thus represent a valid indicator of the risk of hypotension during anaesthesia induction.
► We present advanced processes and analytics to improve tritium management. ► Membranes and membrane reactors can minimise tritium residence time and inventory. ► Spectroscopic methods can ensure ...on-line and near to real time tritium measurement.
Safe, reliable, and efficient tritium management in the breeder blanket will have to face unprecedented technological challenges. Beside the efficiency for tritium recovery from the breeder blanket (Tritium Extraction (TES) and Coolant Purification Systems (CPS)), the accuracy for tritium tracking between the inner and the outer fuel cycle must also be demonstrated. This paper focuses on the recent R&D carried out at the Tritium Laboratory Karlsruhe to tackle these issues. For ITER, the recently consolidated TES and CPS designs comprise adsorption columns and getter beds operated in semi-continuous mode. Different approaches for the tritium accountancy stage (TAS) have been evaluated. Balancing static (batch-wise gas collection at the TBM outlets and the tritium plant) or dynamic (in/on-line) approaches with respect to the expected analytical performances and integration issues, the first conceptual design of the TAS for EU TBMs is presented. For DEMO, the overall strategy for tritium recovery and tracking has been revisited. The necessity for on-line real-time tritium accountancy and improved process efficiency suggest the use of continuous processes such as permeator and catalytic membrane reactor. The main benefits combining the PERMCAT process with advanced membranes is discussed with respect to process improvements and facilitated accountancy using spectroscopic methods.
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