Understanding space–time features of wind speed is of high interest in meteorology and several applied sciences. Accurate wind speed measurements in combination with reliable gridded products, such ...as reanalyses, are needed to address the main characteristics of the wind field. Hourly 10 m wind speed from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) latest reanalysis (ERA5) is compared with HadISD wind observations from 245 stations across Europe. Averaged ERA5 hourly data is able to reproduce the annual cycle of monthly wind speed in Europe. ERA5 presents slightly larger (shorter) monthly medians in winter (summer) than observations. ERA5 is compared against observations for each station using a frequency distribution‐based score (score, from 0 to 1). Most of the stations exhibit hourly scores ranging from 0.8 to 0.9, indicating that ERA5 is able to reproduce the wind speed spectrum range, from light to strong relative frequencies, for any location over Europe. Ranges of mean values, variability, distribution function parameters and high or low wind thresholds frequencies are shown for this ensemble of European stations, allowing for an overall description of wind features. Generally, there is no clear relationship between scores and the variables analysed. The correlation and scores between ERA5 and HadISD is even further increased at longer time frequencies (6–24 hourly), together with centred root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) and standard deviation decreases. Hourly wind data from ERA5 reanalysis is, despite some shortcomings, valuable information to perform further detailed studies with a regular spatial and time wind distribution, from the climatological or renewable energy perspectives, for example.
Comparison of ERA5 wind speed with HadISD observations over Europe.
Thyroid hormones in diabetes, cancer, and aging Gauthier, Benoit R.; Sola‐García, Alejandro; Cáliz‐Molina, María Ángeles ...
Aging Cell,
November 2020, Letnik:
19, Številka:
11
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Thyroid
hormones are central in the control of health and disease. Here we review the latest findings in thyroid hormone
research in the field of diabetes, cancer, and aging. Aging studies
indicate ...that the direct modulation of thyroid hormones is not an viable
strategy to promote healthy aging. However, although challenging, interventions
based on the use of modulators of thyroid hormone function might provide
therapeutic benefit in certain types of diabetes and cancers.
Summary
Thyroid function is central in the control of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Studies in animal models and human research have determined that thyroid hormones modulate cellular processes relevant for aging and for the majority of age‐related diseases. While several studies have associated mild reductions on thyroid hormone function with exceptional longevity in animals and humans, alterations in thyroid hormones are serious medical conditions associated with unhealthy aging and premature death. Moreover, both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have been associated with the development of certain types of diabetes and cancers, indicating a great complexity of the molecular mechanisms controlled by thyroid hormones. In this review, we describe the latest findings in thyroid hormone research in the field of aging, diabetes, and cancer, with a special focus on hepatocellular carcinomas. While aging studies indicate that the direct modulation of thyroid hormones is not a viable strategy to promote healthy aging or longevity and the development of thyromimetics is challenging due to inefficacy and potential toxicity, we argue that interventions based on the use of modulators of thyroid hormone function might provide therapeutic benefit in certain types of diabetes and cancers.
Purpose
To analyse the relationship between Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) in computer workers and contact lens use, according to lens materials.
Methods
Cross‐sectional study. The study included 426 ...civil‐service office workers, of whom 22% were contact lens wearers. Workers completed the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire (CVS‐Q) and provided information on their contact lenses and exposure to video display terminals (VDT) at work. CVS was defined as a CVS‐Q score of 6 or more. The covariates were age and sex. Logistic regression was used to calculate the association (crude and adjusted for age and sex) between CVS and individual and work‐related factors, and between CVS and contact lens type.
Results
Contact lens wearers are more likely to suffer CVS than non‐lens wearers, with a prevalence of 65% vs 50%. Workers who wear contact lenses and are exposed to the computer for more than 6 h day−1 are more likely to suffer CVS than non‐lens wearers working at the computer for the same amount of time (aOR = 4.85; 95% CI, 1.25–18.80; p = 0.02).
Conclusions
Regular contact lens use increases CVS after 6 h of computer work.
Remanufacturing is an industrial process whereby used products are restored to useful life. This special issue seeks to address marketing issues for remanufactured products and provide an in-depth ...understanding of their barriers, together with mitigating practices and future opportunities. The articles present and analyse opportunities to improve marketing approaches for remanufactured products through exploring various marketing strategies, consumer behaviours, pricing and branding decisions, and optimized green transportation. This editorial note summarizes the outcomes of the papers published under this special issue, in addition to discussions on various influencing factors on marketing issues for remanufactured products including marketing attributes, customer willingness, pricing practices and performance evaluation methods. The final conclusion shows that there is sufficient scope to explore various perspectives connected with the issues of marketing remanufactured products through different fields of application.
Abstract Objective To assess the real-world, long-term effectiveness of rituximab (RTX) as a rescue therapy in patients with antisynthetase syndrome and progressive interstitial lung disease ...(ASS-ILD). Methods Multicentre observational retrospective longitudinal study of a cohort of patients with ASS-ILD that started treatment with RTX due to recurrent or ongoing progressive ILD despite therapy with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants. Results Twenty-eight patients were analyzed. Examining the entire study population, before treatment with RTX the mean decline in %pFVC and %pDLCO from the ASS-ILD diagnosis to the initiation of RTX treatment (T0) was -6.44% and -14.85%, respectively. After six months of treatment, RTX reversed the decline in pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters: ∆%pFVC +6.29% (95% CI: -10.07 to 2.51; p =0.002 compared to T0) and ∆%pDLCO +6.15% (95% CI: -10.86 to -1.43; p =0.013). Twenty-four patients completed one year of therapy and 22 two years, maintaining the response in PFT: ∆%pFVC: +9.93% (95% CI: -15.61 to -4.25; p =0.002) and ∆%pDLCO: +7.66% (95% CI: -11.67 to -3.65; p <0.001). In addition, there was a significant reduction in the median dose of prednisone, and it could be suspended in 18% of cases. In 33% of patients who required oxygen therapy at the start of treatment, it could be discontinued. The frequency of adverse events reached 28.5% of cases. Conclusion Based on our results, RTX appears to be effective as rescue therapy in most patients with recurrent or progressive ASS-ILD unresponsive to conventional treatment. The use of RTX was well tolerated in the majority of patients.
Eco-innovation has been analysed from a variety of perspectives in different disciplines. However, there is a shortage of studies at a microeconomic level, especially from a management and strategic ...perspective. A gap has been identified in the literature for comprehensive, in-depth qualitative analyses of the dynamics of eco-innovation which take into account different firms and sectors (particularly service industry, where there is a lack of studies), in order to contribute to theory-building, considering simultaneously different levels of analysis (macro, meso and micro) and different types of agents who collaborate in the eco-innovation process. The key aim of this paper is therefore to create a strategic model of eco-innovation in order to identify and understand how and why eco-innovations are developed. A theoretical and empirical approach is provided by examining a set of eco-innovative cases from organisations in an advanced European region. To this end, a multiple-case study has been designed taking into account those gaps identified by the literature.
An analytical model adapted from classical SWOT analysis has been used as a tool to obtain information on the eco-innovation process for the purposes of standardising the collection of evidence from the cases studied. A diagnosis of external and internal factors aligned with the organisation's philosophy and culture allows the strategic axes of eco-innovation to be established. The critical factors tend to be: environmental concern and regulation; knowledge and technological development, networking, and collaboration (external); and knowledge, resources and skills (internal).
The strategic model contains some valuable features (it is integrating, holistic and dynamic) and provides additional knowledge of the eco-innovation process in a specific context, a regional ecosystem that plays a significant role in generating and disseminating eco-innovation. It also shows that the regional eco-innovation ecosystem appears to react by reaching outside its own confines and interacting with others to form a community of ecosystems.
This model can be used to understand the particularities of eco-innovation in other regions, industrial sectors or even ecosystems. The main result of this paper, therefore, is the development of a transferable model of sustainable and innovative solutions in a specific regional context.
•An eco-innovation strategic model is developed and validated in a highly eco-innovative region.•Multiple-case study considers the internal and external level of organisations from different sectors.•The integrating, holistic and dynamic model provides further knowledge of the eco-innovation process.•Networking among industrial, political, knowledge creation and social spheres are critical factors.•The regional ecosystem is a relevant element in the generation of eco-innovation.
Shrinking lung syndrome (SLS) is a rare and less known complication mainly associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we analyze the clinical features, investigation findings, ...approaches to management, and outcome in a case series of 9 adult patients with SLE and SLS diagnosed during a 35-year period in 3 referral tertiary care hospitals in Spain. Additionally, we reviewed 80 additional cases previously reported (PubMed 1965-2015). These 80 cases, together with our 9 patients, form the basis of the present analysis.The overall SLS prevalence in our SLE population was 1.1% (9/829). SLS may complicate SLE at any time over its course, and it usually occurs in patients without previous or concomitant major organ involvement. More than half of the patients had inactive lupus according to SELENA-systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) scores. Typically, it presents with progressive exertional dyspnea of variable severity, accompanied by pleuritic chest pain in 76% of the cases.An important diagnostic delay is common. The diagnostic tools that showed better yield for SLS detection are the imaging techniques (chest x-ray and high-resolution computed tomography) along with pulmonary and diaphragmatic function tests. Evaluation of diaphragm dome motion by M-mode ultrasonography and phrenic nerve conduction studies are less useful.There are no standardized guidelines for the treatment of SLS in SLE. The majority of patients were treated with medium or high doses of glucocorticoids. Several immunosuppressive agents have been used in conjunction with steroids either if the patient fails to improve or since the beginning of the treatment. Theophylline and beta-agonists, alone or in combination with glucocorticoids, have been suggested with the intent to increase diaphragmatic strength.The overall long-term prognosis was good. The great majority of patients had significant clinical improvement and stabilization, or mild to moderate improvement on pulmonary function tests. The mortality rate was very low.
The dual function of the N−F bond as an effective oxidant and subsequent nitrogen source in intramolecular aliphatic C−H functionalization reactions is explored. Copper catalysis is demonstrated to ...exercise full regio‐ and chemoselectivity control, which opens new synthetic avenues to nitrogenated heterocycles with predictable ring sizes. For the first time, a uniform catalysis manifold has been identified for the construction of both pyrrolidine and piperidine cores. The individual steps of this new copper oxidation catalysis were elucidated by control experiments and computational studies, clarifying the singularity of the N−F function and characterizing the catalytic cycle to be based on a copper(I/II) manifold.
Two for one: A copper‐based catalytic protocol involving N−F activation serves in the synthesis of both pyrrolidines and the more challenging piperidines. The catalytic cycle is based on a copper(I/II) redox cycle.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, and extensive research has been performed to understand this disease better, using various experimental models. The endothelium ...plays a crucial role in the development of CVD, since it is an interface between bloodstream components, such as monocytes and platelets, and other arterial wall components. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) isolation from umbilical cord was first described in 1973. To date, this model is still widely used because of the high HUVEC isolation success rate, and because HUVEC are an excellent model to study a broad array of diseases, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. We here review the history of HUVEC isolation, the HUVEC model over time, HUVEC culture characteristics and conditions, advantages and disadvantages of this model and finally, its applications in the area of cardiovascular diseases.
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