A Pharmacogenetics Study in Mozambican Patients Treated with Nevirapine: Full Resequencing of TRAF3IP2 Gene Shows a Novel Association with SJS/TEN Susceptibility

Steven–Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are severe adverse drug reactions, characterized by extensive epidermal detachment and erosions of mucous membrane. SJS/TEN is one of the most serious adverse reactions to Nevirapine (NVP) treatment, commonly used in developing countries as first-line treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection. In the last years TRAF3IP2 gene variants had been described as associated with susceptibility to several diseases such as psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. We hypothesized that this gene, involved in immune response and in NF-κB activation, could also be implicated in the SJS/TEN susceptibility. We performed a full resequencing of TRAF3IP2 gene in a population of patients treated with NVP. Twenty-seven patients with NVP-induced SJS/TEN and 78 controls, all from Mozambique, were enrolled. We identified eight exonic and three intronic already described variants. The case/control association analysis highlighted an association between the rs76228616 SNP in exon 2 and the SJS/TEN susceptibility. In particular, the variant allele (C) resulted significantly associated with a higher risk to develop SJS/TEN (p = 0.012 and OR = 3.65 (95% CI 1.33–10.01)). A multivariate analysis by logistic regression confirmed its significant contribution (p = 0.027, OR = 4.39 (95% CI 1.19–16.23)). In conclusion, our study suggests that a variant in TRAF3IP2 gene could be involved in susceptibility to SJS/TEN.     

Doped silicon and NIS junctions for bolometer applications

We discuss the performance, of a normal metal hot electron bolometer (NHEB) that we have measured at 0.3 K. We found that the noise equivalent power was limited by the amplifier noise. To improve the NHEB power response and to make it more robust and reliable we propose to substitute the normal metal with heavily doped silicon. The heavily doped silicon behaves like a metal with lower carrier concentration and has a smaller electron–phonon thermal coupling. We have fabricated superconductor-doped silicon-superconductor contacts (S-Sm-S) and we have used them as thermometers and coolers.     

A versatile framework for a narrow- and wide-band statisticalpropagation model for the LMS channel

In this paper a framework for the development of a versatile statistical land mobile satellite (LMS) channel model, both narrow- and wide-band, is presented. First, a review is made of the different model elements that can be described statistically. Another specification set for the development of a comprehensive statistical model is that some physical/geometrical information should be included in spite of its fully statistical nature. The model shall be valid for applications such as communications, broadcast, navigation, etc., also it must consider different orbit types, and frequency bands. This paper summarises some of the activities to be carried out under ESA (European Space Agency) Contract No 12409/97/NL/NB for the development of a “Statistical Model for the LMS Channel”     

A collocation algorithm for calculating the periodic solutions of non-linear oscillators

An approximation method is given for calculating the periodic solutions of non-linear oscillators based upon the well-known method of collocation, which belongs to the class of projection methods. Unlike available techniques, the method leads to a simple and efficient algorithmic procedure which consists of solving a system of non-linear equations given in a simple explicit form. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, the results of some typical oscillator circuits are provided.     

Atypical presentation of Clostridium difficile colitis in patients with cystic fibrosis

OBJECTIVE: This report describes the unusual presentation of Clostridium difficile colitis in five patients with cystic fibrosis and the role of CT in first suggesting the correct diagnosis in this group of patients. Because of the absence of watery diarrhea and the presence of abdominal bloating and decreased stooling, cystic fibrosis patients with C. difficile colitis will be treated for stool impaction, meconium ileus equivalent, or distal intestinal obstruction syndrome. CT of the abdomen, performed in these five patients because of their lack of improvement after standard therapy for stool impaction, showed an extensive pancolitis later confirmed to be caused by C. difficile infection. CONCLUSION: In patients with cystic fibrosis, imaging findings of a pancolitis should raise the possibility of C. difficile colitis despite the lack of watery diarrhea. Anticlostridial treatment can be initiated before bacteriologic confirmation is obtained.     

A Novel Particle/Photon Detector Based on a Superconducting Proximity Array of Nanodots

The current frontiers in the investigation of high-energy particles demand for new detection methods. Higher sensitivity to low-energy deposition, high-energy resolution to identify events and improve the background rejection, and large detector masses have to be developed to detect even an individual particle that weakly interacts with ordinary matter. Here, we will describe the concept and the layout of a novel superconducting proximity array which show dynamic vortex Mott insulator to metal transitions, as an ultra-sensitive compact radiation-particle detector.     

Robust state of charge and state of health estimation for batteries using a novel multi model approach

Estimation of state-of-charge and state-of-health for batteries is one of the most important feature for modern battery management system (BMS). Robust or adaptive methods are the most investigated because a more intelligent BMS could lead to sensible cost reduction of the entire battery system. We propose a new robust method, called ERMES (extendible range multi-model estimator), for determining an estimated state-of-charge (SoC), an estimated state-of-health (SoH) and a prediction of uncertainty of the estimates (state-of-uncertainty—SoU), thanks to which it is possible to monitor the validity of the estimates and adjust it, extending the robustness against a wider range of uncertainty, if necessary. Specifically, a finite number of models in state-space form are considered starting from a modified Thevenin battery model. Each model is characterized by a hypothesis of SoH value. An iterated extended Kalman filter (EKF) is then applied to each model in parallel, estimating for each one the SoC state variable. Residual errors are then considered to fuse both the estimated SoC and SoH from the bank of EKF, yielding the overall SoC and SoH estimates, respectively. In addition, a figure of uncertainty of such estimates is also provided.     

Numerical Analysis on a Latent Thermal Energy Storage System with Phase Change Materials and Aluminum Foam

Abstract

A latent heat thermal energy storage system with phase change material (PCM) is numerically studied. To enhance the heat transfer inside the system, a highly conductive metal foam is employed with ceramic nanoparticles. The latter method of enhancement leads to a new class of material called Nano-PCM. The system under investigation is a 70-L tank filled up with pure PCM or Nano-PCM and several pipes are situated where the heat transfer fluid (HTF) flows. The pipe surfaces are assumed at constant temperature above the PCM melting temperature to simulate the heat transfer from the HTF. The enthalpy-porosity theory is applied to simulate the PCM phase change, while the porous media formulation is assumed to describe the metal foam behavior. The nano-PCM is modeled with single-phase model where the properties are the weighted-average between the fluid base and the nanoparticles. The simulations are accomplished for charging-discharging process at different porosities and nanoparticle concentration. The results are given in term of average melting fraction evolution, average temperature as function of time, average stored energy. The metal foam significantly improves the heat transfer between PCM and HTF respect to the addition of nanoparticles, reducing the charging and discharging time more than one order of magnitude.     

Enhancement of Heat Transfer in Partially Heated Vertical Channel Under Mixed Convection by Using Al2O3 Nanoparticles

Laminar mixed convection in a two-dimensional symmetrically and partially heated vertical channel is investigated. The heaters are located on both walls and uniform temperature is applied on the heated sections. The number of heaters is considered as 1, 4, 8, and 10. Aluminum oxide/water nanofluid is considered as working fluid and the inlet velocity is uniform. The continuity, momentum and energy equations with appropriate boundary conditions are solved in dimensionless form, numerically. The study is performed for Richardson number of 0.01 and 10, Reynolds number of 100 and 500, and nanofluid volume fraction of 0% and 5%. Based on the obtained velocity and temperature distributions, the local and mean Nusselt number is calculated and plotted for different cases. The variation of the mean Nusselt number with the number of the heated portions is also discussed. It is found that the addition of nanoparticles into the base fluid increases mean Nusselt number but the rate of increase depends on Reynolds, Richardson numbers and number of heated portions. It is possible to increase mean Nusselt number 138% by increasing Reynolds number from 100 to 500, Richardson number from 0.01 to 10 and number of heated portions from 1 to 10 when volume fraction value is 5%.