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Formulation of targets and establishing which factors in different contexts will achieve these targets are critical to successful decarbonization of the building sector. To contribute to this, we have performed an evidence map of roadmaps for zero and low energy and carbon buildings (ZLECB) worldwide, including a list and classification of documents in an on-line geographical map, a description of gaps, and a narrative review of the knowledge gluts. We have retrieved 1219 scientific documents from Scopus, extracted metadata from 274 documents, and identified 117 roadmaps, policies or plans from 27 countries worldwide. We find that there is a coverage bias towards more developed regions. The identified scientific studies are mostly recommendations to policy makers, different types of case studies, and demonstration projects. The geographical inequalities found in the coverage of the scientific literature are even more extreme in the coverage of the roadmaps. These underexplored world regions represent an area for further investigation and increased research/policy attention. Our review of the more substantial amount of literature and roadmaps for developed regions shows differences in target metrics and enforcement mechanisms but that all regions dedicate some efforts at national and local levels. Roadmaps generally focus more on new and public buildings than existing buildings, despite the fact that the latter are naturally larger in number and total floor area, and perform less energy efficiently. A combination of efficiency, technical upgrades, and renewable generation is generally proposed in the roadmaps, with behavioral measures only reflected in the use of information and communication technologies, and minimal focus being placed on lifecycle perspectives. We conclude that insufficient progress is being made in the implementation of ZLECB. More work is needed to couple the existing climate goals, with realistic, enforceable policies to make the carbon savings a reality for different contexts and stakeholders worldwide.

The plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase has been proposed to play important transport and regulatory roles in plant physiology, including its participation in auxin-induced acidification in coleoptile segments. This enzyme is encoded by a family of genes differing in tissue distribution, regulation, and expression level. A major expressed isoform of the maize PM H+-ATPase (MHA2) has been characterized. RNA gel blot analysis indicated that MHA2 expressed in all maize organs, with highest levels being in the roots. In situ hybridization of sections from maize seedlings indicated enriched expression of MHA2 in stomatal guard cells, phloem cells, and root epidermal cells. MHA2 mRNA was induced threefold when nonvascular parts of the coleoptile segments were treated with auxin. This induction correlates with auxin-triggered proton extrusion by the same part of the segments. The PM H+-ATPase in the vascular bundles does not contribute significantly to auxin-induced acidification, is not regulated by auxin, and masks the auxin effect in extracts of whole coleoptile segments. We conclude that auxin-induced acidification in coleoptile segments most often occurs in the nonvascular tissue and is mediated, at least in part, by increased levels of MHA2

Dermoid cysts are benign congenital lesions that usually appear on the surface of the skull, mainly on the anterior fontanelle. Diagnosis is usually made in the first months of life by physical examination and imaging studies such as CT, MRI, or ultra sound (US) Doppler. It is important to distinguish it from other similar lesions that represent greater surgical complexity, morbidity, and mortality. In this work, we show the principle differential diagnoses, the diagnostic approach, and the surgical technique used in the resection of the dermoid cyst located over the anterior fontanelle.Dermoid cysts are benign congenital lesions that usually appear on the surface of the skull, mainly on the anterior fontanelle. Diagnosis is usually made in the first months of life by physical examination and imaging studies such as CT, MRI, or ultra sound (US) Doppler. It is important to distinguish it from other similar lesions that represent greater surgical complexity, morbidity, and mortality. In this work, we show the principle differential diagnoses, the diagnostic approach, and the surgical technique used in the resection of the dermoid cyst located over the anterior fontanelle.

Hull cleaning before repainting is a key operation in the maintenance of ships. For more than a decade, a means to improve this operation has been sought through robotization and the use of different techniques such as grit blasting and ultra high pressure water jetting. Despite this, it continues to be standard practice in shipyards that this process is carried out manually. This paper presents a family of robots that aims to offer important improvements to the process as well as satisfying, to a great extent, all the operative requirements of efficiency, security, and respect for the environment that shipyards nowadays demand. It is described the family of devices with emphasis on the mechanical design. This set consists of two vertical robotic towers and a robot climber. In addition, it is shown the control architecture of the global system. Finally, operative results are presented together with a comparison between the performance achieved in shipyards through the use of these robots and those obtained with a manual process.

The growth in computing resources at scientific computing centers has created new challenges for system software. These multi-teraflop systems often exceed the capabilities of the system software and require new approaches to accommodate these large processor counts. The costs associated with development and maintenance of this software are also significant impediments, which are compounded by a lack of interoperability because of site-specific enhancements. The Scalable System Software project seeks to address these issues through a component based approach to system software development. An overview of this design and the benefits of such an approach will be discussed in this paper.

Plant development is the result of an endogenous morphogenetic program that integrates environmental signals. The so-called circadian clock is a set of genes that integrates environmental inputs into an internal pacing system that gates growth and other outputs. Study of circadian growth responses requires high sampling rates to detect changes in growth and avoid aliasing. We have developed a flexible configurable growth chamber comprising a computer vision system that allows sampling rates ranging between one image per 30 s to hours/days. The vision system has a controlled illumination system, which allows the user to set up different configurations. The illumination system used emits a combination of wavelengths ensuring the optimal growth of species under analysis. In order to obtain high contrast of captured images, the capture system is composed of two CCD cameras, for day and night periods. Depending on the sample type, a flexible image processing software calculates different parameters based on geometric calculations. As a proof of concept we tested the system in three different plant tissues, growth of petunia- and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) flowers and of cladodes from the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica. We found that petunia flowers grow at a steady pace and display a strong growth increase in the early morning, whereas Opuntia cladode growth turned out not to follow a circadian growth pattern under the growth conditions imposed. Furthermore we were able to identify a decoupling of increase in area and length indicating that two independent growth processes are responsible for the final size and shape of the cladode.

Background Telaprevir is a new drug for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Purpose To compare the safety of telaprevir treatment between HCV mono-infected patients and HIV co-infected patients. Materials and methods Retrospective observational study of 1 year and 6 months (January 2012–June 2013) conducted in our Health Department. Patients were included with HCV genotype 1 who had completed 12 weeks of treatment with telaprevir. Demographic characteristics were collected and related to treatment, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported, transfusion requirements or supportive treatment, ribavirin dose reductions and treatment suspensions. The ADRs recorded were classified according to Division of AIDS (DAIDS.v.1.0) Results We included 88 patients, 40.9% co-infected with HIV. The groups were similar in demographic characteristics, patient type and genotype, however the rate of cirrhosis was higher in the co-infected group (97.2% vs. 53.8% p < 0.005). Toxicity including all grades: no differences between the groups for anaemia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, hyperuricaemia and renal toxicity. The incidence of hyperbilirubinaemia was higher in the co-infected group (50% vs. 26.9% p = 0.02). There was a higher incidence of hyperbilirubinaemia G3-G4 in the co-infected group (27.8% vs. 3.8% p = 0.002). In contrast, the incidence of neutropenia G3-G4 was higher in mono-infected group (25% vs 8.3%, p = 0.04). The dose of ribavirin was modified more in the co-infected group than in the mono-infected group (65.8% vs. 30.6% p = 0.001), and exogenous erythropoietin used more often (38.5% vs. 13.9% p = 0.01). No differences were observed in the transfusion rate (21.2% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.173). Colony stimulating factors were used only in one patient in the mono-infected group. Conclusions Similar toxicity profiles were observed between the two groups, although with a higher incidence of hyperbilirubinaemia in the co-infected group, which could be related to the use of the antiretroviral atazanavir. No conflict of interest.

BackgroundAutoantibodies, low complement levels and higher NK cell counts are present in a subset of women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The combination of these abnormalities might be a surrogate profile for the presence of a subclinical inflammatory or autoimmune condition.ObjectivesIn a cohort of women with unexplained RPL we evaluated if an immunological profile combining innate and adaptive immunity mediators was associated with the presence of distinct clinical characteristics that are commonly observed in autoimmune diseases and if it was a risk factor for developing these diseases. In a small subset of women with the immunological profile we evaluated the activation status of CD4+ and CD8+ cells.MethodsWe evaluated 366 women with RPL defined as 2 or more pregnancy losses and 93 control women. We defined the immune profile as the presence of 2 or more of the following abnormalities: Peripheral blood NK cell percentages >15%, positive antiphospholipid antibodies, positive antinuclear antibodies, positive anti-thyroid antibodies, low complement C3 levels and low C4 complement levels. Evolution to autoimmune diseases was detected during follow-up. Lymphocyte subsets were evaluated by flow-cytometry. Statistics: Chi-square test. Logistic regression.ResultsThe prevalence of women with 2 or more immunological abnormalities was 57 out of 366 women (15.6%) and was significantly higher than in control women. Demographic clinical characteristics were similar in women with 2 or more immunological abnormalities as compared with women with only one immunological alteration or no abnormalities. The presence of the immunological profile was significantly associated with the presence of the following clinical characteristics: Leucopenia (p=0.048), lymphopenia (p=0.007), livedo reticularis (p=0.01), cutaneous rash (p=0.009), and arthritis (p=0.001). During follow-up 17 patients (4.6%) developed an inflammatory or autoimmune disease that was not present at the time of the diagnose of RPL including SLE and lupus like disease. Women with the immunological profile were at higher risk for evolution into these diseases: OR 4.19, 95% confidence interval 1.52–11.51, p=0.0055. In 10 women with the immunological profile we observed significantly higher levels of CD4+DR+ and CD8+DR+ T-cells as compared with women without the immune profile.ConclusionsA subgroup of women with unexplained RPL are at risk of developing clinical characteristics of an inflammatory or autoimmune disease. In this regard, the immunological evaluation of women with RPL might be necessary not only to identify a potential cause of abortion but also to identify women that could require a more careful clinical follow-up. Higher CD4+DR+ and CD8+DR+ T-cells might be a pathogenic pathway leading to development of autoimmune diseases in RPL women.References Viallard JF, Bloch-Michel C, Neau-Cransac M, Taupin JL, Garrigue S, Miossec V, Mercie P, Pellegrin JL, Moreau JF. HLA-DR expression on lymphocyte subsets as a marker of disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Exp Immunol. 2001;125(3):485–91.CD8+DR+ T-Cells and C3 Complement Serum Concentration as Potential Biomarkers in Thrombotic Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Sarmiento E, Dale J, Arraya M, Gallego A, Lanio N, Navarro J, Carbone J. Autoimmune Dis. 2014. AcknowledgementsResearch Funds. Fundacion Salud 2000. Madrid Spain.Disclosure of InterestNone declared

IntroductionIn a previous phase, 12 draft definitions for clinically important worsening in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) were selected, of which 3 were based on absolute changes in Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS)-CRP (ASDAS). The objective here was to select the best cut-off for ASDAS for clinically important worsening in axSpA for use in clinical trials and observational studies.MethodsAn international longitudinal prospective study evaluating stable patients with axSpA was conducted. Data necessary to calculate ASDAS were collected at two consecutive visits (spaced 7 days to 6 months). Sensitivity and specificity of the three cut-offs for change in ASDAS were tested against the patient’s subjective assessment of worsening as the external standard (ie, the patient reporting that he had worsened and felt a need for treatment intensification). Final selection was made by a consensus and voting procedure among Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) members.ResultsIn total, 1169 patients with axSpA were analysed: 64.8% were male and had a mean age of 41.7 (SD 12.4) years. At the second visit, 127 (10.9%) patients judged their situation as worsened.Sensitivity and specificity for an increase of at least 0.6, 0.9 and 1.1 ASDAS points to detect patient-reported worsening were 0.55 (Se) and 0.91 (Sp), 0.38 (Se) and 0.96 (Sp), and 0.33 (Se) and 0.98 (Sp), respectively. The ASAS consensus was to define clinically important worsening as an increase in ASDAS of at least 0.9 points.ConclusionThis data-driven ASAS consensus process resulted in an ASDAS-based cut-off value defining clinically important worsening in axSpA for use in trials.

Images from high dynamic range (HDR) scenes must be obtained with minimum loss of information. For this purpose it is necessary to take full advantage of the quantification levels provided by the CCD/CMOS image sensor. LinLog CMOS sensors satisfy the above demand by offering an adjustable response curve that combines linear and logarithmic responses. This paper presents a novel method to quickly adjust the parameters that control the response curve of a LinLog CMOS image sensor. We propose to use an Adaptive Proportional-Integral-Derivative controller to adjust the exposure time of the sensor, together with control algorithms based on the saturation level and the entropy of the images. With this method the sensor’s maximum dynamic range (120 dB) can be used to acquire good quality images from HDR scenes with fast, automatic adaptation to scene conditions. Adaptation to a new scene is rapid, with a sensor response adjustment of less than eight frames when working in real time video mode. At least 67% of the scene entropy can be retained with this method.