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The effects of greenhouse gases on climate variation set policy challenges for the energy industry – the largest greenhouse gas contributor globally. In this context, the energy industry is being subjected to reforms focussing on the environment, internalisation of emission costs and the promotion of cleaner technologies. To overcome the challenges posed by the emission of greenhouse gases, governments have implemented mitigation policies in the power supply industries. Most policy instruments include either financial incentives or goals and standards; and these generate impacts on electricity prices and consumer behaviour. This paper models policies' effects on prices and demand, through an integrated demand and supply analysis for the Colombian case. While simulation of carbon taxes shows important reductions of fossil-fuelled power capacity, a feed-in tariff policy promotes clean technologies, though not significantly reducing use of fossil technologies. When applied simultaneously, policy has a greater impact on both emission reductions and the diffusion of clean technologies, while only increasing electricity prices slightly. Even when price-elasticity of demand is low, such policies may have a significant effect on the penetration of renewables and emissions. Furthermore, this structured modelling of policy helps explain how the ultimate intended goal – sustainable emissions reduction – might be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis is a sterile autoinflammatory disease characterized by foci of sterile inflammation in the bone that generate recurrent pain. It is a rare entity in which the cardinal clinical manifestation is the presence of inflammatory bone lesions in metaepiphyseal regions of long bones, predominating in lower limbs. The disease is often associated with systemic symptoms and skin involvement making it part of the arthritis-dermatitis syndrome. The most common radiographic finding is osteolysis surrounded by a thin sclerotic halo, without periosteal reaction associated with bone formation or bone sequestrum. Magnetic resonance imaging allows early detection and facilitates the differential diagnosis between osteomyelitis and infections or bone tumors. Treatment is supported mainly by case reports and series of patients and consists of the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the use of bisphosphonates or tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists in refractory cases. The prognosis of this disease is generally good, with a benign and self-limited clinical course in most cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an agent-based model of the technological adoption of solar panels, including potential adopters' characteristics and their interactions. This study analyzes the theoretical impact of seven social influence strategies on the adoption of solar panels by householders within a solar neighborhood in the Providencia district, Chile. In this case study, established adopters account for 0.9% of the population, opinion leaders for 1.3%, and individuals in the network for 97.8%. Considering the population's high-level ambition and tolerance of uncertainty, we found that householders are mainly characterized as optimizers (89.7%), followed by inquirers (7.6%), repeaters (2.3%), and imitators (0.3%) agents. Our agent-based simulation model evaluated the social influence strategies based on economic, environmental, and social benefits. The results show that social influence strategies lead to a 19.27% increase, on average, in the total number of adopters concerning the base case. Then, we performed a multi-objective analysis to select the best adoption strategy. These results show that selecting the most connected agents in the network is a robust strategy the decision-makers have environmental or financial concerns. However, if the decision-makers' primary interest is maximizing the diffusion scope of solar panel neighborhoods, random agent selection is the most advisable strategy, given its ease of implementation. [Display omitted] • Consumat approach and Campbell's paradigm were integrated into a simulation model. • The results from seven social influence strategies are compared. • Selective seeding and random seeding are found to be the most effective strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the case of a 29-year-old man diagnosed two years ago with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), who presented with painful fingertip ulcers.

The transport sector is under scrutiny because of its significant greenhouse gas emissions. Essential strategies, particularly the adoption of zero- and low-emission vehicles powered by electricity, are crucial for mitigating emissions in road transport. Pickups, which are integral to Mexico's fleet, contribute to such emissions. Thus, implementing effective policies targeting pickups is vital for reducing air pollution and aligning with Mexico's decarbonization objectives. This paper presents a simulation model based on system dynamics to represent the adoption process of zero- and low-emission vehicles, with a focus on pickups and utilizing data from the Mexican case. Three policy evaluation scenarios are proposed based on the simulation model: business as usual; disincentives for zero- and low-emission vehicles; and incentives for unconventional vehicles. One of the most significant findings from this study is that even in a scenario with a greater number of vehicles in circulation, if the technology is fully electric, the environmental impact in terms of emissions is lower. Additionally, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis spanning a wide spectrum is undertaken through an extensive computational process, yielding multiple policy scenarios. The analysis indicates that to achieve a maximal reduction in the country's emissions, promoting solely hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles is advisable, whereas internal combustion engines, vehicular natural gas, and battery electric vehicles should be discouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of specific antibodies in inflammatory myopathies has improved the characterization of this disease, identifying different clinical phenotypes. Patients with dermatomyositis and anti-MDA5 antibodies display typical skin symptoms, lesser muscular involvement, and a prevalence of interstitial lung disease of up to 91%. Beyond interstitial lung disease, spontaneous pneumomediastinum has been identified as a rare but potentially fatal pulmonary manifestation. Two cases of this complication in patients with anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing worldwide concern regarding emissions of energy-related greenhouse gases (GHGs). Policy, technology and human awareness provide opportunities for offsetting these effects through energy conservation, efficient appliances and solar generation in households as these have been the subject of increasing attention across the world in recent years. Solar rooftop generation, in particular, could deliver significant efficiency improvements and reductions of CO2 emissions through its diffusion, which also avoids losses in electricity transmission and distribution systems; energy efficiency contributes to the achievement of a sustainable future because it reduces the energy-infrastructure needs, increases competitiveness and improves consumer welfare; conservation would also reduce CO2 emissions in households. The purpose of this paper is to assess the combined effect of the diffusion of solar rooftop generation, energy efficiency and electricity conservation in the residential sector in Colombia. Simulation results for different policy scenarios indicate that rooftop generation, energy efficiency and conservation can together lead, under certain conditions, to important reductions in both electricity prices and emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the primary challenges of the power industry, worldwide, is making the capacity investment appropriate for the achievement of security of supply. This challenge is becoming even more relevant as power generation is increasingly based on renewables that are intermittent and seasonally dependent. In this context, policy makers and regulators implement capacity mechanisms that seek to overcome the intrinsic shortcomings of renewables. Failing to do so, given the uncertainty and complexity involved, means either that excessive overcapacity will become persistent and remain idle, or that under-capacity will prompt blackouts and high electricity prices. To help manage the uncertainty and complexity, this paper contributes to a better understanding of the effects of the capacity mechanism on electricity markets with a high share of hydropower – by using a system dynamics modelling approach applied to Colombia. In the past, though the capacity mechanism induced large reserve margins, the system has been at serious risk of experience blackouts and has resulted in extremely high electricity prices over a prolonged period. In the future, worse scenarios are possible: historically-familiar events – when backup plants were not available – may recur when new capacity is delayed, posing an even greater threat to the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the predictors of failure to obtain remission after induction therapy for proliferative lupus nephritis in a group of northwestern Colombian patients. Material and methods: A retrospective study was conducted. We included patients with systemic lupus erythematosus according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria who had nephritis confirmed by renal biopsy. Results: We followed 84 patients: 88.1% female, and 11.9% male. The mean age at diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus was 27.5 ± 11.8 years (9-70). The average time between diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus and proliferative nephritis onset was 13.6 months (0-168). Histopathologic type: iv (78.57%), iii (15.47%), iii-iv/v (5.96%). Activity index: 6.7±4.6. Chronicity index: 2±2.7. 24-hour proteinuria (mg): 6,164 (130-18,100). Baseline creatinine: 1.14mg/dL (0.43-7.4). Induction therapy: Steroids (100%), cyclophosphamide (76.2%) and mycophenolate mofetil (23.8%). At six months, 56% of individuals failed to achieve partial or complete remission. Predictors of failure to induction therapy were, in accordance with the bivariate analysis (OR; 95%CI): creatinine level more than 1.2mg/dL (10.8; 3.18-36.84; P< .005), nephrotic range proteinuria (11.9; 3.09-45.8; P< .001), and an activity index above 8 (5.04; 1.7-14.3; P < .001). In the multivariate analysis, only baseline creatinine higher than 1.2 mg/dL (10.92; 2.65-45.02; P = .001), and nephrotic range proteinuria (9.81; 1.85-52.04; P = .007) were significant. Conclusions: A significant percentage of Colombian patients fail to achieve remission of proliferative lupus nephritis after six months of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SAPHO syndrome (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis) is a chronic and inflammatory condition, with cutaneous and osteoarticular manifestations. Its etiology is still unclear, although a possible association has been considered between this syndrome and spondylarthropathies. Several types of treatment with steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs are currently used for this condition, obtaining different results. Biphosphonates are a new treatment option for SAPHO syndrome due to their anti-osteoclastic and anti-inflammatory properties. We report the case of a male patient with SAPHO syndrome, who was successfully treated with zoledronic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is sufficient evidence of the capqcity of silica to induce autoimmunity in patients with some type of genetic susceptibility. There are several autoimmune diseases related to this exposure (rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome, sarcoidosis, systemic sclerosis). Nodular silicosis (clinical expression of this exposure in lungs) generates apoptosis, inflammation, loss of tolerance and a respiratory burst. There is evidence that relates silica with induction of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, but, until it is better explained, the reports of systemic vasculitis secondary to silica exposure are inconclusive. We describe a case of a patient with a history of occupational exposure to silica who developed microscopic polyangiitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]