When hydrogen sulfide decomposition {2 H2S ↔ 2 H2 + S2(gas)} is carried out in the flow regime at room temperature on metal catalysts placed in a liquid capable of dissolving H2S and sulfur, the reaction equilibrium can be significantly (up to 100%) shifted to the right yielding the desired product – hydrogen. The process efficiency was demonstrated using aqueous solutions of monoethanolamine (MEA), sodium carbonate, which is widely used in industry for H2S absorption from tail gases, and aqueous hydrazine as examples. IR and Raman spectroscopy data demonstrated that sulfur obtained in the solutions is in the form of diatomic molecules. DFT calculations showed that diatomic sulfur forms weakly bound coordinative complexes with solvent molecules. Some problems related to sulfur accumulation and recovery from the solvents are discussed. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT


In the legal framework for Canada's pandemic response, executive government has been the dominant actor. The responsibility of balancing public health and economic well-being in rapidly evolving circumstances has been discharged by executive actors, elected ministers and unelected healthcare officials. Given the federal nature of the Canadian Constitution and the dominant role of executive government in the pandemic response, there has been a high degree of variation across the country in dealing with successive waves of COVID-19. With successive waves of COVID-19 sweeping into Canada and over the population, the political and legal systems struggled to respond. The legal scholar charged with describing Canada's COVID-19 response faces an unenviable task. Each of the COVID-19 waves would merit a detailed analysis in and of itself but space precludes such an approach. My goal, therefore, is to set out the general framework Canada's political and legal systems have used to respond to the pandemic, illuminating the framework by examples drawn from various points in time. This framework is mostly backward-looking but, as it is likely to be used in response to future waves and future pandemics, it has also a forward-looking quality. I use as my touchstone the three forms of governmental power – imperium, dominium and suasion. Imperium is the use of the coercive power of the law. It has been on display at national and interprovincial borders, with the federal government using its coercive powers to quarantine visitors and Canadians returning from abroad, and provincial governments sometimes refusing entry to out-of-province Canadians and quarantining its own residents. Provincially, governments have restricted individuals' ability to move, meet and work by imposing physical distancing requirements. The consequences for civil liberties have, therefore, been significant. The struggle against COVID-19 has not entirely been waged by means of imperium. In early waves, governments used exercised their ability to distribute public funds – dominium – to contract for supplies of personal protective equipment. As vaccines became available, the federal government bought large amounts from international pharmaceutical companies;these vaccines were distributed to the provinces and local health authorities for administration to the population. Wearing their employer hats, the federal government and some provincial governments have sought to mandate vaccination for employees in certain sectors, on pain of losing their employment. Beyond imperium and dominium, Canadian governments have sought to use suasion to achieve their objectives. Without relying on the force of law, or their ability to distribute largesse, governments have persuaded individuals and corporations to act in ways that reduce the spread of COVID-19. Most recently, governments both federally and provincially have introduced general so-called vaccine mandates, which restrict unvaccinated individuals' ability to engage in communal activities. Despite their name, these mandates do not compel individuals to become vaccinated and, as such, qualify as suasion rather than imperium. To the extent legislatures have been involved in responding to the pandemic, their role has consisted of empowering executive government and, of course, performing their usual scrutiny functions. Judges have consistently been highly deferential to governmental policy choices during the pandemic, both to the expertise of healthcare officials and the democratic bona fides of elected ministers. When courts have intervened to invalidate executive excesses, it has been at the margins and has not called pandemic policy into question. Unless there is a significant change in the legal framework used to respond to COVID-19, one can expect similar dynamics in response to any future pandemic or comparable crisis.


We are all textualists now, or so it has been claimed. But textualism, the practice of interpreting statutes solely by reference to their words, is often associated with conservative judicial outcomes. This is especially true when a focus on statutory text is combined with the belief that the meanings of words are fixed. This combination creates a sort of textualist originalism, in which judges interpret statutes in accordance with what the words of a statute meant to the relevant linguistic community at the time of a statute's enactment. In reaction to this conservative interpretive method, rejecting textualism but keeping an originalist commitment to fixed meanings provides one possible progressive response. Rather than focusing primarily on the statute's language, one might instead look to the statute's animating logic, purpose, or potential to create certain moral or economic outcomes. But rejecting a focus on statutory text is not the only progressive response to the originalist textualist. A second approach accepts that the meanings of statutes derive from text but denies that statutory text has a meaning that is fixed and unchanging. Often, advocates of this latter approach run into difficulty specifying how and when the meanings of words used in statutes change. And some might worry that any such account will leave judges too much room to determine that the meanings of a statute's words have changed, thus enabling judges to express their policy preferences through the act of statutory interpretation. This Comment addresses the second approach. It engages with a particular account in philosophy of language that views meanings as resulting from inferential connections among concepts. Inferentialism suggests that we can think of these inferential connections as constitutive of meaning and thus think of meaning as in a real sense responsive to the on-the-ground effects of using a particular word. As those effects change, as new inferential connections are recognized, so too change the meanings of words. This Comment argues that this repeated process of changed inferential significance provides us with an account of dynamic meaning that judges can take notice of but not impose themselves upon. It thus provides a methodology through which judges can read statutory text to mean something new or different without thereby merely expressing a political preference.


The problem of identity theft, that is, the act of impersonating others' identities by presenting stolen identifiers or proofs of identities, has been receiving increasing attention because of its high financial and social costs. In this paper, we address the problem of verification of such identifiers and proofs of identity. Our approach is based on the concept of privacy preserving multifactor verification of such identifiers and proofs achieved by the development of a new cryptographic primitive, which uses aggregate signatures on commitments that are then used for aggregate zero-knowledge proof of knowledge (ZKPK) protocols. The resultant signatures are very short and the ZKPs are succinct and efficient. We prove the security of our scheme under the co-gap Diffie-Hellman (co-GDH) assumption for groups with bilinear maps. Our cryptographic scheme is an improvement in terms of the performance, flexibility, and storage requirements than the existing efficient ZKPK techniques that may be used to prove under zero knowledge and the knowledge of multiple secrets.


BACKGROUND
Resistance exercise and dietary protein stimulate muscle protein synthesis (MPS). The rate at which proteins are digested and absorbed into circulation alters peak plasma amino acid concentrations and may modulate postexercise MPS. A novel mineral modified milk protein concentrate (mMPC), with identical amino acid composition to standard milk protein concentrate (MPC), was formulated to induce rapid aminoacidemia.

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine whether rapid aminoacidemia and greater peak essential amino acid (EAA) concentrations induced by mMPC would stimulate greater postresistance exercise MPS, anabolic signaling, and ribosome biogenesis compared to standard dairy proteins, which induce a small but sustained plasma essential aminoacidemia.

METHODS
Thirty healthy young men (22.5 ± 3.0 y; BMI 23.8 ± 2.7 kg/m2) received primed constant infusions of l-[ring-13C6]-phenylalanine and completed 3 sets of leg presses and leg extensions at 80% of 1 repetition. Afterwards, participants were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to consume 25 g mMPC, MPC, or calcium caseinate (CAS). Vastus lateralis biopsies were collected at rest, and 2 and 4 h post exercise.

RESULTS
Plasma EAA concentrations, including leucine, were 19.2-26.6% greater in the mMPC group 45-90 min post ingestion than in MPC and CAS groups (P < 0.001). Myofibrillar fractional synthetic rate from baseline to 4 h was increased by 82.6 ± 64.8%, 137.8 ± 72.1%, and 140.6 ± 52.4% in the MPC, mMPC, and CAS groups, respectively, with no difference between groups (P = 0.548). Phosphorylation of anabolic signaling targets (P70S6KThr389, P70S6KThr421/Ser424, RPS6Ser235/236, RPS6Ser240/244, P90RSKSer380, 4EBP1) were elevated by <3-fold at both 2 and 4 h post exercise in all groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS
The amplitude of plasma leucine and EAA concentrations does not modulate the anabolic response to resistance exercise after ingestion of 25 g dairy protein in young men. This trial was registered at http://www.anzctr.org.au/ as ACTRN12617000393358.


Lately the mechanism of craving for alcohol has been related to the local level of brain acetaldehyde occurring in ethanol consumption and depending on the activities of the brain and liver ethanol and acetaldehyde-metabolizing systems. In this connection, we studied the effect of chronic acetaldehyde intoxication on the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS) and liver and brain catalase as well as ethanol and acetaldehyde levels in the blood. The results showed that the chronic acetaldehyde intoxication did not alter significantly the activities of liver ADH, MEOS and catalase as well as liver and brain ALDH. In parallel with this, the systemic acetaldehyde administration led to shortened time of ethanol narcosis and activation of catalase in the cerebellum and left hemisphere, which may indicate involvement of this enzyme into metabolic tolerance development.


We studied clinical efficacy of parenteral dissolving of urate concrements with trometamol N monotherapy. Parenteral litholytic therapy of urate uroliths was conducted in 8 (16.4%) patients with, renal and 41 (83.6%) patients with ureteral concrements. The solution was performed with trometamol N (Berlin Chemie, Germany). Stimulation of the drug elimination by the affected kidney was provided by renal parenchyma exposure to low-intensive laser irradiation. For assessment of the dynamics of renal function recovery and urine passage along the upper urinary tract in the presence of ureteral concrement we used deep radiothermometry and dopplerography. The concrements solved completely in 36 (73.5%) patients, small fragments less than 0.4 cm in size evacuated spontaneously after partial dissolution. Mean duration of litholysis was 6.3 +/- 2.2 days.


Physics at the level of an atom is dominated by laws of quantum mechanics. Often, this is entangled with a high complexity in behavior of the systems at that length scale. Unravelling the properties of a material at the atomic level is, therefore, a challenging task that easily supersedes current computational capabilities. A route to circumvent this problem is found in physical realization of simpler quantum systems that are representative of the complex quantum systems one is interested in. These simpler physical systems, unlike their more complex counterparts, can actually be measured and information about the complex system, otherwise inaccessible, gained. This thesis describes experimental work focusing mainly on the property of magnetism in spin chains. To mimic these complex systems, we employ a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to build atomic chains on solid state surfaces and probe their magnetic properties. The intrinsic strength of STM in building and testing structures with single atom precision makes STM a great candidate for simulation of complex quantum systems. In addition to STM having a role of a quantum simulator, I present work supporting STM as a control device determining the very existence of the magnetic excitations of the atom it measures. Finally, I present experimental findings that suggest we are able to probe the magnetic excitations of the atom with subatomic resolution. In summary, this thesis work presents STM as a powerful probing and control tool for studies on quantum magnetism at the level of a single atom.


Quality of life and informed consent are two of the important issues for designers of clinical trials. The former has physical, psychological, economic, and social components. Investigators must understand the features of the various measurement instruments and select one that is appropriate to the circumstances. It also is necessary to identify what changes are significant. Statistical significance is not identical to clinical significance. Ethical guidelines for the protection of human subjects is another important issue. Information on regulations is available on many Web sites, including that of the Food and Drug Administration.


ABSTRACT Due to its flatness, the transport and depositional regimes of mica are of particular interest in paleohydraulic interpretations of sediments. The present study examines the hydraulic equivalence of mica and quartz in a graded turbidite from the Capistrano Formation (Miocene-Pliocene) of California. Measurements of settling rates of mica grains from the deposit were obtained, and these served as the basis for the derivation of equations for the prediction of mica settling rates as a function of the flatness of the mica plate as well as its diameter. One such relationship applies only to small grains in the Stokes range while a second applies to the full range of mica sizes. It was also determined that when mica is sieved the grains pass diagonally through the square sieve openings so hat the intermediate axial diameter corresponds closely in size to the sieve diagonal. The results of these analyses permit more refined determinations of mica grain sizes and quantitative examinations of the hydraulic equivalence of mica and quartz. Although the mica in the turbidite is consistently coarser than the quartz, as expected for hydraulic equivalence, this detailed analysis indicates that they are not precisely equivalent, the mica having lower settling rates than the quartz deposited at the same time.


This is the first published account of kin classification of Mego, a district in the extreme eastern part of the Lio region of Flores Island. Despite recent changes affecting marriage practices, the terminology survives as a classification of asymmetric alliance. Terminological usage is discussed with reference to traditional social forms and comparatively, in relation to several other Lio terminologies, cognate terms in other Ngadha-Lio languages, and Malayo-Polynesian and Austronesian protoforms. Needham's (1984) blanket characterization of an implicitly unitary "Lio" terminology as revealing features of asymmetric alliance in the first ascending and descending levels, but symmetric features in ego's level, is refuted by showing quite continuous variation among different parts of Lio, as well as symmetric indications in other levels. The latter are discussed both as features that ignore or supersede "wife-takers" subordination to "wife-givers" as receivers of brides, and as evidence for a historical transformation from symmetric to asymmetric alliance.


Existential risks are those that threaten the entire future of humanity. Many theories of value imply that even relatively small reductions in net existential risk have enormous expected value. Despite their importance, issues surrounding human‐extinction risks and related hazards remain poorly understood. In this paper, I clarify the concept of existential risk and develop an improved classification scheme. I discuss the relation between existential risks and basic issues in axiology, and show how existential risk reduction (via the maxipok rule) can serve as a strongly action‐guiding principle for utilitarian concerns. I also show how the notion of existential risk suggests a new way of thinking about the ideal of sustainability.


Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the validity and the utility of the Japanese version of the WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5-J) in the context of detecting suicidal ideation in elderly community residents. Methods: A sample of 696 subjects aged 70 years or over who completed a set of questionnaires was examined. Results: Cronbach's α was 0.87 and Loevinger's coefficient was 0.64. The total score was significantly correlated with the number of cohabitants, the number of physical illnesses, physical functioning, instrumental activities of daily living, and depressive symptoms. Subjects with suicidal ideation had significantly lower scores on the WHO-5-J. The receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the scale significantly discriminated the subjects with suicidal ideation. When combined with the assessment of a lack of perceived social support (PSS), a standard cut-off criterion of "a total score ≤ 12 or answering 0 or 1 to any of the five items" more appropriately identified elderly subjects with suicidal ideation: sensitivity = 87%, specificity = 75%, negative predictive value = 99%, and positive predictive value = 10%. Conclusions: In combination with PSS, the scale has predictive utility to detect suicidal ideation in elderly community residents.


SUMMARY The properties in point of ownership in the Ottoman Empire, the only country dominating over three continents such as Europe, Asia and Africa after The Roman Empire, were evaluated in five groups. Forests and agricultural areas characterized as land together with areas such as pasture, summer pasture and winter quarters required for stockbreeding were determined as state property ("Miri Arazi" in Turkish). The use of state property was given to farmers and peasants in certain rules providing that ownership unaccompanied by usufructuary right of these lands was given to the State. It is seen that the Ottoman land management based on land processing in productive way when cadastral documents and records related to properties are investigated. The world population has risen rapidly recently, so the use of all earth resources particularly land and water in planned and efficient way without wasting is inevitable. For this reason, firstly land ownership and management system should be reviewed appropriate to scientific researches to meet requirements in future. During this review process, the investigating of successful systems in the past will be useful. The Ottoman land management system is also one of these successful systems. Indeed, some foreign researchers from countries directed by means of state system have continued their investigations on the Ottoman land management. Investigating of features and cadastral contents of this system in detail and evaluating of applications guiding today are important. In this paper, it is investigated how title records and cadastral applications in the Ottoman Period can be beneficial in today.


A high triplet energy material with the ability to suppress intermolecular interactions was synthesized as a host for a blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitter for blue-shifted emission color and high quantum efficiency in solution-processed TADF organic light-emitting diodes. The host material, (5-(tert-butyl)-2-(4-(tert-butyl)phenoxy)phenyl)diphenylphosphine oxide (POBBPE), was designed to have a phenoxyphenyl core structure for high triplet energy, a diphenylphosphine oxide group for electron transport, and two tert-butyl units to prevent intermolecular interaction. Solution-processed blue TADF devices were developed using the POBBPE host and 2,3,4,5,6-penta(9H-carbazol-9-yl)benzonitrile (5CzCN) as the emitter, and a high quantum efficiency of 23.3% was achieved. In particular, the color coordinates of the solution-processed POBBPE:5CzCN devices were (0.16, 0.23), which were significantly blue-shifted compared to the color coordinates of (0.17, 0.31) from a previous 5CzCN device fabricated using a well-known bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]ether oxide host.


: The effect of indralin on the metabolic parameters in peripheral blood and organs of irradiated dogs and mice have been studied by EPR, NMR and radioisotope methods. It has been shown that indralin stimulated biosynthesis of DNA precursors as well as of DNA and proteins in the organs and stabilized the rate of ATP and glycogen synthesis. As a result indralin reduced considerably the changes produced by gamma-irradiation on the macromolecular biosynthesis during the early post-irradiation period. Indralin has induced marked favorable changes in the rate of macromolecular synthesis, normalized the ATP and glycogen content, induced ribonucleotide reductase activity and increased the Fe(3+)-transferrin content during development of compensatory-repair response in the irradiated animals. Indralin prevented hyperdevelopment of the repair response and its breakdown due to radiation-induced exhaustion of viability of many important cellular and body systems after irradiation with lethal doses.


As the number of available Web pages grows, users experience increasing difficulty finding documents relevant to their interests. One of the underlying reasons for this is that most search engines find matches based on keywords, regardless of their meanings. To provide the user with more useful information, we need a system that includes information about the conceptual frame of the queries as well as its keywords. This is the goal of KeyConcept, a search engine that retrieves documents based on a combination of keyword and conceptual matching. Documents are automatically classified to determine the concepts to which they belong. Query concepts are determined automatically from a small description of the query or explicitly entered by the user. This paper describes the system architecture, the training of the classifier, and the results of our experiments evaluating system performance. KeyConcept is shown to significantly improve search result precision through its use of conceptual retrieval.


Relationship between dorsal tilt of the distal radius and distal radioulnar joint stability was examined. Stiffness in dorsopalmar displacement of the radius (distal radioulnar joint stiffness) was recorded at 10° intervals until 30° of dorsal angulation from 10° of palmar tilt. Tests were repeated after partial sectioning of the radioulnar ligament, then after complete sectioning of the radioulnar ligament. All data were compared with control (intact triangular fibrocartilage complex, 10° of palmar tilt). The distal radioulnar joint stiffness in dorsal translation decreased significantly with dorsal tilt 10° and 20° in pronation. Partial sectioning of the radioulnar ligament indicated a decrease of the distal radioulnar joint stiffness in the dorsal translation at neutral tilt to 20° of dorsal tilt in the neutral position and in pronation. Distal radioulnar joint stiffness decreased significantly in both dorsal and palmar translations in all forearm positions at 10° and 20° of dorsal tilt. From these findings, the dorsal angulation of the radius should be corrected to less than 10° of dorsal tilt.


In this paper, we propose a variational multiphase segmentation model for images with Gaussian noises. Its data term for parameter estimation is based on density functions of Gaussian distribution and its length term of active contours for n regions division is based on n binary labeling functions. We design the Split Bregman algorithm for the sub-problem of minimization on every labeling function based on the convexified version, and obtain the final solution via soft thresholding technique. Numerical examples validate the model and its algorithm finally.


Komatiitic magmatism is a characteristic feature of Archean cratons, diagnostic of the addition of juvenile crust, and a clue to the thermal evolution of early Earth lithosphere. The Slave craton in northwest Canada contains >20 greenstone belts but no identified komatiite. The reason for this dearth of komatiite, when compared to other Archean cratons, remains enigmatic. The Central Slave Cover Group (ca. 2.85 Ga) includes fuchsitic quartzite with relict detrital chromite grains in heavy-mineral laminations. Major and platinum group element systematics indicate that the chromites were derived from Al-undepleted komatiitic dunites. The chromites have low 187Os/188Os ratios relative to chondrite with a narrow range of rhenium depletion ages at 3.19 ± 0.12 Ga. While these ages overlap a documented crust formation event, they identify an unrecognized addition of juvenile crust that is not preserved in the bedrock exposures or the zircon isotopic data. The documentation of komatiitic magmatism via detrital chromites indicates a region of thin lithospheric mantle at ca. 3.2 Ga, either within or at the edge of the protocratonic nucleus. This study demonstrates the applicability of detrital chromites in provenance studies, augmenting the record supplied by detrital zircons.


In this paper the path forward in location-based mobile phone warning systems is given against a concise backdrop of their deployment worldwide. Of relevance here is (i) how the systems are implemented using legislation, contractual service level agreement instruments or a hybrid approach, (ii) whether or not governments who deploy these systems will carry the cost of the deployment during an emergency or disaster, and (iii) whether or not carrier participation is mandated. Of particular importance are also the underlying technologies of this kind of emergency systems. To date, the short message service and cell broadcast service have been the main technologies to be utilised by governments in the application of location-based services in modern emergency management solutions. However, these technologies will most certainly be superseded by newer, more powerful capabilities. A comprehensive list of requirements for the future location-based emergency systems is presented also in this paper. In essence, these are recommendations to be adhered to if robust solutions using new technologies are to be deployed in a nation state.


Abstract The Ischigualasto Formation was deposited in a fluvial system and contains a very well preserved Triassic flora. This flora comprises seven taphofacies: (1) C(St), autochthonous silicified roots of low-statured, woody plants associated with low-sinuosity channels and crevasse-splay deposits; (2) A(Sm/Fm), autochthonous carbonized roots or root impressions of herbaceous plants in crevasse-splay and levee deposits; (3) B(Fsm/Fm), autochthonous root halos of herbaceous plants associated with levee deposits; (4) EI(St), allochthonous silicified tree trunks and charcoal associated with high- and low-sinuosity channel bars; (5) GI(St), leaf cuticles and charcoal associated with trough cross-bedded sandstone; (6) FH(Fl/C), leaf cuticles and impressions associated with palynomorphs in abandoned-channel deposits; and (7) D(Fl), autochthonous silicified stumps in abandoned-channel deposits. Taphonomically, the Ischigualasto Formation can be divided into four parts, and these partially correspond to changes in the environment. The basal part (∼0–45 m) includes the transition from the underlying Los Rastros Formation and is characterized by taphofacies 1 and 2. The fluvial sediments were deposited during tectonic subsidence of the basin, resulting in development of a fluvioaxial system. The next part (∼45–300 m) is characterized by taphofacies 1, 2, and 3 and associated with calcic paleosols that formed under a dry seasonal climate. The middle-upper portion (∼300–600 m) contains all the taphofacies associated with argillic paleosols, which were formed during a time of increasing humidity. The upper portion (∼600–700 m) is characterized by taphofacies 1, 2, and 3, associated with immature paleosols that formed under a dry seasonal climate. The changes in humidity during deposition of the Ischigualasto Formation may have resulted from an increase in rainfall generated on the western side of Pangea by maximal development of the megamonsoon during the middle Carnian Age. The climatic signal in the Ischigualasto Formation was probably modified by the tectonosedimentary development of the basin.


There was a common obsession with sex in the western Middle Ages, with sexual mores revealing the best and the worst of man's sinful nature in contrary excesses of abstinence and lust. Outside Christian marriage the sexual act became adultery, was legally and judicially condemned and exposed the perpetrators to mob justice. Letters of royal pardon dating from the 14th and 15th centuries provide a fascinating insight into the impact this kind of conjugality can have had on sexual violence against women. While sources remain mute as to violence exerted within the married couple, women living alone through separation, in celibacy of a secular kind or in free union were always under the threat of rape. Once married, the woman became a chattel and her body territorialised while alone or as a concubine she was subject to opprobrium and her body considered public property. It is under this paradigm that the question of the couple and sexual violence can be considered for that period.


In this paper, a new BPF with PCL structure has been discussed. The conventional BPF with PCL structure has limitation in 20% bandwidth and it cannot be easily realized due to very narrow coupling gaps when wide bandwidth is required. The new PCL BPF structure has two long coupling sections (J-inverters) and extra capacitive coupling gap between upper lambdaepsiv/4 lines. That is why this new structure can provide wide bandwidth. In this paper, we analyzed this new structure using ABCD matrix and applied for synthesizing the broad BPF design. Also, this structure has small size compared with the conventional one. This new broadband PCL BPF can be applied for microwave system or ITS (intelligent transport system) application.


Background Daptomycin's licensed indications are complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI), right-sided endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and bacteraemia associated with emerging infectious diseases [EID] or cSSTI. Vancomycin should be used before daptomycin if possible. Purpose To check the suitability of daptomycin against the indications licensed in the product information and also against Treatment Guidelines consensuses from different medical societies. Materials and methods Retrospective observational study. We studied patients treated with daptomycin (January 2012 – December 2012) at a general hospital in its different units. Information was obtained from the Pharmacy's Service records, the patient history and the Microbiology database Results We studied 32 patients with the following distribution: 10 Intensive Unit Care, 10 pulmonary disease, 4 traumatology, 2 gastrointestinal surgery, 4 cardiology and 2 internal medicine. In the intensive care medical unit, 90% were empirical treatments. 90% were adjusted to labelled indications. Daptomycin-sensitive microorganisms were isolated in 20% of the blood cultures and samples were negative or held non-susceptible organisms for the rest. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of vancomycin was requested in 4 patients, with a score of In the other units: 83.36% were given empirical treatments, in 4 patients (15%) blood cultures were not requested. In 3 patients (16.64%), it was not requested until the beginning of daptomycin treatment. SA was growing in 6 patients' cultures (36.36%); the rest of them were negative or had daptomycin-resistant microorganisms. Vancomycin's MIC was requested for 11 patients (50%), 4 of them had been previously treated with vancomycin. In the rest of them, vancomycin`s MCI was Conclusions Treatment is essentially empirical, treatment guidelines for infections caused by SA are not followed. It is recommended to treat the patient with daptomycin if vancomycin's MIC is > 1.5 or if patients have previously been treated with it. No conflict of interest.


Background: Pre-eclampsia can be devastating and life-threatening for both mother and baby, particularly in developing countries. It is a major cause of maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis and management are very important to the reduction of mortality and morbidity. A sensitive diagnostic and prognostic marker will therefore be of great value. There is paucity of data on the effect of pre-eclamptic pregnancy on plasma cholinesterase activity especially in Nigerians.
Objective: Our aim was to determine the changes in plasma cholinesterase concentration in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies in Nigerians.
Setting: Antenatal Clinic and Prenatal Diagnostic and Therapy Centre in a Tertiary University Teaching Hospital in Lagos.
Patients and Methods: Plasma cholinesterase concentration was determined using a colorimetric method in 30 healthy non-pregnant, 30 healthy pregnant, 30 and 27 pregnant women with mild and severe pre-eclampsia, respectively, between 28 and 41 weeks of gestation. Cholinesterase activity was re-assessed 6 weeks postpartum.
Results: The mean plasma cholinesterase levels in healthy non-pregnant women, women with normal pregnancy, pregnant women with mild pre-eclampsia and those with severe pre-eclampsia were 3594±1042, 2135±422, 1781±330 and 1630±326 (m/L), respectively. Six weeks postpartum, the mean cholinesterase levels in the normal pregnant, mild eclamptic and severe eclamptic groups were 3212±346, 3157±750 and 2864±700 (/L), respectively.
Conclusions: Our study suggests that normal pregnancy, mild and severe pre-eclampsia cause a significant (p Keywords: Cholinesterase, Eclampsia, Pre-eclampsia, Pregnancy, Succinylcholine.


Abstract A credit scoring function incorporating statistical selection criteria was proposed to evaluate the credit worthiness of agricultural cooperative loans in the Fifth Farm Credit District. In-sample (1981-1986) and out-of-sample (1988) prediction performance of the selected models were evaluated using rank transformation discriminant analysis, logit, and probit. Results indicate superior out-of-sample performance for the management oriented approach relative to classification of unacceptable loans, and poor performance of the rank transformation in out-of-sample prediction.


: Pharmacokinetic parameters of ammonia were calculated from a constant-rate infusion of ammonium chloride in 8 patients with chronic liver disease, and in 19 healthy mongrel dogs. In the animal group, the median half-life of the infused ammonia was approximately 4 minutes (range 3.5-5 minutes). The median ammonia clearance was 4.4 l/min (range 3.3-9.2 l/min). The median volume of distribution was approximately 28 liters. In the animal group, the median half-life of the infused ammonia was one minute (range less than 1-4 minutes). The median clearance was 2.2 l/min (range 1.2-4.2 l/min). The median volume of distribution was 3.1 liters. The short half-life and the high clearance of ammonia underscore the importance of the extrahepatic ammonia removal mechanisms.


SUMMARY Nuclear size plays pivotal roles in gene expression, embryo development, and disease. A central hypothesis in organisms ranging from yeast to vertebrates is that nuclear size scales to cell size. This implies that nuclei may reach steady state sizes set by limiting cytoplasmic pools of size-regulating components. By monitoring nuclear dynamics in early sea urchin embryos, we found that nuclei undergo substantial growth in each interphase, reaching a maximal size prior to mitosis that declined steadily over the course of development. Manipulations of cytoplasmic volume through multiple chemical and physical means ruled out cell size as a major determinant of nuclear size and growth. Rather, our data suggest that the perinuclear endoplasmic reticulum, accumulated through dynein activity, serves as a limiting membrane pool that sets nuclear surface growth rate. Partitioning of this local pool at each cell division modulates nuclear growth kinetics and dictates size scaling throughout early development.


In my brief remarks, I consider what it means to return and rebind—that is to say, the significance of the re for Kristeva's thought.  Kristeva does not just talk about binding or birth, or unbinding or death, but rather rebinding and rebirth, suggesting that it is a retrospective return rather than an original moment that is crucial.  The most significant moment, then, is not the moment of imaginary plenitude, nor the moment of originary loss, but rather the moment of rebirth that comes through rebinding after the loss of plenitude.  Indeed, Kristeva's insistence on re-turning suggests that there is no originary moment of plenitude nor of castration or loss, but rather a constant movement of compensation for a recurrent loss.  By emphasizing rebinding and rebirth, she underscores not the loss as cutting wound but rather the healing power of signification, always already inherent within loss.  The flip-side of separation is reattachment.  And rather than just focus on the separation or cut, Kristeva looks to that which allows us to rebind and reattach in order to create relations that sustain us.  Both unbinding and binding are necessary for rebinding.  Thus, by focusing on rebinding, Kristeva insists on the process of unbinding and binding, and the oscillation between them.


This research is supported by the Australian Government in
partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea as part
of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development program.


Organophosphate esters (OPEs) have been found in remote environments at unexpectedly high concentrations, but very few measurements of OPE concentrations in seawater are available, and none are available in subsurface seawater. In this study, passive polyethylene samplers (PEs) deployed on deep-water moorings in the Fram Strait and in surface waters of Canadian Arctic lakes and coastal sites were analyzed for a suite of common OPEs. Total OPEs ( ∑11OPE) at deep-water sites were dominated by chlorinated OPEs, and ranged from 6.3 to 440 pg/L. Concentrations were similar in eastern and western Fram Strait. Chlorinated OPEs were also dominant in Canadian Arctic surface waters (mean concentration ranged from < DL to 4400 pg/L), while nonhalogenated alkyl/aryl-substituted OPEs remained low (1.3-55 pg/L), possibly due to the greater long-range transport potential of chlorinated OPEs. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were found at much lower concentrations than OPEs (<DL-14 pg/L). Surface-water concentrations of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) were similar for both active and passive sampling approaches. Several OPEs were estimated to be undergoing net transport out of the Arctic, ranging from 17 kg/yr for ethylhexyldiphenylphosphate (EHDPP) to 3400 kg/yr for tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP). This study highlights the importance of OPEs as poorly understood contaminants present at unexpectedly high concentrations in remote marine environments.


Life satisfaction research among adolescents is scarce especially at cross-cultural levels. The nature and the means to attain life satisfaction vary from one culture to another (Bradley & Corwyn, 2004; Lu & Shih, 1997). The current study examined life satisfaction in native Maltese, Maltese-Australian, and Anglo-Australian adolescents. It is argued that adolescents of Maltese origin come from a culture that is still predominantly oriented towards a traditional and collectivistic oriented culture, thereby being significantly different from the Australian culture. Besides developmental challenges, these adolescents are faced with additional cultural challenges especially Maltese-Australian adolescents. The present investigation was carried out over two stages. During the first stage, in-depth individual interviews were conducted among native Maltese (N=20) and Maltese-Australian (N=18) adolescents. These interviews explored issues that related to the home environment, social support, and coping strategies. In addition, ethnic identity and ethnic identification were explored among Maltese-Australian adolescents. The nature of the relationship and the support received from parents was a key element in detracting from their life satisfaction. In the second stage, a questionnaire was administered to native Maltese (N=113), Maltese-Australian (N=108), and Anglo-Australian adolescents (N=111). The questionnaire comprised these scales: the Family Environment Scale Form R, Short Form Social Support Questionnaire, Adolescent Coping Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. For Maltese-Australian adolescents, the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure was also included in the questionnaire. According to the findings of the second phase, most adolescents were satisfied with life and there was no significant difference between the groups. Results also indicated that overall, male adolescents reported higher levels of life satisfaction with life than females but there was no interaction between gender and ethnic group. Regression analysis showed that the experiences of life satisfaction are similar for these two groups. In addition, the results indicated that different patterns of predictors of life satisfaction emerged for the three ethnic groups. The three models showed that a significant amount of variances remained unaccounted for by the current predictors. However, the qualitative study shed more light on these findings. Although both studies contributed significantly to our understanding of the experiences of life satisfaction of adolescents across cultures, more research is required, especially among adolescents of Maltese origin.


The reliability of volunteers is a major concern for many nonprofit organizations. To address this problem in more detail, we develop a theoretical model of volunteer reliability based on psychological contract theory. By taking this perspective as a starting point, we explore how individual volunteer characteristics, organizational factors, and sociological developments shape the exchange of inducements and contributions between volunteers and nonprofit organizations. We discuss how these factors can create tensions in the psychological contract and determine the extent to which volunteers behave reliably. As such, we develop a theoretical framework for addressing the reliability problem in volunteer management.


Abstract. A 2D hydrodynamic model is employed to study the characteristics of tidal wave propagation in the Persian Gulf (PG). The study indicates that tidal waves propagate from the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman into the PG through the Strait of Hormuz. The numerical model is first validated using the measured water levels and current speeds around the PG and the principal tidal constituents of Admiralty tide tables. Considering the intermediate width of the PG, in comparison to Rossby deformation radius, the tidal wave propagates like a Kelvin wave on the boundaries. Whereas the continental shelf oscillation resonance of the basin is close to the period of diurnal constituents, the results show that the tide is mixed mainly semidiurnal. A series of numerical tests is also developed to study the various effects of geometry and bathymetry of the PG, Coriolis force, and bed friction on tidal wave deformation. Numerical tests reveal that the Coriolis force, combined with the geometry of the gulf, results in generation of different amphidromic systems of diurnal and semidiurnal constituents. The configuration of the bathymetry of the PG, with a shallow zone at the closed end of the basin that extends along its longitudinal axis in the southern half (asymmetrical cross section), results in the deformations of incoming and returning tidal Kelvin waves and consequently the shifts of amphidromic points (APs). The bed friction also results in the movements of the APs from the centerline to the south border of the gulf.


This paper presents a method to estimate the delay of interconnections. It uses a simple model based exclusively on point to point interconnections. The method has a very low complexity so it can be used during the clock cycle selection in a High Level Synthesis process. In this way it is possible to settle securely the right electrical behavior of the final circuit.


Bone remodeling as a response to exercise in human subjects is described in the literature, although most studies treat exercise as a qualitative factor contributing to bone remodeling. Quantitative description requires assessment of the mechanical loads on the bones. This work describes a generalized lower extremity model that uses existing musculoskeletal modeling techniques to quantify mechanical variables in the femoral neck during exercise. An endurance exercise program consisting of walking, jogging jumping rope, and weight-training was analyzed. Peak femoral neck cortex stresses and strains were high during jogging and squatting, compared to walking, whereas jumping rope and other weight-training exercises produced peak stresses comparable to or lower than walking. Peak stress and strain rates were significantly higher for walking, jumping rope, and jogging than for weight-training. The model should prove useful for any study investigating a quantitative relationship between exercise and bone remod...


Cyber-physical systems are complex trans-disciplinary systems. Designing this kind of systems requires cooperation of several groups of experts with various backgrounds such as mechatronics and robotics, software engineering, data management, knowledge engineering, system on a chip, embedded systems, humans and systems interaction, and social and cognitive engineering. Design of a new CPS is typically initiated by system designers, who focus on system-level architecting and functional design (pre-embodiment design), and completed by embodiment/detail designers (who focus on components and their interoperation). Although there are numerous software tools to assist designers in detail design, it is hard to find dedicated tools that can sufficiently support CPS designers in pre-embodiment design phase. The tools available for this purpose are mostly based on logical, analytical, and mathematical modeling. They usually apply various levels of abstraction and simplification in modeling. As a result, many important chunks of information about attributes and parameterization of components are ignored or lost in system-level conceptualization. To overcome this problem, we introduced the framework and computational methodology of a system-level feature-based modeling, which can be used as a basis for developing next-generation CPSs modeling tools. As an general underpinning, we have developed the mereo-operandi theory (MOT), which combines several classic theories in a uniform body and captures information about architectural and operational relations in a system in an integral manner. As a complementary to MOT, the theory of system manifestation features (SMFs) has been proposed that introduced the methodological fundamentals. SMFs have been defined as multi-stage, knowledge-intensive, compound modeling entities. The developed knowledge frames have been implemented as relational tables of the modeling warehouses. The computational procedures required for modeling of CPSs have also been elaborated. For validation, the developed modeling framework was benchmarked against multiple available modeling tools. It has been concluded that SMFs-based modeling offers many new opportunities for compositional modeling of CPSs. Some of the novelties are: (i) imposing strictly physical view, (ii) concurrent modeling of architecture and operation aspects, (iii) uniform information structure for all kinds of components, and (iv) benefiting from active ontologies.


Conversion of agricultural biomass such as wood chips, wheat straw and forest residue for the production of fuels can help in reducing GHG emissions since they are considered as nearly carbon neutral. Around the world there is a significant amount of forest and agricultural-biomass available which could be used for the production of liquid fuels that can be blended with the petroleum-based diesel. Oxymethylene ethers (OMEs) can be derived from biomass via gasification, water-gas shift reaction and methanol production. The addition of OMEs to conventional diesel fuel has great potential to reduce soot formation during the combustion in diesel engines. Unlike methanol and dimethyl ether (DMM) which can also reduce soot formation, the physical properties of OMEs allow the use in modern diesel engines without significant change of the engines infrastructure. In this study, a detailed and data intensive process simulation model was developed to simulate all the unit operations involved in the production of OMEs from biomass. The unit operation considered include biomass drying, gasification, gas cleaning, water gas shift reaction, methanol production and OMEs synthesis. The simulation results were then utilized to conduct a detailed techno-economic assessment study of the whole biomass conversion chain to determine the most attractive pathways for OMEs production. Our recent study shows that the key parameters affecting the OMEs production are equivalence ratio, H2/CO ratio and optimal air flow. Overall, the cost of production ($/liter) of OMEs from different biomass feedstock in Alberta will be determined


We immunohistochemically examined the existence of dopamine b-hydroxylase (DBH), a noradrenalin (NA)-synthesizing enzyme from dopamine, in the taste disc of frog, Rana catesbeiana. DBH-like immunoreactive cells were located in the intermediate layer in the taste disc; the cells showed an apical process reaching the surface of the disc and one or several basal processes. Cells with a thick apical process and those with a thin apical process were both immunoreactive: these cells corresponded to type II and III receptor cells of the frog taste disc. Immunoreactive granules were observed in the cytoplasm of those cells. In the frog taste disc, only type III cells are reported to have afferent synapses with the nerve via basal processes but those basal processes have not been reported in type II cells. In the present study, we found that type II–like cells possessed a long basal process extending toward the basal lamina. Mucous (type Ia) cells, wing (type Ib) cells, and glia-like sustentacular (type Ic) cells were all immunohistochemically unreactive. The present observations support the argument that NA (or adrenalin) may work as a chemical transmitter in the frog taste organ.


The health care delivery system has received criticism because of its rapidly increasing costs. In an attempt to control costs, the administrators of managed care organizations are searching for cost control mechanisms. Thus, the administrators of managed care organizations appear to be searching carefully for any alternative method to lower the cost of delivering medical care to plan members. In this environment pharmacists must be extremely careful to study the cost of providing prescription services to managed care organizations, because they will be constrained by the obligations indicated in the contractual relationship. Any decisions to provide pharmaceutical services should be studied in detail after careful discussion with administrators of a managed care organization. Only after a careful analysis should a pharmacist make a decision to offer or not offer pharmaceutical services to a managed care organization.


Digital flood-inundation maps for a 6.8-mile reach of the Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Miss.), were created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the City of Hattiesburg, City of Petal, Forrest County, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi Department of Homeland Security, and the Emergency Management District. The inundation maps, which can be accessed through the USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Science Web site at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/flood_inundation/, depict estimates of the areal extent and depth of flooding corresponding to selected water levels (stages) at the USGS streamgage at Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Miss. (station no. 02473000). Current conditions for estimating near-real-time areas of inundation by use of USGS streamgage information may be obtained on the Internet at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/. In addition, the infor mation has been provided to the National Weather Service (NWS) for incorporation into their Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) flood warning system (http:/water.weather.gov/ahps/). The NWS forecasts flood hydrographs at many places that are often colocated with USGS streamgages. NWS-forecasted peak-stage information may be used in conjunction with the maps developed in this study to show predicted areas of flood inundation. In this study, flood profiles were computed for the stream reach by means of a one-dimensional step-backwater model. The model was calibrated by using the most current stage-discharge relations at the Leaf River at Hattiesburg, Miss. streamgage (02473000) and documented high-water marks from recent and historical floods. The hydraulic model was then used to determine 13 water-surface profiles for flood stages at 1.0-foot intervals referenced to the streamgage datum and ranging from bankfull to approximately the highest recorded water level at the streamgage. The simulated water-surface profiles were then combined with a geographic information system (GIS) digital elevation model (DEM, derived from light detection and ranging (lidar) data having a 0.6-foot vertical and 9.84-foot horizontal resolution) in order to delineate the area flooded at each water level. Development of the estimated flood inundation maps as described in this report update previously published inundation estimates by including reaches of the Bouie and Leaf Rivers above their confluence. The availability of these maps along with Internet information regarding current stage from USGS streamgages and forecasted stream stages from the NWS provide emergency management personnel and residents with information that is critical for flood response activities such as evacuations and road closures as well as for post flood recovery efforts.


A subfamily of regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins consisting of RGS6, -7, -9, and -11 is characterized by the presence of a unique Gγ-like domain through which they form obligatory dimers with the G protein subunit Gβ5 in vivo. In Caenorhabditis elegans, orthologs of Gβ5·RGS dimers are implicated in regulating both Gαi and Gαq signaling, and in cell-based assays these dimers regulate Gαi/o- and Gαq/11-mediated pathways. However, initial studies with purified Gβ5·RGS6 or Gβ5·RGS7 showed that they only serve as GTPase activating proteins for Gαo. Pull-down assays and co-immunoprecipitation with these dimers failed to detect their binding to either Gαo or Gαq, indicating that the interaction might require additional factors present in vivo. Here, we asked if the RGS7·Gβ5 complex binds to Gαq using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in transiently transfected mammalian cells. RGS7, Gβ5, and Gα subunits were tagged with yellow variants of green fluorescent protein. First we confirmed the functional activity of the fusion proteins by co-immunoprecipitation and also their effect on signaling. Second, we again demonstrate the interaction between RGS7 and Gβ5 using FRET. Finally, using both FRET spectroscopy on cell suspensions and microscopy of individual cells, we showed FRET between the yellow fluorescence protein-tagged RGS7·Gβ5 complex and cyan fluorescence protein-tagged Gαq, indicating a direct interaction between these molecules.


Mudstones and shales in the Lower Cambrian Shipai Formation in the Three Gorge area, Hubei, China, are richly fossiliferous, containing common shelly fossils and some soft-bodied fossils. The latter provide important new information about the nature and variety of Cambrian soft-bodied organisms. Identifiable, non-mineralized taxa include components of the Chengjiang fauna, such as Vetulicola Hou, 1987, a palaeoscolecidan referable to Maotianshania Sun & Hou, 1987, and a brachiopod Diandongia pista with pedicle preserved (not illustrated). Cambrorhytium Conway Morris & Robison, 1988, co-occurring both in the Burgess Shale and the Chengjiang Lagerstätte, was also recovered. Additionally, a new worm is described based on two specimens. This taxon, in common with many other fossil worms, has a slender, cylindrical body with annulations, but it is characterized by each annulus bearing an elevated ridge and lacking surface ornamentation. The occurrence of exceptional preservation in the Shipai Formation has likely been overlooked due to the relatively poor resolution of soft-bodied fossils; nevertheless, this occurrence is an important extension of the Burgess Shale-type biotas in China, over 1500 km northeast of the provenance of the Chengjiang Lagerstätte.


In the blood, the sensitive process of calcium and phosphate homeostasis is maintained primarily by an appropriately functioning parathyroid gland. The parathyroid gland is comprised of 4 small glands located posteriorly to the thyroid in the middle aspect of the anterior neck. The parathyroid gland secretes parathyroid hormone (PTH), a polypeptide, in response to low calcium levels detected in the blood. PTH facilitates the synthesis of active vitamin D, calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, or vitamin D3) in the kidneys. In conjunction with calcitriol, PTH regulates calcium and phosphate. PTH effects are present in the bones, kidneys, and small intestines. As serum calcium levels drop, secretion of PTH by the parathyroid gland increases. Increased calcium levels in the serum serve as a negative-feedback loop signaling the parathyroid glands to stop the release of PTH. The mechanism of PTH in the body is intricate, and the clinical ramifications of irregularities are significant. The understanding of PTH is of paramount relevance and importance.


: Water pollution, particularly, surface water results from all activities of man involving indiscriminate waste disposal from industry such as effluents into waterways, waste, agricultural waste, and all forms of man's activities that results in contamination of the surface water. Wastewater samples were collected from two (2) carefully selected industries and the Physico-Chemical parameters were analyzed and compared to FEPA (Federal Environmental Protection Agency) standard. DO of the analysis ranged from 6.5 – 9.7mg/l, BOD value range from 3.2 – 8.8mg/l, there was no significant difference among study stations (P>0.05), TDS showed a high significant difference (P<0.001). The results obtained from the analysis indicated that the effluents from the industries were relatively treated as the contaminants sampled were within statutory limits. It was however observed that the effluent from this brewery was relatively treated. © JASEM


Objectives To determine whether adult newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) are able to repair experimentally-induced joint damage in order to generate a model system for the study of endogenous joint regeneration. Methods Joint instability and articular cartilage lesions of the knee joint of adult newts (N viridescens) were induced by intra-articular injection of collagenase. The changes over time were analysed clinically, by MRI, histologically and by reverse transcription PCR to detect selected relevant markers. Results After rapid onset of disease with joint luxation, loss of proteoglycans and cartilage volume, the signs ameliorated continuously by regeneration of the affected joint compartments. The majority of joints were morphologically intact and functionally operative after 10 weeks. Upregulation of chondrogenic key genes, homogenous expression levels of factors implicated in cartilage homeostasis and limb regeneration as well as the distribution of the blastemal marker 22/18 in both treated and untreated knees suggest that joint regeneration in adult newts only partially invokes pathways of embryological organogenesis. Conclusions Newts are able to regenerate articular cartilage injuries and to restore tissue integrity and function after induction of damage using a procedure known to induce experimental osteoarthritis in murine models. Further analysis of the underlying molecular mechanisms may contribute to the development of novel treatment approaches in joint failure.


This paper analyses the expansion and crisis of the foreign-currency (FX) loan market and responding mortgage rescue programs in Hungary, assessing changes in the housing regime. We argue that the existing, malformed housing regime has not changed significantly and remains vulnerable to similar events. During the economic growth of the 2000s, mortgage based growth seemed feasible for both institutional actors and individuals; a shared narrative emerged. As FX loans became unaffordable after 2008, conflicting interests in placing blame and paying for losses lead to the fragmentation of this narrative. We argue that the coping strategies and broader behaviour of the participants reinforced the disproportionate elements of the housing regime. After 2015, housing policies again rely on economic stabilisation, now subsidised by the EU, incentivizing market solutions for private home ownership and disregarding the experiences of the past decades.


Conscious rats were given i. p. polyethylene glycol (PEG) or dextran injections to compare their efficacy in inducing moderate hypovolaemia. Dextran was found unsuitable, producing large variability in the the plasma vasopressin (AVP) concentrations. Putative neurotransmitters involved in the AVP response to hypovolaemia and in basal release were examined using opioid, and @-adrenoceptor and dopamine receptor-blocking agents. A dose of PEG was chosen to produce a decrease in blood volume of approx 14.5% giving plasma AVP concentrations of 19.0+4.6 pmol/l. Naloxone and phenoxybenzamine failed to influence AVP release under both hypovolaemic and basal conditions. Prazosin also failed to influence the AVP response. In contrast propranolol elevated the plasma AVP concentrations in both conditions. Haloperidol enhanced basal AVP release but did not influence release during hypovolaemia. Guanethidine pretreatment partially blocked the response to hypovolaemia, but did not affect basal plasma AVP. Thus it appears that aminergic pathways have an inhibitory influence on AVP release under hypovolaemic and basal conditions. However, endogenous opioids do not appear to contribute significantly to the hypovolaemic response. -


Recent years have seen a growing, yet unstructured, debate among Palestinian scholars and activists about the imperative of localising the economic approaches to development. This debate has revolved around the notion of "resistance economy (RE)" that places resistance at the core of the anti-colonial economic consciousness and practice. RE is envisaged as a localised response to the multifaceted crisis—generated by the dynamic interaction among Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and international donors—afflicting the Palestinian political economy. Influenced by the rich legacy of the anti-colonial experience in Palestine, the RE seeks to invigorate organised popular mobilisation and collective struggle against the settler colonial reality. However, the term is still ambiguous and underdeveloped; further, it lacks the theoretical and methodological underpinnings to allow it to be contextualised, strategised, and implemented as part of everyday economic activity. This article seeks to contribute to this debate and foster an understanding that takes into consideration the interrelationship between the economy, politics, and society in a context characterised by the repressive interplay of colonialism and neoliberalism. Finally, the article engages critically with the debate concerning the centrality of agricultural activity to the RE.


While changes in land precipitation during the last 50 years have been attributed in part to human influences, results vary by season, are affected by data uncertainty and do not account for changes over ocean. One of the more physically robust responses of the water cycle to warming is the expected amplification of existing patterns of precipitation minus evaporation. Here, precipitation changes in wet and dry regions are analyzed from satellite data for 1988–2010, covering land and ocean. We derive fingerprints for the expected change from climate model simulations that separately track changes in wet and dry regions. The simulations used are driven with anthropogenic and natural forcings combined, and greenhouse gas forcing or natural forcing only. Results of detection and attribution analysis show that the fingerprint of combined external forcing is detectable in observations and that this intensification of the water cycle is partly attributable to greenhouse gas forcing.


Abstract Using electron microscopy, ultrastructural organization of microbial parietal biofilm in colon of immunodeficient mice line B10-hr(rhy) was studied before and after peroral inoculation with enteropathogenic strain of Clostridium difficile. It was shown that infection leads to dispersion of normal biofilm in various sites and imbalance in natural proportions of different bacterial associations. Also, clear ultrastructural signs of involution of Gram-negative microorganisms were observed. In the remaining areas of the biofilm, density of bacterial population increased. In the same areas massive intrusion of microorganisms in epitheliocytes occurred with their subsequent localization in phagosomes, phagolysosomes and, in some cases, in the cytoplasm of degenerating eukaryotic cells.


The article traces the historical development of the legal concept of adoption from early civilization to present day South African law. The requirements and consequences of the practice of adoption changed with time, and with the waning of the popularity thereof, adoption as a legal concept was unknown in Roman-Dutch law - the common law of South Africa .During the early 1900's increasing numbers of informal "adoptions" taking place in South Africa led to the promulgation of the Adoption of Children Act 25 of 1923. Where conducive to the welfare of the child, adoption was permitted. However, the political ideology of the time in South Africa had a major influence on adoption as a legal institution, with the consequence that the considerations of the welfare of the child were superseded by the ideology of racial segregation. Post constitutional democracy led to the securing and protecting of basic human rights, not least of all within the private context of "family". Ratification of international instruments which made provision for adoption, together with the dawning of the constitutional era in South Africa saw the child as the bearer of his or her own rights. In terms of our Constitution, every child was guaranteed the right to family care or parental care or appropriate alternative care. The article focuses on the development and evolution of adoption to its present-day status.


This article poses the question of whether monetary financing of public investment constitutes a viable way forward for the euro area. The problems of low inflation, high unemployment and public debts seem scarcely resolvable in an environment that is constrained by the virtual exhaustion of monetary policy and legal limitations on expansionary fiscal policy. The author draws on the literature on monetary finance to identify key features of a scheme that could function in the context of EMU. He proposes to achieve an indirect monetary financing of public investment by the ECB committing to take newly issued EIB bonds on to its balance sheet. This would be essentially costless in a deflationary environment and could be expected to exhibit high multiplier effects. The independence of the ECB is maintained by making bond purchases subject to an inflation 'trigger'.


Social network data is often prohibitively expensive to collect, limiting empirical network research. Typical economic network mapping requires (1) enumerating a census, (2) eliciting the names of all network links for each individual, (3) matching the list of social connections to the census, and (4) repeating (1)-(3) across many networks. In settings requiring field surveys, steps (2)-(3) can be very expensive. In other network populations such as financial intermediaries or high-risk groups, proprietary data and privacy concerns may render (2)-(3) impossible. Both restrict the accessibility of high-quality networks research to investigators with considerable resources. We propose an inexpensive and feasible strategy for network elicitation using Aggregated Relational Data (ARD) -- responses to questions of the form"How many of your social connections have trait k?"Our method uses ARD to recover the parameters of a general network formation model, which in turn, permits the estimation of any arbitrary node- or graph-level statistic. The method works well in simulations and in matching a range of network characteristics in real-world graphs from 75 Indian villages. Moreover, we replicate the results of two field experiments that involved collecting network data. We show that the researchers would have drawn similar conclusions using ARD alone. Finally, using calculations from J-PAL fieldwork, we show that in rural India, for example, ARD surveys are 80% cheaper than full network surveys.


The authors propose a general synthesis method for efficiently implementing any family of Boolean functions over a set of variables, as a self-timed logic module. Interval temporal logic is used to express the constraints that are formulated for the self-timed logic module. A method is provided for proving the correct behavior of the designed circuit, by showing that it obeys all the functional constraints. The resulting circuit is compared with alternative proposed self-timed methodologies. This approach is shown to require less gates than other methods. The proposed method is appropriate for automatic synthesis of self-timed systems. A formal proof of correctness is provided. >


Naturalistic naturalized epistemology combines ontological naturalism with naturalized epistemology. Ontological naturalism is the view that nothing exists other than spatio-temporal beings embedded within a space-time framework. Naturalized epistemology is a view about the nature of knowledge characterized by its commitment to externalism and the idea that knowledge consists in beliefs reliably generated by cognitive mechanisms operating in a suitable environment. Alvin Plantinga has provided a much discussed evolutionary biological argument against naturalistic naturalized epistemology. In this article I defend naturalistic naturalized epistemology by refuting Plantinga's replies to two important criticisms of his argument.


Dilute phosphoric acid pretreatment of moso bamboo materials was studied for producing high quality dissolving pulp for textile applications. The dynamics of dilute acid pretreatment were considered. The Saeman model was found to describe well the acid hydrolysis of moso bamboo hemicelluloses to their monomers under different temperatures and different dilute phosphoric acid concentrations. The initial degradation rate of hemicelluloses was much higher than its subsequent degradation rate, and the xylose generation rate increased with increasing temperature. The change rule of the pentose extraction rate was considered along with the pretreatment factor (P factor). Optimum dilute acid pretreatment conditions were 170 °C and 45 minutes. Based on the optimum conditions and a mass balance of sugars, a weight loss of 26.5% of the solid and liquid fractions combined was observed after the pretreatment. SEM results revealed that the moso bamboo fibers surfaces and cell wall were damaged. With the surface area increasing, the accessible pore areas also increased. At the same time, the crystallinity of the cellulose was reduced, which created a favorable environment for chemical penetration in the subsequent treatment.


Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the leading causes of chronic liver diseases. Despite advancements in the development of antivirals and efforts to combat HCV infections, there is currently no vaccine for HCV. Adopting traditional approaches to HCV vaccine development has been impractical due to the lack of reproducible cell culture systems that can support HCV replication. In this study, the New Jersey serotype of recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSVNJ) was used as the vector to express non-structural proteins NS3/4A of genotype 1a HCV for potential vaccine purposes. The rVSVNJ-GMM vector was genetically modified by changing glycine to glutamic acid at position 22 and methionine to arginine at positions 48 and 51 of the matrix protein to reduce inhibition of host gene expression and cytopathic effects. This study examined replication efficiency, attenuation, and capacity of rVSVNJ-GMM vector to express high protein levels. It was hypothesized that the genetically modified rVSVNJ-GMM vector with the HCV NS3/4A insert would demonstrate reduced cytopathogenesis without compromising viral replication and efficiently express functional NS3/4A proteins. The rVSVNJ-GMM-NS3/4A was recovered by reverse genetics and amplified to construct viral growth kinetics that generated a high viral titre. The degree of cytopathogenesis of rVSVNJ-GMM without insert and rVSVNJ-GMM-NS3/4A was compared and results showed that rVSVNJ-GMM-NS3/4A achieved fewer structural changes in the infected cells compared to rVSVNJ-GMM without insert. In addition, the proper expression and processing of HCV NS3/4A proteins were confirmed, and the function of NS3/4A protein complex as a serine protease was confirmed by its ability to cleave at the NS5A/NS5B polyprotein junction. Electron microscopic visualization showed normal morphology of rhabdovirus particles and clear projection of glycoproteins. The replication efficiency, safety, and capacity to achieve high expression level of functional NS3/4A proteins indicate that the rVSVNJ-GMM vector can be used for recombinant HCV vaccine development.


The outcome of a production process might not only deviate from a theoretical maximum due to inefficiency, but also because of non-controllable influences. This raises the issue of reliability of Data Envelopment Analysis in noisy environments. I propose to assume an i.i.d. data generating process with bounded noise component, so that the following approach is feasible: Use DEA to estimate a pseudo frontier first (nonparametric shape estimation). Next apply a ML- technique to the DEA-estimated efficiencies, to estimate the scalar value by which this pseudo-frontier must be shifted downward to get the true production frontier (location estimation). I prove, that this approach yields consistent estimates of the true frontier.


Background Smoking remains a top public health priority, killing over 6m people annually. Planning future tobacco control policies can greatly benefit from population prediction models for tobacco use (mathematical models that simulate tobacco exposure and its health impact in the population). Those models were mainly developed to project trends and simulate policy as identified in a systematic review published in 2013. Common outcomes were changes in tobacco use behaviour, tobacco-related morbidity/mortality, and economic impact. We updated, expanded and enhanced the 2013 review. We aimed to identify best modelling practices, highlight common pitfalls, and develop a quality-assessment checklist. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus, EconLit, and PsycINFO for publications between July 2013 and August 2019 using the search strategy of the 2013 review. We included studies referring to tobacco product or tobacco use and projected a tobacco-related outcome. We only included studies in English. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of the identified studies through title and abstract screening followed by full-text review; all discrepancies were resolved in consensus with a third reviewer. We designed and piloted a data-extraction form based on existing guidelines to collect information such as model structure, data sources and transparency. We analysed the evidence using narrative synthesis. We developed a quality-assessment checklist for population prediction tobacco models, including the risk of bias and standard quality criteria. Results In total, 5046 records were identified of which 830 were duplicates; 80 papers were included in this review. A diverse range of modelling/simulation methodologies, including microsimulations, decision-trees, and agent-based models have been used in population tobacco use prediction modelling. However, methodological transparency was notably lacking. Furthermore, the tobacco modelling community apparently works mostly in 'silos', hindering the diffusion of good modelling practice, and promoting wasteful repetition of effort. For example, while some models appropriately simulate smoking intensity and duration to model cumulative hazard, others only simulate smoking status (i.e. never/ever/current). Conversely, the modelling teams participating in the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modelling Network (CISNET) collaborated well, sharing data, methodological advancements and 'building blocks' for their models. Worryingly, some tobacco models received industry funding, making bias likely. Conclusion Population prediction modelling for tobacco use is an active area of research. However, our systematic methodological review identified variable quality and an overall lack of transparency. More active collaboration using transparent methods and open-source code could avoid wasteful duplication of effort, speed scientific progress and benefit both the tobacco control community and wider society.


Are practitioners adopting the "less is best" philosophy for management of medical records? Making record abstracting less time consuming, and assembling charts to appear as they do on the patient units have been debated over recent years. This article reports on a survey of practitioners to see if newer methods are being adopted or if traditional practice prevails.


The present work is a generalization of that dealing with a pair of knife-edges. In particular, a high-frequency solution is obtained for the scattering in the near zone of a pair of coplanar skew wedges with arbitrary exterior angle, illuminated by a source at finite distance. The solution is achieved by using a spherical wave spectral representation of the incident, singly diffracted field by the first wedge. The electromagnetic solution is constructed from the relevant scalar formulation by choosing appropriate ray-fixed reference systems. The final dyadic closed form expression is cast in the uniform theory of diffraction (UTD) framework, and includes terms up to the second order. These latter become of the same order as the leading terms in overlapping transition regions of the two wedges. This solution is also directly applicable when the two wedges share a common face for both polarizations; in this case, the second order terms provide an accurate description of those contributions that are usually neglected for soft polarization.


RNA viruses generate a cloud of genetic variants within each host. This cloud contains high frequency genotypes, and a very large number of rare variants. While the dynamics of frequent variants are affected by the fitness of each variant, the rare variants cloud is affected by more complex genetic factors, including context dependent mutations. It serves as a spearhead for the viral population's movement within the adaptive landscape. We here use an experimental evolution system to show that the genetic cloud surrounding the Coxsackie virus master sequence slowly, but steadily, evolves over hundreds of generations. The evolution of the rare variants cloud often precedes the appearance of high frequency variants. The rare variants cloud's evolution is driven by a combination of a context-dependent mutation pattern and selection for and against specific nucleotide compositions.This combination affects the mutated dinucleotide distribution, and eventually leads to a non-uniform dinucleotide distribution in the main viral sequence. We then tested these conclusions on other RNA viruses with similar conclusions.


Research in pervasive and autonomic computing focuses on supporting services for pervasive applications, but often ignores how such applications can be realised through the federation of autonomous entities. In this paper we propose a methodology for designing collaborations between autonomous components, using the Self-Managed Cell (SMC) framework. We focus on the structural, task-allocation and communication aspects of management interactions between SMCs. We propose a catalogue of architectural styles for SMC interactions, and a model for combining architectural styles in patterns of interactions that can be enforced by different SMCs in large collaborations. This allows us to specify the management of large-scale systems by composing management functions using architectural styles as building block abstractions. A scenario for a health monitoring application involving a number of SMCs is used throughout the paper to illustrate how complex structures can be thus built.


Water vapor condensation on hydrophobic surfaces has received much attention due to its ability to rapidly shed water droplets and enhance heat transfer, anti-icing, water harvesting, energy harvesting, and self-cleaning performance. However, the mechanism of heterogeneous nucleation on hydrophobic surfaces remains poorly understood and is attributed to defects in the hydrophobic coating exposing the high surface energy substrate. Here, we observe the formation of high surface energy nanoscale agglomerates on hydrophobic coatings after condensation/evaporation cycles in ambient conditions. To investigate the deposition dynamics, we studied the nanoscale agglomerates as a function of condensation/evaporation cycles via optical and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), microgoniometric contact angle measurements, nucleation statistics, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The FESEM and EDS results indicated that the nanoscale agglomerates stem from absorption of sulfuric acid based aerosol particles inside the droplet and adsorption of volatile organic compounds such as methanethiol (CH3SH), dimethyl disulfide (CH3SSCH), and dimethyl trisulfide (CH3SSSCH3) on the liquid-vapor interface during water vapor condensation, which act as preferential sites for heterogeneous nucleation after evaporation. The insights gained from this study elucidate fundamental aspects governing the behavior of both short- and long-term heterogeneous nucleation on hydrophobic surfaces, suggest previously unexplored microfabrication and air purification techniques, and present insights into the challenges facing the development of durable dropwise condensing surfaces.


Most deployable structures, such as operable roofs and masts, move over one-degree of freedom. This paper describes a structure that involves loosely coupled movement over several degrees of freedom. Analysis models of these structures are typically inaccurate. A source of inaccuracy is joint friction. Static and kinetic friction are studied experimentally and analytically. Simulations have been modied to account for these effects and two methods are used to quantify friction effects. Friction has a significant effect on the movement of the tensegrity structure. Of two candidate parameters, cable tension and interior cable angle, cable angle is the factor that best characterizes friction effects. Values of static and kinetic friction coefficients are not significantly different in this context and this leads to a reduction in the complexity of the friction model for simulation. Including friction effects in analysis decreases the difference between simulations and tests. Lastly, strut elements of the tensegrity structure are most critically affected by friction.


Fingolimod is a sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist; it was the first oral disease-modifying agent approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Two double-blind randomised clinical trials (TRANSFORMS and FREEDOMS studies) have shown that in comparison with interferon β-1a or placebo, fingolimod is superior in improving clinical and MRI outcomes in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients.1 ,2 The FREEDOMS study demonstrated that 0.5-mg fingolimod reduced the annualised relapse rate of RRMS by 55% relative to placebo. On this basis, fingolimod was approved for RRMS treatment in the USA, EU and other countries. To date, more than 77 000 patients have been treated with fingolimod.

In spite of its effectiveness and oral-availability, fingolimod is usually considered as second-line treatment, because it may cause some serious adverse events, particularly cardiovascular related. The European Medicines Agency reported an MS patient who died within 24 h of administration of the first dose of fingolimod. Furthermore, the agency reported …


This paper presents my living theory, developed as I sought to improve my practice as a lecturer and researcher. I aimed to achieve this as I answered my research question: How can I improve my understanding of Twitter as a professional development tool, and as a mechanism to improve my practice as a lecturer? This enquiry involved the creation of a Twitter account, @PurcellRebecca, and the evaluation of the impact of this Twitter account on my own professional learning and my understandings of how students may be enabled to engage with real-world marketing practice in a higher education setting.


IS THE PHARMACEUTICAL industry going to the dogs? In a way, the answer is yes. A flurry of regulatory approvals for dog medicines in the past several months demonstrates a growing interest in prescription drugs for pets. These pets don't just have owners—they have people. And those people want their dogs and cats to grow old with them. In an increasing number of countries, people have extra income to spend on Fido and Fluffy to keep these companions healthy and comfortable through their geriatric years. In response, drug companies are learning to comb their growing libraries of drugs for humans to find products that will improve pet health, bring in additional income, and possibly help advance R&D for human health. Over the past decade, products for dogs and cats have been the biggest and fastest growing sector of the animal health market, says Nigel Chapple, an analyst with the consulting firm ...


To conduct a full cycle Regional Audit in Northern Ireland to assess the ten Quality Predictive Indicators (QPI) in the management of Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) as per National Cancer Quality Steering Group (NCQSG) of NHS Scotland. Each cycle lasted for 6 months.

 QPIs were assessed in four major domains such as radiological, histological, surgical and pre-treatment performance indicators in the management of RCC. Using the Northern Ireland Electronic Care record, data were collected, recorded in MS Excel and analysed and arrived at conclusions. The results were compared with NHS Scotland RCC audit reports published in August 2019 and October 2022.

 In audit cycle 1, NCGSQ targets of quality prediction was achieved in 3 QPIs (Nephron Sparing Surgery, Trifecta rate and 30/90 mortality rate) among the 10 QPIs. In Audit Cycle 2, additional 4 NCGSQ targets were achieved namely- pre-treatment CT/MRI, Histodiagnosis in cryotherapy, histodiagnosis in chemotherapy and MDT discussion.

 There has been significant improvement in all QPIs in the management of Renal Cell Carcinoma in Northern Ireland during the audited period. We have achieved NCGSQ quality performance indicator targets in 7 among the 10 QPIs that were audited. Further interventions may be required to achieve targets in QPIs such as Leibovich scoring, pre-treatment TNM staging and prognostic scoring in metastatic RCC.


Abstract The Sonoyta mud turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale) is a member of the unique desert riparian fauna isolated along the Rio Sonoyta watershed in northern Sonora, Mexico, and southern Arizona. This subspecies occupies six sites along the Rio Sonoyta, a pool at Quitovac in Sonora, and one pond at Quitobaquito Springs in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona. Since the mid-1980s, population estimates for the US population have ranged from 39–153 individuals. In 2006–2007, the human-made Quitobaquito Pond began losing water, and discussions were held concerning the fate of the turtles. During three salvage efforts all Sonoyta mud turtles encountered were captured and transported to temporary holding facilities. Because the minimum number of turtles needed for re-establishment was unknown, we conducted a Population Viability Analysis (PVA) to determine the number of Sonoyta mud turtles that should be held in an assurance colony. Results from both our PVA and previous work suggested that juvenile survivorship has the strongest effect on female transition rates from nonreproductive to reproductive age classes and in turn population growth; thus, a wide range of age classes should be maintained in an assurance colony.


Small areas of skin infiltrated with immune serum proved refractory to the injurious action of a filterable rabbit virus inoculated 24 to 48 hours later. Infiltrations of normal serum did not appreciably protect the skin against the virus. The local protection afforded by the infiltrations of immune serum appears to constitute an example of local passive immunity. Small areas of skin infiltrated with either normal serum or meat infusion broth proved more refractory than normal skin to infection with hemolytic streptococci inoculated 24 hours later. The refractory state induced in the tissues was non-specific in character. A greater amount of local protection against hemolytic streptococci was afforded by infiltrations with a homologous immune serum than by infiltrations with normal serum. The difference in the amount of protection afforded by immune serum over that induced by normal serum may be thought of as representative of the degree of local passive immunity conferred.


This paper describes a position estimation technique based on the fusion of data obtained by two independent subsystems in a mobile robot navigation context. The first subsystem is a self-location one composed of an onboard camera, an onboard image processing unit and artificial landmarks; the second one is a dead-reckoning subsystem based on odometry. The robot navigation system integrates the position estimation obtained by the vision subsystem with the position estimated by odometry using a Kalman filter framework.


The flower development of angiosperms is controlled by floral homeotic MIKCC-type MADS-domain transcription factors (MADS-TFs) that activate or repress target genes by forming floral organ specific DNA-bound heterotetrameric complexes termed floral quartets. The ability to form floral quartets highly differs between floral homeotic MADS-TFs of certain subfamilies. However, to date relatively little is known about how these subfamily-specific interaction patterns of floral homeotic proteins evolved during angiosperm evolution and which sequence determinants account for the different interaction capabilities. Based on interaction studies of floral homeotic proteins from early diverging angiosperms I could show that the interactions governing flower development in core eudicots are also present in these distantly related species. However, especially AP3- and PI-like proteins from early diverging angiosperms possess additional interactions compared to their orthologs from core eudicots which form obligate heterodimers only. The more diverse interactions among floral homeotic proteins from early diverging angiosperms suggest a shift from promiscuity to specificity in the protein-protein interaction network during early angiosperm evolution. By comprehensive amino acid sequence analyses of MADS-TFs I demonstrated that the structure of the protein-protein interacting keratin-like domain (K-domain) is most likely highly similar among all subfamilies of floral homeotic proteins. Amino acid substitutions within the K-domain of the floral homeotic hub protein SEP3 revealed that highly conserved leucine residues at interacting sites are essential mediators of floral quartet-like complex formation. The absence of leucine residues at homologous amino acid positions in non-hubs such as AP3- and PI-like proteins probably accounts for their less promiscuous interactions. Beside the highly specific protein-protein interactions among floral homeotic proteins I studied another interaction of the K-domain. The phytoplasma effector protein SAP54 targets the K-domain to specifically bind MADS-TFs of certain subfamilies and destines them for degradation. Based on amino acid sequence analyses and structural predictions I provided preliminary evidence that SAP54 folds into a structure similar to that of the K-domain. Based on my findings I hypothesized that SAP54 evolved via convergent sequence and structural evolution to mimic the K-domain of its MADS-TF targets.


MIRAGE is a multi-region, multi-sector computable general equilibrium model, devoted to trade policy analysis. It incorporates imperfect competition, horizontal and vertical product differentiation, and foreign direct investment, in a sequential dynamic set-up where installed capital is assumed to be immobile. Adjustment inertia is linked to capital stock reallocation. MIRAGE draws upon a very detailed measure of trade barriers and of their evolution under given hypotheses, thanks to the MAcMap database. The most recent version, presented in this paper, offers improvements in the modelling of agriculture policy and dynamics.


With the ever-increasing level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, there is an enormous need to find new ways to minimize CO2 emissions. One way to tackle this problem is with Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). BECCS is a new technology, which captures CO2 from biomass and stores it geologically. As biomass is considered to be CO2-neutral, this technology creates negative emissions and could thus in the long run decrease the level of CO2 in the atmosphere.There is currently a large unawareness of BECCS as a mitigation technology, preventing the break through as it does not receive enough attention and most importantly enough funding or promotion by incentives. By introducing small-scale showcase units to policy makers and the industry, BECCS as a technology with its many benefits can be successfully demonstrated.During this project, an extensive literature review has been done in order to evaluate the current status of the technology and to investigate the maturity and possibilities in the field to introduce small-scale units. Injection sites worldwide have been contacted, to research the possibilities of external small-scale projects to inject CO2. These sites are strictly regulated and it is therefore difficult to inject as an external partner. Industry and field experts were also contacted regarding the different technologies and their scalability.The various capture technologies have potential to work in small scale. As most technologies, the capture technologies used in BECCS processes are first developed in micro-scale in laboratories. This means that the technologies are known to work in small scale, the problem being that they are not commercially available and therefore questions regarding reliability and economy remain to be solved.


This paper presents a new class of Petri nets, called process nets with resources (PNRs), for modeling manufacturing systems where only parts can interact with resources, and resources alone cannot interact with one another. PNRs properly include S/sup 3/PR, augmented marked graphs, and some subclasses of resource control net (RCN) merged nets and ERCN merged nets. As a result, PNRs can model far more complex manufacturing process flows and resource sharing than these nets. To construct a PNR, we first build a process net to specify the process flow for each part type. A process net is a consistent, conservative, strongly connected, and live Petri net that satisfies three conditions, including strong reversibility. Then resource places denoting the availability of resource types are added to the process nets. We generalize strong reversibility for PNRs in order to check a sufficient condition for reversibility of PNRs. It is shown that strong reversibility and reversibility of a PNR depends on the siphons. Liveness of a PNR can be verified by checking the potential firing ability of all transitions of each isolated process net, which is, informally speaking, a process net with all resources allocated to it. A manufacturing example is given to show the applicability of PNRs.