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Towards a comprehensive policy for electricity from renewable energy: Designing for social welfare
No full textAbstractThe governance of renewable electricity in Europe beyond 2020 is still uncertain. The only certain aspects are that national level targets will be abolished beyond 2020, and that most renewable electricity support schemes will take the form of competitive bidding. The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of policy choices, the so-called Design Elements, related to renewable electricity support schemes on social welfare. Presently, simulation and optimisation models are commonly applied for assessing the value of policy choice. Typically however, such models do not account for bounded rationality, and true uncertainty in investment decisions, and assume perfect information. However such assumptions can hardly be expected to hold in the real-world, especially in sectors where investment decisions which happen under knowledge of past trends and imperfect foresight, are a major determinant of welfare outcomes. The approach employed in this work is fundamentally different in that firstly, there is a shift from a ‘policy’ view to a ‘design element’ based approach of renewable electricity support assessment, and secondly investment decisions are simulated using agent-based modelling. We find that the combination of design elements that provides the highest increase in social welfare is the quantity warranty, with electricity market price accounted for ex-ante, and with technology specificity. Given the current debate on the governance of renewable energy generation in the European Union beyond 2020, the present paper offers guidance to policy makers and analysts who would like a better understanding of the relationship between policy design and social welfare
Accessory hepatic lobes in the pediatric population: A report of three cases of torsion and literature review
No full textAbstractCongenital liver anomalies are uncommon. Symptomatic accessory hepatic lobes (AHL), either in continuity with the liver or ectopically located, are even less common. AHL have been reported in individuals spanning from neonates to octogenarians and are typically asymptomatic, however when symptomatic often require surgical intervention. We report three new cases of AHL in children (mean = 14.6 years). All three presented with sudden onset of abdominal pain and were diagnosed preoperatively by imaging findings. All three patients had symptom resolution following resection of the torsed accessory liver lobes. We report here the largest series of pediatric AHL torsion at a single institution to date, review the classification schemes, identify diagnostic imaging findings, and summarize associated congenital disorders that should raise suspicion for accessory hepatic lobes
Study of complex formation between C18H36N2O6 and UO22+ cation in some binary mixed non-aqueous solutions
No full textAbstractThe complexation reaction between UO22+ cation and the macrobicyclic ligand C18H36N2O6 was studied in acetonitrile–dimethylformamide (AN–DMF), acetonitrile–tetrahydrofuran (AN–THF), acetonitrile–dichloromethane (AN–DCM) binary solvent solutions at different temperatures using the coductometric method. In most cases, C18H36N2O6 forms a 1:1 [M:L] complex with the UO22+ cation. But in some of the studied solvent systems, in addition to formation of a 1:1 complex, a 1:2 [M:L2] complex is formed in solution. A non-linear behavior was observed for changes of logKf of the (C18H36N2O6·UO2)2+ complex versus the composition of the binary mixed solvents. The sequence of the stability of the (C18H36N2O6·UO2)2+ complex in pure solvent systems at 25°C decreases in the order: AN>THF>DMF. In the case of binary solvent solutions, the stability constant of the complex at 25°C was found to be: AN–DCM>AN–THF>AN–DMF. The values of thermodynamic quantities (ΔSc°,ΔHc°), for the formation of the complex were obtained from temperature dependence of the stability constant of the complex using the van't Hoff plots. The results show that in all cases, the complex is both entropy and enthalpy stabilized and both of these parameters are affected by the nature and composition of the mixed solvent systems
“Ezakiella massiliensis” sp. nov., a new bacterial species isolated from human female genital tract
No full textAbstractWe report the primary characteristics of “Ezakiella massiliensis” strain Marseille P2951 (= DSM 103122 = CSUR P2951), a new member of the Ezakiella genus. Strain Marseille P2951 was isolated from a vaginal sample taken from an asymptomatic 20-year-old woman who had sex with another woman who had bacterial vaginosis
The impact of loneliness on paranoia: An experimental approach
No full textAbstractBackground and objectivesLoneliness is a common problem in patients with schizophrenia, and may be particularly linked with persecutory ideation. Nevertheless, its role as a potential risk factor in the formation and maintenance of persecutory delusions is largely unexplored.MethodsLoneliness was experimentally manipulated using a false-feedback paradigm in a non-clinical sample (n = 60). Change in state paranoia was compared between the induction of increased loneliness, the induction of reduced loneliness and a control condition. Distinct associations between pre-post scores of loneliness and state paranoia were examined at three (medium/high/low) levels of proneness to psychosis across the experimental conditions.ResultsReduction of loneliness was associated with a significant reduction of present paranoid beliefs, while induction of loneliness lead to more pronounced paranoia on trend significance level. Moreover, proneness to psychosis significantly moderated the impact of loneliness on paranoia. Persons with a pronounced level of proneness to psychosis showed a stronger reduction of paranoid beliefs as a consequence of a decrease in loneliness, than less prone individuals.LimitationsA limitation is the small size of our sample, which may have limited the power to detect significant within-group changes in state paranoia in the high-loneliness condition and changes in loneliness in the low-loneliness condition.ConclusionsThe findings support the feasibility of the experimental design to manipulate loneliness and suggest that loneliness could be a cause of paranoia. However, the findings need to be confirmed in high risk samples to draw conclusions about the role of loneliness in the genesis of clinically relevant levels of paranoia and derive implications for cognitive behaviour therapy
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is associated with hypermethylation of the dopamine D2 receptor gene
No full textAbstractSeveral lines of evidence support a “dopaminergic hypothesis” in the pathophysiology of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS). The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time epigenetic changes in DNA methylation in different dopamine genes in adult patients with TS. We included 51 well characterized adult patients with TS (41 males, 10 females, mean age = 35 ± 12.6 years, range, 18–71 years) and compared results with data from a group of 51 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Bisulfite sequencing was used to measure peripheral DNA methylation of the dopamine transporter (DAT), the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2), and the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes. Compared to healthy controls, patients with TS showed significantly elevated methylation level of the DRD2 gene that positively correlated with tic severity. In contrast, DAT methylation was lower in more severely affected patients. Our results provide evidence for a role of altered epigenetic regulation of dopaminergic genes in the pathophysiology of TS. While DRD2 hypermethylation seems to be directly related to the neurobiology of TS that may lead to dopaminergic dysfunction resulting in enhanced thalamo-cortical movement-stimulating activity, DAT hypomethylation might reflect a secondary mechanism in order to compensate for increased dopaminergic signal transduction due to DRD2 hypermethylation. In addition, it can be speculated that spontaneous fluctuations of tics may be caused by short-term alterations of methylation levels of dopaminergic genes resulting in dynamic changes of tonic/phasic dopaminergic signaling in the striatum and thalamo-cortical output pathways
Energy response and thermoluminescence properties of lithium potassium borate Glass co-doped with Cu and SnO2 nanoparticles
No full textAbstractSnO2 nanoparticles doped lithium potassium borate with Cu-doped was prepared by melt-quenching technique. The field emission scanning electron microscope was used to examine morphology of samples. The TLD-Reader 4500 was used to measurement of thermoluminescence. The glow curves position of Cu-doped and co-doped SnO2 glass were recorded at about 205 °C and 215 °C respectively. The linear relationship of dose-TL intensity was observed for both samples. The TLD sensitivity shows that the co-doped SnO2 glass has almost 6 time higher sensitivity compared to Cu-doped glass. It was found that the theoretical calculations are in good agreement with the experimental results for relative energy response. The activation energy and frequency factor of TL glow peak are determined by using the peak shape method
Effectiveness of insecticide-treated bednets in malaria prevention in Haiti: a case-control study
No full textSummaryBackgroundInsecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) are effective in preventing malaria where vectors primarily bite indoors and late at night, but their effectiveness is uncertain where vectors bite outdoors and earlier in the evening. We studied the effectiveness of ITNs following a mass distribution in Haiti from May to September, 2012, where the Anopheles albimanus vector bites primarily outdoors and often when people are awake.MethodsIn this case-control study, we enrolled febrile patients presenting to outpatient departments at 17 health facilities throughout Haiti from Sept 4, 2012, to Feb 27, 2014, who were tested with malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), and administered questionnaires on ITN use and other risk factors. Cases were defined by positive RDT and controls were febrile patients from the same clinic with a negative RDT. Our primary analysis retrospectively matched cases and controls by age, sex, location, and date, and used conditional logistic regression on the matched sample. A sensitivity analysis used propensity scores to match patients on ITN use propensity and analyse malaria among ITN users and non-users. Additional ITN bioefficacy and entomological data were collected.FindingsWe enrolled 9317 patients, including 378 (4%) RDT-positive cases. 1202 (13%) patients reported ITN use. Post-hoc matching of cases and controls yielded 362 cases and 1201 matched controls, 19% (333) of whom reported consistent campaign net use. After using propensity scores to match on consistent campaign ITN use, 2298 patients, including 138 (7%) RDT-positive cases, were included: 1149 consistent campaign ITN users and 1149 non-consistent campaign ITN users. Both analyses revealed that ITNs did not significantly protect against clinical malaria (odds ratio [OR]=0·95, 95% CI 0·68–1·32, p=0·745 for case-control analysis; OR=0·95, 95% CI 0·45–1·97, p=0·884 for propensity score analysis). ITN and entomological data indicated good ITN physical integrity and bioefficacy, and no permethrin resistance among local mosquitoes.InterpretationWe found no evidence that mass ITN campaigns reduce clinical malaria in this observational study in Haiti; alternative malaria control strategies should be prioritised.FundingThe Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Effects of living near a new urban motorway on the travel behaviour of local residents in deprived areas: Evidence from a natural experimental study
No full textAbstractWe evaluated the effects of a new motorway built through deprived neighbourhoods on travel behaviour in residents. This natural experiment comprised a longitudinal cohort (n=365) and two cross-sectional samples (baseline n=980; follow-up n=978) recruited in 2005 and 2013. Adults from one of three study areas - surrounding the new motorway (South), an existing motorway (East), or no motorway (North) - completed a previous day travel record. Adjusted two-part regression models examined associations between exposure and outcome. Compared to the North, cohort participants in the South were more likely to undertake travel by any mode (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.0–4.2) at follow-up. Within the South study area, cohort participants living closer to a motorway junction were more likely to travel by any mode at follow-up (OR 4.7, 95% CI 1.1–19.7), and cross-sectional participants living closer were more likely to use a car at follow-up (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.1–10.7), compared to those living further away. Overall, the new motorway appeared to promote travel and car use in those living nearby, but did not influence active travel. This may propagate socioeconomic inequalities in non-car owners
Os efeitos da lidocaína e do sulfato de magnésio na atenuação da resposta hemodinâmica à intubação orotraqueal: estudo unicêntrico, prospectivo, duplamente encoberto e aleatorizado
No full textResumoJustificativa e objetivosA resposta hemodinâmica aos estímulos das vias aéreas é um fenômeno comum e seu controle é importante para diminuir as repercussões sistêmicas. O objetivo deste trabalho é comparar os efeitos da administração endovenosa de sulfato de magnésio versus lidocaína na hemodinâmica desse reflexo após a laringoscopia e intubação orotraqueal.MétodosEste estudo duplamente encoberto, aleatorizado, unicêntrico e prospectivo avaliou 56 pacientes, ASA 1 ou 2, entre 18 e 65 anos, escalados para cirurgias eletivas sob anestesia geral com intubação orotraqueal. Foram alocados em dois grupos, o M recebeu 30 mg·kg−1 de sulfato de magnésio e o L, 2 mg·kg−1 de lidocaína, em infusão contínua, imediatamente antes da indução anestésica. Os valores de pressão arterial (PA), frequência cardíaca (FC) e índice biespectral (BIS) foram aferidos nos dois grupos em seis momentos relacionados com a administração dos fármacos do estudo.ResultadosEm ambos os grupos houve aumento na FC e PA após a laringoscopia e intubação, em relação aos valores basais. No Grupo M observou‐se elevação estatisticamente significativa, mas clinicamente pouco importante, nos valores das pressões arteriais sistólica e diastólica após a intubação. Não houve diferença nos valores de BIS entre os grupos. Dos pacientes que receberam o sulfato de magnésio, 3 (12%) apresentaram episódio de hipertensão, ao passo que apenas um dos que receberam lidocaína (4%) apresentou esse sinal, sem diferença estatística.ConclusãoSulfato de magnésio e a lidocaína apresentam boa eficácia e segurança no controle hemodinâmico à laringoscopia e intubação.AbstractBackground and objectivesHemodynamic response to airway stimuli is a common phenomenon and its management is important to reduce the systemic repercussions. The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of intravenous magnesium sulfate versus lidocaine on this reflex hemodynamics after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.MethodsThis single‐center, prospective, double‐blind, randomized study evaluated 56 patients ASA 1 or 2, aged 18 to 65 years, scheduled for elective surgeries under general anesthesia with intubation. The patients were allocated into two groups: Group F received 30mg·kg−1 of magnesium sulphate and Group L, 2mg·kg−1 of lidocaine, continuous infusion, immediately before the anesthetic induction. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and bispectral index (BIS) were measured in both groups at six different times related to administration of the study drugs.ResultsIn both groups there was an increase in HR and BP after laryngoscopy and intubation, compared to baseline. Group M showed statistically significant increase in the values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure after intubation, which was clinically unimportant. There was no difference in the BIS values between groups. Among patients receiving magnesium sulfate, three (12%) had high blood pressure versus only one among those receiving lidocaine (4%), with no statistical difference.ConclusionMagnesium sulfate and lidocaine have good efficacy and safety for hemodynamic management in laryngoscopy and intubation