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Residues surrounding the active centre of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase are key in converting CO2 to CO
Get PDFThe enzyme carbon monoxide dehydrogenase is capable of efficiently converting CO2 to CO and therefore can enable an affordable CO2 recycling strategy. The reduction of CO2 occurs at a peculiar nickel-iron-sulfur cluster, following a mechanism that remains little understood. In this study, we have used ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to explore the free energy landscape of the reaction. We predict the existence of a COOH ligand that strongly interacts with the surrounding protein residues and favours a mechanism where a H2O molecule is eliminated before CO. We have taken advantages of the insights offered by our simulations to revisit the catalytic mechanism and the role of the residues surrounding the active centre in particular, thus assisting in the design of inorganic catalysts that mimic the enzyme
Foreign Direct Investments, Renewable Electricity output, and Ecological Footprints: Do financial globalization facilitate renewable energy transition and environmental welfare in Bangladesh?
No full textPhasing out fossil fuel dependency to adopt renewable energy technologies is pertinent for both ensuring energy security and for safeguarding the well-being of the environment. However, financial constraints often bottleneck the prospects of the developing countries undergoing renewable energy transition to ease the environmental hardships.
Against this background, this study makes a novel attempt to evaluate the impacts of FDI inflows on the prospects
of undergoing renewable energy transition and attaining environmental sustainability in Bangladesh between 1972
and 2015. Using the autoregressive distributed lags with structural break approach to estimate the short- and long-run elasticities, it is found that FDI inflows enhance the share of renewable electricity output in the total electricity output levels of the country. Besides, FDI inflows are also evidenced to directly hamper environmental quality by boosting the ecological footprints figures. The key findings from the econometric analysis reveal that FDI promotes renewable electricity generation but transforms the nation into a pollution haven. However, although FDI inflows cannot directly reduce the ecological footprints, a joint ecological footprint mitigation impact of FDI inflow and renewable electricity generation in Bangladesh is evidenced. Besides, the findings also verify the authenticity of the
Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis in Bangladesh’s context. This, economic growth can be referred to as being both the cause and the panacea to the environmental problems faced in Bangladesh. Therefore, these results,
in a nutshell, calls for effective measures to be undertaken for attracting the relatively cleaner FDI in Bangladesh
whereby the objectives of renewable energy transition and environmental sustainability can be ensured in tandem. In
line with these findings, some appropriate financial globalization policies are recommende
Creativity and Leisure During COVID-19: Examining the Relationship Between Leisure Activities, Motivations, and Psychological Well-Being
Get PDFSocial distancing policies have been implemented around the world to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These measures have included temporary restrictions on mass gatherings and the closure of public facilities, limiting the pursuit of leisure activities such as travel while allowing more time for at-home pursuits, including creative activities such as gardening and painting. Previous research has demonstrated the benefits of physical activity for psychological well-being during COVID-19, but less attention has been given to the potential benefits of creative pursuits, such as arts and music. The present study investigated changes in the pursuit of creative, non-creative,and physical leisure activities and the relationship between engaging in leisure, the motivations for and barriers to pursuing these activities, and psychological well-being during COVID-19. A total of 3,827 participants from 74 countries completed an online leisure activities questionnaire and the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index. Logistic regression indicated that gender, age, social distancing adherence, and employment status significantly predicted leisure engagement during COVID-19. Compared to sports and outdoor pursuits, participation in creative activities was generally more likely to increase during this period, while participation in non-creative activities was less likely to increase. Multiple linear regression indicated that maintaining or increasing time on leisure activities significantly predicted well-being during COVID-19, with increased time spent on home crafts and artisanship, fine arts, musical and performing arts engagement, sports and outdoor pursuits, niche and IT interests, and language activities each predicting higher well-being outcomes. Motivations such as seeking creative expression and mental stimulation, keeping fit, and maintaining social connections also predicted higher well-being. These findings suggest that participation in both physical and creative leisure activities may offer protective benefits for well-being during COVID-19, and that strategies to promote engagement in creative activities should also be considered in future guidance for mental health during periods of lockdown or isolation
Oxygen in metabolic dysfunction and its therapeutic relevance
Get PDFSignificance: In recent years, a number of studies have shown altered oxygen partial pressure at a tissue level in metabolic disorders, and some researchers have considered oxygen to be a (macro) nutrient. Oxygen availability may be compromised in obesity and several other metabolism-related
pathological conditions, including sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, the metabolic syndrome (which is a set of conditions), type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Recent Advances: Strategies designed to reduce adiposity and its accompanying disorders have been
mainly centered on nutritional interventions and physical activity programs. However, novel therapies are needed since these approaches have not been sufficient to counteract the worldwide increasing rates of metabolic disorders. In this regard, intermittent hypoxia training and hyperoxia could be
potential treatments through oxygen-related adaptations. Moreover, living at high altitude may have a protective effect against the development of abnormal metabolic conditions. In addition, oxygen delivery systems may be of therapeutic value for supplying the tissue-specific oxygen requirements. Critical Issues: Precise in vivo methods to measure oxygenation are vital to disentangle some of the
controversies related to this research area. Furthermore, it is evident that there is a growing need for novel in vitro models to study the potential pathways involved in metabolic dysfunction in order to find appropriate therapeutic targets. Future directions: Based on the existing evidence, it is suggested that oxygen availability has a key
role in obesity and related comorbidities. Oxygen should be considered in relation to potential therapeutic strategies in the treatment and prevention of metabolic disorders
OWENS V OWENS: A MOST CURIOUS CASE
Get PDFThe combination of the long Brexit delays, largely unwelcome General Election, a change of leadership and Cabinet composition in the Conservative government
and finally the coronavirus has between them resulted in a long pause in expected reforming legislation which is much needed in Family Law, including the initial loss of the Divorce Dissolution and Separation Bill 20191
, generated in 2019 by the failure of Mrs Owens’ ’ Supreme Court appeal in the now notorious case of Owens
v Owens.
While this was immediately hailed by the media as justification for urgent reform of the Law of Divorce in England and Wales – on the grounds that English law was almost alone in modern liberal jurisdictions in lacking a No Fault Divorce regime, clearly this has now been overtaken by subsequent events. While it may be factually accurate that England and Wales does not have such a regime for dissolution of marriage without fault and by consent (at least without satisfying the inconvenient condition of waiting for the two-year delay necessary
for a decree on the basis of two years of separation and consent), and perhaps should have one for the reason stated, the failed Owens appeal has absolutely no
jurisprudential connection with any urgency for reform of the law in order to secure such a decree at all. This is because the legal profession has been effectively
obtaining divorces under the present law for over 40 years, and, notwithstanding Owens, has been continuing to do so since 2018, albeit with the caveat that drafting
must be undertaken with extreme care to be sure to avoid a repeated debacle. Nevertheless, on account of the age of the present statute, legal, political and social
theorists of course have strong arguments for a No Fault addition to the existing Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 or even for replacing the existing provisions of that
statute altogether
The Duty to Take Precautions in Hostilities, and the Disobeying of Orders: Should Robots Refuse?
Get PDFThis Article not only questions whether an embodied artificial intelligence (EAI) could give an order to a human combatant, but controversially, examines whether it should also refuse one. For example, a future EAI may be capable of refusing to follow an order where an order appeared to be manifestly unlawful, or, was in breach of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), national Rules of Engagement (ROE) or, even, where they appeared to be immoral or unethical. As part of opening this much-needed discussion, the authors examine the legal parameters, and by way of a solution provide a framework for overriding and disobeying. In short, the article examines whether human error can be corrected and overridden - but for the better, rather than for the worse? An aircraft’s anti-stall mechanism, which takes over, and corrects human error, is seen as nothing less than “positive”. Such an argument has traction in the strategic realm in terms of “system of systems” — the premise that more advanced technology can potentially help overcome Clausewitzian “friction” / “fog of war”.
Within the broader discussion of the “duty to take precautions” (Article 57 API/ ICRC Customary Rule 15), the authors analyze the concept of obeying/disobeying orders through the lenses of Autonomous Weapons Systems (AWS) and EAI - two “robots” which, for the sake of the current Article can be distinguished owing to the fact that an EAI is capable of giving, or of refusing to follow an order to apply force, while an AWS is one which once activated, makes targeting decisions, and applies force independently. Central to this discussion, are state specific ROEs within the concept of “duty to take precautions”. At present, the guidelines relating to a human combatant’s right to disobey orders are contained within such doctrine, but vary widely. For example, in the United States, a soldier may disobey an order but only when the act in question is clearly unlawful. Whereas in direct contrast, Germany’s “state practice”, has specific additional requirements in terms of human dignity, and that the “order” is not being of “use for service”.
At its heart, this Article introduces a future-thinking discussion of the practical process of disobeying of orders between various “individuals” within the chain of command (human to AWS; AWS to human; EAI to AWS, human to EAI). Taken to its extreme, the authors envisage the ability of an EAI being able to override and overturn nuclear launch. Towards the end of the Article, the authors extend the discussion of “robot” refusal to a wider application including robot Private Military Contractors (PMCs), robot spies, and the more provocative concept of robot insubordination. Would robot PMCs operate according to existing implicit biases, following orders, regardless of personal “opinion” due, to the financial implications of failing to do so. Additionally, the authors consider whether an EAI (being non-human), should apply a higher threshold before ‘deciding’ whether to disobey an order, due to their immortality.
By way of overall solution, the authors propose the crafting of “robot” rules of engagement (RROE) with specific regard to the disobeying of orders. In addition to ensuring the EAI is programmed to run an indefinite proportionality assessment feedback loop, the authors also propose a novel test: the EAI is to discount human “traits” which, lead to human error. If this test is satisfied, an order should be disobeyed, and human error overturned. In the broader sense, the authors question whether warfare should remain an utterly human preserve – where human error is an unintended but unfortunate consequence. Or, does the duty to take all feasible precautions in attack require a human commander to utilize available AI systems to routinely question human decision-making, and where applicable, prevent mistakes/ disobey orders – whether unintended, or are in fact punishable as war crimes? Ultimately, the overarching question posed, is whether EAIs are to be afforded the same combat privileges as human combatants when it comes to the disobeying of orders
Disaggregating the electricity sector in Egypt social accounting matrix
Get PDFThe electricity sector in Egypt SAM for the year 2014/2015 was disaggregated into different subsectors based on the sources of electricity generation (electricity-oil, electricity-natural gas, electricity-hydropower, electricity-wind, and electricity-solar). The main challenge we faced when we disaggregated the electricity sector was that there is no specific classification related to renewable energy offered by supply and use tables which is usually the major source for SAM. To solve this problem, we used the shares of renewables in electricity generation obtained from the annual bulletin for electricity and energy statistics published by (CAPMAS 2016) and the IEA database. The shares of electricity generation by sources were divided between oil 21.21%, natural gas 69.13%, hydropower 8.6%, wind 0.90%, and 0.15% for solar.
To estimate the intermediate demand for electricity generation, we calculated the input shares from natural gas, petroleum products, and chemicals products for all electricity generating technologies (table 5). These calculations are based on the value of the fuel used in electricity generation derived from the annual bulletin for electricity and energy statistics published by (CAPMAS 2016)
The nexus between economic growth, energy use, international trade and ecological footprints: the role of environmental regulations in N11 countries
No full textDiversified human activities and inappropriate
economic growth strategies have induced a trade-off
between economic growth and environmental degradation
worldwide. Consequently, the aggravating environmental
concerns have warranted regulations to be enforced for
safeguarding the welfare of the global environment. However,
the effectiveness of such environmental regulations in
reducing environmental deterioration has received equivocal
empirical evidence in the literature. Against this backdrop,
this study investigates the influence of environmental regulations
on the ecological footprints in the context of the Next
Eleven countries between 1990 and 2016. The results from
the econometric analysis, controlling for cross-sectional
dependency issues in the data, reveal that the existing environmental regulations legislated in the Next Eleven countries
are ineffective in reducing the ecological footprints of
these nations. Besides, greater energy consumption and
openness to international trade are found to boost ecological footprints. Moreover, the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis is also authenticated for the panel of the Next Eleven nations.
The country-specific findings indicate that
energy consumption anonymously degraded the environment
in all the eleven nations, while heterogeneous impacts
of environmental regulations, economic growth and international trade on the environment are ascertained. Hence, these findings, in a nutshell, recommend the Next Elevennations to strengthen and enforce the environmental regulations, adopt sustainable economic growth policies, reduce fossil fuel dependency and participate in sustainable trade to ensure environmental sustainability
The impact of flash glucose monitoring on the clinical practice of healthcare professionals working in diabetes care
Get PDFAims. Research has identified that healthcare professionals' attitudes in clinical consultations impact the efficacy of their communication with service users and the blood glucose monitoring behaviours of their clients. Yet no research has sought to understand the impact of flash glucose monitoring on the experience of undertaking clinical consultations. This qualitative study aimed to explore the impact that flash glucose monitoring has on the clinical practice of healthcare professionals.
Methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen Healthcare Professionals (female: n=13; male: n=4) working with flash glucose monitoring and
analysed via Thematic Analysis.
Results. Three themes were identified: (1) Delivering Person-Centred Care; (2) Shift in Diabetes Management; and (3) Time Burden. These themes highlight that flash glucose monitoring facilitates person-centred care through the provision of comprehensive data which improves communication between healthcare professionals and service users. However, preparing for consultations which integrate flash glucose
monitoring requires a significant, potentially burdensome time investment.
Conclusions. Flash glucose monitoring enhances the strategic ability of healthcare professionals to provide evidence-based patient-centred care. This facilitates growth in service users' self-efficacy and encourages targeted diabetes self-management. However, further training is needed to optimise the ability of clinicians to rapidly interrogate and present monitoring data to users