333 research outputs found
The theory of a "staphylococcus superantigen" in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: myth or reality?
No full textOBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to search for evidence of a "staphylococcus superantigen" in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and 45 healthy controls were included in the study. All patients in the study and control groups underwent bacteriological and immunological examination on nasal smear samples. Total IgE and the following cytokines were tested in all patients: tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL1), interleukin-6 (IL6), interleukin-8 (IL8). RESULTS: The concentration of bacteria in the nasal cavity was much higher in patients in the study group compared to those in the control group, mainly due to staphylococci. In species identification of staphylococci, bacteria most represented were S. aureus and S. epidermidis. The greater the concentration of S. aureus, the lower the level of IgE. Proinflam-matory cytokines were uniformly increased in patients with nasal polyps. The level of IgE was maximal in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps with a poor growth of culture and minimal in patients with abundant growth, suggesting that in the latter the effect of eosinophilic inflammation on the disease was reduced, and conversely, the activity of eosinophilic inflammation was maximal with a poor seeding of the nasal cavity. CONCLUSIONS: Although this study has some limits, our findings do not support the theory of a staphylococcus superantigen in which the IgE level and eosinophilic inflammation should increase with increasing activity of Staphylococcus aureus. Further research supported by a larger sample of patients is required to better delineate the role of a staphylococcus superantigen in the pathogenesis of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) repressae Negm & Alatawi, sp. n.
No full textZachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) repressae Negm & Alatawi sp. n. (Figs. 1 ̶ 9) Type material. Male holotype (KSMA), 8 male and 18 female paratypes ex Sterna repressa Hartert, 1916 (Charadriiformes: Sternidae), Jana Island, Arabian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, 27 º 22 ' 10 "N, 49 º 53 ' 53 "E, 11 July 2012, leg. M.G. Nasser. Holotype, most male and female paratypes—KSMA; a paratype female and male—The Acarology Laboratory, Museum of Biological Diversity, The Ohio State University. Description. Male (Figs. 1–5) (holotype, range for 4 paratypes in parentheses): gnathosoma length 100 (90– 105), maximum width 80 (80–85). Idiosoma length 710 (650–720) from anterior end of propodosomal shield to level of bases of setae h 3 posteriorly, greatest width 340 (322–348) (Fig. 1). Propodosomal shield: subtriangular, posterolateral angles rounded, posterior margin straight or slightly convex and with a pair of small transversely directed extensions, surface of shield without ornamentation, length along midline 180 (166–180), maximum width 210 (200–228), lengths of scapular setae si 26 (24–26) and se 125 (122–126), distance between setae se-se 180 (173–180) (Fig. 3). Humeral shields well developed, setae c 2 35 (32–36) situated on their anterior ends, lanceolate setae c 3 45 (44–46) long and macrosetae cp 125 (122–128) long. Hysteronotal shield: anterior margin straight or slightly concave, anterior angles acute, length from anterior margin to the bases of setae h 3 530 (515–542), width at anterior margin 300 (288–305). Openings of opisthosomal glands situated anterolateral to setae e 1. Terminal cleft narrow, subtriangular, anterior end extending beyond level of setae e 2, length of cleft from anterior end to bases of setae h 3 250 (248–253). Setae ps 1 60 (57–62) long, situated on lateral margins of supranal concavity, their tips almost extending to bases of setae h 3. Macrosetae h 2 and h 3 with noticeably thickened basal part and with long filiform distal part. Distances between hysteronotal setae: c 2:d 2 165 (161–172), d 2:e 2 135 (134–143), e 2:f 2 132 (132–145), f 2:h 2 33 (25–33), c 1:d 1 82 (80–86), d 1:e 1 112 (100–114), e 1:h 1 188 (178–190), h 1:h 3 120 (116–122), ps 2:ps 1 45 (45–50). Epimerites I fused into a Y, sternum without lateral extensions (Fig. 2). Setae 1a 40 (38–41) long, situated on coxal fields I close to epimerites II. Coxal field II open. Epimerites III and IIIa fused, coxal field III closed, setae 3 b 50 (45–52) long. Setae 3a 37 (35–38) long, situated approximately at same level with setae 3 b. Setae 4a 37 (37–42) long, situated at same level with genital papillae. Distances between ventral setae: 1 a: 1a 105 (102–110), 3 b: 3 b 205 (202–212), 4 a: 4a 97 (95–99), 3 a: 3a 45 (44–50), g:g 37 (36–42), ps 3:ps 3 48 (48–50). Distance from genital arch apex to level of setae ps 1 230 (212–241). Genital arch shaped as inverted bowl, free ends of its branches directed outward (Fig. 4). Length of genital arch 37 (35–38), width 50 (47–54). Genital shields represented by small and narrow longitudinal strips widely separated from each other, setae g situated on posterior ends of genital shields. Adanal shields fused and form acute median extensions with two small lateral ledges. One pair of additional adanal sclerites shaped as inverted cups present, closely adjacent or poorly connected to adanal apodemes. Bases of setae g and ps 3 in subrectangular arrangement. Anal suckers rounded, 35 (32–37) in diameter. Legs III extend beyond lobar apices by full tarsus. Tarsus III with seta s thick, spine-like and tridentate apically (Fig. 5 A). Tarsus IV with two dorsobasal spines and with one apical spine-like extension at base of modified seta e (Fig. 5 B). Female (Figs. 6–9) (range for 5 paratypes): gnathosoma length 80–90, width 70–80. Idiosoma: length 440–466 from anterior end of propodosomal shield to level of bases of setae h 3, maximum width 280–310 (Fig. 6). Propodosomal shield: subtriangular in shape as in males, posterior margin conspicuously convex, without extensions, lateral angles with small notches posterior to bases of setae se, length along midline 122–130, width at the level of scapular setae se 144–150, distance between scapular setae si - si 92–100 (Fig. 8). One pair of small transverse sclerites situated between propodosomal shield and transverse row of setae c 1, c 2. Humeral shields narrow, not developed dorsally and not extending beyond anterior ends of hysteronotal shields. Setae c 2 situated off humeral shields. Humeral setae cp filiform, 80–88 long, subhumeral setae c 3 spiculiform, 33–37 long. Hysteronotal shields: one pair of large longitudinal shields along lateral body margins, separated by wide longitudinally striated area. Setae d 1 situated on median striated integument of hysterosoma, close to inner margins of hysteronotal shields. Pygidial shield present, length 21-25, width 70–76. Distances between hysteronotal setae: c 2:d 2 128–135, d 2:e 2 110–116, c 1:d 1 73–77, d 1:e 1 115–122. Epimerites I fused into a Y (Fig. 7). Length of setae 1a 16 – 18. Epimerites II free, with pointed tips. Remnants of epimerites IIa not fused with humeral shields. Transverse sclerites situated much anterior to the level of epimerites III, not fused to epigynum. Epimerites III and IVa short. Length of setae 3 b 25–30. Setae 3a 14 – 17 situated anteriorly to level of setae 3 b, while setae g slightly posterior to them. Distances between ventral setae: 1 a: 1a 92– 105, 3 b: 3 b 180–205, 3 a: 3a 51 – 55, g:g 72–85, 4 a: 4a 48 – 56. Epigynum semicircular, bow-shaped, length 35–37, width 75–90, its tips extending slightly beyond level of setae 3 a but not reaching level of genital papillae (Fig. 8). Oviporus folds moderate in size and extend to level of epimerites IIIa tips. Tarsi, tibiae, genua and femora of legs I– IV longer than wide. Legs IV extend beyond posterior margin of opisthosoma by distal half of tarsus. Tarsus IV twice as long as corresponding tibia. Differential diagnosis. The new species Z. repressae sp. n. can be differentiated from the morphologically most similar species, Zachvatkinia chlidoniae Mironov, 1989, by the following characters: In males of Z. repressae sp. n., the branches of the genital arch are slightly curved, so that their free ends are directed outward while the anterior end of the arch forms an acute angle, the anterior end of the adanal shield forms an acute angle (Fig. 4), and the posterior margin of propodosomal shield has a pair of small transversely directed extensions (Fig. 3). In males of Z. chlidoniae, the branches of the genital arch are strongly S-shaped, so that their free ends are bent forward, the front end of the adanal shield forms an obtuse angle, the posterior margin of propodosomal shield is slightly convex and has no extensions. In females of Z. repressae sp. n. the epigynum is 75–90 in width, while in Z. chlidoniae it is shorter (64-72) (Mironov, 1989 a). Etymology. The new species epithet repressae derives from the specific name of the type host. Remarks. In Saudi Arabia, Sterna repressa occurs during the breeding season in summer in many islands of the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, where it nests. Sterna repressa is distributed through Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates and Yemen (Porter & Aspinall 2010). In his review of the genus Zachvatkinia, Mironov (1989 a) largely revised material previously investigated from host species in the Procellariiformes and Charadriiformes in the USSR, resulting in 12 species, of which six were new. Procellariiformes are assumed to be primary hosts for feather mites of the genus Zachvatkinia. The study of host-parasite associations revealed some features of co-evolution both with procellariiform and charadriiform hosts (Mironov, 1991 a). Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) dromae Mironov, 1992 Zachvatkinia (Zachvatkinia) dromae Mironov, 1992: 497. Specimens examined. Many males, females and nymphs, from the crab plover, Dromas ardeola Paykull, 1805 (Charadriiformes: Dromadidae), Farasan Archipelago, Jazan province, Saudi Arabia, 16 º 50 ' 4 ''N, 42 º 1 ' 38 "E, 17 July 2012, leg. M.G. Nasser. Remarks. In Saudi Arabia, the crab plover breeds during summer in some Red Sea islands including Farasan Archipelago and Umm Al-Qamarie Island and are usually never seen in the mainland. It is distributed through the East African coast, Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and Southern coast of Iran, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (Baker 1929; Porter & Aspinall 2010). The type specimens of Z. dromae were collected from D. ardeola captured on Providence Island, Madagascar (Mironov 1992: 499). The Saudi specimens are very similar to the description done by Mironov, 1992 who illustrated the propodosomal shield of female without notches at the posterolateral angles; however, some of the Saudi specimens have small notches posterior to scapular setae se. This is the first record of this species in Saudi Arabia. Up to now, Z. dromae is known from just two countries, Madagascar (Mironov 1992) and Saudi Arabia (present study).Published as part of Negm, Mohamed W., Nasser, D., Alatawi, Fahad J., Al Ahmad, Azzam M. & Shobrak, Mohammed, 2013, Feather mites of the genus Zachvatkinia Dubinin, 1949 (Astigmata: Analgoidea: Avenzoariidae) from Saudi Arabia: A new species and two new records, pp. 61-71 in Zootaxa 3710 (1) on pages 63-70, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3710.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/28466
Contraction of the levator ani muscle during Valsalva maneuver (coactivation) is associated with a longer active second stage of labor in nulliparous women undergoing induction of labor
No full textBackground: The Valsalva maneuver is normally accompanied by relaxation of the levator ani muscle, which stretches around the presenting part, but in some women the maneuver is accompanied by levator ani muscle contraction, which is referred to as levator ani muscle coactivation. The effect of such coactivation on labor outcome in women undergoing induction of labor has not been previously assessed. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of levator ani muscle coactivation on labor outcome, in particular on the duration of the second and active second stage of labor, in nulliparous women undergoing induction of labor. Study Design: Transperineal ultrasound was used to measure the anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus, both at rest and at maximum Valsalva maneuver, in a group of nulliparous women undergoing induction of labor in 2 tertiary-level university hospitals. The correlation between anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus values and levator ani muscle coactivation with the mode of delivery and various labor durations was assessed. Results: In total, 138 women were included in the analysis. Larger anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus at Valsalva was associated with a shorter second stage (r = –0.230, P =.021) and active second stage (r = –0.338, P =.001) of labor. Women with levator ani muscle coactivation had a significantly longer active second stage duration (60 ± 56 vs 28 ± 16 minutes, P <.001). Cox regression analysis, adjusted for maternal age and epidural analgesia, demonstrated an independent significant correlation between levator ani muscle coactivation and a longer active second stage of labor (hazard ratio, 2.085; 95% confidence interval, 1.158–3.752; P =.014). There was no significant difference between women who underwent operative delivery (n = 46) when compared with the spontaneous vaginal delivery group (n = 92) as regards anteroposterior diameter of the levator hiatus at rest and at Valsalva maneuver, nor in the prevalence of levator ani muscle coactivation (10/46 vs 15/92; P =.49). Conclusion: Levator ani coactivation is associated with a longer active second stage of labor
Predicting cesarean delivery for failure to progress as an outcome of labor induction in term singleton pregnancy
No full textBackground: Induction of labor is one of the most common interventions in modern obstetrics, and its frequency is expected to continue to increase. There is inconsistency as to how failed induction of labor is defined; however, the majority of studies define success as the achievement of vaginal delivery. Induction of labor in nulliparous women poses an additional challenge with a 15% to 20% incidence of failure, ending in emergency operative deliveries. The Bishop score has been traditionally used before decisions for induction of labor. Nonetheless, it is subjective and prone to marked interobserver variation. Several studies have been conducted to find alternative predictors, yet a reliable, objective method still remains to be introduced and validated. Hence, there is still a need for the development of new predictive tools to facilitate informed decision making, optimization of resources, and minimization of potential risks of failure. Furthermore, a peripartum transperineal ultrasound scan has been proven to provide objective, noninvasive assessment of labor. Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of developing and validating an objective and reproducible model for the prediction of cesarean delivery for failure to progress as an outcome of labor induction in term singleton pregnancies. Study Design: This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted in Cairo University Hospitals and University of Bologna Hospitals between November 2018 and November 2019. We recruited 382 primigravidae with singleton term pregnancies in cephalic presentation. All patients had baseline Bishop scoring together with various transabdominal and transperineal ultrasound assessments of the fetus, maternal cervix, and pelvic floor. The managing obstetricians were blinded to the ultrasound scan findings. The method and indication of induction of labor, the total duration of stages of labor, mode of birth, and neonatal outcomes were all recorded. Women who had operative delivery for fetal distress or indications other than failure to progress in labor were excluded from the final analysis, leaving a total of 344 participants who were randomly divided into 243 and 101 pregnancies that constituted the model development and cross-validation groups, respectively. Results: It was possible to perform transabdominal and transperineal scans and assess all the required parameters on all study participants. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used for selection of potential predictors and model fitting. The independent predictive variables for cesarean delivery included maternal age (odds ratio, 1.12; P=.003), cervical length (odds ratio, 1.08; P=.04), angle of progression at rest (odds ratio, 0.9; P=.001), and occiput posterior position (odds ratio, 5.7; P=.006). We tested the performance of the prediction model on our cross-validation group. The calculated areas under the curve for the ability of the model to predict cesarean delivery were 0.7969 (95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.87) and 0.88 (95% confidence interval, 0.79–0.97) for the developed and validated models, respectively. Conclusion: Maternal age and sonographic fetal occiput position, angle of progression at rest, and cervical length before labor induction are very good predictors of induction outcome in nulliparous women at term
City logistics and environmental sustainability: implemented measures and effects
No full textIn Europe, around 25% of CO2 emissions result from the transport sector and mainly come from urban transport. The literature shows that together with CO2 on an urban scale, NOx, SOx and PMx have a greater impact. The impact in urban areas grows up with the amount of freight vehicles that daily use urban networks. Therefore, the importance of knowing the impacts of urban freight transport emerges in order to identify the measures that allow environmental sustainability to be increased. The methodology of analysis is developed considering four classes of measures: material infrastructures; non-material infrastructures; equipment; governance. An average implementation cost is therefore associated with each of such classes. Then, the various types of intervention are compared, highlighting those that have a greater positive environmental impact with a lower cost
Gaeolaelaps nolli
No full text<i>Gaeolaelaps nolli</i> (Karg) <p>Figures 28–30.</p> <p> <i>Hypoaspis nolli</i> Karg, 1962: 62.</p> <p> <i>Hypoaspis nolli</i>.— Karg, 1965: 311; Costa, 1968: 9.</p> <p> <i>Hypoaspis</i> (<i>Hypoaspis</i>) <i>nolli</i>.— Karg, 1971: 169, 1978: 16.</p> <p> <i>Hypoaspis</i> (<i>Geolaelaps</i>) <i>nolli</i>.— Karg, 1979: 80, 1982: 239, 1993: 140, 2006: 148; Xu & Liang, 1996: 191.</p> <p> <i>Hypoaspis</i> (<i>Gaeolaelaps</i>) <i>nolli</i>.— Faraji <i>et al</i>., 2008: 207.</p> <p> <i>Gaeolaelaps nolli</i>.— Farrier & Hennessey, 1993: 73; Beaulieu, 2009: 36; Bahrami <i>et al</i>., 2011: 351; Trach, 2012: 162; Kavianpour <i>et al</i>., 2013: 7; Nemati & Mohseni, 2013: 80; Kavianpour & Nemati, 2014: 321; Joharchi <i>et al</i>., 2018: 24.</p> <p> <i>Hypoaspis praesternalis</i>.— Evans, 1953: 272 (misidentification). <i>Hypoaspis</i> (<i>Gaeolaelaps</i>) <i>praesternalis</i>.— Evans & Till, 1966: 173 (synonymy by Kavianpour <i>et al</i>., 2013: 7); Kavianpour & Nemati, 2014: 321.</p> <p> <i>Gaeolaelaps praesternalis</i>.— Joharchi <i>et al</i>., 2018: 24 (misidentification); Joharchi <i>et al</i>., 2019b: 81 (misidentification).</p> <p> <b>Specimens examined</b>. Holotype <i>Hypoaspis nolli</i> Karg, 1962: ZMB Kat. Nr. 40849, Versuchsfeld Kleinmachnow d. Berlin, 17.08.1957. One female; 27°11’ N, 31°09’ E, Assiut University, Assiut; 15 May 2016; coll. M.W. Negm; ex. soil.</p> <p> <b>Remarks.</b> <i>Gaeolaelaps nolli</i> was described from agricultural soil and grassland in Germany (Karg, 1962). It is now recorded in Egypt for the first time, from soil. The synonymy presented above reveals some confusion about the identity of this species. Much of the information on this species has been published under the names <i>Gaeolaelaps praesternalis</i> or <i>Hypoaspis</i> (<i>Gaeolaelaps</i>) <i>praesternalis</i>. The original description of <i>Hypoaspis praesternalis</i> by Willmann (1949) is brief, and both the description and illustrations lack some important details. The description of <i>Hypoaspis nolli</i> Karg, 1962 is more detailed, but does not include a direct comparison with <i>H</i>. <i>praesternalis</i>.</p> <p> Evans & Till (1966) synonymised these two species, but did not provide any explanation for that decision, and did not give details of the specimens they examined. This has probably led to the ambiguity about the identification of these two different species. Karg (1993) included both species in his key to species of <i>Hypoaspis</i> (<i>Geolaelaps</i>). The first author had the chance to examine both species in Karg’s collection which deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in Germany. Thus, we can easily distinguish between these two species as follows:</p> <p> 1- size of body in <i>G</i>. <i>nolli</i> is larger than <i>G</i>. <i>praesternalis</i> (Figs 28 & 31).</p> <p> 2- dorsal shield setae short, none of them reach to base of next setae in <i>G</i>. <i>praesternalis</i> while much longer in <i>G</i>. <i>nolli</i> (some setae in the opisthonotal region long enough to reach the base of the next posterior setae) (Figs 28 & 31).</p> <p> 3- ornamentation of genital shield, posterior eight irregular cells flanked by a median inverse Y-shaped ornamentation in <i>G</i>. <i>nolli</i> while in <i>G</i>. <i>praesternalis</i> with the same inverse Y-shaped ornamentation medially but almost completely smooth (or faintly reticulated) posteriorly (Figs 29 & 32).</p> <p> 4- the length of the peritreme short, reaches to mid-level of coxa II in <i>G</i>. <i>nolli</i> while much longer in <i>G</i>. <i>praesternalis</i> (reaches at least to anterior level of coxa I) (Figs 30 & 33).</p> <p> 5- tarsus IV with two very long setae <i>pd2</i>, <i>pd 3</i> in <i>G</i>. <i>nolli</i> while tarsus IV without any long setae in <i>G</i>. <i>praesternalis</i> (<i>ad2</i> and <i>ad3</i> longer than other setae on segment).</p> <p> We have been unable to locate the holotype of <i>H</i>. <i>praesternalis</i>. It is not present in the Willmann collection in the Zoologische Staatssammlungen, München (Stefan Friedrich, pers. comm.). The information on morphological characters of <i>G</i>. <i>praesternalis</i> is based on the two females (ZMB Kat. Nr. 41038 & ZMB Kat. Nr. 41054) from Germany in museum für naturkunde, Berlin, Germany, identified by Prof. Dr. habil. Wolfang Karg as <i>Hypoaspis praesternalis</i> Willmann, 1949.</p>Published as part of <i>Joharchi, Omid & Negm, Mohamed W., 2020, Soil-inhabiting mites of the family Laelapidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Assiut Governorate, Egypt, pp. 488-510 in Zootaxa 4759 (4)</i> on pages 498-499, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4759.4.2, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/3741001">http://zenodo.org/record/3741001</a>
التحديات المستقبلية والتغيرات النمطية في التحكيم الدولي: نظرة سريعة خلف الستار
No full textThe unprecedented growth of international arbitration and the current state of euphoria should not
serve to obscure the several challenges that lie ahead. While some challenges may only concern
practical, albeit manageable issues, others may well turn into existential crisis. Will arbitration
survive the backlash against it? Arbitration has come under the intense scrutiny of civil society,
with many critical voices questioning whether international arbitration is an appropriate mode of
dispute resolution, particularly for disputes that have important implications on national public
policy and sovereignty, such as investment disputes. The Guardian (December 2013) described
international investment tribunals as a “toxic mechanism” that allows “big corporations to sue
governments before secretive arbitration panels composed of corporate lawyers, which bypass
domestic courts and override the will of parliaments”.
Meanwhile, a new law enacted last month in Qatar modernizing the Arab nation’s arbitration
regime is being praised as a welcome development to encourage foreign investment in the country,
but some practitioners still question whether the measure is actually a missed opportunity.
To change this perception, arbitration lawyers and institutions must demonstrate the potential
contribution of international arbitration to the rule of law. They also need to demonstrate that
arbitration can function as an open and transparent system that takes account of the public
interest, and can be a force of good not only for business but for civil society too.لا ينبغي للازدهار غير المسبوق الذي يشهده التحكيم الدولي والابتهاج الراهن به أن يحجب ع ّنا العديد من
التحديات الماثلة أمامه. وبالرغم من أن بعض هذه التحديات ربما لا يخص سوى مسائل عملية، وإن كان بالوسع
التعامل معها، إلا أن بعضها الآخر ربما يتحول إلى أزمة وجودية. فهل ينجو التحكيم من ردة الفعل المناوئة له؟ لقد
تعرض التحكيم لاستقصاءات حادة من قبل المجتمع المدني، وظهرت العديد من الأصوات المنتقدة له والتي بدأت
تتساءل عما إذا كان التحكيم الدولي وسيلًة مناسبة لتسوية المنازعات، ولا سيما تلك المنازعات التي قد تتولد عنها
تداعيات خطيرة على السياسة العامة والسيادة الوطنية، مثل منازعات الاستثمار. وقد وصفت صحيفة الجارديان
(ديسمبر 2013 (محاكم الاستثمار الدولية بأنها ”آلية سامة“ تسمح ”للشركات الكبرى بمقاضاة الحكومات أمام هيئات
تحكيم سرية تشكل من محامين للشركات وتلتف على سلطة المحاكم الوطنية و تتجاوز إرادة البرلمانات“.
هذا وقد حظي قانون جديد صدر في دولة قطر الشهر الماضي من أجل تحديث نظام التحكيم في هذا البلد
العربي بالإشادة لكونه خطوة إيجابية على سبيل تشجيع الاستثمار الأجنبي في البلاد، وإن كان لا يزال بعض ممارسي
التحكيم يتساءلون عما إذا كانت هذه الخطوة هي بالفعل فرصة ضائعة. وحتى يتم تغيير هذا التصور، يتعين على
المحامين والمؤسسات التحكيمية أن يبرهنوا على المساهمة المرتقبة التي يمكن للتحكيم الدولي أن يحققها
لسيادة القانون. ويتعين عليهم أيضاً أن يبرهنوا على أنه يمكن للتحكيم أن يعمل كنظام حر وشفاف يأخذ في
الاعتبار المصلحة العامة، وأنه يمكنه أن يصبح قوة دفع نافعة لا لقطاع الأعمال فحسب بل للمجتمع المدني أيضا
The Energy and Environmental Planning of the Strait of Messina Ports
No full textThis contribution intends to describe the actions carried out by the Autorità di Sistema Portuale dello Stretto (AdSP) to plan and control the energy and environmental aspects on the ports of Messina, Milazzo, and Tremestieri, in Sicily, and Villa San Giovanni, Reggio Calabria, and Saline in Calabria. AdSP is the public authority in charge of the direction, planning, control, promotion of port operations, and other commercial and industrial activities carried out in these six ports close to the Strait of Messina. The drafting of the Environmental Energy Planning Document of Authority Port Systems (DEASP) is requested by law for each Italian Port Authority, in accordance with Ministerial guidelines. In this case, it defines specific measures, in order to improve energy efficiency in buildings, promote the use of renewable energy in the port area (photovoltaic solar plants and tidal energy systems), and introduce measures that have environmental benefits for the citizens of neighboring territories and port users (electrification of the docks to allow the shore supply of ships and the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG storage plant to replace more polluting marine fuels), together with awareness campaigns on “green” issues, involving the three million users of the ports. Based on the objectives and actions envisaged by AdSP, it is expected to obtain 30 GWh/y reduction in primary energy consumption and 24,000 tonCO2equ/y avoided emissions. ENEA developed specific studies on the assessment of the areas potentially covered by photovoltaic plants, both on buildings’ coverings and parking shelters. The results of the study show more than 36,000 m2 could be covered by photovoltaic plants, with PickPower of more than 5400 kW and the production of more than 81,000 MWh/y electricity, reducing up to 48% the consumptions of the companies operating inside the port areas. Thanks to the successful application in the first call of the European New Energy Solutions Optimized for Islands (NESOI), AdSP received support in the drafting of the DEASP, engaging ENEA together with the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria and the CNR-ITAE of Messina in the consortium to carry out the project activities
An Improved Stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley Based Model of a Node of Ranvier for Cochlear Implant Stimulation
No full textCochlear implants (CIs) are prosthetic devices used to partially restore hearing for profound
and severely deaf individuals. CIs convert sounds into electrical pulses which stimulate
the auditory nerve fibers. An accurate model of auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) would
help in improving the functionality of CIs. Previous studies have shown that the original
Hodgkin-Huxley (1952) model (with kinetics adjusted for mammalian body temperature)
may be better at describing nodes of Ranvier in ANFs than models for other mammalian
axon types. However, the Hodgkin-Huxley model is still unable to explain a number of
phenomena observed in auditory nerve responses to CI stimulation, such as short-term and
long-term adaptation, the time-course of relative refractoriness, and stimulus-dependent
random fluctuations in membrane threshold. Recent physiological investigations of spiral
ganglion cells have shown the presence of a number of ion channel types not considered
in the previous modelling studies, including low-threshold potassium (^KLT) channels and
hyperpolarization-activated cation (^h) channels. In this thesis, inclusion of these ion channel types in a stochastic Hodgkin-Huxley model is investigated. Four versions of the model are formed and compared: that is, the standard Hodgkin-Huxley model, the standard model with /h only added, the standard model with ^KLT only added, and finally, the standard model with both h and ^KLT added. Two group of responses are explored: i) single-pulse responses and ii) pules-train responses. For the single pulse responses, a charge-balanced biphasic stimulus pulse is used. The effect of varying the pulse-width and the interphase gap is investigated for both leading phase polarities. Results are compared to responses for single monophasic stimulus pulses in some cases. Pulse-train responses are investigated for charge-balanced depolarizing-phase leading biphasic pulses at rates of 200, 800, and 2000 pulse/s. Results from single-pulse responses show an increase in spike threshold when one or both of these channel types are included. The addition of ^KLT increases random threshold fluctuations in the stochastic model, particularly for longer pulse widths. For pulse-train responses, rapid adaptation in spike rate may be resulting from ^KLT whereas ^h produces slower "short-term" adaptation. Thus, the simulation results suggest that including ^KLT
and/or ^h in a Hodgkin-Huxley model improves the accuracy of the model in describing
auditory nerve fiber responses during cochlear implant stimulation.ThesisMaster of Applied Science (MASc
Determination of Wave Reflection Formulae for Vertical and Sloped Seawalls Via Experimental Modelling
No full textAbstractThis paper presents and discusses the results of experimental investigations using both vertical and sloping seawalls configurations to determine the optimal wave reflection characteristics of seawalls for protecting beaches against erosion under a variety of hydrodynamic conditions. The different experiments include both of rectangular or triangular serrated blocks and slotted seawalls with or without triangular serrations as energy dissipaters. The linear wave theory is utilized. Moreover, the Dalrymple method is considered to predict the ordinates of the resultant standing wave due to the partial wave reflection. Using the dimensional analysis, lab measurements, and SPSS, predictive formulae are proposed to predict the reflection coefficient for the five tested models by using SPSS software. The findings of the present investigation could be applied to optimize the design criteria of shore protection structures
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