Sovereignty, Article 4(2) TEU and the Respect of National Identities: Swinging the Balance of Power in Favour of the Member States?

The question of whether and to what extent sovereignty has been transferred to the European Union (EU) from its Member States remains a central debate within the EU and is interlinked with issues such as Kompetenz-Kompetenz, direct effect and primacy. Central to any claim to sovereignty is the principle of primacy, which requires that Member States uphold EU law over national law where there is a conflict. However, limitations to primacy can traditionally be found in national jurisprudence and the Maastricht Treaty introduced a possible EU limitation with the requirement that the EU respect national identities of Member States. The Lisbon Treaty provided only minimal further support to the principle of primacy whilst simultaneously developing the provision on national identities, now found within Article 4(2) TEU. There are indications from the literature, national constitutional courts and the Court of Justice of the EU that the provision is gathering strength as a legal tool and is likely to have a wider scope than the text might indicate. In its new role, Article 4(2) TEU bolsters the Member States’ claim to sovereignty and the possibility to uphold aspects crucial to them in conflict with EU law and the principle of primacy. Consequently, it is central to the relationship between the constitutional courts of the Member States and the CJEU, and where the final elements of control remain in ‘hard cases’. However, it does so as part of EU law, thereby facilitating the evasion of direct fundamental conflicts and reflecting the concept of constitutional pluralism.

Temperature dependence of the mid-infrared dielectric function of YBCO in the ab plane

We have excited mid-infrared surface plasmons in two YBCO thin films of contrasting properties using attenuated total reflection of light and found that the imaginary part of the dielectric function decreases linearly with reduction in temperature. This result is in contrast with the commonly reported conclusion of infrared normal reflectance studies. If sustained it may clarify the problem of understanding the normal state properties of YBCO and the other cuprates. The dielectric function of the films, epsilon = epsilon(1) + i epsilon(2), was determined between room temperature and 80K: epsilon(1) was found to be only slightly temperature dependent but somewhat sample dependent, probably as a result of surface and grain boundary contamination. The imaginary part, epsilon(2), (and the real part of the conductivity, sigma(1),) decreased linearly with reduction in temperature in both films. Results obtained were: for film 1: epsilon(1) = - 14.05 - 0.0024T and epsilon(2) - 4.11 + 0.086T and for film 2: epsilon(1) = - 24.09 + 0.0013T and epsilon(2) = 7.66 + 0.067T where T is the temperature in Kelvin. An understanding of the results is offered in terms of temperature-dependent intrinsic intragrain inelastic scattering and temperature-independent contributions: elastic and inelastic grain boundary scattering and optical interband (or localised charge) absorption. The relative contribution of each is estimated. A key conclusion is that the interband (or localised charge) absorption is only similar to 10%. Most importantly, the intrinsic scattering rate, 1/tau, decreases linearly with fall in temperature, T, in a regime where current theory predicts dependence on frequency, omega, to dominate. The coupling constant, lambda, between the charge carriers and the thermal excitations has a value of 1.7, some fivefold greater than the far infrared value. These results imply a need to restate the phenomenology of the normal state of high temperature superconductors and seek a corresponding theoretical understanding.

Microbiology of sugar-rich environments: Diversity, ecology and system constraints

Microbial habitats that contain an excess of carbohydrate in the form of sugar are widespread in the microbial biosphere. Depending on the type of sugar, prevailing water activity and other substances present, sugar-rich environments can be highly dynamic or relatively stable, osmotically stressful, and/or destabilizing for macromolecular systems, and can thereby strongly impact the microbial ecology. Here, we review the microbiology of different high-sugar habitats, including their microbial diversity and physicochemical parameters, which act to impact microbial community assembly and constrain the ecosystem. Saturated sugar beet juice and floral nectar are used as case studies to explore the differences between the microbial ecologies of low and higher water-activity habitats respectively. Nectar is a paradigm of an open, dynamic and biodiverse habitat populated by many microbial taxa, often yeasts and bacteria such as, amongst many others, Metschnikowia spp. and Acinetobacter spp., respectively. By contrast, thick juice is a relatively stable, species-poor habitat and is typically dominated by a single, xerotolerant bacterium (Tetragenococcus halophilus). A number of high-sugar habitats contain chaotropic solutes (e.g. ethyl acetate, phenols, ethanol, fructose and glycerol) and hydrophobic stressors (e.g. ethyl octanoate, hexane, octanol and isoamyl acetate), all of which can induce chaotropicity-mediated stresses that inhibit or prevent multiplication of microbes. Additionally, temperature, pH, nutrition, microbial dispersion and habitat history can determine or constrain the microbiology of high-sugar milieux. Findings are discussed in relation to a number of unanswered scientific questions.

Kinetics study on thermal dissociation of levoglucosan during cellulose pyrolysis

(Chemical Equation Presented) The mechanisms and kinetics studies of the levoglucosan (LG) primary decomposition during cellulose pyrolysis have been carried out theoretically in this paper. Three decomposition mechanisms (C-O bond scission, C-C bond scission, and LG dehydration) including nine pathways and 16 elementary reactions were studied at the B3LYP/6-31 + G(D,P) level based on quantum mechanics. The variational transi-tion- state rate constants for every elementary reaction and every pathway were calculated within 298-1550 K. The first-order Arrhenius expressions for these 16 elementary reactions and nine pathways were suggested. It was concluded that computational method using transition state theory (TST) without tunneling correction gives good description for LG decomposition by comparing with the experimental result. With the temperature range of 667-1327 K, one dehydration pathway, with one water molecule composed of a hydrogen atom from C3 and a hydroxyl group from C2, is a preferred LG decomposition pathway by fitting well with the experimental results. The calculated Arrhenius plot of C-O bond scission mechanism is better agreed with the experimental Arrhenius plot than that of C-C bond scission. This C-O bond scission mechanism starts with breaking of C1-O5 and C6-O1 bonds with formation of CO molecule (C1-O1) simultaneously. C-C bond scission mechanism is the highest energetic barrier pathway for LG decomposition. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Candidate Gene Association Study Identifies DAPL1 as a Female-Specific Susceptibility Locus for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness among white caucasians over the age of 50 years with a prevalence rate expected to increase markedly with an anticipated increase in the life span of the world population. To further expand our knowledge of the genetic architecture of the disease, we pursued a candidate gene approach assessing 25 genes and a total of 109 variants. Of these, synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs17810398 located in death-associated protein-like 1 (DAPL1) was found to be associated with AMD in a joint analysis of 3,229 cases and 2,835 controls from five studies [combined P ADJ = 1.15 × 10(-6), OR 1.332 (1.187-1.496)]. This association was characterized by a highly significant sex difference (P diff = 0.0032) in that it was clearly confined to females with genome-wide significance [P ADJ = 2.62 × 10(-8), OR 1.541 (1.324-1.796); males: P ADJ = 0.382, OR 1.084 (0.905-1.298)]. By targeted resequencing of risk and non-risk associated haplotypes in the DAPL1 locus, we identified additional potentially functional risk variants, namely a common 897-bp deletion and a SNP predicted to affect a putative binding site of an exonic splicing enhancer. We show that the risk haplotype correlates with a reduced retinal transcript level of two, less frequent, non-canonical DAPL1 isoforms. DAPL1 plays a role in epithelial differentiation and may be involved in apoptotic processes thereby suggesting a possible novel pathway in AMSaveD pathogenesis.

Thermodynamic Properties of Dichloromethane, Bromochloromethane, and Dibromomethane under Elevated Pressure: Experimental Results and SAFT-VR Mie Predictions

The speeds of sound in dibromomethane, bromochloromethane, and dichloromethane have been measured in the temperature range from 293.15 to 313.15 K and at pressures up to 100 MPa. Densities and isobaric heat capacities at atmospheric pressure have been also determined. Experimental results were used to calculate the densities and isobaric heat capacities as the function of temperature and pressure by means of a numerical integration technique. Moreover, experimental data at atmospheric pressure were then used to determine the SAFT-VR Mie molecular parameters for these liquids. The accuracy of the model has been then evaluated using a comparison of derived experimental high-pressure data with those predicted using SAFT. It was found that the model provide the possibility to predict also the isobaric heat capacity of all selected haloalkanes within an error up to 6%.

Ecology of testate amoebae in an Amazonian peatland and development of a transfer function for palaeohydrological reconstruction

Tropical peatlands represent globally important carbon sinks with a unique biodiversity and are currently threatened by climate change and human activities. It is now imperative that proxy methods are developed to understand the ecohydrological dynamics of these systems and for testing peatland development models. Testate amoebae have been used as environmental indicators in ecological and palaeoecological studies of peatlands, primarily in ombrotrophic Sphagnum-dominated peatlands in the mid- and high-latitudes. We present the first ecological analysis of testate amoebae in a tropical peatland, a nutrient-poor domed bog in western (Peruvian) Amazonia. Litter samples were collected from different hydrological microforms (hummock to pool) along a transect from the edge to the interior of the peatland. We recorded 47 taxa from 21 genera. The most common taxa are Cryptodifflugia oviformis, Euglypha rotunda type, Phryganella acropodia, Pseudodifflugia fulva type and Trinema lineare. One species found only in the southern hemisphere, Argynnia spicata, is present. Arcella spp., Centropyxis aculeata and Lesqueresia spiralis are indicators of pools containing standing water. Canonical correspondence analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling illustrate that water table depth is a significant control on the distribution of testate amoebae, similar to the results from mid- and high-latitude peatlands. A transfer function model for water table based on weighted averaging partial least-squares (WAPLS) regression is presented and performs well under cross-validation (r 2apparent=0.76,RMSE=4.29;r2jack=0.68,RMSEP=5.18. The transfer function was applied to a 1-m peat core, and sample-specific reconstruction errors were generated using bootstrapping. The reconstruction generally suggests near-surface water tables over the last 3,000 years, with a shift to drier conditions at c. cal. 1218-1273 AD

A continuous flow packed bed photocatalytic reactor for the destruction of 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin utilising pelletised TiO2

Taste and odour compounds, especially geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), cause major problems in both drinking water and aquaculture industries world-wide. Aquaculture in particular has experienced significant financial losses due to the accumulation of taint compounds prior to harvest resulting in consumer rejection. UV-TiO2 photocatalysis has been demonstrated to remove GSM and 2-MIB at laboratory scale but the development of a continuous flow reactor suitable for use in water treatment has not been investigated. In this study, a pilot packed bed photocatalytic reactor was developed and evaluated for water treatment with both laboratory and naturally tainted samples. A significant reduction of both 2-MIB and GSM was achieved in both trials using the packed bed reactor unit. With the laboratory spiked water (100ngL-1 of each compound added prior to treatment), detectable levels were reduced by up to 97% after a single pass through the unit. When the reactor was used to treat water in a fish farm where both compounds were being produced in situ (2-MIB: 19ngL-1 and GSM: 14ngL-1) a reduction of almost 90% in taint compounds was achieved. These very encouraging promising results demonstrate the potential of this UV-TiO2 photocatalytic reactor for water treatment in fish rearing systems and other applications.

Acoustic and Volumetric Properties of Diluted Solutions of Water in Ionic Liquids

Herein, we report the densities and speeds of sound in binary mixtures of three hydrophobic and one hydrophilic ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide, [C4mim][NTf2], 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide, [C4mpyr][NTf2], 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide, [C3mim][NTf2] and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate, [C2mim][SCN], with water at 298.15 K and 0.1 MPa. The concentration range of water, which encompassed relatively small values well below the saturation point, is often regarded as an impurity for hydrophobic ionic liquids. On the basis of experimental results the molar volume, adiabatic molar compressibility, partial molar volume and apparent molar volume, as well as, partial molar and apparent molar isentropic compressibility properties were then calculated. Interesting results are obtained using the solutions based on the hydrophilic [C2mim][SCN], since these mixtures are characterized by relatively low density and high values of speed of sound. Furthermore, the partial molar volumes and partial molar adiabatic compressibilities of water in solution with [C2mim][SCN] are the lowest among the investigated in mixtures with ionic liquids. However, in the case of the hydrophobic ionic liquid solutions, only small differences are observed for molar adiabatic compressibilities with the change of the cation structure, i.e. for water + [C4mim][NTf2] or + [C4mpyr][NTf2]. A more pronounced difference has been observed for the partial molar compressibility of water in solutions with these two ionic liquids.

Thermal Properties of Alkyl-triethylammonium bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}imide Ionic Liquids

In this work, we address the thermal properties of selected members of a
homologous series of alkyltriethylammonium bisf(trifluoromethyl)sulfonylgimide ionic
liquids. Their phase and glass transition behavior, as well as their standard isobaric heat
capacities at 298.15 K, were studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC),
whereas their decomposition temperature was determined by thermal gravimetry analysis.
DSC was further used to measure standard molar heat capacities of the studied ionic liquids
and standard molar heat capacity as a function of temperature for hexyltriethylammonium,
octyltriethylammonium, and dodecyltriethylammonium bisf(trifluoromethyl)sulfonylgimide
ionic liquids. Based on the data obtained, we discuss the influence of the alkyl chain
length of the cation on the studied ionic liquids on the measured properties. Using viscosity
data obtained in a previous work, the liquid fragility of the ionic liquids is then discussed.
Viscosity data were correlated by the VTF equation using a robust regression along a
gnostic influence function. In this way, more reliable VTF model parameters were obtained than in our previous work and a good estimate of the liquid fragility of the ionic liquids was made.

Characterisation of a novel panel of polymorphic microsatellite loci for the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, using a next generation sequencing approach

The liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica is an economically important pathogen of sheep and cattle and has been described by the WHO as a re-emerging zoonosis. Control is heavily reliant on the use of drugs, particularly triclabendazole and as a result resistance has now emerged. The population structure of F. hepatica is not well known, yet it can impact on host-parasite interactions and parasite control with drugs, particularly regarding the spread of triclabendazole resistance. We have identified 2448 potential microsatellites from 83Mb of F. hepatica genome sequence using msatfinder. Thirty-five loci were developed and optimised for microsatellite PCR, resulting in a panel of 15 polymorphic loci, with a range of three to 15 alleles. This panel was validated on genomic DNA from 46 adult F. hepatica; 38 liver flukes sourced from a Northwest abattoir, UK and 8 liver flukes from an established isolate (Shrewsbury; Ridgeway Research). Evidence for null alleles was found at four loci (Fh_1, Fh_8, Fh_13 and Fh_14), which showed markedly higher levels of homozygosity than the remaining 11 loci. Of the 38 liver flukes isolated from cattle livers (n=10) at the abattoir, 37 genotypes were identified. Using a multiplex approach all 15 loci could be amplified from several life cycle stages that typically yield low amounts of DNA, including metacercariae, the infective life cycle stage present on pasture, highlighting the utility of this multiplex microsatellite panel. This study reports the largest panel of microsatellite markers available to date for population studies of F. hepatica and the first multiplex panel of microsatellite markers that can be used for several life cycle stages.

Spitzer observations of the asteroid-comet transition object and potential spacecraft target 107P (4015) Wilson-Harrington

Context: Near-Earth asteroid-comet transition object 107P/ (4015) Wilson-Harrington is a possible target of the joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Marco Polo sample return mission. Physical studies of this object are relevant to this mission, and also to understanding its asteroidal or cometary nature. Aims: Our aim is to obtain significant new constraints on the surface thermal properties of this object. Methods: We present mid-infrared photometry in two filters (16 and 22 μm) obtained with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope on February 12, 2007, and results from the application of the Near Earth Asteroid Thermal Model (NEATM). We obtained high S/N in two mid-IR bands allowing accurate measurements of its thermal emission. Results: We obtain a well constrained beaming parameter (η = 1.39±0.26) and obtain a diameter and geometric albedo of D = 3.46±0.32 km, and pV = 0.059±0.011. We also obtain similar results when we apply this best-fitting thermal model to single-band mid-IR photometry reported by Campins et al. (1995, P&SS, 43, 733), Kraemer et al. (2005, AJ, 130, 2363) and Reach et al. (2007, Icarus, 191, 298). Conclusions: The albedo of 4015 Wilson-Harrington is low, consistent with those of comet nuclei and primitive C-, P-, D-type asteorids. We establish a rough lower limit for the thermal inertia of W-H of 60 Jm-2s-0.5 K-1 when it is at r = 1 AU, which is slightly over the limit of 30 Jm-2 s-0.5 K-1 derived by Groussin et al. (2009, Icarus, 199, 568) for the thermal inertia of the nucleus of comet 22P/Kopff.