The credit relationship between Henry III and merchants of Douai and Ypres, 1247-70

This article looks at an important but neglected aspect of medieval sovereign debt, namely ‘accounts payable’ owed by the Crown to merchants and employees. It focuses on the unusually well-documented relationship between Henry III, King of England between 1216 and 1272, and Flemish merchants from the towns of Douai and Ypres, who provided cloth on credit to the royal wardrobe. From the surviving royal documents, we reconstruct the credit advanced to the royal wardrobe by the merchants of Ypres and Douai for each year between 1247 and 1270, together with the king's repayment history. The interactions between the king and the merchants are then analysed. The insights from this analysis are applied to the historical data to explain the trading decisions made by the merchants during this period, as well as why the strategies of the Yprois sometimes differed from those of the Douaissiens.

A new look at stratospheric sudden warmings. Part III. Polar vortex evolution and vertical structure

The evolution of the Arctic polar vortex during observed major mid-winter stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs) is investigated for the period 1957-2002, using European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA-40 Ertel’s potential vorticity (PV) and temperature fields. Time-lag composites of vertically weighted PV, calculated relative to the SSW onset time, are derived for both vortex displacement SSWs and vortex splitting SSWs, by averaging over the 15 recorded displacement and 13 splitting events. The evolving vertical structure of the polar vortex during a typical SSW of each type is clearly illustrated by plotting an isosurface of the composite PV field, and is shown to be very close to that observed during representative individual events. Results are verified by comparison with an elliptical diagnostic vortex moment technique. For both types of SSW, little variation is found between individual events in the orientation of the developing vortex relative to the underlying topography, i.e. the location of the vortex during SSWs of each type is largely fixed in relation to the Earth’s surface. During each type of SSW, the vortex is found to have a distinctive vertical structure. Vortex splitting events are typically barotropic, with the vortex split occurring near-simultaneously over a large altitude range (20-40 km). In the majority of cases, of the two daughter vortices formed, it is the ‘Siberian’ vortex that dominates over its ‘Canadian’ counterpart. In contrast, displacement events are characterized by a very clear baroclinic structure; the vortex tilts significantly westward with height, so that the top and bottom of the vortex are separated by nearly 180◦ longitude before the upper vortex is sheared away and destroyed.

Localization of eIF4A-III in the nucleolus and splicing speckles is an indicator of plant stress

The mechanisms of long-term adaptation to low oxygen environment are quite well studied, but little is known about the sensing of oxygen shortage, the signal transduction and the short-term effects of hypoxia in plant cells. We have found that an RNA helicase eIF4A-III, a putative component of the Exon Junction Complex, rapidly changes its pattern of localisation in the plant nucleus under hypoxic conditions. In normal cell growth conditions GFP- eIF4A-III was mainly nucleoplasmic, but in hypoxia stress conditions it moved to the nucleolus and splicing speckles. This transition occurred within 15-20 min in Arabidopsis culture cells and seedling root cells, but took more than 2 h in tobacco BY-2 culture cells. Inhibition of respiration, transcription or phosphorylation in cells and ethanol treatment had similar effects to hypoxia. The most likely consequence is that a certain mRNA population will remain bound to the eIF4A-III and other mRNA processing proteins, rather than being transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and thus its translation will be suspended.

Recent changes in solar outputs and the global mean surface temperature. III. Analysis of contributions to global mean air surface temperature rise

A multivariate fit to the variation in global mean surface air temperature anomaly over the past half century is presented. The fit procedure allows for the effect of response time on the waveform, amplitude and lag of each radiative forcing input, and each is allowed to have its own time constant. It is shown that the contribution of solar variability to the temperature trend since 1987 is small and downward; the best estimate is -1.3% and the 2sigma confidence level sets the uncertainty range of -0.7 to -1.9%. The result is the same if one quantifies the solar variation using galactic cosmic ray fluxes (for which the analysis can be extended back to 1953) or the most accurate total solar irradiance data composite. The rise in the global mean air surface temperatures is predominantly associated with a linear increase that represents the combined effects of changes in anthropogenic well-mixed greenhouse gases and aerosols, although, in recent decades, there is also a considerable contribution by a relative lack of major volcanic eruptions. The best estimate is that the anthropogenic factors contribute 75% of the rise since 1987, with an uncertainty range (set by the 2sigma confidence level using an AR(1) noise model) of 49–160%; thus, the uncertainty is large, but we can state that at least half of the temperature trend comes from the linear term and that this term could explain the entire rise. The results are consistent with the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) estimates of the changes in radiative forcing (given for 1961–1995) and are here combined with those estimates to find the response times, equilibrium climate sensitivities and pertinent heat capacities (i.e. the depth into the oceans to which a given radiative forcing variation penetrates) of the quasi-periodic (decadal-scale) input forcing variations. As shown by previous studies, the decadal-scale variations do not penetrate as deeply into the oceans as the longer term drifts and have shorter response times. Hence, conclusions about the response to century-scale forcing changes (and hence the associated equilibrium climate sensitivity and the temperature rise commitment) cannot be made from studies of the response to shorter period forcing changes.

Consumption of welfare-friendly food products in Great Britain, Italy and Sweden, and how it may be influenced by consumer attitudes to, and behaviour towards, animal welfare attributes

The interest in animal welfare and welfare-friendly food products has been increasing in Europe over the last 10 years. The media, highlighting traditional farming methods and food scares such as those related to salmonella, bovine spongiform encephalopathy/variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (BSE) and avian influenza, have brought the methods of animal farming to public attention. Concerns about farm animal welfare are reflected in the increase in the number of vegetarians and vegans and an increase in consumers wishing to purchase food which is more animal welfare-friendly. This paper considers consumers’ attitudes to animal welfare and to marketing practices, such as product labelling, welfare grading systems and food assurance marks using comparative data collected in a survey of around 1500 consumers in each of Great Britain, Italy and Sweden as part of the EU-funded Welfare Quality research project. The findings suggest a need for the provision of improved consumer information on the welfare provenance of food using appropriate product labelling and other methods.

Ruthenium (III) complexes of tetradentate NSNO pyridylthioazophenolates: Synthesis, spectral studies, crystal structure and redox properties

A family of ruthenium (III) complexes of tetradentate monobasic NSNO donor chelators (HL) have been synthesized and isolated in their pure form. On chromatographic separation, trans-dichloro and cis-dichloro ruthenium (111) complexes of pyridylthioazophenolates are eluted using 19:1 and 7:3 (v/v) DCM-MeOH mixtures, respectively. Both cis and trans isomers of the dark brown colored ruthenium (111) complexes, having the general formula of [Ru(L)Cl-2], have been characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic and other physico-chemical tools. The magnetic moments of both the cis- and trans-[Ru(L)Cl-2] complexes are in the range of 1.71-1.79 BM. One of the complexes, trans-[Ru(L1)Cl-2] (2a), has been subjected to single-crystal X-ray analysis which confirms that the chlorines are in mutually trans positions in the molecule. The EPR spectra of the cis-[Ru(L)Cl-2] complexes (1) in DMF are consistent with the fact that the complexes are low-spin octahedral with one unpaired electron having three different g values (g(x) not equal g(y) not equal g(z)) complexes are monomeric with an octahedral coordination sphere. The electrochemical studies of [Ru(L)Cl,] in DMF show a quasi-reversible voltammogram. The reduction potentials for the cis-isomers are comparatively lower than those of the corresponding trans isomers. On reaction with the bidentate bipyridyl ligand in the presence of AgNO3, the cis-[Ru(L)Cl-2] complexes (1) produce a series of complexes with the general formula [Ru(L)(bpy)(2)](PF6)(2) (3). which have also been characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic and other physico-chemical tools. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Separation of lanthanides and actinides(III) using tridentate benzimidazole, benzoxazole and benzothiazole ligands

The ability of new hydrophobic tridentate ligands based on 2,6-bis(benziinidazol-2-yl)pyridine, 2,6-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl)pyridine and 2,6-bis(benzothiazol-2-yl)pyridine to selectively extract americium(III) from europium(III) was measured. The most promising ligand-2,6-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl)-4-(2-decyl-1-tetradecyloxy)pyridine L-9 was found to give separation factors (SFAm/Eu) of up to 70 when used to extract cations from 0.02-0.10 M HNO3 into TPH in synergy with 2-bromodecanoic acid. Six structures of lanthanide complexes with 2,6-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl)pyridine L-6 were then determined to evaluate the types of species that are likely to be involved in the separation process. Three structural types were observed, namely [LnL(6)(NO3)(3)(H2O)2], 11-coordinate only for La, [LnL(6) (NO3)(3) (CH3CN)], 10-coordinate for Pr, Nd and Eu and [LnL(6) (NO3)(3)(H2O)], L 10-coordinate for Eu and Gd. Quantum Mechanics calculations were carried out on the tridentate ligands to elucidate the conformational preferences of the ligands in the free state and protonated and diprotonated forms and to assess the electronic properties of the ligands for comparison with other terdentate ligands used in lanthanide/actinide separation processes.

Cobalt(III) complexes of some aromatic thiohydrazides – Synthesis, characterization and structure

Co(NH3)(5)Cl]Cl-2 forms neutral 1:3 complex by reaction with aromatic thiohydrazides, i.e. thiobenzhydrazide, o-hydroxythiobenzhydrazide, thiophen-2-thiohydrazide and furan-2-thiohydrazide. All these complexes are diamagnetic and have been characterized by elemental analysis and combination of spectroscopic methods. Cyclic voltammometry of the complexes shows irreversible metal centered and ligand centered electron transfer reactions. One complex, tris-o-hydroxythiobenzhydrazidocobalt(III),has been crystallized from DMSO solution to produce solvated crystals and its structure has been established by X-ray crystallography. Cobalt(III) ion is linked through three hydrazinic nitrogen and three sulfur atoms of three identical deprotonated ligand molecules in a distorted octahedral environment. Involvement of -OH group in intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding is crucial for crystal formation.

Metal cluster expansion by addition of low valent group 14 reagents: III. Reaction of bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl]tin with M3(CO)12 or its derivatives (M = Fe, Ru, or Os): the crystal and molecular structures of M3(μ-SnR2)2(CO)10(R = CH(SiMe3)2; M = Ru or Os)

The stannylene [SnR2] (R = CH(SiMe3)2) reacts in different ways with the three dodecacarbonyls of the iron triad: [Fe3(CO)12] gives [Fe2(CO)8(μ-SnR2)], [Ru3(CO)12] gives the planar pentametallic cluster [Ru3(CO)10(μ-SnR2)2], for which a full structural analysis is reported, while [Os3(CO)12] fails to react. Different products are also obtained from three nitrile derivatives: [Fe3-(CO)11(MeCN)] gives [Fe2(CO)6(μ-SnR2)2], which has a structure significantly different from that of known Fe2Sn2 clusters, [Ru3(CO)10(MeCN)2] gives the pentametallic cluster described above, while [Os3(CO)10(MeCN)2] gives the isostructural osmium analogue, which shows the unusual feature of a CO group bridging two osmium atoms.

Cryopreservation of winter-dormant apple: III Bud water status and survival after cooling to -30°c and during recovery from cryopreservation

Abstract In a continuing study to improve the efficiency of dormant bud cryopreservation for tissues hardened in maritime climates, the water status of dormant buds was monitored between -4°C and recovery from liquid nitrogen (LN). Measurement of water content, simple thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry were employed. Buds did not lose water during cooling to, or holding at -30°C indicating that cryodehydration and/or other adaptive responses contributed during this essential step. A bud exotherm that was an artefact of warming was detected due to necessary handling at -4°C before cooling to -30°C. There were no significant differences between cultivars with respect to water status at -30°C or immediately upon rewarming from LN despite significant differences in post-LN survival. Buds rehydrated in 5 days, but up to 14 days may be needed for recovery for some cultivars. In some instances buds could be grafted without rehydration, taking up water across the early graft union.

EspJ is a prophage-carried type III effector protein of attaching and effacing pathogens that modulates infection dynamics

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, enteropathogenic E. coli, and Citrobacter rodentium are highly adapted enteropathogens that successfully colonize their host's gastrointestinal tract via the formation of attaching and effacing (A/E) lesions. These pathogens utilize a type III secretion system (TTSS) apparatus, encoded by the locus of enterocyte effacement, to translocate bacterial effector proteins into epithelial cells. Here, we report the identification of EspJ (E. coli-secreted protein J), a translocated TTSS effector that is carried on the 5' end of the cryptic prophage CP-933U. Infection of epithelial cells in culture revealed that EspJ is not required for A/E lesion activity in vivo and ex vivo. However, in vivo studies performed with mice demonstrated that EspJ possesses properties that influence the dynamics of clearance of the pathogen from the host's intestinal tract, suggesting a role in host survival and pathogen transmission.

Characterization of two non-locus of enterocyte effacement-encoded type III-translocated effectors, NleC and NleD, in attaching and effacing pathogens

Intestinal colonization by enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli requires the locus of enterocyte effacement-encoded type III secretion system. We report that NleC and NleD are translocated into host cells via this system. Deletion mutants induced attaching and effacing lesions in vitro, while infection of calves or lambs showed that neither gene was required for colonization.