Investigating Intra-individual Dietary Changes and Radiocarbon Ages Using High Resolution δ13C, δ15N Isotope Ratios and 14C Ages Obtained From Dentine Increments

Ten medieval permanent teeth were subjected to incremental dentine sectioning and stable isotope analysis to investigate dietary changes in high resolution. In addition to this, eight increments were also selected for 14C measurements to examine possible intra-individual age differences. Results reveal the cessation of weaning, various dietary profiles and in some cases significantly different 14C ages obtained from a single tooth. This case study illustrates how 14C measurements can function as a proxy alongside the commonly used carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values to interpret the diet of past individuals

Global Systemic Risk and International Regulatory Coordination: Squaring Sovereignty and Financial Stability

In recent years much attention has been given to systemic risk and maintaining financial stability. Much of the focus, rightly, has been on market failures and the role of regulation in addressing them. This article looks at the role of domestic policies and government actions as sources of global instability. The global financial system is built upon global markets controlled by national financial and macroeconomic policies. In this context, regulatory asymmetries, diverging policy preferences, and government failures add a further dimension to global systemic risk not present at the national level.
Systemic risk is a result of the interplay between two independent variables: an underlying trigger event, in this analysis a domestic policy measure, and a transmission channel. The solution to systemic risk requires tackling one of these variables. In a domestic setting, the centralization of regulatory power into one single authority makes it easier to balance the delicate equilibrium between enhancing efficiency and reducing instability. However, in a global financial system in which national financial policies serve to maximize economic welfare, regulators will be confronted with difficult policy and legal tradeoffs.
We investigate the role that financial regulation plays in addressing domestic policy failures and in controlling the danger of global financial interdependence. To do so we analyse global financial interconnectedness, and explain its role in transmitting instability; we investigate the political economy dynamics at the origin of regulatory asymmetries and government failures; and we discuss the limits of regulation.

Phacoemulsification combined with posterior capsulorhexis and anterior vitrectomy in the management of malignant glaucoma in phakic eyes

Purpose: To describe sequential phacoemulsification-intraocular lens (IOL) implantation-posterior capsulorhexis-anterior vitrectomy in the management of phakic malignant glaucoma. Methods: Twenty consecutive patients (25 eyes) with phakic malignant glaucoma were enrolled at the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University. All patients underwent phacoemulsification, IOL implantation and posterior capsulorhexis together with anterior vitrectomy via a clear corneal paracentesis. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), anterior chamber depth (ACD), surgical complications and medications required after the surgery were recorded. Results: After surgery, the mean LogMAR visual acuity and ACD increased significantly (visual acuity from -1.56 ± 1.17 to -0.54 ± 0.81, p < 0.001; ACD from 0.367 ± 0.397 mm to 2.390 ± 0.575 mm, p < 0.001), and mean IOP decreased significantly (from 39.6 ± 10.6 mm Hg to 14.5 ± 4.1 mmHg, p < 0.001). No serious perioperative complications occurred, and only five eyes required topical glaucoma medications after surgery. Conclusion: Combined phacoemulsification-IOL implantation-posterior capsulorhexis-anterior vitrectomy surgery is a safe and effective method for treating patients with phakic malignant glaucoma. © 2012 The Authors. Acta Ophthalmologica © 2012 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation.

An R -matrix with pseudo-states calculation of electron-impact excitation in C 2 +

We have performed an R-matrix with pseudo-states (RMPS) calculation of electron-impact excitation in C2+.Collision strengths and effective collision strengths were determined for excitation between the lowest 24 terms, including all those arising from the 2s3l and 2s4l configurations. In the RMPS calculation, 238 terms (90 spectroscopic and 148 pseudo-state) were employed in the close-coupling (CC) expansion of the target. In order to investigate the significance of coupling to the target continuum and highly excited bound states, we compare the RMPS results with those from an R-matrix calculation that incorporated all 238 terms in the configuration- interaction expansion, but only the lowest 44 spectroscopic terms in the CC expansion. We also compare our effective collision strengths with those from an earlier 12-state R-matrix calculation (Berrington et al 1989 J. Phys. B: At.Mol. Opt. Phys. 22 665). The RMPS calculation was extremely large, involving (N +1)-electron Hamiltonian matrices of dimension up to 36 085, and required the use of our recently completed suite of parallel R-matrix programs. The full set of effective collision strengths fromourRMPS calculation is available at theOakRidgeNationalLaboratoryControlledFusion Atomic Data Center web site. 1.

Fulminant hepatic failure: a Portuguese experience

BACKGROUND: Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a rare condition. Several series have been reported either by individual centres or in multicentre studies but, to our knowledge, this is the first report from a Portuguese population and might be a good example of FHF cases in a SouthWestern European population. AIMS: To present the experience in FHF of a Portuguese Hepatogastroenterological Intensive Care Unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 61 cases of FHF consecutively admitted between February 1992 and October 2006. Definition and classification of FHF were those suggested by Trey and Davidson (1970) and O'Grady et al. (1993), respectively. Criteria and contraindications for hepatic transplantation (HT) were those proposed by Bernuau et al. (1991) and Muñoz (1993), respectively. RESULTS: Fifty-seven per cent of patients were women and median age was 37 years (range: 8-73). Most common cause of FHF was indeterminate (26%) followed by viral (23%) and drug-induced (23%), with 51% of cases with a hyperacute evolution. Global HT rate was 54% with criteria for HT present in 87% of the patients resulting in an applicability rate of 62%. Overall survival was 69% and transplant-free survival was 15%; transplanted patients had survival rates of 70 and 68% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Drug-induced and viral agents were responsible for almost half of FHF cases with a clear predominance of hyperacute presentation. The HT rate was 54% and the applicability rate was 62%. The overall 1 year survival of 69% might reflect the adequacy of the HT criteria used.

New approaches to antimalarial chemotherapy: design and synthesis of bicyclic endoperoxides and of peptide and peptidomimetic carbonyl containing cysteine protease inhibitors

Tese dout., Química Orgânica, Universidade do Algarve, 2007

A Community-Level, Mesoscale Analysis of Fish Assemblage Structure in Shoreline Habitats of a Large River Using Multivariate Regression Trees.

The mesoscale (100–102 m) of river habitats has been identified as the scale that simultaneously offers insights into ecological structure and falls within the practical bounds of river management. Mesoscale habitat (mesohabitat) classifications for relatively large rivers, however, are underdeveloped compared with those produced for smaller streams. Approaches to habitat modelling have traditionally focused on individual species or proceeded on a species-by-species basis. This is particularly problematic in larger rivers where the effects of biological interactions are more complex and intense. Community-level approaches can rapidly model many species simultaneously, thereby integrating the effects of biological interactions while providing information on the relative importance of environmental variables in structuring the community. One such community-level approach, multivariate regression trees, was applied in order to determine the relative influences of abiotic factors on fish assemblages within shoreline mesohabitats of San Pedro River, Chile, and to define reference communities prior to the planned construction of a hydroelectric power plant. Flow depth, bank materials and the availability of riparian and instream cover, including woody debris, were the main variables driving differences between the assemblages. Species strongly indicative of distinctive mesohabitat types included the endemic Galaxias platei. Among other outcomes, the results provide information on the impact of non-native salmonids on river-dwelling Galaxias platei, suggesting a degree of habitat segregation between these taxa based on flow depth. The results support the use of the mesohabitat concept in large, relatively pristine river systems, and they represent a basis for assessing the impact of any future hydroelectric power plant construction and operation. By combing community classifications with simple sets of environmental rules, the multivariate regression trees produced can be used to predict the community structure of any mesohabitat along the reach.

The relation between content providers and distributors: Lessons from the regulation of television distribution in the United Kingdom

Using the United Kingdom (UK) as a case study, this article analyses the growing commercial and regulatory significance of broadcaster-distributor relations within the contemporary television industry. The first part of the article argues that despite important changes in broadcast delivery technology, more recently shaped by the growth of the Internet, and the associated growth of options of receiving television content, the traditional delivery platforms (digital terrestrial, satellite and cable) remain by far the preferred choice for viewers in Britain. At the same time, public service broadcasters continue to be the biggest investors in domestic original non-sport content and account for over half of all television viewing. The strength of PSBs in content and their growing reliance on commercial proprietary subscription platforms (cable and satellite) and gradually on the Internet presents challenges in the nexus between broadcasters and distributors. The article focuses on the debate over retransmission fees between PSBs and Sky, and on the question of whether Sky should be required to offer some of its premium content to rival pay-TV platforms. These two examples highlight the impact regulatory intervention can have on the balance of power between broadcasters and distributors. The article concludes that such debates concerning the commercial relations between content providers and distributors will remain pivotal and become more heated given that similar issues are raised in the Internet environment.

Median Filter Architecture by Accumulative Parallel Counters

The time to process each of the W/B processing blocks of a median calculation method on a set of N W-bit integers is improved here by a factor of three compared with literature. The parallelism uncovered in blocks containing B-bit slices is exploited by independent accumulative parallel counters so that the median is calculated faster than any known previous method for any N, W values. The improvements to the method are discussed in the context of calculating the median for a moving set of N integers, for which a pipelined architecture is developed. An extra benefit of a smaller area for the architecture is also reported.

Identificação dos dilemas éticos dos Tecnicos Oficiais de Contas

Os profissionais enfrentam-se com muitos dilemas. A maneira como eles lidam com estes dilemas e as decisões que tomam podem estar baseadas numa atitude individual perante as questões éticas, mas também têm uma forte influência do seu grupo profissional. A crescente percepção entre os Técnicos Oficiais de Contas(TOC) da necessidade de respeitar o código de ética está também relacionada com a consciencialização crescente entre estes profissionais de que, a longo prazo, o comportamento ético pode resultar numa vantagem competitiva proveniente da imagem positiva no publico em geral. O foco deste trabalho centra-se nas situações vividas por cada profissional no seu dia-a-dia. Os resultados mostram que os principais dilemas sao sobre como lidar com a "economia cinzenta", "factura falsa" e "evasão fiscal/ fraude". Esta investigação tem com o objectivo contribuir para o debate das questões éticas enfrentadas pelos TOC´S, promovendo assim uma discussão alargada sobre a maneira como os TOC´S podem ajudar a criar uma sociedade melhor e, consequentemente, legitimar a sua existência como uma organização profissional de interesse publico. Mais do que nunca, é essencial perceber os factores que influenciam a conduta profissional no seu contexto real de trabalho para desenvolver uma cultura que leve á evolução ética da sociedade, e que assegure, ao mesmo, a sustentabilidade pretendida do negocio.

Treatment of congenital aortic valve stenosis: impact of the Ross operation.

GOAL: To evaluate the impact of the Ross operation, recently (1997) introduced in our unit, for the treatment of patients with congenital aortic valve stenosis. METHODS: The period from January 1997 to December 2000 was compared with the previous 5 years (1992-96). Thirty-seven children (< 16 yrs) and 49 young adults (16-50 yrs) with congenital aortic valve stenosis underwent one of these treatments: percutaneous balloon dilatation (PBD), aortic valve commissurotomy, aortic valve replacement and the Ross operation. The Ross operation was performed in 16 patients, mean age 24.5 yrs (range 9-46 yrs) with a bicuspid stenotic aortic valve, 7/10 adults with calcifications, 2/10 adults with previous aortic valve commissurotomy, 4/6 children with aortic regurgitation following PBD, and 1/6 children who had had a previous aortic valve replacement with a prosthetic valve and aortic root enlargement. RESULTS: PBD was followed by death in two neonates (fibroelastosis); all other children survived PBD. Although there were no deaths, PBD in adults was recently abandoned, owing to unfavourable results. Aortic valve commissurotomy showed good results in children (no deaths). Aortic valve replacement, although associated with good results (no deaths), has been recently abandoned in children in favour of the Ross operation. Over a mean follow-up of 16 months (2-40 months) all patients are asymptomatic following Ross operation, with no echocardiographic evidence of aortic valve regurgitation in 10/16 patients and with trivial regurgitation in 6/16 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The approach now for children and young adults with congenital aortic valve stenosis should be as follows: (1) PBD is the first choice in neonates and infants; (2) Aortic valve commissurotomy is the first choice for children, neonates and infants after failed PBD; (3) The Ross operation is increasingly used in children after failed PBD and in young adults, even with a calcified aortic valve.

Renal tubular NEDD4-2 deficiency causes NCC-mediated salt-dependent hypertension.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4-2 (encoded by the Nedd4L gene) regulates the amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC/SCNN1) to mediate Na+ homeostasis. Mutations in the human β/γENaC subunits that block NEDD4-2 binding or constitutive ablation of exons 6-8 of Nedd4L in mice both result in salt-sensitive hypertension and elevated ENaC activity (Liddle syndrome). To determine the role of renal tubular NEDD4-2 in adult mice, we generated tetracycline-inducible, nephron-specific Nedd4L KO mice. Under standard and high-Na+ diets, conditional KO mice displayed decreased plasma aldosterone but normal Na+/K+ balance. Under a high-Na+ diet, KO mice exhibited hypercalciuria and increased blood pressure, which were reversed by thiazide treatment. Protein expression of βENaC, γENaC, the renal outer medullary K+ channel (ROMK), and total and phosphorylated thiazide-sensitive Na+Cl- cotransporter (NCC) levels were increased in KO kidneys. Unexpectedly, Scnn1a mRNA, which encodes the αENaC subunit, was reduced and proteolytic cleavage of αENaC decreased. Taken together, these results demonstrate that loss of NEDD4-2 in adult renal tubules causes a new form of mild, salt-sensitive hypertension without hyperkalemia that is characterized by upregulation of NCC, elevation of β/γENaC, but not αENaC, and a normal Na+/K+ balance maintained by downregulation of ENaC activity and upregulation of ROMK.

Genome-wide association analysis identifies 20 loci that influence adult height.

Adult height is a model polygenic trait, but there has been limited success in identifying the genes underlying its normal variation. To identify genetic variants influencing adult human height, we used genome-wide association data from 13,665 individuals and genotyped 39 variants in an additional 16,482 samples. We identified 20 variants associated with adult height (P < 5 x 10(-7), with 10 reaching P < 1 x 10(-10)). Combined, the 20 SNPs explain approximately 3% of height variation, with a approximately 5 cm difference between the 6.2% of people with 17 or fewer 'tall' alleles compared to the 5.5% with 27 or more 'tall' alleles. The loci we identified implicate genes in Hedgehog signaling (IHH, HHIP, PTCH1), extracellular matrix (EFEMP1, ADAMTSL3, ACAN) and cancer (CDK6, HMGA2, DLEU7) pathways, and provide new insights into human growth and developmental processes. Finally, our results provide insights into the genetic architecture of a classic quantitative trait.

Genetics of narcolepsy and other major sleep disorders.

One third of the population is affected by a sleep disorder with a major social, medical, and economic impact. Although very little is known about the genetics of normal sleep, familial and twin studies indicate an important influence of genetic factors. Most sleep disorders run in families and in several of them the contribution of genetic factors is increasingly recognised. With recent advances in the genetics of narcolepsy and the role of the hypocretin/orexin system, the possibility that other gene defects may contribute to the pathophysiology of major sleep disorders is worth indepth investigation.

L'Écho de Paris

1886/01/06 (Numéro 665).