Equity as a Prerequisite for Stability of Cooperation on Global Public Good Provision

Analysing cooperative provision of a global public good such as climate protection, we explore the relationship between equitable burden sharing on the one hand and core stability on the other. To assess the size of the burden which a public good contribution entails for a country, we make use of a specific measure based on Moulin (Econometrica 55:963-977, 1987). In particular, we show that a Pareto optimal allocation which is not in the core can always be blocked by a group of countries with the highest Moulin sacrifices. In this sense, it is the 'overburdening' and thus 'unfair' treatment of some countries that provides the reason for core instability. By contrast, a Pareto optimal allocation is in the core if the public good contributions are fairly equally distributed according to their Moulin sacrifices. The potential implications of our theoretical analysis for global climate policy are also discussed

Adaptive Filtering Enhances Information Transmission in Visual Cortex

Sensory neuroscience seeks to understand how the brain encodes natural environments. However, neural coding has largely been studied using simplified stimuli. In order to assess whether the brain's coding strategy depend on the stimulus ensemble, we apply a new information-theoretic method that allows unbiased calculation of neural filters (receptive fields) from responses to natural scenes or other complex signals with strong multipoint correlations. In the cat primary visual cortex we compare responses to natural inputs with those to noise inputs matched for luminance and contrast. We find that neural filters adaptively change with the input ensemble so as to increase the information carried by the neural response about the filtered stimulus. Adaptation affects the spatial frequency composition of the filter, enhancing sensitivity to under-represented frequencies in agreement with optimal encoding arguments. Adaptation occurs over 40 s to many minutes, longer than most previously reported forms of adaptation.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, includes supplementary informatio

Cardiac outcomes in adults with supravalvar aortic stenosis

Aims Supravalvar aortic stenosis is a rare form of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction that is often progressive in childhood. Little data are available on outcomes in the adult population. Our aim was to define cardiac outcomes in adults with supravalvar aortic stenosis. Methods and results This is a multicentre retrospective study of cardiac outcomes in adults (≥18 years) with supravalvar aortic stenosis. We examined: (i) adverse cardiac events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, sustained arrhythmias, and infective endocarditis) and (ii) the need for cardiac surgery in adulthood. One hundred and thirteen adults (median age at first visit 19 years; 55% with Williams-Beuren syndrome; 67% with surgical repair in childhood) were identified. Adults without Williams-Beuren syndrome had more severe supravalvar aortic stenosis and more often associated left ventricular outflow tract obstructions (P < 0.001). In contrast, mitral valve regurgitation was more common in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome. Eighty-five per cent of adults (96/113) had serial follow-up information (median follow-up 6.0 years). Of these patients, 13% (12/96) had an adverse cardiac event and 13% (12/96) had cardiac operations (7 valve repair or replacements, 4 supravalvar aortic stenosis repairs, 1 other). Cardiac surgery was more common in adults without Williams-Beuren syndrome (P = 0.007). Progression of supravalvar aortic stenosis during adulthood was rare. Conclusion Adults with supravalvar aortic stenosis remain at risk for cardiac complications and reoperations, while progression of supravalvar aortic stenosis in adulthood is rare. Valve surgery is the most common indication for cardiac surgery in adulthoo

Using honey to heal diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic ulcers seem to be arrested in the inflammatory/proliferative stage of the healing process, allowing infection and inflammation to preclude healing. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a major cause of infections, including diabetic foot infections. It is proposed here that the modern developments of an ancient and traditional treatment for wounds, dressing them with honey, provide the solution to the problem of getting diabetic ulcers to move on from the arrested state of healing. Honeys selected to have a high level of antibacterial activity have been shown to be very effective against antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in laboratory and clinical studies. The potent anti-inflammatory action of honey is also likely to play an important part in overcoming the impediment to healing that inflammation causes in diabetic ulcers, as is the antioxidant activity of honey. The action of honey in promotion of tissue regeneration through stimulation of angiogenesis and the growth of fibroblasts and epithelial cells, and its insulin-mimetic effect, would also be of benefit in stimulating the healing of diabetic ulcers. The availability of honey-impregnated dressings which conveniently hold honey in place on ulcers has provided a means of rapidly debriding ulcers and removing the bacterial burden so that good healing rates can be achieved with neuropathic ulcers. With ischemic ulcers, where healing cannot occur because of lack of tissue viability, these honey dressings keep the ulcers clean and prevent infection occurring

The timing of death in patients with tuberculosis who die during anti-tuberculosis treatment in Andhra Pradesh, South India

Background: India has 2.0 million estimated tuberculosis (TB) cases per annum with an estimated 280,000 TBrelated deaths per year. Understanding when in the course of TB treatment patients die is important for determining the type of intervention to be offered and crucially when this intervention should be given. The objectives of the current study were to determine in a large cohort of TB patients in India:- i) treatment outcomes including the number who died while on treatment, ii) the month of death and iii) characteristics associated with “early” death, occurring in the initial 8 weeks of treatment. Methods: This was a retrospective study in 16 selected Designated Microscopy Centres (DMCs) in Hyderabad, Krishna and Adilabad districts of Andhra Pradesh, South India. A review was performed of treatment cards and medical records of all TB patients (adults and children) registered and placed on standardized anti-tuberculosis treatment from January 2005 to September 2009. Results: There were 8,240 TB patients (5183 males) of whom 492 (6%) were known to have died during treatment. Case-fatality was higher in those previously treated (12%) and lower in those with extra-pulmonary TB (2%). There was an even distribution of deaths during anti-tuberculosis treatment, with 28% of all patients dying in the first 8 weeks of treatment. Increasing age and new as compared to recurrent TB disease were significantly associated with “early death”. Conclusion: In this large cohort of TB patients, deaths occurred with an even frequency throughout anti-TB treatment. Reasons may relate to i) the treatment of the disease itself, raising concerns about drug adherence, quality of anti-tuberculosis drugs or the presence of undetected drug resistance and ii) co-morbidities, such as HIV/ AIDS and diabetes mellitus, which are known to influence mortality. More research in this area from prospective and retrospective studies is needed

Sistema Solar: Planetas Clássicos

O conhecimento curricular de Astronomia para surdos, não pode ser empobrecido, subtraído, fragmentado, mas sim formulado para corresponder a sua identidade de cognição, sem distanciar-se, porém, do direito inalienável a tudo que devem conhecer. Métodos de ensino não podem ser únicos para todos e, um sistema educacional que não revela estas diferenças está fadado em provocar a exclusão destes educandos por considerá-los inaptos, intelectualmente. Sendo assim, ao organizar o conteúdo que será trabalhado em sala de aula, o professor terá sempre em mente o tema Sistema Solar /Planetas Clássicos. Este tema está diretamente ligado a outros temas, permitindo ao aluno surdo fazer parte desse todo tão complexo que é o Universo em que vivemo

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF ELEVATED CO2 ON BIOEFFICACY OF BUPROFEZIN INSECTICIDE AGAINST BROWN PLANT HOPPER, Nilaparvata lugens (STÅL)

The effect of elevated CO2 (570±25ppm) on the brown plant hopper (BPH) population, rice yield parameters, and efficacy of buprofezin (0.05%) in terms of spray volume was studied in an open top chamber (OTCs) during rainy season 2017 and 2018. The pest population was observed to be higher during 2017 compared to the rainy season of 2018. Under elevated CO2, rice plants had more vegetative tillers (18%) and reproductive tillers (22.1%), but there was a decrease in 1000-seed weight (11.2%), seed number per panicle (3.91%), and grain yield (18.8%) in comparison to ambient CO2 grown rice plants. The spray volumes of 700, 600, 500, and 400 l/ha each caused higher BPH mortality under ambient CO2 compared to elevated CO2. A spray volume of 500 l/ha did not prove as effective under elevated CO2 as under ambient CO2. Lower efficacy of spray volume of 500 l/ha under elevated CO2 could be ascribed to higher canopy size under elevated CO2 due to higher tillering. Increased crop canopy size under elevated CO2 may thus require higher spray volume to ensure proper coverage. Results of the study suggested a need to revise spray volume recommendations to facilitate effective management of BPH under climate change

COMPARATIVE IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF ETHYL ACETATE AND ETHANOL EXTRACTS OF CALLICARPA MACROPHYLLA

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the antioxidant activity of (EA and E) ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of (CM) Callicarpa macrophylla. Methods: The physiochemical parameters were assessed according to guidelines given by the world health organization. The total content of phenols and flavonoids was assessed by Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods. In vitro, antioxidant activity was screened by (DPPH) 1, 1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl and(H2O2) hydrogen peroxide scavenging and reducing power assay. Results: The physicochemical parameters fulfilled the standards of WHO guidelines. Total phenol and flavonoid content were more in ethanol extract as compared to ethyl acetate extract of CM. The antioxidant activity of ethanol extract was further high as compared to ethyl acetate extract of Callicarpa macrophylla. The IC50 of Callicarpa macrophylla ethanol extract was less than the ethyl acetate extract. So, more antioxidant activity of ethanol extract compared to ethyl acetate extract of CM. Conclusion: Overall, both the extracts showed antioxidant activity and can be used further for diseases that can be managed using antioxidants. Ethanol extract possessed significant antioxidant effects than the ethyl acetate extract

A REVIEW FROM HISTORICAL TO CURRENT-CELASTRUS PANICULATUS

Celastrus paniculatus is commonly known as “Malkangani”, widely distributed in the Maldives, Australia, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Nepal, Thailand as well as in the Pacific Islands and all over India mainly Maharashtra, Orissa and Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands on an altitude of 1800m. It climbs up to over 10m. The leaves are ovate or elliptic in shape with dentate margin. Seeds are ellipsoid or ovoid, yellowish-brown in color and grow inside the capsules. Celastrus paniculatus (Malkangni) is used in Ayurveda as a nervine tonic, tranquilizer and diuretic and in rheumatism, gout, leprosy and asthma. Different Parts of Celastrus paniculatus after extraction and fractionation give different active constituents such as sesquiterpene esters-malkanguinol, malkangunin, sesquiterpene alkaloids-celapanin, celapanigin, alkaloids-celastrine, paniculatine, fatty acids-oleic acid, palmittic acid, linoleic acid and stearic acid, crystalline substance tetracasanol and sterol. Different pharmacological activities are anti-rheumatic, anti-fungal, nootropic activity, antimalarial activity, anti spermatogenic effect, anti-anxiety and anti-atherosclerotic effect. In the present review, our target is to search, bring together and compile the data of Celastrus paniculatus, which have less side effects and very valuable for the treatment of rheumatism. Related information is procured from various scientific publications using online, seek out engines such as Google scholar, Pubmed and Science Direct. A total of 200 articles was reviewed out of which 55 articles are selected to review for the description of the plant, parts used, chemical constituents, traditional uses and for reported activities