Managing a european recovery: The case for public spending for an energy transition

The public debate about a European economic recovery has atrophied in a stimulus vs. austerity, north vs. south blame game. Far too little attention is devoted to the question into which kind of investments stimulus funding should be channelled and what a long-term sustainable European recovery may look like. This article argues that public debate should shift from un-constructive criticism to constructive engagement. It suggests that instead of expanding funding to prop up ailing or outdated business models, Europe should adapt to the shifting centres of economic gravity, harness its comparative advantages, and manage its recovery by developing alternative energy technologies and building a concomitant industry. Europe will have to recognise that the private sector cannot accomplish such a recovery alone; overcoming market barriers to developing new economic sectors requires a sustained political commitment. In the long term, such an approach to recovery promises to deliver energy security and a more sustainable energy system, the creation of a viable export sector, and many new well-paid jobs with more equitable economic benefits than are offered, for instance, by the financial sector

The Economics of Brexit needn’t be quixotic: Towards a green industrial strategy for Britain

“Fortune is guiding our affairs better than we ourselves could have wished. Do you see over yonder, friend Sancho, thirty or forty hulking giants? I intend to do battle with them and slay them. With their spoils we shall begin to be rich for this is a righteous war and the removal of so foul a brood from off the face of the earth is a service God will bless.

An Integrative Review of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): Clinical Insights and Therapeutic Approaches in Unani and Modern Medicine

Excruciating fatigue that lasts for at least six months is a defining feature of the complicated illness known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). With a prevalence of 0.4% to 2.5% worldwide, CFS is becoming more common. CFS impacts more women than men. In wealthy nations, it is considered a common condition. Although CFS has no recognized cure, symptoms can be controlled and managed. Daily normal activities are significantly hampered by chronic fatigue. An imbalance of brain neurotransmitters, mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced oxidative phosphorylation, disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and decreased ATP synthesis are all essential components of the pathophysiology of CFS. The current study aims to identify the herbs used as medicine for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and to examine the current treatment strategies for it. The phytochemicals found in the Unani medicinal plants discussed in this article make them highly effective in treating the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. The current treatment approach for chronic fatigue syndrome is also briefly covered in this review article. It includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), graded exercise therapy (GET), immunoglobulin use, psychodynamic counseling, and isometric exercises that are very helpful in reducing the symptoms of CFS. Conventional treatments for CFS include corticosteroids, immunomodulatory drugs, and antidepressants. Various Unani medicinal plants are examined in this article, along with their pharmacological characteristics, potential uses, and available therapies for mitigating the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Keywords: chronic fatigue syndrome, brain neurotransmitters, mitochondrial dysfunction, reduced oxidative phosphorylatio

Perforated appendicitis: accuracy of ct diagnosis and correlation of ct findings with the length of hospital stay

Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of CT findings in the differentiation of perforated from nonperforated appendicitis and correlate CT diagnosis with the length of hospital stay.STUDY Design: An analytical study.PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: This study was conducted at Radiology Department of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2004 to June 2005.PATIENTS AND Methods: The study included 70 patients who presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and underwent pre-operative CT scan followed by appendectomy. Patients were divided into two groups of having perforated and nonperforated appendicitis on the basis of CT scan findings. The surgical and pathological reports combined were considered the reference standard for the diagnosis of perforated appendicitis. Various CT scan findings and average duration of hospital stay in days was compared by t-test.Results: Twenty-six (37%) of 70 patients had perforated appendicitis. It was correctly identified on pre-operative CT scan in 18 patients. There were 18 true positive diagnoses, 43 true negative diagnoses, 1 false positive diagnosis and 8 false negative diagnoses which yielded a sensitivity of 69%, specificity of 97%, positive predictive value of 94% and negative predictive value of 84%. Mean length of hospital stay in perforated group was 6.3 days and 2.9 days in nonperforated group. Severe periappendiceal inflammation, periappendiceal and or abdominopelvic fluid and abscess were significantly associated with perforated appendicitis and with a significant longer hospital stay (p \u3c .001).CONCLUSION: CT scan is 69% sensitive and 97% specific for the diagnosis of perforated appendicitis and constellation of CT findings can be used to select patients with perforated appendicitis for initial non-operative management. Presence of CT signs of significant appendiceal inflammation is independent predictor of longer hospital stay

How to proceed with competing alternative energy technologies: A real options analysis

Concerns about CO2 emissions create incentives for the development and deployment of energy technologies that do not use fossil fuels. Indeed, such technologies would provide tangible benefits in terms of avoided fossil-fuel costs, which are likely to increase as restrictions on CO2 emissions are imposed. However, a number of challenges need to be overcome prior to market deployment, and the commercialisation of alternative energy technologies may require a staged approach given price and technical risk. We analyse how a firm may proceed with staged commercialisation and deployment of competing alternative energy technologies. An unconventional new alternative technology is one possibility, where one could undertake cost-reducing production enhancement measures as an intermediate step prior to deployment. By contrast, the firm could choose to deploy a smaller-scale existing renewable energy technology, and, using the real options framework, we compare the two projects to provide managerial implications on how one might proceed.acceptedVersion© 2010. This is the authors’ accepted and refereed manuscript to the article. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0

Unravelling the mystery microorganism: a case study of chronic surgical site discharge post laparoscopic hysterectomy linked to Mycobacterium chelonae

In this case study, we explore the intricate surgical experience of a 45-year-old woman who post laparoscopic total hysterectomy for fibroid uterus, presented with persistent surgical site discharge. Despite multiple courses of antibiotic therapy, the symptoms persisted, and the infective organism remained unidentifie

Pro-poor intervention strategies in irrigated agriculture in Asia: poverty in irrigated agriculture: issues and options: Bangladesh

Irrigated farming / Poverty / Irrigation management / Water resource management / Policy / Planning / Institutions / Organizations / Local government / Non-governmental organizations / Legislation / Water users / Participatory management / Public sector / Water allocation / Cost recovery / Households / Income / Expenditure / Irrigation canals / Bangladesh