The differing approach to commercial litigation in the European Court of Justice and the courts of England and Wales I

Article by Sir Anthony Clarke published in Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London

Influence of Storage of Wet Arabica Parchment Prior to Wet Hulling on Moulds Development, OchratoxinA Contamination, and Cup Quality of Mandheling Coffee

Mandheling coffee has been a well known specialty coffees for decades and the demand for this coffee is currently increasing. This coffee is characterised by low acidity, heavy-complex body, spicy-little earthy and fruity flavor. Mandheling coffee is produced by smallholder farmers in the highland surrounding Lake TobaNorth Sumatra in an unique way i.e. following de-pulping and 1–2 days sundrying, wet parchment is stored for varying periods up to a few weeks, the parchments are then de-hulled when still wet (40–45% moisture content) then the beans sundried. The handling procedure presumably contributes to the unique cup character of Mandheling coffee. On the other hand the storage of wet pachments may cause mould growth and mycotoxin contamination. This trial was designed to study the influence of storage of wet parchments prior to wet hulling on mould development, OTA contamination and cup Mandheling characteristic of the coffee product. The normal wet process, drying of parchment thoroughly to 12% moisture content was used as the control. Parchment coffees (6 lots) used for this trial were drawn from farmers and collectors in the region. The wet parchments (41.74–53.96% moisture content) were stored for 1 (D1), 7 (D7) and 14 (D14) days in PE sacks in a warehouse in the region. During the storage period, when there was visible mould growth, the parchments were spread on a plastic sheet inside the warehouse, as per common practice to suppress the mould growth. Following storage, the wet parchment was de-hulled and then sun-dried to a moisture content of 12% (MC12%) or dried to a moisture content of 17%, and held in storage for 3 weeks prior to final drying to 12% mc. The ‘normal wet process\u27 i.e. fresh-non stored parchments dried thoroughly to 12%, were used as the control. Parameters measured were visual evaluation, mould infestation, a w, moisture content (MC) on the stored parchment; while for dried beans mould infestation, OTA content and the Mandheling cup character evaluation (done by 4 panelists who were familiar to the coffee) were determined. Some mould species grew during the storage course, with black Aspergillus was the dominant species found in the beans, while A. ochraceusan OTA producer, was found in some samples with low infection rate (0–15.3%). Spreading of coffee inside the warehouse during the day could suppress moulds growth. OTA was found in only 5 samples out of 42 samples with range of 0.17–2.24 ppb, very less than European Union limit. There was no clear trend of storage period on the mould infection rates, OTA content, and the Mandheling cup characters. The high variability of the outcome was likely due to the inhomogenity of parchments used for this trial. The best Mandheling was found in the sample of D1-MC12%-coffee source of lot 1

The Effect of NAG–thiazoline on Morphology and Surface Hydrophobicity of Escherichia Coli

The β-hexosaminidase inhibitor and structural analog of the putative oxazolium reaction intermediate of lytic transglycosylases, N-acetylglucosamine thiazoline (NAG–thiazoline), was synthesized in 46% overall yield and tested as an inhibitor of Escherichia coli growth. NAG–thiazoline, at concentrations up to 1 mg/ml, was not found to affect the viability of E. coli DH5α

Identification of a New Family of Enzymes with Potential \u3cem\u3eO\u3c/em\u3e-acetylpeptidoglycan esterase activity in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

Background: The metabolism of the rigid bacterial cell wall heteropolymer peptidoglycan is a dynamic process requiring continuous biosynthesis and maintenance involving the coordination of both lytic and synthetic enzymes. The O-acetylation of peptidoglycan has been proposed to provide one level of control on these activities as this modification inhibits the action of the major endogenous lytic enzymes, the lytic transglycosylases. The O-acetylation of peptidoglycan also inhibits the activity of the lysozymes which serve as the first line of defense of host cells against the invasion of bacterial pathogens. Despite this central importance, there is a dearth of information regarding peptidoglycan O-acetylation and nothing has previously been reported on its de-acetylation. Results: Homology searches of the genome databases have permitted this first report on the identification of a potential family of O-Acetylpeptidoglycan esterases (Ape). These proteins encoded in the genomes of a variety of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including a number of important human pathogens such as species of Neisseria, Helicobacter, Campylobacter, and Bacillus anthracis, have been organized into three families based on amino acid sequence similarities with family 1 being further divided into three sub-families. The genes encoding these proteins are shown to be clustered with Peptidoglycan O-acetyltransferases (Pat) and in some cases, together with other genes involved in cell wall metabolism. Representative bacteria that encode the Ape proteins were experimentally shown to produce O-acetylated peptidoglycan. Conclusion: The hypothetical proteins encoded by the pat and ape genes have been organized into families based on sequence similarities. The Pat proteins have sequence similarity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa AlgI, an integral membrane protein known to participate in the O-acetylation of the exopolysaccaride, alginate. As none of the bacteria that harbor the pat genes produce alginate, we propose that the Pat proteins serve to O-acetylate peptidoglycan which is known to be a maturation event occurring in the periplasm. The Ape sequences have amino acid sequence similarity to the CAZy CE 3 carbohydrate esterases, a family previously known to be composed of only O-acetylxylan esterases. They are predicted to contain the α/β hydrolase fold associated with the GDSL and TesA hydrolases and they possess the signature motifs associated with the catalytic residues of the CE3 esterases. Specific signature sequence motifs were identified for the Ape proteins which led to their organization into distinct families. We propose that by expressing both Pat and Ape enzymes, bacteria would be able to obtain a high level of localized control over the degradation of peptidoglycan through the attachment and removal of O-linked acetate. This would facilitate the efficient insertion of pores and flagella, localize spore formation, and control the level of general peptidoglycan turnover

Ethics and Needs: The Relationship Between the Various Concepts of Moral Philosophy and the Concept of Need

This work attempts to show that moral goodness is of the same kind as other forms of goodness, and that it is typically exhibited where a moral act is performed in order to satisfy the needs of someone other than the agent, just as other instances of goodness, e.g. instrumental, plainly arise due to the capacity of something to meet our needs. Thus, needs are claimed to be the content of ethics or morality, and morality is seen as the most general form of ethics. It is the ethics of needers, a code which enables the co-existence and mutual help of needing beings, including man, in the pursuit of their needs, the attainment of their objectives and goals. We are thus addressing ourselves to the problem of the content of morality, as outlined so ably and eloquently by G.J. Warnock.(see Warnock, 1967.) The context of this problem is given, and traced back to the challenge moral philosophy received from logical positivism in the early decades of this century. We state our method and assumptions carefully. We assume that there is an additional 'level' or 'order' of morality where the content, if any, of morality is to be found. Our method then will be to attempt to discern and formalise any concomitant or correlative differences between levels, i.e. between moral language and those situations about which it is used. An analysis of need is given, showing that it is closely associated with the preconditions of attaining objectives and goals.Its relationship to desire, purposiveness, actions and ought-statements (particularly moral ought-statements) is investigated. Need shares many logical features with value (e.g. being a means to an end, being related to goals), and this is examined closely to show how needs are related to rights, interests and welfare, the notion of 'rightness', and moral goodness. Moral goodness is shown to be associated, perhaps indirectly but essentially, with the satisfaction of what is called 'heteronomous' needs, which are claimed here to be the content of morality. These needs are defined as the needs which we have for the actions of others, in either a positive or negative sense. The claim that these needs constitute the content of morality is further investigated by looking at the common conception of intrinsic value, in that moral goodness is often felt to be intrinsic, and not susceptible to an instrumental account. Intrinsic value is shown to be a form of instrumental, while the alternative transcendental view of it is shown to be unacceptable. Utilitarianism is examined, to show that needs, rather than happiness or pleasure, provides a more satisfactory content for the moral, as well as providing us with a theoretical basis from which to account for the inadequacies of Utilitarianism. An account of intrinsic moral goods, and an explanation of how intrinsic evaluation arises with regard to moral matters, is then given. The possibility of value-judgements, and value discourse in general, being either true or false, i.e. being indicative statements like any other, is examined: it is concluded that scepticism in this area would appear to be unfounded. The moral realism outlined seems to provide an adequate empirical basis to ground the assertion that moral judgements are as factual as any other. Lastly, the problems remaining for moral realism were looked at: what is the nature of a moral being? What about the other features of morality, drawn attention to by G.J. Warnock, e.g. the apparently endemic indecisiveness of moral argument? Just what is the role of the moral philosopher in moral debate? These are some of the problems which must be tackled if the issue about the content of morality is resolved

A School Advisor Association: Seeking Ways to Change Substantively the Role Played by Classroom Teachers in Preservice Teacher Education

In recent years we have written and spoken about the role of school advisors (sometimes known as school associates, cooperating teachers, or sponsor teachers) in practicum settings. We concluded these pieces by arguing that teachers should play a more substantive role in ensuring that school advisors are professionally ready, carefully selected, and continually supported in their work as teacher educators. We take this opportunity to extend those arguments and to imagine a scenario in which this might occur. Moving beyond what is to what might be, we suggest establishing at a regional level a formal body—a School Advisor Association for want of a better term—that comprises classroom teachers who in concert with faculties of education play a central role in the development, selection, and support of school advisors.Au cours des dernières années, le rôle des enseignants associés dans les stages pédagogiques a été le sujet de nos écrits et de nos discussions. Nous avons conclu ces articles en faisant valoir que les enseignants devraient jouer un rôle plus important pour assurer que les enseignants associés soient prêts au plan professionnel, bien sélectionnés et constamment appuyés dans leur travail de formateurs d'enseignants. Nous profitons de l'occasion pour pousser plus loin ces arguments et imaginer un scénario dans lequel ces suggestions pourraient se réaliser. En allant au delà de ce qui existe pour arriver à ce qui pourrait se faire, nous suggérons l'établissement, au niveau régional, d'un comité formel (faute de mots, disons une Association d'Enseignants Associés) constitué d'enseignants qui, de concert avec les facultés d'éducation, joueraient un rôle central dans le développement, la sélection et l'appui des enseignants associés

A note on bounds for the cop number using tree decompositions

In this short note, we supply a new upper bound on the cop number in terms of tree decompositions. Our results in some cases extend a previously derived bound on the cop number using treewidth

Treatment of fevers prior to introducing rapid diagnostic tests for malaria in registered drug shops in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Since drug shops play an important role in treatment of fever, introducing rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria at drug shops may have the potential of targeting anti-malarial drugs to those with malaria parasites and improve rational drug use. As part of a cluster randomized trial to examine impact on appropriate treatment of malaria in drug shops in Uganda and adherence to current malaria treatment policy guidelines, a survey was conducted to estimate baseline prevalence of, and factors associated with, appropriate treatment of malaria to enable effective design and implementation of the cluster randomized trial. METHODS: A survey was conducted within 20 geographical clusters of drug shops from May to September 2010 in Mukono district, central Uganda. A cluster was defined as a parish representing a cluster of drug shops. Data was collected using two structured questionnaires: a provider questionnaire to capture data on drug shops (n=65) including provider characteristics, knowledge on treatment of malaria, previous training received, type of drugs stocked, reported drug sales, and record keeping practices; and a patient questionnaire to capture data from febrile patients (n=540) exiting drug shops on presenting symptoms, the consultation process, treatment received, and malaria diagnoses. Malaria diagnosis made by drug shop vendors were confirmed by the study team through microscopy examination of a blood slide to ascertain whether appropriate treatment was received. RESULTS: Among febrile patients seen at drug shops, 35% had a positive RDT result and 27% had a positive blood slide. Many patients (55%) had previously sought care from another drug shop prior to this consultation. Three quarters (73%) of all febrile patients seen at drug shops received an anti-malarial, of whom 39% received an ACT and 33% received quinine. The rest received another non-artemisinin monotherapy. Only one third (32%) of patients with a positive blood slide had received treatment with Coartem® while 34% of those with a negative blood slide had not received an anti-malarial. Overall appropriate treatment was 34 (95% CI: 28 - 40) with substantial between-cluster variation, ranging from 1% to 55%. CONCLUSION: In this setting, the proportion of malaria patients receiving appropriate ACT treatment at drug shops was low. This was due to the practice of presumptive treatment, inadequate training on malaria management and lack of knowledge that Coartem® was the recommended first-line treatment for malaria. There is urgent need for interventions to improve treatment of malaria at these outlets