International Police Force Or Tool For Harassment Of Human Rights Defenders And Political Adversaries: Interpol\u27s Rift With The Human Rights Community

The limits imposed on member states are explicitly set forth in Article III of the ICPO-Interpol Constitution and General Regulations

Deviation from the Fourier law in room-temperature heat pulse experiments

We report heat pulse experiments at room temperature that cannot be described by Fourier's law. The experimental data is modelled properly by the Guyer--Krumhansl equation, in its over-diffusion regime. The phenomenon is due to conduction channels with differing conductivities, and parallel to the direction of the heat flux.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

The BIM2LCA approach: An industry foundation classes (IFC)-based interface to integrate life cycle assessment in integral planning

An increasing degree of digitalization in construction planning offers significant potential for building life cycle assessment (LCA) to reduce access barriers, as well as the assessment effort itself. To realize the widespread application of LCA tools and their potential to effectively minimize life cycle impacts, an open approach is required that allows for flexible application of comprehensive LCA studies and early integration in planning processes. The authors present an approach for LCA integration in all phases of digital planning which aims at a DGNB (Deutsche Gesellschaft für nachhaltiges Bauen) certification based on the open Building Information Modeling (BIM) standard Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The approach takes into account varying levels of development and resulting data availability during integral planning phases, as well as resulting LCA application contexts. It goes beyond existing strategies and allows one to consider both BIM and LCA software through a workflow based on a single data format. The assessment framework is operationalized through standardized interface development and technical realization following the information delivery manual (IDM) process standardized for IFC interfaces. The Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema, as a specific implementation for certification, provides the target system for LCA data requirements and is generalized to a planning phase specific IDM base table. The technical realization based on respective model view definitions and distributed data suggests a pathway to the standardization of LCA-IFC integration based on an open approach. The overall approach exemplarily applies to the “LERNZENTRUM” at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) campus. We conclude that an open BIM approach for LCA integration in model-based planning is feasible, but requires several adjustments in IFC, LCA, and planning practice. Adding a lifecycle element to the IFC to connect BIM and LCA provides comprehensive feedback for informed decision making based on environmental impact

Adverse wind conditions during northward Sahara crossings increase the in-flight mortality of Black-tailed Godwits

Long-distance migratory flights are predicted to be associated with higher mortality rates when individuals encounter adverse weather conditions. However, directly connecting environmental conditions experienced in-flight with the survival of migrants has proven difficult. We studied how the in-flight mortality of 53 satellite-tagged Black-tailed Godwits (Limosa limosa limosa) during 132 crossings of the Sahara Desert, a major geographical barrier along their migration route between The Netherlands and sub-Saharan Africa, is correlated with the experienced wind conditions and departure date during both southward and northward migration. We show that godwits experienced higher wind assistance during southward crossings, which seems to reflect local prevailing trade winds. Critically, we found that fatal northward crossings (15 deaths during 61 crossings) were associated with adverse wind conditions. Wind conditions during migration can thus directly influence vital rates. Changing wind conditions associated with global change may thus profoundly influence the costs of long-distance migration in the future

Identification of Novel Candidate Oncogenes in Chromosome Region 17p11.2-p12 in Human Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignancy of bone. The tumours are characterized by high genomic instability, including the occurrence of multiple regions of amplifications and deletions. Chromosome region 17p11.2–p12 is amplified in about 25% of cases. In previous studies, COPS3 and PMP22 have been identified as candidate oncogenes in this region. Considering the complexity and variation of the amplification profiles for this segment, the involvement of additional causative oncogenes is to be expected. The aim of the present investigation is to identify novel candidate oncogenes in 17p11.2–p12. We selected 26 of in total 85 osteosarcoma samples (31%) with amplification events in 17p11.2–p12, using quantitative PCR for 8 marker genes. These were subjected to high-resolution SNP array analysis and subsequent GISTIC analysis to identify the most significantly amplified regions. Two major amplification peaks were found in the 17p11.2–p12 region. Overexpression as a consequence of gene amplification is a major mechanism for oncogene activation in tumours. Therefore, to identify the causative oncogenes, we next determined expression levels of all genes within the two segments using expression array data that could be generated for 20 of the selected samples. We identified 11 genes that were overexpressed through amplification in at least 50% of cases. Nine of these, c17orf39, RICH2, c17orf45, TOP3A, COPS3, SHMT1, PRPSAP2, PMP22, and RASD1, demonstrated a significant association between copy number and expression level. We conclude that these genes, including COPS3 and PMP22, are candidate oncogenes in 17p11.2–p12 of importance in osteosarcoma tumourigenesis

Energie- en klimaatmonitor agrosectoren 2011

Onderzoek van Agenschap NL en WUR-LEI in opdracht van het ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie (EL&I). Uit de monitor blijkt dat de Nederandse land- en tuinbouwbedrijven meer elektriciteit produceren dan ze zelf verbruiken. De totale bijdrage van deze sectoren aan de in Nederland gebruikte duurzame energie is 44 procent. Ruim de helft van het energieverbruik van de land- en tuinbouwbedrijven zelf (uitgezonderd de glastuinbouw) is afkomstig uit hernieuwbare bronnen

Injectable enzymatically cross linkable hydrogels:a minimally invasive cell free approach to regenerate chondral defects

Purpose: Focal cartilage defects as a consequence of trauma are a major risk factor for the development of early onset osteoarthritis. These defects still pose a largely unresolved problem for the treating physician. Previously, we have developed an injectable in situ gelating hydrogel that can be applied in an arthroscopic procedure to fill up cartilage defects by simple injection. These hydrogels consist of hyaluronic acid - tyramine and dextran - tyramine conjugates that cross link in in a cell-friendly enzymatic, peroxidase-based reaction, initiated by non-toxic concentrations of H2O2. During the cross linking reaction the hydrogels co-valently attach to the cartilage resulting in strong bonding and fixation of the hydrogel in the defect. These hydrogels possess chemoattractant properties facilitating the ingrowth of cells as demonstrated in an ex vivo chondral plug model opening the possibility for cell-free cartilage repair. The aim of this study is to test the use of these injectable hydrogels for cartilage repair in an orthotopic chondral defect rabbit model side-by-side compared with autologous chondrocyte implantation. In addition, we evaluated the concept in an equine model for focal cartilage defects. Methods: Three male rabbits were sacrificed to establish cultures of primary human chondrocytes for implantation purposes. In a pilot rabbit experiment skeletally mature female rabbits were operated under anesthesia and two 4mm wide chondral defects were created in each knee joint. The defects were left untreated, filled up with hydrogel only, or with hydrogel prior mixed with chondrocytes. The various combinations of hydrogel precursors were injected in a liquid state in the defect and left to settle in a mild enzymatically mediated cross linking reaction which took place within less than 20 seconds. Rabbits were sacrificed 4 weeks and 10 weeks after treatment and tissues were collected for histology. In a pilot experiment two horses were operated under general anaesthesia in a fully arthroscopic procedure. In each knee joint, 5mm wide chondral defects were created. These defects were in the same arthroscopic procedure completely filled with the hydrogel. Synovial fluid was collected after 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after surgery. After two weeks horses were humanely euthanisized and tissue was processed for histology. Results: In pilot experiments in rabbits, chondral defects were completely repaired using the injectable hydrogels after 10 weeks of surgery. Cell-free hydrogels appeared as efficient as cell-containing hydrogels. The data are now confirmed in a larger study group in which treatment with hydrogels is compared to microfracture. In the equine model we demonstrated that the injectable hydrogels could be used to fill up focal chondral defects in an completely arthroscopic procedure. Synovial fluid sampling demonstrated a clinically not relevant small increase in white blood cell count and protein count in the first 2 days after surgery which returned to base-line after 3 to 5 days. Clinical examination and follow up of the operated joints demonstrated normal response to arthroscopic surgery: no adverse effects were noted demonstrating the safety of the procedure. The horses were able to make functional use of their treated legs within a few days and walked normally 2-weeks after surgery. At this time point visual inspection demonstrated the presence of hydrogels in each of the defects. Histological examination demonstrated the presence of cell layers on top of the hydrogel and invasion of cells into the hydrogel both from the top and the bottom. The invading cells were organized in columns, like in normal cartilage, and stained positive for typical chondrocyte markers. They actively deposited glycosaminoglycans. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing an arthroscopic and completely cell-free treatment of chondral defects. It also demonstrates the presence of populations of migratory cells in the traumatized joint. These cells can actively migrate to and invade an appropriate scaffolding material in vivo and start the deposition of cartilage matrix. In the future, this work may translate into a biomaterial based regenerative treatment of osteoarthritis by harnessing the regenerative potential of these migratory cells

Global Climate Change and Invariable Photoperiods: A Mismatch That Jeopardizes Animal fitness

The Earth\u27s surface temperature is rising, and precipitation patterns throughout the Earth are changing; the source of these shifts is likely anthropogenic in nature. Alterations in temperature and precipitation have obvious direct and indirect ef‐ fects on both plants and animals. Notably, changes in temperature and precipita‐ tion alone can have both advantageous and detrimental consequences depending on the species. Typically, production of offspring is timed to coincide with optimal food availability; thus, individuals of many species display annual rhythms of reproductive function. Because it requires substantial time to establish or re‐establish reproduc‐ tive function, individuals cannot depend on the arrival of seasonal food availability to begin breeding; thus, mechanisms have evolved in many plants and animals to monitor and respond to day length in order to anticipate seasonal changes in the environment. Over evolutionary time, there has been precise fine‐tuning of critical photoperiod and onset/offset of seasonal adaptations. Climate change has provoked changes in the availability of insects and plants which shifts the timing of optimal reproduction. However, adaptations to the stable photoperiod may be insufficiently plastic to allow a shift in the seasonal timing of bird and mammal breeding. Coupled with the effects of light pollution which prevents these species from determining day length, climate change presents extreme evolutionary pressure that can result in se‐ vere deleterious consequences for individual species reproduction and survival. This review describes the effects of climate change on plants and animals, defines photo‐ period and the physiological events it regulates, and addresses the consequences of global climate change and a stable photoperiod