Analysing Disaster Impact Using Advanced Computation

Natural hazards can occur in the form of Space Weather events, severe flooding, earthquakes, severe storms and tsunamis. Some of them will likely become more frequent and intense as global warming accelerates (IPCC, 2013). They will have an impact on society's infrastructure - networks of trade, transport and production. Links in global economic chains and world markets mean that natural disaster in one place can have repercussions elsewhere. Imports and exports currently account for 20% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and this number is likely to further increase in the future. Consequently, the influence of natural disaster on the worldwide flows of materials, electricity, communications and energy, including interactions between them needs to be modelled and understood. New global and national Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) models that provide such details are presented in this thesis. With them and a new computational approach called global MRIO Lab IO models are suited more than ever to unravel impacts on trade and supply chain linkages and other dependencies evolving through globalization. The global MRIO Lab is presented in Chapter 2. The lab is then used to construct and update an environmental extended global MRIO model called EXIOLAB. In Chapter 3, a new MRIO model of the German economy is developed and used to assess the economic impacts of the severe flood in Germany and other parts of Europe in 2013. In Chapter 4 a new model for improved space weather forecast is developed first. With it a first attempt is made to couple a physical impact model with an economic model of global trade showing how a space weather event in three different regions (China, Europe and North America) would drive impacts across the world economy. It reinforces the message that a physical impact in one region can damage economies far from the impact site

Data Protection and Sample Management in Biobanking - A legal dichotomy

Biobanking in Europe has made major steps towards harmonization and shared standards for the collection and processing of data and samples stored in biobanks. Still, biobanks and researchers face substantial legal difficulties in the field of data protection and sample management. Data protection law was harmonized almost 15 years ago while rights in samples fall under the competence of the member states of the EU. Despite the Data Protection Directive the field of data protection shows a substantial degree of deviation as public health was excluded from the harmonization in. Biobanks seem to have substantially fewer difficulties to cope with in terms of the legal requirements in the field of sample management. This paper discusses the legal framework, experiences of different biobanks in Europe and potential ways forward. It also highlights the need for a health economic analysis of the costs and benefits of privacy protection in Europe. At the moment, policymakers seem to build their decisions on an insufficient evidence base which underestimates the potential value of biobanks for European public health. Within the past few years little progress has been achieved with regards to the development of a unified legal framework in Europe, The diversity in the legal system is also reflected in the different approaches of ethics committees towards biobanking. To secure the responsible and effective use of data and samples, more efforts are needed to come up with pathways for a solution.JRC.DDG.J.2-The economics of climate change, energy and transpor

Data Protection in Biobanks ¿ A European challenge for the long-term sustainability of Biobanking

The paper focuses on several interdependent key issues which encompass the core legal and socio-legal aspects of data protection and biobanking. We also try to highlight a need for the analysis of the impact of the EC Data Protection Directive on biobanks in Europe. An inconsistent application of the Directive is expected to severely affect cross-border research and multi-centre studies and, indirectly, the achievement of public health goals and innovation. Both the European Commission (EC) and the Member States try to facilitate this new research direction of biobanks. In most European countries biobanks are set up to improve the capacities for research. These new research infrastructures require a specific governance framework to ensure public trust and accountability. On a European level, the EC Data Protection Directive is the most prominent regulation which touches the core of the biobanking activities, and administrates the linking and sharing of sample and secondary data. On a national level several Member States have already finalised specific laws on biomedical research or biobanks. The Joint Research Centre ¿ Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (JRC- IPTS) and a recent study on data protection by the Network of Competent Authorities of the Health Information Strand of the Health Directorate of the EC suggested that biobanks suffer from a substantial lack of harmonisation, or rather a harmonised interpretation of the Data Protection Directive, which retards the further progress of Europe. Data Protection is the core regulatory instrument which serves both the protection of privacy and the access to information / data sharing. Data protection is widely mentioned as the most important obstacle to cooperation in the field of biomedical research. For the fields of biobanking and pharmacogenomics it should be assessed whether the research community, funding agencies or research ethics committees, are misinterpreting the legal framework. These uncertainties surrounding data protection and the proper scope of legitimate research exemptions could be detected as the key barrier while unsolved problems in the fields of information property rights and intellectual property rights are still underrated. Several EU funded projects have been set up to help biobanks in Europe to understand the barriers of data protection. There are also attempts to facilitate communication between the research community and scholars from ethics and law as it will increase the capability of ethics committees and policy makers to strive for a concordance between fundamental rights (privacy) and the public good (research).JRC.DDG.J.2-The economics of climate change, energy and transpor

Investigations into enzymes of nitrogen metabolism of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete, Suillus bovinus

Grotjohann N, Kowallik W, Huang Y, den Baumen ASI. Investigations into enzymes of nitrogen metabolism of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete, Suillus bovinus. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR NATURFORSCHUNG C-A JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES. 2000;55(3-4):203-212.Axenic mycelia of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete, Suillus bovinus, were grown in liquid media under continuous aeration with compressed air at 25 degrees C in darkness. Provided with glucose as the only carbohydrate source, they produced similar amounts of dry weight with ammonia, with nitrate or with alanine, 60-80% more with glutamate or glutamine, but about 35% less with urea as the respectively only exogenous nitrogen source. In crude extracts of cells from NH4+-cultures, NADH-dependent glutamate dehydrogenase exhibited high aminating (688 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1)) and low deaminating (21 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1)) activities. Its K-m-values for 2-oxoglutarate and for glutamate were 1.43 mM and 23.99 mM, respectively ps-optimum for amination was about 7.2, that for deamination about 9.3. Glutamine synthetase activity was comparatively low (59 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1)). Its affinity for glutamate was poor (K-m = 23.7 mM), while that for the NH4+ replacing NH2OH was high (K-m = 0.19 mM). pH-optimum was found at 7.0. Glutamate synthase (= GOGAT) revealed similar low activity (62 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1)), K-m-values for glutamine and for 2-oxoglutarate of 2.82 mM and 0.28 mM, respectively, and pH-optimum around 8.0. Aspartate transaminase (= GOT) exhibited similar affinities for aspartate (K-m = 2.55 mM) and for glutamate (K-m = 3.13 mM), but clearly different K-m-values for 2-oxoglutarate (1.46 mM) and for oxaloacetate (0.13 mM). Activity at optimum pH of about 8.0 was 506 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1) for aspartate conversion, but only 39 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1) at optimum pH of about 7.0 for glutamate conversion. Activity (599 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1)), substrate affinities (K-m for alanine = 6.30 mM, for 2-oxoglutarate = 0.45 mM) and pH-optimum (6.5-7.5) proved alanine transaminase (= GPT) also important in distribution of intracellular nitrogen. There was comparatively low activity of the obviously constitutive enzyme, urease, (42 nmol x mg protein(-1) x min(-1)) whose substrate affinity was rather high (K-m = 0.56 mM). Nitrate reductase proved substrate induced; activity could only be measured after exposure of the mycelia to exogenous nitrate. Routes of entry of exogenous nitrogen and tentative significance of the various enzymes in cell metabolism are discussed

Health technology assessment in the era of personalized health care.

Objectives: This article examines the challenges for health technology assessment (HTA) in the light of new developments of personalized health care, focusing on European HTA perspectives. Methods: Using the example of the Integrated Genome Research Network - Mutanom (IG Mutanom) project, with focus on personalized cancer diagnostics and treatment, we assess the scope of current HTA and examine it prospectively in the context of the translation of basic and clinical research into public health genomics and personalized health care. Results: The approaches developed within the IG-Mutanom project are based on innovative technology potentially providing targeted therapies for cancer; making translation into clinical practice requires a novel course of action, however. New models of HTA are needed that can account for the unique types of evidence inherent to individualized targeted therapies. Using constructive health technology assessment (CTA) models is an option, but further suitable models should be developed. Conclusions: Integrative, systems biology-based approaches toward personalized medicine call for novel assessment methods. The translation of their highly innovative technologies into the practice of health care requires the development of new HTA concepts. © 2011 Cambridge University Press

The impact of proposed regulatory changes and rescheduling on low-dose codeine purchasing in Canada: a time-series analysis

Background: Low-dose codeine products can be purchased without a prescription in most of Canada. We explored trends in the purchasing of these products across the Canadian provinces from 2014 to 2019, evaluating the impact of Health Canada’s 2016 announcement of a proposed regulatory change and the 2017 opening of a 60-day public comment period, as well as the impact of Manitoba’s 2016 policy change requiring a prescription for the purchase of all codeine products in that province. Methods: We evaluated population-adjusted monthly purchasing of codeine products from January 2014 to October 2019 using the IQVIA Canadian Drug Store and Hospital Purchases Audit database, stratified by province and over-the-counter (OTC) status. The primary outcomes were change in the monthly volume of low-dose codeine purchased after the 2016 federal regulatory proposal and the 2017 period of public comment across the provinces. Our secondary analysis was the impact of Manitoba’s policy change in February 2016 requiring a prescription for low-dose codeine. We conducted a time-series analysis using interventional autoregressive integrated moving average models. Results: Over the study period, 24 120 kg of codeine (3.025 billion units) and 937 867 kg of acetaminophen were sold as OTC, low-dose codeine products across the Canadian provinces. Health Canada’s 2016 announcement did not significantly affect OTC codeine purchasing (p = 0.57). The initiation of a 60-day public comment period was associated with a roughly 44% decrease in OTC codeine purchasing (p = 0.03). In Manitoba, purchasing of the same codeine formulations decreased after rescheduling in February 2016 (p < 0.001). We observed no significant change in the rate of purchasing of higher dose codeine formulations in response to scheduling changes in Manitoba (p = 0.22). Interpretation: Although Health Canada’s 2016 announcement of a proposed regulatory change did not appear to have an effect on OTC codeine purchasing nationally, the 60-day comment period was associated with a decrease in purchasing. Further, Manitoba’s 2016 policy change was associated with a significant and sustained decrease in the overall volume of codeine purchased. Given the potential risks of codeine dependence and acetaminophen toxicity with these products, a national rescheduling strategy should be considered

Understanding perceptions of involving community pharmacy within an integrated care model: a qualitative study

Abstract Background Over the past several years, there has been more emphasis on integration within health care. Community pharmacy is often under-represented within integrated care models. This study explored stakeholder perceptions and enablers of including community pharmacy within an integrated care model. Methods A qualitative study was undertaken. Participants were recruited through professional networks and social media, as well as snowball recruitment from other participants. They included community pharmacists, clinicians, and decision-makers working in Ontario, Canada. Data were collected using telephone interviews completed with a semi-structured interview guide based on Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research from June to September 2018. Data were analysed inductively and deductively following the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven. An additional theoretical framework (Rainbow Model of Integrated Care) was used to categorize enablers. Results Twenty-two participants were interviewed including nine pharmacists, seven clinicians, and six decision-makers. Three key themes were identified: 1) Positive value of including pharmacy in integrated care models; 2) One model does not fit all; and 3) Conflict of interest. Four key enablers were identified reflecting functional and normative factors: functional - 1) remuneration, 2) technology; normative - 3) engagement, and 4) relationships. While both functional and normative factors were discussed, the latter seemed to be more important to facilitate the inclusion of community pharmacy. Many participants characterized community pharmacists’ lack of skills or confidence to provide patient care. Conclusions This study confirms previously known views about concerns with community pharmacy’s conflict of interest. However, discordant perceptions of conflict of interest and negative perceptions about capabilities of community pharmacy need to be addressed for successful integration. Normative enablers, such as culture, are likely important for organizational integration and require additional inquiry

The Virtual IELab : an exercise in replicating part of the EXIOBASE V.2 production pipeline in a virtual laboratory

We explore options to replicate the EXIOBASE2 multi-region input– output (MRIO) database in the Virtual IELab cloud-computing laboratory environment. Whereas EXIOBASE2 is constructed using a multi-process reconciliation procedure, we present an alternative compilation technique that uses EXIOBASE2’s pre-processed data and final tables in reconciling the IELab MRIO with conflicting raw data information. This approach skips the labour-intensive step of detailing and harmonising country tables. Adherence metrics reveal the EXIOBASE2-based IELab table to be considerably less balanced than the original but with stronger adherence to other constraints data. However, these metrics are not comparable to the original EXIOBASE2 statistics due to the distinctive implementation of constraint sets in the two platforms. IELab’s main value-added is its flexibility in tailoring EXIOBASE2-based MRIOs beyond the original recipe. Finally, IELab’s global carbon, water and material footprints are shown to be comparable with previously reported resource footprints. In contrast, deviations in land footprints warrant further investigation