Arguing Art: Evaluation of the Viability Argument in the Political Debate on Cutting the Subsidies for the Production of Art in Dutch Society

One of the arguments used by the Dutch government to support the cuts in the subsidies for the production of art is that of economic viability. In the political discourse faulty arguments are masked by the use of arbitrary language and incomplete statements, but through the restructuring of the Viability Argument with the method of Political Discourse Evaluation, several flaws have become apparent, of which the most severe one is that the value of art is equated with its economic viability. Art has many external, immaterial benefits that help shape the social and political aspects of a society; economic viability, on the other hand, only measures the intrinsic costs and benefits of art. The real value of art, which goes far beyond an economic cost-benefit analysis, is neglected by the Dutch government in its decision to cut the subsidies.  

A study on the reaction between CO2 and alkanolamines in aqueous solutions

Literature data on the rates of reaction between CO2 and alkanolamines (MEA, DEA, DIPA, TEA and MDEA) in aqueous solution are discussed. These data induced us to carry out absorption experiments of CO2 into aqueous DEA, DIPA, TEA and MDEA solutions from which the respective rate constants\ud \ud The results for DEA and DIPA were analysed by means of a zwitterion-mechanism which was derived from the mechanism originally proposed by Danckwerts [1\ud \ud The reaction rate of CO2 with aqueous TEA and MDEA solutions shows a significant base catalysis effect which is also reported by Donaldson and Ngu

Absorber design in sour natural gas treatment plants: Impact of process variables on operation and economics = Absorberentwurf für Anlagen zur Behandlung von sauren Erdgasen: Einfluss Prozessparameter auf Betriebsführung und Prozesswirtschaftlichkeit

Two models of absorber have been developed which describe the absorption of H2S and CO2 from natural gases by aqueous di-isopropanolamine (DIPA) or methyl-di-ethanolamine (MDEA) solutions. In these models mass transfer, reaction and equilibrium processes as they prevail in conventional tray absorbers and in cascades of trickle bed reactors are incorporated. Owing to the better mass transfer characteristics of the latter type of absorber, i.e. the larger ratio between the gas phase and liquid phase mass transfer coefficients, kg/kℓ, higher selectivities for the absorption of H2S from sour natural gases are realized.\ud \ud The influence of variation of a number of operation and design parameters on tray absorber performance, H2S selectivity and solvent flowrate is demonstrated.\ud \ud The economics of the above type of absorbers together with a solvent regenerator, sulfur recovery unit and tail-gas unit are explained in detail. From the point of view of the economics trickle bed absorbers are very attractive owing to lower investment costs and higher selectivities, which result in lower operating costs than for tray absorbers under identical conditions

Simultaneous mass transfer of H2S and CO2 with complex chemical reactions in an aqueous di-isopropanolamine solution = Gleichzeitige absorption von H2S und CO2 in Wässriger Di-isopropanolaminlösung \ud

The absorption of H2S and CO2 into an aqueous di-isopropanolamine (DIPA) solution was studied experimentally and theoretically as an example of simultaneous mass transfer with complex reversible reactions.\ud \ud The absorption phenomena were classified into three regimes: (1) negligible mutual interaction between the CO2 and H2S absorption, (2) intermediate interaction, and (3) extreme interaction leading to forced desorption of one of the gaseous components, while based on its overall driving force absorption would be expected. The key parameter largely determining the transitions between these regimes is the extent of depletion of the alkanolamine in the penetration zone.\ud \ud In order to study these phenomena, simultaneous absorption experiments were carried out in each of the three regimes mentioned above using a stirred cell reactor and for some experiments a wetted wall column.\ud \ud The experimental results were evaluated by means of a numerical solution of the penetration model description of simultaneous mass transfer with complex reactions (Cornelisse et al., Chem. Eng. Sci., 35 (1980) 1245). Recently we derived a numerical film theory description, which has also been incorporated in the evaluation. The measured hydrogen sulphide fluxes fall between film and penetration theory calculations, whereas the CO2 fluxes are closer to the film theory

Plasma Ghrelin Levels Are Associated with Anorexia but Not Cachexia in Patients with NSCLC

Background and Aims: The ghrelin receptor is one of the new therapeutic targets in the cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Previous studies revealed that plasma ghrelin levels were high in patients with anorexia nervosa and low in obese subjects. We studied to what extent ghrelin levels are related with anorexia and cachexia in patients with cancer. Materials and Methods: Fasted ghrelin levels were determined as well as anorexia and cachexia in patients with stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer before chemotherapy. Total plasma ghrelin was measured by radioimmunoassay. Anorexia was measured with the FAACT-A/CS questionnaire (cut-off value ≤ 37). Cachexia was determined as > 5% weight loss (WL) in 6 months or > 2% WL in 6 months in combination with low BMI or low muscle mass. The Kruskal-Wallis test was performed to assess differences in plasma ghrelin levels between four groups: patients with (+) or without (-) anorexia (A) or cachexia (C). Multiple regression analyses were performed to assess differences in plasma ghrelin levels between patients C+ and C- and patients with A+ and A- (adjusted for age and sex). Results: Forty patients with stage III (33%) or stage IV (68%) were recruited, of which 50% was male. Mean age was 59.6 ± 10.3 years. Sixteen patients had no anorexia or cachexia (A-C-), seven patients had both anorexia and cachexia (A+C+), ten patients had anorexia without cachexia (A+C-) and seven patients had cachexia without anorexia (A-C+). The levels of total plasma ghrelin were significantly different between the four groups of patients with or without anorexia or cachexia (p = 0.032): the A+C- patients had significantly higher ghrelin levels [median (IQR): 1,754 (1,404-2,142) compared to the A-C+ patients 1,026 (952-1,357), p = 0.003]. A+ patients had significantly higher ghrelin levels compared A- patients (C+ and C- combined, β: 304, p = 0.020). Plasma ghrelin levels were not significantly different in C+ patients compared to C- patients (A+ and A- combined, β: -99, p = 0.450). Conclusions: Patients with anorexia had significantly higher ghrelin levels compared to patients without anorexia. We therefore hypothesize that patients with cancer anorexia might benefit from treatment with a ghrelin receptor agonist to prevent WL and deterioration in physical functioning

Higher Muscle Strength Is Associated with Prolonged Survival in Older Patients with Advanced Cancer

BACKGROUND: Identifying predictors of treatment toxicity and overall survival (OS) is important for selecting patients who will benefit from chemotherapy. In younger patients with cancer, muscle mass and radiodensity are associated with treatment toxicity and OS. In this study, we investigated whether muscle mass, radiodensity, and strength were associated with treatment toxicity and OS in patients with advanced cancer aged 60 years or older. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Before starting palliative chemotherapy, muscle mass and radiodensity were assessed using computed tomography scans and muscle strength was assessed using a hydraulic hand grip dynamometer. Treatment toxicity was defined as any toxicity resulting in dose reduction and/or discontinuation of treatment. Multiple logistic and Cox regression analyses were performed to study potential associations of muscle mass, radiodensity, and strength with treatment toxicity and OS, respectively. RESULTS: The participants were 103 patients, with a mean age of 70 years, with advanced colorectal, prostate, or breast cancer. Muscle parameters were not significantly associated with treatment toxicity. Higher muscle strength was associated with longer OS (hazard ratio 1.03; 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.05). Muscle mass and radiodensity were not significantly associated with OS. CONCLUSION: Higher muscle strength at the start of palliative chemotherapy is associated with significantly better OS in older patients with advanced cancer. None of the investigated muscle parameters were related to treatment toxicity. Future studies are needed to evaluate whether muscle strength can be used for treatment decisions in older patients with advanced cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study in older patients with advanced cancer showed that adequate muscle strength is associated with longer overall survival. The results of this study imply that muscle strength might be helpful in estimating survival and therefore in identifying older patients who will benefit from anticancer treatment

Dissociation constants and thermodynamic properties of amino acids used in CO2 absorption from (293 to 353) K

The second dissociation constants of the amino acids βalanine, taurine, sarcosine, 6-aminohexanoic acid, DL-methionine, glycine, L-phenylalanine, and L-proline and the third dissociation constants of L-glutamic acid and L-aspartic acid have been determined from electromotive force measurements at temperatures from (293 to 353) K. Experimental results are reported and compared to literature values. Values of the standard state thermodynamic properties are derived from the experimental results and compared to the values of commercially available amines used as absorbents for CO 2 capture.