The European framework for regulating telecommunications - a 25-year appraisal

The European telecommunications sector has been radically transformed in the past 25 years: from a group of state monopolies to a set of increasingly competitive markets. In this paper we summarize how this process has unfolded -- for both fixed and mobile telecommunications -- by focusing on the evolution of the regulatory framework and by drawing some parallels with the evolution of the sector in the US. Given the major strategic importance of the sector, we highlight some of the challenges that lie ahead

Autoradiographic Study of the Turnover of Chromatin-Associated Phospholipids in Vicia Faba L.

SUMMARYAutoradiographic data from labelling studies on the incorporation of [14C] ethanolamine into nuclear phospholipids of meristem cells from roots of Vicia faba indicated the presence of a continuous labelling pattern for the nuclear membrane throughout the cell cycle. In contrast, a periodic labelling pattern was observed in chromatin of interphase nuclei which closely paralleled the synthesis pattern for DNA. This corroborated biochemical data from previously published studies of hepatocyte nuclear membranes and chromatin

Call Me Caitlyn: Making and making over the 'authentic' transgender body in Anglo-American popular culture

A conception of transgender identity as an ‘authentic’ gendered core ‘trapped’ within a mismatched corporeality, and made tangible through corporeal transformations, has attained unprecedented legibility in contemporary Anglo-American media. Whilst pop-cultural articulations of this discourse have received some scholarly attention, the question of why this 'wrong body' paradigm has solidified as the normative explanation for gender transition within the popular media remains underexplored. This paper argues that this discourse has attained cultural pre-eminence through its convergence with a broader media and commercial zeitgeist, in which corporeal alteration and maintenance are perceived as means of accessing one’s ‘authentic’ self. I analyse the media representations of two transgender celebrities: Caitlyn Jenner and Nadia Almada, alongside the reality TV show TRANSform Me, exploring how these women’s gender transitions have been discursively aligned with a cultural imperative for all women, cisgender or trans, to display their authentic femininity through bodily work. This demonstrates how established tropes of authenticity-via-bodily transformation, have enabled transgender to become culturally legible through the wrong body trope. Problematically, I argue, this process has worked to demarcate ideals of ‘acceptable’ transgender subjectivity: self-sufficient, normatively feminine, and eager to embrace the possibilities for happiness and social integration provided by the commercial domain

The Mersey Estuary : sediment geochemistry

This report describes a study of the geochemistry of the Mersey estuary carried out between April 2000 and December 2002. The study was the first in a new programme of surveys of the geochemistry of major British estuaries aimed at enhancing our knowledge and understanding of the distribution of contaminants in estuarine sediments. The report first summarises the physical setting, historical development, geology, hydrography and bathymetry of the Mersey estuary and its catchment. Details of the sampling and analytical programmes are then given followed by a discussion of the sedimentology and geochemistry. The chemistry of the water column and suspended particulate matter have not been studied, the chief concern being with the geochemistry of the surface and near-surface sediments of the Mersey estuary and an examination of their likely sources and present state of contamination

Modelling Unsteady Processes with the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Technique

Over the past 40 years, the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) technique has been developed into a flexible and effective solver for flow problems in the rarefied to near continuum regime. However, even with modern parallelised code, the efficient computation of unsteady near-continuum flows, which are important in processes such as Pulsed Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition (PP-CVD), remains a challenge. We have developed an unsteady parallel DSMC code (PDSC) utilising advanced features such as transient adaptive sub-cells to ensure nearest neighbour collisions and a temporal-variable time step to reduce computation time. This technique is combined with a unique post-processor called the DMSC Rapid Ensemble Averaging Method (DREAM) which reduces the statistical scatter in the data sets produced by PDSC. The combined method results in a significant memory and computational reduction over ensemble averaging DSMC, while maintaining low statistical scatter in the results. The unsteady code has been validated by simulation of shock-tube flow and unsteady Couette flow, and a number of test cases have been demonstrated including shock impingement on wedges. The technique is currently being used to model the development of an underexpanded jet in a PP-CVD reactor

Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients and Potential Risk for Vincristine Side Effects with Concomitant Fluconazole

Background: Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) patients undergoing intensive treatment are considered at high risk for opportunistic infections. To prevent invasive fungal infection, some patients receive antifungal prophylaxis such as fluconazole. As a consequence, an increase in vincristine toxicity has been associated with the co-administration of antifungal prophylaxis. We analyzed whether the use of fluconazole prophylaxis impacts vincristine’s side effects during induction therapy. Method: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all pediatric (age 0-18 years) patients diagnosed with ALL at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska from July 2013-May 2021. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether or not they received fluconazole. Incidence of fungal infection, rate and grade of peripheral neuropathy, and prescription for gabapentin (treatment for peripheral neuropathy) were collected for both groups. Results: We had 157 ALL patients, of which 72 patients received fluconazole, and 85 patients did not receive fluconazole. There was no significant difference between fluconazole use and increased incidence of peripheral neuropathy (p value= 0.28) or incidence of hyponatremia (p value =Conclusion: We did not find a statistically significant difference that the use of concomitant fluconazole with vincristine increased the risk of peripheral neuropathy or hyponatremia.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/surp2021/1037/thumbnail.jp

Vincristine Side Effects with Concomitant Fluconazole Use during Induction Chemotherapy in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

As a mainstay of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), vincristine’s side effect profile is well known. Parallel administration of the antifungal fluconazole has been shown to interfere with the metabolism of vincristine, potentially resulting in increased side effects. We conducted a retrospective chart review to determine whether concomitant administration of vincristine and fluconazole during pediatric ALL therapy impacted side effects of vincristine, namely, hyponatremia and peripheral neuropathy. We also evaluated whether the incidence of opportunistic fungal infections was impacted by fluconazole prophylaxis. Medical charts of all pediatric ALL patients treated with induction chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, NE from 2013-2021 were retrospectively reviewed. We found no correlation between fluconazole use and increased incidence of peripheral neuropathy or hyponatremia. Additionally, the rate of fungal infections was not impacted by fluconazole prophylaxis. Empiric fungal prophylaxis with fluconazole during pediatric ALL induction, although safe, may not be necessary.https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/chri_forum/1039/thumbnail.jp

An anti-inflammatory diet as treatment for inflammatory bowel disease: a case series report

BACKGROUND: The Anti-Inflammatory Diet (IBD-AID) is a nutritional regimen for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that restricts the intake of certain carbohydrates, includes the ingestion of pre- and probiotic foods, and modifies dietary fatty acids to demonstrate the potential of an adjunct dietary therapy for the treatment of IBD. METHODS: Forty patients with IBD were consecutively offered the IBD-AID to help treat their disease, and were retrospectively reviewed. Medical records of 11 of those patients underwent further review to determine changes in the Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) or Modified Truelove and Witts Severity Index (MTLWSI), before and after the diet. RESULTS: Of the 40 patients with IBD, 13 patients chose not to attempt the diet (33%). Twenty-four patients had either a good or very good response after reaching compliance (60%), and 3 patients\u27 results were mixed (7%). Of those 11 adult patients who underwent further medical record review, 8 with CD, and 3 with UC, the age range was 19-70 years, and they followed the diet for 4 or more weeks. After following the IBD-AID, all (100%) patients were able to discontinue at least one of their prior IBD medications, and all patients had symptom reduction including bowel frequency. The mean baseline HBI was 11 (range 1-20), and the mean follow-up score was 1.5 (range 0-3). The mean baseline MTLWSI was 7 (range 6-8), and the mean follow-up score was 0. The average decrease in the HBI was 9.5 and the average decrease in the MTLWSI was 7. CONCLUSION: This case series indicates potential for the IBD-AID as an adjunct dietary therapy for the treatment of IBD. A randomized clinical trial is warranted

Critical state theory for nonparallel flux line lattices in type-II superconductors

Coarse-grained flux density profiles in type-II superconductors with non-parallel vortex configurations are obtained by a proposed phenomenological least action principle. We introduce a functional $C[H(x)]$, which is minimized under a constraint of the kind $J$ belongs to $Delta$ for the current density vector, where $Delta$ is a bounded set. This generalizes the concept of critical current density introduced by C. P. Bean for parallel vortex configurations. In particular, we choose the isotropic case ($Delta$ is a circle), for which the field penetration profiles $H(x,t)$ are derived when a changing external excitation is applied. Faraday's law, and the principle of minimum entropy production rate for stationary thermodynamic processes dictate the evolution of the system. Calculations based on the model can reproduce the physical phenomena of flux transport and consumption, and the striking effect of magnetization collapse in crossed field measurements.Comment: The compiled TeX document length is 10 pages. Two figures (one page each) are also included The paper is accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let