Sustainability, Globalization, and the Energy Sector Europe in a Global Perspective

International audienceThis paper analyzes the socio-economic effects of energy sustainability challenges raised by oil depletion and climate change at the European and global level. We assess macroeconomic impacts at different time horizons over 2010-2100 and under different visions of the future of globalization . Fragmented capital markets affect the pace and direction of change and induce additional economic losses in the long term. Regionalized good markets have a positive effect in the long term since less intense international trade moderates the effects of fossil fuel constraints. A sustainable energy future will require implementing policies and measures that are able to (i) provide correct incentives for long-term investments by resorting to other signals than current market prices, (ii) incorporate sectoral measures that act complementarily to pricing schemes measures for sectors confronted with biased agents’ behaviors or strong inertias, (iii) foster globalization patterns that are consistent with energy sustainability objectives. The challenge consists in articulating the objectives and the instruments of these different policy and measures triggering the transition towards sustainable future

Density fluctuations and the structure of a nonuniform hard sphere fluid

We derive an exact equation for density changes induced by a general external field that corrects the hydrostatic approximation where the local value of the field is adsorbed into a modified chemical potential. Using linear response theory to relate density changes self-consistently in different regions of space, we arrive at an integral equation for a hard sphere fluid that is exact in the limit of a slowly varying field or at low density and reduces to the accurate Percus-Yevick equation for a hard core field. This and related equations give accurate results for a wide variety of fields

Gel transitions in colloidal suspensions

The idealized mode coupling theory (MCT) is applied to colloidal systems interacting via short-range attractive interactions of Yukawa form. At low temperatures MCT predicts a slowing down of the local dynamics and ergodicity breaking transitions. The nonergodicity transitions share many features with the colloidal gel transition, and are proposed to be the source of gelation in colloidal systems. Previous calculations of the phase diagram are complemented with additional data for shorter ranges of the attractive interaction, showing that the path of the nonergodicity transition line is then unimpeded by the gas-liquid critical curve at low temperatures. Particular attention is given to the critical nonergodicity parameters, motivated by recent experimental measurements. An asymptotic model is developed, valid for dilute systems of spheres interacting via strong short-range attractions, and is shown to capture all aspects of the low temperature MCT nonergodicity transitions.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, 5 eps figures, uses ioplppt.sty, to appear in J. Phys.: Condens. Matte

Genotoxic agents promote the nuclear accumulation of annexin A2: role of annexin A2 in mitigating DNA damage

Annexin A2 is an abundant cellular protein that is mainly localized in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane, however a small population has been found in the nucleus, suggesting a nuclear function for the protein. Annexin A2 possesses a nuclear export sequence (NES) and inhibition of the NES is sufficient to cause nuclear accumulation. Here we show that annexin A2 accumulates in the nucleus in response to genotoxic agents including gamma-radiation, UV radiation, etoposide and chromium VI and that this event is mediated by the nuclear export sequence of annexin A2. Nuclear accumulation of annexin A2 is blocked by the antioxidant agent N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and stimulated by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), suggesting that this is a reactive oxygen species dependent event. In response to genotoxic agents, cells depleted of annexin A2 show enhanced phospho-histone H2AX and p53 levels, increased numbers of p53-binding protein 1 nuclear foci and increased levels of nuclear 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanine, suggesting that annexin A2 plays a role in protecting DNA from damage. This is the first report showing the nuclear translocation of annexin A2 in response to genotoxic agents and its role in mitigating DNA damage.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); European Union [PCOFUND-GA-2009-246542]; Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal; Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute; Terry Fox Foundationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Paradoxical interactions among estrogen receptors,

Abstract The phenomenon of mutual annihilation of action between 17b estradiol (E 2 ) and a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), previously described in prepubertal rat diaphysis, epiphysis and uterus, has been investigated in ROS 17/2.8 rat osteoblastic cells and in transiently co-transfected cells in culture. In ROS 17/2.8 cells, the estrogen-induced marker enzyme creatine kinase B (CKB) was stimulated by raloxifene, tamoxifen and tamoxifen methiodide to a specific activity equal to or greater than that induced by 10 nM E 2 . However, when a fully inhibitory dose of any of these SERMS was given simultaneously with E 2 , no stimulation of CK activity resulted. Therefore, SERMS can be full agonists when acting alone, but complete antagonists to a super-physiological dose of estrogen. It is expected that excess tamoxifen would prevent the action of a SERM, but that the agonist activity of a SERM is abolished by 1000-fold less estrogen is a phenomenon without obvious explanation by classical pharmacology of competitive inhibition. To probe the mechanism of this interaction further, a ckb-CAT reporter plasmid, plus the human receptor expression plasmid, HEO, was transfected transiently into several cell types. In MCF-7 cells, a 1:10 ratio of E 2 to tamoxifen produced mutual annihilation, but the same ratio in ROS 17/2.8 or HeLa cells led to synergistic stimulation. In HeLa cells, co-transfected with the more efficient wild-type estrogen receptor plasmid, HEGO, synergy was demonstrated only at sub-saturation levels of HEGO. We speculate that, in the presence of estradiol and a SERM, not only active homodimers would be formed, but also hetero-dimers of estrogen-liganded and tamoxifen-liganded receptor monomers, depending on the molar ratio of their ligands and their relative affinities. The resulting hetero-dimer conformation would change the specific receptor surface for interactions with the growing number of co-activators and co-repressors, structural changes which could help to explain the mutual annihilation and synergy phenomena and their cell selectivity

Cauda equina entrapment in a pseudomeningocele after lumbar Schwannoma extirpation

Incidental or intentional durotomy causing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, leading to the formation of a pseudomeningocele is a known complication in spinal surgery. Herniation of nerve roots into such a pseudomeningocele is very rare, but can occur up to years after initial durotomy and has been described to cause permanent neurologic deficit. However, cauda equina fiber herniation and entrapment into a pseudomeningocele has not been reported before. Here, we present a case of symptomatic transdural cauda equina herniation and incarceration into a pseudomeningocele, 3 months after extirpation of a lumbar Schwannoma. A 59-year-old man, who previously underwent intradural Schwannoma extirpation presented 3 months after surgery with back pain, sciatica and loss of bladder filling sensation caused by cauda equina fiber entrapment into a defect in the wall of a pseudomeningocele, diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging. On re-operation, the pseudomeningocele was resected and the herniated and entrapped cauda fibers were released and replaced intradurally. The dura defect was closed and the patient recovered completely. In conclusion, CSF leakage can cause neurological deficit up to years after durotomy by transdural nerve root herniation and subsequent entrapment. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of this potentially devastating complication. The present case also underlines the importance of meticulous dura closure in spinal surgery

Theory and simulation of short-range models of globular protein solutions

We report theoretical and simulation studies of phase coexistence in model globular protein solutions, based on short-range, central, pair potential representations of the interaction among macro-particles. After reviewing our previous investigations of hard-core Yukawa and generalised Lennard-Jones potentials, we report more recent results obtained within a DLVO-like description of lysozyme solutions in water and added salt. We show that a one-parameter fit of this model based on Static Light Scattering and Self-Interaction Chromatography data in the dilute protein regime, yields demixing and crystallization curves in good agreement with experimental protein-rich/protein-poor and solubility envelopes. The dependence of cloud and solubility points temperature of the model on the ionic strength is also investigated. Our findings highlight the minimal assumptions on the properties of the microscopic interaction sufficient for a satisfactory reproduction of the phase diagram topology of globular protein solutions.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures, Proc. of Conference "Structural Arrest Transitions in Colloidal Systems with Short-Range Attractions", Messina (ITALY) 17-20 December 200