Transeuropäische Netze: Staatliche Planung im österreichischen Starkstromwegerecht

 Mit der VO „Leitlinien für die transeuropäische Energieinfrastruktur“ legt die Europäische Union eine Ebene staatlicher Planung über das österreichische Starkstromwegerecht, die durch Auswahl und Priorisierung bestimmter Netzausbauprojekte vor allem auf die Beschleunigung diesbezüglicher Genehmigungsverfahren abzielt. Da das die VO konkretisierende Energie-Infrastrukturgesetz jedoch nur so viel als nötig in das bestehende Genehmigungsregime eingreift, bleibt abzuwarten, ob die angestrebte Verfahrensbeschleunigung in Österreich eintreten wird. Aus planungsrechtlicher Sicht bemerkenswert ist aber jedenfalls die mit dem Gesetz erfolgte Einführung eines Trassensicherungsinstruments, das Behinderungen des transeuropäischen Energieleitungsbaus wirksam mindern kann. With the Regulation "Guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure", the European Union sets a level of governmental planning of the Austrian legislation on power supply lines. By identification and prioritisation of certain projects the regulation aims at the acceleration of network expansions in Europe. Since the Austrian “Energie-Infrastrukturgesetz”, which concretises the Regulation, intervenes only as much as necessary in the existing system of approval, it remains to be seen whether the targeted acceleration will occur in Austria. Noteworthy from the perspective of planning law is the implementation of an instrument, which protects the required areas against obstructions

Megalobulimus dryades, a new species from the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil, and redescription of Megalobulimus gummatus (Gastropoda: Strophocheilidae)

Megalobulimus dryades sp. nov. is described from the Atlantic Forest in the Vale do Ribeira region, in the states of Paraná and São Paulo, S-SE Brazil, based on morphology. Representatives of the new species with white peristome and glossy periostracum have been misidentified as Megalobulimus gummatus (Hidalgo, 1870) since the 19th Century. The true M. gummatus is revised and redescribed, and its distribution is here restricted to Rio de Janeiro state. Externally, the new species differs from M. gummatus in having distinct protoconch color and sculpture, teleoconch sculpture marked by strong anastomosing rugosities and malleations, and lighter colored white-greyish head-foot. Internally, it presents distinct jaw and radular features, a talon, and a long convoluted penis bearing two flagella. Additional comparisons with other Brazilian congeneric species are also provided

Edifici interdepartamental al Campus de la UIB

Primer premiAward-winningPostprint (published version

Cavovarus deformity in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: is there a hindfoot equinus deformity that needs treatment?

Background: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), one of the most common hereditary neurologic disorders, often results in debilitating cavovarus foot deformities. The deformities are still not fully understood, and the treatment recommendations are consequently heterogeneous, often including calf muscle or Achilles tendon lengthening. Methods: We examined 40 patients (80 feet) with CMT and bilateral cavovarus deformities (19 men and 21 women, mean age 33.6 ± 14.6 years) and the feet of a healthy control population of 13 individuals (7 men and 6 women, mean age 43.9 ± 10.8 years). In all cases 3D instrumented gait analysis results with both conventional Plug-in-Gait analysis and the Heidelberg Foot Measurement Method (HFMM) were used to determine the sagittal plane kinematics, dorsi-plantar flexion (DPF), tibio-talar dorsiflexion (TTDF), and medial arch angle (MAA), and the results of patients and the control group were compared using the 2 methods. Decreased and increased dorsiflexion using TTDF was defined as 1 standard deviation below or above the mean of the control. Comparisons were done using descriptive statistics, the Pearson correlation coefficient and ANOVA. Results: The TTDF was found to be decreased in 18 of the 80 feet examined (22.5 %), normal in 31 feet (38.75 %), and increased in 31 feet (38.75 %). The Pearson coefficient showed a positive correlation with R = 0.765, p < 0.001 between decreased TTDF values found by HFMM and decreased DPF values found with conventional Plug-in-Gait analysis, but a very weak correlation in patients with normal TTDF (R = -0.118) and increased TTDF (R = 0.078). Also, in patients with decreased TTDF values, there was a weak to moderate correlation with the MAA (R = 0.335), but no correlation between the MAA and DPF (R = 0.023). Conclusions: The HFMM, unlike the conventional Plug-in-Gait analysis, distinguishes between the segments of the foot in foot deformities and facilitates evaluation of the hindfoot equinus component in patients with CMT and cavovarus deformity. Although there is a significant correlation between decreased TTDF with HFMM and decreased DPF with conventional Plug-in-Gait analysis, this correlation was not seen in patients with normal or increased TTDF values. Conventional Plug-in-Gait analysis alone does not indicate if an increased plantar flexion deformity is the result of either a cavus deformity or hindfoot equinus deformity, which limits its usefulness in assisting in treatment decision making

Reconversió de l’antiga central tèrmica d’Alcúdia en museu

Tercer premiAward-winningPostprint (published version

Construcció de l'ampliació de l'ETSEIB

Sense premiPostprint (published version

Development and construction of an unmanned aerial vehicle for wildfire management

Los incendios forestales en Patagonia son el factor principal de pérdida de superficies boscosas. Es fundamental optimizar y mejorar el actual sistema de manejo del fuego desde su prevención, sistemas de alerta temprana, y el combate propiamente dicho. En este marco, el Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), en un entorno público privado, desarrolló un vehículo aéreo no tripulado, denominado Fénix 3d, como herramienta complementaria dentro del sistema de manejo del fuego.Forest fires in Patagonia are the main factor of loss of forest areas. It is essential to optimize and improve the current system of fire management from prevention, early warning systems, combat itself. In this framework the Patagonian Andes Research and Extension Center (CIEFAP), in a private and public environment, developed an unmanned aerial vehicle, called Fénix 3d, as complementary tool within a fire management system.Fil: Lencinas, José Daniel. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Parodi, Ezequiel. Life Style Media; ArgentinaFil: Van Den Heede, Brigitte Clara. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Heitzmann, Luciana. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentin

The K+ Channel Opener 1-EBIO Potentiates Residual Function of Mutant CFTR in Rectal Biopsies from Cystic Fibrosis Patients

BACKGROUND: The identification of strategies to improve mutant CFTR function remains a key priority in the development of new treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF). Previous studies demonstrated that the K⁺ channel opener 1-ethyl-2-benzimidazolone (1-EBIO) potentiates CFTR-mediated Cl⁻ secretion in cultured cells and mouse colon. However, the effects of 1-EBIO on wild-type and mutant CFTR function in native human colonic tissues remain unknown. METHODS: We studied the effects of 1-EBIO on CFTR-mediated Cl⁻ secretion in rectal biopsies from 47 CF patients carrying a wide spectrum of CFTR mutations and 57 age-matched controls. Rectal tissues were mounted in perfused micro-Ussing chambers and the effects of 1-EBIO were compared in control tissues, CF tissues expressing residual CFTR function and CF tissues with no detectable Cl⁻ secretion. RESULTS: Studies in control tissues demonstrate that 1-EBIO activated CFTR-mediated Cl⁻ secretion in the absence of cAMP-mediated stimulation and potentiated cAMP-induced Cl⁻ secretion by 39.2±6.7% (P<0.001) via activation of basolateral Ca²⁺-activated and clotrimazole-sensitive KCNN4 K⁺ channels. In CF specimens, 1-EBIO potentiated cAMP-induced Cl⁻ secretion in tissues with residual CFTR function by 44.4±11.5% (P<0.001), but had no effect on tissues lacking CFTR-mediated Cl⁻ conductance. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 1-EBIO potentiates Cl⁻secretion in native CF tissues expressing CFTR mutants with residual Cl⁻ channel function by activation of basolateral KCNN4 K⁺ channels that increase the driving force for luminal Cl⁻ exit. This mechanism may augment effects of CFTR correctors and potentiators that increase the number and/or activity of mutant CFTR channels at the cell surface and suggests KCNN4 as a therapeutic target for CF