Transmission Capacity as a Common-Pool Resource: The Case of Gas Interconnector Capacity

We investigated the very real problem of congestion at gas interconnectors. Instead of suggesting further incremental change to the European regulation in force to remedy congestion problems, we took a step back and consider gas interconnectors as a Common-Pool Resource (CPR). We suggest to wait and see what institutions the shippers let emerge to govern and manage interconnector capacity. To explore this idea, we developed a model to simulate the possible emergence of institutions that would coordinate the shippers and help overcome congestion. We simulate 40 shippers at the Dutch and Belgian interconnectors and allow them to autonomously book capacity. Agents can learn over time to improve their behaviour and coordinate with each other to collectively define a new institution in the system. The main simulator indicators are the observed booking behaviour, agent profits and emerging institutions. We present and discuss preliminary results from a set of simulation runs

Sociaal draagvlak : verslag van de uitwerking van 'sociaal draagvlak' voor het pilot project Referentiekader Gezondheidsbevordering

Sociaal draagvlak is uitgewerkt aan de hand van de begrippen participatie en samenwerken. Immers, door participatie en door samenwerking ontstaat sociaal draagvlak. Dit is een belangrijke reden dat in zogeheten community-based programma’s op het terrein van gezondheidsbevordering zowel participatie als samenwerken als essentiële elementen opgenomen worden. In verschillende stappen komen aan bod: het definiëren en operationaliseren van sociaal draagvlak, het in kaart brengen van de werkwijzen en meetinstrumenten om sociaal draagvlak te meten en te evalueren, het (verder) ontwikkelen van een aantal meetinstrumenten en het toetsen van deze meetinstrumenten in de praktijk

MUC5B levels in submandibular gland saliva of patients treated with radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer: A pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The salivary mucin MUC5B, present in (sero)mucous secretions including submandibular gland (SMG) saliva, plays an important role in the lubrication of the oral mucosa and is thought to be related to the feeling of dry mouth. We investigated if MUC5B levels in SMG saliva could distinguish between the presence or absence of severe dry mouth complaints 12 months after radiotherapy (RT) for head-and-neck cancer (HNC).</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Twenty-nine HNC patients with a residual stimulated SMG secretion rate of ≥0.2 ml/10 min at 12 months after RT were analyzed. MUC5B (in U; normalized to 1) and total protein levels (mg/ml) were measured in SMG saliva at baseline and 12 months after RT using ELISA and BCA protein assay, respectively. Overall, median MUC5B levels decreased after RT from 0.12 to 0.03 U (<it>p</it> = 0.47). Patients were dichotomized into none/mild xerostomia (n = 12) and severe xerostomia (n = 17) based on a questionnaire completed at 12 months. SMG and whole saliva flow rates decreased after RT but were comparable in both groups. The median MUC5B level was higher in patients with no or mild xerostomia compared to patients with severe xerostomia (0.14 vs 0.01 U, <it>p</it> = 0.22). Half of the patients with severe xerostomia had no detectable MUC5B at 12 months after RT. No differences in total protein levels were observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Qualitative saliva parameters like MUC5B need further investigation in RT-induced xerostomia. This pilot study showed a trend towards lower MUC5B levels in the SMG saliva of patients with severe xerostomia 12 months after RT for HNC.</p

Reaching thermal noise at ultra-low radio frequencies: the Toothbrush radio relic downstream of the shock front

Ultra-low frequency observations (<100 MHz) are particularly challenging because they are usually performed in a low signal-to-noise ratio regime due to the high sky temperature and because of ionospheric disturbances whose effects are inversely proportional to the observing frequency. Nonetheless, these observations are crucial to study the emission from low-energy populations of cosmic rays. We aim to obtain the first thermal-noise limited (~ 1.5 mJy/beam) deep continuum radio map using the LOFAR Low Band Antenna (LBA) system. Our demonstration observation targeted the galaxy cluster RX J0603.3+4214 (the "Toothbrush" cluster). We used the resulting ultra-low frequency (58 MHz) image to study cosmic-ray acceleration and evolution in the post shock region, as well as their relation with the presence of a radio halo. We describe the data reduction we have used to calibrate LOFAR LBA observations. The resulting image is combined with observations at higher frequencies (LOFAR 150 MHz and VLA 1500 MHz) to extract spectral information. We obtained the first thermal-noise limited image from an observation carried out with the LOFAR LBA system using all Dutch stations at a central frequency of 58 MHz. With 8 hours of data, we reached an rms noise of 1.3 mJy/beam at a resolution of 18" x 11". The procedure we have developed is an important step forward towards routine high-fidelity imaging with the LOFAR LBA. The analysis of the radio spectra shows that the radio relic extends to distances of 800 kpc downstream from the shock front, larger than what allowed by electron cooling time. Furthermore, the shock wave started accelerating electrons already at a projected distance of <300 kpc from the crossing point of the two clusters. These results can be explained if electrons are reaccelerated downstream by background turbulence possibly combined with projection effects.Comment: 15 pages, 19 figures, accepted A&