24 research outputs found

    Interaction of consumer preferences and climate policies in the global transition to low-carbon vehicles

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    Burgeoning demands for mobility and private vehicle ownership undermine global efforts to reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Advanced vehicles powered by low-carbon sources of electricity or hydrogen offer an alternative to conventional fossil-fuelled technologies. Yet, despite ambitious pledges and investments by governments and automakers, it is by no means clear that these vehicles will ultimately reach mass-market consumers. Here, we develop state-of-the-art representations of consumer preferences in multiple, global energy- economy models, specifically focusing on the non-financial preferences of individuals. We employ these enhanced model formulations to analyse the potential for a low-carbon vehicle revolution up to mid-century. Our analysis shows that a diverse set of measures targeting vehicle buyers is necessary for driving widespread adoption of clean technologies. Carbon pricing alone is insufficient for bringing low-carbon vehicles to mass market, though it can certainly play a supporting role in ensuring a decarbonised energy supply

    Effect of outer water phase composition on oil droplet size and yield of (w<sub>1</sub>/o/w<sub>2</sub>) double emulsions

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    In this study the effect of various emulsifiers (whey protein isolate (WPI), Na-caseinate, and Tween 20) and thickeners (xanthan and pectin) present in the outer water phase, w2, on oil droplet size and yield of the inner water phase, w1, of (w1/o/w2) double emulsions was investigated. Double emulsions stabilized by Tween 20 had smaller oil droplet sizes and higher yields in comparison to emulsions stabilized by WPI and Na-caseinate. Gelation of the inner water droplets w1 increased yield by 20% for all emulsifiers. Upon the addition of thickeners, the increasing viscosity of the outer water phase, w2, facilitated oil droplet breakup. This resulted in smaller oil droplets and lower yields. When pectin was used as a thickener, in comparison to xanthan, an additional decrease in yield was observed. The yield decreased to values close to zero indicating that all inner water droplets w1 were lost during emulsification. We conclude that type of hydrophilic emulsifier, properties of inner water droplets, viscosity ratio of continuous and dispersed phase, as well as type of thickener influence oil droplet size and yield of w1 phase of double emulsions. This work provides a better understanding of how composition influences the properties of double emulsions and how this can be used to design double emulsions as fat replacers in more complex food systems

    S(+)-Ketamine analgesic drug dose

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    Perioperative Medicine: Efficacy, Safety and Outcom

    Ketamine for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain

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    Importance of the field: Worldwide the number of patients affected by chronic pain is growing and conventional treatment is often insufficient. Recently the importance of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) in the mechanisms and maintenance of chronic pain was established. Ketamine (introduced in the 1960s as an anesthetic) is the most studied NMDAR antagonist in the treatment of various chronic pain syndromes. Areas covered in this review: The pharmacology, safety and toxicology of ketamine are discussed. Further, electronic databases were scanned for prospective, randomized controlled trials that assessed ketamine's analgesic effect in patients with chronic pain. The focus of this review is on trials published after 2008 that applied long-term intravenous infusions. What the reader will gain: While most studies on intravenous ketamine show acute analgesic effects, three recent trials on long-term ketamine treatment (days to weeks) demonstrate the effectiveness of ketamine in causing long-term (months) relief of chronic pain. Despite these positive results, further studies are needed on safety/toxicity issues. Other administration modes are less effective in causing long-term pain relief. Take home message: There is now evidence form a limited number of studies that pain relief lasting for months is observed after long-term intravenous ketamine infusion, suggesting a modulatory effect of ketamine in the process of chronic pain, possibly via blockade of upregulated NMDAR.Perioperative Medicine: Efficacy, Safety and Outcom

    An observational study on the effect of S(+)-ketamine on chronic pain versus experimental acute pain in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type 1 patients

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    Aims: The aim of the study was to explore the analgesic effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist ketamine in acute experimental versus chronic spontaneous pain in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1) patients. Methods: Ten patients suffering from chronic CRPS-1 and with a Visual Analogue pain Score (VAS) of >5 were recruited. Seven intravenous 5-min low-dose S(+)-ketamine infusions with increasing doses at 20-min intervals were applied. Spontaneous pain ratings and VAS responses to experimental heat stimuli were obtained during infusion and for 3-h following infusion. Results: CRPS pain: Ketamine produced potent analgesia with a significant VAS reduction from 6.2 +/- 0.2 to 0.4 +/- 0.3 cm at the end of infusion. Analgesia persisted beyond the infusion period (VAS = 2.8 +/- 1.0 cm at 5-h), when measured plasma ketamine concentrations were low (< 100 ng/ml). Experimental pain: Ketamine had a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect on experimental pain that ended immediately upon the termination of infusion. Discussion: The data indicate that while ketamine's effect on acute experimental pain is driven by pharmacokinetics, its effect on CRPS pain persisted beyond the infusion period when drug concentrations were below the analgesia threshold for acute pain. This indicates a disease modulatory role for ketamine in CRPS-1 pain, possibly via desensitization of NMDAR in the spinal cord or restoration of inhibitory sensory control in the brain. (C) 2009 European Federation of International Association for the Study of Pain Chapters. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Perioperative Medicine: Efficacy, Safety and Outcom
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