Twisted algebra R-matrices and S-matrices for bn(1)b_n^{(1)} affine Toda solitons and their bound states

We construct new $U_q(a^{(2)}_{2n-1})$ and $U_q(e^{(2)}_6)$ invariant $R$-matrices and comment on the general construction of $R$-matrices for twisted algebras. We use the former to construct $S$-matrices for $b^{(1)}_n$ affine Toda solitons and their bound states, identifying the lowest breathers with the $b^{(1)}_n$ particles.Comment: Latex, 24 pages. Various misprints corrected. New section added clarifying relationship between R-matrices and S-matrice

Channeling diverse innovation pressures to support European sustainability transitions

Innovation patterns and processes must be aligned, and harnessed and accelerated across multiple domains to address our climate objectives and wider sustainability challenges. In this Perspective, we draw from original case studies on specific technologies and their related innovation systems in agriculture, buildings, electricity, ICT, industry, and transport across Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom. Across these innovation systems, the Research Note discusses the technologies, infrastructure, actors, policies and institutions that may lead to, or prevent, successful and unsuccessful technology transitions. We synthesize this diverse evidence to offer five key findings on technology costs and configurations, diversity and multiplicity of actors, diversity of value systems, and countervailing pressures. These insights support the design of effective innovation and decarbonization policies to promote low-carbon transitions

Counting the Population in Need of International Protection Globally

Statistical data and evidence-based claims are increasingly central to our everyday lives. Critically examining ‘Big Data’, this book charts the recent explosion in sources of data, including those precipitated by global developments and technological change. It sets out changes and controversies related to data harvesting and construction, dissemination and data analytics by a range of private, governmental and social organisations in multiple settings. Analysing the power of data to shape political debate, the presentation of ideas to us by the media, and issues surrounding data ownership and access, the authors suggest how data can be used to uncover injustices and to advance social progress

Etude quantitative de quelques pigments de la Spiruline cultivée en Mauritanie en vue d’une valorisation nutritionnelle

La spiruline est une cyanobactérie comestible, extrêmement riche en protéine, en acides gras essentiels, en vitamines et en divers oligo- éléments. Elle est utilisée pour lutter contre la malnutrition infantile. Dans le but d'élucider les pigments constitutifs de la Spiruline cultivée en Mauritanie, des campagnes de prélèvements ont été effectuées. Cinquante un (51) échantillons de spiruline dont vingt huit (28) échantillons sous forme de spaghettis et Vingt trois (23) sous forme de poudre ont été prélevés d’Octobre à Décembre 2010. Les résultats de ces analyses ont montré que l’humidité qui caractérise la teneur en eau dans la spiruline varie de 5,1 à 9,6%, la teneur en cendre varie de 7,1 à 10,2%. La teneur en protéine est remarquablement élevée et varie de 51% à 87,5% par rapport au poids sec. La teneur en phycocyanines oscille entre 46% et 53%. Les valeurs des caroténoïdes varient de 5,43 mg/g à 8,93 mg/g. La spiruline peut être actuellement l'une des meilleures solutions pour la production simple d'un complément alimentaire de haute qualité.Mots clés: Spiruline, protéines, phycocyanines, caroténoïdes, Mauritani

Potential impact of large scale abstraction on the quality of shallow groundwater for irrigation in the Keta Strip, Ghana

The potential impact of large-scale groundwater abstraction on the shallow groundwater and crop production within the Keta Strip was examined. The assessment was based on geophysical data, data on groundwater quality, soils, irrigation water requirement and hydrogeology of the Strip. The results indicate that the shallow groundwater can support only medium to high salt tolerant crops. This is consistent with the medium salt tolerant crops especially shallot and onion currently grown in the area. Large-scale irrigation of the Strip will require at least 2 x 107 m3 of water during the dry season. Abstraction of such large volume of water from the shallow aquifer will result in the lowering of water table by approximately 1.0 m per year. The consequence of this will be the up coning of the fresh/saline water interface probably by as much as 4.7 m, resulting in salinisation of the fresh water lenses particularly around the lagoon end where most of the shallot farms are situated. Apart from up conning, salinisation may result from ingress of brackish/saline water from the lagoon and sea into the fresh water lenses. Though post irrigation rainfall will be adequate to nullify the water table depression, once the fresh water is contaminated, it is extremely difficult to decontaminate. Consequently, the shallow groundwater will evolve from medium through high to very high salinity hazard to crops. Specific ions toxicity will also increase due to increment in the concentrations of individual ions. Thus, the previously freshwater will become unsuitable for the production of even high salt tolerance crops. This will effectively halt the lucrative shallot and other vegetable farming in the Keta Strip and thus signify socio-economic disaster for the Keta Strip in particular and Ghana in general

Characterization and utilization of fermented cassava flour in breadmaking and placali preparation

Freshly harvested cassava roots from yace cultivar were collected in five regions of Ivory Coast and characterized. These roots were processed into fermented flour. The physicochemical characteristics of flours were evaluated following standard methods and, the ability to be valorised in placali preparation and breadmaking were assessed by sensory analysis of products obtained. Both roots and fermented flours were energizing foods. Moisture (6.09-10.49%), protein (1.12-1.57%), ash (0.87-1.39%), fat (0.20-0.51%), total sugars (1.43-1.80%) and cyanide contents (3.33-10.00 mg HCN/kg) of fermented flours were low, while starch (72.79-84.23%), total carbohydrate (93.67-96.45%) and energy (384.53-393.50 kcal/100 g) contents were high. Minerals like phosphorus (78.00-133.33 mg/100 g), calcium (52.66-142.92 mg/100 g), magnesium (27.77- 69.26 mg/100 g), iron (2.5-8.20 mg/100 g) and zinc (1.56-6.98 mg/100 g) were available. The sensory evaluation test indicated a significant difference (p<0.05) between the placali samples in terms of visual appearance, odour, taste, texture and overall appreciation. It is a clear indication that reconstitution proportion (flour to water ratio) affects all the hedonic appreciations assessed. Placali prepared from fermented cassava flour were appreciated when reconstitution proportion was within 1:3.5 and 1:3. Composite breads of 85% wheat and 15% cassava fermented flour were accepted by a sensory evaluation panellist. Fermented flour has been successfully used in breadmaking and placali preparation. It is a means of diversifying cassava utilization form.Keywords: Gelatinized food, yace cultivar, sensory evaluation, composite flour, bread

Understanding of BRCA VUS genetic results by breast cancer specialists.

BACKGROUND: Mainstreaming genetic medicine, increased media coverage and clinical trials for BRCA mutation carriers are leading oncologists into more patient discussions about BRCA genetic testing. BRCA variants of uncertain significance (VUS) occur in 10-20% of tests. VUS detection introduces additional uncertainty for patient and potentially clinician. We aimed to explore the ability of breast cancer specialists (BCS) in the UK to correctly respond to a VUS report. METHODS: A survey sent to 800 UK BCS collected demographics data, VUS general knowledge and interpretation and communication based on two genetics reports. A separate survey of UK clinical geneticists collected demographics data, laboratory reporting practice and methods used to clarify VUS pathogenicity including classification systems. RESULTS: Of the 155 BCS (22.5%) who completed the survey, 12% reported no genetics training. Ninety five percent referred patients for BRCA genetic tests, 71% felt unsure about the clinical implications of the test reports presented here. A VUS report from a patient with a positive family history was interpreted and theoretically communicated correctly by 94% but when presented with a different VUS report with no management guidance and negative family history, 39% did not know how to communicate this result to the patient. Geneticists reported multiple VUS classification systems; the most commonly used was word-based in 32%. CONCLUSIONS: A consistent and standardised format to report particularly VUS results across all diagnostic laboratories plus additional training of UK BCS will be necessary for effective mainstreaming of BRCA testing to the oncology clinic

Microplastics affect sedimentary microbial communities and nitrogen cycling

Microplastics are ubiquitous in estuarine, coastal, and deep sea sediments. The impacts of microplastics on sedimentary microbial ecosystems and biogeochemical carbon and nitrogen cycles, however, have not been well reported. To evaluate if microplastics influence the composition and function of sedimentary microbial communities, we conducted a microcosm experiment using salt marsh sediment amended with polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride(PVC), polyurethane foam (PUF) or polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics. We report that the presence of microplastics alters sediment microbial community composition and nitrogen cycling processes. Compared to control sediments without microplastic, PUF- and PLA-amended sediments promote nitrification and denitrification, while PVC amendment inhibits both processes. These results indicate that nitrogen cycling processes in sediments can be significantly affected by different microplastics, which may serve as organic carbon substrates for microbial communities. Considering this evidence and increasing microplastic pollution, the impact of plastics on global ecosystems and biogeochemical cycling merits critical investigation

Differential effects of bivalves on sediment nitrogen cycling in a shallow coastal bay

In coastal ecosystems, suspension-feeding bivalves can remove nitrogen though uptake and assimilation or enhanced denitrification. Bivalves may also retain nitrogen through increased mineralization and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). This study investigated the effects of oyster reefs and clam aquaculture on denitrification, DNRA, and nutrient fluxes (NOx, NH4 6 +, O2). Core incubations were conducted seasonally on sediments adjacent to restored oyster reefs (Crassostrea virginica), clam aquaculture beds (Mercenaria mercenaria) which contained live clams, and bare sediments from Smith Island Bay, Virginia, USA. Denitrification was significantly higher at oyster reef sediments and clam aquaculture site than bare sediment in the summer; however DNRA was not enhanced. The clam aquaculture site had the highest ammonium production due to clam excretion. While oyster reef and bare sediments exhibited seasonal differences in rate processes, there was no effect of season on denitrification, DNRA or ammonium flux at the clam aquaculture site. This suggests that farm management practices or bivalve metabolism and excretion may override seasonal differences. When water column nitrate concentration was elevated, denitrification increased in clam aquaculture site and oyster reef sediments but not in bare sediment; DNRA was only stimulated at the clam aquaculture site. This, along with a significant and positive relationship between denitrification and sediment organic matter, suggests that labile carbon limited nitrate reduction at the bare sediment site. Bivalve systems can serve as either net sinks or sources of nitrogen to coastal ecosystems, depending mainly on the type of bivalve, location and management practices

Noncommutative geometry and stochastic processes

The recent analysis on noncommutative geometry, showing quantization of the volume for the Riemannian manifold entering the geometry, can support a view of quantum mechanics as arising by a stochastic process on it. A class of stochastic processes can be devised, arising as fractional powers of an ordinary Wiener process, that reproduce in a proper way a stochastic process on a noncommutative geometry. These processes are characterized by producing complex values and so, the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation resembles the Schroedinger equation. Indeed, by a direct numerical check, one can recover the kernel of the Schroedinger equation starting by an ordinary Brownian motion. This class of stochastic processes needs a Clifford algebra to exist. In four dimensions, the full set of Dirac matrices is needed and the corresponding stochastic process in a noncommutative geometry is easily recovered as is the Dirac equation in the Klein-Gordon form being it the Fokker--Planck equation of the process.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures. Updated a reference. A version of this paper will appear in the proceedings of GSI2017, Geometric Science of Information, November 7th to 9th, Paris (France