The influence of classical ‘green’ theories on contemporary industrial planning practices: A review study

There is growing evidence that green industrial planning approaches have become the sensible alternative in the modern era, emphasising sustainability. This article reviews the influence of classical ‘green’ theories on contemporary industrial planning practices (eco-industrialisation in the age of climate change). The article adopts a qualitative methodological approach in the form of a desktop study. A total of 45 articles were finally selected for review after retrieval from internet databases. The study demonstrates that classical ‘green’ theories remain relevant in inspiring sustainable approaches to industrialisation, notably the Eco-Industrial Parks (EIPs) approach. While some of the classical ‘green’ theories such as the garden city theory date back to the 1900s, they are still relevant in contemporary industrial planning practices. The garden city theory provides a foundation for industrial location and regenerative theories that strongly influence the planning of eco-industrial parks. There is also a positive link between EIPs and the industrial location theory, as EIPs focus on the interaction and spatial distribution of different industries in the given geographic area, while emphasising the social and economic environment aspects. The EIPs approach also follows the ideas of a closed environment, industrial symbiosis, the regenerative theory, and the green political theory, both promoting sustainable industrial systems. The article concludes that, while planning for eco-industrial parks is still in its infancy in Africa, understanding the link between the classical ‘green’ theories and EIPs can help African urban planners and industrialists design and implement futuristic eco-industrial parks that ensure industrial park management performance, environmental performance, social performance, and economic performance

Finite time St\"uckelberg interferometry with nanomechanical modes

St\"uckelberg interferometry describes the interference of two strongly coupled modes during a double passage through an avoided energy level crossing. In this work, we experimentally investigate finite time effects in St\"uckelberg interference and provide an exact analytical solution of the St\"uckelberg problem. Approximating this solution in distinct limits reveals uncharted parameter regimes of St\"uckelberg interferometry. Experimentally, we study these regimes using a purely classical, strongly coupled nanomechanical two-mode system of high quality factor. The classical two-mode system consists of the in-plane and out-of-plane fundamental flexural mode of a high stress silicon nitride string resonator, coupled via electric gradient fields. The dielectric control and microwave cavity enhanced universal transduction of the nanoelectromechanical system allows for the experimental access to all theoretically predicted St\"uckelberg parameter regimes. We exploit our experimental and theoretical findings by studying the onset of St\"uckelberg interference in dependence of the characteristic system control parameters and obtain characteristic excitation oscillations between the two modes even without the explicit need of traversing the avoided crossing. The presented theory is not limited to classical mechanical two-mode systems but can be applied to every strongly coupled (quantum) two-level system, for example a spin-1/2 system or superconducting qubit

Energieeffizienz im ökologischen Landbau – am Beispiel der Wertschöpfungskette „Brot“ –

For the Hofpfisterei, one of biggest eco-bakery in Germany, the communication of the sustainable production of their bread plays an important role. The Hofpfisterei wants to introduce an environmental management over the supply chain, in order to improve among other things the energy efficiency. The potential is determined by a test net of organic farms by means of life cycle assessment. The reduction of energy input on the farms is to be judged as small. On the other hand the potential is high for energy output. The results show, that alone by the use of the clover grass in the market fruit farms, the energy outputs can be increased clearly. The goal of an energy autarky over supply chain can be achieved by this

Dapper-1 is essential for Wnt5a induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by regulating the Wnt/PCP pathway

AbstractThe Wnt signaling pathway was identified as crucial mediator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In this study we found that activation of non-canonical Wnt signaling by Wnt5a stimulates protein synthesis and enlargement of cardiomyocyte surface area. These hypertrophic features were inhibited in Dapper-1 (Dpr1) depleted cells. On the molecular level, we observed inhibition of the non-canonical Wnt/planar-cell-polarity (PCP) pathway denoted by reduction of c-jun-n-terminal-kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. Upstream of JNK, increased protein levels of the Wnt/PCP trans-membrane receptor van-Gogh-like-2 (Vangl2) were observed along with an enrichment of Vangl2 in perinuclear located vesicles. The findings suggest that Dpr1 is essential for execution of the Wnt/PCP pathway and regulation of the Vangl2/JNK axis. Depletion of Dpr1 inhibits non-canonical Wnt signaling induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy by blocking Wnt/PCP signaling

Health-Related Quality of Life is Associated with Positive Affect in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Entering Cardiac Rehabilitation

Health-related quality of life (QoL) is an important and widely used outcome measure in cardiac populations. We examined the relationship between positive affect and health-related quality of life, controlling for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, clinical variables and negative affect. We further investigated the role of gender in this relationship given the well-known gender differences in cardiovascular health. We enrolled 746 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) before they entered outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. All patients completed the Global Mood Scale and the SF-36 Health Survey. Positive affect was independently associated with mental (p<.001) and physical QoL (p<.001) after controlling for control variables. Gender moderated the relationship between positive affect and physical QoL (p=.009) but not mental QoL (p=.60). Positive affect was positively associated with physical QoL in men (p<.001) but not in women (p=.44). The health-related QoL of patients with CHD is associated with a person's level of positive affec

PRAS40 suppresses atherogenesis through inhibition of mTORC1-dependent pro-inflammatory signaling in endothelial cells

Endothelial pro-inflammatory activation plays a pivotal role in atherosclerosis, and many pro-inflammatory and atherogenic signals converge upon mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Inhibitors of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) reduced atherosclerosis in preclinical studies, but side effects including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia limit their clinical use in this context. Therefore, we investigated PRAS40, a cell type-specific endogenous modulator of mTORC1, as alternative target. Indeed, we previously found PRAS40 gene therapy to improve metabolic profile; however, its function in endothelial cells and its role in atherosclerosis remain unknown. Here we show that PRAS40 negatively regulates endothelial mTORC1 and pro-inflammatory signaling. Knockdown of PRAS40 in endothelial cells promoted TNFα-induced mTORC1 signaling, proliferation, upregulation of inflammatory markers and monocyte recruitment. In contrast, PRAS40-overexpression blocked mTORC1 and all measures of pro-inflammatory signaling. These effects were mimicked by pharmacological mTORC1-inhibition with torin1. In an in vivo model of atherogenic remodeling, mice with induced endothelium-specific PRAS40 deficiency showed enhanced endothelial pro-inflammatory activation as well as increased neointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerotic lesion formation. These data indicate that PRAS40 suppresses atherosclerosis via inhibition of endothelial mTORC1-mediated pro-inflammatory signaling. In conjunction with its favourable effects on metabolic homeostasis, this renders PRAS40 a potential target for the treatment of atherosclerosis

High contextual sensitivity of metaphorical expressions and gesture blending: A video event-related potential design

Human communication in a natural context implies the dynamic coordination of contextual clues, paralinguistic information and literal as well as figurative language use. In the present study we constructed a paradigm with four types of video clips: literal and metaphorical expressions accompanied by congruent and incongruent gesture actions. Participants were instructed to classify the gesture accompanying the expression as congruent or incongruent pressing two different keys while electrophysiological activity was being recorded. We compared behavioral measures and event related potential (ERP) differences triggered by the gesture stroke onset. Accuracy data showed that incongruent metaphorical expressions were more difficult to classify. Reaction times were modulated by incongruent gestures, by metaphorical expressions and for a gesture–expression interaction. No behavioral differences were found between the literal and metaphorical expressions when gesture was congruent. N400-like and LPC-like (late positive complex)components from metaphorical expressions produced greater negativity. The N400-like modulation of metaphorical expressions showed a greater difference between congruent and incongruent categories over the left anterior region, compared with the literal expressions. More importantly, the literal congruent as well as the metaphorical congruent categories did not show any difference. Accuracy, reaction times and ERPs provide convergent support for a greater contextual sensitivity of the metaphorical expressions.Fil: Ibañez, Agustin Mariano. Universidad Favaloro; Argentina. Instituto de Neurología Cognitiva; Argentina. Universidad Diego Portales; Chile. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Toro, Pablo. Universidad Católica de Chile; Chile. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Cornejo, Carlos. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile; Chile. Universidad Católica de Chile; ChileFil: Hurquina, Hugo. Instituto de Neurología Cognitiva; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Manes, Facundo Francisco. Universidad Favaloro; Argentina. Instituto de Neurología Cognitiva; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Weisbrod, Matthias. Universität Heidelberg; AlemaniaFil: Schröder, Johannes. Universität Heidelberg; Alemani

Thoughts on the state of family medicine in South Africa

Sometimes it feels to us that, as family physicians in South Africa, we are like the dog that is chasing the bus. Now that we have finally caught it, we aren't quite sure what to do with it. At times, it feels that it would have been better if we had never caught this bus of family medicine becoming a specialty, and all that this brings with it. This may seem like heresy to many colleagues. However, we have many questions as to the state of things in this country of ours, specifically in terms of family medicine and the future of health care. What is the role that we are going to play? What is the role that we are already playing?http://www.safpj.co.zaam201