Life fingerprints of nuclear reactions in the body of animals

Nuclear reactions are a very important natural phenomenon in the universe. On the earth, cosmic rays constantly cause nuclear reactions. High energy beams created by medical devices also induce nuclear reactions in the human body. The biological role of these nuclear reactions is unknown. Here we show that the in vivo biological systems are exquisite and sophisticated by nature in influence on nuclear reactions and in resistance to radical damage in the body of live animals. In this study, photonuclear reactions in the body of live or dead animals were induced with 50-MeV irradiation. Tissue nuclear reactions were detected by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the induced beta+ activity. We found the unique tissue "fingerprints" of beta+ (the tremendous difference in beta+ activities and tissue distribution patterns among the individuals) are imprinted in all live animals. Within any individual, the tissue "fingerprints" of 15O and 11C are also very different. When the animal dies, the tissue "fingerprints" are lost. The biochemical, rather than physical, mechanisms could play a critical role in the phenomenon of tissue "fingerprints". Radiolytic radical attack caused millions-fold increases in 15O and 11C activities via different biochemical mechanisms, i.e. radical-mediated hydroxylation and peroxidation respectively, and more importantly the bio-molecular functions (such as the chemical reactivity and the solvent accessibility to radicals). In practice biologically for example, radical attack can therefore be imaged in vivo in live animals and humans using PET for life science research, disease prevention, and personalized radiation therapy based on an individual's bio-molecular response to ionizing radiation

To what extent does the EU usefully promote economic and social rights through human rights clauses in its trade agreements?

This thesis evaluates the extent to which the EU usefully promotes economic and social rights (ESR) through human rights clauses (HRC) in its trade agreements. HRC establish respect for human rights as an essential element of the parties’ agreements and enable the parties to take appropriate measures in response to breaches of their obligations under HRC. HRC further provide a legal reference point for the parties’ positive measures which promote ESR within the framework of trade agreements. Given that ESR tend to be given less priority than civil and political rights (CPR) in the international community, and given that EU trade agreements have developed in a manner which has strengthened the link between trade and ESR, it is necessary to examine whether the EU is making use of the opportunities provided by HRC in its trade agreements to usefully promote ESR. Two case studies have been undertaken for this purpose, in order to analyse the measures taken by the EU to promote ESR through HRC in practice. The first case study focuses on the EU’s trade agreement with Korea, and the second case study focuses on the EU’s trade agreement with Colombia and Peru

To what extent does the EU usefully promote economic and social rights through human rights clauses in its trade agreements?

This thesis evaluates the extent to which the EU usefully promotes economic and social rights (ESR) through human rights clauses (HRC) in its trade agreements. HRC establish respect for human rights as an essential element of the parties’ agreements and enable the parties to take appropriate measures in response to breaches of their obligations under HRC. HRC further provide a legal reference point for the parties’ positive measures which promote ESR within the framework of trade agreements. Given that ESR tend to be given less priority than civil and political rights (CPR) in the international community, and given that EU trade agreements have developed in a manner which has strengthened the link between trade and ESR, it is necessary to examine whether the EU is making use of the opportunities provided by HRC in its trade agreements to usefully promote ESR. Two case studies have been undertaken for this purpose, in order to analyse the measures taken by the EU to promote ESR through HRC in practice. The first case study focuses on the EU’s trade agreement with Korea, and the second case study focuses on the EU’s trade agreement with Colombia and Peru

Theoretical and experimental investigation of an absorption refrigeration and pre-desalination system for marine engine exhaust gas heat recovery

Absorption-refrigeration-cycle-based exhaust gas heat recovery technology is effective in improving the thermal efficiency and fuel economy of marine diesel engines. However, the absorption refrigeration system is inflexible in the start–stop operation, and this cannot fulfil the fluctuating demand of refrigeration. This paper presents both the theoretical and experimental investigations of an absorption refrigeration and freezing pre-desalination-based marine engine exhaust gas heat recovery system. The energy storage subcycle is introduced to overcome the energy underutilisation and balance the excessive refrigerating output of the absorption refrigeration cycle. Seawater is utilised as the phase-change material and it is pre-desalinated in the energy storage subcycle. A mathematical model of the system is established and experimental investigation is conducted. Furthermore, the theoretical and experimental performances are compared, and an economic analysis of seawater desalination is performed to evaluate its economy. The results show that the total refrigeration output of the system ranges from 6.1 kW to 9.9 kW, and the system COP (Coefficient of Performance) can reach 16% under the experimental operating conditions. Additionally, the salinity of pre-desalinated seawater can be reduced to below 10 ppt. Moreover, the cost of RO (Reverse Osmosis) seawater desalination can be reduced by 26% through the pre-desalination process of seawater