Preface: Eighteen Views on the Legitimacy Crisis and the Elections to the European Parliament

Elżbieta Kużelewska : [email protected]żbieta Kużelewska - Uniwersytet w BiałymstokuDariusz Kloza - Uniwersytet w Białymstoku15-2

Tool for a Database Workload Generation

Import 30/10/2012Cílem práce je navrhnout a vytvořit aplikaci schopnou generovat testovací vytížení databáze. Aplikace bude obsahovat následující prvky: Generování dat pro základní datové typy (řetězec, číslo, datum) podle přiřazených domén, vytváření vlastních domén, přiřazování domén testovacím dotazům, regulování frekvence spouštění dotazů, možnost spouštění uložených procedur a funkcí na Database. V první části práce je analyzováno několik podobných již existujících komerčních nástrojů dostupných na internetu. Druhá část práce je zaměřena na návrh a implementaci funkcí aplikace. Hlavní funkce jsou: Generování dat do uživatelských tabulek a generování testovacího vytížení. Třetí část je zaměřena na testování funkčnosti a výkonu aplikace.The goal is to design and create an application capable of generating load test database. The application will contain the following elements: Generating data for basic data types (string, number, date) in accordance with assigned domains, creating custom domains, assigning domain to testing queries, seting up the frequency of running queries, ability to run stored procedures and database functions. The first part is analyzed several similar existing commercial tools available from the Internet. The second part focuses on the design and implementation of application functions. The main functions are: Generating data into user tables and generating a test workload. The third part is focused on the testing of the functionality and performance of the application.460 - Katedra informatikyvelmi dobř

e-Commerce and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgements in the EU – Latest Developments

On-line business increases the frequency of legal disputes. Due to the borderless nature of the Internet, both parties might originate from different jurisdictions. When a state court hears a trans-border case and renders its decision, questions regarding the recognition and enforcement of the judgement in other jurisdictions might arise, especially where the losing party has her assets. Among other concerns, this situation involves questions of predictability, efficiency and certainty of legal protection. For these reasons, private international law is highly relevant for e-commerce.    This paper has a simple aim: it outlines some recent (1999-2009) developments in the recognition and enforcement of judgements in the EU. The following instruments are discussed: the enforcement order for uncontested claims, the order for payment procedure and the small claims procedure. Having reviewed the Lisbon Treaty amendments, a few remarks on the Lugano II Convention and the proposed revision of the Brussels I Regulation are provided as well

From Collisions to Bundles: An Adaptive Coarse-Grained Model for the Aggregation of High-Aspect-Ratio Carbon Nanotubes

We present an adaptive mesoscale model for carbon nanotube (CNT) systems. In our model, CNTs are represented as a chain of nodes connected by tensile and torsion springs to describe stretching and bending of the chain with intermolecular interactions being calculated using a mesoscopic Lennard-Jones potential. Computational adaptivity was achieved by dynamically adjusting node spacing and number during the simulation to optimise the number of simulated particles and lower computational effort. Adaptive simulations were up to five times faster than non-adaptive ones whilst quantitatively preserving all system dynamics. In particular, the model enables the study of the timescale of CNT bundling that leads to the formation of dilute CNT networks, so-called aerogels. These aerogels constitute the first step in the direct spinning of CNT fibres from chemical vapour deposition synthesis. Understanding the factors governing CNT bundling and network formation is key to controlling CNT fibre microstructure, and therefore optimising their properties. Using the model, we simulated the bundling dynamics of two CNTs with an initial point contact at varying angles for CNT lengths of up to 10 µm. We find that bundling times are an increasing function of initial collision angle and follow a power law with increasing CNT length that range from 10−1 to 103 ns. We postulate that when this bundling time becomes of the same order as the CNT bundle collision time, the aerogel will form.EPSRC: EP/M015211/1, EP/P020259/

Relaxation of human pulmonary arteries by PPARγ agonists

It has been suggested that activation of nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ (PPARγ) may represent a new strategy for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. It has been demonstrated that PPARγ activation relaxed the isolated mouse pulmonary artery. The aims of the present study were to examine whether and to which extent the two PPARγ agonists rosiglitazone and pioglitazone relax the isolated human pulmonary artery and to investigate the underlying mechanism(s). Isolated human pulmonary arteries were obtained from patients without clinical evidence of pulmonary hypertension during resection of lung carcinoma. Vasodilatory effects of PPARγ agonists were examined on endothelium-intact or endothelium-denuded vessels preconstricted with the thromboxane prostanoid receptor agonist U-46619. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone (0.01–100 μM) caused a concentration- and/or time-dependent full relaxation of U-46619-preconstricted vessels. The rosiglitazone-induced relaxation was attenuated by the PPARγ antagonist GW9662 1 μM, endothelium denudation, the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME 300 μM, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin 10 μM, and the K(ATP) channel blocker glibenclamide 10 μM. The prostacyclin IP receptor antagonist RO1138452 1 μM shifted the concentration–response curve for rosiglitazone to the right. The PPARγ agonists pioglitazone and rosiglitazone relax human pulmonary arteries. The rosiglitazone-induced vasorelaxation is partially endothelium-dependent and involves PPARγ receptors, arachidonic acid degradation products, nitric oxide, and K(ATP) channels. Thus, the relaxant effect of PPARγ agonists in human pulmonary arteries may represent a new therapeutic target in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Catalyst‐mediated enhancement of carbon nanotube textiles by laser irradiation: Nanoparticle sweating and bundle alignment

The photonic post-processing of suspended carbon nanotube (CNT) ribbons made by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FC-CVD) results in selective sorting of the carbon nanotubes present. Defective, thermally non-conductive or unconnected CNTs are burned away, in some cases leaving behind a highly crystalline (as indicated by the Raman G:D ratio), highly conductive network. However, the improvement in crystallinity does not always occur but is dependent on sample composition. Here, we report on fundamental features, which are observed for all samples. Pulse irradiation (not only by laser but also white light camera flashes, as well as thermal processes such as Joule heating) lead to (1) the sweating-out of catalyst nanoparticles resulting in molten catalyst beads of up to several hundreds of nanometres in diameter on the textile surface and (2) a significant improvement in CNT bundle alignment. The behavior of the catalyst beads is material dependent. Here, we show the underlying mechanisms of the photonic post-treatment by modelling the macro- and microstructural changes of the CNT network and show that it is mainly the amount of residual catalyst which determines how much energy these materials can withstand before their complete decomposition.</jats:p

Catalyst‐mediated enhancement of carbon nanotube textiles by laser irradiation: Nanoparticle sweating and bundle alignment

The photonic post-processing of suspended carbon nanotube (CNT) ribbons made by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FC-CVD) results in selective sorting of the carbon nanotubes present. Defective, thermally non-conductive or unconnected CNTs are burned away, in some cases leaving behind a highly crystalline (as indicated by the Raman G:D ratio), highly conductive network. However, the improvement in crystallinity does not always occur but is dependent on sample composition. Here, we report on fundamental features, which are observed for all samples. Pulse irradiation (not only by laser but also white light camera flashes, as well as thermal processes such as Joule heating) lead to (1) the sweating-out of catalyst nanoparticles resulting in molten catalyst beads of up to several hundreds of nanometres in diameter on the textile surface and (2) a significant improvement in CNT bundle alignment. The behavior of the catalyst beads is material dependent. Here, we show the underlying mechanisms of the photonic post-treatment by modelling the macro- and microstructural changes of the CNT network and show that it is mainly the amount of residual catalyst which determines how much energy these materials can withstand before their complete decomposition

Policy recommendations: towards socially robust smart grids

This report presents the policy recommendations that follow from the EPINET projects investigations into assessments of ethical, legal and societal aspects of smart electricity grids in the European Union. Its main objective has been to evaluate the state-of-the-art in assessments in this domain, especially focusing on the ways in which these may interact with or become integrated into main research and innovation networks, including the making of research and policy agendas. These recommendations are aimed at, and relevant to, different groups and networks involved in smart electricity and governance at European and national levels. At one level of policy action there are the many advisory and expert groups involved in the design and development of smart grids. These include the EU Commission Task Force for Smart Grid. National initiatives such as the Dutch Smart Energy Collective form another target audience. Also relevant are the expert groups participating in the shaping of Horizon 2020 ICT programme (Societal Challenges and LEIT) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, national research councils and their advisory bodies. Our recommendations are especially relevant to so-called crosscutting actions in Horizon 2020, especially relating to Responsible Research and Innovation and Social and Humanistic Sciences. Next, our recommendations are also directed to national and EU legislators and regulators charged with adapting to and accommodating the actions of policy makers and the smart grid and smart cities communities. Finally, our recommendations are directed to the technology assessment community, including those dedicated to Responsible Research and Innovation, integrated ELSA and impact assessments