Standardization for Defence Procurement - European Handbook : CEN Workshop 10

The European Commission (EC), DG Enterprise, endeavours the competitiveness of the European Defence Industry. The plethora of (national) standards, more than 10.000, are recognised by the EC as a major constraint and cost driver. Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) or Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (EEE) are considered by the EC as a major topic, with 7 other topics such as environmental engineering, energetic materials, batteries, electrical interfaces. An EMC expert group with representatives from industry, including Aerotech Telub, Intellect, EADS, Ericsson Microwave, Fincantieri, MBDA, Thales, and national MoDs rationalized in 2004 a list of 329 EEE standards, implicitly abandoning national, including American, standards, and develop guidelines for the procurement process. A limited number of widely accepted and cost effective standards, suitable for use by MoD’s (acquisition) and industry (product development), has been defined after making comparisons. Comparisons were carried out on some standards against STANAG 4370 AECTP 500. The Expert Group agreed; That no one standard is better or worse than another in achieving an end goal. Differences are not sufficient to prevent the use of AECTP 500. There are sufficient similarities to AECTP 500 to adopt this as the fundamental replacement standard. There was sufficient agreement on NATO-, IEC- and EN-produced standards to make worthwhile agreement to use a number of standards as replacement for some (or some parts) of existing National Standards. This document gives recommendations on the use of the standards, the scope and \ud limitations. It also emphasizes the constraints with respect to the standardisation process of National MoD’s, NATO, Industry and EN/IEC

Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft in Sachsen: Statusbericht 2013: Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft - Statusbericht 2013 zum Stand der Entwicklung der Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft im Freistaat Sachsen

Der Statusbericht 2013 bietet einen Überblick zur wirtschaftlichen Bedeutung sowie volkswirtschaftlichen Einordnung der Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft in Sachsen. Die Bruttowertschöpfung der Land- und Forstwirtschaft stieg 2012 auf 1.103 Mio. €. Zusammen mit dem Ernährungsgewerbe wurde eine Bruttowertschöpfung von rd. 2,1 Mrd. € erzielt. Das ist ein Anteil von 2,4 % an der gesamten Wertschöpfung Sachsens. Darüber hinaus bestehen zahlreiche Verflechtungen zwischen der Landwirtschaft und deren vor- und nachgelagerten Bereichen. Zusammengefasst unter der Bezeichnung Agrarbusiness konnten mind. 78.500 Beschäftigte (d. h. jeder 25. sächsische Arbeitsplatz) diesem Bereich zugeordnet werden und damit mehr als doppelt so viel wie den Wirtschaftszweigen Maschinenbau (38.440 Erwerbstätige) und Fahrzeugbau (27.583 Erwerbstätige)

Effects of inserting fluorescent proteins into the α1S II–III loop: insights into excitation–contraction coupling

In skeletal muscle, intermolecular communication between the 1,4-dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and RYR1 is bidirectional: orthograde coupling (skeletal excitation–contraction coupling) is observed as depolarization-induced Ca2+ release via RYR1, and retrograde coupling is manifested by increased L-type Ca2+ current via DHPR. A critical domain (residues 720–765) of the DHPR α1S II–III loop plays an important but poorly understood role in bidirectional coupling with RYR1. In this study, we examine the consequences of fluorescent protein insertion into different positions within the α1S II–III loop. In four constructs, a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP)–yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) tandem was introduced in place of residues 672–685 (the peptide A region). All four constructs supported efficient bidirectional coupling as determined by the measurement of L-type current and myoplasmic Ca2+ transients. In contrast, insertion of a CFP–YFP tandem within the N-terminal portion of the critical domain (between residues 726 and 727) abolished bidirectional signaling. Bidirectional coupling was partially preserved when only a single YFP was inserted between residues 726 and 727. However, insertion of YFP near the C-terminal boundary of the critical domain (between residues 760 and 761) or in the conserved C-terminal portion of the α1S II–III loop (between residues 785 and 786) eliminated bidirectional coupling. None of the fluorescent protein insertions, even those that interfered with signaling, significantly altered membrane expression or targeting. Thus, bidirectional signaling is ablated by insertions at two different sites in the C-terminal portion of the α1S II–III loop. Significantly, our results indicate that the conserved portion of the α1S II–III loop C terminal to the critical domain plays an important role in bidirectional coupling either by conveying conformational changes to the critical domain from other regions of the DHPR or by serving as a site of interaction with other junctional proteins such as RYR1

The breast feeding mother and xenon anaesthesia: four case reports. Breast feeding and xenon anaesthesia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Four nursing mothers consented to anaesthesia for urgent surgery only on condition that their ability to breast feed would not be impaired.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Following induction of general anaesthesia with propofol and remifentanil, 65-69% xenon supplemented with remifentanil was used as an inhalational anaesthetic for maintenance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After finishing surgery the women could be extubated between 2:52 and 7:22 minutes. The women were fully alert just minutes after extubation and spent about 45 minutes in the recovery room before discharge to a regular ward. They resumed regular breast feeding some time later. The propofol concentration in the blood was measured after 0, 30, 90, and 300 minutes and in the milk after 90 and 300 minutes. Just 90 minutes after extubation, the concentration of propofol in the milk was limited (> 3 mg/l) so that pharmacological effects on the babies were excluded after oral intake. Also, no traces of xenon gas were found in the maternal milk at any time. After propofol induction and maintenance of anaesthesia with xenon in combination with a water-soluble short-acting drug like remifentanil, the concentration of propofol in maternal milk is low (> 3 mg/l 90 min after anesthesia) and harmless after oral intake.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results, as well as the rapid elimination and absence of metabolism of xenon, are of great interest to nursing mothers. General anaesthesia with propofol for induction only, combined with remifentanil and xenon for maintenance, has not yet been described in breast feeding mothers.</p

Inventor Migration and Knowledge Flows: A Two-Way Communication Channel ?

This paper documents the influence of networks of highly skilled migrants on the international diffusion of knowledge – particularly those with degrees and occupations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It investigates knowledge inflows to host countries brought in by skilled immigrants. It then explores knowledge feedback to home countries generated by these migrants. We test our hypotheses in a country-pair gravity model setting, for the period 1990–2010, using patent citations across countries to measure international knowledge diffusion. Our results confirm our hypotheses on the positive impact of skilled migrants on knowledge flows to host and home countries. However, the former are not robust to instrumental variables and country-pair fixed-effects, and only matter in certain contexts: when the sending countries are developing nations and for knowledge diffusion within the boundaries of multinationals

Extensive signal integration by the phytohormone protein network

Plant hormones coordinate responses to environmental cues with developmental programs1, and are fundamental for stress resilience and agronomic yield2. The core signalling pathways underlying the effects of phytohormones have been elucidated by genetic screens and hypothesis-driven approaches, and extended by interactome studies of select pathways3. However, fundamental questions remain about how information from different pathways is integrated. Genetically, most phenotypes seem to be regulated by several hormones, but transcriptional profiling suggests that hormones trigger largely exclusive transcriptional programs4. We hypothesized that protein–protein interactions have an important role in phytohormone signal integration. Here, we experimentally generated a systems-level map of the Arabidopsis phytohormone signalling network, consisting of more than 2,000 binary protein–protein interactions. In the highly interconnected network, we identify pathway communities and hundreds of previously unknown pathway contacts that represent potential points of crosstalk. Functional validation of candidates in seven hormone pathways reveals new functions for 74% of tested proteins in 84% of candidate interactions, and indicates that a large majority of signalling proteins function pleiotropically in several pathways. Moreover, we identify several hundred largely small-molecule-dependent interactions of hormone receptors. Comparison with previous reports suggests that noncanonical and nontranscription-mediated receptor signalling is more common than hitherto appreciated

Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft in Sachsen: Statusbericht 2013: Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft - Statusbericht 2013 zum Stand der Entwicklung der Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft im Freistaat Sachsen

Der Statusbericht 2013 bietet einen Überblick zur wirtschaftlichen Bedeutung sowie volkswirtschaftlichen Einordnung der Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft in Sachsen. Die Bruttowertschöpfung der Land- und Forstwirtschaft stieg 2012 auf 1.103 Mio. €. Zusammen mit dem Ernährungsgewerbe wurde eine Bruttowertschöpfung von rd. 2,1 Mrd. € erzielt. Das ist ein Anteil von 2,4 % an der gesamten Wertschöpfung Sachsens. Darüber hinaus bestehen zahlreiche Verflechtungen zwischen der Landwirtschaft und deren vor- und nachgelagerten Bereichen. Zusammengefasst unter der Bezeichnung Agrarbusiness konnten mind. 78.500 Beschäftigte (d. h. jeder 25. sächsische Arbeitsplatz) diesem Bereich zugeordnet werden und damit mehr als doppelt so viel wie den Wirtschaftszweigen Maschinenbau (38.440 Erwerbstätige) und Fahrzeugbau (27.583 Erwerbstätige)

Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft in Sachsen: Statusbericht 2013: Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft - Statusbericht 2013 zum Stand der Entwicklung der Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft im Freistaat Sachsen

Der Statusbericht 2013 bietet einen Überblick zur wirtschaftlichen Bedeutung sowie volkswirtschaftlichen Einordnung der Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft in Sachsen. Die Bruttowertschöpfung der Land- und Forstwirtschaft stieg 2012 auf 1.103 Mio. €. Zusammen mit dem Ernährungsgewerbe wurde eine Bruttowertschöpfung von rd. 2,1 Mrd. € erzielt. Das ist ein Anteil von 2,4 % an der gesamten Wertschöpfung Sachsens. Darüber hinaus bestehen zahlreiche Verflechtungen zwischen der Landwirtschaft und deren vor- und nachgelagerten Bereichen. Zusammengefasst unter der Bezeichnung Agrarbusiness konnten mind. 78.500 Beschäftigte (d. h. jeder 25. sächsische Arbeitsplatz) diesem Bereich zugeordnet werden und damit mehr als doppelt so viel wie den Wirtschaftszweigen Maschinenbau (38.440 Erwerbstätige) und Fahrzeugbau (27.583 Erwerbstätige)