Carbon Subsidies and Optimal Forest Management

We consider the effect of carbon subsidies and taxes in the form of carbon credit allocations on forest owners' land use and harvest decisions. We introduce three possible credit allocation regimes: one where credits are allocated according to the annual flow of carbon another where annual credits are proportional to the stock of carbon and a third involving lump sum payments. Using a real options model with uncertain future timber prices we examine the effect on the timing of harvest the replanting-abandonment decision and the value of a forest. We show that forests are less likely to be converted to alternative land uses under all three regimes relative to the situation without any carbon credit allocation. We also show that the flows and stocks schemes lengthen optimal rotations while lump sum allocations shorten them. Thus the objectives of reduced deforestation and longer rotations are best met by the flows and stocks schemes. Our numerical experiments suggest that these two regimes yield very similar outcomes

Zinc dust: An extremely active and reusable catalyst in acylation of phenols, thiophenol, amines and alcohols in a solvent-free system

A trace amount of zinc dust is able to promote instantaneous quantitative acylation of a large variety of functionalized phenols, thiophenol, amines and alcohols with acyl chlorides under solvent-free condition at 25 °C. The catalyst can be recovered and recycled making the procedure potentially useful for industrial applications

QSAR rationales for the 1,2-diarylcyclopentenes as prostaglandin EP1 receptor antagonists: Potentially useful in the treatment of inflammatory pain

The EP1 receptor inhibitory activity of 1,2-diarylcyclopentene derivatives have been quantitatively analyzed in terms of Dragon descriptors. The derived QSAR models have provided rationales to explain the EP1 receptor inhibitory activity of 1,2-diarylcyclopentene derivatives. The 2D-autocorrelation descriptors (MATS4e, MATS5e, MATS7v, GATS5e and GATS7v) have highlighted the role of atomic properties in respective lags of autocorrelations to explain the biological actions of 1,2-diarylcyclopentene analogues. Presence of fluorine atom (nF) and smaller distance between N and O atoms (T(N..O)) in molecular structures, in addition to Kier-Hall electrotopological states (Ss) have also shown prevalence to optimize the EP1 receptor inhibitory activity. Partial least square analysis has confirmed the dominance of information content of the combinatorial protocol in multiple linear regression identified descriptors. Applicability domain analysis revealed that the suggested model matches the high quality parameters with good fitting power and capability of assessing external data. All the compounds are within the applicability domain of the proposed model and were evaluated correctly

The Psychopathological Foundations of Conspiracy Theorists

The primary aim of this thesis was to understand some of the factors that make an individual more likely to ascribe to conspiracy theories. Ascription to conspiracy theories was conceptualised dimensionally along a continuum labelled Conspiracy Theory Affinity (CTA). Strong CTA reflects both a high level of belief in conspiracy theories and a tendency to create conspiracy theories (conspiracy theorising). To gauge this, I measured level of conspiracy belief, conspiracy pattern perception (conspiracy theory creation), as well as various forms of psychopathology. The findings of the psychopathology study (study 4) suggested that high conspiracy theory affinity individuals are more likely to present with high levels of paranoia, delusion, general mental pathology, as well as a high level and range of schizotypal traits. The conspiracy theory literature has also suggested that a lack of control is germane to development and maintenance of the tendency to believe in conspiracy theories (Abalakina-Paap et al., 1999; Douglas & Sutton, 2008; Groh, 1987; Hofstadter, 1965; Leman, 2007; Newheiser, Farias, & Tausch, 2011; Swami et al., 2013; Sullivan et al., 2010; Whitson & Galinsky, 2008). The literature also suggests that one compensatory strategy commonly used to re-establish a semblance of control is illusory pattern perception. Illusory pattern perception or Apophenia, is when unrelated stimuli (either visual or situational) are perceived to be connected in some meaningful way. Therefore, I also sought to establish if a direct link between illusory pattern perception and CTA actually exists. In studies 1 and 2 I experimentally induced a sense of low control using methods that have proven effective in previous research. The findings of these studies suggested that a lack of control does not necessarily reflect that a person is more likely to engage in conspiracy pattern perception. However, the findings also suggested that when a low level of control is felt by an individual who also has a magical thinking style, they are more likely to demonstrate illusory visual pattern perception. Limitations of these studies and therefore their potential influence on interpretations of the findings were also considered. Another major research aim of this thesis was to elucidate how society perceives conspiracy theorists and how those with strong CTA perceive the label of conspiracy theorist. The findings of two studies (studies 3b and 5) revealed that the majority of respondents considered conspiracy theorists to be characteristically similar to those with current mental health concerns and also convicted criminals, and dissimilar to targets with resolved mental health issues and no current mental health issues (e.g. the average man). In contrast however, those with strong CTA rated the target Conspiracy Theorist significantly more favourably than those with low CTA. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings across these 5 studies are discussed, and methodological limitations are also acknowledged

In vitro activity of Piper sarmentosum ethanol leaf extract against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites

Purpose: To evaluate the activity of the ethanol leaf extract of Piper sarmentosum against toxoplasmosis.Methods: An in vitro anti-Toxoplasma study was conducted using Vero cells as a host for T. gondii. Clindamycin used as the reference drug. Light microscopy technique was used to study the in situ antiparasitic activity of T. gondii. Non-toxic concentrations of the ethanol extract for Vero cells were determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) cell proliferation. The presence of Toxoplasma gondii was observed by Giemsa staining.Results: The results showed that significant (p < 0.05) anti-toxoplasma activity of the ethanol extract, though lower than that of clindamycin (control drug), was achieved, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12.4 and 7.2 μg/mL for the extract and reference drug, respectively. After 24 hours of exposure to the extract, the inoculated Vero cells showed lower parasitemia and no remarkable morphological changes.Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the ethanol extract of P. sarmentosum leaves are active against toxoplasmosis in vitro. However, further studies are required to determine the therapeutic significance of these findings in vivo.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Piper sarmentosum, Vero cell, Toxoplasmosis, Antiparasiti

Carbon Subsidies and Optimal Forest Management

We consider the effect of carbon subsidies and taxes in the form of carbon credit allocations on forest owners' land use and harvest decisions. We introduce three possible credit allocation regimes: one where credits are allocated according to the annual flow of carbon another where annual credits are proportional to the stock of carbon and a third involving lump sum payments. Using a real options model with uncertain future timber prices we examine the effect on the timing of harvest the replanting-abandonment decision and the value of a forest. We show that forests are less likely to be converted to alternative land uses under all three regimes relative to the situation without any carbon credit allocation. We also show that the flows and stocks schemes lengthen optimal rotations while lump sum allocations shorten them. Thus the objectives of reduced deforestation and longer rotations are best met by the flows and stocks schemes. Our numerical experiments suggest that these two regimes yield very similar outcomes

Ytterbium triflate (and trimethylsilyl triflate) catalyzed isomerization of glycidic esters to α-hydroxy-β,γ-unsaturated esters and their conversion into cyclopentanoids using Johnson-Claisen rearrangement

A variety of glycidic esters undergo smooth isomerization to the corresponding α-hydroxy-β, γ-unsaturated esters upon reaction with Yb(OTf)3 or TMSOTf. These α-hydroxy-β, γ-unsaturated esters undergo Johnson-Claisen rearrangement to appropriately substituted diesters, some of which are converted into cyclopentanoids

In vitro activity of Piper sarmentosum ethanol leaf extract against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites

Purpose: To evaluate the activity of the ethanol leaf extract of Piper sarmentosum against toxoplasmosis. Methods: An in vitro anti-Toxoplasma study was conducted using Vero cells as a host for T. gondii. Clindamycin used as the reference drug. Light microscopy technique was used to study the in situ antiparasitic activity of T. gondii. Non-toxic concentrations of the ethanol extract for Vero cells were determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) cell proliferation. The presence of Toxoplasma gondii was observed by Giemsa staining. Results: The results showed that significant (p < 0.05) anti-toxoplasma activity of the ethanol extract, though lower than that of clindamycin (control drug), was achieved, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12.4 and 7.2 μg/mL for the extract and reference drug, respectively. After 24 hours of exposure to the extract, the inoculated Vero cells showed lower parasitemia and no remarkable morphological changes. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the ethanol extract of P. sarmentosum leaves are active against toxoplasmosis in vitro. However, further studies are required to determine the therapeutic significance of these findings in viv

Quantifying the acute changes in glucose with exercise in type 1 Diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The acute impact of different types of physical activity on glycemic control in type 1 diabetes has not been well quantified. Objectives Our objective was to estimate the rate of change (RoC) in glucose concentration induced acutely during the performance of structured exercise and at recovery in subjects with type 1 diabetes. Methods We searched for original articles in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases. Search terms included type 1 diabetes, blood glucose, physical activity, and exercise. Eligible studies (randomized controlled trials and non-randomized experiments) encompassed controlled physical activity sessions (continuous moderate [CONT], intermittent high intensity [IHE], resistance [RESIST