Stemming a Rising Tide: Why the Clean Air Act Following \u3cem\u3eMassachusetts v. E.P.A.\u3c/em\u3e Provides a Sensible Vehicle Through Which to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Imagine ocean levels rising because of global ice melt. Imagine the next ice age beginning due to the increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Imagine global plant life dying as a result of rising global temperatures. Imagine afundamental shift in marine life as a direct consequence of the acidification of the world\u27s waters. Finally, imagine increased greenhouse gases causing no impact on the world\u27s biospheres at all. Scientists have predicted all of these possible results, and, while most reputable scientists agree that global climate change is real, there is far less agreement in the scientific community as to what the end result of man\u27s dependence on fossil fuels will eventually be. So what should humanity do in the face of this uncertainty? Should we sit idly by in the hopes that the world will recover on its own? Or should humanity foster technological innovation through incentivization and regulation that may help avert any and all of these possible crises? This note argues that the very uncertainty as to the effects of a changing atmospheric composition should be the motivation needed to finally address humanity\u27s addiction to carbon-laden fossil fuels. But in order to do this, society must make several difficult choices. If we choose to address these problems, luckily, the current regulatory framework of the United States provides a good starting point through which we can reach a comprehensive solution and stem the rising tide of greenhouse gas emissions

Stemming a Rising Tide: Why the Clean Air Act Following \u3cem\u3eMassachusetts v. E.P.A.\u3c/em\u3e Provides a Sensible Vehicle Through Which to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Imagine ocean levels rising because of global ice melt. Imagine the next ice age beginning due to the increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Imagine global plant life dying as a result of rising global temperatures. Imagine afundamental shift in marine life as a direct consequence of the acidification of the world\u27s waters. Finally, imagine increased greenhouse gases causing no impact on the world\u27s biospheres at all. Scientists have predicted all of these possible results, and, while most reputable scientists agree that global climate change is real, there is far less agreement in the scientific community as to what the end result of man\u27s dependence on fossil fuels will eventually be. So what should humanity do in the face of this uncertainty? Should we sit idly by in the hopes that the world will recover on its own? Or should humanity foster technological innovation through incentivization and regulation that may help avert any and all of these possible crises? This note argues that the very uncertainty as to the effects of a changing atmospheric composition should be the motivation needed to finally address humanity\u27s addiction to carbon-laden fossil fuels. But in order to do this, society must make several difficult choices. If we choose to address these problems, luckily, the current regulatory framework of the United States provides a good starting point through which we can reach a comprehensive solution and stem the rising tide of greenhouse gas emissions

Substandard Quality of the Antimicrobials Sold in the Street Markets in Haiti

This pilot study was conducted to analyze the quality of the antimicrobials sold in the street markets in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A total of 258 packs containing antimicrobials were bought in 28 street markets in Port-au-Prince (Haiti). Tablets and contents of capsules included in 196 packs were analyzed using a Raman handheld spectrometer (NanoRAM of BWTEK, Model: BWS456-785) during the first quarter of 2019. Three out of 11 antimicrobials (Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, and Cotrimoxazole) had a high spectral match with an HQI ≥ 90 to the respective authentic medicine for more than 95% of their tablets/capsules. For six antimicrobials (Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Cloxacillin, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin, and the combination Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid) none of their tablets/capsules showed a sufficient spectral match with the authentic medicine. This finding indicates that these products sold in the markets did not contain the labeled drug and/or contained a degraded drug. In addition to the fact that prescription antimicrobials can be purchased in street markets, the present field study found that for most of them (including "Watch" antimicrobials according to the AWaRe classification) were substandard, which contributes to the present antimicrobials resistance epidemic

Loop diuretics are open-channel blockers of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator with distinct kinetics

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Loop diuretics are widely used to inhibit the Na(+), K(+), 2Cl(−) co-transporter, but they also inhibit the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl(−) channel. Here, we investigated the mechanism of CFTR inhibition by loop diuretics and explored the effects of chemical structure on channel blockade. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Using the patch-clamp technique, we tested the effects of bumetanide, furosemide, piretanide and xipamide on recombinant wild-type human CFTR. KEY RESULTS: When added to the intracellular solution, loop diuretics inhibited CFTR Cl(−) currents with potency approaching that of glibenclamide, a widely used CFTR blocker with some structural similarity to loop diuretics. To begin to study the kinetics of channel blockade, we examined the time dependence of macroscopic current inhibition following a hyperpolarizing voltage step. Like glibenclamide, piretanide blockade of CFTR was time and voltage dependent. By contrast, furosemide blockade was voltage dependent, but time independent. Consistent with these data, furosemide blocked individual CFTR Cl(−) channels with ‘very fast’ speed and drug-induced blocking events overlapped brief channel closures, whereas piretanide inhibited individual channels with ‘intermediate’ speed and drug-induced blocking events were distinct from channel closures. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Structure–activity analysis of the loop diuretics suggests that the phenoxy group present in bumetanide and piretanide, but absent in furosemide and xipamide, might account for the different kinetics of channel block by locking loop diuretics within the intracellular vestibule of the CFTR pore. We conclude that loop diuretics are open-channel blockers of CFTR with distinct kinetics, affected by molecular dimensions and lipophilicity

Dix critères inspirés de Paulo Freire pour l’étude et la conception de jeux à visée de conscientisation

According to Paulo Freire (1971), conscientization is a process of collective learning aimed at bringing out a critical reflection through praxis in individuals. Based on pedagogy and consciousness-raising of the oppressed, Freire's philosophy of action can help shed light on the consciousness-raising potential of play and determine the criteria that define a consciousness-raising game. This article aims to answer this question by developing a model to define games aimed at consciousness-raising based on ten criteria inspired by Freire's philosophy. First, a brief historical review of the philosophical and political roots of conscientization in Freire will be presented to highlight specific characteristics about the concept of critical conscience. Subsequently, studies on games aimed at consciousness-raising will be presented to show the structuring elements of this type of game. This work will then make it possible to propose a definition based on ten criteria which circumscribe games aimed at consciousness-raising. Then, this model will be applied to three examples of games to demonstrate its operationality. Finally, the article will be concluded by demonstrating the coherence of the articulation between Freire's philosophy and games aimed at consciousness-raising, particularly in a context of co-creation of games such as in a game jam

Studies on the nature and mechanism of the diuretic activity of the opioid analgesic ethylketocyclazocine

ABSTRACT Slizgi