Quantum Double and Differential Calculi

We show that bicovariant bimodules as defined by Woronowicz are in one to one correspondence with the Drinfeld quantum double representations. We then prove that a differential calculus associated to a bicovariant bimodule of dimension n is connected to the existence of a particular (n+1)--dimensional representation of the double. An example of bicovariant differential calculus on the non quasitriangular quantum group E_q(2) is developed. The construction is studied in terms of Hochschild cohomology and a correspondence between differential calculi and 1-cocycles is proved. Some differences of calculi on quantum and finite groups with respect to Lie groups are stressed.Comment: Revised version with added cohomological analysis. 14 pages, plain te

User fees in private non-for-profit hospitals in Uganda: a survey and intervention for equity

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, user fees may represent an important source of revenues for private-non-for-profit hospitals, but they may also affect access, use and equity. METHODS: This survey was conducted in ten hospitals of the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau to assess differences in user fees policies and to propose changes that would better fit with the social concern explicitly pursued by the Bureau. Through a review of relevant hospital documents and reports, and through interviews with key informants, health workers and users, hospital and non-hospital cost was calculated, as well as overall expenditure and revenues. Lower fees were applied in some pilot hospitals after the survey. RESULTS: The percentage of revenues from user fees varied between 6% and 89% (average 40%). Some hospitals were more successful than others in getting external aid and government subsidies. These hospitals were applying lower fees and flat rates, and were offering free essential services to encourage access, as opposed to the fee-for-service policies implemented in less successful hospitals. The wide variation in user fees among hospitals was not justified by differences in case mix. None of the hospitals had a policy for exemption of the poor; the few users that actually got exempted were not really poor. To pay hospital and non-hospital expenses, about one third of users had to borrow money or sell goods and property. The fee system applied after the survey, based on flat and lower rates, brought about an increase in access and use of hospital services. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that user fees represent an unfair mechanism of financing for health services because they exclude the poor and the sick. To mitigate this effect, flat rates and lower fees for the most vulnerable users were introduced to replace the fee-for-service system in some hospitals after the survey. The results are encouraging: hospital use, especially for pregnancy, childbirth and childhood illness, increased immediately, with no detrimental effect on overall revenues. A more equitable user fees system is possible

A computational study of salt diffusion and heat extraction in solar pond plants

The problem of the development of salt concentration profiles in a solar pond is investigated, the thermodiffusion contribution is also taken into account, using a one-dimensional mathematical model and a finite-difference approach. A novel scheme of heat extraction from the solar pond is presented, along with preliminary two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations

Guaranteeing essential health care for all.

The tendency to translate expectations and needs into the language of rights is a means of putting these expectations and needs beyond political, cultural or social whims, making them indisputable. Thus, the concept of rights becomes attractive as it strengthens demands and enables them to be claimed. We could say that the reference to rights is important not only because rights guarantee a series of needs and expectations, but also, most importantly, because of the very way they are worded. But are rights always indisputable? We believe that their indisputable na- ture depends on overcoming a number of problems that regard their justification and the degree of legal recognition achieved. The keywords \u201crights\u201d and \u201chuman rights\u201d are at constant risk of vagueness, one that may compromise their very effectiveness. The grey area surrounding hu- man rights may concern the definition of their content, their justification, and the corresponding obligations. Perhaps the clearest example is the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) definition of health, which demonstrates the often structural (and, we should add, convenient) vagueness of the content of rights. In this per- spective, health is not merely the absence of disease and infirmity but \u201ca state of complete physical, mental and social well-being\u201d. What do they mean by \u201cwell-being\u201d? What, if any, are the gradations it encompasses? Who needs to act so that this well-being can be enjoyed and how can it be achieved? These are the key questions when giving legal form to this demand. The minimum gradation of this con- cept, and consequently of the very concept of health as a right, is to guarantee that every individual has access to basic healthcare regardless of geographical, financial and social barriers, whatever their culture or race. This chapter explores the reasons why health is an essential need legally protected as a human right

Synthesis and biological evaluation of pyrazoles and pyrazole-containing polycyclic derivatives as new ligands of central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors

A series of new pyrazole-condensed 6,5,5 tricyclic compounds were synthesized and tested to evaluate their binding affinities at both central (CBR) and peripheral (PBR) benzodiazepine receptors. Some 1-aryl-5-phenylpyrazole derivatives were also prepared and tested for comparison with their corresponding rigid tricyclic analogs.Among the newly synthesized 1-aryl-1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazoles bearing both an ethoxycarbonyl group at position 3 and a carbonyl function at the position 4, compound 4b emerged as a new potent (IC50 = 26.4 nM) and selective CBR ligand. The 4-oxo-1-aryl-1,4-dihydro-indeno[1,2-c]pyrazole diethylamide derivative 14a was instead identified as a relatively potent (IC50 = 124 nM) but highly selective PBR ligand

Anticipation and consumption of food each increase the concentration of neuroactive steroids in rat brain and plasma

Stressful stimuli and anxiogenic drugs increase the plasma and brain concentrations of neuroactive steroids. Moreover, in rats trained to consume their daily meal during a fixed period, the anticipation of food is associated with changes in the function of various neurotransmitter systems. We have now evaluated the effects of anticipation and consumption of food in such trained rats on the plasma and brain concentrations of 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha,5 alpha-TH PROG) and 3 alpha,21-dihydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha,5 alpha-TH DOC), two potent endogenous positive modulators of type A receptors for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The abundance of these neuroactive steroids was increased in both the cerebral cortex and plasma of the rats during both food anticipation and consumption. In contrast, the concentration of their precursor, progesterone, was increased in the brain only during food consumption, whereas it was increased in plasma only during food anticipation. Intraperitoneal administration of the selective agonist abecarnil (0.1 mg/kg) 40 min before food presentation prevented the increase in the brain levels of 3 alpha,5 alpha-TH PROG and 3 alpha,5 alpha-TH DOC during food anticipation but not that associated with consumption. The change in emotional state associated with food anticipation may thus result in an increase in the plasma and brain levels of 3 alpha,5 alpha-TH PROG and 3 alpha,5 alpha-TH DOC in a manner sensitive to the activation of GABA(A) receptor-mediated neurotransmission. A different mechanism, insensitive to activation of such transmission, may underlie the changes in the concentrations of these neuroactive steroids during food consumption. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc