A gentle introduction to the discrete Laplace method for estimating Y-STR haplotype frequencies

Y-STR data simulated under a Fisher-Wright model of evolution with a single-step mutation model turns out to be well predicted by a method using discrete Laplace distributions.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Policy Means for Sustainable Energy Scenarios

Consequences of global warming are appearing much faster than assumed just a few years ago and irreversible ”tipping points” are few years ahead (IPCC, 2007; Hansen et al., 2008; Kopp et al., 2009). Despite long and tedious preparations for COP15 in December 2009 the final result (Copenhagen Accord, 2009) lacked sufficient concrete commitments for reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs) after 2012 when the Kyoto Protocol expires. Human activities in their present form are strongly dependent on the supply of energy. A dominant part of the global energy supply is based on fossil fuels and a dominant part of the climate change is due to emission of CO2 from the use of fossil fuels. For simplicity, this paper focuses on CO2 emission from fossil fuels, but CO2 from deforestation as well as methane (CH4), laughing gas (N2O) and a number of industrial greenhouse gases should be included in a more comprehensive analysis. The paper will focus mainly on non-technological strategies for mitigation of climate change addressing such questions as national and international equity, limits to growth, population policies, and alternative employment policies

Potential therapeutic application of bacteriophages and phage-derived endolysins as alternative treatment of bovine mastitis

The increase in bacterial drug resistance causes major difficulties in the clinical treatment of a growing number of bacterial infections worldwide. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop novel anti-bacterial agents to control these resistant pathogens and to complement the currently used antibiotics. Mastitis is the most prevalent disease impacting dairy cattle, and therefore one of the costliest diseases in the global dairy industry. The excessive use of curative as well as preventive antibiotics in this sector entails a real risk for the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, these traditional antimicrobial agents are often ineffective and lead to residues in the milk, which can affect dairy product consumers. As an alternative therapeutic approach, bacteriophages and phage-encoded endolysins have been proposed and are currently (re)investigated as potential antibacterial agents against mastitis

The research performance of the European Commission’s Science and Knowledge Service, Joint Research Centre (2007-2015) - A bibliometric analysis

This report presents an assessment of the JRC's scientific and technical research activities in the period 2007-2015, focusing on research outputs and citation impact. The aim of the report is to inform a panel of independent experts, who will carry out an implementation review of the JRC half way the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020. The report provides information on the number of JRC research publications and the scientific impact of those publications, based on data and metrics derived from Thomson Reuter’s InCites platform and the Web of Science database.JRC.B.7-Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growt