Too Embedded to Fail: the ECB and the Necessity of Calculating Europe

Calling into question the meaning of "independence" in contemporary central banking, the present article investigates the social origins and post-crisis persistence of the European Central Bank's (ECB) core macroeconomic model, despite broad acknowledgement of its failure to anticipate the financial crisis. We trace the making of the model; the process by which it became dominant in European central banking and beyond; criticism in the wake of its failure to predict the financial-cum-Eurozone crisis; and its persistence, nonetheless, in the crisis’ aftermath. We argue that the formation, meanings, and persistence of the ECB's model cannot be understood as effects of the bank's independence or the model’s intrinsic qualities. Rather, the model's trajectory is best understood in light of the ECB’s transnationally embedded social location in international finance, professional economics, and European governing institutions. The necessity of calculating Europe, irrespective of the accuracy or predictive strength of the model being used, has less to do with the ECB's independence from domestic politics and more to do with its transnational embeddedness - or, stated differently, that the ECB is, in a sense, too embedded to fail

Perioperative hazards in myotonic dystrophy

A 32-year-old man with myotonic dystrophy underwent a thoracotomy for removal of a mediastinal thymoma. Pre-operative examination revealed features of myotonic dystrophy, the only other abnormality was mild restrictive pulmonary disease. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone and maintained with enflurane, nitrous oxide, oxygen and curare. Following surgery, the patient was mechanically ventilated for several hours and remained intubated for 9 hours. The anaesthesia and surgery were tolerated well; however, postoperative complications included refractory dysrhythmias, hypoxia, pneumoccocal pneumonia and pulmonary emboli. More intensive preoperative pulmonary evaluation and physiotherapy coupled with more aggressive postoperative pulmonary care might have resulted in a smoother recovery phase.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75595/1/j.1365-2044.1980.tb03827.x.pd

Altered dietary salt intake for people with chronic kidney disease (Review)

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Echolocation detections and digital video surveys provide reliable estimates of the relative density of harbour porpoises

Acknowledgements We would like to thank Erik Rexstad and Rob Williams for useful reviews of this manuscript. The collection of visual and acoustic data was funded by the UK Department of Energy & Climate Change, the Scottish Government, Collaborative Offshore Wind Research into the Environment (COWRIE) and Oil & Gas UK. Digital aerial surveys were funded by Moray Offshore Renewables Ltd and additional funding for analysis of the combined datasets was provided by Marine Scotland. Collaboration between the University of Aberdeen and Marine Scotland was supported by MarCRF. We thank colleagues at the University of Aberdeen, Moray First Marine, NERI, Hi-Def Aerial Surveying Ltd and Ravenair for essential support in the field, particularly Tim Barton, Bill Ruck, Rasmus Nielson and Dave Rutter. Thanks also to Andy Webb, David Borchers, Len Thomas, Kelly McLeod, David L. Miller, Dinara Sadykova and Thomas Cornulier for advice on survey design and statistical approache. Data Accessibility Data are available from the Dryad Digital Repository: http://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.cf04gPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Development of ultrasonic guided wave techniques for examination of non-cylindrical components

AbstractIn the past ten years ultrasonic guided wave systems have become widely used for the rapid large-scale examination of pipes and pipelines in pressure containing systems, for the detection of corrosion and other degradation in service. As a result, the characteristics of the guided wave modes existing in pipes have been studied extensively and are well understood. Advantage is taken of the fact that a pipe is essentially a one-dimensional object and that guided waves travelling along it will return to the sensor location for detection. Guided waves may also be applied to other components which are non-cylindrical, either those of constant cross-section such as railway rails or structural I beams, or constructions consisting of plates. However, in both cases the guided wave systems are more complex than in simple cylinders and successful application of this technique for large scale examination of these constructions requires further development of the understanding of the properties of the waves propagating and regularities of their generation. This paper describes work carried out under the EU-funded LRUCM project to develop techniques for detection of corrosion and cracking in railway rails and structural sheet piles used to retain earth embankments, river banks etc. The work described involved identification of wave modes present, derivation of dispersion curves to describe propagation behaviour and evaluation of experimental data to explain mode conversions and interactions with interfaces observed in the results

Assessment of Elkhorn Coral Populations and Associated Herbivores in Akumal, Mexico

Coral decline in the Caribbean is marked by the loss of habitat-forming corals, such as elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata). Elkhorn coral recovery has been isolated and patchy, but recently a “re-sheeting” phenomenon, in which elkhorn tissue grows over standing dead coral skeletons, was observed along the reefs in the Mexican Yucatán peninsula. Little is known about the ecological factors contributing to “re-sheeting,” but it is hypothesized that grazing from herbivores provides top-down control of algal growth and promotes coral recovery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the status of elkhorn populations in Akumal, Mexico and determine if Diadema urchins or parrotfish populations are associated with higher elkhorn abundance and lower algal cover. To achieve this objective, we surveyed 12 spur and groove reef sites in Akumal, where re-sheeting was recently observed, and measured elkhorn coral and herbivore population metrics. We found that both herbivore groups are associated with increasing elkhorn coral presence and cover, and lower macroalgal cover. Additionally, we tested for sampling bias in counting Diadema urchins and found that a significant difference in urchins counts between paired day and night transects on shallow, high complexity reefs. Our results suggest that historically important herbivore groups may be contributing to the recovery of elkhorn coral in Akumal by facilitating tissue re-sheeting

Judging dairy cattle

1 online resource (PDF, 2 pages)This archival publication may not reflect current scientific knowledge or recommendations. Current information available from the University of Minnesota Extension: https://www.extension.umn.edu.Mudge, J. W.; Wayne, Ralph W.; Wilcox, C. L.. (1962). Judging dairy cattle. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/206822

The promoter from SlREO, a highly-expressed, root-specific Solanum lycopersicum gene, directs expression to cortex of mature roots

Root-specific promoters are valuable tools for targeting transgene expression, but many of those already described have limitations to their general applicability. We present the expression characteristics of SlREO, a novel gene isolated from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). This gene was highly expressed in roots but had a very low level of expression in aerial plant organs. A 2.4-kb region representing the SlREO promoter sequence was cloned upstream of the uidA GUS reporter gene and shown to direct expression in the root cortex. In mature, glasshouse-grown plants this strict root specificity was maintained. Furthermore, promoter activity was unaffected by dehydration or wounding stress but was somewhat suppressed by exposure to NaCl, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. The predicted protein sequence of SlREO contains a domain found in enzymes of the 2-oxoglutarate and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenase superfamily. The novel SlREO promoter has properties ideal for applications requiring strong and specific gene expression in the bulk of tomato root tissue growing in soil, and is also likely to be useful in other Solanaceous crop