239 research outputs found

    GHG Mitigation Potentials in Annex I Countries. Comparison of Model Estimates for 2020

    Get PDF
    Robust quantification of the future potentials and costs for mitigating greenhouse gases in different countries could provide important information to the current negotiations on a post-2012 climate agreement. However, such information is not readily available from statistical sources, but requires the use of complex models that combine economic, technological and social aspects. In March 2009, the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) invited leading modelling teams to a comparison of available model estimates of GHG mitigation potentials and costs in the Annex I countries for the year 2020. Eight modelling teams provided input to this comparison exercise. Although at face value estimates of mitigation potentials and costs show wide variation across models differences (i) in assumptions on the baseline economic development, (ii) in the definition of which mitigation measures are considered part of the baseline, and (iii) in the time window assumed for the implementation of mitigation measures explain much of the variation in model results. The paper presents a check-list of factors that need to be considered when interpreting model results. Once corrected for these key factors, two clusters of cost curves emerge for the year 2020: Models that include consumer demand changes and macro-economic feedbacks agree on a mitigation potential of up to 40% reduction below 2005 levels (that is approximately 45% below the 1990 level) for total Annex I emissions in 2020 for a carbon price of 50 to 150 US-$/tCO2. Bottom-up models that restrict their analysis to technical measures show only half of this potential. The model intercomparison demonstrates that future economic development has a strong impact on the eforts necessary to achieve given emission reduction levels. Any delay in the start of implementation of mitigation measures will reduce the mitigation potential that is achievable in the near term and inrease the costs. The introduction of measures that mobilize demand adjustments through structural or behavioural changes may increase the short-term mitigation potential significantly

    Cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes of dogs and cats at a veterinary teaching hospital before and after publication of the RECOVER guidelines.

    Get PDF
    OBJECTIVES To describe and compare cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcomes at a Swiss veterinary teaching hospital before and after publication of the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 2018 and 2020, hospital staff underwent various types of yearly Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation trainings. Canine and feline cardiopulmonary resuscitation events during that period (post-Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation) and between 2010 and 2012 (pre-Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation) were identified and animal, arrest and outcome variables recorded retrospectively. Factors associated with return of spontaneous circulation were determined using multi-variable logistic regression, odds ratios (95% confidence interval) generated, and significance set at P < 0.05. RESULTS Eighty-one animals were included in the pre-Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation group and 190 in the post-Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation group. Twenty-three percent in the pre-Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation group and 28% in the post-Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation group achieved return of spontaneous circulation and 1% and 4% survived to hospital discharge, respectively. Patients undergoing anaesthesia [odds ratio 4.26 (1.76 to 10.27)], elective [odds ratio 5.16 (1.06 to 25.02)] or emergent surgery [odds ratio 3.09 (1.20 to 8.00)], or experiencing cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) due to arrhythmias [odds ratio 4.31 (1.44 to 12.93)] had higher odds of return of spontaneous circulation, while those with unknown cause of CPA [odds ratio 0.25 (0.08 to 0.78)] had lower odds. Undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the post-Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation period was not statistically significantly associated with return of spontaneous circulation [odds ratio 1.38 (0.68 to 2.79)]. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Unchanged odds of return of spontaneous circulation in the post-Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation period could suggest that once-yearly cardiopulmonary resuscitation training is insufficient, effects of animal and tertiary referral hospital variables confounded results, guideline benefit is limited, or that compliance during clinical cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts is too poor for guideline recommendations to have a positive impact. More extensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation training protocols should be established, and the compliance with and outcome benefits of a Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation-based cardiopulmonary resuscitation approach re-evaluated prospectively

    Impacts of good practice policies on regional and global greenhouse gas emissions

    Get PDF
    The report looks at the impact of "good practice"emission reduction policies in nine different areas globally and across six countries: China, Brazil, India, the US, Russia and Japan. These include renewable energy, a variety of energy efficiency standards (buildings, car fuel efficiecy, appliances and lighting, industry), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC.s), emissions from fossil fuel production, electric cars and forestry. The authors looked at the most ambitious "good practice" policies around the world that are being implemented now, and calculated the difference these would make if everybody were to apply them. If all governments follow those governments that currently adopt the best climate policies in just nin different areas, they could reduce emissions close to the levels needed to stay on track to hold global warming below 2 degrees C. The implementation of good practice policies is projected to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions at 49-50 GtCO2e by 2020, and decrease to 44- 47 GtCO2e by 2030- close to the 2 degrees C emissions range (30-44 GtCO2e) by 2030. Direct replication of good practice policies is projected to halt emissions growth in most regions sinificantly before 2030. In contrast, current policies are expected to see emissions to increase to around 54 GtCO2e by 2020 and 59-60 GtCO2e by 2030

    PET imaging of tumor glycolysis downstream of hexokinase through noninvasive measurement of pyruvate kinase M2

    Get PDF
    Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to meet increased biosynthetic demands, commensurate with elevated rates of replication. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) catalyzes the final and rate-limiting step in tumor glycolysis, controlling the balance between energy production and the synthesis of metabolic precursors. We report here the synthesis and evaluation of a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, [(11)C]DASA-23, that provides a direct noninvasive measure of PKM2 expression in preclinical models of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In vivo, orthotopic U87 and GBM39 patient-derived tumors were clearly delineated from the surrounding normal brain tissue by PET imaging, corresponding to exclusive tumor-associated PKM2 expression. In addition, systemic treatment of mice with the PKM2 activator TEPP-46 resulted in complete abrogation of the PET signal in intracranial GBM39 tumors. Together, these data provide the basis for the clinical evaluation of imaging agents that target this important gatekeeper of tumor glycolysis

    Assessment of tumor redox status through (S)-4-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid positron emission tomography imaging of system xc- activity

    Get PDF
    The cell's endogenous antioxidant system is vital to maintenance of redox homeostasis. Despite its central role in normal and pathophysiology, no non-invasive tools exist to measure this system in patients. The cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc- maintains the balance between intracellular reactive oxygen species and antioxidant production through the provision of cystine, a key precursor in glutathione biosynthesis. Here we show that tumor cell retention of a system xc--specific positron emission tomography radiotracer, (S)-4-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid ([18F]FSPG), decreases in proportion to levels of oxidative stress following treatment with a range of redox-active compounds. The decrease in [18F]FSPG retention correlated with a depletion of intracellular cystine resulting from increased de novo glutathione biosynthesis, shown through [U-13C6, U-15N2]cystine isotopic tracing. In vivo, treatment with the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin decreased [18F]FSPG tumor uptake in a mouse model of ovarian cancer, coinciding with markers of oxidative stress but preceding tumor shrinkage and decreased glucose utilization. Having already been used in pilot clinical trials, [18F]FSPG PET could be rapidly translated to the clinic as an early redox indicator of tumor response to treatment

    An Alternate Method of Classifying Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis Based on High-Attenuation Mucus

    Get PDF
    Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is classified radiologically based on the findings of central bronchiectasis (CB) and other radiologic features (ORF). However, the long-term clinical significance of these classifications remains unknown. We hypothesized that the immunological activity and outcomes of ABPA could be predicted on HRCT chest finding of high-attenuation mucus (HAM), a marker of inflammatory activity. In this study, we evaluate the severity and clinical outcomes of ABPA with different radiological classifications. specific IgE levels, eosinophil count) severity of the disease and clinical outcomes in various classifications were analyzed.Of the 234 (123 males, 111 females; mean age, 34.1 years) patients, 55 (23.5%) had normal HRCT, 179 (76.5%) had CB, 49 (20.9%) had HAM, and 27 (11.5%) had ORF. All immunological markers were consistently higher in the HAM classification, while in other classifications these findings were inconsistent. On multivariate analysis, the factors predicting frequent relapses were presence of HAM (OR 7.38; 95% CI, 3.21–17.0) and CB (OR 3.93; 95% CI, 1.63–9.48) after adjusting for ORF.The classification scheme based on HAM most consistently predicts immunological severity in ABPA. Central bronchiectasis and HAM are independent predictors of recurrent relapses in ABPA. Hence, HAM should be employed in the radiological classification of ABPA
    • …
    corecore