Offshore Caissons on Porous Saturated Soil

While currently available methods of dynamic soil-foundation interaction idealize the soil as a continuum, this paper presents a general theory to obtain the dynamic response of offshore caissons resting on a saturated or nearly saturated poroelastic medium. The model, based on Biot\u27s theory, considers the compressibility of both solid and fluid phase and assumes that the fluid flow is governed by Darcy\u27s Law for an isotropic medium. Results are presented as plots of normalized amplitudes of displacement load or rotation-moment ratios for a rigid strip founded on a dense coarse sand. The results demonstrate that fluid compressibility, which is primarily a function of the degree of saturation, has an important effect on rocking motions. Soil permeability appears to have a rather minor effect on the response

Wages and Higher Education Participation

The paper develops a model for the screening mechanism for higher education, within an adverse selection framework. Specifically it examines the effect of wage earned by high school graduates on higher education participation. The model pinpoints a positive relation between the “high school” wage and the number of candidates entered in higher education with positive influences on the quality of selection mechanism. An empirical examination is conducted, using U.S. data, in order to investigate the validity of our analytical results

Wages and Higher Education Participation

The paper develops a model for the screening mechanism for higher education, within an adverse selection framework. Specifically it examines the effect of wage earned by high school graduates on higher education participation. The model pinpoints a positive relation between the “high school” wage and the number of candidates entered in higher education with positive influences on the quality of selection mechanism. An empirical examination is conducted, using U.S. data, in order to investigate the validity of our analytical results

Comprehensive analysis of drugs to treat SARS‑CoV‑2 infection: Mechanistic insights into current COVID‑19 therapies (Review)

The major impact produced by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) focused many researchers attention to find treatments that can suppress transmission or ameliorate the disease. Despite the very fast and large flow of scientific data on possible treatment solutions, none have yet demonstrated unequivocal clinical utility against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19). This work represents an exhaustive and critical review of all available data on potential treatments for COVID‑19, highlighting their mechanistic characteristics and the strategy development rationale. Drug repurposing, also known as drug repositioning, and target based methods are the most used strategies to advance therapeutic solutions into clinical practice. Current in silico, in vitro and in vivo evidence regarding proposed treatments are summarized providing strong support for future research efforts

Marine Strategy Framework Directive - Task Group 3 Report - Commercially exploited fish and shellfish

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) (MSFD) requires that the European Commission (by 15 July 2010) should lay down criteria and methodological standards to allow consistency in approach in evaluating the extent to which Good Environmental Status (GES) is being achieved. ICES and JRC were contracted to provide scientific support for the Commission in meeting this obligation. A total of 10 reports have been prepared relating to the descriptors of GES listed in Annex I of the Directive. Eight reports have been prepared by groups of independent experts coordinated by JRC and ICES in response to this contract. In addition, reports for two descriptors (Contaminants in fish and other seafood and Marine Litter) were written by expert groups coordinated by DG SANCO and IFREMER respectively. A Task Group was established for each of the qualitative Descriptors. Each Task Group consisted of selected experts providing experience related to the four marine regions (the Baltic Sea, the Northeast Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea) and an appropriate scope of relevant scientific expertise. Observers from the Regional Seas Conventions were also invited to each Task Group to help ensure the inclusion of relevant work by those Conventions. This is the report of Task Group 3 Commercially exploited fish and shellfish.JRC.DG.G.4-Maritime affair

Pengaruh proporsi tepung labu kuning dan tepung terigu terhadap sifat fisikokimia dan organoleptik cake kukus

Labu kuning kaya akan β-karoten, gula, dan serat. Upaya diversifikasi pengolahan labu kuning adalah tepung labu kuning. Tepung labu kuning dapat dimanfaatkan dalam pembuatan cake kukus sebagai bahan pensubstitusi tepung terigu. Penggunaan tepung labu kuning diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kadar β-karoten dalam cake kukus. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan proporsi tepung labu kuning dan tepung terigu yang tepat untuk menghasilkan cake kukus dengan sifat fisikokimia dan organoleptik yang dapat diterima oleh konsumen. Rancangan penelitian yang digunakan adalah Rancangan Acak Kelompok dengan satu faktor, yaitu faktor proporsi tepung labu kuning dan tepung terigu dengan lima level, yaitu: 0%:100%; 10%:90%; 20%:80%; 30%:70%; 40%:60%, yang diulang sebanyak lima kali. Parameter pengujian meliputi volume spesifik, firmness, dan organoleptik kesukaan warna, kemudahan digigit, moistness, dan rasa. Data dianalisis dengan ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) pada α = 5% untuk mengetahui ada tidaknya pengaruh proporsi tepung labu kuning dan tepung terigu terhadap sifat fisikokimia dan organoleptik cake kukus. Apabila terdapat pengaruh nyata maka dilanjutkan dengan uji DMRT (Duncan's Multiple Range Test) pada α = 5%. Penentuan perlakuan terbaik dilakukan dengan uji pembobotan. Cake kukus dengan perlakuan terbaik diuji kadar β-karoten. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan proporsi tepung labu kuning : tepung terigu memberikan pengaruh nyata (α = 5%) terhadap volume spesifik, firmness, dan tingkat kesukaan terhadap warna, kemudahan digigit, moistness, dan rasa. Semakin besar proporsi tepung labu kuning, semakin kecil nilai volume spesifik, firmness, dan kesukaan warna cake, namun semakin besar nilai kesukaan kemudahan digigit, moistness, dan rasa cake. Proporsi tepung labu kuning : tepung terigu 20%:80% merupakan perlakuan terbaik dengan kadar β-karoten sebesar 8,569 µg β- karoten/g cake kukus

Relations between lipoprotein(a) concentrations, LPA genetic variants, and the risk of mortality in patients with established coronary heart disease: a molecular and genetic association study

Background: Lipoprotein(a) concentrations in plasma are associated with cardiovascular risk in the general population. Whether lipoprotein(a) concentrations or LPA genetic variants predict long-term mortality in patients with established coronary heart disease remains less clear. Methods: We obtained data from 3313 patients with established coronary heart disease in the Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study. We tested associations of tertiles of lipoprotein(a) concentration in plasma and two LPA single-nucleotide polymorphisms ([SNPs] rs10455872 and rs3798220) with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality by Cox regression analysis and with severity of disease by generalised linear modelling, with and without adjustment for age, sex, diabetes diagnosis, systolic blood pressure, BMI, smoking status, estimated glomerular filtration rate, LDL-cholesterol concentration, and use of lipid-lowering therapy. Results for plasma lipoprotein(a) concentrations were validated in five independent studies involving 10 195 patients with established coronary heart disease. Results for genetic associations were replicated through large-scale collaborative analysis in the GENIUS-CHD consortium, comprising 106 353 patients with established coronary heart disease and 19 332 deaths in 22 studies or cohorts. Findings: The median follow-up was 9·9 years. Increased severity of coronary heart disease was associated with lipoprotein(a) concentrations in plasma in the highest tertile (adjusted hazard radio [HR] 1·44, 95% CI 1·14–1·83) and the presence of either LPA SNP (1·88, 1·40–2·53). No associations were found in LURIC with all-cause mortality (highest tertile of lipoprotein(a) concentration in plasma 0·95, 0·81–1·11 and either LPA SNP 1·10, 0·92–1·31) or cardiovascular mortality (0·99, 0·81–1·2 and 1·13, 0·90–1·40, respectively) or in the validation studies. Interpretation: In patients with prevalent coronary heart disease, lipoprotein(a) concentrations and genetic variants showed no associations with mortality. We conclude that these variables are not useful risk factors to measure to predict progression to death after coronary heart disease is established. Funding: Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technical Development (AtheroRemo and RiskyCAD), INTERREG IV Oberrhein Programme, Deutsche Nierenstiftung, Else-Kroener Fresenius Foundation, Deutsche Stiftung für Herzforschung, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Saarland University, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Willy Robert Pitzer Foundation, and Waldburg-Zeil Clinics Isny