Logistic Barriers to U.S.–Mexico Grain and Soybean Trade

Fourteen years after the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), border-crossing restrictions still remain with Mexico. Although studies have analyzed the impact of NAFTA trade liberalization, there has only been limited research on effects of informal trade barriers on U.S.–Mexico grain and soybean flows. This paper quantitatively measures the impact of logistic barriers impeding U.S.–Mexico grain and soybean trade. A conditional model testing for the presence of asymmetries in grain trade suggests that logistic barriers and transshipments are correlated. Econometric analysis rejects the null hypoInternational Relations/Trade,

Logistic Barriers to U.S.–Mexico Grain and Soybean Trade

Fourteen years after the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), border-crossing restrictions still remain with Mexico. Although studies have analyzed the impact of NAFTA trade liberalization, there has only been limited research on effects of informal trade barriers on U.S.–Mexico grain and soybean flows. This paper quantitatively measures the impact of logistic barriers impeding U.S.–Mexico grain and soybean trade. A conditional model testing for the presence of asymmetries in grain trade suggests that logistic barriers and transshipments are correlated. Econometric analysis rejects the null hyp

Synthesis of ^197m/gHg labelled gold nanoparticles for targeted radionuclide therapy

Meitner-Auger-electron emitters have a promising potential for targeted radionuclide therapy of cancer because of their short range and the high linear energy transfer of Meitner-Auger-electrons (MAE). One promising MAE candidate is 197m/gHg with its half-life of 23.8 » h and 64.1 » h, respectively, and high MAE yield. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that are labelled with 197m/gHg could be a helpful tool for radiation treatment of glioblastoma multiforme when infused into the surgical cavity after resection to prevent recurrence. To produce such AuNPs, 197m/gHg was embedded into pristine AuNPs. Two different syntheses were tested starting from irradiated gold containing trace amounts of 197m/gHg. When sodium citrate was used as reducing agent, no 197m/gHg labelled AuNPs were formed, but with tannic acid, 197m/gHg labeled AuNPs were produced. The method was optimized by neutralizing the pH (pH = 7) of the Au/197m/gHg solution, which led to labelled AuNPs with a size of 12.3 ± 2.0 » nm as measured by transmission electron microscopy. The labelled AuNPs had a concentration of 50 » μg (gold)/mL with an activity of 151 ± 93 » kBq/mL (197gHg, time corrected to the end of bombardment). Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.RST/Applied Radiation & Isotope