How Harmful are Adaptation Restrictions

The dominant assumption in economic models of climate policy remains that adaptation will be implemented in an optimal manner. There are, however, several reasons why optimal levels of adaptation may not be attainable. This paper investigates the effects of suboptimal levels of adaptation, i.e. adaptation restrictions, on the composition and level of climate change costs and on welfare. Several adaptation restrictions are identified and then simulated in a revised DICE model, extended with adaptation (AD-DICE). We find that especially substantial over-investment in adaptation can be very harmful due to sharply increasing marginal adaptation costs. Furthermore the potential of mitigation to offset suboptimal adaptation is investigated. When adaptation is not possible at extreme levels of climate change, it is cost-effective to use more stringent mitigation policies in order to keep climate change limited, thereby making adaptation possible. Furthermore not adjusting the optimal level of mitigation to these adaptation restrictions may double the costs of adaptation restrictions, and thus in general it is very harmful to ignore existing restrictions on adaptation when devising (efficient) climate policies.Integrated Assessment Modelling, Adaptation, Climate Change

The Role of Proactive Adaptation in International Climate Change Mitigation Agreements

This paper investigates the role of proactive adaptation in international mitigation coalition formation. Adaptation is introduced into a three stage cartel game of coalition formation. We analytically derive the optimal level of mitigation and proactive adaptation for the singletons and coalition members. We introduce the AD-STACO model which is constructed based on the STACO model, which is an applied three-stage cartel formation model with 12 heterogenous regions. Simulating all possible coalitions (4084) and checking for internal and external stability, we investigate how different levels of proactive adaptation will affect the payoffs in Grand coalition and the incentives to freeride. We examine which stable coalitions are found with different levels of proactive adaptation and whether regions can gain from overadaptation in the best performing stable coalition. We find that though payoffs increase in the Grand coalition with lower adaptation, incentives to leave increase. Coalition members can increase their payoffs through overadaptation.N/A

AD-DICE: an implementation of adaptation in the DICE model

Integrated Assessment Models (IAMS) have helped us over the past decade to understand the interactions between the environment and the economy in the context of climate change. Although it has also long been recognized that adaptation is a powerful and necessary tool to combat the adverse effects of climate change, most IAMs have not explicitly included the option of adaptation in combating climate change. This paper adds to the IAM and climate change literature by explicitly including adaptation in an IAM, thereby making the trade-offs between adaptation and mitigation visible. Specifically, a theoretical framework is created and used to implement adaptation as a decision variable into the DICE model. We use our new AD-DICE model to derive the adaptation cost functions implicit in the DICE model. In our set-up, adaptation and mitigation decisions are separable and AD-DICE can mimic DICE when adaptation is optimal. We find that our specification of the adaptation costs is robust with respect to the mitigation policy scenarios. Our numerical results show that adaptation is a powerful option to combat climate change, as it reduces most of the potential costs of climate change in earlier periods, while mitigation does so in later periods.integrated assessment modelling, adaptation, climate change

International Cooperation on Climate Change Adaptation from an Economic Perspective

This paper investigates the economic incentives of countries to cooperate on international adaptation financing. Adaptation is generally implicitly incorporated in the climate change damage functions as used in Integrated Assessment Models. We replace the implicit decision on adaptation with explicit adaptation in a multi-regional setting by using an adjusted RICE model. We show that making adaptation explicit will not affect the optimal mitigation path when adaptation is set at its optimal level. Sub-optimal adaptation will, however, change the optimal mitigation path. Furthermore this paper studies for different forms of cooperation what effects international adaptation transfers will have on (i) domestic adaptation and (ii) the optimal mitigation path. Adaptation transfers will fully crowd out domestic adaptation in a first best setting. Transfers will decrease overall mitigation in our numerical simulations. An analytical framework is used to analyse the most important mechanisms and a numerical model is used to assess the magnitude of effects.Climate Change, Adaptation Funding, Integrated Assessment Modeling

Endoscopic Camera Control by Head Movements for Thoracic Surgery

In current video-assisted thoracic surgery, the endoscopic camera is operated by an assistant of the surgeon, which has several disadvantages. This paper describes a system which enables the surgeon to control the endoscopic camera without the help of an assistant. The system is controlled using head movements, so the surgeon can use his/her hands to oper- ate the instruments. The system is based on a flexible endoscope, which leaves more space for the surgeon to operate his/her instruments compared to a rigid endoscope. The endoscopic image is shown either on a monitor or by means of a head- mounted display. Several trial sessions were performed with an anatomical model. Results indicate that the developed concept may provide a solution to some of the problems currently encountered in video-assisted thoracic surgery. The use of a head-mounted display turned out to be a valuable addition since it ensures the image is always in front of the surgeon’s eyes

International Cooperation on Climate Change Adaptation from an Economic Perspective. ESRI WP323. October 2009

What role could a property tax play in broadening the Irish tax base? Could a recurrent tax on immovable property provide greater stability than a system of stamp duties, while removing obstacles to mobility? What about the relationship between a property tax and ability to pay – should or could the bills facinThis paper investigates the economic incentives of countries to cooperate on international adaptation financing. Adaptation is generally implicitly incorporated in the climate change damage functions as used in Integrated Assessment Models. We replace the implicit decision on adaptation with explicit adaptation in a multi-regional setting by using an adjusted RICE model. We show that making adaptation explicit will not affect the optimal mitigation path when adaptation is set at its optimal level. Sub-optimal adaptation will, however, change the optimal mitigation path. Furthermore this paper studies for different forms of cooperation what effects international adaptation transfers will have on (i) domestic adaptation and (ii) the optimal mitigation path. Adaptation transfers will fully crowd out domestic adaptation in a first best setting. Transfers will decrease overall mitigation in our numerical simulations. An analytical framework is used to analyse the most important mechanisms and a numerical model is used to assess the magnitude of effects.g those with valuable houses and little income be reduced or eliminated without making a property tax a quasi-income tax? These are among the questions explored in this paper, which provides a broad picture of the issues, illustrated by detailed microsimulation of the impact of specific forms of property tax

The role of DNA sequence in nucleosome breathing

Roughly 3/4 of human genomes are sequestered by nucleosomes, DNA spools with a protein core, dictating a broad range of biological processes, ranging from gene regulation, recombination, and replication, to chromosome condensation. Nucleosomes are dynamical structures and temporarily expose wrapped DNA through spontaneous unspooling from either end, a process called site exposure or nucleosome breathing. Here we ask how this process is influenced by the mechanical properties of the wrapped DNA, which is known to depend on the underlying base pair sequence. Using a coarse-grained nucleosome model we calculate the accessibility profiles for site exposure. We find that the process is very sensitive to sequence effects, so that evolution could potentially tune the accessibility of nucleosomal DNA and would only need a small number of mutations to do so

Preliminary inconclusive results of a randomised double blinded cross-over pilot trial in long-term-care dwelling elderly assessing the feasibility of stochastic resonance whole-body vibration

Background This randomised double-blinded controlled cross-over pilot study examined feasibility and preliminary effects of stochastic resonance whole-body vibration training applied in long term care elderly. Findings Nine long term care elderly were recruited and randomized to group A (6 Hz, Noise 4 SR-WBV/ Sham) or B (Sham / 1 Hz, Noise 1 SR-WBV). Feasibility outcomes included recruitment rate, attrition, adherence and safety. Physical performance outcomes focused on the Expanded Timed Get Up-and-Go (ETGUG) test, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and lower extremity muscle strength. Of 24 subjects initially approached 9 started and 5 completed the study resulting in 37.5 recruitment, 44.4 attrition and 81.7 % adherence rates. No adverse events were reported. There is more evidence of improved performance levels in the SR-WBV treatment group with significant differences in average change for isometric rate of force development (p = 0.016 left leg; p = 0.028 right leg). No statistical significance was reached for other parameters. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that the used training protocol for long term care elderly is feasible, however, requires more closely monitoring of participants; e.g. needs protocol modifications that target improved compliance with the intervention in this setting. SR-WBV shows beneficial effects on physical performance for those adhering to the intervention. Trial registration U.S. National Institutes of Health NCT01543243 Physical activity (PA) for elderly is one of the major elements for general health prevention [1] and inactive or sedentary elderly should increase their PA [2]. Despite the known benefits of PA, residents living in long-term care (LTC) are relatively sedentary [3, 4]. Low baseline fitness and mobility levels in (pre-)frail elderly should be considered when starting exercise and this exercise should be adapted to the physical capabilities of these individuals [5]. Whole body vibration (WBV) seems a safe and beneficial type of balance exercise [6, 7]. Pilot studies showed that stochastic resonance WBV (SR-WBV) in (untrained) elderly is both safe and feasible [8, 9]. SR-WBV might also be valuable for (pre-)frail elderly in LTC where the neuromuscular systems of the trainees might not be able withstanding higher loading and long training sessions [8]. However, confirmatory results of such positive effects of WBV in LTC settings is not available and no evidence concerning the feasibility of SR-WBV in LTC dwelling elderly exists. This study tested the feasibility and effects of SR-WBV training in LTC elderly with the aim to (I) evaluate the intervention process and the ability to recruit and retain LTC elderly for such an intervention, and (II) assess the impact of 4-week SR-WBV on physical performance. Finding

Manual muscle testing and hand-held dynamometry in people with inflammatory myopathy : an intra- and interrater reliability and validity study

Manual muscle testing (MMT) and hand-held dynamometry (HHD) are commonly used in people with inflammatory myopathy (IM), but their clinimetric properties have not yet been sufficiently studied. To evaluate the reliability and validity of MMT and HHD, maximum isometric strength was measured in eight muscle groups across three measurement events. To evaluate reliability of HHD, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC), the standard error of measurements (SEM) and smallest detectable changes (SDC) were calculated. To measure reliability of MMT linear Cohen`s Kappa was computed for single muscle groups and ICC for total score. Additionally, correlations between MMT8 and HHD were evaluated with Spearman Correlation Coefficients. Fifty people with myositis (56±14 years, 76% female) were included in the study. Intra-and interrater reliability of HHD yielded excellent ICCs (0.75-0.97) for all muscle groups, except for interrater reliability of ankle extension (0.61). The corresponding SEMs% ranged from 8 to 28% and the SDCs% from 23 to 65%. MMT8 total score revealed excellent intra-and interrater reliability (ICC>0.9). Intrarater reliability of single muscle groups was substantial for shoulder and hip abduction, elbow and neck flexion, and hip extension (0.64-0.69); moderate for wrist (0.53) and knee extension (0.49) and fair for ankle extension (0.35). Interrater reliability was moderate for neck flexion (0.54) and hip abduction (0.44); fair for shoulder abduction, elbow flexion, wrist and ankle extension (0.20-0.33); and slight for knee extension (0.08). Correlations between the two tests were low for wrist, knee, ankle, and hip extension; moderate for elbow flexion, neck flexion and hip abduction; and good for shoulder abduction. In conclusion, the MMT8 total score is a reliable assessment to consider general muscle weakness in people with myositis but not for single muscle groups. In contrast, our results confirm that HHD can be recommended to evaluate strength of single muscle groups

Mitophagy induction improves salivary gland stem/progenitor cell function by reducing senescence after irradiation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer often experience a decline in their quality of life due to the co-irradiation of salivary glands. Radiation-induced cellular senescence is a key factor contributing to salivary gland dysfunction. Interestingly, mitochondrial dysfunction and cellular senescence have been reported to be strongly interconnected and thus implicated in several aging-related diseases. This study aims to investigate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in senescence induction in salivary gland stem/progenitor cells after irradiation.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dose of 7 Gy photons was used to irradiate mouse salivary gland organoids. Senescent markers and mitochondrial function were assessed using rt-qPCR, western blot analysis, SA-β-Gal staining and flow cytometry analysis. Mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins were detected by western blot analysis while Mdivi-1 and MFI8 were used to modulate the mitochondrial fission process. To induce mitophagy, organoids were treated with Urolithin A and PMI and subsequently stem/progenitor cell self-renewal capacity was assessed as organoid forming efficiency.RESULTS: Irradiation led to increased senescence and accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. This was accompanied by a strong downregulation of mitochondrial fission-related proteins and mitophagy-related genes. After irradiation, treatment with the mitophagy inducer Urolithin A attenuated the senescent phenotype and improved organoid growth and stem/progenitor cell self-renewal capacity.CONCLUSION: This study shows the important interplay between senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction after irradiation. Importantly, activation of mitophagy improved salivary gland stem/progenitor cell function thereby providing a novel therapeutic strategy to restore the regenerative capacity of salivary glands following irradiation.</p