The short future of public broadcasting: Replacing digital terrestrial television with internet protocol?

According to recent European estimates, the life expectancy of broadcasting as a free-to-air television platform is not more than 15 years. BBC, Yle and the UK regulator Ofcom have reached this conclusion in their reports about the future of news, media distribution and digital terrestrial television (DTT). Although broadcasting is seen as necessary until 2030, all three assume that DTT can – under certain conditions – be replaced with delivery using internet protocol (IP). However, it seems that the idea of IPTV taking over DTT is just a sophisticated version of “black box fallacy”, driven by the expected growth of the new media ecosystem. The problems in replacing a socio-technological system have largely been neglected

Histochemical characterisation of oocytes of the swordfish <i>Xiphias gladius</i>

This work was partially funded by ICMAN.CSIC and the Spanish projects (MCYT/AGL2005-02478 and AGL2006-13777- CO3-O2/ACU). J.B. Ortiz-Delgado is supported by the Programa Ramón y Cajal (MEC, Spain)

The future of radio is still digital - but which one? Expert perspectives and future scenarios for radio media in 2015

The future of radio is now much less obvious and clear than it appeared 10 years ago. Instead of a transition from analog to digital audio broadcasting (DAB), there is a selection of alternative technological options for digital audio delivery. This article studies how 43 people in key positions related to the radio industry in four European countries and Canada view the future of radio and which delivery technologies they consider will be most successful. In addition, it analyzes the motives and reasons why certain technologies are seen as more promising. Finally, it presents different future scenarios for radio media

Mathematical modeling and nonstandard finite difference scheme analysis for the environmental and spillover transmissions of Avian Influenza A model

This work models, analyzes and assesses the impacts of environmental and spillover transmissions on Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) type A infection formulated in terms of nonlinear ordinary differential system that takes into account five spreading pathways: poultry-to-poultry; environment-to-poultry; poultry-to-human (spillover event); environment-to-human and poultry-to-environment. An in-depth theoretical and numerical analysis of the model is performed as follows. The basic reproduction number is computed and shown to be a sharp threshold for the global asymptotic dynamics of the submodel without recruitment of infected poultry. These results are obtained through the construction of suitable Lyapunov functions and the application of Poincaré-Bendixson combined with Lyapunov-LaSalle techniques. When the infected poultry is brought into the population, the model exhibits only a unique endemic equilibrium whose global asymptotic stability is established using the same techniques mentioned earlier. Further, the model is shown to exhibit a transcritical bifurcation with the value one of the basic reproduction number being the bifurcation parameter threshold. We further prove that during avian influenza outbreaks, the recruitment of infected poultry increases the disease endemic level. We show that the classical Runge-Kutta numerical method fails to preserve the positivity of solutions and alternatively design a nonstandard finite difference scheme (NSFD), which preserves the essential properties of the continuous system. Numerical simulations are implemented to illustrate the theoretical results and assess the role of the environmental and spillover transmissions on the disease.The University of Pretoria Senior Postdoctoral Programmehttps://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cdss202022-03-03hj2021Mathematics and Applied Mathematic

Collagen Type IV Alpha 5 Chain in Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome After Lung Transplant: The First Evidence

Introduction: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the most common form of CLAD and is characterized by airflow limitation and an obstructive spirometry pattern without parenchymal opacities. The protein signature of BOS lesions concerns extracellular matrix organization and aberrant basement membrane composition. In this pilot study, we investigated the presence of COL4A5 in the serum of patients with BOS. Methods: 41 patients who had undergone LTX were enrolled. Of these, 27 developed BOS and 14 (control group) were considered stable at the time of serum sampling. Of BOS patients, serum samples were analysed at the time of BOS diagnosis and before the clinical diagnosis (pre-BOS). COL4A5 levels were detected through the ELISA kit. Results: Serum concentrations of COL4A5 were higher in pre-BOS than in stable patients (40.5 ± 13.9 and 24.8 ± 11.4, respectively, p = 0.048). This protein is not influenced by comorbidities, such as acute rejection or infections, or by therapies. Survival analysis also reveals that a higher level of COL4A5 was also associated with less probability of survival. Our data showed a correlation between concentrations of COL4A5 and FEV1 at the time of diagnosis of BOS. Conclusion: Serum concentrations of COL4A5 can be considered a good prognostic marker due to their association with survival and correlation with functional parameters

Effects of copper on larvae of the marbled crab Pachygrapsus marmoratus (Decapoda, Grapsidae): toxicity test and biochemical marker responses

The importance of trace elements in ecotoxicological investigations is a well-known issue when monitoring polluted areas such as commercial harbors. Copper represents one of the most common metal contaminants, often detected in these areas as it is widely employed in various fields and has many sources of inflow in the marine environment. Pachygrapsus marmoratus is a widespread intertidal crab species that has been extensively studied in ecology, ethology and population genetics. Ecotoxicological studies have also been performed, exclusively on the adult stage. In the present study we investigated the mortality and biochemical (oxidative stress and neurotoxicity) responses of P. marmoratus larvae exposure to environmental relevant concentration of copper. Results showed dose-dependent responses in terms of larval mortality, with a calculated LC50 value of 0.5 mg/L of Cu2+. The LC50 concentration was used as the starting point for subsequent biochemical response evaluation. Results also demonstrated dose-dependent activation of antioxidant systems assuming a compensatory antioxidant activity to prevent higher cellular damage when larvae were exposed to the highest concentrations of copper. Moreover, a significant enhancement of neurotransmitter activities was observed, assuming a possible direct interaction of copper with the enzymes or an increase of free copper ion aliquot into the cells.publishe

Efficacy of acute administration of inhaled argon on traumatic brain injury in mice

BACKGROUND: Whilst there has been progress in supportive treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), specific neuroprotective interventions are lacking. Models of ischaemic heart and brain injury show the therapeutic potential of argon gas, but it is still not known whether inhaled argon (iAr) is protective in TBI. We tested the effects of acute administration of iAr on brain oedema, tissue micro-environmental changes, neurological functions, and structural outcome in a mouse model of TBI. METHODS: Anaesthetised adult C57BL/6J mice were subjected to severe TBI by controlled cortical impact. Ten minutes after TBI, the mice were randomised to 24 h treatments with iAr 70%/O2 30% or air (iCtr). Sensorimotor deficits were evaluated up to 6 weeks post-TBI by three independent tests. Cognitive function was evaluated by Barnes maze test at 4 weeks. MRI was done to examine brain oedema at 3 days and white matter damage at 5 weeks. Microglia/macrophages activation and functional commitment were evaluated at 1 week after TBI by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: iAr significantly accelerated sensorimotor recovery and improved cognitive deficits 1 month after TBI, with less white matter damage in the ipsilateral fimbria and body of the corpus callosum. Early changes underpinning protection included a reduction of pericontusional vasogenic oedema and of the inflammatory response. iAr significantly reduced microglial activation with increases in ramified cells and the M2-like marker YM1. CONCLUSIONS: iAr accelerates recovery of sensorimotor function and improves cognitive and structural outcome 1 month after severe TBI in adult mice. Early effects include a reduction of brain oedema and neuroinflammation in the contused tissue

The statistical analyses of flares detected in B band photometry of UV Ceti type stars

In this study, we present the unpublished flare data collected from 222 flares detected in the B band observations of five stars and the results derived by statistical analysis and modeling of these data. Six basic properties have been found with a statistical analysis method applied to all models and analyses for the flares detected in the B band observation of UV Ceti type stars. We have also compared the U and B bands with the analysis results. This comparison allowed us to evaluate the methods used in the analyses. The analyses provided the following results. (1) The flares were separated into two types, fast and slow flares. (2) The mean values of the equivalent durations of the slow and the fast flares differ by a factor of 16.2 \pm 3.7. (3) Regardless of the total flare duration, the maximum flare energy can reach a different Plateau level for each star. (4) The Plateau values of EV Lac and EQ Peg are higher than the others. (5) The minimum values of the total flare duration increase toward the later spectral types. This value is called the Half-Life value in models. (6) Both the maximum flare rise times and the total flare duration obtained from the observed flares decrease toward the later spectral types.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, 8 table