Caucasian Comfrey (Symphytum caucasicum M. BIEB.) and Hidcote Comfrey (S. x hidcotense P. D. SELL) in the region of Aachen (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)

Es werden zwei neophytische Symphytum-Arten aus dem Aachener Raum (Nordrhein-Westfalen) vorgestellt und abgebildet: S. caucasicum M. BIEB. (Kaukasischer Beinwell) und S. x hidcotense P. D. SELL 'Hidcote Blue' (= S. 'Hidcote Blue', S. x uplandicum x grandiflorum, Hidcote-Beinwell).The following article presents and illustrates two neophytic Symphytum species which were found in the region of Aachen (North Rhine-Westphalia): S. caucasicum M. BIEB. (Caucasian Comfrey) and S. x hidcotense P. D. SELL 'Hidcote Blue' (= S. 'Hidcote Blue', S. x uplandicum x grandiflorum, Hidcote Comfrey)

Arbitragem em contratos administrativos : critérios para utilização e peculiaridades processuais

Este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar os critérios, procedimentos e controvérsias inerentes ao emprego da arbitragem nos contratos celebrados com a Administração Pública. Conquanto o debate acerca da admissibilidade de o Poder Público se valer do instituto arbitral para dirimir seus conflitos tenha sido, em um juízo prima facie, equacionado a partir de recente reforma na lei de arbitragem, surgem hoje novos pontos de tensão sobre a utilização deste instituto em contratos administrativos. Um dos problemas a serem abordados neste trabalho é compreender os critérios necessários para sua utilização, tendo em vista aparente conflito com o princípio da indisponibilidade do interesse público. Outro, reside nas especificidades que devem ser observadas para que a Administração possa participar do procedimento. O trabalho estrutura-se em dois eixos. Na primeira parte, abordar-se-á o processo evolutivo da arbitragem no setor público e os critérios jurídicos para a verificação da disponibilidade do direito. Já na segunda parte, serão analisadas as peculiaridades e modificações no procedimento arbitral para que a Administração possa utiliza-lo sem conflitar com os princípios a que está submetida.This paper aims to analyze the criteria, procedures and controversies inherent to the use of arbitration in contracts with the Public Administration. Although the debate about the admissibility of the Public Administration to use arbitration to settle its conflicts has been, in a prima facie judgment, equaled after the recent reform in the arbitration law, new points of tension arise today regarding the use of this institute in administrative contracts. One of the problems to be addressed in this work is to understand the criteria necessary for its use, in view of the apparent conflict with the principle of unavailability of the public interest. Another is the specificities that must be observed in order for the Administration to participate in the procedure. The work is structured in two axes. In the first part, the evolutionary process of arbitration in the public sector and the legal criteria for verifying the availability of the right will be addressed. In the second part, the peculiarities and modifications in the arbitration procedure will be analyzed so that the Administration can use it without conflicting with the principles to which it is subject

Recruitment of Both the Mirror and the Mentalizing Networks When Observing Social Interactions Depicted by Point-Lights: A Neuroimaging Study

Background: Understanding social interactions requires the ability to accurately interpret conspecifics ’ actions, sometimes only on the basis of subtle body language analysis. Here we address an important issue that has not yet received much attention in social neuroscience, that of an interaction between two agents. We attempted to isolate brain responses to two individuals interacting compared to two individuals acting independently. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used minimalistic point-light displays to depict the characters, as they provide the most straightforward way to isolate mechanisms used to extract information from motion per se without any interference with other visual information. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) method was used to determine which brain regions were recruited during the observation of two interacting agents, mimicking everyday social scenes. While the mirror and mentalizing networks are rarely concurrently active, we found that both of them might be needed to catch the social intentions carried by whole-body motion. Conclusions/Significance: These findings shed light on how motor cognition contributes to social cognition when social information is embedded in whole-body motion only. Finally, the approach described here provides a valuable and origina

Immune Reactivity and Pseudoprogression or Tumor Flare in a Serially Biopsied Neuroendocrine Patient Treated with the Epigenetic Agent RRx-001.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are grouped together as a single class on the basis of histologic appearance, immunoreactivity for the neuroendocrine markers chromogranin A and synaptophysin, and potential secretion of hormones, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neuropeptides. Nevertheless, despite these common characteristics, NETs differ widely in terms of their natural histories: high-grade NETs are clinically aggressive and, like small cell lung cancer, which they most closely resemble, tend to respond to cisplatin and etoposide. In contrast, low-grade NETs, which as a rule progress and behave indolently, do not. In either case, the treatment strategy, apart from potentially curative surgical resection, is very poorly defined. This report describes the case of a 28-year-old white male with a diagnosis of high-grade NET of undetermined primary site metastatic to the lymph nodes, skin and paraspinal soft tissues, treated with the experimental anticancer agent RRx-001, in the context of a phase II clinical trial called TRIPLE THREAT (NCT02489903); serial sampling of tumor material through repeat biopsies demonstrated an intratumoral inflammatory response, including the amplification of infiltrating T cells, which correlated with clinical and symptomatic benefit. This case suggests that pseudoprogression or RRx-001-induced enlargement of tumor lesions, which has been previously described for several RRx-001-treated patients, is the result of tumoral lymphocyte infiltration

Prospectus, November 7, 1979

LOCAL CLUB LOCKED IN WITH JOLIET INMATES; Week in Review: Across the globe, In the nation, Throughout the state, Etc….; ERA activists need new blood; Briefs: Youthgrants offering 100 awards, Nat\u27l Lawyer Guild holds conference, Real Estate review, PC offering film course, Faculty wives activity tonight, Blood drive nets gallons; Awareness club rallied for tax; America has not failed--debate did; Letters to the Editor: Headline found offensive, Convocations Senator has mixed emotions, Foreigners have complaint right, Apathy is universal, Lack of coverage pointed out; Audience awakens to AATW music; Pablo cruises to the sun; Classifieds; Mary Lee Sargent: promoting women\u27s course; Parkland College Men\u27s Basketball; College Day at PC Nov. 7; Cooper has high hopes; V-ball advances; Parkland to host State Volleyball Tourney; Contestants have easy week; Fast Freddy Contest Images literary magazine pages 5-8https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1979/1005/thumbnail.jp

The politics of accelerating low-carbon transitions: towards a new research agenda

Meeting the climate change targets in the Paris Agreement implies a substantial and rapid acceleration of low-carbon transitions. Combining insights from political science, policy analysis and socio-technical transition studies, this paper addresses the politics of deliberate acceleration by taking stock of emerging examples, mobilizing relevant theoretical approaches, and articulating a new research agenda. Going beyond routine appeals for more ‘political will’, it organises ideas and examples under three themes: 1) the role of coalitions in supporting and hindering acceleration; 2) the role of feedbacks, through which policies may shape actor preferences which, in turn, create stronger policies; and 3) the role of broader contexts (political economies, institutions, cultural norms, and technical systems) in creating more (or less) favourable conditions for deliberate acceleration. We discuss the importance of each theme, briefly review previous research and articulate new research questions. Our concluding section discusses the current and potential future relationship between transitions theory and political science

In Vitro Comparison of Novel Polyurethane Aortic Valves and Homografts After Seeding and Conditioning

The aim of the study was to compare the behavior of seeded cells on synthetic and natural aortic valve scaffolds during a low-flow conditioning period. Polyurethane (group A) and aortic homograft valves (group B) were consecutively seeded with human fibroblasts (FB), and endothelial cells (EC) using a rotating seeding device. Each seeding procedure was followed by an exposure to low pulsatile flow in a dynamic bioreactor for 5 days. For further analysis, samples were taken before and after conditioning. Scanning electron microscopy showed confluent cell layers in both groups. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of EC and FB before and after conditioning as well as the establishment of an extracellular matrix (ECM) during conditioning. A higher expression of ECM was observed on the scaffolds' inner surface. Real-time polymerase chain reaction showed higher inflammatory response during the conditioning of homografts. Endothelialization caused a decrease in inflammatory gene expression. The efficient colonization, the establishment of an ECM, and the comparable inflammatory cell reaction to the scaffolds in both groups proved the biocompatibility of the synthetic scaffold. The newly developed bioreactor permits conditioning and cell adaption to shear stress. Therefore, polyurethane valve scaffolds may offer a new option for aortic valve replacement

Landscape Capacity and Social Attitudes towards Wind Energy Projects in Belgium

The present energy crisis and the awareness of the human impact on climate change have boosted the public debate on the accelerated deployment of renewable energy sources. The objective of this research project is to analyse and assess the landscape capacity and social attitudes towards wind energy parks in Belgium, especially in non-urban and non-industrial sites. This research project starts from the observation that a sustainable production of energy, relying on renewable resources, should go hand in hand with a sustainable societal support for the use of these renewable sources. Experiences from neighbouring countries showed that the societal support depends of the regional landscape capacity and the social attitudes towards wind energy parks. In this research project both quantitative and qualitative research techniques will be used to: (1) measure the landscape capacity in relation to the location of wind energy parks in Belgium, (2) to gain insight in the way attitudes towards wind energy parks are socially constructed and reproduced.Les évolutions globales récentes, comme le prix croissant des matières premières et la conscientisation du réchauffement climatique, engendrent un intérêt important envers les sources d’énergies renouvelables. Ceci s’harmonise bien avec la nouvelle quête d’un équilibre entre les besoins économiques, environnementaux et sociaux de la société, également appelé développement durable. Ces trois piliers concernent également les projets éoliens. Il ressort des expériences dans les pays voisins que ce sont surtout les aspects sociaux (réactions des riverains) et environnementaux (impact paysager) des projets éoliens qui retiennent l’attention. C’est pourquoi nous voulons examiner quels sont les paysages adaptés aux projets éoliens en Belgique (aspect environnemental) et comment ces projets sont perçus par les citoyens belges dans différents contextes (aspect social).Lacsawe

Use of a special bioreactor for the cultivation of a new flexible polyurethane scaffold for aortic valve tissue engineering

Background: Tissue engineering represents a promising new method for treating heart valve diseases. The aim of this study was evaluate the importance of conditioning procedures of tissue engineered polyurethane heart valve prostheses by the comparison of static and dynamic cultivation methods. Methods: Human vascular endothelial cells (ECs) and fibroblasts (FBs) were obtained from saphenous vein segments. Polyurethane scaffolds (n = 10) were primarily seeded with FBs and subsequently with ECs, followed by different cultivation methods of cell layers (A: static, B: dynamic). Group A was statically cultivated for 6 days. Group B was exposed to low flow conditions (t(1)=3 days at 750 ml/min, t(2)=2 days at 1100 ml/min) in a newly developed conditioning bioreactor. Samples were taken after static and dynamic cultivation and were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: SEM results showed a high density of adherent cells on the surface valves from both groups. However, better cell distribution and cell behavior was detected in Group B. IHC staining against CD31 and TE-7 revealed a positive reaction in both groups. Higher expression of extracellular matrix (ICAM, Collagen IV) was observed in Group B. RT-PCR demonstrated a higher expression of inflammatory Cytokines in Group B. Conclusion: While conventional cultivation method can be used for the development of tissue engineered heart valves. Better results can be obtained by performing a conditioning step that may improve the tolerance of cells to shear stress. The novel pulsatile bioreactor offers an adequate tool for in vitro improvement of mechanical properties of tissue engineered cardiovascular prostheses