The demand for military expenditure in authoritarian regimes

We investigate how the influence of the military differs across authoritarian regimes and verify whether there are actually systematic differences in military expenditures amongst different forms of dictatorships. We argue that public choices in autocracies result from a struggle for power between the leader and the elite. Elites matter because they control the fates of dictators, since most dictators are overthrown by members of their inner circle. Both actors want to ensure their continued political influence through a favourable allocation of the government budget. Moreover, the control over the security forces gives access to troops and weaponry, and affects the ease with which elites can unseat dictators. Autocratic rulers employ different bundles of co-option and repression for staying in power, and thus differ in the extent that they are required to buy off the military. Therefore, the institutional makeup of dictatorships affects the nature of leader-elite interaction, and in turn the share of the government budget allocated to military spending. Drawing on a new data set that sorts dictatorships into 5 categories from 1960 to 2000, our empirical results suggest that while military and personalist regimes have respectively the highest and lowest level of military spending among authoritarian regimes, monarchies and single-party regimes display intermediate patterns of spending

Development of a Prediction Equation for Vertical Power in Masters Level Basketball Athletes

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 119-127, 2014. Performance factors such as power, agility, and speed are important in sport-based competition for older individuals. Prediction models that assess these factors in masters level competitors are limited. The purpose of this study was to examine physical field measures of agility and speed and their ability to predict vertical power (VP) among basketball masters athletes(MA). Thirty-eight competitive MA from a Midwest Senior Olympic basketball tournament performed vertical jump, 20-yard dash (20-D), 40-yard dash (40-D), and T-test (TT) assessments. Regression analysis revealed a significant relationship (p = .002) using TT and 20-D to predict VP (R2 = .37). Similar results were observed when replacing the 20-D with the 40-D (R2 = .34; p = .003). Males and females were analyzed independently. Agility and speed measures significantly predicted VP in males (R2 = .59; p = .005) and females (R2 = .43; p = .044). Speed and agility are important factors in the performance of vertical jump (VJ). Results indicate any of the speed distances tested may be used to predict VP among this population, but it is recommended that the 20-D be used due to less demand, space, and time requirements. Utilizing speed and agility may help to minimize physical stress and reduce impact related injury, while improving overall VP performance in masters basketball players. Results of this study suggest need for experimental research to verify the cause and effect relationship between speed, agility, and VP

Material properties of cocoa butter emulsions: effect of dispersed phase droplet size and compression speed on mechanical response

Water-in-cocoa butter (CB) emulsions material properties were investigated using uniaxial compression test. Emulsions containing 20% (wt%) water and with a range of droplet size were manufactured to assess the role of defect size on emulsions mechanical properties. Although differences were not significant within the tested droplet size range, results showed a decreasing trend in the values of mechanical parameters at fracture with increasing structural defect size. The mechanical response of bulk CB and emulsions was also investigated at different compressive rates. Materials visco-elastic behaviour was confirmed by their strain-hardening behaviour at increasing test speed with bulk CB always displaying the highest mechanical strength. In the light of these results and microscopy evidences, it was hypothesised that droplets are only partially bonded to the CB network therefore playing a stress-concentration role by promoting fracture initiation. The addition of water droplets also resulted in a reduction of the overall network internal degree of connectivity: when large deformations are applied, droplet-matrix de-bonding occurs at the particle-fat network interface promoting fracture propagation and thus explaining the weakening structural effect of droplets

Efficacy and safety of artemether against a natural Fasciola hepatica infection in sheep

Triclabendazole is the current drug of choice against Fasciola spp. infections in livestock, but resistance has become a major problem. In this study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of artemether, a derivative of artemisinin, in sheep with a low natural Fasciola hepatica infection. Artemether was administered orally or intramuscularly; sheep were monitored for 8 h posttreatment and then once daily for adverse events, and drug efficacy was estimated by fecal egg count reductions and worm burden reductions. Single 40- and 80-mg/kg oral doses of artemether showed no effect on F. hepatica egg and worm burden. Treatment with a single 160-mg/kg intramuscular dose of artemether significantly reduced the egg burden (64.9%) and worm burden (91.3%). At half this dose, a worm burden reduction of 65.3% was obtained, which was still statistically significant (P < 0.05). The lowest intramuscular dose of artemether investigated (40mg/kg) yielded no effect on egg counts and worm burden. There were no adverse events due to artemether; however, two abortions were observed 7days posttreatment. In conclusion, artemether shows interesting fasciocidal properties in sheep, but embryotoxicity is of concern. Further studies are warranted to assess the potential of additional artemisinin derivatives and other peroxidic compounds for the treatment of Fasciola spp. infections in different ruminant

Anchored phosphatases modulate glucose homeostasis.

Endocrine release of insulin principally controls glucose homeostasis. Nutrient-induced exocytosis of insulin granules from pancreatic β-cells involves ion channels and mobilization of Ca(2+) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) signalling pathways. Whole-animal physiology, islet studies and live-β-cell imaging approaches reveal that ablation of the kinase/phosphatase anchoring protein AKAP150 impairs insulin secretion in mice. Loss of AKAP150 impacts L-type Ca(2+) currents, and attenuates cytoplasmic accumulation of Ca(2+) and cAMP in β-cells. Yet surprisingly AKAP150 null animals display improved glucose handling and heightened insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. More refined analyses of AKAP150 knock-in mice unable to anchor protein kinase A or protein phosphatase 2B uncover an unexpected observation that tethering of phosphatases to a seven-residue sequence of the anchoring protein is the predominant molecular event underlying these metabolic phenotypes. Thus anchored signalling events that facilitate insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis may be set by AKAP150 associated phosphatase activity

Nucleosynthesis signatures of neutrino-driven winds from proto-neutron stars: a perspective from chemical evolution models

We test the hypothesis that the observed first-peak (Sr, Y, Zr) and second-peak (Ba) s-process elemental abundances in low-metallicity Milky Way stars, and the abundances of the elements Mo and Ru, can be explained by a pervasive r-process contribution originating in neutrino-driven winds from highly-magnetic and rapidly rotating proto-neutron stars (proto-NSs). We construct chemical evolution models that incorporate recent calculations of proto-NS yields in addition to contributions from AGB stars, Type Ia supernovae, and two alternative sets of yields for massive star winds and core-collapse supernovae. For non-rotating massive star yields from either set, models without proto-NS winds underpredict the observed s-process peak abundances by $0.3$-$1\,\text{dex}$ at low metallicity, and they severely underpredict Mo and Ru at all metallicities. Models incorporating wind yields from proto-NSs with spin periods $P \sim 2$-$5\,\text{ms}$ fit the observed trends for all these elements well. Alternatively, models omitting proto-NS winds but adopting yields of rapidly rotating massive stars, with $v_{\rm rot}$ between $150$ and $300\,\text{km}\,\text{s}^{-1}$, can explain the observed abundance levels reasonably well for $\text{[Fe/H]}<-2$. These models overpredict [Sr/Fe] and [Mo/Fe] at higher metallicities, but with a tuned dependence of $v_{\rm rot}$ on stellar metallicity they might achieve an acceptable fit at all [Fe/H]. If many proto-NSs are born with strong magnetic fields and short spin periods, then their neutrino-driven winds provide a natural source for Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Ru, and Ba in low-metallicity stellar populations. Conversely, spherical winds from unmagnetized proto-NSs overproduce the observed Sr, Y, and Zr abundances by a large factor.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

Optical sensing system based on wireless paired emitter detector diode device and ionogels for lab-on-a-disc water quality analysis

This work describes the first use of a wireless paired emitter detector diode device (PEDD) as an optical sensor for water quality monitoring in a lab-on-a-disc device. The microfluidic platform, based on an ionogel sensing area combined with a low-cost optical sensor is applied for pH (quantitative) and qualitative turbidity monitoring of water samples at the point-of-need. The autonomous capabilities of the PEDD system, combined with the portability and wireless communication of the full device, provide the flexibility needed for on-site water testing. Water samples from local fresh and brackish sources were successfully analysed using the device, showing very good correlation with standard bench-top systems

Crystal structures of Burkholderia cenocepacia dihydropteroate synthase in the apo-form and complexed with the product 7,8-dihydropteroate

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The enzyme dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) participates in the <it>de novo </it>synthesis of folate cofactors by catalyzing the formation of 7,8-dihydropteroate from condensation of <it>p</it>-aminobenzoic acid with 6-hydroxymethyl-7,8-dihydropteroate pyrophosphate. DHPS is absent from humans, who acquire folates from diet, and has been validated as an antimicrobial therapeutic target by chemical and genetic means. The bacterium <it>Burkholderia cenocepacia </it>is an opportunistic pathogen and an infective agent of cystic fibrosis patients. The organism is highly resistant to antibiotics and there is a recognized need for the identification of new drugs against <it>Burkholderia </it>and related Gram-negative pathogens. Our characterization of the DHPS active site and interactions with the enzyme product are designed to underpin early stage drug discovery.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An efficient recombinant protein expression system for DHPS from <it>B. cenocepacia </it>(<it>Bc</it>DHPS) was prepared, the dimeric enzyme purified in high yield and crystallized. The structure of the apo-enzyme and the complex with the product 7,8-dihydropteroate have been determined to 2.35 Å and 1.95 Å resolution respectively in distinct orthorhombic crystal forms. The latter represents the first crystal structure of the DHPS-pterin product complex, reveals key interactions involved in ligand binding, and reinforces data generated by other structural studies. Comparisons with orthologues identify plasticity near the substrate-binding pocket and in particular a range of loop conformations that contribute to the architecture of the DHPS active site. These structural data provide a foundation for hit discovery. An intriguing observation, an artifact of the analysis, that of a potential sulfenamide bond within the ligand complex structure is mentioned.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Structural similarities between <it>Bc</it>DHPS and orthologues from other Gram-negative species are evident as expected on the basis of a high level of sequence identity. The presence of 7,8-dihydropteroate in the binding site provides details about ligand recognition by the enzyme and the different states of the enzyme allow us to visualize distinct conformational states of loops adjacent to the active site. Improved drugs to combat infections by <it>Burkholderia sp. </it>and related Gram-negative bacteria are sought and our study now provides templates to assist that process and allow us to discuss new ways of inhibiting DHPS.</p

Cancer mortality trend in central Italy. focus on a “low rate of land use” area from 1982 to 2011

The aim of the present study was to estimate total cancer mortality trends from 1982 to 2011 in a “low rate of land use” province of the Latium region (Rieti, central Italy) characterized by a low degree of urbanization, a high prevalence of elderly, and a low number of births. Mortality data of the studied period, provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics, were used for calculating standardized cancer mortality rates. Trends in mortality were analyzed using Joinpoint regression analysis. Results showed that total standardized cancer mortality rates decreased in the monitored area over the study period. A comparison with other provinces of the same region evidenced that the studied province presented the lowest cancer mortality. The three systems/apparatuses affected by cancer that mainly influenced cancer mortality in the monitored province were the trachea-bronchus-lung, colorectal-anus, and stomach. These findings could be attributed to the implement of preventive initiatives performed in the early 2000s, to healthier environmental scenario, and to lower levels of carcinogenic pollutants in air, water, and soil matrices. Thus, our results indicate that the studied area could be considered a “healthy” benchmark for studies in oncological diseases