What do near-term observations tell us about long-term developments in greenhouse gas emissions? A letter

Long-term scenarios developed by integrated assessment models are used in climate research to provide an indication of plausible long-term emissions of greenhouse gases and other radiatively active substances based on developments in the global energy system, land-use and the emissions associated with these systems The phenomena that determine these long-term developments (several decades or even centuries) are very different than those that operate on a shorter time-scales (a few years) Nevertheless, in the literature, we still often find direct comparisons between short-term observations and long-term developments that do not take into account the differing dynamics over these time scales In this letter, we discuss some of the differences between the factors that operate in the short term and those that operate in the long term We use long-term historical emissions trends to show that short-term observations are very poor indicators of long-term future emissions developments Based on this, we conclude that the performance of long-term scenarios should be evaluated against the appropriate, corresponding long-term variables and trends The research community may facilitate this by developing appropriate data sets and protocols that can be used to test the performance of long-term scenarios and the models that produce the

The appropriateness of patients' visits to an emergency department.

Aim: The appropriateness of patient visits to an emergency unit was investigated in this study. Method: This descriptive study included 2968 patient cards from the National District Hospital, Bloemfontein emergency unit during 2003. Patient information was evaluated according to predetermined criteria to determine whether a visit was appropriate or not. Results: The patient's ages varied between 0 to 97 years (median 29 year) and 50.8% was female. Informal residencies presented 26.4% of patient's neighbourhoods. The most common chronic condition was hypertension (7.9%). Only 8.4% of patients already used medication for their presenting condition. Most (72.4%) patients presented after hours and 36.6% presented during weekends. The total number of injuries was 22.9% and 75.6% were examined for medical or surgical problems. The criterion with the most visits was the trauma category (21.8%). The criterion with the least patients (0.3%) was the criterion for significant bleeding. According to the results more than a third (35.4% ; 95% CI 33.7% ; 37.2%) of the patient visits can be seen as inappropriate. Conclusion: The emergency unit is used inappropriately South African Family Practice Vol. 49 (4) 2007: pp. 1

Malic Acid Distribution and Degradation in Grape Must During Skin Contact: The Influence of Recombinant Malo-Ethanolic Wine Yeast Strains

Wine acidity plays an important role in determining wine quality and ensuring physiochemical and microbiological stability. In high-acid wines, the L-malic acid concentration is usually reduced through bacterial malolactic fermentation, while acidulation in low-acidity wines is usually done during final blending of the wine before bottling.  This study showed that skin contact did not influence the relative concentration of L-malic acid in the pulp and juice fractions from Colombard, Ruby Cabernet and Cabernet Sauvignon grape musts, with 32%-44% of the L-malic acid present in the pulp fraction. Four recombinant malo-ethanolic (ME) Saccharomyces wine yeast strains containing the malic enzyme (mae2) and malate transporter (mael) genes of Schizasaccharomyces pombe, effectively degraded the L-malic acid in both the juice and pulp fractions of all three cultivars, with a complete degradation of malic acid in the juice fraction within 2 days

Genetic Engineering of an Industrial Strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for L-Malic Acid Degradation via an Efficient Malo-Ethanolic Pathway

The optimal ratio of L-malic and L-tartaric acid in relation to other wine components is one of the most important aspects that ultimately determine wine quality during winemaking. Winemakers routinely rely on the judicious use of malolactic fermentation (MLF) after alcoholic fermentation to deacidify and stabilise their wines. However, due to theunreliability of the process and unsuitable sensory modifications in some grape cultivars, especially for fruity-floral wines, MLF is often regarded as problematic and undesirable. Alternative methods for reducing the amounts of L-malic acid in wine will contribute to improving the production of quality wines in the future, especially in coolclimate regions. Most wine yeast strains of Saccharomyces are unable to effectively degrade L-malic acid, whereas the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe efficiently degrades high concentrations of L-malic acid by means of malo-ethanolic fermentation. However, strains of S. pombe are not suitable for vinification due to the production of undesirable off-flavours. Previously, the 5. pombe malate permease (mael) and malic enzyme (mae2) genes were  successfully expressed under the 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK1) regulatory elements in 5. cerevisiae, resulting in a recombinant laboratory strain of S. cerevisiae with an efficient malo-ethanolic pathway. Stable integration of the S. pombe malo-ethanolic pathway genes has now been obtained through the construction of a unique integration strategy in a commercial wine yeast strain. Co-transformation of the linear integration cassette containing the mael and mae2 genes and PGK1 regulatory elements and a multi-copy plasmid containing the phleomycin-resistance marker into a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain resulted in the successful transformation and integration of the malo-ethanolic genes. The recombinant 5. cerevisiae strain was successfully cured of phleomycin-resistance plasmid DNA in order to obtain malo-ethanolic yeast containing only yeast-derived DNA. The integrated malo-ethanolic genes were stable in 5. cerevisiae and during synthetic and grape must fermentation, L-malic acid was completely fermented to ethanol without any negative effect on fermentation kinetics and wine quality

Strong time dependence of ocean acidification mitigation by atmospheric carbon dioxide removal

In Paris in 2015, the global community agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 ∘C, aiming at even 1.5 ∘C. It is still uncertain whether these targets are sufficient to preserve marine ecosystems and prevent a severe alteration of marine biogeochemical cycles. Here, we show that stringent mitigation strategies consistent with the 1.5 ∘C scenario could, indeed, provoke a critical difference for the ocean’s carbon cycle and calcium carbonate saturation states. Favorable conditions for calcifying organisms like tropical corals and polar pteropods, both of major importance for large ecosystems, can only be maintained if CO2 emissions fall rapidly between 2025 and 2050, potentially requiring an early deployment of CO2 removal techniques in addition to drastic emissions reduction. Furthermore, this outcome can only be achieved if the terrestrial biosphere remains a carbon sink during the entire 21st century

Pheochromocytomas/Paragangliomas and two cases

Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine-producing neuroendocrine tumours that arise from the adrenal medulla or extramedullary pheochromoblasts with highly variable clinical presentation, including episodes of headache, sweating, palpitations and hypertension. Due to the non-specificity of the symptoms there is usually a delay between the onset of symptoms and the final diagnosis. To make a firm diagnosis, biochemical testing of the blood (catecholamines) or urine (metanephrines and VMA) are mandatory. Many stimuli increase circulating catecholamines and metabolites and must receive due attention to prevent false-positive results. Therapeutically, surgery is the gold standard. To minimise complications during and post surgery the lesion(s) should be carefully localised via imaging studies. Adequate pre- and postoperative medical treatment is important. The history, diagnosis and therapy of two patients - the one with a paraganglioma of the organ of Zuckerkandl, the other with a intra thoracic paraganglioma are presented. South African Family Practice Vol. 49 (5) 2007: pp. 42-4

Major depressive disorder in patients with diabetes mellitus in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Background. Diabetes mellitus (DM) and major depressive disorder (MDD) constitute a major burden of disease. A study found that type 2 DM (DM2) is associated with a two-fold increase in risk of developing MDD worldwide – except in Africa. The present study challenges this statement.Objectives. To determine the prevalence of MDD in a cohort of patients with DM and its effect on glycaemic control.Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed at a diabetes clinic at Edendale Hospital, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (1 March - 31 May 2017). A total of 176 participants were enrolled. Participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with a score of ≥10 representing a diagnosis of MDD. Higher PHQ-9 scores translate into more severe MDD. A surrogate for glycaemic control, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) blood testing, was also performed.Results. The majority of participants were female and suffered from DM2. The mean age was 54.4 years. The prevalence of MDD in the study population was 46.6%. A significantly positive linear relationship was shown between PHQ-9 score and HbA1c (p=0.018253).Conclusions. MDD appears to constitute a large burden of disease in our population of individuals with DM. A relationship between the severity of the MDD and HbA1c suggests that prompt intervention in both conditions is likely to improve health outcomes

From future diets to dishes: communicating dietary shift associated with a 1.5°C scenario for Brazil, China, Sweden and the United Kingdom

Introduction: With the pressing need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, this study aims to simplify complex data from Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs). It focuses on identifying dietary shifts that align with the 1.5°C global warming limit as stipulated by the Paris Agreement. Methods: The research utilises the IMAGE Integrated Assessment Model and applies the Diets, Dishes, Dish Ingredients (DDDI) communication framework. This methodology enables the visualisation of potential dietary and dish composition changes, thereby making the data more comprehensible to a broader audience. Results: The study effectively translates traditional IAM outputs into accessible visualisations. These visual tools provide a nuanced understanding of a low greenhouse gas diet, extending its relevance beyond academia to include professionals in diet and nutrition. Discussion: This research stands as a significant advancement in the field, lowering the barrier to understanding sustainable diets for the future. It enriches the existing dialogue on dietary change and climate goals and serves as a catalyst for further research and practical applications in diverse contexts

Validating a measurement scale for entrepreneurial actions for sustainable corporate entrepreneurship using confirmatory factor analysis

ORIENTATION : Sustainable corporate entrepreneurship, which is achieved through entrepreneurial actions, has become a useful strategy for enhancing organisational performance. However, there seems to be no psychometrically sound and valid measurement instrument for such entrepreneurial actions. RESEARCH PURPOSE : The study aimed at addressing this issue by proposing and empirically assessing a measurement instrument for entrepreneurial actions to determine its validity and psychometric attributes. MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY : Since entrepreneurial actions have been identified as an essential vehicle for translating management’s entrepreneurial intentions into meaningful organisational achievements, a measurement instrument for entrepreneurial actions with acceptable psychometric attributes would greatly benefit the field of sustainable corporate entrepreneurship. RESEARCH DESIGN, APPROACH AND METHOD : The study used data from Zambia with a sample of 646 managers from organisations in eight different economic sectors. Zambia was chosen for the study because such a study was never undertaken in the country thereby making a valuable contribution to the country’s body of entrepreneurship knowledge. Data analysis and measurement were mainly conducted using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. MAIN FINDINGS : The study findings indicated that the postulated four-item measurement instrument was relatively stable and psychometrically sound with acceptable content and construct validity. PRACTICAL/MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS : The study findings amplified the role of managers in instigating entrepreneurship within established organisations through their entrepreneurial actions for the purposes of ensuring achievement of sustainable corporate entrepreneurship and sustained performance. CONTRIBUTION/VALUE-ADD : The findings of this study contributed immensely to the literature on sustainable corporate entrepreneurship useful for research and teaching.http://www.actacommercii.co.zaam2016Business Managemen