Forum Shopping in Products Liability Actions: A Comparison Between the United States, France and Germany

The goal of this research is to state the current situation concerning products liability in the United States, the Federal Republic of Germany and more briefly, France and to compare the different systems. Emphasis will be given to the substantive laws, in particular to the new EC Directive and its adoption in the Federal Republic of Germany. Also, it will discuss the current German law, since this will be valid for all claims initiated before the enactment of the new ProdHaftG. Further, based on the previous analysis, it will be shown where a consumer is in the most favorable position to make out a claim against a foreign producer. Since the various parts of the chain of distribution are also subject to liability in products liability actions, their responsibility also will be described

Thermal degradation of citrus pectin in low-moisture environment - Influence of acidic and alkaline pre-treatment

Pectin powder is degraded during storage and transport by demethoxylation and depolymerisation. The degradation mechanisms and especially the influence of pre-treatments on the degradation reactions are not completely understood. In this study, commercial citrus pectin was modified by either acidic or alkaline demethoxylation. The modified pectins, as well as the commercial pectin, were thermally degraded during four weeks of storage at 60 °C and 80% relative humidity. Demethoxylation and depolymerisation as well as colour alterations were examined during degradation, and the course of the reactions was monitored. It was found that the type of pre-treatment during modification determined the material properties and, thus, the water uptake of the modified pectin powders. The resulting water availability in the samples was crucial to the extent of demethoxylation and to the type and intensity of depolymerisation since some of these reactions competed for the water in the climate chamber. The pre-treatment also determined the content of neutral sugars and sodium ions of the modified pectins. High contents of these components limited the extent of degradation in different ways. A previously assumed third depolymerisation mechanism of pectins, beside backbone hydrolysis and β-elimination, was confirmed.DFG, 268547215, Strukturabhängige Abbaureaktionen von Pektinen und deren Auswirkungen auf nicht-enzymatische Bräunung und technologische Funktionalitä

Laser spectroscopy and cooling of Yb+ ions on a deep-UV transition

We perform laser spectroscopy of Yb+ ions on the 4f14 6s 2S_{1/2} - 4f13 5d 6s 3D[3/2]_{1/2} transition at 297 nm. The frequency measurements for 170Yb+, 172Yb+, 174Yb+, and 176Yb+ reveal the specific mass shift as well as the field shifts. In addition, we demonstrate laser cooling of Yb+ ions using this transition and show that light at 297 nm can be used as the second step in the photoionization of neutral Yb atoms

Intervertebral disc embolization resulting in spinal cord infarction

Journal ArticleA case of spinal cord infarction resulting from embolization of fibrocartilaginous intervertebral disc material is presented. Cases from the literature are reviewed and the theories of pathogenesis are discussed. In all reported cases the diagnosis was not made until postmortem examination

Verifications of LENR observations in nickel-copper alloy (constantan) and hydrogen experiments

Francesco Celani put on two apparently successful LENR demonstrations in August 2012. They involved nickel-hydrogen reactions using specially-prepared nickel-copper alloy (Constantan) wires and were based on earlier experiments by Celani. Both demonstrations were supported by National Instruments (NI) in the form of integrated software and instrumentation. Celani has shown a strong interest in having other investigators verify his LENR observations. To this end, he has provided samples of his treated Constantan wires to a number of other researchers for verification. NI continues to be supportive of Celani and others who are conducting Constantan based nickel-hydrogen LENR experiments. A systematic study is underway to identify the various experiments and associated results achieved by investigators who have received Celani's Constantan wires

Subset- and tissue-defined STAT5 thresholds control homeostasis and function of innate lymphoid cells

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) patrol environmental interfaces to defend against infection and protect barrier integrity. Using a genetic tuning model, we demonstrate that the signal-dependent transcription factor (TF) STAT5 is critical for accumulation of all known ILC subsets in mice and reveal a hierarchy of STAT5 dependency for populating lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues. We apply transcriptome and genomic distribution analyses to define a STAT5 gene signature in natural killer (NK) cells, the prototypical ILC subset, and provide a systems-based molecular rationale for its key functions downstream of IL-15. We also uncover surprising features of STAT5 behavior, most notably the wholesale redistribution that occurs when NK cells shift from tonic signaling to acute cytokine-driven signaling, and genome-wide coordination with T-bet, another key TF in ILC biology. Collectively, our data position STAT5 as a central node in the TF network that instructs ILC development, homeostasis, and function and provide mechanistic insights on how it works at cellular and molecular levels

On the role of mesoscale eddies for the biological productivity and biogeochemistry in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean off Peru

Mesoscale eddies seem to play an important role for both the hydrography and biogeochemistry of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (ETSP) off Peru. However, detailed surveys of these eddies are not available, which has so far hampered an in depth understanding of their implications for nutrient distribution and biological productivity. In this study, three eddies along a section at 16°45´ S have been surveyed intensively during R/V Meteor cruise M90 in November 2012. A coastal mode water eddy, an open ocean mode water eddy and an open ocean cyclonic eddy have been identified and sampled in order to determine both their hydrographic properties and their influence on the biogeochemical setting of the ETSP. In the thermocline the temperature of the coastal anticyclonic eddy was up to 2 °C warmer, 0.2 more saline and the swirl velocity was up to 35 cm s−1. The observed temperature and salinity anomalies, as well as swirl velocities of both types of eddies were about twice as large as had been described for the mean eddies in the ETSP. The observed heat and salt anomalies (AHA, ASA) of the anticyclonic eddy near the shelf-break of 17.7 × 1018 J and 36.6 × 1010 kg are more than twice as large as the mean AHA and ASA for the ETSP. We found that the eddies contributed to the productivity by maintaining pronounced subsurface maxima of chlorophyll of up to 6 μg L−1. Based on a comparison of the coastal (young) mode water eddy and the open ocean (old) mode water eddy we suggest that the ageing of eddies when they detach from the shelf-break and move westward to the open ocean influences the eddies' properties: chlorophyll maxima are reduced to about half (2.5–3 μg L−1) and nutrients are subducted. However, different settings at the time of formation may also contribute to the observed differences between the young and old mode water eddies. The coastal mode water eddy was found to be a site of nitrogen (N) loss in the OMZ with a maximum ΔNO3− anomaly (i.e. N loss) of about −25 μmol L−1 in 250 m water depth, whereas, the open ocean mode water and cyclonic eddies were of minor and negligible importance for the N loss, respectively. Our results show that the important role of eddies for the distribution of nutrients, as well as biogeochemical processes in the ETSP (and other OMZ/upwelling regions) can only be fully deciphered and understood through dedicated high spatial and temporal resolution oceanographic/biogeochemical surveys

WOSUB : a subchannel code for steady-state and transient thermal-hydraulic analysis of BWR fuel pin bundles. Volume II. User's Manual

WOSUB (Computer program).The WOSUB-codes are spin-offs and extensions of the MATTEO- code [ 2 ]. The series of reports describe WOSUB-I and WOSUB-II in their respective status as of July 31, 1977. This report is the second of a series of three reports describing the WOSUB code. It gives a detailed description of the input data, flow charts, and output, and contains the list- ings of WOSUB-I and WOSUB-II. For the purpose of future ex- tensions parameters, common blocks and variables used in the code are listed in full detail. WOSUB-I and WOSUB-II are subchannel computer codes for the steady-state and transient analysis of the thermal-hydraulic characteristics of Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) fuel rod bundles. Both codes are also applicable'to analyze PR bundles, especially when these are ducted--a situation which most often arises in experimental set-ups. The main difference between WOSUB-I and WOSUB-II is that the former is designed to analyze small bundles, whereas the latter is capable to handle symmetric sections of today's large- sized BWR bundles. In addition, WOSUB-II does not contain all of the additions made in WOSUB-I yet, because it is deemed appropriate to introduce these into the smaller code first, before they are implemented into the bigger one. Both codes are still in the stage of evolutionary develop- ment. Thus, changes are to be expected in the near future. There- fore, it should be noticed that this report reflects the develop- ment as of July 1977 only.opical report for Task 3 of the Nuclear Power Reactor Safety Research Program sponsored by New England Electric System, Northeast Utilities Service Co. under the M.I.T. Energy Laboratory Electric Power Program