Ex post monitoring of market power in hydro dominated electricity markets

The paper presents a proposed market monitoring procedure that takes into account the special features of an electricity market dominated by hydropower. Specifically, we present a method to assess water values and a set of indicators that can be used to screen the market for suspicious price formation. We then use the suggested monitoring procedure to evaluate actual price formation in the Nordic Electricity Market during the (hydrological) year 2002/2003 when precipitation failed and spot prices at the electricity exchange Nord Pool hit an all-time high.     

Research on the Biocompatibility of the New Magnesium Alloy LANd442—An In Vivo Study in the Rabbit Tibia over 26 Weeks

Research on magnesium based degradable implant materials has finally obtained success in orthopaedics. Based on the previous good results with LAE442 magnesium alloy, the new LANd442 alloy was developed. In doing this, the single element neodymium replaces the rare earth compound. The primary objective of this study is to assess the biocompatibility of the new alloy in the rabbit model. During a 26 week period, the animals were investigated using clinical, radiological and in vivo µ‐CT techniques. Following euthanasia, histological, fluorescent microscopy and ex vivo µ‐CT investigations were done. Clinically, additional bone formed at the implant's location and accumulation of small amounts of subcutaneous gas can be observed. Radiological investigations show brightening of the medullary cavity and thickening in the region of the diaphysis. The µ‐computed tomographies reveal a reduction in the bone density from 1226.31 to 1192.95 mg HA/ccm together with increases in bone porosity from 4.55 to 6.6% and bone volume from 1.51 to 2.06 mm³ · slice^?1. By means of fluorochrome sequential marking, the determined MARs lie between day 93 and 120 at 3.58 µm · d^?1 and between day 120 and 179 at 2.25 µm · d^?1. Elevated remodelling processes in the bone are histologically confirmed due to the periosteal and endosteal growths and an increased appearance of osteoclasts. Owing to the established considerable bone remodelling processes following intramedullary implantation, LANd442 appears to be a less suitable degradable implant material for cortical bone applications.     

Bicyclic Peptide Inhibitor of Urokinase‐Type Plasminogen Activator: Mode of Action

The development of protease inhibitors for pharmacological intervention has taken a new turn with the use of peptide‐based inhibitors. Here, we report the rational design of bicyclic peptide inhibitors of the serine protease urokinase‐type plasminogen activator (uPA), based on the established monocyclic peptide, upain‐2. It was successfully converted to a bicyclic peptide, without loss of inhibitory properties. The aim was to produce a peptide cyclised by an amide bond with an additional stabilising across‐the‐ring covalent bond. We expected this bicyclic peptide to exhibit a lower entropic burden upon binding. Two bicyclic peptides were synthesised with affinities similar to that of upain‐2, and their binding energetics were evaluated by isothermal titration calorimetry. Indeed, compared to upain‐2, the bicyclic peptides showed reduced loss of entropy upon binding to uPA. We also investigated the solution structures of the bicyclic peptide by NMR spectroscopy to map possible conformations. An X‐ray structure of the bicyclic‐peptide–uPA complex confirmed an interaction similar to that for the previous upain‐1/upain‐2–uPA complexes. These physical studies of the peptide–protease interactions will aid future designs of bicyclic peptide protease inhibitors.     

Absorption difference between diacylglycerol oil and butter blend containing diacylglycerol oil

This study aims at investigating whether the intake of butter blends containing diacylglycerol (DAG) oil may result in reduced fat accumulation, in similarity to DAG oil, and the potential metabolic differences between butter blends and DAG oil. Four experimental diets containing either 10 wt% DAG butter blend (BDAG), triacylglycerol (TAG) butter blend (BTAG), DAG oil (ODAG) or TAG oil (OTAG) were prepared, and each was fed to a group of 8 male Wistar rats. The design of the experiment was a combined balance and feeding experiment. The rats fed the BTAG and ODAG‐diets had a significantly higher protein content than rats fed the BDAG and OTAG‐diets, and the fat content was significantly lower in rats fed the ODAG‐diet as compared to rats fed the OTAG and BDAG‐diets. A significantly higher content of ash was observed in rats fed the two TAG diets. The ratio of abdominal fat weight/body weight was significantly higher for rats fed the BDAG‐diet than for rats fed the BTAG and ODAG‐diets. To conclude, the beneficial effects of DAG oil in reducing body fat accumulation cannot be observed in DAG oil containing butter blends, and the effect of DAG on bone health requires further investigation.     

Water-holding capacity of wild and farmed cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) muscle during ice storage

The aim of this study was to investigate how the presence of normal spoilage bacteria influenced the water-holding capacity (WHC) of wild cod, farmed cod and haddock during chilled storage. Bacterial growth was inhibited by soaking the fillets in 3 mmol/l NaN₃ prior to storage. The results clearly showed that the three groups were different with respect to WHC and pH. Muscle pH was highest in haddock, lower in wild cod and lowest in the farmed cod. Significant differences in WHC between the NaN₃-treated and nontreated groups of wild cod and haddock were found on the last sampling day. However, there was an inconsistency with respect to the relationship between pH and percentage liquid loss (LL%). The microflora of farmed cod is obviously altered from what is normal for wild cod. The results showed that bacterial growth may influence the WHC of the muscle. However, the relationship is inconsistent and may be temporal and not causative.     

Fibrin Network Formation and Lysis in Septic Shock Patients

Background: Septic shock patients are prone to altered fibrinolysis, which contributes to microthrombus formation, organ failure and mortality. However, characterisation of the individual patient’s fibrinolytic capacity remains a challenge due to a lack of global fibrinolysis biomarkers. We aimed to assess fibrinolysis in septic shock patients using a plasma-based fibrin clot formation and lysis (clot–lysis) assay and investigate the association between clot–lysis parameters and other haemostatic markers, organ dysfunction and mortality. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study including adult septic shock patients (n = 34). Clot–lysis was assessed using our plasma-based in-house assay. Platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), international normalised ratio (INR), fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer, antithrombin, thrombin generation, circulating fibrinolysis markers and organ dysfunction markers were analysed. Disseminated intravascular coagulation score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and 30-day mortality were registered. Results: Three distinct clot–lysis profiles emerged in the patients: (1) severely decreased fibrin formation (flat clot–lysis curve), (2) normal fibrin formation and lysis and (3) pronounced lysis resistance. Patients with abnormal curves had lower platelet counts (p = 0.05), more prolonged aPTT (p = 0.04), higher lactate (p < 0.01) and a tendency towards higher SOFA scores (p = 0.09) than patients with normal clot–lysis curves. Fibrinogen and fibrin D-dimer were not associated with clot–lysis profile (p ≥ 0.37). Conclusion: Septic shock patients showed distinct and abnormal clot–lysis profiles that were associated with markers of coagulation and organ dysfunction. Our results provide important new insights into sepsis-related fibrinolysis disturbances and support the importance of assessing fibrinolytic capacity in septic shock.     

A prospective study of age differences in consequences of emotional control in women referred to clinical mammography.

Age differences in emotional control and their consequences were examined in women referred to mammography on the suspicion of breast cancer but with benign results of the examination. Under natural experimental conditions, the levels of emotional control and distress were measured 1 week prior to the examination as well as 4 and 12 weeks after the examination in 717 younger women (ages 19–39), middle-aged women (ages 40–59), and older women (ages 60–85). A higher level of emotional control was found in the older women; this indicates that, in these birth cohorts, emotion-focused coping is more prevalent in old age than in young adulthood, even when similar stressors are experienced. The analyses revealed an interaction between age and emotional control; higher levels of control were related to a reduction in distress during the course of the study in older women, whereas emotional control was unrelated to changes in distress in younger and middle-aged women. The findings support the life span theory of control, which suggests that secondary control strategies are more adaptive in old age. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The thermal springs of bockfjord, svalbard: occurrence and major ion hydrochemistry

The Troll and Jotun thermal springs of northern Svalbard, with temperatures of up to 25.6°C, are derived from a major fault forming the junction between Devonian sandstones and Proterozoic marbles, mica schists and gneisses. The Troll waters are dominated by Na–HCO₃ compositions and the Jotun waters by Na–Cl compositions. The pristine thermal water source has a sub-neutral pH and is highly reducing. Taken at face value, common geothermometers suggest temperatures at depth of 130–180°C for the Troll springs (corresponding to a depth of 1.6–2.3 km), with 10–30% thermal water diluted by 70–90% cold water. Such geothermometers may, however, be inappropriate to the cool, high CO₂ waters of Bockfjord, and real temperatures at depth and dilution factors are probably considerably lower. The salinity of the thermal water appears to be only partially derived from water–rock interaction; Br\Cl ratios suggest that seawater or possibly evaporites may be a source of chloride salinity.