Search

The offshore wind industry is growing rapidly around the world. Many governments have set ambitious targets for growth to achieve their decarbonisation goals. As the industry grows it can become more challenging to build and operate wind farms safely. Wind farms are being constructed further from shore in tougher weather and sea conditions. In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive has raised concerns about safety performance. This paper aims to review the current state of health and safety in the offshore wind industry. It reviews the latest research, injury statistics and the state of legislation covering the sector. It also considers how the risk profile of the industry may change in coming years. The paper finds there is a need for more research specific to the safety challenges of offshore wind. Injury rate statistics show that performance is 3–4 times worse than comparable industries, and industry reports do not currently include large parts of the sector. Rapid growth and the implementation of new technologies will create additional challenges. Regulators should consider the implementation of industry specific safety legislation to manage the unique challenges of offshore wind. [Display omitted] • Injury rates are up to 4 times higher than the offshore oil and gas industry. • Risk exposure to workers is expected to increase due to growth and technology. • Safety legislation requires reform to address specific industry risks. • Innovations from other industries in safety management should be adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The skin at the catheter insertion sites is the potential source infection. • Bacteria colonized in skin sites and matching catheters were clonally related. • The bacterial species isolated from catheter tips and skin sites were diverse. • Improved topical antiseptics and catheter care are crucial to prevent infection. Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) break the skin barrier, and preinsertion antiseptic disinfection and sterile dressings are used to reduce risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). In this study, the impact of PIVC skin site colonization on tip colonization and the development of CRBSI was investigated. A total of 137 patients' PIVC skin site swabs and paired PIVC tips were collected at catheter removal, cultured, and bacterial species and clonality were identified. Of 137 patients, 45 (33%) had colonized skin sites and/or PIVC tips. Of 16 patients with paired colonization of both the skin site and PIVC tips, 11 (69%) were colonized with the same bacterial species. Of these, 77% were clonally related, including 1 identical clone of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a patient with systemic infection and the same organism identified in blood culture. The results demonstrate that opportunistic pathogen colonization at the skin site poses a significant risk for PIVC colonization and CRBSI. Further research is needed to improve current preinsertion antiseptic disinfection of PIVC skin site and the sterile insertion procedure to potentially reduce PIVC colonization and infection risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tests the efficiency of dollar exchange rate black-markets for the currencies of six formerly socialist countries of Eastern Europe, under conditions of imperfect information, high transaction costs and pronounced turbulence due to political and economic crisis and reform. We find evidence of volatility spillovers in conditional mean affecting only the markets for the Bulgarian lev and Rumanian lei, and limited evidence of volatility spillovers in conditional variance which imply the possibility of some policy coordination emanating from the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, on balance our results lend broad support to the efficiency of exchange rate black-markets, and to previous results concerning floating exchange rate systems in general. [C] 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. JEL classification: G12; F31 Keywords: Exchange rates; Black-markets; Market efficiency; Volatility spillovers

• We investigate range estimators for forecasting realized volatility. • We apply rolling window forecasts for the G7 markets. • Using QLIKE, HMSE and MCS evaluation techniques. • Results suggest no single range model outperforms. • Nonetheless, results are generally supportive of simpler range estimators. This paper investigates whether range estimators contain important information in forecasting future realized volatility. We use widely applied range-based estimators: Parkinson, Garman-Klass, Roger-Satchell, and Yang-Zhang within a HAR-RV-X framework. Overnight volatility and close-to-close volatility estimators are also included, and the forecasting exercise is applied to G7 stock markets using a rolling window. Using QLIKE, HMSE and MCS forecast criteria, several noteworthy points are reported. The overall findings suggest that while no single model dominates, overnight return volatility achieves the most consistent performance. For example, HAR-RV model forecasts for CAC and DAX indices are improved only by overnight volatility, with some evidence also for SPX. For other indices, forecasts are improved by Parkinson and/or Garman-Klass volatility estimators. Of note, simpler range estimators outperform more complex range estimators. The findings could be important for investors in managing portfolio risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The offshore wind industry has historically focused on setting up new projects, with the decommissioning phase receiving little attention. This can cause future problems as decommissioning needs to be planned at the beginning to prevent complications that may arise, as it implies important operations and high costs. There are numerous features that make decommissioning a challenge, such as the marine environment, the technical limitations of vessels and the lack of specific regulations that determine what should be done, increasing the uncertainty of the process. Additionally, the unique characteristics of the sites involve exclusive optimal solutions for each project. This article analyses the main operation parameters that affect the decommissioning process, identifying the benefits and drawbacks of the influencing variables. A model is designed to compare different transportation strategies, searching for cost reduction. A decommissioning methodology is been proposed based on this analysis, taking into consideration the technical aspects of the process, and minimising environmental impacts. The model forecasts that the predicted duration and costs of this process are not being adequately captured in site decommissioning plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the multiscale links between economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and sectoral stock returns in China, India, the UK, and the US. We find that the impact of domestic EPU on sectoral returns persists at low frequencies and over the full sample period, especially in the financial sectors of China, the UK, and the US. The combined impact of domestic and US EPU endures the longest in the UK and China over a 16–32 month horizon. We also observe a high Sharpe ratio (low Value-at-Risk; VaR) in the presence of considerable US EPU that flips across sectors. During rising US EPU, the portfolio optimization exercise suggests weighting Chinese and Indian sectors higher. Finally, the VaR exercise produces identical portfolio diversification benefits in the equally weighted global and China stocks portfolios. [Display omitted] • Investigating the multiscale relationship between the domestic policy uncertainty, the US policy uncertainty, and the sectoral returns. • Considering the USA, the UK, China, and India as countries for the analysis. • The influence of the DEPU on sectoral returns appears at low frequencies and over the whole sample period, particularly in the financial sector in China, the UK, and the USA. • Coinciding with the US EPU, the portfolio optimization suggests assigning high weights to the Chinese and Indian stock market sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this research is the cost benefit analysis of the mothership concept and the investigation of the optimum chartering strategy, which brings financial and operational benefits. This is achieved by performing operational simulations in the offshore wind operational expenditure and logistics planning tool StrathOW-OM, which is developed by the University of Strathclyde and commercial partner organisations. In this paper, a fixed accommodation platform concept, two mothership concepts and different vessel chartering periods are simulated. The simulation results are compared with a base case scenario, in which the O&M activities are performed through a conventional onshore base. The simulation results show that significant travel time is spent in far offshore, if only a single conventional onshore base is utilised in the operations. Among different vessel chartering periods (continuous, only summer months, only winter months or combination of summer months and winter months), October-December is identified as the most critical period for chartering a mothership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group A streptococcus (GAS, Streptococcus pyogenes) type emm1 is widely associated with streptococcal invasive disease. This type is prevalent worldwide but is rare in India. Instead, emm1-2 type which is closely related to emm1 but is a distinct type is more prevalent. Although emm1 has been well characterized, information available on emm1-2 is rare. In this study we present a comparative study of both types. DNA microarray analysis showed segregation of emm1 and emm1-2 isolates into two distinct clusters. Out of 229 arrayed genes, 83-87% were present, 6-9% absent and 4-8% genes were ambiguous in emm1 isolates. emm1-2 strains harboured only 68-77%, 11-13% were absent and 10-20% ambiguous genes. Fourteen genes, present in all emm1, were completely absent in the emm1-2 isolates. sfb1 is a gene which encodes for Streptococcal fibronectin binding adhesin and invasin which has restricted distribution among different emm types of GAS. A variant of sfb1 (sfb1-2) was the only gene which was present in all emm1-2 isolates, but absent from all emm1 strains. Sfb1 and Sfb1-2 differ in sequences in the aromatic domain and the proline rich repeat region, whereas the fibronectin binding region was conserved and exhibited similar fibronectin binding activity. The presence of Sfb1-2 in emm1-2 strains was concomitant with significantly higher fibronectin-binding and invasion efficiency of HEp-2 cells when compared to emm1 isolates. The role of Sfb1-2 in invasion was confirmed by latex bead assay. emm1-2 isolates follow membrane ruffling mechanism during invasion and intracellularly follow classical endocytic pathway. Further studies are required to understand the correlation between the presence of emm1-2 isolates and the disease pattern in North India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents the development of a combined operational and strategic decision support model for offshore wind operations. The purpose of the model is to allow developers and operators to explore various expected operating scenarios over the project lifetime in order to determine optimal operating strategies and associated risks. The required operational knowledge for the model is specified and the chosen methodology is described. The operational model has been established in the MATLAB environment in order to simulate operating costs and lost revenue, based on wind farm specification, operational climate and operating strategy. The outputs from this model are then used as the input to decision support analysis by establishing Bayesian Belief Networks and decision trees at various stages throughout the project life time. An illustrative case study, which demonstrates the capability and benefits of the modeling approach, is presented through the examination of different failure rates and alternative electricity price scenarios. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper argues that dividend yield stock return predictability is time-varying. We conjecture that such time-variation is linked to the business cycle. Employing monthly data for US sector portfolios we estimate 5-year rolling fixed window predictive regressions. The resulting series of time-varying predictive coefficients is regressed on industrial production growth and a recession dummy. Our results support the view of a negative relationship between predictability and output growth. That is the strength of the predictive relationship between returns and the dividend yield is stronger during contractionary periods, while during expansions the magnitude of the relationship declines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Interaction of the M-protein of group A Streptococcus (GAS) with its numerous host binding partners might assist the bacteria in evading host immune responses. Although the extensive diversity of this protein has been highlighted by different GAS typing schemes, most of the structural and functional information has been obtained from a limited number of types. Increasing numbers of epidemiological, clinical and biological reports suggest that the structure and function of the M protein is less conserved than previously thought. This review focuses on the known interactions between M proteins and host ligand proteins, emphasizing that our understanding of this well-studied molecule is fragmented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Group A streptococcus (GAS) is responsible for a range of human diseases that vary in their clinical manifestations and severity. While numerous virulence factors have been described, the way these factors interact to promote different streptococcal diseases is less clear. In order to identify multifactorial relationships between GAS and the human host, novel high-throughput techniques such as microarrays are necessary. We have performed comparative studies using custom-designed virulence arrays to enhance our understanding of the high degree of genotypic variation that occurs in streptococci. This study has pointed to mobile genetic elements as the major agents that promote variation. Our results show that multiple combinations of genes might bring about similar clinical pictures. This adds further complexity to the intricate relationship between pathogen and host. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Group A streptococcus (GAS) is a human pathogen associated with a wide range of human diseases that vary in symptoms and clinical severity. In this report we describe the use of a targeted low density array representing genes encoding classical virulence factors, purported virulence factors and other extracellular proteins to examine differences in the genetic profiles of 68 clinical GAS isolates. Of the 226 genes on the array (encoding 217 virulence factors or putative extracellular proteins and nine positive control house-keeping proteins) 62 had distributions that were statistically associated with specific GAS M-types. While 32 of these genes were bacteriophage related, the remaining 30 have not previously been described as bacteriophage associated. We show that these ‘non-bacteriophage related’ genes are found in 11 loci located in five greater chromosomal regions, often near classical GAS virulence factors, and often accompanied by genes associated with mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Many of these loci also demonstrated genetic variation within strains of the same M-type, suggesting these regions to be recombinatorial and mutational hotspots. Evidence for acquisition of genes from other species is also apparent in these loci. Our data suggests that imprecise recombination events involving MGEs not only result in acquisition of new genes, but can also result in deletion of flanking chromosomal genes. Thus MGE related events would appear to be the major contributor to variation of discrete virulence loci, which could account for the disease causing propensity of individual strains. We believe that profiling of the 11 loci could be a meaningful tool in epidemiological GAS typing studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The intensity of Earth’s magnetic field has been modeled as a continuing sequence of growths and decays due to a rotating parametric instability (RPI) of the fluid core. Taking paleomagnetic intensity as a proxy for the turbulent fluid velocity field, timescales of motion in the fluid core and geodynamo can be inferred from estimates of growth and decay. While such inferences may be in error from several possible sources, this work examines the effect of age errors on relative paleointensity data from cores of marine sediments. True temporal variations in paleomagnetic intensity are distorted by stretching and compressing the observations in time and displacement in age of paleomagnetic features due to errors in the ages of paleomagnetic samples. For the interval 0–75 ka, growths and decays previously found in three single-site records are seen in one composite stack but not in a second composite stack over the same age interval. The coherence spectra for all pairs of individual records that make up the stack illustrate the apparent smoothing of relative paleointensity records that are stacked over a common age interval. We further demonstrate that the events seen in both the stack and the single core records are predictable from the same method of pairwise coherence. Thus single-site and composite stacks can both be used to estimate growth and decay rates of the paleomagnetic field, provided constraints from coherence of pairs making up the stack are respected. It is also concluded that temporal properties of a growth and decay process are best obtained from individual records and then stacked by event, even though these events may appear at different times as a result of discrepancies in age models. The main contribution of this work is therefore to confirm the previous analysis of growth and decay in sequences of relative paleointensity using a newly developed analytical model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A gradual but extensive depletion of hepatic GSH has long been known to accompany development of galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, and some protection from liver injury has been observed after administration of sulfhydryl-donating compounds. Although these observations support a key role for GSH in the underlying mechanism, the impact of GSH depletion and repletion on the hepatotoxic response to galactosamine is unclear. To investigate the role of GSH in galactosamine-induced liver injury, we examined the effect of modulating GSH content on galactosamine toxicity in rat primary hepatocyte cultures. Galactosamine (4mM) cytotoxicity was assessed by release of lactate dehydrogenase into the culture medium, and hepatocellular GSH content was measured by HPLC with electrochemical detection. The data indicated that prior depletion of GSH with either diethyl maleate or buthionine sulfoximine significantly enhanced galactosamine toxicity; however, addition of GSH-ester or alternate sulfur nucleophiles at various times during the incubation did not abrogate toxicity. In contrast, co-addition of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) with galactosamine exerted a marked protective effect without significantly altering hepatocyte GSH content. These data suggest that GSH depletion is not directly involved in the sequelae for galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity, and raise the possibility that SAMe may have hepatoprotective effects that are not dependent on its ability to enhance GSH synthesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Group A streptococci, although considered extracellular pathogens, are capable of causing severe life-threatening invasive infections, such as necrotising fasciitis, bacteraemia and toxic-shock-like syndrome. A complete understanding of the mechanism by which these organisms cause invasive disease has been hampered by the extreme human specificity and high genetic diversity among group A streptococci. Three recent papers have uncovered some of the mysteries of streptococcal invasive diseases. Using two different technologies, these papers have contributed enormously towards our understanding of the molecular events underlying streptococcal invasive diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a human-specific pathogen responsible for a wide variety of human diseases. Numerous GAS surface antigens interact with the human immune system and only some of these proteins have been studied in depth. A few of these may elicit protective response against GAS infection. In this study, we have used an in silico approach to identify antigenic peptides from GAS surface proteins. Putative GAS surface proteins from the M1 GAS genome were identified by the presence on LPxTG cell-wall anchoring motif and an export signal sequence. This technique identified 17 proteins of known or putative function, and another 11 which do not have known homologues. Peptides derived from predicted antigenic sequences near the amino terminus of six of these proteins, and another seven peptides derived from the two known surface proteins, GRAB and MtsA, were conjugated to keyhole lymphocyanin (KLH), and investigated for their capacity to induce opsonic antibody responses in outbred Quackenbush mice. All peptide-KLH antisera demonstrated opsonic capacity against both 88/30 and M1 GAS. However, KLH sera alone was also able to induce opsonic antibodies, suggesting that anti-KLH antibodies contributed to the opsonisation seen in the peptide-KLH antisera. KLH is therefore a promising carrier molecule for potential GAS peptide vaccines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cholecystokinin (CCK) in the CNS antagonizes the opioid system and has been implicated post-spinal cord injury (SCI) pain. The current study found that excitotoxic SCI alters levels of CCK mRNA levels in the cortex, diencepahlon, and mesencephalon of rats. Animals that developed pain post-SCI had significantly higher levels than animals that did not develop pain. Upregulation of CCK mRNA in the cortex may be related to post-SCI pain in rats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Primary vaccine strategies against group A streptococci (GAS) have focused on the M protein—the target of opsonic antibodies important for protective immunity. We have previously reported protection of mice against GAS infection following parenteral delivery of a multi-epitope vaccine construct, referred to as a heteropolymer. This current report has assessed mucosal (intranasal (i.n.) and oral) delivery of the heteropolymer in mice with regard to the induction and specificity of mucosal and systemic antibody responses, and compared this to parenteral delivery. GAS-specific IgA responses were detected in saliva and gut upon i.n. and oral delivery of the heteropolymer co-administered with cholera toxin B subunit, respectively. High titre serum IgG responses were elicited to the heteropolymer following all routes of delivery when administered with adjuvant. Moreover, as with parenteral delivery, serum IgG antibodies were detected to the individual heteropolymer peptides following i.n. but not oral delivery. These data support the potential of the i.n. route in the mucosal delivery of a GAS vaccine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Emerging studies suggest that enhanced glycolysis accompanies inflammatory responses. Virtually nothing is known about the relevance of glycolysis in patients with allergic asthma. Objectives We sought to determine whether glycolysis is altered in patients with allergic asthma and to address its importance in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. Methods We examined alterations in glycolysis in sputum samples from asthmatic patients and primary human nasal cells and used murine models of allergic asthma, as well as primary mouse tracheal epithelial cells, to evaluate the relevance of glycolysis. Results In a murine model of allergic asthma, glycolysis was induced in the lungs in an IL-1–dependent manner. Furthermore, administration of IL-1β into the airways stimulated lactate production and expression of glycolytic enzymes, with notable expression of lactate dehydrogenase A occurring in the airway epithelium. Indeed, exposure of mouse tracheal epithelial cells to IL-1β or IL-1α resulted in increased glycolytic flux, glucose use, expression of glycolysis genes, and lactate production. Enhanced glycolysis was required for IL-1β– or IL-1α–mediated proinflammatory responses and the stimulatory effects of IL-1β on house dust mite (HDM)–induced release of thymic stromal lymphopoietin and GM-CSF from tracheal epithelial cells. Inhibitor of κB kinase ε was downstream of HDM or IL-1β and required for HDM-induced glycolysis and pathogenesis of allergic airways disease. Small interfering RNA ablation of lactate dehydrogenase A attenuated HDM-induced increases in lactate levels and attenuated HDM-induced disease. Primary nasal epithelial cells from asthmatic patients intrinsically produced more lactate compared with cells from healthy subjects. Lactate content was significantly higher in sputum supernatants from asthmatic patients, notably those with greater than 61% neutrophils. A positive correlation was observed between sputum lactate and IL-1β levels, and lactate content correlated negatively with lung function. Conclusions Collectively, these findings demonstrate that IL-1β/inhibitory κB kinase ε signaling plays an important role in HDM-induced glycolysis and pathogenesis of allergic airways disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]