Meat taxes in Europe can be designed to avoid overburdening low-income consumers.

Consumption taxes on meat have recently been under consideration in several European countries as part of their effort to achieve more sustainable food systems. Yet a major concern is that these taxes might burden low-income households disproportionately. Here we compare different meat tax designs and revenue recycling schemes in terms of their distributional impacts in a large sample of European countries. We find that across all selected tax designs, uncompensated meat taxes are slightly regressive. However, the effect on inequality is mild and can be reversed through revenue recycling via uniform lump-sum transfers in most cases. Using meat tax revenues towards lowering value-added taxes on fruit and vegetable products dampens but does not fully offset the regressive effect. Variation in the distributional impact can be explained by cross-country heterogeneity in consumption patterns, design choices between unit-based and ad valorem taxation and differentiation according to greenhouse gas intensities.

Antibiotic Resistance Profiling of Pathogenic Staphylococcus Species from Urinary Tract Infection Patients in Benin.

Staphylococci can cause urinary tract infections (UTIs). These UTIs are among the significant causes of antibiotic resistance and the spread of antibiotic-resistant diseases. The current study is aimed at establishing a resistance profile and determining the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus strains isolated from UTI samples collected in Benin. For this purpose, urine samples (one hundred and seventy) that were collected from clinics and hospitals showed UTI in patients admitted/visited in Benin. The biochemical assay method was used to identify Staphylococcus spp., and the disk diffusion method tested the antimicrobial susceptibility. The biofilm formation ability of the isolates of Staphylococcus spp. was investigated by the colorimetric method. The presence of mecA, edinB, edinC, cna, bbp, and ebp genes was examined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results showed that Staphylococcus species were identified in 15.29% of all infected individuals and that 58% of these strains formed biofilms. Most Staphylococcus strains (80.76%) were isolated in female samples, and the age group below 30 years appeared to be the most affected, with a rate of 50%. All Staphylococcus strains isolated were 100% resistant to penicillin and oxacillin. The lowest resistance rates were seen with ciprofloxacin (30.8%), gentamicin, and amikacin (26.90%). Amikacin was the best antibiotic against Staphylococcus strains isolated from UTIs. The isolates carried mecA (42.31%), bbp (19.23%), and ebp (26.92%) genes in varying proportions. This study provides new information on the risks posed to the population by the overuse of antibiotics. In addition, it will play an essential role in restoring people's public health and controlling the spread of antibiotic resistance in urinary tract infections in Benin.

Susceptibility and Virulence of Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Urinary Tract Infections in Benin.

Enterobacteriaceae represent one of the main families of Gram-negative bacilli responsible for serious urinary tract infections (UTIs). The present study aimed to define the resistance profile and the virulence of Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated in urinary tract infections in Benin. A total of 390 urine samples were collected from patients with UTIs, and Enterobacteriaceae strains were isolated according to standard microbiology methods. The API 20E gallery was used for biochemical identification. All the isolated strains were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the disc diffusion method. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production was investigated using a double-disc synergy test (DDST), and biofilm production was quantified using the microplate method. Multiplex PCR was used to detect uro-virulence genes, namely: PapG, IronB, Sfa, iucD, Hly, FocG, Sat, FyuA and Cnf, using commercially designed primers. More than 26% (103/390) of our samples were contaminated by Enterobacteriaceae strains at different levels. Thus, E. coli (31.07%, 32/103), Serratia marcescens (11.65%, 12/103), Klebsiella ornithinolytica (8.74%, 9/103), Serratia fonticola (7.77%, 8/103) and Enterobacter cloacae (6.80%, 7/103) were identified. Among the isolated strains, 39.81% (41/103) were biofilm-forming, while 5.83% (6/103) were ESBL-producing. Isolates were most resistant to erythromycin, cefixime, ceftriaxone and ampicillin (≥90%) followed by ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, doxycycline and levofloxacin (≥50%), and least resistant to imipenem (27.18%). In regard to virulence genes, Sfa was the most detected (28.15%), followed by IronB (22.23%), iucD (21.36%), Cnf (15.53%), PapG (9.71%), FocG (8.74%), Sat (6.79%), FyuA (5.82%) and Hyl (2.91%). These data may help improve the diagnosis of uropathogenic strains of Enterobacteriaceae, but also in designing effective strategies and measures for the prevention and management of severe, recurrent, or complicated urinary tract infections in Benin.

Correlating physical properties of aqueous-organic solvent systems and stationary phase retention in a centrifugal partition chromatograph in descending mode.

The performance of the Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) as a liquid-liquid chromatographic technique depends strongly on the two-phase solvent system used. Thereby the individual influence of the retention of the stationary phase, the coalescence, and the dispersion of the mobile phase in the chambers must be understood to select appropriate solvent systems and reach high separation efficiencies. In this study, an optical measurement system was used to investigate the influence of the physical properties of the Arizona solvent systems on the stationary phase retention in descending mode. Therefore, physical properties like density, viscosity, and interfacial tension were measured as well as the stationary phase retention. Using dimensionless numbers, a correlation between the stationary phase retention and the influencing parameters could be determined. The correlation was validated using data from the literature. Additionally, the solvent systems were modified by additives to identify the validity of the correlation. It was proven that the dimensionless numbers Capillary number (Ca) and Morton number (Mo) can be used to predict the stationary phase retention of other liquid-liquid solvent systems as well as for different operating conditions.

Intra-atrial ECG is not a reliable method for positioning left internal jugular vein catheters.

BACKGROUND: ECG guidance is widely used for positioning central venous catheters (CVCs) in the superior vena cava. We noticed a higher incidence of a more perpendicular angle between the catheter tip and the vessel wall after left-sided ECG-guided catheter positioning. To investigate the value of left-sided ECG guidance, we performed this prospective study. METHODS: Of 114 patients, 53 were randomized to right and 61 to left internal jugular vein catheterization using a triple lumen catheter. Three methods to ascertain catheter tip position were sequentially applied in each patient, and the insertion depths (ID) obtained using each of the three methods were recorded: (i). ECG guidance with a Seldinger guide wire (ID-A); (ii). ECG guidance with saline 10% used as an exploring electrode (ID-B); (iii). from position ID-B, the catheter was rotated and advanced until all three lumina could be aspirated easily. The catheter was fixed in that position (ID-C). To determine final catheter tip position, intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) and a postoperative chest X-ray (CXR) were performed. RESULTS: The depth of insertion of a catheter using the three methods varied significantly in left-sided (P<0.001), but not in right-sided catheters. Forty-eight of 57 (84%) left-sided CVCs, correctly positioned according to ECG guidance, had to be advanced further to achieve free aspiration through all three lumina. By this stage, five of the catheter tips had been positioned in the upper right atrium as demonstrated by TOE. There were 13 malpositions (23%) after left-sided insertion. In nine catheter malpositions, undetected by ECG guidance, the angle between the catheter tip and the lateral wall of the superior vena cava exceeded 40 degrees on CXR. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-atrial ECG does not detect the junction between the superior vena cava and right atrium. It is not a reliable method for confirming position of left-sided CVCs. Post-procedural CXRs are recommended for left-sided, but not right-sided CVCs.

In vivo measurements of the internal pH of Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor (Annelida, Polychaeta) exposed to ambient sulphidic conditions using pH microelectrodes.

The effect of different ambient sulphide concentrations on the internal pH regime of Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor was studied under in vivo conditions using liquid membrane pH microelectrodes, a method which is new to marine sciences. As a case study, the hypothesis was tested whether organisms exposed to ambient sulphidic conditions are able to lower their internal pH which, in effect, would reduce sulphide influx into the animals and thus could represent an effective detoxification mechanism. It was shown that a significant lowering of the internal pH occurred within only 20 min after adding sulphide. This pH lowering appeared to be dependent on the external sulphide concentration of the ambient medium and showed a saturation beyond a threshold level of about 130 microM. It is discussed whether this sulphide-induced pH drop is an active regulatory mechanism and acts as an effective protection mechanism against sulphide during short-term exposures.

Biomechanical behavior of human intervertebral discs subjected to long lasting axial loading.

48 lumbar discs were tested; the creep tests lasted between 2 and 6 hours. All discs showed the known creep behavior, i.e. a decrease of height, rate of creep and axial deformability with time. In the first minutes of a test the viscoelastic behavior quickly alters so that the disc behaves more like an elastic body. Loss of mass normally observed after creep tests is due to loss of water. Creep behavior is reproducible if a disc has sufficiently recovered, i.e. if it has regained its initial height. Creep tests on "desiccated" discs revealed that creeping is possible without loss of water and recovery is possible without absorption of water. The type of loading (static or dynamic) has hardly any influence on the biomechanical behavior. Our results indicate, that creep and recovery are chiefly due to extension and contraction of the anular fibers and not to fluid flow.

[The deformation behavior of human lumbar intervertebral discs subjected to long term axial dynamic compressive forces (author's transl)]. / Das Verformungsverhalten von lumbalen menschlichen Zwischenwirbelscheiben unter langeinwirkender axialer dynamischer Druckkraft.

49 specimens were studied in 67 axial compression tests; the duration test varied between 2 and 6 hours. All discs showed marked creep; after a big decrease in the first minutes the rate of creep decreases still slightly. Additional the results reveal a decreasing axial deformability with time. In the beginning of a test quickly the viscoelastic behavior alters to such a steady state that the disc behaves more like an elastic body. Loss of mass normally observed after compression tests is due to loss of liquid, but liquid absorption during mechanical load is possible too. The long term biochmechanical behavior is reproducible very well; a second experiment done with the same disc yields nearly the same results.