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.

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)]

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.