The creation of the Single Euro Payments Area is in full swing and the completion of the Economic and Monetary Union is the moment of consolidation, of preparing the conditions in all Member States ...to enable them to cope with the global financial challenges and prosper. The markets for small value payments in euro within the European Union have been very fragmented. There was a need for a project (SEPA) with a major impact on national payment markets in order to unify and standardize them in a single domestic market. Trans-European Automated Realtime Gross Settlement Express Transfer System (TARGET) is a trans-European automated real-time gross settlement system - which meets the needs of consumers by offering services at a harmonized level in the European Union. Now, however, the banking clientele needs some education about banking operations taking place at the level of the European banking system. The initial project was proposed and promoted by the European Central Bank together with the European Commission and supported by the central banks of the European Union. However, the implementation and continued development of the SEPA-Single Euro Payments Area process is the responsibility of the financial institutions, and the final beneficiaries are indisputably the individuals and legal entities that represent their "clientele". The Eurosystem has cooperated with national central banks to implement standards that facilitate the rapid automation of payment systems by offering TAREGET 2-Securities (T2S) banking clients.
In order to achieve the objectives and measures set out in the consolidation and completion of the Economic and Monetary Union, a strong European banking system is needed to avoid a possible ...financial crisis. The progress made and the promotions of the smooth operation of payment systems are the main task of the ESCB. In the same direction, the European System of Central Banks promotes scientific and technical progress for holding and administering the official foreign exchange reserves of the Member States as well as for the safe conduct of the foreign exchange operations of the beneficiaries and, in particular, for defining and implementing the monetary policy of the European Union. In an effective and stable economic and monetary union, an integrated financial system operating on a common platform and well-defined, standardized rules is required. Progress in SEPA on risk mitigation and sharing in the banking sector was possible through the measures adopted for the development of TARGET and the implementation of TARGET2 aimed to enhancing the reliability of the settlement of the operations of the European Central Bank and of all EU credit institutions.
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•A sustainable and low cost heterogeneous catalyst was developed from onion peels.•The maximum conversion of 98.9 % was obtained under optimized conditions.•The esterification ...reaction is endothermic, endergonic, and non-spontaneous.•The biodiesel properties are analyzed to reveal the main characteristics of FAME.•The catalyst was successfully recycled for four successive cycles.
In this study, a sustainable and economical acid heterogeneous catalyst derived from onion peels (Allium cepa L.) was developed through a direct sulfonation process to enhance sustainable biodiesel manufacturing via an esterification process using palm oil refining by-products as the primary feedstock. The developed catalyst OPACL-(OPT)-SO3H, was characterized using various analytical techniques, including XRD, SEM-EDX, FT-IR, TGA/DTA, DLS, BET, and Boehm titration. The results demonstrated an amorphous carbon structure with a high total acid density of 8.12 mmol/g, achieved under sulfonation conditions with 18.658 mol/l concentrated sulfuric acid at 70 °C for 8 h. Furthermore, under optimal esterification reaction conditions, the OPACL-(OPT)-SO3H catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity, achieving a maximum FFA conversion of 98.9 % after 3 h, with a catalyst amount of 5 wt% and a PFAD/methanol molar ratio of 1:15 at 80 °C. Moreover, the activation energy for the esterification reaction was determined to be 35.4 kJ/mol. Thermodynamically, the reaction was found to be endothermic and non-spontaneous. The catalyst demonstrated exceptional stability, capable of being regenerated in four consecutive cycles. An exhaustive analysis of the synthesized biodiesel’s physicochemical properties confirmed adherence to the internationally recognized ASTM D − 6751 standards. In conclusion, the acid catalyst derived from onion peels shows significant potential for use as a heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production.
Nature is the best teacher and reconnects the mechanically lost man with originality. Considering the fundamental role of nature in the nurture of mankind, this study aims to emphasise the ...need for green spaces within the urban metropolis for improved lifestyles and a sustainable environment. The conditions of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG) necessitate a cleaner environment, clean air, water and sanitation. The quantitative research proposes jogging track, artificial forest implementation and recreational facilities along with the treated Malir river water sections. For this research, a questionnaire-based analysis is conducted. This study proposes a notion of urban forest recreation for the citizens, dwellers and monetary contribution for maintaining such facilities based on the quantitative analysis of the collected data. As a result, the analytics of the survey reveals that people would welcome the use of such options for recreation. According to the data received, the respondents ponder that these green places could enhance their quality of life with a preference for sharing green space with their family and friends and also increase some soothing hobbies in urban areas. Most respondents prefer urban forestry supporting water sports, boating and fishing areas in Karachi. The feasibility of the proposed model is ensured with critical analysis and assessment of public income for Tax, preferences of green places assessment, use of recreational areas, and willingness to pay for entry in the green area.
The leaves of the plant Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) has been traditionally used in treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders including diarrhoea and have also been reported for its potent ...antidiarrhoeal activity on various chemical induced diarrhoea models. The objective of our present study was to evaluate the potency of the leaf extract of the plant Psidium guajava (PGE) along with its major biomarker quercetin against Shigella flexneri-induced sub chronic model of infectious diarrhoea. PGE at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. and quercetin at 50 mg/kg, p.o. were administered to Shigella flexneri-induced diarrhoeal rats for five days and various behavioural parameters were evaluated on 1st, 3rd and 5th day of treatment. This was followed by assessment of stool water content, density of Shigella flexneri in stools and blood parameters examination. After treatment, colon and small intestine of rats was dissected and subjected to biochemical estimations, cytokine profiling, antioxidant evaluations, ion concentration determination, Na+/K+–ATPase activity and histopathology. Molecular docking studies on crystal structure of Secreted Extracellular Protein A (SepA) from Shigella flexneri with biomarker quercetin was also performed. PGE at 200 mg/kg followed by quercetin depicted maximum antidiarrhoeal potential, which was confirmed through diarrhoea score and % protection, while PGE at 400 mg/kg showed similar effect to PGE 200 mg/kg thus, the later may have ceiling effect. PGE and quercetin also significantly reduced the density of Shigella flexneri in stools, water content of stools and restored the alterations observed in blood parameters, antioxidant status and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) expression. These parameters contributed in normalization of electrolyte balance, reactivation of Na+/K+–ATPase activity and repairing of epithelial tissue damage, confirmed through histopathology. Docking simulation studies revealed the role of quercetin in inactivating the protease activity of SepA, a protein secreted by Shigella, which disrupts epithelial barrier integrity during infection and also manages its signal production. Thus, the overall results confirmed the role of quercetin as a major biomarker for the observed antidiarrhoeal potential of P. guajava against Shigella flexneri induced infectious diarrhoea.
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•Potency of P. guajava (PG) & quercetin (QR) against infectious diarrhoea was done.•S. flexneri (SF) was used for inducing diarrhoea and treatment was given for 5 days.•PG at 200 & QR showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity & % protection.•PG & QR reduced density of SF in stools, NO level and reactivated Na+/K+–ATPase.•QR also inactivated SepA protease activity of SF & decreased cytokines expression.
A theoretical investigation of high-frequency shear Alfvén waves is made in a magnetized relativistic rotating electron-positron (e-p) plasma. The derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation (DNSE) is ...derived by employing the reductive perturbation technique. A stationary solitary solution of DNSE is derived, which is used to analyze the basic properties (amplitude, width, etc.) of shear e-p Alfvén (SEPA) solitons. Different intrinsic plasma parameters (namely, positrons thermal energy to electrons thermal energy ratio and relativistic effects, etc.) are seen to influence the basic properties of SEPA waves significantly. It is found that the SEPAs have new features with high time and small length scales. The phase speed of the waves is seen to increase with the relativistic parameter while it decreases with the increase of positron-to-electron (p-e) thermal energy ratio. It is also observed that both the soliton's amplitude and width increase with the increase of p-e thermal energy ratio, which are independent of rotational frequency. Our findings are useful to understand e-p plasma in the rotational astrophysical object.
Men of various ages feel that an increase in penile size would give them and their sexual partners an increased confidence. There are a variety of methods for increasing penile girth, such as ...injection therapies and surgery. All of these methods have a high complication rate which must be emphasized to the patients. In this article, the techniques used for increasing penile girth using dermofat grafts and SEPA (superior external pudendal artery) flaps are highlighted along with their complications and their management thereof.
Ten patients were operated for penile girth augmentation between June 2016 and March 2022. Of these, six patients had augmentation using dermofat grafts and four patients had SEPA flaps. Patients were chosen as per the Augmentation Phalloplasty Patient Selection and Satisfaction Inventory (APPSSI) score which was between 2 and 6 in the pre-operative period. The age range of the patients were between 25 and 57 years. The mid-penile girth in the flaccid state ranged from 8.8 to 12.3 cm.
Post-operatively, after 6 months, the final girth increase varied from 1.9 to 2.6 cm. The complication rate was 50% and included skin loss, urinary obstruction, fat necrosis, and so on. The post-operative APPSSI score ranged from 2 to 12. Complications were more in uncircumcised patients and in those who desired excessive augmentation.
Penis girth augmentation using SEPA flaps and dermofat grafts is indicated in patients who fulfill the criteria and give appreciable girth increase, but patients need to be aware of the potential complications of these surgeries.
•Aspergillus nidulans PkcA and SepA reside in a complex.•PkcA and SepA remain complexed through late stages of actomyosin ring constriction.•PkcA localization to cortical rings depends on aspects of ...SepA function.•PkcA/SepA cortical ring stability requires actin.
The Aspergillus nidulans orthologue of Protein kinase C (PkcA) and the A. nidulans formin SepA participate in polarized growth. PkcA localizes to growing hyphal apices and septation sites, and amino acid sequences within PkcA that are required for PkcA to localize to these sites of cell wall synthesis have been identified. SepA is associated with the contractile actomyosin ring (CAR), and it localizes at hyphal tips in association with the Spitzenkörper (SPK) and as an apical dome. A mutation in the sepA gene (sepA1) renders A. nidulans aseptate at elevated temperature. Progress towards understanding the spatiotemporal relationship between PkcA and SepA during polarized growth is presented here. Fluorescent chimeras of PkcA and SepA strongly overlapped in some hyphal tips in a dome pattern, while other tips displayed SepA SPK and PkcA dome localization within the same tip. At septation sites PkcA and SepA consistently colocalized through late stages of CAR constriction. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation experimental results provide evidence that SepA and PkcA are both present in complexes at both hyphal tip domes and at cortical rings. A Gal4-based yeast two-hybrid analysis confirmed the physical interaction between SepA and PkcA, and indicted that the FH2 domain of SepA is involved in its physical interaction with PkcA. A functional interaction between PkcA and SepA was shown through complementation of the pkcA calC2 mutant’s hypersensitivity to cell wall perturbing agents by overexpressed sepA and by the ability of the sepA1 mutation to block PkcA’s ability to form cortical rings. Taken together these results suggest that a PkcA/SepA complex is involved in polarized growth. Through experiments using the actin disrupter latrunculin B, evidence is presented suggesting that actin plays a role in the PkcA/SepA complex.
In this study, the traditional culture in Kaş-Kekova Specially Protected Area will be opened to discuss for the impact on the environmental problems caused by human activities and the contribution to ...the solution of these problems. The Specially Protected Area (SEPA) is a conservation status and Kaş-Kekova has acquired this status due to its characteristics such as rich biodiversityand, cultural heritage, underwater treasures. However, Kaş-Kekova SEPA is threatened mostly due to human activities. In 2015, a fieldwork focusing on culture-environment relations was conducted in the region in order to identify the problem correctly and to find solutions. In the fieldwork observation, in-depth interviewing and visualization techniques were used. Although an ecological anthropology approach which explores the interrelation of human with natural environment has been adopted in the study, due to the global world economy system prevails all over the world nowadays, evaluations have been made with a broader scale and a political attitude. Thus, the results of this study which is done with an approachment can be called as new ecological anthropological showed that the problems are not caused by traditional culture. Moreover, if this culture is continued, the pressure on Kaş-Kekova SEPA will also decrease.
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