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Non-spherical colloids provided with well-defined bonding sites--often referred to as patches--are increasingly attracting the attention of materials scientists due to their ability to spontaneously assemble into tunable surface structures. The emergence of two-dimensional patterns with well-defined architectures is often controlled by the properties of the self-assembling building blocks, which can be either colloidal particles at the nano-and micro-scale or even molecules and macromolecules. In particular, the interplay between the particle shape and the patch topology gives rise to a plethora of tilings, from close-packed to porous monolayers with pores of tunable shapes and sizes. The control over the resulting surface structures is provided by the directionality of the bonding mechanism, which mostly relies on the selective nature of the patches. In the present contribution, we investigate the effect of the patch size on the assembly of a class of anisotropic patchy colloids--namely, rhombic platelets with four identical patches placed in different arrangements along the particle edges. Larger patches are expected to enhance the bond flexibility, while simultaneously reducing the bond selectivity as the single bond per patch condition--which would guarantee a straightforward mapping between local bonding arrangements and long-range pattern formation--is not always enforced. We find that the non-trivial interplay between the patch size and the patch position can either promote a parallel particle arrangement with respect to a non-parallel bonding scenario or give rise to a variety a bonded patterns, which destroy the order of the tilings. We rationalize the occurrence of these two different regimes in terms of single versus multiple bonds between pairs of particles and/or patches.

BackgroundLong-acting bronchodilators comprising long-acting beta(2)-agonists and the anticholinergic agent tiotropium are commonly used for managing persistent symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Combining these treatments, which have different mechanisms of action, may be more effective than the individual components. However, the benefits and risks of combining tiotropium and long-acting beta2-agonists for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) disease are unclear.ObjectivesTo assess the relative effects of treatment with tiotropium in addition to long-acting beta(2)-agonist compared to tiotropium or long-acting beta2-agonist alone in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Search methodsWe searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register of trials and clinicaltrials.gov up to January 2012.Selection criteriaWe included parallel group, randomised controlled trials of three months or longer comparing treatment with tiotropium in addition to long-acting beta2-agonist against tiotropium or long-acting beta2-agonist alone for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Data collection and analysisTwo review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and then extracted data on trial quality and the outcome results. We contacted study authors for additional information. We collected information on adverse effects from the trials.Main resultsFive trials were included in this review, mostly recruiting participants with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. All of them compared tiotropium in addition to long-acting beta(2)-agonist to tiotropium alone, but only one trial additionally compared a combination of the two types of bronchodilator with long-acting beta2-agonist (formoterol) alone. Two studies used the long-acting beta2-agonist indacaterol, two used formoterol and one used salmeterol.Compared to tiotropium alone (3263 patients), treatment with tiotropium plus long-acting beta2-agonist resulted in a slightly larger improvement in the mean health-related quality of life (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) MD -1.61; 95% CI -2.93 to -0.29). In the control arm, tiotropium alone, the SGRQ improved by falling 4.5 units from baseline and with both treatments the improvement was a fall of 6.1 units from baseline (on average). High withdrawal rates in the trials increased the uncertainty in this result, and the GRADE assessment for this outcome was therefore moderate. There were no significant differences in the other primary outcomes (hospital admission or mortality).The secondary outcome of pre-bronchodilator FEV1 showed a small mean increase with the addition of long-acting beta2-agonist (MD 0.07 L; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.09) over the control arm, which showed a change from baseline ranging from 0.03 L to 0.13 L on tiotropium alone. None of the other secondary outcomes (exacerbations, symptom scores, serious adverse events, and withdrawals) showed any statistically significant differences between the groups. There were wide confidence intervals around these outcomes and moderate heterogeneity for both exacerbations and withdrawals.The results from the one trial comparing the combination of tiotropium and long-acting beta2-agonist to long-acting beta2-agonist alone (417 participants) were insufficient to draw firm conclusions for this comparison.Authors' conclusionsThe results from this review indicate a small mean improvement in health-related quality of life for patients on a combination of tiotropium and long-acting beta2-agonist compared to tiotropium alone, but it is not clear how clinically important this mean difference may be. Hospital admission and mortality have not been shown to be altered by adding long-acting beta(2)-agonists to tiotropium. There were not enough data to determine the relative efficacy and safety of tiotropium plus long-acting beta2-agonist compared to long-acting beta2-agonist alone. There were insufficient data to make comparisons between the different long-acting beta2-agonists when used in addition to tiotropium.

BackgroundLong-acting bronchodilators comprising long-acting beta(2)-agonists and the anticholinergic agent tiotropiumare commonly used, either on their own or in combination, for managing persistent symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who are symptomatic and who suffer repeated exacerbations are recommended to add inhaled corticosteroids to their bronchodilator treatment. However, the benefits and risks of adding inhaled corticosteroid to tiotropium and long-acting beta2-agonists for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are unclear.ObjectivesTo assess the relative effects of adding inhaled corticosteroids to tiotropium and long-acting beta2-agonists treatment in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Search strategyWe searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register of trials (February 2011) and reference lists of articles.Selection criteriaWe included parallel group, randomised controlled trials of three months or longer comparing inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta(2)-agonist combination therapy in addition to inhaled tiotropium against tiotropium and long-acting beta2-agonist treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Data collection and analysisTwo review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and then extracted data on trial quality and the outcome results. We contacted study authors for additional information. We collected information on adverse effects from the trials.Main resultsOne trial (293 patients) was identified comparing tiotropium in addition to inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta(2)-agonist combination therapy to tiotropium plus long-acting beta2-agonist. The study was of good methodological quality, however it suffered from high and uneven withdrawal rates between the treatment arms. There is currently insufficient evidence to know how much difference the addition of inhaled corticosteroids makes to people who are taking tiotropium and a long-acting beta(2)-agonist for COPD.Authors' conclusionsThe relative efficacy and safety of adding inhaled corticosteroid to tiotropium and a long-acting beta(2)-agonist for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients remains uncertain and additional trials are required to answer this question.

Long-acting beta(2)-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids can be used as maintenance therapy by patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These interventions are often taken together in a combination inhaler. However, the relative added value of the two individual components is unclear.

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This chapter discusses the growing literature on what are variously called global supply chains, global value chains, global production networks and global commodity circuits, and how they contribute to the social organisation and operation of the global economy and an understanding of globalisation itself. It considers global relationships in the production, distribution, exchange and consumption of goods and services and how the material infrastructures and relationships that support the circulation of commodities have been made visible in times of crisis. The chapter considers the global-local interconnections of three commodities: flip-flops, tomatoes and fish. It presents original research in the circulation of fish and seafood with a focus on the pivotal figure of the fish merchant at Billingsgate, London’s long-established wholesale fish market. The ordinary transactions and market work which generate and sustain the commodity circuit at Billingsgate reveal it as fragile and contingent too. The work of maintaining the commodity chain is shown to be an ongoing practical accomplishment based on human bonds and human-fish entanglements.