University of Luxembourg

About: University of Luxembourg is a education organization based out in Luxembourg, Luxembourg. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & European union. The organization has 4744 authors who have published 22175 publications receiving 381824 citations.

Introduction to normative multiagent systems

Abstract: This article introduces the research issues related to and definition of normative multiagent systems. It also describes the papers selected from NorMAS05 that are part of this double special issue and relates the papers to each other.

Conceptualizing intercultural (communicative) competence and intercultural citizenship

Abstract: Traditionally, the notion of citizenship has been linked to the concept of nation, the ‘imagined community’ dependent on a common language. State and nation are assumed to be one: the nation state. The contemporary world has created many other identifications and opportunities for political activities in communities which are transnational. This generates the question of language of communication. The ‘nation state’ has been successful through its education system in imposing a common language within its boundaries. Members of transnational groups therefore bring their own language to interaction, and need to be able to communicate despite the differences. Citizenship across linguistic boundaries thus requires competences of communication as well as those of critical understanding of the conditions under which political activity can take place. Citizenship education prepares young people for political activity up to the level of the state. Foreign language education (FLE) prepares them for interaction with people with another language. The combination of the aims and purposes of citizenship education with those of foreign language education prepares learners for ‘intercultural citizenship’. This chapter summarises current work on intercultural citizenship and competences for democratic citizenship, and thoughts about future directions in which the internationalist educational purposes of FLE might be further realised.

Metabolite damage and its repair or pre-emption

Abstract: It is increasingly evident that metabolites suffer various kinds of damage, that such damage happens in all organisms and that cells have dedicated systems for damage repair and containment. First, chemical biology is demonstrating that diverse metabolites are damaged by side reactions of 'promiscuous' enzymes or by spontaneous chemical reactions, that the products are useless or toxic and that the unchecked buildup of these products can be devastating. Second, genetic and genomic evidence from prokaryotes and eukaryotes is implicating a network of new, conserved enzymes that repair damaged metabolites or somehow pre-empt damage. Metabolite (that is, small-molecule) repair is analogous to macromolecule (DNA and protein) repair and seems from comparative genomic evidence to be equally widespread. Comparative genomics also implies that metabolite repair could be the function of many conserved protein families lacking known activities. How--and how well--cells deal with metabolite damage affects fields ranging from medical genetics to metabolic engineering.

Could spaceflight-associated immune system weakening preclude the expansion of human presence beyond Earth’s orbit?

Abstract: This year, we celebrate the 40th birthday of the first landing of humans on the moon. By 2020, astronauts should return to the lunar surface and establish an outpost there that will provide a technical basis for future manned missions to Mars. This paper summarizes major constraints associated with a trip to Mars, presents immunological hazards associated with this type of mission, and shows that our current understanding of the immunosuppressive effects of spaceflight is limited. Weakening of the immune system associated with spaceflight is therefore an area that should be considered more thoroughly before we undertake prolonged space voyages.