1. Insulin Resistance 2. Obesity 3. Hyperinsulinism (Hyperinsulinemia) 4. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) 5. Dyslipidemias (Dyslipidemia)
1. Després, Jean-Pierre: 29 articles (10/2013 - 07/2002) 2. Watts, Gerald F: 19 articles (10/2015 - 02/2002) 3. Onat, Altan: 18 articles (08/2015 - 11/2002) 4. Chan, Dick C: 17 articles (10/2015 - 02/2002) 5. Barrett, P Hugh R: 15 articles (10/2015 - 05/2002) 6. Azizi, Fereidoun: 14 articles (11/2015 - 07/2003) 7. Bergeron, Jean: 14 articles (10/2013 - 02/2002) 8. Can, Günay: 13 articles (08/2015 - 12/2005) 9. Després, J P: 13 articles (01/2006 - 04/2000) 10. Björntorp, P: 13 articles (07/2003 - 01/2000)
1. Insulin (Novolin)FDA Link
01/01/2011 - "Functional dilator capacity is independently associated with insulin sensitivity and age in central obesity and is not improved by high dose statin treatment."
03/01/2014 - "The purpose of this study was to determine the independent associations between physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), abdominal obesity and insulin action in obese women. "
01/01/2009 - "This study uses a large existent cohort of patients and will generate valuable information as to the continuing effects of exercise specifically targeting cardiovascular function and disease risk, insulin metabolism, abdominal obesity, physical function, quality of life and psychological distress. "
01/01/2008 - "Relationship of abdominal obesity measured by DXA and waist circumference with insulin sensitivity in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white individuals: the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study."
01/01/2006 - "We studied the effects of 9 months of GH treatment on 11betaHSD activity and its relationship with body composition and insulin sensitivity in 30 men with abdominal obesity, aged 48-66 years, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. "
2. HDL CholesterolIBA
05/01/1995 - "Patients with central obesity and other associated disturbances showed maximal reduction in BP and other cardiovascular risk factors with a significantly greater increase in HDL-cholesterol. "
07/01/2001 - "Results of the present study suggest that regular endurance exercise training may be particularly helpful in men with low HDL cholesterol, elevated TGs, and abdominal obesity."
02/01/2012 - "The most common MetS parameters findings of our study were abdominal obesity (45.6%, waist circumference>88 cm) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. "
06/01/2003 - "Low HDL cholesterol was the most common component (75.4%) of the metabolic syndrome among the study population followed by abdominal obesity (24.6%). "
01/01/2016 - "However, fried food consumption was not associated with other metabolic risk factors (abdominal obesity, high FPG, hypertriacylglycerolaemia, low HDL-cholesterol and the metabolic syndrome). "
3. Triglycerides (Triacylglycerol)IBA
07/01/2013 - "Age ≥ 65 years (versus <65 years) was also associated with significantly greater attainment of all LDL-C and non-HDL-C targets, whereas abdominal obesity, gender (female > male) and lower baseline LDL-C, non-HDL-C, triglycerides, and hs-CRP were associated with improved attainment for some of these targets. "
01/01/2014 - "Abdominal obesity was found in 91.6% of the study population, elevated blood pressure in 78.3%; elevated serum triacylglycerols in 57.8%, and reduced serum HDL-C in 55.9%. "
09/01/2005 - "Abdominal obesity was the most common component in the study population (33.1%) closely followed by raised serum triglycerides (32.2%) and elevated systolic blood pressure (29.5%). "
10/01/2015 - "About 45 % of women had the MetS, with the prevalence of the individual components ranging from 68 % for abdominal obesity to 33 % for elevated triglycerides. "
06/01/2015 - "Publication criteria on harmonization for metabolic syndrome were considered: 3 of the following 5 criteria: presence of central obesity (abdominal girth > 90 cm for men and > 80 cm for women),TA 130/85, Triglycerides > 150 mg%, Glycemia > 100 mg% and HDL < 40 mg% Men, < 50 mg% Women. "
4. Glucose (Dextrose)FDA LinkGeneric
06/05/2011 - "Aims/Introduction: The aim of the present study was to determine the predictors of deterioration of glucose tolerance in individuals with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and abdominal obesity, and whether a lifestyle intervention to reduce visceral fat is effective in these individuals. "
03/03/2015 - "Effects of exercise amount and intensity on abdominal obesity and glucose tolerance in obese adults: a randomized trial."
03/01/2015 - "Mother-daughter correlation of central obesity and other noncommunicable disease risk factors: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study."
06/01/2013 - "Moreover, studies in patients with abdominal obesity demonstrate a marked effect of GH therapy on body composition and on lipid and glucose homeostasis. "
07/01/2010 - "The analysis of anthropometric para meters revealed that individuals with a high index of central obesity had a statistically significantly lower tissue glucose utilization (TGU) (3.23 vs. 4.89 mg/kg/min; P = 0.02), although there were no obese patients in the study group according to the body mass index. "
5. Lipoproteins (Lipoprotein)IBA
01/01/2013 - "Majority of studies that focused on the influence of abdominal obesity on lipoprotein profile, were conducted in the fasting conditions. "
01/01/2004 - "The aim of this study was first to seek new MTP gene variants and then to verify whether MTP gene polymorphisms were associated with plasma lipoprotein/lipid levels in men with visceral obesity. "
12/01/2014 - "Odds ratios (with their 95% confidence intervals [95% CIs]) of gender (women vs. men) were 2.00 [95% CI: 1.48 to 2.69] for abdominal obesity, 1.48 [95% CI: 1.15 to 1.91]) for high pulse pressure, 1.48 [95% CI: 1.13 to 1.92] for high low-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, 1.77 [95% CI: 1.32 to 2.37] for low high-density lipoprotein cholesterolemia, and 1.68 [95% CI: 1.28 to 2.21] for metabolic syndrome diagnosed by the International Diabetes Federation criteria. "
11/01/2014 - "The relationships between HDL catabolism and other variables that may be modified in abdominal obesity, such as very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) subspecies (VLDL1, VLDL2) kinetics, liver fat, or visceral adiposity, remain to be investigated. "
11/01/2014 - "Background The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex of multiple risk factors that contribute to the onset of cardiovascular disorder, including lowered levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and abdominal obesity. "
6. CholesterolIBA
05/01/2015 - "The main aim of this study is to evaluate the association between serum cholesterol level and abdominal obesity in adult men and women in the north of Iran. "
11/01/2009 - "There are few studies that compare measures of diagnostic accuracy for selected waist cutoff points and the criteria of abdominal obesity given by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). "
11/01/2006 - "National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III, a modified Adult Treatment Panel III that adopts the World Health Organization's criterion for central obesity in Asian populations, and one recently proposed by the International Diabetes Federation, were used in the study. "
11/01/2015 - "(i) Children with central obesity were characterized by higher percentages of Th17 cells as compared to children from the control group; (ii) in the peripheral blood of patients with long-term type 1 diabetes the Th17 cell counts were higher compared to the control group; (iii) total plasma cholesterol concentration correlated positively with Th17/Treg cells ratio; and (iv) among patients with long-term diabetes, disease duration correlated positively with Th17 cell count and Th17/Th1 cell ratio. "
05/01/2015 - "The association between abdominal obesity and serum cholesterol level."
7. AdiponectinIBA
01/01/2013 - "In conclusion, circulating adiponectin levels were independently associated with dysglycemia in non-fasting Japanese employees with metabolic risk factors, but they improved the screening capacity only in those without abdominal obesity. "
01/01/2014 - "The present study results suggest that prevention of abdominal obesity could contribute to the prevention of lower adiponectin levels, especially in boys."
01/01/2014 - "The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between abdominal obesity and serum adiponectin complexes among population-based elementary school children in Japan. "
01/01/2014 - "There are a limited number of studies regarding the association between abdominal obesity and serum adiponectin complexes (high, medium, and low molecular weight adiponectins) among population-based elementary school children, especially in Japan, where blood collection is not usually performed during annual health examinations of school children. "
11/01/2015 - "Adiponectin levels (ADPN) are lower in individuals with central obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. "
8. Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver DiseaseIBA
04/01/2007 - "The intervention promoted a decrease in the prevalence of NAFLD, a significant decrease in visceral obesity, and improved HOMA-IR, glycemia, and serum lipid levels that are risk factors for NAFLD. "
11/01/2007 - "Visceral fat thickness can be measured by sonography easily, noninvasively, and repeatedly for assessment of central obesity and monitoring of the efficacy of treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease."
08/01/2015 - "In this study, associations between abdominal obesity, as assessed by abdominal bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and the characteristics of patients with NAFLD were explored. "
02/07/2015 - "The online databases PubMed, EMBASE, and ISI Web of Science were searched for studies estimating the influence of central obesity on NAFLD occurrence published through April 2014. "
01/01/2015 - "Higher association of coronary artery calcification with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than with abdominal obesity in middle-aged Korean men: the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study."
9. Blood Glucose (Blood Sugar)IBA
01/01/2015 - "After adjusting for age and BMI, MS was associated with a 1.46-fold increase in CAC (95% CI:1.02-2.09), abdominal obesity was associated with a 1.45-fold increase (95% CI:1.04-2.04), elevated fasting blood glucose was associated with a 2-fold increase (95% CI:1.36-2.94), and MS and smoking combined were associated with 2.44-fold increase in CAC. "
01/01/2015 - "Among MS components, abdominal obesity and elevated fasting blood glucose were correlated with CAC. "
01/01/2014 - "Central obesity indices were highly associated with blood sugar level. "
06/01/2013 - "In men with the abdominal obesity, the higher levels of WBC count, high serum triglyceride and blood glucose levels, a low serum HDL level, and raised systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed. "
09/01/2012 - "Psoriatic patients also had a higher prevalence of triglyceridemia (33.9% vs. 20.8%, P value = 0.011), abdominal obesity (34.7% vs. 32.5%, P value = 0.035) and elevated blood sugar. "
10. rimonabantIBA
08/27/2008 - "Ongoing studies aim at further demonstrating the potential of rimonabant in the management of type 2 diabetes, in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and in the protection against cardiovascular complications in (diabetic) patients with abdominal obesity."
07/01/2011 - "Effect of rimonabant on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) progression in patients with abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome: the AUDITOR Trial."
05/16/2006 - "As an agent with a novel mechanism of action, rimonabant has a potential to be a useful adjunct to lifestyle and behavior modification in treatment of multiple cardiometabolic risk factors, including abdominal obesity and smoking."
07/01/2011 - "A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Atherosclerosis Underlying Development assessed by Intima-media Thickness in patients On Rimonabant (AUDITOR)) randomised 661 patients with abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome to rimonabant or placebo for 30 months of treatment. "
01/01/2009 - "Rimonabant is a useful option for patients with abdominal obesity and with related cardiometabolic risk abnormalities such as an atherogenic dyslipidemia and/or type 2 diabetes."
1. Caloric Restriction
07/01/2011 - "Increasing low fat milk consumption significantly reduces the general and central obesity beyond a low calorie diet."
01/01/2003 - "To compare the efficiency of low-calorie diet and low-calorie diet applied together with laser acupuncture in the therapy of visceral obesity in postmenopausal women. "
01/01/2003 - "Laser acupuncture and low-calorie diet during visceral obesity therapy after menopause."
07/18/2000 - "Weight loss induced by increased daily physical activity without caloric restriction substantially reduces obesity (particularly abdominal obesity) and insulin resistance in men. "
05/01/1999 - "Numerous metabolic complications are associated with abdominal obesity and most of them, such as diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemias and arterial hypertension, appear to be linked to insulin resistance and may be part of the socalled metabolic syndrome or syndrome X. While very-low-calorie diets are usually effective in the short-term, they cannot, in the long-term and for most patients, solve the problem of severe obesity. "
2. Bariatric Surgery
09/01/2011 - "Visceral obesity is a negative predictor of remission of diabetes 1 year after bariatric surgery."
11/01/2013 - "The objective of the current study was to evaluate the potential impact of plasma LPS on abdominal obesity and glycemic control in subjects undergoing bariatric surgery. "
11/01/2013 - "Plasma lipopolysaccharide is closely associated with glycemic control and abdominal obesity: evidence from bariatric surgery."
12/01/2003 - "Whether central obesity has any adverse effect in laparoscopic bariatric surgery is not clear. "
12/01/2003 - "Clinical significance of central obesity in laparoscopic bariatric surgery."
3. Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass)
09/01/2015 - "However, since 2011, laparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) with a small stomach pouch has been performed at our center, with prominent resolution of abdominal visceral obesity and lower incidences of postoperative complications. "
08/01/2014 - "Although insulin resistance and central obesity play an important role in the pathogenesis, the factors that determine its development and ultimate remission after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are not fully understood. "
01/01/2012 - "Improvement of insulin resistance after gastric bypass surgery is associated with the decrease in central obesity indices."
01/01/2012 - "The distribution of body fat after gastric bypass changes from central obesity to peripheral obesity. "
05/01/2005 - "The reduction of BMI and WHR after gastric bypass confirmed this operation to be effective against MO. The high basal levels of insulin and the high rate of HD and diabetes in patients with central obesity seem to indicate that they suffer a metabolic syndrome with significant hormonal imbalances and sodium retention. "
4. Resistance Training
01/01/2011 - "These findings indicate that an evidence-based resistance training program administered in the community setting for those with or at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, can lead to favorable health benefits, including reductions in central obesity and improved physical function."
01/01/2015 - "Our findings demonstrate evidence for a favorable and comparable effect of 3-month endurance and endurance strength training on anthropometric parameters, body composition, physical capacity, and circulatory system function in women with abdominal obesity."
01/01/2015 - "44 women with abdominal obesity were randomized into groups A and B, and asked to perform endurance (A) and endurance strength training (B) for 3 months, 3 times/week, for 60 min. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and Graded Exercise Test were performed before and after training. "
01/01/2015 - "Effects of Endurance and Endurance Strength Training on Body Composition and Physical Capacity in Women with Abdominal Obesity."
07/01/2012 - "Therefore, the purpose of this review was to address the importance of resistance training on abdominal obesity, visceral fat and inflammatory response."
5. Acupressure (Shiatsu)


2016-2017 Prindle Institute High School Essay Competition
The Prindle Institute for Ethics will award five prizes ($300 each) for the best essays written by high school students on an ethics-related topic. This year’s topic focuses on the ethics of voting. Any high school student is encouraged to submit an essay. Read the guidelines below, and submit your paper via the online submission form at the bottom of this page.
The Ethics of VotingAnswer oneof the following prompts. 1. Is it okay to vote for self-interested reasons?
Is it morally permissible to vote for self-interested reasons? A lot of people vote for presidential candidates based on self-interest. Someone who is wealthy might vote for someone promising to cut taxes. Someone who is a teacher might vote for someone they perceive to be pro-education. Someone who owns a small business might vote for someone they perceive as pro-business. Is it morally permissible to vote for someone whom you think will benefit you directly in some way? Is there a moral difference between that and selling your vote?
2. Is it wrong not to vote? Voting is a right, but is it an obligation? People choose to not vote for a variety of reasons, but others will argue that they have a civic duty to get out and vote. Are people obligated to get out and vote? 3. Who should have the right to vote? We don't allow convicted felons or people under 18 to vote. Many states won't allow someone to vote who can't provide proof of their identity. Should we restrict voting this way? Who should have the right to vote? If we restrict voting, what criteria should we use? 4. Identify a moral issue related to voting other than (1)-(3) You may think there are other interesting ethical questions related to voting that aren't identified in the first three prompts. Feel free to identify one of those questions and answer it. Each essay should thoroughly assess the moral dimensions of the ethics of voting in your own self-interest.
If you argue that something is permissible, then then your essay should also thoughtfully consider and respond to arguments that someone might have for thinking that it is not permissible. If you argue that something is not permissible, then you should consider why someone might argue that it is permissible.
Deadline: January 16, 2017 Eligibility: Anyone currently enrolled in high school in the United States. You do not need to enroll at DePauw to receive the award. This contest is open to any high school student regardless of college choice. Word Limit: 1000-2000 words Guidelines:
You should present and critically discuss arguments for your position.
Don’t merely summarize what others have said, we want you to weigh in with your opinion on the merits of the arguments you discuss.
Cite your sources (any common citation style is acceptable).
Remove any identifying information from the paper you submit, including your name, high school name, etc. This ensures that papers will be anonymous.
Submit your essay using the online submission form below.
Winners will receive a $300 honorarium and may have their essays published on The Prindle Post.
Ethics Resources:


Health impact assessment (HIA) is a systematic assessment of the potential health impacts of proposed public policies, programs and projects. While HIA is currently used infrequently in the United States, it has proven effective internationally for advancing population health. This article discusses the variety of ways that HIA can be applied, outlines challenges in adoption and identifies areas where research is needed to advance the field from theory to routine practice in the U.S.
Key Findings:
Functional, transparent screening tools should be developed to help analysts determine the appropriateness of HIA for a particular policy question. Work should be done to facilitate mutual exchange between those who develop and apply HIAs and policy-makers. A collection of applicable HIAs should be created and follow-up research conducted to test whether the use of the HIA contributed to policy decisions.


Image: Aliyev Alexei Sergeevich/Blend Images/Getty Images
If you're a parent, I probably don't need to tell you that becoming a mother is profound and complex.
We talk a lot about the tremendous gains of parenthood, like love, clarity of priorities and gratitude for life. It's hard, though, to find moms who are comfortable sharing the deep losses of motherhood. I know I spent two years of my life trying to find a play group where the mommies were comfortable sharing the hard stuff, including the losses. It's as though we believe that we're admitting regret about motherhood if we let on to the fact that it's not all about chubby little cheeks, hugs and a heart exploding with love.
Sometimes, the joys of motherhood are colored with resentment and jealousy. And we're not betraying our children by owning it. I believe we betray our children by pretending it doesn't exist.
Recently, I asked a group of moms about the losses they feel most deeply. The responses were immediate and well thought-out, as though they'd been waiting to find a safe space to share.
"My secondary career goals, as bad as that sounds."
Allyson W. "Time with my husband."
Jana H. "Selfishness."
Shaquatta B. "Personal space. Sounds like a small thing, but for me it's a hard thing."
Casey T. "Sleep. Free time. Hobbies. Peaceful meals. Perky boobs (just sayin'). Capacity for extra activities or leadership in them, just to name a few."
Adrienne P. "The ability to just leave the house and go watch a movie, grab a drink, see a friend or get alone time — the moment I feel like it. I have also lost the belief that any amount of puke in the hair should constitute a reason for showering."
Elizabeth G. "Big travel plans, fancy restaurants and a lot of one-on-one friend time, without kids running around."
Angie L. "My body and my money."
Julie L. "Time to myself, running a quick errand, my body and time."
Maura B. "Sleep. And a certain level of hygiene. I'm clean, but I can count on one hand the number of times I've worn makeup in the last two years."
Annah R. "Hobbies, my career, spontaneity and free time with my husband."
Kate S. "I miss my quiet days. And alone time with my husband, most of all."
Megan L.
Do you resonate with what these moms feel about the losses of motherhood? What else would you add to the list?
More parenting tips
Who parents more, moms or dads?
True horror stories from the labor and delivery ward How dismal maternity leave policies affect real women in the United States


In theory, listed private equity funds offer a compelling investment opportunity. Not only does it offer smaller investors some exposure to an asset class that typically has minimum fund commitments of £1 million in addition to high annual fees, it also offers liquidity as selling shares is easier than selling fund stakes.
However, since listed private equity share prices collapsed in 2008, investors have remained wary. For roughly the past eight years shares for the listed private equity sector as a whole has been trading...


Make sure that, in the event of your death, your TSP account will be distributed according to your wishes.
How the TSP Distributes Death Benefits Who Can You Designate as a Beneficiary? How to Designate a Beneficiary Distribution According to the TSP Designation of Beneficiary
Did you know that when you die, the TSP will not honor a will when distributing your account? Neither will it honor a prenuptial agreement, a separation agreement, a property settlement agreement, a court order, or a trust document.
The only document the TSP will use to distribute death benefits is Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary (formerly TSP-U-3 for uniformed services members). By law, the TSP must pay your properly designated beneficiary, or beneficiaries, under all circumstances.
Distribution According to the Statutory Order of Precedence
If you do not have a Designation of Beneficiary form on file with the TSP, your money will be distributed according to the following order of precedence required by law:
To your spouse; If none, to your child or children equally, and to the descendants of deceased children; If none, to your parents equally or your surviving parent; If none, to your appointed executor or administrator of your estate; If none, to your next of kin who is entitled to your estate under the laws of the state in which you resided at the time of your death. Primary Beneficiaries
You can designate one or more persons, a corporation, trust, legal entity, or your estate to receive your TSP account in the event of your death. You will have to indicate the share of your account that you would like each beneficiary to receive.
Contingent Beneficiaries
You can also designate contingent beneficiaries. These are persons or entities that would receive the primary beneficiary's share of your account if that primary beneficiary were to die before you.
If you don't designate any contingent beneficiaries, the share of any primary beneficiary who dies before you will be distributed proportionally among all of the surviving primary beneficiaries that you named. If no other primary beneficiaries remain, your death benefit will be paid according to the statutory order of precedence.
To designate a beneficiary, or beneficiaries, for your TSP account, follow these steps:
Complete Form TSP-3, Designation of Beneficiary. You can also contact the ThriftLine or ask your agency or service for a copy of the form. Sign and witness each page of Form TSP-3 according to the directions. Return the completed form to the address indicated on the form or fax it to the number provided. You must send the form directly to the TSP. Do not submit Form TSP-3 to your agency or service. Be aware that your beneficiary designation will not be valid unless it is received by the TSP on or before the date of your death. You will receive a confirmation letter in the mail after the TSP receives your form and processes it. You will also receive a letter from the TSP if there are errors on your form that prevent it from being accepted.


Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy in Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders ISBN/ASIN: 9789048154807,9789401710077 | 2000 | English | 358/359 pages | 21.6 Mb Publisher: Springer Netherlands | Author: Steven M. Greenberg (auth.), Marcel M. Verbeek, Robert M. W. de Waal, Harry V. Vinters (eds.) | Edition: 1
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a distinctive abnormality of small cerebral blood vessels, one that has intrigued neuroscientists for decades. The time seems right for a book which examines the phenomenon of CAA using a multifaceted approach: What does it produce clinically? How might CAA be imaged? What are the crucial biochemical/cellular events within cerebral vessel walls that lead to CAA? How can in vitro or transgenic experimental systems be used to understand the etiology of, or even potential treatments for, CAA? The editors have assembled key figures in the field of CAA research to examine these (and other) questions in a series of focused chapters that address specific issues of importance in understanding CAA and its clinical manifestations. Comprehending the biology and pathogenesis of this fascinating vascular lesion may even provide clues to less common forms of cerebral microvascular disease that have been recognized for decades (hypertensive microangiopathy) or more recently (CADASIL).


This is where it all began. The room where we all met for the first time — where the “incoming” was dropped from our titles and we officially became corps members. Where “Teach For America” changed from some abstract commitment to a living, breathing entity that would inspire and challenge and frustrate and encourage us.
On June 3, 2012, this place — Oklahoma City University — welcomed us into our new lives. In this space, we thought we were embarking on “teacher life” and only after months in the classroom do we finally see how little we knew about this work– our kids, our city, ourselves — when we began.
Here, we struggled to wake up for 7:30 breakfast; today, we’re shocked to see the sun before the first bell rings. Here, we thought offering articulate responses to questions about diversity would gain us respect; today, we see that wise and nuanced perspectives mean little unless they impact our relationships with tangible people. Here, we buzzed up and around and into each other, trying desperately to make friends; today, we only spend energy on those relationships that make us feel good.
Here, we believed we could achieve success simply by trying
our hardest. We thought we were in control.
Only as one of my fellow corps members and I strolled through our Induction site did I become aware of how I’ve changed over the past few months. Slowly, and sometimes painfully, I have come to see how little I can control. Success in my classroom is not dependent solely on carefully crafted five-step lesson plans, engaging hooks, or perfectly aligned data. Rather, success is determined by my ability to be in the moment — to roll with the punches & turn any situation into a learning opportunity. My success does not hinge on my ability to control my students, but rather, on my ability to channel their energy. I understand this job entirely differently than I used to.
Now, 7:30 breakfasts feel like a luxury. My opinions on diversity are now informed by hundreds of experiences and are undoubtedly wiser than anything I could’ve previously offered. Engaging with those buzzing corps members now gives me energy, rather than draining me. Visiting OCU shows me how much more I can handle after a few months — I can only imagine the stamina we’ll all have built a year from now.
New challenges arise, but after eight months, I have every faith we can handle them. I’m starting to see teaching as a test of endurance. The days haven’t gotten easier, but my stamina has increased. I can weather the storm with a little bit more grit than I used to.


This is comprehensive overview of a vital area of scientific enquiry, which covers a broad spectrum of issues. With contributions from some of the key researchers in the field, Adult Stem Cells: Biology and Methods of Analysis offers readers a historical perspective as well as unique insights into cutting-edge thoughts. The volume contextualizes the recent discovery of stem/progenitor cell populations resident in many adult tissues and organs. It confronts the complexities scientists face in trying to validate these cells, while it also describes and critically evaluates the methods currently used to assess stem cell self-renewal. The chapters also seek to distinguish this process from other aspects of cell survival, such as the regulation of life span, senescence, and immortalization at a molecular level. The monograph begins with a section that examine the basic biology of adult stem cells, including chapters on the emerging role of microRNAs in regulating their fate and the molecular mechanisms that govern their self-renewal, the book moves on to analyze the varying methodologies employed in characterizing these elusive elements of our genetic make-up. The second section details in-vivo lineage tracing of tissue-specific stem cells, explores the neural stem cell paradigm, and considers the function of ABC transporters and aldehyde dehydrogenase in adult stem-cell biology. The final section shifts the focus to the life-span regulation and immortalization and features a chapter on the cancer stem cell paradigm.This is an authoritative volume on one of the frontiers of genetic research, and will serve as a valuable resource, not just for established scientists but also for those now entering the field of stem cell biology.


This is the first book to focus entirely on children and material culture. The contributors ask:* what is the relationship between children and the material world?* how does the material culture of children vary across time and space?* how can we access the actions and identities of children in the material record?The collection spans the Palaeolithic to the late twentieth century, and uses data from across Europe, Scandinavia, the Americas and Asia. The international contributors are from a wide range of disciplines including archaeology, cultural and biological anthropology, psychology and museum studies. All skilfully integrate theory and data to illustrate fully the significance and potential of studying children.


Reversed Roles For Britain, U.S.
Until recently, the United States was a big net importer of oil, while Britain was a small net exporter of oil. This meant that higher oil prices harmed the U.S. economy, but had a slightly positive effect on the U.K. economy.
This is to some extent changing. While the U.S is still a large net importer, a combination of falling consumption and rising production in states like North Dakota has significantly reduced net imports, meaning that while a higher oil price is still negative for the U.S. economy, it has a smaller impact than a few years ago.
By contrast, a dramatic drop in U.K. oil production in recent years means that not Britain has gone from making small gains from a higher oil price to suffering great losses.
This is evident in the latest U.K. industrial production report. While manufacturing alone rose in January by 0.1% compared to the previous month and 0.3% compared to a year earlier, overall industrial production fell by 0.4% compared to the previous month and 3.8% compared to a year earlier because "oil and gas extraction" fell by 3.3% compared to the previous month and 23.9% compared to a year earlier. Compared to 2008, oil and gas extraction is down by 37.5%. While U.K. consumption is also down, it has fallen by far less than production, turning Britain from a net exporter to a net importer.


SsD was invited by Seoul National University's Department of Architecture to teach a 5-day workshop for their Frontline series. We posed the term 'Light Monumentality' to the students, a topic we have been exploring in our recent work. On the first day, students presented their interpretation of the term.
The workshop brief asks to the students to grapple with concept of monumentality in contemporary architectural terms: Who or to what power structure does a monument belong? How does the programmatic function align with its symbolic intent? Can the social content of the monument shift or does it remain aligned to a single power structure? We have intentionally juxtaposed the concept of
lightness and monumentality to put the terms into question. We all understand that the monumental assumes a certain gravity, a staid materiality, a relationship to particular ideologies. However lightness conveys a different conceptual stream: the phenomenological qualities of natural light, lightness of ecological and energy footprints, lightness of contemporary tectonics that can no longer rely upon unlimited human labor, and lightness in terms of the speed of construction required by modern urbanization.
The Korean context is especially a significant backdrop to address these current issues. With the creation of new urban zones, each of these territories must compete for identity while attempting to generate a sense of publicity within a constantly evolving social and cultural climate. Architecture then plays a central role as it communicates the larger agendas of these new urban entities. It is instrumental in communicating the aspirations and the ideas of a larger public sphere. At the same time it must also be flexible in the context of a quickly transforming society.


Architecture Practices for Agile at Scale: Strategically Managing Technical Debt to Improve System Quality
The Cyber Security and Information Systems Information Analysis Center (CSIAC) invites you to attend this webinar. This event requires registration.
Presenter: Robert L. Nord
Date and Time: Wednesday, December 11th, 2013; 12-1 pm EDT Registration Required
Practices designed to expedite system delivery, such as prototyping or agile development, can paradoxically lead to unexpected rework costs that ultimately slow down later deliverables and degrade value over time, especially as the scale of the system grows. The term “technical debt” describes an aspect of this tradeoff between short-term and long-term value in the software development cycle.
For example, mistaking an emphasis on rapid delivery of business features for agility may result in decreased focus on quality and architecture and thus accumulate as technical debt. Left unmanaged, technical debt causes significant technical and financial problems, leading to increased maintenance, operation, and evolution costs. Ongoing management of technical debt is critical to the development of high-quality systems that meet their customers’ needs in a timely manner. Agile practices of refactoring, test-driven development, and software craftsmanship are often mistakenly deemed sufficient to manage technical debt. For large-scale, mission-critical systems, there is more to consider: risks of accumulating debt are greater, practices start to break down, and technical debt becomes harder to find and fix because it is not as visible. In this presentation, we describe examples of an architecture-focused approach that can lead to making more informed system design decisions that balance short-term needs with long-term quality.
Presenter Biography:
Robert L. Nord is a senior member of the technical staff at the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute (SEI). He is engaged in activities focusing on agile architecting, architectural technical debt, and effective methods and practices for software architecture. He is coauthor of the practitioner-oriented books Applied Software Architecture and Documenting Software Architectures: Views and Beyond and lectures on architecture-centric approaches.
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To register for the online event: ———————————————————– 1. Visit the following url: http://r.thecsiac.com/o2gfk3 2. On the registration form, enter your information and then click “Submit”
Once your registration is approved, you will receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event.
For assistance, contact Thomas McGibbon.


A:Thank you for your question. There are no contraindications of ingesting yogurt while you have a upper respiratory tract infection, or a sinus infection. However, if you are on antibiotics, the absorption of certain antibiotics can be affected by diary. Please consult you doctor for further details on this matter.
(*)These Q&A’s are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.


To test the validity of survey techniques for measuring diet and activity patterns of Pima Indians, sequential 24-hour recalls, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and an activity questionnaire were compared to free-living energy expenditure. Total energy expenditure (TEE) measured by doubly labeled water was 13.27 +/- 2.95 MJ/d for the 12 males (mean +/- SD: 35 +/- 14 yr; 97 +/- 35 kg; 32 +/- 9% body fat) and 11.67 +/- 1.85 MJ/d for the 9 females (31 +/- 13 yr; 106 +/- 32 kg; 49 +/- 6% body fat). Energy intake assessed by 24-hour recall was 13.59 +/- 7.81 MJ/d for men and 9.29 +/- 2.77 MJ/d for women, compared to 12.84 + 2.85 and 9.40 + 2.61 MJ/d for men and women, respectively, by FFQ. Both dietary methods indicated significant underreporting by women when compared to TEE. Energy intake assessed by FFQ was significantly correlated with TEE (r=0.48, p=0.03). This was true with 24-hour recall energy intake only when data from two extremely large alcohol consumers were eliminated (r=0.64, p=0.03, N=19). Although a low level of activity was apparent, the activity questionnaire produced significant correlations with measurements of energy expenditure and therefore represents an important tool for examining the relationship between physical activity and diseases.


A needs assessment was completed with the target group, the Kanadier Mennonites. Thisassessment was successfully completed through a partnership between the School ofNursing, University of Lethbridge Advanced Community Nursing class, the Barons-Eureka-Warner (BEW) Health Unit (now part of the Chinook Regional Health Authority)and the Mennonite Central Committee local office, the Kanadier Concerns. Thirteen student teams conducted interviews with 22 key informants and 44 householdinformants. Male and female interpreters, fluent in English and Low German, were usedas translators and cultural interpreters. The limitations include the inability torandomize the sample, the need to use interpreters which may have led to a loss inunderstanding, the misinterpretation by the student teams of some of the questions, orthe in accurate completion of the demographic information sheets by some of the student teams.
Description:
63 p. ; 28 cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-36).


Treating Bone Loss Due to Anorexia
The aim of medical therapy for females with anorexia is weight gain and the return of regular menstrual periods. Research from Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. suggests that menses usually resume when girls have achieved 90 percent of the standard body weight for their age and height. While calcium intake has not necessarily demonstrated a therapeutic value, a nutritionally sound diet, including adequate calcium and vitamin D, is recommended.
The effect of exercise on bone recovery is not clear. Some studies have identified a skeletal benefit from weight-bearing activity in people with anorexia. However, the potential benefits of exercise need to be weighed against the risk of fracture, delayed weight gain, and exercise-induced amenorrhea. The impact of estrogen preparations on bone density in affected girls and young women is also unclear. Estrogen may offer a limited benefit in some patients, but it should not be a substitute for nutritional support.


Industrial energy efficiency for sustainable wealth creation
This event will launch the United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s (UNIDO) flagship publication, the
Industrial Development Report 2011. The report, entitled Industrial Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Wealth Creation: Capturing Environmental, Economic and Social Dividends, is UNIDO’s contribution to the Sustainable Energy for All initiative launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The initiative aims to achieve by 2030 three inter linked targets: universal access to modern energy services; the doubling of energy efficiency; and the doubling of the share of renewable energy in the world’s energy supply.
Dr Ludovico Alcorta, Development Policy, Statistics and Research from UNIDO will present the report followed by a response from ODI, the Policy Practice and the World Energy Council with remaining time open to the audience for an interactive session with comment and questions. Simon Maxwell, ODI Senior Research Fellow acts as chair.
To register to attend, click here.


Peer Reviewed
1
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-2016
Keywords
Human, major clinical study, medical student, intern, Irish
Abstract
Upon completion of medical school in Ireland, graduates must make the transition to becoming interns. The transition into the intern year may be described as challenging as graduates assume clinical responsibilities. Historically, a survey of interns in 1996 found that 91% felt unprepared for their role. However, recent surveys in 2012 have demonstrated that this is changing with preparedness rates reaching 52%. This can be partially explained by multiple initiatives at the local and national level. Our study aimed evaluate medical student understanding of the intern year and associated factors. An online, cross-sectional survey was sent out to all Irish medical students in 2013 and included questions regarding their understanding of the intern year. Two thousand, two hundred and forty-eight students responded, with 1224 (55.4%) of students agreeing or strongly agreeing that they had a good understanding of what the intern year entails. This rose to 485 (73.7%) among senior medical students. Of junior medical students, 260 (42.8%) indicated they understood what the intern year, compared to 479 (48.7%) of intermediate medical students. Initiatives to continue improving preparedness for the intern year are essential in ensuring a smooth and less stressful transition into the medical workforce.
Disciplines
Education | Medicine and Health Sciences
Citation
Gouda P, Kitt K, Evans DS, Goggin D, McGrath D, Last J, Hennessy M, Arnett R, O’Flynn S, Dunne F, O’Donovan D. Irish medical students’ understanding of the intern year. Irish Medical Journal 2016;109(4)389.
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.


Submitted by Bill Halfman, UW Extension Agent, Monroe County (adapted from Jim Neel, University of Tennessee)
This is a frequently asked question from farmers who are striving for a short and definite breeding/calving season in their efforts to produce a uniform calf crop as well as how to manage and feed the bull until the next breeding season. My question back is, “Have you considered selling him and purchasing a better bull prior to the next breeding season?”
Recently in August, bulls marketed in Wisconsin weekly auction markets have been bringing $60.00 to $64.00/cwt for those with a low dressing percent where as those with a high dressing percent classification fetched $69.00 to $76.00/cwt. Commonly those bulls classified as low dressing percentage are lighter muscled and have less condition, therefore expected to yield a lower percentage of carcass weight compared to live weight. For example, an 1800 lb. bull could sell for $1100 to $1350 using the mid-range ($64.00 to $69.00/cwt) described above.
If the bull is maintained for another year, the winter feed bill alone could cost around $400. If we consider a yardage cost for wear and tear on fences, facilities, and related expenses, this can add another $100 to the cost of keeping the bull on the farm. In addition, if this bull has been used in the cow herd for the last two years, this could result in the bull potentially breeding some of his progeny this next spring. Therefore the producer may want to consider introducing new genetics for the next breeding season as well.
If the bull is sold after the breeding season, the total dollars profited would be about $1600 to $1850 with the expense of maintaining the bull. This money could be used to invest in a replacement bull next spring that would be of “better genetic” potential than the “old bull.”
While this is not a common practice most cow-calf producers use, producers should consider “putting the pencil to the paper” of this option compared to keeping the bull around for another year.


Fintrekers are having to grapple with a rapidly increasing tide of Regulation.
Whilst our regulatory overlords have occasionally spoken about recognizing that the demands of innovation can mean that its sometimes in the consumers interest for a regulatory neutral zone to be created, or maintained (Sandbox anyone?), their actions really don't match their words.
The recent decision of the European Commission to accept amendments proposed to the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (4th AMLD)- lowering the threshold below which CDD diligence must be carried out by regulated entities offering such products on purchasers of pre-paid cards from €250 per month to €150 per month, is a case in point. It should be noted that this requirement has not been imposed on unregulated products- such as store cards. Whats the rationale for this move- either impose the threshold on everyone, or don't impose it at all.
The 4th AMLD also introduces measures providing that cards issued outside the EU may only be used in the EU when they comply with CDD requirements equivalent to the EU’s requirements.
Whilst no one wants to be lax on money laundering its questionable whether these measures are proportionate.
I am concerned that AML and Data Protection, and not pure "Financial Regulation" will become the real regulatory battle ground for European Fintrekers.
On 5 July 2016 the Commission adopted a proposal to amend the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (4AMLD). This new proposal is one of the first action points in the Commission’s Action Plan to strengthen the fight against terrorist financing. Its aim is to complement the existing AML framework by setting out further measures to ensure increased transparency of financial transactions and corporate entities. The amendments proposed by the Commission include widening customer verification requirements applicable to prepaid instruments by lowering thresholds for identification from €250 to €150. It also proposed bringing virtual currency exchange platforms within the scope of the 4AMLD since there are no EU-level regulations in that field. Therefore, the exchange platforms will be likely to have to comply with stricter due diligence obligations when exchanging virtual currencies for real currencies.


Strokes Gained Explained:
Strokes Gained statistics are calculated using mathematical equations that incorporate player performance with the ShotLink® data collected by volunteers at each PGA TOUR tournament. This concept was initially developed by Professor Mark Broadie of Columbia Business School and was then further analyzed by a team from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), led by Professor Steven Graves.
Strokes gained is a better method for measuring performance because it compares a player's performance to the rest of the field, and because it can isolate individual aspects of the game (discussed below). Traditional golf statistics, such as greens in regulation and putts per green, are influenced by a player's performance on shots other than those being measured. This makes Strokes Gained statistics valuable and meaningful for research.
The Strokes Gained: Putting statistic was introduced to the PGA TOUR in 2011. Despite its relatively new beginning, player performance has been recorded through the 2004 PGA TOUR season based on ShotLink® data that had already been collected and was used by Broadie as he developed the Strokes Gained statistics.
On June 1, 2016, Strokes Gained expanded to include off-the-tee, approach-the-green, and around-the-green statistics. Strokes Gained has been hailed as the most accurate and meaningful way to record player efficiency, and has uncovered new findings and overturned previous assumptions surrounding player performance.
What Strokes Gained Means for Golf:
“Strokes gained recognizes that sinking a 20-foot putt represents a better performance than sinking a three-foot putt, even though they both count as a single stroke on the scorecard. Strokes gained assigns a number to this intuition. Though strokes gained has roots in some fancy mathematics developed at the dawn of the computer age, there is an elegant simplicity to a stat that, at its core, merely involves subtracting two numbers.” -
-Mark Broadie, Columbia Business School, developer of Strokes Gained, and author of Every Shot Counts
“The strokes gained concept provides us with numerous future opportunities. Now that we have computed the baselines and statistics for each phase of the game we can focus on how to leverage this data when telling the story of the best players in the world. Strokes gained gives us the ability to explain performance and objectively compare multiple player performances. It also allows us to leverage the baseline data to compute probability for each player situation. People have seen this executed in our telecasts for putting. Now we can bring probability to the rest of the game.”
-Steve Evans, PGA TOUR Senior Vice President, Information Systems Data Collection: The Process for Strokes Gained: Putting Utilizes data collected by ShotLink® Takes into account putting proficiency from various distances and computes the difference between a player’s performances against the performance of other players each round. Calculates a player’s strokes gained or lost are then compared to the field. The statistic is computed by:
Ex: Average number of putts to hole out from 7 feet, 10 inches is 1.5.
If a player one-putts from that distance, he gains 0.5 strokes. If he two-putts, he loses 0.5 strokes. If he three-putts, he loses 1.5 strokes. The player’s strokes gained or lost are then compared to the field.
Ex: If a player gained 3 strokes over the round, while the field only gained 1 stroke, the player’s “Strokes Gained Against the Field” would be 2.
Finally, this information is used to show the best putters on the PGA TOUR for a given year. The PGA TOUR’s Strokes Gained Expansion
The new strokes gained statistics, which were introduced June 1, 2016, break down tee-to-green play into three categories:
off-the-tee, approach-the-green and around-the-green. The sum of those three statistics equals strokes gained is tee-to-green.
Off-the-tee + approach-the-green + around-the-green + putting = strokes gained: total
Strokes Gained:
Off-the-Tee measures player performance off the tee on all par-4s and par-5s.
Strokes Gained:
Approach-the-Green measures player performance on approach shots. Approach shots include all shots that are not from the tee on par-4 and par-5 holes and are not included in strokes gained: around-the-green and strokes gained: putting. Approach shots include tee shots on par-3s.
Strokes Gained:
Around-the-Green measures player performance on any shot within 30 yards of the edge of the green. This statistic does not include any shots taken on the putting green.


Development and validation of a chronic Pb bioavailability model for the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus
We investigated the univariate effects of Ca, pH and DOC on chronic (48h) Pb toxicity to the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus. High pH (8.2) and higher concentrations of DOC were protective against filtered Pb toxicity, whereas Ca was not. However, expressed as free Pb2+ ion, Pb2+ toxicity increased with increasing DOC concentration, indicating that Pb‐Fulvic Acid (FA) complexes may be bioavailable and may contribute to toxicity. Two different bioavailability models were developed. The pH effect was modeled as a single site competition effect by H+ (log KHBL = 7.14). In the first model, we considered only this H+ effect, in a second model we also incorporated a log‐linear FA bioavailability effect (SFA = 0.602). Both models predicted chronic Pb toxicity for most waters used for model development within 2‐fold error. To validate the predictive capacities of the models, chronic Pb toxicity to B. calyciflorus was tested in 5 natural and a reference water. Both models consistently underestimated Pb toxicity in these natural waters, due to a shift in rotifer sensitivity to Pb between the development and the validation test series. However, optimizing the intrinsic sensitivity in the models specific for the validation test series resulted in reasonable predictions of Pb toxicity in the natural waters. The second, more complex model predicted chronic Pb toxicity most accurately. The protective effects of water chemistry on Pb toxicity to Brachionus are comparable to those observed for Ceriodaphnia. However, the developed Brachionus models were not able to predict chronic Pb toxicity to the rotifer Philodina rapida accurately. It remains unclear why the influence of water chemistry on chronic Pb toxicity appears to be different between two rotifer species. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved


Heart transplantation is lifesaving in diseases of heart when all other treatment modalities fail. Unlike many other organs, supporting a failing heart is not feasible for a lengthy time period. In such situations heart transplantation remains the choice of treatment. The common indications for heart transplantation in children include diseases of heart muscle (cardiomyopathy) and incurable major structural abnormalities.
The success of adult heart transplant program has encouraged us to initiate a paediatric heart transplant division. Currently we have a robust paediatric cardiac surgery program with outcomes matching international standards. We operate on all age groups from newborns to older children and a wide range conditions. The cumulative experience at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences is of over 12000 open-heart operations in newborns, infants and children over 17 years. The paediatric heart transplant team consists of paediatric cardiac surgeons, paediatric cardiologists, paediatric cardiac anesthetists and intensivists, perfusion technologists, cardiac pathologists and experienced and specialized pediatric cardiac nurses. It is supported by a robust infrastructure with a dedicated state of the art paediatric cardiac intensive care unit.


Medicine in space does not have the right stuff.
After 28 months, the medication stored in space generally had a lower potency and degraded faster than those stored on the ground. Six medications on the space station underwent physical changes, such as discoloration and liquefaction, while such changes only occurred in two medications stored on the ground.


We recently reported that Abbot had to issue a recall of its Similac infant formula due to possible contamination from the common beetle. The recall affects products sold in Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. along with a select few Caribbean countries.
Abbott has set up a new web page – www.similac.com/recall – where you can check your lot number to see if your formula has been contaminated. The FDA reports that there is no health risk, although children who have ingested the affected formula could experience some discomfort.
Before you start to worry that all Similac formulas are affected by this recall, it is only those in plastic containers, those that are in 8-ounce, 12.4-ounce and 12.9-ounce cans.
If your product is affected, then it should be returned to Abbott – thankfully this will not cost you a dime. It is understandable that parents will be worried right now, which is why you should call (800) 986-8850 for more details.


Oral Tactile Sensibility Recorded in Overdenture Wearers With Implants or Natural Roots: A Comparative Study. Part 2
Regina Mericske-Stern, Dr Med Dent/Jochen Hofmann, Med Dent/Ansgar Wedig, Med Dent/Alfred H. Geering, Prof Dr Med Dent
PMID: 8150514
The capacity of dentate subjects to discriminate the thickness of objects placed between the teeth seems to depend on receptors in the periodontal ligament and muscles. The compensatory mechanism of ankylotic implants for the function of missing periodontal ligaments is not yet known. To investigate this question in overdenture wearers, 26 patients with ITI implants and 20 patients with natural roots were selected. According to the experimental protocol, the discriminatory ability was recorded with 10 steel foils (thickness ranging from 10 to 100 µm) placed between the premolars. Each thickness was tested 10 times and the test subjects were required to distinguish whether foil was positioned between the teeth. A maximum of 100 correct or 100 incorrect answers was possible. The average number of incorrect answers was significantly higher in test subjects with implants. The 50% limit (i.e., the tested thickness recorded with at least 5 wrong answers) was established, but no statistically significant difference was found. In both groups, the critical tactile threshold of perceived thickness was 30 to 40 ¡µm, with 2 being the average number of incorrect assessments. When comparing the minimal thickness, which was recorded without incorrect assessment, a significantly lower threshold was observed on patients with natural roots. Thus, active tactile sensibility appears to depend onthe receptors in the periodontal ligament. However, wearing of removable prostheses is a modifying factor and may influence the oral tactile sensibility for both groups. (INT J ORAL MAXILLOFAC IMPLANTS 1994;9:63-70.)
Key words: implants, overdentures, roots, tactile threshold


Potentially harmful to humans and other animals, the red-rimmed melania snail (Melanoides tuberculatus; family Thiaridae) was discovered in Biscayne National Park, Florida, in 2003 by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) researchers. The discovery raised concerns for park managers because this aquatic non-native snail is present in significant numbers in areas frequently used by park visitors and poses a risk of exposure. Researchers are addressing questions such as: Is this species a danger to human health? How widespread is it within the park? What factors control the distribution of the species? Is its presence a threat to native animals?
Study Area
Additional publication details
Publication type:
Report
Publication Subtype:
USGS Numbered Series
Title:
Red-Rimmed Melania (Melanoides tuberculatus) - A Snail in Biscayne National Park, Florida - Harmful Invader or Just a Nuisance?


Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats. Cerebral blood flow measured with [14C]iodoantipyrine was severely reduced in the lateral portion of neostriatum. This area of dense ischemia was sharply demarcated against the surroundings. The adjacent cortex was perfused at one-third of normal, whereas blood flow in the medial neostriatum was only slightly reduced. This pattern of perfusion was independent of the plasma glucose concentration of the animal. In contrast, the glucose utilization calculated from the 2-[3H]deoxyglucose accumulation depended on the plasma glucose concentration. Enhanced glucose utilization was evident in the border areas surrounding the ischemic focus in normoglycemic animals. Neither acutely nor chronically diabetic animals had such an increase of metabolism in the borderzone. Moderately hyperglycemic rats had a narrow rim of enhanced glucose utilization immediately surrounding the ischemic core, whereas animals with plasma glucose values above 22 mmol/L had no such rim. In mild hypoglycemia (2-4 mmol/L), the glucose utilization was slightly enhanced in the border areas, but during severe hypoglycemia (less than 2.5 mmol/L), the glucose utilization declined gradually toward the ischemic core. Glucose content, and thereby the lumped constant (measured by 3-0-[14C]methylglucose) showed little regional variation, except in the ischemic core. These findings indicate that blood flow alterations after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in rats are not influenced by the plasma glucose utilizations. In contrast, glucose utilization depends on a combination of plasma glucose concentration and blood flow instead of blood flow per se.


Typical biodiversity information systems can only solve a small part of user concerns. Available query mechanisms are based on traditional textual database manipulations, combining them with spatial correlations. However, experts need more complex computations – e.g., using non-textual data sources. This involves a considerable amount of manual tasks, to… (More)


Everyone loves a good read, but when you start believing that Dragon's Den might just take a chance on your waterproof paperback shower shield, you know your appetites are getting out of control. Reading addiction is not the same as loving books; it's more like book abuse, and it's time we afflicted stopped hiding from the truth.
A healthy bibliophile reads their texts carefully; an addict devours them, regardless quality. A lit junkie still thirsts after the best writing, but if necessary they won't hesitate to use Dan Brown to calm the craving, despite knowing how dirty they'll feel in the morning.
Like all compulsive habits, reading addiction stems from the need to escape and control. I need a book in my face like others need a fag in their fingers: it acts as a barrier between me and the world, and heightens, comforts or calms my emotions depending on my need.
For those with greyhoundish levels of energy, a book provides a constant channel and focus for the brain; the need to lend your own imagination to the tale makes it far more effective than TV. And with a trusty paper prop, solitude loses its sting; dining alone without a book shouts saddo-no-friends stigma, but put a Penguin 60 in your hand and you're transformed into liberated enigma.
If you have a book, you have a purpose and a shield. This is fine to an extent, but usually belittling to the books you're escaping into. When I'm abusing a book, I lapse into a kind of ravenous trance, reading too fast, remembering too little. When you can study a book review from start to finish without realising you've already read the novel in question, you can be pretty sure you've been perpetrating abuse.
Reading addiction is so dangerous because it's not only sanctioned but positively encouraged by society. My childhood self, prone to spending social occasions in a corner with a book, was indulged - particularly after my parents discovered reading pacified their tantrummy brat as effectively as any dummy. In any case, voracious reading in a kid is seen as a sign of intellect. Of course, the older you get, the less this applies; the plea that "adults are boring" definitely sounds emotionally retarded when you're 25. On a recent night out in Bungalow 8, I found myself swapping my vintage snakeskin clutch bag for an old M&S sack so I could smuggle in my 800-page copy of Underworld, just in case I got bored. (I did. But stupidly, I forgot the torch.)
Now that I'm aware of my illness, I'm seeing it everywhere. The shamefaced woman white-knuckling a grubby Grisham at the bus stop. The thick-specc'd bloke in the opticians scraping the barrel with The Shoe People's Village Fete.
Enough. I propose that fellow addicts join me in applying the principles of Carlo Petrini's slow food movement to the rehabilitation of their reading. We must pledge to focus on the quality of the attention we give to our books, not the quantity thoughtlessly consumed. We should remind ourselves that reading time should be sacred, set aside for when we're focused, alert and relaxed. For when our minds are ready to be engaged, not just abandoned. Not just when we can't bear to face the world. And definitely not when we're drunk.


Monday 12th December 2011 Lisbon, Portugal Overview
Nowadays middleware systems are required to support various levels of flexibly to adapt to the increasing dynamism of new models of computation and new classes of applications. These include:
Networked applicationsthat must operate under resource constraints and intermittent network connections, Cyber-physical systemswith a close integrate of computation, physical devices and interaction with the physical world, Open systemsthat are long lived, able to accept new components, remove existing components, and adapt to new situations, A new generation of networked interactive applicationsdriven by the availability of devices such as smart phones and tablets, New levels of high performance computing, for example the goal of exa-scale computing systems, Applications assembled on the flyto meet specific needs, from diverse and heterogeneous components, leading to a need for infrastructure that enables assembly of trustworthy (reliable, secure...) systems given high-level goals and constraints.
Applying reflective techniques to middleware to "
open up" the implementation, as explored in the previous workshops in this series has proven particularly successful and influential. Reflection alone is however now generally considered insufficient to deliver the flexibility demanded by today's ever-diversifying middleware environments. The 10th Workshop on Adaptive and Reflective Middleware aims to set forth the success of previous editions by offering researchers a forum to address this technological gap and explore how reflective approaches can be combined with complementary perspectives to support the complete life-cycle of highly adaptive middleware platforms. As in the previous editions, the traditional scope of the workshop will be expanded to the following topics: The workshop will consider a broader range of techniques that expand current work on software componentization and design patterns in support of adaptation- prime examples are: software architecture; design patterns; aspect orientation; and control theory; The workshop will recognize the current strong trends towards decentralized and diverse environments, including: peer-to-peer platforms; network-centric systems; grid computing; sensor networks; and pervasive and mobile applications. This essentially implies considering domain-specific adaptation approaches ( e.g., generalized fault-tolerance in peer-to-peer platforms); The workshop will investigate how developing adaptive, flexible and interoperable middleware for heterogeneous execution environments requires practitioners to adopt a multi-level perspective by extending one's focus beyond 'pure' middleware, and encompassing the remaining system 'layers'( e.g., devices, OSs, networks, applications); The workshop aims to explore the connections with other techniques and research fields that are related to dynamic adaptation, such as autonomic computing, self-* systems, context-aware computing, and location-based services.
We invite the following three types of submission to the workshop:
Research papersshould not exceed 6 pages of text on letter paper in ACM format. Content should be work that is not previously published or concurrently submitted elsewhere; Poster submissionsshould initially submit a 2 pages abstract describing the poster content in ACM format; this offers the opportunity to present and receive feedback at the workshop about work still in its early stages; Demo submissionsshould initially submit a 2 pages abstract in ACM format, describing the contribution and content of the demo; we are particularly interested in demonstrations of adaptive middleware tools and solutions. News 2011/10/24:The technical program is online. The list of accepted papers is available. 2011/10/03:
2011/10/03:
The submission deadline has been extended. 2011/08/06:
2011/08/06:
2011/05/16: The Call for Papers is available. 2011/05/15: The workshop has been accepted as a Middleware workshop.


In a letter to the Financial Stability Oversight Council as it considers the criteria to designate if a hedge fund is systemically significant under Dodd-Frank, the hedge fund industry urged the Council to analyze financial institutions based on objective, quantitative data to determine which hedge funds and other nonbank financial companies should be deemed systemically significant and, therefore, subject to supervision by the Fed. The industry believes that the text and legislative history of the Dodd-Frank Act indicates Congress’s intention that the Council designate as systemically significant and regulate only those financial institutions that were previously considered too big to fail, which means firms whose failure would threaten U.S. financial stability. The Managed Funds Association also urged the Council to consider the profound changes in the hedge fund industry since the failure of Long Term Capital Management in 1998, which is often cited as an example of a hedge fund that created a systemic risk to the financial system.
In considering the potential systemic implications of hedge funds, the MFA also asked the Council to have a clear picture of the size, concentration, leverage and structure of hedge funds within the broader financial market. It is also vital that the Council consider the improvements made by hedge fund counterparties such as banks and brokers over the last decade to risk management practices, as well as the new regulatory requirements mandated in Dodd-Frank. Specifically, the MFA urged the Council to consider that the hedge fund industry and individual hedge funds are relatively small in comparison to other financial market participants, the broader financial industry, and the financial markets in which hedge funds operate. Within the hedge fund industry, there is no significant concentration of assets under the management of any individual adviser or group of advisers. Further, hedge funds generally do not employ a significant amount of leverage and typically post collateral in connection with any leverage employed, thereby substantially reducing the risk to their counterparties. Also, the capital invested in hedge funds is subject to limited redemption rights, which helps ensure a stable equity base and helps prevent runs on the fund’s assets. The MFA also pointed out that hedge funds typically structure their borrowings to avoid a mismatch between their equity capital and investments on the one hand and their secured financing on the other. More broadly, the enhanced regulation of hedge fund advisers and the markets in which they participate following the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, including substantially enhanced reporting requirements, ensures that regulators will have a timely and complete picture of hedge funds and their activities. In considering the interconnectedness of financial institutions, which was a major contributor to the financial crisis, the Council is rightly examining a firm’s relationships within a structure of related businesses and the firm’s relationships with third party institutions. With regard to the interconnectedness of hedge funds with other financial firms, the MFA asked the Council to consider important structural factors. For example, hedge fund advisers and managers do not have substantial assets; though the principals of the adviser have personal capital invested in the funds they manage. It is the funds that hold the financial assets, that transact with trading counterparties on a collateralized basis, and to which investors commit capital. Thus, the risks and rewards of the funds’ investment portfolios are borne by a diverse group of underlying sophisticated investors, institutions or high net worth individuals, who typically invest in hedge funds as part of a diversified portfolio. Hedge funds neither transact with retail investors nor take in investments or deposits from retail investors. Another structural aspect of hedge funds is the legal separation of different funds managed by the same adviser. These legally distinct funds, even when managed by the same adviser, often have different investors and can engage in entirely distinct trading activities in different assets and markets. Any losses at one fund are borne exclusively by the investors in and counterparties to that fund and do not subject other funds managed by the same adviser directly to losses. Further, unlike related entities in a holding company or other similar structures prevalent elsewhere in the financial services industry, the different funds managed by a common adviser do not typically have the kind of intercompany loans or transactions that can create connectedness and tie the risks associated with one company to other companies in the same ownership structure. Whatever interconnectedness hedge funds have, noted the MFA, arises from the relationships between a hedge fund and its prime brokers or similar financial counterparties. It is through these relationships that hedge funds typically receive financing. But such financing is generally obtained from large, sophisticated financial counterparties, such as global banks or broker-dealers, that conduct substantial due diligence and engage in ongoing risk monitoring. Further, hedge fund borrowings are done almost exclusively on a secured basis, which limits the amount of leverage that any fund may obtain. In addition, this posting of collateral by hedge funds reduces the credit exposure of counterparty financial institutions to those funds. Consequently, hedge funds are substantially less likely to contribute to systemic risk by causing the failure of a systemically significant counterparty, such as a major bank. Given the limited leverage and the collateral posted by hedge funds, any losses that hedge funds incur are almost exclusively borne by their investors, not their creditors, counterparties, the general financial system, or taxpayers. Moreover, the MFA noted that hedge funds often diversify their exposures across many counterparties, mitigating the risk that a fund poses to any one counterparty. Finally, the MFA said that, since the failure of Long Term Capital Management in 1998, there have been significant changes in the market with respect to counterparty risk management. Counterparties now consistently limit the amount of leverage used by hedge funds by requiring the use of collateral to secure financing to hedge funds. Also, as a result of improvements to counterparty risk management best practices, financial institutions today conduct more in-depth due diligence on and have a much greater degree of transparency with respect to their hedge fund clients’ overall portfolios.


This work examines the unique way in which Benedict de Spinoza (1632-77) combines two significant philosophical principles: that real existence requires causal power and that geometrical objects display exceptionally clearly how things have properties in virtue of their essences. Valtteri Viljanen argues that underlying Spinoza's psychology and ethics is a compelling metaphysical theory according to which each and every genuine thing is an entity of power endowed with an internal structure akin to that of geometrical objects. This allows Spinoza to offer a theory of existence and of action - human and non-human alike - as dynamic striving that takes place with the same kind of necessity and intelligibility that pertain to geometry. Viljanen's fresh and original study will interest a wide range of readers in Spinoza studies and early modern philosophy more generally.


Authors: Judith Light Feather and Miguel F. Aznar
Designed for nano-aware individuals in both the public and private sectors, this volume—the first of its kind—provides a concise, readable resource on nanoscience education and workforce development in the field. The first part of the book provides a historical perspective on the complexity of K-12 education communities, while presenting inspiring examples of successful changes, including a definition of nanotechnology and a broad evaluation of the global and national landscapes of the field. The second section, Teaching Nanotechnology, turns to the critical process of teaching K-12 students the skills to understand and evaluate emerging technologies they will encounter in the future. The third part investigates the current status of developed teaching materials with links to all resources, evaluating the US model and comparing with others around the world. The last section considers plans of action, offering links to sustainable development tools. It is a book designed to enhance awareness, review the facts, and fabricate a platform from which to launch a plan.
Paperback: 280 pages
Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (December 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1420053949
ISBN-13: 978-1420053944


Printed, Flexible, and Organic Electronic (PFOE) technologies promise conformable, adaptable, and immersive wearable devices. Yet, wearables today still rely on the conventional components from the mobile device supply chain. So how and where can PFOE technologies find entry into wearable devices? In order to address this, we analyze more than 180,000 patent publications since 2010 globally, as well as for Samsung, the leading patent holder for both PFOE and wearables. We find that while the overall WFE patent pool has been growing at a CAGR of 18%, few of the patents fall into both PFOE and wearables. While some PFOE technology areas like OLED have received significant attention in wearable, other like e-paper displays are overlooked, but offer significant opportunity to address the key needs of wearables.


U.S. crude oil supplies remained unchanged for the week ending June 21, according to an Energy Information Administration report (link opens a PDF) released today.
While oil remained unmoved, gasoline inventories jumped 3.7 million barrels after easing up 200,000 barrels the week before. Demand for motor gasoline is down a seasonally adjusted 0.3% over the last four weeks, and supplies are "well above the upper limit of the average range."
After dropping $0.029 the previous week, pump prices fell $0.049 to a national average of $3.577 per gallon. Compared to the same time last year, consumers are paying an average $0.140 more per gallon.
Distillates supplies increased 1.6 million barrels after falling 300,000 barrels the previous week. Distillates demand is up a seasonally adjusted 9.3% over the last four weeks, and supplies remain "in the lower half of the average range for this time of year," according to the EIA.
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According to the recent PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree
TM report and the National Venture Capital Association, over $7.0 billion of venture capital (“VC”) funding was deployed during 2Q12, on nearly 900 financings, representing a 17% increase over total invested capital in 1Q12. Of all sectors, the Software segment received the largest proportion of funding with over $2.3 billion – representing 30% of 2Q12 investment), the sector’s highest level since 1Q01.
Funding growth is largely indicative of a slowly improving economic environment, albeit one still fraught with uncertainty. While recent VC investment is generally consistent with activity in the previous 18 months, and much better than the 2009 / 2010 time frame (average of ~$5.4 billion / quarter), it is a material drop-off from the $8.0 billion invested across the same period one year ago. The two largest areas of decline year-over-year (“YoY”) are within the Seed (down ~$220 million / 53% YoY) and Later Stage (down ~$890 million / 30% YoY) categories. In recent history, growth within these two categories has largely been limited by heightened interest in the Early Stage category, which accounted for 46% of deals and 30% of overall investment in 2Q12. We believe this shift in investment priority is indicative of two key trends across the VC landscape:
A recommitment of the investor community towards the U.S. “innovation pipeline” and increased confidence in the long-term outlook of the U.S. economy. Demonstrative of this trend, first time financings grew to $1.1 billion from $0.9 billion, posting the single highest quarter-over-quarter (“QoQ”) percentage growth since 4Q09. As depicted in the chart below, the Early Stage category has consistently grown its share of quarterly aggregate VC investment over the past 4.5 years, largely at the expense of the Later Stage category. Despite a renewed interest in the U.S. start-up community, investors appear to have reallocated VC dollars towards more mature, Early Stage companies at the expense of the Seed segment (e.g., representing companies without a clearly defined product and generally less than ~18 months of operational history). While Seed investing experienced growth between late-2008 and early-2010, the VC risk tolerance levels have reset considerably to favor more established businesses.


Press Release Elders New Guidance from HHS Protects LGBT Elders Statement by NCLR Policy Director Maya Rupert, Esq.
(Washington, D.C., July 1, 2013)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has issued an official guidance making it clear that same-sex partners and others must be given equal visitation rights at long-term care facilities, regardless of their marital status. This new guidance applies to all long-term care facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding, including nursing homes and hospice facilities. The guidance states that all patients in these facilities must be given the right to receive visitors of their choosing, regardless of whether the patient and visitors have a legally recognized or biological relationship. The guidance explicitly states that discrimination against the same-sex spouse or partner seeking to visit a patient is prohibited.
This guidance resolves an issue that has been a point of confusion for many patients and healthcare providers since the implementation of the 2011 Hospital Visitation Rule. That rule required all hospitals receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding to provide equal access to visitation rights to all patients and visitors, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or legally recognized or biological relationship. However, that rule only discussed hospitals, and did not specifically address long-term care facilities. Many same-sex couples have experienced discrimination at facilities like nursing homes and hospice facilities, where visitors have been denied access to their loved ones and told that the Hospital Visitation Rule did not protect their rights in these facilities.
In response to conversations with the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), this guidance clarifies that same-sex couples and their families also must be given equal visitation rights in long-term care facilities.
Statement by NCLR Policy Director Maya Rupert, Esq.:
“There are few moments in life when a person is as vulnerable as they are in a nursing home or a hospice care facility. Being denied access to loved ones during those precious times is devastating, and this guidance will ensure that LGBT patients, particularly LGBT elders, and their families will no longer face this heartbreaking discrimination.”


On Thursday, a bipartisan group of senators sent a letter to Vilsack that commended USDA for proposing a Good Performance Refund program aimed at strengthening the federal crop insurance program.
While the senators stated they thought the GPR program was well-intentioned, they expressed concerns that the eligibility criteria would benefit few producers from limited regions of the country. They also expressed concerns that the program was not designed in the most cost-effective manner and falls short of meeting the intent of the law. The senators offered to continue to work with Vilsack to improve the program and address the concerns.
The letter was sent by Sens. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.). It was also signed by Sens. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and Ben Nelson (D-Neb.).


Abstract
Nocturnal hawkmoths are known for impressive visually guided behaviours in dim light, such as hovering while feeding from nectar-bearing flowers. This requires tight visual feedback to estimate and counter relative motion. Discrimination of low velocities, as required for stable hovering flight, is fundamentally limited by spatial resolution, yet in the evolution of eyes for nocturnal vision, maintenance of high spatial acuity compromises absolute sensitivity. To investigate these trade-offs, we compared responses of wide-field motion-sensitive neurons in three species of hawkmoth: Manduca sexta (a crepuscular hoverer), Deilephila elpenor (a fully nocturnal hoverer) and Acherontia atropos (a fully nocturnal hawkmoth that does not hover as it feeds uniquely from honey in bees' nests). We show that despite smaller eyes, the motion pathway of D. elpenor is tuned to higher spatial frequencies and lower temporal frequencies than A. atropos, consistent with D. elpenor's need to detect low velocities for hovering. Acherontia atropos, however, presumably evolved low-light sensitivity without sacrificing temporal acuity. Manduca sexta, active at higher light levels, is tuned to the highest spatial frequencies of the three and temporal frequencies comparable with A. atropos. This yields similar tuning to low velocities as in D. elpenor, but with the advantage of shorter neural delays in processing motion.


In a letter to the SEC, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley urged the Commission to enforce legal requirements against credit rating agencies established under the Dodd-Frank Act in order to protect investors and avert another lending crisis. The letter says that the SEC has defeated the intent of Congress to impose Section 11 expert liability on rating agencies by issuing staff no-action letter allowing the sale of asset-backed securities without the required ratings disclosure or rating agency consents. As a result, said the Mass. AG, investors may be unprotected from potential failures on the part of rating agencies.
The SEC exempted ratings by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations from Securities Act Section 11 liability for a period of 28 years. From 1982 until July 22, 2010, Rule 436(g) under the Securities Act provided that NRSRO ratings disclosed in a registration statement must not be considered a part of the registration statement prepared or certified by a person within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act. Section 939G of Dodd-Frank nullified Rule 436(g), noted the AG, thereby imposing Section 11 liability on rating agencies. The AG observed that Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), who has experience in the ratings agency space from his role as sponsor of the Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006, referred to Dodd-Frank's provisions as resulting in heightened liability standards for rating agencies. 156 Cong. REC. S4076 (May 20, 2010) In the week preceding the effective date of Section 939G, the major rating agencies issued public statements refusing to allow their ratings to be included in registration statements. SEC Regulation AB, however, requires that a prospectus for an asset-backed offering disclose ratings whenever an issuance or sale is conditioned on the assignment of a rating. Thus, the public asset-backed securitization markets froze on July 22, 2010. While the SEC had multiple options to thaw the market, including recognizing new NRSROs willing to consent to Section 11 liability, noted the AG, the Division of Corporation Finance released a no-action letter to Ford Motor Credit (the July 22 Letter) stating that the Division would not recommend enforcement action regarding the ratings disclosure requirements. While the enforcement position expressed in the July 22 Letter was time-limited, the staff issued a replacement letter on November 23 containing substantially similar language and extending the no-action position indefinitely. Section 939G was self-executing, with immediate legal effect, said the AG, and SEC no-action guidance is a statement of staff enforcement intent and does not change the law. Nonetheless, continued the AG, no-action letters often set the tone for market practice and a no-action letter's endorsement of a practice is often viewed as suggesting the practice's legality. Thus, in the view of the Mass. AG, the SEC has opened a divide between the plain language of the federal securities laws and its own regulations, on the one hand, and market practice guided by informal SEC staff compliance statements, on the other. The Ford Letters neither offer a legal interpretation nor alternatively clarify that the ratings disclosure requirements of Regulation AB remain intact. To the extent that the prospectus disclosure of ratings remains required by Regulation AB, reasoned the AG, the possibility of issuer liability for material omissions is evident. The AG urged the SEC to address this situation to end confusion in the marketplace. While recognizing the SEC's desire to maintain functioning public securitization markets, the AG is concerned about the road the Commission has taken. It is a road, continued the AG, on which multi-billon dollar registrants have represented to their shareholders that the SEC has permitted them or their affiliates to cease complying, or relieved them from compliance, with elements of Regulation AB. The law requires asset-backed issuers to disclose ratings, obtain rating agency consents,and thus secure Section 11 protections for investors, said the AG, and the Ford Letters are delivering a different message to many issuers. Indeed, the AG fears that the Division of Corporation Finance may have exacerbated confusion in this area with five new Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations ("C&DIs"), issued on July 27, 2010. Taken together with the Ford Letters, the only authority they cite, the C&DIs create a compliance scheme not contained in the applicable regulations, suggesting alternatives to be observed in issuer-by-issuer consultation with the Division. Like the no-action letters, this compliance scheme encourages the misapprehension that it is lawful to issue asset-backed securities without complying with the ratings disclosure requirements of Regulation AB. In fact, emphasized the AG, the situation is one where such issuances will not lead to a staff recommendation of SEC enforcement, but the issuances may remain in violation of the Securities Act, which can be enforced by both the government and private actors.


Nuclear Science and Engineering / Volume 145 / Number 2 / October 2003 / Pages 196-212
Technical Paper
Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis methodologies under development at Oak Ridge National Laboratory were applied to determine whether existing benchmark experiments adequately cover the area of applicability for the criticality code and data validation of PuO
2 and mixed-oxide (MOX) powder systems. The study examined three PuO 2 powder systems and four MOX powder systems that would be useful for establishing mass limits for a MOX fuel fabrication facility. Using traditional methods to choose experiments for criticality analysis validation, 46 benchmark critical experiments were identified as applicable to the PuO 2 powder systems. However, only 14 experiments were thought to be within the area of applicability for dry MOX powder systems. The applicability of 318 benchmark critical experiments, including the 60 experiments initially identified, was assessed. Each benchmark and powder system was analyzed using the Tools for Sensitivity and UNcertainty Analysis Methodology Implementation (TSUNAMI) one-dimensional (TSUNAMI-1D) or TSUNAMI three-dimensional (TSUNAMI-3D) sensitivity analysis sequences, which will be included in the next release of the SCALE code system. This sensitivity data and cross-section uncertainty data were then processed with TSUNAMI-IP to determine the correlation of each application to each experiment in the benchmarking set. Correlation coefficients are used to assess the similarity between systems and determine the applicability of one system for the code and data validation of another. The applicability of most of the experiments identified using traditional methods was confirmed by the TSUNAMI analysis. In addition, some PuO 2 and MOX powder systems were determined to be within the area of applicability of several other benchmarks that would not have been considered using traditional methods. Therefore, the number of benchmark experiments useful for the validation of these systems exceeds the number previously expected. The TSUNAMI analysis also emphasized some areas where more benchmark data are needed, indicating the need for further evaluation of existing experiments, or possibly the completion of new experiments to fill these gaps. This lack of evaluated data is particularly important for very dry and dense MOX powder systems.


What ethical dilemmas face researchers who work with young children? Researching Young Children's Perspectives critically examines the challenges and complexities of rights based, participatory research with children. Rather than approaching these dilemmas as problematic issues, this book positions them as important topics for discussion and reflection.
Drawing from their own rich experiences as research collaborators with young children in internationally diverse… (more)