Time Is Of The Essence: Foundations And The Policies Of Limited Life And Endowment Spend-Down

In contrast to congressional hearings and proposed punitive legislation, we consider the present and past proposition that institutions, especially nonprofit foundations, opt voluntarily and by decision to spend down endowments. And, by extension, for many cases, it includes consideration that boards and donors may wish to plan for deliberate dissolution of funds or foundations to coincide with a fixed, finite target date for addressing solutions to specific foundation programs and agenda items

Benefit-cost analysis of participatory breeding program in Syria

Participatory plant breeding is seen by several scientists as a way to overcome the limitations of conventional breeding by offering farmers the possibility of deciding which varieties better suit their needs and conditions without exposing them to any risk. It exploits the potential gains of breeding for specific adaptation through the selection in the marginal environment. The participation of farmers increases the probability and speed of adoption as well as the breeding efficiency and the effectiveness of the breeding program. The objective of this study is to estimate and compare the benefits and costs of participatory and conventional barley breeding programs. Benefit-cost analysis was used to analyze the costs and benefits of the PPB program at ICARDA and the conventional program at ICARDA and NARS

Dystopian Realities : Investigating the Perception of and Interaction with Surveillance Practices

This article seeks to sketch out how the field of surveillance studies has conceptualized surveillance practices, and how cultural and technological shifts have prompted scholars to re-imagine these theoretical frameworks. The article investigates the interplay of (dystopian) popular cultural representations of surveillance cultures and the perception of and attitude towards contemporary surveillance practices, as well as how individuals react to and interact with them. The article also outlines a study regarding the aforementioned issues that was conducted among a sample of 150 university students, which focused especially on each participant’s subjective ability to distinguish between fictional scenarios and real-life surveillance practices

The Lisbon Strategy at Midterm: Expectations and Reality

CASE - Center for Social and Economic Research inspired an extensive discussion on the Lisbon Strategy, its goals and objectives, successes and failures. The fervent debate, which took place in Warsaw at the end of 2004, investigated the future of the Strategy in Europe and Poland. The publication, which we are proud to present, is a result of this discussion. The Polish context for achieving the Lisbon goals was explored at a conference on December 9, 2004 entitled “The Lisbon Strategy in Poland: Directions of Necessary Reforms”. Earlier, however, answering the question whether the Lisbon objectives successfully support competitiveness in Europe was of chief concern to a group of scholars and specialists attending the conference entitled “Lisbon Strategy as an Effective Tool of Increasing Competitiveness in Europe?” (The meeting took place in Warsaw on November 8, 2004). The conference dialogue resulted in systematic and inquisitive debate on the causes of successes and failures of the Lisbon Strategy against the background of the current economy in the united Europe. The perspectives for the future implementation of the Strategy and its desired effects also proved to be of great concern. The arguments presented by the authors of the present publication continue the discussion, which has now been enriched by the contributions by conference participants.Lisbon Strategy, European Union, enterprise policy, structural indicators, employment, productivity, innovation, R&D, pension system, liberalization, sustainable development, competitiveness, economic growth

Introducing automation to the molecular diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection: A comparative study of sample treatments, DNA extraction methods and real-time PCR assays

Background Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become a useful tool for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The development of automated DNA extraction methodologies and PCR systems is an important step toward the standardization of protocols in routine diagnosis. To date, there are only two commercially available Real-Time PCR assays for the routine laboratory detection of T. cruzi DNA in clinical samples: TCRUZIDNA.CE (Diagnostic Bioprobes Srl) and RealCycler CHAG (Progenie Molecular). Our aim was to evaluate the RealCycler CHAG assay taking into account the whole process. Methodology/Principal findings We assessed the usefulness of an automated DNA extraction system based on magnetic particles (EZ1 Virus Mini Kit v2.0, Qiagen) combined with a commercially available Real-Time PCR assay targeting satellite DNA (SatDNA) of T. cruzi (RealCycler CHAG), a methodology used for routine diagnosis in our hospital. It was compared with a well-known strategy combining a commercial DNA isolation kit based on silica columns (High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit, Roche Diagnostics) with an in-house Real-Time PCR targeting SatDNA. The results of the two methodologies were in almost perfect agreement, indicating they can be used interchangeably. However, when variations in protocol factors were applied (sample treatment, extraction method and Real-Time PCR), the results were less convincing. A comprehensive fine-tuning of the whole procedure is the key to successful results. Guanidine EDTA-blood (GEB) samples are not suitable for DNA extraction based on magnetic particles due to inhibition, at least when samples are not processed immediately. Conclusions/Significance This is the first study to evaluate the RealCycler CHAG assay taking into account the overall process, including three variables (sample treatment, extraction method and Real-Time PCR). Our findings may contribute to the harmonization of protocols between laboratories and to a wider application of Real-Time PCR in molecular diagnostic laboratories associated with health centers.Fil: Abras, Alba. Universidad de Barcelona; España. Universidad de Girona; España. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Ballart, Cristina. Universidad de Barcelona; España. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Llovet, Teresa. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; España. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; EspañaFil: Roig, Carme. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; EspañaFil: Gutiérrez, Cristina. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; EspañaFil: Tebar, Silvia. Universidad de Barcelona; España. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Berenguer, Pere. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; EspañaFil: Pinazo, María-Jesús. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Posada, Elizabeth. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Gascón, Joaquim. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Schijman, Alejandro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Gállego, Montserrat. Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona; España. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Muñoz, Carmen. Hospital de la Santa Creu I Sant Pau; España. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Españ

A 1D microphysical cloud model for Earth, and Earth-like exoplanets. Liquid water and water ice clouds in the convective troposphere

One significant difference between the atmospheres of stars and exoplanets is the presence of condensed particles (clouds or hazes) in the atmosphere of the latter. The main goal of this paper is to develop a self-consistent microphysical cloud model for 1D atmospheric codes, which can reproduce some observed properties of Earth, such as the average albedo, surface temperature, and global energy budget. The cloud model is designed to be computationally efficient, simple to implement, and applicable for a wide range of atmospheric parameters for planets in the habitable zone. We use a 1D, cloud-free, radiative-convective, and photochemical equilibrium code originally developed by Kasting, Pavlov, Segura, and collaborators as basis for our cloudy atmosphere model. The cloud model is based on models used by the meteorology community for Earth's clouds. The free parameters of the model are the relative humidity and number density of condensation nuclei, and the precipitation efficiency. In a 1D model, the cloud coverage cannot be self-consistently determined, thus we treat it as a free parameter. We apply this model to Earth (aerosol number density 100 cm^-3, relative humidity 77 %, liquid cloud fraction 40 %, and ice cloud fraction 25 %) and find that a precipitation efficiency of 0.8 is needed to reproduce the albedo, average surface temperature and global energy budget of Earth. We perform simulations to determine how the albedo and the climate of a planet is influenced by the free parameters of the cloud model. We find that the planetary climate is most sensitive to changes in the liquid water cloud fraction and precipitation efficiency. The advantage of our cloud model is that the cloud height and the droplet sizes are self-consistently calculated, both of which influence the climate and albedo of exoplanets.Comment: To appear in Icaru

Special Issue: Food Sustainability, the Food System, and Alaskans

[Geography] -- The Alaska Food Policy Council: Everyone knows that food is important, but our dependence upon Outside for the stuff of life has finally begun to seem, well, just a little discomfiting to Alaska's policymakers. Once again, Alaskans are searching for a way to feed themselves. / Deirdre Helfferich -- Supermarkets in Fairbanks: Food must be affordable as well as accessible for a community to achieve food security. How well does Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city, stack up in this regard? / Alison Meadow -- [High-Latitude Agriculture] -- Homegrown Alaska: Farmer Profiles Open the Eyes of the Interior to the Scope of Local Agriculture: The scope of food grown by Interior farmers is staggering, and the breadth and variety of the farmers' characters is equally impressive. From Bethel to North Pole to Manley Hot Springs, there's more growing here than most people realize. / Nancy Tarnai -- Assessing Food security in Fairbanks, Alaska: There's a lot of farmers in the Interior, but finding out what they grow, what they need, and where they sell their agricultural products can by tricky. This senior thesis project answers several questions about agriculture in the Tanana Valley and points the way to determining how best to improve food security in the Fairbanks area. /Charles Caster -- Recovering from an aberration: The Future of Alaska's Livestock: Livestock is an integral part of agriculture, and this is true in Alaska as anywhere else: animals are raised for meat, milk, fiber, transportation, labor, and companionship. Or is there a difference in the Last Frontier? / Deirdre Helfferich -- Greenhouse: a place to grow: When the forty-year-old Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station greenhouse on the West Ridge of the UAF campus was dismantled, it was only a matter of months before a brand-new teaching and research greenhouse was constructed. / Nancy Tarnai and Deirdre Helfferich -- ARS shuts the door on Alaska research: Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack approved the closure of twelve Agricultural Research Service stations, including the ARS in Alaska, and despite a plea from US Senator Mark Begich. When the Sub-Arctic Research Unit and its gene bank close, the door will shut on a long history of research that won't be easily picked up by anyone else. / Nancy Tarnai -- [Events, People, & Places] Food -- Food Day begins with a bang: The first national Food Day celebration was inaugurated in 2011, and UAF was right there with an Iron Chef Surf vs. Turf Cookoff Challenge, Food Jeopardy, films, displays, and a delicious free all-local buffet. / Nancy Tarnai -- Buzz Klebesadel: An Alaskan author, scientist, and agricultural leader has passed on. -- [Natural Resources] -- Fisheries and food security in Alaska: Any discussion of food security in Alaska is incomplete without at least some attention to the current and potential role of fisheries. For thousands of years, coastal and living marine resources have provided a keystone for the cultural, economic, and environmental health and wellbeing of Alaska's people and communities. / Philip A. Loring and Hannah L. Harrison -- Seed libraries: Seed-Sharing on a Community Level: While many people are familiar with the concept of a seed bank, not so many are acquainted with the idea of a seed library. Now this new kind of lending institution has come to Alaska. / Deirdre Helfferich -- A guide to bumblebees of the Interior: A Taxonomic Key and Notes on BOMBUS Species: Bumblebees are important pollinators, and can even be more efficient than honeybees at crop pollination. Their tongues are longer, they can buzz pollinate, and there are lots of them in Alaska. With the recent die-offs of honeybees due to Colony Collapse Disorder, scientists are looking at native bees and other pollinators. / Rehanon Pampell, Alberto Pantoga, Derek S. Sikes, Patricia Holloway, and Charles Knight