Technical Barriers to Trade Under NAFTA: Harmonizing Textile Labeling

This paper takes an in-depth look at the North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ) and its impact on technical regulations as barriers to trade, specifically, domestic labeling requirements in the textile industry. Part II will examine the international textile trade, NAFTA\u27s standards\u27-related measures ( SRM ), and the administrative frameworks of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Part III will examine domestic textile labeling requirements, analyze the movement towards harmonization, and offer recommendations for NAFTA and future international trade agreements

Technical Barriers to Trade Under NAFTA: Harmonizing Textile Labeling

This paper takes an in-depth look at the North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ) and its impact on technical regulations as barriers to trade, specifically, domestic labeling requirements in the textile industry. Part II will examine the international textile trade, NAFTA\u27s standards\u27-related measures ( SRM ), and the administrative frameworks of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Part III will examine domestic textile labeling requirements, analyze the movement towards harmonization, and offer recommendations for NAFTA and future international trade agreements

WINNING IT BOTH: STORIES OF SECONDARY ACADEMIC ACHIEVER STUDENT-ATHLETES

Learners’ experiences at school should not only be limited to performing academic tasks, but should also focus on physical activities since the main goal of education is to develop a child holistically. The study explored the experiences of academic achiever student-athletes and how they excelled in academics and sports fields. Qualitative research using multiple case studies was used as its design. Eight key informants who were academic achiever student-athletes from five secondary schools in the division of Eastern Samar were purposively selected as study key informants. Results of the study revealed that in order to cope with the pressure brought about by being an academic achiever and an athlete at the same time, the student-athlete should manage well his/her time spent studying and training. Also, goal setting was the key to all their sports and academic-related tasks. Further, social media applications were used by student-athletes in catching up with their missed lessons while in training. Parents’ involvement was also identified as another factor in achieving both academics and sports. It is recommended that a strong support system from the school and parents be in place.  Article visualizations

Psychosocial Predictors of Survival in Persons with HIV or AIDS

The HIV pandemic is in its second decade of existence. HIV has distinguished itself by effecting every part of the globe. It is estimated that there are currently over 40 million people living with HIV or AIDS diagnoses in the world today. Great strides have been made in the treatment of HIV and AIDS. Combination therapy of drugs has been shown to keep viral replication at very low levels. The result of drug therapies has resulted in keeping persons with HIV from progression to full blown AIDS. Also, drug therapies are responsible for a significant drop in mortality rates from AIDS. However, persons with AIDS have a second medical issue that must be addressed, specifically the rebuilding of immune system. Both HIV and AIDS have a variable course in disease progression. The field of Psychoneuroimmunology proposes a mechanism by which psychosocial variables could impact immune function and may serve to exacerbate or be protective of disease. The present study assessed the psychosocial variables (depression, stress and negative explanatory style) which research has shown to effect immune status. However, this study differs from other studies in that Hierarchical Linear Regression will be used to assess immune function as a mediating factor between psychosocial variables and survival. The mediational model was not supported. Results indicate that psychosocial variables did not impact survival through the immune system in this sample of persons with HIV and AIDS. Only measures of immunity were shown to impact survival

Análisis de actos de habla en el caso de un paciente con psoriasis

La psoriasis es una enfermedad dérmica que ha sido estudiada desde diferentes enfoques, existen diversas investigaciones en distintas áreas, actualmente la perspectiva médica es la que tiene mayor auge en este padecimiento, sin embargo, se ha comprobado la importancia de trabajar en el área emocional de las personas con psoriasis por el impacto que dicho padecimiento tiene en sus diferentes niveles: emocional, social, dérmico y relacional. Desde la psicología clínica se considera la psoriasis una enfermedad psicosomática la cual es detonada por un conjunto de factores genéticos y emocionales que la llevan a manifestarse. El trabajo presentado a continuación expresa el impacto que un proceso psicoterapéutico puede llegar a tener en una persona con una psoriasis eritrodérmica (descamación de la piel desde el cuero cabelludo hasta las plantas de los pies), los resultados se obtuvieron a través de un análisis de los actos del habla en tres diferentes momentos; al inicio del tratamiento, en un momento intermedio y al finalizar el mismo, esto con el objetivo de observar si existe alguna modificación a nivel discursivo lo cual se pueda manifestar a nivel social, dérmico, relacional y/o emocional, en los resultados se encontró una mejoría en todos los ámbitos. Se concluye que la psicoterapia si tiene un impacto en los diferentes ámbitos, pero este dependerá de diversos factores ya que la psoriasis impacta dependiendo de la intensidad en la que se manifiesta. Es de suma importancia considerar las posibilidades que los pacientes presentan al momento de someterse al tratamiento ya que si no se cuentan con las herramientas necesarias puede llegar a abandonar el tratamiento

Work hours, weight status, and weight-related behaviors: a study of metro transit workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Associations between hours worked per week and Body Mass Index (BMI), food intake, physical activity, and perceptions of eating healthy at work were examined in a sample of transit workers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Survey data were collected from 1086 transit workers. Participants reported hours worked per week, food choices, leisure-time physical activity and perceptions of the work environment with regard to healthy eating. Height and weight were measured for each participant. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were conducted to examine associations between work hours and behavioral variables. Associations were examined in the full sample and stratified by gender.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Transit workers working in the highest work hour categories had higher BMI and poorer dietary habits, with results differing by gender. Working 50 or more hours per week was associated with higher BMI among men but not women. Additionally, working 50 or more hours per week was significantly associated with higher frequency of accessing cold beverage, cold food, and snack vending machines among men. Working 40 or more hours per week was associated with higher frequency of accessing cold food vending machines among women. Reported frequency of fruit and vegetable intake was highest among women working 50 or more hours per week. Intake of sweets, sugar sweetened beverages, and fast food did not vary with work hours in men or women. Physical activity and perception of ease of eating healthy at work were not associated with work hours in men or women.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Long work hours were associated with more frequent use of garage vending machines and higher BMI in transit workers, with associations found primarily among men. Long work hours may increase dependence upon food availability at the worksite, which highlights the importance of availability of healthy food choices.</p

Caracterización y evaluaciçón de la capacidad de uso de los suelos de la comarca de "El Aljarafe" (Sevilla)

8 páginas, 5 tablas y 7 referencias. Comunicación presentada en las Actas del VII Congreso Nacional de Química (Química Agrícola y Alimentaria/2). Sevilla (España). 12 al 17 de Octubre de 1987. Vol. 1: "El suelo: fertilidad y fertilizantes". "La planta: aspectos bioquímicos y fisiológicos". "Protección vegetal"The soils of "El Aljarafe" region (Seville) are studied. As a result, different soils are found and classified into 19 taxonomic units of "Soil Taxonomy" (1975) System. Also. their land capability to relative, use, their erosion hazard and their ability for irrigation purposes, are evaluted. A soil map finally, to scale 1/50.000, with the results of the evaluation, is added.Peer reviewe

Influence of patient global assessment on the disease activity assessment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A meteor cross-sectional study

Background Disease activity indices (DAI) are used to guide immunosuppressive therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The inclusion of patient global assessment (PGA) in these indices has been questioned as it conveys mainly disease impact rather than disease activity.ObjectivesTo determine the influence of PGA on patient disease states and to determine PGA correlations with inflammatory parameters, disease impact, demographic, clinical and contextual factors

Immediate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on farming systems in Central America and Mexico

In this article we present a first attempt to understand the immediate impact of COVID-19 and the sanitary measures taken by governments on farming systems in Central America and Mexico (CAM). Through a review of information generated in these initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic (webinars, blogs, electronic publications, media) and 44 interviews with key informants across the region, we have identified the main impacts felt by different types of farming systems in the region. The results presented focus only in the immediate effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the mechanisms implemented by farmers in the first months. Whether these impacts and response mechanisms will result in a transformation of the farming systems towards greater resilience and sustainability is still an open question

Transcriptome analyses throughout chili pepper fruit development reveal novel insights into the domestication process

Chili pepper (Capsicum spp.) is an important crop, as well as a model for fruit development studies and domestication. Here, we performed a time-course experiment to estimate standardized gene expression profiles with respect to fruit development for six domesticated and four wild chili pepper ancestors. We sampled the transcriptomes every 10 days from flowering to fruit maturity, and found that the mean standardized expression profiles for domesticated and wild accessions significantly differed. The mean standardized expression was higher and peaked earlier for domesticated vs. wild genotypes, particularly for genes involved in the cell cycle that ultimately control fruit size. We postulate that these gene expression changes are driven by selection pressures during domestication and show a robust network of cell cycle genes with a time shift in expression, which explains some of the differences between domesticated and wild phenotypes