España y Afganistán

El reciente seminario organizado por el Real Instituto Elcano pretendía explicar mejor el papel de España en Afganistán, así como lo necesario que resulta para España continuar ofreciendo su apoyo a la OTAN, a medida que ésta toma un mayor control sobre las operaciones de seguridad en Afganistán. Transcurridos casi cinco años desde la derrota del régimen talibán y del compromiso de Occidente de reconstruir rápidamente el país, Afganistán sigue enfrentándose a graves problemas. El creciente resurgimiento talibán, que se ha cobrado sólo en el mes de mayo casi 400 vidas, y una verdadera epidemia de drogas, que financia el terrorismo y alimenta la corrupción, dificultan en gran medida la tarea de reconstrucción. Una encuesta reciente, efectuada tras la aprobación en el Congreso de los Diputados del envío de otros 150 soldados españoles en refuerzo de los 540 efectivos ya desplegados en Afganistán, señala que a pesar de que la mayoría de los españoles apoyan la acción humanitaria en Afganistán, se muestran más reticentes al despliegue de tropas españolas en dicho país

A preliminary investigation into the relationship between age, gender, education, occupation and "race" and performance on selected neuropsychological tests in a non-clinical adult sample

The present study investigated the relationship between the subject variables Age, Gender, Education level, Occupational Status and "Race" on neuropsychological test performance in a large, convenient, non-clinical sample. The Controlled Oral Word Association Test, Wechsler Paired-Associate Learning Test and Digit Supraspan was administered to 329 adults in the age range 18 - 80. The relationship between the subject variables and test performance was analysed by ANOVA. It was found that a higher level of Education and a higher Occupational level was associated with superior performance, irrespective of "Race". Consistently significant ANOVA results were obtained for Education and Occupation and these variables also produced the most variation in test performance (percentage variance estimates ranged from 7 - 25%). Differences due to "Race" were marked at the lower levels of Education and Occupation and were minimal or absent at the higher levels of Education and Occupation. Age and Gender influenced test performance to a lesser extent. and performed less consistently. One exception was the influence of Age on performance on the Wechsler Paired Associate Learning I Test, where the contribution was relatively large (percentage variance 6 - 7%), where younger subjects (18 - 50) performed better than older subjects (51 - 80). Generally, the results were consistent with previously published data and highlight the need for more complete normative data. Local normative data that takes into account the influence of these variables on neuropsychological test performance needs to be developed

Sequence Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Facies of Fula Subbasin, Muglad Basin (Sudan)

Sedimentary analysis and Facies Associations may enhance accuracy of sequence core (very stratigraphic correlation of Fula Subbasin, Muglad Basin, Sudan. According to little) and log data, stratigraphic correlation was set. Abu Gabra Formation, Bentiu Formation, and Aradeiba Formation were subdivided into units. Essential depositional systems were recognized in the study area on the basis of the evolution of sedimentary facies. The origin of Fula Subbasin is related to the first rifting cycle (+ synrifting cycle?) that took place during the Early Cretaceous associated with an increase in tectonic activity and the opening of the Central African rift system (Late Jurassic- Middle Miocene). Synsedimentary tectonic activity and succeeding restructural regime of the subbasin were clearly reflected in the sedimentary records. Two sets of faulting in Fula oil field were detected. The first set was striking NW-SE, as in five zones the Fula 1 fault, Fula 2 fault, Fula 3 fault, eastern fault of well Fula 1 and the western fault of well Fula North 2, which dominate the evolution and sediments of the Fula structure. The second set was striking EW, as the north fault of well Fula 1, which controls the evolution of the trap. Three seismic horizons, i.e. the top of Aradeiba, the top of Bentiu and the top of Abu Gabra formations were chosen for interpretation according to their geological significance. Infill of that Early Cretaceous subbasin began with continental deposits that were alluvial and lacustrine in origin

High performance blended membranes using a novel preparation technique

The possibility of applying novel microwave (MW) technique in the dissolution of polyethersulfone (PES) and lithium halides in aprotic solvent is studied. The lithium halides additives used are lithium fluoride (LiF), lithium bromide (LiBr) and lithium chloride (LiCl) and a comparison is made with conventional method. PES was dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) in the single solvent whilst for the double solvent (DS); PES was dissolved in a mixture of two different solvents DMF and acetone. The concentrations of lithium halide in both solvents were varied from 1 to 5 wt%. In order to illuminate the mechanism through which lithium halide influences the kinetic membrane performance in both techniques, rheological, FTIR, contact angle and water uptake analysis were performed. The performances of the membranes were evaluated in terms of pure water permeation (PWP), permeation rate (PR) and separation rates of various polyethylene glycols. Result revealed that the hollow fiber MW membrane with the 3 wt% LiBr additive exhibits both high permeation rates of 222.16 Lm-2hr-1 and separation rates of 99% and molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) of 2.6 kDa. In general, the MW membranes exhibited higher permeation and separation rates compared to conventional electrothermal heating (CEH) membranes. The FTIR, contact angle and water uptake measurement revealed that the LiCl and LiBr have enhanced the hydrophilic properties of the PES membranes thus producing membrane with high permeation and separation rates

Global Approaches to Medical School Regulation: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Although medical school regulation is ubiquitous, the extent to which it should be based on global principles is unclear. In 2010, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), announced that from 2023, overseas doctors would only be eligible for certification to practise in the United States if they had graduated from a medical school that was accredited by a ‘recognised’ agency. This policy empowered the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) to create a recognition programme for regulatory agencies around the world, despite a lack of empirical evidence to support medical school regulation. In this study, I employ critical discourse analysis, drawing on the theoretical perspectives of Michel Foucault and Edward Said, to identify discourses that enabled this ‘globalising’ policy decision to take place. The dataset includes a series of documents gathered around three key events: the Edinburgh declaration by WFME in 1988, the first set of global standards for medical schools by WFME in 2003, and the ECFMG ruling about medical school accreditation in 2010. Two discourses, endorsement and modernisation, were dominant throughout this entire period, and framed the move to globalise medical school regulation in terms of altruism and improving medical education worldwide. A discourse of resistance was present in the earlier period of this study but faded away as WFME aligned itself with ECFMG. Two further discourses, protection and control, emerged in the later period of this study, and framed the ECFMG ruling in terms of nationalism and protecting American interests. This study introduces Said’s ‘contrapuntal’ analysis to the field of medical education, synthesising it with Foucauldian principles to propose a new conceptualisation of the relationship between ECFMG and WFME. It goes on to consider the implications of this association for the legitimacy of WFME as an organisation that represents all of the world’s medical schools

Assessment of occupational exposure to gasoline vapour at petrol stations

POSSIBLE RESTRICTED THESIS - refer to Clare GrimesPetrol station attendants’ exposure to gasoline vapours while refuelling vehicles has raised health concerns, especially in tropical countries like Saudi Arabia. This is due to the increase of gasoline vaporisation by the high temperatures and related weather conditions. This represents an increase risk of inhaling more vapours than its counterpart temperate countries. Furthermore, exposure during extended working hours (12 hrs shifts), with no vapour recovery system and the handling of gasoline containing a high percentage of volumes of toxic substances (e.g. BTEXs) have not been adequately addressed previously in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study was designed and carried out to investigate the validity of this concern by assessing and quantifying full shift exposures to gasoline vapours during the petrol filling process. Different exposure assessment methodologies were employed and evaluated for their suitability. The study assessed the exposures of 41 attendants via passive, active, and direct reading methods at twelve petrol stations with both high and low sales in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted during the winter and summer months to test the seasonal variation of the pattern of exposure. The effects of the quantity of gasoline sold, the locations of the stations, weather variations (e.g. wind speed, temperature, and humidity) were tested. A purpose built mini-weather stations and modified thermometres were utilized to accurately monitor the prevailing weather conditions. Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) thermal image cameras were utilised to visualise the size and movement behaviour of the vapour plumes during petrol refuelling. Furthermore, analytical lab trials were carried out to characterise the gasoline vapour component under different temperatures. These were used to propose a new OEL. The geometric means of the personal passive results for BTEX and MTBE (0.18 ppm, 0.24 ppm, 0.09 ppm, 0.18 ppm, 1.57 ppm, respectively) were found to be relatively higher than those reported previously for Europe and North America. These results are discussed in the context of the impact that such exposure will have on people involved in this industry in petrol stations in Saudi Arabia

Health Issues of Mothers in Assam:An Analytical Assessment of National Family Health Surveys

Maternal mortality is one of the most serious public health concerns around the globe especially in developing countries like India. WHO estimated that almost 40% of pregnant women and 42% of children less than 5 years of age are anaemic globally and one-third of all women of reproductive age is also anaemic, and around half of maternal deaths in the world occur due only to anaemia. But the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women in India has marginally declined as reported by the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS). Using secondary data provided by NFHS, the study reveals that the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in India as well as in Assam has declined sharply during the period from 1998 to 2018. The improvement in this maternal health aspect is associated with a drastic decline of all types of anaemia including mild, moderate and severe, which is also observed in the state of Assam. Additionally, the share of women in Assam who received maternal cares during various NFHS rounds shows considerable rise in terms of receiving Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets, Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine, antenatal care (ANC) and delivery assisted by health professionals. The study also finds that the proportion of moderately or severely thin women in Assam is greater than the national average whereas the proportion of obese and overweight women in the state is very less compared to the national level. Moreover, the consumption of nutritious food and iodized salt intake by Assamese women is satisfactory in the country

Altruism or nationalism? Exploring global discourses of medical school regulation

BACKGROUND: Although medical school regulation is ubiquitous, the extent to which it should be based on global principles is unclear. In 2010, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) announced that from 2023, overseas doctors would only be eligible for certification to practise in the United States if they had graduated from a medical school that was accredited by a 'recognised' agency. This policy empowered the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) to create a recognition programme for regulatory agencies around the world, despite a lack of empirical evidence to support medical school regulation. METHODS: This study employs critical discourse analysis, drawing on the theoretical perspectives of Michel Foucault and Edward Said, to identify discourses that enabled this 'globalising' policy decision to take place. The dataset includes a series of 250 documents gathered around three key events: the Edinburgh declaration by WFME in 1988, the first set of global standards for medical schools by WFME in 2003 and the ECFMG ruling about medical school accreditation in 2010. FINDINGS: Two discourses, endorsement and modernisation, were dominant throughout this entire period and framed the move to globalise medical school regulation in terms of altruism and improving medical education worldwide. A discourse of resistance was present in the earlier period of this study but faded away as WFME aligned itself with ECFMG after 2010. Two further discourses, protection and control, emerged in the later period of this study and framed the ECFMG ruling in terms of nationalism and protecting American interests. DISCUSSION: This study proposes a new conceptualisation of the relationship between ECFMG and WFME in light of the apparently contradictory policy motivations of altruism and nationalism. It goes on to consider the implications of this association for the legitimacy of WFME as an organisation that represents all of the world's medical schools