Search, bioprospecting, and biodiversity conservation

To what extent can private-sector bioprospecting incentives be relied upon for the protection of biological diversity? The literature contains dramatically different estimates of these incentives from trivial to quite large. We resolve this controversy by isolating the fundamental source of the discrepancy and then providing empirically defensible estimates based on that analysis. Results demonstrate that the bioprospecting incentive is unlikely to generate much private-sector conservation. Thus, other mechanisms are likely required to preserve the public good of biodiversity.Bioprospecting, biodiversity, conservation, efficient search, information

COSMOS 2044: Lung morphology study, experiment K-7-28

Researchers examined the effect of microgravity during spaceflight on lung tissue. The ultrastructure of the left lungs of 5 Czechoslovakian Wister rats flown on the 13 day, 19+ hour Cosmos 2044 mission was examined and compared to 5 vivarium and 5 synchronous controls at 1-g conditions, and 5 rats exposed to 14 days of tail suspension. Pulmonary hemorrage and alveolar adema of unknown origin occurred to a greater extent in the flight, tail-suspended, and synchronous control animals, and in the dorsal regions of the lung when compared with the vivarium controls. The cause of these changes, which are possibly due to an increase in pulmonary vascular pressure, requires further investigation

Establishment of Performance Scales for Team Integration Assessment

The increased use of the alliance model in recent years highlights the importance of integration practice among multi-disciplinary teams, as it promotes a collaborative culture and the continuity of equitable relationships to improve project performance. If continuous improvement in project alliances is to be achieved through the use of integrated teams, then a means of assessing how well teams integrate and how team integration changes over time, needs to be introduced. In response to that need, an Alliance Team Integration Performance Index (ATIPI) has been developed as part of a wider study to develop an assessment tool for team integration in road construction alliance projects in New Zealand. In this paper, a set of Key Indicators (KIs) of team integration practice and the Quantitative Measures (QMs) for each KI are first introduced and then, in order to enhance the associated ATIPI model, the establishment of scales for the performance levels, namely ‘poor’, ‘average’, ‘good’, ‘very good’ and ‘excellent’, for each KI are described. The establishment of performance scales will help ensure that the assessment of team integration practice is quantified in a consistent and objective manner. Keywords: Alliance, Assessment, New Zealand, Performance Scales, Team Integratio

Absolute photoionization cross section measurements of the Kr I-isoelectronic sequence

Photoionization spectra have been recorded in the 4s, 4p and 3d resonance regions for the Kr Iisoelectronic sequence using both the dual laser produced plasma technique (at DCU) to produce photoabsorption spectra, and the merged ion beam and synchrotron radiation technique (at ASTRID) to measure absolute photoionization cross sections. Profile parameters are compared for the 4s − np resonances of Rb+ and Sr2+. Many new 4p " ns, md transitions are identified with the aid of Hartree-Fock calculations, and consistent quantum defects are observed for the various ns and md Rydberg series. Absolute single and double photoionization cross sections recorded in the 3d region for Rb+ and Sr2+ ions show preferential decay via double photoionization. This is only the second report where both the DLP technique and the merged beam technique have been used simultaneously to record photoionization spectra, and the advantages of both techniques (i.e. better resolution in the case of DLP and values for absolute photoionization cross sections in the case of the merged beam technique) are highlighted

Equivalences between GIT quotients of Landau-Ginzburg B-models

We define the category of B-branes in a (not necessarily affine) Landau-Ginzburg B-model, incorporating the notion of R-charge. Our definition is a direct generalization of the category of perfect complexes. We then consider pairs of Landau-Ginzburg B-models that arise as different GIT quotients of a vector space by a one-dimensional torus, and show that for each such pair the two categories of B-branes are quasi-equivalent. In fact we produce a whole set of quasi-equivalences indexed by the integers, and show that the resulting auto-equivalences are all spherical twists.Comment: v3: Added two references. Final version, to appear in Comm. Math. Phy

3p photoabsorption of free and bound Cr, Cr⁺, Mn, and Mn⁺

A dual-laser-plasma technique has been used to measure photoabsorption by atomic Cr and Mn and their ions at photon energies between 40 and 70 eV, where the dominant absorption mechanism is excitation of the 3p subshell. No dramatic differences are observed between the absorption spectra of Mn and Mn+, and these spectra are similar to those of Mn metal and MnCl2. The spectra of Cr and Cr+ are strikingly dissimilar, the mean excitation energy being about 5 eV greater in the ion. We attribute this to strong mixing of the localized 3d6 configuration with 3d5nd Rydberg configurations, an effect that is also responsible for the anomalous appearance of the Cr spectrum with respect to those of the other iron-period elements. The absorption spectra of Cr metal and CrCl2 take forms intermediate between those of Cr and Cr+. We give spectroscopic assignments to most of the sharp absorption features of Cr+ and determine the 3p ionization thresholds from quantum-defect analysis

Gender equality and investments in adolescents in the rural Philippines:

"...Many studies have looked at the way resources are distributed to men, women, and especially to small children, but one age group within the family has been largely ignored: the adolescents. Adolescence is a crucial period in that teenagers can make major contributions to their families' welfare through their labor and earnings, in and outside the household, but may sacrifice their own wishes and future well-being in the process if such contributions come at the expense of investments in their education. The research methodology in this report, combining regression analysis with ethnography, provides a lesson in how complementarities between methodological approaches can be exploited...The research finds that parents are not unduly influenced by short-term needs and are ready to make substantial sacrifices in terms of current consumption in order to invest in their children's future. The research also concludes that boys and girls in this rural area of the Philippines are generally treated equally, provid ing a contrast with other Asian settings where discrimination by gender is common." (Forward by Per Pinstrup- Andersen)Teenagers Philippines Social conditions., Rural families Philippines., Gender, Health and nutrition, Education Economic aspects Philippines., Household resource allocation, Health.,

Perceived exertion is as effective as the perceptual strain index in predicting physiological strain when wearing personal protective clothing

Objective The perceptual strain index (PeSI) has been shown to overcome the limitations associated with the assessment of the physiological strain index (PSI), primarily the need to obtain a core body temperature measurement. The PeSI uses the subjective scales of thermal sensation and perceived exertion (RPE) to provide surrogate measures of core temperature and heart rate, respectively. Unfortunately, thermal sensation has shown large variability in providing an estimation of core body temperature. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to determine if thermal comfort improved the ability of the PeSI to predict the PSI during exertional-heat stress. Methods Eighteen healthy males (age: 23.5 years; body mass: 79.4 kg; maximal aerobic capacity: 57.2 ml·kg− 1·min− 1) wore four different chemical/biological protective garments while walking on treadmill at a low (< 325 W) or moderate (326–499 W) metabolic workload in environmental conditions equivalent to wet bulb globe temperatures 21, 30 or 37 °C. Trials were terminated when heart rate exceeded 90% of maximum, when core body temperature reached 39 °C, at 120 min or due to volitional fatigue. Core body temperature, heart rate, thermal sensation, thermal comfort and RPE were recorded at 15 min intervals and at termination. Multiple statistical methods were used to determine the most accurate perceptual predictor. Results Significant moderate relationships were observed between the PeSI (r = 0.74; p < 0.001), the modified PeSI (r = 0.73; p < 0.001) and unexpectedly RPE (r = 0.71; p < 0.001) with the PSI, respectively. The PeSI (mean bias: − 0.8 ± 1.5 based on a 0–10 scale; area under the curve: 0.887), modified PeSI (mean bias: − 0.5 ± 1.4 based on 0–10 scale; area under the curve: 0.886) and RPE (mean bias: − 0.7 ± 1.4 based on a 0–10 scale; area under the curve: 0.883) displayed similar predictive performance when participants experienced high-to-very high levels of physiological strain. Conclusions Modifying the PeSI did not improve the subjective prediction of physiological strain. However, RPE provided an equally accurate prediction of physiological strain, particularly when high-to-very high levels of strain were observed. Therefore, given its predictive performance and user-friendliness, the evidence suggests that RPE in isolation is a practical and cost-effective tool able to estimate physiological strain during exertional-heat stress under these work conditions

Case Study: Using Contemporary Behaviour Change Science to Design and Implement an Effective Nutritional Intervention within Professional Rugby League

Designing and implementing successful dietary intervention is integral to the role of sport nutrition professionals as they attempt to positively change the dietary behaviours of athletes. High-performance sport is a time-pressured environment where immediate results can often supersede pursuit of the most effective evidence-based practice. However, efficacious dietary intervention necessitates comprehensive, systematic and theoretical behavioural design and implementation if the habitual dietary behaviours of athletes are to be positively changed. Therefore, this case study demonstrates how the Behaviour Change Wheel was used to design and implement an effective nutritional intervention within professional rugby league. The eight-step intervention targeted athlete consumption of a high quality dietary intake of 25.1 MJ each day, to achieve an overall body mass increase of 5 kg across a twelve-week intervention period. The Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour model and APEASE criteria were used to identify population-specific intervention functions, policy categories, behaviour change techniques and modes of intervention delivery. The resulting intervention was successful, increasing the average daily energy intake of the athlete to 24.5 MJ, which corresponded in a 6.2 kg body mass gain. Despite consuming 0.6 MJ less per day than targeted, secondary outcome measures of diet quality, strength, body composition and immune function all substantially improved, supporting a sufficient energy intake and the overall efficacy of a behavioural approach. Ultimately, the Behaviour Change Wheel provides sport nutrition professionals with an effective and practical step-wise method via which to design and implement effective nutritional interventions for use within high-performance sport