Assessing the Capabilities and Limitations of Privatizing State Environmental Remediation Programs

In 2012, environmental remediations in the state of New Jersey were modified to proceed under the supervision of a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP), rather than under the management of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The LSRP program was set forth in the Site Remediation Reform Act (SRRA), which was established to accelerate the investigation and remediation of over 20,000 contaminated sites in the state. The program created major modifications to the management of site remediations by privatizing the process. Under the new program, a licensed individual from the private sector is designated as a LSRP, and can act as a remediation supervisor and provide oversight for remediation activities. These types of programs have already been employed by two nearby states into their environmental regulatory framework. The New Jersey LSRP program has been largely modeled after the Massachusetts Licensed Hazardous Waste Site Professional (LSP), a program that has been in practice since 1993. The privatization of public environmental services has many variations, ranging from outsourcing portions of the remediation activities with the state maintaining full control over the remediation process to a large-scale privatized system that significantly lessens government’s direct involvement in the remediation process. This dissertation study undertook a systematic analysis of state-run programs to examine the states’ methodologies in determining the demands for a privatized system, determined the type of the privatization of a large-scale privatized system, and understand program impacts. This study determined that the greatest impacts have been the increases in the closure rates of contaminated properties in large populated cities. The study used a modified Strength Weakness Opportunities Threat – Analytical Hierarchy Process (SWOT-AHP) to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the New Jersey LSRP Program. The most significant areas of successes and needed improvements are acknowledged to assist in future strategic planning. Finally, the study identified acceptable conformance of the New Jersey LSRPs by verifying their commitments towards the strict codes of conduct by using the elements of the International Organization for Standardization 14001 audit process. The initial goal of the study was to assess how New Jersey’s privatization of their state-run remediation programs can help protect public health, safety, and the environment from known contaminants. The long-term goals may provide insights to policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and businesses alike on how a large-scale privatization process can help accomplish their specified goals in determining if privatized programs may be implemented within their states, or modifying their existing programs

Morphological-developmental reaction and productivity of plants and canopy of semileafless pea (Pisum sativum L.) after seed vaccination with Rhizobium and foliar micronutrient fertilization

The determinants of semileafless peas (Pisum sativum> L., cv. Tarchalska) crop productivity were studied during two vegetative seasons: cool 2010 and warm 2011 in south part of Poland (Modzurów 50°09’N 18°07’E; 274 m. a.s.l.. Peas was treated either with seed vaccine (NitraginaTM) containing Rhizobium bacteria or foliar micronutrient fertilizer (PhotrelTM) or both of them. The range of peas response to treatments included biometrical measurements and also the measurements of vegetation indices namely, green area index (GAI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and relative chlorophyll content (SPAD), carried out in the specific stages of development, which for the compared objects were generally insignifi cant. In the warmer growing season, pea plants grew better, what resulted in a very high yield of seeds per plant, determined by a greater number of large seeds. It was shown that the length and weight of pea pod and the number of seeds formed in the pod depends on its position on the particular node. The longest pods, characterized by the greatest weight and number of seeds, developed on the lower nodes: 1st and 2nd one. The pea pods forming on higher nodes, from the 3rd, had reduced number of fruits and the weight of a single seed. The shortest pods were growing out of the 5th and 6th nodes, at the top of the stem. Analysis of the single pea seed mass shows a highly significant effect of its position in the fruit on pod productivity. Seeds located in the central part of the pod had the greatest mass, and this accuracy, as highly significant, was found for the pods containing from 3 to 8 seeds. The tested agrochemical treatments did not differentiate the chemical composition of seeds

Ground states of a one-dimensional lattice-gas model with an infinite range nonconvex interaction. A numerical study

We consider a lattice-gas model with an infinite range pairwise noncovex interaction. It might be relevant, for example, for adsorption of alkaline elements on W(112) and Mo(112). We study a competition between the effective dipole-dipole and indirect interactions. The resulting ground state phase diagrams are analysed (numerically) in detail. We have found that for some model parameters the phase diagrams contain a region dominated by several phases only with periods up to nine lattice constants. The remaining phase diagrams reveal a complex structure of usually long periodic phases. We also discuss a possible role of surace states in phase transitions.Comment: 16 pages, 5 Postscript figures; Physical Review B15 (15 August 1996), in pres

Transnational reflections on transnational research projects on men, boys and gender relations

This article reflects on the research project, ‘Engaging South African and Finnish youth towards new traditions of non-violence, equality and social well-being’, funded by the Finnish and South African national research councils, in the context of wider debates on research, projects and transnational processes. The project is located within a broader analysis of research projects and projectization (the reduction of research to separate projects), and the increasing tendencies for research to be framed within and as projects, with their own specific temporal and organizational characteristics. This approach is developed further in terms of different understandings of research across borders: international, comparative, multinational and transnational. Special attention is given to differences between research projects that are in the Europe and the EU, and projects that are between the global North and the global South. The theoretical, political and practical challenges of the North-South research project are discussed

How does gender influence the recognition of cardiovascular risk and adherence to self-care recommendations? : a study in polish primary care

Background: Studies have shown a correlation between gender and an ability to change lifestyle to reduce the risk of disease. However, the results of these studies are ambiguous, especially where a healthy lifestyle is concerned. Additionally, health behaviors are strongly modified by culture and the environment. Psychological factors also substantially affect engagement with disease-related lifestyle interventions. This study aimed to examine whether there are differences between men and women in the frequency of health care behavior for the purpose of reducing cardiovascular risk (CVR), as well as cognitive appraisal of this type of risk. We also aimed to identify the psychological predictors of engaging in recommended behavior for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease after providing information about this risk in men and women. Methods: A total of 134 consecutive eligible patients in a family practice entered a longitudinal study. At initial consultation, the individual’s CVR and associated health burden was examined, and preventive measures were recommended by the physician. Self-care behavior, cognitive appraisal of risk, and coping styles were then assessed using psychological questionnaires. Six months after the initial data collection, the frequency of subjects’ self-care behavior was examined. Results: We found an increase in health care behavior after providing information regarding the rate of CVR in both sexes; this increase was greater for women than for men. Women followed self-care guidelines more often than men, particularly for preventive measures and dietary advice. Women were more inclined to recognize their CVR as a challenge. Coping style, cognitive appraisal, age, level of health behaviors at baseline and CVR values accounted for 48% of the variance in adherence to self-care guidelines in women and it was 52% in men. In women, total risk of CVD values were most important, while in men, cognitive appraisal of harm/loss was most important. Conclusions: Different predictors of acquisition of health behavior are encountered in men and women. Our results suggest that gender-adjusted motivation models influencing the recognition process need to be considered to optimize compliance in patients with CVR

Mathematical Properties of a New Levin-Type Sequence Transformation Introduced by \v{C}\'{\i}\v{z}ek, Zamastil, and Sk\'{a}la. I. Algebraic Theory

\v{C}\'{\i}\v{z}ek, Zamastil, and Sk\'{a}la [J. Math. Phys. \textbf{44}, 962 - 968 (2003)] introduced in connection with the summation of the divergent perturbation expansion of the hydrogen atom in an external magnetic field a new sequence transformation which uses as input data not only the elements of a sequence $\{s_n \}_{n=0}^{\infty}$ of partial sums, but also explicit estimates $\{\omega_n \}_{n=0}^{\infty}$ for the truncation errors. The explicit incorporation of the information contained in the truncation error estimates makes this and related transformations potentially much more powerful than for instance Pad\'{e} approximants. Special cases of the new transformation are sequence transformations introduced by Levin [Int. J. Comput. Math. B \textbf{3}, 371 - 388 (1973)] and Weniger [Comput. Phys. Rep. \textbf{10}, 189 - 371 (1989), Sections 7 -9; Numer. Algor. \textbf{3}, 477 - 486 (1992)] and also a variant of Richardson extrapolation [Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London A \textbf{226}, 299 - 349 (1927)]. The algebraic theory of these transformations - explicit expressions, recurrence formulas, explicit expressions in the case of special remainder estimates, and asymptotic order estimates satisfied by rational approximants to power series - is formulated in terms of hitherto unknown mathematical properties of the new transformation introduced by \v{C}\'{\i}\v{z}ek, Zamastil, and Sk\'{a}la. This leads to a considerable formal simplification and unification.Comment: 41 + ii pages, LaTeX2e, 0 figures. Submitted to Journal of Mathematical Physic

Expression of RHOGTPase regulators in human myometrium

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>RHOGTPases play a significant role in modulating myometrial contractility in uterine smooth muscle. They are regulated by at least three families of proteins, RHO guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RHOGEFs), RHOGTPase-activating proteins (RHOGAPs) and RHO guanine nucleotide inhibitors (RHOGDIs). RHOGEFs activate RHOGTPases from the inactive GDP-bound to the active GTP-bound form. RHOGAPs deactivate RHOGTPases by accelerating the intrinsic GTPase activity of the RHOGTPases, converting them from the active to the inactive form. RHOGDIs bind to GDP-bound RHOGTPases and sequester them in the cytosol, thereby inhibiting their activity. Ezrin-Radixin-Moesin (ERM) proteins regulate the cortical actin cytoskeleton, and an ERM protein, moesin (MSN), is activated by and can also activate RHOGTPases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We therefore investigated the expression of various RHOGEFs, RHOGAPs, a RHOGDI and MSN in human myometrium, by semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR, real-time fluorescence RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. Expression of these molecules was also examined in myometrial smooth muscle cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ARHGEF1, ARHGEF11, ARHGEF12, ARHGAP5, ARHGAP24, ARHGDIA and MSN mRNA and protein expression was confirmed in human myometrium at term pregnancy, at labour and in the non-pregnant state. Furthermore, their expression was detected in myometrial smooth muscle cells. It was determined that ARHGAP24 mRNA expression significantly increased at labour in comparison to the non-labour state.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study demonstrated for the first time the expression of the RHOGTPase regulators ARHGEF1, ARHGEF11, ARHGEF12, ARHGAP5, ARHGAP24, ARHGDIA and MSN in human myometrium, at term pregnancy, at labour, in the non-pregnant state and also in myometrial smooth muscle cells. ARHGAP24 mRNA expression significantly increased at labour in comparison to the non-labouring state. Further investigation of these molecules may enable us to further our knowledge of RHOGTPase regulation in human myometrium during pregnancy and labour.</p

Cardiovascular disease and the role of oral bacteria

In terms of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) the focus has traditionally been on dyslipidemia. Over the decades our understanding of the pathogenesis of CVD has increased, and infections, including those caused by oral bacteria, are more likely involved in CVD progression than previously thought. While many studies have now shown an association between periodontal disease and CVD, the mechanisms underpinning this relationship remain unclear. This review gives a brief overview of the host-bacterial interactions in periodontal disease and virulence factors of oral bacteria before discussing the proposed mechanisms by which oral bacterial may facilitate the progression of CVD

Sex- and age-related differences in the management and outcomes of chronic heart failure: an analysis of patients from the ESC HFA EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

Aims: This study aimed to assess age- and sex-related differences in management and 1-year risk for all-cause mortality and hospitalization in chronic heart failure (HF) patients. Methods and results: Of 16 354 patients included in the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Long-Term Registry, 9428 chronic HF patients were analysed [median age: 66 years; 28.5% women; mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 37%]. Rates of use of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) were high (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: 85.7%, 88.7% and 58.8%, respectively). Crude GDMT utilization rates were lower in women than in men (all differences: P\ua0 64 0.001), and GDMT use became lower with ageing in both sexes, at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT prescription; however, age >75 years was a significant predictor of GDMT underutilization. Rates of all-cause mortality were lower in women than in men (7.1% vs. 8.7%; P\ua0=\ua00.015), as were rates of all-cause hospitalization (21.9% vs. 27.3%; P\ua075 years. Conclusions: There was a decline in GDMT use with advanced age in both sexes. Sex was not an independent predictor of GDMT or adverse outcomes. However, age >75 years independently predicted lower GDMT use and higher all-cause mortality in patients with LVEF 6445%