The application of competition law and policy to environmental agreements in an oligopolistic market

An environmental agreement in an oligopolistic market may violate the competition rules, as described in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty. Ordinarily, some collusion among firms is necessary for an environmental agreement to be successful. This collusion may be acceptable when it relates to the development of technologies or processes, as opposed to the classic hypothesis of collusion regarding prices or the division of the market. One must also consider the goals of competition policy. Thus, factors such as tangible benefits to the consumer or a substantial technological advance (for example, an environmental agreement that brings firms together to conduct R&D) could outweigh potential anti-competitive effects of the agreement. Accordingly, while an environmental agreement can act as an entry barrier to a market, it can also lead to the development of new technologies. This paper presents the general aspects of competition law and policy and then discusses how competition law and policy can be applied to environmental agreements in an oligopolistic market. This paper argues that while competition policy can sometimes be relaxed with regard to environmental agreements in a competitive market, it should remain strict when applied to agreements in an oligopolistic market, as this type of market structure so often leads to anti-competitive behaviour

“Save Our History!” Collaborating to Preserve the Past at UMass Boston

Sparked by the 50th anniversary of the founding of the University of Massachusetts Boston in June 1964, University Archives and Special Collections (UASC) staff in the Joseph P. Healey Library collaborated with departments across campus to carry out a wide range of initiatives, all focused on locating, accessioning, preserving, and sharing the physical evidence of the university’s history. This poster outlines the various collecting activities, outreach methods, digitization projects, and dogged detective work that resulted in the addition of more than 2,500 linear feet of unique historic materials to the University Archives, as well as a number of well-received public events and exhibitions

Best Practices for Conducting Observational Research to Assess the Relation between Nutrition and Bone: An International Working Group Summary

Diet is a modifiable factor that can affect bone strength and integrity, and the risk of fractures. Currently, a hierarchy of scientific evidence contributes to our understanding of the role of diet on bone health and fracture risk. The strength of evidence is generally based on the type of study conducted, the quality of the methodology employed, the rigor and integrity of the data collected and analysis plan, and the transparency and completeness of the results. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered to be the gold standard from a clinical research paradigm, but there is a dearth of high-quality diet-related intervention trials with bone as the primary outcome, forcing the use of observational research to inform research and clinical practices. However, for observational research to be of the most utility, standardization and optimization of the study design, accurate and reliable measurement of key variables, and appropriate data analysis and data reporting are paramount. Although there have been recommendations made in relation to RCTs in the field of nutrition, no clear rubric exists for best practices in conducting observational research with regard to nutrition and bone health. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to describe the best practices and considerations for designing, conducting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting observational research specifically for understanding the role of nutrition in bone health, amassed by a global panel of scientific experts with strengths in bone, nutrition epidemiology, physical activity, public health, clinical and translational trials, and observational study methods. The global panel of scientific experts represents the leadership and selected participants from the 10th annual International Symposium for the Nutritional Aspects of Osteoporosis. The topics selected and best practices presented reflect expert opinion and areas of scientific expertise of the authors rather than a systematic or comprehensive literature review or professional reporting guidelines

Similarities between parents and their adopted children

As shown in 7,230 parent-child pairs (6,726 biological and 504 adoptive), adoptive parents and their adopted children tend to resemble each other in height, weight and fatfolds to an extent paralleling height, weight and fatfold resemblances of natural (biological) parents and their children. Accordingly, the magnitudes of parent-child resemblances commonly given may not be indicative of the extent of heritability of stature, weight and subcutaneous fat.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/37570/1/1330450318_ftp.pd

Human spinal cord injury causes specific increases in surface expression of beta integrins on leukocytes

Spinal cord injury (SCI) activates circulating leukocytes that migrate into the injured cord and bystander organs using adhesion molecule-mediated mechanisms. These cells cause oxidative damage, resulting in secondary injury to the spinal cord, as well as injury to bystander organs. This study was designed to examine, over a 6-h to 2-week period, changes in adhesion molecule surface expression on human peripheral leukocytes after SCI (9 subjects), using as controls 10 uninjured subjects and 6 general trauma patients (trauma controls, TC). Both the percentage of cells expressing a given adhesion molecule and the average level of its expression was quantified for both circulating neutrophils and monocytes. The percentage of neutrophils and monocytes expressing the selectin CD62L was unchanged in TC and SCI patients after injury compared to uninjured subjects. Concurrently, the amount of surface CD62L on neutrophils was decreased in SCI and TC subjects, and on monocytes after SCI. The percentage of neutrophils expressing α4 decreased in TC, but not in SCI, subjects. Likewise, the percentage of neutrophils and monocytes expressing CD11d decreased markedly in TC subjects, but not after SCI. In contrast, the mean surface expression of α4 and CD11d by neutrophils and monocytes increased after SCI compared with uninjured and TC subjects. The percentage of cells and surface expression of CD11b were similar in neutrophils of all three groups, whereas CD11b surface expression increased after SCI in monocytes. In summary, unlike changes found after general trauma, the proinflammatory stimulation induced by SCI increases the surface expression of adhesion molecules on circulating neutrophils and monocytes before they infiltrate the injured spinal cord and multiple organs of patients. Integrins may be excellent targets for anti-inflammatory treatment after human SCI. © 2011, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc

Recommendations of Common Data Elements to Advance the Science of Selfâ Management of Chronic Conditions

PurposeCommon data elements (CDEs) are increasingly being used by researchers to promote data sharing across studies. The purposes of this article are to (a) describe the theoretical, conceptual, and definition issues in the development of a set of CDEs for research addressing selfâ management of chronic conditions; (b) propose an initial set of CDEs and their measures to advance the science of selfâ management; and (c) recommend implications for future research and dissemination.Design and MethodsBetween July 2014 and December 2015 the directors of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)â funded P20 and P30 centers of excellence and NINR staff met in a series of telephone calls and a faceâ toâ face NINRâ sponsored meeting to select a set of recommended CDEs to be used in selfâ management research. A list of potential CDEs was developed from examination of common constructs in current selfâ management frameworks, as well as identification of variables frequently used in studies conducted in the centers of excellence.FindingsThe recommended CDEs include measures of three selfâ management processes: activation, selfâ regulation, and selfâ efficacy for managing chronic conditions, and one measure of a selfâ management outcome, global health.ConclusionsThe selfâ management of chronic conditions, which encompasses a considerable number of processes, behaviors, and outcomes across a broad range of chronic conditions, presents several challenges in the identification of a parsimonious set of CDEs. This initial list of recommended CDEs for use in selfâ management research is provisional in that it is expected that over time it will be refined. Comment and recommended revisions are sought from the research and practice communities.Clinical RelevanceThe use of CDEs can facilitate generalizability of research findings across diverse population and interventions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134268/1/jnu12233_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134268/2/jnu12233.pd

Temporal variability in shell mound formation at Albatross Bay, northern Australia

We report the results of 212 radiocarbon determinations from the archaeological excavation of 70 shell mound deposits in the Wathayn region of Albatross Bay, Australia. This is an intensive study of a closely co-located group of mounds within a geographically restricted area in a wider region where many more shell mounds have been reported. Valves from the bivalve Tegillarcca granosa were dated. The dates obtained are used to calculate rates of accumulation for the shell mound deposits. These demonstrate highly variable rates of accumulation both within and between mounds. We assess these results in relation to likely mechanisms of shell deposition and show that rates of deposition are affected by time-dependent processes both during the accumulation of shell deposits and during their subsequent deformation. This complicates the interpretation of the rates at which shell mound deposits appear to have accumulated. At Wathayn, there is little temporal or spatial consistency in the rates at which mounds accumulated. Comparisons between the Wathayn results and those obtained from shell deposits elsewhere, both in the wider Albatross Bay region and worldwide, suggest the need for caution when deriving behavioural inferences from shell mound deposition rates, and the need for more comprehensive sampling of individual mounds and groups of mounds

The Perceptions on Male Circumcision as a Preventive Measure Against HIV Infection and Considerations in Scaling up of the Services: A Qualitative Study Among Police Officers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

\ud In recent randomized controlled trials, male circumcision has been proven to complement the available biomedical interventions in decreasing HIV transmission from infected women to uninfected men. Consequently, Tanzania is striving to scale-up safe medical male circumcision to reduce HIV transmission. However, there is a need to investigate the perceptions of male circumcision in Tanzania using specific populations. The purpose of the present study was to assess the perceptions of male circumcision in a cohort of police officers that also served as a source of volunteers for a phase I/II HIV vaccine (HIVIS-03) trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In-depth interviews with 24 men and 10 women were conducted. Content analysis informed by the socio-ecological model was used to analyze the data. Informants perceived male circumcision as a health-promoting practice that may prevent HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted infections. They reported male circumcision promotes sexual pleasure, confidence and hygiene or sexual cleanliness. They added that it is a religious ritual and a cultural practice that enhances the recognition of manhood in the community. However, informants were concerned about the cost involved in male circumcision and cleanliness of instruments used in medical and traditional male circumcision. They also expressed confusion about the shame of undergoing circumcision at an advanced age and pain that could emanate after circumcision. The participants advocated for health policies that promote medical male circumcision at childhood, specifically along with the vaccination program. The perceived benefit of male circumcision as a preventive strategy to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is important. However, there is a need to ensure that male circumcision is conducted under hygienic conditions. Integrating male circumcision service in the routine childhood vaccination program may increase its coverage at early childhood. The findings from this investigation provide contextual understanding that may assist in scaling-up male circumcision in Tanzania.\u