Kinetic Study of Ni and NiO Reactions Pertinent to the Earth’s Upper Atmosphere

Nickel atoms are injected into the Earth’s mesosphere by meteoric ablation, producing a Ni layer between 70 and 105 km in altitude. The subsequent reactions of Ni and NiO with atmospherically relevant species were studied using the time-resolved pulsed laser photolysis-laser-induced fluorescence technique, combined with electronic structure calculations and RRKM theory where appropriate. Results for bimolecular reactions (in cm3 molecule–1 s–1): k(Ni + O3, 293 K) = (6.5 ± 0.7) × 10–10; k(NiO + O3 → Ni + 2O2, 293 K) = (1.4 ± 0.5) × 10–10; k(NiO + O3 → NiO2 + O2, 293 K) = (2.5 ± 0.7) × 10–10; k(NiO + CO, 190–377 K) = (3.2 ± 0.6) × 10–11 (T/200)−0.19±0.05. For termolecular reactions (in cm6 molecule–2 s–1, uncertainty ± σ over the stated temperature range): log10(krec,0(Ni + O2 + N2, 190–455 K)) = −37.592 + 7.168log10(T) - 1.5650(log10(T))2, σ = 11%; log10(krec,0(NiO + O2 + N2, 293–380 K)) = −41.0913 + 10.1064log10(T) – 2.2610(log10(T))2, σ = 22%; and log10(krec,0(NiO + CO2 + N2, 191–375 K)) = −41.4265 + 10.9640log10(T) – 2.5287(log10(T))2, σ = 15%. The faster recombination reaction NiO + H2O + N2, which is clearly in the falloff region over the experimental pressure range (3–10 Torr), is best described by log10(krec,0/cm6 molecule–2 s–1) = −29.7651 + 5.2064log10(T) – 1.7118(log10(T))2, krec,∞ = 6.0 × 10–10 exp(−171/T) cm3 molecule–1 s–1, broadening factor Fc = 0.84, σ = 16%. The implications of these results in the atmosphere are then discussed

Human kin detection

Natural selection has favored the evolution of behaviors that benefit not only one's genes, but also their copies in genetically related individuals. These behaviors include optimal outbreeding (choosing a mate that is neither too closely related, nor too distant), nepotism (helping kin), and spite (hurting non-kin at a personal cost), and all require some form of kin detection or kin recognition. Yet, kinship cannot be assessed directly; human kin detection relies on heuristic cues that take into account individuals' context (whether they were reared by our mother, or grew up in our home, or were given birth by our spouse), appearance (whether they smell or look like us), and ability to arouse certain feelings (whether we feel emotionally close to them). The uncertainties of kin detection, along with its dependence on social information, create ample opportunities for the evolution of deception and self-deception. For example, babies carry no unequivocal stamp of their biological father, but across cultures they are passionately claimed to resemble their mother's spouse; to the same effect, neutral' observers are greatly influenced by belief in relatedness when judging resemblance between strangers. Still, paternity uncertainty profoundly shapes human relationships, reducing not only the investment contributed by paternal versus maternal kin, but also prosocial behavior between individuals who are related through one or more males rather than females alone. Because of its relevance to racial discrimination and political preferences, the evolutionary pressure to prefer kin to non-kin has a manifold influence on society at large

Bricks in the wall: A review of the issues that affect children of in‐country seasonal migrant workers in the brick kilns of Nepal

This paper explores experiences of Nepalese children of seasonal migrant workers in brick kilns and the particular vulnerabilities they face, as child labourers, as unpaid workers engaging informally in brick production or household work to the support family economy, or as children left behind in poor communities with varying support. The review provides a thematic analysis from child labour and migration literature from Nepal and South Asia from 2010–2020 to explore issues that affect children of families who internally migrate within Nepal to work in brick kilns. Two key themes and eight subthemes consistently emerged across the papers: Seasonal in‐country migration to brick kilns and impacts on children (reasons for children to enter into migrant work; left‐behind children; remittances; the role of gender on work and education) and the situation of children working in Nepalese brick kilns (living conditions; working conditions and occupational ill‐health; psychosocial distress; child protection). The review found that literature on Nepalese children from brick kiln working families is subsumed into wider studies on migration with impacts on children's lives often reported as outcomes of findings rather than a main focus of studies. Furthermore, there is minimal recent empirical research with such families and children. This may be due to ethical dilemmas of doing research with children and difficulties in maintaining contact with families that move frequently

A qualitative examination of the health workforce needs during climate change disaster response in Pacific Island Countries

Background: There is a growing body of evidence that the impacts of climate change are affecting population health negatively. The Pacific region is particularly vulnerable to climate change; a strong health-care system is required to respond during times of disaster. This paper examines the capacity of the health sector in Pacific Island Countries to adapt to changing disaster response needs, in terms of: (i) health workforce governance, management, policy and involvement; (ii) health-care capacity and skills; and (iii) human resources for health training and workforce development.Methods: Key stakeholder interviews informed the assessment of the capacity of the health sector and disaster response organizations in Pacific Island Countries to adapt to disaster response needs under a changing climate. The research specifically drew upon and examined the adaptive capacity of individual organizations and the broader system of disaster response in four case study countries (Fiji, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Samoa).Results: 'Capacity' including health-care capacity was one of the objective determinants identified as most significant in influencing the adaptive capacity of disaster response systems in the Pacific. The research identified several elements that could support the adaptive capacity of the health sector such as: inclusive involvement in disaster coordination; policies in place for health workforce coordination; belief in their abilities; and strong donor support. Factors constraining adaptive capacity included: weak coordination of international health personnel; lack of policies to address health worker welfare; limited human resources and material resources; shortages of personnel to deal with psychosocial needs; inadequate skills in field triage and counselling; and limited capacity for training.Conclusion: Findings from this study can be used to inform the development of human resources for health policies and strategic plans, and to support the development of a coordinated and collaborative approach to disaster response training across the Pacific and other developing contexts. This study also provides an overview of health-care capacity and some of the challenges and strengths that can inform future development work by humanitarian organizations, regional and international donors involved in climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction in the Pacific region. © 2014 Rumsey et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd