The impact of men\u27s disciple-making programs : how discipleship influences men\u27s lives

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/1381/thumbnail.jp

ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CALIFORNIA'S GOLF COURSE FACILITIES IN 2000

People spent $4.350 billion at California golf course facilities in 2000. The total sales, income, and tax impacts on the state economy were$7.872 billion, $4.546 billion, and$1.370 billion in 2000. Direct sales of $4.251 billion directly supported 62,173 jobs, and , through indirect and induced sales impacts, an additional 37,609 jobs.Land Economics/Use,

Fair Trials? The Manual for Military Commissions in Light of Common Article 3 and Other International Law

The United States Department of Defense initiated military commissions as authorized by the Military Commissions Act ( MCA ) of 2006 to try unlawful enemy combatants detained in the course of the War on Terror. 1 Enacted on October 17, 2006, the MCA\u27s specific purpose is to try alien unlawful enemy combatants engaged in hostilities against the United States for violations of the law of war and other offenses triable by military commission. 2 Congress passed the MCA as a renewed attempt at convening military commissions in response to the Supreme Court\u27s ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, 3 where the Court held that the President\u27s initial attempt at trying detainees 4 before military commissions was not authorized either by congressional power or the President\u27s war powers.

CD4(+) T follicular helper and IgA(+) B cell numbers in gut biopsies from HIV-infected subjects on antiretroviral therapy are similar to HIV-uninfected individuals

BACKGROUND: Disruption of gastrointestinal tract epithelial and immune barriers contribute to microbial translocation, systemic inflammation, and progression of HIV-1 infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) may lead to reconstitution of CD4(+) T cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), but its impact on humoral immunity within GALT is unclear. Therefore, we studied CD4(+) subsets, including T follicular helper cells (Tfh), as well as resident B cells that have switched to IgA production, in gut biopsies, from HIV(+) subjects on suppressive ART compared to HIV-negative controls (HNC). METHODS: Twenty-three HIV(+) subjects on ART and 22 HNC undergoing colonoscopy were recruited to the study. Single-cell suspensions were prepared from biopsies from left colon (LC), right colon (RC), and terminal ileum (TI). T and B lymphocyte subsets, as well as EpCAM(+) epithelial cells, were accurately enumerated by flow cytometry, using counting beads. RESULTS: No significant differences in the number of recovered epithelial cells were observed between the two subject groups. However, the median TI CD4(+) T cell count/10(6) epithelial cells was 2.4-fold lower in HIV(+) subjects versus HNC (19,679 versus 47,504 cells; p = 0.02). Similarly, median LC CD4(+) T cell counts were reduced in HIV(+) subjects (8,358 versus 18,577; p = 0.03) but were not reduced in RC. Importantly, we found no significant differences in Tfh or IgA(+) B cell counts at either site between HIV(+) subjects and HNC. Further analysis showed no difference in CD4(+), Tfh, or IgA(+) B cell counts between subjects who commenced ART in primary compared to chronic HIV-1 infection. Despite the decrease in total CD4 T cells, we could not identify a selective decrease of other key subsets of CD4(+) T cells, including CCR5(+) cells, CD127(+) long-term memory cells, CD103(+) tissue-resident cells, or CD161(+) cells (surrogate marker for Th17), but there was a slight increase in the proportion of T regulatory cells. CONCLUSION: While there were lower absolute CD4(+) counts in the TI and LC in HIV(+) subjects on ART, they were not associated with significantly reduced Tfh cell counts or IgA(+) B cells, suggesting that this important vanguard of adaptive immune defense against luminal microbial products is normalized following ART.John Zaunders, Mark Danta, Michelle Bailey, Gerald Mak, Katherine Marks, Nabila Seddiki, Yin Xu, David J. Templeton, David A. Cooper, Mark A. Boyd, Anthony D. Kelleher and Kersten K. Koelsc

The contingency theory of management accounting and control:1980-2014

This article reviews the literature on the contingency theory of management accounting since the 1980 review by the author. It traces the expansion of this literature and critically outlines some of the major themes explored over this period. It argues that a mechanistic approach that will develop into a predictive mechanism for the design of optimal control systems is misguided. Rather the existence of management control ‘packages’ that are continually changing and developing requires studies that follow these changes over time and seek to explain the mechanisms that are observed to be deployed. The ‘package’ concept has not yet been taken seriously in the design of most empirical studies although this is fundamental to the design of future studies. That is, different elements of control system packages are developed quasi independently by different actors at different times and are only loosely co-ordinated. Full coordination is precluded for several reasons, most notably the rapid pace of change and the addition of new or amended systems at a faster rate than the coordination process can develop. It is suggested that the narrow view of contingency that relies on responses to generally applicable questionnaires needs to be replaced by a more tailored approach that takes into account the context of specific organizations

Shallow‑Water Habitat in the Lower Columbia River Estuary: A Highly Altered System

Decreases in shallow-water habitat area (SWHA) in the Lower Columbia River and Estuary (LCRE) have adversely affected salmonid populations. We investigate the causes by hindcasting SWHA from 1928 to 2004, system-wide, based on daily higher high water (HHW) and system hypsometry. Physics-based regression models are used to represent HHW along the system as a function of river inflow, tides, and coastal processes, and hypsometry is used to estimate the associated SWHA. Scenario modeling is employed to attribute SWHA losses to levees, flow regulation, diversion, navigational development, and climate-induced hydrologic change, for subsidence scenarios of up to 2 m, and for 0.5 m fill. For zero subsidence, the system-wide annual-average loss of SWHA is 55 ± 5%, or 51 × 105 ha/year; levees have caused the largest decrease ( 54+5 −14 %, or ~ 50 × 105 ha/year). The loss in SWHA due to operation of the hydropower system is small, but spatially and seasonally variable. During the spring freshet critical to juvenile salmonids, the total SWHA loss was 63+2 −3 %, with the hydropower system causing losses of 5–16% (depending on subsidence). Climate change and navigation have caused SWHA losses of 5+16 −5 % and 4+14 −6 %, respectively, but with high spatial variability; irrigation impacts have been small. Uncertain subsidence causes most of the uncertainty in estimates; the sum of the individual factors exceeds the total loss, because factors interact. Any factor that reduces mean or peak flows (reservoirs, diversion, and climate change) or alters tides and along-channel slope (navigation) becomes more impactful as assumed historical elevations are increased to account for subsidence, while levees matter less

Cost-effectiveness of adult circumcision in a resource-rich setting for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men

Background.&nbsp; We examined the effects and cost‐effectiveness of 4 strategies of circumcision in a resource‐rich setting (Australia) in a population of men who have sex with men (MSM).Method.&nbsp; We created a dynamic mathematical transmission model and performed an economic analysis to estimate the costs, outcomes, and cost‐effectiveness of different strategies, compared with those of the status quo. Strategies included circumcision of all MSM at age 18 years, circumcision of all MSM aged 35&ndash;44 years, circumcision of all insertive MSM aged 18 years, and circumcision of all MSM aged 18 years . All costs are reported in US dollars, with a cost‐effectiveness threshold of 42,000 per quality‐adjusted life‐year.Results.  We find that 2%–5% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections would be averted per year, with initial costs ranging from 3.6 million to $95.1 million, depending on the strategy. The number of circumcisions needed to prevent 1 HIV infection would range from 118 through 338. Circumcision of predominately insertive MSM would save$21.7 million over 25 years with a $62.2 million investment. Strategies to circumcise 100% of all MSM and to circumcise MSM aged 35&ndash;44 years would be cost‐effective; the latter would require a smaller investment. The least cost‐effective approach is circumcision of young MSM close to their sexual debut. Results are very sensitive to assumptions about the cost of circumcision, the efficacy of circumcision, sexual preferences, and behavioral disinhibition.Conclusions.&nbsp; Circumcision of adult MSM may be cost‐effective in this resource‐rich setting. However, the intervention costs are high relative to the costs spent on other HIV prevention programs.<br /