Should We Drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? An Economic Perspective

This paper provides model-based estimates of the value of oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The best estimate of economically recoverable oil in the federal portion of ANWR is 7.06 billion barrels of oil, a quantity roughly equal to US consumption in 2005. The oil is worth $374 billion ($2005), but would cost $123 billion to extract and bring to market. The difference,$251 billion, would generate social benefits through industry rents of $90 billion as well as state and federal tax revenues of$37 billion and $124 billion, respectively. A contribution of the paper is the decomposition of the benefits between industry rents and tax revenue for a range of price and quantity scenarios. But drilling and development in ANWR would also bring about environmental costs. These costs would consist largely of lost nonuse values for the protected status of ANWR's natural environment. Rather than estimate these costs and conduct a benefit-cost analysis, we calculate the costs that would generate a breakeven result. We find that the average breakeven willingness to accept compensation to allow drilling in ANWR ranges from$582 to $1,782 per person, with a mean estimate of$1,141.

Inhalation therapy during acute asthma : the role of a combined steroid and beta-stimulant preparation

CITATION: Joubert, J. R., Burger, G. & Shephard, E. 1985. Inhalation therapy during acute asthma : the role of a combined steroid and beta-stimulant preparation. South African Medical Journal, 68:381-384.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaA compound consisting of a β-stimulant, salbutamol (100 μg/puff), and a steroid, beclomethasone diproprionate (50 μg/puff), was studied to test the hypothesis that the corticosteroid could enhance the bronchodilator proporties of the β-stimulant during chronic asthma and simulated acute attacks (antigen challenge). Conventional doses (200 μg and 100 μg of salbutamol and beclomethasone respectively) were compared using a schedule which included a second administration 1 hour later. The results obtained on the baseline bronchial responsiveness of chronic asthmatics and during the delayed asthmatic response (simulated acute asthma) were similar. The compound was as effective as salbutamol alone but not more so. A significantly greater bronchodilator response was recorded in all patients after the second administration of both the compound and salbutamol alone. The practical advantages of having one rather than two inhalers are evident, but the appropriate application of this compound agent, probably in a prophylactic role, must be defined.Publisher’s versio

A new mechanism for exchange processes observed in the compounds [M(η-C_5H_5)_2(exo-η-RCH = CH_2)H], M = Nb and Ta

Dynamic n.m.r. studies of the exchange processes in the complexes [M(η-C_5H_5)(exo-η-RCH=CH_2)H], M = Nb, Ta, lead to the proposal of a new mechanism involving intermediates with agostic bonding

Hope Mediates the Relation between Income and Subjective Well-Being

In this study, we examine whether the positive effect of income gains on subjective well-being (SWB) can in part be explained by the improved future prospects that are generated by a more solid financial situation. Using three-wave panel data from the US, we inspect the relation between changes in income, hope and SWB using a fixed-effects model. Results show that hope indeed partially mediates the relation between income and SWB, but only for monthly incomes over $1800. Positive expectations, on the other hand, mediate the relation for all income levels. From the two components of hope, agency, the belief that we can achieve our goals, seems to be the strongest mediator. We find no indications that extremely high levels of hope or expectations will harm SWB through disappointment

Serogrouping and sulphonamide sensitivity of Neisseria meningitidis isolates from the south-western Cape

CITATION: Donald, P.R. et al. 1989. Serogrouping and sulphonamide sensitivity of Neisseria meningitidis isolates from the south-western Cape. S Afr Med J, 76:453.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaNeisseria meningitidis infections were first reported from the south-western Cape Province in 1883. Since then, against a backdrop of a relatively low incidence with winter exacerbation, epidemic periods have occurred at 10 - IS-year intervals. During the 1978 - 1979 epidemic more than 95% of isolates at Tygerberg Hospital were of serogroup B and only 5% were resistant to sulphonamides. Seventy-seven per cent of patients notified as suffering from meningococcal infections were under 4 years of age.3 In this report we briefly describe the pattern of serogrouping and sulphonamide resistance of N. meningitidis for the period 1980 - 1987.Publisher’s versio

To Improve Your Surgical Drilling Skills, Make Use of Your Index Fingers

BACKGROUND: Surgery has greatly benefited from various technologic advancements over the past decades. Surgery remains, however, mostly manual labor performed by well-trained surgeons. Little research has focused on improving osseous drilling techniques. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy and precision of different orthopaedic drilling techniques involving the use of both index fingers. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Does the shooting grip technique and aiming at the contralateral index finger improve accuracy and precision in drilling? (2) Is the effect of drilling technique on accuracy and precision affected by the experience level of the performer? METHODS: This study included 36 participants from two Dutch training hospitals who were subdivided into three groups (N = 12 per group) based on their surgical experience (that is, no experience, residents, and surgeons). The participants had no further experience with drilling outside the hospital nor were there other potential confounding variables that could influence the test outcomes. Participants were instructed to drill toward a target exit point on a synthetic bone model. There were four conditions: (1) clenched grip without aiming; (2) shooting grip without aiming; (3) clenched grip with aiming at the contralateral index finger; and (4) shooting grip aiming at the contralateral index finger. Participants were only used to a clenched grip without aiming in clinical practice. Each participant had to drill five times per technique per test, and the test was repeated after 4 weeks. Accuracy was defined as the systematic error of all measurements and was calculated as the mean of the five distances between the five exit points and the target exit point, whereas precision was defined as the random error of all measurements and calculated as the SD of those five distances. Accuracy and precision were analyzed using mixed-design analyses of variance. RESULTS: Accuracy was highest when using a clenched grip with aiming at the index finger (mean 4.0 mm, SD 1.1) compared with a clenched grip without aiming (mean 5.0 mm, SD 1.2, p = 0.004) and a shooting grip without aiming (mean 4.9 mm, SD 1.4, p = 0.015). The shooting grip with aiming at the index finger (mean 4.1 mm, SD 1.2) was also more accurate than a clenched grip without aiming (p = 0.006) and a shooting grip without aiming (p = 0.014). Shooting grip with aiming at the opposite index finger (median 2.0 mm, interquartile range [IQR] 1.2) showed the best precision and outperformed a clenched grip without aiming (median 2.9 mm, IQR 1.1, p = 0.016), but was not different than the shooting grip without aiming (median 2.2 mm, IQR 1.4) or the clenched grip with aiming (median 2.4 mm, IQR 1.3). The accuracy of surgeons (mean 4.1 mm, SD 1.1) was higher than the inexperienced group (mean 5.0 mm, SD 1.1, p = 0.012). The same applied for precision (median 2.2 mm, IQR 1.0 versus median 2.8 mm, IQR 1.4, p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: A shooting grip combined with aiming toward the index finger of the opposite hand had better accuracy and precision compared with a clenched grip alone. Based on this study, experience does matter, because the orthopaedic surgeons outperformed the less experienced participants. Based on our study, we advise surgeons to aim at the index finger of the opposite hand when possible and to align the ipsilateral index finger to the drill bit. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, therapeutic study