The problem with environmental security: challenging the either/or approach of national versus human security in the context of the Mekong River Basin

One of the most important ideas to emerge from security studies in the past forty years is the field of research known as ‘environmental security studies’ (ESS). It has not, however, had the impact on security studies in general that it might have expected to – given the growing concerns regarding the scale and pace of environmental changes in the 20th and 21st centuries. This thesis therefore firstly seeks to understand the nature of ESS, asking whether ESS has a central theoretical core that enables it to analyse the links between the environment and security. The research shows that the ESS literature does not have a central tenet, nor a united epistemological or methodological approach. The second area of research therefore asks if there is a common theme that can be discerned within the literature. Research indicates that there is a way of understanding ESS in a more coherent fashion in that the majority of ESS scholars endeavour to comprehend the systemic security impact of environmental processes. The problem is that there is no analytical bridge between the environment, the state and the individual. This thesis therefore forwards a unique approach that argues that rather than the current either state-centric or a human security approach to ESS, it must be understood as a combination of both. This approach is termed “Systemic Environmental Security” (SES). SES is an analytical framework that takes into account the way that environmental processes give rise to both state security and human security concerns simultaneously. The thesis finally explores the unique insights provided by SES. This is achieved through a relevant case study of the Mekong River Basin. It is hoped that these unique insights provided by Systemic Environmental Security can be applied in a range of contexts, providing clearer conceptualisations of the complex relationship between security and the environment

The chronic fatigue syndrome and hyperventilation

Contains fulltext : 5015.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Thresholds: observations on motion capture.

This paper theoretically situates research that explores motion capture data visualization using customized software tools such as MxCap.01. The value of software like MxCap.01 lies in its visualization capabilities including the ability to scale the re-presentation of the force, direction and intensity of movement but also do so within a temporal and emotive structuring

Bibliography

Regular use of beta2-agonists might result in increased bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) and decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). It has been suggested that these possible detrimental effects are not a real deterioration of the disease, but that it might be only a transient (rebound) effect shortly after discontinuing this regular use. Moreover, these effects are thought to occur especially during short-acting and not during long-acting beta2-agonists use. The aim of this study was to invest gate whether a rebound effect (a pharmacological deterioration effect diminishing after several hours) in FEV1 and PC20 (concentration of histamine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 with regard to baseline) occurred after cessation of regular use of beta2-agonists, and whether this occurred both after short-acting and long-acting beta2-agonists. Allergic asthmatic patients (n = 134) were randomly allocated to the use of a short-acting (salbutamol), a long-acting beta2-agonist (formoterol) or placebo for 12 weeks (double-blind, double-dummy). No other asthma medication was allowed, including inhaled corticosteroids. At the start and every 4 weeks later FEV and PC20 were measured, each time at least 12 h after the last doses of study medication, which is in the possible rebound period. To investigate whether a (transient) rebound effect occurred, parameters were additionally measured at least 72 h later after discontinuation of the study medication. After 12 weeks of short-acting beta2-agonist use, a drop was seen in FEV1 from 85.6 (+/- 2.21)% predicted to 78.8 (+/- 2.9)% predicted, measured 15 h (median) after the last doses of medication. This was significantly different compared to placebo. When measured 168 h (median) later FEV1 recovered to 85.5 (+/- 2.4)% predicted, comparable to baseline. PC20 decreased with -1.17 (+/- 0.44) doubling dose after 12 weeks of short-acting beta2-agonist use, measured 15 h after the last doses of medication, which was significantly different compared to placebo. However, 168 h later PC20 recovered slightly with +0.55 (+/- 0.34) doubling dose, but this value was still lower compared to placebo. In contrast, during long-acting beta2-agonist and placebo use no significant changes were seen. In conclusion, the use of short-acting beta2-agonists resulted in a transient (rebound) effect in FEV while the effects on PC20 may point to a real deterioration of the disease. Long-acting beta2-agonist and placebo use showed no changes.We conclude that a mono-therapy of short-acting and not of long-acting beta2-agonists might have deleterious effects in asthma