THE PROBLEMS CAUSING THE REAL ESTATE CRASH - A LEGAL, ETHICAL AND MORAL PERSPECTIVE

The collapse of the “real estate bubble” has caused the financial devastation of personal wealth, not only in this country, but around the world. Its effects are still with us as world economies try to grow and return to normalcy in late 2014. It is critical that we understand the events that led to the bubble, and the legal and ethical standards that were violated allowing it to become so inflated. Those that don’t know history are doomed to repeat its mistakes, as it is often said. Investors didn’t learn that from the DOTCOM bubble burst in 2000, and it took just a few short years after that bubble popped to repeat mistakes behind that bubble. There were two primary causes of the boom/bust in real estate. The first was the necessary condition and the second were the sufficient conditions that came into play once the necessary condition was in place. The necessary condition was the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act of 1933. The sufficient conditions were many. They included fraud in the origination of mortgages, fraudulent real estate appraisals, the use of ARM and Option ARM contracts deceptively sold to naïve investors, the proliferation of exotic mortgage products, the securitization food chain designed in some cases to hide the risk of packages of mortgages, biased bond ratings by Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s, the abject failure of regulators and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to intervene, overleverage by home buyers and my investment banks, and the immoral use of drugs and sex on Wall Street. This paper will examine these conditions in detail

The PI3K pathway regulates endochondral bone growth through control of hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The majority of our bones develop through the process of endochondral ossification that involves chondrocyte proliferation and hypertrophic differentiation in the cartilage growth plate. A large number of growth factors and hormones have been implicated in the regulation of growth plate biology, however, less is known about the intracellular signaling pathways involved. PI3K/Akt has been identified as a major regulator of cellular proliferation, differentiation and death in multiple cell types.</p> <p>Results and Discussion</p> <p>Employing an organ culture system of embryonic mouse tibiae and LY294002, a pharmacological inhibitor of PI3K, we show that inhibition of the pathway results in significant growth reduction, demonstrating that PI3K is required for normal endochondral bone growth <it>in vitro</it>. PI3K inhibition reduces the length of the proliferating and particularly of the hypertrophic zone. Studies with organ cultures and primary chondrocytes in micromass culture show delayed hypertrophic differentiation of chondrocytes and increased apoptosis in the presence of LY294002. Surprisingly, PI3K inhibition had no strong effect on IGF1-induced bone growth, but partially blocked the anabolic effects of C-type natriuretic peptide.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data demonstrate an essential role of PI3K signaling in chondrocyte differentiation and as a consequence of this, in the endochondral bone growth process.</p

The "linked evidence approach" to assess medical tests: a critical analysis

Objectives: A linked evidence approach (LEA) is the synthesis of systematically acquired evidence on the accuracy of a medical test, its impact on clinical decision making and the effectiveness of consequent treatment options. We aimed to assess the practical utility of this methodology and to develop a decision framework to guide its use. Methods: As Australia has lengthy experience with LEA, we reviewed health technology assessment (HTA) reports informing reimbursement decisions by the Medical Services Advisory Committee (August 2005 to March 2012). Eligibility was determined according to predetermined criteria and data were extracted on test characteristics, evaluation methodologies, and reported difficulties. Fifty percent of the evidence-base was independently analyzed by a second reviewer. Results: Evaluations of medical tests for diagnostic (62 percent), staging (27 percent), and screening (6 percent) purposes were available for eighty-nine different clinical indications. Ninety-six percent of the evaluations used either the full LEA methodology or an abridged version (where evidence is linked through to management changes but not patient outcomes). Sixty-one percent had the full evidence linkage. Twenty-five percent of test evaluations were considered problematic; all involving LEA (n = 22). Problems included: determining test accuracy with an imperfect reference standard (41 percent); assessing likely treatment effectiveness in test positive patients when the new test is more accurate than the comparator (18 percent); and determining probable health benefits in those symptomatic patients ruled out using the test (13 percent). A decision framework was formulated to address these problems. Conclusions: LEA is useful for evaluating medical tests but a stepped approach should be followed to determine what evidence is required for the synthesis.Tracy Merlin, Samuel Lehman, Philip Ryan, Janet E. Hille

Farm economic sustainability in the European Union: A pilot study

The measurement of farm economic sustainability has received intermittent academic interest in recent times, while the conceptual discussions are often quite limited. Moreover, this concept receives more attention at periods of diffi culty for the sector. The measurement of farm viability is an important precondition to enrich these discussions. Therefore, it is necessary todevelop more comprehensive and detailed measurement techniques to provide more clarity on viability and vulnerability levels in the sector. This paper refocuses attention on this issue, using a pilot dataset collected at farm level across a range of EU Member States which facilitates the assessment of an additional category of viability, namely that of economically sustainablefarms, i.e. farms that are economically vulnerable but which are deemed sustainable by the presence of off-farm income. Differences in viability and economic sustainability across the eight surveyed Member States are shown. The analysis is sensitive to the factors included in the measurement of viability as well as to the threshold income used to defi ne viability. Although this is a pilot study, it enhances our understanding of the factors affecting cross-country evaluation of viability and sustainability, and the policy instruments that could improve viability levels

Silicon Carbide Growth Using Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition

Silicon Carbide (SiC) has been grown from methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) and hydrogen using the Georgia Tech Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition (LCVD) system. A morphology study of LCVD-SiC fibers and lines was completed. Graphite and single crystal silicon were used as the substrates. In order to provide guidance to future growth of SiC, thermodynamic calculations for the C-H-Si-Cl system were performed using the SOLGASMIX-PV program.Mechanical Engineerin

Flipped Learning in Computer Science for non-native English-speaking Students: Case Study

While flipped learning courses generally follow a basic concept (web-based technologies outside the classroom and instructor-student interaction during class time), the detailed design of the delivery builds on the instructor\u27s personal experience, knowledge, teaching philosophy and goals of the course. When designing such a course, it is very important to also take into consideration the teaching and learning environment and culture of the students. Flipped learning is not a fully grounded category in education literature; the area has been examined by a number of studies, but the methodology and its concept is not completely standardized [1, 2]. The flipped learning concept reached the Republic of Korea (RoK) over a decade ago as a result of challenges East Asian universities were facing: to enhance the quality of education, to keep up with international trends and to make education as cost-effective as possible [3]. Tham and Tham [4] reviewed blended learning practices in higher education across Asia and noted that while there are a number of challenges in delivering blended modules in general, in Korea, there was much interest and approval for such a format. As a new, and in Western countries highly praised, methodology, it requires careful consideration and examination. Keeping in mind that Korean education methodology and students\u27 school behavioural patterns are different from Western higher-education systems, this paper compares the recommendations made and features considered ideal by the literature, to the reality of a flipped learning course delivered in the RoK while acknowledging that there is no absolute recipe to a successful flipped learning course. It is also worth noting that this case study is also an intensive summery delivery of technical course material by a native English speaking lecturer to non-native English speaking students. The case study presented in this paper is the first flipped learning course examined in such a setting, with similar courses being developed for delivery in the near future. Therefore, lessons learned from this case study will help in designing and implementing courses in the future. Similarly, it is important to note that this case study pre-dates the Covid19 global pandemic (taking place in the Summer of 2019), meaning that social distancing and other related concerns were not relevant during delivery. However, knowing about the successes and challenges of such formats is of particular relevance to educators in more recent times, as we have become more reliant on blended/online teaching and learning. Based on our final findings presented in this case study it seems certain that the flipped learning methodology has a future in Korean higher education, as long as the course is designed for the specific setting: for example, emphasis should be put on student/teacher discourse in order to encourage naturally shy students to engage with the instructor, to increase constructive interaction throughout the course

Analysis of Property Values, Local Government Finances and Reservation of Land for National Parks and Similar Purposes

The impact on local government finances of the reservation of land for national parks in local government areas has been a bone of contention. This article identifies conditions in which the reservation of land for national parks increases total rateable unimproved property values in a local government area. The level of a local government's receipts from rates tends to move in the same direction as the total value of rateable property in its local government area. Thus, even though national parks and similar natural areas are not rateable, it is possible that the reservation of some local government areas for such protection can increase revenue from rates. However this is not always so and conditions for an increase in local government revenue are specified. Local governments may wish to maximise their income for discretionary expenditures rather than total receipts. Conditions are specified in which the reservation of local areas for national parks fosters - and conflicts with - this objective. Depending upon the nature of the relevant functions, local government finances may benefit from the existence of national parks in a local government area or be adversely affected by their presence. As far as we are aware, the conditions for this have not been previously specified

C-type natriuretic peptide regulates endochondral bone growth through p38 MAP kinase-dependent and – independent pathways

BACKGROUND: C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) has recently been identified as an important anabolic regulator of endochondral bone growth, but the molecular mechanisms mediating its effects are not completely understood. RESULTS: We demonstrate in a tibia organ culture system that pharmacological inhibition of p38 blocks the anabolic effects of CNP. We further show that CNP stimulates endochondral bone growth largely through expansion of the hypertrophic zone of the growth plate, while delaying mineralization. Both effects are reversed by p38 inhibition. We also performed Affymetrix microarray analyses on micro-dissected tibiae to identify CNP target genes. These studies confirmed that hypertrophic chondrocytes are the main targets of CNP signaling in the growth plate, since many more genes were regulated by CNP in this zone than in the others. While CNP receptors are expressed at similar levels in all three zones, cGMP-dependent kinases I and II, important transducers of CNP signaling, are expressed at much higher levels in hypertrophic cells than in other areas of the tibia, providing a potential explanation for the spatial distribution of CNP effects. In addition, our data show that CNP induces the expression of NPR3, a decoy receptor for natriuretic peptides, suggesting the existence of a feedback loop to limit CNP signaling. Finally, detailed analyses of our microarray data showed that CNP regulates numerous genes involved in BMP signaling and cell adhesion. CONCLUSION: Our data identify novel target genes of CNP and demonstrate that the p38 pathway is a novel, essential mediator of CNP effects on endochondral bone growth, with potential implications for understanding and treatment of numerous skeletal diseases

Prevalence, genetic diversity and potential clinical impact of blood-borne and enteric protozoan parasites in native mammals from northern Australia

A molecular survey was conducted to provide baseline information on the prevalence, genetic diversity and potential clinical impacts of blood-borne and enteric protozoans in native wild mammals from the Northern Territory (NT). A total of 209 blood and 167 faecal samples were collected from four target species; the northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus), common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) and brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus). Blood samples were screened by PCR at the 18S rRNA gene for trypanosomes, piroplasms and haemogregarines, with faecal samples tested for Cryptosporidium spp. at the 18S rRNA locus, and for Giardia spp. at the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and 18S rRNA loci. The potential clinical impact was investigated by associating clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters with presence or absence of infection. Overall, 22.5% (95% CI: 17.0-28.8%) of the animals tested were positive for haemoprotozoans. Trypanosomes were found in 26.6% (95% CI: 18.7-35.7%) of the bandicoots and were identified as Trypanosoma vegrandis G6, except for one unique genotype, most similar to T. vegrandis G3 (genetic distance = 7%). The prevalence of trypanosomes in possums was 23.7% (95% CI: 11.4-40.2%), and the genotypes identified clustered within the T. noyesi clade. The presence of Babesia sp. and Hepatozoon sp. was confirmed in bandicoots only, both at a prevalence of 9.7% (95% CI: 2.7-9.2%). The total prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites observed was relatively low (3%; 95% CI: 1.0-6.9%). No evidence of clinical disease associated with protozoan parasitic infection was observed, however bandicoots positive for Trypanosoma exhibited a significantly lower packed cell volume (PCV) compared to negative bandicoots (p = 0.046). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first research conducted in the NT to characterise protozoan parasites in threatened native mammals using both molecular and morphological tools; and to assess the potential clinical impacts of these agents. The absence of clear signs of major morbidity in infected animals seems to exclude a direct association between infections with these agents and possible population decline events in northern Australian native mammals. However until the cause(s) of population decline are ascertained for each individual mammal species, further studies are required. The outcome of the present investigation may be used to inform wildlife conservation and zoonotic disease programs

Z-2 Prototype Space Suit Development

NASA's Z-2 prototype space suit is the highest fidelity pressure garment from both hardware and systems design perspectives since the Space Shuttle Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) was developed in the late 1970's. Upon completion the Z-2 will be tested in the 11 foot human-rated vacuum chamber and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) at the NASA Johnson Space Center to assess the design and to determine applicability of the configuration to micro-, low- (asteroid), and planetary- (surface) gravity missions. This paper discusses the 'firsts' that the Z-2 represents. For example, the Z-2 sizes to the smallest suit scye bearing plane distance for at least the last 25 years and is being designed with the most intensive use of human models with the suit model