Mapping evidence gaps in anti-corruption: assessing the state of the operationally relevant evidence on donors' actions and approaches to reducing corruption

This paper charts the current evidence on effectiveness of different anti-corruption reforms, and identifies significant evidence gaps. Despite a substantial amount of literature on corruption, this review found very few studies focusing on anti-corruption reforms, and even fewer that credibly assess issues of effectiveness and impact. The evidence was strong for only two types of interventions: public financial management (PFM) reforms and supreme audit institutions (SAIs). For PFM, the evidence in general showed positive results, whereas the effectiveness was mixed for SAIs. No strong evidence indicates that any of the interventions pursued have been ineffective, but there is fair evidence that anti-corruption authorities, civil service reforms and the use of corruption conditionality in aid allocation decisions in general have not been effective. The paper advocates more operationally-relevant research and rigorous evaluations to build up the missing evidence base, particularly in conflict-afflicted states, in regards to the private sector, and on the interactions and interdependencies between different anti-corruption interventions

Deafness: Predicting the future for Scotland

Replaced with updated version 2020-08-11. JRThe exact numbers of deaf people in Scotland varies depending upon which source is consulted. This lack of clarity is problematic when it comes to planning for delivery of future services and it is widely recognised that there is a need to establish better reporting procedures in order to capture relevant statistics. To this end, this research has sought to investigate the source with which the Scottish Government makes policy decisions; the source that is used to ‘allocate resources and plan services’ in Scotland: The 2011 Census for Scotland (Office for National Statistics 2011). As the next Census will be taken in 2021, it would seem timely to look at what information this source currently offers on the prevalence of hearing loss in Scotland and how far it relates to the wider picture. How far does the above definition of the aims and objectives of the Census fit to enable precise data to be captured and recorded and as a result ensure optimum service planning and provision for those with hearing loss in Scotland?https://deafscotland.org/deafscotland-publications/pubpu

The adoption and impact of an improved drought-tolerant, dual-purpose groundnut variety in Southern India

This paper looks at the adoption and impact of an improved groundnut cultivar in Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Despite positive results in farmer-participatory varietal selection, adoption was extremely low despite promotional efforts of a local NGO. The few farmers who adopted the variety generated significant benefits. They earned higher profits per hectare and their agricultural asset portfolios (a measure of wealth) increased significantly more than those of non-adopters. This raises the question of why, if the variety is beneficial, adoption is so low. Some possible explanations and their implications for future varietal development and dissemination are discussed

Cost-effective, near-term deployment of carbon capture and storage from biorefineries in the United States

Abstract: Capture and permanent sequestration of biogenic CO2 emissions play a pivotal role in stringent climate change mitigation. Bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) technologies, in particular, can remove atmospheric CO2 emissions while producing valuable energy products such as fuels, electricity, and gaseous hydrocarbons. Yet, most near-term assessments of climate change mitigation opportunities assume BECCS is either too costly or commercially unavailable. In contrast, biogenic CO2 capture and sequestration from industrial fermentation is already deployed at commercial scale, including several corn ethanol facilities in the United States. Such capture opportunities target pure streams of biogenic CO2 from existing biofuel infrastructure, resulting in a low cost of capture and sequestration. Moreover, existing and proposed policies in the United States, including California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and the 2016 Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Act (S.3179, the CCUS Act), could provide sufficient financial incentive for industry-wide deployment of CCS for saline aquifers. Here, we study the abatement potential and costs of biogenic CO2 capture and sequestration from biorefineries in the United States using process engineering, spatial optimization, and lifecycle assessment. We minimize the total cost of capture, compression, transportation, and sequestration, building from existing spatial pipeline optimization models [1]. We consider two options for CO2 transport: pipelines, and trucking, which recent work has shown is cost-effective at low CO2 volumes [2]. Preliminary results identify ~44 Mt of biogenic CO2 emitted annually from 217 facilities, most of which can be captured for under $30/tCO2. We also find strong evidence for economies of scale in pipeline transportation. Recent financial incentives under California’s LCFS (~$75-150/tCO2 abated) and proposed in the U.S Senate ($50/tCO2 stored in saline aquifers) suggest a substantial near-term opportunity to permanently sequester biogenic CO2, given proper policy incentives. This opportunity can catalyze the growth of carbon capture, transport, utilization, and sequestration across the U.S. and improve the lifecycle impacts of conventional ethanol. When complete, we expect to produce the following results: Spatially-optimized infrastructure design and supply curves for biogenic CO2 capture, transport, and sequestration in the United States, for both pipeline and truck transport Lifecycle carbon intensity impacts for transportation fuels, evaluated under CA-GREET Cost-optimal deployment levels under multiple CA LCFS and CCUS Act price scenarios References: [1] N. Johnson, J. Ogden, Detailed spatial modeling of carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure deployment in the southwestern United States, Energy Procedia, 4 (2011). [2] P. Psarras, P. Bains, P. Charoensawadpong, M. Carringon, S. Comello, S. Reichelstein, J. Wilcox, A Pathway Towards Reducing CO2 Emissions from the Industrial Sector (In Press)

Partial volume correction incorporating Rb-82 positron range for quantitative myocardial perfusion PET based on systolic-diastolic activity ratios and phantom measurements.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative myocardial PET perfusion imaging requires partial volume corrections. METHODS: Patients underwent ECG-gated, rest-dipyridamole, myocardial perfusion PET using Rb-82 decay corrected in Bq/cc for diastolic, systolic, and combined whole cycle ungated images. Diastolic partial volume correction relative to systole was determined from the systolic/diastolic activity ratio, systolic partial volume correction from phantom dimensions comparable to systolic LV wall thicknesses and whole heart cycle partial volume correction for ungated images from fractional systolic-diastolic duration for systolic and diastolic partial volume corrections. RESULTS: For 264 PET perfusion images from 159 patients (105 rest-stress image pairs, 54 individual rest or stress images), average resting diastolic partial volume correction relative to systole was 1.14 ± 0.04, independent of heart rate and within ±1.8% of stress images (1.16 ± 0.04). Diastolic partial volume corrections combined with those for phantom dimensions comparable to systolic LV wall thickness gave an average whole heart cycle partial volume correction for ungated images of 1.23 for Rb-82 compared to 1.14 if positron range were negligible as for F-18. CONCLUSION: Quantitative myocardial PET perfusion imaging requires partial volume correction, herein demonstrated clinically from systolic/diastolic absolute activity ratios combined with phantom data accounting for Rb-82 positron range

Variation in Quantitative Myocardial Perfusion Due to Arterial Input Selection

ObjectivesThis study compared the clinical implications of quantifying myocardial perfusion among different potential arterial input sites: the high (HAo) and basal (BAo) ascending aorta, descending aorta (DA), left atrium (LA), and left ventricular (LV) cavity.BackgroundAbsolute myocardial perfusion and its hyperemic reserve imaged by positron emission tomography (PET) can serve as noninvasive functional measures of physiologic severity. Quantitative myocardial perfusion by PET depends on the time–concentration of vascular activity, called arterial input (AI). However, arterial activity imaged by PET can vary among sites due to partial volume effects from anatomic size, cardiac or respiratory motion out of fixed regions of interest, and spillover from neighboring vascular structures.MethodsPatients underwent cardiac rubidium-82 PET imaging with flow quantification using various anatomic AI. After excluding sites with overt spillover or misregistration, we selected the customized, highest AI among the BAo, HAo, DA, and LA. Average whole heart flows and percent of LV with substantial definite ischemia were compared among sites.ResultsOf 288 cases, LA was selected in roughly half, with HAo in another quarter to one-third. Compared with using the customized AI, rest and stress absolute flow were higher by 5% to 10% for HAo, 14% for BAo, 19% to 23% for DA, and 46% to 49% for LV due to artifactually low AI values. The ratio of coronary flow reserve to its customized value was less affected, although its 95% confidence interval increased among AI locations: 7% for LA, 16% for HAo, 20% for BAo, 28% for DA, and 31% for LV.ConclusionsThe best customized site for AI activity varies for each patient among potential anatomic locations. Selection of the customized arterial site for each individual improved quantification of myocardial perfusion and coronary flow reserve with less variability compared with utilizing a single, pre-selected, fixed anatomic site

Developing Online Learning Materials for Higher Education: An Overview of Current Issues

The changing roles and challenges for higher education and the increased productivity required of faculty are driving forces for the development of more diverse and efficient teaching methods. Educational trends are toward more learner-centered materials. In response to these trends, colleges and universities are now offering courses at a distance and in forms other than traditional delivery. Online courseware materials may be a viable means of fulfilling these numerous requirements but are very resource-intensive to develop. Multiple approaches to developing online learning have been tried, with limited success. The primary approach has been for faculty to enter their own course materials into the computer. To maximize university resources, the most effective approach for developing online learning materials must be determined and institutionalized. While faculty are the most logical persons to provide course content and design, faculty should not be expected to complete the technical tasks associated with developing online learning materials

Beyond DNA origami: the unfolding prospects of nucleic acid nanotechnology

Nucleic acid nanotechnology exploits the programmable molecular recognition properties of natural and synthetic nucleic acids to assemble structures with nanometer‐scale precision. In 2006, DNA origami transformed the field by providing a versatile platform for self‐assembly of arbitrary shapes from one long DNA strand held in place by hundreds of short, site‐specific (spatially addressable) DNA ‘staples’. This revolutionary approach has led to the creation of a multitude of two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional scaffolds that form the basis for functional nanodevices. Not limited to nucleic acids, these nanodevices can incorporate other structural and functional materials, such as proteins and nanoparticles, making them broadly useful for current and future applications in emerging fields such as nanomedicine, nanoelectronics, and alternative energy. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2012, 4:139–152. doi: 10.1002/wnan.170 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90282/1/170_ftp.pd

Phytosulfokine-α Controls Hypocotyl Length and Cell Expansion in Arabidopsis thaliana through Phytosulfokine Receptor 1

The disulfated peptide growth factor phytosulfokine-α (PSK-α) is perceived by LRR receptor kinases. In this study, a role for PSK signaling through PSK receptor PSKR1 in Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyl cell elongation is established. Hypocotyls of etiolated pskr1-2 and pskr1-3 seedlings, but not of pskr2-1 seedlings were shorter than wt due to reduced cell elongation. Treatment with PSK-α did not promote hypocotyl growth indicating that PSK levels were saturating. Tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase (TPST) is responsible for sulfation and hence activation of the PSK precursor. The tpst-1 mutant displayed shorter hypocotyls with shorter cells than wt. Treatment of tpst-1 seedlings with PSK-α partially restored elongation growth in a dose-dependent manner. Hypocotyl elongation was significantly enhanced in tpst-1 seedlings at nanomolar PSK-α concentrations. Cell expansion was studied in hypocotyl protoplasts. WT and pskr2-1 protoplasts expanded in the presence of PSK-α in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, pskr1-2 and pskr1-3 protoplasts were unresponsive to PSK-α. Protoplast swelling in response to PSK-α was unaffected by ortho-vanadate, which inhibits the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. In maize (Zea mays L.), coleoptile protoplast expansion was similarly induced by PSK-α in a dose-dependent manner and was dependent on the presence of K+ in the media. In conclusion, PSK-α signaling of hypocotyl elongation and protoplast expansion occurs through PSKR1 and likely involves K+ uptake, but does not require extracellular acidification by the plasma membrane H+-ATPase