Trade for Development. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

This report emphasizes high-income countries’ responsibility to lead by example in pursuing more open markets and in supporting the Least Developed Countries to raise their export competitiveness. It proposes concrete and practical steps that governments and international agencies can undertake to bring trade to bear on development. The report has been prepared by a group of leading experts who contributed in their personal capacity and volunteered their time to this important task. I am very grateful for their thorough and skilled efforts, and I am sure that the practical options for action in this report will make an important contribution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. I strongly recommend it to anyone who is interested in how to mobilize trade for development.

开放服务贸易给发展中国家带来的机会和利益

服务业——从健康和教育到电信和交通——已日渐成为许多国家经济领域中最大的单一部门。服务业不仅给一个国家带来大量的就业机会和国民收入，而且，在诸如金融或电信等许多服务部门中，为其它商品和服务的生产提供至关重要的投入要素。因此，服务部门的效率高低对提高整个国家的经济效益是极为重要的。同样，服务贸易本身也一直在增长。近年来，所有发展中国家在服务贸易总规模上都出现了相当可观的扩展，尽管在很多情况下这种扩展的起点还低。“经济合作和发展组织”最近的一项研究成果表明，许多发展中国家普遍认为：由于他们国内的服务行业效益低、缺乏竞争力，所以如果开放其服务贸易，那是会遭失败的。尽管如此，发展中国家还是能够从更加开放的服务贸易中获得显著收益的。这份政策简报所依据的正是这项研究成果，该研究工作一方面确定发展中国家在诸如音像视听和文化服务、建筑服务、商业性服务、计算机服务、船运和旅游业服务等许多部门中开展服务出口贸易的具体实例，同时又调查了服务贸易自由化给经济带来的广泛收益

Soil carbon distribution and quality in a montane rangeland forest mosaic in northern Utah

Relatively little is known about soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in montane ecosystems of the semi-arid western U.S. or the stability of current SOC pools under future climate change scenarios. We measured the distribution and quality of SOC in a mosaic of rangeland-forest vegetation types that occurs under similar climatic conditions on non-calcareous soils at Utah State University’s T.W. Daniel Experimental Forest in northern Utah: the forest types were aspen [Populus tremuloides] and conifer (mixture of fir [Abies lasiocarpa] and spruce [Picea engelmannii]); the rangeland types were sagebrush steppe [Artemisia tridentata], grass-forb meadow, and a meadow-conifer ecotone. Total SOC was calculated from OC concentrations, estimates of bulk density by texture and rock-free soil volume in five pedons. The SOC quality was expressed in terms of leaching potential and decomposability. Amount and aromaticity of water-soluble organic carbon (DOC) was determined by water extraction and specific ultra violet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA) of leached DOC. Decomposability of SOC and DOC was derived from laboratory incubation of soil samples and water extracts, respectively. Although there was little difference in total SOC between soils sampled under different vegetation types, vertical distribution, and quality of SOC appeared to be influenced by vegetation. Forest soils had a distinct O horizon and higher SOC concentration in near-surface mineral horizons that declined sharply with depth. Rangeland soils lacked O horizons and SOC concentration declined more gradually. Quality of SOC under rangelands was more uniform with depth and SOC was less soluble and less decomposable (i.e., more stable) than under forests. However, DOC in grass-forb meadow soils was less aromatic and more bioavailable, likely promoting C retention through cycling. The SOC in forest soils was notably more leachable and decomposable, especially near the soil surface, with stability increasing with soil depth. Across the entire dataset, there was a weak inverse relationship between the decomposability and the aromaticity of DOC. Our data indicate that despite similar SOC pools, vegetation type may affect SOC retention capacity under future climate projections by influencing potential SOC losses via leaching and decomposition

Recognition of Famous Names Predicts Cognitive Decline in Healthy Elders

Objective: The ability to recognize familiar people is impaired in both Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). In addition, both groups often demonstrate a time-limited temporal gradient (TG) in which well known people from decades earlier are better recalled than those learned recently. In this study, we examined the TG in cognitively intact elders for remote famous names (1950–1965) compared to more recent famous names (1995–2005). We hypothesized that the TG pattern on a famous name recognition task (FNRT) would predict future cognitive decline, and also show a significant correlation with hippocampal volume. Method: Seventy-eight healthy elders (ages 65–90) with age-appropriate cognitive functioning at baseline were administered a FNRT. Follow-up testing 18 months later produced two groups: Declining (≥ 1 SD reduction on at least one of three measures) and Stable (\u3c 1 SD). Results: The Declining group (N = 27) recognized fewer recent famous names than the Stable group (N = 51), although recognition for remote names was comparable. Baseline MRI volumes for both the left and right hippocampi were significantly smaller in the Declining group than the Stable group. Smaller baseline hippocampal volume was also significantly correlated with poorer performance for recent, but not remote famous names. Logistic regression analyses indicated that baseline TG performance was a significant predictor of group status (Declining vs. Stable) independent of chronological age and APOE ε4 inheritance. Conclusions: The TG for famous name recognition may serve as an early preclinical cognitive marker of cognitive decline in healthy older individual

The MRI Sepsis Score: An Innovative Tool for the Evaluation of Septic Peritonitis in Mice Using 7-Tesla Small Animal MRI

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are rarely used in the context of abdominal sepsis and in sepsis research. This study investigates the impact of MRI for monitoring septic peritonitis in an animal model (colon ascendens stent-induced peritonitis, CASP). The CASP model closely mimics that of human disease and is highly standardized. The most frequently employed readout parameter in mouse CASP studies is prolonged or decreased rate of survival. Monitoring the progression of peritonitis via MRI could provide a helpful tool in the evaluation of severity. The use of alternative readout systems could very well reduce the number of research animals. Perspectively, clinical improvement after certain treatment could be classified. Methods: This study describes for the first time MRI findings following the induction of septic peritonitis in mice using the CASP model. Two sublethal groups of mice with septic peritonitis were investigated. Each had received one of two differing stent diameters in order to control the leakage of feces into the abdominal cavity. Each mouse served as its own control. Imaging and analyses were performed blinded. Gut diameters, stomach volume, abdominal organ wall diameters, and volume of the adrenal glands were measured. Serum corticosterone levels were detected using ELISA. Serum IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 levels were screened by cytometric bead array. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric probes and the Kruskal-Wallis and t tests. Results: Using a 7-tesla MRI scanner 24 and 48 h after induction of septic peritonitis, interenteric fluid, organ swelling of spleen and adrenal glands, as well as dilatation of the stomach were compared to nonseptic conditions. Swelling of adrenal glands resulted in an increased serum corticosterone level. In addition, the wall of the intestine bowel was thickened. Based upon these findings, an MRI score (MRI sepsis score, MSS) for abdominal sepsis in mice was established. Reduced stent sizes led to reduced severity of the abdominal sepsis, which could be reproduced in the MSS, which is described here for the first time. Conclusions: Intraabdominal variations during septic peritonitis are detectable by MRI techniques. MRI methods should become a more important tool for the evaluation of abdominal peritonitis. MSS could provide an interesting tool for the evaluation of therapeutic strategies

The MRI Sepsis Score: An Innovative Tool for the Evaluation of Septic Peritonitis in Mice Using 7-Tesla Small Animal MRI

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are rarely used in the context of abdominal sepsis and in sepsis research. This study investigates the impact of MRI for monitoring septic peritonitis in an animal model (colon ascendens stent-induced peritonitis, CASP). The CASP model closely mimics that of human disease and is highly standardized. The most frequently employed readout parameter in mouse CASP studies is prolonged or decreased rate of survival. Monitoring the progression of peritonitis via MRI could provide a helpful tool in the evaluation of severity. The use of alternative readout systems could very well reduce the number of research animals. Perspectively, clinical improvement after certain treatment could be classified. Methods: This study describes for the first time MRI findings following the induction of septic peritonitis in mice using the CASP model. Two sublethal groups of mice with septic peritonitis were investigated. Each had received one of two differing stent diameters in order to control the leakage of feces into the abdominal cavity. Each mouse served as its own control. Imaging and analyses were performed blinded. Gut diameters, stomach volume, abdominal organ wall diameters, and volume of the adrenal glands were measured. Serum corticosterone levels were detected using ELISA. Serum IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 levels were screened by cytometric bead array. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric probes and the Kruskal-Wallis and t tests. Results: Using a 7-tesla MRI scanner 24 and 48 h after induction of septic peritonitis, interenteric fluid, organ swelling of spleen and adrenal glands, as well as dilatation of the stomach were compared to nonseptic conditions. Swelling of adrenal glands resulted in an increased serum corticosterone level. In addition, the wall of the intestine bowel was thickened. Based upon these findings, an MRI score (MRI sepsis score, MSS) for abdominal sepsis in mice was established. Reduced stent sizes led to reduced severity of the abdominal sepsis, which could be reproduced in the MSS, which is described here for the first time. Conclusions: Intraabdominal variations during septic peritonitis are detectable by MRI techniques. MRI methods should become a more important tool for the evaluation of abdominal peritonitis. MSS could provide an interesting tool for the evaluation of therapeutic strategies

Emissions pathways, climate change, and impacts on California

The magnitude of future climate change depends substantially on the greenhouse gas emission pathways we choose. Here we explore the implications of the highest and lowest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change emissions pathways for climate change and associated impacts in California. Based on climate projections from two state-of-the-art climate models with low and medium sensitivity (Parallel Climate Model and Hadley Centre Climate Model, version 3, respectively), we find that annual temperature increases nearly double from the lower B1 to the higher A1fi emissions scenario before 2100. Three of four simulations also show greater increases in summer temperatures as compared with winter. Extreme heat and the associated impacts on a range of temperature-sensitive sectors are substantially greater under the higher emissions scenario, with some interscenario differences apparent before midcentury. By the end of the century under the B1 scenario, heatwaves and extreme heat in Los Angeles quadruple in frequency while heat-related mortality increases two to three times; alpine subalpine forests are reduced by 50–75%; and Sierra snowpack is reduced 30–70%. Under A1fi, heatwaves in Los Angeles are six to eight times more frequent, with heat-related excess mortality increasing five to seven times; alpine subalpine forests are reduced by 75–90%; and snowpack declines 73–90%, with cascading impacts on runoff and streamflow that, combined with projected modest declines in winter precipitation, could fundamentally disrupt California’s water rights system. Although interscenario differences in climate impacts and costs of adaptation emerge mainly in the second half of the century, they are strongly dependent on emissions from preceding decades

New loci for body fat percentage reveal link between adiposity and cardiometabolic disease risk

To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of adiposity and its links to cardiometabolic disease risk, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of body fat percentage (BF%) in up to 100,716 individuals. Twelve loci reached genome-wide significance (P<5 × 10−8), of which eight were previously associated with increased overall adiposity (BMI, BF%) and four (in or near COBLL1/GRB14, IGF2BP1, PLA2G6, CRTC1) were novel associations with BF%. Seven loci showed a larger effect on BF% than on BMI, suggestive of a primary association with adiposity, while five loci showed larger effects on BMI than on BF%, suggesting association with both fat and lean mass. In particular, the loci more strongly associated with BF% showed distinct cross-phenotype association signatures with a range of cardiometabolic traits revealing new insights in the link between adiposity and disease risk