A comparison of equitable per diem policies for units deployed to U.S. bases

This thesis addresses the per diem funding requirements for units deployed to U.S. bases, Three alternative programs are compared: (1) the current Lodgings Plus policy, (2) AIRPAC's Smart TAD test, and (3) the DoD Task Force to Reengineer Travel recommendation to provide rations in kind. The impacts of these three alternatives on the Type Commanders, travelers, messing facilities, and MWR activities are examined to ensure that the missions can be accomplished while maintaining a high quality of life for the travelers. The primary areas evaluated are galley operations, missed meal reimbursement, and MWR compensation. Findings include that savings can be achieved by adopting the Rations In Kind policy, while still maintaining a high quality of life for the travelers. With the reduction in the DoN budget, some action is required to bridge the predicted shortfall between available fluiding and the budget needed to fully support the travel requirements. This study recommends that AIRPAC's Smart TAD test be modified and expanded to ensure that travel funds are available to support future operational commitments and readiness.http://archive.org/details/acomparisonofequ109457467U.S. Navy (U.S.N.) author

Unlocking the Deadlocks? GMOs, Science and the Reform of the Legal Framework

The hydra is in many ways a well-working allegory for the numerous conflicts the EU has been facing in the GMO authorization process, and in particular regarding the complex deadlocks in the authorization of GMOs for cultivation. In the 1990s, heavy pressure at the international level2 caused the responsible EU decision-makers to establish a regulatory framework and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to finally resolve their struggles with the de facto moratorium on GMO authorization. Unfortunately, this solution to the conflicts and struggles with GMO authorization did not prove to be sufficient. Even worse, the EU decision-makers faced what we call the first deadlock. It originated from the continuous bans of GMOs that Member States imposed with the safeguard clause, now in particular on GMO cultivation. As with the Hydra’s many heads which are growing back numerously every time one head is cut off, each time one issue was solved in the GMO authorization process, numerous other problems came up.   When over time the new directive and agency proved not be the solution to the many conflicts and as there was no sign that GMO-opposing Member States would finally stop the banning, Member States from both camps – anti- and pro-GMO – instrumentalised the Commission to end the conflict on GMO authorization. The Commission attempted to do so by drafting a proposal,8 which arguably gave the Member States more freedom in deciding whether or not to cultivate GMOs in their territory. Thereby the Commission expected to accelerate the general authorization procedure for GMOs, as anti- GMO Member States could on the one hand agree on authorization of GMOs at the EU level, but also had the opportunity to ban their cultivation on national territory. Irrespective of the Commission’s attempt to solve the conflict and give the Member States more freedom, the proposal did not succeed in solving the deadlock. It was heatedly debated by EU officials and stakeholders, partly amended by the European Parliament (EP) and has not been adopted yet, as a blocking minority in the Council exists. We label this situation the ‘second deadlock’ – namely the deadlock on the solution of the first deadlock. After a couple of years of silence on this situation, the proposal and the whole deadlock situation suddenly became news again, when the Commission announced the revival of the talks and Monsanto, one the biggest GM producing companies, threatened to leave the European market in 2013. GMO authorization in the EU was never an easy topic, partly because the European public is not very fond of the idea of having GM-food on their table. Therefore, not only the heads of the hydra, but also the hydra itself can be compared to the GMO authorization process. In Greece mythology, the hydra was hated by the public as it murdered the farmers’ cattle at night. Unfortunately, up to now there was no Herakles in the EU, being able to find a solution on how to solve the deadlocks in GM- authorization. As there is no complete solution evident at the moment, we investigate to what extent the two deadlocks might be unlocked, also in light of the high prevalence of the topic in the news. Even though we are aware of the manifold aspects surrounding GM-authorization and cultivation, we aim to provide an overview for a broad scholarly public, not only on how the two deadlock arose and what were the exact issues at stake but also regarding the many heads of the hydra – namely the many issues decision-makers need to take into account – when trying to unlock the deadlocks. After explaining our research approach and methodology, our analysis first provides a general overview on the regulatory framework on GMOs. By describing the problems of authorization in practice, we investigate the first deadlock. Subsequently, some of the Hydra’s heads are cut off by means of analysing whether or not science is the solution to the first deadlock. The fourth section presents the Commission’s proposal to solve the deadlock, which is subsequently analysed on its legal viability regarding EU and WTO legislation. It is then attempted to solve the deadlock, or at least to provide some ideas on how to move a step towards solving it. Before concluding, we embed our proposal in the latest state-of-the-art academic literature

Phosphorus derivatives of mesoionic carbenes: synthesis and characterization of triazaphosphole-5-ylidene → BF3 adducts

Trimethylsilyl-substituted triazaphospholes were synthesized by a [3+2] cycloaddition reaction between organic azides and (CH3)3Si–C[triple bond, length as m-dash]P. In an attempt to isolate their N-alkylated products, the formation of BF3 adducts of unprecedented triazaphosphol-5-ylidenes was found. The nature of the carboncarbene–boron bond was investigated within the DFT framework, revealing a strong donation of electrons from the carbene carbon atom to the boron atom combined with weak back-bonding

PITX2 Modulates Atrial Membrane Potential and the Antiarrhythmic Effects of Sodium-Channel Blockers.

BACKGROUND: Antiarrhythmic drugs are widely used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but the mechanisms conveying their variable effectiveness are not known. Recent data suggested that paired like homeodomain-2 transcription factor (PITX2) might play an important role in regulating gene expression and electrical function of the adult left atrium (LA). OBJECTIVES: After determining LA PITX2 expression in AF patients requiring rhythm control therapy, the authors assessed the effects of Pitx2c on LA electrophysiology and the effect of antiarrhythmic drugs. METHODS: LA PITX2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels were measured in 95 patients undergoing thoracoscopic AF ablation. The effects of flecainide, a sodium (Na(+))-channel blocker, and d,l-sotalol, a potassium channel blocker, were studied in littermate mice with normal and reduced Pitx2c mRNA by electrophysiological study, optical mapping, and patch clamp studies. PITX2-dependent mechanisms of antiarrhythmic drug action were studied in human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells expressing human Na channels and by modeling human action potentials. RESULTS: Flecainide 1 μmol/l was more effective in suppressing atrial arrhythmias in atria with reduced Pitx2c mRNA levels (Pitx2c(+/-)). Resting membrane potential was more depolarized in Pitx2c(+/-) atria, and TWIK-related acid-sensitive K(+) channel 2 (TASK-2) gene and protein expression were decreased. This resulted in enhanced post-repolarization refractoriness and more effective Na-channel inhibition. Defined holding potentials eliminated differences in flecainide's effects between wild-type and Pitx2c(+/-) atrial cardiomyocytes. More positive holding potentials replicated the increased effectiveness of flecainide in blocking human Nav1.5 channels in HEK293 cells. Computer modeling reproduced an enhanced effectiveness of Na-channel block when resting membrane potential was slightly depolarized. CONCLUSIONS: PITX2 mRNA modulates atrial resting membrane potential and thereby alters the effectiveness of Na-channel blockers. PITX2 and ion channels regulating the resting membrane potential may provide novel targets for antiarrhythmic drug development and companion therapeutics in AF

Vanadyl sulfates:molecular structure, magnetism and electrochemical activity

Reaction of differing amounts of vanadyl sulfate with p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]areneH4 and base allows access to the vanadyl-sulfate species [NEt4]4[(VO)4(3-OH)4(SO4)4]∙1/2H2O (1), [HNEt3]5[(VO)5(3-O)4(SO4)4]∙4MeCN (2∙4MeCN) and [NEt4]2[(VO)6(O)2(SO4)4(OMe)(OH2)]∙MeCN (3∙MeCN). Similar use of p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix[4]areneH4, p-tert-butylcalix[8]areneH8 or p-tert-butylhexahomotrioxacalix[3]areneH3 led to the isolation of [HNEt3]2[H2NEt2]2[VO(OMe)]2p-tert-butylcalix[8-SO2]areneH2] (4), [HNEt3]2[V(O)2p-tert-butylcalix[8]areneH5] (5) and [HNEt3]2[VIV2VV4O11(OMe)8] (6), respectively. Dc magnetic susceptibility measurements were performed on powdered microcrystalline samples of 1-3 in the T = 300 - 2 K temperature range. Preliminary screening for electrochemical water oxidation revealed some activity for 2 with turnover frequency (TOF) and number (TON) of 2.2 × 10-4 s-1 and 6.44 × 10-6 (mmol O2 / mmol cat.), respectively. The compound 3 showed an improved electrochemical activity in the presence of water. This is related to the increased number and the rate of electrons exchanged during oxidation of V4+ species, facilitated by protons generated in the water discharge process

Factors Affecting the Risk of Aseptic Patellar Complications in Primary TKA Performed with Cemented All-Polyethylene Patellar Resurfacing.

Place: United StatesBACKGROUND: Patellar complications are a consequential cause of failure of primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of demographic and patient factors with the long-term risk of patellar complications as a function of time in a very large cohort of primary TKAs performed with patellar resurfacing. METHODS: We identified 27,192 primary TKAs utilizing cemented all-polyethylene patellar components that were performed at a single institution from 1977 through 2015. We evaluated the risk of any aseptic patellar complication and any aseptic patellar reoperation or revision, subanalyzed risks of reoperation or revision for loosening, maltracking/instability, and wear, and evaluated the risk of clinical diagnosis of patellar fracture and clunk/crepitus. The mean age at TKA was 68 years (range, 18 to 99 years); 57% of the patients were female. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 32 kg/m2. The primary diagnosis was osteoarthritis in 83%, and 70% of the TKAs were posterior-stabilized. Median follow-up was 7 years (range, 2 to 40 years). Risk factors for each outcome were evaluated with Cox regression models. RESULTS: Nine hundred and seventy-seven knees with all-polyethylene patellae developed patellar complications. Survivorship free from any aseptic patellar complication was 93.3% at 20 years. Twenty-year survivorship free from any aseptic patellar reoperation was 97.3% and free from any aseptic patellar revision was 97.4%. Fifteen-year survivorship for the same end points for procedures performed from 2000 to 2015 was 95.7%, 99.2% and 99.3% respectively, representing substantial improvements compared with implants placed before 2000. Univariate analysis demonstrated that male sex (hazard ratio [HR], 1.4), an age of \textless65 years (HR, 1.3), and a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 (HR, 1.2) were associated with increased risk of patellar complications (all p ≤0.01). Posterior-stabilized designs were associated with fewer patellar reoperations and revisions overall (HR, 0.4 and 0.4; p \textless 0.001) but higher risk of patellar clunk/crepitus (HR, 14.1; p \textless 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The 20-year survivorship free from any aseptic patellar complication in this series of cemented all-polyethylene patellae was 93%. Important risk factors for any aseptic patellar complication were male sex, an age of \textless65 years, a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2, and a patella implanted before 2000. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence

State of the Art in Paleoenvironment Mapping for Modeling Applications in Archeology—Summary, Conclusions, and Future Directions from the PaleoMaps Workshop

In this report, we present the contributions, outcomes, ideas, discussions and conclusions obtained at the PaleoMaps Workshop 2019, that took place at the Institute of Geography of the University of Cologne on 23 and 24 September 2019. The twofold aim of the workshop was: (1) to provide an overview of approaches and methods that are presently used to incorporate paleoenvironmental information in human–environment interaction modeling applications, and building thereon; (2) to devise new approaches and solutions that might be used to enhance the reconstruction of past human–environmental interconnections. This report first outlines the presented papers, and then provides a joint protocol of the often extensive discussions that came up following the presentations or else during the refreshment intervals. It concludes by adressing the open points to be resolved in future research avenues, e.g., implementation of open science practices, new procedures for reviewing of publications, and future concepts for quality assurance of the often complex paleoenvironmental data. This report may serve as an overview of the state of the art in paleoenvironment mapping and modeling. It includes an extensive compilation of the basic literature, as provided by the workshop attendants, which will itself facilitate the necessary future research

Skin Flaps

The advancement flap is one of the most utilized cutaneous closures in reconstructive surgery. Modifications of the flap include Burrow's advancement flap, crescentic flap, Rintala flap, Peng flap, helical rim advancement flap, H‐plasty (bilateral advancement flap), and T‐plasty (A‐to‐T, O‐to‐T). The rotation flap is one of the three major types of random pattern flaps that are useful for repair of wounds in areas with limited elasticity. Variations of flap design include rotation flap with a back cut, bilateral rotation flap, O‐Z rotation flap and the pinwheel flap. Transposition flaps are random pattern flaps that make use of adjacent skin laxity to close a defect. The most frequently utilized transposition flaps are the rhombic and bilobed flaps. The island pedicle flap is useful for repairing defects in the perioral region. It is important to recognize that the pedicle flap should be at least three times greater than the diameter of the defect being repaired