Collaboration on the Columbia River: How the Narrative of Environmental Justice and Management Affects Renegotiation

The Columbia River Treaty (CRT), signed in 1964, is known widely as a successful transboundary river treaty between the United States and Canada. It was designed with a basic dual functional purpose, to increase flood prevention in the lower basin and to maximize hydroelectric power output between the two nations. Archival evidence tends to show that the CRT has been beneficial for both the US and Canada, the original signatories. However, 15 sovereign First Nation and Native American tribes within the Columbia River Basin were not included in the original negotiations. Now that parts of the transboundary treaty are expiring and the terms are being renegotiated, these indigenous peoples are insisting that their voices be heard and their values incorporated into the new treaty. As a result, collaborative negotiation processes have involved these indigenous peoples. The United States has incorporated some of the Columbia River Tribes’ views and concerns into their CRT proposal, and The Canadian Indigenous Tribes have been given official Observer status thanks to the Canadian Entity. The expectation is the introduction of a more diverse set of values and interests is likely to reshape the terms of the Columbia River Treaty in profound ways. The question is, what has led to the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples’ values and interests affecting the CRT’s renegotiation? The Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) is used here at the macro-policy level to explore this question by analyzing the narrative form of the political institutions to understand policy change within the subsystem to lead to this collaboration. Archival findings to date have shown a change in narrative related to the CRT that has been influenced by the Indigenous Peoples, and this development has led to a potential change in functionality of the CRT

RSV-encoded NS2 promotes epithelial cell shedding and distal airway obstruction

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is the major cause of bronchiolitis in young children. The factors that contribute to the increased propensity of RSV-induced distal airway disease compared with other commonly encountered respiratory viruses remain unclear. Here, we identified the RSV-encoded nonstructural 2 (NS2) protein as a viral genetic determinant for initiating RSV-induced distal airway obstruction. Infection of human cartilaginous airway epithelium (HAE) and a hamster model of disease with recombinant respiratory viruses revealed that NS2 promotes shedding of infected epithelial cells, resulting in two consequences of virus infection. First, epithelial cell shedding accelerated the reduction of virus titers, presumably by clearing virus-infected cells from airway mucosa. Second, epithelial cells shedding into the narrow-diameter bronchiolar airway lumens resulted in rapid accumulation of detached, pleomorphic epithelial cells, leading to acute distal airway obstruction. Together, these data indicate that RSV infection of the airway epithelium, via the action of NS2, promotes epithelial cell shedding, which not only accelerates viral clearance but also contributes to acute obstruction of the distal airways. Our results identify RSV NS2 as a contributing factor for the enhanced propensity of RSV to cause severe airway disease in young children and suggest NS2 as a potential therapeutic target for reducing the severity of distal airway disease

Holographic dark matter and dark energy with second order invariants

One of the main goals of modern cosmology remains to summon up a self consistent policy, able to explain, in the framework of the Einstein's theory, the cosmic speed up and the presence of Dark Matter in the Universe. Accordingly to the Holographic principle, which postulates the existence of a minimal size of a physical region, we argue, in this paper, that if this size exists for the Universe and it is accrued from the independent geometrical second order invariants, it would be possible to ensure a surprising source for Dark Matter and a viable candidate for explaining the late acceleration of the Universe. Along the work, we develop low redshift tests, such as Supernovae Ia and kinematical analysis complied by the use of Cosmography and we compare the outcomes with higher redshift tests, such as CMB peak and anisotropy of the cosmic power spectrum. All the results indicate that the models presented here can be interpreted as unified models that are capable to describe both the dark matter and the dark energy.Comment: 12 figures, revtex styl

The Impact of Repeated Abutment Changes on Peri-implant Tissue Stability: Five-year Post-loading Results From a Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial

PURPOSE. To evaluate the impact of at least three abutment disconnections on hard and soft tissues around conventionally loaded implants versus definitive immediately non-oc-clusally loaded abutments in implants. A secondary aim was to evaluate whether the presence of less than 2 mm of keratinised mucosa is associated with increased soft tissue recession and/or peri-implant marginal bone loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Eighty patients requiring one single crown or one fixed partial prosthesis supported by a maximum of three implants were randomised, after implant placement at greater than 35 Ncm, according to a parallel-group design to receive either definitive immediately loaded abutments (definitive abutment or immediate loading group) or transmucosal abutments which were loaded after a delay of 3 months and removed at least three times. Patients were treated in four centres, and each patient contributed to the study with only one prosthesis, which was followed up for 5 years after initial loading. Outcome measures were: prosthesis failures, implant failures, complica-tions, pink aesthetic score (PES), buccal recessions, patient satisfaction, peri-implant marginal bone-level changes and height of the keratinised mucosa. RESULTS. Forty patients were randomly allocated to each group according to a paral-lel-group design. Seven patients from the definitive abutment group versus six from the repeated disconnection group dropped out or died. No patient from the definitive group had implant failures versus three patients who lost five implants in the repeated disconnection group (difference = 9.1%; CI95%:-0.7% to 18.9% to; P = 0.227). Nine patients from the repeated disconnection group lost or had to have their prosthesis remade (four provisional and five definitive prostheses) versus one provisional prosthesis failure in the definitive abutment group; this difference was statistically significant (difference = 23.5%; CI95%: 7.6% to 39.4%; P = 0.017), but was due to the erroneous use of non-indexed abutments in indexed implants in patients from the repeated disconnection group alone. Seven patients from the definitive abutment group versus nine patients from the repeated disconnection group were affected by complications (difference =-5.9%; CI95%:-26.0% to 14.2%; P = 0.775), the difference being not statistically significant. PES scores assessed at 5 years post-loading were 12.1±1.8 for the definitive abutment group and 11.9±1.7 for the repeated abutment changes group (difference = 0.2; CI95%:-0.7 to 1.1; P = 0.615); however, there was a statistically significant difference of 0.20 out of a maximum score of 2 in favour of the definitive abutment group for soft tissue contour alone (P = 0.045). Buccal recessions at 5 years post-loading amounted to-0.19±0.77 mm for the definitive abutment group and-0.07±1.24 mm for the repeated abutment changes group (difference = 0.12 mm CI95%:-0.42 to 0.66; P = 0.662). All patients declared being very satisfied or sati-sfied with the function and aesthetics of their prosthesis and would undergo the same procedure again. Mean peri-implant marginal bone loss 5 years after loading was 0.11±0.30 mm for the definitive abutment group and 0.48±0.73 mm for the repeated abutment change group (difference =-0.37 [SE=0.14] mm; CI95%:-0.66 to-0.09; P = 0.012), the difference being statistically significant. The height of keratinised mucosa at 5 years post-loading was 2.81±1.46 mm in the definitive abutment group and 2.83±1.84 mm in the repeated abutment change group (difference =-0.02 mm; CI95%:-0.85 to 0.80; P = 0.956), and there were no significant differences in marginal bone loss (difference = 0.00 mm; CI95%:-0.32 to 0.32, P = 0.990) or buccal recession (difference = 0.05 mm, CI95%:-0.43 to 0.54, P = 0.826) at implants having less than 2 mm of keratinised mucosa at loading compared to those having more than 2 mm of keratinised mucosa. CONCLUSIONS. Five-year post-loading data show that at least three repeated abutment disconnections significantly increased bone loss by 0.37 mm when compared to no di-sconnection, but this difference may not be clinically significant. While it might be advi-sable to avoid unnecessary abutment disconnection whenever possible, if disconnections are required, no clinically significant side effects may be expected. Immediately non-oc-clusally loaded dental implants are a viable alternative to conventional loading, and no increased bone loss or buccal recessions were noted even at implants with less than 2 mm of keratinised mucosa

Scale-Free model for governing universe dynamics

We investigate the effects of scale-free model on cosmology, providing, in this way, a statistical background in the framework of general relativity. In order to discuss properties and time evolution of some relevant universe dynamical parameters (cosmographic parameters), such as $H(t)$ (Hubble parameter), $q(t)$ (deceleration parameter), $j(t)$ (jerk parameter) and $s(t)$ (snap parameter), which are well re-defined in the framework of scale-free model, we analyze a comparison between WMAP data. Hence the basic purpose of the work is to consider this statistical interpretation of mass distribution of universe, in order to have a mass density $\rho$ dynamics, not inferred from Friedmann equations, via scale factor $a(t)$. This model, indeed, has been used also to explain a possible origin and a viable explanation of cosmological constant, which assumes a statistical interpretation without the presence of extended theories of gravity; hence the problem of dark energy could be revisited in the context of a classical probability distribution of mass, which is, in particular, for the scale-free model, $P(k)\sim k^{-\gamma}$, with $2<\gamma<3$. The $\Lambda$CDM model becomes, with these considerations, a consequence of the particular statistics together with the use of general relativity.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Feeding styles and evening family meals among recent immigrants

The protective effect of family meals on unhealthy weight gain and diet has been shown across multiple age groups; however, it is unknown whether a similar effect is present among diverse immigrant populations. In addition, little research has focused on factors associated with the frequency of evening family meals, such as feeding styles (how parents interact with their child around feeding). Therefore the goals of this paper are to explore the 1) association between the frequency of evening family meals and child weight status among new immigrant families, and 2) influence of immigrant mothers’ feeding styles on the frequency of evening family meals. Baseline self-reported socio-demographic information and measured heights and weights were collected for both mother and child (age range: 3–12 years) among 387 mother-child dyads enrolled in Live Well, a community-based, participatory-research, randomized controlled lifestyle intervention to prevent excessive weight gain in recent (U.S.) immigrant mothers and children. For children, height and weight measurements were transformed into BMI z-scores using age-and sex-specific CDC standards and categorized as overweight (85th–94th percentile) and obese (≥95th percentile); mothers’ BMI was calculated. Frequency of evening family meals, eating dinner in front of the TV, acculturation and responses to the Caregiver’s Feeding Styles Questionnaire (CFSQ) were also obtained from the mother. Children were categorized as “eating evening family meals regularly” if they had an evening family meal ≥5 times per week. Overall, 20% of children were overweight and 25% were obese. Less than half (40.9%) of families had regular evening family meals. In multivariate analyses, adjusting for covariates, children who were overweight/obese were significantly less likely to have ≥5 evening family meals/week compared with normal weight children (OR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.82) . Mothers who had a low demanding/high responsive or a low demanding/low responsive feeding style, were less likely to have ≥5 evening family meals/week compared to mothers with a high demanding/high responsive feeding style (OR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.18-0.0.96, OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.13-0.87, respectively). Future interventions and programs that seek to help parents establish healthy household routines, such as family meals, may consider tailoring to specific maternal feeding styles

Diagnostic journey and impact of enzyme replacement therapy for mucopolysaccharidosis IVA: a sibling control study.

BACKGROUND: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IVA, also known as Morquio A syndrome, is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency in the enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase. Early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of this progressive, multisystem disease by enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) can lead to improved outcomes and reduced mortality. METHODS: This report documents the diagnostic journey and treatment with ERT of three siblings with MPS IVA. Clinical outcome measures included growth, endurance, imaging, cardiac, respiratory, ophthalmology, and laboratory evaluations. RESULTS: Three siblings, diagnosed at 14.7, 10.1, and 3.2 years of age, demonstrated clinical improvement with weekly infusions of 2.0 mg/kg elosulfase alfa (Vimizim®, BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Novato, CA, USA). Patient 1 (oldest sibling) and Patient 2 (middle sibling) experienced a diagnostic delay of 8 years 7 months and 4 years after symptom onset, respectively. All three patients demonstrated improvements in growth, 6-min walk distance, joint range of motion, and respiratory function after 30 months of ERT. The treatment was well tolerated without any adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: This case series highlights the importance of early recognition of the clinical and imaging findings that are initially subtle in MPS IVA. Early treatment with ERT is necessary to slow irreversible disease progression and improve patient outcomes. The oldest sibling experienced improvements in mobility despite severe symptoms resulting from a late diagnosis. When evaluating patients with skeletal anomalies, imaging multiple body regions is recommended. When findings such as anterior beaking of vertebrae or bilateral femoral head dysplasia are present, MPS IVA should be included in the differential diagnosis. Newborn screening must be considered for early detection, accurate diagnosis, and initiation of treatment to reduce morbidity

HTS Motors in Aircraft Propulsion: Design Considerations

©2005 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or distribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE. This material is presented to ensure timely dissemination of scholarly and technical work. Copyright and all rights therein are retained by authors or by other copyright holders. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and constraints invoked by each author's copyright. In most cases, these works may not be reposted without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.Current high temperature superconducting (HTS) wires exhibit high current densities enabling their use in electrical rotating machinery. The possibility of designing high power density superconducting motors operating at reasonable temperatures allows for new applications in mobile systems in which size and weight represent key design parameters. Thus, all-electric aircrafts represent a promising application for HTS motors. The design of such a complex system as an aircraft consists of a multi-variable optimization that requires computer models and advanced design procedures. This paper presents a specific sizing model of superconducting propulsion motors to be used in aircraft design. The model also takes into account the cooling system. The requirements for this application are presented in terms of power and dynamics as well as a load profile corresponding to a typical mission. We discuss the design implications of using a superconducting motor on an aircraft as well as the integration of the electrical propulsion in the aircraft, and the scaling laws derived from physics-based modeling of HTS motors