6,269 research outputs found
Health Risks From Mercury-Contaminated Fish: A Reassessment
Several Congressional bills and a pending EPA regulation would significantly cut mercury emissions from power plants, so as to reduce mercury-related neurological effects among children. There is, however, no estimate of the number of cases of neurological deficiencies that might be avoided by such emissions cuts. To inform policymakers, we develop estimates of the annual number of cases of neurodevelopmental effects among children in the United States, based on existing estimates of the exposure and dose-response relationships for prenatal exposure to methylmercury. Using data on emissions and deposition, we show that eliminating mercury emissions from U.S. power plants would prevent on the order of 10,000 cases of subtle neurological deficiencies per year. For a related paper, see Regulating Mercury Emissions: What Do We Know About Costs and Benefits?Environment, Health and Safety, Regulatory Reform
Litigating Lead-Based Paint Hazards: Is It a Solution?
None.Environment, Health and Safety, Regulatory Reform
Timed Analysis of Security Protocols
We propose a method for engineering security protocols that are aware of
timing aspects. We study a simplified version of the well-known Needham
Schroeder protocol and the complete Yahalom protocol, where timing information
allows the study of different attack scenarios. We model check the protocols
using UPPAAL. Further, a taxonomy is obtained by studying and categorising
protocols from the well known Clark Jacob library and the Security Protocol
Open Repository (SPORE) library. Finally, we present some new challenges and
threats that arise when considering time in the analysis, by providing a novel
protocol that uses time challenges and exposing a timing attack over an
implementation of an existing security protocol
Optical Photometry and Spectroscopy of the Suspected Cool Algol AV Delphini: Determination of the Physical Properties
We present new spectroscopic and BVRI photometric observations of the double-lined eclipsing binary AV Del ( period = 3:85 days) conducted over six observing seasons. A detailed radial velocity and light-curve analysis of the optical data shows the system to be most likely semidetached, with the less massive and cooler star filling its Roche lobe. The system is probably a member of the rare class of ââcool Algolââ systems, which are distinguished from the ââclassicalââ Algol systems in that the mass-gaining component is also a late-type star rather than a B- or A-type star. By combining the spectroscopic and photometric analyses, we derive accurate absolute masses for the components of M1 = 1.453 + 0.028 M and M2 = 0.705 + 0.014 M and radii of R1 = 2.632 + 0.030 R and R2 = 4.233 + 0.060 R, as well as effective temperatures of 6000 + 200 and 4275 + 150 K for the primary and secondary, respectively. There are no obvious signs of activity (spottedness) in the optical light curve of the binary
Winning Cores in Parity Games
We introduce the novel notion of winning cores in parity games and develop a
deterministic polynomial-time under-approximation algorithm for solving parity
games based on winning core approximation. Underlying this algorithm are a
number properties about winning cores which are interesting in their own right.
In particular, we show that the winning core and the winning region for a
player in a parity game are equivalently empty. Moreover, the winning core
contains all fatal attractors but is not necessarily a dominion itself.
Experimental results are very positive both with respect to quality of
approximation and running time. It outperforms existing state-of-the-art
algorithms significantly on most benchmarks
Learning Through Failure
This project focuses on the drawing technique by Henri Matisse. I used his work as inspiration to create a retractable bamboo stick for personal use
Religious leaders\u27 perceptions of advance care planning: a secondary analysis of interviews with Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Sikh and Bahai leaders
Background: International guidance for advance care planning (ACP) supports the integration of spiritual and religious aspects of care within the planning process. Religious leadersâ perspectives could improve how ACP programs respect patientsâ faith backgrounds. This study aimed to examine: (i) how religious leaders understand and consider ACP and its implications, including (ii) how religion affects followersâ approaches to end-of-life care and ACP, and (iii) their implications for healthcare.
Methods: Interview transcripts from a primary qualitative study conducted with religious leaders to inform an ACP website, ACPTalk, were used as data in this study. ACPTalk aims to assist health professionals conduct sensitive conversations with people from different religious backgrounds. A qualitative secondary analysis conducted on the interview transcripts focussed on religious leadersâ statements related to this studyâs aims. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed using an inductive, comparative, and cyclical procedure informed by grounded theory.
Results: Thirty-five religious leaders (26 male; mean 58.6-years-old), from eight Christian and six non-Christian (Jewish, Buddhist, Islamic, Hindu, Sikh, BahĂĄâĂ) backgrounds were included. Three themes emerged which focussed on: religious leadersâ ACP understanding and experiences; explanations for religious followersâ approaches towards end-of-life care; and health professionalsâ need to enquire about how religion matters. Most leaders had some understanding of ACP and, once fully comprehended, most held ACP in positive regard. Religious followersâ preferences for end-of-life care reflected family and geographical origins, cultural traditions, personal attitudes, and religiosity and faith interpretations. Implications for healthcare included the importance of avoiding generalisations and openness to individualised and/ or standardised religious expressions of oneâs religion.
Conclusions: Knowledge of religious beliefs and values around death and dying could be useful in preparing health professionals for ACP with patients from different religions but equally important is avoidance of assumptions. Community-based initiatives, programs and faith settin
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