Betting the Rancheria: Environmental Protections as Bargaining Chips Under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act

In 2005, the State of California and the Big Lagoon Rancheria American Indian Tribe reached an agreement whereby the tribe agreed to forego development plans for a casino on environmentally sensitive lands in exchange for the right to build a casino in Barstow, California. In January 2008, the Department of the Interior denied the Rancheria’s land-into-trust application for land in Barstow based on the Department’s newly issued “commutable distance” memorandum. This denial represents a missed opportunity to allow California and the tribe to cooperate in fashioning a workable tribal-state compact. The Department should abandon the guidance memorandum and allow tribes to pursue offreservation gaming in appropriate instances where the proposed development enjoys political support at the local level. In exchange, states should be afforded greater deference under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to achieve some level of regulatory control to address the offreservation impacts of casino development

Study of Potential Drug for Alzheimer’s Disease: Small Organic Molecules, 1,5-DHN and TMPyP Inhibit Amyloid-β peptide Aggregation and Quench Hydroxyl Radicals

Alzheimer disease (AD) is recognized as the six leading cause of the death in the United States. As of now, there is no cure for this fatal disease. The current treatment methods can only temporarily slow the worsening of symptoms. Research data suggested that an excess generation of hydroxyl radical in the brain causing the aggregation of Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide which is considered to be responsible for Alzheimer\u27s disease. Thus, there is a pressing need to find a suitable drug which can quench hydroxyl radicals effectively and stop or slow down the formation of aggregation of Aβ peptide. The primary objective of the project is to find out a dual functional drug which can quench the reactive hydroxyl radicals produced in the brain and prevent Aβ peptide chains to come close to form Aβ peptide aggregate at the same time. A small organic molecule 1,5-dihydroxynapthalene (DHN) was found to quench hydroxyl radical at a rate of 3 X 10-4s-1. An independent experiment suggested that it intercalated efficiently into the Aβ peptide chains. Upon addition of meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin tetrachloride (TMPyP) with DHN, a strong synergistic effect in quenching the hydroxyl radical and intercalating into the Aβ peptide chains was observed. This data suggests that DHN or DHN & TMPyP are the potential drug for Alzheimer disease treatment

Ammonium thiosulphate as an environmentally friendly tool for reducing N inputs.

End of Project ReportThis project was supported jointly by the Commission of the European Community (Contract AIR 3-CT94-1953) and by Teagasc, Agricultural Research and Development Authority.The overall objective of the EU funded project was to evaluate the ability of ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) to act as an inhibitor of urease and nitrification processes and as a source of plant nutrient S when added to solid and liquid fertilisers and to slurries. These initial experiments have shown the need for further research on (a) applying ATS directly to the soil rather than to the herbage surface, and (b) adding ATS to the slurry in the storage tank simultaneously with slurry excretion.European Unio

Impacts of the UNCLOS III Consent Regime on U. S. Marine Scientific Research, 1982-1989

The 1982 Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III) has given states jurisdiction over unprecedented scopes of ocean space. Marine scientific research is among the activities under coastal state control. This thesis examines five possible areas of impact of coastal state control on United States research programs. These are: 1. research which was denied outright, 2. reasons for denials, 3. research which was delayed, 4. the extent to which researchers avoid requests in the waters of restrictive states, and 5. the level of interest among UNOLS institutions in cooperative arrangements with foreign governments. The international legal framework for marine scientific research, and the major researcher institutions in the United States are also presented. Data is drawn from State Department files and from a survey of UNOLS ship operators. The percentage of proposed research projects denied increased steadily from 1982 to 1988, followed by a sharp decline in 1989. The majority of these projects was curtailed by a lack of response by coastal states. Other reasons included required lead times not being met by applicants, excessive or onerous requirements being imposed by coastal states, and military security. In contrast to denials, delays have steadily increased, with a substantial rise in 1989. The extent to which ship operators indicated that they avoid requests to restrictive states agrees loosely with State Department data. Four institutions indicated that they had established cooperative arrangements with foreign states, while one indicated three proposed arrangements. From the opposing trends in denials and delays, it is speculated that coastal states are cautiously loosening control. This is considered especially true for Mexico, which was found to be the most restrictive state

Cross-sector social partnerships: value creation and capabilities

Aquesta tesi s’organitza en un compendi de tres articles individuals, tot i que estan interrelacionats, que se centren en diversos aspectes de les relacions interorganitzatives (RIO) entre sectors, en les quals es formen aliances entre empreses i organitzacions de la societat civil per tractar problemàtiques socials complexes. L’objectiu principal d’aquest treball és contribuir a les obres de referència sobre aliances intersectorials a partir de l’anàlisi d’especificitats de les habilitats que es requereixen per involucrar-se, de manera eficaç, en RIO en què els objectius dels partners i els de l’aliança difereixen enormement de les aliances entre empreses. El primer article, “Through Indigenous Lenses: Cross-sector collaborations with fringe stakeholders” (Murphy i Arenas, 2010), il•lustrat a partir de tres casos d’estudi, proposa un marc per a la construcció d’un pont intercultural i un model per a la creació de valor en les col•laboracions intersectorials entre empreses i parts interessades de la perifèria. El segon article, “Value Creation in Cross-Sector Collaborations: Increasing influence for competitive advantage” (Murphy, Arenas i Batista), que es basa en una enquesta duta a terme entre 362 directius espanyols de múltiples sectors, analitza els efectes i la interacció de les experiències de gestió anteriors a l’aliança i l’alineació de les missions, les estratègies i els valors dels partners en l’èxit de les col•laboracions intersectorials. Finalment, l’article “A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation in Cross-Sector Collaborations” (Murphy, Perrot i Rivera-Santos, 2012), recolzat per dos casos d’estudi, presenta el concepte de capacitat relacional per a la innovació social, un model relacionat amb la capacitat d’absorció, però més adequat al context de l’aprenentatge i la innovació en les col•laboracions entre sectors en mercats de subsistència.Esta tesis se organiza en un compendio de tres artículos individuales, aunque interrelacionados, que se centran en distintos aspectos de las relaciones interorganizacionales (RIO) entre sectores, en las que se forman alianzas entre empresas y organizaciones de la sociedad civil para tratar problemáticas sociales complejas. El principal objetivo de este trabajo es contribuir a las obras de referencia sobre alianzas intersectoriales a partir del análisis de especificidades de las habilidades que se requieren para involucrarse, de forma eficaz, en RIO en las que los objetivos de los partners y los de la alianza difieren enormemente de las alianzas entre empresas. El primer artículo, “Through Indigenous Lenses: Cross-sector collaborations with fringe stakeholders” (Murphy y Arenas, 2010), ilustrado a partir de tres casos de estudio, propone un marco para la construcción de un puente intercultural y un modelo para la creación de valor en las colaboraciones intersectoriales entre empresas y partes interesadas de la periferia. El segundo artículo, “Value Creation in Cross-Sector Collaborations: Increasing influence for competitive advantage” (Murphy, Arenas y Batista), basado en una encuesta llevada a cabo entre 362 directivos españoles de múltiples sectores, analiza los efectos y la interacción de las experiencias de gestión anteriores a la alianza y la alineación de las misiones, las estrategias y los valores de los partners en el éxito de las colaboraciones intersectoriales. Finalmente, el artículo “A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation in Cross-Sector Collaborations” (Murphy, Perrot y Rivera-Santos, 2012), respaldado por dos casos de estudio, presenta el concepto de capacidad relacional para la innovación social, un modelo relacionado con la capacidad de absorción, pero más adecuado al contexto del aprendizaje y la innovación en las colaboraciones entre sectores en mercados de subsistencia.This thesis is organized in a compendium of three individual, though interrelated, articles that focus on various aspects of cross-sector inter-organizational relationships (IORs), where alliances between firms and civil-society organizations are formed to address complex societal dilemmas. The overall goal of this work is to contribute to the literature on cross-sector alliances by exploring the specificities of capabilities required to engage effectively in IORs where partners and alliance goals differ greatly from business-to-business alliances. The first article, “Through Indigenous Lenses: Cross-sector collaborations with fringe stakeholders” (Murphy and Arenas, 2010), illustrated through three case studies, proposes a framework for cross-cultural bridge building and a model for value creation in cross-sector collaborations between businesses and fringe stakeholders. The second article, “Value Creation in Cross-Sector Collaborations: Increasing Influence for Competitive Advantage” (Murphy, Arenas and Batista), based on a survey conducted among 362 Spanish managers across multiple sectors, analyzes the effects and interaction of prior alliance management experience and the alignment of partners’ missions, strategies and values on the success of cross-sector collaborations. Finally, the article “A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation in Cross-Sector Collaborations” (Murphy, Perrot and Rivera-Santos, 2012), supported by two case studies, introduces the concept of Relational Capacity for Social Innovation, a model related to Absorptive Capacity, but better suited to the context of learning and innovation in cross-sector collaborations in subsistence marketplaces

Statistical Study of Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections with Strong Magnetic Fields

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) with strong magnetic fields (B) are typically associated with significant Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events, high solar wind speed and solar flare events. Successful prediction of the arrival time of a CME at Earth is required to maximize the time available for satellite, infrastructure, and space travel programs to take protective action against the coming flux of high-energy particles. It is known that the magnetic field strength of a CME is linked to the strength of a geomagnetic storm on Earth. Unfortunately, the correlations between strong magnetic field CMEs from the entire sun (especially from the far side or non-Earth facing side of the sun) to SEP and flare events, solar source regions and other relevant solar variables are not well known. New correlation studies using an artificial intelligence engine (Eureqa) were performed to study CME events with magnetic field strength readings over 30 nanoteslas (nT) from January 2010 to October 17, 2014. This thesis presents the results of this study, validates Eureqa to obtain previously published results, and presents previously unknown functional relationships between solar source magnetic field data, CME initial speed and the CME magnetic field. These new results enable the development of more accurate CME magnetic field predictions and should help scientists develop better forecasts thereby helping to prevent damage to humanity’s space and Earth assets

Cerebral Hemodynamic Disturbances in Motor Neuron Disease

An association between motor neuron disease (MND) and dementia was first realized in the late 1800s, yet substantiating research and a description of dementia as part of the clinical syndrome would not appear until the 1990s. In the last two decades, medical imaging has investigated cerebral blood flow changes in the motor and nonmotor cortex to correlate with motor dysfunction and clinical dementia, respectively. The aim of this thesis is to describe early cerebral hemodynamic disturbances with the goal to determine a marker for cognitive decline in MND. Chapter 2 describes the relationship between changes in cerebral hemodynamics and cognition in primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) patients compared to normal controls. Neuropsychological testing revealed subtle frontotemporal changes characterized by executive dysfunction that were associated with global increases in mean transit time (MTT) in grey and white matter, and increased cerebral blood volume (CBV) in the frontotemporal grey matter. Chapter 3 presents a longitudinal clinical study of early cerebral hemodynamic changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients without evidence of cognitive impairment at study onset. This Chapter characterized the relationship between duration of disease and MTT in the cortical grey matter. MTT was found to be the most sensitive indicator of early cerebral hemodynamic change accompanying disease progression in ALS. Furthermore, these findings corroborate the trend of increased MTT in the absence of cognitive impairment found in PLS patients in Chapter 2, and may further indicate that hemodynamic changes may occur before the onset of cognitive impairment. in The aim of Chapter 4 was to elucidate a biological mechanism for increased MTT described in the previous Chapters 2 and 3. A rabbit model of global hypotension was used to demonstrate that MTT is an indicator of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). A spectrum of cognitive dysfunction has now been described in MND. The use of sensitive neuropsychological testing has enabled us to identify patients with mild changes in cognitive function from those who are cognitively intact. With the help of this stratification, we were able to show that changes in MTT was associated with disease progression and cognitive impairment. The experimental data presented in this thesis suggest that vascular factors may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in MND

Missional Communities: Why They Are Failing and How to Help Them Thrive

Missional communities are failing. Missional communities are failing because they do not contextualize the nature, function, and historical forms of the church. Specifically, missional communities fail due to lack of leadership, gospel proclamation, incarnational living to a particular people, and mission dependence on the Holy Spirit. All of these things stem from not putting the nature, function, and historical forms of the church before modern forms. Missional communities will begin to thrive if communities will not just copy forms of other missional churches, but if they will contextualize the nature, functions, and historical forms of the church in their own settings. A thriving missional community will have trained leaders who lead their communities to live in unity, proclaim the gospel, live out Jesus incarnationally to a particular people, and practice dependence on the Holy Spirit. In this written statement we will first look at the pitfalls that cause missional communities to fail. Then we will look at the approaches churches have taken to address the problem of missional communities failing. We will then explore ways in which we can move from failure to thriving as a missional community. This paper will describe a program that addresses the issues of missional communities failing through a comprehensive coaching process. The coaching process will help leaders avoid the pitfalls that lead to failure, helping them to install practices that lead to a thriving missional community