Alaska-Canada Rail Link Economic Benefits

Construction of the 1,740 km Alaska-Canada Rail Link (ACRL) between Fort Nelson, BC and Delta Junction, Alaska to join the North American rail system to the Alaska Railroad will result in tremendous economic benefits for Canada and the US. The ACRL will provide valuable additional east-west rail capacity and tidewater access to the Pacific, hugely benefitting not only the Yukon and Eastern Alaska regions, into which it will introduce rail transport for the first time, but throughout both countries. The economic benefits of ACRL construction are consistent with Canadian government’s desire to promote Northern development and comparable in significance to those of Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880’s and the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950’s. Construction of the ACRL alone will bring unprecedented economic stimulus to the region in terms of job creation, wages and income tax revenue over multiple years. Table 7-1 below summarizes the benefits from ACRL construction for the Yukon, BC and Canada as a whole. However, these estimates are conservative as they exclude benefits associated with pre-construction activities, railway operation post-construction, sales taxes and corporate taxes as well as all such benefits that will accrue to Alaska and the US

Erhaltung von Streuwiesen durch Ökobetriebe im bayerischen Alpenvorland

Die drei untersuchten Praxisbetriebe zeigen beispielhaft vorbildliche Streugewinnung und Verwertung. Die Streu passt hervorragend in den Betriebskreislauf, senkt die Kosten für Einstreu und stellt einen bescheidenen Beitrag zum Betriebsgewinn dar. Es zeigt sich, dass bei der Planung von Ställen und beim Kauf von Maschinen die Verwendung und Gewin-nung von Streu berücksichtigt werden muss. Eine Umfrage zur Streuwiesenmahd und -nutzung auf Öko-Betrieben im bayerischen Alpenvorland verdeutlicht, dass bei Betrieben, die selbst Streu gewinnen, die ökologische und ökonomische Bedeutung der Streu hoch ist. Allerdings wünschen sich die meisten Betriebe mehr Flexibilität und klare Kompetenz seitens der für die Steuwiesen – Erhaltung zuständigen Behörden. Bei Betrieben, die keine Streu gewinnen, ist die Bereitschaft zur Verwendung von Streu zwar meist vorhanden, allerdings gibt es schlechte Erfahrungen bzw. Vorbehalte hinsichtlich der Qualität (Schimmelbildung). Das Bewusstsein über die ökologische Bedeutung der Streuwiesen ist wenig ausgeprägt. Die Arbeit zeigt, dass durch Qualitätssicherungsmaßnahmen, Bündelung von Angebot und Nachfrage, Schaffung von Bewusstsein über die ökologische Bedeutung der Streuwiesen und durch gezielte Stallbauberatung und Bereitstellung von entsprechendem Informationsmaterial ein Beitrag zur Erhaltung der Streuwiesen im Alpenvorland und damit zum Schutz der einzigartigen Streuwiesenfalter geleistet werden kann

Sub-μ\mu structured Lotus Surfaces Manufacturing

Sub-micro structured surfaces allow modifying the behavior of polymer films or components. Especially in micro fluidics a lotus-like characteristic is requested for many applications. Structure details with a high aspect ratio are necessary to decouple the bottom and the top of the functional layer. Unlike to stochastic methods, patterning with a LIGA-mold insert it is possible to structure surfaces very uniformly or even with controlled variations (e.g. with gradients). In this paper we present the process chain to realize polymer sub-micro structures with minimum lateral feature size of 400 nm and up to 4 micrometers high.Comment: Submitted on behalf of EDA Publishing Association (http://irevues.inist.fr/handle/2042/16838

Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP) University of Massachusetts (UMass) Parent Satisfaction Study

Objective: To evaluate parents’ experience with Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP), a Consultation Liaison model, aimed at improving access to child psychiatry for primary care (consultations to primary care providers are done either by phone contact and/or by a direct evaluation of the child by a MCPAP clinician). Methods: IRB approved Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) sent to families referred to the MCPAP between 2/2008-8/2008, identified using the University of Massachusetts Medical Center (UMMHC) database. Results: 360 initial and 348 follow up PSQ were mailed, and 158 PSQ returned, defining a response rate of 46.2%. 78.9% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the services provided were offered in a timely manner. 74.9% of parents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that their child’s issues were understood. 50% agreed or strongly agreed that their child’s situation improved following their contact with the services. 74.2% agreed or strongly agreed that the quality of the service they received was satisfying. 69% agreed or strongly agreed that the service met their family’s need. 58.6% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the service helped them deal with their issues more effectively. 67.3% agreed or strongly agreed that they were better satisfied with the service compared to previous contact with mental health providers for their child. Conclusions: PSQ suggest high satisfaction rates with MCPAP. Notable are the high rates of parents reporting they felt prepared, heard and understood. Parents were also highly satisfied with the face to face contact they had with MCPAP clinician, when that contact had occurred. Parents reported being less satisfied with regards to follow up appointments in the community and reaching their goals for their child. The results show high parental satisfaction with MCPAP evaluation process, but also highlight the need for appropriate mental health follow up in the community in order to help children and families reach their goals. Presented at the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Annual Meeting, October 29, 2009

External beam radiation after stent implantation increases neointimal hyperplasia by augmenting smooth muscle cell proliferation and extracellular matrix accumulation

AbstractOBJECTIVESWe sought to examine the effects of high volume external beam radiation (EBR) after stent implantation on neointimal hyperplasia, smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, presence of inflammatory cells and expression of extracellular matrix (ECM).BACKGROUNDEndovascular irradiation has been shown to reduce restenosis rates after angioplasty in preliminary trials, but conflicting results have been reported for the effects of external beam irradiation.METHODSForty-three Palmaz-Schatz stents were implanted into iliac arteries of New Zealand White rabbits. The arteries were externally irradiated after stent implantation with a single dose of 8 Gy (at day 3) or 16 Gy in two fractions (8 Gy at days 3 and 4) by means of a linear accelerator. In the control rabbits, no radiation was applied after stent implantation. Smooth muscle cells, macrophages and ECM were studied by immunohistochemistry at one and 12 weeks after stent implantation. Collagen type I and biglycan messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels were assessed by Northern blot analysis at one week. Neointimal cell densities and arterial lumen stenosis were measured by histomorphometry at 12 weeks.RESULTSAt 1 week, SMC proliferation at the site of stent implantation was increased after EBR with 8 and 16 Gy (26 ± 5%, 32 ± 3% vs. 17 ± 8%; p < 0.01, 16 Gy vs. control). External beam radiation with 8 and 16 Gy augmented SMC proliferation proximal and distal to the angioplasty site (11 ± 3%, 14 ± 3 vs. 6 ± 1%; p < 0.01, 16 Gy vs. control). Collagen type I and biglycan mRNA levels were elevated in stented arteries after EBR with 16 Gy. At 12 weeks, a marked decrease in neointimal cell density (248 ± 97 vs. 498 ± 117 SMCs/0.1 mm2neointima; p < 0.005 vs. control) was noted after EBR with 16 Gy. Irradiation with 8 and 16 Gy increased arterial lumen stenosis compared with nonirradiated control rabbits (45 ± 7%, 55 ± 9% vs. 33 ± 7%; p < 0.05, 8 Gy and p < 0.001, 16 Gy vs. control).CONCLUSIONSHigh volume external beam radiation at doses of 8 or 16 Gy causes restenosis by augmenting proliferative activity at and adjacent to the site of stent implantation, and by dose-dependent up-regulation of extracellular matrix expression. The study suggests that excessive matrix accumulation is an important determinant of failure of radiation therapy to prevent restenosis

Exclusive production of quarkonia as a probe of the GPD E for gluons

Exclusive quarkonium photo- and electro-production off the nucleon is studied in the framework of generalized parton distributions (GPDs). The short distance part of the process is treated at leading order in perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics. The main focus is on the GPD E for gluons. On the basis of different models for E we estimate the transverse target spin asymmetry for typical kinematics of a future Electron Ion Collider. We also explore the potential of measuring the polarization of the recoil nucleon.Comment: 4 page

The making of land use decisions, war, and state

During a civil war and its aftermath, rival powerholders frequently engage in decision-making over land use, for example, via land acquisitions or legal reforms. This paper explores how powerholders influence land use decision-making and what their engagement implies for territorial control. We analyse three cases of land use changes in Myanmar’s south between 1990 and 2015, where the Myanmar state and an ethnic minority organization fought over territorial control. We gathered qualitative data with a mix of methods and visualised actor networks and institutions. Our analysis reveals that the state managed to increasingly control decisionmaking over local land use from a distance by employing actor alliances and institutions such as laws and incentives, whereas the ethnic organization lost influence. We conclude that engaging in land use decisionmaking plays a crucial role in influencing the outcomes of a civil war and that it represents a form of war- and state-making

Shortening of treatment duration in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 2 and 3 - impact of ribavirin dose - a randomized multicentre trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) Patients, infected with genotype (GT) 2 or 3 are treated with Peg-IFN and ribavirin (RBV) (800 mg/day) for 24 weeks. Treatment duration can be shortened to 12-16 weeks if a higher dose of RBV (1.000/1.200 mg/day) was used without considerable loss of responsiveness or increased risk of relapse. Previously we have shown that in patients with CHC, GT 2/3 RBV can be reduced to 400 mg/day if administered for 24 weeks without an increase in relapse rates. Therefore we investigated the efficacy of a reduced RBV dosage of 400 mg/day with shorter treatment duration (16 weeks).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Treatment naïve patients with CHC, GT 2/3 were randomized to receive 180 μg peginterferonα2a/week in combination with either 800 (group C) or 400 mg/d (group D) for 16 weeks. The primary endpoint was SVR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>12 months after the first patient was randomized a inferior outcome of group D as compared to group C was noted, therefore the study was terminated. At study termination 89 patients were enrolled (group C: 31, D: 51). The SVR rate was statistically different in the two study groups with 51.6% in group C and 28.4% in group D (p = 0.038). Patients with low viral load had higher SVR rates (C: 67%, D: 33%) than those with high viral load (C: 33%, D: 21%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Both treatment duration and the dose of RBV play a major role to optimize outcome of patients with GT3. If one intends to shorten the treatment weight based RBV dose should be used, if lower RBV doses are used patients should be treated for at least 24 weeks as. A treatment regimen with a reduced RBV dosage and shortened treatment duration is associated with low SVR rates due to high relapse rates.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p><a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01258101">NCT01258101</a></p

Correlation of histopathological findings and magnetic resonance imaging in the spine of patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease which affects primarily the sacroiliac joints and the spine. In patients with active disease, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine shows areas of bone marrow edema, the histopathological equivalent of which is unknown. In this study we correlate inflammation in the spine of patients with AS as revealed by histological examination with bone marrow edema as detected by MRI. We have compared the histopathological findings of zygapophyseal joints from 8 patients with AS (age: 30 to 64, disease duration 7 to 33 years) undergoing spinal surgery with findings in MRI. For histopathological analysis, we quantified infiltrates of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as CD20+ B cells immunohistochemically. Bone marrow edema was evaluated in hematoxylin and eosin stained sections and quantified as the percentage of the bone marrow area involved. All patients with AS showed interstitial mononuclear cell infiltrates and various degrees of bone marrow edema (range from 10% to 60%) in histopathological analysis. However, in only three of eight patients histopathological inflammation and edema in the zygapophyseal joints correlated with bone marrow edema in zygapophyseal joints of the lumbar spine as detected by MRI. Interestingly, two of these patients showed the highest histological score for bone marrow edema (60%). This first study correlating histopathological changes in the spine of patients with AS with findings in MRI scans suggests that a substantial degree of bone marrow inflammation and edema is necessary to be detected by MRI