Young men and gambling in the ACT: an exploratory study of attitudes, perceptions and engagement.

This report presents key findings of a 2005 study into the attitudes towards, perceptions of and engagement with gambling by young males (aged 18 – 25 years) in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The study is based primarily on in-depth semi-structured interviews with a sample of young males resident in the ACT

The Informal Sector In Francophone Africa: Firm Size, Productivity, And Institutions

This book is a major step towards improving the understanding of the complex reality of informal sector firms in francophone West Africa. It innovates by concentrating on informal firms rather than informal employment (as other studies do), and identifying \u27large informal\u27 sector firms whose sales rival those of large formal-sector firms but operate in ways that are similar to small informal operators. Not only is the regulatory environment facing these two types of informal firms distinct, but policies aimed at improving their productivity need to be differentiated. This study focuses on the urban informal sector in three capital cities: Dakar (Senegal), Cotonou (Benin), and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). The study also breaks new ground with an eclectic methodology and primary data collection. Quantitative and qualitative firm-level data were collected involving a unique and fruitful collaboration among academic researchers, government officials, the West African economic and monetary union commission, informal and formal sector business associations, and labor unions. This volume represents the culmination of a long collaboration between the Centre de Recherches Economiques Appliquees (CREA) at the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar and the World Bank

Suicide among the American Indians; two workshops: Aberdeen, South Dakota, September 1967; Lewistown, Montana, November 1967.

This publication contains seven workshop papers discussing suicide and American Indians in South Dakota and Montana

Two separate functions of class II (Ia) molecules: T-cell stimulation and B-cell excitation.

We have evaluated the role of major histocompatibility complex-encoded class II (Ia) molecules as transmembrane signaling receptors in the T helper cell-dependent activation of B lymphocytes. For these studies, we utilized the murine B-cell lymphoma CH12, which expresses both I-A and I-E class II molecules. In addition, CH12 cells carry IgM of known antigen specificity and require both specific antigen and Ia-restricted T-cell help for the induction of antibody secretion. In this respect, they resemble normal resting B cells. We have studied the ability of antigen-specific or alloreactive T helper cells reactive with either the I-A or the I-E molecules on CH12 to be activated and their ability to stimulate antibody production by CH12. The results show that, although CH12 cells present antigen to T helper cells that interact with either the I-A or the I-E molecules, CH12 cells are stimulated to secrete antibody only by T helper cells reactive with their I-E molecules. Our data demonstrate that class II molecules are transducers of signals for B-cell excitation in addition to serving a restricting function for helper T-cell stimulation. Moreover, the data demonstrate that these two functions, T-cell stimulation and B-cell excitation, are discrete and need not be expressed by the same Ia molecule

Does predictability of fluxes vary between FLUXNET sites?

The FLUXNET dataset contains eddy covariance measurements from across the globe and represents an invaluable estimate of the fluxes of energy, water, and carbon between the land surface and the atmosphere. While there is an expectation that the broad range of site characteristics in FLUXNET result in a diversity of flux behaviour, there has been little exploration of how predictable site behaviour is across the network. Here, 155 datasets with 30&thinsp;min temporal resolution from the Tier 1 of FLUXNET 2015 were analysed in a first attempt to assess individual site predictability. We defined site uniqueness as the disparity in performance between multiple empirical models trained globally and locally for each site and used this along with the mean performance as measures of predictability. We then tested how strongly uniqueness was determined by various site characteristics, including climatology, vegetation type, and data quality. The strongest determinant of predictability appeared to be that drier sites tended to be more unique. We found very few other clear predictors of uniqueness across different sites, in particular little evidence that flux behaviour was well discretised by vegetation type. Data length and quality also appeared to have little impact on uniqueness. While this result might relate to our definition of uniqueness, we argue that our approach provides a useful basis for site selection in LSM evaluation, and we invite critique and development of the methodology.</p

Understanding Eurasian convergence: Application of kohonen self-organizing maps

Kohonen self-organizing maps (SOMs) are employed to examine economic and social convergence of Eurasian countries based on a set of twenty-eight socio-economic measures. A core of European Union states is identified that provides a benchmark against which convergence of post-socialist transition economies may be judged. The Central European Visegrád countries and Baltics show the greatest economic convergence to Western Europe, while other states form clusters that lag behind. Initial conditions on the social dimension can either facilitate or constrain economic convergence, as discovered in Central Europe vis-à-vis the Central Asian Republics. Disquiet in the convergence literature is resolved by providing an analysis of the Eurasian states over time. Copyright © 2006 JMASM, Inc

On the Timing and Nature of the Multiple Phases of Slope Instability on Eastern Rockall Bank, Northeast Atlantic

One of the most challenging tasks when studying large submarine landslides is determining whether the landslide was initiated as a single large event, a chain of events closely spaced in time or multiple events separated by long periods of time as all have implications in risk assessments. In this study we combine new multichannel seismic profiles and new sediment cores with bathymetric data to test whether the Rockall Bank Slide Complex, offshore western Ireland, is the composite of multiple slope collapse events and, if so, to differentiate them. We conclude that there have been at least three voluminous episodes of slope collapse separated by long periods of slope stability, a fourth, less voluminous event, and possibly a fifth more localized event. The oldest event, Slide A (200 km3), is estimated to be several hundred thousand years old. The second event, Slide B (125 km3), took place at the same location as slide A, reactivating the same scar, nearly 200 ka ago, possibly through retrogression of the scarp. Slide C (400 km3) took place 22 ka ago and occurred further north from the other slides. Slide D was a much smaller event that happened 10 ka ago, while the most recent event, albeit very small scale, took place within the last 1,000 years. This study highlights the need to thoroughly investigate large slide complexes to evaluate event sequencing, as seismic studies may hide multiple small‐scale events. This work also reveals that the same slide scarps can be reactivated and generate slides with different flow behaviors

EXPLORING THE ROLE OF OSPREYS IN EDUCATION

Recent research in childhood education has demonstrated that experiences in nature are important in shaping early environmental consciousness (Hinds and Sparks 2008, Hussar and Horvath 2011, Cheng and Monroe 2012) and ultimately the expression of pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors during adulthood (Wells and Lekies 2006, Chawla and Cushing 2007, Collado et al. 2013). Increasingly, those experiences happen via written and electronic media (e.g., textbooks, computer screens) or in very anthropogenic environments (e.g., in parks and zoos) and less through direct contact with nature, a concept Louv (2005) referred to as ‘‘nature deficit disorder.’’ Even in schools where environmental education is prioritized, the extent of access to outdoor classroom activities or experiential learning opportunities can limit the degree to which children can observe, explore, and directly experience the natural world (Hudson 2001, Louv 2005, Ernst 2009). Interestingly, the same information technologies that might serve to limit contact with nature also have the potential to enhance and encourage interest and concern for the natural world (Blewitt 2011, Pearson et al. 2011). We believe this is an important paradox that warrants much further exploration and evaluation within educational and scientific communities

3-Dimensional fasciectomy: A highly efficacious common ground approach to Dupuytren’s surgery

Background Numerous Dupuytren’s fasciectomy techniques have been described, each associated with unique surgical challenges, complications and recurrence rates. We describe a common ground surgical approach to Dupuytren’s disease; 3-dimensional fasciectomy (3DF). 3DF aims to address the potential contributors to the high recurrence rate of Dupuytren’s disease and unite current limited fasciectomy practice that varies considerably between surgeons. Methods We describe the 3DF principles; raising thin skin flaps (addressing dermal involvement), excising diseased palmar fascia with a 3−5 mm clearance margin (treating highly locally recurrent conditions) and excising the vertical septae of Legueu and Juvara (providing deep clearance, hence addressing all potentially involved pathological tissue). The surgical outcomes between traditional limited fasciectomy (LF) and 3DF are compared. Results From the 786 operations included (n=585), postoperative recurrence rates were significantly lower for the 3DF group (2/145, 1.4%) than the LF group (72/641, 11.2%) (P=0.001), and the time to recurrence was significantly longer (5.0±0 years vs. 4.0±0.2 years; P&lt;0.0001). With recurrence excluded, there were no differences between the postoperative complication rates for 3DF (5/145, 3.5%) and LF (41/641, 6.4%) (P=0.4). Conclusions Our results suggest that 3DF leads to lower recurrence rates and a longer disease-free period for patients, without increasing complications. 3DF provides a safe, efficacious, common ground surgical approach in the treatment of Dupuytren’s flexion deformity.</jats:p