Connectivity and trade relativity: the case of ASEAN

To explore the concept of connectivity and trade relativity (CTR), this paper presents a research model to illustrate: (1) the impact of shipping connectivity on two types of trade flows, and (2) the mediating effect of intra-regional trade ("intra-trade") on the relationship between shipping connectivity and extra-regional trade ("extra-trade"). Understanding the relationships among shipping connectivity and the two types of trade flows (intra-trade and extra-trade) provides insights for managers to make their location decision and identify countries with appropriate levels of shipping connectivity to conduct their trading related activities, and for policy makers to develop measures to enhance trade competitiveness and shipping connectivity. This study also contributes to the concepts of trade creation and trade diversion through the examination of shipping connectivity. A regional trade agreement such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leads to more intra-trade. Some of this trade is new (trade creation) and some might substitute for extra-trade (trade diversion). By incorporating shipping connectivity into the analysis, we show that the trade diversion effect will be reduced thanks to the overall increased shipping connectivity, as the latter will not only benefit intra-trade but also extra-trade

An overview of the “Positive Action for Today's Health” (PATH) trial for increasing walking in low income, ethnic minority communities

BACKGROUND: Ethnic minorities and lower-income adults have among the highest rates of obesity and lowest levels of regular physical activity (PA). The Positive Action for Today's Health (PATH) trial compares three communities that are randomly assigned to different levels of an environmental intervention to improve safety and access for walking in low income communities. DESIGN AND SETTING: Three communities matched on census tract information (crime, PA, ethnic minorities, and income) were randomized to receive either: an intervention that combines a police-patrolled-walking program with social marketing strategies to promote PA, a police-patrolled-walking only intervention, or no-walking intervention (general health education only). Measures include PA (7-day accelerometer estimates), body composition, blood pressure, psychosocial measures, and perceptions of safety and access for PA at baseline, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. INTERVENTION: The police-patrolled walking plus social marketing intervention targets increasing safety (training community leaders as walking captains, hiring off-duty police officers to patrol the walking trail, and containing stray dogs), increasing access for PA (marking a walking route), and utilizes a social marketing campaign that targets psychosocial and environmental mediators for increasing PA. MAIN HYPOTHESES/OUTCOMES: It is hypothesized that the police-patrolled walking plus social marketing intervention will result in greater increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA as compared to the police-patrolled-walking only or the general health intervention after 12 months and that this effect will be maintained at 18 and 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Implications of this community-based trial are discussed

Production of Strange B-baryons Decaying Into Xi-/+-l-/+ Pairs At Lep

An excess of events containing, in a jet, a same-sign Xi(-/+) - l(-/+) pair as compared to those with an opposite-sign Xi(-/+) - l(-/+) pair has been observed in an analysis of 1.7 million hadronic Z(o) decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP between 1991 and 1993 inclusive. The probability for this signal to come from non B-baryon decays is less than 5 x 10(-4). The measured production fraction corresponds to: P(b --> B - baryon) x BR(B - baryon --> Xi(-) l(-) X) = (5.9 +/- 2.1 +/- 1.0) x 10(-4), per lepton species, averaged for electrons and muons and assuming the two channels have an equal contribution. Semileptonic decays of Lambda(b) baryons can account for less than 10% of these events and the major part of the signal has to originate from Xi(b) semileptonic decays, Using the subsample of these events where the Xi(-/+) trajectory has been measured in the Vertex Detector, the lifetime of B-baryons producing a Xi(-/+) in their semileptonic decay final state is found to be: tau(B - baryon --> Xi(-) l(-) X) = 1.5(-0.4)(+0.7) +/- 0.3 ps

PRODUCTION OF STRANGE B-BARYONS DECAYING INTO XI-/+-L-/+ PAIRS AT LEP

An excess of events containing, in a jet, a samesign Ξ∓-ℓ∓ pair as compared to those with an oppositesign Ξ∓-ℓ± pair has been observed in an analysis of 1.7 million hadronic Z0 decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP between 1991 and 1993 inclusive. The probability for this signal to come from non B-baryon decays is less than 5×10-4. The measured production fraction corresponds to:[Figure not available: see fulltext.] per lepton species, averaged for electrons and muons and assuming that the two channels have an equal contribution. Semileptonic decays of Λb baryons can account for less than 10% of these events and the major part of the signal has to originate from Ξb semileptonic decays. Using the subsample of these events where the Ξ∓ trajectory has been measured in the Vertex Detector, the lifetime of B-baryons producing a Ξ∓ in their semileptonic decay final state is found to be: {Mathematical expression} © 1995 Springer-Verlag

Production of strange B-baryons decaying into Xi-/+-l-/+ pairs at LEP

An excess of events containing, in a jet, a same-sign Xi(-/+) - l(-/+) pair as compared to those with an opposite-sign Xi(-/+) - l(-/+) pair has been observed in an analysis of 1.7 million hadronic Z(0) decays collected by the DELPHI detector at LEP between 1991 and 1993 inclusive. The probability for this signal to come from non B-baryon decays is less than 5 x 10(-4). The measured production fraction corresponds to: P(b --> B - baryon) x BR(B - baryon --> Xi(-) l(-) X) = (5.9 +/- 2.1 +/- 1.0) x 10(-4), per lepton species, averaged for electrons and muons and assuming the two channels have an equal contribution. Semileptonic decays of Lambda(b) baryons can account for less than 10% of these events and the major part of the signal has to originate from Xi(b) semileptonic decays, Using the subsample of these events where the Xi(-/+) trajectory has been measured in the Vertex Detector, the lifetime of B-baryons producing a Xi(-/+) in their semileptonic decay final state is found to be: tau(B - baryon --> Xi(-) l(-) X) = 1.5(-0.4)(+0.7) +/- 0.3 ps