Financing the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals: A Rough Roadmap

We regroup the main types of global development finance into three clusters: concessional public finance (including domestic taxes), public borrowing on market-related terms, and private finance. We look at the main purposes they can be used for, and their interdependence. We consider the global outlook for capital markets, the determinants of country creditworthiness and why grant aid should be prioritised for less creditworthy countries. We suggest that financing plans for most of the new Sustainable Development Goals should be developed at the country level rather than globally, so that key trade-offs can be fully explored. We look at specific policies to unlock access to private sector participation in five key areas -- including social services. We introduce a Market Aid Index to help track donor engagement with the private sector. We investigate how a country's mix of development finance changes as it grows -- the so-called 'missing middle' dilemma. We find that public resources overall fall continuously until a country is well into middle income status, as international assistance falls faster than tax revenues rise. Static per capita income thresholds are becoming increasingly unreliable guides to resource allocation. We look at alternative groupings, especially taking into account fiscal capacity, creditworthiness and vulnerability. We assess the recent literature on trade-offs between rapid growth and climate change mitigation imperatives. We examine the geography of public climate finance, which is intrinsically different from that of development aid, and the lack of a credible 'additionality' test for funding the former over and above the latter. We therefore consider how the limited public grant element so far available should best be rationed, to limit the scope for distortions. We revisit the role of the multilateral development banks' market-related windows, in view of the missing middle problem. We consider what factors underpin their secular stagnation, and how to overcome them. We summarise other specific international reform options in response to our analysis, on private sector contributions, market-related lending and climate finance. We conclude by contrasting two alternative world views: (1) making international public finance a complement to private finance everywhere, and (2) deliberately focusing public stakes where the private sector is not present. We suggest a way forward

Ridding Ships\u27 Ballast Water of Microorganisms

( First paragraph) A complex assemblage of microorganisms exists in nearly every aquatic system on earth. In lakes and oceans, every milliliter of water contains about 102 protists (single-celled eukaryotes), 106 bacteria, and 107–109 viruses. Therefore, billions of microorganisms inevitably enter ships’ ballast tanks during normal operations. It has been argued that microorganisms must certainly be frequent invaders of coastal ecosystems, given the high densities of bacteria and viruses in ballast water—108 and 109 organisms per liter, respectively (1)—their potentially high reproductive rates, broad tolerances to physical conditions, and ability to form resting stages (2). The “propagule pressure” of microorganisms contrasts sharply with the mere tens of thousands of mesozooplankton that might be released during ballast discharge (3). The phylogenetic diversity of microbes in ballast water is reportedly composed of large, easily recognized forms, such as dinoflagellates, diatoms, ciliates, and foraminifera (1, 4). However, the bacterial and viral diversity in ballast water is absolutely unknown. Our understanding of the microbial diversity found in ballast tanks depends on new, sophisticated molecular biological techniques and certainly will increase with more advanced studies (5, 6)

Microbiological indicators of water quality in submerged karst caves of Wakulla Springs

22 slides in Powerpoint presentation

The energetics of Amoeba Proteus Leidy

The study dealt with the energetics of the large naked sarcodine, Amoeba proteus, when fed a range of Tetrahymena pyriformis concentrations (125 - 4000 cells 500μl-1) at 10°C, 15°C and 20°C. Part 1 of the thesis was concerned with measuring the individual parameters of the energy budget equation, namely consumption, production and respiration. The dried weights of the predator Amoeba and the prey species Tetrahymena were 0.147pg μm-3 and 0.162pg μm-3 respectively, regardless of temperature. The calorific content of A. proteus was found to be 17.51J mg-1 and was unaffected by temperature; the energy content of T. pyriformis was higher - 19.80J mg-1 at 20°C and 15°C, and 18.28J mg-1 at 10°C. Energy yields were determined by combustion of freeze-dried pellets in a Phillipson micro-bomb calorimeter. The effect of the environmental parameters, temperature and food concentration, on the generation times of A. proteus were investigated. Doubling times ranged from 44 to 84 hours, 71 to 112 hours and 372 to 2,926 hours at 20°C, 15°C and 10°C respectively. The rate of consumption increased with increasing temperature, attained a peak and decreased thereafter. The food level promoting maximum consumption decreased with decreasing temperature. As a consequence of the extended generation times with decreased temperature, consumption per generation was greatest at 10°C. Maxima energy intakes of 92,931μJ, 17,294μj and 8,127μJ were calculated for 10°C, 15°C and 20°C respectively. The volume of protoplasm produced over the cell cycle was the parameter used to measure production. The cell volume doubled over a generation from the daughter cell to the point before fission. The rate of production was influenced by temperature and food concentration and was found to be linear throughout the cell cycle. Increasing temperature increased the rate of production, while increased food supply initially increased the production up to a threshold level, after which the rate decreased. Maximum production was attained at a food concentration of 2000 cells 500μl-1 for 20°C, 1500 cells 500μl-1 for 15°C and 500 cells 500μl-1 for 10°C. Further, decreasing the temperature increased the size of the Amoeba cells; a function of the long generation times at the lower temperatures. Respiration was measured by Cartesian diver microrespirometry. The rate of oxygen consumption per unit volume (μm3) was dependent upon temperature, 5.40 x 10-10μl 02 h-1, 2.61 x 10-10μl 02 h-1 and 2.34 x 10-10μl 02 h-1 at 20°C, 15°C and 10°C respectively. Part 2 of the thesis was concerned with the compilation of a series of both generation and instantaneous energy budgets for individual Amoeba spanning the range of food concentrations and temperatures investigated. The biological efficiencies, linking the parameters of the budget equation, were compared with the relevant published data. Assimilation efficiencies for A. proteus ranged from 22% to 59% regardless of temperature. Net production efficiencies were high — 65% to 82% - at 15°C and 20°C but low at 10°C (11% to 49%). Gross production efficiencies were also higher at 15°C and 20°C (16% to 47%) than at 10°C (4% to 29%). In Part 3, the distribution of A. proteus and related species in the field was discussed, with particular reference to a Sphagnum bog-pool. A tentative annual production estimate, based upon both the field and laboratory experiments, of 49.74kJ m-2 yr-1 (to a depth of 10cm) was calculated. The thesis was concluded with a General discussion in Part 4

The Effectiveness of Two Methods of Prescribing Load on Maximal Strength Development: A Systematic Review

Background: Optimal prescription of resistance exercise load (kg) is essential for the development of maximal strength. Two methods are commonly used in practice with no clear consensus on the most effective approach for the improvement of maximal strength. Objective: The primary aim of this review was to compare the effectiveness of percentage 1RM (% 1RM) and repetition maximum targets (RM) as load prescription methods for the development of maximal strength. Methods: Electronic database searches of MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and CINAHL Complete were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies were eligible for inclusion if a direct measure of maximal strength was used, a non-training control group was a comparator, the training intervention was > 4 weeks in duration and was replicable, and participants were defined as healthy and between the ages of 18–40. Methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using a modified Downs and Black checklist. Percentage change (%) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all strength-based training groups were calculated. Statistical significance (p < 0.05) was reported from each study. Results: Twenty-two studies comprising a total of 761 participants (585 males and 176 females) were found to meet the inclusion criteria. 12 studies were returned for % 1RM, with 10 for RM. All studies showed statistically significant improvements in maximal strength in the training groups (31.3 ± 21.9%; 95% CI 33.1–29.5%). The mean quality rating for all studies was 17.7 ± 2.3. Four studies achieved a good methodological rating, with the remainder classified as moderate. Conclusions: Both % 1RM and RM are effective tools for improving maximal strength. % 1RM appears to be a better prescriptive method than RM potentially due to a more sophisticated management of residual fatigue. However, large heterogeneity was present within this data. Lower body and multi-joint exercises appear to be more appropriate for developing maximal strength. Greater consensus is required in defining optimal training prescriptions, physiological adaptations, and training status

ActA Protozoologica Tolerance of Naked Amoebae to Low Oxygen Levels with an Emphasis on the Genus Acanthamoeba

Summary. Amoebae feed on attached bacteria within, and below, bacterial biofilms where they experience reduced oxygen levels. The implications of this were examined by comparing the migration (an index of growth) of thirteen strains of Acanthamoeba and five species of naked amoebae grown under microaerophilic and aerobic conditions. All amoebae replicated well under both conditions and twelve isolates migrated significantly faster under low oxygen. Only one isolate, Vannella sp., migrated further (presumably grew faster) under aerobic conditions. The data show most amoebae prefer low oxygen as befits the biofilm habitat. Interestingly, the eleven acanthamoeba strains that replicated faster under microaerophilic conditions were all T4 genotypes and included four strains isolated from patients with amoeba keratitis (AK) infections. This genotype is most frequently found in AK cases and it is suggested that strains of Acanthamoeba capable rapid growth in a biofilm of a poorly cleansed contact lens may be an important factor in the development of an effective infective dose when placed on the cornea

Factors Impacting Perceived Safety Among Staff Working on Mental Health Wards

Background: Safety at work is a core issue for mental health staff working on in-patient units. At present, there is a limited theoretical base regarding which factors may affect staff perceptions of safety. Aims: This study attempted to identify which factors affect perceived staff safety working on in-patient mental health wards. Method: A cross-sectional design was employed across 101 forensic and non-forensic mental health wards, over seven National Health Service trusts nationally. Measures included an online staff survey, Ward Features Checklist and recorded incident data. Data were analysed using categorical principal components analysis and ordinal regression. Results: Perceptions of staff safety were increased by ward brightness, higher number of patient beds, lower staff to patient ratios, less dayroom space and more urban views. Conclusions: The findings from this study do not represent common-sense assumptions. Results are discussed in the context of the literature and may have implications for current initiatives aimed at managing in-patient violence and aggression

“Is it a slow day or a go day?”: The perceptions and applications of velocity-based training within elite strength and conditioning

Velocity-based training (VBT) is a contemporary prescriptive, programming, and testing tool commonly utilised in strength and conditioning (S&C). Over recent years, there has been an influx of peer-reviewed literature investigating several different applications (e.g. load-velocity profiling, velocity loss, load manipulation, and reliability of technology) of VBT. The procedures implemented in research, however, do not always reflect the practices within applied environments. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate the perceptions and applications of VBT within elite S&C to enhance contextual understanding and develop appropriate avenues of practitioner-focused research. Fourteen high-performance S&C coaches participated in semi-structured interviews to discuss their experiences of implementing VBT into their practices. Reflexive thematic analysis was adopted, following an inductive and realist approach. Three central organising themes emerged: Technology, applications, and reflections. Within these central themes, higher order themes consisting of drivers for buying technology; programming, testing, monitoring, and feedback; and benefits, drawbacks, and future uses also emerged. Practitioners reported varied drivers and applications of VBT, often being dictated by simplicity, environmental context, and personal preferences. Coaches perceived VBT to be a beneficial tool yet were cognizant of the drawbacks and challenges in certain settings. VBT is a flexible tool that can support and aid several aspects of S&C planning and delivery, with coaches valuing the impact it can have on training environments, objective prescriptions, tracking player readiness, and programme success.publishedVersio

Organisational responses to mandatory modern slavery disclosure legislation: A failure of experimentalist governance?

Purpose: This paper investigates how organisations are responding to mandatory modern slavery disclosure legislation. Experimentalist governance suggests that organisations faced with disclosure requirements such as those contained in the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 will compete with one another, and in doing so, improve compliance. The authors seek to understand whether this is the case. Design/methodology/approach: This study is set in the UK public sector. The authors conduct interviews with over 25% of UK universities that are within the scope of the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and examine their reporting and disclosure under that legislation. Findings: The authors find that, contrary to the logic of experimentalist governance, universities' disclosures as reflected in their modern slavery statements are persistently poor on detail, lack variation and have led to little meaningful action to tackle modern slavery. They show that this is due to a herding effect that results in universities responding as a sector rather than independently; a built-in incapacity to effectively manage supply chains; and insufficient attention to the issue at the board level. The authors also identity important boundary conditions of experimentalist governance. Research limitations/implications: The generalisability of the authors’ findings is restricted to the public sector. Practical implications: In contexts where disclosure under the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 is not a core offering of the sector, and where competition is limited, there is little incentive to engage in a “race to the top” in terms of disclosure. As such, pro-forma compliance prevails and the effectiveness of disclosure as a tool to drive change in supply chains to safeguard workers is relatively ineffective. Instead, organisations must develop better knowledge of their supply chains and executives and a more critical eye for modern slavery to be combatted effectively. Accountants and their systems and skills can facilitate this development. Originality/value: This is the first investigation of the organisational processes and activities which underpin disclosures related to modern slavery disclosure legislation. This paper contributes to the accounting and disclosure modern slavery literature by investigating public sector organisations' processes, activities and responses to mandatory reporting legislation on modern slavery.</p