The costs of uncoordinated infrastructure management in multi-reservoir river basins

Though there are surprisingly few estimates of the economic benefits of coordinated infrastructure development and operations in international river basins, there is a widespread belief that improved cooperation is beneficial for managing water scarcity and variability. Hydro-economic optimization models are commonly-used for identifying efficient allocation of water across time and space, but such models typically assume full coordination. In the real world, investment and operational decisions for specific projects are often made without full consideration of potential downstream impacts. This paper describes a tractable methodology for evaluating the economic benefits of infrastructure coordination. We demonstrate its application over a range of water availability scenarios in a catchment of the Mekong located in Lao PDR, the Nam Ngum River Basin. Results from this basin suggest that coordination improves system net benefits from irrigation and hydropower by approximately 3–12% (or US$12-53 million/yr) assuming moderate levels of flood control, and that the magnitude of coordination benefits generally increases with the level of water availability and with inflow variability. Similar analyses would be useful for developing a systematic understanding of the factors that increase the costs of non-cooperation in river basin systems worldwide, and would likely help to improve targeting of efforts to stimulate complicated negotiations over water resources

Die Zukunft gehoert dem Ingeniuer: Herman Soergel\u27s Attempt to Engineer Europe\u27s Salvation

Herman Sörgel devised a plan, beginning in 1927, to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for the whole of Europe. Atlantropa was his answer to the perceived threats that the European people faced from international competition, overpopulation, and lack of resources. The plan would have resulted in the lowering of the Mediterranean Sea and the ultimate creation of one continent comprised of the former Europe and Africa. Though the plan was never implemented, it poses a fascinating model through which historians may reconsider the time period between the end of the First and Second World Wars. This thesis examines some historical socio-political movements through the lens of Sörgel’s megaproject. Original publications from Herman Sörgel himself as well as those of two notable Atlantropa scholars, Alexander Gall and Wolfgang Voigt, explain in great detail the technical and sociological aspects of the plan. Additionally, theories from Jeffrey Herf, Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi, and Dina Brandt aid in the understanding of the man who attempted to engineer Europe out of crisis. The following analysis reveals the difficulty in placing Herman Sörgel into any singular political or social movement in his time. Though he espoused some of the same rhetoric as that of the National Socialists and pan-European movements alike, he failed to conform to any particular group. The unwavering obsession with his project consumed all of Sörgel’s energies until his death in 1952. Though all-but-forgotten, the project offers an uncommon means by which to view a tumultuous time in Europe

ArcelorMittal Boot Seal Project

ArcelorMittalhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96202/1/me450f12project9_report.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96202/2/me450f12project9_photo.jp

Barriers to integrating routine depression screening into community low vision rehabilitation services: a mixed methods study

Background:Undetected depression is common in people withlow vision and depression screening has beenrecommended. However, depression screening is a complex procedure for which low vision practitioners need training. Thisstudy examined the integration of routine depression screening, using two questions, and referral pathways into a nationallow vision service in Wales at 6 months following practitioner training, and identified key barriers to implementation.Methods:This pre-post single group study employed a convergent mixed methods design to collect quantitativequestionnaire and qualitative interview data on low vision practitioners’clinical practice and perceived barriers toimplementing depression screening. Forty practitioners completed questionnaires pre-, immediately post- and 6 monthspost-training and nine engaged in interviews 6 months post-training. Ordinal questionnaire scores were Rasch-transformedinto interval-level data before linear regression analyses were performed to determine the change in scores over time andthe association between perceived barriers and clinical practice. Thematic Analysis was applied to the interviews and thenarrative results merged withthe questionnaire findings.Results:Before training, only one third of practitioners (n= 15) identified depression in low vision patients, increasing toover 90% (n= 37) at 6 months post-training, with a corresponding increase in those using validated depression screeningquestions from 10% (n= 4) to 80% (n= 32). Six months post-training, practitioners reported taking significantly moreaction in response to suspected depression (difference in means = 2.77, 95% CI 1.93 to 3.61,p< 0.001) and perceived lessbarriers to addressing depression (difference in means =−0.95, 95% CI−1.32 to−0.59,p<0.001).However,thescreening questions were not used consistently. Some barriers to implementation remained, including perceived patientreluctance to discuss depression, time constraints and lack of confidence in addressing depression.Conclusions:The introduction of depression screening service guidelines and training successfully increased the numberof low vision practitioners identifying and addressing depression. However, standardized screening of all low visionattendees has not yet been achieved and several barriers remain. Healthcare services need to address these barriers whenconsidering mental health screening, and further research could focus on the process from the patients’perspective, todetermine the desire for and acceptability of screening

An in vivo investigation of optic nerve head microstructure in primary open angle glaucoma

Glaucoma remains the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Since retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axonal degeneration precedes permanent vision loss, identification of ONH parameters affected in the earliest stages of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is critical to ensure early diagnosis. This cross-sectional study used enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT; 1040/70nm) to acquire 10° and 20° scans centred on the ONH (glaucomatous; n=128 or healthy controls; n=60). Regional measures of prelamina and LC depth and thickness, nerve fibre layer thickness at ONH border (bNFL) and peripapillary (pNFL), neuroretinal minimum rim width; (MRW) and area; (MRA) were analysed. This is the first study to quantify volumetric parameters including optic cup, prelamina and LC volume, and also Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO) surface area. Furthermore, LC connective tissue alignment was probed regionally and depth-wise within the LC. Statistical modelling was performed to identify ONH parameters that best contributed to characterisation of ONHs in the earliest stages of POAG. Regional measures of prelamina depth and thickness, and LC thickness were able to differentiate between control eyes and preperimetric (PG), and early glaucoma (EG) (P<0.05). Additionally, EG LC volume was significantly less than in controls (P<0.05). Significant associations of these parameters with loss of VF sensitivity (VF Mean deviation [MD]) were identified. Border and pNFL thickness, MRW (but not MRA) significantly differed between controls and PG and EG (P<0.05); and decreased with VF MD. Lamina cribrosa connective tissue alignment altered in a region and depth specific manner between PG LC and controls, or EG LCs (P<0.05), providing an original in vivo indicator of disease. In conclusion, in vivo ONH and NFL parameters are able to discriminate between healthy ONHs and early POAG ONHs; providing a group index with potential as a novel biomarker for early diagnosis, critical to personalised clinical decision making

Synmetamorphic Cu remobilization during the Pan-African orogeny: Microstructural, petrological and geochronological data on the kyanite-micaschists hosting the Cu(–U) Lumwana deposit in the Western Zambian Copperbelt of the Lufilian belt

International audienceThe Pan-African Lufilian orogenic belt hosts world-class Cu deposits. In the Congolese Copperbelt (DRC), Cu(-Co) deposits, are mostly hosted within evaporitic and siliciclastic Neoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks (Mines Subgroup) and are interpreted as syn- to latediagenetic deposits. In this paper, we present new data on Cu(-U) deposit hosted in metamorphic rocks of the internal zone of the Lufilian belt known as the Western Zambian Copperbelt in which a primary Cu mineralization is overprinted by a second syn-metamorphic Cu mineralizing event. This mineralizing event is synchronous with the Pan-African metamorphism affecting both the pre-Katanga basement and the Katanga metasedimentary sequence. Cu(-U) occurrences in the Western Zambian Copperbelt are hosted by kyanitemicaschists metamorphosed in the upper amphibolite facies. Mineral inclusions of graphite, micas and sulfides in kyanite porphyroblasts of the Cubearing kyanite-micaschists in the Lumwana Cu deposit point to a sedimentary protolith with relics of an inherited Cu stock. Based on petrologic, microstructural and geochronological evidence, we propose that this initial Cu-stock was remobilized during the Pan-African orogeny. Graphite, micas and sulfides preserved in a first generation of kyanite poikiloblasts (Ky1) define an inherited S0/1 foliation developed during the prograde part of the P-T path (D1 deformation-metamorphic stage) reaching HP-MT metamorphic conditions. Remobilization during the retrograde part of the P-T path is evidenced by chalcopyrite-pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite-bornite delineating a steep-dipping S2 schistosity and by chalcopyrite and bornite delineating a shallow-dipping S3 schistosity associated with top to the south kinematic criteria. This retrograde path is coeval with ductile deformation in the kyanite field as evidenced by a second generation of synkinematic kyanite porphyroblasts (Ky2) transposed in the S3 schistosity (Ky2-3), and is marked by progressive cooling from ca 620°C down to 580°C (rutile geothermometry). Syn-S2-3 metamorphic monazite grains yield U-Th-Pb ages ranging from ca. 540 to 500 Ma. Final retrogression and remobilization of Cu is marked by recrystallization of the sulfides in top to the north C3 shear bands associated with rutile crystals yielding temperatures from ca. 610 to 540°C. This final remobilization is younger than ca. 500 Ma (youngest U-Th- Pb age on syn-S3 recrystallized monazite). These data are consistent with successive Cu remobilization for more than 40 Ma during Pan-African reworking of sediment-hosted deposits either from the basement of the Katanga sedimentary sequence or from the Katanga sequence itself marked by burial (D1), syn-orogenic exhumation (D2), and post-orogenic exhumation during gravitational collapse (D3)

Training results in increased practitioner confidence and identification of depression in people with low vision: a mixed methods study

Purpose The prevalence of depression in people with low vision is high and often goes undiagnosed. There is the potential for those who provide low vision services to perform concurrent depression screening. However, prior training in depression identification and suitable referral pathways is required. The aims of this study were: (1) to assess the impact of a training programme on practitioners’ confidence and behaviour in addressing depression in patients with low vision, and (2) to review the training programme and identify areas for further development. Methods A convergent mixed methods approach was used. Questionnaires were completed by practitioners pre‐, immediately post‐ and 6 months post‐ training (n = 40) to assess practitioner confidence in approaching depression in patients with low vision. Qualitative interviews were performed with a subset of practitioners 6 months post‐training (n = 9). Additionally, routine data from the Low Vision Service Wales (LVSW) database was used to determine the change in the number of practitioners identifying depression in patients, and the change in the number of patients identified at risk of depression 6 months post‐training. Results Of the 148 practitioners who completed low vision assessments pre‐ and post‐training, 28 (18.9%) documented risk of depression in their patients pre‐training, which increased substantially to 65 (43.9%) post‐training (p < 0.0001). Mixed methods analysis confirmed increased documentation of depressive symptoms by practitioners. Practitioner confidence increased following training, with 92.3% feeling more confident to approach emotional issues with patients and 92.2% intending to use the recommended screening tool to identify depression. Interviews provided insight into areas where confidence was still lacking. Quantitative questionnaires revealed that training content was considered appropriate by 91% of participants. Interviews confirmed these findings while expanding upon possibilities for programme improvement. Conclusions Training for depression screening was found to be time‐efficient and acceptable for LVSW practitioners and shown to increase practitioner confidence in the identification of depression. Additionally, the programme changed behaviour, resulting in an increase in the identification of depression in patients with low vision. However, this is a complex topic and ongoing development is required to embed depression screening as an integral part of low vision services

Primordial Nucleosynthesis with CMB Inputs: Probing the Early Universe and Light Element Astrophysics

Cosmic microwave background (CMB) determinations of the baryon-to-photon ratio $\eta \propto \Omega_{\rm baryon} h^2$ will remove the last free parameter from (standard) big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) calculations. This will make BBN a much sharper probe of early universe physics, for example, greatly refining the BBN measurement of the effective number of light neutrino species, $N_{\nu,eff}$. We show how the CMB can improve this limit, given current light element data. Moreover, it will become possible to constrain $N_{\nu,eff}$ independent of \he4, by using other elements, notably deuterium; this will allow for sharper limits and tests of systematics. For example, a 3% measurement of $\eta$, together with a 10% (3%) measurement of primordial D/H, can measure $N_{\nu,eff}$ to a 95% confidence level of \sigma_{95%}(N_\nu) = 1.8 (1.0) if $\eta \sim 6.0\times 10^{-10}$. If instead, one adopts the standard model value $N_{\nu,eff}=3$, then one can use $\eta$ (and its uncertainty) from the CMB to make accurate predictions for the primordial abundances. These determinations can in turn become key inputs in the nucleosynthesis history (chemical evolution) of galaxies thereby placing constraints on such models.Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures, plain LaTe

Corporate social responsibility in developing country multinationals: identifying company and country-level influences

The extant literature on cross-national differences in approaches to corporate social responsibility (CSR) has mostly focused on developed countries. Instead, we offer two inter-related studies into corporate codes of conduct issued by developing country multinational enterprises (DMNEs). First, we analyse code adoption rates and code content through a mixed methods design. Second, we use multilevel analyses to examine country-level drivers of differences in code content-specifically, elements of a country's National Business System (NBS). We find that DMNEs are much more likely to adopt a code of conduct than their domestic counterparts; however, this does not translate into greater code comprehensiveness. We also find support for the 'substitute view' of CSR in developing countries, i.e. that MNEs from poorer countries and from countries with lower governance effectiveness tend to express more comprehensive commitments. However, this dynamic does not extend to a country's labour system; instead, CSR appears here to match the efficiency of a country's labour market, thus reflecting the 'mirror view' of CSR