A new framework for resolving conflicts over transboundary rivers using bankruptcy methods

A novel bankruptcy approach is proposed for resolving transboundary river conflicts in which the total water demand or claim of the riparian parties is more than the available water. Bankruptcy solution methods can allocate the available water to the conflicting parties with respect to their claims. Four commonly used bankruptcy methods in the economic literature are used here to develop new river bankruptcy solution methods for allocating water to the riparian parties of river systems. Given the non-uniform spatial and temporal distribution of water across river basins, the proposed solution methods are formulated as non-linear network flow optimization models to allocate water with respect to time sensitivity of water deliveries at different locations in a river network during the planning horizon. Once allocation optimization solutions are developed, their acceptability and stability must be evaluated. Thus, a new bankruptcy allocation stability index (BASI) is developed for evaluating the acceptability of river bankruptcy solutions. To show how the proposed river bankruptcy framework can be helpful in practice, the suggested methods are applied to a real-world transboundary river system with eight riparians under various hydrologic regimes. Stability analysis based on the proposed stability evaluation method suggests that the acceptability of allocation rules is sensitive to hydrologic conditions and demand values. This finding has an important policy implication suggesting that fixed allocation rules and treaties may not be reliable for securing cooperation over transboundary water resources as they are vulnerable to changing socioeconomic and climatic conditions as well as hydrologic non-stationarity

Developing a Measure of Fatigue for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Fatigue is a prevalent issue in school-aged children and has been shown negatively impact well-being and academic performance. This is especially the case for deaf and hard of hearing (D/HH) students, who must produce greater auditory and visual efforts than their hearing peers, leading to greater levels of cognitive and physical fatigue. At present, there exists no standardized measure of fatigue that can be used in schools to specifically evaluate fatigue in students, let alone those who are D/HH. Such a measure would be incredibly valuable as it would allow for accurate identification of fatigue, allowing for supports and interventions to be implemented. The present research aimed to identify strengths and weaknesses of existing measures of fatigue in order to inform the construction of a measure that would specifically address fatigue in D/HH students. It was found that fatigue has largely been determined to be best assessed using a unidimensional measure with responses based on a 5- or 7-point Likert scale. Additionally, it was found that the development of measures usually follows the same general process. Items included in measures are typically generated based on focus-group interviews, then preliminary items are administered to a test group. Statistical tests are conducted based on the data generated to reduce the number of items, as well as to ensure reliability and validity. The next steps of this research will be to conduct focus group interviews to aid in generating preliminary items. Presented in absentia on April 27, 2020 at "Student Research Day" at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta. (Conference cancelled) Faculty Mentor: Natalia Rohatyn-Martin Department: Biological Science

Microalgae and Phototrophic Purple Bacteria for Nutrient Recovery From Agri-Industrial Effluents: Influences on Plant Growth, Rhizosphere Bacteria, and Putative Carbon- and Nitrogen-Cycling Genes

Microalgae (MA) and purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) have the ability to remove and recover nutrients from digestate (anaerobic digestion effluent) and pre-settled pig manure that can be Utilized as bio-fertilizer and organic fertilizer. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of MA and PPB as organic fertilizers and soil conditioners in relation to plant growth and the soil biological processes involved in nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) cycling. To this end, a glasshouse experiment was conducted using MA and PPB as bio-fertilizers to grow a common pasture ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) with two destructive harvests (45 and 60 days after emergence). To evaluate the rhizosphere bacterial community, we used barcoded PCR-amplified bacterial 16S rRNA genes for paired-end sequencing on the Illumina Mi-Seq. Additionally, we used phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) analysis for the detection of putative functional genes associated with N and soil-C cycling. There was a significant increase in plant growth when the soil was amended with PPB, which almost performed as well as the chemical fertilizers. Analysis of the rhizosphere bacteria after the second harvest revealed a greater abundance of Firmicutes than in the first harvest. Members of this phylum have been identified as a biostimulant for plant growth. In contrast, the MA released nutrients more slowly and had a profound effect on N cycling by modulating N mineralization and N retention pathways. Thus, MA could be developed as a slow-release fertilizer with better N retention, which could improve crop performance and soil function, despite nutrient losses from leaching, runoff, and atmospheric emissions. These data indicate that biologically recovered nutrients from waste resources can be effective as a fertilizer, resulting in enhanced C- and N-cycling capacities in the rhizosphere

Microalgae and Phototrophic Purple Bacteria for Nutrient Recovery from Agri-Industrial Effluents; Influences on Plant Growth, Rhizosphere Bacteria, and Putative C & N Cycling Genes

Microalgae (MA) and purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) have the ability to remove and recover nutrients from digestate (anaerobic digestion effluent) and pre-settled pig manure that can be utilized as a bio-fertilizer. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of biologically recovered nutrients from MA and PPB in relation to plant growth and soil biological processes involved in nitrogen & carbon cycling

Healthy Eating Index-2015 as a Predictor of Ulcerative Colitis Risk in a Case–Control Cohort

Objective: There is compelling clinical evidence implicating certain dietary components in the development and clinical course of progression in ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to assess whether any association exists between ulcerative colitis and scores on a healthy eating index. Methods: In this case-control study patients with UC were recruited and assessed together with healthy controls. The participants completed a validated 168-item food frequency questionnaire, the results of which were subsequently used to generate individual healthy eating index (HEI-2015) scores. Results: Altogether 58 patients with UC and 123 healthy controls were recruited. After controlling for confounding factors, participants who were in the highest quartile of the HEI-2015 had a 66% lower odds ratio (OR) of UC than the lowest quartile (OR = 0.34, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.96). Conclusion: HEI-2015 was associated with UC in this cohort. Further elucidation of the role of key dietary elements is now warranted

The effect of L-arginine supplementation on obesity-related indices: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

The clinical studies regarding the effect of L-arginine in human anthropometry have not been fully consistent, therefore, we carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials in order to precisely evaluate and quantify the efficacy of L-arginine on weight, waist circumference, and BMI. We searched online databases including PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar for relevant articles up to September 2017. Eligible articles were reviewed by two independent investigators. Mean differences of the outcomes were used for calculation of weighted mean difference (WMD) derived from the random-effects model. Statistical heterogeneity between studies was examined using Cochran's Q-test and I2index. Funnel plot and Egger's tests were performed to assess the publication bias. In our initial search, we found 1598 publications, of which 8 RCTs (9 treatment arms) were included. The results of the meta-analysis displayed a significant reduction in WC following L-arginine supplementation (WMD: -2.97 cm; 95 CI: -4.75 to -1.18, P = 0.001). However, L-arginine intervention had not elicited a significant effect on BMI (WMD: -0.51 kg/m2; 95 CI: -1.11 to .08, P = 0.09) and body weight (WMD: -0.57 kg; 95 CI: -1.77 to 0.61, P = 0.34). Subgroup analyses displayed that longer-term interventions (�8 weeks) had a positive effect on body weight and using < 8 g/day L-arginine with longer duration (�8 weeks) could significantly decrease BMI. In conclusion, this meta-analysis result suggested L-arginine supplementation could reduce waist circumference without any significant effect on body weight and body mass index. © 2021 Hogrefe Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. All rights reserved

Electrophysiological findings in a family with Hereditary Neuropathy and Liability to Pressure Palsies

Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies is an autosomal dominant and demyelinative peripheral neuropathy which characterized by reversible episodes of sensorimotor deficits after neural compression injuries. Their clinical hallmarks are recurrent and painless focal neuropathies maintly preceded by minor trauma or compression at entrapment sites of peripheral nerves. We describe multiple compression mononeuropathies in an individual who presented with left sided ulnar palsy after drilling for a period of 8 hours and report neurophysiologic findings in two clinically asymptomatic family members. We believe that this entity may be clinically and neurophysiologically underdiagnosed by orthopaedic surgeons and electromyographers. Electrophysiological abnormalities can be detected even in asymptomatic patients and it should be considered in differential diagnosis of patients with atypical presentations of compression neuropathies.
 Key Words: Hereditary Neuropathy with liability to Pressure Palsies- Electrodiagnostic test