The International Space Station and the Iran Nonproliferation Act (INA): The Bush Administration's Proposed INA Amendment

The Iran Nonproliferation Act (P.L. 106-178), as originally enacted, prohibited the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from purchasing Russian goods and services for the U.S.-led International Space Station (ISS) unless the President certified that Russia was not proliferating certain technologies to Iran. On July 12, 2005, the Bush Administration submitted to Congress an amendment to allow NASA to purchase goods and services from Russia to support the ISS. That presented a classic policy dilemma. Without access to Russian spacecraft, the U.S. use of the ISS could be extremely limited. Yet Russian entities were continuing proliferation activities relating to missile proliferation according to the Department of State. This report explains the Bush Administration proposal and resulting congressional action

Effects of high intensity physical training in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease in a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program / Efeitos do treino físico de alta intensidade em doentes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica num Programa de Reabilitação Pulmonar

Objective: To evaluate the effect of high intensity physical training on a supervised Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP) in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Methods: Interventional study with 30 patients with COPD, randomly divided into 2 groups: Control Group (CG) submitted to physical training of a traditional PRP and Experimental Group (EG) with bodybuilders with duration of 30 sessions in days alternates. All submitted to pre and post-intervention evaluation with the following variables: (I) pulse oximetry (SpO2); (II) 6 'walk test (6MWT); (III) Saint George's Quality of Life Questionnaire (SGRQ); (IV) DPOC assessment test (CAT); (V) cardiopulmonary exercise test; and (VI) 1 maximal repetition test (MRI). Results: Pre and post-intervention values were compared and the GE group presented a significant difference in the following parameters: increase 30.53 meters in the distance covered (p 0.021) improvement in all scores: CAT score for 12 points (p < 0.001), Score Saint George from 27 to 19 points (p 0.005), and in the improvement of the maximum physical capacity with increase 14 to 18 of (VO2 (%) (p 0.007) and 0,87 to 1,12 VO2 (L/min) (p 0.01) Conclusions: There was a significant improvement in exercise capacity and quality of life of the GE group, suggesting that high intensity physical training is the most efficient alternative in the treatment of patients with moderate COPD will be severe

Interests, trust and security in US-Jordanian nuclear relations

This article explores the relationship between Jordan and the United States (US) in the field of nuclear energy cooperation. Since 2010 the Jordanian government has accelerated its plans for a nuclear energy program and has engaged with multiple partners around the world in order to agree terms for cooperation in technology exchange, monitoring, and the construction of infrastructure. Bilateral negotiations between the US and Jordan for a "123" nuclear cooperation agreement were underway by early 2008, but were suspended in 2011 without an agreement being reached. Jordanian nuclear energy policy has been spurred by energy security considerations (as it currently imports 97 percent of its energy needs) and the discovery of up to 120,000 tonnes of uranium ore in Jordan. At the same time, the US is primarily interested in management of nuclear technology proliferation. This work considers the perceptions of self and other in Jordanian and US policymaking in order to understand why bilateral cooperation has not materialized and what this means for nuclear proliferation in Jordan. This study finds that the US–Jordanian negotiations have been impeded by contradictory objectives and perceptions, and a "123" agreement is not likely in the short to medium term, but that development of Jordan’s nuclear energy program will likely continue regardless

Comparing nuclear power trajectories in Germany and the UK: from ‘regimes' to ‘democracies’ in sociotechnical transitions and Discontinuities

This paper focuses on arguably the single most striking contrast in contemporary major energy politics in Europe (and even the developed world as a whole): the starkly differing civil nuclear policies of Germany and the UK. Germany is seeking entirely to phase out nuclear power by 2022. Yet the UK advocates a ‘nuclear renaissance’, promoting the most ambitious new nuclear construction programme in Western Europe.Here,this paper poses a simple yet quite fundamental question: what are the particular divergent conditions most strongly implicated in the contrasting developments in these two countries. With nuclear playing such an iconic role in historical discussions over technological continuity and transformation, answering this may assist in wider understandings of sociotechnical incumbency and discontinuity in the burgeoning field of‘sustainability transitions’. To this end, an ‘abductive’ approach is taken: deploying nine potentially relevant criteria for understanding the different directions pursued in Germany and the UK. Together constituted by 30 parameters spanning literatures related to socio-technical regimes in general as well as nuclear technology in particular, the criteria are divided into those that are ‘internal’ and ‘external’ to the ‘focal regime configuration’ of nuclear power and associated ‘challenger technologies’ like renewables. It is ‘internal’ criteria that are emphasised in conventional sociotechnical regime theory, with ‘external’ criteria relatively less well explored. Asking under each criterion whether attempted discontinuation of nuclear power would be more likely in Germany or the UK, a clear picture emerges. ‘Internal’ criteria suggest attempted nuclear discontinuation should be more likely in the UK than in Germany– the reverse of what is occurring. ‘External’ criteria are more aligned with observed dynamics –especially those relating to military nuclear commitments and broader ‘qualities of democracy’. Despite many differences of framing concerning exactly what constitutes ‘democracy’, a rich political science literature on this point is unanimous in characterising Germany more positively than the UK. Although based only on a single case,a potentially important question is nonetheless raised as to whether sociotechnical regime theory might usefully give greater attention to the general importance of various aspects of democracy in constituting conditions for significant technological discontinuities and transformations. If so, the policy implications are significant. A number of important areas are identified for future research, including the roles of diverse understandings and specific aspects of democracy and the particular relevance of military nuclear commitments– whose under-discussion in civil nuclear policy literatures raises its own questions of democratic accountability

Influência do tabagismo atual na aderência e nas respostas à reabilitação pulmonar em pacientes com DPOC Influence of current smoking on adherence and responses to pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD

OBJETIVO: Investigar o possível efeito modulador do tabagismo atual na aderência e nos efeitos da reabilitação pulmonar (RP) em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC). MÉTODOS: Em um estudo prospectivo, 18 pacientes ex-tabagistas e 23 tabagistas atuais (GOLD estádios II-IV) foram incluídos num programa multidisciplinar de RP com duração de 12 semanas. Os pacientes foram submetidos à avaliação clínica e à de variáveis subjetivas (dispneia e qualidade de vida) e objetivas (composição corporal, função pulmonar e teste da caminhada de 6 minutos). Nos pacientes tabagistas, obteve-se o nível de dependência da nicotina pela escala de Fagerström. A interrupção da RP antes do término previsto foi considerada indicativa de não aderência ao programa. RESULTADOS: A proporção de pacientes não-aderentes à RP foi maior nos tabagistas do que nos ex-tabagistas (30,4% vs 11,1%, respectivamente; razão de chance=2,9 (1,6-4,1); p<0,01). Entretanto, os tabagistas atuais que completaram o programa (n=16) apresentaram taxa de absenteísmo à RP similar ao observado nos ex-tabagistas, assim como ganhos equivalentes nas respostas subjetivas (qualidade de vida) e objetivas (distância caminhada). Adicionalmente, houve redução significante no número de cigarros consumidos diariamente e no grau de dependência da nicotina nos tabagistas atuais (p<0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Embora o tabagismo atual reduza a aderência à RP, pacientes tabagistas com DPOC que completam tais programas apresentam ganhos funcionais e na qualidade de vida equivalentes aos observados nos ex-tabagistas. A RP, mesmo sem um programa estruturado de cessação do tabagismo, pode associar-se com redução, ao menos a curto prazo, da dependência da nicotina.<br>OBJECTIVE: To investigate the modulating effects of current smoking on adherence and responses to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: In a prospective study, 18 ex-smokers and 23 current smokers (GOLD stages II-III) were enrolled in a 12-week multidisciplinary, supervised PR program. The patients were assessed clinically and as to subjective variables (dyspnea and health-related quality of life) and objective variables (body composition, pulmonary function and 6-min walking distance). The degree of nicotine dependence in current smokers was assessed by the Fagerström test. Program completion defined PR "adherence". RESULTS: There was a significant association between current smoking and non-adherence to PR with 30.4% vs. 11.1% and odds ratio=2.9 (1.6-4.1; p<0.01). However, the current smokers who completed the program (n=16) had a similar absentee rate to the ex-smokers, as well as similar gains in the subjective (quality of life) and objective (walked distance) items. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in daily cigarette consumption and in the degree of nicotine dependence in current smokers (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although current smoking is negatively related to PR adherence, COPD smokers who complete the PR can have similar gains in functionality and quality of life compared to ex-smokers. Moreover, PR may be related to decreased nicotine dependence, even without a formal smoking withdrawal program

Effects of Helicobacter pylori Infection on the Expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 in Patients with Chronic Gastritis and Gastric Cancer

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the influence of Helicobacter pylori on Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels in patients with chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. The study included 217 patients, of which 26 were uninfected; 127 had chronic gastritis and were H. pylori-positive, and 64 had gastric cancer. Bacterial genotypes were evaluated by PCR, and the expression values were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Our data showed that the up-regulationary effects of H. pylori infection on the proapoptotic gene, Bax, were stronger than its induction of Bcl-2; this effect may increase apoptosis in patients with chronic gastritis. In patients with gastric cancer, the up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2, counteracted the pro-apoptotic effects of Bax, leading to a deregulation of apoptosis-associated gene expression, favoring cell proliferation. Thus, the disturbance in Bax and Bcl-2 balance, induced by H. pylori, might be important in gastric cancer development.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP