On the thermal boundary condition of the wave function of the Universe

We broaden the domain of application of the recently proposed thermal boundary condition of the wave function of the Universe, which has been suggested as the basis of a dynamical selection principle on the landscape of string solutions.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, contribution to the proceedings of MG11, 23-29 July 2006, Berlin, German

Improving outcomes for people with chronic kidney disease through education

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to increase worldwide. Professional organisations are committed to developing clinical practice guidelines to manage and prevent disease progression. People with diabetes and hypertension are at greatest risk of developing CKD, but other risk factors include smoking, obesity, family history of CKD and being Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander or other ethnic minority. In order to prevent disease progression and other complications such as heart attack or stroke, people with early stage CKD patients must actively participate in their health care treatment. This however, may be limited by lack of understanding and awareness of the disease. Educational interventions may facilitate learning and provide patients with the knowledge and skills to better manage their condition. This is a thesis by publication containing published and submitted work related to providing health education for patients with CKD to assist in self-management of their condition. The first chapter is a general introduction. Chapter two provides an overall summary of current clinical management, patient education and information needs and education strategies. Chapter three is a systematic review of international clinical practice guidelines that are used for the management, detection and prevention of CKD. Chapters four and five are based on an original qualitative study that identifies patients’ educational needs and their awareness about CKD, associated risk factors and comorbidities. Chapter six includes a systematic review of educational interventions for patients with CKD which were assessed using risk of bias tools. The final chapter provides an overall discussion of this work. The primary objective of this thesis was to expand on the current evidence base for the management of patients with early stage CKD, and provide guidance on the development and implementation of educational interventions to help delay CKD progression

Banco Popular y de Desarrollo Comunal

This paper attempts an institutional evaluation of the Banco Popular in Costa Rica, a financial organization that captures forced savings from all workers and mobilizes deposits from the public. The paper addresses issues related to the institution's conflicting objectives (“social" versus "financial"), the diffused structure of property rights ("owned" but not controlled by the workers), and its sui generis regulatory regime. The paper compares the financial performance of this institution with that of other banks in Costa Rica, including an identification of the components of its intermediation margins. It includes recommendations for both organizational design (revision of the property rights structure) and financial policies that would allow this bank to compete in the new I deregulated environment

Influence of added whey protein isolate on probiotic properties of yogurt culture bacteria and yogurt characteristics

Consumers are becoming conscious of their diet, increasing protein intake and avoiding carbohydrates and fats. Whey proteins have branch chain amino acids responsible for muscle building. Whey protein isolate (WPI) contains more than 90% protein. The effect of incremental addition of WPI on probiotic characteristics of pure cultures and cultures in yogurt and yogurt characteristics are not known. The hypothesis was that “added” WPI will influence the characteristics of yogurt culture bacteria in pure form and in yogurt. The objectives were: to determine the influence of added WPI on (1) acid and bile tolerance, growth and protease activity of pure cultures Streptococcus thermophilus ST-M5 and Lactobacillus bulgaricus LB-12, (2) growth, acid and bile tolerance of starter culture from manufactured plain yogurt, (3) the physico-chemical characteristics of yogurt over its shelf life and (4) the sensory attributes of yogurt. WPI was used at 0, 1, 2 and 3% w/v. Acid tolerance was conducted on pure cultures and cultures from manufactured plain yogurt at 30 minutes intervals for 2 hours of incubation and bile tolerance at 1 hour intervals for 5 hours. Yogurt was manufactured using 0 (control), 1, 2 and 3% WPI. For sensory evaluation, blueberry yogurt was manufactured using the same WPI concentrations. Physico-chemical analyses of yogurts were conducted every 7 days during 35 days of storage. Enumeration of yogurt cultures during yogurt´s shelf life was evaluated at 7, 21 and 35 days of storage. Sensory evaluation was conducted on yogurt 7 days after its manufacture. Data were analyzed using Proc Mixed model of SAS® 9.3 program and by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Proc GLM. Significant differences between means were analyzed at α = 0.05 using Tukey´s adjustment. Use of 2% WPI improved acid tolerance of Streptococcus thermophilus ST-M5 in yogurt. Use of 2 and 3% WPI improved bile tolerance of Lactobacillus bulgaricus LB-12 over the 5 hours of incubation. WPI decreased syneresis of yogurts and improved sensory attributes of flavored yogurt. Overall liking scores were higher for 1% WPI yogurts compared to control. Overall, 1 or 2% WPI can be recommended in manufacture of higher whey protein yogurts

Crayfish Harvesting Practices in the Southern Atchafalaya River Basin: Quantitative and Qualitative Assessment of Harvester Techniques and Hydrologic Connectivity Influence on Harvesting Strategies

Fisheries produce important impacts around the world through the exploitation of a wide range of species. In Louisiana, crayfish is the most emblematic crustacean and supports a multi-million industry based on pond culture and harvest from natural habitats. Although the economic value (USD) of wild-harvested crayfish has decreased from 10% to 3% of total crayfish value from 2013 to 2015, wild harvested crayfish are highly desired by many consumers and have a strong socio-cultural importance in Louisiana and other Gulf of Mexico coastal regions. This project evaluated harvesting practices by: 1) field observation and mapping of harvest sites in southwestern Atchafalaya River Basin; and 2) directed interviews with individual harvesters. Field observations included trap locations, water quality, habitat components, and fishery independent sampling. Weekly field observations were conducted along four transects across a gradient of water quality over two harvesting seasons (2015 and 2016). I also assessed floodplain connectivity with river water sources by conservative tracers sampled at each water quality site biweekly during 2016. Directed interviews of 23 harvesters provided data on fishing strategies, factors used to decide when to start fishing, and selection of harvesting locations. Trap density was first assessed for spatial autocorrelation by Pearson Chi-Square Quadrat Test and Nearest Neighbor Tests and then by generalized linear models including water quality, habitat, harvester answers and conservative tracers. Analyses demonstrated that trap locations were not random, i.e., traps were set in relatively clear water (NTU \u3c 69.4) in in depths from 1-3 m or 3-3.6 m. Very few traps were set high turbidity water regardless of depth. Trap density was positively associated with river water inputs, based on conservative tracer results. Harvester interviews corroborated the importance of tradition (35% - 47%) and depth (88%) when starting harvesting and setting traps. Additionally, harvesters (\u3e 40%) considered water color (likely a surrogate for turbidity) important for trap locations. Although harvesters may not be using water vii quality and chemistry data, their harvesting practices do follow water movements, likely based on accumulated experience with depth, flow velocity and turbidity

Effect of Sunflower and Marine Oils on Ruminal Microbiota, In vitro Fermentation and Digesta Fatty Acid Profile

Funding This work has been funded by Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León (research project LE007A07). Acknowledgments We acknowledge support of the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI). Support received from CICYT project AGL2005-04760-C02-02 is gratefully acknowledged.Peer reviewedPublisher PD