Labour militancy and private contracting: public hospital ancillary services

This paper attempts to show that regional variations in the strength of labour force militancy can be an important factor in mediating the regional development of privatization. By taking the private contracting of New Zealand public hospital ancillary services as a specific case study, it is seen that, in some cases, labour militancy can lead to the elimination of private contracting. While acknowledging the need for further research on this issue, some tentative conclusions are drawn on the relevance of labour militancy to the privatization of public service provision in other social contexts

The First Lunar Ranging Constraints on Gravity Sector SME Parameters

We present the first constraints on pure-gravity sector Standard-Model Extension (SME) parameters using Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR). LLR measures the round trip travel time of light between the Earth and the Moon. With 34+ years of LLR data, we have constrained six independent linear combinations of SME parameters at the level of $10^{-6}$ to $10^{-11}$. There is no evidence for Lorentz violation in the LLR dataset.Comment: 7 pages, presented at the Fourth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, Bloomington, Indiana, August 200

Development of a Novel Noise Delivery System for JP-8 Ototoxicity Studies

Numerous chemicals with ototoxic properties may cause hearing loss directly, potentiate noise-induced hearing loss, or produce additive effects. Of interest to the US Air Force are studies showing ototoxic effects of JP-8 jet fuel and its hydrocarbon constituents. The Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, in conjunction with the USAF, is studying the ototoxic effects of JP-8 in rats. The study requires a white noise source that is one octave band wide, centered at 8 kHz frequency, delivered from outside of exposure chambers. Sound pressure levels must be within ± 2 dB at all exposure points within each chamber and within ± 2 dB over a 6-hour run. Electrodynamic shakers were successfully used to produce the required input noise in three exposure chambers by inducing vibration in chamber plenums. Distribution of sound pressure levels across chamber exposure points were well controlled within a ± 1.5 dB prediction interval (α = 0.05) or better. Stability at a central reference point was well controlled over 6-hour runs within a ± 1 dB prediction interval (α = 0.05) or better. The final system solution gives the NHRC a unique capability to deliver noise and whole-body JP-8 aerosol exposures simultaneously

Dynamics of Chemical Degradation in Water Using Photocatalytic Reactions in an Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode Reactor

This work examined ultraviolet (UV) light emitting diodes (LED) and hydrogen peroxide in an advanced oxidation process in support of a USAF installation net zero water initiative. A UV LED reactor was used for degradation of soluble organic chemicals. There were linear relationships between input drive current, optical output power, and first order degradation rate constants. When drive current was varied, first order degradation rates depended on chemical identities and the drive current. When molar peroxide ratios were varied, kinetic profiles revealed peroxide-limited or radical-scavenged phenomena. Molar absorptivity helped explain the complexity of chemical removal profiles. Degradation kinetics were used to compare fit of molecular descriptors from published quantitative structure property relationship (QSPR) models. A novel QSPR model was built using zero point energy and molar absorptivity as predictors. Finally, a systems architecture was used to describe a net zero water program and proposed areas for UV LED reactor integration. Facility-level wastewater treatment was found to be the most feasible near-term application

Beneficial effects of exercise: shifting the focus from body weight to other markers of health

Background: Exercise is widely promoted as a method of weight management, while the other health benefits are often ignored. The purpose of this study was to examine whether exercise-induced improvements in health are influenced by changes in body weight. Methods: Fifty-eight sedentary overweight/obese men and women (BMI 31.8 (SD 4.5) kg/m2) participated in a 12-week supervised aerobic exercise intervention (70% heart rate max, five times a week, 500 kcal per session). Body composition, anthropometric parameters, aerobic capacity, blood pressure and acute psychological response to exercise were measured at weeks 0 and 12. Results: The mean reduction in body weight was −3.3 (3.63) kg (p<0.01). However, 26 of the 58 participants failed to attain the predicted weight loss estimated from individuals’ exercise-induced energy expenditure. Their mean weight loss was only −0.9 (1.8) kg (p<0.01). Despite attaining a lower-than-predicted weight reduction, these individuals experienced significant increases in aerobic capacity (6.3 (6.0) ml/kg/min; p<0.01), and a decreased systolic (−6.00 (11.5) mm Hg; p<0.05) and diastolic blood pressure (−3.9 (5.8) mm Hg; p<0.01), waist circumference (−3.7 (2.7) cm; p<0.01) and resting heart rate (−4.8 (8.9) bpm, p<0.001). In addition, these individuals experienced an acute exercise-induced increase in positive mood. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that significant and meaningful health benefits can be achieved even in the presence of lower-than-expected exercise-induced weight loss. A less successful reduction in body weight does not undermine the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise. From a public health perspective, exercise should be encouraged and the emphasis on weight loss reduced

Sky Variability in the y Band at the LSST Site

We have measured spatial and temporal variability in the y band sky brightness over the course of four nights above Cerro Tololo near Cerro Pachon, Chile, the planned site for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). Our wide-angle camera lens provided a 41 deg field of view and a 145 arcsec pixel scale. We minimized potential system throughput differences by deploying a deep depletion CCD and a filter that matches the proposed LSST y_3 band (970 nm-1030 nm). Images of the sky exhibited coherent wave structure, attributable to atmospheric gravity waves at 90 km altitude, creating 3%-4% rms spatial sky flux variability on scales of about 2 degrees and larger. Over the course of a full night the y_3 band additionally showed highly coherent temporal variability of up to a factor of 2 in flux. We estimate the mean absolute sky level to be approximately y_3 = 17.8 mag (Vega), or y_3 = 18.3 mag (AB). While our observations were made through a y_3 filter, the relative sky brightness variability should hold for all proposed y bands, whereas the absolute levels should more strongly depend on spectral response. The spatial variability presents a challenge to wide-field cameras that require illumination correction strategies that make use of stacked sky flats. The temporal variability may warrant an adaptive y band imaging strategy for LSST, to take advantage of times when the sky is darkest.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted to PASP. Minor changes from referee report and editor's revisions

Diplomacy and the politics of fear: the 21st century challenges to the theory and practice of Diplomacy and International Relations

Conflicts, political unrest, mass migration and the rise of violent extremism by non-state actors are features that have characterized the early 21st century. A huge challenge to world peace and security is posed by volatile economic and political conditions around the world. This situation has led to a growing tension in many inter-state relations which arguably has underpinned the rise of groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Middle East, the Boko Haram in West Africa, and Al Shabaab in East Africa. Arguably, there is a growing sense of fear and unease in every sphere of social, economic and political life. More than at any other time in human history, the future seems uncertain. Relationships and trusts between states and their citizens are breaking down; relations, mutual cooperation and connections between states are under strain; there is growing sense of disillusionment by the governed of the ability of governments and mainstream political establishments to address their concerns and meet their needs. The feeling of uncertainty and general fear for the future is real. While these may not necessarily be universally held views, there is a growing indication that people and communities around the world are feeling dissatisfied and may be threatened by mainstream political systems. Just when it is most needed, diplomacy and diplomatic practice seem to be taking the back seat in the face of growing conflicts. This conference examines the socio-economic and political environment that creates social and political discontent, political apathy, the weakening of inter-state relations, and the general sense of fear