Global control of sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections other than HIV are important global health issues. They have, however, been neglected as a public-health priority and control efforts continue to fail. Sexually transmitted infections, by their nature, affect individuals, who are part of partnerships and larger sexual networks, and in turn populations. We propose a framework of individual, partnership, and population levels for examining the effects of sexually transmitted infections and interventions to control them. At the individual level we have a range of effective diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines. These options are unavailable or inaccessible in many resource-poor settings, where syndromic management remains the core intervention for individual case management. At the partnership level, partner notification and antenatal syphilis screening have the potential to prevent infection and re-infection. Interventions delivered to whole populations, or groups in whom the risks of infection and onward transmission are very high, have the greatest potential effect. Improvements to the infrastructure of treatment services can reduce the incidence of syphilis and gonorrhoea or urethritis. Strong evidence for the effectiveness of most other interventions on population-level outcomes is, however, scarce. Effective action requires a multifaceted approach including better basic epidemiological and surveillance data, high quality evidence about effectiveness of individual interventions and programmes, better methods to get effective interventions onto the policy agenda, and better advocacy and more commitment to get them implemented properly. We must not allow stigma, prejudice, and moral opposition to obstruct the goals of infectious disease control.

The prospect of applying chemical elicitors and plant strengtheners to enhance the biological control of crop pests

An imminent food crisis reinforces the need for novel strategies to increase crop yields worldwide. Effective control of pest insects should be part of such strategies, preferentially with reduced negative impact on the environment and optimal protection and utilization of existing biodiversity. Enhancing the presence and efficacy of native biological control agents could be one such strategy. Plant strengthener is a generic term for several commercially available compounds or mixtures of compounds that can be applied to cultivated plants in order to ‘boost their vigour, resilience and performance’. Studies into the consequences of boosting plant resistance against pests and diseases on plant volatiles have found a surprising and dramatic increase in the plants' attractiveness to parasitic wasps. Here, we summarize the results from these studies and present new results from assays that illustrate the great potential of two commercially available resistance elicitors. We argue that plant strengtheners may currently be the best option to enhance the attractiveness of cultivated plants to biological control agents. Other options, such as the genetic manipulation of the release of specific volatiles may offer future solutions, but in most systems, we still miss fundamental knowledge on which key attractants should be targeted for this approach.

Construcción de una maquina de control numérico " CNC" para prototipado rápido de piezas 3D en diferentes polímeros "impresora 3D"

El objetivo principal del presente Proyecto Fin de Carrera es la construcción , montaje y calibración de una impresora 3D auto replicable modelo Prusa Mendel capaz de trabajar en coordenadas polares, lo cual abre las puertas a la investigación de calidades, tolerancias, resistencias estructurales… de estas piezas en comparación con las fabricadas por impresoras cartesianas. Encontraras una guía de montaje paso a paso, además de un listado de todos los componentes, imprimibles y no imprimibles, que componen la impresora 3D. También se analizan y comparan las opciones a la hora de introducir la electrónica necesaria, extrusor y de los posibles errores y soluciones que se pueden encontrar durante la fabricación de una de estas máquinas. Finalmente dispondrás de una guía de calibración de skeinforce 41,para poder conseguir una impresión de gran calidad. Abstract The main objective of this Thesis is the construction, installation and calibration of a self-replicating 3D printer model Prusa Mendel able to work in polar coordinates, which opens the door to research quality, tolerances, these structural resistance ... parts compared to those manufactured by Cartesian printers. In this project you will find a guide step by step assembly, and a list of all components, and 3D printer components printable and unprintable. We also analyze and compare the options when entering the necessary electronics, extruder and possible errors and solutions that may occur during manufacturing of these machines finally have an installation guide calibration skeinforge 41 to get a high quality print

Control of neuronal signalling pathways by CYP46A1, an enzime involved in brain cholesterol homeostasis

Tese de doutoramento, Farmácia (Biologia Celular e Molecular), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, 2016

Noise abatement technology options for conventional turboprop airplanes /

Mode of access: Internet.

Thornton Composite Reservoir : feasibility study of options A, B, and C : part 3 /

"May, 1987."

Relief Well Rehabilitation Options in Chief Joseph Dam Right Abutment Drainage Tunnel

This report summarizes the data, observations, methods, assumptions, and decisions for the design of the Relief Well Rehabilitation Project in the Right Abutment Drainage Tunnel at Chief Joseph Dam. Chief Joseph Dam (CJD) is a dam on the Columbia River and is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). It is the second only to Grand Coulee dam as the largest producer of hydropower in the United States. The right abutment drainage tunnel contains wooden stave relief wells. Water flows from these wells which reduces the hydrostatic pressure in the right abutment of the dam. The 22 wells in the floor of the tunnel are 60 years old and are in need of rehabilitation. The objective of this project is to control the groundwater gradient, prevent the movement of sediment, stop total screen collapse, and prevent initiation of backwards erosion and piping in the abutment. The rehabilitation solution is to install new stainless steel screens into the existing wells, backfill the annular space between the old wooden screen and the new stainless steel screens with a 3/8-inch pea gravel filter pack, and install a new top cap to hold the new screen in place. This report documents the data, observations, and methods used to complete the final design. During tunnel inspections USACE geologists observed dislodged end plugs and evidence of sediment movement out of the formation. The relief wells have historically high flows between 6,000 gallons per minute (gpm) to 9,000 gpm. New screens are designed based on as-built data and historic tunnel flow. The new screens are 8-in diameter, 100 slot (0.10-inch) screens. We found that screen diameter and slot size would provide adequate transmitting capacity for most of the relief wells. The filter pack gradation is based on descriptions from foundation construction reports. I found that 3/8-inch pea gravel is appropriate for the abutment material. During design, I also considered an option to install the screens into the relief wells without filter pack. I eliminated this option because it did not meet our rehabilitation objective to prevent total failure of the wooden screens.

Tumor control in birds

Neoplasia is common in pet birds, especially psittacines, and mainly involves the integument and urogenital system. Before treatment options are considered, a definitive diagnosis should be made and the extent of the disease determined. Treatment should initially be directed at tumor eradication and may involve using several modalities together or sequentially. Surgery, radiotherapy, and photodynamic therapy are used against localized tumors, while chemotherapy and biological response modification are also used against metastatic disease. In combination or adjunct therapy, surgery is used to excise or debulk the tumor, radiotherapy to sterilize local regional disease and chemotherapy and biological therapy to help prevent metastatic disease. The tumor control program should be rationally planned before application, rather than added on when one modality fails, as is commonly practiced. Tumor response to therapy should be regularly assessed both in the short and long term and wherever possible, assessment should be quantitated. Work place health and safety procedures for radiation and cytotoxic drugs should always be practiced. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Corporate governance options for the local subsidiaries of multinational enterprises

While the corporate governance literature generally focuses on the parent legal entity, many organisations are now multinational enterprises (MNEs) with subsidiaries that are most often legal entities in their host countries. Despite the strengthening of corporate governance regimes internationally, the boards of these subsidiaries are in many instances perfunctory. This paper examines the question of whether developments in corporate governance theory and practice can add value for the local subsidiaries of MNEs. This paper provides a theoretical basis for evaluating governance models in MNEs. The paper commences with a review of the key concepts from the MNE and conglomerates literature with respect to core MNE strategies. The paper then discusses what the "governance roles" are that must be performed in MNE subsidiaries. We propose four governance frameworks for subsidiary corporations. These frameworks are: (1) Direct Control; (2) Dual Reporting; (3) Advisory Board; (4) Local Board. We consider the strengths and weaknesses of each model in relation to international strategy theory. We conclude with recommendations for the conditions under which the various models may be appropriate and practical guidelines for the utilisation of corporate governance theory to improve MNE performance.

A systems approach to strategic manpower planning for technological development under conditions of manpower scarcity and centralised control

This thesis deals with the integration of the manpower criterion with the strategic decision making processes of technological projects in developing countries. This integration is to be achieved by ensuring the involvement of the actors, who have relevant roles and responsibilities along the whole life cycle of the project, in the strategic decision making phases of the project. The relevance of the actors is ascertained by the use of a responsibility index which relates their responsibility to the project's constituent stages. In the context of a technological project in a typical centrally-planned developing environment, the actors are identified as Arbiters, Planners, Implementors and Operators and their roles, concerns and objectives are derived. In this context, the actors are usually government and non-government organisations. Hence, decision making will involve multiple agencies as well as multiple criteria. A methodology covering the whole decision-making process, from options generation to options selection, and adopting Saaty's Analytical Hierarchy Process as an operational tool is proposed to deal with such multiple-criteria, multipleagency decision situations. The methodology is intended to integrate the consideration of the relevant criteria, the prevailing environmental and policy factors, and the concerns and objectives of the relevant actors into a unifying decision-making process which strives to facilitate enlightened decision making and to enhance learning and interaction. An extensive assessment of the methodology's feasibility, based on a specific technological project within the Iraqi oil industry is included, and indicates that the methodology should be both useful and implementable.

Mennyit ér a zajterhelés csökkenése? Zajvédelmi intézkedések értékelése a haszonértékelések átvitelével (The value of silence. An application of benefit-transfer methodology for evaluating noise-control actions)

Mind ez ideig a gyakorlatban kevéssé aknázták ki azt a lehetőséget, hogy a természeti tőke pénzbeli értékelése számszerű, egzakt információt nyújthat a döntéshozóknak. A szerzők a zajvédelmi intézkedések példáján keresztül tekintik át a természeti tőkejavak közgazdasági értékelésében rejlő lehetőségeket. Ismertetik a költség-haszon elemzés környezeti javakkal bővített formájának előnyeit, majd az általában elhanyagolt, a nem piaci javak által nyújtott haszon közgazdasági értékelésére alkalmas eljárásokat, külön kitérve a zajterhelés területére. Nagy hangsúlyt helyeznek a haszonfelmérések átvitelének széles körben alkalmazható módszereire. Bemutatják az általuk gyakorlatban végzett kutatás során szerzett tapasztalatokat, különös tekintettel arra, hogy a haszonértékelések átvitele hogyan járulhat hozzá a természeti tőkejavakkal kapcsolatos döntések során a társadalmi haszon maximalizálásához. _____ The paper offers an overview of the economic valuation of transportation-induced noise and cost-benefit analysis of noise-control measures and actions. Although economic valuation can provide hard, monetized data for decision-makers, it is relatively underused in practice. The study focuses on benefit-transfer methodology, where values obtained in previous cases are used as the basis for current evaluation. A specific application of benefit transfer is presented by a recent pilot project in Hungary, whereby a tool was developed for LGOs, enabling them to make preliminary assessments of the benefits of potential noise-control measures and rank possible options. This can help to optimize the benefits to society using limited resources.

Restoring function after neuromuscular trauma: novel paradigms for enhancing volitional control of neural activity in untethered environments and vHAB, a gamified therapy platform

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-08

Biological control of weeds in the 22 Pacific island countries and territories: current status and future prospects

Biological control of introduced weeds in the 22 Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) began in 1911, with the lantana seed-feeding fly introduced into Fiji and New Caledonia from Hawaii. To date, a total of 62 agents have been deliberately introduced into the PICTs to control 21 weed species in 17 countries. A further two agents have spread naturally into the region. The general impact of the 36 biocontrol agents now established in the PICTs ranges from none to complete control of their target weed(s). Fiji has been most active in weed biocontrol, releasing 30 agents against 11 weed species. Papua New Guinea, Guam, and the Federated States of Micronesia have also been very active in weed biocontrol. For some weeds such as Lantana camara, agents have been released widely, and can now be found in 15 of the 21 PICTs in which the weed occurs. However, agents for other commonly found weeds, such as Sida acuta, have been released in only a few countries in which the weed is present. There are many safe and effective biocontrol agents already in the Pacific that could be utilised more widely, and highly effective agents that have been released elsewhere in the world that could be introduced following some additional host specificity testing. This paper discusses the current status of biological control efforts against introduced weeds in the 22 PICTs and reviews options that could be considered by countries wishing to initiate weed biological control programmes.

Adaptation of motor control to training and disuse : contribution of muscle synergy analysis and movement variability

The well-known degrees of freedom problem originally introduced by Nikolai Bernstein (1967) results from the high abundance of degrees of freedom in the musculoskeletal system. Such abundance in motor control have two sides: i) because it is unlikely that the Central Nervous System controls each degree of freedom independently, the complexity of the control needs to be reduced, and ii) because there are many options to perform a movement, a repetition of a given movement is never the same. It leads to two main topics in motor control and biomechanics: motor coordination and motor variability. The present thesis aimed to understand how motor systems behave and adapt under specific conditions. This thesis comprises three studies that focused on three topics of major interest in the field of sports sciences and medicine: expertise, injury risk and fatigue. The first study (expertise) has focused on the muscle coordination topic to further investigate the effect of expertise on the muscle synergistic organization, which ultimately may represent the underlying neural strategies. Studies 2 (excessive medial knee displacement) and 3 (fatigue) both aimed to better understand its impact on the dynamic local stability. The main findings of the present thesis suggest: 1) there is a great robustness in muscle synergistic organization between swimmers at different levels of expertise (study 1, chapter II), which ultimately indicate that differences in muscle coordination is mainly explained by peripheral adaptations; 2) injury risk factors such as excessive medial knee displacement (study 2, chapter III) and fatigue (study 3, chapter IV) alter the dynamic local stability of the neuromuscular system towards a more unstable state. This change in dynamic local stability represents a loss of adaptability in the neuromuscular system reducing the flexibility to adapt to a perturbation.