Response Efficacy in Environmental Discounting: Concern and Action towards Climate Change Threats

Extending preceding environmental discounting studies, we examined the role of response efficacy (in low, control, and high conditions) in participants’ valuation of climate-change concern and action across four psychological distance dimensions (temporal, spatial, social, and probabilistic). Participants gave ratings of concern and action in the context of two hypothetical scenarios which were directly related to two different threats (droughts and floods) posed by unmitigated climate change. Rachlin’s hyperboloid discount functions fit the data well. The previously observed gap between concern and action ratings was not replicated in the main analyses, but was seen in the ratings at the minimum distance values. Response efficacy differentially affected ratings of concern and action at the minimum distance values for the temporal, social, and probabilistic dimensions, but differentially affected discount values (k) only for the probabilistic dimension. Compared to their level of concern with the environmental threat, participants who were led to believe that their actions were not efficacious were less willing to engage in mitigation behaviors than participants who were led to believe that their actions were efficacious. The insights gained through the current research effort may be valuable for policymaking as well as intervention design aiming to increase societal mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Clinical and economic aspects of the use of OneTouch glucose meters for the screening of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is increasingly widespread in the Russian Federation. It is a severe chronic disease that both independently reduces quality of life and causes exacerbation of other pathologies. This makes evaluation of quality of diabetes management and understanding of clinical and economic properties of various technologies used to screen blood glucose levels, including portable blood glucose meters. Previously there already were clinical-economic evaluations of blood glucose meters within context of Russian Federation but they have not included modern high-precision equipment, thus ensuring attractiveness of current research effort into HTA of modern blood glucose meters that accounts for real life hospital practice. Goal. To assess the clinic-economic properties of modern blood glucose portable measurement systems of OneTouch family and the real-world practics of their use in Russian healthcare facilities. Methodology. The research was performed from the perspective of the Russian healthcare system. Target population was represented by a virtual cohort of 100 patients. Only direct costs were accounted for, specifically all costs caused by consumables involved in operating multifunctional laboratory complexes and all consumables involved in operating portable glucose meters. Employee salaries were also included (accounting for number of personnel involved in different procedures as based on a real clinical practice survey performed as part of this research). Since it is known that modern, standard-compliant portable glucose meters have an accuracy that is more than sufficient for routine screening, cost minimization analysis was used for assessment of economic effects when comparing different approaches to organizing glucose level screening. Research results. The survey during this research effort has indicated that not all medical facilities utilize “tandem usage” of multifunction laboratory complexes and portable glucose meters, however, such “tandem use” is the most widespread approach to organizing blood glucose screening. Cost minimization analysis has demonstrated that “tandem usage” is also the most economically attractive approach and results in cost savings for the medical facility. Conclusions. Current research effort which included cost analysis and cost minimization analysis has demonstrated that “tandem usage” approach which involves combined use of both multifunction laboratory complexes and portable glucose meter systems has substantial economic advantage (over 60 % for analysis with 5 year time horizon). Multiple sensitivity analyses have confirmed robustness of this result. This research further establishes the importance of communicating advantages of modern portable glucose meters to healthcare organizers since this technology is not only clinically rational but also economically optimal.

Generation, Composition and Management of Municipal Solid Waste at Rudraprayag, Garhwal Himalaya

The key objective of the current research effort was to investigate the generation and composition of the municipal solid waste and to assess the recent management practices for solid waste management. The study area was divided into nine wards and four zones on the basis of population size, their economic and living standards. The total solid waste generation during the study period was around 4-5 tonnes per day. The qualitative solid waste analysis of Rudraprayag reveals that it includes the biodegradable, non-biodegradable and inert waste. However, the quantitative solid waste analysis reveals that the highest generation of biodegradable waste was found in February (89.16 %) and lowest in May (79.06 %). Non-biodegradable waste was recorded highest during March (25.72 %) and lowest during June (7.73 %). The percentage of inert waste was maximum during April (2.87 %) minimum during June (0.037 %). The total waste generation was found maximum during February which was 5883.983 g. However, it was found minimum during May which was 2596.034 g.

An ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of leather-derived luminescent graphene quantum dots: catalytic reduction and switch on–off probe for nitro-explosives

The current research effort demonstrates the ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of highly fluorescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) of ∼5 nm diameter.

Probing Trace Elements in Human Tissues with Synchrotron Radiation

For the past several decades, synchrotron radiation has been extensively used to measure the spatial distribution and chemical affinity of elements found in trace concentrations (<few µg/g) in animal and human tissues. Intense and highly focused (lateral size of several micrometers) X-ray beams combined with small steps of photon energy tuning (2–3 eV) of synchrotron radiation allowed X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques to nondestructively and simultaneously detect trace elements as well as identify their chemical affinity and speciation in situ, respectively. Although limited by measurement time and radiation damage to the tissue, these techniques are commonly used to obtain two-dimensional and three-dimensional maps of several elements at synchrotron facilities around the world. The spatial distribution and chemistry of the trace elements obtained is then correlated to the targeted anatomical structures and to the biological functions (normal or pathological). For example, synchrotron-based in vitro studies of various human tissues showed significant differences between the normal and pathological distributions of metallic trace elements such as iron, zinc, copper, and lead in relation to human diseases ranging from Parkinson’s disease and cancer to osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Current research effort is aimed at not only measuring the abnormal elemental distributions associated with various diseases, but also indicate or discover possible biological mechanisms that could explain such observations. While a number of studies confirmed and strengthened previous knowledge, others revealed or suggested new possible roles of trace elements or provided a more accurate spatial distribution in relation to the underlying histology. This area of research is at the intersection of several current fundamental and applied scientific inquiries such as metabolomics, medicine, biochemistry, toxicology, food science, health physics, and environmental and public health.

Phylogeography of equine infectious anemia virus

ABSTRACTEquine Infectious Anemia virus (EIAV) is the causative agent of one of the most impacting infectious diseases affecting equids. EIAV is genetically diverse with several lineages circulating globally. To elucidate EIAV global spread patterns, we studied its spatiotemporal dynamics applying Bayesian phylodynamic analyses, using a worldwide compiled dataset composed of unique sequences of the gag gene. In addition, we performed a scoping review of 1.470 publications on EIAV to characterize the spatiotemporal trends in EAIV research. Phylogeographic reconstruction suggested Hungary as the most likely country of origin for current EIAV circulation (root state posterior probability = 0.21), and one of the most important centers of diversification for the disease. Historical EIAV spread was predominantly characterized by long-distance spread across continents. As a result, we found that the American and Asian circulating EIAV (i.e., Mongolia) are more related to European lineages than to other Asian countries, being Europe the continent with the highest EIAV phylogenetic diversity. Our bibliometric analysis showed a continuous increment in the number of publications per year, where the United States and China appeared as the countries with highest EIAV-related scientific production. This study provides a historical geographic mapping of the EIAV linages’ spread patterns. In addition, we identified important asymmetry between the current research effort and the availability of genetic data which restricted our abilities to quantify for example the time frame of virus dispersal.

Year 2015 Benchmark Analysis on Realizing Performance and Emissions of Combustion Boilers

This current research effort will consider boiler conditions in 2015. The analysis was based on data gathered from a voluntary survey completed by plant owners and operators. The survey responses included the following: (1) boiler fuel sources, (2) efficiency performance, (3) environmental performance, (4) operations and maintenance activities, and (5) boiler availability. The analysis also included future concerns with respect to daily boiler operations from the responding plant operators and management.

The calcium and vitamin D controversy

Areas of the world where vitamin D levels are low for months of the year and intakes of calcium are high have a high prevalence of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. This suggests a public health message of avoiding calcium supplements and increasing vitamin D intake. No message could be more welcome as vitamin D can be given as a bolus while calcium must be taken daily and may be poorly tolerated. This approach is based on no evidence from intervention studies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest that vitamin D given with calcium elicits a small reduction in fracture risk and deaths. This has not been demonstrated for D given alone. The cardiovascular safety of calcium and vitamin D (CaD) supplements is difficult to ascertain due to weaknesses in RCT designs and adjudication that cannot be remedied by subanalysis. Moreover, no major new RCTs are in process to provide better evidence. It remains unclear that calcium from dietary sources has health advantages over supplements. Benefits may be confined to patients with poor nutritional intake and the small effects at societal levels may be derived from large effects in a small number of patients. This has been impossible to confirm given the limited information about baseline vitamin D and calcium status at entry into trials. Future intervention studies should carefully capture baseline characteristics as these may determine the strength of the response, and make more efficient use of randomization strategies allowing subsequent disassembly or subanalyses while maintaining balancing. Though large clinical RCTs currently evaluate the effects of higher vitamin D doses (equivalent to 50–83 µg/d) there is no current research effort regarding the calcium controversy. In the absence of such studies it is not possible to provide clinicians with evidence-based recommendations regarding the best use of CaD supplementation.

EXPLORATION AND EXPLOITATION IN SCIENCE: THEIR IMPACT ON SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL OUTCOMES

Since March's 1991 seminal article, exploration and exploitation have been extensively studied in the areas of organisational learning, strategic renewal, and technological innovation [Li et al.(2008)]. However, much of the research has focused on exploration as science-based and exploitation as technology-based. This current research effort utilises a unique database to examine the phenomena only in the science arena. The results are that exploration efforts lead to science outcomes, and that both exploration and exploitation efforts have a positive impact on technological outcomes. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed.

Towards a national research agenda for the ambulance and pre-hospital sector in Australia

By comparison to other health disciplines and medical specialties, pre-hospital and emergency medical systems (EMS) research lags behind its clinical cousins. This paper describes a recent Australian response to recognition of the need to improve the profile of pre-hospital and EMS research. In August 2002, the Convention of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) hosted a national symposium to discuss the development of an Australian agenda for ambulance and pre-hospital research. The aims of the symposium were to describe the current state of Australian research on pre-hospital care and EMS; identify gaps in the current research effort; discuss targets for future research; and describe mechanisms for encouraging industry cooperation and fostering the research effort. Similarities between the key issues facing Australian researchers and those described in both the United Kingdom and United States were noted. This Symposium was an important preliminary step in focusing and improving the pre-hospital research effort in Australia.