ai Behind the campaign promises - Health and social care spending By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 22 Nov 2019 16:21:30 +0000 A UK general election has been called - polling day is on the 12th of December, and from now until then we’re going to be bringing you a weekly election-themed podcast. We want to help you make sense of the promises and pledges, claims and counter-claims, that are being made around healthcare and the NHS out on the campaign trail. This week... Full Article
ai Behind the campaign promises - Health beyond the NHS By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Sat, 30 Nov 2019 09:10:48 +0000 A UK general election has been called - polling day is on the 12th of December, and from now until then we’re going to be bringing you a weekly election-themed podcast. We want to help you make sense of the promises and pledges, claims and counter-claims, that are being made around healthcare and the NHS out on the campaign trail. This week... Full Article
ai Behind the campaign promises - what the NHS means for the election By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Dec 2019 19:09:30 +0000 UK general election has been called - polling day is on the 12th of December, and from now until then we’re going to be bringing you a weekly election-themed podcast. We want to help you make sense of the promises and pledges, claims and counter-claims, that are being made around healthcare and the NHS out on the campaign trail. This week we're... Full Article
ai Behind the campaign promises - Doctors in parliament By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Mon, 09 Dec 2019 18:52:26 +0000 The UK general election is happening this week, and you’ve probably made your mind up which MP you’re voting for already - and maybe the NHS has influenced that decision. This year has seen an increase in the number of doctors running for parliament, and in this podcast we find out what motivates doctors to step away from clinical practice, and... Full Article
ai Talk Evidence - digital clubbing, osteoarthritis & sustainable EBM By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:36:54 +0000 We’re back for the December Talk Evidence, and this month we’re being very digital Firstly,(1.20) Helen tells us about arthritic fingers - should we be using prednisolone for treatment when people have painful osteoarthritis of the hand Then (13.30) Carl gets us all to check our fingers for clubbing, and we find out how useful it is as a test... Full Article
ai Is it possible to have fair pricing for medicines By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 17 Jan 2020 17:50:54 +0000 Is it possible to have a fair price for medicines? Yes, according to a new collection just published on bmj.com. The authors set out to evaluate how we could improve the functioning of the market for medicines, to honestly compensate industry for innovation, whilst allowing the poorest to afford them. Suerie Moon, co-director of global health at... Full Article
ai Why we are failing patients with multimorbidity By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thu, 05 Mar 2020 14:54:02 +0000 We know that the number of people living with multiple health conditions is rising year on year, and yet training, guidelines, organisations and physical spaces in healthcare still largely focus on single diseases or organ systems. The means that patients in the NHS are often treated as if their conditions exist in isolation, and that their care... Full Article
ai Talk Evidence Covid-19 update - Confused symptoms, fatality rate uncertainty, Iceland's testing By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Fri, 27 Mar 2020 16:14:17 +0000 For the next few months Talk Evidence is going to focus on the new corona virus pandemic. There is an enormous amount of uncertainty about the disease, what the symptoms are, fatality rate, treatment options, things we shouldn't be doing. We're going to try to get away from the headlines and talk about what we need to know - to hopefully give... Full Article
ai Are the {beta}-Cell Signaling Molecules Malonyl-CoA and Cystolic Long-Chain Acyl-CoA Implicated in Multiple Tissue Defects of Obesity and NIDDM? By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 1996-03-01 Marc PrentkiMar 1, 1996; 45:273-283Original Article Full Article
ai Clinical and Molecular Prevalence of Lipodystrophy in an Unascertained Large Clinical Care Cohort By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-01-20T12:00:26-08:00 Lipodystrophies are a group of disorders characterized by absence or loss of adipose tissue and abnormal fat distribution, commonly accompanied by metabolic dysregulation. Although considered rare disorders, their prevalence in the general population is not well understood. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and genetic prevalence of lipodystrophy disorders in a large clinical care cohort. We interrogated the electronic health record (EHR) information of >1.3 million adults from the Geisinger Health System for lipodystrophy diagnostic codes. We estimate a clinical prevalence of disease of 1 in 20,000 individuals. We performed genetic analyses in individuals with available genomic data to identify variants associated with inherited lipodystrophies and examined their EHR for comorbidities associated with lipodystrophy. We identified 16 individuals carrying the p.R482Q pathogenic variant in LMNA associated with Dunnigan familial partial lipodystrophy. Four had a clinical diagnosis of lipodystrophy, whereas the remaining had no documented clinical diagnosis despite having accompanying metabolic abnormalities. We observed a lipodystrophy-associated variant carrier frequency of 1 in 3,082 individuals in our cohort with substantial burden of metabolic dysregulation. We estimate a genetic prevalence of disease of ~1 in 7,000 in the general population. Partial lipodystrophy is an underdiagnosed condition. and its prevalence, as defined molecularly, is higher than previously reported. Genetically guided stratification of patients with common metabolic disorders, like diabetes and dyslipidemia, is an important step toward precision medicine. Full Article
ai Workers blame Iberostar for failure to benefit from SET Cash COVID relief - Employees charge that hotel did not to pay over tax deductions to State By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:23:02 -0500 Western Bureau: Some displaced Iberostar employees in Rose Hall, St James, are angry with their employer, charging that they have been unable to benefit from the Government’s COVID-19 relief programme because of the hotel’s failure to pay over... Full Article
ai #JamaicaTogether | Mother pulled back from the brink after thieves shatter hope By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 00:25:21 -0500 Latoya Rose used the last $3,000 she had to invest in 26 baby chicks and feed with the hope of turning a profit after they matured. Last Friday, as the Spaldings resident went to her coop to feed the chickens, they were all gone. “When I don’t see... Full Article
ai Heartbreak again ... Unhappy landing for ship workers, other Jamaicans By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 15:15:24 -0500 It was not the landing the Jamaicans who arrived at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport on Wednesday evening would want again. The 43 Jamaican ship workers of the Marella Discovery 2 were among the 115 people aboard the TUI charter flight that touched down amid the Kingston breeze and evening sunset. Full Article
ai #JamaicaTogether Promo - Nadine Sutherland By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:13:42 -0500 “I know this has been some difficult times for us with the pandemic, but I know we are going to get through this together – Jamaica together. We are going to continue our social distancing. We are going to continue practising our incredible hygiene... Full Article
ai Lockdown pains! - Vendor suffers double setback from COVID strictures By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:08:31 -0500 It was a double whammy of inconvenience for Sharon Carter, a vendor in Metcalfe Market, Annotto Bay. Carter, who lives in St Catherine, had just recently been relieved of the lockdown in the parish and is now being affected by the quarantine which... Full Article
ai Hickling hailed for sterling contribution to mental health By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:17:09 -0500 The Senate on Friday paid tribute to distinguished consultant psychiatrist, Frederick Hickling, for his tremendous contribution to persons with intellectual disabilities. Hickling died on Thursday. Senator Dr Saphire Longmore remembered Professor... Full Article
ai Haiti receives US$16.1 million in assistance from US to fight COVID-19 By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2020 10:51:23 -0500 PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The Government of Haiti has received funds amounting to US$16.1 million from the United States to help the country respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds from the United States Agency for International... Full Article
ai St Vincent denies US-based airline from landing with stranded nationals By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 29 Apr 2020 10:42:19 -0500 KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – The St Vincent and the Grenadines Government has denied a United States-based airline permission to land, dashing hopes that an estimated 300 nationals employed with a US-based cruise line would have arrived home... Full Article
ai Haiti records seventh death from COVID-19 By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Thu, 30 Apr 2020 10:27:51 -0500 PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, CMC – The Ministry of Public Health has confirmed that a 20-year-old man has become the seventh person in Haiti to die of the coronavirus (COVID-19). It is urging the population to follow restriction measures, including... Full Article
ai Vincentian students in Jamaica told to pay over US$1,000 to return home By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 10:49:07 -0500 KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, CMC – St Vincent and the Grenadines students in Jamaica wanting to return home amid the coronavirus (COVID-19, including locked borders, must each pay an estimated US$1,3339 for a return flight. In a letter to the... Full Article
ai CARPHA urges public to guard against mosquito-borne diseases By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 10:16:34 -0500 PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is urging people in the region to remember that despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they must be mindful that other public health threats still... Full Article
ai Use of antiviral drug in poultry is blamed for drug resistant strains of avian flu By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 21:55 Full Article
ai Obesity: raising price of sugary snacks may be more effective than soft drink tax By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thursday, September 5, 2019 - 10:35 Full Article
ai Partha Kar: Covid-19—we must keep faith in our experts By feeds.bmj.com Published On :: Thursday, March 19, 2020 - 17:10 Full Article
ai Get ready to watch: MLB.TV available for 2019 By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Wed, 6 Feb 2019 10:55:51 EDT Spring Training is imminent, Opening Day is within sight and the big league season isn't complete for fans without a subscription to MLB.TV. The most comprehensive streaming service in professional sports is now available for the 2019 season. Full Article
ai All you need to know for Reds Spring Training By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Wed, 6 Feb 2019 12:19:32 EDT Reds Spring Training in Goodyear, Ariz., will feature a new manager in David Bell, a new coaching staff and several new players. Here is what you need to know about 2019 camp. Full Article
ai Reds' Spring Training opens to a different feel By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Feb 2019 17:40:26 EDT It wasn't just that there were new faces when Reds camp opened Tuesday with the reporting of pitchers and catchers for physicals, there was a different vibe that could be felt in the hallways and clubhouse. Full Article
ai Bell leads new-look Reds into Spring Training By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Feb 2019 11:52:37 EDT As Reds Spring Training opened with pitchers and catchers reporting for physicals on Tuesday, new manager David Bell was already be tasked with many responsibilities. But there will be one that looms largest. Following five years out of the postseason, including the past four with more than 90 losses, Bell must restore a culture of winning. Full Article
ai Votto aims to improve after 'frustrating' 2018 By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Sun, 17 Feb 2019 17:06:40 EDT Even before the Reds underscored their determination to improve by making major offseason acquisitions for the club, first baseman Joey Votto was already working to improve his hitting and his overall game. Full Article
ai The Reds' Spring Training battle to watch By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:20:16 EDT The next five weeks will see lots of shuffling on Major League rosters. Here are the most intriguing positional battles on each of the 30 MLB clubs. Full Article
ai Private sector should rally with Jamaicans By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 00:09:48 -0500 THE EDITOR, Madam: In times of great challenge and hardship we must continue, as a people, to uphold the values and attitudes that make us truly Jamaican. It is a time for true patriotism and for us to reach down and pull up those among us with... Full Article
ai Safeguard against virus being blamed for everything By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 23:09:21 -0500 THE EDITOR, Madam: COVID-19 can be made to be the blame bearer for every ill, unless careful disaggregation is done to separate what is truly attributable to both its real scope and the understandable ripple effects of the virus. The quality of... Full Article
ai United against coronavirus through art - Government of India calls artists to participate in a unique art competition By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 05 Apr 2020 00:14:47 -0500 The COVID-19 pandemic around the world has taken the world by storm, touching the lives of every human being on Earth. The global nature of the crisis has united us as human beings and tragedy and deaths in any country by COVID-19 worry us all.... Full Article
ai Taking COVID-19 heads on - Student entrepreneurs’ inventions prove viable weapons against deadly virus By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 12 Apr 2020 00:19:49 -0500 As the global battle against the deadly COVID-19 disease wages on, with each country’s government, healthcare industry, and general public playing its part in defeating this new and relatively unknown enemy, two seemingly unlikely foot soldiers... Full Article
ai Jamaican art spreads warmth in St Petersburg By jamaica-gleaner.com Published On :: Sun, 03 May 2020 00:13:49 -0500 St Petersburg is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque cities in the world – from its European-inspired architecture, its signature colourful, eclectic-style to its neoclassical and Baroque style to its water corridors, and the art, the city is a... Full Article
ai Liver ChREBP Protects Against Fructose-Induced Glycogenic Hepatotoxicity by Regulating L-Type Pyruvate Kinase By diabetes.diabetesjournals.org Published On :: 2020-03-20T11:50:28-07:00 Excessive fructose consumption is closely linked to the pathogenesis of metabolic disease. Carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) is a transcription factor essential for fructose tolerance in mice. However, the functional significance of liver ChREBP in fructose metabolism remains unclear. Here, we show that liver ChREBP protects mice against fructose-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating liver glycogen metabolism and ATP homeostasis. Liver-specific ablation of ChREBP did not compromise fructose tolerance, but rather caused severe transaminitis and hepatomegaly with massive glycogen overload in mice fed a high-fructose diet, while no obvious inflammation, cell death, or fibrosis was detected in the liver. In addition, liver ATP contents were significantly decreased by ChREBP deficiency in the fed state, which was rendered more pronounced by fructose feeding. Mechanistically, liver contents of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), an allosteric activator of glycogen synthase, were markedly increased in the absence of liver ChREBP, while fasting-induced glycogen breakdown was not compromised. Furthermore, hepatic overexpression of LPK, a ChREBP target gene in glycolysis, could effectively rescue glycogen overload and ATP reduction, as well as mitigate fructose-induced hepatotoxicity in ChREBP-deficient mice. Taken together, our findings establish a critical role of liver ChREBP in coping with hepatic fructose stress and protecting from hepatotoxicity by regulating LPK. Full Article
ai Promoting Legal and Sustainable Timber: Using Public Procurement Policy By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 14:08:10 +0000 8 September 2014 This paper examines governments’ efforts to use public procurement policy to promote the use of legal and sustainable timber. Timber procurement can provide valuable lessons to governments when developing sustainable procurement policies for other products associated with deforestation. Download PDF Duncan Brack Associate Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme @DuncanBrack Google Scholar 20140908TimberBrack.jpg Logging and timber production and transportation on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Photo by Getty Images. Governments are increasingly using public procurement policy to promote the use of legal and sustainable timber, thereby helping to reduce deforestation and illegal logging and encouraging sustainable forestry. At least 26 countries, mostly in the EU, currently possess some form of timber procurement policy at central government level. Although some have been implemented more recently than others and all tend to vary in their design, the evidence suggests that they are having a positive effect on increasing market share for verified legal and sustainable timber. Although government purchasing accounts for only a limited share of the market, the evidence also suggests that these timber procurement policies are having a broader impact on consumer markets, partly through their impact on suppliers and partly through the signals they send to the market. These policies are also relatively straightforward to introduce: many countries already possess some form of green procurement policy, and criteria for legal and sustainable timber can easily be tailored to fit. In general no new legislation is needed, though the more comprehensive policies benefit from training and advice to government purchasers. The gradual spread of the EU Green Procurement Policy programme, and commitments by an increasing number of private companies to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains are likely to encourage further uptake of procurement policies for sustainable timber. Timber procurement can also provide valuable lessons to governments when developing sustainable procurement policies for other products associated with deforestation, such as palm oil. Department/project Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Improving Forest Governance and Tackling Illegal Logging and Deforestation Full Article
ai Valuing Vital Resources in India: Potential for Integrated Approaches to Water, Energy and Agricultural Sustainability By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 11:15:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 16 January 2015 - 9:00am to 2:00pm The India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India Event participants Dr Ashwini Swain, Fellow, CUTS Institute for Regulation and CompetitionGlada Lahn, Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources, Chatham HouseDr Gareth Price, Senior Research Fellow, Asia Programme, Chatham House As part of the international dialogue on Valuing Vital Resources, this seminar will convene policy-makers, scholars, technical practitioners, NGOs, multilateral agencies and the media to discuss recommendations for new policy approaches in India to reorient energy and water use in agriculture. The aim is to gain input to practical policy proposals and identify the work now needed to make them robust. Attendance is by invitation only. Please note this event is held in New Delhi, all times are local. This event is organized together with the CUTS Institute for Regulation & Competition (CIRC). Event attributes External event Department/project Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Valuing Vital Resources Glada Lahn Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Chatham House Email Full Article
ai Transatlantic Dialogue on Reducing Deforestation in Supply Chains of Agricultural Commodities By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:15:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 23 October 2014 - 9:00am to 24 October 2014 - 5:00pm Pew Charitable Trust Center, Washington DC Meeting Summarypdf | 453.27 KB This transatlantic dialogue will bring together a number of stakeholders, focused on options for reducing deforestation in agricultural supply chains. Key questions will be asked such as: What are the current and projected patterns of supply and demand for key commodities, and their impacts on forests? Who are the key producers and what is their relative impact on forests? How are these patterns likely to change in the future? What are the key points of leverage in these supply chains? What is the scope of potential action by the US, the EU, and its member states?The current status and future trends in the global production and trade in major agricultural commodities will also be examined, along with the key leverage points for influence. Global forest footprint of major agricultural commodities and deforestation hotspots will be discussed and key drivers of deforestation will be examined. Finally, the potential roles of government in reducing commodity-driven deforestation will be analysed to gain a better understanding of the potential for state action in the EU and the US contexts.Attendance at this event is by invitation only. Event attributes External event Department/project Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Improving Forest Governance and Tackling Illegal Logging and Deforestation Full Article
ai Reducing Deforestation in Agricultural Commodity Supply Chains: Using Public Procurement Policy By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Aug 2015 11:04:15 +0000 2 September 2015 This paper explores the potential of using public procurement policy to promote the uptake of sustainable food products in order to reduce imports of agricultural products associated with deforestation. Download PDF Duncan Brack Associate Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme @DuncanBrack Google Scholar 20150827AgricultureDeforestationBrack.jpg Workers sort cocoa fruits near the Mendoa Chocolates plant in the state of Bahia near Ilheus, Brazil. Photo: Getty Images. SummaryProcurement policy has been used effectively to exclude illegal and unsustainable timber from consumer-country markets.As the public sector is a major purchaser of food and catering services for schools, nurseries, hospitals, care homes, canteens, prisons and the military, public procurement policies in this area clearly have the potential to promote the uptake of sustainable products not associated with deforestation.Many public authorities, particularly at local and regional level, already have a procurement policy for food; in principle, criteria for sustainable production could be incorporated relatively easily.Some products – particularly palm oil, cocoa, coffee and tea – are better suited than others to this approach; for all these products, voluntary certification initiatives currently under way could provide identification mechanisms on which procurement policies could rest.Other commodities may not be as suited to procurement policy, and it may be more effective to use other regulations; this applies particularly to soy, for which biofuel regulations are likely to have a bigger impact.In cases in which private-sector initiatives are under way to achieve 100 per cent sustainable imports (such a target has been set for palm oil in several countries), procurement policy may be unnecessary. In other cases, the adoption of a new procurement policy could serve as the spur to a private-sector initiative. Department/project Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Improving Forest Governance and Tackling Illegal Logging and Deforestation Full Article
ai Agricultural Commodity Supply Chains: Trade, Consumption and Deforestation By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Jan 2016 16:24:38 +0000 28 January 2016 Private-sector commitments and government policies, a loss of support for biofuels, and health concerns over the consumption of palm oil and beef, are factors that may help to restrict the further expansion of agricultural land into forest areas. Duncan Brack Associate Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme @DuncanBrack Google Scholar Laura Wellesley Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme @laurawellesley Adelaide Glover, Project Coordinator, Forest Governance and Natural Resources 2016-01-28-agricultural-commodity-supply-chain.jpg An employee arranges packages of instant ramen noodles a store in Seoul, South Korea. Photo via Getty Images. Clearance of forests for agriculture is a major cause of deforestation worldwide; the three most significant commodities in this regard are palm oil, soy and beef, which between them accounted for an estimated 76 per cent of the deforestation associated with agriculture in 1990–2008. International markets are an important driver of demand, particularly for palm oil and soy.Global production of palm oil has grown strongly for several decades, more than doubling over the period 2000–13. Indonesia and Malaysia between them account for more than 80 per cent of palm oil production, and are likely to continue to dominate world exports. The European Union (EU), India and China are the main consumers, importing almost 60 per cent of the market; EU demand is driven significantly by biofuel policy, while India and China use palm oil mainly as a cooking oil and in processed foods.Global production of soybeans has roughly doubled since 2000, and the expansion of output has been particularly rapid in South America; Brazil and Argentina accounted for almost 50 per cent of global production in 2013. Overwhelmingly the main importer is China (which took 43 per cent of all soy imports in 2014), mainly for animal feed for its growing meat industry. The EU is the second largest importer, using soy for animal feed and biofuel.In contrast, consumption and production of beef has grown only slowly. Major producers are the US, Brazil, the EU and China; principal exporters are Brazil, India, Australia and the US. The US and the EU are still major consumers, although – as in most developed countries – consumption is falling slightly; other significant consumers include Brazil, India, Pakistan and China. Russia and Japan are also significant importers.Three main factors underlie the growth in both consumption and production of palm oil and soy: population growth; changing dietary preferences; and policy support for biofuels. The first two are just as relevant to beef. Continued growth in world population and the expansion of the global middle class, with accompanying higher consumption levels of processed food and meat, will continue to drive demand upwards – strongly for palm oil and soy, more weakly for beef. Given the difficulty of increasing yields, particularly in developing countries, the further expansion of agricultural land into forest areas is inevitable. None the less, three other factors may restrict this growth: the private-sector commitments and government policies that are being developed with the aim of decoupling agricultural production from deforestation; a loss of support for biofuels, most notably in the EU; and health concerns, particularly over the consumption of palm oil and beef. Related documents Research Paper: Agricultural Commodity Supply Chains: Trade, Consumption and Deforestationpdf | 3.46 MB Map: Global trade in beef 2000 and 2014pdf | 911.41 KB Map: Global trade in leather 2000 and 2014pdf | 2.08 MB Map: Global trade in palm oil 2000 and 2014pdf | 2.81 MB Map: Global trade in soy 2000 and 2014pdf | 2.75 MB Department/project Energy, Environment and Resources Programme, Improving Forest Governance and Tackling Illegal Logging and Deforestation Full Article
ai The Elements of Power: Gadgets, Guns and the Struggle for a Sustainable Future in the Rare Metal Age By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Fri, 29 Apr 2016 14:30:01 +0000 Invitation Only Research Event 19 May 2016 - 5:00pm to 6:30pm Chatham House, London, UK At this session, the speaker will argue that our future hinges on a set of elements that receive scant attention even from those whose fortunes rely upon them. The speaker will outline why our electronic gadgets, the most powerful armies and indeed the fate of our planet depend on producing sustainable supplies of rare metals. He will outline some of the new environmental, economic, and geopolitical consequences of supply chains and discuss the dynamics of the rare metal markets which are vastly different than traditional commodities traded on open exchanges. The speaker will also address some of the security of supply issues arising from China's role as the dominant consumer and producer of most of the world’s minor metals. Finally, the discussion will also include what countries and companies can do to ensure resilient supply lines.Attendance at this event is by invitation only. Department/project Energy, Environment and Resources Programme Owen Grafham Manager, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme +44 (0)20 7957 5708 Email Full Article
ai How the New Indonesia-EU FLEGT Licence Can Contribute to the Sustainable Development Agenda By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Nov 2016 10:48:05 +0000 15 November 2016 Alison Hoare Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme LinkedIn The FLEGT timber licence marks a breakthrough in the battle against illegal logging and has the potential to help towards achieving the SDGs in the forest sector and beyond. 2016-11-15-Indonesia-logging.jpg Collected logs along a river in West Kalimantan province, Indonesia. Photo by Getty Images. Today Indonesia begins issuing the first ever FLEGT licenses for timber exports bound for the EU market. A major step in the battle against illegal logging and trade in illegal timber, these licenses are issued under a national system to verify the legality of all timber and timber products. A commitment to licensing its timber exports to Europe was made in the country’s Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the EU, although the licensing system applies to all exports and to the domestic market. The scale of this achievement can not be underestimated given the size of the country and of its forest sector – there are hundreds of thousands of forest enterprises ranging from large-scale concession holders and processing industries, to smallholders and micro-scale loggers, saw-millers and manufacturers.It is also remarkable given the state of Indonesia’s forest sector at the turn of the century. Looking back to 2000, rule of law was all but absent and corruption was rife - with the allocation of concessions and timber industries closely tied with the country’s ruling elite. Widespread logging contributed to the high rates of deforestation seen at the turn of the century, which stood at over one per cent per year.In 2016, the forest sector is vastly different – there are much higher levels of accountability and legal compliance, the result of the considerable effort and resources that have been put into enforcement and anti-corruption efforts. The sector is also much more open, reflected both in the significant improvements in the availability of forest data and legislation as well as the increased space that has been made available to civil society to participate both in policy processes and in monitoring of the sector.These improvements are the result in large part of the reform processes that have been enabled and supported by the VPA process, for which negotiations began in 2007. However, the process is far from complete and the issuance of FLEGT licences is best viewed as a marking point in an ongoing trajectory towards establishing a legal and sustainable sector.If we take 2000 as the starting point of this trajectory, with FLEGT licensing as the midway point, this brings us to just beyond 2030, the target date for the UN’s global agenda for sustainable development of which the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are an integral part. The SDGs provide a broader framework for considering what further progress is needed in the coming years both to improve legality and to ensure that the forest sector makes a positive contribution towards achieving widespread sustainable development in Indonesia.There are a number of factors that risk the achievement of these aims. Key challenges that remain in the country’s forest sector include the high levels of informality in the small-scale sector, corruption, limited transparency and pressure on forests from other sectors (as highlighted in the report 'Illegal Logging and Related Trade. The Response in Indonesia').As noted, there are hundreds of thousands of forest enterprises in the country, many of which – particularly small-scale businesses – operate informally. Further concerted efforts are needed to ensure that these enterprises are not excluded from the formal market, but are able to contribute to a thriving economy – for example, through continued support for certification, as well as much greater investment in the provision of extension services and further reforms to establish a policy framework that facilitates the growth of small businesses (see 'Improving Legality Among Small-Scale Forest Enterprises'). This will make an important contribution to the achievement of SDG 8, to enable ‘decent work and economic growth’, this including the target [8.3] to encourage the growth of small enterprises.Both corruption and limited transparency also need to be addressed if widespread legality and sustainability are to be achieved in the forest sector. Transparency has improved greatly in the forest sector, with significant improvements to the availability of information and the establishment of independent monitoring by civil society. However, further progress is needed to improve the accessibility of information, not least to ensure that NGOs are able to fulfil this monitoring role. In relation to corruption, the anti-corruption agency has made good progress, but it remains under threat and needs to be strengthened. Improving governance is a priority under the SDGs, Goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) including targets to reduce corruption, develop transparent institutions and ensure public access to information. The progress made in these areas also needs to be replicated outside the forest sector. A major threat to Indonesia’s forests comes from conversion to other land-uses, in particular agricultural plantations. Effective land-use planning, including transparent and participatory decision-making, is needed if the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources is to be achieved and deforestation slowed – as set out under SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production) and SDG 15 (life on land).An important means to drive progress is to ensure close monitoring of progress as well as the evaluation of the measures being adopted. A framework for monitoring the impact of FLEGT licences, as well as the related measures being implemented under the VPA, is under development. This will need to link up to national efforts to monitor progress towards the SDGs – both to contribute towards the monitoring of these goals and to facilitate communication of the progress and lessons being learnt in the forest sector.To comment on this article, please contact Chatham House Feedback Full Article
ai D-backs add mental skills dept. to aid players By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Fri, 1 Feb 2019 15:05:06 EDT In an effort to help develop their players on and off the field, the D-backs have added a mental skills department to their baseball operations staff. Full Article
ai D-backs pair among best starting pitcher duos By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Wed, 6 Feb 2019 22:10:30 EDT Most Major League teams still use a five-man starting rotation, but it takes a lot more pitchers than that to make it through a 162-game season. It certainly helps to have a potent one-two punch at the top of the rotation. Full Article
ai Get ready to watch: MLB.TV available for 2019 By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Wed, 6 Feb 2019 10:55:51 EDT Spring Training is imminent, Opening Day is within sight and the big league season isn't complete for fans without a subscription to MLB.TV. The most comprehensive streaming service in professional sports is now available for the 2019 season. Full Article
ai Widener among biggest prospect bargains By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Thu, 7 Feb 2019 21:15:32 EDT Considering the players that get the big bucks often get most of the attention when they are signed and drafted, let's take some time to look at the other end of the spectrum. Here are the biggest steals on the Top 100 Prospects list. Full Article
ai Here's your guide to D-backs Spring Training By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Wed, 6 Feb 2019 15:24:17 EDT The D-backs will open their 22nd Spring Training on Feb. 13 when pitchers and catchers go through their first workout. Here is all you need to know to be ready for the action. Full Article
ai The D-backs' Spring Training battle to watch By mlb.mlb.com Published On :: Mon, 18 Feb 2019 18:20:16 EDT The next five weeks will see lots of shuffling on Major League rosters. Here are the most intriguing positional battles on each of the 30 MLB clubs. Full Article
ai Predictive Value of 18F-Florbetapir and 18F-FDG PET for Conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer Dementia By jnm.snmjournals.org Published On :: 2020-04-01T06:00:28-07:00 The present study examined the predictive values of amyloid PET, 18F-FDG PET, and nonimaging predictors (alone and in combination) for development of Alzheimer dementia (AD) in a large population of patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: The study included 319 patients with MCI from the Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative database. In a derivation dataset (n = 159), the following Cox proportional-hazards models were constructed, each adjusted for age and sex: amyloid PET using 18F-florbetapir (pattern expression score of an amyloid-β AD conversion–related pattern, constructed by principle-components analysis); 18F-FDG PET (pattern expression score of a previously defined 18F-FDG–based AD conversion–related pattern, constructed by principle-components analysis); nonimaging (functional activities questionnaire, apolipoprotein E, and mini-mental state examination score); 18F-FDG PET + amyloid PET; amyloid PET + nonimaging; 18F-FDG PET + nonimaging; and amyloid PET + 18F-FDG PET + nonimaging. In a second step, the results of Cox regressions were applied to a validation dataset (n = 160) to stratify subjects according to the predicted conversion risk. Results: On the basis of the independent validation dataset, the 18F-FDG PET model yielded a significantly higher predictive value than the amyloid PET model. However, both were inferior to the nonimaging model and were significantly improved by the addition of nonimaging variables. The best prediction accuracy was reached by combining 18F-FDG PET, amyloid PET, and nonimaging variables. The combined model yielded 5-y free-of-conversion rates of 100%, 64%, and 24% for the low-, medium- and high-risk groups, respectively. Conclusion: 18F-FDG PET, amyloid PET, and nonimaging variables represent complementary predictors of conversion from MCI to AD. Especially in combination, they enable an accurate stratification of patients according to their conversion risks, which is of great interest for patient care and clinical trials. Full Article