185 research outputs found
The legend of the RMA: A trilogy
No full textIn this presentation the author paints the conflict of people versus nature in light of the RMA, and go on to
look at the repercussions of this through not only the plans that were prepared under this
controversial legislation, but also their implementation and resulting environmental
outcomes. The author highlights some strategies for lifting the
expectations of environmental outcomes achieved under the RMA through improving the
quality of planning and governance under this legislation
Strategies for the management and prevention of conformation-related respiratory disorders in brachycephalic dogs
No full textRowena MA Packer,1 Michael S Tivers2 1Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, 2School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK Abstract: Brachycephalic (short-muzzled) dogs are increasingly popular pets worldwide, with marked increases in registrations of breeds such as the Pug and French Bulldog over the past decade in the UK. Despite their popularity, many brachycephalic breeds are affected by an early-onset, lifelong respiratory disorder, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). This disorder arises due to a mismatch in the proportions of the skull and the soft tissues held within the nose and pharynx, resulting in obstruction of the airway during respiration. Increased airway resistance encourages secondary changes such as eversion of the laryngeal saccules and collapse of the larynx. Clinical signs of BOAS are often early onset and chronic, including dyspnea, exercise intolerance, heat intolerance, and abnormal and increased respiratory noise. Episodes of severe dyspnea can also occur, leading to cyanosis, syncope, and death. BOAS may have a severe impact upon the welfare of affected dogs, compromising their ability to exercise, play, eat, and sleep. Although a well-described condition, with surgical treatments for the palliation of this disorder published since the 1920s, many dogs still experience airway restrictions postsurgically and a compromised quality of life. In addition, the prevalence of this disorder does not appear to have substantially reduced in this time, and may have increased. Ultimately, strategies to improve the breeding of these dogs to prevent BOAS are required to improve brachycephalic health and welfare. Recent studies have revealed conformational risk factors associated with BOAS, such as short muzzles and thick necks, which should be discouraged to avoid perpetuating this serious disorder. Positive changes to brachycephalic health may be impeded by a perception of BOAS being "normal for the breed". This perception must be avoided by owners, breeders, and vets alike to prevent undertreatment of individuals and the perpetuation of this serious disorder to future generations of dogs. Keywords: short-muzzled, canine welfare, airway obstruction, dyspne
Reflections on relationship-building between tangata whenua and local government: Notes from research and practice
No full textIn this paper, the author takes a reflective look at two areas: the preliminary discussions and fieldwork they undertook to set up a collaborative doctoral research project exploring relationship-building between
tangata whenua and local government (regional and district councils); and their
practice as a community psychologist within local government, advising on social
research and community participation in a number of environmental management
projects
Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). The Comparison of Alvin Toffler, Andrew Krepinevich and Jeremy Black's Concepts
No full textThe aim of the paper is to compare the concept of Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) on the basis of publications by Alvin Toffler, Andrew Krepinevich and Jeremy Black. The author draws attention not only to the context of empirical research of the selected authors, but also to their nationality, attitudes to new technologies, and history.Fundacja Studentów i Absolwentów Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego "Bratniak
China's A2/AD strategy and the role of technology : on the path towards a RMA?
No full textThe following paper engages with the questions what role technology plays in China's A2/AD strategy and military modernisation, and whether this means that China is on the path towards a revolution in military affairs (RMA). In order to answer the stated questions the author first outlines a general understanding and different views on what a RMA is. Once a general understanding of the concept is established, the paper continues with exploring the relationship between Technology and innovation, two issues the RMA is generally associate with, and takes a look at China's defence industry. This is followed by a discussion about China's so called anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy, and whether it can just be seen as a modem version of sea denial. Last but not least, the paper analyses China's military in regard to the initially posed question, focusing on achievements since the 1990s, technological developments, and shortcomings. Finally, a conclusion will be draw stating that China is not on the path towards a RMA, due to inherent shortcomings in its technology integration, defence economy, and level of "jointness."Master of Scienc
Dynamic provisioning: a countercyclical tool for loan loss reserves
Get PDFIn the wake of the financial crisis of 2007-2009, as various banking policymakers revisit loan loss provisioning rules, the Spanish approach of dynamic provisioning has garnered attention as a potential alternative to the current incurred loss approach. We review the current approach to loan loss reserves in the United States, focusing on how loan loss reserves relate to bank solvency and why the current accounting approach may have procyclical effects. We present a conceptual framework to compare loan loss provisioning under the incurred loss framework and dynamic provisioning. Then we simulate dynamic provisioning with U.S. data to present an empirical comparison.Loans
A critical comparison of approaches to resource name management within the IEC common information model
No full textCopyright @ 2012 IEEEElectricity network resources are frequently identified within different power systems by inhomogeneous names and identities due to the legacy of their administration by different utility business domains. The IEC 61970 Common Information Model (CIM) enables network modeling to reflect the reality of multiple names for unique network resources. However this issue presents a serious challenge to the integrity of a shared CIM repository that has the task of maintaining a resource manifest, linking network resources to master identities, when unique network resources may have multiple names and identities derived from different power system models and other power system applications. The current approach, using CIM 15, is to manage multiple resource names within a singular CIM namespace utilizing the CIM “IdentifiedObject” and “Name” classes. We compare this approach to one using additional namespaces relating to different power systems, similar to the practice used in CIM extensions, in order to more clearly identify the genealogy of a network resource, provide faster model import times and a simpler means of supporting the relationship between multiple resource names and identities and a master resource identity.This study is supported by the UK National Grid and Brunel University
Clinical reasoning in canine cervical hyperaesthesia: which presenting features are important?
Get PDFBackground To evaluate whether clinical features from the history, presentation, physical and neurological examination of dogs with cervical hyperaesthesia are statistically predictive of the underlying diagnosis. Methods Two hundred and ninety-eight dogs presenting with cervical hyperaesthesia between January 2010 and October 2018 were investigated. Only neurologically normal dogs with cervical hyperaesthesia on examination were included, while those with concurrent neurological deficits including gait abnormalities and proprioceptive deficits were excluded. Univariate analysis of clinical variables was performed and those associated with each diagnosis were retained for multivariable binary logistic regression models. Results Ninety-five percent of cervical hyperaesthesia presentations were represented by eight conditions which included steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA, n=100), intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE, n= 78), syringomyelia (SM, n= 51), intervertebral disc protrusion (IVDP, n= 30), neoplasia (n=8), cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM, n=7), immune mediated polyarthritis (IMPA, n= 5) and meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown aetiology (MUA, n=5). Younger age (p=0.003), pyrexia (p=0.003), and haematology abnormalities (p=0.03) comprising leucocytosis, neutrophilia or monocytosis, were associated with a diagnosis of SRMA.Conclusions Easy-to-recognise clinical features can be used to identify the most likely differential diagnosis in neurologically normal dogs with cervical hyperaesthesia, which may aid the decision making of veterinary surgeons evaluating dogs with this presentation
Do dog owners perceive the clinical signs related to conformational inherited disorders as ‘normal’ for the breed? A potential constraint to improving canine welfare
No full textClinical reasoning in canine cervical hyperaesthesia: which presenting features are important?
Get PDFBackground To evaluate whether clinical features from the history, presentation, physical and neurological examination of dogs with cervical hyperaesthesia are statistically predictive of the underlying diagnosis.
Methods Two hundred and ninety-eight dogs presenting with cervical hyperaesthesia between January 2010 and October 2018 were investigated. Only neurologically normal dogs with cervical hyperaesthesia on examination were included, while those with concurrent neurological deficits including gait abnormalities and proprioceptive deficits were excluded. Univariate analysis of clinical variables was performed and those associated with each diagnosis were retained for multivariable binary logistic regression models.
Results Ninety-five percent of cervical hyperaesthesia presentations were represented by eight conditions which included steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA, n=100), intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE, n= 78), syringomyelia (SM, n= 51), intervertebral disc protrusion (IVDP, n= 30), neoplasia (n=8), cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM, n=7), immune mediated polyarthritis (IMPA, n= 5) and meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown aetiology (MUA, n=5). Younger age (p=0.003), pyrexia (p=0.003), and haematology abnormalities (p=0.03) comprising leucocytosis, neutrophilia or monocytosis, were associated with a diagnosis of SRMA.
Conclusions Easy-to-recognise clinical features can be used to identify the most likely differential diagnosis in neurologically normal dogs with cervical hyperaesthesia, which may aid the decision making of veterinary surgeons evaluating dogs with this presentation
- …
