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High blood pressure (HBP) during pregnancy causes maternal and fetal mortality. Studies regarding its prevalence and associated factors in frontline level health care settings are scarce. We thus aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HBP and its associated factors among pregnant women at the first level of the health care system in Burkina Faso., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The ubiquity of M dwarf stars combined with their low masses and luminosities make them prime targets in the search for nearby, habitable exoplanets. We investigate the effects of starspot-induced radial velocity (RV) jitter on detection and characterization of planets orbiting M dwarfs. We create surface spot configurations with both random spot coverage and active regions. Synthetic stellar spectra are calculated from a given spot map, and RV measurements are obtained using cross-correlation technique. We add the RV signal of an orbiting planet to these jitter measurements, and reduce the data to "measure" the planetary parameters. We investigate the detectability of planets around M dwarfs of different activity levels, and the recovery of input planetary parameters. When studying the recovery of the planetary period we note that while our original orbital radius places the planet inside the HZ of its star, even at a filling factor of 2% a few of our measurements fall outside the "conservative Habitable Zone". Higher spot filling factors result in more and higher deviations. Our investigations suggest that caution should be used when characterizing planets discovered with the RV method around stars that are (or are potentially) active., Comment: 20 pages (2 columns), 19 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

info:eu-repo/semantics/published

info:eu-repo/semantics/published, 2

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is underestimated, underdiagnosed and often undertreated in the general population. A survey of 17 structured questions, delivered to all Belgian pulmonary physicians (PPs) (116 responses), evaluated diagnosis and treatment strategies in accordance with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines 2010 and assessed opinions about the importance of diurnal variation of COPD symptoms. All COPD diagnoses (37% new cases) were spirometry confirmed. Main diagnostic parameters were symptoms (99%), external risk factors (99%), clinical examination (97%), exacerbations (96%) and patient mobility (96%). FEV 1 (forced expiratory volume in 1s) (97%) or FEV1/FVC (ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity) (93%) were used most to assess diagnosis and severity. The 3 most important therapeutic objectives were symptom relief, preventing exacerbations, and improving quality of life; if these were not reached, the preferred strategy (60% of PPs) was adding another medication. Treatment strategies varied with COPD stage: short-acting β2-agonists (90%) and shortacting anti-cholinergics (59%) were used for GOLD I disease, whereas for higher stages long-acting β2-agonists (36-48%) and long-acting anti-cholinergics (79%) were given with inhaled corticosteroids (21-67%). Symptoms were perceived to vary throughout the day, affecting quality of life (97%) and mobility (89%). In particular, respiratory symptoms were more severe in the morning (51- 92%), leading PPs to adapt treatment (69%). This survey demonstrated that management of COPD by PPs in Belgium is generally in line with the GOLD guidelines 2010 and that they perceive morning symptoms as being frequent and having an impact on patient's life., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

A 57-year-old man presented to our emergency department with altered mental status. He had a past medical history significant for cirrhosis and previous placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). On cardiac auscultation, a new heart murmur and an unexpected degree of cardiac ectopy were noted. On the 12-lead electrocardiogram, the patient was noted to have multiple premature atrial contractions, corroborating the irregular heart rhythm on physicalexam. A focused bedside emergency ultrasound of the heart was then performed. This exam revealed an apparent foreign body in the right atrium. It appeared as if the patient’s TIPS had migrated from the heart into the right atrium. This case, as well as the literature describing thisunusual complication of TIPS placement, is reviewed in this case report. [West J Emerg Med. 2012;13(6):525-526]

Panel discussion featuring, Associate Professor Asaad Shamseldin, Faculty of Engineering: Tsunami hazard and mitigation in New Zealand.New Zealand with its long coastline and its location in the Pacific ring of fire is vulnerable to tsunami damage. Recent research indicates the risks of structure damage from tsunamis in New Zealand are no less significant than those associated with earthquakes. This lecture will provide a historical review of tsunamis in New Zealand and other parts of the world. It will also discuss the current research activities at The University of Auckland aiming at providing a better scientific understanding of the interaction of tsunami with infrastructure., Associate Professor Charles Clifton, Faculty of Engineering: Earthquake and fire risk.The earthquakes that have struck Christchurch since September 2010 have shattered lives, buildings and infrastructure. The earthquakes have also given structural engineers a unique opportunity to learn the effects of severe earthquakes on buildings and infrastructure. It provides valuable lessons about the performance of actual buildings from old to modern, built from a wide range of structural materials and with many structural forms. The lessons are relevant to all of New Zealand and will be the focus of this lecture., Dr Jan Lindsay, Faculty of Science: Volcanic risk.Although Auckland is considered to be one of New Zealand’s most tectonically stable areas, it is built on and around the potentially active Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF), which comprises around 50 small volcanoes and has been active for the last quarter of a million years. The most recent eruption in the AVF occurred 550 years ago, producing the island of Rangitoto, and was witnessed by early Māori. The region also experiences low-level tectonic seismicity, and is at risk of ash fall from more distal volcanoes. Although the volcanoes in Auckland are relatively small and their eruptions have been infrequent, the risk associated with future activity is very high, given Auckland’s high physical and economic vulnerability., Winter Lectures 2012: Hazards, disasters, risks and responses: Auckland are you ready? The last two years brought the unpredictable nature of New Zealand’s natural and man-made hazards to the fore. Christchurch’s major earthquake and its devastating aftershocks, the Pike River mine disaster, the Rena oil spill, heavy rain and snow falls, tornadoes and other unexpected events overstretched the country’s infrastructure, caused loss of life and livelihood, and tested the strength and resilience of everyday New Zealanders. This series of lectures explores New Zealand’s disasters - the risks we face and the responses we make to those risks. Experts and scholars from, or connected with, The University of Auckland will share their knowledge and skills on a selection of topics from geology and engineering to media and education., A series of six weekly lectures starting 17 July 2012.

Late-type stars exhibit cool regions on their surface, the stellar equivalent of sunspots. These dark starspots can also mimic the radial velocity variations caused by orbiting planets, making it at times difficult to distinguish between planets and activity signatures. The amount of spots on the Sun and other cool stars changes cyclically during an activity cycle, which has length varying from about a year to longer than the solar 11 years. In this work we investigate the influence of varying amount of starspots on the sparsely sampled radial velocity observations - which are the norm in the radial velocity studies searching for exoplanets on wide orbits. We study two simulated cases: one with a random spot configuration, and one where the spot occurrence is concentrated. In addition we use Doppler images of young solar analogue V889 Her as a high activity case.

Stellar magnetic activity manifests itself in a variety of ways including starspots-cool, dark regions on the stellar surface. Starspots can cause variations ('jitter') in spectral line-profiles which can mimic the radial velocity (RV) variations caused by an orbiting planet, or create RV noise that can drown out a planetary signature. Cool, low-mass M dwarf stars can be highly active, which can make detection of potentially habitable planets around these stars difficult. We investigate radial velocity variations caused by different activity (spot) patterns on M dwarf stars in order to determine the limits of detectability for small planets orbiting active M dwarfs. We report on our progress toward the aim of answering the following questions: What types of spot patterns are realistic for M dwarf stars? What effect will spots have on M dwarf RV measurements? Can jitter from M dwarf spots mimic planetary signals? What is the ideal observing wavelength to reduce M dwarf jitter?

We present a spectroscopic catalog of 70,841 visually inspected M dwarfs from the seventh data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). For each spectrum, we provide measurements of the spectral type, a number of molecular bandheads, and the H-alpha, H-beta, H-gamma, H-delta and Ca II K emission lines. In addition, we calculate the metallicity-sensitive parameter zeta and identify a relationship between zeta and the g-r and r-z colors of M dwarfs. We assess the precision of our spectral types (which were assigned by individual examination), review the bulk attributes of the sample, and examine the magnetic activity properties of M dwarfs, in particular those traced by the higher order Balmer transitions. Our catalog is cross-matched to Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) infrared data, and contains photometric distances for each star. Lastly, we identify eight new late-type M dwarfs that are possibly within 25 pc of the Sun. Future studies will use these data to thoroughly examine magnetic activity and kinematics in late-type M dwarfs and examine the chemical and dynamical history of the local Milky Way., Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables (in emulateapj format), accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal

We present a spectroscopic catalog of 70,841 visually inspected M dwarfs from the seventh data release (DR7) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). For each spectrum, we provide measurements of the spectral type, a number of molecular bandheads, and the H-alpha, H-beta, H-gamma, H-delta and Ca II K emission lines. In addition, we calculate the metallicity-sensitive parameter zeta and 3D space motions for most of the stars in the sample. Our catalog is cross-matched to Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) infrared data, and contains photometric distances for each star. Future studies will use these data to thoroughly examine magnetic activity and kinematics in late-type M dwarfs and examine the chemical and dynamical history of the local Milky Way., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to appear in online version of the Cool Stars 16 conference proceedings

SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Domestic hens served as subjects in a series of three experiments investigating the effects of changeover delay (COD) on concurrent variable-interval schedule performance. The first experiment involved manipulations of the relative reinforcement rates on the two schedules presented on two separate keys while holding the COD constant over a series of COD durations from no COD to 15-sec. Sensitivity to reinforcement as measured by a in the generalised matching law was, for both response and time measures, less than unity and least at no COD. Generally it increased with the introduction of any COD but did not change systematically with COD length. Responding during the COD was found to be insensitive to changes in reinforcement rate ratios. The second experiment manipulated the stimuli presented on the main key during the COD (CO-key procedure). Adding distinctive key-colours during the COD increased sensitivity to reinforcement while the addition of blackout decreased time (but not response) sensitivity. Both effects carried over into following (non-stimulus) conditions but this did not survive a change in the schedules. The third experiment held the schedule values constant (two-key procedure) while the COD values were varied from no COD to 12-sec (thrice). Measures of behaviour changed with COD value although generally the a values were similar to those of the first experiment. Overall the changes were recoverable although individual point estimates of a were shown not to be reliable. The findings from the three experiments support the use of the generalised matching law to describe performance on concurrent schedules of reinforcement. They also question the common use of changeover delays in concurrent schedules in that they appear to do more than simply separate the schedules in time.

This thesis examines the impact of the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) of 1978 on performance evaluation at the field activity level. Reviews of both the CSRA and various methods of performance appraisal are conducted in order to analyze performance evaluation characteristics relative to the requirements of the CSRA for performance appraisal. The results of this analysis were then compared to specific positions within Naval activity comptroller departments to demonstrate how the basis for a standardized framework for evaluations can be developed for Navy-wide applications. Sets of potential critical elements for three specific positions were derived based on this framework and an example of performance standards for a specific critical element was shown. In conclusion this thesis makes several recommendations for ensuring that the intent of the CSRA requirement for flexibility of performance evaluation is maintained while allowing guidance and standardization from higher authority. (Author)

"The development of the law relating to Mareva injunctions is an example of the flexibility and adaptability of the common law - the judge-made law. Although judges adopt the fiction that the new law has been "found" (that is, that it was always there, but has only been revealed by the diligent application of the courts), the reality is that the judges have moulded the law, albeit based on long-standing principles, to evoke a new remedy to meet a newly-found deficiency in the old law. Prior to 1975 the only pre-judgment remedy avail.able in New Zealand affecting the property of a debtor was contained in Rule 314 of the Civil Code of Procedure. Australia and England had no equivalent to Rule 314. In those jurisdictions therefore the creditor simply could not prevent a debtor transferring his assets out of the jurisdiction before judgment. Now in 1983 in England, Australia and in New Zealand the creditor may apply to the court for an order restraining the defendant from taking assets out of the jurisdiction or otherwise dealing with them pending the outcome of a suit. It is an order designed to stop defendants dissipating or otherwise dealing with their assets thereby rendering a future judgment practically futile. In 1975 in two decisions the Court of Appeal in England held that an injunction would be granted to restrain the foreign defendants from removing their assets out of the jurisdiction since there appeared to be a danger that they might do so in order to avoid the consequence of judgment in the pending claim. These two decisions represent the beginnings of a judge-made law.

Three studies were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary manganese and fat on manganese and lipid metabolism. In Study I, 80 male, weanling rats were fed two levels of dietary fat (5% and 25%). Serum, liver and brain lipid concentrations, body weight change and fecal fat excretions were greater in rats fed the diet with 25% fat. Within each level of fat, total liver lipids decreased and liver cholesterol increased as level of dietary manganese increased. Serum cholesterol levels were highest when manganese was fed at 50 and 500 mg/kg diet. Manganese intake, fecal manganese excretion and whole blood manganese increased as level of dietary manganese increased. Dietary treatments had no effect on liver manganese concentrations. In Study II, young adult human subjects were fed two laboratory-controlled diets containing either 30% of total calories from fat (approx. 100 mg cholesterol; 10:10:10 PUFA to MUFA to SFA ratio) or 40% of total calories from fat (approx. 600 mg cholesterol; 4:14:14 fatty acid ratio). Two levels of manganese were fed (5 and 45 mg Mn/day) within each level of fat. The higher level of dietary fat generally increased fecal excretion of manganese and increased serum lipids. Dietary supplementation with 40 mg of manganese increased both fecal excretion and whole blood concentration of the mineral but had no effect on serum lipids or fecal fat. In Study III, manganese and cholesterol intakes were retrospectively calculated from the self-recorded intakes of 167 young adult human subjects categorized according to race/nationality and/or sex. Manganese intakes were negatively correlated with cholesterol intakes although this was only significant (P < 0.05) for the male subject group. No relationship was found between manganese intake and serum cholesterol levels. Cholesterol intakes were positively correlated with serum cholesterol in males and in the mixed sex Asian (Oriental) group.

This thesis examines the impact of the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) of 1978 on performance evaluation at the field activity level. Reviews of both the CSRA and various methods of performance appraisal are conducted in order to analyze performance evaluation characteristics relative to the requirements of the CSRA for performance appraisal. The results of this analysis were then compared to specific positions within Naval activity comptroller departments to demonstrate how the basis for a standardized framework for evaluations can be developed for Navy-wide applications. Sets of potential critical elements for three specific positions were derived based on this framework and an example of performance standards for a specific critical element was shown. In conclusion this thesis makes several recommendations for ensuring that the intent of the CSRA requirement for flexibility of performance evaluations is maintained while allowing guidance and standardization from higher authority.

Collection : La presse, le film, la radio et la télévision dans le monde d'aujourd'hui, Collection : La presse, le film, la radio et la télévision dans le monde d'aujourd'hui, Contient une table des matières, Avec mode texte

This thesis examines the impact of the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) of 1978 on performance evaluation at the field activity level. Reviews of both the CSRA and various methods of performance appraisal are conducted in order to analyze performance evaluation characteristics relative to the requirements of the CSRA for performance appraisal. The results of this analysis were then compared to specific positions within Naval activity comptroller departments to demonstrate how the basis for a standardized framework for evaluations can be developed for Navy-wide applications. Sets of potential critical elements for three specific positions were derived based on this framework and an example of performance standards for a specific critical element was shown. In conclusion this thesis makes several recommendations for ensuring that the intent of the CSRA requirement for flexibility of performance evaluations is maintained while allowing guidance and standardization from higher authority., http://archive.org/details/implicationsofci1094520553, Lieutenant, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.