Microfinance investments in quality at private clinics in Uganda: a case-control study

Background: Small private-sector health care providers can play an important role in meeting the developing country health care needs, but a lack of credit can prove major constraint to small-provider expansion. This study examines the potential of small, microfinance loans to strengthen the private health sector and improve access to quality preventive and curative health services in Uganda. Methods: This study estimates logistic regressions using 2,387 client exit interviews to assess the impact of microfinance loans on perceived quality and the viability and sustainability of small, private clinics. Results: The study finds perceived quality improved with loan recipients' clients being more likely to choose clinics on the basis of drug availability, fair charges, cleanliness, and confidentiality. In addition, the assessment found evidence of increased client flows, but the changes produced mixed results for sustainability with respondents being only half as likely to "always" visit a particular clinic. Conclusion: The results indicate that the microfinance program improved perceived quality at loan recipient clinics, especially as reliable drug outlets

Satellite material contaminant optical properties

The Air Force Wright Research and Development Center and the Arnold Engineering Development Center are continuing a program for measuring optical effects of satellite material outgassing products on cryo-optic surfaces. Presented here are infrared (4000 to 700 cm(-1)) transmittance data for contaminant films condensed on a 77 K geranium window. From the transmittance data, the contaminant film refractive and absorptive indices (n, k) were derived using an analytical thin-film interference model with a nonlinear least-squares algorithm. To date 19 materials have been studied with the optical contents determined for 13 of those. The materials include adhesives, paints, composites, films, and lubricants. This program is continuing and properties for other materials will be available in the future

LaF3 insulators for MIS structures

Thin films of Laf3 deposited on Si or GaAs substrates have been observed to form blocking contacts with very high capacitances. This results in comparatively‐hysteresis‐free and sharpC‐V (capacitance‐voltage) characteristics for MIS structures. Such structures have been used to study the interface states of GaAs with increased resolution and to construct improved photocapacitive infrared detectors

Hellbound - The First Season

A student short concept film developed in order to pitch a television series

Examination of Perceptions of Weight Loss and Weight Loss Methods

The purpose of this study was to examine individuals’ perceptions of weight loss and weight loss methods. Respondents were employees and customers attending health/wellness events at local supermarkets in June, July, and August 2019. Participants completed a survey to assess their understanding and perceptions of weight loss and methods used to achieve weight loss. The majority of participants were white females, 60 years or older with a college degree and a Body Mass Index (BMI) classified as overweight or obese. Data revealed most participants had a variety of misconceptions relating to weight loss and weight loss methods that were obscure and fad-diet oriented, including low-carbohydrate diets. Participants did understand benefits of weight loss but expressed maintaining weight loss was a challenge. These findings suggest that fad diets are alluring to individuals and individuals did not incorporate evidence-based behavior changes to promote or sustain weight loss

TEMPO2, a new pulsar timing package. I: Overview

Contemporary pulsar timing experiments have reached a sensitivity level where systematic errors introduced by existing analysis procedures are limiting the achievable science. We have developed tempo2, a new pulsar timing package that contains propagation and other relevant effects implemented at the 1ns level of precision (a factor of ~100 more precise than previously obtainable). In contrast with earlier timing packages, tempo2 is compliant with the general relativistic framework of the IAU 1991 and 2000 resolutions and hence uses the International Celestial Reference System, Barycentric Coordinate Time and up-to-date precession, nutation and polar motion models. Tempo2 provides a generic and extensible set of tools to aid in the analysis and visualisation of pulsar timing data. We provide an overview of the timing model, its accuracy and differences relative to earlier work. We also present a new scheme for predictive use of the timing model that removes existing processing artifacts by properly modelling the frequency dependence of pulse phase.Comment: Accepted by MNRA

Does anthropogenic nitrogen deposition induce phosphorus limitation in herbivorous insects?

Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition has shifted many ecosystems from nitrogen ( N ) limitation to phosphorus ( P ) limitation. Although well documented in plants, no study to date has explored whether N deposition exacerbates P limitation at higher trophic levels, or focused on the effects of induced plant P limitation on trophic interactions. Insect herbivores exhibit strict N  :  P homeostasis, and should therefore be very sensitive to variations in plant N  :  P stoichiometry and prone to experiencing deposition‐induced P limitation. In the current study, we investigated the effects of N deposition and P availability on a plant‐herbivorous insect system. Using common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca ) and two of its specialist herbivores, the monarch caterpillar ( Danaus plexippus ) and milkweed aphid ( Aphis asclepiadis ) as our study system, we found that experimental N deposition caused P limitation in milkweed plants, but not in either insect species. However, the mechanisms for the lack of P limitation were different for each insect species. The body tissues of A. asclepiadis always exhibited higher N  :  P ratios than that of the host plant, suggesting that the N demand of this species exceeds P demand, even under high N deposition levels. For D. plexippus , P addition increased the production of latex, which is an important defense negatively affecting D. plexippus growth rate. As a result, we illustrate that P limitation of herbivores is not an inevitable consequence of anthropogenic N deposition in terrestrial systems. Rather, species‐specific demands for nutrients and the defensive responses of plants combine to determine the responses of herbivores to P availability under N deposition.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/92035/1/gcb2645.pd

United States' engagement strategy for North Korea

Much debate exists in the international community about the most effective way to deal with the threat of North Korea. A look back in history, especially in the case of United States' past policies, will serve as an analogy and historically based perspective to apply to the North Korean problem. The United States has employed both military engagement and economic engagement in various countries. Because of the regional parallels between the Korean and Vietnamese nations, our approach to the Vietnamese problem after the end of the Vietnamese war, a constructive engagement approach, was useful. Expanding diplomatic and economic ties with an authoritarian government is the most effective way to help move it in the direction of free markets and democracy. This same strategy should be tried with North Korea. A military engagement of this country would be hard fought at the very least with no clear evidence that the results would not destroy the South Korean economy. Military belligerence by the United States reinforces the dogma and perception of necessity of the current regime. Economic engagement would slowly transform the current state in North Korea. A well thought out historically based engagement strategy for countries that threaten to dominate other states is critical for the correct formulization of a viable U.S. foreign policy in this ever-volatile world.http://archive.org/details/unitedstatesenga109453523US Air Force (USAF) author.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited