Geographic proximity has ensured strong linkages between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, based on diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and security concerns. The United States is a major trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment for many countries in the region, with free-trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11 countries. The region is a large source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal; proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration. The United States provides foreign assistance to the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean to support development and other U.S. objectives. U.S. policymakers have emphasized different strategic interests in the region at different times.
Student loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs provide borrowers a means of having all or part of their student loan debt forgiven or repaid in exchange for work or service in specific fields or professions or following a prolonged period during which their student loan debt burden is high relative to their income. In both loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs, borrowers typically qualify for benefits by working or serving in certain capacities for a specified period or by satisfying other program requirements over an extended term. Upon qualifying for benefits, some or all of a borrowers student loan debt is forgiven or paid on his or her behalf. Some of these programs are intended to support goals such as providing a financial incentive to encourage individuals to enter into and/or remain in a particular profession or public service. One such federal program that has received considerable attention in recent years is the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The PSLF program forgives borrowers federal student loans after they make at least 10 years of qualifying payments while working for certain public service employers.
The opening chapter of Issues in Education is a primer on existing STEM education policy issues and programs. Chapter 2 focuses on early observations on changes some states are making to their K-12 accountability systems in reaction to the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA). The benefits and risks of AI in classrooms, including the impact of AI on issues such as student data privacy, teacher preparation, and technology development and procurement are reviewed in chapter 3. Chapter 4 examines (1) what is known about suspensions and expulsions in D.C. charter schools, and (2) to what extent PCSB oversees charter schools use of suspensions and expulsions. The extent to which (1) school districts are testing for, finding, and remediating lead in drinking water is discussed in chapter 5. Chapter 6 provides a detailed discussion of each of the four Title I-A formulas used to determine grants under The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
For over a decade, Congress and DOD have led a series of efforts to address the governance structure of the Military Health System. In chapter1, GAO examines (1) measures DOD uses to assess the quality of direct and purchased care, and (2) the extent to which DOD has established performance standards related to the measures and corrective action requirements for providers who do not meet those standards. As reported in chapter 2, or more than a decade, partially in response to congressional mandates, DOD has worked to address inefficiencies in the Military Health System to control costs. Chapter 3 examines the military departments planning processes for determining (1) operational medical personnel requirements, including an assessment of the mix of federal civilian, contractor, and active and reserve medical personnel; and (2) the most appropriate workforce mix at MTFs and any challenges in executing their desired workforce mix. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2008 directed DOD to conduct surveys of nonenrolled beneficiaries and civilian providers about access to care under the TRICARE Standard and Extra options. It also directed GAO to review the surveys results. Additionally, the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2017 included a provision for GAO to review access to care under TRICARE Extra. Chapter 4 addresses both provisions. The NDAA 2017 made several changes to the TRICARE program, including the establishment of a new preferred provider network health plan option called TRICARE Select. The NDAA 2017 made several changes to the TRICARE program, including the establishment of a new preferred provider network health plan option called TRICARE Select. GAO examined program policies, procedures, and contracts and interviewed DOD officials and TRICARE regional contractors as reported in chapter 5.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has spent billions of dollars on aviation security programs. However, recent attacks involving aircraft and airports in other countries underscore the continued threat to aviation and the need for an effective aviation security program. Chapter 1 examines the extent to which TSA has (1) information on the effectiveness of selected passenger aviation security countermeasures and (2) systematically analyzed the cost and effectiveness tradeoffs among countermeasures. Incidents of aviation workers using access privileges to smuggle weapons and drugs into security-restricted areas and onto planes has heightened awareness about security at commercial airports. TSA, along with airport operators, has responsibility for securing the nations approximately 440 commercial airports. Chapter 2 reports on (1) the extent to which TSA has assessed the components of risk and (2) the extent to which TSA has taken actions to oversee and facilitate security, among other objectives. U.S. policies and strategies for protecting air cargo have focused on two main perceived threats: the in-flight detonation of explosives concealed in an air cargo shipment and the hijacking of a large all-cargo aircraft for use as a weapon to attack a ground target such as a major population center, critical infrastructure, or a critical national security asset. Additionally, there is concern that chemical, biological, or radiological agents or devices that could be used in a mass-casualty attack in the United States might be smuggled as international air cargo as discussed in chapter 3. On 31 August 2016, as part of a shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba, air carriers resumed scheduled commercial flights between the United States and Cuba, a route previously only open to public and private charter carrier operations. Chapter 4 examines (1) the extent to which TSA followed its standard operating procedures when assessing aviation security at Cuban airports in fiscal years 2012 through 2017; (2) the results of TSAs Cuban airport assessments in fiscal years 2012 through 2017; and (3) the results of TSAs air carrier inspections for Cuba in fiscal years 2016 -- when commercial scheduled air service between the United States and Cuba resumed -- and 2017.
In 1912, Louis-Camille Maillard, a French physician and chemist, accidentally discovered the formation of yellow-brown color compounds when he heated sugars and amino acids together with wateror the Maillard reaction. Since then, Maillard reaction has received wide attention and has been extensively studied in the fields of food and medicine. The authors open this collection by discussing several factors that influence the Maillard reaction, highlighting its recently discovered functional properties.The origin of life on our planet is one of the issues that are on the top of biological agenda. As such, the authors propose that the abiogenic synthesis of prebiotic molecules could have taken place as early as in the interstellar gas-dust clouds, since several organic compounds (including formaldehyde and other aldehydes as well as ketones) were identified in space.In conclusion, two studies on the Maillard reaction of the glucose-asparagine physical mixture and ribose-albumin film are introduced by the use of a unique differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier-transform infrared combined technique. This technique can not only induce and accelerate the Maillard reaction, but can also detect continuous pathways and intermediates of the Maillard reaction.
Micropropagation through an in vitro culture technique is a reliable biotechnological tool that holds a better scope and future for the propagation of numerous economically prominent ornamentals, including those having value in the foliage and flowering plants industry. As a lucrative alternative approach to conventional propagation, micropropagation is a highly refined, well-developed and suitable method to produce a large scale of progeny plants which are genetically identical to the stock plant in a short time. Micropropagation of ornamental plants is increasingly and continuously involved in the scientific progress of plant biotechnology and has a relevant horticultural impact. Accordingly, a new book on micropropagation of ornamental plants is always required. Microprpagation of Ornamental Plants: Research and Practice consists of nine chapters divided into four sections authored by experienced and prestigious authors from different parts of the globe. The editor and authors are recognized as eminent scientists in their fields, and they add the quality and credibility to the content. Each chapter is illustrated and attempts to convey the practical as well as the theoretical aspects of microproparagtion. This anthology combines smartly refined micropropagation protocols of a considerable number of economically important ornamental species. Furthermore, the book will serve as a reference for horticulturists, researchers, lecturers, and students in horticulture, agriculture and biotechnology.
Pain and itch are associated with a wide range of injuries and diseases. Some conditions may have pain and associated symptoms arising from a discrete cause, such as postoperative and neuropathic pains or headaches. Chronic itch or pruritus is a frequent symptom in the general population and in many skin and systemic diseases. Millions of people on the planet suffer from acute or chronic pain and itch every year, and the effects of pain and itch exact a tremendous cost on most countries concerning health care costs, rehabilitation and lost worker productivity, as well as the emotional and financial burden it places on patients and their families. Therefore, the synthesis and development of a new generation of analgesic drugs with lesser side effects are very important for society.This book provides an original account of behavioral, cellular and molecular aspects with important ramifications for the study of hyperalgesia and allodynia in pain and itch. It concentrates on the role of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels functioning in pain and itch states. It explains how TRP channels work in terms of specified somato-sensory mechanisms and systems. This book shows that TRP channels are promising targets for the development of a new group of analgesic drugs at the periphery and central levels and opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
This book is one of the most important books in this area because it is devoted to special characteristics of an important antibiotic (Ciprofluoxacin). It presents the new ways to enhance the bioavailability of ciprofluoxacin in the human body to increase its efficacy in disease treatments, such as preparation of solid forms of ciprofluoxacin, including multi-component systems to overcome their biopharmaceutical restrictions in ciprofluoxacin with amino acids and polymers to improve solubility and/or permeabilty, and different cocrystals and salts such as hippuric, maleic, barbituric, 4-hydroxybenzoic, aspartic, glutamic, succinic, maleic, adipic, salicylic, lactic and phosphoric and metal complexes of aluminum, magnesium, zinc, iron (III), bismuth, copper, cadmium and cobalt, which are recognized as safe compounds. Furthermore, concerning ciprofloxacin-silica/hydroxyapatite nanoparticles to deliver ciprofloxacin, besides their bactericidal efficacy, these systems are promising candidates for bone infection treatment in which the synthesis of silica with calcium phosphate in situ, which is a mineral present in large amounts in bone tissue, can offer interesting aspects to an improved biological activity of these materials. This book also describes the bacterial resistance of ciprofloxacin, usually mediated by mutations in bacterial enzymes (gyrA, gyrB), topoisomerase IV (par C and par E), as well as by an active flow along the lateral outer membrane protein modification and how to overcome them. This book also presents the methods to evaluate ciprofoxacin in real samples such as a regression model that can help predict and calculate the individual dose of ciprofloxacin for patients with foot infections and the fluorometric method by using lanthanide Tb3+ and Eu3+ ions as well as sensitive and selective detection of this drug in the wastewater, which is considered an important environmental assessment.
Focusing on the use of masonry in construction, Masonry: Design, Materials and Techniques is a book updated with the latest sustainable materials and practices. This book emphasizes the use of structural masonry, from the historical masonry and use of masonry in historical constructions, the use of masonry in vernacular constructions and the use of masonry in recent buildings. It includes such aspects of masonry from ancient traditions to the latest advances, materials, and techniques. In each chapter, the thematic issues are supported by case studies featuring monumental buildings, low-rise buildings with unreinforced masonry, and recent RC buildings with clay masonry. Masonry: Design, Materials and Techniques covers the following topics: Materials and techniques used in masonry construction, seismic behavior of URM buildings, monumental buildings, monitoring and assessment, numerical strategies used for masonry buildings, structural behavior and design of low-rise, wall bearing buildings, non-destructive tests in the characterization of masonry walls, vulnerability and sustainability of vernacular construction, and codes and design of RC buildings with infill masonry walls.
Green Technology for Bioremediation of Environmental Pollution has significant importance in its fields, since it comprises the current information of basic concepts and various advanced research aspects of bioremediation related green technologies for controlling environmental pollution. In order to combat the severe environmental problems, a comprehensive treatise on bioremediation dealing with updated relevant novel green technologies is, thus, in great demand for application in a practical field. Keeping this in mind, the idea of the present book has been conceived by the editors. This issue focuses particularly on the recently developed environmental friendly novel green technology that detoxifies and decontaminates the pollutants in different domains of the environment using the potential biological agents. The book covered the following topics: A modern applied concept of the green bioremediation process, genomics, metagenomics and proteomics in green bioremediation, advanced biochemical and molecular approaches of pollutant detoxification, ecological engineering in bioremediation, microbial remediation, bioleaching, various phytoremediation approaches, novel remediation technologies of various hazardous pollutants, etc. The salient features of this book include: (i) Peer revision of each chapter by expert scientists; (ii) the basic applied concepts of bioremediation; (iii) in-depth updated concepts and research findings; (iv) relevant graphical and pictorial illustrations for understanding the text; (v) bioremediation of several emerging and hazardous pollutants; and (vi) a vivid description of bioremediation characteristics of various biological agents. Therefore, the book will be of considerable use to the environmental engineers, researchers, scientists, professionals, teachers and students working in the fields of environmental science, pollution bioremediation, environmental engineering, environmental management, environmental microbiology, environmental biotechnology and biochemistry, life sciences, proteomics, genomics and metagenomics, toxicity, waste treatment industries, etc.
The Steel Registry. Characters of Crime Fiction is a celebration of the genre of detective fiction and detective fiction characters. Beginning with the earliest eighteenth and nineteenth century crime fiction and concluding with leading contemporary exponents of the genre, the history and development of detective fiction is traced through vignettes of seventy-five crime and detective fiction characters derived from the famous novels of the genre. Famous detective fiction characters and the authors who created them are celebrated through brief descriptive and exploratory synopses including luminaries such as Conan-Doyle, Christie, Sayers, Chandler, Hammett, Marsh, Fleming, Stark, Le Carre, Dexter, Follett, Ludlum, Paretsky, Rankin, Burke, Ellroy, Dibdin, Grisham, Temple, Childe, Reichs, Hayder, James, Larsson, Galbraith, Hurwitz, and many more. This book explores the many reasons for reading crime fiction, not the least of them being the vast variety of literature that the genre embraces. The book also celebrates the heroes and heroines of detective fiction, describing in brief the nuances of their characters. Through the pleasures of reading about the challenges these heroes and heroines face, their attempts to stay human in a world which often lacks humanity, the genre of crime fiction also contributes to good literature, the stuff of lit crit or literary criticism, and so it can also be read with considerations of the development of style and genre. The Steel Registry explores this purer motive as well as the perhaps more usual escapism or sheer enjoyment, being beguiled, being captivated, being grabbed by the throat with a page-turning intensity, that is characteristic of the stimulating novels of the detective fiction genre and the characters of crime fiction created by their inspired authors.
Robert Hannas The Rational Human Condition is a five-volume book series, including: Volume 1. Preface and General Introduction, Supplementary Essays, and General Bibliography Volume 2. Deep Freedom and Real Persons: A Study in Metaphysics Volume 3. Kantian Ethics and Human Existence: A Study in Moral Philosophy Volume 4. Kant, Agnosticism, and Anarchism: A Theological-Political Treatise Volume 5. Cognition, Content, and the A Priori: A Study in the Philosophy of Mind and Knowledge The fifth volume in the series, Cognition, Content, and the A Priori, was published by Oxford University Press in 2015. So, with the present publication of the first four volumes in the series by Nova Science in 2019, all five volumes of The Rational Human Condition are now available in hard-copy and as e-books. All five books share a common aim, which is to work out a true general theory of human rationality in a thoroughly nonideal natural and social world. This philosophical enterprise is what Hanna calls rational anthropology. In the eleventh and most famous of his Theses on Feuerbach, Marx wrote that philosophers have only interpreted the world in different ways; the point is to change it. Hanna completely agrees with Marx that the ultimate aim of philosophy is to change the world, not merely interpret it. So, Marx and Hanna are both philosophical liberationists: that is, they both believe that philosophy should have radical political implications. But, beyond Marx, Hanna also thinks that the primary aim of philosophy (understood as rational anthropology) and its practices of synoptic reflection, writing, teaching, and public conversation is to change lives for the betterand ultimately, for the sake of the highest good. Then, and only then, can the human race act upon the world in the right way. The four volumes of The Rational Human Condition will therefore appeal not only to philosophers, but also to any other philosophically-minded person interested in the intellectual and practical adventure of synoptic, reflective thinking about the nature of our rational, but still ineluctably human, all-too-human lives.
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