In a model of dual agency problems where borrower-lender and bank-nonbank incentives may conflict, we predict a hockey stick relation between bank skin in the game and covenant tightness. As bank participation declines covenant tightness increases until reaching a low threshold, at which point the relation sharply reverses and covenant protection is removed with a commensurate increase in sprea...

Fault-tolerant communication in a distributed system requires reliable connection management and message delivery. Reliable connection management includes the guarantee of hazard-free release, in which no data is lost before the connection is terminated. Our work focuses on protocols in which the end nodes retain no connection-speci c information between incarnations, operating over networks th...

Governments in Africa are turning to large-scale partnerships with donors and multinational companies to stimulate investment in agriculture. However, so-called mega agricultural public–private partnerships are by and large unproven and risky, and are likely to skew the benefits of investments towards the privileged and more powerful, while the risks fall on the most vulnerable. Oxfam concludes...

Accidental or intentional release of radioactive materials into the living or working environment may cause radioactive contamination. In nuclear medicine departments, radioactive contamination is usually due to radionuclides which emit high energy gamma photons and particles. These radionuclides have a broad range of energies and penetration capabilities. Rapid detection of radioactive contami...

Given the multiple terrorist attacks that have occurred in recent years in China, medical rescue teams and specialized incident assessment teams have been established by the government; however, medical rescue after nuclear, biological, and chemical incidents remains challenging and is often inefficient. In the present article, problems were analyzed regarding the assessment of responder counte...

This paper provides a practical approach to the difficulties surrounding planning for chemical incidents, based upon the results of a Delphi based consensus study. It is intended to offer advice, which can be implemented at regional and local prehospital and hospital level. The phases of the response that are covered include preparation, management of the incident, delivery of medical support d...

Cesium radioactive isotopes (134Cs and 137Cs) are dangerous to human health due to their long half-life and high solubility in water. Nuclear experiments, wars, and nuclear plant accidents have been the main sources of Cs release into the environment. In recent years, several methods have been introduced for the elimination of Cs radioactive isotopes from contaminated wate...

The Department of Health requires District Health Authorities to have plans ready for dealing with chemical incidents to protect public health. The three aspects of a chemical incident are environmental, medical toxicology, and public health advice and information. Public health surveillance plans require generation of a causal hypothesis and assessment of risk. Training provision should emphas...