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This Paper gives the results of the Author's analysis of the European traded gas hubs in 2020, as well as discussing the trading prospects for the new merged German gas hub, the Trading Hub Europe which is due to be operational from October 2021; it also compares the global gas benchmarks, Henry Hub, TTF, NBP and JKM. The merger of the German NCG and GPL hubs into one national hub is the culmination of a process of rationalisation started in 2008 when there were still 19 gas balancing zones. The stated aim of the Federal law which has mandated the merger is to increase liquidity in the gas market, and the German TSOs have the ambition for the new hub to be an international hub linking the German with other European gas markets. Given the country's large physical consumption and total physical throughput, this should be a possibility but begs the questions of why the NCG and GPL have not developed more than they have and whether, if that is due to there being two hubs rather than one, simply merging them will now have the desired effect? Unfortunately, the statistical data and the French experience of hub mergers suggest that it will struggle to succeed. On the wider European level, the vision set out some 20 years ago of a fully liberalised traded gas market is now almost fulfilled, with just a few more changes needed to be made, especially in eastern and south eastern Europe. The results of the 5 Key Elements for 2020 show an overall increase in European traded volumes, although not all hubs benefited. The TTF has consolidated its position at the top of the rankings and has increased both its 'net' and 'gross' churn rates; it is a mature and very liquid hub. At a global level, Henry Hub is the most liquid traded benchmark gas hub. TTF (and NBP to a lesser extent) is an important benchmark in its own market area and is also a benchmark for its region. JKM is the leading price market in Asia. The final conclusion of this Paper is that the political will in Ukraine could see it become a SEE regional hub in the future; that the TTF is most likely to remain the European gas price benchmark as well as a global benchmark; and that the new German Trading Hub Europe is very unlikely to reflect its name.

In this study, I classify and examine a literary device that I term 'the myth of the found text' so as to explore how such stories operate to authorize and reinforce, especially religious, authority. Here I contend that individuals or groups in specific socio-historical contexts construct stories of found texts as a kind of conjuring trick, one that functions to confer the storyteller's power and stature. By appealing to the authority of an ancient text allegedly newly recovered, these mythmakers are able to situate social programs and religious reforms in an imagined, ideal antiquity—an exemplary past. The creation and telling of such myths can thus be seen as a political manoeuvre, a manoeuvre that constructs an authority (the 'found' text) that is then cleverly protected from contestation. While we may be quick to impugn such strategies, they have much in common, I argue, with 'religion' and with scholarship itself. ; October 2018

Purpose: This study reports correlates in reported use and helpfulness of calorie information, when available, in restaurants on a national scale in the United States for demographic behavioral and health-related conditions. Design: This study is a secondary data analysis of the 2013 National Cancer Institute's Health Information National Trends Survey data. Setting: United States. Subjects: Adults ( n = 3407). Measures: Menu labeling use and helpfulness; behavior change attempts; reported fruit, vegetable, and soda consumption; weight status; and chronic health conditions. Analysis: Trends were identified in weighted logistic and linear regression models. Results: U.S. adults who intended to lose weight (odds ratio [OR] = 5.01 [95% confidence interval 2.96, 8.46]), increase fruit (OR = 1.10 [.66, 1.84]) or vegetable consumption (OR = 2.25 [1.32, 3.83]), or reduce soda consumption (OR = 1.67 [1.11, 2.51]) were more likely to report using menu-labeling information when available. More women reported calorie information was helpful when ordering ( p < .05). Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic status disparities were identified in use (non-Hispanic [NH] blacks vs. NH whites OR = .43 [.25, .74]) and helpfulness (NH blacks vs. NH whites β = –.06 [–.44, .32]). Conclusion: Findings highlight potential subgroups to target for communication and education efforts regarding use of calorie information in restaurants. Following publication of final rules for federal menu-labeling legislation and implementation, further surveillance of public response to this information may inform message framing and educational interventions to promote use of calorie information on menu boards.

Purpose: Less than half of US adults meet the recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of exercise each week. Health promotion messages are frequently used to promote physical activity (PA); however, this messaging may be ineffective if it does not resonate with the target audience. The purpose of this exploratory study is to understand how women respond to examples of PA promotion messages. Approach/Design: A qualitative study. Setting: Washington DC Metro Area. Participants: Forty women, stratified by race/ethnicity (white, black, Latina) and level of self-reported PA (active, inactive). Method: Eight focus groups were conducted in which participants were shown 3 PA promotion messages representative of typical messaging strategies. Three researchers conducted a thematic analysis to code the data for emergent themes. Results: Current PA promotion messaging strategies do not resonate with women. Women want to see individuals with "realistic" bodies who look similar to them (eg, body shape, age, race/ethnicity), and for PA messaging to include daily activities as a way to be active. Conclusions: Public health practitioners who promote PA to women should consider developing messages that better resonate with women's dynamic roles and lifestyles. Successful strategies may include depicting busy lifestyles that PA may be physically and logistically difficult to fit into and using models with diverse body shapes.