A discussion of the rapidly growing field, from a thinker at the forefront of research at the interface of technology and the humanities, this is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary ...developments in Continental philosophy and philosophy of technology. Philosophy of technology regularly draws on key thinkers in the Continental tradition, including Husserl, Heidegger, and Foucault. Yet because of the problematic legacy of the ‘empirical turn’, it often criticizes ‘bad’ continental tendencies - lyricism, pessimism, and an outdated view of technology as an autonomous, transcendental force. This misconception is based on a faulty image of Continental thought, and in addressing it Smith productively redefines our concept of technology. By closely engaging key texts, and by examining ‘exceptional technologies’ such as imagined, failed, and impossible technologies that fall outside philosophy of technology’s current focus, this book offers a practical guide to thinking about and using continental philosophy and philosophy of technology. It outlines and enacts three key characteristics of philosophy as practiced in the continental tradition: close reading of the history of philosophy; focus on critique; and openness to other disciplinary fields. Smith deploys the concept of exceptional technologies to provide a novel way of widening discussion in philosophy of technology, navigating the relationship between philosophy of technology and Continental philosophy; the history of both these fields; the role of imagination in relation to technologies; and the social function of technologies themselves.
U.S. import and export price indexes replaced unit value indexes forty years ago, given quality concerns of mismeasurement due to unit value bias. The administrative trade data underlying the unit ...values have greatly improved since that time. The transaction records are now more detailed, available electronically, and compiled monthly with little delay. The data are used by academic researchers to calculate price measures, and unit value indexes based on trade data are used by other national statistical offices (NSOs). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is now evaluating whether replacing price indexes with unit value indexes for homogeneous products calculated from administrative trade data could expand the number of published official import and export price indexes. Using export transactions, the research calculates detailed unit value indexes from 200 + million trade records from 2012–2017 for 123 export product categories. Results show that 27 of the 123 unit value indexes are homogeneous and closely comparable to published official price indexes. This article presents the concepts and methods considered to calculate and evaluate the unit value indexes and to select the product categories that are homogeneous. Compared to official price indexes, export unit value indexes for the 27 5-digit BEA (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis) end-use product categories would deflate real exports of these goods by 13 percentage points less over the period. Incorporating these 27 indexes into the top-level XPI would increase the value of real exports of all merchandise goods by 2.6 percentage points at the end of 2017.
Abstract The Balmer decrement (H α /H β ) provides a constraint on attenuation, the cumulative effects of dust grains in the ISM. The ratio is a reliable spectroscopic tool for deriving the dust ...properties of galaxies that determine many different quantities such as star formation rate, metallicity, and SED models. Here, we measure independently both the attenuation and H α /H β of an occulting galaxy pair: VV 191. Attenuation measurements in the visible spectrum ( A V ,stars ) from dust maps derived from the F606W filter of HST and the F090W filter of JWST are matched with spaxel-by-spaxel H α /H β observations from the George and Cynthia Mitchell Spectrograph of the McDonald Observatory. The 0.5–0.7 μ m bandpass covers the Balmer lines for VV 191. The dust maps of JWST and HST provide the high sensitivity necessary for comparisons and tracking trends of the geometrically favorable galaxy. We present maps and plots of the Balmer lines for the VV 191 galaxy pair and for a specific region highlighting dust lanes for VV 191b in the overlap region. We compute A V ,H II from H α /H β and plot both quantities against A V ,stars . Our results show that regions with higher dust content, residing closer to the spiral center, dominate ionized gas attenuation, leading to an overestimation of A V ,H II by a factor of 2. Further out in the spiral arms, the lower dust content leads to more agreement between the attenuations, indicating a lower star formation rate and larger contribution from older stars to the stellar continuum outside the Petrosian radius.
Paediatrics at a glance Miall, Lawrence; Rudolf, Mary; Smith, Dominic
2016/01/01, 2016, 2016-04-29
eBook
Paediatrics at a Glance provides an introduction to paediatrics and the problems encountered in child health as they present in primary, community and secondary care, from birth through to ...adolescence. Thoroughly updated to reflect changes in understanding of childhood illness over the last 5 years, the 4th edition of this best-selling textbook diagrammatically summarises the main differential diagnoses for each presenting symptom, while accompanying text covers important disorders and conditions as well as management information.Paediatrics at a Glance:- Is an accessible, user-friendly guide to the entire paediatric curriculum- Features expanded coverage of psychological issues and ethics in child health- Includes more on advances in genetics, screening and therapy of childhood illness- Contains new videos of procedures and concepts on the companion website- Includes a brand new chapter on Palliative Care - an emerging area in the specialty- Features full colour artwork throughout- Includes a companion website at www.ataglanceseries.com/paediatrics featuring interactive self-assessment case studies, MCQs, videos of the procedures and concepts covered in the book, and links to online resourcesPaediatrics at a Glance is the ideal companion for anyone about to start a paediatric attachment or module and will appeal to medical students, junior doctors and GP trainees as well as nursing students and other health professionals.
In September 2019, Timor-Leste, where pigs are kept by more than 70 percent of households, became the eleventh Asian country to report African Swine Fever (ASF). Drawing on our recent, as-yet ...unpublished research we show that while national pork consumption is low, pigs hold tremendous monetary value for smallholders within the economy of ceremonies. Given the sums of money paid for live pigs, the value of the national pig herd is around USD160 million – more than USD1000 per pig keeping household. Accordingly, pigs serve to buffer families against shocks and pressures, especially for health and education expenses. While not a zoonosis, the potential for ASF to lead to significant, negative impacts for smallholder farmers in Timor-Leste - some of the world’s most vulnerable people - cannot be underestimated. We argue that Timor-Leste faces significant challenges in responding to ASF and there is a strong case for international support.
•ASF was detected in Timor-Leste in September 2019 and could devastate the national herd, valued at USD160 million.•More than 70% of Timor-Leste households keep pigs and they act as a buffer for families, against shocks and pressures•ASF could lead to significant, negative, livelihood, food and nutrition security impacts in Timor-Leste.•Timor-Leste faces significant challenges in responding to ASF and there is a strong case for international support
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This short paper offers a series of responses to Jochem Zwier and Timothy Barker’s comments on my extended paper ‘Taking Exception: Philosophy of Technology as a Multidimensional Problem Space.’ Part ...one responds to questions concerning the modality of the renewed understanding of the theme of the transcendental that was argued for in my initial paper: I argue for the deep
contingency
of such a move, against any sense that it is
necessary.
Part two takes this consideration of modality further, considering the
possibilities
that a renewal of the theme of the transcendental stands to offer philosophy of technology today. I argue that the contingency of our contemporary sense of the transcendental can be precisely what makes it valuable. Whereas parts one and two turn on incisive questions posed by Zwier, part three closes by reconsidering the claims for a ‘multidimensional problem space’ offered in my initial paper. In response to an acute insight from Barker, I close by arguing that philosophy of technology’s problem space should be explored in terms of a notion of ‘shared agonism’.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
This study aimed to optimize hydroponic systems for simultaneous wastewater treatment/nutrient recovery and plant growth. Various hydroponic systems (geyser pump, full flow, ebb and flow, nutrient ...film techniques, aeroponics, misting) were constructed using 160 mm PVC waste pipes supported on a 200 L reservoir. Secondary wastewater was used to cultivate rice (Oryza sativa), ivy (Hedera helix), tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), and wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum). Parameters such as plant height, biomass, retention time, temperature, conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, total phosphorus, COD, BOD, TDS, TSS, and TS were monitored. Results indicated minor variations in pH, EC, and TDS over time in systems with and without plants, with no significant differences. Turbidity decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.001) in all systems, while TOC levels reduced significantly (p ≤ 0.05) only in the presence of plants. BOD and COD levels exhibited similar reductions with and without plants. Ammonium levels decreased in plant systems, while nitrite levels remained unchanged. Nitrate levels increased significantly in plant systems, and phosphate levels showed no significant difference. Additionally, significant (p ≤ 0.001) plant length (12.84–46.75%) and biomass (31.90–57.86%) increases were observed in all hydroponic systems, accompanied by higher levels of dissolved oxygen (36.26–53.65%), compared to the control (4.59%). The hydroponic system that created a moist atmosphere, either through misting or aeroponics, thus allowing maximum access to oxygen, showed the greatest growth. This study confirmed the importance of oxygen availability to the rhizosphere for plant growth and wastewater treatment. It also identified limitations and investigated the impact of dissolved oxygen concentration on plant–microorganism interactions. Optimal oxygen availability was achieved when plant roots were exposed to a moist atmosphere created by the hydroponic system through aeroponics or misting. The findings have practical implications for hydroponic system design in urban vertical farms, benefiting wastewater treatment, mitigating eutrophication, and reducing food miles.
An online virtual escape-room game was created using the Google Forms survey app for an undergraduate chemistry lab class. Zoom video conferencing service was used to make the activity a ...collaborative learning experience. The theme was an escape from an abandoned chocolate factory, and the students solved problems to move to the next section or “room” on the Google Forms survey.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
This essay develops three key claims made in my 2018 book,
Exceptional Technologies
. Part one argues for ‘trivialising the transcendental’, to remove stigmas attached to the word ‘transcendental’ ...in philosophy in general and philosophy of technology in particular. Part two outlines the concept of ‘exceptional technologies’. These are artefacts and practices that show up as limit cases for our received pictures of what constitutes a ‘technology’ (what I refer to as our ‘pictures of method’) and that force us to reassess the conditions for the possibility of these pictures. I focus on the case of autonomous vehicles here, arguing that Google Street View provides a relatively better picture for approaching philosophical issues at stake than the famous ‘Trolley Problem’. Part three then concludes with a focus on Heidegger’s ‘Question Concerning Technology’ essay. Heidegger asserts that philosophical questioning ‘builds a way’ (1977: 3). I argue that philosophical approaches to technologies might better be considered in terms of a multidimensional problem space.
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DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
ObjectiveTo investigate whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) improves neurological outcomes in children with encephalitis when administered early in the illness.DesignPhase 3b multicentre, ...double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial.SettingTwenty-one hospitals in the UK.ParticipantsChildren aged 6 months to 16 years with a diagnosis of acute or subacute encephalitis, with a planned sample size of 308.InterventionTwo doses (1 g/kg/dose) of either IVIG or matching placebo given 24–36 hours apart, in addition to standard treatment.Main outcome measureThe primary outcome was a ‘good recovery’ at 12 months after randomisation, defined as a score of≤2 on the Paediatric Glasgow Outcome Score Extended.Secondary outcome measuresThe secondary outcomes were clinical, neurological, neuroimaging and neuropsychological results, identification of the proportion of children with immune-mediated encephalitis, and IVIG safety data.Results18 participants were recruited from 12 hospitals and randomised to receive either IVIG (n=10) or placebo (n=8) between 23 December 2015 and 26 September 2017. The study was terminated early following withdrawal of funding due to slower than anticipated recruitment, and therefore did not reach the predetermined sample size required to achieve the primary study objective; thus, the results are descriptive. At 12 months after randomisation, 9 of the 18 participants (IVIG n=5/10 (50%), placebo n=4/8 (50%)) made a good recovery and 5 participants (IVIG n=3/10 (30%), placebo n=2/8 (25%)) made a poor recovery. Three participants (IVIG n=1/10 (10%), placebo n=2/8 (25%)) had a new diagnosis of epilepsy during the study period. Two participants were found to have specific autoantibodies associated with autoimmune encephalitis. No serious adverse events were reported in participants receiving IVIG.ConclusionsThe IgNiTE (ImmunoglobuliN in the Treatment of Encephalitis) study findings support existing evidence of poor neurological outcomes in children with encephalitis. However, the study was halted prematurely and was therefore underpowered to evaluate the effect of early IVIG treatment compared with placebo in childhood encephalitis.Trial registration numberClinical Trials.gov NCT02308982; ICRCTN registry ISRCTN15791925.
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