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Compared to other additive manufacturing (AM) processes, vat polymerization features the highest manufacturing resolution and is considered the best technique for bio-printing, in addition to being well suited to prosthetics [...]

This paper is an exploratory qualitative study into how tribunals of inquiry act as instruments of legitimacy and hegemony for the State. Focusing on a case study of two consecutive tribunals of inquiry into the biggest health scandal in the history of the Irish State, the paper draws on ritual theory to offer a view of the tribunal as a process of ritualization, a strategic way of acting by the State in times of crisis. Through this process of ritualization, an authoritative, structured and structuring ritualized environment is created with schemes of ritualization imposed on participants directed toward creating ritualized bodies, hoped-for acceptance of the tribunal's projection of reality and the re-legitimation of the role of the State in undertaking its core functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the role that technology plays in creating and fostering transparency in global supply chains. Transparency is deemed vital in the creation of sustainable and resilient supply chains and overall effective corporate governance. There are two distinct orientations toward the use of technology by multinational corporations (MNCs) in creating sustainability transparency within their global supply chains: control and relational. A control orientation views technology as a tool to gather the ever-increasing levels of sustainability data on supplier practices in an efficient, secure, and progressively automated manner. A relational orientation adopts a view where technology is a tool to help build social relations and improve dialogue and collaboration on sustainability throughout the supply chain. A key difference in the two orientations lies in the mindset of the MNC manager toward the development of supply chain sustainability transparency. The article illustrates the effective application of both approaches and offers advice to managers on the design choices they need to consider in choosing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative virtual environments (CVEs) hold great potential for people with autism. An exploratory empirical study was conducted to determine if children and youth with autism could understand basic emotions as represented by a humanoid avatar. Thirty-four participants (ages 7.8-16 years) reported to have autism interacted with a software program designed to evaluate their ability to identify and make inferences from facial expressions. Over 90% of the participants accurately recognized emotions displayed by avatar representations. These findings support the optimism that CVEs can be used effectively as an assistive technology, as an educational technology, and as a means of helping address potential theory-of-mind impairments.

Background A case of stent thrombosis as a complication of coronary bifurcation stenting is described. We review potential complications of bifurcation stenting and established guidelines. Case summary A 64-year-old man presented with a non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction. High-sensitivity troponin I peaked at 99 000 ng/L (normal <5). He previously had coronary stenting for stable angina when residing in another country 2 years previously. Coronary angiography revealed no significant stenosis with TIMI 3 flow in all vessels. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a left anterior descending artery (LAD) territory regional motion abnormality, late gadolinium enhancement consistent with recent infarction, and a left ventricular apical thrombus. Repeat angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) confirmed bifurcation stenting at the junction of the LAD and second diagonal (D2) with protrusion of several millimetres of the uncrushed proximal segment of the D2 stent in the LAD vessel lumen. There was under-expansion of the LAD stent in the mid-vessel and stent malapposition in the proximal LAD, extending into the distal left main stem coronary artery and involving the ostium of the left circumflex coronary artery. Percutaneous balloon angioplasty was performed along the length of the stent, including an internal crush of the D2 stent. Coronary angiography confirmed a uniform expansion of the stented segments and TIMI 3 flow. Final IVUS confirmed full stent expansion and apposition. Discussion This case highlights the importance of provisional stenting as a default strategy and familiarity with procedural steps in bifurcation stenting. Furthermore, it emphasizes the benefit of intravascular imaging for lesion characterization and stent optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proposes a framework for further research and development in the field of computer-aided learning for students with autism. The framework is based around the core deficiencies of autism, namely a social impairment, a communication impairment, rigidity and inflexibility in thinking and a theory of mind deficit. Presents proposals for computer-aided learning systems for each of these areas. (Contains 80 references.) (AEF)

Research has been conducted on the nitrogen-sulfur(VI) esters. The reactions between these esters and a series of pyridines and alicyclic amines have been investigated in acetonitrile in the excess amine presence at different temperatures and the results are reported.

Several thermoplastics and an epoxy were exposed to a variety of conditions to determine the effect of chemical environment on the materials. Weight gain measurements of the samples were made after exposure to low humidity, ambient air, 90 [degrees] C air, ambient transformer oil, and 90 [degrees] C transformer oil. Two materials that performed well in these tests were polyetherimide (Ultem) and amine cured bisphenol-A epoxy. It was found that Noryl, a thermoplastic combination of high impact polystyrene and polyphenyleneoxide, was unsuitable for use in transformer oil, as it suffered substantial physical degradation. Polystyrene and high impact polystyrene (rubber modified polystyrene) performed poorly in both ambient and 90 [degrees] transformer oil tests, with the rubber modified material exhibiting a much greater weight gain. Both high and low density polyethylene also showed large weight gains in hot transformer oil.

Historically, the rate of past due mortgages has been slightly higher in Indiana than the U.S. We find, as expected, that unemployment rate differences between Indiana and the nation explains some of the delinquency differentials. In addition, the difference in employment in the manufacturing sector between Indiana and the U.S., wherein Indiana boasts significant employment, also explain the observed delinquency differentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Randy Bachman: Takin' Care of Business. John Einarson and Randy Bachman. Toronto: McArthur, 2000. 527 pp. $Can34.95. 'To achieve what he did, it was not necessary that Randy Bachman [Canadian […]

Since May 1999 the BABAR detector has been taking data at the PEP-II asymmetric electron-positron collider at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, CA. This experiment requires a very large data sample and the PEP-II accelerator uses intense beams to deliver the high collision rates needed. This poses a severe challenge to the BABAR trigger system, which must reject the large rate of background signals resulting from the high beam currents whilst accepting the collisions of interest with very high efficiency. One of the systems that performs this task is the Level 1 Calorimeter Trigger, which identifies energy deposits left by particles in the BABAR calorimeter. It is a digital, custom, fixed latency system which makes heavy use of high-speed FPGA devices to allow flexibility in the choice of data filtering algorithms. Results from several intermediate processing stages are read out, allowing the selection algorithm to be fully analyzed and optimized offline. In addition, the trigger is monitored in real time by sampling these data and cross-checking each stage of the trigger calculation against a software model. The design, implementation, construction and performance of the Level 1 Calorimeter Trigger during the first year of BABAR operation are presented. Index Terms--Calorimetry, data acquisition, elementary particles, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), triggering.

Biofilms consist of not only bacteria but also extracellular polymer substrates (EPS). They are groups of microorganisms that adhere to each other on a surface, especially as a result of exposure to water and bacteria. They can pose health risks to humans as they grow in hospital settings that include medical supplies and devices. In a previous study, the researchers discovered that bacteria/biofilm grew well on wetted external latex, male catheters. These results concerned the investigators and encouraged them to find ways for prohibiting the growth of bacteria/biofilm on the male catheters (which are made of natural rubber). They carried out a new study to assess the influence of metals and voltage for the growth of bacteria on these latex samples. For this purpose, a unique Rotation Disk Reactor was used to accelerate biofilm formation on external male catheter samples. This setup included a dip tank containing water and a rotating wheel with the attached latex samples (some of which had single electrodes while others had paired electrodes with applied voltage). The process allowed the samples to become wetted and also exposed them to microorganisms in the ambient air during each revolution of the wheel. The results (as viewed from SEM images) showed that when compared to the control sample, the presence of metals (brass, stainless steel, and silver) was generally effective in preventing bacterial growth. Also the use of voltage (9.5 volt battery) essentially eliminated the appearance of rod shaped bacteria in some of the samples. It can be concluded that the presence of metals significantly reduced bacterial growth on latex and the application of voltage was able to essentially eliminate bacteria, providing appropriate electrode combinations were used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to examine what drives the adoption of different social sustainability supply chain practices. Research has shown that certain factors drive the adoption of environmental sustainability practices but few focus on social supply chain practices, delineate which practices are adopted or what drives their adoption. Design/methodology/approach – The authors examine the facilitative role of sustainability culture to explain the adoption of social sustainability supply chain practices: basic practices, consisting of monitoring and management systems and advanced practices, which are new product and process development and strategic redefinition. The authors then explore the role played by a firm’s entrepreneurial orientation in shaping and reinforcing the adoption of social sustainability supply chain practices. A survey of 156 supply chain managers in multiple industries in Ireland was conducted to test the relationship between the variables. Findings – The findings show that sustainability culture is positively related to all the practices, and entrepreneurial orientation impacts and moderates social sustainability culture in advanced social sustainability supply chain adoption. Research limitations/implications – As with any survey, this is a single point in time with a single respondent. Implications for managers include finding the right culture in the organisation to implement social sustainability supply chain management practices that go beyond monitoring to behavioural changes in the supply chain with implications beyond the dyad of buyer and supplier to lower tier suppliers and the community surrounding the supply chain. Practical implications – The implications for managers include developing and fostering cultural attributes in the organisation to implement social sustainability supply chain management practices that go beyond monitoring suppliers to behavioural changes in the supply chain with implications beyond the dyad of buyer and supplier to lower tier suppliers and the community surrounding the supply chain. Originality/value – This is the first time, to the authors’ knowledge, that cultural and entrepreneurial variables have been tested for social sustainability supply chain practices, giving them new insights into how and why social sustainability supply chain practices are adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualise and operationalise the concept of supply chain management sustainability practices. Based on a multi-stage procedure involving a literature review, expert Q-sort and pre-test process, pilot test and survey of 156 supply chain directors and managers in Ireland, we develop a multidimensional conceptualisation and measure of social and environmental supply chain management sustainability practices. The research findings show theoretically sound constructs based on four underlying sustainable supply chain management practices: monitoring, implementing systems, new product and process development and strategy redefinition. A two-factor model is then identified as the most reliable: comprising process-based and market-based practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1983, Turkey has grown impressively averaging a 5 percent annual real growth of GDP. However, along with growth has come inflation at the average rate of 70 percent per [...]

In recent work we constructed completely general conservation laws for energy (McGrath et�al 2012 Class. Quantum Grav.29 215012) and linear and angular momentum (Epp et�al 2013 Class. Quantum Grav.30 195019) of extended systems in general relativity based on the notion of a rigid quasilocal frame (RQF). We argued at a fundamental level that these RQF conservation laws are superior to conservation laws based on the local stress–energy–momentum tensor of matter because (1) they do not rely on spacetime symmetries and (2) they properly account for both matter and gravitational effects. Moreover, they provide simple, exact, operational expressions for fluxes of gravitational energy and linear and angular momentum. In this paper we derive the form of these laws in a general first post-Newtonian (1PN) approximation, and then apply these approximate laws to the problem of gravitational tidal interactions. We obtain formulas for tidal heating and tidal torque that agree with the literature, but without resorting to the use of pseudotensors. We describe the physical mechanism of these tidal interactions not in the traditional terms of a Newtonian gravitational force, but in terms of a much simpler and universal mechanism that is an exact, quasilocal manifestation of the equivalence principle in general relativity. As concrete examples, we look at the tidal heating of Jupiter’s moon Io and angular momentum transfer in the Earth–Moon system that causes a gradual spin-down of the Earth and recession of the Moon. In both examples we find agreement with observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct a general relativistic conservation law for linear and angular momentum for matter and gravitational fields in a finite volume of space that does not rely on any spacetime symmetries. This work builds on our previous construction of a general relativistic energy conservation law with the same features (McGrath et al 2012 Class. Quantum Grav.29 215012). Our approach uses the Brown and York (1993 Phys. Rev. D 47 1407–19) quasilocal stress–energy–momentum tensor for matter and gravitational fields, plus the concept of a rigid quasilocal frame (RQF) introduced in (Epp et al 2009 Class. Quantum Grav.26 035015; 2012 Classical and Quantum Gravity: Theory, Analysis, and Applications (Nova Science)). The RQF approach allows us to construct, in a generic spacetime, frames of reference whose boundaries are rigid (their shape and size do not change with time), and that have precisely the same six arbitrary time-dependent degrees of freedom as the accelerating and tumbling rigid frames we are familiar with in Newtonian mechanics. These RQFs, in turn, give rise to a completely general conservation law for the six components of momentum (three linear and three angular) of a finite system of matter and gravitational fields. We compare in detail this quasilocal RQF approach to constructing conservation laws with the usual local one based on spacetime symmetries, and discuss the shortcomings of the latter. These RQF conservation laws lead to a deeper understanding of physics in the form of simple, exact, operational definitions of gravitational energy and momentum fluxes, which in turn reveal, for the first time, the exact, detailed mechanisms of gravitational energy and momentum transfer taking place in a wide variety of physical phenomena, including a simple falling apple. As a concrete example, we derive a general relativistic version of Archimedes’ law that we apply to understand electrostatic weight and buoyant force in the context of a Reissner–Nordström black hole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the profile of U.S. household mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures initiated for the period 1979 to 2011 employing rich data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. By profile we refer to the number of mortgages past-due over specific time categories. We report that while overall delinquencies and foreclosures have increased, the profile has also changed over the most recent decade. Previous to 2000 changes in number of mortgages past due only 30 to 60 days had no long-run impact on the number of foreclosures initiated, whereas in the decade since 2000, such changes foretell of long-run issues with foreclosures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We argue that conservation laws based on the local matter-only stress- energy-momentum tensor (characterized by energy and momentum per unit volume) cannot adequately explain a wide variety of even very simple physical phenomena because they fail to properly account for gravitational effects. We construct a general quasilocal conservation law based on the Brown and York total (matter plus gravity) stress-energy-momentum tensor (characterized by energy and momentum per unit area), and argue that it does properly account for gravitational effects. As a simple example of the explanatory power of this quasilocal approach, consider that, when we accelerate toward a freely-floating massive object, the kinetic energy of that object increases (relative to our frame). But how, exactly, does the object acquire this increasing kinetic energy? Using the energy form of our quasilocal conservation law, we can see precisely the actual mechanism by which the kinetic energy increases: it is due to a bona fide gravitational energy flux that is exactly analogous to the electromagnetic Poynting flux, and involves the general relativistic effect of frame dragging caused by the object's motion relative to us. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the assertion that culture influences conflict style preference. Data were gathered in India (n = 657), Ireland (n = 311), Thailand (n = 232), and the United States (n = 592). Conflict was measured using Oetzel's Conflict Style Measure. Results confirm that high-context nations (India and Thailand) prefer the avoiding and obliging conflict styles more than low-context nations (Ireland and the United States), whereas low-context nations prefer the dominating conflict style more than high-context nations. However, results of this study are contrary to previous research in that high-context nations prefer the compromising style more than do low-context nations, and the nations are mixed in their level of preference for the integrating style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the degree to which measures of household wealth and other household constraints can assist in forecasting of mortgage delinquencies in the U.S. Specifically, the robustness of a Vector Auto Regressive (or VAR) model that incorporates variables such as the Case-Shiller Home Price Index, the U.S. unemployment rate, household savings, and others is tested over different sub-periods. We report that while such a parsimonious model is robust in its ability to forecast delinquencies over most of the period since the late 1980s, the model's performance degenerates during the recent housing crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to use the case of early medieval Irish monasticism to highlight the implicit a historicism of the knowledge management (KM) literature and to show how such a historical study can be used to increase the level of discourse and reflection within the contested and increasingly fragmented field of KM. Design/methodology/approach – The author uses secondary source analysis from a diversity of academic fields to examine the relatively sophisticated processes through which the monks gathered, codified, created, interpreted, disseminated and used religious and secular knowledge. The author then draws out a number of insights from this literature to aid current thinking on and debates within the field of KM. Findings – The paper presents a church metaphor of KM operating at two levels. Internally the metaphor highlights the deliberate but politically contentious nature of knowledge creation, a process of developing both explicit and tacit knowledge among the monks, revolving around ideologies and cults, and primarily concerned with the avoidance, constraining and settling of controversies and debates. Externally, the metaphor highlights the political use of and the mediation of access to knowledge for the purposes of social position and influence. Originality/value – This paper is original in providing a detailed consideration of KM activities within a specific early medieval historical context and in drawing from the study to contribute to current thinking within the field of KM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets out to explore the organization and management practices within early medieval Irish monastic communities. Focusing on the inter-related themes of monastic structures, strategy, con trot identity and community, the paper examines the peculiar parallels between these ancient religious communities and contemporary knowledge-intensive firms. The paper then goes on to highlight the key contributions of this medieval monastic perspective for the understanding and study of contemporary knowledge-intensive firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A computer-assisted learning (CAL) package, NeuroLab, developed for use by first-year university students undertaking professional programs in the health are:,, is described and evaluated. NeuroLab is a simulation of a laboratory, in which students are able to impale neurons to measure resting membrane potentials and subsequently undertake experiments including measuring resting membrane potentials, determining threshold potentials, measuring refractory periods, and examining effects on membrane potential through altering the membrane permeability to sodium and potassium ions. Students find the package to be a worthwhile learning experience, with 81 ± 2.2% reporting the package increased their understanding of neuron function, and 78 ± 2.5% expressing a desire for more CAL packages. Exposure to the package resulted in significantly higher mean scores in a multiple-choice question test on measuring neuron membrane potentials compared with those who were not exposed (mean scores out of 4 of 2.42 and 2.02, respectively, P lt; 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a contribution to the emerging focus on premodem concerns in organisational studies. It provides an historical account of early medieval Irish monastic communities highlighting the unusual fusion of structure, community and spirituality as a way of explaining the considerable success and longevity of this unusual organisation form. Key insights arising from this study are then applied to contemporary debates on post-modem organisational forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]