The Amalgamated Product Structure of the Tame Automorphism Group in Dimension Three

It is shown the the tame subgroup $\text{TA}_3(\mathbb C)$ of the group $\text{GA}_3(\mathbb C)$ of polynomials automorphisms of ${\mathbb C}^3$ can be realized as the product of three subgroups, amalgamated along pairwise intersections, in a manner that generalizes the well-known amalgamated free product structure of $\text{TA}_2(\mathbb C)$ (which coincides with $\text{GA}_2(\mathbb C)$ by Jung's Theorem). The result follows from defining relations for $\text{TA}_3(\mathbb C)$ given by U. U. Umirbaev

Motivation, Design, and Ubiquity: A Discussion of Research Ethics and Computer Science

Modern society is permeated with computers, and the software that controls them can have latent, long-term, and immediate effects that reach far beyond the actual users of these systems. This places researchers in Computer Science and Software Engineering in a critical position of influence and responsibility, more than any other field because computer systems are vital research tools for other disciplines. This essay presents several key ethical concerns and responsibilities relating to research in computing. The goal is to promote awareness and discussion of ethical issues among computer science researchers. A hypothetical case study is provided, along with questions for reflection and discussion.Comment: Written as central essay for the Computer Science module of the LANGURE model curriculum in Research Ethic

Software maintenance in scientific and engineering environments: An introduction and guide

The purpose of software maintenance techniques is addressed. The aims of perfective, adaptive and corrective software maintenance are defined and discussed, especially in the NASA research environment. Areas requiring maintenance, and tools available for this, and suggestions for their use are made. Stress is placed on the organizational aspect of maintenance at both the individual and group level. Particular emphasis is placed on the use of various forms of documentation as the basis around which to organize. Finally, suggestions are given on how to proceed in the partial or complete absence of such documentation

Optimising medicines administration for patients with dysphagia in hospital:Medical or nursing responsibility?

Dysphagia is common—not only associated with stroke, dementia, Parkinson’s but also in many non-neurological medical problems—and is increasingly prevalent in ageing patients, where malnutrition is common and pneumonia is frequently the main cause of death. To improve the care of people with dysphagia (PWD) and minimise risk of aspiration and choking, the textures of food and drinks are frequently modified. Whilst medicines are usually concurrently prescribed for PWD, their texture is frequently not considered and therefore any minimisation of risk with respect to food and drink may be being negated when such medicines are administered. Furthermore, evidence is starting to emerge that mixing thickeners with medicines can, in certain circumstances, significantly affect drug bioavailability and therefore amending the texture of a medicine may not be straightforward. Research across a number of hospital trusts demonstrated that PWD are three times more likely to experience medication administration errors than those without dysphagia located on the same ward. Errors more commonly seen in PWD were missed doses, wrong formulation and wrong preparation through medicines alteration. Researchers also found that the same patient with dysphagia would be given their medicines in entirely different ways depending on the person administering the medicine. The alteration of medicines prior to administration has potential for patient harm, particularly if the medicine has been designed to release medicines at a pre-defined rate or within a pre-defined location. Alteration of medicines can have significant legal implications and these are frequently overlooked. Dispersing, crushing or mixing medicines can be part of, or misconstrued as, covert administration, thus introducing a further raft of legislation. Guidance within the UK recommends that following identification of dysphagia, the ongoing need for the medicine should be considered, as should the most appropriate route and formulation, with medicines alteration used as a last resort. The patient should be at the centre of any decision making. Evidence suggests that in the UK this guidance is not being followed. This article considers the clinical and legal issues surrounding administration of medicines to PWD from a UK perspective and debates whether medicines optimisation should be the primary responsibility of the prescriber when initiating therapy on the ward or the nurse who administers the medicine