The Internet of Things: the future or the end of mechatronics.

The advent and increasing implementation of user configured and user oriented systems structured around the use of cloud configured information and the Internet of Things is presenting a new range and class of challenges to the underlying concepts of integration and transfer of functionality around which mechatronics is structured. It is suggested that the ways in which system designers and educators in particular respond to and manage these changes and challenges is going to have a significant impact on the way in which both the Internet of Things and mechatronics develop over time. The paper places the relationship between the Internet of Things and mechatronics into perspective and considers the issues and challenges facing systems designers and implementers in relation to managing the dynamics of the changes required

Judicial Review, Irrationality, and the Legitimacy of Merits-Review

The definition of the irrationality ground of judicial review recognises the constitutional principle of the separation of powers, in allowing for judicial control of the executive only very rarely. The author in a previous article in this study found that the courts, on occasions, had intervened in circumstances where administrative decisions arguably were not irrational. To this end, the purpose of this article is to assess the constitutionality of these seemingly low standards of irrationality. The author does so by reference either to the manner of review employed—the use of the proportionality principle, for example—or the context of the administrative decision under scrutiny, such as the infringement of the applicant’s fundamental rights. The author finds that the cases from the previous article where low standards of irrationality were arguably adopted were, in fact, legitimate according to these chosen methods of evaluation. However, this is an interim conclusion because, for reasons of word length, the author is unable to complete a full assessment here. It is therefore proposed that a subsequent article will continue to examine the constitutionality of these cases. Furthermore, the author will also try and establish a zone of executive decision-making, for reasons of democracy, where the courts are excluded from irrationality review. If the author is unsuccessful in this regard, the final conclusion of this study will inevitably be that low standards of judicial intervention exist without limit—a clear assault on the constitutional principle stated above

Microplastic aging processes: Environmental relevance and analytical implications

The analysis of microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial environments and the evaluation of their environmental risk has gained great attention, owing to the increasing evidence for their widespread presence in soils and freshwater sediments globally. Once in the environment, MPs undergo abiotic and biotic processes which alter their properties and integrity: this process is called aging and has implications for the fate of these contaminants, their morphology and surface chemistry. Aging may also affect the analytical assessment of MPs in environmental samples which likely contain aged MPs. In contrast, analytical methods are established using pristine plastics for validation. This can lead to uncertainties in quantification and characterization. This critical review summarizes the current trends in the simulation and characterization of MP aging in laboratory conditions, highlighting limitations and knowledge gaps. It also discusses the challenges in MP analysis induced by aging in environmental samples, providing directions toward possible solutions

Non-pharmacological interventions for Lewy body dementia: a systematic review.

Lewy body dementia (consisting of dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterised by visual hallucinations, fluctuating attention, motor disturbances, falls, and sensitivity to antipsychotics. This combination of features presents challenges for pharmacological management. Given this, we sought to review evidence for non-pharmacological interventions with patients with Lewy body dementia and their carers. Bibliographic databases were searched using a wide range of search terms and no restrictions were placed on study design, language, or clinical setting. Two reviewers independently assessed papers for inclusion, rated study quality, and extracted data. The search identified 21 studies including two randomised controlled trials with available subgroup data, seven case series, and 12 case studies. Most studies reported beneficial effects of the interventions used, though the only sizeable study was on dysphagia, showing a benefit of honey-thickened liquids. Given the heterogeneity of interventions and poor quality of the studies overall, no quantitative synthesis was possible. Overall, identified studies suggested possible benefits of non-pharmacological interventions in Lewy body dementia, but the small sample sizes and low quality of studies mean no definite recommendations can be offered. Our findings underscore the clear and urgent need for future research on this topic

The inferior turbinate flap in skull base reconstruction

BACKGROUND: As the indications for expanded endonasal approaches continue to evolve, alternative reconstructive techniques are needed to address increasingly complex surgical skull base defects. In the absence of the nasoseptal flap, we describe our experience with the posterior pedicle inferior turbinate flap (PPITF) in skull base reconstruction. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Academic tertiary care centre. METHODS: Patients who underwent reconstruction of the skull base with the PPITF were identified. Medical records were reviewed for demographic, presentation, treatment, follow-up, surgical and outcomes data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Flap survival, adequacy of seal, and complications. RESULTS: Two patients with residual/recurrent pituitary adenomas met the inclusion criteria. The nasoseptal flap was unavailable in each case due to a prior septectomy. Salvage of the original nasoseptal flap was not possible, as it did not provide adequate coverage of the resultant defect due to contraction from healing. All PPITFs healed uneventfully and covered the entire defect. No complications were observed in the early post-operative period. Endoscopic techniques and limitations of the PPITF are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Our clinical experience supports the PPITF to be a viable alternative for reconstruction of the skull base in the absence of the nasoseptal flap

THE USE OF COHESIVE DEVICES IN ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDENTS’ WRITINGS

This study discovers how cohesive devices used in twelve students’ writing written by four students – two high achiever learners and two low achiever learners – of English Education Program in Indonesian University. With the characteristics of case study approach, the research study applies a qualitative method research design and employs Halliday and Hasan’s (1976) taxonomy of cohesion framework as a ground theory and a tool for text analysis. The findings show that grammatical cohesive devices are used slightly more frequent than the lexical ones. The students frequently used reiteration followed by reference, conjunction, collocation, substitution, and ellipsis with two general functions; to remind the readers about the topic discussed and to show the position of the author within the text. Furthermore, it is realized that to some extent, the way students use cohesive devices is a little bit different; in which at the final point, high achiever learners tend to use more various cohesive devices than the low ones in maintaining their quality of writing. Keywords: Cohesion, Cohesive Devices, Writing Quality Penggunaan Perangkat Kohesif di Tulisan-tulisan Mahasiswa Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris Penelitian ini mengemukakan bagaimana perangkat kohesif digunakan pada dua belas tulisan buatan empat mahasiswa – dua siswa berprestasi tinggi dan dua siswa berprestasi rendah – jurusan pendidikan bahasa inggris di salah satu universitas di Indonesia. Dengan karakteristik pendekatan studi kasus, penelitian ini menerapkan metode kualitatif dan menggunakan taksonomi kerangka kohesi yang diusung Halliday dan Hasan (1976) sebagai teori dasar dan alat untuk menganalisis teks. Temuan menunjukan bahwa perangkat kohesif gramatikal digunakan sedikit lebih sering daripada yang leksikal. Para siswa seringkali menggunakan reiteration diikuti oleh reference, conjunction, collocation, substitution, dan ellipsis dengan dua fungsi umum; untuk mengingatkan pembaca tentang topic yang sedang dibahas dan untuk menunjukan posisi penulis didalam teks. Selanjutnya, disadari bahwa pada titik-titik tertentu, cara siswa menggunakan perangkat kohesif sedikit berbeda; yang mana pada akhirnya, siswa yang berprestasi tinggi cenderung menggunakan perangkat kohesif yang lebih variatif daripada yang digunakan oleh siswa yang berprestasi rendah dalam mempertahankan kualitas tulisannya. Kata Kunci: Kohesi, Perangkat Kohesif, Kualitas Tulisa

Elvetilførsler og direkte tilførsler til norske kystområder – 2016

Project manager Øyvind KasteRiverine inputs and direct discharges to Norwegian coastal waters in 2016 have been estimated in accordance with the OSPAR Commission’s principles. Nutrients, metals and organic pollutants have been monitored in rivers; discharges from point sources have been estimated from industry, sewage treatment plants and fish farming; and nutrient inputs from diffuse sources have been modelled. Trends in riverine inputs have been analysed, and threshold concentration levels investigated.Norwegian Environment AgencypublishedVersio

Development of assessment toolkits for improving the diagnosis of the Lewy body dementias: feasibility study within the DIAMOND Lewy study.

$\textbf{Objective:}$ The Lewy body dementias (LBD, dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia) are the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia but remain under-recognised, with long delays from initial assessment to diagnosis. Whilst validated instruments have been developed for key symptoms, there is no brief instrument for overall diagnostic assessment suitable for routine practice. We here report the development of such assessment toolkits. $\textbf{Methods:}$ We developed the LBD assessment toolkits in three stages. First, we conducted a systematic search for brief validated assessments for key symptoms and combined these into draft instruments. Second, we obtained feedback on acceptability and feasibility through two rounds of interviews with our patient and public involvement group. This led to modification of the toolkits. Finally, we piloted the toolkits in a feasibility study in routine dementia and Parkinson's disease services to produce final instruments suitable for routine clinical practice. $\textbf{Results:}$ Eleven clinicians, working in both dementia/memory assessment and Parkinson's disease/movement disorder services, consented to pilot the assessment toolkits and provide feedback on their feasibility. Clinicians worked in routine health service (not academic) settings and piloted the draft toolkits by integrating them into their regular clinical assessments. Feedback obtained informally, by written comments and through qualitative interviews led to modifications and production of final acceptable versions. $\textbf{Conclusions:}$ We were able to address an important need, the under-diagnosis of LBD, by developing toolkits for improving the recognition and diagnosis of the LBD, which were acceptable to clinicians working in routine dementia and Parkinson's disease services.This study was supported by the NIHR under its Programme Grants for Applied Research programme (DTC-RP-PG-0311-12001); the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Lewy Body Dementia and Biomedical Research Centre awarded to Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University; and the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Dementia and the Biomedical Research Centre awarded to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge

Development of assessment toolkits for improving the diagnosis of the Lewy body dementias: feasibility study within the DIAMOND Lewy study.

OBJECTIVE: The Lewy body dementias (LBD, dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia) are the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia but remain under-recognised, with long delays from initial assessment to diagnosis. Whilst validated instruments have been developed for key symptoms, there is no brief instrument for overall diagnostic assessment suitable for routine practice. We here report the development of such assessment toolkits. METHODS: We developed the LBD assessment toolkits in three stages. First, we conducted a systematic search for brief validated assessments for key symptoms and combined these into draft instruments. Second, we obtained feedback on acceptability and feasibility through two rounds of interviews with our patient and public involvement group. This led to modification of the toolkits. Finally, we piloted the toolkits in a feasibility study in routine dementia and Parkinson's disease services to produce final instruments suitable for routine clinical practice. RESULTS: Eleven clinicians, working in both dementia/memory assessment and Parkinson's disease/movement disorder services, consented to pilot the assessment toolkits and provide feedback on their feasibility. Clinicians worked in routine health service (not academic) settings and piloted the draft toolkits by integrating them into their regular clinical assessments. Feedback obtained informally, by written comments and through qualitative interviews led to modifications and production of final acceptable versions. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to address an important need, the under-diagnosis of LBD, by developing toolkits for improving the recognition and diagnosis of the LBD, which were acceptable to clinicians working in routine dementia and Parkinson's disease services. © 2016 The Authors. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.This study was supported by the NIHR under its Programme Grants for Applied Research programme (DTC-RP-PG-0311-12001); the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Lewy Body Dementia and Biomedical Research Centre awarded to Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University; and the NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Dementia and the Biomedical Research Centre awarded to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge