The Asian Electronics Industry Looks to the Future

SUMMARY In recent years, the electronics industries in some Idcs have become a focus of attention, due to their success in creating employment and promoting exports. This article assesses the future of the Asian electronics industry, distinguishing the early entrants, such as South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, from the latecomers, such as Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The former group has been able to develop a relatively independent industry, both with regard to ‘mature’ consumer goods industries and in relation to components. The new entrants, by contrast, remain heavily dependent upon MNC investment and technology. Three factors affect the future of the industry—domestic markets, protectionism and technical change. After assessing each of these factors, the article concludes on a rather pessimistic note, but points to the potential for greater intra?Third World trade. RESUME L'électronique asiatique est tournée vers l'avenir Depuis peu, l'industrie électronique de certains PVD force l'attention, car elle a réussi à créer des emplois et à gonfler les exportations. Cet article évalue l'avenir de l'industrie asiatique, en distinguant les premiers arrivés tels que la Corée du Sud, Taïwan, Hong Kong et Singapour, des derniers venus tels que la Malaisie, les Philippines, I.Indonésie et Sri Lanka Le premier groupe a su développer une industrie relativement autonome, tant pour les biens de consommation “élaborés” que pour les composants. Le deuxième reste par contre étroitement dépendant des investissements et des techniques des multinatinaux. Ces facteurs jouent sur l'avenir du secteur: marché intérieur, protectionnisme et progrès technique. Après avoir étudié chacun de ces facteurs, l'article conclut sur une note pessimiste, mais souligne la possibilité d'une intensification des échanges au sein du tiers monde. RESUMEN La industria electrónica asiática mira hacia el futuro En años recientes, las industrias electrónicas en algunos países menos desarrollados ha constituido un foco de atención, debido a su éxito en la creación de empleo y promoción de exportaciones. En este artículo se evalúa el futuro de la industria electrónica asiática, distinguiendo entre los primeros participantes, tales como Corea del Sur, Taiwán, Hong Kong y Singapur y los recién llegados, tales como Malasia, las Filipinas, Indonesia y Sri Lanka. El antiguo grupo ha podido desarrollar una industria relativamente independiente, tanto respecto a las industrias “maduras” de productos de consumo como en relación con la de componentes. Los nuevos participantes, en contraste, siguen dependiendo muchísimo de la inversión y tecnología de las multinacionales. Hay tres factores que influyen en el futuro de la industria: el de los mercados nacionales, el proteccionismo y el cambio tecnológico. Después de evaluar cada uno de estos factores, el artículo concluye con una nota más bien pesimista, pero señala las posibilidades para un mayor comercio entre los países del Tercer Mundo

Economic integration and the industrialisation of small, developing nations: the case of Central America

Introduction and synopsis available: p. 6

Preferably Plinian and Pumaceous: Implications of Microbial Activity in Modern Volcanic Deposits at Askja Volcano, Iceland, and Relevancy for Mars Exploration

To search more efficiently for a record of past life on Mars, it is critical to know where to look and thus maximize the likelihood of success. Large-scale site selection for the Mars 2020 mission has been completed, but small (meter to 10 cm)-scale relationships of microenvironments will not be known until the rover reaches the surface. Over a 2 m transect at a modern volcanic deposit on the flank of Askja volcano in the barren highlands of Iceland, we compared two biological indicators (ATP activity and 16SrRNA amplicon sequence composition) to physical characteristics including bulk chemical composition, spectral signatures of mineralogy, and grain size. Using analytical instrumentation analogous to those available on Mars rovers, we were able to characterize the geological setting of the deposits and link physical parameters to microbial abundance and diversity. In general, methanogenesis, methanotrophy/methylotrophy, and nitrate reduction were the functional traits most associated with microbial community shift along the transect. Core microbiome members tended to be associated with nitrate reduction, and relative abundance of core microbes was strongly related to free water in the deposit. Community compositional shift of the rare microbiome was related to microenvironmental changes such as change in grain size, geochemistry, and age of deposit. These correlations lead us to suggest a sampling strategy that accounts for Martian geology, looking for undisturbed (not remobilized) explosive volcanic ash below pumice that could maximize diversity and abundance of different bioindicators. Our study also illustrates the importance of studying the variability across microenvironments in low biomass settings on earth

Biomarker and Geochemical Assay Validation in Mars Analog Sites: Lessons from the FELDSPAR (Field Exploration and Life Detection Sampling for Planetary Analog Research) Project

Missions looking for signs of life on other worlds can often only take a few samples once they arrive. Making sense of these "few and far between" observations is easier if we know what a "normal" level of variation for that kind of planet is. Recent eruption sites in Iceland are good places to learn about this, because they have very little life present and the same types of rocks as many places on Mars. We have visited several of these sites in Iceland and tested many different kinds of measurements: the energy available for life, the amount of DNA (an important biological molecule) present, the relative amounts of different kinds of micro-organisms, and the specific minerals that make up the rocks and ground. In addition to recommendations for future expeditions, we have also shown that using early on-site measurements to choose later on-site sample sites is very helpful in reducing the number of sample sites needed

What is the value and impact of quality and safety teams? A scoping review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review of the literature about the establishment and impact of quality and safety team initiatives in acute care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Studies were identified through electronic searches of Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ABI Inform, Cochrane databases. Grey literature and bibliographies were also searched. Qualitative or quantitative studies that occurred in acute care, describing how quality and safety teams were established or implemented, the impact of teams, or the barriers and/or facilitators of teams were included. Two reviewers independently extracted data on study design, sample, interventions, and outcomes. Quality assessment of full text articles was done independently by two reviewers. Studies were categorized according to dimensions of quality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 6,674 articles identified, 99 were included in the study. The heterogeneity of studies and results reported precluded quantitative data analyses. Findings revealed limited information about attributes of successful and unsuccessful team initiatives, barriers and facilitators to team initiatives, unique or combined contribution of selected interventions, or how to effectively establish these teams.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Not unlike systematic reviews of quality improvement collaboratives, this broad review revealed that while teams reported a number of positive results, there are many methodological issues. This study is unique in utilizing traditional quality assessment and more novel methods of quality assessment and reporting of results (SQUIRE) to appraise studies. Rigorous design, evaluation, and reporting of quality and safety team initiatives are required.</p

Coping with hunger? Visions of a global food system, 1930–1960

AbstractThe 1930s and 1940s saw the rise of a new model of global food politics. This model was strongly moulded by the experiences of the Great Depression and the two world wars, all of which had brought hunger and malnutrition back to Europe. Whereas until the nineteenth century famines and food shortages had commonly been interpreted as regional Malthusian crises, they were now attributed to global economic disturbances and imbalances. This article explores how the far-reaching plans of a World Food Board, advocated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization under John Boyd Orr, were abandoned and supplanted by a new approach that focused on technical aid and the distribution of surpluses. Moreover, the problems of hunger and malnutrition were embedded in a larger discourse on world population and economic development

Community Pharmacists and Colleges of Pharmacy: The Ohio Partnership

Objective: To develop pharmacist practice standards, pharmacy preceptor standards, and objectives for students completing advanced practice community pharmacy rotations.Setting: Ohio.Practice Description: Pharmacy schools and community pharmacies that serve as advanced practice rotation sites.Practice Innovation: Developed standards for preceptors and objectives for student experiences.Interventions: Focus groups that included both community pharmacists and pharmacy faculty collaborated on defining key standards for advanced community pharmacy rotations.Main Outcome Measure: Not applicable.Results: Three main documents were produced in this initiative, and these are provided as appendices to this article. Professional and patient care guidelines for preceptors define minimum standards for these role models. Expectations of pharmacists as preceptors provide insights for managing this student-teacher relationship, which is fundamentally different from the more common employer-employee and coworker relationships found in pharmacies of all types. Objectives for student experiences during advanced practice community pharmacy rotations present core expectations in clinical, dispensing, patient education, wellness, and drug information areas.Conclusion: Through this collaboration, Ohio colleges of pharmacy developed a partnership with practitioners in community settings that should enhance the Ohio experiential educational program for student pharmacists. Use of the established guidelines will help educators and practitioners achieve their shared vision for advanced practice community pharmacy rotations and promote high-quality patient care