Innovation and Social Capital: A Cross-country Investigation

This study explores the impact of social capital on innovation by constructing a more general measure of social capital indicator consisting of generalized and institutional trust, associational activities and civic norms. We test the hypothesis that social capital has a positive impact on innovation at the national level. After controlling for R&D expenditure and human capital there is a positive relationship between social capital and innovation. Social capital interacts with entrepreneurship and the strongest relationship is between associated activities and entrepreneurship. This is consistent with the need to build social relationships in today's networked economy.human capital, social capital, entrepreneurship, innovation, generalized and institutional trust, civic norms, associational activities

Meta-nematic transitions in a bilayer system: Application to the bilayer ruthenate

It was suggested that the two consecutive metamagnetic transitions and the large residual resistivity discovered in Sr$_3$Ru$_2$O$_7$ can be understood via the nematic order and its domains in a single layer system. However, a recently reported anisotropy between two longitudinal resistivities induced by tilting the magnetic field away from the c-axis cannot be explained within the single layer nematic picture. To fill the gap in our understanding within the nematic order scenario, we investigate the effects of bilayer coupling and in-plane magnetic field on the electronic nematic phases in a bilayer system. We propose that the in-plane magnetic field in the bilayer system modifies the energetics of the domain formation, since it breaks the degeneracy of two different nematic orientations. Thus the system reveals a pure nematic phase with a resistivity anisotropy in the presence of an in-plane magnetic field. In addition to the nematic phase, the bilayer coupling opens a novel route to a hidden nematic phase that preserves the x-y symmetry of the Fermi surfaces.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Interplay between parallel and diagonal electronic nematic phases in interacting systems

An electronic nematic phase can be classified by a spontaneously broken discrete rotational symmetry of a host lattice. In a square lattice, there are two distinct nematic phases. The parallel nematic phase breaks $x$ and $y$ symmetry, while the diagonal nematic phase breaks the diagonal $(x+y)$ and anti-diagonal $(x-y)$ symmetry. We investigate the interplay between the parallel and diagonal nematic orders using mean field theory. We found that the nematic phases compete with each other, while they coexist in a finite window of parameter space. The quantum critical point between the diagonal nematic and isotropic phases exists, and its location in a phase diagram depends on the topology of the Fermi surface. We discuss the implication of our results in the context of neutron scattering and Raman spectroscopy measurements on La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure

Hybrid bright-field and hologram imaging of cell dynamics

Volumetric observation is essential for understanding the details of complex biological phenomena. In this study, a bright-field microscope, which provides information on a specific 2D plane, and a holographic microscope, which provides information spread over 3D volumes, are integrated to acquire two complementary images simultaneously. The developed system was successfully applied to capture distinct T-cell adhesion dynamics on inflamed endothelial layers, including capture, rolling, crawling, transendothelial migration, and subendothelial migration.113Ysciescopu

The organisational and human resource challenges facing primary care trusts : protocol of a multiple case study

BACKGROUND: The study is designed to assess the organisational and human resource challenges faced by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs). Its objectives are to: specify the organisational and human resources challenges faced by PCTs in fulfilling the roles envisaged in government and local policy; examine how PCTs are addressing these challenges, in particular, to describe the organisational forms they have adopted, and the OD/HR strategies and initiatives they have planned or in place; assess how effective these structures, strategies and initiatives have been in enabling the PCTs to meet the organisational and human resources challenges they face; identify the factors, both internal to the PCT and in the wider health community, which have contributed to the success or failure of different structures, strategies and initiatives. METHODS: The study will be undertaken in three stages. In Stage 1 the key literature on public sector and NHS organisational development and human resources management will be reviewed, and discussions will be held with key researchers and policy makers working in this area. Stage 2 will focus on detailed case studies in six PCTs designed to examine the organisational and human resources challenges they face. Data will be collected using semi-structured interviews, group discussion, site visits, observation of key meetings and examination of local documentation. The findings from the case study PCTs will be cross checked with a Reference Group of up to 20 other PCG/Ts, and key officers working in organisational development or primary care at local, regional and national level. In Stage 3 analysis of findings from the preparatory work, the case studies and the feedback from the Reference Group will be used to identify practical lessons for PCTs, key messages for policy makers, and contributions to further theoretical development

Nonequilibrium effects due to charge fluctuations in intrinsic Josephson systems

Nonequilibrium effects in layered superconductors forming a stack of intrinsic Josephson junctions are investigated. We discuss two basic nonequilibrium effects caused by charge fluctuations on the superconducting layers: a) the shift of the chemical potential of the condensate and b) charge imbalance of quasi-particles, and study their influence on IV-curves and the position of Shapiro steps.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, revised version slightly shortene

Quality care in vesico-vaginal obstetric fistula: case series report from the regional hospital of Maroua-Cameroon

The World Health Organization (WHO) proposes a successful closure rate for first repair of vesico-vaginal obstetric fistula to be at 85% in each facility, with the continence achievement among the closed cases at 90 %. We are reporting the vesico-vaginal obstetric fistula outcome at the provincial hospital of Maroua- Cameroon from 2005 to August 2007. Among the overall 32 patients with vesico-vaginal fistula operated, 25 patients were at their first operation. The complete closure of vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF) was 23/25 (92%) and among the 23 patients with complete closure 17(74%) had good continence. When we consider only the 25 patients who were at their first operation, the overall closure of VVF was 23/25 (92%) and among them 17/23 (74%) were continent. Large lesion, bladder neck lesions, vaginal adherence and rigid margin are associated with failure/incontinence. These factors must be taken into consideration when preparing patients for surgery or when assigning them to a surgeon within the surgical team

Action semantics in retrospect

This paper is a themed account of the action semantics project, which Peter Mosses has led since the 1980s. It explains his motivations for developing action semantics, the inspirations behind its design, and the foundations of action semantics based on unified algebras. It goes on to outline some applications of action semantics to describe real programming languages, and some efforts to implement programming languages using action semantics directed compiler generation. It concludes by outlining more recent developments and reflecting on the success of the action semantics project

Static Charge Coupling of Intrinsic Josephson Junction

A microscopic theory for the coupling of intrinsic Josephson oscillations due to charge fluctuations on the quasi two-dimensional superconducting layers is presented. Thereby in close analogy to the normal state the effect of the scalar potential on the transport current is taken into account consistently. The dispersion of collective modes is derived and an estimate of the coupling constant is given. It is shown that the correct treatment of the quasiparticle current is essential in order to get the correct position of Shapiro steps. In this case the influence of the coupling on dc-properties like the $I-V$-curve is negligible.Comment: 6 pages latex, 5 figures, espcrc2.sty, Invited Contribution to "2nd International Symposiom on Intrinsic Josephson Effects and Plasma Oscillations in High-TC Superconductors", 22-24 August, Sendai, Japan, to be published in Physica