Ideology, society, and the origins of nuclear power in Japan

In light of events at the Daiichi nuclear plant, this article discusses the origins of nuclear power in Japan. These origins lie in a confluence of forces: strategic, economic, and cultural. Drawing inspiration from the work of Antonio Gramsci, the article considers the operation of these forces through a historical lens, with an emphasis on Japan's transition from feudalism to capitalism; the emergence of imperialism and ultranationalism; the postsurrender occupation of Japan by the United States; and the post-Occupation debate over nuclear power. Gramscian analysis highlights key roles of both the state and civil society in the promotion of science and technology as a tool of economic growth and as a symbol of national autonomy. The article suggests that, despite the Fukushima tragedy, Japan will continue to develop its nuclear industry for many years to come. This is the case not only because of ongoing strategic concerns and the power of the “nuclear village” but also because the ideology of techno-nationalism is deeply ingrained within and throughout Japanese society

The business of diplomacy: the International Chamber of Commerce meets the United Nations

After reviewing the literature on diplomacy and placing this within the context of globalisation, this paper suggests that traditional forms of diplomacy are not in decline but are undergoing a process of transformation involving the propagation of new mechanisms, processes and norms. This transformation is being led not only by states but also by multilateral institutions, non-governmental organisations, firms and other representatives of civil society. This theme is pursued through a case study of the evolving relationship between the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the United Nations, which examines the nature and evolution of the ICC as an international actor before moving to a discussion of the Global Compact launched in July 2000

India, developmental multilateralism and the Doha ministerial conference

Despite its growing status as an ‘emerging’ power, perceptions of India’s current and future role in multilateral organisations continue to be overshadowed by its reputation for blocking rather than supporting progress in multilateral negotiations on grounds of national sovereignty and Third Worldism. In this article we suggest a more positive interpretation of India’s role through a close analysis of its diplomacy during the 2001 Doha Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (wto). The Indian delegation attempted proactively to shape the agenda of the negotiations and to promote a form of developmental multilateralism that might correct the perceived imbalances within the substantive commitments to and structure and processes of the wto. India failed to get its way at the time, but the ongoing deadlock at Doha demonstrates the continuing salience of such alternative conceptions of global justice

Management of neonatal central nervous system viral infections: Knowledge gaps and research priorities

Congenital CMV, enteroviruses, human parechovirus and herpes simplex virus are all common causes of severe central nervous system (CNS) infection in neonates. The introduction of screening (i.e. newborn hearing screening programme), integration of molecular syndromic testing (i.e. multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays) and increase in sexually transmitted infections (i.e. anogenital herpes) have contributed to increases in each of these infections over the last decade. However, therapeutic options are highly limited in part due to the lack of epidemiological data informing trials. This review will describe our current understanding of the clinical burden and epidemiology of these severe neonatal CNS infections, outline the novel antiviral and vaccines in the pipeline and suggest future research studies which could help develop new therapeutics

The social origins of Japanese nuclear power : a Gramscian analysis

In this paper I seek to contribute to the post-Fukushima literature on Japan, much of which accepts uncritically the orthodox narrative locating Japan’s nuclear origins in the politics of the Cold War and in the passivity of Japanese civil society vis-à-vis a ‘strong’ state. In contrast, I draw upon Gramsci’s work in order to locate these origins within wider processes of global structural transformation associated with the shift from feudalism to capitalism, and the attendant imperialism of the nineteenth century. I treat Japan’s Meiji Restoration as an instance of passive revolution within this context, one outcome of which was the adoption of a specific form of state (the ‘developmental state’) and a specific form of nationalism (techno-nationalism). I further argue that the US Occupation of Japan (1945-52) can be viewed as another instance of passive revolution. In both cases I examine the economic, political and social channels through which state goals were communicated to the Japanese populace and either embraced or resisted in turn. I suggest that Japan’s techno-nationalism survived into the post-war era, but was stripped of its overt military trappings and portrayed instead as a unique combination of ‘pacifism’ and ‘economic developmentalism’. In this way, despite being victims of nuclear weapons, ordinary Japanese people were persuaded to embrace nuclear power

Evaluating Existing and Proposing New Seismic Design Provisions for Rigid Wall - Flexible Diaphragm Buildings

Buildings with heavy concrete on masonry walls supported by flexible wood or steel deck roof diaphragms are ubiquitour across the United States and the rest of North America. The current seismic design approach is based on the equivalent lateral force (ELF) method whose underlying assumptions significantly differ from the actual dynamic response of these buildings. The seismic behavior of rigid wall-flexible rood diaphragm (RWFD) Buildings is dominated by the diaphragm\u27s response instead of the wall\u27 in-plane response. Furthermore, the diaphragm\u27s ductility and overstrength capacity is unique to its own construction. Yet the current design methodology employed by practitioners directly ties the diaphragm shears and overstrength to the characteristics of the seismic force0resisting system\u27s (SFRS) vertical elements. Past problems in these buildings have been the repeated failures of the walls\u27 anchorage to the diaphragm, and through a series of trial and error iterations, the current design provisions have evolved. current wall anchorage forces for RWFD buildings are believed to now be near maximum expected force levels with litter necessary reliance on connector ductility; however, solving the wall anchorage issue may result in new failures within the diaphragm itself. Using a dedicated numerical modeling framework coupled with a FEMA P-695 collapse capacity evaluation process, a research study was conducted t evaluate performance for a variety of RWFD archetypes conforming to ASCE/SEI 7-10, as well as redesigned archetypes conforming to a new design methodology. Furthermore, a review of the predicted wall anchorage forces in FWFD buildings was also compared with existing design provisions. A new RWFD design methodology is proposed providing a rational approach to improve performance in these unique buildings

Philosophy and poetry: the meaning of history in Heidegger’s thought

This thesis is concerned with the turning that occurs in the work of Martin Heidegger (1889-1976). It seeks to reveal it as a turning that takes place within the notion of history as it is elaborated by Heidegger in the difference between Nietzsche and Hölderlin, that is, in the difference between philosophy and poetizing. To this end, the thesis attempts to unify two themes within the interpretation of Heidegger‟s work which have, in the face of the vast corpus of secondary literature, found but little attention: the first concerns the move from Nietzsche to Hölderlin and thus from a purely philosophical discourse towards an investigation of thought as otherwise than metaphysical; the second concerns the Nietzschean heritage in this move – namely, the explication of a properly historical dimension of thought. The first chapter examines Heidegger‟s retrieval of the question of being, as it is this task that motivates the whole of Heidegger‟s work and therefore serves to elucidate the trajectory of this thesis. The second and third chapters are concerned with Heidegger‟s engagement with the problem of nihilism as it is expressed in the thought of Friedrich Nietzsche, as it is due to the necessity to distance his thought from Nietzsche‟s that can be located Heidegger‟s turn to poetry as a way of opening up a properly historical dimension to thought that lies beyond metaphysics. In the fourth chapter I examine Heidegger‟s turn to art insofar as he sees in it the redemptive possibility of challenging nihilism in its modern, technological manifestation. Art will be seen in its essence as revelatory of truth and thereby as able to originate history anew. The fifth chapter deals with poetry as both the most fundamental mode of art and the essence of language; a privileged position that marks it out as the most likely source of Western humanity once more living with a properly historical sense of itself. The sixth chapter deals with the poetry of Friedrich Hölderlin as the location for a decision about whether poetry is able to open up a new historical time or whether it is simply harmless and ineffectual. The conclusion addresses the Nietzschean heritage in the movement of Heidegger‟s thought as it is outlined here

Electron Transfer Dissociation with Supplemental Activation to Differentiate Aspartic and Isoaspartic Residues in Doubly Charged Peptide Cations

Electron-transfer dissociation (ETD) with supplemental activation of the doubly charged deamidated tryptic digested peptide ions allows differentiation of isoaspartic acid and aspartic acid residues using the c + 57 or z• − 57 peaks. The diagnostic peak clearly localizes and characterizes the isoaspartic acid residue. Supplemental activation in ETD of the doubly charged peptide ions involves resonant excitation of the charge reduced precursor radical cations and leads to further dissociation, including extra backbone cleavages and secondary fragmentation. Supplemental activation is essential to obtain a high quality ETD spectrum (especially for doubly charged peptide ions) with sequence information. Unfortunately, the low-resolution of the ion trap mass spectrometer makes detection of the diagnostic peak, [M-60], for the aspartic acid residue difficult due to interference with side-chain loss from arginine and glutamic acid residues

Understanding barriers and facilitators of access to dental care and completion of treatment for Aboriginal adults

This study aimed to understand why some Aboriginal adults who are referred for dental care do not take up or complete a recommended course of dental care. The study Explored why some Aboriginal adults take up a course of care after being referred and the perceived enabling and disabling factors and attitudes around beginning and completing a course of dental care. Has the potential to improve the practices of staff of the SA Dental Service in supporting Aboriginal clients in accessing dental care. It could also improve the communication about dental care available to Aboriginal people and thus improve their oral health and access.The research reported in this paper is a project of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute which is supported by a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing under the Primary Health Care Research Evaluation and Development Strategy