Regulation, competition, and liberalization

In many countries throughout the world, regulators are struggling to determine whether and how to introduce competition into regulated industries. This essay examines the complexities involved in the liberalization process. While stressing the importance of case-specific analyses, this essay distinguishes liberalization policies that generally are pro-competitive from corresponding anti-competitive liberalization policies

Calibrating the Cepheid Period-Luminosity relation with the VLTI

The VLTI is the ideal instrument for measuring the distances of nearby Cepheids with the Baade-Wesselink method, allowing an accurate recalibration of the Cepheid Period-Luminosity relation. The high accuracy required by such measurement, however, can only be reached taking into account the effects of limb darkening, and its dependence on the Cepheid pulsations. We present here our new method to compute phase- and wavelength-dependent limb darkening profiles, based on hydrodynamic simulation of Classical Cepheid atmospheres.Comment: 3 pages, 2 postscript figures, uses eas.cls LaTeX class file, to appear in the proc. Eurowinter School "Observing with the VLTI", Feb 3-8 2002, Les Houches (France

A randomised feasibility study of serial magnetic resonance imaging to reduce treatment times in Charcot neuroarthropathy in people with diabetes (CADOM): A protocol

Background Charcot neuroarthropathy is a complication of peripheral neuropathy associated with diabetes which most frequently affects the lower limb. It can cause fractures and dislocations within the foot, which may progress to deformity and ulceration. Recommended treatment is immobilisation and offloading, with a below knee non-removable cast or boot. Duration of treatment varies from six months to more than one year. Small observational studies suggest that repeated assessment with Magnetic Resonance Imaging improves decision making about when to stop treatment, but this has not been tested in clinical trials. This study aims to explore the feasibility of using serial Magnetic Resonance Imaging without contrast in the monitoring of Charcot neuroarthropathy to reduce duration of immobilisation of the foot. A nested qualitative study aims to explore participants’ lived experience of Charcot neuroarthropathy and of taking part in the feasibility study. Methods We will undertake a two arm, open study, and randomise 60 people with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of Charcot neuroarthropathy from five NHS, secondary care multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Clinics across England. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to receive Magnetic Resonance Imaging at baseline and remission up to 12 months, with repeated foot temperature measurements and x-rays (standard care plus), or standard care plus with additional three-monthly Magnetic Resonance Imaging until remission up to 12 months (intervention). Time to confirmed remission of Charcot neuroarthropathy with off-loading treatment (days) and its variance will be used to inform sample size in a full-scale trial. We will look for opportunities to improve the protocols for monitoring techniques and the clinical, patient centred, and health economic measures used in a future study. For the nested qualitative study, we will invite a purposive sample of 10-14 people able to offer maximally varying experiences from the feasibility study to take part in semi-structured interviews to be analysed using thematic analysis. Discussion The study will inform the decision whether to proceed to a full-scale trial. It will also allow deeper understanding of the lived experience of Charcot neuroarthropathy, and factors that contribute to engagement in management and contribute to the development of more effective patient centred strategies. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN, 74101606. Registered on 6 November 2017, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN74101606?q=CADom&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10&searchType=basic-searc

Analysis and testing of two-dimensional vented Coanda ejectors with asymmetric variable area mixing sections

The analysis of asymmetric, curved (Coanda) ejector flow has been completed using a finite difference technique and a quasi-orthogonal streamline coordinate system. The boundary layer type jet mixing analysis accounts for the effect of streamline curvature in pressure gradients normal to the streamlines and on eddy viscosities. The analysis assured perfect gases, free of pressure discontinuities and flow separation and treated three compound flows of supersonic and subsonic streams. Flow parameters and ejector performance were measured in a vented Coanda flow geometry for the verification of the computer analysis. A primary converging nozzle with a discharge geometry of 0.003175 m x 0.2032 m was supplied with 0.283 cu m/sec of air at about 241.3 KPa absolute stagnation pressure and 82 C stagnation temperature. One mixing section geometry was used with a 0.127 m constant radius Coanda surface. Eight tests were run at spacing between the Coanda surface and primary nozzle 0.01915 m and 0.318 m and at three angles of Coanda turning: 22.5 deg, 45.0 deg, and 75.0 deg. The wall static pressures, the loci of maximum stagnation pressures, and the stagnation pressure profiles agree well between analytical and experimental results

A survey of thermodynamic properties of the compounds of the elements CHNOPS Progress report, 1 Oct. - 31 Dec. 1966

Thermodynamic properties for compounds of the elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfu

The silent burden of anaemia in Tanzania children:a community-based study

Objective was to document the prevalence, age-distribution, and risk factors for anaemia in Tanzanian children less than 5 years old,thereby assisting in the development of effective strategies for controlling anaemia.\ud \ud Cluster sampling was used to identify 2417 households at random from four contiguous districts in south-eastern\ud United Republic of Tanzania in mid-1999. Data on various social and medical parameters were collected and analysed.\ud \ud Blood haemoglobin concentrations (Hb) were available for 1979 of the 2131 (93%) children identified and ranged from 1.7 to 18.6 g/dl. Overall, 87% (1722) of children had an Hb <11 g/dl, 39% (775) had an Hb <8 g/dl and 3% (65) had an Hb <5 g/dl. The highest prevalence of anaemia of all three levels was in children aged 6–11 months, of whom 10% (22/226) had an Hb <5 g/dl. However, the prevalence of anaemia was already high in children aged 1–5 months (85% had an Hb <11 g/dl, 42% had an Hb <8 g/dl, and 6% had an Hb <5 g/dl). Anaemia was usually asymptomatic and when symptoms arose they were nonspecific and rarely identified as a serious illness by the care provider. A recent history of treatment with antimalarials and iron\ud was rare. Compliance with vaccinations delivered through the Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) was 82% and was notassociated with risk of anaemia.\ud \ud Anaemia is extremely common in south-eastern United Republic of Tanzania, even in very young infants. Further implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness algorithm should improve the case management of anaemia. However, the asymptomatic nature of most episodes of anaemia highlights the need for preventive strategies. The EPI has good coverage of the target population and it may be an appropriate channel for delivering tools for controlling anaemia and malaria

Alabama Wildlife Damage Management Website

Alabama population growth rates have begun to soar in the last decade. A surge of new communities now exist where wildlands once stood; bringing humans into unexpected and unwanted wildlife encounters. Increasingly, citizens look to state agencies to remove unwanted animals that cause property damage or are perceived to be a threat to humans. While state agencies can provide assistance in some cases, they are not equipped to dispatch personnel to meet every individual\u27s need. The Alabama Wildlife Damage Management website is presented as a resource for citizens to learn solutions for common wildlife damage problems in our area, learn more about the role of our state agencies in wildlife damage management, and become aware of the state laws and regulations that determine how damage management issues are resolved. Wildlife biologists and conservation officers serving in the state of Alabama were surveyed to determine the wildlife damage complaints they fielded most often that could best be handled on a self-help basis. Solutions to the reported problems were sought by interviews with various professionals in the field and through a literature review of state cooperative pamphlets addressing wildlife damage issues. The website includes practical information for constructing exclusion devices, insight into ecological factors that attract unwanted wildlife, videos demonstrating proper trapping techniques, and contact information for professionals within the state of Alabama that offer nuisance animal removal services. The purpose of the website is to help bridge the gap between the services that our citizens request and those that the state can actually provide