e-Governance: Supporting pragmatic direct deliberative action through online communities of interest

Authors often report on the limited success of e-Government initiatives in developing nations. Top down, national strategies are developed to target improved government services, but maintain hierarchical, citizen-state conceptions of governance through representative democracy. An alternative conception, direct deliberative democracy, frames the potential role of the internet in governance differently. Web based platforms might support locally animated deliberations, which target pragmatic outcomes, while the resulting social networks afford collective learning through connections across traditional boundaries. This paper presents an investigation of direct deliberative governance as it occurs in online 'communities of interest', and is based on research with such a community in southern Africa. We investigate contributions to the online governance process and develop an action typology distinguishing between degrees of 'agency freedom'. Network analytic techniques are then used to understand how acts of varying degree are expressed in terms of the structure of a social network. The aim, more broadly, is to understand how the environment shapes acts of direct deliberative governance, and, in turn, how the acts shape the evolution and effectiveness of the community. The preliminary results suggest design considerations for online governance communities, and highlight their role to not only provide deliberative space, but to mediate social network connections

Comparison of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance

Conditioning specialists have been incorporating concepts of gravity-resisted core training, both on stable and unstable surfaces, to enhance core endurance despite limited empirical evidence. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance. The experimental group (n=8) followed a gravity-resisted core training intervention while the control group (n=8) followed a gym-based core training intervention incorporating similar exercises over a 6-week period. Pre- and post-testing consisted of an isometric prone bridge endurance test, dominant and non-dominant isometric side flexor endurance tests, an isometric trunk flexor endurance test and an isometric trunk extensor endurance test. Relative to the control group, the experimental group showed a very likely improvement in isometric trunk flexor endurance (33.7±18.3%, 90% Confidence limits), likely improvements in isometric non-dominant side flexor endurance (26.1±18.7%), isometric prone bridge endurance (22.4±13.9%), and isometric dominant side flexor endurance (30.4±27.7%). Using a gravity-resisted core training intervention is likely to produce beneficial gains in core endurance for resistance trained males to a greater extent than a programme of similar exercises conducted conventionally in a gym

Comparison of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance.

Conditioning specialists have been incorporating concepts of gravity-resisted core training, both on stable and unstable surfaces, to enhance core endurance despite limited empirical evidence. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of gravity-resisted and gym-based core training on core endurance. The experimental group (n=8) followed a gravity-resisted core training intervention while the control group (n=8) followed a gym-based core training intervention incorporating similar exercises over a 6-week period. Pre- and post-testing consisted of an isometric prone bridge endurance test, dominant and non-dominant isometric side flexor endurance tests, an isometric trunk flexor endurance test and an isometric trunk extensor endurance test. Relative to the control group, the experimental group showed a very likely improvement in isometric trunk flexor endurance (33.7±18.3%, 90% Confidence limits), likely improvements in isometric non-dominant side flexor endurance (26.1±18.7%), isometric prone bridge endurance (22.4±13.9%), and isometric dominant side flexor endurance (30.4±27.7%). Using a gravity-resisted core training intervention is likely to produce beneficial gains in core endurance for resistance trained males to a greater extent than a programme of similar exercises conducted conventionally in a gym

Generalized Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter for Aided Attitude and Heading Reference System

International audienceIn this paper, we propose a “Generalized Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter” (GMEKF) to estimate the position and velocity vectors and the orientation of a flying rigid body, using measurements from lowcost Earth-fixed position and velocity, inertial and magnetic sensors. Thanks to well-chosen state and output errors, the gains and covariance equations converge to constant values on a much bigger set of trajectories than equilibrium points as it is the case for the standard Multiplicative Extended Kalman Filter (MEKF). We recover thus the fundamental properties of the Kalman filter in the linear case, especially the convergence and optimality properties, for a large set of trajectories, and it should result in a better convergence of the estimation. We illustrate the good performance and the nice properties of the GMEKF on simulation and on experimental comparisons with a commercial system

Micro-milling work-holding devices employing adhesive forces

IngenieursweseBedryfsingenieursweseMicro-parts are often very fragile rendering conventional, mechanical work-holding fixtures unsuitable for them since they exert large straining forces. Furthermore, macroworkholding devices occupy a large space which impedes high precision required in micromilling. Although some micro-clamping fixtures exist, they are limited to specific part shapes and in most cases expensive to manufacture. Hence this paper focuses on the application of adhesive forces namely electrostatic, surface tension and van-der-Waals forces; in work-holding strategies for micro-milling operations. An analysis is given as to their applicability with reference to micro-milling cutting forces

Bruker2nifti: Magnetic Resonance Images converter from Bruker ParaVision to Nifti format

In clinical and pre-clinical research involving medical images, the first step following a Magnetic Resonance Imaging dataset acquisition, usually entails the conversion of image data from the native scanner format to a format suitable for the intended analysis. The proprietary [Bruker ParaVision](https://www.bruker.com/products/mr/preclinical-mri/software/service-support.html) software currently does not provide the tools for conversion of the data to suitable and open formats for research, such as nifti [@cox2004sort], for which most of the available tools for medical image analysis are implemented. For this purpose we have designed and developed [bruker2nifti](https://github.com/SebastianoF/bruker2nifti), a pip-installable Python tool provided with a Graphical User Interface to convert from the native MRI Bruker format to the nifti format, without any intermediate step through the DICOM standard formats [@Mildenberger2002]. Bruker2nifti is intended to be a tool to access the data structure and to parse all parameter files of the Bruker ParaVision format into python dictionaries, to select the relevant information to fill the Nifti header and data volume. Lastly it is meant to be a starting point where to integrate possible future variations in Bruker hardware and ParaVision software future releases

The neglected hepatitis C virus genotypes 4, 5 and 6: an international consensus report

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 4, 5 and 6 represent >20% of all HCV cases worldwide. HCV-4 is mainly seen in Egypt, where it represents 90% of all HCV cases. Antischistosomal therapy was the main cause of contamination there, followed by procedures performed by informal providers and traditional healers such as dental care, wound treatment, circumcision, deliveries, excision and scarification. It is also highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and in the Middle East. In Europe, its prevalence has recently increased particularly among intravenous drug users and in immigrants. HCV-5 is mainly found in South Africa, where it represents 40% of all HCV genotypes, but four pockets of HCV-5 were found in France, Spain, Syria and Belgium and sporadic cases were found elsewhere. The mode of transmission is mainly iatrogenic and transfusion. HCV-6 is found in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar and also in American and Australian from Asian origin. The response to treatment in HCV-4 is intermediate between HCV-1 and HCV-2 and HCV-3. A sustained viral response is achieved in 43-70% with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. It is higher in Egyptians than Europeans and Africans and is negatively related to insulin resistance and to the severity of fibrosis. It increases to >80% with 24 weeks of therapy only if a rapid virological response is achieved. In HCV-5, a sustained virological response is achieved in >60% with 48 weeks of therapy. HCV-6 is also considered an easy-to-treat genotype, leading to a response in 60-85% of cases. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to assess cognitive function in infants in rural Africa

Cortical mapping of cognitive function during infancy is poorly understood in low-income countries due to the lack of transportable neuroimaging methods. We have successfully piloted functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a neuroimaging tool in rural Gambia. Four-to-eight month old infants watched videos of Gambian adults perform social movements, while haemodynamic responses were recorded using fNIRS. We found distinct regions of the posterior superior temporal and inferior frontal cortex that evidenced either visual-social activation or vocally selective activation (vocal > non-vocal). The patterns of selective cortical activation in Gambian infants replicated those observed within similar aged infants in the UK. These are the first reported data on the measurement of localized functional brain activity in young infants in Africa and demonstrate the potential that fNIRS offers for field-based neuroimaging research of cognitive function in resource-poor rural communities

Comparison of the roll-plate and sonication techniques in the diagnosis of microbial ureteral stent colonisation: results of the first prospective randomised study

Background: Microbial ureteral stent colonisation (MUSC) is one leading risk factor for complications associated with ureteral stent placement. As MUSC remains frequently undetected by standard urine cultures, its definitive diagnosis depends on microbiological investigation of the stent. However, a standard reference laboratory technique for studying MUSC is still lacking. Materials and methods: A total of 271 ureteral stents removed from 199 consecutive patients were investigated. Urine samples were obtained prior to device removal. Stents were divided into four parts. Each part was separately processed by the microbiology laboratory within 6h. Ureteral stents were randomly allocated to roll-plate or sonication, respectively, and analysed using standard microbiological techniques. Demographic and clinical data were prospectively collected using a standard case-report form. Results: Overall, roll-plate showed a higher detection rate of MUSC compared with sonication (35 vs. 28%, p<0.05) and urine culture (35 vs. 8%, p<0.05). No inferiority of Maki's technique was observed even when stents were stratified according to indwelling time below or above 30days. Compared with roll-plate, sonication commonly failed to detect Enterococcus spp., coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, sonication required more hands-on time, more equipment and higher training than roll-plate in the laboratory. Conclusions: This prospective randomised study demonstrates the superiority of Maki's roll-plate technique over sonication in the diagnosis of MUSC and that urine culture is less sensitive than both methods. The higher detection rate, simplicity and cost-effectiveness render roll-plate the methodology of choice for routine clinical investigation as well as basic laboratory researc