Low-frequency triangular wave generator

Triangular waveform is generated by a combination of two integrated circuit operational amplifiers, one to produce square wave and other to integrate square wave and generate triangular wave

Testing of a dual-mode microwave care regimen for hydrogel lenses

Purpose. To test the design of a patient care regimen for soft lenses that aims to provide the highest standards of disinfecting through use of domestic microwave cookers, while also providing storage equipment and solution that enable patients to follow a conventional cold disinfecting regimen when traveling. The cleaning efficacy of surfactant agents during microwave treatment was also considered. Methods. The microbiologic performance of the regimen and its disinfecting apparatus was tested according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protocols for contact lens heat disinfectors. Subsequently, a prospective pilot clinical trial of the regimen involving 15 subjects was carried out to the protocols of the FDA and International Standards Organization 11,980:1997. Results. Lenses inoculated with 107 colony-forming units (cfu) of Enterococcus faecalis were disinfected to 0 cfu by a 12-s irradiation of a compact disinfecting case that held the lenses suspended in 12 ml saline. A proof of operation indicator performed correctly for all 10 cases tested. No adverse reactions were found in the pilot patient trial, using Renu multipurpose (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) as the test solution, and no statistically significant difference was found between test and control groups in respect of any sign. However, the greater incidence of edema, palpebral hyperemia, and lens front-surface deposition in the microwave test group may be clinically significant

Clinical trial of a patient-operated microwave care system for hydrogel contact lenses

The clinical effects of a patient-operated system of microwave disinfection for soft contact lenses were assessed in a prospective pilot trial involving 103 patients who were drawn from five optometric practices. Fifty-six subjects used the test system for 1 month, and 13 subjects continued use for a total of 3 months. Both test and control subjects were examined for clinical signs using slitlamp tests. After 1 month, the incidence of all signs reported in the microwave group was not significantly greater than in the control group (p = 0.267), and the same was true after 3 months (p = 0.214). There was a significantly greater incidence of edema in the 1-month test group and of staining in the control group. UV spectroscopic examination of worn lenses from test subjects exhibiting significant signs did not show a higher level of deposition than on lenses worn by control subjects (p = 0.397)

Land Law – The fight against gazumping

Professor M.P. Thompson (University of Leicester) considers the background and needs for the government review of conveyancing procedures in England and Wales which has focussed on stamping out the practice of gazumping. Note published in Amicus Curiae - Journal of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and its Society for Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London

Modelling of selection and mating decisions in tree breeding programs

Hardwood trees from the temperate forests of southern Australia are an important source of timber for high quality paper. Two species in particular, Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens are well suited to this purpose and are now widely grown in commercial plantations. These plantations have been established by professional tree breeders using seedlings derived originally from broadly based collection of seed in natural forests. To increase productivity it is desirable to select trees that grow quickly and give high yields of top quality timber. Nevertheless it is important to maintain genetic diversity in the breeding population and thereby retain a robust capacity to adapt to changing environmental factors. In this article we formulate a number of related mathematical models for the selection and mating processes and discuss the consequences of these models. We recommend a relatively simple scheme which can be implemented on an IBM compatible PC using standard algorithms

Foreign direct investment and the SME sector

Purpose: Although foreign direct investment (FDI) and entrepreneurship are potential routes to recovery (Girma and Wakelin, 2001; Lyon et al., 2002), existing literature is divided on the relationship between the two. This study examines the influence of foreign investment on the local SME sector after the 2008 financial crisis. Design/methodology/approach: Local authority district data from Great Britain is used to examine the influence of foreign firm employment on the size of the local SME sector as a proportion of all firms, and foreign firm influence on firm births in the locality. In order to control for local geographical, infrastructural, and economic conditions regression analysis is used to examine the relationship between foreign business employment and indigenous business activities. Findings: The potential for technological spillovers and spinout activities appears to dominate with firm birth rates higher where there is greater foreign firm employment. However, there is also evidence of crowding out in relation to the existing SME sector, which is found to be reduced in size where foreign influence through employment is greater. Research Implications: The results here indicating a complementarity relationship between foreign influence on employment and firm births is important for policy makers looking to revive struggling local economies. However, the relevant support needs to be in place to maximise the benefit from the supply of new entrepreneurs generated. Originality/value: Unlike many other studies the relationship between the SME sector, firm births and foreign influence is considered at a local level and where economic conditions are more uncertain and economic recovery is less taken for granted. A better understanding of the relationship allows more appropriate policy to be developed in order to aid local economies to recover

A network-based view of regional growth

The need to better understand the mechanisms underlying regional growth patterns is widely recognised. This paper argues that regional growth is partly a function of the value created through inter-organisational flows of knowledge within and across regions. It is proposed that investment in calculative networks by organisations to access knowledge is a form of capital, termed network capital, which should be incorporated into regional growth models. The paper seeks to develop a framework to capture the value of network capital within these models based on the spatial configuration and the nature of the knowledge flowing through networks

Women-led Fisheries Management: A Case Study From Bangladesh

This is a case study of a women-led fishery in Bangladesh. Although women constitute 50% of the total population of Asia (Southern)-Bangladesh; only 18% are economically involved inthe total labor force. They are involved in diversified work within their homesteads. However, during times offamily needs and economic crisis, women are involved in non-traditional jobs. In the fisheries sector, Muslimwomen are traditionally not involved in fishing but they are involved in fish drying and salting. In the Hindudominated areas such as Goakhola-Hatiara, women are involved in fish catch as well as the collection of otheraquatic resources as one of their livelihood strategies. Women and subsistence fishers are taking the lead inmanaging a common capture fishery resource in Goakhola-Hatiara with the support from an NGO for perhapsthe first time in Bangladesh. However, the role of women in the Beel Management Committee is not well defined.Under the leadership of women the socio-economic conditions have changed and the social capital has increased