The Eye of the Needle

Elsewhere in this volume, Pates and Wichter (chapter1) trace the birth and development of the needle and syringe and the first medical and recreational experiences with this technical innovation—famous and infamous at once, because of its association with both the global eradication and diffusion of life-threatening infectious diseases. Recreational or non-medical drug injecting remained a primarily western phenomenon until late into the 20th century. But globalization and global drug prohibition have resulted in the world-wide diffusion of drug injection, most strikingly into drug production areas and adjacent sub-regions, where traditionally milder preparations of the same alkaloids (or their precursors) were being consumed through less hazardous modes of administration

From the Straw to the Needle?

The central focus of this article is the spread of heroin smoking in the Netherlands. Globally, injecting heroin users are outnumbered by those who ingest this drug by method of smoking or, more correctly, inhalation. It is argued that heroin adminstration patterns are determined by an interaction of primarily economic and socio-cultural factors, which are moderated by drug policy and enforcement. A theoretical diffusion model of the spread of this social phenomena is developed utilizing data from the Netherlands. Utilizing the concept of diffusion, other large scale transitions in route of administration of opiates that have occurred in the USA and in England will briefly be discussed. The article concludes with an assessment of future developments

Drug use as a social ritual

This dissertation brings together results of my NWO-funded ethnography --into the drug taking rituals of regular users of heroin, cocaine and other psychoactive substances--, resulting studies and some twenty years of puzzlement and subsequent pondering. The NWO study was initiated in the former Erasmus University Institute for Preventive and Social Psychiatry (IPSP) by professor Charles D. Kaplan and the late institute director professor Kees Trimbos. The work was completed within the walls of the new-born lnstituut voor Verslavingsonderzoek (IVO), Addiction Research Institute, and the safety of my home. The assumed failure of users of illicit drugs to conform with common standards of socially appropriate conduct is directly associated with the use of a substance which supposedly renders them powerless. This image is not only part of popular wisdom, but, in different forms also recognized in several scientific theories.' Many theories emphasize the powerful pharmacological properties of psychoactive drugs. others relate (problematic) substance use to f.e. deficient personality structures, ego problems, impaired psychological development, acute distress or psychiatric problems. Again other theories associate drug use with environmental deficits, such as poverty. All of these factors may, indeed, explain part of the phenomenon, but the frequent emphasis on only one aspect, be it a pharmacological, psychological or social factor, is in my opinion erroneous. Until now, none of these schools has produced specific correlations between cause and effect. A number of recent studies have questioned these (rather) mono-causal explanations and emphasized the multi· dimensionality of drug taking behaviors

X-ray variability of GRS 1915+105 during the low-hard state observed with the Indian X-ray astronomy experiment (IXAE)

The galactic superluminal transient X-ray source GRS 1915+105 was observed with the pointed proportional counters (PPCs) onboard the Indian satellite IRS-P3 during 1996 July 23-27. We report here details of the behavior of this source during the relatively quiet and low luminosity state. Large intensity variations by a factor of 2 to 3, generally seen in black-hole candidates, are observed at a time scale of 100 ms to few seconds. No significant variation is detected over larger time scale of minute or more. The intensity variations are described as sum of shots in the light curve, and the number distribution of the shots are found to be exponential function of the fluence and duration of the shots. The cross correlation spectrum between 6-18 keV and 2-6 keV X-rays is found to have asymmetry signifying a delay of the hard X-rays by about 0.2 to 0.4 sec. This supports the idea of hard X-rays being generated by Compton up-scattering from high energy clouds near the source of soft X-rays. Very strong and narrow quasi periodic oscillations in the frequency range 0.62 to 0.82 Hz are observed. We discuss about a model which explains a gradual change in the QPO frequencies with corresponding changes in the mass accretion rate of the disk.Comment: 14 pages including 6 figures. To appear in Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Serie

A Phenomenological Exploration of Adaptation in a Polycontextual Work Environment

The rise of new ways of working through the use of information and communication technology brings about new phenomena that are powerful in the effects that they have on people. The potency of phenomenology lies in its philosophical simplicity and it provides the researcher with the ability to study the essence of an observable but scarcely understood phenomena: How do people perform effectively and efficiently in a geographically and temporally dispersed work environment? Collective action across multiple time zones continues to challenge both academics and practioners. This study provides a unique view of how globally dispersed participants achieve collective action. It throws light into how the creation of shared understanding is tempered by differences in time zones and how participants adapt through their choice of media, work practices and communication. Following an analysis of a case studied using phenomenology, this paper concludes with a model of adaptation in polycontextual work environments

Inheritance Pattern of Lip Prints among Nigerians

Introduction: Lip prints are normal wrinkles and grooves running between the inner labial mucosa and the outer skin of lips. The probability of an offspring inheriting certain traits from parents could be easily appreciated and predicted if the inheritance pattern is established. Aim: This study was aimed at investigating the inheritance pattern lip prints among Nigerians. Methods: A total of 450 subjects comprising of 150 families (father, mother and a child) were conveniently sampled from across Rivers State. Oghenemavwe and Osaat digital fingerprint capture technique were adopted for this study. The lips (upper and lower) were then divided lip into four quadrants (URQ, ULQ, LRQ, LLQ) to independently access and observe the predominant lip print patterns in each quadrant using Suzuki and Tsuchihashi’s classification (Types; I, I’, II, III, IV, and V). Using XLSTAT Statistical package (Addinsoft Version 2015.4.01.21575) Chi-square analysis was used to determine the association. P<0.05 (at 95% confidence level) was taken to be significant. Lip prints of the parents (as a single group) were tabulated and their possible combination outcome (by crosses) in their offspring was established using Excel sheet. Results: The total distribution of lip prints between parents and offspring showed [Type I (Parents 315, 26.3%; Offspring 133, 22.2%), Type I’ (Parents 210, 17.5%; Offspring 105, 17.5%), Type II (Parents 290, 24.2%; Offspring 131, 21.8%), Type III (Parents 191, 15.9%; Offspring 131, 21.8%), Type IV (Parents 186, 15.5%; Offspring 87, 14.5%), Type V (Parents 8, 0.7%; Offspring 13, 2.2%) ] which had significant association (P = 0.002). Observation of the inheritance pattern of lip prints revealed almost impracticable predictability. Conclusion This study suggests that the inheritance pattern of lip prints were inconsistent with Mendelian fashion (dominant-recessive) rather, lip prints exhibit polygenic inheritance pattern with incomplete penetrance (reduced penetrance)

Coffee Shops and Compromise

Building on a long history and culture of tolerance, the Dutch responded to illicit drugs with decades of pragmatic measures free of judgment. A central element of modern Dutch drug policy was a crucial decision to establish a legal and practical separation of cannabis— judged to pose “acceptable” risks to consumers and society—from hard drugs associated with unacceptable risk. This policy effectively decriminalized possession and use of cannabis and opened the door for tolerated outlets for small-scale cannabis sales that eventually took the form of the well-known Dutch “coffee shops.” By all measures, the coffee shops suc- ceeded in enabling cannabis consumers to avoid exposure to hard drug scenes and markets. Dutch cannabis consumers have also been spared the profound costs of carrying a criminal record, and the public has not had to bear the cost of incarceration for minor offenses. Drug policy in the Netherlands was characterized by a pragmatic bottom up development in which policies developed through trial and error at a local level often initiated by local officials in consultation with representatives from civil society who were supported by national policy makers. With respect to heroin and other hard drugs, the Dutch government at national and municipal level put a premium on reduction of individual and social harm. This commit- ment has been reflected in the government’s investment in comprehensive health and social services. Low-threshold methadone and safe consumption rooms as well as needle exchange programs proliferated earlier and with higher coverage than in most of Europe. Even before these services were established, however, tolerance for sale and consumption of illicit hard drugs in designated “house addresses” greatly reduced the dangers of an open drug scene, including exposure to uncontrolled criminal elements. It also contributed to a preference for drug consumption not involving injection. The Netherlands was spared the major drug- linked HIV epidemic that devastated drug users and their families in other European coun- tries. An important element of this success, at times, was not only pragmatic national policy but also the degree of autonomy that municipal officials had to exercise of practices that did not conform to the letter of the law. None of this was without its challenges. For example, while the coffee shops provided a venue for safe and controlled consumption of cannabis without exposing consumers to harmful hard drug scenes, successive governments have not successfully addressed the so- called back door problem—coffee shops being supplied with cannabis by an illegal market. While there were instances of popular support for the complete legalization or government regulation of the cannabis market, which would address this problem, there were always political challenges to securing such a policy. Though confidently preserving the core of their policy and continuing to focus on reduction of individual and social drug-related harm, suc- cessive Dutch governments have felt international pressure to not “step over the line” into areas such as legalization and regulation of drugs. In addition, attempts to address drug tourism by making coffee shops exclusive Dutch-only clubs seem to create more problems than they solve, evoking opposition from proprietors, patrons, civil society, legal experts and city mayors alike. Nevertheless, some municipalities continue to complain of drug tourism while enjoying the substantial revenue generated by coffee shops. This report is an in-depth analysis of the politics and the practicalities that enabled or led the Dutch authorities at national and local levels to make the drug policy decisions that have shaped the lives of people who use or are otherwise affected by drugs in the Neth- erlands. It is the authors’ hope that it will be of use to those outside the Netherlands, in government and civil society, who seek drug policy solutions that are respectful of human rights and based strongly in science and good public health practice. If there is one lesson to take away from the Dutch experience, it is that when taking steps toward regulating cannabis or other psychoactive substances meant for human consumption, these should include the entire chain of supply, from production to consumption

Strategies for Dealing with Drift during Implementation of ERP Systems

Research on the relationship between Information Technology (IT) and organizations emphasizes the complexity of adaptation processes and the potential of drifting. Drifting means that an organization encounters unexpected circumstances that show the incompleteness and possible failure of an initial technological design without organizations having yet feasible alternatives. This conceptual and empirical paper investigates the origins and nature of drifting, and strategies for dealing with drift. Three strategies have been proposed to deal with drifting: control, incremental, and drift containment. We explore the third option that seems most realistic and relevant from an organizational point of view. We empirically investigated how drift containment could be accomplished in practice in a multi-site ERP implementation project. Our results suggest three phases of dealing with drift. Organizations must first recognize when drifting occurs. Next, they must develop a dual focus. On one hand, they must differentiate between a project’s overarching objectives (which remain relatively stable). On the other hand, they attend to and resolve their operational drifting experience. The dual focus thus means that while organizations stay focused on their objectives, they address the causes of drifting. During the final phase, lessons learnt during drifting resolution must be shared and applied to accelerate accomplishment of project objectives. Implications for research and practice are elaborated

Optimization Approaches for the Traveling Salesman Problem with Drone

The fast and cost-efficient home delivery of goods ordered online is logistically challenging. Many companies are looking for new ways to cross the last-mile to their customers. One technology-enabled opportunity that recently has rec