Globalization, the Information Society and New Crimes : the Challenge for the XXI Century

Il presente articolo esamina in modo approfondito l’attuale fenomeno della globalizzazione e le sue tendenze evolutive nonché il suo impatto, positivo o negativo, che rappresenta la pietra angolare della corrente riorganizzazione dell’economia mondiale. Verranno altresì analizzati la natura e le conseguenze della globalizzazione dei servizi commerciali e finanziari, le operazioni e l’impatto delle multinazionali e la gerarchia dei paesi basata sulla loro importanza relativa nell’economia mondiale e le relative conseguenze. Successivamente, nel testo viene effettuata la distinzione tra globalizzazione reale e virtuale, il suo impatto sulla crescita economica, le sue dinamiche inclusive ed esclusive e le conseguenze per gli attori economici, sia individuali che a livello di imprese. L’articolo affronta poi la tematica della società dell’informazione, fenomeno che accompagna e facilita considerevolmente la globalizzazione grazie ai progressi drastici e significativi intervenuti nelle comunicazioni e nei trasporti. Viene anche esaminato l’aspetto dell’utilizzo di Internet e delle apparecchiature elettroniche per la sorveglianza di massa, per la rccolta di informazioni personali e dell’erosione sistematica della vita privata – Internet come “Panopticon”. Infine, l’articolo analizza la vulnerabilità della società dell’informazione globale nei confronti della criminalità, in particolare di quella economica e dei furti di identità, ironicamente facilitati proprio dal carattere globale e intrconnesso della società dell’informazione stessa. Anche il miglioramento generale delle condizioni finanziarie della maggior parte delle persone nel mondo, creando più ricchezza e benessere economico, ha delle conseguenze negative, talvolta criminose, e delle ripercussioni soprattutto sulle popolazioni autoctone o vulnerabili, sulla fauna e sulla flora. La maggior parte degli esempi relativi a queste tendenze criminose riguardano la tratta delle persone, il commercio illegale di specie minacciate, di organi umani e di prodotti animali, di antichità, di opere d’arte e le diverse tipologie di contraffazione. In conclusione, esiste uno stretto e chiaro rapporto tra la globalizzazione, la società dell’informazione, il comportamento criminale e la capacità di una società di proteggersi efficacemente contro la pirateria e la violazione di leggi e trattati che governano numerosi ambiti della vita privata, le attività economiche e la proprietà intellettuale. Ce document examine en profondeur le phénomène actuel de la mondialisation et de ses tendances, son impact, positif ou négatif qui est la pierre angulaire de la restructuration actuelle de l'économie mondiale; la nature et les conséquences de la mondialisation des services commerciaux et financiers; les opérations et l'impact des multinationales; et la hiérarchie des pays en fonction de leur importance relative dans l'économie mondiale et ses conséquences. Le document distingue ensuite entre la mondialisation réelle et virtuelle et son impact sur la croissance économique; ses dynamiques inclusives et exclusives et leurs conséquences pour les acteurs économiques, soit particuliers que entreprises. Le document aborde ensuite la société de l'information, un phénomène qui accompagne et facilite considérablement la mondialisation grâce à des améliorations drastiques et significatives dans les communications et les transports. L'Internet et les appareils électroniques utilisés pour la surveillance massive, la collecte de renseignements personnels, et l'érosion systématique de la vie privée - l'Internet comme « Panopticon » - sont également examinés. Enfin, l'article analyse la vulnérabilité de la société de l'information globale à la criminalité, en particulier économique et aux crimes de vol d'identité, ironiquement facilitée notamment par son caractère global et interconnecté. Même l'amélioration globale des conditions financières de la plupart des personnes dans le monde, créant plus de richesse et de bien-être économique, a des conséquences négatives, et parfois criminelles, des répercussions impactant en particulier les populations autochtones ou vulnérables, la faune et la flore. La plupart des exemples de ces tendances criminelles sont la traite des personnes, des espèces menacées, des organes et produits des animaux, des antiquités, des œuvres artistiques et les différents types de contrefaçon. En conclusion il ya un lien clair et étroit qui existe entre la mondialisation, la société de l'information, le comportement criminel et la capacité d'une société à se protéger efficacement contre le piratage et les violations des lois et des traités gouvernant plusieurs domaines de la vie privée et aussi bien les activités d'affaires que la propriété intellectuelle. This paper examines in depth the current phenomenon of globalization and its trends; its impact, positive or negative which is the cornerstone of the current restructuring of the global economy; the nature and consequences of the globalization of trade and financial services; the operations and impact of the multinationals; and the hierarchy of countries based on their relative importance in the global economy, and its consequences. The paper then distinguishes between real and virtual globalization and its impact on economic growth; its inclusive and exclusive dynamics and their consequences for individual and corporate economic actors. The paper then addresses the information society, a phenomenon that accompanies and significantly facilitates globalization through drastic and significant improvements in communications and transport. The Internet and electronic devices used for massive surveillance, the collection of personal information, and the systematic erosion of privacy - the Internet as Panopticon – are also examined. Finally, the paper analyzes the vulnerability of the global information society to crime, especially economic and identity theft crimes, ironically facilitated especially by its global and inter-connected nature. Even the global improvement in the financial conditions of most people worldwide, creating more wealth and economic well being, has negative, and at times criminal, repercussions, impacting especially indigenous or vulnerable populations, fauna and flora. Most illustrative examples of these criminal trends are trafficking in people, endangered species, animal organs and products, antiquities, art and various types of counterfeiting. In conclusion there is a clear and close connection between globalization, the information society, criminal behavior and a society’s ability to effectively protect itself from piracy and the violations of a country’s laws and treaties

Is There Chronic Brain Damage in Retired NFL Players? Neuroradiology, Neuropsychology, and Neurology Examinations of 45 Retired Players

BACKGROUND: Neuropathology and surveys of retired National Football League (NFL) players suggest that chronic brain damage is a frequent result of a career in football. There is limited information on the neurological statuses of living retired players. This study aimed to fill the gap in knowledge by conducting in-depth neurological examinations of 30- to 60-year-old retired NFL players. HYPOTHESIS: In-depth neurological examinations of 30- to 60-year-old retired players are unlikely to detect objective clinical abnormalities in the majority of subjects. STUDY DESIGN: A day-long medical examination was conducted on 45 retired NFL players, including state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; susceptibility weighted imaging [SWI], diffusion tensor imaging [DTI]), comprehensive neuropsychological and neurological examinations, interviews, blood tests, and APOE (apolipoprotein E) genotyping. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. METHODS: Participants\u27 histories focused on neurological and depression symptoms, exposure to football, and other factors that could affect brain function. The neurological examination included Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) evaluation of cognitive function and a comprehensive search for signs of dysarthria, pyramidal system dysfunction, extrapyramidal system dysfunction, and cerebellar dysfunction. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) measured depression. Neuropsychological tests included pen-and-paper and ImPACT evaluation of cognitive function. Anatomical examination SWI and DTI MRI searched for brain injuries. The results were statistically analyzed for associations with markers of exposure to football and related factors, such as body mass index (BMI), ethanol use, and APOE4 status. RESULTS: The retired players\u27 ages averaged 45.6 +/- 8.9 years (range, 30-60 years), and they had 6.8 +/- 3.2 years (maximum, 14 years) of NFL play. They reported 6.9 +/- 6.2 concussions (maximum, 25) in the NFL. The majority of retired players had normal clinical mental status and central nervous system (CNS) neurological examinations. Four players (9%) had microbleeds in brain parenchyma identified in SWI, and 3 (7%) had a large cavum septum pellucidum with brain atrophy. The number of concussions/dings was associated with abnormal results in SWI and DTI. Neuropsychological testing revealed isolated impairments in 11 players (24%), but none had dementia. Nine players (20%) endorsed symptoms of moderate or severe depression on the BDI and/or met criteria for depression on PHQ; however, none had dementia, dysarthria, parkinsonism, or cerebellar dysfunction. The number of football-related concussions was associated with isolated abnormalities on the clinical neurological examination, suggesting CNS dysfunction. The APOE4 allele was present in 38% of the players, a larger number than would be expected in the general male population (23%-26%). CONCLUSION: MRI lesions and neuropsychological impairments were found in some players; however, the majority of retired NFL players had no clinical signs of chronic brain damage. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results need to be reconciled with the prevailing view that a career in football frequently results in chronic brain damage

Excited States in 52Fe and the Origin of the Yrast Trap at I=12+

Excited states in 52Fe have been determined up to spin 10\hbar in the reaction 28Si + 28Si at 115 MeV by using \gamma-ray spectroscopy methods at the GASP array. The excitation energy of the yrast 10+ state has been determined to be 7.381 MeV, almost 0.5 MeV above the well known \beta+-decaying yrast 12+ state, definitely confirming the nature of its isomeric character. The mean lifetimes of the states have been measured by using the Doppler Shift Attenuation method. The experimental data are compared with spherical shell model calculations in the full pf-shell.Comment: 9 pages, RevTeX, 7 figures include

EVOLUTION OF THE FUSION LIKE PROCESS AROUND THE FERMI ENERGY

The study of evaporation residue from the Ne + Ag system shows that there is qualitative change in the reaction mechanism in the Fermi energy domain. At 20 MeV/u the projectile is mostly absobered by the target, while at 30-37 MeV/u a continious range of mass transfer with a large transverse momentum is observed

Structure of the icosahedral Ti-Zr-Ni quasicrystal

The atomic structure of the icosahedral Ti-Zr-Ni quasicrystal is determined by invoking similarities to periodic crystalline phases, diffraction data and the results from ab initio calculations. The structure is modeled by decorations of the canonical cell tiling geometry. The initial decoration model is based on the structure of the Frank-Kasper phase W-TiZrNi, the 1/1 approximant structure of the quasicrystal. The decoration model is optimized using a new method of structural analysis combining a least-squares refinement of diffraction data with results from ab initio calculations. The resulting structural model of icosahedral Ti-Zr-Ni is interpreted as a simple decoration rule and structural details are discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figure

Historical Isolation versus Recent Long-Distance Connections between Europe and Africa in Bifid Toadflaxes (Linaria sect. Versicolores)

Background: Due to its complex, dynamic and well-known paleogeography, the Mediterranean region provides an ideal framework to study the colonization history of plant lineages. The genus Linaria has its diversity centre in the Mediterranean region, both in Europe and Africa. The last land connection between both continental plates occurred during the Messinian Salinity Crisis, in the late Miocene (5.96 to 5.33 Ma). Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyzed the colonization history of Linaria sect. Versicolores (bifid toadflaxes), which includes c. 22 species distributed across the Mediterranean, including Europe and Africa. Two cpDNA regions (rpl32-trnL UAG and trnK-matK) were sequenced from 66 samples of Linaria. We conducted phylogenetic, dating, biogeographic and phylogeographic analyses to reconstruct colonization patterns in space and time. Four major clades were found: two of them exclusively contain Iberian samples, while the other two include northern African samples together with some European samples. The bifid toadflaxes have been split in African and European clades since the late Miocene, and most lineage and speciation differentiation occurred during the Pliocene and Quaternary. We have strongly inferred four events of post-Messinian colonization following long-distance dispersal from northern Africa to the Iberian Peninsula, Sicily and Greece. Conclusions/Significance: The current distribution of Linaria sect. Versicolores lineages is explained by both ancien

Crash characteristics and patterns of injury among hospitalized motorised two-wheeled vehicle users in urban India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traffic crashes and consequent injuries represent a growing public health concern in India, particularly in light of increasing motorization. Motorised two-wheeled vehicles (MTV) constitute a large portion of the vehicle fleet in India. We report the crash characteristics and injury patterns among a cohort of MTV riders and pillions presenting to hospital post-crash.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Consecutive MTV riders and pillions, whether alive or dead, injured in a road traffic crash presenting to the emergency departments of two government hospitals and three branches of a private hospital in urban Hyderabad, India, were recruited to this study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>378 MTV users were enrolled to the study of whom 333 (88.1%) were male, 252 (66.7%) were riders and median age was 31.3 years. A total of 223 (59%) MTV users were injured in multi-vehicle crashes while one-third had a frontal impact. The majority (77%) were assessed as having a Glasgow coma score (GCS) of 13–15, 12% a GCS of 9–12 and 11% a GCS of 3–8. No difference was seen in the severity distribution of injuries based on GCS among riders and pillions. Open wounds and superficial injuries to the head (69.3%) and upper extremity (27%) and lower extremity (24%) were the most common injuries. 43 (11%) sustained an intracranial injury, including 12 (28%) with associated fracture of the bones of the head. There were few differences in types of injuries sustained by riders and pillions though riders had a significantly lower risk of crush injuries of the lower extremity than pillions (relative risk, RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08–0.81) and female pillions were at a significantly lower risk of sustaining fractures of the lower extremity than male pillions (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.09 – 0.94). Overall, 42 (11%) MTV users died, of which 42.8% died before reaching the hospital. Only 74 (19.6%) MTV users had worn a helmet correctly and failure to wear a helmet was associated with a five times greater risk of intracranial injury (RR 4.99, 95% CI 1.23–20.1). Of the 19 pre-hospital deaths, 16 (84%) had not worn a helmet.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Head injuries accounted for the major proportion of injuries sustained in MTV users. Non-helmet use was associated with increased risk of serious head injuries. The data presented on the nature and severity of injuries sustained by MTV users can assist with planning to deal with these consequences as well as prevention of these injuries given the high use of MTV in India.</p