Faking it : counterfeiting and consumer contradictions

Fashion counterfeiting is a multimillion pound business and one which relies on the complicity of the consumer. Frequently seen as a victimless crime, it is a difficult trade to control because as long as consumers desire brands, the greater the market for counterfeits. In this study we consider the way in which consumers relate to fake brands and the implications of counterfeit for consumers creating their identity through commodities. The results point to an inherent and fundamental contradiction in consumers views on counterfeit, willing to buy and wear the fakes but condemning the duplicity of those who do

Soil Amplification Factor of Seismic Ground Motions in Laho (PMO), Kumang (SKO) and Sumandak (SBO) in Malaysian Offshore

Distant earthquakes in Sumatra and Sulawesi might possess hazard to the offshore platforms in Malaysia underlain by soft soils as the soils might amplify the seismic waves that reach the bedrock of Malaysia. A study of the soil amplification factors in PMO, SKO and SBO is necessary to reduce the downtime loses and onsite casualties of the offshore platforms. This research is one of the pioneers for Malaysian offshores. Thus, Laho in PMO, Kumang in SKO and Sumandak in SBO are selected as three representative case studies for this research. The shear wave velocities of the soils at the selected sites are estimated using published cone penetration test correlation equation. The input motion is based on the strongest earthquake recorded in MMD station near to the selected sites between year 2004 and 2007. A second analysis is conducted by scaling the earthquake recorded to 0.06g to simulate the shaking caused by an earthquake with a return period of 475 years in Malaysia. Onedimensional equivalent linear site response analysis is selected and performed by DEEPSOIL v5.1. The unscaled earthquakes (PGA= 0.0015g) generate high amplification factors but they are associated with very low levels of earthquake shaking which hardly harm the structure on site. The scaled earthquakes (0.06g) generate relatively lower amplification factors which are caused by the nonlinear behaviour of soils. The scaled earthquake also generates a peak spectral amplification at a longer period. However, the lower amplification factors of 1.6 (period 0.4s-2.0s) and 3.5 (period 3.5s) in Sumandak should be taken into account in the design of structure because they are associated with PGA of 0.06g which is significant enough to damage the platforms on site, especially if the seismic waves are amplified and the structure has a natural period close to the amplified periods. This research also shows that the impedance contrast of shear wave velocities at the boundary of two soil layers amplifies the seismic waves. Besides, the soil amplification factors depend on the intensity of shakin

A SYSTEMS ANALYSIS OF ENERGY USAGE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A COUNTER-UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM USING A CYBER-ATTACK APPROACH

Existing counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) rely heavily on radio frequency (RF) jamming techniques that require a large amount of energy. RF jamming results in undesirable consequences such as jamming nearby friendly devices as well as increasing RF footprint of local operators. Current cybersecurity analysis of commercial-off-the shelf (COTS) UASs have revealed vulnerabilities that can be used to conduct C-UAS operations in the cyber domain via cyber-attacks that hijack device-specific communication links on narrow RF bands. This thesis validates the cyber-attack C-UAS (CyC-UAS) concept through reviewing recent C-UAS operational experimental scenarios and conducting analysis on the collected data. Then, a model of a defense facility is constructed to analyze and validate specific mission scenarios and several proposed concepts of operation. A comparison of the energy requirements between CyC-UAS and existing C-UAS techniques is performed to assess energy efficiency and trade-offs of different C-UAS approaches. The comparison of energy requirements between the CyC-UAS prototype and existing C-UAS RF jamming products shows CyC-UAS has significant energy savings while not affecting other telecommunication devices operating at the same frequencies. CyC-UAS is able to achieve the same mission by consuming much less energy and shows promise as a new, lower energy, and lower collateral damage approach to defending against UASs.Outstanding ThesisMajor, Republic of Singapore Air ForceApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Technical Efficiency in the Iron and Steel Industry: A Stochastic Frontier Approach

In this paper we examine the technical efficiency of firms in the iron and steel industry and try to identify the factors contributing to the industry's efficiency growth, using a time-varying stochastic frontier model. Based on our findings, which pertain to 52 iron and steel firms over the period of 1978-1997, POSCO and Nippon Steel were the most efficient firms, with their production, on average, exceeding 95 percent of their potential output. Our findings also shed light on possible sources of efficiency growth in the industry. If a firm is government-owned, its privatization is likely to improve its technical efficiency to a great extent. A firm's technical efficiency also tends to be positively related to its production level as measured by a share of the total world production of crude steel. Another important source of efficiency growth identified by our empirical findings is adoption of new technologies and equipment. Our findings clearly indicate that continued efforts to update technologies and equipment are critical in pursuit of efficiency in the iron and steel industry.

Marked elevations in N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide levels in septic shock

INTRODUCTION: N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a cardiac biomarker that has recently shown to be of diagnostic value in a diagnosis of decompensated heart failure, acute coronary syndromes and other conditions resulting in myocardial stretch. We sought to study whether sepsis-induced myocardial dilation would result in an elevation of NT-proBNP. METHOD: Serum NT-proBNP measurements were made in six consecutive patients with septic shock within 6 hours of admission to the intensive care unit. RESULTS: Markedly elevated levels of NT-proBNP were found in all six patients. CONCLUSIONS: NT-proBNP levels can be markedly elevated in critically ill patients presenting with septic shock. An elevated NT-proBNP level in a critically ill patient is not specific for decompensated heart failure

Cloning and characterisation of multiple ferritin isoforms in the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

An Investigation into the Impact of Parkinson's Disease upon Decision Making Ability and Driving Performance

Diagnostics and Rehabilitation of Parkinson's Disease presents the most current information pertaining to news-making topics relating to this disease, including etiology, early biomarkers for the diagnostics, novel methods to evaluate symptoms, research, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, new applications of brain imaging and invasive methods to the study of Parkinson's disease. Researchers have only recently begun to focus on the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, which are poorly recognized and inadequately treated by clinicians. The non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease have a significant impact on patient quality of life and mortality and include cognitive impairments, autonomic, gastrointestinal, and sensory symptoms. In-depth discussion of the use of imaging tools to study disease mechanisms is also provided, with emphasis on the abnormal network organization in parkinsonism. Deep brain stimulation management is a paradigm-shifting therapy for Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. In the recent years, new approaches of early diagnostics, training programmes and treatments have vastly improved the lives of people with Parkinson's disease, substantially reducing symptoms and significantly delaying disability. Written by leading scientists on movement and neurological disorders, this comprehensive book should appeal to a multidisciplinary audience and help people cope with medical, emotional, and practical challenges

The voltage-gated potassium channel Shaker promotes sleep via thermosensitive GABA transmission

Genes and neural circuits coordinately regulate animal sleep. However, it remains elusive how these endogenous factors shape sleep upon environmental changes. Here, we demonstrate that Shaker (Sh)-expressing GABAergic neurons projecting onto dorsal fan-shaped body (dFSB) regulate temperature-adaptive sleep behaviors in Drosophila. Loss of Sh function suppressed sleep at low temperature whereas light and high temperature cooperatively gated Sh effects on sleep. Sh depletion in GABAergic neurons partially phenocopied Sh mutants. Furthermore, the ionotropic GABA receptor, Resistant to dieldrin (Rdl), in dFSB neurons acted downstream of Sh and antagonized its sleep-promoting effects. In fact, Rdl inhibited the intracellular cAMP signaling of constitutively active dopaminergic synapses onto dFSB at low temperature. High temperature silenced GABAergic synapses onto dFSB, thereby potentiating the wake-promoting dopamine transmission. We propose that temperature-dependent switching between these two synaptic transmission modalities may adaptively tune the neural property of dFSB neurons to temperature shifts and reorganize sleep architecture for animal fitness. Ji-hyung Kim and Yoonhee Ki et al. show that low temperatures suppress sleep in Drosophila by increasing GABA transmission in Shaker-expressing GABAergic neurons projecting onto the dorsal fan-shaped body, while high temperatures potentiate dopamine-induced arousal by reducing GABA transmission. This study highlights a role for Shaker in sleep modulation via a temperature-dependent switch in GABA signaling