De Morgan's law and the theory of fields

We show that the classifying topos for the theory of fields does not satisfy De Morgan's law, and we identify its largest dense De Morgan subtopos as the classifying topos for the theory of fields of nonzero characteristic which are algebraic over their prime fields

Acupuncture as Cancer Symptom Therapy: What a Difference a Decade Makes

AbstractThe author reviews the use of acupuncture in cancer symptom management based on mainly what his group has done for the past 10 years and new directions are presented for the future investigations

A stable isotope investigation into fluid-rock interaction during regional metamorphism in western dronning maud land, East Antarctica

Includes bibliographical references.The Sverdrupfjella Group in western Dronning Maud Land forms part of a 1200 Ma to 900 Ma orogenic belt which experienced a thermal overprint at around 500 Ma. Although the degree of tectonic reworking during this later event remains uncertain, evidence for late fluid alteration is widespread. In this study, the high-grade metamorphic rocks which make up the Sverdrupfjella Group were sampled in the central Kirwanveggen area. The stable isotope and whole-rock composition of these rocks have been determined, in order to test whether zones of intense fluid-rock interaction can be used as evidence for Pan African overprinting of Grenvillian orogenesis in western Dronning Maud Land

Sustainability transitions and the state

Sustainability transitions is an emerging field of research that has produced both conceptual understandings of the drivers of technological transitions, as well as more prescriptive and policy-engaged analyses of how shifts from unsustainable to sustainable forms of production and consumption can be achieved. Yet, attention towards the role of the state is underdeveloped in the field. The significance of this neglect has become more apparent in particular due to the heightened urgency around the need to tackle climate change and energy security, where there are increasing calls for an enhanced role for the state. This paper sets out to advance understandings of the multiple and conflicting roles that states play in transitions. It first addresses key weaknesses in the way the state has been examined thus far. Second, it highlights theoretical resources and conceptualisations of the state that can help scholars of transitions open up new and more productive avenues for understanding drivers and barriers to sustainable transitions drawing on examples from different sectors, regions and issue areas

A quality assurance phantom for electronic portal imaging devices

Electronic portal imaging device (EPID) plays an important role in radiation therapy portal imaging, geometric and dosimetric verification. Consistent image quality and stable radiation response is necessary for proper utilization that requires routine quality assurance (QA). A commercial ‘EPID QC’ phantom weighing 3.8 kg with a dimension of 25 × 25 × 4.8 cm3 is used for EPID QA. This device has five essential tools to measure the geometric accuracy, signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), dose linearity, and the low‐ and the high‐contrast resolutions. It is aligned with beam divergence to measure the imaging and geometric parameters in both X and Y directions, and can be used as a baseline check for routine QA. The low‐contrast tool consists of a series of holes with various diameters and depths in an aluminum slab, very similar to the Las Vegas phantom. The high‐resolution contrast tool provides the modulation transfer function (MTF) in both the x‐ and y‐dimensions to measure the focal spot of linear accelerator that is important for imaging and small field dosimetry. The device is tested in different institutions with various amorphous silicon imagers including Elekta, Siemens and Varian units. Images of the QA phantom were acquired at 95.2 cm source‐skin‐distance (SSD) in the range 1–15 MU for a 26 × 26 cm2 field and phantom surface is set normal to the beam direction when gantry is at 0° and 90°. The epidSoft is a software program provided with the EPID QA phantom for analysis of the data. The preliminary results using the phantom on the tested EPID showed very good low‐contrast resolution and high resolution, and an MTF (0.5) in the range of 0.3–0.4 lp/mm. All imagers also exhibit satisfactory geometric accuracy, dose linearity and SNR, and are independent of MU and spatial orientations. The epidSoft maintains an image analysis record and provides a graph of the temporal variations in imaging parameters. In conclusion, this device is simple to use and provides testing on basic and advanced imaging parameters for daily QA on any imager used in clinical practice

Structural equation modelling to assess relationships between event-related potential components, heart rate and skin conductance in the context of emotional stimuli

Abstract of a poster presented at the 17th World Congress of Psychophysiology (IOP2014) of the International Organization of Psychophysiology (IOP) Hiroshima, Japan, September 23rd to 27th, 2014

Why Penetration Testing is a Limited Use Choice for Sound Cyber Security Practice

Penetration testing of networks is a process that is overused when demonstrating or evaluating the cyber security posture of an organisation. Most penetration testing is not aligned with the actual intent of the testing, but rather is driven by a management directive of wanting to be seen to be addressing the issue of cyber security. The use of penetration testing is commonly a reaction to an adverse audit outcome or as a result of being penetrated in the first place. Penetration testing used in this fashion delivers little or no value to the organisation being tested for a number of reasons. First, a test is only as good as the tools, the tester and the methodology being applied. Second, the results are largely temporal. That is, the test will likely only find known vulnerabilities that exist at one specific point in time and not larger longitudinal flaws with the cyber security of an organisation, one such flaw commonly being governance. Finally, in many cases, one has to question what the point is in breaking the already broken. Penetration testing has its place when used judiciously and as part of an overall review and audit of cyber security. It can be an invaluable tool to assess the ability of a system to survive a sustained attack if properly scoped and deployed. However, it is our assessment and judgement that this rarely occurs. Keywords: cyber security, penetration testing, vulnerability assessmen

Partnership paradoxes : a case study of an energy company

This paper presents the findings of a case study undertaken in a British utility company, referred to as Energy Co. The main aim of the study was to assess how the agreement of a partnership arrangement in 1995 had affected the conduct of employment relations. The study found that partnership was borne out of a poor industrial relations climate, and driven primarily by management. They hoped that it might improve industrial relations, raise employee commitment, inform and educate the workforce, and increase employee contribution. Partnership was not intended to encourage joint governance or power sharing. In practice, partnership combined direct EI such as team briefing and problem solving groups, with representative participation through a formal partnership council system. Management suggested that, on balance, partnership had been successful, with benefits including improved industrial relations, quicker pay negotiations and increased legitimacy of decision-making. It was also suggested that there was a positive link –albeit indirect and intangible –with organisational performance. Union representatives also proposed that partnership was a success, citing benefits including greater access to information, greater influence, inter-union co-operation, and more local decision-making. Employee views were more mixed. There was also clear evidence of several tensions. Four were particularly noteworthy: employee apathy, management-representative relations, employee-representative relations and the role of FTOs. Despite espoused partnership, management hostility to unions was evident, and a preference for non-union employment relations clear. Consequently, the future of the partnership in its current form is uncertain

Better than nothing? Is non-union partnership a contradiction in terms?

Though the notion of union-management partnership commands an extensive body of literature, little is known about non-union partnership arrangements. This article addresses the relatively unexplored issue of non-union partnership through a detailed case study of WebBank, a British internet bank. Three main themes are explored. Firstly, we seek to understand more about the meaning of – and rationale for – partnership in non-union settings. Secondly, we explore the operation of non-union partnership in practice. Finally, we evaluate the effectiveness of non-union partnership from the perspectives of various organisational actors. The article suggests that in judging the effectiveness of a partnership arrangement, or indeed any voice regime more generally, there is a need to re-consider the benchmarks for success, and to place them in the context of contemporary employment relations. The evidence suggests that it would be deeply unhelpful and inaccurate to dismiss a non-union partnership a priori as a ‘contradiction in terms’