Comics und der myopische Blick : Strafen für unerwartete und wirkungsvolle Texte

A remarkable indictment and conviction following the sale of an ‘obscene’ comic book invites us to examine arguments brought forth to describe a specifically childlike reception of new media, as usually suggested by those who would motivate legal restrictions for such media. Trying to explain some perceived contradictions on the surface of these arguments, we discuss whether it is the failure or rather the extreme success of texts that is marked as ‘dangerous’ in such contexts

Unpacking and understanding the impact of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors on apolipoprotein B metabolism

No abstract available

Dual drive actuators

A new class of electromechanical actuators is described. These dual drive actuators were developed for the NASA-JPL Galileo Spacecraft. The dual drive actuators are fully redundant and therefore have high inherent reliability. They can be used for a variety of tasks, and they can be fabricated quickly and economically

Laser communication system is insensitive to atmospherically induced noise

Angle modulated transmitted reference heterodyne laser communication system is insensitive to atmospherically induced amplitude noise fluctuations and phase distortions

Linearized analysis versus optimization-based nonlinear analysis for nonlinear systems

For autonomous nonlinear systems stability and input-output properties in small enough (infinitesimally small) neighborhoods of (linearly) asymptotically stable equilibrium points can be inferred from the properties of the linearized dynamics. On the other hand, generalizations of the S-procedure and sum-of-squares programming promise a framework potentially capable of generating certificates valid over quantifiable, finite size neighborhoods of the equilibrium points. However, this procedure involves multiple relaxations (unidirectional implications). Therefore, it is not obvious if the sum-of-squares programming based nonlinear analysis can return a feasible answer whenever linearization based analysis does. Here, we prove that, for a restricted but practically useful class of systems, conditions in sum-of-squares programming based region-of-attraction, reachability, and input-output gain analyses are feasible whenever linearization based analysis is conclusive. Besides the theoretical interest, such results may lead to computationally less demanding, potentially more conservative nonlinear (compared to direct use of sum-of-squares formulations) analysis tools

Smart motor technology

Current spacecraft design relies upon microprocessor control; however, motors usually require extensive additional electronic circuitry to interface with these microprocessor controls. An improved control technique that allows a smart brushless motor to connect directly to a microprocessor control system is described. An actuator with smart motors receives a spacecraft command directly and responds in a closed loop control mode. In fact, two or more smart motors can be controlled for synchronous operation

Is there a positive incentive effect from privatizing social security : evidence from Latin America

There is increasing concern among policymakers that social security reforms that involve a transition to individual retirement savings accounts may exclude certain groups of workers from coverage against the risk of poverty in old age. While most public pay-as-you-go systems pool the risk of interrupted careers and periods of low earnings over the covered population, the reformed systems shift the burden of these risks to the individual. Adequate coverage under a system of individual retirement accounts depends critically on accumulating sufficient savings through regular contributions. In developing countries where opportunities for unregulated employment abound and workers can easily escape mandated social insurance, theory suggests that reforms will increase the number of contributors to social security by reducing distortions and improving incentives in the labor market. Motivated primarily by fiscal pressures stemming from the deficits of overly generous, poorly administered public pension systems, many governments are going ahead with reforms as if this theory is correct. Does a shift to individual retirement accounts improve the incentives to contribute to social security? Almost a decade after reforms to national social security systems in Latin America (two decades, in the case of Chile), existing evidence is mixed. Several studies have found that the share of the Chilean workforce covered by the national pension system has increased since individual retirement accounts were installed in 1981; others have shown that there has been no change in this share. But these studies rely on simulations or on casual observation of data on the sectoral allocation of the labor force and relate only to Chile. Sufficient time has now passed since reforms in several Latin American countries to allow more rigorous testing of the theory. The author estimates the impact of social security reform-specifically, the transition from a purely public pay-as-you-go system to one with private individual retirement accounts-on the share of the workforce that contributes to formal retirement security systems. To test the predictions of a simple model of a segmented labor market, he exploits variation in data from a panel of 18 Latin American countries, observed from 1980 to 1999. Results show that introducing individual retirement accounts has a positive incentive effect that, other things equal, increases the share of the economically active population contributing to the reformed system. But this effect occurs only gradually as employers and workers become familiar with the new set of social security institutions put in place by reform.Health Economics&Finance,Labor Policies,Environmental Economics&Policies,Pensions&Retirement Systems,Public Health Promotion,Environmental Economics&Policies,Pensions&Retirement Systems,Health Economics&Finance,Banks&Banking Reform,Health Monitoring&Evaluation

Brushless DC motor control system responsive to control signals generated by a computer or the like

A control system for a brushless DC motor responsive to digital control signals is disclosed. The motor includes a multiphase wound stator and a permanent magnet rotor. The motor is arranged so that each phase winding, when energized from a DC source, will drive the rotor through a predetermined angular position or step. A commutation signal generator responsive to the shaft position provides a commutation signal for each winding. A programmable control signal generator such as a computer or microprocessor produces individual digital control signals for each phase winding. The control signals and commutation signals associated with each winding are applied to an AND gate for that phase winding. Each gate controls a switch connected in series with the associated phase winding and the DC source so that each phase winding is energized only when the commutation signal and the control signal associated with that phase winding are present. The motor shaft may be advanced one step at a time to a desired position by applying a predetermined number of control signals in the proper sequence to the AND gates and the torque generated by the motor be regulated by applying a separate control signal and each AND gate which is pulse width modulated to control the total time that each switch connects its associated winding to the DC source during each commutation period