Multi-cultural Switzerland – multicultural public service media?

In this article a special attention is paid to the to the role of public service broadcaster in cultural diversity societies. The main aims of the author was answering the following questions: how cultural pluralism is implemented by the public service broadcaster in Switzerland? How the Swiss PSB implements the principle of cultural pluralism, particularly in the context of the access of national, language communities and the migrants minorities to the media? Are all groups recognized by the public broadcaster in the same way? The second goal of the author was delivering answer to a question about the manner of how public broadcaster has adopted to the new situation and how the new ethnic groups are recognized by SGR SSR.The considerations are related to a cultural pluralism, which assumes that the media provide a guarantee of cultural diversity in a society. This article is a case study of Swiss public service broadcaster – SGR SSR idee suisse

Brexit i jego skutki dla Niemiec z perspektywy ekonomicznej i społecznej

At the end of March 2017, the British government initiated the legal procedure of withdrawal from the EU, beginning the two-year countdown towards Brexit. However, as of August 2019, the final outcome of the Brexit negotiations is still pending. The Brexit uncertainty over the years has had an impact on the UK economy negatively affecting, e.g., its growth. This paper addresses the impact of Brexit, however from the viewpoint of Germany, focusing on the economic and social perspective. For our analyses, we differentiate between the announcement of Brexit and the possible final outcomes of Brexit. From an economic perspective, our analyses focus on the four freedoms of the European Single Market. From a social perspective, our analyses focus on mobility, studying and training in the UK, financial transactions and consumer rights. Using descriptive statistics primarily based on data from Destatis and Eurostat, we expect the following implications. From an economic perspective, we expect negative implications like worsening trade relationship between the UK and Germany affecting jobs, especially in the automotive sector. From a social perspective, we also expect negative implications like increasing travel costs to the UK, increasing mobile phone roaming charges, additional healthcare insurance. Further areas impacted by Brexit may be studying and training in the UK, financial transactions and customers rights.Pod koniec marca 2017 r., rząd brytyjski zainicjował procedurę prawną dotyczącą wystąpienia z Unii Europejskiej, rozpoczynając tym samym dwuletnie odliczanie do Brexitu. Jednakże, biorąc pod uwagę stan na sierpień 2019 r., ostateczny wynik negocjacji, jest nadal w toku. Niepewność wywołana przez Brexit w ciągu ostatnich lat wpływała negatywnie na gospodarkę Wielkiej Brytanii, np. wzrost gospodarczy. Niniejsza praca ukazuje wpływ Brexitu na Niemcy z uwzględnieniem perspektywy ekonomicznej i społecznej. W naszych analizach rozróżniamy między efektami po ogłoszeniu Brexitu, a jego możliwymi skutkami. Uwzględniając perspektywę ekonomiczną, nasze analizy koncentrują się na czterech swobodach rynku wewnętrznego Unii Europejskiej. W perspektywie społecznej, nasze analizy skupiają się na mobilności, studiach i praktykach w Wielkiej Brytanii, transakcjach finansowych oraz prawach konsumentów. Za pomocą statystyk opisowych, bazując głównie na danych z Destatis i Eurostatu, przewidujemy następujące konsekwencje. Biorąc pod uwagę perspektywę ekonomiczną, spodziewamy się negatywnych następstw, takich jak pogorszenie relacji handlowych między Wielką Brytanią a Niemcami, wpływających na zatrudnienie, w szczególności w sektorze motoryzacyjnym. Uwzględniając perspektywę społeczną, spodziewamy się także negatywnych konsekwencji, np. wynikających z podróżowania do Wielkiej Brytanii: rosnących kosztów podróży, opłat roamingowych, dodatkowego ubezpieczenia zdrowotnego. Wśród pozostałych obszarów, na które może wpływać Brexit wskazać należy studia i praktyki w Wielkiej Brytanii, transakcje finansowe oraz prawa konsumentów

Description and status of NASA-LeRC/DOE photovoltaic applications systems

Designed, fabricated and installed were 16 geographically dispersed photovoltaic systems. These systems are powering a refrigerator, highway warning sign, forest lookout towers, remote weather stations, a water chiller at a visitor center, and insect survey traps. Each of these systems is described in terms of load requirements, solar array and battery size, and instrumentation and controls. Operational experience is described and present status is given for each system. The P/V power systems have proven to be highly reliable with almost no problems with modules and very few problems overall

Mobilization Studies in Mice Deficient in Sphingosine Kinase 2 Support a Crucial Role of the Plasma Level of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate in the Egress of Hematopoietic Stem Progenitor Cells

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid involved in cell signaling and, if released from cells, also plays a crucial role in regulating the trafficking of lympho-hematopoietic cells, including primitive hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). It has been demonstrated that S1P chemoattracts HSPCs, and its level in peripheral blood creates a gradient directing egress of these cells during mobilization. In this paper we analyzed hematopoiesis in mice deficient in sphingosine kinase 2 (Sphk2-KO mice) and studied the effect of this mutation on plasma S1P levels. We found that Sphk2-KO mice have normal hematopoiesis, and, in contrast to Sphk1-KO mice, the circulating S1P level is highly elevated in these animals and correlates with the fact that HSPCs in Sphk2-KO animals, also in contrast to Sphk1-KO animals, show enhanced mobilization. These results were recapitulated in wild type (WT) animals employing an Sphk2 inhibitor. We also administered an inhibitor of the S1P-degrading enzyme S1P lyase, known as tetrahydroxybutylimidazole (THI), to WT mice and observed that this resulted in an increase in S1P level in PB and enhanced mobilization of HSPCs. In sum, our results support a crucial role for S1P gradients in blood plasma in the mobilization process and indicate that small-molecule inhibitors of Sphk2 and Sgpl1 could be employed as mobilization-facilitating compounds. At the same time, further studies are needed to explain the unexpected effect of Sphk2 inhibition on increasing S1P levels in plasma

The introduction of space technology power systems into developing countries

Between 1978 and 1984, NASA-Lewis was responsible for the design, fabrication, installation and operational support of 57 photovoltaic power systems in 27 countries. These systems were installed in locations not served by a central power system and ranged in size from 40 W for powering street lights to 29 kW for providing power to a complete village. Several of the system projects had socio/economic studies components that provided for an assessment of how the introduction of both electricity and a novel high technology power system affected the users and their society

Design description of the Tangaye Village photovoltaic power system

The engineering design of a stand alone photovoltaic (PV) powered grain mill and water pump for the village of Tangaye, Upper Volta is described. The socioeconomic effects of reducing the time required by women in rural areas for drawing water and grinding grain were studied. The suitability of photovoltaic technology for use in rural areas by people of limited technical training was demonstrated. The PV system consists of a 1.8-kW (peak) solar cell array, 540 ampere hours of battery storage, instrumentation, automatic controls, and a data collection and storage system. The PV system is situated near an improved village well and supplies d.c. power to a grain mill and a water pump. The array is located in a fenced area and the mill, battery, instruments, controls, and data system are in a mill building. A water storage tank is located near the well. The system employs automatic controls which provide battery charge regulation and system over and under voltage protection. This report includes descriptions of the engineering design of the system and of the load that it serves; a discussion of PV array and battery sizing methodology; descriptions of the mechanical and electrical designs including the array, battery, controls, and instrumentation; and a discussion of the safety features. The system became operational on March 1, 1979

DOE and AID stand-alone photovoltaic activities

The NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) is managing stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system activities sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID). The DOE project includes village PV power demonstration projects in Gabon (four sites) and the Marshall Islands, PV-powered medical refrigerators in six countries, PV system microprocessor control development activities and PV-hybrid system assessments. The AID project includes a large village system in Tunisia, a water pumping/grain grinding project in Upper Volta, five medical clinics in four countries, PV-powered remote earth station application. These PV activities and summarizes significant findings to data are reviewed

Status of FEP encapsulated solar cell modules used in terrestrial applications

The Lewis Research Center has been engaged in transferring the FEP encapsulated solar cell technology developed for the space program to terrestrial applications. FEP encapsulated solar cell modules and arrays were designed and built expressly for terrestrial applications. Solar cell power systems were installed at three different land sites, while individual modules are undergoing marine environment tests. Four additional power systems are being completed for installation during the summer of 1974. These tests have revealed some minor problems which have been corrected. The results confirm the inherent utility of FEP encapsulated terrestrial solar cell systems

Terrestrial applications of FEP-encapsulated solar cell modules

FEP-encapsulated solar cell modules and arrays have been designed and built expressly for terrestrial applications. System design including solar cell array mechanical design and the approach to system sizing is outlined. Such solar cell systems have been installed at six sites. Individual modules have undergone marine environment tests. Results from seven months of operation indicate that system is meeting its electrical design requirements. No mechanical degradation has been reported. The array on Mammoth Mountain, California has been damaged by rime ice but shows no loss in electrical output. Marine environment tests on single modules have shown that elements of the module must be completely sealed by the FEP. Based on the limited test data available, the FEP-encapsulated solar cell module appears well suited to terrestrial applications