Bosonic and fermionic Weinberg-Joos (j,0)+ (0,j) states of arbitrary spins as Lorentz-tensors or tensor-spinors and second order theory

We propose a general method for the description of arbitrary single spin-j states transforming according to (j,0)+(0,j) carrier spaces of the Lorentz algebra in terms of Lorentz-tensors for bosons, and tensor-spinors for fermions, and by means of second order Lagrangians. The method allows to avoid the cumbersome matrix calculus and higher \partial^{2j} order wave equations inherent to the Weinberg-Joos approach. We start with reducible Lorentz-tensor (tensor-spinor) representation spaces hosting one sole (j,0)+(0,j) irreducible sector and design there a representation reduction algorithm based on one of the Casimir invariants of the Lorentz algebra. This algorithm allows us to separate neatly the pure spin-j sector of interest from the rest, while preserving the separate Lorentz- and Dirac indexes. However, the Lorentz invariants are momentum independent and do not provide wave equations. Genuine wave equations are obtained by conditioning the Lorentz-tensors under consideration to satisfy the Klein-Gordon equation. In so doing, one always ends up with wave equations and associated Lagrangians that are second order in the momenta. Specifically, a spin-3/2 particle transforming as (3/2,0)+ (0,3/2) is comfortably described by a second order Lagrangian in the basis of the totally antisymmetric Lorentz tensor-spinor of second rank, \Psi_[ \mu\nu]. Moreover, the particle is shown to propagate causally within an electromagnetic background. In our study of (3/2,0)+(0,3/2) as part of \Psi_[\mu\nu] we reproduce the electromagnetic multipole moments known from the Weinberg-Joos theory. We also find a Compton differential cross section that satisfies unitarity in forward direction. The suggested tensor calculus presents itself very computer friendly with respect to the symbolic software FeynCalc.Comment: LaTex 34 pages, 1 table, 8 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1312.581

The Integrated National Electrification Programme and political democracy

Since the coming of democracy in South Africa, the last decade has been marked by extraordinary, yet positive changes in policy development. Democratic organisation, both as a system of government and as a value system commanding the support of ordinary people, is of key importance in these developments and the implications for South Africa are still being analysed. Noticeable are the fundamental changes in the energy sector where there has been a shift from energy self-reliance and energy security to a more sustainable policy approach driven by economic efficiency, social equity and environment protection. Institutes of Democracy like IDEA (2004) concur with this trend that a strong democratic system must support poverty reduction for meaningful democratic change and, in practice; this is clearly the trend being defined. It is now a sustainable development issue, and voter’s confidence that is fast becoming the defining principle and drives for rapid policy change and service delivery in the form of an Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) in the energy sector. Policy makers in energy policy acknowledge this phenomenon as defining what is now seen as a ‘post-apartheid energy paradigm shift’. In this paper, it is suggested that the National Electrification Programme (NEP) has performed beyond expectation in increasing access to electricity for the poor in the country. It is also argued that, there is now an electrification and political democracy nexus exhibited in social and political development of this country. In this line of thought, the argument given is that one of the reasons why people voted for the ruling party in 1999 and 2000 was the NEP. Furthermore this identified linkage provides policy recommendations that suggest that the government should deliver other basic services in a similar manner in order to gain people’s confidence. In South Africa, because of the country’s unique social, economic and political history, a trade-off between basic social service delivery and linkage with democracy then becomes very crucial. Keyword

The Integrated National Electrification Programme and political democracy

Since the coming of democracy in South Africa, the last decade has been marked by extraordinary, yet positive changes in policy development. Democratic organisation, both as a system of government and as a value system commanding the support of ordinary people, is of key importance in these developments and the implications for South Africa are still being analysed. Noticeable are the fundamental changes in the energy sector where there has been a shift from energy self-reliance and energy security to a more sustainable policy approach driven by economic efficiency, social equity and environment protection. Institutes of Democracy like IDEA (2004) concur with this trend that a strong democratic system must support poverty reduction for meaningful democratic change and, in practice; this is clearly the trend being defined. It is now a sustainable development issue, and voter’s confidence that is fast becoming the defining principle and drives for rapid policy change and service delivery in the form of an Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) in the energy sector. Policy makers in energy policy acknowledge this phenomenon as defining what is now seen as a ‘post-apartheid energy paradigm shift’. In this paper, it is suggested that the National Electrification Programme (NEP) has performed beyond expectation in increasing access to electricity for the poor in the country. It is also argued that, there is now an electrification and political democracy nexus exhibited in social and political development of this country. In this line of thought, the argument given is that one of the reasons why people voted for the ruling party in 1999 and 2000 was the NEP. Furthermore this identified linkage provides policy recommendations that suggest that the government should deliver other basic services in a similar manner in order to gain people’s confidence. In South Africa, because of the country’s unique social, economic and political history, a trade-off between basic social service delivery and linkage with democracy then becomes very crucial. Keyword

Gastric Malignancy Survival in Zambia, Southern Africa: A two year follow up study

Background: Gastric cancer poses a significant global health burden. It is the second most common cause of cancer death worldwide and the ninth leading cause of cancer mortality in Zambia, at a rate of 3.8/100,000; comparable to USA (2/100,000) and UK (3.4/100,000). Survival data on gastric malignancy in Zambia is not known.Objectives: To provide preliminary survival rates of patients with histologically proven gastric adenocarcinoma in Zambia.Study Design: Using our prospective gastric cancer research database, we conducted a retrospective audit of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer at the University Teaching Hospital, Zambia, from June 2010 until January 2012. We contacted patients or their relatives using phone numbers provided at time of enrollment.Main Outcomes: We reviewed age, sex, demographic data (income, education), body mass index, symptoms, duration of symptoms, treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or combination) and survival outcome.  Analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier models and log rank test.Results: Fifty one patients were diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma during the study period, but follow-up data were available for 50. Median survival was 142 days. Age, sex, income, education, BMI, tumor location, and treatment modality were not significantly associated with overall survival. In Cox regression models, covariates associated with survival were a history of regular alcohol intake (HR 0.49, 95%CI 0.26,0.92; P=0.025) and intestinal type cancer histology (HR 0.40, 95%CI 0.19,0.83; P=0.01).Conclusion: Prognosis of newly diagnosed gastric cancer in Zambia is poor with significant mortality within 1 yearof diagnosis, particularly among patients with weight loss and dysphagia

An assertion language for constraint logic programs

In an advanced program development environment, such as that discussed in the introduction of this book, several tools may coexist which handle both the program and information on the program in different ways. Also, these tools may interact among themselves and with the user. Thus, the different tools and the user need some way to communicate. It is our design principie that such communication be performed in terms of assertions. Assertions are syntactic objects which allow expressing properties of programs. Several assertion languages have been used in the past in different contexts, mainly related to program debugging. In this chapter we propose a general language of assertions which is used in different tools for validation and debugging of constraint logic programs in the context of the DiSCiPl project. The assertion language proposed is parametric w.r.t. the particular constraint domain and properties of interest being used in each different tool. The language proposed is quite general in that it poses few restrictions on the kind of properties which may be expressed. We believe the assertion language we propose is of practical relevance and appropriate for the different uses required in the tools considered

A nurse‐led intervention improves detection and management of AKI in Malawi

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury is common and has significant impact on mortality and morbidity. There is a global drive to improve the lack of knowledge and understanding surrounding the recognition, diagnosis and management of patients with AKI in resource poor healthcare systems. OBJECTIVES: We propose a nurse‐led education programme to medical and nursing staff of the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi, will improve the overall care and understanding of patients with AKI that will still be effective 3 months later. METHODS: This was a three phase, prospective interventional pilot study which evaluated base line knowledge and clinical practice amongst healthcare workers, provided a comprehensive combination nurse‐led class room and ward based teaching programme and evaluated the change in knowledge and clinical management of patients in the high dependency areas of the hospital immediately, and 3 months, after the teaching intervention. RESULTS: The nurse‐led intervention significantly improved the healthcare workers attitudes towards detecting or managing patients with suspected AKI (p < 0.0001). There were also significant improvements in the completion of fluid charts and recording of urine output (p < 0.0001), corner stones of AKI management. Knowledge and clinical intervention was still present three months later. There was however little change in the understanding that AKI could be a significant clinical problem in QECH and that it may have a major impact on mortality and working practice and this needs to be addressed in future teaching programmes. CONCLUSIONS: A low cost, nurse‐led AKI educational intervention improved the knowledge and management of AKI at QECH, which was still evident 3 months later