Comment on "1/f noise in the Bak-Sneppen model"

Contrary to the recently published results by Daerden and Vanderzande [Phys. Rev. E 53, 4723 (1996)], we show that the time correlation function in the random-neighbor version of the Bak-Sneppen model can be well approximated by an exponential giving rise to a 1/f2 power spectrum.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figure

Cycling injuries and alcohol

Background: Most of the cycling accidents that occur in Finland do not end up in the official traffic accident statistics. Thus, there is minimal information on these accidents and their consequences, particularly in cases in which alcohol was involved. The focus of the present study is on cycling accidents and injuries involving alcohol in particular. Methods: Data on patients visiting the emergency department at North Kymi Hospital because of a cycling accident was prospectively collected for two years, from June 1, 2004 to May 31, 2006. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was measured on admission with a breath analyser. The severity of the cycling injuries was classified according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). Results: A total of 217 cycling accidents occurred. One third of the injured cyclists were involved with alcohol at the time of visiting the hospital. Of these, 85% were males. A blood alcohol concentration of Conclusions: Cyclists involved with alcohol were, in most cases, heavily intoxicated and were not wearing a bicycle helmet. Head injuries were more common among these cyclists than among sober cyclists. As cycling continues to increase, it is important to monitor cycling accidents, improve the accident statistics and heighten awareness of the risks of head injuries when cycling under the influence of alcohol. (c) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

A Chinese Model for Labour in Europe?

Based on long-term fieldwork in multiple locations, our article questions the approach that posits a Chinese model of work and employment relations as increasingly exporting its form of labour management and dominating worldwide. It does so by focusing on Europe and discussing two labour regimes considered as typically Chinese: the Chinese fashion workshops in the Italian fashion industry, and the Foxconn electronics plants in the Czech Republic. Our findings bring new insights to bear on issues for which research is still thin on the ground and challenge the hypothesis of a \u2018Chinesisation\u2019 of work and employment practices in Chinese small firms and MNCs operating in Europe. We move the focus away from the simple analysis of firm management prevailing in the literature and suggest that, in order to understand the firm\u2019s behaviours, the role of the state, the unions, the migrant workers and the role of temporary work agencies should all be taken into consideration

Time--delay autosynchronization of the spatio-temporal dynamics in resonant tunneling diodes

The double barrier resonant tunneling diode exhibits complex spatio-temporal patterns including low-dimensional chaos when operated in an active external circuit. We demonstrate how autosynchronization by time--delayed feedback control can be used to select and stabilize specific current density patterns in a noninvasive way. We compare the efficiency of different control schemes involving feedback in either local spatial or global degrees of freedom. The numerically obtained Floquet exponents are explained by analytical results from linear stability analysis.Comment: 10 pages, 16 figure

An Evaluation Model For Web-based 3D Mass Customization Toolkit Design

The development of geometric modelling technologies and web technologies provides the ability to present a virtual 3D product in a mass customization (MC) toolkit. Compared with 2D graphic toolkits, 3D toolkit design requires better consideration of individual customer needs, consumer and toolkit interaction, and also a means of integrating with the underlying technical infrastructure. However, there is currently no widely accepted model or criteria to regulate and evaluate 3D MC toolkit design. Given these considerations, in this paper we provide an evaluation model for web-based 3D toolkits and a heuristic evaluation of two representative commercial web-based 3D toolkits. The evaluation results indicate the usefulness and effectiveness of the model as a scale for evaluating 3D toolkits. It also reveals that despite a fair amount of effort that has been devoted to theoretical research, current 3D toolkits are still at an early development stage. We therefore conclude this paper by identifying and encouraging further topics and questions as directions for future research

Osteoporosis in the community. Sensitivity of self-reported estimates and medication use of those diagnosed with the condition

Objectives: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of self-reported osteoporosis compared with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) defined osteoporosis, and to describe medication use among participants with the condition. Methods: Data were obtained from a population-based longitudinal study and assessed for the prevalence of osteoporosis, falls, fractures and medication use. DXA scans were also undertaken. Results: Overall 3.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.2 to 4.5) of respondents and 8.8% (95% CI 7.5 to 10.3) of those aged ≥ 50 years reported that they had been diagnosed with osteoporosis by a doctor. The sensitivity (those self-reporting osteoporosis and having low bone mineral density (BMD) on DXA) was low (22.7%), although the specificity was high (94.4%). Only 16.1% of those aged ≥ 50 years and with DXA-defined osteoporosis were taking bisphosphonates. Conclusions: The sensitivity of self-reporting to identify osteoporosis is low. Anti-osteoporotic medications are an important part of osteoporosis treatment but opportunities to use appropriate medications were missed and inappropriate medications were used.T. K. Gill, A. W. Taylor, C. L. Hill, P. J. Phillip

Survival in amoeba: a major selection pressure on the presence of bacterial copper and zinc resistance determinants?: identification of a "copper pathogenicity island"

The presence of metal resistance determinants in bacteria usually is attributed to geological or anthropogenic metal contamination in different environments or associated with the use of antimicrobial metals in human healthcare or in agriculture. While this is certainly true, we hypothesize that protozoan predation and macrophage killing are also responsible for selection of copper/zinc resistance genes in bacteria. In this review, we outline evidence supporting this hypothesis, as well as highlight the correlation between metal resistance and pathogenicity in bacteria. In addition, we introduce and characterize the "copper pathogenicity island" identified in Escherichia coli and Salmonella strains isolated from copper- and zinc-fed Danish pigs

Working people with type 1 diabetes in the Finnish population

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