Mid 1990s Research Articles

Fifteen Years of Continuous High-Resolution Borehole Strainmeter Measurements in Eastern Taiwan: An Overview and Perspectives

As one of the most sensitive instruments for deformation monitoring in geophysics, borehole strainmeter has the capability to record a large spectrum of tectonic and environmental signals. Sensors are usually deployed near active faults and volcanoes and provide high-resolution continuous recordings of seismic and aseismic signals, hydrological variations (rainfall, groundwater level) and natural hazards (tropical cyclones, landslides, tsunamis). On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the installation of the first Sacks–Evertson borehole strainmeter, in central Japan, we present an overview of the major scientific contributions and advances enabled by borehole strainmeter measurements in Taiwan since their installation in the mid 2000s. We also propose a set of future research directions that address recent challenges in seismology, hydrology and crustal strain modeling.

A Principled Pragmatism: Gerald R. Ford and Apartheid South Africa

ABSTRACT My article explores the stance of ‘principled pragmatism’ adopted by the Gerald R. Ford presidential administration in its relations with apartheid era South Africa during the mid 1970s. This policy was shaped by the values of equality, fairness and justice that stemmed from the political and private persona of Ford himself. Moderated by a practical realpolitik, however, Ford recognised the necessity of avoiding measures that, while carrying an important moral symbolism, would in fact prove to be counterproductive to the aim of ending apartheid. Ford further identified the geopolitical necessity of engaging with rather than isolating South Africa in order to advance broader US strategic and moral objectives in the southern African region.

A Conversation with Jacques Derrida about Heidegger

This 1986 conversation with Jacques Derrida about Heidegger offers Derrida at his most disarmed and tentative, venturing into areas of Heidegger's thought that he was “the least sure about” around the mid 1980s. Topics discussed include the status of the question, technology, animality, the problem of life, epochality, the ontological difference, as well as a brief but poignant discussion on how to avoid future Holocausts.

PLATE TECTONICS IN PORTUGUESE AND SPANISH SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS: FROM THE 1960s TO THE 1980s

Plate tectonics caused a revolution within earth sciences which then was transposed into science textbooks. The main objective of this paper is to explore how plate tectonics influenced Portuguese and Spanish science textbooks published from the 1960s through the 1980s. For this purpose, a qualitative method based on the concept of didactic transposition is used. The didactic transposition of seafloor spreading evidence such as ridges, rifts and trenches, transform faults, seafloor sediments, the age of seafloor basaltic rocks, the magnetic anomalies on the seafloor, the Benioff zones and the subduction process, and also the didactic transposition of the formation of mountains ranges and island arcs, convection currents, plate tectonics concepts, boundaries and motion, and plate tectonics acceptance are studied in a comprehensive sample of science textbooks. The analysis of textbooks shows that the didactic transposition of seafloor spreading, and plate tectonics started mainly in 1970s Portuguese and Spanish textbooks and had a strong development in 1980s textbooks. No major differences were found between the approaches to plate tectonics in similar age Portuguese and Spanish textbooks. At the beginning of the 1970s, textbooks presented partial evidence for seafloor spreading, such as magnetic anomalies and the characteristics of ridges, rifts and trenches. They also addressed convection currents but only those that were related to geosynclines. In the mid 1970s and in the 1980s, textbooks presented more comprehensive evidence of seafloor spreading, by adding didactical transpositions of transform faults, seafloor sediments and the age of seafloor rocks. They also presented in more detail topics such as magnetic anomalies, the Benioff zones, orogenic processes and the tectonic significance of ridges, rifts and trenches. Plate tectonic theory was presented in major textbooks as widely accepted, and discussions about speculative facts or processes were rare.

Mira Kubasińska – Career Development and Evolution of the Artistic Image in the Years 1963–1973

Mira Kubasińska (1944–2005) was one of the most characteristic figures in female pop that appeared in the big beat era on the Polish scene. She was recognised because of her outstanding vocal abilities, natural gift for shaping lyrics, exceptional expression and an extraordinary sense of rhythm. Her artistic creation, completely devoid of stylisation, posing and mannerisms, fully reflected her temperament, philosophy of life and disregard for opportunistic attitudes. The peak of Kubasińska’s stage activity falls within the period of 1966–1973 and encompasses cooperation with bands led by her husband Tadeusz Nalepa – Blackout and Breakout. During that period, she released two solo albums (Mira and Ogień) and climbed to the top. Starting in the mid–1970s, the singer’s career suffered a serious blow, which was a result of Tadeusz Nalepa’s stylistic turn towards blues as well as the end of their marriage and a resulting personal crisis. This artist has not been the subject of scientific scrutiny as of yet, so this text aims to fill this gap. Apart from the biographical thread, the author attempts to analyse the singer’s oeuvre and describe the evolution of her artistic image. The text also presents a broader context of the circumstances on the Polish popular music scene in the 1960s and 1970s.

Солунската българска мъжка гимназия в края на 19. и в началото на 20. век (Сравнителен анализ на образователните цели и на учебната документация)

The article focuses on the role and the importance of the Bulgarian language as a foundation of the education process at the Bulgarian St. Cyril and St. Methodius Men’s High School. It discusses the historical factors which had an impact on Bulgarian education in Thessaloniki and studies the establishment and development of the Bulgarian High School in Thessaloniki as well as the role it played in educating teachers for the schools in Macedonia. The analysis focuses on the educational curricula adopted in the mid 1880s and is based on a comparison between the Men’s High School in Thessaloniki – as a representative school beyond the borders of the newly-liberated country – and the high schools in the Principality of Bulgaria. It also outlines the differences in the approaches to determining the number of Bulgarian language classes as well as the specifics of foreign language teaching at the High School in Thessaloniki and those in Bulgaria. Some attention has also been given to the textbooks and handbooks written by teachers from the school.

Memories in memoirs: Mykhailo (Moisey) Fradkin

The artist Moisey Fradkin (1904–1974) was a bright talented person in a brilliant galaxy of Ukrainian artists of the late 1920s – mid 1930s. He was a direct participant in the process of forming a special national “face” of graphic art. His works, which were exhibited at numerous foreign exhibitions in Europe and the United States, were noted as “strong and magical.” However, the further Fradkin’s creative destiny was not triumphant – after a very bright surge of original talent, his art was muted in the Procrustean bed of the Stalinist ideology, from about the end of the 1930s to the 1960s. He did not lose his skills, but only at the end of his life, full of wise experience, Fradkin again acquired bright energy and youthful enthusiasm in his work. Fradkin was a widely educated person, he taught at the Kharkiv Art Institute, was an active illustrator, author of easel compositions and graphic miniatures-exlibrises, worked in the field of industrial graphics for many years, headed the section of decorative and applied arts of the Kharkiv Club of Exlibrisists, collected a huge library. He and his wife, H. Krieger put together a unique collection of paintings, graphics and decorative and applied arts (more than 4000 items), which was later inherited by the Kharkiv Art Museum. The museum’s archives contain scattered sheets with fragments of Fradkin’s memoirs about his years of study at the Kharkiv Art College-Institute, which emotionally describe the time of the rapid reform of art education, which was full of contradictions. The article is based on these, not completely deciphered notes, and on the personal memoirs of the author of the article, who was familiar with the artist in the last four years of his life.

Evolution of Polymer Tantalum Capacitors

The major advantage of Polymer Tantalum capacitors over other types of tantalum capacitors is their low equivalent series resistance (ESR), providing a higher capacitance stability with frequency and ripple current capability. When Polymer Tantalum capacitors were introduced to the market in mid 1990s, they were low voltage, leaky, and unreliable, which limited their applications to commercial electronics. Today, some types of polymer tantalum capacitors demonstrate the highest working voltage, lowest DC leakage, and highest reliability ever achieved in tantalum capacitors. These Polymer Tantalum capacitors combine outstanding performance and reliability with superior volumetric charge efficiency, which makes them cost effective and attractive for numerous applications, including mission critical ones. This paper is dedicated to the major technological breakthroughs and scientific discoveries that enabled the radical evolution of Polymer Tantalum capacitors.

Az anyagiasság és a személyes jóllét kapcsolata: a nyugati fogyasztói társadalom egy árnyoldala

THE AIMS OF THE PAPER The study joins in the academic discussion that examines the relationship between materialism and personal well-being since the mid 1980s. The aim of the study is to investigate the nature of the relationship between materialism as a mindset and personal well-being. Furthermore it wishes to identify the drawbacks of western consumer society. METHODOLOGY Our analysis was conducted on a sample from a questionnaire survey with 1819 observations, that is concerning demographic characteristics nationally representative. In case of the variables included in our analysis the effect of potential biases arising from questionnaire surveys were managed. We measured the materialism variable, that played a central role in our analysis, as the relative position of wealth and money within the personal value system of respondents, while the life satisfaction and self-esteem variables were calculated as the difference from the sample average. We used OLS-regression for testing the relationship between variables. MOST IMPORTANT RESULTS The individuals who indicated wealth and money as important priorities in their value systems were generally more dissatisfied with their lives and had lower self-esteem compared to the respondents who scored lower on the materialism scale. This correlation was found to be irrespective of their actual financial status. Furthermore, irrespective of whether they felt being judged by their environment based on their possession of material goods or not. We found no significant relationship between materialism and the perceived lack of financial opportunities. RECOMMENDATIONS Prioritizing materialistic values seems irrational as it can correlate to a decreased personal well-being. Although objective and subjective, as well as social and environmental factors form part of well-being, according to our results being materialistic, and following a consumer culture that emphasizes materialistic values could lead to problems at the level of the individual.

Brave new world: The challenges in transforming information technology services

The Chief Digital Officer for the University of Auckland, Stephen Whiteside, was deep in thought. It was mid-2014, and he contemplated the strategic significance of IT services to the organisation and the importance of its role in ‘determining the future’, as well as the gravity of decision making that would essentially pave the way to more effective and efficient support services. His office overlooked Albert Park, situated on the remains of Ranipuke, a volcanic cone in the centre of the city. The picturesque setting symbolised a 140-year-old, time-honoured sanctuary for Aucklanders. As he surveyed the manicured lawns and flower beds – with the elaborate fountain (1882) in view – he was struck by the serenity and permanence of the setting. For a moment, he considered maintaining the status quo within Information Technology Services. It had, after all, successfully delivered an organisational-wide service for decades. Albert Park had also been home to military barracks in the mid 1800s, where troops had been stationed for more than 20 years. Perhaps, a call to action would be better: to mobilise internal resources and embark on transformation. As he mulled over these alternatives, a third option came to mind: sourcing external support in this endeavour. He was still undecided as he gazed out of the window. He wondered which of these alternatives would deliver the best results and critically, which of them would stand the test of time.

A New Town and a numbers game: Runcorn, Merseyside, and Liverpool

ABSTRACT This paper is skeptical about attributing welfarist motivations to Britain’s second generation of New Tows, initiated in the 1960s. Focusing specifically on the Runcorn New Town in North West England, on the outskirts of Liverpool, the paper examines its designation and development in the context of what scholars have called ‘the numbers game’, referring to the party-political competition that dramatically escalated annual housebuilding targets throughout the early decades of postwar Britain. The first section covers the negotiation of an ‘overspill’ programme for Merseyside in the mid 1950s. The second section covers the sea change that arrived with the ratcheting of the numbers game by Conservative Minister of Housing Keith Joseph in the early 1960s. The third section details the slum clearance programme adopted by Liverpool in 1966. And the final section addresses the consequences of an economic crisis at the end of the decade that brought the numbers game to a close. The paper concludes that Runcorn’s growth was indexed less to a housing emergency than to the coupling of political maneuvering with capitalist logic, and it argues for a revised historiographical perspective in which Runcorn’s decline is read as a consequence of these conditions.

Bio-Electrochemical Drug Metabolism and Inhibition: Underrated Liver Microsomal Bioelectrodes

From the initial attempts to deliver electrons to bulk microsomal solutions (1980s), and subsequent successful bioactive microsomal biofilm designs on electrodes (mid 2000s), the topic of bio-electrochemical cytochrome P450 has yielded commendable knowledge. Co-factor free, label-free, and stereoselective P450-specific metabolite production and isoform identification have immense potential for pharmaceutical drug development, metabolite profiling, and as a cost-effective complementing approach to tedious chemical synthesis, cell, and biological assays. In comparison to the progress on studying purified isolated electrocatalytic enzymes including cytochrome P450s, liver microsomal electrocatalysis is relatively a new topical area with many unknowns. Advancements and filling the knowledge gaps on the microsomal P450 electrocatalysis with nanomaterials and throughput designs hold the translational potential for practical usability by pharmaceutical industry. In this presentation, we share our contributions on various successful electro-interfacing of human liver microsomes with a range of electrode materials and nanomaterials for voltage-driven biocatalysis.

Fitness trend analysis in male Austrian middle and high school students from 1975 to 2010

Considerable changes in the social and built environment contributed to alterations in physical activity, which potentially affect physical fitness. Long-term data on various components of physical fitness with multiple assessments in similar cohorts, however, remains limited. The present study, therefore, examined secular trends in physical fitness between 1975 and 2010 in adolescents living in a rural region in Tyrol, Austria. Data consisted of records from a physical education (PE) teacher that included a total of 2998 cases of male adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age. Fitness assessments included sprint, longjump and an endurance run that were performed annually in 3 to 5 grades during regular PE classes. The results indicated three distinct eras during the observation period. There was an improvement in physical fitness until the mid to late 1980s with a subsequent decline until the mid 1990s and a final period of relatively consistent low physical fitness. Further, it was shown that aerobic fitness started to decline earlier and that the decline was more pronounced than the performance in anaerobic fitness tests. This is of particular concern due to the importance of aerobic fitness for general health and wellbeing. Accordingly, these results along with previous studies highlight the need to promote physical activities that contribute to an improvement of physical fitness in children and adolescents.

The Tobacco Endgame-Eradicating a Worsening Epidemic: A Joint Opinion From the American Heart Association, World Heart Federation, American College of Cardiology, and the European Society of Cardiology.

The Tobacco Endgame-Eradicating a Worsening Epidemic: A Joint Opinion From the American Heart Association, World Heart Federation, American College of Cardiology, and the European Society of Cardiology.

Minimally Invasive Coronary Revascularisation Surgery: A Focused Review of the Available Literature.

Minimally invasive coronary revascularisation was originally developed in the mid 1990s as minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) grafting is a less invasive approach compared to conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) to address targets in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Since then, MIDCAB has evolved with the adoption of a robotic platform and the possibility to perform multivessel bypass procedures. Minimally invasive coronary revascularisation surgery also allows for a combination between the benefits of CABG and percutaneous coronary interventions for non-LAD lesions – a hybrid approach. Hybrid coronary revascularisation results in fewer blood transfusions, shorter hospital stay, decreased ventilation times and patients return to work sooner when compared to conventional CABG. This article reviews the available literature, describes standard approaches and considers topics, such as limited access procedures, indications and patient selection, diagnostics and imaging, techniques, anastomotic devices, hybrid coronary revascularisation and outcome analysis.

Revealing two centuries of confusion: new insights on nomenclature and systematic position of Argyrogena fasciolata (Shaw, 1802) (auctt.), with description of a new species from India (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae)

Coluber fasciolatusShaw, 1802 (todayArgyrogena fasciolataauctt.) is the name used for a widespread terrestrial colubrid snake species inhabiting subtropical and tropical dry deciduous/thorn forests of South Asia from Pakistan to India, with unconfirmed records of distribution in Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar and a single doubtful record from the northern tip of Sri Lanka.During the past 200 years,A. fasciolata(common name Banded racer) has been placed in different genera, i.e.TyriaFitzinger, 1826,ZamenisWagler, 1830,CoryphodonDuméril, Bibron and Duméril, 1854, andColuberLinnaeus, 1758 where it primarly remained until the mid 1960s and exceptionally until the year 2011. Three subsequently introduced names, viz.Coluber hebeDaudin, 1803,Coluber curvirostrisCantor, 1839, andArgyrogena rostrataWerner, 1924 were synonymized withC. fasciolatusshortly after its description.Based on a combination of characters including body pattern, external morphology and osteological differences Wilson (1967) reviewed the taxonfasciolatusShaw and considered it as generically distinguishable, removed it from the then heterogeneous and undefined collective genusColuberand assigned it to the resurrected genusArgyrogenaWerner, 1924.Shaw’s (1802) description ofC. fasciolatuswas based exclusively on the information of Russell’s “Nooni Paragoodoo” published in 1796 in his “Account of Indian Serpents, collected on the coast of Coromandel; […]”. Our analysis of the original data and the depicted type specimen in Russell (1796) revealed that the namefasciolatawas initially established for a species distinct from that currently known as the “Banded racer”, and that Russell’s data have been used simultaneously but unwittingly, for more than 150 years, as original source for two valid species from two different genera.Specimens of Banded racer found in the southeastern part of peninsular India are morphologically and genetically distinct from populations of the rest of the distribution area. These populations from central and southern Tamil Nadu state represent a different species, consequently described as a new species herein. Furthermore, examination of specimens of the Banded racer from different populations across its entire range, including the type specimen of the genusArgyrogena(A. rostrataWerner), reveals a similarity in morphology with the genusPlatycepsBlyth, 1860. This was further supported by molecular data which demonstrates that the genusArgyrogenais nested withinPlatyceps.

The changing landscape of cardiac rehabilitation; from early mobilisation and reduced mortality to chronic multi-morbidity management

Aim This paper aims to demonstrate how the rationale and delivery of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), in those countries with long term established standards of practice, has changed over the past eight decades. Methods A narrative report based on the evolution of key published guidelines, systematic reviews and medical policies since the 1940s. Results Case reports of the value of exercise in cardiac disease can be dated back to 1772. Formative groundwork for exercise-based CR was published between 1940 and 1970. However, it was not until the late 1980s that a large enough data set of controlled trials was available to show significant reductions in premature all-cause and cardiac mortality. Since the mid 1990s, cardiac mortality has been greatly reduced due to enhanced public health, emergency care and more sensitive diagnostic techniques and aggressive treatments. As a result, there appears to be an associated reduced potency of CR to affect mortality. New rationales for why, how and where CR is delivered have emerged including: adapting to a longer surviving ageing multi-morbid population, where healthcare cost savings and quality of life have become increasingly important. Conclusions In light of these results, an emerging focus for CR, and in some cases “pre-habilitation”, is that of a chronic disability management programme increasingly delivered in community and home settings. Within this delivery model, the use of remote personalised technologies is now emerging, especially with new needs accelerated by the pandemic of COVID-19. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION With continued advances in medical science and better long term survival, the nature of cardiac rehabilitation has evolved over the past eight decades. It was originally an exercise-focused intervention on short term recovery and reducing cardiac and all-cause mortality, to now being one part of a multi-factor lifestyle, behavioural, and medical chronic disease management programme. Throughout history, the important influence of psycho-social well-being and human behaviour has, however, always been of key importance to patients. The location of rehabilitation can now be suited to patient need, both medically and socially, where the same components can be delivered in either a traditional outpatient clinic, community settings, at home and more recently all of these being supported or augmented with the advent of mobile technology.

The Irish government and physical education in primary schools, 1922–37

AbstractThis article examines the treatment of physical drill as a curricular subject in primary schools in the Irish Free State in the period from 1922 to 1937. In particular, it assesses the reasons why its status as an obligatory subject was reduced in the mid 1920s. It will show that the availability of facilities, resources and teaching staff with suitable qualifications were all considerations, while some teachers were not physically capable of teaching the subject in the early years of the Irish Free State. In addition, a strong emphasis on the Irish language and the view that a reduced curriculum was more beneficial to learning meant that some subjects, including physical drill, were deemed optional. However, the decision to reduce the subject's status had not been supported by everyone and it was mainly the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation which was behind the move. Following its reduction from an obligatory subject to an optional one as a result of a decision taken at the Second National Programme Conference in 1926, a lack of a clear policy on the subject became evident. By the early 1930s, the subject was receiving more attention from the Irish government, which made some efforts made to integrate the Czechoslovakian Sokol system into Irish schools. In examining conflicting views on how to implement the Sokol system, and the work of Lieutenant Joseph Tichy, the man recruited to develop it within the Irish army, this article also identifies the reasons why this method of physical training was not a success in Irish schools.

The SOS Error-Prone DNA Polymerase V Mutasome and β-Sliding Clamp Acting in Concert on Undamaged DNA and during Translesion Synthesis.

In the mid 1970s, Miroslav Radman and Evelyn Witkin proposed that Escherichia coli must encode a specialized error-prone DNA polymerase (pol) to account for the 100-fold increase in mutations accompanying induction of the SOS regulon. By the late 1980s, genetic studies showed that SOS mutagenesis required the presence of two “UV mutagenesis” genes, umuC and umuD, along with recA. Guided by the genetics, decades of biochemical studies have defined the predicted error-prone DNA polymerase as an activated complex of these three gene products, assembled as a mutasome, pol V Mut = UmuD’2C-RecA-ATP. Here, we explore the role of the β-sliding processivity clamp on the efficiency of pol V Mut-catalyzed DNA synthesis on undamaged DNA and during translesion DNA synthesis (TLS). Primer elongation efficiencies and TLS were strongly enhanced in the presence of β. The results suggest that β may have two stabilizing roles: its canonical role in tethering the pol at a primer-3’-terminus, and a possible second role in inhibiting pol V Mut’s ATPase to reduce the rate of mutasome-DNA dissociation. The identification of umuC, umuD, and recA homologs in numerous strains of pathogenic bacteria and plasmids will ensure the long and productive continuation of the genetic and biochemical journey initiated by Radman and Witkin.

The Complex Evolution of Technologies and Pedagogies for Learning about Complex Systems

It was the mid 1990s [...]