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French thinkers have revolutionized European thought about knowledge, religion, politics, and society. Delivering a comprehensive history of thought in France from the Middle Ages to the present, this book follows themes and developments of thought across the centuries. It provides readers with studies of both systematic thinkers and those who operate less systematically, through essays or fragments, and places them all in their many contexts. Informed by up-to-date research, these accessible chapters are written by prominent experts in their fields who investigate key concepts in non-technical language. Chapters feature treatments of specific thinkers as individuals including Voltaire, Rousseau, Descartes and Derrida, but also more general movements and schools of thought from humanism to liberalism, via the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Marxism, and feminism. Furthermore, the influence of gender, race, empire and slavery are investigated to offer a broad and fulfilling account of French thought throughout the ages.
During the last 30 years, wind energy technology has emerged as the leading renewable alternative to electrical power production from fossil fuels. Commercial development and deployment, driven by lower capital costs, technical innovations, and international standards, continue to facilitate installed capacity growth at a rate of 30%–40% per year worldwide [1]. Utility-class machines exceed 2 MW, with robust designs providing 95%–98% availability. Future technology advances will focus on lowering the cost of land-based systems and evolving next-generation technology for ocean deployments in both shallow and deep water.
Synopsis
Wind energy technology is poised to play a major role in delivering carbon-free electrical power worldwide. Advanced technology and manufacturing innovations have helped the cost of wind energy drop from $0.45 per kW·h 30 years ago to $0.05–$0.06 per kW·h, thus positioning wind energy to be directly competitive with fossil-fuel power generation. In 2009, wind technology accounted for 39% of all new electrical generation in the USA [2]. Worldwide, wind deployment continues to penetrate new markets, with power-plant installations spanning months instead of years. In the European Union, cumulative wind power capacity increased by an average of 32% per year between 1995 and 2005, reaching 74,767 MW by the end of 2009 [3]. The USA leads the world in total installed capacity, while India and China are emerging as major potential markets. Wind energy can no longer be considered European-centric and has become an international alternative to fossil-fuel power generation.
Edited by
Peter K. Austin, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London,Julia Sallabank, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
To perform surgical closure of a clinically significant arterial duct on children in a third world country.
Background
An arterial duct is one of the most common congenital cardiac defects. Large arterial ducts can cause significant pulmonary overcirculation, causing symptoms of congestive cardiac failure, ultimately resulting in premature death. Closure of an arterial duct is usually curative, allowing for a normal quality of life and expectancy. In western countries, arterial duct closure in children is usually performed by deployment of a device through a catheter-based approach, replacing previous surgical approaches. In third world countries, there is limited access to the necessary resources for performing catheter-based closure of an arterial duct. Consequently, children with an arterial duct in a third world country may only receive palliative care, can be markedly symptomatic, and often do not survive to adulthood.
Methods
We assembled a team of 11 healthcare workers with extensive experience in the medical and surgical management of children with congenital cardiac disease. In all, 21 patients with a history of an arterial duct were screened by performing a comprehensive history, physical, and echocardiogram at the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Results
A total of 18 children (eight male and ten female), ranging in age from 10 months to 14 years, were deemed suitable to undergo surgery. All patients were symptomatic, and the arterial ducts ranged in size from 4 to 15 millimetres. Surgical closure was performed using two clips, and in four cases with the largest arterial duct, sutures were also placed. All patients had successful closure without any significant complications, and were able to be discharged home within 2 days of surgery. Of note, four children with arterial ducts died in the 5 months before our arrival.
Conclusion
Surgical closure of an arterial duct can be performed safely and effectively by an experienced paediatric cardiothoracic surgical team on children in a third world country. We hope that our experience will inspire others to perform similar missions throughout the world.
Pascal states that faith is a gift of God, not the result of a process of reasoning (Pensées, L 7, 588/S 41, 487). In which case, we might ask, what is the point of an apology for the Christian religion? Suppose I am persuaded to adopt Christianity by arguments for the existence of God, and then for the unique status of Christianity as a divine revelation: in that case, my belief will be based on the human faculty of reasoning, and faith is not necessarily a gift of God. Or if faith is a gift of God, why should I trouble to study the proofs of Christianity? If God intends me to have faith, He will give it; if I do not have it, is that my fault? God could have given it to me, and has not. In either case, where is the place for argument?
Another problem. Pascal elsewhere says that the would-be but not-yet believer should fulfil the external rituals of religion: taking holy water and so forth. That will bring about belief: ‘Cela vous fera croire’ (L 418/S 680). In other words, the way to belief is through forsaking one’s human faculty of reasoning (refraining from asking what possible good holy water can do me) and adopting a purely mechanical mode of behaviour that puts one on a level with the animals (‘cela vous abêtira’).1 In this case also, where is the gift of God?