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Journal articles on the topic 'Fir pre-emphasis'
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Goosen, Marius, and Saurabh Sinha. "Reducing data dependent jitter utilising adaptive FIR pre-emphasis in 0.18μm CMOS." Microelectronics Journal 42, no. 11 (November 2011): 1216–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mejo.2011.08.003.
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Li, M., S. Wang, Y. Tao, and T. Kwasniewski. "FIR filter optimisation as pre-emphasis of high-speed backplane data transmission." Electronics Letters 40, no. 14 (2004): 912. http://dx.doi.org/10.1049/el:20040567.
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Yuminaka, Yasushi, and Kenichi Henmi. "High-Speed Multiple-Valued Data Transmission Based on Time-Domain Pre-Emphasis Techniques." Key Engineering Materials 459 (December 2010): 260–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.459.260.
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This paper describes a Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) pre-emphasis technique which utilizes time-domain information processing to increase the data rate for a given bandwidth of interconnection. The PWM pre-emphasis method does not change the pulse amplitude as for conventional FIR pre-emphasis, but instead exploits timing resolution. This fits well with recent CMOS technology trends toward higher switching speeds and lower voltage headroom. We discuss multiple-valued data transmission based on time-domain pre-emphasis techniques in consideration of higher-order channel effects.
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Choi, Ik Hyun, Yeon-Oh Nam, and Byung Cheol Song. "A content-adaptive sharpness enhancement algorithm using 2D FIR filters trained by pre-emphasis." Journal of Visual Communication and Image Representation 24, no. 5 (July 2013): 579–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvcir.2013.04.003.
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Frey, Hans-Ulrich. "Die Verbreitung und die waldbauliche Bedeutung der Weisstanne in den Zwischenalpen. Ein Beitrag für die waldbauliche Praxis | The distribution and silvicultural consequences of silver fir in alpine regions. A contribution to silvicultural practices." Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen 154, no. 3-4 (March 1, 2003): 90–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.3188/szf.2003.0090.
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The areas where silver fir occurs in Switzerland are divided into main, minor or relict areas. In the main areas a wide distribution of silver fir is to be reckoned with. In contrast to traditional systems the emphasis of silver fir distribution lies somewhat lower and more clearly in pre-alpine regions. In the minor areas silver fir has withdrawn to shadowy slopes and is limited to low-lying valleys between the alps. In main valleys where the altitude of the valley bottom is higher than 1000 m.a.s.l. the current presence of silver fir is considered to be a relict of a postglacial warm period, favourable to silver fir, and not the result of human destruction.
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Chung, King, and Nicholas McKibben. "Microphone Directionality, Pre-Emphasis Filter, and Wind Noise in Cochlear Implants." Journal of the American Academy of Audiology 22, no. 09 (October 2011): 586–600. http://dx.doi.org/10.3766/jaaa.22.9.4.
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Background: Wind noise can be a nuisance or a debilitating masker for cochlear implant users in outdoor environments. Previous studies indicated that wind noise at the microphone/hearing aid output had high levels of low-frequency energy and the amount of noise generated is related to the microphone directionality. Currently, cochlear implants only offer either directional microphones or omnidirectional microphones for users at-large. As all cochlear implants utilize pre-emphasis filters to reduce low-frequency energy before the signal is encoded, effective wind noise reduction algorithms for hearing aids might not be applicable for cochlear implants. Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate the effect of microphone directionality on speech recognition and perceived sound quality of cochlear implant users in wind noise and to derive effective wind noise reduction strategies for cochlear implants. Research Design: A repeated-measure design was used to examine the effects of spectral and temporal masking created by wind noise recorded through directional and omnidirectional microphones and the effects of pre-emphasis filters on cochlear implant performance. A digital hearing aid was programmed to have linear amplification and relatively flat in-situ frequency responses for the directional and omnidirectional modes. The hearing aid output was then recorded from 0 to 360° at flow velocities of 4.5 and 13.5 m/sec in a quiet wind tunnel. Study Sample: Sixteen postlingually deafened adult cochlear implant listeners who reported to be able to communicate on the phone with friends and family without text messages participated in the study. Intervention: Cochlear implant users listened to speech in wind noise recorded at locations that the directional and omnidirectional microphones yielded the lowest noise levels. Data Collection and Analysis: Cochlear implant listeners repeated the sentences and rated the sound quality of the testing materials. Spectral and temporal characteristics of flow noise, as well as speech and/or noise characteristics before and after the pre-emphasis filter, were analyzed. Correlation coefficients between speech recognition scores and crest factors of wind noise before and after pre-emphasis filtering were also calculated. Results: Listeners obtained higher scores using the omnidirectional than the directional microphone mode at 13.5 m/sec, but they obtained similar speech recognition scores for the two microphone modes at 4.5 m/sec. Higher correlation coefficients were obtained between speech recognition scores and crest factors of wind noise after pre-emphasis filtering rather than before filtering. Conclusion: Cochlear implant users would benefit from both directional and omnidirectional microphones to reduce far-field background noise and near-field wind noise. Automatic microphone switching algorithms can be more effective if the incoming signal were analyzed after pre-emphasis filters for microphone switching decisions.
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Melnikova, Nataliia Evgenyevna, Evgenii Nikolayevich Boklagov, and Tatyana Mikhailovna Tsygankovа. "Everyday Life as a Marker of Socio-cultural Space: Signs of the Visible and the Invisible." Общество: философия, история, культура, no. 10 (October 2020): 24–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.24158/fik.2020.10.3.
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The paper presents a reflection of the theory of eve-ryday life with an emphasis on the problems of not only the space of everyday life, but also the methods of studying it, as a «case» the analysis of the com-ponents of the daily life of a modern city dweller is proposed, revealing the peculiarity of the modern sociocultural space through the perception of social problems represented in the fields of social advertis-ing: ecology, social responsibility, healthy lifestyles and deviations in various spheres of social space (from corruption to domestic violence). The pre-sented results of the authors’ research represent explicit and «invisible» components of the daily life of the inhabitants of a modern city. The factors that determine the formation of the space of everyday life of the city dwellers are highlighted. Markers, signs of everyday life, to which the city dwellers today demonstrate heightened sensitivity and latent reflec-tions that remain outside the field of perception, are noted.
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Kolodinsky, Pit, Vincent Schroder, George Montopoli, Scott McLean, Peter A. Mangan, and William Pederson. "The Career Fair as a Vehicle for Enhancing Occupational Self-Efficacy." Professional School Counseling 10, no. 2 (December 2006): 2156759X0601000. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2156759x0601000208.
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Career development objectives, as codified in the American School Counselor Association's National Standards, can be overshadowed by the growing emphasis on academic standards, testing, and accountability so thematic of national educational and public policy initiatives. The career fair vehicle, which proactively employs the wisdom of social cognitive learning and self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1995), may be well suited to this challenge. In this study, 139 predominantly high school-aged adolescents attending a career fair were exposed to a variety of mostly female professionals discussing and demonstrating their professions. Pre- and post-test analysis of occupational self-efficacy, or confidence in performing the duties associated with a range of occupations, revealed that this variable was strongly influenced in the short term. The authors discuss these results in the context of self-efficacy theory as well as implications for school counselors engaged in career development.
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Dopita, Michael A. "SN 1987A: An Australian View." International Astronomical Union Colloquium 108 (1988): 265–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s025292110009401x.
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The explosion of SN 1987A in the LMC during the early hours of February 23 1987, has presented southern observers opportunity, unique in our lifetime, to gain a new insight into the supernova phenomenon. Fortunately, SN1987A has risen to the challenge, and has shown us that many of our comfortable pre-conceptions about Type II events will have to be revised in fascinating and sometimes unexpected ways. This paper is an attempt to describe what has been learnt so far wth an emphasis on the research being carried out in Australia. All references are dated 1987 unless otherwise specified.
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Santamaria, Daniel. "EVALUATING THE PREDICTIVENESS AND PROFITABILITY OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE FORECASTING MODELS." Journal of Prediction Markets 6, no. 1 (December 19, 2012): 56–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.5750/jpm.v6i1.497.
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This paper evaluates the performance of two competing currency models as a forecasting and trading tool in fund management. A dynamic vector error correction model is utilized to construct a currency forecasting and fair value forecasting model for the Euro-Dollar exchange rate. Emphasis is placed on robustness testing model performance by changing its specification and how both models perform across different time periods. Based on the accuracy of the forecasts the fair value model outperforms the currency forecasting model; a finding that is not supported using directional forecasts. This is robust to changes in model specification and across different time spans that cover pre-and current financial crisis periods. It is also discovered that the evaluation criteria used and prevailing market conditions determines whether model performance translates into value added in a currency fund.
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Baumgardner, Chip. "Gaining Entrepreneurial Insight through Mind Maps for Innovation: Applications in the Brewing Curriculum and Craft Beer Industry." International Journal for Innovation Education and Research 7, no. 7 (July 31, 2019): 104–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol7.iss7.1579.
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A critical component of the entrepreneurial mindset is the ability to be innovative and creative. Often seen as the top soft skill for entrepreneurs, innovation entails far more than brain storming. One of the most useful tools of innovation is the mind map, a simple tool that blends related and unrelated stimuli into generating new ideas. Given the increased emphasis on craft brewing as a major component of the beer industry, many facets of brewing have become quite popular in higher education. Within brewing education, one must consider the process by how students learn how to engage in multiple activities, including innovation. To address innovation in new flavors, a study of students’ abilities to create new beer flavors by brainstorming was compared with the same students who used mind maps in a pre- and post-test format. The result of the statistical study is to look at the concept of mapping innovation and the truncated findings with an emphasis on generating new ideas on beer flavors for a market with an expanding number of taste connoisseurs.
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Amengual Pizarro, Marian. "Rater discrepancy in the spanish university entrance examination." Journal of English Studies 4 (May 29, 2004): 23. http://dx.doi.org/10.18172/jes.85.
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This study investigated the level of inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of thirty-two raters in the evaluation of the composition subtest of the English Test (ET) in the Spanish University Entrance Examination (SUEE). Raters were asked to evaluate ten compositions holistically on two different scheduled data collection sessions (PRE and POST). The results show that although there are no significant differences between the holistic PRE and POST scores, there exists a substantial discrepancy across raters in relation to consistency and harshness of scoring. On the contrary, results reveal that, in general, raters are self-consistent in the evaluation of compositions. On the basis of these results, and given the way SUEE scores will affect the career of a candidate, it is believed that much more emphasis should be placed on establishing an acceptable level of inter-rater reliability in order to ensure that SUEE results are as fair and consistent as possible.
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Bright, Athina G., and Stavros T. Ponis. "Introducing Gamification in the AR-Enhanced Order Picking Process: A Proposed Approach." Logistics 5, no. 1 (March 9, 2021): 14. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/logistics5010014.
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In the last decade, the Industry 4.0 concept has introduced automation and cyber-physical systems as the core elements of future logistics, supported by an array of technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) providing the necessary support for the digital transformation of manufacturing and logistics and the smartification and digital refinement of traditional pre-Industry 4.0 processes. This paper studies the influence and the potential of gamification techniques in supporting innovative Industry 4.0-enhanced processes in the contemporary warehouse work ecosystem. Gamification in the workplace aims to motivate the employees and increase their involvement in an activity, while at the same time creating a sense of an everyday different experience rather than a set of repetitive and monotonous tasks. Since the design of such a system is a complex process, the most widespread design frameworks are studied, and the emphasis is on the principal game elements and their connection to mobilization mechanisms. Finally, an initial proposal of a gamification framework to support the AR-enhanced order picking process in contemporary logistics centers is provided with an emphasis on the mechanics of a fair and functional reward system. The proposed approach aims to showcase the potential alignment of business processes to human motivation, respecting the differences between tasks and the workers’ cognitive workload.
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H. Turner, John, M. A. O'Keefe, and M. A. O'Keefe. "Design and Implementation of a Site for a One-Ångstrom TEM." Microscopy and Microanalysis 3, S2 (August 1997): 1177–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1431927600012770.
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The National Center for Electron Microscopy has recently acquired a field-emission TEM to form thebasis of a project to achieve a resolution of one Ångstrom. To reach this resolution, both instrumental and environmental factors need to be considered. We have designed and constructed a new building to provide a suitable environment for this instrument, with emphasis on providing isolation from external influences detrimental to the achievement of ultra-high resolution. Such influences include mechanical vibration, temperature fluctuations, acoustic noise, and stray electromagnetic fields.The microscope chosen for the one-Ångstrom project is a Philips CM300 Ultra-Twin equipped with a field-emission gun. Pre-installation specifications provided by Philips for this 1.7Å-resolution TEM specify maximum-allowable values for vibration levels in three mutually-perpendicular directions. In the most critical direction (console left to right), vibration is required to remain below 0.8)μm/sec in the frequency range from 1Hz to 5Hz, although allowed to rise to 6μm/sec above 10Hz (Region I in fig. 1). Even when resolution is not a critical requirement, vibration must be minimized at 2.5Hz (Region II in fig.1).
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McKinnon, James W. "Antoine Chavasse and the dating of early chant." Plainsong and Medieval Music 1, no. 2 (October 1992): 123–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s096113710000173x.
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Chant scholars who attempt to deal with their subject in the pre-Carolingian period will sooner or later come up against the formidable oeuvre of Antoine Chavasse, the eminent Strasbourg scholar who dominates the field of Roman liturgical history from the sixth to the eighth centuries. A knowledge of the development of the church year is crucial to speculation on the chronology of early chant, and Chavasse has written extensively on every phase of the subject – on Lent especially, but also on Paschaltide, Advent, and the Sundays after Christmas and Pentecost. While he has not neglected the sanctorale, his emphasis has always been on the more demanding area of the temporale. There are other scholars who have contributed much to the field, but none could be considered even a close second in either the scope of their contribution or its influence: frequently one finds other liturgical scholars accepting without question some of Chavasse's most far-reaching conclusions as premises to their own work.
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Insaniyah, Insaniyah. "The Use of Flashcards in Teaching English for the Sixth Year Students of SDN 1 Tuntang in the academic year of 2002 - 2003." Register Journal 1, no. 2 (June 30, 2016): 169. http://dx.doi.org/10.18326/rgt.v1i2.169-180.
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This research is to study the use of flashcards to teach English vocabulary. Teaching material in above is virtually concerning with visual aids. By using visual aids, expected that the teachers would be able to motivate them to learn and pay deep attention to the presentable materials by the teachers, so the students will not be tedious. This is an experimental research. The subject of the study is limited to the students of the sixth year of SDN 1 Tuntang, which has 27 students as the sample. She focuses on teaching method, which gives emphasis on flashcards as media in teaching vocabulary. To prove the success of teaching the writer compares between the result pre-test and post-test. The findings of this study showed that there are 20 students or 60 % are categorized as excellent, 15, 6 % or 3 students are as good students, 12, 5 % or 3 students are as fair, and 3, 1 % students are as poor. It means that teaching English vocabularies by using flashcards are very effective. Keywords: Teaching English Vocabulary; Flashcards; Visual Aids
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Katsarou, Stella, and Demetrius U. Schilardi. "Emerging Neolithic and Early Cycladic settlements in Paros: Koukounaries and Sklavouna." Annual of the British School at Athens 99 (November 2004): 23–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0068245400017020.
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Though big and fertile, the island of Paros is still an empty landscape for the Neolithic, since alone the only so far known site of Kastro at Paroikia, and the neighbouring islet of Saliagos are inadequate to give an overall view of the cultural and economic distribution of the Neolithic populations on the island and their site networks within it. Also, even in the EBA, the few so far located settlements compared to the known cemeteries prevent us from penetrating into the subsistence strategies of the EC people and their organization of everyday life. In this respect the location of Neolithic and EBA habitation deposits at two sites in the bay of Naousa, Koukounaries and Sklavouna, is a significant opportunity for prehistoric research. This paper is a preliminary synthesis based on data from the old (1974–91) excavations and the systematic study started recently. Particularly in regard to Koukounaries, the paper attempts to study the organization and distribution of the pre-Mycenaean populations on the hill per chronological phase, giving emphasis on two main issues: first, on the duration of the latestNeolithic phase and the possibility that a Neolithic-to-EBA transition exists at the site, and secondly on the presence of a significant stone building compound of the EC II at the NE fringe of the hilltop.
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Khan, Farhan Raza. "A Proposed Curriculum for 5-years BDS Programme in Pakistan and its Comparison with the Curricula Suggested by PMDC and HEC." Journal of the Pakistan Dental Association 29, no. 04 (October 31, 2020): 169–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.25301/jpda.294.169.
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In Pakistan, whether to enforce a 4-year BDS course versus a 5-year course, is a matter of debate that warrants multiple deliberations. In USA and Canada, dentistry is 4-year long course but students can apply for admission into dental school only when they have already done 16 years of schooling (i.e. a 4-years of graduate university education is the pre-requisite). On the other hand, In UK & Ireland, students can apply for admission into dental colleges with 12-years of high school education. However, they follow a 5-years BDS programme. Similarly, there is much difference on the emphasis on various subjects taught in the dental programmes. This paper critically appraises the PMDC and HEC advised BDS curricula in Pakistan and suggests an alternative curriculum that is more balanced in terms of subject distribution, assessment and above all contemporary to cater the evolving needs of the dynamic discipline of dentistry. KEYWORDS: Dental; education; curriculum; Pakistan HOW TO CITE: Khan FR. A Proposed curriculum for 5-years BDS Programme in Pakistan and its comparison with the curricula suggested by PMDC and HEC. J Pak Dent Assoc 2020;29(4):169-171.
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Amrutha, Jagaragallu, Narasimha Rao Netha Gurram, Padmaja Pinjala, Bhumesh Kumar Katakam, and Rajeev Singh Thakur. "A Clinico-Etiological Study of Erythroderma in Adults in a Tertiary Care Centre." Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences 10, no. 37 (September 13, 2021): 3213–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.14260/jemds/2021/653.
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BACKGROUND Erythroderma is a clinical entity that may cause severe systemic manifestations. The difficulty with erythroderma lies in finding the underlying aetiology. It is imperative to demonstrate precise aetiology whenever possible so that distinct therapy may be initiated. At times, despite finding the aetiology, relapses constitute a great menace. The purpose of our study was to assess the clinical profile and aetiology of erythroderma. Besides, the study also illustrated factors leading to relapses; such studies are rare in literature. METHODS This hospital-based, cross-sectional study included 88 patients of erythroderma of either sex and age more than 18 years; their clinical, laboratory, histopathological findings, treatment and outcome were studied. RESULTS The mean age of onset was 47.3 ± 12.35 years with the male to female ratio being 2.38:1. The most common cause of erythroderma was pre-existing dermatoses (67 %) followed by drugs (10.2 %), infections (3.4 %), malignancies (4.54 %), and idiopathic (14.7 %). Psoriasis was the predominant aetiology (45.4 %) among the pre-existing dermatoses with a maximum number of relapses (P = 0.02). Psoriasis was significantly associated with pruritus (P = 0.001), subungual hyperkeratosis (P = 0.0001), palmoplantar keratoderma (P = 0.001). Clinicohistological association was found in 64.6 % of cases. Mortality was seen in 6.8 % of cases. CONCLUSIONS As in previous studies, pre-existing dermatoses were the most common causes in our study; albeit, a special emphasis on factors leading to relapses was given to prevent further episodes. The most common factor of relapse was uncontrolled comorbid disorders (diabetes and hypertension) followed by medication nonadherence. Hence, our study suggests a need for more effective comorbidity management and creating awareness regarding judicial use of drugs which can go far in preventing mortality and morbidity. KEY WORDS Erythroderma, Adults, Aetiology, Relapses, Comorbidities.
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Heitmann, Tjark, Jonas Richter, Dennis Schubert, and Robin Steinigeweg. "Selected applications of typicality to real-time dynamics of quantum many-body systems." Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A 75, no. 5 (May 26, 2020): 421–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/zna-2020-0010.
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AbstractLoosely speaking, the concept of quantum typicality refers to the fact that a single pure state can imitate the full statistical ensemble. This fact has given rise to a rather simple but remarkably useful numerical approach to simulate the dynamics of quantum many-body systems, called dynamical quantum typicality (DQT). In this paper, we give a brief overview of selected applications of DQT, where particular emphasis is given to questions on transport and thermalization in low-dimensional lattice systems like chains or ladders of interacting spins or fermions. For these systems, we discuss that DQT provides an efficient means to obtain time-dependent equilibrium correlation functions for comparatively large Hilbert-space dimensions and long time scales, allowing the quantitative extraction of transport coefficients within the framework of, e. g., linear response theory (LRT). Furthermore, it is discussed that DQT can also be used to study the far-from-equilibrium dynamics resulting from sudden quench scenarios, where the initial state is a thermal Gibbs state of the pre-quench Hamiltonian. Eventually, we summarize a few combinations of DQT with other approaches such as numerical linked cluster expansions or projection operator techniques. In this way, we demonstrate the versatility of DQT.
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Bovsh, Liudmyla, Alla Okhrimenko, Margarita Boiko, and Sandeep Kumar Gupta. "Tourist tax administration in the fiscal target system for hospitality businesses." Public and Municipal Finance 10, no. 1 (January 29, 2021): 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/pmf.10(1).2021.01.
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Decentralization reforms cause social challenges and shape a new configuration, conditions and behavioral etiquette for business entities in the fiscal environment of local communities in Ukraine. Destinations with significant tourism potential can form a powerful budgetary resource through local taxes, including tourist tax. The study aims to develop a tourist tax administration system in the context of drawing up local budgets and fiscal targets of hospitality businesses. The dynamics of tourist tax revenues to local budgets was traced, which shows a rapid growth in the pre-pandemic period by 47.1% and a slight decrease in 2020. The forecast indicators for the tourist tax growth are determined: by the end of 2022, it is 73.4% compared to 2019. The likelihood of achieving such results is justified by the increase in domestic tourist flows and the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of the tourist tax administration system. Most united territorial communities (UTC) have problems with formalizing the management process, lack of strategic vision, partial or complete lack of information on budgeting and administration of taxes and fees, including tourist tax. This led to the following proposals: the development of strategies and tactics that motivate fiscal discipline; assistance to cooperation of hospitality entities with UTCs; providing digitalization, agilization and forward-looking improvements that set benchmarks for business. The emphasis is on hospitality businesses’ ability of effectively utilize the financial resources generated by the tourist tax, which will contribute to developing the overall potential of UTCs and shaping the competitiveness of territories.
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Kusserow, Hannelore. "Desertification, resilience, and re-greening in the African Sahel – a matter of the observation period?" Earth System Dynamics 8, no. 4 (December 13, 2017): 1141–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/esd-8-1141-2017.
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Abstract. Since the turn of the millennium various scientific publications have been discussing a re-greening of the Sahel after the 1980s drought mainly based on coarse-resolution satellite data. However, the author's own field studies suggest that the situation is far more complex and that both paradigms, the encroaching Sahara and the re-greening Sahel, need to be questioned.This paper discusses the concepts of desertification, resilience, and re-greening by addressing four main aspects: (i) the relevance of edaphic factors for a vegetation re-greening, (ii-iii) the importance of the selected observation period in the debate on Sahel greening or browning, and (iv) modifications in the vegetation pattern as possible indicators of ecosystem changes (shift from originally diffuse to contracted vegetation patterns).The data referred to in this paper cover a time period of more than 150 years and include the author's own research results from the early 1980s until today. A special emphasis, apart from fieldwork data and remote sensing data, is laid on the historical documents.The key findings summarised at the end show the following: (i) vegetation recovery predominantly depends on soil types; (ii) when discussing Sahel greening vs. Sahel browning, the majority of research papers only focus on post-drought conditions. Taking pre-drought conditions (before the 1980s) into account, however, is essential to fully understand the situation. Botanical investigations and remote-sensing-based time series clearly show a substantial decline in woody species diversity and cover density compared to pre-drought conditions; (iii) the self-organised patchiness of vegetation is considered to be an important indicator of ecosystem changes.
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Just, Petr. "Slovakia’s Oversized Cabinet after the 2020 Parliamentary Elections: Barrier against Extremism Vol. II, or Protection of Its Own Stability?" Politologický časopis - Czech Journal of Political Science 27, no. 3 (2020): 388–414. http://dx.doi.org/10.5817/pc2020-3-388.
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This article deals with one of the major political consequences of parliamentary elections in every parliamentary regime – the process of government formation. It focuses on the formation of the coalition government following the 2020 parliamentary elections in Slovakia, in the context of both pre-election developments as well as the main challenges and appeals of contemporary politics in general – the rise of far-right political parties. Its aim is to identify the coalition strategies presented before the elections of political parties and movements that had a theoretical chance of being elected to Parliament. Special emphasis is placed on the definition by the other political parties and movements of the long-time ruling party Smer and the far-right party Our Slovakia. The analysis continues with the post-election government formation process, the classification of the established coalition, including the allocation of cabinet portfolios, assessment of the similarities and differences of coalition parties, and factors that could possibly cause both instability as well as stability. It concludes that the joint definition by the new ruling parties and movements of Smer and Our Slovakia will, at least for some time, serve as a unifying factor keeping the coalition together. However, the coalition’s stability will be under almost constant pressure coming from both relations between coalition parties and the possibility of internal conflicts within the coalition parties and movements. The article argues that the establishment of the surplus majority coalition might – besides the official justification for it – serve as a protection against government destabilization.
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Skov, Christian Egander. "Radical Conservatism and Danish Imperialism." Contributions to the History of Concepts 8, no. 1 (June 1, 2013): 67–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.3167/choc.2013.080104.
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The article explores the concept of empire, or rige, in the context of a small nation-state with no immediate claim to imperial greatness and with a rooted self-understanding as anything but an empire. It does this by exploring the concept of empire in the far right movement Young Denmark on the basis of a close reading of their imperialist program in the pamphlet Danmark udslettes! from 1918. Rige had been a vague term for the larger Danish polity that originated in a pre-national conceptualization of the polity as a realm. The article suggests that rige-as-realm was translated by the radical right into a concept of empire. In the process it dramatically changed its emphasis, reorienting itself toward a "horizon of expectation". It became a politically loaded battle concept that then entailed a critique against the dominant liberal conceptualization of the polity and nation. Rige came to signify the ambition of being a great power, the spiritual elevation of the nation through the transcendence of the decaying liberal modernity. The program addressed the tension between a conservative political attitude and modernity and thus signified a kind of reactionary modernism that rejected liberal values while at the same time celebrating technology, industrialization, and the process of modernization.
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Pathak, Ritesh S., Athar Ahemad, and Jitendra Pimple. "Evaluation of volar locking plate fixation for management of intra-articular fractures of distal end of radius." International Journal of Research in Orthopaedics 4, no. 2 (February 23, 2018): 193. http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4510.intjresorthop20180400.
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<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> With the increase in high velocity trauma, the incidence of intra-articular fractures of distal end of radius, particularly in adults- the working class of society is increasing. Normal functioning of wrist is of paramount importance for all activities of daily living and working. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the results of using volar locking plate for fixation of intra-articular fractures of distal end radius, with emphasis on return to pre-injury employment assessment.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> It is a combined prospective and retrospective study from January 2013 to June 2016. Twenty patients of intra-articular fractures of distal end of radius (AO type B2 and B3) were treated with volar locking plate through volar approach. The patients were regularly followed up for one year. The assessment of pain, range of motion, activity and grip strength were scored by Green and O’Brien’s system.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> According to scoring system of Green and O’Brien the patients were assessed at 1 year follow up. 17 patients (85%) showed excellent results (scores 90-100). 2 patients (10%) showed good result (scores 80-89) while 1 patient (5%) had fair outcome (score 65-79). No patient had poor result (score less than 65). 19 patients (95%) returned to their pre-injury employment at 1 year.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Open reduction and internal fixation with volar locking plate is reliable and excellent methods of management of intra-articular fracture of distal end of radius especially shear type of injury (AO type B2 and B3) in adults. </p>
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Lal, Vanita, Bharti Bhandari, Garima Gupta, Kuldeep Singh, and Praveen Sharma. "Introducing the Team Based Learning as an Approach to Reviving Interest in Biochemistry amongst Undergraduate Medical Students-An Exploratory Study." Annals of the National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) 53, no. 03 (July 2017): 166–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1712759.
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ABSTRACT Introduction: Much emphasis has been given to different approaches to active learning. Our primary objective was to elicit interest amongst students in the areas of neglected, difficult topics in Biochemistry. Encouraging team building and developing team spirit by roping in all students in the exercise was the secondary objective of our study. Methods: It was a single blind controlled interventional study. ATeam Based Learning (TBL) Module was developed for First Professional MBBS students of 2015 batch. The topics selected were of high difficulty level. Ten groups were formed by random allocation. Study materials and reference sources were displayed and distributed two weeks prior to the initiation of TBL sessions. Each TBL session consisted of pre-test preparation (through didactic lectures and self-study), MCQ-based pre-test, application of concepts, Problem Based Questions (PBQs), reviewing and post-test. This was followed by administration of feedback questionnaire. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: When the pre-test and post-test marks were compared, significant improvement in the students' performance was observed (p<0.05). According to students' feedback, the learning exercise was innovative, beneficial, helped in better comprehension of difficult topics, increased in-depth knowledge on the topic, fun-filled and relaxing, eventually leading to better learning. Students were able to analyse and give rational and logical responses to complex PBQs. There was an increase in interest towards reading and referring in detail about the topics allotted to them. Library usage and issue of reference books as seen in the logbook increased rapidly. They were more confident in Biochemistry after conducting a series of TBL sessions. While comparing the performance marks after the TBL sessions with that after classroom didactic lecture method, students were of the view that TBL was better than lectures. The difference in scores obtained by two groups (2016 vs. 2015) was significant. The groups who were exposed to TBL had far better scores than those exposed to lectures in the same topic. Conclusion: The focus these days is on self-directed learning for medical students to become self-regulated, independent learners, which is essential for acquiring competencies and TBL appears to be one such modality.
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Edwards, P. P., M. T. J. Lodge, F. Hensel, and R. Redmer. "‘… a metal conducts and a non-metal doesn't’." Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 368, no. 1914 (March 13, 2010): 941–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2009.0282.
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In a letter to one of the authors, Sir Nevill Mott, then in his tenth decade, highlighted the fact that the statement ‘… a metal conducts, and a non-metal doesn’t’ can be true only at the absolute zero of temperature, T =0 K. But, of course, experimental studies of metals, non-metals and, indeed, the electronic and thermodynamic transition between these canonical states of matter must always occur above T =0 K, and, in many important cases, for temperatures far above the absolute zero. Here, we review the issues—theoretical and experimental—attendant on studies of the metal to non-metal transition in doped semiconductors at temperatures close to absolute zero ( T =0.03 K) and fluid chemical elements at temperatures far above absolute zero ( T >1000 K). We attempt to illustrate Mott’s insights for delving into such complex phenomena and experimental systems, finding intuitively the dominant features of the science, and developing a coherent picture of the different competing electronic processes. A particular emphasis is placed on the idea of a ‘Mott metal to non-metal transition’ in the nominally metallic chemical elements rubidium, caesium and mercury, and the converse metallization transition in the nominally non-metal elements hydrogen and oxygen. We also review major innovations by D. A. Goldhammer (Goldhammer 1913 Dispersion und absorption des lichtes ) and K. F. Herzfeld (Herzfeld 1927 Phys. Rev. 29 , 701–705. ( doi:10.1103/PhysRev.29.701 )) in a pre-quantum theory description of the metal–non-metal transition, which emphasize the pivotal role of atomic properties in dictating the metallic or non-metallic status of the chemical elements of the periodic table under ambient and extreme conditions; a link with Pauling’s ‘metallic orbital’ is also established here.
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A/P Gurdial Singh, Gurnam Kaur, Yuen Fook Chan, PECK CHOO LIM, and Siti Hajar Aishah Mohd Azkah. "Exploring ESL Lecturers' Perspectives on The English Preparatory Course Under The MDAB Programme." Social and Management Research Journal 13, no. 1 (June 30, 2016): 89. http://dx.doi.org/10.24191/smrj.v13i1.5197.
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The Mengubah Destini Anak Bangsa (MDAB) pre-diploma English preparatory course is a course offered in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) which caters for under privileged Malay and Bumiputera students. The main aim of the course is to upgrade the English proficiency levels of these students to help them further their studies at diploma level. Having good English language skills is important in the 21st century. Hence, tertiary students should have good English skills to be successful in the 21st century. This paper investigates the ESL lecturers’ perceptions of the MDAB English Preparatory course. The study involved a total of 18 lecturers from three zones in UiTM Malaysia, namely the Central zone (Negeri Sembilan), the South zone (Malacca) and the North zone (Kelantan). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The findings showed that the lecturers felt that the current six contact hours is not sufficient to cover the English language components in the syllabus. Moreover, they felt that there were far too many assessments in the course which needed to be carried out during this six hour course. This further compounded their problems with regard to time constraints. Besides that, they felt that there was too much emphasis on the listening and speaking skills. These findings suggest that there is a need for an increase in the contact hours for the MDAB English Preparatory Course.
Keywords: English Preparatory course, MDAB, English proficiency, ESL Lecturers’ perspectives
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Imbens, Guido W. "Statistical Significance, p-Values, and the Reporting of Uncertainty." Journal of Economic Perspectives 35, no. 3 (August 1, 2021): 157–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/jep.35.3.157.
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The use of statistical significance and p-values has become a matter of substantial controversy in various fields using statistical methods. This has gone as far as some journals banning the use of indicators for statistical significance, or even any reports of p-values, and, in one case, any mention of confidence intervals. I discuss three of the issues that have led to these often-heated debates. First, I argue that in many cases, p-values and indicators of statistical significance do not answer the questions of primary interest. Such questions typically involve making (recommendations on) decisions under uncertainty. In that case, point estimates and measures of uncertainty in the form of confidence intervals or even better, Bayesian intervals, are often more informative summary statistics. In fact, in that case, the presence or absence of statistical significance is essentially irrelevant, and including them in the discussion may confuse the matter at hand. Second, I argue that there are also cases where testing null hypotheses is a natural goal and where p-values are reasonable and appropriate summary statistics. I conclude that banning them in general is counterproductive. Third, I discuss that the overemphasis in empirical work on statistical significance has led to abuse of p-values in the form of p-hacking and publication bias. The use of pre-analysis plans and replication studies, in combination with lowering the emphasis on statistical significance may help address these problems.
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Low, D. A. "VI. Counterpart Experiences: Indian and Indonesian Nationalisms 1920s–1950s." Itinerario 10, no. 1 (March 1986): 117–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0165115300009013.
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India's national day is 26 January; Indonesia's 17 August. They point to a difference. 26 January derives from the Indian National Congress' decision at its Lahore Congress in December 1929 to launch a Civil Disobedience movement against the British Government in India. Jawaharlal Nehru as Congress' President arranged that the first step would be for thousands of Congress rank and file to join together on 26 January 1930 to take the Independence Pledge. This declared that since ‘it is the inalienable right of the Indian people […] to have freedom, […] if any government deprives a people of those rights […] the people have a […] right to […] abolish it […]. We recognise, however, that the most effective way of gaining freedom is not through violence. We will, therefore, prepare ourselves by withdrawing, so far as we can, all voluntary association from the British Government and will prepare for Civil Disobedience.’ From that moment onwards 26 January has been India's Independence Day, though when it was first held India's independence still stood 17 years away. The celebrations have thus come to link post-independent India with the feats of the Indian national movement which for so many years pursued the strategy of civil disobedience, and which, despite a series of intervening fits and starts, is seen to have been crucial to its success. For India the heroics of its freedom struggle lie, that is, in its elon-gated pre-independence past, of long years of humiliating harassment and costly commitment. They are not much associated with the final run up to independence. With the emphasis rather upon the earlier, principally Gandhian years, of protests and processions, of proscriptions and prison, the final transfer of power is not seen, moreover, as comprising a traumatic break with the past, but as the logical climax to all that had gone before. The direct continuities between the pre- and post-independence periodes in India in these respects are accepted as a central part of its national heritage.
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Aggarwal, Geeta, Sonia Verma, Madhu Gupta, and Manju Nagpal. "Local Drug Delivery Based Treatment Approaches for Effective Management of Periodontitis." Current Drug Therapy 14, no. 2 (August 27, 2019): 135–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1574885514666190103112855.
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Background: Periodontal disease is an immuno-inflammatory condition of tissues that surround and hold the teeth. It is the disease which succeeds in all races, groups and both genders. Almost 10 to15% of the global population gets suffered from severe periodontitis as per WHO reports. Periodontal disease may likely cause other systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and pre-term low birth weight infants. Mechanical removal of plaques and calculus deposits from supra and subgingival environment is the backbone of periodontal treatment till date whereas complete elimination of these deleterious agents is quite unrealistic as the pocket depth increases. Recent Approaches: Recently controlled local drug delivery application is more encouraging in comparison to systemic approach as it mainly targets to enhance the therapeutic efficacy by maintaining site-specificity, avoiding first pass metabolism, reduction in gastrointestinal (GI) side effects and decreasing the dose. Several drugs such as antiseptics and antibiotics alongwith various carriers are being formulated as local drug delivery systems for effective management of the disease. Various local delivery systems reported are fibers, films, strips, compacts, injectables, microparticles, vesicular carriers, gels and nanoparticles. These local carriers provide effective prolonged treatment at the site of infection at reduced doses. This review enlightens detailed pathophysiology and various phases of periodontitis, challenges in treatment of disease and various antimicrobial agents (along with their marketed formulations) used. The main emphasis of the review is to cover all carrier systems developed so far for local delivery application in the effective management of periodontitis, as a patient compliant drug therapy.
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Lieberman, Michael M. "Pragmatism and Principle in International Humanitarian Law." Israel Law Review 42, no. 01 (2009): 150–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021223700000480.
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As we seek to identify new norms to bridge the gaps between extant law and the challenges that new conflict modes pose today, we confront a threshold question as to which methodological ground we should stand upon in doing so. Based on a background assumption of positivism as the source of substantive norms, the issue for some observers comes down to a clash between pragmatism and formalism. To formalism's proponents, the concept of pragmatism—which sees law as a functional instrument to be used in pursuit of pre-envisioned ends—has contributed to a dearth of moral obligation in international humanitarian law discourse. Such a view considers that the emphasis on empiricism found in pragmatism both legitimizes and shrouds the reality of effective power lurking behind the law. The alternative they prefer, championed most articulately by Professor Koskenniemi, is a “culture of formalism” that sees law as an object of universal obligation and as a form of critique that unmasks the pragmatic mode for what it is, namely, a rationalization of might. As this Article suggests, this understanding misapprehends the true nature of pragmatism, which is neither a smokescreen nor an apoloay. Rather, pragmatism's focus on real-world effects and consequences holds far greater promise for advancing the actual humanitarianism of IHL. Formalism, moreover; is subsumed within the constellation of factors that pragmatic analysis demands. These ideas are explored on a theoretical level, and are then illustrated by a look at the Israel separation barrier cases decided by the International Court of Justice and the Israeli High Court of Justice.
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Hodson, Nathan. "A care ethics approach to the Gender Kidney Donation Gap." Nursing Ethics 26, no. 7-8 (November 1, 2018): 2185–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0969733018806337.
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Many studies have shown that women are more likely than men to be living kidney donors, and the discrepancy is particularly marked in heterosexual couples: wives are more likely than husbands to donate a kidney to their spouse. This ‘ Gender Kidney Donation Gap’ can be understood in terms of Carol Gilligan’s claims about gender differences in ethical decision-making style, making it appropriate to analyse responses to this imbalance using an ethic of care. This article centres the vast majority of living donors, those who donate in the context of a significant pre-existing relationship. A cost-neutral approach is unfair on donors who make society richer and healthier by helping a loved one. However, models of kidney sale fail to offer an acceptable alternative, either (a) compelling donors to sell into a pool where they do not know the recipient or (b) allowing affluent individuals unfair access to kidneys. Drawing on surrogacy law in England and Wales, a model of compensation is proposed that includes a range of non-financial benefits. This option celebrates donation and expresses gratitude to all donors while avoiding the pitfalls of the marketplace, with an emphasis on fair treatment of donors. Nevertheless, if more generous treatment led to a 10% increase in directed donation, then it would be equivalent to doubling ‘altruistic’ stranger donations. As long as the Gender Kidney Donation Gap persists, the best response is to minimise the discomfort and disruption caused to donors by their profound act of kindness.
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Pallavicini, Roberto. "Flares in Late-type Stars: X-Ray." International Astronomical Union Colloquium 151 (1995): 148–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0252921100034898.
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Flare-like brightenings, similar to those observed on the Sun but on a larger energy scale, are observed in a variety of late-type stars, including classical M dwarf flare stars, RS CVn-type binaries and pre-main sequence (PMS) objects. These events, which are observable over the whole electromagnetic spectrum, are interpreted as due to rapid release of magnetic energy at the star surface. Comprehensive reviews of stellar flares have been presented by Haisch &: Rodonò (1989), Pettersen (1991), Haisch et al. (1991), Pallavicini (1992a), as well as in contributions at this conference. Here I will discuss X-ray emission, with emphasis on flares on M dwarfs and RS CVn binaries.X-ray observations are important because they provide information on the high-temperature coronal portion of the flare and, at least in principle, could give clues as to the primary energy release and particle acceleration. In the stellar case there are severe limitations of the diagnostic capabilities of X-ray observations, in comparison to the solar case. In fact, stellar flares have up to now been observed only at soft X-ray energies (≤ 10 keV) where thermal processes greatly dominate over non-thermal ones (optical continuum observations have to be used in this case as a proxy for hard X-rays). Moreover, stellar X-ray observations are spatially unresolved and so far of poor spectral resolution. Thus, the observational data that are readily accessible are only light curves, average temperatures T and volume integrated emission measures EM = ∫ n2dV, but there is no direct information on parameters such as density, volume and detailed geometry.
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Gstöttenbauer, N., A. Kainz, B. Manhartsgruber, and R. Scheidl. "Experimental and numerical studies of squeeze mode behaviour of magnetic fluid." Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 222, no. 12 (December 1, 2008): 2395–407. http://dx.doi.org/10.1243/09544062jmes1129.
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Magneto-rheological (MR) fluids are suspensions of micron-sized ferromagnetic particles in a non-magnetic carrier fluid. The essential characteristic of MR fluid is the rapid and reversible transition from the state of a Newtonian-like fluid to the behaviour of a stiff semi-solid by applying a magnetic field of ∼0.1–0.4 T. This feature can be understood from the fact that the particles form chain-like structures aligned in the field direction. The MR fluid offers three modes of operation, namely the direct shear mode, the valve mode, and the squeeze mode. The latter is of particular interest due to its highly non-linear behaviour, which is still not fully understood and therefore expected to give rise to new industrial applications. A test rig for the exploration of the MR-fluid behaviour was designed for experimental purposes. The present article describes the results of measurements under sinusoidal loading modes. Special emphasis was posed on the dependence of the MR-fluid response with respect to parameter variations of the applied static magnetic field, the cyclic loading amplitude, and frequency values. Cavitation effects have been investigated and partially suppressed by pre-pressurizing the MR fluid, which enables a more thorough insight into particle chain disruption and segregation effects. Well-pronounced hysteresis loops are observed and exhibit characteristic kinks, which cannot be understood within the frame of elementary constitutive laws such as for Bingham fluids. To describe the squeeze mode phenomenon numerically, adequate constitutive laws were applied, checked numerically by utilizing finite-element simulations, and validated against experimental data. New perceptions attained so far provided reason to design an adaptive MR-fluid bearing in squeeze mode behaviour for industrial applications.
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Stojanovic, Marija, Milica Carevic, Mladen Mihailovic, Zorica Knezevic-Jugovic, Slobodan Petrovic, and Dejan Bezbradica. "Enzymatic synthesis and application of fatty acid ascorbyl esters." Chemical Industry 67, no. 2 (2013): 239–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/hemind120522079s.
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Fatty acid ascorbyl esters are liposoluble substances that possess good antioxidative properties. These compounds could be synthesized by using various acyl donors for acylation of vitamin C in reaction catalyzed by chemical means or lipases. Enzymatic process is preferred since it is regioselective, performed under mild reaction conditions, with the obtained product being environmentally friendly. Polar organic solvents, ionic liquids, and supercritical fluids has been successfully used as a reaction medium, since commonly used solvents with high Log P values are inapplicable due to ascorbic acid high polarity. Acylation of vitamin C using fatty acids, their methyl-, ethyl-, and vinyl esters, as well as triglycerides has been performed, whereas application of the activated acyl donors enabled higher molar conversions. In each case, majority of authors reported that using excessive amount of the acyl donor had positive effect on yield of product. Furthermore, several strategies have been employed for shifting the equilibrium towards the product by water content control. These include adjusting the initial water activity by pre-equilibration of reaction mixture, enzyme preparation with water vapor of saturated salt solutions, and the removal of formed water by the addition of molecular sieves or salt hydrate pairs. The aim of this article is to provide a brief overview of the procedures described so far for the lipase-catalyzed synthesis of fatty acid ascorbyl esters with emphasis on the potential application in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutics. Furthermore, it has been pointed out that the main obstacles for process commercialization are long reaction times, lack of adequate purification methods, and high costs of lipases. Thus, future challenges in this area are testing new catalysts, developing continuous processes for esters production, finding cheaper acyl donors and reaction mediums, as well as identifying standard procedures for purification of products which will not require consumption of large amounts of non-biocompatible organic solvents.
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Ma, Suk-Ling, Junyi Wu, Liuying Zhu, Ruth Suk-Mei Chan, Xingyan Wang, Dan Huang, Nelson Leung-Sang Tang, and Jean Woo. "Peripheral Blood T Cell Gene Expression Responses to Exercise and HMB in Sarcopenia." Nutrients 13, no. 7 (July 5, 2021): 2313. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu13072313.
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Background: Sarcopenia is a major health problem in older adults. Exercise and nutrient supplementation have been shown to be effective interventions but there are limited studies to investigate their effects on the management of sarcopenia and its possible underlying mechanisms. Here, we studied T cell gene expression responses to interventions in sarcopenia. Methods: The results of this study were part of a completed trial examining the effectiveness of a 12-week intervention with exercise and nutrition supplementation in community-dwelling Chinese older adults with sarcopenia, based on the available blood samples at baseline and 12 weeks from 46 randomized participants from three study groups, namely: exercise program alone (n = 11), combined-exercise program and nutrition supplement (n = 23), and waitlist control group (n = 12). T cell gene expression was evaluated, with emphasis on inflammation-related genes. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was performed on CD3 T cells in 38 selected genes. Correlation analysis was performed to relate the results of gene expression analysis with lower limb muscle strength performance, measured using leg extension tests. Results: Our results showed a significant improvement in leg extension for both the exercise program alone and the combined groups (p < 0.001). Nine genes showed significant pre- and post-difference in gene expression over 12 weeks of intervention in the combined group. Seven genes (RASGRP1, BIN1, LEF1, ANXA6, IL-7R, LRRN3, and PRKCQ) showed an interaction effect between intervention and gene expression levels on leg extension in the confirmatory analysis, with confounder variables controlled and FDR correction. Conclusions: Our findings showed that T cell-specific inflammatory gene expression was changed significantly after 12 weeks of intervention with combined exercise and HMB supplementation in sarcopenia, and that this was associated with lower limb muscle strength performance.
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FILER, COLIN. "Interdisciplinary perspectives on historical ecology and environmental policy in Papua New Guinea." Environmental Conservation 38, no. 2 (February 10, 2011): 256–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0376892910000913.
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SUMMARYPapua New Guinea (PNG) has been the site of a great deal of scientific work, and a fair amount of interdisciplinary debate, within the broad field of historical ecology, which encompasses the study of indigenous society-environment relationships over different time periods. However, this in itself provides no guarantee that scientists engaged in such debate will have a greater influence on the formulation of environmental conservation policies in a state where indigenous decision makers now hold the levers of political power. Five environmental policy paradigms which have emerged in the course of public debate about environmental conservation in PNG over the past half century; the wildlife management, environmental planning, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem assessment, and carbon sequestration paradigms. Each paradigm has framed a distinctive form of interdisciplinary debate about indigenous society-environment relationships within a contemporary political framework. However, a further connection can be drawn between the role of interdisciplinary debate in an evolving national policy framework and the history of scientific debate about the nature of indigenous society-environment relationships in the pre-colonial era. This connection places a distinctive emphasis on the relationship between indigenous agricultural practices and management of the national forest estate for reasons which are themselves a contingent effect of the nature of European colonial intervention over the course of the last century and a half. This particular bias in the relationship between historical ecology and environmental policy has lasted down to the present day. PNG's environmental policy problems are unlikely to have any rational or sensible solution in the absence of a better scientific understanding of the complexity of indigenous society-environment relationships. Scientists need to understand the complexity of the environmental policy process as a historical process in its own right in order to work out which policy problems offer both the scope and the incentive to sustain specific forms of interdisciplinary debate that are likely to produce better policy outcomes.
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Bennett, David J., Monica Gorassini, and Arthur Prochazka. "Catching a ball: contributions of intrinsic muscle stiffness, reflexes, and higher order responses." Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 72, no. 5 (May 1, 1994): 525–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/y94-076.
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In three sets of experiments in nine normal subjects and a patient with a percutaneous wrist-stabilizing splint, we quantified the open-loop gain (OLG) of the stretch reflex acting about the elbow. The subjects exerted a steady mean flexing force and were instructed not to intervene (i.e., not to resist actively) when force or displacement perturbations were imposed on the forearm. The method was either to reconstruct transmission around the entire loop in a two-part experiment, or to use the attenuation of external perturbations in normal and electrically stimulated muscle to compute gain. Across all experiments, the mean magnitude of stretch reflex OLG was close to unity in the frequency range 1–2 Hz, and declined at higher frequencies, as required to ensure stability, given that the phase lag approached 180° at 5 Hz. Inherent muscle stiffness was approximately equal to reflex stiffness. In functional terms, an OLG of 1 means that the yield caused by a force perturbation is approximately halved by reflex action (prevailing inherent muscle stiffness is doubled). Automatic scaling of reflex transmission at Ia/α-motoneuronal synapses ensures that the OLG remains close to unity as inherent stiffness increases. Trials in the patient with the wrist fixator gave similar results, indicating that the reflexes were proprioceptively mediated. In a fourth experiment in which the task was to catch a heavy ball, we compared the efficacy of inherent muscle stiffness and reflexes alone, with the subject's intentional reactions, which included predictive and voluntary components of response. The latter were far more effective in maintaining the position of the hand after the ball was caught than inherent and reflex stiffnesses alone. We conclude that stability requirements limit the extent to which stretch reflexes can augment inherent muscle stiffness. When inherent muscle stiffness is low, such as in our ball-catching task, the reflex stiffness is also low, and predictive and pre-programmed reactions predominate in load compensation, thus shifting the emphasis from automatic servo or equilibrium-point behaviour to higher order control.Key words: reflexes, muscle stiffness, motor control.
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Rendon, Rene G. "Benchmarking contract management process maturity: a case study of the US Navy." Benchmarking: An International Journal 22, no. 7 (October 5, 2015): 1481–508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/bij-10-2014-0096.
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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the results of contract management process maturity assessments in the US Navy using a process capability maturity model. The maturity model is used to benchmark an organization’s contract management process maturity and to use the assessment results to develop a road map for implementing process improvement as well as knowledge-sharing initiatives. Design/methodology/approach – This is survey-based research on benchmarking contract management processes in the US Navy. A web-based assessment tool was deployed to US Navy contracting officers located at aeronautical systems, sea systems, and logistics support contracting agencies. The assessment tool consists of survey items related to the use of contracting best practices. The survey responses are then used to calculate the agency’s contract management process maturity level. Findings – The benchmarking results reflected higher maturity levels in the pre-award contracting processes (Procurement Planning, Solicitation Planning, and Source Selection), while lower maturity levels were reflected in the post-award contracting processes (Contract Administration and Contract Closeout). The research findings related to process capability enablers also reflected higher mean scores for the pre-award processes and lower mean scores for the post-award processes. These maturity levels and process capability enabler scores reflect the extent of the implementation of contracting best practices within the Navy contracting agencies. Research limitations/implications – This research uses a purposeful sampling approach designed to acquire data on organizational contract management processes. The assessment survey was administered only to qualified Navy contracting officers. The Navy contracting agencies are responsible for procuring billions of dollars in supplies and services in support of the Navy mission. Although the assessed contracting agencies procure different types of systems, supplies, and services, the contract management processes used are common to all Navy, Army, Air Force, and other US federal government agencies. The conclusions based on the analysis of these benchmarking assessments may be applicable to Department of Defense (DoD) and other government agencies. Practical implications – The findings suggest that benchmarking can be effective in measuring and improving contracting process capability within the Navy. Benchmarking contracting processes can have far-reaching effects throughout the DoD. The Under Secretary of Defense’s has mandated initiatives related to improving both pre- and post-award contracting processes. The use of these benchmarking assessments can be instrumental in tracking the achievements of these process improvement initiatives. Additionally, the US Congress is leading the push for auditability in procurement operations. By benchmarking and improving its contracting processes, the DoD will be winning the battle toward integrity, accountability, and transparency of its financial operations. Social implications – Benchmarking contracting processes can also have far-reaching effects in society. Many governments are focussing on integrity, accountability, and transparency in public procurement. International organizations such as Transparency International (TI) have identified process capability and process integrity as key for reducing the potential for procurement-related fraud, waste, and abuse. Additionally, NATO member countries and partner nations are focussing on the value of assessing and improving procurement processes for strengthening transparency and accountability. The value of benchmarking and improving contracting processes is gaining much attention in global public procurement agencies as they strive for accountability, integrity, and transparency in their governance processes. Originality/value – There are multiple reports on deficiencies in DoD’s contract management processes, identifying poor contract planning, and Contract Administration as just some of the critically deficient areas. In response, the DoD is increasing its emphasis on developing its workforce competence through education initiatives. However, very little attention is being paid to benchmarking contract management processes. This research reflects the value of benchmarking DoD’s contract management process maturity and using the results for implementing process improvement initiatives. Using process benchmarking data, agencies can identify process improvement initiatives that will ensure government tax dollars are spent in the most effective and efficient ways.
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Halbsguth, Teresa, Horst Mueller, Hans-Henning Flechtner, Corinne Brillant, Karolin Behringer, Thomas Schober, Hiltrud Nisters-Backes, Andreas Engert, and Peter Borchmann. "Quality of Life in a 2-Year Follow-up: Signs of PNP Predicting Cognitive Functioning in Survivors Treated in the HD10–12 Trials of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG)." Blood 112, no. 11 (November 16, 2008): 1455. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v112.11.1455.1455.
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Abstract Purpose: Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is one of the best curable cancers in adults. Thus, current research is focusing on the increasing proportion of HL survivors with respect to the long-term consequences of therapy. Especially health related quality of life (QoL) needs thorough investigation since this is relevant for HL patients, complex and so far there is limited knowledge. QoL incorporates different aspects such as general QoL, fatigue, emotional, physical, role, social, sexual and cognitive functions. This analysis is focusing on QoL in the HD10–12 trials of the GHSG with special emphasis on cognitive functions (CF) and possible predictors in a 2 year follow-up. Methods: Patients of the GHSG trials HD10–12 completed the QLQ-C30, the MFI20 and some additional items at the time of diagnosis, after chemotherapy, after radiotherapy and at follow-up examinations. We describe the courses of the QLQ-C30 scales with means and 95%-confidence intervals for each measurement point and in relation to the respective norm values. In accordance with well established criteria, we used a cut off point of 10 points below the expected value to define self reported cognitive deficits (CD). In multiple regressions we analysed the role of the following predictors for cognitive functions 2 years after treatment: age, sex, disease stage, treatment modality, baseline score of cognitive functioning and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy (PNP) before and after chemotherapy application. Results: In the sample of 3608 patients all scales showed abnormal values from the beginning, further deterioration to the end of chemotherapy and continuous recovery from the end of radiotherapy on. Most scales improved clearly beyond their pre-treatment values but only physical functioning finally approached normal values. The CF scale showed a remarkable flat long term course and, opposed to the other scales, reached no improvement beyond the pre-treatment level. In 1044 patients with baseline and 2 year results, 439 met the criteria of relevant CD at baseline. Of these, 60.4% still felt handicapped after 2 years and 39.6% were in the range of normal values. 605 patients reported no CD at baseline and 69.6 % of them remained unaffected after 2 years (30.4% had developed CD). After adjustment for age, sex, disease stage, treatment modality and CF baseline scores, the regression analyses showed significant impact of symptoms of PNP before (p<.001) and after (p=.002) chemotherapy on CF after 2 years. Conclusion: In this large prospective study most QoL domains are remarkably improved after recovery from HL. In contrast CD occur frequently and show virtually no improvement. Symptoms of PNP as well as baseline values of CF are specifically predictive of future cognitive complaints. Further studies are necessary to investigate whether these results could be used for treatment modification or the development of intervention strategies.
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Sevostyanova, Yelena. "Chinas Public Organizations as Partners of the Russian Federation in Implementing the State Policy of Assistance to Compatriots Abroad: Historical Experience of Diaspores and New Trends." Russian and Chinese Studies 3, no. 4 (December 28, 2019): 38–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.17150/2587-7445.2019.3(4).38-52.
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The article examines the main activity directions of non-governmental organizations in China in terms of the retrospective, general trends in the present-day period and specificity of this activity in PRC and the trans-border territories of the Russian Federation. Each of the three periods of existence of the public organizations of compatriots – pre-revolutionary, Soviet and post-Soviet — has both common traits and their specificity. The first voluntary organizations for support of Russian compatriots in China appeared in terms of public initiative in early XX century. As long as a system of state support of those migrated was absent in China, the emigrants created public organizations that assisted the compatriots materially and spiritually. Compatriots’ organizations arranged «Days of Russian Culture», supported opening and existence of schools and libraries, created a Russian-speaking media space. The break-up of the USSR stimulated not only the migration processes but also consolidation of the Russian diaspores around the world, appearance of new forms of organizing the compatriots living in various countries. In the modern period the state participates actively in integrating activities of public compatriots’ organizations in the far abroad because it comprehends that these organizations scattered around the whole world are unable to fully perform defense of the compatriots’ interests, to support the Russian-speaking mass media, to preserve affiliation with the Russian culture, traditions and the language. Beginning from early 2000, the Russian federation and the People’s Republic of China have been developing inter-governmental cooperation in the + sphere of assistance to compatriots, counteraction to illegal migrations. Intensification of regional cooperations has become a new direction. In Zabaikalye Territory, the cooperation with public organizations of Russian compatriots in China is carried out by the territorial Ministry of International Cooperation and Foreign Connections. The article states major directions and forms of work with Russian compatriots in China at the regional level. It makes a conclusion that the Russian Federation places great emphasis to strengthening of partner cooperation of compatriots with Russia, the government tries along with the public to determine new and most prospective direction of activities. In China, the integration of business community, integration of youth organizations can be referred to such directions.
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Jansen, C. J. H., and W. J. Zwalve. "De Wetenschap Van Het Oudvaderlands Privaatrecht En Het Tijdschrift Voor Rechtsgeschiedenis." Tijdschrift voor Rechtsgeschiedenis / Revue d'Histoire du Droit / The Legal History Review 61, no. 3 (1993): 401–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157181993x00240.
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AbstractThe history of Dutch private law, or - as it was called - 'ancient national law' ('oud vaderlands recht'), which was taught at Dutch universities since the days of S.J. Fockema Andreae sr (1844-1921), suffered from at least three serious disadvantages, viz. the absence of anything like a "Dutch nation" before the creation of the modern centralized state in 1798, the absence of anything like a "national law", least of all private law, before the enactment of the first Dutch civil code of 1809 and the inability to come to terms with the reception of Roman law, which was regarded as a cataclysmic event brought about by the "unhistoric" attitude of sixteenth-century Dutch lawyers (S.J. Fockema Andreae jr in 1950). Hence the emphasis on pre-reception medieval law and public rather than private law. On the other hand, the Dutch civilians were interested in "classical" Roman law rather than the history of private law after the reception of Roman law in the Netherlands. To most of them Roman law had become distorted and disfigured in the process. So the study of the history of substantive private law of the era between the reception of Roman law and the enactment of the first civil code was rather unattractive to both groups of legal historians. To the "germanists" national law was tainted with Roman law, whereas to the civilians, the "romanists", Roman law had become contaminated by the mould of ancient customary and statutory law and the expediency of legal practitioners. So, in spite of the fact that the very same era is commonly regarded as the heyday of Dutch legal science (Voetius, Grotius, Vinnius), no comprehensive introduction to what is also commonly regarded as a most important Dutch contribution to European legal culture, viz. "Roman-Dutch" law, was ever written in the Netherlands. Students had to be referred to R.W. Lee's Introduction to Roman-Dutch Law, an English textbook! The volumes of the Tijdschrift voor Rechtsgeschiedenis bear witness to this sorry state of affairs. There are many learned and solid articles on subjects of classical Roman law and French customary law, but relatively very few on subjects of substantive Dutch private law and even less on subjects of "Roman-Dutch" law. There is, of course, an explanation for this. The "germanists" had (and have) their own magazine, the "Verslagen en Mededeelingen" ("Reports and Proceedings"), published by de "Vereniging tot uitgaaf der bronnen van het oud-vaderlands recht" (the "Society for the edition of the sources of ancient national law"), founded in 1879, whereas there is also, as far as "Roman-Dutch" law is concerned, the "Tydskrif vir Hedendaagse Romeins-Hollandse Reg", published in South Africa. There is another consideration to be taken into account too: much of what has been written on the history of substantive Dutch private law in the last 75 years was not, or at least not primarily, written with a public consisting of legal historians in mind, but in view of practical questions of and developments in modern Dutch private law intended to be read by legal practitioners, rather than the professional historians. That is why so much which would have been of interest to professional historians at large, was published in Dutch and in Dutch legal journals. So, in the final analysis, it is the international profile and the emphasis on history that have prevented the publication of more articles on the history of substantive Dutch private law in the volumes of the Tijdschrift voor Rechtsgeschiedenis.
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Daszkiewicz, Małgorzata, Piotr Łuczkiewicz, Jörg Kleemann, and Aneta Kuzioła. "What shall we put in the grave? Archaeometric analyses of ceramics from a late Pre-Roman, Roman and Migration period cemetery in Malbork-Wielbark, northern Poland." Praehistorische Zeitschrift 94, no. 2 (January 28, 2020): 414–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/pz-2019-0018.
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AbstractThe necropolis at Malbork-Wielbark was excavated from 1927 to 1936 and 2008 to 2019. This burial ground is the eponymous site of the Wielbark culture. To date, over 2000 burials, both inhumation and cremation (pit and urn graves), have been recorded at this site, attesting to its continuous use from the Early Pre-Roman Iron Age (phase A1) to the early Migration Period (phase D1), with particular emphasis on the Roman Period. The cemetery site partially overlies and damages an earlier Iron Age settlement of the Pomeranian culture.Laboratory analyses were carried out on 113 pottery sherds. The series of samples chosen for analysis reflected, as far as was possible, all relative chronological phases and vessel shapes. The pottery was analysed using a step by step strategy built on the results of MGR-analysis (i. e. the classification of samples based on their matrix type) and on a macroscopic assessment of clastic material. In addition, an estimation of chemical composition by portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) was available for each sample. After they had been classified, samples were selected for chemical analysis by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF), estimation of physical ceramic properties (open porosity, water absorption and apparent density), Kilb-Hennike analysis (K-H analysis), thin-section studies using a polarising microscope, a study of surface phenomena by RTI (Reflectance Transformation Imaging), thermal analysis (TG-DTG-DTA), X-ray diffraction analysis and functional properties analysis (water permeability and thermal shock resistance), as well as experimental estimation of magnetic properties.The results of MGR-analysis carried out on ceramic samples taken from 113 potsherds revealed that all of the pottery was made from various non-calcareous clays with fine-grained iron compounds homogeneously distributed in the matrix. It was decided not to carry on determining/using MGR-groups, as nearly every sherd represents a different MGR-group. This means that these vessels were made during different production cycles. The differences in thermal behaviour between samples were attributed only to matrix-type groups. It can be concluded that 85 % of the total sherds were made from plastic raw materials of the same provenance, and that the same matrix-type groups occurred in all chronological phases. The percentage of vessels made of particular raw materials indicates a significant difference in the preferences of Pomeranian Culture potters and those of Pre-Roman Iron Age, Early Roman Period and those of the Late Roman Period, when one type of raw material disappears from use. This last period is also characterized by an increase in the number of vessels fired in a reducing atmosphere. Standardization is also evident in vessel-wall thickness, which falls within a narrow range of values, on the other hand combined with a large variety in grain sizes up to very large ones and with a wide range of open porosity values, which in turn points to a lack of care in the preparation of the ceramic body. Vessels that may have been non-local origin are noted in all chronological phases. Analysis of functional properties (water permeability and thermal shock resistance) revealed that the pottery deposited in graves included fully functional wares, such as cooking pots, as well as vessels intended solely as grave goods.More than a few samples evidence the use of a slow-rotating potter’s wheel, and it is also possible that a template was used for forming vessel rims. However, there are very few examples of truly technologically advanced vessels. The technology is generally tailored to the desired type or form of vessel.
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Baldridgde, William. "Macroeconomic Management in a Decentralised Set-up (PANEL DISCUSSION-III)." Pakistan Development Review 49, no. 4II (December 1, 2010): 963–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.30541/v49i4iipp.963-966.
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The issue of macroeconomic management in a decentralised set-up is a big question. My part of discussion will get more down into the nuts and bolts and as you see I will unfortunately ask a lot more questions. I think that it is very important that all parties have begin to equip themselves with relatively detailed knowledge of what is likely to occur in the shape and structure of government processes as the devolution of authority in 18th amendment begins to take place. It occurs to me the development stakeholders or the government of Pakistan and the provincial ministries of finance, the Planning Commission and the CCI and potentially others even including the international community. I think these bodes need to know how this devolution can actually occur. What are the actions necessary to develop a transparent budget and an auditable budget, procurements in expenditure processes at the provincial level that were administrated by the federal level in order to avoid macroeconomic management to continue to occur in decentralised set-up. The current arrangement provides as far as I know bulk of resources to be collected and controlled with the federal level. Also there is a significant share of responsibility currently with the federal government. These distributional arrangements will necessarily change as the budgetary regulatory framework for the 18th amendment becomes agreed upon. This regulatory framework is not really in place yet. A regulatory framework would need to be enacted and implemented. This means to me at least that an assessment of pre-18th amendment situation is needed to provide a base line to understand how the new structure will have to be reformed. An assessment perhaps should be done with a review of existing policies or to sort out what were the initial conditions going into 18th amendment. I think as federal and provincial governments are moving towards implementation, at both budgetary and operational levels, a few questions may be needed to be asked. One is how will the new responsibilities assigned to the provinces be financed? What will happen to federal government staff currently engaged in doing all the functions will no longer be with the federal government. How will the human and operational capacity at the provincial government level be developed with a particular emphasis on budgeting expertise and expenditure expertise. If there is going to be control and management at macro level, then there is going to be a tremendous amount of capacity required at the budgeting and expenditure level in the provinces. I think an assessment of the provincial capacity is a good idea.
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Heath, Malcolm. "Greek Literature." Greece and Rome 66, no. 1 (March 11, 2019): 113–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0017383518000347.
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It felt slightly spooky when I opened The Winnowing Oar and found a lecture by Martin West on editing the Odyssey that concludes with a pre-emptive defence of his endorsement of Aristophanes’ reading at Od. 13.158: six months earlier, in my brief review of West's edition (G&R 65 [2018], 272), I had – somewhat recklessly – described that reading as ‘reckless’. It's an excellent lecture, and well worth reading. But the Aristophanic variant still fails to convince me. This difference of opinion pales into insignificance, however, next to the textual bombshell in Franco Montanari's chapter in the same volume, on the failed embassy in Iliad 9. Applying the familiar analytic argument-schema ‘X would have mentioned Y, if Y had been in the text that X read’, I am inexorably led to the conclusion that Montanari is working from a text of Iliad 9 in which the embassy concludes with Achilles’ response to Phoenix (47). The long-standing riddle of the use of duals to describe a three-man delegation is therefore solved: Ajax was a later addition to the text. The alternative explanation, that X has chosen not to mention the one member of the delegation who (even after Achilles has pointedly declared the discussion at an end) succeeds in getting Achilles to make a positive (though deferred) commitment to coming to the rescue of his comrades (649–55), is surely too far-fetched to be credible. Montanari is a very fine scholar: but the embassy that he describes is not the one that I find in my text. Eleven other fine scholars have contributed to this Festschrift for Antonios Rengakos: I will briefly mention three chapters that particularly caught my attention. Margalit Finkelberg argues persuasively for a seventh-century fixation of the Homeric texts in the light of iconographical evidence. Jonas Grethlein, in a study of Odysseus and Achilles in the Odyssey, hopes to show (and succeeds in doing so) ‘that the relation between Odysseus and Achilles in Homeric epic is far more complex than the metapoetically charged juxtaposition of βίη versus μῆτις, which Greg Nagy's The Best of the Achaeans has made a central creed of Homeric scholarship’ (140). I agree whole-heartedly: this painfully reductive antithesis never deserved the prominence it has gained. And, as Grethlein observes, ‘the Iliadic echoes make the Odyssey into more than an adventure story: it becomes a multi-facetted narrative engaged with ethical issues’ (138). Gregory Hutchinson, who can be relied upon for stimulating thoughts expressed with precision, elegance, and wit, begins by suggesting that scholars have laid ‘too much emphasis on the production’ of the Homeric poems, ‘and not enough on the effect of the works on the audience or audiences of the time’ (145). He goes on to examine the phenomenon of repetition in the light of cognitive studies (specifically, the concept of ‘attention’) and comparative literature. Oral improvisation is acknowledged as ‘a conceivable possibility’, but ‘it may be time to turn…our primary attention…to an understanding of [the poem's] impact which best fits the text and best captures its multiplicity and power’ (167).
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Schmid, Mathias, M. Domenica Cappellini, John B. Porter, Peter L. Greenberg, Tomasz Lawniczek, Sabine Glaser, Victor Dong, and Norbert Gattermann. "Safety of Deferasirox (Exjade®) in Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and Non-MDS Patients with Transfusional Iron Overload: A Pooled Analysis Focusing On Renal Function." Blood 114, no. 22 (November 20, 2009): 1768. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v114.22.1768.1768.
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Abstract Abstract 1768 Poster Board I-794 Background Assessment of the safety profile, in particular renal function, of the oral iron chelator deferasirox (Exjade®) is of particular relevance in MDS patients (pts), given their advanced age and associated decline in renal function. This 1-yr pooled analysis characterizes the safety profile of deferasirox in a large population of MDS and non-MDS pts (β-thalassemia [β-thal] and other anemias [sickle cell, Diamond-Blackfan, aplastic and other]), with emphasis on renal function. Methods Analysis is based on 1-yr pooled data from iron-overloaded pts who were enrolled in five open-label deferasirox studies: US02 and US03 (single-arm (SA), Low/Int 1 MDS pts, starting dose 20 mg/kg/day); 2409 (SA, pts with transfusional hemosiderosis, starting dose 20 mg/kg/day); 107 (randomized trial in β-thal pts, dosing 5–40 mg/kg/day) and 108 (SA, pts with chronic anemias, dosing 5–40 mg/kg/day). Datasets pooled: baseline (BL) characteristics, dosing, transfusion, adverse events (AEs) and laboratory data. Results 1798 pts were assessed (951 β-thal; 584 MDS, 263 other). MDS pts were older (median age 71 yrs) compared with those with β-thal (25 yrs) and other anemias (38 yrs). Mean actual dose of deferasirox (mg/kg/day): β-thal pts 23.5; MDS pts 20.3; other 19.9. Mean transfusional iron intake (mg/kg/day): 0.34, 0.32 and 0.23 in β-thal, MDS and other anemias, respectively. At 1 yr, 88%, 53% and 69% of β-thal, MDS and other pts remained in the study, respectively. Most frequent reasons for discontinuation: AEs (n=42 [4%] β-thal; n=115 [20%] MDS; n=34 [13%] other anemias). Frequency of drug-related AEs was similar for MDS (68%) and other anemias (63%) compared with 49% for β-thal. Most common drug-related AEs in β-thal, MDS and others, respectively, were: diarrhea (11%; 37%; 23%), nausea (7%; 15%; 20%), vomiting (3%; 8%; 8%); rash (11%; 8%; 6%); abdominal pain (6%; 7%; 8%) and upper abdominal pain (4%; 5%; 8%). 64 deaths occurred (none assessed as related to deferasirox by the investigator); 4 (primarily cardiac), 47 (primarily infections, hemorrhages, progression to AML, cardiac events) and 13 (primarily infections) in the β-thal, MDS and other pts, respectively. BL versus last available creatinine clearance (CrCl) were analyzed graphically for MDS pts with/without investigator-reported renal dysfunction AEs (Figure). CrCl for the majority of β-thal and non-MDS pts was >60 mL/min at BL (not shown), while in the MDS group, as expected, there were more pts with CrCl <60 mL/min and reported renal dysfunction AEs (Fig. A). To evaluate pts with BL CrCl <60 mL/min, an expanded view was created (Fig. B). A greater proportion of MDS pts with renal AEs was reported in the 20–<30 mL/min (43%) and 30–<40 mL/min category (30%), versus the 40–<50 mL/min (13%) and 50–<60 mL/min categories (7%). Exploratory logistic regression modeling confirmed odds of reporting a renal dysfunction AE were 4 and 22 times for pts with CrCl 40–<60 mL/min and <40 mL/min, respectively, compared to pts with CrCl ≥60 mL/min. Pts with BL CrCl <40 mL/min (n=6) were >70 yrs with primarily pre-existing chronic renal insufficiency, diabetes, hypertension and congestive heart failure. Pts with BL CrCl 40–60 mL/min had fewer pre-existing conditions, but still had reported renal dysfunction AEs. In about half of cases with BL CrCl <60 mL/min, reported renal dysfunction AEs were not associated with a clinically significant increase in SCr and corresponding CrCl decline, consistent with investigators' discretion in reporting. Conclusions This comprehensive assessment of MDS and non-MDS pts with transfusional iron overload confirmed the known safety profile of deferasirox; with the most frequent drug-related AEs reported as gastrointestinal events. The findings were also consistent with the clinical features of MDS such as advanced age and co-morbidities. Pts with BL CrCl <40 mL/min were more likely to report renal dysfunction AEs and less likely to be able to compensate for additional stresses on their existing decreased renal function, given their pre-existing co-morbidities and advanced age. Deferasirox may be used in pts with BL CrCl 40–<60 mL/min with close monitoring, and should not be used in pts with BL CrCl <40 mL/min. Disclosures Cappellini: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Genzyme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Porter:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Vifor International: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Greenberg:Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Lawniczek:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Glaser:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Dong:Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Employment. Gattermann:Novartis: Honoraria, Participation in Advisory Boards on deferasirox clinical trials.
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Loi, P., K. Matsukawa, C. Galli, and G. Ptak. "202 INNER CELL MASS EXCHANGE IN SHEEP EMBRYOS." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 19, no. 1 (2007): 218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rdv19n1ab202.
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The presence of a developmental axis in the mammalian oocyte/embryo is still a controversial issue (Plusa 2005 Nature 17, 391–395). However, pre-established or not, mammalian blastocysts display a clear asymmetry with distinct embryonic and abembryonic poles. The present emphasis on ‘mosaic’ development in mammalian embryos is in contrast with classical embryological work, aimed at cell lineage analysis, where manipulation procedures severely perturbed the natural blastocyst asymmetry (Gardner 2001 RBM Online 4, 46–51). However, all of the experimental work thus far has been carried out on mouse embryos. In our work, we designed experiments to determine whether sheep embryos subjected to inner cell mass (ICM) transfer retain normal developmental competence. In vitro-derived sheep blastocysts (Ptak et al. 2003 Biol. Reprod. 69, 278–285) were manipulated with a Narishige micromanipulator fitted to a inverted Nikon microscope. ICMs were dissected with a blade, and the trophoblastic vesicle and ICMs were cultured in SOFaa plus 10% FCS. After re-expansion, trophoblastic vesicles were injected with ICMs by means of a bevelled pipette and cultured overnight with SOFaa plus 10% FCS. From a total of 35 blastocysts used, 25 re-expanded following injection, and 20 of them showed ICMs adherent to the trophoblast. Seven blastocysts were transferred into synchronized ewes 7 days after estrus, and monitored every month with an Aloka linear probe (7–5 MHz; Aloka Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Twenty-one in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos were transferred as a control. Three ewes receiving ICM-exchanged blastocysts were pregnant at the first scanning, and all delivered normal offspring (two female and one male lamb; weight: 3.54 ± 0.358 kg). These data demonstrate that dramatic alteration of the blastocyst structure does not compromise its developmental potential. Our efficiency in terms of offspring is lower compared with control IVP embryos, and also compared to data obtained in mice (Papaioannou 1982 J. Embryol. Exp. Morph. 68, 199–209), but technical improvements are expected to reduce such a gap. In conclusion, we demonstrated the feasibility of ICM/trophoblastic exchange in sheep blastocysts; these results might have important application for technologies like somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Common features of SCNT clones are placental abnormalities in early (DeSousa et al. 2001 Biol. Reprod. 65, 23–30) and late pregnancies (Loi et al. 2006 Theriogenology 65, 1110–1121). The transfer of ICM from cloned embryos to normal trophoblastic vesicles, although ineffective in cattle (Murakami et al. 2006 Cloning Stem Cells 8, 51–69), might be worth trying on sheep, a species where post-natal mortality in clones is a serious issue. Table 1.Development to term of manipulated and cloned embryos Part of this work was supported by EUROSTELLS-European Science Foundation.
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March, Andrew. "Islamic Constitutionalism Before Sovereignty: Two Defenses of the Tunisian Constitution of 1861." American Journal of Islam and Society 37, no. 1-2 (May 16, 2020): 1–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.35632/ajiss.v37i1-2.609.
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The 19th-century witnessed the first efforts to draw up constitutions in traditional Muslim monarchies. Far from emerging out of popular pressure, never mind revolution, these documents were largely motivated by the desire of rulers and their chief advisors to rationalize state legal and bureaucratic authority, in order to both strengthen central state control internally and also deal with increasing European pressure, particularly in fiscal and economic matters. Nonetheless these texts reflect a language of authority and legitimacy that is to a large extent a reflection of traditional Islamic constitutional theory, before the rise of popular, mass politics and the associated ideological transformation of Islamic political thought. This article focuses instead on the Tunisian constitutional moment of 1857-1861. I focus on two important sources for the study of the emergence of modern Islamic political-constitutional thought and the problem of sovereignty. The first set are the first attempts to create written constitutions for existing regimes and dynasties. The second set are the writings of important reformist intellectuals, both from within the lineage of traditional Islamic scholarship and from the class of new elites educated along “European” models, that sought to provide the intellectual and doctrinal justification for formal, written constitutions.
The primary goal of this article is to explore an important moment in Islamic modernity for the purposes of drawing a contrast with 20th-century, post-caliphal Islamist thought. The primary themes visible in 19th-century Islamic constitutional thought, on my reading, are a primarily “descending” conception of sovereign constituent power with a strong emphasis on the pre-political existence of a divine law that is both binding and guiding, but not necessarily the exclusive source of lawmaking. So-called “descending” tropes of political authority are in evidence in two primary forms: first, specific offices (most notably the Caliphate) are seen as ordained by God and obligatory on the Muslim community, which does not create them; second, power is frequently spoken of as being bestowed on rulers directly, without any mediation or authorization by the people. Where the ruler is said to derive his authority from human appointment, authorization or acclamation, this is usually done by the “People Who Loose and Bind” (scholars or other social notables) on their own authority (whether grounded epistemically or in social recognition) without election by the people they are meant to represent. Finally, while the authority of God’s law is uniformly asserted, the texts in question—from constitutions to scholarly treatises—do not tend to be preoccupied with the concept of “sovereignty” and its precise location. As 19th-century constitutionalist movements were largely elite driven affairs that pursued limited, legally-constrained governance as a path to political and economic modernization, they did not yet face opposition from mass movements using the language of Islam as a mobilizing ideology. Rather, their opposition came from entrenched elites (including traditional Islamic religious authorities) who had not yet formulated a coherent counter-revolutionary language.
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Osum, Sara H., Adrienne L. Watson, and David A. Largaespada. "Spontaneous and Engineered Large Animal Models of Neurofibromatosis Type 1." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 4 (February 16, 2021): 1954. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms22041954.
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Animal models are crucial to understanding human disease biology and developing new therapies. By far the most common animal used to investigate prevailing questions about human disease is the mouse. Mouse models are powerful tools for research as their small size, limited lifespan, and defined genetic background allow researchers to easily manipulate their genome and maintain large numbers of animals in general laboratory spaces. However, it is precisely these attributes that make them so different from humans and explains, in part, why these models do not accurately predict drug responses in human patients. This is particularly true of the neurofibromatoses (NFs), a group of genetic diseases that predispose individuals to tumors of the nervous system, the most common of which is Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Despite years of research, there are still many unanswered questions and few effective treatments for NF1. Genetically engineered mice have drastically improved our understanding of many aspects of NF1, but they do not exemplify the overall complexity of the disease and some findings do not translate well to humans due to differences in body size and physiology. Moreover, NF1 mouse models are heavily reliant on the Cre-Lox system, which does not accurately reflect the molecular mechanism of spontaneous loss of heterozygosity that accompanies human tumor development. Spontaneous and genetically engineered large animal models may provide a valuable supplement to rodent studies for NF1. Naturally occurring comparative models of disease are an attractive prospect because they occur on heterogeneous genetic backgrounds and are due to spontaneous rather than engineered mutations. The use of animals with naturally occurring disease has been effective for studying osteosarcoma, lymphoma, and diabetes. Spontaneous NF-like symptoms including neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) have been documented in several large animal species and share biological and clinical similarities with human NF1. These animals could provide additional insight into the complex biology of NF1 and potentially provide a platform for pre-clinical trials. Additionally, genetically engineered porcine models of NF1 have recently been developed and display a variety of clinical features similar to those seen in NF1 patients. Their large size and relatively long lifespan allow for longitudinal imaging studies and evaluation of innovative surgical techniques using human equipment. Greater genetic, anatomic, and physiologic similarities to humans enable the engineering of precise disease alleles found in human patients and make them ideal for preclinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of small molecule, cellular, and gene therapies prior to clinical trials in patients. Comparative genomic studies between humans and animals with naturally occurring disease, as well as preclinical studies in large animal disease models, may help identify new targets for therapeutic intervention and expedite the translation of new therapies. In this review, we discuss new genetically engineered large animal models of NF1 and cases of spontaneous NF-like manifestations in large animals, with a special emphasis on how these comparative models could act as a crucial translational intermediary between specialized murine models and NF1 patients.