627 research outputs found
International migration and illegal costs: Evidence from Africa-to-Europe smuggling routes
No full textThe 2011 Arab Spring marked the opening of the Central Mediterranean Route for irregular border crossings between Libya and Italy, which produced heterogeneous reductions of bilateral smuggling distances between country pairs in the Mediterranean region. We exploit this source of spatial and temporal variation in bilateral distance along land and sea routes to estimate the elasticity of irregular migration intentions for African and Near East countries. We estimate an elasticity of migration intentions to smuggling distances exceeding -3, mainly driven by countries with weak rule of law and high internet penetration. Our findings are consistent across irregular migration measures both at the aggregate and individual levels. We show that irregular migration elasticity is higher for youth, relatively skilled individuals and those with an informative advantage (having a social network abroad or a mobile phone)
CO2-laser optical lattice with cold rubidium atoms
No full textLaser-cooled rubidium atoms have been trapped in a nondissipative optical lattice with a large lattice constant. The lattice potential is generated by the ac Stark shift in an infrared standing wave near 10.6 mu m. The atoms are confined in steep potential wells with a periodicity of several micrometers. By modulating the potential depth we parametrically excite the atoms and measure their vibrational frequencie
What to Measure and How to Measure - Otpical Sensing
No full textWhat to Measure and How to Measure - Otpical Sensin
Association of genomic domains in BRCA1 and BRCA2 with prostate cancer risk and aggressiveness
No full textPathogenic sequence variants (PSV) in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) are associated with increased risk and severity of prostate cancer. We evaluated whether PSVs in BRCA1/2 were associated with risk of overall prostate cancer or high grade (Gleason 8þ) prostate cancer using an international sample of 65 BRCA1 and 171 BRCA2 male PSV carriers with prostate cancer, and 3,388 BRCA1 and 2,880 BRCA2 male PSV carriers without prostate cancer. PSVs in the 3
0 region of BRCA2 (c.7914þ) were significantly associated with elevated risk of prostate cancer compared with reference bin c.1001c.7913 [HR ¼ 1.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.25–2.52; P ¼ 0.001], as well as elevated risk of Gleason 8þ prostate cancer (HR ¼ 3.11; 95% CI, 1.63–5.95; P ¼ 0.001). c.756-c.1000 was also associated with elevated prostate cancer risk (HR ¼ 2.83; 95% CI, 1.71–4.68; P ¼ 0.00004) and elevated risk of Gleason 8þ prostate cancer (HR ¼ 4.95; 95% CI, 2.12–11.54; P ¼ 0.0002). No genotype–phenotype associations were detected for PSVs in BRCA1. These results demonstrate that specific BRCA2 PSVs may be associated with elevated risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer.
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Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans induces biofilm formation of Streptococcus sanguinis on titanium implants
No full textAbstract Purpose This study aims to investigate the distinct behaviors of single-species and dual-species biofilms formed by Streptococcus sanguinis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans on different titanium and implant surfaces. Four types of surfaces were examined: two clinically used implant surfaces, a super-polished surface and a sand-blasted surface of grade 4 titanium. Methods Specimens were incubated with single- and dual-species biofilms for 24 h. Biofilm formation was determined based on the amount of total DNA extracted from the bacteria. In order to specifically determine the biofilm formation of Streptococcus sanguinis, qPCR experiments were carried out. Staining followed by fluorescence microscopy was employed to verify the efficiency of the washing steps. Results Biofilm formation by single- and dual-species cultures was observed on all tested implant surfaces. However, a clear influence of surface characteristics on biofilm formation could not be conclusively demonstrated. Mixed cultures of S. sanguinis and A. actinomycetemcomitans (AAC) exhibited increased biofilm formation through the enhanced DNA amount of S. sanguinis. In contrast, this effect was not observed in dual-species cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. sanguinis. Conclusion AAC promotes biofilm formation of S. sanguinis, highlighting the significant role of AAC in enhancing biofilm development. Conversely, a definitive conclusion regarding the correlation between titanium implant surface roughness and biofilm formation was not possible. However, our results suggest a tendency that dual-species biofilm formation may be influenced by surface structure.Open-Access-Publikationsfonds 202
Generative Transcriptions: An Opera of the Self
No full textThe techniques which I developed for my work between 2009-12 are a consequence of my own unique mix of synaesthetic sensibilities. I have sought to investigate these innate impulses in order to formulate a deeper understanding of my compositional process and define technical strategies that I have termed generative transcriptions.
In this thesis I focus on CANTO MORPH, ‘an opera of the self’, a project in multiple parts exploring processes of embodiment, association and dissociation. It is realised through the media of recorded improvisation, a 45-minute scored composition, a virtual architecture, a media installation, a video installation and a sculptural libretto.
This project as ‘an opera of the self’ is located in an experiential process comprising several stages:
1/ I perform a series of improvisations in a trance-like state using various instruments and my own voice to create multi-layered recordings – trance improvisation mix.
2/ These recordings are subjected to analytical transcription which I understand as a process of reverse engineering akin to the process that architects employ whereby complex 3-dimensional structures of buildings are analysed and explored diagrammatically in order to discover what kind of essence might be contained in the blueprint of its built form. I cite Xenakis’ Philips Pavilion and the dual nature of composition/architecture that is embodied within this design. This process inspires my own methodology, where mimetic scripts are created from the trance improvised mix and then refined and further manipulated into a score that can be performed.
3/ The improvisation-analysis-composition process which can broadly be conceived as an ‘embodiment of self’ is subjected to another stage in which I create a new body – a re-embodiment in which to site the work architecturally.
In exploring the multi-modal approach that is represented by the CANTO MORPH, I have underpinned a novel and multi-facetted way to approach a compositional practice, where through synaesthetic empowerment, a myriad of forces enable an emergent compositional method of generative transcriptions
Team Governance: Empowerment or Hierarchical Control
No full textWe investigate a team setting in which workers have different degrees of commitment to the outcome of their work. We show that if there are complementarities in production and if the team manager has some information about team members, interventions that the manager undertakes in order to assure certain efforts may have destructive effects: they can distort the way workers perceive their fellow workers and they may also lead to a reduction of effort by those workers that care most about output. Moreover, interventions may hinder the development of a cooperative organizational culture in which workers trust each other. Thus, our framework provides some first insights into the costs and benefits of interventions in teams. It identifies that team governance is driven by the importance of tasks that cannot be monitored. The more important these tasks, the more likely it is that teams are empowered.team work, incentives, informed principal, intrinsic motivation
Insider Privatization and Careers - A Study of a Russian Firm in Transition
No full textWe study how transition has affected human resource policies of a Russian heavy industry firm. Our data set contains personnel files of 1538 white-collar workers over 17 years: from 1984 to 2000. We find career paths before the first year of Gaidar's reforms, 1992, when Russian transition to a market economy began. After 1992, promotions are blocked, because both (i) more managers are hired from the outside, and (ii) fewer managers leave the firm. A possible reason is an extremely weak outsider property rights enforcement in Russia. Keywords: institutional environment and internal labor market, transition to a market economy.
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