335 research outputs found
Blidaru e Pintea: politiche e rappresentazioni dell'haiducia nell'area di Codru (Romania)
No full textThe Impact of Incentives on Human Behavior: Can We Make It Disappear? The Case of the Death Penalty
No full textAlthough decades of empirical research has demonstrated that criminal behavior responds to incentives, non-economists frequently express the belief that human beings are not rational enough to make calculated decisions about the costs and benefits of engaging in crime and therefore, a priori drawing the conclusion that criminal activity cannot be altered by incentives. However, scientific research should not be driven by personal beliefs. Whether or not economic conditions matter or deterrence measures such police, arrests, prison deaths, executions, and commutations provide signals to people is an empirical question, which should be guided by a solid theoretical framework. In this paper we extend the analysis of Mocan and Gittings (2003). We alter the original model in a number of directions to make the relationship between homicide rates and death penalty related outcomes (executions, commutations and removals) disappear. We deliberately deviate from the theoretically consistent measurement of the risk variables originally employed by Mocan and Gittings (2003) in a variety of ways. We also investigate the sensitivity of the results to changes in the estimation sample (removing high executing states for example) and weighting. The basic results are insensitive to these and a variety of other specification tests performed in the paper. The results are often strong enough to even hold up under theoretically meaningless measurements of the risk variables. In summary, the original findings of Mocan and Gittings (2003) are robust, providing evidence that people indeed react to incentives induced by capital punishment. Research findings about the deterrent effect of the death penalty evoke strong feelings, which could be due to political, ideological, religious, or other personal beliefs. Yet, such findings do not mean that capital punishment is good or bad, nor does it provide any judgment about whether capital punishment should be implemented or abolished. It is simply a scientific finding which demonstrates that people react to incentives. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of this result.
Narration Techniques of “Yalniziz”
No full textEdebî metinlerde ne anlatıldığından çok nasıl anlatıldığı önemlidir. Yazarın nasıl anlattığını, yani üslubunu oluşturan unsurlardan biri de anlatım teknikleridir. Anlatım teknikleri, yazarın olayı, öyküyü anlatırken anlatımı güçlendirmek, anlatılanı daha etkili bir şekilde aktarmak için seçtiği ve kullandığı yöntemlerdir. Yazarın ya da eserin amacına uygun olarak seçilen anlatım teknikleri, edebî eseri oluşturan olay, kişiler, zaman, mekân gibi unsurların bir arada ve etkili şekilde okura sunulmasını sağlar. Anlatım teknikleri, geçmişten bugüne, ortaya çıkan gelişmelerle birlikte, giderek çeşitlenmiştir. Günümüzde roman, geçmişe göre daha karmaşık bir yapıdadır, romanın böyle bir hal almasında anlatım tekniklerinin de payı vardır. Bir romanın başarılı, güçlü olması, bir anlamda, anlatım tekniklerinin yerli yerinde kullanılmasına bağlıdır. Peyami Safa, yazdığı romanlarla Türk edebiyatı içinde önemli bir yerde bulunmasının yanında, romanın nasıl yazılması gerektiği üzerine de düşünen bir yazardır. Yazar, romanın teknik sorunları üzerine düşünmüş ve bu düşüncelerini okurlarla paylaşmıştır. Roman türünün tekniklerini bilen ve bunları eserlerinde kullanan yazar, romanlarında farklı anlatım tekniklerine yer vermiştir. Yalnızız, 1950 yılında tefrika edilmiş, 1951 yılında kitap olarak basılmıştır. Yazarın son romanı olan Yalnızız, anlatım teknikleri bakımından oldukça zengindir. Bu çalışmada, Peyami Safa'nın olgunluk dönemi eserlerinden Yalnızız romanında kullanılan anlatım teknikleri örneklerle ortaya konmaya çalışılmıştırIn literary texts, the method of narration is more significant than the contents. One of the components of the author’s narration method, his style is his narration technique. Narration techniques are ways that the author has chosen to use to enhance and to be able to tell the story more effectively. The narration techniques that have been utilized to suit the author’s purpose and the literary piece enable the plot characters, time and site to be collectively and effectively presented to the reader. With new developments, the narration techniques, have been increased in variaty through time. Nowadays, the novel is more complex than it has been in the past, and the narrative techniques have an impact on this result. In a way, in order for a novel to be successful and strong the narration techniques need to be used effectively. Peyami Safa, as well as holding a prominent place in Turkish literature, is an author who pays attention to the style of writing. The author has thought about the technical difficulties of the novel and has shared this with his readers. The author, who is knowledgable about the style techniques of his novel and has utilized them in his work has done so in a variety of ways. Yalnızız, has been published as installments in 1950, and been published as a book in 1951. The last novel of the author, Yalnızız is quite rich in terms of narrative techniques. The attempt of this study of Yalnızız, one of the creations of Payami Safa’s mature period, is to point out the narration techniques with examples
Laser thermal ablation of multidrug-resistant bacteria using functionalized gold nanoparticles
No full textLucian Mocan,1,2 Flaviu A Tabaran,3 Teodora Mocan,2,4 Teodora Pop,5 Ofelia Mosteanu,5 Lucia Agoston-Coldea,6 Cristian T Matea,2 Diana Gonciar,2 Claudiu Zdrehus,1,2 Cornel Iancu1 13rd Department of General Surgery, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2Department of Nanomedicine, “Octavian Fodor” Gastroenterology Institute, 3Department of Pathology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 4Department of Physiology, 53rd Gastroenterology Department, 6Department of Internal Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Abstract: The issue of multidrug resistance (MDR) has become an increasing threat to public health. One alternative strategy against MDR bacteria would be to construct therapeutic vectors capable of physically damaging these microorganisms. Gold nanoparticles hold great promise for the development of such therapeutic agents, since the nanoparticles exhibit impressive properties, of which the most important is the ability to convert light into heat. This property has scientific significance since is exploited to develop nano-photothermal vectors to destroy bacteria at a molecular level. The present paper summarizes the latest advancements in the field of nanotargeted laser hyperthermia of MDR bacteria mediated by gold nanoparticles. Keywords: bacteria, photo-thermal ablation, gold nanoparticles, antibiotic resistanc
Photothermal treatment of liver cancer with albumin-conjugated gold nanoparticles initiates Golgi Apparatus–ER dysfunction and caspase-3 apoptotic pathway activation by selective targeting of Gp60 receptor
No full textLucian Mocan,1,2 Cristian Matea,1 Flaviu A Tabaran,3 Ofelia Mosteanu,1,4 Teodora Pop,1,4 Teodora Mocan,1,5 Cornel Iancu1,2 1Nanomedicine Department, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 2Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu”, 3Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 4Department of Gastroenterology, 5Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu”, Croitorilor, Cluj-Napoca, Romania Abstract: We present a method of enhanced laser thermal ablation of HepG2 cells based on a simple gold nanoparticle (GNP) carrier system such as serum albumin (Alb), and demonstrate its selective therapeutic efficacy compared with normal hepatocyte cells. HepG2 or hepatocytes were treated with Alb-GNPs at various concentrations and various incubation times, and further irradiated using a 2 W, 808 nm laser. Darkfield microscopy and immunochemical staining was used to demonstrate the selective internalization of Alb-GNPs inside the HepG2 cells via Gp60 receptors targeting. The postirradiation apoptotic rate of HepG2 cells treated with Alb-GNPs ranged from 25.8% (for 5 µg/mL) to 48.2% (for 50 µg/mL) at 60 seconds, while at 30 minutes the necrotic rate increased from 35.7% (5 µg/mL) to 52.3% (50 µg/mL), P-value <0.001. Significantly lower necrotic rates were obtained when human hepatocytes were treated with Alb-GNPs in a similar manner. We also showed by means of immunocytochemistry that photothermal treatment of Alb-conjugated GNPs in liver cancer initiates Golgi apparatus–endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction with consequent caspase-3 apoptotic pathway activation and cellular apoptosis. The presented results may become a new method of treating cancer cells by selective therapeutic vectors using nanolocalized thermal ablation by laser heating. Keywords: liver cancer, gold nanoparticles, HepG2 cells, functionalization, laser irradiation, albumi
Quantum dots in imaging, drug delivery and sensor applications
No full textCristian T Matea,1,* Teodora Mocan,1,2,* Flaviu Tabaran,1,3,* Teodora Pop,1,4,* Ofelia Mosteanu,1,4,* Cosmin Puia,1,5,* Cornel Iancu,1,5,* Lucian Mocan1,5,* 1Nanomedicine Department, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Octavian Fodor”, 2Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu”, 3Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 4Department of Gastroenterology, 5Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Iuliu Hatieganu”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Quantum dots (QDs), also known as nanoscale semiconductor crystals, are nanoparticles with unique optical and electronic properties such as bright and intensive fluorescence. Since most conventional organic label dyes do not offer the near-infrared (>650 nm) emission possibility, QDs, with their tunable optical properties, have gained a lot of interest. They possess characteristics such as good chemical and photo-stability, high quantum yield and size-tunable light emission. Different types of QDs can be excited with the same light wavelength, and their narrow emission bands can be detected simultaneously for multiple assays. There is an increasing interest in the development of nano-theranostics platforms for simultaneous sensing, imaging and therapy. QDs have great potential for such applications, with notable results already published in the fields of sensors, drug delivery and biomedical imaging. This review summarizes the latest developments available in literature regarding the use of QDs for medical applications. Keywords: quantum dots, biomedical applications, nanoprobes, theranostic platform
Is Leisure a Normal Good? Evidence from the European Parliament
No full textPrior to July 2009, salaries of the members of the European Parliament were paid by their home country and there were substantial salary differences between parliamentarians representing different EU countries. Starting in July 2009, the salary of each member of the Parliament is pegged to 38.5% of a European Court judge’s salary, paid by the EU. This created an exogenous change in salaries, the magnitude and direction of which varied substantially between parliamentarians. Parliamentarians receive per diem compensation for each plenary session they attend, but salaries constitute unearned income as they are independent of attendance to the Parliament. Using detailed information on each parliamentarian of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2011 we show that an increase in salaries reduces attendance to plenary sessions and an increase in per diem compensation increases it. We also show that corruption in home country has a negative effect on attendance for seasoned members of the Parliament.
Is Leisure a Normal Good? Evidence from the European Parliament
No full textPrior to July 2009, salaries of the members of the European Parliament were paid by their home country and there were substantial salary differences between parliamentarians representing different EU countries. Starting in July 2009, the salary of each member of the Parliament is pegged to 38.5% of a European Court judge's salary, paid by the EU. This created an exogenous change in salaries, the magnitude and direction of which varied substantially between parliamentarians. Parliamentarians receive per diem compensation for each plenary session they attend, but salaries constitute unearned income as they are independent of attendance to the Parliament. Using detailed information on each parliamentarian of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2011 we show that an increase in salaries reduces attendance to plenary sessions and an increase in per diem compensation increases it. We also show that corruption in home country has a negative effect on attendance for seasoned members of the Parliament.labor supply, corruption, EU
Theft and Deterrence
No full textWe report results from economic experiments of decisions that are best described as petty larceny, with high school and college students who can anonymously steal real money from each other. Our design allows exogenous variation in the rewards of crime, and the penalty and probability of detection. We find that the probability of stealing is increasing in the amount of money that can be stolen, and that it is decreasing in the probability of getting caught and in the penalty for getting caught. Furthermore, the impact of the certainty of getting caught is larger when the penalty is bigger, and the impact of the penalty is bigger when the probability of getting caught is larger.
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