Hamiltonian model for multidimensional epistasis

We propose and solve a Hamiltonian model for multidimensional epistastatic interactions between beneficial mutations. The model is able to give rise either to a phase transition between two equilibrium states, without any coexistence, or exhibits a state where hybrid species can coexist, with gradual passage from one wild type to another. The transition takes place as a function of the "tolerance" of the environment, which we define as the amount of noise in the system.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures (in seperate files) spelling corrected and a reference adde

The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy including updating the early life experiences and images with the empty chair technique on social anxiety

Specific memories of early negative life experiences (ENLE) and images play an important role in the cause and persistence of social anxiety. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of individual Cognitive Behavior Therapy (iCBT), which includes updating a specific memory of ENLE and related images using the empty chair technique, on the social anxiety of university students. In addition to this, how iCBT applied affects the students' general self efficacy and psychological well-being is also examined. The current study was carried out with a total of eight university students, six female and two male. Participants attended iCBT sessions for 12 weeks. Changes in participants were evaluated with Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Flourishing Scale (FS) before iCBT, and one week, three months and six months after iCBT ended. The findings show that participants' social anxiety decreased both statistically and clinically in post-tests and follow-up measures. There were statistically and clinically significant increases in general self-efficacy and psychological well-being. In addition, the changes in the participants' social anxiety, general self-efficacy and psychological well-being post-test and follow-up measures have a large effect size. This study shows that iCBT, which includes updating of specific memories of ENLE and images, is effective in reducing social anxiety and increasing general self-efficacy and psychological well-being. These findings show that iCBT, which includes updating a specific memory of ENLE and related images, using the empty chair technique is an effective method reducing for university students' social anxiety

Veri Zarflama Analizi ile Türk Sigorta Sektörünün Elementer Branşlarda Değerlendirilmesi Evaluation of Turkish Insurance Sector in Non-Life Insurance With Data Envelopment Analysis

Bu çalışma Türk Sigorta Sektöründe son üç yıl için elementer branşlarda yer alan sigorta şirketlerine ait etkinlik düzeylerinin Veri Zarflama Analizi (VZA) ile belirlenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. VZA, parametrik olmayan bir etkinlik ölçüm yöntemidir. Veri Zarflama Analizi, benzer girdiler ile çıktı ya da çıktılar ortaya koyan karar birimlerinin göreceli etkinliklerini değerlendirmek için kullanılan ve doğrusal programlama tabanlı bir yöntem olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Çalışmada literatür değerlendirmesi ile belirlenmiş olan finansal ve finansal olmayan değişkenler kullanılmıştır. Kurulan model DEA-SOLVER programı ile çözülmüş olup, ölçeğe göre değişken getiri varsayımına dayanan Girdi Yönlü BBC Süper Etkinlik (SuperRadial(Super-BCC-I)) modeli kullanılmıştır. This study is aimed to determine the efficiency levels of the insurance companies in elementary branches in the last three years period in the Turkish Insurance Sector with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). DEA is a nonparametric efficiency measurement method. Data Envelopment Analysis is defined as a linear programming based method used to evaluate the relative activities of decision units that produce outputs with similar inputs. Financial and non-financial variables determined by literature review were used in the study. The established model which is based on a variable return-based assumption, Banker-Charnes-Cooper (BCC) model was solved by the DEA-SOLVER program

Evaluation of the spectrum of bacteria encountered in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media with their antibiotic sensitivity pattern

Abstract:  Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the most frequent bacteria that cause chronic suppurative otitis media(CSOM)  and their  sensitivity to various antimicrobials so that an appropriate therapy can be started promptly while awaiting the results of the culture and sensitivity of the isolate to various antibiotics. Methodology: This study was conducted at Alforat teaching hospital in Najaf city at the ear-nose-throat (ENT) department from December 2010 to April 2011. The swab was taken from ear discharge before starting the antibiotics and cultured on MacConckey agar(Oxoid, England) and blood agar(HiMedia, India).Gram positive bacteria were identified on the bases of colony morphology ,Gram staining, catalase test and  coagulase test  while the Gram negative bacteria were identified by oxidase test and API 20E(API BioMerieux, France). The sensitivity of the isolates to various antibiotics  was tested by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion technique. Results: The study showed that females are more prone to get the infection than  males  in a ratio of 1.8: 1 and the frequent ages liable for infection lie between 3months – 15 year, also  it revealed that the gram negative bacteria were more frequent in causing the infection than gram positive bacteria in a ratio of 2.64 :1 and  Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent species that causes CSOM  then Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more sensitive to ciprofloxacin than to gentamicin, Staphylococcus aureus also showed more sensitivity to ciprofloxacin than gentamicin, while Proteus mirabilis had the same degree of sensitivity to those 2 antibiotics.  Conclusions: 1- Children are more prone to be infected with CSOM because of their small Eustachian tube and low immunity. 2- Gram negative bacteria were more common in causing the infection than gram-positive bacteria in this study. 3- Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent bacteria that cause CSOM then Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis. 4- Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more sensitive to ciprofloxacin than to gentamicin despite the fact that gentamicin is known to be effective against gram negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa propably because of antibiotic miss use and genetic mutation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa .     Key words: Chronic suppurative otitis media, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus , ciprofloxacin , gentamicin.       

Psychologisch-pädagogische Begründung der Ausbildung der Handwerksuntemehmer

In der Monographie von einem Autorenkollektiv werden psychologischpädagogische Grundlagen der Berufsausbildung der Handwerksuntemehmer dargelegt. Ein besonderer Akzent wird auf das innovative Eingehen aufs Projektieren des kognitiv orientierten sowie des handlungs- und persönlichkeitsorientierten Unterrichts gelegt. Es wird eine große Aufmerksamkeit der Entwicklung von Schlüsselqualifikationen undkompetenzen der Handwerksuntemehmer geschenkt. Das Autorenteam analysiert die psychologisch-pädagogische Begründung und Aufbereitung des berufspädagogischen Prozesses und die Monitoringmöglichkeiten im Bereich des beruflichen Werdens zukünftiger Handwerker. Es werden Beispiele für die Realisierung des selbstgesteuerten Lernens angeführt, und zwar Projektmethode, Leittextmethode und didaktisch-methodische Karten. Die Monographie fasst einen Teil der problemlösenden Versuchsarbeit zusammen, die von den Autoren im Rahmen des deutsch-russischen Projekts „Förderung des Handwerks durch Berufaausbildung“ an dem Berufslyzeums für Handwerksuntemehmer / Jekaterinburg verwirklicht wird. Dieses Werk ist für die mit der Ausbildung von Fachleuten für das Handwerk beschäftigten Berufspädagogen sowie für die im Bereich der psychologischen und pädagogischen Aspekte der Berufsausbildung der Handwerker forschenden Wissenschaftler bestimmtВ коллективной монографии излагаются психолого-педагогические основы профессиональной подготовки ремесленников-предпринимателей. Делается акцент на инновационном подходе к проектированию технологий когнитивно, деятельностно и личностно ориентированного обучения. Большое внимание уделяется развитию ключевых квалификаций и компетенций ремесленников-предпринимателей. Анализируются психологопедагогическое обеспечение профессионально-образовательного процесса и возможности мониторинга профессионального становления будущих ремесленников. Рассматривается реализация саморегулируемого обучения путем применения метода проектов, метода направляющих текстов и дидактико-методических карт. В монографии обобщена часть опытно-поисковой работы, осуществляемой авторами в рамках германо-российского проекта "Поддержка ремесел через профессиональное образование" в профессиональном лицее ремесленников-предпринимателей (Екатеринбург). Книга адресована профессионально-педагогическим работникам, осуществляющим подготовку специалистов ремесленного профиля, а также исследователям в области психологии и педагогики профессионального образования ремесленнико

A gut-to-brain signal of fluid osmolarity controls thirst satiation.

Satiation is the process by which eating and drinking reduce appetite. For thirst, oropharyngeal cues have a critical role in driving satiation by reporting to the brain the volume of fluid that has been ingested1-12. By contrast, the mechanisms that relay the osmolarity of ingested fluids remain poorly understood. Here we show that the water and salt content of the gastrointestinal tract are precisely measured and then rapidly communicated to the brain to control drinking behaviour in mice. We demonstrate that this osmosensory signal is necessary and sufficient for satiation during normal drinking, involves the vagus nerve and is transmitted to key forebrain neurons that control thirst and vasopressin secretion. Using microendoscopic imaging, we show that individual neurons compute homeostatic need by integrating this gastrointestinal osmosensory information with oropharyngeal and blood-borne signals. These findings reveal how the fluid homeostasis system monitors the osmolarity of ingested fluids to dynamically control drinking behaviour

On Parallel Paths: Learning through Case Studies in the Writing Pedagogy Course

This article reports on a case study project assigned in a writing pedagogy course. The authors, four graduate teaching assistants and their professor, share their case study questions, experiences, and challenges. Via the case study assignment, the TAs identified parallel experiences they shared with their students. Recognizing parallel paths helps first-year TAs reflect on their experiences as teachers and learners, build connections with students, and develop sustainable teaching practices beyond the first year. The authors share strategies for identifying parallel paths and encourage TA educators to incorporate them into the writing pedagogy course

Frequency, Etiology and Leading Causes of Pre-Senile Cataract: A Descriptive Study

Background: Cataract is generally caused due to physical aging, but in some cases, there are chances that it may develop in early ages (Pre-senile cataract). Pre-senile cataract is believed not to be primary in nature and some underlying ocular/systemic/environmental factor is causing the lens opacification at an early age. This study aim was to determine frequency and risk factors of pre-senile cataract in our populationMethods: this observational study at Outdoor Patient - Eye in Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi (BBH), for the period from December 2017 to June 2018. Cataract was diagnosed on slit lamp examination. Detail history, Ocular and systemic examination was done for all pre-senile cataract cases. Laboratory/radiological investigations were performed when and where required. Using the Excel spreadsheet, Statistical analysis of descriptive data was carried out.Results: A total of 11448 patients were examined, whereby cataract was found in 849 (7.41%) patients. Out of these 849, 165 (19.43%) cases were pre-senile cataract. Pre-senile cataract was most seen in age group 30-49 86 (52.13%) and among women 93 (56.36%). The identified causes were idiopathic 55 (33.3%), diabetes 45(27.3%) and Steroids and other drugs related 33 (20.0%). posterior sub-capsular cataract is 60(36.36%) was most identified type in the study among pre-senile cataract