Sport policy convergence: a framework for analysis

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in European Sport Management Quarterly on 30th April 2012, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/16184742.2012.669390The growth in the comparative analysis of sport management processes and policy has led to an increased interest in the concept of convergence. However, the concept is too often treated as unproblematic in definition, measurement and operationalisation. It is argued in this paper that a more effective framework for examining claims of convergence is one that analyses the concept in terms of seven dimensions which can be explored through a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. It is also argued that a deeper understanding of the process of convergence can be gained by operationalising the concept in the context of a selected range of meso-level theories of the policy process or of specific aspects of the process. The proposed analytic framework provides not only a definition of convergence but also the basis for a more nuanced investigation of hypotheses of convergence

Experimental investigation of propagation of radio waves of VHF and microwave range inside buildings

The paper presents the data and analysis of full-scale measurements of the levels of relative attenuation of radio waves of VHF and microwave range in various premises of a multistory building depending on their location with respect to the room with the transmitting antenna. For the microwave range of radio waves the paper presents data of laboratory measurements of coefficients of wave penetration through bricks, asbestos cement slabs, and wooden boards

Clutter and malfunction at the impact of powerful nanosecond pulses on transceivers of cellular and mobile communication systems

The paper presents the results of experiments concerning the impact of nonlinear clutter of powerful nanosecond pulses on radiotelephones, causing them to malfunction, and on nearby communication transceivers, for the deliberate distortion of signals radiated into space and for forced switching of the transmitter’s generators to a mismatched load with subsequently causes them to go out of service because of overheating. Some unique features of this type of clutter are discussed, as well as advantages of radio suppression of telecommunication systems with the aid of such interference

Increasing the resolution of ECG and EEG mapping equipment using nanosensors

The problem of a large number of people with cardiovascular diseases and brain diseases is relevant all over the world. The problem of mortality and the consequences of these diseases is particularly acute. Therefore, an important way in medical instrumentation is to improve and increase the amount of information with the help of external methods of diagnosing these diseases. Nanosensors have been developed at Tomsk Polytechnic University to significantly improve the quality of electrophysiological measurements. It is proposed to apply the developed nanosensors for ECG and EEG mapping

ROLE OF MULTIPLEX CYTOKINE ANALYSIS IN THE EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF RITUXIMAB DURING TREATMENT FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Along with its basic activity in removing B-lymphocytes, rituximab (RTM) causes depletion of a population of CD20+ T cells that can pro- duce a variety of immunoregulatory and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Objective: to define a role of multiplex cytokine analysis in the evaluation of the efficiency of using RMT in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Subjects and methods. Thirty-four patients with the valid diagnosis of RA according to the ACR criteria of 1987 were examined. The con- centrations of cytokines were measured using the xMAP technology (27-plex). Results and discussion. In the group of patients with a clinical response to therapy with the gene engineering biological agent, there was a decrease in the concentrations of interleukins (IL) 1β, 1ra, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 13, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM- CSF), γ-interferon (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant 1 at week 8 of therapy; that in IL 1β, 1ra, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 15, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), GM-CSF, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α at week 24, and that in IL-9 at week 40. The no-clinical response group showed a reduction in GM-CSF at week 8 and in IL-2 and macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (MIP-1β) at week 40, and an increase in IL-8 at week 8. At week 8 after drug infusion, the elevated levels of IL-17 and MIP-1β can be identified as possible early pre- dictors of a response (at week 40). Comparison of the baseline cytokine levels in the groups with different clinical response demonstrated a more than three-fold increase in the concentrations of IL 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 17, IFN-γ, and vascular endothelial growth factor, and IL-8 at weeks 8 and 40, respectively

The first Russian strategic study of pharmacotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis (REMARCA)

The international recommendations «Treat to target» (T2T) underline the greatest importance of treatment strategy for the success of treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Evaluation of the efficiency of this approach obviously requires special strategic studies with an adaptive design, which substantially differ from classical randomized clinical trials and are much closer to clinical practice. To date, there are only single publications on the practical application of the T2T recommendations, there is a problem in the choice of effectiveness criteria and there are a number of other important problems associated with the introduction of these recommendations. The Russian study REMARCA is to answer these questions. Its design focuses on the practical adaptation of the T2T strategy to treat patients with earlyand extended-stage active RA who have poor prognostic factors, by using subcutaneous methotrexate and genetically engineered biological agents (GEBA). Preliminary analysis shows that therapy according to the REMARCA protocol is successful in the majority of patients. The high rate of low RA activity and remission has been achieved during subcutaneous methotrexate monotherapy. The patients who need GEBA to be incorporated may be initially more resistant to therapy. The patients with early RA have better chances of successful T2T therapy than those with extended-stage RA

Gender Stereotypes of Personality: Universal and Accurate?

Numerous studies have documented subtle but consistent sex differences in self-reports and observer-ratings of five-factor personality traits, and such effects were found to show well-defined developmental trajectories and remarkable similarity across nations. In contrast, very little is known about perceived gender differences in five-factor traits in spite of their potential implications for gender biases at the interpersonal and societal level. In particular, it is not clear how perceived gender differences in five-factor personality vary across age groups and national contexts and to what extent they accurately reflect assessed sex differences in personality. To address these questions, we analyzed responses from 3,323 individuals across 26 nations (mean age = 22.3 years, 31% male) who were asked to rate the five-factor personality traits of typical men or women in three age groups (adolescent, adult, and older adult) in their respective nations. Raters perceived women as slightly higher in openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness as well as some aspects of extraversion and neuroticism. Perceived gender differences were fairly consistent across nations and target age groups and mapped closely onto assessed sex differences in self- and observer-rated personality. Associations between the average size of perceived gender differences and national variations in sociodemographic characteristics, value systems, or gender equality did not reach statistical significance. Findings contribute to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of gender stereotypes of personality and suggest that perceptions of actual sex differences may play a more important role than culturally based gender roles and socialization processes. © The Author(s) 2014