1,207 research outputs found
Of Candidates and Character
We study the characteristics of self-selected candidates in corrupt political systems. Potential candidates differ along two dimensions of unobservable character: public spirit (altruism toward others) and honesty (the disutility suffered when selling out to special interests after securing office). Both aspects combine to determine an individual's quality as governor. We characterize properties of equilibrium candidate pools for arbitrary costs of running for office. As the cost of running vanishes, there is an essentially unique candidate pool, which is typically highly asymmetric: it consists of only the most dishonest individuals but a mixture of the most selfish and the most public-spirited ones. We explore how two policy instruments -- the governor's compensation and anti-corruption enforcement -- affect the expected quality of governance through candidate self-selection. We also examine the effects of incumbency and term limits on self-selection in a dynamic version of the model.
New cluster members and halo stars of the Galactic globular cluster NGC 1851
NGC 1851 is an intriguing Galactic globular cluster, with multiple stellar
evolutionary sequences, light and heavy element abundance variations and
indications of a surrounding stellar halo. We present the first results of a
spectroscopic study of red giant stars within and outside of the tidal radius
of this cluster. Our results identify nine probable new cluster members (inside
the tidal radius) with heliocentric radial velocities consistent with that of
NGC 1851. We also identify, based on their radial velocities, four probable
extratidal cluster halo stars at distances up to ~3.1 times the tidal radius,
which are supportive of previous findings that NGC 1851 is surrounded by an
extended stellar halo. Proper motions were available for 12 of these 13 stars
and all are consistent with that of NGC 1851. Apart from the cluster members
and cluster halo stars, our observed radial velocity distribution agrees with
the expected distribution from a Besancon disk/N-body stellar halo Milky Way
model generated by the Galaxia code, suggesting that no other structures at
different radial velocities are present in our field. The metallicities of
these stars are estimated using equivalent width measurements of the near
infrared calcium triplet absorption lines and are found, within the limitations
of this method, to be consistent with that of NGC 1851. In addition we recover
110 red giant cluster members from previous studies based on their radial
velocities and identify three stars with unusually high radial velocities.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
New halo stars of the Galactic globular clusters M3 and M13 in the LAMOST DR1 Catalog
M3 and M13 are Galactic globular clusters with previous reports of
surrounding stellar halos. We present the results of a search for members and
extratidal cluster halo stars within and outside of the tidal radius of these
clusters in the LAMOST Data Release 1. We find seven candidate cluster members
(inside the tidal radius) of both M3 and M13 respectively. In M3 we also
identify eight candidate extratidal cluster halo stars at distances up to ~9.8
times the tidal radius, and in M13 we identify 12 candidate extratidal cluster
halo stars at distances up to ~13.8 times the tidal radius. These results
support previous indications that both M3 and M13 are surrounded by extended
stellar halos, and we find that the GC destruction rates corresponding to the
observed mass loss are generally significantly higher than theoretical studies
predict.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
A comparative study on the effectiveness of bupivacaine and ropivacaine for supraclavicular block
Background: Bupivacaine and Ropivacaine have been extensively studied &their properties with respect to onset, duration and quality of block. This study aims to detect whether addition of clonidine to both of them changes their properties. This study also aims to use lower than usual dosages for both the local anesthetics to prevent adverse effects of local anesthetics.Methods: After obtaining ethical approval, the study was carried out on patients undergoing elective upper limb surgeries. They were randomly divided into two Groups: Group B and Group R. The onset and duration of sensory and motor blockade and other parameters were assessed.Results: The onset of blockade, both sensory & motor was earlier in Ropivacaine as compared to Bupivacaine group. Mean duration of blockade, both sensory & motor, was more in the Bupivacaine group. Conclusions: Addition of Clonidine enabled the use of low concentrations (0.25%) of both the anesthetics. Also, Ropivacaine (0.25%) has faster onset of sensory and motor blockade, shorter duration of action and less motor blockade compared to Bupivacaine
ESO452-SC11: The lowest mass globular cluster with a potential chemical inhomogeneity
We present the largest spectroscopic investigation of one of the faintest and
least studied stellar clusters of the Milky Way, ESO452-SC11. Using the
Anglo-Australian Telescope AAOmega and Keck HIRES spectrographs we have
identified 11 members of the cluster and found indications of star-to-star
light element abundance variation, primarily using the blue cyanogen (CN)
absorption features. From a stellar density profile, we estimate a total
cluster mass of solar masses. This would make
ESO452-SC11 the lowest mass cluster with evidence for multiple populations.
These data were also used to measure the radial velocity of the cluster
( km s) and confirm that ESO452-SC11 is relatively
metal-rich for a globular cluster ([Fe/H]). All known massive
clusters studied in detail show multiple populations of stars each with a
different chemical composition, but many low-mass globular clusters appear to
be chemically homogeneous. ESO452-SC11 sets a lower mass limit for the multiple
stellar population phenomenon.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
New 4-Thiazolidinones of Nicotinic Acid with 2-Amino-6-methylbenzothiazole and their Biological Activity
The title compounds 6a–j, 2-[(6-methyl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)amino]-N-[2-(substituted phenyl/furan-2-yl)-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]nicotinamides, were prepared from 2-chloropyridine-3-carboxylic acid (1) and 2-amino-6-methyl-benzothiazole (2) by known methods. All the compounds have been established by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and elemental analyses. The in vitro antimicrobial screening of the compounds were carried out against two Gram positive (S. aureus, S. pyogenes), two Gram negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa) bacteria and three fungal species (C. albicans, A. niger, A. clavatus) using the broth microdilution method. Some of the compounds are comparable with standard drugs
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of 3-(1,3,4-Oxadiazol-2-yl)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones
In attempt to find new pharmacologically active molecules, we report here the synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial activity of various 3-(1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)-quinazolin-4(3H)-ones. The antimicrobial activity of title compounds were examined against two gram positive bacteria (S. aureus, S. pyogenes), two gram negative bacteria (E. coli, P. aeruginosa) and three fungi (C. albicans, A. niger, A. clavatus) using the broth microdilution method. Some derivatives bearing a bromo or iodo group exhibited very good antimicrobial activity
ISONIAZID THE CULPRIT BEHIND TOXIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY
 Literature regarding toxic optic neuropathy (TON) due to isoniazid (INH) is scarce. This diagnosis is often missed, leading to unnecessary delay in institution of corrective measures. Often, this delay can worsen the patient's vision, with a high likelihood of development of serious damage to the patient's vision. We report a case of a 49-year-old gentleman, afflicted with meningeal tuberculosis, who developed visual disturbances following the administration of antitubercular therapy. The patient's vision improved dramatically following INH's withdrawal. This case highlighted the need to keep INH as a possible cause for TON, especially if vision does not improve following ethambutol's withdrawal. Further, this case attests to the need for thorough and periodic visual examinations in patients receiving antitubercular therapy.Â
- …