Through the lens of social constructionism: the development of innovative anti-corruption policies and practices in Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, 2000–2015

The past decade has witnessed two distinct yet interconnected developments in the understanding, policy and practice of corruption studies. On the one hand, corruption has progressively been constructed as a major threat to economic and social development through the use of deceivingly simplistic Western-centric definitions,1 awareness campaigns and international perception-indexes that create the illusion of measuring real levels of corruption. Such developments have recently been criticized by academic observers and activists alike for presenting corruption as a country-specific issue, closely linked to the public sector. On the other hand, and perhaps counterintuitively, anti-corruption efforts have been decontextualized, focusing on generic fixes that typically involve the public sector. This one-size-fits-all approach has not produced impressive results, and has come under attack for ignoring the historical context and function of contemporary states

Pheochromocytoma – clinical manifestations, diagnosis and current perioperative management

Pheochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor characterized by the excessive production of catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine). The diagnosis is suspected due to hypertensive paroxysms, associated with vegetative phenomena, due to the catecholaminergic hypersecretion. Diagnosis involves biochemical tests that reveal elevated levels of catecholamine metabolites (metanephrine and normetanephrine). Functional imaging, such as 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy (123I-MIBG), has increased specificity in identifying the catecholamine-producing tumor and its metastases. The gold-standard treatment for patients with pheochromocytoma is represented by the surgical removal of the tumor. Before surgical resection, it is important to optimize blood pressure and intravascular volume in order to avoid negative hemodynamic events

Solving airline operations problems using specialized agents in a distributed multi-agent system

An airline schedule very rarely operates as planned. Problems related with aircrafts, crew members and passengers are common and the actions towards the solution of these problems are usually known as operations recovery. The Airline Operations Control Center (AOCC) tries to solve these problems with the minimum cost and satisfying all the required rules. In this paper we present the implementation of a Distributed Multi-Agent System (MAS) representing the existing roles in an AOCC, This MAS deals with several operational bases and for each type of operation problems it has several specialized software agents that implement different algorithms (heuristic, AI, OR, etc.), competing to find the best solution for each problem. We present a real case study taken from an AOCC where a crew recovery problem is solved. Computational results using a real airline schedule are presented, including a comparison with a solution for the same problem found by the human operators in the AOCC. We show that, even in simple problems and when comparing with solutions found by human operators, it is possible to find valid solutions, in less time and with a smaller cost

A negotiation approach to support interoperability in a collaborative manufacturing environment

Maintaining the interoperability in a dynamic competitive manufacturing environment in which different business enterprises collaborate is difficult to achieve. Our approach highlights negotiation as the best solution to solve interoperability problems by reaching the common decision suitable for all managers of various enterprises in the most optimized amount of time. In this context, this paper proposes a multi-agent negotiation model, able to coordinate several negotiations taking place in parallel among multiple participants. It is described the negotiation strategy for evaluating and generating offers and the protocol for sending the offers to the other agents. This model is being implemented in the H2020 C2NET project for supporting manufacturing.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Coordinating negotiations in data-intensive collaborative working environments using an agent-based model-driven platform

This paper tackles the interoperability problems of enterprise information systems by presenting a distributive model-driven platform for parallel coordination of multiple negotiations in data-intensive collaborative working environments. The proposed model was validated and verified by an industrial application scenario within the European research project H2020 C2NET (Cloud Collaborative Manufacturing Networks). This real scenario developed data-intensive collaborative and cloud-enabled tools that allow the optimisation of the supply network of manufacturing SMEs, proposing a negotiation solution based on a model-driven interoperable decentralised architecture.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Highly site-specific H2 adsorption on vicinal Si(001) surfaces

Experimental and theoretical results for the dissociative adsorption of H_2 on vicinal Si(001) surfaces are presented. Using optical second-harmonic generation, sticking probabilities at the step sites are found to exceed those on the terraces by up to six orders of magnitude. Density functional theory calculations indicate the presence of direct adsorption pathways for monohydride formation but with a dramatically lowered barrier for step adsorption due to an efficient rehybridization of dangling orbitals.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett. (1998). Other related publications can be found at http://www.fhi-berlin.mpg.de/th/paper.htm

Antibacterial activity studies of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with Mannich base ligand

ABSTRACT. A Mannich base ligand (L) was prepared by reacting 2-mercaptobenzimidazole, diphenylamine and benzaldehyde. This ligand (L) was further used for the preparation of four metal complexes with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions. The reactions were monitored by TLC. The synthesized compounds were structurally characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, UV-Visible spectroscopy, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, ICP-OES/atomic absorption spectroscopy. It has been observed that the ligand (L) behaved in a monoanionic bidentate mode and the geometry of resulting complexes was tetrahedral. Conductivity analysis revealed their non-electrolytic nature. Antibacterial activity of the synthesized compounds was assessed through an agar well diffusion method against four strains of Gram-negative bacteria. L-Zn(II) complex showed best activity at all four concentrations against the four strains of Gram-negative bacteria.               KEY WORDS: Metal complexes, Mannich bases, 2-Mercaptobenzimidazole, Antibacterial activity Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2019, 33(3), 485-492.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v33i3.

The transpleurodiaphragmatic laparoscopic approach of liver hydatid cysts of VII TH segment

Clinica Chirurgie II, Spitalul Clnic de Urgență, Sibiu, Spitalul Militar de Urgență, Sibiu, Departamentul de Imagistică Medicală, Spitalul Clnic de Urgență, Sibiu, Clinica ATI I, Spitalul Clnic de Urgență, Sibiu, Al XI-lea Congres al Asociației Chirurgilor „Nicolae Anestiadi” din Republica Moldova și cea de-a XXXIII-a Reuniune a Chirurgilor din Moldova „Iacomi-Răzeșu” 27-30 septembrie 2011Localizarile chistelor hepatice, cu precadere a chistelor hidatice hepatice în sectorul posterior, respectiv, segmentul VII, dificil de abordat în chirurgia „conventionaăa” deschisă sau laparoscopică, care frecvent necesită sacrificii parietale semnificative, uneori adevarate „demolări”, poate beneficia de un abord laparoscopic atipic, securizat, cu rezultate bune atât pentru pacient cât și pentru chirurg, cu un impact minimal, ce favorizeaza o vindecare repidă și o reintegrare socioprofesională precoce. Abordul transpleurodiafragmatic utilizand „Dispozitivul pentru aspirația chistului hidatic hepatic sau al chistului de ovar” (OSIM Brevet 120809/30.04.2008, Inventator – Dan Sabau) în asociere cu dispozitivul de fragmentare a continutului chistic, cu performanțe deosebite (OSIM Brevet no. 120810/30.04.2008, INventator - Dan Sabau) este cea mai adecvată metodă de soluționare a problemelor generate de această localizare posterioară, care devine astfel accesibilă pentru chirurgi, chiar și cu o minimă experiență în chirurgia laparoscopică sau toracoscopică. Numarul relatic redus de cazuri (3), nu permite decât formularea unor concluzii preliminare asupra metodei, care rămâne să fie validată de rezultate ulterioare.The localizations of liver cysts, and particularly of hydatid cysts, in the posterior hepatic dome (segment VII), difficult to approach in “conventional” open or laparoscopic surgery, with significant parietal sacrifices and “demolition”, require a secure atypical laparoscopic approach, with positive results for both patient and surgeon, with minimal impact, with social and professional reintegration and faster healing. Transpleurodiaphragmatic laparoscopic approach using the “Device for aspiration of liver hydatid cyst or ovarian cyst” (OSIM 120809/30.04.2008 Patent – Dan Sabau) associated with the remarkable performances of the fragmentation device for hydatid cyst content (OSIM Patent no. 120810/30.04.2008 - Dan Sabau) is the best way to approach these problems, accessible for surgeons with minimum experience in laparoscopic and thoracic surgery. The relatively low number of cases allows only the formulation of preliminary positive conclusions on the method; they are to be validated by subsequent results

Pheochromocytoma – clinical manifestations, diagnosis and current perioperative management

Pheochromocytoma is a neuroendocrine tumor characterized by the excessive production of catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine). The diagnosis is suspected due to hypertensive paroxysms, associated with vegetative phenomena, due to the catecholaminergic hypersecretion. Diagnosis involves biochemical tests that reveal elevated levels of catecholamine metabolites (metanephrine and normetanephrine). Functional imaging, such as 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy (123I-MIBG), has increased specificity in identifying the catecholamine-producing tumor and its metastases. The gold-standard treatment for patients with pheochromocytoma is represented by the surgical removal of the tumor. Before surgical resection, it is important to optimize blood pressure and intravascular volume in order to avoid negative hemodynamic events

Limited Vitrectomy versus Complete Vitrectomy for Epiretinal Membranes: A Comparative Multicenter Trial

Purpose. To evaluate whether limited vitrectomy is as effective as complete vitrectomy in eyes with epiretinal membrane (ERM) and to compare the surgical times and rates of complications. Methods. In this multicentre European study, data of eyes with ERM that underwent vitrectomy from January 2017 to July 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. In the limited vitrectomy group, a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was induced up till the equator as opposed to complete PVD induction till the vitreous base in the comparison group. Incidence of iatrogenic retinal breaks, retinal detachment, surgical time, and visual outcomes were compared between groups. Results. We included 139 eyes in the analysis with a mean age being 72.2 \ub1 6.9 years. In this, sixty-five eyes (47%) underwent limited vitrectomy and 74 eyes (53%) underwent complete vitrectomy. Iatrogenic retinal tears were seen in both groups (5% in limited vitrectomy versus 7% in complete vitrectomy, p=0.49). Retinal detachment occurred in 2 eyes in the limited vitrectomy group (3%) compared to none in the complete vitrectomy group (p=0.22). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central macular thickness improved significantly with no intergroup differences (p=0.18). Surgical time was significantly shorter in the limited vitrectomy group with 91% surgeries taking less than 1 hour compared to 71% in the complete vitrectomy group (p<0.001). Conclusion. A limited vitrectomy is a time-efficient and effective surgical procedure for removal of epiretinal membrane with no additional complications