DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT OF COMPETITION AND THE PROBLEMS OF ITS MEASUREMENT

In the article the conceptual apparatus of competition is considered. Scientific theoretical and methodological concepts of the nature and characteristics of the essence of competition were generalized. Considered the basic historical trends in the definition of this concept, including classical, neoclassical, Marxist, and other institutional directions, examined the prerequisites and conditions of the phenomenon, the consequences for the economic environment. Based on the analysis of the essence of competition we summarize the main features of them, the basic form of their manifestation. Reviewed modern approaches to the measurement of the level of competition, identified their main features and disadvantages of each approach formed. Defined performance level of competition, given their characteristics, highlighted the main advantages and disadvantages of the application. Labeled promising area of research in assessing the level of competition, allowing to display the process of competition of economic agents and the main results of their competition to a greater degree

CLUSTER PROJECT: CONCEPTS, TYPOLOGY AND MODELING APPROACHES

In the article we considered the existing understanding of the relationship between the concepts of cluster policy, cluster program and cluster project, defined special features of cluster projects, and then developed our own definition of cluster project. Basic characteristics of industrial (vertical) and regional (horizontal) clusters were discussed. Then we distinguished three types of cluster projects and their main characteristics in horizontal clusters. The nature and features of competition and cooperation, their main types and forms were overviewed. We made hypotheses about factors that influence competition and cooperation. We described some already existing approaches to competition and cooperation modeling and their possible problems. Specific characteristics of agents in multi-agent system were defined. Conceptual agent-based model of competition and cooperation interactions between the members of the cluster project was proposed

Klinik Örneklerden izole Edilen Trimetoprim-Sülfametoksazole Dirençli Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Suşlarinda ntegron, sul 1-2 ve dfr Genlerinin Araştirilmasi

PubMed: 24819258Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, which is a non-fermentative gram-negative bacillus, has an increasing importance in nosocomial and opportunistic infections. Since it exhibits resistance to numerous broad-spectrum antibiotics such as aminoglycosides, beta-lactams and tetracyclines, it may considerably limit empirical treatment options. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT) is recommended as the first-line therapy in the treatment of S.maltophilia infections thanks to its high potency and usefulness in a range of patients. In recent years, however, studies In different geographical regions have started to report resistance to SXT. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genes sul1, sul2, dfrA9, dfrA10, dfrA20 and class I, class II integran gene cassettes which are known to play role In SXT resistance among SXT-resistant S.maltophilia strains. A total of 618 S.maltophilia strains isolated from various clinical samples of 339 patients between January 2006 and October 2011 at the laboratory of Medical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey, were included in the study. The isolates were identified by both conventional methods and the Phoenix automated identification system (Becton Dickinson, USA). SXT resistance was determined in the isolates of 32 patients (32/339, 9.4%) by both the automated system and agar dilution method of them 29 (90.6%) were hospital-acquired, and 3 (9.4%) were community-acquired. The genes which are known as SXT resistance determining genes including sul1, sul2, dfr genes, and class I and class II integran gene cassettes were analyzed by using specific primers with polymerase chain reaction in the 32 SXT-resistant isolates. Subsequently, nucleotide sequence analysis of the amplified materials was performed. As a result of this assay, the presence of class I integran gene cassette and sul1 gene were detected in one isolate. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the gene cassette revealed oxacilinase (oxo2) type of beta-lactamase, an aminoglycoside 6'-N-acetyltransferase [aac(6')-llc], leading to resistance of aminoglycosides, and a quaternary ammonium compounds resistance gene (gocF), respectively. In conclusion, to best of our knowledge the sequences of class I integran gene cassette including oxa2, aac(6')-llc, gocF genes were identified in S.maltophilia for the first time. It should be kept in mind that the co-presence of a class I integran gene cassette and the sul1 gene in S.maltophilia may lead to the development of multi-drug resistance and may act as a potential source for the dissemination of resistance

Sağlikli ve bakteri?yel vaji?nozlu kadinlardan i?zole edi?len Gardnerella vaginalis suşlarinin bi?yoti?plendi? ri?lmesi? ve anti?bi?yoti?k di?renç durumlarinin beli?rlenmesi?

PubMed: 17427549As Gardnerella vaginalis is accepted as a member of normal vaginal flora, it is one of the dominant species which has been related to bacterial vaginosis (BV). The aim of this study was to determine the isolation rate, biotypes and antibiotic resistance patterns of G.vaginalis from the vaginal swab samples of 408 women who were admitted to the outpatient clinics of Family Planning Center. Hippurate hydrolysis, lipase and ?-galactosidase tests were performed for biotyping the isolates, and agar dilution (for metronidazole) and disk diffusion (for clindamycin) tests were used for the detection of antibiotic resistance patterns. As a result, by Nugent's BV scoring protocol, 122 (29.9%), 20 (29.4%), 137 (33.6%), and 18 (4.4%) of the women were diagnosed as BV, intermediate form, normal vaginal flora (NVF) and mycotic vaginosis, respectively. The overall isolation rate of G.vaginalis was found as 23% (94/408). Of them, 56.4% (53/94) and 8.5% (8/94) were isolated from samples of BV cases and subjects with NVF, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The biotyping results showed that the most, frequently detected types were biotype 1 (44%), 5 (20%) and 4 (18%). There was no statistically significant difference between the biotype distribution of BV patients and the subjects who have NVF (p=0.687). The results of antibiotic susceptibility tests indicated that 70% and 53% of the isolates were resistant to metronidazole and clindamycin, respectively. It was of interest that MIC values for metronidazole was ?128 ?g/ml in 57% of resistant strains. The data of this study has emphasized that the metronidazole resistance is very high in our population, and the large scale studies are needed to clarify the relationship between BV and G.vaginalis biotypes, which can be found in the normal vaginal flora

A critical perspective on guidelines for responsible and trustworthy artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is among the fastest developing areas of advanced technology in medicine. The most important qualia of AI which makes it different from other advanced technology products is its ability to improve its original program and decision-making algorithms via deep learning abilities. This difference is the reason that AI technology stands out from the ethical issues of other advanced technology artifacts. The ethical issues of AI technology vary from privacy and confidentiality of personal data to ethical status and value of AI entities in a wide spectrum, depending on their capability of deep learning and scope of the domains in which they operate. Developing ethical norms and guidelines for planning, development, production, and usage of AI technology has become an important issue to overcome these problems. In this respect three outstanding documents have been produced: 1. The Montréal Declaration for Responsible Development of Artificial Intelligence 2. Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI 3. Asilomar Artificial Intelligence Principles In this study, these three documents will be analyzed with respect to the ethical principles and values they involve, their perspectives for approaching ethical issues, and their prospects for ethical reasoning when one or more of these values and principles are in conflict. Then, the sufficiency of these guidelines for addressing current or prospective ethical issues emerging from the existence of AI technology in medicine will be evaluated. The discussion will be pursued in terms of the ambiguity of interlocutors and efficiency for working out ethical dilemmas occurring in practical life