An attempt to observe economy globalization: the cross correlation distance evolution of the top 19 GDP's

Economy correlations between the 19 richest countries are investigated through their Gross Domestic Product increments. A distance is defined between increment correlation matrix elements and their evolution studied as a function of time and time window size. Unidirectional and Bidirectional Minimal Length Paths are generated and analyzed for different time windows. A sort of critical correlation time window is found indicating a transition for best observations. The mean length path decreases with time, indicating stronger correlations. A new method for estimating a realistic minimal time window to observe correlations and deduce macroeconomy conclusions from such features is thus suggested.Comment: to be published in the Dyses05 proceedings, in Int. J. Mod Phys C 15 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Circadian Control of Dendrite Morphology in the Visual System of Drosophila melanogaster

In the first optic neuropil (lamina) of the fly's visual system, monopolar cells L1 and L2 and glia show circadian rhythms in morphological plasticity. They change their size and shape during the day and night. The most pronounced changes have been detected in circadian size of the L2 axons. Looking for a functional significance of the circadian plasticity observed in axons, we examined the morphological plasticity of the L2 dendrites. They extend from axons and harbor postsynaptic sites of tetrad synaptic contacts from the photoreceptor terminals.The plasticity of L2 dendrites was evaluated by measuring an outline of the L2 dendritic trees. These were from confocal images of cross sections of L2 cells labeled with GFP. They were in wild-type and clock mutant flies held under different light conditions and sacrified at different time points. We found that the L2 dendrites are longest at the beginning of the day in both males and females. This rhythm observed under a day/night regime (LD) was maintained in constant darkness (DD) but not in continuous light (LL). This rhythm was not present in the arrhythmic per(01) mutant in LD or in DD. In the clock photoreceptor cry(b) mutant the rhythm was maintained but its pattern was different than that observed in wild-type flies.The results obtained showed that the L2 dendrites exhibit circadian structural plasticity. Their morphology is controlled by the per gene-dependent circadian clock. The L2 dendrites are longest at the beginning of the day when the daytime tetrad presynaptic sites are most numerous and L2 axons are swollen. The presence of the rhythm, but with a different pattern in cry(b) mutants in LD and DD indicates a new role of cry in the visual system. The new role is in maintaining the circadian pattern of changes of the L2 dendrite length and shape

The Clock Input to the First Optic Neuropil of Drosophila melanogaster Expressing Neuronal Circadian Plasticity

In the first optic neuropil (lamina) of the fly's visual system, two interneurons, L1 and L2 monopolar cells, and epithelial glial cells show circadian rhythms in morphological plasticity. These rhythms depend on clock gene period (per) and cryptochrome (cry) expression. In the present study, we found that rhythms in the lamina of Drosophila melanogaster may be regulated by circadian clock neurons in the brain since the lamina is invaded by one neurite extending from ventral lateral neurons; the so-called pacemaker neurons. These neurons and the projection to the lamina were visualized by green fluorescent protein (GFP). GFP reporter gene expression was driven by the cry promotor in cry-GAL4/UAS-GFP transgenic lines. We observed that the neuron projecting to the lamina forms arborizations of varicose fibers in the distal lamina. These varicose fibers do not form synaptic contacts with the lamina cells and are immunoreactive to the antisera raised against a specific region of Schistocerca gregaria ion transport peptide (ITP). ITP released in a paracrine way in the lamina cortex, may regulate the swelling and shrinking rhythms of the lamina monopolar cells and the glia by controlling the transport of ions and fluids across cell membranes at particular times of the day

InterGEO: a digital platform for university education on geomorphological heritage

The project InterGEO was carried out with the objective to disseminate knowledge on geomorphological heritage by developing a digital learning platform. It aims at improving students' autonomy by the reduction of face-to-face teaching and increasing autonomous learning as well as promoting international interactions between students interested in geomorphological heritage. A completely free-access virtual course on geomorphosites was developed with the Learning Management System Moodle. The course is divided into 24 thematic chapters, each of them containing a short description, a list of references and selected publications, as well as other educational material (videos, virtual fieldtrips, etc.). In particular, several videos allow presenting in a dynamic way concepts and examples. The paper presents the tool and its use in academic programmes in six European universities, where it was tested, in various contexts (Bachelors' and Masters' programmes; students in geography or geology; general courses in geomorphology and specific courses on geoheritage and geoconservation), before discussing the advantages and challenges the tool is facing. The InterGEO platform is an easy-to-use and friendly educational tool, which allows developing blended learning activities; it is flexible and adaptable in various learning contexts.The coordination tasks (appointment of an assistant) and two workshops in Lausanne were financed by the University of Lausanne (Teaching Innovation Fund and Investment Fund of the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, FGSE). The videos were designed and created with support of the universities of Lausanne (TIF) and Savoie Mont Blanc (IDEFI Promising and ReflexPro; LabEx ITEM)

Presentation of Graves' orbitopathy within European Group On Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) centres from 2012 to 2019 (PREGO III)

Background: Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is subject to epidemiological and care-related changes. Aim of the survey was to identify trends in presentation of GO to the European Group On Graves' Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) tertiary referral centres and initial management over time. Methods: Prospective observational multicentre study. All new referrals with diagnosis of GO within September-December 2019 were included. Clinical and demographic characteristics, referral timelines and initial therapeutic decisions were recorded. Data were compared with a similar EUGOGO survey performed in 2012. Results: Besides age (mean age: 50.5±13 years vs 47.7±14 years; p 0.007), demographic characteristics of 432 patients studied in 2019 were similar to those in 2012. In 2019, there was a decrease of severe cases (9.8% vs 14.9; p<0.001), but no significant change in proportion of active cases (41.3% vs 36.6%; p 0.217). After first diagnosis of GO, median referral time to an EUGOGO tertiary centre was shorter (2 (0-350) vs 6 (0-552) months; p<0.001) in 2019. At the time of first visit, more patients were already on antithyroid medications (80.2% vs 45.0%; p<0.001) or selenium (22.3% vs 3.0%; p<0.001). In 2019, the initial management plans for GO were similar to 2012, except for lid surgery (2.4% vs 13.9%; p<0.001) and prescription of selenium (28.5% vs 21.0%; p 0.027). Conclusion: GO patients are referred to tertiary EUGOGO centres in a less severe stage of the disease than before. We speculate that this might be linked to a broader awareness of the disease and faster and adequate delivered treatment

Polish database of the representative geosites for the european framework

Zainicjowany przez Międzynarodową Unię Nauk Geologicznych program Global GEOSITES stał się jednym z najważniejszych projektów w dziedzinie ochrony przyrody nieożywionej w Europie. Ma on na celu utworzenie międzynarodowej bazy danych geostanowisk reprezentatywnych dla zachowania dziedzictwa geologicznego naszej planety. Komputerowa baza danych geostanowisk Polski jest kompletowana w Instytucie Ochrony Przyrody PAN w Krakowie. Do tego celu wykorzystano program Microsoft Access. Wszystkie dane są przedstawiane w formie tabel, których poszczególne rekordy odpowiadają pojedynczym obiektom -geostanowiskom. Oprócz danych numerycznych i tekstowych do bazy dołączono mapy, zdjęcia, profile itp., których obróbkę wykonano w innych programach. Dla drukowanej wersji przygotowano specjalne tabele

Sekcja Cybernetyki w Górnictwie Komitetu Górnictwa PAN – Pro memoria

Section of Cybernetics in Mining of Mining Committee of Polish Academy of Science (PAN) has been created by PAN Mining Committee in 1969. It was a section in Mining Committee of PAN, whose operation range included widely understood issues of automation, telecommunication and informatics in mining industry. The main operation method of the Section was to organize the periodic conferences dedicated to issues of control systems in mining. The first conference took place in 1971 in Katowice. Together with new (the current one) term of office of Mining Committee of PAN this Section ceased to exist. The paper presents (pro memoria) over 40 year long conference output of this Section that functioned within the scope of operation of Mining Committee of PAN up to 12th January 2016.Sekcja Cybernetyki w Górnictwie Komitetu Górnictwa PAN została powołana przez Komitet Górnictwa PAN w 1969 r. W Komitecie Górnictwa PAN była to Sekcja, której zakres działania obejmował szeroko rozumiane zagadnienia automatyki, telekomunikacji i informatyki w górnictwie. Głównym sposobem działalności Sekcji była organizacja cyklicznych konferencji poświęconych zagadnieniom szeroko rozumianej automatyki w górnictwie. Pierwsza z konferencji odbyła się w 1971 r. w Katowicach. Wraz z nową kadencją funkcjonowania Komitetu Górnictwa PAN Sekcja ta przestała istnieć. Artykuł przedstawia (pro memoria) ponad 40 letni dorobek konferencyjny tej Sekcji funkcjonującej w ramach Komitetu Górnictwa PAN (do 12 styczna 2016 roku)

Możliwości oceny i poprawy jakości usług głosowych w kopalnianych systemach łączności telefonicznej i alarmowej

The article presents selected objective and subjective methods to assess the quality of voice services in telephone communication. The authors described the impact of the line and acoustic echo phenomena and ambient noise on the functions of telephone communication systems with respect to the speakerphone mode. Additionally, they discussed the possibilities to apply digital technology to improve the quality of voice services in telephone communication and alarm systems.Przedstawiono wybrane metody oceny jakości usług głosowych w telefonii z uwzględnieniem metod subiektywnych i obiektywnych. Opisano wpływ zjawiska echa akustycznego i liniowego oraz hałasu otoczenia na funkcjonowanie systemów łączności telefonicznej z uwzględnieniem trybu głośnomówiącego. Omówiono możliwości zastosowania techniki cyfrowej dla poprawy jakości usług głosowych w kopalnianych systemach łączności telefonicznej i alarmowej

Transmission problems in mine telecommunications systems

Systemy telekomunikacyjne stosowane w kopalniach podziemnych wymagają zastosowania odpowiednich mediów transmisyjnych. Do najczęściej stosowanych mediów należą: kable miedziane symetryczne, kable miedziane promieniujące, kable światłowodowe, fale elektromagnetyczne tworzące łącza radiowe. W artykule omówiono właściwości poszczególnych rodzajów mediów zwracając uwagę na stosowane topologie oraz ograniczenia zasięgu transmisji. Dla kabli miedzianych ograniczenie wynika z tłumienia sygnału, które rośnie wraz z częstotliwością. Dla kabli światłowodowych jednomodowych przy istniejących rozmiarach kopalń, brak obecnie ograniczeń zasięgu, a ograniczenie przepływności wynika z parametrów urządzeń teletransmisyjnych. W przypadku systemów radiowych ograniczenie zasięgu wynika z warunków propagacji fal elektromagnetycznych w wyrobisku, geometrii wyrobiska i zastosowanego pasma częstotliwości.Telecommunications systems used in underground mines require proper transmission ways. The most frequently used are: symmetrical copper cables, copper radiating cables, light pipes, and electromagnetic waves which make radio connections. The article discusses the properties of particular transmission ways with focus on the applied topologies and transmission range limits. The limits for copper cables result from signal suppression which increases proportionally to the increasing frequency. For one-mode light pipes, with the existing sizes of mines, there are no range limits at the moment. Here the flow limit results from the parameters of transmission devices. In the case of radio systems, the range limit results from the conditions of electromagnetic waves propagation in the excavation, the geometry of the excavation and the applied frequency band