Density Functional Theory description of the order-disorder transformation in Fe-Ni

The thermodynamic ordering transformation of tetragonal FeNi system is investigated by the Exact Muffin-Tin Orbitals (EMTO) method. The tetragonal distortion of the unit cell is taken into account and the free energy is calculated as a function of long-range order and includes the configurational, vibrational, electronic and magnetic contributions. We find that both configurational and vibrational effects are important and that the vibrational effect lowers the predicted transformation temperature by about 480 K compared to the value obtained merely from the configurational free energy. The predicted temperature is in excellent agreement with the experimental value when all contributions are taken into account. We also perform spin dynamics calculations for the magnetic transition temperature and find it to be in agreement with the experiments. The present research opens new opportunities for quantum-mechanical engineering of the chemical and magnetic ordering in tetrataenite

The Mitochondrial Ca(2+) Uniporter: Structure, Function, and Pharmacology.

Mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake is crucial for an array of cellular functions while an imbalance can elicit cell death. In this chapter, we briefly reviewed the various modes of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake and our current understanding of mitochondrial Ca(2+) homeostasis in regards to cell physiology and pathophysiology. Further, this chapter focuses on the molecular identities, intracellular regulators as well as the pharmacology of mitochondrial Ca(2+) uniporter complex

Requirements of Business Judgment Rule and Their Effect on the Practical Use of the Rule

Pravilo poslovne presoje ima v Združenih državah Amerike že dolgo tradicijo, v evropskih državah s kontinentalnimi pravnimi sistemi pa so se ga sodišča pri presoji poslovnih odločitev članov organov vodenja in nadzora začela posluževati šele v zadnjih desetletjih. Slovenija je ena izmed vse manjše skupine držav, ki pravila poslovne presoje in njihovih kriterijev še ni prenesla iz sodne prakse v zakonodajo. Pravilo poslovne presoje omogoča sodiščem, da pri presoji, ali so člani organov vodenja in nadzora odškodninsko odgovorni za družbi škodljive odločitve, s pomočjo upoštevanja kriterijev pravila prilagodijo presojo specifičnemu položaju tožencev. Magistrska naloga z namenom iskanja bistva in praktičnega pomena kriterijev pravila poslovne presoje najprej pojasni pojem korporacijskega upravljanja in dinamiko akterjev v delovanju gospodarskih družb. Po kratki naslovitvi dolžnosti članov organov vodenja in nadzora tako v našem pravu kot v pravu tujih držav sledi pregled razvoja kriterijev pravila skozi sodno prakso v njegovem domicilu, Združenih državah Amerike. Kratko so predstavljene različne variacije pravila poslovne presoje v različnih zakonodajnih in kvazizakonodajnih aktih ter pojasnjeni razlogi za njegove pojavne oblike, ki jih v največji meri zaznamujejo različna razumevanja njegovega namena. Sledi podrobna obravnava posameznih kriterijev pravila od prve omembe do sodobne interpretacije, z ozirom na način njegove razlage v slovenski teoriji in praksi. Dilema (ne)pravilnosti slovenske percepcije pravila poslovne presoje se prevesi v zaključni sklep, ki predvsem poudarja pomen prostega polja presoje, ki ga sodiščem omogoča določena mera nedoločenosti kriterijev.Although business judgment rule has a long tradition in the United States of America, the courts in European countries with continental legal systems have only started to use it in the last decades for dealing with business decisions of management. Slovenia is one of the shrinking group of countries that has not yet transferred the rule from case law to law in books. Business judgment rule enables the courts to make use of requirements of the rule in order to properly adjust the judicial decision whether board members are liable for business decisions that resulted in losses for the company. In pursuit of finding the core purpose and practical contribution of requirements of the rule, this master\u27s thesis first explains the concept of corporate governance and dynamics among the different subjects in the company\u27s framework. After a brief mention of management\u27s duties in Slovenian law as well as the law in other countries, thesis continues with an overview of development of the rule\u27s requirements in the rule\u27s cradle, the United States of America. Following is the presentation of different varieties of business judgment rule in different legislative and quasi-legislative acts and the clarification of reasons for so many variations of the rule, which are shaped mostly by different understandings of its core purpose. Detailed explanation of each individual requirement is next, from its first mentions in case law to its modern interpretation with respect to the way each requirement is interpreted in Slovenian case law. The question of suitability of the Slovenian perception of business judgment rule is followed by final conclusion which emphasizes the importance of discretion field the rule\u27s requirements create if they are, to the certain extent, undetermined

Pressure and pain In Systemic sclerosis/Scleroderma - an evaluation of a simple intervention (PISCES): randomised controlled trial protocol

Background: foot problems associated with Systemic Sclerosis (SSc)/Scleroderma have been reported to be both common and disabling. There are only limited data describing specifically, the mechanical changes occurring in the foot in SSc. A pilot project conducted in preparation for this trial confirmed the previous reports of foot related impairment and reduced foot function in people with SSc and demonstrated a link to mechanical etiologies. To-date there have been no formal studies of interventions directed at the foot problems experienced by people with Systemic Sclerosis. The primary aim of this trial is to evaluate whether foot pain and foot-related health status in people with Systemic Sclerosis can be improved through the provision of a simple pressure-relieving insole. Methods: the proposed trial is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomised controlled clinical trial following a completed pilot study. In four participating centres, 140 consenting patients with SSc and plantar foot pain will be randomised to receive either a commercially available pressure relieving and thermally insulating insole, or a sham insole with no cushioning or thermal properties. The primary end point is a reduction in pain measured using the Foot Function Index Pain subscale, 12 weeks after the start of intervention. Participants will complete the primary outcome measure (Foot Function Index pain sub-scale) prior to randomisation and at 12 weeks post randomisation. Secondary outcomes include participant reported pain and disability as derived from the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Questionnaire and plantar pressures with and without the insoles in situ. Discussion: this trial protocol proposes a rigorous and potentially significant evaluation of a simple and readily provided therapeutic approach which, if effective, could be of a great benefit for this group of patients

TASK-1 (KCNK3) channels in the lung: from cell biology to clinical implications

TWIK-related acid-sensitive potassium channel 1 (TASK-1 encoded by KCNK3) belongs to the family of two-pore domain potassium channels. This gene subfamily is constitutively active at physiological resting membrane potentials in excitable cells, including smooth muscle cells, and has been particularly linked to the human pulmonary circulation. TASK-1 channels are sensitive to a wide array of physiological and pharmacological mediators that affect their activity such as unsaturated fatty acids, extracellular pH, hypoxia, anaesthetics and intracellular signalling pathways. Recent studies show that modulation of TASK-1 channels, either directly or indirectly by targeting their regulatory mechanisms, has the potential to control pulmonary arterial tone in humans. Furthermore, mutations in KCNK3 have been identified as a rare cause of both familial and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension. This review summarises our current state of knowledge of the functional role of TASK-1 channels in the pulmonary circulation in health and disease, with special emphasis on current advancements in the field

Classification, categorization and essential items for digital ulcer evaluation in systemic sclerosis: a DeSScipher/European Scleroderma Trials and Research group (EUSTAR) survey

BACKGROUND: A consensus on digital ulcer (DU) definition in systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been recently reached (Suliman et al., J Scleroderma Relat Disord 2:115-20, 2017), while for their evaluation, classification and categorisation, it is still missing. The aims of this study were to identify a set of essential items for digital ulcer (DU) evaluation, to assess if the existing DU classification was useful and feasible in clinical practice and to investigate if the new categorisation was preferred to the simple distinction of DU in recurrent and not recurrent, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: DeSScipher is the largest European multicentre study on SSc. It consists of five observational trials (OTs), and one of them, OT1, is focused on DU management. The DeSScipher OT1 items on DU that reached ≥ 60% of completion rate were administered to EUSTAR (European Scleroderma Trials and Research group) centres via online survey. Questions about feasibility and usefulness of the existing DU classification (DU due to digital pitting scars, to loss of tissue, derived from calcinosis and gangrene) and newly proposed categorisation (episodic, recurrent and chronic) were also asked. RESULTS: A total of 84/148 (56.8%) EUSTAR centres completed the questionnaire. DeSScipher items scored by ≥ 70% of the participants as essential and feasible for DU evaluation were the number of DU defined as a loss of tissue (level of agreement 92%), recurrent DU (84%) and number of new DU (74%). For 65% of the centres, the proposed classification of DU was considered useful and feasible in clinical practice. Moreover, 80% of the centres preferred the categorisation of DU in episodic, recurrent and chronic to simple distinction in recurrent/not recurrent DU. CONCLUSIONS: For clinical practice, EUSTAR centres identified only three essential items for DU evaluation and considered the proposed classification and categorisation as useful and feasible. The set of items needs to be validated while further implementation of DU classification and categorisation is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Observational trial on DU (OT1) is one of the five trials of the DeSScipher project (ClinicalTrials.gov; OT1 Identifier: NCT01836263, posted on April 19, 2013)