Religion and Secularisation in the Czech Republic

Using data from the 1991 & 1999 European Values Study, together with data from the International Social Survey Programme 1998 - Religion from 1999 & data from other public opinion surveys, this article tries to suggest the scope of secularization in the present Czech population. It documents how the process of structural differentiation leads to the declining significance of institutionalized religiousness & privatization of religion, as well as to a growing belief among Czech citizens that it is inappropriate for churches to try to influence politics or the economy. The article also raises the issues of the number of believers & the forms of their beliefs. One of the results of our analysis is the finding that the Czech Republic might be the most secularized country in Europe at the present time

Clinical Update: Analyzing the Incidence of Venous Thromboembolic Disease and Associated Risk Factors following Lung Transplantation

Background: Lung transplant is the fastest growing solid organ transplant procedure and venous thromboembolism has been described to occur in 8-29% of cases. This is much higher than any other solid organ and the exact incidence has yet to be determined. Risk factors for the development of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) specific to lung transplant are not fully understood. Purpose: The purpose of this research was to describe the incidence and risk factors for VTE disease during the first year following lung transplant at a busy transplant center in the Southwest United States. Methods: A descriptive retrospective study design was used. Virchow's triad was used as a theoretical model to identify selected variables common to lung transplant in an effort to understand possible risk factors for the development of VTE in this patient population. Consecutive lung transplant cases between June 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014 at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona were retrospectively reviewed and followed for exactly one year following the lung transplant date. Demographic variables, Virchow's triad variables, and variables previously identified in the literature as being risk factors for VTE were collected and analyzed using descriptive, frequency, t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression. Results: The incidence of VTE in this patient population was 25.8% and is consistent with findings from previous studies. Using the constructs of Virchow's triad did not yield any statistically significant predictors for VTE in this patient population. However, lung allocation score (LAS) (OR 1.109, CI 1.038-1.185), body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.362, CI 1.034-1.794), and time on the waitlist (OR 1.094, CI 1.023-1.171) did reach statistical significance as possible predictors for VTE following lung transplant in this patient sample. Conclusions: VTE is a common complication of lung transplant that has a high incidence during the first year following lung transplant. This study did identify LAS, BMI, and time on the waitlist as being possible risk factors for the development of VTE following lung transplant. LAS may be a useful surrogate to determine the risk for VTE in this population

Modeling of the crystalline structure of the complex system containing doped polyaniline by use of genetic algorithms

The structure of polyaniline (PANI) protonated with camphorsulphonic acid (CSA) has been subject to research for a long time. Despite several, various models being proposed throughout the years, there is still no model widely accepted as the only correct and final one of its crystalline phase. In this paper a computer program named MoleculeEditor is described. Created basing on the concepts of an existing but significantly different program named CrystalFinder, it is a software dedicated to finding a model of the crystalline regions of the PANI/CSA system based on an input X-ray diffraction pattern. In its search it takes advantage of the genetic algorithm technique for optimizing the model parameters to fit the computed diffraction pattern to the one loaded as input. A successful example of it being employed to find the parameters of a prepared beforehand, fictional structure of the system, is presented. Conclusions drawn from this application of the prepared software cannot be ignored in the further search for the actual model of this complex system using this program. Obtaining results from MoleculeEditor for actual, experimental data is however still in progress

Structure and dynamics of conducting polyaniline based compounds

Cette thèse présente une étude complète de la structure et de la dynamique moléculaire dans une famille de composés conducteurs de la polyaniline plastdopée. Différentes techniques expérimentales ont été combinées dans cette étude comme la diffraction aux grands angles et la diffusion aux petits angles des rayons X (WAXS et SAXS), la diffusion incohérente quasi-élastique des neutrons et les simulations numériques de dynamique moléculaire basées sur les méthodes à champ de force. Cette combinaison a permis de proposer un modèle de structure stable de type lamellaire pour ces composés présentant des fluctuations statistiques de densité électronique le long de l'axe d'empilement des couches moléculaires. De plus, il a été possible d'analyser en détails l'anisotropie structurale et l'évolution structurale des films sous étirement à la lumière de ce modèle. Enfin, une seconde moitié de la thèse est consacrée à l'analyse des données de dynamique obtenues avec les mesures de diffusion quasi-élastique des neutrons. Il a été possible de montrer que l'essentiel de la dynamique dans la fenêtre de temps 10-13-10-9 s provient du mouvement des protons portés par les queues flexibles des dopants. Cette dynamique est très distribuée en temps et aussi dans l'espace tant le long de chaque plast-dopant que parmi les plast-dopants entre eux. Les résultats de simulation numérique sont en accord remarquable avec ces mesures expérimentales. Les trajectoires des atomes calculées dans ces simulations ont permis de recalculer toutes les fonctions de diffusion mesurées par ailleurs expérimentalement. Les simulations ont non seulement confirmé les hypothèses sur lesqueslles avait été bâti un modèle analytique pour la dynamique mais de plus ont révélé des précisions sur la façon dont la dynamique est distribuée entre les contre-ions.GRENOBLE1-BU Sciences (384212103) / SudocSudocFranceF

The period distribution of close binary systems

The analysis of the period distribution of eclipsing and spectroscopic binary systems shows the presence of some secondary maxima, which cannot depend on selection effects. These secondary maxima are mainly due to late type stars, as can be seen from the distribution curves for eclipsing binaries of various spectral types. The average separation of the components (in units of the sum of stellar radii) increases with the spectral type from O types to late B types, remaining almost constant for later spectral types

The period distribution of close binary systems

The analysis of the period distribution of eclipsing and spectroscopic binary systems shows the presence of some secondary maxima, which cannot depend on selection effects. These secondary maxima are mainly due to late type stars, as can be seen from the distribution curves for eclipsing binaries of various spectral types. The average separation of the components (in units of the sum of stellar radii) increases with the spectral type from O types to late B types, remaining almost constant for later spectral types

Statistics of period for eclipsing binary systems

A statistical analysis of period distribution in eclipsing binary stars based on the spectral types of the components which takes into account the most relevant selection effects, is presented. Results are presented which are concluded to be in line with the fission theory for the origin of these systems. In addition, the results are shown to provide clear indications about evolutionary effects on the average separation. Finally, emphasis is given to the appearance of a marked bimodal distribution for the advanced spectral types