Crisis and change in industrial relations in Central and Eastern Europe

This article introduces the special issue on industrial relations in Central and Eastern Europe since the financial and economic crisis. Already dependent economically on funding from the west, and lacking the robust industrial relations institutions traditional in much of Western Europe, countries in the region were particularly vulnerable. However, there are important cross-national differences, and the strategies of key actors have significantly affected the outcomes

Feasibility of low energy radiative capture experiments at the LUNA underground accelerator facility

The LUNA (Laboratory Underground for Nuclear Astrophysics) facility has been designed to study nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest. It is located deep underground in the Gran Sasso National Laboratory, Italy. Two electrostatic accelerators, with 50 and 400 kV maximum voltage, in combination with solid and gas target setups allowed to measure the total cross sections of the radiative capture reactions $^2$H(p,$\gamma$)3He and $^{14}$N(p,$\gamma$)$^{15}$O within their relevant Gamow peaks. We report on the gamma background in the Gran Sasso laboratory measured by germanium and bismuth germanate detectors, with and without an incident proton beam. A method to localize the sources of beam induced background using the Doppler shift of emitted gamma rays is presented. The feasibility of radiative capture studies at energies of astrophysical interest is discussed for several experimental scenarios.Comment: Submitted to Eur. Phys. J.

Higher prevalence of smoking and lower BMI, waist circumference, cholesterol and triacylglyceride levels in Prague's homeless compared to a majority of the Czech population

BACKGROUND: Homeless people have higher morbidity and mortality rates than the general population. Research has shown that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in older homeless adults. This study was undertaken to describe the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the homeless population in Prague. METHODS: Data was obtained from a cross-sectional study carried out in 2003. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerides (TAG) and smoking habits were assessed. The homeless participants in the study were recruited from a homeless center run by a Prague charitable organization called Naděje ("Hope") and at Prague's main railway station. Most participants were assessed at the Naděje center (134 persons) while the rest were assessed at Prague's Bulovka University Hospital (67 persons). RESULTS: A total of 201 homeless (174 males and 27 females) aged 19 – 70 years were examined. Mean values of BMI, WC, TC and TAG in homeless men and women were within normal limits. Compared with the majority of the Czech population, the homeless had significantly lower mean levels of TC and TAG and lower BMI and WC values. When compared to the majority of the Czech population, the incidence of smoking among the homeless was significantly higher. Among smokers in both populations, no differences were found in the number of cigarettes smoked per day. CONCLUSION: Classical cardiovascular risk factors such as TC, TAG, BMI and WC, are significantly lower in Prague's homeless minority than in the majority of the Czech population. However, the prevalence of smoking is much higher in the homeless population

The Susceptibility of Local Parameters to Steel Microstructure Evaluated Using Charpy Type Specimen

Accepting the Beremin approach to the analysis of cleavage failure criteria the local fracture parameters have been calculated using FEM for Charpy type specimen. Two types of model ferritic microstructures have been selected for presentation differing by carbide thickness and scatter of fracture toughness data. For the microstructures investigated the Weibull stresses (location parameters) were related to cleavage fracture stresses determined supposing deterministic nature of cleavage fracture events at initiation. The results of static three point bending and low blow impact testing were used for these purposes. Microstructural and microfractographic reasons for scatter of data were determined. Relation of microstructural and microfractographic features to local fracture criteria was analysed

Preparation of Silicon Oxycarbide Composites Toughened by Inorganic Fibers via Pyrolysis of Precursor Siloxane Composites

The optimization of silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) synthesis (sol-gel/pyrolysis) is described, starting from methyltriethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane, ethyltriethoxysilane and propyltriethoxysilane. Variation of final elemental composition was tested via change of monomer ratios and combinations. The main aim was to achieve low weight losses during cure and pyrolysis and high micromechanical properties. Gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy was used to analyse the by-products of cure and pyrolysis, indicating a prominent role of cyclosiloxane and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) oligomers. Best results were obtained with high contents of methyltriethoxysilane in the monomers mixture