Reduction formula for fermion loops and density correlations of the 1D Fermi gas

Fermion N-loops with an arbitrary number of density vertices N > d+1 in d spatial dimensions can be expressed as a linear combination of (d+1)-loops with coefficients that are rational functions of external momentum and energy variables. A theorem on symmetrized products then implies that divergencies of single loops for low energy and small momenta cancel each other when loops with permuted external variables are summed. We apply these results to the one-dimensional Fermi gas, where an explicit formula for arbitrary N-loops can be derived. The symmetrized N-loop, which describes the dynamical N-point density correlations of the 1D Fermi gas, does not diverge for low energies and small momenta. We derive the precise scaling behavior of the symmetrized N-loop in various important infrared limits.Comment: 14 pages, to be published in Journal of Statistical Physic

Spinal cystic echinococcosis - a systematic analysis and review of the literature : part 2. treatment, follow-up and outcome

Bone involvement in human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is rare, but affects the spine in approximately 50% of cases. Despite significant advances in diagnostic imaging techniques, surgical treatment and introduction of pharmacological therapy, spinal echinococcosis remains associated with a high degree of morbidity, disability and mortality. We systematically reviewed the published literature of the last five decades to update and summarize the currently existing data on treatment, follow-up and outcome of spinal CE

The Influence of Sodium Phenobarbital on the Hepatic Microsomal Enzyme System which Reduces P-nitobenzoic Acid in Fetal and Newborn Rats

The duration and intensity of action of many drugs are largely determined by the speed at which they are metabolized in the body by enzymes in liver microsomes (1). Previous studies have shown that the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes in liver microsomes are markedly increased when animals are given various drugs, hormones, insecticides, and carcinogens. This increase in activity appears to represent an increased concentration of enzyme protein and is referred to as enzyme induction. Induction of liver microsomal enzymes leads to an accelerated biotransformation of drugs in vivo. This results in an· altered duration and intensity of drug action. It has been reported that steroid hormones and other body constituents are also substrates of drug metabolizing enzymes in liver microsomes. This indicates the administration of a hepatic microsomal enzyme inducer may stimulate the metabolism of natural body constituents. (See more in text

The Multi-Functionality of Professional and Business Associations in a Transitional Context: Empirical Evidence from Russia

In the literature it is generally assumed that activities of voluntary membership based associations operating in stable institutional environments are multi-faceted, contributing simultaneously to societal, economic and political spheres. This article, drawing on the concept of functions of non-profit organizations investigates, whether the multi-functional character of associations holds true in the context of transitional Russia. The paper examines the relative importance of the advocacy, community building and service delivery functions, fulfilled by different types of associations. The original empirical data from exploratory interviews with 15 leading experts on associational activities was triangulated by a confirmatory survey of 215 associations across Russia. The results confirm that the absolute majority of the examined associations are multifunctional. Advocacy is considered to be the most important function for all types of associations. The findings suggest that business associations and intermediary unions are more active in policy advocacy directed toward the government, while liberal professional societies are more engaged in public advocacy addressing society at large. This study highlights importance of domestic associations for countries in transition as an institutional infrastructure of organized civil society, democratic development and market economy

Ergebnisse einer repräsentativen Bevölkerungsbefragung zum Spendenverhalten in Österreich: Auswertungen zu Absetzbarkeit von Spenden, Determinanten des Spendenverhaltens, Langzeitvergleich 1996 - 2008, Spenden im internationalen Vergleich, Spenden an ausgewählte Organisationen

Die vorliegende Studie wurde im Auftrag des Österreichischen Instituts für Spendenwesen (ÖIS) durchgeführt, das seit 1996 in regelmäßigen Abständen von vier Jahren derartige empirische Untersuchungen veranlasst. Die Finanzierung der Spendenstudie 2008 erfolgte über die Austrian Development Agency (ADA) und über Beiträge von Spendenorganisationen. Ziel der Studie ist es, einen Überblick über das Spendenverhalten in Österreich zu geben und über den Vergleich mit den Ergebnissen der Studien der vergangenen Jahre Aussagen über die Entwicklung des Spendenwesens zu treffen. Von besonderem Interesse sind dabei die Spendenbeteiligung der Bevölkerung sowie die Höhe der gespendeten Beträge - und jeweils deren Zusammenhang mit soziodemografischen Merkmalen. Einen weiteren Schwerpunkt in der diesjährigen Studie bilden Auswertungen zur steuerlichen Absetzbarkeit von Spenden (...). (executive summary

Quinacrine – The Winding Road from the Most Important Antimalarial of Its Time to an Indispensable Antiparasitic (Orphan) Drug of our Days

Quinacrine, the main antimalarial drug during World War II, has had a chequered history that included the successful repurposing as an intrapleural sclerosant for the treatment of malignant pleural effusions, a non-surgical method of female sterilisation, and the use as an immunomodulatory drug in lupus erythematosus. While no longer used for these former indications, quinacrine (re)emerged as an indispensable second-line drug for the treatment of nitroimidazole-refractory Giardia duodenalis infections, and thus depicts an indispensable “orphan drug”

Students' Community Service: Self-Selection and the Effects of Participation

Numerous studies demonstrate the effectiveness of university-based community service programs on students' personal, social, ethical, and academic domains. These effects depend on both, the characteristics of students enrolled and the characteristics of the programs, for instance whether they are voluntary or mandatory. Our study investigates whether effects of voluntary service programs are indeed caused by the service experience or by prior self-selection. Using data from a pre-post quasi-experimental design conducted at a public university in Europe and taking students' socioeconomic background into account, our findings on self-efficacy, generalized trust, empathic concern, and attributions for poverty show that there are no participation effects. Instead, students who join in community service differ significantly from nonparticipants with regard to almost all investigated domains a priori, indicating strong self-selection. Our results underline the importance of structured group reflection, most notably with regard to attitude-related topics

Human African trypanosomiasis in endemic populations and travellers

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness is caused by the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) gambiense (West African form) and T.b. rhodesiense (East African form) that are transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly, Glossina spp.. Whereas most patients in endemic populations are infected with T.b. gambiense, most tourists are infected with T.b. rhodesiense. In endemic populations, T.b. gambiense HAT is characterized by chronic and intermittent fever, headache, pruritus, and lymphadenopathy in the first stage and by sleep disturbances and neuro-psychiatric disorders in the second stage. Recent descriptions of the clinical presentation of T.b. rhodesiense in endemic populations show a high variability in different foci. The symptomatology of travellers is markedly different from the usual textbook descriptions of African HAT patients. The onset of both infections is almost invariably an acute and febrile disease. Diagnosis and treatment are difficult and rely mostly on old methods and drugs. However, new molecular diagnostic technologies are under development. A promising new drug combination is currently evaluated in a phase 3 b study and further new drugs are under evaluatio