From Transition to Monetary Integration: Central and Eastern Europe on its Way to the Euro Comments on the Country Papers1

This article reviews a set of key issues arising in the context of the prospective monetary integration of Central and Eastern European countries into the euro area. It explores economic arguments that relate to the timing of a future euro adoption by new EU Member States. In doing so, the analysis pertains to the prospects for meeting the Maastricht criteria in a sustainable manner, focusing mainly on the fiscal realm. The article also discusses the pros and cons of renouncing monetary independence irrevocably and how the costs and benefits of such a step may change over time and differ across countries. Furthermore, the Austrian experience with monetary integration is analysed, also with a view to asking what can possibly be learnt from the course of history in this particular country case. Comparative Economic Studies (2004) 46, 177–190. doi:10.1057/palgrave.ces.8100045

How Do Debit Cards Affect Cash Demand? Survey Data Evidence

Cash demand, payment cards, cash substitution,

Evaluation of MegaVoltage Cone Beam CT image quality with an unmodified Elekta Precise Linac and EPID: a feasibility study

In order to increase the accuracy of patient positioning for complex radiotherapy treatments various 3D imaging techniques have been developed. MegaVoltage Cone Beam CT (MVCBCT) can utilise existing hardware to implement a 3D imaging modality to aid patient positioning. MVCBCT has been investigated using an unmodified Elekta Precise linac and 15 iView amorphous silicon electronic portal imaging device (EPID). Two methods of delivery and acquisition have been investigated for imaging an anthropomorphic head phantom and quality assurance phantom. Phantom projections were successfully acquired and CT datasets reconstructed using both acquisition methods. Bone, tissue and air were 20 clearly resolvable in both phantoms even with low dose (22 MU) scans. The feasibility of MegaVoltage Cone beam CT was investigated using a standard linac, amorphous silicon EPID and a combination of a free open source reconstruction toolkit as well as custom in-house software written in Matlab. The resultant image quality has 25 been assessed and presented. Although bone, tissue and air were resolvable 2 in all scans, artifacts are present and scan doses are increased when compared with standard portal imaging. The feasibility of MVCBCT with unmodified Elekta Precise linac and EPID has been considered as well as the identification of possible areas for future development in artifact correction techniques to 30 further improve image quality