Optimum Currency Areas theory and the Slovak suitability for the euro adoption

This paper tests the present readiness of Slovakia to join the European Monetary Union (EMU) based on the classical Optimum Currency Area criteria, the degree of trade intensity and business cycle synchronization. The results do not fully confirm the hypothesis that Slovakia already constitutes an optimum monetary union with the rest of the EMU countries mainly the labour mobility is largely ineffective as adjustment mechanism. But, Slovakia is a open economy, its degree of trade integration is the highest among the Central and Eastern European countries and its economic and production structures are quite similar to the intra-EMU average. Moreover, Slovakia's business cycle appears at least as highly synchronized with the EMU''s one as some present, small and peripheral EMU member countries. This would indicate that this country is equally a suitable candidate for the EMU membership and that the Euro adoption should not increase the likelihood of asymmetric shocks.

Eksplorasi Pembelajaran Operasi Pecahan Siswa Sekolah Dasar Menurut Teori Gravemeijer di Kabupaten Ngada NTT

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui perkembangan belajar operasi pecahan siswa sekolah dasar menurut teori Gravemeijer di Kabupaten Ngada NTT. Jenis penelitian kualitatif fenomenologi digunakan untuk mencapai tujuan penelitian. Dalam penelitian ini hypothetical learning trajectory (HLT) memainkan peranan penting sebagai instrumen penelitian. Perangkat pembelajaran yang disusun untuk menjalankan serangkaian aktivitas belajar dalam HLT telah dikonsultasikan dengan dua orang ahli Pembelajaran Matematika selanjutnya diujicoba pada kelompok kecil yaitu lima siswa Kelas IV Sekolah Dasar Katolik Bomari Langa pada tahap eksperimen pilot. Selanjutnya HLT dibandingkan dalam proses pembelajaran sebenarnya pada tahap eksperimen pengajaran dengan 24 siswa. Berdasarkan analisis ditemukan bahwa siswa dapat berkembang dalam belajar operasi pecahan dengan menggunakan tingkat aktivitas yang berbeda berdasarkan pendekatan PMR menurut teori Gravemeijer. Pada level pertama yaitu level situasional, Drama Matematika dapat menstimulasi pengetahuan informal siswa tentang prosedur operasi penjumlahan dan pengurangan pecahan. Pada level referensial, untaian manik-manik dan kartu pecahan menjadi model dari situasi drama matematika yang merupakan jembatan menuju gagasan penggunaan garis bilangan untuk operasi penjumlahan dan pengurangan pecahan. Pada level ketiga yaitu level general, siswa dapat menggunakan garis bilangan sebagai model untuk operasi penjumlahan dan pengurangan pecahan. Pada level formal, dengan bantuan untaian bilangan membawa siswa mengkonstruksi soal cerita sendiri dan menyelesaikan soal cerita yang dihasilkan dengan prosedur formal operasi penjumlahan dan pengurangan pecahan

INVESTIGASI PERKEMBANGAN BELAJAR SISWA KELAS IV SEKOLAH DASAR DI KABUPATEN NGADA, NTT DALAM OPERASI PENJUMLAHAN DAN PENGURANGAN PECAHAN

Makalah ini dimaksudkan untuk memaparkan pelaksanaan eksperimen pembelajaran operasi penjumlahan dan pengurangan pecahan yang telah dilaksanakan di kelas IV Sekolah Dasar Katolik Bomari Langa, Ngada, Flores NTT, dengan level aktivitas berdasarkan pendekatan Pendidikan Realistik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa siswa dapat menggunakan banyak strategi ketika proses pembelajaran dilaksanakan secara bertahap berdasarkan tingkatan pemodelan yang berbeda. Dalam level situasional, siswa dapat menggambarkan masalah kontekstual yang diberikan berdasarkan pengalaman (aktivitas) membagi makanan ringan dan pengalaman menaikkan-menurunkan penumpang Bemo. Dalam level referential siswa dapat memperagakan aktivitas situasional yang telah dilakukan dengan menggunakan untaian manik-manik yang telah digantungkan kartu pecahan. Gambaran dari untaian manik-manik yang telah digantungkan kartu pecahan (model of) merupakan jembatan yang membawa siswa menuju pada level general dimana garis bilangan digunakan digunakan sebagai model for penalaran matematika formal. Pada level formal, dengan dibimbing oleh untaian bilangan pecahan, siswa dapat mengkonstruksi soal cerita sendiri yang berhubungan dengan operasi pecahan dan menyelesaikannya secara formal. Kata kunci: membagi makanan ringan, menaikan dan menurunkan penumpang bemo, penjumlahan dan pengurangan pecahan, matematika realistik

From genome-wide association studies to disease mechanisms:celiac disease as a model for autoimmune diseases

Celiac disease is characterized by a chronic inflammatory reaction in the intestine and is triggered by gluten, a constituent derived from grains which is present in the common daily diet in the Western world. Despite decades of research, the mechanisms behind celiac disease etiology are still not fully understood, although it is clear that both genetic and environmental factors are involved. To improve the understanding of the disease, the genetic component has been extensively studied by genome-wide association studies. These have uncovered a wealth of information that still needs further investigation to clarify its importance. In this review, we summarize and discuss the results of the genetic studies in celiac disease, focusing on the "non-HLA" genes. We also present novel approaches to identifying the causal variants in complex susceptibility loci and disease mechanisms

Disentangling causal webs in the brain using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A review of current approaches

In the past two decades, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging has been used to relate neuronal network activity to cognitive processing and behaviour. Recently this approach has been augmented by algorithms that allow us to infer causal links between component populations of neuronal networks. Multiple inference procedures have been proposed to approach this research question but so far, each method has limitations when it comes to establishing whole-brain connectivity patterns. In this work, we discuss eight ways to infer causality in fMRI research: Bayesian Nets, Dynamical Causal Modelling, Granger Causality, Likelihood Ratios, LiNGAM, Patel's Tau, Structural Equation Modelling, and Transfer Entropy. We finish with formulating some recommendations for the future directions in this area

Effect of magnesium therapy on nocturnal leg cramps: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials with meta-analysis using simulations

Background and objective. Nocturnal leg cramps (NLC) are common in primary care and may cause severe pain and sleep disturbance. We systematically reviewed the effectiveness of magnesium in treating NLC and the side-effect profile of magnesium compared to placebo. Methods. We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform registries until August 2012. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing magnesium therapy for NLC in adults with any other comparator were eligible. Two investigators independently selected, extracted data from and rated the risk of bias of relevant studies. To compensate for the heterogeneity in outcome measures, simulations were used to summarize the data. Results. Seven RCTs were included in the review (n = 361), all comparing magnesium to placebo. Three of these trials included only pregnant women. The difference in the median number of leg cramps per week between the placebo and the intervention groups was 0.345 (quantile 2.5%: −0.133, quantile 97.5%: 0.875). This difference was 0.807 (quantile 2.5%: 0.015, quantile 97.5%: 1.207) in the three studies involving only pregnant women and 0.362 (quantile 2.5%: −0.386, quantile 97.5%: 1.148) in the others. Overall gastrointestinal side effects were slightly more common with magnesium therapy than with placebo. The strength of this evidence was weak, mainly due to small study sizes and short follow-up. Conclusions. Magnesium therapy does not appear to be effective in the treatment of NLC in the general population, but may have a small effect in pregnant women. Further research using better designed RCTs is necessar

Intestinal Barrier Function in Gluten-Related Disorders

Gluten-related disorders include distinct disease entities, namely celiac disease, wheat-associated allergy and non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity. Despite having in common the contact of the gastrointestinal mucosa with components of wheat and other cereals as a causative factor, these clinical entities have distinct pathophysiological pathways. In celiac disease, a T-cell mediate immune reaction triggered by gluten ingestion is central in the pathogenesis of the enteropathy, while wheat allergy develops as a rapid immunoglobulin E- or non-immunoglobulin E-mediated immune response. In non-celiac wheat sensitivity, classical adaptive immune responses are not involved. Instead, recent research has revealed that an innate immune response to a yet-to-be-defined antigen, as well as the gut microbiota, are pivotal in the development in this disorder. Although impairment of the epithelial barrier has been described in all three clinical conditions, its role as a potential pathogenetic co-factor, specifically in celiac disease and non-celiac wheat sensitivity, is still a matter of investigation. This article gives a short overview of the mucosal barrier of the small intestine, summarizes the aspects of barrier dysfunction observed in all three gluten-related disorders and reviews literature data in favor of a primary involvement of the epithelial barrier in the development of celiac disease and non-celiac wheat sensitivity