Absorption characteristics of a quantum dot array induced intermediate band: implications for solar cell design

We present a theoretical study of the electronic and absorption properties of the intermediate band (IB) formed by a three dimensional structure of InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) arranged in a periodic array. Analysis of the electronic and absorption structures suggests that the most promising design for an IB solar cell material, which will exhibit its own quasi-Fermi level, is to employ small QDs (~6–12 nm QD lateral size). The use of larger QDs leads to extension of the absorption spectra into a longer wavelength region but does not provide a separate IB in the forbidden energy gap

Production risks in Bulgarian peanut production

As farmers in a transition economy search for new crop enterprises with a potential for income enhancement they are faced with increased risks in the process of resource allocation. It has been noted that biased estimation of production function estimates results from the lack of accountability of risks. Since peanut production in Bulgaria has increased at a varying rate since 1989 it is important that we examine the risks associated with input use. The data for this study were collected from farmers from 18 villages in the southern part of Bulgaria. A total of 205 farmers were surveyed for this study. Peanut yield in Bulgaria is positively related to the quantity of seed used, fungicide, manual labor, investment level and mechanized labor used. Peanut yield is negatively influenced by investment levels but positively by the increase of manual labor. The response of yield to quantity of seed used is elastic, and an addition of a kg of peanut seeds may increase yield by 32kg. However, as the quantity of seeds used per ha increases the risk is expected to increase, hence farmers may be cautious in increasing the quantity of seeds used. Investment capital, manual labor and mechanized labor are positively related to yield and there will be a reduction in yield if the optimal levels of those inputs are surpassed. Thus farmers may increase yield and production by augmenting the seeding rate, other factors remaining constant.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Leptospira interrogans serotype hardjo in dairy cows

Data on L. hardjo infection of dairy cows in the world pint out its important role in the occurrence of health and economic problem. L. interrogans serotype hardjo has been described as the cause of miscarriages, stillbirts, or the birhs of poorly vital calves, agalactia, mastitis, and low fertility in cows. Two L. hardjo genotypes have been identified in cows, namely, hardjopraitno and hardjobovis. Serological investigations have established a drastic increase in this leptospiral infection in cows. L. hardjo has become adapted to cattle as the primary host, so that an infection is maintained in herds and becomes deeply rooted because of the permanent presence of the source of infection. It was believed that sheep were accidental hosts, but the latest research suggest that they are yet another, transitory, host for maintining this leptospira serotype. L. hardjo is also important from the aspect of human health, especially of persons who are professionally exposed to this infection. L. hardjo infection is detected using serological tests and by proving the presence of leptospira. The medicine of choice in the therapy of leptospiral infections is streptomycin (DSM). Therapy using oxytetracyclines for clinical mastitis was also proven effective. Treatment is most successful in the early stage of the disease. A single dose of streptomycin administered in infected herds reduces the duration period of leptospira excretion through urine, thus preventing the spread of infection thorugh contaminated urine. The basic components of the plan to contain leptospira are the following: serological investigations, sanitary-higiene measures, the elimination of animals which excrete leptospira through urine, therapy, vaccination, quarantine

Mutual relation of the concepts of ideology and hegemony

Питање односа појмова идеологије и хегемоније у савременим околностима има сасвим специфичан значај. Са једне стране, након фазе „повлачења“ идеологије или објављивања њене застарелости, на делу су различити облици њеног „повратка“, ипак у мање или више измењеном виду. Са друге стране, хегемони склоп у коме се одвија овај процес истовремено испољава хомогеност основних структурних момената савремених друштвених и политичких трансформација, али и аспекте фрагментације и дивергенције, што представља системски учинак напетости система, посредован специфичним савременим облицима односа идеологије и хегемоније. У оваквом оквиру, основна теза која се испитује је утицај процеса информатизације, односно преображајa медијско-информатичког апарата на идеолошко поље и структуре у репродукцији укупног хегемоног склопа. Полазећи од претпоставке да овај преображај утиче на све нивое и елементе односа идеологије и хегемоније, као и од рефлексивне структуре идеологије, водеће питање је фокусирано на нове идеолошке облике и промену њене улоге у укупној друштвеној репродукцији, као и на одговарајући категоријални склоп појмова који омогућују разумевање ових промена и преиспитивање улоге критичке културе. На основу ових претпоставки, општи поступак овог рада је кретање од апстрактних или „класичних“ одредаба појмова идеологије и хегемоније ка конкретнијим одређењима схваћеним у контексту репродукције актуелних облика симболичке и материјалне прозводње, односно идеолошке репродукције хегемоног склопа у коме се доминација претвара у вођство или у коме се, у сложеним механизмима или коњунктурама фабрикује консензус. Тај поступак се у сваком од главних поглавља састоји у критичком излагању појмовних одредаба идеологије и хегемоније, који акцентују материјалност, технолошку и практичку димензију ових појмова, односно релевантних становишта у контексту савремене трансформације њиховог односа, да би се прешло на критичко разматрање савремених рецепција тих одредаба и коначно на анализу феномена, односно битно нових облика односа идеологије и хегемоније. Први корак истраживања, на основу утврђивања адекватног категоријалног оквира у појмовима знања и моћи и излагања апстрактних одредаба идеологије и хегемоније, чије антиномије упућују на разрешење у конкретном историјском склопу, састоји се у излагању појмова „идеолошких апарата“ и интерпелације (према Лују Алтисеру), стандардне критике ових појмова и испитивања могућих одговора на критике. Други корак понавља овај поступак на појму хегемоније и сродним појмовима, као што су однос снага и позициони рат (према Антонију Грамшију), док трећи главни корак испитује категоријалне или појмовне промене у констелацији моћ-сила-насиље на основу структуре доминантног облика репродукције. Кретање подразумева посматрање односа форме и садржине идеолошког поља, односно праксе и структуре апарата, као и питање доминације идеолошких апарата у репродукцији хегемоније. У сваком од поменутих корака анализира се однос доминантних промена у идеолошком пољу и у целини хегемоног склопа и трага се за идеолошким претпоставкама критике идеологије. Поред главног резултата истраживања у потврђивању генералне хипотезе, кроз анализу структуре, улоге и порекла нових облика идеолошких и хегемоних структура, у раду се развија модел за обухватније разумевање савремених трансформација односа идеологије и хегемоније кроз диференцирање њихових појмова према категоријама сагласности и антагонизма, као и за разматрање артикулисаних алтернатива у и ван важећег односа идеологије и хегемоније.The question of relations of the concepts of ideology and hegemony in contemporary circumstances has a quite specific significance. On one hand, after the stage of “retreat” of ideology, or declarations of it being obsolete, there are various forms of its “return”, in more or less changed form, however. On the other, the hegemonic constellation in which this process develops, simultaneously exhibits a homogeneity of basic structural moments of contemporary social and political transformations, but also the aspects of fragmentation and divergence, representing the systematic effect of the system tension, mediated by the specific contemporary forms of relation between ideology and hegemony. Within this frame, the basic thesis is the influence of the process of informatization, or of the transformation of the media-informatical apparatus on the ideological field and structures within the reproduction of the overall hegemonic configuration. Starting from the preposition that this transformation effects all the levels and elements of the relation between ideology and hegemony, as well as the reflexive structure of ideology, the leading question is focused on new ideological forms and the change of the role of ideology within the complete social reproduction, as well as the adequate categorical set of concepts which enable the understanding of these changes and re-evaluation of the role of the culture of critique. Based on these prepositions, the general procedure of this paper is moving from abstract or standard features of the concepts of ideology and hegemony towards more concrete characteristics. These characteristics are comprehended within the context of reproduction of actual forms of symbolic and material production, or ideological reproduction of hegemonic constellation, in which the dominance is turned into leadership, or in which a consent is fabricated, through complex mechanisms or conjunctures. This procedure, in every main chapter, consists of critical exposition of conceptual moments of ideology and hegemony, which accentuates materiality, technological and practical dimension of these concepts, or of the relevant viewpoints within the context of the contemporary transformation of their relation, turning to the critical consideration of the contemporary reception of these moments, and finally to the analysis of the phaenomena, or essentially new forms of relation between ideology and hegemony. The first step of the research, based on ascertaining the adequate categorical framework on the concepts of knowledge and power, and the exposition of abstract moments of the concepts of ideology and hegemony, whose antinomies point to the answer within the concrete historical configuration, is consisted of development of the concepts of “ideological apparatus” and interpellation (according to Louis Althusser), standard criticism of these concepts and exploring the possible answers to the criticism. The second step reiterates this procedure on the concept of hegemony and related concepts, like relation of forces and war of positions (according to Antonio Gramsci), while the third main step examines categorical or conceptual shifts within the set power-force-violence, based on structure of the dominant mode of reproduction. This passage encompasses the analysis of the relation between the form and content of ideological field, or the practice and the structure of the apparatus, as well as the question of dominance of the ideological apparatuses within the reproduction of hegemony. In each of the mentioned steps, the relation of the dominant changes within the ideological field and the complete hegemonic configuration is analyzed, in search of the ideological basis of the ideology critique. Beside the main result of the research, the confirmation of the general hypothesis through the analysis of the structure, role and origin of the new forms of ideological and hegemonic structures, a model is developed for a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary transformations of the relation between ideology and hegemony, through the differentiation of their concepts against the categories of consent and antagonism, as well as for considering of articulated alternatives within and outside the current relation of ideology and hegemony. Key words: The question of relations of the concepts of ideology and hegemony in contemporary circumstances has a quite specific significance. On one hand, after the stage of “retreat” of ideology, or declarations of it being obsolete, there are various forms of its “return”, in more or less changed form, however. On the other, the hegemonic constellation in which this process develops, simultaneously exhibits a homogeneity of basic structural moments of contemporary social and political transformations, but also the aspects of fragmentation and divergence, representing the systematic effect of the system tension, mediated by the specific contemporary forms of relation between ideology and hegemony. Within this frame, the basic thesis is the influence of the process of informatization, or of the transformation of the media-informatical apparatus on the ideological field and structures within the reproduction of the overall hegemonic configuration. Starting from the preposition that this transformation effects all the levels and elements of the relation between ideology and hegemony, as well as the reflexive structure of ideology, the leading question is focused on new ideological forms and the change of the role of ideology within the complete social reproduction, as well as the adequate categorical set of concepts which enable the understanding of these changes and re-evaluation of the role of the culture of critique. Based on these prepositions, the general procedure of this paper is moving from abstract or standard features of the concepts of ideology and hegemony towards more concrete characteristics. These characteristics are comprehended within the context of reproduction of actual forms of symbolic and material production, or ideological reproduction of hegemonic constellation, in which the dominance is turned into leadership, or in which a consent is fabricated, through complex mechanisms or conjunctures. This procedure, in every main chapter, consists of critical exposition of conceptual moments of ideology and hegemony, which accentuates materiality, technological and practical dimension of these concepts, or of the relevant viewpoints within the context of the contemporary transformation of their relation, turning to the critical consideration of the contemporary reception of these moments, and finally to the analysis of the phaenomena, or essentially new forms of relation between ideology and hegemony. The first step of the research, based on ascertaining the adequate categorical framework on the concepts of knowledge and power, and the exposition of abstract moments of the concepts of ideology and hegemony, whose antinomies point to the answer within the concrete historical configuration, is consisted of development of the concepts of “ideological apparatus” and interpellation (according to Louis Althusser), standard criticism of these concepts and exploring the possible answers to the criticism. The second step reiterates this procedure on the concept of hegemony and related concepts, like relation of forces and war of positions (according to Antonio Gramsci), while the third main step examines categorical or conceptual shifts within the set power-force-violence, based on structure of the dominant mode of reproduction. This passage encompasses the analysis of the relation between the form and content of ideological field, or the practice and the structure of the apparatus, as well as the question of dominance of the ideological apparatuses within the reproduction of hegemony. In each of the mentioned steps, the relation of the dominant changes within the ideological field and the complete hegemonic configuration is analyzed, in search of the ideological basis of the ideology critique. Beside the main result of the research, the confirmation of the general hypothesis through the analysis of the structure, role and origin of the new forms of ideological and hegemonic structures, a model is developed for a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary transformations of the relation between ideology and hegemony, through the differentiation of their concepts against the categories of consent and antagonism, as well as for considering of articulated alternatives within and outside the current relation of ideology and hegemony

Conceptualizing cultures of violence and cultural change

The historiography of violence has undergone a distinct cultural turn as attention has shifted from examining violence as a clearly defined (and countable) social problem to analysing its historically defined 'social meaning'. Nevertheless, the precise nature of the relationship between 'violence' and 'culture' is still being established. How are 'cultures of violence' formed? What impact do they have on violent behaviour? How do they change? This essay examines some of the conceptual aspects of the relationship between culture and violence. It brings together empirical research into nineteenth-century England with recent research results from other European contexts to examine three aspects of the relationship between culture and violence. These are organised under the labels 'seeing violence', 'identifying the violent' and 'changing violence'. Within a particular society, narratives regarding particular kinds of behaviour shape cultural attitudes. The notion 'violence' is thus defined in relation to physically aggressive acts as well as by being connected to other kinds of attitudes and contexts. As a result, the boundaries between physical aggression which is legitimate and that which is illegitimate (and thus 'violence') are set. Once 'violence' is defined, particular cultures form ideas about who is responsible for it: reactions to violence become associated with social arrangements such as class and gender as well as to attitudes toward the self. Finally, cultures of violence make efforts to tame or eradicate illegitimate forms of physical aggression. This process is not only connected to the development of new forms of power (e.g., new policing or punishment strategies) but also to less tangible cultural influences which aim at changing the behaviour defined as violence (in particular among the social groups identified as violent). Even if successful, this three-tiered process of seeing violence, identifying the violent and changing violence continues anew, emphasising the ways that cultures of violence develop through a continuous process of reevaluation and reinvention

Biomineralization in the Sea Hare Aplysia punctata Initiated by Nano-Dolomite

X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) were used in study of starting biomineralization processes in embryos of the sea hare species Aplysia punctata. 10 days old embryos appeared amorphous according to XRD patterns. TEM of the same sample showed that first grains of nanocrystalline dolomite began to form in the amorphous area. The identification of dolomite was confirmed according to TEM dark field images and SAED, as well as by HRTEM. In further development stages of the embryos very faint aragonite rings became visible by SAED. It was shown that the biomineralization process in A. punctata started by formation of the dolomite nanograins which served as centres of crystallization for further aragonite deposition in the larval shell. The creation of unusual intermediate crystalline phase of nano-dolomite in A. punctata embryos is of equal interest for biologist and ecologist as an evolutionary ancestral trait of molluskan biomineralization, as well as for materials scientists, as a promising template in potential bioengineering application and design of appropriate biomimetic routes that could lead to the development of new implantable biomaterials. The discussion of the present results is based on recent knowledge on general biomineralization in mollusks

[Die veranderungen in der struktur der patienten nach alter und geschlecht in drei zeitabschnitten]

Proučavajući podatke 2 677 pacijenata, dobivene iz arhiva Zavoda za stomatološku protetiku Stomatološkog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu , autori su ispitivali promjene u strukturi pacijenata nosilaca totalnih proteza po dobi i spolu u tri vremenska razdoblja, u rasponu od 1961. do 1969. godine. Na temelju obrade podataka, autori su došli do zaključaka, da se od prvog prema trećem ispitivanom vremenskom razdoblju pokazuje sve snažnija tendencija pojavljivanja nosilaca totalnih proteza već u m lađim dobnim skupinama koje su ispitivane. Ujedno dolaze do zaključka, na temelju distribucija frekvencija podataka, da postoji tendencija sve većeg širenja po dobnim skupinama u kasnijim vremenskim razdobljima. Autori naglašavaju da se na takvom uzorku ne može dokazati utjecaj realnih štetnih faktora na promjenu u strukturi pacijenata te smatraju da bi trebalo izvršiti istraživanje epidemiološkog karaktera u reprezentativnom uzorku.Studying the histories of 2677 patients obtained fro m the archives of the Institute for Stomatologic Prosthetics of the FacuIty of Stomatology, University of Zagreb , the authors investigated structural changes in patients who had total prostheses. These were divided according to age and sex into three periods ranging from 1961 to 1969. Reviewing the data obtained, the authors reached the conclusion that from the firt to the third investigated period a growing tendency showed of the appearance o f total prostheses in subjects of the younger age groups. Simultaneously on the basis of the distribution s of incidence the conclusion was drawn that there existed a tendency of an increase in the numbers o f patients according to age groups in the later periods. The authors emphasize the fact that it is impossible to prove the effect of truly harmful factors on the change in the structure o f patients on such an example and therefore consider it necessary to carry out an investigation of an epidemiologic character on a representative sample.An Hand von Angaben uber 2677 Patienten aus dem Archiv der Zahnprothetischen Abteilung der Stomatologischen Fakultatin Zagreb , haben die Autoren die Veranderungen in der Struktur der Trager von Totalprothesen nach Alter und Geschlecht in drei Zeitabschnitten, und zwar von 1961 bis 1969, gepruft. Die Autoren kommen zum Ergebnis, dass sich eine stets starkere Tendenz in der Zunahme der totalen Prothesen schon in jungeren Altersgruppen, bemerkbar macht. Auf Grund der Verteilung der Angabenfrequenz konnten sie auch feststellen, dass eine Tendenz zu einer Zunahme der Patientenzahl in den spateren Zeitabschnitten besteht. Doch kann man auf Grund dieser Angaben zu keinen Schlussfolgerungen uber den Einfluss von schadlichen Faktoren auf die Anderung der Patientenstrukturkommen, da fur waren Untersuchungen epidemiologischen Charakters notwendig

FSSBs and Elderly Care: Exploring the Role of Organizational Context on Employees’ Overall Health and Work–Family Balance Satisfaction

Fierce competition coupled with an increasing presence of dual-earning couples and blurred boundaries between work and family, increasingly render work–family lives of employees important. In this context, one strategy to enable employees achieve greater work–family interface is via Family Supportive Supervisor Behaviors (FSSBs), defined as supervisors’ informal discretion to implement family-friendly policies at work. Inspired by the growth in research on FSSBs, the over-arching goal of this study is to explore (a) the triggers of FSSBs from an organizational context perspective and (b) the role of FSSBs as a mechanism to translate the impact of organizational context on subordinates’ overall health and work–family balance satisfaction. Furthermore, we expand our model by integrating the (c) role of supervisors’ and subordinates’ elderly care responsibilities as an individual boundary condition to explain how the FSSBs unfold and for whom they are most effective. Using the Work–Home Resources model (i.e., W-HR model; Ten Brummelhuis & Bakker, 2012), we test our hypotheses with matched data of subordinates and their supervisors collected in El Salvador and Peru. Our model was largely supported. Findings point to the importance of organizational and supervisor support as well as the importance of involvement with elder-care responsibilities in driving FSSBs and enhancing employee perceptions of health and their work–family balance satisfaction