How do pregnancy and birth experiences influence planned place of birth in future pregnancies? Findings from a longitudinal, narrative study.

A perception that first birth is more risky than subsequent births has led to women planning births in Obstetric Units, and care providers supporting these choices. This study explored the influence of pregnancy and birth experiences on women’s intended place of birth in current and subsequent pregnancies. Methods: Prospective, longitudinal narrative interviews (n=122) with forty-one women in three English NHS sites. During postnatal interviews, women reflected on their recent births and discussed where they might plan to give birth in a future pregnancy. Longitudinal narrative analysis methods were used to explore these data. Results: Women’s experience of care in their eventual place of birth had more influence upon decisions about the (hypothetical) next pregnancy than planned place of birth during pregnancy did. Women with complex pregnancies usually planned hospital Obstetric Unit (OU) births, but healthy women with straightforward pregnancies also chose OU and would often plan the same for the future, particularly if they experienced OU during recent births. Discussion: The experience of giving birth in a hospital OU reinforced the notion that birth is risky and uncertain, and that hospital OU is the best or safest setting for birth. The assumption that women will opt for lower acuity settings for second or subsequent births was not supported by these data, which may mean that multiparous women who best fit criteria for non-OU births are reluctant to plan births in these settings. This highlights the importance of providing balanced information about risks and benefits of different birth settings to all women during pregnancy

Reduced SL(2,R) WZNW Quantum Mechanics

The $SL(2,\R)$ WZNW $\rightarrow$ Liouville reduction leads to a nontrivial phase space on the classical level both in $0+1$ and $1+1$ dimensions. To study the consequences in the quantum theory, the quantum mechanics of the $0+1$ dimensional, point particle version of the constrained WZNW model is investigated. The spectrum and the eigenfunctions of the obtained---rather nontrivial---theory are given, and the physical connection between the pieces of the reduced configuration space is discussed in all the possible cases of the constraint parameters.Comment: LaTeX file, 33 pages. Results extended, contains all technical information not detailed in version to appear in J. Math. Phy

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE-THE ROLE AND APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF TRANSPARENCY

The aim of the current research is to clarify the concept of 'corporate governance' as we believe it is a relatively new concept at national level. At the same time, our analysis focused on the manner in which the principle of transparency has been incorporated into the recommendations and regulations/provisions of the Bucharest Stock Exchange (Romanian: BVB) and how this principle has been applied by the companies listed with the BVB. In order to accomplish the objectives of our research, we adopted a deductive approach, from general to specific, by means of which we were able to combine qualitative with quantitative studies. Therefore, our approach started from the definition found within the principles of OECD according to which 'corporate governance' is the system by which companies are run and controlled. In Romania, the concept of 'corporate governance' was first advanced in 1999 by the Strategic Alliance of the Business Associations (Romanian: ASAA), which drew up a "Voluntary code of corporate governance" in association with the Confederation of Private Entrepreneurs in Timiº county and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania and Bucharest. Another facet of our research is the principle of transparency and the manner in which entities should put it to practice in order to ensure efficient corporate governance. To this effect, since the beginning of 2009 the entities listed with the BVB have been under obligation to report which recommendations of the new Corporate Governance Code have actually been implemented by the company in the current financial year by disclosing to BVB the "Comply or Explain" Statement. The findings of our research show that the concept of 'corporate governance' has lately been a matter for intense debate due to the famous financial failures in recent years. In 2009, Transelectrica was the only company in tier I of the BVB which filled in and submitted the "Comply or Explain" Statement. Therefore, we believe that Transelectrica should serve as a fine example for the entities listed with the BVB as regards the filling in and submitting of the said Statement.The aim of the current research is to clarify the concept of 'corporate governance' as we believe it is a relatively new concept at national level. At the same time, our analysis focused on the manner in which the principle of transparency has been incorporated into the recommendations and regulations/provisions of the Bucharest Stock Exchange (Romanian: BVB) and how this principle has been applied by the companies listed with the BVB. In order to accomplish the objectives of our research, we adopted a deductive approach, from general to specific, by means of which we were able to combine qualitative with quantitative studies. Therefore, our approach started from the definition found within the principles of OECD according to which 'corporate governance' is the system by which companies are run and controlled. In Romania, the concept of 'corporate governance' was first advanced in 1999 by the Strategic Alliance of the Business Associations (Romanian: ASAA), which drew up a "Voluntary code of corporate governance" in association with the Confederation of Private Entrepreneurs in Timiº county and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania and Bucharest. Another facet of our research is the principle of transparency and the manner in which entities should put it to practice in order to ensure efficient corporate governance. To this effect, since the beginning of 2009 the entities listed with the BVB have been under obligation to report which recommendations of the new Corporate Governance Code have actually been implemented by the company in the current financial year by disclosing to BVB the "Comply or Explain" Statement. The findings of our research show that the concept of 'corporate governance' has lately been a matter for intense debate due to the famous financial failures in recent years. In 2009, Transelectrica was the only company in tier I of the BVB which filled in and submitted the "Comply or Explain" Statement. Therefore, we believe that Transelectrica should serve as a fine example for the entities listed with the BVB as regards the filling in and submitting of the said Statement.corporate governance, transparency, efficiency, recommendations, regulations

Spectral Structure of Quantum Line with a Defect

We study the spectral properties of one-dimensional quantum wire with a single defect. We reveal the existence of the non-trivial topological structures in the spectral space of the system, which are behind the exotic quantum phenomena that have lately been found in the system.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX, To appear in Proc. International Symposium on Foundation of Quantum Mechanics, Tokyo, Aug.26-30, 2001 (ISQM-Tokyo 01