Optical coherence tomography fast versus regular macular thickness mapping in diabetic retinopathy

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate if absolute values and reproducibility of thickness maps obtained from 2 optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning protocols, regular high-resolution and fast low-density mode, differ in patients with diabetic macular edema. Methods: A total of 26 consecutive patients undergoing fluorescein angiography and Stratus OCT scanning for the evaluation of diabetic macular edema at the Departments of Ophthalmology in Munich and Vienna were included. Results: Retinal thickness of the central field of the thickness map measured by fast retinal thickness protocol was 287 +/- 97 and 290 +/- 113 mu m by the regular protocol. This difference as well as that for all other fields was not statistically significant. Three times repeated measurements applying both OCT scanning modes in 10 patients yielded very good intrasession correlation coefficients between 0.70 and 0.99, with corresponding intrasession standard deviations ranging between 6 and 16 mu m. The fast mode yielded slightly less reproducible values than the regular mode. Visual acuity did not influence the results. Conclusion: In practice both scanning modes caninterchanged and absolute values can be compared directly. Best reproducibility is obtained with higher sampling density even in patients with reduced visual acuity due to diabetic macular edema. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Sensitivity of Calanus spp. copepods to environmental changes in the North Sea using life-stage structured models

The copepods Calanus finmarchicus and C. helgolandicus co-exist in the North Sea, but their spatial distribution and phenology are very different. Long-term changes in their distributions seem to occur due to climate change resulting in a northward extension of C. helgolandicus and a decline of C. finmarchicus in this region. The aim of this study is to use life-stage structured models of the two Calanus species embedded in a 3D coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model to investigate how the biogeography of C. finmarchicus and C. helgolandicus is modified by changes in ± 2°C sea water temperatures, overwintering and oceanic inflow in the North Sea. Life-stage structured models are validated against CPR data and vertical distributions north of the Dogger Bank in the North Sea for the reference year 2005. The model shows that 1) ± 2°C changes from the current level mainly influence the seasonal patterns and not the relative occurrence of the two species, 2) changes due to oceanic inflow mainly appeared in the northern and southern part of the North Sea connected to the NE Atlantic and not in the central part and 3) the abundance of Calanus species were very sensitive to the degree of overwintering within the North Sea because it allows them to utilize the spring bloom more efficiently and independently of the timing and amount of oceanic inflow. The combination of lower temperatures, higher overwintering and oceanic inflow simulating the situation in the 1960s largely favoured C. finmarchicus and their relative contribution to Calanus spp. increased from 40% in the reference year to 72%. The +2°C scenario suggest that in a warmer future, C. finmarchicus is likely to decline and C. helgolandicus abundance will probably continue to increase in some areas

Integrated trend assessment of ecosystem changes in the Limfjord (Denmark): evidence of a recent regime shift?

An integrated ecosystem assessment was carried out for the Limfjord over the period from 1984 to 2008 to describe changes in ecosystem structure and potentially important drivers. The Limfjord is a eutrophic transitional Danish fjord system with the main inflow from the North Sea in the west and main outflow to the Kattegat in the east. We showed that from 1990 to 1995, the ecosystem structure shifted from dominance by demersal fish species (eelpout, whiting, flounder, plaice) to that of pelagic fish species (sprat, herring, sticklebacks), small-bodied fish species (black goby, pipefish), jellyfish, common shore crab, starfish and blue mussels. We interpret this change as a regime shift that showed a similar temporal pattern to regime shifts identified in adjacent seas. The observed changes in trophic interactions and food web reorganisation suggested a non-linear regime shift. The analyses further showed the regime shift to be driven by a combination of anthropogenic pressures and possible interplay with climatic disturbance.</p

What Choreography Can Do in a Museum

Departing from the questions: «What a body can do in the museum?» and «How it distributes and mediates different forms of knowledge within an institution of the experience economy?», the contribution shifts to what choreography can do in the museum. Choreographing relations as a mode of assembling and creating a public sphere seems one crucial element. The author examines three choreographic works under the aspects of the public monument, embodied heritage and the need to contextualize. She asks how the latter can be achieved beyond the logocentric use of language, which puts dance in the subordinated position of a silent art, and finishes with a claim for the institutions as sites of long-term practicing which could create specific conditions for dance and its needs beyond a merely product-oriented system

Notes on Ernest Nagel’s Philosophy of History: Historical Determinism Revisited

In this article, I analyse common arguments raised against historical determinism. I refer to the treatment given to the topic by Ernest Nagel in “Determinism in History” (1959). Nagel identifies five different arguments which allegedly show that history is not deterministic and argues that they fall short. I revisit, re-evaluate, and make amendments to these arguments. Special attention is given to one of them: The argument that the emergence of novelties in human affairs would be incompatible with the standard view of determinism. I use the theory of convergent evolution to clarify why novelties cannot be used against the deterministic assumption, especially if by determinism we mean only the ontological sense of the doctrine – which I call uniqueness of evolution – and not predictive determinism. I conclude that common attacks on the possibility of historical determinism are grounded on incomplete human knowledge of the historical world. 

Impulsivity and time perception as predictors of pathological gambling

Current study examined multivariate relationships between impulsivity, time perception, gambling behavior and co-variates as age, gender, education and nationality. Impulsivity, time perception and risk for pathological gambling (PG) was assessed in 3500 participants aged between 15 and 74 years (1506 men and 2024 woman, 2455 Estonians and 1075 non-Estonian residents of Estonia) with different educational and socio-economical background. Participants completed the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS) and the modified Impulsive Behavior Scale (mUPPS). Time Production Task (TPT) was presented to all participants. As the result, impulsive subjects tend to perceive time intervals as shorter and they under produce time intervals more than self-controlled subjects. Impulsivity was associated with PG to the extent that this association can be interpreted as causal but it is not mediated by time perception as was hypothesized.http://tartu.ester.ee/record=b2656689~S1*es

Redefining cooperativa bandim for sustainable impact: how can bandim implement an effective marketing strategy

Currently, Cooperativa Bandim is dedicated to uplifting migrant women through the development of products and services in the handcraft creative industry, aiming at their financial stability. However, Bandim faces a critical issue: existing activities are not generating equitable income opportunities for all cooperants due to root problems within the organization. This project redefines Bandim’s mission, aligning with the commitment to poverty alleviation. The focus is on redefining the core activities, marketing, and organizational structure, unlocking the potential for financial sustainability, concluding with a clear path to measure social impact, and ensuring a meaningful difference in the lives of migrant women