Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and hsCRP in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in a Tertiary Care Hospital

PCOS is a heterogeneous endocrine disorder with diverse clinical presentation. Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathophysiology of this disease. Serumhigh sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a marker of chronic low grade inflammation, is indicative of future development of cardiovascular disease. Our aim is to evaluate the oxidant status and hsCRP levels in PCOS. The study involved 61 cases and 61 controls in the age group of 18–40 years diagnosed with PCOS. Erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), serum hsCRP, gonadotrophins, thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, glycemic status and lipid profile were estimated. Erythrocyte MDA (p < 0.001), SOD (p = 0.007) and serum hsCRP (p < 0.001) were significantly elevated in PCOS patients than controls. Oxidative stress is present in women with PCOS along with elevated hsCRP.     

北京城市绿地对热岛效应的缓解作用

按照城市功能定位将北京市分为中心城、卫星城和郊区,利用2005-2011年的19个站点逐日3个时次(8∶00、14∶00、20∶00)的温度数据,对比分析中心城和卫星城城市热岛效应强度及其变化,同时利用野外试验数据,对比研究不同城市绿地对北京城市热岛的缓解作用。结果表明:1各时次年平均气温中心城卫星城郊区,且中心城和卫星城年平均气温波动上升,而郊区却波动下降,致使各时次中心城和卫星城热岛强度波动增强,且热岛强度增幅中心城高于卫星城;2中心城热岛强度冬季夏季,而卫星城夏季冬季,冬季均以8∶00最强,14∶00最弱,夏季卫星城各时次城市热岛强度次序与冬季相同,但夏季中心城却以20∶00最强,14∶00最弱;3绿地缓解热岛效应功能与绿地类型、树种组成、林分密度等群落结构及管理措施等相关,试验绿地夏季9∶00-16∶00的降温幅度约为0.2~12.9℃,各类绿地平均降温幅度介于1.2~9.5℃,平均降温约4.2℃,以乔草绿地最大,草地最低。因此,合理的群落结构与空间布局可增强区域绿地缓解热岛效应功能。     

北京城市绿地对大气PM_(2.5)的削减作用

PM2.5导致的大气污染已经成为中国经济快速发展地区共同面临的问题。城市绿地对削减大气PM2.5具有一定的作用。本研究基于NDVI数据模拟北京城市绿地叶面积指数,再利用干沉降模型模拟区域绿地PM2.5削减量,最后根据大气PM2.5存量计算了绿地对大气PM2.5的去除效果。研究结果显示,2000年、2005年和2010年北京城市绿地PM2.5削减总量分别为1 861t、2 987t和3 852t,单位面积削减量分别为22.71kg/hm2、24.64kg/hm2和33.36kg/hm2,可分别将研究区内PM2.5削减0.07%、0.12%和0.19%。苗圃与果园、社区林和路旁林的PM2.5削减总量较高,而针阔混交林、灌木林和针叶林的单位面积削减量较高。五环以外绿地的PM2.5削减总量、单位面积削减量和大气PM2.5去除率都高于五环以内绿地。本研究可以为北京城市规划中更好发挥绿地缓解大气PM2.5作用提供决策依据。     

Gestalt principles of creating learning business ontologies for knowledge codification

This paper presents an approach aimed at creating business ontologies for knowledge codification in company. It is based on the principles of ontological engineering and cognitive psychology. Ontologies that describe the main concepts of knowledge are used both for knowledge creation and codification. The proposed framework is targeted at the development of methodologies that can scaffold the process of knowledge structuring and orchestrating for better understanding and knowledge sharing. The orchestrating procedure is the kernel of ontology development. The main stress is put on using visual techniques of mind mapping. Cognitive bias and some results of Gestalt psychology are highlighted as a general guideline. The ideas of balance, clarity, and beauty are applied to the ontology orchestrating procedures. The examples are taken mainly from the project management practice. The paper contributes to managerial practice by describing the practical recommendations for effective knowledge management based on ontology engineering and knowledge structuring techniques.     

Breaking the filter bubble: democracy and design

It has been argued that the Internet and social media increase the number of available viewpoints, perspectives, ideas and opinions available, leading to a very diverse pool of information. However, critics have argued that algorithms used by search engines, social networking platforms and other large online intermediaries actually decrease information diversity by forming so-called “filter bubbles”. This may form a serious threat to our democracies. In response to this threat others have developed algorithms and digital tools to combat filter bubbles. This paper first provides examples of different software designs that try to break filter bubbles. Secondly, we show how norms required by two democracy models dominate the tools that are developed to fight the filter bubbles, while norms of other models are completely missing in the tools. The paper in conclusion argues that democracy itself is a contested concept and points to a variety of norms. Designers of diversity enhancing tools must thus be exposed to diverse conceptions of democracy.     

A new solution to the gamer’s dilemma

Luck (2009) argues that gamers face a dilemma when it comes to performing certain virtual acts. Most gamers regularly commit acts of virtual murder, and take these acts to be morally permissible. They are permissible because unlike real murder, no one is harmed in performing them; their only victims are computer-controlled characters, and such characters are not moral patients. What Luck points out is that this justification equally applies to virtual pedophelia, but gamers intuitively think that such acts are not morally permissible. The result is a dilemma: either gamers must reject the intuition that virtual pedophelic acts are impermissible and so accept partaking in such acts, or they must reject the intuition that virtual murder acts are permissible, and so abstain from many (if not most) extant games. While the prevailing solution to this dilemma has been to try and find a morally relevant feature to distinguish the two cases, I argue that a different route should be pursued. It is neither the case that all acts of virtual murder are morally permissible, nor are all acts of virtual pedophelia impermissible. Our intuitions falter and produce this dilemma because they are not sensitive to the different contexts in which games present virtual acts.     

Virtuous reality: moral theory and research into cyber-bullying

This article draws on a study investigating how 11–14 year olds growing up in England understand cyber-bullying as a moral concern. Three prominent moral theories: deontology, utilitarianism and virtue ethics, informed the development of a semi-structured interview schedule which enabled young people, in their own words, to describe their experiences of online and offline bullying. Sixty 11–14 year olds from six schools across England were involved with the research. Themes emerging from the interviews included anonymity; the absence of rules, monitoring and guidance and, the challenges associated with determining the consequences of online actions. The findings demonstrate the advantages of adopting a character-based moral theory to compliment rules and/or consequence based moral theories as the basis for future research into cyber-bullying. The findings evoke some wider implications for future research into cyber-bullying that might equally be applied to investigations into other Internet related moral concerns.     

The study of systems and methods for scientometric analysis of scientific publications

This paper provides an overview of the methods and systems that are applied for scientometric analysis of scientific publications. Methods to identify promising research directions are described. The results of an experimental study aimed at determining the directions of scientific research within the subject area of “regenerative medicine” by using various methods are presented. Conclusions are made about the prospects and shortcomings of the applied methods. Directions for further research are proposed.