Cooperative firms in global markets:incidence, viability and economic performance

A number of competing views are swirling around the literature concerning the impact of globalization on the ability of cooperatives to survive. This 10th volume of the Advances in the Economic Analysis of Participatory & Labor-Managed Firms series wants to understand some of these elements in the evolution of cooperatives in a world where globalization seems to be the driving force behind innovative forms of organization. In keeping with the main focus of the economics literature, the volume is focused on worker and producer cooperatives. This issue contains eleven papers and is organized into three parts: the first part collects empirical studies on producers cooperatives in Israel, Italy, Spain and Canada. The second part focuses on theoretical advances in the literature on cooperatives with the objective of understanding the conditions that explain co-ops longevity. Finally the third part documents the expansion into the global markets of the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation.

The incidence of corpora amylacea (CA) in the optic nerve of patients with Alzheimer's disease

Corpora amylacea (CA) are spherical or ovoid bodies 50-50 microns in diameter. They have been described in normal elderly brain as well as in a number of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, the incidence of CA in the optic nerves of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients was compared with normal elderly controls. Samples of optic nerves (MRC Brain Bank, Institute of Psychiatry) were taken from 12 AD patients (age range 69-94 years) and 18 controls (43-82 years). Optic nerves were fixed in 2% buffered glutaraldehyde, post-fixed in osmium tetroxide, embedded in epoxy resin and then sectioned to a thickness of 2 microns. Sections were stained with toluidine blue. CA were present in all of the optic nerves examined. In addition, a number of similarly stained but more irregularly shaped bodies were present. Fewer CA were found in the optic nerves of AD patients compared with controls. By contrast, the number or irregularly shaped bodies was increased in AD. In AD, there may be a preferential decline in the large diameter fibres which may mediate the M-cell pathway. Hence, the decline in the incidence of CA in AD may be associated with a reduction in these fibres. It is also possible that the irregualrly shaped bodies are a degeneration product of the CA.

The retinopathy of prematurity: a study of incidence and the identification of those babies at risk: myopia associated with prematurity

The ocular problems associated with premature birth have been with us ever since it was discovered that the application of high levels of inspired oxygen provided a reduction in mortality. The consequence of this reduction in mortality has been a rise in morbidity; these mortality and morbidity rates have oscillated during the attempt to find a reasonable balance. The use of contemporary technology during the attempt both to understand the premature baby's delicate physiology and to maintain life to younger and lighter babies has not yet produced stability. The incidence of typical retinal maldevelopment, retinopathy of prematurity (RCP), was analysed by serial weekly ophthalmoscopy examinations in a regional special care baby unit, 579 examinations being made on 138 babies. The best instrument for this examination was found to be a compact indirect ophthalmoscope incorporating an inverting eyepiece - the Reichert Jung monocular indirect ophthalmoscope. The optimum time for ocular examination to discover potential ocular morbidity was at 33 weeks post-conceptual age (PCA) with continued examinations to the age of 37 weeks PCA. The babies that were found to be at risk of a significant grade of RCP were found to be of a birth weight of less than 1251 grams or had an estimated gestational age at birth of 30 weeks or less. A refractive state of myopia was found to be the norm. The myopia reduced as life progressed to attain emmetropia around the age of 50 weeks PCA or 22 weeks survival. The reduction of the myopic state was found to be dependent on birth weight and gestational age at birth, the youngest and therefore the lightest being more predictable in attaining emmetropia. Refractive variations were found to be coincident with the timings of certain medical treatment regimes and a hypothesis is postulated as to the mechanism of this association.

The incidence, causes and prevention of defects in the constructiuon of new houses

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A study of factors affecting the incidence and growth rates of fungi in sewage bacteria beds

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Methodology for Language Analysis and Generation in Closed Domains: Pharmaceutical Leaflet

The best results in the application of computer science systems to automatic translation are obtained in word processing when texts pertain to specific thematic areas, with structures well defined and a concise and limited lexicon. In this article we present a plan of systematic work for the analysis and generation of language applied to the field of pharmaceutical leaflet, a type of document characterized by format rigidity and precision in the use of lexicon. We propose a solution based in the use of one interlingua as language pivot between source and target languages; we are considering Spanish and Arab languages in this case of application.

Insights into the influence of solvent polarity on the crystallization of poly(ethylene oxide) spin-coated thin films via in situ grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering

Controlling polymer thin-film morphology and crystallinity is crucial for a wide range of applications, particularly in thin-film organic electronic devices. In this work, the crystallization behavior of a model polymer, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), during spin-coating is studied. PEO films were spun-cast from solvents possessing different polarities (chloroform, THF, and methanol) and probed via in situ grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering. The crystallization behavior was found to follow the solvent polarity order (where chloroform < THF < methanol) rather than the solubility order (where THF > chloroform > methanol). When spun-cast from nonpolar chloroform, crystallization largely followed Avrami kinetics, resulting in the formation of morphologies comprising large spherulites. PEO solutions cast from more polar solvents (THF and methanol) do not form well-defined highly crystalline morphologies and are largely amorphous with the presence of small crystalline regions. The difference in morphological development of PEO spun-cast from polar solvents is attributed to clustering phenomena that inhibit polymer crystallization. This work highlights the importance of considering individual components of polymer solubility, rather than simple total solubility, when designing processing routes for the generation of morphologies with optimum crystallinities or morphologies.

Incidence des ulcères gastriques et analyse des facteurs de risque chez le cheval Standardbred lors d'un entraînement progressif

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

The incidence of postoperative venous thrombosis among patients with ulcerative colitis

Background: Patients with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) have inherent prothrombotic tendencies. It is unknown whether this necessitates the use of additional perioperative anti-thrombotic prophylaxis when such patients require major surgery. Methods: The postoperative courses of 79 patients with UC undergoing 180 major abdominal and pelvic operations were examined for clinical and radiological evidence of venous thrombosis. Eighteen patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) having surgery (35 operations) of similar magnitude were also studied. Standard anti-thrombosis prophylaxis was utilised in all patients. Results: Nine patients with UC were clinically suspected of developing postoperative venous thrombosis, but only three (3.8%) had their diagnosis confirmed radiologically (all had a pulmonary embolus). Therefore, the overall postoperative thrombosis rate, on an intention to treat basis, was 1.7% (3/180). No patient with FAP developed significant venous thrombosis. Conclusion: Standard perioperative antithrombotic modalities are sufficient to maintain any potential increase in postoperative thrombotic risk at an acceptable level in patients with UC undergoing operative intervention.

Prevalence, Incidence and Progression of Myopia in Singaporean Adolescents

The Singapore Cohort Study of the Risk Factors for myopia (SCORM) is a longitudinal school-based study that recruited 1979 children, aged 7 to 9 years old between 1999 and 2001, who were re-examined as adolescents in 2006 and 2007. This current study is to determine the prevalence, incidence and progression of myopia among Singapore teenagers and describe any trend in the SCORM study.

At each visit, participants underwent comprehensive eye examinations that included cycloplegic autorefraction and ocular biometry measurements. The prevalence of myopia (SE<-0.5D) and high myopia (SE<-6.0D) among Singapore teenagers aged 11-18 years old was 69.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 66.5-71.7] and 7.1% (95% CI 5.8-8.7), respectively, with the highest prevalence in people of Chinese ethnicity (p<0.001). The annual incidence was 13.7% (95% CI 9.8-17.6). Males had twice the incidence of females (p=0.043), and adolescents with longer axial lengths (p<0.001) and deeper vitreous chamber (p<0.001) had higher myopia incidence. Annual myopia progression was -0.32 Diopters (D) (SD=0.40), with no difference by age, race or gender. However, adolescents with higher myopia levels at 2006 had significantly faster myopia progression rates (p<0.001).

Myopia prevalence in Singapore teenagers, especially Singapore Chinese teenagers, is one of the highest in the world. In adolescents, there is still a high rate of new onset and rapid progression of myopia. These findings indicate that adolescence may still represent a viable period for intervention programs to mitigate myopia onset and progression.

Incidence des ulcères gastriques et analyse des facteurs de risque chez le cheval Standardbred lors d'un entraînement progressif

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.