AUSTRIA’S FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS AFRICAN COUNTRIES AFTER WORLD WAR II After the restoration of sovereignty in 1955, a neutral Austria developed intensive contacts with developing countries. Vienna’s ...open attitude towards them fostered a positive image of the country, also within African states. The peak of activity in the political dialogue with Africa came during the so-called Kreisky era. The activist foreign policy was not accompanied by effective development aid though. From the mid-1980s there is an apparent shift away from an active policy of neutrality and global engagement in favour of European politics. After the accession to the European Union, the development cooperation takes priority and the African continent becomes one of three key regions. The cooperation focuses on the poorest priority countries south of the Sahara: Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Burkina Faso. In spite of programmatic and organisational changes, Austria’s financial contribution still significantly lags behind most small countries of the “old Union”.
The main research objective of the article is to show the evolution of Switzerland’s neutrality after the Cold War. Based on the analysis of internal and external conditions, the thesis is formulated ...that in the conceptual sphere, Switzerland refers to the traditional principles of perpetual neutrality, both in official positions as well as political rhetoric. This aspect clearly distinguishes it from the neutral and non-aligned European Union states. At the same time, in the realm of implementation, it is actually shifting to positions of non-alignment/post-neutrality. The main components of the redefinition of neutrality materialised in the form of a rejection of the principles of the so-called economic neutrality as well as a change of attitude towards armed conflicts. Their implementation opened up opportunities for participation in the process of European integration and a broader commitment to international solidarity as well as management crises. It was in line with the expectations of the international community. The lack of consequences was critically assessed as well as the main barriers to the implementation of the principles of the new concept of neutrality in the 1990s. The beginning of the 21st century brings a clear stabilisation of Helvetic neutrality, including changes in the field of cooperative security policy. Joining the European Union’s sanctions against Russia confirms the continuity of the assumptions of the post-Cold War concept of neutrality.
SWISS NEUTRALITY: CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY The main research objective of the article is to show the evolution of Switzerland’s neutrality after the Cold War. Based on the analysis of internal ...and external conditions, the thesis is formulated that in the conceptual sphere, Switzerland refers to the traditional principles of perpetual neutrality, both in official positions as well as political rhetoric. This aspect clearly distinguishes it from the neutral and non-aligned European Union states. At the same time, in the realm of implementation, it is actually shifting to positions of non-alignment/post-neutrality. The main components of the redefinition of neutrality materialised in the form of a rejection of the principles of the so-called economic neutrality as well as a change of attitude towards armed conflicts. Their implementation opened up opportunities for participation in the process of European integration and a broader commitment to international solidarity as well as management crises. It was in line with the expectations of the international community. The lack of consequences was critically assessed as well as the main barriers to the implementation of the principles of the new concept of neutrality in the 1990s. The beginning of the 21st century brings a clear stabilisation of Helvetic neutrality, including changes in the field of cooperative security policy. Joining the European Union’s sanctions against Russia confirms the continuity of the assumptions of the post-Cold War concept of neutrality.
The main research objective of the article is to show the evolution of Switzerland's neutrality after the Cold War. Based on the analysis of internal and external conditions, the thesis is formulated ...that in the conceptual sphere, Switzerland refers to the traditional principles of perpetual neutrality, both in official positions as well as political rhetoric. This aspect clearly distinguishes it from the neutral and non-aligned European Union states. At the same time, in the realm of implementation, it is actually shifting to positions of non-alignment/post-neutrality. The main components of the redefinition of neutrality materialised in the form of a rejection of the principles of the so-called economic neutrality as well as a change of attitude towards armed conflicts. Their implementation opened up opportunities for participation in the process of European integration and a broader commitment to international solidarity as well as management crises. It was in line with the expectations of the international community. The lack of consequences was critically assessed as well as the main barriers to the implementation of the principles of the new concept of neutrality in the 1990s. The beginning of the 21st century brings a clear stabilisation of Helvetic neutrality, including changes in the field of cooperative security policy. Joining the European Union's sanctions against Russia confirms the continuity of the assumptions of the post-Cold War concept of neutrality.
Catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) is a serious complication in hematological patients, but the risk factors for its occurrence are not well established. The study objectives were to estimate the ...incidence of CRT and to identify the risk factors for developing CRT in hematological patients. In a prospective setting, 104 consecutive patients with 200 insertions of central venous catheters were enrolled into the study. The patients were screened for CRT by compression Doppler ultrasound every 10–14 days. Additionally, ultrasonography was performed in the case of clinical symptoms suggesting CRT. Over the course of 6,098 catheter days of follow-up, the incidence of CRT was 13.5 %. In 18/27 cases (66.6 %), radiological evidence of CRT was preceded by clinical symptoms. However, in 9/27 (33.3 %), CRT was clinically asymptomatic. The median times to symptomatic and asymptomatic CRT were 17 (range 1–49) and 8 (range 1–16) catheter days, respectively. In univariate analysis, the risk factors for CRT were exit-site infection (ESI) (
P
< 0.001), two or more prior chemotherapy lines (
P
= 0.015), catheter-related blood stream infection (
P
< 0.001), and Coagulase-negative staphylococci infection (
P
= 0.002). In multivariate analysis, ESI (OR 5.0; 95 % CI 1.6–6.3;
P
= 0.006) and two or more prior chemotherapy lines (OR 3.57; 95 % CI 1.27–10.11;
P
= 0.015) remained significantly associated with the risk of CRT. The results of our study provide information regarding the characteristic features of the patients who are at high risk of thrombosis, for whom Doppler ultrasound screening should be considered.
Fertilisers containing ammonium nitrate are the most efficient sources of nitrogen used in agriculture. The major hazard associated with production, storage and transport of materials containing this ...compound is its liability to rapid decomposition, or even detonation under certain conditions. Properly selected calcium and magnesium carbonates may increase the thermal stability of ammonium nitrate. The aim of this research was to determine the influence of the carbonate mineral type and composition on phase transitions and decomposition process of fertiliser-grade ammonium nitrate. The article focuses on the methodology of thermal analysis of samples containing ammonium nitrate with carbonates and points out the phenomena and thermal characteristics that should be taken into consideration when testing fertiliser mixtures. Two different sample preparation methods allowed for investigating processes that may occur in inappropriate storage and transport conditions as well as during the production of fertiliser. The measurements were taken using techniques of differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry. The results showed that too high a level of carbonates reactivity can cause problems during the production of fertiliser, reducing the effectiveness of the filler in a final product.
Aim
T cell abnormalities with a focus on Th17 cells have been associated with the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and interstitial lung disease (ILD). The aim of this study was to evaluate ...serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐17, IL‐21 and IL‐23 in SSc patients and to assess their relationship with ILD‐SSc.
Methods
Thirty‐eight patients with SSc and 39 healthy controls were recruited. Serum IL‐17, IL‐21 and IL‐23 levels were examined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Lung involvement of SSc patients was assessed functionally (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide DLCO, body plethysmography) and radiologically (using average disease extent on high resolution computed tomography HRCT of the lungs according to the percentage of interstitial changes and quantified with a 30‐point Warrick score) in 29 SSc patients.
Results
Serum IL‐17 and IL‐23 levels were significantly decreased and IL‐21 levels were elevated in SSc patients when compared with controls (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, respectively). The level of IL‐17 was negatively associated with disease duration (P = 0.01) and positively with HRCT Warrick score (P = 0.03). IL‐23 concentration negatively correlated with DLCO (P = 0.04), total lung capacity (TLC) (P = 0.01) and the 6‐min walk test distance (P = 0.03). No associations were found between the cytokine levels and the average extent of the disease on HRCT.
Conclusion
While the relationship between Th17‐associated cytokines and ILD‐SSc needs to be verified in a larger cohort of patients, the changes in concentrations of IL‐17, IL‐21 and IL‐23 support the hypothesis that these cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of SSc.
The paper presents study results of laser alloying of CT90 tool steel with an applied pre-coat of boron, molybdenum or a mixture of these elements. Pre-coats were applied on steel substrates in the ...form of a paste. The aim of the study was to investigate the microstructure, chemical and phase composition, microhardness and corrosion resistance of these newly-formed coatings. The laser alloying process was carried out using a diode laser with a nominal power of 3 kW. In this study a laser beam power of 900 W and a scanning speed of 48 mm/s were used. As a result of the laser beam action, the presence of three areas was observed in cross-sections of specimens: a remelted zone, a heat affected zone and the substrate. The properties of coatings enriched with both molybdenum and boron were better than those of the steel substrate, but only the use of a Mo-B mixture resulted in a significant improvement in microhardness and corrosion resistance.
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