Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Important Conclusion (important + conclusion)
Kinds of Important Conclusion Selected AbstractsEvaluation of residual drift demands in regular multi-storey frames for performance-based seismic assessmentEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 13 2006Jorge Ruiz-García Abstract This paper summarizes results of a comprehensive analytical study aimed at evaluating the amplitude and heightwise distribution of residual drift demands in multi-storey moment-resisting frames after earthquake excitation. For that purpose, a family of 12 one-bay two-dimensional generic frame models was subjected to an ensemble of 40 ground motions scaled to different intensities. In this investigation, an inelastic ground motion intensity measure was employed to scale each record, which allowed reducing the record-to-record variability in the estimation of residual drift demands. The results were statistically processed in order to evaluate the influence of ground motion intensity, number of stories, period of vibration, frame mechanism, system overstrength, and hysteretic behaviour on central tendency of residual drift demands. In addition, a special emphasis was given to evaluate the uncertainty in the estimation of residual drift demands. Results of incremental dynamic analyses indicate that the amplitude and heightwise distribution of residual drift demands strongly depends on the frame mechanism, the heightwise system structural overstrength and the component hysteretic behaviour. An important conclusion for performance-based assessment is that the evaluation of residual drift demands involves significantly larger levels of uncertainty (i.e. record-to-record variability) than that of maximum drift demands, which suggests that this variability and corresponding uncertainty should be explicitly taken into account when estimating residual drift demands during performance-based seismic assessment of frame buildings. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The optimization of protein secondary structure determination with infrared and circular dichroism spectraFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 14 2004Keith A. Oberg We have used the circular dichroism and infrared spectra of a specially designed 50 protein database [Oberg, K.A., Ruysschaert, J.M. & Goormaghtigh, E. (2003) Protein Sci. 12, 2015,2031] in order to optimize the accuracy of spectroscopic protein secondary structure determination using multivariate statistical analysis methods. The results demonstrate that when the proteins are carefully selected for the diversity in their structure, no smaller subset of the database contains the necessary information to describe the entire set. One conclusion of the paper is therefore that large protein databases, observing stringent selection criteria, are necessary for the prediction of unknown proteins. A second important conclusion is that only the comparison of analyses run on circular dichroism and infrared spectra independently is able to identify failed solutions in the absence of known structure. Interestingly, it was also found in the course of this study that the amide II band has high information content and could be used alone for secondary structure prediction in place of amide I. [source] On the Effects of Wage Pressure on the Unemployment Rate and Capital ShareGERMAN ECONOMIC REVIEW, Issue 4 2006Takashi Ohno Wage pressure; increasing returns to scale; unemployment; capital share Abstract. The purpose of this paper is to understand the behaviour of the capital share and the unemployment rate in Europe over the past quarter of a century. We consider a model with monopolistic competition, increasing returns and an imperfect labour market, assuming that the elasticity between capital and labour is less than unity. Previous works have generally assumed constant returns to scale. Our results offer an important conclusion, namely that increased wage pressure will increase the unemployment rate and the capital share even though the latter initially decreases, which fits the stylized facts about the studied economies. [source] The costs and benefits of lifelong learning: The case of the NetherlandsHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 2 2002Marko J. van Leeuwen This article deals with costs and benefits related to on-the-job training. For calculating costs and benefits of on-the-job training at the sector and macroeconomic levels, a model is developed. Model parameters are estimated using information from a survey of employers and employees in the Netherlands. Exogenous model variables are taken from the survey as well as from several official statistical sources. The model is used for running a baseline scenario and several policy scenarios. The policy scenarios describe proposed policy measures for stimulating lifelong learning in the Netherlands. The model calculates detailed costs and benefits for players in the market for on-the-job training and the macroeconomic consequences. It is shown that the differences in cost-effectiveness of policy measures can be large. Another important conclusion is that the results may differ strongly among employers, employees, and the government. [source] If We Value Individual Responsibility, Which Policies Should We Favour?JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHILOSOPHY, Issue 1 2005ALEXANDER BROWN ABSTRACT Individual responsibility is now very much on the political agenda. Even those who believe that its importance has been exaggerated by the political right , either because the appropriate conditions for assigning responsibility to individuals are rarely satisfied or because not enough is done to protect individuals from the more harmful consequences of their past choices and gambles , accept that individual responsibility is at least one of the values against which a society and its institutions ought to be evaluated. One might be forgiven for assuming, then, that we know exactly why individual responsibility is important. The truth is otherwise. Surprisingly little philosophical work has been undertaken to analyse and separate out the different rationales that might be in play. Several possible reasons are examined here including: utility, the social bases of self-respect, autonomy, human flourishing and fairness. However, once we adopt a pluralistic view of the value of individual responsibility we open up the possibility of value conflict, which conflict can make it harder to arrive at definitive prescriptions about which social policies best advance our concerns for individual responsibility. It is nevertheless possible to draw at least some conclusions about which policies we should favour. One important conclusion is that sometimes it is better not to hold individuals responsible for their past choices by denying them aid now, so that they might be better able to assume individual responsibility at a later date. [source] Interferon-, therapy: Evaluation of routes of administration and delivery systemsJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2002Husam M. Younes Abstract Although different routes and delivery systems have been used to deliver interferon-, (IFN-,) for the treatment of a variety of viral and neoplastic diseases, little has been reported regarding the most efficient and least toxic routes and drug delivery modes required to achieve these goals. To have a greater understanding of the best strategies to use to administer this cytokine in an efficient, stable, and safe manner, this review details aspects of IFN-, concerning its mechanism of action, physical properties, and pharmacokinetics. One important conclusion that is drawn from this analysis is that a consistent, local concentration of IFN-, is necessary to achieve an optimal therapeutic response. A critical discussion covering the advantages and limitations of the currently used methodologies to deliver IFN-, in such a fashion is presented. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 91:2,17, 2002 [source] On the influence of oil prices on economic activity and other macroeconomic and financial variables,OPEC ENERGY REVIEW, Issue 4 2008François Lescaroux The aim of this paper is to investigate the links between oil prices and various macroeconomic and financial variables for a large set of countries, including both oil-importing and oil-exporting countries. Both short-run and long-run interactions are analysed through the implementation of Granger-causality tests, evaluation of cross correlations between the cyclical components of the series in order to identify lead/lag relationships and cointegration analysis. Our results highlight the existence of various relationships between oil prices and macroeconomic variables and, especially, an important link between oil and share prices on the short run. Turning to the long run, numerous long-term relationships are detected, the Granger-causality generally running from oil prices to the other variables. An important conclusion is relating to the key role played by the oil market on stock markets. [source] Zukunft der Arbeit und Arbeit der Zukunft in DeutschlandPERSPEKTIVEN DER WIRTSCHAFTSPOLITIK, Issue 2 2006Carsten Ochsen The main finding is that the reduction of the labour costs cannot reduce the aggregated unemployment rate substantially. An important conclusion is that the skill upgrading of the labour force is slower than that of labour demand. The future of work in Germany lies not in low paid low skilled jobs, but in high(er) skilled occupation. [source] Synthesis of the hydrophobic,hydrophilic macroporous poly divinylbenzene/poly(sodium acrylate) IPN resin and adsorption performance for berberinePOLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, Issue 12 2009Guqing Xiao Abstract The macroporous polydivinylbenzene/poly(methyl acrylate) interpenetrating polymer network (PDVB/PMA IPN) was prepared by the sequential suspension polymerization method, and was modified to be hydrophobic,hydrophilic macroporous polydivinylbenzene/poly (sodium acrylate) IPN (PDVB/PNaA IPN) by converting the PMA to PNaA under the condition of base. The effects of different mass ratio of the two networks and different cross-linking degree of the second network on the pore structure and adsorption capacity of PDVB/PNaA IPN resin were studied. The PDVB/PNaA IPN resin whose adsorption quantity is the biggest was chosen to study further. The pore structure, the weak acid exchange capacity, the water retention capacity, and the swelling ability of PDVB/PNaA IPN resin were measured. The study focused on the adsorption isotherms of berberine at different temperatures. Isosteric adsorption enthalpy, adsorption Gibbs free energies can be calculated according to thermodynamic functions. The results show that the saturated adsorption quantity of berberine is up to 109.4,mg,ml,1 (wet resin) by the way of dynamic adsorption and desorption experiment. The resin could be reused by the mixture with 0.5% sodium chloride and 80% ethanol. On the one hand the hydrophobic PDVB in the PDVB/PNaA IPN resin has the ability of adsorption using ,,, interaction, and on the other hand the hydrophilic PNaA in the PDVB/PNaA IPN resin has the ability of adsorption using ion exchange interaction. An important conclusion can be drawn that the PDVB/PNaA IPN resin has a promising application prospect in extracting and separating quaternary ammonium type alkaloids such as berberine. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Fast pyrolysis technology developmentBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 2 2010RH Venderbosch Abstract While the intention of slow pyrolysis is to produce mainly charcoal, fast pyrolysis is meant to convert biomass to a maximum quantity of liquids (bio-oil). Both processes have in common that the biomass feedstock is densified to reduce storage space and transport costs. A comfortable, more stable and cleaner intermediate energy carrier is obtained, which is much more uniform and well defined. In this review, the principles of fast pyrolysis are discussed, and the main technologies reviewed (demo scale: fluid bed, rotating cone and vacuum pyrolysis; pilot plant: ablative and twin screw pyrolysis). Possible product applications are discussed in relation to the bio-oil properties. General mass and energy balance are provided as well, together with some remarks on the economics. Challenges for the coming years are (1) improvement of the reliability of pyrolysis reactors and processes; (2) the demonstration of the oil's utilization in boilers, engines and turbines; and (3) the development of technologies for the production of chemicals and biofuels from pyrolysis oils. One important conclusion in relation to biofuel production is that the type of oxygen functionalities (viz. as an alcohol, ketone, aldehyde, ether, or ester) in the oil should be controlled, rather then merely focusing on a reduction of just the oxygen content itself. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] Diagnosis of perinatal stroke II: mechanisms and clinical phenotypesACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 11 2009P Govaert Abstract Introduction:, Here (and in an accompanying article dealing with definitions, differential diagnosis and registration), a structured sequential diagnostic flow is proposed to discern clinical phenotypes for perinatal stroke, including arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS), cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) and haemorrhagic stroke. Material and results:, For neonatal AIS, the diagnostic sequence is infection, trauma, embolism, arteriopathy, other, primary thrombosis and unclassifiable; for neonatal CSVT, the sequence is infection, trauma, venopathy, other, primary thrombosis and unclassifiable. The proposed hierarchical diagnostic flows are an initial step towards a standard for registration of the causes of neonatal stroke. Such standardization should guide attempts at prevention and intervention. An extensive literature search and study of a retrospective cohort of 134 newborn infants with stroke suggest that embolism is the most common identifiable cause for stroke in general (25%), preceding trauma (10%) and infection (8%). Other causes, such as asphyxia, acute blood loss, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, genetic disorders or prothrombotic conditions, are seen in <5% of cases. For neonatal AIS, the presence of an embolic phenotype is 33% in this cohort. The designation unclassifiable scored 34% for the entire stroke group and 25% for neonatal AIS. Complex arterial stroke with multiple arteries involved is often seen when the underlying cause is infection, cranial trauma or embolism. One important conclusion is that a means of prevention is avoidance of embolism from thrombosis outside the brain. Conclusion:, To prevent the occurrence and recurrence of neonatal ischaemic stroke, clinicians must develop a standardized diagnostic approach that results in characterization of the clinical phenotype. [source] COLONY SEX RATIOS IN THE FACULTATIVELY POLYGYNOUS ANT PHEIDOLE PALLIDULA: A REANALYSIS WITH NEW DATAEVOLUTION, Issue 5 2004Ken R. Helms Abstract A recent study by Fournier et al. (2003) provides important new information on sex allocation in the ant Pheidole pallidula, and proposes a new scenario for sex-ratio evolution in P. pallidula and similar species. However, Helms proposed to the authors that two important conclusions of the study were questionable because of potential problems with the analyses. Here we provide new data and a reanalysis that strengthens the conclusion that colony sex ratio is associated with breeding system (i.e., polygyny or monogyny). However, the proposal that colonies shift from monogyny to polygyny when they become larger and more productive is weakened because there is substantial overlap in productivity between monogynous and polygynous colonies. [source] PERSPECTIVE: MODELS OF SPECIATION: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED IN 40 YEARS?EVOLUTION, Issue 10 2003Sergey Gavrilets Abstract Theoretical studies of speciation have been dominated by numerical simulations aiming to demonstrate that speciation in a certain scenario may occur. What is needed now is a shift in focus to identifying more general rules and patterns in the dynamics of speciation. The crucial step in achieving this goal is the development of simple and general dynamical models that can be studied not only numerically but analytically as well. I review some of the existing analytical results on speciation. I first show why the classical theories of speciation by peak shifts across adaptive valleys driven by random genetic drift run into trouble (and into what kind of trouble). Then I describe the Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller (BDM) model of speciation that does not require overcoming selection. I describe exactly how the probability of speciation, the average waiting time to speciation, and the average duration of speciation depend on the mutation and migration rates, population size, and selection for local adaptation. The BDM model postulates a rather specific genetic architecture of reproductive isolation. I then show exactly why the genetic architecture required by the BDM model should be common in general. Next I consider the multilocus generalizations of the BDM model again concentrating on the qualitative characteristics of speciation such as the average waiting time to speciation and the average duration of speciation. Finally, I consider two models of sympatric speciation in which the conditions for sympatric speciation were found analytically. A number of important conclusions have emerged from analytical studies. Unless the population size is small and the adaptive valley is shallow, the waiting time to a stochastic transition between the adaptive peaks is extremely long. However, if transition does happen, it is very quick. Speciation can occur by mutation and random drift alone with no contribution from selection as different populations accumulate incompatible genes. The importance of mutations and drift in speciation is augmented by the general structure of adaptive landscapes. Speciation can be understood as the divergence along nearly neutral networks and holey adaptive landscapes (driven by mutation, drift, and selection for adaptation to a local biotic and/or abiotic environment) accompanied by the accumulation of reproductive isolation as a by-product. The waiting time to speciation driven by mutation and drift is typically very long. Selection for local adaptation (either acting directly on the loci underlying reproductive isolation via their pleiotropic effects or acting indirectly via establishing a genetic barrier to gene flow) can significantly decrease the waiting time to speciation. In the parapatric case the average actual duration of speciation is much shorter than the average waiting time to speciation. Speciation is expected to be triggered by changes in the environment. Once genetic changes underlying speciation start, they go to completion very rapidly. Sympatric speciation is possible if disruptive selection and/or assortativeness in mating are strong enough. Sympatric speciation is promoted if costs of being choosy are small (or absent) and if linkage between the loci experiencing disruptive selection and those controlling assortative mating is strong. [source] Not Very Material but Hardly Immaterial: China's Bombed Embassy and Sino-American Relations,FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS, Issue 1 2010Gregory J. Moore In 1999 Sino-American relations experienced intense strain as a result of NATO's Kosovo intervention, and in particular by the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade by an American B-2 bomber. Why did the bombing of China's embassy in Belgrade in the spring of 1999 touch such a raw nerve among the Chinese people and leadership? With the coming of the tenth anniversary of these events, what still needs to be explained is how Chinese and Americans could draw such divergent conclusions about that which they've never disagreed on,the incontestable fact of the embassy's demolition,and how the fact that what Americans called "a mistake" could almost completely derail Sino-American relations, which President Clinton in his very successful visit to China a year before had called a "strategic partnership." Based on a series of semistructured interviews the author did in Beijing and Washington with 28 Chinese and 30 American experts, this research draws a number of important conclusions in this regard. First, intensifying and even defining the conflict were a number of important perceptual gaps. Second, given the dispute over the intentionality of the embassy bombing, the conflict boiled down not to clashing interests, per se, but rather to issues of trust and beliefs about motives and intentions. Third, poor handling of the embassy bombing by both governments deepened the conflict and the alienation both sides felt. Fourth, underlying the lack of trust and the perceptual gaps between the two sides was "Fundamental Attribution Error." [source] Three-dimensional vibration analysis of rectangular thick plates on Pasternak foundationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 10 2004D. Zhou Abstract The free-vibration characteristics of rectangular thick plates resting on elastic foundations have been studied, based on the three-dimensional, linear and small strain elasticity theory. The foundation is described by the Pasternak (two-parameter) model. The Ritz method is used to derive the eigenvalue equation of the rectangular plate by augmenting the strain energy of the plate with the potential energy of the elastic foundation. The Chebyshev polynomials multiplied by a boundary function are selected as the admissible functions of the displacement functions in each direction. The approach is suitable for rectangular plates with arbitrary boundary conditions. Convergence and comparison studies have been performed on square plates on elastic foundations with different boundary conditions. It is shown that the present method has a rapid convergent rate, stable numerical operation and very high accuracy. Parametric investigations on the dynamic behaviour of clamped square thick plates on elastic foundations have been carried out in detail, with respect to different thickness,span ratios and foundation parameters. Some results found for the first time have been given and some important conclusions have been drawn. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Quantitative microstructural and texture characterization by X-ray diffraction of polycrystalline ferroelectric thin filmsJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2004Jesús Ricote Texture becomes an important issue in ferroelectric materials as it greatly influences the physical properties of polycrystalline films. The use of advanced methods of analysis of the X-ray diffraction profiles, namely quantitative texture analysis or the recently developed combined approach, allows access to quantitative information on the different components of the global texture and to more accurate values of structural and microstructural parameters of both the ferroelectric film and the substrate, not available by more conventional methods of analysis. The results obtained allow important conclusions to be drawn regarding the mechanisms that lead to the development of preferred orientations in thin films and, also, the correlation between them and the ferroelectric behaviour. For example, it is observed that the inducement of a strong ,111, texture component does not mean the complete disappearance of the so-called `natural' ,100,, ,001, components, and that the ratio between the contributions to the global texture of these two components can be changed by the presence of tensile or compressive stress during crystallization of the films. The relative contributions of these texture components are also related to the final properties of the ferroelectric films. [source] Strategic and Queue effects on Entry in Spanish BankingJOURNAL OF ECONOMICS & MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, Issue 4 2001Lucio Fuentelsaz This paper analyzes the factors that influence entry and geographic diversification decisions, a topic of special strategic interest in a context of growing globalization. The empirical model we propose is tested in a framework, the Spanish savings-bank market,where recent deregulation has eliminated the legal barriers to entry. Our results show two important conclusions for the evolution of the effects of branching deregulation in Europe and the US. First, it seems that entry in new geographical markets has been impeded by the strategic interactions between entrants and incumbents. Second, savings banks exhibit a preference for closer locations at the time of expanding, which may have undermined the effects of deregulation and its potential benefits for consumers. [source] Oil and non-oil sectors in the Saudi Arabian economyOPEC ENERGY REVIEW, Issue 3 2000Masudul A. Choudhury An empirical study of the sectoral diversification of the Saudi Arabian economy reveals that this economy is fast diversifying into non-oil sector activity. Such a transformation is carrying with it encouraging impacts on productivity growth, economic efficiency and social well-being. There is also found to occur all-round intersectoral linkages in the economy. These two patterns of economic change together define balanced and sustainable development for Saudi Arabia in the years ahead. The policy implications of non-oil sector diversification and intersectoral complementarity and their effects on realizing sustainable self-reliant development are important conclusions of this paper. [source] ORGANIZATIONAL INVOLVEMENT AND BLACK PARTICIPATION: CONTINUITY AND CHANGEPOLITICS & POLICY, Issue 4 2000Darryl L. McMiller Empirical investigations of black political activity either do not include measures for associational affiliation among blacks or take into consideration differences among black organizations in their capacity to promote political activity among their members. In this investigation, a model of black political behavior was presented that included not only the standard predictors of political activity, but also incorporated measures for membership in different types of voluntary associations. Two important conclusions emerge from this study. First, this investigation demonstrated that since the 1960s, there has been an important transformation in the organizational infrastructure of the black community: blacks changed their voluntary memberships from political to nonpartisan organizations. Second, these findings showed that the decline in group-based political mobilization since the 1960s is partly the result of this shift from partisan to nonpolitical affiliations. [source] The oligomeric state and stability of the mannitol transporter, EnzymeIImtl, from Escherichia coli: A fluorescence correlation spectroscopy studyPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 8 2006Gertjan Veldhuis Abstract Numerous membrane proteins function as oligomers both at the structural and functional levels. The mannitol transporter from Escherichia coli, EnzymeIImtl, is a member of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system. During the transport cycle, mannitol is phosphorylated and released into the cytoplasm as mannitol-1-phosphate. Several studies have shown that EIImtl functions as an oligomeric species. However, the oligomerization number and stability of the oligomeric complex during different steps of the catalytic cycle, e.g., substrate binding and/or phosphorylation of the carrier, is still under discussion. In this paper, we have addressed the oligomeric state and stability of EIImtl using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. A functional double-cysteine mutant was site-specifically labeled with either Alexa Fluor 488 or Alexa Fluor 633. The subunit exchange of these two batches of proteins was followed in time during different steps of the catalytic cycle. The most important conclusions are that (1) in a detergent-solubilized state, EIImtl is functional as a very stable dimer; (2) the stability of the complex can be manipulated by changing the intermicellar attractive forces between PEG-based detergent micelles; (3) substrate binding destabilizes the complex whereas phosphorylation increases the stability; and (4) substrate binding to the phosphorylated species partly antagonizes the stabilizing effect. [source] MACROECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY AND MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE: ARE THEY RELATED?THE MANCHESTER SCHOOL, Issue 2005DON BREDIN We use a very general bivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity-in-mean model and G7 monthly data covering the 1957,2003 period to test for the impact of real and nominal macroeconomic uncertainty on inflation and output growth. Our evidence supports a number of important conclusions. First, in most countries output growth uncertainty is a positive determinant of the output growth rate. Second, there is mixed evidence regarding the effect of inflation uncertainty on inflation and output growth. Hence, contrary to popular belief, uncertainty about the inflation rate is not necessarily detrimental to economic growth but in some cases it may also enhance growth. Finally, there is mixed evidence on the effect of output uncertainty on inflation. In sum, our results indicate that macroeconomic uncertainty may even improve macroeconomic performance. [source] The interstellar magnetic field near the Galactic centerASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 1 2010K. Ferrière Abstract We review the current observational knowledge of the interstellar magnetic field within ,150 pc ofthe Galactic center. We also discuss the various theoretical scenarios that have been put forward to explain the existing observations. Our critical overview leads to two important conclusions: (1) The interstellar magnetic field near the GC is approximately poloidal on average in the diffuse intercloud medium and approximately horizontal in dense interstellar clouds. (2) In the general intercloud medium, the field is relatively weak and probably close to equipartition with cosmic rays (B , (6,20) , G), but there exist a number of localized filaments where the field is much stronger (some filaments could possibly have B , 1 mG). In dense interstellar clouds, the field is probably rather strong, with typical values ranging between a few 0.1 mG and a few mG (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] | |||||||||||||||||||