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Possible Solutions (possible + solution)
Kinds of Possible Solutions Selected AbstractsIntermunicipal health care consortia in Brazil: strategic behavior, incentives and sustainabilityINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2006Luciana Teixeira Abstract This article studies strategic behavior in municipal health care consortia where neighboring municipalities form a partnership to supply high-complexity health care. Each municipality partially funds the organization. Depending on the partnership contract, a free rider problem may jeopardize the organization. A municipality will default its payments if it can still benefit from the services, especially when political pressures for competing expenditure arise. The main result is that the partnership sustainability depends on punishment mechanisms to a defaulting member, the gains from joint provision of services and the overall economic environment. Possible solutions to the incentive problem are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] On the analysis of long-term experimentsJOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES A (STATISTICS IN SOCIETY), Issue 1 2007Thomas M. Loughin Summary., Long-term experiments are commonly used tools in agronomy, soil science and other disciplines for comparing the effects of different treatment regimes over an extended length of time. Periodic measurements, typically annual, are taken on experimental units and are often analysed by using customary tools and models for repeated measures. These models contain nothing that accounts for the random environmental variations that typically affect all experimental units simultaneously and can alter treatment effects. This added variability can dominate that from all other sources and can adversely influence the results of a statistical analysis and interfere with its interpretation. The effect that this has on the standard repeated measures analysis is quantified by using an alternative model that allows for random variations over time. This model, however, is not useful for analysis because the random effects are confounded with fixed effects that are already in the repeated measures model. Possible solutions are reviewed and recommendations are made for improving statistical analysis and interpretation in the presence of these extra random variations. [source] Numerical analysis of surface-tension-driven coating flowPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 2 2002Richard H. J. Blunk Bondline readout (BLRO) is a coating defect frequently exhibited on adhesively bonded, polymeric automotive body panels painted with high-glamour/flow clearcoats. BLRO or telegraphing results from Marangoni - type, surface-tension-driven flows. The goal of this study is to use an efficient one-dimensional numerical code (based on the lubrication approximation) to obtain further insight into the mechanism of temperature- and concentration-induced BLRO flows in order to validate a proposed BRLO mechanism and ultimately to help eliminate the highly undesirable BLRO coating defect. Further insight is realized by investigating numerically the effects on BLRO of gravity and five parameters,initial film thickness, heating rate, viscosity, solvent volatility, and solvent-to-resin surface-tension ratio. Possible solutions to the BLRO problem are discussed. [source] Unsuccessful Alloplastic Esophageal Replacement With Porcine Small Intestinal SubmucosaARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 4 2009Thorsten Doede Abstract:, In general, there is no perfect method for esophageal replacement under consideration of the numerous associated risks and complications. The aim of this study was to examine a new material,small intestinal submucosa (SIS),in alloplastic esophageal replacement. We implanted tubular SIS prosthesis about 4 cm in length in the cervical esophagus of 14 piglets (weight 9,13 kg). For the first 10 days, the animals were fed parenterally, supplemented by free given water, followed by an oral feeding phase. Four weeks after surgery, the animals were sacrificed. Only 1 of the 14 animals survived the study period of 4 weeks. The other piglets had to be sacrificed prematurely because of severe esophageal stenosis. On postmortem exploration, the prosthesis could not be found either macroscopically or histologically. Sutures between the prosthesis and the cervical muscles did not improve the results. Until now, the use of alloplastic materials in esophageal replacement has failed irrespective of the kind of material. As well as in our experiments, severe stenosis had been reported in several animal studies. The reasons for this unacceptable high rate of stenosis after alloplastic esophageal replacement seem to be multifactorial. Possible solutions could be transanastomotic splints, less inert materials, the decrease of anastomotic tension by stay sutures, the use of adult stem cells, and tissue engineering. [source] The impact of after-school programs on the routine activities of middle-school students: Results from a randomized, controlled trial,CRIMINOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY, Issue 2 2009Amanda Brown Cross Research Summary Unsupervised after-school time for adolescents is a concern for parents and policymakers alike. Evidence linking unsupervised adolescent socializing to problem behavior outcomes heightens this concern among criminologists. Routine activities theory suggests that, when youth peer groups congregate away from adult authority, both opportunity for and motivation to engage in deviant acts increase. After-school programs are a possible solution to unsupervised teen socializing during afternoon hours and are much in demand. However, empirical research has yet to test the relationship between the availability of after-school programs and youth routine activities. This study presents evidence from a multisite, randomized, controlled trial of an after-school program for middle-school students in an urban school district. Policy Implications Youth in the treatment group engaged in less unsupervised socializing after school than youth in the control group but not as much less as would be expected if the after-school program was providing consistent supervision to youth who would otherwise be unsupervised. Additional analyses examined why the influence of the after-school program was not more pronounced. We found that, although program attendance was related to decreases in unsupervised socializing, the program did not attract many delinquency-prone youths who were unsupervised, which suggests that the students most in need of the program did not benefit. Furthermore, data obtained from a mid-year activity survey revealed that youth in the study were highly engaged in a variety of after-school activities. The addition of the after-school program into the mixture of available activities had little effect on the frequency with which students participated in organized activities after school. [source] The Rise of China: Implications for Latin American DevelopmentDEVELOPMENT POLICY REVIEW, Issue 4 2009Eva Paus This article analyses the implications of the rapid economic rise of China for the development prospects of Latin America. Based on an analysis of the changing trade relations between China and 15 Latin American countries over the period 2000,6, it argues that these relations have significantly exacerbated the subcontinent's dilemma of being caught in the middle-income trap. At the same time, some of the key drivers behind China's economic success point to a possible solution, first and foremost the lessons provided by its proactive development strategy which has focused on developing domestic technological capabilities and diversifying the productive structure with a move up the value chain. [source] Intravascular neural interface with nanowire electrodeELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATIONS IN JAPAN, Issue 7 2009Hirobumi Watanabe Abstract A minimally invasive electrical recording and stimulating technique capable of simultaneously monitoring the activity of a significant number (e.g., 103 to 104) of neurons is an absolute prerequisite in developing an effective brain,machine interface. Although there are many excellent methodologies for recording single or multiple neurons, there has been no methodology for accessing large numbers of cells in a behaving experimental animal or human individual. Brain vascular parenchyma is a promising candidate for addressing this problem. It has been proposed [1, 2] that a multitude of nanowire electrodes introduced into the central nervous system through the vascular system to address any brain area may be a possible solution. In this study we implement a design for such microcatheter for ex vivo experiments. Using Wollaston platinum wire, we design a submicron-scale electrode and develop a fabrication method. We then evaluate the mechanical properties of the electrode in a flow when passing through the intricacies of the capillary bed in ex vivo Xenopus laevis experiments. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of intravascular recording in the spinal cord of Xenopus laevis. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 92(7): 29,37, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10058 [source] Phosphorus and nitrogen in a monomictic freshwater lake: employing cyanobacterial bioreporters to gain new insights into nutrient bioavailabilityFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2010OSNAT GILLOR Summary 1. It is an uncontested paradigm that an adequate supply of the macronutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) is critical for maintaining phytoplankton primary production in aquatic ecosystems; it has also been suggested that there is an optimal total N : total P ratio for this globally significant process. 2. This ratio, normally assessed by chemical determination of the major dissolved N and P species, poses a dilemma: do chemical measurements actually reflect the bioavailable fraction of these nutrient pools? Accurate determination of the various N and P species and their fluxes into phytoplankton cells is notoriously difficult. 3. To provide a possible solution to this difficulty, we engineered strains of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 that ,report' on N and P bioavailability via a bioluminescent signal. These strains were used to quantify, for the first time, bioavailable concentrations of these essential macronutrients in a freshwater lake. 4. Only a small fraction (0.01,1%) of the chemically determined P may actually be bioavailable to this unicellular cyanobacterium and, by inference, to the phytoplankton community in general. In contrast, bioavailable N comprises most of the dissolved N pool. Consequently, bioavailable N : P ratios based on these assays are higher then those based on chemical determinations, indicating that P limitation in Lake Kinneret is more extensive then previously thought. [source] Language conflicts in the European UnionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS, Issue 3 2006On finding a politically acceptable, practicable solution for EU institutions that satisfies diverging interests Europäische Union; institutionelle Arbeitssprachen; Sprachinteressen; Sprachkonflikte For EU institutions, having a single internal working language , for which English is the only candidate , would be the most efficient solution and, to all appearances, in the best interests of each member state and language community whose language is excluded as a working language. However, for member states from the large non-anglophone language communities, such a solution seems barely acceptable and, in addition, would not correspond to the EU's official language policy on the preservation of language diversity. This is because "English only" is expected to inevitably transcend the borders of internal institutions and further limit the function of the remaining widely-spoken languages, especially as a lingua franca and in foreign language teaching. This contribution presents the conflict of interests between the smaller and the larger language communities in having only one or several institutional working languages for the EU and sketches out a possible solution which would serve both political and communicative demands. Für die EU-Institutionen w,re eine einzige interne Arbeitssprache, für die nur Englisch in Frage k,me, am effizientesten, und sie läge allem Anschein nach auch im Interesse derjenigen Mitgliedstaaten und Sprachgemeinschaften, deren Sprachen von den Arbeitssprachen ohnehin ausgeschlossen sind. Für die Mitgliedstaaten der großen Sprachgemeinschaften (außer Englisch) erscheint eine solche Lösung aber kaum akzeptabel, und sie entspräche auch nicht der offiziellen EU-Sprachenpolitik des Erhalts der Sprachenvielfalt. Es ist nämlich damit zu rechnen, dass "English only" unvermeidlich über die internen Institutionen hinaus wirken und die übrigen großen Sprachen funktional weiter einschränken würde, vor allem als Lingua franca und im Fremdsprachenunterricht. Der Beitrag stellt die Interessenskonflikte zwischen den kleineren und den größeren Sprachgemeinschaften der EU bezüglich nur einer oder aber mehrerer institutioneller Arbeitssprachen dar und skizziert eine mögliche Lösung, die sowohl politischen als auch kommunikativen Erfordernissen gerecht wird. [source] A peer-to-peer IPTV service architecture for the IP multimedia subsystemINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, Issue 6-7 2010A. Bikfalvi Abstract During these last years the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service and the different peer-to-peer (P2P) technologies have generated an increasing interest for the developers and the research community that find in them the solution to deal with the scalability problem of media streaming and reducing costs at the same time. However, despite of the benefits obtained in Internet-based applications and the growing deployment of commercial IPTV systems, there has been a little effort in combining them both. With the advent of the next-generation-network platforms such as the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), which advocates for an open and inter-operable service infrastructure, P2P emerges as a possible solution in situations where the traditional streaming mechanisms are not possible or not economically feasible. In this paper, we propose an IPTV service architecture for the IMS that combines a centralized control layer and a distributed, P2P-like, media layer that relies on the IMS devices or peers located in the customers' premises to act as streaming forwarding nodes. We extend the existing IMS IPTV standardization work that has already been done in 3GPP and ETSI TISPAN in order to require a minimum number of architectural changes. The objective is to obtain a system with a similar performance to the one in currently deployed systems and with the flexibility of P2P. One of the main challenges is to achieve comparable response times to user actions such as changing and tuning into channels, as well as providing a fast recovery mechanism when streaming nodes leave. To accomplish this we introduce the idea of foster peers as peers having inactive multimedia sessions and reserved resources. These peers are on stand-by until their functionality is required and at that moment, they are able to accept downstream peers at short notice for events requiring urgent treatment like channel changing and recovery. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Potential performance bottleneck in Linux TCPINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, Issue 11 2007Wenji Wu Abstract Transmission control protocol (TCP) is the most widely used transport protocol on the Internet today. Over the years, especially recently, due to requirements of high bandwidth transmission, various approaches have been proposed to improve TCP performance. The Linux 2.6 kernel is now preemptible. It can be interrupted mid-task, making the system more responsive and interactive. However, we have noticed that Linux kernel preemption can interact badly with the performance of the networking subsystem. In this paper, we investigate the performance bottleneck in Linux TCP. We systematically describe the trip of a TCP packet from its ingress into a Linux network end system to its final delivery to the application; we study the performance bottleneck in Linux TCP through mathematical modelling and practical experiments; finally, we propose and test one possible solution to resolve this performance bottleneck in Linux TCP. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Did Christ have a Fallen Human Nature?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Oliver Crisp This seems a difficult thing to say with a traditional understanding of original sin. This article explores this difficulty, proposes a possible solution, and then shows that the solution proposed also faces logical difficulties. The article thus argues that it is not possible to make logical sense of the notion that Christ's humanity was fallen. [source] Membrane engineering for process intensification: a perspectiveJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Enrico Drioli Abstract Pushed by the increasing demand for materials, energy and products, chemical engineering today faces a crucial challenge: to support a sustainable industrial growth. One possible solution is process intensification (PI), the innovative design strategy aiming to improve manufacturing and processing by decreasing the equipment size/productivity ratio, energy consumption and waste production using innovative technical solutions. Membrane processes meet the requirements of PI because they have potential to replace conventional energy-intensive techniques, to accomplish the selective and efficient transport of specific components, and to improve the performance of reactive processes. Here, we identify the most interesting aspects of membrane engineering in some strategic industrial sectors. The opportunity to integrate conventional membrane units with innovative systems in order to exploit the potential advantages coming from their synergic applications is also emphasized. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] New and old trends in chemometrics.JOURNAL OF CHEMOMETRICS, Issue 8-10 2002How to deal with the increasing data volumes in R&D&P (research, development, process modeling, production), with examples from pharmaceutical research Abstract Chemometrics was started around 30 years ago to cope with and utilize the rapidly increasing volumes of data produced in chemical laboratories. The methods of early chemometrics were mainly focused on the analysis of data, but slowly we came to realize that it is equally important to make the data contain reliable information, and methods for design of experiments (DOE) were added to the chemometrics toolbox. This toolbox is now fairly adequate for solving most R&D problems of today in both academia and industry, as will be illustrated with a few examples. However, with the further increase in the size of our data sets, we start to see inadequacies in our multivariate methods, both in their efficiency and interpretability. Drift and non-linearities occur with time or in other directions in data space, and models with masses of coefficients become increasingly difficult to interpret and use. Starting from a few examples of some very complicated problems confronting chemical researchers today, possible extensions and generalizations of the existing chemometrics methods, as well as more appropriate preprocessing of the data before the analysis, will be discussed. Criteria such as scalability of methods to increasing size of problems and data, increasing sophistication in the handling of noise and non-linearities, interpretability of results, and relative simplicity of use will be held as important. The discussion will be made from a perspective of the evolution of the scientific methodology as driven by new technology, e.g. computers, and constrained by the limitations of the human brain, i.e. our ability to understand and interpret scientific and data analytical results. Quilt-PCA and Quilt-PLS presented here address and offer a possible solution to these problems. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A Structural Solution to Communication Dilemmas in a Virtual CommunityJOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION, Issue 3 2007Dongyoung Sohn In a many-to-many communication setting like a virtual community, individuals may be strongly tempted to free-ride on others' contributions, which would eventually lead to the collapse of the community. To find a structural solution to the "communication dilemma," this study compared the performances of 2 communication structures,one based on the interpersonal networks (network-generalized exchange: NEX; e.g., blogs) and the other based on a public electronic bulletin board (group-generalized exchange: GEX). In a 2 × 2 × 2 longitudinal between-subject experiment, it was found that changing GEX to NEX could increase the contributions made by individuals. Furthermore, NEX was found to be an effective structure for N-person communication particularly when a large number of individuals were involved. The findings imply that an individual's cooperative motivation is a function of the incentive structure of a particular form of information exchange, which means that altering the exchange form may be a possible solution to the communication dilemmas in virtual communities. Résumé Une solution structurelle aux dilemmes de communication dans une communauté virtuelle Dans un contexte de communication multivoque comme celui d'une communauté virtuelle, les individus peuvent ętre fortement tentés de profiter des contributions des autres tout en s,abstenant eux-męmes de contribuer, ce qui en définitive mčnerait ŕ l'effondrement de la communauté. Afin de trouver une solution structurelle au « dilemme de communication », cette étude a comparé le rendement de deux structures de communication : l,une fondée sur les réseaux interpersonnels (NEX)(p. ex. les blogues) et l'autre s,appuyant sur un babillard électronique public (GEX). Dans le cadre d'une expérience longitudinale inter-sujets de 2 x 2 x 2, il est apparu que de changer GEX pour NEX pourrait augmenter le nombre de contributions faites par des individus. De plus, il fut observé que NEXétait une structure efficace pour la communication N personnes, particuličrement lorsqu,un grand nombre d'individus étaient impliqués. Les conclusions laissent entendre que la motivation incitant ŕ coopérer d,un individu est fonction de la structure incitative d'une forme particuličre d'échange d,information, ce qui signifie que de modifier la forme de l'échange peut ętre une solution possible aux dilemmes de communication dans les communautés virtuelles. Abstract Ein struktureller Lösungsansatz bei Kommunikationsdilemmata in virtuellen Gemeinschaften In einer Vielpersonen-Kommunikationsumgebung, wie z.B. virtuellen Gemeinschaften, können Personen leicht in Versuchung geraten, ohne eigene Anstrengung von anderen Teilnehmern zu profitieren, was letztendlich zum Zusammenbruch der Gemeinschaft führen kann. Um eine strukturelle Lösung zu diesem "Kommunikationsdilemma" zu finden, wurden in dieser Studie zwei Kommunikationsstrukturen hinsichtlich ihrer Leistung verglichen: eine Struktur basierend auf interpersonalen Netzwerken (NEX) (z.B. Blogs) und die andere basierend auf einem öffentlich zugänglichen elektronischen Forums (GEX). In einem Längsschnittexperiment (2x2, between-subject-design) konnte gezeigt werden, dass ein Wechsel von GEX zu NEX mit einem Zuwachs der Individualbeiträge einherging. Darüber hinaus zeigte sich NEX als effektive Struktur für N-Personen- Kommunikation, besonders dann, wenn eine größere Anzahl an Individuen beteiligt ist. Die Ergebnisse deuten darauf hin, dass die Motivation einer Person zur Kooperation die Funktion der Anreizstruktur einer bestimmten Form des Informationsaustauschs ist. Dies bedeutet, dass eine Veränderung der Austauschsform eine mögliche Lösung für Kommunikationsdilemmata in virtuellen Gemeinschaften sein kann. Resumen Una Solución Estructural a los Dilemas de Comunicación en una Comunidad Virtual En escenarios de comunicación de muchos contra muchos como lo es en una comunidad virtual, los individuos pueden estar tentados fuertemente de aprovechar las contribuciones de los otros, lo cual puede eventualmente llevar al colapso de la comunidad. Para encontrar una solución a este "dilema de comunicación," este estudio comparó el rendimiento de 2 estructuras de comunicación , una basada en una red interpersonal (NEX)(a saber, blogs) y la otra basada en un tablón público de anuncios (GEX). En un experimento longitudinal entre sujetos 2 x 2 x 2, se encontró que cambiando GEX por NEX puede incrementar las contribuciones hechas por los individuos. Más aún, se encontró que NEX era una estructura más efectiva para la comunicación de N-persona particularmente cuando un número grande de individuos estuvieron involucrados. Los resultados significan que la motivación de cooperación de un individuo está en función de la estructura de incentivo de esa forma particular de intercambio de información, lo que significa que alterando la forma de intercambio puede ser una solución posible al dilema de comunicación de las comunidades virtuales. ZhaiYao Yo yak [source] Elucidation and decisional risk in a multi-criteria decision based on a Choquet integral aggregation,a cybernetic frameworkJOURNAL OF MULTI CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS, Issue 5-6 2005J. Montmain Abstract The authors are developing multi-criteria Decision-making support systems (DMSS) for project teams in charge of selecting a technical solution among alternatives. They propose a cybernetic framework to emphasize the link between decision-making (DM) and knowledge management processes in such projects. These DMSSs rely on the tracking of the accompanying knowledge production of long-term decisional processes by a collective with many actors. Based on knowledge-production management, this paper explains how to design decisional risk evaluation, monitoring and control aids and traceability functions for strategic choices and logical argumentation. The DMSS is seen as a recommender system for the project manager. Each possible solution involved in the decision-making process (DMP) is evaluated by means of a set of criteria. The evaluation results from an interpretation of the knowledge items in terms of satisfaction scores of the solutions according to the considered criteria. Aggregating these partial scores provides a ranking of all the possible solutions by order of preference. As criteria are sometimes interacting, the aggregation has to be based on adapted operators, i.e. Choquet integrals. Evaluating possible solutions by the knowledge contained in the knowledge base (KB) opens the way to automating the argumentation of the project team's decisions: the argumentation principle underlying this approach is based naturally on coupling a knowledge dynamical management system (KDMS) with the DMSS. The DMSS also evaluates the decisional risk that reflects the eventuality of a wrong selection due to the insufficiency of available knowledge at a given time in order to adopt a reliable solution. Decisional risk assessment corresponds to sensitivity analyses. These analyses are then exploited to control the decisional risk in time: they enable to identify the crucial information points for which additional and deeper investigations would be of great interest to improve the stability of the selection in the future. The knowledge management of a collective project is represented as a control loop: the KDMS is the actuator, the risk accompanying the decision is the controlled variable and is strongly linked to the entropy of the KB managed by the KDMS. Each of the three phases,intelligence, design, choice,of the DMP is identified to a function of the control loop: actuator, process and regulator. This cybernetic framework for decision has its origin in knowledge management activities for a great-scale project,the EtLD project of the French Atomic Commission (CEA) that concerns the management of high-level long-life radioactive waste in France. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Collaborative partnerships for nursing faculties and health service providers: what can nursing learn from business literature?JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2006DIANE BROWN PhD Collaborative partnerships between nursing faculties and health service providers are the cornerstone of successful clinical experience for nursing students. The challenge of providing an optimal learning environment can be enormous given the turbulent and rapidly changing environment in health. The present study uses the business literature to examine what nursing can learn from business about the development of successful collaborative partnerships. The characteristics of sound partnerships are described and a set of best practice guidelines is developed. The guidelines summarize the factors considered to be essential for the effective development of collaborative partnerships. In these times of nursing shortages and high turnover high quality, collaborative partnerships between nursing faculties and the health care sector are seen as a possible solution to optimize clinical learning and therefore graduate preparedness. [source] Different mechanisms of action of antimicrobial peptides: insights from fluorescence spectroscopy experiments and molecular dynamics simulations,JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, Issue 9 2009Gianfranco Bocchinfuso Abstract Most antimicrobial peptides exert their activity by interacting with bacterial membranes, thus perturbing their permeability. They are investigated as a possible solution to the insurgence of bacteria resistant to the presently available antibiotic drugs. However, several different models have been proposed for their mechanism of membrane perturbation, and the molecular details of this process are still debated. Here, we compare fluorescence spectroscopy experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations regarding the association with lipid bilayers and lipid perturbation for two different amphiphilic helical antimicrobial peptides, PMAP-23 and trichogin GA IV. PMAP-23, a cationic peptide member of the cathelicidin family, is considered to induce membrane permeability according to the Shai-Matsuzaki-Huang "carpet" model, while trichogin GA IV is a neutral peptide, member of the peptaibol family. Although several lines of evidence suggest a "barrel-stave" mechanism of pore formation for the latter peptide, its length is only half the normal thickness of a lipid bilayer. Both fluorescence spectroscopy experiments and MD simulations indicated that PMAP-23 associates with membranes close to their surface and parallel to it, and in this arrangement it causes a severe perturbation to the bilayer, both regarding its surface tension and lipid order. By contrast, trichogin GA IV can undergo a transition from a surface-bound state to a transmembrane orientation. In the first arrangement, it does not cause any strong membrane perturbation, while in the second orientation it might be able to span the bilayer from one side to the other, despite its relatively short length, by causing a significant thinning of the membrane. Copyright © 2009 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Unifying clones with a generative programming technique: a case studyJOURNAL OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND EVOLUTION: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, Issue 4 2006Stan Jarzabek Abstract Software clones,similar program structures repeated in variant forms,increase the risk of update anomalies, blow up the program size and complexity, possibly contributing to high maintenance costs. Yet, programs are often polluted by clones. In this paper, we present a case study of cloning in the Java Buffer library, JDK 1.5. We found that at least 68% of the code in the Buffer library was contained in cloned classes or class methods. Close analysis of program situations that led to cloning revealed difficulties in eliminating clones with conventional program design techniques. As a possible solution, we applied a generative technique of XVCL (XML-based Variant Configuration Language) to represent similar classes and methods in generic, adaptable form. Concrete buffer classes could be automatically produced from the generic structures. We argue, on analytical and empirical grounds, that unifying clones reduced conceptual complexity and enhanced the changeability of the Buffer library at rates proportional to code size reduction (68%). We evaluated our solution in qualitative and quantitative ways, and conducted a controlled experiment to support this claim. The approach presented in the paper can be used to enhance genericity and changeability of any program, independently of an application domain or programming language. As the solution is not without pitfalls, we discuss trade-offs involved in its project application. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] High-field optically detected EPR and ENDOR of semiconductor defects using W-band microwave Fabry,Pérot resonators,MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY, Issue S1 2005J.-M. Spaeth Abstract The designs of W-band (,95 GHz) Fabry,Pérot microwave resonators for optically detected EPR and ENDOR using the magnetic circular dichroism of the optical absorption (MCDA) as well as for photo-luminescence-detected EPR are briefly described. We report on the first MCDA-detected high-field EPR/ENDOR investigation of the paramagnetic EL2+ defect in semi-insulating GaAs. The higher-order effects, which prevented the unambiguous analysis of previous MCDA-detected K-band EPR/ENDOR experiments could be suppressed in W-band. The analysis of the ENDOR spectra showed that an extremely precise alignment of the samples is necessary. The paramagnetic El2+ defect turned out to be an As antisite defect, which has four almost equivalent nearest 75As neighbours differing less than 1.5% in the superhyperfine interactions suggestive of an isolated As antisite, while the third 75As shell (fifth neighbour shell) is clearly of lower symmetry than expected for an isolated As antisite. We discuss as a possible solution to this paradoxical situation that EL2+ is an isolated antisite at room temperature, which at low temperature, where all magnetic resonance experiments are performed, associates itself with shallow acceptors such as ZnGa, more than two nearest neighbour distances away. According to recent theoretical calculations, such ,loose' complexes with binding energies between 0.01 eV and 0.05 eV and disturb the equivalence of the nearest neighbour superhyperfine (shf) interactions less than 1.5%. Also, W-band EPR was measured using the photo-luminescence for detection to investigate P dopants in 6H-SiC. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A ratio-dependent eco-epidemiological model of the Salton SeaMATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE APPLIED SCIENCES, Issue 2 2006Kusumika Kundu Abstract Ratio-dependent models set up a challenging issue for their rich dynamics incomparison to prey-dependent models. Little attention has been paid so far to describe the importance of transmissible disease in ecological situation by considering ratio-dependent models. In this paper, by assuming the predator response function as ratio-dependent, we consider a model of a system of three non-linear differential equations describing the time evolution of susceptible and infected Tilapia fish population and their predator, the Pelican. Existence and stability analysis of different equilibria of the system lead to different realistic thresholds in terms of system parameters. The condition for extinction of the species is also worked out. Our analytical and numerical studies may be helpful to chalk out suitable control strategies for minimizing the extinction of the Pelicans. We also suggest that supply of alternative food source for predator population may be used as a possible solution to save the predator from their extinction. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Solutions out of context: Examining the transfer of business concepts to nonprofit organizationsNONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP, Issue 2 2008Tammy E. Beck Small nonprofit organizations face a dilemma when applying management theories and techniques developed for large, private businesses. Research evidence suggests both benefits and problems associated with application of these techniques. To avoid potential problems, nonprofit managers commonly limit the selection and transfer of business techniques to those that solve specific problems or appear consistent with nonprofit orientations. One consequence is that business solutions often create unintended negative outcomes that are due to contextual differences between the two types of organizations. One possible solution to this dilemma is adoption of bundles, or configurations, of practices that introduce important contextual checks and balances along with the specific tools and techniques. We explore this option through a critical, participatory ethnographic analysis of a small nonprofit service organization. [source] "Allegory of the theologians" or "allegory of the poets": Allegory in Dante's CommediaORBIS LITERARUM, Issue 5 2000Leonardo Cecchini To define the nature of the allegory in Dante's Commedia has always been one of the main objectives of Dante research. What is the immediately detectable difference between the allegory in the Commedia and that of the traditional allegorical-didactic poems? What kind of allegory did Dante have in mind when writing the Commedia? This article is my contribution to a possible solution of this problem. My assumption is that Dante wanted to give the Commedia a complex polysemous structure: a structure that, in a new and original way, unites the two traditional medieval forms of allegory, the poetical and the theological (according to Dante's own terminology in Convivio"allegory of the theologians" and "allegory of the poets"). The article is divided into four parts: first a synthetic presentation of the concept of allegory; an analysis of the most important passages where Dante treats the problem theoretically (this includes especially some passages from Convivio, and the much discussed Epistle XIII); a discussion of some of the most important positions within the Dante research; and finally a possible solution to the problem. [source] A new approach to estimating shelf-lifePHARMACEUTICAL STATISTICS: THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED STATISTICS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, Issue 1 2004Andreas Kiermeier Abstract The current approach to the estimation of shelf-life and the determination of the label shelf-life as detailed in the International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines to industry is presented. The shortcomings of the status quo are explained and a possible solution is offered, which gives rise to a new definition of shelf-life. Several methods for calculating a label shelf-life are presented and investigated using a simulation study. Recommendations to adopt the new definition and to increase sample sizes are made. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Party Strength, the Personal Vote, and Government SpendingAMERICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010David M. Primo "Strong" political parties within legislatures are one possible solution to the problem of inefficient universalism, a norm under which all legislators seek large projects for their districts that are paid for out of a common pool. We demonstrate that even if parties have no role in the legislature, their role in elections can be sufficient to reduce spending. If parties in the electorate are strong, then legislators will demand less distributive spending because of a decreased incentive to secure a "personal vote" via local projects. We estimate that spending in states with strong party organizations is at least 4% smaller than in states where parties are weak. We also find evidence that strong party states receive less federal aid than states with weak organizations, and we theorize that this is because members of Congress from strong party states feel less compelled to secure aid than members from weak party states. [source] The Challenges of Ambient Law and Legal Protection in the Profiling EraTHE MODERN LAW REVIEW, Issue 3 2010Mireille Hildebrandt Ambient Intelligence is a vision of a future in which autonomic smart environments take an unprecedented number of decisions both for the private and the public good. It involves a shift to automated pattern recognition, a new paradigm in the construction of knowledge. This will fundamentally affect our lives, increasing specific types of errors, loss of autonomy and privacy, unfair discrimination and stigmatisation, and an absence of due process. Current law's articulation in the technology of the printed script is inadequate in the face of the new type of knowledge generation. A possible solution is to articulate legal protections within the socio-technical infrastructure. In particular, both privacy-enhancing and transparency-enhancing technologies must be developed that embed legal rules in ambient technologies themselves. This vision of ,Ambient Law' requires a novel approach to law making which addresses the challenges of technology, legitimacy, and political-legal theory. Only a constructive and collaborative effort to migrate law from books to other technologies can ensure that Ambient Law becomes reality, safeguarding the fundamental values underlying privacy, identity, and democracy in tomorrow's ambient intelligent world. [source] Comparison of PERV genomic locations between Asian and European pigsANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 1 2010W. Y. Jung Summary Xenotransplantation from pigs provides a possible solution to the shortage of human organs for allotransplantation. Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) are a possible obstacle to using porcine organs in addition to the immunological barriers. Three main types of PERVs (A, B and C) have been previously investigated in diverse pig breeds. To examine the copy numbers of PERVs and their genomic locations in the Korean native pig genome, we screened a BAC (Bacterial Artificial Chromosome) library with PERV-specific protease primers for initial recognition of PERV-positive clones and three sets of envelope-specific primers for the identification of PERV types. A total of 45 PERV-positive clones, nine PERV-A and 36 PERV-B, have been identified from the library screening and the BAC contigs were constructed using the primers designed from BAC end sequences (BESs). These primers were also used for SCH (Somatic Cell Hybrid) and RH (Radiation Hybrid) mapping of the PERV-positive clones. The results indicate that 45 PERV-positive BAC clones belong to nine contigs and a singleton. SCH and IMpRH (INRA-Minnesota Porcine Radiation Hybrid) mapping results indicated that there are at least eight separate PERV genomic locations, consisting of three PERV-A and five PERV-B. One contig could not be mapped, and two contigs are closely located on SSC7. Southern blotting indicates there may be up to 15 additional sites. Further investigation of these clones will contribute to a general strategy to generate PERV-free lines of pigs suitable for xenotransplantation. [source] Transdermal drug delivery by coated microneedles: geometry effects on drug concentration in bloodASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2009Barrak Al-Qallaf Abstract Drug administration through transdermal delivery is restricted by the top layer of skin, the stratum corneum. One possible solution to overcome the barrier function of the stratum corneum is to employ microneedle arrays. However, detailed theoretical models relating drug-coated microneedles and their geometry to the drug concentration in the blood are limited. This article aims to address this issue by examining the blood concentration profiles for a model drug, insulin, that has been administered via coated microneedles. A mathematical model is introduced and applied to predict theoretical blood concentrations. Furthermore, the insulin concentration in blood is calculated for a range of different microneedle shapes and dimensions to identify the most effective geometry. The results indicate that the optimum microneedle geometry in terms of maximizing insulin concentration was a rocket-shaped needle with a constant tip angle of 90°. Also, it has been found that the number of microneedles in an array is the most significant factor in determining maximum insulin concentration in the blood (Cb, max). Penetration depth of the microneedle, centre-to-centre spacing and microneedle thickness had a less significant effect on the maximum insulin concentration in the blood. It is envisaged that the current study will help in designing microneedles of optimum size and shape for transdermal drug delivery. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Rescaling the Balanced Scorecard for Local GovernmentAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 4 2000Dale Quinlivan Kaplan and Norton's ,Balanced Scorecard' model has gained worldwide interest from managers in private and public organisations. The four perspectives of the model aim to communicate the strategic priorities of the organisation by measuring and setting stretch targets for them. However, the model, which was developed in ,for-profit' organisations, may not be suitable in ,not-for-profit' organisations. A possible solution is the use of the Australian Business Excellence Framework categories to determine the perspectives to be used. [source] A Global View on Parametric and Nonparametric Approaches to the Analysis of Ordered Categorical DataBIOMETRICAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2004Ullrich Munzel Abstract Rank approaches are very common in the analysis of ordered categorical data but can only be interpreted on an experiment-wise level. Therefore, parametric tests from linear models, although based on metric structures, are used frequently to analyze this type of data. So the questions arise 1. what parametric tests measure in this context and 2. whether the rank approach could be modified to achieve a global level of interpretation. A possible solution to question 2. offers the so called ridit approach, which is based on known reference distributions. In this paper we discuss a global view that shows how rank analysis and ridit analyses are related and how parametric procedures fit into the same framework. The use of the uniform distribution as a reference in the ridit approach gives an explanation to question 1. The asymptotic multivariate normality of the effect estimators is shown and robust test statistics are discussed. Type I and type II error rates are examined in simulation studies and the approach is applied to a toxicological example. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||