The Replication Argument for Incompatibilism

In this paper, I articulate an argument for incompatibilism about moral responsibility and determinism. My argument comes in the form of an extended story, modeled loosely on Peter van Inwagen’s “rollback argument” scenario. I thus call it “the replication argument.” As I aim to bring out, though the argument is inspired by so-called “manipulation” and “original design” arguments, the argument is not a version of either such argument—and plausibly has advantages over both. The result, I believe, is a more convincing incompatibilist argument than those we have considered previously

Access to information: assessment of the use of automated interaction technologies in call centers

With the purpose of at lowering costs and reendering the demanded information available to users with no access to the internet, service companies have adopted automated interaction technologies in their call centers, which may or may not meet the expectations of users. Based on different areas of knowledge (man-machine interaction, consumer behavior and use of IT) 13 propositions are raised and a research is carried out in three parts: focus group, field study with users and interviews with experts. Eleven automated service characteristics which support the explanation for user satisfaction are listed, a preferences model is proposed and evidence in favor or against each of the 13 propositions is brought in. With balance scorecard concepts, a managerial assessment model is proposed for the use of automated call center technology. In future works, the propositions may become verifiable hypotheses through conclusive empirical research.Objetivando menores custos e fornecimento das informações desejadas por usuários muitas vezes sem acesso à internet, as empresas de serviço têm adotado tecnologias de interação automática em seus call centers, as quais podem ou não atender às expectativas dos usuários. Baseando-se em diferentes áreas do conhecimento (interação homem-máquina, comportamento do consumidor e uso de TI), 13 proposições são levantadas e desenvolve-se uma pesquisa em três partes: um focus group, um estudo de campo com usuários e entrevistas com especialistas. Listam-se onze características de atendimento automático que suportam a explicação da satisfação dos usuários, propõe-se um modelo de preferências e obtêm-se evidências a favor ou contra cada uma das 13 proposições. Com conceitos de balanced scorecard, propõe-se um modelo de avaliação gerencial para uso de tecnologia de atendimento automático em call centers. Em trabalhos futuros, as proposições poderão se transformar em hipóteses verificáveis através de uma pesquisa empírica conclusiva.Con El Objetivo De Lograr Menores Costos Y Suministrar Informaciones Deseadas Por Usuarios Muchas Veces Sin Acceso A Internet, Las Empresas De Servicios Han Adoptado Tecnologías De Interacción Automática En Sus Call Centers, Las Cuales Pueden O No Atender A Las Expectativas De Los Usuarios. Basándose En Diferentes áreas Del Conocimiento (interacción Hombre-máquina, Comportamiento Del Consumidor Y Uso De Ti), 13 Proposiciones Son Planteadas Y Se Desarrolla Una Investigación En Tres Partes: Un Focus Group, Un Estudio De Campo Con Usuarios, Y Entrevistas Con Especialistas. Se Enumeran Once Características De Atención Automática Que Soportan La Explicación De La Satisfacción De Los Usuarios, Se Propone Un Modelo De Preferencias Y Se Obtienen Evidencias A Favor O Contra Cada Una De Las 13 Proposiciones. Con Conceptos De Balanced Scorecard, Se Propone Un Modelo De Evaluación Gerencial Para El Uso De Tecnología De Atención Automática En Call Centers. En Trabajos Futuros, Las Proposiciones Podrán Transformarse En Hipótesis Verificables A Través De Una Investigación Empírica Conclusiva

Some Catalytic and Regulatory Properties of Pyruvate Kinase from the Spadix and Retractor Muscles of Nautilus pompilius

Pyruvate kinase was partially purified from the spadix and retractor muscles of Nautilus pompilius. In both cases, the enzyme was activated by magnesium and potassium ions with similar affinities (apparent Ka values were 0.63 ± 0.04 mM and 5.8 ± 0.4 mM, respectively, for the enzyme from the spadix; and 0.77 ± 0.06 mM and 6.7 ± 0.8 mM, respectively, for the enzyme from the retractor muscle). The enzymes showed normal hyperbolic saturation kinetics for the substrates adenosine Y-diphosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate, and the apparent Km values were identical when measured at saturating concentrations of the cosubstrate (apparent Km values were 0.28 ± 0.01 mM and 0.063 ± 0.005 mM, respectively, for the spadix). Adenosine 5'-triphosphate, alanine, and citrate were found to be inhibitors. The enzyme from the spadix was more susceptible to inhibition by alanine than that from the retractor muscle. For the latter enzyme, inhibition by alanine was noncompetitive with respect to phosphoenolpyruvate, but the inhibition was nonlinear; it also decreased the affinity for Mg2+. For the enzyme from the spadix, inhibition by alanine changed the saturation kinetics for phosphoenolpyruvate to sigmoidal form. The affinity for Mg2+ was also decreased by alanine. For both enzymes, fructose-I, 6-bisphosphate at a concentration of 0.05 mM partially reversed the inhibition by alanine, but not that by adenosine Y-triphosphate. The sigmoidal kinetics observed for phosphoenolpyruvate could also be reversed by increasing the concentration of Mg2 +. In general, the properties were found to be similar to those of other pyruvate kinases from the mantle muscle of squid and octopus, except for the observation of inhibition by alanine. These regulatory properties are discussed with respect to potential control of glycolytic flux during muscle activity