2,802 research outputs found
Effects of pre-transport fasting on the physiological responses of young cattle to 8-hour road transport
peer-reviewedThe effects of fasting animals for 8 h prior to an 8-h road journey and their ability to cope with the stress of transport were investigated. The treatments were: 1) fasted and then transported (n=20); 2) non-fasted and transported (n=18); 3) non-fasted at grass (n=18); 4) fasted then fasted (n=18), and 5) non-fasted then fasted (n=18). There was no significant difference in rectal body temperature, pre- or post-transport, or live weight among treatments on days 0 (pre-transport), 1, 4 or 10 (post-transport). The ambient relative humidity and temperature of the outside environment ranged from 82.8 to 99.8% and 9.9 to 14.5 oC, respectively. Holstein Ă Friesian bulls (230 kg) undergoing an 8-h transportation at stocking densities of 0.82 m2/animal showed physiological and haematological responses that were within normal referenced ranges. Animals that were fasted for 8 h and transported lost 9.4% of live weight while non-fasted transported animals lost 7.2%. The control non-fasted animals remaining at grass gained 2% of live weight. Animals that were fasted continuously but not transported and the initially non-fasted control animals that were subsequently fasted for 9 h lost 6.1% and 6.2% of live weight, respectively. There was no significant change in concentrations of globulin, glucose, urea, haemoglobin or fibrinogen, or in haematocrit percentage before or after transport. Transport reduced lymphocyte percentage (P < 0.001) and increased neutrophil percentage (P < 0.001) in the fasted and non-fasted animals. Following transport, protein concentration was greater (P â€0.001) in the fasted and transported animals than in the non-fasted animals at grass and haptoglobin concentrations were higher (P â€0.001) in the fasted plus transported animals than the controls at grass. In conclusion, from the physiological and haematological measurements, an 8-h journey time, even without access to feed for 8 h prior to transport did not appear to impact negatively on animal welfare
Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes in CMOS Technologies for Optical Communications
As optical communications may soon supplement Wi-Fi technologies, a concept known as visible light communications (VLC), low-cost receivers must provide extreme sensitivity to alleviate attenuation factors and overall power usage within communications link budgets. We present circuits with an advantage over conventional optical receivers, in that gain can be applied within the photodiode thus reducing the need for amplification circuits. To achieve this, single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) can be implemented in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technologies and have already been investigated in several topologies for VLC. The digital nature of SPADs removes the design effort used for low-noise, high-gain but high-bandwidth analogue circuits. We therefore present one of these circuit topologies, along with some common design and performance metrics. SPAD receivers are however not yet mature prompting research to take low-level parameters up to the communications level
Postcard: Lamar Bath House
This color printed postcard is the exterior of a business building. The word LAMAR is on the front of this two story building. There is a manicured lawn and several trees in front of the building. It has print text at the bottom of the card. There is printed text and handwriting on the back of the card. Postmarked date from Hot Springs National Park, Arkansashttps://scholars.fhsu.edu/tj_postcards/1119/thumbnail.jp
Microbial Transformation of Arsenic and the Characterization of Clostridium sp. strain OhILAs
The impact of electron donor (acetate, pyruvate, lactate, formate, and hydrogen) and arsenate concentration (1, 5, 10, and 20 mM) on microbial arsenate reduction in freshwater sediments from the Ohio River, Pittsburgh PA was investigated. Hydrogen (with acetate as the carbon source) appeared to be the best electron donor and 5 mM sodium arsenate the most effective for both growth and orpiment (As2S3) production. A mesophilic, spore-forming, motile, low-mole %GC gram-positive bacterium was isolated from Ohio River sediments on medium with 20 mM lactate and 10 mM arsenate. Although pH 8 was optimal for growth, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that this species is most closely related to Alkaliphilus species, (A. crotonoxidans 95%, A. auruminator 95%, A. metaliredigenes, 94%). A strict anaerobic this species can ferment fructose and lactate and respire arsenate and thiosulfate. This bacterium is unique in that it can tolerate high arsenate concentrations (\u3e 40 mM) and readily degrades the organoarsenical roxarsone
The Pareto Argument for Inequality Revisited
One of the more obscure arguments for Rawlsâ difference principle dubbed âthe Pareto argument for inequalityâ has been criticised by G. A. Cohen (1995, 2008) as being inconsistent. In this paper, we examine and clarify the Pareto argument in detail and argue (1) that justification for the Pareto principles derives from rational selfinterest and thus the Pareto principles ought to be understood as conditions of individual rationality, (2) that the Pareto argument is not inconsistent, contra Cohen, and (3) that the kind of bargaining model required to arrive at the particular unequal distribution that the difference principle picks out is a model that is not based on bargaining according to oneâs threat advantage
Can Strikes Pay for Management? Pro Sportsâ Major Turnarounds
Collective bargaining and antitrust law emancipated players. The advent of free agency and related contractual provisions created a battle line over splitting revenues. Work stoppages can foster playersâ resisting or employersâ enforcing âsalary restraint mechanisms.â Each major sport had a major showdown and corresponding turnaround in âsurvival bargaining.â My framework adds âlitigious and other maneuversâ as backups to the traditional strategic choices of âreconfiguringâ versus âforcingâ or âresisting change.â It expands on Walton and McKersieâs âsanction as an investment device,â âintra-organizational bargaining,â and âattitudinal structuringâ (1965). In each major turnaround management eventually achieved a stable contractual formula consistent with a three-pronged formula: (1) demonstrate a performance gap, (2) play on worst fears via sanctions or their threat, and (3) provide incentives to settle or change.La nĂ©gociation collective et la lĂ©gislation antitrust ont libĂ©rĂ© les joueurs dâune espĂšce de servitude Ă long terme. LâarrivĂ©e des agents libres et des dispositions contractuelles qui sây rapportent ont crĂ©Ă© une bataille en rĂšgle sur le partage des revenus. Les arrĂȘts de travail peuvent mousser la rĂ©sistance des joueurs ou renforcer chez les employeurs les mĂ©canismes de contraintes salariales. Chaque sport majeur a connu une Ă©preuve de force qui a menĂ© Ă une « nĂ©gociation de survie ».Le graphique 1 prĂ©sentĂ© dans lâarticle sâappuie sur le modĂšle Ă©volutif du choix stratĂ©gique de Chaykowski et Verma (1992), tout en lui apportant un complĂ©ment. Selon ce modĂšle, un changement important dans lâenvironnement dĂ©clenche un « écart de performance » et crĂ©Ă© ainsi un « point de transition ». Tout en intĂ©grant la vision de lâavenir de la direction, son initiative de changement de type « signe de dĂ©tresse » dĂ©clenche dâune maniĂšre singuliĂšre une lutte pour sâemparer des esprits et des coeurs des membres de lâunitĂ© de nĂ©gociation : ceux qui vont voter pour un rĂšglement proposĂ© ou pour une Ă©ventuelle sanction.La reconfiguration proposĂ©e par la direction ou lâOption X incorpore un arrangement contractuel qui se veut ou qui se propose dâĂȘtre Ă lâavantage des deux cĂŽtĂ©s dans les circonstances. Lâordre du jour de nĂ©gociation du syndicat qui se propose de rĂ©sister et de maintenir le statu quo entraĂźne une descente en spirale de lâOption Y. La stratĂ©gie hybride de la direction dâintroduire de force lâOption X comprend aussi la rĂ©duction du pouvoir de nĂ©gociation du Plan Y et, possiblement, le recours Ă une sanction. Dans une nĂ©gociation de survie, cela entraĂźne un choix stratĂ©gique entre « gravir lâescalier abrupte de lâOption X » ou bien de « suivre la pente glissante de lâOption Y », incluant la possibilitĂ© dâaller jusquâĂ la disparition du syndicat.Ătant donnĂ© la nature conflictuelle des Options X et Y, la direction se sert normalement dâune formule comprenant trois volets, espĂ©rant changer lâattitude de son opposĂ© en cherchant Ă rĂ©aliser lâOption X. PremiĂšrement, dĂ©montrer lâexistence dâun problĂšme majeur; deuxiĂšmement, jouer la carte des pires craintes (celles de lâOption Y); troisiĂšmement, offrir ou fournir des incitatifs pour rĂ©gler maintenant (Option X). Cette double stratĂ©gie de jouer sur les deux Options X et Y est clairement une politique de la carotte et du bĂąton. La formule Ă trois volets comprend Ă©galement la sanction (imposition dâun rĂšglement par la loi ou par voie de dĂ©cision arbitrale) comme un mĂ©canisme dâimplication (Sanction Comme MĂ©canisme dâImplication) (SCMI) : le Plan A versus le Plan B. Dans la terminologie SCMI, le Plan A reprĂ©sente un rĂšglement sans sanction, alors que le Plan B implique un rĂšglement en cours de sanction.La formule Ă trois volets apparaĂźt permettre un repositionnement stratĂ©gique aprĂšs lâatteinte du point de transition. Lâapproche SCMI vient Ă lâencontre du mythe que les grĂšves ne paient pas. LâexpĂ©rience plutĂŽt limitĂ©e examinĂ©e ici laisse croire que les arrĂȘts de travail peuvent ĂȘtre profitables Ă la direction en amenant des concessions du syndicat. Les sanctions ont provoquĂ© des tournants qui ressemblaient fortement Ă la vision initiale de la direction dans trois des quatre Ă©preuves de force Ă©tudiĂ©es : celle du football en 1987â1993, le basketball en 1998-1999 et le hockey en 2004-2005. La longue grĂšve du baseball des annĂ©es 1994-1995, qui fut certainement un Ă©vĂ©nement de perdant-perdant Ă moyen terme, a officiellement donnĂ© lieu Ă un amĂ©nagement contractuel qui favorise lâavenir de lâindustrie. Depuis, les parties ont apparemment trouvĂ© la formule floue qui satisfasse leurs besoins.Ă titre de renforts aux Options X et Y, lâoption Z implique des mĂ©canismes de retour reconnus par des droits, dont les dĂ©cisions viennent prĂ©ciser les intĂ©rĂȘts et le pouvoir des deux parties et renforcer leur vision respective de lâavenir. La lĂ©gislation sur le retour au travail impose Ă©galement une dĂ©cision, qui en bout de ligne confĂšre des droits impossibles Ă atteindre par voie de nĂ©gociation. En laissant aux parties la dĂ©cision finale, le processus dâintervention repose avant tout sur la persuasion dans le but de changer les Ă©tats dâesprit.Le cadre de rĂ©fĂ©rence Ă©laborĂ© dans cette Ă©tude englobe un Ă©ventail assez large dâĂ©vĂ©nements et contribue Ă leur donner une signification. Les dĂ©cisions des cours et des tribunaux administratifs ont jouĂ© un rĂŽle crucial dans la poursuite de rĂšglements au cours des Ă©preuves de force dans le football et le baseball. Certaines interventions dans le processus Ă lâinterne ont amenĂ© un glissement de paradigme de la recherche du pouvoir de marchandage pur et simple vers un pouvoir de nĂ©gociation au cours des rondes de 2002 dans le baseball et du lock-out du hockey en 2004-2005. Le rĂšglement lĂ©gislatif intervenu dans le baseball en 1997-1998 a contribuĂ© Ă amĂ©liorer les relations entre les parties.Le cadre de rĂ©fĂ©rence modifie aussi lâapproche SCMI de Walton et McKersie (1965) et lui donne plus dâampleur en retenant « la nĂ©gociation intra organisationnelle » et la « structuration des attitudes ». Il Ă©tablit un pont entre lâapproche SCMI et le paradigme « HIVE » envisageant la nĂ©gociation reprĂ©sentative et multidirectionnelle, ce qui inclut la nĂ©gociation avec lâagent principal (intra organisationnel). Dans les nĂ©gociations les plus rudes Ă lâintĂ©rieur des Ă©quipes, les chefs nĂ©gociateurs adoptent le rĂŽle de quasi mĂ©diateurs dans leur tentative dâobtenir un arrangement entre les des Ă©lĂ©ments pondĂ©rateurs et non pondĂ©rateurs, câest-Ă -dire les dissidents dans un comitĂ© de nĂ©gociation.Lâagencement des deux approches « HIVE » et SCMI permet de saisir les ramifications importantes des politiques organisationnelles dans les nĂ©gociations. Un exemple frappant est celui du braquage avortĂ© des nĂ©gociations en 1995 dans le basketball par une poignĂ©e de joueurs Ă©toiles et leurs agents, ce qui a entrainĂ© lâinstabilitĂ© politique interne et un changement du leadership syndical. Le « C Magique » du tableau 1 prĂ©sente une bonne vision de la maniĂšre dont les propriĂ©taires ont maintenu lâunitĂ© dans les rondes de nĂ©gociations dans le baseball en 2002 et dans le long conflit du hockey en 2004-2005.En abordant la gestion des relations, le graphique 2 jette un Ă©clairage utile, plus prĂ©cisĂ©ment, lorsquâon fait le pont avec le concept clĂ© de nĂ©gociations de transformation en passant dâune lutte dĂ©moralisante pour le pouvoir Ă une nĂ©gociation de pouvoir. Cette derniĂšre nĂ©gociation permet de promouvoir des intĂ©rĂȘts personnels, mais Ă©galement de rĂ©aliser des compromis de façon Ă gagner le respect, tout en bĂątissant une relation de confiance et en favorisant un engagement Ă lâendroit dâun accord. Tout comme dans le baseball en 2002, les nĂ©gociations dans le hockey en 2005, en introduisant les mĂȘmes modifications, ont contribuĂ© Ă amĂ©liorer les relations entre les parties (voir le glissement vers le haut dans le graphique 2).Le cadre de rĂ©fĂ©rence devrait sâappliquer Ă dâautres relations contractuelles Ă©tablies depuis longtemps dans les cas de renĂ©gociations pĂ©riodiques. Le Plan B de lâapproche SCMI accentue le pouvoir de rĂ©sister ou de sâen aller. La formule Ă trois volets inclut la stratĂ©gie du bĂąton et de la carotte, la stratĂ©gie hybride (Plan A versus Plan B) et la contrepartie en termes de choix stratĂ©gique (Option X versus Option Y). Le Plan Z comprend les supports en termes de rĂ©sistance ou de contrainte, en termes de recours en dernier ressort Ă une lĂ©gislation, qui inciterait lâautoritĂ© compĂ©tence ou un tribunal Ă mettre fin au conflit par voie de sanction. Il inclut aussi des interventions sur les processus de maniĂšre Ă rĂ©orienter les nĂ©gociations. En effet, ce sont lĂ des choix stratĂ©giques que nous retenons et que nous exerçons dans nos vies quotidiennes, ce qui inclut une prise de dĂ©cision individuelle (câest-Ă -dire que nous nĂ©gocions avec nous-mĂȘmes) et une nĂ©gociation avec dâautres.La negociaciĂłn collectiva y la ley anti-trust liberaron los jugadores. El advenimiento de agentes libres y las provisiones contractuales respectivas crearon un campo de batalla en torno a la reparticiĂłn de los ingresos. Las paralizaciones laborales pueden fomentar la resistencia de los actores o la reacciĂłn drĂĄstica de los empleadores mediante âmecanismos de restricciĂłn salarialâ. Cada deporte principal ha conocido un enfrentamiento principal y el subsiguiente retorno a la ânegociaciĂłn de sobrevivienciaâ. Mi esquema añade los âlitigios y otras maniobrasâ como sustento a las opciones estratĂ©gicas tradicionales de âreconfiguraciĂłnâ versus âimposiciĂłnâ o âresistencia al cambioâ. Esto amplĂa los conceptos de Walton y McKersie (1965) de âsanciĂłn como mecanismo de inversiĂłnâ, de ânegociaciĂłn intra-organizacionalâ y de âestructuraciĂłn de la actitudâ. En cada viraje principal, la direcciĂłn concluye eventualmente una formula contractual estable que concuerda con una formula a tres facetas : (1) demostrar una brecha en el rendimiento, (2) jugar con los peores temores mediante sanciones o amenazas, y (3) brindar incentivos a la adaptaciĂłn o al cambio
Principles and Early Historical Development of Silicon Avalanche and Geiger-Mode Photodiodes
The historical development of technology can inform future innovation, and while theses and review articles attempt to set technologies and methods in context, few can discuss the historical background of a scientific paradigm. In this chapter, the nature of the photon is discussed along with what physical mechanisms allow detection of single-photons using solid-state semiconductor-based technologies. By restricting the scope of this chapter to near-infrared, visible and near-ultraviolet detection we can focus upon the internal photoelectric effect. Likewise, by concentrating on single-photon semiconductor detectors, we can focus upon the carrier-multiplication gain that has allowed sensitivity to approach the single-photon level. This chapter and the references herein aim to provide a historical account and full literature review of key, early developments in the history of photodiodes (PDs), avalanche photodiodes (APDs), single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), other Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GM-APDs) and silicon photo-multipliers (Si-PMs). As there are overlaps with the historical development of the transistor (1940s), we find that development of the p-n junction and the observation of noise from distinct crystal lattice or doping imperfections â called âmicroplasmasâ â were catalysts for innovation. The study of microplasmas, and later dedicated structures acting as known-area, uniform-breakdown artificial microplasmas, allowed the avalanche gain mechanism to be observed, studied and utilised
The electoral effectiveness of constituency campaigning in the 2010 British General Election: The âtriumphâ of Labour?
This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Electoral Studies. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2011 Elsevier B.V.This article establishes a model of likely campaign effectiveness, before examining the intensity of constituency campaigning at the 2010 general election in Britain and its subsequent impact on electoral outcomes, using both aggregate and individual level data. It shows that constituency campaigning yielded benefits in varying degrees for all three main parties and that Labourâs constituency campaign efforts were effective despite the electoral context, and ultimately affected the overall outcome of the election. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of the circumstances under which campaigns are likely to be more or less effective, and provide further evidence that a carefully managed campaign stands the most chance of delivering tangible electoral payoffs
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