Laissez-Faire Versus Pareto

Consider two principles for social evaluation. The first, ‘laissez-faire’, says that mean-preserving redistribution away from laissez-faire incomes should be regarded as a social worsening. This principle captures a key aspect of liberal political philosophy. The second, weak Pareto, states that an increase in each individual’s disposable income should be regarded as a social improvement. We show that the combination of the two principles implies that total disposable income ought be maximized. Strikingly, the relationship between disposable incomes and laissez-faire incomes must therefore be ignored, leaving little room for liberal values

The Evolving Paradigm in the Management of Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is a major cause of ischemic stroke worldwide and represents a significant health problem. The pathogenesis and natural history of ICAD are poorly understood, and rigorous treatment paradigms do not exist as they do for extracranial atherosclerosis. Currently, the best treatment for ICAD remains aspirin therapy, but many patients who are placed on aspirin continue to experience recurrent strokes. As microsurgical and endovascular techniques continue to evolve, the role of extracranial to intracranial bypass operations and stenting are increasingly being reconsidered. We performed a PubMed review of the English literature with a particular focus on treatment options for ICAD and present evidence-based data for the role of surgery and stenting in ICAD against medical therapy alone

CsrA impacts survival of Yersinia enterocolitica by affecting a myriad of physiological activities.

BackgroundA previous study identified a Yersinia enterocolitica transposon mutant, GY448, that was unable to export the flagellar type three secretion system (T3SS)-dependent phospholipase, YplA. This strain was also deficient for motility and unable to form colonies on Lauria-Bertani agar medium. Preliminary analysis suggested it carried a mutation in csrA. CsrA in Escherichia coli is an RNA-binding protein that is involved in specific post-transcriptional regulation of a myriad of physiological activities. This study investigated how CsrA affects expression of the flagellar regulatory cascade that controls YplA export and motility. It also explored the effect of csrA mutation on Y. enterocolitica in response to conditions that cue physiological changes important for growth in environments found both in nature and the laboratory.ResultsThe precise location of the transposon insertion in GMY448 was mapped within csrA. Genetic complementation restored disruptions in motility and the YplA export phenotype (Yex), which confirmed this mutation disrupted CsrA function. Mutation of csrA affected expression of yplA and flagellar genes involved in flagellar T3SS dependent export and motility by altering expression of the master regulators flhDC. Mutation of csrA also resulted in increased sensitivity of Y. enterocolitica to various osmolytes, temperatures and antibiotics.ConclusionsThe results of this study reveal unique aspects of how CsrA functions in Y. enterocolitica to control its physiology. This provides perspective on how the Csr system is susceptible to adaptation to particular environments and bacterial lifestyles

Utilization of Boron Waste Borogypsum with Silica Fume as a Supplementary Cementitious Material in Mortar

In the current study, borogypsum and borogypsum with silica fume mixtures are added to cement clinker partially. Flexural tensile strength, compressive strength and water absorption tests are performed on mortar samples which contain borogypsum and silica fume and also high temperature effect on the mortars are investigated. As a result of the tests it is revealed that 5% addition of borogysum and borogypsum-silica fume mixtures to cement clinker are altered strength behaviors of the mortars

The effect of feed made from fish processing waste silage on the growth of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

This study researched the degree to which the growth of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was influenced by pellet feed made from silage produced from waste generated by the fish food processing industry. During the 90 day trial, a completely random parcel method was used with three repetitions. The average weight of the rainbow trout was 54.05±235 g, while their average length was 17.46±0.11 cm. One hundred (100) trout were stocked (25 kg/m3) in each fiberglass fish feeding tank. Four different experimental groups were formed; feed without silage (control) and pellets with 25, 50 and 100% silage. Fish were fed twice per a day until they were satisfied (ad libitum). At the end of the study, the group that was fed with feed made from 50% silage increased the most in weight, followed by the control group and the groups fed with 25 and 100% silage, respectively. The average weight differences between the groups were found to be significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, it can be said that replacing the fish meal in food used to feed trout with 50% fish silage has a positive effect on growth, and that silage can be used in trout food at the aforementioned ratio.Key words: Fish meal, fish silage, growth, feed efficiency, rainbow trout

Aligning Business Analytics Programs with Industry Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

This paper describes results from a topic modeling analysis of online data analytics-related job advertisements. Five distinct clusters emerged, each with a focus on different knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) profiles. We labelled these clusters big data, systems analysis, business, healthcare, and technical research. Identification of these clusters provides a framework that can be used by information systems and business analytics faculty to offer customized and specialized information systems and business analytics programs that prepare graduates to fill specific roles in the data ecosystem of the workplace

The effect of Si(x)N(y) interlayer on the quality of GaN epitaxial layers grown on Si(111) substrates by MOCVD

Cataloged from PDF version of article.In the present paper, the effects of nitridation on the quality of GaN epitaxial films grown on Si(111) substrates by metal-organic chemical vapor phase deposition (MOCVD) are discussed. A series of GaN layers were grown on Si(111) under various conditions and characterized by Nomarski microscopy (NM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), high resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD), and room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Firstly, we optimized LT-AlN/HT-AlN/Si(111) templates and graded AlGaN intermediate layers thicknesses. In order to prevent stress relaxation, step-graded AlGaN layers were introduced along with a crack-free GaN layer of thickness exceeding 2.2 mu m. Secondly, the effect of in situ substrate nitridation and the insertion of an Si(x)N(y) intermediate layer on the GaN crystalline quality was investigated. Our measurements show that the nitridation position greatly influences the surface morphology and PL and XRD spectra of GaN grown atop the Si(x)N(y) layer. The X-ray diffraction and PL measurements results confirmed that the single-crystalline wurtzite GaN was successfully grown in samples A (without Si(x)N(y) layer) and B (with Si(x)N(y) layer on Si(111)). The resulting GaN film surfaces were flat, mirror-like, and crack-free. The full-width-at-half maximum (FWHM) of the X-ray rocking curve for (0002) diffraction from the GaN epilayer of the sample B in omega-scan was 492 arcsec. The PL spectrum at room temperature showed that the GaN epilayer had a light emission at a wavelength of 365 nm with a FWHM of 6.6 nm (33.2 meV). In sample B, the insertion of a Si(x)N(y) intermediate layer significantly improved the optical and structural properties. In sample C (with Si(x)N(y) layer on Al(0.11)Ga(0.89)N interlayer). The in situ depositing of the, however, we did not obtain any improvements in the optical or structural properties. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

A study of semi-insulating GaN grown on AlN buffer/sapphire substrate by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Cataloged from PDF version of article.We report the remarkably improved crystal quality of semi-insulating GaN grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on an AlN buffer layer, which is deposited on sapphire substrate. The electrical and structural properties are characterized by dark current-voltage transmission line model and X-ray diffraction measurements. It is found that the crystal quality of the GaN epilayer is strongly related with the growth temperature of the decreased-temperature GaN interlayer. In comparison with the normal GaN grown on sapphire, the crystal quality is remarkably improved along with a semi-insulating electrical character. The high-mobility field effect transistors device based on the semi-insulating GaN shows good pinch off properties. Our electrical measurement results of GaN grown directly on an AlN buffer indicated that the as-grown-undoped GaN is naturally semi-insulating material. The origination of the residual donors in normal GaN grown on sapphire substrate is also discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Questioning impact: interconnection between extra-organizational resources and agency of equality and diversity officers

This paper examines the change agency of equality and diversity (E&D) officers with a specific emphasis on the role of extra-organizational influences and resources. The paper is informed by qualitative material collected through interviews with E&D officers from 20 higher education institutions in the UK. The paper offers an evidence-based analysis of the utility of extra-organizational mechanisms and intervention programmes for organizational E&D agenda and for the agentic influence of E&D officers. The paper contributes to both academic literature and policy-making. We present original empirical insights into the change agency of E&D officers by exploring the impact of extra-organizational bodies as potential mechanisms for support and influence. At the policy level, the paper provides evidence on the value of extra-organizational resources and tools that are produced by policy bodies in promoting progressive E&D agendas in organizations