A Model Of Information Technology Impacts: An Invariance Analysis By Executive Position

The invariance, by executive position in the organization, of an information technology impacts model is examined.  The theoretical model links computer training, end-user previous computer experience, information (provided by the system) quality, ease of system use, customer knowledge in the firm’s industry, and the tasks performed using the system to individual and firm performance impacts through system use and satisfaction.  The empirical examination uses data from a national mail survey.  The respondents are business executives at four different organizational levels (i.e., owners, senior executives, marketing executives, and middle/operational executives).  The quantitative technique used is invariance analysis based on structural equation modeling.  The results indicate that the interrelationships among the theoretical constructs in the model are generally invariant across these different organizational positions.  The one difference identified is the path from information quality to system use.  Examining each executive group individually shows that this path is significant for marketing executives, but no other executive group.  Thus, the identified difference appears to be produced by the importance of information quality on marketing executives’ use of computer systems.  Managerial implications, conclusions, and suggestions for future research are discussed based upon these results

Ab initio investigation of intermolecular interactions in solid benzene

A computational strategy for the evaluation of the crystal lattice constants and cohesive energy of the weakly bound molecular solids is proposed. The strategy is based on the high level ab initio coupled-cluster determination of the pairwise additive contribution to the interaction energy. The zero-point-energy correction and non-additive contributions to the interaction energy are treated using density functional methods. The experimental crystal lattice constants of the solid benzene are reproduced, and the value of 480 meV/molecule is calculated for its cohesive energy

Use of Flowable Fill (CLSM) for Trench Backfill

Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM), commonly referred to as flowable fill, has been used for years as a trench backfill for utility repairs in Kentucky, and is now being used by the Kentucky Department of Highways (KDOH) on a limited basis. Flowable fill, when used as trench backfill, typically consists of natural sand, fly ash, cement, and water with a design compressive strength of 50 to 100 psi at 28 days. Flowable fill was used on two KDOH projects in 1991. One project was new construction in the widening and realignment of Breckinridge Lane in Louisville and the other was a maintenance project involving the replacement of cross drains on US 25 in Fayette County. These two uses of flowable fill were monitored for material engineering performance and characteristics, construction procedures, and cost effectiveness. Field observation and testing, laboratory testing, and determination of remedial costs from sites not using flowable fill were all components of the study

Evaluation of CLSM (Flowable Fill) for Trench Backfill

Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM), commonly referred to as flowable fill, has been used for years as a trench backfill for utility repairs in Kentucky, but had not been previously used by the Kentucky Department of Highways (KDQH). In 1991, the KDOH awarded a contract for the reconstruction of Breckinridge Lane in Louisville where CLSM was used as trench backfill for all storm drainage. In 1992, the KDOH awarded a contract for replacement of cross drains for US 25 in Fayette County where CLSM was used as trench backfill. These two sites were monitored for field performance, cylinders were cast for laboratory testing, and a laboratory mix design study was conducted. CLSM appears to be a very effective trench backfill when placed in a sufficiently flowable state. The two sites monitored included both concrete and steel pipe with the concrete pipe in a cradle bedding and the steel pipe completely encased in CLSM. There were few problems at either site after the CLSM mix had been adjusted to a flowable condition. The CLSM 28-day compressive strength, typically, ranged from 50 to 150 psi, with strengths as low as 36 psi and as high as 668 psi. In the interest of removability, CLSM strength should be low, probably less than 100 psi at 28 days. A mathematical relationship developed by Brewer and Associates appears to reasonably evaluate the removability of CLSM when actual compressive strength is used. Since cylinders are not usually available for long term testing, a method for predicting ultimate compressive strength is included. A cost comparison of CLSM and conventional backfill (manufactured limestone sand) indicates that when trench dimensions are the same and only direct costs (labor, materials, equipment, and associated costs) are included, CLSM costs approximately $9.50 per foot of pipe more than conventional backfill for a six-foot by six-foot trench. Other costs stemming from increased productivity, less inspection, less testing, reduced liability concerns, and reduced or no future remedial work associated with the use of flowable fill which were not quantified nor included in the cost comparison would tend to reduce the total cost difference between CLSM and conventional backfill. Because conventional backfill normally requires additional trench width for compaction equipment, a reduction of trench width on each side of a pipe from 21 inches down to 12 inches can be realized when using CLSM. The reduced trench width makes CLSM costs equivalent to conventional backfill, on a direct cost basis. A mix design study involving the use of manufactured limestone sand (MLS) as compared to natural river sand for CLSM filler was conducted. Findings from this task indicate that CLSM with MLS filler is not suitable for typical highway construction due to increases in strength, bleed time, time required to develop acceptable bearing capacity, and shrinkage. Both experimental sites are currently being monitored to assess long-term pavement settlement

Electrical Modification of Combustion and the Affect of Electrode Geometry on the Field Produced

There has been extensive work to show how electric fields can influence combustion. However, many different set ups are used. This work shows how different set ups produce different field strengths and that the field is not always uniformly distributed. The field strength is modelled using Ansys Maxwell. The type of material used is discussed and the set up of apparatus. It is recommended to use parallel plates for experimentation. Parallel plates produce the most uniform field this allow's it's influence to be directly investigated and related to the field strength

Show That Fellow The Door

Man with arms around woman with owl on tree branch; Photograph of Coon-Sanders Original Night Hawkshttps://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/12256/thumbnail.jp

Superconductivity in Co-doped LaFeAsO

Here we report the synthesis and basic characterization of LaFe1-xCoxAsO for several values of x. The parent phase LaFeAsO orders antiferromagnetically (TN ~ 145 K). Replacing Fe with Co is expected to both electron dope the system and introduce disorder in the FeAs layer. For x = 0.05 antiferromagnetic order is destroyed and superconductivity is observed at Tconset = 11.2 K. For x = 0.11 superconductivity is observed at Tc(onset) = 14.3 K, and for x = 0.15 Tc = 6.0 K. Superconductivity is not observed for x = 0.2 and 0.5, but for x = 1, the material appears to be ferromagnetic (Tc ~ 56 K) as judged by magnetization measurements. We conclude that Co is an effective dopant to induce superconductivity. Somewhat surprisingly, the system appears to tolerate considerable disorder in the FeAs planes.Comment: 19 pages, 9 figure

Survey of financial burden of families in the U.S. with children using home mechanical ventilation.

Aim: To describe and quantify the out-of-pocket expenses, employment loss, and other financial impact related to caring for a child using home mechanical ventilation (HMV). METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of U.S. families with children who used HMV. Eligible participants were invited to complete a questionnaire addressing household and child characteristics, out-of-pocket expenses, employment loss/reduction, and financial stress. Participants were recruited with the help of three national patient registries. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-six participants from 32 states (152 with children who used invasive ventilation and 74 with children who used noninvasive ventilation) completed the questionnaire. Participants' median reported yearly household income was $90 000 (IQR 70 000-150 000). The median amount paid in out-of-pocket expenses in the previous 3 months to care for their child using HMV totaled$3899 (IQR $2900-4550). Reported levels of financial stress decreased as income increased; 37-60% of participants, depending on income quintile, reported moderate financial stress with "some" of that stress due to their out-of-pocket expenses. A substantial majority reported one or more household members stopped or reduced work and took unpaid weeks off of work to care for their child. CONCLUSION: The financial impact of caring for a child using HMV is considerable for some families. Providers need to understand these financial burdens and should inform families of them to help families anticipate and plan for them

FGF21 mediates the thermogenic and insulin-sensitizing effects of dietary methionine restriction but not its effects on hepatic lipid metabolism

© 2017 by the American Diabetes Association. Dietary methionine restriction (MR) produces a rapid and persistent remodeling of white adipose tissue (WAT), an increase in energy expenditure (EE), and enhancement of insulin sensitivity. Recent work established that hepatic expression of FGF21 is robustly increased by MR. Fgf212/2 mice were used to test whether FGF21 is an essential mediator of the physiological effects of dietary MR. The MR-induced increase in energy intake and EE and activation of thermogenesis in WAT and brown adipose tissue were lost in Fgf212/2 mice. However, dietary MR produced a comparable reduction in body weight and adiposity in both genotypes because of a negative effect of MR on energy intake in Fgf212/2 mice. Despite the similar loss in weight, dietary MR produced a more significant increase in in vivo insulin sensitivity in wild-Type than in Fgf212/2 mice, particularly in heart and inguinal WAT. In contrast, the ability of MR to regulate lipogenic and integrated stress response genes in liver was not compromised in Fgf212/2 mice. Collectively, these findings illustrate that FGF21 is a critical mediator of the effects of dietary MR on EE, remodeling of WAT, and increased insulin sensitivity but not of its effects on hepatic gene expression