Protective properties and the constrained equal awards rule for claims problems

We investigate the implications of two properties, sustainability and exemption, when imposed separately in conjunction with other basic properties for the resolution of conflicting claims. Under the protective properties, agents with sufficiently small claims in relation to the others are fully reimbursed. We base three characterizations of the constrained equal awards rule on the properties. Namely, (1) the constrained equal awards rule is the only rule satisfying sustainability and claims monotonicity, (2) it is the only rule satisfying sustainability and super-modularity, and (3) it is the only rule satisfying exemption, order preservation and consistency. Then, we extend the notions of the protective properties to groups of agents, and show that no rule satisfies any of these extensions.claims problem; sustainability; exemption; constrained equal awards rule

Consistency and the sequential equal contributions rule for airport problems

We consider the problem of sharing the cost of a public facility among agents who have different needs for it. We base two characterizations of the sequential equal contributions rule on smallest-cost consistency. Namely, (i) the rule is the only rule satisfying equal treatment of equals, independence of all but the smallest-cost, and smallest-cost consistency, and (ii) it is the only rule satisfying equal share lower bound, cost monotonicity, and smallest-cost consistency.mathematical economics;

Operators for the adjudication of conflicting claims

We consider the problem of dividing some amount of an infinitely divisible and homogeneous resource among agents having claims on this resource that cannot be jointly honored. A "rule" associates with each such problem a feasible division. Our goal is to uncover the structure of the space of rules. For that purpose, we study "operators" on the space, that is, mappings that associate to each rule another one. Duality, claims truncation, attribution of minimal rights, and convex combinations are the four operators we consider. We first establish a number of results linking these operators, such as idempotence, commutativity, and distributivity. Then, we determine which properties of rules are preserved under each of these operators, and which are not.Conflicting claims, Division rules, Operators, Minimal rights, Maximal claims, Duality, Convexity.

Birefringence Microscopy with Magnetic-Field Aligned Multiferroic Janus Nanofibers

Multiferroic Janus nanofibers consisting of barium titanate (BaT iO3) and cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) have the magnetoelectric effect between piezoelectric and magnetostrictive phases. By applying an external magnetic field on Janus nanofibers,the dipole moment in piezoelectric phase would be formed and produce the electric field. Since poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) polymer has anisotropic property, the birefringence can be induced by the electric field. We generalize the magnetic field birefringence quadratic equation and coupling constant for PVK polymer with Janus nanofibers. Birefringence microscopy is used to observe the PVK birefringence under an external magnetic field from 0 to 2500 Oe. The numerical results show that the birefringence variation of the fourth digit after the dot can be obviously detected by our microscope for the distance within 15 um between two nanofibers in PVK polyme

IAP antagonist Grim mediates cell death through divergent pathways

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved process, carried out through proteolytic cascades that lead to activation of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteases (caspases), which in turn cause cell self-destruction. While caspases are activated upon various death stimuli or developmental cues, inhibitor of apoptosis (IAPs) can prevent caspase-mediated cell death, not only through direct binding and inhibition, but also by directly ubiquitinating caspases, which inactivates them or targets them for degradation. In flies and mammals, cell death is facilitated or enhanced by the accumulation of “IAP antagonists”, which promote cell death by utilizing their N-terminal IAP binding motifs (IBMs) to interact with IAPs, to displace caspases from IAP-binding, and to promote IAPs autoubiquitination. Herein, we demonstrate that a Drosophila IAP antagonist, Grim, induces cell death through divergent mechanisms: an IBM-dependent pathway, requiring a crosstalk with Drosophila IAP1 (DIAP1), and an IBM-independent manner, involving Grim’s C-terminus for translational repression. We discovered that Grim is a target for caspase-mediated cleavage at Grim’s C-terminus (Asp132). Grim loses its only lysine (Lys 136) after cleavage, but acquires a longer half-life due to inability of DIAP1 to ubiquitinate it, which in turn leads to greater cell death. This novel regulation allows increased levels of Grim to efficiently kill through an IBM-dependent mechanism that derepresses caspase inhibition. However, in addition to IBM-dependent cell death, Grim is able to induce caspase activation independent of its IBM. In our studies, we have demonstrated that IBM-independent cell death requires Grim’s C-terminal domain as well as the characteristic Grim Helix 3 (GH3) domain. Importantly, Grim’s C-terminus localizes Grim to distinct cytoplasmic granules, i.e. P-bodies, where translation is repressed due to the accumulation of protein components that regulate mRNA translation or stability. Knockdown of a P-body-localized translational repressor, Me31B, largely reduced IBM-independent cell death. Taken together, IBM-independent cell death occurs, at least in part, through Me31B-mediated translational repression, requiring the localization of Grim to P-bodies via Grim’s C-terminus. Overall, we have discovered that the interplay between caspases and the proteasome system creates an intricate regulatory system for maintaining Grim at low levels in the cell under normal conditions. Once needed, Grim levels accumulate rapidly and induce cell death efficiently through IBM-dependent destruction of DIAP1 and derepression of caspases as well as through IBM-independent translational repression.Cellular and Molecular Biolog

A Study of Spatial Concepts of Lin An-Tai Dwelling and Lin's Family Garden Toward an Elementary School Design

The physical context and architectural professionalism have drifted far away from the traditional conventions after our society went through modernization. Facing these dramatic transformations, people still hold on to the same unchanged perspective and values toward living environment. To pursuing on this contrasting phenomenon, we found it to be the result of the architectural culture, which is co-establishment by occupational structure and the social values. It is important for me to traced it back in seeking for the significant design prospective that has been exist in shaping and re-shaping the building culture of the Taiwanese house in that traditional period. However, related architecture documentation is rather silent presently, such as architect ure were done by craftsman’s prior experiences or inspired by Chinese landscape painting. This profound “silent documentation” could presumably function as an invisible obstacle to or an impetus for the progress of modernization in Chinese architecture. Traditional building ideology inherited from previous dynasties did not conceive of a “building” as pure “matter” with an objective, external face. Rather, it deemed of a “building” as “becoming” through coordinated activities in everyday life, and “becoming” is always the process of completion. To get this study closer to the core of the phenomenon of “becoming” we raise the hypothesis that there is a real force behind the existence of the substantial action of building which lives through numerous styles of houses. For instance, how did the architects think of the building design in term of its spatial relationship of the building? As a matter of fact, people or the building users from different places and experiencing distinctive events come mingle together in time. They all take part in the building mechanism that we call “becoming” in term of the social significance of building culture. The building users can give some feedbacks or advices after they have been lived or worked in the building for certain time. The feedback is very important information that the architect should be full considered in their future design

Using media to improve the informed consent process for youth undergoing pediatric endoscopy and their parents.

Background and study aims Youth undergoing pediatric endoscopic procedures and their parents demonstrate suboptimal comprehension of the informed consent (IC) process. We developed informational videos discussing key IC elements for pediatric endoscopy and evaluated their effects on youth and parental comprehension of the IC process. Patients and methods A randomized controlled trial of the video intervention was performed among youth undergoing endoscopy and their parents at an academic children's hospital. Randomization occurred at the time of enrollment using permutated blocks. Following the IC process with the proceduralist, subjects underwent structured interviews to assess IC comprehension. An Informed Consent Overall Score (ICOS: range 0 - 4) for comprehension was calculated. Results Seventy-seven pairs of children and their parents participated. Intervention recipients (N = 37 pairs) demonstrated higher ICOS scores as compared to control counterparts (mean (standard deviation): 3.6 (0.7) v. 2.9 (0.9), intervention v. control parents, P < 0.0001 and 2.7 (1.1) v. 1.7 (1.1), intervention v. control youth, P < 0.0001). Conclusions A media intervention addressing key elements of the IC process for pediatric endoscopy was effective in improving comprehension of IC for youth undergoing endoscopic procedures and their parents

On demand-side sources of service innovation ideas

Abstract. Increasing degree of consensus has been made among academics and practitioners, that firms should pay special attention to the demand-side factors just to design and produce products/services that gain most loyalty. This article discusses further the specific demand-side sources of service innovation ideas in a multi-layer direct marketing context. Experience marketing, value perception, and re-purchasing process are proposed and articulated. Implications for research and practices are offered. Keywords. Demand-side drivers, Service innovation, Multi-layer direct marketing.JEL. M10, M11, M14