Instabilities and soot formation in spherically expanding, high pressure, rich, iso-octane-air flames

Flame instabilities, cellular structures and soot formed in high pressure, rich, spherically expanding iso-octane-air flames have been studied experimentally using high speed Schlieren cinematography, OH fluorescence, Mie scattering and laser induced incandescence. Cellular structures with two wavelength ranges developed on the flame surface. The larger wavelength cellular structure was produced by the Landau-Darrieus hydrodynamic instability, while the short wavelength cellular structure was produced by the thermal-diffusive instability. Large negative curvature in the short wavelength cusps caused local flame quenching and fracture of the flame surface. In rich flames with equivalence ratio φ > 1.8, soot was formed in a honeycomb-like structure behind flame cracks associated with the large wavelength cellular structure induced by the hydrodynamic instability. The formation of soot precursors through low temperature pyrolysis was suggested as a suitable mechanism for the initiation of soot formation behind the large wavelength flame cracks

Motorola cash management: The evolution of a global system

The set of interorganizational information systems used for global cash management in business markets is analyzed. A longitudinal case study of Motorola is presented. Their strategy has evolved from an internal cost saving focus to a cooperative one, yielding significant strategic benefits by the inclusion of trading partners. The financial aspects of Motorola's business relationships with trading partners and its principal bank have been transformed through a process of organizational learning and adaptation coupled with the close integration of information systems (ISs) throughout the cash supply chain. Cooperative behavior between Motorola and its suppliers, with the help of Citibank, has enabled a coordinated response to bring cash flows in line with product flows. The results are compared with existing IS marketing theories on business relationships, market structure, and globalization

A Dynamical Systems Analysis of Methanol-Air Auto-Ignition

Dynamical systems analysis was employed as an alternative investigative tool to conventional reaction path analysis and sensitivity analysis in methanol-air auto-ignition, in which the non-linear chemical rate equations describing a homogeneous, methanol-air auto-ignition system were linearised. The resultant system of linear, inhomogeneous differential equations were solved analytically using an eigen-mode analysis. The numerically determined solution to the non-linear auto-ignition trajectory was employed to determine the local analytic behaviour for a number of regular points along the solution trajectory to equilibrium. The solution trajectory was found to qualitatively change three times, thereby defining four different regions in the time and temperature domain. The dominant eigen-mode solutions were expressed in terms of dominant reactions at regular intervals along the solution path, revealing the dominant local chemistry. The solution trajectory was dominated by four explosive modes in the first, low temperature region (T < 1,090 K). Two dominant explosive modes coupled to form an explosive, oscillating mode in the second region (1,090 K < T < 1,160 K). In the third region (1,160 K < T < 2,000 K), the explosive, oscillating mode changed to a decaying, oscillating mode. The changes in the low temperature region of the solution trajectory were found to be associated with the critical points in the evolution of the branching agent (hydrogen peroxide) concentration. The third qualitative change occurred at T ~ 2,000 K, when the dominant decaying, oscillating mode describing methanol and formaldehyde oxidation to carbon monoxide collapsed, to be replaced with real, decaying modes (proper stable nodes) describing the wet oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, and its reverse reaction, together with the high temperature formation of water and other equilibrium products

Religion, Partisanship, and Attitudes Towards Science Policy

We examine issues involving science which have been contested in recent public debate. These “contested science” issues include human evolution, stem-cell research, and climate change. We find that few respondents evince consistently skeptical attitudes toward science issues, and that religious variables are generally strong predictors of attitudes toward individual issues. Furthermore, and contrary to analyses of elite discourse, partisan identification is not generally predictive of attitudes toward contested scientific issues

Evaluating a financial service opportunity via judgemental modelling

The financial services market is currently undergoing tremendous change, due to the twin influences of developments in the field of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and changes in the legislation determining how banks will be allowed to operate after 1992. Describes research whose objective was to evaluate the viability of introducing a new service to handle cross-border payments, undertaken for a large multinational bank, and focused on respondents from a variety of firms within the European Community. Uses a combination of a PC-based judgemental modelling package and in-depth interviews to develop a clear understanding of the needs of both the originators′ and the vendors′ requirements. Although based on a relatively small sample, the detailed findings permit development of an effective approach to segmenting the market for the particular service

Little evidence for association between the TGFBR1*6A variant and colorectal cancer: a family-based association study on non-syndromic family members from Australia and Spain.

Genome-wide linkage studies have identified the 9q22 chromosomal region as linked with colorectal cancer (CRC) predisposition. A candidate gene in this region is transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1). Investigation of TGFBR1 has focused on the common genetic variant rs11466445, a short exonic deletion of nine base pairs which results in truncation of a stretch of nine alanine residues to six alanine residues in the gene product. While the six alanine (*6A) allele has been reported to be associated with increased risk of CRC in some population based study groups this association remains the subject of robust debate. To date, reports have been limited to population-based case-control association studies, or case-control studies of CRC families selecting one affected individual per family. No study has yet taken advantage of all the genetic information provided by multiplex CRC families. Methods: We have tested for an association between rs11466445 and risk of CRC using several family-based statistical tests in a new study group comprising members of non-syndromic high risk CRC families sourced from three familial cancer centres, two in Australia and one in Spain. Results: We report a finding of a nominally significant result using the pedigree-based association test approach (PBAT; p = 0.028), while other family-based tests were non-significant, but with a p-value < 0.10 in each instance. These other tests included the Generalised Disequilibrium Test (GDT; p = 0.085), parent of origin GDT Generalised Disequilibrium Test (GDT-PO; p = 0.081) and empirical Family-Based Association Test (FBAT; p = 0.096, additive model). Related-person case-control testing using the 'More Powerful' Quasi-Likelihood Score Test did not provide any evidence for association (M-QL5; p = 0.41). Conclusions: After conservatively taking into account considerations for multiple hypothesis testing, we find little evidence for an association between the TGFBR1*6A allele and CRC risk in these families. The weak support for an increase in risk in CRC predisposed families is in agreement with recent meta-analyses of case-control studies, which estimate only a modest increase in sporadic CRC risk among 6*A allele carriers

Hybrid context, management practices and organizational performance: a configurational approach.

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordEmploying a configurational approach we explore how “hybrid context” shapes organizations’ adoption, and performance implications, of management practice. We do because hybrid contexts have been a policy aim of many governments seeking to blurr the distinction between the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. To conceptualize hybrid contexts we employ the dimensions of market authority and (the multiple) political authority. Employing data from UK care homes, our findings suggest that: (i) the adoption, and performance effects, of management practices are conditioned by dimensions of hybrid context; (ii) there is significant variation across the configurations in terms of the mix of management practices that lead to high and low performance; and (iii) there is a high degree of symmetry between high and low performance, with good management practices being a necessary condition for high performing as compared to low performing organizations.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC

A prediction model for colon cancer surveillance data

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112258/1/sim6500-sup-0001-Supplementary1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112258/2/sim6500.pd