COMPATIBILITY OF EXTENSIONS OF A COMBINATORIAL GEOMETRY

Two extensions of a geometry are compatible with each other if they have a common extension. If the given extensions are elementary, their compatibility can be intrinsically described in terms of their corresponding linear subclasses. Certain adjointness relation between an extension of a geometry and the geometry itself is also discussed. Any extension of a geometry G by a geometry F determines and is determined by a unique quotient bundle on G indexed by F. As a study of the compatibility among given quotients of a geometry, we look at the possibility of completing to F-bundles a family of quotients indexed by a set I of flats of F. If the indexing geometry F is free and if the set I is a Boolean subalgebra or a sublattice of F, for any family Q(I) of quotients of a geometry G, there is a canonical construction which determines its completability and at the same time produces the extremal completion if it is a partial bundle. Geometries studied in this dissertation are furnished with the weak order. Almost invariably, the Higgs' lift construction, in a somewhat generalized sense, constitutes a convenient and indispensable means in various of the extremal constructions

Relocating empowerment as a management concept for Asia

Management theories, especially those in the area of human resource management, are predominantly Western-centric in origin and in the empirical testing that underpins them. The purpose of this paper is to explore perceptions of one such theory, employee empowerment, in an Asian context. Information gathered from an open ended questionnaire and focus groups provide an in-depth examination of hotel managers' perceptions and practice of empowerment in the workplace. This study provides tentative indicators of significant culturally-driven differences in the understanding and application of employee empowerment (in terms of both research and practice) between Western and Asian contexts. The results of this study indicate that empowerment in Asian cultures relates much more to the individual and his/her merits, in contrast to organizationally-driven empowerment in Western countries. The findings also indicate that empowerment by hotel managers is related to the level of personal trust the manager has in an employee

A High-Low Model of Daily Stock Price Ranges

We observe that daily highs and lows of stock prices do not diverge over time and, hence, adopt the cointegration concept and the related vector error correction model (VECM) to model the daily high, the daily low, and the associated daily range data. The in-sample results attest the importance of incorporating high-low interactions in modeling the range variable. In evaluating the out-of-sample forecast performance using both mean-squared forecast error and direction of change criteria, it is found that the VECM-based low and high forecasts offer some advantages over some alternative forecasts. The VECM-based range forecasts, on the other hand, do not always dominate –the forecast rankings depend on the choice of evaluation criterion and the variables being forecasted.daily high, daily low, VECM model, forecast performance, implied volatility

Use of Air Arthrograms to Aid in Joint Distraction During Hip Arthroscopic Surgery Decreases Postoperative Pain and Opioid Requirements.

BackgroundPositive-pressure air arthrography and venting of the hip capsule are techniques used to decrease the traction forces needed for joint distraction during hip arthroscopic surgery. Little is known about the effects that these techniques have on postoperative pain.HypothesisPositive-pressure air arthrography and venting during hip arthroscopic surgery will decrease patient-reported pain and narcotic requirements in the acute postoperative setting.Study designCohort study; Level of evidence, 3.MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis was conducted to analyze 35 patients who underwent positive-pressure air arthrography and venting to aid joint distraction during hip arthroscopic surgery versus a group with similar demographics, pathologies, and treatments who did not undergo air arthrography. Numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) scores and medication administration including narcotic and nonnarcotic analgesia in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) were tracked and compared.ResultsThe maximum (7.17 vs 4.97, respectively), minimum (2.43 vs 1.09, respectively), and mean (5.15 vs 3.11, respectively) NPRS scores were all higher in the control group compared with the air arthrogram group (P < .001, P = .007, and P < .001, respectively). The administration of oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) during the PACU stay was significantly lower in the air arthrogram group, with a mean of 36.75 ± 11.37 OMEs, compared with 44.53 ± 16.06 OMEs in the control group (P = .023). There was no difference in postoperative nonopioid medications, such as ketorolac or acetaminophen, given between groups.ConclusionPatients undergoing hip arthroscopic surgery with air arthrography and venting used to aid distraction had significantly less postoperative pain and required a lower total dosage of opioids during their PACU stay when compared with patients who underwent hip arthroscopic surgery without air arthrography

A high-low model of daily stock price ranges

We observe that daily highs and lows of stock prices do not diverge over time and, hence, adopt the cointegration concept and the related vector error correction model (VECM) to model the daily high, the daily low, and the associated daily range data. The in-sample results attest the importance of incorporating high-low interactions in modeling the range variable. In evaluating the out-of-sample forecast performance using both mean-squared forecast error and direction of change criteria, it is found that the VECM-based low and high forecasts offer some advantages over some alternative forecasts. The VECM-based range forecasts, on the other hand, do not always dominate the forecast rankings depend on the choice of evaluation criterion and the variables being forecasted

Unparticle Induced Baryon Number Violating Nucleon Decays

We study baryon number violating nucleon decays induced by unparticle interactions with the standard model particles. We find that the lowest dimension operators which cause nucleon decays can arise at dimension 6 + (d_s-3/2) with the unparticles being a spinor of dimension d_s=d_\U +1/2. For scalar and vector unparticles of dimension d_\U, the lowest order operatoers arise at 6+d_\U and 7+d_\U dimensions,respectively. Comparing the spinor unparticle induced n \to O^s_\U and experimental bound on invisible decay of a neutron from KamLAND, we find that the scale for unparticle physics is required to be larger than 10^{10} GeV for d_\U < 2 if the couplings are set to be of order one. For scalar and vector unparticles, the dominant baryon number violating decay modes are n\to \bar \nu + O_\U (O^\mu_\U) and p \to e^+ + O_\U (O^\mu_\U). The same experimental bound puts the scales for scalar and vector unparticle to be larger than 10^{7} and 10^{5} GeV for d_\U <2 with couplings set to be of order one. Data on, p \to e^+ invisible, puts similar constraints on unparticle interactions.Comment: Latex 10 pages with two figure

Heat Transfer in Laser Tumor Excision

Cancer is an ongoing disease that is present in a majority of the population. Laser surgery provides minimally invasive techniques to excise tumors in humans. This method allows quicker recoveries and fewer complications. This study analyzes the effectiveness of excision of tumor tissue using a CO2 laser. By using computer aided design and finite element analysis, we model a cylindrical tumor tissue with 0.3cm in diameter and height. A flux of 282mmW from the laser and a convection coefficient of KmmW???26105 were applied when designing this model. Our results produced temperature contour plots at several time intervals, all showing precise laser excision with minimal inadvertent tissue damage (less than 0.006 mm in depth after excising approximately 0.15 mm of tissue in depth). Sensitivity analysis indicate that changes in material properties such as conductivity, convection, specific heat, density, and laser power have minimal affects on the temperature profile

Application of fuzzy integrated FMEA with product lifetime consideration for new product development in flexible electronics industry

Purpose: the aim of this paper is to minimize the risks of new product development and shorten time-to-market, particularly for high-tech enterprise where the complexity of the product generates vast amount of failure mode. Design/methodology/approach: first, the concept of Critical Consideration Factor (CCF) is introduced based on product-specific technical characteristics, expected lifetime, and yield requirement to identify and prioritize the critical failure mode in the subsequent Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA), followed by process characterization on the high-risk failure mode and Critical Parameter Management (CPM) practice to realize a robust mass production system of the developed technology. The application on the development of advanced flexible substrate and surface finishes fabrication technique is presented. Findings: through the proposed methodology, the risk level of each potential failure mode can be accurately quantified to identify the critical variables. With process characterization, reliability of the product is ensured. Consequently, significant reduction in development resources and time-to-market can be achieved. Practical implications: the development strategy allows high tech enterprises to achieve a balanced ecosystem in which value created through adaption of new technology/product can be thoroughly captured through commercialization in a timely manner with no field failure. Originality/value: the proposed development strategy utilizes a unique approach with thorough considerations that enables high tech enterprise to deliver new product with rapid time-to-market without sacrificing product lifetime reliability, which is key to achieve competitive advantage in the highly dynamic market.Peer Reviewe

Effective Early Childhood Education Programmes : A Systematic Review

This report systematically reviews research on the outcomes of programmes that teach young children in a group setting before they begin reception. Study inclusion criteria included use of randomised or matched control groups, evidence of initial equality, and study duration of at least 12 weeks. Studies included valid measures of language, literacy, phonological awareness, mathematical, and/or cognitive outcomes that were independent of the experimental treatments. A total of 38 studies evaluating 27 different programmes met these criteria for outcomes assessed at the end of preschool and/or reception/kindergarten. The review concludes that on academic outcomes at the end of preschool and/or reception, 6 early childhood programmes showed strong evidence of effectiveness and 5 had moderate evidence of effectiveness. Of the 27 programmes reviewed, 7 are available for implementation in the UK. A few longitudinal studies have followed their subjects into secondary school, and even adulthood. These studies show that comprehensive programmes focused broadly on cognitive development rather than solely academic skills had better long-term effects on social adjustment outcomes such as reductions in delinquency, welfare dependency, and teenage pregnancy, and increases in educational and employment levels