Inside the black box: compensation structures of efficient Yugoslavian firms

The main purpose of the research discussed in this paper has been to try to understand the main determinants of labor productivity within a firm from the perspective of the worker through a model and econometric application. Understanding why workers do the best they can or "just make time" is at the heart of the issue. The results indicate that on the basis of these data there is support for the hypothesis that an hierarchical effort function of the workers may indeed help explain variations in firm productivity.productivity, cooperatives, worker self-management, Yugoslavia

Bad loans in the meltdown: micro analysis of credit union performance versus banks, an initial investigation

The current economic crisis has had a devastating impact in the credit markets as evidenced by bank failures, large bailouts and foreclosures. Trillions of dollars have been spent to prop up the financial sector in the U.S. alone. Credit unions, commercial banks and thrifts are where Americans go for home loans, but credit unions have a very different track record when it has come to bailouts from the government. Credit unions instead of taking trillions may ultimately not take a dime from the taxpayer. This paper will try to discern this advantage that credit unions have by focusing on the direct impact felt by financial institutions in the United States through net charge-offs from 1994 through 2009 using an exceptional data set that combines information on credit unions and banks in the U.S. from 1994 through 2009.credit unions; banks; cooperative; defaults; net charge-offs

Are CEO's paid their marginal product? An empirical analysis of executive compensation and corporate performance.

The theory and reality of chief executive compensation is explored in this paper. The study here uses a panel of data on 143 executives from America’s largest corporations. The results suggest that earlier theoretical expectations and empirical findings of compressed wage scales may not hold when top-level managers are included.compensation, executive, marginal products

Lithium thionyl chloride high rate discharge

Improvements in high rate lithium thionyl chloride power technology achieved by varying the electrolyte composition, operating temperature, cathode design, and cathode composition are discussed. Discharge capacities are plotted as a function of current density, cell voltage, and temperature

Primase-polymerases are a functionally diverse superfamily of replication and repair enzymes

Until relatively recently, DNA primases were viewed simply as a class of proteins that synthesize short RNA primers requisite for the initiation of DNA replication. However, recent studies have shown that this perception of the limited activities associated with these diverse enzymes can no longer be justified. Numerous examples can now be cited demonstrating how the term 'DNA primase' only describes a very narrow subset of these nucleotidyltransferases, with the vast majority fulfilling multifunctional roles from DNA replication to damage tolerance and repair. This article focuses on the archaeo-eukaryotic primase (AEP) superfamily, drawing on recently characterized examples from all domains of life to highlight the functionally diverse pathways in which these enzymes are employed. The broad origins, functionalities and enzymatic capabilities of AEPs emphasizes their previous functional misannotation and supports the necessity for a reclassification of these enzymes under a category called primase-polymerases within the wider functional grouping of polymerases. Importantly, the repositioning of AEPs in this way better recognizes their broader roles in DNA metabolism and encourages the discovery of additional functions for these enzymes, aside from those highlighted here

The pursuit of isotopic and molecular fire tracers in the polar atmosphere and cryosphere

We present an overview of recent multidisciplinary, multi-institutional efforts to identify and date major sources of combustion aerosol in the current and paleoatmospheres. The work was stimulated, in part, by an atmospheric particle \u27sample of opportunity\u27 collected at Summit, Greenland in August 1994, that bore the 14C imprint of biomass burning. During the summer field seasons of 1995 and 1996, we collected air filter, surface snow and snowpit samples to investigate chemical and isotopic evidence of combustion particles that had been transported from distant fires. Among the chemical tracers employed for source identification are organic acids, potassium and ammonium ions, and elemental and organic components of carbonaceous particles. Ion chromatography, performed by members of the Climate Change Research Center (University of New Hampshire), has been especially valuable in indicating periods at Summit that were likely to have been affected by the long range transport of biomass burning aerosol. Univariate and multivariate patterns of the ion concentrations in the snow and ice pinpointed surface and snowpit samples for the direct analysis of particulate (soot) carbon and carbon isotopes. The research at NIST is focusing on graphitic and polycyclic aromatic carbon, which serve as almost certain indicators of fire, and measurements of carbon isotopes, especially 14C, to distinguish fossil and biomass combustion sources. Complementing the chemical and isotopic record, are direct \u27visual\u27 (satellite imagery) records and less direct backtrajectory records, to indicate geographic source regions and transport paths. In this paper we illustrate the unique way in which the synthesis of the chemical, isotopic, satellite and trajectory data enhances our ability to develop the recent history of the formation and transport of soot deposited in the polar snow and ice

Two Types of Semantic Presuppositions

Expressions that normally carry presuppositions differ with respect to whether their presuppositions can be suspended, or behave as if they were mere entailments, in exceptional circumstances. In recent terminology there are said to be ‘soft triggers’, which allow for suspension, and ‘hard triggers’, which do not (Chierchia and McConnell-Ginet, Meaning and grammar, 2nd edn. MIT Press, Cambridge, 2000; Simons, On the conversational basis of some presuppositions. In: Proceedings of semantics and linguistics theory 11, 2001; Abusch, Lexical alternatives as a source of pragmatic presuppositions. In: Jackson B (ed) Proceedings of SALT XII. CLC Publications, Ithaca, NY, 2002, following Karttunen, Some observations on factivity. Pap Linguist 5:55–69, 1971; Stalnaker, Pragmatic presuppositions. In: Munitz MK, Unger PK (eds) Semantics and philosophy: essays. New York University Press, New York, 1974; Wilson, Presuppositions and non-truth-conditional semantics. Academic, New York, 1975). Most of these authors have assumed that the possibility of suspending a presupposition argues against its being a semantic presupposition of the relevant expression, and in favor of treating it as a pragmatic inference. If this is correct, the explanatory burden for the theory of semantic presuppositions would seem to be reduced. On the other hand, if both soft and hard triggers are to be treated uniformly as carrying semantic presuppositions, two logically distinct problems arise. The first is to give an account of why suspension is possible in the first place. The second is to explain, given that account, why suspension is impossible or extremely difficult for hard triggers. This paper suggests that there is a simple answer to the second problem: soft triggers necessarily entail their semantic presuppositions, hard triggers do not, and speakers do not invoke semantic presuppositions idly. In addition, formulating this answer makes transparent the nature of the first problem

Understanding the experience of type 2 diabetes using multiple methods and perspectives

2019 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document

Use of motion-tracking games for rehabilitation of the paretic upper extremity in individuals with stroke, The

Includes bibliographical references.2015 Fall.BACKGROUND: Every 45 seconds in the United States, someone experiences a stroke. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States, which underscores the importance of access to efficacious and feasible rehabilitation treatment. Researchers have estimated that 77% of survivors experience upper extremity weakness, or paresis after stroke. When this weakness affects one side of the body, it is known as hemiparesis. Overall, a large volume of therapy is required to produce the neuroplastic changes that lead to meaningful recovery post-stroke, but with the constraints of conventional, "hands-on" approaches, a system is needed that allows for convenient, at-home practice with remote supervision and feedback of a therapist. Over the last 30 years, treatments have emerged through scientific advances, which integrate the principles provided by conventional therapy treatment using computer technology. These treatments allow for repetitive action-based, at-home practice. METHOD: Four participants who have experienced stroke were recruited from the northern Colorado community. The materials used for the study include the suite of web-based games, a commercially available Leap Motion sensor, a custom stand designed to hold the sensor, and a laptop computer. To use the game, participants moved their hand underneath the motion sensor which interacts with the games on the computer screen. The researchers adjusted the difficulty, time, and sensitivity of the games depending on the movement capacity of the participant. The intervention sessions took place over five consecutive days, except for one participant who used the system in his home over 10 consecutive weekdays. The participants were assessed using the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremity Test (FMA-UE), and the "Quality of Movement" scale of the Motor Activity Log (MAL-QOM). The baseline and post-intervention scores on the WFMT-Timed, the WMFT-FA, the MAL-QOM and the FMA were analyzed using Wilcoxon's Signed-Rank Test. RESULTS: The mean scores in all measures of motor performance moved in the direction of improvement, though none were shown to be statistically significant. The intervention was overall well-tolerated by the participants, with no adverse effects reported. DISCUSSION: The primary aims of the study were to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of an at-home, motion-tracking rehabilitation gaming system (GATOR) for increasing users' real-world use of their paretic upper extremity. Future research on this system with increased length of treatment in the home of the participant is needed to further evaluate the use of this system as a rehabilitation technology for the increased use of the stroke-affected arm