Asbestos lung cancer risks: comparison of animal and human extrapolations

Using the most comprehensive inhalation study available, (Wagner, et al., 1974), the dose-response effects of the four major types of asbestos fibers (amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and chrysotile: Canadian, Rhodesian) for lung cancer have been determined. From linear regression analysis of the animal data and five human epidemiology studies giving a wide range of risk estimates, slopes of the curves have been determined and lifetime risk estimates made. Projected risks for rats are presented with and without surface area (s.a.) conversion factors. On the basis of cumulative exposure, the geometric mean of the point estimates for the human studies (0.0146) is quite close to the geometric mean of the animal data (0.0179 without s.a.; 0.0122 with s.a. calculations). These values also match quite well if one of the studies (McDonald, et al.) is eliminated (geometric mean = 0.031) due to qualitatively different exposure considerations (mining and milling vs. industrial environments). Animal risks based on a concentration per day basis (assuming an average 70-year lifespan for humans) are below the lowest human estimate but within 5-6 fold (less) of the projected risk from nonsmoking asbestos workers (2.2 X 10(-3) using the Hammond et al. study.     

Factors Which Influence the Size of the Contemporary Dwelling: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

This study investigates the phenomenon of building big dwellings in contemporary Saudi society. It relates the size of the contemporary villa-type dwelling with the traditional dwelling, and it compares it to a number of average (standard) international dwellings. It questions the rationale of its large size; hence, it argues against leaving this trend to continue unchecked. It further defines and discusses factors which influence the dwelling size, i.e. economic, socio-cultural, and new building practice and trade. The aim of this research is to draw attention to this phenomenon, to inform those involved in housing policy and design of the extent of size-related problems in terms of initial construction and furnishing cost and in terms of operating and maintenance life-cycle cost, and to call for further research to investigate its social, environmental, and economic impact on the country and its population.     

Young and Older Caregivers at Homeless Animal and Human Shelters: Selfish and Selfless Motives in Helping Others

In the present study, young (n = 34) and older(n = 70) adult volunteers at either animal (n= 48) or human (n = 56) homeless shelters were asked to complete measures of caregiver stress/satisfaction, volunteer motives, and social desirability. Young compared to older volunteers assisting animals, but not humans, reported a significantly higher caseload and spending significantly more time per visit with their clients. In addition, young volunteers reported significantly higher levels of caregiver stress with humans more than animals. Also, volunteers at human (but not animal) homeless shelters claimed the need for meeting social expectations as a motive for community service. Furthermore, younger compared to older volunteers reported gaining relevant career experience, obtaining a knowledge of the plight of others, relieving aversive emotions, and meeting normative expectations as significant motives for volunteering. These results may have important implications for recruitment and training of community volunteers at homeless shelters.     

What Risks Do People Perceive in Everyday Life? A Perspective Gained from the Experience Sampling Method (ESM)

The experience sampling method (ESM) was used to collect data from 74 part-time students who described and assessed the risks involved in their current activities when interrupted at random moments by text messages. The major categories of perceived risk were short term in nature and involved "loss of time or materials" related to work and "physical damage" (e.g., from transportation). Using techniques of multilevel analysis, we demonstrate effects of gender, emotional state, and types of risk on assessments of risk. Specifically, females do not differ from males in assessing the potential severity of risks but they see these as more likely to occur. Also, participants assessed risks to be lower when in more positive self-reported emotional states. We further demonstrate the potential of ESM by showing that risk assessments associated with current actions exceed those made retrospectively. We conclude by noting advantages and disadvantages of ESM for collecting data about risk perceptions.     

Adult Foreign Adoptees: Reactive Attachment Disorder May Grow into Psychic Homelessness

The heterogeneity of the group of adopted children does not allow to draw general conclusions about the nature and quantity of behavioral problems with adopted children. This nature and quantity depend on the chosen comparison group. Older foreign adoptees at placement often show complex physical and psychological problems. Many suffer from some kind of behavioral disturbances. Empirical data show that reactive attachment disorder (RAD) can often be diagnosed. The continuation of this disorder in adulthood will result in feelings of psychic homelessness. Examples are described to make clear what kind of behavioral problem it concerns. Research to select appropriate treatments for RAD and psychic homelessness is still lacking.     

The Optimal Degree of Discretion in Monetary Policy

How much discretion should the monetary authority have in setting its policy? This question is analyzed in an economy with an agreed‐upon social welfare function that depends on the economy's randomly fluctuating state. The monetary authority has private information about that state. Well designed rules trade off society's desire to give the monetary authority discretion to react to its private information against society's need to prevent that authority from giving in to the temptation to stimulate the economy with unexpected inflation, the time inconsistency problem. Although this dynamic mechanism design problem seems complex, its solution is simple: legislate an inflation cap. The optimal degree of monetary policy discretion turns out to shrink as the severity of the time inconsistency problem increases relative to the importance of private information. In an economy with a severe time inconsistency problem and unimportant private information, the optimal degree of discretion is none.     

一种新型智能型无功补偿控制系统

针对工厂企业供电系统无功功率多变及其对供电质量影响的问题,设计了一套基于并联电容器自动投入的功率 因数自动补偿控制系统。提出了依据系统负荷及功率因数变化统计值为基础的优化算法,准确求出某一时段所需投切 的最佳的电容值,达到保证系统功率因数最佳,同时使得电容的投入或切除充放电引起的电流波形变化最小。该统计方 法采用针对不同运行工况某时段平均功率因数,再利用ARM处理器数据处理能力强,算法功能优越的特点,利用神经网 络预测下一时段无功功率的变化规律,实现电容器的正确投、切控制。仿真及实际运行数据表明,该系统具有良好的补 偿精度,同时明显降低补偿电容器组的投切次数,可以有效地改善系统供电品质。     

Revisiting the guns vs butter dilemma. Was Spain different in the implementation of public policies? Defence,growth and education

Over the past few decades, numerous studies have been conducted on the trade-off between guns and butter, namely defence spending versus social sector expenditure. It is striking that none has examined the situation in Spain. Previous research on other countries has not provided strong and unambiguous evidence of either positive or negative effects for military expenditure on social spending. We test whether government expenditure on defence contributed positively or negatively to education spending in twentieth-century Spain, attempting to identify policy-making processes within a historical framework. The results show both direct and indirect effects and bring to light the negative consequences of military spending on education expenditure, in particular between the second and fifth year after the military expenditure increases.     

动态多目标无功/电压规划的Pareto最优集的求取

动态多目标无功/电压规划问题是一个复杂的多目标非线性优化问题。广泛使用的先评价方法通常只能得到这一问题的单一解,并且在确定各目标间的权重关系时难以给出统一的标准,因而不利于作为实际控制的参考。该文通过创建该问题的多目标数学模型,将动作次数限制归纳为优化目标之一,并应用改进的非支配遗传算法(NSGA-II),实现了动态多目标无功优化问题的Pareto近似最优集的求解。通过IEEE14、30节点电网模型及实际电网模型的计算,验证了该方法的有效性。     

中心旋转法优化锦棉交织物浸染工艺

文章讨论了锦棉交织物的浸染工艺,用中心旋转法优化出最佳的的工艺条件。