Desirable Types Research Articles

Distinguishing Technical Inefficiency from Desirable and Undesirable Congestion with an Application to Regional Industries in China

Congestion is an important issue that requires the efficiency of decision-making units (DMUs). We first classify conventional congestion into congestion (newly defined) and technical inefficiency, based on prior research and real applications. Modified definitions and mathematical expression of congestion, managerial inefficiency, and technical inefficiency are proposed to better illustrate the differences between them. Several modified models are provided to identify and recognize those types of inefficiencies and congestion. We then extend the model by considering the desirable and undesirable types of congestion simultaneously. The proposed approach is applied and verified by identifying resource congestion and environmental inefficiencies in China’s economic development.

The study of lateral variability of Kockatea Shale across the Perth Basin: an integration of electrofacies and lithofacies characteristics

The recognition of distinct rock types through log responses, referred to as electrofacies, is a fundamental role in mapping stratigraphic units that do not have any specific geological description. Lateral variability within adjoining intervals is differentiated by studying lithological characteristics such as petrography and mineralogy acquired from visual core description. In non-cored wells electrofacies analysis, therefore, is the most reliable way in determining reservoir zonations. The electrofacies’ accuracy is critically important in defining potentially desirable rock types for shale gas reservoirs in non-cored intervals, which can be obtained through an analogy of well log responses in identical lithofacies within cored wells. Considering the complexity of making a final prediction due to the unavailability of different well logs covering the whole area, only the gamma-ray log is used in determining electrofacies patterns within the studied shale gas intervals. The electrofacies patterns within identified lithofacies have been studied for the Kockatea Shale, which presented analogous patterns for identical lithological facies. The similarity has allowed for the correlation of lithofacies in cored and non-cored wells, and the evaluation of lithofacies variability and development within various wells. The correlation of the defined electrofacies indicates facies changes across the basin in association with thickening of some lithofacies. The thickest part of the electrofacies is shown at the Dandaragan Trough and the Beagle Ridge. Some electrofacies, however, have disappeared in some parts of these areas, such as lithofacies E in the Beagle Ridge, which is partially replaced by electrofacies C.

Extracellular, Stem Cells and Regenerative Ophthalmology

Retinal degenerative diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma, still lack effective medical treatments. The stem cell-based regenerative approach has been proposed to treat these degenerative diseases. The major challenge for regenerative ophthalmology is to produce enough desirable retinal neurons in vitro from various stem cell types. Extracellular matrix proteins are important for stem cell self-renewal and differentiation in various systems. They have also been used in combination with various growth factors to expand retinal stem cells and produce desirable retinal neuronal types. This review summarizes our current understanding of how extracellular matrix proteins regulate stem cell function and discusses their application in regenerative ophthalmology.

노인의 사회적 건강 측면에서 본 주택유형별 사회적 관계성 연구

Rapidly aging society extends the span of aged life of the elderly people longer than before and this trend raises the issue of holistic health of the aged including their physical, psychological and social health making it necessary to study for environmental development to support this trend. This study intends to explore the direction of residential planning to support the deterioration phenomenon of social networks due to aging. Social networks here are treated as basic conditions for social health. This study researched the diverse types of elderly housings in preparation for the aged society and their spatial characteristics, social affordance characteristics and their potentials for social interactions from the viewpoint of their social relations. literature studies with contents analysis method was used. The results of this study were arranged primarily according to the characteristics of social relations by types of housings. Socially integrated types of housings can be found as inclusive housing type as they have both social characteristics that can be found in houses in general and the elderly housings, they should be considered as desirable types in Korea where collective houses are most popular. Form the existing housing plans housing plan direction should move toward socially integrated housing plans that can protect the elderly people collectively and the direction of housing plans here means the direction from more macro-perspective viewpoint. Therefore, the results of this study are meaningful in adding interpretation from the viewpoint of social relations respective housings and promoting housings for the elderly people more desirably.

Dual Verbal Elicitation: The Complementary Use of Concurrent and Retrospective Reporting Within a Usability Test

Verbal protocols are the primary tool for understanding users' task-solving behaviors during usability testing. A qualitative study that examined the utility of combining a concurrent and retrospective think-aloud within the same usability test is described. The results indicate that although there was significant overlap between the types of utterances produced during each think-aloud, the retrospective phase produced more verbalizations that were relevant to usability analysis, for example, helpful self-assessments of performance, yielding insights into the impact of encountered difficulties. However, a small number of less desirable utterance types emerged: hypothesising, rationalizing, and forgetting. When used together, both methods contributed to an understanding of usability issues; the concurrent phase yielded more usability issues overall, and the retrospective data improved the understanding of these by (a) reinforcement: users highlighted the impact of an issue on their experience, (b) elaboration: users would provide causal explanations of encountered difficulties, and (c) context: users provided information about the product's context of use.

Synergistic binding of transcription factors to cell-specific enhancers programs motor neuron identity

Efficient transcriptional programming promises to open new frontiers in regenerative medicine. However, mechanisms by which programming factors transform cell fate are unknown, preventing more rational selection of factors to generate desirable cell types. Three transcription factors, Ngn2, Isl1 and Lhx3, were sufficient to program rapidly and efficiently spinal motor neuron identity when expressed in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells. Replacement of Lhx3 by Phox2a led to specification of cranial, rather than spinal, motor neurons. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing analysis of Isl1, Lhx3 and Phox2a binding sites revealed that the two cell fates were programmed by the recruitment of Isl1-Lhx3 and Isl1-Phox2a complexes to distinct genomic locations characterized by a unique grammar of homeodomain binding motifs. Our findings suggest that synergistic interactions among transcription factors determine the specificity of their recruitment to cell type-specific binding sites and illustrate how a single transcription factor can be repurposed to program different cell types.

Social Cohesiveness of Disadvantaged Communities in Urban South Korea: The Impact of the Physical Environment

This paper examines the impact of the physical environment and residents' perception and use of the environment settings on the social cohesiveness of disadvantaged communities in South Korea. Multiple regression and qualitative analysis were applied based on the data collected in four public rental housing estates in Seoul accommodating the lowest income households. This paper argues that social cohesiveness could be operationalised in shared norms and trust, attachment to housing estate and social networking. It was found that the characteristics of social cohesiveness were different across the same type of public rental housing estates, and that this variance was partly due to the different conditions of the physical environment. It was also found that a more positive perception of the physical environment and the more frequent use of facilities generally enhanced community cohesiveness. Desirable land use mix and housing types around the housing estates, preferable community facilities, housing block design and more effective refurbishment programmes within the estates were recommended.

미술작품의 유방 실루엣 비율에 근거한 20대 여성의 바람직한 유방형태와 유형별 컵 설계에 관한 연구

This paper analyzes desirable breast types using measurements from 31 selected female subjects based on the ratio of breast in works of art and to design a brassiere cup design according to the breast type of 182 female subjects in their 20s. The subjects selected for this paper are somewhat larger than a previous study on aesthetically perfect breasts of foreigners according to chest breadth, center neck point to breast point, breast circumference, and breast volume. However, the aesthetic breasts of foreigners are larger than the subjects selected for this study according to chest depth, under-bust circumference, and bust point to bust point. Comparing various breasts types and aesthetic breasts, padding is necessary to complement the form of flat breasts to increase the volume and diameter. Brassiere cups for cone-shaped breasts should be designed to increase breast volume through an increase in nipple height. Hemisphere breasts should be designed to increase the overall volume-leaving diameter. Protrusion breasts should enhance the functions of aggregating and supporting without any increase or decrease of the breast volume. Drooping breasts re- quire the ability to support a large volume to stabilize the breast. Subjects were selected depending on the ratio of breast silhouette as works of art and who have large breasts in disproportional to a slender trunk. Three items, the circumferential length of breast, height of the nipple, and the depth of inner breast using the anthropomorphic measurements of 182 subjects were measured through regression equations for breast volume. Breast volume = −394.86 + 27.52 × (the circumferential length of breast) + 18.73 × (height of the nipple) + 12.85 × (the depth of inner breast). Regression equations to extract the aesthetic breast volume in measurements irrelevant to breasts using the anthropomorphic measurements of 31 subjects were as follows. Aesthetic breast volume = −611.30 + 17.67 × (bust circumference) − 24.29 × (under-bust circumference) + 16.31 × (neck point to breast point to waistline) + 22.83 × (bust breadth) + 12.22 × (waist depth) − 8.34 × (interscye- front). This prediction equation is useful to develop a breast type brassiere pattern, complement breast enhancement surgery, or minimize the effect a mastectomy.

Concise Review: Chemical Approaches for Modulating Lineage-Specific Stem Cells and Progenitors

Generation and manipulation of lineage-restricted stem and progenitor cells in vitro and/or in vivo are critical for the development of stem cell-based clinical therapeutics. Lineage-restricted stem and progenitor cells have many advantageous qualities, including being able to efficiently engraft and differentiate into desirable cell types in vivo after transplantation, and they are much less tumorigenic than pluripotent cells. Generation of lineage-restricted stem and progenitor cells can be achieved by directed differentiation from pluripotent stem cells or lineage conversion from easily obtained somatic cells. Small molecules can be very helpful in these processes since they offer several important benefits. For example, the risk of tumorigenesis is greatly reduced when small molecules are used to replace integrated transcription factors, which are widely used in cell fate conversion. Furthermore, small molecules are relatively easy to apply, optimize, and manufacture, and they can more readily be developed into conventional pharmaceuticals. Alternatively, small molecules can be used to expand or selectively control the differentiation of lineage-restricted stem and progenitor cells for desirable therapeutics purposes in vitro or in vivo. Here we summarize recent progress in the use of small molecules for the expansion and generation of desirable lineage-restricted stem and progenitor cells in vitro and for selectively controlling cell fate of lineage-restricted stem and progenitor cells in vivo, thereby facilitating stem cell-based clinical applications.

Relational power and influence strategies: a step further in understanding power dynamics

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the existence of relational power which is derived from an indigenous Chinese construct – guanxi. The authors also test the hypotheses of relational power with two well established power sources (position and personal power) and their relationships with influence strategies (persuasive, assertive and relationship‐based).Design/methodology/approachThe authors employed a mixed method approach. The survey study included 438 Chinese respondents whereas the follow‐up interview study included 17 managers from different industries, collected across main cities in China.FindingsThe analysis of the data from survey responses provides support for the authors' argument regarding the existence of relational power. Survey results showed that all three power sources predicted leaders' choices of influence strategies. The follow‐up qualitative findings from additional interviews with managers also shed interesting insights into the dynamics of different power sources.Research limitations/implicationsThe use of a convenience sample may limit the generalizability of the findings. Notwithstanding, the study contributes to the power literature by adding a new dimension to the existing power typology, thus helping us better understand how different power sources affect leaders' choices of influence strategies.Practical implicationsThe study offers new insights to both practitioners and academicians, which is of growing importance because knowledge on power sources and understanding how it operates should help managers consciously cultivate desirable types of power. This study also shows the dynamics of guanxi, thus helping the Westerners better understand work relationships in China and understand why guanxi/relational power is effective here.Originality/valueThe paper integrates the power‐dependency theory and an indigenous Chinese construct – guanxi and empirically examines how the authors' proposed power source – relational power – affects leaders' choices of influence strategies. The paper argues that by adding this new power source to the power typology which has dominated the power literature for half a century can fully capture the sources of power embedded in an organizational setting, and generate practical implications on leader‐member interactions.

Self presentation in online environments: a study of Indian Muslim matrimonial profiles

This study examines the self presentation practices of Indian Muslim men and women in online matrimonial advertisements. Findings indicate that while Indian Muslims are using the new medium to adhere to traditional cultural and religious values, they are also making critical adjustments to adapt to the medium itself. While Muslim men and women claimed to possess different attributes in their profiles drawing upon gender role expectations in Indian society, they were identical in their preference for light skin or what is termed as ‘fair complexion’ in Indian English. An overwhelming majority of advertisers claimed to possess desirable skin tones and body types. Few Indian Muslim profiles highlighted external manifestations of religiosity, such as praying five times a day, wearing a hijab or burqa, and observing Ramadan. Further, results of this study also illuminate the influence of South Asian culture on Islamic practice, which is evident in the mention of caste identifications in the online matrimonial profiles.

Genetic Variability Studies in F1 Generation of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.)

Twenty four hybrids along with their 11 parents (8 lines and 3 testers) were subjected to study the genetic variability indicated that genetic material in the present investigation possessed variability which provides sufficient basis for selection by breeder. High estimates of PCV and GCV were obtained for plant height, number of fruits per cluster, average fruit weight, yield per plant, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid and lycopene indicated a good deal of variability in those characters signifying the effectiveness of selection of desirable types for improvement. High heritability assisted with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of fruits per cluster, fruit length, fruit width, average fruit weight, number of locules per fruit, pericarp thickness, titrable acidity, ascorbic acid, lycopene and shelf life. Hence, simple selection based on phenotypic performance of these traits would be more effective.

Resource Discovery: Comparative Results on Two Catalog Interfaces

Like many libraries, the University of Minnesota Libraries-Twin Cities now offers a next-generation catalog alongside a traditional online public access catalog (OPAC). One year after the launch of its new platform as the default catalog, usage data for the OPAC remained relatively high, and anecdotal comments raised questions. In response, the Libraries conducted surveys that covered topics such as perceptions of success, known-item searching, preferred search environments, and desirable resource types. Results show distinct differences in the behavior of faculty, graduate student, and undergraduate survey respondents, and between library staff and non-library staff respondents. Both quantitative and qualitative data inform the analysis and conclusions.

The Contribution of Senior Managers to Corporate Governance

Research Issue: A taxonomy of corporate governance based on: • classifying the practice of corporate governance into four discrete primary functions; and • identifying the tasks of corporate governance that correspond to each of the four primary functions; and • describing for each of the Board, individual directors and senior managers: o the roles performed in each of the four primary functions; and o the types of behaviour that correspond to each of the four primary functions. Research Insights: The paper contends that the contribution of senior management to the practice of corporate governance has largely been ignored by the corporate governance community. Dominant theoretical frameworks of corporate governance do not appear to explain or predict improvements to the often divisive and combative relationship between the board, individual directors and those in positions of senior management. The taxonomy identified in the paper provides a novel corporate governance framework that may, amongst other things, better solve the problem of board/ management dysfunction. The paper concludes by presenting two anomalies not considered or addressed by the dominant theoretical frameworks but identified by the taxonomy: • Boards may suffer from an imbalance of primary functions that occurs when the focus of the board on each function does not reflect contingency factors (organisation type, history, life cycle, external circumstances, internal circumstances); and • Boards may also suffer from misalignment when the board, individual directors and/or senior managers do not adapt their role and type of behaviour to match the primary function performed. The paper argues the result of the imbalance and/or misalignment will manifest itself in the typical complaints that directors and senior managers make of the other. Theoretical and Academic Implications: Academic research implications include novel research questions: • Is “supervision” as understood by management literature one of the four primary functions of corporate governance and how does this differ from the traditional concept of “monitoring” associated with agency theory. • Are there desirable corporate governance roles and types of behaviour for senior managers that correspond to the performance of each primary function? • Is there a correlation between the alignment of inter board/senior manager roles and behaviours for each primary function and board/company performance? Practioner Implications Practioner implications include: • The potential to improve the performance of directors by offering alternative explanations for poor performing boards: o The primary function of “supervision” of management not being performed by the board; o Wrong balance of primary functions; o Misalignment between the roles and types of behaviour exhibited by the board and senior managers and that required by a function. • Non-existent or poor formal training of senior management.

Perfectionism and social goals: What do perfectionists want to achieve in social situations?

With a sample of 367 college students, the current study examined how two dimensions of perfectionism (PS: personal standards and COM: concern over mistakes) are related to social achievement goals and social content goals. COM was linked to less desirable types of social goals (e.g., social demonstration-approach, social demonstration-avoid, popularity, and dominance goals) and had null relations with adaptive social goals (e.g., social development, intimacy, and nurturance goals). In contrast, PS was related to adaptive social goals (e.g., social development, nurturance, intimacy, and leadership goals) and had no relation with maladaptive social goals (e.g., dominance goals). Despite all these benefits, PS was also positively related to social demonstration-avoid goals, which have been consistently linked to psychological ill-being and negative social outcomes.

Genetic divergence in Ethiopian coriander accessions and its implication in breeding of desired plant types

The genetic divergence among 49 Ethiopian coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) accessions was assessed using employing Mahalanobi’s distance (D2) analysis based on 15 characters. The accessions were grouped in to eight clusters. Cluster II and III were the largest each with 12 accessions, followed by clusters I and V each consisting of seven accessions. The highest inter-cluster distance (480.5) was observed between clusters I and VIII, followed by clusters V and VIII (462.2), and then clusters II and VIII (336.1). Hence, crossing between accessions included in these clusters may give high heterotic response, and thereby better sergeants. Maximum contribution toward total genetic divergence was possessed by thousand seed weight (15.67%), followed by basal leaf number (13.48%), plant height (10.29%), seeds umbellet-1 (9.81%) and umbel number plant-1 (7.84%). Based on meansof all characters, accessions in clusters III, VII and VIII could be regarded as useful sources of genes for yield and its components, and the accessions from these clusters, therefore, could be used in improvement programmes todevelop desirable types in coriander.

Cancer Vaccines: Moving toward Prevention?

After several decades of research, recent successful phase III controlled clinical trials have renewed enthusiasm for vaccine treatment of cancer. This perspective on the report by Berta and colleagues in this issue of the journal (beginning on page 994) discusses the potential prevention of oral cancer through vaccine strategies and, in the broader context, ideal characteristics of tumor antigens as candidates for vaccines for both treating and preventing cancer, potential primary and secondary prevention settings for vaccines, desirable types of immune effectors induced by vaccines, and safety.

Robust Enhancement of Neural Differentiation from Human ES and iPS Cells Regardless of their Innate Difference in Differentiation Propensity

Our analyses of three human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) and six human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines showed marked variability in differentiation potential into specific lineages, which often hampers their differentiation into specific cell types or cell lineages of interest. Simultaneous inhibition of both Activin/Nodal and BMP pathways with small molecules, SB431542 and dorsomorphin (DM), respectively, promoted significant neural differentiation from all human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) lines tested, regardless of their differentiation propensity. On the contrary, differentiation into other cell lineages and the number of undifferentiated cells were significantly reduced after differentiation by the dual inhibition. These results demonstrate that innate differentiation propensity of hPSCs could be overcome, at least in part, by modulation of intracellular signaling pathways, resulting in efficient generation of desirable cell types, such as neural cells.

Traits influencing yield in sesame (Sesamum indicum. L.) and multilocational trials of yield parameters in some desirable plant types

For ascertaining component (s) maximizing yield, 21 genotypes (parental cultivar and 20 macromutants) of sesame (Sesamum indicum. L., var - B-67, Family: Pedaliaceae) were analyzed based on genetic parameters viz . genetic variability, character association and path analysis considering seven yield related traits (plant height, number of primary branches/plant, total branches/plant, distance from base to first branching, capsules on main axis, total capsules/plant and capsule length) and yield (seed yield/seed protein content/seed fatty oil content) in rainfed kharif season of West Bengal plains. Total capsule per plant is predicted to be the most important selection criterion. For assessment of variation in yield attributes, 6 desirable plant types (parental cultivar and five mutants) were given multilocational trial under four different agroclimatic conditions and the results obtained are discussed and the better plant types are predicted.

Traits influencing yield in sesame (Sesamum indicum. L.) and multilocational trials of yield parameters in some desirable plant types

Traits influencing yield in sesame (Sesamum indicum. L.) and multilocational trials of yield parameters in some desirable plant types