Owner’s Risk Allocation and Contractor’s Role Behavior in a Project: A Parallel-mediation Model

Risk allocation decisions are of critical importance in project management. The present study proposes an explanation for how risk allocation in a contract motivates a contractor to cooperate with a project owner. Theories of risk allocation and trust were used to motivate the research. Using a survey methodology, we collected data concerning 124 construction projects in China. We found that risk allocation influenced the contractor’s role behavior through the contractor’s feeling of being trusted but not the contractor’s trust in the owner. Feeling of being trusted partially mediated the effect of risk allocation on the contractor’s in-role (i.e., contractual) behavior and fully mediated the effect on extra-role behavior. The study introduces a social and psychological view of the impacts of risk allocation to the project and engineering management literature. We contribute to theory by arguing and demonstrating the mediating effect of trust on the relationship between risk allocation and contractor behavior. From a practical standpoint, we conclude that contractual risk allocation has a significant impact on building a trusting relationship between owners and contractors and that contractors who feel trusted perform both contractually mandated actions and actions external to the contract more diligently, resulting in the likelihood of improved outcomes for both parties.     

Out of the earthquake. Coping with cataclysmic change

Diagnosis of developmental speech and language disorders in accordance with the ICD-10 is to be based on the psychometric assessment of speech and language performance. In the present study the clinical validity of the Heidelberger Sprachentwicklungstest (HSET) for diagnosing expressive language disorders was assessed by comparing HSET subtest results for 92 children aged 4 to 10 years who had various speech and language disorders with the children's scores on another language test, a cognitive test and clinical findings. The HSET scores differed considerably from the clinical ratings of the severity of the language disturbance. The correlations between the HSET scores and the score on the other language test was also low. Although the correlations of the HSET scores with the performance IQ was low, the correlations with the verbal IQ were high. The implications of these findings for the use of the HSET in diagnosing children with language impairments are discussed.     

Enantioselective antiplatelet actions of nipecotamides

This investigation retrospectively examined changes in marital satisfaction following stroke. The relationship between such changes and other pertinent factors were also examined, including severity of aphasia, knowledge of aphasia, number of months after stroke, and length of the marriage. The subjects were 40 spouses of patients with aphasia grouped according to severity of the aphasia (mild, moderate, severe). Spouses completed two different measures of marital satisfaction--the Marital Satisfaction Scale (MSS) and the Marital Comparison Level Index (MCLI). These measures were completed in both a prestroke (retrospective reporting) and a poststroke format to allow for change to be assessed. In addition, a Knowledge of Aphasia questionnaire was completed by the normal spouses to evaluate their understanding of the disorder of aphasia. There was a significant difference between prestroke and poststroke scores on both the MSS and the MCLI, indicating a lower level of satisfaction following the stroke. The amount of change between prestroke and poststroke MSS and MCLI scores was not related to either number of months poststroke or number of years married. Although there was no relationship between changes in prestroke and poststroke scores on the MCLI and Knowledge of Aphasia scores, there was a significant correlation between changes in these scores on the MSS and Knowledge of Aphasia scores. Hence, the more knowledge spouses had regarding aphasia, the less the negative impact the stroke had on marital satisfaction, as measured by the MSS. Results are discussed in terms of the interdisciplinary treatment needs of aphasic patients and the implications for future investigations.     

Vasodilation with adenosine or sodium nitroprusside after coronary artery bypass surgery: a comparative study on myocardial blood flow and metabolism

The effects of adenosine and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on central hemodynamics and myocardial blood flow and metabolism were investigated postoperatively after elective coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery in ten sedated and mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. During three consecutive 15-min periods, SNP (0.8 +/- 0.1 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1), adenosine (88.9 +/- 13.3 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1), and then again SNP (0.7 +/- 0.1 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1) were infused to control postoperative hypertension at a mean arterial pressure of approximately 80 mm Hg. Systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and global (coronary sinus flow, CSF) as well as regional (great cardiac vein flow, GCVF) myocardial blood flow and metabolic variables were measured. During adenosine infusion, in comparison to SNP, heart rate was unchanged, stroke volume index and cardiac index increased (24% and 32%, respectively), and the systemic vascular resistance index decreased (-26%). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (24%) as well as pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (27%) and central venous pressure (18%) were higher with adenosine compared to SNP. Adenosine also increased CSF and GCVF (108% and 103%, respectively) without altering the CSF/GCVF flow ratio compared to SNP. Furthermore, adenosine increased the coronary oxygen content (51%) and decreased the arterio-great cardiac vein oxygen content difference (-48%) without changing regional myocardial oxygen consumption, indicating a more pronounced hyperkinetic myocardial circulation compared to SNP. In addition, adenosine infusion decreased arterial PO2 (-11%) and increased the intrapulmonary shunt fraction (57%). The PR interval time of the electrocardiogram was prolonged (12%) and the ST segment was more depressed during adenosine infusion compared to SNP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transgenic overproduction of islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin) is not sufficient for islet amyloid formation

Islet amyloid polypeptide forms islet amyloid deposits in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We have generated transgenic mice which express human islet amyloid polypeptide in their pancreatic beta cells yet do not develop islet amyloid deposits despite producing levels of the amyloidogenic human peptide 2 - 3 fold higher than the native (mouse) peptide. To determine whether marked overproduction of islet amyloid polypeptide is a potential cause of islet amyloid formation, we increased expression of this transgene by producing homozygous transgenic animals and by making heterozygous mice experimentally insulin resistant with nicotinic acid. Pancreatic content of islet amyloid polypeptide-like immunoreactivity in homozygous and nicotinic acid-treated mice was 2-fold (25 +/- 7 fmol/microg; n = 6) and 3.5-fold (47 +/- 20 fmol/microg; n = 3) higher, respectively, than that of untreated heterozygous animals (13+/-2 fmol/microg; n = 11; both p < 0.05). Despite this marked increase in production of islet amyloid polypeptide, neither group of mice developed gross islet amyloid deposits even after 16 months of age. We conclude that overproduction of islet amyloid polypeptide, even as produced by extreme insulin resistance, is not in itself sufficient for islet amyloid formation.     

Adverse environmental conditions in the respiratory and medical ICU settings

Sleep deprivation and fragmentation occurring in the hospital setting may have a negative impact on the respiratory system by decreasing respiratory muscle function and ventilatory response to CO2. Sleep deprivation in a patient with respiratory failure may, therefore, impair recovery and weaning from mechanical ventilation. We postulate that light, sound, and interruption levels in a weaning unit are major factors resulting in sleep disorders and possibly circadian rhythm disruption. As an initial test of this hypothesis, we sampled interruption levels and continuously monitored light and sound levels for a minimum of seven consecutive days in a medical ICU, a multiple bed respiratory care unit (RCU) room, a single-bed RCU room, and a private room. Light levels in all areas maintained a day-night rhythm, with peak levels dependent on window orientation and shading. Peak sound levels were extremely high in all areas representing values significantly higher than those recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency as acceptable for a hospital environment. The number of sound peaks greater than 80 decibels, which may result in sleep arousals, was especially high in the intensive and respiratory care areas, but did show a day-night rhythm in all settings. Patient interruptions tended to be erratic, leaving little time for condensed sleep. We conclude that the potential for environmentally induced sleep disruption is high in all areas, but especially high in the intensive and respiratory care areas where the negative consequences may be the most severe.     

Characterization of titanium alloy implant surfaces with improved dissolution resistance

The present work sets out to investigate the structure and chemistry of surface treated oxides (either aged in boiling water or air-heated) with improved dissolution resistance compared to conventionally passivated surfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has demonstrated a significant reduction in oxidized aluminium associated with an ageing-based surface treatment. Angle-dependent XPS has revealed an increase in amphoteric-OH surface sites for the thermal treatments. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigation suggests that these sites play a role in the improved proteinadsorption properties of these surfaces. These observations form the basis of a model which describes the influence of surface oxide on the kinetics of metal ion dissolution.     

Conceptual and Implementation Models for the Grid

The Grid is rapidly emerging as the dominant paradigm for wide area distributed application systems. As a result, there is a need for modeling and analyzing the characteristics and requirements of Grid systems and programming models. This work adopts the well-established body of models for distributed computing systems, which are based upon carefully stated assumptions or axioms, as a basis for defining and characterizing Grids and their programming models and systems. The requirements of programming Grid applications and the resulting requirements on the underlying virtual organizations and virtual machines are investigated. The assumptions underlying some of the programming models and systems currently used for Grid applications are identified and their validity in Grid environments is discussed. A more in-depth analysis of two programming systems, the Imperial College E-Science Networked Infrastructure (ICENI) and Accord, using the proposed definitions' structure is presented.     

Protective effects of green tea extracts (polyphenon E and EGCG) on human cervical lesions

We investigated clinical efficacy of green tea extracts (polyphenon E; poly E and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate [EGCG]) delivered in a form of ointment or capsule in patients with human papilloma virus (HPV) infected cervical lesions. Fifty-one patients with cervical lesions (chronic cervicitis, mild dysplasia, moderate dysplasia and severe dysplasia) were divided into four groups, as compared with 39 untreated patients as a control. Poly E ointment was applied locally to 27 patients twice a week. For oral delivery, a 200 mg of poly E or EGCG capsule was taken orally every day for eight to 12 weeks. In the study, 20 out of 27 patients (74%) under poly E ointment therapy showed a response. Six out of eight patients under poly E ointment plus poly E capsule therapy (75%) showed a response, and three out of six patients (50%) under poly E capsule therapy showed a response. Six out of 10 patients (60%) under EGCG capsule therapy showed a response. Overall, a 69% response rate (35/51) was noted for treatment with green tea extracts, as compared with a 10% response rate (4/39) in untreated controls (P<0.05). Thus, the data collected here demonstrated that green tea extracts in a form of ointment and capsule are effective for treating cervical lesions, suggesting that green tea extracts can be a potential therapy regimen for patients with HPV infected cervical lesions.